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Portraying Tarique Rahman as a symbol of “kleptocratic government and violent politics” in Bangladesh, the US embassy in Dhaka even recommended blocking his entry into the United States.
The embassy believed Tarique was “guilty of egregious political corruption that has had a serious adverse effect on US national interests”, namely the stability of democratic institutions and US foreign assistance goals, a leaked US embassy cable says.
James F Moriarty, the then US ambassador, sent the confidential cable on November 3, 2008 to Washington and WikiLeaks published it on August 30 this year.
He cited several examples of Tarique's major corruption as he described his worries in the cable about the possible impact of giving him access into the US.
The decision in this regard, however, could not be known. Tarique has been staying in London since September 2008.
About six months after Moriarty's recommendation, Geeta Pasi, chargé d' affaires of US embassy in Dhaka, sent another cable to Washington on Tarique. It said the State Department was considering a determination for visa revocation for him under the Presidential Proclamation.
Tarique's corrupt practices have had deleterious effects on the US interests, Moriarty wrote, adding “His antics have weakened public confidence in government and eroded the stability of democratic institutions.”
“Tarique's well-established reputation for flouting the rule of law directly threatens US financial assistance goals directed toward reforming legal codes, strengthening good governance and halting judicial abuses.”
The bribery, embezzlement, and culture of corruption that the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's elder son has helped create and maintain in Bangladesh has directly and irreparably undermined US businesses, resulting in many lost opportunities, Moriarty wrote.
“His theft of millions of dollars in public money has undermined political stability in this moderate, Muslim-majority nation and subverted US attempts to foster a stable democratic government, a key objective in this strategically important region,” reads the cable.
Tarique's flagrant corruption has also seriously threatened specific US Mission goals, it said.
The US embassy in Dhaka has three key priorities for Bangladesh: democratisation, development, and denial of space to terrorists. “Tarique's audaciously corrupt activities jeopardize all three.”
“His history of embezzlement, extortion, and interference in the judicial process undermines the rule of law and threatens to upend the US goal of a stable, democratic Bangladesh. The climate of corrupt business practices and bribe solicitation that Tarique fostered derailed US efforts to promote economic development by discouraging much needed foreign investment and complicating the international operations of US companies.”
Tarique's “flagrant disregard” for the rule of law had provided potent ground for terrorists to gain a foothold in Bangladesh while also exacerbating poverty and weakening democratic institutions, the cable said.
“In short, much of what is wrong in Bangladesh can be blamed on Tarique and his cronies,” Moriarty wrote.
The US ambassador recommended that Tarique could be subject to Presidential Proclamation 7750 that can block one's entry into the US for the aforementioned reasons.
The cable, however, said the embassy was not seeking to apply the proclamation for Tarique's wife Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Zaima Rahman or his mother Khaleda Zia.
The elder son of Khaleda Zia, who led the government in 1991-1996 and later 2001-2006, became an all influential party leader during BNP's second term in office.
During the period, he established an alternative centre of power at Hawa Bhaban, the then political office of the chairperson. It was open secret that Tarique and his cronies used to interfere in the government activities and control all major business deals.
He, however, became powerless after his arrest during the tenure of immediate past army-backed caretaker government.
Terming him “the notorious and widely feared” son of former premier Khaleda Zia, the US ambassador mentioned that Tarique, arrested in an anti-corruption crackdown in March 2007, was released on bail on September 3 the next year. He flew to the UK on September 11 for medical treatment.
As a condition for his release, Tarique had to quit the post of BNP's senior joint secretary general, after enjoying the position for about five years.
But still abroad, he was made all-powerful senior vice chairman in December 2009 with a clear mandate to lead BNP in absence of his mother.
The cable termed Tarique “notorious for flagrantly and frequently demanding bribes in connection with government procurement actions and appointments to political office”.
Saying that Tarique's release occurred despite multiple pending cases against him on charges of corruption, extortion, bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion, Moriarty wrote: “With deep political ties that reach the highest court in the land, Tarique managed to manipulate the judicial process and overcome a concerted effort by the Caretaker Government to block his bail.”
“We believe Tarique has several passports, including a new one in which the UK issued him a visa in September. Another passport contains a five year multiple-entry B1/B2 visa (issued May 11, 2005). We suspect that passport is being held by the government.”
Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) levelled serious charges against Tarique, the cable said, adding he reportedly had accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit wealth. There are multiple extortion cases pending against him, founded on the testimony of numerous prominent business owners who he victimised and exploited, the cable said.
