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Congress ready for alliances: Sonia (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, Dec 27: The Congress on Saturday said that it is prepared to form alliances with other parties to contest the next Lok Sabha election and it has already begun talks with like-minded parties. Addressing a public rally at Shivaji Park Grounds here, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said, "The process of discussions with like-minded parties have already begun and we are sharing coalition government not only in Maharashtra but also in other states." Sonia said the Congress believed that it would form a coalition not for the sake of power but to serve the country and its people. She lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government saying it had failed to address the issue of unemployment and inflation had skyrocketed making it difficult for the common man to make both ends meet. NDA government had crossed all limits of corruption, she alleged.

Avoid SAARC, security agencies tell Vajpayee (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 27: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is reportedly being urged to avoid going to Pakistan to attend the 12th SAARC summit in Islamabad by his security. Informed sources have told the Dawn that Indian security agencies are apprehensive about Vajpayee's security in the wake of the two assassination attempts made on President Pervez Musharraf on December 15 and 25.

          Senior security and intelligence officials have reportedly cautioned Vajpayee's Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra about the threat perception and asked him to seriously consider advising Vajpayee not to go to Islamabad. In a confidential note, doubts have been raised over the Pakistan Government's ability to provide logistical security support to Indian security agents to ensure a foolproof security for Vajpayee during his stay in Islamabad. The note clearly states that the security environment in Islamabad is not conducive to Vajpayee's travel since the advance team of the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) that returned to Delhi on Monday found the attitude of Pakistan's Interior Ministry, equivalent to the Indian Home Ministry, quite lukewarm.

          A top source in the Cabinet Secretariat said that Mishra had been apprised about a lot of "grey areas" identified by the SPG's advance team in a separate detailed study note sent to him about the security environment in Islamabad. The confidential letter from SPG Director RN Dash, who headed the advance team to Islamabad, to the Cabinet Secretary, keeps "alarm bells on" regarding several risk factors that would have to be tackled in protecting Vajpayee. Dash is reportedly worried that the usual support provided by a host country may not be available. Instead of cooperating with the SPG agents, the Pakistani security set-up appears hostile, the letter stresses.

No talks with Pakistan on SAARC sidelines: India (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 27: India said on Saturday that no meeting had been fixed with Pakistan on the sidelines of the 12th SAARC summit in Islamabad next month. "No meeting has been fixed with Pakistan. We have received proposals from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka for meetings and these are being worked out," Foreign Secretary Shashank told reporters in New Delhi. The seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting is seen as a key opportunity for nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India to consolidate recent moves to improve relations. India further dispelled fears about the security situation in the region after the twin assassination bids on President Pervez Musharraf saying they were assured of foolproof arrangements by Pakistani authorities. "President Musharraf himself has said that he is the target not the other leaders, and therefore, there should be no threat to any other leaders and they are making fool-proof arrangement. And there we are going on that. And Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is a respected leader in SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and therefore Prime Minister would go there to attend the summit," Shashank said.

Pak to curtail SAARC visitors' outdoor activities (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Dec 27: The Pakistan Government is seriously considering moves to cancel the planned outdoor activities of SAARC delegates in the wake of the two assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf. Informed sources told Daily Times that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had arranged visits to the Faisal Mosque, Margalla hills, Shakarparian and other places of interest for the delegates. "We were supposed to get the schedule and other details to decorate and make arrangements for foreign delegates to visit these places, but until now we have not been given any details and it seems that the government may cancel the proposed activity of the delegates", a CDA official said.

          Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said: "The security for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Conference was already very tight and will be tightened further to allay some concerns about it."

