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Pak 'technically and operationally' ready to resume bus service

          Islamabad, June 28: Pakistan has said it is ready to resume the Delhi-Lahore bus service with India, but other related essential matters like granting of visas and route permits are being addressed to ensure their speedy finalisation. He said efforts are on to ensure that the bus service is resumed at the earliest. In a statement issued here on Friday, a Pakistan foreign office spokesman said the government was "technically and operationally ready" to resume the service, the Online news agency reported. But, he further said, "other essential related matters, including issuance of visas and route permits, are being addressed with a view to enabling the service to resume as soon as possible."

          The statement added that both the countries had very productive and useful talks when a three-member delegation of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation visited New Delhi on June 19-20. It may be recalled that India had snapped road and rail links with Pakistan and closed its airspace to incoming flights from Pakistan after the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament House.

Pak prepared to settle Kashmir bilaterally: Kasuri

          Islamabad, June 28: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mohammad Kasuri has said that Islamabad was prepared to discuss the Kashmir issue bilaterally as Pakistan was serious and interested enough in initiating a composite dialogue process with India at the earliest. According to a report in Online News, he said this while commenting on the recent statement of Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha that India does not welcome any third party mediation or facilitation, but was prepared to discuss the issue with Pakistan on a bilateral basis.

          This is perhaps for the first time that Pakistan has hinted that it would be inclined towards resolving the Kashmir dispute by holding bilateral talks with India. Till now Pakistan has always favoured third party mediation in resolving the Kashmir dispute. Kasuri said his country was prepared to discuss the Kashmir issue in a bilateral or multilateral setting. Reiterating that Pakistan was very serious about the resumption of a composite dialogue with India as soon as possible, he said that though there was no external road map in place, the path to such a dialogue had already been crafted with great skill by Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on at least ten occasions in their meeting between 1994 96 and 97.

Snapping of air links can't be unilateral: Pak (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, June 28: Pakistan is pushing for a formal arrangement with India that would effectively block any unilateral move by the latter to snap air links with it, the Dawn reported on Saturday. Quoting defence ministry sources, the paper said Islamabad has decided to push for a formal arrangement that would estop India from snapping, on its own volition, air links between the two countries. The sources said Pakistan is planning to take up the issue when civil aviation authorities of both the countries meet to discuss the mechanics of restoring the air link.

Eight soldiers die as militants attack army camp near Jammu (Go To Top)

          Jammu, June 28: Ten people were killed and nine injured in an attack by suspected militants on an army cantonment in Sunjwan, about 11 km south of here, early on Saturday. Two militants stormed the camp through its main gate at about 4.30 am, hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately on the sleeping inmates, according to official sources. The army personnel retaliated and an exchange of fire took place in which two of the militants and eight soldiers were killed. Nine sustained injuries. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The cantonment comprises staff quarters and a training centre and is located at the bottom of lower Shivalik ranges. This latest violence comes during the visit of President APJ Abdul Kalam to the state. The killings took place near the army camp at Kaluchak where rebels had gunned down more than two dozen people in May 2002 placing India and Pakistan on the brink of a third war over the region.

IPS officers revolt against Mayawati (Go To Top)

          Lucknow, June 28: IPS officers in Uttar Pradesh have finally come out in the open against Chief Minister Mayawati's style of transfers and suspensions on one pretext or other. On Friday, 30 IPS officers of the state met to discuss the issue. Later they passed a resolution demanding that the suspended officials be taken back into service immediately. "IPS officers of the state express their great concern over the suspension of IPS officers. These suspensions have badly affected the selfconfidence and efficiency of the IPS officers. We expect that the administration would take appropriate steps and immediately take back the suspension orders," said Atul Kumar, Secretary, Uttar Pradesh IPS Association. Last week, Mayawati had suspended CBCID's DG Mahender Lal in connection with the Madhumita murder case. Also on her visit to of western region, she had suspended Amitabh Bhatt, Saharanpur SP.

