Sunday, May 4, 2014

International newsline

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Afghanistan declares day of mourning after deadly landslide


The Afghan government has declared a day of mourning for the thousands of victims of a landslide that engulfed a village in northeast Afghanistan on Friday. According to officials, over 2,000 people were in their homes when the mudslide struck and are now feared dead. The landslide happened in the province of Badakhshan on the border with neighboring Tajikistan.


Kazakhstan plans to enter WTO in 2014


President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, believes the country will become a WTO member this year. The negotiating process has gone through its final stage, Nazarbaev said at the opening ceremony for the 47th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in Astana. He added that membership of the WTO will help the country’s development as it interrelates with more partners. Nazarbaev also spoke of plans for the revival of the Silk Road, which would, according to him, connect countries of major economic potential.


Gunman shoots six in Arkansas


Six people have been shot in Arkansas, after a gunman opened fire on a home, killing a man and a 13 year-old girl. Two boys aged 8 and 10 were also critically wounded in the incident and are now in hospital in a critical condition. The gunman then left the scene and shot a worker at a nearby business park, police said. The suspected attacker was later found dead in a car with a gunshot wound to the head. It is unclear whether he was killed or if he committed suicide. The incident happened in Jonesboro and police say they do not know of a motive for the attack, which happened on Saturday evening.

23 dead in Haiti bus crash


A bus crash in the southwest of Haiti has killed 23 people and left 17 injured, authorities from the country said. Ronald Etienne, who is the Mayor of the city of Jeremie, says that it is not known what caused the accident, which happened on Saturday. The crash occurred near the coastal town of Roseau, which is on the far western tip of Haiti’s southern peninsula.


11 Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists arrested in connection with missing MH370 flight


Authorities have arrested and interrogated 11 Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in connection with the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Daily Mail reported. The suspects were arrested last week in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur and in the state of Kedah. The detained individuals are reportedly members of a new terror group that was planning bomb attacks in Muslim countries. They are said to be between 22 and 55 and comprise of students, a young widow, odd-job workers, and business professionals, according to the paper. “The possibility that the plane was diverted by militants is still high on the list and international investigators have asked for a comprehensive report on this new terror group,” an officer with the Counter Terrorism Division of Malaysia’s Special Branch said Saturday.

N. Irish police request more time to question Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams


Police investigating the 1972 murder of Jean McConville are preparing to request more time to question Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein. It comes as Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness claimed Adam’s detention was political policing and alleged there was a “cabal” in the police force. McGuinness challenged what he said was an inconsistency, in that members of the British military had not been arrested over the Bloody Sunday killings and other controversial shootings during the troubles in Northern Ireland. 65-year old Adams has always denied allegations by former republican colleagues that he ordered the murder of Ms. McConville who was wrongly suspected of being a British army informer.


Turkey drops case against 60 people in corruption probe


Turkish persecutors dropped a case against 60 people on Friday, including the son of a former minster, in a graft probe that has unsteadied the Islamic-rooted government. They were detained in December and charged with accepting and facilitating bribes for construction projects and getting hold of building permits in protected areas.The prosecutor handling the case into Turkey’s TOKI housing agency decided not to pursue it, citing “lack of evidence” as the cause.


Kerry in South Sudan to push for end of conflict


US Secretary of State John Kerry is in South Sudan on Friday, where he will push for an end to the four-months-old conflict in talks with President Salva Kiir. His trip comes a day after the US threatened sanctions and held out hope of more peace keepers. More than 1 million people have fled their homes since fighting erupted in December between those backing President Kiir and soldiers loyal to his former deputy, Riek Machar. The fighting has largely run along ethnic lines and Kerry also warned that the violence could descend into genocide.


Moscow urges US to clarify incarceration, interrogation of Russian detainee


Moscow expects clarifications from Washington about the latest incident connected with the Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, said the Russian Foreign Ministry’s commissioner for human rights, Konstantin Dolgov. Earlier, Yaroshenko’s lawyer said that the detainee was placed in solitary confinement in Fort Dix prison, where he was interrogated for four hours. “If these facts are true, if he was thrown into solitary confinement, these actions cannot be justified,” said Dolgov adding that the US actions were “outrageous.” Pilot Yaroshenko was arrested by US officers in May 2010 in Liberia and accused of cocaine smuggling. He was sentenced to 20 years in September 2011.

