|
|
|
|
|
Pakistan frees 19 Taliban prisoners to revive talks
US lawmakers call for better ties with India
MH370: Search ops get fresh momentum
Malaysian PM Najib Rajak meets Australian Air Force personnel at Perth on Thursday.
AP/PTI |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Thai court to proceed with petition against PM
Ukraine blames ousted Prez for bloodshed
Ukrainians look at a “wanted notice” for fugitive Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych, plastered on the window of a car used as barricade in Kiev's. REUTERS
Toddler starts fire, kills 12 in China
Chinese monks form anti-terror squad
4 dead, 16 injured in US military base shooting
Christie’s to auction Indian art, gems
|
|
Pakistan frees 19 Taliban prisoners to revive talks
ISLAMABAD, April 3 The Pakistani Taliban called a one-month ceasefire on March 1 but said this week they would not extend the truce because the government was not serious about meeting their demands. The demands included releasing 800 prisoners the insurgent group describes as innocent family members and withdrawing the army from parts of the semi-autonomous tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. The political agent of South Waziristan, the highest government official in the northwestern tribal region, confirmed the government has started releasing non-combatant prisoners to boost reconciliation efforts. "South Waziristan's political administration released 16 men on April 1," Islam Zeb told Reuters. "They are not major commanders. They are innocent tribals who were arrested during different search operations in South Waziristan in the last two to three years." Zeb said all the released prisoners belonged to the Mehsud tribe, a major Pashtun tribe living in South Waziristan. Another 100 prisoners on the Taliban's list were being processed and would be released in the next few days, he added. Taliban negotiators were not immediately available to comment on the releases. Intelligence officials confirmed that the prisoners were brought to the Zari Noor army camp in Wana, the region's main town. The enclave on the Afghan border was once the epicentre of a spreading Taliban insurgency and the site of a major military offensive in 2009 that displaced half a million people. Security officials said once at Wana, the prisoners were handed over to office of the political agent, who then released them to the Taliban. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally authorised the releases, a source in his office said - an apparent sign the premier is giving in to pressure from the Pakistan Taliban and resisting those in the military arguing for tougher military action against militant strongholds. — Reuters Sharif ‘under pressure’
* Another 100 prisoners will be released in the next few days, says official *
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif authorised the release, a source in his office said, an apparent sign that he is giving in to pressure from the Pakistan Taliban and resisting those in the military arguing for tougher action |
|
|
US lawmakers call for better ties with India
Washington, April 3 “We shouldn't just swing for the fences but focus on short term attainable goals," Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of the powerful Senate India Caucus said. The lawmakers discussed short and long-term priorities for reinvigorating the US India relationship, including goals for enhanced trade opportunities, energy exports and visa policy that will be beneficial to both nations. Cornyn said there is need to focus on short term goals while also working on long term objectives i.e. a Bilateral Investment Treaty now and Free Trade Agreement later. Taking into account the view of the Indian companies and Indian government on the pending immigration reform, Senator Mark Warner said the changes needs to be fair and not discriminate against any companies or countries. "Do not miss the forest through the trees by focusing on some recent diplomatic and trade issues," he said in an apparent reference to the Khobragade issue. — PTI
|
|
|
MH370: Search ops get fresh momentum
Perth, April 3 Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose government has come under fire for the handling of the probe into the mysterious disappearance of the flight MH370, today visited an Australian military base coordinating the search operations. Up to eight planes and nine ships were involved in the search for the plane, as a nuclear-powered British submarine today joined the near-four week hunt that has so far failed to find any sign of the missing airliner. Australian PM Tony Abbott said the hunt for the plane is the most difficult in human history and there is no guarantee that it would be found. "We cannot be certain of ultimate success in the search for MH370.” — PTI Criticism of Malaysia ‘irresponsible’: China
BEIJING: China has sought to distance itself from the angry views aired by family members of Chinese passengers aboard the Malaysian plane, terming their opinion “irresponsible”. "Some Chinese families, internet users and well-known people have aired some radical views,” China's ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang said. |
|
|
Thai court to proceed with petition against PM
Bangkok, April 3 If found guilty, caretaker premier Yingluck and her entire cabinet will be dismissed. She is also being probed by the anti-graft body, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, over a controversial rice pledging scheme. "We agree to consider the petition against the prime minister and ask that she defend herself within 15 days of receiving the court papers," the court said yesterday. The court will consider the petition by a group of senators against 46-year-old Yingluck over an alleged conflict of interest in her removal of NSC chief Thawil Pilensri. If found guilty of breaching the constitution, Yingluck's government could face dismissal for approving the transfer. The country's supreme administrative court in March ruled that Yingluck's order to remove Thawil as the NSC chief was unlawful and ordered her to reinstate him. — PTI |
|
|
Ukraine blames ousted Prez for bloodshed
