Zeack News

Two killed in chemical plant blast in north China

2010-04-05T02:21:00.000-07:00

Beijing, Apr 5 Two people were killed and a person was injured when an explosion occurred in a chemical plant in north China's Chifeng City following which as many as 700 residents in the proximity of the site had to be evacuated.

The accident occurred when a high-pressure storage tank containing silicon tetrachloride exploded in Chifeng City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during the weekend, Xinhua news agency reported.

The blast in the Shengsen Silicon Technology Development Co, Ltd also injured another person.

Following the blast nearly 700 residents living nearby were evacuated to safer areas.

The injured has been confirmed to be in a stable condition in hospital, according to local authorities.

People returned to their homes after local environmental authorities announced that the atmospheric conditions in the town were normal.

Blast kills four at ANP meeting in northwest Pak

2010-04-05T02:20:00.000-07:00

Peshawar, Apr 5 A bomb blast targeted a gathering organised by the Awami National Party at Timergara in northwest Pakistan today, killing at least four persons and injuring over a dozen others.

The blast occurred at a rest house in the market of Timergara, the headquarters of Lower Dir district, where the ANP had organised a gathering to celebrate the government's decision to rename the North West Frontier Province as Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.

The nature of the blast could not immediately be ascertained though TV news channels reported it could have been a suicide attack. The identity of the four dead was also not immediately known.

A large number of people had gathered for the celebrations organised by the ANP, which leads the ruling coalition in the NWFP.

Several government offices are located near the rest house where the blast occurred.

NATO admits killing Afghan women in bungled raid

2010-04-05T02:19:00.000-07:00

Kabul, Apr 5 NATO forces have admitted killing three women in a bungled raid on a village in Afghanistan earlier this year, after initially denying involvement.

The NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement late Sunday that its troops were responsible for the women's deaths in a village near Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktya province, on February 12.

Two newspapers, the New York Times and Britain's The Times, said today that the foreign troops involved in the shooting were members of US special forces who tried to cover up the deaths by removing bullets from the bodies.

ISAF had no immediate comment on the nationality of the troops or the cover-up claims, when contacted by AFP.

Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes Baja California

2010-04-05T02:18:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles, Apr 5 (AP) A strong earthquake south of the US-Mexico border has shook high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego and was felt across Southern California and Arizona, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.

The 6.9 magnitude quake struck at 3:40 pm (2240 GMT) in Baja California, Mexico, about 30 kilometres southeast of Mexicali, according to the US Geological Survey. The area was hit by magnitude 3.0 quakes all week.

The quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara, USGS seismologist Susan Potter said.

Strong shaking was reported in the Coachella Valley and Riverside, California. The earthquake rattled buildings on the west side of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley, interrupting Easter dinners. Chandeliers swayed and wine jiggled in glasses.

In Los Angeles, the city fire department went on earthquake status and some stalled elevators were reported.

Shoaib's family considers changing travel plans

2010-04-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

Lahore, Apr 5 Alarmed by the development in Hyderabad where Shoaib Malik had his passport seized by the police, his family is now considering altering plans to travel to India on Wednesday to attend the Pakistani cricketer's marriage with Sania Mirza.

A close relative of Shoaib's family told us that they have contacted senior Pakistani government officials and the high commission in New Delhi for help and was considering changing their travel plans.

"Certain forces in India have become active to stop this marriage at any cost," the relative alleged.

Shoaib, set to marry Sania on April 15 in Hyderabad, was today grilled by Hyderabad police after MA Siddiqui, father of Ayesha who claims to be the cricketer's wife, lodged a complaint, accusing the cricketer of cheating his daughter.

Doctor ratio in MP is one-fifth of national average

2010-03-26T02:50:00.001-07:00

Bhopal, Mar 26 The doctor-population ratio in Madhya Pradesh is about one-fifth of national average, resulting in acute shortage in government-run hospitals.

"According to officials figures of 2007, the doctor-population ratio in Madhya Pradesh stands at one doctor for 18,451 persons, which is far below the national average of one doctor for 3,500 persons," Professor of Community Medicine at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Indore Sanjay Dixit said.

Dixit is in-charge of maintenance of records of medical facilities available in the state.

A senior doctor said as per WHO recommendation, there should be one doctor for 1,500 people.

However, President of Resident Doctors Association of Madhya Pradesh, Anand Rai said in reality there is wide gap between the official figures and the ground reality.

Factory manufacturing artificial ghee unearthed

2010-03-26T02:48:00.002-07:00

Kanpur, Mar 26 An illegal factory manufacturing artificial ghee was unearthed by the police in Dadanagar Industrial area here and seized 150 quintal of the synthetic milk fat from the spot.

"Acting on a tip-off, a team of health department yesterday raided the factory in the industrial area of the city and recovered 449 tins of artificial ghee," Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Sharma said.

Empty boxes of branded companies and a machine used for packaging have also been recovered.

Some persons have also been arrested in this regard.

The accused, during interrogation, revealed that they used to supply artificial ghee in the markets after packaging them in boxes of branded companies, he added.

Also, recovered in the raid were spurious snacks.

Video conferencing facility at Maha jails: Patil

2010-03-26T02:48:00.001-07:00

Mumbai, Mar 26 Video conferencing facility would be installed at jails in Maharashtra to cut expenditure on moving undertrials to courts, Home Minister R R Patil said here today.

"The facility has already started in some jails and the Government would soon install it in remaining jails," Patil informed the Legislative Council.

The facility would also save the expenditure on security of undertrials while shifting them to courts, Patil said.

Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe raised the issue of attack on a jailor in Thane and asked if the Government has taken any measures like installing CCTV cameras inside jails to curb such incidents.

Patil said the proposal to install CCTV cameras in jails is already in the offing.

However, there are more prisoners and undertrials compared to the jail capacity, he said.

"The state jails have total capacity of 23,000 to 24,000 prisoners and undertrials.

We have picked the best team for World Cup: Srikkanth

2010-03-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, Mar 26 Chairman of BCCI senior selection panel Krishnamachari Srikkanth today said that the "best team" has been picked for forthcoming Twenty20 World Cup and hoped India will put up good performance in the April 30-May 16 mega-event in the West Indies.

"We have selected the best team for the Twenty20 World Cup. We are happy with the performance of every member of the team. They have shown consistency," Srikkanth said after the selection committee meeting here.

"The Twenty20 World Cup is still one month away and we hope that this team will do well in the event," Srikkanth added.

The chief selector also said that the team has a strong batting department and hoped the Indian batsmen will not face much difficulties on the Caribbean pitches.

"Batting of our team is very powerful and condition of the wickets in Caribbean is similar to the Indian condition.

Tripura tribal party leaders join Congress

2010-03-26T02:45:00.000-07:00

Agartala, Mar 26 Ahead of a key tribal council election, the National Socialist Party of Tripura (NSPT) suffered a jolt as its general secretary Sridam Debbarma and a number of supporters joined Congress.

PCC president Surajit Dutta welcomed Debbarma and other members of the tribal-based party at Congress Bhavan here last night and urged them to work to strengthen the party, sources said.

The move is significant ahead of election to 28-seat Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in May. NSPT has three members in TTAADC.

Congress, which has been trying to avoid split of anti-Left vote in the tribal council polls, has gained following the joining of at least five top leaders of NSPT, a tribal based party in Tripura.

Congress has not so far been able to strike seat sharing deal with its long-time ally, Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT).

"Congress-INPT discussion on seat sharing is going on.

Six new power plants to come up in Rajasthan : Gehlot

2010-03-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Jaipur, Mar 24 Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said his government is pursuing a target of setting up six new power plants over the next five years in a bid to make the state self-sufficient in the power sector.

Inaugurating a hybrid 132 kv sub-station at SMS stadium here, Gehlot said the state government has set itself a target of launching six new power plants over the next five years and the process has already started.

"We are moving ahead with an aim to secure future of the state in the energy sector. Our vision would help draw investments to the state in the sector and solve problems of farmers as well as general users," Gehlot said.

"There is ample potential for solar power generation in the desert state, and we hope to tap it to the hilt in the coming years," he said.

Everest conqueror needs Rs five lakh to scale next peak

2010-03-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, Mar 24 Country's youngest Everest conqueror Krushnaa Patil is in need of Rs five lakh to scale her next peak.

