New Delhi:Seven students in Jalandhar, who returned from the United States, tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of people affected by the virus across the country to 30 even as Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad asked travellers to defer their plans of going abroad till the disease was globally under control.
A day after a boy tested positive in Jalandhar, seven out of the 10 students who had accompanied him to the US also developed flu symptoms and tested positive for the disease, a senior health ministry official said adding, however, all of them are stable and responding to treatment.
The remaining 24 children, their family and social contacts and those sitting in proximity to them in the flight have been identified and put on chemoprophylaxis.
A Central Rapid Response Team has been deployed in Jalandhar since last night.
Reacting to the increase in the number of cases, Azad told reporters that people, specially students, should defer travelling to flu-affected countries till the situation was under control.
"Till this disease is controlled globally, I would like to request young people from educational institutions going abroad that they can suspend their visits for the time being," he said adding "they can go after 2-3 months".
Maya slammed for calling Mahatma Gandhi 'natakbaaz'
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Maywati has come under severe criticism from opposition leaders for having made derogatory remarks about Mahatma Gandhi.
While addressing a meeting of MPs and legislators of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) here Saturday, Mayawati called the Father of the Nation a "natakbaaz" (fake). She also distributed pamphlets condemning both Mahatma Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for being insincere about the improvement in socio-economic status of Dalits.
"Mayawati's attempt to run down the Father of the Nation will only prove counter-productive and she will have to pay for it," said state Congress spokesman Subodh Srivastava.
"This only reflects her frustration on account of her failure to keep her monopolistic control over Dalits. It is high time she realises that Dalits are not her private property and they are well aware to see and understand the difference between what Mahatma Gandhi did for them and what Mayawati was doing for them," he added.
Samajwadi Party state president Akhilesh Yadav said: "Mayawati's derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi are clearly a reflection of her having not only lost ground but even her balance."
Calling Mayawati's rant against Mahatma Gandhi "a shameful act", BJP spokesman Hriday Narain Dikshit said: "By terming whatever he did against untouchability as a drama, Mayawati has shown utter disrespect to the Father of the Nation."
Srivastava also condemned Mayawati's move to hold protest demonstrations June 19, which is Rahul Gandhi's birthday.
"Maybe she does not like the idea of a birthday being observed without forced collection of funds since she is so used to celebrating her own birthday solely to collect money and jewellery," he said.
BJP's situation is now volcanic: Sushma Swaraj
Bhopal, June 15: Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has said that she would not like to comment on the situation in her party following its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
Sushma, who arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit to her Vidisha Parliamentary Constituency, told reporters at her residence that the situation in the party was now "volcanic".
"When a volcano is on even a small spark (chingari) can make it flare up further," she said without making any remark on the state of affairs in her party.
Sushma said that in her view there was nothing wrong in LK Advani continuing as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as he would have become the Prime Minister in case the NDA had won the Lok Sabha elections.
She said that as the party's election affairs in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand has come to an end and now she was only the MP from Vidisha.
Photojournalist identifies Kasab, provides photos as evidence
MUMBAI: A photojournalist on Monday identified Pakistani gunman Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, before a special court hearing Mumbai attacks case, as one of the persons who opened fire at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on November 26 and provided photographs to support his evidence.
Sebastian D'Souza placed before the court 100 photographs which he had shot on the night of November 26 capturing the gunmen who were firing indiscriminately at people at the rail terminus. Over 50 persons were killed in the attack.
The evidence of this witness is considered significant because he is not only an eyewitness but also is the first witness to provide documentary evidence of the terror attack.
The court has taken 20 of the 100 photographs on record, three of them showing Kasab holding a AK-47 assault rifle and also firing with it.
Four other photographs are of Kasab and fellow gunman Abu Ismail firing at people at the rail terminus.
When the photographs were being displayed in court, Kasab was seen curiously looking at them from the dock since he was unaware that they were taken at the time of the attack.
"The photographs are independent pieces of evidence and carry the value of an eyewitness and therefore is regarded as documentary evidence," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
Ten other photographs are of the main waiting hall of CST during the time of the attack, while two others are of slain policemen Ambadas Pawar and Shashank Shinde taking positions to fire at the gunmen.
One photograph was of a bookseller at the terminus who was also killed in the attack.
D'souza said he was working in a newspaper whose head office is located just opposite to CST and on the night of November 26, he came down from the building to go to Hotel Taj, another site of the terror strikes.
However, as he reached the gate of his office, he heard explosions inside CST and ran to the suburban rail section of the terminus.
As he went towards main waiting area of CST, D'souza said he saw two gunmen shooting but did not take the photographs due to lack of light.
