Dhaka, February 28: Bangladesh Sunday termed the European Union’s statement alleging human rights abuses in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) as ‘unfortunate’ and ‘not based on facts’ and urged EU to ‘behave responsibly’.
The foreign ministry in a statement said that ‘baseless’ statements could lead to a deterioration of a volatile situation in the hill tracts.
Dushanbe, February 28: Polls opened Sunday in Tajikistan’s parliamentary election, with the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan led by incumbent President Emomali Rakhmon expected to consolidate its power in the legislature.
The People’s Democratic Party is the largest among the eight officially registered political parties in Tajikistan, numbering 85,000 members. The party currently holds 52 of the 63 seats in parliament.
Washington, February 28: The United States pressed Israel on Friday to ease its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, an issue Arab officials have urged Washington to address as it tries to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters she had an extended discussion with Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak about the war-wrecked coastal enclave.
Srinagar, February 28: The situation in violence-hit villages of north Kashnmir’s Pattan town is fast returning to normalcy as the curfew continued for the third day today in the affected villages.
“The situation in Kangamdora, Hagarpora and adjoining villages in Pattan Tehsil is fast returning to normalcy,” Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said.
Baghdad, February 28: Iraq has rejected outright remarks by a top US military commander over postponing the withdrawal of combat troops in case the country faces serious political conditions after the parliamentary elections.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told that Baghdad is resolved to take security responsibilities from the United States and that the US forces must leave the country as planned.
Surat (Guj), February 28: A teenage girl was allegedly abducted and raped by two youths, currently absconding, in the city, police said today.
The incident took place on Friday in Pandesara area here when the 14-year-old girl was playing near her house. The youths abducted the teenager and took her to a secluded apartment and allegedly raped her, they said.
Hearing the girl’s scream, people from the locality rushed to the apartment room and rescued her, however, the duo managed to escape, police said.
The girl’s parents yesterday lodged a police complaint into the matter, they said.
Jerusalem, February 28: Israeli forces have raided Al-Aqsa holy compound in Jerusalem Al-Quds to crackdown on a number of Palestinian protesters in the area.
Clashes erupted in the holy complex after the Israeli forces raided the area to push out dozens of Palestinian protestors in the mosque ground on Sunday, correspondent reported.
Police also closed the roads into the Old City of Al-Quds in the occupied part of the city, preventing entry to all Palestinians under the age of 50.
Hyderabad, February 28: The Andhra Pradesh unit of BJP today demanded members of justice Srikrishna Committee to visit villages in Andhra Pradesh’s Telangana districts.
The five-member committee constituted by the Centre to examine demand for a separate state of Telangana and as well as the demand of unified Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to visit Hyderabad in the first week of March to hold consultations with various parties and organisations on the issue.
Lucknow, February 28: Samajwadi Party would organise cycle rallies throughout the state to create awareness about “anti-people” policies of the Centre and the state government at the block level.
The rallies would be organised between March 8 and 15.
“On the directive of state president Akhilesh Yadav, cycle rallies would be organised in all blocks in the state to create awareness against wrong policies of the Centre and the state resulting in soaring prices and rampant corruption,” party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said here.
New Delhi, February 28: Amid demands for rollback of fuel prices by UPA partners Trinamool Congress and DMK, NCP today came in support of measures taken by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and said the party will not take any decision that will affect the stability of the Congress-led coalition.
Melbourne, February 28: Australia’s players could be a step closer to taking part in the IPL after receiving advice that the terrorist threat from the 313 Brigade was not credible.
However, Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, has said there could still be “mass withdrawals” unless players receive a commitment that the IPL’s security plans will be implemented at all venues.
Lahore, February 28: The Pakistan Cricket Board seems divided on making Waqar Younis the national team’s coach and Director General Javed Miandad has opposed the former pacer’s appointment, citing his involvement in the match-fixing scandal.
Miandad said he is surprised that the PCB had not heeded to the Justice Malik Qayyum’s report on match fixing issued 10 years ago and was giving responsibilities to those players who were fined on the basis of the report.
Mumbai, February 28: Bollywood Salman Khan is once again trapped in a legal hassle. Complaint has been lodged against him by a handicapped woman named Phoolbanu Shaikh, 30 saying that Salman Khan has used her photograph that was clicked with him to promote his film, ‘Veer’. She is now seeking a compensation of Rs 25 lakh from the actor.
Mumbai, February 28: For the first time in the history of Filmfare Awards, the ceremony started with the announcement of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Shabana Azmi and Yash Chopra presented the award to veteran actor Shashi Kapoor.
