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Mobs block trains, seek justice for 1984 riots victims

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Ludhiana (Punjab), November 06:Rail traffic on the busy Amritsar-New Delhi section was severely hit Friday as mobs demanding justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, stopped trains at various places in Punjab, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Over 20 trains were either halted for a few hours or diverted to alternate routes due to the widespread agitation. The protesters also pelted stones at an engine in Ferozepur division.

Hooda ministry to be sworn in Saturday

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Chandigarh, November 06:The Congress government in Haryana led by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will induct new ministers Saturday, 15 days after the assembly poll results came Oct 22, an official said Friday.

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia will swear in the new ministers.

The swearing-in ceremony was earlier slated for Friday morning but was called off at the eleventh hour, ostensibly owing to differences within the Congress party and with its supporting legislators over sharing of ministry berths.

US unemployment rate rises to 10.2 percent

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Washington, November 06:The US unemployment rate surged to 10.2 percent in October, the highest in 26 years, as another 190,000 people lost their jobs during the month, officials said Friday.

The figure reported by US Labour Department came after the 9.8 percent jobless rate in September. The worst-hit sectors were construction, manufacturing and the retail trade, the department said.

Unemployment has now climbed above 10 percent for the first time since 1983. The rise was worse than expected – economists predicted 175,000 jobs lost and a 9.9-percent rate in October.

PM condoles death of journalist Prabash Joshi

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New Delhi, November 06:Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday condoled the death of veteran journalist Prabhash Joshi, describing him as “a man of extraordinary intellectual courage and professional integrity”.

“Joshi was a man of extraordinary intellectual courage and professional integrity. He acquired an iconic status as the founder-editor of the Hindi daily, Jansatta. A whole generation of journalists drew inspiration from him, especially in questioning the current orthodoxy,” Manmohan Singh said in his condolence message.

TV exposure may be linked to aggressive behaviour in kids

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Washington, November 06:Three-year-old children who are exposed to more TV appear to be at an increased risk for exhibiting aggressive behaviour, according to new research.

“Early childhood aggression can be problematic for parents, teachers and childhood peers and sometimes is predictive of more serious behaviour problems to come, such as juvenile delinquency, adulthood violence and criminal behaviour,” says a new study.

South Korea declares red alert against swine flu

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Seoul, November 03:South Korea Tuesday raised the swine flu alert level to its highest status due to the rapid spread of the viral disease in the country, officials said.

The red alert level, the highest on South Korea’s four-level scale, means that government authorities would be mobilised to fight the virus and restrictions on travel and public events could be put in place more quickly.

The red alert was put in place primarily to control the spread of the H1N1 strain of the flu, said Park Ha Jeong, a deputy minister for public health.

Muslim clerics support Vande Mataram fatwa, BJP calls it ‘anti-national’

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Deoband/Lucknow, November 03:The Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind Tuesday supported a decree against the national song “Vande Mataram” on the grounds that some of its lines were “against the religious principles of Islam”. The move drew fierce criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which termed the move “anti-national”.

Just one cigarette can harm arteries

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Toronto, November 03:Even one cigarette has serious adverse effects on young adults, according to new research.

The study found that smoking one cigarette increases the stiffness of the arteries in 18 to 30 year olds by a whopping 25 percent.

Arteries that are stiff or rigid increase resistance in the blood vessels, making the heart work harder. The stiffer the artery, the greater the risk for heart disease or stroke.

Overweight people less likely to have sex

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Sydney, November 02:An increased waistline is not only bad for your health but can lead to decreased bedroom activity, according to researchers.

“I’m exploring the effects of being overweight or obese on sexual relationships, both the frequency of, and intensity of sexual activity,” Frances Quirk, a professor at James Cook University said.

There are several biological and physical factors that can lead to a decrease in sexual functionality.

Jehadi terror, Hindu rightwing terror different: Goa police

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Panaji, November 02:There is a difference between jehadi terrorism and rightwing Hindu terrorism, the police here believe.

A senior police official who is investigating the Diwali eve blast carried out by members affiliated to the Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha (SS) in Margao, a major town in South Goa 35 km from here, said that the Oct 16 blast was aimed at targeting a public function, unlike other threats by jehadi groups received by Goa in the past.

Suicide blast kills 22 in Rawalpindi

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Rawalpindi, November 02:At least 22 people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle triggered a massive explosion near a luxury hotel and a bank in this garrison city adjacent to capital Islamabad. The blast occurred barely 500 metres from the Pakistani Army Headquarters, which had come under Taliban attack last month.

Hospital sources said 22 people were killed while about two dozen, including an Army major, were wounded when the blast occurred at 10.40 a.m., Geo TV reported. Some of those wounded were in critical condition.

AMU demands CBI probe into student’s murder

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Aligarh, November 02:Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of a final year B.Sc student and the alleged role of politicians in the case, an official said Monday.

“We have today (Monday) faxed a letter to the central government, seeking a CBI probe into the murder,” Mujahid Beg, an AMU professor and member of the varsity’s executive council, told reporters in Aligarh, western Uttar Pradesh, about 300 km from state capital Lucknow.

Narendra Modi down with swine flu

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Gandhinagar, October 30:Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is down with swine flu two days after returning from Russia, doctors at a hospital said Friday.

This was confirmed by Atul Patel, the doctor at a government civil hospital on Friday morning.

The chief minister who returned from his three day-visit to Russia on Wednesday worked through Thursday attending his official engagements, despite feeling tired and coughing frequently.

