Oil pipeline explosion kills 47 in China, company issues apology
China's largest oil refiner Sinopec on Saturday apologized for explosions from a ruptured oil pipeline that killed 47 people and injured 136 others in one of the country's worst industrial accidents this year. Sinopec's expansion of petrochemical projects has met with resistance from members of the public, and Friday's blasts in the eastern port city of Quingdao will likely add to growing concern about safety and environmental risks. The accident was the deadliest...

Saritha to file complaint against VS
Solar scam accused Saritha Nair is to file a complaint against V S Achuthanandan and others. Saritha's advocate said that she would file cases against others such as BJP Leader K Surendran, Biju Radhakrishnan and his advocate Jacob Mathew. Saritha, through her advocate, said that these leaders had humiliated her with their scandalous statements. The cases are to be filed at North police station and the Bar Council. Her advocate Fenny Balakrishnan said that she would issue...

Gayle's loss a big setback for us: Bravo
With their star batsman Chris Gayle ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against India after sustaining a hamstring tear on his left leg, West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo said it was the "worst" thing to have happened to them on the current tour. As Gayle made a desperate dive to save himself from a run out chance in the first ODI here yesterday, he suffered an injury and had to be carried out of the ground in a stretcher. He was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the...

Plea before Kerala HC to bring back teenager's UAE husband
The mother of a 17-year-old girl has sought the intervention of the Kerala High Court to bring back Mohammed Jasim, a national of the United Arab Emirates, who married her daughter and then divorced her 13 days later.     Accepting the petition, the court directed the police to ready a detailed report on the incident. The girl, a student of Class 12, alleged that she "married" the UAE national June 13 this year, in...

Congress portraying PM as weak: Mulayam
Claiming that Congress was portraying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “weak”, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the PM “should have resigned” after the ordinance on convicted lawmakers was dismissed as “nonsense” by party Vice—president Rahul Gandhi. “The Prime Minister is being made weak. And those in his own party are doing this... His party man who himself wants to become Prime Minister tears the ordinance (on...

China conducts test flight of first stealth combat drone
 China has successfully tested its first stealth drone, joining the elite group of four nations in the world to develop the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle. Pictures of the 'Sharp Sword', resembling a smaller version of the US B2 bomber, were released by Chinese official media after the aircraft conducted its test flight in Chengdu in southwest China yesterday, marking the country's advancement towards the Western-level technology. The flight that took place lasted for...

1.6 kg gold concealed in cycle wheels seized
In another seizure of gold, about 1.6 kg of the yellow metal was today seized from a passenger, who arrived here by an Air Arabia flight, police said. The passenger, Zakaria, had concealed the gold in ingot form in the cycle wheels of a three-wheeler meant for children. Following a tip-off, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials checked all passengers who arrived by the flight at the airport here in the early hours. Zakaria, who was returning from Sharjah, hails from Kerala's...

Tarun Tejpal faces arrest after being booked on rape charge
 Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal faced possible arrest after Goa police on Friday booked him on rape charge following an allegation by a journalist colleague that he sexually assaulted her during an event a fortnight ago. A special investigating team of the crime branch police will be in Delhi for questioning Tejpal and police are not ruling out arrest. "An FIR has been filed on charges of rape and outraging of modesty (against Tejpal). This is one part of the process of...

Attack on CM: four arrested
Four persons, including two SFI Kannur District leaders, were arrested on Thursday in the case related to the attack on Chief minister Oommen Chandy here on October 27. Kannur District SFI President Prashob and secretary Sarin Sasi and two other activists were arrested while they were participating in a dharna before the district Collectorate, police said. The SFI had taken out a protest rally to the police station condemning the arrest. CPM Kannur District secretary P...

Cyclone Helen in Andhra
Cyclone Helen in Andhra: Disaster teams gear up to tackle cyclone Helen in four districts of AP India Today Online  Hyderabad, November 21, 2013 | UPDATED 08:36 IST Fishermen Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea. Six teams of National Disaster Response Force are being deployed in four coastal districts of south Indian state Andhra Pradesh (AP) as cyclonic storm 'Helen' is expected to cross the Bay of Bengal coast near Kavali Thursday...

