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Scrap import from war zones may end

       New Delhi: The government will tighten the metal scrap import policy to ensure that scrap brought into the country does not contain hazardous materials. It is likely that import of metal scrap originating from "war zones" would be stopped altogether. With the discovery of 40 more shells in metal scrap consignments on Friday, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) sent a set of proposals for tougher norms for import of scrap to the director-general of foreign trade (DGFT) in the Union commerce ministry. The DGFT makes the import policy and prescribes the procedures, while the CBEC is responsible for their enforcement, through the customs at ports. DGFT officials said the scrap import policy and procedures would be changed in accordance with the CBEC recommendations. "We go by the recommendations of CBEC in such cases," an official said.

Five killed, 30 hurt in Kashmir car explosion (Go To Top)

         Pattan/Srinagar: A suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into an army convoy in Kashmir today, killing four soldiers and a civilian and wounding 30 more, police said. A caller from Jaish-e-Mohammad, a rebel group based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack on a highway near Pattan, south of Srinagar. The attack comes days after India and Pakistan proposed talks for November and December on various issues, including a bus service through divided Kashmir. Witnesses said the area has been cordoned off for search operations.

Natwar urges responsible journalism, hails Indo-Pak ties (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: Foreign minister Natwar Singh urged South Asian journalists to temper their interpretations with wisdom during a regional summit here on Saturday. Singh was addressing scribes from across South Asia, including Pakistan, as part of a media conference held under the ageis of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The four-day regional meet focuses on a range of issues among the member countries.

         "We have vast amount of knowledge available to us. But knowledge and information without an underpinning of wisdom is not going to lead anywhere. And, therefore, it is imperative that people like yourself, who create public opinion, who mould public opinion, who interpret situations should do so with the utmost sense of responsibility and not totally neglect the dimension of wisdom," Singh said. The highlight of the event is the huge 32-member participation of journalists from Pakistan. Singh dwelt with warmth on his nation's new-found trust with Pakistan saying no nations had irreconcilable difference."Indo- Pak relations have taken a turn for the better. And relations between SARRC countries are not creating any insoluble problems between them. There are differences of course, like they are different in any other organisation, whether it's the UN (United Nations), NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) or ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)," he said.

Neighbourhood of peace a high priority: Manmohan (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said creating a neighbourhood of peace and stability was a high priority with his Government and felt the media could play a critical role by shaping ideas that could overcome the burden of past perceptions. "Creating a neighbourhood of peace and stability is a high priority of our Government," Manmohan Singh said in a message to the two-day conference of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) which was read out by his media advisor Sanjaya Baru. Observing that South Asia still remained one of the world's less developed regions despite its advantages, he said "our individual and collective struggle to march forward on the road to development has been impaired by weak intra-egional cooperation, compounded by mutual suspicion". He said his Government would like to encourage the free flow of ideas and people to help shed prejudices and develop an appreciation of the existing ground realities. To this end, India had liberalised visa rules for journalists from Pakistan to visit India, he said observing "I am glad that it has yielded concrete results". He noted that the SAFMA conference was taking place just a few days after a visit to J and K by a group of Pakistani journalists. In her message, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the UPA gave the highest priority to building closer political, economic and other ties with the neighbours in South Asia and to strengthening SAARC.

Fire in Delhi's Connaught Place (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: A fire broke out in the 10th floor of the Jeevan Bharti building, Connaught Place, early this morning. According to the sources, fire started at around 2.30 am in the building that houses several offices of government and private organisations. Twelve fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire, but no casualty has been reported so far, the sources said. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

Charges framed against Punjab CM in defamation case (Go To Top)

        Chandigarh: Charges have been framed against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in a criminal defamation case, which was filed by Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary and Member of Parliament Sukhbir Singh Badal in 2002. "The charges have been framed against the Chief Minister under Section 500 of the IPC," Sukhbir's counsel said. Amarinder Singh, who was present in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Paramvir Nijjar, furnished the bail bond of Rs 10,000 surety and the court adjourned the case till January 15 next year. The court while allowing bail to the Chief Minister directed the complainant to record evidence on January 15. Badal had accused Amarinder of tarnishing the image of his family by launching a slanderous media campaign just before the Punjab Assembly polls in February 2002.

