Former Pak minister detained at US airport for suspected LeT links

Former Pakistani minister Shaikh Rashid, known for his pro-LeT leanings, was detained at Houston airport on arrival for his possible links with the terror group’s founder Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks.

61-year-old Rashid, leader of the Awami Muslim League of Pakistan, was detained soon after he arrived by an Emirates flight last evening and was freed after five hours of interrogation.

Sources said Rashid was detained for his possible links with Saeed.

It is understood that he was scheduled to attend a fundraiser and meetings with his supporters in the US.

Untold stories, rare pictures in Dilip Kumar’s new biography

Uday Tara Nayar has written Dilip Kumar’s biography, set to be launched on the legendary actor’s 90th birthday in December. The author says the two-part book focuses on the actor’s nine-decade long journey, his love story with Saira Banu, some untold stories as well as rare pictures of the thespian and his family members.

Sarabjit’s family meets Krishna

Shocked by the U-turn on the release of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner on a death row in Pakistan on terrorism charges, his family members Thursday held a protest at the Jantar Mantar and met External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to seek his release.

Sarabjit’s sister, Dalbir Kaur, who has led the campaign for his release in the last few years, along with other family members and supporters held a dharna (sit-in) at Jantar Mantar.

“Pakistan has played a cruel joke on us and we are again requesting (Pakistan President Asif Ali)Zardari to release Sarabjit,” said Dalbir Kaur.

MPs go to Yale University to learn leadership issues

Eleven parliamentarians from seven national and regional parties are here for interactions with senior US government officials and thought leaders as part of a leadership programme they are doing at Yale University.

Interactions in Washington to better understand the US economic and political system are a regular feature of the India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Programme. The sixth edution of the programme began at New Haven, Connecticut based university on June 20 and will conclude Saturday.

Take up fishermen harassment issue with Sri Lankan government: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue of harassment of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy with the island nation’s government.

In a letter to Manmohan Singh Wednesday, the text of which was released to the media here Thursday, Jayalalithaa said: “I wish to reiterate that from time immemorial the fishermen of Tamil Nadu have been traditionally fishing in the waters near Katchatheevu, notwithstanding any geographical or political boundaries.”

Don’t blame Pakistan, Abu Hamza is Indian, says Malik

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik on Wednesday rejected Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s assertion of ‘state support’ to the terrorists behind 26/11 massacre, saying ISI was a target of ‘propaganda campaign’.

“We are proud of our ISI, which is defending Pakistan”, Malik said adding the ISI’s role in the war on terror was ‘well recognised by everybody’ but the spy agency was the target of a propaganda campaign.

PM wants revival of economy with ‘animal spirit’

Signalling his keenness to boost the economy a day after taking charge of the Finance Ministry, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday directed urgent steps for revival of investor spirit and reversal of the climate of pessimism with regeneration of “animal spirit”.

Taking stock of the country’s economy in a series of high level meetings here, he identified tax issues, sluggishness in insurance sector and aspects related to mutual funds as problem areas and pressed for quick corrective steps.

Allied Computers unveils low-cost laptops at Rs 4,999

UK’s longest standing computer specialist brand ACi on Wednesday unveiled India’s first ever fully functional high-resolution screen laptop at Rs 4,999 in the Indian market.

The laptops will be marketed in India by a BSE-listed group company, Allied Computers International (Asia) Ltd.

“We have launched India’s super low cost laptop at Rs 4,999. It will be real fully functional, Windows compatible laptop, at the lowest price tag in the country,” ACi’s India marketeer Allied Computers International’s (Asia) Mananging Director Hirji Patel told PTI here.

Not enough being done to tackle drought: Experts

With several states reeling under a drought-like situation as they await the monsoon, experts have pointed out that not enough is being done to deal with the situation arising out of scanty rainfall.

Drought management, they say, assumes significance in view of changing weather patterns.

“We are not prepared to handle the effects of climate change on agriculture. It is reflected through our management of drought situation in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh,” veteran agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan told IANS.

Surjeet appeals for release of prisoners on both sides

Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh, who was released from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail after three decades Thursday, said that prisoners on both sides of the border should be released.

Addressing reporters outside the jail in Punjabi, Surjeet said he had been arrested on charges of spying and would not return to Pakistan because he might be accused of the crime again.

The 69-year-old, who spent over 30 years in Pakistani jails after being arrested on charges of spying, walked out of jail to a battery of camera crews waiting to interview him.

India for ‘concerted action’ against ‘terrorism syndicate’ in Afghanistan

India has called for concerted action to isolate and root out the syndicate of terrorism including Al Qaeda, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, saying that terrorism supported from outside remains the principal problem in Afghanistan.

“The principal problem in Afghanistan remains the existence of terrorism, drawing upon ideological, financial and logistical support from beyond Afghanistan’s borders,” India’s Permanent UN Representative Hardeep Singh Puri said during a UN Security Council debate Wednesday.

