Over 200 villages in UP marooned, Rapti river flows above danger mark

NEW DELHI: Over 200 villages in different districts of Uttar Pradesh were marooned on Saturday with the river Rapti flowing above danger mark. The rising level has left many other villages with seizable population in Bahraich, Gonda, Shrawasti and Lakhimpur districts quite vulnerable.

Rising water level also posed threat to the Suhelva Wildlife Sanctuary which is famous for its Tiger, Leopard, Bear and Boar.

Issuing flood alert for the entire area that fall along the river on its both sides, the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Saturday afternoon said, "The river Rapti in Balrampur district of UP is now flowing in high flood situation".

The 'high flood situation' (HFS) is considered quite dangerous, specifically when water level in the river continues to rise.

The CWC in its report said, " At 8am on Saturday, the river was flowing at a level of 104.79 meters with a rising trend. This is 0.17 meters above its danger level of 104.62 meters and 0.46 meters below its previous HFL of 105.25 meters recorded on September 11, 2000".

The river Rapti falls in the Ganga basin and flows near Suhelva sanctuary.

Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) of the central government, under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, took stock of the preparedness in the wake of floods in Nepal.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have also been kept ready for rescue operations in Nepal, if required.

"Three helicopters have been kept on the stand-by at Gorakhpur for this purpose", said an official statement of the ministry of water resources.

It said, "Flood situation in UP, Bihar and recent heavy rains and cloudburst in Uttarakhand were also reviewed with the state governments".

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China's Xi Jinping calls for a political solution to ease Ukraine crisis

BEIJING: China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for a political solution for over the Ukraine crisis to avoid confrontations, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Efforts should be made to "ease the tense situation and avoid acceleration of confrontations and conflicts in an alternative way," Xinhua quoted Xi as telling visiting United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

Xi's comments come at a time of renewed concern over an escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. That could mean stronger economic sanctions against Russia from Europe and the United States — and harsher retaliation from Moscow.

China is a key economic and political ally of Russia, and the two countries recently signed a $400 billion gas supply deal.

The shooting-down of a Malaysian plane in eastern Ukraine showed that "it is important and imperative to properly address the Ukraine crisis," Xi said, saying that efforts should be made to prevent Ukraine from falling into a humanitarian crisis.

All parties should work towards a political solution and "negotiate for a program that could take into consideration the interests of all parties in a balanced manner at an early date", Xi said.

Ban was quoted by Xinhua as saying that a political solution, rather than the use of force, is the only right way to resolve the Ukraine issue.

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Indian Railways to set up four universities in India over five years: Railway minister

MANGALORE: Hunt for trained manpower in all aspects of function of Indian Railways will manifest itself through railway universities to be set up in all four corners of India. While the maiden railway budget that Union railway minister D V Sadananda Gowda presented, spoke of one such Railway University, the minister has plans to set up one such university in our parts of India in a phased manner over the next five years.

With an employee strength of 13.5-lakhs, Indian railways spends huge amount on re-orienting manpower it absorbs to suit the needs of the national transporter. Even members of the railway board, who are technical experts in their respective areas, pitch for more funds for their project and somewhere the vision of integrated development of railways is lost, Gowda said at a meet the press programme organised by DKWJA here on Saturday.

With this in mind, the railway ministry post the presentation of the railway budget has approached ministry of human resources development seeking guidelines for establishment of a dedicated railway university, Gowda said, adding the idea for such an institution came from none other than 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan. Graduates coming out of railway universities will have assurance of getting absorbed in to the system as all-rounders, he said.

"We are looking at need for changes in law, if need be, to set up this university," he said, adding syllabus, style of functioning are other areas are also being looked in to. At present, Railways has a training institute in Baroda, Gowda said, adding all angles are being explored to put proposed Railway University on track. "We should have a full view on the issue by December and roll out the university from start of an academic year," he added.

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Wales becomes first British country to approve cannabis-based medicine

LONDON: Wales has become the first in the UK to allow a cannabis-based medicine under its National Health Service.

Sativex - an oral spray has been approved by the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) for people with multiple sclerosis.

It will be available on prescription to treat muscle spasms for MS patients do not respond to other medicines.

Sativex's chemical extracts - Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol which are derived from the cannabis plant is indicated as treatment for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to MS who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication.

MS is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS).

The course of MS is potentially highly disabling with patients typically developing multiple neurological dysfunctions, such as visual and sensory disturbances, limb weakness, gait problems and bladder and bowel symptoms.

Patients need to take up to a maximum of 12 sprays per day, until they achieve optimum symptom relief. There has to be a 15-minute gap between sprays.

Earlier this year, NICE - the body that decides what treatments should be available on the NHS in England and Wales rejected the drug in their draft clinical guidelines for MS because it was not deemed 'cost effective'. The AWMSG decision overrules the NICE guideline in Wales.

Wales' health minister Mark Drakeford said that he hoped the spray would help ease the suffering of those who have to live with the reality of the neurological condition.

The decision was welcomed by Multiple Sclerosis Trust who hoped it will prompt England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to adopt the same approach.

Sally Hughes from MS society said, "While we're delighted people with MS in Wales will be able to access this medicine, it's essential that it's available to all eligible people - regardless of where they live. The MS society has campaigned for years for this treatment to be made available on the NHS. Muscle spasms among MS patients can be painful and distressing - and a treatment that can potentially alleviate these symptoms could be life changing".

"Sativex has been licensed as safe and effective for people with MS, and for many people it's their only viable treatment option left. Despite this, NICE has rejected this medicine for use. It means people are either left with the daily battle of painful symptoms, or face financial strain as a result of funding the treatment themselves," he added.

As cannabis is a class B drug and can only be lawfully possessed under a prescription issued by a qualified health professional, passing Sativex to someone else, unless that person is lawfully entitled to possess the drug, is a criminal offence.

The lack of withdrawal symptoms suggests that dependence on the treatment is highly unlikely. In addition, Sativex did not affect cognition (thinking or memory) or induce any mental health problems at the doses used.

