LDF’s secretariat blockade turned violent
The LDF’s secretariat blockade demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy turned violent as restive agitators pelted stones at a police vehicle, in Vellayambalam, which was carrying employees to the Secretariat. At the same time, a clash broke out between the the police and the LDF activists at Bakery junction when they tried to block the chief minister’s car. The police then diverted the rest of the ministers’ vehicles through a different path.

Solar scam had taken place with the knowledge of Chief Minister - Prakash Karat
Inaugurating the mass picketing of the secretariat, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat Monday said that the solar scam had taken place with the knowledge of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. If Chandy has any sense of responsibility towards the public he should resign from the CM's post, he said. Pawan Kumar Bansal had to resign from his ministerial post when one of his relatives was tainted in a scam case. The CRPF is actually needed in Kashmir to control communal disturbances,...

Oommen Chandy's resignation ; LDF volunteers converged around the Secretariat
In a massive show of strength, thousands of LDF volunteers converged around the Secretariat here this morning as part of their indefinite campaign to demand resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in connection with the solar panel scam. While the protesters blocked three gates of the secretariat, police managed to keep one gate open, through which Chandy and his cabinet colleagues entered the complex early in the morning. Though a few contingents of central paramilitary forces...

Muraleedharan criticises the UDF government
Adding to the problems of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, senior Congres leader K Muraleedharan on Sunday criticised the UDF government's precautionary measures to resist the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) call for an indefinite siege of the Secretariat from Monday. Muraleedharan said the government has created tension in the minds of the people and hit out at the UDF by saying that the allies lack trust among each other. He alleged the government has publicised the protest by...

Oommen Chandy has to quit - Pinarayi
Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM State secretary, stated on Sunday that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has no other option but to quit in the wake of the solar scam. Pinarayi was speaking to media persons here ahead of the indefinite Secretariat siege called by the LDF starting Monday. “Chandy has lost the support of his party members and UDF allies and they have renounced him,” Pinarayi said. Meanwhile, Thomas Issac MLA said that the LDF will not resort to violence during the...

Government was trying to create trouble in the Secretariat - V S
Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan stated that the aim of the Secretariat siege starting from Monday was not to topple the UDF Government, but to make sure that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy quit his post and faced judicial investigation in the solar scam. “Chandy's argument that there is no evidence against him is false. Even the court criticised the way the government handled the case. Chandy by asking for further evidence has proved how thick-skinned he's become,”...

Government was ready for talks with the LDF - Oommen Chandy
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Sunday that the government was ready for talks with the LDF if the Opposition desired so ahead of the indefinite Secretariat siege from Monday. “The Central forces won't be pressed into action if the protest is peaceful. The forces were called to protect the public. The statements of LDF leaders Pinarayi (Vijayan) and Kodiyeri (Balakrishnan) that the stir will be peaceful are welcome. At the same time LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan has gone on...

First batch of the Central Forces arrived in the state
Even as the Opposition LDF is leaving no stones unturned in its preparations for the Secretariat siege starting on Monday, the UDF Government is geared up to foil the attempts of the Left parties. The first batch of the Central Forces arrived in the state capital on Saturday morning. Armed contingents of the Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, CRPF and CISF are camping in the city. These forces are expected to line up in the city by afternoon. Out of the 22...

Government is trying to create a terror situation - Pinarayi
Blaming the UDF Government for overreacting, CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government was trying to create a terror situation in the state ahead of the indefinite Secretariat blockade called by the Left parties from Monday. The Marxist veteran stated that the protest of the LDF will be peaceful and there will not be any provocation on the part of the party workers. “The government is trying to divert the attention of the public. The decision to call the...

LDF is aiming at civil war in the state - Thiruvanchoor
Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Friday said that the LDF is aiming at civil war in the state. Leaving the Cantonment gates open at any cost is an an age-old custom. It was a decision taken during the tenure of former Chief Minister Late C. Achutha Menon. Demonstration can be taken out in front of all the three gates but no one will be allowed to stop those coming to the Secretariat, said Thiruvanchoor. "Won't there be criminals and offenders among the one-lakh...

