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Samjhauta Express may resume on Jan 1: Talks on (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 18: A four-member delegation of Pakistan Railways began two-day talks with their Indian counterparts for the resumption of the Samjhauta Express here on Thursday. This is the only rail link between the two countries at present. Informed sources said that railway service would in all probability start on January 1, though a final announcement would be made after the talks conclude.

          "We want the train service to resume by December 25 (birth anniversary of Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah) this year, or latest by January next year," said Mohd Iqbal Khatri, Additional General Manager of the Pakistan Railways. The two sides would discuss modalities for the restarting of the train, which was snapped by India on December 31, 2001, after the December 13 attack on the Indian parliament. The issues likely to be taken up are the number of coaches that will form part of the train, train timings, staff strength and the frequency of operation.

          While the Executive Director of Traffic and Transportation, Pradeep Bhatnagar, is leading the Indian delegation, Khatri heads the Pakistan delegation. The Indian side also includes an observer from the Ministry of External Affairs. After a gap of nearly two years, road links between the two countries have already been restored and the air links are being restored from January 1.

Shiv Sainiks dig up Agra pitch (Go To Top)

          Agra, Dec 18: Shiv Sena activists have dug up the pitch of a cricket ground here, which was to be the venue of an India- Pakistan veterans' match to be played later this month. The activists said they would not allow the match to be played since Pakistan is the country's number one enemy. They were speaking to reporters after digging up large chunks of soil and pouring diesel across the ground, besides carving anti-Pakistan slogans on the pitch. They said they did not believe in the Centre's policies on Pakistan. This is the second occasion when Shiv Sainiks have dug up the pitch of a cricket ground. Earlier, in January 1999, they dug the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch in New Delhi ahead of India-Pakistan cricket Test match.

Pak veteran cricketers arrive (Go To Top)

          Wagah Border, Dec 18: Pakistani veteran cricketers arrived here on Thursday to play a three-match one-day series with their Indian counterparts. The 16-member team, which includes legendary Sadiq Mohammad and batsman Ejaz Ahmed will play goodwill matches. Ezaz said Pakistani players always looked forward to play in India. "It is very happy moment. Whenever we come to India we are given a warm welcome, people love us. It is just that the political situation improves. People of both the countries love each other," he said. Chetan Chauhan, who used to open with Sunil Gavaskar, received the Pakistani players. He said: "The main purpose of organising this series is that we are continuing the efforts of the government of India for normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. I met the honourable prime minister a few months ago and I floated this idea, what he suggested is that we should play." Left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi will lead the side, while Dilip Vengsarkar, Syed Kirmani and Madan Lal will be seen in action during the three matches. Cricket ties between the two countries have been the biggest casualty since tensions rose following the December 13 2001 attack. But with a thaw in relations, sports ties have also been restored with India agreeing to visit Pakistan next year.

SC relief for Salman, drops culpable homicide charge (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 18: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Bombay High Court to proceed against Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the rash-and-negligent driving case minus the charge of culpable homicide. The apex court also set aside the HC order framing charges against Khan. Salman is undergoing trial in a car accident that killed a bakery worker sleeping on a footpath in Mumbai last more than a year ago. Court officials said Khan would have to stand trial under Section 304 (A) of the Indian Penal Code for rash and negligent act not amounting to murder. Khan's counsel Dipesh S. Mehta said that the Sessions Court could add more charges depending evidences that emerge during the trial.

Indian Army denies crossing over to Bhutan (Go To Top)

         Kolkata, Dec 18: The Indian Army on Thursday denied reports of crossing over to Bhutan even as Bhutanese troops killed 90 more militants in the tiny Himalyan kingdom in a bid to flush out training camps used by rebels. "No one is across the international border. We are all on our sides of the borders waiting to nab anyone who comes this side," General J.S. Verma, GOC-in-C (Eastern Command), said while speaking to reporters. He added the Army was waiting to apprehend those rebels who cross over from Bhutan. Indian helicopters are reported to be ferrying Bhutanese wounded. The 6000-strong Royal Bhutan Army's first major military operation entered the fourth day on Thursday killing terrorists belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). Thousands of Indian troops, backed by helicopters, have sealed the 380-km border with Bhutan to support the operation involving almost the entire Bhutanese army.

