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Sat, 20 July 2013
Live! Now 35 kids ill after mid-day meal in Chhattisgarh
Timeline Refresh
22:38 Resident doctors go on a strike, demand safe environment
Resident doctors in Jaipur went on strike tonight in protest against the alleged misbehaviour with their colleagues and demanded a safe environment for them in hospitals.
Close to 900 residents of Sawai Man Singh hospital and hospitals attached with medical college went on a strike in wake of recent incidents of misbehaviour with resident doctors in Jaipur's Gangori hospital and Kota hospital by outsiders.
Resident doctors in both these hospitals are already on strike.
Safe environment at workplace is the main demand and the strike will continue if the government does not take an effective step, Surendra Bhakar, a representative of Jaipur Resident Doctors Association said.
22:07 Pioneering journalist Helen Thomas dies at 92
Helen Thomas, a long-time White House correspondent and a pioneer for women in journalism, has died. She was 92.
A friend, Muriel Dobbin, says Thomas died at her apartment in Washington today. Dobbin says Thomas had been ill for a long time, had been in and out of the hospital, and had come home Thursday.
Thomas made her name as a bulldog for United Press International in the great wire-service rivalries of old. She used her seat in the front row of history to grill nine presidents -- often to their discomfort and was not shy about sharing her opinions.
She was persistent to the point of badgering; one White House press secretary described her questioning as "torture" and he was one of her fans.
21:56 Special DG BSF conducts inquiry in Ramban firing
BSF Special Director General Dilip Trivedi today conducted preliminary inquiry into the Ramban firing incident in which four persons were killed.
Trivedi took ground reports after meeting civilian, police and BSF officials to ascertain the circumstances leading to the firing by Border Security Force personnel on July 18.
The BSF Special DG visited the 76 Battalion belt area in Ramban and took statements of the BSF patrol party which had intercepted Mohammed Latif, who had instigated the mob that attacked a BSF camp, BSF officials said.
Latif was instrumental in instigating the mob leading to the situation where four people were killed and 44 others, including security personnel, were injured in stone pelting and resultant firing, they said.
Members of the patrol party provided pictorial evidence to the BSF chief in connection with the attack on the BSF camp by the mob.
21:32 In India, the law stands up for 'bad women'
Earlier this week, Supreme Court delivered a judgment that privileged the right to work over the censure of social morality worked into law, a decision that most of all impacted the future of a substantial class of indigent but enterprising women.
The court overturned a 2005 decision by the government of Maharashtra to outlaw one of Mumbai's most famous institutions: the dance bar.
The court overturned a 2005 decision by the government of Maharashtra to outlaw one of Mumbai's most famous institutions: the dance bar.
In their heyday, only a decade ago, these bars offered an unusual employment option to close to 100,000 dancers who drew hordes of excited locals and tourists to cabaret shows every night and made Mumbai's nightlife as exciting as that of any other metropolis in the world.
Many of the women were middle- or low-caste, unschooled and unskilled, yet by virtue of their profession, they often had the pride of being the sole breadwinners in their families.
Read more HERE
Read more HERE
20:37 Indian rescued Hemingway after Africa plane crash?
Bullied by a herd of wild elephants and down to their last rations, Nobel Prize-winning writer Ernest Hemingway, his wife and a pilot were rescued by an Indian expat after their plane crashed in east central Africa in the 1950s, the savior's son has said.
20:17 Amarnath Yatra resumes from Jammu
Amarnath Yatra from Jammu resumed this evening after it was halted for two days following imposition of curfew in many parts of Kashmir Valley due to a firing incident in Gool area which claimed four lives.
"A fresh batch of 1,834 pilgrims, including 45 saints, left for the Valley from Jammu base camp at 5:35 pm," a police official said.
Amid tight security, the batch of pilgrims left Bagwati Nagar base camp here in a cavalcade of 56 vehicles, he said.
The yatra to the 3,888-metre high Amarnath cave shrine situated in South Kashmir Himalayas was suspended after curfew was clamped in Kashmir Valley and some other areas of the state following a firing incident in Ramban district that left four persons dead and several others injured on Thursday.
19:02 Forensics confirm pesticide in Chhapra mid-day meal
A forensic report on Saturday confirmed the presence of poisonous pesticide in the midday meal served to the students of the school in Chhapra where 23 children died after taking the contaminated food.
