wednesday, july 7, 2010 ashar 23, 1417, RAJAB 24, 1431 Hijri

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Leading News

New wage structure for RMG workers soon: PM
Their pay too little to meet basic needs, she says

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the present minimum wage for a garment worker is too little to meet the basic needs of life.
The government will soon announce the much-expected new wage structure for the garments workers, she said at a function at Ganobhaban in the morning.
The function was arranged as the leaders of Mahila Sramik League and Mahila Jubo League came to meet the Prime Minister on the occasion of their 7th and 8th founding anniversary respectively.
"I've talked to the Minister concerned and he told me that the new wage structure (for garment workers) will be announced soon," Hasina said. She was critical of those employers who discriminate against women in giving wages though they give the same labor and in many cases more than the male workers.
The Prime Minister said the government will take necessary steps to stop such discrimination against women.
She reiterated her government's commitment to make Bangladesh a corruption-free country saying that the ongoing drive against corruption will continue.
The Prime Minister said development is not possible without eliminating corruption. On recent unrest in the RMG sector, she said a vested quarter is active in instigating the hardworking garment workers. "But the garment workers must realize that by vandalizing garment factories, they are doing their own harm."
Hasina urged the garments workers to keep patience and assured them of government's sincerity about taking steps for their wellbeing.
She mentioned the recent government initiative towards introducing rationing for the garments workers.
The Prime Minister called upon the NGOs and development organizations to utilize the government's loan schemes on making dormitory for the garment workers, especially for the women garment workers.
She said that her government is determined to establish women's rights in every spheres of the society in keeping with the country's constitution.
In this regard, Hasina recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman arranged quota facilities for women in government jobs and free primary education for girls.
She urged the country's women community to enrich them with education and knowledge in order to uphold their dignity in the society. "Women must establish their dignity in the society," she said.
The Prime Minister said it was the Awami League government which introduced female army officers, judge, Superintendent of Police and full-fledged secretary. "BNP-Jamaat elements tried to discourage this initiative but failed in their bid."
She assured that Awami League would continue to work for political empowerment of women. "In the last general election, we gave direct nomination to 19 female candidates. And women are acting as important ministers in the government now," she said.
Hasina urged all to bring change in their outlook and work for women empowerment as well as to establish their equal right in the society.
Mahila Jubo League president Nazma Akter MP and general secretary Apu Ukil MP, Mahila Sramik League president Rawshan Jahan Sathi and general secretary Shamsunnahar also spoke at the function.

 457 more ‘politically motivated’ cases withdrawn
Total 6005 cases selected for withdrawal: 2 against BNP,
4 JP, one lawyers, 1 Proshika, all others against AL

TBT Report

The government on Tuesday recommended the withdrawals of 457 more cases on the grounds that they were 'politically motivated' cases filed under previous regimes. The decision was taken after careful scrutiny during the 20th inter-ministerial meeting on the withdrawal of political harassment cases, held at the Home Ministry with State Minister for Law Advocate Qamrul Islam in the chair.
State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Huq Tuku and other concerned senior officers attended the meeting. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Qamrul Islam said that a total of 715 cases were placed before the meeting Tuesdays for consideration. After reviewing the cases, the meeting decided to withdraw 457 cases.
After reviewing the cases, the meeting decided to withdraw 457 cases, of which 456 are Criminal Prosecution Court cases and remaining one by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The cases which will be lifted include two cases against Awami League MP Abdur Rahman Bodi. So far 8863 cases were placed before the committee till now of which 6005 cases were recommended for withdrawal.
It may be pointed out that most of those whose cases were recommended for withdrawal belong to the ruling party and its front organizations, triggering resentment in the opposition BNP circles as its leaders are also bearing loads of such cases on charges of graft that had taken place during their rule. The scrutiny committee on October 13 in its eighth meeting recommended dropping one case against opposition leader Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman and one corruption case against former president and Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad MP.
Earlier on August 26, one case against BNP leader Moudud Ahmed was also withdrawn. Among the 669 cases recommended for quashing on 9 March in the 14th meeting the committee recommended withdrawal of a case filed against a group of eminent lawyers of the country including Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud, Barrister Tania Amir and Advocate Subrata Chow-dhury. Among the cases withdrawn on 19 May, one was against Awami League MP Mostaq Ahmed Ruhi and two cases against ex-Jatiya Party MP SM Abu Syeed.

 Money laundering case
ACC submits charge sheet against Tarique and Mamun

UNB, Dhaka
The Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion Tuesday submitted charge sheet against BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman and his business friend Giasuddin Al Mamun in a money laundering case.
Mohammad Ibrahim, Assistant Director of ACC, submitted the charge sheet to the court of chief metropolitan magistrate.
It said Tarique, elder son of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and Mamun had siphoned off more than Tk 20.41 crore to Singapore in different ways during the period from 2003 to 2007 violating the Money Laundering Act.
Mamun took the money from Khadija Islam, owner of a construction firm in Banani, promising her of awarding the contract for setting up an 80MW power plant in Tongi.
The transaction of money, US$ 7.50 lakh, was made in Singapore and the cash was deposited in Mamun's account in Citi Bank NA. Tarique carried credit card of the City Bank through which he withdrew US$55,000 while withdrew US$ 79,000.
ACC filed the case on October 26 last year.
Tarique, who was arrested during the caretaker government on corruption charges and subsequently enlarged on bail with permission to go London for medical treatment. He is still living there with his family. Mamun is in custody.

    Petrobangla fails to move for onshore gas block bidding
UNB, Dhaka

Although more than five months have elapsed, Petrobangla is yet to receive the certified copy of the High Court verdict that removed an embargo on the country's onshore gas block bidding and signing contract with foreign oil companies.
Petrobangla officials said the country has been experiencing a nagging gas crisis, but it is not possible for them to move forward with any plan to invite international bidding for gas exploration in the onshore areas, until they receive the certified copy of the court verdict.
"We're yet to get the certified copy of the court verdict. That's why it's getting delayed on our part to implement the government plan to invite onshore block bidding," a Petrobangla director told UNB.
Preferring anonymity, he also said that the Petrobangla has repeatedly asked the concerned offices of the Law Ministry to pursue for the certified copy of court verdict. "But there is no progress."
The country's 15 onshore blocks remained idle for long as so far 7 onshore blocks were awarded to inter-national oil companies (IOCs) at different times through bidding process while the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Ex-ploration Company is now working in 2 blocks. In order to facilitate gas exploration, the country's onshore areas were divided into a total of 24 blocks.
The country now produces about 1,900 million cubic feet (mmcf) gas per day against a demand for more than 2,500 mmcfd. The country's power plants, industry and domestic consumers are severely suffering for this gas shortage.
Feeling the crisis, the present Awami League-led Grand Alliance government soon after assuming office in January 2009 announced a plan to move for gas exploration in both onshore and offshore areas in order to resolve the nagging crisis that hit hard the country's power and industry sectors.
The Finance Minister also reiterated the government's commitment in his first budget speech in June 2009. After that, the Petrobangla desperately moved to remove the court embargo on onshore bidding.
As a result, the High Court in its verdict in January 28 this year cleared an injunction on the way of holding international bidding for awarding onshore gas blocks and also for signing production sharing contract (PSC) with foreign companies. Five months have elapsed but no move for any bidding process.

    One more killed in ‘shootout’
TBT Report

One more notorious pirate and ringleader was killed in a 'shootout' between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members and his cohorts at Janata bazar in Hatiya upazila early Tuesday taking the total of such extra judicial killings to 138 in 11 months from August 1, 2009 to July 6, 2010.
With this 46 extra judicial killings took place in the year of 2010. Meanwhile, RAB DG recently said as many as 622 people were killed in 'crossfire' since the formation of RAB on March 26, 2004.
UNB news agency reports: A notorious pirate and ringleader was killed in a shootout between his cohorts and RAB at Janata bazar in Hatiya upazila early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Bashar Majhi, leader of 'Bashar Bahini'. RAB sources said a RAB team conducted drive at Janata bazar when Bashar and his associates went there for committing robbery.
Sensing their presence the robbers opened fire in a bid to flee, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gun battle. Bashar received bullet during the gunfight and died on the spot, RAB sources said.
Officer-in-charge of Char Jabbar than, Abul Kalam, said Bashar was a notorious pirate and robber of the coastal area who had established a reign of terror in the area by piracy, grabbing chars and robbery in the forests. Police Super Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari said Bashar was wanted in 37 cases.
The unlawful killings are taking place despite mounting protests by human rights activists, civil society members and political parties and repeated assurances of the government that such killings would be stopped and actions would be taken against those found responsible.

    Khaleda’s Cantt house
Hearing adjourned till today

BSS, Dhaka

The rule hearing on Begum Khaleda Zia's writ petition challenging the notices that asked to return her Dhaka Cantonment residence to the military estates' officer resumed on Tuesday as the Supreme court reopened after summer vacation.
The hearing was initiated on June 6 before a two-judge bench comprising Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice Sheikh Hasan Ariff.
The court adjourned hearing on the fifth day till today as Begum Zia's counsel TH Khan continued his submission till the end of the court time. The Dhaka Cantonment Board served a notice on Begum Zia on April 20 last year asking her to return her Shaheed Moinul Road residence in Dhaka Cantonment to the military estates officer saying the cabinet on April 8 last year cancelled the lease between her and the government. Begum Zia filed the writ petition before the High Court Division on May 3 last year challenging the notices. A High Court bench on May 27 issued rule on the authorities concerned asking to show cause why the notices served on her should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority. On February 15, a petition was moved for State to fix date for rule hearing of the writ petition.
Accordingly, the case was sent before a two-judge bench for hearing, but Begum Zia's counsel prayed for adjournment for several times. At one stage, they expressed their no confidence in the bench. Later, the chief justice sent the case before the present bench comprising Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice Sheikh Hasan Ariff.

    Sitalakhya trawler capsize
Eight bodies of victims recovered

UNB, Narayanganj
Bodies of eight people drowned in trawler capsize in Sitalakkhya River on Sunday night were found floating on the banks of the river on Tuesday.
The victims were identified as Selim, 16, Nur Hossain, 40, Mukul, 25, Jewel, 18, Shyamol, 22, Mahabub, 22, Rubel, 19 and an unidentified woman aged about 28. Police rescued the bodies. The trawler with about 200 passengers on board capsized on after it was hit hard by a sand laden cargo. The trawler was going to Shitalkhya port from Tanbazar Gudara Ghat at about 11:45 pm.
At least 16 people remained missing after the trawler capsized, of them eight bodies were recovered on Tuesday.
The relatives of the victims took the body while the unidentified body of the woman was kept in Narayanganj thana.
Rafiqul Islam, Nirbahi officer of Port upazila committee gave tk 6,000 each to the family of the victims.
Most of the passengers were garments workers and shopkeepers in Narayanganj town who were returning home late at night.

Back Page

ECNEC okays 8 projects worth Tk 4,044 crore
Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake to be developed,Single line meter gauge project to connect China

UNB, Dhaka

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved eight development projects involving Tk 4,044 crore that includes a project to develop and reclaim Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara Lake in the capital.
Of the total cost of the projects, the government will bear Tk 2,862 crore while Tk 1,182 crore will come as project assistance. The ECNEC approval of the projects came from its first meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
"The Tk 410 crore Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara Lake project will be implemented under the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) from April 2010 to June 2013," said Planning Minister AK Khandaker while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Planning Secretary M Habibullah Majumder was present at the briefing.
The Planning Minister said that under the project, there will be a treatment plant to filter filthy water of the lake. Besides, there will be separate sewerage line for the houses of Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara area so that wastes could not mingle with the lake water. The lake will be dredged to restore its water retention capacity while walkways will be built after acquisition of land, he said.
Replying to a question, AK Khandaker said that the lake would be freed from illegal occupation and land would be acquired even from the Post and Telecommunication Ministry.
Meeting sources said that some 80.104 acres of land would be acquired for the Lake project while 6,200 running meter walkways would be constructed, 3,61,359 cubic meters of earth will be filled, 2,682.16 running meter driveways will be constructed and 9,51,634 cubic meter will be dredged.
The Planning Minister informed that the meeting approved Dohajari to Ramu via Cox's Bazar, Ramu to Gundum of Myanmar Metre Gauge Rail Line project at a cost of Tk 1,852 crore linking the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) and connecting the country with China. Under the project, 128 kilometers of Metre Gauge rail line will be constructed under the Roads and Railways Division with the government providing Tk 670 crore of the cost while the bulk of Tk 1,182 crore will come as project assistance.
Replying to a question, the Planning Minister said that China, ADB and other institutions are the possible financiers for the project.
The other approved projects include special development of University of Dhaka (4th phase) under the Education Ministry (Tk 120 crore), Special Rural Water Supply Project under the Local Government Division (Tk 700 crore), construction of Dirai-Shalla highway near Madanpur-Dirai-Shalla road under the Roads and Railways Division (Tk
120 crore), 2D seismic survey under fast track programme under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (Tk 230 crore), rural infrastructure development project in greater Faridpur (2nd phase) under the Local Government Division (Tk 418 crore), and coordinated forest development (2nd phase) under the Agriculture Ministry (Tk 194 crore).