“In one case, Tarique allegedly threatened Al Amin Construction owner Amin Ahmed with closure of the company unless he received a payment of 150,000 USD. Other local business leaders, including Mohammad Aftab Uddin Khan of Reza Construction Ltd, Mir Zahir Hossian of Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd, and Harun Ferdousi have each filed accusations detailing a systematic pattern of extortion on a multi-million dollar scale.”
The ACC had also filed charges of concealing ill-gotten wealth, and the National Board of Revenue had brought tax evasion charges against Tarique, it added.
Tarique's corrupt activities were not limited to extortion of local companies, Moriarty wrote.
Saying that the ACC had also uncovered evidence in several bribery cases involving both foreign and local firms and individuals, he listed the following examples:
SIEMENS
According to a witness who funnelled bribes from Siemens to Tarique and his brother Koko, Tarique received a bribe of approximately two percent on all Siemens deals in Bangladesh (paid in US dollars). This case is currently being pursued by Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture and the FBI.
HARBIN COMPANY
ACC sources report that the Harbin Company, a Chinese construction company, paid $750,000 to Tarique to open a plant. According to the ACC, one of Tarique's cronies received the bribe and transported it to Singapore for deposit with Citibank.
MONEM CONSTRUCTION
An ACC investigator advised Embassy officials that Monem Construction paid a bribe worth $450,000 to Tarique to secure contracts.
KABIR MURDER CASE
The ACC has evidence that Tarique accepted a $3.1 million bribe to thwart the prosecution of a murder case against Sanvir Sobhan, the son of Bashundhara Group chairman. Sanvir was accused in the killing of Humayun Kabir, a director of the business conglomerate. An investigation by the ACC confirmed Tarique had solicited the payment, promising to clear Sanvir of all charges.
Moriarty also wrote that beyond bribery and extortion, the ACC reported Tarique had also become involved in an elaborate and lucrative embezzlement scheme. With the help of several accomplices, he succeeded in looting $3 lakh from the Zia Orphanage Trust fund.
He quoted an ACC source saying Tarique, who is a co-signatory to the trust fund account, used funds from the trust for a land purchase in his hometown. He also provided signed checks drawn from the orphanage fund accounts to BNP party members for their 2006 election campaigns.
The cost of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Spain next week is coming under fire from lay groups -- and even some priests -- at a time when people are suffering from painful budget cuts.
The pope arrives in Madrid on August 18 to attend the final four days of the Roman Catholic Church's six-day youth festivities, expected to draw more than one million faithful.
Organisers of the World Youth Day celebrations put the price tag of staging the event, without counting security costs, at 50-60 million euros ($72-86 million). This includes the cost of building a 200-metre (656-foot) long stage at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome where the pope will deliver the final mass of his visit on August 21 and decorating it with a giant metal tree. It also pays for setting up hundreds of water fountains and 20 giant screens at the aerodrome, and installing showers at the public schools that will be used to house pilgrims from outside Madrid.
Organisers say 80 percent of the cost of the event will be financed by payments from the young pilgrims, with the rest coming from donations by companies and individuals. But critics argue that corporate sponsors are eligible for tax rebates of up to 80 percent of the amount they donate because the government declared World Youth Day celebrations to be an event of "exceptional public interest".
The Priests Forum, which groups together 120 priests from Madrid's poorest parishes, has criticised this loss of state revenues, especially since the government has slashed social spending and public worker salaries. Evaristo Villar, a 68-year-old priest who is one of the leaders of the group, said the Church has had to ally itself with large multinationals to cover the costs of the "showmanship" of the event. "These companies that are backing World Youth Day and the pope's visit leave much to desire. They are the ones who, together with international capital, have caused the crisis," he said. "We are not against the pope's visit, we are against the way it is being staged."
Opponents of the pope's visit have set up a Facebook page calling for a boycott of the over 100 corporate sponsors of the event, including Coca-Cola, telecoms giant Telefonica and Banco Santander. Nearly 150 groups that oppose the pope's visit plan to protest against the pontiff's visit on August 17 on the eve of his arrival. Spain's 15-M movement against the management of the economic crisis, soaring unemployment and political corruption -- named after its May 15 launch date -- is also mulling a series of protests during his stay in Madrid. "With the economic crisis we are going through, we can't pay for this. The Church should set the example," said a spokesman for the movement whose members call themselves "the indignant". The regional government of Madrid in June slashed the education budget by 40 million euros this year, nearly the amount that it will cost to hold World Youth Day, he added.
