faheem

Iran hangs three for murder, drug trafficking

by

Tehran, August 02: Iran has hanged three men convicted of murder and drug trafficking in the central city of Isfahan, government newspaper Iran today reported.

The men executed in prison yesterday were identified as Babak, who was convicted of killing a man in 2003, Ghorban-Ali, 22, who had stabbed another young man to death and Hassan, 33, convicted of selling heroin.

The latest reported hangings bring to at least 192 the number of people executed in the Islamic republic so far this year, according to an AFP count based on news reports.

Iran election trial a sham says ex-president

by

Tehran, August 02: An influential pro-reform ex-president of Iran criticised the country’s first trial of activists and protesters following the disputed presidential election as a sham that would further erode confidence in the ruling Islamic establishment.

Mohammad Khatami said he hoped the “show” trial of more than 100 people that started yesterday would not “lead to ignorance of the real crimes” carried out by authorities following the June 12 vote, including alleged abuse and murder of detainees.

Police hunt Israel gay club shooter

by

Police hunt Israel gay club shooter
Tel Aviv, August 02: Hundreds of police officers are scouring the streets of Tel Aviv today in a manhunt for a gunman who shot and killed two people at a youth club in the worst ever attack on homosexuals in Israel.

The Tel Aviv shooting shocked the Mediterranean city, which prides itself on its live-and-let-live attitude and boasts a thriving gay community. The brazen attack drew condemnations from the city’s mayor, from Cabinet ministers, the country’s chief rabbis and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
–Agencies

Police complaint filed against actor Emran Hashmi

by

Mumbai, August 02: A police complaint has been filed against Bollywood actor Emran Hashmi, who had claimed that he was denied a house because he was a Muslim, accusing him of promoting enmity between different communities

The complaint, filed by a social activist and the executive member of National Youth Committee of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sanjay Bedia with D B Marg police station here Saturday night, has accused Hashmi and noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt of various offences under Indian Penal Code(IPC), Bedia’s lawyer Ketan Mehta said

Did British bomb attacks in Iran provoke hostage crisis?

by

Tehran, August 01: The abduction of the British computer expert Peter Moore and his four bodyguards was carried out partly in revenge for deadly bomb attacks in south-west Iran which Iranian officials blamed on Britain, according to a well-placed source in Baghdad.

The five men were abducted by an Iranian-backed group in 2007 and it is now believed four of them have been killed. The fate of Mr Moore remains unclear. The Iranians orchestrated the abduction through an Iraqi proxy, the Asaib al-Haq, which they largely controlled, the source said.

IAF trainer crashes, both pilots killed

by

Hyderabad, August 01: An Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer aircraft crashed in Andhra Pradesh Friday, killing both its pilots, police said.

A piston-engine HPT-32 aircraft crashed into a farm at Annaram village of Jinnaram Mandal in Medak district, about 100 km from here.

Police said the aircraft crashed soon after it took off from the Air Force Academy at Dundigal on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

According to Medak police chief M. Kantha Rao the two pilots, Squadron Leaders Ritin Jain and Nitin Chaturvedi died on the spot. Both of them were instructors.

Purdy: ‘Now let me die in Britain’

by

London, August 01: The right to end your life on the NHS will be available within a few years, campaigners forecast yesterday, as they stepped up their battle to change Britain’s suicide laws.

Buoyed by the law lords’ ruling in the case of Debbie Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis, they have vowed to renew their efforts to change the law. Mrs Purdy stressed yesterday that she would rather be able to die at home when she chooses, than go to Switzerland, where the laws on assisted suicide are less restrictive than in the UK.
–Agencies

An undated photo of Farhan Haq. He said civilian killings have risen in Afghanistan.

by

United Nations, August 01: Noting that there is no decline in civilian casualties in Afghanistan, a UN report has said there has been a record 24 per cent increase in death of civilians in the country in the first six months of the current year as compared to the previous year, during the same period.

As the conflict in Afghanistan intensifies and spreads, it is taking an increasingly heavy toll on civilians, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a mid-year report on the situation of civilians in armed conflict, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said yesterday.

