Minus Pakistan Saarc summit?

India has launched a well orchestrated effort with its might behind several initiatives in the region to bring together its allies in South Asia, leaving Pakistan in the dust.

Diplomatic sources say India aims to get behind two forums in earnest -- BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) -- and also to forge a new development platform for Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. 

India's initiative comes hot on the heels of the postponement of Saarc Summit in November after most of its members including Bangladesh refused to go to Islamabad over Pakistan's alleged involvement in cross-border crimes and interferences.

Indian resort city of Goa will host the BRICS summit on October 15. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already invited leaders from the BIMSTEC countries -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand -- to join the BRICS leaders in the retreat for an outreach meeting the next day. 

New Delhi is also considering inviting Maldives and Afghanistan, who are not BIMSTEC members, to the outreach meet. "It is virtually going to be a Saarc summit minus Pakistan," an Indian diplomat, choosing not to be named, told The Daily Star.

Diplomatic sources in New Delhi said Modi will exclusively meet the four leaders of Saarc nations -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka -- to share India's perspective on cooperation and also discuss the possibility of isolating Pakistan.

Meanwhile, another sub-regional initiative BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) is set to start intensive efforts to gear up cooperation among the partners, confide diplomats of member countries.

After Pakistan withheld support for a road project for connecting the South Asian countries during the last Saarc Summit in Nepal in 2014, BBIN went ahead and signed the Motor Vehicles Agreement that would allow cross-border road traffic among the member nations.

Besides, leading Indian think-tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is advocating for a Bangladesh-India-Myanmar platform which it believes holds massive development potentials.       

“We have settled maritime boundary, and Bangladesh, Myanmar and India could work in a tri-lateral way to explore energy in the Bay of Bengal. We can share our resources to explore energy and all the three countries would be benefited,” ORF went on record as saying.

Bangladesh, India and Myanmar can expand a pipeline to share petroleum resources, it says.

New Delhi is also actively working on finding ways to accommodate Maldives and Afghanistan, two neighbouring countries who are not members of either BIMSTEC or BBIN.

Then, there is the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation programme (SASEC), comprised of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which was established in 2001. It was only a few days back that SASEC released its plan of action for the first time. It's Operational Plan 2016-2025 contains details of trade, transport and energy projects worth billions of dollars.

This strategy is driven not only by Pakistan turning a blind eye to terrorism, but also by impeding progress on other fronts such as trade, energy, and road connectivity in the region for decades.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that the failure of the regional grouping to deliver "acceptable results" for all members would spell a "bleak future" and compel his country to find other "viable options". He, however, did not elaborate on the “options.”

Wickremesinghe was delivering a special speech at the New Zealand Parliament House on October 3.

Diplomatic sources said BRICS leaders will meet BIMSTEC leaders in Goa, making it the first time the engagement is held outside New Delhi, when India is to use the assembly of the world leaders to once again underscore the need for stepping up counterterrorism cooperation among the countries in the region.

"The upcoming outreach summit would not only be an opportunity to deepen ties with ourselves, we will also interact with India's neighbouring countries of BIMSTEC,” said an Indian diplomat in New Delhi.

Besides, he said, the two back-to-back summits would be an opportunity not for India only because the BIMSTEC leaders will also be able to interact with BRICS nations' leaders.

The 11 participating leaders are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Brazil's interim President Michel Temer, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Myanmar's Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi.

Macedonian Anti-Bulgarian Journalist 'Kicked Out of Govt Workgroups'

The controversial Macedonian journalist who claimed the desecration of a Bulgarian memorial plaque in September became a member of a number of governmental workgroups earlier this year, Macedonian media report.

However, he was expelled from all of them last week, the development coinciding with the outrage sparked by his viral Facebook pictures of a desecrated Bulgarian memorial plaque.

Milenko Nedelkovski, known for close ties to the main ruling VMRO-DPMNE party, was added to eight workgroups at a cabinet meeting held on July 06, Macedonian websites PlusInfo and Libertas write.

The workgroups were initiated by Timcho Mutsinski, a member VMRO-DPMNE, under the so-called National Action Plan for Open Government Partnership 2016-2018.

