On a cold, dark evening recently, inspector Li Tao, 47, made his rounds of the Kelameili gas field in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. It was a frigid -20 C and his breath froze instantly. But more curious was Li's furry companion-an unusual animal with yellow hair. It was no dog but a corsac fox. "I remember the first time I saw a fox-around 2015, on another cold winter night," Li said. "It was making a weird sound, and I didn't know what it was. When I turned on the flashlight, it ran off quickly. I could sense its fear." Located in the center of the Gurbantunggut Desert, the gas field, which is affiliated with China National Petroleum Corp, is about 230 kilometers from downtown Karamay. It mainly produces natural gas, liquefied gas and ethane, according to Xie Hu, its general manager. In 2017, it produced 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas, helping to ensure the supply for northern Xinjiang. Li, who was on patrol that cold night, was born in Sichuan province. He has been ... » Learn More about In cold Xinjiang gas field, foxes are family
Morata family
37 years after British diplomat Percy Norris was shot dead in Mumbai, family still seeking answers
The family of a high-profile British diplomat who was assassinated in Mumbai 37 years ago has said it will “welcome” a reinvestigation of the case by British and Indian authorities. Madeleine and Martin Norris, children of slain Deputy High Commissioner Percy Norris, insist that the case has not been investigated thoroughly. “We would very much welcome a proper investigation into the assassination,” Madeleine Norris told The Hindu in response to a question. She had accompanied her parents Angela and Percy to Mumbai, where her father was appointed Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in October 1984. The assignment in Mumbai was crucial, as the Margaret Thatcher Government wanted to reach out to the new generation of Indian entrepreneurs and increase bilateral trade. Born to a carpenter father and seamstress mother, Percy Norris was a self-made professional. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro remembers him for his enthusiasm. “He did not fit the usually ... » Learn More about 37 years after British diplomat Percy Norris was shot dead in Mumbai, family still seeking answers
Congress calls for a united struggle to prevent sale of Vizag steel plant
APCC president S. Sailajanath on Wednesday exhorted people to wage a united struggle to stop the Centre’s strategic sale of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), which he said was the pride of Andhra Pradesh. Addressing an all-party meeting chaired by APCC vice-president Sripathi Prakasm, he said it was time for all the parties to shed their political differences and come together onto a common platform to exert pressure on the Centre to give up privatisation of the VSP, which was achieved after a protracted struggle and supreme sacrifice made by people more than 50 years ago. Describing the Centre’s decision as the “biggest land scam” in the State, Mr. Sailajanath said the ruling YSRCP in the State was hand in glove with the ruling BJP at the Centre with an eye on the huge land bank with the VSP. “Now, the YSRCP is feigning ignorance on the privatisation issue after showering praise on the Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan,” he said, and added that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan ... » Learn More about Congress calls for a united struggle to prevent sale of Vizag steel plant
Covid-19 vaccination coverage in India crosses 1.34 crores
New Delhi: The nationwide Covid-19 vaccination to healthcare workers and frontline workers crossed 1.34 crores coverage on Friday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare . As per the provisional report issued by the Ministry, till Day-42 of the vaccination drive, the 1.34 crore vaccination doses were registered through 2,78,915 sessions. This includes the first dose for 66.21 lakh healthcare workers, second dose for 20.32 lakh healthcare workers and the first dose for 48.18 lakh frontline workers. The second dose of Covid-19 vaccination started on February 13, for those beneficiaries who have completed 28 days after receipt of the first dose and vaccination of the frontline workers started on February 2. Nine states and Union Territories including Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, Ladakh, Chandigarh, Nagaland, Punjab, and Puducherry have vaccinated less than 60 per cent of the registered healthcare workers. While 13 states -- Chandigarh, ... » Learn More about Covid-19 vaccination coverage in India crosses 1.34 crores
Bigg Boss Tamil 4 winner actor Aari Arjuna apologizes to fans; here’s why
Bigg Boss Tamil 4 winner Actor Aari Arjuna met fans for the first time on February 21 (Sunday). The fan meet was held at a mall in Chennai where fans thronged to catch a glimpse of their favourite BB contestant. Aari Arjuna, who was overwhelmed by their love and discipline, took to his social networking handle to share a few pictures with them and thank and apologize to them. Mentioning that February 21 was memorable in his life, Aari added that as a fan he wishes to salute and apologize to all those who waited in line to take pictures with him. மக்களுக்கு முதல் வணக்கம்21.2.21 என் வாழ்க்கையில் மறக்க முடியாத நாள்வந்திருந்த அனைவருடனும் புகைப்படம் எடுத்துக்கொ… https://t.co/AOYO95Nlxn — Aari Arjunan (@Aariarujunan) 1613933973000 Aari wrote, “மக்களுக்கு முதல் வணக்கம் 21.2.21 என் வாழ்க்கையில் மறக்க முடியாத நாள் வந்திருந்த அனைவருடனும் புகைப்படம் எடுத்துக்கொள்ள,காலமும் சூழலும்,மெரினா மாலில் ஒத்துழைக்காததிற்கு வருந்துகிறேன் புகைப்படம் எடுக்க வரிசையில் நின்ற ... » Learn More about Bigg Boss Tamil 4 winner actor Aari Arjuna apologizes to fans; here’s why
