MERS cases rise to 480 in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: The number of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus cases reached 480 in Saudi Arabia Saturday including 139 deaths, as six victims died in fresh incident, the country's health ministry said.

One of people was diagnosed but died within 24 hours, while the rest were critical cases, Xinhua quoted the ministry's website as saying.

Of the six new cases, one is receiving treatment in the intensive care, three are in stable condition and two are without symptoms. Three of the new cases have been reported from Riyadh, two from Jeddah and one from Mecca.

MERS is considered a deadly but less transmissible cousin of the SARS virus, which erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected thousands of people.

The coronavirus was first discovered in mid-2012 in an old man with acute pneumonia and renal failure.

MERS cases rise to 480 in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: The number of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus cases reached 480 in Saudi Arabia Saturday including 139 deaths, as six victims died in fresh incident, the country's health ministry said.

One of people was diagnosed but died within 24 hours, while the rest were critical cases, Xinhua quoted the ministry's website as saying.

Of the six new cases, one is receiving treatment in the intensive care, three are in stable condition and two are without symptoms. Three of the new cases have been reported from Riyadh, two from Jeddah and one from Mecca.

MERS is considered a deadly but less transmissible cousin of the SARS virus, which erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected thousands of people.

The coronavirus was first discovered in mid-2012 in an old man with acute pneumonia and renal failure.

Election Commission, UP police raid BJP office in Varanasi

Varanasi: A day before polling for the high stake contest here, Uttar Pradesh police and election commission officials on Sunday conducted search at BJP's regional office in the city and seized campaign material, prompting strong protest from the party.

A flying squad of the state police and EC swooped down on the party office amid a ban on all election campaign activities since last evening for the polls, where BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is pitted against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Congress' Ajay Rai among others.

Officials said that the action was taken to seize election campaign material as it had got information about such items being sent in large quantity from the BJP office here in the Sigra locality, despite a ban on poll campaign in place. BJP leaders, however, claimed that these were unused campaign material and the party was not indulging in any campaign activities.

The seized items included T-shirts, pamphlets, badges, officials said, while adding that they found these products being transported from the BJP office.

The party leaders countered this with claims that the unused products were being returned to their respective manufacturers.

They alleged that the latest incident further proves the administration and election authorities' "partisan" approach against BJP and linked the raid to the local administration's denial of permission to Modi's rally here on May 8.

Election Commission, UP police raid BJP office in Varanasi

Varanasi: A day before polling for the high stake contest here, Uttar Pradesh police and election commission officials on Sunday conducted search at BJP's regional office in the city and seized campaign material, prompting strong protest from the party.

A flying squad of the state police and EC swooped down on the party office amid a ban on all election campaign activities since last evening for the polls, where BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is pitted against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Congress' Ajay Rai among others.

Officials said that the action was taken to seize election campaign material as it had got information about such items being sent in large quantity from the BJP office here in the Sigra locality, despite a ban on poll campaign in place. BJP leaders, however, claimed that these were unused campaign material and the party was not indulging in any campaign activities.

The seized items included T-shirts, pamphlets, badges, officials said, while adding that they found these products being transported from the BJP office.

The party leaders countered this with claims that the unused products were being returned to their respective manufacturers.

They alleged that the latest incident further proves the administration and election authorities' "partisan" approach against BJP and linked the raid to the local administration's denial of permission to Modi's rally here on May 8.

Girl's visit to Sabarimala: Purification rituals to be held

Kottayam: Taking a serious view of the visit of chief priest's 11-year old daughter to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple in violation of bar on entry of women in 10-50 age group, officials Saturday decided to perform 'purificatory rituals' at the shrine at the expense of the priest himself.

A meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) held here viewed the girl's visit to the famous hill shrine as a serious breach of tradition and also removed the temple Executive Officer from the post in connection with the incident.

It felt that the incident warranted conduct of 'parihara kriya' and 'suddhi kirya'(atonement and purificatory rituals), official sources said.

The TDB meeting, chaired by its President M P Govindan Nair, however, refrained from taking drastic action like dismissal of the chief priest (melsanthi), though certain quarters had demanded his removal before the expiry of his remaining tenure of six months.

Chief priest for the Sabarimala temple is appointed for a period of one year just before the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season in October. As per the temple custom, he has to stay at the temple complex till his term is over.

The Sabarimala Special Commissioner, in his report submitted to the High Court earlier this week, stated that the girl had reached 'sannidhanam' (sanctum sanctorum) and offered prayers on April 17, violating temple traditions.

