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Why UK has introduced transit visa for Indians?
by Trevor Bernard

          London, Oct 16: The British government has explained why it is tightening visa controls on Indians transitting through the country on their way to other destinations. The measure is part of a wider programme to counter abuse of UK's asylum system and to break up gangs profiting from trade in illegal immigrants. (See Travel News)

Muslims flee Ayodhya ahead of VHP rally

          Ayodhya, Oct 16: A number of Muslims have fled Ayodhya even as the authorities beefed up security ahead of a massive rally on Friday of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists. As more than 70,000 VHP activists are expected to assemble in Ayodhya, police are on alert and troops are due to reinforce more than 10,000 police personnel already deployed there. Tight security and deployment of forces, however, have not removed the apprehension in the minds of the Muslim population in Ayodhya. Many of them in the area have fled out of fear.

          "We are scared to live here. We fear that somebody will come and attack us. We are even scared to go to sleep and this being a riverside area we are more scared. Though most of the Muslims have migrated, very few of us are staying here," said Hazi Abdul Khalig, a resident of the area. The last time when Hindu hardliners called a rally in March last year, thousands made their way to Ayodhya, but many were stopped by police and the protest fizzled out. But the Muslims say the memories of the 1992 incidents force them to migrate from the town. "We had seen this earlier in 1992 also and despite force deployed there incidents did occur. We were scared then and are scared now also. Though we are staying here but then something or the other could happen here," Mohammed Yasin, another resident, said.

Giriraj warns of violence (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 16: Giriraj Kishore, senior vice-president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has warned of violence if VHP activists were not permitted to assemble at Ayodhya. Tens of thousands of Hindu activists are trying to reach Ayodhya on Friday to demand a temple be built over a historic mosque razed in 1992, sparking some of the worst rioting that killed 3,000 people.

          Though the Hindu leaders had earlier promised that the march would be peaceful, the top leadership of the VHP on Thursday alleged that the state government's intervention has made the situation worse. "I am not sure whether it will be peaceful or not. But we will try our best that it remains so. The government only has spoiled things by interfering. Only if the volunteers are allowed can we hold the procession, but they are not allowing them. Both the governments (Central and the state) are in connivance," Giriraj Kishore said in New Delhi.

          Kishore, who was arrested in Lucknow on his way to Ayodhya, was brought to New Delhi after he complained of chest pain. Authorities, meanwhile, sealed off Ayodhya and riot police patrolled the narrow streets to head off a march by Hindu activists which threatens to re-ignite tension with Muslims. Most of Ayodhya's 50,000 people stayed inside ahead of the planned march through the ancient, monkey-infested town, dotted with hundreds of temples. A security cordon has been thrown around the Muslim quarter where about 5,000 people live near the disputed site.

          Thousands of members of the VHP have already been taken into custody from different parts of Uttar Pradesh. The VHP, which is an ideological ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading the Central coalition, has vowed to press for its plans despite the police crackdown.

          In New Delhi, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said he was just abiding by the orders given by the apex court and the state High Court. "We will try and keep this march peaceful. We have not stopped anybody from holding prayers. In fact, we got information today also that 4000 people have performed prayers. There is no stop at holding prayers. But yes, some of them have been stopped and arrested," Mulayam Singh Yadav said.

          Hindu hardliners believe the Babri mosque stood on the birthplace, long before recorded history, of Lord Ram and want a temple in his honour. They say a temple predated the mosque, which was built by Mughal rulers five centuries ago. The Muslims who make up 12 percent of India's billion plus mainly Hindu population, want the mosque rebuilt, holding it up as a touchstone of the country's secular credentials.

Short supply leads to hike in onion prices (Go To Top)

          Nasik (Maharashtra), Oct 16: Scarcity of onions has pushed up prices across India. In the last 10 days alone, onion prices have more than doubled in various parts of the country, going from around eight rupees per kilogram to 18 rupees per kilogram. In Maharashtra, the country's largest onion market, prices have gone up. In Delhi and Chandigarh, the price has doubled. It is now selling for as much as 20-25 rupees per kilogram in Delhi. In Chandigarh the rate is 30 rupees per kilogram.

          Sippy, an onion exporter in Mumbai, says late arrival of the monsoon has caused the scarcity. "This year the rains were very late, due to which the crops were sowed later than the usual time. Because of this this year's produce will reach the markets late. Till December this year it will be difficult to bring fresh onion produce into the markets," Sippy said.

Swiss diplomat's rape: Delhi police gather clues (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 16: Delhi police on Thursday claimed to have gathered vital clues in connection with the rape of a Swiss diplomat. Two unidentified men had raped the lady on Tuesday night when she came out after watching a film at the 34th International Film Festival at the Sri Fort Auditorium. Meanwhile, the Swiss mission is reported to have lodged a formal complaint with the police. A senior staff at the mission was quoted as saying that the embassy would notify the government officially on Thursday.

