Car bombs kill at least 39 people in Baghdad

Baghdad : Insurgents in Iraq unleashed a new wave of car bombs in Shiite neighbourhoods of Baghdad today, killing at least 39 people and wounding dozens, officials said.It was the latest in a series of coordinated attacks targeting civilian areas that has killed hundreds in recent months.

Four police officers said the bombs, placed in parked cars and detonated over a half-hour, targeted commercial areas and parking lots. The deadliest blasts were in the northern Shaab, southern Abu Dshir and southeastern Nahrwan neighbourhoods, each of which killed six people.

Other blasts hit the neighbourhoods of Mashtal, Baladiyat and Ur in eastern Baghdad and the northern Sab al-Bor and Hurriyah districts. Six medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but such systematic attacks are a favourite tactic of al-Qaeda's local branch. It frequently targets civilians in markets, cafes and commercial streets in Shiite areas in an attempt to undermine
confidence in the government, as well as members of the security forces.

Violence has spiked in Iraq since April, when the pace of killing reached levels unseen since 2008. Today's attacks bring the death toll across the country this month to over 500, according to an Associated Press count. AP

Car bombs kill at least 39 people in Baghdad

Baghdad : Insurgents in Iraq unleashed a new wave of car bombs in Shiite neighbourhoods of Baghdad today, killing at least 39 people and wounding dozens, officials said.It was the latest in a series of coordinated attacks targeting civilian areas that has killed hundreds in recent months.

Four police officers said the bombs, placed in parked cars and detonated over a half-hour, targeted commercial areas and parking lots. The deadliest blasts were in the northern Shaab, southern Abu Dshir and southeastern Nahrwan neighbourhoods, each of which killed six people.

Other blasts hit the neighbourhoods of Mashtal, Baladiyat and Ur in eastern Baghdad and the northern Sab al-Bor and Hurriyah districts. Six medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but such systematic attacks are a favourite tactic of al-Qaeda's local branch. It frequently targets civilians in markets, cafes and commercial streets in Shiite areas in an attempt to undermine
confidence in the government, as well as members of the security forces.

Violence has spiked in Iraq since April, when the pace of killing reached levels unseen since 2008. Today's attacks bring the death toll across the country this month to over 500, according to an Associated Press count. AP

Relative killed two children in Ranni

Ranni: A man killed two children, who were his brother's sons, in Ranni Sunday. Melbin (6) and Mebin (4), has been found killed Sunday Morning. Bindu, mother of the two children who survived critical injuries, has been taken to hospital. Police said the accused, Shibu, has been arrested.

PATHANAMTHITTA:  In a shocking incident, two boys-- aged six and four were killed with their throats slit at Ranni in Pathanamtitta. The boys’ uncle identified as Shibu was arrested in connection with the incident. Melbin and Mebin, sons of Saibu of Keekkozhiyoor and Bindu, were killed in a heinous manner. The police arrested Saibu’s brother Shibu in connection with the incident. Bindu who sustained injuries in the attack has been admitted in the hospital.

The shocking incident happened Sunday morning at 7 am. Police said property dispute between Saibu and Shibu ended in the murder. Shibu, who reached the boys’ house in the morning, smeared chilly powder on Bindu’s face and then killed the boys. Bindu suffered hack injuries when she tried to stop the crime. Nobody else was at home at the time of the incident.

Hearing the cries of Bindu, nearby residents came rushing and informed the police.  The police caught him while he was trying to escape from the spot. The bodies of the two boys are kept at a private hospital in Kozhencherry. The boys’ father Saibu is abroad.

Relative killed two children in Ranni

Ranni: A man killed two children, who were his brother's sons, in Ranni Sunday. Melbin (6) and Mebin (4), has been found killed Sunday Morning. Bindu, mother of the two children who survived critical injuries, has been taken to hospital. Police said the accused, Shibu, has been arrested.

PATHANAMTHITTA:  In a shocking incident, two boys-- aged six and four were killed with their throats slit at Ranni in Pathanamtitta. The boys’ uncle identified as Shibu was arrested in connection with the incident. Melbin and Mebin, sons of Saibu of Keekkozhiyoor and Bindu, were killed in a heinous manner. The police arrested Saibu’s brother Shibu in connection with the incident. Bindu who sustained injuries in the attack has been admitted in the hospital.

