Agitated Bollywood workers call off strike

Mumbai, Oct 03: The strike by Bollywood technicians and workers that had paralysed the city-based film industry for the past three days, was called off Friday evening after the producers' association agreed to most of their demands, said an official. The workers were on strike to demand less working hours, better pay and timely payment. "They have agreed to almost all our demands, and from tomorrow (Saturday) workers will go back to work," Dinesh Tiwari, general secretary Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), told reporters. Well-known producers TP Aggarwal, Ratan Jain, Manmohan Shetty, Mukesh Bhatt, Vashu Bhagnani among others were present at the meeting. Dheeraj Kumar represented the TV producers association. They have signed a fresh agreement with the workers association. The FWICE has 22 unions and all its 140,000 workers were on strike. The FWICE went on strike for alleged "unethical practices" of the producers' associations. Two years ago, the four main producers' organisations had signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FWICE and the Cine and TV Artists Association. The MoU revised and specified parameters such as technicians' working hours, payment tariffs and time limit for payment, but these were allegedly being flouted by the producers' associations. The MoU stipulated that the producers must clear the dues within 120 days of services taken, but many workers alleged they had not been paid since February this year. Some film stars like Shah Rukh Khan, who also runs a production house of his own, have supported the workers' cause.

Source:- www.zeenews.com

59 Tamil Tigers, two soldiers killed in Lanka clashes

Colombo, Oct 03: At least 59 Tamil Tigers and two soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where the Air Force fighter jets targeted key LTTE bases, including a building once used by the outfit's political head B Nadesan as his office, officials said on Friday. The building in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi, which was among those bombed by the Sri Lankan security forces this morning, used to be occupied by Nadesan when he was the police head of the outfit. Nadesan succeeded S P Tamilchelvan as the LTTE's political wing chief after the latter was killed in a raid by the Air Force in November last year. "The main office complex of LTTE leader Nadesan was located at 500m West of Driyarukulam and it was engaged around 9.20 am today," Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, said. At the same time, he said, the fighter jets pounded an LTTE military base located one kilometre north of Triarukulam in the general area of Pravipanjan in Kilinochchi. The Air Force launched the strikes on real-time information acquired through continuous ground and air surveillances, the Defence Ministry said. In ground clashes, security forces killed three LTTE cadres in Kottukulam, north of Morawewa in Trincomalee today, the ministry said. Continuing with their march towards Kilinochchi, the troops moved further north across the east of Akkarayankulam yesterday, it said. At least four LTTE cadres and two soldiers were killed in the region during clashes yesterday, the ministry said. Security personnel operating in Pannikankulam in northwest of Mankulam in Kilinochchi gunned down eight LTTE rebels during clashes yesterday, the ministry said. In the western half of the Kilinochchi battlefront, troops confronted the rebels early this morning, officials said, adding that intercepted LTTE communication revealed that six Tamil Tigers were killed and another six injured in the incident. Separately, snipers deployed in the Vannerikulam forward area of Kilinochchi shot dead two LTTE cadres yesterday, the military said. While an LTTE cadre was killed in Andankulam in northeastern Welioya yesterday, nine others died later in the day during confrontations with security forces, it said. Security forces gunned down two Tiger rebels in Iranamadu in Mullaittivu during clashes yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said. While two LTTE cadres were killed in Mankulam, another was shot dead in Kokavil area yesterday, the MCNS said. In fierce clashes in the same region later in the day, troops killed five Tiger rebels, it added. As many as five LTTE cadres were gunned down in Paraikandanmadu yesterday, the MCNS said, adding another Tiger rebel was killed in Madam area. In Vavuniya, troops gunned down two LTTE cadres in Pannakankulam and another two in Navakkulam, the MCNS said. While two Tamil Tigers were fatally shot in Kallikulam, two others were gunned down in Panikanirayi in Vavuniya yesterday, it said. In Jaffna, troops killed two LTTE rebels in Nagarkovil area yesterday, the MCNS said.
Source:- www.zeenews.com

Thailand`s top politicians agree to amend Constitution

Bangkok, Oct 03: Senior Thai politicians agreed on Friday to amend the country's contentious military-backed Constitution in order to break a political deadlock. New Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat held a two-hour meeting with opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, House Speaker Chai Chidchob and Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondet in Parliament to negotiate the deal. "The meeting aimed to solve our country's problem and head towards reconciliation," Somchai told reporters. "This solution is the best solution and must be acceptable to people no matter if they agree or disagree. They have to listen to the majority," he added. The current Constitution was drafted by a panel named by royalist generals who staged the 2006 coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit told reporters that changing the charter would allow for greater participation in the political process. "At the meeting everybody agreed that the one way to solve the current crisis is to begin political reform by amending article 291, paving the way for more people participation," Abhisit said. A meeting of all political party leaders with the House and Senate speakers is planned for next Monday, he added. Anti-government demonstrators have been rallying outside government offices for months, partly in protest at planned Constitutional changes. People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has been fighting to bring down the democratically elected government, which it accuses of being too close to Thaksin.

