News

LeT planning strike ahead of Ayodhya verdict

by

New Delhi, September 17: Ahead of the Ayodhya verdict on September 24, the Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been planning major strike in the country, Intelligence Bureau (IB) has warned.

In terror alert, IB has said that terrorist outfit is preparing for blasts at various places before the judgment on Ayodhya which is scheduled for 24 September 2010.

According to the IB inputs, the Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba has also asked his cadres and sleeper cell to be ready for strikes in India.

Organizations of Telangana observe ‘Black Day’

by

Hyderabad, September 17(Siasat News): More than 20 organisations of Telangana region observed that September 17 has no significance other than the day to be celebrated as ‘Black Day’.

They declared the announcement made by some political parties and organizations to celebrate Telangana Independence Day as absurd, because on September 17 1948 Nizam himself had announced the permission for the military to enter into the state on radio. And in its aftermath, more than 2 lakh Muslims were killed in military operations.

French veil ban won’t endanger NATO troops: Morin

by

Washington, September 17: France’s plans to ban the full-face veil in public have not placed NATO troops in Afghanistan in greater danger, French Defence Minister Herve Morin said on Thursday.

French and other forces in the US-led coalition already were under serious threat in the war, and the French parliament’s backing for a law barring Burqa or Niqab would not make a difference, Morin told reporters after talks at the Pentagon.

Afghan election to test government reforms

by

Kabul, September 17: More than a year after a flawed presidential election, Afghans go to the polls Saturday for a parliamentary contest considered a test of whether President Hamid Karzai’s government can now run a fair vote and prevent insurgents from disrupting the balloting.

The results of the races for the relatively weak legislature are unlikely to affect Karzai, who has passed much legislation by decree when parliament was in recess.

Pakistan condemns Indian ‘brutality’ in Kashmir

by

Islamabad, September 17: Pakistan on Friday accused arch rival India of “brutality” and condemned its deadly crackdown on protestors clamouring for an end to Indian rule in Kashmir.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the brutality and the blatant use of force by Indian security forces,” said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

“Gross and systematic abuse of human rights and Indian repression in Kashmir must end. Pakistan calls upon the government of India to exercise restraint,” he said, describing killings, arrests and detentions as “unacceptable”.

Telangana liberation day faces opposition

by

Hyderabad, September 17: Telangana Liberation Day to be celebrated today by TRS and other parties faces opposition from various quarters including Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen.

The Telangana Muslim Joint Action Committee (TMJAC), which is however not opposed to separate statehood, but asked the TRS not to celebrate the liberation day as it hurts “Muslim sentiments and reminds them the massacre of thousands of Muslims by the army during the merger of Hyderabad state into Indian Union.”

1 in 7 Americans lives in poverty

by

Washington, September 17: The ranks of the working-age poor climbed to the highest level since the 1960s as the recession threw millions of people out of work last year, leaving one in seven Americans in poverty.

The overall poverty rate climbed to 14.3 percent, or 43.6 million people, the Census Bureau said on Thursday in its annual report on the economic well-being of U.S. households. The report covers 2009, President Barack Obama’s first year in office.

The poverty rate climbed from 13.2 percent, or 39.8 million people, in 2008.

Andhra High Court still tense, fasting lawyers removed

by

Hyderabad, September 17: The situation continued to be tense at the Andhra Pradesh High Court Friday after police forcibly removed three lawyers from Telangana who had been on fast for the last four days while a judge withdrew his resignation, submitted to protest the attitude of lawyers.

Over 2,000 policemen were deployed around the court complex as authorities moved to resume court work after three days of protest and violence by Telangana lawyers, who are demanding 42 percent share for the region in the appointments of law officers.

Experts warn of earthquakes in Bangladesh

by

Dhaka, September 17: Scientists at the Dhaka University Earth Observatory have recorded 10 tremors in the last one week and warned that more earthquakes can hit the country anytime.

The warning comes after a moderate quake, whose epicentre was at the India-Bangladesh border, shook parts of Bangladesh last Friday.

Two of the milder ones with the epicentre near the national capital Dhaka and others with the epicentre at Chandpur in southern Bangladesh were also recorded on Eid day, according to the New Age newspaper.

SDPI vehemently criticizes attacks & burning of Christian properties

by

Bhopal, September 17:(Pervez Bari) The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), has vehemently criticized the attacks on Christian properties and institutions in some places in Kashmir Valley and in Maler Kotla in Punjab.

SDPI national general secretary A. Sayeed in a Press release said that SDPI has taken a strong note of the happenings in respect to attacks on Christian properties and institutions in some places in Kashmir and in Maler Kotla in Punjab. The authorities concerned should take stern legal action against the culprits, he urged.

Senior Pakistani politician killed in UK

by

London, September 17: Imran Farooq, a leading member of Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan’s third largest political party, has been stabbed to death outside his London home last evening, the police said.

The Metropolitan Police said they were called to reports of a serious assault in Green lane at Edgware in north London.

“When officers arrived, they found an Asian male, aged 50, suffering from multiple stab wounds and head injuries. He was treated by paramedics at the scene but was pronounced dead at 18.37 hours (local time),” a Met Police spokesman said.

Prohibitory orders issued in Hyderabad

by

Hyderabad September 17 (Siasat News): Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan today issued orders prohibiting every kind of strikes, public meetings or processions, for the next 11 days. According to a notice issued by the police department the prohibitory orders will be in force from September 17 till September 28.

A day ahead of Telangana Liberation Day celebrations announced by some political and prejudiced organizations the prohibitory orders were put into force from 6 pm in the evening on September 16.