The Forensic Science Laboratory report found Monocrotophos, an organophosphorous compound in the samples of oil from the container, food remains on the platter and mixture of rice with vegetables on Aluminium tasla (utensil), Additional Director General of Police (HQ) Ravinder Kumar told reporters making the report public.
Monocrotophos is used as a pesticide for agricultural purposes. It is very toxic to human beings and animals, the ADG said quoting the FSL report.
The report confirmed the Bihar government's apprehension that the food given to the children of Dharmasati Gandaman primary school at Chhapra was poisoned.
18:29 Canada rail disaster death toll at 47: police
The final death toll of a train derailment that flattened part of a Quebec town two weeks ago will likely stand at 47, Canadian police said.
No new remains have been discovered in the rubble since Thursday, when the number of confirmed dead was 42, officials said.
The number of those missing in the July 6 tragedy meanwhile has been narrowed to five, bringing the presumed number of people killed to 47, they added.
"Our investigation has not uncovered any new deceased persons," Quebec police inspector Michel Forget told a news conference.
"However we can now inform you that our investigation and various enquiries... have permitted us to establish the number of dead, including missing and presumed dead, at 47," he said.
Investigators today are bringing in heavy machinery, including cranes, to move out the destroyed and mangled train cars, Forget said.
18:21 Maha govt makes Bhaag Milkha Bhaag tax free
Maharashtra government has granted tax exemption to 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', the Farhan Akhtar starrer biopic on the legendary athlete Milkha Singh.
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan had earlier this week met Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat and sought tax concession for the film.
The tax exemption, valid for the next six months from today, has been granted as the film's main objective was to promote sports among youths, a Mantralaya official told PTI.
Considering this view, the government granted the exemption under section 6 (3) of the Maharashtra Entertainment Duty Act 1923 to the film, the official said.
17:44 Now 35 kids ill after mid-day meal in Chhattisgarh
Four days after 23 children lost their lives after eating the mid-day meal, 35 children fall sick eating meal here on Saturday.
The children have been taken to the local district hospital. According to reports, eight children who have been admitted are said to be in critical condition.
Meanwhile in Bihar, no arrests have been made so far in the mid-day meal tragedy in the state. And school principal Meena Devi of the government primary school in Saran district is absconding.
According to district officials probing the incident, Meena Devi had forced the cook to use the oil despite the latter's complaint that it had a pungent smell.
17:14 Swiss woman gang-rape: 6 get life term
The six accused in the gang-rape of a Swiss woman were awarded the life imprisonment by a court in Datiya, Madhya Pradesh today.
17:13 Explosion rocks Beijing airport
A blast occurred at the Beijing International Airport today, witnesses and state-run media said.
The explosion was heard in Terminal 3 of the airport, witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
A man in a wheelchair detonated explosives, the state-run CCTV reported, without giving further details.
17:05 15 militants, 4 security personnel killed in Pak clash
Fifteen militants and four security personnel were killed during an operation to flush out terrorists from the restive Khyber tribal region of northwest Pakistan, officials said today.
The clash broke out when the security personnel were conducting an operation in Zao Kharmatang area in Khyber Agency last night.
The security forces engaged in a gun-battle with the terrorists, in which 15 militants and four security personnel were killed, officials said.
16:44 Solar panel scam: Court records statement of accused
The Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court (Economic Offences) today recorded in-camera the statement of Saritha S Nair, the prime accused in the Solar Panel scam case.
This was following a request from Saritha who was produced in the court this morning.
Saritha then informed the court that she wanted to get her statement recorded in-camera, following which the case was posted again to 1.30 pm today.
16:36 Heavy rains cripple Delhi, Mumbai
Heavy rain lashed the national capital today, causing massive traffic jams due to water-logging, as vehicles had to negotiate flooded streets which exposed the civic bodies' lack of preparedness.
Water-logging was reported in several low-lying areas of the city while in some parts, rainwater flooded the basements of flats.
Within an hour of the showers, there was chaos on almost all arterial roads as traffic signals did not function properly and choked drains flooded the streets.
Heavy rains also threw life out of gear in Mumbai. The city bore the brunt of heavy showers the second day in a row.
16:30 Biden to visit India from July 22; trade, defence on agenda
Joe Biden will embark on his maiden visit to India as US vice president on Monday to discuss key bilateral issues, including trade, energy and defence, to make Indo-US ties the most important strategic partnership of the 21st century.