Arab TV claims Aziz died in US custody, US denies allegation (Go To Top)

        Baghdad: An Arab TV channel has claimed that the former Iraqi deputy prime minister and former foreign minister Tariq Aziz has died under U.S. custody however U.S. officials in Baghdad have contradicted these reports and have said that Tariq Aziz is still alive. Arab TV while quoting the International Red Cross said that relatives of Tariq Aziz who was suffering from different diseases, said that the U.S. army informed them that the condition of Tariq Aziz is not stable. Arab TV has claimed that Vatican City sources have confirmed the death of Tariq Aziz however US army spokesman in Baghdad Berry Johnson has termed this report by Arab TV as false. Johnson said "Tariq Aziz is in our custody and he is alive".

24 Taliban killed in bombing, says Afghan governor (Go To Top)

       Kandahar: At least 24 suspected Taliban militants were killed today in a bombing raid by aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition in the central province of Uruzgan, the provincial governor said. Jan Mohammad Khan told news agency Taliban guerrillas who have vowed to disrupt the poll attacked a convoy of Afghan and U.S.- led troops in Char Cheno district, several hours before polling began in Afghanistan's landmark election. The two sides engaged in a firefight before air support was called in, he said. According to Khan, one local resident died in the bombing, but locals in the area said 14 civilians were either wounded or killed in the skirmish, among them women and children. The fighting was the largest reported security incident to date on the day Afghans held their first direct presidential ballot. Despite dire warnings of violence by the Taliban, which is opposed to the election and the presence of foreign troops in the country, there have been fewer attacks than feared. In Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern province of Helmand, six rockets were fired overnight, and two children were wounded. In Kunar province, east of Kabul, several rockets were fired in two villages overnight but there were no casualties.

BCCI to move Supreme Court against Madras HC orders (Go To Top)

       Kolkata: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court stay order of Friday preventing the new members of BCCI from taking office. The Madras High Court said the BCCI's new board of office bearers cannot take over yet. Instead they appointed an interim administrator Justice S Mohan to run the BCCI till the case is settled. The court was hearing a petition by the Netaji Cricket Club against the way the BCCI elections were conducted. "Every litigant has the right to challenge a Court order in a higher Court. The BCCI is not happy with the verdict of the Madras High Court. We think that the order of the Court is not legally correct. It is outside the ambit of its authority and the Board should not be superceded like this," said Abhishek Singhvi, senior counsel for BCCI. A member of the Maharashtra Cricket Association had been disqualified during the elections, giving Ranbir Singh Mahendra a narrow victory over Sharad Pawar in last week's elections.

Aus close in on victory, India 105-6 at stumps (Go To Top)

      Bangalore: The famed Indian batting line-up collapsed once again losing six wickets for just 86 runs in their pursuit of 457 to win the first Test. India were reduced to 105-6 at stumps on day four with Dravid on 47 and Pathan (7) in the middle. India faltered early losing top three wickets for just 12 runs. A dubious decision, a cheap dismissal and a terrible mix-up were all to sum up the first three dismissals within seven overs of India's second innings. Umpire Billy Bowden got Sehwag out lbw though the ball took an edge before it hit the pad off a MacGrath delivery. And India lost its first wicket for no run. Akash Chopra was the next man to go, trapped lbw by Gillespie off an ordinary delivery. And then comes in a terrible mix-up! Ganguly set off for a single but Dravid was not interested. Both the batsmen were at the bowler's end and the skipper had to go. Shane Warne trapped Laxman and Patel lbw. Warne is two wickets away to beat world record of highest Test wickets by Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan. Yuvraj Singh tried to steady the Indian innings with Dravid adding 62 runs for the fifth-wicket stand before he was caught behind off McGrath for 27 runs.