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Centre says PM, Advani, Joshi had no role in Babri demolition

          New Delhi, June 30: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi did not have any role in the demolition of Babri masjid at Ayodhya, the Union government told the Liberhan Commission here on Monday. This deposition rejects the charge of the former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh who had held them repnsible for the act. According to a written submission by the Centre's counsel Lal Ram Gupta, "The sadhus and sants were the leaders of the Ayodhya movement. Dr Joshi, Shri Advani, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and other leaders of BJP were supporting the movement and their approach had always been finding out a meeting ground to create a consensus for the construction of Ram temple." Quoting statements of witnesses, he said Advani's remarks during the Ayodhya campaign were never anti-Muslim or provocative.

Pak envoy in India, hopes talks will start soon

          New Delhi, June 30: Islamabad is ready for talks with New Delhi "at any level, any time and any place," said Aziz Ahmad Khan, Pakistan's High Commissioner-designate, on Monday as he stepped into Indian soil via the Wagah border. Khan told reporters on the spot that "it will be my endeavour to work for good-neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan based on internationally recognised principle of sovereign equality." Pakistan, according to him, expects the dialogue to resume "very soon." Khan was received by senior officials as he entered the Indian territory along with his wife and a host of Pakistani diplomats. He later left for New Delhi by car.

Akali activists burn CM's effigy

          Abohar (Punjab), June 30: Activists of Shiromani Akali Dal burnt the effigy of Punjab's Chief Minister on Sunday in protest against conducting an inquiry into the sources of income of their party chief. Slogan-shouting activists carried a mock death procession before burning Capt. Amrinder Singh's effigy on a pyre. Vigilance sleuths on Saturday raided the residence of Prakash Singh Badal, former chief minister in connection with a case related to alleged possession of wealth disproportionate to known sources of income.

          The activists shouted slogans against the Congress party-led government and accused it of political vendetta. "No condemnation of this move can be enough. To raid, rather ransack the house of a man who has been a chief minister of this state thrice, has been a minister in the federal government and a top religious leader, is a conspircay to malign him and the party. Every activist of the Akali Dal from the grassroots to the highest leadership will fight against it," Sikender Singh Mallooka, SAD leader, told a press conference after the procession.

          The Dal and ruling Congress party are bitter rivals in Punjab. In its election manifesto, the Congress promised to stem corruption. A can of worms tumbled out since the April 2002 arrest of Ravinder Singh Sidhu, who was appointed chairman of Punjab State Public Service Commission, responsible for recruitment to plum government jobs, during Badal's tenure.

Four militants killed in Pulwama encounter (Go To Top)

          Srinagar, June 30: Four top militants of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were killed in a gun battle in Pulwama district, 32 km from Srinagar, on Sunday. A BSF spokesman said that the troops raided a militant hideout in the district. As the militants holed up inside a building opened fire with automatic weapons, a fierce gun battle ensued. Two militants of the JeM and two of the HM were killed. The slain militants belonged to Karachi and Kishtwar. A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.

Delhi HC notice to Amarinder (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, June 30: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the state home secretary and five vigilance officials on a petition by Wimpy International, whose five employees were arrested from here in connection with a corruption case against the then PA of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. A Vacation Bench also issued notices to the Government of NCT Delhi, DCP South and ACP Greater Kailash asking them to explain how Wimpy employees were taken to Punjab from the jurisdiction of the court. The Bench rejected Punjab government counsel Ajay Bansal's request for two weeks' time and asked all the respondents to file their replies by July 4.

Unprecedented security in Ahmedabad for Rath Yatra (Go To Top)

          Ahmedabad, June 30: Police personnel are out in full strength in Ahmedabad a day ahead of the 126th Jagannath Rath Yatra on Tuesday. Officials say armed commandos would protect the three chariots carrying deities of Lord Jagannath, Balram and their sister Subhadra and sniffer dogs would be taken to the route prior to the procession. About 15,000 personnel have been deployed on the more than one km long route of the processsion. Various paramilitary forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force and the Rapid Action Force have also been pressed into action. Police say they have detained about 200 people under preventive custody as a precautionary measure.

