Month: January 2010

‘Iran ready to sign regional security agreements’

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Tehran, January 28: A senior Iranian lawmaker has voiced Iran’s readiness to get engaged in close security cooperation with other countries in the Middle East.

“Expansion of ties with the neighboring countries is the strategic policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and we, in Majlis, voice our support for further expansion of ties with Kuwait,” Alaeddin Broujerdi, the head of Iran’s Parliament Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy said.

Broujerdi made the remarks in a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart Marzouq al-Ghanim in Kuwait City on Wednesday.

Saudis claim victory over Houthis

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Riyadh, January 28: Saudi Arabia has claimed victory over Yemeni Shia fighters after the Houthi leader offered a truce to avoid more civilian casualties in northern Yemen.

“We achieved a clear victory,” Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense Prince Khaled bin Sultan said a day after Abdul Malik al-Houthi posted a message on internet and offered a ceasefire with the Kingdome, Routers reported.

Iran not to attend Afghan confab in London

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Tehran, January 28: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday that Tehran will not attend the Afghanistan conference in London.

Ramin Mehman-Parast cited several reasons behind Iran’s absence in the conference.

He told Fars news agency that the conference was in line with western policies, which Iran says will not succeed. The conference would be focusing on more military action rather than exploring the real roots of the problem.

Turkey army chief dismisses coup plot allegations

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Ankara, January 28: Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug has dismissed allegation of a military plan to overthrow the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

Gen. Ilker Basbug delivered a televised address in Ankara on Monday during which he warned that the military’s patience over a stream of allegations level against it had limits.

“How on earth could the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) plan to bomb mosques? This is unjust. The TSK has limits to its patience. I denounce these claims,” the Turkish military chief stated.

Human rights body to visit Jammu and Kashmir jails

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Srinagar, January 28: For the first time since its inception in 1998, the State Human Rights Commission will send teams to all jails in Jammu and Kashmir to assess the conditions in which around 3,500 prisoners are living.

According to official sources, the teams — which will make their visits later Thursday — will take stock of the conditions in prisons and also make a list of those undergoing trials for long in view of congestion in the 12 jails in the state.

A proposal has been mooted to have jails in all the 22 district headquarters across the state.

—IANS

80% of Germans against troop surge in Afghanistan

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Kabul, January 28: A recent survey by the Independent Polling Institute Forsa indicates that four out of five Germans disagree with Berlin having a stronger military role in Afghanistan.

Forsa indicated even among supporters of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Union, 77 percent said they objected to adding soldiers to the 4,300-strong force currently in the war-ravaged country.

The survey says 32 percent of Germans are calling for an immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Despite these reports, Merkel pledged on Tuesday to send another 500 troops to Afghanistan.

C-section alters breastfeeding rate?

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London, January 28: Despite the general belief, giving birth to a baby through a Cesarean or with the help of instruments does not affect the mother’s ability to breastfeed.

Health officials recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life; many mothers, however, stop breastfeeding due to various excuses.

Dawn-to-dusk bandh begins in Bihar

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Patna, January 28: A dawn-to-dusk Bihar bandh called by RJD and supported by LJP and Left parties began this morning amid tight security.

The RJD has called the bandh and a ‘chakka-jaam’ today to protest against the alleged failure of the central and state governments to control escalating prices of essential commodities.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for today’s shut-down, additional director general of police (headquarters) U S Dutt said.

In the state capital, grocery and vegetable shops were seen open in the morning. But vehicular traffic was thin.

Bipasha and John’s Australian holiday

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Mumbai, January 28: John Abraham and Bipasha Basu returned yesterday from a 10-day break to Australia. Says a source, “They holidayed at the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne.

Though they have both been to Australia before, this was their first time together. John and Bips wanted it to be a break as both have been working very hard all of last year. Both are fitness enthusiasts and John, particularly, is an adventure lover so they did lots of snorkelling, scuba diving and deep-sea diving.”

Shahrukh Khan marries a 20-year-old girl

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Mumbai, January 28: Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan went down on his knees and proposed to a 20-year-old girl. He slipped a ring on her finger; he was happy and she was ecstatic. We are talking about a mock wedding Shahrukh did while promoting his upcoming film My Name is Khan.

Abhishek and Salman to act together?

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Mumbai, January 28: In spite of box-office catastrophes Salman Khan still remains favourite and immediate choice of advertising industry. If reports have to be believed Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan will be seen in leading cellular ad.

Though Salman has been repeatedly telling that whatever happened between Aishwarya and him was over, but the truth was far from that. But this time around there is strong possibility of breaking the ice, says sources.

HCL Technologies bags $ 50 mn contract

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Mumbai, January 28: Software company HCL Technologies on Thursday said it has received a contract worth around Rs 231 crore from UK-based defence equipment maker Meggitt for providing engineering services.

Meggitt signs USD 50 million (around Rs 231 crore) global engineering transformation services agreement with the company’s engineering and R&D services (HCL ERS) division, HCL Technologies said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Akshay Kumar receiving unwanted messages

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Mumbai, January 28: Of late, Akshay Kumar has been receiving messages meant for Akshaye Khanna. Guess having a namesake is not always fun.

