Current Issues On Iran,USRussai and Rest Worlds

Iran ready to build nuclear

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Iranian scientists have reached "nuclear weapons breakout capability," according to a new report based on findings of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.
The Institute for Science and International Security report concludes Iran does not yet have a nuclear weapon but does have enough low-enriched uranium for a single nuclear weapon.
The type of uranium the International Atomic Energy Agency report says Iran has would have to be further enriched to make it weapons-grade.
The institute drew its conclusions from an IAEA report dated February 19, 2009. An official in the IAEA confirmed the authenticity of the report for CNN, but didn't want to be named.
The IAEA report is posted on the Web site of ISIS, a Washington-based non-profit and non-partisan institution focused on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.
It also finds that while Iran has dramatically increased installation of centrifuges that can be used for enriching uranium -- from 4,000 to 5,400 -- its scientists aren't using the new units yet. They remain in "research and development mode."
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In the IAEA report, the agency also says no substantive progress has been made in resolving issues about possible "military dimensions" to Iran's nuclear program.
Iran has consistently denied the weapons allegations, calling them "baseless" and "fabricated."
Iran says its nuclear program is necessary to provide civilian energy for the country, but other countries have voiced concern that its true purpose is to produce nuclear weapons.
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February 10, 2009 -- Updated 0603 GMT (1403 HKT)
Obama: U.S. looking for dialogue with Iran
(CNN) -- The United States is looking for opportunities for "face-to-face" dialogue with Iran after nearly three decades without diplomatic ties, President Barack Obama said Monday, but still has "deep concerns" about Tehran's actions.

There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so it's not going to happen overnight," Obama said during his first prime-time news conference Monday night.
He said his administration is reviewing existing U.S. policy toward Iran, which supports groups Washington has branded terrorist organizations and has defied U.N. demands to halt its uranium enrichment program.
Despite those concerns, he said his administration wants to use "all the resources at the United States' disposal" to resolve those concerns.
"In the coming months, we will be looking for openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face to face," Obama said.
Speaking on other foreign policy issues, Obama said he does not yet have a timetable for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.
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He said that, unlike in Iraq, there is not the sense that the political system in Afghanistan is functioning in a meaningful way.
"They've got elections coming up, but effectively the national government seems very detached from what's going on in the surrounding community," Obama said.
He said that, in addition, there hasn't been concerted effort to root out the Taliban and al Qaeda from their safe havens in the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which is necessary for success.
"My bottom line is that we cannot allow al Qaeda to operate. We cannot have those safe havens in that region," Obama said. Watch Obama explain why he wants to send troops to Afghanistan »
"I do not have yet a timetable for how long that's going to take. What I know is I'm not going to make -- I'm not going to allow al Qaeda or (Osama) bin Laden to operate with impunity, planning attacks on the U.S. homeland."

Obama said the administration will seek Pakistan's cooperation to root out the border safe havens and stressed the importance of ensuring Pakistan is a stalwart ally in fighting this threat.

On the issue of nuclear proliferation, Obama said it was important for the United States, in concert with Russia, to lead the way.
He said he has expressed to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev the importance of restarting conversations about reducing each others' nuclear arsenals and stitching back together nonproliferation treaties which he said have been weakened over the last few years.

updated 37 minutes ago
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Afghan supply base eviction prompts U.S. access scramble

(CNN) -- Kyrgyzstan said Friday its president has ordered the closure of U.S. military's only base in Central Asia, further squeezing access for troops and supplies heading into Afghanistan.
However, the closure comes as two other central Asian nations -- Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - reportedly agreed to allow transit of U.S. cargo en route to Afghanistan.
Russia's Interfax news agency reported the Kyrgyz foreign minister has formally notified the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek. Officials have said the U.S. military has 180 days to withdraw from the Manas base after notification.
With increased militant attacks on land routes through Pakistan and no likelihood of access through Afghanistan's major western border with Iran, the United States is under pressure to establish new supply chains from the north.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday his country hopes to retain the base in Kyrgyzstan -- a small landlocked Central Asian nation west of China that is home to about 5 million people -- but was considering alternatives.
"I continue to believe that this is not a closed issue and that there remains the potential at least to reopen this issue with the Kyrgyz and perhaps reach a new agreement," Gates said at a NATO meeting in Krakow, Poland. Watch why Kyrgyzstan wants to close the base »
"If we are unable to do that on reasonable terms then, as I have suggested, we are developing alternative methods to get resupply and people into Afghanistan."
He said one option may be to pay larger fees to Kyrgyzstan, but the U.S. was also looking elsewhere.
"Manas is important, but it is not irreplaceable," he said.
Manas' closure could deal a significant blow to U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan just as President Barack Obama plans to step up U.S. troop levels to halt a resurgence of the country's former Taliban rulers. How far is Manas from Afghanistan? View our map »
The air base currently employs more than 1,000 servicemen, 95 percent of whom are Americans, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. The base is used to transport personnel and cargo to Afghanistan and to refuel aircraft.
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Meanwhile, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which both border Afghanistan, have agreed to allow U.S. cargo to be transported to Afghanistan through their countries, Interfax reported Friday.
A Tajik government statement said only that the two sides discussed the issue, but a spokesman for the Tajik foreign ministry told CNN that "practically all issues" to allow U.S. cargo transit have been resolved.
The efficacy of the deals with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan would still depend on how much access the United States would have for flights and cargo, and it is unlikely they will fully replace capacity lost in Kyrgyzstan.
Meanwhile U.S. General David Petraeus, who oversees the war in Afghanistan, was in Uzbekistan, which also lies over the northern Afghan border, this week for talks on Afghanistan and other regional issues.

