Month: January 2010

Venezuela ‘better at anti-narcotics without US’

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Caracas, January 03: Venezuela says its anti-narcotics effort has improved since it ended cooperation with the US with an increase in drug confiscations throughout 2009.

Drug confiscations rose by 11 percent from 2008 as the Latin American nation reported 60 tonnes of drugs captured for the 2009 year.

“The figure makes Venezuela one of the most effective countries in this respect,” ABN news agency said on Saturday.

Cocaine and marijuana accounted for nearly all of Venezuela’s drug confiscations in 2009, according to the drug office’s latest statistical breakdown.

Spanked kids ‘do better in life’

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London, January 03: Here’s a shocker- Young kids who are smacked by their parents grow up to be more successful than children who’re never spanked at all, claims a new study.

Lead researcher Marjorie Gunnoe, professor of psychology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said: “I think of spanking as a dangerous tool, but there are times when there is a job big enough for a dangerous tool. You just don’t use it for all your jobs.”

PA urges Israel to drop controversial prisoners law

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Gaza, January 03: The Palestinian Authority (PA) has urged Israel to cancel a controversial law that it uses to hold prisoners without a trial.

Israel also uses the law to keep prisoners in jail after their terms are over.

The PA “has raised this issue before international circles and human rights groups and resorted to the Israeli courts to drop the law, but the efforts were fruitless,”, Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs Eissa Qaraqe told Xinhua on Saturday.

This law “violates the Palestinian prisoners’ rights and their human values,” he added.

Joint Israeli-German cabinet meeting rescheduled

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Jerusalem, January 03: A joint meeting in Berlin of the German and Israeli cabinets that was postponed in November will now take place on January 18, an Israeli government official said on Sunday.

The previously scheduled session of the two governments was due to be held on November 30, but was postponed because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fell ill with a viral infection.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to the German capital with senior ministers for the meeting, which follows a similar one in Israel when German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited in March 2008.

Iran holds major military defense drill next month

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Tehran, January 03: Iran plans to launch a large-scale military exercise next month to prepare its military forces to be able to repel any possible offensive by the country’s enemies, a top commander says.

The joint drill, conducted by Iran’s ground forces and cooperation of some of the units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), will “improve the force’s defensive capabilities” Commander of Iran’s Ground Forces Brig. Gen. Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan said on Saturday.

It will also”boost the region’s security,” the commander told a meeting of servicemen in Tehran.

Quake in Tajikistan leaves 20,000 homeless

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Tajikistan, January 03: An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan, rendering 20,000 people homeless, though there were no reports of casualties.

The quake took place yesterday and affected Rokh and Gishkoh hamlets in the Tajik Badakhshan’s Vanch district.

“Several dozens houses inhabited by some 20,000 people have been completely or partially destroyed,” a local administration spokesman was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Sydney Test Day 1: Asif, Sami bowl Oz out for 127

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Sydney, January 03: Mohammad Asif claimed a career-best 6 for 41 as Australia were shot out for a paltry 127 on Day 1 of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The pacer’s impressive showing — his sixth five-wicket haul in just his 16th Test — came after Ricky Ponting opted to bat despite overcast conditions and rain having forced the game to start only after lunch, and Mohammad Samihad reduced Australia to 10-3.

Karzai raps civilian casualties in US operations

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Kabul, January 03: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned US-led forces for unpopular tactics which result in civilian deaths, amid public anger across the country.

“We strongly request foreign forces in Afghanistan to stop irregular house searches and operations that are not coordinated (with Afghan forces), especially airstrikes,” Karzai said on Sunday during his surprise visit to the southern Helmand province.

Two deadly NATO operations within less than a week have put Karzai and the Afghans at odds with foreign troops.

UK to follow US intervention in Yemen

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London, January 03: The British premier’s office says that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama have agreed to fight what they call terrorism in Yemen and Somalia.

The UK and the US have agreed to fund a counter-terrorism police unit in Yemen to tackle the rising threat from the country.

The British premier’s office says that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama have agreed to fight what they call terrorism in Yemen and Somalia.

Opening bell at 9am from Monday

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Mumbai, January 03: The Dalal Street will start the first day of the new year an hour early at 9am from tomorrow, as the exchanges have decided go ahead with the new timing, notwithstanding protests from brokerages.

With a view to better align the domestic markets with the Asian bourses, the both Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange had late last month announced the advancing the trading timing to 9am with effect from January 4, from 9.55am earlier. However, the closing bell remains the same at 3.30pm.

College teachers to launch stir demanding revised UGC pay scale

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Pathanmthitta, January 03: Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (KPCTA) is to launch an indefinite agitation, protesting against the delay on the part of the Government in implementing the revised pay scale of University Grants Commission (UGC) in the State.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, KPCTA State president, Khader Mangad and secretary, M.C. Dileepkumar, said the association decided to observe a token strike on January 7.

Rajesh Khanna to get Life time achievement award at PIFF

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Pune, January 03: Eighth Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) is going to commence from January 8th, which acknowledges esteemed actors of Bollywood. The organization has decided to facilitate Veteran actors– Rajesh Khanna and Dr Shreeram Lagoo with the lifetime achievement awards this time

Introducing new category, the Dev Burman International award for creative music and sound, will be given to Pyarelal of the musician duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

The PIFF 2010 will have films in vatrious categories, which will be competing for cash awards worth Rs 20 Lakh in various categories.

