Archives

Swiss national found dead in Himachal hill resort

          Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh), Nov 9: Himachal Pradesh police have recovered the body of a Swiss national from a local guest house in Manikaran valley. Bosshard Hanspeter Emst, a 44-year old Swiss male, was found dead at the guest house on Friday.(See Travel News)

Indian among 30 killed in Saudi blast

          Riyadh, Nov 9: A suicide bombing on a housing complex in the Saudi Capital, Riyadh, killed at least 30 people early on Sunday. An Indian security guard was among the dead, said sources. The manager of the compound, which houses mainly Arab foreign workers, said 100 people had been wounded, including many children. Saudi officials said the attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda. "This is a crime against innocents which is in the style of al-Qaeda, it is an al-Qaeda operation," said a Saudi security source. (Contd)

Mumbai police chief questioned again

          Mumbai, Nov 9: City Police Commissioner R S Sharma was on Sunday questioned for the third time in the past 24 hours by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the multi- crore fake stamp paper scam. Sharma is being questioned by SIT chief DGP S S Puri, SIT sources said here. Sharma, who retires as Mumbai police chief on November 30, is being grilled by SIT on allegations made by a senior police officer S M Mushriff about "lopsided probe" in the fake stamp and stamp paper scam registered by Bund Garden police in Pune when Sharma was the police commissioner at that time. The questioning of Sharma assumes significance in the wake of Mumbai High Court order, directing Puri to probe the alleged role of Sharma and other top officers in the scam and file a report on November 12.

Three killed in caste violence (Go To Top)

          Unnao (UP), Nov 9: Three people were killed in caste violence in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. The clashes took place on Saturday between scheduled caste people and Dalits. Of the three killed, two belonged to scheduled caste community. Caste violence has flared up in Unnao district recently. In an arson attack, seven people were burned to death in the district on Wednesday after their huts were set ablaze by people from another community. In Wednesday's incident the dalits attacked the tribals as one group's goats strayed into of the land the other group and began grazing on crops.

Shortest lunar eclipse seen over Amritsar (Go To Top)

          Amritsar, Nov 9: People of Amritsar woke up to a "reddish" Sunday morning to see an unusually short duration lunar eclipse. Most of the country missed the later phases of the eclipse and people in the eastern parts could not see the beginning of the eclipse. The eclipse began at 6.36 a.m (local time) and was over by 7.01 a.m leaving the duration of eclipse as short as about 25 minutes. Faithfuls took a dip in the holy waters of the Golden Temple tank to cast off any ill-effects of the celestial event. The temple was illuminated on the full moon night which coincided with the 534th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.

Journalists on hunger-trike in Chennai (Go To Top) 

          Chennai, Nov 9: Mediapersons in Chennai began a day-long hunger-strike on Sunday against the Tamil Nadu legislature's order to arrest five journalists and the publisher of a national daily for alleged slander. The state Assembly, invoking laws that allow it to punish those who violate the privilege of legislatures, on Friday ordered the publisher and four journalists from the Hindu daily and one from the Tamil language Murasoli (Herald) daily to 15 days in jail. The Madras Journalists Union slammed the action as an attack on the freedom of the press.

          The Tamil Nadu legislature said the Hindu had in an editorial last April justified news items and articles by two of its journalists "that cast a slur on the chief minister's action in the Assembly" and "imputing ulterior motives to the House as a whole." The journalists have not been arrested yet.

          The Hindu had kicked off its 125th anniversary in September at a function led by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Ram, who became editor-in-chief months after the articles were published, said the articles in question only amounted to "a rather measured criticism of the chief minister" and did not slander the House.

India, US may share bio-warfare information (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Nov 9: Defence experts and top scientists from India and the United States are likely to meet next week to discuss and sign an agreement to share bio-warfare technology information. According to the Daily Times, the agreement will come at the conclusion of a first-ever Indo-US workshop on life sciences, a collaboration among the Indian Army, its research wing - the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the US. The information to be shared during the workshop was declared off-limits for India after it detonated a nuclear device in 1999. Particulars of the agreement were reportedly discussed at the Indo-US Joint Technological Group (JTG) over five sittings.

