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Mon, 20 August 2012
US hints at Taliban on insider killing of troops
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22:24 US hints at Taliban on insider killing of troops
PTI: With sudden increase in the number of attacks on American troops from inside the Afghan National Security Forces, the Pentagon today said that some of these could be orchestrated by Taliban, even as it held "disgruntled elements" responsible for this.
"The pressure that we bring to bear on the Taliban is forcing them to look at new tactics. I can't say that these green on blue incidents originate with the Taliban. Some of them may, some of them may not," the Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told the media during a news conference.
21:59 South Africa is the world no 1 Test team
PTI reports: South Africa dethroned England as the top team in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table following its 2-0 victory over Andrew Strauss' men in the three-match series which ended at Lord's Cricket Ground on Monday.
South Africa's series victory means that it is the clear leader at the top of the table and England is now second, pushing Australia to third place. Pakistan and India followed at fourth and fifth with 109 and 104 rating points respectively.
21:18 Kurien to be elected RS deputy chairman
PTI reports: Senior Congress leader P J Kurien will be elected Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday with the treasury benches and the Opposition joining hands.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will move the first of the total seven motions to elect Kurien for the post. Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley will second the motion. Kurien, who succeeds K Rahman Khan, whose term expired recently, is the unanimous choice for the job with the Prime Minister and Jaitley filing nominations in his favour.
His election will be the first occasion when the ruling alliance and the Opposition will jointly decide on a candidate after contesting the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections.
20:08 'Why did PM single out Karnataka on NE exodus?'
PTI reports: The BJP today attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning why he "singled" out Karnataka over the issue of exodus of Northeastern people even when violent incidents took place in Mumbai and Hyderabad, alleging this could have been politically motivated.
"No incident took place in Bangalore but the Prime Minister chose to speak to Karnataka CM even when no violent incident took place there. Violent incidents took place in Hyderabad and Mumbai but he chose to talk to Karnataka CM only," party chief Nitin Gadkari said at a seminar in New Delhi.
19:10 'IM founder Sajjid key suspect in Pune blasts'
PTI reports: Security agencies probing the recent Pune serial blasts have claimed that Mohammed Sajjid, a founding member of banned Indian Mujahideen, was the key suspect in the attack.
Official sources said today that a bicycle shop owner who was shown pictures of some suspects identified Sajjid alias 'Bada Sajjid' as the man who had purchased from him one of the cycles used in the explosions.
Low intensity bombs were strapped on to three bicycles and dustbins in five coordinated multiple explosions at J M Road in the heart of Pune on August 1 leaving one person injured.
The sources said the shopkeeper informed the investigators that the person who purchased a bicycle ahead of the explosions matched Sajjid's photograph.
18:08 Geetika case: Plea for Aruna's custody rejected
PTI reports: A Delhi court today rejected the police plea for the custody of former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda's employee Aruna Chaddha "to confront" her with the former minister during his questioning in the Geetika Sharma suicide case.
Metropolitan Magistrate Vipin Kharb said he was not satisfied with the application for Chaddha's police custody for another three day and added that the police can file a fresh application for it. Chaddha, who had been remanded on August 16 to 14-day judicial custody, was produced before the court which sent her back to judicial custody for a day till tomorrow.
"The prosecution failed to show documents which could show that the accused need to be confronted with the documents recovered after the arrest of Kanda," the magistrate said.
17:15 Amid tension, sweets exchanged on LoC on Eid
Amid tension on border due to repeated ceasefire violation by Pakistan, Army today exchanged greetings and sweets with their Pakistani counterparts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Pakistani Army officials were led by Major Umer Gul of 11 Baloch Regiment and Major Yaseen, while the Indian side was led by Major S Manhas at the flag meeting held at Chakan-Da- Bagh crossing point, officials said. Indian and Pakistani sides exchanged sweets and greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr in the meeting, which was held in a cordial atmosphere, they said.
17:00 Nashik youth held for uploading sensitive pics on FB
Amid exodus of north easterners following rumours post Assam riots, a youth was arrested for allegedly morphing pictures of last year's Maval firing and the recent Mumbai's Azad Maidan mayhem and uploading them on social networking site Facebook, police said today.
Kiran Bapu Pankar, 22, a resident of Panchavati area here was arrested yesterday by city police after Mumbai crime branch noticed the uploaded post on Facebook and informed Nashik police about it.