Sensex closes at highest point in over 13 months

by

Mumbai, July 31: Strong corporate earnings and encouraging cues from Asian markets prompted investors to come back to the buying table at Indian equities markets Friday as a key index closed 282 points up from its last closing figure.

The 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened lower at 15,449.47 points, shut shop at 15,670.31 points — 282.35 points or 1.83 percent higher than Thursday’s closing figure.

Friday’s close is the highest for the Sensex in 2009.

Bombings at Iraqi Shia mosques kill 30

by

Baghdad, July 31: At least 30 people were killed and 37 injured Friday in a series of attacks targeting five Shia mosques in Baghdad, Iraqi security sources said.

Police forces cordoned all the areas around the mosques in al-Shaab, al-Zaafaraniya, al-Kahira and al-Kamaliya districts.

Later, a fifth explosion took place near Diyala bridge in the city’s south. The blasts took place right after the Friday prayers.

According to the Voices of Iraq news agency, a car bomb that went off near al-Shroufi mosque in the northern district of al-Shaab left 15 civilians killed and 40 wounded.

Parents protest ‘forcible’ hair-cutting of students

by

Chandigarh, July 31: Parents of six students of a government school here on Thursday accused teachers of the school of allowing adult education students forcibly cut the hair of their wards.

Taking a serious note of the issue, officials of the Chandigarh education department said they would look into the case and take action against the guilty.

Vedanta row, BJP sees danger to wildlife

by

Bhubaneswar, July 31: The opposition BJP today voiced concern about the fate of eco-fragile sensitive zone around Balukhand-Konark sanctuary, located barely few meters from the proposed Vedanta University near Puri.

Raising the issue during the debate on the bill in the assembly, BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo said, “boundary of the proposed varsity is touching the sanctuary.”

Butt should retire now: Dasti

by

Karachi, July 31: Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt was asked to retire by Parliamentary Committee chairman Jamshed Khan Dasti during a hearing on cricket affairs at the Parliament house.

In an interesting exchange of words between Butt and the Chairman of the parliamentary committee, Jamshed Khan Dasti, the former was reminded that even for government servants the retirement age was 60 years.

“Butt sahib even government employees retire at 60. How old are you,” Dasti asked Butt.

“I am 70,” replied Butt at the hearing on cricket affairs at the parliament house.

Expelled AIADMK member resigns assembly seat

by

Chennai, July 31: A day after he expressed his willingness to join DMK, expelled AIADMK member Anitha R Radhakrishnan today resigned as MLA of Tiruchendur.

Radhakrishnan submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker R Avudaiyappan who accepted it, official sources said.

The former Minister was expelled by AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa for alleged anti-party activities along with fellow partyman and Mylapore MLA S Ve Shekher two days ago.

Radhakrishnan had called on Karunanidhi yesterday and expressed willingness to join the party.
–PTI

After Dhoni, Bhajji also buys a hummer

by

Jalandhar, July 31: After skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh has become the latest Indian cricketer to buy the Hummer and the feisty off-spinner says the American SUV is the dream car he has always wanted to possess.

Harbhajan imported the car from England, which costs about Rs 70 lakh in India. After paying the duty, the cost of the vehicle has come to Rs one crore.

While Dhoni’s Hummer is of silver colour, Harbhajan has opted for a “Black Beauty”.

Harbhajan is planning to first visit some religious places with his new car before showing it off to the media.

India, Pak leaders must build bridges, not walls: Gilani

by

Islamabad, July 31: The political leaders of India and Pakistan should build “bridges and not walls” as talks are the only way forward for the two neighbouring countries, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said today.

“Talks (between the two countries) are imperative and politicians should build bridges and not walls,” Gilani told reporters here on the sidelines of a function marking the inauguration of the new stock exchange.

Dipika two matches away from world junior title

by

Chennai, July 31: Top seed Indian Dipika Pallikal today brushed aside the challenge of Nouran El Torky of Egypt to advance to the semifinal of the 13th World Junior (Men and Women) Squash Championship here today.

