Rowling's sixth is 'flowing like a mountain stream' (Go To Top)

          London: Harry Potter author JK Rowling has recently told fans that work on her sixth book is going like magic. Her last best-seller was delayed amid fears she had writer's block, but according to the Sun, 38-year-old Rowling reassured fans in America that both her new-born David and the book "are flowing like a mountain stream". Edingburg-based Rowling, who has 11-year-old daughter Jessica from her first marriage, earned 75 million pounds from the fifth of the seven planned books. The third movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban, is due out in June.

HC clears Rajiv Gandhi in Bofors case (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday cleared former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the Rs 64-cr Bofors pay-off case, according to a private TV channel. The court upheld the decision of a Special Court framing cheating and conspiracy charges against three Hinduja brothers in the case but quashed the charges against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act and of abetment under Indian Penal Code. Europe-based Hinduja brothers - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - had challenged the November 2002 order of the trial court on the ground that there was no material on record to prove their involvement in the Rs 1437 crore Bofors deal. Justice JD Kapoor, after delivering the judgement, directed the files be sent to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate instead of the Sessions Court which was trying the case earlier as a Magistrate was empowered to try the offence of cheating and conspiracy.

          The High Court fixed February 23 for commencement of the trial before the Magisterial Court.The Government had signed the deal with the Swedish arms manufacturer in March 1986 for the supply of 400 Howitzer field guns for the Army on the condition that there would be no middlemen involved. CBI filed two chargesheets in the case. In its first chargesheet filed in October 1999 it named the then Defence Secretary SK Bhatnagar, Bofors agent WN Chadha, Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, Bofors company and its then chief Martin Ardbo as accused. A year later, the CBI filed another chargesheet against the Hinduja brothers accusing them of having received about Rs 14 cr from Bofors as illegal commission in the deal. While Chadha and Bhatnagar have died, the probe agency has failed to secure the presence of Ardbo and Quattrocchi.

Defence minister Fernandes cleared of corruption charges (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: A one man-commission probing an arms scandal on Wednesday cleared Defence Minister George Fernandes of corruption charges. Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court SN Phukan, who took over from another commission in November 2002, said some other cases were there against Fernandes which would be inquired into in the second part. "Regarding George Fernandes, some deals are there," Phukan told reporters in New Delhi after presenting the first of the three-part report to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Asked whether he has given a clean chit to Fernandes, Phukan said: "I will consider it in the second report. A second report also has to come." The first part of the report deals with 12 defence transactions. It also pertains to an inquiry into whether proper procedures on defence procurement were followed for arms purchases.

          The Commission was set up after a news website Tehelka.com released videotapes in 2001 showing a string of officials and politicians apparently taking cash from journalists posing as arms dealers. The scandal led to the resignation of Fernandes, who has since returned to the Cabinet, and the then head of Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), among others. Fernandes described the sting operation as motivated rubbish and voiced confidence that political forces that backed the malicious campaign, would be exposed. Justice K.Venkatswami was earlier investigating the bribery scandal but quit after Opposition parties said the government favoured his appointment to another panel. Opposition parties questioned Justice Phukan's credentials saying it did not trust the report. "We knew it from the start that George Fernandes will get a clear chit," said S.Jaipal Reddy, spokesperson of Congress party. The Commission's acquittal of Fernandes comes ahead of national elections.

Qadeer Khan seeks nation's forgiveness (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: The architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme Wednesday asked the nation to "pardon him" for his unauthorised transfer of nuclear technology to other countries. In a statement read out on state television, Khan accepted full responsibility for all leaks of nuclear data and sought clemency from President Pervez Musharraf.Khan "has accepted full responsibility for all the nuclear proliferation activities which were conducted by him during the period in which he was at the helm of affairs of the Khan Research Laboratories, the statement said. Khan had also "submitted his mercy petition to the President and requested for clemency," it said.

          Musharraf was to consult the National Command Authority, the top decision-making body on Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme, before deciding whether to accept Khan's plea for mercy, the statement said. Pakistan television showed an interview with Khan who said he had told the President "what had happened." "I gave him the background what was happening and what had happaned," Khan told PTV.