British visa application centre in Ahmedabad (Go To Top)

          Ahmedabad, June 28: It's good news for the people of Gujarat. From now on, those wanting to visit the United Kingdom will not have to travel to Mumbai for filing a visa application. They can do this in Ahmedabad itself. The British High Commission has come up with a visa application centre in this city. While inaugurating it at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce here, Howard Parkinson, British High Commissioner for the Western region, said the aspiring candidates will be visiting Mumbai only if preliminary rounds are cleared in Ahmedabad.

           "You can now make the application here in Ahmedabad and if we need to see you in Mumbai, we are going to tell you the date and the time according to your and our convenience and discuss how to resolve the issue", Parkinson said. He added that by taking this step, the High commission has brought themselves closer to the people of the state. "So I think we take away your uncertainty and we certainly brought our service closer to the people here in Gujarat". The the High Commission has three offices in western region - Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad. Last year there were 81,000 visa applications from Gujarat alone, of which only eight per cent were rejected. With such a huge number of people applying for visas in the state, the facility will definitely help them. Most of the students and businessmen applicants can carry out with the process from their home state itself.

PETA asks KFC to quit India (Go To Top)

          Bangalore, June 28: There are restaurants that win accolades for their food. There are those which face protests. Kentucky Fried Chichen, the multinational food giant, encountered protests from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for the alleged cruel way of killing the chickens. The members of PeTA holding placards blocked the busy Brigade Road here in front of the KFC on Saturday and shouted slogans asking them to shut down their business. The members were demanding the closure of KFC as the multinational giant was reportedly encouraging inhuman treatment of chickens all over the world. Talking to the media, the Campaign Coordinator of PETA, Dilpreet Beasley, accused KFC of using cruel methods to kill chickens and wanted them to close the business. "KFC has been encouraging inhuman treatment of chickens all over the world. We have been protesting against their masquerade of cruelty and want them to leave India. The reasons are the various conditions in which the chickens are kept", Beasly added. However, KFC's Marketing Director in the Indian subcontinent, Pankaj Batra, has said in a statement that KFC was committed to well-being and humane treatment of chickens. He further said KFC also asked the suppliers to adhere to the guidelines developed by the KFC.

30 Assam militants surrender (Go To Top)

          Guwahati, June 28: At least 30 militants active in Assam surrendered along with their arms before the authorities on Friday. Nineteen militants, including three women, belonged to the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), while 11 were from the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The militants took oath affirming allegiance to the country. Army officials said there have been a large number of surrenders due to the relentless efforts of the army. "During the last one year or so, because of relentles action, especially in lower and upper Assam, there has been a large number of eliminations and surrenders. Now if I go by the figures of the last one year, 232 militants have been climinated, 575 apprehanded and 200 others laid down their arms," said Lt-Gen Maninder Singh, General Officer Commanding, 4 Corps.

Split in Congress gives birth to 'Nagaland Congress' (Go To Top)

          Kohima, June 28: At least seven MLAs belonging to the Congress broke away and formed a new party, 'Nagaland Congress', it was reported on Saturday. The split came just four months after the Congress' debacle in the Assembly polls. The Congress is now left with just 14 legislators in the 60- member strong Assembly. The seven MLAs are TR Zeliang, Tokheho Yepthomi, Talinungsang, Doshehe Sema, Nyiemli Phom, Kaito Sema and Yangyuh Konyak. A statement issued by the seven MLAs said they held a meeting on Friday night and decided to form the new party. While former NPCC vice-president Kaito is the president of the new party, former youth resources minister Wangyuh Konyak is the general secretary. The Congress ruled the state for two successive terms before losing to the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), a conglomeration of four parties, in the Assembly elections early this year. The party could only secure 21 seats.

Major fire in Delhi, shops gutted (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, June 28: A fire engulfed hundreds of shops in Chandni Chowk late on Friday night and damaged goods and property worth millions of rupees. No casualties have been reported. According to initial reports, the fire could have been caused by an electrical short circut in a shoe shop. It soon spread to nearby areas. The 200-year old markets of Chandni Chowk constituted the main commercial hub of Delhi during the Mughal rule. Barely two km from Sadar Bazar, Asia's largset wholesale market, Chandni Chowk is still one of the biggest business centres for cloth, spices and steel products in the country.

