Abu Dhabi, January 04: The National Library of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) has published the first part of a new book entitled “Soul of the Soul” authored by an anonymous Muslim scholar of the fifth Hijri (Islamic Calendar) century.
The book is considered to be among the most important poetry encyclopaedias in Arabic.
Gaza, January 04: The 70 years old Syrian Kurdish actor Khaled Taja, the iconic figure of Arabic drama is going to play the leading role in a movie about the tunnels of Gaza.
London, January 04: Former British prime minister John Major said Saturday that the Iraq war inquiry appeared to be showing that the invasion was more about regime change than finding weapons of mass destruction.
Criticising his successor Tony Blair over his presentation of the case for invading, Major told BBC radio that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain may have been a “bad man” — but that was not a good enough reason to go to war.
Dubai, January 04: Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum, who on Monday inaugurates the world’s tallest tower to mark his fourth year in power, appears determined not to let debt woes dampen his vision for Dubai’s future.
The emirate’s British-educated ruler has been the driving force behind the spectacular rise of the Gulf emirate into a boom town, and strives to project the image of a modern Arab leader.
Tel Aviv, January 04: Washington is pushing a plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that foresees reaching a final deal in two years and agreeing on permanent borders in nine months, a daily said Monday.
Under the plan, the Israelis and Palestinians will immediately start final status talks that were suspended during the Israeli war on Gaza a year ago, Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.
Sanaa, January 04: The American and British embassies in Sanaa remained shut for a second day Monday following indications that an Al-Qaeda branch linked to a botched US airliner bombing is targeting their interests.
Yemeni authorities meanwhile have tightened security measures at and around the capital’s airport, as well as around several embassies, a correspondent said.
New checkpoints were installed along the airport road while security measures were reinforced around the missions of Britain, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Sydney, January 04: after reducing Australia cheaply on 127, Pakistan has taken crucial lead of 204 runs on Day two of second test here at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Pakistan were 331/9 at Stumps day 2. Danish Kaneria 2 (4), Mohammad Asif 0 (4) were at the crease.
Pakistan are trailing the series 0-1. Pakistan in strong position to win the match with 104 runs lead. For Pakistan, Opener Salman Butt and Imran Farhat smashed fifty to put their side on driver’s seat.
New Delhi, January 04: A young man allegedly involved in the murder of under-19 cricketer Gagandeep Singh and over a dozen kidnappings for ransom has been arrested after a brief shootout, police said Monday.
Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested Ajay Raj Sangwan, 23, near the Nizamuddin flyover in south Delhi Sunday. A pistol and seven cartridges were recovered from him.
Sangwan was a known criminal in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. “He was also wanted for the murder of Gagandeep Singh,” Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal said. He carried a reward of Rs.50,000 on his head.
New Delhi, January 04: Felicitating the brightest scientific minds of the year, the Infosys Science Foundation on Monday awarded five achievement prizes to eminent Indian scientists and scholars for their path breaking research among five the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s daughter Upinder Singh won prize in history here today.
Vice President Hamid Ansari gave away the prizes that are aimed to inspire young Indians to pursue a career in scientific research.
Chennai, January 04: AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa has urged the Election Commission of India to see that retired government employees who are re-hired on contract basis by Tamil Nadu government are not deputed for election duty.
New Delhi, January 04: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is all set to connect Delhi and Ghaziabad with metro. Delhi Metro will starts its services from Laxmi Nagar in east Delhi up to Anand Vihar, near to Ghaziabad from January 7, 2010, DMRC sources said.
The 6.25 km Metro link will be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy.
After the inauguration of Delhi Metro link, it will be open for public from next day i.e January 8, 2010.
Islamabad, January 04: Pakistan’s foreign minister and the country’s main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday criticised the Indian Army chief’s reported remarks that it was capable of fighting a two-front war with Pakistan and China, saying it detracted from the war on terror.
“I am surprised at the statement of the Indian army chief. On the one hand, India talks of dialogue and than it backtracks on its own words,” Online news agency quoted Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as telling reporters in Karachi.
New Delhi, January 04: With the tri-sanctioned Euro 1.5 million Avantha Masters as the highlight, the Aircel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has confirmed eight events over the first quarter of the 2010 season.