Some of Nedelkovski's groups are named "Open Sources", "Freedom of Information", "Effective Governance of Public Resources", "Preventing Corruption and Presenting Practices of Good Governance", etc.

Nedelkovski was sentenced to imprisonment (later turned into a suspended sentence) for forging US visas in 2008.

"There were reactions from some of the members who had worked on the action plan until then, [who said] that it was not serious and that Nedelkovski did not belong there. Reactions also came from both non-governmental and [institutional] members," according to Libertas.mk.

The controversial journalist arrived to a workgroup meeting for the first time only on October 03, Monday, the website adds.

He sparked controversy after posting on Facebook images claiming to show the destruction of a memorial plaque honouring the death of soldiers in the Kaimakchalan battle which was lost to the Serbian troops.

Nedelkovski enflamed Bulgarian-language social media users by using violent anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, issuing offensive remarks, and referring to Bulgarians as "Tatars", with some of his supporters calling for "death" to their neighbors.

The plaque, however, was likely not smashed into pieces by him, but was removed earlier, before the arrival of a Serbian delegation which also paid homage to the victims earlier in September.

Macedonia claims the plaque was placed illegally, since Bulgarian authorities had not issued a request to do so. These, for their part, insist the plaque was put up by a group of Bulgarian volunteers and that could not be deemed an official act of a state. Later on, despite condemning the volunteers' actions, VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski stated that Bulgaria must be allowed to have its own plaque at Kaimakchalan. Gruevski added he did not approve either the actions of Bulgarians or those of Nedelkovski.

In Brussels, world powers seek more funds to keep Afghanistan running

World powers convened in Brussels on Tuesday to raise billions more dollars for Afghanistan to keep the country running until 2020, but hopes for a new start to peace talks were overshadowed by a surge in violence by Taliban fighters.

Fifteen years after the US invasion that ousted Taliban rulers harbouring militants behind the attacks on New York and Washington, Afghanistan remains reliant on international aid and faces resurgent militants that threaten its progress.

The two-day, European Union-led donor conference is seeking fresh funds, despite Western public fatigue with their governments’ involvement in Afghanistan. Around 70 governments, including the United States, Russia, Iran, China and India, are attending, with pledges to be made on Wednesday.

“We’re buying four more years for Afghanistan,” said EU special representative for Afghanistan Franz-Michael Mellbin.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini may seek to bring together China, Iran, Russia, the United States, Pakistan and India on the sidelines of the conference in what would be the first concerted peace push since 2013.

“If we don’t achieve peace, it’s going to be extremely costly for the foreseeable future,” Mellbin told Reuters.

US secretary of state John Kerry met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Brussels on Tuesday, a day after Taliban insurgents briefly entered the centre of the northern city of Kunduz, raising questions about Afghan defences.

A senior US state department official said the United States was prepared to restart a peace process “without any pre-conditions,” and noted that after forty years of conflict, Afghans were tired of war. US and EU officials have been encouraged by a smaller peace agreement last month between the Afghan government and a local warlord.

But a senior Indian diplomat questioned whether the Taliban was ready to make peace. The West wants Pakistan to do more to strike remaining militants. “The fact remains that at least the Afghan Taliban continue to enjoy safe havens in Pakistani territory,” the US official said.

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries, with 1.2 million Afghans forced to live as refugees in their own country and another 3 million living in Iran, Pakistan or seeking asylum in Europe.

Kidnapping, extortion

A prosperous Afghanistan could mean fewer refugees into Europe, an end to its status as a haven for militant groups hostile to the West and more effective police action against its billion-dollar narcotics trade.

For Moscow, which invaded in 1979 and spent a decade trying to control the country, the stability of the central Asian region is paramount. It has its largest foreign military base on the Afghan border, in Tajikistan, and an interest in keeping out the drugs that are trafficked and consumed in Russia.

But even with billions of dollars spent by the United States and NATO for Afghan security forces, some 30 percent of the Afghan population lives in territory that the government does not fully control, according to Western officials.

At the Brussels conference, officials will seek total pledges of $3 billion a year for the 2017-2020 period.

