Month: February 2010

America’s First Muslim College

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Washington, February 25: As interested students race to beat the fast approaching enrolment deadline, Muslims are turning their sights to the Zaytuna College in California to see if America’s first ever Muslim college will live up to the high expectations.

“We’ve been waiting for this time,” Imam Zaid Shakir, a scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute and a co-founded of the college, told.

“It’s been a long road to get here, Alhamdulillah, and to know that we’re in this final part to getting freshman class set is very exciting.”

David Headley was a “double agent”

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New Delhi, February 25: American terror suspect David Headley was a “double agent” of a US intelligence agency and carried out a recee of Raksha Bhavan here housing the Defence Ministry and National Defence Academy in Pune, according to a probe conducted into his activities by an Indian security agency.

49-year-old Headley was a “double agent” of the US intelligence agency and had also visited Pune after November 2008 Mumbai terror attack for which he had conducted a recce.

Talks with Pakistan a gamble?

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New Delhi, February 25: India and Pakistan hold their first official talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks on Thursday, a meeting that is unlikely to lead to an immediate breakthrough but may help thaw their frigid relations.

The progress that the two nations’ foreign secretaries — their top diplomats — make may have a direct bearing on western efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, where India and Pakistan have long engaged in a proxy war for influence.

M.F. Husain conferred Qatar nationality

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New, York, February 25: M.F. Husain, India’s greatest and most celebrated artist, has been conferred Qatar nationality – something that is very rarely given. The artist gave me this news from Dubai early Wednesday morning by reading out the few lines he had written on a black-and-white line drawing that he released.

“Honoured by Qatar nationality” but deeply saddened by his enforced exile and the need now to give up the citizenship of the land of his birth, which he has lovingly and secularly celebrated in his art covering a period of over seven decades.

Clinton sounds upbeat on Israeli-Palestinian talks

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Washington, February 25: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday she hoped Israeli-Palestinian peace talks would resume “shortly,” sounding more upbeat than usual for a U.S. official.

Separately, Israel’s ambassador to the United States told Reuters if negotiations resumed after being frozen for more than a year they would start as indirect “proximity talks,” with U.S. envoy George Mitchell shuttling between the sides.

US court sets March 29 for hearing Rana’s case

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Chicago, February 25: A US court Wednesday set March 29 as the next date for hearing the case of Pakistan born Canadian terror suspect Tahawwur Hussein Rana, accused of providing material support for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Rana, who is also accused of providing material support to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), looked pale and haggard as he attended the hearing in the US District Court in Chicago in leg shackles wearing an orange jump suit.

US attorney Patrick Fitzgerald was also present for the hearing for the first time since the case began.

Abandoned bag creates scare

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Puducherry, February 24: An abandoned bag, suspected to be containing explosives, was found lying outside the railway station here today, creating panic among the people.

Metal detectors were used to check the contents of the bag and police lifted the bag in a jeep to an open site in Uppalam near the station, police said.

As it was getting dark, police decided to check the bag and its contents tomorrow morning.

Duggal wants views before March 22

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Hyderabad, February 25: The Srikrishna Committee constituted for holding consultations on the situation in Andhra Pradesh has appealed to recognised political parties in the State to submit their views before March 22.

Michael Jackson death tape hits internet

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London, February 24:A new Michael Jackson video has appeared online – one which has recorded paramedics declaring pop legend dead.

Femalefirst.co.uk reports that the tape, which is believed to feature a Los Angeles Fire Department medical calling ahead to the UCLA Hospital in Santa Monica, could be used as an evidence in the trial against Jackson’s personal physician Conrad Murray who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Centre weak on acting against terrorism, Naxalism: RSS chief

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Kollam (Kerala): Accusing the UPA government of failing to act firmly against terrorism originating from Pakistan and Naxal threat, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said indecisiveness on these challenges has become a major threat to the nation.

The government is claiming that it has adopted a “humanitarian approach” on these issues grossly overlooking the grim threat posed by them, Bhagwat told a massive gathering of over one lakh RSS volunteers here.

Indian Navy has ‘hegemonic mindset’: Pak naval chief

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Karachi, February 24: The Indian Navy’s current force structure and future expansion plans “reflect its hegemonic mindset to further flex its muscles and become a blue water navy,” Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Noman Bashir said today.

Bashir made the remarks while addressing a naval aviation seminar in the southern port city of Karachi.

He said the Pakistan Navy is keeping a watchful eye on its area of responsibility to ensure the free flow of traffic and to effectively tackle threats and challenges.

Five-year-old kidnapped in Punjab town

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Mohali, February 24: A five-year-old girl was kidnapped by unidentified men from outside her house in this Punjab town late Wednesday, police said.

Mehak, the daughter of an industrialist, was playing in the garden of her house in Phase-10 here with two other children when she was abducted. Her father Gurtej Singh Chinna owns a factory in Mohali’s industrial area.

“At around 8.30 p.m. we received information about a girl being kidnapped. Children who were playing with Mehak said two men came in a car and inquired about Chinna’s house,” a police official said.

Mob attacks police van, four held

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Chandigarh, February 24: Four people were arrested for allegedly attacking a police van carrying prisoners from court to jail, police said Wednesday.

According to police, over 100 people forcibly stopped a police van and pelted stones at it. There were five prisoners in the van on their way back to jail from court.

“We have rounded up four accused. We are still investigating the reason behind this sudden attack. Right now I cannot comment anything on the issue why they attacked the van,” said a police official.

Two held for raping teenager in Uttar Pradesh

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Lucknow, February 24: Two men have been arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old Dalit girl at gunpoint in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district, police said Wednesday.