Closure of India-Bhutan border hits trade (Go To Top)

          Dharanga Market (Assam), Dec 18: International trade has been badly hit since the country sealed its border with Bhutan, whose Army has launched an offensive against the Indian militants. Traders in Dharanga market here say that trade has come to a complete standstill since the operations started on Monday. With the closure of the "Iron Gate" on the borders, there has been virtually no trade. India and Bhutan share an open border and no visa is required to visit each other's country via the land route.

          "We are facing problem due to the closure of this gate. No transaction has taken place since then. No Bhutanese come here. We are sitting here without any transaction," said Lakshmi Kumary whose shop has been closed since Monday. Many Indian shops selling daily items to garments and utensils dot the market. "Our business depend on Bhutanese people. People across the border pass through this gate. We are earning our livelihood through this market. Thousands of Indian troops backed by helicopters have sealed the border with Bhutan to help the Bhutanese army flush out the guerrillas from camps on its soil.

Madras HC grants bail to POTA detainees (Go To Top)

          Chennai, Dec 18: Madras High Court granted bail to four persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) here Thursday. The four include P. Nedumaran, a Tamil Nationalist Movement leader This happened two days after the Supreme Court observed that the prosecution has to establish the criminal intent of those detained. The Apex Court had also observed that mere verbal support to an organisation could not be construed as a terrorist activity to attract the provisions of POTA. Nedumaran and three others - Pavanan, Suba Veerapandiyan and Thayappan - were arrested for sympathising with the outlawed Tamil rebel group LTTE.

Jaya appears before court (Go To Top)

          Chennai, Dec 18: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha on Thursday appeared before a special court which is hearing one of several corruption cases against her. The judge posted the next hearing to December 30. Jayalalitha is accused of selling the stakes of a state-owned company at a much lesser price causing a loss to the tune of Rs. 2.8 billion to the state exchequer. She has, however, denied the charges. "This is a procedure followed with every criminal trial after the examination of witness by the prosecution is closed...," said N. Raghunathan, CBI lawyer said.

Cryogenic engine for GSLV successfully tested: ISRO (Go To Top)

          Bangalore, Dec 18: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said the endurance tests for the indigenous cryogenic engine for the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV, were successfully completed. The tests were conducted at ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu on December 5. ISRO chief Madhavan Nair said he was happy with the ground tests. "We have completely qualified cryogenic engines to the ground test. About 6000 sseonds of accumulated tests have been completed and all the purposes have been demonstrated to the ground. So we are happy about that," Nair told reporters here Wednesday on the sidelines of an aviation summit. Nair said the final launch of the GSLV, powered by the new cryogenic engine, was likely by mid of 2004. "In about 18 months we should be able to make the flights with our own engine," he added.

India proposes Phulbari trade route to Bangladesh (Go To Top)

          Phulbari (West Bengal), Dec 18: India has proposed to start a trade route with Bangladesh through Phulbari in West Bengal. A Central government team recently visited the border even as a report from the Government of West Bengal on the type of infrastructure available with it for carrying out international trade. There is a trade route already in existence at Phulbari since 1997 to facilitate trade between Nepal and Bangladesh. The route, however, is inaccessible to Indian traders. Locals are quite hopeful that the resumption of border trade through Phulbari will enrich the region from a developmental aspect.

Niazi surrendered to save West Pakistan: Yahya Khan (Go To Top)

          Lahore, Dec 18: Pakistan's former military ruler Yahya Khan on Wednesday said that he had asked Lt.General (retired) A.A.K Niazi, the former Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan's eastern army command, to surrender in 1971 to save West Pakistan. In an interview with the Dawn newspaper, Yahya Khan said: "It is wrong to say that the surrender decision had been taken at the local level". He said that Niazi had told him that he could continue fighting with the 34,000 troops at his disposal, but was told to surrender to save West Pakistan.

          "I have no regrets; my conscience is clear," Khan said about that decision, which led to Pakistan's defeat and the creation of Bangladesh. Responding to a question, he said Pakistan would not have been dismembered if power had been transferred to Sheikh Mujibur Rehman with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sitting on Opposition benches and he not harbouring a desire to stay on as President. He said that under the democratic principles, Mujib had the right to claim power after winning majority seats in the Assembly.

          Niazi said it was wrong to say that 92,000 Pakistani troops had been made POWs. In all, he claimed, they were 34,000. He claimed that India would have released all the POWs even if Bhutto had not intervened, as New Delhi could not bear the burden for long. Niazi said the army had recognized his performance and it was for this reason that he had been conferred Hilal-i-Jurat. He said only Bhutto had found fault with him. Niazi said his performance in then East Pakistan should not be underrated. He said he had controlled insurgency with only 34,000 troops.

