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 

Ed Dept releases list of 55 colleges, universities facing Title IX sex abuse investigations

WASHINGTON - The Education Department on Thursday took the unprecedented step of releasing the names of the 55 colleges and universities currently facing a Title IX investigation over their handling of sexual abuse complaints.

The release came two days after a White House task force promised greater government transparency on sexual assault in higher education. Going forward, the department said, it will keep an updated list of schools facing such an investigation and make it available upon request.

The agency previously would confirm such an investigation when asked, but students and others were often unaware of them.

"We hope this increased transparency will spur community dialogue about this important issue," Catherine E. Lhamon, the department's assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement.

Lhamon said a school's appearance on the list does not mean that it has violated the law but that an investigation is ongoing.

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funds. It is the same law that guarantees girls equal access to sports, but it also regulates institutions' handling of sexual violence and increasingly is being used by victims who say their schools failed to protect them.

Citing research, the White House has said that 1 in 5 female students is assaulted. President Barack Obama appointed a task force comprised of his Cabinet members to review the issue after hearing complaints about the poor treatment of campus rape victims and the hidden nature of such crimes.

The task force announced the creation of a website, notalone.gov, offering resources for victims and information about past enforcement actions on campuses. The task force also made a wide range of recommendations to schools, such as identifying confidential victims' advocates and conducting surveys to better gauge the frequency of sexual assault on their campuses.

The department publicized guidance on Title IX's sexual assault provisions in 2011, and complaints by students have since increased. Complaints, however, don't always lead to an investigation.

The department can withhold federal funding from a school that doesn't comply with the law, but it so far has not used that power and instead has negotiated voluntary resolutions for violators.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., have said non-compliance under the law is "far too common." They say a lack of federal resources is partly to blame for that, and they've sought more money to ensure timely and proper investigations.

Another law that campus sexual assault cases fall under is the Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to report crime statistics on or near their campuses. It also requires schools to develop prevention policies and ensure victims their basic rights. Investigations under this law are not included in the list that was released.

Ed Dept releases list of 55 colleges, universities facing Title IX sex abuse investigations

WASHINGTON - The Education Department on Thursday took the unprecedented step of releasing the names of the 55 colleges and universities currently facing a Title IX investigation over their handling of sexual abuse complaints.

The release came two days after a White House task force promised greater government transparency on sexual assault in higher education. Going forward, the department said, it will keep an updated list of schools facing such an investigation and make it available upon request.

The agency previously would confirm such an investigation when asked, but students and others were often unaware of them.

"We hope this increased transparency will spur community dialogue about this important issue," Catherine E. Lhamon, the department's assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement.

Lhamon said a school's appearance on the list does not mean that it has violated the law but that an investigation is ongoing.

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funds. It is the same law that guarantees girls equal access to sports, but it also regulates institutions' handling of sexual violence and increasingly is being used by victims who say their schools failed to protect them.

Citing research, the White House has said that 1 in 5 female students is assaulted. President Barack Obama appointed a task force comprised of his Cabinet members to review the issue after hearing complaints about the poor treatment of campus rape victims and the hidden nature of such crimes.

The task force announced the creation of a website, notalone.gov, offering resources for victims and information about past enforcement actions on campuses. The task force also made a wide range of recommendations to schools, such as identifying confidential victims' advocates and conducting surveys to better gauge the frequency of sexual assault on their campuses.

The department publicized guidance on Title IX's sexual assault provisions in 2011, and complaints by students have since increased. Complaints, however, don't always lead to an investigation.

The department can withhold federal funding from a school that doesn't comply with the law, but it so far has not used that power and instead has negotiated voluntary resolutions for violators.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., have said non-compliance under the law is "far too common." They say a lack of federal resources is partly to blame for that, and they've sought more money to ensure timely and proper investigations.

Another law that campus sexual assault cases fall under is the Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to report crime statistics on or near their campuses. It also requires schools to develop prevention policies and ensure victims their basic rights. Investigations under this law are not included in the list that was released.

Now, cherry juice for better sleep-study

New York: Throw away your sleeping pills! Drinking a glass of sour cherry juice in the morning and in the evening can help older insomniacs sleep better and also stay safe, a study suggests.