          The Delhi police has suspended five policemen deployed at the film festival venue and announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for anybody who helps them catch the rapists and the two robbers who attacked an Indian woman in the same parking lot. (See Also Travel News)

Pakistan talks of India running terror camps (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Oct 16: For the first time Pakistan has alleged that India is running six terrorist training camps inside Afghanistan for subversive activities and attacks on its territory. Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat, who made this allagation on Thursday, did not disclose the exact locations of the alleged camps but said the Pakistani security agencies had obtained credible evidence from infiltrators arrested in recent weeks.

          "Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) provides funds as well as fake Pakistani identity cards and fake currency to recruits who are then sent into Pakistan after training to make attacks," Hayat alleged.

New British envoy sees India as an indispensable global ally (Go To Top)
-by Trevor Barnard

          London, Oct 16: Britain's new High Commissioner in Delhi, Michael Arthur, takes up his post this week-end believing that India is becoming an indispensable ally when formulating global strategy, and that this gives a new dimension to the bilateral Indo-British relationship.

          Interacting with Indian journalists before leaving London, he said the British government had global priorities in drawing up its strategies, and added: "The key message for me as a High Commissioner is that in order to achieve some of those global priorities, India is becoming indispensable. So the work that we are doing with India about international relations isn't strictly bilateral in the old sense, it covers a much wider range of issues".

          He described the bilateral relationship as "fantastic", currently probably at the best level ever. The fact that there were now 450 Indian companies investing in Britain was symptomatic of the new relationship. Another was the "huge flow" of people between the two countries - about half a million Indians came to the UK every year. There were also about 12,000 Indian students in the country, and one of Arthur's aims was to increase that number substantially.

           Aged 53, Michael Arthur is the first British High Commissioner to India who was born after Indian independence. Until his appointment he had never lived in India, but he made up for that by spending three months during the summer familiarising himself with the country. Travelling second class, he saw what life was like in rural Karnataka and further north, went to a language school in Mussoorie, saw something of the high technology of Bangalore, and back in the UK he spent as much time as possible with expatriate Indian communities. His wife, Plaxy, spent four months in India during her student years and is looking forward to going back. The couple have two sons and two daughters. Arthur's last appointment was Director-General in the Foreign Office in London for economic issues in Europe and before that he was Number Two at the Embassy in Washington.

          A new Deputy High Commissioner stationed in Mumbai also arrives this week-end. He is 52-year old Ian Hughes, who served at the High Commission in Delhi from 1993-97, since when he has spent three years in Mexico. In Mumbai he will be concerned mainly with trade and investment promotion.

Kolkata gears up for Mother Teresa's beatification (Go To Top)

          Kolkata, Oct 16: Demands for Mother Teresa's mementos have touched an all-time high as Kolkata gears up for the beatification of Mother Teresa in the Vatican. Mother Teresa qualified for beatification after Vatican officials acknowledged that she was responsible for a miracle in which Monica Besra, an Indian woman, was cured of stomach cancer through her intervention. The "Saint of Gutters", as she was popularly known, will be beatified on Sunday.

          In Kolkata, people could be seen buying her statues, framed pictures and other mementos to celebrate the event. "Actually I have trust in Mother Teresa. I believe we will be glad with Mother's blessings," said Snigdha Haldar. According to Roman Catholic church law, the beatification process cannot begin until at least five years after a candidate has died. But in this case, the Pope personally intervened to waive the waiting period for the beatification of Mother Teresa. The Mother's popularity was best elucidated by Fatima Mery, a shop owner, who said anything related to her was being sold like hot cake. "Though we were selling Mother Teresa's mementos but ever since we heard about Mother's beatification, even the foreign visitors started asking for Mother's souvenirs like key rings. So we thought of keeping more things and will expand our collections as there is a lot of demand," Mery said.

          Mother Teresa came to India in 1929 at the age of 18 and took up teaching and became an Indian citizen in 1948. She started working in slums and later set up her Missionaries of Charity which was approved by the Vatican in 1950. The charity now runs more than 500 homes in over 100 countries. Mother Teresa received several national and international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, for her social service during her lifetime. She died on September 5, 1997, at the age of 87, and will always be remembered for her extraordinary love and dedication to poor, homeless and diseased people.

Kiwi reinforcement for tri-series (Go To Top)

           Chandigarh, Oct 16: Chris Cairns and Chris Harris have arrived here to join the New Zealand team to play in the tri- series cricket tournament against India and Australia, starting October 23. Six others, including Kyle Miles, Paul Hitchcock, Brendon McCullum, Mark O'Donnel, Shanna Parsons and Robyn Redford, have also arrived to reinforce the Kiwis as star batsman Nathan Astle has been ruled out for the tri-series due to an injury in the left knee. However, Astle has been given green signal to play in the ongoing Mohali Test. He will fly back home before the start of the tri- series.

