New York, Jun 9 : A leading American newspaper has asked the Obama administration to vigorously work with the few diplomatic levers available to get the release of two US journalists sentenced to 12 years in jail in North Korea.
"It should urge China, North Korea's main food and fuel supplier, to speak up for the two journalists and send an American envoy to make the case directly in Pyongyang," The New York Times said in an editorial.
Failing to free journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling would only worsen relations with President Barack Obama, who came into office committed to reviving negotiations, and add to growing calls in Washington and around the world for tougher sanctions, the paper said.
Asking for their immediate release, the Times said, "After an imprisonment of nearly three months in one of the world's most inhumane gulags, they have already paid a huge and unfair price for doing their job." Calling North Korea's justice system "bankrupt", the Times said "Whatever the case, they do not deserve to be sent to a brutal labour camp where, according to international human rights activists and North Korean defectors, detainees endure beatings, hunger and inhumane workloads."
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New York, June 9 : A group of armed men attacked the office of UN agriculture agency in northern Afghanistan with a rocket-propelled grenade leaving two guards injured over the weekend, the United Nations today said.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) office in the city of Kunduz was attacked by six armed men at around midnight on Saturday.
The two guards were injured by the grenade attack, but their injuries are not life-threatening, and all UN personnel are safe, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
"While the motive of the attack remains unclear, it is a matter of great concern that anyone would target our office," the Mission said at a press conference in Kabul.
FAO is helping farmers in the area rehabilitate their land, reap their harvests and feed their families, it said.
"We know that the farmers and people of Kunduz will join us in wanting to send a strong message to those behind this attack that they must stop and recognise the impartiality of the UN's work in delivering essential assistance to the people of Kunduz," UNAMA said.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) office in the city of Kunduz was attacked by six armed men at around midnight on Saturday.
The two guards were injured by the grenade attack, but their injuries are not life-threatening, and all UN personnel are safe, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
"While the motive of the attack remains unclear, it is a matter of great concern that anyone would target our office," the Mission said at a press conference in Kabul.
FAO is helping farmers in the area rehabilitate their land, reap their harvests and feed their families, it said.
"We know that the farmers and people of Kunduz will join us in wanting to send a strong message to those behind this attack that they must stop and recognise the impartiality of the UN's work in delivering essential assistance to the people of Kunduz," UNAMA said.
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New Delhi, June 9 : A fortnight after the murder of a 26-year-old MBA student, Delhi Police today arrested a former student of a management institute for allegedly bludgeoning the victim to death for having a relationship with his ex-girl friend.
Rahul Chadda (28), who was detained late last night, was placed under arrest this morning for his alleged involvement in the murder of Anand Tiwari on May 26, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal told PTI.
Chadda's two friends Arjun Acharya and Arun Raghav, who were also suspected to be involved in the murder, are absconding.
Tiwari, who hails from a family in Indrapuri area in Kolkata, was a final year MBA student at the IIPM in south Delhi and was found bludgeoned to death in a drain near a walking track in Sanjay Van of Katwariya Sarai.
A fourth semester student, Tiwari was staying with his friends in a flat in Katwaria Sarai. His head was crushed and a bloodstained boulder was found lying near the body.
"We have identified two more persons involved in the crime. They are yet to be caught," Dhaliwal said. All the three accused are residents of Ghaziabad.
Kumar was apparently angry with Tiwari after he got close to his former girl friend. "Kumar was apparently unhappy with his former girl friend going around with Tiwari. This led to the murder," a senior police official said.
Rahul Chadda (28), who was detained late last night, was placed under arrest this morning for his alleged involvement in the murder of Anand Tiwari on May 26, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal told PTI.
Chadda's two friends Arjun Acharya and Arun Raghav, who were also suspected to be involved in the murder, are absconding.
Tiwari, who hails from a family in Indrapuri area in Kolkata, was a final year MBA student at the IIPM in south Delhi and was found bludgeoned to death in a drain near a walking track in Sanjay Van of Katwariya Sarai.
A fourth semester student, Tiwari was staying with his friends in a flat in Katwaria Sarai. His head was crushed and a bloodstained boulder was found lying near the body.
"We have identified two more persons involved in the crime. They are yet to be caught," Dhaliwal said. All the three accused are residents of Ghaziabad.
Kumar was apparently angry with Tiwari after he got close to his former girl friend. "Kumar was apparently unhappy with his former girl friend going around with Tiwari. This led to the murder," a senior police official said.
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Chandigarh, Jun 9 : Haryana has achieved the "Elimination of Leprosy" status, signifying the incidence of this affliction to be less than one per 10,000 persons in the state.
