American special forces stationed India

WASHINGTON: US Special Forces teams are currently stationed in fi ve South Asian countries including India as part of the counter-terrorism co-operation with these nations, a top Pentagon commander has disclosed. These teams have been deployed by US Pacifi c Command as part of its effort to enhance their counter- terrorism capabilities, in particular in the maritime domain, Admiral Robert Willard, the PACOM Commander said yesterday. “We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacifi c assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India,” Willard told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing in response to a question on co-operation with India on counter-terrorism issues. “We are working very closely with India with regard to their counterterrorism capabilities and in particular on the maritime domain but also government to government, not necessarily DOD (Department of Defence) but other agencies assisting them in terms of their internal counter-terror and counterinsurgency challenges,” Willard said. Willard said, Pakistanbased Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) is a very dangerous organisation. It not only has very good operational security, but also a lot of international design in terms of their aspirations. “So it is a very important threat, and we’re working very closely with the nations in the region to help contain it,” he said. The PACOM Commander was responding to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson as to what effort is being made to counter threat from LeT. In his prepared statement, Willard told lawmakers that the US and India are working together on contain LeT. “Responsible for many attacks in India, including the horrifi c attacks into Mumbai, LeT is headquartered in Pakistan, affi liated with al- Qaeda and other VEOs, and contributes to terrorist operations in Afghanistan and aspires to operate against Asia, Europe and North America,” Willard said. He said Pacifi c Command’s Indian Engagement Initiative that resourced and hosted Mumbai counter terrorist specialists for training exercises and exchanges throughout the US, together with capacity-building activities with South Asian partners are mainly focused on containing LeT and contributing to CT self-suffi - ciency of the sub-region’s militaries.

Poor children in urban areas ignored by policymakers: UN Report

NEW DELHI: Disadvantaged children living in cities have been largely ignored by policy makers, says the 2012 State of the World’s Children report of the UNICEF release. In India, nearly 70 per cent of the slum population are concentrated in Maharashtra (35 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (11 per cent), West Bengal (10 per cent), Tamil Nadu and Gujarat (7 per cent each), according to the UN Report. The children living in these slums do not have access health services and benefi t little from the social schemes. The report calls upon law makers to reach out to such children who often are not registered at birth and lack safe shelter as well as suffi cient nutrition. Mumbai has maximum number of slum dwellers in India. Nearly 60 per cent of Mumbai’s slum population lives in 8 per cent of land. Children born in cities across the world already account for 60 per cent of the increase in urban population. The challenges face by children in urban areas are: Insuffi cient access to water and sanitation; hunger and malnutrition rates, heightened risk of road traffi c injuries; inadequate shelter, mounting risks of respiratory illness, asthma and lead poisoning; risk of forced labour, child traffi cking. The UNICEF report says that the matter was complicated by the fact many children living in urban poverty are not registered at birth, making them virtually invisible to lawmakers. According to the UN agency, more than onethird of children in urban slum areas go unregistered at birth. This number rises to half of all children in urban parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. UNICEF brings out this assessment annually. Each year, the report focuses on a particular theme. The title of the 2012 report is ‘Children in an Urban World’.

Morarji Desai able Prime Minister

Morarji Desai was an able Prime Minister during the Janata Party rule that contained infl ation successfully. Desai adopted the Gandhian values in his public life and practised Gandhian ideals in politics. Desai would also be remembered as an illustrious son of the soil of Gujarat and a driving force behind India’s development thirty years ago. - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi

HBO documentary ‘Saving Face’ wins Academy Award

NEW DELHI: Pakistani documentary fi lm ‘Saving Face’, which uncovers the story of hundreds of people - mostly women - who become acid attack victims, was honoured with the Academy Award for best documentary (short) at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony held in Hollywood. Produced by HBO, ‘Saving Face’, Directed by Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, chronicles the arduous attempts of acid-attack survivors Zakia and Rukhsana to bring their assailants to justice, and follows the charitable work of Dr Mohammad Jawad, a plastic surgeon who strives to help them go beyond this horrifi c act and move on with their lives. A journey of healing and a battle for justice, ‘Saving Face’, the 40 minutes documentary, will be premiered soon on HBO. Every year in Pakistan, many people - the majority of them women - are known to be victimized by brutal acid attacks, while numerous other cases go unreported.

