Month: February 2011

U.S. lobbyists fought for Mubarak

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Washington, February 03: Two of the biggest lobbying firms representing the Egyptian government made more than $400,000 during the last six months of 2010 lobbying lawmakers, military officials and their staffs on behalf of the embattled government, according to newly filed disclosure reports.

In the period ending just weeks before Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s dramatic announcement Tuesday, Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta’s firm, the Podesta Group, brought in $279,000 and made about 30 contacts, largely with Senate staffers, according to the report.

Dipika becomes highest ranked Indian squash player

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New Delhi, February 03: Squash player Dipika Pallikal has climbed to 24 in the world rankings to become the highest-ranked Indian women in the sport.

Dipika equalled former player Misha Grewal’s feat last month by reaching the 27th position.

The 19-year-old’s rise in the rankings can be attributed to her last 16 finish at the Harrow Greenwich Open in January.

She defeated compatriot and friend Joshna Chinappa in the qualifiers before losing to Egyptian Raneem El Weleily.

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Israeli PM Says Iran Wants ‘Another Gaza’ in Egypt

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Jerusalem, February 03: Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday said Iran wants to take advantage of the chaos in Egypt to create “another Gaza” there, run by Islamic fundamentalists.

Speaking before the Israeli parliament, Benjamin Netanyahu said he expects any new government in Egypt to honor its three-decade-long peace agreement with Israel.

But he warned that Islamic groups have already taken over by democratic means in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza.

Indian firm gets court nod for Islamic banking concept

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Kochi, February 03: The Kerala High Court Thursday gave the green signal to a company registered under the tenets of sharia to start operating a financial institution based on the principles of Islamic banking with the participation of a state-run firm.

Such institutions cannot charge interest.

Dismissing the petitions of Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy and others, a division bench headed by Chief Justice J. Chalameshwar gave the go ahead to Al-Baraka Company to start the institution with Kerala State Industrial Development Corp as an investor.

Israeli PM Says Iran Wants ‘Another Gaza’ in Egypt

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Jerusalem, February 03: Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday said Iran wants to take advantage of the chaos in Egypt to create “another Gaza” there, run by Islamic fundamentalists.

Speaking before the Israeli parliament, Benjamin Netanyahu said he expects any new government in Egypt to honor its three-decade-long peace agreement with Israel.

But he warned that Islamic groups have already taken over by democratic means in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza.

Peres warns that democracy in Egypt will bring Islamists to power

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Cairo, February 03: Shimon Peres, has issued a warning about the consequences of the current events in Egypt and their implications for stability in the Middle East. Peres expressed his deep concern that “democracy in Egypt [will] end with the victory of the Islamists”, adding that “the whole world should consider what happened in 2006 because that matter began in the spirit of democracy but ended in Hamas gaining control; when elections result in an unsound outcome, the democracy game is up.”

Afghan president in India to discuss security

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New Delhi, February 03: Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in the Indian capital on Wednesday to discuss efforts to restore security in Afghanistan and to attend a conference on sustainable development. Karzai will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Thursday) to update him about security and reconstruction in Afghanistan, where India has had a growing influence.

Pakistani soldier killed in Afghan border clash

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Miranshah, February 03: At least one security official died and three others were seriously injured on Wednesday as a result of heavy firing from Afghanistan on a Pakistani security checkpoint in Bangi Dar, a border area near Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan Agency.

Local officials in Miranshah told Daily Times on the condition of anonymity that more than a dozen mortars were fired from Afghan side on Bangi Dara at a security checkpost, which injured three security personnel while one died on the way to Miranshah.

Mubarak supporters clash with crowds after army tells protesters: ‘Go home’

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Cairo, February 03: The Egyptian army called Wednesday for an end to the massive demonstrations that have shaken President Hosni Mubarak’s grip on power, and the atmosphere turned ominous as the anti-government crowds were confronted by angry Mubarak supporters.

The peaceful, carnival-like atmosphere that prevailed during massive demonstrations on Tuesday gave way to a tense, charged standoff between pro-democracy demonstrators and thousands of Mubarak supporters who had been bused in.

Analysis: Egypt Violence Seems to Backfire on Mubarak

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Cairo, February 03: Violence against Egyptian protesters by Hosni Mubarak loyalists appeared to backfire on Wednesday, drawing criticism from the United States, which hardened its stance on the president’s political future.

The activists who have staged unprecedented protests against Mubarak said the rough tactics had also hardened their resolve.

The extent of their determination will become clear on Friday, when the protesters have called another mass rally to demand the 82-year old president step down.

Pro-Mubarak mob attacks protesters with stones, fire-bombs

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Cairo, February 03: Barely 12 hours after U.S.-allied Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said he would serve out the remainder of his term, a club-wielding mob chanting his name overwhelmed pro-democracy protestors in Tahrir Square on Wednesday, hurling stones and fire-bombs at the people who’ve demanded his resignation after nearly 30 years in power.

Julian Assange awarded Sydney peace medal

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Sydney, February 03: In the estimation of the Sydney Peace Foundation, Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stands alongside the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela.

As he outrages and embarrasses world leaders by leaking secret US diplomatic cables – and continues to face down allegations of sex offences – Mr Assange has been chosen by the foundation to receive a rare gold medal for peace with justice.

