Month: May 2011

2 Aussie soldiers killed in Afghanistan

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Kabul, May 31: Two more Australian soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in war-weary Afghanistan, Australia’s Defense Department says.

The incidents on Monday brought the number of Australians killed in the conflict in the Asian country to 26, AFP reported on Tuesday.

One of the soldiers that lost his life was shot by an Afghan National Army trooper in the Chora Valley. The motive behind the killing is not yet known.

The other soldier died in a Chinook helicopter crash a few hours later, the report added.

Misbah not desperate to head Pakistan’s ODI squad

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Karachi, May 31: Just days after being given the charge of Pakistan`s One-day team, Misbah-ul-Haq has made it clear that he is not desperate for the ODI captaincy.

Misbah, Pakistan`s Test captain, was asked to lead Pakistan in its two match One-day International series against Ireland in Belfast after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked all-rounder Shahid Afridi as Pakistan`s limited-overs skipper earlier this month.

The seasoned batsman was non-committal on whether he has been asked to lead Pakistan in ODI cricket on a long-term basis.

Five killed in Afghan suicide blasts

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Kabul, May 31: A suicide bomber blew up an explosives-packed car at the gates of an Italian military base Monday in one of two attacks on the relatively secure western city of Herat, killing at least five Afghans in a major commercial centre slated to be handed over by NATO to Afghan control in July.

Musharraf a ‘proclaimed offender’

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Islamabad, May 30: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court today declared former President Pervez Musharraf a “proclaimed offender” or fugitive for failing to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of former Premier Benazir Bhutto.

Judge Mr Rana Nisar Ahmed of the Rawalpindi-based court declared Gen. Musharraf, currently living in self-exile outside Pakistan, a fugitive on the request of the Federal Investigation Agency.

High radioactivity found on Japan nuclear workers

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Tokyo, May 31: Two workers from Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have been contaminated by high levels of radioactive iodine, the operator said today, prompting fears over their long-term health.

The workers, reportedly men in their 30s and 40s, may have already been exposed to radiation levels higher than the recently boosted official annual limit, Japanese media suggested.

Family feud dominates TDP meet

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Hyderabad, May 31: Telugu Desam Party’s 30th annual conference ‘Mahanadu’ was dominated more than anything else by family drama and tussle between the Nandamuri and the Nara branches of the NTR clan.

Though there has been some serious discussion on the political situation, and party president N Chandrababu Naidu tried to boost the confidence of the rank and file by talking of a bright and promising future, much to his chagrin the limelight was stolen by a sulking Nandamuri Harikrishna, his brother-in-law and NTR’s son.

Hyderabadi gays: We also need rights and acceptance

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Hyderabad, May 31: For most gay men in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, the law change has made little obvious difference, but they do seem to be louder and prouder.

The day the high court in Delhi ruled that being gay was no longer a crime was the day that Krishna Gurram Kouda finally came out to his family.

Rana trial to resume tomorrow

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Chicago, May 31: The trial of Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Husssain Rana, which led to several revelations of nexus between ISI and LeT in carrying out the Mumbai terror attacks, will resume here tomorrow with the testimony of co-conspirator David Coleman Headley. In perhaps the most important terrorism trial ever to be held here, it is still expected that some new information regarding the nexus between al-Qaeda, ISI and LeT might emerge.

Meeting on Lokpal ends amid major differences

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New Delhi, May 31: A meeting between ministers and civil society leaders on the Lokpal Bill ended Monday on a bitter note, with activists accusing the government of not being serious about fighting corruption.

An update later posted by the civil society members of the joint drafting committee on the website of India Against Corruption, said the government’s intentions were suspect and people should be prepared to taking to the streets.

Minister clears Std. XII exam

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Bhubaneswar, May 31: The official chamber of Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Orissa’s Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development and Information Technology Minister, received a steady stream of visitors carrying bouquets and sweets on Monday.

It neither was his birthday nor was he elevated to the Cabinet rank in the Naveen Patnaik-led Ministry.

Detained Saudi woman driver to be freed on bail

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Jeddah, May 31: Saudi authorities decided Monday to free on bail Manal al-Sharif, who was detained for 10 days for breaking the ultra-conservative kingdom’s ban on women driving, her lawyer said.

“We were informed today of the decision to free Manal on bail. The procedural steps towards her release are under way,” Adnan al-Saleh told AFP, adding that he hoped the case would now be closed.

Sharif had called upon King Abdullah to release her, Saleh told AFP on Sunday after meeting his client in prison.

Egyptian general admits virginity checks

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Cairo, May 31: A senior Egyptian general admits that “virginity checks” were performed on women arrested at a demonstration this spring, the first such admission after previous denials by military authorities.

The allegations arose in an Amnesty International report, published weeks after the March 9 protest. It claimed female demonstrators were beaten, given electric shocks, strip-searched, threatened with prostitution charges and forced to submit to virginity checks.