Spain is struggling to emerge from nearly two years of recession that has left it with a eurozone-high unemployment rate of just over 20 percent and a bloated deficit. Yago de la Cierva, the executive director of World Youth Day 2011, said the budget for this year's event will be 20 percent lower than for the last one in Sydney three years ago even though four times as many pilgrims are expected to come to the gathering in Spain. "We have made huge effort of moderation, of economic responsibility," he said. "The new generations, young people today, they like big events and the Church uses all the tools that exist to present the message of Jesus Christ."
The World Youth Day celebrations were instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1986 as a way to revitalize the faith among young Catholics. It was in Spain once before, in 1989 in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela.
Convinced they don’t fancy you? Don’t be so sure. When it comes to flirting, things often aren’t quite what they seem. Look out for these secret signs they’re into you.
1. They ignore you
Infatuation makes people to do the strangest things. Often the complete opposite of what’s expected, so if they turn up somewhere you are and then spend the whole time studiously ignoring you, it might just be that they’re interested but are so worried and nervous about making a fool of themselves in front of you that they keep their distance. It’s up to you to approach them, make some small talk and coax them out of their shyness.
2. They make fun of you
This one harks back to school days when all you had to do to get the attention of a member of the opposite sex was to tease them mercilessly. It’s actually a clever way to disguise their interest because it’s safer than a direct approach and protects from outright rejection. Plus it gives them a chance to impress you with their wit. As long as they’re not being down right rude, there’s a strong chance they’re up for more than just teasing – especially if it seems as though you’re the butt of a disproportionately high number of their jokes.
3. They suggest going Dutch
So you find yourself out for dinner with them but you’re not sure if it’s a date. To further confuse matters, they suggest splitting the bill. Surely that places you firmly in the friend zone. If they fancied you they’d pay right? Wrong. Often when someone’s interested in you they’re extra cautious about seeming over keen. Offering to split the bill doesn’t make them tight, it actually shows respect as they’re not trying to buy their way into your affections.
4. They pretend they don’t remember you
You clearly recall meeting them a few weeks ago at a party, but they claim to have no memory of it now. Interesting. It’s more than likely they’re playing it cool and don’t want you to know what a strong impression you made on them. The truth is they’ve been reliving your encounter over and over in their head and can’t stop thinking about you.
5. They won’t look you in the eye
This one’s a form of self-defence borne out of shyness. They naively (and rather sweetly) think they’ll be able to conceal their feelings for you by avoiding eye-contact. They’re probably also worried about embarrassing themselves by blushing bright red when they lay eyes on you. Try your best to put them at their ease by smiling and placing a reassuring hand on their arm.
6. They puff out their chest
This is a subtle subconscious signal that’s not always easy to spot, but it’s a scientific fact that both men and women alter their posture when they’re around someone they fancy. Men draw their shoulders back and puff out their chests slightly to make themselves appear broader and taller, whilst women arch their backs slightly and also draw their shoulders back to show off their womanly assets.
7. They pay special attention to your best friend Don’t write them off because they seem to be getting a bit flirty with your best mate. There’s every chance they’re just doing some subtle research about you. And what better way to impress you than by impressing your best friend. If your mate gives them a good write-up they’re bound to be in a better chance with you. It’s a very smart move.
8. They’ve got verbal diarrhoea
If they start babbling absolute jibberish at a hundred miles an hour whenever you’re around, you can be pretty certain that it’s brought on by the sheer awesomeness of you. Don’t worry, they wish they could get a hold of their nerves and stop spouting whatever comes into their head too, but it’s completely out of their control. Don’t hold it against them. It’s actually quite flattering.
9. They call you to whinge about their lovelife – or lack of it
That’s a surely a sign you’re just good mates isn’t it? Well, no actually. The desire to call you up and just chat demonstrates you’re on their mind even if they are phoning to dissect a bad date. And don’t be fooled by all the moaning about not having found the right guy or girl - what they’re really doing is showing off that they got asked out and are deemed desirable. They want you to sit up and take notice – maybe even get a bit jealous.
10. They get your name wrong
Classic move here. They’re trying to throw you off the scent that they’re interested by accidentally on purpose calling you the wrong name. Yes it’s a bit lame, but they’re just employing the old ‘treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen’ technique. And guess what? It’s working.
