Four killed in Odisha building collapse

Bhubaneswar: At least four people, including two minor girls, were killed when a two-storeyed building collapsed Sunday in Odisha's beach town of Puri, police said. The building, believed to be about 100 years old, was in dilapidated condition and collapsed when about 10 people were sleeping inside.

Police promptly reached the site and launched a rescue operation with help from local residents. Puri is 56 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. 'Four females, including two minor girls, were found dead while six injured people were rescued,' J.N. Jena, inspector in charge of the local town police station, told IANS.

The injured were taken to a hospital. One of them received critical injuries, said Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahu. Police have detained the house owner for questioning.

Four killed in Odisha building collapse

Bhubaneswar: At least four people, including two minor girls, were killed when a two-storeyed building collapsed Sunday in Odisha's beach town of Puri, police said. The building, believed to be about 100 years old, was in dilapidated condition and collapsed when about 10 people were sleeping inside.

Police promptly reached the site and launched a rescue operation with help from local residents. Puri is 56 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. 'Four females, including two minor girls, were found dead while six injured people were rescued,' J.N. Jena, inspector in charge of the local town police station, told IANS.

The injured were taken to a hospital. One of them received critical injuries, said Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahu. Police have detained the house owner for questioning.

Nasheed wins first round of Maldives' presidential election

Male: Former President Mohammed Nasheed has emerged as a clear leader in the first round of the Maldives' presidential election receiving 45 per cent votes but fell short of an outright majority resulting in another round of run-off between top two candidates scheduled later month.The Election Commission here announced results early today after a nightlong counting, declaring Nasheed a clear winner in the first round of polls with 95,224 votes.

Nasheed was followed by brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, Abdullah Yameen, who received 25.35 per cent votes (53,099), Gasim Ibrahim with 24.07 per cent (50,422) and present incumbent Waheed Hassan with 5.13 per cent [10,750).
Over 88 per cent votes were cast during the elections.'These are preliminary results. We will be getting ballot papers from various islands in two days and if required corrections would be made by September 14 after which final results will be announced. But these corrections are not likely to have major impact on the results,' President Election Commission Fuwad Taufeek said.

Under the country's election laws, if none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place between the top two candidates. 
If final results do not bring much change, Nasheed will be facing a September 28 run-off against Abdullah Yameen. On the alleged irregularities at some counting stations, the Election Commissioner said they have received complaints
but it has not taken any decision on recount on any ballot. Taufeek said if any party approaches court and gets a decision, they would be open for a recount in front of representatives of all the parties.

India has been engaging with both the candidates - Nasheed and Yameen - who are likely to contest for the second round, much before the elections. 
Both the leaders have recently visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring full support, sources said here. Former President Abdul Gayoom and brother of Yameen had also visited New Delhi in June. 
India, which shares close ties with the archipelago nation, is the of the view that multi-party democracy is in a very nascent stage and should be given time to deepen its roots here, they said.

Four candidates - President Dr Mohamed Waheed, Nasheed, Progressive Party of Maldives candidate Abdulla Yameen and Jumhooree Party candidate and business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim - are in the fray for the top job. First multi-party free elections were held in Maldives in 2008 after three-decades of Mohammed Abdul Gayoom's rule in which Nasheed won.

He had to resign after four years after security forces joined protests led by the opposition parties over the arrest of a judge. Nasheed's ouster resulted in the elevation of then Vice-President Mohammed Waheed as his successor. 
Over 2229 local observers, 102 international obervers, 1343 representatives of political parties besides 1642 local and 225 international journalists are keeping a hawk's eye on the developments in this young multi-party democracy. PTI

Nasheed wins first round of Maldives' presidential election

Male: Former President Mohammed Nasheed has emerged as a clear leader in the first round of the Maldives' presidential election receiving 45 per cent votes but fell short of an outright majority resulting in another round of run-off between top two candidates scheduled later month.The Election Commission here announced results early today after a nightlong counting, declaring Nasheed a clear winner in the first round of polls with 95,224 votes.

Nasheed was followed by brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, Abdullah Yameen, who received 25.35 per cent votes (53,099), Gasim Ibrahim with 24.07 per cent (50,422) and present incumbent Waheed Hassan with 5.13 per cent [10,750).
Over 88 per cent votes were cast during the elections.'These are preliminary results. We will be getting ballot papers from various islands in two days and if required corrections would be made by September 14 after which final results will be announced. But these corrections are not likely to have major impact on the results,' President Election Commission Fuwad Taufeek said.

Under the country's election laws, if none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place between the top two candidates. 
If final results do not bring much change, Nasheed will be facing a September 28 run-off against Abdullah Yameen. On the alleged irregularities at some counting stations, the Election Commissioner said they have received complaints
but it has not taken any decision on recount on any ballot. Taufeek said if any party approaches court and gets a decision, they would be open for a recount in front of representatives of all the parties.

India has been engaging with both the candidates - Nasheed and Yameen - who are likely to contest for the second round, much before the elections. 
Both the leaders have recently visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring full support, sources said here. Former President Abdul Gayoom and brother of Yameen had also visited New Delhi in June. 
India, which shares close ties with the archipelago nation, is the of the view that multi-party democracy is in a very nascent stage and should be given time to deepen its roots here, they said.