Drinking Montmorency tart cherry (grown mostly in the US, Canada and France) juice twice a day for two weeks helped increase sleep time by nearly 90 minutes among older adults with insomnia.

"Sleeping pills may be an option for younger insomniacs, but for older people these medications quadruple the risk of falling, which can lead to broken hips and, often, earlier death," said Frank L. Greenway of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University in the US.

Montmorency tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin - a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

While previous studies have also suggested that tart cherry juice has sleep-enhancing benefits, the study set out to help explain why.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that promotes sleep, found in milk and other protien rich food. Hence, the commnon idea that having a glass of warm milk at night makes you sleep easier.In the same way, cherry juice helped to increase the availability of tryptophan and serotonin which makes sleeping an easier task. 

"Even though the amount of tryptophan in tart cherry juice is smaller than a normal dose given to aid sleep, the compounds in tart cherries could prevent the tryptophan from breaking down so it is able to work in the body more effectively," Greenway explained.

These compounds may help to improve tryptophan bioavailability for serotonin synthesis, which could have a positive effect on sleep, he added.

So it could be the unique combination of melatonin and tryptophan in Montmorency tart cherries that helps the adult insomniacs sleep better.

Now, cherry juice for better sleep-study

New York: Throw away your sleeping pills! Drinking a glass of sour cherry juice in the morning and in the evening can help older insomniacs sleep better and also stay safe, a study suggests.

Drinking Montmorency tart cherry (grown mostly in the US, Canada and France) juice twice a day for two weeks helped increase sleep time by nearly 90 minutes among older adults with insomnia.

"Sleeping pills may be an option for younger insomniacs, but for older people these medications quadruple the risk of falling, which can lead to broken hips and, often, earlier death," said Frank L. Greenway of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University in the US.

Montmorency tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin - a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

While previous studies have also suggested that tart cherry juice has sleep-enhancing benefits, the study set out to help explain why.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that promotes sleep, found in milk and other protien rich food. Hence, the commnon idea that having a glass of warm milk at night makes you sleep easier.In the same way, cherry juice helped to increase the availability of tryptophan and serotonin which makes sleeping an easier task. 

"Even though the amount of tryptophan in tart cherry juice is smaller than a normal dose given to aid sleep, the compounds in tart cherries could prevent the tryptophan from breaking down so it is able to work in the body more effectively," Greenway explained.

These compounds may help to improve tryptophan bioavailability for serotonin synthesis, which could have a positive effect on sleep, he added.

So it could be the unique combination of melatonin and tryptophan in Montmorency tart cherries that helps the adult insomniacs sleep better.

Explosion injures at least 100 in Florida jail

Florida: More than 100 inmates and guards were injured in an apparent gas explosion at a jail in northern Florida late on Wednesday, a county official said.

The blast partly leveled the four-story Escambia County Jail's central booking facility, which held roughly 600 inmates, at about 11 p.m., county spokeswoman Kathleen Castro. No deaths or escapees were reported.

"The building is partially collapsed," Castro told Reuters, describing the incident as an "apparent gas explosion".

She said the blast may have been related to severe storms that have hit the southern United States."The facility did receive extensive flooding as a result of the rains yesterday," Castro said.

An updated statement on the Escambia County website later made no mention of gas, saying only it was an "apparent explosion" after reporting earlier it was "an apparent gas explosion".

The facility, holds about 400 men and 200 women. Injured prisoners were being transported to area hospitals, with those uninjured being sent to other detention centers in Escambia County and neighboring Santa Rosa County, Castro said.

Castro described a frenetic scene where officials were scrambling to get people out of the building, provide medical care, and working to make sure inmates were detained and routed to other facilities. The search and rescue operation was ongoing.

Escambia County is located in the northwestern part of Florida, in the southern United States.

Explosion injures at least 100 in Florida jail

Florida: More than 100 inmates and guards were injured in an apparent gas explosion at a jail in northern Florida late on Wednesday, a county official said.

