Special tribunal to probe Sangh Parivar activities demanded
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: In growing pressure on the Central government to check terrorist activities of Hindutva extremist organizations, noted social activists and retired judges have urged the Prime Minister to set up a special tribunal to probe the case.
Renowned social activist Teesta Setalvad, filmmaker and social activist Mahesh Bhatt and Justice (Retd.) B J Kolse have submitted a memorandum to the government in this regard, says a report in Urdu daily Rashtriya Sahara.
Apex court notes probe lapses, halts Sohrabuddin killing trial
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) The Supreme Court Tuesday halted the trial of 13 police officials after noting lapses in the Gujarat police's probe into the killing of Soharabuddin Sheikh allegedly in a staged shootout in Ahmedabad in November 2005.
A bench of Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice Aftab Alam halted the trial on allegations that a team headed by Gujarat's Inspector General of Police Geetha Johri, which has been probing the case on the apex court's order, has deliberately botched the investigation to shield some police officers.
Zardari comments stir Kashmiris in Delhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : From concern to condemnation, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's description of militants in Jammu and Kashmir as "terrorists" has led to varied reactions from Kashmiris in the Indian capital.
Many Kashmiri Muslims living here are also happy that Zardari has decided to bring about a qualitative change in India-Pakistan relations by declaring that New Delhi posed no threat to Islamabad.
Jobless Indian American kills five of family, self
By IANS,
Los Angeles : An Indian American, distraught at being unemployed for long, has shot dead his wife, three sons and mother-in-law before killing himself in an upscale neighbourhood near here.
The body of Karthik Rajaram, 45, who earlier worked as financial advisor with PriceWaterCooperhouse, was found dead in his house Monday with a handgun. Next to him lay his two youngest sons, Arjuna, 7, and Ganesha, 12.
One arrested for attacking journalists in Jamia Nagar
By IANS,
New Delhi : One person was arrested and search was on for another Saturday, a day after a mob beat up a group of mediapersons in Jamia Nagar in south Delhi where two suspected terrorists were shot dead last month.
"We have arrested one person, Azhar, in connection with the assault on journalists last last night in Batla House. Another person involved in the assault, Amanatullaha, would also be arrested soon," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ajay Chaudhary said.
Congress condemns army officer’s terror link, slams BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress Friday condemned the alleged involvement of a serving army officer in the Malegaon terror blast and said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to propagate its agenda of hate by using the country's secular institutions.
"We are proud of our army, but ashamed of individuals who under the influence of some political parties try to infiltrate the secular and democratic institution of our country," Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesperson, said at a press conference here.
Mumbai train blasts accused arrested in London
By IANS,
Mumbai/New Delhi : The Interpol in London has arrested Rahil Shaikh, one of the key accused in the Mumbai suburban train bombings that killed 187 people over two years ago.
The international police organisation has sought details of all the accused of the Mumbai terror act from India's premier investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which acts as Interpol arms in India, CBI sources told IANS in Delhi.
But police officials in Mumbai declined to go on record about the arrest in London.
Antulay remarks prompt NDA walkout from Rajya Sabha
By IANS,
New Delhi : Charging Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay with speaking for Pakistan's spy agency ISI, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Friday walked out of the Rajya Sabha and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh take action against the minister.
Suspected US drone strikes kill seven in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : US pilotless aircraft are believed to have fired two missiles in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan Monday, killing at least seven people, an intelligence official said.
The missiles targeted two vehicles carrying Islamic militants who were firing on the drone with anti-aircraft guns in two different areas of South Waziristan tribal district, a known sanctuary for Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters.
The first strike took place in Kari Khel area, some 15 km south of district's main town of Wana.
Blasts kill one in Lahore
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : One person was killed and three others injured Wednesday in two explosions in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, Dawn news TV channel reported.
The blasts occurred near an official vehicle parked in the Gor area of Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, the report said.
Rescue teams and ambulances rushed to the site to shift the injured to a nearby hospital.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, the report said.
The police have started an investigation.
Two more join opposition to women’s quota bill
By IANS,
New Delhi: After Sharad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav, another Yadav leader, Lalu Prasad, Tuesday added his opposition to the women's reservation bill, terming it as a conspiracy against regional parties to keep their leaders away from power.
Rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh too termed the bill, which proposes to reserve 33 percent seats in parliament and the state legislatures for women, as a conspiracy against regional parties.
Gujarat riots: Court refuses to stay probe against Modi
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : The Gujarat High Court Friday dismissed a petition seeking a stay on a probe by a Supreme Court-appointed panel against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues for their alleged role in the 2002 communal violence in the state.
The court dismissed the petition by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Kalu Maliwad and said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against Modi, his cabinet colleagues and senior officials would continue.
Court clears way for Jama Masjid re-development
By IANS,
New Delhi : The historic Jama Masjid is all set to get a facelift with the Delhi High Court Monday giving the green signal to the city civic agency to start re-development work at the site.
Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal gave their nod to the development work planned by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and directed the agency to inform the court about the work schedule by Dec 15, the next date of hearing.
Rs.18 lakh looted from power company in Haryana
By IANS,
Panchkula: Nov 23 (IANS) Three men looted nearly Rs.18 lakh (Rs.1.8 million) in cash at gunpoint from a power distribution office in this Haryana town near Chandigarh Monday evening, police said.
According to the police, the three men came to the office of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN), Haryana's government sector power distribution agency, here and fled with the cash after brandishing a gun at an employee who was taking it to the strong room in the premises.
Rajya Sabha adjourned over Misra panel report on reservations
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for a while Tuesday over demands that the Ranganath Misra Commission report on reservation for Dalits and Muslims be tabled in parliament.
Ali Anwar Ansari of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) raised the issue just as the house assembled. He flashed a Hindi newspaper in which he said the report had been leaked.
Pro-Maoist group to withdraw West Bengal strike
By IANS,
Kolkata: Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), which is observing an indefinite shutdown in three western districts of West Bengal, is likely to withdraw the strike Friday, sources said.
However, the committee has decided to again go on a strike from Sunday to protest union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's meeting with chief ministers of four eastern states, scheduled to be held in Kolkata Feb 9.
Court frames charges in Soumya murder case
By IANS,
New Delhi : A city court Saturday framed charges against the five men accused of involvement in the murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan.
Additional Sessions Judge S.K. Sarvaria said there was sufficient evidence against the five to prosecute them.
The court would start recording testimony of witnesses April 23.
The court also said that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute prime accused Ravi Kapoor under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) for running a syndicate of car-jackers.
Arrested US national has no terror links, says home ministry
By IANS,
New Delhi: US national Winston Marshall, who was detained at the Indira Gandhi International Airport late Wednesday after a knife was found in his baggage, does not seem to have any terror links, home ministry sources said here Friday.
"From the interrogation, it does not seem that he had any terror links. But his moments and repeated lying about the knife blade had created suspicion," a senior home ministry official said.
Teenage rape victim turns suicidal, abusive
By IANS,
Panaji : A girl who was allegedly raped by a Goa cabinet minister's son in 2008 when she was 14 has since slashed her wrists, attacked her mother with a knife and has needed constant psychiatric care and counselling, the mother has told a court here.
The statement to the Goa children's court by the mother of the German teenage victim paints an agonizing picture of the trauma suffered by the minor, who nevertheless continues to have a soft corner for her alleged sexual assailant Rohit Monserrate (then 21), son of powerful Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate.
Maoists attack police camp soon after truce offer, 1 dead
By IANS,
Kolkata : Maoists attacked a camp housing security personnel in West Bengal late Monday night, just hours after their leader Kishenji offered a 72-hour ceasefire to the government. One suspected Maoist was killed in the ensuring gunfight, police said.
According to police officials, Maoists attacked the camp housing local police and paramilitary forces at Katapahari in West Midnapore district around 10.30 p.m.
The security personnel -- in the camp that is on a hillock surrounded by thick forests -- retaliated and the gunfight went on for around two hours.
Armed men loot passengers in Bihar
By IANS,
Patna : At least six armed robbers looted cash and valuables from passengers of a train and stabbed one traveller in Bihar's Buxar district, police said Tuesday.
The robbers looted the passengers travelling on the Punjab Mail Express between Ara and Buxar late Monday in Buxar district, about 125 km from here.
The injured passenger was admitted to a railway hospital in Buxar.
"Armed criminals boarded the train and looted cash and valuables at gun point from passengers," a police officer said.