France bans imports of pork based products


France is to ban imports of pork based products, live pigs and pig sperm from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan because of a virus that has killed millions of piglets in North America and Asia, a ministry official said, Reuters reports. The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) has killed around 7 million piglets since it was first identified in the US about a year ago.


6.0-magnitude earthquake jolts eastern Indonesia


A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck of eastern Indonesia on Friday, the US Geological Survey reported. The quake struck at 4:43pm local time (08:43 GMT) 70 kilometers south-southeast of Namela in the Maluku chain of islands at a depth of 54 kilometers. Local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami.Indonesia is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where there is frequent volcanic and seismic activity.


​The World Bank to loan $12 billion to Pakistan over next 5 years


The World Bank has extended its financial assistance to Pakistan to the tune of $12 billion for a five-year period, the country’s finance ministry said on Friday. According to Pakistani officials, the loan will target“energy, economy, (fighting) extremism and education.” Within the framework of a 2 percent interest rate loan program the first $1 billion will be transferred to the country, hit by an energy crisis and a shortfall in tax revenues, next week.

​Five killed, ten wounded in militia attack in Libya’s Benghazi


Five people were killed and ten wounded in a militia attack on the security headquarters in the Libyan port city of Benghazi on Friday, according to army officials. The fighting broke out when the militia tried to storm the building early in the morning. The clashes between the security forces and Islamist militants are regular in this city, which is located in a volatile eastern region.

Suicide bomber attack kills two in Egypt’s Sinai


A suicide bomber has struck a security checkpoint in the South Sinai region of Egypt, killing himself and one other person, security officials told Egyptian publication Al-Ahram. The attack happened in the town of El-Tur, on the main road between Cairo and the popular tourist destination of Sharm El-Sheikh.



 

Ukrainian army contain violence at cities of Mariupol, Konstantinovka

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Ukrainian military has started an operation against pro-autonomy activists in the city of Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine and  the town of Konstantinovka, according to local self-defense activists.
The troops have moved into Mariupol and have surrounded an administrative building held by anti-government protesters. The protesters have set up barricades and are burning tires.
There are a few hundred activists inside the building. They told media that the army is warning them that if they do not leave the building in the coming minutes, they will be fired at and the building will be seized.
“I am in the center of the city, there are a lot of ambulances outside the local administration building, gunfire is being heard, armored vehicles have entered the city and are moving towards the center,” witness Tatyana told media by phone. “People are going there as well, to prevent the soldiers from shooting. We are hoping they won’t shoot at civilians, though from what we’ve seen before, we are not sure anymore.”
Mikhail Krutko from the self-defense headquarters told Interfax news agency: “Residents are unarmed, they blocked roads in the city center, built up barricades from tires and other things not to let hardware pass. They set tires on fire.”
People on the ground told RT’s Paula Slier that there are 300-500 anti-Kiev protesters there and they are unarmed. There have so far been no reports of injuries.
There is no fatalities so far, but I can’t say anything about the number of injured. Right now police have returned from the scene, but people in dark uniforms can be seen in other parts of the city,” another witness named Dmitry told RT.
A bank building has been set ablaze in Mariupol, local news website 0629 reported.RT News

G7 to discuss energy dependency on Russia

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May 4,  
Energy Ministers of the Group of 7 nations will meet on Monday to discuss ways to reduce their reliance on Russia’s energy supplies. The ministers will gather in Rome for a two day meeting amid rising tensions between Russia and Western powers over the crisis in Ukraine. 
The Russia provides nearly 30 percent of the natural gas imported by European Union countries, which 60 percent of it goes through pipelines in Ukraine. The G7 energy ministers are expected to discuss ways to increase natural gas imports from the United States and the Middle East. They will also consider calling on technical assistance from the US to help East European countries tap into their rich shale gas resources.


 

Pakistani troops again violate ceasefire along LoC in J&K

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May 4,  
In yet another incident of ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote Sector in Poonch district which triggered retaliatory action from the Indian troops. 
Defense sources told AIR that Pakistani Army resorted to shelling of mortars and firing by small arms and automatic weapons on Indian posts along LoC in Dera Dibsi area in Balakote sector of Mendhar Poonch from 2330 hours previous night. Our Jammu correspondent reports, Army troops guarding the borderline fired back resulting in intermittent exchange of fire which continued till 0500 hrs this morning.


