LEBANESE HEZBOLLAH READY TO CONFRONT WITH ANY ISRAELI THREAT

BEIRUT, Jan 31, (NNN-IRNA0: Deputy Secretary General of Lebanese Hezbollah Sheikh Na?eim Qassem said the movement is completely ready to confront with any threat of the Zionist regime.

He added that Hezbollah is hopeful in the future of Jihad against the Zionist regime.
Na’eim Qassem made the remarks in a meeting with Iran?s charge d’affaires in Lebanon Hosseinian and Iran?s Cultural Attache Hosseinzadeh as well as a group of Iranian youth, who are in Beirut to attend ? Iran-Lebanon Youth Friendship Week?.

He said that Iranian youth took a good step toward convergence with Lebanese youth in exchanging experiences .

He referred to late Imam Khomeini as a deep thinker who paved the way for Lebanese Hezbollah and said that Hezbollah is always trying to move toward a pure Islamic thought, adding that Hezbollah had victory in four wars against the Zionist regime in years 1972, 1996,2000 and 2006.

He stressed that the Zionist regime existence endangers life in the region and that existence of the Resistance here is a value and we are hopeful in the future of the Jihad against the Zionist regime.

Na’eem Qassem said, “We owe our victories to the guidance of Iran wise leader as well as wise stances of Seyed Hassan Nasrollah and blood of martyrs and that we as Hezbollah will always follow Iran?s supreme leader.”

Iran-Lebanon Youth Friendship Week wrapped up its work on Saturday evening in UNESCO Palace in Beirut.

-NNN-IRNA

Worm Attack Targets Unpatched And Older WordPress Versions

In case you haven’t heard yet, there’s a worm that’s working its way around old and unpatched versions of WordPress. Already it has infected some, including sites that belong to tech celebrities Robert Scoble and Andy Ihnatko. According to the WordPress Blog, this worm is a clever one: “Iit registers a user, uses a security .

12 KILLED, 24 INJURED IN SUICIDE BLAST IN PAKISTAN

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD, Jan 30 (PTI) A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded market in Pakistan’s Bajaur tribal region Sunday, killing nine persons and injuring 15 others.

The bomber detonated his explosives when he was stopped by security personnel at a check post in the main market in Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur Agency, witnesses said.

Witnesses and local officials said nine persons, including two security personnel, were killed in the attack.

Fifteen others, including several security personnel, were injured.

Officials said the toll could rise as the market was crowded at the time of the attack. There were also reports of firing following the blast. However, it was not clear who had opened fire.

Personnel from the paramilitary Bajaur Levies and Bajaur Scouts were deployed at the check post in the market.

-NNN-PTI

INDIA:HI-TECH SEWAGE PLANT TO KEEP GANGA CLEAN

HARIDWAR, Jan 31 (NNN-PTI): A modern sewage plant to keep the Ganga clean and capable of treating 27 million litres of polluted water will soon start functioning, a project which began as part of the preparations for the Kumbh Mela 2010.

The Rs 21-crore fully automatic plant will use the most advanced cyclic effluent treatment in the world to ensure that Ganga, whose water a recent study had said, was below the standards of the Central Pollution Control Board for bathing, flows clean.

“We are fully ready to treat the sewage. As and when the sewage is transferred here through the pipeline which is being laid by the government, we will start treating it,” Harish Karkera, General Manager (Projects) UPL Environmental Engineers, the firm carrying out the project along with GCEPL told PTI.

-NNN-PTI

KENYAN PRES KIBAKI LEAVES FOR AU SUMMIT

NAIROBI, Jan 31 (NNN-KBC) — President Mwai Kibaki Saturday afternoon left Kenya for a four day trip to Ethiopia to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The plane carrying the president and his entourage departed for Addis Ababa from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 2 .P.M.

At the airport to see off the Head of State were Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and other senior government officials.

The theme of this year’s summit is “Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for development,” in recognition of the role of ICT in development.

African Union is spearheading a continental programme to interconnect capitals and major African cities with ICT broadband infrastructure and to strengthen connectivity to the rest of the world by 2012.

The African Development Bank, the International Telecommunication Union, World Bank and the EU are amongst several organizations that have partnered with the AU and availed funds towards various ICT programmes in the continent.

Alongside the official theme of the summit, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union will also launch the Year for Peace and Security in Africa.

In August 2009, in Tripoli , Libya , the heads of state declared the year 2010 to be the Year of Peace and Security on the continent.

The declaration invited the African civil society to continue playing its role in promoting peace, security and stability as partners of governments and the AU.

The launch is likely to lead to discussions on security situation in Somalia.