          "It will set up the building blocks on which all future scientific cooperation between the two militaries will take place," an unidentified Indian defence ministry official in New Delhi was quoted as saying by the paper. Though India and the United States have participated in joint military exercises, they have not extended their defence cooperation to information sharing up till now. "Ties in the defence sector had been limited to the sale and purchase of weapons and equipment and the conduct of joint exercises between forces of the two countries. This is the first time that the two countries will kick off an exercise aimed at sharing technological developments," the official said.

          Commenting on the workshop, he said the discussions could involve the setting down of nutritional standards for troops, the discovery of herbs and other medicines, which could be developed for use by individuals during a nuclear war and also to protect troops during chemical and biological warfare. The proposed discussions are part of the larger Indo-US JTG. In exchange for technologies, India is offering the US its expertise on high-altitude warfare.

US sentences three for Lashkar activity (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 9: A district court in Alexandria, Virginia, has sentenced a Pakistani and a South Korean to serve more than 11 years in prison for allegedly running a support network for the extremist Lashkar-i-Taiba group. According to reports filed by the Daily Times and the Dawn, US District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema announced the sentences on Friday evening after Yong Ki Kwon, Khwaja Mahmood Hasan and Donald T Surratt pleaded guilty to conspiracy and gun charges in August. He also sent a third accused to prison for less than four years. Yong Ki Kwon, a converted Muslim of South Korean origin, received the longest sentence of 11 years and six months, because of what prosecutors and the judge called his larger role in the conspiracy. Khwaja Mahmood Hasan, a Pakistani American, was sentenced to 11 years and three months. Donald T. Surratt, an American citizen, was described by prosecutors as "less culpable" and will go to jail for just less than four years. Two of them are naturalized US citizens and the third is a born American. All of them are Muslims. The three convicts, and eight others who are awaiting trial in the same case, were accused of practising military tactics while playing paintball in a field outside Washington.

Rashid to carry message of peace to India (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Nov 9: Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has left for India with a message of "peace and good wishes," but has warned that Islamabad policy on Kashmir and nuclear weapons will remain firm. Before his departure to New Delhi on Saturday to attend a SAARC Information Ministers meeting next week, the Daily Times quoted Ahmed as saying, that he would place stress on Pakistan's insistence on negotiating a settlement for the 55-year-old Kashmir dispute and its policy of developing a nuclear capability were based on "principles and there can be no compromise on these issues." The minister said he would also try to meet Kashmiri leaders during his stay in India. The conference, which begins on Monday, may see Pakistan and India air differences on a number of bilateral issues.

          According to the Dawn, this is the first time that a Pakistani minister will be coming to India after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf came to attend the Agra Summit in 2001. The information ministers' meeting will be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and is expected to set the tone for the January 2004 summit. According to Indian government sources, New Delhi is likely to restrict this week's information conference to subjects related to the media and could raise the issue of a Pakistani ban on Indian films and TV channels as well as Indian artists travelling to the country.

Putin may put pressure on Vajpayee to make peace with Pak (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Nov 9: Russian President Vladimir Putin may put pressure on Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to step up efforts to make peace with Pakistan when he comes over for an official visit next week. According to the Daily Times, Putin has invited Vajpayee to his private Dacha (retreat) for an exclusive one-on-one meeting on November 12. Vajpayee will be in Moscow for an official visit from November 11 to 13. He will also visit Tajikistan and Syria as part of his three-nation tour. Putin's invitation came soon after he attended the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in Malaysia, where he met Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the summit. Putin reportedly used that meeting to assure Musharraf that he would convey to Vajpayee the need for a meaningful dialogue on the Kashmir issue.

Khokhar leaves for US (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Nov 9: Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar left for the United States on Saturday evening on what has been touted as an important diplomatic mission. According to the News, Khokhar will first go to New York to meet the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and permanent representatives of the member-countries of the UN Security Council. He will then fly to Washington to have talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca. Well-placed sources at the Pakistan Foreign Office told the paper that Khokhar's visit to the UN and Washington would be the first high level interaction since the visits of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali to the U.S. last month.

