News

Boy’s fingertips cut off

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Johannesburg, August 08: A 17-year-old boy was found hanging with his body parts chopped off on Sunday in Mthatha, in what seemed to be a muti related killing, Eastern Cape police said.

“He was hung in his shack at Ntshele locality in Zimbane. The right side of his nose, ears and cheeks were also cut off,” Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.

The boy was killed late on Saturday night and found by relatives on Sunday morning. He was living alone in the shack.

Fatyela said the boy’s fingertips were also snipped off.

Wanted man held in Bangladesh over 2003 London murders

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London, August 08: One of Scotland Yard’s most wanted men has been arrested in Bangladesh in connection with a double murder in 2003.

Police want to question Ayub Khan, 27, in connection with the murder of Amarjit Singh, 52, and his nephew Rajinder Singh, 35.

They were shot dead near the hotel they owned in Forest Gate, east London.

Mr Khan was detained as he was on his way to an airport in the capital Dhaka, Bangladeshi police said.

The Met had offered a reward of £10,000 for information leading to Mr Khan’s arrest and conviction.

Flat pitches made India-SL Test series ‘dull’: Akram

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New Delhi, August 08: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels apart from Sachin Tendulkar’s tremendous form the just-concluded Test series between India and Sri Lanka turned out to be a rather “dull” affair due to placid tracks.

Akram was especially disappointed with the way the fast bowlers were hammered during the three-match series in the island nation.

“Fast bowlers got murdered and it was not fun at all, believe me. The 1-1 draw is a fair result but it has to be said that apart from two or three brilliant performances, it was a dull series,” Akram said.

Court rejects defamation plea against Modi

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Bundi, August 08: A local court on Sunday rejected a petition charging Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with making derogatory remarks against Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister, on grounds of jurisdiction.

Charmesh Sharma, a Youth Congress state secretary, had filed the case on July 3 against Modi for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Nehru at a public meeting of the BJP at Gandhinagar in Gujarat on June 5.

HRD Ministry to get Rs 2.31 lakh crore over 3 yrs

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New Delhi, August 08: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said the Human Resource Development ministry would be allocated Rs 2.31 lakh crore over the next three years to set up infrastructure for implementing the Right to Education.

“The HRD minister has said that Rs 2,31,000 crore will be required for implementing RTE in the next three years for setting up schools, appointment of teachers and building of infrastructure. I said that the money will be provided,” Mukherjee said at a seminar here.

Maoists offer money for arms

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Lalgarh, August 08: Maoists on Sunday offered money for handing over weapons allegedly being used by CPI(M) cadres in the Naxal-hit areas, 12 days after the West Bengal government announced a surrender and rehabilitation package for the rebels.

“Those handing over SLRs or AK 47 rifles would be paid Rs one lakh and Rs 70,000 each would be paid for a carbine, automatic revolver and pistol, while country-made guns would fetch Rs 8,000 and above,” Maoist central committee member Akash said.

Castro warns of nuclear ‘holocaust’ in speech

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Havana, August 08: Ailing Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has issued a dire warning of a nuclear “holocaust” as he mustered enough strength to address the country’s parliament for the first time since his health crisis four years ago.

The soon-to-be 84 father of the Cuban revolution looked much fitter and more energetic than in previous appearances as he rose to the podium of the National Assembly Saturday to expand on his favorite theme of recent days — alleged US preparations for a nuclear war in the Middle East.

Lebanon in shock after ex-general’s arrest on spy charges

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Beirut, August 08: This week’s arrest of a well-respected retired general and politician allied with Hezbollah on suspicion of spying for Israel has sent shock waves through Lebanon and left many wondering how deep the Jewish state has infiltrated the country.

Fayez Karam, a member of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), is the first political figure to be arrested in Lebanon as part of a wide-ranging probe launched in 2009 into Israeli spy networks.

Curfew lifted in Kashmir after 9 days

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Srinagar, August 08: Curfew restrictions in the Kashmir
valley were lifted today after nine days.

Curfew was lifted in Handwara and Ganderbal while it was
relaxed for about four to six hours in areas falling under
eight police stations in the civil lines Srinagar yesterday.
Streets were flooded with people, including women and
children.

Traffic police personnel were back on the roads trying to
clear the frequent traffic jams on almost all main roads of
the city.

Most people were seen busy purchasing essentials including

Israel fires warning shots towards Lebanese boat

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Jerusalem, August 08: Israel’s navy on Sunday fired warning shots towards a Lebanese fishing vessel in the Mediterranean, a military spokeswoman said.

“Warning shots were fired after a Lebanese fishing boat entered a closed zone,” she said without confirming whether the boat had entered Israeli territorial waters.

After the shots were fired, causing no damage or injuries, “the Lebanese boat changed course,” she added.

Ahmadinejad to visit Lebanon after Ramadan

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Tehran, August 08: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Lebanon after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a top official said Sunday, as Tehran pledged its support to Beirut and Damascus in face of any “aggression” from Israel.

“The president will go to Lebanon at the first occasion after Ramadan,” Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said at a joint news conference with his visiting Lebanese counterpart Ali al-Shami.

Lebanon to draw up army weapons plan

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Lebanon, August 08: Lebanese President Michel Sleiman said on Saturday he would work to equip the armed forces with all necessary weapons following Tuesday’s deadly cross-border exchange with Israeli troops.

The former army chief was speaking during a brief visit to the village of Adaysseh just north of the border that overlooks the site where fighting killed two Lebanese soldiers and a journalist, as well as an Israeli officer.

