Month: August 2009

Iraq: suspected bomber recently released by US

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Baghdad, August 31: The suicide truck bomber who targeted Iraq’s Foreign Ministry in one of the most deadly attacks this year had recently been freed from U.S. custody, an Iraqi investigator said Sunday, raising fresh concerns that former detainees will return to violence.

The revelation came as the government added more fodder to its allegations that Syria has been used as a launching pad for violence in Iraq, broadcasting a confession from a man who said he received militant training in the neighboring country.

Advani buys time to quit, but he has to go

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New Delhi, August 31: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veterans L K Advani and Rajnath Singh will be replaced by younger party leaders by the end of December, sources tell CNN-IBN.

The BJP has negotiated a succession plan with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the party’s ideological guide, according to which Advani will step down as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He will be allowed to choose his time and he is likely to step down before the next Parliament session.

Illegal blood transfusion in Raj district; probe ordered

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Jaipur, August 30: A laboratory owner was arrested for allegedly collecting blood from donors without proper tests and supplying it to a nursing home in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district, even as the government ordered a probe into the case amid charges that the blood was HIV infected.

Police said a complaint was registered with Anoopgarh police station in Sriganganagar district, 484 km form here, on August 26 accusing a laboratory and a nursing home of transfusing HIV infected blood to patients.

Pakistan: Border blast sets NATO fuel trucks afire

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Chaman, August 30: An explosion ripped through a line of trucks ferrying fuel to NATO troops in Afghanistan, setting several oil tankers ablaze Sunday at a backed-up Pakistani border crossing, police said.

The blast appeared to be the second terrorist attack Sunday in Pakistan and the second in a week to target a border crossing. Also Sunday, a suicide bomber targeted a police station in the northwestern Swat Valley, killing 15 cadets.

Indian woman claims money from her Pakistani husband

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Islamabad, August 30: An Indian woman has caused a stir by arriving in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to claim the money she loaned to a man who “married” her in Saudi Arabia three years ago.

Noor Jehan, a 42-year-old illiterate woman from New Delhi, has said she will not return to India till her husband Raja Saghir, in his mid-twenties, returns more than Rs 20,000 she had given him to build a house for them in Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.

Digging up the Saudi past: Some would rather not

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Riyadh, August 30: Much of the world knows Petra, the ancient ruin in modern-day Jordan that is celebrated in poetry as “the rose-red city, ‘half as old as time,'” and which provided the climactic backdrop for “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”

But far fewer know Madain Saleh, a similarly spectacular treasure built by the same civilization, the Nabateans.

That’s because it’s in Saudi Arabia, where conservatives are deeply hostile to pagan, Jewish and Christian sites that predate the founding of Islam in the 7th century.

Wildfire near LA heads north, threatens thousands

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Los Angeles, August 30: A growing wildfire in the mountains above Los Angeles surged north Sunday, forcing more evacuations and threatening some 10,000 homes.

Residents of the small town of Acton were urged to evacuate as the 4-day-old blaze headed into the Antelope Valley. The fire spread in all directions, leaving three people burned, destroying at least three homes and forcing thousands to flee.

India terminates maiden moon mission abruptly

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Panaji/Bangalore, August 30: India’s first lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 has been terminated abruptly after repeated attempts to restore radio contact with the spacecraft failed, a top space official said Sunday.

“We had to terminate the mission as we don’t have contact with the spacecraft. Though we are disappointed with what has happened, we have managed to salvage a large volume of data,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G. Madhavan Nair told reporters at Panaji.

Al Qaeda claims responsibility for attack targeting Saudi prince

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Riyadh, August 30: Al Qaeda Sunday claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack that targeted a Saudi prince and deputy interior minister, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.

The terrorist organisation’s branch in the Arabian peninsula said in a statement published on an Islamist website that the perpetrator of the blast, which lightly wounded the Saudi prince, traveled to the Gulf kingdom through Yemen.

Survey suggested to find private hospitals to treat swine flu

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Vadodara, August 30: Purshotam Lal, recipient of Padma Vibhusan, country’s second highest civilian award, has suggested to the Union Health Ministry on appointing a committee to make survey of the private hospitals across the country for treatment of swine flu patients.

Changes likely in BJP leadership!

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Mumbai, August 30: If reports are to be believed that the crisis hit Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to get a new roadmap.

The so called leadership crisis could be solved soon as the party is expected to endorse a new strategy and announcement.

The party could also opt for change in leadership also without any timeframe.

IANS reported that the RSS has decided to bring in sweeping changes in the leadership of the BJP that would see veteran leader LK Advani and party president Rajnath Singh stepping down from their posts, RSS sources said on Saturday.

PC pays homage to Moopanar

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Kumbakonam, August 30: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram paid homage to the veteran Congress leader G K Moopanar on his eighth death anniversary today.

Chidambaram came to Sundaraperumalkoil and garlanded the statue of G K Moopanar, the founder of Tamil Manila Congress (TMC), and paid homage.

He visited Karaikudi and later moved towards Mayiladuthurai.

—Agencies

Goods train carrying naphtha catches fire in Kutch

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Ahmedabad, August 30: Over 13 naphtha-filled containers of a goods train were engulfed in fire after one of the containers derailed near Shivlakha village of Kutch district this evening, police said.

The incident occurred near Lakadia railway station in Rapar taluka of Kutch district, when one of the containers filled with naphtha derailed causing fire, they said, adding there were no casualties so far.

“The goods train carrying inflammable naphtha-filled containers was coming from Palanpur and going towards Gandhidham when it caught fire,” police inspector M R Godaniya told PTI.