A Pentagon spokesman told CNN that his discussions included the regional supply network into Afghanistan.
The U.S. military leased a base in Uzbekistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. But after Uzbek troops were accused of killing at least 150 people during a demonstration in 2005, the autocratic government of President Islam Karimov came under criticism from Washington and severed most of its military ties with the United States.
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Chechen brothers cleared of murdering Kremlin critic

A court in Moscow has acquitted four men accused of involvement in the murder of the investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, in a verdict that was greeted with dismay by human rights activists.



China: CCTV to launch online TV station


CCTV logoChina Central Television (CCTV) is planning to start a national online TV station, the country's broadcasting authority said Wednesday. The move is seen as part of CCTV's efforts to expand its influence in cyberspace where video-sharing websites such as YouTube are gaining increasing popularity. CCTV.com, the website of CCTV, which already provides a VOD (video on demand) service, is researching 'well-known video websites at home and abroad', and is working on a plan to launch a national online TV station, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said in a statement posted on its website, without providing a timetable. The broadcaster will also start building a video-sharing platform globally, the statement said. CCTV is also considering forming a strategic partnership with China Mobile, the country's top mobile phone carrier, it said. China had 173 million online video viewers by the end of last year, according to Beijing-based research house Analysys International. The online video market peaked during the Olympics when many people turned to the Internet to watch the games. CCTV.com, which enjoyed the exclusive rights to broadcast Olympics online, was the biggest beneficiary. (chinadaily.com.cn via Media Network Weblog)

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Editorial
Democracy: the challenge of recession
Posted: 2009-02-20

