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Change of guard in Arunachal Pradesh

          Itanagar, Aug 3: Newly-formed United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Gegong Apang on Sunday formally took over as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh after he was administered the oath of office by Governor V C Pande. Apang took the charge along with 35 other ministers. Congress (D) leader Kameng Dolo was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister, while 31 MLAs took over as cabinet ministers and other three as ministers of state. The new ministry comprised all the 22 members who were part of the former Chief Minister Mukut Mithi's cabinet and had eight new faces - six of cabinet rank and two ministers of state. Mukut Mithi's government was on Saturday voted out on the floor of the state assembly after Pandey summoned a special session to decide the fate of the Congress government. Nearly 38 Congressmen had quit the party to form the UDF.

40 kg RDX seized from Srinagar mosque

          Srinagar, Aug 3: Security forces have recovered 40 kg of RDX hidden by militants inside a mosque here, an official spokesman said on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, BSF jawans along with Jammu and Kashmir police recovered the explosives hidden in two cement bags inside Hamza mosque at Bemina, he said. The RDX was meant for militancy.

What are Hurriyat leaders up to in Delhi?

          Srinagar, Aug 3: Kashmir's ruling and opposition parties said on Sunday they were perplexed about the visit of leaders of the main separatist alliance to New Delhi. A three-member delegation of All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) led by its chairman Moulvi Abbas Ansari arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to hold talks with various diplomats and non- political groups. The Hurriyat leaders also propose to meet members of 'Kashmir Committee', an independent group with the backing of the government. A senior member of the state's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), which came to power in last year's elections, said he did not understand the motive of the Hurriyat leaders.

          "There can be two reasons. One is that probably they have had a change of heart, I do hope it is that. But I am seeing it from a different level about what people in general would think about this move. When for the past 12-13 years the remote control of those people has been across the border, suddenly if they change their stand someday then it is hard for me to swallow that," said Sadiq Ali, secretary of PDP. Kashmir's main opposition National Conference party, which has ruled the state for most years since it ceded to India, said he did not expect the Hurriyat to change its position. "Some people are saying that they are trying to get closer to the (federal) government in Delhi and want to make a distance from Pakistan. But some are again saying that no, they are just trying to create an impression like that, that they are keeping a distance both from Pakistan and India and are adopting a pro- Kashmiri approach. But visibly there is no change that one can see, there is no new formula that they have that could bring a change in the Kashmir issue.

           Till now, everything is going on smoothly. Musharraf in Pakistan has begun peace measures. So, Delhi and Pakistan don't really need the Hurriyat to be involved in it. I don't think so," said Ali Mohammad Sagar, a senior leader of the National Conference. Hurriyat, which binds together nearly two dozen social and political groups, is seeking the implementation of a 1948 U.N. resolution for a plebiscite to decide whether Kashmir should be folded into India or Pakistan.

19 killed in Surat blast (Go To Top)

          Surat, Aug 3: Nineteen persons, including five women, were killed and more than 50 injured in a powerful blast inside a building that occurred in the wee hours of Sunday. The blast took place in a four-storey diamond processing unit-cum- residential building in Mahadev Nagar locality. While three persons died instantly, others succumbed to their injuries in a local hospital, police said. According to the police, the number of casualties could go up. The impact of the blast was so severe that two adjoining buildings too collapsed. The cause of the blast was yet to be ascertained, though the police suspected the heating equipment used in the diamond polishing may have exploded. Another theory making rounds was LPG cylinders caused the blast. Rescue work was going on in full swing even as a large number of cranes were pressed into service to remove the debris of the collapsed structure as many more were feared trapped inside.

Advani for simultaneous elections (Go To Top)

          On Board Aircraft, Aug 3: Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani on Saturday proposed simultaneous elections to parliament and state assemblies to cut down the costs of holding elections. Advani said the government has given feelers to the Election Commission on the proposal. "These days we have been seriously thinking that somehow either by rescheduling the poll timetable or if neccessary by some amendement of the Constitution, can the synchronicity of Lok Sabha and assembly elections be restored, Advani told reporters on board the plane while travelling to Pune. Advani said the proposal would also help the functioning of governments by not hampering developmental projects or influencing executive decisions. Advani said, with different states going to polls every year, a situation has reached where sort of "mini elections" are held every alternate year.

