Russia abstains from UN Security Council vote on Afghanistan
By RIA Novosti
New York : Russia abstained from a UN Security Council vote to extend the authorisation of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan for another 12 months.
Russia raised objections Wednesday to the unexpected inclusion in the document of a sentence expressing appreciation to NATO as well as to contributors from many nations to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), "including its maritime interdiction component".
Iran test flies two new fighter jets
By IANS
Tehran : Iran Thursday successfully tested two fighter jets during a ceremony at the Mehrabad International Airport, Irna news agency reported.
The planes, named Sa'qeh (Thunderbolt), are the second generation fighter jets of Azarakhsh fighters of the Iranian air force.
The planes, claimed by the government to have been built by Iranian experts, will be officially inducted into the air force on the country's Army Day on Sep 22 - which coincides with the start of its war with Iraq in 1980.
Iranians to hold protesting rally in Paris
By IRNA
Paris : The Iranian community residing in France by issuing a statement on Saturday called on all Iranian compatriots to attend a protesting rally here on Sunday to oppose the recent statement of France Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner about Iran.
According to a statement, a copy of which was faxed to IRNA bureau in Paris, the demonstration will start Sunday at 4:00 pm in Trocadero Square and lasts for 2 hours.
Turkey, Iraq sign agreement no combating terrorism
By Xinhua
Ankara : Turkey and Iraq signed an agreement to fight against terrorism in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Friday.
Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay and his Iraqi counterpart Jawad al-Bulani signed the agreement.
Issue of Iran’s nuclear programme not “closed” – US
By NNN-KUNA
Washington : The United States has said that the Iranian nuclear programme case is not closed yet, in a direct response to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement in New York.
"Iran is under Security Council sanctions, is under several Chapter VII resolutions not asking it nicely or politely, but requiring it as a matter of international law, to halt its uranium enrichment programme and to engage in negotiations with the international community," said State Department deputy spokesperson Tom Casey in his daily press briefing Wednesday.
Brinda demands punishment for Muslim youth’s killers
By IANS
Kolkata : Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Brinda Karat Friday expressed her grief over the mysterious death of a Muslim youth who had married the daughter of an industrialist Ashok Todi, and demanded punishment for those involved in the crime.
Rizwanur, a 30-year-old graphics designer, was found dead with head injuries beside a railway track Sep 21. His family members and neighbours alleged he used to get threatening calls from some police officers after he married Priyanka.
Iranian FM meets his French counterpart in New York
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has held a meeting with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In the meeting Wednesday, Kouchner said: "Iran is a great country and we will never want to fight with it and we are looking for peace."
According to Foreign Ministry Media Department report, Kouchner, in the meeting, said that the media had distorted his statements about Iran.
Musharraf confident of victory in Presidential poll
By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is seeking a second five-year term in uniform in a key poll today, has expressed confidence that he will be re-elected and pledged to quit as Army Chief after the issuance of notification in this regard.
"I will shed the uniform after the issuance of notification regarding my becoming the next President and before being sworn in," he said addressing MPs of the ruling PML-Q and its coalition partners during a dinner at the President House late last night.
Suicide car bombing kills 1 American in Kabul
By Xinhua
Kabul : A suicide car bombing targeting a convoy of U.S. military in the Afghan capital Kabul Saturday morning killed at least three persons, including one American, and injured nine others, an official at the press department of Afghan Interior Ministry said.
The attack occurred at 8:20 a.m. local time at the busy road linking Kabul International Airport to the fortified U.S. embassy.
Israeli air strike in Gaza injures seven civilians
TEL AVIV, October 8 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli aircraft delivered an air strike on a group of Palestinian militants in northern Gaza on Monday, injuring several people, the army press service and local radio said.
Gaza militants have recently intensified their rocket attacks on Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, firing the Soviet-designed Grad-type rockets, instead of the more commonly used, and cruder, Qassam-type rockets.
The army said the air strike hit the militants' position whilst the Palestinians were firing rockets at southern Israel.
Mahesh Bhatt calls on Rizwanur’s mother
By IANS
Kolkata : Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt Wednesday said he had never seen people's solidarity like the one following the death of Muslim youth Rizwanur Rahman here as the director called on the mother of the victim at her residence in the evening.
"In my whole life I never experienced such a situation when all people, despite their different religions, raised a single voice for humanity and justice. I am feeling really great to sit at the feet of Rizwanur's mother today," Bhatt said during his visit to the Tiljala Lane residence of Keshwar Jahan.
Iranian women’s status elaborated at UN
By NNN-IRNA
New York, UN : IRI representative at UN General Assembly's 3rd Committee session here Wednesday elaborated on developments, advancement, and achievements related to women's status in Iran.
Seyyed Mohsen Emadi in his address also expounded on various types of aggressions observed against women in the world today, including poverty, threats due to foreign forces occupation, losses due to military attacks, human smuggling, aggressive behavior at homes, taking advantage of women in advertisements etc.