    HC to pass order today on habeas corpus petition concerning Chowdhury Alam

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court will pass order Wednesday upon a habeas corpus petition seeking a rule asking government to explain why Chowdhury Alam, a BNP leader, should not be brought before it to satisfy itself that he is not being held in custody without lawful authority.
A High Court division bench headed by Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury fixed the date after a short hearing on the petition filed by Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, son of Dhaka city ward councilor Chowdhury Alam.
As the matter came up for hearing, additional attorney general Murad Reza opposing the habeas corpus writ petition submitted that since the petitioner filed a case with the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station and accordingly police is investigating the case, the matter cannot be entertained at this stage. Interrupting the government attorney, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that newspaper reports published the arrest of Chowdhury Alam by the police.
Additional attorney general Murad Reza told the court that the newspapers also published the report that police had denied the arrest of Chowdhury Alam. So, the contradictory newspaper reports cannot be made a reference, he said. After hearing both the sides, the court preferred to issue a rule but it was opposed by the additional attorney general who argued that it would not be fair to entertain the petition merely on surmise.
The writ petitioner in his petition stated that on the night of June 25t, his father was arrested by the law enforcing agency at Indira Road (Garment Goli) from his car while he was going to a relative's house.
A group of 5/6 civil-dressed people forcefully took Chowdhury Alam from his car leaving the driver behind and since then his father has been untraced, said the petitioner. The petitioner further said on June 30, a General Diary was lodged with the Sher-e-bangla Nagar police station stating the incident. Later, on June 1, a case was filed with the same police station under section 341 (wrongful restraint) and section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to confinement) of the Penal Code implicating 5/6 persons, the petitioner stated.

   Govt emphasizes on education by developing infrastructure: Minister

UNB, Dhaka

Primary and Mass education Minister Afsarul Amin has said that the government has given emphasis on ensuring country's education by developing infrastructures.
"As developed infrastructure directly influence the quality of education, the government is enthusiastic to develop the infrastructures of the education sector," he said at a function at Motijheel in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Afsarul Amin said the government is committed to enroll all children in primary education by 2011 and free the country from illiteracy by 2014 as per its election manifesto.
He said teachers were being sent aboard to receive higher training for improving the standard of the primary education.
Chaired by DG of Primary and Mass Education Directorate Shyamol Kanti Ghosh, the function was attended, among others, by State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain, chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Primary and Mass Education Rashed Khan Menon and Primary and Mass Education secretary Shahid Khan.

    4 killed in separate road crashes in 4 dists
UNB, Dhaka

Three people, including an army member, were killed and two others injured in separate road crashes in Natore, Chapainawabganj and Comilla on Tuesday.
In Comilla, an unidentified private car driver died and two others were injured as a private car and a goods laden truck collided on Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Amangonda in Chouddagram upazila early Tuesday.
In Chapainawabganj, an army member, Touhidul Islam, 30, resident of Niamotpur in Rasulpur upazila, was killed as a bhotbhuti hit his bicycle from behind on Rohonpur-Adda road at Dhulauri in Gomostapur upazila at noon Tuesday.
Natore Correspondent said: A motorcyclist, Khalilur Rahman, 35, was injured as a bus hit his motorbike from behind on Natore-Rajshahi highway at Dakmara in Sadar upazila at 10am. The injured was admitted to Sadar Hospital where he died at noon.
Another report from Bagerhat adds: A minor girl died and her mother and sister were injured in a road accident in front of Katakhali police camp on Bagerhat-Khulna highway in Fakirhat upazila on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Tithi, 2, daughter of Panna Begum, 36, of Katakhali in same upazila. Police said the accident took place as a bus hit the girl and her mother and a sister while they were crossing the road, leaving Tithi dead on the spot and injuring two others in the afternoon. The critically injured Panna Begum, and her another daughter Nupur, 3, were admitted to upazila health complex. Later, police seized the bus, but its driver and helper managed to flee the scene.

    Social accountability empowers rural community
UNB, Dhaka

Setting up of adequate institutional and regulatory framework, and citizen's oversight are key measures for ensuring accountability system at different governance levels.
This was disclosed at a roundtable on 'Institutionalizing Social Accountability at Union Parishad' held in the city on Tuesday.
The speakers discussed about different aspects of social accountability tools for enhancing the governance of the Union Parishads (UP)s - the lowest tier of the local government. The Village Education Resource Centre (VERC) organized the round table with support of the World Bank and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 'The communities have an important role in increasing accountability, reducing corruption and improving service delivery at Union Parishad level.' said Nilufar Ahmad, Senior Gender Specialist, World Bank. 'Incorporating the social accountability mechanism in different local government institutions would help to ensure sustainable governance and inclusive local development'.
The Government is committed to an incremental strengthening of Union Parishads (UPs) over the medium term. The Government has already introduced participatory planning and open budgeting exercise in the UPs.

    Hasina to visit Japan in Oct-Nov: Japanese envoy
UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Japan in October-November, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Tamotsu Shinotsuka said in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Ambassador stated this during a meeting with Home Minister Sahara Khatun at her ministry, a spokesman for the Home Ministry told UNB.
The envoy said Japan wants to extend cooperation in economic and social sectors of Bangladesh. Saying that Japan is the largest donor of Bangladesh in South East Asia, the Ambassador said a good number of high-tech Japanese companies have invested in Bangladesh.
Besides, Japanese companies made investment in garment, leather, fertilizer and fishing sectors. Recently, a Japanese company made 30 percent investment in Rabi (former Aktel) mobile operator. "We always encourage Japanese companies to make investment in Bangladesh," he said, adding, "We want to increase bilateral trade and investment."
The Ambassador noted that Japan also contributed to the construction of the Bangabandhu Bridge and the Meghna Bridge and expressed his government desire to assist the construction of the Padma Bridge. On traffic congestion in Dhaka City, he said JAICA is conducting feasibility study on a project and steps would be taken on its recommendations.
Describing human resources as assets for Bangladesh, the Ambassador emphasized on appropriate training of the human resources, which can impact on overall development of this country.
Presently, he said, more than 1700 Bangladeshi students are studying in Japan. The Home Minister requested the Ambassador to increase the scholarship of Bangladeshi students.Sahara also sought assistance to procure police vans and IT equipments from Japan.

    BNP asks govt to produce Chy Alam in court by July 10
UNB, Dhaka

BNP has announced demonstration on July 10 demanding the government to produce DCC ward councilor Chowdhury Alam before people or court.
The demonstration will be held in the capital's Muktangon at 4pm, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan informed newsmen Tuesday.
Chowdhury Alam, also member of BNP national executive committee and Ramna thana unit president, was allegedly picked up by plain clothed law enforcing agencies from Farm Gate area at about 9pm on June 25, two days before the June 27 hartal.
Since then Alam's whereabouts was not known. Police denied arrest of Alam.
Nazrul said report of arrest of Alam by police was published by the media. Now police denies the arrest and the government is conspicuous about the whereabouts of Alam.
Replying to a question regarding charge sheet against Tarique Rahman, he said approval of filing charge sheet in a 'baseless and fabricated' case was highly politically motivated.

    Pirates plunder 19 fishing trawlers, abducted 22 fishermen for ransom

UNB, Borguna

Pirates plundered 19 fishing trawlers and abducted 22 fishermen from the Bay, 80km feast-south of Patharghata overnight.
Trawler owners' association president at Patharghata informed that pirates have recently turned aggressive in the absence of patrol by the coast guard. At least 35 fishing trawlers were looted and 67 fishermen abducted demanding Tk 41 lakh ransom for securing their release from Sunday night to Tuesday morning. The situation has become intolerable, he said.
Joynal Abedin, a wounded fisherman who managed to escape from the clutches of the pirates and reached Patharghata Tuesday morning narrated their woes. He said the pirates of Raju, Abbas and Akash bahinis based in the deep forest of Sundarban started plundering the fishing trawlers since Sunday night.

    Star Particle Board Mill in flame
UNB, Narayanganj

Despite frantic efforts by firefighters, workers and locals to extinguish the fire, warehouses and valuables of Star Particle Board Mills at Haripur in Bandar upazila were burning till 7pm on Tuesday.
The devastating fire that broke out at 6pm Monday at the mill owned by Partex Group could not be completely extinguished. Some 14 firefighting units from Bandar, Hajiganj, Mandalpara, Postogola, Demra, Sadarghat and Ramna and several thousand mill workers and locals were engaged in fighting out the fire. At one stage, the inferno threatened the 100MW power station at Haripur but the power station was saved by firefighters who brought the flames under control late Monday night.

Editorial

Atrocities of BCL

This is an old story told afresh. A section of pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists have been resorting to atrocities including factional clashes, campus violence, admission trade, extortion and tender manipulation. There is no let up in these activities despite repeated warning by ruling leaders.
In the latest such incident, the Vice-chancellor and Assistant Proctor of Jahangir Nagar University were assaulted as rival groups of BCL ran amok on the campus leaving at least 50 people wounded, 4 with bullets. According to an agency report, the trouble started from Al Beruni Hall at about 10-30 am on Monday when supporters of BCL unit president Rasedul Islam Shafin and secretary Nirjhar Alam Sammoy engaged in rowdy clash for gaining supremacy on the campus.Vice-chancellor Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir and Assistant Proctor ASM Firojul Hasan who rushed to the spot to quell the situation came under assault.About a score gunshots were heard during the clash. Ujjal of Kamal Uddin hall and Simul of Shahid Salam Barkat hall were rushed to DMCH with bullet wounds. Four activists were thrown down form the rooftop of 4-storied Al Beruni Hall leaving them in a serious condition.
It may sound incredible, but remains a fact that all these occurred between unruly and rowdy university students who belong to the same organization named BCL which in the past had created history but is now making records of hooliganism one after another on different campuses. This pro-government organization has driven out all other student organizations by force from the campuses after Awami League came to power in January 2009 and later started fighting within itself for establishing supremacy. The process continues despite repeated warnings by AL leaders including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to do so.
Earlier, on June 16 fifteen people, including a teacher, were injured in a clash between two groups of BCL in Chandraganj Kafil Uddin Degree College in Sadar upazila of Laxmipur. On June 17 at least 50 BCL activists were injured in in-fighting during student union election of Bangabandhu University College Gopalganj. On the previous day, at least four BCL activists were injured, two of them critically, as two rival groups clashed for domination over the meeting in the city. Many such incidents took place over the last 18 months. Late in May cadres of BCL following a factional rivalry cut off right hand of Jubo League activist Uzzal. in Kathalbari area under Kurigram.
Questions have been raised at different levels about the relations between the AL and BCL. Measures taken by Sheikh Hasina including her relinquishing the position of the Chhatra League's organisational leader on April 4, 2009, and formation of a committee with three AL organising secretaries to discipline the BCL seem to have fallen flat. Now the unruly BCL activists appear to have turned into Frankenstein to destroy both BCL and its backer AL. They seem to be beyond the control of the ruling party and the government and determined to carry on their activities in a free style.
The BCL activists have already vitiated the situation on the campuses of educational institutions and destroyed the educational atmosphere there. Since the assumption of power by AL in January 2009 educational institutions have been rocked by violence involving different student groups specially those belonging to BCL. In the violence on campus several students have been killed and educational activities in a number of educational institutions suspended. In most of these incidents on the campus mainly BCL was involved. In view of this fact, to put an end to violence on the campus the government should take a hard line to bring the unruly BCL activists under control. The government should take as stern measure as necessary to check violence and end unrest on the campus.

 Restive RMG sector

The country's Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector continues to be restive with the workers and the owners being in a conflicting position over minimum wages . In the recent past workers resorted to violent movement by blocking roads and vandaslising and torching vehicles retaliated by police with baton charge and other actions.
In the latest development a number of garment factories at Ashulia declared holiday on Monday to avoid escalation of trouble that flared up in the morning when workers of Magpie Knitwear took to the street demanding higher wages. Angry workers clashed with police leading to minor injuries to 10 workers and a cop. The police soon brought the situation under control. Soon 10-12 factories in the area stopped operation in apprehension of escalation of the trouble and declared holiday for the workers.
Meanwhile, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday said they would be able to announce by July 28 the minimum wages structure for the garment workers, which he thinks is the key reason behind recent unrest in the RMG sector. "We discussed the matter with the concerned committee on Monday and they assured me of finalizing the wage structure before July 28," he told the newsmen. He said there are over four million workers engaged in the RMG sector, who now get only Tk 1,662 as minimum wage. "This is quite inadequate to run a family. So, the government has taken the initiative to ensure better wage for them."
The minister has rightly pointed out that the minimum wage of RMG workers is inadequate to run a family and so it should be raised reasonably. It is expected that the minimum wage structure to be announced soon will be adequate to be acceptable to the workers and thus the unrest in the RMG sector will be resolved.

Analysis

America’s Afghan strategy

This was the case especially when the US constitution makes it clear that the military is answerable to civilian authority. The general's impertinence had to be dealt with.