 

Fierce battles in Ukraine; OSCE team freed 

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Fierce battles in Ukraine; OSCE team freed
Ukrainian soldiers and pro-Russian rebels fought fierce battles on Saturday around a flashpoint town, with only a small reprieve to allow passage of a freed team of OSCE inspectors. 
More than 50 people have died in two days of clashes nationwide — most of them in a horrific inferno amid street clashes in the southern city of Odessa. 
In the east, the military stepped up its assault on rebels in the flashpoint town of Slavyansk on Saturday. 
The bloodshed was plunging the international crisis over the ex-Soviet republic into dangerous new territory. 
Russia said it would now be “absurd” for the country — whose Crimea peninsula it annexed in March — to hold a planned May 25 presidential election. 
That opened the risk of sweeping US sanctions against Russia after President Barack Obama warned of punishment if perceived Moscow meddling scuppered the poll. 
US Secretary of State John Kerry underlined that threat in a call to his Russian counterpart, saying: “If those supported by Russia continue to interfere with the election, regrettably there will have to be different sanctions including the possibility or the reality of sectoral sanctions. 
” In his call to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kerry called the Russian-mediated release of the OSCE observers as “a step” toward de-escalating the crisis but urged Moscow to do more and “withdraw support for the separatists.” 
Lavrov responded by calling on “the United States to use all of its influence to force the Kiev regime… to immediately halt military operations”. 
On the ground, however, there was no sign of combat subsiding. 
On the outskirts of Slavyansk, the main town under attack by the army, a news agency journalists witnessed a ferocious firefight between Kalashnikov-armed insurgents and soldiers outflanking their checkpoint. 
At least nine people have died in clashes around the town. 
On Friday, the military tightened its noose on the area but lost two helicopter gunships to shoulder-launched missiles. 
All of Ukraine was reeling today at news of 42 deaths the day before in the southern city of Odessa, where pro-Russian and pro-Kiev militants clashed savagely and repeatedly. 
Most of the deaths — many believed to be pro-Russians — occurred in a trade union building set alight as each side lobbed Molotov cocktails at the other. 


 

Train derails on Konkan route

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Passenger train derails on Konkan route, 15 feared dead
At least fifteen passengers were “feared killed” and around 50 injured when a passenger train derailed on Konkan Railway route in Raigad district on Sunday.
The incident occurred just outside a tunnel near Nidi village, when the engine of Diwa-Sawantwadi passenger train and four bogies derailed at around 10 AM between Nagothane and Roha railway stations.
The exact number of casualties was not known as it was a remote area and rescue operations were still on, they said.
Rescue workers are trying to extricate bodies trapped under bogies that overturned after derailment.
Following the mishap, the services on Konkan Railway route were suspended.
The injured passengers are being rushed to Roha for medical treatment, police said.


 

Morning Post

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Saturday 3 May 2014
 
 
डेथ एनीवर्सिरी के दिन प्रमोद महाजन पर वरिष्ठ पत्रकार मिलिंद खांड़ेकर का बड़ा सवाल
आज ही के दिन यानी 3 मई को 8 साल पहले प्रमोद महाजन ने इस दुनिया से विदा ली थी और दिलचस्प इत्तेफाक हुआ कि इस पूर्व सूचना एवं प्रसारण मंत्री…


TRP: चुनाव और IPL ने बिगाड़ा मनोरंजन चैनलों का खेल, सोनी को मामूली फायदा
2014 के 17वें हफ्ते में ‘स्टार प्लस’ 800 का आंकड़ा पार करने में विफल रहा। टैम सब्सक्राइबर्स द्वारा जारी आंकड़ों के मुताबिक चल रहे…


प्रसार भारती के कामकाज में सरकार की कोई दखलअंदाजी नहीं : मनीष तिवारी
दूरदर्शन द्वारा बीजेपी के पीएम उम्मीदवार नरेंद्र मोदी के इंटरव्यू के कुछ अंश हटाए जाने से विवादों में घिरे सूचना एवं प्रसारण मंत्री मनीष तिवारी ने इस मुद्दे पर सफाई दी है…