1. Men's body odour
Ever wondered why you like to snuggle in the nook of his armpit so much? Well here’s the (slightly gross) answer. According to research conducted by Monell Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia, Women are attracted to the smell of a man’s armpit sweat because underarm sweat contains a complex compound of odourless pheromones that subconsciously affect us. Charles Wysocki, a behavioural neuroscientist at the Centre explains, “Women are more attuned to underarm stink because the biological data it contains helps them choose a mate. Most women are even better at smelling male body odour than female body odours.” Nice!
2. Men's body language
Whether it’s the way he carries himself, the manner in which he casually brushes his hand through is hair, or just the way he walks, us women are pre-programmed to notice. According to Linda Blair, clinical psychologist and author of Straight Talking “It takes only seven seconds for us to judge another person when we first meet them,” To us, a man who walks tall and is comfortable in his own skin translates as a man who is self-confident – and that’s a hugely attractive trait. Judi James, author of The Body Language Bible, explains “Judging other people in the first few seconds of meeting them is part of our survival response. We’re looking primarily to see if we should feel threatened, but we also make several assumptions about attraction and personality.”
3. His shape
While we’re not necessarily looking for a muscle-bound hunk, there’s something primal about our attraction to his physical form. Whether he’s gym honed or not, if he looks fit and as though he looks after himself, this lets us know that health and well-being are among his priorities – and that’s a massive turn on. Especially when we’ve got mating on our minds. In general, most women are also predisposed to liking someone who is physically bigger than they are with broader shoulders and taller in height. This is probably residual hardwiring from our days as cavewomen when we looked to men as protectors and hunter-gatherers.
4. Men's sense of humour
A recent study by Northumbria University showed that women use humour as an indication of a guy's intelligence which goes some way to explaining the enormous popularity of “GSOH” as a dating requirement for so many women’s dating profiles. "Intelligence is a very attractive quality as a clever man should be more able to provide resources for his offspring.” Explains Kristofor McCarty who led the study. But gentlemen be warned, while we like a man who can make us laugh, a cruel wit that makes jokes at the expense of others or denigrates and puts us down is not something we find attractive.
5. Men's ambitious streak
We’re attracted to men with a drive to succeed for many reasons. Firstly it shows he’s passionate about something and while it may not be you (yet), it’s a sign that he’s capable of commitment. A strong work ethic demonstrates a sense of responsibility – another positive indication for selecting a life partner. Ambition also reveals a healthy sense of get-up-and go. It shows that he’s not content just hanging out with his mates down the pub and that he aspires towards something more - the desire to make things happen and improve his life. There isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t find that attractive.
Photo: Jennifer Thompson, a prostitute who says she had sex with Wayne Rooney while his wife Coleen was pregnant
Wayne Rooney’s performance at the 2010 World Cup was so shambolic, only pity and concern for Rooney’s reputation stopped Capello substituting him. Of course, his failure is not the only reason England failed, again. We are only 8th in the FIFA world rankings so a last 16 place is about right – to make it to the quarter finals or beyond would be punching well above our weight. Yet already the media talk of new players, of needing to make at least the semi-finals at Euro 2012 to get back to “where England should be”. Do they never learn? Until we develop young players who relish technique and speed more than drinking off the pitch and thuggery on it, “where England should be” at the beginning of July is precisely where they are now – on the beach. Rooney is a prime example of misguided belief in England’s supremacy – we are constantly told he is a genuine world class player – so important to our success that the team must be built around him. England even chose to play with effectively 10 men by playing Heskey – just to try to make Rooney look good. This is like trying to build a house on quicksand – squeaky bum time when it rains. The ostrich fans in their armchairs speak in awe of Rooney’s 2010 PFA Player of the Year award, his 34 goals for Man Utd, his goals in the World Cup qualifiers but does that make him world class or just a very talented club player? Dig beneath the Sky Sports hype, remember that his club performances are for arguably the best team in the Premiership and that much of his goal tally comes against teams like Portsmouth, Wigan, Hull – hardly world class defences. Ignore the pundits – just compare Rooney’s international prowess with lamentably forgotten England strikers like Peter Crouch:
FOR ENGLAND
Wayne Rooney
Peter Crouch
Games
59
40
Goals
25
21
Goals per game
0.4
0.5
Total minutes played
4247
2111
Minutes required per goal
169.8
100.5
Goals since March 2006 (run up to 2006 world cup)
14
21
Red cards
1
0
Yellow cards
8
3
World cups played in
2
2
Goals at world cups
0
1
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
* red is the best But perhaps Wayne shines more in Europe than in World Cups? No, he has scored 21 in 54 European games (0.38 per game) compared to Crouch’s 18 in 44 (0.41 per game). In the Premiership, Rooney does score many more than Crouch – he is in a better team and his physical style suits the frantic hurly burly of the Premiership perfectly. But overall, Crouch has a far better record for England and a better record in Europe – in internationals, against world class opposition, against the best teams, there is no doubt Crouch shines ever brighter – whereas Rooney dims and fades – the better the opposition, the further Rooney falls behind.