Shahid Javed Burki

A recent article in Rolling Stone magazine by a young freelance writer that appeared under the title of 'The Runaway General' created a crisis in Washington. There is no doubt that the contempt so openly shown by Gen Stanley McChrystal, the then American commander in Afghanistan and the subject of the article, for the senior civilian leadership could not be tolerated by President Barack Obama.
This was the case especially when the US constitution makes it clear that the military is answerable to civilian authority. The general's impertinence had to be dealt with.
As one commentator wrote, "the moment he pulled the trigger, there was near-universal agreement that President Obama had done the inevitable thing, the right thing and, best of all, the bold thing". But the general's removal brought the US strategy in Afghanistan back in focus. In its attempt to stabilise Afghanistan by following what is called the 'counter-insurgency' strategy, or COIN, the US seems to be losing its sense of direction. Will the change of command pull back Afghanistan from the edge of an abyss?
Given the circumstances, a change of command was needed to give an unambiguous signal that the civilian leadership would not tolerate insubordination by the military. The choice of Gen David Petraeus as the replacement sent another important signal: that there would be little or no change in the counterinsurgency strategy being followed to achieve the American objectives in Afghanistan. The stated objective was to clear Al Qaeda out of Afghanistan.
But the second signal did not hide the fact that there are many in Washington who believe that America is in deep trouble in Afghanistan. As a senior adviser of the dismissed general told the Rolling Stone presciently, "If Americans started paying attention to this war, it would become less popular".
What is interesting about the Rolling Stone article is not just what it said about the way the top American general felt about his bosses but also the conclusion reached by the author as to where American strategy stood in Afghanistan. "Whatever the nature of the new plan [for Kandahar], the delay underscores the flaws of counterinsurgency. After nine years of war, the Taliban simply remain too strongly entrenched for the US military to openly attack. The very people that COIN seeks to win over - the Afghan people - do not want us there. Our supposed ally, President Karzai, used his influence to delay the offensive, and the massive aid championed by McChrystal is likely to make things worse," wrote Michael Hastings, the article's author.
He quoted Tuft University's Andrew Wilder to underscore the perverse impact of one element of the COIN strategy. "A tsunami of cash fuels corruption, delegitimises the government and creates an environment where we are picking winners and losers - a process that fuels resentment and hostility among the civilian population. So far counterinsurgency has succeeded in creating a never-ending demand for the primary product supplied by the military - perpetual war."
The reference to the change of plans in the Rolling Stone article is to the postponement of the Kandahar operation that Gen McChrystal had announced for August. However, the experience of a much smaller operation in Marja, a small urban centre of only 60,000 people in Helmand province, convinced the Americans that they needed more time to prepare. Not only did they need more soldiers to overpower the large Taliban force that was present in Kandahar, a city of several hundred thousands, but also greater commitment of follow-up by the Karzai regime.
The province was dominated by Ahmed Wali Karzai, the president's half brother, who is alleged to have amassed an enormous amount of personal wealth through corrupt practices. He was said to be deeply involved in the flourishing drug economy of the province. Handing over the province to him after expelling the Taliban hardly met the goals of the counterinsurgency strategy.
In moving forward President Obama faces two obstacles: fast diminishing support at home for what he had once called America's war of necessity, an unpopular government in Afghanistan, led by an unpredictable president and Pakistan's changing perception of its interest in its neighbour.
It is clear that by turning to Gen Petraeus to lead the Afghan effort, the American president was providing some comfort to the conservatives in his country who had begun to doubt his commitment to the war in Afghanistan. Gen McChrystal was popular with this group and his removal was viewed with considerable apprehension. But the right also has a great deal of faith in his successor, confirmed recently by the Senate.
According to Robert Kagan, a powerful voice in neo-conservative circles, the appointment of Petraeus "signalled Obama's determination to succeed in Afghanistan, despite the chorus of wise counselling, as our wise men always seem to do, a rapid retreat.
Those on the region who have been calculating on an American departure in July 2011, regardless of conditions on the ground, should think again. That date was never very realistic, and the odds that Petraeus will counsel a premature withdrawal - or that he will be ordered to withdraw regardless of his assessment of the situation - is infinitesimal".
This then is a time of great uncertainty about the future of the American enterprise in Afghanistan. There seems to be a general agreement that a negotiated settlement is the only way out of this conundrum. But how to get there is not clear. Some of this uncertainty may be removed when the operation in Kandahar materialises. A victory at Kandahar would certainly help the Americans and its allies but it will take time before it becomes apparent as to which side has won. Under the COIN philosophy, a military operation must be followed by a palpable improvement in the quality of governance. For that to happen a credible leadership must be available in the wings. That appears not to be the case either in Kandahar or in Kabul.

  Nobody has a clue to what “enhanced relationship” means

The truth is that for all the talk about the "new global India" ultimately the country is still largely defined by its poverty, illiteracy and corruption.

Hasan Suroor

Whatever be its other failings, Britain's new government cannot be faulted for the way it has played to Indian ego. The charm offensive started with that famous reference to India in the Queen's speech and shows no sign of abating.
Last week, in what was seen as a special gesture Prime Minister David Cameron dropped by to say hello to the Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, when he discovered that the latter was in Downing Street for a meeting with Business Secretary Vince Cable and other British officials. And these days, his Foreign Secretary William Hague seldom says anything on Britain's external relations without a hyperbolic mention of India.
In his first major speech a few days ago, Mr. Hague pointedly referred to India as a place where the "real economic action" was taking place and said Britain needed to "connect much more strongly" with this new power-house than it had done under the previous Labour government.
The "big" news, of course, is that Mr. Cameron is all set to visit India (the first Asian country after the NATO-occupied Afghanistan to be blessed with a prime ministerial visit so early in his innings) as part of his desire to seek an "enhanced" relationship with New Delhi.
Indians are, no doubt, mightily pleased with all the attention they are getting. Some of the self-congratulatory rhetoric in Indian diplomatic and business circles has to be heard to be believed. One prominent NRI businessman breathlessly hailed India as the "future" that had "arrived." There is a new unmistakable swagger among visiting Indian ministers and officials.
And, well, why not? After being ignored for so long (remember the days when India House struggled to set up meetings for visiting Indian VIPs?) the idea of "empire striking back" can be rather seductive. But has the equation really changed much beyond rhetoric?
Just so that we don't get too carried away, Brits make it a point to remind us from time to time that India remains the single largest recipient of U.K. overseas aid and was given an estimated £1 billion between 2003 and 2008. The entry on India on the Department for International Development (DFID)'s website is headed with a photo of a "family group in a slum" in Patna and highlights the "scale" of the country's need for assistance noting: "The country has accomplished a great deal since independence in 1947, making slow but steady progress. However, despite its strong economic growth, the scale of its need is huge. Today 456 million Indians - 42 per cent of the population - live in poverty, comprising one-third of the world's poor."
The truth is that for all the talk about the "new global India" ultimately the country is still largely defined by its poverty, illiteracy and corruption. The tone in London remains patronising.
For flavour, here's the opening paragraph of a newspaper article by International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell: "Today I want to deliver a message from the new Coalition Government of Britain directly to the millions of Indians who are battling against poverty and disease.
Our message is this: the people and Government of Britain are on your side, and we will use every tool in our policy armoury - aid, trade, climate policy, diplomacy, business investment, and more - to champion fairness and prosperity for you. It is worth reminding ourselves of the scale of the challenge that confronts us. Globally, over eight million children die before the age of five each year. More than 70 million children are missing out on primary education.
A fifth of global child and maternal deaths, and cases of TB occur in India. Over 40 per cent of children in India are underweight and a child dies every 15 minutes from easily-preventable diseases.''
So this is how India is still perceived: "millions of Indians…battling against poverty and disease" and the former colonial power coming to their rescue!
What is new?
And now a reality check on the new government's supposed love-in with India and the hype over the proposed "enhanced relationship," a term that since it first appeared in the Queen's speech two months ago is being repeated as a new mantra by both sides.
But what does it really mean? Some excited commentators have even suggested that it is a code for a "special relationship" that, in the long run, could supplant Britain's historic and often controversial "special relationship" with America.
The fact is that nobody has a clue to what it means - either in Whitehall or South Block. The standard line in Indian circles is: let's see how it pans out. Mr. Sharma, speaking to reporters after his "focused" talks with Mr. Cameron, struggled to explain how this "enhanced relationship" would actually translate on the ground beyond saying that there would be greater focus on areas such as technology, education and trade, etc.
But wasn't that always the foreign policy goal of the two countries? Every ministerial visit in the past decade has invariably ended with both sides expressing their "resolve" to "further strengthen" existing relations and "expand" cooperation. What's new then?
Meanwhile, the suggestion that Labour "neglected" India as Mr. Hague alleged in his big foreign policy speech last week is simply misleading and Tory propaganda. It was Labour that did much of the heavy-lifting in raising the level of India-U.K. engagement by establishing what the two countries grandly hailed as a "strategic relationship." And, occasional difficulties notwithstanding, even cynics acknowledge that New Delhi and London are closer today than they were in 1997.
Remind yourself who was in power before that and reach your own conclusions.

Viewpoints

Nuclear doublespeak

India's deal with Canada follows similar agreements with a number of other countries including France and Russia since the exemption it received from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in the wake of the US-India nuclear accord that entered into force in 2008.

Maleeha Lodhi

As India was signing its eighth civilian nuclear deal with Canada on the sidelines of last month's G20 meeting, its officials were voicing concerns about China's sale of two power reactors to Pakistan. India's deal with Canada follows similar agreements with a number of other countries including France and Russia since the exemption it received from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in the wake of the US-India nuclear accord that entered into force in 2008.
There cannot be a more telling example of nuclear doublespeak than the objections to Sino-Pakistan cooperation raised by India and a cast of familiar characters in the western media and think-tank community. These ostensible concerns are devoid of either moral or legal basis because Pakistan-China civilian nuclear cooperation is of longstanding nature and the supply of reactors was 'grandfathered' under the agreement dating back to the 1980s that provided for an understanding in 2003 for further long-term collaboration. This predates China joining the NSG in 2004.
So why all the fuss over nuclear power reactors being provided under full international safeguards? The answer might lie in the timing of the orchestrated campaign. Although plans for the third and fourth reactors at Chashma were publicly known years before, opposition to them surfaced at the time of the review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in May. This seemed a rather transparent bid to distract attention from the US-India nuclear deal, a fundamental violation of the Treaty and for that reason the source of continuing misgivings among many NPT members.
Different lobbies with a mix of motives seemed to lie behind the efforts to ignite a controversy. The aims may have included the following: pre-empt and deflect criticism of the US-India nuclear accord, mount pressure on Pakistan to modify its position in the Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty talks at Geneva, and put pressure on China in other contexts as well ( for example tougher sanctions against Iran). Feeding into this campaign were right-wing critics of President Barack Obama who sought to use the issue to depict his administration as being soft on China and Pakistan.
A spate of analyses emanated from think tanks in Washington calling attention to Sino-Pakistan nuclear cooperation. Some 'experts' even urged the US to use its assistance to Pakistan as leverage to block the 'deal'. One analyst made this case in an article on the basis of the farcical claim that US aid would be subsidising the "dangerous deal"!
Much of this comment aimed at building a momentum of opinion to urge the US to take a tougher position on the issue. While Washington said it would seek "clarification" from Beijing about the two new reactors, it has - thus far - avoided pressing the issue. American officials did not raise the issue with Pakistan in last month's unpublicised talks on nuclear safety and security. Nor has the issue figured in the strategic dialogue underway in Islamabad which has a specific track dedicated to nuclear issues.
The reason the US has taken this stance is not hard to fathom. Having concluded a sweeping civilian nuclear deal with India, which was finalised this March, the US is hardly in a position to make a big deal out of this and actively oppose such cooperation between China and Pakistan. In fact the more Washington protests the more its own double standards are exposed to the non-nuclear weapons states. Moreover as some in the nuclear non-proliferation lobby in Washington have acknowledged the US may object but it "cannot prevent China from exporting these reactors".
A section of the American media highlighted Washington's "uncomfortable" position by asking how it could oppose China's plan "while dodging charges of nuclear hypocrisy, given that the administration only last year sealed a US deal to supply India with civilian nuclear equipment."
So while the Obama administration continued to be accused by its detractors of allowing the need for vital cooperation from Pakistan and China (on a range of issues including currency revaluation ) trump its non-proliferation commitment, it desisted from going beyond seeking "clarifications" from China.
The sense of disappointment this produced in Indian official circles as reflected in their media has been palpable. Delhi has made no secret of its opposition to the deal. Its behind-the-scenes lobbying has also been evident from a spate of leaked stories. Mimicking the US stance, Indian officials have been publicly saying they are calling for "clarifications" from Beijing. This provoked a rebuke last week from the spokesman of Pakistan's Foreign Office in which he said Indian demands for clarifications are unwarranted and invalid, considering India has signed civilian nuclear deals with the US and many other countries.
According to Indian press reports Delhi has questioned Pakistan-China cooperation on several recent occasions. During the May visit of Indian President Pratibha Patil to Beijing Indian officials are reported to have conveyed their objections to China's foreign minister during a formal banquet, only to be tersely told that the cooperation was for peaceful purposes.
Attempts in the Indian media to depict China-Pakistan civilian nuclear cooperation as a "counter" to the Indo-US pact and equate the two are deliberately misleading and spurious. The latter deal has global scope and enables India to gain global access to nuclear material and technology as well as assured fuel supply from whichever supplier nation lines up for commercial advantage. The NSG waiver in fact opened the way for a veritable nuclear souk with eight countries signing agreements with India and Japan about to begin negotiations.
While Pakistan-China cooperation is bilateral and consistent with international legality, the US-India deal undermined the legal norm set by the NPT and violated the NSG's very raison d'etre by making a country-based exemption.
Pakistan-China cooperation rests on solid legal ground. It is part of continuing collaboration under an agreement that was general and generic. And as it predates China joining the NSG it does not in any way compromise its international obligations.
Moreover the two additional power plants will be under full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and supervision. This makes the proliferation argument advanced against the supply patently specious. Much of the comment in the western press seems to have deliberately omitted this fact.
It is because these objections lack legal and moral validity that China and Pakistan have reacted coolly to them. In a series of statements the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has said plainly and pithily that the nuclear energy cooperation between Pakistan and China is for peaceful purposes in line with international obligations and under IAEA safeguards.
Meanwhile efforts were made last month to turn an NSG meeting concerned with technical issues into one focusing on the China-Pakistan 'deal'. The meeting in New Zealand of the 46-nation cartel that monitors nuclear transactions did not take up formal consideration of the matter. But the issue was apparently raised informally by the US, Switzerland and Norway by way of "seeking information." China simply reiterated at the meeting that its civilian cooperation with Pakistan was in accordance with its international commitments. The NSG statement made no reference to any China-Pakistan agreement, saying only that "the group took note of briefings on developments concerning non-NSG states… (and)… agreed on the value of ongoing consultations and transparency".
Disappointment over this was evident from reports in the Indian press and from the reaction of familiar lobbies in the west. Leaks that Indian officials are "wary" of the stance taken by the NSG have been accompanied by indications that Delhi will continue to try and build up diplomatic momentum and make "quiet representation" to "friends".
These efforts are unlikely to go anywhere. And if there is any expectation on Delhi's part or among well-known lobbies in the US and Europe that pressure by leaks and flanking manoeuvres will urge Beijing to revise its position then they understand the Chinese even less than they think they do.