Stating this today, Principal Secretary (Health) of the state Anuradha Gupta said this benchmark has been fixed by the Union Health Minister for granting this status to any state or Union Territory.
The prevalence rate in Haryana was 0.18 per 10,000 population on March 31, the second lowest in the country after Meghalaya and Daman and Diu.
At the close of last fiscal, there were 456 people undergoing treatment for leprosy in the state.
According to Gupta, workers of the health department along with deputy chief medical officers (Leprosy) have been visiting all the 19 leprosy-hit colonies.
These include five authorised colonies in Ambala city, Faridabad, Jagadhari, Karnal and Rohtak and 14 self-settled colonies in Ambala, Hisar, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Gurgaon, Sirsa, Jhajjar, Kaithal, Hisar and Sonepat.
Stating this today, Principal Secretary (Health) of the state Anuradha Gupta said this benchmark has been fixed by the Union Health Minister for granting this status to any state or Union Territory.
The prevalence rate in Haryana was 0.18 per 10,000 population on March 31, the second lowest in the country after Meghalaya and Daman and Diu.
At the close of last fiscal, there were 456 people undergoing treatment for leprosy in the state.
According to Gupta, workers of the health department along with deputy chief medical officers (Leprosy) have been visiting all the 19 leprosy-hit colonies.
These include five authorised colonies in Ambala city, Faridabad, Jagadhari, Karnal and Rohtak and 14 self-settled colonies in Ambala, Hisar, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Gurgaon, Sirsa, Jhajjar, Kaithal, Hisar and Sonepat.
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New Delhi, Jun 8 : The Rajya Sabha today mourned the death of two of its former members, Vidyavati Chaturvedi and Habib Tanvir.
Chaturvedi, a two-time member of the Upper House representing Madhya Pradesh from 1966 to 1972 and from 1972 to 1978, passed away on March 11, 2009 at the age of 84 years.
Chaturvedi was an agriculturist, medical practitioner and a social worker. Known for working for the uplift of backward classes, she was born in December, 1924 in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
She also participated in the Civil Disobedience movement of 1946-47. Chaturvedi was a member of Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly between 1957 and 1962.
Chaturvedi was also a two-time MP in the seventh and eighth Lok Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said while making an obituary reference.
"In passing away of Vidyavati Chaturvedi, the nation has lost a distinguished Parliamentarian and freedom fighter," he said.
Ansari also informed the House about the demise of eminent playwright and theatre personality Habib Tanvir on June 8, 2009. He was 85.
Tanvir, who was born in Raipur on September 1, 1923, was a multi-faceted personality known for blending theatre, folk and poetry in his works.
Chaturvedi, a two-time member of the Upper House representing Madhya Pradesh from 1966 to 1972 and from 1972 to 1978, passed away on March 11, 2009 at the age of 84 years.
Chaturvedi was an agriculturist, medical practitioner and a social worker. Known for working for the uplift of backward classes, she was born in December, 1924 in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
She also participated in the Civil Disobedience movement of 1946-47. Chaturvedi was a member of Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly between 1957 and 1962.
Chaturvedi was also a two-time MP in the seventh and eighth Lok Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said while making an obituary reference.
"In passing away of Vidyavati Chaturvedi, the nation has lost a distinguished Parliamentarian and freedom fighter," he said.
Ansari also informed the House about the demise of eminent playwright and theatre personality Habib Tanvir on June 8, 2009. He was 85.
Tanvir, who was born in Raipur on September 1, 1923, was a multi-faceted personality known for blending theatre, folk and poetry in his works.
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Ahmednagar (Mah), Jun 9 : Congress should sever its ties with the NCP whose image has been "maligned" after the arrest of its MP Padmasinh Patil in connection with the Nimbalkar murder case, senior party leader Balasaheb Vikhe Patil said.
"In the next assembly elections, the Congress should not have any ties with NCP because its image has maligned and the recent issue of Padmasinh's arrest has proved it," he told PTI.
"Earlier, the Congress had suffered a serious set back in Bihar and UP when it had ties with regional parties having criminal background," Patil said apparently referring to RJD and LJP.
Now when the Congress has disassociated itself with them in these states, it has done well, he said.
"Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Congress leadership should think seriously of going alone in the ensuing assembly elections," Patil said adding "the NCP is expanding its support at the cost of the Congress." The Congress leader also extended his support to the movement launched by veteran social worker Anna Hazare against criminalisation and corruption in politics.
"It is a right step and I will join it," he said.
"The government should provide protection to him," Patil added
"In the next assembly elections, the Congress should not have any ties with NCP because its image has maligned and the recent issue of Padmasinh's arrest has proved it," he told PTI.
