Democracy’s noblest moment
Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam,
Universal adult franchise is the cornerstone of democracy. It is not restricted or conditional “democracy” like the one where franchise is limited to only propertied classes as it was sometimes in pre-Independence India, or the sham “shoora democracy” as operative in some Muslim countries, the consultative body (shoora) being only decorative.
Teesta’s NGO rebuts allegations by Gujarat Government
By TCN News,
Ahmedabad: The Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has condemned and refuted, what it termed as “malicious lies” being spread by advocate for the State of Gujarat Ajay Choksi in misleading the Court about the Citizens for Justice and Peace “cheating” victims of the riots.
‘A simple wedding brings in most blessings’, says Maulana Shameem Akhtar Nadvi
By TCN News,
Maharashtra: The past ten days have seen a wave of Islamic awareness among Muslims by means of Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind’s city-wide Asan Nikah Campaign. On the eve of the concluding day of this campaign, 30th March, the Mira Road unit of JIH sought to educate the masses about the correct Islamic way of conducting weddings. And what better way to learn than from the master himself? Keeping this in mind, renowned Islamic scholar, Maulana Shameem Akhtar Nadvi was invited to speak on this topic.
IAMC wants disqualification of Indian politicians from Time Mag’s 100 online poll
By TCN News,
Washington DC: Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, has called on TIME magazine to disqualify Indian politicians from the 2014 TIME 100 online poll.
‘Rajasthan ATS trying hard to build a case where little exists’
By TCN News,
Jaipur: Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad coninute to arrest Muslim youths with latest arrest of Amaar Yasir on May 7th. A joint statement by Rajasthan branch of Peopes’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Jamia Teachers’ Solidary Association (JTSA) says there is this and the previous arrests made in March are examples of “how terror investigations cynically consume Muslim youth.”
Indo-Pak prisoners’ list issued by Aaghaz-E-Dosti
By TCN News,
New Delhi: In view of building trust, Aaghaz-e-Dosti has released details of the Indian and Pakistani prisoners lodged in each other’s jail. This is probably the first time when any such detailed list will be made public. By this, we hope to facilitate transparency as well as to sensitize people on both sides about each other’s pain and towards the larger goal of peace and humanity.
President’s address is high on BJP’s rhetoric: SDPI
By TCN News,
Bhopal: The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI) has termed the President’s joint address to Parliament which spelled out the BJP’s Narendra Modi led NDA Government’s agenda of priorities as high on rhetoric. It is up to the government to prove that the plans are rather done than promised. The address is more or less a compilation of election slogans and the BJP election manifesto and the party is bound to implement them.
Prof. Z.M. Khan’s Lecture on “Islamic Worldview: A Reflection”
By TCN News,
Former professor of Political Science and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia and Secretary-General of the Institute of Objective Studies, Prof. Z.M. Khan has said the Islamic worldview is comprehensive and presents a well-knit scheme to provide knowledge and explanation about the seen and unseen as explained in the Qur’an. It gives ways and methods to achieve values, establish basic ethical precepts and create a balance in everything, he said, adding that nobody was allowed to exceed the limits prescribed.
India’s Education System is in total disarray
By Syed Ali Mujtaba,
The controversy surrounding the four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP) by the Delhi University and its disapproval by the UGC has opened a Pandora box of issues that has set the India’s education system into total disarray.
Pakistan’s Official: Musharraf to doff uniform by Dec. 1
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that he will quit as army chief before Dec. 1, the government's top lawyer said Thursday.
"The president has said that he will give up his uniform before Dec. 1," Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum told a news conference.
Qayyum said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan would decide on Musharraf's re-election case next week.
Israeli defense: not to make concessions to PNA
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel's defense establishment recommends the government to refrain from making further goodwill gestures to Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas until after the U.S.-sponsored peace conference, local Jerusalem Post reported on Friday.
The goodwill gestures being considered pending a successful outcome to the peace summit include releasing more security prisoners, removing roadblocks and transferring additional territory and West Bank villages to PNA security control.
Sri Lankan troops kill five rebels
By Xinhua
Colombo : The Sri Lankan military Tuesday said they killed five Tamil rebels in an attack in the northern part of the country.
The Media Centre for National Security said in a statement that the troops launched an attack on three bunkers of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) at Kilali in the Jaffna peninsula around 5 a.m. local time.
Two rebels' bunkers were destroyed, the statement said, adding that five rebels were killed in the confrontation. There was no casualty for the troops, said the statement.
