Pakistani doctors treat patients at a hospital after an earthquake hit, in Peshawar, Pakistan on October 26, 2015. (Photo: AP) Rescuers on Tuesday rushed to deliver relief aid to victims of a massive earthquake that hit northern Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing at least 275 people over a wide swath of mostly mountainous terrain. Thousands spent the night outdoors in near-freezing temperatures reluctant to go back inside for fear of aftershocks, Pakistani media reported. “Rescue work is ongoing, and tents, blankets and sleeping mats are being provided,” Latif ur Rehman, a Pakistani disaster management official, told Reuters from the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Pakistan’s military and civilian authorities dispatched several helicopters to affected areas to assess damage and run rescue operations, the National Disaster Management Authority said. Landslides in mountainous northern Pakistan over the weekend caused by heavy rain and snow had already left thousands of touristsstranded. The earthquake struck almost exactly six months after Nepal suffered its worst quake on record on April 25. Including the toll from a major aftershock in May, 9,000 people lost their lives there and 900,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Afghan boys receive treatment at a hospital after an earthquake hit, in Jalalabad province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, October 26, 2015. (Photo: AP) In Afghanistan, where rescue and relief work is likely to be complicated by security threats created by an escalating Taliban insurgency, more than 50 people were reported dead in several provinces including Badakhshan, where hundreds were killed in mudslides last year. In pics: See extensive damage in Pakistan caused by 7.7 quake Hundreds of houses were destroyed, creating additional hardship with winter temperatures setting in.

The death toll could climb in coming days because communications were down in much of the rugged Hindu Kush mountain range where the quake was centred. In Pakistan, 228 people were confirmed dead. The initial magnitude 7.5 quake on Monday afternoon was followed by seven aftershocks, measuring as high as magnitude 4.8, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The latest aftershock came just before dawn on Tuesday. The United States and Iran were among countries that offered to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, which already depends heavily on foreign aid after decades of war that have wrecked its economy and infrastructure. The quake was 213 km (132 miles) deep and centred 254 km (158 miles) northeast of Kabul. People stand outside their offices after a severe earthquake is felt in Lahore, Pakistan on Monday, October 26, 2015.(Photo: AP) Dr. John Ebel, chairman of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College in the United States, said the depth of the earthquake had limited its severity and meant damage was likely to be spread broadly rather than focused in one disaster zone.

But he said landslides on the unstable slopes of the mountainous region could pose a major problem. “Obviously if a landslide comes into a village, it will take out buildings, but landslides can also take out roads and communications and power systems, so you lose the ability to access remote areas,” he said. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. Agency for International Development was ready to provide emergency shelter and relief supply kits. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in London en route from an official visit to the U.S., said he would personally oversee the rescue efforts. “We will try our best to deal with this disaster using our own resources,” he said.

New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) All 54 countries, which have been invited, will be represented at the third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) that got underway here on Monday, a senior external affairs ministry official said. “This is a summit of 56 representatives – 54 (countries) from Africa, the African Union and our prime minister,” Syed Akbaruddin, additional secretary in the ministry and the chief coordinator of IFAS, told the media. “We are confident that every institution and country invited will be present when our prime minister will take the floor on October 29. This summit will be a gathering of every country in Africa, the African Union and India, which is unprecedented in the annals of any summit between Africa and any other country,” he said. Though he did not give the exact number of heads of government and state who will be coming, he said that even countries that had elections or where new governments have been formed will be represented at the highest level.

(26 Oct) In a press release, SP(Crime) &PRO, Nagaland Police, M Tungoe said police may manage to book the culprits but in such cases it is very difficult to recover the lost money. He cited one such recent case in which police arrested the CEO of one such company but he did not have any money to pay back what he owed. The SP said if any company approaches with such offers, the police should be contacted immediately. The police release informed the public that there are fake companies/financial institutions/organisations operating from within and outside of Nagaland running many prize chits and money circulation schemes.

Hundreds of people from Nagaland have already been duped of several lakhs of rupees. Police also named some of those fake companies operating in Nagaland as Queensberry Foundation, Everlight Realty Infrastructure Limited/Everlight Realcon Infrastructure Limited ( ERIL), Progressive Youth Welfare Society, Progressive Youth Thrift and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd, etc. Money circulation schemes are being promoted in the name of direct marketing (DM), multi-level marketing schemes (MLM), network marketing (NWM), referral marketing, introduction marketing, chain marketing, etc. The police said these schemes are nothing but camouflaged money circulation schemes. In the front end, the promoters display products and services but at the back end, it is nothing but money circulation schemes banned under the provisions of Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978.

The release explained that money circulation scheme means any scheme by whatever name called wherein the person has to enroll into the scheme through an already enrolled member by subscribing to the scheme by paying initial kit/membership amount and purchasing goods and services, whereby this introducer will get benefits and the company which promotes the scheme earns quick money. The newly enrolled member again has to enroll further members to get his amount back and also the benefits. Such a system of chain that works endlessly to provide profit to everyone concerned would ultimately breakdown at some stage, resulting in financial benefit to some who joined the scheme at initial stages and financial loss to those who joined at a later stage. By the time the people realise that they were taken for a ride, it will be too late, police added.

