Indians Also Will Have to Register in US

           NEW YORK: The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will register citizens of all countries who came to the US before September 30, 2002, and Pakistan was not an exception, according to a senior INS official. "It is part of a law that was passed in 1996 and we are now just getting around it," said Ronald Smith, INS Los Angeles District Director, reports Dawn. Smith said the Justice Department had decided to put all the countries into National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) by 2005. When asked whether the condition would be applicable to citizens of India and China, Smith said: "Yes."

          Meanwhile, Attorney General Ashcroft told Pakistan ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi when he met him in Washington on Thursday that Pakistan cannot be deleted from the INS list. In Karachi, a peaceful protest demonstration was held on Friday to express solidarity with the Iraqi Muslims and Pakistani community living in the US. They said the newly introduced US immigrant registration laws targeted Muslims.

Come Out of Sterile Debates, PM Tells Kerala(Go To Top)

          KOCHI: States like Kerala must not remain trapped in "outdated dogmas" but focus on stepping up growth, said the Prime Minister on Saturday. He pointed out that the key to this is enhancing competitiveness of Indian industries and business to global standards by providing a conducive investment climate".

           Inaugurating the Global Investor Meet here, Atal Behari Vajpayee said he has heard Keralites from all walks of life, and especially those working outside, saying that the State now needs to get rid of "sterile ideological debates". Workers' interest should certainly be protected, he stated, but laid down that discouraging investors through frequent strikes and gheraos serves nobody's interest.

           The economic reforms embarked upon by the country was not a matter of short-term expediency, but the outcome of a well-considered long-term strategy to tap the immense resources and the talents of the people. "Let there be no doubt", Vajpayee affirmed, "that our objectives continue to be the removal of poverty, employment generation, employment protection and social and gender justice".

          Later, the PM left for Port Blair where he will attend an Island Development Authority meeting tomorrow (Sunday). Set up in 1986, the 23-member Island Development Authority, an advisory body, is chaired by the Prime Minister. It formulates policies for the ecologically sound, sustainable and integrated development of the archipelago of 572 islands, islets and rocks.

No End Yet to Dense Fog Over Delhi (Go To Top)

          NEW DELHI: A thick blanket of fog engulfed New Delhi early on Saturday. Life came to a virtual standstill with traffic on the main roads moving at a snail's pace due to poor visibility. The vehicles moved slowly with their tail lights and fog lights switched on to avoid accidents. (Details)

Akash Missile Test-fired Successfully (Go To Top)

          BALASORE (Orissa): The medium-range surface-to-air missile 'Akash' was successfully test-fired on Saturday from Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from here. The indigenously built sophisticated multi-target missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher at 1525 IST. The missile, which has a range of 25 km, is one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 'Akash', the 650 kg sleek missile, has the capability of carrying a 50 kg payload and uses the integrated two-stage Ramjet propulsion technology.

Deal on 'Gorshkov' to Be Signed by March-end: George (Go To Top)

          LONDON: The deal with Russia on the supply of 44.5 thousand tonne aircraft-carrier Admiral Gorshkov would be ready by March-end and along with it the Putin Government was expected to lease Tupelov long-range strategic bombers as well as Akula class nuclear submarines. On Gorshkov, all the technical aspects have been agreed upon but the issue of price is yet to be settled. The negotiations have been going on since the last 10 years. Defence minister George Fernandes gave this information to Indian media in Moscow on Saturday at the end of his six-day visit. "Gorshkov is part of the package agreed upon in the inter-Governmental agreement, and all the three deals would be signed together," Fernandes added.

           About the delivery schedule of three Krivak-III class stealth frigates under construction in St Petersburg, Fernandes stated he hoped that all the three warships - Talwar, Trishul and Tabar - would be handed over to the Indian Navy by the end of April.

