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US Congress to oversee Pak education reforms

     Washington: Several committees of the U.S.House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have reportedly been tasked with the responsibility of overseeing education reforms in Pakistan. A concerned Washington is said to have decided on this step as it is very keen to "de-radicalise" the madrassa (Islamic seminary) system in Pakistan, reports the Daily Times. So deep is this worry in the American psyche, that a bill to this effect was introduced and passed last month in the U.S. Congress. Under the new law, Pakistan's progress in terms of educational reforms will be overseen by the Committees on Appropriations and International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate. According to the paper, the Secretary of State is required to report to Congress on the progress of education reform in Pakistan. HR 4818, entitled Foreign Operations, Export Financing, Related Programmes Appropriations Act 2005 makes it obligatory for the Secretary of State to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Act. The administration will also be required now to provide information on the amount of funding, "obligated and expended by the Government of Pakistan and the Government of the United States, respectively, for education reform in Pakistan, since January 1, 2002.

26 killed in double Baghdad attacks (Go To Top)

     Baghdad: At least 26 people were killed, including at least 12 policemen, in double attacks on Friday in Baghdad, ending a relative lull in Iraq's capital since last month's US- led assault on Fallujah, medics and officials said. According to The News, at least 12 Iraqi policemen were killed in a commando-style attack on a police station in western Baghdad's Al-Amel area, while at least another 14 people died in a suicide car bombing in the northern district of Al-Adhamiya. Twelve policemen, two of them officers, were killed and five others wounded, including a prisoner, a doctor at the capital's Yarmuk hospital told . The suicide bombing in the district of Al-Adhamiya, near a mosque, killed 14 people and wounded 19, an interior ministry source said, adding that the car bomb blast also caused extensive material damage.

Bush picks new US security chief (Go To Top)

     New York: Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik is set to be the new US homeland security secretary, US officials have said. According to BBC, US President George W Bush has chosen him to replace Tom Ridge, the only person so far to head the department created after the 11 September attacks. Kerik was head of the NYPD in 2001, when the Twin Towers were destroyed.

 Largest Muslim congregation after Haj begins in B'desh (Go To Top)

     Tongi (B'desh): "Biswa Ijtema", the second largest congregation of Muslims in the world after Haj, began today on the bank of river Turag at Tongi in Bangladesh. Millions of Muslims arrived at the banks of the river as jam- packed buses, trains and ferries brought worshippers to the site. The congregation, takes place in 160 acres of land with devotees from as many as 80 countries, including the United States, Germany, France and China attending the payers and seeking divine blessings from almighty Allah. This is for the first time that 46 close-circuit television cameras have been installed at site taking into account the security requirements of so many devotees. Mohammad Waliullah, an Islamic scholar sought blessings for the greater unity of Islam and world peace, in the prayers which will continue through Sunday. "Here every year after the Haj, Muslims from the Bangaldesh and other Islamic countries gather to discuss the world situation. We pray for the world peace and prosperity here together," he said.

SC tells Reliance Infocom to pay BSNL (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Infocom Ltd. was ordered by the Supreme Court on Friday to pay Rs 82.7 crore to public sector telecom major BSNL as an interim measure pending final disposal of their appeal before the Delhi High court on a dispute relating to Home Direct Services offered by the private telecom company. While passing the order, Mr Justices N Santosh Hegde and S B Sinha further ordered the High Court to dispose of Reliance Infocom's appeal against BSNL's claim of Rs 182.7 crore expeditiously, preferably by January 31. The two-judge bench issued the directions after hearing an SLP filed by the BSNL against a High Court order directing 'status quo' in the matter. Reliance has been asked to pay the amount within four weeks. The company had already paid Rs 98 crore to the BSNL.