Joy as first Chile miners freed

The first miner to be rescued was Florencio Avalos

Three of the 33 miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in northern Chile have been rescued. The first, Florencio Avalos, reached the surface to cheers at 0010 local time (0310 GMT), after being winched up a 624m (2,047ft) shaft in a capsule. Mr Avalos was greeted on the surface by his family, and was hugged by President Sebastian Pinera. Next to emerge were Mario Sepulveda and Juan Illanes. In an address at the mine, Mr Pinera declared the rescue a miracle. Smiling broadly, he thanked the technical experts who had made it possible and said it was a night of emotion. Recalling the devastating earthquake that struck Chile in February, he said the miners had shown that "when Chile is united, we are capable of doing great things". "This country shows its true soul, shows what is capable of, when we face adversity." But the president added: "This won't be over until all 33 are out."

Sachin Tendulkar hits sixth double century

Sachin Tendulkar Completed his sixth double century

Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday completed his sixth double hundred in Test cricket, adding to the mountain of runs he has accumulated in his over two-decade career. Tendulkar continued to grind the Australian bowling attack on the fourth day of the second and final Test in Bangalore. Tendulkar, who was unbeaten on 191 at the end of the third day's play, reached the landmark in the sixth over of the day. This is Tendulkar's second double century against Australia, the first one being an unbeaten 241 in Sydney in January 2004. Tendulkar is the only batsman in the world to hit a double century in ODI cricket.

Tendulkar is the only man to post 1,000 runs in a calendar year on six occasions -- with Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Brian Lara hitting this milestone five times. His superb knock took Tendulkar's aggregate for the year so far to 1194 runs at an average of 99.5. On Day 3, Tendulkar wrote another record by his name by making a 150-plus score for the record 20th time, surpassing Brian Lara's 19. He also became only the third batsman, after David Gower and Jack Hobbs to score 3000 Test runs against Australia. On the second day of the Test, Tendulkar had passed 14,000 Test runs, taking just 12 innings to race there - the fastest he has ever gone from one 1,000-run mark to the next.  

Tendulkar now has 95 international centuries, including 46 in ODIs. With just five centuries left to complete a ton of tons in international cricket, Tendulkar is expected to complete the 50 Test centuries by the time the three-Test series against New Zealand ends next month.

North Korea leader's eldest son opposes dynasty

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il

The eldest son of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il says he opposes a hereditary transfer of power to a third generation of his family. Kim Jong Nam's remarks come after North Korea unveiled his younger half brother, Kim Jong Un, as successor to their father in Pyongyang. Japan's TV Asahi showed Kim making the remarks in footage aired Tuesday from an interview in Beijing on Saturday. Kim Jong Nam was once considered likely to succeed his father. He reportedly fell out of favor after being caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001.He said that while he was against the succession, it should still be accepted if there are internal factors for carrying it oual factors for carrying it out.

Poland road crash near Warsaw leaves 17 dead

17 People Dead in Polish Capital

A road crash south of the Polish capital, Warsaw, has left 17 people dead,  police have said. The accident occurred at dawn in thick fog when a lorry and  a minibus collided near the town of Nowe Miasto nad Pilica, 80km (50 miles) from Warsaw. Sixteen people were confirmed dead at the scene and one later died in hospital. One person is being treated for serious injuries. Poland's Interior Minister Jerzy Miller is travelling to the crash scene. Polish police said the Volkswagen Transporter minivan was thought to be taking 18 people, probably seasonal workers, to their jobs and was overcrowded. All those killed were travelling on the bus. 

The lorry driver was slightly hurt. Police said excessive speed and poor weather conditions may have caused the crash. Police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski told local television: "The vehicle was unsuitable for passengers. The people were not wearing seatbelts. They were sitting on crates. "The bus swerved into the left-hand lane and hit a large articulated truck." Two air ambulances were unable to land at the crash site because of the heavy fog. 

'Thirty-seven' people killed in Ukraine bus-train crash

At least 37 people have been killed

At least 37 people have been killed in a collision between a train and a small bus in eastern Ukraine, officials say. The incident happened in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a police spokesman said. The bus attempted to cross the track, ignoring a siren warning of an approaching train, local railway officials are quoted as saying by AP news agency. Rescuers and investigators are working at the scene of the crash, they said. The accident occurred at about 0900 local time (0600 GMT) in the town of Ordzhonikidze, police said.

