Kathmandu, January 17
The United Nations today began the delicate task of accepting and registering weapons from Nepal's Maoists, two days after the former rebels joined an interim parliament.

''The registration and storing of arms has commenced and everything is proceeding in a very orderly and calm way,'' U N spokesman Kieran Dwyer told Reuters.

The Maoist guns will be stored in sealed, metal containers and monitored around the clock.

Dwyer said all combatants had to complete a form giving their personal details, rank and for how long they had been working in the Maoist army.

''Some of them don't have the weapons. And those who do, have to show their weapons to the U N registration team that registers the details. Then the combatant ... puts the weapon in the container,'' he said.

''It is not a surrender. It is storing the weapons.'' The work started at a Maoist camp in Chitwan, 80 km (50 miles) south of Kathmandu, and is expected to continue there for several days, but not weeks, he said. U N monitors will start work in other camps later.

In November, the government and Maoists signed a landmark peace pact declaring an end to a decade-old conflict against the monarchy in which more than 13,000 people died.

Under the deal, 83 Maoist nominees have taken their seats in an interim legislature along with mainstream politicians. — Reuters

London, January 17
The racist attacks on Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty have snowballed into a major row, with the issue being raised in British Parliament and some of her fellow contestants, who allegedly taunted her in a reality TV show, receiving threat emails.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, who tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons on the issue yesterday, said "the language that is being used, the way in which it is being used.... are just not acceptable in this day and age."

NRI TV actor Meera Syal led an unprecedented wave of criticism against Channel 4 over the alleged racist attacks on Shilpa in the reality TV serial 'Celebrity Big Brother’, the channel's most popular show.

Syal, the star of chat show 'The Kumars At No. 42' weighed into the row, as Ofcom — UK's media watchdog — said nearly 8,000 viewers had complained that Shilpa was being bullied by other contestants, including Jade Goody, a previous participant of the non-celebrity version of the show. Channel 4 received a further 2,000 complaints. Channel 4 has sought to play down the racism allegations but conceded it may be forced to speak to the housemates about their behaviour. Ofcom chiefs said tapes of the incidents would be scoured and complaints carefully investigated.

UK's Hertfordshire police said: "Two emails have been received by TV studios containing unspecified threats against a number of housemates." They also said they "received one complaint about alleged racist behaviour" on the show.

Shilpa (31) was in tears on Monday after allegedly being taunted about her skin colour, accent and cooking. In a show of support from fans, Shilpa has risen to second favourite to win the Celebrity Big Brother title behind comedy actress Cleo Rocos. A spokesman for William Hill, the leading betting house, said: "So far today, every penny has been put on Shilpa." — PTI 

London, January 17
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has thanked NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal for a contribution of two million pounds to ruling Labour Party, saying he was "delighted" to receive such a sizeable donation from one of the "world's most successful businessmen".

Mittal, President and Chief Executive of world's largest steel company Arcelor-Mittal, yesterday announced the donation to Labour Party, commending Prime Minister Tony Blair's record since he came to power in 1997.

"I am delighted that Mittal has made such a generous donation. I thank him for his continued support for the Labour party," Blair said.

Mittal, world's fifth richest men, is a major backer of the party and donated a similar amount in 2005.

"I am a long-term supporter of the Labour party and the work it has done in the United Kingdom to improve the overall prosperity and prospects of the country since coming to office in 1997," Mittal said in a statement.

A previous gift of 125,000 pounds at the 2001 general election prompted a political row when it emerged that Blair later wrote in support of his company, LNM, when it was trying to land a lucrative contract in Romania.

The latest donation comes as the Labour party struggles to avoid a financial disaster in the wake of allegations being investigated by police that several wealthy businessmen who lent Labour money for the last general election were rewarded by being nominated for peerages.

Labour party chairman Hazel Blears also welcomed the donation. "Mittal has been a committed supporter to the Labour Party for many years. We are grateful to everyone that contributes to the Party and greatly appreciate this donation," he said.

News of the donation will come as a relief to Labour chiefs, who have faced difficulties persuading rich supporters to come forward with funds since the launch last year of Scotland Yard's investigation into allegations of the sale of honours. The cash-strapped party is facing a crisis as it reaches a series of deadlines to pay back the loans. — PTI

Tel Aviv, January 17
The International Hindi Diwas has been celebrated here by hundreds of India enthusiasts with absorbing cultural performances.

Students sang Hindi songs, recited famous Hindi poems and enacted Hindi film-scenes as part of the celebration held at Tel Aviv university.

Kicking off the programme, the first year students of Hindi at Asian Studies department of the University sang 'Mera Joota Hai Japani' from movie 'Shree 420'. They were followed by second year students staging several scenes from films like Souten, Koi Mil Gaya, Baazigar, Malamal and Lage Raho Munnabhai.

The mute scenes from these films could be seen in the background as they delivered the film dialogues.

Two girls from the department performed Rajasthani folk dance with the capacity crowd in the university auditorium cheering them all through.

'Pushp ki Abhilasha' by Makhanlal Chaturvedi, Basanti Hawa by Kedarnath Aggarwal and Atal Behari Vajpayee's 'Geet Naya Gata Hun' were the prominent poems read out in the celebrations but a student also translated a famous Hebrew song into Hindi titled '20 Saal ka Pyar'.

Indian Ambassador to Israel Arun Kumar Singh gave away prizes to the winners of an essay contest in Hindi and also read out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's message on the occasion. — PTI

London, January 17
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be the third leading Indian actor to have his wax twin at Britain's world famous Madame Tussauds museum in April this year.

"King Khan will take part in a sitting with Tussauds Studios sculptors next month and the life-size wax statue will be unveiled at Easter," she told PTI.

The museum already has the wax statues of superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.

Amitabh Bachchan, chosen star of the millennium in a BBC poll, attracts over 25 lakh visitors, including a large number from India at the museum each year.

Shah Rukh Khan(41), who made his debut in 1988 and featured in over 60 films, has millions of fans all over the world.

Khan's wax figure is among the only 15 new figures created this year. — PTI