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Sat, 28 July 2012
AI flight makes emergency landing in Kochi
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23:23 AI flight makes emergency landing in Kochi
An Air India flight landed tonight at the airport after the pilot detected problem in its nose wheel, airline sources said.
The pilot of the Delhi-Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram flight, carrying 60 passengers from Delhi, informed airport authorities that there was some problem with the nose wheel and asked permission for emergency landing.
The flight landed safely at 8.30 PM, the sources said. Passengers to Thiruvananthapuam would be taken by road, they said.
23:00 Chinese man gets death sentence for murdering 11
AP: State media say a serial killer in southwestern China's Yunnan province has been sentenced to death for murdering 11 people.
The official Xinhua News Agency says a court in Kunming city found Zhang Yongming, 56, guilty today of killing the 11 in Jinning county between 2008 and 2012. He showed no remorse in court.
22:07 Samba mishap: death toll reaches 17
With the death of one more person, death toll in the Samba district mishap, in which a truck loaded with Amarnath pilgrims fell into a gorge, touched 17 Saturday.
Balbir Singh, driver of the truck died at GMC hospital in Jammu on Saturday evening, police official said.
21:45 Officials: Ebola breaks out in Uganda
The deadly Ebola virus has killed 14 people in western Uganda this month, Ugandan health officials said on Saturday, ending weeks of speculation about the cause of a strange disease that had many people fleeing their homes.
The officials and a World Health Organisation representative told a news conference in Kampala Saturday that there is 'an outbreak of Ebola' in Uganda.
20:44 Army to revise rates of hired land
Rent of private land under the occupation of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir will be revised next year, Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said the groundwork for revision of rent rates has already started.
"The defence minister announced that rate of rent of private land under occupation of armed forces will be revised next year by the defence ministry, groundwork for which has already started," the ministry said in a statement.
20:25 Reduce 'visibility' of troops in J-K: Antony
Reviewing the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said the 'visibility' of troops should be reduced as much aspossible in the state without compromising efficacy.
19:59 Court dismisses complaint against Kejriwal
A local court has dismissed a complaint seeking prosecution against Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged offensive remarks against the members of Parliament.
District and Sessions Judge Riyasat Hussain dismissed the complaint filed by Jitendra Sindhu, saying that commenting on the working of MPs does not amount to raging a war against the government.
Kejriwal had triggered a political storm by saying in a rally at Ghaziabad early this year that Parliament was filled with 'murderers, rapists and dacoits'.
19:06 China ex-official's wife OKays lawyers
The wife of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has agreed to be defended by two government-appointed lawyers in the murder case against her, two different lawyers with knowledge of the case said on Saturday.
Her decision could be the latest sign that a resolution to her case is near.
18:27 Hazare supporters throw stones at PM's residence
Anna Hazare's supporters throw stones at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence in New Delhi. They were protesting outside 7 Race Course. Some of the protestors have been taken into custody.
More details are awaited
18:01 Syrian helicopters pound Aleppo: Activists
AP reports: Syrian forces pounded the country's second city, Aleppo, with military helicopters on Saturday to flush out rebel forces in one of the most important battles of the 17-month-old uprising, activists said.
Read the full story here
17:07 Rahul will do "very well" in govt or Cong: PC
Amid clamour for a larger role for Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that the young leader will do "very well" in government as well as the Congress.
"Why not? Gandhi can accept an office in government or in the party or in the House. I am sure that he will do very well in any of these places", Chidambaram told Malayalam news channel Jaihind TV.
He was asked for his reaction on demand of several Congress MPs that Rahul be made the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha.
"Why not? Gandhi can accept an office in government or in the party or in the House. I am sure that he will do very well in any of these places", Chidambaram told Malayalam news channel Jaihind TV.
He was asked for his reaction on demand of several Congress MPs that Rahul be made the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha.