One killed, two dozen injured in stage explosion
By IANS,
Bhubaneswa: An attempt to create a smoke screen for a play scene went horribly wrong when the explosive material used went off killing one person and injuring two dozen more in Orissa's Nayagarh district, police said Wednesday.
The explosion occurred when a member of a drama troupe was trying to create smoke by burning explosives for a scene in Petapali village.
"There was a drama show in the village. A troupe member burnt explosive material for a love scene," said police officer Manoranjan Mohanty.
Four of the injured are in critical condition, he said.
Photo Feature: Independence Day celebrations in Indian madrasas
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Belying a perception that Madrasas generally show little interest in national festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day, several...
Taj Mahal perhaps the world’s most photographed monument
By Brij Khandelwal
Agra : The Taj Mahal in Agra is perhaps the world's most photographed monument. Each minute hundreds of cameras click to...
College expels student held for hacking Lalu’s FB account
Patna : A day after he was arrested on charge of hacking the Facebook account of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and posting...
Solidarity march in Srinagar for Zakir Naik
Srinagar : Supporters of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik took out a solidarity march in Srinagar on Friday to condemn any action that might...
‘RSS wanted to burn Ramdev’s anti-corruption camp, trigger Gujarat like riots in India’
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Bharatpur clash toll rises to seven
By IANS,
Jaipur : The toll in the clash between two communities in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district rose to seven with three more bodies recovered from a well, police said Friday.
Raid on Kavita’s home to intimidate rights activists: Jamaat Islami
By TCN Staff Reporter,
It’s time to study the Vulnerabilities posed to Taj Mahal’s foundation
By Misbahuddin Mirza for TwoCircles.net,
Shia shrine violence: Cleric asks police to ‘behave’ properly
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
‘Fugitive IM commander’ sues N Ram and Praveen Swami
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Please don’t spoil his life if he is not guilty: Gayur Jamali’s father
Special Series on Terror Arrests from Bihar – Part Two
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Curfew continues in riot-hit old Hyderabad
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Curfew continued in the riot-hit areas of the old city of Hyderabad for the third consecutive day Tuesday, with the situation remaining tense but under control.
Azam Khan’s Mumbai visit exposes divide in Samajwadi Party
By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Why Dalai Lama, ‘messiah of peace, humanity’ silent on genocide in Myanmar?
By TCN Staff Reporter,
India’s first: Centre for Deccan studies opened at MANUU
By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
IM operatives’ police custody extended
By IANS,
New Delhi : A Delhi court Wednesday extended till Oct 27 the police custody of three suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives allegedly involved in the Aug 1 Pune blasts.
Somalian pirates release another vessel
By IANS,
Gandhinagar: Somalian pirates Wednesday released 'Nar-narayan', the fourth of the eight Gujarat registered cargo vessels hijacked by them last fortnight, a shipping association official said.
Haji Kasim Bholim, president of the Kutchi Vahanvatti Association, said that the vessel which was hijacked March 27 by the Somalian pirates was released near Mogadishu after it ran out of fuel.
The cargo vessel, carrying charcoal, was on its way from Mogadishu to Dubai when it was hijacked.
The 15 member crew of the vessel was safe and are still in Mogadishu, Bholim said.
One held for murder of Congress corporator
By IANS,
Thane (Maharashtra) : An alleged contract killer was arrested for the murder of a Congress corporator in Bhayander township of Thane district, police said Thursday.
According to police, Krishnachandra Pandey alias Ajay, 34, was nabbed Wednesday afternoon from Bhayander for killing Praful Patil, 51, May 8.
"We acted on a tip-off and arrested Pandey Wednesday afternoon from Bhayander," senior police inspector Rajendra Mohite told IANS.
Anderson can still be tried for Bhopal gas tragedy: Moily
By IANS,
New Delhi : Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily Tuesday pointed out that the case of criminal culpability against US multinational Union Carbide Corporation's former chairman Warren Anderson is "not yet closed" and he can still be tried.
Muslim League wants PM to streamline Haj pilgrimage
By IANS,
New Delhi : Upset over the delay in organising this year's Haj pilgrimage, which saw 160,000 pilgrims from India visiting the holy city of Mecca last year, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
IUML leader E.T. Mohammed Basheer, MP, said: "The time for organising the Haj pilgrimage is running out," and added that it should have begun a month ago.