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Five aid workers seized in western Afghanistan: ICRC

KABUL: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Saturday that five of its Afghan staff were kidnapped by a local armed group two days ago in the western province of Herat.

"The incident happened when the team was traveling by road in Herat province on August 14," said Marek Resich, an ICRC spokesman in Kabul.

He said the organisation was working on multiple levels "to secure their safe return".

In a separate incident, the Taliban abducted 13 people on Friday who had been working to clear mines in central Ghazni province and were traveling to the capital, according to a local official.

"We have already spoken to elders in the area to use their influence and speak to the Taliban to release them," Shafiq Nang Safi, a spokesman for provincial governor, said on Saturday.

The latest spate of kidnappings underscores the ongoing dangers faced by both Afghans and foreigners working for development and aid groups across the country.

Last year, there were more than 230 attacks on the humanitarian sector in Afghanistan, according to the United Nations.

The Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS), which rescued three Indian citizens this week who had been kidnapped by the Taliban in Logar province, asked all foreigners to report to police before traveling in the country.

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Woman cop who took on sand mafia gets TN govt's Kalpana Chawla award

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday presented the annual Kalpana Chawla award for courage and daring enterprise to Nagapattinam superintendent of police (SP) R Ponni, who exhibited courage in nabbing sand mafia during her stint as an assistant SP (ASP) in Chengalpet.

A 2008 batch IPS officer, Ponni intercepted 26 sand laden lorries and took on the culprits single-handedly, with the assistance of her lone driver.

After receiving the award from the chief minister during the Independence Day celebrations here, Ponni said, "I am happy that my work has been recognized. Great efforts went into to curb sand mafia in Chengalpet, booking 200 cases on a single day."

While she was the ASP in Tirupattur (Vellore), Ponni promptly responded to an alert about the movement of a stolen vehicle and intercepted it, nabbing an accused. This eventually led to the detection of a number of cases as well as recovering 70 sovereigns of jewellery.

As SP, Erode, she meticulously planned and detained an activist under the National Security Act, thus curbing the extremist influence in the forest areas.

Incidentally, Ponni is currently facing contempt charges in the Madras high court in connection with the arrest of a judicial magistrate of Coonoor for cheating a woman police.

Jayalalithaa also presented individual awards for exemplary service for the welfare of the differently abled.

Prof Amar Agarwal received the best doctor award. The best social worker award went to Sr Virgit Johnsi of Mercy Home, Tirunelveli. Srishti Special School, Mogappair, got the best institution award.

Sakthi Masala Private Limited of Erode received the award for the best private employer who provided maximum number of employment opportunities to the differently-abled persons.

Best district central cooperative bank award went to Salem District Central Cooperative Bank, while SHARE Trust for the Development of Women and Children, Gummidipoondi, received the best institution for serving women award.

The best social worker for outstanding work done for women went to K Saroja of Omalur Block Women Welfare Uplift Organisation.

The chief minister also gave away the best corporation award to Trichy, the best municipality awards to Kumbakonam, Komarapalayam and the Periyakulam and the best town panchayats award to Thalanayar, Alanganallur and Melachokkanathapuram.

Information technology department section officer S Rajendran received the best practices award for his meritorious service in training officers on right to information.

The best organization award went to health and family welfare and rural development departments for executing a comprehensive health insurance scheme and developing a module for water management.

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40 workers rescued from flooded China mine, 16 still trapped

BEIJING: Forty workers trapped in a flooded coal mine in northeast China's Heilongjiang province were rescued on Friday, as efforts are on to pull out 16 other miners.

The accident took place on Thursday when water flooded the privately-owned Anzhishun Coal Mine in Jixion city where 56 workers were in the shaft, said Fang Dongchu, head of the city's work safety department.

Twenty-five were still trapped early on Friday, but nine miners were lifted to the ground, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The rescued have been rushed to hospital for treatment. With the help of seven pumps, three professional rescue crews are working in four shifts a day, Fang said adding that they are also digging a tunnel to reach the workers.

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At least 14 killed as African Union forces attack insurgents in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU: At least 14 people were killed in heavy fighting when African Union peacekeepers entered a surburb of the Somali capital Mogadishu in an offensive against armed militias.

Frequent militant attacks in the Horn of Africa country show that a push by African Union peacekeeping troops has not weakened the Islamist al Shabaab group's capacity to wage asymmetric warfare in the capital, where coordination between Somali and foreign intelligence agencies is poor.

"At least 14 people, mostly militia, died in the fighting this morning. The government's aim is to secure the city," Major Abdullahi Farah, a senior police officer, told Reuters.

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France marks 70 years since Allies liberated south

TOULON, France: France paid tribute on Friday to Allied troops — including veterans from the US and French colonies in Africa — who landed 70 years ago on Mediterranean shores to liberate French land from Nazi occupation.

The so-called southern landings, involving some 450,000 troops and 881 warships, were launched 10 weeks after the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The two operations liberated territory across northern and southern France, squeezing the Nazi occupiers in a pincer and hastening the German defeat and the end of World War II.

After major celebrations June 6 to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day in the presence of world leaders including President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II, this time French authorities are paying special homage to the tens of thousands African troops recruited by colonizers to fight the Nazis. Fifteen African leaders were invited to Friday's events.

French President Francois Hollande was expected to call attention to current French military operations in Mali and Central African Republic, where French troops intervened last year at the request of local authorities to settle conflicts there.

"France is honored to welcome again to Provence those who helped free it from over 1,800 days of war,'' Hollande wrote in a statement ahead of Friday's commemoration.

Hollande is leading two ceremonies on Friday, at Mount Faron above the Mediterranean shore in Toulon and another aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle — named after France's wartime resistance leader.

A naval parade of 20 warships will take place off the beaches of Provence, including the USS Mount Whitney, two British minesweepers, and ships from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

On the evening of August 15, 1944, some 100,000 men landed on the beaches of southern France in an invasion codenamed Operation Dragoon. A total of 450,000 ultimately arrived and helped free the region. The Germans retreated rapidly. The cities of Toulon, Cannes and Marseille were liberated by Aug. 28.

