Month: November 2009

Political crisis in Karnataka continues

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New Delhi, November 06: As the BJP high command grapples with the crisis in Karnataka, dissident leader Janardhan Reddy today stuck to his demand for a “better leadership” in the state and expressed the hope that the party top brass will take the right decision.

“They (BJP Central leaders) will take the right and correct decision in the interest of the party,” Reddy told reporters after meeting senior leader Sushma Swaraj.

Maintaining that his campaign was aimed at betterment of the state, the party and its workers, he hoped the issue would be resolved in two to three days.

Insurgency:Centre’s role on assisting states limited: Chidambaram

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Hyderabad, November 06: Describing as ”media invention” the anti-naxalite operation ” Green Hunt” in the states infested by extremism, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today maintained that the ”Centre’s role was limited in providing logistic support.

”The states concerned are carrying out counter-insurgency operations, wherever necessary. The Centre’s role is limited to providing para-military forces, intelligence inputs and technical help to the states concerned,” he told reporters here.

Civic polls: Nagender resigns as GH Congress chief

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Hyderabad, November 06: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Danam Nagender today resigned as Greater Hyderabad Congress President, following dissatisfaction within the ruling Congress over selection of candidates for the November 23 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Elections.

Mr Nagender submitted his resignation letter to Pradesh Congress Chief D Srinivas after supporters of unsuccessful aspirants for the party tickets, staged a dharna in front of his residence, party sources said.

Two nabbed in Pak following Headley’s arrest, says Chidambaram

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Hyderabad, November 06: At least two persons have been arrested in Pakistan on FBI advice, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today, indicating an “obvious Pakistan link” to David Coleman Headley, nabbed by the American agency for plotting a major attack in India at terror group LeT’s behest.

“There is a Pakistan link. Dave Headley visited Pakistan a number of times and I think on the advice of the FBI, two or perhaps more people have been arrested in Pakistan,” he told reporters here.

Go Green and Support War Against Terrorism

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Dubai, November 06: A peace movement against terrorism is building up across the world and on November 9, people across the globe, including Dubai, will ‘go green’ for a day in support of Pakistanis’ peace movement against terror.

Powered through the social networking sites, the Dhaani Movement has called on all supporters of Pakistan to unite through colours and wear green on this day.

Hungry Unpaid Workers All at Sea

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Sharjah, November 06: For seven long months, driven by want and hunger, these unpaid industrial workers have been surviving on fish they catch each day.

More than 50 workers of Asian descent employed in a Sharjah dhow and shipbuilding firm say they have been driven to the desperate act as they have not received salaries for seven months.

They gathered in protest at Al Buhaira Corniche near the Millennium Hotel in Sharjah on Thursday afternoon. They told Khaleej Times they were not provided with food, forcing them to catch fish every day, which they grilled to ward off hunger.

UN set to back push for fresh Gaza inquiry

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United Nations, November 06: The UN was Thursday set to throw its weight behind Arab calls for Israel and the Palestinians to probe alleged war crimes in Gaza, despite fierce opposition from the Jewish state.

The 192-member General Assembly was to vote on the Arab-sponsored resolution after a two-day debate on a controversial UN report that has accused both sides of war crimes during the 22-day conflict in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

India restricts coverage of Dalai Lama’s trip

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New Delhi, November 06: India effectively barred foreign journalists Thursday from covering a rare visit by the Dalai Lama to a Buddhist monastery close to Tibet in an apparent effort to ease Chinese anger by reducing news coverage of the trip.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader’s planned visit Sunday to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh — the heart of a long-running border dispute between China and India — has inflamed already heightened tensions between the Asian powers.

US Senate panel approves Democratic climate bill

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Washington, November 06: A controversial climate change bill cleared its first hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, allowing President Barack Obama to tout progress in the run-up to next month’s global warming talks in Copenhagen.

Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ignored a Republican boycott and used their majority to approve the legislation that would require U.S. industry to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases 20 percent by 2020, from 2005 levels.

Union, UK Royal Mail reach interim agreement

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London, November 06: The union representing Britain’s postal workers says it will call off strikes planned for later this week and remain at work through the December holidays after reaching an interim agreement with the Royal Mail.

Communication Workers’ Union spokesman Dave Ward said Thursday the deal will mean “a period of calm.” Company managing director Mark Higson says a “sensible agreement” has been reached that is good for customers.

Negotiations for a final deal are to take place in the coming months.

Clinton says will work with Abbas in “any capacity”

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Washington, November 06: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday she looked forward to working with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in “any new capacity” after Abbas said he would not run again for president in January.

Clinton met Abbas last weekend and she said they discussed his political future. She did not offer any details.

“He reiterated his personal commitment to do whatever he can to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict … I look forward to working with President Abbas in any new capacity,” she added.

–Agencies

Taliban chief urges troops to fight army

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Islamabad, November 06: The leader of the Taliban urged his fighters to stand fast against a military offensive in tribal South Waziristan, warning them in an intercepted message that cowards will go to hell.

Pakistani forces launched an offensive in mid-October to crush the Taliban in the semiautonomous region along the Afghan border that is believed to be the main stronghold of the militants and their al-Qaida allies.

US baby found alive in box under sitter’s bed

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Chipley, November 06: Investigators spent five days searching dense vines and marshes for a missing infant, only to find her lying quietly in a small cedar box hidden under her baby sitter’s bed.

Clothing was packed around it to muffle any sounds and baking powder placed inside to mask the stench of dirty diapers.