Woman, 101, to become U.S. citizen with help of 69-year-old document

Citizenship: The 101-year wait

Eulalia Garcia Maturey has outlived two husbands, her two children and decades of bygone immigration laws. At 101, Maturey will become a U.S. citizen on the 101st anniversary of her crossing into the United States from Mexico. The naturalization ceremony will take place Tuesday afternoon in a federal courtroom in Brownsville, Texas, according to the Department of Homeland Security's Citizenship and Immigration Services. Maturey described the feeling of becoming a citizen with one word: "Libre," Spanish for "free." And then in a feisty Spanish voice that makes it hard to believe she's only 4-foot-7, she explained why becoming a citizen at this late stage of her life is so important. "I want to spend the rest of my days in this life living legally in the United States," Maturey told CNN this week. "I was raised here, and I want to die here." Maturey also said she feels American in every way but knows that technically she's not an American, at least not yet. Eulalia Maturey's path to citizenship is a tale that captures the unusual way of life on the Texas-Mexico border. On October 12, 1909, Maturey was just a baby in her mother's arms crossing the Rio Grande on a ferry boat from Matamoros, Mexico, into Brownsville, Texas.

In those days, crossing the border was a simple routine. There were no border patrol agents, and checkpoints focused on customs and trade issues, according to Anthony Knopp, a history professor at the University of Texas at Brownsville specializing in U.S.-Mexico border relations. "We were on the fringe back in those days," said Knopp. "It wasn't hard to cross the border. There was nobody looking to round people up and send them back to Mexico." Maturey and her single mother settled into a quiet life in Brownsville. Her mother earned money washing clothes, but she never met her father. Maturey dropped out of school after third grade. "I didn't want to go anymore," Maturey said. So then she started helping her mother sift through the growing piles of laundry that needed to be washed and folded. Maturey married her first husband at 16; he died five years later. Shortly after, she married her second husband and had two children. In 1940, Congress passed the World War II Alien Registration Act, which made it a federal crime to advocate overthrowing the government. But the law also required noncitizens already in the country to register with the government. Maturey did so along with millions of others in the United States.

Just before the start of World War II, Maturey received a "Certificate of Lawful Entry" card from the U.S. government issued to her on April 4, 1941. She never imagined that little document would make it possible for her to become a U.S. citizen. She figured it came with an expiration date. For decades, Maturey didn't really know what her legal status was in the United States. She feared asking too many questions might get her deported. She crossed the border routinely to visit family in Mexico. Border agents rarely asked for any documentation and when they did, she simply called herself a U.S. citizen. Then in 2008, the United States started requiring everyone to show a passport when crossing the border. Maturey knew she couldn't take anymore chances; it was time to find out once and for all where she stood. Maturey's niece, Yolanda Ovalle, took her to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Brownsville, and that's where they met Sheila Lucio, a 29-year veteran of the government agency. "I fell in love with her. She's real feisty," Lucio told CNN. When Lucio tried finding Eulalia Maturey's name in the computer system, she couldn't find it. "If you came to us before we entered the computer age, we didn't have your records," said Lucio.

So Maturey pulled out that 69-year-old "Lawful Entry" card. Her niece says she took care of that little piece of paper for decades. "The permit is perfectly cared for," said Yolanda Ovalle. "She's a perfect lady." With that document, government officials were able to find her Legal Permanent Resident documents in the archives in Washington. "We would never have been able to establish her registration status without that document," said Maria Elena Garcia-Upson, a public affairs officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "It would have been hard to prove." The paperwork is all squared away. Maturey passed the citizenship exam and now 101 years after that short ferry ride across the Rio Grande with her mother, Eulalia Maturey is set to become a citizen of the United States. It will be an emotional day for Maturey's family, but they've never seen her cry and they wonder if this will be the day they'll see a tear.

Nigeria terrorist attack suspect's court date pushed back

Explosions on Independence Day

Henry Okah is being held in a Johannesburg, South Africa, prison, but his lawyer, Rudi Krause, wants him separated from the general prison population for his safety, he said. He is being charged under terrorism legislation, Krause said. Extradition has not been discussed, he added. The prosecutor and police have applied for the hearing to be postponed to Tuesday morning, the lawyer said. Okah is suspected of being an influential member of the group that took responsibility for the bombings that killed 12 people and injured 50 in Nigeria on Friday. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, known as MEND, issued a statement Saturday saying it had given the Nigerian government advance warning. The Nigerian Intelligence Service said Monday that nine people have been arrested and are being questioned in connection with the blasts Friday in the nation's capital, Abuja. Authorities are still seeking two men, identified as Chima Orlu and Ben Jessy, whom they accuse of being the "masterminds" of the plot. But sources close to MEND told CNN that the two men are "not known to be MEND operatives or known to be active on the Niger Delta issue." They also raised concerns about the nine other arrests, calling them an "attempt by the Nigerian government to be seen to act."

