Govt will revoke special powers act, says Omar

Armed forces may be divested of their special powers in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since violence broke out in the Valley in early 1990s. Chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that the government was working towards revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives sweeping powers to troops.

Replying to a debate on AFSPA in the state assembly during his maiden address as the chief minister, Omar said: "We have started the process of revoking the AFSPA and Disturbed Area Act (DAA)."

The technology keeps on advancing step by step, and it brings happy news for all those who are Gizmo buffs.

To add more to their existing range, Virgin Mobile has launched yet another phone, ‘vGlide’, in the Indian market.

Targeting Indian youth, the slider phone has dimensions of 47.5mm X 99mm X 14.8mm.

The phone, which comes in a paprika red color with soft-touch finish, sports a 65k color, 1.8-inch large screen, and includes FM radio, speaker phone and games among other amazing features.

Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath on Thursday announced the interim Foreign Trade policy, which offers sops to exports in leather, textile, gems and jewellery and food product sectors.

The government has scaled down the export target to 175 billion dollar for this fiscal from the earlier target of 200 billion dollar.

Human rights advocate and community activist Martin Luther Kind III visited the headquarters of the Missionaries of the Charity on Thursday and prayed at the tomb of Mother Teresa.

"I am blessed that to get this opportunity to visit the place from where Mother Teresa carried out her service to humanity. World needs peace and humanity as Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi provided," Luther said.

Lakes and Waterways Development officials have initiated a massive drive against the houseboat owners and hoteliers around Dal Lake, who are allegedly polluting the lake by discharge of liquid and human waste.

Acting on the directives of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the authorities have directed to stop the operations of hotels, houseboats and commercial units as mentioned in the state pollution board's report filed on January 31.

The child actors of the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire" returned here on Thursday to a chaotic but rousing heroes' welcome.

Over 500 shantytowns gathered outside airport here and danced to the Oscar-winning score of the movie to fete the child actors outside airport here.

The child stars of 'Slumdog Millionaire' were feted like true celebrities here as the nation celebrated the film's Oscar haul.

Mohammad Azharuddin was ecstatic to be the part of the film and said if he would speak further, tears will roll down his cheeks.