Month: February 2012

Seven killed in Afghan clashes against Quran burning

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Seven people were killed in Afghanistan in continuing clashes between Afghan security forces and protesters over the burning of the Quran by US soldiers, the Afghan interior ministry said Thursday.

The protests began Tuesday when agitated Afghans took to the streets Tuesday shortly after Afghan workers noticed US soldiers at the Bagram airbase dumping books, including four copies of the Quran, in a bin for burning garbage, RIA Novosti reported.

16 army soldiers killed in north Kashmir avalanches

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Sixteen Indian Army soldiers were killed in two avalanches overnight in two districts of north Kashmir, an army officer said Thursday.

“Thirteen bodies have been recovered so far from the avalanche debris in Dawar (Gurez) area of Bandipora district. Three soldiers are still believed to be under the debris. Efforts are on to locate them,” a defence spokesman told IANS.

A massive rescue operation was started after an avalanche struck the workshop of the army’s brigade headquarters in Dawar (Gurez) overnight.

Indian diplomat’s maid deserves $1.5 mn

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In a setback to an Indian diplomat accused by her maid of ‘slavery’, a US judge has recommended that she be awarded nearly $1.5 million for her “barbaric treatment” at the hands of her employer.

The proposed award includes $500,000 for the “emotional distress” inflicted on Shanti
Gurung by Neena Malhotra and her husband Jogesh, The New York Post said.

Malhotra was then the Consul at Consulate General of India in the US.

Headley, Rana extradition may be difficult

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Washington, February 23: The Indo-US extradition treaty may pose a major hindrance to India’s efforts to produce David Headley and Tahawwur Rana before a Delhi court over the Mumbai attacks, as it does not allow handover of a person already convicted or acquitted for the offence he has been sought for.

“The (1997 extradition) treaty between India and the United States precludes the extradition of Rana. The court here would not allow it. Rana was acquitted to the charges related to Mumbai in the United States,” Patrick Blegan, the attorney for Rana said.

Make me CM by Feb 27 or I’ll go my way: Yeddy

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Bangalore, February 23: Serving an ultimatum, BJP strongman of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday set February 27 as a deadline to the party’s central leadership to reinstate him as chief minister, failing which he would decide on his course of action.

At a meeting of legislators convened by him at his Race Course residence, an apparently restless Yeddyurappa gave a piece of his mind and exhorted his supporters to exert pressure on the party leadership to make him chief minister again, sources close to him said.

Obama apologizes to Karzai over Quran burning

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Washington, February : President Barack Obama sent a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday apologizing for the burning of copies of the Quran at US military base in Afghanistan, the White House said.

Washington: President Barack Obama sent a letter to Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday apologizing for the burning of copies of the Quran at US military base in Afghanistan, the White House said.

The burning of Qurans at the Bagram airbase near Kabul has sparked fierce protests against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

–Agencies

Sanjiv Bhatt doubts SIT’s intention

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Ahmedabad, February 23: Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt on Thursday questioned intentions of Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) for not putting the evidence provided by him with regard to Godhra carnage case, on record of the trial court, which convicted 31 persons last year.

Zakia’s charges false, frivolous: Modi told SIT

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Ahmedabad, February 23: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had in his deposition before Special Investigation Team (SIT) in March, 2010, dismissed the allegations of criminal conspiracy and subversion of rule of law by Zakia Jaffery, wife of Congress leader Ehsan Jaffrey slain in 2002 riots, as “vexatious, false, frivolous”.

Refuting all allegations of complicity in the post-Godhra riots, Modi had said he was doing his Constitutional duty and functioning lawfully like a CM.

There are two sides of the story: Saif Ali Khan

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Mumbai, February 23: ‘Nawab’ Saif Ali Khan seems to have suddenly become media’s favorite boy. Holding a second press conference 48 hours after the infamous brawl at a posh hotel in Mumbai, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan hogged limelight this time round, not to offer an explanation about the latest controversy he is embroiled in, but to talk about his strategic alliance with World Series Hockey.

At the event, despite an attempt to categorically debar questions pertaining to the row, when a scribe asked the actor’s take on the entire episode, Saif claimed innocence.

Bachchan discharged from hospital

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Mumbai, February 23: At last he gets his freedom. Amitabh Bachchan had tweeted last night that he was eagerly waiting for his “freedom from hospital”. And his wish has finally been granted! After two abdominal surgeries and 12 long days at the Seven Hills Hospital, superstar Amitabh Bachchan was discharged from the hospital Thursday night.
“The actor is doing much better now following which he has been discharged,” a hospital source told a news agency.He was discharged at 9.30 pm and was accompanied home by his wife Jaya Bachchan.

Pak wants excellent relations with US: Gilani

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Islamabad, February 23: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Islamabad wants to have “excellent relations with US” and said both countries along with Kabul need to be “on the same page” in efforts aimed at boosting national reconciliation and stability in war-torn Afghanistan.

Gilani emphasized the need for a “mutually acceptable strategy to achieve shared goals” during a meeting with a visiting US Congressional delegation.

A “military solution does not provide a permanent solution”, he remarked.

Zardari instructed Haqqani on memo

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Islamabad, February 23: Pakistani American businessman Mansoor Ijaz said Thursday that Husain Haqqani, Islamabad’s former envoy to the US, had “directives” from Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on delivering a memo to Washington appealing for help in the wake of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s killing last year.

“It was my understanding that Haqqani had directives from the Pakistani President,” the Geo News quoted Ijaz as saying while recording his testimony before a judicial commission from the Pakistani High Commision in London.

