4 suspected Ebola cases in Spain test negative

MADRID : Four people suspected of having Ebola in Spain have tested negative in a first round of tests, the government said Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz Santamaria said the four people taken into hospitals Thursday with fevers had each tested negative. They will be tested a second time in the coming days.

They include a passenger on an Air France jet that was isolated at Madrid's airport Thursday and a person who traveled in the same ambulance used to hospitalize infected Spanish nursing assistant Teresa Romero on Oct. 6.

The other two were a Red Cross health worker who recently worked with Ebola patients in Sierra Leone and a missionary who came down with a fever after returning from Liberia.

Health Ministry spokesman Fernando Simon said Romero's infection was almost under control and there was increasingly less reason to be worried.

Meanwhile, France's government announced Friday it is strengthening its anti-Ebola efforts even though no cases have been detected in the country.

The prime minister appointed a prominent doctor, Jean-Francois Delfraissy, as Ebola ``czar'' to coordinate France's international and national responses to the crisis.

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Times impact: President's Bodh Gaya visit cancelled for propriety reasons

GAYA: President Pranab Mukherjee's Bodh Gaya visit, earlier scheduled for November 1, 2014 stands cancelled, apparently in view of the propriety issue raised by the TOI.

The President was to participate in a function organised by the Bodh Gaya-based Bangladesh monastery. The TOI raised the propriety issue as the Bangladesh monastery in Bodh Gaya was built in alleged violation of the building construction laws and monastery officials were facing criminal charges for unlawful activities, including preventing the officials of the law enforcing agencies from entering the monastery premises to execute the ban imposed on the construction work.

The Gaya DM office has received a formal two line communication regarding the cancellation of the President's visit. While confirming the receipt of the visit cancellation communication, the Gaya DM did not reveal anything more on the issue.

According to sources, though Rashtrapati Bhavan has not formally given any reason for the visit cancellation, propriety issued raised by the TOI and vetted by several government agencies including central intelligence agencies finally tilted the balance against the all important visit.

The case against monastery officials was instituted in the Bodh Gaya police station on December 20, 2013. The case was lodged in the police station on the basis of a written complaint made by Sanjay Lal, executive officer of the local municipal body.

Asked about the status of the case, a senior police officer told TOI that investigation of the case was in progress.

In view of the recommendation of the Unesco, construction activity stands prohibited in a 500-metre radius from the outer wall of the Buddha shrine. The height of buildings stands limited to three metres in the area between 500-1000 metres of the shrine outer wall and no construction beyond a height of 10 metres was permissible in the area between 1000-2000 metres of the shrine.

The Unesco made the recommendation while granting World Heritage Site status to Buddha shrine in June 2002. The Bangladesh monastery falls in the prohibited zone, maintain municipal officials who got the case instituted in the police station.

Bodh Gaya watchers recall two similar situations in which VVIPs refrained from visiting disputed sites. During his 2004 visit, President Abdul Kalam, known for his affinity with children, wanted to visit an orphanage located in Cherki village of the district. The then President was advised against the orphanage visit as the orphanage was involved in some land dispute. Again a couple of years back, Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cancelled the foundation laying schedule in Bodh Gaya, on account of the questionable nature of land on which construction activity was to take place.

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North Korea's Kim Jong-Un makes second walking stick-aided appearance

SEOUL: North Korea's state media on Friday reported another public appearance by leader Kim Jong-Un, his second in four days after an extended absence that has seen him re-emerge with a walking stick.

The North's ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun ran front page pictures of a smiling Kim, a black cane in his left hand, inspecting two high rise apartment complexes built to house faculty members of a university specialising in nuclear research.

The young leader resurfaced earlier this week after dropping out of the public eye for nearly six weeks — an unexplained absence that triggered frenzied speculation about his health and his grip on power.

His first appearance, believed to be on Monday, was notable for the photographs showing him using a walking stick, backing up reports that his disappearance was the result of a leg injury or condition.

Before his "disappearance", state television had shown an overweight Kim walking with a pronounced limp.

His latest appearance, believed to be on Thursday, showed him using the same black cane as he toured the complex grounds and the model apartments inside, built for teaching staff at Kim Chaek University of Technology.

The university is known for nuclear engineering and a number of its top graduates are reportedly employed at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, which houses a reactor seen as the North's main source of weapons-grade plutonium.

Kim's first appearance on Monday had been an inspection of another residential complex built for scientists engaged in a space satellite programme seen as masking ballistic missile research.

Since assuming power after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in 2011, Kim Jong-Un has cut a very public figure, with state media showing him engaged in a seemingly endless series of field guidance trips across the country.

His sudden disappearance, which began in early September, quickly became a source of rumour and speculation, which went into overdrive after he missed two noteworthy political events he would normally have been expected to attend.

Some reports even suggested he had been ousted in a coup.

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Attacked Delhi Police officer undergoing treatment at AIIMS

NEW DELHI: A senior Delhi Police officer, who was on Thursday injured in an incident of road rage here, is undergoing treatment at AIIMS and is doing "absolutely fine", an AIIMS official said on Friday.

"Amit Singh was brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre Thursday. We performed a scan on him and he has a fracture of the nasal bone," the official said.

The official added that Singh — who was attacked with a helmet and sustained injuries on his nose, head and face — was now recuperating under the ENT department at the hospital.

"He is otherwise doing absolutely fine, and will be discharged either today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday)," the official said.

