Washington, Oct 24 : The US has reportedly welcomed the offensive launched by Pakistani security forces in the tribal areas in the recent weeks, saying that as a result of the move, fewer foreign fighters were now slipping into Afghanistan.

In a media briefing, US Defence Department spokesman Geoff Morrell welcomed “stepped-up operations” by the Pakistani military in Peshawar, and in Swat in particular, over the past two months.

“It is stepped up not just in terms of tempo, but in terms of effectiveness. As a result, we have seen some improvement in the flow of foreign fighters across the border into Afghanistan,” the Daily Times quoted Morrell as saying.

State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that state health department has already taken several steps to control population.

He said that the health department has accorded top priority to population control for 2009-10. There has already been a decline in the population growth rate of Assam, and the next survey will make this clear.

He added that that the Janani Suraksha Yojana, which provides financial incentive of Rs 1,400 to a mother in the event of a delivery in a government hospital, would now offer another Rs 1,000 if the family concerned opted for family planning.

Peshawar, Oct 24 : At least 35 Taliban were killed in the Bajaur Agency when Pakistan security forces carried out ground and air strikes there last evening, Frontier Constabulary (FC) sources said.

Jet fighters continued targeting suspected Taliban hideouts in Loyesam and Charmang, they said and added that eight associates of Taliban commander Maulvi Omer were killed in an attack on a hideout in Badan.

Ground forces pounded the Taliban positions with artillery late on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader, Raj Thackeray, was let off on interim bail on Wednesday, after spending a night at the Manpada police station, Thane.

On Tuesday MNS workers were at their boisterous best, destroying property, indulging in arson and wreaking havoc all over the state of Maharashtra. Things calmed down a little on Wednesday when the proceedings shifted to the Kalyan court, where Mr. Thackeray was produced in relation with a case registered at the Kalyan railway police station on October 19. The allegation against him was setting off attacks on North Indian students appearing for a Railway Recruitment Board examination. The court accepted his anticipatory bail application.

Jammu, Oct 24 : Jammu and Kashmir''s National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah has slammed the separatist groups for boycotting forthcoming Assembly provincial polls.

Abdullah said the separatists were trying to take advantage of the volatile situation since the Amarnath shrine land row erupted earlier this year.

The National Conference (NC) set the poll campaign rolling on Wednesday. It organized a rally at the sports stadium where around 3,000 people, mostly delegates, gathered to listen to Omar Abdullah who kicked off his party’s campaign.

“We realise that this time campaigning will not be easy. We have to tread a difficult path and we are ready for it. We deliberately chose the workers’ convention to kick-off our campaign. From tomorrow, we will have a full-fledged campaign in villages and other areas,” said the NC president.