TV journalists shot dead in US

Updated on : 27-08-2015 02:29 PM

A woman TV reporter and a cameraman were Wednesday killed on live television when a "disgruntled" ex-employee of the TV station opened fire in the US state of Virginia before succumbing to his injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Alison Parker, 24, a reporter for WDBJ television news channel, and Adam Ward, 27, a cameraman, were interviewing a woman about a shopping plaza in Moneta, a small community near Roanoke city - some 400 kilometres south west of Washington DC -- when they were shot by the gunman identified as Vester Lee Flanagan II, 41, of Roanoke.  The gunman is believed to have fired six or seven times, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks said.  After the shooting Flanagan fled but was later found by police in his car with gunshot wound.  "Troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound," police said.  He later died at the Inova Fairfax Hospital after succumbing to the injuries suffered from the self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Flanagan previously worked for WDBJ under the name Bryce Williams. He was hired at the station in the spring of 2012 after working at stations in San Francisco and in Florida, North Carolina, Texas and Georgia.  WDBJ let him go in February 2013, Roanoke Times reported. In May 2014, Flanagan filed suit against the station in Roanoke General District Court, seeking money he felt he was owed and additional damages.  His suit alleged discrimination by the station and named most of the WDBJ staff in his complaint, but in July 2014, the case was dismissed.  Video of the shooting was later posted on the Twitter account and Facebook page of Bryce Williams.  It showed an outstretched arm holding the handgun and firing repeatedly at Parker as she tried to run away.  Part of the incident was caught on video during WDBJ TV's morning broadcast as the shocking viewers saw the grisly drama on their TVs.  The station was interviewing Vicki Gardner, head of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce. Gardner was shot at his back and is currently battling for his life in a hospital.  Flanagan was believed to be disgruntled with the TV station. According to New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, since 1992 five journalists have been killed in the US.  This year so far at least 39 journalists have been killed worldwide with France, South Sudan and Syria, being the most deadly countries.  "The thoughts and prayers of everybody here at the White House are with the families of those who were injured or killed in that terrible incident," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.

Minister Venkaiah Naidu announces names of 98 proposed smart cities

AUGUST 28, 2015 | NARESH KUMAR SAGAR | EDIT

Naresh Kumar Sagar

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Minister Venkaiah Naidu announces names of 98 proposed smart cities
Regarding smart cites the smartmove on papers is still notional plan which is lurking in thoughts of Political outfits from last one decade  but still is in fix. However BJP run government under stewardship of PM Modi the Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday announced names of 98 proposed smart cities, these cities will get 100 crore rupees every year for the next five years for being developed into smart cities.

Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday announced the names of the cities to be developed into smart cities in the next five years. Prime objective is to enhance the quality of urban life.

Naidu said, it include 13 cities from Uttar Pradesh,12 from Tamil Nadu,10 from Maharashtra, 7 from MP, 3 each from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh included in smart cities.

He urged for people’s co-operation to move forward in this mission. The minister said, prime motive is to enhance urban life, mission is very practical and realistic.

Naidu said state and union territories and urban local bodies have an important role to play in the implementation of Smart City Mission.

The minister said 13 crore population across 98 cities which is 35 percent of urban population will be covered under this smart city mission.