What impact will the recession have on democracy? One instinctive response may be: well, the economic boom did not have a uniformly positive impact. High prices of oil and gas have fuelled autocratic and/or populist tendencies in many countries and regions. High-growth but non-democratic models of governance have been held up as providing alternatives to the traditional notion that democracy and development go hand in hand. High, not to say excessive, self-confidence of some leading democracies was projected in counterproductive policies and actions in the name of democracy promotion.
Lower commodity prices, lower growth and lower self-confidence now cut across democracies and non-democracies alike. A cloud of gloom hangs low as political leaders desperately search for the shortest and safest way out of the recession, while experts continue to forecast that things will get even worse before they get better.
What hopes can we hold for democratic opening, consolidation and strengthening (and international efforts in support of democracy) in this worrisome environment?
Firstly, it can be noted that the state is back in fashion in many countries where its role has receded in past decades. Opinions will differ whether this means more or less democracy. What is clear though, is that the dramatic state interventions in recent months have significantly strengthened the executive branch of government. Decisions which in normal situations would require lengthy deliberations by parliaments, have been made at higher speed and less consultation than is normal in representative democracy. Given the urgency of the crisis this is understandable, but nevertheless a shift has taken place in power balance between the executive and the legislature in many countries.
Secondly, people affected are reacting as millions are losing their jobs across the globe. In many countries calls for protectionist measures are difficult for politicians to resist. In the UK, workers have staged demonstrations against foreign companies and workers, leading to fears that xenophobic nationalism will be one fallout of the crisis. In China, people are voicing their anger on the streets and in cyberspace – in a country which saw tens of thousands of popular local protests even when the economy was peaking. Will grievances mutate from social to political? What will be the response of the government? Will there be a breakthrough towards democracy as we all hope, or a new Tiananmen? And if the former prevails, will the West be able to recognize the signs of a new opening which may well take a different path than the evolution of democracy in the West? Protests have been seen in Russia too, inviting the question: will countries with well-functioning democratic institutions and processes prove more stable and resilient because people have other channels than the streets for voicing their concern?
We have seen recent and positive examples of democracy in peaceful action in two major electoral processes in two poverty-stricken countries, Ghana and Bangladesh. Both carried out free and fair elections resulting in a peaceful change of government. Such examples are heartening as they clearly testify against the fatality of political regression following economic hardship. As argued by a number of scholars at a Democracy Round table hosted by International IDEA in New Delhi, the relationship between democracy and development is complex but not necessarily causal.
Hence, there is no fatality. And the recession should not overshadow positive changes in the global landscape:
The new US president and his administration made strong pledges to multilateralism and addressing common problems with others. If we saw the unilateralism and the aggressiveness of the previous US administration as making life easier for authoritarian leaders all over the world, we have similar reasons to hope that the new "listening and working together" style may do the opposite: weaken the hands of authoritarian "patriots" who are always happy to offer national independence as a substitute to democracy.
The European Union, on its part, has built its image of "soft power" and has exercised a clear and politically much less controversial influence on democracy-building worldwide. It has done so through its enlargement and neighbourhood policies, its development assistance, its political dialogue with a number of countries and, last but not least, through its own example of permanent debate and consensus-building among its constituent countries. The EU emanates an understanding of democracy as a system not only based on some universally shared principles, but also respectful of diversity and delivering welfare to its citizens. Thus, the EU has managed to overcome to a significant extent the heavy legacy of colonialism and to be seen as something more than the sum of its 27 entities. Yet, the EU still seems to have an underestimated political capital. Can it still do better? And will the recession affect its important "acquis communautaires" in the area of democracy-support?
International IDEA has launched an initiative to promote a more coherent, effective and partnership-oriented democracy-support policy by the EU. IDEA’s "EU Project" presented and discussed in this newsletter aims at providing the EU – not least through the upcoming Swedish Presidency, with an indispensible tool in this endeavour: a clearly documented feedback from the global South. Through a series of consultations to be held with regional and national actors in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab World, Europe’s key partners will say how they perceive EU’s efforts in the area of democracy-building. We hope that this endeavour will help the EU build its own narrative, in overcoming a perception that sees it mainly as a trade actor, using sometimes double standards when different agendas compete, talking a lot, but not walking the talk. The project should also help move the EU agenda forward in a way that takes the current global economic challenges as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Meeting the challenges of recession requires farsighted leadership and political courage. The positive experience of the EU and the power of its example, the new political landscape shaped by the change in the US administration, the clear commitments undertaken by donor countries jointly with their partners from the global South - as enshrined in the Accra Agenda for Action - should all be used as tools to counteract the effects of the crisis and resist the temptation of easy unilateral solutions that may be politically rewarding on the short run, but may carry immense political risks for long term development and democracy.
Vidar Helgesen

Secretary-General, International IDEA


What's New
NEEDS to link electoral observation with electoral assistance

Posted: 2009-02-13

Domenico Tuccinardi, Project Director for the NEEDS project
Interview with International IDEA’s Domenico Tuccinardi, Project Director for the NEEDS project 12 February 2009.
Interviewer: Monika Ericson, International IDEA's Communications Manager
If managed properly, electoral observation has the power to be a significant means of assessing not only the conduct and outcome of an election and the electoral system, but also to provide good indications on the state of democratic institutions in any given country. International IDEA is set to play a lead role in improving the ability of EU election observers to provide more informed and comprehensive assessments of electoral processes through the Network for Enhanced Electoral and Democratic Support (NEEDS) project.
The NEEDS will focus on the following three areas:
• Developing a consistent methodology for EU Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs) in line with international and regional standards for democratic elections.
• Improving EU observers’ capabilities through the development of a common EU approach to the recruitment and training of observers; and
• Strengthening the democratic process in third countries through targeted support and capacity building for domestic observer groups and other relevant civil society organizations.
The NEEDS Project office is located in Brussels, where most of the training and research activity will be carried out. The first training course for long-term observers took place in Brussels in February 2009.
Funded by the European Commission, the NEEDS project will focus on providing electoral observers a much deeper understanding of electoral systems and processes in order to increase their capacity to provide targeted recommendations for democratic reform. The overall objective is to ensure that the international and national observers’ recommendations are taken into account when determining democracy assistance priorities in the post-electoral period; and to become an effective instrument to facilitate dialogue between elected representatives, civil society and political parties.
“We believe that good recommendations could set the agenda for the next cycle of democracy assistance”, says International IDEA’s Domenico Tuccinardi, the Project Director for the NEEDS project. “This is particularly in line with the electoral cycle approach to electoral assistance support where we envisage the observation playing the key role in identifying weaknesses and areas of enhancement for the democratic institutions of a country. The recommendations of the observers would basically provide the elements for a good democratic dialogue and open up opportunities for reforms in the post-electoral period”.
International IDEA (as the lead organization) began work in October 2008 on this three-year project together with partner organizations - the International Organization for Migration (IOM), EISA, IIDH-CAPEL and Internews Europe.
“After analysing the terms of reference of the new NEEDS, International IDEA decided to bid for this project and then we won with a proposal which was centred on the synergies between electoral observation and electoral assistance and linking it all with the Paris Agenda on Aid Effectiveness. The project is also offering International IDEA a great opportunity to foster its cooperation with the European Commission in establishing a stronger cooperation in democracy and development initiativesm” says Tuccinardi.