The writer is a former envoy of Pakistan to the US and the UK, and a former editor of The News.

  Welcome to smart bombs

Unlike conventional weapons, cluster bomblets survive for many years, luring little children with their attractive appearance. Children often mistake the bomblets for candy or toys.
 
Ramzy Baroud

Cluster bombs are in the news again, thanks to a recent report from Amnesty International. The human rights agency has confirmed that 35 women and children were killed following the latest US attacks on an alleged al-Qaeda hideout in Yemen.
Initially, there were attempts to bury the story, and Yemen officially denied that civilians were killed as a result of the December 17 attack in southern Yemen. However, it has been impossible to conceal what is now considered the largest loss of life in one single US attack in the country. If the civilian casualties were indeed a miscalculation on the part of the US military, there should no longer be any doubt about the fact that cluster munitions are far too dangerous a weapon to be utilised in war. And they certainly have no place whatsoever in civilian areas. The human casualties are too large to justify. Yemen is not alone. Gaza, Lebanon and Afghanistan are also stark examples of the untold loss and suffering caused by cluster bombs.
Meanwhile, the unrepentant Israeli army will not consider dropping the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas altogether. Instead it is pondering ways to make them 'safer'. The Jerusalem Post reported on July 2 that the army "has carried out a series of tests with a bomblet that has a specially designed self-destruct mechanism which dramatically reduces the amount of unexploded ordnance." During the Israeli onslaught in Lebanon in 2006, Israel fired millions of bomblets. Aside from the immediate devastation and causalities, unexploded ordnance continues to victimise Lebanon's civilians, most of whom are children. Dozens of lives have been lost since the end of this war.
In Gaza, the same terrible scenario was repeated between 2008 and 2009. Unlike Lebanon, however, trapped Palestinians in Gaza had nowhere to go. Now Israel is anticipating another war with the Lebanese resistance. In preparation for this, an Israeli PR campaign is already underway. It seeks to convince public opinion that Israel is doing its utmost to avoid civilian casualties. "Ahead of a potential new conflict with Hezbollah, the IDF has decided to evaluate the M85 bomblet manufactured by the Israeli Military Industries," reports the Jerusalem Post. Of course, Israel's friends will be pleased by the initial successes of the Israeli army testing.
Under pressure to ratify the agreement, these countries are only too eager to offer a 'safer' version of current cluster bomb models. This would help not only to maintain the huge profits generated from this morally abhorrent business, it would also hopefully quell growing criticism by civil society and other world governments.
In December 2008, the United States, Russia and China, among others, sent a terrible message to the rest of the world. They refused to take part in the historic signing of the treaty that banned the production and use of cluster bombs.
In a world that is plagued by war, military occupation and terrorism, the involvement of the great military powers in signing and ratifying the agreement would have signaled - if only symbolically - the willingness of these countries to spare civilians' unjustifiable deaths and the lasting scars of war. Fortunately, the refusal didn't completely impede an international agreement. The incessant activism of many conscientious individuals and organisations came to fruition on December 3 and 4 in Oslo, Norway, when ninety-three countries signed a treaty banning the weapon.
Not surprisingly, the US, Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan - a group that includes the biggest makers and users of the weapon - neither attended the Ireland negotiations of May 2008, and nor did they show any interest in signing the agreement in Oslo.
Most countries that have signed the accords are not involved in any active military conflict. They are also not in any way benefiting from the lucrative cluster munition industry.
But without the involvement of the major producers and active users of the weapon, the Oslo ceremony remained largely symbolic. However, there is nothing symbolic about the pain and bitter losses experienced by the many victims of cluster bombs.
According to the group Handicap International, a third of cluster-bomb victims are children.
Equally alarming, 98 per cent of the weapon's overall victims are civilians. The group estimates that about 100,000 people have been maimed or killed by cluster bombs around the world since 1965.
Unlike conventional weapons, cluster bomblets survive for many years, luring little children with their attractive appearance. Children often mistake the bomblets for candy or toys.
Recently, some encouraging news emerged from the Netherlands. Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged his country's House of Representative to ratify the Convention, which bans the production, possessions and use of such munitions. The ban leaves no room for any misguided interpretations and does not care for the Israeli army's experimentations. In his speech, Verhagen claimed, "Cluster munitions are unreliable and imprecise, and their use poses a grave danger to the civilian population…Years after a conflict has ended, people - especially children - can fall victim to unexploded submunition from cluster bombs."
To date, the agreement has been signed by 106 countries and ratified by 36 - and will enter into force on August 1, despite the fact that the big players refuse to take part. The Netherlands' push is certainly a step in the right direction. But much more remains to be done.
The onus is also on civil societies in countries that are yet to ratify the agreement or sign it in the first place. "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing." This holds as true in ?the issue of cluster bombs, as in any other where human rights are violated ?and ignored.


Ramzy Baroud is a distinguished Arab American commentator and author, most recently, of 'My father was a freedom fighter' published by Pluto Press

 Is Europe capable of defending itself today against the ‘new’ world?

A military power cannot be measured only by the level of its defence budget, but expenditures are an indication of capabilities as well as an expression of will - or the lack of it.

Therese Delpech

Will Europe still be a military power in the 21st century? This question would have seemed absurd in the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, or 20th centuries, all of which had their different versions of European military power. Granted, there was not a single "Europe" then, but individual European states had powerful military means that they used to fight each other often.
If the question was limited to these disputes, we would be content with congratulating ourselves. Or, recalling Europe's situation during the Cold War, we could note that Europe is no longer at the center of strategic affairs, and again everyone could applaud, taking into account the huge price paid for that "centrality": the division of Europe, the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, the constant fear of another war more terrifying than the last one.
But wondering about the future of European military power at a time of somber cuts in defence budgets is not a cause for celebrating European peace or "soft power." Rather, it is potentially disquieting, for several reasons: In all the important periods of its history, Europe always maintained a ?global perspective.
Yet now, just when everything has become "global," the Europeans resist the broader view and the new dynamics of the 21st century. Europe's territorial expansion has not been matched by any corresponding expansion of its strategic vision. Asia is still perceived largely as an economic partner, even as United States rightly regards it as a potential strategic headache. Much closer, the Middle East is often understood only in terms of the Arab-Israeli conflict, when even beyond the Iranian nuclear puzzle there are a number of other questions that deserve consideration - Turkey's new regional policy, or the fates of Egypt and Saudi Arabia after their current rulers are gone. In many ways, the European vision is narrower than it was during the Cold War: For example, Europe has no Russia experts as good as the former Soviet experts. In a world that is heavily arming itself, the relatively small increases in European military spending demand an explanation. It means that European politicians no longer know how to justify military expenditures to their people. Not that justifications are lacking - politicians make constant references to an unpredictable and dangerous world - but the conviction is not there. Even in France, more than €3 billion are given to restaurant owners even as €5 billion are cut from the defense budget. So the question arises: Does Europe still have a desire to exist on the international scene, or is it ready to retire from history?
In many European countries - and not just the so-called "neutral" one - there is a powerful resistance to any endeavor that entails the use of force. The very idea of power has become taboo - unless it is "emerging powers," which we acclaim as if they are leading us ?to a radiant future. One can't help wonder why leaders like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-il are allowed to repeatedly threaten their neighbors without arousing any outrage in Europe.
The fact is that Europe does not have the option of a kind of post-modern, undeclared neutrality. The potential conflicts of the 21st century are too obvious for Europe to be solely an observer. Even Asia is not as remote as many would want to believe.
China is present in Central Asia, in the Middle East, in Africa and in Latin America - which is to say, everywhere. If Taiwan, to our common misfortune, should become the object of a confrontation between China and America, the Europeans may have to do some work - in the Middle East, for example, helping block maritime routes. Is Europe prepared to consider this, let alone actually do it?
A military power cannot be measured only by the level of its defence budget, but expenditures are an indication of capabilities as well as an expression of will - or the lack of it. The Europeans look proudly at their military interventions in Congo or in Somalia. They do not perceive the abyss between such peripheral interventions and a decisive contribution to regional and international security.
This is the core of the problem. Having started two world wars in the 20th century, Europe should demonstrate a sense of both dignity and responsibility by becoming a more serious contributor to peace and security in the 21st. Doing so would make much more sense than arguing about the limits of military power.
Europe knows all too well that international relations, like nature, abhor a vacuum, and that candidates for the next exercise of power - and they are never in short supply - are often more formidable than they may seem to be at first.


Thérèse Delpech is senior research fellow at the Centre d'études et de recherches internationals in Paris

International

Protests at UN office in Sri Lanka over war panel
AFP, Colombo

Demonstrators led by a Sri Lankan cabinet minister surrounded the United Nations office in Colombo on Tuesday to protest against a UN panel set up to probe war crimes allegations.
Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa shouted anti-UN slogans as crowds broke through police barricades and rallied at the entrance to the building.
"We will not leave. We will sit down and protest here until the secretary-general withdraws the panel," Weerawansa told about 1,500 cheering supporters.
They burnt an effigy of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and carried banners that accused him of being a puppet of the United States.
UN staff were trapped in the building during the day but riot police later arrived to allow them safe passage out, while a few hundred rowdy protesters remained on the scene.
Sri Lanka has refused to cooperate with the panel, which was named by Ban last month to advise on "accountability issues" during the war between government forces and the Tamil Tiger separatists. The government has also refused to grant visas to the three members of the panel, meaning they will be unable to visit the island.
The Tiger guerrillas were defeated after decades of conflict in May 2009, and the UN has said that at least 7,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in the first four months of last year.
Many diplomats see the UN panel, headed by Marzuki Darusman, a former Indonesian attorney general, as a precursor to a full-blown war crimes investigation.
Neither the UN office in Colombo nor the government commented on Tuesday's protest.
President Mahinda Raja-pakse has repeatedly rejected international calls to investigate war crimes allegations.
Sri Lanka managed to stave off a UN resolution last year with the help of Russia and China, key allies and arms suppliers to the island.
Ban has asked his three-member panel to complete its work in four months.

   Sharif urges Pakistan’s neutrality on Afghanistan
AP, Islamabad

Pakistan should stop trying to influence affairs in Afghanistan, the opposition leader said Tuesday, while admitting that the pro-Afghan Taliban policy he pursued when he was prime minister in the 1990s was a failure.
Nawaz Sharif's comments come as he tries to gain political traction and deflect criticism that his party is beholden to extremist elements. Just last week, he pushed the government to open talks with elements of the Pakistani Taliban, and the ruling party agreed to his proposal to hold a national conference on stopping terrorism.
The remarks also come as Pakistan tries to weigh in on reconciliation efforts between Afghanistan's government, the US and the Afghan Taliban.
In an interview with Pakistan's Dunya TV that aired Monday and Tuesday, Sharif appeared to renounce a policy he pursued with vigor while twice prime minister in the 1990s.
"Pakistan should abandon this thinking that Pakistan has to keep influence in Afghanistan," said Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League-N party. "Neither will they accept influence, nor should the pro-influence-minded people here insist on it."
"Our policy in the past has failed. Neither will such a policy work in future. We have a centuries-old relationship, and we can maintain this relationship only when we remain neutral and support the government elected there with the desire of the Afghan people." It was unclear where Sharif would stand on the reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.
The PML-N has been criticized in recent months for not going after militant outfits in Punjab, a stance analysts say is driven by its reliance on banned militant groups to deliver key votes during elections.
While proposing Saturday for peace talks with militants in Pakistan, Sharif said Islamabad should take the initiative instead of waiting for directives from Washington. But he also said the negotiations should be with militants "who are ready to talk and ready to listen."
The government has brokered peace deals with Taliban fighters along the Afghan border in the past, but they have usually collapsed and have often given the militants time to regroup and consolidate their control.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced later Saturday that he'd agreed to Sharif's proposal that an all-parties conference be held on ways to defeat militancy. No date has been announced, and the potential impact is unclear. At least one past such gathering has already been held.

