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India, Pak ready to start bus service from July 1

          New Delhi, June 19: The Delhi-Lahore bus service is expected to recommence on July 1 or soon after. India and Pakistan took this decision on Thursday after finalising the modalities of resuming the service. This was the first day of the two-day technical discussions which were attended by officials of the two countries. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Delhi Transport Corporation chairman AJS Sahney said now only the visa and immigation issues had to be settled. The same two buses will run on Tuesdays and Fridays as earlier and the fare will also remain the same for the time being, he added.

Musharraf arrives in Boston, to meet Bush on June 24

          Boston, June 19: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in the second leg of his four-nation visit arrived in Boston, USA Thursday. He will stay in Boston till June 23 and will meet his son and relatives. Musharraf will arrive at Camp David to meet US President George W Bush and his cabinet members on June 24. The same day he will reach Washington DC. He will meet Vice President Dick Cheney on lunch. He will also call on Secretary of State Colin Powell and Finance Secretary John Steeve. Musharraf will inaugurate the new Pakistan embassy building in the evening. President Musharraf will also meet the World Bank President Wolfinson, editorial board of a US daily and members of the Senate. He will leave for Germany on June 29.

Bank insurance for Amarnath pilgrims

          Srinagar, June 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Bank here provides insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh to pilgrims visiting the holy Amarnath cave shrine. This is given to individuals during the actual period of the pilgrimage till it is over. The pilgrims are happy as the shrine, situated in a dense forest, often comes under raids by Pakistan-based Muslim guerrillas. "They (officials) are providing us insurance and adequate help. This is a new facility available to the pilgrims," said Anand Dave, a pilgrim from Bihar. Officials say more than 100,000 pilgrims have visited the shrine, discovered by a Muslim shepherd in the 16th century. Every year, at least 12,000 soldiers and para-military officials guard the shrine during the pilgrimage. Bank officials said the insurance could be obtained at a token premium of Rs 20.

          "The facilities provided by us this time includes a pass, the date for the pilgrimage and we also are providing insurance. The pilgrims are supposed to pay us 20 rupees and we give an insurance package of 100,000 rupees immediately on the counter. The insurance comes into effect from the date the pilgrimage starts and ends as they reach the base camp after the pilgrimage," Ajaz Ahmed, manager of the bank said. The treacherous narrow 30-mile (50-km) path from Pahalgam takes the pilgrims along icy streams, and around glacial lakes and dense pine forests.

Canada adds three Sikh outfits to terrorist list (Go To Top)

          Vancouver, June 19: Canada banned three Sikh militant groups as "terrorist" organizations including one allegedly linked to the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight, a foreign news agency reported Thursday. Federal Solicitor General Wayne Easter said Ottawa had determined that Babbar Khalsa, Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation "knowingly engaged in terrorist activity." It also banned Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, bringing the number of groups on Canada's prohibited list to 31. The three Sikh groups support the creation of an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab.

90 missing after ships collide in China (Go To Top)

          Beijing, June 19: A passenger ship and cargo vessel collided in China's Yangtze River, leaving at least 90 people missing, state press and local officials said Thursday. The accident occurred near Peilinglun city, 270 km from Yichang, the location of the Three Gorges Dam, the report said. The ship carrying at least 100 people sank and that 10 passengers had so far been rescued.

Centre grants Rs. 24 crore for development of Wakf properties (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, June 19: The Centre has provided Rs. 23.82 crore as grant-in-aid to the Central Wakf Council for protection and development of Wakf properties. The Central Wakf Council has in turn extended loan to 110 projects under the Development of Urban Wakf Properties Scheme. Out of these, 67 projects have been completed. The highest number of 42 schemes are in Karnataka, which have been advanced loans worth Rs. 11.37 crore, sys a press release. Tamil Nadu has been given Rs. 2.18 crore for 18 projects and Andhra Pradesh Rs. 1.37 crore for 12 projects. The others states having such projects are Bihar (9), Kerala (7), Orissa (6), Maharasthra (5), Delhi and Rajasthan (3 each), Uttar Pradesh (2) and Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Manipur (one each).

Beijing's stand on Tibet appears softened: Dalai Lama's envoys (Go To Top)

          Dharamsala, June 19: Two envoys of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who recently visited China, says there is a marked improvement in Beijing's attitude towards the issue of Tibet. The Dalai Lama's special envoy in Washington, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, and another envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen returned from Beijing last week after meeting top Chinese leaders. The envoys met Ngapo Ngawang Jigme, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing and the Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress, among others, during their fortnight-long visit.

           "We were very satisfied with our trip. Definitely there was a marked improvement on the side of the Chinese leaders. Again, we are not saying this is not going to be an easy task, it is indeed a difficult task. In fact, as we get closer and closer, I think we will be confronted with more and more difficult issues, but we came back feeling that as Gyaltsnem (another envoy) said after the 16th Party Congress in 10th National People Congress, new leadership that is in place for whatever reason I think, for the first time may be serious to engage his Holiness (The Dalai Lama)," Gayri, told reporters here on Wednesday. He added that the present Chinese leadership demonstrated greater "flexibility" towards the vexed Tibet issue.

          The envoys had visited China and Tibet in September last year in what was described as a landmark trip and met Chinese government officials, the first direct contact between the two sides since 1993. Gayri said their aim was to establish direct contacts between the Dalai Lama and Beijing and also to "create the right environment." "(We want) to help establish a direct relationship between his holiness (The Dalai Lama) and the Chinese government. We have not reached the stage of negotiations. There is a little bit of confusion as by the fact that we have made two visits as the way we have already started the process of negotiations. Our job at the moment is to help. One, establish direct relations, two, to walk in together with the Chinese government to create the right environment. Our hope is that both sides should discuss issues without any pre-conditions", Gayri said.