Yet Flopello chose to believe the hype and pacify the media by playing Rooney (and even Heskey) at the expense of Crouch. Flopello has difficulty speaking English, perhaps he can’t read it either – their goal scoring records for England could not be any clearer.
It is quite natural that people around the world may see Rooney as a representative of the England team as a whole. Players in England earn quite a lot of money compared to much better players from other countries. But what really England team presents its supporter with when it really matters. When England team plays with a big team, it is never favorite because of its record is terribly poor. Technique, strength and stemina -- none of these was better than the Germans in last world cup. Those who have seen England vs Algeria match, can easily pick up that English players were not fit compared to the Algerian players. If Algerians had a little better techniques, the match would not end up in a draw. Getting a giant amount of money (thanks to media hype) does not make a footballer a better player. Beckham is not Meradonna or Zidan in football. But anybody can imagine the difference what media hype and excessive propaganda earned Beckham compared to those two icons.
The White House has released President Barack Obama's birth certificate, in response to persistent rumours he was not born in the US.
Mr Obama had previously released an official "certification of live birth" showing he was born in Hawaii.
But fringe "birther" theorists have insisted Mr Obama was actually born in his father's native Kenya, making him ineligible to be president.
Recently potential Republican candidate Donald Trump has revived the rumour.
Analysis
Mark MardellBBC North America editor
The White House clearly felt they had to lay this matter to rest. And they were almost certainly right.
I was out of town when the story broke and rushed to find a diner with a TV to watch what the president said. As I talked to people afterwards, it was very clear many had doubts about the president's birth certificate and wondered why something hadn't been said more clearly much earlier.
Something else was also very clear: They agreed with the president that this was a distraction and nearly everyone, unprompted, mentioned the price of petrol as their overwhelming concern.
Mardell's America: What do voters think?
'Silliness'
On Wednesday, Mr Obama described the unprecedented move as an effort to rid the US political debate of a distraction, saying he had watched, puzzled and bemused, as the birther conspiracy had built and developed over the past years.
He described the matter as a "sideshow" and its proponents as "carnival barkers".
"We do not have time for this kind of silliness," Mr Obama said. "We've got better stuff to do. I have better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve, and I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them - not on this."
The release of Mr Obama's long form birth certificate, which had been stored in a bound volume among the records of the Hawaii Department of Health since his birth in August 1961, comes after years of speculation among conspiracy-minded conservatives.
Under the US constitution, only a "natural born citizen" - a clause widely interpreted to mean born in the US or in some cases to US citizens abroad - is eligible to be president. Trump's birther hype The birther conspiracy held that Mr Obama was born in Kenya or in Indonesia, where he lived as a child, or that the birth certificate revealed other unwholesome information about the president.
Click to play
Barack Obama: "We've had every official in Hawaii...confirm that yes in fact I was born in Hawaii"
During the 2008 presidential campaign Mr Obama released a computer print-out of the birth certificate information that is recognised as an official record of his birth - on passport applications, for instance - and Hawaiian public health officials vouched for its authenticity.
But the move did little to quell the birthers, even as most mainstream Republicans have sought to quash the movement, calling it a distraction from substantive policy disagreements.
New York real estate entrepreneur and reality television star, meanwhile, has publicly flirted with a Republican presidential bid in recent weeks, founded in large part by stoking questions about Mr Obama's origins.
And on Wednesday, Mr Trump took credit for forcing Mr Obama's hand.
"I've accomplished something that nobody else has been able to accomplish," Mr Trump told reporters. "He should have done it a long time ago."
The White House released copies of the original birth certificate, with a stamp verifying its authenticity. White House officials said they had been given a waiver by Hawaii public health officials, as the state's policy in general bars release of long-form birth certificates. Birthers unsatisfied The document shows Barack Hussein Obama II was born 4 August 1961 at Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu, to Barack Hussein Obama, a 25-year-old student, and Stanley Ann Dunham, 18, and includes the signature of the attending physician.