A ceremony dedicated to US troops will take place at the American cemetery of Draguignan on Saturday.

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Japan criticized as 2 ministers visit Yasukuni war shrine

TOKYO: Two Japanese cabinet ministers paid respects on Friday at a Tokyo shrine that honours the war dead including convicted criminals, a move that drew immediate criticism from South Korea, although Japan's prime minister stayed away.

Keiji Furuya, chairman of the national public safety commission, one of the two ministers who visited Yasukuni Shrine, said it was "only natural as a Japanese" to honour those who had given up their lives for their country. internal affairs and communications minister Yoshitaka Shindo told reporters his visit was a vow to never wage war again.

In Seoul, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said some Japanese politicians were acting in a way that hurts both South Koreans and Japanese and further pushes the two countries' people apart.

In a speech marking South Korea's independence from Japanese colonialism, Park also asked Japanese leaders to act wisely and expressed hopes that next year the two countries will move together toward friendlier ties.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not go to the shrine, but sent a gift through an envoy. His visit to Yasukuni in December drew widespread criticism, including from the US, Japan's most important ally.

Abe signed the gift as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and not as prime minister, a party official said — a technicality that is important in the long brewing controversy.

The enshrinement of Class-A war criminals, such as wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, among the 2.5 million dead honoured at Yasukuni Shrine makes the visits a target of condemnation from China and South Korea, which suffered from Japan's aggression and see the shrine as a symbol of brutality.

Dozens of lawmakers from various parties also visited the shrine, wearing dark suits and outfits.

At a ceremony commemorating the end of World War II at a Tokyo hall, attended by thousands of people, Abe said later Friday that the sacrifices of the previous generation brought "peace and prosperity" to Japan.

"We will never forget that," Abe told the crowd, noting that Japan must "humbly face up to history."

Emperor Akihito, whose father surrendered at the end of World War II, also offered prayers at the ceremony on a stage covered with chrysanthemums, flanked by his wife Michiko.

Although extremist nationalists throng Yasukuni, wearing old uniforms and tooting bugle horns, thousands of regular people also go to the shrine on August 15, the anniversary of the end of the war. On that day in 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on the radio, the first time the general public had ever heard his voice as he had been considered to be almost divine.

Last month, Abe's Cabinet approved an interpretation of Japan's post-war constitution, which was written by the US, to allow Japanese troops a more active role, including working with the US and other allies, in defensive military activities.

Relations with Asia's neighboris have been strained over such moves and longstanding territorial disputes. But pacifism remains a powerful public sentiment, especially among the elderly.

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38,000 railway officials punished for involvement in corruption

NEW DELHI: Around 38,000 railway officials have been punished for their involvement in various irregularities and corruption in last five years, railway minister DV Sadananda Gowda informed Lok Sabha.

Gowda said during question hour that punishments were meted out after conducting probe into 42,000 complaints received by the railway ministry from various parts of the country.

"I do not dispute the fact that there is corruption and irregularities in Railways. Of course there is corruption and we are taking all possible steps to check the menace," he said.

Gowda said Rs 682 crore has been recovered by the railways from various persons who had taken graft of Rs 882 crore.

He said instances of irregularities involving corrupt practices were reported in the form of complaints or unearthed during the course of regular preventive and decoy checks and investigation by an inter-disciplinary vigilance organisation, which has its offices in the railway board as well as in all zonal railways and production units.

To another question, Gowda said, "To augment revenues from parcel traffic, railways have introduced a scheme for leasing of parcel vans. In addition to this, entire capacity of parcel express trains from specific origin-destination is also leased out to the private operators by inviting bids through open tenders."

He said to increase sundry other earnings, various innovative schemes such as bulk advertising rights, vinyl wrapping of trains, onboard infotainment and online booking of retiring rooms through IRCTC website have been started.

The minister said the vacant land which is not required by railways for its immediate operational need is utilized for commercial development, wherever feasible, to generate revenue from non-tariff measures through Rail Land Development Authority.

"As a result of steps taken in this direction, earnings of Indian Railways, registered a year on year growth of 5.15%, 14.97% and 33.89% during the last three years," he said.

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Cops who nabbed three Al-Umma men selected for Tamil Nadu CM's medal for excellence

CHENNAI: Two superintendents of police (SP), who were part of a special team that nabbed three Muslim fundamentalists at Puthur in Andhra Pradesh on October 5 last year, was chosen for the Chief Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation.

Ara Arularasu, SP, special investigation division, Special Branch CID, was selected for the chief minister's award. M Pandian, SP, Special Branch CID, was also named for the chief minister's medal.

Both of them helped nab three Al-Umma men -- 'Police' S Fakkruddin, Bilal Malik and Panna Ismail.

Additional superintendent of police, prohibition enforcement wing (PEW), Tiruppur, L Balaji Saravanan, inspectors of police, special branch, P Arockiaraj (Namakkal), M Dinesh Kumar (Thuraiyur in Tiruchi), S Syed Babu (Anupparpalayam in Tiruppur), S Sivasubbu (Panrutti in Cuddalore), M Kanagasabathy (Ukkadam police station, Coimbatore city), J K Gopi (Peelamedu police station, Coimbatore), K T Rajan Babu (Thilagarthidal police station, Madurai) and S Chandramohan (Variety Hall Road police station, Coimbatore city) and sub-inspector of police, Devakottai police station, Sivaganga, S Meenakshi Sundaram.

The police personnel were selected based on their excellent performance in criminal investigation and their commitment and dedication to the work.

Each of them will receive Rs 5,000 and a gold medal weighing eight grams.

The Tamil Nadu government has also announced a list of police officers to be honoured with the President's police medal for their distinguished service.

Additional commissioner of police, South Chennai, Abhash Kumar, inspector-general of police, railways, Seema Agarwal and additional superintendent of police, vigilance and anti-corruption, Chennai, P Saraswathi were selected for their distinguished service.

READ ALSO: Tamil Nadu govt to honour 17 cops for meritorious service

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Rajnath Singh undergoes tests at AIIMS

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday underwent tests at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where he was admitted with complaints of abdominal pain.