The shocking incident happened Sunday morning at 7 am. Police said property dispute between Saibu and Shibu ended in the murder. Shibu, who reached the boys’ house in the morning, smeared chilly powder on Bindu’s face and then killed the boys. Bindu suffered hack injuries when she tried to stop the crime. Nobody else was at home at the time of the incident.

Hearing the cries of Bindu, nearby residents came rushing and informed the police.  The police caught him while he was trying to escape from the spot. The bodies of the two boys are kept at a private hospital in Kozhencherry. The boys’ father Saibu is abroad.

Rain fury in AP continues, 54 dead

Hyderabad: The unabated rains in several districts of Andhra Pradesh over the past five days have left a trail of destruction, claiming 54 lives and causing a damage of hundreds of crores of rupees to crops and infrastructure. 

With a heavy to very heavy rainfall warning for the next 48 hours, officials fear the devastation could only increase.
The number of emergency relief camps went up from 178 to 207 by Saturday evening where 78,745 persons evacuated from low-lying areas are being sheltered.

Crops in 6.78 lakh hectares, including paddy in 3.26 lakh hectares and cotton in 3.09 lakh hectares, were inundated while 1,668 cattle were killed, according to the state Disaster Management Commissioner T Radha.
5,100 km of roads and 1,020 minor irrigation tanks were damaged. In all, 4,040 villages under 472 mandals in 16 districts across the three regions of the state were affected by the floods, Radha said.As many as 15,000 houses, including 1,628 huts, were damaged rendering thousands of people homeless.

About 580 medical teams have been rushed to affected areas with 508 medical officers and 3,311 para-medical staff to attend to the injured and prevent outbreak of diseases, the Disaster Management Commissioner said. Twelve teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed. State Chief Secretary P K Mohanty held a video conference with district Collectors and asked them to constantly monitor the situation and step up relief operations. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the Collectors to distribute ex-gratia to the kin of those killed in rain-related incidents in the last three days and ensure supply of essential commodities to displaced people.

The Chief Minister spoke to Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, who was touring rain-ravaged areas in Bapatla of Guntur district. The Chief Minister reviewed the situation at a meeting with some of the ministers, Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and other senior officials at his camp office here. He wanted strengthening of minor irrigation tanks to be taken up on top priority, a press release from the Chief Minister's Office said. Kiran Kumar also directed officials to enumerate the losses by constituting special teams and report to the government so that necessary assistance could be extended.

River Krishna continued to be in spate with a lot of floodwater flowing down from Nagarjuna Sagar dam. Consequently, all 70 crest gates of Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada were lifted to discharge 4.67 lakh cusecs of flood water by this evening. Low-lying areas along the river in Vijayawada were being evacuated in view of the rise in water level, official sources said. In Srikakulam, rains left hundreds of people marooned in low-lying areas even as evacuation operations were affected by the heavy downpour.

However, water levels in Vamsadhara, Nagaavali, Mahendratanaya and Bahuda rivers have started receding, prompting officials to withdraw the 3rd warning signal, issued last night at Gotta Barrage in Hiramandalm. 
Several trains on the VisakhapatnamHowrah line were cancelled while some services are being diverted due to flooding of tracks.

According to primary reports, around 1,25,000 acres of paddy fields were inundated in the flood water and at present, the water levels in the fields are two to three feet. Unconfirmed reports more than 2 lakh acres of paddy fields are submerged in flood water while around 3,000 houses fully damaged and about 1,500 houses partially damaged due to incessant rains. In West Godavari district, two persons died in rain- related incidents and crops in over 37,000 hectares were damaged.

"Crops in 36,072 hectares including paddy, tobacco, cotton and other horticulture crops in 1393.40 hectares are damaged due to rains," an official release said. District administration has shifted 548 persons from low-lying areas of Eluru, Narasapuram and Penugonda to three relief camps. "10,000 people in Rowthulapudi and Kotananduru in East Godavari district, affected by Pampa river which is in spate, were shifted to 30 relief camps," district collector Neetu Kumari said in a statement Saturday night.

