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Vajpayee has viral fever, cancels engagements

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee cancelled all his enagagements on Thursay as he was reported to be suffering from viral fever. PMO sources, however, said that the Prime Minister briefly visited Parliament before retiring for the day. X

Now even fake education boards!

          New Delhi, Aug 7: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has sought police action against certain fake boards operating here. These boards have been accused o issuing fake certificates and misleading students in the board's name. In a press release the CBSE stated that Central Board of Higher Education, Vachaspati Bhavan, Uttam Nagar; All India Board of Secondary Education, Ghazipur; Central Board of High Education, East Patel Nagar; and Board of Adult Education and Training Brahmpuri, Nangal Rai were fake institutions. The action came in the wake of complaints that these boards were issuing certificates and testimonials. The Delhi police has already ensured the closure of the Central Board of Higher Education, Uttam Nagar.

Two judges charge-sheeted in bribery case

          New Delhi, Aug 7: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed chargesheets against two judges in Chandigarh for their alleged involvement in a Rs.700, 000 bribery case. Cases against Jalandhar District and Sessions Judge R.M.Gupta and Chandigarh Judicial Magistrate S. S. Bhardwaj were filed in a special court on Thursday on the basis of an earlier written complaint made by Gurvinder Singh Samra, a Jalandhar resident. Samra claimed that Bhardwaj had on May 9 demanded a bribe of Rs.1.01 million to pass a favourable order in his anticipatory bail case that was to be heard by Justice Gupta. He said the two judges had demanded Rs.700, 000 as initial installment by the evening of May 10. CBI sources on Thursday confirmed that they had been authorized by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to lay a trap for Bhardwaj. He was caught accepting the bribe from Samra in the presence of independent witnesses at his official residence. Bhardwaj managed to escape then and was eventually arrested on June 10, and continues to be in judicial custody. Gupta was arrested on May 11, and is out on bail.

Pak ready to accept foreign monitors along LoC: Kasuri (Go To Top)

          Quetta, Aug 7: Pakistan is ready to accept international monitors along the Line of Control (LoC) to check cross-border infiltration, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said. This is perhaps the first time that Pakistan has agreed to accept foreign monitors to watch the events taking place on its border with India. The statement assumes significance as it comes in the wake of Islamabad saying that it could not stop cross-border terrorism into Kashmir completely. Kasuri said Pakistan wanted early resumption of composite dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir for peace and stability in the region. Durable peace in South Asia could not be possible without accommodating the wishes of Kashmiri people, he added.

British envoy calls for 'concerted' action to fight terrorism in Kashmir (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Britain has called for "concerted" action from all countries to end militancy in Kashmir. After meeting Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani here on Thursday, Rob Young, British high commissioner to India, said his country condemned terrorism in all forms. "This issue is staple of our agenda and the Indian government, particularly the deputy prime minister, knows very well the British government's position on that. Of course, we condemn terrorism in all its forms and I have to say that we regret the recent incidents that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir and the deaths caused. We look for concerted action from all countries to remove this scourge," Young told reporters. Violence has continued unabated in Jammu and Kashmir despite a recent thaw in relations between nuclear armed India and Pakistan.

LS stalled over Kargil arms deal (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were stalled on Thursday when members belonging to the Opposition Congress and the Samajwadi Party stormed the Well of the House demanding an appropriate response from the Government on the arms purchase scam during the Kargil war of 1999. Repeated requests from Speaker Manohar Joshi fell on deaf ears, forcing him to adjourn the House till Friday. As soon as the House met, angry Opposition members were on their feet, saying they had given notices for suspension of the Question Hour as well as for adjournment motion on the PAC issue. After nearly 30 minutes, they stormed into the well of the House.

          Jaipal Reddy of the Congress said it was for the first time in the country's history that the PAC had said it was unable to give its report leading to "a constitutional deadlock and stalemate." The Congress member said the PAC unanimously felt that Defence Minister George Fernandes was guilty of breach of privilege. Angered over Reddy's remarks, V.K. Malhotra of the BJP said the majority of the PAC members had said the Committee's report was "false and wrong". Taking strong exception to these remarks, Congressman P.R. Dasmunsi said: "How can a report be false and wrong. It is an insult. We will not cooperate in any business today and let the country know about it." The matter also figured in the Rajya Sabha with the Opposition wanting to know why the government didn't provide full information on purchases for Kargil operation.