मीडिया की आजादी छीन लेने वाले दुश्मनों के खिलाफ हामिद मीर ने साधा निशाना
 पाकिस्तान में जानलेवा हमले में बच निकलने वाले वरिष्ठ टेलिविजन पत्रकार व जियो टीवी के संपादक हामिद मीर ने…


सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स को अमृता राय और दिग्विजय सिंह से जुड़े सभी कंटेंट हटाने का निर्देश

टीवी एंकर अमृता राय के शिकायत पर दिल्ली पुलिस की क्राइम ब्रांच ने अपनी जांच शुरू कर दी है। दिल्ली पुलिस ने सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स को निर्देश दिया है…


राष्ट्रीय सहारा के समूह संपादक रणविजय सिंह समेत कई को मातृश्री पुरस्कार
पत्रकारिता के क्षेत्र में दिए जाने वाले मातृश्री पुरस्कारों की घोषणा कर दी गई है। चयन समिति द्वारा कराए गए सर्वेक्षण के बाद जो नाम उभरकर सामने आए हैं…


आज रात को हेडलाइंस टुडे-आजतक पर नरेंद्र मोदी का इंटरव्यू
इंडिया टीवी, एएनआई न्यूज एजेंसी, एबीपी न्यूज और डीडी न्यूज के बाद अब बीजेपी के प्रधानमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार नरेंद्र मोदी आजतक को अपना इंटरव्यू देंगे…


दूरदर्शन की स्वतंत्रता पर नरेंद्र मोदी ने साधा निशाना
दूरदर्शन पर भाजपा के प्रधानमंत्री पद के उम्मीदवार नरेंद्र मोदी के इंटरव्यू को लेकर विवाद बढ़ता जा रहा है…


टीवी एंकर अमृता राय ने क्राइम ब्रांच में ई-मेल हैक करने का दर्ज कराया मामला

कांग्रेस महासचिव दिग्विजय सिंह से संबंधों को लेकर चर्चा में आईं टीवी एंकर अमृता राय ने  दिल्ली पुलिस की क्राइम ब्रांच में उन लोगों के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज कराई है…


थाने से छूटने के बाद पूनम पांडेय का मीडिया पर निशाना, कार में गाने सुनना अश्लीलता नहीं

अपनी ट्वीट्स के जरिए अपने सैक्सी फोटो और विडियो ट्विटर पर पोस्ट करने वाली बोल्ड मॉडल एक्ट्रेस पूनम पांडेय फिर से चर्चा में हैं…



 

AirAsia X announces Fantastic Deals!

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Offering 100,000 seats from as low as MYR 269* to amazing destinations across our network!
SEPANG, 4 May 2014- AirAsia X Berhad, the leading low-cost, long-haul carrier, is offering a fantastic deals with 100,000 promo seats for guests  to plan ahead for their upcoming holiday.

Guests on AirAsia X flights may book online and enjoy our fantastic deals from as low as MYR 269* on Economy and MYR 669* on Premium from Kuala Lumpur to China (Xian, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai), Korea (Busan, Seoul), Taiwan (Taipei), Australia (Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast), Nepal (Kathmandu), Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Japan (Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo). Bookings are available online from 5 May 2014 till 11 May 2014 for the travel period between 12 May 2014 and 31 August 2014.

Fly-Thru promotional deals are available from as low as MYR 379* from Penang to Nagoya. Other exciting fly-thru deals include services from AirAsia X destinations such as Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Nepal and Australia. The Fly-thru service allows passengers to seamlessly purchase two flight sectors and connect via Kuala Lumpur to our vast ASEAN destinations leveraging on AirAsia’s low cost carrier network.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said, “We are thrilled to announce that there are 100,000 seats available on these fantastic deals. Guests may take this as an opportunity to start planning their mid-year holiday getaway with a group of friends or family and take off to various exotic and exciting destinations across our long-haul network and that of the AirAsia group.”


AirAsia X was the first long-haul, low fare carrier to introduce Premium Flatbed seats, which have standard business class specifications of 20” width, 60” pitch and stretch out to 77” in full recline position.

The Premium flatbeds feature universal power sockets, adjustable headrests and built-in personal utilities such as tray table, drink holder, reading light and privacy screen. Premium seat guests also enjoy premium complimentary products and services including Pick A Seat, Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding, Priority Baggage, 25kg Baggage Allowance, Complimentary Meal and Pillow & Duvet.

