Archives

We're ready for talks as well as war: Pak to India

          Multan, Oct 27: Pakistan is well prepared for dialogue as well as war with India, the country's Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said. "Islamabad would not beg for dialogue," the News quoted the minister as telling reportes here on Sunday.

          About the possibility of sending troops to Iraq, he said that Pakistan has told the US in clear terms that it would not send its troops to Iraq without the National Assembly's (NA) approval. Responding to a question regarding tabling of the constitution amendment package in NA, he said there was 50:50 chances. Hailing President Pervez Musharraf's regime, he said that the Army had been like a nursery school for the politicians. Question the very logic of those who oppose Musharraf's regime, he said, "a number of politicians who remained a part of General Ziaul Haq's cabinet, a martial law administrator, but are opposing General Musharraf. Under what logic?" PML-N acting president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, PPP senior vice- chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, JI Naib Amir Prof Abdul Ghafoor, Minister of State for Agriculture Malik Sikandar Bosan, Multan District Nazim Riaz Hussein Qureshi were also present on the occasion.

Bin Laden's hideout identified: Intelligence report

          Lahore, Oct 27: The world's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden is hiding in the difficult terrain of mountains northeast of Kabul, an intelligence report prepared by the International Security Assistance Force has said. The classified intelligence document said Laden is living with the Guzer tribe, "which is providing militarily support to him". "Bin Laden could hardly ask for a better hiding place. It's impossible to access the area where he is hiding," the Daily Times quoted the report as saying while referring to the mountains covered with shrubs and smugglers' trails. Bin Laden has been on the run since the US-led coalition entered Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Over 30 killed as bomb blasts rock Baghdad (Go To Top)

         Baghdad, Oct 27: More than 30 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in central Baghdad on Monday. The attacks took place at the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross and four police stations across the city. It was the bloodiest day in Baghdad since Saddam Hussein's regime fell to US-led forces in April, according to a BBC report. The first bomb kept in an ambulance exploded as it entered the gates of the Red Cross building. The other attacks came within an hour. The bomb attacks followed a rocket attack on Sunday on the heavily-guarded Rashid Hotel, where US Deputy Secretary of State Paul Wolfowitz had a miraculous escape. However, a US colonel was killed and 17 people injured. Grey smoke billowed over the scene of the attack on the ICRC, which happened at about 0830 (0530 GMT). Ambulances rushed to the scene and helicopters circled overhead as US troops moved to seal off the area.

          Twelve people died in the attack, the ICRC said, including two Iraqi security guards and several passers-by. Witnesses said the driver of the vehicle was among the dead. More than 20 people were killed in separate car bomb attacks at the four police stations. At a fifth police station, officers captured a suicide bomber before he could detonate his vehicle. A spokeswoman in Baghdad said she could not understand why the ICRC had been targeted after two decades of humanitarian work in Iraq. "We believe we have to stay here because we have an important job to do for the Iraqis," said the spokeswoman. The US military said on Monday that three US soldiers had been killed and four wounded in two separate attacks.

          The attacks raised to 112 the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq since President George Bush declared major hostilities over on 1 May. The US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, said that coalition forces were facing increasingly sophisticated attacks from those opposed to a foreign military presence in the country. Secretary of State Colin Powell admitted that the US did not anticipate such sustained attacks in Iraq.

Daler appears in Patiala court, demands CBI probe (Go To Top)

          Patiala, Oct 27: Pop singer Daler Mehndi, accused in an immigration racket, appeared before a court in Patiala on Monday. The Punjabi singer was questioned by a Special Investigation Team in connection with a case of alleged illegal human trafficking against him and four others. Mehndi, who has been criticised by his fans and colleagues, had to struggle for half an hour to make his way through a large crowd raising slogans against him. During investigations, a harassed Mehndi demanded a CBI inquiry into the case. "I have come here because of the court's order and to help in the investigations. I want a CBI inquiry to be done. It (the case) is linked to a lot of things. But I would always abide by the court's orders," he said.

           A Delhi court had on October 23 directed Mehndi to appear before the court in Patiala and granted him interim anticipatory bail for 10 days. The questioning pertains to the documents seized from Mehndi's Delhi premises. The documents show his alleged involvement in illegal human trafficking by taking people in his music troupe for consideration and then leaving them abroad, including in the USA and Canada. Daler is also expected to be questioned regarding half a dozen passports seized from his Delhi office and about 31 similar complaints received by the local police.

Akhnoor encounter ends, two militants killed (Go To Top)

          Akhnoor (J-K), Oct 27: Security forces on Monday killed two militants after a 12-hour fierce encounter in the border town of Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. The militants, suspected to be involved in the explosion of a train in Jathwal district on Sunday night, were holed up inside an auditorium. Army officials said exchange of fire between the two sides started after the security forces spotted the militants near a bridge.