CRPF camp attack case to be heard July 19
By IANS,
Lucknow: The case relating to the terrorist attack on a paramilitary camp in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, in which Fahim Ansari, recently acquitted in the Mumbai 26/11 case, is one of the accused, will be heard July 19.
The district court here Wednesday listed the case for July 19, as Ansari and six others accused of involvement in the Dec 31, 2007 attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp, were produced before the court amid heavy security.
Seven CRPF personnel and a civilian were killed in the attack.
Indian-origin doctor gets seven years’ jail in Australia
By IANS,
Melbourne: Jayant Patel, an Indian origin doctor held guilty of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm on patients at an Australian hospital, was Thursday sentenced to seven years in prison.
The sentence was read out in Brisbane Supreme Court.
"In view of the verdicts of the jury, there is no denying the gravity of your offending (and) your repeated serious disregard for the welfare of the four patients," brisbanetimes.com.au qouted Justice John Byrne as telling 60-year-old Patel.
Omar hits out at woman separatist leader
By IANS,
Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday lashed out at separatist leader Syeda Asiya Andrabi for trying to send her son abroad for studies while asking students in the valley to "sacrifice their studies for liberation of Kashmir".
Andrabi, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief whose son had applied for a passport to study in Malaysia, has been saying that the youth in the valley should give up their studies and make "sacrifices for the movement for liberation of Kashmir".
Abdullah accused the leader of "saying one thing and practising quite the other".
Gyaneshwari sabotage key accused killed in gun battle
By IANS,
Kolkata : Pro-Maoist leader Umakanta Mahato, a prime suspect in the Gyaneshwari Express sabotage case, was killed in a gun battle with joint security forces in West Bengal's West Midnapore district early Friday, police said.
"Umakanta Mahato was killed sometime early morning today (Friday) following an encounter in a forest area of Jhargram," West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Bhupinder Singh told IANS over phone.
Mahato was the leader of tribal body People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), which has been blamed for the sabotage.
Batla House: I have limitations, can’t do much for judicial probe: Digvijay Singh
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
US formally apologizes for deaths of Pakistani soldiers
By IRNA,
Islamabad : United States Wednesday tendered formal apology to Pakistan over killing of 3 Pak soldiers in airstrike by NATO helicopters in a tribal region, said US embassy here.
Toll in Iraq attack downgraded to seven
By DPA,
Karbala (Iraq) : The death toll in a car bombing in the holy Shiite Iraqi city of Karbala was only seven, medical sources said Monday - contradicting an earlier police toll of 48.
17 insurgents killed in Afghanistan, says NATO
By DPA,
Kabul : NATO-led forces and Afghan troops killed at least 17 suspected militants in operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan, the alliance said Saturday.
UP Govt clears decks for Varun Gandhi’s prosecution
Kulsum Mustafa, for TwoCircles.net,
‘Islam encourages intellectual debates’ – MSM debate
By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Muslim ‘illegal’ buildings being pulled down in Modi’s Gujarat
By TCN Special Correspondent,
“Kerala history is learned mainly by non-Keralites” – Dr Ausaf Ahsan
By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net,
Rebel accused of shooting down US plane arrested
By IANS
Bogota : A suspected member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), accused of participating in the 2003 downing of a light plane carrying three US contractors, has been captured, authorities said.
Litvinenko, Berezovsky spied for Britain says Lugovoi
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Andrei Lugovoi, accused by Britain of poisoning to death former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko, said Thursday Litvinenko and fugitive tycoon Boris Berezovsky worked for the British secret services.
Chhattisgarh Maoists call for economic blockade, police on alert
By IANS
Raipur : Maoists in Chhattisgarh have called for a two-day economic blockade in the state's insurgency-hit Bastar region next week and police forces have been put on high alert to foil the rebels' plans.
Firing near Akshardham temple in Delhi, one killed
By IANS
New Delhi : A 35-year-old man was arrested after he along with two other people allegedly shot dead a man near Akshardham temple in east Delhi Wednesday, police said.