Shilpa Shetty may hold marriage reception in House of Commons

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London, January 03: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has chosen the House of Commons as the venue for her UK wedding celebration this week, say sources.

The Celebrity Big Brother star tied the knot with jewellery tycoon Raj Kundra in Mumbai in November, reports The Mirror.

A source reveals: “The celebrations have been organised partly by MP Keith Vaz and they are thrilled to be holding their special day at such an iconic British location.

PMO calls meeting on BSNL on Jan 6

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New Delhi, January 03: The Prime Ministers” Office has convened a meeting with the Telecom Ministry on January 6 to discuss the issues plaguing the state-run telco BSNL, including its declining revenues and market share. The meeting comes amid the ongoing controversy over its mega Rs 35,000-crore tender for adding 93 million GSM lines, and this issue may also come up for discussion.

“The January 6 meeting was fixed long ago by the PMO. It will discuss a number of issues concerning BSNL to improve its performance. But it is not exactly to discuss the tender and the CVC probe into it.

Kerala police on extra alert for PM’s visit

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Thiruvananthapuram, January 03: The city police have been on their toes for the past few days to ensure foolproof security for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Sunday visit, especially with embarrassing memories of the 2006 goof-up.

Close to 1,000 policemen have been deployed for the security of the prime minister in the capital city. He arrived Saturday night to inaugurate the 97th Indian Science Congress here.

Three killed in Assam shootout

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Guwahati, January 03: Three people, including two tribal separatists, were killed and three civilians wounded in a shootout by unidentified gunmen in Assam, officials said Sunday.

A police spokesperson said heavily armed masked gunmen late Saturday attacked a group of people at village Mukuldang in Kokrajhar district, about 220 km west of Assam’s main city of Guwahati.

Another Indian attacked in Australia, dies

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Melbourne, January 03: An Indian youth from Punjab was viciously stabbed while on his way to work in this Australian city Saturday night. He died later in hospital – adding to the saga of assaults on Indians in this country as the year begins.

The 21-year-old, who had permanent residency and worked at Hungry Jack’s restaurant in West Footscray, managed to stagger to the restaurant after he was stabbed at about 10 p.m. Saturday and sought help before collapsing, AAP news agency reported.

He was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, but later died.

I do, I do, I do: South African president Zuma set to wed wife 3

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Johannesburg, January 03: The stage was set in South African President Jacob Zuma’s home village of Nkandla on Sunday for one of the world’s most famous polygamists to marry his third wife.

Zuma is to marry Thobeka Mabhija in a traditional Zulu ceremony in his native KwaZulu-Natal province on Monday in the presence of dozens of relatives, community members and political and business leaders, family members have confirmed to local media.

Zuma, 67, has been engaged to Mabhija, who is in her late thirties, since 2007. The couple are reported to already have children together.

Afghan parliament delivers blow to Karzai on cabinet

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Kabul, January 03: Afghan President Hamid Karzai suffered a new blow to his authority with the rejection by parliament of most of his choices for cabinet, further prolonging political crisis in the war-ravaged country.

Of the 24 people Karzai put forward for the cabinet, only seven won approval on Saturday in a secret ballot of more than 200 lawmakers.

Report: 2 trains collide in Turkey

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Anikara, January 03: Media reports say two trains have collided in northwestern Turkey, injuring a number of passengers.

The private Dogan news agency says the accident occurred near the town of Bilecik when one of the trains failed to stop at a signal and rammed into the other train.

—Agencies

Iran: Clash with drug smugglers kills 11 policemen

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Tehran, January 03: Iran says a shootout with drug smugglers in an eastern desert region has left 11 policemen dead.

The state IRNA news agency says gunfire erupted when police stopped a smugglers’ convoy on Friday near the town of Birjand, about 500 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Tehran.

The report late Saturday says seven policemen died at the site of the shootout while four died later of their injuries.

Clashes between police and smugglers are common in the area, which is a known route for narcotics destined for Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.

—Agencies

UK says it, U.S. agree to fund Yemen police unit

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Washington, January 03: The United States and Britain have agreed to fund a counter-terrorism police unit in Yemen as part of stepped-up efforts to fight terrorism, Britain said on Sunday.

The failed Christmas Day attack in which a 23-year-old Nigerian is accused of trying to blow up a U.S. passenger jet as it approached Detroit has focused attention on both sides of the Atlantic on the growing threat from al Qaeda in Yemen.

Fog delays thirteen trains

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New Delhi, January 03: Extreme foggy conditions engulfing large parts of northern India has led to the cancellation of as many as 13 trains today, according to Northern Railways officials. The mass cancellation of trains was also effected due to delay in running of corresponding trains.

‘Delay in cases like Kasab or Afzal lead to hijacks’

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New Delhi, January 03: Fast decisions should be taken in terrorist cases like 26/11 strikes involving Ajmal Kasab and the attack on Parliament as otherwise another hijacking of an Indian aircraft may happen to get jailed militants freed, the country’s chief negotiator during the IC-814 hijack has said.

While attempting to make a list of lessons learnt from the Kandahar hijacking, Ajit Kumar Doval stressed on the need to have quick disposal of cases like 26/11 or the Parliament attack and punish the guilty at the earliest.