Four candidates - President Dr Mohamed Waheed, Nasheed, Progressive Party of Maldives candidate Abdulla Yameen and Jumhooree Party candidate and business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim - are in the fray for the top job. First multi-party free elections were held in Maldives in 2008 after three-decades of Mohammed Abdul Gayoom's rule in which Nasheed won.

He had to resign after four years after security forces joined protests led by the opposition parties over the arrest of a judge. Nasheed's ouster resulted in the elevation of then Vice-President Mohammed Waheed as his successor. 
Over 2229 local observers, 102 international obervers, 1343 representatives of political parties besides 1642 local and 225 international journalists are keeping a hawk's eye on the developments in this young multi-party democracy. PTI

Limited stop bus services to be stopped

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicle Department decided not to renew the permit of limited stop buses in the state. The services of limited stop buses will be stopped completely before October 31. This decision taken in the wake of the Malappuram accident is applicable to KSRTC also. 

The services are being stopped following the over speed of the limited stop buses. Checking will be made strict in the six routes where buses are plying over speedily. A decision has been taken to strictly implement the order passed in 2011 in connection with the speed control. Notices will be issued to buses operating without speed governors. The motor vehicle department decided not to allow the 311 buses cancelled for not having fitness certificate to operate service without  speed governors.

Limited stop bus services to be stopped

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicle Department decided not to renew the permit of limited stop buses in the state. The services of limited stop buses will be stopped completely before October 31. This decision taken in the wake of the Malappuram accident is applicable to KSRTC also. 

The services are being stopped following the over speed of the limited stop buses. Checking will be made strict in the six routes where buses are plying over speedily. A decision has been taken to strictly implement the order passed in 2011 in connection with the speed control. Notices will be issued to buses operating without speed governors. The motor vehicle department decided not to allow the 311 buses cancelled for not having fitness certificate to operate service without  speed governors.

SpiceJet Fares Hiked by 30%; Jet Airways, AI Signal Immediate Fare-Hike

SpiceJet has hiked its fares by 30 percent after the jet-fuel prices soared high recently. The move to hike fares is likely to be followed by other carriers like Jet Airways and national carrier Air India.

WIth the fuel prices soaring, the carriers are left with no other option than to raise the fares.

An AI official said that the decision on raising airfares will be taken after its meeting on Wednesday.

The airfares-hike is expected to affect the 'already reserved travelers' too as they will have to pay the additional amount of fare at the time of their travel. 

However, the rise will mostly affect the on-spot booking travelers.

SpiceJet Fares Hiked by 30%; Jet Airways, AI Signal Immediate Fare-Hike

SpiceJet has hiked its fares by 30 percent after the jet-fuel prices soared high recently. The move to hike fares is likely to be followed by other carriers like Jet Airways and national carrier Air India.

WIth the fuel prices soaring, the carriers are left with no other option than to raise the fares.

An AI official said that the decision on raising airfares will be taken after its meeting on Wednesday.

The airfares-hike is expected to affect the 'already reserved travelers' too as they will have to pay the additional amount of fare at the time of their travel. 

However, the rise will mostly affect the on-spot booking travelers.

Mumbai Police Suspect Shakti - Mill Rape Gang to Molest Over 10 Women

Police officials, who are investigating the Mumbai Shakti Mill gangrape case, have reported that the accused have committed ten more similar rapes in the past 6 months. Earlier they were suspected to have raped four women. Their modus operandi was the same for all the cases. Disguising them as either police officers or as CIDs, one of the gang members would take the girl inside Shakti Mills from where they raped each of them and sent them off after taking snaps for later use of threatening the victims not to complain to the police Meanwhile, on Tuesday another girl lodged a complaint against the gang, stating that she was molested by them at the same spot. As per the information by another victim, more members are included in the gang.  Police officials say that most of the victims do not turn up as they fear a counter-attack from the other members of the gang who are outside. This also makes the police reach a conclusion that there are more members in the gang and some more are to be detained. As disclosed by the arrested, they used to take snaps of their victims for threatening them to keep them away from lodging complaints. This is considered as another reason that prevents the rape - victims from appearing before the police.

Mumbai Police Suspect Shakti - Mill Rape Gang to Molest Over 10 Women

Police officials, who are investigating the Mumbai Shakti Mill gangrape case, have reported that the accused have committed ten more similar rapes in the past 6 months. Earlier they were suspected to have raped four women. Their modus operandi was the same for all the cases. Disguising them as either police officers or as CIDs, one of the gang members would take the girl inside Shakti Mills from where they raped each of them and sent them off after taking snaps for later use of threatening the victims not to complain to the police Meanwhile, on Tuesday another girl lodged a complaint against the gang, stating that she was molested by them at the same spot. As per the information by another victim, more members are included in the gang.  Police officials say that most of the victims do not turn up as they fear a counter-attack from the other members of the gang who are outside. This also makes the police reach a conclusion that there are more members in the gang and some more are to be detained. As disclosed by the arrested, they used to take snaps of their victims for threatening them to keep them away from lodging complaints. This is considered as another reason that prevents the rape - victims from appearing before the police.