Shabana Azmi who worked with Kapoor in films like Junoon and Muhafiz was in absolute praise of the actor. Shashi Kapoor simply said a ‘thank you’ as against the prolonged speech that a Lifetime Achievement Award usually invites.
New Delhi, February 28: She has already made her mark as the thinking director’s actress with just two films in Bollywood and has been likened to yesteryear’s star Smita Patil.
But Chitrangada Singh is not happy with comparisons as she doesn’t like being praised in one film and then criticised in another.
“Its a huge compliment comparing me to Smita Patil, but I don’t really want to be compared to her. If you are good in one film people say you are like her, but the next film might not be that good and then they say you are not. That hurts me,” Chitrangada told.
Mumbai, February 28: Seven out of top-10 firms lost a sum of over Rs 77,000 crore from their market valuation during the month, with state-run mining giant NMDC losing the most.
Meanwhile, three firms including — ONGC, TCS and Infosys Technologies — together added Rs 15,853.72 crore to their market valuation.
NMDC, at third place, saw its valuation falling by Rs 26,048 crore taking its total market capitalisation to Rs 1,71,156 crore for month ended February 28.
During the month, shares of NMDC tanked 13.20 per cent to settle at Rs 431.70 on the BSE at the end of Friday’s trade.
Melbourne, February 28: Chances of Australian cricketers participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have improved after the government Down Under assured them that terror threats to the Twenty20 event are “not credible”.
According to a report in ‘The Age’, the players received “a measure of reassurance” during a briefing from a senior government official at their New Zealand hotel yesterday.
New Delhi, February 28: It is not a label favoured by most actresses in tinseltown, but Sameera Reddy embraces the bombshell tag and says that she is not going to give up the “jhatka-matka” roles just to convince others that she is a good actress.
The actress who believes in ‘quality over quantity’ when it comes to films, said that her initial films where she was portrayed as a glam doll gave her a huge fan following.
Tehran, February 28: Iran’s Parliament Speaker, concerned by the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, has criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for shirking its duties in the war-beaten country.
Citing the growing rates of insecurity, the increased presence of the Taliban, and the worsening humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis), said Saturday that NATO forces are not doing their part nearly as well as they ought to.
Cairo, February 28: Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court has overturned an earlier ruling by a lower court that had banned gas exports to Israel.
The court overturned the ruling on Saturday, also saying the decision cannot be appealed, MENA news agency reported.
It said that the lower court had no jurisdiction over what it described as an act of sovereignty.
Under the new ruling, the government should specify the amount and price of gas it exports to Israel.
Mumbai, Feb 28: Bollywood stars have heaped praises on Sachin Tendulkar for smashing first-ever double century in history of ODIs, describing him as the ‘god of cricket’ who has made Indians proud.
The whole nation celebrated Tendulkar’s double century at the ODI against South Africa in Gwalior, Bollywood took to Twitter and blogging to express their jubilation.
Bhopal, February 28: (Pervez Bari) The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), has demanded that the UPA Government should have a re-look at hiking of fuel prices, following the presentation of Union Budget, to save “Aam Aadmi” (common man) from further blues of shooting prices of essential goods.
A. Sayeed, General Secretary SDPI, in a Press release said that SDPI is totally disappointed with the Union Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament as increase in fuel prices will further fuel upward the prices of essential commodities.
Santiago, February 28: Two million people have been affected by the massive earthquake that struck central Chile on Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet has said.
In a TV address, she said the forces of nature were testing the nation.
So far at least 300 people have been confirmed killed in the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Saturday.
The 8.8 quake – one of the biggest ever – triggered a tsunami that has been sweeping across the Pacific, although waves were not as high as predicted.
“The forces of nature have badly affected our country,” Ms Bachelet said.
London, February 28: “Girls Aloud” star Cheryl Cole has agreed to meet estranged husband and soccer star Ashley Cole and give him a chance to explain his actions and discuss the future of their broken marriage.
According to sources, Cole has been texting her non-stop and Cheryl has reportedly agreed to see him.
“Ashley has been texting her non-stop and Cheryl has tentatively agreed to see him. Cheryl’s in two minds but believes they should meet like adults to discuss what’s happened,” said a source.
New Delhi, Februry 28: The terror attack in Kabul was on the pattern of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, with six to eight terrorists targeting two hotels and hunting for victims during the strike in which six Indians were killed and 10 others injured.
Investigators suspect involvement of the Taliban, particularly the Haqqani group, in league with elements of Lashkar-e Taiba in Friday’s assault, sources said.