16:33 PM announces Rs 100 crore aid for Assam
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced Rs 2 lakh each to kin of those killed in riots in Kokrajhar, Rs 100 cr as special assistance for development of the area.
"We must address causes of the conflict; there will be a proper inquiry into the tragic incidents," said Dr Singh during his visit to Kokrajhar iv violence-hit Assam.
"We must address causes of the conflict; there will be a proper inquiry into the tragic incidents," said Dr Singh during his visit to Kokrajhar iv violence-hit Assam.
15:25 11,000 paramilitary personnel to be deployed in Assam
The Centre has authorised the Assam government to deploy more than 11,000 paramilitary personnel in the state's violence-hit districts and dispatched a C-135 heavy lift aircraft with medical teams and supplies.
So far 7,300 personnel of paramilitary forces have been deployed in strife-torn Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubridistricts after moving them from other states in the wake of clashes between Bodos and minority immigrants there.
In addition, the state has been authorised to use 11,600 men of paramilitary forces to bring back normalcy in the worst affected areas.
Home Secretary R K Singh said teams of the National Disaster Relief Force along with experts in drinking water and sanitation issues have been rushed to the affected areas in the same aircraft.
So far 7,300 personnel of paramilitary forces have been deployed in strife-torn Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubridistricts after moving them from other states in the wake of clashes between Bodos and minority immigrants there.
In addition, the state has been authorised to use 11,600 men of paramilitary forces to bring back normalcy in the worst affected areas.
Home Secretary R K Singh said teams of the National Disaster Relief Force along with experts in drinking water and sanitation issues have been rushed to the affected areas in the same aircraft.
15:21 Hazare threatens fast-unto-death from tomorrow
A poor crowd on a weekend at Team Anna's indefinite fast today did not deter Anna Hazare to threaten a fast-unto-death from tomorrow on the Lokpal issue andtalk about a political alternative in the 2014 elections.
Hazare also took on the Congress and the BJP saying the country's future does not lie safe in their hands but said he himself will not fight the elections though he would campaign for those with clean background selected by people. He also accused the government of cheating them repeatedly on the issue of Lokpal and that he is forced to fast again and again, which is "not a happy thing".
"I will fast until we get Jan Lokpal," Hazare, whose four-day ultimatum to government on a decision on his demand sends today, told a crowd of around 1,000 this afternoon.
Hazare also took on the Congress and the BJP saying the country's future does not lie safe in their hands but said he himself will not fight the elections though he would campaign for those with clean background selected by people. He also accused the government of cheating them repeatedly on the issue of Lokpal and that he is forced to fast again and again, which is "not a happy thing".
"I will fast until we get Jan Lokpal," Hazare, whose four-day ultimatum to government on a decision on his demand sends today, told a crowd of around 1,000 this afternoon.
14:42 PM to Assam victims: Here to share your pain
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is visiting Kokrajhar in violence-hit Kokrajhar and visited two relief camps. He is accompanied by Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Governor JB Patnaik.
"I have come here to share your sorrow and pain; this is time for healing. My government will do everything possible to help the victims," said the PM while visiting relief camp in Kokrajhar.
Earlier in the day, the PM had to return to Guwahati midday from Kokrajha due a technical snag in the helicopter.
"I have come here to share your sorrow and pain; this is time for healing. My government will do everything possible to help the victims," said the PM while visiting relief camp in Kokrajhar.
Earlier in the day, the PM had to return to Guwahati midday from Kokrajha due a technical snag in the helicopter.
14:30 2 tourists killed in grenade attack in Kashmir
Two tourists have died and several others injured after a grenade attack on a tourist bus in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
Police say, the two tourists killed were from Mumbai.
More details are awaited.
Police say, the two tourists killed were from Mumbai.
More details are awaited.
14:12 Salman's statue to be unveiled at Madame Tussauds NY
The wax statue of superstar Salman Khan is all set to join the figures of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan at Madame Tussauds in New York.