Doctors performed colonoscopy on him along with few other tests. Colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the large intestine and the distal part of the small bowel.

"He underwent colonoscopy test Thursday morning. His condition is perfectly stable. He will be discharged by the afternoon," said a senior doctor at AIIMS.

63-year-old Singh was admitted last night with complaints of pain in his lower abdomen, sources close to him had said.

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LeT suspects Abdul Subhan, Asahbuddin sent to police custody

NEW DELHI: Suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operatives Abdul Subhan and his nephew Asahbuddin, arrested for their alleged roles in conspiring to carry out terror strikes in Delhi and adjoining areas, were on Thursday remanded to five-day police custody by a court here.

Subhan and Asahbuddin were produced before the court from judicial custody in pursuance to the production warrants issued against them yesterday.

Special Cell of Delhi Police moved an application seeking eight days police custody of the duo on the ground that they have to be confronted with co-accused Arshad Khan who was arrested yesterday after being produced before the court from Kolkata Jail.

The police told the court that they were required to be confronted with Arshad, who was yesterday remanded to police custody till August 21, to know about the penetration of LeT in Delhi and other parts of the country.

"To unearth the whole conspiracy for executing a terrorist strike in Delhi and neighbouring areas by these accused persons and to know the penetration of LeT in Delhi and other parts of India, all the three accused are to be confronted with each other," the police said while seeking eight days police custody of both the accused.

Advocate Akram Khan, who appeared for both Subhan and Asahbuddin, opposed the plea saying they have already been interrogated at length earlier by the police.

Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh granted police custody of the two accused till August 19.

Pakistani national Arshad Khan, who was lodged in Kolkata jail in connection with the shoe baron Partha Roy Burman kidnapping case of 2001, was yesterday produced before the court.

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HRD minister Smriti Irani facilitates CBSE achievers in academics, sports and science

NEW DELHI: The Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani felicitated Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) achievers in the field of academics, sports and science on Thursday.

CBSE invited the students who have excelled in academics, sports and science to Delhi to give an opportunity experience the rich cultural heritage of India by organizing a three-day event involving a heritage walk, preparation of an e-book (Hamari Dharohar and Hamara Sapana) and to participate in the speech of the Prime Minister at Red Fort and Independence Day celebrations.

Students along with their parents were invited which included 0.1% students from every subject with declared parental income less than Rs 50,000 per annum (877 students), top students who were part of 24 teams of science exhibition in 2013 (48 students), students who excelled in CBSE sports competitions in 2013 (149 students).

The awardees were from 20 states across the country belonging to various disciplines like, athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, carrom, football, handball, hockey, judo, kho-kho, rope skipping, skating, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, yoga and aerobics. Each student was given a message personally signed by the Prime Minister of India.

In all 1,074 students were invited. Since most of them have joined different under-graduate courses at different universities/ institutes, the Board received confirmation from 515 students — 404 from academics, 95 from sports, 16 from science exhibition.

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Madras high court rejects PIL against Dhanush-starrer 'Velaiyilla Pattathari'

CHENNAI: Seeking to liberate films from the grips of a "super censor board" and a "super authority," the Madras high court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) against Tamil film "Velaiyilla Pattathari" starring Dhanush, superstar Rajnikanth's son-in-law.

"Every citizen cannot become a super censor board or a super authority in the form of petitioning the court under a PIL," observed the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan.

The judges were passing orders on a PIL of S Cyril Alexander, convener of the Tamil Nadu People's Forum for Tobacco Control (TNPFTC).

Alexander's counsel S Sathia Chandran noted that the film did not run the statutory disclaimer during smoking scenes as required by the Prohibition of Tobacco Advertisement, Promotion, Sponsorship of COPTA - Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Acts, 2003.

The counsel said the petitioner's representation to the state-level monitoring committee was of no avail.

Advertisements and banners of the film erected in theatres across the state prominently carried the picture of Dhanush, he said, adding that the film did not run the statutory disclaimer lasting for minimum 20 seconds.

Refusing to entertain the PIL, the judges said: "Representations are said to have been made to the committee. It is for the committee to find out whether there is any violation or not. We are thus not inclined to entertain the petition."

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SC rejects Gujarat IAS officer's plea for transfer of probe to CBI

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected suspended Gujarat IAS officer Pradeep Sharma's plea to transfer probe of cases against him from Gujarat Police to CBI.

The top court had on Tuesday reserved its order in the case.

The apex court had refused to go into the snoopgate controversy at the very beginning of the proceedings.

Advocate Sunil Farnandes, appearing for Sharma, had submitted that his client was being targeted by the Gujarat government because his elder brother, a senior Gujarat cadre IPS officer, did not toe the line of state government in many cases.

The state government refuted the allegations levelled by Sharma and said that he was himself under surveillance because of various alleged illegal financial transactions.

The bench, at the end of the hearing, assured Sharma that justice will be done like the apex court has done in various Gujarat cases.

"We are not concerned about which government has come or gone. We will not fail in our duty. This court has done a great work in many Gujarat cases. I have also been party to such judgment. We are not concerned about the personality," the court had said.

The apex court had on May 12, 2011 taken strong exception to the submissions of Sharma aimed at tarnishing the image of Modi and directed him to delete those paragraphs from the petition.

The IAS officer is facing five criminal cases including his alleged involvement in land scam registered against him since 2008 in Rajkot area. He had approached the apex court seeking transfer of cases against him to CBI.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Akash missile successfully test-fired for second day in a row

BALASORE: For the second day in a row, India on Wednesday successfully conducted trial of its indigenously developed surface-to-air 'Akash' missile, which has a strike range of 25 km, from a test range in Odisha as part of a user trial by the Air Force.

"The sophisticated Akash missile was test-fired from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur at about 1.20pm," defence sources here said.

Describing the trials as "fully successful", ITR director MVKV Prasad said, "The entire exercise was carried out as part of a user trial by Indian Air Force."

