Month: August 2010

Fasting Muslim prisoners beaten up in Bhopal

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Bhopal, August 22: What will Muslim jail inmates do while observing fast in the month of Ramzan when policemen deny them water for “Wuzu” (ablution) and eatables to break the day-long fast? These jail inmates are bound to raise their voices against the violation of their religious and human rights.

The situation gets further surcharged when policemen allegedly scorn at their religion passing objectionable remarks about Ramzan and Islam and go about cane-charging them. In the scuffle that follows many inmates get injured, some of them seriously, with their faces splashed with blood.

Raj Thackeray warns by Police over Multiplex issue

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Mumbai, August 22: Days after he asked local multiplex owners to screen Marathi movies at prime time or face the music, the Mumbai police has served a notice to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, warning him against giving any provocative or inflammatory speeches.

“A notice under Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code was served to Raj Thackeray, warning him against giving any speeches that incite violence,” said S R Unavane, senior inspector at Shivaji Park police station.

The notice refrains Thackeray from “committing a cognizable offence in future”, Unavane added.

Pakistanis divided over acceptance of Indian aid

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Islamabad, August 21:Pakistan government might have accepted the Indian offer for flood aid, but Pakistanis appear sharply divided over the issue, with the critics saying that the acceptance came on a US’ call.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was at the UN to attend an emergency session of the General Assembly on Pakistan’s floods, said this week that the government of Pakistan had accepted the Indian offer of USD 5 million.

National Conference, Congress fuelling trouble in valley: BJP

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Srinagar, August 21: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday accused the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition in Jammu and Kashmir of ‘fuelling trouble’ in the valley by ‘pandering’ to the separatist sentiments.

BJP’s national vice president Vinay Katiyar told newspersons in Jammu that the BJP wants the central government to show ‘zero tolerance toward the violent elements’ and deal firmly with the anti-national forces in the Kashmir Valley.

Rajya Sabha passes bill to rebuild Nalanda University

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New Delhi, August 21: The Rajya Sabha Saturday passed a bill to re-establish the historic Nalanda University in Bihar as an international institute of learning.

The bill, which was introduced in the house last week, was passed in a special sitting Saturday.

The Nalanda University Bill, 2010, will establish a central university in Nalanda district of Bihar, on the lines of the ancient university which was founded there in 5th century AD and became a centre of learning for students from across South Asia.

Israelis, Palestinians warn of fragility of talks

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Jerusalem, August 21: Hours after Israel and the Palestinians accepted a call to restart direct peace talks, politicians on both sides spoke of pitfalls ahead, warning that negotiations would be stillborn unless Israel stopped building in West Bank settlements.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to embrace the summit call made on Friday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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No question of Jagan going back on his word: Balineni

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Hyderabad, August 21: Minister for Mines Balineni Srinivas Reddy on Saturday said that there was no question of YSR district (formerly Kadapa) MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy going back on his promise of visiting the families of those who died of shock or grief after his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy passed away.

Mr Srinivas Reddy said that the Odarpu Yatra is a consolation tour and there should be no pressure on anyone to join it. The Minister also said that anyone who wishes to join the Yatra is welcome to do so.

Azad’s killing: Left in damage control mode

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Kolkata, August 21: A day after West Bengal Public Works Department Minister Kshiti Goswami brought huge embarrassment to the Left government by demanding a probe into the killing of Maoist leader Azad, CPI(M) Lok Sabha member Mohammad Salim on Saturday said that too much is being read into the minister’s comment.

In a damage control mode, Salim said that unnecessary attention is being drawn to Goswami’s statements. Salim also said that the minister just asked for a probe into the incident like any other encounter cases across the country.

Tharoor-Pushkar to wed before grandmother, visit Dubai, Spain

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Palakkad (Kerala), August 21: MP Shashi Tharoor and fiancee Sunanda Pushkar, who are set to tie the knot at his ancestral home near here in the presence of his 94-year-old maternal grandmother early Sunday, will plunge into a busy schedule soon after that will also take them to Dubai and Spain.

