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Prince Charles starts India visit, haunted by book

          New Delhi, Oct 28: Prince Charles arrived in India on Tuesday to support efforts to save the former British colony's ancient heritage and promote its young entrepreneurs, but his visit is being clouded by a new book on Princess Diana.
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Lukewarm Pak response 'disappointing'

         New Delhi, Oct 28: India on Tuesday expressed disappointment over Pakistan's response to New Delhi's fresh proposals seeking to improve relations between the nuclear rivals. "Those comments made yesterday (by Pakistan) were unfortunate and not keeping in spirit with the present initiatives being made. We hope that Pakistan's response to our proposals will be constructive in substance and less robust in tone and vocabulary," India's foreign office spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters here.

          Pakistan on Monday had said it would respond positively to Indian proposals but internal consultations were underway to prepare a comprehensive response. Pakistan had also expressed regret over Indian Defence Minister's statement that it was New Delhi's final effort to rescue the peace process. New Delhi last week announced a dozen mostly symbolic proposals.

Orissa put on massive cyclone alert (Go To Top)

          Bhubaneswar, Oct 28: Weather officials in Orissa have issued high alert over a massive cyclone swirling in the Bay of Bengal. The storm packed with high winds is moving slowly toward the coasts of the low-lying state and is likely to hit the region on Wednesday or early Thursday. R.K Rout, a meteorologist with the state weather department, said the storm was centred 300 km from Gopalpur village. "The deep depression over central bay has moved to northwestern direction and centered towards our...on 28th near latitude 16.5 degrees north and longitude 85.5 degrees, some 300 km south of Gopalpur," Rout said in Bhubaneswar.

          At least 10,000 people died in Orissa when a powerful cyclone slammed its low-lying coast in 1999. Millions were left homeless. Worried villagers have suspended all fishing activity and sitting in fear as memories of the killer cyclone haunt them. Heavy rains accompanied by strong gusty winds have already hit the coastal districts. Authorities claim they have piled up relief rations and alerted coastal populations.

US Muslims call for boycott of Bush's Iftar dinner (Go To Top)

          Washington, Oct 28: A group of Muslim organisations in the US have called for a boycott of the invitation by President George W. Bush to an Iftar dinner at the White House on Tuesday (today) to mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan. About 100 people, most of them ambassadors from Muslim countries, have been invited to the dinner to be followed by a sunset prayer at the White House. The boycott call has been endorsed by three other organisations: Muslim Electorate's Council of America (MECA), The ILM Foundation, and Masjid Ibaadillah. The group cited various examples in support of its call for the boycott, including the appointment of Daniel Pipes, a staunch 'anti-Muslim' scholar, to the United States Institute of Peace, whose nomination was opposed by 'a number of Islamic, Christian, Jewish, and interfaith' groups.

          A recent invitation to the White House of a rabidly anti-Islam evangelist, Franklin Graham, and the White House's silence over General William Boykin's anti-Islam remarks were also mentioned in the group's press release who urged all Muslim leaders 'who will receive an invitation by the White House for President Bush's upcoming 2003 Iftaar dinner to decline the invitation, and support our boycott of this event.' The boycott call, however, will have little impact on the attendance at the event: first, because most of the invitees are foreign diplomats for whom declining the invitation will go against the diplomatic protocol; the other invitees are a handful of American Muslim leaders who happen to be die-hard Republicans and have never made any public statements opposing Bush's policies.

Ramadan month begins with fasting and prayers (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Oct 28: Devout Muslims across India began observing the holy month of Ramadan on Tuesday. Muslim faithfuls refrain from food, drink and sex during daylight hours and focus on devotion and good work throughout the month. Some also give food to the needy and alms to the poor. In Muslim dominated old quarters of Delhi, devouts could be seen having their only pre-dawn meal of the day. Later prayers were offered at the historic Jama Masjid.