It was a repeat test of yesterday's trial, he said. The trial of Akash conducted on Tuesday was also successful.

'Akash' is a medium range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

While the Air Force version has already been inducted, the Army version is in the final stage of induction into the armed forces, the sources said.

The missile has a strike range of 25 km and can carry a warhead of 60 kgs. It has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously, they said.

With its capability to neutralize aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles, defence experts compare 'Akash' to the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system of the USA.

Besides Tuesday, the missile was last test-fired from the same base on June 19.

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Jayalalithaa thanks Modi for ensuring Thambidurai's election as Lok Sabha deputy speaker

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked him for ensuring the election of her party MP M Thambidurai as the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

"The chief minister also sent a letter to the Prime Minster in this regard," a release from the state government said.

Thambidurai, leader of the AIADMK in the Parliament, was unanimously elected as Lok Sabha's deputy speaker on Wednesday, making him the first leader to occupy the post twice. He had been Deputy Speaker from 1985 to 1989.

He was the only candidate to file nominations for the post before the deadline on Tuesday.

Eleven parties in the ruling and the Opposition benches, including the BJP and the Congress, supported him.

A five-term member, Thambidurai represents Karur constituency in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK is the second largest party in the Opposition after the Congress.

Soon after Thambidurai was elected as Deputy Speaker, Modi described him as a "multi-faceted personality" and thanked all parties, especially those in the Opposition, for electing him unanimously.

Modi said Thambidurai was an academician, an activist and an agriculturist and his rich parliamentary experience would guide the House in the right direction.

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Two-wheelers get three-year insurance cover, coming soon for cars

Two-wheeler owners can now avoid the hassle of buying cover every year with the ​regulator allowing a three-year insurance policy. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has devised a three-year version of the mandatory third-party liability cover and it has encouraged companies to come up with policies that cover the vehicle.

"We are definitely interested in filing a long-term product. In two-wheeler segment there are a large number of owners who forget to renew their policy after the first year and a long-term cover will help reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the road," said G Srinivasan, chairman, New India Assurance. He added that besides long-term two-wheeler insurance, the company was keen on launching similar policies for cars.

In a circular to all general insurance companies, IRDA said that the total premium for third-party insurance would be thrice the annual premium and it cannot be changed during the tenure of the policy. "The authority is also conscious about the fact that there is a need of long-term comprehensive (own damage plus third-party) cover also. Insurers are encouraged to file 3 year term comprehensive policies as per file and use guidelines," said IRDA.

Unlike commercial vehicles which insurers are reluctant to insure because of the high claims ratio, two-wheeler insurance is not loss-making. It is the low-ticket size involved that discourages insurers from going the extra mile to renew policies. "The third-party claims ratio in two-wheelers is less than 100% and insurers will not have any problem in issuing long-term policies" said Srinivasan.

According to a statement by Royal Sundaram Insurance the three-year policy will reduce costs in issuing policies, administering them and in follow-ups for renewals. This could also lead to lower premiums as insurers could share the cost savings.

Estimates by insiders in the industry say that close to half the vehicles on Indian roads are uninsured. This estimate is based on the huge difference between the number of registered vehicles and the number of motor insurance policies. Insurers say that while the level of compliance is high in large cities, in smaller towns and villages old vehicles are rarely insurance.

​

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Four persons drown in separate incidents in Ajmer

JAIPUR: Four persons including an infant girl drowned in two separate incidents in Rajasthan's Ajmer city, police said.

Five friends had gone for picnic at Ajaypal Kund in Ganj police station on Monday. Three of them drowned while swimming.

The deceased were identified as Rajendra, Raju Singh and Gajraj, all aged 30-35 years, they said.

In another incident, a seven-months-old girl got swept away in water flow near Dargah.

The minor identified as Manna, was with her parents and three-year-old brother when they got trapped in the water flow coming from hilly areas.

The mother could not hold the girl and she got swept away, police said adding, her body was recovered last night from near the railway station.

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Unarmed US teen shot with his hands raised: Witnesses

FERGUSON: A black teenager who was fatally shot by a police officer had his hands raised when the officer approached him with his weapon drawn and fired repeatedly, according to two men who said they witnessed the shooting, which sparked a night of unrest in suburban St. Louis.

The FBI opened an investigation Monday into the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who police said was shot multiple times on Saturday after being confronted by an officer in Ferguson, a 21,000-resident suburb that's nearly 70 percent black.

Authorities were vague about exactly what led the officer to open fire, except to say that the shooting was preceded by a scuffle of some kind. It was unclear whether Brown or a man he was with was involved in the altercation.

The killing drew criticism from some civil rights leaders, who referred to the 2012 racially charged shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a Florida neighborhood watch organizer who was acquitted of murder charges.

Investigators have refused to publicly disclose the race of the officer, who is now on administrative leave. But Phillip Walker said he was on the porch of an apartment complex overlooking the scene when he heard a shot and saw a white officer with Brown on the street.

Brown "was giving up in the sense of raising his arms and being subdued,'' Walker told The Associated Press on Monday. The officer "had his gun raised and started shooting the individual in the chest multiple times." The officer then "stood over him and shot him" after the victim fell wounded.

Dorian Johnson offered a similar account when he told WALB-TV that he and Brown were walking home from a convenience store when a police officer told them to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk. Johnson said they kept walking, which caused the officer to confront them from his car and again after getting out of his car.

Johnson said the first time the officer fired, he and Brown got scared and ran away.

"He shot again, and once my friend felt that shot, he turned around and put his hands in the air, and he started to get down," Johnson said. "But the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots."

"We wasn't causing harm to nobody," Johnson said. "We had no weapons on us at all."

Walker acknowledged that he did not see a scuffle or the circumstances surrounding the first gunshot.

The St. Louis County Police Department refused to discuss Johnson's remarks, citing the ongoing investigation. But county Police Chief Jon Belmar previously said that an officer encountered Brown and another man outside an apartment complex, and that one of the men pushed the officer into his squad car and they struggled over the officer's weapon.