"I am on a seven-summit quest where I am trying to conquer the highest peak in every continent. I've already conquered five peaks but require Rs five lakh to continue my quest," said Patil, who scaled Mount Everest at the age of 19 last year.

"It is disappointing that despite proving myself in a sport where the risk element is probably the highest, we hardly find any sponsors," she said at the India International Sports Summit here today.

Elephant found dead in Corbett

2010-03-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Nainital, Mar 24 A male elephant was today found dead in Corbett National Park's Sonanadi Range here.

Forest personnel patrolling in the area spotted the dead elephant, officials said.

It is suspected that the elephant died in fight with a tiger last night, they said, adding the tusks of the animal were safe.

2 killed, 25 hurt in road mishap

2010-03-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Mainpuri, Mar 24 Two girls were killed and 25 others injured when a tractor trolley overturned in Kurawali police area of the district, officials said here.

The girls, aged 11 and 3 years, were killed when the tractor trolley carrying pilgrims turned turtle in Nagla Kohri village this evening, sub divisional magistrate Jaishanker Dubey said.

He said that the injured were admitted to the hospital, where condition of seven was serious.

Padmapriya set to star in Tamil 'Western' movie

2010-03-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

Chennai, Mar 25 Critically acclaimed actress Padmapriya will be seen in a new avatar that of a gun wielding village belle in Tamil Cowboy film 'Irumbukottai Murattu Singham'.

"I play the role of a Marshal's daughter in a village in this fantasy-action-cowboy movie," she said, a different genre from the 'intense' roles she usually gets to play in films.

"The movie is an entertainer. It has everything?- action, comedy, eroticism," Padmapriya, famous for her intense roles in Tamil movies like 'Pookisham', 'Satham Podathey', 'Thavamai Thavamirundhu' and 'Mirugam', told PTI.

And if that is not enough, the actress will also be seen doing some action and firing guns. "It has a huge cast, each one having well defined roles," Padmapriya said.

Lakshmi Rai and Sandhya are the other two heroines in the film directed by Simbudevan.

Pak continues to support some terrorist group: official

2010-03-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

Washington, Mar 25 Even though Pakistan has taken strong military steps against terrorists in the past one year, it has continued to support some groups that operate in Afghanistan, a top US intelligence official has said.

"Islamabad has demonstrated determination and persistence in combating militants it perceives dangerous to Pakistan's interests, but it also has provided some support to other Pakistan-based groups that operate in Afghanistan," Mathew Burrows, Counsellor and Director of the Analysis and Production Staff at the National Intelligence Council, told foreign journalists here.

"US and coalition success against the insurgency in Afghanistan could provide new long-term incentives for Pakistan to take steps against Afghan-focused militants".

"Increased Pakistani cooperation is more likely, if Pakistan is persuaded that the US is committed to stabilising Afghanistan and capable of doing so," he said at a news briefing held at the Foreign Press Centre.

SPO, villager injured in Maoist fire

2010-03-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

Malkangiri (Orissa), Mar 23 Maoists today shot at and critically injured a special police officer (SPO) and a villager hours before the end of their two-day bandh in Orissa's Malkangiri district.

"The SPO Basudev Khila who went to his native Maribeda village in Kalimela police station to take part in Chaitra Parva tribal festival was shot at," Additional Superintendent of Police Uma Shankar Das said.

"Maoist guerrillas asked Khila and the other villager to come out of the festival venue where they were dancing with boys and girls. As they came out, the duo was taken to a nearby jungle and shot from close range," he said.

They managed to flee from the site with injuries, the police said, adding the injured were taken to a hospital.

Man arrested for killing wife

2010-03-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Mar 23 A man was arrested for allegedly killing his wife, two days after she was found dead at her south Delhi residence, police said today.

Police said Manoj Kumar (34) strangled Neelam (33) with the help of a friend and then removed her mangalsutra and ransacked the house to make it look like a robbery-cum-murder to mislead them.

He allegedly committed the murder at around 5 pm on Saturday, went out of the house and returned at 7.30 pm.

"He went inside, took his wife's body and rushed it to Moolchand Hospital without informing police. This move made us suspicious. Later, hospital authorities called us and informed that a woman had been brought dead," a senior police official said.

They were married for the last eight years.

The couple did not have children and this was a major source of discontentment between husband and wife, the official said.

6 killed, 20 injured in Kolkata fire

2010-03-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Kolkata, Mar.23 A massive fire swept through a 150-year-old multi-storeyed heritage building housing offices and residences in Kolkata's busy Park Street today leaving at least six dead and 20 injured.

The fire which broke out at the six-storeyed Stephen Court building at 2.15 pm was brought under control in the night after the firemen battled hard to rescue trapped people.

The Stephen Court, located in the heart of the city, houses the iconic 100-year-old Flury?s confectionery house Peter Cat restaurant and a large music store called Music World and several other offices.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire may have started from a lift between the fifth and the sixth floors as a result of a short circuit and soon spread upwards and sideways, forcing people to move out of the windows to precariously perch themselves on narrow parapets and ledges waiting for help.

Rajshri Productions revive mega budget 'Tansen'

2010-03-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Mar 24 Rajshri Productions' much coveted film 'Tansen', which was put on hold during the economic slump, is all set to be revived.

The big budget period drama, about legendary singer Tansen, one of the navratnas in Mughal emperor Akbar's court, will be directed by Satish Kaushik, who hopes to make a grand film now that the Barjatya's have given a green signal for the production.

"Number of films were hit by slowdown, worsening the situation in Bollywood. There were dozens of disasters that piled up in Bollywood which meant that there was no further progress on 'Tansen'. It was a wait and watch game for everyone involved since 'Tansen' was supposed to be a big budget extravaganza," Kaushik said.

Normally cost conscious Barjatyas were going all out with 'Tansen' and planning to pitch it as one of the costliest Hindi films to be ever made.

Indo-Bangla Games to begin on Thursday

2010-03-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

Kolkata, Mar 23 (PTI) About 400 sports-persons from Bangladesh and West Bengal will be seen in action in the 3rd Sahara Indo-Bangla Games beginning here on Thursday.

Union Sports Minister M S Gill, however, will formally inaugurate the three-day event at the Netaji Indoor Stadium tomorrow.

Bengal Olympic Association president Paresh Mukherjee said about 200 sports persons and officials from Bangladesh have reached the city to take part in 10 disciplines.

Participants will compete in athletics, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, judo, kho-kho, shooting, kabaddi, swimming and football.

Football would be only for women, Mukherjee said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has wished the game all success and added that sports events like this make the bond between the two countries stronger, he said.

Singh's Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina too expressed similar views, said Bangladesh Olympic Association secretary Qurubuddin Ahmed.

'Condemnable if true': Congress on minister's 'assault'

2010-03-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Mar 22 With a Maharashtra Minister courting controversy after he allegedly assaulted a party worker, Congress today said the incident is "condemnable if true".

Minister of State for PWD Abdul Sattar was accused of kicking a party worker over the issue of ticket distribution for next month's Aurangabad Municipal Corporation elections.

"It is condemnable if true. If it has happened knowingly. Apology will have be sought if it has happened," Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters when asked about the incident.

Though Singhvi maintained that he was not aware of the facts, he said "Congress takes such incidents seriously".

Sattar initially denied assaulting the worker but later said the incident was regrettable and added he had to act in "self-defence".

Man arrested for misbehaving with air hostess

2010-03-22T22:00:00.002-07:00

New Delhi, Mar 22 An 36-year-old man, who allegedly misbehaved with an air hostess on an Air India flight from Saudi Arabia, was arrested today at the international airport here

Subhash Chandra was apprehended after the air hostess lodged a complaint with the police this morning soon after the landing of the aircraft at around 6.30 am, a senior police official said.

The air hostess complained that the accused misbehaved with her on board the flight. She informed the matter to crew members. When they intervened, Chandra allegedly misbehaved with them also.

The woman complained to the police after the flight landed at the airport and a case of outraging modesty was registered.

Preliminary enquiry revealed that the accused Subhash Chandra, a resident of Rajasthan, had been staying in Saudi Arabia for last eight years and was working as a labourer.

