International News

Obama promises new jobs initiatives, slams GOP

Washington -- President Obama went on the offensive Friday on the politically critical issue of job creation, promising to lay out a broad package of ideas next week and slamming Senate Republicans for blocking passage of his administration's small business aid legislation.

Obama renewed his call for the languishing bill in the wake of Friday's release of new unemployment figures. The jobless rate, according to the Labor Department, rose from 9.5 percent to 9.6 percent in August.

The economy lost a total of 54,000 jobs last month. Most of the losses, however, came from the public sector as the government cut 114,000 temporary census workers. Private businesses added 67,000 jobs to their payrolls.

August was the eighth straight month that businesses added jobs, following nearly two straight years of job losses. So far this year businesses have added 763,000 workers to payrolls.

"That's positive news," Obama said at the White House, flanked by his top economic advisers. It "reflects steps we've already taken to break the back of this recession."

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But he warned, "There's no quick fix to the worst recession we've experienced since the Great Depression."

Senate Republicans, he said, were responsible for a "needless delay" in the passage of legislation designed to increase bank loans to small businesses. Specifically, the measure would set up a $30 billion lending fund to help community banks offer small businesses credit. It also would provide tax breaks to small businesses that invest in new equipment and hire unemployed workers.

The House of Representatives passed a similar bill in June. Republican opposition has focused, among other things, on the cost of the measure.

Republicans lashed back at the president, blaming him for what most observers still characterize as a weak recovery.

"Today's jobs report is a clear demonstration that the American economy still has a long way to go," said Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House minority whip.

"The policies being pursued by the White House and Democrat leaders in Washington continue to create uncertainty and fear that is inhibiting productivity, innovation and job creation."

In a statement, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said, "With 54,000 more Americans finding themselves out of work this month and unemployment rising to 9.6 percent, President Obama's 'Recovery Summer' has ended right where it began, with Americans continuing to lose their jobs and unable to find new ones."

Obama defended his decision to push the "Recovery Summer" theme.

"I don't regret the notion that we are moving forward ... because of the steps that we've taken," he told reporters. "The key point I'm making right now is that the economy is moving in a positive direction. ... We just have to speed it up."

Christina Romer, head of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, said the "Recovery Summer" theme was chosen to reflect that a large number of projects funded by the $862 billion stimulus act came to fruition -- a fact reflected in an uptick in the number of construction jobs.

Republicans have criticized the stimulus package for adding to the national debt while failing to boost economic growth sufficiently.

Iranian opposition leader kept from anti-Israel rallies

Protesters gathered in Iran on Friday for a demonstration to observe an annual holiday that marks the country's solidarity with Palestinians and calls for the end of Israel occupation.

One notable absence was Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karrubi, whose security force feared for his safety and advised him to stay away, his son said.

About 50 people surrounded Karrubi's home Friday morning -- shooting paint balls and shouting chants against him and the opposition movement, the son said.

Attackers targeted his father's house repeatedly to stop him from participating in Friday's events, said Mohammad Taghi Karrubi.

The opposition leader's website said his apartment had come under attack four times in four consecutive days.

The site said the head of his security team was in a coma after being beaten as he tried to talk with a group of attackers who broke into the apartment complex Thursday.

His son told CNN the attackers fired shots, set small fires in the courtyard and lobby and vandalized parts of the building.

But around the country Friday, Quds Day demonstrations continued.

Large crowds chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" in Palestine Square near Tehran University.

In the city of Kerman, a man with a loudspeaker chanted the slogans, with the crowd repeating after him.

Some were carrying Iranian flags and banners supporting Palestinians while others waved cartoon caricatures of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Speaking at Tehran University, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denounced Israel, repeatedly referring to the "Zionist regime." He said this week's direct Middle East peace talks in Washington were doomed to fail.

"These talks are dead. There is no reason to hold talks," he said.

"The fate of Palestine will be determined on the ground in Palestine, not in Washington and not in London," he added.

Ahmadinejad said Iranians sympathize with Palestinians.

"We know how hard it is for them to resist," he said.

As he spoke, the crowd chanted, "Death to Israel."

Security forces lined the streets near Haft-e-Tir Square in central Tehran, and at least two people were detained. There were no reports of opposition clashes.

Last year, demonstrators took the streets in anti-government protests, shouting "Death to the dictator" in particularly tense rallies following the unrest over Iran's disputed presidential elections in June.

Clashes between security forces and protesters were reported around the university during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech last year.

