Three killed, five hurt in accident
Sambalpur: Three persons were killed and five others seriously injured in a truck-van collision here Friday. The mishap occurred at Dhanupali. Police said the van was on its way from Padiabahal to Hirakud on National Highway 53 when it collided with the truck. The injured were first taken to the district headquarters hospital here and later shifted to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, for treatment.
HC denies bail to MLA Pravat Biswal
Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court Friday rejected the bail plea moved by BJD Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Pravat Biswal. The Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested the MLA as part of its investigation of his links with the Seashore scam. The court said Biswal could apply for bail in a lower court after the CBI files its charge sheet in the case. The court also directed CBI to complete its investigation within two months. The High Court had earlier sought a report from the CBI on the health status of Biswal as he had to be hospitalized following his arrest September 19. He was then admitted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack September 22.
Mary Kom steps down as national observer
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and five-time World boxing champion Mary Kom has stepped down as the national observer for Indian boxing, after Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that active athletes are debarred from the position. “I resigned as national observer 10 days ago after having a word with Mr Rathore. I had been requested to take up the position, it was not something I had asked for,” Mary Kom said. “But at that time, I was told that I should nonetheless accept the position. I did so on request of the Ministry and I don’t want unnecessary controversies about something that I had not asked for.”
India starts process to build six N-subs
New Delhi: India has kick-started the process to build six nuclear-powered attack submarines which will significantly boost the Navy’s overall strike capabilities in the face of China’s growing military manoeuvring in the Indo-Pacific region. “It has kicked off and I will leave it at that. It is a classified project. The process has started,” Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said Friday. He said the Navy will play its role in the Indo-Pacific region when the much talked about quadrilateral coalition among India, Australia, Japan and the US takes shape, reflecting the the Navy’s readiness to play a much assertive role in the critical sea lanes.
Emperor Akihito to abdicate throne April next
Tokyo: Japan’s Emperor Akihito will step down April 30, 2019. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe made the announcement Friday. It is the first retirement in more than two centuries in the world’s oldest imperial family. Abe said he was “deeply moved” at the “smooth decision” taken at a special meeting of the Imperial Council to decide on the date for the popular 83-year-old to step down for health reasons. “The government will make utmost efforts to ensure that the Japanese people can celebrate the emperor’s abdication and the succession of the crown prince,” Abe added. Akihito’s eldest son, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, is expected to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne the next day. The abdication will bring to an end the current Heisei era which has lasted the 30 years Akihito has been on the throne.
Jong-Nam ‘had VX antidote’ when attacked
Kuala Lumpur: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s half-brother Kim Jong-Nam was carrying a VX ‘antidote’ when he was assassinated with the deadly nerve agent in a stunning Cold War-style hit, a lawyer said Friday. Jong-Nam had 12 tablets of Atropine in his backpack when he was attacked, said defence lawyer Gooi Soon Seng, citing testimony from the ongoing trial of the two women accused of killing him. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, in their 20s, allegedly carried out the hit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13 as Kim waited to board a flight to Macau. A poison expert from the Malaysian government testified this week that Kim was carrying Atropine, which has several medical uses including treatment for people who have been attacked with nerve agents such as VX. K Sharmilah told the Shah Alam High Court that the police sent items from the case for her to test, including a bottle containing 12 white tablets that she concluded were Atropine.
Tibetan monk immolates self in Southwest China
Beijing: A 63-year-old Tibetan monk has self-immolated in southwest China in protest against Beijing’s presence in Tibet. Campaigners said he was the fifth person to do so this year. Tenga, a popular monk and volunteer teacher of village children, died after setting himself ablaze Sunday in Sichuan province’s Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, said the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), headquartered in Washington. The group said he was the 151st Tibetan to self-immolate since 2009. Earlier this year, another Ganzi resident named Wangchuk Tseten also carried out a fatal self-immolation. Authorities told AFP they knew nothing about the latest incident. London-based campaign group Free Tibet cited a friend of Tenga’s present at the scene as saying the monk shouted “we want freedom in Tibet” as he lit himself on fire.
Burqa-clad militants kill 12 in Pak college
Peshawar: At least 12 persons, mostly students, were killed as burqa-clad militants stormed the hostel of the Peshawar Agricultural Training Institute in Pakistan Friday, officials said. The number of casualties is expected to rise, the media quoted security officials and doctors as saying. Thirty-seven others were injured in the macabre assault. The attack, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, began early in the morning after three loud explosions were heard. Firing broke out at the hostel after three or four burqa-clad suspects entered the building, Geo news reported. The Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed the casualties. It said three terrorists were killed by security forces. Suicide jackets, three grenades, two bombs and a pistol were recovered in the hostel building.
Good cook Obama has daal recipe
New Delhi: Former US President Barack Obama said in Delhi Friday that he is perhaps the first American President to have a recipe for ‘daal’. He said he had become a good cook since demitting office. According to the 44th POTUS, he knew how to make daal and had his own recipe that he got a long time ago from an Indian roommate when he was a student. He quipped that he was probably the first US President to have a recipe for the dish. He is good though, he said, with some other dishes as well. “My keema is also good, and my chicken is okay,” he said.
