EVMs turn victory machines for Cong: BJP

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New Delhi, October 22: Electronic Voting Machines have become ‘Electronic Victory Machines’ for the Congress in the elections, BJP on Thursday alleged as it trailed in Maharashtra
and Haryana polls.

“The EVMs have become ‘Electronic Victory Machines’ for Congress in the elections,” BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters in New Delhi.

Naqvi said these elections were conducted with EVMs despite many parties expressing concern over their functioning.
–PTI

MNS makes dents in Maharashtra

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Mumbai October 22: Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) appeared to have made dents in the bastion of established parties in early trends from the Maharashtra assembly elections Thursday.

At 10 a.m., MNS was leading in at least 14 constituencies, including two in Mumbai, as the first round of counting ended. The party’s heavyweight Bala Nandgaonkar was leading in Sewri constituency in central Mumbai and in Murbadn (Thane) Waman Mhatre was leading.

The party is contesting 125 of the 288 assembly seats that went to the polls on Oct 13.

Start made all the difference in CL- T20, says Warner

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New Delhi, October 22: A markedly better start to their innings was key to New South Wales’ thumping 79?run victory over Victoria Bushrangers in the first Champions League Twenty20 semifinal, explosive NSW opener David Warner said.

Batting first, NSW got off to a flying start with Warner (48) and Phil Hughes (35) raising 62 runs inside seven overs.

In contrast, Victoria were reeling at six for three after three overs and they could not recover thereafter.

China reports 8.9 percent economic growth in third quarter

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Beijing, October 22: The Chinese economy expanded 8.9 percent year on year in the third quarter of this year, and 7.7 percent year on year in the first nine months, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said here Thursday.

The growth rates for the first quarter and second quarter were 6.1 percent and 7.9 percent respectively, Xinhua reported Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, NBS spokesman Li Xiaochao said that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 21.78 trillion yuan (about $3.18 trillion) in the first nine months.

Army officer, soldier killed in Pakistan capital

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Islamabad, October 22: A pair of gunmen on a motorbike killed a soldier and a high-ranking army officer in the Pakistani capital Thursday morning, officials said, the latest strike against security forces as the military wages a major anti-Taliban offensive in the northwest.

The assault in Islamabad was part of a wave of bloodshed that has killed more than 170 people in Pakistan over the past three weeks and pushed the military into launching a long-anticipated ground offensive in South Waziristan tribal region six days ago.

No way home: The tragedy of the Palestinian diaspora

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Jerusalem, October 22: It is a cynical but time-honoured practice in Middle Eastern politics:

the statesmen who decry the political and humanitarian crisis of the approximately 3.9 million Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Gaza ignore the plight of an estimated 4.6 million Palestinians who live in Arab countries.

Congress to decide on Maha CM: Sharad Pawar

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New Delhi, October 22: With Congress-NCP coalition appearing to retain power in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said Congress will decide on the issue of new chief minister.

“Congress will decide,” Pawar said when asked whether Ashok Chavan will be the Chief Minister.

Asked about the single biggest factor which led to the impressive showing of the alliance, Pawar said that leadership of Shiv Sena-BJP have not succeded in inspiring the voters.
–PTI

The accidental diplomat in Kabul

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Kabul, October 22: If John Kerry had not gone to Kabul, it is possible that the Afghan picture would look very different.

The Senator for Massachusetts huddled with Barack Obama back in Washington yesterday, telling reporters later that a decision on troop numbers before the election results were clear would lack “common sense”.

Hague tells Clinton not to fear Tories’ EU allies

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Washington, October 22: William Hague, the man most likely to be Britain’s next foreign secretary, yesterday assured Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top US policymakers that a Conservative government would be “active and activist” in European affairs, despite its scepticism about EU institutions.

Mamata to seek CBI enquiry into train collision

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Mathura, October 22: With conflicting reports on the cause of the train accident near here, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to go for a CBI enquiry into the mishap.

“Realising the gravity of the accident, I have decided that it is better to go for a CBI probe,” Bannerjee told reporters last night during a visit to the site of the accident involving Goa Samparkranti Express and Mewar Express.

Twenty-two people were killed and as many injured in the accident yesterday.

After the Moon, India eyeing human space flight

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United Nations, October 22: After the success of its first Chandrayaan moon mission, India is now looking at exploration of outer space using planetary missions including a human space flight programme, a UN panel was told.

“Having achieved self-reliance in end-to-end space programme, the Indian space programme is entering into space exploration phase mainly to explore inner solar system and build such capabilities for exploring outer solar system,” a member of the Indian parliament said on Wednesday.

Afghan run-off may force US hand on troops

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Kabul, October 22: The White House signalled last night that Hamid Karzai’s decision to accept a run-off vote in Afghanistan could expedite a verdict on whether to increase US troop numbers there.

But as Barack Obama’s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, told reporters that it was “certainly possible” the crucial answer on troop levels would come before the November ballot, election experts in Kabul warned too little is being done to ensure the run-off is any more credible than the first, fraud-ridden round.