On Thursday, Mohammad Taghi Karrubi told CNN that attackers had repeatedly come to his father's house because he had expressed his desire to take part in Friday's events.

He said he was inside his father's fifth-floor apartment when about 20 Basij broke into the courtyard Thursday. Several of the men threatened to kill his father, he said.

"When we asked the police to come to help...nobody came," he said.

Asked who was responsible, he said, "They are in the name of the Basij, but in my opinion they are hooligans. The government tries to use these hooligans against the opposition and against the people."

Several members of his father's security team were injured -- but not shot -- and were taken to a hospital, he said.

Asked if he and his father planned to attend Quds Day events on Friday, he said, "Do you think we'll still be alive tomorrow morning to take part?"

International Quds Day, or "Jerusalem day" is observed on the last Friday of Ramadan.

The government sponsored holiday was established in August 1979 by the late founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini shortly after the Islamic Revolution.

Khomeini called for all Muslims worldwide to participate in the events that denounce Israel and show support for the Palestinian cause.

"The day for those nations suffering under the pressure of American oppression and oppression by other powers to confront the superpowers; it is the day when the oppressed should arm themselves against the oppressors," he said in a speech in August of 1979.

Anti-Zionist demonstrations, parades, and seminars are held in some Muslim and Arab countries, but are especially large in Iran.

A senior Iranian commander says the massive participation proves the global support for Palestinians.

The Quds Day "appears to pave the way for the collapse of Israel and its allies, namely the U.S. and Britain," Brig. Gen. Masoud Jazayeri, the deputy head of Iran's armed forces joint chiefs of staff, told the Islamic Republic News Agency on Thursday.

            Afghanistan asks

Pakistan to shut terror

sanctuaries

New Delhi, Aug 31 : In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Afghanistan Tuesday called for shutting down of terrorist sanctuaries and conveyed to India that it has "evidence of cross-border involvement" in the attack on the Indian embassy over two years ago.

Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought closer cooperation with India in combating terrorism.

He also met External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Indian counterpart Shivshankar Menon.

Spanta briefed the prime minister about the evidence of the involvement of the Pakistani agencies in the attacks on the Indian embassy in July 2008 and a failed attempt in October 2009, sources said.

He also apprised India about Pakistan's complicity in aiding and abetting violence and instability in Afghanistan through its proxies, sources added.

Spanta, who touched down here on a day-long visit, updated India on the worsening security situation in his country and the ongoing efforts to stabilise the country ahead of the Sep 18 parliamentary polls, said sources.

The upgradation of security of around 3,500 Indians working in Afghanistan was also discussed.

This is the second high-level visit by Afghan functionaries in less than a week.

Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul visited India last week, which ended with both sides reiterating their determination to ensure terrorists and extremist groups, targeting Afghanistan and other countries in the region, are denied safe haven and sanctuaries.

"We must destroy terror sanctuaries. We must eliminate training centres," Spanta told NDTV. "We have evidence of cross-border involvement in the attacks on the Indian embassy," he said.

India had suspected the involvement of Pakistan's spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in the attack on the Indian embassy July 7, 2008 that also killed two Indian diplomats. Islamabad vehemently denied any connection with the embassy bombing.

Conveying appreciation for an array of reconstruction projects by India in Afghanistan, Spanta urged New Delhi to broaden its engagement in that country, which could include enhancing the capabilities of its security forces.

"We will like to see India engage more in these fields because this is fundamental for future of Afghanistan," he told reporters here.

"We would like to have broad and extended cooperation with India for stability and reconstruction and also enhancing Afghan security capabilities," he replied when asked whether Afghanistan would want India to train the Afghan National Army.

Spanta, who wrote a hard-hitting article in the Washington Post last week accusing Pakistan of harbouring Al-Qaeda and other militant groups, was however, candid about keeping communication line open with the Pakistan army to end cross-border terrorism.

"We all know Pakistan army has relevance and place in daily lives and politics of Pakistan. This is not a reality of today, this is the case of 60-65 years," he told journalists when asked about the recent meeting between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Kayani.

He stressed that the Afghan government has good relations with the civilian dispensation in Islamabad "but because Army is a very special institution in Pakistan, so our civilian leader President Karzai has to talk to this institution to seek cooperation and collaboration of Pakista



         Minor earthquake hits the San Francisco Bay Area

CONCORD, CALIFORNIA : A minor earthquake rattled the San Francisco Bay Area on early Tuesday evening, seismologists said, but no damage or casualties were reported.

