PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Suicide car bombs tore through security offices in Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 13 people and heavily damaging the Peshawar headquarters of the country’s top intelligence agency.

The deadly assaults on Pakistan’s police and intelligence agents come with 30,000 troops pressing their most ambitious offensive to date against homegrown Taliban networks in their mountain strongholds on the Afghan border.

The three-storey Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) provincial headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar was heavily damaged, with huge clouds of smoke spewing into the sky and debris littering the ground, witnesses said.

The front and middle of the building collapsed, and five bodies lay on the road after the attack, said an AFP reporter in Peshawar, on the edge of Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt which is infested with Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

“I was busy at work then suddenly I heard gunfire. I saw a vehicle moving towards the ISI building and then there was a huge blast. I was thrown to the ground,” Azmat Ali, a 30-year-old mechanic told AFP in hospital.

“I don’t remember anything else, but there was dust everywhere,” he added after being treated for a broken shoulder.

The United States has put Pakistan on the frontline of its war against Al-Qaeda and has been increasingly disturbed by deteriorating security in the country where attacks and bombings have killed about 2,500 people in 28 months.

Pakistan’s military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said it was a suicide car bombing outside the intelligence office building.

“Five official personnel have been martyred,” Abbas told AFP.

Security officials put the overall death toll at 10 with more than 30 wounded.

“Ten people are dead… Up to 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of high explosives and mortars were packed into the car bomb,” North West Frontier Province police chief Malik Naveed told AFP.

“Our engineers are checking the rubble to see if anyone is trapped,” a senior military official told AFP.

A second suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a suburban police station in the garrison city of Bannu, southwest of Peshawar, killing three policemen and wounding 12 others, police said.

“The number of casualties is likely to rise because the injured are being pulled out from the rubble,” police chief Iqbal Marwat told AFP from the garrison town.

Peshawar has become a target for major attacks by suspected Taliban militants.

The most devastating bomb attack in Pakistan in two years killed at least 118 people in a crowded Peshawar market on October 28 as militants put ordinary civilians in the crosshairs of their bloody campaign.

Pakistan’s powerful and shadowy intelligence agencies have a history of supporting Islamist groups in a bid to counter rival India, but militant attacks have increasingly focused on domestic targets in the last two years.

Friday’s bombing in Peshawar was the first major attack outside an ISI installation since May, when a suicide attack on a police building in the city of Lahore killed 24 people.

The government blames increasing attacks on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is the target of the ongoing offensive and which wants to avenge the killing of their leader Baitullah Mehsud by a US missile in August.

The latest attacks came after stiff Taliban resistance killed at least 17 Pakistani soldiers Thursday in the military’s deadliest day since launching a major offensive in South Waziristan, security officials said.

Pakistan has pressed around 30,000 forces, backed by war planes and attack helicopters, into battle in a US-endorsed mission to wipe out the chief strongholds of Tehreek-e-Taliban in the tribal district of South Waziristan.

On Tuesday, a Taliban spokesman told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location that the militia had embarked on a guerrilla war from the mountains of South Waziristan and would attack cities as a matter of course.

Source of news  –  http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jAvZIjvs5XbgmVtzxSiOztIMMcYA

New Delhi; November 09, 2009; Jaypee Greens (A division of Jaiprakash Associates Limited – a well diversified infrastructural industrial conglomerate in India Over the decades it has maintained its salience with leadership in its chosen line of businesses – Engineering and Construction, Cement, Private Hydropower, Hospitality, Real Estate Development, Expressways and Highways.) has announced the bring of India’s first Sports City complex on the Yamuna Expressway in greater noida. 

Jaypee Greens Sports City
Welcome to Jaypee Greens Sports City, spread across 2500 acres of prime land in Greater Noida, at one of the most superior locations that Delhi/NCR has to offer, the integrated township offers an upscale residential lifestyle.

Strategically located on Yamuna Expressway
- A complete City spread over 2500 acres
- Motor Racing Track and Stadiums including a ICC standard cricket stadium
- Educational, Health Care and Recreational facilities
- Master Plan for 12 districts within the Sports City, designed by WATG, London The Jaypee Greens Sport City offers aunique model of real estate, with both residential and sports facilities together. With this unique concept, the arena connects sports to life, and is the first-of-its-kind venture in the social infrastructure sphere of India.
With plots available in sizes of 239 sqyd to 4784 sqyd. Jaypee Greens Sports City – Country Homes is one of the lowest desnsity projects in the entire regions. Jaypee Sports City offers it resident’s picturesque and tranquil surroundings along with top-of-the-line amenities at the Jaypee Greens – Country Homes.  