Musharraf is now Pakistan’s civilian president
By Mohammed Najeeb
Islamabad, Nov 29 (IANS) Attired in a black sherwani, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Thursday took oath as head of state for five more years, this time as a civilian, vowing to hold parliamentary elections in January come what may.
The country's opposition boycotted the official ceremony where Musharraf, who stepped down as the army chief Wednesday after ruling the country in uniform for eight years following intense Western pressure.
Priyanka blames Rizwanur’s brother for tragedy
By IANS
Kolkata : Priyanka Todi, wife of graphics designer Rizwanur Rahman who died under mysterious circumstances here Sep 21, Saturday blamed her brother-in-law Rukbanur for the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
It’s back to ABCs for Pakistan political parties
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Political parties in Pakistan seem to be flaunting their knowledge of the English alphabet. While the manifestos of two parties are based on five Es and Ds, another party is to unveil a list of poll promises focussing on five Rs.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) announced its manifesto based on five Ds - Democracy, Development, Devolution, Diversity and Defence.
Bomb explosion wounds eight anti-al-Qaida group members in Baghdad
By Xinhua
Baghdad : A bomb went off in the headquarters of anti-al-Qaida group in a northern Baghdad Sunni neighborhood on Saturday, wounding eight of the group members, a well-informed police source said.
"An explosive charge detonated in the morning in the headquarters of the Sahwah, or Awakening Council, in the Adhamiyah neighborhood, wounding eight of the council's members," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Separatists keep Manipur under siege
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Imphal : Separatist rebel armies continue to keep Manipur under siege, leading to a sense of hopelessness among large sections of the state's 2.3 million people.
Manipur, bordering Myanmar, is the only state in India's restive northeast where none of the frontline separatist groups has entered into a ceasefire with the government as a prelude to the beginning of peace talks.
Stay calm ahead of polls: Pakistani newspaper
By IANS
Islamabad : An influential Pakistani newspaper Thursday appealed for calm ahead of the general elections, now rescheduled to Feb 18, warning that "indiscretions" by politicians could enable anti-democratic elements to get an upper hand.
"Let our leaders note that their indiscretions could complicate the situation and things could get out of control, thus giving anti-democratic elements an opportunity to cancel the election," Dawn noted in an editorial headlined "A plea for sanity".
King Fahd Complex for Holy Quran excels in its mission
By SPA
Madinah : King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran is devoted to the service of the Holy book and the Prophet's (May Peace be Upon Him) Teachings. It also received all attention and care of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Seven civilians killed in Iraq violence
By DPA
Baghdad : Seven civilians were killed in separate incidents of violence in Iraq Thursday, according to security sources and media reports.
In Arbil, in the northern Kurdish region, city police department chief Abdel-Khaleq Talaat told reporters that an element belonging to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces shot at a family, killing four of them on the spot and wounding two.
Talaat described the Peshmerga militant as "mentally deranged." The militant had stormed into the family's home and opened fire.
Sania moves into third round of Australian Open
By IANS
Melbourne : India's top tennis player Sania Mirza Thursday moved into the third round of the Australian Open tennis tournament here with a three-set win over Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky.
World No. 31 Sania won 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in one hour and 44 minutes. She prevailed despite committing six double faults, though her first serve was quite successful when she got them in.
In the third round, Sania will face the winner of the match between Chinese Li Na and Italian Maria Elena Camerin, to be played later Thursday.
Lie-detector tests for policemen suspected of looting arms
By IANS
Chennai : Six policemen and two secretarial staff of the Adhiyamankottai police station in Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri district have been brought to Chennai to undergo lie-detectors tests over an incident where arms were looted form a police station.
The station house staff had said Maoists had looted the firearms on Feb 8 night and they were later recovered from a banana grove behind the police station.
The eight policemen were brought to Chennai Monday for narco-analysis tests and lie detector tests at a special facility in Ayanavaram on the city outskirts.
Orissa youth burnt alive by suspected Maoists
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Suspected Maoists set ablaze a youth after tying him to a tree with an iron chain in Orissa's Angul district, an official said Saturday.
The incident occurred in Nuasahi village, located in the middle of a forest, some 200 km from here Friday night, Additional District Magistrate Bandhu Billor told IANS on phone.
"We suspect it may be the handiwork of Maoists. The police are investigating the matter," Billor said.
He said the villagers heard a blast and rushed to the spot to see the youth in flames, tied to a tree with a chain.