The victim, a resident of Loniyapurwa locality in Sitapur, was Tuesday night allegedly gangraped by three men of the same locality. Sitapur is some 80 km from Lucknow.

“While two men – Halim and Jannu – in their early 20s have been arrested, their friend Dildaar is absconding. Efforts are on to nab him,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Shrisia Pal told reporters in Sitapur.

Jackie Chan campaigns for cancer kid

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London, February 24: Hollywood superstar Jackie Chan has launched an internet campaign to help secure a bone marrow donor for an eight-year-old girl suffering from leukaemia.

The martial arts star was so moved when he heard about the plight of Natalie Nakatani, from San Francisco, California, that he was determined to help, reports imdb.com.

The movie star has posted a short film on the web, pleading with the public to register with a bone marrow donor centre in a bid to find a suitable match for Natalie, who needs a transplant within the next few weeks in order to survive.

Kashmiri paratrooper among 3 SF men led from front

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Sopore, February 24: Among those who battled the militants in this town in Jammu and Kashmir was paratrooper Imtiyaz Ahmad Thokar, a Kashmiri, who along with Captain Devinder Singh Jass, fought right at the front and fell a martyr in a shootout with them.

Unconcerned with the burst of grenades and gunfire around him, Captain Jass led his team, including Thokar and Naik P Selva Kumar, without any regard for his own personal safety, an army officer said.

ATS inspector injured by bullet during mock drill

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Surat, February 24: An Inspector of Gujarat’s Anti- Terrorism Squad (ATS) received bullet injury during a mock drill at the airport here today, police said.

S M Sayyed was hit by a bullet during the drill conducted jointly by the ATS and the city police, they said.

ATS chief Ajay Tomar said Sayyed’s condition was stable and he was under observation at the Mission Hospital.

“It was an unfortunate accident,” he added.

Top officials, including Police Commissioner Shivanand Jha, Tomar and DCP (crime) Subhash Trivedi, visited the Inspector in the hospital, sources said.

Two counterfeiters held in Ghaziabad

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Ghaziabad, February 24: Two men were arrested Wednesday and a large quantity of counterfeit voter ID cards, domicile certificates and official seals were recovered from their possession, officials said. The police have not ruled out a terror link in the case.

The two men identified as Jitendra Kumar and Shailash Kumar were arrested on a tip-off, District Magistrate R. Ramesh Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Raghuvir Lal told reporters.

Jitendra Kumar had a vendor license for selling non-judicial stamps while Shailash Kumar assisted him in the work.

HC stays operation of AICTE revised approval procedure

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Chennai, February 24: The Madras High Court today stayed the operation of the revised approval procedure of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in respect of existing approved self-financing technical institutions.

Justice K Venkataraman granted the interim stay on petitions filed by the Consortium of Self-Financing Professional Arts and Science Colleges in Tamil Nadu, Association of Management of Coimbatore Anna University Affiliated Colleges and Srinivasa Institute of Engineering and Technology, Parivakkam, Poonamallee.

Mob attacks police van that hit scooterist, four held

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Chandigarh, February 24: Four people were arrested for allegedly attacking a police van carrying prisoners from court to jail, police said Wednesday.

According to police, over 100 people forcibly stopped a police van and pelted stones at it. There were five prisoners in the van on their way back to jail from court.

“We have rounded up four accused. We are still investigating the reason behind this sudden attack. Right now I cannot comment anything on the issue why they attacked the van,” said a police official.

SIMI, Indian Mujahideen own up to Pune blast: police

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Pune, February 24: The outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Indian Mujahideen have claimed responsibility for the terror blast at Pune’s German Bakery Feb 13 that killed 16 people, Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh said here Wednesday.

Singh told mediapersons that he has received two letters to this effect, purportedly from the two organisations but did not elaborate.

Feels good that I lasted for 50 overs, says Tendulkar

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Gwalior, February 24: After scoring a record unbeaten 200 here Wednesday, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was happy that at the age of 36 he was good enough to last 50 overs.

“It feels good that I lasted for 50 overs, a good test of my fitness. I’d like to bat another 50 overs at some stage and see that the fitness level doesn’t drop.

Rosaiah asks officials to speed up probes in atrocities

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Hyderabad, February 24: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today directed authorities concerned to ensure speedy investigation into cases related to SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act.

He also asked the police to complete the investigations in a foolproof manner so as to achieve convictions in courts.

“Speedy trial of such cases will prevent political or other pressures on victims and also police,” the chief minister said while chairing the state-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting here.

Selectors to pick World Cup Probables tomorrow

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Gwalior, February 24: National selectors will meet at Chennai tomorrow to pick the Indian squad for third and final One-dayer against South Africa and also the probables for the 2011 cricket World Cup.

A BCCI source said that the five-man national selection panel, headed by K Srikkanth, has decided to sit tomorrow to decide on the squad.

India today took an unassialable 2-0 lead in the three-match series by beating South Africa by 153 runs.

“Yes, a meeting is expected to take place tomorrow,” the source told

–Agencies

Techie dies after falling from rock

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Theni (TN), February 24: A software engineer, working with a leading firm at Chennai, died after he fell from a rock atop Sambal Falls near Kurangani top-station in this district, police said.

The body of D Ranjan Bora (27) was retrieved by fire service personnel and handed over to an official of the software company today, the police said.

The incident happened two days ago when the engineer had accompanied 36 others on a trekking expedition, being organised by the Nehru Yuvak Kendra, to promote tourism in the area, police told PTI.