Quran burning protests rage in Afghanistan

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Thousands of Afghans Wednesday staged demonstrations in Kabul and Jalalabad over the alleged burning of the holy Quran by foreign soldiers, with three injured in clashes with police.Protests erupted Tuesday here after media reports said copies of the Quran were found in the rubbish that NATO transported in a truck Monday night to a pit where waste is burned.

On Wednesday, demonstrations were also held in Jalalabad, capital of eastern Nangarhar province.

Obama apologises over Quran burning

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President Barack Obama has apologised over the burning of Qurans by NATO troops at a US base in Afghanistan, calling it an inadvertent error, the Karzai’s office said Thursday.

“We will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, including holding accountable those responsible,” the CNN quoted Obama as saying.

The apology came as the Taliban called on Muslims to attack NATO military bases and convoys and kill its soldiers following the admission that NATO troops had incinerated Islamic religious material at Bagram Airfield.

Scolded by father, Class 8 girl ends life

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A 12-year old girl in Rajasthan jumped into a well and died after she was scolded by her father for not studying property, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place late Tuesday night at a Tikaria village in Banswara district, some 500 km from here.

Police said Deepika, a Class 8 student at a government school, was rebuked by her father Dhanpal Yadav, a famer, for not studying well.

“Yadav told her to concentrate more on studies. However, the father did not hurt her physically,” a police officer said.

CBI sends reminder to Nepal over Balkrishna

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The CBI has sent a reminder to the Nepal government on its judicial request to ascertain the nationality details of yoga guru Ramdev’s aide Balkrishna, who is alleged to have forged his educational documents to get an Indian passport.

The agency had sent Letters Rogatory to Nepal last December seeking Balkrishna’s nationality details, agency sources said.

But even after two months, when no communication was received from the Nepalese authorities, the CBI sent reminder to them to provide details sought by the agency, they said.

Home-schooling US Muslims for Islamic Values

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Trying to shield their siblings against teachings that run contrary to their Islamic beliefs, US Muslim families are turning to “home-schooling” to instill their religious and family values in their children.

“Discussion with home-school leaders across the nation indicates that the number of Muslims in home-schooling is expanding relatively quickly, compared with other groups,” Britain D. Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute told The Washington Times on Wednesday, February 22.

BJP targets police, Centre but rues Ramdev too indicted

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In the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on the midnight crackdown on Ramdev’s supporters at Ramlila grounds here, BJP on Thursday targeted Delhi police as also their bosses in the Union Home Ministry and the government but rued the yoga guru too has been indicted.

BJP maintained Delhi police alone should not be held guilty for the “human rights violations” as it was “acting at the behest of their bosses in the central government, namely, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union ministers P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal.

Team Anna questions Delhi Police’s independence

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Team Anna on Thursday questioned the independence of the Delhi Police, asking whether its chief took an independent decision on the midnight swoop on Baba Ramdev’s followers at Ramlila ground here last June.

“The question is whether the Delhi Police Commissioner took an independent decision. They have to answer whether they took action at the behest of the Union Home Ministry and whether it was a verbal or written order from the ministry,” said team Anna member Kiran Bedi ON Thursday.

Social activist Anna Hazare said that the judiciary’s statements must be obeyed.

Health Benefits of Saying “Alhamdulillah”

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It produces calm and health to practice saying, “Alhamdulillah” for what we have and for what we are faced with.

There are many examples in the Qur’an and Hadith of the virtues of a positive mental attitude, perseverance and optimism in the face of adversity. However, did you know that patience and a positive outlook on life are two of the greatest healing tools that you can use?

Discuss NCTC first in NIC: BJP

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should discuss the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) at the upcoming National Integration Council (NIC) before taking it to parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh said Thursday.

Rajnath Singh told reporters here that the NCTC was yet another example of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government playing havoc with India’s federal structure.

“The NCTC issue should be discussed in the forthcoming meeting of NIC and then taken to parliament,” he said.

UP polls 5th phase: 57 % voter turnout

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An estimated 57 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise on Thursday in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections spread over 49 seats, including the stronghold of the Yadav family and former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.

Polling started at 7 am amidst tight security and an estimated 57 per cent of the 1.56 crore electorate cast their votes till 5 pm, Election Commission sources said here adding the final turnout figure may go up as polling continued at a number of places.

In 2007 assembly elections, a total 47.57 per cent votes had been cast in this phase.

PC ordered midnight crackdown: Baba Ramdev

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Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday castigated Delhi Police for its violent crackdown on hundreds of his innocent followers, who had gathered at the Ramlila Maidan on June 4-5 last year to support his anti-corruption agitation.

“Today’s ruling of the Supreme Court has exposed the role of Delhi Police and the government at the centre for its senseless crackdown on innocent civilians. It is now before the people of India to understand who ordered the police to take such brutal action against my followers? ”

Troops to fire if threatened along border: BSF DG

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Noting that the BSF is being exercising maximum restraint along the Indo-Bangla border, the chief of the force on Thursday warned that his troops will fire if criminals dare them.

“If despite their (BSF personnel) efforts (of exercising restraint) they get into a situation where they are threatened and their life is in danger, then they will use the force available with them to save their lives or the lives of their companions. That means they will fire,” BSF Director General Utthan K Bansal said in an interview here.

Ramdev promises to agitate again in Delhi

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Buoyed by the Supreme Court’s censure of the government for arbitrarily and forcefully ending his Ramlila Ground protest last year, yoga guru Baba Ramdev vowed Thursday to launch more such protests.

“Till the time black money from abroad is not brought back and declared as national asset our agitation will continue. I will soon return to Delhi for another agitation,” Ramdev said.