Australian GP “probably” least viable in F1 calendar says Ecclestone

The Australian Grand Prix is “probably” the least economically viable in the Formula One calendar, and is unlikely to continue if Melbourne loses its appetite to fi t the bill for the race, according to commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Melbourne has hosting rights until 2015, but the rising cost of holding the race has fueled growing calls for the state government of Victoria to ditch the race. From reporting a loss of less than A$2 million in the fi rst Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit in 1996, taxpayers now pay more than $50 million, with the costs expected to rise further in coming years. The Liberal government has nonetheless thrown its support behind it, saying they want to keep it beyond 2015, citing its promotional value to Australia’s second city. Ecclestone said if Melbourne could not afford the race, it was unlikely any other Australian city could. “If we were having a divorce from our friends in Melbourne, we would probably be walking away from Australia,” Ecclestone said in comments published by local media on Thursday. “Because I can’t see how Adelaide could make it happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can’t,” he said, referring to the South Australian state capital, the Grand Prix’s inaugural venue.“The race itself is probably the least viable of all the races we have.” While Ecclestone has said he wants the race to remain in Melbourne, he has threatened to take it elsewhere should local offi cials try to negotiate lower license fees that are estimated to cost between $20-30 million a year. He has also complained about the timezone being unfriendly for European broadcasters and reiterated his call for Melbourne to turn it into a night race, like the Singapore Grand Prix, despite drivers’ safety concerns. “We would have a look, maybe we could help subsidise that a little bit,” he said. “Up until 2015, we’re in good shape. After then, I really don’t know.” The Australian Grand Prix opens the F1 season on March 18.

Iraq Trade Minister seeks Indian investments

MUMBAI: Stating that his country is the new investment destination for the world in the West Asia region, Iraq’s Trade Minister Dr Kheer Allah Hassan Babkr on Wednesday called upon the Indian industry to invest in diverse sectors of that country. “We are in the process of renovating our country. We are in need of everything and we have the money to pay for it. No matter what your sector, we can do business with you,” he said. Dr Babkr, who is leading a business and political delegation from Iraq, visited India’s business capital to interact with the captains of the Indian industry in an exclusive session titled ‘India- Iraq: Unlimited Business Opportunities’, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He further said “The new government’s focus today is on strengthening economic evolution, enhancing standard of living and reinforcing governance and security in the country. To do this we are looking for business and expertise in a host of industry. Today, because of its huge economic potential, Iraq is the new investment destination for the world in the region. And with the world’s third largest proven oil reserves, we have the money to pay for our own rehabilitation.” He called upon Indian industry to have bilateral protocols as per their choice, either directly with the private companies or with Iraqi state companies. “There is no need for government intervention in these,” the Iraqi minister added. He invited the Indian industry to participate in the Baghdad International Fair so that their process of identifying opportunities in that country is eased up. Dr Sami Araji, chairman of National Investment Commission of Iraq, outlined the sectors in which investment is being sought in the country. “We have 10 economic sectors in Iraq each with huge business and investment opportunities. Agriculture, electricity, health, industry and minerals, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and petrochemicals, oil and gas, education, infrastructure and telecommunication,” he said while giving details of the exact investments they are seeking in these. “Currently there are 80 private and 208 state-owned hospitals and 2000 clinics. We immediately need 32 general and specialised hospitals and 2,140 clinics in the country. We need three billion housing units till 2019 and are giving incentives and tax exemptions for these. From six million barrels per day, we want to increase our oil production to 12 million barrels by 2017 and hope to be competing with Saudi Arabia for that. There’s need to newly build or rebuilt seven airports. Five thousand schools need rebuilding and 3,000 new schools need to be made immediately and we have put aside 10 billion dollars just for this. For basic infrastructure, we have six billion dollars worth of project,” the minister said. “On a whole, Iraq is ready to look at serious investors on any basis: private, PPP and governmental,” he said. Ninad Kapre, managing director and chief executive offi cer of Aptech Ltd, said “To take advantage of the existing opportunities, we need to increase and enhance understanding of local conditions, encompassing all aspects that impact investments and business activity, ranging from culture to infrastructure, as also costs of land, power, and indeed cost of living. Such knowledge will lead to informed business decisions. There is need for the goodwill between our two countries to be translated into a vibrant business relationship.” Mayank Mallik, managing director and chief executive offi cer of CITI Bank (Jordan & Iraq), said “The opportunity in Iraq is very compelling and attractive. We see a Saudi in the making in Iraq thathas one of the largest population in the Arab world and has a verygood level of education and talent in the region. If Indian business wants to have a front runner advantage, this is the time. It is along term play as we see this market lead the Middle East in the future. Besides, the historical relationship, India’s expertise of low cost but quality innovation would prove crucial between the two countries.