           Himachal Pradesh and three northeastern states went to polls in February this year. Five more states are due to go to polls later this year. Besides, elections were held last year to Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat assemblies. Parliamentary elections alongwith some more state assembly elections are due to be held before October next year. Advani called for a consensus among political parties, particularly the main opposition Congress, for carrying out an amendment in the Constitution for the purpose, which may require fixed term for legislatures.

Vajpayee clarifies statement on temple construction (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 3: The temple issue in Ayodhya can be resolved through court or an agreement peacefully reached between Hindus and Muslims, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said here on Sunday. He said his government had not changed its stance over the issue of building of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but the temple should be built "with the cooperation of all", he told a group of Delhi BJP leaders. "There is no change in Government's stand on the temple issue," Vajpayee said. The statement came two days after the Prime Minister vowed to fulfil late rightist leader Mahant Paramhans Das's dream of constructing the temple at `Ramjanmabhoomi' at Ayodhya. Reacting to criticism to his Friday's declaration, he said, "some criticism is being made on my statement. I want to make it clear that there is no change in our stand. Temple should be built there and we have been saying this but it should be constructed with the cooperation of all."

Saddam's sons, grandson buried (Go To Top)

          Baghdad, Aug 3: Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay, and 14-year old grandson Mustapha were buried in a simple ceremony here on Saturday. Around 50 people, including a few of Saddam's relatives, attended the ceremony held at the graveyard of Awja, the Hussein family's native village. According to a report in the News, the bodies arrived at the graveyard in two ambulances, the first carrying Uday and Qusay, the second with Qusay's son Mustapha. All the three were killed in a fierce battle with US troops in Mosul on July 22. Later, wrapped in red, white and black Iraqi flags they were buried in the graveyard even as the relatives wept and prayed. The bodies had been kept in refrigeration at the US base at Baghdad International Airport where they were prepared for burial according to Western, and not Muslim, customs.

          Giving details, Regional Director of the Red Crescent Society Thawrah Abed Bakr said the US-led coalition transported the bodies to Tikrit, 175 km from Baghdad, by helicopter at 9:30 am. Describing herself as the link between Saddam's family and the coalition forces, she said Uday's uncle Karim Suleiman al-Majid and tribal chieftains of Saddam's family Mohammed al-Nada and Ali al-Nada attended the funeral. "I took the members of their tribe and uncles to the Tikrit airbase. I received three metal coffins and took the papers. We took them to the mosque in the graveyard. We prayed and buried them in the family graveyard. Everything was finished by 12:30 pm. I had been told to do it secretly by the family and the tribe." An unidentified US military official was quoted as saying that the burial ceremony was "quiet and uneventful". "No incidents of violence were reported from the city," he added.

New Al-Qaeda threat to US (Go To Top)

          London, Aug 3: An audio tape purportedly of top Al Qaeda official Ayman al-Zawahri warned the United States on Sunday it would pay a heavy price if it harmed any of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Dubai-based Arabic Television reported. The voice on the tape, broadcast by the television, also told the United States that the real battle against it has not started yet. America has announced it will start putting on trial in front of military tribunals the Muslim detainees at Guantanamo and might sentence them to death..., said the voice, which the Arabic television identified as Zawahri's. America will pay a dear price for any harm it inflicts on any of the Muslim detainees, the voice in tape said. It was the first audio tape said to be by Zawahri - considered to be Osama bin Laden's right-hand man - since May 2 when another tape was sent to an Arabic television.

45 killed in Pak blast (Go To Top)

Gilgit (Pakistan), Aug 3: As many as 45 persons were killed and around 150 injured when explosives used in road construction blew up accidentally in a village near here in the wee hours of Sunday. The explosives were reportedly stored in the home of a local contractor, Waris Khan, who also died in the blast. Police said the blast occurred due to an electrical short circuit. Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying that the house, made of wood, caught fire around midnight. More than 200 villagers tried to help extinguish the blaze. But the flames reached a big room where explosives were stored, triggering the blast. Efforts were on to clear the debris and search for more bodies, the police said. Giving details, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in Islamabad said the explosives were being used to clear land for constructing roads. It is also used in clearing the roadblocks due to the frequent landslides. It was reported that many contractors and fireworks shops here do not have proper storage facilities for explosives, so there is a constant threat of serious accidents.