The FBI is looking into possible civil rights violations arising from the shooting, said Cheryl Mimura, a spokeswoman for the FBI's St. Louis field office. She said the FBI would be investigating regardless of the public attention surrounding the matter.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement that the case deserves a thorough review.

Nearly three dozen people were arrested following a candlelight vigil Sunday night after crowds looted and burned stores, vandalized vehicles, assaulted and threatened reporters, and taunted officers who tried to block access to parts of the city.

St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman said 32 people were arrested for various offenses, including assault, burglary and theft. Two officers suffered minor injuries, and there were no reports of civilians hurt.

Several businesses were looted, including a check-cashing store, a boutique and a small grocery store. People also took items from a sporting goods store and a cellphone retailer and carted rims away from a tire store.

The second person has not been arrested or charged, and it was not clear if he was armed, Jackson said. Blood samples were taken from Brown and the officer who shot him for toxicology tests, which can take weeks to complete.

Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, said she did not understand why police did not subdue her son with a club or stun gun. She said the officer involved should be fired and prosecuted, adding that "I would like to see him go to jail with the death penalty."

"Instead of celebrating his future, they are having to plan his funeral" and consult with attorneys about arranging a second autopsy, said Benjamin Crump, a family attorney who also represented Trayvon Martin's relatives in the racially charged 2012 slaying in Florida.

"I don't want to sugarcoat it," Crump added. Brown "was executed in broad daylight."

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Australian grandfather in tears at severed head photo

SYDNEY: The grandfather of a boy pictured holding a severed head in Syria said the shocking image brought him to tears, with the growing problem of jihadists fighting overseas to be a focus of US-Australia talks on Tuesday.

The image of the Sydney-raised boy posing with the rotting head of a soldier, posted on the Twitter account of his father Khaled Sharrouf, an Australian who fled to Syria last year and is now an Islamic State fighter, sparked outrage.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and US secretary of defense Chuck Hagel said it showed how barbaric IS militants had become, while Australian Muslim leaders expressed widespread revulsion.

The seven-year-old boy's grandfather Peter Nettleton, who is estranged from his daughter Tara, Sharrouf's wife, begged the government to help bring the boy and his siblings home.

"I'm scared for the children. What life are they going to have now," the Sydney truck driver told Sydney's The Daily Telegraph.

"Can't the government do something to pull these kids away from that man?

"That (picture) brought me to tears because I don't know how to handle it."

Another photo published by newspapers in Australia showed Sharrouf dressed in camouflage fatigues posing with three young boys believed to be his sons.

All were holding guns in front of the flag of the Islamic State militants who have swept across Iraq and Syria, seizing swathes of territory.

Australia has an arrest warrant out for Sharrouf, who fled the country last year using his brother's passport after serving almost four years in prison when he pleaded guilty over a 2005 conspiracy to attack Sydney.

Nettleton, whose daughter cut off ties with him when she married and converted to Islam, said he thought his five grandchildren -- three boys and two girls -- were staying with Sharrouf's sister in Malaysia while he fought in Syria.

A friend of Sharrouf's, Mohamed Elomar, who is also fighting in Syria, reacted to the photo of the boy with a tweet to "keep them heads rolling", the Telegraph reported.

"What a flaming ripper, ayyy beauty mate, love it, keep them heads rolling," it reportedly said.

Officials have said up to 150 Australians are fighting alongside militants overseas, mostly in Iraq and Syria. Many other countries also have nationals in the war zones.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said jihadists whose "barbaric ideology" threatened Australia's way of life would be discussed at security talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Sydney on Tuesday.

"Countries including in Europe, in Southeast Asia, in north Asia are concerned about citizens... fighting overseas in Iraq, in Syria and other conflicts, returning home as hardened, home-grown terrorists, extremists, capable of carrying out terrorist activity in our own countries," she said.

In brief opening remarks at the annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), Kerry agreed that "we do face new challenges", pointing to foreign fighters who "learn jihadism and come back with bad intentions" as an issue of concern.

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Goa government bans sale of plastic flags

PANAJI: The Goa government has banned the sale of plastic national flag during the Independence Day celebration. North Goa district collector said that the public should refrain from purchase of plastic flags, and in case, they find any person selling them, then they should inform the police.

Any person found making or selling plastic flags would be arrested and punished in accordance with law.

The district administration also said that the public may however buy the paper flags.

The advisory is issued after it came to the notice of the administration that people are throwing the plastic flags on roads and dustbin.

"This is an offence under Emblems and Names (prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and the offender is liable for punishment under these Acts," Mihir Vardhan district collector said.

He also appealed to members of general public that they should refrain from any action that would cause disrespect to the National Flag, including throwing of National Flags on the ground, dustbins and other public places.

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Tamil Nadu unveils Rs 127.13-crore plan for construction workers' welfare

CHENNAI: More than a month after 61 workers were killed when an under-construction building collapsed at Moulivakkam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced a slew of measures to provide social security for construction workers and their children.

The state would spend Rs 127.13 crore for construction workers' safety and welfare and for their children's education.

Fifty mobile hospitals, 50 anganwadi centres and nine dormitories would be set up at a cost of Rs 105 crore, she announced in the assembly.

While 15 mobile hospitals would be set up in Chennai and nearby areas, the remaining 35 would be established in the districts.

As a huge number of workers from other states come to Tamil Nadu to make a living, the government has allowed them to register as members of the Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board to avail the state's welfare measures.

"The membership will be given based on the documents filed by the workers and the certificates issued by the employer," Jayalalithaa said.

The government has increased the compensation given to the nominee in case of the death of a worker in an accident at the construction site. It has raised the compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

The Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board would construct nine dormitories in nine locations at a cost of Rs 105 crore.

Five of the dormitories will be constructed in and around Chennai. Madurai, Salem, Trichy and Coimbatore districts will get one dormitory each. More than 7,000 construction workers can find shelter in these dormitories.

Amma canteens, purified drinking water, washing facilities, children and elder protection centres, bank contact centres, health centres and recreation centre will be created near the dormitories.