League may contest the next Lok Sabha polls alone - E T
In a clear signal that all's not well between the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Congress, IUML leader E T Mohammed Basheer stated on Friday that the League may contest the next Lok Sabha polls alone. “The IUML was expecting the Congress High Command to sort out the problems in the party,” Basheer told media persons after the IUML Secretariat meeting held at the League House here. Basheer added that if the UDF is not staying together, then contesting the...

Solar scam ;Government has requisitioned paramilitary forces to face the massive campaign
Gearing up to tackle the indefinite siege of the Secretariat by the Opposition LDF over solar scam, the Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala has requisitioned paramilitary forces to face the massive campaign starting on Monday. In what could be the biggest protest ever witnessed here, the LDF, spearheaded by CPM, plans to bring around one lakh workers as part of its ongoing campaign demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in connection with the scam. Taking a serious...

Chief Minister's resignation ; Government is planning to take strict measures
The government is planning to take strict measures to foil plans by the opposition to place the Secretariat under siege from Monday. The opposition is planning the blockade to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. While the opposition would try all means at its disposal to highlight the blockade as a show of strength and public resentment against the government, the government is expected to take all precautionary measures to make the blockade a non event. It is...

Durga Sakthi suspension ; Centre is considering amending rules
In the backdrop of controversial suspension of Durga Sakthi Nagpal, the Centre is considering amending rules to ensure an IAS officer is not suspended or transferred due to vested interest. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)--which acts as nodal body for administrative matters related to Indian Administrative Service (IAS)--may revisit rules that outlines procedure for disciplinary action against an officer of the service. "We are considering to make changes the...

Medal once again slipped through Saina Nehwal's fingers
The elusive World Championship medal once again slipped through Saina Nehwal's fingers as the Indian ace suffered a straight-game defeat against Korean Yeon Ju Bae in the quarterfinals of the prestigious event here Friday. The London Olympics bronze-medallist, a quarterfinalist in the last two editions as well, was erratic and could not hold her nerves as she went down rather tamely 21-23 9-21 in a 40-minute match at the Tianhe Indoor Stadium. Kashyap, who was also playing at...

Indian capital has been put on high alert
The Indian capital has been put on high alert after the Intelligence Bureau alerted the Delhi Police about Hafiz Saeed, the 26/11 mastermind. The IB officials have gathered the information that Saeed could probably attack Delhi. Meanwhile Hafiz Saeed led the Eid prayers in Lahore's famous Gaddafi stadium Friday morning according to Wall Street Journal. The Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief who is one of the most wanted terrorist in India still roams the cities of Pakistan freely. The...

United States withdraws staff from Lahore consulate
The US today evacuated all non-emergency staff from its consulate in the Pakistani city of Lahore, citing specific terrorist threat against the facility. It also issued a travel warning advising all citizens to defer unnecessary travel to Pakistan amid a worldwide alert over Al-Qaeda intercepts.

Three cricketers from the State have made it to the India A squads
In a big boost to the sport in Kerala, three cricketers from the State have made it to the India A squads for the series against New Zealand A. Sanju V Samson and Sachin Baby are included in the one-day team, while opener V A Jagadeesh is part of team for the three-day and four-day games. The squads (for three-day and four-day games): Abhishek Nayar (captain), Jiwanjyot Singh, Unmukt Chand, Vijay Zol, Manpreet Juneja, V A Jagadish, C M Gautham, Dhawal Kulkarni, Imtiaz Ahmed, Aiket...

Magistrate Court registered the complaint of Biju Radhakrishnan
The Magistrate Court here registered the complaint of Biju Radhakrishnan, the prime accused in solar scam case, on Wednesday. The magistrate emptied advocates and media persons from the room while recording the complaint. The advocates made an uproar outside the court against the action.

