| 16/03/2010 | Mother's joy after Sahil found in Pakistan |
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Sahil Saeed's mother spoke of her joy after she received a telephone call at her Oldham home from her five-year-old son following his release by kidnappers in Pakistan. Akila Naqqash, 31, said she was 'gobsmacked' after Sahil came on the phone after his 12-day kidnap ordeal to say: "I'm OK Mum". 
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| 16/03/2010 | Kidnap victim Sahil Saeed found barefoot in a field |
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Freed kidnap victim Sahil Saeed had his head shaved by his abductors and was discovered wandering barefoot through a field in Pakistan, it has emerged. Five-year-old Sahil, from Oldham, was found on Tuesday morning after he was released by his kidnappers at the end of a harrowing 12-day ordeal. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Kidnapped Sahil Saeed found in Pakistan |
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An Oldham boy kidnapped while on holiday in Pakistan nearly two weeks ago has been found safe and well, the British High Commission said today. Sahil Saeed, aged five, was snatched from a house in the town of Jhelum in the Punjab region of the country on March 4 after robbers held his family hostage at gunpoint. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Blackburn woman searches for mum she hasn't seen in 34 years |
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A woman is hoping that someone can help her trace her mum who she hasn’t seen for nearly 35 years. Parveen Akhtar of Blackburn was just five years old when she last met her mum Yasmin Hussain in Bradford. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Last moments of dad killed in 'drive by' shooting |
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Witnesses have described the aftermath of the shooting of a young dad allegedly killed by drive-by gunmen. |
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| 16/03/2010 | Khan Jnr's Pakistan hope |
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Haroon Khan, younger brother of Britain's world light welterweight champion Amir Khan, hopes to box for Pakistan at this summer's Commonwealth Games. An announcement is expected in the next few weeks after the 18-year-old from Bolton failed in his bid to win a senior ABA title last weekend. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Indian soap deals with issues of female feticide |
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It's been nearly a month and Megha Malik has only just taken a day off from shooting for the popular Colors TV show, Na Aana Is Des Laado.
Most people will recognise Megna as the over zealous lady of the house, Amma in the programme which deals with the controversial issues of female feticide and infanticide. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Academics gather at Bollywood and Beyond conference |
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Leading academics of Hindi cinema gathered to speak at the cinema studies conference Bollywood and Beyond, at University of Westminster’s recently launched India Media Centre. The nine experts from leading institutions in the UK and India presented on a range of Bollywood topics, to an audience of cinema fans and film students attending from as far afield as New York. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Akshay Kumar returns in Housefull |
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Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is all set to rock the Box Office this year with the much anticipated release of his first film of 2010, romantic comedy Housefull. Co-produced by Eros International, Housefull was filmed on location in UK, Italy, Hong Kong and India. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Shyam Benegal celebrated at film festival |
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One of India’s leading filmmakers, Shyam Benegal, is in the UK for a series of events exploring his vast career and celebrating his achievements in Indian cinema. As part of the Tongues on Fire 12th Asian Film Festival, the director is attending a range of functions across London, including a BAFTA interview, a director’s workshop at the University of Westminster, and a talk on women in films at the Nehru Centre. 
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| 08/03/2010 | From tea-boy to Bollywood star - Abhishek Bachchan on his climb to fame |
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In a 36 hour visit to the UK, Abhishek Bachchan gave London audiences an insight into his life and work at the 12th London Asian Film Festival. The actor opened the ten day series of events with a BAFTA interview and gala dinner on Friday, wrapping his jam-packed visit with an Actor’s Masterclass at a West End cinema on Saturday, before flying home. 
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| 03/03/2010 | Akshay Kumar kickstarts shoot for Tees Maar Khan |
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Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Bollywood’s most lovable director, Farah Khan have just kick-started their already-hyped new venture Tees Maar Khan at Mumbai's Film City. Akshay is currently shooting his introductory shot in the film - a major action comedy scene on a huge jumbo jet constructed by set director, Sabu Cyril. 
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| 03/03/2010 | Hrithik Roshan on the colours of love |
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On the occasion of Holi, Hrithik Roshan speaks up on his colourful life and his upcoming movie Kites, which stars Brazilian actress Barbara Mori and the beautiful Kangana Ranaut in a never-seen-before role. 
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| 08/03/2010 | 12th London Asian Film Festival attracts Bollywood stars |
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Bollywood fans in the UK will get the chance to interact with some of the biggest names in the Hindi film industry at the Tongues on Fire 12th London Asian Film Festival (5-14 March 2010). Leading Bollywood figures are scheduled to attend including Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Jaya Bachchan, Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore. 
