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New Pak envoy to arrive in New Delhi on Monday

          Islamabad, June 29: Newly appointed Pakistan High Commissioner in India Aziz Ahmed Khan will arrive in New Delhi on Monday to take up his new assignment, the Online News reported on Sunday. Senior government officials here said Khan, who earlier served as foreign office spokesman and ambassador to Afghanistan, will enter India via Wagah border. All arrangements have been finalised in this regard, they added. The new envoy is likely to present his credentials to Indian President Abul Kalam Azad in the second week of July. On the other hand, Indian High Commissioner designate to Pakistan Shiv Shanker Menon is likely to assume his new job in mid-July. The resumption of full-scale diplomatic ties is a part of confidence building measures announced by both the countries after relations got strained following the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.

200 per cent there will be no war with India: Musharraf

          Washington, June 29: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that though the ties with India can't be called satisfactory, but no war would take place between the two countries in the near future. Musharraf said this in an interview with Washington Post, the News reported on Sunday. Replying to a question if there would be a war with India, he said, "it's impossible. I'm two hundred per cent sure that there won't be war." He said while the relationship between India and Pakistan can never be said to be satisfactory, "but your question whether there will be war this year, impossible. Two hundred per cent, there won't be war. There will be no war. "And I will say there won't be any war, I don't see any war in the near future, foreseeable future" since the leaders of both the countries have become aware of the hazards of war. "Going to war is not an easy decision for any leader," he added.

          The other reason, he said, was that Pakistan's strategy of minimum deterrence. "Now we have quantified this strategy of minimum deterrence into forces and I, as a military man, am very, very sure - extremely sure - that our strategy of minimum deterrence is very much in place, and no country, no opponent, Indians cannot accept the damage that it can incur on them in any outcome of war. So there's no question this deterrence is very much in place and there's no possibility from a military point of view, possibility of war. I don't foresee war at all," he added.

Pak no-trust move fails, Oppn "exposed" (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, June 29: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said the opposition stands fully exposed after failure of their no-trust move against Speaker of the National Assembly. Talking to newsmen in his chamber at Parliament House here on Saturday, Sheikh Rashid said the opposition ran away from voting process because they did not have the majority and they knew that the no-trust move would not succeed. Commenting on their boycott of voting on the no-trust motion moved by the opposition itself, he said they had foreseen their defeat and so decided to do so. Giving a background of the motion, he said the opposition attempted to "blackmail" the Speaker through a no-trust move against him, whereas they cannot, according to the rules, bring such a motion against any ruling of the Speaker.

Dropsy strikes Gwalior (Go To Top)

          Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh), June 29: More than 60 dropsy disease cases have been reported in Shivpuri area of Gwalior by Saturday. Epidemic dropsy means swelling of the body caused by the consumption of mustard oil adulterated with oil of prickly poppy. Prickly poppy, scientifically known as Argemone mexicana, contains alkaloids with physiologically active toxins. People complained of swollen limbs, vomiting and breathing and cardiac problems after consuming adulterated oil. "At first, he was feeling breathless. Then he was put on glucose and then they gave him an injection and after that he was pretty serious," said Zaheer Khan, whose 18 family members were taken ill after consuming adulterated mustard oil. In India, the disease generally occurs along the northern, central and eastern mustard oil consumption belt and is uncommon in the coconut oil and groundnut oil consumption belt of the South and West. The last epidemic was reported from Delhi in August 1998. Over 2,000 cases were detected and 41 deaths reported. Meanwhile, the state administration has taken prompt action by asking the district administration to stop the sale of unpacked mustard oil. The epidemic occurs following consumption of adulterated oil for an average of 1-2 weeks. One percent adulteration of mustard oil by the toxic substance (argemone oil) is sufficient to cause the disease. The only preventive measure is to refrain from using oil which has not been tested for quality. A campaign is required to educate people about the risk of consuming unpackaged mustard oil.

Amarnath yatra arrangements reviewed (Go To Top)

          Jammu, June 29: Haren Pandya, Union Minister of State for Home, reviewed the arrangements made by the civil and security forces on Sunday for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir. The first batch of pilgrims would begin an arduous 48 km trek on July 12. The minister expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. "After arriving in Jammu I first met the officials of the civil administration, the officials who register pilgrims and take care of them. I also met the security officials who make sure that the pilgrimage is conducted peacefully. I also went to the places where pilgrims would be staying to take stock of the situation. We discussed various ways through which the pilgrimage could be conducted peacefully and without any problem and I am satisfied with the arrangements made out here," Pandya said.