"Salman Khan is one of Bollywood's most enduring and recognizable stars. Bollywood exploded on the American pop culture scene several years ago and has become one of our most exciting entertainment categories," said Bret Pidgeon, General Manager of Madame Tussauds New York.
Khan's wax figure will be displayed in the 'Bollywood Zone', which was created after numerous visitor requests. The brightly-colored, fully-interactive area includes a replica of the Taj Mahal, videos of authentic Indian dancers and a photo area where visitors can pose with Bollywood stars.
"Salman Khan is one of Bollywood's most enduring and recognizable stars. Bollywood exploded on the American pop culture scene several years ago and has become one of our most exciting entertainment categories," said Bret Pidgeon, General Manager of Madame Tussauds New York.
Khan's wax figure will be displayed in the 'Bollywood Zone', which was created after numerous visitor requests. The brightly-colored, fully-interactive area includes a replica of the Taj Mahal, videos of authentic Indian dancers and a photo area where visitors can pose with Bollywood stars.
13:22 Antony to review security situation in Kashmir
Defence Minister A K Antony today arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir during which he will review the security situation in the Valley and also interact with troops deployed in forward locations.
Antony, who is accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh and Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, was received at the airport by Medical Education Minister R S Chib, and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani,official sources said.
They said the defence minister will review the security situation in the Valley and also chair the Unified Headquarters meeting. This is Antony's first visit to the state in the last18 months.
Antony will also interact with state Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Antony, who is accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh and Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, was received at the airport by Medical Education Minister R S Chib, and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani,official sources said.
They said the defence minister will review the security situation in the Valley and also chair the Unified Headquarters meeting. This is Antony's first visit to the state in the last18 months.
Antony will also interact with state Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
13:03 'Govt not breaking Team Anna's unity'
Slamming Team Anna, Union Minister V Narayanasamy today said there was lack of unity among members of Anna Hazare's team and dismissed the charge that government was trying to break it.
"There is already no unity among the members of Anna Hazare's team. So, there is no need for us to break their unity, as someone alleged," the Minister of state in the PMO told reporters.
Narayanasamy's remarks come in the wake of charge by Hazare in the backdrop of his meeting with Law Minister Salman Khurshid that the government was conspiring to split his team.
Hitting out at Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal for his attack on members of Parliament, Narayanasamy said, "There are certain allegations against Kejriwal, a former bureaucrat. Their attempt to control Parliament is condemnable."
"There is already no unity among the members of Anna Hazare's team. So, there is no need for us to break their unity, as someone alleged," the Minister of state in the PMO told reporters.
Narayanasamy's remarks come in the wake of charge by Hazare in the backdrop of his meeting with Law Minister Salman Khurshid that the government was conspiring to split his team.
Hitting out at Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal for his attack on members of Parliament, Narayanasamy said, "There are certain allegations against Kejriwal, a former bureaucrat. Their attempt to control Parliament is condemnable."
12:29 Nepal: 1 Indian among 15 killed in road accident
At least 15 people, including an Indian, were killed when an Indian jeep they were travelling in veered off some 100 meters down the road in western Nepal's Palpa district early today.
Earlier official sources said that all those killed were Indians. However, the police later confirmed that the victims included 14 Nepalese and an Indian. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also confirmed that only one Indian was among those killed.
Earlier official sources said that all those killed were Indians. However, the police later confirmed that the victims included 14 Nepalese and an Indian. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also confirmed that only one Indian was among those killed.
11:48 PM's chopper returns mid-day from Kokrajhar
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh helicopter returns to Guwahati mid-day from Kokrajhar, which has been the epicenter of ethnic violence in Assam because of bad weather. He will hold a meeting in Guwahati before heading back to Kokrajhar.
Dr Singh is on a visit to Assam along with UPA Sonia Gandhi. They are scheduled to visit a relief camp at Falakati and review the situation with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Bodoland Territorial Areas District leaders at Kokrajhar.