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Andrew Azazi, his former chief of defense staff, to be the country's national security adviser in the wake of the bombings, Jonathan's office told CNN on Monday. The attack came as the West African country celebrated 50 years of independence. MEND blamed the government for the deaths. "The irresponsible attitude of the government security forces is to blame for the loss of lives," the MEND statement said. "The security forces were also warned one full hour to the first bomb blast ahead of the general alert sent to the media and told to steer the public from all parked cars which was not done," the statement continued. Jonathan later called the action a terrorist attack that was designed to "disrupt" the anniversary, presidential spokesman Imo Niboro said. But he said it had nothing to do with Niger Delta issues or MEND. MEND, which represents militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta, is an umbrella organization of several rebel groups. It has been battling the government for years over fairer distribution of the country's oil wealth. MEND said Okah had been harassed by authorities in South Africa, where he lives, but denied his involvement. "Okah has never been involved in a "Okah has never been involved in any MEND operations but has always been blamed for every attack, which is strange to us," MEND's statement said.

Indian shooters bag two golds at Commonwealth Games

Indian Shooters Win the First Gold Medal in Common Wealth Games 2010

After Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang bagged gold for the men's 10 m air rifle pair's event, Anisa Syyed and Rahi Sarnobat won second gold medal for India in 25m standard pistol pairs event at the 19th Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.Earlier, Abhinav Bindra and Gangan Narang fired in unison and shot a Games record 1193 in men's 10m air rifle event to give the country its first gold medal. The pair together scored 1193 to break their own record, which they had set four years ago in Melbourne, by notching up 1189. World record holder Gagan, coming off a none-too-impressive season, shot a spectecular sequence of 99, 100, 100, 99, 100, 100 to total a grand 598, while Beijing Olympic gold medalist, Bindra's series read 100, 98 ,99, 100, 99, 99 for a total of 595 in the first shooting event of the Games. England's James Huckle and Kenny Parr (1174) won the silver medal while Bangladesh's Abdullah Hel Baki and Md. Asif Hussain Khan (1173) had to be content with bronze. Both teams, however, were far behind the Indian dup of Bindra and Gagan. 


"Many thought I am a dictator, since I had imposed a gag order on the shooters prior to the Games. But whatever I was doing, I was doing for the country. And we have got the reward for that," said national coach Sunny Thomas. Thomas, however, cautioned that, instead of basking in glory, it would be wise to focus on the coming events. "This was easy but I am sure the coming events are going to be difficult. I am happy that both Gagan and Abhinav shot well today. It's certainly a good start for India and we hope to maintain the momentum," Thomas said. In another event, Sanjay Kumar entered into the final of Greco-Roman 74kg style of wrestling. Anil Kumar qualified for the finals of the Greco-Roman 96kg style of wrestling.

Taliban remove German militants' bodies after attack

US drone attacks have increased in the past month

The Taliban have removed the bodies of eight militants killed in a US drone attack in Pakistan, the BBC has been told. Pakistani security officials have confirmed that four of the dead were German nationals. They were killed by two missiles fired by a US drone at a house in North Waziristan. Security sources have closely linked the area to an al-Qaeda plot to attack European cities. The attack destroyed the home of a tribal leader with close links to a local Taliban commander in a village 3km (2 miles) from the main town of Mir Ali. Identification of the victims is being made more difficult because Taliban militants sealed off the area after the missile strike, taking away the remains for burial. A number of people were said to have been wounded.There have been concerns about the presence of German nationals in Pakistan's tribal areas. According to German media, several Islamist militants disappeared from their homes in Hamburg in 2009 and were thought to have headed for North Waziristan. The arrest of one of those militants, Ahmed Sidiqi, in Afghanistan in July is said to have yielded useful intelligence to investigators. The previous month, German media reported that a 25-year-old German of Syrian origin, considered to be head of the Hamburg group, had been arrested in Pakistan.

On Monday, the German interior ministry revealed that 70 Germans had been given paramilitary training in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and one third of them had returned home. In August, German police shut down a mosque in Hamburg which had been used by the 9/11 attackers and which the authorities believed was again becoming a focus for extremists. Berlin, as well as Paris and London, was cited in a US warning at the weekend as a possible target for a suspected al-Qaeda plot. Several countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens, saying they should be vigilant while travelling in Europe. US media outlets reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had ramped up missile strikes from its unmanned drones, targeting militants who are believed to have inspired the alleged plot. In Pakistan, the US has carried out 26 drone strikes in the past month - the highest monthly total for the past six years.

