PM, Sonia, Rahul to campaign for Congress in Mizoram

JPNN|Aizawl | Oct 31, 2013 |Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would campaign for the party in Mizoram ahead of the state Assembly ele read more

updated: 2014-07-04 01:00:21

Uttar Pradesh's gory NRHM scam

The health scheme scam: The UPA government launched its flagship National Rural Health Mission in 2005. In its recent report, CAG says at least Rs.5,754 crore of the NRHM funds are not accounted f read more

updated: 2014-06-28 06:24:25

Indian woman shot dead for resisting rape

A 35-year-old mother of four killed by rebels in northeast Meghalaya state in latest string of sexual crimes in country. Rebels have shot dead a 35-year-old mother of four in northeast India after read more

updated: 2014-06-28 05:10:18

15000 vs 1500: India's Forgotten War

Imphal: They call it the Forgotten War, one of the most brutal campaigns in military history, fought at India's door step during World War II. Thousands of Commonwealth soldiers fought to defend Indi read more

updated: 2014-06-28 04:45:43

Election Results 2014: BJP Leading in Nine Seats in North East States

Assam: BJP was leading in nine while Congress was ahead in seven seats out of 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in eight North Eastern states as per early trends. In Assam, BJP was set for an impressive read more

updated: 2014-06-28 04:40:55

40 per cent votes cast in Manipur till noon

Imphal: About forty per cent of nine lakh voters have already cast their votes in the the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency till midday, electoral officials in Imphal said today. People dressed.

रामसुंदर दास ने दाखिल किया नामांकन पत्र

हाजीपुर:15वीं लोकसभा के सबसे बुजुर्ग सांसद व प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री जद यू प्रत्याशी रामसुंदर दास ने बुधवार को सोलहवीं लोकसभा चुनाव में हाजीपुर सुरक्षित संसदीय सीट से अपना नामांकन पत्र दाखिल किया। उनके नामांकन के बाद आयोजित सभा में जदयू के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष शरद यादव, प्रदेश अध्यक्ष वशिष्ठ नारायण सिंह, प्रदेश के कृषि मंत्री नरेन्द्र सिंह एवं सूचना, जनसंपर्क एवं परिवहन मंत्री वृश्णि पटेल समेत कई...

महाराजगंज के राजद प्रत्याशी प्रभुनाथ सिंह पर प्राथमिकी

छपरा : महाराजगंज संसदीय क्षेत्र के राजद प्रत्याशी व निवर्तमान सांसद प्रभुनाथ सिंह के विरुद्ध नगर थाने में आचार संहिता उल्लंघन मामले में प्राथमिकी दर्ज करायी गयी है। दर्ज प्राथमिकी में निवर्तमान सांसद के निजी सचिव को भी नामजद किया गया है। यह प्राथमिकी वरीय उप समाहर्ता धर्मेन्द्र कुमार ने दर्ज करायी है। दर्ज प्राथमिकी में भीड़ को लेकर सरकारी कार्य में बाधा डालने, बांस-बल्ला से बैरिकेटिंग को तोड़कर जबर...

तीन लाख का इनामी माओवादी रिजनल कमांडर गिरफ्तार

औरंगाबाद : एसटीएफ की टीम ने दाउदनगर के चौरी में छापामारी कर भाकपा माओवादी के रिजनल कमांडर कईल प्रजापति समेत तीन को गिरफ्तार किया है। मंगलवार की रात में पुलिस स्व. चंदेश्वर भगत के घर से रिजनल कमांडर के साथ मुन्ना कुमार एवं एक अन्य को को धर दबोचा है। गिरफ्तार तीसरे नक्सली के नाम का खुलासा नहीं किया गया है। रिजनल कमांडर की गिरफ्तारी की पुष्टि करते हुए एडीजी विधि व्यवस्था सुरेश कुमार 

फर्जी इंस्टीच्यूट का भंडाफोड़, दो गिरफ्तार

पटना : राजधानी पुलिस की विशेष टीम ने एक्जीबिशन रोड के कुमार कॉमर्शियल कांप्लेक्स स्थित पाटलिपुत्र इंस्टीच्यूट ऑफ मैनेजमेंट एंड टेक्नोलोजी नाम से चल रहे फर्जी संस्थान का भंडाफोड़ किया। पुलिस ने मौके से संचालक मनीष कुमार (लेमुआबाद, पंडारक) व सह संचालक मुन्ना कुमार को गिरफ्तार कर लिया। उनके पास से कई विश्वविद्यालयों द्वारा जारी विभिन्न कोर्सो के जाली प्रमाण पत्र बरामद किए गए। पूछताछ में 

