Month: November 2009

Time running out for Iran: U.S.

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Washington, November 30: The United States on Sunday said time was running out for Iran to address the growing concerns of the international community about its nuclear programme, as the Islamic republic approved plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities in defiance of UN demands.

“If true, this would be yet another serious violation of Iran’s clear obligations under multiple UN security council resolutions, and another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself,” the White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, said in a statement here.

Ferry death toll rises to 62

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Dhaka, November 30: The death toll from the capsizing of a ferry over the weekend in southern Bangladesh rose to 62 Monday after rescuers recovered an additional four bodies, police said.

Rescuers plucked four bodies overnight from River Tetulia, where the overcrowded triple-deck ferry capsized late Friday, police official Mohammad Bayezid said.

The M.V. Coco was packed with hundreds of travelers leaving Dhaka to head home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha when it tilted and went down after reportedly hitting a river shoal.

Violent start to Bengal bandh, services disrupted

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Kolkata, November 30:A 12-hour Bengal bandh called by the BJP to protest the hike in power tariff on Monday saw supporters setting afire buses and clashing with police, who resorted to lathicharge to quell them.

Train and road services were hit by the bandh.

Traffic movement was disrupted as a private bus was torched on the busy VIP Road connecting the Kolkata airport, police said, adding bandh supporters put up a blockade on that road.

Three other private vehicles were also damaged in the area following which police baton-charged the protesters, they said.

Tahawwur Rana denies involvement in 26/11 attacks: Lawyer

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Chicago, November 30: Terror suspect Tahawwur Hussain Rana, under investigation for possible links to 26/11, has categorically denied any involvement in the Mumbai attacks, his lawyer said on Monday and asserted that the Pakistani-Canadian “harbours no ill-will” against Indians.

The statement was the first response from Rana’s side after suspicions arose that he and US citizen David Coleman Headley, arrested by the FBI for plotting attacks in India at the behest of Lashkar-e-Taiba, could have links to the Mumbai terror strikes.

Iran to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants: Report

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Tehran, November 29: Iran’s government has approved plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants, the state broadcaster said on Sunday, a clear show of defiance after the UN nuclear watchdog rebuked Tehran over secret nuclear work.

The new enrichment plants would be the same size as its main enrichment complex at Natanz and work would begin within two months, the broadcaster said.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran should aim to produce 250-300 tonnes of nuclear fuel a year, it added.

Hyderabad-bound Indigo flight receives bomb threat

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New Delhi, November 29: A Hyderabad-bound Indigo flight received a bomb threat from an anonymous caller on Sunday night, forcing authorities to take up emergency measures and evacuate the passengers at the airport here.

The 164 people on board the plane, including five crew members, were safely evacuated and the aircraft was moved to the isolation bay, officials said.

The plane, which was scheduled for departure at 8.55 pm, is now surrounded by CISF personnel and bomb squads to scan for any explosives.

Swiss vote on anti-Islam move to ban new minarets

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Geneva, November 29: Swiss voters are deciding in a referendum today whether to accept a ban on the construction of minarets, which right-wing parties regard as symbols of militant Islam.

The move led by the Swiss People’s Party, which has campaigned in previous years against immigrants has stirred fears of boycotts and violent reactions from Muslim countries.

Polls indicate growing support for the proposal, but doubt remains about whether it will pass. The seven-member Cabinet that heads the Swiss government has spoken out strongly against the initiative.

Labourer dies after being buried in trench

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New Delhi, November 29: A labourer died in east Delhi today after he was buried in a 12-ft trench which caved in while he was digging it, police said.

The victim was identified as Rajeev (27), hailing from Lucknow.”He was digging the trench for laying a telecom cable.

The trench caved in and he was trapped inside. Some labourers who saw the incident informed police,” a senior official said.

He was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.A case was registered for causing death by negligence.

–Agencies

Bagan struggle before win via penalty

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Kolkata, November 29: Mohun Bagan struggled before a penalty conversion by Edeh Chidi helped them to blank Calcutta Customs 1-0 and ensure their third consecutive win in their Calcutta Football League Premier Division tie here today.

Mohun Bagan started on an attacking note but the Customs players showed good fighting skills to thwart every chances from the reigning Federation Cup champions.

In fact, within the first 20 minutes, Tomba Singh and Chidi missed a couple of close chances to score.

Innovations can boost economic progress: Kalam

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Ahmedabad, November 29: India has to make innovations to be able to compete with other nations for economic progress, said former president A P J Abdul Kalam.

Kalam was here at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) to deliver a valedictory address during annual event, ‘Confluence-2009.’

He said through innovations, local companies can produce technologically superior products and can become a market leader globally.

“Innovations should be encouraged in agriculture and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) because they drive the economy,” he said.

Air India Pilots withdraw strike call

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Mumbai, November 29: Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) today said it has withdrawn the strike notice given to the Air India management following the latter’s assurance that all pending issues will resolved over the next two months.

“We had a successful meeting with the management following which we have withdrawn our strike call notice with immediate effect,” ICPA General Secretary, R S Otaal, told PTI tonight.

Mamata lays foundation stone for country’s first PCC

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Singur (WB) November 29: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today laid the foundation stone of the country’s first railway-run Perishable Cargo Centre here that would ensure storage and transport of agri-products in a fresh condition.