Authorities say the baby’s mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer, gave her to baby sitter Susan Elizabeth Baker early Saturday, then reported her missing about 10 hours later.

Under Saudi bridge, migrant workers wait to go home

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Jeddah, November 06: Larita Delacruz sits on the concrete base of a bridge pylon, rubs her swollen belly and explains her predicament: she is five months pregnant with twins, and wants to go home to give birth.

But after four years of working as a maid in Saudi Arabia, she lacks both her passport and the crucial exit permit that would allow her to return to the Philippines.

So for three months Delacruz has lived on the pavement under a massive elevated eight-lane highway in central Jeddah, hoping to be rounded up by immigration police, then given documents and a ticket home.

India votes in favour of Goldstone report

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United Nations, November 06: India has voted in favour of a UN resolution endorsing the Goldstone report that requires Israel and Palestine to investigate war crimes in the Gaza Strip, after initially expressing reservations about it.

Expressing support for the resolution, Indian Deputy Envoy to the United Nations, Manjeev Singh Puri told PTI, “Our commitment to the Palestinian cause is complete.”

Puri, however, noted that India could not make an “unqualified endorsement”. “We do not approve of the referral to the Security Council and the ICC,” he said.

Ponting praises depleted Oz, says win a ‘good sign’

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Hyderabad, November 06: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting lavished praise on his injury-ravaged team for the way they held their nerves to pull off a three-run win against India
in the fifth one-dayer here.

”It’s remarkable considering the number of players we have had injured on this tour and we had a couple of our better players who didn’t make the tour,” Ponting said.

”When you take all those things into consideration, the way we are continuing to improve our cricket is fantastic.

”It is a great win for the boys and I am really happy to see some of the young guys doing well.

Centre has undertaken no operation against Maoists:PC

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Hyderabad, November 06: The Centre has not undertaken any operation against Maoists and it is only assisting state governments in their counter-insurgency measures, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today.

“There is no operation. Operation is your invention.

State governments are carrying out all the (counter) insurgency measures against Naxalites.

New wonder boy of cricket wants to meet Tendulkar

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Mumbai, November 06: Sarfaraz Khan first surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record to hit the headlines and the 12-year-old cricket prodigy now wants to meet the batting great in person to achieve his long-cherished dream.

Sarfaraz, who slammed 439 in the Harris Shield to better Tendulkar’s inter-school unbeaten knock of 346, showed maturity beyond his years as he dismissed any comparison made between him and Tendulkar.

“Sachin is my idol and I consider him as my ‘Guru’.

Please don’t compare me with him,” the Rizvi Springfield student told PTI today.

Three LeT men who planned to attack US mission held in Bangladesh

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Dhaka, November 06: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, who had surveyed the area around the US mission in the Bangladesh capital and were allegedly planning to attack it, have been arrested. They had links with the US and Pakistan, media reports said Friday.

The LeT men were caught on information provided by an Indian-born US national and a Pakistan-born US national. The two were arrested in the US recently on charges of attempt to attack various establishments, including embassies and high commissions of the US, Britain and India in different countries, The Daily Star said.

Oil rises above USD 80 amid stock market surge

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Singapore, November 06: Oil prices rose above USD 80 a barrel today in Asia as crude investors eyed a surge in global stock markets.

Benchmark crude for December delivery was up 47 cents to USD 80.09 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 78 cents to settle at USD 79.62 yesterday.

Abbas: No Peace Talks Until Israel Halts Construction

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During a meeting with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Mahmoud Abbas rejected her request to resume peace talks with Israel, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said.

“We are witnessing pressure from the Americans and a number of Arab elements to stop conditioning the renewal of negotiations on the halting of settlements,” Ynet quoted an unnamed Palestinian source.

Erakat, however, said Abbas rejected the US offer due to Israel’s refusal to “include a complete freeze of settlement activity” in a recent deal reached with US envoy George Mitchell.

28 students expelled for ragging juniors

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Varanasi, November 06:Twenty-eight students were expelled from a college here for ragging their juniors and indulging in violence in September.

The decision was taken by the anti-ragging committee of the Uday Pratap Autonomous college here.

Notices were served to the students yesterday asking them to take their transfer certificate from the college office by November 15, Gulab Singh, the spokesman of the college said.

Manmohan Singh as first state visitor of Obama presidency no accident: US

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Washington, November 06: President Barack Obama’s decision to have Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the very first state visitor of his administration was no accident, according to a senior US official.

“I think it’s no accident that President Obama decided that the very first state visitor of his administration would be Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,” US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, said at an event here Thursday.

Third gun attack on brigadier in Pakistan capital

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Islamabad, November 06: Gunmen on a motorbike on Friday wounded an army brigadier and soldier in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad before escaping in the third such attack in two weeks, officials said.

The officer and a soldier were shot while travelling in a jeep through the I-8 residential neighbourhood, police officer Mohammad Azhar told AFP.

“Two gunmen riding on a motorbike opened fire on the jeep. Two people in the jeep were wounded. They were taken to hospital,” Azhar said, giving no further details.

12 dead in US Army base attack

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Fort Hood, November 06: Stretching over two counties in a swathe of central Texas, Fort Hood military base is a town in itself.

Emergency personnel carry the wounded at the US Army post in Fort Hood, Texas, in this video grab taken and released on November 5. – Reuters

To its south, the town of Killeen, Texas with a population of 116,000 is dwarfed compared with the vast complex of shops and residences that make up one of the biggest US military facilities in the world.