Lahore, December 31: Authorities arrested a senior Pakistani Taliban commander who led the group’s network in the key central province of Punjab, where violence has been increasing in recent months, police said Thursday.
The arrest strikes a blow as militants have stepped up their efforts to wage attacks far from their sanctuary in Pakistan’s lawless tribal area near the Afghan border in response to a major military offensive there.
Kabul, December 31: The Taliban claimed responsibility Thursday for a suicide bombing at a base in eastern Afghanistan that killed eight American civilians and one Afghan, the worst loss of life for the U.S. in the country since October. A U.S. congressional official said CIA employees are believed to be among the victims.
Separately, four Canadian soldiers and a journalist imbedded in their unit were killed Wednesday by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan’s south, the bloodiest single incident suffered by that country’s military in 2009.
Swine flu kills many
The Swine flu pandemic that scared the entire world rocked the city causing hysteria among the denizens. Even a bout of cold sent people rushing to the clinics and the mask sellers present at every traffic signal made a roaring business.
CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy dies in a chopper crash
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh who led his party to a roaring victory in the elections comfortably securing his second term, died in a chopper crash leaving a void in the Congress leadership and the administration in doldrums.
A R Rahman in city with Jai Ho
Tehran, December 31: An Iranian opposition website said on Thursday the government was moving troops and armoured military vehicles to the capital on the day supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi planned to hold a rally.
“Hundreds of military forces and tens of armoured vehicles … are moving towards Tehran. Some of the vehicles are used for suppressing street riots,” the Jaras website said.
The report could not be confirmed independently by Reuters.
Jaras also said security forces had a heavy presence in various Tehran squares ahead of the planned opposition rally.
Phnom Penh, December 31: An arrest warrant has been issued for the leader of Cambodia’s main opposition party after he ignored a provincial court order to appear for questioning, a government spokesman said on Thursday.
Sam Rainsy failed to appear for questioning on Monday about an Oct. 25 incident in which demarcation posts were uprooted along Cambodia’s border with Vietnam.
A Phnom Penh court issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday, although it was not announced publicly.
Hyderabad, December 31: Crime against women continues to be on the rise and so is the case with economic offences while the Naxal activity was lowest when compared the to last one decade. The number of road accidents too have gone down, slightly.
This in nutshell was the crime, law and order scenario in 2009.
Lauding the anti-extremist work done by the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and Greyhounds, Director General of Police RR Girish Kumar said that though the Naxal activity was the lowest in the last decade, they continue to keep utmost vigil.
Mumbai, December 31: Somewhere on the second-half of this slightly seductive jigsaw about a one-night scam, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra shows up as Neha Dhupia’s father who drops in to have a chat with his sullen daughter on the way to the airport.
Little does the stoic Mishra know that daughter has two men stashed away in a cupboard in the living room that looks consciously like a prop on a stage set.
Quirky sex comedies are allowed their moments of eccentricity.
Guwahati, December 31: Chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Arabinda Rajkhowa has said his outfit is ready to hold negotiations with the government if its jailed leaders are released to pave the way for peace talks.
“I have met Arabinda Rajkhowa and other leaders at the prison and they told me they were ready for peace talks, but made it clear that negotiations can be held only if they are released from jail,” Lachit Bordoloi, a rights leader and member of the ULFA constituted People’s Consultative Group, told IANS Thursday.
New Delhi, December 31: L K Advani will play a role well beyond the specially-created position of Chairman of BJP Parliamentary party, according to the new party President Nitin Gadkari who made it clear that the 82-year-old veteran will be a “permanent guide and philosopher” for the whole party.
“Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani are our role models and source of inspiration…..Advaniji will be permanent guide and philosopher for the whole party,” Mr. Gadkari said in an interview.
Washington, December 31: In a discovery that would help understand the nervous system of psychiatric patients, researchers have found “scrambled connections” between the brain cells which process fear and emotion and other regions of the brain lead to anxiety disorders.
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that connectivity between amygdala, a pair of almond-sized bundles of nerve fibres in the middle of the brain, and its other regions could be the hallmark of common anxiety problems like Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Bhopal, December 30 (Pervez Bari): “Urdu is a language of civilization which nurtures politeness, courteousness, good-mannerism while socializing in a society to develop a rich culture “.
The above views were expressed by Raghuveer Shrivastava, Commissioner of Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department, while speaking as chief guest at the valedictory function of the 10-day Urdu teachers Orientation Course / training workshop here at the Mulla Ramuzi Sanskriti Bhawan.
New Delhi, December 31: Nobel Prize winner Mother Teresa will be honoured on a US postage stamp next year. It will go on sale on August 26, her birthday.
Other personalities to be honoured on US postage stamps next year include Oscar winning actress Katharine Hepburn, singing cowboy Gene Autry and artist Winslow Homer.
–Agencies
New Delhi, December 31: Unable to bear the chill on the season’s coldest day, a homeless man killed a 15-year-old boy for a blanket at Ajmal Khan Park, in central Delhi.