Rupee recovers from record low; up 19 paise against dollar

The rupee rose by 19 paise to Rs 56.96 against the American currency in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange Thursday on dollar selling by banks and exporters, and strong domestic equity market.

However, month-end demand from oil importers for the American currency limited gains.

Selling of dollars by exporters and some banks coupled with a higher opening in the equity market supported the local unit.

The BSE Sensex rose by 42.24 points, or 0.24 percent, to 17,010.

Our Qazaat System and the rights of Women’s rights – colloquium today

(Siasat News) In case the husband refuses the request to wife for ‘Khula’, if the wife approaches Qazi or Sharia Panchayath, the consent of the husband is not required. Many such questions will be discussed in the colloquium which is being held at Madina Education Centre, Nampally under the Chairmanship of Dr. Syed Rashed Naseem Nadvi, Professor of Arabic at English and Foreign Languages University. The Colloquium will be held at 7 p.m. in Dr. Khaja Moinuddin Hall. Mr. Jannat hussain, Chief Information Commissioner will be the chief guest.

Special leave petition of Mohammed Pahelwan in Supreme Court for bail

(Siasat News) Mr. Mohammed Bin Omer Yafayi alias Mohammed Pahelwan and others were implicated in the attempts to murder case of Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi. He submitted special leave petition in Supreme Court for bail which has been admitted. The judge issued a notice to Govt. of A.P. for submitting its reply within three weeks. Justice K.C. Bhanu of A.P. High Court had cancelled the bails of Mr. Mohammed Bin Omer Yafayi and Mr. Bahadur Ali Khan alias Munawar Iqbal on 25th April and had ordered them to surrender in the local court.

Stress to eradicate atrocities on S.C.s & S.T.s.

(Siasat News) On the basis of the suggestion made by Union Minister of Social justice, Mr. Mukul Wasnik, Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy agreed to set up special courts to deal with the cases of atrocities on S.Cs. and S.Ts.

A meeting of the Parliamentary committee was held at Jubilee Hall yesterday under the chairmanship of Mr. Mukul Wasnik, in which a review was made about Civil Rights Act of 1955 and Eradication of atrocities Act of 1989.

Investments worth Rs. 40,379 crore approved

(Siasat News) State Level Investment Promotion Board has permitted the establishment of 25 mega projects in the state. It is expected that an investment of Rs. 40,379 will be made which will generate employment for 41,180 candidates.

Scholarship application registration date extended till 13th July

(Siasat News) Advertisements were published for submission of applications for pre-matric and post matric scholarships. The last date of submission of pre-matric scholarships of Govt. of India has been extended upto 15th July 2012.

Student and their parents are requested to register their applications as early as possible and submit its hard copy through the Principals of their institutions to A.P. State Minorities Finance Corporation, 6th Floor, Haj House, Nampally, Hyderabad.

The students who submit their applications early will get their scholarships sanctioned immediately.

Surjeet freed, to come home via Wagah

Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh was released from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail after over three decades in captivity Thursday and reached the Wagah border on the Pakistan side on his way back home, officials said.

Surjeet would walk into India after Pakistan authorities completed all formalities, Border Security Force (BSF) officials here told IANS.

“This can take up to two-three hours,” one BSF official said.

He was brought to Wagah, which falls in Pakistan, in a police prison van.

Joint Russia-India missile to be ready by 2017

The first prototype of the hypersonic BrahMos 2 cruise missile being jointly developed by Russia and India will be ready for flight testing in 2017, an official said.

Russia and India have recently agreed to develop hypersonic BrahMos 2 missile capable of flying at speeds of Mach 5-Mach 7.

“I think we will need about five years to develop the first fully-functional prototype (of the hypersonic missile). We have already carried out a series of lab tests at the speed of 6.5 Mach,” said Sivathanu Pillai, chief executive officer of the Russian-Indian joint venture Brahmos Aerospace.

Indian MPs go to Yale to learn leadership issues

Eleven Indian parliamentarians from seven national and regional parties are in Washington for interactions with senior US government officials and thought leaders as part of a leadership programme they are doing at Yale University.

Interactions in Washington to better understand the US economic and political system are a regular feature of the India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Programme. The sixth edution of the programme began at New Haven, Connecticut based university on June 20 and will conclude on Saturday.

Surjeet Singh released from Pak jail after 30 years

Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh, who has served a life term following his arrest on charges of spying in the 1980s, was freed from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail on Thursday.

Pakistani Policemen are escorting Singh to the Wagah International Border crossing, where he will be handed over to Indian authorities.

His family from Ferozepur and villagers, in full celebration mode, are at Wagah to receive him.

Prez poll: Pranab, Sangma to file nominations today

Pranab Mukherjee and PA Sangma will file their nominations on Thursday setting off the Presidential race between UPA and the BJP-backed opposition candidate in which the ruling alliance is set for a runaway victory.

Unfazed by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s revolt, UPA will the opportunity to project a united picture and its penetration into NDA.

Mukherjee will file papers at 1100 hrs in the presence of the top brass of UPA including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and alliance Chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.