It remains unclear whether the release of the birth certificate will satisfy the most hard-core birthers.
Joseph Farah, chief executive of birther-orientated website WorldNetDaily.com, said on the site the document "raises as many questions as it answers".
"It is important to remember there are still dozens of other questions concerning this question of eligibility... concerning Barack Obama's parentage, his adoption, his citizenship status throughout his life and why he continues to cultivate a culture of secrecy around his life," he said.
Stories that Kate Middleton is pregnant, and that she and Prince William will make a baby announcement shortly after their wedding on April 29 have been hotly denied by Buckingham Palace.
A magazine in the US reported the couple are are expecting their first child, and that they would break the news officially once back from their honeymoon.
They quoted a source close to the couple as saying: 'Kate's bursting with the secret knowledge that she could soon be a mum,' adding 'She had originally been nervous about having morning sickness on the wedding day, but in the end she decided not to put it off, to just leave it up to fate.'
A Buckingham Palace spokesman flatly denied the rumours, branding them 'absurd' and 'certainly not true'.
And given that all the UK press is obsessed with how THIN Kate has been looking in the run up to her big day, a pregnancy does seem rather unlikely, doesn't it? But you never know -- most people in the UK are saying that. William and Kate have been dating for nearly a decade now.
Justin Bieber turned out to be the big winner at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
The show, hosted by Jack Black and featuring performances by Willow Smith, brought out a bevy of stars, but it was Bieber who drew the biggest applause of the night.
The Usher protégé beat out his mentor to win the award for Favorite Male Singer, while his song “Baby,” featuring Ludacris, won the prize for favorite song.
In movies, Jaden Smith took to the stage to accept The Karate Kid’s award for Favorite Movie. Eddie Murphy also graced the stage to take home the blimp for Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie for his role as Donkey in Shrek Forever.
In sports, Shaquille O’Neal won for Favorite Athlete, while Justin Timberlake was acknowledged for his philanthropic work with Nickelodeon’s The Big Help Award.
While accepting his award, Timberlake told the kid-filled audience, “I want to dedicate this to all of you very cool, very loud kids. This is your world.”
When it comes to visiting the Holy Land, there's no peace in the Middle East for Justin Bieber.
The teen idol was on the receiving end of a bad rap after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrapped a meeting with him when Bieber supposedly snubbed young victims of Palestinian rocket attacks.
Here's what really went down...
RELATED: Justin Bieber's Mom Catches Her Hair on Fire
A spokesman for Netanyahu told the New York Times that a member of Bieber's camp had contacted his office about setting up a summit, to which the prime minister quickly agreed—with the proviso that Israeli children under intense rocket fire near the Gaza border be invited.
"Sadly, [the meeting] proved impossible," according to the spokesman, noting that the "Baby" singer's management wasn't keen on the idea and suggesting he may have been throwing his lot in with a growing number of artists like Elvis Costello and the Pixies who have decided to boycott Israel because of the occupation of Palestinian lands.
Not so, said a rep for the beleaguered Bieb.
According to both parties, the appointment purportedly set for Wednesday night had never been finalized; and secondly, the talks ended because of miscommunication and logistical issues, not political reasons.
"Justin welcomes the chance to meet with kids facing difficult circumstances, regardless of their background, and in fact, he had already invited children from the Sderot area," said the rep, referring to the Israeli border town.
Bieber arrived in the Holy Land on Monday with his family and is scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv on Thursday. But like everywhere else he's been, touring Israel's holiest sites has been difficult with the ever-annoying paparazzi always on his tail, a fact of life he recently lamented.
"You would think paparazzi would have some respect in holy places. All I wanted was the chance to walk where jesus did here in isreal [sic]," Justin tweeted. "They should be ashamed of themselves. Take pictures of me eating but not in a place of prayer, ridiculous."
Frustration mounting, the 17-year-old Canadian crooner then swore he'd spend the rest of the week in his hotel, adding, "u happy?"
Welcome to his world.
As for the matter of Netanyahu's snub, Bieber commented on it as well, albeit diplomatically: "I want to see this country and all the places I've dreamed of and whether it's the paps or being pulled into politics it's been frustrating."
He then announced to all his Beliebers out there that while he's excited about his concert, he's also "gonna take a little break from Twitter and enjoy this time with my family until then."
Peace be unto you, Justin.
