Blasts highlight desperation, cowardice: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday strongly condemned the blasts on a train in Chennai and said such acts "highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible".

Manmohan Singh said in a statement: "Such barbaric acts targeting innocent men, women and children only highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible".

A woman was killed and 14 injured when two blasts ripped through two coaches of the Bangalore-Guwahati train at the Chennai station.

Offering his condolences to the family of the deceased and heartfelt sympathies to those injured, Singh said he was "confident that the people of India will stand united against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony and urged the people to maintain peace".

"No efforts should be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.

The prime minister said the center will provide the state government all assistance.

IANS

Blasts highlight desperation, cowardice: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday strongly condemned the blasts on a train in Chennai and said such acts "highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible".

Manmohan Singh said in a statement: "Such barbaric acts targeting innocent men, women and children only highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible".

A woman was killed and 14 injured when two blasts ripped through two coaches of the Bangalore-Guwahati train at the Chennai station.

Offering his condolences to the family of the deceased and heartfelt sympathies to those injured, Singh said he was "confident that the people of India will stand united against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony and urged the people to maintain peace".

"No efforts should be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said.

The prime minister said the center will provide the state government all assistance.

IANS

Chennai blasts: Security tightened in State

Thiruvananthapuram: Security across the State has been tightened in view of the twin-blasts on board the Bangalore-Guwahati Express at Chennai Central station Thursday, police said.

Police conducted searches at major railway stations and bus terminals in the state.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said there was no need to panic and instructions have been given to tighten security.

"We have sounded an alert in the state and the police are doing their job. Also, the security has been beefed up at all places," said Chennithala.

A woman was killed and 14 others were injured in the blasts in two coaches when the train arrived at the station.

Chennai blasts: Security tightened in State

Thiruvananthapuram: Security across the State has been tightened in view of the twin-blasts on board the Bangalore-Guwahati Express at Chennai Central station Thursday, police said.

Police conducted searches at major railway stations and bus terminals in the state.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said there was no need to panic and instructions have been given to tighten security.

"We have sounded an alert in the state and the police are doing their job. Also, the security has been beefed up at all places," said Chennithala.

A woman was killed and 14 others were injured in the blasts in two coaches when the train arrived at the station.

Brazilian president to run for re-election

Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said she will run for re-election in October with or without the support of allied parties now part of her ruling leftist coalition.

"I would like to have the support of my own allies when I run, but if I do not have their support, we will still go ahead," Xinhua quoted Rousseff as saying in a radio interview Wednesday.

She made the remarks in response to a movement within the allied Party of the Republic to back her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for re-election.

Lula, who served two consecutive terms, remains a beloved political figure. Both Rousseff and Lula are members of the Workers' Party.

Recent polls show Rousseff's popularity among voters is waning, though she is still ahead of her rivals in the presidential race.

Her popularity has been hit by large-scale anti-government protests, which broke out in June against massive public spending on such international sporting events as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

IANS

Brazilian president to run for re-election

Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said she will run for re-election in October with or without the support of allied parties now part of her ruling leftist coalition.

"I would like to have the support of my own allies when I run, but if I do not have their support, we will still go ahead," Xinhua quoted Rousseff as saying in a radio interview Wednesday.

She made the remarks in response to a movement within the allied Party of the Republic to back her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for re-election.

Lula, who served two consecutive terms, remains a beloved political figure. Both Rousseff and Lula are members of the Workers' Party.

Recent polls show Rousseff's popularity among voters is waning, though she is still ahead of her rivals in the presidential race.

Her popularity has been hit by large-scale anti-government protests, which broke out in June against massive public spending on such international sporting events as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

IANS

Indian national admits to rioting in Singapore

Singapore: An Indian national has pleaded guilty to taking part in the riots in the Little India locality here Dec 8 last year.

Ramalingam Sakthivel, 33, admitted to being part of an unlawful assembly at Little India, where riots started after an Indian construction worker was run over by a bus, the Straits Times reported Wednesday.

He is expected to be sentenced May 8.

The man also allegedly pelted police officers and vehicles with projectiles, and threw burning items into the bus that was involved in the fatal road accident that sparked the violence.