Supreme Court verdict is a blow to Dalit, Adivasi rights
'To selectively look at the operation of certain laws -- in a manner that ignores the realities of caste and gender injustice in India -- and conclude that they are being particularly misused, is plain wrong,' says Aakar Patel. IMAGE: Dalits block a highway in Mumbai during a bandh to protest the violence at an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. Photograph: Rajesh Alva/ Rediff.com Our Supreme Court's campaign against the 'misuse' of special laws continues. A few days ago, a two-judge bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit issued new directions to prevent what they say is the 'rampant misuse' of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. What these directions are actually likely to do is gut a law crucial to protecting Dalit and Adivasi rights. On the face of it, much of the judgment aims to uphold the fair trial rights of criminal suspects. The Court rightly observes that wrongful arrests and ... » Learn More about Supreme Court verdict is a blow to Dalit, Adivasi rights
‘You are sitting on a volcano of Dalit anger’
IMAGE: Dalits enforce the closure of markets during a protest in Ahmedabad July 20 against the assault by cow protectors in Rajkot. Photograph: PTI 'Only the smoke is coming out now. Let us prevent the lava from coming out by taking proper measures.' T hough P S Krishnan , 84, retired after three decades of service as an IAS officer in 1990, as the secretary to the Government of India, he continues his work for the socially deprived classes in India. Krishnan, below, left , has been on numerous government committees after retirement, and is currently the advisor to the government of Telangana on backward classes, and the government of Andhra Pradesh on identification of and reservation for socially and educationally backward classes among Muslims. He is also a member of the National Monitoring Committee for Education of SCs, STs and Persons with Disabilities, and a member of the Central Monitoring Committee of the National Mission for Empowering Women. One of the ... » Learn More about ‘You are sitting on a volcano of Dalit anger’
SHOCKING details about Indian men and sex
Next Courtesy LoveMatters.info Chauvinistic? It certainly looks like it -- Indian men don't seem to want to come to terms with women's rights. I ndian men are the biggest 'machos', in everything from sex to housework. Eighty-six percent of them think jobs like changing diapers are strictly for women. More worryingly, nearly a quarter confess to committing sexual violence, like forcing a partner to have sex. The findings come in a six-nation study by the International Centre for Research on Women. Men need sex more than women do. They don't talk about sex, they just do it. And they're always ready to have sex. This was the take on sexuality of around six out of ten Indian men. It's a higher proportion of men agreeing with these views than in any of the other countries surveyed, except Rwanda. Violence The testosterone-heavy take on sex all too easily translates into sexual violence, the survey suggests. Twenty-four percent of the Indian men ... » Learn More about SHOCKING details about Indian men and sex
Kids Go Back to School Next Week
February 26, 2021 13:07 First and second graders in Seoul will go back to school every weekday from next Tuesday, while high school seniors and kindergarteners will also return to classes. School lunches will be provided depending on the situation at each school. But students will have to abide by quarantine guidelines because nobody under 18 will be vaccinated for coronavirus. That means they have to keep a physical distance of at least 1 m between themselves, wear face masks all the time and wash their hands often. Classrooms must be ventilated often. Parents have to measure their children's temperature every morning and keep them at home if it exceeds 37.5 degrees Celsius. Kids are advised to walk or ride a bike to school if possible to avoid public transportation. According to health authorities, a mere 5.8 percent of children aged 7-12 have been infected at private crammers and other educational facilities, compared to 38 percent who were infected in the family. ... » Learn More about Kids Go Back to School Next Week
CBI arrests two customs officers
They were held for demanding bribe from a Kolhapur-based company to release seized silver The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ) has arrested two customs officers for allegedly demanding a bribe of over Rs 19 lakh from a private company in Maharashtra for releasing 60-kg silver seized by them, agency officials said on Thursday. The CBI has alleged that customs assistant commissioner (preventive) AP Bandekar had demanded Rs 15 lakh and customs superintendent (rummaging and intelligence) Niraj K Singh had sought Rs 4lakh from the company for releasing the seized cargo. The two officers have been sent to CBI custody till Saturday, they said. "It was alleged that a Kolhapur (Maharashtra)-based private company had purchased 74 kg of silver from a private company based at Ahmedabad on October 05, 2020. Out of the same, 60 kg silver in two packages were transported from Gujarat to Maharashtra. It was further alleged that the said 60 kg silver was allegedly seized ... » Learn More about CBI arrests two customs officers