Month: July 2009

Kashmir resolution must for peace in region: Pakistan

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Islamabad, July 04: Stepping up its rhetoric on Kashmir, Pakistan on Friday said the peace in the region cannot be discussed without the resolution of the long-standing issue with India.

“Kashmir issue can’t be kept out of the bilateral talks,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters at the Multan airport. “We can’t discuss peace without (settlement of) Kashmir issue.”

The Pakistan Foreign Minister said the world has come to accept that “Kashmir is disputed.”

Satyam set to fire another 800

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Hyderabad, July 04: With little resistance coming for the laying off process, particularly from the government, Mahindra Satyam is now gearing up for yet another round of lay-offs. This time, the axe is likely to fall on senior employees at the mid-management level.

According to sources, the company has already informed the employees about its plan to shave off a ‘significant number’ of jobs.

Saeed’s release: Pak files appeal

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Islamabad, July 04: Pakistani authorities on Friday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the release from house arrest of banned JuD chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, wanted by India in connection with the Mumbai attacks, saying they had evidence of his group’s links to terror outfits.

Michael Owen seals Manchester United switch

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London, July 04: Striker Michael Owen completed his free-transfer move to English football champions Manchester United Friday.

The 29 year old underwent stringent medical tests before signing a two-year contract on what is believed to be a pay-as-you-play basis with a basic weekly wage topped up by bonuses.

“Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish.”

SKorea says NKorea fires 2 missiles off east coast

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Seoul, July 04: North Korea fired two missiles off it eastern coast Saturday, a South Korean official said.

The missiles were fired at about 8 a.m. (2300 GMT) and the Defense Ministry was trying to confirm whether they were short or mid-range missiles. The ministry official did not give any further details and spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.

Three-yr-old boy killed after being hit by elevator

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Mumbai, July 04: A three-year old boy died after being hit by an elevator on his head in a building under construction at suburban Mulund, police said today.

The deceased identified as Tahzeeb Shaikh was playing on the first floor of the 22-storeyed building under construction building and he put his head in the lift passage when the elevator hit the boy while it was coming down, they said.

The parents of the boy were working as labourers in the same building and were busy on duty when the incident happened, police said.

Eye witness claims Ajmal used him as a human shield

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Mumbai, July 04: An eye witness to the terror attack at Cama Hospital on November 26 last year today told a special court hearing the case that Pakistani gunmen Mohammed Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismael had made him “human shield” while trying to escape from the police.

“After hearing gun shots, I rushed to the terrace of the hospital but two gunmen (Kasab and Ismael) were already there and they told me not to close the door,” the witness, Chandrakant Tikhe, who works as generator operator and liftman at the hospital told prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

I have done everything for all the states: Mamata

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New Delhi, July 04: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday presented a people-friendly Budget leaving passenger fares and freight charges unchanged. She also introduced over 50 new trains and new ticket schemes. In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN’s National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar, Mamata explained that she tried to please every part of the country.

Air India top brass warns employees against strike

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Mumbai, July 04: Air India employees across the country went on a two-hour strike protesting delay in payment of salaries even after the management warned them of strict action.

The financial crisis at Air India made the employees come out on streets to agitate.

The employees claimed it was bad management at the company that landed the airlines in trouble but they were now being made to pay for it.

“It is unfortunate that management has backed out. There has been no communication,” said JB Kadian, Joint Secretary, Air Corporation Employees Union.

VP Biden urges Iraqis to make political progress

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Baghdad, July 04: Vice President Joe Biden pressed Iraqi leaders Friday to do more to foster national reconciliation and offered U.S. assistance in achieving that, as concerns grow that a lack of political progress is fueling violence in Iraq.

He stressed that America wanted to “build up” its partnership with Iraqi leaders even as it draws down its forces, starting with Tuesday’s deadline for pulling back combat troops from cities.

US Marines push deeper into southern Afghan towns

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Afghanistan, July 04: U.S. Marines pushed deeper into Taliban areas of southern Afghanistan on Friday, seeking to cut insurgent supply lines and win over local elders on the second day of the biggest U.S. military operation here since the American-led invasion of 2001.

On the other side of the border, U.S. missiles struck a Pakistani Taliban militant training center and communications center, killing 17 people and wounding nearly 30, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Honduras rejects OAS appeal to restore president

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Honduras, July 04: Honduras’ Supreme Court rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas’ top international diplomat Friday, refusing to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya before a Saturday deadline.

Jose Miguel Insulza, who heads the Organization of American States, flew to Honduras in an attempt to persuade the forces that ousted Zelaya to take him back in the face of overwhelming international condemnation and economic sanctions.

He met for two hours with Jorge Rivera, president of the Supreme Court that authorized the military to seize Zelaya on Sunday and fly him into exile.

Serial killer has South Carolina residents on edge

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Gaffney, July 04: Terrified residents canceled Fourth of July plans and holed up in their homes Friday as investigators hunted a serial killer believed to have shot four people to death.