Amit Singh, assistant commissioner of police in the special cell, was going to his office when his car was hit by another car, driven by a juvenile, in south Delhi's Nizamuddin area around 4.30pm on Thursday.

The class 11 student was apprehended and sent to a juvenile home, while his mother, Rajani, and her second husband, Yogesh, were arrested for attacking the police officer who was not in his uniform.

Rajani and Yogesh, who were following the minor on a motorcycle, were arrested on various charges, including attempt to murder. They had married five years back.

Police said the accused couple own a business of tyres and are residents of south Delhi's Greater Kailash area.

All three were returning back home after meeting a relative in Nizamuddin area Thursday evening.

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Cyclone Hudhud: Scientists to spend 3 days on sea to study possible reasons for high windspeeds

HYDERABAD : The unusual wind speeds of Cyclone HuhHud which devastated Visakhapatnam has prompted the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to undertake a study in the Bay of Bengal. Three scientists of NIO along with six Ph D scholars will take boats and venture into the sea on Saturday. They will stay in the sea for three days carrying out various studies in a bid to find out why the windspeeds were unusually high up to 210 km/hr.

The findings of the study will become important as scientists will get an understanding of the changing scenario in the sea that would have resulted in the high windspeeds.

"We would like to know what really happened in the sea and what the causes of the abnormality were. We would like to find if the changes to taken place in the sea gradually or was there something that happened suddenly," said NIO Visakhapatnam in-charge scientist V S N Murty.

Murty told The Times of India that the team of scientists and scholars would cover a 40 km long coast and go about 30 km into the sea. "We will study a rectangle," he said. They will venture into the sea from two different place of the cyclone landfall.

The team will be carrying various kinds of equipment including sensors for the purpose of studying variation in temperature, the carbondioxide content upon the ocean and also do biological sampling. The scientists already have data pertaining to the sea before the cyclone hit Visakhapatnam and they will compare the new data that they will gather with the previous one.

Scientists said that though during this time of the year tropical cyclones are a common occurrence, 'Hudhud' had shown that it was different altogether because of the windspeeds that had been recorded.

The findings of the latest study will help understand if some drastic changes in the sea have taken place and if future cyclones are also likely to have such great windspeeds. The study results will help in being prepared to face such cyclones.

The National Institute of Oceanography which has its headquarters at Dona Paula, Goa, also has regional centers at Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. It is one of the 38 constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.

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Stray dog attacked 2 year old kid, aunty in Kalyan

KALYAN : A stray dog attack and injured a two -year -old boy Tanay Barge and his pregnant aunty Sanjali Karmarkar (31) who tried to rescue him on Wednesday evening in Swapna Nagari complex situated in posh Khadakpada area in Kalyan.

Residents from area complained about many such incidents in past but says civic body for not taking any action in to their complaints.

The dog on Wednesday at 7.35 pm attacked Tanay when he, along with his aunty Sanjali was going to the children park situated in another building. Sanjali said we were on the way towards children garden in opposite building when suddenly dog standing on dust bean at society gate attack Tanay seeing which when took Tanay back and kicked the dog he come back to me and attack. Sanjali said Tanay suffered injuries on his armfit while she suffered injury on her hand. Both also taken anti-rabies vaccine at civic run Rukminibai hospital in Kalyan.

Sanjali claimed that since last few months dog bites cases have rise in their area as some locals daily have started serving food to dogs. Sanjali claimed that serving food to dog is good thing but due to it number of dogs in areas has increased and the situation has arrived that dog have started targetings local publics.

The residents in the locality alleged that about the situation they orally have informed to Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation but they had been ignoring their requests to curb the stray dog menace.

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Repolling in Vagulasar booth, Palghar on Oct 17

MUMBAI : Repolling will be held at the Vagulasar election booth in Palghar district on October 17 between 7am to 6pm. Repoll is being conducted due to technical flaws in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

Seventy two per cent of the 602 voters of this booth had exercised their franchise on October 15. The Palghar election department is making necessary arrangements for the repoll. Appeal has been made to voters of Vagulsar to participate in the repoll. Center finger will be marked in the repolling for Vagulsar.

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Repolling in Vagulasar booth, Palghar on Oct 17

MUMBAI : Repolling will be held at the Vagulasar election booth in Palghar district on October 17 between 7am to 6pm. Repoll is being conducted due to technical flaws in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

Seventy two per cent of the 602 voters of this booth had exercised their franchise on October 15. The Palghar election department is making necessary arrangements for the repoll. Appeal has been made to voters of Vagulsar to participate in the repoll. Center finger will be marked in the repolling for Vagulsar.

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Stray dog attacked 2 year old kid, aunty in Kalyan

KALYAN : A stray dog attack and injured a two -year -old boy Tanay Barge and his pregnant aunty Sanjali Karmarkar (31) who tried to rescue him on Wednesday evening in Swapna Nagari complex situated in posh Khadakpada area in Kalyan.

Residents from area complained about many such incidents in past but says civic body for not taking any action in to their complaints.

The dog on Wednesday at 7.35 pm attacked Tanay when he, along with his aunty Sanjali was going to the children park situated in another building. Sanjali said we were on the way towards children garden in opposite building when suddenly dog standing on dust bean at society gate attack Tanay seeing which when took Tanay back and kicked the dog he come back to me and attack. Sanjali said Tanay suffered injuries on his armfit while she suffered injury on her hand. Both also taken anti-rabies vaccine at civic run Rukminibai hospital in Kalyan.