हाईटेक हुई पटना पुलिस, कमांड कटते ही एसएमएस

पटना : पटना पुलिस ने इस बार हाईटेक व्यवस्था की है। चुनाव ड्यूटी का कमांड कटते ही सिपाही से इंस्पेक्टर रैंक तक के पुलिसकर्मियों के मोबाइल पर एसएमएस मिल रहा है। एसएमएस से उनका नाम, लोकसभा क्षेत्र, बूथ संख्या सहित सभी जानकारियां मुहैया करा दी जा रही हैं। पुलिस अधिकारियों की मानें तो चुनाव के लिए विशेष सॉफ्टवेयर तैयार किया गया है, जिसमें लोकसभा क्षेत्र का नाम, बूथों की संख्या, संवेदनशील बूथों का विवर...

`Lalu ki beti` Misa goes hi-tech to win Patliputra

Patliputra: Battling two heavyweights in her debut in the political arena, Misa Bharti is banking on hi-tech poll strategies and family support in her bid to salvage the pride of her father RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, who lost the Patliputra seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. 39-year-old Misa, an MBBS, is fighting from this seat against two seasoned politicians once considered her father's very close aides- ex-RJD veteran and now BJP candidate Ram Kripal Yadav and sitting MP Ranjan Prasad Yadav of JD(U). Significantly, Ranjan defeated Lalu in 2009 by a margin of over 23,000 votes here. Apart from the vote bank of her father, who cannot contest polls due to conviction in a fodder scam case, Misa is relying on her husband's management skills for her electoral debut in this seat nestled along the banks of river Ganga. Being a computer engineer and management graduate, Misa's husband Shailesh Kumar is giving hi-tech support to her election campaign. Patliputra goes to polls on April 17. "Naturally his experience is coming handy. We are doing our campaign in a more planned way on the basis of new hi-tech analysis," Misa told 

Jolt to Nitish Kumar, Kisanganj candidate withdraws in favour of Congress

Kisanganj: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday suffered a jolt as JD(U) candidate from Kisanganj withdrew in favour of Congress nominee in the Parliamentary Election. "I have decided to withdraw myself from election in favour of sitting Congress candidate to check split of minority votes," JD(U) candidate Akhtarul Iman said. Congress candidate Maulana Asrarul Haque is seeking re-election from the minority dominated Kisanganj Lok Sabha seat. Iman had recently crossed over to JD(U) from RJD and had resigned as MLA of that party from Kochadhaman in Kisanganj district. He was among 13 RJD MLAs to rebel against the party and seek separate status. He was rewarded by Nitish Kumar with Lok Sabha ticket from Kisanganj. With the withdrawal of Iman, Kisanganj will witness a direct contest between Asrarul Haque (Congress) and D K Jaiswal (BJP). The seat will go to voting on April 24. Iman said he tried to contact the Chief Minister to acquaint him with his decision to withdraw from the race, but could not get through him. "I have acquainted JD(U) leaders in Kisanganj about the decision," he said.

UP, Bihar, Karna will change fortunes of BJP: Ananth Kumar

Bangalore: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Karnataka would change the "fortunes" of BJP and help it secure majority but the government would be formed with NDA partners, party leader Ananth Kumar said on Monday. "There is a Modi wave in the country. There are three states which will change the fortunes of BJP - UP, Bihar and Karnataka. BJP has the chance to win 80 plus seats in these states. It will form the government at the Centre with a clear majority," he told reporters at meet-the-press event organised by Bangalore Reporters Guild here. Kumar, however, said BJP would form government with NDA partners even if the party gets a majority mandate. "We want to continue our relations with NDA partners and form government," he said. On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks that there is no Modi wave, Kumar said there is anti-Siddaramaiah wave in Karnataka. "There is no Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and there is no hope of Manmohan Singh's wave. If anything, there is a heavy anti-Siddaramaiah wave. If he is not able to see the Modi wave, it will make (him) extinct."