Commandoes storm besieged mosque, at least two troops dead
By DPA
Islamabad : At least two soldiers and scores of people were killed as Pakistani special forces stormed the Lal Masjid in Islamabad early Tuesday after failed negotiations overnight between authorities and the holed-up militants, officials said.
Ten foreigners among the dead in Lal Masjid
By IANS
Islamabad : Bodies of 10 foreigners were recovered from the Lal Masjid complex following the Pakistan military assault, authorities here said.
Details and photographs of the foreigners would be released shortly, said interior ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema.
President Pervez Musharraf said prior to the operations that began July 3 that armed militants, including foreigners and those of the Jaish-e-Mohammed with links to Al Qaeda, were holed up in the mosque and the two nearby seminaries.
Syria, Iran seek to further bilateral ties
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syria and Iran sought to further bilateral ties as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid an official visit here on Thursday in which he held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials.
Ahmadinejad's visit, two days after Assad's inauguration as president for a second seven-year term, was his second trip here since he became Iranian president in August 2005.
Suicide bombings kill 55 in Pakistan
By DPA
Islamabad : Three suicide bombings targeting military and police facilities and Chinese engineers have killed at least 55 people in Pakistan, which has seen a surge in violent attacks since the bloody end to a mosque siege in Islamabad.
A suicide bomber driving a car detonated high-intensity explosives packed in the vehicle late Thursday as a convoy of Chinese engineers travelled through the town of Hub in Pakistan's southern Balochistan province.
Flood effected Afghan refugees recieves assistance in Baluchistan
By NNN-IRIN
Islamabad : An estimated 4,000 Afghan refugees living in camps in Pakistan’s flood-affected Balochistan Province are now receiving assistance, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed.
"At the moment, we are covering the needs of the Afghan refugees,� Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesman, said from the provincial capital Quetta.
Islamabad : An estimated 4,000 Afghan refugees living in camps in Pakistan’s flood-affected Balochistan Province are now receiving assistance, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed.
"At the moment, we are covering the needs of the Afghan refugees,� Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesman, said from the provincial capital Quetta.
Haneef case won’t hit Indian doctors, says New Zealand survey
By IANS
Auckland : A majority of people polled by a New Zealand magazine say they will not stop going to Indian doctors just because of the 25-day arrest and jailing of Muhammad Haneef on terror charges.
Most of those who responded to a survey by The Global Indian magazine also felt that the Australian government was unfair to Haneef and needs to apologise to him for causing him so much distress.
‘Us threat directly impinging upon India’s national sovereignty’
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: Indo-US nuclear deal is amongst the rarest issues of which the shrill criticism by political parties - both Opposition as well as the Communist allies of the Congress-led UPA government - must not be dismissed by the nation as the routine political brinkmanship and the acrobatics by some leaders. It is the most serious matter which is directly impinging upon India's national sovereignty.
Iraq, Syrian PMs say bilateral talks “excellent, important”
By NNN-KUNA
Damascus : Iraqi and Syrian Prime Ministers Nouri Maliki and Mohammad Naji Al-Utri have both affirmed that bilateral talks here were very successful and important, saying that several agreements on the political and economic levels had been reached.
The two PMs told a joint press conference held in the Syrian cabinet headquarters that talks resulted in several agreements on combating terrorism and securing common borders.
15 abducted paramilitary soldiers freed in Pakistan’s tribal area
By Xinhua
Islamabad : The militants in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area freed 15 abducted paramilitary soldiers on Tuesday, a local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported on Tuesday.
The militants freed 15 hostages and four others were still in captivity, the DAWN NEWS report said, adding that they would also be released soon.
Hyderabad police raid madarsa to look for suspect
By IANS
Hyderabad : Stepping up investigations into Saturday's twin blasts that claimed 43 lives, the city police raided the well-known Darul Uloom madarsa here to look for a suspect.
Hours after releasing the sketch of a suspected bomb planter at Lumbini Park, a police team conducted a search late Wednesday night at the seminary located at Shivrampalli, run by eminent religious scholar Moulana Hameeduddin Auqil Hussami.
Osama bin Laden to release video message: report
By Xinhua
Cairo : An Islamic website will issue a new video message of Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to mark the sixth anniversary of the Sep 11 attacks, US-based SITE intelligence group said.