(26 Oct) Probably the most anticipated game of the weekend, the Manchester derby, took a place at Old Trafford. United and City entirely disappointed in a scoreless draw. It was one of the worst city derbies ever. The 170th duel between two bitter rivals provided no excitement, no goals and no scoring chances. Not until the 82nd minute when we saw the first shot on target. It’s pretty clear what the game was. The first half of the big derby was the poorest this season in the Premier League. The ball was a little more in the possession of players in red; both teams were lacking passion and after the first 45 minutes neither team made a single shot on target! It was a bit bloody, though. After a head collision with Vincent Kompany, Wayne Rooney had to go off for medical treatment. Yaya Toure had a half-chance after De Bruyne’s corner and sent the ball narrowly wide. Only Martial showed some passion, creativity and lucidity.
Neither the second half had much to offer from the tart.

The game was played in the middle, but teams failed to connect more than three or four accurate passes before losing a ball. The first exciting situation, if you can call it, was after 62 minutes when Mata got the ball into space. The visitors’ keeper Joe Hart was quick off the line and picked up the ball. Van Gaal’s players finally managed to create something in the 84th minute, Martial superbly noted the substitute, Jesse Lingard. He sent the ball behind the City’s defense, found a 22-year-old midfielder who escaped Kolarov’s attention, but Lingard’s attempt to lob ended up on the crossbar. It was an energy injection to United’s footballers, who then took the whole initiative in the final several minutes.

Four minutes after the crossbar, United had another scoring opportunity. After the cross, Fellaini was able to head the ball down in the six-yard box, Smalling was on the receiving end, and Joe Hart stopped his shot. The scoreboard remained 0:0. Over 75,000 people at Old Trafford saw very little from a two most expensive starting lineups in Premier League’s history. Speaking of which, Raheem Sterling was substituted in the 53rd minute after the forgettable performance. Wilfried Bony missed the first touch and willingness. The only bright spot in the Derby was Nicolas Otamendi. The Argentinian was the man of the match and deserved that with an impressive and flawless showing. He successfully closed all the doors for the home team’s forwards and took most of the credits for a clean sheet.

Wayne Rooney struggled to connect with Martial in final third; Yaya Toure couldn’t create a spark for the visitors. Aguero’s and Silva’s absence was evident in City’s game, and they are the game-winning players. De Bruyne won the game against Sevilla, but today was unnoticeable. Pellegrini even replaced Toure for Demichelis and at that moment he just wanted to escape with a goalless draw. After this game, City has kept the leading position with 22 points while United is now fourth with two points behind.
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WASHINGTON: U.S. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton got the biggest boon to her bid to clinch her party’s nomination for the 2016 presidential race, after Vice President Joe Biden announced Wednesday his decision not to run for president. “The road is clear for Hillary Clinton,” Brookings Institution’s senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua. “Biden would have been a formidable opponent and would have taken several months to defeat.” Indeed, Biden’s decision eliminates Clinton’s most serious opponent and greatly simplifies her political situation, West said, adding that Clinton can now position herself for the general election and focus on issues that distinguish her from the radical elements within the Republican party. Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua that Clinton will now be able to focus most of her attention on attacking the Republican Party (GOP) and building her message rather than

Shortly after landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Monday morning where she was received by her father and brothers, Geeta, who was stranded in Pakistan for nearly 15 years, met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and said her heart was always in India. In pics: Homecoming for Geeta The 23-year-old deaf and mute Indian arrived in the national capital on Pakistan International Airlines flight 272 from Karachi. Dressed in a red and white suit, she seemed happy but composed. She was accompanied by members of the Edhi
Foundation which had taken care of her all these years. Geeta was about 11 years of age when she inadvertently crossed the border into Pakistan in 2003. She was spotted by the Pakistan Rangers in Lahore, and was handed over to Edhi. Bilquis Edhi, who runs the Edhi Foundation, named her Geeta. On Monday, Indian and Pakistani officials were present at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to receive her. Media in-charge at the Pakistan High Commission Manzoor Ali Memon said the commission would hold a reception for Geeta in the evening.
Memon, however, said Salman Khan-starer Hindi film ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ had nothing to do with Geeta’s homecoming as the process of bringing her back to India was launched much earlier in 2012. “It’s a message of love and affection between the two countries and has nothing to do with the movie,” he said. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Geeta has already identified one family as possibly being that of her parents.
“We will be doing DNA testing to establish conclusive proof. If the DNA tests match, Geeta will be handed over to that family. If not, we have identified suitable institutions where she will be looked after,” he said. Questions still remain over whether or not Geeta had a daughter when she disappeared, though she is believed to have been 11 or 12 when she was found in Lahore by Pakistani police. Officials said even if the DNA test proves she is not related to the family from Bihar, they will place her in a suitable institution.