The 3.2-magnitude earthquake at 6.26 p.m. PDT (0126 GMT) was centered about 2 miles (4 kilometers) northwest of Concord, a city in Contra Costa County, or about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Sacramento. It struck about 9.6 miles (15.5 kilometers) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the California Integrated Seismic Network.

No damage was reported after the small tremor.




        President Obama announces the end of combat operations in Iraq

WASHINGTON, D.C. : President Obama on Tuesday announced the end of the United States combat mission in Iraq, marking the transition of responsibility of the country's security into Iraq's hands and the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The President commemorated the event with a prime time address to the Oval Office. He said that the historic moment of the transition comes at a "time of great uncertainty for many Americans." He noted that the U.S. has been engaged in a war for nearly a decade, enduring a recession at the same time. President Obama reassured the American public, saying that the milestone that America has reached serves as a reminder that the future "is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment."

"From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested."

He then announced that the American combat mission in Iraq is over, and that Operation Iraqi Freedom had ended. He said that now, the Iraqi people have the lead responsibility for the security of their own country. President Obama said that he had fulfilled his pledge to the American people, as last February he announced a plan to bring all combat brigades out of Iraq. The U.S. has removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops out of Iraq since.

He said that Iraq has held credible elections, praising the country's progress. "[...] there should be no doubt: the Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not." The President said that going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will be in Iraq with a different mission, mainly operating in an advising capacity.

President Obama said that ending the war in Iraq is not only in the interest of Iraq, but also in the interests of the people of the United States. "The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home." He said that the U.S. pressed on because it shared a belief with the Iraqi people that a new beginning could be born in the cradle of civilization.

He concluded that a number of Americans had given their lives for the war and served multiple tours
of duty for people they didn't know. "In an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation." He praised the troops in his closing remarks, saying that "our troops are the steel in our ship of state" and promised that better days lie ahead.



HP agrees on USD 55 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice

SILICON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA : Hewlett-Packard (HP) on Monday agreed to pay USD 55 million to settle claims it paid kickbacks for U.S. government contracts, BBC reported.

HP has been accused of paying other companies to recommend HP products to government buyers. The USD 55 million is believed to be one of the largest settlement figures ever reached by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The claims were made by two whistle blowers in 2004.

The settlement also resolves allegations that the 2002 contract over wrongly priced computer equipment and software as HP provided incomplete information to the GSA. A spokesperson for the DOJ said that the government would always take action against companies seeking "to taint the government procurement process with illegal kickbacks." HP said that the size of the payout would affect earnings on its shares.

HP is one of the world's largest information technology corporations, with major product lines in personal computers, enterprise servers, storage devices, and a number of printers and imaging devices. HP operates in nearly every country in the world, as it markets supplies to households to enterprise level businesses.



NASA and ATK successfully test solid rocket motor

PROMONTORY, UTAH : The National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) and ATK Aerospace Systems successfully tested the DM-2, the largest and most powerful solid rocket motor designed for flight, NASA said on Tuesday.

The test lasted two minutes during after which it was determined that the motor is potentially transferable to future heavy-lift launch vehicle designs. It was the most heavily instrumented motor test in NASA history as more than 760 instruments measured 53 test objectives.

Before testing, the solid rocket motor was cooled to 40 degrees Fahrenheit to verify the performance of the new materials and the motor at low temperatures. Initial results showed that the performance met all expectations.

"For every few degrees the temperature rises, solid propellant burns slightly faster and only through robust ground testing can we understand how material and motor performance is impacted by different operating conditions," said Alex Priskos, first stage manager for NASA's Ares Projects.

The DM-2 is the first-stage of the development of a solid rocket motor and it was designed to generate up to 3.6 million pounds of thrust at launch. The five-segment development motor includes several upgrades and technology improvements implemented by NASA and ATK engineers.

DM-2 is similar to the solid rocket boosters that help power the space shuttle
to orbit. However the DM-2 includes certain unique features like the addition of a fifth segment, a larger nozzle throat, and upgraded insulation and liner.

After more testing, the first-stage solid rocket motor will be certified to fly at temperature ranges between 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Iranian president offers friendship

to US

Iran's president offered friendship to the United States but also taunted Washington by saying he does not fear an attack by the US because it could not even defeat a small army in Iraq, according to a television interview with the leader aired Sunday.

President Barack Obama has repeatedly offered to start a dialogue with Iran, but his administration says Iran chose international isolation instead. The two countries are at odds over Iran's nuclear programme, which the US fears is aimed at producing weapons though Tehran denies it.

US military chief Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said earlier this month that the US military has a plan to attack Iran, although he thinks a military strike is probably a bad idea.