(Reproduced:Muktidooth)

INTERESTING NEW FROM VARIOUS NEWS MEDIA

Photo:J. Kevin Fitzsimons for The New York Times






Media News - Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Pirate Bay copyright test case begins

A copyright test case involving one of the world's biggest free file-sharing websites that could help music and film companies recoup millions of dollars in lost revenues started on Monday in Stockholm. Four men linked to The Pirate Bay were charged early last year by a Swedish prosecutor with conspiracy to break copyright law and related offences. Companies including Warner Bros., MGM, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox Films, Sony BMG, Universal and EMI are also asking for damages of more than SEK 100m (EUR 9,2m) to cover lost revenues. Sites like The Pirate Bay allow people to download songs, movies and computer games without paying and the trial is being closely watched to see to what extent the entertainment industry can protect copyright against Internet users. The accused - Peter Sunde, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Fredrik Neij and Carl Lundstrom - denied the charges. The group that controls The Pirate Bay, launched in 2003, says that since no copyrighted material is stored on its servers and no exchange of files actually takes place there, they cannot be held responsible for what material is being exchanged. The prosecution says that by financing, programming and administering the site, the four men promoted the infringement of property rights by the site's users. The trial could last as long as three weeks and the four accused face up to two years in jail if convicted. (Reuters)
(Source:EJC)

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Effort to Track Sex Offenders Draws Resistance

An aggressive federal effort to keep track of sexual offenders is at risk of collapse because of objections from states and legal challenges from sex offenders and others.The effort, approved by Congress three years ago, requires all states to adopt strict standards for registering sex offenders and is meant to prevent offenders from eluding the authorities, especially when they move out of state.

The law followed several heinous crimes by sex offenders on the run, including Joseph E. Duncan III, who in 2005 fled North Dakota, where he had been registered, and committed sex crimes and murder in three states, ending with the torture and killing of a 9-year-old boy in Montana.

An estimated 100,000 sex offenders are not living where they are registered, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which collects the data from the states and provides it to the United States Marshals Service and other federal agencies.

But officials in many states complain about the law’s cost and, in some instances, contend their laws are more effective than the federal one. The states also suggest that the federal requirements violate their right to set their own policies and therefore may be unconstitutional, at least in part.

Despite a looming July deadline, no state has been deemed compliant with the law, and some are leaning toward ignoring major requirements. As a result, one of the toughest child-protection initiatives in the nation’s history is languishing.

“We support the intent, and I’m sure every one of my attorney general colleagues supports the intent,” said Mark J. Bennett, the attorney general of Hawaii. “But we believed we couldn’t follow every single provision because, legally and practically, some of the provisions didn’t make sense.”

Some sex offenders and civil liberties groups have also taken court action to block the law’s provisions. In Ohio, a man convicted 15 years ago of “gross sexual imposition” involving a teenage girl is challenging the requirement that he remain on the state’s registry of sex offenders for the rest of his life, instead of the 10 years previously required by Ohio law.

“That’s not what I want my children to grow up with,” said the man, Darren L. Coey, 35.

Members of Congress say they may try to address some of the problems with the law. Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said through a spokeswoman that he planned “to determine whether revisions and improvements can strengthen compliance, and then to quickly make whatever changes may be needed.”

While some of the law’s backers acknowledge that the states have legitimate concerns, they remain fundamentally committed to the law, and suggest that the delays leave a patchwork of differing state laws that keep children unnecessarily vulnerable to predators.

Even with the spotty compliance and shortcomings, supporters say, the law has reaped benefits. Since its passage, the Marshals Service has brought charges against 615 sex offenders for failing to register or update their registration, an agency spokesman said.

“The single most important thing about it was creating a more consistent, uniform process across the country,” said Ernest E. Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an advocacy group. “There are a lot of states that really don’t know where these guys are.”

The law, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act — named for a 6-year-old boy whose abduction and murder in 1981 changed how law enforcement agencies look for missing children — makes it a federal felony to fail to re register as a sex offender after moving to another state and requires states to toughen their penalties, now often misdemeanors, for failing to register at all.

It also requires offenders deemed especially dangerous to register for life and to renew their registration, usually in person, four times a year. In addition, the law expands the number of crimes for which sex offenders must register and requires states to collect more of their personal information and post much of it publicly.



Darren L. Coey has asked a court to block a federal requirement that would keep him on the registry for sex offenders for life

Message from HE President of Bangladesh:Mr Zillur Rahaman, and other features...