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| 01/03/2010 | Abhay Deol raring to go with Road, Movie |
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One of the big winners at the weekend Filmfare awards was Abhay Deol starrer Dev D, which bagged a handful of statuettes.
Now the poster boy of offbeat Hindi cinema is back with his new release, Indo-American production Road, Movie. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Two charged over grave vandalism |
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Two people have been charged in connection with the vandalism of Muslim graves in south Manchester.
Joseph Brownhill, aged 23 of Barlow Terrace, Chorlton and a 16-year-old boy have been charged with criminal damage. |
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| 16/03/2010 | CCTV image released in hunt for armed robbers |
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Police in Bradford have released a CCTV image of robbers who targeted a jewellers in an armed robbery a week ago. The four suspects stole a substantial quantity of jewellery from Shaandar Zewar Jewellers in the Barkerend area on Monday 8 March at 11am. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Crash driver killed his closest friend |
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A medical student who killed his best friend in a ‘tragic’ car accident has been spared jail. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Bishop in plea for ban on EDL rally |
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The Bishop of Bolton is among a delegation who will meet government ministers ahead of a rally by the right-wing English Defence League on Saturday. The Rt Rev Chris Edmondson will travel to London with senior councillors and faith leaders to discuss concerns with Alan Campbell, parliamentary under-secretary of state for crime reduction. 
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| 15/03/2010 | Thieves steal £300,000 of jewellery |
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Thieves have left a Rochdale business on the verge of bankruptcy after stealing £300,000 of jewellery. Nomi Jewellers in Yorkshire Street was raided last weekend when a gang broke into the store through the window of the catering business next door before clearing out the stock. 
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| 16/03/2010 | Maya gets multi-crore garland; Cong, SP fume |
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bhaujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati’s multi-crore garland, which was reportedly made out of hundreds of Rs 1000 notes, is generating a lot of controversy.
The multi-crore garland was just a small part of the extravagant Rs 200 crore celebrations that marked the BSP’s 25th anniversary, and its founder Kanshi Ram’s birthday, with a massive rally in Lucknow.
But Mayawati could be in trouble over the multi-crore garland with the Opposition asking questions where did it come from.
Was the garland just an expression of BSP supporters’ love or was it the tax payers’ money?
The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the expenses incurred during the rally.
ibnlive.in.com/news/mayas-garland-creates-storm-cong-sp-ask-for-probe/111572-37.html
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| 16/03/2010 | SC to reconsider its Guj riots probe order |
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The Supreme Court on Monday decided to consider if it should recall its April 2009 order for probing the roles of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 other top state politicians and officials in the 2002 communal riots.
"We will consider whether this order in its entirety should be continued or recalled," said an apex court bench, referring to the April 27, 2009, order by another bench of erstwhile Justice Arjit Pasayat and Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly.
A bench of Justice Pasayat and Justice Ganguly had last April ordered the Raghavan panel, headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation director R K Raghavan, to probe the roles of 62 other top ranking politicians, bureaucrats and police officers of the state.
The bench of Justice DK Jain, which also included Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Aftab Alam, on Monday said it would hear the plea by former state legislator Kalu Bhai Maliwal for recall of the order in the week beginning April 5.
ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-to-reconsider-its-guj-riots-probe-order/111558-37.html
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| 16/03/2010 | 93 bomber was terror duo’s handler: Cops |
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A day after Riyaz and Abdul Latif were arrested in Mumbai for plotting attacks in the city, it’s getting clearer on who their Pakistani handler was. The Anti-Terrorism Squad now says that it is none other than Dawood gang member and 1993 bombings suspect, Bashir Ahmed.
According to the ATS, Karachi based Bashir Ahmad Khan Ain-ul-Haq Khan is believed to be the person who recruited and remote controlled the terror duo Riyaz and latif.
Bashir is a member of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang and features prominently in CBI’s wanted list of suspects for his alleged role in planning and executing the 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai. He is also a key lieutenant of top Mafioso Mushtaq Abdul Razzak Memon
The CBI also suspects Bashir Khan played a key role in landing of explosive, arms and ammunitions at Dighi and Shekhadi believes that he participated in several meetings where Dawood Ibrahim planned the serial bombings. He is among those to have allegedly received combat training in Pakistan.
ibnlive.in.com/news/93-bomber-was-terror-duos-handler-cops/111571-3.html
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| 16/03/2010 | General Fonseka set to face Sri Lanka military trial |
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Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate and ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka is set to face a court martial.