After the ceremony, which takes place on the first day of Onam festival, the two will Sunday evening head for former union minister Tharoor’s parliamentary constituency of Thiruvananthapuram.

They will then wing their way to Dubai for a reception and move on to Spain for a short honeymoon.

Andhra gives Rs.1 lakh to Indian Idol Sreeram

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Hyderabad, August 21: The Andhra Pradesh government Saturday announced Rs.1 lakh prize money for local lad M. Sreeram Chandra for winning the Indian Idol 5 title.

Sreeram, who returned to his hometown Friday night to a rousing reception by his fans, met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at his office Saturday.

The chief minister lauded Sreeram for bringing laurels to Andhra Pradesh and wished him success in his future endeavours.

N Korea ‘prepared to return to nuclear talks’: Reports

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Tokyo, August 21: North Korea has agreed in principle to the resumption of six-nation talks on dismantling its nuclear programme, Japanese media reported on Saturday, quoting a senior Chinese diplomat.

Wu Dawei, China’s special envoy on Korean affairs, said Pyongyang was committed to a step-by-step process towards returning to full disarmament talks, the daily Yomiuri Shimbun said.

North Korea was aiming to return to the talks after holding bilateral consultations with the US and an informal preparatory meeting with dialogue partners, Wu was quoted as saying.

Six people killed in NW Pakistan

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Islamabad, August 21: A remote-controlled bomb has killed at least six people, including security officials and anti-Taliban tribal elders, and wounded five others in northwestern Pakistan.

The blast struck a checkpoint in the Mohmand tribal district near the Afghan border on Saturday, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The target seemed to be volunteers from an anti-militant militia.

After the blast, security forces cordoned off the area and shifted the injured to a local hospital.

Six people killed in NW Pakistan

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Islamabad, August 21: A remote-controlled bomb has killed at least six people, including security officials and anti-Taliban tribal elders, and wounded five others in northwestern Pakistan.

The blast struck a checkpoint in the Mohmand tribal district near the Afghan border on Saturday, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The target seemed to be volunteers from an anti-militant militia.

After the blast, security forces cordoned off the area and shifted the injured to a local hospital.

Curfew clamped in some parts of Kashmir Valley

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Srinagar, August 21: Curfew was on Saturday clamped in some parts of Srinagar, Sopore, Anantnag and Bijbehara towns in the wake of a separatists’ call for shutdown and protests.

“Areas under the jurisdiction of police stations of Srinagar district – Batamloo, Bemina, Qamarwari, Kralkhud, Nowhatta, Khanyar, MR Gunj, Safakadal, Rainawari, Maisuma, Shaheedgunj and Abi-guzar area of police station, Kothibagh will remain under curfew from 6 am till further orders”, District Magistrate, Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said.

LS member demands one rank one pension in Zero Hour

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New Delhi, August 21: A strong demand for one rank one pension irrespective of the date of retirement of a soldier was made in the Lok Sabha today. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Partap Singh Bajwa (Cong) wanted the Defence Minister to remove the disparity in pensions granted to personnel below officer rank (PBOR).

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Zardari tops list of absentees from duty

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Washington, August 21: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who was away from his country when it was hit by the worst floods in 80 years, has topped a unique list of influential people who were conspicuously absent when they were needed the most.

Releasing the list of five such people, the prestigious ‘Foreign Policy’ magazine said Zardari was travelling in Europe when millions of people had been affected by the devastating floods and hundreds others hit by political violence in his country.

Our MPs still earn less

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New Delhi, August 21: Even after a three-fold pay hike, Indian MPs still rank much below their fellow parliamentarians in major countries in terms of their monthly salaries. With the Cabinet today giving its nod to the MPs” pay rise besides doubling several other emoluments, the basic monthly salary of Indian lawmakers has now gone up to Rs 50,000 from Rs 16,000.