          Earlier, Khan had reportedly said that he was prepared to blow the whistle on the army's involvement. Quoting a Pakistan Federal Cabinet minister as saying, a report from London said that Khan's daughter, a British citizen, had travelled to London with papers that could incriminate generals and other Pakistani leaders, including former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. The top-most nuclear scientist is also reported to have briefed several trusted local journalists with similar information before he was placed under house arrest two weeks ago, asking them to publish it if he went on trial.

          Khan, who is currently under house arrest, is said to have confessed to selling nuclear weapons technology to some of the world's most radical anti-Western states, including Libya, Iran and North Korea, over at least 11 years. Citing other reasons that might lead Pakistan to bury the issue, the report said that Khan passed some technical know-how to North Korea with the full knowledge of senior military commanders, including Musharraf. The scientist helped North Korea design and equip facilities for making weapons-grade uranium with the full knowledge of senior military commanders, including Gen. Musharraf, who is also army chief of staff, the Washington Post quoted a friend of Khan and a senior Pakistani investigator as saying.

Three months' detention for 4 Pak nuclear scientists (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: Four Pakistani scientists accused of transferring nuclear technology to other countries have been awarded three months detention, the News reported on Wednesday. The order by the Pakistani government will be implemented retrospectively with effect from January 31. The four scientists who have been issued the orders are - Dr Farooq, Dr Nazir Ahmed, Brigadier (Retd.) Sajawal and Major (Retd.) Islam-ul-Haq. Quoting Federal interior ministry sources, the paper said that the orders of detention of the four scientists under investigation was issued in consonance with the security of Pakistan Act 1952, Sub-clause B of Section 3.

Bleach freed after pardon (Go To Top)

          Kolkata: British arms dealer Peter Bleach was set free on Wednesday following a pardon by President APJ Abdul Kalam, more than eight years after he was arrested in an arms drop case. The former British army intelligence officer was rushed in a convoy of consulate cars and police escorts from a high security prison in Kolkata to the city's British consulate. Bleach was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2000, along with five Russians and Latvians, after being convicted of air-dropping arms, including AK-47 assault rifles and rocket launchers, in Purulia in West Bengal in December 1995.

          The Russians and Latvians were released in July 2000 after appeals by Moscow, which has close ties with New Delhi. But Bleach remained in jail despite repeated pleas from him and the British government that he too be set free. Bleach and the British government argued that the Indian government had discriminated against him by releasing the Latvians and Russians while keeping him in jail. Late last week, after a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and British Home Secretary David Blunkett in New Delhi, President APJ Abdul Kalam remitted the remaining part of Bleach's sentence. The question of whom the arms were destined for has never been answered and has been a source of speculation. West Bengal borders India's restive north-east, which is home to dozens of insurgent groups fighting for independence or more autonomy.

CBI chief rushes to Patna for damage control exercise (Go To Top)

          Patna: The Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) rushed to Bihar on Wednesday after two suspects in the murder of an engineer in a state-run highway project committed suicide. The CBI had interrogated Sheonath Kumar Sah and Mukendra Paswan in Gaya district for several hours last week in connection with the murder of Satyendra Dubey. Dubey was killed after he blew whistle on corruption in the Prime Minister's ambitious Golden Quadrilateral roads project in Bihar. "What has saddened me is the death of two persons under mysterious circumstances. Definitely, the incident has had an effect on the investigation. That is why I have come here," U.C. Mishra, director of CBI told reporters in Patna.

          Investigation into the murder of Dubey received a blow when Sah and Paswan committed suicide on Monday. Their families said the CBI was forcing the two to accept the charges and that they were probably poisoned. The CBI was probing Dubey's murder after the Supreme Court issued notices last month to the Central government, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Bihar government following a petition. The petition alleged Dubey's confidential letter to the PMO exposing corruption in the highways project, leaked somewhere resulting in his killing. Dubey, a graduate from the top engineering Institute of Technology (IIT), was killed after he complained of irregularities in the massive diamond-shaped road project criss- crossing the country.