Egypt seeks to woo Arab tourists for Ramadan revels

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Cairo, August 08: With its cooler temperatures but more sizzling entertainment, Egypt has long been a prime destination for rich Arab tourists, especially from the Gulf states.

This year, however, the authorities fear that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts on Wednesday at the height of the annual tourist season, will mean that many potential visitors stay at home instead.

Poll: Iran meddling to fill void in Iraq government

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Baghdad, August 08: Iran more than any other foreign state is meddling to fill a void in Iraqi politics five months after a general election left the war-wracked nation without a new government, a poll said Saturday.

Asked about the present political hiatus which appears to show no immediate prospect of resolution, 41.2 percent of 12,000 people questioned said Tehran was hindering Iraq’s chances of establishing a new government in Baghdad.

Iraq takes delivery of American tanks

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Baghdad, August 08: Iraq on Saturday took delivery of the first 11 of 140 American M1A1 Abrams tanks, just weeks before the US military ends its combat mission here and pulls thousands of its troops out of the country.

The remainder of the order will be completed by the end of 2011, when the US military is due to leave Iraq under the terms of a bilateral security pact.

“Today, Iraq received 11 US-made tanks as part of an agreement with the US to hand over 140 tanks to the Iraqi army,” defence ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari told AFP.

Soon-to-be-married couple spotted in Ajmer

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Ajmer, August 08: With the two all set to tie the nuptial knot soon, former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor and his long-time friend Sunanda Pushkar today visited the famous shrine of sufi saint Khawaja Garib Nawaaj and a temple here today.

Seeking blessings before the wedlock, the two offered chader and roses at the shrine, performed Puja at the Pushkar Sarovar and visited the Brahma temple.

“Pray for our happiness and peaceful life. We need a lot of blessings,” Sunanda, a Dubai-based businesswoman, told mediapersons.

Stoning woman accuses Iran of lying over charges

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London, August 08: A woman sentenced to death by stoning in Iran for adultery accused authorities of lying about the charges against her so they could execute her in secret, in an interview published Saturday.

Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, 43, spoke through an intermediary for the interview with the Guardian newspaper and also put her treatment down to gender, adding “they think they can do anything to women in this country”.

Saudi regulator delays BlackBerry ban to test ‘solutions’

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Jeddah, August 08: Saudi’s telecoms regulator has said it postponed a ban on BlackBerry until Monday so that suggested solutions to the kingdom’s security concerns offered by the Canadian maker can be tested.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission said the 48 hours grace period, ending Monday evening, was given “to test the suggested solutions,” according to a statement carried by SPA state news agency late Saturday.

The decision was also based on the “ongoing efforts by the providers of mobile services to meet the requirements of the commission’s regulations.”

AP Maoist arrested in Jharkhand

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Bokaro (Jharkhand), August 08: A top Maoist leader belonging to Andhra Pradesh was arrested from here today, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Narasimha Reddy at Upper Ghat in Gomia area, SP Saket Kumar Singh said.

A laptop and some documents were seized from the Maoist, he said.

–Agencies

Ahmadinejad aide in new row with Iran conservatives

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Tehran, August 08: A controversial close aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has incurred the wrath of Iranian conservatives who accused him of making “pagan” remarks about religion, media reported on Saturday.

“There are different interpretations of Islam, but our understanding of the real nature of Iran and of Islam is the Iranian school. From now on, we must present to the world the school of Iran,” the president’s chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie said at a conference for Iranians living abroad.

His comments provoked a backlash from conservative politicians and clerics.

US embassy in Saudi warns Americans of possible attack

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Riyadh, August 08: The American embassy in the Saudi capital has warned US citizens it has received credible information that they may be targeted for attack in the Al-Qassim district in the northwest of the city.

“We have received credible information that an unidentified extremist(s) in Saudi Arabia may be planning to attack Westerners working and living in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia,” the message posted on the embassy website said.

“The timing and method of potential attacks are currently unknown,” added the message which was dated August 4 and was the first of its kind this year.

Insurgents may derail Indo-Bangla ties: Mukherjee

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Dhaka, August 08: Seeking enhanced bilateral security cooperation, India has cautioned that insurgents had the “potential” to derail its friendly ties with Bangladesh, even as it commended Dhaka’s efforts to root out terrorism from this country.

India “deeply appreciates” the efforts of Bangladesh to tackle terrorism as the menace was a common concern of the two neighbours, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here last evening.

Al-Qaeda claims Yemen attack that killed six soldiers

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Sanaa, August 08: Al-Qaeda on Saturday claimed responsibility for an attack in eastern Yemen’s Shabwa province last month that killed six soldiers, in a statement published on websites.

“A unit (of Al-Qaeda) attacked a military post in the province of Shabwa and killed six soldiers of the tyrant,” President Ali Abdullah Saleh, as part of its “operations to rid the peninsula of American agents,” said the statement by the group’s Yemen branch, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

UN chief names Israeli, Turk on flotilla probe panel

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United Nations, August 08: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday named the Israeli and Turkish members of the commission that will investigate Israel’s May 31 attacks on a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla that killed nine Turks.

“Israel’s panel member is Mr Joseph Ciechanover. Turkey’s panel member is Mr Ozdem Sanberk. Both men have distinguished records of public service,” Ban said in a statement.

Iran drops LNG project under energy policy review

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Tehran, August 08: Iran is abandoning a project to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of a policy review that will see Tehran focusing more on exporting gas through pipelines, a top oil official said.

“The oil ministry is currently focusing on gas exports by pipelines,” Ahmad Ghalebani, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company, told the oil ministry’s news agency Shana on Friday.