Sensex opens 120 points higher on global cues

2010-03-22T22:00:00.001-07:00

Mumbai, Mar 23 The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex recovered by over 120 points, 0.69 per cent, in the opening trade today on fresh capital inflows from foreign funds amid moderate gains in global markets.

The 30-share index, which had lost 167.66 points in the previous session, recovered by 120.22 points to 17,530.79 points in the opening trade.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also rose by 48.40 points, or 0.92 per cent, to 5243.60 points.

Stock brokers said overnight gains on the US market and better trend on the Asian bourses mainly buoyed trading sentiments here.

Among gainers, Reliance Industries was up by 0.58 per cent at Rs 1,080.15, Reliance Infra 0.71 per cent to Rs 1023, Infosys technology 0.84 per cent to Rs 2779.80, Tata Steel 1.10 per cent to Rs 636.70, Sterlite Industries 1.64 per cent to Rs 825.50 and the State Bank of India 0.

Stone pelted at house over 'gotra' marriage issue

2010-03-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

Bhiwani, Mar 22 Unidentified persons pelted stones at the house of a man whose son faced objection from a village panchayat for getting married to a girl of the same 'gotra' (sect), police said here today.

Stones were pelted at the house of Randhir Singh last night inspite of police being posted there for the family's security after the panchayat members of Samaspur village objected to his son Sribhagwan's wedding to a girl of the same 'gotra', officials said.

DSP, Samaspur rushed to the village with extra police force. However, no case has been registered so far in this connection.

Police suspect the stone-pelting was to scare Randhir Singh, who said after the incident "I was born in this village. Some villagers are raking up the gotra issue just to take revenge".

Rupee gains 10 paise against dollar in early trade

2010-03-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, Mar 23 The Indian rupee appreciated by 10 paise to 45.48 a dollar in early trade today on firm Asian currencies amid increased capital inflows by foreign funds into equities.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the rupee strengthened by 10 paise to 45.48 a dollar. The domestic currency had closed 8 paise lower at 45.58/59 in the previous session.

Forex dealers said the rupee strengthened against the US currency largely in line with other firming Asian currencies and dollar selling by banks and exporters.

Besides, fresh capital inflows by foreign funds into equities also supported the Indian rupee, they added.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex rose by 120.22 points, or 0.69 per cent to 17,17,530.79 in the opening trade today.

Maoists kill policeman in Jharkhand

2010-03-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

Ranchi, Mar 23 A policeman was today gunned down by Maoists in Jharkhand's Sareikela-Kharsawan district as their 48-hour shutdown entered the second day.

The rebels fired indiscriminately on a police patrolling team near Chouka police station in Sareikela around 1.30 am, killing a policeman on the spot, police said here.

The policeman was identified as Kalicharan Bodra.

The Maoists melted away into the forests after a strong retaliatory action by securitymen, police said.

Security forces have launched raids in the area even as deployment of forces are in place at strategic locations to keep a strict vigil during the shutdown that ends tonight.

The bandh has so far caused cancellation of many trains, including the Ranchi-Delhi Garib Rath, Palamau Express, besides passenger trains for the second consecutive day, railway officials said.

Several express trains have been diverted through the Mugalsarai-Gomo route, they said.

Blast by Maoists derails Rajdhani Express in Bihar

2010-03-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

Gaya (Bihar), Mar 23 Passengers on board the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express had a miraculous escape when ten of its coaches and the engine derailed near Gaya station following an explosion triggered by Maoists, police said.

The accident took place late last night between Kasta and Paraiya stations under Gaya-Mughalsarai section of the East Central Railway, the police said.

Rail traffic was disrupted in the section since midnight last night as cranes were engaged to remove the affected bogies, railway sources said.

Passengers were taken to Mughalsarai by a rescue train from where a special train was arranged to send them to New Delhi, they said.

The explosive planted in the tracks between Kasta and Paraiya stations went off shortly after the train left Gaya station, district Superintendent of Police Sushil Khopde said, adding a medical team with rescue train was sent to the spot.

Talks with Pakistan not at India's expense: US

2010-03-20T04:22:00.001-07:00

The Obama Administration's Af-Pak envoy on Saturday said that there can be no strategic dialogue with Pakistan without the active participation of its military and the talks should not be at the expense of India.

This is the reason why Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani and ISI Chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha have been included in the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue slated to be held in Washington next week.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmoud Qureshi would be co-chairing the day-long meeting on March 24.

"How can you have a strategic dialogue without including the military," Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke told reporters at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

"If we have a strategic dialogue in our country, we're going to include the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff or some other representative. So we are very pleased that General Kayani is part of this delegation. We think that it's one country, one government, one team. It was their decision, and we welcomed it," Holbrooke said.

Responding to a question, Holbrooke said the strategic dialogue with Pakistan is not at the expense of India or any other country.

"We have an important strategic dialogue with India and with other countries, including China. Makes it all the more important we have one with Pakistan. But this is a bilateral dialogue. This strategic dialogue with Pakistan is not at the expense of any other country in the region," he said.

Holbrooke said the strategic dialogue means that the two countries talk about their basic core objectives, which defeating, destroying Al Qaeda, helping the Afghans become self-reliant so they can take care of their own security, strengthening Pakistan's ability to own security, development, strengthening democratic institutions; all the things that Secretary Clinton talked about during her trip.

"So we need to sit down with our Pakistani friends and hear their points of view and give us ours. Now, we've all been going to Islamabad and they've all been coming here," he said, adding beyond the strategic discussions, the broad range discussions, include to move into operational things in such areas as water, energy and other issues.

Holbrooke said the next round of US-Pakistan strategic dialogue would be held in Islamabad in next six months.

The Pakistani delegation of the next week's meeting include Foreign Minister Qureshi, Minister of Defence Ahmed Mukhtar, the Finance Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Pakistani Ambassador to the US, among others.

The US delegation would be led by Clinton and will include Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson among others.

Rail ad goof-up shows Delhi in Pakistan

2010-03-20T04:20:00.000-07:00

In a major goof-up, an advertisement inserted in newspapers by the Eastern Railway showed Delhi in Pakistan and Kolkata in the Bay of Bengal.

The advertisement was to announces inauguration of luxury tourist train 'Maharaja's Express' by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee from here.

A small box inside the advertisement panel showed the train route from Kolkata to Delhi via Gaya, Varanasi, Bandhabgarh, Khajuraho, Agra and Gwalior.

As the faint background of the outline of a small map of India showed Kolkata in the Bay of Bengal and Delhi in Pakistan, ER Chief Public Relations Officer Samir Goswami said, "It is a great mistake. We apologise for this. The advertising agency has been suspended."

When contacted, owner of the advertising agency said the route alignment had been given for the benefit of passengers.

"The map and the alignment are an artist's impression and not to scale. It is never our intention to create a controversy," he said.

Indian investigators to be allowed access to Headley: US

2010-03-20T04:19:00.002-07:00

The US on Saturday said it will allow Indian investigators to interrogate David Headley, who has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, but made it clear that he cannot be extradited to India.

Asked if Indian investigators would be provided access to interrogate Headley, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said "Yes".

Blake ruled out Headley's extradition to India but left the options open on such a move in case more charges came up against him in the future.

"With respect to the Headley case, the plea bargain agreement was announced and part of that agreement was that the US would not extradite Headley either to India or Pakistan or Denmark for the charges for which he has now admitted guilt," Blake told reporters after attending a CII organised event here.

"But that does not mean that at some future date, some additional charges could not be brought. I do not want to speculate much on the future charges, but at least on these charges he cannot be extradited," he said.

49-year-old Pakistani-American Headley had pleaded guilty before a US court to all the 12 charges against him of conspiracy involving bombing public places in India, murdering and maiming persons and providing material support to Pakistan-based LeT, besides aiding and abetting the murder of six US citizens in the 26/11 attacks that killed 166 people.

Blake responded to questions from reporters on Headley and the US approach to Pakistan in dealing with terror outfits operating from that country.

"We think it is very important for Pakistan to tick off the LeT threat. Not just because of the security and stability of the US, but also India and other countries," he said.

"So this is something, I will be discussing on my trip to Pakistan," Blake, who will be travelling to Islamabad and Afghanistan from here, said.