Reprieve for Vaiko (Go To Top)

          Chennai: A jailed regional party leader received a reprieve on Wednesday as the High Court in Chennai eased the bail conditions imposed by an anti-terrorism court. V Gopalaswamy alias Vaiko, leader of the Tamil nationalist Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party, was arrested in July last year under a new anti-terrorist law, Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). The POTA court in the state on Tuesday granted a conditional bail to the leader.

          With the new order from the High Court there would be no restrictions on the political activities of Vaiko, said Chandran, his counsel in the case. "The present order does not impede him from canvassing for elections in any form. He is free to contest from anywhere. Otherwise he cannot speak about his present case....There is no restrictions on him from talking to reporters to giving press interviews. His politicial activities are not curtailed by the court," Chandran said. XX

          POTA court had said Vaiko could be released on bail on conditions that he would not move out of Poonamallee administrative region, surrendered his passport and attended daily hearings. Vaiko, 58, was being held on charges that he allegedly spoke in support of a banned terrorist organisation, the LTTE (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). The Tiger rebels are fighting for a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils in the war-torn island. Vaiko's regional party is an ally of the Central ruling coalition. He is a bitter rival of chief minister Jayaram Jayalalitha who heads All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (AIADMK) party.

Two Lashkar militants gunned down in Kashmir Valley (Go To Top)

          Poonch: Security forces gunned down two militants in Kashmir belonging to the outlawed militant group, Lashkar-e- Toiba (LeT), security officials said on Wednesday. The militants were trying to attack a forward post of the army at Baflaiz area in Surankote of Poonch district, sparking-off the fierce enocounter. One soldier and a civilian were also killed in the ensuing gunbattle. The latest gunbattle erupted late on Monday, when the entire Valley was celebrating the Eid-ul-Zuha, or Baqr Eid, and continued till the wee hours of Tuesday, when the militants were gunned down.

          The slain rebels have been identified as Ibne Nazir, an area commander of the LeT, and Abu Hassan, a Pakistani terrorist. Ibne Nazir, who had been active in the region since the last few years, had unleashed a reign of terror and his name figured high on the security forces' wanted list. "Ibne Nazir had been active in the Valley for past two and a half years and he was infamous for his violent activities. He had killed two women on mere suspicion of being army informers. Then he had also killed an SPO (Special Police Officer) who had gone to attend his marriage. People had been informing us about him," said Amit Sehgal, a Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles.

          A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including three AK rifles, seven magazines, 78 rounds, a pistol, one pistol magazine, a wireless set, 22 grenades among other things were recovered from the slain militants.

          Separatist violence in the Himalayan region has continued unabated though the level of violence has come down since late last year when India and Pakistan agreed to observe a ceasefire along the Line of Control and the International border dividing the disputed Kashmir region.

Lyngdoh takes stock of poll preparation (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Chief Election Commissioner began a meeting on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations needed for the upcoming national election. The BJP-led government had recommended dissolution of the Lower House of Parliament on Friday, paving the way for an early election, expected in April-May. The term of the House was to end on October 19, this year. Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh, who is retiring on Saturday, presided over the meeting which was attended by chief electoral officers of all the states and Union Territories. The meeting is expected to discuss the progress in the revision of electoral rolls, photo identity cards and availability of electronic voting machines. More than 600 million voters in 28 states and seven Union territories are eligible to cast their votes.

Greater investment needed in sexual and reproductive health care (Go To Top)
by Trevor Barnard

          London: The global community is not investing enough in sexual and reproductive health care, and if it did invest more, the additional funding would yield not only medical benefits, but social and economic benefits as well. This is the message of a new report published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), the eminent American research organisation in this field. The report estimates that gaps in sexual and reproductive health care account for nearly a fifth of the world-wide burden of illness and premature death, and one-third of illness and death among women of reproductive age. These gaps could be closed and millions of lives saved with highly cost-effective investments.

          The report, entitled "Adding it Up", is compiled by the AGI, whose president, Sharon Camp, said at the launch in London: "Our report makes it clear that the global community can well afford to make the additional investments needed to close the gaps in sexual and reproductive health care. Indeed, we cannot afford to do otherwise, if we want to meet the Millennium Goals." The Millennium Development Goals were set by world leaders in 2002. In 1994, an International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, set targets for funding for programmes to control population, but ten years on "Adding it Up" reports that donor countries have fallen far short of the the commitments made in Cairo. They have left local resources in developing countries to foot the bill for more than three- quarters of what is spent on sexual and reproductive health care.

