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Dengue claims 10 lives in Delhi, three in Pune New Delhi/Pune, Oct 18: New Delhi and Pune appear to be in the grip of dengue, an unusually dangerous strain of tropical fever. In Delhi, ten people have died and 1250 other cases have been reported. Dengue fever has struck Pune for the fifth consecutive year. Doctors are worried as it usually peaks in October and November. This year dengue has already claimed three lives in the first two weeks of October alone. (See Travel News) Vajpayee rejects demand for self-determination in Kashmir Panipat, Oct 18: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday rejected Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's demand for self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir. In an apparent stiffening of public posturing, Vajpayee said Musharraf had no right to talk about democracy. "We have not done anything by force. Jammu and Kashmir people have chosen themselves to stay with us. But Pervez Musharraf sitting in Kuala Lumpur is asking for right for self- determination. Is there any democracy in Pakistan? Is there an elected government in Pakistan? I am an elected Prime Minister and I will be in power till the time you want me to. But in our neighbouring country, who has chosen anybody? There is the rule of the gun," Vajpayee told a gathering in Panipat after laying the foundation stone of Indian Oil Corporation's refinery expansion project. Vajpayee was referring to a demand made by Musharraf that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be given the right to self- determination on the destiny of Kashmir. Musharraf, in an interview on the sidelines of Islamic summit in Malaysia, had termed Vajpayee as a man of peace but added that another stronger leader in Vajpayee's Cabinet opposed the peace process. Musharraf said he was close to an agreement with Vajpayee during the July, 2001 Agra summit but it was scuttled due to behind- the-scenes pressure of a hardline leader Musharraf did not choose to name. Musharraf made no reference by name to any other Indian leader, but Vajpayee's deputy, Lal Krishna Advani, is regarded as being more hawkish than him. Musharraf reiterated that he wanted to initiate the peace process in a genuine and sincere manner but was not overtly eager to meet Vajpayee to settle their five-decade old dispute over the Muslim majority region of Kashmir. Vajpayee said whenever talks are held New Delhi would lay claims to areas under "Pakistani occupation". "One-third of Jammu and Kashmir is in the hands of Pakistan. It is a part of India. Whenever there will be talks on Kashmir, we will ask for this one-third of our land. We do not want anybody's land but we will also not give away our land to anybody," he said. Hand over 20 fugitives to begin new chapter: Advani to Pak (Go To Top) New Delhi, Oct 18: Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani said on Saturday a new chapter in the India-Pakistan relationship would begin if Islamabad hands over the 20 most wanted men. In the wake of the December 2001 terrorist raid on Parliament, New Delhi had submitted Islamabad the list of 20 gangsters and terrorists, who it said had been granted sanctuary in Pakistan. "I have laid stress on this that there will be a new chapter in the relationship of India and Pakistan if we are handed over the people who are in the list of 20," Advani said, addressing a function in New Delhi. India has welcomed the United States' decision to declare Dawood Ibrahim on top of the list of 20 men wanted by New Delhi, as a global terrorist. Immediately after the US move, a Pakistani diplomat was summoned by Indian foreign ministry and a de marche issued to act on the list submitted long back. "From our side we welcomed the announcement and called their (Pakistan's) representative here in India and have said that we again ask you to hand over Dawood Ibrahim and other fugitives," Advani said. Pakistan Information Minister has reiterated Ibrahim is neither a Pakistani national nor residing in Pakistan. The United States on Thursday named Ibrahim on its global terrorist list, linking him to the Al Qaeda and basing him in Pakistan, despite