Polling begins in six seats in Bihar, Maoist attack in Munger

Patna: Polling began Thursday in six of the 40 constituencies, all in Maoist-hit areas, for the first of the six-phased Lok Sabha polls in Bihar. The constituencies where polling is being held, starting at 7 am, are Sasaram (SC), Karakat, Aurangabad, Gaya (SC), Nawada and Jamui (SC). About an hour and a half before the start of polling, Maoists triggered a bomb blast in Munger, killing two CRPF jawans and injuring three others, when they were on their way to a polling station in Jamui parliamentary constituency. Of the 80 candidates, including 10 women, the electoral fate of outgoing Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, former Kerala governor Nikhil Kumar and actor-turned-politician Chirag Paswan, son of LJP president Ramvilas Paswan will be decided. Meira is seeking re-election for the third consecutive term from Sasaram, her home turf, which elected her father and Dalit icon Babu Jagjivan Ram eight times since independence to 1984. Chirag Paswan is debuting in Jamui (SC) seat and is pitted against Assembly speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary. 

Cong withdraws candidates from two Assembly seats in Bihar

Patna: Congress has decided to withdraw its candidates from Vaisi and Khochadhaman Assembly seats where bypoll will be held along with three other constituencies. Congress has decided against contesting Kochadhaman and Baisi Assembly seats and asked its candidates to withdraw from the fray, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) Vice-President Prem Chandra Mishra said on Wednesday. Explaining the reason for the decision, he said, since both assembly segments were part of Kishanganj parliamentary seat being contested by sitting Congress MP Asrarul Haque, the party did not want any confusion to prevail vis-a-vis the alliance with the RJD for the Lok Sabha elections. On Maharajganj assembly seat, he said, Congress was considering whether to contest the seat and a decision would be taken soon. Earlier Congress had announced that it would contest the bypoll to five Assembly seats without any alliance with the RJD. 

CRPF hints at mistake in defusing IED which killed 3 in Bihar

Gurgaon: The CRPF on Wednesday indicated that there could have been a "mistake" by its officials in crippling an IED in Bihar's Aurangabad district which left three of its personnel dead and seven others injured. However, CRPF chief Dilip Trivedi dismissed any shortcomings in the evacuation of one of its jawan whose heart wrenching appeal to save him was flashed across TV channels and social media platforms. "Our officers have come back (from Bihar) after investigations in this case. The information that I have got is that there is no such lapse (in evacuating the injured personnel). Also, may be, it can be said that there could have been a slight mistake or lapse in handling the IED but it can be a human error. "Even experts commit mistakes but it is important to see that our men went on a mission of national security and we should not be doubtful about someone who has sacrificed his life," CRPF Director General Dilip Trivedi told reporters on the sidelines of the 'valour day' and passing out of new officers event here. 

Samsung ChatON to offer voice, video calls

Samsung Electronics, on Wednesday, announced the availability of features such as video calling and ability to share a file of up to 1GB in size, on its instant messaging application ‘ChatON’. The application will be available for free across all major mobile platforms, including Google’s Android operating system, Apple’s iOS, Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS and Blackberry OS. The new version introduces a local language translation feature for incoming messages, which supports 14 Indian languages. “With ChatON Version 3.5, we have simplified mobile instant messaging while adding innovative features. One of the most exciting new features is message translation, which makes it possible for people speaking different languages to chat with ease,” Tarun Malik, Director of Media Solutions Centre-South West Asia, Samsung Electronics, said. According to Samsung, the ChatON application has 200 million subscribers globally. 

Airtel launches unlimited-usage packs

NEW DELHI: Telecom major Bharti Airtel has launched multiple unlimited-usage service packs, starting from Rs 7, for prepaid customers. "Bharti Airtel today introduced its Night Store — a first of its kind store that will enable customers to buy value-for-money offers on their prepaid mobile for internet usage and local calling at night, 12 midnight to 6am," the company said in a statement. Airtel has made access to Facebook free during night hours, which users can activate by dialing 129. Under one of the night service offers, Airtel prepaid customers can make unlimited calls to local Airtel numbers for Rs 7, unlimited 2G mobile internet for Rs 8 and combination of both these services for Rs 15. The company is also offering 500 MB of 3G service for Rs 29 and 1GB of 3G for Rs 49 during night in service areas where it has 3G spectrum. The offers come in the same month when the company has reduced benefit on mobile calls and internet under some schemes. 