Later, the youth was produced before local holiday court, which remanded him in police custody till August 24, police said
Pankar was working as a designer with an advertising company.
Meanwhile, police have appealed to the people not to post things on social networking sites which may hurt the feelings of communities.
16:41 Pak involvement in NE exodus: India to share docs
The home secretary has said that India will share with Pakistan documents on involvement of Pak elements in uploading morphed images on Internet to incite Muslims
15:45 96-hr Naga economic blockade begins in Manipur
The United Naga Council (UNC) began its 96-hour economic blockade on Manipur portion of Imphal-Dimapur-Guawahati National Highway 39 from midnight last night to press its demand for 'alternative arrangement' for Nagas in the state.
Official sources said security along the highway was tightened and trucks loaded with essential items would be brought into the state capital with security personnel escorting them during the period of the blockade.
A spokesman of the transporters association said transport services between Manipur and neighbouring states were being operated as usual today.
15:25 Transsexuals can vote if endorsed by 'guru'
Transsexual persons can now enroll as voters in a hassle-free manner, thanks to the modified guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India.
The ECI has for the first time "recognised" transsexuals and modified the Form of Oath or Affirmation for the applicants by incorporating the words "chela" (disciple) and "guru" (teacher) at relevant places "in order to facilitate registration of transsexuals in the electoral rolls".
"Transsexuals may not be accepted in some families and in such cases the eligible person may be deprived of voting right due to the current enrollment process where proof of age and residence are required to be submitted. With this modification, even a teacher could endorse a transsexual's case for registration as a voter," a senior official here said.
15:05 The advent of the Prime Ministers Office
Over a month after becoming prime minister, and barely a few days after recovering from illness, Lal Bahadur Shastri created yet another sensation. He set up an altogether new institution in the governmental system that almost immediately, and perhaps inevitably, became a new power centre.
He called it the "Prime Minister's Secretariat', which endures to this day though it is now called the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). It was Morarji Desai who changed the name in 1977 almost entirely out of spite for his predecessor, Indira Gandhi.
14:57 Great cleansing act
In the long run, the CAG reports will make government stronger, not weaker: it will be forced to ask the right questions.
There is a danger that the real point of the three recent CAG reports, especially on coal and the Delhi airport will be lost in a cloud of obfuscation, denial and defensiveness. The reports are raising deep and fundamental questions about governance. Taken together they amount to an incontrovertible indictment of government.
14:34 Kanda may undergo brain mapping test: Delhi Police
Delhi Police today appeared mulling the option of brain mapping test on former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda who is refusing to cooperate in the probe in connection with the Geetika Sharma suicide case.
Kanda had on Saturday morning surrendered before police after evading arrest for ten days. Sharma, a former employee of his now defunct MDLR airline, accused him and another senior colleague Aruna Chaddha of harassing her.
Police sources said Kanda has been evasive during questioning and denied any involvement with 23-year-old Sharma. When asked whether police will subject him to brain mapping, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) P Karunakaran said, "If required, we will do that. We will take him to all places where we feel probe is required."
14:02 Thackeray lashes out at Mumbai police chief
Lashing out at the government for its handling of the Azad Maidan violence, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said Mumbai police have been demoralised due to commissioner Arup Patnaik.
"When police were being attacked, when women police personnel were being molested, Mumbai's police commissioner Arup Patnaik was growling at those who were trying to control the radicals indulging in violence. The morale of Mumbai police has been dented because of such a police commissioner," Thackeray said, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' here.
"We never said all Muslims are radicals or Pakistan lovers and nor will be say such things. However, a handful of radical and anti-national Muslims have raised a question mark over their entire community," the Sena chief said.
13:16 India beat Pak, reach semis of U-19 WC
India's tail-enders held their nerves in the tense dying moments to edge out arch-rivals Pakistan by one wicket in a low-scoring thriller to cruise into the semifinals of the under-19 cricket World Cup here today.
After dismissing Pakistan for a paltry 136, India made rough weather of a small target as they were reduced to 127 for nine in 41 overs after being in a comfortable 124 for six at one stage.
It was a nerve-wrecking final 25 minutes as Mumbai lad Harmeet Singh and number 11 Sandeep Sharma from Punjab held their nerves to eke out a narrow one-wicket win with two overs to spare at the Tony Ireland Stadium here.