He backtracked to the suburban rail section and clicked photographs of the gunmen from two platforms where he took cover, D'souza said.
Two other eyewitnesses, both police personnel, also identified Kasab as one of the gunmen at CST.
Harshad Kunju Patil, a constable attached to Vashi police station, said he had come to CST from Vashi aboard a local train as he was deputed in a ladies compartment for security, when he heard explosions in the main waiting area of the terminus.
Shiney Ahuja remanded to three day police custody
Mumbai:Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja was arrested on the charge of allegedly raping his 18-year- old maid and remanded to police custody till June 18 after preliminary medical tests indicated she was sexually assaulted.
"The tests have indicated that the victim was sexually assaulted, although the final report is still awaited," Additional Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta said.
She had been taken to Nagpada police hospital in South Mumbai where medical tests were conducted.
The 35-year-old actor allegedly raped his domestic help at his flat at suburban Oshiwara on Sunday when she was alone.
Ahuja, who was arrested early this morning, was produced before a local court which, after hearing arguments of public prosecutor and defence lawyer, sent him in police custody till June 18.
Ahuja's wife Anupama said he was innocent and she stands by him. "I love my husband. He is a wonderful father, a great partner and most importantly, he is an innocent man...I stand by him with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my love".
She denied reports that Ahuja has ‘confessed’ to raping his maid. "It is a lie. It is utter rubbish.
Clad in yellow T-shirt and blue jeans, the actor did not utter a word in the court and avoided eye contact with those present.
Indian Business News |Business News
Rising crude may lead to fuel price hike: Deora
New Delhi:Concerned at the rise in international crude oil prices, the Government is looking at solutions to tackle the widening revenue deficit and one of the options on the table could be raising petrol and diesel prices.
"We are seriously concerned about the rise in crude oil prices ... we have to look for solutions," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters after meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with his Budget wishlist.
Deregulating petrol and diesel prices has been on the cards since the crude oil prices came down by USD 100 from the historic high of USD 147 a barrel, a few weeks back. But with the rates climbing again, doubts are being cast if prices can actually be freed.
Crude oil prices are ruling at USD 71-72 a barrel, a seven-month high.
"We have to seriously look at solutions... the alternatives before us are raising petrol and diesel prices, asking the government to make up for revenue loss (of fuel retailers) through issuing oil bonds and upstream firms (like ONGC) chipping in," he said. "It could even be all of the three as had been the practice till now," he added. Deora, however, was not categoric in saying if raising petrol and diesel prices was on table. "I cannot say that," he said when asked if the Government was considering a fuel price hike.
State fuel retailers Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum may together lose close to Rs 60,000 crore in revenues if they are to sell petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene at current rates.
HC orders RIL to give gas to Anil's RNRL cheaper @ $2.34
Mumbai:In the bitter corporate battle with his elder brother, Anil Ambani got a major boost with the Bombay High Court ordering Mukesh-led RIL to supply gas to other's group firm at USD 2.34 per MBtu, 44 per cent lower than rates approved by the Government.
The High Court ordered that Reliance Industries honour a 2005 family agreement to supply 28 million cubic meters per day of gas from its Krishna-Godavari basin fields at USD 2.34 per mmBtu for 17 years to Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.
The final price would reduce the outgo for Anil's group firm by about 11.8 billion dollars during the period of the contract. As per USD 2.34 mBtu, the outgo for 17 years would work out to 14.79 billion dollars compared to 26.55 billion dollars on the basis of government-approved USD 4.2 mmBtu.
RNRL counsel Mahesh Jethmalani claimed victory. "Prima facie it looks like we have won." By this order, RNRL will have to pay USD 870.26 million for 28 mmcmd gas a year against USD 1.56 billion claimed by RIL.
A division bench of Justice J N Patel and K K Tated said the new pact should be as per the MoU signed between brothers.
The supply of gas has become a bone of contention between the brothers who had signed a family settlement agreement in June 2005 over the division of Reliance empire.
But the fight continued inside and outside the court on various issues.
Indian Sports News| Indian Sports News |T20 World Cup News
Dhoni apologises to nation, admits promoting Jadeja a mistake
London:Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni apologised to the nation for his champion team's early ouster from the T20 World Cup and admitted sending Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj Singh in their Super 8 match against England was a mistake. "We are more disappointed (than you) and we respect the emotions of our fans and the country. We gave our best and we say that with an open heart, we have nothing to hide. But in the next Twenty20 world cup we would have an opportunity of proving ourselves," said a dejected Dhoni after India's heart-breaking three-run loss at Lord's last night.