State Department cable cited ISI links with militants

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Washington, May 31: A diplomatic cable sent under the name of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton states that despite public disavowals, “some officials of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) continue to maintain ties with a wide array of extremist organizations,” in particular the Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Sania Mirza Writes Another Page In Indian Tennis History

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Sania Mirza in company with her partner Elena Vesnina has reached French Open’s semi-finals. This is the highest ever achievement for the lady herself and for Indian ladies in general. But to reach this stage, Sania has passed through many testing times. Let’s have a look at her chequered career.

She is the first ever Indian to break into the top 30 WTA rankings. Mirza has defeated many top players, including Svetlana Kuznetsova and Martina Hingis.

Total lunar eclipse on June 15

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New Delhi, May 31: A total lunar eclipse will be visible to sky-watchers in the country in the late hours of June 15.

“The lunar eclipse will be visible in India. It can be seen with naked eyes,” P. Iyamperumal, Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, Chennai told PTI.

“The total lunar eclipse, which will be visible in southern Asia, Africa and Australia, is the first of two lunar eclipses in 2011 and the third of all eclipses to occur throughout the year,” said Vijayakumar, a space enthusiast.

CM Kiran Reddy springs a surprise with bald look

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Hyderbad, May 31: Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday sprang a surprise by sporting a bald look. While sceptics were wondering what hastened the CM garu to get his head tonsured, political observers believe that it was part of fulfilment of a vow.

As the CM emerged after worshipping at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara, everybody was in for a surprise looking at his bald pate. Unlike his predecessors late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu, Kiran offered his hair to the Lord.

Can’t defend Hafiz Saeed in US lawsuit: Pak govt

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Lahore, May 31: The Pakistan government on Monday informed a court that it could not defend Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in a US lawsuit filed by relatives of two Jewish victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Deputy Attorney General Naseem Kashmiri, in a written reply submitted on behalf of Foreign Ministry to Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court, said: “The government is defending the ISI before the US court being an institute of the government while the JuD or its chief are not part of the government.”

Afghanistan no longer terrorism threat to world, Harper tells troops

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Kandhar, May 31: Travelling under a cloak of secrecy and security, Mr. Harper marked the moment on Monday by travelling well outside the heavily fortified expanse of Kandahar Airfield to a dusty forward base. Later, in 44-degree heat, the Prime Minister thanked troops on behalf of Canadians – and argued that despite “successes and failures” in a complex mission at the heart of the insurgency in Kandahar, it has achieved its goal.

More related to this storyIn pictures: Harper’s surprise visit to Kandahar
We’re killing the Afghans we should be speaking to

SC rejects bail plea of Chiru’s son-in-law

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New Delhi, May 31: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of G R Sirish Bharadwaj, estranged younger son-in-law of Prajarajyam president Chiranjeevi, facing a dowry harassment case.

A vacation bench of justices G S Singhvi and Chandramauli Prasad, rejecting the plea of Sirish’s counsel that bail be granted as the two families were seeking an amicable settlement, asked the accused to surrender before the court concerned in Hyderabad.

NATO captures TTP leaders in Pakistan

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Islamabad, May 31: US-led NATO forces have captured five Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders in Pakistan and taken them to Afghanistan without informing Pakistani officials.

NATO troops conducted the attack in the Gorvaid region of North Waziristan, Pakistani intelligence sources said.

The militants were reportedly taken away to Afghanistan by two NATO helicopters, AFP reported.

If confirmed, this would be the second time in less than a month that foreign troops have conducted operations inside Pakistan without informing its government.

Babus get notices for violating building laws

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Hyderabad, May 31: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has slapped notices on three All-india Service (AIS) officers and two former civil servants for deviating from the sanctioned plan and constructing houses in the upmarket Prashasan Nagar in Jubilee Hills.

The corporation served notices on IAS officer AR Sukumar (plot no 232), IPS officer RP Meena (plot no 250), IFS officer PAV Udaya Bhaskar (146/A), former IFS officer Dr SN Jadhav (42) and retired IPS officer P Ananth Sayanam Reddy (166).

Taliban attack Italian base in Af

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Kabul, May 31: Taliban suicide bombers blew up two vehicles in the western city of Herat on Monday, killing at least five Afghans, displaying the militants ‘ reach into an area considered secure enough to revert soon to government control from Nato. Also Monday, four Nato soldiers were killed in other parts of the country.

In the first blast in Herat, a suicide attacker blew up an explosives-packed car at the gates of an Italian military base in Herat. Five Italian soldiers were wounded, one of them gravely, Italian defence minister Ignazio La Russa said.

Afridi quits international cricket

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Karachi, May 31: Flamboyant Pakistani all rounder Shahid Afridi announced an early retirement from international cricket, in protest against his removal from the captaincy of the national one-day team.

“The people have given me lot of respect and love and I don`t want to waste that working with this board who don’t know how to respect players,” an angry Afridi said. In a scathing attack on the Pakistan cricket Board, Afridi described the current set of administrators as a disgrace to Pakistan cricket.

Centre tries its best to avert Ramdev’s fast

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New Delhi, May 31: With the UPA government still reeling under the ‘Anna Hazare’ impact, it doesn’t want to take any chances with yoga guru Baba Ramdev.

No less than the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) met on Monday to discuss measures to be taken to halt yoga guru’s ‘Anna Hazare’ act.