VS accuses CM of breaking oath of office
Opposition leader, V S Achuthanandan has said that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had broken his oath of office by hiding vital information in the solar scam. Making the new accusations, Achuthanandan said that the recent revelations by Biju Radhakrishnan - that Saritha Nair was molested by state ministers and a central minister- was known to the CM long before. The opposition leader went on to say that Biju Radhakrishnan had mentioned this to the CM behind closed doors some time ago and...

IFFI is not a branding activity: Manish Tewari
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari Wednesday said the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is not a branding exercise for the government or any entity but a platform for paying tribute to creative people. Tewari said the 10-day long festival was just a celebration of the spirit of cinema and humankind. "For the UPA government, who organize this extravaganza every year, it is basically celebrating the spirit of films and humankind. We are doubly...

I love tall women: Aamir Khan
He may not be very tall himself, but Aamir Khan Tuesday revealed that he enjoys working with actresses who tower over him. In "Dhoom 3", Aamir will be seen romancing tall and beautiful Katrina Kaif. Click to read Katrina Kaif makes a film super hit: Aamir Khan "I love tall women and her (Katrina's) heels didn't come in the way," Aamir told reporters at an event to announce Yash Raj Films' association with Mattel to create D:3-inspired...

‘Allegiance can’t be taken for granted in coalition politics’
IUML, a long-time ally of Congress in Kerala and at the Centre, ruled out any possibility of quitting the ruling UDF, but felt that the coalition should strive to improve itself. IUML leader and minister PK Kunhalikutty rubbished reports that a section in the party was unhappy with the political and administrative performance of UDF and favoured even exercising the option of switching over to the LDF. He said “there is no truth” in such...

Oommen Chandy concealed facts in solar scam: Achuthanandan
Adding a new dimension to the solar scam, Kerala Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan today accused Chief Minister Oommen Chandy of shielding three prominent persons, including his cabinet colleague and a union minister from the state, over their alleged relationship with scam accused Saritha Nair. Reading out a written statement at a press meet here, he said the lawyer of solar case accused Biju Radhakrishnan had reportedly claimed that Saritha was "physically exploited" by a...

Bangalore ATM victim will take six months to recover: Doctor
The woman attacked a day ago in an ATM kiosk in the heart of the Karnataka capital sustained grievous injury and suffered partial paralysis. She will take six months to recover, a doctor attending to her said Wednesday. "The victim (Jyothi) is recovering from severe injuries on the head and face, and has suffered heavy loss of blood," BGS Hospital chief neurosurgeon N.K. Venkataramana told IANS here Wednesday. The bridge of the woman's nose was damaged in the...

We Support Vizhinjam Mother Port Project
By Jose Pinto Stephen ‘We Support Vizhinjam Mother Port Project’ is a Video Campaign lead bKerala Vision in favor of Vizhinjam Mother Port Project. Pravasi Indians demand speedy Implementation of the much delayed project at Vizhinjam. Leaders of FOMAA ( Federation of Malayalee Assoication of Americas ), World Malayalee Council ( WMC ), FOKANA ( Federation of Kerala Assoications of North America ), Religious, Political Organizations and Young Professionals of America responds...

LDF hartal over Western Ghats report hits normal life in Kerala
Normal life was affected across Kerala by the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by LDF today to protest the Centre's move to implement key recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats conservation. Local resistance groups in upland areas, where thousands are settled for generations farming small pieces of lands, have extended support to the protest. The opposition LDF has rejected plea of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to desist from the shut-down protest since the...

Been a dream journey, no regrets, says Tendulkar
A day after ending his 24-year long illustrious career, Tendulkar said he woke up to a different morning before he realised that he didn't need to take an early shower and rush to the ground. - AFP India's cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who bid a teary farewell to the sport, Sunday said the 22-yard pitch has been a temple for him and thanked the game for making him whatever he is. A day after ending his 24-year long illustrious career, Tendulkar said he woke up to...

Kerala shuts down over Western Ghats environment order
The dawn-to-dusk state-wide shutdown Monday, called by the Left opposition to protest an order on implementation of the Kasturirangan panel report on conserving Western Ghats environment, has virtually confined people indoors. Across the state, shops and markets were closed and barring private vehicles, no public transport vehicles were operating service, leaving many stranded at railway stations and bus stands. "It's sad that political parties act irresponsibly. It was...