Mr Fonseka will be tried by a military tribunal on charges of participating in politics while in office and violating military procurement procedures.
He says the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to stop him contesting April’s parliamentary polls.
Gen Fonseka was arrested by the army last month. He lost to incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January.
Protests against his arrest and court martial have been held in Colombo.
Gen Fonseka was in charge of Sri Lanka’s army when it defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after 25 years of civil war.
But he and President Rajapaksa fell out over who should take credit for the victory - and both fought the presidential election boasting of their roles in the war.
Officials have also accused Gen Fonseka of plotting a coup and the assassination of President Rajapaksa - charges he denies - but those accusations will not figure at the court martial.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8569405.stm
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| 15/03/2010 | Cabinet approves bill allowing foreign univs in India |
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The Government on Monday approved a bill to allow foreign education providers set up campuses in India and offer degrees.
The Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, was cleared by the Union Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This paves way for its introduction in Parliament.
"This is a milestone which will enhance choices, increase competition and benchmark quality," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said after the approval of the bill by Cabinet. The bill seeks to regulate the entry and operation of foreign institutions, which will set up centre and offer degrees in India.
ibnlive.in.com/news/cabinet-approves-bill-allowing-foreign-univs-in-india/111539-3.html
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| 15/03/2010 | Kamal Nath takes the long and winding |
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It is tough being an Indian politician. A half-decent rapport with industry is viewed with suspicion unless you hasten to speak of inclusive growth. Jet-setting around the world trying to raise capital may be seen as personal extravaganza. Power breakfasts with Wall Street dealmakers or a nodding acquaintance with a World Bank official may well brand you as an exploitative capitalist. It takes a rare politician to do all this and yet retain his political ground.
Kamal Nath is a past master in that art. The roads and highways minister has earned the confidence of industry over the years with stints in commerce and environment ministries. He has also built a formidable political constituency and has been a member of Parliament continuously for the past three decades, save a couple of years. It also helps that he has the ears of Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi. It is from this position of strength that he attempts to script one of the biggest infrastructure rollouts in the world today.
ibnlive.in.com/news/forbes-india-kamal-nath-takes-the-long-and-winding-road/111528-3.html
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| 15/03/2010 | LeT has 20 terror targets in India: US lawmaker |
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Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba has identified as many as 320 targets across the globe, 20 of which are in India, a top US lawmaker has said.
"In the wake of the (26/11) Mumbai attack, investigators uncovered in controller records and e-mail accounts a list of 320 locations worldwide deemed by the LeT as possible targets for attack. Only 20 of the targets were located within India," Congressman Gary Ackerman said before a Congressional hearing last week.
"The LeT has been attacking US forces in Afghanistan almost from day one and their forces are present throughout Afghanistan. The LeT has been slaughtering Indians by the score for decades. The LeT has put the world on notice that they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it worldwide," he said.
www.indianexpress.com/news/let-has-20-terror-targets-in-india-us-lawmaker/590927/
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| 15/03/2010 | UK experts negotiating with pirates |
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A team of British experts are currently negotiating with Somali pirates for the release of the Sri Lankan crew members aboard the hijacked Saudi vessel ’Al-Nisr Al Saudi’ and the negotiations are expected to go on for over a month, sources said.
Sources at the Foreign Ministry told Daily Mirror online that the experts who are now in contact with the pirates via a satellite telephone and negotiating for the release of the 13 member Sri Lankan crew and the Greek national.
Sources added that the negotiations are expected to go on for over a month as the Somali pirates have demanded a staggering amount of US$ 20 million as ransom for the release of the crew.
According to the experts, the Sri Lankan crew members have been given satellite telephone facilities by the pirates and are able to contact their family members which proves they are unharmed and safe, sources added.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2391-british-experts-negotiating-with-pirates.html
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| 15/03/2010 | Knock-out cut-outs |
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Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya yesterday issued firm directions to all Senior DIGs and DIGs of the nine provinces to get the Officers in Charge of Police Stations to remove all cut-outs and hoardings of political party candidates with immediate effect. With polls in mind
The IGP issued these instructions following a directive by Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake that all cut-outs, hoardings and posters should be removed forthwith.
Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne who is in charge of the Police Election Secretariat will be tasked to ensure the IGP’s directions are complied with.
