Osama's son takes over Al-Qaeda

Osama Bin Laden's eldest son, Saad, has taken over the command of the Al-Qaeda terror network. Saad Bin Laden has been in charge of the organisation since the US offensive against Al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan, and Al Qaeda's pull out from its main hideouts in the country, the Saudi pan-Arab daily- Ashrq Al Awsat - quoted. This disclosure “substantiates the theory that Bin Laden was killed or seriously wounded in the US-led military campaign.

- Hindustan Times, July 30, 2002

Osama back on the net

The specter of Osama bin laden is back. This time with a bang on the internet with more than 600 websites being routed to his site www.al-neda.com. The site has come alive with creative use of technology after a host of sites dedicated to Bin Laden were pulldown after September 11.

www.al-neda.com is among the outfit's efforts to regroup apart from clandestinely using it to pass messages as communicating using phone or e-mail is relatively easier to detect.

The terrorists website describes itself: this is a semi moderated discussion site, relating to issues concerning the current Mid-east conflict surrounding Afghanistan war, terrorism involving WTC and possible future threats.

US, ASEAN sign anti-terror pact.

Southeast Asian nations signed a comprehensive pact with US secretary of State Colin Powell to combat terrorism, cut off terrorist funding and develop more effective counter terrorists funding and develop more effective counter-terrorist policies.

The agreement binds Southeast Asia and the US in a framework "to prevent, disrupt and combat international terrorism," Powell said it was not designed to win new US military base nor increase the number of troops deployed in the region.

-Times of India - August 2, 2002.

House backs Bush on Department of Homeland security

The US House of representatives voted to create a new government department charged with protecting the country from terrorist attack. but set the stage for a better clash with the senate over labor rights. The bill, which passed 295-132, came on the heels of the first public dispute between President Bush and senate Democrats over reconciling national security and worker participation in management.

The Department of Homeland Security, as envisioned by the White house and House members, will have more than 170,000 employes and an annual budget of $38 billion. It will take over the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Border Patrol and federal Emergency Management Agency among other services.

-Sunday Times of India July 28, 2002

Al-Qaeda forces France to shut Karachi mission

France has closed down its Karachi consulate for security reasons, laying off local staff and shifting its remaining offices into the UK consular compound, say reports in the Pakistani media. This is because of warnings by both Pakistani and Western intelligence of Al Qaeda terrorist action against foreign targets in Pakistan.

- The Asian Age July 25, 2002

Iran terror group uncovered: Iraq

Iraq said it had uncovered a pro-Iranian group who carried out terrorists acts against Iraq. Iraq and Iran fought the eight year war that ended in 1988, but the relations remain strained, particularly over the presence of armed rebels in both countries.

-The Asian Age July 24, 2002

G 20 members asked to curb terror funds

Deputies of G-20 have asked the member countries to set up financial intelligence units to curb funding of terrorist activities

An international financial action task force headed by the indian Revenue Secretary Mr. Ajay Vikram Singh has been formed to co-ordinate the efforts to set up intelligence units, exchange of data and information on flow of funds for terrorist outfits via banking, informal channels and hawala transactions.

-Hindustan Times July 18, 2002

UK jails 2 Sikhs for terror

Two Indian businessmen are the first militants so far jailed under tough terrorism laws in Britain. The men arrived in Britain to raise funds for the International Sikh Youth federation. Britain and America frozen all assets belonging to the group, which is working towards establishing independent Khalistan

-The Asian Age July 21, 2002