In-fighting Plagues Congress, BJP in Himachal as Polls Approach (Go To Top)

          SHIMLA: With Assembly election in Himachal Pradesh just over a month away, the two main parties in the fray - Congress and BJP - are plagued by infighting. The Congress, it seems, is more affected by the problem than the BJP. The polls are to be held on February 26.

          In the Congress, there are mainly two factions, one led by Virbhadra Singh and the other by PCC president Vidya Stokes. The bone of contention between the two is whether the party should declare a chief ministerial candidate. While Singh has been strongly demanding such an announcement, Stokes opposes the idea, saying the party must stick to its policy as followed in other States.

          Seat adjustment with the Himachal Vikas Congress is another issue on which bickerings have arisen between the two groups in the Congress. Singh opposes any such tie-up. His argument is that compared to last year, the party's prospects have fallen this time and alliance with HVC will be a wrong step. Putting forth her argument, Stokes says entering into a poll pact with a regional party (HVC) would benefit the Congress like in Punjab where the party had joined hands with CPI and CPI-(M).

           In the BJP, the situation is not that bad since the party high command has declared that strict action would be taken against those who give rise to unnecessary bickerings. The party apparently has two groups - one led by Shanta Kumar and the other by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. Though the party poses a united stand, the Shanta Kumar faction strongly opposes a second term for Dhumal. But both the leaders publicly deny any differences of opinion. According to Dhumal, never in the political history of Himachal Pradesh has there been any tussle over the question of a chief ministerial candidate. The Congress always avoids declaring its leader since they suffer from internal elashes, he added.

          Madan Lal Khurana, BJP's in-charge of Himachal affairs, says the Congress must declare its chief ministerial candidate, and pooh-poohs the reports regarding inner party differences. Political observers, however, believe that inner party differences both in the Congress and the BJP would deepen at the time of ticket distribution.

Seven Bangla Nationals Arrested in Punjab (Go To Top)

          TARAN TARAN: Seven Bangladeshi immigrants, including a woman, have been arrested by para-military forces in the Khemkaran sector when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan. Though the arrests were made on Thursday, the accused were handed over to the Punjab police on Friday, sources said.(Details)

142 Injured as Bulls in Ceremony Go Berserk (Go To Top)

          PALAMADU (Tamil Nadu): One hundred and forty-two people were injured, 28 of them seriously, during the 'Jallikattu' (taming the bull) organised on Thursday as part of the Pongal festivities in Palamadu village near Madurai. The incident occurred as one of the bulls went out of control and attacked a 100,000-strong crowd. In another incident, 50 persons were injured, five seriously, in nearby Avaniapuram village on Wednesday. (Details)

Advani Disfavours Forcible Conversions (Go To Top)

          BANGALORE:Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani said on Saturday the country's philosophy does not permit conversions. In an indirect reference to religious conversions, Advani said the philosophy of Indian spiritualism acknowledges the positive qualities of other traditions, but does not allow forcible conversions.

          Conversion is a sensitive issue in Hindu-majority India where hardline Hindu groups accuse Christian missionaries of carrying out forced conversion and using inducements such as education and health care to lure poor people into their faith.

           According to the law passed in 2001, any person guilty of bringing about forcible conversion would be punished with a fine of Rs 50,000. All religious conversions must also be reported to district authorities, as per the ordinance.

Muslim Cleric Faces Expulsion from UK Mosque(Go To Top)

          LONDON: Firebrand Muslim cleric Abu Hamza faces expulsion from the north London mosque where he has been preaching a radical brand of anti-Western Islam, the News quoted a spokesman for Britain's Charity Commission as saying on Friday. The commission, which regulates places of worship in Britain, said it had given the 45-year-old cleric until midnight on Monday to refute charges against him. It will then make a decision within several weeks on whether to bar him from preaching at the mosque.

           The commission accuses Hamza of giving sermons "of an extreme and political nature" at prayer meetings at the mosque in Finsbury Park. The cleric is also accused of using a place of worship to "facilitate activities organised by a non-charitable political organisation" such as Al-Muhajirun, or the Supporters of Sharia, which is directly linked to Hamza. Egypt-born Hamza, who intends to go on preaching, said the matter was in the hands of his lawyers. The case was "politically motivated", and that "the Government is trying to do it through the back door."