Eight labourers buried alive in building collapse in Delhi (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, June 28: At least eight labourers are feared to have been buried alive as a multi-storyed building under construction collapsed in Delhi on Saturday. The building located in the Turkman Gate old quarters area collapsed around 9.15 a.m. Officals say the buidling was illegal as it had not been cleared by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) which regulates all construction work in the city.

Mumbai rains throw normal life out of gear (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, June 28: Road and rail services were brought to a virtual halt and normal life thrown out of gear in Mumbai after heavy monsoon rains lashed the city on Saturday. Normal services of state public transport buses were disrupted and people were forced to wade through knee-deep water. Traffic jams were common at every crossing as most traffic moved at a snail's pace. At several low-lying areas, the water level was reported to be up to chest-level and people were seen abandoning their vehicles and taking shelter in nearby buildings. The situation was worse at railway stations as train services, the lifeline of the metropolis, had to be suspended as water submerged railway tracks at many places. Rains affected air sevices as well, as many flights were delayed or running behind schedule.

Akali Dal activists protest raids on Badal residence (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, June 28: Akali Dal activists on Saturday protested the raid on residence of their leader Parkash Singh Badal in a disproportionate assets case. Hours after an anti-corruption bureau raided the residence of former Punjab Chief Minister Badal in Chandigarh, a handful of Akali Dal activists gathered in New Delhi and shouted slogans against the Congress-led state government calling it an act of political vendetta. Sukhbir Singh Badal, a leader of Akali Dal and Parkash Singh Badal's son, said the new Punjab government led by Captain Amarinder Singh is harassing them.

           The 15-member vigilance team which raided Badal's private residence in Chandigarh, would also be travelling to New Delhi and neighbouring Harayana in connection with investigations. The Akali Dal and Congress parties are bitter rivals in Punjab. Since Capt. Amarinder Singh took over, police have launched a crackdown on corruption. A can of worms tumbled out since the arrest of head of Punjab state public services commission, responsible for recruitment to plum government jobs, appointed during Badal's tenure.

Bottomlines

Man's best friend? (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, June 28: Fardeen Khan was bitten by his pet dog yesterday. According to the sources, Fardeen's dog, Tiger, bit him when the Fardeen was playing with the animal. He was teasing the dog with a bone when the dog got irritated and bit the actor. Fardeen had to get stitches on his cheek and mouth. The dog now has been sent to a doghouse while Fardeen Khan is resting.

Posh's foot-in-the-mouth disease (Go To Top)

          London, June 28: This time Posh put her foot in the mouth at Elton John's celeb ball, which had an imperial Russian theme, mistaking Russian Cossack dancers for Spaniards. The Sun reported that even though the troupe of entertainers were decked out in traditional Russian costumes, twanging balalaikas and dancing with their trademark low-kicks, Posh thought they were a flamenco team. She turned to David and said: "Oh look, Spanish dancers. I love them."

           The former Spice Girl is known for making such gaffes. During the Japan visit, she let slip her husband likes to have his nails done and enjoys facials. In the past she has claimed Becks wears her thongs around the house. Posh and Becks, however, were not in a very charitable mood. They banned photographers from snapping them as they mingled with the other famous guests. Apart from one official picture - taken with Elton - all photographers were made to sign contracts which said they would not bother the camera-shy couple.

How red undies brought Leo, Gisele back together (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 28: Believe it or not. It was red undies that brought Leonardo DiCaprio and Gisele Bundchen back together. The Hollywood hunk had split from his Brazilian supermodel girlfriend earlier this year. Later, when they bumped into each other at a party in New York, sparks flew again and Gisele's lucky underwear had something to do with it. "Leo asked if she was wearing her lucky undies and it just so happened she was. They both collapsed laughing. He told her he's sick of skirt chasing and ready to settle," a friend close to the couple was quoted as saying by TeenHollywood.com.

Acting bug hits Justin (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 28: Justin Timberlake is so desperate to become an actor that he wants to star in a film by the end of the year. The former member of the popular US boy band 'NSync' is set to star in 'Closing the Ring.' Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the film's story revolves around an American serviceman who, before being shot down over the city, asks a local man to return a ring to his girlfriend back home. Shooting is scheduled to begin in September, according to a report in TeenHollywood.com. As a source puts in, "Justin is desperate to star in a movie before the end of the year."