Dr Singh is on a visit to Assam along with UPA Sonia Gandhi. They are scheduled to visit a relief camp at Falakati and review the situation with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Bodoland Territorial Areas District leaders at Kokrajhar.
11:05 SP sacks Modi interviewer Shahid Siddiqui
"Shahid Siddiqui is no longer a party of the Samajwadi Party," said the party general secretary Ramgopal Yadav today.
The SP statement comes day after Siddiqui interviewed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for Urdu weekly Nai Duniya.
"Siddiqui's actions compelled party to take this step. He can join Modi if he wants," said Yadav.
In the interview, the Gujarat CM told Siddiqui that he should be hanged if he is found guilty of orchestrating the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The SP statement comes day after Siddiqui interviewed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for Urdu weekly Nai Duniya.
"Siddiqui's actions compelled party to take this step. He can join Modi if he wants," said Yadav.
In the interview, the Gujarat CM told Siddiqui that he should be hanged if he is found guilty of orchestrating the 2002 Gujarat riots.
09:32 PM, Sonia to visit violence-hit Assam today
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit violence-hit Assam today, to take stock of the situation there. They are slated to fly to Kokrajhar, the epicentre of the ethnic clashes, in a chopper and are expected to reach the Circuit House at 11 am.
After a meeting with the authorities, Dr Singh who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam and Gandhi will visit two relief camps in Kokrajhar, reports NDTV.
Their visit comes after more than eight days of clashes between two communities that has seen more than 40 people dead.
After a meeting with the authorities, Dr Singh who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam and Gandhi will visit two relief camps in Kokrajhar, reports NDTV.
Their visit comes after more than eight days of clashes between two communities that has seen more than 40 people dead.
02:04 MJ's mother to share custody of pop king's kids
Michael Jackson's mother will share guardianship of the pop superstar's three children in a deal that will relieve her of some of the day-to-day stresses of managing a famous family, her attorney said.
The agreement came after days of turmoil in the Jackson family, including questions about Katherine Jackson's health and whereabouts.
The decision was made after a meeting between Katherine Jackson and lawyer Perry Sanders Jr yesterday. He said Michael Jackson's eldest son has told attorneys he approves of the arrangement.
The proposal could be presented to a judge next week. If approved, it would make Tito Joe "TJ" Jackson, the son of Michael Jackson's brother Tito, a co-guardian of the children Prince, Paris and Blanket who range in age from 10 to 15.
"Mrs. Jackson is extremely pleased with the prospect of enjoying the pleasure of raising Michael's children without the day-to-day tedium of items such as managing the large staff that goes with such a high-profile family and focus her attention on being a grandmother and raising Michael's children," Sanders wrote in a statement.
00:49 Israeli minister to protest at opening ceremony
Israel's sports minister will stage a protest during today's opening ceremony for the London Olympics to decry the IOC's decision not to hold a moment of silence in honour of the Israeli athletes killed at the 1972 Munich Games.
Meir Bardugo, a spokesman for Israeli culture and sport minister Limor Livnat, says the minister will stand for her own minute of silence as International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge delivers his speech today.
Israel and the United States lobbied the IOC to commemorate the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed by Palestinian gunmen forty years ago.
Rogge led a moment of silence in the athletes village Monday, but the IOC decided not to hold one at the opening ceremony.
00:48 India and Japan cosy up on high seas
For two days last month, ships from the Indian and Japanese naval forces held joint military exercises in waters off Tokyo. By military standards, the exercises were small in scale. But they were heavy with symbolism and brought to light another facet of the growing relationship between the two countries -- defense.
Their growing collaboration is expected to lead to tighter cooperation in one of the world's most increasingly important regions, the Indian Ocean. And given the shadow cast by the regional giant that separates the countries, it is a relationship that many observers feel is long overdue.
Such joint exercises might be standard practice in international military-to-military exchanges, but with growing regional tensions -- like in the South China Sea, located between India and Japan -- they take on a more complex meaning.