The collector held a video conference with officials and directed them to closely monitor the situation and take all necessary steps including evacuating people from low-lying area to safer places. Meanwhile, areas like Bapatla, Kondabhotla Palem, Drivers Colony in Guntur were badly affected and people in Jillellamudi village remained marooned. "So far, six persons have lost their lives in the deluge whereas about 14,000 people have been shifted to 59 relief camps. As per the initial estimates, standing crops in about 1.5 lakh hectares lay submerged and as many as 1533 dwellings damaged," state Revenue Minister S Raghuveera Reddy who visited the affected areas in Guntur, said.

Rain fury in AP continues, 54 dead

Hyderabad: The unabated rains in several districts of Andhra Pradesh over the past five days have left a trail of destruction, claiming 54 lives and causing a damage of hundreds of crores of rupees to crops and infrastructure. 

With a heavy to very heavy rainfall warning for the next 48 hours, officials fear the devastation could only increase.
The number of emergency relief camps went up from 178 to 207 by Saturday evening where 78,745 persons evacuated from low-lying areas are being sheltered.

Crops in 6.78 lakh hectares, including paddy in 3.26 lakh hectares and cotton in 3.09 lakh hectares, were inundated while 1,668 cattle were killed, according to the state Disaster Management Commissioner T Radha.
5,100 km of roads and 1,020 minor irrigation tanks were damaged. In all, 4,040 villages under 472 mandals in 16 districts across the three regions of the state were affected by the floods, Radha said.As many as 15,000 houses, including 1,628 huts, were damaged rendering thousands of people homeless.

About 580 medical teams have been rushed to affected areas with 508 medical officers and 3,311 para-medical staff to attend to the injured and prevent outbreak of diseases, the Disaster Management Commissioner said. Twelve teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed. State Chief Secretary P K Mohanty held a video conference with district Collectors and asked them to constantly monitor the situation and step up relief operations. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed the Collectors to distribute ex-gratia to the kin of those killed in rain-related incidents in the last three days and ensure supply of essential commodities to displaced people.

The Chief Minister spoke to Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, who was touring rain-ravaged areas in Bapatla of Guntur district. The Chief Minister reviewed the situation at a meeting with some of the ministers, Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and other senior officials at his camp office here. He wanted strengthening of minor irrigation tanks to be taken up on top priority, a press release from the Chief Minister's Office said. Kiran Kumar also directed officials to enumerate the losses by constituting special teams and report to the government so that necessary assistance could be extended.

River Krishna continued to be in spate with a lot of floodwater flowing down from Nagarjuna Sagar dam. Consequently, all 70 crest gates of Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada were lifted to discharge 4.67 lakh cusecs of flood water by this evening. Low-lying areas along the river in Vijayawada were being evacuated in view of the rise in water level, official sources said. In Srikakulam, rains left hundreds of people marooned in low-lying areas even as evacuation operations were affected by the heavy downpour.

However, water levels in Vamsadhara, Nagaavali, Mahendratanaya and Bahuda rivers have started receding, prompting officials to withdraw the 3rd warning signal, issued last night at Gotta Barrage in Hiramandalm. 
Several trains on the VisakhapatnamHowrah line were cancelled while some services are being diverted due to flooding of tracks.

According to primary reports, around 1,25,000 acres of paddy fields were inundated in the flood water and at present, the water levels in the fields are two to three feet. Unconfirmed reports more than 2 lakh acres of paddy fields are submerged in flood water while around 3,000 houses fully damaged and about 1,500 houses partially damaged due to incessant rains. In West Godavari district, two persons died in rain- related incidents and crops in over 37,000 hectares were damaged.

"Crops in 36,072 hectares including paddy, tobacco, cotton and other horticulture crops in 1393.40 hectares are damaged due to rains," an official release said. District administration has shifted 548 persons from low-lying areas of Eluru, Narasapuram and Penugonda to three relief camps. "10,000 people in Rowthulapudi and Kotananduru in East Godavari district, affected by Pampa river which is in spate, were shifted to 30 relief camps," district collector Neetu Kumari said in a statement Saturday night.

The collector held a video conference with officials and directed them to closely monitor the situation and take all necessary steps including evacuating people from low-lying area to safer places. Meanwhile, areas like Bapatla, Kondabhotla Palem, Drivers Colony in Guntur were badly affected and people in Jillellamudi village remained marooned. "So far, six persons have lost their lives in the deluge whereas about 14,000 people have been shifted to 59 relief camps. As per the initial estimates, standing crops in about 1.5 lakh hectares lay submerged and as many as 1533 dwellings damaged," state Revenue Minister S Raghuveera Reddy who visited the affected areas in Guntur, said.