With regard to Climate Change the Heads of State and Governments are expected to review the report of the Commission on climate change negotiations held in Copenhagen last December. — NNN-KBC

TAIWAN KEEN TO BOOST INVESTMENTS IN INDIA

NEW DELHI, Jan 31 (NNN-PTI): Taiwan is keen to pump investments into India, particularly in the Information Technology sector, and hopes the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) would be signed by the year-end to help in this regard.

The East Asian nation, over which China lays its claim, also wants to contribute its expertise in agriculture and food processing in India besides encouraging Indian students to go for “efficient but cost effective” higher education in Taiwan.

The Taiwanese Representative (Ambassador) in India Wenchyi Ong said trade between India and his country is too meagre because of absence of political and diplomatic relations for long and emphasised the need to give a speedy push to this aspect.

“The economies of India and Taiwan are highly compatible.

We have to try to push the economic ties in every way,” he said.

-NNN-PTI

SOMALIA: EXPLOSIONS RAISE FEARS OVER SOMALILAND STABILITY

HAIRGEISA, Jan 31 (NNN-IRIN) — The latest bomb explosion in Somalia’s self-declared independent republic of Somaliland raises concerns over the lack of government presence in the Las-anod area, says an analyst.

Among those injured in the blast, which killed one person and injured five on Jan 28, was the governor of Sool region, Askar Farah Hussein, who was admitted to a hospital in the town of Las-anod.

Commenting on the bombings that have hit the region since October 2009, Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin told reporters: “I have heard the opposition accusing the government of being behind the bombs; this is unfortunate, the government is investigating, but we need to know that the enemy wants [to stage] more attacks against Somaliland…”

The latest incident brings to five the bombings since October 2009 in Las-anod, capital of a region in contention between Somaliland and Puntland. Las-anod is part of Sool and Sanag region, to which the governments of Somaliland and Puntland both lay claim.

According to EJ Hogendoorn, the International Crisis Group’s Horn of Africa Project Director, the Somaliland government is strong enough to get the situation under control in Las-anod “but the problem is that there is minimal government presence in the area”.

“The area remains largely unadministered by both Puntland and Somaliland,” Hogendoorn said, adding that the region is inhabited mainly by the Dhulbahante clan, which has family ties to the ruling Harti clan in Puntland.

“The Sool and Sanag region is disputed by both Puntland and Somaliland for several reasons; the Dhulbahante are unhappy with both Puntland and Somaliland, and Islamist radicals have taken advantage of this to try to cause instability in the area,” Hogendoorn said. “Moreover, it is likely that there are significant oil deposits in Sool and Sanag, so both governments lay claim to the region.”

Hogendoorn said it appeared the violence was inspired by Islamist elements among the Dhulbahante that are sympathetic to Al-Shabab, the main Islamist group that has been waging war against the government in Somalia.

“The interest of these Islamist elements is to foment instability. What is clear is that they have links with Al-Shabab in south and central Somalia,” he said. “There is a similar dynamic going in Puntland, where the Islamist radicals have also targeted government officials in the past.”

However, Hogendoorn said analysts did not have any evidence that the bombings in Las-anod were orchestrated by Al-Shabab.

“There are a lot of Islamist groups in the whole of Somalia; it is difficult to speculate whether or not Al-Shabab is behind the latest incidents,” he said. “The best course of action would be for the Somaliland government to improve security in and around its installations in Las-anod and to have more presence on the ground.”

Police Commissioner Mohamed Saqadhi Dubad told IRIN that 23 arrests had been made in relation to the incidents and that investigations were ongoing to establish those behind the attacks.

“We consider the suspects [to be] coming from our enemy who don’t like our stability; of course they are external enemies,” Dubad said, declining to give any names.

On Jan 26, Dubad said, reports were made to police that a suspect package had been seen in Las-anod. The police collected the package but it turned out to be a remote-controlled bomb and it went off, killing two soldiers, Dubad said.

On Jan 14, unknown armed men shot dead the Las-anod police commissioner minutes after he left a mosque.

Mohamed Abdi Dhimbil, the deputy governor of Sool, said: “A few days ago, unknown people threw hand grenades at a police station in the south, injuring three policemen.”

In late October 2009, an army commander and another official were killed following a bomb explosion.

Dubad said: “Most of the incidents involved remote-controlled bombs, but more than 23 suspects, including officials from Somaliland, have been arrested and they will be on trial soon.

“We captured some explosive material in Hargeisa after a woman in the area notified us that a man had placed what looked like explosive elements on the road near Hawadle Mosque,” Dubad said. “One man was arrested over the incident.”

The bombings have caused fear and alarm among the public.

“Nowadays Somaliland security is fragile because you can see everywhere there are incidents taking place; for this reason we consider the government could be losing control of national security and we are worried,” said Mohamed Farah Qabile, a member of the Lower House of Parliament from the Kulmiye opposition party.