Maoists kill Orissa village leader
By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Maoists Wednesday brutally killed a village leader in Orissa's Malkangiri district, the police said.
A group of Maoists entered Peta village, some 700 from here, and dragged Kanha Madkami to a nearby forest and slashed his neck with weapons.
The 50-year-old managed to escape, but they shot him dead, a district police official told IANS. Madkami died on his way to hospital.
The rebels who claim to be fighting for the cause of the poor and downtrodden are active in more than half of Orissa's 30 districts. They often attack police and landlords.
State Minister escapes unhurt in a terror attack in Northeast India
By KUNA
New Delhi : A Minister in India's Northeastern state of Assam Thursday escaped unhurt in a blast that injured seven others.
A blast by an insurgent group at a market in Assam's Karbi Anglong district today during a public meeting addressed by state?s Hill Areas Development Minister Minister H Khorsing Ingti, injured seven people, news agency Indo Asian News Service reported. The Minister, however, escaped unhurt, the news agency said, quoting an officer of the Assam Police.
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.
Lankans Tamils arrested with fake currency
By IANS,
Chennai : Two Sri Lankan Tamils were jailed Tuesday evening for depositing fake Rs.1,000 notes amounting to Rs.200,000 in a private bank here, police said.
The suspects were identified as K. Parameswaran, 22, and J. Prince, 28, both from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. They were residing in Chennai's southern suburb for over a year.
After they attempted to deposit a similar amount into one of their accounts in a different branch earlier in Rs.1,000 denomination notes, the bank's cashier tipped off the police, leading to the arrests.
Man axes to death alcoholic father
By IANS,
Raipur : A man axed to death his alcoholic father who turned down the family's request to give up drinking in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district, the police said Saturday.
The incident took place late Friday in interior Amabahar village in Dhamtari district, some 110 km from here.
The police have arrested Ramcharan, 35, for killing his father Murharam, 60.
O.P. Pal, district superintendent of police, told IANS that Ramcharan repeatedly hit Murharam on his head with an axe after he returned home in a drunken state and began fighting with the family members.
AMU seeks Rs.480mn grant from HRD ministry
By IANS,
Lucknow : The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has sought a financial grant of Rs.48 million from the human resource and development (HRD) ministry to offer better residential facilities to its students, a university official said Thursday.
''AMU Vice-Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis has just submitted a plan to the HRD ministry for offering better residential facilities to the hostel inmates,'' AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar told IANS on phone.
‘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.
AMU to set up modern information and communication lab
By IANS,
Lucknow : The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will set up a state-of-art information and communication laboratory for its engineering students, a university official said Friday.
"An alumnus of the university, M.P. Varshney, has donated Rs.1 million for setting up the lab," AMU spokesperson Rahat Abrar told IANS on phone.
The lab will be equipped with all the latest information and communication technology devices, including fast-speed computers, Internet and other facilities, he added.
Reality show members remanded in police custody
By IANS,
Kolkata : Three members of a Bengali TV reality show, including two producers and a contestant, were remanded in five days police custody by a West bengal court Saturday for allegedly pushing the caretaker of a hotel from the fifth floor for asking them to stop their night-long drinking.
The team of "Fatafati" - a reality show aired on ETV Bangla - went to Midnapore town, about 165 km from here, to shoot for a special episode Friday.
US commander rules out military strike against Iran
By DPA
Cairo : The chief of the US Central Command Admiral William Fallon Sunday ruled out a possible strike against Iran and said Washington was mulling non-military options, instead.
"There are concerns in the region over Iran's behaviour and its radical talk that is constantly threatening other people. We are trying to find ways to work with other countries to get the Iranians to change their behaviour and to be more helpful," Fallon told reporters in Cairo.
Iranian president: nuclear issue closed
By Xinhua
Doha : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here on Monday that the disputed Iranian nuclear issue was "closed" from Iran's perspective and that his country had the right to develop new energy.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 28th annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Ahmadinejad said "In our opinion, the nuclear issue is now closed."
Iran does not feel threatened at all and any pressure on Iran concerning the issue is useless, he said, adding that "we are prepared for any conditions."
Syria demands right of home-visiting for Golan families
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday demanded the international community to pressure Israel to allow the Syrian families in the occupied Golan Heights to visit their relatives in their motherland.
Muallem made the demand in letters to UN Secretary General, current President of the European Union, Chairman of the Human Rights Council and the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, the official SANA news agency reported.