A total of 25 people were charged in connection with the case. IANS

Indian national admits to rioting in Singapore

Singapore: An Indian national has pleaded guilty to taking part in the riots in the Little India locality here Dec 8 last year.

Ramalingam Sakthivel, 33, admitted to being part of an unlawful assembly at Little India, where riots started after an Indian construction worker was run over by a bus, the Straits Times reported Wednesday.

He is expected to be sentenced May 8.

The man also allegedly pelted police officers and vehicles with projectiles, and threw burning items into the bus that was involved in the fatal road accident that sparked the violence.

A total of 25 people were charged in connection with the case. IANS

Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs are targets of violence: Obama

Washington: US President Barack Obama has acknowledged that even today a number of people from the South Asian origin _ particularly those from Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities _ are becoming victims of hate crimes in America.

'Even today, South Asian Americans, especially those who are Muslim, Hindu and Sikh, are targets of suspicion and violence,' Obama said in a presidential proclamation that recognised the contribution of Asian-Americans in the socio-political and economic milieu of the country.

'Like America itself, the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community draws strength from the diversity of its many distinct cultures - each with vibrant histories and unique perspectives to bring to our national life,' Obama said.

'Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have helped build, defend and strengthen our Nation - as farm workers and railroad laborers; as entrepreneurs and scientists; as artists, activists, and leaders of government. They have gone beyond, embodying the soaring aspirations of the American spirit,' Obama said.

Noting that May month marks 145 years since the final spike was hammered into the transcontinental railroad, an achievement made possible by Chinese laborers, who did the majority of this backbreaking and dangerous work, Obama said this May, they will receive long-overdue recognition as they are inducted into the Labor Hall of Honor.

'Generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have helped make this country what it is today,' he said.

'Yet they have also faced a long history of injustice _ from the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and its devastating impact on the history, language and culture of Native Hawaiians; to opportunity _ limiting laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924; to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II,' he said.

Obama reiterated his determination to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would modernise the legal immigration system, create a pathway to earned citizenship for undocumented immigrants, hold employers accountable, and strengthen the border security.

He said with courage, grit, and an abiding belief in American ideals, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have challenged the Nation to be better.

'Nearly 5 years ago, I re-established the White House Initiative on AAPIs. The Initiative addresses disparities in health care, education, and economic opportunity by ensuring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders receive equal access to government programs and services,' Obama said. PTI 

Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs are targets of violence: Obama

Washington: US President Barack Obama has acknowledged that even today a number of people from the South Asian origin _ particularly those from Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities _ are becoming victims of hate crimes in America.

'Even today, South Asian Americans, especially those who are Muslim, Hindu and Sikh, are targets of suspicion and violence,' Obama said in a presidential proclamation that recognised the contribution of Asian-Americans in the socio-political and economic milieu of the country.

'Like America itself, the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community draws strength from the diversity of its many distinct cultures - each with vibrant histories and unique perspectives to bring to our national life,' Obama said.

'Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have helped build, defend and strengthen our Nation - as farm workers and railroad laborers; as entrepreneurs and scientists; as artists, activists, and leaders of government. They have gone beyond, embodying the soaring aspirations of the American spirit,' Obama said.

Noting that May month marks 145 years since the final spike was hammered into the transcontinental railroad, an achievement made possible by Chinese laborers, who did the majority of this backbreaking and dangerous work, Obama said this May, they will receive long-overdue recognition as they are inducted into the Labor Hall of Honor.

'Generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have helped make this country what it is today,' he said.

'Yet they have also faced a long history of injustice _ from the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and its devastating impact on the history, language and culture of Native Hawaiians; to opportunity _ limiting laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924; to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II,' he said.

Obama reiterated his determination to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would modernise the legal immigration system, create a pathway to earned citizenship for undocumented immigrants, hold employers accountable, and strengthen the border security.

He said with courage, grit, and an abiding belief in American ideals, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have challenged the Nation to be better.

'Nearly 5 years ago, I re-established the White House Initiative on AAPIs. The Initiative addresses disparities in health care, education, and economic opportunity by ensuring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders receive equal access to government programs and services,' Obama said. PTI