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Sonia, Patil undertake aerial survey
of Andhra's flood-hit areas

      Hyderabad: Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil today undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts of Andhra Pradesh. Sonia and Patil along with Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy also met the flood victims at relief camps after visiting East Godavari, West Godavari and Khammam districts. The leaders later visited a photo exhibition at Amalapuram in East Godavari district, depicting the damages caused by the floods. Earlier in the day, Sonia and Patil arrived at Gannavaram airport in Vijayawada by a special aircraft. A 24x7 control room has been established in the Home Ministry in New Delhi to coordinate logistic support required by the affected states. Torrential rains have created havoc in several districts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.

    Eight helicopters have been deployed at Bhadrachalam, West Godavari and East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, where over 350 villages in Konaseema region are still submerged. Floods have claimed 106 lives so far in the state. Seven naval diving teams with Gemini boats have been deployed at Amalapuram, Bhadrachalam and Polavaram. In neighbouring Maharashtra, six helicopters have been deployed at Nanded and Yavatmal, while two helicopters are being kept on standby at Pune and Nagpur. Seven naval diving teams with Gemini boats have been made available to the Maharashtra Government, six of which are in Mumbai and one in Nanded. Nine teams of the Engineering Task Force (each with 2 boats and 2 OBMs and 2 persons) have been deployed at Nanded, Jalna, Parbani, Washim, Yavatmal, Akola, Buldana and Nandarbar districts. Seven Army columns are deployed at Hingoli, Parbhani, Yavatmal, Washim, Jalna, Sangli and Kolhapur Two hundred personnel from CRPF are also deployed at Nanded. In Gujarat, four helicopters have been deployed in Surat and Vadodara. Five army columns are deployed in Surat and Vadodara. Five teams of the Engineering Task Force are deployed in Surat and Vadodara. The crops over an extent of 3.69 lakh acres were estimated to have been damaged in the rains.

Floods paralyse Maharashtra, Ladakh (Go To Top)

     Amravati/Surat/Ladakh: Unprecedented rainfall in the western and southern parts has resulted in untold damage to property, loss of lives and left thousands stranded, as floods continued to wreak havoc across the country. The situation is particularly alarming in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and remote Ladakh. Meanwhile, Surat in Gujarat is virtually inaccessible after 9.25 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Ukai Dam. With water flowing much above the danger level, new areas are facing a major flood threat. Even as the army and paramilitary forces are being pressed into service to carry out relief operations, a large number of people are still waiting for food and evacuation to dry land. Relief operations carried out by Indian Air Force helicopters have been hit due to the inclement weather. Nearly 50,000 people in Surat have been evacuated to safer places, but thousands are still waiting to be rescued. In nearby Vadodara District, the situation remains grim, as the Vishwamitri River continues to flow five feet above the danger mark, leading to the closure of the three bridges. Amravati in Maharashtra has also been inundated with flood waters. Meanwhile, flood-affected people of Andhra Pradeshs Konaseema region will have UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil visiting the area on Wednesday. The two leaders have already undertaken an aerial survey of the flood hit Amalapuram, where close to 200, 000 people have been displaced.

CRPF foils grenade attack in Srinagar (Go To Top)

     Srinagar: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Wednesday gunned down a militant who, they claimed, was involved in series of grenade blasts in the Kashmir Valley in the recent weeks. CRPF personnel spotted the militant armed with grenades in a crowded market here, and shot him dead seconds before he could throw the bomb. "The courage shown by the personnel is exemplary. I am very happy. Our men spotted the militant while he was about to hurl a grenade in a crowded area. They shot him down immediately. However, since the pin had come off the grenade in his hand, it exploded near him. Another grenade was found in his pocket," said AP Maheshwari, Inspector General, CRPF. The recent attacks came days after the police announced a reward of Rs100,000 (2,200 dollars) and a government job for helping in catching militants behind a spate of grenade attacks across the valley. In the recent past, grenade attacks have been carried out in buses, at bus stations, busy intersections and in markets. Many were aimed at security vehicles or police foot patrols, but missed their targets, exploding among civilians. At least 18 people, mostly army and police personnel, have been wounded in the past weeks.

Raksha Bandhan celebrated (Go To Top)

      New Delhi/Rajkot: India celebrated the sibling festival of "Raksha Bandhan" on Wednesday with fanfare. Sisters across the country tied "Rakhis" (sacred threads) on the wrists of their brothers as a symbol of love, wishing them prosperity and happiness, while the latter on their part pledge to protect their sisters' honour. "India is a country of festivals. And this is a festival we wait for yearlong. Sister ties the rakhi to their brothers and they show their gratitude to them, by giving them gifts," said Prabat Tiwari, after being tied a Rakhi by his sister. Even though the festival is deeply rooted in the ancient Indian traditions, the younger generation looks at it more as a time to get together and have fun. Young girls look forward towards the festival as an opportunity for getting the extra income, as the tradition has it that the brother gives his sister either money or a gift. "I have been waiting for this festival for a long time. As at this time we get lots of money. It earns us a lot of pocket money. We are very happy to celebrate it," said Jyoti Sharma. Children in Gujarat's Rajkot celebrated the festival by making a 150-feet long rakhi and dedicated it to the unity of the nation. The Special Rakhi showcased the various religions of India. "I follow the Muslim religion. But here we all are one and equal. I have put all my efforts to make this rakhi (sacred threads)," said Muktakil Ahmed Ali Bismail, a Muslim student. The festivals origin dates back several centuries to the time when a Hindu queen Rani Roopmati, in time of war, sent a thread to Mughal ruler Humayun, requesting protection from the enemy. King Humayun accepted the thread and honoured her request. Since then, the tradition continues in most Indian families. Although it is a Hindu festival, but members of other communities also celebrate it.