Kiev, April 3 The explosive allegation were levelled only moments after Russia lashed out at NATO for building up the defences of ex-Soviet nations and brandished the threat of further hikes in the price Ukraine must pay for gas after ousting its Kremlin-backed leaders. The February unrest in Kiev has left deep scars on a nation trying to overcome the most trying episode in its post-Soviet history. Those tensions exploded on February 18 when gunshots in the heart of Kiev heralded the start of nearly three days of pitch battles between riot police and protesters -- some armed with nothing more than metal shield -- that killed scores dead. Both sides have blamed the other for starting the violence. But no formal probe results had been unveiled in Kiev until acting interior minister Arsen Avakov presented his initial findings to reporters today. The minister said that deposed president Viktor Yanukovych had issued the "criminal order" to fire at the protesters while agents from Russia's Federal Security Service helped him plan and carry out the assault. — AFP Was wrong on inviting Russian troops: Yanukovych
Washington: Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has admitted he was wrong to have invited Russian troops to Crimea. In his first interview since fleeing to Russia, anukovych also vowed to try to persuade Russia to return the coveted Black Sea peninsula. According to the Washington Times, the 63-year-old said Crimea was a tragedy, insisting that Russia's takeover of Crimea wouldn't have happened if he had stayed in power. |
|
|
Toddler starts fire, kills 12 in China
BEIJING, April 3 "Many others" were injured in the blaze at a clothing workshop in Junbu in the southern province of Guangdong last week, the official Xinhua news agency said late Wednesday. The workshop owner's toddler ignited a stack of sponges while playing with a lighter, the report said, citing local investigators. Xinhua said the families of those killed in the fire had been compensated. — AFP |
|
|
Chinese monks form anti-terror squad
BEIJING, April 3 The team at the 1,700-year-old Lingyin Temple in the tourist city of Hangzhou is made up of 20 monks and more than 20 security guards, the official Xinhua news agency quoted the temple's Buddhist Master Jueheng as saying. The squad's members are equipped with shields, pepper spray and batons. It is the first time a Chinese temple has set up such a team, Xinhua said. "The squad members practice Buddhism in the day and take part in training exercises at night," Jueheng said, adding police helped with the training. "We set up the squad to guard against violence and terrorist attacks in a bid to protect the safety of
|
|
|
4 dead, 16 injured in US military base shooting
Houston, April 3 The gunman, identified as Ivan Lopez, 34, opened fire at two locations in Fort Hood — inside a building housing a medical brigade and in a facility belonging to a transportation battalion — prompting authorities to order a lockdown. The suspect, a soldier who had served in Iraq, "had behavioural health and mental health" issues, the army post's commander Lt General Mark Milley said. He said there was no known motive for the shooting. "There is no indication that this incident is related to terrorism, although we are not ruling anything out," he said. Milley said the incident began at the administration building for the medical brigade. The suspect then moved by car to the transport battalion. "He was confronted by a military police officer and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in a parking lot," he said. Milley said the suspect was carrying a .45 calibre Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol bought recently in the local area and not registered with the base, as is required. Another US official said the shooter was wearing combat fatigues. The lockdown was lifted at the base about five hours later. US President Barack Obama expressed sorrow that tragedy had once again struck the base. "We're heartbroken that something like this might have happened again," the President said. He promised to "get to the bottom" of the latest incident. — PTI
|
|
|
Christie’s to auction Indian art, gems London, April 3 "It is definitely the top lot among the Indian works, which also include some great paintings as well as works on paper such as manuscripts," said Sara Plumbly, head of the Islamic and Indian Department at Christie's at King Street, London. "The market for Indian works of art has really strengthened, especially over the last two years. With every sale we see new buyers emerging," she added. The Islamic Art Week sale at Christie's, between April 8 and 11, also includes the sale of Oriental rugs and carpets and is preceded by an exhibition open to the public over the weekend. Another highlight from the Mughal courts of India is a high quality jade pendant (haldili) priced between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds and elegantly inscribed with verses from the Quran dating back to 1597-98 AD. — PTI Paintings of Sikh interest
* Included in the small selection of paintings of Sikh interest is a portrait of Rani Jindan, Maharaja Ranjit Singh's youngest wife (1,500 pounds). *
Rani Jindan was the mother of Maharaja Duleep Singh and became the regent when her son ascended the throne when he was only 5. She died in London in 1863. |
Security forces kill 40 militants near Baghdad US built secret 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest Turkey lifts controversial Twitter ban Indian-origin student deported from UK Nigella Lawson ‘barred from US’ Indian jailed for molestation, theft 9-month-old booked for murder in Pakistan Top Al-Qaida man gets death in Saudi Arabia Obamacare law should be repealed: Jindal Couple banned from naming baby
'Wikileaks'
|
|||||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Multinational teams searching for the missing Malaysian plane in the Indian Ocean today injected fresh momentum into their efforts to locate the jet, as its black box's battery was left with just three days of power.
Ukraine's Western-backed leaders today blamed Russian agents and the ousted pro-Kremlin president for organising two days of carnage in Kiev that killed nearly 90 supporters of closer EU ties.
The explosive allegation were levelled only moments after Russia lashed out at NATO for building up the defences of ex-Soviet nations and brandished the threat of further hikes in the price Ukraine must pay for gas after ousting its Kremlin-backed leaders.
A soldier opened fire today at an enormous US army base in Texas, which was the scene of a deadly shooting rampage in 2009, killing three persons and wounding 16 others before taking his own life.
The gunman, identified as Ivan Lopez, 34, opened fire at two locations in Fort Hood — inside a building housing a medical brigade and in a facility belonging to a transportation battalion — prompting authorities to order a lockdown.
