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65 passengers wounded as a plane skids off Bangladesh airport

         Dhaka: A passenger plane of Biman Bangladesh Airlines skidded off the runway at northeastern Sylhet Osmani International Airport on Friday, leaving most of its 79 passengers on board wounded, according to officials. The domestic flight of the F-28 aircraft got difficulty as its nose wheel got stuck when it was prepared for landing, and it skidded of the rain soaked runway and nose-dived into a ditch, some 100 feet away from the runway. As many as 65 passengers, of them five critically, wounded as the aircraft met the accident, private NTV reported. The passengers injured among others a state minister, an advisor of the former caretaker government, members of parliament and senior government officials were rushed to hospitals in Sylhet and capital Dhaka, an officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh said. The government formed an inquiry committee to find out the causes of the accident. Inclement weather was initially blamed for the accident.

New Pak joint chiefs panel chairman and army vice chief take charge (Go To Top)

        Islamabad: General Ehsan-ul-Haq and Lt.General Ahsan Saleem Hayat today assumed charge as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) and Vice Chief of Army Staff. At a formal ceremonies here this morning Haq replaced General Muhammad Aziz Khan, while Lt.General Hayat replaced Lt.General Muhummad Yusuf, both of whom superannuated today. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah and other senior armed forces representatives were present on the occasion, reported the Daily Times. Lt. General Yusuf also met President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday. Meanwhile, both of the outgoing generals described the Pakistan Army as being among the best in the world. Both said that it was an honour for them to have served in one of the world's most professional forces, and added that the Pakistan Army was fully capable of defending the homeland.

More Pak journalists enter India (Go To Top)

         Lahore/Wagah Border: Twenty-two senior Pakistani journalists and experts crossed into India on Thursday through the Wagah border check post to participate in a four-day regional conference on Inter-State Conflicts in South Asia in New Delhi. Organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), the conference will begin in the Indian capital from Saturday and conclude next Tuesday. According to the Daily Times, delegates from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan will take part in the moot. The Pakistani delegation will stay in India for five days. Another 16 Pakistani journalists who are visiting Kashmir will also attend the conference. Apart from the discussion on inter-state conflicts, the conference is also expected to deliberate on issues like Indo- Bangladesh relations; the stabilisation of the nuclear regime in South Asia; Nepal relations; Indo-Pak conflict; Siachen, Sir Creek and Wullar Barrage; Kashmir and the Sri Lankan peace process. The conference will also hold a discussion on press freedom and media laws on October 11. The concluding session will be addressed by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Shiela Dixit, the chief minister of Delhi, and Natwar Singh, the Indian external affairs minister, have also been requested to attend the first session.

FBI questioning Muslims in mosques in US (Go To Top)

         Washington: FBI agents across the United States have reportedly started a campaign to visit mosques and question Muslims who might have information relating to a possible terrorist attack before the November 2 presidential elections. The new investigation, the latest in a series of campaigns since the attacks of Septemer 11, 2001, has according to a report in the Dawn, prompted sharp protests from American Civil Liberties Union and several Muslim organizations. The protesters have reportedly accused the Bush Administration of sowing "fear in the Muslim community" through this questioning. Someof them are now insisting that lawyers be present when such questioning takes place. American Muslim Voice director for Northern California, Khalid Saeed, was quoted as saying that the American Muslims and Arabs felt intimidated by the new campaign which was the fifth incidence of an explicit FBI dragnet against these communities. "The FBI plans to deliberately tail people based on their religion or ethnic origin during a month that is both religiously and politically crucial," claimed Dalia Hashad, an advocate with the American Civil Liberty Union. "Instead of bolstering security, the FBI's new drive is going to stop Muslims and Arabs from attending mosques during the month of Ramadan, and participating in the upcoming election," she warned.

Russian Foreign Minister in India on three-day visit (Go To Top)

         Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is on a three-day visit to India from today to hold talks with the Indian leadership on an array of issues, including the fight against terrorism. "Russia and India have always called for pooling the efforts of the world community to fight terrorism. This will be one of the main themes during the upcoming visit," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko. Lavrov's visit is also aimed at finalising the agenda for annual Indo-Russia summit during President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December. During the course of his visit, Lavrov is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and hold wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other senior officials to give final touches to the agenda of Putin's scheduled India visit in the first week of December.

Madras High Court restrains new cricket board from functioning (Go To Top)

       Chennai: Madras High Court today passed an interim order staying the functioning of office-bearers of the BCCI, who had been recently elected in Kolkata. Bench comprising of Justice Dinakaran and Ravirajan Pandian passed the order of staying BCCI fuctionery for next one week. Justice S Mohan had been appointed to administer the activities of BCCI during this time. The petition was filed by the Netaji Cricket Club of Chennai. Nalini Chidambaram, Counsel of Netaji Cricket Club blamed that the entire election process was mischief and the election of the office-bearers of the BCCI was liable to set aside referring to the disqualification of the representative of Mahrashtra Cricket Association from exercising the vote and not following the order of single Bench Ashok Kumar order on September 29 that no one should be disqualified from casting the vote. "The board is not allowed to function. Justice Mohan, retired Supreme Court judge has been appointed as the Administrator of the Board. That is effective judgement passed by the learned judges today. They have admitted the review application filed by the Netaji Cricket Club. They have also allowed Mr. Agassee the authorised representative of Maharashtra Cricket Association to file the review application," said Nalini Chdambaram.

Australia 127 for four at close (Go To Top)

        Bangalore: Australia were 127 for four in their second innings to take an overall lead of 355 at close on the third day of the first cricket Test against India today. In 42 overs, Australia lost the wickets of Katich (39), Hayden (30), while Martyn was still batting at 29, and Clarke was batting at 11. India face an uphill task of saving the first cricket Test as Australia further extended their lead on the third day of the first Test in Bangalore. Earlier, India conceded a huge 228-run lead when they were bowled out for 246 in the first innings. But with the pitch deteriorating more slowly than expected, Australia chose not to enforce the follow-on.

Pak beat India in hockey series  (Go To Top)
by Ravinder Singh Robin

       Amritsar: Pakistan beat India by two goals to win the 7th India and Pakistan Hockey Friendship Series match played at the Astroturf stadium of Guru Nanak Dev University today. Arjun Halappa who converted penalty strike into the goal struck India's lone goal. The clash of titans generated keen interest and high fever amongst the spectators. Pak hockey player Sohal Abbas made history by converting 268th penalty corner into goal. He said he was pleased with his personal and teams performance. Pakistan captain Wasim Ahmad said that Indian team had too many junior and inexperienced players which led to their defeat. He also expressed hope that given time Indian team would emerge as one of best hockey team in the world. Wasim said there was hardly any difference between India and Pakistan worth mentioning adding that the whole team was pleased with the hospitality they received in India.