Rizwanur episode has affected Left government: Basu
By IANS
Kolkata : Veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Jyoti Basu Friday admitted the Left Front government in West Bengal has suffered political damage due to the inordinate delay in removal of tainted police officers following the mysterious death of a Muslim youth.
"Yes, the state government's image has received a beating due to the delay in transferring the policemen who had allegedly coerced Rizwanur. We have suffered politically," Basu told reporters while replying to a question at the state CPM's headquarters in Alimuddin Street here.
Iran’s Jalili is newcomer in nuclear mission
By DPA
Teheran : Iran's new nuclear negotiator Saeid Jalili is headed to Rome on his first mission in the new job -- a meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
The 42-year-old diplomat, who has served a succession of Iran's leaders going back to 1989 in key background positions, will be travelling with Iran's outgoing chief negotiator Ali Larijani, a decision announced Sunday by the foreign ministry to give added backing to the newcomer on the job.
Maoists kill five in Chhattisgarh ahead of shutdown
By IANS
Raipur : Maoists killed at least five special police officers (SPOs) and injured three in a gun battle in Chhattisgarh's southern Bijapur district, even as security was beefed up in Bastar region ahead of the Oct 30 strike called by the rebels.
"We have five casualties, all SPOs," Ratanlal Dangi, the Bijapur district superintendent of police, told IANS by telephone from Pamulvaya village, about 500 km south of Raipur.
Former Mizo rebels feel betrayed by state
By Sangzuala Hmar, IANS
Aizawl : Twenty years after he surrendered and joined the mainstream, 42-year-old Zohmingthanga, a former rebel fighter from Mizoram, is an angry man today - leading a life of penury and feeling betrayed by the state.
A former Mizo National Front (MNF) rebel, Zohmingthanga surrendered in 1986 along with his insurgent leader Zoramthanga, now the respected chief minister of the northeast Indian state of Mizoram.
US not to suspend military aid to Pakistan
By Xinhua
Washington : The US has no plans to suspend military aid to its key ally Pakistan following the declaration of emergency by President Pervez Musharraf, said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.
"At this point, the declaration does not impact on our military support for Pakistan's efforts in the war on terror," Morrell said late Saturday.
"Pakistan is a very important ally in the war on terror. And he (Defence Secretary Robert Gates) is closely following developments there," Morrell said.
UN voices concern over Pakistan’s emergency
By DPA
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday voiced "great concern" over Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule in his country.
"He expresses his strong dismay at the detention of hundreds of human rights and opposition activists, including the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief" Asma Jehangir, said a statement issued by Ban.
Ban urged the Pakistani authorities to immediately release those detained, lift restrictions on the media and take early steps for a return to democratic rule.
Kashmir panchayat candidate injured in firing
By IANS,
Srinagar : A panchayat candidate was shot at by separatist guerrillas in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district Tuesday, police said.
Even Delhi’s minority district facing same bureaucratic apathy
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
AIMPLB’s protest meeting on Waqf bill, RTE on July 24
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
2700 crores for dalits but just 45 crores for Muslims in Mayawati’s budget
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Bangalore blasts 2008: Madani’s lawyers point out loopholes in prosecution’s case
By Staff Correspondent, TwoCircles.net,
Muslim youths tortured after Modi’s call to release the detained tourists
By TCN Staff Reporter,
State-level Qur’an Quiz Competition organized in Imphal
By Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
40-day harshest winter period ‘Chillai Kalan’ begins in Kashmir
By Sheikh Imran Bashir, Agence India Press,
Mecca Masjid gets new marble ‘takht’ four years after the blast
By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
‘Bio health monitoring system’ to ensure health security of Narmada River
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: A first of its kind scientific initiative in the country is going to be made in Madhya Pradesh for ensuring health security of Narmada River.
Israeli car blast: Kazmi moves bail application
By IANS,
New Delhi : Journalist Syed Mohammed Ahmad Kazmi, arrested for alleged involvement in the Israeli embassy car blast case, Friday moved his bail application in a Delhi court here.
UP Govt builds road on Deoband cleric’s field of standing wheat crop
By TCN Special Correspondent,
Qateel’s “killers” arrested, Jailer suspended, media report says
By TCN Staff Reporter,
By-election for Jangipur seat today: Voters to decide fate of President’s son
In this Muslim majority constituency, principal opponents against Congress' Mukherjee are Muslims and hence there might be some dramatic outcome.
By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
BJP demands Vastanvi’s barred from Gujarat for calling Modi ‘brutal’ and ‘tyrant’
By TCN News,
Ahmedbad: The Bhartiya Janta Party wants Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi to be barred from entering Gujarat.
Sectarian violence an attack on India’s composite culture: PM
By IANS,
New Delhi : Hitting out against sectarian and communal forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said these were disturbing and dangerous and an assault on India's composite culture and needed to be put down with a firm hand.