"Earlier, the Congress had suffered a serious set back in Bihar and UP when it had ties with regional parties having criminal background," Patil said apparently referring to RJD and LJP.
Now when the Congress has disassociated itself with them in these states, it has done well, he said.
"Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Congress leadership should think seriously of going alone in the ensuing assembly elections," Patil said adding "the NCP is expanding its support at the cost of the Congress." The Congress leader also extended his support to the movement launched by veteran social worker Anna Hazare against criminalisation and corruption in politics.
"It is a right step and I will join it," he said.
"The government should provide protection to him," Patil added
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Obama calls on Israeli Prime Minister
planetInfo
Washington, June 9 : Amid increasing tension between the United States and Israel over settlement issue, President Barack Obama today reiterated the principal elements of his landmark Cairo speech and his country's commitment to the security of the Jewish state.
Obama telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had a nearly 20-minute conversation on various issues pertaining to the region.
The White House said Obama reiterated the principal elements of his Cairo speech, including his commitment to Israel's security.
"He indicated that he looked forward to hearing the Prime Minister's upcoming speech outlining his views on peace and security," the White House said.
The President also noted that Senator George Mitchell would be in Israel again today as he starts his fourth trip to the region as the Special Envoy for Middle East peace.
The White House also released a photo of Obama talking to Netanyahu over phone, which has been posted on the flicker website.
Obama telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had a nearly 20-minute conversation on various issues pertaining to the region.
The White House said Obama reiterated the principal elements of his Cairo speech, including his commitment to Israel's security.
"He indicated that he looked forward to hearing the Prime Minister's upcoming speech outlining his views on peace and security," the White House said.
The President also noted that Senator George Mitchell would be in Israel again today as he starts his fourth trip to the region as the Special Envoy for Middle East peace.
The White House also released a photo of Obama talking to Netanyahu over phone, which has been posted on the flicker website.
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Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jun 9 : Indian students, who have reportedly formed groups to patrol troubled areas to prevent racial attacks on the community members, have been asked by the police to stop the practice and let them do their jobs.
The Indians have reportedly formed groups to protect students from racial attacks at St Albans and Thomastown railway stations of the Melbourne's west after a spate of assaults on the community members in the area, 'The Age' newspaper reported today.
Indians conducting their own security patrols should "leave and let police do their jobs", a Victoria Police spokeswoman was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
She said police had already boosted patrols on the troubled train line, the railway stations and at a St Albans shopping centre to prevent such violence.
"We have been talking to them about their concerns and because of that have increased patrols in the area," she said.
The students have complied to police request to move but then returned the following night or gone to other locations, the spokeswoman said.
Earlier, it was reported yesterday that a 20-year-old man was stabbed in a western suburb of Melbourne after he had allegedly racially abused a group of Indian students here in possibly the first act of retaliation.
Melbourne, Jun 9 : Indian students, who have reportedly formed groups to patrol troubled areas to prevent racial attacks on the community members, have been asked by the police to stop the practice and let them do their jobs.
The Indians have reportedly formed groups to protect students from racial attacks at St Albans and Thomastown railway stations of the Melbourne's west after a spate of assaults on the community members in the area, 'The Age' newspaper reported today.
Indians conducting their own security patrols should "leave and let police do their jobs", a Victoria Police spokeswoman was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
She said police had already boosted patrols on the troubled train line, the railway stations and at a St Albans shopping centre to prevent such violence.
"We have been talking to them about their concerns and because of that have increased patrols in the area," she said.
The students have complied to police request to move but then returned the following night or gone to other locations, the spokeswoman said.
Earlier, it was reported yesterday that a 20-year-old man was stabbed in a western suburb of Melbourne after he had allegedly racially abused a group of Indian students here in possibly the first act of retaliation.
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Patna, Jun 9 : Navy divers today continued their search for the body of Satyendra Singh, a close aide of ruling JD(U)leader Vijay Krishna, suspected to have been killed and his body dumped in the Ganga here even as a court called for case diary to consider Krishna's petition for anticipatory bail.
"A six-member team of divers from the navy is carrying out the search operation for the second day today in river Ganga," police sources said, adding apart from other mode of equipment, sonar system was also being applied to locate the body.
The divers searched below the bridge and also some other areas where his body might have been carried by the water, they said.
The search operation has now been expanded up to Fatuha. The police had definite information that Satyendra's body was thrown in the river from the busy Mahatma Gandhi Setu, on the outskirts of the state capital, the sources said.
Satyendra was kidnapped on May 23 when he went to buy a car.
The police had taken Gagan, a domestic servant of Chanakya alias Guddu, Krishna's son, on remand for two days for interrogation which led to a breakthrough in the probe, senior superintendent of police, Patna, R Mallar Vizhi said.
