Month: January 2011

Give 10 years to politics, Rahul urges youth

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Mumbai, January 29: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday appealed to the youth to give 10 years of their life to politics if they want to see change in the country.”I assure you, after 10 years, you will be proud of your decision, and the country’s politics will take a new direction,” Gandhi said, urging educated young men and women to come forward and join the Congress party.

Gandhi was addressing the media on the final day of his three-day visit to Maharashtra.

Congo: 60 rapes in 10 days

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Bukavu, January 29: Armed men have raped 60 people in eastern Congo in the last 10 days, the latest in a spate of mass sexual attacks in the region, the United Nations said on Friday.

Two attacks took place in the villages of Nakatete and Kitumba in the Fizi area of South Kivu province from January 19 to January 21, Charline Burton, a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said.

Bharadwaj offers variety in ‘7 Khoon Maaf’ album

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Mumbai, January 29: Film: “7 Khoon Maaf”; Music Director: Vishal Bharadwaj; Lyricist: Gulzar; Singers: Usha Uthup, Rekha Bharadwaj, Vishal Bharadwaj, KK, Clinton Cerejo, Master Saleem, Suresh Wadkar, Suraj Jagan and Francois Castellino; Rating: *** 1/2When Vishal Bharadwaj decides to score music for a movie, fans are confident that he will come up with high quality compositions that will mesmerise everyone. And this is exactly what happens with the album of “7 Khoon Maaf”, which offers songs for all tastes.

The album has nine songs.

Political parties lack democracy: Rahul

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Mumbai, January 29: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday said that political parties lack democracy but urged the youth to join politics through the Congress. “Political parties lack democracy, their doors are closed,” Gandhi said while appealing to young men and women to join his party.

Gandhi was addressing the media on the final day of his three-day visit to Maharashtra.

He is scheduled to travel to the Konkan region of the state later in the day as part of his drive to attract youth to the Congress.

–IANS–

18 acquitted in Kandhamal riot cases

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Bhubaneswar, January 29: A fast track court in Orissa acquitted 18 people in two cases of rioting in the Kandhamal district in 2008, a lawyer said Saturday.While 10 people were booked for burning the house of Sramika Digal, eight people were booked for torching John Nayak’s house. Both the incidents took place at Pipudidei village Aug 26.

Judge Sobhan Kumar Das delivered the verdict Friday in both the cases at the district headquarters of Phulbani, some 200 km from here, defence lawyer Ajit Patnaik told IANS.

Haiti cholera death toll tops 4,000

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Port-au-Prince, January 29: The number of deaths caused by the cholera epidemic that Haiti has suffered since mid-October has risen to 4,030, with a total of 209,034 people treated, health authorities said Friday.A bulletin from the public health ministry released Friday said that 115,238 of the patients that have been seen have no further need of medical care.

The epidemic, with an overall death toll of 1.9 percent, has caused to date the greatest number of fatalities in the northern province of Artibonite, where 857 people have died.

Obama Phones Mubarak, Urges Reforms

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Washington, January 29: President Obama has called on Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak to take concrete steps to move toward greater democracy and economic reform. He spoke after President Mubarak went on national television to announce he would implement reforms, but said demonstrations are part of a plot to de-stabilize Egypt.

In his statement delivered in the White House State Dining Room late on Friday, Mr. Obama first repeated his call on Egyptian authorities to refrain from violence, and urged protesters in the streets to express themselves peacefully.

Azerbaijan warns pro-hijab ‘extremists’

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Baku, January 29: The interior minister of Azerbaijan warned on Friday that attempts to stir up discontent about a law preventing girls from wearing the Muslim hijab in schools would not be tolerated.

“In the struggle with extremely dangerous and harmful religious extremism and radicalism, all our officers are watchful and vigilant,” Interior Minister Ramil Usubov told Azerbaijan’s official government newspaper.

“The relevant authorities will prevent attempts to spread such ideas and violations of stability,” he said.

US Backs Rights of Protesters in Mideast Upheaval

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Washington, January 29: The Obama administration is openly supporting the rights of demonstrators in political unrest in the Middle East that threatens the Egyptian government and others that have been key strategic allies of the United States.

The tone of the U.S. approach was set by President Obama himself in an appearance Thursday on the popular video website YouTube.

Mandela Returns Home to Convalesce

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Durban, January 29: Nelson Mandela returned home from the hospital in an ambulance to convalesce after being discharged earlier. At a media briefing which included government and family representatives, South African Surgeon General Vejay Ramlakan said his recuperation will be closely monitored.

“He recently developed an acute respiratory infection, for which he received treatment and has responded very well,” the surgeon said. “He is stable, but will be monitored closely.”

Analysts Say Leaked ‘Palestine Papers’ Will Impact Prospects for Peace

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Jerusalem, January 29: The release this week by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera of what it calls “The Palestine Papers” has raised more questions about the stalled Mideast peace process, and the possibility of future talks. Palestinian officials are attacking al-Jazeera, accusing the network of a smear campaign although many analysts say the documents seem authentic. Some experts say blame for the stalled peace process should be shared by all the parties.

Thousands Protest for Reform in Jordan

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Jordan, January 29: Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets again in Jordan. They are protesting inflation, unemployment, and corruption, and demanding sweeping electoral reforms.