Referring to the attack on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka and the communal clashes in Assam and Maharashtra last month, Prime Minister Singh said the situation was aggravated by external interests that wished to derail the essential unity of India. Ethnicity and religion, he said, were being used as arguments to stir divisions.
ATS charges Malegaon accused under stringent law
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharshtra police has charged all the 10 accused in the Malegaon blast under a stringent law that will allow the authorities to keep them in detention for six months before having to file a charge sheet. The accused include Sadhvi Pragnya Chandrapal Singh Thakur and a serving army official, Lt. Col. Prasad S. Purohit.
Maoist woman, suspect in cops’ massacre, arrested
By IANS,
Raipur : A Maoist group 'commander' who is one of the key suspects in the killing of 55 policemen in March 2007 in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district has been arrested, the police said in this state capital Thursday.
Rame alias Ranjeeta, 28, was held in Dhamtari, some 80 km from here, late Wednesday night when she visited the town for medical treatment, the police said.
She hails from a village under Dornapal police station in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, part of the Bastar region in the southern half od the state, and the nerve centre of Maoist rebellion in India.
Samajwadi Party hopes to tie up with Congress in Maharashtra
By IANS,
Mumbai : The Samajwadi Party is hopeful of working out an alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra ahead of the Lok Sabha polls though they face problems in seat-sharing in Uttar Pradesh, a top Samajwadi Party leader said here Friday.
Samajwadi Party state president Abu Asim Azmi said the near-collapse of talks at the central level did not mean that the doors to forge an alliance at the regional and state levels have been closed.
M.F Husain’s son finds his directorial debut accident-prone
By Subhash K. Jha, IANS,
Mumbai : The director broke his wrist, the lead actress burnt herself and the hero badly injured his back - renowned painter M.F. Husain's son Owais is shaken by a series of accidents on the sets of his directorial debut and says the film can be termed as the most accident-prone ever made.
"I didn't know I broke my wrist until it got swollen like a dolphin out of the water," Owais, whose fractured hand is tucked away in a sling, told IANS.
Three-day Shahjahan Urs ends peacefully in Agra
By IANS,
Agra : Despite fears of sectarian differences and confusion, officials heaved a sigh of relief as the three-day 354th Urs, death anniversary, of Mughal emperor Shahjahan ended peacefully here with a record number of 60,000 visitors entering the Taj Mahal for free.
The urs of the Mughal emperor came to an end Tuesday evening.
Six get two-year jail in Bhagalpur riots case
By IANS,
Patna : A court in Bihar sentenced six persons accused in a case of murder during the 1989 communal riots in Bhagalpur to two years' rigorous imprisonment after convicting them of involvement in the crime, court sources said Tuesday.
Bhagalpur Additional District and Sessions judge Anil Kumar Pandey acquitted the six of charges of murdering a Muslim man during the riots but found them guilty of involvement in the crime.
Over 1,000 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed in the month-long riots in Bhagalpur city in October 1989.
MMK organizes a conferences on the rights of the oppressed
Shafee Ahmed Ko, TwoCircles.net
Tiruvarur (Tamil Nadu): Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi (MMK) of Tamil Nadu has made an elaborate arrangement for its Tiruvarur District Conference to be held on 24 January 2010.
The conference is for “The Rights of the Oppressed” of all the minority communities.
Different leaders representing All India Fishermen’s Organization, Gulf Representatives, Farmers Movcment,Christian Social Activists, etc are also participating.
Strike paralyses Kashmir, restrictions in old Srinagar
By IANS,
Srinagar : A general shutdown paralysed life across the Kashmir Valley Friday as authorities clamped strict restrictions in the old areas of this city to ward off trouble that had started earlier this week with the death of a schoolboy.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the chairperson of the moderate Hurriyat group, continued to remain under house arrest for the second day. Two other moderate separatist leaders, Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan, were arrested Wednesday to prevent them from participating in the protests here.
153 attacks against Indians in Australia in 14 months
By IANS,
New Delhi: Feb 24 (IANS) As many as 153 cases of attacks have been confirmed against Indian nationals, including students and taxi drivers in the last 14 months in Australia, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told parliament Wednesday.
In a written statement in the Lok Sabha, Krishna said the Indian government was "deeply concerned" about the plight of Indian nationals in Australia.
"The government of India has reiterated that it is the responsibility of the government of Australia to ensure that such attacks cease forthwith," he said.
Plea for voice test in 2002 Gujarat riot case rejected
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : A court hearing the Naroda Gam case of the 2002 Gujarat riots has rejected the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) plea to conduct voice tests on VHP activists Babu Bajrangi and Jaideep Patel. Eleven people were killed in Naroda Gam.
The SIT had wanted to cross-check claims of complicity of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders in the riots. The claims were made in a sting operation by a magazine in 2007.