Pakistani troops killed five soldiers
In an audacious and provocative attack, Pakistani troops entered Indian territory along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir late Monday night and ambushed a patrol killing five Indian soldiers. The issue rocked Parliament today with members in both Houses demanding a strong response from the Government. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till noon. Defence sources said the Pakistani soldiers, numbering about 20, intruded into the Indian...

Dastardly ambush by Pakistani troops - Narendra Modi
Describing the killing of Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops as "dastardly", Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday accused the Centre of being lax in securing the borders. "Dastardly ambush by Pakistan last night at the Chakan da Bagh area of Poonch leading to death of five Indian soldiers is unacceptable," Modi said in a tweet. "From China's intrusions to Pakistan's ambushes- UPA government has been absolutely lax in securing the Indian...

Pakistani security officials denied deaths of Indian soldiers
Pakistani security officials denied any involvement on Tuesday in the deaths of Indian soldiers on the disputed and heavily militarised border in Kashmir. "There was no indiscriminate firing from our side," one security official told Reuters. Another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters, denied there had been an exchange of fire on the border between the nuclear powers. "There was no such incident...

Antony condemned the unprovoked attack on Indian soldiers
Defence Minister A K Antony Tuesday condemned the unprovoked attack on Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector, Jammu and Kashmir. "We strongly condemn the unprovoked incident," Antony said in Lok Sabha on the killing of five Indian soldiers. Antony said the attack was carried out by 20 heavily-armed terrorists in Pakistan Army uniform. "(The) Army is ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC," he...

AAPI’s Women Physicians Symposium: Leadership in the 21st Century
New York, NY: Health and well-being are central to the lives of all people and a key to societal development. Across the globe, all countries are striving to improve the health and well-being of their populations in terms of both outcomes and equity. By and large, the conditions that make people healthy are those which result in them being more likely to be employed, more productive in the workplace, and to have healthier children who reach higher levels of educational attainment. People in...

Fourteen persons died and several others were reported missing as a string of landslips
Fourteen persons died and several others were reported missing as a string of landslips triggered by heavy downpour battered the high ranges of Idukki and adjoining districts on Monday. The deceased in Kunchithanni included  Pappachan, wife Thankamma, and Sarada and in Cheruthoni siblings Jisna (16) and Josni (12), daughters of Jose, died. A district where most people are small and marginal farmers, Idukki also suffered heavy crop and property loss. Several persons were...

500 new Kendriya Vidyalayas under the twelfth five year plan
The government has fixed a target of setting up 500 new Kendriya Vidyalayas under the twelfth five year plan. However, the actual sanction and opening of schools would depend on the availability of funds, HRD minister M M Pallam Raju said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha. "The 12th plan (2012-17) has a target for opening 500 new KVs during the plan period. Actual sanction and opening of each new KV depends on availability of funds," he said in a written...

Landslide ; Two died and three were injured
Two died and three were injured at Cheeyappara in Adimali during rescue operations on Monday. At least 50 people are suspected to have been trapped in the landslide that caused damage to buildings and vehicles. Six people were rescued. Meanwhile, five vehicles fell into a ravine while bad weather halted rescue operations.

Nedumbassery airport has been closed due to heavy rains.
The Nedumbassery airport has been closed due to heavy rains. Airport authorities informed that the services have been temporarily stopped because of heavy rain. Flooding in the runway affected services from Nedumbassery airport and 16 airline services would be affected until a review is conducted at 1.00 pm. The operations at the airport are to be resumed once the situation is reviewed by the airline authorities.Reports show that moves to divert services to other airports have...

Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon
Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon after uproar over decision to create Telengana and demand for separate Bodoland. The first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament began today.

US economy added 162,000 new jobs in July
US economy added 162,000 new jobs in July, according to the US Labor Department. The figure - which measures the number of jobs outside the US farming sector - was below economists' expectations of more than 180,000 and the government also cut its previous estimates for hiring in May and June. Nonetheless, the new jobs helped the unemployment rate to fall to 7.4%. That was down from 7.6% and is the lowest jobless rate in four years. The news adds to the picture of a slowly growing...