denials by Islamabad, one of Washington's key allies in the war on terror. The United States also said Ibrahim financed Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatist Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of two groups India blamed for a bloody 2001 raid on its parliament that triggered a military standoff with Pakistan and brought the two close to a fourth war. The U.S. declaration allows it to freeze Ibrahim's assets in the United States and Washington will now ask the United Nations to get its members to do the same. The U.S. Treasury's move appears to back India's charge that Dawood Ibrahim was hiding in Pakistan and strengthen New Delhi's hand in demanding he be handed over before any talks between the nuclear rivals, which came close to war last year. India accuses Ibrahim, son of a police constable, of masterminding a day-long wave of bombings in its financial heart, Mumbai, in 1993 that killed 260 people and injured 1,000. India and Pakistan began improving their hostile relationship in April, but peace efforts have bogged down since. Pakistan accuses India of dragging its feet and New Delhi says the process will remain stalled until Islamabad stops Kashmiri rebels slipping into Kashmir to join a revolt there and gives up Ibrahim and others on a list of 20 fugitives. Four MCC militants killed in Ranchi encounter (Go To Top) Khunti (Jharkhand), Oct 18: The police in Ranchi on Saturday killed four militants in an encounter in the thickly-forested area of Khunti. Police said the militants, who were once aligned with the banned leftist Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), were running an extortion racket. MV Rao, Ranchi's senior superintendent of police, said Lucas Behra and three of his associates would send extortion notes to people on the letterhead of the MCC. Cases of extortion are not uncommon in tribal-majority Jharkhand where the MCC outfit is active. The Maoists are waging an armed struggle against the government and the police for radical redistribution of land from the rich to poor farmers. Kalam embarks
on his first foreign tour (Go
To Top) New Delhi, Oct.18: President APJ Abdul Kalam left on Saturday afternoon on his first official visit abroad, which will see him touching down in three countries - the UAE, Sudan and Bulgaria - over the next six days. Kalam, 73, who assumed office last July, had expressed a desire to see India first before travelling abroad. In the nearly 15 months that he has been in office, he has visited 22 Indian states, including Jammu and Kashmir. He will be in the UAE from October 18 to 20, in Sudan from October 20 to 22 and in Bulgaria from October 22 to 24. His visit to the UAE will be the first by an Indian President after 26 years. The last President to visit the UAE was Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in 1976. Similarly, the visit to Sudan will be the first by an Indian President in 28 years. In the UAE, he will visit both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He will visit the Indian School, the Knowledge City developed by BITs, Pilani, and an exhibition of information technology companies, besides meeting captains of industry. It is also hoped that he will use his visit to resolve the issue of illegal Keralite migrants in the UAE. In Sudan, besides addressing the National Assembly and university students in Sudanese capital Khartoum, Kalam will meet the Sudanese Alumni of Indian Universities (an association of Sudanese students who have studied in India) and visit the remains of the ancient Egyptian Civilization on the banks of the River Nile. In the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, the President is expected to meet members of scientific community and exchange notes on issues of mutual interest with them. A meeting with Indologists in Bulgaria and an address to students at the University of Sophia is also on the agenda. Encounter with militants in Srinagar ends (Go To Top) Srinagar, Oct 18: Indian security forces gunned down two militants on Saturday morning after a nearly 24-hour long encounter near the new official residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Official sources confirmed