Fans enjoy Mohali mela (Go To Top)

          Chandigarh, Oct 16: The Indian fans came to Mohali, near Chandigarh, from distant places in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal to enjoy the NZ-India match. The police had a tough time controlling the fans that were eager to enter the stadium. The Test match in Mohali presented an opportunity to corporates wanting to advertise their brands. Companies distributed cricket banners and knick-knacks to enthusiastic fans, who promised to make the match a lively affair.

          It was all festivity outside the cricket stadium in Mohali. Fans blew horns to cheer the Indian team. Though there were no stalls selling crackers in the vicinity of the stadium for safety reasons, fans nevertheless promised to celebrate if India won the match by bursting crackers. Some fans came dressed in the Indian colours. From the long lines of fans outside the stadium on the first day of the Test the feeling was that a one-day match was in progress. The environment at Mohali's grand cricket stadium was charged up and clearly exhibited the Punjabi spirit of nationalism, fervour and enjoyment.

Doping tests essential for AAG participants: IOA (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 16: Indian sports authorities on Thursday said they were determined that doping did not mar the forthcoming Afro-Asian Games to be held in Andhra Pradesh later this month. Addressing a news conference in the national capital, officials of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said all arrangements have been made for doping tests according to international standards.

          "Approximately 540 tests are going to take place. We are fully covered as far as doping and as far as collection of samples are concerned. In every stadia doping collection rooms have been set up alongside the medical committee," Ranjit Singh, IOA's general secretary, told reporters after having a video-conference meeting with Andhra Pradesh chief minister. The IOA had, early summer, come under close scrutiny after Indian athlete Sunita Rani, who won the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres bronze in the Busan Asian Games last year, was stripped of her medals. Later it was found that Rani did not test positive and the medals were returned to her.

          But IOA officials said they were leaving no stone unturned to tackle the "menace". "All the samples for this are going to the SAI (Sports Authority of India) lab in Delhi. We have also made arrangements to send things to Bangkok in case of emergency. So we are going to be very strict on this front. We are determined to eliminate this menace," said Suresh Kalmadi, President of IOA. Rani's case was the second doping scandal for India, after weightlifters Krishnan Madaswamy and Sateesha Rai were stripped of their medals at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, spoiling a superb overall showing by the team. Worries about doping have long been the subject of whispered discussions among Indian coaches, athletes and federation officials. Critics say the practice is widespread in a country desperate to shake off its also-ran tag at the world level.

          The first-ever Afro-Asian Games would begin from October 24. Almost 2,500 athletes besides 800 officials from Asia and Africa would participate in eight disciplines. The African sides will play against four Asian countries - China, Japan, Iran and hosts India.

Bottomlines

Jolie won't date actors again, but what about Kilmer? (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 16: Oscar-winning US actress Angelina Jolie has had enough of dating actors. With two failed marriages to actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton behind her back, the 'Tomb Raider' beauty has decided not to date men in the profession in the future. "I think I'll make time for a lover at some point, but I don't think it will be an actor," ratethemusic.com quoted Jolie, 28, as saying. And what about her rumoured affair with Val Kilmer, her co-star in the upcoming epic 'Alexander?' "We're working together but we're not anything else. I play his wife. He's a very intense person. I really like him. We're similar," adds the mum-of-one.

Woody Allen, in his own words (Go To Top)

         Washington, Oct 16: Woody Allen is ready to spill the beans about his interesting and fascinating life, for a price. According to a New York Post report, the show man is all set to ask a whopping 10 million dollars for penning down his detailed colourful childhood in Brooklyn. The tale will also cover his 50-year show business career and his relationships with Diane Keaton, Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi Previn and former business partner Jean Doumanian.

           "One selling point to begin with is that I do have some ability to write. It's not an 'as told to' book, nor is it written by an actor or director who has no experience with prose ... The drawback is that it would take me between six months and a year to really do a fine job and it's hard to imagine there's enough money out there to make me take the time away from film or theatre to do it," Allen said.

          The book is all set to detail his unconventional courtship with Mia Farrow, which comprised Allen's secretary calling her on the director's behalf. The director will also speak about the sensitive story of Allen flipping for Mia's daughter and the repercussions. "There was not a day in 40 years we didn't see each other or speak many times on the phone, not a day we didn't have dinner together for at least ten to 20 years, went through millions of ups and downs (not with each other, with the outside world) - they backed me to the hilt in my custody battle, I backed Jean Doumanian when she had a brutal tenure as producer of 'Saturday Night Live,' and yet we wound up in court never speaking to one another again," the actor-director said, while talking about his experiences with Doumanian.