Asus Fonepad 7 phablet has dual-SIM, lower Rs 12999 price tag

Asus has upgraded its Fonepad 7 phablet with a dual-SIM version aimed specially at emerging markets like India. The 7-inch HD tablet with 3G calling and data is powered by an Intel Atom Z2520 1.2GHz dual core processor. Peter Chang, Regional Head (South Asia & Country Manager – System Business Group) ASUS India said the new model comes after the success of the earlier version. “We felt the need for a daul SIM version and also reduced the price point considerably,” he said.The Asus Fonepad 7 features a 1280×800 HD IPS display with 178-degree viewing angles. The device has a has a rear camera that can shoot 100 frames in a go in the burst mode. The phablet also features floating apps that lets users switch between apps without having to close the previous one. This is the third generation of the Fonepad 7. The first generation launched last year was a 7-inch tablet with phone functions, while the second generation gave it 3G functionality too. The latest model brings in dual-SIM features. The Asus Fonepad 7 ME175CG Dual Sim will be available in India for Rs 12,999.

Sri Lanka stocks close at more than two-month high on blue chips, inflows

The Sri Lankan share index rose to a more than two-month high on Wednesday, led by blue chips and foreign inflows. The main stock index ended up 0.44 percent at 6,118.85, its highest close since Feb. 11. Though the day's turnover at 745.2 million rupees ($5.7 million) was less than this year's daily average of 980.6 million rupees, foreign buying accounted for 64.6 percent of turnover. Many local investors were in a holiday mood as the stock and currency markets are trading only on Wednesday and Thursday this week due to the Sinhala-Tamil new year, followed by Good Friday. The bourse saw net foreign inflows for a sixth straight session. Offshore investors bought 276.3 million rupees worth of stocks, though they have net sold 8.04 billion rupees of shares so far this year. Top conglomerate John Keells Holdings, which accounted for around 40 percent of the day's turnover, ended steady at 238 rupees. Commercial Bank of Ceylon, the top listed private lender, edged up 0.16 percent to 127 rupees. Analysts said the outlook was still positive due to prevailing lower interest rates. 

Pro-Russia forces intensify defiance in eastern Ukraine

Pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine intensified their defiance against Kiev on Wednesday, seizing half a dozen armoured vehicles and parading them through two towns. The escalating tension, a day after Kiev launched special operations against the separatists, prompted Nato to bolster its military presence on its eastern border, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the alliance’s secretary-general announced on Wednesday. “We will have more planes in the air, mores ships on the water and more readiness on the land,” he said. Aircraft would fly more sorties over the Baltic region and ships would deploy to the eastern Mediterranean and Baltic seas, Mr Fogh Rasmussen said, without giving specifics. Ukraine’s defence ministry admitted on Wednesday that anti-Kiev separatists had seized six of its armoured personnel carriers, saying it was done with the help of Russian agents. “A column was blocked by a crowd of local people in Kramatorsk with members of a Russian diversionary-terrorist group among them,” a statement said. “As a result of the blocking, extremists seized the equipment.” 

10 injured, 7 missing in China chemical plant blast

An explosion at a chemical factory today in East China’s Jiangsu Province has left ten people injured and seven others missing. The blast took place at Shuangma Chemical Plant in Rugao City, state—run Xinhua news agency reported. Ten people have been rescued from the scene and sent to hospitals, while seven others remain missing, it said. Firefighters have extinguished the flames, and the search for the missing is under way. Established in 1997, Shuangma Chemical Plant mainly produces stearic acid, fatty acid and glycerol. 

Pistorius Trial to Adjourn After Hearings Until May 5

PRETORIA, South Africa — The judge in the trial of Oscar Pistorius, the disabled track star accused of murdering his girlfriend, said on Wednesday that proceedings would be postponed after hearings end on Thursday, until May 5, two days before South Africa’s national election. The prosecution had sought the postponement on Tuesday to avoid scheduling conflicts with other cases. The Pistorius trial has already run far beyond the three weeks scheduled when it opened in early March, and has generated 2,000 pages of detailed testimony, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa said. While May 5 may not be a “suitable” date because it comes so close to the elections, Judge Masipa said, “we are pressed for time.” “An accused is entitled to speedy justice,” the judge added. The prosecution said Tuesday that it wanted to attend to other cases, in which the accused were in detention. Mr. Pistorius, 27, is free on bail. 