Similarly, the government would set up 50 anganwadis centres. Each anganwadi will take care of 20 children. The anganwadis would offer supplementary food for children aged between six months and 36 months.

"Children aged below five years will be given mid-day nutritious meals, including cereals, grains, oil and vegetables. While an egg will be provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, boiled cereals will be given on Tuesdays and potatoes on Fridays," she said.

The government would offer vehicle facility for the children to go to and return from schools. In addition, medical check-ups, vaccination, vitamin A tablets, medical and hygiene education would also be given to children and their mothers.

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Man found dead at Congress leader Kumari Selja's residence in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A 42-year-old man was found dead at the residence of former Union minister and Congress leader Kumari Selja in Sunehri Bagh here this morning, police said.

The deceased identified as Sanjay was the husband of a maid working at Selja's residence.

Police got a PCR call around 8am about the incident following which local police, crime and forensic teams rushed to the spot.

The body was found in the servant quarters of Selja's residence.

"The death is unnatural, we are investigating the case," said Additional Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) SBS Tyagi.

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Pak claims 2 citizens killed in firing from across LoC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday claimed that at least two of its citizens were killed and three others injured in alleged firing by Indian soldiers from across the line of control (LoC).

The incident occurred in Charwah sector of Sialkot early on Monday morning, killing two civilians and wounding three others, defence sources said here.

The sources alleged that "unprovoked firing" continued for hours and Pakistan Rangers responded to it.

One woman was also among the injured civilians.

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Woman constable who shot self at Bhopal airport shifted to AIIMS

BHOPAL: A CISF constable, who had shot herself at Bhopal airport after being allegedly scolded by her senior for reporting late on duty, has been shifted to AIIMS in New Delhi as her condition has deteriorated.

Constable Ritu Kumari (25) was shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) by an air ambulance last evening after her condition deteriorated, a senior police official said today.

Ritu had allegedly shot herself in the stomach with her service revolver on August 5 after she was scolded by Deputy Commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for reporting late on duty, he said.

She was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city since then, the official said.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan yesterday visited Ritu at the private hospital here to enquire about her condition, an official at the CM's office said.

Chouhan also assured her parents that the state government would extend all possible help for providing better treatment to her, the CM office added.

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Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations: What is the use of impractical verdicts, Madras HC asks

CHENNAI: "What useful purpose will be served by passing impractical orders?" After raising this rhetoric question on the issue of regulating installation of Vinayaka idols during Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations, the Madras high court on Monday said, "Civic sense must begin from one's home and work place."

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, passing orders on a public interest litigation filed by PIL-activist Traffic Ramaswamy, said: "Civic sense must begin from one's own home and work place... No purpose will be served by issuing impractical directions."

Ramaswamy had said in his petition that Ganesh idols were allowed to be erected in the middle of roads and organisers were allowed to steal electricity during celebrations. Officials were issuing permissions though there were no rules to do so, he said.

On Monday, the bench said officials were washing their hands off the menace. "The municipal corporation has washed its hands off by stating that it is not concerned about it and that it had not granted any permission. The affidavit of the electricity department is equally self-serving, where it says if any unauthorised tapping is pointed out, action will be taken as and when noticed."

Referring to a September 10, 2005, memorandum issued by the DGP asking all district authorities to insist on no-objection certificates for such functions, the first bench said: "Needless to say government authorities must follow their own circulars, including the memorandum dated September 10, 2005, issued by the DGP pointed out to us which is stated to be still in force."

The judges then said authorities concerned must ensure that religious functions are properly organised, causing least inconvenience to residents, in terms of decibel level of speakers as well as any passage from one place to another.

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Maynmar not to allow anti-India activities from its soil, President U Thein Sein says

NAY PYI TAW: Myanmar's President U Thein Sein on Monday assured India that his country will never allow its territory to be used for anything that is inimical to India's interests.

Thein Sein conveyed this to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj when she called on him here and raised the issue of certain North Eastern militant outfits taking shelter in Myanmar.

"The President categorically said that Myanmar will never allow its territory to be used for anything that is inimical to India's interests," External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

In March, both the countries had signed a memorandum to facilitate intelligence sharing and cooperation between security forces of the two neighbours and Akbaruddin said the focus was now focus to operationalise it.

The President also expressed happiness over Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government's effort to improve relations with the neighbouring countries and conveyed to Swaraj that Myanmar wants to significantly improve ties with India.

Both sides underlined the need for improving connectivity between the two countries.

They also discussed setting up of a joint consultative committee to explore new areas of cooperation.

Swaraj suggested participation of chief ministers also in JCC besides Union ministers.

The external affairs minister also held wide ranging talks with Myanmar foreign minister U Wunna Maung Lwin on a range of issues including extending cooperation in trade, border cooperation and infrastructure development.

The external affairs minister had arrived here on August 8 to participate in the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting, East Asia Summit and Asean Regional Forum Meeting.

She had bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of 11 countries including Japan, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.

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Tropical Storm Halong lashes Japan; 1 dead, dozens hurt

TOKYO: A tropical storm was moving out into the Sea of Japan today after lashing the country with rain and winds, leaving one person dead, more than 50 injured and prompting evacuation alerts for about 1.2 million residents near swollen rivers.

Tropical Storm Halong disrupted land and air traffic as Japan began its annual "Obon" Buddhist holiday week.

The storm-hit Japan was also shaken this afternoon by a magnitude-6.1 earthquake that struck off the northeastern coast near Aomori.

There was no danger of a tsunami, and no damage or injuries have been reported. The Nuclear Regulation Authority said nuclear facilities in the area remained intact.

Originally a typhoon, Halong was downgraded to a tropical storm as it approached southwest coast and made two landfalls over Shikoku Island and Hyogo prefecture in western Japan. It was on track to exit into the Sea of Japan from the northern coast near Kyoto later today, and further lose strength in the next 12 hours.

Japan's Meteorological Agency issued the highest alert for heavy rain in Mie prefecture in central Japan, prompting two towns to order about 570,000 residents to move away from swollen rivers.