Sanjali claimed that since last few months dog bites cases have rise in their area as some locals daily have started serving food to dogs. Sanjali claimed that serving food to dog is good thing but due to it number of dogs in areas has increased and the situation has arrived that dog have started targetings local publics.

The residents in the locality alleged that about the situation they orally have informed to Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation but they had been ignoring their requests to curb the stray dog menace.

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UN praises India's disaster management system

NEW DELHI: India's disaster management credentials have come in for praise from the UN after it successfully limited casualties in the Hudhud cyclone and a similar feat it had achieved an year ago when cyclone Phailin had hit the Odisha coast. New Delhi's success stories are likely to be adopted as part of the global framework for disaster risk reduction that will replace the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005. The UN office for disaster risk reduction (UNISDR) has decided to take up India's remarkable demonstration of "zero casualty" for discussion at the next month's meeting of the UN World Conference on disaster risk reduction at Geneva.

The UNISDR's Geneva meet will finalize the draft of a new global framework for disaster risk reduction (DRR) which is set to replace the existing Hyogo Framework for Action, adopted in 2005 after the Indian Ocean tsunami. The Indian success stories are likely to be adopted by the UNISDR as part of its draft global framework. Margareta Wahlstrom, head of UNISDR, praised India for its largescale evacuation and safeguarding lives. In a statement on Tuesday she said: "India has demonstrated again to the world that if you set the bar high for reducing your exposure to risk then you will save many lives and reduce your economic losses." Cyclone Hudhud was just as great a threat as last year's cyclone Phailin to a densely populated coastline, the UNISDR chief said, lauding the coordination between different departments of the government. "The authorities, with the support of the Indian Meteorological Department, acted with speed to order the evacuation of up to 400,000 people. This, along with a great effort to keep the public informed, kept casualty figures low," she added.

Wahlstrom recalled how "India's journey from the loss of 10,000 lives in the Odisha super cyclone of 1999 to today's relatively low death tolls from similar events demonstrates the value of agreeing on global priorities for reducing disaster risk." The UN appreciated the continuous stream of bulletins and alerts from the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and coordinated efforts from the Indian National Coastal, Ocean Information Systems and the National Disaster Management Authority which played vital role in disaster mitigation.

India is among 86 countries which have set up national platform for disaster risk reduction. New Delhi already has a 10,000-strong highly trained force to work on rescue and relief operations in case of natural or man-made disasters. The 10 battalions of India's National Disaster Response Force comprise of soldiers drawn from its paramilitary forces trained in commando operations. Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, presenting the country report at the 6th Asian ministerial conference on DRR in Bangkok last June, had said New Delhi has already earmarked 10% funds in all its development schemes for innovation, disaster mitigation and restoration.

It may be important to note that India spends more than $50-60 billion a year on many of its social sector developmental schemes. Rijiju said his government is trying to rope in the private sector in a big way to work in coordination with the public sector on building resilience through their corporate social responsibility funds. In India corporates have to spend 2% of their profits on corporate social responsibility building community assets and meeting other social obligations. The government made appropriate amendments in its Companies Act a few years ago to add this specific provision. The government has already prepared "a vulnerability atlas, setting up of Indian national Centre for Ocean information Services; built community hubs of the Indian Space Research Organization for early warning and the Central Water Commission regularly provides flood monitoring and flood forecast reviews."

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NHRC issues notice to DM of Budaun in UP on reports of manual scavenging

LUCKNOW: The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that about 200 families were engaged in the practice of cleaning dry toilets in different villages of district Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, despite the fact that in 2011, the then district magistrate had won Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in public administration for his campaign 'Dalia Jalao' for eliminating manual scavenging and the practice of dry or insanitary latrines.

The commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the dalits. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the district magistrate calling for a report in the matter within two weeks.

Reportedly, the villages in the district were short of wet toilets forcing people to defecate in the open. Women were working as manual scavengers in Ramzanpur and adjoining Mirzapur Midhauli in the district. Giving details of the problems being faced by some women manual scavengers, it was reported that most of such women were from the dalit community and being widows had no alternative source of income.

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IIT Madras students collect relief materials for J&K flood victims

CHENNAI: In an effort to contribute to the flood relief operations at Jammu and Kashmir, the students of IIT-Madras took up a donation drive among their peers on the campus. They have managed to collect close to Rs 1.5 lakh in cash, household items and other relief materials for the victims.

The drive was taken up by the disaster management committee of the institute and the NSS team under the supervision of the student general secretary.

Used posters from across the campus were collected to make posters announcing the donation campaign on the unused sides of the posters.

Collection points for cash were set up at seven locations on the campus for three days, and items like thermal wear, blankets, non-perishable food items, medicines and footwear were collected over five days from the campus residents.

Around 150 used flex banners had been picked up from the dean's office to be donated to the flood victims for putting up tents and water-proofing temporary roofs, the organisers said.

The materials have been donated to GOONJ, a non-profit organization, which would distribute the donated materials to the residents of the flood-hit areas.

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Sri Lanka military to return jewellery to Tamil civilians

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan military has identified 2,377 "legitimate claimants" to handback a considerable stock of gold and jewellery it seized in the final battle against the LTTE more than five years ago.

Rejecting accusations levelled against it by the Tamil diaspora, the Lankan military on Tuesday said it has invited the rightful owners to contact the civil coordinating offices in the former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) regions to receive their items on verification of ownership.