Ban on LTTE to continue: Narayanan (Go To Top)

       Chennai: National Security Adviser MK Narayanan met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on Wednesday and assured him about the safety of Tamils in Sri Lanka. He also briefed Karunanidhi about the talks the Indian Government had had with the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mangala Samaraweera. Narayanan told reporters after the meeting at the State Secretariat that issues pertaining to national security were discussed. Earlier this week, Samaraweera had appraised the Indian Government about the situation in Sri Lanka. Narayanan said that there was no change of view of the Indian Government regarding the LTTE and added that there was no plan to lift the ban on the terrorist organisation. "I have taken up the issues of threats to Tamil Nadu, and the Home Secretary will look into the matter", Narayanan said. Threats from the terrorist organisation like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other jihadi organisations featured during the talks.

3 SIMIs held in RSS headquarter attack (Go To Top)

      Nagpur: Maharashtra police have arrested three SIMI activists allegedly involved in attack on Nagpur-based RSS headquarter in on June1. Police had eliminated three militants, scuttling a possible plan to blow up the headquarters of RSS in central Nagpur city. The arrested persons have been identified as Shakeel Warsi, Nasir Ahmed and Mohammad Rehan Khan. "We had the information that though the SIMI (Student Islamic Movement of India) was banned some people were continuing such work. Some provocative CD's (Compact disks) were being made," said Amivesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Nagpur. We have registered their offences under section 10 and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. We are investigating more of their activities they are linked to, Kumar said. Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was banned in 2001 for allegedly trying to stir up religious unrest in India over the U.S.-led war on terrorism following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States in 2001. The sprawling RSS headquarters, home to the group's Chief K. Sudarshan and often visited by top BJP leaders, is located in a congested part of Nagpur, but has several rings of security.

A Rajasthan farmer, 90, has a son (Go To Top)

     Barmer (Rajasthan): An 88-year-old farmer, who has never heard of Viagra, became the father of a baby boy last month and has sex daily and wants more kids. The prosperous farmer, with a flowing white beard and a weather- beaten face, says he takes long walks everyday, drinks fresh camel milk and enjoys sex. "It is a male child who will later earn for the family. He will till the lands or do some business, and get the family bread to eat. A family without a male-child is empty," said Virmaram Jat, who lives in a village in Rajasthan's Barmer district. "I had a daughter from my third wife 16 years back. This is my first son," he added. His third wife is 45 years younger than him and delivered male twins last month, but only one of them survived. Jat celebrated the birth of his surviving son with a feast for the villagers and said that he would try for more children. The octogenarian, who is a vegetarian, and has never smoked cigarettes or drunk, is ready to share his secret for a long life with others. Jat, whose first wife is 85 and still lives with him, says that the best time for sexual intercourse is between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.

Koirala, Prachanda reach pact on arms (Go To Top)

    Kathmandu: The Nepalese Government and the Maoist rebels have reached agreement on the supervision of their weapons, an issue that was impeding their peace talks. According to a BBC report, the United Nations will be asked to monitor both sides' arms. Quoting from a joint statement that was issued in Kathmandu, the BBC said that the G.P.Koirala Government has agreed that its troops will be confined to their barracks, while the rebels say their arms will be kept in one set of camps. It was issued after talks between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda. "It is a significant event in the peace process. We have been able to respond to the aspirations of people for peace and prosperity," the government's main negotiator, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said. For the rebels, negotiator Krishna Mahara was equally positive: "The agreement has decreased the mistrust and opened door to move ahead with the peace process." Analysts say the deal could pave the way for the Maoists to join an interim government before a constituent assembly decides the country's future. The Maoists and a seven-party alliance clinched a landmark power- sharing deal in June. It followed a sustained campaign of street protests in April that culminated in King Gyanendra surrendering his powers. But in recent weeks talks have stalled over the issues of arms and whether Nepal should continue to have a monarchy. The Maoists favour a communist republic, while Prime Minister Koirala has been advocating a ceremonial role for the monarchy.

Ganguly, Kumble Champions probables (Go To Top)

       Bangalore: Keeping the comeback hope alive for former skipper Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI selection committee on Wednesday included the southpaw in the 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in India in October-November. Veterans Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman, and fast bowler Zaheer Khan have also been included in the list of probables. The list includes all the 15 members selected for the tri-series in Sri Lanka beginning from August 14, with South Africa as the third team. However, pacers Laxmipati Balaji and Ashish Nehra along with left arm leg-spinner Murali Kartik do not figure in the list announced here by BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah. On being asked about the exclusion of these three players, chief selector Kiran More said that these players were injured and needed some more time to be match fit. The final team for the Champions Trophy will be announced on September 7. The mini world cup will kick off with preliminary round on October 7, with Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh at Mohali. The group stage will start on October 15 at Jaipur where India will play against England. The final will be played on November 5 in Mumbai. Ahmedabad will be the fourth venue for the month-long tournament. The list of 30 probables: Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mohd Kaif, M S Dhoni, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ramesh Powar, Anil Kumble, Dinesh Mongia, R P Singh, Suresh Raina, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Venugopal Rao, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, S Badrinath, S Sreesanth, Tejinder Pal Singh, VRV Singh, Dinesh Karthick, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, S S Paul and Piyush Chawla.

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