CBI asked to probe Kandla Port Trust land leases
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe Kandla Port Trust (KPT) officials who allegedly leased land to influential people at a throw-away rent without proper valuation.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta passed the order on a petition of Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO which alleged that over 16,000 acres of the port land was leased out by KPT officials to select individuals at throw-away rents.
32 killed in clashes in north-west Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad: At least 32 people, most of them Islamist insurgents, were killed Saturday in clashes with pro-government tribesmen and airstrikes by Pakistani military in the restive north-western region, security officials said.
Jet fighters pounded the hideouts of Taliban militants in Orakzai Agency, one of seven districts in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border, killing at least 10 rebels.
Businessman shot dead in Patna
Patna(IANS) : A businessman has been shot dead here by criminals, police said Saturday.
Shiv Prasan Yadav, a wholesaler, was killed Friday night near Maalsalami locality. Police suspect extortion or business rivalry led to the killing, which sparked street protests as people blocked roads.
Pakistan to lift emergency in a month: official
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Emergency in Pakistan will be lifted in a month as the government does not want to make it a permanent feature, Attorney General Malik Qayyum said Saturday.
"It is the government policy to continue the state of emergency till it is needed but the situation is improving and it will be lifted in a month," the government's top lawyer told a private TV channel.
"The state of emergency will be lifted by the mid or end of next month," he said.
Bangladesh joins Trans-Asian Railway network
Dhaka, Nov 11 (IANS) Bangladesh has joined the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) corridor project that would have three entry points from West Bengal in India and connect the country's rail system to an 81,000-km network stretching from Europe to East and Southeast Asia.
The rail network, first mooted by the UN in 1960, is also dubbed the "Iron Silk Road" after the ancient trade route. It would link capitals, ports and industrial hubs across the 28 Asian countries all the way to Europe.
Guerrilla commander killed in Kashmir encounter
By IANS
Srinagar : A top commander of the Harkatul Mujaheedin (HuM) militant outfit was Friday killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, police officials said.
Sajad alias Chacha, division commander of HuM, was gunned down by troops of the 18 Rashtriya Rifles, 10 Para regiment and Special Operations Group (SOG) during a joint operation at Shokbagh, 64 km from here in north Kashmir's Bandipore district.
Judiciary imprisoned: Ousted judge of Pakistan
By IANS
Islamabad : Ousted senior judge of Pakistan's Supreme Court Rana Bhagwandas has said the judiciary in the country is virtually under siege.
Heavy restrictions continue on the deposed judges who cannot come out of their houses, he said.
"(Former chief justice) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry still can't come out of his house, the police are still laying siege to it. The other day I tried to meet him but I could not," the Daily Times quoted Bhagwandas as saying.
Suicide van bomb kills six people in Iraq
By Xinhua
Ramadi(Iraq), Nov 21 (Xinhua) Two suicide bombers blew up their explosives laden minivan in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, Wednesday morning, killing six people and wounding six, a provincial police source said.
The two suicide bombers parked their minivan outside a courthouse guarded by policemen in central Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, and blew it up, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Rice: U.S. trying to close Israeli-Palestinian peace deal
By Xinhua
Washington : The United States will try to close a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians before President George W. Bush's term ends in January 2009, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here on Wednesday.
Rice told reporters that both Israeli and Palestinian leaders have pledged to work for a deal setting up an independent Palestinian state before President Bush leaves the White House.
"We all know how long that is -- it's about a year," Rice told reporters. "That's what we will try to do."
Hasina wins appeal in graft case
By IANS
Dhaka : A Bangladesh court has invalidated the procedure under which the government has been conducting its anti-corruption drive. The Dhaka High Court has accepted a plea from jailed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina challenging the demand by the country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that she submit a statement of her wealth.
The ruling could provide Hasina a brief reprieve and makes the ACC's task difficult as it has adopted the same procedure to issue notices to over 200 people.
Gunmen murder 11 of Iraqi journalist’s family
By DPA
Baghdad : Unidentified gunmen murdered 11 members of an Iraqi journalist's family in east Baghdad, independent Voices of Iraq reported Monday citing a statement by the Iraqi committee to protect journalists.
About seven armed men in a civilian car broke into the house of Diyaa al-Wakaz Sunday, shooting dead all his family members including his wife and children, witnesses said.
Al-Wakaz, who currently lives in Jordan, is the editor of Iraq News Network, a news website which releases its news from the Jordanian capital Amman.
Pakistan lets Gulf royals hunt 200 bustards each
By IANS
Karachi : The Pakistani government has permitted 31 members of the ruling families of four Gulf states to hunt up to 200 bustards each during the 2007-08 season.
Nine permits have been issued to the ruling family of Qatar, and five each to the rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Seven members of the Saudi ruling family and five of Bahrain have also received permits from the foreign ministry.
"The permits are person-specific, each with a bag limit of 200 birds, and forbid the trapping and netting of the bird and poaching of chicks and eggs," Dawn reported Tuesday.