The blast partly leveled the four-story Escambia County Jail's central booking facility, which held roughly 600 inmates, at about 11 p.m., county spokeswoman Kathleen Castro. No deaths or escapees were reported.

"The building is partially collapsed," Castro told Reuters, describing the incident as an "apparent gas explosion".

She said the blast may have been related to severe storms that have hit the southern United States."The facility did receive extensive flooding as a result of the rains yesterday," Castro said.

An updated statement on the Escambia County website later made no mention of gas, saying only it was an "apparent explosion" after reporting earlier it was "an apparent gas explosion".

The facility, holds about 400 men and 200 women. Injured prisoners were being transported to area hospitals, with those uninjured being sent to other detention centers in Escambia County and neighboring Santa Rosa County, Castro said.

Castro described a frenetic scene where officials were scrambling to get people out of the building, provide medical care, and working to make sure inmates were detained and routed to other facilities. The search and rescue operation was ongoing.

Escambia County is located in the northwestern part of Florida, in the southern United States.

Woman killed, 14 injured in bomb blasts on train

An injured bomb blast victim from the train is shifted to a hospital in Chennai on Thursday. PTI Photo

The Tamil Nadu government ordered a probe by its special CB-CID wing as police detained a suspect in connection with the blasts. The Guwahati-bound train arrived here late by about an hour at 7.05 am at Platform No. 9 and in a span of five minutes, two low intensity bombs exploded in S4 and S5 coaches, police said.

Passengers of the train, who were waiting to board on its onward journey after a ten minute halt, were jolted by the sound of the explosion and ran helter-skelter.

A woman was killed in the blast while 14 others were injured.

The 22-year-old victim, who lost her life in the explosion, has been identified as Swati travelling to Guntur via Vijayawada and the injured are undergoing treatment at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi hospital where doctors described their condition as "out of danger".

Tamil Nadu DGP K Ramanujam, who inspected the damaged S4 and S5 coaches of the train, said, "City police, Railway Police, forensic experts and bomb disposal squads have been searching the coaches of the train. The coaches of other trains are also being checked", he said.

"It is not a major blast. It is suspected that Chennai could not have been target of those who were behind the blast because the train was running late. Some other location could have been the target", Ramanujam said.

"It is premature to say what kind of device was used in the blast. Damage to the train is not heavy," he added.

DGP (Elections) Anoop Jaiswal said, "We are picking up clues and any speculation on this is too premature", he said.

Jaiswal said nobody has been arrested in connection with the blasts.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa ordered CB-CID investigation into the blasts and announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to the family of the deceased, besides Rs 50,000 each to the grievously wounded and Rs 25,000 to those with minor injuries.

She condemned the explosions and directed police to nab those behind the act.

The blasts came two days after the arrest of a terror suspect hailing from Sri Lanka and believed to have links with Indian terror modules.

The Guwahati-bound train was cleared for onward journey after replacing the damaged coaches, Railway sources said.

Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge said in Bangalore that an expert from New Delhi will visit Chennai to find the cause behind the blasts and announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to the family of the deceased.

He also announced Rs 25,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 5,000 each to those with minor injuries.Treatment expenses for the injured would be borne by the Railways, he said.

"Investigation is going on and both the railway board and Tamil Nadu Police are cooperating with each other. When we get the detailed report, we will be able to know the cause of the incident," he said.
Commissioner Railway Safety (southern circle) S K Mittal will conduct an inquiry into the incident, Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is in Himachal Pradesh for campaigning for Congress candidates, said, "I have directed my officials to provide all assistance to the state government.”

Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami told PTI, "We are in touch with the Tamil Nadu government and have sought a report on the incident".

Asked whether the blast can be termed as a terror attack, Goswami said it was too early to arrive at any conclusion.

"We are still waiting for the details," he said.

Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said, "It seems the blast took place under a berth".

A team of National Security Guard and explosive experts is likely to be sent to Chennai to join in the investigation into the blast.

NIA team from Hyderabad is being rushed to the blast site, official sources said.

Southern Railway has set up a helpline to provide information to the public. The helpline number is 044-64502416.

Security has been tightened across Tamil Nadu particularly at airports, railway stations and bus terminals besides key installations like nuclear power stations in the wake of the bomb blasts.