Upheaval Puts Militants in the Lurch

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Baghdad, February 03: The ideology of radical Islam was developed in Egypt, and its cadres were hardened in the prisons of the country’s authoritarian president, Hosni Mubarak. But as antigovernment demonstrators battled it out with government supporters in Tahrir Square on Wednesday, jihadi groups found themselves curiously on the outside.

As Mr. Mubarak’s government teetered, jihadis wrestled with what it meant to see a principal adversary assailed by an uprising whose agenda they do not share, with a potential slate of candidates they do not support waiting to take his place.

Wikileaks: 3 previously unknown 9/11 plotters revealed

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Washington, February 03: A group of Qatari men surveyed targets in NY and Washington; US official says they can not be charged.

A newly released US diplomatic cable discloses the existence of previously undisclosed participants in the Sept. 11, 2001, plot: a group of Qatari men who conducted surveillance of targets in New York and the Washington area before leaving the United States on the eve of the attacks.

Be catalyst for change, Alva tells Muslim girls

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Aligarh, February 03: Millions of girls representing the rural poor, the scheduled castes and tribes, the minorities and the urban slums remain out of the educational umbrella because of the way India’s formal education system has operated, says Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva.

Addressing the Founder’s Day programme at the Women’s College of Aligarh Muslim University here Wednesday, she urged women to be ready to pay the price, ‘but be a catalyst for change and instruments of women’s liberation’.

Bryan Adams to rock Hyderabad

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Hyderabad, February 03: Everything I Do I Do It For You — the popular romantic number of Bryan Adams will reverberate in the city on not just the Valentine’s Day, but will continue to beguile music lovers as the man himself will perform here two days after the Lovers Day.

Fans can expect to listen to everlasting popular numbers like Summer of 69, 18 Till I Die and Run to You, as well as numbers from his latest album Bare Bones.

Engineering student succumbs to accidental burns

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Hyderabad, February 03: An engineering student, who allegedly suffered burns due to suspected gas leakage couple of days back, succumbed today. Though police said she might have died of accidental burns, there were reports that the girl set herself ablaze as she could not get fee reimbursement from her college.

The girl, G Vara Lakshmi (17), was a resident of Lashkarguda under Hayathnagar police station limits. She was a B.Tech first year student of Vignan Engineering College on the outskirts of the city and daughter of Jangaiah, a businessman.

Two gangs arrested, lethal weapons seized

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Hyderabad, February 03: Six members of two rowdy gangs, which joined hands to eliminate two of their rivals, were today nabbed and lethal weapons including four daggers and two swords apart from four kilo ganja and mobile phones were recovered from them.

The gangs were handed over to Asif Nagar police.

Task Force sleuths arrested the members of Lalla gang and Abid gang who have planned to eliminate their rivals, Rupesh Kumar and Feroze respectively.

Engineering student stabbed to death

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Hyderabad, February 03: An engineering student was stabbed to death allegedly by his friend at Green Park colony today. The exact motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained but police suspect that a love affair between the victim and the accused’s sister to be reason.

Though locals alleged that the accused’s family members incited him to kill the youngster, police said they are yet to verify that version.

The victim, Ranjit Reddy (21), a resident of Reddy Colony in Kothapet, was a second year B Tech student of Scient college of engineering at Vanasthalipuram.

Stray dog menace on the rise in city

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Hyderabad, February 03: Are Animal Welfare Board’s norms preventing the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials efforts in curbing stray dog menace? Well, it seems so since they have not been able to tackle the increasing menace of stray dogs in the city.

Students flock to educational fair

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Hyderabad, February 03: The Education UK exhibition, organised by the British Council, received huge gathering of students on Day one. The venue was bustling with highly ambitious students- some inquisitively inquiring about various universities, while some were discussing amongst themselves.

40 percent wine shops sell spurious liquor

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Hyderabad, February 03: IF you feel that your favourite brand of whiskey doesn’t taste genuine, you can simply walk into the Excise and Prohibition office to lodge a complaint.

The department is keeping a check on adulterated liquor being sold in branded bottles across the twin cities.

A number of liquor shops are allegedly into re-manufacturing various branded products, blending them with different intoxicating substances. These shops reportedly paid huge money in auction to supply spurious liquor.

Railway engine rams into auto, 4 killed

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Hyderabad, February 03: A railway engine rammed into an autorickshaw carrying nine passengers at an unmanned railway crossing near Devarakadra in Mahabubnagar district killing four and injuring f ive others.

A woman and a child were among the victims, police said.

The incident took place at an unmanned level crossing at Puttapally village in Devarakadra mandal today evening at around 5.30 p.m.

Don’t harass Kashmiris, states told

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New Delhi, February 03: Acting on the advice of the interlocutors, the central government Thursday asked all state governments not to harass Kashmiris as that was causing them “a sense of humiliation and a feeling of alienation”.

The advisory asked all states (other than Jammu and Kashmir) and union territories to exercise “utmost sensitivity while making inquiries about residents of Kashmir living in different parts of the country”.

It was issued on the recommendations of the government-appointed interlocutors – Dilip Padgaonkar, M.M. Ansari and Radha Kumar.

TVU students may have to wait till September

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Hyderabad, February 03: Indian students facing the prospect of deportation after being duped by the Tri-Valley University and losing their student visa status may have to languish in the US till September, when hearing in the case is expected to be slotted.

What is worse, SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) will remain blocked till the hearing. SEVIS is a web-based programme of the Department of Homeland Security designed to track foreign students in the US. While SEVIS remains blocked, the students cannot apply for fresh admissions anywhere in the US.