          Security for the Rath Yatra is unprecedented in the wake of renewed tension in the region which witnessed one of the country's worst religous riots. Nearly 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in revenge killings and clashes after 59 Hindus were burnt to death in a train by a Muslim mob in February 2001.

Assam flood situation worsens (Go To Top)

          Guwahati, June 30: The flood situation in Assam worsened on Monday with waters of the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries rising menacingly following heavy rains in the state and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Hundreds of people were left homeless in 10 districts of Assam as floods inundated vast areas in the plains, according to local news reports. Severe flooding, caused by seasonal monsoon rains, disrupted normal life and washed away roads, bridges and rail tracks. People had to wade across large swathes of flooded land to rescue their belongings. Waters of the Brahmaputra, the largest river in the region, overflowed in Guwahati and other places. More than 400,000 people have been affected in the current wave of floods in the state. Last year, floods in Assam killed 100 people and left 2.5 million of its 26 million people homeless. Central Water Commission officials expect more floods as bloated rivers like the Brahmaputra, which runs through the state, continues rising above the danger levels.

Maoists kill three in Jharkhand (Go To Top)

          Pithoria (Jharkhand), June 30: Suspected Maoist guerrillas in Jharkhand killed three people and dumped their mutilated bodies in a forest on Monday. The bodies were dumped in the areas surrounding the Pitthorgarh village, 50 km from Ranchi. Police have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. Authorities are suspecting the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) which is fighting for peasants' rights in Bihar and Jharkhand to be behind the attack. MCC is one of the many Maoist rebel groups that make up the Naxalite movement, which started in India in 1960s among groups which split from the main communist party. The Maoists are waging an armed struggle against the Indian government and the police for radical redistribution of land from the rich to poor farmers.

Bottomlines

Winona Ryder's comeback woes (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 30: What do you think is common to Hollywood actress Winona Ryder and Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja? Well, both individuals caught in the mire of controversy - the former accused of shoplifting and the latter of match-fixing - are trying their level best to make a comeback. Winona is said to be on the comeback trail after facing the media glare on her shoplifting case. Yet that certainly does not appear to be the case - by a long shot. The lady is "reading scripts" - - not exactly unusual for an out-of-work actress. She ended up not making the big-screen comedy 'Eulogy' with Ray Romano, Hank Azaria and Debra Winger. Ryder dropped out of the project and was replaced by Kelly Preston shortly before it began shooting, says a report in TeenHollywood. But Winona fans cheer up! The star has unbowed on the retail front. She's been seen in Los Angeles shopping up a storm recently, spending at least 2,000 dollars on vintage rocker t- shirts at L.A.'s trendy vintage boutique Momo.

Stephen Hawking 'my foot!', says Jim Carrey (Go To Top)

          London, June 30: Physics whizz, Professor Stephen Hawking had comic legend Jim Carrey howling in agony when he reversed his wheelchair over Jim's foot. Comic legend Carrey, 41, became friends with Prof Hawking after the two appeared in a sketch together on a TV chat show in America. And he visited the Cambridge-based academic's home during a visit to Britain to promote his new film 'Bruce Almighty'. After joking and chatting for hours over dinner, Carrey agreed to pose for pictures with Hawking, says a report in the Sun. The professor, 61, who became a household name thanks to his best-selling book 'A Brief History of Time' and suffers from motor neurone disease - ran over Carrey's foot as they chatted on his patio. His secretary Karen Sime said: "We've all had our feet run over by the professor. You quickly learn to jump out of the way!"