Hyderabadi Runs for City Council

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Lowell,October 29:MA–Syed Hussain is running for the Lowell City Council. A native of Hyderabad, India, he immigrated to the US in 1991.

In his pursuit of the American dream, Hussain rode his bicycle from South Lowell to Pawtucketville to mow lawns. He delivered fliers for The Sun. He delivered pizza.

He became a U.S. citizen, took some training courses and landed a job in human services. For the past 15 years, he has worked as a vocational resource specialist and mentor for the disabled and developmentally challenged.

Brain stroke third largest killer in India, but awareness very low

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New Delhi, October 29:Brain stroke is the third largest killer in India after heart attack and cancer. And on World Stroke Day Thursday, experts say that awareness and immediate medical help can save the life of a person suffering a stroke.

A study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which was released in June, says that the incidence of stroke in India is around 130 per 100,000 people every year. It further says that about 20 percent of heart patients are susceptible to it.

Michael Jackson earned $90 million after death

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London, October 28: Late pop legend Michael Jackson has earned $90 million since his death.

The singer, who died June 25, came third in Forbes.com’s annual top earning dead celebrities list with a huge financial haul, reported femalefirst.co.uk.

Jackson earned enormous sum from radio play, royalties from album sales, rights to his name and royalties from his stake in the Sony/ATV music catalogue.

Since Jackson’s death, there have also been numerous sales of memorabilia, iconic outfits and even a lock of his hair.

Police cremate youth’s skeleton two years after death

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Lucknow, October 28: A youth’s skeleton lying on the terrace of a police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district since July 2007 has allegedly been cremated by the police two years on, but the dead man’s father has cried foul.

Officials at the Ahraula village police station late Tuesday night cremated the skeleton of 22-year-old Chukkan Nishad, who went missing July 21, 2007.

Sadharan Nishad, Chukkan’s father, alleged that the police threatened the family before cremating his son’s skeleton.

Indian top order fires against Australia

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Nagpur, October 28:Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored a well-paced century as India piled on a massive 354 for seven in the second One-Day International against Australia here Wednesday.

The Indian captain scored 124 off 107 balls, his fifth century, while Gautam Gambhir struck 76 off 80 balls. After Gambhir’s exit, Suresh Raina played a perfect foil to Dhoni, smashing 62 off 50 balls.

Dhoni added 119 runs with Gambhir and 136 with Raina.

Dhoni’s half-century came in 55 balls and included three fours, before he plundered the bowling in the death, bludgeoning six fours and three sixes.

London duo hand over Gandhi letters to Patil – a gift to India

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London, October 28: Describing Gandhi as a “spirit, not an individual,” President Pratibha Patil Wednesday accepted the gift of Gandhi memorabilia on behalf of India from two leading members of the Indian diaspora in Britain.

“I feel that Gandhi was a spirit, not an individual – ‘vyakti nahin, shakti’,” Patil said departing from her prepared speech after accepting a series of letters written by Gandhi and a piece of khadi cloth signed by him.

Terror revisited: 87 dead, 200 injured in Peshawar bombing

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Peshawar/Islamabad, October 28:More than 80 people were killed in Pakistan’s worst terror attack this year when a massive bomb blast ripped through a crowded market here Wednesday, hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a three-day trip to the country, local media reported.

Army might be called in Peshawar: minister

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Peshawar, October 28:The army might be called in the city of Peshawar, where a suicide bombing Wednesday killed at least 87 people and injured over 200, a media report said quoting a minister.

“Army might be called in the city if the need arises”, said Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior minister of the North-West Frontier province as quoted in a report by The News.

He added that the government would bring the terrorists to “the justice they deserve” and denied that the incident took place due to the security lapses.

India ‘shocked’ at attack on UN guest house in Kabul

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Bangalore, October 28:External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Wednesday expressed the country’s shock over the terror attack on a United Nations guest house in Kabul in which 12 people, including six UN staff, were killed.

“We are shocked by the dastardly attack on the UN guest house in Kabul. We convey our deep sympathy to the UN for the loss of life and hope more security measures will be taken to prevent such attacks,” Krishna told reporters here.

Pakistan not to hire security guards for series in UAE

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Karachi, October 28:Pakistan’s cricket authorities have decided against hiring private security guards for their ‘home’ series against New Zealand that will get underway in United Arab Emirates in November.

After ‘wasting’ millions of rupees for hiring private bodyguards for a limited-overs series against Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi early this summer, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided against continuing the exercise.

Chhattisgarh serves notice to 15 industries for pollution

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Raipur, October 28:The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board Wednesday served notices to 15 steel making units ion the state for defying pollution control norms.

These small scale industries, located at Urla, Siltara and Borjhara industrial areas on the outskirts of Raipur, have not adopted pollution control measures and are not using electro-static precipitator (ESP) — an air pollution control device — during night period, officials said.

Thousands of schools shut as swine flu ‘panic’ hits Iraq

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Iraqi education and health officials have closed almost 2,500 schools as a precaution against the spread of swine flu.

On Tuesday spokesmen for the southern provinces of Dhi Qar and Wasit announced that they were shutting all the schools in their districts, while four primary schools and two secondary schools in Baghdad have been closed for a week after suspected cases were found there.

In total almost 1,500 schools in Dhi Qar were closed for 10 days, affecting almost 400,000 pupils, after two children developed the virus.