Fatah’s security, Hamas exchange detentions in West Bank, Gaza
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian security forces arrested eight members of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) as part of crackdown on the movement in the West Bank cities, the movement said on Sunday.
In a statement sent to the media, Hamas said that Zuhair Labadda, 51-year-old leader, was among the detainees in Nablus city. The campaign took place in Jenin and Hebron.
In return, Fatah said that Hamas police forces have arrested four members of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' faction in Gaza Strip.
With Indian help, Bangladesh mulls long-term disaster management
By IANS
Dhaka : With a helping hand from India, Bangladesh wants to discuss organising and funding of long-term disaster management measures, especially in the Bay of Bengal, with all nations and agencies that are its development partners.
The idea, media reports said, is to confront a common problem. Hurricane Sidr that hit Bangladesh Nov 15 had brushed past the Indian territory before devastating Bangladesh's coastal areas, moving north and then to northeast towards India's Meghalaya and Tripura provinces.
Pakistan opposition discusses possible election boycott
By DPA
Islamabad : Pakistan's key opposition leaders planned to meet Monday to discuss boycotting the country's upcoming parliamentary elections to protest continued emergency rule by embattled President Pervez Musharraf.
Former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were due to meet here Monday night at the request of Sharif, who is trying to rally opposition forces for a total election boycott.
UP: Policemen suspended for nikah of a minor girl
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Lucknow: Three policemen have been suspended for being part of a nikah ceremony of a minor girl.
The case involves a 13 year old girl Rubina, whose nikah was performed to Sajid as a 'punishment.' Boy of her family eloped with a girl from the same village. Community panchayat penalised the eloped boy's family by ruling that a girl of that family be married off to a boy of the eloped girl's family.
Israeli PM says Iran still a threat
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday that Iran's nuclear program still poses a major threat to the West, rebutting a U.S. intelligence report that determined Tehran has halted its nuclear weapons program.
; According to Israeli daily Ha'aretz's website, Olmert addressed a security conference Tuesday, saying that, "Iran was and remains dangerous, and we must continue international pressure with full force to dissuade Iran from nuclear tendencies."
Hamas Prime Minister decries Israeli targeted assassination
By NNN-IRNA
Gaza : Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday decried Israeli targeted assassination of Palestinian youth and called for ceasefire.
Speaking at a football field in Gaza City to honour memories of 13 Palestinians martyred during Israeli air raids late Monday and Tuesday, he said that the Palestinians observe the al-Adha feast differently from those in other Muslim nations.
WHO commends Kingdom’s efforts in serving pilgrims
By IRNA-SPA
Mina : The World Health Organization (WHO) commended the efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and the wise government to serve pilgrims and provide them with security.
This came in a cable sent by WHO Regional Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hussein AlJazaeri to the Minister of Health Dr.
Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Manea.
Turkish air strikes kill 175 Kurdish rebels
By Xinhua
Ankara : At least 175 rebels of the separatist Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in air strikes by Turkish planes in northern Iraq on Dec 16, a Turkish Army statement said Tuesday.
It said that Turkey's military has hit more than 200 PKK positions in northern Iraq since Dec 16, killing hundreds of rebels.
Turkish planes carried out strikes at some villages near the border in the Qandil mountains Dec 16.
The military said other hideouts were hit in a cross-border air operation Dec 22 followed by artillery fire.
219 Indonesian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia
By Xinhua
Jakarta : The Indonesian government said Wednesday some 219 pilgrims from the country on way to Mecca and other holy places of Saudi Arabia have died since the annual haj pilgrimage began Nov 19.
Most of the deaths took place after the annual ritual at the Arafat and Mina deserts started last week. The high number of casualty has become a major concern for the government, Jakarta said.
Within a week, the death roll increased from 99 to 219, according to a statement from the Indonesian ministry for religious affairs.
Philippines condemns Bhutto killing as ‘assault on democracy’
By DPA
Manila : The Philippines Friday condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto as an "assault on democracy".
"We mourn with the nation of Pakistan over the deaths of Benazir Bhutto and others killed in the shooting and bomb attack," President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement.
"We strongly condemn the unmitigated, senseless atrocity," she added. "Whoever perpetrated it, this attack is an assault on democracy."
Dhaka seeks food for disaster relief, not funds
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh has said it would request donors to give food grains instead of funds for disaster relief after the Nov 15 Cyclone Sidr to help curb rising food prices at home.
It also decided to allow open market sale at private outlets to curb the rise of rice prices by one or two taka ever day. One US dollar fetches around 60 taka.
There were reports attributing the price rise to India, which has hiked its export price. India had pledged 500,000 tonnes of rice for the cyclone victims.
Erekat: Israel’s settlements, checkpoints in W Bank harm Mideast peace process
By Xinhua
Gaza : Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Thursday that Israel's settlement activities and the remaining army checkpoints in the West Bank harmed the Middle East peace process.