Pak minister not taken into confidence on scientists' debriefing (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Dec 27: Pakistan's Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal has said that he was not taken into confidence about the debriefing session of the country's nuclear scientists. "I was not taken into confidence on the debriefing of the nuclear scientists. I came to know about the investigations after these were started," he told reporters. Asserting that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan is hero of the nation, the Daily Times quoted him as saying that, "I wish he might remain hero." Debriefing of scientists is under way to ascertain if any Pakistani scientist has not leaked information to North Korea and Iran in one's personal capacity. About the attempt on Gen Pervez Musharraf's life, he said that military and civil agencies are carrying on the investigation of assassination bid. "They will soon reach the conclusion. If need be, assistance from the foreign agencies will also be sought," he remarked.

Muslims who are not jihadis are un-Islamic: Rashid Ahmed (Go To Top)

          Lahore, Dec 27: Muslims who do not espouse Jihadi causes or don't have jihadi feelings are not Islamic in the truest sense, claims Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad. Talking to PTV here4 on Friday, Ahmed said that the Jihadi culture in Pakistan could not be changed, "and he who denied jihad had no place in Islam." He also said that the police in Pakistan was not trained enough to counter terrorism, and therefore, terrorist networks could not be breached. "Security arrangements need to be scientific, but we are not well equipped," he was quoted as saying by the Daily Times.

Pak identifies 45 outfits with jihadi ties (Go To Top)

          Lahore, Dec 27: Pakistan has identified 45 religious outfits having links with international jihadi networks. Sources told the Daily Times on Friday that major groups like the Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (HJI) and Jamiatul Mujahideen Al Alami have not been banned yet, but warned they not only had roots in Pakistan, but also in Kashmir, Myanmar, Bangladesh and the Philippines. HJI chief Qari Saifullah Akhtar, who reportedly lives in a Gulf state, was allegedly former Taliban leader Mulla Umar's advisor and believed to have a direct link with the Al Qaeda. The sources also said Harkatul Mujahideen Al Alami, which was accused of an attack on President Pervez Musharraf last year in Karachi and the suicide attacks on French engineers, was formed by the HJI, Harkatul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) and Jamiatul Mujahideen Al Alami.

          They said that law-enforcement agencies were investigating the Hizbul Mujahideen and Al Badr Mujahideen's links with Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Gulbaddin Hikmatyar's Hizb-e-Islami. There were reports that the two organisations' former Mujahideen were recruiting Jihadis for the Taliban and the Hizb-e-Islami from the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan. Jamiatul Ansar, Jamaatul Furqan and Tehrik-e-Khudamul Islam, which were recently banned, also allegedly had links with the Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Pak proposes fresh bus pact with India (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 27: With the 12th SAARC summit just nine days away, Pakistan has approached India with a proposal to hold technical discussions in Islamabad for the renewal of the Delhi- Lahore bus agreement. Pakistan High Commission sources here were quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper that the proposal was formally given by Pakistan High Commission to the Ministry of External Affairs. Islamabad has proposed that an Indian delegation come to Pakistan in the second week of January for a meeting for renewing the 1999 agreement that expires in February 2004.

ULFA agrees to hold peace talks with Centre (Go To Top)

         Guwahati, Dec 27: Battered by the Royal Bhutan Army, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is now willing for peace talks with the Central Government through a neutral mediator. ULFA `C-in-C' Paresh Baruah told a local daily on Saturday that his outfit was ready for peace negotiations with New Delhi.

25 injured as Brahmaputra Mail derails (Go To Top)

          Kolkata, Dec 27: At least 25 people were injured when four coaches of the Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail derailed near West Bengal's Old Malda station early this morning. Reports reaching here said that the injured have been admitted to the Malda General Hospital. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the mishap, railway sources contacted here said. Meanwhile, train services in the state have been disrupted. Railway sources said that attempts were being made to resume normal traffic.