Another 600,000 people were advised to evacuate across the country. Some of the evacuation advisories in western Japan were later lifted as the storm moved farther north.

In Iwate, northern Japan, a 78-year-old man was found dead late Saturday after plunging into a swollen irrigation canal at his farm. In Miyazaki, southern Japan, a woman in her 70s broke her ankle as a portable toilet booth fell on her while she was walking by.

Japan's public television NHK said 52 people were injured. More than 200 flights were canceled, stranding thousands of holidaymakers at airports around the country. The rainstorm also flooded some 330 homes and damaged 70 others in western Japan.

The storm, packing winds of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour, was expected to dump 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain in central Japan by tomorrow. The meteorological agency warned of landslides and floods, and predicted heavy rain and strong wind in Tokyo and northern Japan through Monday.

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Couple arrested on charges of ill-treating domestic help in Bangalore

BANGALORE: A couple has been arrested for allegedly ill-treating a 13-year-old domestic help, who is now recovering at a government hospital here, police said on Sunday.

The girl, hailing from Darjeeling in West Bengal, was brought to the city by the family from Assam, who runs a consulting agency here, they said.

She was allegedly beaten by the couple, police said. As the girl fell unconscious on Thursday, she was first taken to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences by the couple and was later shifted to a private hospital, they said.

The girl was later shifted to the government-run Vani Vilas Hospital police said, adding, "she is now out of danger".

The couple was arrested on Friday and booked under various sections of IPC, including 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt with dangerous weapons or means), they said.

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UK's Cameron will lose election on ethnic minority vote: Muslim ex-minister

LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives will lose next year's election because they have neglected ethnic minority voters, Britain's first Muslim cabinet minister, who last week resigned over the government's Gaza policy, warned on Sunday.

Sayeeda Warsi, a former foreign office minister who has played a key role in the Conservatives' appeal to Muslim voters, last week embarrassed Cameron by resigning via Twitter over what she said was the government's "morally indefensible" approach to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

On Sunday she dominated the front pages of Britain's newspapers again, this time warning that what she called Cameron's neglect of ethnic minority voters would cost him an outright victory at next year's national election.

"The electoral reality is that we will not win outright Conservative majorities until we start attracting more of the ethnic vote," she said in an interview with the Sunday Times and Independent on Sunday newspapers.

"We've probably left it a little too late to take this part of the electorate seriously."

The criticism from Warsi, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants to Britain who speaks fluent Urdu, Punjabi and Gujarati, will hit a sore spot for Cameron.

Poor support from ethnic minority voters - which make up around 14% of the electorate - was one factor that cost Cameron an outright win in 2010, forcing him into a coalition government with the left-leaning Liberal Democrat party.

An academic study showed that only 16% of ethnic minority voters backed the Conservatives in 2010, while Labour, the main opposition party, won 68% support.

Current opinion polls give Labour a lead of around 4 percentage points over the Conservatives going into the May 2015 vote.

Cameron's political spokesman would not comment on the interview, but pointed to a letter last week in which the prime minister said he was sorry that Warsi had decided to resign and thanked her for her work in government.

Warsi, a baroness who sits in the upper house of parliament, in 2010 became Britain's first Muslim to serve in cabinet but was later demoted to be a senior minister of state at the Foreign Office and a minister for faith and communities. She also chaired the Conservative Party between 2010 and 2012.

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Iraqi Kurdish president asks world for weapons to fight Islamic State

ARBIL: Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani asked the international community on Sunday to provide the Kurds with weapons to bolster their battle against Islamic State militants, whose dramatic push through the north has alarmed Baghdad and Western countries.

Speaking at a press conference with French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, Barzani said: "We are not fighting a terrorist organization, we are fighting a terrorist state."

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Home ministry issues guidelines regarding celebration of Independence Day

NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry has circulated a set of standing guidelines to the states regarding conduct of the official Independence Day ceremony at the state, district, sub-divisional and panchayat level, while leaving holding of reception to the discretion of governors and lieutenant governors.

In a letter sent to state chief secretaries and administrators of Union territories on August 8, the home ministry has asked the states and other levels of administration to start their Independence Day functions only after 9am, by when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have completed his maiden speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

The Red Fort ceremony this year will follow the usual programme, comprising presentation of guard of honour by the Armed Forces and the Delhi Police to the Prime Minister, unfurling of the national flag, a 21-gun salute and the Prime Minister's speech followed by rendition of the national anthem by school children/NCC cadets and release of tri-coloured balloons. A reception shall be hosted by the President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the day.

As per the home ministry's template for official Independence Day ceremony at the state level, it may be held after 9am in the respective capitals, with the respective chief minister unfurling the national flag. A presentation of guard of honour by the police including paramilitary forces, home guards, NCC scouts, etc, should be followed by the chief minister's speech, and the ceremony must end with singing of the national anthem.

At the district level, a similar ceremony must start after 9am with the tricolour being unfurled by either a minister, commissioner or district magistrate. The national flag, at the August 15 function, at the sub-divisional/block level may be hoisted by a minister or subdivisional magistrate, while at the panchayat headquarters level this may be the responsibility of the sarpanch or village headman.

Importantly, the August 15 speech to be made at the district, sub-divisional and panchayat level must "explain the significance of Independence Day and exhort the audience to work for the unity and integrity of the country."

To add colour to the Independence Day celebrations, the home ministry has suggested that sports, particularly rural sports, be woven into the programme, apart from display of PT or other skills by school and college students. Other activities that may be organised as part of official celebrations on August 15 are planting of saplings, inter-school and inter-college debates, community work, launching of important scheme of rural development, talks by selected boys and girls on the significance of Independence Day, cultural programmes, distribution of prizes/certificates/medals for work in fields like national integration, small savings, afforestation, family planning or any other aspect of rural development or any other item which the state government or UT administration may consider for inclusion in Independence Day function.

"As regards holding of reception at Raj Bhavan/Raj Niwas by the governor or lieutenant governor on the Independence Day, the matter is left to the discretion of governors/lieutenant governors," states the home ministry communication to the states/UTs.

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