that the militants were killed inside an adjoining shopping complex, thus ending the standoff that had caught the nation's attention since Friday when the militants threw a grenade and engaged in a ferocious gun battle with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Jammu and Kashmir police. Apart from the two militants, two BSF personnel were also killed in the gun battle. Ganguly fine after surgery (Go To Top) Kolkata, Oct 18: India captain Saurav Ganguly on Saturday morning underwent a minor surgery in the groin. Doctors at the Bellevue clinic here said Ganguly was feeling better and would fully recover in the next two days. "I met him after the surgery and lunch. He is fine and cheerful. We are giving him intravenous medicines and antibiotics," said Dr Pradeep Tandon. Ganguly's wife Dona was by his side in the hospital. Ganguly was dropped from the Indian team for the second Test against visitors New Zealand at Mohali, now into its third day, after he developed boils in the groin region. Vice-captain Rahul Dravid is leading the side in Ganguly's absence. Ganguly is likely to be available for the one-day tri-series also involving Australia due later this month. Sehwag's blitz is India's befitting reply to Kiwis (Go To Top) Mohali, Oct.18: Opener Virender Sehwag's thunderous unbeaten knock of 128 at the end of the third day's play in India's second Test against New Zealand brought cheer to the large crowd here on Saturday. Replying to New Zealand's mammoth total of 630 for six declared, India closed the third day's proceedings at a healthy 203 for one. Sehwag was batting on 128, while stand in captain Rahul Dravid was on nine. The lone Indian wicket to fall was that of opener Akash Chopra for a solid 60. He was caught at slip of the bowling of Daryl Tuffey. Earlier in the day, an out of form Craig McMillian hit an unbeaten 100, his sixth, to become the fourth Kiwi batsman to hit a century in the match. The others to do so were openers Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent and one drop batsman Scott Styris. Left arm spinner Daniel Vettori was two short of his fifty at the declaration of the New Zealand first innings. McMillian's 100 came off 130 balls and was studded with one six and 11 boundaries. His overnight partner and wicket-keeper Robbie Hart was bowled by leg spinner Anil Kumble in the third over of the morning for 11. Kumble ended up with three wickets for 181 after bowling a marathon spell of 66 overs. It was the most that he had bowled and the most runs that he had conceded in any Test at home in his career spanning 78 Tests so far. The last time he was belted around was against Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in 1997 when he went for 223 runs off 72 overs. Scores at the end of play was as follows: New Zealand first innings: M Richardson c Kumble b Harbhajan 145; L Vincent lbw b Kumble 106; S Styris lbw b Kumble 119; S Fleming b Tendulkar 30; N Astle c Patel b Harbhajan 18; C McMillan not out 100; R Hart b Kumble 11; D Vettori not out 48; Extras (b-21 lb-28 nb-3 w-1) 53; Total (for six wickets declared, 98.3 overs) 630; FOW: 1/231, 2/382, 3/433, 4/447, 5/507, 6/540. Bowling: Zaheer Khan 26-8-95-0 (nb-2 w-1); L Balaji 30-10-78-0 (nb-1); Sachin Tendulkar 22-3-55-1; Anil Kumble 66-17-181-3; Harbhajan Singh 48-7-149-2; Virednder Sehwag 5.3-1-22-0; Yuvraj Singh 1-0-1-0. India 1st Innings: 203 for one in 69 overs; V. Sehwag batting 128; A. Chopra caught Astle bowled Tuffey 60; Rahul Dravid batting 9 Now Lee out of Aussie tour of India (Go To Top) Sydney, Oct.18: The Australia cricket team received a further setback ahead of its tour to India on Saturday when pace bowler Brett Lee joined Glen McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Stuart MacGill and Darren Lehmann on the injured players' list. Lee was ruled out of the side after he tore an abdominal muscle early on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Sydney Cricket Ground here. Cricket Australia announced the decision after Lee was taken to the St Vincent's Hospital for an MRI scan. The injury has also rendered Lee unfit to play in the remainder of the Zimbabwe series. The Australians leave for India on October 22.