Surgeries done properly, patients in good condition: DME

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Madurai, August 30: Breast cancer surgeries performed on 14 patients, by a team of doctors in the Oncology Department in Government Rajaji Hospital here, had been done properly and the patients who underwent the surgeries were in good condition, S Vinayagam, Director of Medical Education (DME) said today.

Dilip Sardessai excellence award presented

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Panaji, August 30: The prestigious Dilip Sardessai Sports Excellence Award for 2009-10 was presented to international footballer Climax Lawrence by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

The award was presented at a function organized by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs at Ravindra Bhavan, Conference Hall, Margao.

Kamat complimented Lawrence for his achievements saying he has been a role model for many aspiring footballers in the state.

The Chief Minister said the Sardessai award will motivate the sportspersons as there are ample opportunities to build up career in sports.

Girl commits suicide after not getting admission in LSR

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Gurgaon, August 30: In a shocking incident, a girl committed suicide after failing to secure admission in a renowned college of Delhi.

The girl Kritika Khanna (19) took the extreme step of jumping from the 11th floor of DLF City’s Regency Park, where she used to stay, police said.

According to the sources, the girl was in tension after she didn’t get admission in Lady Sri Ram College (LSR) in Delhi despite securing 92 per cent in intermediate.

It is noteworthy here that the victim’s father is an engineer and mother a teacher at Sri Ram School in Gurgaon.

—Agencies

Shilpa Shetty: I appeal the press to act responsibly

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Mumbai, August 30: Surendra Shetty, father of gorgeous actress “Shilpa Shetty” is said to have mentioned that he wants his passport back so that he may appear to attend his daughter’s wedding. This had led to rumors that Shilpa is willing to marry soon.

Shilpa is apparently upset about this whole issue and says “My dad is already having tensions from all around and is having a tough time. Every time he has to travel abroad and has to apply for his passport, and as ever it’s vexing enough for him to go back and toil hard with the issue every time for his passport.”

Bid to abduct autorickshaw owner failed, two held

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Jharkhand, August 30: Two persons were arrested while making an abortive attempt to abduct an autorickshaw owner and his cleaner in Palamu district today.

The abductors wanted to demand ransom from the autorickshaw owner’s father-in-law who recently received a fair amount of money after retiring from government service, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Braj Mohan Paswan said.

Posing as passengers, the abductors hired the autorickshaw driven by its owner, D K Dubey from here, the district headquarter, to Rajhara, about 14 kms away.

Man immolates self after losing job

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New Delhi, August 30: A 26-year-old unemployed man allegedly set himself on fire in a park near Humayun’s Tomb in south-east Delhi early this morning, police said.

The victim has been identified as Gaurav Kumar, a resident of Savitri Nagar.

According to police, he took the extreme step as he lost his job a few months back. Kumar had done a computer course and was a clerk with a private company.

Kumar had driven into the MCD Park near Humayun’s Tomb around 2.15 am. He was allegedly carrying two plastic bottles containing kerosene oil.

Vishnu will be hoping to be third time lucky

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New Delhi, August 30: Top seed Vishnu Vardhan of India will be looking to become third time lucky when last of the three back-to-back $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament begins at the DLTA complex here Monday.

Vardhan, a finalist in the first two weeks, will open against Indian qualifier Karunuday Singh Tuesday.

Vardhan lost his first final to South Korean Young-Jun Kim and last week went down to Yuki Bhambri to finish runners-up.

Chittesh docked, Ameya declared winner in JK Tyre karting

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Coimbatore, August 30: In a dramatic turn of events, Chittesh Manmody from Kolhapur and representing Team Mohite was penalised after he won the race in the seniors section while veteran Ameya Walawalkar, who finished second, was elevated to the top position in the JK Tyre Rotax Mojo Max Karting Challenge, here Sunday.

India should be proud of Chandrayaan-1: Nair

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Panaji, August 30: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair today said the country should be proud of Chandrayaan-1 for being a successful low cost planetary mission.

“Most of the missions are expensive between one and two USD billion. India can be proud as Chandrayaan-1 was less than USD 100-million mission,” Nair told reporters shortly after the mission was formally called off.

“We started the Indian mission inviting queries, the response was very good. We spent USD 85 million, while USD 30 million were spent by the other partners,” he said.

Govt releases Rs 42.46 lakh ‘Pavala Vaddi’ loans to farmers

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Rajahmundry, August 30: The State Government has released ‘Pavala Vaddi’ subsidy loans of Rs 42,46,461 to farmers who have remitted the earlier loans, according to Joint Director, Agricultural Department, Kakinada T Nandaiah.

He said yesterday that 7,351 farmers will get Rs 27,63,554 ‘Pavala Vaddi’ loans through cooperative banks while 743 farmers will be provided Rs 14,82,507 worth loans through other banks.

The amount was released by the government and amount was transferred to the farmers’ accounts, he added.

Sulking BJP brass makes beeline to meet RSS chief

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New Delhi, August 30: Several leaders of crisis-ridden BJP made a beeline to meet RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat during his three-day stay in the capital, which ended today, to air their grievances and seek his advice.

Though RSS has always maintained that it is for BJP to resolve its internal squabbles and that the organisation was there only to “help and advise”, there is little doubt about who guides and controls the party.

Son kills mother on trivial issue in Dharmabad

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Nanded, August 30: A 35-year-old youth allegedly killed his mother on a petty issue of sending his wife to her parents house without asking him.

He also injured his son, who is hospitalized.

Police said the incident took place in Shankargunj locality of Dharmabad today.

Satish Hake attacked his mother Shakuntala with razor blade and other sharp weapon and allegedly killed her on the spot, police said.

When his nine-year-old son Manish tried to intervene, he also attacked him.

Manish had been hospitalized. Shakuntala died on the spot.