Pakistan should apologise to Bangladesh for atrocities: Imran
Islamabad, Mar 24 (PTI)
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said the Pakistan government should officially apologise to the people of Bangladesh for atrocities allegedly committed by the Pakistan Army in the 1971 war.
Khan said this during a television show on Geo News and Geo Super TV channels yesterday while analysing the cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies played at Mirpur in Bangladesh.
The host of the show asked Khan about the expected behaviour of the Bangladeshi crowd in Mirpur and he said the Bangladeshis would support the Pakistani cricket team.
The host then asked Khan whether the time had come for the Pakistan government to apologise to the people of Bangladesh for the army operation of 1971.
Khan said he was previously of the opinion that the army operation was "a good thing" because there was no independent media in Pakistan in 1971.
Khan said when he went to Britain in 1971, his Bengali friends told him about the "reality" of the Pakistan Army operation in erstwhile East Pakistan.
He said army operations always created hatred and "we must apologise to the Bangladeshis".He added: "We must learn lessons from our past mistakes and we should not repeat these mistakes in Balochistan and the tribal areas where we have started army operations on US pressure."
Khan said he had experienced the love and affection of Bangladeshis during an exhibition match in Mirpur in 1989.
The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) were named in 2003 as the most rapidly developing countries with the greatest economic potential. With these countries continuing to develop fast, albeit at different rates, it is useful to look at the next tier of emerging economies. Those countries following the BRIC path will typically experience high rates of population growth, creating a growing pool of potential consumers, at the same time as rising disposable incomes.
Key points
Since the acronym BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs in 2003, the economies of these countries have grown rapidly, with China experiencing the highest growth in the group and Brazil the lowest
In 2005 Goldman Sachs mooted the BRIC successors, otherwise known as the Next-11 (N11). This grouping comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam
The N11 countries share the characteristics of rapidly growing populations combined with significant industrial capacity or potential
Together, these factors indicate a growing consumer market with increased earning potential, creating business opportunities for both local and international firms
However, long-term risks to the progression of the N11 towards BRIC economic levels include slowing oil production for those that are oil exporters, and mounting levels of political instability
Background
The original 2003 Goldman Sachs research focused on Brazil, Russia, India and China as the economies with the greatest development potential to 2050 on the basis of positive economic fundamentals, large and growing populations, and the ability to exploit resource assets, such as oil. By 2008 this hypothesis is playing out.
All the BRIC countries have posted consistent economic growth since 2001, despite the global economic downturn of 2001-2002. In 2007, economic growth registered 4.4%, 7.0%, 8.9% and 11.5% for Brazil, Russia, India and China respectively:
Real GDP growth in Brazil, Russia, India and China: 2001-2007
Source: Euromonitor International from International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Financial Statistics and World Economic Outlook/UN/national statistics.
Next 11 countries
The N11 countries are Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam. Although varied both geographically and economically, these 11 countries have features in common that are believed to single out their high economic potential:
All have large and growing populations. Between 1980 and 2008, population growth was highest in Pakistan at 110.8%, with the lowest being in South Korea, with 28.4% period growth
Of the N11 countries, Indonesia had the largest population as of January 2008, with 228.9 million people, while South Korea had the smallest at 47.6 million
In 2006, Mexico had the highest sum of private final consumption expenditure, totalling US$567 billion. Vietnam had the lowest, at US$36.8 billion
All 11 countries demonstrate population growth rates above those of Western developed economies, indicating greater consumer market potential over the medium term. Large populations represent a wide potential pool of consumers for businesses to target, while high growth rates mean that this market will expand rapidly, providing proportionally more potential customers
Current consumer trends
In 2007, the N11 economies performed markedly differently, with varying implications for consumer spending trends:
In 2007, real GDP growth varied between 2.9% and 8.3% year-on-year, for Mexico and Vietnam respectively
These differing growth levels were led by country-specific factors. For example, Mexican growth fell from 4.8% in 2006 owing to the Mexican economy's close links to the US economy, which experienced decelerating growth in 2007 owing to a growing credit crisis, particularly in the housing sector, growing by only 1.9%, compared to 2.9% in 2006
By contrast, Vietnamese economic growth was fuelled by strong export figures, particularly of textile goods, and a surging tourism industry. In addition, Vietnam benefited from a diversified export market, meaning that it was less affected by the slowdown in the USA. In 2006 Vietnam sent 22.8% of its exports to the USA, while Mexico sent 85.8%
Consumer markets in Vietnam therefore possessed greater growth potential, with high economic growth rates encouraging wage and job growth
Sustained strong economic growth in the N11 countries is creating new consumer markets that can be targeted by businesses. However, differences in levels of growth mean that some higher-growth countries may prove more profitable for businesses.