The report was drawn up based on a probe by the Vigilance Wing of the TDB, the sources said.

The claim of Kannada film actress Jaimala that she had offered worship at the shrine of Lord Ayyappa in her prime youth had sparked a huge controversy about 10 years back.

Girl's visit to Sabarimala: Purification rituals to be held

Kottayam: Taking a serious view of the visit of chief priest's 11-year old daughter to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple in violation of bar on entry of women in 10-50 age group, officials Saturday decided to perform 'purificatory rituals' at the shrine at the expense of the priest himself.

A meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) held here viewed the girl's visit to the famous hill shrine as a serious breach of tradition and also removed the temple Executive Officer from the post in connection with the incident.

It felt that the incident warranted conduct of 'parihara kriya' and 'suddhi kirya'(atonement and purificatory rituals), official sources said.

The TDB meeting, chaired by its President M P Govindan Nair, however, refrained from taking drastic action like dismissal of the chief priest (melsanthi), though certain quarters had demanded his removal before the expiry of his remaining tenure of six months.

Chief priest for the Sabarimala temple is appointed for a period of one year just before the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season in October. As per the temple custom, he has to stay at the temple complex till his term is over.

The Sabarimala Special Commissioner, in his report submitted to the High Court earlier this week, stated that the girl had reached 'sannidhanam' (sanctum sanctorum) and offered prayers on April 17, violating temple traditions.

The report was drawn up based on a probe by the Vigilance Wing of the TDB, the sources said.

The claim of Kannada film actress Jaimala that she had offered worship at the shrine of Lord Ayyappa in her prime youth had sparked a huge controversy about 10 years back.

Hamas rejects US demand for recognising Israel

Gaza: The Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip Saturday condemned as intervening in internal affairs a US demand that the Palestinian government recognise Israel.

"Hamas does not rule out that the recent visit of the US National Security Adviser Susan Rice to Ramallah last week was meant to spoil the Palestinian national reconciliation," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a press release.

He called for accelerating efforts to implement the reconciliation agreement signed last month between his movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, Xinhua reported citing the release.

During her meeting with Abbas Thursday, Rice reiterated the US's policy that any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly be committed to non-violence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the two parties.

Abbas previously reiterated that the future unity government would stick to his policies of non-violence and recognising Israel.

Late in April, rival Palestinian Hamas movement and Abbas's Fatah party announced a reconciliation agreement to end a Palestinian political rift that started when Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007 after routing forces loyal to Abbas who now rules the West Bank.

Under the agreement, which is opposed by Israel, Abbas would start discussions to form a unity government within five weeks and call for general elections six months after forming the new administration.

Hamas rejects US demand for recognising Israel

Gaza: The Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip Saturday condemned as intervening in internal affairs a US demand that the Palestinian government recognise Israel.

"Hamas does not rule out that the recent visit of the US National Security Adviser Susan Rice to Ramallah last week was meant to spoil the Palestinian national reconciliation," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a press release.

He called for accelerating efforts to implement the reconciliation agreement signed last month between his movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, Xinhua reported citing the release.

During her meeting with Abbas Thursday, Rice reiterated the US's policy that any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly be committed to non-violence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the two parties.

Abbas previously reiterated that the future unity government would stick to his policies of non-violence and recognising Israel.

Late in April, rival Palestinian Hamas movement and Abbas's Fatah party announced a reconciliation agreement to end a Palestinian political rift that started when Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007 after routing forces loyal to Abbas who now rules the West Bank.

Under the agreement, which is opposed by Israel, Abbas would start discussions to form a unity government within five weeks and call for general elections six months after forming the new administration.

Five members of a family commit suicide in capital

Thiruvananthapuram: Five members of a family have been found dead after consuming poison near  Kallayam in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The deceased have been identified as Manoharan, his wife Maheshwary, their sons Sanju and Biju and Biju's wife Krishnendu.

According to police heavy financial liabilities had forced the family to take the extreme step  Manoharan had a debt of about Rs 15 crore following investments in shares. 

The bodies of the victims have been shifted to Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Five members of a family commit suicide in capital

Thiruvananthapuram: Five members of a family have been found dead after consuming poison near  Kallayam in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The deceased have been identified as Manoharan, his wife Maheshwary, their sons Sanju and Biju and Biju's wife Krishnendu.

According to police heavy financial liabilities had forced the family to take the extreme step  Manoharan had a debt of about Rs 15 crore following investments in shares. 

The bodies of the victims have been shifted to Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.