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Four more swine flu cases in Delhi; 35 affected across India
New Delhi, Jun 17 (PTI) Four more persons have tested positive for swine flu in the national capital, taking the total number of those affected by the disease to 35 in the country today.
With the new cases in Delhi, the number of those affected by swine flu in the city has risen to ten, but five of them have already been discharged from hospital after treatment.
"The four persons who have tested positive for swine flu in the capital are in hospital and undergoing treatment," Dr Shivlal, Director of National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), told PTI.
Meanwhile, eight persons with suspected swine flu symptoms are still in hospital as results of tests carried out on their samples are still awaited, Delhi government sources said.
In the past two days alone, as many as 12 cases have tested positive. According to Health Ministry, samples of 315 persons have been tested till yesterday.
With most swine flu affected people coming from America, the government has said the US should "suo motu" start screening outbound passengers for symptoms of the disease.
New Delhi has also asked the developed countries to take action to contain and check the spread of swine flu at their end which would help in stopping the spread of the infection to the developing nations. PTI
India wants to try again to make peace with Pak: PM
Ajay Kaul
On Board Prime Minister's Special Aircraft, Jun 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India wanted to try again to make peace with Pakistan but Islamabad should take "strong and effective" actions to end terrorism against his country like it has done with regard to Taliban.
A day after he met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in Yekaterinburg, Singh said if the Pakistani leadership shows "courage, determination and statesmanship to take the high road to peace, India will meet it more than half the way".
Singh said Zardari had told him that he was sincere in fighting terrorism but he talked about difficulties his government is facing in tackling the menace and sought "some time" in this regard.
"I have spoken before also about my vision of a cooperative sub-continent and the vital interest people of the sub-continent have in peace. For this, we must try again to make peace with Pakistan.
But for this, it is essential that strong and effective steps are taken by Pakistan against the enemies of peace," Singh told journalists accompanying him on his way back after attending two multilateral summits. PTI
Chidambaram asks Buddhadeb to give clear mandate to police
New Delhi, June 17 (PTI) Sending a blunt message to the Buddhadeb Government, the Centre today asked it to give a clear mandate to the police to reclaim areas dominated by Maoists in violence-hit West Midnapore and its adjoining areas and deal with the "deteriorating" law and order situation.
Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here that he had spoken to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and told him that the state must move its forces to these troubled areas with clear instructions to tackle the situation.
The Minister said there was an impression that while one part of the government was willing to take action against the Maoists, another was worried about the fallout.
"The impression is that one side of the government is willing to take action, the other side of the government is worried about the consequences. Now, it is the judgement the Chief Minister must make. They must move the (security) forces to the affected areas and must reclaim that area which is now dominated by the Maoists," he said.
Agitating tribals of West Midnapore and adjoining areas have been protesting police "atrocities" on them in the wake of the landmine blast at Salboni which was believed to target the Chief Minister.
The tribals, numbering 2000 under the banner of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, stopped paramilitary forces from reaching the trouble-torn areas. PTI
India extends ban on import of milk, milk products from China
New Delhi, June 17 (PTI) India has extended the ban on import of dairy products from China for six months to ward off any threat of contaminated whitener which had caused deaths of few infants and made several thousands ill.
The ban was to expire on June 24.
"...The Central government extends the prohibition on import of milk and milk products including chocolates and chocolate products and candies/confectionery/food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient from China...For a period of six months from 24 June 2009," Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said.
Melamine, used for making plastics and fertiliser, was found in infant milk and other dairy products of several Chinese firms. The dangerous chemical can cause kidney stones as well as failure of the organ.
India, in September 2008, had imposed the ban on Chinese milk and its products for three months which was later extended in December last year for six months.
More than a dozen countries in Asia and Africa had also banned milk and dairy product imports from China while several others had recalled the products suspected to be contaminated.
China exported dairy products worth 359 million in 2007.
While India does not import milk products from China, the ban is being seen as a preventive measure.
India is the world's largest producer of milk. The country's output stood at 102 million tons in 2007-08. PTI
Market registers fourth-biggest fall of the year
Mumbai, June 17 (PTI) After a brief mid-session recovery, sluggish European stocks and sustained sell-off by foreign funds today dragged the market down with the benchmark Sensex plunging by 435 points, registering the fourth-biggest single-day fall of the year.
The bellwether index had fallen by 749.05 points on January 7, 480.35 points on March 30 and 437.63 points on June 8 this year.
In a high level of volatility, the Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer settled the day at a two-week low of 14,522.84, netting a fall of 435.07 points or 2.91 per cent from its previous close.
The Sensex touched the intra-day low of 14,447.02.
The market spiralled downwards in afternoon trade as European stocks extended losses to a fourth day after a sharp fall in the American market yesterday.