Daily News Brief
16 February 2009
President Zillur Rahman urged all irrespective of parties and opinions for building a prosperous Bangladesh by upholding the democratic process with the spirit of the War of Liberation. Addressing the officials and staff of Bangabhaban, he asked them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty. The President started his office at Bangabhaban yesterday following a guard of honour by a contingent of the President Guard Regiment (PGR), newspapers reported.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, her government will introduce general rationing system so that all sections of people can cope with the prices of essentials. Addressing the 29th National Rally of Bangladesh Ansar and the Village Defense Party (VDP) in Shafipur yesterday, she announced a minimum daily per head allowance of Taka 180 for the attached members of Bangladesh Ansar. She laid stress on establishing a nursing institute side by side with the existing Ansar VDP Academy Hospital for creating employment opportunity. The Prime Minister said, the government is considering to form a separate investigation cell in the police department where the Bangladesh Ansar would be engaged to enquire the cases for their quick disposal. Responding to a demand for involving Ansar in UN mission, she said, the concerned authorities will talk to the UN officials in this regard. She said that the government will reform and modernize the Ansar and VDP by providing professional training and infrastructural development, including removing vehicle problems and increasing budgetary allocation for the development of human resources. Later, she inaugurated a modern operation theater at the Ansar VDP Hospital on the academy premises, newspapers reported.
A special parliamentary committee okayed 54 ordinances out of 122 promulgated by the President during the immediate past caretaker government for enactment as laws during the ongoing first session of parliament. The special committee, headed by Advocate Rahmat Ali MP of the ruling Awami League, will submit its scrutiny report on the ordinances on Tuesday before the parliament, newspapers reported.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzak said, Bangladesh would receive 50 million Euro in aid from the European Commission as support to food security in Bangladesh. He was talking to newsmen after a EU delegation led by the Ambassador of the European Commission Dr. Stefan Froein called on him yesterday. Later, a Canadian delegation led by Ambassador to Bangladesh Robert McDougall met with the Minister, while he requested the Canadian government to increase wheat aid to Bangladesh, newspapers reported.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is eager to extend its cooperation to Bangladesh for modernization of its courts and case management. The UNDP also looking forward to help Bangladesh strengthening the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) system for reducing long pending trials and case jams in court. The assurances come when a delegation of UNDP called on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed in Dhaka yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, the Law Minister said, the government was planning to form a special tribunal under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 for the trial of war crimes committed during the independence war in 1971. He said, the Home Ministry would need to place a proposal for the formation of the tribunal at the cabinet meeting, and the cabinet would work out the modes and terms of reference of the tribunal, newspapers reported.
Turkey has shown keen interest to impart training to the country’s health sector manpower, particularly nurses, under a bilateral cooperation agreement. Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, conveyed the interest when he called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque at his office yesterday, the News Today reported.
Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and Expatriate Welfare Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday held discussions with envoys of four Middle Eastern countries about the ways of expanding Bangladesh’s labour market in those countries. The envoys were Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi, Ambassador of UAE Khalfan Battal Ali Al Monsouri, Ambassador of Qatar Abdul Rahman Y Al Mulla and Charge d’Affaires of Kuwait Mubarak Al Shorian Al Mutairi, newspapers reported.
French Ambassador Charley Canseret said, a trade delegation from France would visit Bangladesh soon to appraise the prospect of more trade and investment. The envoy said this during a call on Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni at her office yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, Commerce Minister Lt. Col. (Retd) Faruk Khan said, the government would set up a vibrant commodity exchange market within a year to develop the country’s agriculture marketing system and to stabilize the prices of essentials, the New Age reported.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday expressed his deep shock at the death of video editor of NTV Atiqul Islam. In a condolence message, the Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the family members of the victim, newspapers reported.
Replying a question at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar said, the government has undertaken a long-term plan ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 to improve the playing standard of national cricket team. He said that the government will ensure balanced distribution of sports materials to each area for development of sports and games in the country, newspapers reported.
Three MPs who were elected to the 9th parliament as independent candidates jointed the ruling Awami League yesterday. They are M Kabirul Haq from Narail-1, Khandakar Abdul Baten from Tangail-6 and Muhammad Imaz Uddin from Naogaon-4 constituencies, newspapers reported.
The by–elections of Jatiya Sangsad in seven vacant seats will be held on March 30 next. According to the schedule announced by Election Commission, the last date for submitting nomination papers is March 2, scrutiny March 5 and last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 12. Talking to newsmen, Election Commissioner Md. Sohul Hossain said, strong security measures would be taken to prevent irregularities and indiscipline in the polling centers, newspapers reported.
In an administrative reshuffle, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman has been made Secretary to Prime Minister’s Office, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Rokeya Sultana has been transferred to Labour and Employment Ministry as Secretary. Besides, Additional Secretary (OSD) of Establishment Ministry Mridula Bhattachariya has been transferred to Women and Children Affairs Ministry as Secretary-in-charge, Secretary-in-charge of Labour and Employment Ministry Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman was transferred to Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Acting Member of Planning Commission Mohammad Habib Ullah Majumder was made Secretary-in-charge of the Planning Division, Director General of Manpower Employment and Training Bureau Mohammad Abdul Maleq was transferred to Planning Commission as Acting Member, and Planning Division Secretary-in-charge Abdur Razzak was made Acting Member of Planning Division, newspapers reported.
China offered to assist Bangladesh in installing nuclear power plant on the China-Pakistan cooperation model, Chinese Ambassador Zheng Qing Dian said this at a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday. He said, China takes seriously its trade imbalance with Bangladesh and has therefore, actively adopted measures to increase imports from Bangladesh. In future China will build stronger ties with Bangladesh in the fields of increased high level contacts and exchanges, and expand cooperation especially in agriculture, education and science and technology where the potential is great, he added, newspapers reported.
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil and SSC Vocational examinations under 10 education boards across the country began yesterday amid strict measures to prevent students from adopting unfair means. A total of 10,63,484 examinees under 10 education boards of the country are appearing in the examination through 1,888 examination centers, newspapers reported.
The High Court yesterday ordered that the Niko graft case against Awami League Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be dropped from the cause list. The court also adjourned the hearing of the barge-mounted power plant graft case against her till April 19, newspapers reported.
Two of the prime accused in sensational Chittagong 10 truck arms haul case were yesterday placed on a 5-day remand each for further interrogation, newspapers reported.
The small and medium enterprises are likely to get some relief under the fiscal measures in budget for next year, NBR Chairman Md. Abdul Mazid told a pre-budget meeting with representatives in Dhaka yesterday. He said, the government would take care that other countries can no longer dump their products to the Bangladesh market, newspapers reported.
Food-grain imports dropped almost 76 percent year on year to 1.17 million tons in the second half of 2008 due to bumper production of rice crops. The country aims to produce 34.33 million tons of food grains, mostly rice, in the year to June, 15.3 percent up from a year earlier, the New Age reported.
Zhong Bu Centresin (Bangladesh) Company Limited, a Chinese company, will set up a Shoe Accessories Manufacturing Industry at Karnaphuli EPZ by investing $24.21 million, newspapers reported.
Two books of rhymes in Braille system were launched for the first time in the country for visually challenged children. The publication ceremony was organized by Prerona and Child Sight Foundation in Dhaka yesterday, the Daily Star reported.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday formed a 10-member committee to segregate junk shares with a view to placing them on the over-the-counter market instead of normal secondary market. The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange gained 29.45 points, or 1.16 percent, to close at 2,567.83, while its blue chips index, DSE20, advanced by 3.65 points, or 0.17 percent, to finish at 2,098.58, newspapers reported.