Neil Nitin on shopping spree in Tihar Jail

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Mumbai, October 22: Neil Nitin Mukesh went to Delhi’s Tihar Jail and came back with a bagful of goodies made by the prisoners, including a blanket, a shawl, sweets and other edibles.

The shopping arcade in the jail premises sells everything under the sun, says the actor who will be seen as a prisoner in his next movie.

Congress-NCP combine leading in Maharashtra

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Mumbai, October 22: Congress-NCP combine was leading in 39 constituencies and Shiv Sena-BJP in 31, according to trends from 90 seats in Maharashtra.

MNS was leading in seven seats while Third Front in five seats.

Those leading include Industry Minister Narayan Rane (Kudal), Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s daughter Praniti (Solapur) and Omraje Nimbalkar (Osmanabad), son of slain Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.
–PTI

No Entry into Bahrain Without Passing Medical Tests

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Manama, October 22: Foreign workers will not be granted entry into the country unless they pass medical tests by accredited medical clinics at their hometowns.

Sources from the Ministry of Health confirmed the authority’s plan to accredit high profiled clinics at various cities to conduct medical tests for those seeking employment in Bahrain.

The sources said without medical reports stating the workers are fit to work and free from contagious diseases, employees would not be allowed entry into
the country.

US envoy in Israel ahead of UN Gaza report debate

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Jerusalem, October 22: US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice held talks with Israeli officials on Wednesday ahead of an expected General Assembly debate on a report that accuses Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes during the Gaza war.

She met for about one hour with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of an address she was to due to give to a conference organised by President Shimon Peres, officials said in a statement.

Kuwait says it wants Rafale jets, awaiting terms

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Paris, October 22: Kuwait is hoping to buy advanced Rafale combat jets from France and is awaiting terms from Paris, Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Hamad al-Sabah said on Wednesday.

“Obviously we would be proud to have the Rafale in the heart of our armed forces in Kuwait,” Sheikh Jaber told reporters after a meeting with his French counterpart Herve Morin in the French capital. “We hope to see the terms for this soon.”

US presses Iraq on elections

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Washington, October 22: The United States is pressing Iraq not to delay parliamentary elections in early January, a senior Pentagon official said Wednesday, acknowledging it could affect plans for drawing down US forces.

Doubts about the election timeline rose again Wednesday after the Iraqi parliament failed to reach agreement on an election law because of a stalemate over oil-rich Kirkuk.

Israelis say deal near with US on Mideast talks

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Jerusalem, October 22: US President Barack Obama’s Middle East envoy is close to a deal with Israel on terms for resuming peace talks with the Palestinians, Israeli officials said on Wednesday.

“There appears to be a meeting of the minds and hopefully the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue will be able to re-start in the near future,” an Israeli official said, summing up talks held by negotiators for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

Militias could trigger Lebanon fighting: UN

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United Nations, October 22: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the presence of armed Hezbollah and Palestinian militants in Lebanon is contributing to tensions and insecurity and could eventually lead to a resumption of hostilities.

In his six-month report to the Security Council on Lebanon, obtained Wed

–Agencies

More Women Aware of Breast Cancer Dangers

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Al Ain, October 22: More women are becoming aware of the dangers of breast cancer in the UAE, according to figures released by a specialist cancer detection and treatment centre.

Over 1,100 women have been screened for breast cancer in mobile units so far this year. In 2008, the nine month figure was less than 200.

The campaign has been organised by Tawam Hospital and supported by the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), and SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.

War, Negation and Muslim Identity Revisited

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A Muslim writer begins an article with, ‘who says the campaign for animal rights was started in the West ..’ She goes on to argue that Islam provided the original treatise on the humane treatment of animals. Her case was poorly constructed, inadequately executed, although the essence of her idea was to a degree, accurate. Islamic tradition has indeed laid a foundation, with clear boundaries regarding the humane treatment of animals.

Cultural Centre Opens in Abu Dhabi

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Abu Dhabi, October 22: His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, opened the Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi 
on Wednesday.

Shaikh Mohammed, who was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the commemorative plaque of the Centre.

Ageing Cargo Plane Crashes in Sharjah

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Sharjah, October 22: A Sudanese cargo aircraft with six on board crashed and burned minutes after take-off from Sharjah airport on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sharjah Civil Defence said the six-member crew of the ageing Boeing 707 aircraft had died. Officials said their charred bodies were recovered.

This is the second mishap involving a Sudanese aircraft on the Sharjah-Khartoum route. Sudanese government officials told Khaleej Times on phone the Sudanese air fleet was outdated and US sanctions on the country made spare parts scarce.

127 Arab Filmmakers Compete for Dubai Film Connection

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Dubai, October 22: The Dubai Film Connection, the seed fund of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), has received 127 submissions from Arab-origin filmmakers around the world for its 2009 edition, breaking all previous entry records.

The majority of DFC 2009 submissions are from Lebanon, Palestine, France, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia, representing the diversity of the Arab world.