Germany, US to ink no-spy deal

BERLIN, Nov 2: Germany and the United States are to strike a two-way deal not to spy on each other in the wake of the diplomatic furore sparked by the Edward Snowden revelations, a German newspaper reported.

A delegation of German chancellery and intelligence officials reached the deal during talks at the White House this week, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) reported in its Sunday edition.

The accord is set to be concluded early next year, it said, citing sources close to the German government.

A government spokeswoman declined to comment.

Spy claims have been ricocheting across the Atlantic in a row that has frazzled ties between US and European allies.

Top German envoys were in Washington on Wednesday to rebuild a “basis of trust” after alleged US tapping of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone in sweeping surveillance operations that have outraged Europe.

Merkel’s spokesman said the talks were aimed at clarifying the allegations and working out “a new basis of trust and new regulation for our cooperation in this area”.

The chancellor’s foreign policy advisor Christoph Heusgen and intelligence coordinator Guenter Heiss met top US officials including National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and counter-terrorism advisor Lisa Monaco.

According to the FAS report, the head of Germany’s secret service is now to hold a top-level meeting with US intelligence chiefs on Monday in Washington.

The government spokeswoman did not confirm plans for the meeting.

France, Italy and Spain have also protested after media reports, based on leaks from US fugitive Edward Snowden, that Washington collected tens of millions of European telephone calls and online communications as part of anti-terror operations.—AFP

Sharma smashes double ton as India sink Australia

NEW DELHI: India’s 26-year-old batting star, Rohit Sharma, became the third batsman to score a double hundred in ODIs, after compatriots Virender Sehwag (219* vs WI) and Sachin Tendulkar (200* vs SA), as his side notched up a mammoth 383/6 against Australia in the series-deciding 7th ODI in Bangalore.

Sharma's 209 included a whopping 16 sixes, a new record in ODIs, and 12 fours and came of a mere 158 balls and left Australia having to complete the second highest successful ODI run chase of all time to win the series, a target they fell short of by 57 runs despite a valiant counter-attacking hundred by James Faulkner.

“Getting a 200 in the ODI format is a wonderful feeling,” said Sharma.

“We knew it's small ground and runs are easy to come by, so we wanted to stay in and capitalise.

“I was disappointed not getting a hundred in the last game, so I wanted to play big and keep the momentum going.

Pakistan Taliban appoint interim leader: spokesman

MIRAMSHAH: The Pakistani Taliban have appointed an interim leader to head the group temporarily after the death of commander Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike, a spokesman told AFP Sunday.

Mehsud, who had a $5 million US government price on him, was killed along with four cadres in North Waziristan tribal district near the Afghan border on Friday.

Shahidullah Shahid, the main spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said a permanent replacement had not been chosen yet.

“Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, the head of the supreme shura, has been appointed as temporary head of the TTP,” Shahid told AFP, adding that prayers for Mehsud were still going on.

The killing of Mehsud sparked a furious reaction from the Pakistani government, which accused Washington of sabotaging fledgling efforts towards peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar said a group of clerics had been ready to go and meet the TTP to initiate talks, which have been backed by all major political parties, when the drone struck.

Shahid refused to say there was no chance of the talks going ahead, but accused the government of kowtowing to Washington and cutting a deal to “sell” the militants.

“Nobody in history has ever negotiated with slaves,” he said.

“We were waiting for a meeting, while the Pakistan army and government was sitting with the US finalising deals to sell us.” And he stopped short of vowing revenge for Mehsud, who took over as TTP chief after founder Baitullah Mehsud in a drone strike in 2009.

“Time will tell whether we take revenge of his martyrdom or not,” he said.

In the past, the TTP has responded to its leaders being killed with deadly violence.

Man claims he told US in 2003 about Osama’s hideout

DETROIT: An American businessman claims that he told federal investigators the location of Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan years before his killing and is seeking a $25 million reward.

A letter obtained on Friday by The Associated Press from a Chicago-based law firm representing Tom Lee says the 63-year-old gem merchant reported the location of Al Qaeda leader’s compound in Abbottabad in 2003.

The letter sent by the Loevy & Loevy law firm to FBI Director James Comey in August claims a Pakistani intelligence agent told Lee that he escorted Osama bin Laden and his family from Peshawar to Abbottabad.

According to the letter, Lee shared the information with customs and FBI agents. Lee reported that the Pakistani agent “was a member of a family that Mr Lee had done business with for decades”, the letter said, and the agent and his family opposed the Al Qaeda chief.

A request to speak to Lee and Michael Kanovitz, the attorney who signed the letter, was made to the law firm. The FBI didn’t immediately comment.

Bin Laden was killed in May 2011 during a Navy SEAL raid. US officials have said the Abbottabad house wasn’t built until 2005, and Pakistani officials have said they believe he moved there in the summer of that year.

The letter said Lee made “numerous attempts” to claim his reward but received no response. “Mr Lee precisely identified the whereabouts of the most notorious terrorist of our era, a man responsible for the World Trade Centre attacks, the most devastating act of terror committed on American soil, and numerous other assaults on Americans,” the letter said.

Lee told The Grand Rapids Press in an email on Friday that he couldn’t understand why the government waited to act. “It disturbs me, and it should disturb every American, that I told them exactly where bin Laden was in 2003, and they let him live another eight years,” he said in the email.

Bin Laden had slipped away from US forces in the Afghan mountains of Tora Bora in 2001, and the CIA believed he had taken shelter in the tribal areas of Pakistan. The US was eventually able to find him by tracing his courier, Ibrahim al-Kuwaiti.

One of Osama bin Laden’s wives told Pakistani investigators that she moved to the Abbottabad home in 2006 and never left the top floors.—AP

Fernando Llorente wants Arsenal transfer in January

Fernando Llorente is keen on a January move to Arsenal - to save his World Cup hopes. Llorente is on the Gunners' hit-list of possible January deals to boost their squad and push for the Premier League title.

Arsenal are watching developments with the Spaniard closely and are determined to sign a striker in January and believe Llorente could be interested.

The 28-year-old Spain international is only now beginning to get a chance at the Turin giants following a summer move, and his advisers are concerned his World Cup chances may be affected if he is not a regular in Serie A.

Arsenal scouted Llorente before he joined Juve on a free last summer from Spain's Athletic Bilbao.They have now been alerted to his potential availability.

Any transfer would almost certainly be a loan as Arsenal look for more long-term options, and may not want to make a big signing if they are already cup-tied for the Champions League.

Llorente could fill a short-term gap and provide back-up and competition for Olivier Giroud, who is Arsenal's only fit and senior centre-forward at the club.

Arsenal Close In On £25m Deal to Sign El Shaarawy

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy after the North London club opened negotiations with the Serie A side. Arsenal have been involved in ‘secret’ talks with AC Milan over their interest in the 20 year old Italian international.

El Shaarawy has started just one domestic fixture this term as AC Milan boss has opted to use Robinho, Balotelli and summer signing Matri as his main attacking weapons.

The lack of opportunities handed to El Shaarawy has surprised many given that the youngster finished as the club’s top scorer last term, netting 19 goals in all competitions, and now Arsenal are readying a £25m bid for the striker who is looking for the regular first team football he needs in order to cement a prominent role in the Italian national team set-up at the 2014 World Cup finals next summer.

Arsene Wenger is keen to strengthen his attack and is known to be a big admirer of El Shaarawy, who adheres to the French manager’s traditional youthful transfer policy.

Currently Arsenal rely heavily on Olivier Giroud but and Wenger is looking to bring in another striking weapon to assist in the club’s push for the Premier League title.

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