(Source:PID)

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Press release: Bangladesh hosts international conference on adaptation to climate change
Climate change experts from around the world will meet in Bangladesh this month to identify ways poor communities can adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
The Third International Conference of Community Based Adaptaion to Climate Change (on 22-24 February in Dhaka) will show that many options for reducing vulnerability to climate change already exist.
It will bring together more than 100 scientists, development workers, disaster specialists and policymakers to share information on impacts of climate change — and ways to adapt to them — in sectors as diverse as water, agriculture, biodiversity, human health, infrastructure, coastal zones and cities.
"Adaptation is urgent as the impacts of climate change are already being felt in many places," says Dr Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in the climate change group at the International Institute for Environment and Development. "Adaptation can help build resilience to change but the challenge is knowing what strategies work and then implementing them in diverse settings around the world."
"Policymakers have failed to grasp the scale of the challenge and financial flows to support adaptation are grossly inadequate," says Huq. "The result is that millions of vulnerable people risk being left behind as climate change takes hold."
The conference is being organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and the Ring Alliance of Policy Research Organisations.
Journalists are welcome to attend the final session of the conference, on 24 February at 11.30 am at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka. For more information, please contact Mozaharul Alam (mozaharul.alam@bcas.net).
ENDS
Mike Shanahan
Press officer
International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom

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Venezuelans Demand Punishment for Attacks on Journalists
The National Journalists Guild (CNP) of Venezuela ordered the Public Ministry to end the impunity surrounding aggressions against journalists and media workers, El Universal reports.
Directors of the guild said they receive daily reports of attacks against media workers. They urge officials to bring "true and effective protection" to news organizations and their employees.
"No one is imprisoned for attacking journalists, robbing television equipment or assaulting television crews," affirmed Roger Santodomingo, director of the Caracas chapter of CNP. His comments were published by Globovisión.
By Ingrid Bachmann at 02/13/2009 - 11:00