India win Mohali cliffhanger to go up 1-0 against Australia

Team India Win The Match Against Australia On Mohali...

VVS Laxman overcame his sore back to become the hero of a nail-biting one-wicket victory for India, who retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in dramatic fashion in Mohali. In one of the most memorable finishes in recent history, Pragyan Ojha picked up two leg-byes off Mitchell Johnson to seal the result, which until that delivery could also have been a tie or an Australian win. The match was firmly in Australia's grasp when the No. 10 Ishant Sharma joined Laxman with 92 runs still required, but the pair ground Australia down and left a dejected Ricky Ponting still winless as a Test captain in India. The visitors' hopes were raised again when Ben Hilfenhaus (4 for 57) trapped Ishant lbw - although the ball would have missed leg stump - with 11 runs needed. In the final, chaotic scenes, Australia continued to attack, desperate for one wicket. They thought they had it two balls before the winning runs were struck, when Mitchell Johnson rapped Ojha on the pads only to have a strong lbw shout denied. Adding to the commotion, Ojha wandered out of his crease and a throw from gully that would have found him short missed the stumps and ran away for four overthrows.

When the winning leg-byes arrived, the Indian players streamed onto the field as the Australians thrust hands on heads. For sheer on-field tension, the finish ranked up there with Australia's last-minute SCG win of 2007-08. But that match was overshadowed by claims of poor sportsmanship; this time there should be no such post-script. On that occasion Ishant was the last man out as the sun set over Sydney; in Mohali he was every bit as important as Laxman, with a defiant innings of 31 in their partnership of 81. But Laxman was the star. The Australians will wonder how they let such a golden opportunity slip; the answer lies in the hands, or wrists, of one of their chief tormentors of recent years. Entering the final day, Ponting's men feared Sachin Tendulkar, who went to stumps unbeaten on 10, much more than they were concerned about Laxman. They knew that in the first innings VVS had been very, very sore. He'd batted at No. 10, with a runner, and was hampered in his strokeplay. Two days later, the man with the most unique initials in cricket was very, very stubborn. Again he had a runner, Suresh Raina, but just as important were the eight boundaries he struck in his 73, which came from 79 deliveries. Had he not started to farm the strike in the dying stages, he would have finished with a strike-rate of more than 100 for only the fourth time in his 188 Test innings.


Laxman flicked the ball through gaps and was always looking to counterattack as Ponting continued to set aggressive fields. His approach was critical, for Australia had all the momentum in the hour before lunch when Doug Bollinger, who did not take the field after lunch due to abdominal stiffness, made two breakthroughs, including the key wicket of Tendulkar for 38. But try as they might, Australia under Ponting simply haven't been able to close out a victory in India. In 2008 he was over-defensive, failing to push for wickets and grab opportunities when they arose. This time Ponting didn't do much wrong; Laxman was just too good. India began the day needing 161 runs and for an hour they were cruising, as Tendulkar and Laxman brought the target down with a rapidity that alarmed Ponting. Nathan Hauritz had picked up the night-watchman Zaheer Khan, caught at slip, but was leaking runs and when he conceded 14 off an over, Ponting knew the fast men were his only option. Cheers went around the ground as Tendulkar passed 1000 Test runs in a calendar year for the sixth time in his career, and it seemed that he was destined to deliver India to victory. But his desire to score quickly brought his undoing, when he tried to cut Bollinger over the cordon to the vacant third-man region.

The ball was too close to his body and he steered it to gully, where Michael Hussey grabbed the sharp chance. Tendulkar was gone, and the atmosphere cooled down slightly as the runs began to dry up. Then came the second big moment of joy for Australia, when the presence of a runner cost MS Dhoni his wicket. Laxman drove Bollinger to mid-on and his runner Raina took off for what should have been a comfortable single. But Dhoni appeared confused by Laxman remaining in his ground and the hesitation was enough to give hope to the fielder Hilfenhaus, whose superb direct hit at the striker's end finished Dhoni's stay on 2. When Bollinger's fast, well-directed bouncer had a fending Harbhajan Singh caught at slip two balls later, Australia were in control. Laxman and Ishant had other ideas, and the rest is history. The great shame is that this is only a two-match series.

Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/ausinind10/news_story.aspx?ID=SPOEN20100155396&keyword=news&nid=57124&cp

Full Scoreboard (India Vs Australia)

Read more at: http://cricket.ndtv.com/ausinind10/news_story.aspx?ID=SPOEN20100155396&keyword=news&nid=57124&cp

French trader Kerviel guilty in corruption trial

Alleged rogue trader Jerome Kerviel arrives for his trial at Paris courthouse on June 8.

Trader Jerome Kerviel was found guilty of all charges Tuesday for allegedly betting 50 billion euros ($61 billion) of a French bank's money without its knowledge. Kerviel, a former employee of French bank Societe Generale, went on trial in June on charges of forgery, breach of trust and unauthorized computer use. The banks says the unhedged bets cost it almost $6 billion. The judge sentenced Kerviel to a five-year sentence, suspended for two years, meaning he will serve three years in prison. He was also ordered to pay 4.9 billion euros ($6.75 billion) in damages to the bank. That monetary amount is far more than prosecutors had asked. It was thought before the verdict that Kerviel faced a fine of as much as 375,000 euros (about $460,000).

Kerviel's lawyer, Olivier Metzner, called the verdict "unreasonable" and said he planned to appeal. He has 10 days in which to do so. Kerviel had pleaded guilty to the charge of computer abuse, but Metzner had asked jurors in his closing arguments to acquit his client of the charges of breach of trust and forgery. Metzner previously told CNN that Kerviel's behavior was strongly influenced by the environment at Societe Generale. "The banks are the ones to blame for the banking system and the systematic economic crisis, not Jerome Kerviel," he said. Kerviel traded European index futures for the bank. He was the only person ever charged in the case, despite claiming he did everything with the knowledge of his superiors. "I am convinced the criminal file is full of elements proving that my superiors knew and covered for me. At least I shouldn't be the only one in the dock," he told CNN after the release of his memoirs, "Trapped in a Spiral: Memoirs of a Trader" in which he pleads his innocence. "During three years, these managers earned colossal amounts of money out of bonuses based on the ever-growing results that I was making for the bank," he said. Societe Generale, which said it discovered the losses in January 2008, said that at no time were supervisors aware of Kerviel's alleged unlawful activities.

Rabri Devi to contest Bihar polls from two seats

Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi will contest the state assembly elections from two constituencies this month

Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi will contest the state assembly elections from two constituencies this month, her husband and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) head Lalu Prasad announced on Monday.

She will contest from Raghopur and Sohanpur in the third phase of state assembly elections, he told reporters here.

The RJD also released the second list of 60 candidates for the third and fourth phases of the polls.

Kalyan writes to PM on 67-acre land in Ayodhya

Ayodhya Land

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today demanded that the Centre give the 67-acre land acquired by it for construction of Ram Temple there.


"There is no dispute over 67 acre land acquired by the Centre in Ayodhya therefore it should be given for the construction of a grand temple of Ram," Kalyan, who was the Chief Minister when Babar Masjid was demolished in 1992, told reporters here.


"I have written a letter to the Prime Minister today in this regard," he said.


The former BJP leader said that the High Court has given its verdict on 1,500 square feet land, which was in question.


"If this 1,500 square feet land is divided in three parts, then only 500 square feet would be available for the construction of the temple which is insufficient," he said.


Kalyan claimed that the court in its verdict had admitted that so called mosque was constructed after demolishing a "Grand Temple" and decided that Ramlala Virajman was the owner of the Janmbhoomi.


"However in the second part of the verdict the disputed land has been divided in three parts which means that only one-third land would be available for Ramlala," he said.


He said that the land was very less to construct a grand and historical temple for Ram.


"On this much land a temple as imagine can never be constructed," he said.


Kalyan said that division of 67 acre land would not be justified as it would become a bone of contention which will not be in the interest of either Muslims or Hindus.


"Construction of temple would develop Ayodhya as a international tourist centre and generate revenue to the tune of several crore rupees," he said.


The former BJP leader said that he would meet MPs and ask them to mount pressure on the Centre for the transfer of 67 acre land.


He said that implementing the High Court verdict was the responsibility of the Centre as well as the state government.


"Chief Minister Mayawati has held Centre responsible, but in reality it is the responsibility of the state as well," he said.


He said tight security arrangements should be made to protect Ram Janmbhoomi as anti-social elements and communal forces can go to any extent to damage it.


"In the past terrorist had made an attempt to destroy the temple there therefore the Centre and the state should not confused by the silence after the Ayodhya verdict," Kalyan said.