Asked if US would bring pressure on Pakistan to act against the terror groups operating from its soil, Blake noted that Pakistan had always said it would not allow terrorists to operate from its soil and the US and its friends expected Islamabad to abide by that "very important" commitment.

The US official said the "greatest concern" now for the US and India were Lashkar-e-Taiba operations and its "increasing global scope and ambition".

To a query on the perception in India that Washington was not cooperating with New Delhi on the Mumbai terror investigations, the US official refused to agree with the view and pointed out to the Headley case.

He said the "cooperation is exceptional" between the two countries on the Mumbai attacks and it would continue to make progress.

"Your Home Minister P Chidambaram had a very successful visit to the US last fall and as a result of that visit we are proceeding in a number of directions to expand our consultations on specific cooperation," he said, noting that law enforcement agencies of the two countries have had a "wide web of exchanges" in recent times.

"We are very satisfied on the significant progress that has been made. I cannot speak for the Indians, but I am sure they are as well," he said.

On the concerns over US arms supply to Pakistan being directed against India, he said America was "aware" of the Indian concerns and there has been a "good" dialogue in this regard between the two countries.

"We assure our Indian friends that the arms sales to Pakistan....the character and nature of our military relationship is changing now in Pakistan.

"We are increasingly focused on counter insurgency capabilities of the Pakistan military so it can deal with the very important challenges on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and effectively prosecute the war against Al Qeada and against various Taliban elements that are located in Pakistan. There is good progress on that. So that is the sort of long term trend that is taking place.

Another long term trend that is important to talk about, Blake said "is that increasingly we are placing a much greater emphasis on civilian sector assistance and less on the military component, in a way of enhancing Pakistan's democracy, economic and energy development and helping the Pakistan government to be able to deliver services, to get at some of the conditions that give rise to terrorism in the first place".

India can access Headley: Chidambaram

Home Minister P Chidambaram said that India will be able to obtain access to US terror accused David Headley for questioning in a properly constituted judicial proceeding in which he is obliged to cooperate fully.

He said this in a statement after US Attorney General and Head of Justice Department Eric Holder spoke to him over telephone last night and clarified to him about a number of aspects concerning Headley's plea bargaining with the US government in a case related to conspiracy in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

After the discussion, Chidambaram said he has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other agencies to prepare questions for Headley.

"It is my understanding that India would be able to obtain access to Headley to question him in a properly-constituted judicial proceeding. Such judicial proceeding could be either pre-trial or during an inquiry or trial.

"It is also my understanding that Headley is obliged to cooperate fully and truthfully in such proceedings," he said in the statement.

He said the conversation with Holder has clarified a number of aspects concerning the plea agreement.

During the long talk, Holder drew pointed attention to the portion under the Chapter "Cooperation" of the 35-page plea agreement where Headley agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney's Office, he will fully and truthfully participate in any debriefings for the purpose of gathering intelligence or national security information.

"Defendant (Headley) further agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney's Office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the United States by way of deposition, video conferencing or letters rogatory. Defendant agrees to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his cooperation.

"I have today directed NIA and the other Agencies concerned in the case to quickly prepare the documents necessary to start a judicial proceeding in which Indian Authorities could require David Coleman Headley to answer questions and/or to testify," Chidambaram said.

NIA has already registered a case on November 11 last against Headley and his Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

He said there was another aspect of the "plea agreement" which was of enormous significance as it "is the most damning indictment of the role played by certain persons in Pakistan.

In his plea agreement, Headley has admitted to conspiring with LeT members. He has admitted to meeting with and receiving instructions from them; he has admitted to attending training camps organised by the LeT on five separate occasions; he has admitted to meeting in Pakistan with various co-conspirators including but not limited to LeT members; and he has admitted to being privy to the attacks planned in Mumbai and the despatch of a team of attackers by sea, the statement said.

The Minister said Pakistan was in a state of denial for many months after the attacks of 26/11. Thereafter, grudgingly and bowing to the pressure applied by India through the dossiers and otherwise, Pakistan initiated proceedings against a few of the persons involved in the conspiracy, even while key conspirators are still at large.

"The plea agreement should spur Pakistan to take action against all the conspirators and bring them to justice.

Nothing short of that will be acceptable to India or will satisfy world opinion," Chidambaram said.

Former Nepal Prime Minister Koirala dead

2010-03-20T04:19:00.001-07:00

Girija Prasad Koirala, the former Nepalese prime minister who brokered the peace deal that ended a bloody 10-year civil war, died on Saturday aged 85, state television reported.

Koirala, who had been suffering from respiratory disease for many years, died at his daughter's home in Kathmandu, Nepal Television reported.

The veteran leader staked his political career on making peace with the Maoist rebels who waged a decade-long insurgency against the state.

The peace deal signed in 2006 ended a conflict that had killed at least 16,000 people, with thousands more still unaccounted for.

Witnesses said thousands of people had gathered at his daughter's home to pay their respects to the four-time prime minister, a member of a political dynasty credited with helping to bring democracy to Nepal.

Koirala led the Himalayan nation through some of its biggest upheavals including its most notorious upset when 10 members of the royal family were shot dead by the crown prince in a drunken rampage.

He was seen as a stabilising force in a country that has seen 18 governments in the last 20 years -- although like many politicians in Nepal he faced frequent allegations of corruption.

His lasting legacy began in April 2006 when he sided with Maoist rebels to force former king Gyanendra to relinquish dictatorial powers.

Political change ensued at a breakneck pace, with the former rebel Maoists winning landmark elections in 2008, abolishing the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy and transforming the impoverished country into a secular republic