According to the police, Gagan had "confessed" that Guddu allegedly shot dead Satyendra at his flat under S K Puri police station, the SSP said.
"A six-member team of divers from the navy is carrying out the search operation for the second day today in river Ganga," police sources said, adding apart from other mode of equipment, sonar system was also being applied to locate the body.
The divers searched below the bridge and also some other areas where his body might have been carried by the water, they said.
The search operation has now been expanded up to Fatuha. The police had definite information that Satyendra's body was thrown in the river from the busy Mahatma Gandhi Setu, on the outskirts of the state capital, the sources said.
Satyendra was kidnapped on May 23 when he went to buy a car.
The police had taken Gagan, a domestic servant of Chanakya alias Guddu, Krishna's son, on remand for two days for interrogation which led to a breakthrough in the probe, senior superintendent of police, Patna, R Mallar Vizhi said.
According to the police, Gagan had "confessed" that Guddu allegedly shot dead Satyendra at his flat under S K Puri police station, the SSP said.
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New Delhi, June 9 : The government today assured the Rajya Sabha that it would take appropriate action to provide relief to Indian pilgrims currently stranded in Nepal due to bad weather.
BJP's Balbir Punj brought to the attention of the House the problems being faced by around 1,000 Indian pilgrims who are stuck in Nepal due to bad weather and highway blockade.
He said that the pilgrims, who had last month left the country for a 'yatra' to Kailash Mansarovar, were stranded and apparently some of them have also died.
"I would request the government to speak to authorities in Nepal and China and arrange for their immediate relief, medical attention, food and water. Their relatives should be given immediate information about the current status of pilgrims and if possible, they should be air-lifted from there," Punj said.
Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan assured the House that "appropriate care would be taken of the suggestions given by the Member and necessary steps would be undertaken to provide relief to the pilgrims".
BJP's Balbir Punj brought to the attention of the House the problems being faced by around 1,000 Indian pilgrims who are stuck in Nepal due to bad weather and highway blockade.
He said that the pilgrims, who had last month left the country for a 'yatra' to Kailash Mansarovar, were stranded and apparently some of them have also died.
"I would request the government to speak to authorities in Nepal and China and arrange for their immediate relief, medical attention, food and water. Their relatives should be given immediate information about the current status of pilgrims and if possible, they should be air-lifted from there," Punj said.
Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan assured the House that "appropriate care would be taken of the suggestions given by the Member and necessary steps would be undertaken to provide relief to the pilgrims".
1:07 AM
Mumbai, Jun 8 : CBI did not make any headway today while interrogating senior NCP leader and MP Padmasinh Patil, arrested in connection with the murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, as he kept "beating around the bush".
A day after his arrest, Patil was reluctant to co-operate with the probe agency and kept "beating around the bush", CBI sources told PTI.
Refuting claims that Patil had confessed to his alleged role in the Nimbalkar's murder in June 2006, CBI said Patil has not admitted to his complicity in the crime.
The CBI, which had obtained Patil's custody till June 14 from a court in Panvel, has been grilling the MP at the agency's office in CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai.
While no family member has visited Patil today, a domestic help from his house delivered lunch for the leader as the court had yesterday allowed him to have home food.
Patil will spend the night at the APMC police lock-up in Navi Mumbai and will be taken back to the CBI office tomorrow for further interrogation, the sources said.
Patil, who has been booked for murder and conspiracy, was arrested yesterday based on the statements of two other arrested accused -- Parasmal Jain and Mohan Shukla -- who claimed Patil had paid them Rs 30 lakh to eliminate Nimbalkar.
The CBI has so far arrested five persons for allegedly murdering Nimbalkar and driver Samad Kazi.
A day after his arrest, Patil was reluctant to co-operate with the probe agency and kept "beating around the bush", CBI sources told PTI.
Refuting claims that Patil had confessed to his alleged role in the Nimbalkar's murder in June 2006, CBI said Patil has not admitted to his complicity in the crime.
The CBI, which had obtained Patil's custody till June 14 from a court in Panvel, has been grilling the MP at the agency's office in CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai.
While no family member has visited Patil today, a domestic help from his house delivered lunch for the leader as the court had yesterday allowed him to have home food.
Patil will spend the night at the APMC police lock-up in Navi Mumbai and will be taken back to the CBI office tomorrow for further interrogation, the sources said.
Patil, who has been booked for murder and conspiracy, was arrested yesterday based on the statements of two other arrested accused -- Parasmal Jain and Mohan Shukla -- who claimed Patil had paid them Rs 30 lakh to eliminate Nimbalkar.
The CBI has so far arrested five persons for allegedly murdering Nimbalkar and driver Samad Kazi.