News

ICC investigating 3rd Pak-Eng ODI: report

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London, September 18: The match-fixing scandal continues to get bigger in proportion and Pakistan remains at the center of it with reports now emerging that the ICC is investigating the team’s third one-dayer against England yesterday as it might have been rigged by “illegal betting syndicates in India and Dubai.”

British tabloid ‘The Sun’ claimed that the ICC “acted after its probe exposed evidence apparently showing that bookies knew details of Pakistan’s innings before the match even began.”

US cartoonist of Prophet forced into hiding

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Seattle, September 18: A Seattle cartoonist who stirred up a religious storm with a tongue-in-cheek encouragement to draw images of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has gone into hiding after a threat to her safety.

According to Seattle Weekly, which originally published an illustration by cartoonist Molly Norris entitled “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day,” Norris was told by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to “go ghost.”

Prime minister to visit Hyderabad in October

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Hyderabad, September 18: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Hyderabad on October 19 to take part in a couple of programmes.

He will lay the foundation-stone for the prestigious Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) campus at Gachibowli here, sources in Chief Minister’s Office said today.

Moderate quake rocks Kashmir

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Srinagar, September 18: A 6.5-magnitude quake rocked the Kashmir valley including Srinagar forcing the people to rush out of their homes late last night.

Aamir Ali, the officer on special duty in the office of Divisional Commissioner who also head the Disaster Management in the state, told UNI today that the tremors were felt at 0051 hrs and lasted several seconds.

He said its epicentre was in Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan.

People rushed out of their houses in panic and took shelter in open spaces despite cold winds, he added.

Anti-burqa bill tabled in Italian parliament

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Rome, September 18: Italy’s anti-immigrant North League party has introduced a bill in the lower house of parliament seeking ban on burqa, the full body veil worn by Muslim women.

According to the legislation, wearing burqa will be punishable by a year in prison, fines of 150 to 300 euros for the wearer and 30,000 euros for anyone forcing a woman to don the face-covering Islamic garment.

Anyone coercing a minor or a disabled woman into wearing a burqa will be eligible for a 60,000-euro fine.

Bookie Majeed’s brother was agent of several Pak players

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Islamabad, September 18: Alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed’s links with the Pakistan cricket team seem to run quite deep as his brother Azhar had also acted as an agent for many former and current cricketers of the country.

Mazhar, an agent for some members of the Pakistan team, had claimed in a British tabloid’s sting operation that he paid bribes to the suspended trio of Test captain Salman Butt and pacers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir to do spot fixing in the Lord’s Test against England.

US scientist, wife held for selling N-weapon detail

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Washington, September 18: A US scientist and his wife have been arrested for passing on secret information to a man posing as Venezuelan spy to help that country develop a nuclear weapon, the US justice department has said.

“The indictment does not allege that the government of Venezuela or anyone acting on its behalf sought or was passed any classified information, nor does it charge any Venezuelan government officials or anyone acting on their behalf with wrongdoing,” the department said in a statement Friday.

Tight security put in place for Ganesh immersion

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Hyderabad, September 18: The city police have made tight security arrangements for Ganesh idol immersion between September 18 and 23 here.

As many as 1,400 policemen and 29 cranes will be deployed on Tankbund and NTR Marg, Central Zone Deputy Police Commissioner Akun Sabharwal said here yesterday.

Thirteen DSPs, 18 Inspectors, 56 Sub-Inspectors, 92 Sub-Inspector (trainees) and 1,200 men will be pressed in two shifts.

PF asks to Defeat Communal Agenda of Sangh Parivar on Babri Masjid issue

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Bhopal, September 18: (Pervez Bari))The two-day National Executive Council, (NEC), meeting of Popular Front of India held at Green Valley at Manjeri in Kerala has expressed its faith in Indian judiciary and exhorted all sections of the society and the government to accept the court verdict in Babri Masjid title suite case.

Voters list recovered from Bihar jail

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Patna, September 18: A voters list, a mobile phone and some cash were seized from inmates of a Bihar jail early Saturday, police said.

The four-page voters list and other objectionable items were recovered from the Siwan district jail in Siwan district.

“During a surprise raid, we recovered a voters list ahead of the upcoming assembly polls,” a police official told IANS on phone.
–IANS

‘When you are honest, you have no fear’

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Tehran, September 18: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that when you are honest, you have no fear.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks in an interview with two Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reporters televised on Friday.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Caste enumeration from June 2011: Sonia

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Chennai, September 18: AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has informed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that caste enumeration would be conducted as a separate exercise from June next year.

In a letter to Mr Karunanidhi, copy of which was made available to media here today, Ms Gandhi said the caste enumeration exercise would be launched in June next year and completed in a phased manner by September, 2011.

Ms Gandhi was responding to Mr Karunanidhi’s letter dated August 14, regarding enumeration of castes in the ongoing census, 2011.

Police register case against YSR kin, four others

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Kadapa, September 18: Kadapa Mayor P Ravindranath Reddy and four others persons were booked for their alleged involvement in illegal transportation of fertilisers.

Ravindranath Reddy and his others partners in a fertiliser plant were booked under IPC Section 420 (cheating) and relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act, Circle Inspector Venkatadri told PTI.

Police had caught six lorries, with 102 tons of fertilisers worth Rs 8.21 lakh, at Alankanupalli near here on Tuesday last while they were allegedly being transported illegally to Anantapur district.