The military said a considerable stock of gold jewellery had been recovered from the Tamil Eelam Banks and Eelam Pawning Centres run by the LTTE.

"All those recoveries of jewelleries were duly documented, properly catalogued and detained for safe keeping under the custody of the security forces on the directions of the President," an army statement said.

So far 2377 "legitimate claimants" have been identified to such jewelleries pawned by them to the LTTE, it said.

The military said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has started the process with a symbolic return of gold jewellery to 25 claimants on Sunday.

The move has refuted "a string of unfounded and venomous allegations that have been hitherto levelled by various elements including LTTE rump groups and others with vested interests over their destiny and safekeeping practices," it said.

The army said if the legitimate owners are not found the gold and jewellery would be vested with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Tamil groups had said a great deal of gold and jewellery had fallen in the hands of the military during the final battle in 2009.

Nearly 300,000 civilians fled their homes and took refuge in government welfare camps in the final phase of the conflict.

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Former state labour minister Sabir Shaikh dies

KALYAN: Senior Sena leader and former state labour minister Sabir Shaikh died on Wednesday due to prolonged illness in a private hospital in Bhiwandi. Qureshi was 71-year-old.

Shaikh who was unmarried was living alone at Kongaon area in Bhiwandi. He was only biggest Muslim face of party who win three times MLA election and was also posted at state labour minister post during Sena-BJP government in state.

It is said that Shaikh was suffering from illness and recently he was admitted in Ved hospital in Kongaon where he died during the treatment.

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Sticker row: Proceedings against Vijay Mallya and others stayed

BANGALORE: The Karnataka high court has stayed for four weeks the proceedings initiated against Vijay Mallya, a director with United Spirits Limited, Ashok H Cappor, MD of the company and several other directors, including two foreign nationals in relation to a case filed by inspector of Legal Metrology, Mangalore before a local court there.

The petitioners had challenged the June 24,2014 order of the JMFC (II court), Mangalore in taking cognizance and summoning them to appear on October 20 in relation to case filed under Legal Metrology Act and also Legal Metrology (packaged commodities ) Rules 2011 in respect of seizure of three pre-packed package of Black Dog Deluxe hold reserve aged 12 years blended of 25 fine scotch whiskies 750 ml (MRP 2,250) on the said packages MRP was declared on additional sticker.

The petitioners have claimed that in view of the state government effecting enhanced excise duty for the year 2013-14, which came into effect on August 1,2013, the Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited advised them to make necessary amends to the previous MRP by way of a fixture of a sticker to all goods at their warehouse, godowns etc. However, on December 13,2013, the inspector of Legal Metrology, Mangalore seized three packaged packages of Black Dog Scotch Whiskey from retailer in Mangalore , on thee ground that the said packages MRP is declared on additional stickers.

The petitioners have contended that the registration of a case under Legal Metrology Act that too in a filed encompassed by Karnataka Excise Act as well as the rules is without jurisdiction.

They have also claimed that the alleged seizure on December 12,2013 and May 21,2014 show-cause notice issued against them is under challenge before the high court and a direction has been issued on June 13,2014 as king the authorities not to take any action precipitating the matter or create any crisis.

"In defiance of the high court order the respondent got the complaint processed and got summons issued against 12 accused/petitioners" the S R Shivaprakash, counsel for the petitioners told TOI.

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Hurricane Gonzalo forms in Caribbean

ST. JOHN'S (Antigua): Hurricane Gonzalo formed on Monday in the Caribbean and was on course to move out over open ocean after buffeting Antigua and nearby islands with heavy rain and wind.

Gonzalo passed near Antigua as a tropical storm, tearing roofs from people's homes and knocking down trees, then gathered enough force near St. Martin to be reclassified as a hurricane.

"It's intensified at a pretty brisk pace since yesterday and we expect it to strengthen," said Michael Brennan, a senior hurricane specialist tracking the system from the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm was on track to take a turn away from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to the northwest. It was not expected to reach the US mainland but forecasters said it could develop into a major hurricane and pose a threat to Bermuda later in the week.

"It's certainly something that people in Bermuda will want to pay attention to," Brennan said.

As of 5pm, the center of Gonzalo was about 20 miles (30 kilometers) southeast of St. Martin and 140 miles (230 kilometers) southeast of St. Thomas. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving toward the northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

For several hours, heavy rain and strong winds lashed Antigua, which bore the brunt of the storm as it cut through the northern Leeward Islands. Downed trees already blocked many island roads and many people lost power or reported that the storm damaged, or in some cases destroyed, the roofs their homes.

Condell Maurice, a 36-year-old teacher, said his roof sprung at least nine leaks during the storm. You should have seen us with our buckets, jugs and bowls trying to chase down those leaks," she said as she surveyed the damage, which also included several downed trees in her backyard.

Sherrod James, deputy director of the National Office of Disaster Services, said the agency has received reports of damaged homes but no injuries or deaths from the storm.

The government ordered schools and businesses to close amid an island-wide power outage and opened four emergency shelters.

Gonzalo is expected to produce up to 8 inches (20. centimeters) of rain across the Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Fay knocked out power to thousands in Bermuda before moving out over open ocean.

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American plane makes emergency landing at SFO

SAN FRANCISCO: A Dallas-bound American Airlines flight made an emergency landing at San Francisco International Airport Monday after some of the cabin's wall panels came loose because of a possible blown air duct, aviation and airlines officials said.