U.S. intelligence probing al-Qaeda link with Bhutto killing
By Xinhua
Washington : The U.S. intelligence agencies were still investigating whether al-Qaeda terrorists had been behind the assassination of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the White House said on Friday.
"There have been many claims of responsibility. Our intelligence community is still looking into it," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters at Crawford, Texas, where President George W. Bush's family is spending their New Year holiday.
Kidnapper of Adobe India CEO’s son arrested
By IANS
Noida : Chattra Pal, the alleged mastermind behind the high profile November 2006 kidnapping of Adobe India CEO Naresh Gupta's son, was arrested here early Thursday, the police said.
Chhattrapal and his accomplices had abducted Gupta's three-year-old son Anant on Nov 13, 2006, and demanded a Rs.5 million ransom. Anant was found five days later. The police had then arrested Chhattrapal and two more people on charges of kidnapping.
Chhatra Pal had escaped from police custody on Feb 4, while he was being produced before a court.
TV scribe attacked in road rage
By IANS,
Noida : A man who claimed to be a lawyer and a politician attacked a television journalist with an iron rod in a case of road rage in Noida in Uttar Pradesh before he was arrested.
The incident took place around 11.30 p.m. Thursday at Sector 44 near the Amity University police post close to the Indian capital. Police identified the journalist as Chandra Prakash of NDTV.
Superintendent of Police Rakesh Gautam said Prakash was returning home in his car at Sector 93. While he was taking a u-turn, another car hit his car.
Al Qaeda terrorists active in Pakistan: US
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Even as several international terror organisations including Al Qaeda (AQ) operated and carried out attacks in Pakistan in 2007, Islamabad took steps to prevent support to the Kashmiri militancy, according to the US State Department.
"Pakistan's leaders took steps to prevent support to the Kashmiri militancy, and the number of violent attacks in Kashmir was down by approximately 50 percent from 2006," it said Wednesday citing public statements made by the Indian defence minister.
Ground shrinking for Muslim burials in Haryana; minority commission to visit state
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: Concerned over reports about Muslims not being provided land for burial in Haryana, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has decided to take up the matter with the state authorities.
NCM has reportedly been receiving complaints from Muslims residing in Panipat, Kaithal, Sonepat and Karnal, where the dearth of land for burial has become a big concern for the community.
‘Lonely’ Taslima to return to Kolkata or Agartala
By IANS,
Agartala : Her writing "badly affected" since she left Kolkata and desperate to return, controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen said she would return there "as soon as possible". If not Kolkata, she would choose Agartala as her home when she returns to India in August.
Rs.1 mn robbed in daylight heist
By IANS,
Ghaziabad : In a daring daylight robbery, five armed dacoits looted cash and jewellery worth over Rs.1 million from the house of a leading industrialist here Thursday.
The incident occurred in Raj Nagar locality of Ghaziabad, a suburb of national capital Delhi.
According to the family, the five unidentified men barged into the house around 2.00 p.m. when the maid arrived for work and left the main gate open. The men overpowered the maid and pinned her down by tying her arms.
The robbers then at gunpoint looted the cash and jewellery from the house owner's wife.
Cash, jewellery worth Rs.25 mn stolen in Ludhiana
By IANS,
Chandigarh : Cash and gold jewellery worth nearly Rs.25 million was stolen from the office of a finance company in this industrial city of Punjab Monday.
The theft took place in the Miller Ganj area of the city where the office of the Muthoot finance company is located. The police have still not been able to identify the culprits behind the theft.
Interestingly, the theft first came to the notice of finance company officials in Gurgaon city adjoining national capital New Delhi when the sirens of the company's Ludhiana office started ringing there after the heist.
Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam to contest Lok Sabha election
By TwoCircles.net reporter,
Tiruchirapalli: Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) will make formal inauguration of the Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MMK), its newly-floated political party, at the party's state conference at Chennai after the rainy season.
Addressing a press conference here on 6th July TMMK president M H Jawahirullah announced it and said efforts were on to register the MMK with the Election Commission. He further said the party would contest in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
Islam was a revolution on several fronts: Hamid Ansari
By Mumtaz Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Vice President of India Mohd. Hamid Ansari on 15th July released a book entitled “Islami Tarraqqi Pasandi” authored by Late Ali Jawad Zaidi at a function here in the national capital.