          Going by the look of it, Allen's revelations promise "juicy real life dramas and conflicts, some more dramatic than any film I can make." "For this I want a lot of money. The ball is in your court," he was quoted as saying.

Liz Hurley's `nipples' and 'thong' 'bedazzle' one and all (Go To Top)

          London, Oct 16: Glamour icon Elizabeth Hurley shone brightest in a galaxy of stars at a royal bash in London. The English beauty hosted the high-profile Fashion Rocks catwalk show along with her comedian pal Denis Leary at the royal Albert Hall in aid of the Prince's Trust. According to Sun, the sexy actress `bedazzled' the guests including Prince Charles with her revealing pink dress.

          Pop star Robbie Williams said in good humour, "I only came here to see Liz Hurley's nipples. I can see her nipples - and even her thong." Beyonce Knowles dazzled in a shimmering gold Armani gown while musicians Sheryl Crow, Bryan Ferry, Bryan Adams, Bjork, Blue and Duran were also decked up in their finery for the show. Hollywood star and ex-sex symbol Richard Gere drew the biggest cheers from the thrilled crowd.

Depp finds favour with McGregor's wife (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 16: Instead of casting her Scottish hubby Ewan McGregor in the lead role for her debut flick 'For Love of Art,' French designer-turned-screenwriter Eve Mavrakis chose Johnny Depp. "She said, `Do you know who I'd really like to play the lead role? Johnny Depp.' So I said, `Thank you very much - that's nice," IMDb.com quoted the 'Moulin Rouge' star as saying. "It's a dark story about snuff art, in which people are actually killed for the sake of art. The lead role of the detective is a drinking, womanizing, despicable character and it's hard to get films made about characters who are not likeable," he added.

'I think my diamond bra has broken' (Go To Top)

          London, Oct 16: Super model Heidi Klum broke a jewel- studded bra that was supposed to be publicized by her on an American TV show. According to report, the fashion diva appeared on Jay Leno's show this week to show off Victoria Secret's diamond and sapphire outfit worth eight million dollars. Unfortunately few moments before she revealed the expensive lingerie, Heidi groaned, "I think my bra has broken." Funny man Martin Short and Leno rushed to help Heidi and tried to fix her bra. Like real gentlemen they also offered their jackets to Heidi to cover herself. The supermodel failed to fix her expensive bra but removed her knickers and showed it to a surprised audience. She was heard whispering, "We need to go to a commercial." The bra was repaired during the ad break and Heidi was able to model it properly for the audience. "Once filming had finished there were a lot of nervous faces backstage. The bra is going to the repair shop," an insider revealed.

Angelina not 'jolly' on being UN's rep (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 16: Actress Angelina Jolie isn't really thrilled about being an ambassador for the United Nations. The 'Lara Croft' babe, who has had more than her fair share of brickbats for allegedly possessing a bad reputation, is said to have approached the UN and asked them whether they were sure about taking her on. According to TeenHollywood.com, before Jolie signed up as a UN emissary, she made sure that the world body was confident about giving her the assignment, as she felt they were making a big mistake in asking her to work with them.

          The actress feared that her reputation as an oddball would cause problems for the respected international organization. "I sat them down and said, 'Do you realize that people think that I'm strange, and there are a lot of rumours about me and getting me involved might damage your reputation?'" But, Jolie soon realized she was the one taking the big risk. "I got my first death threat because I decided I wanted to donate some money to some people", she added.

Streisand wields magic powers, ala Deepak Chopra (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 16: There's a spiritual facet to our very own 'Funny Girl'. Barbara Streisand seems to be blessed with magical powers, especially when it comes to transforming the hues of flowers. According to a report, the crooner insists on having garden flowers coordinated with the colours of rooms which look on to them, because the effect lends "great depth and range" when she glances out of her window. All this is courtesy spiritual guru Deepak Chopra, who incidentally is also the singer-actress' close friend. Streisand learnt that she can will flowers to change colour if they're not quite right from Chopra.

          "He gave me a book that I didn't get a chance to read and I come to New York and the New York apartment had boxes of flowers and my bedroom was pale blue and pink with off-white, so the flowers that I planted outside this room could only be powder blue, white, off-white and there were many pink touches," she said. Apparently, Streisand called the girl who used to get flowers for her in New York and asked her to plant the rust-coloured and yellow flowers on the balcony. Since she had no choice, but to look at them, she closed her lace curtains to avoid looking at them. "My friend was sitting upstairs and she said, 'Oh, you changed the flowers.' The rust colour had faded to pink, the yellow had faded to white. I called Deepak and he says, 'You haven't read the book yet, look at chapter 14.' The chapter was called Desire. I think there's something so powerful about the will. It's very quiet and very inner. It's a strength that's deep in the core of your being," Streisand proudly stated.

-ANI