Whats on March 20th

2010-03-20T04:11:00.001-07:00

On this day...
0141 6th predicted perihelion passage of Halley's Comet
1345 Saturn/Jupiter/Mars-conjunction; thought "cause of plague epidemic"
1525 Paris' parliament begins pursuit of Protestants
1569 Duke van Alva leads "tenth penning" in Ponts the Cé
1598 French king Henri IV & duke van Mercour sign treaty
1602 United Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) forms
1616 Walter Raleigh released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana
1627 France & Spain signs accord for fighting protestantism
1697 Willem de Vlamingh returns to Batavia after exploring "South Land"
1760 Great Fire of Boston destroys 349 buildings
1800 French army defeats Turks at Helipolis Turkey, & advance to Cairo
1814 Prince Willem Frederik becomes monarch of Netherlands
1815 Napoleon enters Paris after escape from Elba, begins 100-day rule
1816 US Supreme Court affirms its right to review state court decisions
1833 US & Siam conclude commercial treaty
1848 King Louis I of Bayern abdicates to marry dancer Lola Montez
1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published (Boston)
1863 Battle of Pensacola FL: evacuated by Federals
1865 2nd day of Battle of Bentonville NC
1865 Michigan authorizes workers' cooperatives
1868 Jesse James Gang robs bank in Russelville KY of $14,000
1883 Unity treaty of Paris signed; protects industrial property
1885 John Matzeliger of Suriname patents shoe lacing machine
1885 Yiddish theater opens in New York with Golldfaden operetta
1886 1st AC power plant in US begins commercial operation, Massachusetts
1888 Start of the Sherlock Holmes Adventure, "A Scandal in Bohemia"
1890 General Federation of Womens' Clubs founded
1890 German emperor Wilhelm II fires republic chancellor Otto Von Bismarck
1896 Marines land in Nicaragua to protect US citizens
1896 Uprising in Matabeleland
1897 1st known intercollegiate basketball game, Yale beats University of Pennsylvania 32-10
1897 1st US orthodox Jewish Rabbinical seminary (RIETS) incorporates in New York
1897 France signs treaty with emperor Menelik II of Abyssinia
1906 George B Shaw's "Captain Brassbound's Conversion" premieres in London
1911 National Squah Tennis Association formed (New York NY)
1911 Winter Garden Theater opens at 1634 Broadway NYC
1914 1st international figure-skating tournament held in US, New Haven
1916 Allies attack Zeebrugge Belgium
1920 1st flight from London to South Africa lands (1½ months)
1920 US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Theresa Weld
1920 US Men's Figure Skating Championship won by Sherwin Badger
1922 USS Langley is commissioned, Navy's 1st aircraft Carrier
1922 WIP-AM in Philadelphia PA begins radio transmissions
1923 Bavarian minister of Interior refuses to forbid Nazi SA
1923 Belgian Senate rejects Dutch University in Ghent
1924 Finnair begins scheduled flight of Helsinki-Tallinn
1924 Stanley Cup: Montréal Canadiens (NHL) sweep Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) in 2
1930 Clessie Cummins sets diesel engine speed record of 129.39 kph
1931 Bishop Schreiber warns against national-socialism in Berlin
1932 Kara-Kalpak Autonomous Region in RSFSR becomes Kara-Kalpak ASSR
1933 Dachau, 1st concentration camp, completed
1934 Female Babe Didrickson pitches hitless inning for Philadelphia A's in exhibition game against Brooklyn Dodgers
1934 Test of practical radar apparatus made by Rudolf Kuhnold in Kiel Germany
1935 "Your Hit Parade" made its debut on radio
1937 Franco-offensive at Guadalajara Spain
1939 7,000 Jews flee German occupied Memel Lithuania
1940 Paul Reynoud becomes French premier
1941 Nazi-German/Yugoslav pact drawn
1942 Convoy PQ13 departs Reykjavik Iceland to Russia
1942 General MacArthur vows, "I shall return"
1942 Major German assault on Malta
1943 British offensive against Mareth-line
1943 German U-384 bombed & sinks
1944 Bus falls off bridge into Passaic River NJ, killing 16
1944 Mount Vesuvius, Italy explodes
1945 US 70th Infantry division/7th Armour division attack Saar
1946 Belgian government of Spaak, resigns
1947 180-metric ton blue whale (record) caught in South Atlantic
1948 1st live televised musical Eugene Ormandy on CBS followed in 90 minutes by 2nd live televised musical Arturo Toscanini on NBC
1948 20th Academy Awards: "Gentleman's Agreement", Ronald Colman, Loretta Young win
1951 Indonesian army offensive against Darul Islam on Java
1952 24th Academy Awards: "American in Paris", Humphrey Bogart & Vivian Leigh win
1952 US Senate's final ratification of peace treaty restoring sovereignty to Japan
1953 Senator Edwin C Johnson offers a bill to give clubs the sole right to ban radio-TV broadcasts of major league games in their own territory
1954 "King & I" closes at St James Theater NYC after 1246 performances
1954 16th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: La Salle beats Bradley 92-76
1954 1st newspaper vending machine used (Columbia Pennsylvania)
1955 KXTV TV channel 10 in Sacramento CA (CBS) begins broadcasting
1956 E Ochab succeeds Beirut as 1st Secretary of Polish CP
1956 Mount Bezymianny on Kamchatka Peninsula (USSR) explodes
1956 Tunisia gains independence from France
1956 Union workers ended a 156-day strike at Westinghouse Electric Corp
1956 USSR performs nuclear test
1957 Britain accepts NATO offer to mediate in Cyprus, but Greece rejects it
1958 50" snow across the Mason-Dixon line
1958 Greek Clandestine Burasi Bizim Radio (communist), Voice of Truth 1st transmission
1962 Sjoukje Dijkstra becomes world champion figure skater
1963 1st "Pop Art" exhibition (New York NY)
1963 Sikkim crown prince Paldan Thondup Namgyal marries Hope Cooke
1964 ESRO established, European Space Research Organization
1965 27th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: UCLA beats Michigan 91-80
1965 Venkataraghavan takes 8-72 vs New Zealand at Delhi
1966 Marilynn Smith wins LPGA St Petersburg Women's Golf Open
1967 Supremes release "The Happening"
1967 WOET (now WPTD) TV channel 16 in Dayton OH (PBS) begins broadcasting
1968 Military intervene in South-Yemen (leftist ministers resign)
1968 President Lyndon Johnson signs a bill removing gold backing from US paper money
1969 Abebe Bikila's auto-accident, near Addis Ababa
1969 Beatle John Lennon marries Yoko Ono in Gibraltar
1969 US President Nixon proclaims he will end Vietnam war in 1970
1971 Boston Bruins win 13th straight NHL game
1972 19 mountain climbers killed on Japan's Mount Fuji during an avalanche
1972 Sicco L. Mansholt succeeds Franco M. Malfatti as chairman of European Committee
1973 Roberto Clemente elected to hall of fame, 11 weeks after his death
1976 Jevgeni Kulikov skates world record 1000 meter (1:15.70)
1976 Patricia Hearst convicted of armed robbery
1977 Parisians elect former Prime Minister Jacques Chirac as 1st mayor in a century
1977 Premier Indira Gandhi loses election in India
1978 Flyers' Rick MacLeash scores on 6th penalty shot against Islanders
1979 Columbia flies on Shuttle carrier aircraft to Kennedy Space Center
1980 The Mi Amigo ship containing England's pirate Radio Caroline sinks
1980 US appeals to International Court on hostages in Iran
1981 Argentine ex-President Isabel Perón sentenced to 8 years
1981 Jean Harris sentenced 15-to-life for slaying of Scarsdale Diet Doctor
1982 1st-class debut of Richie Richardson, Leeward Islands vs Barbados
1982 France performs nuclear test
1982 Joan Jett & Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" goes #1 for 7 weeks
1982 Reverend A Treurnicht forms Conservative Party of South Africa
1983 Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Women's Kemper Golf Open
1984 Andy Kaufman & Fred Blassie's "My Breakfast With Blassie" premieres
1984 Senate rejects amendment to permit spoken prayer in public schools
1985 Libby Riddles is 1st woman to win Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race
1986 228 KPH gust of wind strikes Cairngorm (UK record)
1986 Jacques Chirac become Prime Minister of French government
1987 FDA approves sale of AZT (AIDS treatment)
1987 NASA launches Palapa B2P
1987 Soap opera "Capitol" final episode
1987 Soviet filmmakers arrive in Hollywood for an entertainment summit
1987 Yvonne van Gennip skates ladies world record 5 km (7 :0.36)
1988 David Henry Hwang's "M Butterfly" premieres in New York NY
1988 Laura Davies wins Circle K LPGA Tucson Golf Open
1988 Mike Tyson KOs Tony Tubbs in 2 for heavyweight boxing title
1989 Baseball announces Reds manager Pete Rose is under investigation
1989 Richard J Kerr replaces Robert M Gates as deputy director of CIA
1990 Los Angeles Lakers retire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's #33
1990 Singer Gloria Estefan breaks her collarbone in a bus accident
1991 Court awards Peggy Lee $3 million in contract violation suit against Disney
1991 Michael Jackson signs $65M six album deal with Sony records
1991 Supreme Court rules unanimously employers can't exclude women from jobs where exposure to toxic chemicals could potentially damage fetus
1991 US forgives $2 billion in loans to Poland
1992 Janice Pennington is awarded $1.3M for accident on Price is Right set
1992 Noriega's wife Felicidad arrested for stealing buttons from dresses
1993 Dan Jansen skates world record 500 meter (36.02 seconds)
1993 IRA-bomb kills 3 year old in Warrington England
1993 Morton Downey Jr weds Lori Krebs
1994 "Cyrano: The Musical" closes at Neil Simon NYC after 137 performances
1994 "Flowering Peach" opens at Lyceum Theater NYC for 41 performances
1994 "No Man's Land" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 61 performances
1994 14th Golden Raspberry Awards: Indecent Proposal wins
1994 El Salvador's 1st Presidential election following 12-year-old civil war
1994 Laura Davies wins LPGA Standard Register Ping Golf Tournament
1994 Mashonaland U-24 beat Matabeleland on 1st inn to win Logan Cup
1994 Wrestlemania X at Madison Square Garden New York, Bret Hart pins Yokozuna to win WWF championship
1994 Zulu-king Goodwill Zwelithini founds realm in South Africa
1995 Beatles song, "Free As A Bird", with late John Lennon as lead singer, is released, 1st Fab Four single since their 1970 breakup
1995 Dow-Jones hits 4083.68 (record)
1995 Poison Gas released in Tokyo subway 12 killed, 4,700 injured
1996 "Love Thy Neighbor" opens at Booth Theater NYC
1996 Erik & Lyle Menendez found guilty of killing their parents
1996 UK admits humans can catch CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease aka Mad Cow Disease)
1997 "Play On!" opens at Brooks Atkinson Theater NYC for 61 performances
1997 Liggett admits cigarettes are addictive