“Potato from Singur goes all over the country. But because of appropriate storage facilities, most of the crop is being sold at very low price. After completion of this project, the farmers will not have to do distress sale for want of storage space. They will also be able to send their produce from here by air-conditioned containers,” she said.

Gambhir is Ceat International Cricketer of the Year

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Mumbai, November 29: In-form Indian opener Gautam Gambhir today won the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award for his stupendous performance with the bat in the 2008-09 season.

Gambhir, who has notched seven hundreds in his last nine Tests including four in the last four, also won the Test Batsman of the Year award at a function held here tonight.

Gambhir’s India and Delhi opening mate Virender Sehwag won the ODI Batsman of the Year award.

The Test Bowler of the Year award was bagged by Australia’s left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson.

Security tightened after 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes

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Thiruvananthapuram, November 29: The Armed forces are fully prepared and equipped to ensure that Mumbai type 26/11 terror attacks do not happen again, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said today.

The country’s security has been tightened and there was better co-ordination between central forces and state police, Kapoor said during a brief interaction with students here.

National Security Guards, comprising personnel from army, has set up four regional hubs at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, he said.

President Patil in Hyderabad on Dec 1

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Hyderabad, November 29: President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the World Newspaper Congress (WNC) here on December one.

She will arrive here at 2030 hours tomorrow and leave for Delhi at 1210 hours on December one, an official release said here tonight.

–Agencies

I fought for J’khand, let me rule: Soren

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Giridih (Jharkhand), November 29: JMM President Shibu Soren today hit out at his political adversaries for not “allowing” him to rule Jharkhand, a state he claimed was created after 40 years of struggle by him.

“The creation of Jharkhand was the result of my fighting for it over 40 years. But, I was not allowed to put the state on the speedy path of development,” he said during a poll meeting for the second phase elections for December 2.

Rosaiah justifies TRS chief’s arrest

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Hyderabad, November 29: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah tonight justified the arrest of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) K Chandrasekhar Rao ahead of his fast-unto-death demanding separate Telangana, saying it is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order.

“His (Chandrasekhar Rao) speeches and the language he is using over the last one week are not correct. We have the responsibility to maintain law and order. We waited patiently.

Rosaiah, Srinivas meet Governor Tiwari

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Hyderabad, November 29: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah and state Congress president D Srinivas today met State Governor N D Tiwari.

Rosaiah and Srinivas met the Governor to convey to him the election of the Chief Minister as Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, party sources said.

The CLP met here on Friday last and authorised Congress President Sonia Gandhi to name the leader of the legislature party.

Punish severely LTTE supporters: Union Minister

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Puducherry, November 29: Union Minister V Narayanasamy today called for stringent punishment to individuals and organisations supporting the banned LTTE in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

“The authorities concerned should take stringent action against any individual or organisations supporting the LTTE in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” the Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture told reporters here.

“Terrorism a religion of devils”: Sharukh

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New Delhi, November 29: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan today joined sports celebrities Abhinav Bindra and Sania Mirza to show their solidarity against terror at a public event during when he dubbed terrorism a “religion of devils.”

Bindra, an Olympic gold medalist in shooting event, said the country was just a “bomb away” and highlighted how it is facing a huge challenge to keep terror at bay.

59 more H1N1 cases in Rajasthan

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Jaipur, November 29: Fifty-nine more people have tested positive for swine flu in Rajasthan, raising the number of those afflicted with the illness in the state to 1488.

Twenty-eight fresh H1NI cases surfaced in Jodhpur, 21 in Jaipur, five in Kota, two each in Udaipur and Bikaner, and one in Ajmer, a state health official said.

As many as 42 people have succumbed to the swine flu in Rajasthan so far, he said.

–Agencies

Yoga and Naturopathy institute project delayed

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Jhajjar, November 29: The much-awaited project of setting up Central Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy with 100-bedded hospital in the district has been further delayed due to official formalities.

Though the district administration had earlier this year decided to provide 10 acres of its land to the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), New Delhi, for establishing the institute, Director Panchayat Haryana, Chandigarh, has raised some objections in connection with the allotment of land on lease for 33 years.

Pakistan opposition urges president to give up powers

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Islamabad, November 29: Pakistan’s main opposition party demanded Sunday that the president immediately relinquish much of his power amid calls for the unpopular leader to assume a ceremonial role or resign.

The political turmoil threatens to distract the U.S.-allied country from its fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida near the Afghan border.

Fingerprint checks at UK airports from Monday

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London, November 29: British immigration authorities are introducing fingerprint checks at the border for Indian and other passengers with biometric UK visas, entry clearances and identity cards for foreign nationals from tomorrow.

On arrival in the United Kingdom, these passengers will have their fingerprints scanned at border control in addition to the normal checks.

The fingerprints will then be checked against those the passenger gave when they applied.

Three die, six taken ill from food poisoning in Kolkata

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Kolkata, November 29: Three people – a woman, a girl child and a teenaged boy – died and six others were critically ill in two incidents of suspected food poisoning in Kolkata Sunday, police said.

According to police, the woman and her niece died in a government hospital Sunday after they ate biryani at their Samsul Huda Road residence in South Kolkata’s Park Street area Saturday. Two other members of the family are in hospital and their condition is said to be serious.