Targeting differences
While the N11 countries share certain characteristics, they are not at the same level of economic development so consumer-focused businesses must target these markets in different ways:
The N11 countries can be categorised in two different ways: developing economies and newly industrialised economies. These are both 'emerging economies', but the latter have greater industrial capacity and are typically beginning to export heavy manufactured or refined products, while the former are still largely reliant on primary exports, with some industrial capacity. Typically, developing economies have lower standards of living than newly industrialised economies
Of the N11 countries, Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam can be categorised as developing economies, while all the others except South Korea can be categorised as newly industrialised economies. South Korea is the only N11 economy that could be categorised as a developed economy, owing to its high level of industrialisation and relatively stable macroeconomic fundamentals
For example, South Korea is a predominantly technological state, exporting manufactured goods and services expertise. By contrast, Bangladesh is an exporter of primary goods while Nigeria is an oil exporter and an exporter of lower-level manufactured goods
In 2007, GDP per capita (purchasing price parity; figures adjusted for currency fluctuations) was the highest in South Korea, which has the most skilled and well-paid population, with the population being significantly smaller than most of those of its N11 peers. Nigeria had the lowest GDP per capita in 2007, at International $1,328, owing in part to a lower skilled but larger population, but also the significantly lower level of development in the country
GDP per capita in N11 countries: 2007
(International $, PPP)
Source: Euromonitor International from IMF.
Sales of high-end consumer goods are therefore likely to be higher in a higher income country such as South Korea, while a lower income N11 state may be more suitable for targeting more basic consumer durables
Consumer incomes in N11 countries are not necessarily comparable, but are at different levels and will grow by varying rates in the long term. This allows international businesses to target these markets for different products.
N11 business environments
The N11 countries are also different in their business environments, affecting their relative attractiveness as an investment destination:
South Korea was ranked 30th out of 178 countries in the World Bank's 2007 Ease of Doing Business survey, the highest of the N11 countries. This is due to its well-regulated tax and investment code, heavily influenced by the US model, and the adherence of state and financial institutions to this code
Iran is ranked the lowest at 135th. This reflects its authoritarian state-owned business environment, which in many cases actively deters foreign investors. In other cases, the regulatory environment is opaque and arbitrary, offering few incentives for investment
In 2006, Turkey received the greatest amount of foreign direct investment of the N11 countries, at US$20.1 billion. This reflected its unique role as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, and its consequent position as an export and re-export hub
By contrast, Iran received the least foreign direct investment, at US$901 million, indicating its investor unfriendly business environment and also the economic sanctions imposed on it by the USA
Business environment is a major contributing factor for potential growth, since investors can easily choose to invest elsewhere if operating environments are too difficult, restricting the potential for wage and job growth in those countries.
Potential drawbacks
While the N11 countries have significant growth potential, there are also factors that could hinder them from following the BRIC growth path:
Shifts in global commodity prices will affect the N11 producers of these commodities. For example, all except South Korea are oil producers, although only Mexico and Iran are consistent net oil exporters. Accordingly, high oil prices (with oil touching US$100 per barrel in January 2008) will benefit Mexico and Iran in particular, although the other producers will also benefit, since their domestic supply will limit the amount of imported oil required, and hence a higher import cost
Domestic political events may also restrict growth prospects. For example, ongoing political instability in Pakistan and Bangladesh may deter investment, while the activities of terrorist groups in Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria and Turkey could also act as a disincentive for growth
Both global market moves, particularly of export commodities, and the domestic political situation could act to counteract the investment incentives offered by these countries. This would limit the potential for economic growth, with correspondingly negative implications for consumer spending growth.
Future scenarios
Both domestic and international factors will affect growth prospects for the N11 countries going forward:
Demand from key export markets will determine economic growth. For the N11 countries, the USA and China are the main export markets. Although US GDP growth is forecast to reach only 1.9% year-on-year in 2008 owing to ongoing concerns about poor credit, China's economy will grow by 10%
Those countries that are most stable – whether via democracy or dictatorship – will have better prospects for consistent growth. These include South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico and Egypt
A key factor for Iran will be the continuation of economic sanctions by the USA, which would curtail growth