Daily News Brief
16 February 2009
President Zillur Rahman urged all irrespective of parties and opinions for building a prosperous Bangladesh by upholding the democratic process with the spirit of the War of Liberation. Addressing the officials and staff of Bangabhaban, he asked them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty. The President started his office at Bangabhaban yesterday following a guard of honour by a contingent of the President Guard Regiment (PGR), newspapers reported.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, her government will introduce general rationing system so that all sections of people can cope with the prices of essentials. Addressing the 29th National Rally of Bangladesh Ansar and the Village Defense Party (VDP) in Shafipur yesterday, she announced a minimum daily per head allowance of Taka 180 for the attached members of Bangladesh Ansar. She laid stress on establishing a nursing institute side by side with the existing Ansar VDP Academy Hospital for creating employment opportunity. The Prime Minister said, the government is considering to form a separate investigation cell in the police department where the Bangladesh Ansar would be engaged to enquire the cases for their quick disposal. Responding to a demand for involving Ansar in UN mission, she said, the concerned authorities will talk to the UN officials in this regard. She said that the government will reform and modernize the Ansar and VDP by providing professional training and infrastructural development, including removing vehicle problems and increasing budgetary allocation for the development of human resources. Later, she inaugurated a modern operation theater at the Ansar VDP Hospital on the academy premises, newspapers reported.
A special parliamentary committee okayed 54 ordinances out of 122 promulgated by the President during the immediate past caretaker government for enactment as laws during the ongoing first session of parliament. The special committee, headed by Advocate Rahmat Ali MP of the ruling Awami League, will submit its scrutiny report on the ordinances on Tuesday before the parliament, newspapers reported.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzak said, Bangladesh would receive 50 million Euro in aid from the European Commission as support to food security in Bangladesh. He was talking to newsmen after a EU delegation led by the Ambassador of the European Commission Dr. Stefan Froein called on him yesterday. Later, a Canadian delegation led by Ambassador to Bangladesh Robert McDougall met with the Minister, while he requested the Canadian government to increase wheat aid to Bangladesh, newspapers reported.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is eager to extend its cooperation to Bangladesh for modernization of its courts and case management. The UNDP also looking forward to help Bangladesh strengthening the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) system for reducing long pending trials and case jams in court. The assurances come when a delegation of UNDP called on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed in Dhaka yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, the Law Minister said, the government was planning to form a special tribunal under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 for the trial of war crimes committed during the independence war in 1971. He said, the Home Ministry would need to place a proposal for the formation of the tribunal at the cabinet meeting, and the cabinet would work out the modes and terms of reference of the tribunal, newspapers reported.
Turkey has shown keen interest to impart training to the country’s health sector manpower, particularly nurses, under a bilateral cooperation agreement. Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, conveyed the interest when he called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque at his office yesterday, the News Today reported.
Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and Expatriate Welfare Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday held discussions with envoys of four Middle Eastern countries about the ways of expanding Bangladesh’s labour market in those countries. The envoys were Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi, Ambassador of UAE Khalfan Battal Ali Al Monsouri, Ambassador of Qatar Abdul Rahman Y Al Mulla and Charge d’Affaires of Kuwait Mubarak Al Shorian Al Mutairi, newspapers reported.
French Ambassador Charley Canseret said, a trade delegation from France would visit Bangladesh soon to appraise the prospect of more trade and investment. The envoy said this during a call on Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni at her office yesterday, newspapers reported.
Talking to newsmen yesterday, Commerce Minister Lt. Col. (Retd) Faruk Khan said, the government would set up a vibrant commodity exchange market within a year to develop the country’s agriculture marketing system and to stabilize the prices of essentials, the New Age reported.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday expressed his deep shock at the death of video editor of NTV Atiqul Islam. In a condolence message, the Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the family members of the victim, newspapers reported.
Replying a question at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar said, the government has undertaken a long-term plan ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 to improve the playing standard of national cricket team. He said that the government will ensure balanced distribution of sports materials to each area for development of sports and games in the country, newspapers reported.
Three MPs who were elected to the 9th parliament as independent candidates jointed the ruling Awami League yesterday. They are M Kabirul Haq from Narail-1, Khandakar Abdul Baten from Tangail-6 and Muhammad Imaz Uddin from Naogaon-4 constituencies, newspapers reported.
The by–elections of Jatiya Sangsad in seven vacant seats will be held on March 30 next. According to the schedule announced by Election Commission, the last date for submitting nomination papers is March 2, scrutiny March 5 and last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 12. Talking to newsmen, Election Commissioner Md. Sohul Hossain said, strong security measures would be taken to prevent irregularities and indiscipline in the polling centers, newspapers reported.
In an administrative reshuffle, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman has been made Secretary to Prime Minister’s Office, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Rokeya Sultana has been transferred to Labour and Employment Ministry as Secretary. Besides, Additional Secretary (OSD) of Establishment Ministry Mridula Bhattachariya has been transferred to Women and Children Affairs Ministry as Secretary-in-charge, Secretary-in-charge of Labour and Employment Ministry Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman was transferred to Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Acting Member of Planning Commission Mohammad Habib Ullah Majumder was made Secretary-in-charge of the Planning Division, Director General of Manpower Employment and Training Bureau Mohammad Abdul Maleq was transferred to Planning Commission as Acting Member, and Planning Division Secretary-in-charge Abdur Razzak was made Acting Member of Planning Division, newspapers reported.
China offered to assist Bangladesh in installing nuclear power plant on the China-Pakistan cooperation model, Chinese Ambassador Zheng Qing Dian said this at a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday. He said, China takes seriously its trade imbalance with Bangladesh and has therefore, actively adopted measures to increase imports from Bangladesh. In future China will build stronger ties with Bangladesh in the fields of increased high level contacts and exchanges, and expand cooperation especially in agriculture, education and science and technology where the potential is great, he added, newspapers reported.
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil and SSC Vocational examinations under 10 education boards across the country began yesterday amid strict measures to prevent students from adopting unfair means. A total of 10,63,484 examinees under 10 education boards of the country are appearing in the examination through 1,888 examination centers, newspapers reported.
The High Court yesterday ordered that the Niko graft case against Awami League Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be dropped from the cause list. The court also adjourned the hearing of the barge-mounted power plant graft case against her till April 19, newspapers reported.
Two of the prime accused in sensational Chittagong 10 truck arms haul case were yesterday placed on a 5-day remand each for further interrogation, newspapers reported.
The small and medium enterprises are likely to get some relief under the fiscal measures in budget for next year, NBR Chairman Md. Abdul Mazid told a pre-budget meeting with representatives in Dhaka yesterday. He said, the government would take care that other countries can no longer dump their products to the Bangladesh market, newspapers reported.
Food-grain imports dropped almost 76 percent year on year to 1.17 million tons in the second half of 2008 due to bumper production of rice crops. The country aims to produce 34.33 million tons of food grains, mostly rice, in the year to June, 15.3 percent up from a year earlier, the New Age reported.
Zhong Bu Centresin (Bangladesh) Company Limited, a Chinese company, will set up a Shoe Accessories Manufacturing Industry at Karnaphuli EPZ by investing $24.21 million, newspapers reported.
Two books of rhymes in Braille system were launched for the first time in the country for visually challenged children. The publication ceremony was organized by Prerona and Child Sight Foundation in Dhaka yesterday, the Daily Star reported.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday formed a 10-member committee to segregate junk shares with a view to placing them on the over-the-counter market instead of normal secondary market. The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange gained 29.45 points, or 1.16 percent, to close at 2,567.83, while its blue chips index, DSE20, advanced by 3.65 points, or 0.17 percent, to finish at 2,098.58, newspapers reported.