Deaths which occurred on March 20th

2010-03-20T04:10:00.001-07:00

0842 Alfonso II the Chaste king of Asturia (791-842), dies
1191 Clement III [Paolo Scolari], Pope (1187-91, 3rd crusades), dies
1351 Mohammed ibn-Tughluq sultan of Delhi India, dies
1393 Johannes Nepomucenus [Jan Nepomucky], Czechoslovakian saint, killed
1415 Henry IV Bolingbroke King of England (1399-1413), dies at 45
1501 Jean Carondelet lawyer/chancellor of Burgundy (1480-96), dies at 72
1531 Sicke Freerks/Frericx [Cutter], Dutch anabaptist, beheaded
1549 Thomas Seymour of Sudely English Lord Admiral, beheaded
1568 Albrecht von Hohenzollern 1st duke of Prussia, dies at 77
1617 Franciscus Aguilon physicist/theologist/mathematician, dies at 50
1619 Matthias II Holy Roman Catholic emperor (1611-19), dies
1646 Matthew Vossius historian (Annales Holland Zelandiaeque), dies at 35
1703 Johann Kunckel/Kunkel German alchemist/ambassador to Sweden, dies
1727 Sir Issac Newton English physicist/astronomer, dies in London at 84
1751 Frederick Louis English prince of Wales/son of George I, dies
1757 Johann Paul Kunzen composer, dies at 60
1767 Firmin Abauzit French huguenot/scholar, dies at 87
1804 Ignaz Malzat composer, dies at 47
1812 Jan Ladislav Dussek Bohemian pianist/composer, dies at 52
1848 Abraham des Amorie van der Hoeven Dutch theologist/poet, dies at 27
1866 Rikard Nordraak composer, dies at 23
1871 Antonio Buzzolla composer, dies at 56
1873 Adolfe Louis Eugene Fetis composer, dies at 52
1874 Hans Christian Lumbye composer, dies at 63
1887 Pavel Annenkov Russian literature historian, dies at 73
1892 Arthor Goring Thomas composer, dies at 41
1894 Lajos Kossuth Hungarian freedom fighter/president (1849), dies at 91
1898 Luis Palés Matos Puerto Rican poet (Tuntún the paso y grifería), dies
1899 Martha M Place of Brooklyn NY, becomes 1st woman to die by electrocution
1910 Félix Tournachon [Nadar], French writer/photographer, dies at 89
1911 Jean-Theodore Radoux composer, dies at 75
1913 Christian Barnekow composer, dies at 75
1913 Song Jiao-ren leader Chinese Guomindang-Party, dies
1920 Venustiano Carranza President of Mexico (1915-20), murdered at 60
1925 George N Curzon British Foreign minister (1919-22), dies at 66
1929 Ferdinand Foch Marshal of France (WWI), dies at 77
1933 Giuseppe [Joe] Zangara electrocuted for assassination attempt on FDR
1934 A Emma W T von Waldeck-Pyrmont Dutch queen (& regent), dies at 76
1936 Durant Clifford Parkin cricketer (Tests for South Africa 1891-92), dies
1941 D A van den Bosch anti-Nazi clergyman (Amersfoort Camp), dies
1942 Theodoro Valcarcel composer, dies at 41
1944 Felix Woyrsch composer, dies at 83
1950 Walter Eucken German economist, dies at 59
1951 Jan Ingenhoven composer, dies at 74
1951 Kathleen Lockhart Manning composer, dies at 60
1953 Graciliano Ramos Brazilian author (Vidas Secas), dies at 60
1962 C Wright Mills US sociologist (Power Elite), dies at 45
1962 Dr Andrew E Douglass Dendrochronologer (Study of Tree Rings) dies
1963 Karl Otten writer, dies at 73
1964 Brendan Behan Irish writer/poet, dies at 41
1964 Jean Rogister composer, dies at 84
1967 A J F Moody 1st US Army General to die in Vietnam
1968 Carl T Dreyer Danish director (Passion of Jeanne d'Arc), dies
1972 Aad de Haas Dutch religious painter/graphic artist, dies at 51
1972 Jan Engelman Dutch poet/art critic (At the Front), dies at 71
1972 Marilyn Maxwell actress (Grace-Bus Stop), dies at 50
1974 [Lavinia] Marian Fleming Poe Black US advocate in Virginia, dies at 83
1974 Chet Huntley newscaster (NBC Huntley-Brinkley Report), dies at 62
1974 Edward Platt actor (Chief-Get Smart), dies at 58
1976 Michael Goodliffe actor (Gorgon, 7th Dawn, Way Out), dies at 61
1982 Hendrik L van Beek Dutch Vice-Admiral, dies at 52
1987 Norman Harris guitarist (O'Jays), dies at 39 of heart failure
1988 Gil Evans Canadian/US jazz composer (Out of the Cool), dies at 75
1990 Jannetje Visser-Roosendaal Dutch writer, dies at 90
1990 Jev Jasjin Russian soccer goalie, dies at 60
1991 Conor Clapton Eric Clapton's son, falls out of 53rd floor window at 4
1992 Avonne Taylor actress (My Best Girl, Honor Among Lovers), dies at 93
1992 Frank Westbrook dancer/choreographer, dies at 82
1992 Georges Delerue French composer (Hiroshima, My Love), dies at 67
1993 Claudia Yeltsin mother of Russian President Yeltsin, dies at 85
1993 Jonathan Ball English youngster, killed by IRA at 3
1995 Merv Harvey cricketer (scored 12 & 31 in Test Australia vs England 46-47), dies
1995 Rachida Hammadi Algerian TV journalist, murdered at 32
1995 Sidney Kingsley US playwright (Pulitzer prize 1934), dies at 88
1996 Alan Ridout composer, dies at 61
1996 Claude Bourdet human rights activist/journalist, dies at 86
1996 Victor Zorza journalist/Russian specialist, dies at 71
1997 ? Hefner mother of Hugh Hefner (playboy), dies at 101
1997 Carlo Fassi figure skating coach (Fleming, Hamill), dies at 67