The captain of the Boeing 757 decided to turn around an hour into the flight to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport because of a problem with pressurization in the cabin, American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said.

Flight 2293 departed from SFO shortly before 1 p.m. and landed without incident at about 2.15pm. No one on the plane with 184 passengers and six crew members was hurt, he said.

``The captain elected to return to San Francisco and landed the plane safely,'' Miller said.

Even though the plane's problem is related to pressurization the cabin did not lose pressure and oxygen masks did not deploy, he said.

The FAA will work with the airline to determine the plane's problem, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The passengers are still in San Francisco and American Airlines plans to send a plane from elsewhere to fly them to Dallas on Tuesday, Miller said.

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Hurricane Gonzalo forms in Caribbean

ST. JOHN'S (Antigua): Hurricane Gonzalo formed on Monday in the Caribbean and was on course to move out over open ocean after buffeting Antigua and nearby islands with heavy rain and wind.

Gonzalo passed near Antigua as a tropical storm, tearing roofs from people's homes and knocking down trees, then gathered enough force near St. Martin to be reclassified as a hurricane.

"It's intensified at a pretty brisk pace since yesterday and we expect it to strengthen," said Michael Brennan, a senior hurricane specialist tracking the system from the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm was on track to take a turn away from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to the northwest. It was not expected to reach the US mainland but forecasters said it could develop into a major hurricane and pose a threat to Bermuda later in the week.

"It's certainly something that people in Bermuda will want to pay attention to," Brennan said.

As of 5pm, the center of Gonzalo was about 20 miles (30 kilometers) southeast of St. Martin and 140 miles (230 kilometers) southeast of St. Thomas. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving toward the northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

For several hours, heavy rain and strong winds lashed Antigua, which bore the brunt of the storm as it cut through the northern Leeward Islands. Downed trees already blocked many island roads and many people lost power or reported that the storm damaged, or in some cases destroyed, the roofs their homes.

Condell Maurice, a 36-year-old teacher, said his roof sprung at least nine leaks during the storm. You should have seen us with our buckets, jugs and bowls trying to chase down those leaks," she said as she surveyed the damage, which also included several downed trees in her backyard.

Sherrod James, deputy director of the National Office of Disaster Services, said the agency has received reports of damaged homes but no injuries or deaths from the storm.

The government ordered schools and businesses to close amid an island-wide power outage and opened four emergency shelters.

Gonzalo is expected to produce up to 8 inches (20. centimeters) of rain across the Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Over the weekend, Tropical Storm Fay knocked out power to thousands in Bermuda before moving out over open ocean.

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Several Alaska gay couples apply for marriage licenses

ANCHORAGE (Alaska): Several gay couples lined up early on Monday in Alaska to apply for marriage licenses after a federal judge struck down the state's ban on same-sex unions.

Matthew Hamby, the lead plaintiff in the case to make gay marriage legal in Alaska, was among the first to arrive to get his license in the city of Anchorage and spent most of the morning helping others. He got to his application only after the steady stream of couples began to dwindle.

With the judge's decision Sunday, the far-flung conservative state became the latest to see its ban struck down in a flurry of legal rulings that have drastically changed the landscape for same-sex marriage across America.

Gov. Sean Parnell has promised an appeal to get the ban reinstated, and lawyers for the state are looking for weaknesses in the ruling. But the state's chances of winning an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals were slim since it already ruled last week against gay marriage bans in Idaho and Nevada.

The developments in Alaska came one week since the US Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from several states seeking to retain their bans on same-sex marriage. The October 6 move effectively legalized gay marriage in about 30 states and triggered a flurry of rulings and confusion in lower courts across the nation, including the Alaska decision.

Alaska has a three-day waiting period between applications and marriage ceremonies, meaning the first unions could come on Thursday.

Alaska gay marriage opponents have said the matter should be decided by the people, not the courts.

Hamby called the governor's plans "ridiculous and futile." He said restoring the ban would harm same-sex couples by depriving them of equal protection under the law, a position U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess agreed with in his ruling Sunday.

"Refusing the rights and responsibilities afforded by legal marriage sends the public a government-sponsored message that same-sex couples and their familial relationships do not warrant the status, benefits and dignity given to couples of the opposite sex," Burgess wrote in overturning the ban.

Five gay couples brought the Alaska lawsuit in May, seeking to overturn a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1998. The Alaska amendment defined marriage as being between one man and one woman.

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Air Lanka flight develops technical snag, 122 passengers safe

CHENNAI: An Air Lanka flight from Colombo developed a technical snag while landing at the international airport here, but the pilot brought it down safely with no harm to the 122 passengers on board, airport sources said.

The aircraft landed here around 9.30 AM, they said. As many as 244 passengers, who were to board the flight on its return journey to Colombo were put up in hotels in Chennai since the snag was not rectified before the scheduled departure time of 12.30 PM, the sources said.

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Raj Thackeray speaks of state autonomy, says MNS won't contest LS polls

MUMBAI: Justifying his party's demand for autonomy for states, as spelled out in its 'blue-print' for Maharashtra's development, Raj Thackeray on Monday said MNS would not be contesting the Lok Sabha elections henceforth.

"National parties should focus on Lok Sabha elections and leave state elections to regional outfits. I (his party) will not contest Lok Sabha elections henceforth," Raj said during an interaction with journalists here.

"When I say autonomous status, I am not talking about independence. States' issues can be dealt with by the state governments while inter-state matters should be left to the Centre," he said.