SITE said Thursday on its website that it has learned that a new video message is forthcoming from the head of Al Qaida, Osama bin Laden, addressing the American people on the sixth anniversary of the attacks of Sep 11, 2001.
The website also posted an image from the forthcoming video.
11 Taliban killed, five arrested in Afghanistan
By DPA
Kabul : At least 11 Taliban militants and two police officers were killed during an exchange of fire in southern Farah province, officials said Sunday.
Security forces arrested five militants, officials added.
The eight-hour gunfight between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces took place in the Dilaram district of Farah provincein southern Afghanistan, Nimroz governor Dastagir Azad said.
Seven rebel vehicles were destroyed during the fighting, Azad said, adding, "Two policemen were killed and eight others wounded."
Terrorists eyeing uranium mines in Central Asia
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : International terrorist organizations are trying to gain access to uranium mines in Central Asia, the head of the anti-terrorism centre for post-Soviet states said Wednesday.
Andrei Novikov, who heads the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Anti-Terrorism Center (ATC), told journalists: "International terrorist organizations have a huge interest in getting hold of radioactive materials. In particular, the ATC has information that they intend to penetrate uranium mines of CIS states in the Central Asian region."
Seventeen soldiers among 67 killed in Pakistan
By DPA
Islamabad : At least 50 militants and 17 soldiers were killed in clashes and a suicide attack in north-west Pakistan, even as President Pervez Musharraf assured US diplomats of his "firm resolve" to fight terrorism.
"Last night (Thursday night) four checkpoints were attacked in the Razmak area of North Waziristan. That attack was beaten back and we have reports that up to 50 militants were killed," army spokesman Waheed Arshad told DPA.
Barak: Israel to allow PNA to undertake security affairs in W. Bank
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday evening that Israel would transfer partial security matters to Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.
Barak made the remarks during his meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.
Barak was quoted as saying that Israel would be willing to allow the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to oversee day-time security in one or two West Bank cities.
Minor alleges gang rape by neighbours in Delhi
By IANS
New Delhi : A 14-year-old girl Thursday accused her three neighbours of raping her and shooting a video of the act on their mobile phones in southwest Delhi.
The victim, a Class six student and resident of Kusum Phari in Vasant Kunj area, complained to the police Thursday that her neighbours Naveen, Rajan and Rajkumar - all in their mid-20s - took her to an unknown place in Naveen's car on the pretext of dropping her to the school on Sep 5.
Flood toll in Bangladesh rises to 984
By Xinhua
Dhaka : The death roll from flood-related incidents, including snakebite, drowning, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases in Bangladesh, rose to 984 Thursday since the country experienced the first floods this year on July 30.
According to statistics provided by the health department of the country, of the total deaths, 837 were caused by drowning, 94 by snakebite, 29 due to diarrhoea and 24 were from respiratory diseases. It said a total of 178,684 people have been affected by diarrhoea so far.
US interfering in Pakistani affairs: editorial
By IANS
Islamabad : If there is a fine line between showing interest in the politics of a friendly country and "meddling" in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, the US is "treading more precariously" today than it has in the recent past on Pakistan's future, a newspaper editorial Monday maintained.
"To categorise the statements emanating from Washington as being invasive would not be anything short of justifiable," said The News, one of Pakistan's leading English dailies.
Iran’s nuclear programme downplayed by IAEA
By NNN-KUNA
Vienna : The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr Mohammad El-Baradei, has said that Iran's nuclear programme represented no threat to the international community.
He said Monday that Iran had however failed, so far, to provide sufficient details to the IAEA on that programme and added that IAEA inspectors had failed, until now, to find any traces of banned radioactive material in Iran.
Iraqi PM paints optimistic picture on condition in Iraq
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has drawn an optimistic picture of the condition in Iraq, saying that the Iraqi people were closing ranks.
Speaking at a news conferemce Wednesday, the prime minister said "we have averted eruption of a civil war" that might have taken place following the bombing of the religious sites in Samaraa, alluding to the bombing of burial sites of Shiite imams in the Iraqi town.
Muslim leader in Germany urges unity in Ramadan
BERLIN, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- A Muslim leader in Germany said Saturday that the holy month of Ramadan was as a good occasion for Muslims here and around the world to be united.