Gated community Commercial Zone Spacious & well designed residential units 24*7 Power back up Schools/colleges Convenios / shopping centres Sewage treatment plant Road network Centrally monitored 3-tier security system Super Specialty Hospital Golf Clubhouse and Social Clubs Landscaped greens & zen thematic gardens.

Locations
The Sports City is strategically located to be well connected with prime locations like southwest Delhi and Noida. On its east it will soon be linked with Yamuna Expressway (currently under construction by Jaypee Infratech) and rail-link between Delhi-Agra will be on its west end. A proposed metro connection between Jewar and Noida will add further to its accessibility.

visit for more info Jaypeegreens.investinnest.com
India: +91 120 420 7237
USA: +1 917 338 6416
UK: +44 (0)845 430 0015

Source: http://luxurytrainsinindia.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/travel-on-indian-maharaja-%E2%80%93-a-homecoming/

You may not need Natasha to tell you that there’s no place like home but you’ll need us to tell you that there’s no home like this on wheels aboard The Indian Maharaja luxury train! That’s right. The luxury sojourn dares to weave a magic in its opulent style that will put you at ease to swear that’s mom’s housekeeping you witnessed. The vintage train that traverses through four stately Indian provinces covering the best of India, is no doubt an experience like homecoming.

The Indian Maharaja

Alright, may be its more like the housekeeping and managing kitchens from the expert chefs of Taj group who whip up the amazing Indian and Continental fares out of the freshest local produce from scratch, but you won’t hear any bad reviews from the past travellers.

And destinations! There are so many to keep you engaged in the activities and sightseeing on end. In fact, destinations with Indian Maharaja are the centrepiece the days revolve around. You’ll start your journey from Mumbai – the capital of Maharashtra and the gateway of India and move on to witnessing inner hinterland covering the frozen history at Ajanta and Ellora. Take delight in the pictorial art and architecture of the yore and move on to Rajasthan visiting the pink city Jaipur and the jewel of Rajasthan Udaipur. Wild things will come your way on Sawai Madhopur which is a Tiger Reserve and Bharatpur, an exotic bird sanctuary that plays host to thousands of species of migratory and indigenous birds. The climax of the journey reaches at Agra where you’ll witness the splendid Taj Mahal, a sheer poetry in marble. It’s time to say adieu to the Maharaja when the train arrives in Delhi.

Back to train, when you have enough of your bite with the destinations and sightseeing, relax and unwind in its spa. Find yourself seated on the massage tables to have a pampering Ayurvedic and herbal treatment to shed your stress. In a mood to go heady? No problem, Indian Maharaja’s well-resourced bar will get you the nightcap you love. And, of course, the spoiling service that will surely put you on pedestal will never let you adrift from home.

So, when are you coming back home?

Source:http://luxurytrainsinindia.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/palace-on-wheels-%E2%80%93-some-useful-travel-tips/

Ok, so you are planning for royal journey on one of the best luxury trains. Congratulations! Now the next step is to plan your journey well in advance. Get the visas and journey tickets in order. And start packing for the unforgettable cruise. Here are some tips that might help during your royal sojourn on the Palace on Wheels.

Luggage

The Cabins in the luxury train are spacious enough with two beds. A carry-on travel bag and a large suit case can easily fit under a bed. There is even a shoe drawer and wardrobe. Other storage areas include two nightstands, small lockable cabinet, and a bathroom cabinet. The blankets and bed linen is provided by the train, so no need to carry them. One thumb rule for luggage is: pack as lightly as possible.

Small conveniences

Each cabin has its own attached bath which is very clean. If you wear flip flops in shower, bring them along. The breakfast in served in a small lounge each morning. Bring comfortable morning attire to have breakfast and while away your time in the lounge with your travel mates.

Tippings

You need not tip the train staff until the last day, but you do have to tip the city guides at the end of each city tour.