The IGP also asked Senior Police officers to educate their staff about the existing election and traffic laws which should be applied when they are deployed during the elections.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/15/sec01.asp
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| 15/03/2010 | Additional facilities for southern devotees visiting Nagadeepa |
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The Northern Provincial Council has arranged additional facilities including resting places, transport services and mini-markets for devotees from South visiting the Nagadeepa temple. For
“Shelter, additional boat services, canteen and transport facilities to reach the jetty etc will be specially arranged at the Kurikattuwan jetty for the pilgrims,” Northern Province Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri said.
A mini-market will be built at the Pannei causeway near the market center. A variety of Jaffna products will be displayed at this mini-market to attract pilgrims as well as tourists, he told the Daily News
The pilgrims visiting Nagadeepa will have more places to rest in the Jaffna Peninsula. Former Jaffna railway station and all Court houses have been converted into resting places for pilgrims and visitors. He said 10 school buildings constructed under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program will open in Jaffna next week.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/15/news02.asp
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| 15/03/2010 | Army builds houses for IDPs |
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A project to construct 680 houses for the displaced in Jaffna district is under way, said Security Forces Headquarters of Jaffna Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe. Major General Hathurusinghe said the houses would be handed over to the IDPs before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
He said the IDPs houses were built in their own plots. The Assistant Government Agent has to confirm the plot is owned by the IDP before the Army constructs the house.
Major General Hathurusinghe said the houses were built completely by the Army with funds from well wishers. The Army provides sand, cement blocks and labour while well wishers provide cement, roofing sheets and timber.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/15/sec02.asp
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| 15/03/2010 | Discrepancy in WB funding |
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The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) alleges that there is discrepancy in the funds allocation by the World Bank (WB) to Sri Lanka. SLMC Member, Hassen Ali told Daily Mirror online that his party had received several complaints from the public regarding discrepancies in the distribution of housing loans by the World Bank through the local authorities, and stated that opposition supporters were left out from the funding process
"Those who are not supporting the government are not receiving the monies. These monies belong to the World Bank and are distributed by the local authorities to the people to build houses. This is simply a plan by the government to buy votes before the general election," Hassen Ali said.
The SLMC has already notified the World Bank about the issue and will lodge an official complaint soon if no action is taken.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2368-discrepancy-in-wb-funding.html
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| 15/03/2010 | 26 killed as bus falls off a bridge after collision |
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At least 26 students were killed and 34 others injured when a bus carrying 62 people collided with a stationary vehicle and fell off a bridge in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur.
The accident happened on Monday morning when students of a teacher training college from Khanpur in Jhalawar were on their way back from a picnic in to Mathura.
While 21 died at the accident spot, five others died on way to the hospital. Out of the 62 people in the bus, 51 were students while nine were the staff.
Most of the victims were between the ages of 18-25 years.
ibnlive.in.com/news/26-killed-as-bus-falls-off-a-bridge-after-collision/111515-3.html
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| 15/03/2010 | Opposition unites against Nuclear Liabilities Bill |
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The crucial Nuclear Liabilities Bill is all set to be tabled in Parliament on Monday amidst opposition from the scientists and environmentalists.
"When the Prime Minister said we are now on the same dining table as the nuclear powers, he forgot to mention we were being invited not to dine but as the butlers to serve them," said an angry PK Iyengar, who is the former Atomic Energy Commission chairman.
CNN-IBN has learnt that the Bill in it’s current form caps the liability of the nuclear plant operator in case of an accident at $64 million, but in case of an award of damages amounting to more than $64 million dollars the government will foot the bill.
The award of damages will be determined by a Commission for Nuclear Liability.
What worries scientists and environment activists is that the total liability will be limited to $468 million.
ibnlive.in.com/news/opposition-unites-against-nuclear-liabilities-bill/111514-3.html
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| 15/03/2010 | Gujarat ATS nabs Hizbul terror suspect |
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The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday claimed to have arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen operative, Bashir Ahmad Baba, 32, a resident of Srinagar who was allegedly in Gujarat to set up a local network for recruiting youths for terror training. Baba, also known as the “Pepsi Bomber”, was arrested from Anand late on Saturday night.
“He came to Ahmedabad with some associates last month on the pretext of holding training sessions to run medical camps. He later sent his associates to other parts of Gujarat while he stayed on in Ahmedabad. He would often visit Anand to meet one of his contacts there, to set up a base and develop a wide network
for Hizbul Mujahideen. He would call local boys to the camps and pick recruits for terror training in PoK,” said ATS chief Ajay Tomar.
Asked if Baba had actually managed to send any recruits from Gujarat so far, Tomar said the ATS had reason to suspect so, but it could only be confirmed after further investigations.
www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Gujarat-ATS-nabs-Hizbul-terror-suspect/590880/
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