Akshay kept getting messages from an assistant named Nikki all of last week, when he was shooting at Mehboob Studios for Patiala House. Some of the messages were to inform Akshaye of his shoots and timings while the others asked him what he wanted for lunch.

India, China puts more emphasis on maths and science: Obama

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Washington, January 28: Noting that countries like India, China and Germany were emphasising more in maths and science and fast catching up with America, US President Barack Obama day told lawmakers that he would not accept a “second place” for his country.

“Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China’s not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany’s not waiting. India’s not waiting,” Mr. Obama said in his State of the Union address.

Serena Williams into 5th Australian Open final

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Melbourne, January 28: Serena Williams has advanced to a fifth Australian Open final and ended any chance of an all-Chinese championship match in the season’s first major.

Defending champion Williams wasted four match points before finishing off a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) semifinal win with an ace against Li Na on Thursday, a day after her sister Venus lost to the Chinese player in the quarterfinals.

ISRO to launch manned mission by 2016

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Bangalore, January 28: Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) is going to launch its first manned mission by 2016 and is planning to send 2 astronauts from India for a week-long odyssey in space, a top Indian space agency official said Wednesday.

“We are planning a human space flight in 2016, with two astronauts who will spend seven days in the earth’s lower orbit,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan told reporters here.

Confusion over Razzaq’s IPL participation

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Krachi, January 28: Confusion reigned supreme over Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq’s participation in this year’s Indian Premier League as Deccan Chargers denied signing him amid reports that the player has been roped in as a substitute.

The former Indian Cricket League recruit was reportedly signed up by the Chargers as a replacement for injured West Indian pacer Fidel Edwards but the franchise denied the reports.

“We don’t have a slot and I am denying it,” Venkat Reddy, Vice President (Operations) Deccan Chargers, told.

Gates discussed Afghan policy with Indian leaders: Pentagon

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Washington, January 28: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has discussed with the Indian leaders the need to have transparency with Pakistan on its activities in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

“We did discuss Afghanistan with the government in Delhi and discussed the need for the Indian government to be as transparent as they can be with the Pakistani government about their activities in Afghanistan,” Department of Defence spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters at a news conference.

Deccan Chargers say no to Razzaq

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Mumbai, January 28: Its official now. Reining Indian Premier League Champions Deccan Chargers have confirmed that they won’t be signing up Abdul Razzaq as they don’t have a slot left wih them.

Confusion had prevailed over the status of Razzaq in forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. Even as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt went on record saying that the Pakistani all-rounder has been snapped up by Deccan Chargers, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi butted in, saying that the transaction was not in accordance to the rule books.

Rajapaksa wins 2nd term as SL Prez, Fonseka rejects results

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Colombo, January 28: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today won a second term in office trouncing joint opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, his one-time army chief who helped him crush the LTTE, and the loser cried foul rejecting the outcome.

In dramatic events on a tension-filled day when scores of heavily-armed soldiers surrounded a lake-front luxury hotel in central Colombo, where 59-year-old Fonseka was staying, the former army chief spoke of seeking protection from “a neighbouring country”, apparently India, fearing for his safety.

Stop Militarized Afghan Aid: NGOs

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Kabul, January 28: Eight international humanitarian organizations, urged the US and NATO to stop militarizing Afghan aid and using it as a blackmailing tool, saying the approach is ineffective and puts ordinary people at risk.

“The militarization of aid is putting ordinary people on the frontlines of the conflict,” said the groups, including ActionAid, Care, Christian Aid, Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Notice to government over labour law violation at Games sites

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New Delhi, January 28: The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the central government and other civic agencies for violating labour laws at the construction sites for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw issued notice to the central government, Delhi government, Sports Authority of India and all concerned civic agencies to respond by Feb 3.

Gilani says reopening Zardari cases depends on parliament

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Islamabad, January 28: Pakistan government is prepared to reopen graft cases in Swiss courts against President Asif Ali Zardari but he enjoys immunity from prosecution under the constitution, a right that can be taken away only by the parliament, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani said today.

Speaking in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament, Gilani said the constitution has provided immunity to the President. This immunity was provided by parliament, which comprises the National Assembly, Senate and the President.

US in Secret Yemen Operations

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Washington, January 28: American military teams and intelligence agencies are involved in secret joint military operations with Yemeni troops that killed scores of Al-Qaeda people in recent weeks.

“We are very pleased with the direction this is going,” a senior administration official told the Washington Post on Wednesday, January 27, requesting anonymity for the sensitivity of the information.

The joint military operations begun six weeks ago and were approved by US President Barack Obama.

Bangladesh hangs Mujibur Rahman’s assassins

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Dhaka, January 28: Bangladesh on Wednesday night hanged the five ex-Army officers, convicted for assassinating the country’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, almost three decades after he was killed in a military coup.

The five death row convicts were hanged past midnight (local time), hours after the Supreme Court rejected their review plea, jail officials said.

The process to execute the assassins of Sheikh Mujib, the father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, began one minute past midnight and ended in 40 minutes time, they said.