During his four-day-long stay in India, Biden will hold meetings with top Indian leadership, including President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
16:18 Rains stall relief operations in Uttarakhand
Moderate to heavy rains today lashed most parts of Uttarakhand, stalling ongoing relief operations and work on restoration of damaged roads in the calamity-hit state.
Low visibility conditions induced by an overcast sky and intermittent rains kept a central team -- which is on a mission to assess the damage caused by the recent calamity in the state -- confined in Pauri.
The team was supposed to undertake an aerial survey of the affected areas near Badrinath, Gangotri and Dharchula areas and interact with flood-hit people, official sources said.
16:16 Govt does not want dance bars to shut down: Raj
The Maharashtra government does not really want the dance bars to shut down, MNS president Raj Thackeray said today, reacting to the Supreme Court's ruling which quashed the ban on dance bars in Mumbai.
"Elections are near. The bar owners have lots of money. May be that is why minor (halke) people were appointed (to represent the government) in the court," Raj said.
16:08 Sri Lanka asks EU to help stop LTTE funding
Sri Lanka today asked for sustained vigilance on the part of the European Union to stop funding of the LTTE by the outfit's front organisations.
Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister GL Peiris stressed on the issue during talks with a six-member EU parliamentarian team which is on a tour of the country, the ministry said.
Peiris was referring to Europol's Terrorist Situation and Trend Report this year, which said the LTTE is still considered active and is benefiting from support in countries with a significant diaspora.
The LTTE was banned as a terrorist outfit by the EU in 2007.
14:16 NCP seeks suspension of mid-day meals in Goa
The Goa unit of the NCP today demanded suspension of the mid-day meal scheme in the state, a day after nearly two dozen children were taken ill in a suspected case of food-poisoning at a school at Usgao.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should suspend the scheme within a week, Nationalist Congress party spokesperson Trajano D'Mello said.
"If the government fails to suspend it, we will seek the governor's intervention as the constitutional authority to stop the scheme," he said.
14:12 Jammu: Curfew lifted in Ramban, protests in Banihal
Curfew was today lifted in Ramban district even as fresh protests broke out in Banihal belt against the firing by BSF personnel, with agitators blocking the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
"The situation is under control -- it is peaceful and normal -- there have been no untoward reports from anywhere today," a police spokesman said.
The authorities are monitoring the situation round-the-clock and additional forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of Jammu region, he said.
14:10 China successfully launches three satellites
China today successfully launched three satellites to carry out scientific experiments into space from its Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre.
The Chuangxin-3, Shiyan-7 and Shijian-15 satellites were boosted by a Long March-4C carrier rocket, according to the Centre in north China's Shanxi Province.
14:09 Tourist heaven also a haven for drug trade: Goa Minister
Stating that drug menace is a reality in the tourist state, Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has warned of action against beach shacks found indulging in narcotics sale.
"Drugs are happening on the coast. Everyone is involved in it. It is a known fact that it is happening," the minister said in response to a question at a press conference.
14:09 Forgotten Hindu temples in busy China city
Tucked deep inside Quanzhou, a busy industrial city in China, are some long forgotten Hindu temples and goddesses.
12:40 Police officer held in BSP leader murder case
A sub-inspector has been arrested in connection with the killing of BSP leader Sarvesh Singh Seepu in Jiyanpur area.
Station House Officer of Jiyanpur Police Station Vijay Singh was arrested late last night, official sources said today.
Singh has been named in two cases, including murder of Seepu Singh, his guard and the killing of two persons in police firing later, they said.
12:25 Pak: Losing candidate plans fatal revenge
A bitter politician in Pakistan's Punjab province, who lost in the recently-held election to his own cousin, crafted a deadly plan to get back at the winning candidate.
He bribed one of the cooks employed by his cousin to poison a charitable meal organised by the latter.
12:23 Archaeologists discover King David's lost city
Archaeologists have stumbled upon, what they believe, are the remains of the city once ruled by King David.
David, before becoming a mighty king, had famously battled the giant Goliath.
According to the Bible, David ruled the fabled city of Shaarayim, believed to be nearly 30 km away from Jerusalem.
12:07 Regulate the sale of insecticides, says NGO
In the wake of the death of 22 school children due to poisoned mid-day meal in Bihar, the Toxics Watch Alliance has urged the agriculture ministry and the Pollution Control Board to take steps to control the rampant sale of insecticide.