That is lower than the $4 billion a year pledged at the last conference in Tokyo in 2012, partly because Afghanistan is raising its own revenues and because of donor fatigue.

Eighty percent of Afghanistan’s budget is financed by aid.

“That won’t change until security improves and Afghan businesses can help the economy without fear of extortion or kidnapping,” said Horia Mosadiq, an Afghanistan expert at Amnesty International.

Modi heaps praises on Singapore’s role in technology, three MoUs signed

NEW DELHI, India - In a bid to enhance mutual ties, India and Singapore have entered alliances that would help the countries tackle the growing threat of terrorism.

Speaking at a ceremony, Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi named cross-border terrorism and increasing radicalisation as the twin challenges that currently pose a serious threat to the smooth functioning of both nations. 

Modi said, “Rising tide of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, and the rise of radicalisation are grave challenges to our security - they threaten the very fabric of our societies.”

He added in his speech, “It is my firm belief that those who believe in peace and humanity need to stand and act together against this menace.”

Modi was addressing concerns in light of the Uri attacks in India’s northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, that left 19 Indian soldiers dead, followed by a string of attacks and counter-attacks between the Indian army and militants. Modi also addressed the killing of a Border Security Force trooper in an attack by militants on an army camp in Baramulla. 

Speaking during his second visit to Singapore, Modi further signed three agreements with the country, with one involving Intellectual Property rights. He said that IP rights tie-up would help boost greater business to business exchanges and collaborations.

Further, both the countries also signed two deals on skill development and one on industrial property cooperation.

The Indian Prime Minister said, “Prime Minister Lee and I also welcome the issuance of corporate rupee bonds in Singapore. It is a step forward in our efforts to mobilise capital for India's large infrastructure development needs.”

Singapore is one of India’s key partners in the realisation of strong economic growth. 

During the meeting of the two prime ministers, Modi is said to have praised new technologies emerging from Singapore and said, “I have been informed that Singapore is leading the world in putting driverless cars on the road. But, I rest assured, we all rest assured, that one of India’s strongest well-wishers Prime Minister Lee is in the driving seat for Singapore and for our bilateral relationship. Excellency Lee, you are a friend of India.”

He also went on to laud Singapore for its proactive role in the global market. “Whether it is manufacturing, environment, innovation, technology, or delivery of public services, Singapore does today what the rest of the world would do tomorrow.”

Responding to Modi’s praise, Singapore Prime Minister Lee too pointed out the importance of bilateral ties and also said that Singapore was looking forward to contribute to India’s development wherever possible. 

Modi said that he had successfully enhanced the bilateral relationship between both the countries, upgrading it to the level of a Strategic Partnership with “renewed spirit, new energy.”

Activists ask Kenya’s president stop railway crossing park

About 100 protesters have petitioned the office of Kenya’s president urging him to intervene and stop the planned construction of an elevated railway line through Nairobi National Park.

Resident Teresia Lesian says the train’s noise will scare animals out of Kenya’s oldest national park and into their homes.

The Chinese project would cross six kilometers of the park, and environmental groups have vowed to fight it.

Nairobi’s expansion has brought increased conflict between humans and wildlife, threatening the existence of animals including lions, cheetahs and hyenas. All are found in the park.

Kenya is redoing its railway line from Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa, and the line would cross over the park as it approaches the town of Naivasha, where the government wants to construct an industrial hub.

I thought I was the coolest guy in the room until Irrfan walked in: Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks rejoiced in being the coolest guy on the sets of Hollywood film Inferno. But he says it lasted only until Indian actor Irrfan Khan walked in.

At a select global media event organised by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Hanks said: “Here’s what I hate about Irrfan Khan... I always think I’m the coolest guy in the room, and everybody’s hanging on to every word I say and everybody’s a little intimidated to be in my presence. And then Irrfan Khan walks into the room. And he’s the coolest guy in the room.

“And everybody’s intimidated to be in his presence and everybody’s hanging on to his every word.”