Israel-PA peace talks postponed after West Bank terror attack

A meeting between Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed after the killing of an Israeli in a shooting attack in the West Bank. A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the session had been rescheduled for Thursday at the request of the United States. Washington is struggling to extend the talks, on the verge of collapse, beyond an April 29 deadline for a peace deal. 

Russia Sees Euro, Dollar Investments at Risk in Ukraine Backlash

Sanctions over Ukraine may threaten Russia’s investments in assets denominated in euros and U.S. dollars, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said, urging the use of the nation’s wealth funds for domestic projects. “We should now very attentively study the risks of investing into dollar and euro securities, given the geopolitical situation we have right now,” Ulyukayev told lawmakers in Moscow today when questioned on whether returns on foreign securities are too low. U.S. and European sanctions triggered by President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last month stoked capital outflows and raised the specter of a recession as economic growth stumbled to a four-year low. With tensions escalating in the worst standoff since the Cold War, the U.S. and its European allies are threatening a new round of penalties against Russian interests if the crisis continues. 

New York City police disbands unit that watched Muslim communities

The New York Police Department has disbanded a controversial surveillance unit that targeted and monitored Muslim communities after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, a police statement said. The unit was set up in 2003 but has been largely inactive since Police Commissioner William Bratton took over the department this January, and its detectives have been reassigned, a statement from the NYPD said on Tuesday. The program deployed undercover detectives in Muslim neighborhoods to eavesdrop on conversations and watch day-to-day activities. Police also infiltrated mosques and student groups. Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized the program when he was campaigning for office last fall, and it was the target of lawsuits. "It has been determined that much of the same information previously gathered by the (Demographics Unit) may be obtained through direct outreach by the NYPD to the communities concerned," the police statement said. 

Hundreds missing as S Korea ferry sinks

Almost 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 459 people capsized and sank off South Korea. The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from the port of Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. A major rescue effort is under way, involving dozens of ships and helicopters. Those brought to safety were taken to a nearby island. Four people are now said to have died and dozens of others have been hurt. South Korean officials had earlier said that 368 people had been plucked to safety, but later said there had been a counting error. They have now revised down the number rescued to 164. Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later almost completely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible. It sank within two hours of sending a distress signal, reports said. There are fears this could turn out to be South Korea's biggest maritime disaster for more than 20 years, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Seoul. 

Sub Makes 2nd Dive to Search for Malaysian Plane

As a robotic submarine dove into the ocean to look for lost Flight 370, angry Chinese relatives stormed out of a teleconference meeting Wednesday to protest the Malaysian government for not addressing them in person. The Bluefin 21 sub surfaced early for the second time in as many missions, this time after experiencing technical difficulties. It was sent back underwater after its data were downloaded but there's been no sign of the plane yet, according to the joint agency coordinating the search. As the search continued, more than 100 relatives of Chinese passengers who were aboard the Malaysia Airlines plane walked out of a teleconference meeting with senior Malaysian officials, an act of defiance over a lack of contact with that country's government and for taking so long to respond to their demands. The family members had gathered in a meeting room at a Beijing hotel where Malaysia Airlines had provided them with lodging and food. But they stood up and filed out shortly before the call with Malaysia's civil aviation chief, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, and others as it was about to start.

Submersible Makes Third Attempt to Find Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Wreckage

PERTH, Australia—An unmanned submersible is making a third attempt to find the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines 3786.KU +2.38% Flight 370 on the seabed of the southern Indian Ocean after earlier sorties ran into technical difficulties, authorities said Wednesday. The U.S. Navy's Bluefin-21 was forced to resurface to rectify a technical problem part of the way into its 20-hour mission, Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre, which is leading the multinational search operation, said in a statement. While aboard the Australian naval vessel Ocean Shield, its data was downloaded and found nothing related to the plane. The vehicle was later deployed and is continuing its underwater search.It was the second such setback in an underwater search that began Monday. After completing about six hours of its first underwater search Monday, the submersible reached its operating depth limit of about 3 miles, and its built-in safety feature returned it to the surface, underscoring just how difficult its mission is. That search also found no evidence of the missing jet. 