Al-Qaeda Dispersing into Small Cells: US Official (Go To Top)

          WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda is unlikely to find another operating haven similar to Afghanistan so the militant network is seeking to disperse in small cells into a larger number of countries, sources learnt on Satruday. "I don't see at this point a replication of Afghanistan," the official said in an interview. "I think the reality is that they are seeking to disperse, to blend into local populations that can support their activities, and there is a scramble under way."

           The network may seek areas with a large, poor, sympathetic population with a Muslim orientation that can support and cover its movements, the official said. He said Al-Qaeda was constrained by needing a place where the population can support the types of training and financial activities it needs to remain a major threat. "At the same time, there is a diffusion of movement of operatives in much smaller groups into countries that classically or historically are not associated with these types of elements," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He did not disclose the information on which he based his judgments about Al-Qaeda activities and intentions.

Eight Russian Servicemen Killed in Chechnya (Go To Top)

MOSCOW: Jan 18 (ANI): Eight Russian servicemen were killed in attacks by Chechens or by mines apparently planted by the insurgents, said a repot from Vladikavkaz on Saturday. The fatalities fit the pattern that has characterized much of the Chechen war, now in its fourth year, where the Russian forces daily launch artillery and air assaults on rebel positions while the guerrillas draw blood in small attacks and with mines and booby-traps. During the last 24 hours past day, Russian warplanes attacked rebel positions in three districts and shelled insurgents in five regions of the republic, said an official in the Chechen administration on condition of anonymity.

Official-level Talks with Naga Leaders to Begin on Monday (Go To Top)

          NEW DELHI: The official level talks between the Government of India and the leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) to find an amicable solution to the three-decade old insurgency in Nagaland are likely to begin on Monday. NSCN chairman Isak Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah held talks with members of Parliament from various political parties here on Saturday to present their case. Swu said, "formal talks will begin on Monday between officials of the Government and representatives of his organisation."

Shinde Sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister (Go To Top)

          MUMBAI: Sushil Kumar Shinde of the Congress was on Saturday sworn in as the 22nd chief minister of Maharashtra and Chhagan Bhujbal of NCP as his deputy. Governor Mohammed Fazal administered the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan. Shinde is the first Dalit leader to take over the reins of the State.

Jungle Book II Out, Mowgli Fans Please Note (Go To Top)

          LONDON: Fans of Mowgli, the lovable man-cub from Disney's Jungle Book, who wondered what happened to him once he waved goodbye to his adopted family three decades ago, have a treat waiting. It has been three decades since Mowgli bade farewell to Baloo, the grooviest bear in the jungle, and embarked on his new life in the village.

           Now Jungle Book II, out in the UK this spring, will find out what became of Mowgli, Baloo and his other animal pals. The sequel to Jungle Book, one of the most loved Disney movies, picks up the story where the 1967 original left off. Mowgli loves his new friends and family and even has a girlfriend, Shanti, who tempted him from the jungle in the first film, says a report in tThe Guardian.

           But, inevitably, he longs to get back to the Bare Necessities (all together: "the simple bare necessities") of life in the forest and sneaks out of the village. Who will find him first: his old friends, including Baloo, Bagheera the wise panther, and Colonel Hathi with his elephant patrol, his new family, or his old enemies, tiger Shere Khan and Kaa the snake? The film is voiced by a star-studded cast including John Goodman as Baloo. "I relate to Baloo too much," Goodman said. "We're overweight, we love music and we don't sing too hot. And think I've got fleas." Haley Joel Osment, of the Sixth Sense fame, voices Mowgli while there is even a part for Phil Collins as a vulture. The showstopping moment is said to be when 100 animated animals sing and dance as they march up a towering ruin, the report adds.     

-ANI

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