News

Police shut down 9/11 plotters’ mosque in Hamburg

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Hamburg, August 10: German police Monday shut down a mosque in Hamburg which gained notoriety as a meeting place for several plotters of the Sep 11 attacks on New York in 2001.

A city spokesman said that the Arabic cultural organization backing the Taiba Mosque in the city had been banned.

Police forced entry to the mosque in the early hours and searched the site, as well as the apartments of four governing committee members, confiscating material.

Headmistress tortures students with burning wood

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Hyderabad, August 10: In a shocking incident, the headmistress of a government-run primary school in Andhra Pradesh’s Warangal district tortured students with a burning wood as they were making noise in their classes.

At least 13 children of Class 1 to 4 sustained burn injuries on different parts of their bodies Monday.

The incident that took place in Jamandlapalli village of Mahabubabad mandal came to light Tuesday when parents along with their children staged a protest outside the school, demanding action against the headmistress, Shruti Kirti.

Justice srikrishna arrives tomorrow

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Hyderabad, August 10: Mr Justice B.N. Srikrishna, Chairman, Committee for Consultations on the Situation in Andhra Pradesh (CCSAP) will arrive here on the morning of August 12 and leaves for Tirupati at 12.05 pm.

He will return to the city the next day at 2.40 pm and leaves for Mumbai at 6 pm on the same evening.

During his sojourn in Hyderabad, Mr Justice Srikrishna will stay in
Hotel Novotel. (NSS)

Only Kashmir autonomy can rebuild trust: National Conference MP

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New Delhi, August 10: Kashmiris have been “cheated again and again” by the leadership in Delhi and only restoration of autonomy can win back the trust, says an MP of Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference.

Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri says normalcy would return to the strife-torn Kashmir Valley only when people’s political aspirations are addressed.

FBI probes medic murders in Afghanistan

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Kabul, August 10: The FBI is conducting its own probe into the deaths of six Americans who were among eight foreign workers on a medical aid project gunned down in Afghanistan in an attack claimed by the Taliban.

The Afghan interior ministry is also investigating the killings in the country’s northeast, which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned as “a despicable act of wanton violence”.

No difference performing in India or Pak: Band RDB

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New Delhi, August 10: When it comes to music, British-Punjabi band RDB, who composed chart topping Bollywood numbers like ‘Kambakkht Ishq’ and’Singh is Kinng’, say that India and Pakistan are the same.

The quartet of Kuly, Manj, Surj and Nindi Kaur of RDB which stands for ‘Rhythm, Dhol, Bass’, blend western genres with traditional Punjabi beats and vocals and had recently performed in both India and Pakistan to packed crowds.

Chiru is jealous of Jagan’s Charisma: Jeevita

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Hyderabad, August 10: Actor Dr Rajasekhar and his wife Ms Jeevita have said that the PRP chief, Mr Chiranjeevi was jealous of the charisma of the Kadapa MP, Mr Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Talking to the media at the Film Chamber office here on Monday, the actor couple said that Mr Chiranjeevi was unable to digest the rousing reception Mr Jagan was receiving wherever he went.

NY bus ad showing mosque, burning Twin Towers OK’d

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New York, August 10: New York City’s transit agency has approved a bus advertisement that depicts a plane flying toward the World Trade Center’s towers as they burn along with a rendering of a proposed mosque near ground zero.

The ad was paid for by the American Freedom Defence Initiative, an organisation that opposes radical Islamic influence in the United States. The group’s executive director says she doesn’t find the ad offensive.

The group sued the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to demand it accept the ad, which was approved Monday.

We’ll support Cong govt if it faced threat: Chiru

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Nellore, August 10: The PRP Chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, has said that his party would support the Congress government, in case an occasion arose when it was likely to fall.

Talking to the media here on Monday, Mr Chiranjeevi said that the intention behind the idea was to avoid the expenditure of mid-term poll on the people. He said there was no other intention behind the proposal.

Iran uses new machines to enrich uranium: IAEA

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Vienna, August 10: Iran has used a second set of centrifuge machines to enrich uranium to 20 percent purity at its Natanz facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said.

The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog said Monday the move would make Iranian efforts to enrich uranium to higher levels more efficiently, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

Western countries have long suspected Iran is trying to build nuclear bombs under the cover of a nuclear energy programme. However, Iran insists its enrichment activity is only for peaceful purpose.

Sahai Commends AP’s policy for Food processing

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Hyderabad, August 10: Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Subodh Kant Sahai hailed the measures initiated by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in food processing sector.

He said Andhra Pradesh’s newly announced Industrial Policy of 2010-2015 gives a new thrust to the food processing sector and will attract many new food processing units in the state.

Case against Madani not part of anti-minority move: Prakash Karat

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Vijayawada, August 10: The case against PDP leader Abdunnasir Ma’dani cannot be seen as part of the anti-minority move of the BJP government in Karnataka, said CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat. He was speaking to media persons on Sunday in Vijayawada where the party’s Extended Central Committee meeting was being held.