Indian Luxury Trains

India rivals the opulence and grandeur of world travel with its host of luxury trains. From the classic and oldest heritage trains to the royal and splendid modernized ones, India has come a long way since its foraying into the era of luxury travel. Although there a myriad of tour packages available to travel across the country, there is nothing that parallels the comfort and advantage of the luxury trains. There are three distinct advantages of train travel in India.

First, India being a large and diverse country is a perpetual never-ending discovery which requires perhaps a lifetime to explore and cherish. Tourists from around the globe and even India are often at a loss to decide what to choose and what to leave. The luxury trains offer an easy way out by handpicking the best of destinations and experiences that India offers.

Second, luxury trains especially let you soak in the beauty of the land and people from close quarters. To feast your eyes with the serene beauty of silvery beaches and impossibly blue sea, the rugged landscape of the countryside, the diverse cultures, the heritage sites, the forts and palaces, the havelis, the architecture of yester years and above all the mingling with the folk – all this more within a small time frame is possible only when you travel on a train.

Third, luxury trains in India offer convenient and comfortable journey. You travel through the night and have an entire day to explore the destinations. Besides, the comfort and luxury onboard will make you feel like a royalty.

Apart from the above, with the online hassle-free booking you’ll save much of your time. So, if budget is not an issue and comfort and luxury are what’s on your mind on your travel to India, the luxury trains fit the bill like none other.

Source: http://luxurytrainsinindia.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/india-travel-%E2%80%93-the-luxury-train-advantage/

Indian Luxury Trains

In this age of high speed travel, there’s no time to savour the sights and smells of the places and enjoying things at close quarters. The train journey offers that unparallel experience. You not only sit back and relax while the scenery beyond unfolds itself in the changing landscape, but also one can realise that the journey is as important as the destination. No wonder, luxury train travel is becoming very popular among leisure tourists and business travelers.
There’s plenty to see and do in a luxury train travel. The romance of changing landscapes and spectacular scenery unfolding beyond your windows, the feeling of being one of the local people, the civil service of the attendant staff onboard and a whole lot of amenities and facilities in the train to engage you on end – all these make the train journey all the more interesting and enjoyable.

Luxury train travel in Europe, Africa and South Asia has of late gained much popularity thanks to state-of-the-art facilities on board. In India, the travelers are treated differently. They are made to feel like erstwhile royalty for the entire duration of journey. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Palace on Wheels, Indian Maharaja and Maharaja Express – all these luxury train connote a regal connection and the interiors and services too are reminiscent of the glorious periods of Maharajas and Rajas. What’s more, the discerning traveler is taken to a wide array of places carefully chosen to make the experience even richer. These places include ancient monuments, historic places, forts, palaces, national parks, valleys and beaches.

Whether you fancy adventure travel, culinary tour or a wildlife trip, Luxury trains in India offer everything put on a platter.

Author: harren lee

From the lush green expanses of unending valleys to the peaceful deserts, beautiful beaches, bustling cities and silent monuments telling the saga of yesteryear’s, Indian Luxury Trains serve all in style to its guests on a platter. What have the luxury trains to offer, you ask? It’s your dream come true! Actually, there is no grime involved in the unabashed opulence and luxury, just a refined experience of high end hospitality. What’s more, there’s a ton of romance, history and culture involved in every destination and every monument you visit.

Welcome aboard the Indian luxury trains! The imperial experience won’t last in your memories for long but forever. Step into any luxury train – The Golden Chariot in Karnataka and Goa, The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels and The Palace on Wheels in Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, The Deccan Odyssey in Maharashtra, or pan-India Maharaja Express – you’ll be pampered by the ultimate hospitality and no end of services on board.

Traveling India with a luxury train is not just offers comfort and opulence – it’s the sure shot way to sample the best of India. All you have to do is to sit back and relax while the train takes you to the destinations where you’ll spend the day full packed with action and head back to train to move on to the next place during the night.

The Indian Luxury Trains have been billed against some of world’s most famous luxury chugs, for instance, Deccan Odyssey is compared with Orient Express of Europe and the Blue Train of South Africa. The Palace on Wheels has been figured in top 10 luxurious rides of the world and now, the upcoming Maharaja Express has been billed as Asia’s most luxurious and, for that matter, most expensive too. No wonder Indian trains have forayed into the best hospitality industry.