In an interview with Voice of Palestine radio, Erekat said the continuation of settlement activities in the West Bank harmed the peace process and delayed the progress of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks that were relaunched in November 2007.
Development, not empty slogans, is my agenda: Kashmir CM
Press Release, NAK
Samba : Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that any attempt to mislead the people by false slogans needed to be frustrated and his party would resist those who try to divert people's attention from development to hollow promises.
Deport Rushdie, says Samajwadi Party
By IANS
Mumbai : Asking authorities to deport author Salman Rushdie to Britain, the Samajwadi Party youth cell has threatened to stop him from attending film actress Riya Sen's birthday celebrations in Mumbai next Thursday.
If Riya persisted in her birthday bash plans, she could face "dire consequences", as Samajwadi Party activists would lay a siege around her house and prevent her from stepping out, youth cell president Farooq Ghosi said Saturday.
How to avoid e-mail threats
By Jay Dougherty, IANS
Washington : Checking your e-mail has become a dangerous business. The number and types of e-mail borne threats that can cause harm to your computer or your privacy are growing.
Sometimes the actual danger imposed by these threats can be over hyped, but you still need to know what could constitute a dangerous e-mail message and how to respond to the threat.
Q: Can I get a virus just by reading an e-mail message?
Delhi boy strangled before being set ablaze: police
By IANS
New Delhi : A 10-year-old boy whose burnt body was discovered Thursday was strangled to death, the police said Saturday quoting the autopsy report, but the investigators remained clueless about the identity of the assailants.
"The autopsy report suggests the assailants first strangled and then set his body on fire," a senior investigating police officer told IANS on condition of anonymity.
Apex court makes special team to probe Gujarat riot
New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Supreme Court Tuesday decided to constitute a special team headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director R.K Raghavan to probe 10 crucial cases of 2002 communal carnage in Gujarat.
A bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat, P. Sathasivam and Aftab Alam took the decision while hearing a bunch of petitions seeking either a probe into these cases by the CBI or transfer of their trial outside the state.
The bench, however, decided to pass the formal order, constituting a "special investigation team (SIT)" for the probe Wednesday.
Tribal leader killed, 12 militants surrender in Tripura
By IANS
Agartala : Separatist tribal guerrillas gunned down a tribal leader even as 12 militants surrendered to security forces in Tripura, officials said here Monday.
A police spokesman said heavily armed militants of the outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) shot dead Sunil Debbarma, 30, at Sidhai in west Tripura late Sunday.
Debbarma, a tribal leader, was vocal against the tribal militancy.
Leading Mumbai builder raided for massive provident fund fraud
By IANS
Mumbai : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday swooped down on the homes and offices of leading Mumbai realty developers Niranjan Hiranandani and his brother Surendra, and three senior government officials for committing a Rs.1.68-billion fraud on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
The government officials under the CBI scanner include Regional Provident Fund Commissioner of Maharashtra & Goa K.S. Arya, two assistant PF commissioners Rajnikant and K. Gopalan. The fourth is a retired regional PF commissioner M.R. Yadav.
80-year-old woman held for smuggling drugs
By IANS
Raipur : The Government Railway Police (GRP) Thursday arrested an 80-year-old woman in Chhattisgarh on charges of smuggling marijuana.
Akun, hailing from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, was arrested from Raipur railway station while waiting for someone to hand over 7 kg of contraband, which she kept in a bag along with chocolates and biscuits.
GRP sources said the woman was arrested under section 20 of the Narcotics Act when she got down from Link Express and was taking a stroll on the platform.
Armed men flee with businessman’s car in Greater Noida
By IANS
Noida : Three unidentified men fled with the Santro car of a businessman as well as his belongings after forcing the driver off the car at gun point, police said here Saturday.
The men requested the driver of businessman Kamal Mehta, a resident of Gamma I sector of Greater Noida, for a lift late Friday night as he was returning to his own home after dropping Mehta.
Five Maoist guerrillas arrested in Orissa
By IANS,
Phulbani (Orissa) : Police have arrested at least five Maoist guerrillas in Orissa and seized from them weapons including a gun and bullets, officials said Friday.
Police nabbed the Maoists Thursday from Goshma forest located on the border of two districts Kandhamal and Ganjam, some 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, a senior police official who led the police party told IANS.
Maoists are active in over half the state's 30 districts. In February, they killed 14 policemen in multiple attacks on police stations and a government armoury in Nayagarh district.
Kathmandu closure Wednesday over Maoist killing
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Putting aside their differences, student organisations affiliated to major political parties and angry local residents have called a shutdown in Kathmandu Valley Wednesday to protest the killing of a local businessman by Maoists in a guerrilla camp supervised by the UN.
Led by the student organisations of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, protesters Monday led marches in the capital, asking for the killers of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha to be brought to justice.