Indian Fugitive Chhota Rajan wanted over a series of murders in India has been arrested in Indonesia after decades on the run, police said today. Acting on a tip-off from Australian police, Indonesian authorities detained Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias ‘Chhota Rajan’ yesterday as he arrived in the popular resort island of Bali from Sydney, Bali police spokesman Heri Wiyanto told AFP. The 55-year-old Nikalje, an alleged crime boss in India, had been on the run for two decades, Wiyanto said, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995. “We received information from police in Canberra yesterday (Sunday) about the red notice for a murderer,” he said. “We arrested the man at the airport yesterday. What we know is that this man was suspected to have carried out 15 to 20 murders in India.” Bali police were coordinating with Interpol and Indian authorities, Wiyanto said, adding it was likely Nikalje would be deported to India.

Police said Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities “who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities”. The federal police confirmed last month that Nikalje was living in Australia under another identity and had been in discussions with Indian authorities, the spokesperson said, but would not provide further details. Interpol’s website states that Nikalje was born in the Indian city of Mumbai, and was wanted for multiple charges including murder and possession and use of illegal firearms.
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A powerful earthquake has struck northern Afghanistan, with tremors felt as widely as Pakistan and northern India.

The quake had a magnitude of 7.7, the US Geological survey reported, and was centered in a mountainous region 45km (28 miles) south-west of Jarm.

In Pakistan, local news channels showed people evacuating high-rise office buildings.

There have been no reports so far of casualties.

Similarily strong earthquake rocked North India, including parts of the national capital region. Initial report say the epicentre was in Northern Pakistan and the tremors have been clocked at 7.7 on the Richter scale. People were seen running out of offices in Noida. According to initial reports the epicentre has been recorded in the Hindukush mountain region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Hindu Kush earthquake is 7.7-magnitude and 42 miles from Chitral in Pakistan,” agencies quoted USGS as saying. Our bureaus in Chandigarh and Srinagar have reported the massive tremors though no reports of damage have come in. Phone lines down in Srinagar (J&K) due to the earthquake. – Buildings evacuated after strong tremors were felt in New Delhi

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has been in trouble for sanctioning Rs 8 lakh from Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for a dance troupe’s visit to Thailand, on Saturday defended himself by saying that the fund is not exclusively for drought relief rather it can be used for cultural activities also. Defending his move, the Maharashtra CM further said that there was no wrongdoing in disbursing the relief fund as it can be used in eight other zones. He further said the event was not a commercial one rather it was a performing art competition. ALSO READ | Row over CM relief fund money for dance troupes Bangkok visit An RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali found that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved Rs 8 lakh for a government employees dance troupe to participate in a competition in Bangkok in December. Taking a dig at the Maharashtra CM, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik on Friday said that the state government “which does not have funds to hel

Matunga railway station is not the same since Sunday. Regular commuters will find that the foot over bridge on the southern end at the station has undergone a colourful and bright makeover.

If you are delighted, thank 47-year-old teacher Haresh Shah and his group of 30 volunteers. Shah’s Make A Difference (MAD) Foundation now plans to give the entire station a complete makeover.

It was in April this year that MAD approached Western Railway to adopt the station and it received the permission by September.

I have been running coaching classes for 20 years and several of my students are studying architecture. Together, we made a presentation for the makeover of the station and we started off was with the foot over bridge,” shares Shah.

While painting the bridge, they also started cleaning all the grime and muck, from October 10.

Shah informs after the initial painting, they decided to use bright red, yellow, blue and green for the stairs. On Sunday, they managed to complete the task giving the bland bridge a lively look.

“We used bright colours to create a positive mood at the station for those heading to work, college or returning home. Next, we plan to take up the ramp on the Borivli end. That too will be completely painted bright and the cement sheets on the sides will adorn butterflies, which will glow in the dark,” added Shah. The work is carried out using funds from donors.

As per the foundation’s plans, the area around the station’s booking windows on the Borivli end will also be painted and there will be murals depicting places of interests in Matunga.

“The murals will consist of iconic places like Ruparel College, Kashi Vishveshwar Temple, Sandesh Hotel and other places. At another location, we will put up vinyl, above the ramp, depicting seven Indian festivals – Navratri, Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Dahi Handi, Holi and Baishakhi,” said Shah.

While all this will give the station a new look, they will also concentrate on the basics like providing dustbins and even plantations between tracks and boundary wall, where currently garbage is dumped.

Members of the foundation informed that they plan to finish all these within a week as they plan to hold the inauguration ceremony by inviting Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shailendra Kumar as well as some celebrities.

“I have been working with youngsters in the age group of 18 to 25 and it was my aim to use their enormous energy to bring about a change. Hence, I initiated this MAD Foundation and the entire work of Matunga station is being done by the youth. In fact, within two days, we have started getting a phenomenal response on social media as students and several other commuters are seen taking selfies and pictures on the bridge,” stated Shah.

Since the bridge was painted bright, littering and spitting have reduced, he said.

A railway official from WR stated: “Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has encouraged more people and foundations to adopt railway stations. The work at Matunga is eye-catching and we hope more people to get inspired to adopt stations and help us encourage commuters to keep the premises clean and beautiful.”