In addition, the PGTI also announced the setting up of a newly Feeder Tour, which will have eight events. The events will carry a purse of about Rs.300,000 to Rs.400,000 and feature 72 players competing over 54 holes. The players will be those ranked outside top-100 of the PGTI Order of Merit of the previous year.
New Delhi, January 04: A senior financial advisor to the government on Monday said the economy could grow at 10 percent in the next few years if systemic inefficiencies were removed and anti-poverty programmes effectively implemented.
“The Indian economy could notch up a growth rate of 10 percent in the next few years if the sluggish bureaucratic decision-making was speeded-up, systemic inefficiencies in the government removed and the leakage and pilferage in anti-poverty programmes were effectively plugged,” said Kaushik Basu, the chief economic adviser in the finance ministry.
Nairobi, January 04: Days of heavy rainfall in northern Kenya have left 26 people dead due to flooding, the Daily Nation newspaper reported on Monday.
Due to the high number of missing people, officials fear the number of deceased could rise. According to the Red Cross of Kenya, more than 30,000 people have lost their homes due to the rains and flooding.
Hyderabad, January 04: The Telangana Vidyarthi Garjana has warned all political parties of serious consequences if they do not take a pro- Telangana stand at the January 5 meeting convened by the Centre for evolving a mechanism and road map (for formation of separate Telangana state).
The Telangana Students Joint Action Commitee also called a `rail roko’ and national highways blockade on January 5 coinciding with the date of talks to mount pressure on the Centre.
Hyderabad, January 04: Telangana TDP MLAs have made it clear that their party was firm on its Telangana stand and would support any move in favour of Statehood for Telangana.
At a press conference here today, TDP legislators N Janardhan Reddy, M Narasimhulu, P Mahendar Reddy and KS Rathnam refuted the reports in a section of media that the party made a U turn on its Telangana commitment and was going to support United State.
Hyderabad, January 04: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao has urged Congress led UPA government to take steps in right earnest for formation of Telangana state as announced by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on December 9.
Hyderabad, January 04: One of the nearly 25 people caught on camera assaulting Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy near the Arts College on the Osmania University campus recently was arrested by the city police today.
Gillela Raghava Reddy (46), an electrician, was arrested by the Osmania University police today after he was spotted in the videograph.
The family of the accused told Express that Raghava Reddy was picked up by the police on Saturday night itself. “They said he was part of the group that attacked Janardhan Reddy.
Hyderabad, January 04: A day ahead of the all-party meeting in New Delhi to discuss statehood to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Congress and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Monday continued to be undecided on their stand and were likely to put forward a divided opinion.
While the representatives of both the parties from Telangana will urge the central government to immediately start the process for formation of Telangana state, their counterparts from Andhra region will oppose any bifurcation of the state.
Hyderabad, January 04: With the all-party meeting on Telangana taking place in Delhi on January 5, leaders of the eight political parties which have been invited to talks are busy preparing their line of arguments.
Hyderabad, January 04: Senior Congress leader and former minister JC Diwakar Reddy has said that they will take a decision on cont inuing the ‘Samaikya Andhra’ movement after analysing the outcome of the al l -party meeting in Delhi on January 5 being convened by the Central government at Delhi to resolve the Telangana issue.
Speaking to reporters here today, he hoped that the Central Government would find an amicable solution to the bifurcation issue. He also hoped that party high command would invite ‘right leaders’ to the all-party meeting.
Kurnool, January 04: The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) activists in the district rose to a rude shock on the first day of the New Year. The distirct office received formal orders that the monthly rent for the building will not be paid and hence lock the doors.
Never did the party activists think that the newly-launched party would popularity within just a year.
Vijayawada, January 04: Former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao was made a scapegoat in the Babri Masjid demolition issue, opined retired IAS officer and the then media advisor to prime minister, P V R K Prasad.
Hyderabad, January 04: Giving a major fillip to urban development in the State, the World Bank has approved a loan of Rs 1,431.91 crore under the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Development Project.
At a meeting on urban development held here today, Chief Minister K Rosaiah said that the World Bank loan would provide a big impetus to the government’s initiative in taking up qualitative works in various municipalities to meet civic and infrastructure requirements.