China to loan 500 million dollars to Pakistan (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Nov 9: China will provide a 500 million dollar credit line to Pakistan for a variety of development projects. The News quoted Pakistan Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz as saying on Saturday that a Chinese Exim Bank team would visit Pakistan next month to finalize a framework for the flow and utilization of the assistance. He said that the Pakistan-China joint economic committee would meet early next year to explore new avenues for boosting mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation.

New US secret team hunting for Osama bin Laden, Saddam (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 9: A new covert military team has been set up by top US military commanders in the Middle East to hunt down Saudi terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and other wanted fugitives. According to the News, the classified team, which was first reported in the New York Times on Friday, is called "Task Force 121," and is a combination of Task Force 5 from Afghanistan and Task Force 20 in Iraq under one command. The goal is to streamline how US forces are using information about "high-value targets" and to launch attacks against them.

          "We have not got Saddam Hussein yet. We will get him," Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was quoted by Fox News as saying over the weekend. General John P Abizaid, Commander-in Chief of the US Central Command, is said to be the brain behind the formation of this new task force, having decided over the summer to disband Force 5 and Task Force 20.

Millions of children given polio drops (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Nov 9: Millions of children were administered polio vaccine on Sunday in an effort to eradicate the crippling disease from the country. The drive is part of the Central government's long-runnning campaign against polio. Alarmed at the resurgence of the disease last year, the government has re-launched the pulse polio programme to reach the global target of a polio-free world by 2005. Poliomyelitis, which once afflicted millions of children worldwide, attacks the central nervous system, often causing paralysis, muscular atrophy and deformity.

          Every year millions of children below five years of age are given two-three drops of the polio vaccine to swallow at least four times in intervals of approximately a month each. The vaccine ensures them immunity against the viral disease that affects mostly children and attacks the central nervous system. According to WHO reports, India and Nigeria were the only countries to report a significant rise in polio cases. India reported 1,556 new cases from the start of 2002 to January 28, 2003 -- 85 percent of those reported worldwide. India is also the largest consumer of the oral polio vaccine, using a staggering 1,150 million doses a year.

Pak tour in March, says Dalmiya (Go To Top)

          Kolkata, Nov 9: The India cricket team will tour Pakistan in March next year in view of the government's green signal recently given for resumption of bilateral sporting ties. Announcing this here on Sunday, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jagmohan Dalmiya said the Indian team's tour would be followed by the Asia Cup. Dalmiya, who returned from Barbados after attending a crucial meeting of the Board of International Cricket Council (BICC), said that he already had initial discussion with his Pakistani counterpart Tauqir Zia in that regard. "The details of the itineraries of India's tour of Pakistan as well as the Asia Cup are being worked out", Dalmiya said. To a query about when the much-awaited Pakistan tour is going to take place, he said that after the Indian team's return from Australia, it would be ready for the challenge after a fortnight's rest. The Indian team returns home in the middle of February after a two and half month tour Down Under.

Aussies beat Kiwis by 44 runs (Go To Top)

          Guwahati, Nov 9: Once again the Aussies sneaked in a win in a low scoring match against the Kiwis. Chasing a modest 226 to win, the Kiwis were dismissed for 181 in the 46th over at Guwahati on Sunday. The Aussies owed their 44-run win to Michael Bevan who made an undefeated 84 from 97 deliveries. Australia put in to bat by the Kiwis were tottering at 61/4 before Bevan took stock of the situation and was declared man-of- the-match. Earlier, Fleming's decision to field first was justified with Australia reduced to 61/4 in the 13th over. With openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist rested for the game Ian Harvey and Jimmy Maher opened the innings for Australia .

          All eyes will now be set on the Bangalore game between India and Australia on Nov. 12. India need to win that game to ensure themselves a place in the final otherwise the last league match against New Zealand at Hyderabad on Nov. 15 will become a virtual semi-final.

Indian among 30 killed in Saudi blast (Go To Top)

          (Contd) The explosion came a day after the United States shut its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia after "credible evidence" of a threat and the UK embassy in Bahrain issued a similar warning. The US warned its embassy staff in the Saudi capital to stay at home on Sunday pending "further assessment of the security situation."