Bottomlines

Posh wants pyjamas from Beck on Christmas! (Go To Top)

          London, Dec18: Ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has revealed she was expecting pyjamas from her husband David Beckham for Christmas. According to the Sun, she told Radio 2, "It sounds very unglamorous and everyone will be really disappointed, but it's pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers. I love that kind of thing and so does David. We've got past being hugely extravagant." She also said she was looking forward to him being off over Christmas as Spanish football takes a break. Victoria Beckham splurged 25,000 pounds in a two-hour shopping spree at the Dolce and Gabbana shop in London's West End, her favourite fashion store. The owner obliged Posh by closing the shop from 4.30 p.m. while she browsed round, helped by 12 staff. Posh, 29, bought a range of outfits and sunglasses. Two hours later she was escorted through a crowd of fans by four security men into a waiting Range Rover and taken to her best liked London restaurant, Nobu. One fan said: "If only Christmas shopping was so easy for us all." Hubby David Beckham left her to her retail therapy on Tuesday afternoon to go on his own shopping expedition two miles away. The Real Madrid and England star, 28, visited Fendi to find gifts for his wife.

Tentacled Doc Ock confronts Spider-Man! (Go To Top)

          London, Dec18: Spider Man is set to challenge a new well- armed miscreant who is half man and half octopus. According to the Sun, Superhero Spider Man displays his brawn in his confrontation with deranged villain Doc Ock in his new movie Spider Man 2. Doc Ock, played by Brit Alfred Molina, 50, is created when brilliant scientist Dr. Otto Octavius suffers a dreadful accident in his lab and has robotic tentacles grafted to his body. An insider revealed: "Doc Ock is brilliant but stark raving mad." Tobey Maguire again plays the role of nerd Peter Parker, who fights crime as Spider Man. Kirsten Dunst returns as his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. The movie will hit the theatres in July.

Chris Martin's honeymoon marred by stitches! (Go To Top)

          London, Dec 18: Newly-wed rocker Chris Martin was rushed to hospital by bride Gwyneth Paltrow, after he injured his head while surfing in the rough seas. According to the Sun, Coldplay singer Chris, 26, needed three stitches after being thrown off his board in Los Cabos, Mexico. He admitted he felt "a fool" getting hurt on his honeymoon. The couple wed in secret two weeks ago. He and Gwyneth, 31, expecting their first baby next summer, posed for photos with doctors who treated him.

Nicole Kidman returns to 'light up' Australia! (Go To Top)

          Sydney, Dec 18: Nicole Kidman was welcomed back to Australia last night by thousands of screaming fans at the New South Wales premier of her movie 'Cold Mountain'. It was a childhood dream come true for Kidman, who returned home for the first time since winning an Oscar for her role as Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours In March'. Kidman dressed in a green and black designer outfit was overwhelmed by her grand home-coming at the end of a year that saw her become one of the world's most acclaimed actors. An emotional Kidman said, "I can assure that this strange little girl from Sydney never ever in her wildest dreams could have imagined that any of this could happen". According to the Australian, Sydney's Lord Mayor Lucy Turnball claimed Kidman as one of Australia's greats. He said, "You are, Nicole, what Joan Sutherland is for opera, what Dawn Fraser is to swimming, Margaret Court is to tennis and Cathy Freeman is to athletics". Australian film director and Kidman's good friend Baz Luherman summed it up by saying, "She lights up a room and she lights up a country."

'Return of the King' voted 2003's best film by NY critics (Go To Top)

          New York, Dec 18: In a rather surprising move, the New York Film Critics' Circle have chosen the 'Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' as the best film of 2003. The influential group, made up of writers from the city's major newspapers and magazines, usually votes for independent, art- house films. Said Chairman Andrew Johnstone: "It's just beautifully made, it's pure cinema, it does everything." "It's got amazing, epic scope to the drama, to the battle scenes, a lot of strong emotional stuff, really complex, well-rendered characters and effective comic relief where it needs it." According to Movie Awards author Tom O'Neill, the accolade makes the final film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy an Oscar front-runner next year. "The critics usually go for little indie movies. When they go for the blockbusters, like the 'Silence Of The Lambs' or 'Schindler's List,' they usually go all the way," TeenHollywood quoted him, as saying. Meanwhile, Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray were named the Best Director and Best Actor respectively for 'Lost In Translation.'

-ANI