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Cairns Injured in Durban Night Club Brawl JOHANNESBURG: New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns suffered a cut on the mouth when he and nine of his team members were involved in a night club brawl in Durban. According to a report, Cairns was knocked down by a punch from behind after a scrap at the 'Tiger, Tiger' night club. (Details) SC Puts Off Ayodhya Hearing to March 6 NEW DELH: The hearing of the application filed by the Central Government seeking vacation of its interim order banning all kinds of religious activities in the 67-acre acquired land around the disputed structure at Ayodhya will take place on March 6. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will hear the matter, the Supreme Court announced on Friday. (Details) A Veiled VHP Threat on Ayodhya Issue (Go To Top) NEW DELHI: A meeting of Hindu seers here on Saturday will take "unprecedented and hard decisions" on the Ayodhya issue, declared the VHP on Friday. About 150 prominent saints, who attended VHP's Marg Darshak Mandal meeting here, expressed "anger" and a feeling of being "cheated" by the Government, VHP's working president Ashok Singhal told a press conference along with Swami Avaidhyanath and Swami Parmanand after the meeting. He said that the mandal could not pass any resolution as discussions on various "options", including some "violent measures" to be adopted, were "still continuing". "The matter will be discussed at the two-day Dharam Sansad of about 10,000 saints beginning tomorrow and a decision will be announced during the conclave," Singhal said. According to him, the "saints are losing patience". Mahant Avaidhyanath, a former MP from Gorakhpur, said the Vajpayee Government had failed to "restore the lost honour of Hindus" which was "expected" of it. Vajpayee Rejects Campaign Charge (Go To Top) SHIMLA: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Friday that he did not raise the temple issue at a public meeting in Himachal Pradesh to gain votes. "(It has been said that) during my election speech on Thursday that I played the Hindu card. I have only said what I have been saying in all past general elections, what has now become an election issue," he stated. Addressing an election rally in Mandi on Thursday, Vajpayee was reported to have said that it was desirable to build Ram temple in Ayodhya. Himachal Pradesh, currently ruled by the BJP, goes to polls on February 26 along with three other States. The Prime Minister said he raised the cow slaughter issue because the main Opposition Congress party had released posters in Madhya Pradesh declaring that he eats beef. "If pamphlets had not been distributed about my being a beef-eater, perhaps I would not even have touched on these subjects," Vajpayee remarked. Cong Must Apologise to PM: Murli Manohar Joshi (Go To Top) NEW DELHI: The Congress owes an apology to the Prime Minister of India for making wild allegation against him on beef eating, according to Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister for HRD and Science and Technology. The largest Opposition party, even if desperate, should not resort to lies to tarnish the image of a great national leader, he said on Friday. It stands exposed, after Atal Behari Vajpayee's reaction. Now the only course open to the party is to unconditionally withdraw the allegation and offer an apology to the nation, Joshi added. PM for Peaceful Settlement of Iraq Issue (Go To Top) SHIMLA: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Friday that Iraq issue should be resolved peacefully. Addressing reporters here, he said India was opposed to any action against Iraq outside the ambit of the United Nations. "We want that Iraq issue should be solved peacefully. If an action is necessary, it should be through the United Nations. Not through any country," Vajpayee added. His statement comes in the wake of protests and demonstrations from across the world, including US and Britain, against possible attack. India, along with Security Council members France, Germany and Russia, is opposed to any unilateral action. Proposal to Settle Bhojshala Dispute (Go To Top) DHAR (MP): Puja will be on Tuesdays from 9 am to 11 am and namaaz on Fridays from 1 pm to 3 pm at Bhojshala-Kamal Moula shrine here. This recommendation, which also includes a suggestion to keep the disputed site open for tourists throughout the week at a taken fee, has been sent to the State Government, district collector Sanjay Dubey newsmen here on Friday. US to Tighten Visa Rules for Skilled Workers, Students (Go To Top) NEW DELHI: Expressing concern for the Indian information technology industry, US Congressman F James Sensenbrenner Jr, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has said that the regulations governing the H1B visas which provides highly skilled foreign workers a work permit for the United States would be tightened further. (Details) Akal Dal Workers Burn Punjab CM's Effigy (Go To Top) AMRITSAR: Hundreds of supporters of the Shiromani Akali Dal burnt an effigy of Punjab chief minister, Capt. Amarindar Singh, as a mark of protest against the alleged involvement of two State ministers and one Delhi Congress MLA in a Gujarat sex scandal. The agitated crowd demanded the chief minister's resignation on moral grounds. The scandal is about a reported incident in Ahmedabad during the recent Assembly elections there. The BJP, which highlighted the scandal, said two ministers of Punjab Government and one Congress MLA from Delhi had requisitioned call girls for personal sexual favours. The protestors shouted slogans like "Amarindar Singh Hai Hai", and "Amarindar Singh Istifa Do". A Congress activist said some Congress leaders and ministers have been involved in using call girls during the elections. "People all over the world have always held Punjabis in high esteem for respecting women but we are ashamed of what has happened and demand the resignation of the chief minister," he added, he said. The procession was led by SAD's youth wing leader Gurpartap Singh Tikka. The police arrested six activists for burning the effigy of Capt Singh. A police press note said that Akali workers were carrying banners written with indecent remarks against the chief minister. A case under Sections 188, 292-A IPC has been registered against the protesters, the police said. US Club Fire Leaves 54 Dead (Go To Top) WASHINGTON: A huge fire in a night club in the State of Rhode Island has claimed 54 lives. Local officials said the toll could rise further, with some of the 150 injured people having suffered severe burns, reports BBC. The place was engulfed by flames within minutes of the fire breaking out during a pyrotechnics display at a rock concert. Fire and smoke killed some, while others are believed to have been trampled as people rushed for the exits. The fire broke out at about 11 pm on Thursday (0400 GMT). Cocaine Report False, Britney Assures Mother (Go To Top) LONDON: Horrified by Britney Spears's coke-snorting reports, mum Spears phoned her pop star daughter in tears to comfort her. Lynne Spears, 46, frantically rang to console Britney and satisfy herself that the allegation was untrue, according to a report in the Sun. Britney has called in lawyers after denying a US magazine's claim that she snorted cocaine in a Miami nightspot. "Lynne is very religious and the thought of Britney doing drugs horrified her. There were lots of tears, but Britney assured her the story was rubbish", a source was quoted by the Sun as saying. Kylie, Jay Kay Now Inseperable, Says Reports (Go To Top) SYDNEY: Sexy Kylie Minogue is dating Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay for over a week now and the duo has already become inseparable. The pair has been seen together twice in the past week, leading to speculation that they were together, according to a report. The couple, both 34, were introduced by Minogue's stylist Will Baker, who does Kay's hair. "Kylie and Jay have known each other for ages because of Will," a friend told the Daily Star. "But it's only over the past week that they seem to have become inseparable". Chris Too Passionate About Brit's Ex (Go To Top) LONDON: Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake fuelled fresh rumours about a growing relationship when they were spotted kissing and cuddling amorously at a London club. According to a report in Sun, after attending a party to celebrate a London fashion week at trendy Sketch restaurant, they moved on to the 10 Room Club, where Justin sang with R&B band NERD for more than an hour. He was later joined by Christina, who is also a rival of Justin's ex Britney Spears, after one song and danced as he performed. However, Christina wanted Justin to herself and was impatient when he wouldn't get off the stage. An onlooker said,"They were dancing closely all night. They finally disappeared into the VIP area for the rest of the night." But he did drag himself from the diva to display his dance moves after which they went to his hotel. -ANI |