Birthdays on March 20th

2010-03-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

1634 Balthasar Bekker Frisian theologist (Examiner of Comets)
1680 Baron Emanuele d' Astorga Italian composer (Stabat mater)
1725 Abdül-Hamid I 27th sultan of Turkey (1774-89)
1728 Franciscus L Kersteman Dutch lawyer/astrologist
1739 Eligio Celestino composer
1750 Martinus van Marum Dutch chemist/physicist (Homo Diluvii Testus)
1770 Johann Friedrich Hölderlin Tübingen Germany, lyric poet (Der Rhein, Andenken)
1774 John Braham composer
1804 Neal Dow Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1897
1811 George Caleb Bingham US, politician/painter (Country Election)
1811 Napoleon Bonaparte II Napoleon's son/King of Rome
1812 George Bibb Crittenden Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1880
1813 Matthias Keller Ulm Germany, hymn writer (O Farther un High)
1820 Alexander J Cuza monarch of Moldavia/Wallachia/Romania
1823 John Echols Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1896
1825 William Nelson Rector Beall Brigadier General (Confederate Army)
1826 Carel Vosmaer Dutch art historian/poet/editor
1828 Henrik Ibsen Norway, dramatist (Peer Gynt, Hedda Gabler)
1829 Charles Albert White composer
1830 Eugene Asa Carr Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1910
1833 Henry Southwick Perkins composer
1834 Charles William Elliot Boston MA, President of Harvard (1869-1909)
1846 Auguste Bender writer
1853 George Godfrey Chelsea MA, heavyweight boxer (Old Chocolate)
1856 Frederick Winslow Taylor father of scientific management
1863 Ernesto Nazareth composer
1868 Obe Postma Frisian poet/geography/historian (Frisian Clay Farm)
1870 Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck Prussian General/politician (East Africa)
1872 Bernhard Seklas composer
1872 Karin Michaelis writer
1882 René Coty Le Havre France, President of France (1953-58)
1883 Colin Campbell Falkirk Scot, actress (High Bright Sun, Leather Boys)
1883 Karl Hasse composer
1885 Eugen Herrigel Germany, philosopher/early pioneer of Zen in Europe
1885 Hendrik A de Fish [Henri Pauwels], Flemish philological/sociologist
1888 S V Vegesack writer
1890 Lauritz Melchior Copenhagen Denmark, baritone tenor (National Symphony)
1896 Hal Walker Ottumwa IA, director (I Married Joan)
19-- Big Bird muppet (Sesame Street)
1902 Edgar Buchanan Humansville MO, actor (Uncle Joe-Petticoat Junction)
1902 Kathryn Forbes short story writer (Mama's Bank Account)
1903 Vincent Richards hall of fame tennis pro (elected 1961)
1904 B(urrhus) F(rederic) Skinner Susquehanna PA, Behaviorism pioneer (Skinner box)
1906 Abraham Beame (Mayor-Democrat-NYC), NYC's 1st Jewish mayor
1906 Ozzie Nelson Jersey City NJ, actor (Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet)
1906 Pavel P Parenago Russian astronomer
1908 Frank Stanton Muskegon MI, broadcasting executive (CBS)
1908 Philip "Felix" Bekkers actor (Czardasvorstin)
1908 Sir Michael Redgrave Bristol England, actor (Browning Version, The Lady Vanishes)
1911 Mieke Verstraete Belgian/Dutch actress (Pleasantly Settled)
1913 Judith Evelyn Seneca SD, actress (13th Letter, Tingler, Rear Window)
1914 Sviatosiav Richter Zhitomir Ukraine, pianist (Stalin Prize-1945)
1914 Wendell Corey Dracut MA, actor (11th Hour, Peck's Bad Girl)
1914 William Baddeley rector (St James' Piccadilly)
1915 Dr Rudolf Kirchschläger President of Austria (1974-86)
1916 Pierre Messmer Prime Minister (France)
1917 Dame Vera Lynn singer (Anniversary Waltz)
1917 Dolf Verspoor literary/interpreter (M Nijhoff Prize 1958)
1917 Kalervo H Hortamo Finnish poet (Sydänmaa)
1917 Peter Caddy founder (Findhorn Community)
1918 Bernd-Alois Zimmermann German composer (Soldiers)
1918 Jack Barry Lindenhurst NY, game show emcee (Joker's Wild)
1920 Bryan Genesse actor (Bold & Beautiful)
1920 Douglas G Chapman biomathematical statistician
1920 Marian McPartland jazz pianist (Bill Mayer, Jimmy McPartland)
1920 Werner Klemperer Cologne Germany, actor (Colonel Klink-Hogan's Heroes)
1921 Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow Senegal, director general of UNESCO
1921 Primoz Ramovs composer
1922 Carl Reiner Bronx NY, comedian/actor (2000 Year Old Man, Dick Van Dyke Show)
1922 Doug Barnard Jr (Representative-Democrat-GA, 1977- )
1922 Jack Kruschen Winnipeg Canada, actor (Papa-Webster, Busting Loose)
1922 Larry Elgart New Haven CT, bandleader/alto sax (Elgart Orchestra)
1922 Ray Goulding Lowell MA, comedian (Bob & Ray)
1922 Sir Arnold Burgen college president (Academia Europaea)
1923 Marc Saporta French writer/essayist (Le Grand Défi)
1925 James Pickles judge
1925 John D Erlichman Politician (Nixon aide, Watergate conspirator)
1927 John Pierre Herman Joubert composer (Chamber Music for brass quintet)
1928 Anthony Blond British publisher (The Publishing Game, Book Book)
1928 Christopher Benstead race horse trainer
1928 Hans Küng Swiss religious theologist
1928 Jerome Cousins Biffle Denver CO, long jumper (Olympics-gold-1952)
1928 Mr [Fred McFeely] Rogers Latrobe PA, children's television host (Mr Roger's Neighborhood)
1930 Michel Magne composer
1931 Antonio Tauriello composer
1931 Dr John Rae British educator (Conscience & Politics)
1931 Hal Linden [Harold Lipshitz] Bronx NY, actor (Barney Miller, Blacke's Magic, Rothchild)
1931 Sir David Montgomery chairman (British Forestry Commission)
1932 Tod Dockstader composer
1933 David James Moore educationalist
1933 Jacquez Guyonnet composer
1934 Eric Hebborn artist/faker
1934 Marion Conti arch bishop (Aberdeen England)
1935 Ted Bessell Flushing Queens NY, actor (Don-That Girl, Frankie-Gomer Pyle)
1936 Lord Mark Saville of Newdigate British high court judge
1937 Elizabeth Gille writer translator/editor
1937 Helmut Recknagel Germany, 90 meter ski jump (Olympics-gold-1960)
1937 Jerry Reed Atlanta GA, singer/actor ('Gator, Bat 21, Smokey & the Bandit)
1937 Joe Rivers rocker (Johnnie & Joe)
1937 Mark Saville QC, British high court judge
1938 Frans J van der Heijden Dutch journal/Dutch MP (CDA)
1939 Brian Mulroney (P-C) 18th Prime Minister of Canada (1984-93)
1939 Earl of Seafield [Ginger] English large landowner
1940 Mickey Preger horse trainer
1941 Carlos Lopez jockey
1945 Larry Combest (Representative-Republican-TX, 1985- )
1945 Pat Riley Schenectady NY, NBA star/coach (San Diego Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat)
1945 Tim Yeo British MP/Under-Secretary (State of Environment)
1946 Ranger Doug [Douglas Green], Illinois, singer (Riders in Sky-Cowboy Way)
1947 Carl Palmer drummer (Asia-Heat of the Moment, Emerson Lake & Palmer)
1947 John Eastburn Boswell medievalist
1948 Bobby Orr Parry Sound Ontario, Hall of Fame NHL defenseman (Boston Bruins)
1948 John de Lancie actor (Q-Star Trek Next Generation, Eugene Bradford-Days of our Lives)
1948 Pamela Sargent US, sci-fi author (Venus of Dreams, Cloned Lives)
1949 Chip Zien Milwaukee WI, actor (Love Sidney, Reggie)
1950 William Hurt Washington DC, actor (Big Chill, Children of a Lesser God)
1951 Guy Perry rock guitarist/vocalist (Motels-Only the Lonely)
1951 Jimmie Vaughan guitarist (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
1951 John Wetton rocker (Asia, UK, King Crimson)
1951 Madan Lal Britishcricketer (Indian medium pacer in the 70's)
1951 Tanya Boyd Detroit MI, actress (Celeste-Days of our Life)
1952 Anand Armitraj India, tennis player (Brother of ViJay)
1954 Charlie Simmer Ontario, NHL Left winger (Los Angeles Kings)
1954 Jim Seales Hamilton AL, singer (Shenandoah-Sunday in the South)
1956 Phillip Oppenhein British MP
1957 Spike Lee Atlanta GA, director (Mo Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X)
1957 Theresa Russell [Paup] San Diego CA, actress (Black Widow, Straight Time, Razor's Edge)
1958 Holly Hunter Conyers GA, actress (The Piano, Broadcast News, Roe vs Wade)
1958 Rickey Jackson NFL defensive end (San Francisco 49ers)
1959 Dale Reid Ladybank Scotland, LPGA golfer (European Solheim Cup team)
1959 Richard Drummie rocker (Go West-Call Me, Don't Look Down)
1961 John Clark Gable Los Angeles CA, actor (Bad Jim)
1961 Kathy Guadagnino Albany NY, LPGA golfer (1985 US Women's Open)
1961 Slim Jim Phantom [Jim Mcdonnell] rock drummer (Stray Cats-Stray Cat Strut)
1963 Paul Annacone Southampton NY, tennis star
1963 Paul Mirkovich rock keyboardist (Nelson-Love & Affection)
1963 Ramon Andersson Middle Swan Australia, canoeist (Olympics-bronze-92, 96)
1964 Ruth Davidon Baltimore MD, rower (Olympics-6th-96)
1965 Chris Hoiles Bowling Green OH, catcher (Baltimore Orioles)
1965 Danielle Woodward Melbourne Victoria Australia, canoeist (Olympics-96)
1966 Blas Minor Merced CA, pitcher (Seattle Mariners)
1966 Giulio Caravatta CFL quarterback (British Columbia Lions)
1967 Bryan Genesse actor, (Rocco-Bold & Beautiful, Grady-Street Justice)
1967 Dana Rinehart Dalton Orlando FL, Miss Florida-America (1990)
1967 Mookie Blaylock NBA guard (Atlanta Hawks)
1967 Randy Gullatt horse trainer
1968 Eric Viscaal Dutch soccer star (PSV/AA Gent)
1968 Jurgen Rumrich Miesbach Germany, hockey forward (Team Germany 1998)
1968 Sheree Megan Higgins Matamata New Zealand, golfer (1991 Bridgestone)
1969 Caroline Brunet Québec City Québec Canada, kayaker (Olympics-silver-96)
1969 Konstantine Starikovitch Podolsk Russia, 238lbs US weightlifter (Olympics-96)
1969 Paul Atkinson jockey
1969 Sharon Manning WNBA center/forward (Charlotte Sting)
1969 Thang Thanh Nguyen Soc Trang Vietnam, murderer (FBI Most Wanted)
1970 Kristin Klein Santa Monica CA, volleyball outside hitter (Olympics-96)
1970 Ralph Dawkins NFL running back (New Orleans Saints)
1970 Ron George NFL linebacker (Atlanta Falcons)
1970 Todd Burger NFL guard (Chicago Bears)
1971 Janis Kelly Winnipeg Manitoba, volleyball player (Olympics-96)
1971 Manny Alexander Dominican Republic, infielder (Baltimore Orioles)
1972 Ajah Wilson-Ogechukwu soccer player (Roda JC)
1973 Jane March Edgeware England, actress (Lover)
1973 Nico Boje cricketer (South African ODI left-arm spinner 1996)
1973 Norman Tome Australian soccer striker (Olyroos, Olympics-96)
1974 P J Bogart New York NY, diver (Olympics-96)
1975 Brian Buetsch Rockford IL, figure skater (1997 Great Lakes Sr champion)
1976 Arno Knapen Dutch soccer player (Holten, FC Twente)