India in partial protest of London Olympics games

NEW DELHI: In protest of London Olympics Organising Committee’s denial to withdraw Dow Chemicals’ partnership, India is considering boycotting the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Games, according to media reports on Wednesday. Indian contingent is likely to take part only in the events as mark of protest, which IOA say is the least they can do. However another report, quoting a highly placed source, said no decision has yet been taken on the matter. The source said the Government had written a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on February 24 and would rather wait for a response before deciding on the future course of action. “It is a little premature to talk about boycotting the opening and closing ceremonies at this stage. We will have to fi rst wait for an answer from IOC”, the source said. After IOA failed to convince the IOC to drop Dow Chemicals as the London Games’ sponsor, the Government had stepped in to ask the IOC to “go beyond lesser considerations” and cancel the deal. In a letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge, the Sports Ministry has sought Dow’s removal as Olympic sponsor. Dow currently owns Union Carbide, the company responsible for the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy. The move came after the IOC refused to entertain pleas by the Indian Olympic Association. “We cherish and celebrate the noble ideals of the Olympic movement. India stands fi rmly committed to these ideals and the values they promote of friendship, unity, brotherhood and compassion,” the letter stated. “We strongly believe that there is no better medium than sports to inculcate and foster the feeling of friendship and solidarity among the people of the world. This being so we are dismayed that the IOC has not respected the sentiments of a large group of stakeholders including Olympians and withdrawn its association with Dow Chemicals,” said the letter signed by Rahul Bhatnagar, joint secretary inthe Ministry. IOA had repeatedly expressed its opposition to the Dow Chemicals as one of the sponsors for the London Olympics because of its ownership of the infamous Union Carbide which was responsible for the worst industrial disaster in India. IOA had urged the IOC and London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to withdraw Dow as Games Sponsors. In a letter to IOA acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra, IOC chief Jacques Rogge had said that “IOC recognises that the Bhopal tragedy in 1984 was horrifi c event for India and the world. The Olympic Movement sympathises with the grief of the victims` families and regrets the ongoing suffering people face in the region.” “The IOC and LOCOG were aware of the Bhopal tragedy when discussing the partnership with Dow. Dow had no connection with the Bhopal tragedy. Dow did not have any ownership stake in Union Carbide until 16 years after the accident and 12 years after the USD 470 million compensation agreements was approved by the Indian Supreme Court,” he said. Meanwhile, UK government defended Dow Chemicals by saying Dow wasn’t operating the plant at the time of Bhopal tragedy. They also urged Indian athletes to participate in the Games. “Dow didn’t own or operate the plant at the time of tragedy,” UK High Commission said. UK government justifi ed their stand by saying it was not their decision to hand Dow sponsorship but it was decided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “Dow sponsorship was decided by the IOC and the decision was taken with all knowledge of facts,” it said.