Robbers in Malaysia look for sex first
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Sex before money - that seemed to be on the minds of a group of five armed robbers who struck at a house clad only in their underclothes and face masks, a newspaper report said Wednesday.
The five men broke into a house, tied up its four occupants, then searched the house for the Indonesian maid instead of the loot.
They did not like the maid, so they beat her up and then robbed the entire family, The Star newspaper reported.
Miri town police are hunting for the group of foreigners who escaped with more than 10,000 ringgit ($312) in cash and belongings.
BJP welcomes fatwa against terrorism
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday welcomed the Islamic seminary Dar-ul-Uloom's fatwa (edict) terming participation in terror activities as un-Islamic.
“I welcome the recent fatwa issued by one of the most prestigious religious centres of the Muslim community Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband, which stated that the killing of innocent citizens by terrorists is an un-Islamic act,” party president Rajnath Singh said in his presidential address at the BJP national executive here.
Kashmir: A call for new realism?
By Murtaza Shibli,
The moderate faction of Kashmir's pro-freedom political amalgam, Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has renewed its call for 'realism' to seek solution to the longstanding Kashmir problem that was once regarded as 'nuclear flashpoint', but has since been relegated to the sidelines as India and Pakistan embarked upon a historic 'peace process' that started after Pakistan's then military ruler and now beleaguered President, General Musharraf agreed to roll back his country's policy of supporting Jehad in Kashmir.
Gunmen kidnap 12 in Philippines
By DPA,
Iligan City (The Philippines) : Unidentified gunmen kidnapped 12 people - teachers and students - in the southern Philippines Tuesday, an army commander said.
The victims were preparing for their classes when they were seized from the elementary school San Roque village in Kolambugan town, Lanao del Norte province, 810 km south of Manila.
Colonel Edwin Respicio, an army commander in the area, said most of the hostages were female.
"Male pupils were left behind as the armed men fled with the victims on foot," he said.
‘Madrassa education to be made more attractive’
By IANS,
New Delhi : The government has proposed to make education in madrassas more attractive and improve the standard of education among Muslims in India, according to an official.
The proposal under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's new 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities focuses on revising madrassa modernisation programme.
Three members of biker gang accused of murders arrested
By IANS,
New Delhi : Three members of the notorious gang of bikers, allegedly involved in at least five shootings in July, were arrested in the capital, police said Friday.
Three of the five members of the gang - Zakir, Rakesh and Mushtaq - were arrested from Badarpur area in south Delhi where they had gone to meet the wife of one of their friends Thursday, Delhi police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.
Two of the gang members, including the kingpin Om Prakash alias Bunty, are still absconding, Bhagat said.
Curfew in Kashmir as Hurriyat calls for peaceful protests
By IANS,
Srinagar : Curfew continued across the Kashmir valley for the ninth day Monday with the Hurriyat calling for peaceful protests but authorities treading with caution following the deal to set aside 40 hectares of land for the Amarnath shrine board to use during the pilgrimage season.
There were no reports of curfew relaxation from anywhere in the valley Monday, when the the joint coordination committee of both the Hurriyat groups, headed by hardline Syed Ali Geelani and the moderate wing chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, has called for peaceful protests.
Government appeasing separatists: Lt. Gen S.K. Sinha
By Murali Krishnan, IANS,
New Delhi : Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Lt. Gen. (retd.) S.K. Sinha has accused the government of going out of its way to "appease" separatists in the valley when it should have countered their "absurd propaganda" that land transfer to the Amarnath shrine board was going to change the demographic profile of Kashmir.
Popular Front to help Bihar flood victims
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Popular Front of India has decided to extend help to the victims of floods in Bihar.
A Press release issued by general secretary E. M. Abdurahman on Sunday from Bangalore said the volunteers of Popular Front will collect money and clothes from public all over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu within a week. The National Executive Committee members of Popular Front Moideenkutty Faizy and Yasir Hassan are now on a visit to the effected northern districts of Bihar to assess the situation.
Growing support to Imam Bukhari’s proposal
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: Several Muslim religious leaders and institutions have supported the proposal of Ahmad Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, to organize an all-party meeting of Muslim organizations to discuss indiscriminate arrest of Muslim youths in the garb of terrorism and bomb blasts.
IOS to organize conference on ‘India and Muslim World in 21st Century’
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Muslims urged to remain vigilant to challenges of interference in Shariah laws
By Pervez Bari, Twocircles.net,
On 6th day of dharna Rihai Manch lambasts clerics for ‘brokering’ deal with UP...
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
President Mukharjee inaugurates AMU Murshidabad Centre’s campus
By TCN News,
Murshidabad: “Education is the only trusted tool for empowerment and it alone helps people to build a respectable career and character”, said the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today at Murshidabad in West Bengal. He was addressing at a programme after inaugurating the newly constructed campus of the AMU Murshidabad Centre.