  Two killed in latest bloody protests in Indian Kashmir
AFP, Srinagar, India

Two people were killed Tuesday when security forces opened fire at protesters in Indian Kashmir, police said, the latest in a series of deaths that have stoked public anger.
Crowds had poured on to the streets of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, vowing revenge and chanting "we want freedom" and "blood for blood" after the death of another protester on Monday.
Indian police and paramilitary forces struggling to control a wave of protests in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley have now killed at least 13 civilians in less than a month.
"One young man was killed when security forces opened fire at a very violent rally, and a woman was killed by firing at a different demonstration in Srinagar," a police officer who declined to be named told AFP.
The city has been at the centre of furious separatist demonstrations since June 11 when a 17-year-old student died from a police teargas shell.
The latest deaths occurred when security forces opened fire to disperse several demonstrations triggered by the death of a protester who had gone missing on Monday and whose body was later found in a stream.
Protesters had thrown stones Monday at a convoy belonging to Nasir Aslam, a senior minister and close aide of chief state minister Omar Abdullah, prompting troops to chase them away.
Residents said the man drowned after being chased into the water by security personnel, but no official comment has been issued.
No further details were available on Tuesday's two deaths, except that the man and the woman died in firings at separate protests in Srinagar.
Each civilian death has sparked a new cycle of violence despite appeals for calm from Abdullah.
Thousands of mourners, including women and children, gathered as the coffins of two of the slain protesters were carried through the streets on Tuesday.

  China objects to US unilateral sanctions on Iran
AFP, Beijing

China warned other nations Tuesday against taking unilateral actions against Iran's nuclear programme outside newly passed UN sanctions and denounced the United States for making such moves.
China, under pressure from the United States and Europe, last month voted with 11 other UN Security Council nations for a fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its uranium enrichment.
The sanctions target Iran's Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles and nuclear-related investments.
Last week, US President Barack Obama signed into law far-reaching new sanctions on Iran that aim to curb Tehran's fuel imports and deepen its international isolation. "We have noted the US announcements on unilateral sanctions on Iran," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists.
"China believes that countries should earnestly, correctly and comprehensively implement the sanctions and avoid making arbitrary interpretations that expand the Security Council sanctions."
Qin reiterated China's long-standing position that diplomacy and dialogue were the best way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
Western governments suspect Iran of seeking to develop a weapons capability under cover of its civilian nuclear programme, an allegation Tehran strongly denies.

  Celebrations and sadness as Dalai Lama turns 75
AFP, Dharamshala, India

The Dalai Lama turned 75 Tuesday, a milestone marked by celebrations in his hometown-in-exile but tinged by sadness that his compatriots in Tibet were unable to honour the occasion.
Under relentless rain, the Tibetan spiritual leader addressed a packed crowd of 5,000 followers at his temple in McLeod Ganj, a hill station in the Indian Himalayas where he has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959. In a reminder of the situation in his homeland, where China views him as a dangerous separatist, he expressed regret that his followers there would be unable to pay tribute for fear of reprisal. "The Tibetans in Tibet have a great desire to celebrate my birthday but they are not allowed to," he said in Tibetan.
Staring out at a banner depicting him at various stages over the last three-quarters of a century, he reflected on his work of preaching peace and religious tolerance while keeping the issue of Tibet in the spotlight.
"When I see those pictures and see the development, I know my life has not been wasted," he said.
Tibetan communities in North America, Europe and Australia organised festivities on Tuesday, but in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu police briefly detained around 200 Tibetan refugees on their way to a birthday celebration.

  Thailand maintains emergency rule despite rights fears
AFP, Bangkok

Thailand extended emergency rule across about one quarter of the country by three months Tuesday over lingering fears of unrest, despite calls from rights groups for the sweeping powers to be lifted.
The state of emergency, imposed in April after mass opposition protests broke out in the capital, will be maintained in Bangkok and 18 other provinces-out of a total of 76 -- but lifted in five others, officials said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there were still reports of activity by the anti-government "Red Shirts", whose protests in Bangkok erupted into the country's worst political violence in decades. "The government still needs the tools to ensure peace, order and stability for a while," he said.
The emergency law bans public gatherings of more than five people and gives security forces the right to detain suspects for 30 days without charge.
The authorities have used the powers to arrest hundreds of suspects-including most of the top leaders of the "Red Shirt" protest movement-and shut down anti-government TV channels, radio stations and websites. Two months of mass anti-government rallies from mid-March by the Red Shirts, who were seeking immediate elections, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 90 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured.
The government rejected calls from the opposition for the emergency decree to be revoked in time for a parliamentary by-election in Bangkok on July 25.
A Red Shirt leader detained on charges of terrorism is running as a candidate for the opposition Puea Thai Party, which sharply criticised the decision to extend the state of emergency.

  Afghanistan urges Pakistan to act against terror groups
AFP, Kabul

Afghanistan's national security adviser has called on the Pakistani government to "take serious measures" against Islamist groups launching attacks on Afghan targets from secure havens inside Pakistan.
Rangin Dadfar Spanta spoke to AFP in an interview a week after the Al-Jazeera television network said Afghan President Hamid Karzai had met the man who runs the Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, in talks mediated by Pakistan. Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Taliban have all denied any such meeting. Spanta's comments signal an about-turn by the Afghan government after months of overtures to Islamabad in efforts to prompt Pakistan to deal with militant groups, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban based along the Afghan border. Spanta told AFP on Monday that Afghanistan had "tremendous evidence" that Pakistani authorities allowed Al-Qaeda and other terror organisations to operate on the country's soil and had presented it to Islamabad "many times". Islamabad had failed to act against the groups based in Pakistan's tribal areas on the Afghan border, he told AFP.
"My expectation is that Pakistan after nine years -- because theoretically Pakistan is part of the anti-terror alliance -- they have to begin to take some serious measures against terrorism," he said.

 15 killed in fresh Turkey clashes
AFP, Diyarbakir

Kurdish rebels attacked military outposts in the east and southeast of Turkey, sparking clashes that left three soldiers and 12 militants dead, the army said Tuesday.
The attacks come amid a surge in violence by Kurdish rebels, prompting Turkey's army chief to highlight the danger posed by a militant safe haven in northern Iraq from where they launch their attacks into Turkey.
Most of the casualties were from a clash that broke out when Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels fired upon a military outpost overnight Monday in a rural area in Hakkari province near the borders with Iraq and Iran, the army said in a statement on its website.
Three soldiers and 11 PKK rebels were killed in the fighting in which the army used unmanned drones to detect the fleeing militants, it added. Three other soldiers were wounded. In a separate incident, six soldiers were lightly wounded late Monday when PKK rebels opened fire on troops on security duty at an outpost in the eastern province of Elazig, the army said. A PKK rebel was killed when soldiers returned fire, it added.
In other incidents in Hakkari late Monday, two soldiers were wounded when they were fired upon and another two stepped on a landmine planted by the rebels, Anatolia news agency reported.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, has dramatically stepped up violence since its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan said through his lawyers in May he was abandoning efforts to seek dialogue with Ankara.
In remarks late Monday, chief of general staff Ilker Basbug described the safe haven the militants enjoy in northern Iraq, an autonomous region run by the Iraqi Kurds, as "the greatest threat" facing Turkey, Anatolia reported.
The PKK could pose security threats also for Iraq after US troops withdraw from the country, Anatolia quoted him as saying in a television programme.
"The PKK presence in the north of Iraq could have a negative impact on Turkish-Iraqi ties. In a sense, it could have a negative impact also on Turkish-US ties," he said.
The PKK has long taken refuge in mountains in the region, using bases there as a launching pad for attacks across the border.
Ankara had often accused the Iraqi Kurds of tolerating and even aiding the PKK, but has recently shifted to a policy of seeking cooperation with them to curb the group.
United States has pledged support against the PKK, supplying its NATO ally with intelligence on rebel movements in northern Iraq to back up Turkish air raids against PKK hideouts in the region.
The surging violence has dealt a severe blow to an already fragile government initiative to boost Kurdish freedoms and investment in the impoverished southeast in a bid to erode separatist sentiment among the Kurds and cajole the PKK into laying down arms.
Ankara however rejects dialogue with the PKK, insisting the rebels should either surrender or face the army. The PKK took up arms in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives.

   Nuclear talks can resume from Sept 1 if conditions met: Iran

AFP, Tehran

Iran on Tuesday set September 1 as a possible date for the resumption of nuclear talks with six world powers which have been stalled since October, but insisted conditions set by Tehran must first be met.
The Islamic republic at the same time rejected claims by some of its officials that airports in Britain, Germany and the United Arab Emirates had refused to refuel its passenger planes, in line with latest US sanctions on Tehran. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the country's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, in a letter to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said that Tehran needed three issues clarified by the world powers before it could consider resuming talks. Ashton, who is negotiating with Iran on behalf of the so-called P5+1 powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- had invited Tehran for talks soon after the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on the Islamic republic on June 9. Jalili said the world powers must answer whether the talks are aimed at "engagement and cooperation or continued confrontation and hostility towards Iranians."
"Will you be committed to the logic of talks which calls for avoiding threats and pressure?" he asked, and added that the six powers must air a "clear view" on the "Zionist regime's nuclear arsenal." Israel, which has the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear arsenal, has backed US-led efforts to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapons capability through sanctions, but has also refused to rule out military force. Iran insists that its nuclear programme is aimed solely at peaceful purposes and says that the international community should focus on Israel, which, unlike Iran, is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"Your response to the above questions can pave the way for forming talks to allay common global concerns for peace and justice with the presence of other interested countries from September 1," Jalili told Ashton, according to IRNA.

  Australia plans to ship asylum-seekers to Timor
AFP, Sydney

Australia's new leader Julia Gillard Tuesday revealed surprise plans to ship asylum-seekers to impoverished East Timor, in a pre-election bid to deter migrants fleeing Asian trouble-spots.
Gillard said a regional processing centre would "wreck" the people-smuggling trade that brings dozens of rickety boats to Australia's north, but denied reviving the hardline "Pacific Solution" of ex-prime minister John Howard.
"The purpose would be to ensure that people-smugglers have no product to sell. Arriving by boat would just be a ticket back to the regional processing centre," the prime minister told the Lowy Institute think-tank in Sydney. Gillard, who ousted Kevin Rudd in a party coup last month and is facing national polls this year, also ended a three-month freeze on processing Sri Lankan asylum-seekers and said a bar on Afghan claims was under review.
She said the planned new centre, which has initial support from East Timor and New Zealand, would slash the number of poor migrants who have caused headaches for successive governments.
The aim is to "wreck the people-smuggling trade by removing the incentive for boats to leave their port of origin in the first place; to remove both the profitability of the trade and the danger of the voyage", she said. The Welsh-born leader, whose parents emigrated to Australia in 1966, has made immigration her top priority after defusing a mining tax row that helped bring down Rudd.
She said she has discussed the new centre with East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, Antonio Guterres.
Australia currently sends asylum-seekers to its Indian Ocean processing centre on Christmas Island, after Rudd scrapped Howard's Pacific Solution of detaining migrants in neighbouring countries.

  UN sets new guidelines for packaged salads, melamine in food

AFP, Geneva

UN agencies said Tuesday they had tightened limits on melamine content in food and guidelines for packaged salads in an effort to reduce food poisoning affecting one-third of the world's people.
Packaged salads could become contaminated through the water used to irrigate them, said World Health Organisation's food safety department official Jorgen Schlundt.
"In relation to salads, the issue is often that you can have contamination because you have contaminated water that you put on the fields. This can be contaminated by anything -- from human faeces to animal faeces," he said. The new guidelines include details on the quality of water to be used on the fields as well as procedures on harvesting the salads, he said.
"The issue is to make sure that the farms are doing the right thing," he added.
There is no data for the number of people who fall sick from consuming contaminated packaged salads every year but Schlundt said there were cases in developed as well as developing countries.
He emphasised the problem of food contamination in general, saying that "at least one-third of the global population get sick from food every year."
The WHO, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the UN food standards body Codex Alimentarius Commission also set limits of the natural occurrence of melamine in food products, Schlundt said.
For powder infant milk formula the new international limit is one miligram of melamine per kilogram of formula, while for other food it is 2.5 miligrams. The WHO stressed that melamine content in food should be its "resulting from non-intentional" presence with any intentional addition of the substance prohibited.

  Turkish foreign minister insists on Israeli apology
AFP, Ankara

Turkey's foreign minister Tuesday insisted on an Israeli apology for a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship but did not repeat a threat to break off diplomatic ties.
Israel must apologise for the May 31 bloodshed and pay compensation for the nine Turkish victims or "Turkey will not stay indifferent," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a television interview.
Stoking tensions between the one-time allies, the minister told the Hurriyet daily Monday that Turkey would sever ties if Israel failed to meet Ankara's conditions to mend fences.
"Israel should either apologise and pay compensation unilaterally as a result of its own inquiry ... or if it does not want to do that... it should wait for the results of (a probe by) an international commission," Davutoglu told the TGRT channel Tuesday. "If those two conditions do not materialise, Turkey is not any country, Turkey will not stay indifferent," he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out an apology and a senior government official reiterated Monday that "Israel will never apologise for defending its citizens."
Davutoglu said he conveyed Turkey's demands to Israeli trade minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer when the two met secretly in Brussels last week in a bid to find a way out of the crisis.
The meeting sparked tensions within Israel's ruling coalition as it emerged that Netanyahu approved the talks without informing Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

  16 killed in Mogadishu clashes
AFP, Mogadishu

At least 16 people were killed in fighting between rival factions in Mogadishu as chaos engulfed the Somali capital and spurred the war-torn country's neighbours into action, officials said Tuesday.
Most of the latest victims were combatants killed in several incidents on Monday, as Islamist insurgents continued to close in on the shrivelling perimetre controlled by the government but also fought among themselves.
"Violent elements attacked government forces in northern Mogadishu, sparking heavy fighting. They were defeated and several of their fighters were killed," government security officer Mohamed Abdirahman told AFP.
"Two of our soldiers were also killed as well as three civilians who were caught in the crossfire," he added.
Insurgents have been harassing government forces in northeastern districts lately to seize positions from which they can target bases of the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and disrupt their supplies by striking the seaport.
Rebels from the Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab movement and the Hezb al-Islam group in May 2009 launched a major offensive which President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's forces and his AMISOM protectors have been unable to repel.
Ali Muse, the head of Mogadishu's ambulance services, also told AFP that three other civilians, including two from the same family, were killed when an artillery shell smashed into their home in Halimoheyte district.