The dramatic selling pressure surfaced after a leading brokerage Kotak Securities reportedly lowered RIL's rating.
SMC Capitals Equity head Jagannadham Thuguntla said: "The market is showing signs of fatigue because of valuation concerns; besides, there is a apprehension that the budget may not have that many sweeteners." Market sentiment also was adversely affected by sustained pullout by foreign institutional investors, which were believed to be aggressive sellers during the day. PTI
Kingfisher Airlines hikes fuel surcharge by Rs 400
New Delhi, June 17 (PTI) Air carrier Kingfisher Airlines today increased fuel surcharge by Rs 400 on all domestic sectors with immediate effect.
"Consequent upon successive increases in the price of ATF, the fuel surcharge for travel on all domestic sectors of Kingfisher Airlines will be increased by Rs 400 with effect from today," a Kingfisher Airlines spokesperson said.
The hike would apply uniformly for travel across all distances and all classes of travel, including Kingfisher Red, the spokesperson said.
The increase in fuel surcharge comes following an over 12 per cent rise in ATF prices by state-run oil firms on June 15. PTI
Tendulkar, Zaheer rested, Nehra recalled after four years
New Delhi, Jun 17 (PTI) Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan were rested while Ashish Nehra staged a comeback after four years as national selectors today announced a 16-member squad for the ODI series against the West Indies, beginning June 26.
Suresh Raina was also not considered because of a thumb injury while Irfan Pathan was left out of the squad announced by BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan.
Apart from Delhi pacer Nehra, Tamil Nadu batsmen Murali Vijay and S Badrinath were also included in the squad for the four-match series for which the Indian team will directly fly from London tomorrow.
Mumbai all rounder Abhishek Nayar was the lone new face in the squad which will be captain by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and will have Yuvraj Singh as his deputy.
Virender Sehwag, who pulled out of the Twenty20 World Cup because of a shoulder injury, was not considered for selection.
Srinivasan said that Raina was not considered for selection as he had sustained a hairline fracture on his thumb. He has been advised two weeks' rest.
Team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt), Yuvraj Singh (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Yusuf Pathan, Murali Vijay, S Badrinath, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, Ashish Nehra, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Kartik. PTI
Jeev paired with Vijay Singh, Choi in US Open
Farmingdale (New York), Jun 17 (PTI) Jeev Milkha Singh has been paired with former number one Vijay Singh, the person he is often mistakenly related to, and KJ Choi for the first two rounds of the US Open golf championship at the Bethpage State Park here.
Jeev overcame a rib injury to make himself available for his fourth appearance in the tournament and has been handed an early morning start in the elite event.
Since making his US Open debut in the same course in 2002, Jeev's best finish came in 2007 at Oakmont where he stood tied 36th.
Jeev sustained the injury last month and the CT scan revealed no fracture. PTI
Indian eves look to stop rampaging Kiwis in semis
Nottingham, Jun 17 (PTI) On a roll with consecutive wins in their last two matches, Indian eves will face an uphill task of disrupting the applecart of an unbeaten New Zealand when the two teams lock horns in the first semi-final of the women's Twenty20 World Cup here tomorrow.
Shrugging off the opening match disappointment against England, India bounced back with two successive wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka to seal their place in the semi-finals and skipper Jhulan Goswami hopes that her girls keep the momentum going.
India's opening pair of Punam Raut and Anjum Chopra has not been able to give them a rollicking start. Although Anjum stood as a wall playing some good knocks, Raut struggled in her first match against England, scoring only four runs.
But the left-handed teen will take some confidence from her 41-ball 30-run knock in the last outing against Sri Lanka, which set the tone for India's five-wicket win.
The middle order also looks a bit shaky with batters crumbling under pressure while chasing paltry targets. Even in their last match against Sri Lanka, the middle-order fall like a house of cards before Mithali Raj saved India the blushes with a 22-ball 32 which eventually sealed their semifinal berth. PTI
Taliban, al-Qaeda under pressure: Pentagon
Lalit K Jha
Washington, June 17 (PTI) The military operation by Pakistani Army in the Swat Valley and adjoining areas clubbed with consistent action by the US forces in Afghanistan has resulted in increased pressure on the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the region, the Pentagon said today.
Consequently it is highly possible that al-Qaeda leaders could move from this part of the world to other safer places, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters, adding Somalia fits that bill under present circumstances.
"As we have increased our operational tempo in Afghanistan, and as there are additional US and coalition forces flowing into Afghanistan, there is increased pressure put on the Taliban and al-Qaeda," he said.
"Historically, what that has led to is them running across the border into Pakistan and seeking refuge in the safe haven there," he added.