Addressing on the occasion, the Vice President said that this book contains the issues on how to make the lives of common men better and purposeful. He suggested that this useful book should be translated into Hindi and English also so that more and more people may take advantage of this book.
Ketan Parekh denied more time to surrender
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to extend the July 31 deadline for stock broker Ketan Parekh to surrender to the Mumbai jail authorities to undergo his year-long jail term for siphoning off Rs.477 million from a Canara Bank subsidiary in a financial scam of 1992.
A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan asked him to approach the apex court's "chamber judge", who deals with the technical pleas like extending deadlines for surrendering before jail authorities, before being heard by it.
Three years on, RTI a boon but needs more teeth
By Mayank Aggarwal, IANS,
New Delhi : Sixteen-year-old Shahnaz knew nothing about the Right To Information (RTI) Act till a few months ago, but today she is grateful for the three-year-old law that helped her secure admission in a government school.
"The school made me undertake an entrance test and failed me in that since I live in a resettlement colony. Finally I filed an RTI application asking the government education department to tell me if there is any provision of an entrance test for a student who has successfully passed Class 10," Shahnaz told IANS.
Would have run roller over Varun: Lalu Prasad
By IANS,
Patna : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Monday said that had he been the country's home minister he would have run a "roller" over Varun Gandhi for his hate speeches against Muslims and bothered about the consequences later.
Speaking at an election rally in Kishanganj in Bihar, Lalu Prasad said: "If I were the country's home minister, and if Varun had said this (inflammatory speeches), then I would have run a roller over his chest, and thought about the consequences later."
Indian Haj delegation interacts with pilgrims in Jeddah
By IANS,
Jeddah : A 25-member Indian Haj goodwill delegation visited this port city of Saudi Arabia and interacted with Haj pilgrims there, expressing their satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Indian Haj mission.
The delegation, which was led by senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz, reached the Jeddah Haj terminal Sunday. On Monday the delegates visited various accommodations for pilgrims in Mecca and Aziziya.
They also visited the main office of the Indian Haj mission and a 50-bed hospital run by them.
Andhra to challenge high court order on Muslim reservation
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The Andhra Pradesh government Monday decided to challenge in the Supreme Court the verdict of the high court quashing a legislation for four percent reservation to Muslims in education and jobs.
Immediately after the seven-member constitutional bench delivered its verdict, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah directed the state advocate general to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court.
Ten militants killed in clash in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 10 militants were killed in a clash with security forces in northwest Pakistan's tribal area Wednesday.
Fifteen other militants were also injured during the exchange of fire in Orakzai tribal agency, Xinhua news agency reported.
US drones Tuesday night fired two missiles at militant hideouts in North Waziristan tribal agency, killing at least six people, security officials said.
Jamia to organise conference on remote sensing
By IANS,
New Delhi : Experts from various institutions, including the premier Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), will participate in a day-long conference Tuesday on 'Remote Sensing and GIS for Environmental Management' organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia University.
The conference will cover new horizons in the areas of spatial technology for hydrology, water and air pollution, land degradation, land use planning and natural hazards, an official statement said.
Army counter Geelani; appeal not to follow Hurriyat’s call
By Syed Amir Mehrab,Agence India Press,
Maudany’s judicial custody extended till October 12
By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Disputed land will be cut into three pieces for ‘Peace’
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Status quo in Ayodhya to be maintained: Chidambaram
By IANS,
New Delhi : The government Friday said the status quo at the disputed site in Ayodhya will be maintained till the Supreme Court takes up the case.
UN envoy survives Iraq bomb attack
By IANS,
Baghdad : UN's top envoy to Iraq, Ad Melkert, escaped unhurt in a bomb attack on his convoy Tuesday, Xinhua reported.
Babri Masjid: ‘Sangh parivar should take the first step towards reconciliation’
By Shafee Ahmed Ko, TwoCircles.net
When everything turns to gold it’s autumn in Kashmir
By Sheikh Imran Bashir,Agence India Press,
Bihar assembly results diminish Modi’s position in national BJP
By TCN Special Correspondent,
Kashmiris’ staying outside feel respite after Union Govt directive to states
By Amin Masoodi, Agence India Press,
IPS officers who refused to toe Modi Govt’s line facing victimisation
By TCN Special Correspondent,
MP becomes 1st state to make public govt. officers’ property details
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Two Jaish guerrillas, soldier killed in Kashmir
By IANS
Srinagar : Two guerrillas of the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and a soldier were killed early Tuesday when security personnel surrounded a militant hideout in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.