On top of that, AirAsia X recently introduced the “Quiet Zone” cabin on all its long-haul flights across China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia and Nepal. The new service enhancement is exclusively for guests who are above age 12. The “Quiet Zone” cabin features a new ambiance with soft lighting, offering a more relaxing cabin atmosphere, which will ensure a more pleasant journey for our guests.
AirAsia X was awarded the World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Seat and the World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Class titles at the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards which took place at the Paris Airshow. The AirAsia Group also received its 5th consecutive year title as the World’s Best and Asia’s Best Low Cost Airline at the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards.


 

AAP condemns police inaction over RTI activist murder

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From: Media Cell AAP1  Sat, 3 May ’14 7:22p
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Show full Headers

Aam Aadmi Party strongly condemns the murder of Right to Information Activist Chandra Mohan Sharma in Greater Noida area of Gautam Budh Nagar, (Uttar Pradesh) on Thursday night.
The party is shocked at the police reluctance to investigate the case, particularly given the fact that the murdered activist had given a written complaint to the police on April 29 about the threats to his life which he was receiving from the land mafia.
The brutal murder by burning alive an activist fighting against those involved in land encroachments and grabbing is a reflection of the poor law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.
The AAP demands that the state government should seek an immediate report from the district administration about the entire facts of the case and the police should be pulled up for its laxity in first ignoring the complaint given to it by Mr Sharma about the threat to his life, and now its extreme reluctance in investigating the case.
The family of Mr Sharma has clearly named those behind his murder and the police version that the death took place due to his car catching fire lacks credibility.
The family has named five persons who are behind the murder and the police cannot brush aside the family’s version.
Though under public pressure, the police has finally registered a case of murder against the accused, but according to the family of the deceased, the police appears ready to give the benefit of doubt to the accused.
The AAP stands with the family of the deceased in his hour of grief and will fight for justice. The party will not allow the mafia to suppress the voice of activists fighting for the society’s cause to expose corruption.   

Regards
AAP Media Cell


 

1st BFI-IMG Reliance National School & College Basketball League for Boys & Girls 2014 – Day 5

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1st BFI-IMG Reliance National School & College Basketball League for Boys & Girls 2014 being held at the Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi. 
RESULTS FROM DAY FIVE (Sunday, 04 May 2014)

3RD & 4TH PLACE MATCHES
School Girls
1)      Modern School, New Delhi 65 (Madhu Kumari 34, Ananya S 17) bt Bishop Cotton High School, Bangalore (Shanice 15, Aksa 13, Lopamudra 12)  [QT wise scores: 9-16; 22-11; 14-17; 21-17]
School Boys
1)      Oxford School, New Delhi 85 (Saurav 24, Abhishek 23)  bt The Bhavan’s Prominent, Indore 71 (Laxman 39, Mayank 15) [QT wise scores: 29-14; 14-18; 15-21; 27-18]
SEMIFINALS
College Women
1)      SBM Jain College, Bangalore 93 (Simonelle 47, Sindhuri 12, Sandhya 9) bt Government College, Ludhiana 70 (Nirmal 35, Nagma 27)  [QT wise scores: 13-10; 30-13; 25-23; 27-22]
College Men
1)      Government College, Ludhiana 94 (Harmandeep 27, Palpreet Singh 21)  bt SBM Jain College, Bengaluru 90 (Yashas 20, Vinoth 15, Vishu P 14) [QT wise scores: 22-19; 25-17; 24-29; 23-25]

Upcoming Schedule for finals (Sunday, 4-5-14)
COURT NO. 1
1.00 PM St Joseph HS, Chennai Vs Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana- School Girls 
2.30 PM Fr. Agnels, Mumbai Vs Sr. Nav Bharti Bharti School, Ludhiana- School Boys
4.00 PM INDIAN TEAM PERFORMANCE/SCRIMMAGE 
4.30 PM MOP Vaishnav College Chennai vs. SBM Jain College Bangalore- COLLEGE WOMEN 
6.00 PM CULTURAL PROGRAMME 
6.30 PM Government College, Ludhiana vs. Jeppiar Institute of Technology COLLEGE MEN 

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