Dhoni sent Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj and himself but the young all-rounder consumed 35 balls for his 25 in the middle overs to put pressure on his batting partners which ultimately led to India losing the match by three runs to crash out of the tournament. "Sometimes you don't know what would happen. We thought Jadeja could stabilise the innings as well as go after the bowling. He did try but somehow he always found the fielders. It was unfortunate it didn't work for us. We needed somebody to play percentage cricket at that stage."
Dhoni, however, defended his decision to include Jadeja in the playing eleven in place of Pragyan Ojha, as well as his opting to field after winning the toss. "We were looking at a combination in which our batting could be lengthened. We need lower order bats to contribute. Ojha may be a better bowler but Jadeja is an excellent fielder and both bat and bowl well. It also encourages us to include an extra fast bowler," he said. "As for fielding first, we realised that under lights the wicket became better for batting."
Pakistan end Ireland's T20 adventure
LONDON: Pakistan ended Ireland's slim hopes of qualifying for the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 39-run victory at the Oval on Monday.
Pakistan made 159 for five and then held Ireland - the only non-Test side to have qualified for the second round Super Eights - to 120 for nine, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking four wickets for 19 runs.
Victory all but assured Pakistan of a place in the last four with Tuesday's match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka set to decide which two teams qualify out of Group F.
Opener Kamran Akmal's 57 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's total in an innings where Ireland off-spinner Kyle McCallan again proved his worth with two wickets for 26 runs.
Meanwhile, pace bowler Boyd Rankin's four overs cost just 11 runs.
Akmal faced 51 balls with a six and five fours.
Ireland lost opener Niall O'Brien early in their chase when the wicket-keeper was caught and bowled off a miscued hook by 17-year-old paceman Mohammad Amir.
Paul Stirling, himself only 18, came in for his first match of the tournament with Ireland 13 for one but got off the mark first ball with a superb cover-driven four off left-armer Aamir.
But the teenager, on 16, became the latest batsman to be bowled playing across the line against leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, who struck with his sixth ball and Ireland were 42 for two off seven overs.
Ireland captain William Porterfield batted steadily for 40 off 36 balls but when he was caught by opposing skipper Younus Khan off the bowling of Ajmal, Ireland were 87 for three in the 14th over.
With six overs left Ireland needed 72 more runs to win.
John Mooney, trying to keep Ireland up with the rate, also fell to Ajmal after he was caught in the deep by Abdul Razzaq.
Then Umar Gul, who took a Twenty20 international record five wickets against New Zealand, got in on the act by bowling Trent Johnston for a duck.
At 99 for five in the 17th over the game was up for Ireland, who later saw four tail-end wickets tumble for three runs in six balls.
Both Akmal and fellow opener Shahzaib Hasan struck a six off Johnston, whose four overs went for an expensive 45.
The 19-year-old Shahzaib holed out off seamer Alex Cusack, who took four wickets in Ireland's narrow nine-run loss to Sri Lanka at Lord's on Sunday.
The hard-hitting Afridi showed glimpses of his talent while making 24 before striking McCallan's third ball straight to Mooney at long-on.
And 78 for two became 102 for three in the 13th over when Younus was bowled after an ugly slog sweep against New Zealand born left-arm spinner Regan West.
Akmal, looking to press on, was dismissed by a Johnston yorker as he went down the pitch.
Prakash advances, Somdev ousted from Wimbledon qualifiers
LONDON: Prakash Amritraj sealed a second round berth in the Wimbledon qualifying event but it was all over for Somdev Devvarman, who crashed out after losing his opening match on Monday.
Prakash, seeded 28 and ranked 161 beat Croatian world number 236 Antonio Veic 6-3, 6-4 in his first round match.
Somdev, seeded 14th, lost 3-6, 2-6 to Monaco's Jean-Rene Lisnard, who is placed 80 rungs below the Indian at 215.
Prakash broke his rival once each in both the sets, sixth in the first and third in the second, to advance.
Prakash played a flawless game as he faced just two breakpoints in the match and successfully saved both.
He will next face either Conor Niland of Ireland or Daniel Cox of Britain
Somdev, who has been struggling these days, had a disappointing day as despite putting up a tough fight he ended up on the wrong side.
Somdev began fantastically by breaking Lisnard in the very first game of the match but suffered two consecutive breaks, second and fourth games, to concede lead.
Somdev had his chance to come back in the set when he earned a breakpoint in the ninth game and also saved two set points but the Monaco player did not let the Indian comeback.
The second set too started on a disastrous note for Somdev as he dropped his serve. Lisnard broke him in the seventh game to create a 5-2 cushion and served out the match in the next game.
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