Gogoi offers ULFA safe passage
By IANS
Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Saturday offered a month-long safe passage to leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to visit the state and gauge for themselves if people want peace and an end to violence.
Suicide bombing kills 2 foreigners, injures 5 in Kabul
By Xinhua
Kabul: A suicide car bombing in the Afghan capital Thursday killed two foreigners and injured five, officials said.
"Two foreign security personnel working for a security company were killed in the explosion," said Ali Shah Paktiawal, Kabul deputy police chief. "Three foreigners and two Afghan civilians were injured."
The officials did not reveal the nationalities of the victims. However, media reports said one American and one Nepalese were killed and three Americans were injured.
One vehicle was totally damaged in the powerful explosion that targeted a convoy.
Four soldiers killed in explosion in north-west Pakistan
By DPA
Islamabad : At least four soldiers were killed and six injured Wednesday in a roadside explosion in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials said.
President Musharraf rejects amnesty for Ghazi
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has rejected a proposal by an ulema delegation for amnesty for Lal Masjid deputy head cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Online news agency reported Tuesday.
South Korea-Taliban hostage talks end inconclusively
By DPA
Seoul : The fate of 21 South Koreans held hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban remained unclear after the first direct talks between negotiators from Seoul and the militant group ended inconclusively, officials said Saturday.
Further details of the talks held Friday could not be given, a spokesman for the South Korean president's office told reporters. But he added that the end of the first round of talks did not mean efforts to negotiate had ended.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the government was working to arrange further meetings with the Taliban.
Taliban to free remaining seven South Korean hostages
By DPA
Kabul/Seoul : The Taliban will release the remaining seven hostages Thursday, the day after 12 of the 19 South Korean aid workers the militants have been holding hostage in Afghanistan for nearly six weeks were let free, a Taliban spokesman said.
The intention to complete the release under a pledge the Taliban made a couple of days ago in face-to-face negotiations with South Korean officials, was confirmed by Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousif Ahmadi to South Korean television station KBS Thursday.
Bangladesh seeks N-power technology from Russia
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh hopes to get Russian technology to set up a nuclear power plant and says Moscow has expressed its willingness to cooperate.
After some tentative moves at the official level, political interventions were made during Foreign Advisor Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhury's recent visit to Russia.
Pakistan protests opening Siachen for tourism
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan Monday protested India's decision to open the Siachen Glacier - the world's highest battleground - to tourists.
India's deputy high commissioner was summoned to foreign office and a protest was lodged with him, said foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam during the weekly press briefing.
India and Pakistan are currently engaged in talks to resolve their 20-year-old-conflict over the 72-km-long frozen battlefield.
Syria condemns Beirut car blast
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syria on Wednesday strongly condemned a car bombing in eastern Beirut that killed a Christian lawmaker and several others, the official SANA news agency reported.
"This criminal act targets the efforts and endeavors exerted by Syria and others to achieve the Lebanese national accord," an unnamed Syrian media official was quoted as saying, asserting Damascus' keenness on security, stability and unity of neighboring Lebanon.
Abbas to reshuffle negotiation team: Fatah spokesman
By Xinhua
Ramallah : A Fatah spokesman said Thursday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was planning a reshuffle of the team that represents the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the political negotiations with Israel.`
Ahmed Qurea, a former prime minister and a member of Fatah central committee, will head the reshuffled delegation, which will comprise current chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation's (PLO) executive committee, according to spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman.
Columbia University president’s harsh remarks about Iranian president draw mixed reactions
By Xinhua
New York : Colombia University President Lee C. Bollinger's pointed introduction of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has drawn mixed reactions, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
New York : Colombia University President Lee C. Bollinger's pointed introduction of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has drawn mixed reactions, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan media slams Musharraf regime for arresting opposition leaders
By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : Pakistani media Tuesday slammed the country's government for rounding up leaders of opposition parties ahead of the presidential polls to facilitate Pervez Musharraf's re-election for another five-year term.
A number of leading newspapers warned the government that the arrests would only lead to more political turmoil in the country and said the act would favour the opposition outfits that constitute the All Parties Democratic Movement.
Iran refutes allegation on hidden nuclear site
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council for International Affairs Javad Vaeedi has denied allegation on existence of a hidden nuclear site in Iran.
Vaeedi told IRNA Friday: "Such an allegation is being made under the circumstances that new round of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA has begun on one hand, and Iranian constructive presence at the UN General Assembly, on the other."