Irrfan, who has worked in a slew of Indian movies, has also proved his mettle internationally in critically-acclaimed works like The Namesake, A Mighty Heart, Life of Pi, the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire and the commercially successful The Amazing Spider-Man and Jurassic World.

Come October 14, he will be seen in Inferno with Forrest Gump star Hanks.

After adapting Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons for the big screen, director Ron Howard has infused life to the author’s popular book Inferno.

In the film, based on the eponymous 2013 novel, Hanks will be seen reprising the role of Robert Langdon, a professor of symbology at Harvard University. Irrfan plays Harry The Provost Sims, head of The Consortium.

The film will present a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memory. They race across Europe and against the clock to foil a deadly global plot, and Irrfan joins their mission to save the world.

Hanks, known for films like Saving Private Ryan, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, The Terminal, Catch Me If You Can and more recently Sully, asserted that the worst thing about Inferno is “that I am only in a couple of scenes with Irrfan. It was heartbreaking”.

The two-time Oscar-winning star is impressed with Irrfan’s acting skills, and has in fact chalked down a way to ape his style.

Hanks said: “And as soon as I walked up to him I said, ‘Irrfan Khan, I’m going to steal from you everything I possibly can. I’m going to start speaking very quietly in films. I’m going to wear very nice suits. And I will draw out the last sound of every sentence that I say.’ And by doing that, I will be doing a very pale imitation of the coolest guy in the room.”

Hanks is returning as Langdon in the film franchise, and says it is a pleasant experience to get Brown’s vision on the silver screen.

“I’m not contractually obligated to make any Dan Brown/Robert Langdon things. But every time we’ve done it, it’s been the same exact team of people... So there really is no repetition. I must admit, they’re very pleasant movies to make,” said the 60-year-old.

Jewel thieves put gun to Kim Kardashian's head, tie her up in Paris bathroom

Masked men put a gun to reality TV star Kim Kardashian's temple, left her tied up in the bathroom of her luxury residence in Paris and stole millions of dollars' worth of jewelry in early today, police and her publicist said.

Kardashian, wife of rapper Kanye West, later left France aboard a private jet from Le Bourget airport after speaking to investigators.

Five attackers, wearing ski masks and clothes with police markings, struck around 3:00am (0100 GMT) inside the exclusive apartment block where Kardashian was staying while attending Paris Fashion Week, a police source told Reuters.

Two of the men entered Kardashian's apartment after threatening the night guard with a hand gun. Kardashian was not beaten, but the robbers put a handgun against her temple before tying her up, the source said. iTELE television said she had been tied up with packing tape.

The robbers stole a box with 5-6 million euros' ($5.6-$6.7 million) worth of jewels and a ring worth about 4 million euros, the source said.

Kardashian was discovered "badly shaken but physically unharmed", according to her publicist, Ina Treciokas.

"I'm sorry I have a family emergency, I have to stop the show," West told the audience in video tweeted by fans at the Meadows Festival in Queens.

The Paris apartment block is a discreet building behind the city's Madeleine church, with several secret entrances, often frequented by movie and music stars who pay up to 15,000 euros a night.

The source said the attackers fled on bicycles. Police found the night guard in the staircase, his hand and feet bound.

Kardashian was in Paris with her mother Kris Jenner and her sisters Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian to attend the fashion week. The rest of the family stayed in a hotel.

The robbery set social media alight, with many users expressing disbelief at the latest headline-grabbing event in the life of a TV star who life is continually documented on screen and the internet.

"Looking forward to accompanying album and TV show detailing event," said Twitter user Jay.

Most comments, however, were supportive.

"Kim Kardashian is a mother, a wife, daughter and sister. Despite the fact that you don't like her, being held up at gun point is not funny," said one post by Alieuisha.

Paris has seen several armed robberies on high-end jewelry stores in recent months.

The armed robbery could add to worries about safety in Paris, hit by a series of attacks by Islamist militants last year.

Tourist numbers to what is traditionally the most visited city in the world, fell 6.4 percent in the first half of 2016 as many Asians and Americans stayed away.

"We worry about the image of Paris. This will be all over the news channels, imagine the negative publicity," Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, head of the conservative opposition in Paris, told Europe 1 radio.

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