Sourse:- www.zeenews.com

2300-yr-old paddy pot found

Colombo, Oct 03: A pot containing paddy grains believed to be from the 3rd century BC has been discovered from the archaeological site of Akurugodawaththa in Tissamaharamaya area of southern Sri Lanka. The paddy pot was found at the soil layer that was 4.5 meters below the surface. Foundations, walls, broad brick floors, pillar holes, hearths, pieces of earthen pots, and large earthenware were also found at this historical site. Ruins of a residential complex of noblemen were unearthed recently near this layer, according to a report. The ruins were excavated from a soil layer five meters below the surface close to Tissamaharamaya area. An ancient hospital's ruins were also discovered close to this site, website 'LankaPage' reported. Tissamaharamaya is believed to have been the capital of the Magama Kingdom in Ruhuna, and Akurugoda, where the excavations are being conducted, is believed to be the inner city of this kingdom.

Source:- www.zeenews.com

1 killed, 6 injured in crude bomb explosion in Gujarat

One person was killed and six people were injured in an explosion in Modasa town of Gujarat's Sabarkantha district on Monday night, officials said. "There has been an explosion in Modasa town but we are yet to confirm how it took place. The bomb and dog squads have been rushed to the site," District Superintendent of Police R B Bhrambhatt said. The injured were being transfered to the nearby hospitals, police said. The low-intensity blast resembled the explosion Mehrauli locality in south Delhi witnessed on Saturday last, officials said.Earlier, seventeen crude bombs were found on Monday near the Kalupurdarvaja of the city, police said.The bombs found were not sophisticated devices but crude explosives, police said.Further investigations are on, police said.
Sources-www.ndtv.com

Suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist arrested

A suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist, allegedly involved in Ahmedabad and Lucknow bomb blasts, was arrested here on Monday with police claiming this had brought to light strong links between the IM and the HUJI.Identified as Mohammad Arif alias Abdul Kadeer, he is a native of Sanjarpur village in Azamgarh district, state Director General of Police Vikram Singh told reporters here.During his interrogation, Arif had admitted his involvement in the bomb explosion in the premises of a court here on November 11 last year and Ahmedabad serial blasts on July 26 this year.Arif was arrested from Charbagh Railway Station following information provided by Saif, a suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist, who was caught in connection with Delhi bombings on September 19, the DGP said.Arif's name also cropped up during interrogation of Abu Bashar, also a suspected IM terrorist, who was arrested last month, the police officer said.With Arif's arrest, more information about coordination between the IM and the HUJI had come to the fore, the DGP said.Arif had provided vital information about cooperation between the two outfits and their funding through Hawala channels, he said.Arif, who is staying in Daliganj area in the state capital, is preparing for the Combined Pre-Medical Test (CPMT), the DGP said.For this, he had taken admission in some coaching institutes in posh Hazratganj area.

Source--www.ndtv.com

A Chinese astronaut has become the first in his country's history to take a walk in space.

In an operation broadcast live on national TV, fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang emerged from the capsule orbiting the Earth to wave a Chinese flag.
Mr Zhai, 42, stayed outside the capsule for 15 minutes while his two fellow astronauts stayed in the spacecraft.
The exercise is seen as key to China's ambition to build an orbiting station in the next few years.
Mr Zhai began the manoeuvre just after 1630 Beijing Time (0830 GMT) on Saturday, and completed it about 15 minutes later.
"I'm feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world," he said as he climbed out of the Shenzhou VII capsule.

His colleague, Liu Boming, also briefly got his head out of the capsule to hand him the flag.
Mr Zhai wore a Chinese-made spacesuit thought to have cost between £5m and £20m ($10m-$40m) for the space walk.
The "yuhangyuan" (astronaut) was tethered to the capsule with an umbilical cable.
Mr Zhai retrieved an externally mounted experiment.
The third yuhangyuan on the mission is Jing Haipeng.

Leap
The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China on 25 September.