Bottomlines

 

Wanted: 'Alexander the child' (Go To Top)

          London, Aug 3: Here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for youngsters world-wide. US-based Universal Studios is on a look-out for a younger version of 'Alexander The Great' for a new film based on the legendary conqueror's life. "My way into the film is through Alexander the child and the mother-father-child triangle. It also helps us to have empathy for the older Alexander if we can understand what happened in his childhood to make him the way he was," Hello! quoted the film's Aussie director, Baz Luhrman, as saying. "We're doing a Harry Potter and we'll be looking far and wide. He's got to have equestrian expertise - that's very important - and once we've got the boy, we'll be looking for children to play his friends," added Luhrman. Hollywood hunk Leonardo DiCaprio will play Alexander as an adult, while Oscar-winning Aussie actress Nicole Kidman will take on the role of the Macedonian king's mother.

Keep away from Jude: Angelina (Go To Top)

          New York, Aug 3: Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie has asked the British media to keep away from pal Jude Law. According to a report in a website ratethemusic.com, the actress has known the 'Cold Mountain' star ever since she wed his pal Jonny Lee Miller in 1995. The 'Tomb Raider' star thinks the media furore over Law's split from wife Sadie Frost is unjustified. "Lay off him, he is a good guy. I have known him for years", said Jolie, who stars alongside Jude and Gwyneth Paltrow in next year's 'Worlds of Tomorrow'. "He was standing next to my first husband when I got married, so he is an old friend and I am happy to finally work with him. It's horrible what he is going through. He is a good guy and a great father", added the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand.

I will work for free if needed: Reese (Go To Top)

          New York, Aug 3: Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon has insisted that she would perform free, if needed, even though she is the third highest paid actress after Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz. Pregnant Reese earned 16 million dollars for her current role in 'Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde'. But the actress- producer is adamant she would work for nothing if the script was good enough, according to a report in a website ratethemusic.com. "Salary has very little to do with my motivation for doing a film. I tell my lawyer that I would happily do it for free, but he says not to tell anyone else", the 27-year-old blonde said. "However, I know this is a business and you have to value yourself for what you are worth in the marketplace, so I try and stay out of that side of things and concentrate on the creative aspects", she added.

Justin's grandmom still fond of Britney! (Go To Top)

          New York, Aug 3: N'Sync star Justin Timberlake's grandmother is still hopeful that her grandson will get back with pop princess Britney Spears. Although, she approves of the pop singer's latest girlfriend, actress Cameron Diaz, according to a report in a website ratethemusic.com. Sadie Bomar has met up with Cameron backstage at stops on Timberlake's American Justified and Stripped tour, and reveals she thinks the 'Charlie's Angels' star is 'a nice girl'. But she refuses to cut Britney out of her life. "Britney is a mighty sweet girl. She will always be welcome in our home," she added.

Heartbreak time for Penelope? (Go To Top)

          Washington, Aug 3: Another round of broken hearts and shattered dreams? And what else would be the speculations as to Penelope Cruz's reaction in Tom Cruise's curt response to her proposal of marriage - "I'm not getting married again". According to a report in People News, friends say that the break- up of Cruise's ten-year marriage to Nicole Kidman has left Cruise a shadow of his former self. In spite of the speed with which Cruz appeared on the scene, Cruise simply cannot face the emotional, spiritual or financial turmoil involved in getting wed again. "He has been profoundly scarred by the whole experience," said a friend. "They are not splitting up but he and Penelope will not be getting married anytime soon."

Douglas's 600,000 pounds law suit delayed  (Go To Top)

          London, Aug 3: Catherine Zeta Jones and hubby Michael Douglas will have to wait a little longer for their 600,000 pounds compensation. According to People News, the decision on the amount of damages to be paid to the couple has been reserved until a later undisclosed date. The celebrity couple had filed a case against Hello Magazine, accusing them of publishing unauthorized photographs of their wedding. Their barrister, Alastair Wilson, had argued in an earlier High Court hearing, that his clients be paid 500,000 pounds in commercial damages. Wilson said the Douglas's were also seeking a minimum of 50,000 pounds extra each for 'personal distress.' The magazine, however, claims that it paid 1.75 million pounds to them to cover the costs of the exclusive New York wedding. The magazine is also now demanding compensation to make up for its loss.