BJP Chief’s apology remark political gimmick: WPI
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Welfare Party of India has termed the BJP’s willingness to apologise to Muslims as mere “political gimmick” and said that it lacked clarity and credibility.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s death centenary celebration: An occasion to create awareness for education
By TCN News,
Shamli: On the 116th Death Anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar organized a long cycle rally from Malkpura to Mansaoor in Shamli district on 27th March in which around 20 young people participated. The main slogan of the event was Aadhee roti khayenge bachho ko padhayenge (We will eat half bread, educate children). The rally started at 11 AM from Malakpura and covering distance of 12km through Khurgan, Mandawar, Baserha, Balhara, Pather, Doghpura and Rotan, concluded at 3 PM in Mansoora.
AMU teachers urge Muslims and secular voters to defeat ‘communal and fascist forces’
By TCN News,
Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) has appealed to all Muslim and secular voters to vote carefully and defeat communal and fascist forces in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, said Dr. Aftab Alam, Hony Secretary of AMUTA.
UMF backtracks after supporting ‘Modi Bhakt’ for Lok Sabha
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: United Muslim Forum of Andhra Pradesh, an umbrella group of religious leaders, has backtracked from its controversial decision to support Lok Satta party chief Jayparakash Narayan from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat.
Supreme Court to hear petition against Modi for using the word “Iman” in his...
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Supreme Court of India will hear a writ petition against Narendra Modi for using the word “iman” in one...
Will there be a surprise end to Modi’s tale?
By Saeed Naqvi,
If this election campaign is to be remembered like a suspense drama, it must have a surprise end.
What a roller coaster it...
Mystery of PMO’s vanishing Twitter followers
By Prasanto K. Roy,
On May 20, four days after the Congress party and its ruling alliance conceded the mother of all mandates in three decades to the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party, the Twitter handle of the Prime Minister's Office, @PMOIndia, vanished mysteriously.
People’s Alliance condemn the murder of three young persons in Badaun and Pune
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) has condemned the murder of three young persons in Badaun and Pune. In Badaun two cousins were raped and murdered and in Pune a Muslim IT professional was murdered by extremist Hindu mob.
‘Holistic approach being adopted for strengthening higher education sector in Pakistan’
By Aslam Chandio, TwoCircles.net,
Islamabad: Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan said that the confidence shown by the Government of Pakistan in HEC’s capacity to develop higher education will be honoured and a holistic approach is being adopted to further strengthen this sector in all regions of the country.
New publication “Neo Aligarian” bilingual fortnightly tabloid to be launched
By TCN News,
Aligarh: A new tabloid “Neo Aligarian” is to be launched soon. The main aim behind publication of Neo Aligarian is to enhance understanding and cooperation between the students of various universities, Jasim Mohammad, publisher of the tabloid said, while chairing a meeting of students and research scholars of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) at Media Centre Aligarh.
Will Britain’s powerful Zionist lobby forgive Sayeeda Warsi?
By M Ghazali Khan,
The first ever female Muslim Minister in the history of Britain, Sayeeda Warsi, has displayed extraordinary courage by resigning as a Foreign Office Minister over David Cameron Government’s “morally indefensible” stand on Israeli barbarism in Gaza.
Son of a jeweller killed, ornaments stolen in Delhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : A 35-year-old son of a jeweller was killed at his shop by unidentified robbers, who fled away with ornaments worth millions Sunday in Tilak Nagar area of west Delhi, police said.
"The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Ashok Kumar was at his shop when two men entered and at knife-point asked him to hand over all the jewellery," a senior police officer said.
"When Ashok resisted, they stabbed him. The robbers then fled with jewellery. Ashok was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries," the officer added.
US drone attack kills six in Pakistan
By DPA,
Peshawar : Unmanned drone aircraft operated by the US' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) fired missiles into a target in Pakistan's lawless tribal region, killing six militants, security officials said Saturday.
The strike took place in Boya sub-district, some 25 km west of Miranshah, the main city in North Waziristan tribal district.
"The drones fired four missiles just before midnight at the house of a tribesman Khyali Dawar," said an intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Six people died, and three were injured," the official said.
ULFA intelligence network busted, three held
By IANS,
Guwahati: Security forces Saturday killed an ULFA militant and busted one of its intelligence networks by arresting three college student members, officials said.
Police said the three militants were tech savvy and worked for Paresh Baruah, the elusive commander-in-chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
They were entrusted with sending e-mails and fax messages to the media and other organisations, besides acting as spies for Baruah.
Private tutor held for raping student
By IANS,
Mumbai: A private tutor, who had been absconding for over a month, has been arrested for allegedly raping his minor student, police said Thursday.
Rajendra Nadar, 52, had been absconding since the victim's family lodged a complaint against him with Khar Police, investigating officer B. Mukhedkar told IANS.
"According to the complaint, the accused had been raping the girl for nearly three months. He then absconded from his residence in Vakola, Santacruz east," he said.