Playing before a cheering crowd, Pallikal beat the fifth seeded Egyptian opponent 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6 in 37 minutes.

Pallikal faces 13-year-old and fourth seed Nour El Tayeb of Egypt in the semifinals tomorrow. Tayeb, who recently became the youngest ever player to reach the final of a WISPA event, eliminated her compatriot Salma Hany 11-7, 11-6, 11-1 in 21 minutes.

CPIM demands assessment into windstorm damage

by

Srinagar, July 31: The CPIM today demanded immediate assessment of damage caused by windstorm that hit parts of Kupwara early last week.

“There is an immediate need for damage assessment and relief for the cyclone hit families in Handwara and Langate areas of Kupwara,” secretary of Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPIM MY Tarigami said today.

A woman was killed and 65 others were injured, while 1,300 structures including residential houses and shops were damaged, when windstorm with a speed of 34 kilometre per hour swept Kupwara on Sunday.

Rahul promises aid to Bundelkhand region

by

New Delhi, July 31: Rahul Gandhi today said Congress will do whatever that is required for the people of Bundelkhand.

AICC general secretary, who recently a led delegation of MPs from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding a package for Bundelkhand, said his concept is clear that no region from both the states or for that matter any other region of the country should be left lagging behind.

Krishnam Raju quits Chiranjeevi’s party

by

Hyderabad, July 31: Veteran actor and former union minister U.V. Krishnam Raju Friday quit Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).

Raju, who had left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for PRP, is the second key leader to quit the party after its disastrous performance in the simultaneous polls to the Andhra Pradesh state assembly and the Lok Sabha.

Raju told a Telugu television channel that he quit the PRP as it had failed to reach out to the masses and use his services. He said he would not join any party.

Nandita Das new head of Children’s Film Society

by

New Delhi, July 31: Actress-director Nandita Das has been appointed the new chairperson of the Children’s Films Society of India (CFSI).

‘The tenure of her appointment … shall be for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier,’ read an official statement.

Earlier, the post was held by actress-social activist Nafisa Ali. It fell vacant when she resigned to contest the Lok Sabha election from Lucknow on Samajwadi Party ticket this year.

Car made by Indian students wins first prize in US

by

Chandigarh, July 31: A car designed and built by engineering students from a Punjab town has won first prize in the perseverance category at an international competition, held in the US.

The car won first prize at the ‘International Car Fiesta Shell Eco Marathon’ held at Fontana, California April 15-18.

Ankit Khurana, team leader of the project, said here Friday: ‘Around 32 teams from different countries participated in this competition. We were the only team from Asia. We named our car Stealth and christened ourselves Team Stealth.’

Iranian police arrested 50 commemorating post-election victims

by

Tehran, July 31: Iranian police arrested 50 people after breaking up demonstrations commemorating the victims of the country’s post- election clashes, the semi-official news agency ILNA reported on Friday.

Police and security forces on Thursday broke up memorial services in the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in southern Tehran and other districts in the capital city that were held to remember those killed in demonstrations against alleged fraud in the June 12 presidential election.

Australian court brands Muslim leader a racist

by

Sydney, July 31: Australia’s best-known Muslim leader “holds views which can properly be described as racist,” a Supreme Court judge said Friday when deciding against him in a defamation action he brought against a Sydney radio station. Keysar Trad, head of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, is the spokesman for Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, the mufti of Sydney’s biggest mosque.

He sought damages from 2GB radio station for its description of him as a dangerous individual who incited violence, hatred, and racism.

Pakistani boys recall ordeal at suicide training centre

by

Islamabad, July 31: Four boys from Swat in Pakistan’s restive northwest who were kidnapped by militants to be trained as suicide bombers have narrated harrowing tales of their ordeal in captivity, saying they were told to target their families if prevented from joining the jihad against security forces.

They said militants had taken them by force from their villages to training camps in different parts of the Matta sub-district where a large number of other boys were being trained as suicide bombers, Dawn reported Friday in a dispatch from Swat’s largest city of Mingora.