Two BSF personnel killed in Kashmir grenade attack (Go To Top)

          Srinagar, Aug 7: At least two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and six, including an assistant sub- inspector, injured when terrorists hurled a grenade at their vehicle on Thursday. The vehicle was caught in a traffic jam at Lal Chowk at the time of the attack. Head Constable Shamsher Singh and Constable Hari Ram succumbed to their injuries while being taken to hospital.

Militant strikes aimed at eliminating Hindus from Jammu: RSS (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: The militant strikes in Doda, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir since mid-July were aimed at ''religious cleansing", Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) spokesman Ram Madhav said on Thursday Addressing a press conference here, Madhav said the purpose of the strikes was to ''terrorise the minority community'' and force them to leave the Jammu region in the manner Kashmiri Pandits were made to. Madhav added that some 500 Hindu families who were living near Kishtwar were forced to migrate as their shops and houses were attacked and burned down. Even the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kishtwar did not come to their rescue despite complaints made by the villagers.

Shourie rules out disinvestment in strategic PSUs (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie on Thursday said that there would be no disinvestment of stratgeic PSUs. Replying to a question whether there was any change in the government's stand over the disinvestment of PSUs, Shourie said, "The government has decided that in the case of profit making PSUs such as IOC, ONGC and GAIL, the government shareholding would not be reduced below 51 per cent. Oil India is also not to be disinvested." Shourie, however, added that all non-strategic PSUs, whether profit-making or loss-making, would be disinvested. He also saide that the Calcutta High Court has cleared disinvestment of Jessop and Company Ltd.

Telecom Man of the Year Award for Ratan Tata (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Ratan Tata has bagged the Telecom Man of the Year Award for his contribution to the sector. The award, instituted for the first time by Voice and Data, was received by Tata Teleservices COO Rajiv Burman on Tata's behalf from Ministers of State for Communications Ashok Pradhan and S U Thirunavukkarasar here on Wednesday night. In the other categories, state-owned BSNL won the Top Service Provider Award, while the Top Equipment Company Award went to Lucent Technologies and VSNL bagged the Top Internet Service Provider Award. Bharti Teletech received the Top Telephone Manufacturer Award and ITI took away the Top Turnkey Service Company Award. Voice and Data in its recent survey V and D 100 said the telecom services clocked revenues of more than Rs 50,000 crore last fiscal. The equipment industry's revenue stood at Rs 28,000 crore during the period.

Hand over Laloo's passport, SC directs CBI (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: The Supreme Court has ordered the CBI to give former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav his passport for renewal. The court, however, sought an undertaking from Yadav for "smooth conduct of trial of fodder scam cases" while he was away in Pakistan as part of a delegation comprising MPs and journalists. "Considering the urgency of the matter, we direct the CBI at Patna to hand over Yadav's passport to his counsel for the purpose of its renewal," Justices SN Variava, PV Reddi and Ashok Bhan said in their order on Thursday. The passport had been deposited with the CBI as a condition of the bail granted by the SC to Yadav in two fodder scam cases a few years back. The bench order said the undertaking should state that Yadav's counsel would be present on the dates of trial proceedings, that recording of evidence would go on in his absence, and that he would not object to such recording of evidence and the content thereof in future on the ground that it was done during his absence.

India, Pak to clash in Asia Cup hockey tourney (Go To Top)

          Karachi, Aug 7: Subcontinental giants Pakistan and India will clash in a league match of the Asia Cup Hockey Tournament in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) beginning September 21. Pakistan are the top seeds in Group A while India are placed on the top in the other group which also has Bangladesh and China. The tournament opener will be played on September 21 between Pakistan and Bangladesh while India begin their campaign in the competition with a match against China later in the day.

          The final would be played on September 28 and the winner of the meet will get an automatic berth for the 2006 World Cup. At the moment, Indian hockey is on a high following their recent back-to-back title wins in Australia and Germany in addition to the silver they won at the Busan Asian Games. But Pakistan, on the other hand, have failed to win a medal at the Asian Games for the first time and the only title win came in the Azlan Shah Trophy earlier this year.

          According to the international hockey calendar, the next three months will bring a feast of sub-continental hockey as Pakistan and India are playing each other in three tournaments. Their first clash will be in the Champions Trophy, starting at Amstelveen from August 16, followed by the Asia Cup hockey in Kuala Lumpur in less than a month. The last of the meeting this year would be in Afro-Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in October-November.