          Fires burned throughout the night after the blast at the Muhaya compound, which contains about 200 houses and is home to mainly foreigners from the Arab world, including Lebanese, Egyptians and Syrians. Eyewitnesses said the attackers tried to get through an outer wall to drive a car bomb as close as possible before detonating it. Government officials said the gunmen tried to enter the complex and there was an exchange of fire with security guards. Diplomats reported one big explosion, followed by two smaller ones but it was unclear whether there were one or more bombs. Footage on Arabic television showed piles of twisted debris from collapsed buildings, and a large crater left by the explosion.

          "We heard a very strong explosion and we saw the fire," Bassem al-Hourani, a compound resident, told Arabic television al- Arabiya. "I heard screams of the children and women...I saw a lot of people injured and I believe there are a lot of people dead," he said. Many of the injured are children who were at home while their parents were out, following the breaking of the Ramadan fast for the day.

          There are no confirmed foreign fatalities but one American is wounded and another missing, according to a US official. The UK Foreign Office said three British nationals were in the Muhaya compound but all are accounted for and uninjured. The Muhaya compound is near several private residences belonging to the Saudi royal family, according to a Western diplomat.

Bottomlines

Padma Lakshmi to endorse beer! (Go To Top)

          London, Nov 9: India-born beauty Padma Lakshmi has made news for being Salman Rushdie's live-in girlfriend, presenting a cooking show and making her sizzling debut in Ayesha Shroff's 'Boom'. According to a report in 'Hello', Padma will now be seen in a new avatar as a beer spokesmodel for US lager Budweiser and is currently in Los Angeles for the shooting. Budweiser's latest ad campaign with the catchline "Whassup!" is already a rage across the world and brunette Padma, with her hourglass figure, is likley to create a ripple among viewers in the upcoming commercial. The Chennai-born model raised eyebrows this summer when she performed a close saucy dance with her famous novelist beau Rushdie at the Serpentine Gallery Party.

Political pressure to scrap 'Reagan' movie (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 9: 'Funny Girl' Barbra Streisand has decried the decision to chop actor husband James Brolin's new TV movie about Ronald Reagan. According to a report in website IMDB.com, the singer-actress termed it as "a sad day for artistic freedom". Apparently, Streisand, a Democratic activist was horrified when she learned TV bosses at CBS had bowed to pressure from right- wingers and cancelled "The Reagans", salted to hit the boob tube later this month. The TV adaptation was featuring Brolin as the former president of the United States of America. Posting a fiery note on her website yesterday, Streisand said: "Artistic freedom is one of the most important elements of an open and democratic society." 'Kramer vs Kramer' actress Meryl Streep supports her in her endeavour against biased bosses at CBS and political pressure.

Hugh Grant asks for more bad boy roles (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 9: British actor Hugh Grant is delighted at the heightened attention he receives from women at parties for playing villainous characters in movies. According to TeenHollywood, the actor owes his success to a recent stream of bad boy roles in his films like Bridget Jones's Diary and About a Boy. As a consequence, Grant reportedly begged writer and director Richard Curtis to make his part in his new movie Love Actually as nasty as possible, so he could maintain his newfound form with girls. Grant says, "I urged him to make my part as steely as he could because I've found recently that if I play less nice characters in films, girls like me better at parties. I don't know why, but it really does seem to work. So I kept saying, 'Can we make sure this guy isn't too nice?' I went on so much that Richard really did try to give me some steel".

Elvis' 16-hour documentary banned (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 9: A 16-hour Elvis Presley documentary has been banned in America after an appeals court in San Francisco ruled it infringed copyright regulations. According to ratethemusic.com, the 'Definitive Elvis' video incorporated several of the King's appearances, which Elvis Presley Enterprises, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller objected to. Judge Richard Tallman wrote in his decision, "The King is dead. His legacy, and those who wish to profit from it, remains very much alive. It would be impossible to produce a biography of Elvis without showing some of his most famous television appearances for reference purposes". "But some of the clips are played without much interruption, if any. The purpose of showing these clips likely goes beyond merely making a reference for a biography, but instead serves the same intrinsic entertainment value that is protected by plaintiff's copyrights", the court ruled. Leiber and Stoller wrote Elvis classics including Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog and are upset documentary makers Passport Video used so much archive television footage.

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