The much awaited Maharaja Express has been slated to be flagged off in January next year. The train is claimed to be having state-of-the-art amenities aboard. Besides live TV, high-speed internet, direct-dialing telephone, Maharaja is equipped with individual temperature control and environment friendly toilets. There will be two fine dining restraints which will be managed by India’s premiere hotel group, bars, lounges, comfortable club cars. The ultra high-tech suspension system will ensure smooth ride. Overall, the train will rival world’s leading luxury trains.

Find out the lavish experience aboard the Indian luxury trains that will be etched in your memories for a lifetime, guaranteed!

About the Author:

Enjoy the lifetime experience in luxury trains of India. Author provides best information about Indian Luxury Trains here. For more information visit – http://www.indianluxurytrains.com

Article Source: www.linkroll.com -
Indian Luxury Trains – Plunge into the pure opulence

It’s a commitment that’s taken decades to fulfil. The right to education is finally made a right of Indian children aged between six and 14. This could not have come a moment too soon. India’s literacy rate and record are abysmal, with millions denied access to elementary education. We have often argued in these columns that India’s growth story could hit a roadblock if a majority of our youth remain out of schools and are not equipped with employable skills. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, could take us far in our quest for a more equitable and progressive society. The Bill makes it incumbent on the state to provide free elementary schooling to children in their neighbourhoods. It is an ambitious undertaking, roping in private schools as well, which are supposed to reserve 25 per cent of seats at the entry level for students from disadvantaged groups. In return, the government will reimburse the private schools on the basis of what the government spends on students in its own schools. The common refrain about the poor quality of infrastructure and teaching in our schools has also been taken into account. Schools, whether private or government, will have to adhere to some common standards have play fields, drinking water, toilets and a library as well as stick to a 1:40 teacher-student ratio. The Bill seeks not just to guarantee elementary education but also reform the system, which has been a long time coming. It bans capitation fees, bars the screening and interviews of parents and students before admission, and makes corporal punishment unlawful. These are welcome measures. The Bill is well-intentioned, but the question of just how it will be implemented remains. Education is a concurrent subject, which means that the Centre and states will have to collaborate. This is a potential minefield, in which we hope the project will not become a casualty. It’s time that schools are made more accountable to local civic authorities including parents via the parent-teacher associations than being monitored by an opaque bureaucracy. Crucially, greater budgetary allotments must be earmarked for education, much more than the measly 3 per cent of GDP allocated as of now. This will help sort some of the systemic problems like poor pay for teachers, which in turn feeds absenteeism and indifference on the part of teachers. A country that has great power ambitions must be able to provide basic education and health care to all its citizens.

It’s a commitment that’s taken decades to fulfil. The right to education is finally made a right of Indian children aged between six and 14. This could not have come a moment too soon. India’s literacy rate and record are abysmal, with millions denied access to elementary education. We have often argued in these columns that India’s growth story could hit a roadblock if a majority of our youth remain out of schools and are not equipped with employable skills. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, could take us far in our quest for a more equitable and progressive society. The Bill makes it incumbent on the state to provide free elementary schooling to children in their neighbourhoods. It is an ambitious undertaking, roping in private schools as well, which are supposed to reserve 25 per cent of seats at the entry level for students from disadvantaged groups. In return, the government will reimburse the private schools on the basis of what the government spends on students in its own schools. The common refrain about the poor quality of infrastructure and teaching in our schools has also been taken into account. Schools, whether private or government, will have to adhere to some common standards have play fields, drinking water, toilets and a library as well as stick to a 1:40 teacher-student ratio. The Bill seeks not just to guarantee elementary education but also reform the system, which has been a long time coming. It bans capitation fees, bars the screening and interviews of parents and students before admission, and makes corporal punishment unlawful. These are welcome measures. The Bill is well-intentioned, but the question of just how it will be implemented remains. Education is a concurrent subject, which means that the Centre and states will have to collaborate. This is a potential minefield, in which we hope the project will not become a casualty. It’s time that schools are made more accountable to local civic authorities including parents via the parent-teacher associations than being monitored by an opaque bureaucracy. Crucially, greater budgetary allotments must be earmarked for education, much more than the measly 3 per cent of GDP allocated as of now. This will help sort some of the systemic problems like poor pay for teachers, which in turn feeds absenteeism and indifference on the part of teachers. A country that has great power ambitions must be able to provide basic education and health care to all its citizens.