300 pak pilgrims offer prayers at ajmer sharif

2009-06-29T07:10:00.099-07:00

Patna, Jun 23 (Zeack) Intensifying his attack on Bihar's
NDA government led by Nitish Kumar, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad
today alleged that there was "complete breakdown" in law and
order situation of the state and nobody felt secure and
protected under the present regime.

"There is a complete breakdown in law and order. We can
rather say that there is no law and order worth the name
prevailing in Bihar at present," Prasad said while addressing
a dharna organised by his party's city unit to highlight law
and order problems in the state.

Stating that the situation had reached such a stage that
people were feeling insecured and living in fears, he alleged
that murder, kidnapping and rape had become order of the day
with police remaining "a mute spectator".

after punjab, haryana too bans use of acs

2009-06-29T07:10:00.097-07:00

'chadar' offered at ajmer dargah on behalf of pm

2009-06-29T07:10:00.095-07:00

now, charge your mobile at metro station

2009-06-29T07:10:00.093-07:00

rains bring much-needed relief to delhi

2009-06-29T07:10:00.091-07:00

trouble in paradise for delhi family

2009-06-29T07:10:00.089-07:00

pakistani intruder killed in akhnoor sector of jk

2009-06-29T07:10:00.087-07:00

angry protests over power, water woes in delhi

2009-06-29T07:10:00.085-07:00

it may rain in delhi tomorrow, but its not monsoon

2009-06-29T07:10:00.083-07:00

cabinet expansion: a tough challenge for nishank

2009-06-29T07:10:00.081-07:00

no ravi varma originals at artist's home museum

2009-06-29T07:10:00.079-07:00

uppcl cancels leave of employees

2009-06-29T07:10:00.077-07:00

music connects nomads world over

2009-06-29T07:10:00.075-07:00

police team probing eveteasing case attacked; 4 injured

2009-06-29T07:10:00.073-07:00

2 mustard oil units sealed in up

2009-06-29T07:10:00.071-07:00

three passengers quarantined

2009-06-29T07:10:00.069-07:00

poets lament 'diminishing' interest in hindi poetry

2009-06-29T07:10:00.067-07:00

migrant kashmiri children show culture of motherland

2009-06-29T07:10:00.065-07:00

mns chief raj thackeray gets bail

2009-06-29T07:10:00.063-07:00

jk unit of gujjars asks for separate ministry

2009-06-29T07:10:00.061-07:00

at 40, jeev is asia's highest ranked golfer

2009-06-29T07:10:00.059-07:00

maoist supporters arrested in jharkhand district

2009-06-29T07:10:00.057-07:00

sushil wins gold in german grand prix

2009-06-29T07:10:00.055-07:00

opposition stages walkout in kerala assembly

2009-06-29T07:10:00.053-07:00

12 athletes to represent india in asian youth games

2009-06-29T07:10:00.051-07:00

21 medical mobile units launched for rural rajasthan

2009-06-29T07:10:00.049-07:00

national games will be held on time: joa

2009-06-29T07:10:00.047-07:00

man arrested for rape attempt on daughter

2009-06-29T07:10:00.045-07:00

six killed, five dozen injured in mishap

2009-06-29T07:10:00.043-07:00

antiques worth rs 25 crore recovered from train

2009-06-29T07:10:00.041-07:00

two killed by lightning in up

2009-06-29T07:10:00.039-07:00

village adoption to ensure zero paediatric mortality

2009-06-29T07:10:00.037-07:00

rickshaw puller killed in accident

2009-06-29T07:10:00.035-07:00

four witnesses identify kasab

2009-06-29T07:10:00.033-07:00

cse index jumps 212 points

2009-06-29T07:10:00.031-07:00

minor fire in congress headquarters

2009-06-29T07:10:00.029-07:00

up congress seeks professional help

2009-06-29T07:10:00.027-07:00

lawyers go on strike over power cuts

2009-06-29T07:10:00.025-07:00

shokeen advances to second round of itf

2009-06-29T07:10:00.023-07:00

govt issues directives for use of punjabi language

2009-06-29T07:10:00.021-07:00

rs 1,448 cr for flood management in chennai

2009-06-29T07:10:00.019-07:00

need for debate on gay law: azad

2009-06-29T07:10:00.017-07:00

ncc cadets scale jogin peak

2009-06-29T07:10:00.015-07:00

seven drown as vehicle falls into canal

2009-06-29T07:10:00.013-07:00

jk to install chairlift at gulmarg hill resort

2009-06-29T07:10:00.011-07:00

raj thackeray arrested in 2008 riot case, gets bail

2009-06-29T07:10:00.009-07:00

bjp mla arrested, granted bail

2009-06-29T07:10:00.007-07:00

army team scales mt gangchua

2009-06-29T07:10:00.005-07:00

up issues notification regarding cic's appointment

2009-06-29T07:10:00.003-07:00

wb praises hp for its use of grant

2009-06-29T07:10:00.001-07:00

rpf constable kills colleague near bandra

2009-06-28T07:10:00.099-07:00

angry protests over power, water woes in delhi

2009-06-28T07:10:00.097-07:00

chamling, bhandari come face-to-face after many years

2009-06-28T07:10:00.095-07:00

three killed, 12 injured in separate accidents

2009-06-28T07:10:00.093-07:00

hotels body demands white paper on spending

2009-06-28T07:10:00.091-07:00

sarangi sent back to up cadre

2009-06-28T07:10:00.089-07:00

centre slams mp govt for 'lapses' on tiger conservation

2009-06-28T07:10:00.087-07:00

over 1.25 lakh pilgrims perform amarnath yatra

2009-06-28T07:10:00.085-07:00

alarming rise in cases of human trafficking in bihar

2009-06-28T07:10:00.083-07:00

modern liquor shops easing out 'ahatas' in chandigarh

2009-06-28T07:10:00.081-07:00

65-year-old pilgrim dies on way to amarnath shrine

2009-06-28T07:10:00.079-07:00

security beefed up at chennai airport

2009-06-28T07:10:00.077-07:00

constable crushed to death by train

2009-06-28T07:10:00.075-07:00

rameshwar thakur to take oath as mp governor on jun 30

2009-06-28T07:10:00.073-07:00

two klnlf militants killed in encounter

2009-06-28T07:10:00.071-07:00