26/11 victim’s wife fights for survival

by

Mumbai, September 17: Two years ago, she would relax after her children left for school. But now she has to take her husband – a victim of the 26/11 attack – to hospital, run around to get compensation and look for a job.Her most immediate worry is which friend will lend her money.

Thirty-one-year-old Baby Chowdhary’s husband Shyamsunder, a biscuit factory worker, was grievously injured in a blast carried out by Pakistani terrorists in Vile Parle on the night of 26/11. He recovered only to fall very sick again six months ago.

Kashmir: An Open Letter To Rahul Gandhi

by

Dear Shri Rahul Gandhi,

Chennai, September 17: The All-Party Conference (APC), convened by Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh, at New Delhi on September 15,2010, to discuss measures to end the current violence in Jammu & Kashmir ended with a single agreement to send an all-party delegation headed by Shri P.Chidambaram, the Home Minister, to the State for an on-the-spot study of the situation. After it returns and submits its report, another All-Party Conference is proposed to be held to discuss its recommendations.

Obama names three Indians to panel for Asian Americans

by

Washington, September 17: President Barack Obama has named three Indian-Americans to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a body to help them get increased access to and participation in federal programmes.

“Our nation will be well-served by the skill and dedication these men and women bring to their new roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead,” Obama said Wednesday announcing the appointment of 16 members of the advisory body.

The three Indian Americans are Farooq Kathwari, Sunil Puri and Amardeep Singh.

Flintoff expects England to win Ashes without him

by

London, September 17: “The decision to end my career came yesterday (Wednesday) after consultation with medical advisers,” Flintoff said. “Having been told that my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of cricket, I had no alternative but to retire.”

For all Flintoff’s great deeds on behalf of England, it was clear some of his former team-mates regarded persistent talk about his possible return as an irritating distraction.

Andhra beat China in Pentangular Tourney

by

Vijayawada, September 17: Host Andhra defeated China by two wickets in the ACA Challenger Pentangular Tournament being played here today.

Batting first, China made 108 runs by losing seven wickets in the stipulated 40 overs.

The top scorer for China was Sun Huan 24 in 63 balls which included two boundaries into the fence. For Andhra, Umme Salna Banu was the most successful bowler by picking up three wickets after giving 20 runs in her spell.

Suspected bookie sent Irfan Pathan expensive gifts

by

New Delhi, September 17: The corruption scandal that has rocked international cricket is finding an echo in India as well, with out-of-favour pacer Irfan Pathan on Friday claiming that he was sent expensive gifts by a “stranger”, suspected to be a bookie, during a series.

Although he did not disclose when exactly the incident happened and which team he was playing against at that time, Pathan said expensive gifts were sent to his hotel room during the series and he reported the matter to the team manager.

Jethmalani flags CBI plan to frame Shah, Modi

by

Ahmedabad, September 17: Sohrabuddin encounter : Former home minister’s lawyer produces a document, senior CBI counsel KTS Tulsi disowns it

Sparks flew in the special CBI court here on Thursday as ace Supreme Court lawyers Ram Jethmalani and KTS Tulsi faced each other after a series of adjournments during the hearing on the bail petition of Amit Shah, the fallen former junior minister arrested in connection with his role in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.

Afghan elections: rise of women

by

Kabul, September 17: Often characterised as valiant crusaders defying Afghanistan’s chauvinistic culture, many female candidates standing in tomorrow’s parliamentary elections may in fact be just the opposite: proxies doing a warlord’s bidding. Women’s rights campaigners in Kabul claim that the majority of a record number of female candidates in the vote – a contest widely expected to be marred by bloodshed and fraud – have little interest in advancing their own political agendas or promoting women’s and human rights.

As teacher, eunuch chooses a life of dignity

by

Mugalsarai (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.

What is unusual is the profession she has strived to be in, 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, 300 km from state capital Lucknow.

Osman Sagar gates lifted

by

Hyderabad, September 17: Gates of Osman Sagar also known as Gandipet, which supplies drinking water to the twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad, has been lifted the day before, after a gap of 10 years, to release surplus water.

Osman Sagar gates were earlier lifted in August 2000. About more than 500 cusec surplus water was released from Gandipet at that time. Now after the span of 10 years again as the water level reached the full tank level Water board has lifted the gates and began the release of surplus water.

Ayodhya verdict: Muslim, Hindu leaders appeal for peace

by

Lucknow, September 17: With the date of pronouncement of the Allahabad High Court judgement on Ayodhya dispute drawing near, religious leaders and scholars of both the communities have appealed for peace and communal harmony.

Leading Muslim religious leaders, including Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, naib imam of Idgah and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli besides Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband have asked Muslims to respect the verdict of the court and maintain communal harmony .

Farooq meets Sonia, PM; says Omar not quitting

by

New Delhi, September 17: Amid reports of PDP move to revive ties with Congress, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah today met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after which he declared that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not going to step down.

The senior Abdullah, who is Union Minister for Renewable Energy, refused to divulge details of his discussions with Gandhi and Singh, terming the talks as “private”.

He, however, asserted that Omar Abdullah was not going to resign and blamed the media for “creating situations” and “tragedy for the country”.

Don’t hurt sentiments of Telangana people: MP

by

Hyderabad, September 17: Nalgonda Congress MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy on Thursday warned Tadipatri MLA J C Diwakar Reddy not to issue statements affecting the sentiments of Telangana people.

Talking to reporters at CLP Media Point, he took serious exception on the statement of Diwakar Reddy for speaking ridiculously on the demand for separate Pradesh Congress Committee for Telangana people. “The demand for separate PCC is not new,” he stated.