He also said that he would soon write to all the chief ministers about his demand of autonomy for the states.

To a question on why he went back on his decision to contest the assembly election, Raj said if MNS got a majority, he would "lead from the front".

Refusing to discuss possible post-poll realignments in Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray said he was, for now, concentrating on his party's performance in the October 15 assembly elections.

"These elections are interesting as all the parties are fighting independently. Hence the results are unpredictable. The pre-poll surveys are either paid ones, or figment of some people's imagination," he said.

When asked about the breaking of Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP alliances, Raj said it was high time Maharashtra left the coalition politics behind. "Regional parties should be have absolute majority," he said.

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WHO calls Ebola modern world's worst health crisis

MANILA: The World Health Organisation says the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is "the most severe, acute health emergency seen in modern times" but adds that economic disruptions can be curbed if people are adequately informed to avoid irrational moves to dodge infection.

World Health Organisation Director-General Margaret Chan, citing World Bank figures, today said that 90 per cent of economic costs of any outbreak "come from irrational and disorganised efforts of the public to avoid infection."

In her statement to a regional health conference in Manila, which was read by a WHO official, Chan said educating the public about any disease outbreak is a "good defence strategy." She praised the Philippines for holding an anti-Ebola summit last week.

The Ebola epidemic has killed more than 4,000 people.

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Train service to resume in Bhubaneswar-Vijianagaram section

BHUBANESWAR: East Coast Railways (ECoR) is running a passenger special train between here and Visakhapatnam as part of its efforts to establish connectivity between the two stations after Cyclone Hudhud.

The special train will stop at all stations between Palasa and Visakhapatnam, ECoR release said.

Railway emergency staff are at repair work on war footing at sensitive locations affected by the natural calamity between Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam and it is expected that the resumption of track upto Visakhapatnam from Palasa will be done at the earliest.

However, some of the regular trains will be cancelled, short terminated and diverted.

The release said Bhubaneswar-CSTM (Mumbai) Konark Express scheduled to leave Bhubaneswar on Monday will be diverted via Vizianagaram, Raipur, Nagpur and Ballarshah.

Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express scheduled to leave Howrah on Monday will be diverted via Kharagpur, Jharsuguda, Nagpur and Ballarshah and Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express left Dibrugarh on October 11 will be diverted via Kharagpur-Jharsuguda-Nagpur instead of its normal route.

Dhanbad-Alleppy Express scheduled to leave Alleppey on Monday will be diverted via Kharagpur-Jharsuguda-Titilagarh- Raipur-Nagpur.

Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur Hirakhand Express scheduled to leave Bhubbaneswar on Monday will be short terminated at Rayagada and will remain cancelled between Rayagada and Jagadalpur.

Rayagada-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express scheduled to leave Jagadalpur on October 14 will originate from Rayagada instead of Jagadalpur and will remain cancelled between Jagadalpur & Rayagada on Tuesday.

Howrah-Jagadalpur Samaleswari Express that left Howrah on Sunday and the one scheduled to leave Howrah on Monday, will be short terminated at Titilagarh and will remain cancelled between Titilagarh & Jagadalpur from both the directions.

Rourkela-Koraput Inter City left Rayagada on Sunday and the one scheduled to leave Rourkela on Monday will be short terminated at Rayagada & will remain cancelled between Rayagada and Koraput from both the directions.

Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad Express,Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Garib Rath Express, Visakhapatnam-Korba Express and Visakhapatnam-LTT Express scheduled to leave Visakhapatnam today will remain cancelled from Visakhapatnam due to cancellation and short termination of connecting trains, the release said.

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Mom in UK admits manslaughter of disabled children

LONDON: A British court on Monday dropped murder charges against a woman who killed her three severely disabled children after accepting manslaughter pleas.

Tania Clarence admitted killing 4-year-old Olivia, and 3-year-old twins Ben and Max, but pleaded diminished responsibility.

Clarence allegedly smothered them at the family's London home in April, before attempting suicide.

Her husband Gary was in the couple's native South Africa at the time.

The children all had type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a condition which affects muscle strength.

Defense lawyer Jim Sturman said that for Clarence, "caring for three children with this condition was exhausting, distressing, debilitating and turned out to be overwhelming."

Prosecutor Zoe Johnson told a hearing at London's Central Criminal Court that Clarence "killed her three children because she wanted to end their suffering."

Johnson said prosecutors accepted Clarence was depressed, which amounted to an "abnormality of mind."

Clarence is due to be sentenced Nov 14 and is likely to be sent to a psychiatric hospital.

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Raj Thackeray speaks of state autonomy, says MNS won't contest LS polls

MUMBAI: Justifying his party's demand for autonomy for states, as spelled out in its 'blue-print' for Maharashtra's development, Raj Thackeray on Monday said MNS would not be contesting the Lok Sabha elections henceforth.

"National parties should focus on Lok Sabha elections and leave state elections to regional outfits. I (his party) will not contest Lok Sabha elections henceforth," Raj said during an interaction with journalists here.

"When I say autonomous status, I am not talking about independence. States' issues can be dealt with by the state governments while inter-state matters should be left to the Centre," he said.

He also said that he would soon write to all the chief ministers about his demand of autonomy for the states.

To a question on why he went back on his decision to contest the assembly election, Raj said if MNS got a majority, he would "lead from the front".