On Wednesday, police arrested 33-year-old Shravan, who goes by his first name, on charges of murdering 15-year-old Sonu, who would not let Shravan take his new blanket.
Guwahati, December 31: Chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Arabinda Rajkhowa has said his outfit is ready to hold negotiations with the government if its jailed leaders are released to pave the way for peace talks.
‘I have met Arabinda Rajkhowa and other leaders at the prison and they told me they were ready for peace talks, but made it clear that negotiations can be held only if they are released from jail,’ Lachit Bordoloi, a rights leader and member of the ULFA constituted People’s Consultative Group, told Thursday.
Varanasi, December 31: The Copenhagen accord on climate change was a partial success for India but it has certain “inbuilt hazards” of which the developing countries have to be wary, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said here. “The accord has certain inbuilt hazards and the developing world, especially India, has to be wary on those accounts.
Shillong, December 31: Having created the biggest upset in the tournament by defeating I—League champions Churchill Brothers in the semi-finals of the ongoing Federation Cup, Shillong Lajong coach Stanley Rosario, today said his wards have created history in north—eastern football.
“It was fantastic. It was history for North—East. This is the first time a club from the North—East has entered the finals of the Federation Cup,” Rosario told a day after drubbing Churchill Brothers 1—0 en route to the finals in Guwahati.
London, December 31: Despite the general belief, the percentage of calories gained by eating fat, as opposed to protein or carbohydrates, does not influence the weight gain process.
Dietitians generally recommend individuals to confine their fat intake to 20 to 35 percent of the total daily calories, urging them to substitute saturated and trans-fats by eating fish, nuts and vegetable oils as they contain healthy fats.
Washington, December 31: One of the most comprehensive and accurate studies of clinical data on vitamin E shows that indiscriminate use of the antioxidant does more harm than good.
‘There were so many conflicting reports about vitamin E and its effect on various diseases, particularly heart disease, that we wanted to set the record straight, says Dov Lichtenberg, professor at the Tel Aviv University (TAU) Sackler School of Medicine.
Kolkata, December 31: Suspected Maoists gunned down two Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, police said Thursday.
Ananda Singh and Konaram Singh were abducted from their home in Shimulpal village and dragged for over a kilometer by a group of heavily armed rebels Wednesday night.
‘Their bodies were found this morning with gunshot injuries,’ said an officer at the police control room here. Police sources said the dead men were members of an anti-Maoist resistance forum.
–Agencies
Sitapur, December 31: A child and her infant brother were charred to death when a hut caught fire in Reosa block of the district, police said here today.
Fahmida (3) and her seven-month old brother Shamim died yesterday in the mishap caused by accidental fire from a coal stove kept to keep the room warm, they said.
The incident occurred when senior family members were out for some work.
–Agencies
New delhi, December 31: President Pratibha Patil Thursday greeted the nation on New Year’s Eve, saying 2010 should bring joy and prosperity to everyone.
‘On the occasion of New Year, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all my fellow citizens,’ the president was quoted as saying in an official communique.
Patil urged everyone to ‘dedicate ourselves to ensure the welfare and progress of our nation and all its people by strengthening the bonds of mutual trust and compassion’ during the new year.
–IANS
Chandigarh, December 31: S.P.S. Rathore, the former Haryana DGP who molested Ruchika Girhotra, on Thursday made another plea for interim bail.
Abha Rathore, wife and lawyer of Rathore, filed the plea in a Panchkula court. She challenged the filing of two FIRs against Rathore, saying the courts had already acquitted him in the case.
The FIRs mention several non-bailable charges against Rathore.
Abha also accused Ruchika’s father S.C. Girhotra and family friend Anand Prakash of making false statements. She said action should be taken against the two for contempt of court.
West Bengal, December 31: The Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee today flagged off the first ever ‘Yuva’ train from Howrah Railway Station. 2249/2250 Howrah-New Delhi ‘Yuva’ Express (weekly) will stop at Asansol, Dhanbad, Mugalsarai, Allahabad and Kanpur.
As announced in the Railway Budget 2009-10 by the Railway Minister, the ‘Yuva’ trains are targeted mainly for the unemployed youths of the country. The objective is to ensure that the youth and low income groups can travel at low rates between major cities.
Hyderabad, December 31: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah briefs Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on the latest developments in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Hyderabad: All the 13 Congress ministers from Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday decided to withdraw their resignation after the Centre’s announcement on holding discussions with political parties the state.
New Delhi, December 31: Eclipse enthusiasts can expect a partial lunar eclipse on New Year’s Eve (December 31) in 2009. It will be difficult to see with the naked eye.
The last eclipse of 2009 occurs on New Year’s Eve. This minor partial lunar eclipse takes place in Gemini, and is visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere. Greatest eclipse takes place at 19:23 UT when the eclipse magnitude will reach 0.0763.