Karat had last day accused that the BJP governments including the one in Karnataka were carrying out civil rights violations against minorities. He was responding to the query of media persons as to whether the move against Ma’dani too was part of it.

Hezbollah says Israel staked out Hariri’s routes

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Lebanon, August 10: Lebanon’s Hezbollah displayed on Monday what it said was Israeli surveillance footage of routes used by assassinated former premier Rafik al-Hariri, saying this pointed to Israel carrying out the 2005 attack on his motorcade.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who had said he expects a United Nations tribunal to indict members of his own group over the assassination, said the investigators should consider whether Israel killed Hariri.

Maulana Wahiduddin to get Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award

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New Delhi, August 10: The 18th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award will be given to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan for his contribution towards promotion of communal harmony and peace, it was announced Monday.

Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, who is member secretary of the advisory committee of the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award, said in a statement that the award will be given to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan for his “outstanding contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill”.

Andhra flood toll climbs to 13

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Hyderabad, August 10: Rain-related incidents and floods in Godavari river claimed three more lives in Andhra Pradesh taking the death toll to 13, officials said today.

The water level in Godavari at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district and Davaleswaram barrage in East Godavari district continued to remain above the danger mark, though officials said the water was receding gradually.

Floods have caused havoc in several hundred villages in the state during the past one week.

PM releases Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s new album

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New Delhi, August 10: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday released Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s new album ‘Sarod symphony’.

The album also features the musician’s sons – Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan.

‘Sarod Symphony has been a very special project for us. It is indeed unique in many ways. For one, this is the first time that Sarod will be heard in a very different space and flavour. And secondly, it the first recording of us with an Orchestra,’ Ayaan said in a press statement.

Beauty can be burden in man’s world

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London, August 10: Researchers have found that women feel discriminated against when they apply for jobs like finance director, engineer or construction supervisor that are male dominated.

Women face issues while applying for jobs perceived as ‘masculine’ such as research and development manager, finance director, engineer or construction supervisor, reports express.co.uk.

A study by the University of Colorado – Denver business school found that if a woman is attractive, it is seen as a disadvantage for such job profiles.

Rift in Cong on Telangana issue

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Hyderabad, August 10: The divide in ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue deepened today with leaders from Telangana region demanding an unconditional apology from ministers hailing from other regions for their alleged comments on the separate statehood demand.

Joining the chorus of criticism from TRS and Telugu Desam, Telangana Congress leaders slammed the ministers for their alleged comments before Sri Krishna committee that those seeking separate state are traitors of the nation.

First woman to head major US intelligence agency

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Fort, Belvoir, August 09: The United States has had three female secretaries of state — but until now has never had a woman lead one of its 16 major intelligence agencies.

Letitia A. Long, 51, was praised by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as the right person for the job, as she took up her post as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in a ceremony Monday at the agency’s half-built, high-tech campus in Springfield, Va.

Andhra to plant record 30 crore trees

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Hyderabad, August 09: Andhra Pradesh Government today set an ambitious target to plant 30 crore trees during this year as part of its efforts to enhance green cover in the state.

About 25 lakh saplings were planted on a single day on July 16 against a target of 10 lakh plants, a release from the chief minister’s office said.

–Agencies

TRS threatens of a Gujjar-like agitation for Telangana

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Hyderabad, August 09: TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao threatened of a ‘Gujjar-type’ agitation for separate Telangana after the Srikrishna Committee submits its report by December.

“All sections of Telangana are getting ready for the war after December. Revenue department employees met me recently. They said they will take part in the fight for Telangana. They are waiting for our call. Everybody is feeling that it is time to start a Gujjar-type agitation,” he said at the party’s executive committee meeting here.

Rift among Cong leaders deepens on Telangana issue

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Hyderabad, August 09: The divide in ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue deepened today with leaders from Telangana region demanding an unconditional apology from ministers hailing from other regions for their alleged comments on the separate statehood demand.

Joining the chorus of criticism from TRS and Telugu Desam, Telangana Congress leaders slammed the ministers for their alleged comments before Sri Krishna committee that those seeking separate state are traitors of the nation.

Injuries are blessing in disguise: Dhoni

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Dambula, August 09: India will be without many key players in the tri-series due to injuries but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says it’s a blessing in disguise as it presents them with an opportunity to test bench strength ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

Missing from the Indian line-up are Zaheer Khan, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh and the latest to join them is Ishant Sharma, who will miss the tournament opener against New Zealand on the morrow.

US plans massive weapons sale to Saudi Arabia

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Washington, August 09: The US is drawing up a $30-billion sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns about the proposed package, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The centerpiece of the package is eighty-four F-15 fighter jets and it also includes dozens of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters along with other equipment, the Journal reported, citing unnamed US officials.

Israel has expressed concerns about the provision of a rival like Saudi Arabia with sophisticated weapons which could endanger its security.

–Agencies

Farooq asks OIC to help resolve Kashmir issue

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Srinagar, August 09: The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference today sought the intervention of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to help resolve the Kashmir issue.

In a memorandum addressed to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Hurryat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said OIC should convene a session of its contact group on Kashmir.

–Agencies