Indian lifters strike it rich (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Indian lifters put up a superb performance clinching four gold and six silver medals in the 5th Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships (AYW) currently underway in Bali, Indonesia, according to an Indian Weightlifting Federation press release here on Thursday. Sunil Naik grabbed two gold medals - one in snatch and one in overall - and settled for a silver in jerk in the 62 kg boys category. In the girls section, Supriya Patil earned two gold medals in jerk and in overall, respectively, and a silver in snatch in the 44 kg weight category. In boys 56 kg, Dhirendra Farswan won three silver medals in snatch, jerk and overall while M Shivarani secured a silver in jerk in the girls 48 kg section. IWF secretary Balbir Singh Bhatia said "With 10 medals already in their kitty, the team has doubled its medal tally compared to that of last year's and a few more are expected". (See Travel News for details)

Fake currency racket busted in Raipur (Go To Top)

          Raipur (Chattisgarh), Aug 7: Police in Raipur busted an inter-state fake currency racket, seizing Rs 28,000. Five people, including a doctor, have been arrested. The gang was busted after two of its members were caught trying to pass off fake notes to a hotel. Police seized computers, laser printers and scanners, used for printing the fake 100 rupee notes, from their hideout at Dhamtari, on the outskirts of the city. (See Travel News for details)

Body of soldier killed in plane crash 35 years ago recovered (Go To Top)

          Jammu, Aug 7: It has been a long wait for ageing Tando Devi. After 35 long years, body of her son who died in a plane crash in 1968 has been found at an altitude of 16,000 feet at South Dakka glacier in Lahaul valley. Beli Ram, who was a soldier in the Indian army, had gone missing after an air crash in January 1968 on his way to northern Leh town. Neither the wreckage nor bodies of the crew members were recovered. The remains of his body along with certain documents were spotted by trekkers of a mountaineering institute recently. The corpse had only arms, jaw and upper parts of the body. "35 years ago, the aircraft had got lost. We couldn't find our son. We don't know anything else. In between they had told us that they are still searching for him but the aircraft is untraceable. That's all we know," said Tando Devi, mother of Beli Ram. She last saw him in 1967.

          Beli Ram's wife who was just 17 when she married him said she hoped that her husband will come back alive. "I don't know about others, but I always cherished the feeling in my heart that he would come back alive. The government had said he may be dead as they found no traces of his being alive. Still I hoped he would come back alive," said Gyano Devi, Beli Ram's wife. Beli Ram's family wrote several letters to the authorities and all they got was a pension of Rs 47 every month. "Just lost...lost and lost. We read newspapers, we asked everyone for help. After 35 years we will be able to see his face," said Basanti, Beli Ram's sister. Beli Ram's family is now demanding his dead body so that they can perform his last rites.

NGOs promoting Christian conversions in Orissa -by Sarada Lahangir (Go To Top)

          Bhubaneswar (Orissa), Aug 7: Christian-dominated non- government organisations in Orissa are reportedly using funds provided by some foreign countries to carry out massive conversions in the remote areas of this eastern state. An ANI television team recently visited the remote Sundergarh district, over 300 km from here, and was told by tribals there that missionaries had promised them better health facilities and education if they agreed to convert to Christianity.

          It was alleged that the conversions were being carried out secretly. Some pastors contacted in the area pleaded ignorance about the rules for conversion. Apparently, funds for these conversions come from abroad, and are usually siphoned through non-government organisations that are dominated by die-hard Christians, sources requesting anonymity, told ANI. The funds were said to come from countries such as Italy, Spain and France. A survey of one block in the district revealed that the number of churches had increased from five to 35 in the last five years and that at least five to seven members of each family in the villages had been converted. The tribals, however, were not willing to come on camera for fear of inviting the ire of district and state government authorities.

          The state government has reportedly instructed district collectors to submit a report every month on the conversions taking place in areas under their jurisdiction and to monitor which foreign agencies are behind this secretive exercise. But the state's Law Minister Biswabhusan Harichandan agrees that "there is a violation of the Freedom of Religion Act," and no action has been taken so far to stop these conversions from taking place. Peeved activists of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) are reported to be reconverting many of these tribals, taking advantage of their poverty and illiteracy.

 

Bottomlines

Daler Mehndi to perform in Lahore (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Aug 7: Punjabi popstar Daler Mehndi will perform at Lahore in the last week of September, the Lahore-based Daily Times has reported. Quoting unidentified sources, the paper said he will perform to raise funds for Imran Khan's Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Cancer Hospital (SKMTCH). The pop star is also expected to perform in Karachi. The concert dates will be finalised at the end of August, an SKMTCH official said, adding that the `Bhangra' star might also perform in Islamabad. A great fan of Pakistani Punjabi stage comedians Sohail Ahmed and Aman Ullah, Mehndi would be spending some time with them as well. Daler last performed for the SKMTCH during its fund-raising campaign in 1999.