The rocket put the Shenzhou capsule in a near-circular orbit more than 300km above the Earth.
Earlier, Zhang Jianqi, one of the chief engineers for China's space programme, said keeping three men in the spacecraft, and then sending one outside, would be a "big test".
"This is a big technological leap," he told state-run news agency Xinhua.
"The risks are quite high. Sending up three astronauts is a jump both in quantity and quality."
The ship is to release a 40kg (90lb) satellite which will circle the orbiter and beam back images to mission control.
At the end of the mission, the Shenzhou re-entry capsule will target a landing in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
China became only the third nation after the United States and Russia to independently put a man in space when Yang Liwei, another fighter pilot, went into orbit on the Shenzhou V mission in October 2003.
Two years later, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a five-day flight on Shenzhou VI.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Xinhua posted an article on its website prior to the lift-off that was written as if Shenzhou VII had already been launched into space

Great progress' in US bail-out

US congressional leaders say they have reached the broad outline of a rescue plan for the American financial system.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said "great progress" had been made - but details remain to be worked out.
The Bush administration wants $700bn (£380bn) to be able to buy bad debt that is freezing up financial markets.
A vote could be held in the House of Representatives as early as Sunday, with negotiators keen to reassure the markets before they reopen on Monday.
The deal proposes that the government would spend the $700bn to buy up bad mortgage-related debts from US banks, borrowing the cash from the money markets by issuing more government debt.
A White House spokesman welcomed the announcement and praised the efforts of the negotiators.
"We're pleased with the progress tonight and appreciate the bipartisan effort to stabilise our financial markets and protect our economy," said Tony Fratto. The outline deal gives the treasury secretary powers to oversee the two-year plan, but critics have insisted on the inclusion of greater oversight and reporting.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the tentative agreement that appears to have been reached is thought to include a measure to limit the pay for executives of companies which seek financial assistance, which was a key demand of the Democrats.
At the request of Republicans, who have strongly criticised some elements of the administration's proposal, the accord is believed to include the setting up an insurance program for mortgage-backed securities
'All night'
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who took part in the talks, said that Congressional leaders had been "working very hard".
"We've made great progress toward a deal, which will work and will be effective in the marketplace, and effective for all Americans," he told a news conference.
But Ms Pelosi said the deal had to be committed to paper before it could be formally agreed.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Congress hoped to be able to make an announcement on the deal later on Sunday.
"We're committing it to paper tonight and our people will work all night long," he said.
Congressional leaders are trying to finalise the deal in time for the opening of the Asian markets on Monday morning
Source- www.news.bbc.co.uk

East Bengal begin League campaign on winning note

East Bengal reaped the fruits of a splendid first-half display to prevail over local challengers Chirag United 3-1 in their ONGC I-League opener at Barasat near here Friday. Overlapping defender Sur kumar Singh, the club's Ghanaian catch Yousuf Yakubu and the in-form Sunil Chettri found the mark for the winners, who overwhelmingly dominated their rivals in the first 45 minutes. Leading 3-0 at half-time, the red and yellow side switched into a defensive mode in the second session, and Chirag used the leeway to launch several raids and narrowed the scoreline through Shankar Oraon 12 minutes from close. The initial stages of the game saw East Bengal attacking with gusto as Chirag stopper Arnab Mondal had to rush in to make a goalline clearance after Chettri took a sortie in the sixth minute. The one-way traffic saw Brazilian Edmilson Marques set up Chettri, but the latter finished wayward. East Bengal went ahead in the 12th minute when Edmilson again did the spadework and released for Sur Kumar, who unleashed a brilliant shot that went in off the hands of Chirag goalkeeper Arindam Ghosh. The three-time champions doubled the lead six minutes later, as Yakubu scored the first goal for his new team by nodding home Renedy Singh centre from the left flank. Chirag's miseries were further compounded as Arnab made a faux pas in the 27th minute that saw East Bengal go up 3-0. Trying to cut out an aerial pass by Edmilson, Mondal headed towards his own goal, and Chettri rushed in to get to the ball, before placing it to the right of Arindam. Chettri's spirited display earned him the man of the match award. The formidable city club looked a pale shadow of their first-half brilliance in the later session, with the players looking fatigued and the midfield putting up a lacklustre show. Chirag, playing without any foreigners, controlled the game and pulled one back in the 78th minute. Gouranga Dutta passed from the right, and Oraon cut in and let loose a swerving left footer that completely flummoxed East Bengal custodian Subrata Pal before ramming into the net. IANS source-www.zeenews.com

Four persons were killed and 18 others injured when a low intensity bomb blast rocked a flower market in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area on Saturday

At least four persons were killed and 18 others injured when a low intensity bomb blast rocked a flower market in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area on Saturday afternoon. The national capital has been put on high alert following the blast. Police have also asked people to stay away from crowded markets of the city.At least four persons were killed and 18 others injured when a low intensity bomb blast rocked a flower market in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area on Saturday afternoon. The national capital has been put on high alert following the blast. Police have also asked people to stay away from crowded markets of the city.
source-www.zeenews.com