Tanya Phillips had been looking forward to a backyard barbecue at her brother’s house but instead planned to stay home with her doors locked.

“I’m not taking any chances,” said Phillips, 32, a mother of two who works in a day-care center. “I’ll go out during the day, but not at night. I just don’t feel safe.”

Federer seeks 15th Slam vs. Roddick at Wimbledon

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England, July 04: Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash.

And now, after years of chasing Sampras, Federer is poised to surpass him.

Strong earthquake rocks Mexico

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Mexico City, July 04: A strong earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale jolted western Mexico Friday, officials said.

The quake was felt in the Baja California Sur and Sinaloa states. There was no report of casualties or serious damage, the National Seismological Service said.

The epicentre of the quake was located in the Cortez Sea, it said.

Mexico is among the most earthquake prone countries in the world.

–Agencies–

Paes-Black in Wimbledon final

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London, July 04: India’s Leander Paes was in sight of his second Grand Slam title of the year after he along with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black booked a final berth in the mixed doubles of the Wimbledon tennis championships here Friday.

In the semi-final, the top-seeded pair of Paes and Black won 6-4, 6-4 against the 12th seeded Stephen Huss of Australia and Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascal.

Paes, who won the French Open men’s doubles title last month, and Black took 73 minutes to wrap up the match in straight sets.

Runway repair delays 20 international flights

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New Delhi, July 04: Over 20 international flights were delayed late Friday evening due to repair work being undertaken at the new runway of Delhi airport, officials said.

“The new runway is undergoing repair work and due to this all the flights are taking off and landing on the main runway 28. This has resulted in traffic congestion, which is generally very high during night hours when most international flights operate,” an official said.

The flights were delayed by more than an hour.

–IANS–

Pakistan seals border with Afghanistan, clamps curfew

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Islamabad, July 04: Pakistan has sealed its South Waziristan border with Afghanistan and imposed a curfew there to prevent Afghan militants from infiltrating into its territory in the wake of fresh offensives by US troops on the Taliban on the other side of the border.

The Pakistan Army has already deployed additional troops at the border on the directives of the federal government, the Online news agency said Friday.

A curfew has also been imposed in the border areas to stop the likely infiltration of Afghan militants.

Pakistani’s ask Taliban commander to go away

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Islamabad, July 04: Pakistani residents in the Hamza Banda area of Lower Dir district have ordered Taliban commander Mufti Aftab to leave the area immediately, a media report said Friday.

The Taliban commander along with his eight aides had entered the area some days ago, the Online news agency said.

The residents have formed a militia group with help from the local authorities to fight the Taliban.

Security officials said they have tapped a phone call from Aftab to his associates to carry out suicide attacks.

–IANS–

Palin resigns as governor, leaves plans secret

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Alaska , July 04: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly announced Friday she is resigning from office at the end of the month, a shocking move that rattled the Republican party but left open the possibility she would seek a run for the White House in 2012.

Palin, 45, and her staff kept her future plans shrouded in mystery, and it was unclear if the controversial hockey mom would quietly return to private life or begin laying the foundation for a presidential bid.

Iranian cleric: British Embassy staff to be tried

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Tehran, July 04: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

A powerful cleric said Friday that Iran will put British Embassy staffers on trial for fomenting postelection turmoil, a step that would likely increase Iran’s isolation and alienate Western nations that have been trying to keep options open with Tehran despite its crackdown on protesters.

Michael Owen seals Manchester United switch

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London, July 04: Striker Michael Owen completed his free-transfer move to English football champions Manchester United Friday.

The 29 year old underwent stringent medical tests before signing a two-year contract on what is believed to be a pay-as-you-play basis with a basic weekly wage topped up by bonuses.

“Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish.”

West Indies set 195-run target for India

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St. Lucia (Gros Islet), July 04: Ramnaresh Sarwan scored a quick 62 as the West Indies made 185 for seven in 27 overs in the rain-affected third One-day international against India here Friday. But India will require 195 to win after the target was adjusted on the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Ashish Nehra picked up three for 21 and Harbhajan Singh got two for 35 after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bowl at the Beausejour Stadium.

–Agencies

Sarah Palin to step down as Alaska governor: Report

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Washington, July 04: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who was catapulted to national prominence as the Republican vice presidential candidate last year, will resign later this month, she said Friday.

She also will not seek re-election as governor next year, Alaska television station KTUU reported.

Palin has remained in the national political spotlight since serving as running mate to Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. Her name has been frequently mentioned by political commentators as a likely candidate to challenge President Barack Obama, a Democrat, 2012.

Fire in London’s tower block kills six

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London, July 04: Six people, including three children, have died in a fire in a block of flats in London, the fire brigade said late Friday.
Three children, one just three weeks old, were among the victims of the blaze in the 12-storey block on a housing estate in Camberwell, in south London.

The victims were among at least 18 people taken to hospitals in the area. At least 30 people were rescued from the building.

According to London Fire Brigade (LFB), the blaze was brought under control by about 100 firefighters.