Mohamed Hashi Elmi, a former minister of commerce, said the government should explain to people who was responsible for the explosions.

On Jan 17, Vice-President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin announced that national security would be given ?the highest priority? in 2010.

Police commissioner Dubad said security for international aid staff would also be improved to facilitate access to many parts of Somaliland.

“We are improving security measures for international staff of aid organizations ? because our enemy is targeting international aid workers as well as other foreign citizens who are helping our people in sectors such as education and health,” Dubad said.

He added that police would provide security for aid workers undertaking missions in various parts of the country, “even in their homes?. — NNN-IRIN

FACTBOX ON SUNDAY’S AFRICAN NATIONS CUP FINAL – GHANA VS EGYPT

ACCRA, Jan 31 (NNN-GNA) — Sunday?s final between Ghana and Egypt in Luanda, Angola is the 27th of the continental championship, first played in 1957 in Sudan when Egypt won.

* It will be an eighth Nations Cup final for both Egypt and Ghana. Defending champions Egypt have won a record six times, with Ghana winning four.

* Egypt are seeking to become the first country to win it three times in a row.

* Ghana have not reached the final since 1992 when they lost to Ivory Coast on penalties. Their last Nations Cup success was in 1982.

* Only twice in the last seven Nations Cup tournaments has the host nation won the final?Tunisia in 2004 and Egypt in 2006. This year?s host Angola went out in the quarter-finals.

* Nine previous Nations Cup finals have gone into extra time. The last was in 2006 when Egypt went on to beat Ivory Coast on penalties.

* Penalties have settled six Nations Cup finals, with Ivory Coast?s 11-10 win on spot kicks in 1992 being the longest shootout.

* Egypt hold the record for the largest winning margin in a final, beating Ethiopia 4-0 in their first final in 1957.

* Captain Ahmed Hassan will become the first player to win four Nations Cup finals if Egypt win on Sunday. Goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari also has three previous winners medals but was reserve for Egypt?s 2-0 win over South Africa in 1998.

* Egypt coach Hassan Shehata has never lost a match in the Nations Cup. His two successes in 2006 and 2008 are matched only by CK Gyamfi, coach of Ghana?s winning teams in 1963 and 1965.

* Egypt striker Mohamed Diba El Attar scored all four goals in the first Nations Cup final and 11 years later was the referee for the 1968 decider, won by Congo-Kinshasa in Ethiopia. — NNN-GNA

GHANA TO LEAD AFRICA’S DEMOCRATISATION – VIE PRESIDENT

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 31 (NNN-GNA) — Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Saturday gave the assurance that Ghana would continue to serve as a trail blazer in the development and democratization of Africa.

“We as a country led in the fight for freedom and independence of most of the African countries and took the lead in coup d’etats and similarly spearheaded democracy and good governanace in the country.” Vice President Mahama made the promise during a bilateral discussion with Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, a former Prime Minister of Finland, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Vice President is in Ethiopia to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit. The former Finland leader was also in the country to solicit the support of Ghana for a permanent seat for Finland at the United Nations Security council.

Vice President Mahama said as a country that had gone through turbulent times, Ghana would take advantage of its democratic credentials and serve as a reference centre in good governance, rule of law and participatory governance in Africa.

He said Ghana had an enviable record of being the masterpiece of democracy.

Vice President Mahama called on African countries engaged in wars and conflicts to emulate Ghana in order to extricate themselves from abject poverty, squalor, illiteracy, hunger and ignorance.

Mr. Ahatisaari commended Ghana for its peace keeping prowess in within and outside the continent.

He said: “it is as a result of your immense contribution to peace keeping that we in Finland have recognised you as a major partner in our strides at gaining a permanent seat at the United Nations.”

Mr. Ahatisaari commended Ghana for producing eminent personalities such as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana and Mr Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, who have contributed to the attainment of freedom and development for the continent.

The former Prime Minister, who is also chairman of Crisis Management Initiative in Finland, appealed to the Vice President Mahama to help conserve Ghana as the citadel of peace, development and prosperity, to serve as a show case for the war-torn African countries. — NNN-GNA

INDIA:SECURITY, CLIMATE CHANGE TO FIGURE IN CHIEF SECY MEET

NEW DELHI, Jan 31 (NNN-PTI): Global trends in various issues, including climate change and security, will come up for deliberations at the first-ever conference of state chief secretaries which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here tomorrow.

The government has decided to make the event involving chief secretaries and key senior functionaries of state governments an annual event from this year to keep them abreast of the trends on vital issues.

“The conference is intended to give senior state government officials an overview of global trends in various areas, the policies of the Government of India and the help, if any, that may be required from state governments,” Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar had earlier said.

A presentation on ‘Climate Change and National Action Plan on Climate Change’ by Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh is slotted during the conference.

-NNN-PTI