(Source:PID)

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Press release: Bangladesh hosts international conference on adaptation to climate change
Climate change experts from around the world will meet in Bangladesh this month to identify ways poor communities can adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
The Third International Conference of Community Based Adaptaion to Climate Change (on 22-24 February in Dhaka) will show that many options for reducing vulnerability to climate change already exist.
It will bring together more than 100 scientists, development workers, disaster specialists and policymakers to share information on impacts of climate change — and ways to adapt to them — in sectors as diverse as water, agriculture, biodiversity, human health, infrastructure, coastal zones and cities.
"Adaptation is urgent as the impacts of climate change are already being felt in many places," says Dr Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in the climate change group at the International Institute for Environment and Development. "Adaptation can help build resilience to change but the challenge is knowing what strategies work and then implementing them in diverse settings around the world."
"Policymakers have failed to grasp the scale of the challenge and financial flows to support adaptation are grossly inadequate," says Huq. "The result is that millions of vulnerable people risk being left behind as climate change takes hold."
The conference is being organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies and the Ring Alliance of Policy Research Organisations.
Journalists are welcome to attend the final session of the conference, on 24 February at 11.30 am at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka. For more information, please contact Mozaharul Alam (mozaharul.alam@bcas.net).
ENDS
Mike Shanahan
Press officer
International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom

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Venezuelans Demand Punishment for Attacks on Journalists
The National Journalists Guild (CNP) of Venezuela ordered the Public Ministry to end the impunity surrounding aggressions against journalists and media workers, El Universal reports.
Directors of the guild said they receive daily reports of attacks against media workers. They urge officials to bring "true and effective protection" to news organizations and their employees.
"No one is imprisoned for attacking journalists, robbing television equipment or assaulting television crews," affirmed Roger Santodomingo, director of the Caracas chapter of CNP. His comments were published by Globovisión.
By Ingrid Bachmann at 02/13/2009 - 11:00