         Ramadan is the ninth and the holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The start and end of the month for most Islamic countries depends on the sighting of the new moon with the naked eye. Considered auspicious for prayers, Muslims observe the month-long fasting called "roza". People also take the opportunity to spread the message of peace. Devouts believe prayers and fasting during Ramadan would secure them a place in heaven and also bring them face-to-face with Allah on the day of "kayamat" (Doomsday). Fasting has a very important place in Islam and has been made one of the fundamental requirements of the religion. It is considered the best exercise for self-restraint. Muslims believe that fasting is not only a trial of endurance but also a manifestation of their thankfulness to Allah.

Two terrorist attacks in J and K, two jawans killed (Go To Top)

          Srinagar, Oct 28: Two Indian soldiers were killed on Tuesday in terrorist attacks. One attack took place in Srinagar's Lal Chowk area and another in Doda district of Jammu. Meanwhile, at least 40 people, mostly civilians, were injured when militants lobbed grenades at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) picket at the BSNL (Bidesh Sanchar Nigam Limited) headquarters here on Tuesday. The brunt of the blast was near the main counter where telephone bills are collected, eyewitnesses said. Police and paramilitaries cordoned off the area immediately after the attack and have launched a search operation for the culprits, they added.

Vajpayee announces new projects for Nagaland (Go To Top)

          Kohima (Nagaland), Oct 28: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Tuesday announced several developmental programmes for Nagaland. Vajpayee, who is on a three-day visit to the state, said his government was committed to peace and development in the region. "Centre (federal government) will give support to the speedy and all-round development of Nagaland and the entire north-eastern regions. However, we need full support of the people, the political parties, social organisations and the governments in this region," Vajpayee said while addressing a public meeting in capital Kohima.

          The Prime Minister also appealed to extremist organisations in the North East to shun violence. "I appeal to the misguided organisations in this region which have taken to the path of extremism and violence to shun that path. The Centre is willing to have talks with all those who are ready to give up the gun culture and take to the culture of dialogue and democracy," Vajpayee said here Tuesday while inaugurating a stadium.

Beckham, a target of 'sinister' SAS surveillance operation (Go To Top)

          London, Oct 28: David Beckham is a shocked man these days. After receiving death threats, the England skipper is astonished by claims he was the target of a "sinister" SAS surveillance operation. According to a report in the 'Mirror', the accusations were made in a book by former Manchester United security chief Michael "Ned" Kelly, serialised in a Sunday newspaper. The series alleges that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ordered SAS soldiers to keep a tab on his star midfielder. Apparently, Ferguson wanted to be kept informed as to how long Beckham spent in London with wife Victoria. The 55-year old security chief further says that the manager was pretty sure that the celebrity footballer was not concentrating on his game and wanted to probe his off-the-pitch itinerary. "Fergie was adamant David should live within reasonable distance of the stadium. Tales of him commuting after he met Victoria would send Fergie into blind rages," Kelly said. Meanwhile, Beckham's long-time club Manchester United has rubbished Kelly's claims. However, one of Beckham's pals said: "David will be stunned."

Indian women win three medals but no gold in athletics (Go To Top)

          Hyderabad, Oct 28: Women athletes won three medals - two silver and a bronze - while Kazhakistan and China claimed three golds each out of the ten at stake, on the opening day of the three-day athletic competition at the Afro-Asian Games here on Tuesday. Bobby Aloysius and Gurmeet Kaur won a silver each in high-jump and javelin, respectively, while Madhuri Singh earned bronze in the 1500 m race. The Kerala girl finished second in the women's high-jump with an effort of 1.88. The gold was claimed by Kazakhstan's Marina Aitova, who also had a jump of 1.88. However, Aitova had cleared the distance in her second attempt as against the Indian crossing it in the third attempt. And that made all the difference. South Africa's G Marisca was third for bronze with a jump of 1.75m. Other Indian in the fray, Sahana Kumari, had a jump of 1.70m.

          In javelin, Gurmeet Kaur took the second spot with a throw of 53.37m, which she recorded in her very first attempt. South Africa's Vijoen Sunette bagged the gold with an effort of 55.49m. China's Ha Xiaoyan was third with a throw of 51.96m that came off her second try. In the 1500 m race, Madhuri Singh finished third with a time of 4:22.32. The gold and silver were picked up by Ethopian runners Birhane Geletu Hirpasa (4:17.36) and Kutre Ware Duecha (4:18.14).

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