Oscar Pistorius trial examines forensics

He took the stand after the Olympic sprinter's seven days of testimony came to an end with him reading a Valentine's card from his girlfriend. The athlete denies intentionally killing his Reeva Steenkamp in early hours of 14 February 2013. He says he shot her in the toilet, mistaking her for an intruder.The prosecution says the 29-year-old model and law graduate was deliberately killed after the couple had an argument. The double amputee Paralympic athlete faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder. On Tuesday, Mr Dixon, who is a defence witness, told the court his tests showed that with the light out, Mr Pistorius' bedroom would have been almost completely dark on the evening of the shooting, despite a couple of LED lights. This supports Mr Pistorius' evidence that he did not see whether Ms Steenkamp was still in bed when he got up

2 dead, more than 300 people missing as South Korea ferry sinks

Last updated on: 2014-04-16 14:15:51

SEOUL: More than 300 people were missing after a ferry sank off South Korea, the coastguard said on Wednesday, with a three-fold increase in the number of passengers unaccounted for put down to a miscalculation by officials. The ferry was carrying 477 people, of whom 164 were confirmed rescued, coastguard officials said. Two people were confirmed dead after the ferry listed heavily onto its side and capsized in apparently calm conditions off South Korea's southwest coast. The Ministry of Security and Public Administration had reported that 368 people had been rescued and that about 100 were missing. It later described those figures as a miscalculation, turning what had first appeared to be a largely successful rescue operation into potentially a major disaster.

Prosecutor wraps up Pistorius grilling

PRETORIA: The prosecutor in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius ended his five-day cross-examination of the double amputee track athlete on Tuesday with a stark summary of how he shot his girlfriend, insisting he killed her deliberately after an argument. “You fired four shots through the door whilst knowing that she was standing behind the door,” said prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known in South Africa as “The Pitbull” for his hectoring style of questioning. “She was locked into the bathroom and you armed yourself with the sole purpose of shooting and killing her.” “That is not true,” said 27-year-old Pistorius, who faces life in prison if convicted of murder. On Tuesday he told the court he had pulled the trigger without thinking after hearing a noise behind the door, out of terror and fear that his and Steenkamp’s lives were in danger. 

Europe moves softly softly on Ukraine

Since the last European summit - when Europe's leaders warned Russia of further sanctions if there was no de-escalation of the crisis - events have moved fast on the ground. Pro-Russian militias, most of them armed, have seized buildings in nine eastern and southern Ukrainian towns. Four town halls have been occupied, as have two police headquarters, two buildings belonging to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the regional administrative headquarters in Donetsk. The territorial integrity of Ukraine has already been weakened. The United States, Nato and most European leaders believe these actions are being supported by Russia with the intention of destabilising Ukraine. “ Start Quote Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Bildt If they [the Russians] escalate, then I think we should escalate” Carl Bildt Sweden's foreign minister Even the German government, which has been ambivalent about exerting pressure on the Kremlin, has concluded that "there are a lot of signs that armed gangs in eastern Ukraine are getting support from Russia".

Malaysia missing plane: Robotic sub continues search

A robotic submarine has continued its search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight on the seabed of the southern Indian Ocean. The mini-sub was deployed late on Tuesday, but was forced to resurface due to a technical issue, officials said. It has since been redeployed. The data downloaded from the mini-sub on Wednesday had "no significant detections", Australian officials add. Flight MH370 went missing on 8 March with 239 people on board. Air traffic controllers lost contact with it over the South China Sea while it was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Based on satellite data, officials believe it ended its flight thousands of kilometres off course, in seas west of the Australian city of Perth. However, so far not a single piece of debris from the jet has been found.

2 dead, 295 missing as South Korea ferry sinks

Nearly 300 people were still missing on Wednesday several hours after a ferry carrying 477, most of them high school students, sank in cold waters off South Korea’s southern coast, killing at least two and injuring seven, officials said. A government official earlier said that more than 100 people were still unaccounted for, but officials later changed the number to 295. There were fears of a big jump in the number of deaths, as dozens of boats, helicopters and divers scrambled to rescue passengers, who had been on the ferry travelling to the southern island of Jeju. One rescued passenger said he believed that many people had been trapped inside the ferry when it sank. The ferry sent a distress call at about 9 am (local time) on Wednesday after it began leaning to one side, according to the Ministry of Security and Public Administration. The government said about 95 per cent of the ferry, whose passengers included 325 high school students on a school trip to the popular tourist island, was submerged. Two Coastguard officers said that a 27-year-old woman named Park Ji-yeong and another unidentified person had died.