Brad Pitt will not drop his pants (Go To Top) Washington, Oct. 18: Heartthrob Brad Pitt has disappointed his female fans by confirming that he is wearing underwear beneath his short skirts in the upcoming historical epic Troy. According to TeenHollywood, the 'Oceans Eleven' actor will be attired in traditional Greek dress in the epic drama. But the handsome husband of Friends star Jennifer Aniston is relieved that he will be able to wear pants underneath his skirt unlike the Greek warriors of the bygone era. He says, "Apparently the original guys didn't. But we have an R- rated film, so we won't be doing that. I don't know how these guys fought in these things. It must have been incredibly dangerous. Talk about a kill shot!" Brad Pitt also laughed off reports that a stand-in was used for leg shots. He giggled, "How would you even do a leg double?" Can Brad and Jen better Ben and Jen? (Go To Top) London, Oct 18: Following in the footsteps of Oscar-winner Ben Affleck and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez, yet another celebrity couple is all set to star in a flick together. According to the Sun, the 'Mexican' star Brad Pitt and his wife Jennifer Aniston, of 'Friends' fame, are planning to make a film about murdered US reporter Daniel Pearl after buying the movie rights. Daniel, who used to work for the Wall Street Journal, was killed by extremists in Pakistan in 2002 while he was working on a story on the militant outfit al-Qaeda. The only time the Pitts worked together was when Brad made a guest appearance in his wife's hit TV show. And as for Ben and J.Lo, their first film together 'Gigli' turned out to be a major disaster. It's ta-ta to tattoos for Angelina Jolie (Go To Top) London, Oct. 18: Sex symbol Angelina Jolie has had her body tattoos, including her ex-husband Billy Bob's name, removed. In the past, her tattoos have received equal attention as her blockbusters. However, the pouty-lipped star made it clear while on a visit to Madrid, that there will be no tattoos on her body in the near future. Jolie said that she is not completely over with men and tattoos, but found it troublesome to get Billy Bob's name erased. The only recent tattoo sported by her is ancient Khmer script on her left shoulder. According to Hello, the dragon tattoo dedicated to her first husband and rumoured current boyfriend Jonny Lee Miller is very much intact. "Right now, the only man in my life is my son," she says of her adopted son Maddox. She is also a goodwill ambassador for the UN, and has a brand new public image of a mother and humanitarian that is a clear departure from her earlier eccentric star avtar. Angelina is in Madrid to promote her latest movie 'Beyond Borders'. She plays the role of a wealthy socialite who falls in love with an aid worker and later travels with him to Africa. The movie that has Clive Owen starring opposite her, will be released in America this month. Meg Ryan sheds her clothes and her sweetheart image (Go To Top) London, Oct 18: The syrupy sweet Meg Ryan will be seen in a new avatar in her latest film, 'In The Cut'. The French Kiss star is playing a writing teacher in the film who has an affair with a kinky cop investigating a string of murders. Meg was wearing a strapless black gown at the premiere of the film that evoked a lot of curiosity. The successful actress of romantic comedies like 'Sleepless in Seattle' has consciously taken on a steamy role to break free from her established image of the cute next-door girl. According to reports by Hello, Meg has said, "I've been waiting for something like this for a long time". She got the opportunity to play the sexually charged role of a seductress after another Hollywood favourite, Nicole Kidman, dropped out of the film. Director Jane Campion has said that the pretty blonde was not exactly "one of the ones I would have been fishing for" when it came time to re-cast the much sought after role. But Meg was very enthusiastic to audition for the coveted role in the film. She says, "That was fine with me. I just really wanted to meet Jane." Meg has received rave reviews from critics, including her co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh who is also among the star's newfound fans and calls her performance "shockingly good". Mark Ruffalo, the actor with whom Meg has enacted steamy scenes is aware of the effect that this movie will have on her sweetie- pie image. He says, "To be talking dirty to America's sweetheart, you're really playing with something iconoclastic." Sadie Frost goes public with her affair (Go To Top) Washington, Oct 18: Sadie Frost is moving on, and life seems to be treating her good after a while. She has even become bold enough to appear in public with new lover Jackson Scott for the first time. According to People News, flamenco guitarist Scott was seen accompanying his older woman to Jay Joplin's White Cube party at Sketch. Previous shots of the couple have usually been tele-photo lens quality, poolside romping at Spanish hotels or in the slightly more exotic environs of London's Regent's Park. Supermodel Kate Moss introduced Frost to Scott when Frost was taking a breather from her troubled marriage to Jude Law, from whom she secured a divorce in August. Jackson's mother was at first slightly sceptical about the relationship her 22-year-old boy was getting into. 'He's young and he's enjoying himself, but I can't see it lasting', she said when she first discovered her baby boy was seeing a 37-year old woman. However, she promptly changed her tune later on. 'I bet like most 22-year-olds dating a woman in her thirties, he's having the time of his life. So what if Sadie is older than him? If it makes them both happy, then good for them". -ANI |