          The report makes the case for increased funding, particularly in poorer countries, by illustrating the benefits that would accrue in three key areas: prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; maternal health; and preventing unintended pregnancies. It calls attention to a severe global shortage of contraceptive services and supplies. It calculates that an additional $3.9 billion dollars a year would give every woman at risk access to modern contraceptives and that would save the lives of 1.5 million women annually and preserve 27 million years of healthy life - at a cost of $144 per year of life.

Kumble set to play in first final on Friday (Go To Top)

          Melbourne: Leg-spinner Anil Kumble is likely to play in the first final of the ongoing VB tri-series here Friday against hosts Australia. According to an Australian press report, Kumble has fully recovered from his shoulder injury. Quoting an Indian team spokesman as saying on Wednesday, the report confirmed that the leg-spinner would be available to play at the MCG. Kumble has not played since his side's 24-run victory over Zimbabwe in Brisbane on January 20. He played in the country's opening four matches of the tri-series taking two wickets at an average of 95.5 with an economy rate of 4.77.

India enter Asia Cup women's hockey semis (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: India scored eight goals against lowly Kazakhstan to enter the semifinals of the 5th Women's Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Wednesday. India thus topped Pool A with a tally of 13 goals, which was one more than China. The World Championship bronze medallists too entered the last- four stage after rounding off their league engagements with a 7-1 defeat of Malaysia. Both India and China had conceded three goals each.

          It was pulsating at the Dhyan Chand National stadium as India and China rained in goals in their simultaneously held encounters on adjacent turfs. India, the Commonwealth Games champions, struck in the very first minute when Surinder Kaur finished off a great individual run by Jyoti Kullu. Surinder got into the act two minutes later to deflect a firm hit from Kullu. The Indians, however, seemed to relax a bit after that until, in the 28th minute, skipper Surajlata Devi converted an indirect penalty corner for the third. With China going on the rampage, the Indians went for the kill in the second half and Sanggai Chanu (36th, 60th) and Adline Kerketta (50th, 51st) found the net twice while Saba Anjum (46th) added to the tally.

Bottomlines

Janet's `Nipplegate' scandal `most watched' TV moment in history! (Go To Top)

          Sydney: Pop star Justin Timberlake's baring of Janet Jackson's breast in front of nearly 100 million US viewers has become one of the most watched television moments in history, said experts. Digital video recording company TiVo said that the incident dubbed the "Nipplegate" scandal had already become the most watched in its history. Timberlake and Jackson's memorable moment drew the biggest hike in audience reaction TiVo has ever measured, the company claimed in a statement. According to them, viewership spiked up to 180 per cent as television audiences at home paused and replayed the incident, which prompted the launch of a Federal investigation by the US media watchdog, over and over again. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced it was launching an inquiry to see whether the display of flesh constituted indecency, as a host of official organisations slammed the singers' conduct.

Going bust was all planned, says Janet Jackson! (Go To Top)

          Washington: Finally, the truth is out! The brouhaha over Janet Jackson being busted by Justin Timberlake was all a stunt and conducted with her knowledge! According to a report in Imdb.com, Janet has admitted to planning her breast exposure during a live TV transmission of this year's American football Super Bowl. The 37-year-old singer shocked 89 million viewers during a raunchy half-time dance with Timberlake, during which he ripped open her bustier to reveal a naked, pierced right breast.

          Meanwhile, Timberlake has already taken the blame for the incident. Howver, Jackson has now come forward to admit the whole thing was choreographed moments before the performance, which was organized by MTV bosses. "The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my half-time show performance was made after final rehearsals. MTV was completely unaware of it. It was not my intention that it go as far as it did. I apologize to anyone offended - including the audience, MTV, CBS and the NFL," Jackson said in a statement released on MTV's website. But the moral watchdogs at the Federal Communications Commission are less than pleased with the unexpected nudity. "I am outraged at what I saw. Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. I have instructed the commission to open an immediate investigation into the broadcast. It will be thorough and swift," Michael Powell, chairman of the commission, said.