US putting Laden, me in same boat: Ahmadinejad
By DPA
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused "some circles" in the US of putting him in the same boat as Al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden.
"Some US circles wanted to sabotage my trip to New York by, for example, putting my picture next to bin Laden," Ahmadinejad told the Khabar news network.
Ahmadinejad also accused the US government and New York City officials of rejecting his request to visit the site of the Sep 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Iran criticizes France
Tehran, Oct 7, SPA -- Mohammed Ali Husseini, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry has described the new political trend of the French government towards Iran as an illogical trend.
In a statement to the pressmen today, Husseini said 'we have made it clear to the French officials that illogical trends towards Iran will not yield positive results.
It is worth mentioning that the French foreign minister has recently criticized the Iranian nuclear policy noting that his country prefers diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue.
Israel, US mull developing anti-missile defence system
By DPA
Washington/Tel Aviv : Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak met his US counterpart Robert Gates in Washington and discussed the joint development of an anti-missile system, the minister's office said Wednesday.
The "multi-layered missile interception system" discussed at Tuesday's meeting between the two is aimed at countering the perceived threat from Iranian missiles.
Egypt to launch civilian nuclear programme
By Xinhua
Cairo : President Hosni Mubarak announced Monday Egypt will set up nuclear power plants to make up shortfall in generation, and thus augment the country's power security, local media reported.
Addressing the inauguration of a northern Cairo power station, Mubarak said a council for peaceful use of nuclear energy will be established according to a republican decree, which will be issued within days, MENA new agency reported.
Militants free 48 captured Pakistani troops
By DPA
Islamabad : Islamic militants Friday freed 48 paramilitary troops that they had captured in overnight fighting in Pakistan's volatile north-western valley of Swat, where a week of fierce battles has left around 200 people dead.
The militants first paraded the soldiers to the media and then gave Rs.500 (around $9) to each captive before freeing them, Pakistan's Aaj news channel reported.
Pakistanis in US upset at emergency
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : Pakistani Americans by and large are feeling aggrieved and are critical of President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency - widely seen as tantamount to imposing martial law.
"The hope that democracy may be round the corner in my country has finally died. I am in mourning and so are many Pakistanis I came across in Jackson Heights (a South Asian conclave in New York)," Mumtaz Hussain, an artist and filmmaker of Pakistani origin, told IANS.
Soon to come a new university after Tipu Sultan’s name at Mysore
By TCN Staff reporter,
1984 Bhopal Gas survivors to knock on PM’s door on 28th anniversary
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
‘Muslims participate in all kinds of politics without giving up their Muslim identity’
By M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
Sixth person die in hospital as Dhule slowly returns to ‘normalcy’
Curfew still on in affected areas
M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net
Delhi High Court directs Govt to block ‘offensive’ contents of ‘Innocence of Muslim’ film
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Bajrang Dal activists forcibly wedded siblings on Valentine’s Day
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: In a shocking incident on Valentine’s Day, Hindutva moral police forcibly married off siblings as they mistook them to be ‘couple.’
CLMC condemns the ‘inhuman incident of blast’
CLMC urges an end to media trial
By TCN News,
Workshop on socio-legal status of Muslim women held in Guwahati on Women’s Day
By M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
Madhya Pradesh’s Annual Plan hiked by 23 pc, pegged at Rs.35,500 cr.
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Annual Plan of Rs.35,500 crore has been sanctioned for Madhya Pradesh for year 2013-14. This is 23 percent more than last year.
Assam CM lays foundation stone of North East’s first College of Horticulture
By TCN News,
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi stressed on the need of developing the agriculture sector in the state as he laid the foundation stone of College of Horticulture at Lakhopur in Nalbari district which is the first of its kind in the northeast.
India dismisses Pakistan’s offer to Kashmiri students
New Delhi : India Friday dismissed Pakistan's offer to Kashmiri students, who had been booked in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut city for celebrating Pakistan's victory...
Millat Bedari Muhim Committee Demand President’s Rule in UP
By TCN News,
Aligarh: Supreme Court of India’s comment about the Uttar Pradesh government’s failure to protect its citizens and control the Muzaffarnagar riots indicates that the Apex Court has censured UP government said Prof. Razaullah Khan while chairing an analysis meeting of Millat Bedari Muhim Committee (MBMC) held at Media Centre Aligarh on 27th Committee (MBMC), Aligarh demands that President Rule be imposed in Uttar Pradesh after dismissing the Akhilesh Government as law and order has completely collapsed in state.