12:58 Protests mar Eid celebrations in Srinagar
Violent protests after congregational prayers today marred Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in the city as a mob set ablaze a police vehicle and beat up three policeman in Eidgah area.
As soon as the Eid prayers concluded at Eidgah in the Old City, hundreds of youth blocked the road and stopped a police vehicle on its way to Soura from Qamarwari and asked the policemen to alight from the vehicle, official sources said.
They said the cops were then beaten by the mob but they managed to escape from the spot. Three policeman, including an Assistant Sub Inspector, were injured in the incident.
12:28 I am happy with rising prices: Beni Prasad Verma
Union minister Beni Prasad Verma was today at the centre of a controversy with remarks that he was "happy" over rising prices of food items as it will benefit farmers, evoking a sharp attack from BJP and other parties.
"Dal, atta, rice and vegetables have become expensive. The more the prices, the better it is for farmers. I am happy with this inflation," the Union Steel Minister told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He said the media was making a hue and cry of increasing prices. "Media kehti hai ki khane ki thali mehngi ho gayi hai...Isse fayada kisano ka hai, aur sarkar kisano ke fayda ki pachdhar hai" (Media says that cost of food plate has increased but it is benefiting farmers...and the government is in favour of farmers profit)," he said.
11:31 Heavy firing exchanges along IB in Jammu, intruder killed
Heavy firing exchanges erupted along the International border after Pakistan again violated the ceasefire by targeting Indian posts to push in a group of militants in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, where one intruder was killed.
This is the fourteenth time that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the international border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in the last fortnight. Pakistani Rangers fired on Indian posts of Mala Bela, Garkhal, Sidra camp and Naka Number-10 along IB in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district around 2230 hours last night, officials said today.
The firing was aimed to facilitate a group of militants into Indian territory. "We observed movement of suspected militants along border", they said.
11:06 NE scare: Give us proof, we'll investigate: Pak
Islamabad wants evidence from India on its assertion that morphed online photos and hate messages which created a scare among the north-eastern community last week originated from Pakistan; Interior Minister Rehman Malik has promised India's Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde an investigation if that proof is provided.
10:25 Our heart must bleed for everyone
Two recent incidents '"the protest over the 'discovery' of the Akbarabadi mosque in Delhi, and the agitation at Azad Maidan in Mumbai over the violence in Myanmar and Assam which turned violent'" must serve as a wake-up call for all Indian Muslims.
10:20 Northeast exodus takes Chennai by surprise
The sudden exodus of panic-stricken North East people from Tamil Nadu has come as a surprise to the state which has a long standing reputation of being a haven of peace and home to non-natives.
The number of people fleeing the state in the backdrop of exodus in cities like Bangalore and Pune following rumours about attacks on them has now come down considerably. But natives and officials are clueless as to how the state has been perceived to be unsafe, that too when there had been no reports of any attack on the North East community.
Though Chennai has been the preferred destination for workers and students from North East, of late their presence is spreading to other districts as well with the state moving fast on the track of industrialisation with new infrastructure projects and industrial units in Kancheepuram, Coimbatore and Tiruvallur districts.
09:55 The art of rumour in the digital age
The events of the past few days intimate a new uncertain future for our media modernity. We have entered a world where the old techniques of deploying crowd control, managing social unrest and communal disturbance are going to be tested unless we clearly understand the new stakes in our post-media lives, writes Ravi Sundaram in The Hindu.
09:19 Afghan kills NATO soldier in new insider attack
An Afghan in police uniform shot and killed a NATO soldier in southern Afghanistan today, the military said -- taking the death toll from insider attacks this year to 40.
The spike in so-called green-on-blue attacks is causing growing concern in the United States and among its NATO allies fighting a Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.
"An International Security Assistance Force service member died when an individual wearing an Afghan Uniformed Police uniform turned his weapon against ISAF service members in southern Afghanistan today," ISAF said. Afghan and ISAF officials were investigating the incident, a statement said without giving further details or specifying the soldier's nationality.
09:17 Gu Kailai jailed over Heywood murder
The wife of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.
Gu Kailai did not contest charges at her one-day trial that she poisoned Heywood in November 2011.Suspended death sentences are usually commuted to life imprisonment in China.
Bo, the former party chief in Chongqing, was once seen as a contender for a national leadership position in a top-level reshuffle later this year.
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