Will review naming of 650 Congress schemes after Gandhi family, BJP says

PATNA: Attacking "glorification" of only "one-family" by the Congress, BJP on Wednesday said that if voted to power the party would review christening of more than "600 schemes" in the name of three generations of Gandhi dynasty. "It has been the Congress that has glorified contributions of one family by giving it credit for everything taking place in the country before and after the Independence," former BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here. Giving an impression that no other leader other than one family did any good for the country, Congress launched 650 schemes in the name of three personalities — Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he claimed. Naidu promised that the BJP-led NDA, in the event of being elected to power in 2014 general elections would review christening of all these 650 schemes in the name of members of one family. "BJP will discuss all issues related to 650 schemes, including rationalization and christening of these schemes in the name of members of one family," he said. 

CBI need to be transparent; should be under RTI Act: Former VC

New Delhi: Advocating for bringing CBI under purview of RTI Act, former Vigilance Commissioner R Srikumar on Wednesday said the probe agency will never get "hurt" by revealing the truth it gathered in its probe and should win heart of the people by opening itself for public scrutiny. "The CBI got exemption from RTI Act directly from the government. They (CBI) did not involve the CVC while seeking complete exemption from the RTI Act. "As a public institution serving a public cause, CBI should stop taking shelter of secrecy under the RTI Act, and open itself for public scrutiny," Srikumar told . His comments come a day after former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi hit out at CBI for its being "clothed in opacity, ornamented by secrecy and finally perfumed by mystery." "For a short time, the CBI came under the RTI Act. The heavens did not fall during that time. But the triple wrappings of opacity, secrecy and mystery made it move to be taken out of the purview of the RTI Act. "This is a great pity. The CBI is about investigations into corruption and certain crimes. It is not a security or intelligence agency," Gandhi had said addressing a CBI function in New Delhi.

Summer Season Food.

10 Foods To Eat Every Day For Perfect Skin

10. Carrots
Carrots are good not only for your eyes, but also for your skin. They are especially good for clearing up breakouts. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they help prevent the overproduction of cells in the outer layer of the skin. That’s where excess sebum combines with dead cells and clogs pores

Another great reason to snack on some carrots is because Vitamin A reduces the development of skin-cancer cells. So make sure you nibble on a half-cup of baby carrots every day for perfect skin. I love carrots and I think they make a great snack.

You don’t have to eat all these foods every day, but even some of them would be great! Be sure to avoid junk foods, too much sugar, trans fats and refined carbs for the best skin possible. Which of these foods do you eat every day? Share your thoughts, please, and thanks for reading!

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8. Celery
Another food to eat daily for perfect skin is celery. Many of us underestimate this veggie, but celery contains Vitamin K that keeps the blood circulation healthy and helps to reduce high blood pressure. This can reduce your stress level, and as you know stress can cause bad skin, migraines and even cancer.

Celery also contains natural sodium, potassium and water, and can help to prevent dehydration. I hope you know that dehydrated skin means dryness, flaking, wrinkles, and even breakouts. Make sure you consume celery every day or at least every other day. If you are counting calories, don’t worry, celery is very low in calories!
9. Papaya
Papaya is a wonderful fruit which has a rich history and numerous nutritional benefits. It is very low in calories (only 39 calories per 100 g!) and also contains no cholesterol. So if you are trying to lose weight, consider eating papaya every day to maximize its health benefits.
Papaya is a wonderful fruit which has a rich history and numerous nutritional benefits. It is very low in calories (only 39 calories per 100 g!) and also contains no cholesterol. So if you are trying to lose weight, consider eating papaya every day to maximize its health benefits.

A great beauty food, papaya is low in fructose and is excellent for digestion! The antioxidant nutrients found in it, including Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are great at reducing inflammation and acne. Moreover, Vitamin C may also protect your skin against sun damage.