Ayyub Koeler, head of Germany's Supreme Council of Muslims, voiced his views in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), expressing much satisfaction and happiness at the Muslim fasting month thanks to its spiritual links to worshipping, true belief and Muslim unity.
Iraqi Govt has succeeded in thwarting civil, sectartian wars – Maliki
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has said the Iraqi government has succeeded in driving away the "ghost of civil and sectarian war," noting that his cabinet was now focusing on taking control of the security file, activating conciliation and pushing forward the political process.
"The government is placing as priority the taking over of the security file and the reconstruction of our armed forces," Maliki was quoted as saying in a meeting with visiting US Congressmen Sunday.
Soprano daughter helps Yunus in fund raising
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladeshi Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has found a new aide in his mission to serve the country's poor -- his soprano daughter Monica who helped collect $200,000 through a concert in New York's Times Square.
The money would go to help Bangladesh's destitute children, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency said.
Among the 200 mostly American invitees at the event was Cherie Blair, wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, who flew in for the fund-raising concert.
Bangladesh officers resist bid for independent judiciary
By DPA
Dhaka : Bangladesh's local administration apparatus is under threat of imminent collapse as the country's military-backed interim government sets out to create an independent judiciary, separate from the executive, officials here said Monday.
The process, which the interim government says will strengthen democracy, is expected to start from Nov 1, but has spread uneasiness among judicial officials who fear curtailed authority and loss of seniority to colleagues and new recruits.
U.S. calls for restraint from Turkey, Iraq
By Xinhua
Washington : The United States reiterated on Wednesday its call for Turkey to show restraint as Turkish forces took aim at Kurdish rebels operating in northern Iraq.
"We are concerned about the continuing skirmishes that are happening up there, and terrorist attacks that are being launched by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) against the Turks," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
Israel defence minister approves Gaza power cuts
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak approved electricity and fuel cuts against Palestinians living in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Thursday in an effort to curb rocket attacks on the Jewish state.
The decision was likely to overshadow talks on Friday between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that have already been coloured by mutual recriminations in the run-up to a Middle East meeting.
Cancel Gujarat elections, say rights activists
By IANS
New Delhi : Elections in Gujarat cannot be held in the present circumstances, activists and artists have said in petitions to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others after the Tehelka sting operation that allegedly shows the chief minister sanctioning the 2002 riots.
Calling it a test case for the Indian state, the petition, also sent to the Supreme Court chief justice and the Election Commission, demanded immediate dismissal of the Narendra Modi government and imposition of President's rule.
Israeli forces continue incursion in Rafah
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli forces continued the incursion they launched early on Wednesday in the eastern and southern parts of Rafah city, south of Gaza.
Palestinian radio said Thursday the Israeli forces broke into several houses, particularly in Al-Jaradat district and in areas around Rafah international airport.
The radio quoted eyewitnesses as saying Israeli bulldozers destroyed farming areas close to the borders with Israeli settlements.
Emergency in Pakistan draws flak in Kashmir
By IANS
Srinagar : There has been an across the board reaction in the Kashmir valley to the imposition of emergency in Pakistan.
As the media flashed the news of President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule in his country, a palpable concern erupted in the valley. People remained glued to their television sets till late hours Saturday trying to know the latest development in Islamabad.
Anger in Pakistani media over emergency declaration
By IANS
Islamabad : The feisty Pakistani media reacted with anger over the declaration of emergency in the country, with one newspaper saying that "all the gains over the years have gone down the drain" and that the people had been "cheated".
"So we are back to square one. Back to Oct 12, 1999. All the gains over the years have gone down the drain," Dawn said in an editorial headlined "Another move towards absolutism".
Popular front organizes protests against ‘police discrimination’ in Kurnool
By TCN News,
Kurnool: Popular Front of India organized a protest in Bellary Chowrasta at Hyderabad-Bangluru highway in Kurnool town today condemning the ‘police discrimination.’
Christian managed school in Kerala regrets over ‘Virgin Mary symbol’ on school uniforms
By Abdul Basith, TwoCircles.net,
Famous “light and sound show” of Red Fort now on YouTube
By TCN News,
New Delhi: About an hour-long sound and light show at Red Fort, Delhi is now available for free viewing on You Tube. The video of show was uploaded two days ago.