Click here to read the New York Times report
Click here to read the New York Times report
00:45 Tunisian finance minister quits
Tunisian Finance Minister Houcine Dimassi has resigned following a disagreement with the policies of the government led by Islamist Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, an official said.
"I can confirm the resignation, which has been accepted," Ridha Kazdaghli, an aide to Jebali, told AFP.
In his letter, Dimassi said he was standing down over differences with the government on its economic, monetary and social policies. He singled out the sacking of central bank governor Mustapha Kamel Nabli and the "arbitrary manner" in which his successor Chedly Ayari was appointed this week.
The National Constituent Assembly (ANC) on Tuesday appointed Ayari as the new central bank governor after weeks of heated debate and another stormy session in the interim parliament.
00:18 Two western photojournalists freed in Syria
Two Western photojournalists in Syria were held captive for a week by Islamic militants before being rescued by Syrian rebels, one of the men said.
Jeroen Oerlemans, a prominent Dutch photographer, told Business News Radio of the Netherlands that he is not sure which group held him and John Cantlie of Britain, but said he is sure they were not Syrian.
"They all claimed they came from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh and Chechnya, and they said there was some vague 'emir' at the head of the group," he said in a seven-minute interview from Turkey, where the men were resting after their ordeal. Oerlemans was also recovering from two gunshot wounds suffered during an escape attempt.
His account would seem to add weight to reports that foreign Islamic fighters are going into Syria to support the rebel side.
Oerlemans told Business News Radio that he and Cantlie entered Syria on July 19, and were captured almost immediately.
00:17 World's largest 'Cherenkov' telescope launched in Namibia
The huge "Cherenkov" telescope, the size of two lawn tennis courts and the biggest of its kind, has started to capture cosmic rays from its base in Namibia, scientists have announced.
The 600-tonne telescope structure with its 28-metre (92-feet) mirror will be observing the most violent and extreme phenomena of the universe in very high energy gamma rays.
It "not only provides the largest mirror area among instruments of this type worldwide, but also resolves the cascade images at unprecedented detail, with four times more pixels per sky area compared to the smaller telescopes", Pascal Vincent, one of the scientists, said in a statement released in Europe.
The so-called "Cherenkov" HESS-II telescope is situated about 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the Namibian capital Windhoek.
"The successful commissioning of the new HESS II telescope represents a big step forward for the astronomical community as a whole and for southern Africa as a prime location for this field of astronomy," said Werner Hofmann of Germany's Max Planck Institute.
00:17 20 million victims of human trafficking: ILO
More than 20 million people are victims of human trafficking, said the International Labour Organization as it launched an awareness campaign coinciding with the London Olympics.
In the campaign, the ILO has set up brightly coloured large walk-in 'gift boxes' that promise passers-by a better life, only to reveal images on the realities of human trafficking in black and white on the inside.
The boxes' interiors display victims' faces and their stories, as well as information about human trafficking provided by the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT).
"Every minute of every hour of every day, men, women and children are forced to travel around the world to make gold for someone else: they have been trafficked," the group said.
The ILO said that every day around three out of every 1,000 people worldwide are in forced labour.
00:17 Pak activist Ansar Burney dismisses brother from NGO
Leading Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney has dismissed his brother from his NGO for participating in a live TV show that featured a Hindu boy converting to Islam.
"This conversion was a drama created by (TV show host) Maya Khan and my brother Sarim Burney. I have dismissed my brother from the Ansar Burney Trust," Burney told PTI on phone from London.
Burney said he was trying to ascertain if the Hindu boy, identified only as Sunil, was forced to convert on the live TV show aired on Tuesday on the ARY Digital channel.
"I have been told that the boy was offered inducements, and that he was very keen on appearing on TV though he might not have known what was going on," he said.
The rights activist said Sunil had worked for his organisation for several years.
Sarim Burney had featured prominently in the show on ARY Digital. He was seen sitting next to Sunil while a cleric converted the Hindu boy to Islam.
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