           Several times in the past, the annual pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath cave shrine has been targeted by militants fighting Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time an insurance cover for Amarnath pilgrims is being introduced. Almost 95,000 pilgrims out of a targeted 112,000 have so far registered for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage. Last year, 110,793 people visited the cave shrine while a record 173,334 pilgrims visited in 2000. Pilgrims would be allowed to trek in batches of 3,500 each to the cave shrine from Jammu each day.

          Amarnath stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet above sea level, 141 km from Srinagar. The base camp for the pilgrimage, Pahalgam, is 96 km south of Srinagar. The pilgrimage leads devotees through monsoon rain-swollen streams and past a glacier-fed lake to the cave where they worship an ice stalagmite, believed to be a phallic symbol representing Lord Shiva.

Caution against unlicensed river rafting firms in Manali (Go To Top)

          Manali, June 29: Owners of many private river rafting companies in the hill resort of Manali have urged the district authorities to take stock of adventure sport companies operating without licence. The picturesque Himachal Pradesh with its gurgling rivers, vast dam reservoirs and natural lakes offers ideal destination for water sports and water-based adventure tourism. Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers make good water fields for white river rafting. The cool water of the rivers attracts adventure tourists who flock the state to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Many feel that the government should be enthusiastic about developing river water tourism in the state but not at the cost of safety. They criticise the government for issuing licences to private instructors without keeping safety in view. "We want the government to keep a check on the unwanted and the unprofessional river rafting adventure companies which are slowly mushrooming here, before some mishap occurs," said Manoj, owner of a local river rafting company. Officials say the state department of tourism has prescribed certain guidelines for all the adventure companies coming up.

Hounded by militants, Poonch Gujjars on the run (Go To Top)

          Poonch, June 29: Gujjars or nomads, inhabitants of the Pir Panjal range living along the Indo-Pakistan border of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, have been forced to flee their houses by militants. Gujjars normally migrate with their flock of sheep and goat to lower heights of the state during winter season every year and go back to the upper pasture areas during summer seasons. According to reports available with the security forces, out of the 485 civilians killed in the Jammu region last year, 328 were Muslims, most of them Gujjars and Bakerwals. Between January and May 2003, more than 94 civilians were killed by militants and, out of them, 79 were Gujjars. Gujjars say that the militants have started targeting their tribe because the militants suspect them of helping security forces.

          "When militants started to fire on us indiscriminately, we were forced to flee our houses and we went to security forces for our safety. Apart from asking us to construct bunkers, they also wanted to take away our kids. But we refused and that is why they forced us to leave our places, they are bad and cruel," said Lal Singh, a Gujjar. The Pir Panjal ranges are the most convenient hide-outs for militants as they can easily take shelter in nomads' houses at gun-point. Field reports available with the security forces showed that several Gujjar families had been eliminated because they had refused food and shelter to militants. However, security forces are trying their best to send back these Gujjars to their native places.

           "In the past days many militants have been killed by the security forces which has made militants to suspect these people. So now we are making our efforts to build confidence among these nomads, we would try to establish army or police pickets around the area to make them feel that they are safe in their homes." said Mukesh Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch. Since Operation Sarp Vinash launched by the security forces was in progress in the Hill Kaka area in Surankot belt of Poonch district, the Army did not let many of these nomadic tribesmen go up the hills during this summer and provided them with compensation. Security forces wanted to ensure the rebels did not hide among the local cattle grazers.

Bottomlines

Revealed! The chef behind Demi's hot new look (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 29: A chef has become the current toast of Hollywood after helping Demi Moore acquire a stunning new look with his tasty raw food menus. If you have a look at Demi in her new film 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttel,' you'll know what wonders chef Juliano has done for the 40-year old actress. "She looks younger and younger and better and better. She's amazing. You eat my stuff and you live longer, you have more energy and you never need to go to the doctors or dentists," he was quoted as saying by TeenHollywood.com. Besides Demi, whose favourite dish is a cheeseburger with no cheese and no burger, Juliano also `cooks' up raw treats for vegetarian actresses like Alicia Silverstone and Pamela Anderson at his restaurant in Santa Monica, California. His raw treats feature no meat or dairy products.

Cruise to turn baddie in reel life (Go To Top)

          London, June 29: Tom Cruise is all set to change his "goodie-goodie" on-screen image. In his upcoming film 'Collateral,' the 40-year old Hollywood heartthrob takes on the role of an assassin. Directed by Michael Mann, the film also stars funnyman Adam Sandler. Shooting is expected to begin in October, reports the Sun.

Lara's housing woes! (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, June 29: Lara Dutta's search for a house has landed her in trouble. The actress has been accused by some people of changing her religion to get herself a flat in Bandra's Catholic Society! Lara's father is a Punjabi and her mother is a Catholic. However, Lara refutes such charges and claims that she has always been a Catholic, like her mother.