The new wave of demonstrations broke out after Friday Muslim prayers in Amman and several other cities across the kingdom. Protesters chanted slogans, including some calling for corrupt officials to be put on trial.

Friday’s protests were the latest in a series of demonstrations that began two weeks ago in the wake of steep increases in food and fuel prices.

Kabul Suicide Bomber Targets Foreigners

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Kabul, January 29: Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has attacked a supermarket frequented by foreigners in the capital, Kabul, killing at least nine people.

Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayub Salangi said three female foreigners and a child are among the dead. At least six others were wounded in the blast.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they were targeting foreigners and employees of the U.S.-based private security firm formerly known as Blackwater, and now called Xe ((Zee)) Services.

Mubarak sacks government, vows democracy

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Cairo, January 29: President Hosni Mubarak sacked Egypt’s government and vowed to bring in democratic measures, in an address to the nation early on Saturday after several days of deadly anti-regime protests.

Mubarak said that he had asked his Cabinet to resign, and promised reforms in his first response to protesters who have mounted the biggest challenge ever to his 30-year rule.

Silence from Muslim- Americans

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Islamabad, January 29: AMID THE uproar earlier this month over the assassination of Salmaan Taseer, the secularist governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, Muslim-American organizations have been largely silent.

French court upholds ban on homosexual marriage

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Paris, January 29: A French court on Friday upheld a ban on homosexual marriage citing two articles in the French civil code, Radio France Internationale reported.

The fore mentioned articles state that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. The case was referred to the constitutional court after a lesbian couple intended to get marry after 10 years living together.

The court remarked that Parliament lawmakers are the only ones who can decide whether the legislation should be changed. Gay couples enjoy tax benefits and other advantages but not the benefits from marriage.

Backing Mubarak and Tunisian People?

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America has never met an Arab despot it couldn’t coddle. Before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Reagan and Bush had a nice working relationship with Saddam Hussein. In fact, when the Iraqi dictator invaded Iran, they went so far as to supply him with chemical weapons and intelligence. After ‘liberating’ Kuwait, the powers that be in Washington had no qualms about re-installing the Emir as the absolute ruler of his people.

Jinnah wasn’t responsible for partition: Digvijay

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New Delhi, January 29: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh always remains in controversies over his controversial remarks. This time Singh made another contentious statement which once again raised questions nation wide.

During a book launch function at the India Islamic Centre, Singh stated, “Savarkar (Indian freedom fighter) had the original idea of the two-nation theory which was later adopted by Jinnah.”

Singh also added, “Extremist ideologies create division — it’s not healthy for society.”

Dalai Lama’s successor a Chinese agent in India?

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Dharamsala, January 29: Exposing of a hawala scam in a transit home of 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje near Dharamsala on Jan 27 raised controversies and a grievous question – Is Dalai Lama’s successor a Chinese agent in India?

Himachal Pradesh police seized almost Rs 6.50 crore worth foreign currency belonging to at least 23 countries, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Denmark, Korea, Australia, Japan,Thailand, US, UK and Nepal.

Foreign money seized at Dalai Lama heir’s home

SC upholds Haj subsidy

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New Delhi, January 29: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the constitutional validity of the central government assistance to subsidise air fare of Haj pilgrims which amounted to Rs 300 crores every year.

A Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said the amount given as subsidy for Haj was too meagre and could not be termed as a diversion of a major chunk of the income tax to fall foul of Article 27 of the Constitution.

Pak wants interview 26/11 witnesses

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Islamabad, January 29: Pakistan will again seek access to the witnesses of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to record their statements and a formal request will be filed with India in this regard, according to a media report on Friday. This will be the second time that Pakistan will be making such a request, unnamed officials of the Interior Ministry were quoted as saying by The Express Tribune newspaper.

Hope US will treat Indian students well: India

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Washington, January 29: India hoped the US authorities will “treat well” and provide “adequate opportunity” to hundreds of Indian students, affected after a California-based University was shut down by authorities on charges of illegal immigration, to clarify their position.

“We are in touch with the US authorities. We are very concerned about the impact of the action that has been taken against those students who have enrolled at the university. Our consul general in San Fransisco has met 35 of those students already and we are in touch with relevant Federal agency on the US side.

‘BJP expected Vajpayee to get the Bharat Ratna’

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New Delhi, January 29: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj expressed disappointment over former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee not getting the Bharat Ratna this year, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party was expecting it. She also said the sanctity of these awards should be maintained as even some failures have been conferred with the honour.

BJP’s Kashmir yatra: provocative, self-defeating adventurism

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New Delhi, January 29: It is difficult to understand why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should have suddenly adopted a combative patriotic posture on Kashmir in the midst of its fairly successful campaign against the Congress on the corruption issue.Prima facie, it is a self-defeating move. It has been criticised not only by its political opponents and the mainstream media but also by its ally the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) while the Akali Dal has maintained a studied silence.

Iran’s nuclear plant to begin production in April

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Tehran, January 29: Iran’s first nuclear reactor built in the southern city of Bushehr will be connected to the country’s electricity generation network by April, Iranian nuclear authority has said.The plant has already become operational and is set to move to the next phase, Press TV quoted the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, as having said in an interview to ISNA news agency.

“We have repeatedly announced that for us launching a safe Bushehr plant is more significant than launching it quickly,” Salehi said.