In a press release, the Alliance stated, "The issue of widespread availability of insecticides and absence of a method to deal with obsolete insecticides and their containers which are contaminated with insecticides has remained off the radar so far. There is a crying need for Agriculture Ministry and Pollution Control
Boards to ensure inventorisation, proper disposal of obsolete pesticides and contaminated containers".
12:03 Former Union minister Khurshed Alam Khan passes away
Khurshed Alam Khan, former Union minister and father of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, has passed away.
Khan had also served as the governor of Karnataka and the governor of Goa.
In a condolence message, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "Shri Khan served the nation with distinction in many capacities through out his life which enriched our land. His leadership in India's Foreign Policy, Education system and legislative affairs contributed immensely to the country's modern, liberal and democratic polity. His commitment to the nation was deeply rooted in the abiding values of our Constitution and the idea of an India envisioned by the founding fathers of our freedom struggle".
11:59 Curfew remains in force in Kashmir Valley
Curfew remained in force for the second day today in all major towns of Kashmir while the rest of the Valley was placed under restrictions to prevent protests against the firing incident in Ramban district that left four people dead and dozens others injured.
Curfew, which was imposed in the wee hours of Friday, remained in force in all areas of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal and Bandipora districts and Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Bijbehara and Sopore towns, official sources said.
11:56 Marriage rate in US lowest in a century
The marriage rate in the United States has plummeted to 31.01, the lowest in over a century, a new study has found.
Fewer women in the US are getting married and they are waiting longer to tie the knot, according to a new Family Profile from the National Centre for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University.
The current marriage rate is 31.1, the lowest it has been in over a century, it said.
10:26 Why the Indian democracy is mostly a tragedy
"In India, tragedies strike ordinary people and accidents happen only to VIPs", says Dipankar Gupta, in a scathing article on the ostentatious VVIP and VIP culture practiced by our shameless politicians and bureaucrats.
10:22 Dawood, Union minister involved in IPL spot fixing
Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and an Union minister was involved in the IPL spot fixing scandal, according to the Intelligence Bureau.
While the identity of the Union minister is still unknown, Dawood's voice samples were identified in the calls intercepted by investigators probing the spot fixing case.
10:19 Amarnath yatra suspended for second day
Amarnath yatra remained suspended for the second day today in view of curfew imposed in many parts of Kashmir Valley and Ramban district on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway, due to the firing incident in Gool area.
No fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to proceed towards Kashmir from the base camp in Jammu, official sources said.
10:18 Drug violence flares up in Mexico
Drug cartel violence has forced hundreds of people to flee their villages in the mountains near Mexico's southern Pacific coast, amid a new surge in gang confrontations that left bodies littered around the region.
The development comes just days after the arrest of one of Mexico's bloodiest capos, Zetas cartel leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, better known as 'Z-40', near the US border. He was taken by helicopter to an undisclosed maximum-security prison.
10:17 US defends its secret surveillance programme
Justifying its secret surveillance programme, a top US official has said that America neither uses its intelligence capabilities to collect trade secrets of foreign companies nor does it listen to everything said by every citizen of any country.
"We do not use our foreign intelligence collection capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies in order to give American companies a competitive advantage," said Robert Litt, the top lawyer for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Litt said that US did not indiscriminately sweep up and store the content of the communications of Americans, or of the citizenry of any country.
01:34 Live! Martin could have been me, 35 yrs ago: Obama on black teen
US President Barack Obama today spoke about his rare personal experience on a recent verdict in a black teen case and said that "Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago".
"You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago," Obama told reporters as he made an unannounced entry into the White House press room.
The 17-year-old unarmed black teen was shot and killed in Florida in February 2012. George Zimmerman, 29, said he opened fire on the teenager in self-defence and was acquitted of murder by a Florida court last week.
In his first public remarks after Zimmerman was acquitted, Obama shared his personal experience and said very few black men in the US had not experienced racial profiling.
"There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me," Obama said.
"You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot, I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago," Obama told reporters as he made an unannounced entry into the White House press room.
The 17-year-old unarmed black teen was shot and killed in Florida in February 2012. George Zimmerman, 29, said he opened fire on the teenager in self-defence and was acquitted of murder by a Florida court last week.
In his first public remarks after Zimmerman was acquitted, Obama shared his personal experience and said very few black men in the US had not experienced racial profiling.
"There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me," Obama said.
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