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4. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat with about 90 percent of calories as saturated fat. It contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that keeps away viruses, infections, inflammation and acne. Coconut oil is also rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are perfect for keeping your skin moist, soft, and wrinkle-free

I use coconut oil as a body cream and consume 1 tbsp. of raw coconut oil every day. Coconut oil is especially good for your thyroid. Plus, there’s considerable evidence that this oil can help lose weight. So many health benefits, don’t you think?
5. Green tea
Well, so I know green tea is actually a beverage, but tea leaves come from a plant! Even though I love black tea, I drink green tea every day because I know that it is a great source of antioxidants and a unique amino acid, L-theanine that helps relax your body and lower stress.

When the tea is hot, the bionic brew releases catechins, a kind of antioxidant with proven anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea may also reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Drink 3 or more cups of tea every day for better results.

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2. Dark chocolate
This is one of my favorite foods to eat every day for perfect skin! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and flavanols that promote glowing skin. The antioxidants in dark chocolate will help reduce roughness in your skin and protect it against sun damage. Moreover, cocoa relaxes arteries, increasing blood circulation that leads to healthier skin.

I usually buy cocoa powder or raw cacao for less fat. And if you like dark chocolate, eat your ounce of dark chocolate every day and make sure you choose at least 80% cacao content in order to avoid milk and added sugars found in a traditional chocolate bar.
3. Salmon
Salmon is an excellent food to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Salmon also provides most of your daily vitamin D needs. And as you may already know, Vitamin D is responsible for keeping your heart, bones, colon and brain healthy. It also helps prevent colon cancer, anxiety, depression, heart disease and bone disease.

Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for fighting inflammation, wrinkles and acne. Its high omega-3 content also helps hydrate your skin from the inside out. Moreover, eating salmon keeps your scalp hydrated and promotes strong, healthy hair.

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Are you tired of using different expensive and ineffective beauty products? It’s time to throw away all those ineffective products and start eating foods for perfect skin. I went from terrible acne five months ago to not having acne now. It was hard, but it was possible, and less expensive than turning to pricey products. While some foods can aggravate your skin, others can enhance it. Check out a list of 10 foods to eat every day for perfect skin.


1. Red bell peppersRed bell peppers are a tasty vegetable that can be enjoyed either cooked or raw. One red bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. It also contains significant amounts of dietary fiber and vitamin B6. Moreover, it is rich in carotenoids that can help prevent wrinkles and increase blood circulation to your skin, helping it look more youthful. Due to their carotenoids, red bell peppers are also great to fight acne.

A red bell pepper is a perfect, low calorie snack that contains about 30 calories and has a really satisfying crunchy bite. Keep slices of red bell peppers in the fridge, so you will always have something healthy and tasty to reach for when you are having a snack attack. The fiber that a bell pepper contains will help you to feel full longer with very little calories. Plus, you will have a flawless skin!

Tuberculosis (TB): How Can It Be Prevented?

Bureau/Salome Phelamei
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease that mainly affects your lungs. TB is caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air when people who have an active TB infection cough or sneeze.

It is said that tuberculosis can be prevented through adequate ventilation and limited contacts with patients.

People who test positive for latent TB infection should take medications to lower their risk of getting active TB.
Medication
However, people who have active TB are advised to keep the germs from spreading to others. Medication is the most important thing for people with infectious TB to protect themselves and their family. One should finish the entire course of medicine, else bacteria can develop mutations enabling them to survive the most potent TB drugs, which is more deadly and hard to treat

Vaccine
A TB vaccine called bacille Calmette-Guerin or BCG is often given to babies and children in countries where tuberculosis is very common. The BCG vaccine can prevent severe TB in children but not in adults. Also, the BCG vaccine may cause a false-positive reaction to a TB skin test for which researchers are currently working on developing more effective vaccines.

Other important steps to protect yourself and others may include:

• Wash hands after sneezing, coughing.
• Cover mouth with a tissue while coughing, sneezing or laughing. Used tissues should be discarded immediately in a plastic bag, seal it and throw it away.
• Do not go to school or work during the first few weeks of treatment.
• Ventilate the room as TB spreads more easily in small closed spaces. Open the windows and use a fan to blow out air from your room.
• Avoid sleeping other members of the family.