  French opposition to boycott vote on burqa ban
AFP, Paris

France's Socialist opposition decided Tuesday to boycott a vote on a bill outlawing the full-face Islamic veil in protest at the sweeping ban that will apply to all public places.
Home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority, France is set to adopt a bill banning the wearing of the face-covering veil despite warnings from top legal experts that the move may be unconstitutional.
Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry told deputies at a meeting that while they should not vote against the bill, they should not take part in a vote scheduled for July 13, a Socialist party official told AFP.
"We are against the burqa but we believe that the means chosen to outlaw it are not good," said the party official.
The Socialist stance was agreed just hours before debate was to open at the National Assembly on the bill that would make it illegal for anyone to cover their faces.
The proposed law would impose fines of 150 euros (190 dollars) on those caught wearing the veil and up to 30,000 euros and a one-year jail term to men who force their wives or daughters to cover their faces.
President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party and its right-wing allies hold a strong majority in parliament and the bill could easily pass without support from the opposition Socialists.

Business/Economy

Jute exports surge, tea dips
BSS, Dhaka

Jute and jute products from Bangladesh shined on the export markets when tea was on the edge of losing earnings, thanks to production shortfall for a late monsoon.
The latest Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) review tallied 69.82 percent rise in exports of jute goods and 44.35 percent in the raw jute export on robust demands from the eco-cautious consumers.
In the just ended 2009-10 financial year, jute sector fetched around US $548 million from overseas market, substantially higher from the amount of the previous year.
Draught-hit tea lost its place on the market mainly because of short supply to the global buyers when producers consolidated their efforts to meet the domestic demands. Tea export in 2009-10 was recorded only US $6.01 million, over 50 percent lower than previous earnings.
The EPB review also noted least satisfaction in export earnings for the past financial year when the prices of most commodities on global market declined due to slim demands from recession-hit consumers. The review registered 2.51 percent rise in the trade volume, but 1.54 percent fall in export earnings that resulted in 8.67 percent decline in the total export earnings in the end of April.
The country in July-April of the past fiscal year earned US $12,940.05 million against a target of US $14,168 million. The earning, however, was 19.03 percent higher than US $12,816.11 million of 2008-09.
The EPB review does not have any figure for the last two months of 2009-10 financial year, but recent data from Bangladesh Bank (BB) showed a rebound in the export market against the backdrop of the global recovery.

 Nepal’s garment exports to US sink to zero
Xinhua, Kathmandu

Long plunging garment exports to the United States have hit rock bottom with not one piece being shipped in June. Nepal's ready- made garment manufacturers received zero orders from the U.S. during the month, The Kathmandu Post daily reported on Tuesday.
Statistics of the Garment Association of Nepal (GAN) show that garment exports in the first six months of 2010 recorded a decline of 38.9 percent.
According to GAN, exports to the U.S. amounted to 2.19 million U.S. dollars during the review period. Exports during the first six months of 2009 were worth 3.59 million dollars.
Exports to the U.S. have been consistently declining since the elimination of quotas in global apparel trading in 2005. The decline in exports to the U.S. in the last four years has pushed Nepal's garment industry to the verge of collapse.
Even though exports to the U.S. had grown by around 25 percent in January 2010, the last five months have been dismal. According to GAN, exports have nose-dived by 90 percent during the period 2005 to 2009.
Garment manufacturers are not surprised by this massive decline. "This is not a new story for the garment industry," said GAN past president Kiran Sakha. "Manufacturers and exporters both have lost hope due to the constant labor unrest and bandas that have crippled production."
"This was bound to happen," said trade expert Ratnakar Adhikari. He added that Nepali ready-made garments had been losing competitiveness in the U.S. market. "Garment manufacturers and exporters should look to other markets including the EU rather than relying on the U.S. market only," said Adhikari.
With Nepal not being able to get duty-free access for its ready- made garments in the U.S. market, the only hope is the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) which Nepal and the U.S. are to sign in the near future. TIFA has provisions that will help Nepal to gain favorable market access in the U.S.

  US service sector posts lackluster growth
AFP, Washington

The key US services sector suffered a sharper-than-expected fall in growth in June, raising further doubts about the pace of recovery in the world's largest economy.
The Institute of Supply Management said its non-manufacturing index declined to 53.8 points from 55.4 in May.
Most economists had expected the June figure to be at 55.0 after relatively steady readings in the prior three months.
The latest data indicated "continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector, but at a slightly slower rate," Anthony Nieves, chairman of the ISM's non-manufacturing business survey committee, said in a statement.
The institute said economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew for the sixth consecutive month in June based on a survey of the nation's purchasing and supply executives.
Any number above 50 percent indicates growth in the sector that accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity.
However, business activity and employment components of the index declined while new orders slumped for the third month in a row.
"The index still shows modest improvement from earlier in the year, but the June reading does suggest
some loss of momentum at the end of the second quarter," said Aaron Smith, a senior economist for Moody's Economy.com.
"Today's report on the non-manufacturing activity brought negative news but remains consistent with our scenario of a slowing down (of) economic activity," said Thomas Julien, US economist for Natixis.
The US economy started to grow in the middle of 2009 after a severe recession that struck in December 2007.
President Barack Obama said Friday the US economy was headed in the right direction, but not quickly enough, after new jobs figures added to fears the recovery was slowing.
The Labor Department reported Friday a net loss of 125,000 jobs last month even as unemployment fell to 9.5 percent, its lowest rate in almost a year.

  Greece to simplify investment procedures
AFP, Athens

Greece will simplify investment procedures to attract foreign funds as part of efforts to drag its debt-hit economy out of recession, a senior minister said on Tuesday.
"It takes a hero to invest in this country," Economy and Development Minister Louka Katseli told a news conference, noting that currently nearly 50 permits are required to start a business in Greece.
"No investment can take place under this sort of labyrinthine framework," she said. A new commercial registry, operational from late September, will drastically facilitate new business applications and reduce start-up fees by over 70 percent, Katseli said.
Burdened by a debt of nearly 300 billion euros (376 billion dollars), Greece faced insolvency in May before the European Union and the International Monetary Fund put together a rescue loan of 110 billion euros.
This has given Greece badly-needed time to enact tough cutbacks and bring the country's runaway public deficit, which last year was over triple the allowed EU level, back under control.
But the Socialists also need to quickly stimulate the economy and create jobs to soften the blow of their draconian wage and pension cuts.
The government last month said it plans to sell stakes in a state rail subsidiary, the water companies of Athens and Thessaloniki and the post authority.
Katseli on Tuesday said the authorities would also appoint a development advisor via international tender to encourage investment in the ports of Piraeus, Thessaloniki and other smaller harbours. She said the plan is to have "a strategic investor join the port company" and attract funds "to develop services."
The Greek economy contracted 2.5 percent in the first three months of the year and the recession is likely to have got worse in the quarter to June, the finance ministry said this week.

  EU backs British action against deficit
AFP, Brussels

Britain's new government has taken effective action to slash its public deficit although implementing massive spending cuts will be a challenge, the European Union said Tuesday. "The current economic circumstances call for a decisive fiscal consolidation, while not suffocating the nascent economic recovery," said European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn.
"The budgetary targets presented by the UK Government are in line with this strategy," he said. The Conservative-led coalition government presented a tough emergency budget on June 22 that includes tax hikes and spending cuts.
The European Commission, the bloc's budgetary watchdog, said it concluded that Britain had taken "effective action" to bring down its deficit down from 11 percent of output to 2.3 percent by 2014-2015.
"Implementing the planned spending cuts-including a 25 percent reduction in departmental budgets in real terms on average over a four-year period-will be challenging," the European Commission said in a statement. The emergency budget "is closely in line with" recommendations made by the European Union in December, the commission said.
"Provided they are implemented as planned, the measures announced will strengthen confidence in the UK's commitment to putting its public finances back on a sustainable path," it said.

  India’s poor scrape dangerous living in ‘e-waste’ jobs
AFP, New Delhi

Young rag-pickers sifting through rubbish are a common image of India's chronic poverty, but destitute children face new hazards picking apart old computers as part of the growing "e-waste" industry. Asif, aged seven, spends his days dismantling electronic equipment in a tiny, dimly-lit unit in east Delhi along with six other boys.
"My work is to pick out these small black boxes," he said, fingers deftly prising out integrated circuits from the pile of computer remains stacked high beside him. His older brother Salim, 12, is also hard at work instead of being at school. He is extracting tiny transistors and capacitors from wire boards.
The brothers, who decline to reveal how much they earn a day, say they are kept frantically busy as increasing numbers of computers, printers and other electronic goods are discarded by offices and homes.
Few statistics are known about the informal "e-waste" industry, but a United Nations report launched in February described how mountains of hazardous waste from electronic products are growing exponentially in developing countries. It said India would have 500 percent more e-waste from old computers in 2020 than in 2007, and 18 times more old mobile phones.
The risks posed to those who handle the cast-offs are clear to T.K. Joshi, head of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health at the Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi. He studied 250 people working in the city as recyclers and dismantlers over 12 months to October 2009 and found almost all suffered from breathing problems such as asthma and bronchitis. "We found dangerously high levels -- 10 to 20 times higher than normal-of lead, mercury and chromium in blood and urine samples," he told AFP.
"All these have a detrimental effect on the respiratory, urinary and digestive systems, besides crippling immunity and causing cancer."
Toxic metals and poisons enter workers' bloodstreams during the laborious manual extraction process and when equipment is crudely treated to collect tiny quantities of precious metals.
"The recovery of metals like gold, platinum, copper and lead uses caustic soda and concentrated acids," said Joshi. "Workers dip their hands in poisonous chemicals for long hours. They are also exposed to fumes of highly concentrated acid."
Safety gear such as gloves, face masks and ventilation fans are virtually unheard of, and workers-many of them children-often have little idea of what they are handling. "All the workers we surveyed were unaware of the dangers they were exposed to. They were all illiterate and desperate for employment," said Joshi. "Their choice is clear-either die of hunger or of metal poisoning." And he warned exposure to e-waste by-products such as cadmium and lead could result in a slow, painful death. "They can't sleep or walk," he said. "They are wasted by the time they reach 35-40 years of age and incapable of working."
There are no estimates of how many people die in India from e-waste poisoning as ill workers generally drift back to their villages when they can no longer earn a living.
"The irony is that the amounts of gold and platinum they extract are traces-fractions of a milligramme," said Priti Mahesh, programme coordinator of the New Delhi-based Toxic Link environment group.

National

TB prevalence drops in BD: survey
BSS, Dhaka

The prevalence of infectious pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) has come down in the country, finds a nationwide survey conduced in 20 years, thanks to scaling up of directly observed DOTS therapy, high case detection and cures rates as well as improved socio-economic status of population.
"The overall prevalence of smear-positive TB was 79.4 per 100,000 adults, which is significantly lower than previous survey results or the current estimates," read the summary of the survey, which is scheduled to be made public formally in a city hotel on Wednesday.
The last nationwide survey was conducted in 1987-88, when the TB burden among adults aged over 15 years was 910 per 100,000 population. There were also some other regional surveys done in 1995, 2001 and 2002, where ICDDR,B in its survey found the prevalence rate 95 per 100,000 eight years ago.
"This wide variation might be due to the design of the study, sampling strategy and sampling adequacy including the quality of data collection," said an epidemiologist who obtained a copy of the study before its tomorrow's formal dissemination. The survey was conducted over 52,098 adults aged over 15 years and nearly 18,000 children between 5 and 14 years of age in 20 urban and 20 rural clusters in 20 districts of the country. All the participants of the study submitted two sputum samples, which were examined by high quality fluorescence microscopy at ICDDR,B.
According to the new survey, a higher prevalence of TB was found in rural areas than urban or semi-urban areas, while persistent higher prevalence among males was recorded compared to females in the country.
Nearly two-thirds of the TB cases were found among the 45 plus age group, while over 80 percent cases recorded among married couples.
At least two out of five cases were identified farmers and daily labourers, while the lesser the education the more the TB prevalence was recorded during the study done between 2007 and 2009.
One of the important findings of this study is that the vulnerable population in Bangladesh are the elderly male (55 years or above), people with poor economic condition (monthly income less than Taka 3,000) and had no education as shown in the table of the study.
"This has two meanings one of which is that TB continues to affect the poorest segment of the society although it is known that TB is a disease of the poor but it is again proved in the big study," opined Dr Abdul Hamid Salim, immediate past country director of Damien Foundation Bangladesh (DFB), one of two major aides of the study.
Dr Salim, now in Dutch-based KNCB, told over email that more TB prevalence among elderly population is a good sign.
He says probably the infection transmission is under control because of extensive DOT network across Bangladesh. The young children are less infected and as such young people have less TB, he observed.
But an epidemiologist in Dhaka said, "What is very strange in the study is that the urban population has less TB than the rural which looks a bit strange. I do not at all think that TB services in urban is better than rural areas. Urban TB control still needs to be strengthened."
The new study titled National Tuberculosis Disease Cum Infection Prevalence Survey 2007-'09 was jointly conducted by National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) of the government and ICDDRB with supports from USAID, KNCB, WHO and the Global Fund.
Dr K Zaman of ICDDRB was the principal investigator, while Prof. Dr Provat Chandra Barua was the chairman of the study steering committee.