Ditch five food habits to keep obesity away

 New Delhi: Trying to slash the extra fat? Say no to unhealthy foods itmes such as red meat, fast food and more, says an expert. Ashish Krishna, minimally invasive and obesity surgeon at Sunrise Hospital, shares a list of foods that you need to cut down on:  - Fast foods: Burgers, pizzas, carbonated beverages, noodles and many more are junk foods low in nutritional values and high in sodium, sugar and preservatives. They disturb your body's metabolism, digestion, liver and heart functions.

- Sugary foods: Young people especially children have a weakness for sugary soft drinks, chocolates, ice creams and other items that have absolute high calorie content. They contribute drastically in embracing diabetes and blocking arteries. - Red meat: If you can't live without non-vegetarian food and it is hard to resist yourself to change your main course, then shift from red meat to white in order to control cholesterol level. 

- Refined grains: Our body requires a substantial amount of fiber which one can derive from grains’ covering or husk. Consuming refined grains especially white rice and wheat flour increases obesity and health problems. 
- Oil and ghee: Harmful effects of unsaturated fats are obvious for those who are already overweight or one who gives little or no time for physical activities due to busy work schedule and other problems.

IANS

Ditch five food habits to keep obesity away

 New Delhi: Trying to slash the extra fat? Say no to unhealthy foods itmes such as red meat, fast food and more, says an expert. Ashish Krishna, minimally invasive and obesity surgeon at Sunrise Hospital, shares a list of foods that you need to cut down on:  - Fast foods: Burgers, pizzas, carbonated beverages, noodles and many more are junk foods low in nutritional values and high in sodium, sugar and preservatives. They disturb your body's metabolism, digestion, liver and heart functions.

- Sugary foods: Young people especially children have a weakness for sugary soft drinks, chocolates, ice creams and other items that have absolute high calorie content. They contribute drastically in embracing diabetes and blocking arteries. - Red meat: If you can't live without non-vegetarian food and it is hard to resist yourself to change your main course, then shift from red meat to white in order to control cholesterol level. 

- Refined grains: Our body requires a substantial amount of fiber which one can derive from grains’ covering or husk. Consuming refined grains especially white rice and wheat flour increases obesity and health problems. 
- Oil and ghee: Harmful effects of unsaturated fats are obvious for those who are already overweight or one who gives little or no time for physical activities due to busy work schedule and other problems.

IANS

Married Delhi woman gang raped in moving car

GHAZIABAD: A 25-year-old married woman from Delhi was allegedly gang raped in a moving car by four youths, including two sons of her landlord, in Sahibabad area here. The incident took place late last night, police said. After sexually assaulting her, the four accused abandoned the woman at a secluded place and fled, they said. Based on her complaint, a case of rape has been registered. The woman, who lives in Nand Nagri area of Delhi, told in her complaint that she had come alone to offer prayers at a 'dargah' (shrine) in Artala area yesterday. She alleged that her landlord's son Hemant and Lala, along with two others were following her. After finding her alone when she was returning, they dragged her in their car and raped her, before abandoning here near Hindon river, a senior police officer said. They also threatened her not to reveal the matter to anyone. Her medical examination has been conducted and the report is awaited, the officer said, adding that a manhunt is on to arrest the four accused.

Married Delhi woman gang raped in moving car

GHAZIABAD: A 25-year-old married woman from Delhi was allegedly gang raped in a moving car by four youths, including two sons of her landlord, in Sahibabad area here. The incident took place late last night, police said. After sexually assaulting her, the four accused abandoned the woman at a secluded place and fled, they said. Based on her complaint, a case of rape has been registered. The woman, who lives in Nand Nagri area of Delhi, told in her complaint that she had come alone to offer prayers at a 'dargah' (shrine) in Artala area yesterday. She alleged that her landlord's son Hemant and Lala, along with two others were following her. After finding her alone when she was returning, they dragged her in their car and raped her, before abandoning here near Hindon river, a senior police officer said. They also threatened her not to reveal the matter to anyone. Her medical examination has been conducted and the report is awaited, the officer said, adding that a manhunt is on to arrest the four accused.