ABVP activists baton-charged in Chandigarh

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Chandigarh, September 18: Police Friday baton-charged Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad (ABVP) activists, protesting against the education policies of the Congress-led Haryana government, after they refused to disperse.

Nearly 300 members of the ABVP, affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had gathered at the rally ground in Sector 25 and shouted slogans against the government.

After the protest, ABVP members started moving towards Haryana Raj Bhawan, as they intended to submit a memorandum to the governor.

Rocket strikes Kabul hours before voting

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Kabul, September 18: A rocket struck this Afghanistan capital hours before polling for the country’s new parliament began Saturday, police said.

According to DPA, no one was injured in the incident, which occurred around 4 a.m. (2330 GMT, Friday), said Abdul Zahir, head of the criminal investigative department of Kabul police.

Eunuch gets a respectable job

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Uttar Pradesh, September 17: Dressed in a sari and holding a book in one hand, Lata writes a question on the blackboard as her primary class students look on eagerly. There is nothing unusual in this – except that the 35-year-old is a eunuch.

Instead of being limited to singing and dancing on social occasions like most other eunuchs in India. Lata teaches at the Central Public School in Mugalsarai town of Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh.

“A eunuch donning the role of a teacher is highly unlikely, as in Indian society the community is subjected to mockery and ridicule,” Lata said.

Humilated BHU student awaits justice

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Varanasi, September 17: The four students of Benaras Hindu University, who are accused of ragging their physically challenged junior in October, 2009 in Varanasi, have been arrested by the police on Friday.

The incident came into light after the vice chancellor of the university D.P Singh on Wednesday asked the officials to take action against the culprits.

Earlier, the accused students on October 13, 2009 stripped, assaulted and then filmed the victim naked. They even circulated the MMS to other students of the university.

Nishank demands 25 pc power

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Uttarakhand, September 17: Demanding 25 per cent of power generated from 2400 MM Tehri Hydel project, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank on Friday asked THDC officials to compensate the damages done due to increasing the water level of its reservoir that posed threat to human habitation.

During a meeting, Nishank also asked the THDC officials to carry out a survey of the area, to be submerged when the reservoir level reaches 835 meter, and send a proposal to the Centre for compensation and rehabilitation of the affected population, an official release said.

Anti-American protests in Jammu

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Srinagar, September 17: Muslims on Friday held anti-American protests across Jammu region to give vent to their anger against the alleged desecration of the Quran in Florida, US, last week.

“Down with America”, “Down with imperialism” were the slogans raised at different mosques after the Friday prayers.

1-0 lead for Brazil in Davis Cup

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Brazil, September 17: Brazil’s No. 1 Thomaz Bellucci outlasted India’s Rohan Bopanna 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 in the marathon first rubber of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tennis tie and put visitors 1-0 ahead at the SDAT Stadium here Friday.

Thomaz Bellucci, down 2-5 in the fifth set, saved three matchpoints to beat Rohan Bopanna 6-7 (2), 7-6 (7), 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 in the first singles to give Brazil a 1-0 lead over India in the Davis Cup World Group playoff here on Friday.

Afghanistan security beefed up ahead of elections

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Afghanistan, September 17: Afghan voters were receiving contradictory messages on Friday, less than 24 hours before parliamentary elections, with threats from the Taliban who were calling for a boycott and reassurances from government officials, promising adequate security.

Extra police and soldiers were deployed throughout the country to prevent the Taliban from derailing Saturday’s vote, including new checkpoints across Kabul.

Krishna likely to meet Qureshi at UN

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Washington, September 17: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are likely to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna leaves for New York on Saturday on a 10-day visit during which he will represent India at high-segment meetings of the UNGA and other associated events.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who is currently in Washington to firm up the agenda for US President Barack Obama’s maiden visit to India in November, will join Krishna in New York Monday.

Modi celebrates birthday by wining poll

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Mumbai, September 17: BJP on Friday broke into the Congress bastion bagging the Kathlal assembly seat for the first time in five decades winning the by-poll, giving Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi a victory gift on his 61st birthday.

Kanu Dabhi won by over 21,000 votes defeating his nearest Congress rival Ghelabhai Zala. Dabhi got 62,120 votes while Zala polled 40,573 votes. With this win, the strength of BJP in the 182-member state assembly increased to 122. The main opposition Congress has 54 MLAs while others hold six seats.

Indian Grand Prix will be spectacular, feels Hamilton

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Chennai, September 17: For the 2008 Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, it was just another spin on the race track as he enthralled a fair-sized crowd with a few “hot laps”, and did some doughnuts in an AMG Mercedes SL63 car at the MMST circuit here Friday.

Hamilton said he looked forward to participating in the Indian Grand Prix next year in Delhi and was confident that it would be a spectacular event given the following Formula One enjoys in the country.

RSS approves of HC verdict on akhada plea

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New Delhi, September 17: The Rashtriya Swayam sewak Sangh said the Allahabad High Court’s refusal to defer the judgement in the 60-year-old Ayodhya case is a right decision as impediments were sought to be put in the judicial process to delay the verdict.

The court has done the right thing by dismissing the application seeking postponement of the verdict, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav told reporters in New Delhi.

“This was an unnecessary attempt to delay the verdict,” he told reporters commenting on the High Court’s dismissal of the plea by Ramesh Chandra Tripathi.