Degree recipients felicitated during ‘At Home’ organized by AMU
By TCN News,
Aligarh: Students and PhD scholars of Aligarh Muslim University, who have received degrees at the Annual Convocation of the Aligarh Muslim University on March 29, 2014 were felicitated at an ‘At Home’ hosted by the University at the sprawling lawns of Sir Syed Academy on 30th March. AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. (Retd.) S. Ahmad Ali, Registrar, Group Captain (Retd.) Shahrukh Shamshad, distinguished AMU alumnus and eminent entrepreneur of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Nadeem Tarin, distinguished guests and alumni were present in the function.
Modi ‘wave’ at India TV Studio, Editorial Director resigns in protest
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Qamar Waheed Naqvi, Editorial Director of India TV has resigned in, purportedly in protest of a “staged interview,” with the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Rajat Sharma’s famous programme “Aap Ki Adalat.”
Five Indians killed in road accident in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh : Five Indians working in Saudi Arabia were killed in a road accident near the country's capital Riyadh after their van overturned following...
Lok Satta’s alliance with BJP: Gandhi and Ali Brothers?
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
BJP supporters are proud to tell the fact that BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a coalition of 30 parties. Consider the...
Allah Baksh: Unsung hero of India’s freedom struggle
By Shamsul Islam,
On this May 14, 2014 falls the 71st anniversary of the martyrdom of one of the greatest freedom fighters of India, Allah Baksh. He lived and sacrificed his life for a free and all inclusive India. Allah Baksh was the Premier (those days chief minister was known by this designation) of Sind during the eventful days of ‘Quit India’ Movement of 1942 as head of the ‘Ittehad Party’ (Unity Party) which represented all sections of Sind and did not allow Muslim League to have any foothold in the Muslim majority province of Sind. Allah Baksh and his Party were not part of the Indian National Congress but when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a derogatory reference to the Indian freedom struggle and the ‘Quit India’ Movement in a speech in the British Parliament, Allah Baksh renounced in protest all titles conferred by the British Government.
Hindu Vahini’s involvement case thrown in SIMI’s basket to further the ban
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: Security agencies have once again landed in awkward moment with their consistent maneuver to maintain ban over Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Andhra Pradesh police while deposing before a UAPA tribunal turned a Hindu Vahini attached communal violence instigation case into a SIMI proscribing justification.
8 year old Bhatkal boy earns prestigious ‘Preacher of the Nation’ award in UAE
By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,
New Delhi: A Karnataka coastal town of Bhatkal which continuously remain in mainstream media’s focus due to its being a “home town” of alleged Indian Mujahideen outfit’s absconding founders Reyaz and Iqbal Shabandri has unfortunately missed the Indian mainstream media’s spotlight when an 8 year little boy of its origin won the highest prestigious reward for a child in Dubai of being ‘Preacher of the Nation’.
Muslims in Patna gather after Friday prayer to condemn Israel’s brutal bombing
By Salman Ghani
Patna: Muslim representatives gathered after the Friday prayer in Dalal ji Ki Masjid in Alamgunj, Patna against the Israel’s barbaric bombardment on...
JTA decries Israel’s offensive in Gaza
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) has strongly condemned the ongoing atrocities being perpetrated by Israel on helpless Palestinians in Gaza.
Boycott separatist militants on Independence Day: Journalists’ Forum Assam
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has urged the people of northeast India to defy separatist militants’ diktat on celebrating the Independence Day (I-Day) with. The scribe’ body argues that every patriotic Indian should observe the I-Day (and also the Republic Day) to pay their heartiest tributes to the known & unknown martyrs of India’s freedom movement for their supreme sacrifices.
Lucknw’s Roomi Darwaza renovation process halted
By Mohd. Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Nitish’s police does it again; Hyderabad family too scared to speak
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Anti-encroachment drive at Lucknow’s historical monuments launched
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Poet of ‘barsat ki raat’ song passes away in the night of downpour
By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai blasts: Blind rush among probe agencies to nab “Muslims”
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Ex-BJP CM, eminent citizens demand governor’s intervention in Gujarat
By TCN Special Correspondent,
OIC condemns Delhi blast
By IANS/WAM,
Jeddah : The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the bombing at the Delhi High Court that killed 13 people and injured 96.