Hyderabad's stranded airline passengers protest (Go To Top)

          Hyderabad, Dec 27: Many stranded passengers at Hyderabad airport staged a protest on Saturday against the national carrier Air India. The passengers, who were to leave for the United States, United Kingdom and other Gulf countries, are stranded in the city's Rajiv Gandhi international aiport for the past three days due to bad weather. Around 400 passengers are shuttling between their home and airport to catch their flight, which is not taking off. "Nobody is giving us proper things. They made us sit from 11 o'clock. Till 12.30 am it's 12 hours now. And they have no solution as to whether we are going out from Hyderabad. They don't have any answers," a passenger said.

          However, the officials claim that it is due to the poor visibility and non-clearance of the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) which is causing all the problems. Air India operations manager P Ashok Kumar said that the visibility needed was at least 4,000 metres and only 3,000 metres distance was visible. "4000 metres is a requirement. We are ready to operate as long as weather conditions are permissible to land. It is regulated by DGCA that it needs 4000 meters to land and every 10-15 minutes", he said. The authorities also say that they are making alternative arrangements to send the passengers to Bombay and then to their destinations abroad.

Five dead in Rawalpindi flour mill blast (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Dec 27: At least five people were killed and several others were injured in an explosion that took place at a flour mill in Ganj Mandi area of Rawalpindi on Saturday. Police confirmed the arrest of four people in connection with the incident, the News reported. However, Federal Information Minster Shaikh Rashid Ahmed said that it was not a terrorist act. Three of the five killed were identified as Bahadar Sher, Bashir and Ghaffar.

Suspected SARS case found in southern China (Go To Top)

          Beijing, Dec 27: A patient in a hospital in Guangzhou city in southern China is being treated as a suspected case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an international news agency reported on Saturday. This suspected case has been reported to the health ministry. The ministry has now to send specialists to determine if it is indeed a SARS case, an official of the Guangdong provincial health bureau said. The health ministry confirmed that it had received the report and had sent a team to Guangdong. On Friday, an expert panel was sent to Guangdong province to investigate the case, said an official, who refused to be named.

India offers help to quake-hit Iran. (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 27: India has offered aid to the Government of Iran after an earthquake killed over 20,000 people. Describing the incident as a disaster, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani on Saturday said that India could share its experience in the rehabilitation work. Gujarat was hit by a powerful earthquake in 2001. "This is a disaster. Several thousand people have died. It is very unfortunate. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi called me in the morning and told me that whatever experience relating to the rehabilitation in Gujarat they had gained can be shared with Iran. They are ready to send the concerned people there. If Iran wants, the Indian government is ready to help," Advani said.

          Many people were still pinned under the rubble of the shattered Iranian Bam city of 80,000, their prospects of survival diminishing with the passing of time. President Mohammad Khatami has admitted Iran cannot cope on its own. The official IRNA news agency quoted Iran's Interior Ministry as saying assistance would be welcome from every corner of the globe other than Israel. The pre-dawn quake on Friday also injured about 30,000 people. The quake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale and struck when many people were still asleep. About 70 per cent of Bam, a popular tourist spot some 1,000 km south-east of Capital Tehran with an historic citadel and other buildings, was levelled. The United Nations, European Union countries, Russia, China, Poland, Japan, Turkey and others also heeded Iran's appeals for help from the international community. They pledged doctors, medical supplies, financial aid, and rescuers with sniffer dogs and equipment to locate survivors. Earthquakes are a regular occurrence in Iran, an oil-producing country crisscrossed by major fault lines. Some 35,000 people were killed in 1990 when earthquakes of up to 7.7 on the Richter scale hit the northwest of Iran.

Aussies have India on the ropes (Go To Top)

          Melbourne, Dec 27: Australia were 317 for three in their first innings at close on the second day of the third cricket Test against India here on Friday. Ricky Ponting was batting on 120 while Damien Martyn was on 7 at draw of stumps. Brief Scores: India 1st Innings: 366 (Virender Sehwag 195, Rahul Dravid 49, Stuart MacGill 3/70); Australia 1st innings: 317 for 3 in 75 overs (Hayden 136, Ponting 120 not out; Kumble 2/102).