Katharine Hepburn passes away at the ripe old age of 96 (Go To Top)

          London, June 30: "Life's what's important. Walking, houses, family. Birth and pain and joy. Acting's just waiting for the custard pie", said four-times Oscar winner Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn. She died last night aged 96 at her home in Connecticut surrounded by relatives. According to a report in the Sun, she had suffered a series of health scares over the past few years, mostly stemming from a battle with Parkinson's Disease. As per the reclusive star's wishes, there will be a strictly private burial and no memorial service. But the League of American Theatres and Producers announced that lights will dim on Broadway in her honour.

           Katharine's controversial career spanned more than 50 films over seven decades. Besides winning a record four Oscars, she was nominated 12 times after performing opposite idols like Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart and James Stewart. Dubbed Typhoon Kate, she developed a reputation as being difficult and obnoxious, bargaining her way up to 1,000 pounds with her first studio contract at only 22. She created scandal by wearing trousers instead of dresses in public and, although she had been briefly married, sparked scandal about a lesbian fling. In 1934, a return to Broadway sparked a withering quip from critic Dorothy Parker: "Miss Hepburn runs the gamut of emotions from A to B."

          She starred opposite Spencer Tracy in the comedy 'Woman of the Year', marking the start of one of the most famous screen couples ever. Despite devout Catholic Tracy refusing to get a divorce from his wife, they struck a 25-year affair. After Tracy died in 1968 she admitted he was the love of her life, saying: "I would have done anything for him." Despite becoming queen of the Oscars, she refused to attend the ceremony, saying: "Prizes are nothing. My prize is my work." Her many other classic films included the 'African Queen' in 1951 with Humphrey Bogart and 'Rooster Cogburn' with John Wayne in 1975. And as Bogart once said of her: "I don't think she tries to be a character. I think she is one."

Hollywood takes centrestage at Wimbledon (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 30: No, it wasn't the rain but a film shooting that delayed play for 30 minutes at the Centre Court at Wimbledon recently. On Thursday, a morning shoot of the Paul Bettany-Kirsten Dunst starrer 'Wimbledon,' based on the greatest and most prestigious of all Grand Slam championships, took place. As a result, British number one Tim Henman's second round match was delayed from 1 pm to 1.30 pm, reports TeenHollywood.com. British film-makers Working Title, of 'Notting Hill' and 'Bridget Jones's Diary' fame, have been granted complete access to the courts to shoot their new work, which revolves around a stormy sportsman, played by Bettany, who falls for a feisty American female player (Dunst). A spokeswoman for the tennis tournament told audiences: "The crew will be all over the place. So smile - you could be on camera. They are here to get crowd shots and atmosphere."

Now, a pet wolf for Robbie (Go To Top)

          London, June 30: This time around, he hasn't gone in for dog but a wolf instead. Dog lover Robbie Williams has bought himself a pet wolf and named it `Sid' after the dead 'Sex Pistols' legend Sid Vicious. The British pop sensation is building a new place near his mansion in Los Angeles where Sid and his pack of dogs can live. "Robbie absolutely adores dogs. He loves their loyalty and the fact that they will never let you down. He is also obsessed with wolves. He thinks they are beautiful, intelligent and great companions. When he heard you can buy your own pet wolf in America, he leapt at the chance. Sid cost thousands of dollars but Robbie thinks he's worth it," a friend was quoted as saying by the Sun. Robbie has just launched his European tour before 65,000 fans in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Brits prefer sleep to sex (Go To Top)

          London, June 30: Britain is become a nation of `hurry sickness' where people work too hard and as a result prefer sleep to sex. According to a survey conducted by luxury car firm Lexus and reported in the Sun, 52 per cent of Brits would rather have an extra hour of sleep than sex. Forty-two per cent of people also admitted that they had more sex five years ago. Moreover, the people are so tired of long working hours - 42 per cent said they regularly work more than 48 hours a week - that 75 per cent would prefer a four-day week to a 20 per cent pay rise. Around 65 per cent say they rarely take a full hour's lunch break and 28 per cent don't take their full holiday entitlement each year. And as a result of work pressure, 50 per cent lost touch with friends and almost three in five women felt too tired to enjoy free time.