Still, he said the risk of Iran developing a nuclear weapon is unacceptable and he reiterated that "the military option" remains on the table.

"There are no logical reasons for the United States to carry out such an act," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the Arabic satellite television channel Al Jazeera, according to an Arabic translation of the interview in Farsi.

"Do you believe an army that has been defeated by a small army in Iraq can enter into a war with a large and well trained army like the Iranian army?" he asked, referring to the insurgents in Iraq.

He said Washington lacks real motives for attacking Iran and will not benefit from hostility.

"The friendship of Iran is much better than its hostility," he said.

China's Premier calls for political

 reform: Report

China has to pursue political reform to safeguard its economic health, Premier Wen Jiabao said during a visit to the booming town of Shenzhen, the official  news agency reported.

Wen's call for political reform lacked specifics. But his comments reflect broader worries that unless the Party embraces at least limited reforms to make officials more answerable, then corruption and abuses may erode the country's economic prospects.

"Without the safeguarding of political restructuring, China may lose what it has already achieved through economic restructuring and the targets of its modernisation drive might not be reached," Wen was quoted by the news agency as saying.

"People's democratic rights and legitimate rights must be guaranteed. People should be mobilised and organised to deal with, in accordance with the law, state, economic, social and cultural affairs," Wen added.

Wen also wants to "create conditions" to allow the people to criticise and supervise the government as a way to address "the problem of over-concentration of power with ineffective supervision”.

Wen has developed a reputation as the member of China's ruling Communist Party leadership most sympathetic to relaxing some of the country's top-down controls.

Wen will retire as premier in early 2013. He has used recent speeches and comments to indicate that he wants to spend his final years in office focused on improving social welfare, promoting more balanced and equitable economic growth, and addressing public discontent with government.

In Shenzhen, a small village that exploded into a city of 14 million people in the last three decade, Wen said the Shenzhen story showed that reforming and opening up to the outside world "is the only road to achieving national prosperity and the people's happiness”.

"Regression and stagnation will not only end the achievements of the three-decade old reform and opening-up drive and the rare opportunity of development, but also suffocate the vitality of China's socialist cause with her own characteristics," the Premier added.

2,000 evacuated due to gas leak in China

Beijing, Aug 14 : Toxic gas leak from a chemical plant in China's Zhejiang province forced the evacuation of over 2,000 people late Friday, officials said.

 

Around 7 p.m. Friday, thick fumes of thiocarbamide gas were detected from inside a warehouse at the Hangzhou Hexiang Fine Chemical Co. Ltd. in Xiangfu town, Xinhua reported Saturday citing local officials.

Residents nearby complained of a pungent odour and sore throats, even as their eyes began to water, a spokesman said.

Firefighters were called in, who rescued 20 people from the factory and evacuated over 2,000 residents. Water was used to dilute the effect of the gas and the situation was brought under control.

Five firemen, however, had to be hospitalised in Hangzhou, the provincial capital, and one was still in intensive care Saturday morning. The other four were out of danger.

Brit-Indian entrepreneur launches East India Company store in London with eye on Indian market

London, Aug 14 : Indian-born British businessman Sanjiv Mehta, who bought the East India Company in 2005, is re-launching the world's first multinational firm on Saturday after 135 years of its dissolution, by opening a luxury food store in London, which he says would eventually take the company once again to India.

 

“The project was not simply a commercial venture - there was an emotional connection too. It is a dream come true to build a business like this and to acquire a brand like this to own the company," BBC quoted him as saying.

Mehta dismissed fears that the reappearance of a company long associated with colonialism would open old wounds and insisted that he had been inundated with messages of support from his compatriots.

"It''s a disproportionate joy, I have received more than 15,000 e-mails of support from various Indians across India, even from Barbados to Fiji to Canada to Boston," he added.

Mehta eventually hopes to make a return to India to tap the market for luxury goods in one of the world''s fastest expanding economies.

His shop in London is stocked with 350 luxury products, including 100 varieties of tea, chocolates, spices and mustards developed by the company from across the world.

The East India Company was created by the granting of a charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 and given a monopoly on English trade to Asia. Its early business activities focused on cotton, silk and tea.

At the height of its power, the company controlled large parts of India with its own armed forces. But it was disbanded after soldiers of the company''s own army rose in revolt against the British in 1857.

Syria and Saudi

leaders in Beirut                    

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia are to pay a joint visit to Lebanon to help defuse tension.

  The UN's Summer Games programme for Gaza's children is in its fourth year

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