          Beijing has played down the trip as a private visit but analysts and diplomats say it reflects a subtle but significant shift in Beijing's attitude to the Dalai Lama related to a policy review last year. Analysts and diplomats say the re-establishment of contacts between China and the Dalai Lama's representatives reflected a slight softening in Beijing's position as it tests the waters for some kind of political solution and tries to improve its image overseas.

Bottomlines

Clinton's new fling starts rumour mill (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 19: Close on the heels of the Hillary memoirs hoopla, the latest buzz doing the rounds is that Bill Clinton seems to be spending a lot of time with "close friend", sexy Canadian billionaire Belinda Stronach, with the paparazzi having spotted them on numerous occasions. According to a report in the New York Post Online, the former President had befriended the 37-year-old CEO of auto-parts giant Magna International Inc., at a birthday bash for rocker Ronnie Hawkins in Toronto. However, Clinton's representative at the time claimed their relationship was purely professional, revolving around the Clinton Library Foundation.

          Stronach's marriage to Olympian speed-skating champion Johann Olav Koss is headed for splitsville and wagging tongues insist that she and Clinton have seen each other at least four times. The two have also been spotted dining together at the Democratic governors' conference in Baltimore and a fund-raiser in California. "I haven't met a woman yet who is not attracted to Bill Clinton, but it doesn't mean (she is) going to marry him. Bill and Belinda are good friends, but there is no romantic linkage. It's just not that way - you shouldn't jump to conclusions that they are having a serious fling, " a friend of Stronach told Canada's CanWest News Service.

Rapist Max Factor heir nabbed by bounty hunter 'Dog' Chapman (Go To Top)

          London, June 19: Duane 'Dog' Chapman will be awarded 90,000 pounds for nabbing and putting, the Max Factor heir rapist multi-millionaire who fled during his trial for more than 80 sex crimes, behind bars. According to a report in the Sun, Andrew Luster, the 39-year-old heir to the Max Factor cosmetics empire, was caught at a playboy resort in Mexico by Chapman. After a hunt lasting several months, he tracked Luster to a Puerto Vallarta nightclub then grabbed him in the street. The resort is 400 miles from the three-million- pound beachfront home in California that Luster fled from six months ago while on bail.

          The notorious bounty hunter, Chapman claims to have caught 6,000 fugitives in 20 years. Luster, great-grandson of Hollywood make- up legend Max Factor, was convicted of 86 sex crimes in his absence and sentenced to 124 years jail. His trial in Ventura, California, heard how he spiked victims' drinks with date-rape drugs. He then took them to his mansion near Santa Monica and raped them, regularly videoing his sickening attacks. Earlier this month, a court ruled Luster could not appeal his conviction while a fugitive. His lawyer Roger Diamond said: "If he's captured now he can go ahead and pursue his appeal."

Archer granted parole halfway through sentence (Go To Top)

          London, June 19: Disgraced former Tory MP Jeffrey Archer has been granted parole to be free next month. The novelist of 'Honour Among Thieves' fame was jailed for four years in 2001 for lying in court during a libel case against the Daily Star newspaper which accused him of sleeping with a prostitute. Jeffrey was jailed for 'as serious an offence of perjury' as the judge could find in British legal history after he hatched a false alibi to cover his affairs.

           "He will be released on or around July 19th, which is half way through his sentence," said a parole board spokeswoman. However, the 63-year-old author will still have to observe conditions, including paying regular visits to his parole officer, says a report in People News. Even while serving his sentence, Archer broke prison rules by partying with MPs and publishing a book, 'A Prison Diary - Belmarsh Hell', about his experiences at the top security slammer, before he was moved to a low risk, open prison near his long- suffering wife, Mary Archer.

Pammy off her Rock? (Go To Top)

          New York, June 19: It's time for Hollywood's hot star Pamela Anderson to finally make a choice. Engaged to Kid Rock for the past one year, Pammy has been spending a lot of time with ex- husband Tommy Lee, giving rise to rumours the pair may be planning to get back together. The couple was spotted recently enjoying the delights of a stripper bar. But the actress was playing her cards close to her chest when asked about her relationship with the Detroit musician, according to a report in People News. "I am here with family and friends", she told reporters at a party at Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion in Los Angeles. Asked whether the wedding was still on, Pam said, "Assume what you want about the wedding". Kid Rock proposed to Pammy a year ago, giving her the engagement ring at night in the Las Vegas desert. She and drummer Lee divorced in 1998 after he was arrested for hitting her, the report added.

So who's Bachelor No. 1? (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 19: Is it Prince William or actor Ashton Kutcher? Well, the readers of People magazine will finally decide who is Bachelor No.1. The magazine has released its list of the 25 hottest bachelors, but is leaving the top spot open to an online vote, according to a report in TeenHollywood. It's also issuing two different covers - one with the prince, who's second in line to the British throne, and one with the actor, who stars in Fox's 'That '70s Show' and 'Punk'd' on MTV.

          The selection, however, is going to be a difficult one for the readers as a side-by-side comparison in the June 30 issue shows both men are 6-foot-3. William, who turns 21 on Saturday, wears baseball caps while Kutcher, 25, prefers trucker hats. William dates "blue-blooded babes", while Kutcher hangs out with "Hollywood hotties", the report said. Also on the bachelor list are choreographer Cris Judd, Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband, "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, actor Colin Hanks (Tom Hanks' son) and North Carolina police officer Jeffrey Postell, who arrested fugitive Eric Rudolph.