"But because we are now seeing an increased operational tempo from the Pakistani military as well, there is now pressure on both sides, from the east and the west, on those militants in that former safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," Morrell said. PTI
Five JeM men arrested, police says Masood Azhar not among them
M Zulqernain
Lahore, Jun 17 (PTI) The arrest of five Jaish-e-Mohammed activists in Pakistan's Punjab province sparked speculation here that the outlawed terror group's chief Maulana Masood Azhar had been detained.
The five JeM members were arrested in Sialkot yesterday. Soon after the arrests were made, unconfirmed reports said officials of intelligence agencies had arrested Azhar, who is wanted in India for alleged involvement in several terror attacks.
Waqar Chohan, the police chief of Sialkot district, however, only confirmed the arrest of five JeM members.
"We have taken five JeM men into custody for their suspicious activities. Maulana Masood Azhar was not among them," he told PTI.
Azhar was freed along with two other terrorists in exchange for passengers of an Indian Airlines jet that was hijacked from Kathmandu in Nepal to Kandahar in Afghanistan in 1999.
India had asked Pakistan to hand him over soon after the Mumbai attacks but the Pakistani government said it was not aware of his whereabouts. PTI
Plagiarism charges "untrue": Potter publishers
London, June 17 (PTI) 'Harry Potter' publishers Bloomsbury, who has been sued by the estate of a late British author, today dismissed the plagiarism charges as "unfounded, unsubstantiated and untrue".
The estate of late British author Adrian Jacob is suing J K Rowling and her publisher for 500 million pounds.
The family alleges that Rowling's fourth book 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' has used segments from the late author's story 'Willy the Wizard', which also revolves around the theme of a child discovering his magical powers. Jacob's book was published in 1987.
According to the family, which includes his son and grandson, Jacob sent the manuscript to Christopher Little, the literary agent at Bloomsbury Publishing who went on to represent Rowling, but it was rejected.
Jacob's book was later published by a smaller company under the title The Adventures Of Willy The Wizard No 1: Livid Land', Daily Mail reported.
However, a statement from the publishing house has dismissed the allegations as 'untrue'.
"JK Rowling had never heard of Adrian Jacobs nor seen, read or heard of his book Willy the Wizard until this claim was first made in 2004, almost seven years after the publication of the first book in the highly publicised Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and after the publication of the first five books in the Harry Potter series," the statement said. PTI
Rihanna sued by university professor
Los Angeles, June 17 (PTI) R&B star Rihanna has been sued by a university professor for allowing her house guests to trespass on his property.
UCLA design and media art scholar Christian Moeller, whose home is next door to the singer's rented Los Angeles residence, has filed suit against her, claiming that her friends regularly dump their cars on his lawn, celebrity website TMZ.Com reported.
Moeller has sued the 'Umbrella' hitmaker for allowing people and cars to trespass on his property. PTI
Medical test confirms rape: claims police
Mumbai, Jun 16 (PTI) The report of the medical test on the domestic help, who accused Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja of rape, showed she had been sexually assaulted, the police said today as forensic experts searched his house in an attempt to find evidence against him.
"We have received the medical report of the victim and it has corroborated with what the victim has alleged against the actor in the FIR," Deputy Commissioner of Police Niket Kaushik told PTI.
When contacted, Ahuja's lawyer Srikant Shivde told PTI "I do not want to comment on either the medical report or the allegation of rape. We will wait until the chargesheet is filed".
The police arrested Ahuja after preliminary medical tests on the girl confirmed sexual assault.
A forensic team visited the actor's house in suburban Oshiwara, where the alleged offence was committed, to try and obtain more evidence from the spot. The house was sealed by the police later.
The police would also to send clothes worn by the actor and the victim on the day of the incident to the Forensic Science Laboratory for tests.
Ahuja was taken to hospital in south Mumbai where medical tests were conducted on him. His blood samples were also taken to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol or consumed drugs, police said. PTI
Thrillers keep director Anjan Dutt busy
New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Making a ghost story has kept him preoccupied for long. And, after three attempts, filmmaker Anjan Dutt has finally zeroed in on a story for his upcoming thriller.
Dutt, is adapting the short story "Loving Doll," from Ipsita Roy Chakraverti's book "Sacred Evil." "I am currently in the post-production stage of a very very dark Byomkesh Bakshi 1960's period thriller based on incest and riots. After this I'll start work on Ipsita's film," Dutt told PTI in a telephonic interview.
The Kolkata-based director also an actor and singer and whose repertory include films like "Bong Connection," and "Chalo Let's Go" says he is excited about the new film which will be set in Kolkata and Darjeeling.
"Ipsita saw my film 'Madly Bangalee' and approached me with the story and I said yes, of course after reading the book," says Dutt who had been looking for a ghost story script for long.
Dutt says he wanted to film an adapted Rabindranath Tagore work but was unsure about getting the literary genius' story right and also because he says making a good thriller is always a challenge. PTI
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