Controversy over ‘monitoring’ JIH’s women’s wing
By Shaik Zakeer Hussain, TwoCircles.net,
Qamar-ul Islam and UT Khader in Karnataka cabinet
By Shaik Zakeer Hussain, TwoCircles.net,
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday evening allocated portfolios to 28 ministers, which includes two Muslim MLAs.
Afghanistan team evinces interest in DPIP projects’ impacts in MP
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Assam govt to bear medical expenses of poor trader’s sons who sought to commit...
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Kejriwal is playing the martyr: Tushar Gandhi
By Sahana Ghosh, IANS,
Kolkata : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has "realised he wouldn't be able to deliver" and will eventually resort to "playing...
Mumbai based eminent lawyer’s note on SC Judgment on Adoption
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Yusuf Hatim Muchhala, an eminent legal mind of the country, has classified the implications of the Supreme Court judgment of February regarding adoption of children by Muslim couples.
Khudai Khidmatgar’s year-long campaign for volunteer work begins from AMU
By TCN News,
Aligarh: Today on the death anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad– Khudai Khidmatgar proposes to launch, from Aligarh Muslim University, a vigorous year-long campaign (kaarvaan-e insaniyat) requesting people from every walk of life, to spare time for the society.
A public talk on ‘Saffron Terror and Muslims’ held in JNU
By Mahmood Asim, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: At a time when Caravan Magazine interview of Asseemanand made hot the topic of debate about the scope of Hindutva-terror in India, adding the fuel to the fire Concern Students (CS) organization of Jawaharlal Nehru University conducted a public talk here on Friday night on the very topic of Saffron Terror and Muslims.
New ambassadors to Libya, Cote d’Ivoire
New Delhi : Azar A.H. Khan and Dinesh Bhatia have been appointed ambassadors to Libya and Cote d'Ivoire respectively, an official release said here...
IM operative sent to police custody
New Delhi : Top Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu was remanded in police custody till April 2 by a court here...
Two IM suspects brought to Kerala for investigation
Munnar (Kerala):Delhi Police officials Saturday brought two suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) activists to Munnar in Kerala to gather evidence that they stayed there.
The two...
AAP to demand world spiritual capital status for Varanasi
Varanasi : The AAP will demand the status of world spiritual capital for this Hindu holy city in Uttar Pradesh, a party leader said...
Petition to NCM against housing discrimination in Gujarat after Togadia’s video
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Lawyer and rights activist Shahzad Poonawala has written to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to draw “attention to the blatant discrimination with respect to access to housing against Muslims in Gujarat,” terming it “discriminatory approach, bordering on communal segregation,” in the city of Bhavnagar in Gujarat against the Muslim minority.
Very much welcome Modi statement on relations: Pakistan envoy
New Delhi: Dismissing seemingly tough statements by the BJP and its allies about Pakistan as "poll rhetoric", Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit...
It can’t get any darker
By Irfanullah Farooqi,
As 2014 general assembly elections come to an end, a mixed feeling has gripped us; hope and fear, joy and scepticism, passion and anxiety. It is simply impossible to pinpoint a pan-Indian feeling towards the 2014 elections. A quintessentially Indian response seems to be missing. However, if there is one thing that has somehow managed to link otherwise scattered reactions to 2014 elections within India, it is the likelihood of Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister of India. People across sections and of all kinds of intellectual allegiances and political orientations have, directly or indirectly, shared their belief in the possibility of Narendra Modi heading the Indian state.
Some people acting as agents of communal elements: Mamata flays media
Kolkata : In an apparent attack on a section of the media, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday accused "some people" of acting...
India-Arab nations keen to pave new path for economic ties
By Biswajit Choudhury,
New Delhi : Projects worth billions of dollars, notably in energy, railways and finance were discussed at the two-day India-Arab Partnership Conference...
‘22,890 foreign nationals in Assam’
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Between the years 1986 to 2012 various Foreigners’ Tribunals set up, have declared 22,890 persons as foreigners who came to Assam.
JIH’s stand on co-education makes its Kerala unit uncomfortable
By Abdul Basith, TwoCircles.net
Vishwaroopam screened in Lucknow amidst ‘peaceful’ protests
By TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent,
Qureshi community in Meerut angry over ‘political’ decision to raze slaughter house godown
By TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent,
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