  BD to host ‘Colombo Process’ in October
Priority on reducing migration cost, dignity of migrant workers

UNB, Dhaka

The fourth ministerial meeting of the "Colombo Process," a regional consultative process on the management of overseas employment and contractual labour for countries of origins in Asia, will be held in Dhaka from October 20.
After three successful ministerial consultations held in Sri Lanka, Philippines and Indonesia, Bangladesh, for the first time, will host the two-day ministerial meeting on labour migration at Sonargaon Hotel, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Tuesday after an inter-ministerial meeting. Talking to the journalists at his secretariat office, he said that during the meeting they would give priority on lessening migration cost and making the entire process hassle-free. "We've already asked BAIRA to send a report on migration cost within two months to figure out cost of sending workers to a particular country."
Mosharraf said after evaluating the report of BAIRA (Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies) they would discuss how the migration cost can be reduced and how they can ensure "life with dignity" for the migrated workers.
The Colombo Process platform was initiated with the primary objective of facilitating greater regional dialogue and cooperation on the management of labour migration amongst the major labour exporting countries.
This time a total of 20 countries are expected to join the meeting of the "Colombo Process", which will focus on the progress and challenges in the overall migration process sector.
The participating countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam (under labour sending states category), Bahrain, Italy, Kuwait, Qatar, Korea, Saudi Arabia and UAE (under countries of destination category). Before the formal ministerial meeting, senior officials of the member countries will sit together on October 19 as part of final preparation for the ministerial meeting. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the meeting formally as chief guest while Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will inaugurate the meeting of senior officials.
According to best estimates, over 2.5 million Asian workers leave their countries every year under contracts to work abroad.

  DAP must include wetlands for environmental sustainability
UNB, Dhaka

To ensure environmental sustainability of the capital, the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka Mega City would have include existing low-lying wetlands as well as revival of the pre-urban wetlands, according to an expert.
"Urgent attention is needed for wetland preservation and reviving them for keeping Dhaka city livable," said Dr Mohammed Ataur Rahman, Director of the Centre for Global Environmental Culture (CGEC) Program on Education of IUBAT. He said revival of wetlands would restore and rehabilitate the flora and fauna, mitigate acute water crisis of the city, recharge ground water and revive the wetland ecosystem.
"With the revival of wetlands, the city will be free from water stagnancy and flooding while this will facilitate the communication system - both waterways and road transportation system." He noted that the Ramsar Convention has defined wetlands as areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.
Dr Ataur Rahman said Dhaka with an aerial extent of 298 square kilometer is bounded by the Buriganga River in the south, the Balu River in the east, the Tongi Khal in the north and the Turag River in the west. These rivers are connected to the Ganges-Brahmaputra River system and also include the Old Brahmaputra River flowing towards southeast from all sides of the bigger neighboring region.
The bigger area is closely dissected by a number of rivers and khals which are hydro-logically connected to these major rivers, he added. The IUBAT professor said wetland of Dhaka city has been squeezed to 5 percent only, resulting in acute shortage of surface water supply. Pollution has become a great threat for the existence of aquatic lives. He mentioned that the inland water bodies on the aerial photo of 1968 are more prominent than 2001. Analysis and observation for inland water body on 1968 image show that the Gulshan Lake, Dhanmondi Lake and Ramna Lake are highly visible.
Dr Rahman noted that the total areas of inland water body are measured 5.1 square kilometer. Analysis of satellite image of 2001 for inland water body shows that the areas of lakes (Gulshan and Dhanmondi) have shrunken and narrowed down.
"Some khals and channels are not identifiable or missing in the southwestern Mohammadpur and southern Motijheel area of the city and the total area is measured 1.8 square kilometer in 2001," he said. It is seen that water bodies have become more sporadic and patchy in 2001 in comparison of 1968 in many parts of the city. Water body compartmentalization, specifically, occurred in the north central, southeast and western part of the city.

   60 fishermen abducted, 25 injured and valuables looted by pirates in Bagerhat

UNB, Bagerhat

About 60 fishermen were abducted and their valuables looted in an attack by pirates at several places of Bay in Mongla and Shoronkhola upazilas late Monday night.
Twenty five fishermen were also injured, some with bullets, during the attack at Kachikhali and Narikelbaria in Shoronkhola upazila and at Meher Ali Char and No. 1 Bouya in Mongla upazila.
A fisherman, who managed to return here preferring anonymity, said that 40/50 pirates divided into several groups attacked 55 trawlers carrying fishermen while the fishermen were returning to coast after catching fish in deep sea. The miscreants beat them, looted fish and nets and also fired shot, leaving 25 people injured, some with bullets.
Fish and nets worth about Tk 50 lakh were looted from 55 trawlers.
The criminals kidnapped 60 fishermen along with four trawlers demanding Tk 30 lakh as ransom. They warned of killing all of them if their demand was not met by five days. The abducted fishermen hailed from different areas in Bagerhat, Bhola, Pirojpur, Chittagong, Barguna and Patuakhali.
Coast Guard sources said special drive was launched for rescuing the victims.

   Nepal launches ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’
BSS, Rajshahi

The Government of Nepal launched a tourism promotion campaign styled "Nepal Tourism Year 2011" to rejuvenate its tourism industry.
A campaign team of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) revealed this at a presentation ceremony titled 'Together for Tourism: Nepal Tourism Year 2011' at Nanking Darbar Hall here Monday night. Mayor of Rajshahi AHM Khairuzzaman Liton addressed the ceremony as the chief guest while President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abu Bakker Ali as special guest. NTB Senior Officer Lekh Nath Bhusal, who addressed the discussion as focal person, said Bangladesh holds a great potential for tourists arrivals to Nepal with its direct connectivity between capitals of both the countries.
Recently, he stated that nineteen political parties of Nepal including the major ones have made a public commitment to make the campaign a total success by signing the commitment paper which mentioned that their parties would not organize any general shutdown, strikes and obstructions in the country in 2011. Prime Minister of Nepal also says, "Tourism is a peace industry. So, we need to discourage strikes for the sake of tourism as well as economic development. Economic prosperity is the key to social justice so cooperation from all sectors is a must to meet the target of welcoming one million visitors in 2011," he added "We believe Nepal will generate more interests among Bangladeshi tourists aspiring to purse the pleasure of antique monuments and castles in Durbar squires along with shopping and casinos," Bhusal opined.
Besides, he said Nepal offers myriads of choices to the visitors and travelers from Bangladesh ranging from the cultural extravaganza to beautiful and awes inspiring Shangri-la of snowcapped mountains, mountain flight, ultra light, wild life, Jungle safari, boating and nightlife. In this context, he mentioned that Nepal received 12,578 visitors from Bangladesh last year while the air arrivals totaled to 6,735 till May last which is 59.7 percent increase over the same period last year. Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Liton called for resolving the existing problems including double-entry visa relating to travel to Nepal by road for attracting more visitors from Bangladesh including its northwest part.

   Water experts suggest regional cooperation for better use of safe water

UNB, Dhaka

Water experts of Asia and the Pacific at a seminar in the city Tuesday stressed the need for taking integrated measures to reserve watershed of this region for ensuring safe water for rural development and poverty alleviation in CIRDAP countries.
They said that although there are huge water resources in Asia and Pacific region which is more valuable than petroleum, it will be a crucial issue in upcoming years as the intake of water both surface and underground is contaminating day by day due to man-made reason. Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific (CIRDAP) organized the seminar titled 'Watershed Management for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation in CIRDAP Members Countries' at its auditorium.
Chaired by CIRDAP Director General Dr Durga P Paudyal, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Chairman of National Disaster Management Advisory Council Dr MA Quassem, Disaster Management Planner Dr SI Khan, Akram Chowdhury MP, CIRDAP director SK Singh and program officer (Research) AMA Khan.
Dr Quassem said: "Our geographical position has made 'comprehensive integrated watershed management' an imperative for the hydrological well-being of Bangladesh."
He said that the comprehensive integrated watershed management can not be achieved unless there is co-operation among the co-riparian countries. Dr Quassem also urged the civil society, engineers and other forums, non-government organizations and researchers to play an important role to make the public aware about the need for right perspective of regional cooperation and to promote and maintain a congenial environment for cooperation.
Dr SI Khan said there are around 2300 millimeters of rainfall occurs in Bangladesh every year and all rain water goes down to the sea. "Now we have to reconsider how we can reserve the huge amount of rain water to address the country's water demand," he added.

Sports

Second semi-final today
Mature Germany ready to sink Spain

AFP, Durban

Germany's abrupt coming of age at this World Cup has caught almost everyone by surprise-everyone that is but their coach Joachim Loew. Written off as too inexperienced in the run-up to the finals, Loew's squad will kick off Wednesday's semi-final against Spain as slight outsiders.
But it is testimony to the vibrancy of the performances Loew has overseen in South Africa that no-one will regard it as a major shock should they end Spain's dream of lifting their first World Cup.
While outsiders thought they could see significant weaknesses in a Germany squad rejuvenated by an influx of talent from the under-21 side that won last year's European Championship, Loew always felt he would be leading a competitive group into Africa's first World Cup.
"I've never doubted this team's potential or development," he said. "They've shown a thirst for victory that is worthy of world champions." Australian, England and Argentina-all of whom saw their own World Cup dreams shattered by four-goal thrashings at the hands of the Germans-will testify to that.
As well as coaxing some devastating displays from his players, Loew appears to run a happy camp, something that has not always been the case in the past, even with successful German squads. "It's a nice team," he said. "They like to learn, they're very motivated and I'm very proud of them. It has been a great experience, on and off the pitch." While Germ-any's performances have surpassed what was expected of them, Spain have not yet delivered a collective display equal to the sum of the individual talents in their ranks.
There is intense pressure, too, on a group of players weighed down by the burden of making up for decades of under-achievement on the international stage by a country whose domestic league has long been one of the strongest in the world. The likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa will be acutely aware that, in terms of pure footballing ability, the unexepected demise of Brazil has left them head-and-shoulders above the other teams left in the competition.
They know they will have squandered an opportunity that is unlikely to come again should they fail to go on and emulate the West Germany side that followed up their triumph at Euro 72 by becoming world champions on home soil two years later. The Spanish have only once before been this close to World Cup glory. In 1950, in Brazil, where only 13 countries took part, they made it to the final group stage, where a draw with the eventual champions Uruguay and defeats by Brazil and Sweden resulted in them finishing fourth.
In the Spanish camp however, suggestions that the intensity of expectation surrounding them could represent their Achilles heel are batted away, and their hope is that Germany will give them the opportunity to impose their quick-passing style on the match. Del Bosque has not changed his line-up for the last three matches and is set to keep faith with misfiring Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who has struggled in a lone striker role while team-mate Villa has plundered five goals from a deeper position on the left. Germany though will still be wary of the striker who scored the only goal of the match when Spain beat Germany in the Euro 2008 final. "It'd be nice to do it again, but it doesn't matter who scores as long as we win," Torres said.

  Spanish win over sceptical Aragones
AFP, Madrid

Spain's Euro 2008 winning coach Luis Aragones said on Tuesday that he believed the Spanish would beat Germany in their World Cup semi-final - a far cry from the critical comments he has been making throughout the finals.
The 71-year-old Ara-gones said that he had witnessed a Spanish side playing better and better as the tournament progressed and capable of winning the World Cup for the first time in their history. "My morale has never been higher and I believe sincerely that Spain will reach the final," Aragones said of the Spanish clash in Durban on Wednesday with Germany, the team his side beat 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final.
"I see a Spain side that is playing better and better, imposing its style of play in almost all the matches, with more difficulty in some matches than others."
Aragones, who predicted wrongly that Spain would lose to Iberian neighbours Portugal in the last 16 round clash, said that the momentum Spain were building was invaluable in a major tournament. "Spain has gathered momentum and that is very important in a World Cup finals," said Aragones, who stepped down after guiding Spain to their first major title and was replaced by Vicente Del Bosque. "Against Germany I hope to see a Spain side that controls the ball, which is its greatest quality, and playing at a faster speed."
Aragones, who moved on to coach Turkish side Fenerbahce for a season after leaving the Spanish post, said he would prefer that Spain faced another side who have yet to win the World Cup, the Netherlands in the final on Sunday. The Dutch play two-time champions Uruguay later on Tuesday in Cape Town.