Refusing to discuss possible post-poll realignments in Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray said he was, for now, concentrating on his party's performance in the October 15 assembly elections.

"These elections are interesting as all the parties are fighting independently. Hence the results are unpredictable. The pre-poll surveys are either paid ones, or figment of some people's imagination," he said.

When asked about the breaking of Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP alliances, Raj said it was high time Maharashtra left the coalition politics behind. "Regional parties should be have absolute majority," he said.

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How Gandhi inspired Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution

An unjust law is itself a species of violence....Civil disobedience is the inherent right of the citizen — Gandhi.

On the protester-lined streets leading to the government offices in Hong Kong's Admiralty district, the one thing that catches the eye is the above quote printed behind T-shirts.

Sixty-seven years after Mahatma Gandhi powered India's fight for democracy through non-violent means, protesters fighting China's decision to limit full universal suffrage for Hong Kongers are taking inspiration from him. "The concept of civil disobedience in the Umbrella Revolution is taken from the teachings of Gandhi. Gandhi taught civil disobedience and non-violence, and that's how we want this movement to be,'' Fermi Wong, who has left her full time job to be part of the Occupy Central protests said.

There have been allegations of police brutality against the protesters despite their Gandhian methods. "The police pushed us and even used tear gas ...But we did not retaliate. Many of us wear these T-shirts as they serve as a reminder for fellow protesters to stay calm, no matter what," a member of the Students Federation said.

A group of Hong Kong nationals of Indian descent who are part of the protesters say the Gandhi references make them proud. "I was born here and have lived my entire life here. When I see Gandhi's teaching being followed here, I feel very proud. My grandparents were a part of the Indian freedom struggle and I am a part of Hong Kong's protests," Param Singh, a second generation Hong Konger said.

Agitators have been sweeping the city streets clean of protest debris, recycling paper and plastic water bottles and cups, and even cleaning public toilets in the vicinity. The Umbrella Revolution, they say, is a responsible protest. "Many of us have never even done housework but we are doing our bit here to ensure that we are not vandalizing the city," said Phoebe Lim, a Hong Kong University student.

Lim, and many other young protesters like her, learnt about Gandhi's teachings only after they joined the protests. She says she found stories of the Indian independence struggle very inspiring. "Our own government is not listening to our point of view. They are siding with the central government and are not even open to talks. We have no option but to Occupy Central," Lim said.

Protesters are dismayed at the government response to the movement but said that they'll stick to their demands. "We will not resort to violence but we will never give up our fight for democracy," David W, another protester said.

Many demonstrators can be seen in the 'study-zone' of protest sites, doing their homework and surfing the internet. The grounds are well equipped with tents, food and medical supplies donated by volunteers, cell-phone charging points, mobile shower tents and even pastoral counselling for emotional support. With the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government calling off talks with the protesters on Thursday, the movement is expected to intensify.

"Hong Kong is a place of freedom of speech. The government doesn't need to provide an instant solution -- it could be a step by step proposal to resolve issues. The HKSAR government needs to review the situation from the point of view of its people and then approach Beijing," Alex Chow, secretary general of the Students Federation said. The demonstrators have occupied key areas over the past fortnight, crippling city life.

-- Megha Suri Singh

Singh is a freelance writer based in Hong Kong

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Cyclone Hudhud: SECR cancels five passenger trains in Chhattisgarh

The author has posted comments on this articleRashmi Drolia, TNN | Oct 11, 2014, 06.53PM IST

Page 1 of 4

RAIPUR: With Hudhud cyclone approaching south eastern regions, South East Central Railway has decided cancellation of services of five express trains in Chhattisgarh and about 30 trains will run on diverted routes on October 11 and 12 for safety of passengers.

According to weather experts Hudhud is expected to hit parts of Chhattisgarh with strong winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall which may cause damage in norther Bastar and Raipur too.

Hence, to safeguard passengers from cyclonic impact, Durg-Jagdalpur express on Saturday and Samta express, Vishakapatna-Lokmanyatilak express, Vishakapatnam-Korba express and Korba-Vishakapatnam express on Sunday have been cancelled.

Nearly 35 other trains are expected to keep diverted via other routes on Sunday.

Article continues

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Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic leader, in talks with militia

BANGUI: Central African Republic's transitional president opened talks on Saturday with leaders of a Christian militia who have called for her government to resign, a spokeswoman said, trying to put a stop to days of heavy violence that killed one UN peacekeeper and injured more than a dozen others.

"The initiative aims to defuse the crisis that has paralyzed the capital since Tuesday," Antoinette Montaigne said after Catherine Samba-Panza met with representatives of the militia in the presidential palace.

The country has been rocked by violence since the mostly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition toppled the president of a decade last year, installing their leader, Michel Djotodia, as head of state. Widespread human rights abuses committed by Seleka led to the formation of the anti-Balaka Christian militia.

Djotodia resigned in January amid an international outcry over escalating violence.

Samba-Panza was then appointed transitional president and tasked with steering the country to new elections, but analysts have recently issued dire warnings about the fragility of the transition.

In recent days, the capital has been the scene of the heaviest fighting since a UN peacekeeping force took over in September.

One peacekeeper was killed and eight others wounded Thursday in an ambush on the outskirts of Bangui. On Friday, six UN police officers were wounded when an armed group fired on their patrol as they monitored a protest at the airport

The airport demonstrators were calling for Samba-Panza's resignation. Flights in and out of Bangui were suspended Friday and the airport remained closed Saturday.