Shriver bids adieu to NBC (Go To Top)

          Washington: Maria Shriver has recently quit her gig as an NBC News reporter to concentrate on her duties as first lady of California. Shriver, a Dateline NBC contributing anchor took an unpaid leave of absence from NBC in August 2003 when husband Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his intention to run for governor of California. She, however, returned to work after Arnold's inauguration in November. But network suits were reportedly nervous about her objectivity or lack thereof where it concerned her hubby's administration, and rumours circulated that she had been asked to resign, according to EOnline. Though Dateline denied the stories Shriver reportedly was visited in California last month by NBC News president Neal Shapiro to discuss taking an extended leave from her job.

Cattrall drives women to clinics for breast checks! (Go To Top)

          Washington: 'Sex and the City' star Kim Cattrall is elated that her character, Samantha's breast cancer diagnosis has encouraged female fans of the show to book tests for the potentially fatal disease. Samantha Jones is forced to struggle with her illness in the last series of the popular comedy, in which she shaves her head after learning that her hair will begin to fall out as a result of her treatment. According to ratethemusic, Kim is very happy that her portrayal of a breast cancer victim and her agony has sparked a positive reaction in women. She says, "A friend called and said, 'I can't get in to see my OB/GYN (Obstetrics and Gynaecology). Everybody - all these women, all my friends - are going to their doctors and they're all getting breast checks.' And I thought, 'Wow.' That's what you want."

JLo seeks spiritual advice (Go To Top)

          Washington: Pop diva Jennifer Lopez has reportedly sought advice from her spiritual advisor after breaking up with fiance, Ben Affleck. Lopez called off her one-year engagement with the 'Paycheck' actor on January 19 and consulted her cosmic guru later to forecast her romantic future. The 'Waiting for Tonight' singer had sought help from the same advisor after the high-flying couple had cancelled their September wedding last year blaming "excessive media attention" for the postponement. According to imdb.com, American publication 'US Weekly' said that the Gigli co-stars were so desperate to make their troubled relationship work that they had sought professional counselling.

Britney blasted for 'polluting' kids! (Go To Top)

          New York: Yet again Britney Spears has come in the limelight. And this time too for wrong reasons. According to a report in ratethemusic.com, the pop princess has incurred the wrath of concerned parental groups by wearing another piece of clothing emblazoned with the word "f*** you". The singer - who has shed her formerly angelic public persona in recent years - has attracted the ire of American campaign group Focus on the Family after she was photographed wearing a belt buckle reading, "F*** you". Britney has been previously seen wearing three T-Shirts sporting he same word and, as a result, the group has accused Spears, 22, of "polluting" her fans. "She built her reputation and won fans by being Miss Clean. But she's like the Pied Piper - now she's collected the children, she's leading them astray. She's polluting their minds and setting a very bad example", said Focus on the Family's founder Dr Adrian Rogers.

'Men like real breast', says Emma Bunton (Go To Top)

          New York: She deems the idea of having fake breasts disgusting, therefore, ruling out breast implants as a means of maintaining her appearance. According to a report in ratethemusic.com, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton is convinced men generally prefer women with real breasts and is keen to grow old gracefully. "I think a man loves real breasts. To have something in your body would drive me insane. I'm one of these girls who hopes to grow old gracefully - although you never know, I might have a bit of a lift and tuck when I'm older", she said.

David Beckham wants a daughter! (Go To Top)

          New York: After two young sons, soccer star David Beckham now wants a baby girl with his pop star wife Victoria. According to a report in ratethemusic.com, the Real Madrid superstar, 28, wants to expand his beloved family because his children give him more pleasure than anything else in the world. "I'd love a little girl, I've got two beautiful sons and would like a girl in the future, but we'll see. Children are so special, the things that happen in people's lives, they change their lives forever. To see children happy is one of the best feelings in the world", he said. Of his plans for the future, once he has retired from football, Beckham said, "I'll spend time with my wife and my children. Hopefully I will have more children by then. I would like to have soccer schools around the world so boys and girls can come and enjoy playing football."