   Japan hero Honda wants to move to Europe’s elite
AFP, Tokyo

Japan's World Cup hero and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda has confirmed his desire to move to Europe's bigger clubs, with Real Madrid ultimately in his sights, press reports said Tuesday.
Honda scored two goals and set up another in leading Japan to their first-ever World Cup second-round on foreign soil, amid media reports linking him with a move to AC Milan. Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Chelsea and Manc-hester City are also believed to be interested in signing Honda, who turned 24 on the eve of Japan's 1-0 upset of Cameroon in their World Cup opener. Japan lost 1-0 to the Netherlands but stunned Denmark 3-1 in their final group game to reach the last 16. They bowed out to Paraguay 5-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
"I think you all know what my wish is. I'm always looking up," Honda told students Monday at his high school in the provincial city of Kanazawa, according to media reports, when asked about his future in the Russian league. Honda has already stated his desire to play in England or Spain, where he says he would eventually like to don the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid.
He said he was currently unaware of a possible transfer. But he later told local governor Masanori Tanimoto, in a conversation caught on camera: "I have been doing my job with a wish to play at higher levels. So if there is a chance, it will be possible."
After four years with J-League powerhouse Nagoya Grampus, Honda moved to Dutch side VVV Venlo in early 2008 and helped them gain to promotion to the top Dutch league. He joined CSKA in January in a nine-million-euro (11.5-million-dollar) deal. He set up a goal and scored another in a 3-2 aggregate victory over Sevilla in the Champions League, making him the first Japanese player to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Honda could cost bidders as much as 20 million euros, the Sports Hochi daily said.
CSKA has turned down a proposal from AC Milan to pay 10 million euros for Honda, the daily said, citing Italian media.

  Woods getting in the swing for St Andrews
AFP, Limerick

Tiger Woods put the golf world on notice Tuesday that his form was steadily improving as he prepares to return to St Andrews for the British Open - where he has won the event twice.
Three-time British Open champion and world number one Woods is warming up for next week's event with a two-day charity tournament in Limerick, southwestern Ireland.
It was his first trip to Europe since his iconic reputation was shattered by revelations that he was a serial adulterer who had been cheating on his Swedish wife Elin for years.
Despite a drop in form following his high-profile off-course misdemeanours, Woods feels confident going into the British Open.
And few would overlook the American sports icon: Woods knows the Old Course at St Andrews inside out, having won the 2000 and 2005 British Open championships there by eight and five strokes respectively.
Woods finished tied for 46th place at the AT and T National in Pennsylvania on Sunday.
But he said here that he felt his golf was nonetheless getting better.
"I felt I made some good strides last week, I drove it great last week, I just putted terrible and finished way down the board," he said in a rare press conference outside the usual golf tournament circuit.
"Something I need to work on is my light putting and there will be a lot of light, long putts at St. Andrews."

  Blanc takes over French hot seat
AFP, Paris

New France coach Laurent Blanc on Tuesday promised to usher in a new era for Les Bleus just three weeks after the team were plunged into the darkest days of their history at the World Cup.
The former Bordeaux coach has been given the task of cleaning up the mess after a catastrophic World Cup campaign which brought down the curtain on the six-year rule of Raymond Domenech.
A member of the glorious 1998 World Cup-winning team, Blanc said he had been "outraged" by the behaviour of certain players during the tournament but refused to be drawn on whether sanctions would be taken. Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home in disgrace for swearing at Domenech with his expulsion provoking an angry reaction from his teammates who refused to take part in a training session ahead of their next game against South Africa which the French eventually lost ending their World Cup campaign.
"I can't act as if nothing happened in South Africa," said Blanc.
"I followed events with great sadness. I was disappointed by the sporting performance but I was above all outraged by certain behaviour. I'll take stock of these elements in my analyses and thoughts."
Blanc continued: "What shocked and disappointed me most was the group's behaviour during the only training session open to the media 48 hours before the third match against South Africa."
There have been calls that World Cup captain Patrice Evra never be allowed to play for France again for his role as the ringleader in the team's refusal to train, but Blanc refused to attribute blame.
"Those responsible are many but it's not up to me to say if sanctions will be taken. My problem is to put together the best team with the best players. I won't be the bogeyman."
Asked whether he intended to make a fresh start with new players, Blanc said: "We could do it but you'd be the first to say that the France team is not winning. I'm here to win, it's a delicate situation and a lot of discussion is needed."

  Ki can unlock Rangers’ grip on title - Lennon
AFP, Glasgow

Ki Sung-Yueng impressed for South Korea during the World Cup and his experiences in South Africa can fire Celtic's Scottish title bid, Bhoys boss Neil Lennon said Tuesday.
Midfielder Ki joined Celtic from FC Seoul in January and Lennon is expecting big things from the South Korea star in his first full season at Parkhead.
Ki played in all three of South Korea's group stage games at the World Cup, setting up two goals. He also played in their second-round 2-1 defeat to Uruguay. Lennon compared Ki to Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, who helped Celtic win the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish League Cup in his first season with the Bhoys, winning both the players' and writers' player of the year award.
"Ki had a very good World Cup, I'm delighted for him," Lennon told Celtic's Internet television channel.
"He's still a young man and we're pleased with him.
"He didn't hit the ground running when he came here, which is understandable because he is coming from a totally different culture - he came from the other side of the world.
"Nakamura was different because he was more experienced and played in Italy for a long time. He came in at the start of the season but Ki came in in January.
"We're hoping he'll have a big season next year. He's still only 21 but he's played in the World Cup now, and played very well, so hopefully that confidence will help him."
Celtic finished runners-up to Glasgow rivals Rangers as they successfully defended their Scottish Premier League title last season.

  Villa vs. Klose highlights Spain-Germany semifinal today
AP, Johannesburg

The World Cup's two most impressive strikers---David Villa and Miroslav Klose will go head-to-head when European champion Spain meets three-time winner Germany in the semifinals today (Wednesday).
Villa leads the scoring chart with five goals in five games for Spain, while Klose has hit the target four times for Germany and needs only one more goal to pull even with former Brazil forward Ronaldo as the top World Cup scorer of all time with 15 goals. "It's difficult to compare them but both have shown great finishing qualities," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. Villa's strike partner Fernando Torres has been out of touch and may be left out of Spain's team, while Thomas Mueller is suspended for Germany, meaning the scoring onus will fall even heavily upon Villa and Klose.
Villa missed the 2008 European Championship final against Germany due to injury but still led that tournament with four goals. The 28-year-old forward is one goal away from matching Raul Gonzalez's Spain record of 44 and is looking to cement his place as his country's greatest striker.
"He's left-footed, right-footed, technically gifted. He's almost as complete a player as Lionel Messi," Klose said, comparing Villa to the Argentina standout. "He's a player that you have to combat against with a whole team, not just one defender." Whereas Villa has scored all but one of Spain's six goals at this tournament, Klose's four strikes represent less than a third of Germany's impressive 13-goal output.
Germany beat Australia 4-0 in its opening match, and had routed England 4-1 and Argentina 4-0 in its past two matches. "It's probably the most complete team in the World Cup. A team that has changed since the 2008 final, with young and fresh faces," backup Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina said. "It's the most dangerous rival at the moment."
Besides the intriguing individual matchups, the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban should feature a sharp contrast in styles - Spain's precision passing and high-possession game versus Germany's full-pitch attacking style and crosses into the box. "We try for combinations and they play down the field more," Reina said. "They've always scored except for against Serbia, and we have to make sure not to let them get ahead." Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final with a first-half strike from Torres, and the Spanish have again shown their ability at winning tight games here - taking their past three matches by one goal each.
"We have different players now, while Spain is almost the same," Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said, referring to new standouts like Mueller - who has also scored four goals - playmaker Mesut Oezil and defensive midfielder Sami Khedira. Besides Mueller, Germany could also be without Khedira and central defender Arne Friedrich. Khedira is nursing a left hamstring injury and Friedrich has a right foot problem. Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas appears ready to play despite shoulder pain. Germany is aiming to reach a record eighth final, while Spain is looking to get to its first. The winner will play either two-time champion Uruguay or the Netherlands in the final at Soccer City on Sunday.
"There are no favorites," Villa said. "A favorite is the one who ends the game as the winner. ... (Germany) is probably the team in the best form at this World Cup, but it's a game of 90 minutes between two great teams and anything can happen."

   Muralitharan to retire from Tests this month
AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka's world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan will retire from Test cricket later this month, but may play one-day matches until the World Cup, officials said on Tuesday. "Muttiah Muralitharan has decided to retire from Test cricket after the first Test in Galle versus India commencing July 18," Sri Lanka Cricket said on its website.
The off-spinner, 38, affectionately known as Murali, is the most successful bowler in history with record hauls in both Test (792) and one-day (515) cricket.
Reports said Muralitharan preferred not to wait until the end of the three Test matches against India because he was unsure of being able to manage the workload of an entire series. Sri Lanka Cricket said Muralitharan had the blessing of President Mahinda Rajapakse to retire early, although the bowler had previously said he wanted to continue until the home series against the West Indies in November.
Muralitharan will, however, continue to make himself available for one-day matches and hopes to play in the 2011 World Cup if needed, his manager Kushil Gunasekara told AFP.
The premier limited-overs tournament will be hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-April next year.
"He will be selective in choosing one-day matches," Gunasekara said. "His main aim is to give way to young players to come up. But if the selectors want him to play in the World Cup, he will probably be available for that."
Gunasekara, said the star spinner had decided to take early retirement from Test cricket as he was unable to keep up with the demands of the longer form of the game. "He decided to fast track his decision because he realised that his body could not take the vigorous kind of physical demands of a five-day match," Gunasekara said.
"The best time to go is when you know that you can't do it the way you did before. Everything in life has an expiry date." Muralitharan, who made his Test debut against Australia in 1992, was a member of Sri Lanka's World Cup winning team in 1996. His 18-year career was marred by controversy due to his bent-arm action-the result of an elbow deformity since birth-which helped him impart considerable turn and bounce even on the most placid wickets.
The unusual action sparked uproar in the cricket world, especially in Australia where umpires no-balled him for throwing and former prime minister John Howard once called him a "chucker". Muralitharan's action first came under the microscope when Australian umpire Darrel Hair called him for throwing during Sri Lanka's tour Down Under in 1995-96.

  Ghana’s Black Stars welcomed home by thousands of supporters after returning from South Africa

Internet

The gallant Black Stars of Ghana have returned to their homeland after their World Cup adventure and were welcomed by thousands of supporters, who stayed deep into Monday night at the Accra airport to mark their heroes' arrival.
It was an electrifying moment as fans went berserk, waving their flags and blasting their vuvuzelas, with local drums to welcome the team. A red carpet was laid for the team as they made their way from the aircraft, which touched down at 11:17pm on Monday. Senior government officials and sports personalities were on call to welcome them in a brief but memorable ceremony.
"You've really held high the flag of Ghana and the entire African continent," deputy sports minister Nii Nortey Duah said.
Captain Stephen Appiah said they are overwhelmed with the positive attitude of Ghanaians and assured of greater heights to reach come Brazil 2014.
"We are very happy with the reception afforded us," said Appiah. "Every member of the team was committed to doing something for the nation and we did our best with the support of every fan and the entirety of Africa. "We are proud of our performance but we want to go to Brazil 2014 and do well there."
The team will go on an open-top parade through the streets of Accra on Tuesday before meeting the country's president. Ghana reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Uruguay on penalties.

  Australia OK security after players bottled
AFP, Birmingham

Cricket Australia voiced confidence in the security for Tuesday's second Twenty20 clash with Pakistan here after their players were bottled at the end of the first.
A CA spokesman said one player was nearly hit Monday while another prevented a team-mate from being struck by stopping one of the plastic bottle missiles. Pakistan beat Australia by 23 runs to win the first Twenty20 international of the two-match series at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England.
The two sides play again at Warwickshire's home ground in the second match.
Last year's terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore made Pakistan a 'no-go' area for international cricket and they have been forced to play their home matches abroad.
Pakistan will play Australia in a two-Test series starting at Lord's in London next week. The second Test will be played at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, from July 21. London, Leeds and Birmingham all have strong Pakistani communities. Monday's match was played out amid a din of horns and chants from flag-waving Pakistan supporters among the 13,000-strong crowd. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is heading security at the Edgbaston internationals.
"Some plastic bottles were thrown at the end of the game," a CA spokesman told Britain's domestic Press Association news agency.
"One of them nearly hit an Australia player and another player stopped a bottle from hitting another player with his hand. "That is why we conducted the post-match host broadcaster's interviews in the outfield. "We have a co-operative and collaborative relationship with the ECB security consultant Reg Dickason, who worked for Cricket Australia for a number of years.
"Naturally we will continue to work with him and we have every confidence in him and the local security agencies ahead of tonight's match." Australia captain Michael Clarke did not make an official complaint to match officials or security after Monday's Twenty20.

  Chygrynskiy quits Barcelona for Shakhtar Donetsk
AFP, Madrid

Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy has called time on a difficult year at Barcelona and returned to his old club Shakhtar Donetsk, the Spanish champions announced on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian side have agreed to pay 15 million euros for the 23-year-old - 10 million less than they received for him when he moved the other way for 25 million in August last year. Chygrynskiy, who has 24 caps for Ukraine, joined Barca on a five-year contract but never properly settled and played just 14 times. In spite of that he returns home with World Club Cup and Spanish championship medals safely tucked away in his hand luggage. Barcelona recently paid 40 million euros to Valencia for Spanish winger David Villa and club president Sandro Rosell told Catalan radio station RAC1 on Tuesday that the sale of Chygrynskiy was partly for economic reasons. "It is a necessary move for the club, especially on the financial level to resolve several problems in the short term," he said.
Barcelona have already banked 24 million euros from the sale last week of Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure to English side Manchester City.