Two kids die, measles epidemic hits Maharashtra village

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Aurangabad (Maharashtra), August 21: Two children died of measles and 26 others have been affected by the epidemic that hit Dongaav village of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, an official said Saturday.

“Two children of around seven years died due to post-measles complications last week. They developed pneumonia and suffered from severe weight loss,” Aurangabad District Health Officer R.B. Kasbe said.

The children of the habitat that houses 17 families were hit by measles over the past 10 days. Most of them recovered but two are showing symptoms of severe post-measles complications.

Two kids die, measles epidemic hits Maharashtra village

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Aurangabad (Maharashtra), August 21: Two children died of measles and 26 others have been affected by the epidemic that hit Dongaav village of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, an official said Saturday.

“Two children of around seven years died due to post-measles complications last week. They developed pneumonia and suffered from severe weight loss,” Aurangabad District Health Officer R.B. Kasbe said.

The children of the habitat that houses 17 families were hit by measles over the past 10 days. Most of them recovered but two are showing symptoms of severe post-measles complications.

Two kids die, measles epidemic hits Maharashtra village

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Aurangabad (Maharashtra), August 21: Two children died of measles and 26 others have been affected by the epidemic that hit Dongaav village of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, an official said Saturday.

“Two children of around seven years died due to post-measles complications last week. They developed pneumonia and suffered from severe weight loss,” Aurangabad District Health Officer R.B. Kasbe said.

The children of the habitat that houses 17 families were hit by measles over the past 10 days. Most of them recovered but two are showing symptoms of severe post-measles complications.

Two kids die, measles epidemic hits Maharashtra village

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Aurangabad (Maharashtra), August 21: Two children died of measles and 26 others have been affected by the epidemic that hit Dongaav village of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district, an official said Saturday.

“Two children of around seven years died due to post-measles complications last week. They developed pneumonia and suffered from severe weight loss,” Aurangabad District Health Officer R.B. Kasbe said.

The children of the habitat that houses 17 families were hit by measles over the past 10 days. Most of them recovered but two are showing symptoms of severe post-measles complications.

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Formulate an Act within 6 months for Imams salaries, demands Lalu

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New Delhi, August 21: RJD leader Lalu Prasad today demanded that all Imams of government-aided mosques and non-aided ones be paid salaries and remuneration by the Government and an act to this effect be formulated within six months.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Mr Prasad said there is a judgement of the Supreme Court in 1993 to this effect which had directed the Government of the day to pay salaries and remuneration to the Imams of government-aided and non-aided mosques.

Kashmir hit by restrictions, shutdown again

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Srinagar, August 21: Curfew was imposed in Srinagar and a few other towns Saturday, a day after security forces shot dead a man in Bijbehara. The separatists have called for a shutdown across the Kashmir Valley.

Curfew has been imposed in nine police station areas of Srinagar besides Anantnag and Bijbehera towns while restrictions are in place in Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara and Kupwara towns, a police officer said here.

Islamists destroy ‘expired’ food aid in Somalia

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Somalia, August 21: Islamist fighters in Somalia have seized food from the World Food Programme (WFP) from markets in Mogadishu and burnt more than 500 bags of maize and wheat.

Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein, a leader of the al-Shabab militant group, said the food was expired. A WFP spokesman said the group does not distribute expired food.

“We will check what is left in the markets to take care of the health of our people,” Hussein said.

Police arrests main accused in professor assault case

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Thiruvananthapuram, August 21: The Kerala police yesterday claimed a breakthrough in the professor T J Joseph hand-chopping incident with the arrest of one of the attackers following a month-and-a-half-long manhunt.

The special investigation team (SIT) arrested Shamsudheen, who was one of the seven-member team that waylaid the Malayalam professor on July 4. The gang had chopped off the professor’s hand in front of his aged mother and other family members for allegedly setting a blasphemous question paper for students.