Search on all inbound and out-bound trains in Chennai Central station continued and police also resorted to similar action across the state which affected train schedules.

Opposition parties including DMK and DMDK today slammed the state government for failing to maintain law and order.

DMK president M Karunanidhi recalled the recent arrest of Mohamed Zahir Hussain, suspected of having links with Indian terror modules, and charged that lack of proper steps in the wake of his nabbing has led to such an incident.

PTI 

Woman killed, 14 injured in bomb blasts on train

An injured bomb blast victim from the train is shifted to a hospital in Chennai on Thursday. PTI Photo

The Tamil Nadu government ordered a probe by its special CB-CID wing as police detained a suspect in connection with the blasts. The Guwahati-bound train arrived here late by about an hour at 7.05 am at Platform No. 9 and in a span of five minutes, two low intensity bombs exploded in S4 and S5 coaches, police said.

Passengers of the train, who were waiting to board on its onward journey after a ten minute halt, were jolted by the sound of the explosion and ran helter-skelter.

A woman was killed in the blast while 14 others were injured.

The 22-year-old victim, who lost her life in the explosion, has been identified as Swati travelling to Guntur via Vijayawada and the injured are undergoing treatment at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi hospital where doctors described their condition as "out of danger".

Tamil Nadu DGP K Ramanujam, who inspected the damaged S4 and S5 coaches of the train, said, "City police, Railway Police, forensic experts and bomb disposal squads have been searching the coaches of the train. The coaches of other trains are also being checked", he said.

"It is not a major blast. It is suspected that Chennai could not have been target of those who were behind the blast because the train was running late. Some other location could have been the target", Ramanujam said.

"It is premature to say what kind of device was used in the blast. Damage to the train is not heavy," he added.

DGP (Elections) Anoop Jaiswal said, "We are picking up clues and any speculation on this is too premature", he said.

Jaiswal said nobody has been arrested in connection with the blasts.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa ordered CB-CID investigation into the blasts and announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to the family of the deceased, besides Rs 50,000 each to the grievously wounded and Rs 25,000 to those with minor injuries.

She condemned the explosions and directed police to nab those behind the act.

The blasts came two days after the arrest of a terror suspect hailing from Sri Lanka and believed to have links with Indian terror modules.

The Guwahati-bound train was cleared for onward journey after replacing the damaged coaches, Railway sources said.

Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge said in Bangalore that an expert from New Delhi will visit Chennai to find the cause behind the blasts and announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to the family of the deceased.

He also announced Rs 25,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 5,000 each to those with minor injuries.Treatment expenses for the injured would be borne by the Railways, he said.

"Investigation is going on and both the railway board and Tamil Nadu Police are cooperating with each other. When we get the detailed report, we will be able to know the cause of the incident," he said.
Commissioner Railway Safety (southern circle) S K Mittal will conduct an inquiry into the incident, Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is in Himachal Pradesh for campaigning for Congress candidates, said, "I have directed my officials to provide all assistance to the state government.”

Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami told PTI, "We are in touch with the Tamil Nadu government and have sought a report on the incident".

Asked whether the blast can be termed as a terror attack, Goswami said it was too early to arrive at any conclusion.

"We are still waiting for the details," he said.

Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said, "It seems the blast took place under a berth".

A team of National Security Guard and explosive experts is likely to be sent to Chennai to join in the investigation into the blast.

NIA team from Hyderabad is being rushed to the blast site, official sources said.

Southern Railway has set up a helpline to provide information to the public. The helpline number is 044-64502416.

Security has been tightened across Tamil Nadu particularly at airports, railway stations and bus terminals besides key installations like nuclear power stations in the wake of the bomb blasts.

Search on all inbound and out-bound trains in Chennai Central station continued and police also resorted to similar action across the state which affected train schedules.

Opposition parties including DMK and DMDK today slammed the state government for failing to maintain law and order.

DMK president M Karunanidhi recalled the recent arrest of Mohamed Zahir Hussain, suspected of having links with Indian terror modules, and charged that lack of proper steps in the wake of his nabbing has led to such an incident.

PTI