At Saturday's meeting, the anti-Balaka militia group submitted five demands including the release of arrested members and the inclusion of others in a transition council. They also asked for anti-Balaka members dismissed from civil service posts to be reinstated, and for the transitional government to agree not to arrest and prosecute militia members.

A fifth demand, for the government formed in August by Prime Minister Mahamat Kamoun to resign, was dismissed outright, said Alfred Legrand Ngaya, an adviser for the anti-Balaka delegation.

"The president of the transition does not want points concerning government institutions to be addressed in this phase of the crisis," Ngaya said.

Bangui was relatively calm Saturday, though gunfire was reported in the city's northern districts in the morning. The city remained tense as food prices rose and drinking water became scarce in some neighbourhoods.

The situation posed "the first real test" for the UN peacekeeping mission, Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director for Human Rights Watch, said in an article posted online Friday.

"This latest incident shows how fragile the situation remains in the capital and how crucial it is for UN peacekeepers to respond quickly and robustly to even the slightest hint of violence," Bouckaert said. "Within a matter of hours, a small incident can spiral out of control, bringing the rival militias back onto the streets. Each time it is civilians who pay the price."

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UN chief Ban Ki-moon in Libya, calls for end to fighting

TRIPOLI: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on a surprise visit to Libya on Saturday urged warring factions to end the turmoil gripping the North African nation since MuammarGaddafi was toppled in 2011.

The authorities have struggled to impose their will across a country awash with weapons and powerful militias that ousted and killed the veteran dictator.

"Let me be clear: if violent confrontations do not cease immediately, if sustainable peace is not restored, prosperity and a better life will be a distant dream," Ban told rival parliamentarians, according to an official transcript of his remarks.

He flew to Tripoli just weeks after the outgoing government admitted from its safe refuge at Tobruk in the east that it had in effect lost control of the capital to armed militias.

The UN chief spoke ahead of meetings with political parties to shore up talks aimed at ending a split that has further destabilised the oil-rich nation.

The discussions would include the deputy president of the house of representatives, other members of the house and lawmakers who boycotted parliamentary sessions, it said.

Ban urged the formation of a national unity cabinet, stressing the importance of "a strong government able to implement decisions" in the country where militias control swathes of territory.

"There is no alternative to dialogue," Ban said ahead of the meeting of rival MPs, also attended by the incoming EU foreign policy chief, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, as well as envoys from Britain, France and Malta.

The UN mission chief in Libya, Bernardino Leon, managed to bring the rival factions together for talks in the remote oasis town of Ghadames on September 29.

Ban on Saturday called the talks "a first courageous step", adding "I am here to support the process that was initiated in Ghadames."

Libya's parliament, elected in June, is recognised by the international community but contested by the militia controlling most of Tripoli and by Islamists who hold much of the eastern city of Benghazi.

The majority faction in the legislature has been meeting in the far eastern town of Tobruk near the border with Egypt.

"There is no alternative to dialogue," Ban said on Saturday. "It is my conviction that all problems in Libya can be solved through dialogue. Nevertheless, we understand that the path will be long and difficult."

The UN refugee agency said on Friday that clashes between rival militias had driven an estimated 287,000 people from their homes, including about 100,000 who have fled the outskirts of the capital.

Another 15,000 people were estimated to have been displaced around Benghazi, the country's second city, it said.

"The need for healthcare, food, and other basic commodities — plus for shelter ahead of winter — has become critical," said UN refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards.

Last week, the UN security council warned of possible sanctions against those who reject peace in Libya.

Since the beginning of September, Islamists have been trying to capture Benghazi airport, with its military and civilian airfields.

At least 17 people have been killed this week in fighting for the airport, the last remaining bastion of forces loyal to a prominent former general, Khalifa Haftar, who launched a military campaign against Islamists in May.

On Friday, a colonel was killed in Benghazi, taking the army's death toll there to 130 in two months, a military official told AFP on Saturday.

Ban on Saturday called on "all groups to stop fighting", but referred specifically to Haftar's and the Islamist Ansar al-Sharia militia group that he has been battling in Benghazi.

Benghazi was the cradle of the uprising against Gaddafi, and is regularly the scene not only of fighting but also the murders of members of the security forces, political activists and journalists.

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US defense secretary sees long-term fight against Islamic State

SANTIAGO: US defense secretary Chuck Hagel said on Saturday that the embattled Syrian city of Kobani was a very difficult problem but added that air strikes had made some progress in driving back Islamic State militants.

Kurdish forces defending Kobani urged a US-led coalition to escalate air strikes on Islamic State fighters who tightened their grip on the Syrian town at the border with Turkey on Saturday.

"We are doing what we can do through our air strikes to help drive back ISIL. In fact there has been some progress made in hat area," Hagel told a news conference in Santiago, the Chilean capital.

"It is a very difficult problem," Hagel said, referring to Kobani.

Hagel is on a six-day, three-nation trip to South America.

The US-led coalition escalated air strikes on Islamic State in and around Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, some four days ago.

Hagel underscored that the battle against the militants, who have seized swathes of Iraq and Syria, was a long-term fight.

"It is a long-term effort. This is difficult, it is complicated. It's going to require many factors. And we are working now (with) coalition partners," he said.

Asked about the situation in Iraq, Hagel said Iraqi security forces were in full control of Baghdad and continue to strengthen their positions there.

"We continue to help them with air strikes, with our assistance and advisors."

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