Vajpayee arrives in Nagaland (Go To Top)

          Kohima (Nagaland), Oct 27: Several Naga tribesmen and women welcomed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Monday as he arrived at the airport of the insurgency-torn Nagaland. Vajpayee's first three-day visit to the northeastern state is being seen as a step towards ending one of the world's longest revolts, in which the Nagas have been demanding a single Naga territory. Although most Nagas live in Nagaland, there are large populations of the fierce hill people in the neighbouring states of Manipur and Assam, and more than 10,000 came from Manipur for Vajpayee's arrival on Monday at the start of the three-day visit.

          Naga guerrillas have fought for secession from India for more than half a century but in 1997 agreed to a ceasefire and have held several rounds of talks to end the conflict in the mainly Christian mountain state bordering Myanmar. Vajpayee is expected to push the peace process, which bogged down because the main separatist group, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah), insists any settlement must include Naga areas outside the state. But their demand has provoked angry protests in the past in Manipur and Assam, unwilling to lose any territory.

'Bhai Dooj' celebrated (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 27: "Bhai Dooj", a festival for brothers, was celebrated on Monday with enthusiasm. In New Delhi, women started visiting their parents' place early in the morning to greet their brothers. The festival celebrates the bond and affection between sisters and brothers. Sisters apply vermilion on their brothers' forehead and wish them long life. "Bhai dooj is a very important festival for us. We do this for the long life of our brothers," said Rajbala, a young woman who offered special prayers for her brothers. The festival falls on the second day after Diwali which was celebrated all over the country on Saturday. After the rituals, brothers give gifts to their sisters.

          Legend has it that when Lord Rama returned to his kingdom, the womenfolk greeted him and his soldiers by applying vermilion on their foreheads. It has become a tradition since then.

BB Lyngdoh, 81, is dead (Go To Top)

          Shillong, Oct 27: Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Brington Buhai Lyngdoh died on Monday here after a protracted illness. He was 81. He is survived by a son and a daughter. Lyngdoh had been suffering from chest infection and pneumonia for a few weeks. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital here on October 21, his family said. Earlier, he had undergone treatment at a hospital in Guwahati. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, his family added.

Tennis gold grabbed by India (Go To Top)

          Hyderabad, Oct 27: India humbled Nigeria 2-0 to win the men's tennis team gold at the first Afro-Asian Games here on Monday. Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna put India into the lead, trouncing Rotimi Jagede in straight sets. In a one-sided match, the Indian conceded only four games to his rival before emerging winner 6-2, 6-2. Prakash Amritraj clinched the second singles and sealed the gold for the country as he outplayed Sunday Maku again in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. This was the second gold for India in the Games so far, after Gagan Narang fetched the won the 10-m air rifle shooting.

Advani returns to hero's welcome (Go To Top)

          Mumbai, Oct 27: Pankaj Advani has returned to a hero's welcome after winning the World Snooker Championship in China recently. Advani defeated fifth seeded Saleh Mohammad of Pakistan 11-6 in Saturday's final of the World Snooker Championship played at Jiangmen. The 19-year old college student from Bangalore emulated the feat of Omprakash Bharadwaj Agarwal, who had won the crown in 1984. No Indian had since then entered the last four stage of the championship.

           With this feat under his belt, Advani, a professional in billiards, has set his sights as turning professional in snooker too and play more international tournaments in the near future. "It was really tough, I am going to work really hard. It's different level, maybe in two years time if I am mature I will play more international tournaments in the near future," Advani said. The reigning national champion, Advani accounted for several seeds on his way to the top. They included eighth seeded Elfed Evans of Wales 5-4 in the pre-quarter-finals, top seeded Paithoon Phonbun of Thailand 6-2 in the quarter-finals, and fifth seeded Brendan O'Donoghue of Ireland 8-3 in the semi- finals. The government has already sanctioned Advani a grant to train abroad and he will soon go to England with the aim to further improve his game.

Kapil inaugurates cricket academy in Chandigarh (Go To Top)

          Chandigarh, Oct 27: Cricket legend Kapil Dev on Monday inaugurated a cricket academy in Chandigarh. The academy, started by Chandigarh Cricket Administration in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), would train young cricketers in the city. Kapil Dev, who had honed his skills at the same stadium, gave useful tips to the young cricketers. "It will be great if children here get a chance to play cricket, because a lot of children do not even get a chance. It's more competition, more cricket, it is good for the local boys. I think its a good step," Dev said. The BCCI would train the group of 40 boys and the local administration would give infrastructure support. Officials said more trainees would be added later on. "I hope to give training to these boys in under-17 and under-19 categories at the stadium. Later on we would also introduce the under-15 component and Kapil Dev's guidance will be available with us throughout," said Vivek Attray, the Chandigarh administration's nodal officer for cricket. Besides Kapil Dev and Chetan Sharma, the city has produced India's present crop of stars like Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Harbhajan Singh and Chetan Sharma.

Bottomlines

Go To Top