Great demand for a Kylie workout video (Go To Top)

Washington, Aug 7: Wanna have a perfect rear end? Then have one like Kylie Minogue! The sexy singer has been offered a huge sum of money to teach people how to keep their bottoms in shape. According to a report in ratethemusic.com, British store Woolworths has been flooded with requests for a Kylie workout video from people desperate to learn the techniques she practices. Meanwhile, the Woolworths management is now mulling over a lucrative offer for the 'Can't Get You Out of My Head star.' "Judging by the calls we have had over the past few days, it is something she should definitely consider," a company spokesman said However, Kylie's spokesman adds, "She will certainly be flattered by the offer. But Kylie has never made a fitness video and I don't think she has any plans to make one."

Madge set to touch literary minds of kids (Go To Top)

          Washington, Aug 7: Pop diva Madonna will soon make her debut as a children's author. The English Roses will be published in 30 languages in 100 countries and will be launched in Paris on September 15. According to a report in People News, Madge will be joined by 40 book editors from around the world for a launch party at the offices of the French publishing house Gallimard to celebrate the release. The book has been described by the publisher as being about "feeling green with envy, blue with loneliness, pink with embarrassment and purple with rage and how to find true blue friends". The singer-actress is to write five children's books in total for children aged six and above, all loosely based on the kabbalah religion she follows so studiously. Each book will be illustrated by a different artist.

'Gigli' over, J.Lo calls 'next' (Go To Top)

          Washington, Aug 7: Gigli's disastrous fall at the American box has not dampened the spirits of Hollywood couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Instead, they are putting their best foot forward for their forthcoming film 'Jersey Girl'. Close friends insist that the glamorous pair haven't been affected by Gigli's damning reviews. "They're fine. (Gigli director) Marty Brest may have a problem. (Studio) Sony may take a beating. But Ben and Jennifer knew this was coming and will be able to ride it out," a close pal said. "Everyone has failures. She doesn't seem down. Her attitude is - 'next'," said another.

Hillary turns HOT on the Web! (Go To Top)

         Washington, Aug 7: Supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton seem to be in a fix. A visit to www.hillsangels.com, a website dedicated to the Senator, lands up in a zone of skimpily-clad beauties seen on British comedian Benny Hill's 'jiggle-sex' TV show, a report in New York Post quoted the Washington-based newspaper, Hill, as saying. The website launched last week by 'Friends of Hillary' has been offering Hillary coffee mugs and autographed copies of her 'Living History', in return for campaign funding. It has also been luring supporters to be a part of the Hill's Angels, in a bid to help the New York senator fight the conservatives with their "politics of personal destruction" and "hate-filled" attacks on her. Clinton's aides, however, seem to be unaware of the impression that is being created by the misleading linkage to the Internet porn site among her followers and prospective funders. Patti Solis Doyle, the executive director of 'HILLPAC', Clinton's political action committee is optimistic that the Internet will play "a big part" in the campaign. "We think lots of people will respond," Soyle was quoted as saying.

Beck's missing pies and mash (Go To Top)

          London, Aug 7: Soccer icon David Beckham is feeling homesick. The Real Madrid star, currently on a tour of the Orient, has revealed a strong craving for pie and mash and jellied eels, according to a report in the Sun. Beckham's favourites include pieces of boiled eel in a jelly, with wife Victoria not too kicked by it. "It's disgusting, but David loves it," she says. Beckham and his pals visited Hong Kong's Soho Soho Restaurant, which specialises in pie and mash. They ordered a plate of the grub and had the food delivered on a silver latter to his suite, leaving the restaurant manager gushing. "David obviously has fantastic taste," Karen Evans, restaurant boss said. Beckham later set out townward with team-mates Roberto Carlos and Steve McManaman. The former Manchester United star had been compelled to stay indoors for three nights in Tokyo, for fear of being hounded by fans.

Paltrow's 'View from the Top' goes down under! (Go To Top)

          Washington, Aug 7: Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow's movie 'View from the Top' has been scrapped before hitting theatres in Britain. The movie was cancelled after getting dismal reviews in the United States. The comedy, in which Paltrow is playing an aspiring air hostess, will now have a straight-to-video release, after flimmakers at Buena Vista decided to scrap it. According to ratethemusic.com, friends of the actress say she has been mortified by the film's poor run in America. "She's very careful about what she appears in, and is furious that this film is such a flop. She thought it would be a big hit," one of her friend's said.

-ANI