Congress vice president lowered PMO's dignity: Modi
 Without naming Rahul Gandhi, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said here Monday the Congress vice president has lowered the dignity of the Prime Minister's Office. "The prime minister says BJP leaders have taken politics to a new low. Who has taken the prime minister's post to a low," Modi asked at a rally here. "No BJP person has lowered dignity of the PM's office. Those sitting close to you have lowered dignity of your office....

'India can't treat Saurabh Kalia's torture as war crime'
Centre has clarified its stand that it will not treat Indian Army Capt. Saurabh Kalia's torture by the Pakistan Army in 1999 during the Kargil conflict as a war crime, its counsel said on Monday. India has filed its response in the case in the Supreme Court, saying it has no intention of taking up the issue under the Geneva Convention. "The government in its reply says it's bound by some agreement (Simla Agreement of 1972), so it can't treat Saurabh Kalia's...

BrahMos successfully penetrates hardened targets in Army test
The Army on Monday successfully test-fired an advanced version of the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile which penetrated and destroyed a “hardened target” in the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. “The Block III variant of BrahMos with deep penetration capability is fitted with a new guidance system and the launch by the Army has successfully validated the deep penetration capability of the supersonic cruise missile system against hardened targets,”...

'Sachin Sachin..' will reverberate in my ears till my last breath, says Tendulkar on his farewell
Mumbai: With a lump in his throat Sachin begins his speech. The roaring cheer from the crowd is unbelievable. #Please settle down, I'll get more emotional! #It is hard to believe that my life between "22 yards in the last 24 years" has come to an end, he says. # He began by thanking his father Ramesh Tendulkar. I miss my father, says the maestro. He thanked his mother for taking care of such a naughty child. #His mother’s prayers have given him...

Kochi Metro likely to get French aid and how to shop wedding dresses In UK
France-based financial institution Agence Française de Développement is likely to give its in-principle nod for loan to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). “They are  pleased with the Kochi visit. We expect in-principal clearance for the loan as early as April. If all goes well, the loan can be processed by the end of December or latest by January 2014,” said Elias George, managing director, KMRL Wedding Dresses UK. The metro project needs an external...

No bail for Madani, recommends Karnataka
The Karnataka government has urged the Supreme Court not to provide bail for Madani who has been booked in a blast case. The government argued that Madani did not have any serious ailments and that all his health issues were age related. A lawyer who appeared for the government also said that it was not possible to provide private medical facilities for Madani, whose counsel had made the demand.

No question of implementing Kasturirangan report in haste:CM
With the Centre's decision to implement key suggestions of the Kasturirangan panel on Western Ghats conservation triggering protests in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said there was no question of implementing it in haste.     "There is no question of government implementing it in a haste. No one will be evicted or prevented from pursuing their means of livelihood," he said at the inauguration of the District 'Chief...

Tendulkar to be awarded Bharat Ratna
In a fitting finale to what has been a glorious career, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was on Saturday chosen for the prestigious Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, making him the first sportsperson to be bestowed with the honour. The 40-year-old icon, who called time on his glittering international career today, was chosen for the top award soon after his farewell Test against the West Indies ended in Mumbai. A brief statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan...

Sachin Tendulkar retires after 200th Test: his full speech after the Wankhede match
Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket after playing his 200th and final Test. India went on to win the second and final Test against the West Indies in Mumbai by innings and 126 runs to seal the series 2-0 and present Tendulkar with a perfect farewell gift. The entire Indian team gave a moving lap of honour to the Little Master as soon as the match ended. The Master Blaster gave an emotional speech that had everyone in tears at the Wankhede Stadium. Here is the full text of his...

I heard screams, recounts train passenger
"I heard screams" of trapped passengers, said Jayan, a passenger on board the ill-fated Mangala Express that derailed in Maharashtra early Friday. "I was brushing my teeth when suddenly there was a loud noise," said Faridabad-resident Jayan who was travelling from Delhi to Kerala. He was in coach S-7. "Thank god I am safe" were Jayan's first thoughts.   His wife Rini said that Jayan recalled the horror when he called her up early in...