Bottomlines

Have things 'cooled off' between Enrique, Anna? (Go To Top)

          New York, Dec 27: Latin crooner Enrique Iglesias and his Russian girlfriend Anna Kournikova may have split. Recently, on being asked about his on/off romance with the 22- year-old tennis beauty, Enrique, 28, said, "We're, we're cool." He was also spotted making out with Monika Jakisic, a 25-year-old Croatian model, at a nightclub in London. "Yes, I was with Enrique," The Star magazine quoted Monika as saying. "He's a lovely man, but I don't want to comment on his personal life," she added. Meanwhile, the US-based singer's representatives have refused to comment on the issue.

Kate Winslet's special Christmas delivery! (Go To Top)

          Washington, Dec 27: Actress Kate Winslet gave a special Christmas delivery on December 22 and now with British director hubby Sam Mendes, they are proud parents of a baby boy. According to E-Online, the newborn christened Joe Mendes made his grand debut at an undisclosed New York hospital, tipping the scales at 7 pounds and 13 ounces. Winlet's publicist Jennifer Allen said, "The couple is overjoyed," in a statement, no further details were announced. Joe is the first joint production for the high-powered twosome, who married in secret last May. Winslet also has a three-year-old daughter, Mia, from her first marriage.

Now, hippo attacks former South African beauty queen! (Go To Top)

          London, Dec 27: Yet another woman has been attacked by a hippopotamus in Botswana. Diana Tilden-Davis, a former Miss South Africa, was bitten on the leg by the animal when she was canoeing in the African nation's Okavango Swamps. A runner-up in the 1991 Miss World pageant, Diana was immediately airlifted to a hospital in Johannesburg. "She is in a stable condition," the Mirror quoted a hospital spokesman as saying. Earlier this month, another South African woman was killed by a hippo while she and her husband were honeymooning in Botswana.

Brief X'mas reunion for Jude, Sadie (Go To Top)

          London, Dec 27: On the eve of Christmas, Oscar-nominated U.K. hunk Jude Law and his ex-wife Sadie Frost reunited briefly for the sake of their children. The 30-year-old "Cold Mountain" star and Sadie, 37, took their eldest son Rafferty, eight, and Finlay, 13, Sadie's son from her first marriage, on an outing here. "Jude and Sadie were behaving in a very civil manner and looked comfortable in each other's company, though she did seem quieter and a bit more subdued," the Mirror quoted an onlooker as saying. "Jude was full of smiles and chatted happily to other guests." "He looked relaxed and glad to be spending time with his kids. Rafferty was obviously very happy and having great fun." The one-time couple, who divorced two months ago, have three kids together - Rafferty, Iris, three, and one-year-old Rudy.

Pak women very beautiful, says Neha Dhupia (Go To Top)

          Lahore, Dec 27: Former Miss India and cine star Neha Dhupia believes Pakistani women are very beautiful and quite professional in their approach. She, however, says that Pakistan's film industry needs to be more professional and have more variety if it has to stand up and be counted with its peers. An ex-model, Dhupia, who is in Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador for improving Indo-Pak ties, however, described Pakistan's fashion industry as "excellent." She told the Daily Times at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club that she was "highly impressed" by the Pakistani fashion scene. "There are a lot of beautiful women in the Pakistani fashion scene who are not only thorough professionals, but also setting contemporary fashion trends," she said. Pakistani model Vaneeza was particularly singled out for praise. "Her beauty and mannerisms have impressed me a lot," Dhupia said.

          Dhupia's first film, released earlier this year, was Qayamat, and her next will be Juli. She is also working with director David Dhawan on another film. Asked if she would ever act in a Pakistani movie, Dhupia said she could not say. Dhupia, the daughter of a naval officer, turned to modelling while preparing for her civil service examinations. She was crowned Femina Miss India for 2002, and has recently joined the movies. She said that she had the full backing of her parents on her career choices.

-ANI