The JKP founder said that giving land for Ram temple would wash all the sins of the Congress.


"As far as the BJP is concerned it should stay away from the temple movement," he said.

Andhra Pradesh CM greets people on Mahatma Gandhi's 141st birth anniversary

Mahatma Gandhi's 141st birth anniversary

Chief Minister Dr. K.Rosaiah has reiterated his Government’s commitment to ensure that the benefits of all the welfare and developmental programmes initiated by the state government reach the poorest of the poor, as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. Paying rich tributes to the Father of the Nation on the occasion of his birthday on October 2, the Chief Minister recalled Gandhiji’s words that ‘while taking up development or welfare programme and initiating any social security schemes, the government should think of the poorest of the poor’.

The Chief Minister said his government would strive to realise Gandhiji’s dream of a welfare State. He said his government would effectively implement all the schemes intended for the poor like the Rs.2 a kg rice scheme, Indiramma housing, free power for farmers, Aarogyasri, 108 and 104 ambulance services etc..

He asserted that his government would continue all the programmes contemplated and initiated by late Chief Minister Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy by strengthening the delivery mechanism, so that the benefits of the schemes would reach all sections of the people.

Reiterating that the saturation concept will continue in all welfare schemes, the Chief Minister said that the concept of the government to see that no single eligible individual in the State should be left uncovered by the benefits of the welfare and development programmes, had drawn inspiration from the “Sarvodaya” concept propounded by Mahatma Gandhi almost 100 years ago. Paying tributes to the Mahatma, the Chief Minister said that Gandhiji was a multi-faceted genius, a beacon light of peace to the entire humanity, and a legendary adored all over the world.

Mahatma Gandhi was not only an apostle of peace but also a leader of indomitable courage who carried the masses with him. Gandhiji humbled the mighty British Empire with non-violence and simplicity, a unique achievement that is. When he launched the freedom struggle, millions of people followed him with absolute faith.

Gandhiji never compromised his strong faith in 'peace and non-violence' in his relentless struggle for independence, the Chief Minister said. His patriotic fervour and spirit of service to the poorest of the poor and deprived classes of the society left an indelible mark. His life was his message in his own words, Dr.Rosaiah added.

Overcoming the barriers of language, caste, creed or religion, Gandhiji laid strong foundations for national integration, communal harmony and secularism which would be pursued by the people with great reverence for generations to come, the Chief Minister said. “Let us all pledge to work on Gandhian lines of peace, progress and equality of opportunity to one and all,” Mr Rosaiah said.

The World Today, Oct. 1 - Nigerian independence day bombs kill eight

Pakistan today closed the most important route for supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan in apparent retaliation for an attack on Pakistani border guards by coalition helicopters.

This latest breech in the increasingly tense relationship between the NATO allies and Pakistan comes as the chief of America's Central Intelligence Agency, Leon Panetta, is in Islamabad attempting to revive the security alliance with Pakistan.

Pakistani officials stopped fuel tankers and supply trucks today at Torkham border post north of the city of Peshawar on the highway to the Khyber Pass route to Afghanistan.

This is the most important route for all supplies except weapons going to the International Security Assistance Force in eastern Afghanistan and the capital, Kabul.

Oct. 1 - Nigerian independence day bombs kill eight

Another supply route from the Pakistani port city of Karachi goes through the southern city of Quetta to NATO forces in southern and western Afghanistan. This route is still open.

The Khyber supply route was closed after coalition helicopters attacking insurgents in Afghanistan, but close to the border, were fired on from inside Pakistan. The helicopters returned the fire and killed three Pakistani soldiers and wounded three others.

NATO says its pilots believed they were being attacked by insurgents inside Pakistan, and some reports say the Pakistani soldiers fired on the helicopters to warn them they had crossed the border.

This incident comes at a time of increasing public outrage in Pakistan at the use by NATO forces of unmanned, missile-equipped drone aircraft to kill suspected militants inside Pakistan. There have been 21 such attacks this month, the highest number since the campaign started in 2008.

Referring to NATO's cross-border strikes, Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik said today “We will have to see whether we are allies or enemies.”

And prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani is reported to have expressed “profound concern” over the attacks during his meeting with CIA chief Panetta. In an attempt to shore up what is seen as a vital relationship for the defeat of insurgents in Afghanistan, Panetta also held meetings today with Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari and the heads of the army and the powerful Inter-Service Intelligence agency. This is Jonathan Manthorpe in Vancouver.