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Second Test called off after four days of washouts

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India South Africa

Bengaluru: Four days of washouts owing to persistent rain and wet ground conditions led to the second cricket Test being officially called off here today, with hosts India leading the four-match series against South Africa 1-0.

The on-field umpires called off the match after an inspection at 11.30 local time.

It is the first time in the history of Test cricket in India that four days have been completely washed out.

The last time a major part of a Test in India was washed out was almost a decade ago when play was held up for three days in a Test in Chennai between India and Sri Lanka.

Both teams will now travel to Nagpur for the penultimate and third game.

Though it only drizzled briefly on the fifth and final morning, overnight rain meant there could be no play.

Puddles had formed in a few uncovered areas near the edges of the ground at the Chinnaswami Stadium.

It is likely the umpires felt that patches of damp spots in some of the areas, caused by sweating under the covers, might not be safe for fielders.

Besides the super soppers, the groundstaffs also had in their disposal a machine called the Pro Core, but none could ensure resumption of play in South African batting mainstay A B de Villiers;’ 100th Test.

India were 80 for no loss in reply to South Africa’s first innings score of 214 on the opening day. Shikhar Dhawan (45) and Murali Vijay (28) were at the crease.

India skipper Virat Kohli said after the match, “The bowlers did a commendable job, bowling South Africa out in less than three sessions is something that’s very rare. A lot of people were surprised when we decided to field first. All credit to the bowlers, Bangalore is known for its runs, but our bowlers showed their character.

“It’s a pity that we lost four days when we were in such a strong position.

“Shikhar (Dhawan) is an impact player and he’s done the job in the past and it is great to have him back in form.

Nothing has changed in the series, we took the confidence from Mohali to Bangalore and we had a good day’s play. The team is in great mood and hopefully we don’t have any interruptions anymore and execute their skills in Nagpur.”

Rival captain Hashim Amla said, “We’ve had about seven days of Tests in 20 in the last four Test matches. Very surprised we have lost four days of cricket here. I really didn’t think four days would be washed out.

“AB getting 80-odd in his 100th Test was a highlight and we are glad to share the moment with him. Unfortunately we didn’t bat very well, but it was still in the balance with the time left.

(Agencies)

Those with vested interests not learning from Bihar debacle: Shatrughan Sinha

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shatrughan-sinha

Patna: Launching a frontal attack on the party leadership, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha today said those with “vested interests” are refusing to learn lessons from the Bihar debacle and asserted that no one has the guts or DNA to tick him off, an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Siding with veterans’ demand for fixing accountability for the loss, Sinha said the “camouflage” of collective responsibility is unacceptable and responsibility must be fixed on individuals for corrective actions.

The Lok Sabha MP ridiculed any move to take action against him for his ceaseless criticism of the party, saying it is just bravado of the ill-advised to talk of action.

“Some vested interests are still at it… refusing to learn any lessons, still working on creating misunderstandings through misinformation. R K Singh, former Home Secretary and a proud Bihari Sher (a tough nut to crack) is right. No one has the guts (or DNA) to give us a ‘fatkaar’,” he tweeted.

His DNA barb is an apparent reference to Modi’s DNA dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who had made it a major campaign issue in the Bihar assembly election.

“Those responsible for the debacle must answer what, why, where and how it all happened. They must satisfy the real stalwarts/veterans of BJP. It’s just bravado of the ill-advised to talk of action. The time is for reaction, understanding, apology and satisfaction of party godfathers,” he said.

Sinha has been critical of BJP since Bihar poll campaign took off but had been so far guarded in his attack on the top brass, bringing instead the state leadership in his line of fire.

His sharp attack indicates that the film actor-turned-politician has decided to escalate his attack even as he has been effusive in his praise of Kumar, who led the grand alliance of JD(U)-RJD-Congress to a massive victory.

(PTI)

No approval for Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali instant noodles: FSSAI

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Baba-Ramdev-noodles

New Delhi: Central food safety regulator FSSAI today said yoga guru Baba Ramdev-promoted FMCG venture Patanjali did not have approval for its newly-launched instant noodles, which the company has vehemently denied.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna said no approval or licence has been granted to Patanjali for its instant noodles.

“For instant noodles, the companies need to take prior approval. They (Patanjali Ayurved) have not taken approval for it,” he said.

“Patanjali Ayurved has approvals for other products but they don’t have approval for instant noodles. As of now only 10 companies have approval for instant noodles,” Bahaguna added.

Patanjali, however, strongly denied FSSAI’s claims. “We have licence for Pasta in central category from FSSAI. As per FSSAI, noodles come under the ‘pasta’ category. FSSAI has given us licence for relabeling in the pasta category,” Patanjali said in a statement.

Based on the licence for pasta category, the company has entered into agreements with various companies that have licences for making noodles, it added.

The company further said FSSAI has already admitted that it was no longer possible for the regulator to continue with process of product approvals, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013, following a Supreme Court order in August this year that upheld an order of Bombay High Court on the issue.

According to FSSAI’s May 2013 advisory, food products covering a broad spectrum including “novel foods, functional foods, food supplements, irradiated foods, genetically modified foods, foods for special dietary uses or extracts or concentrates of botanicals, herbs or of animal sources” should apply for product approval.

The High Court had ruled that the advisory does not have any statutory backing, but the FSSAI had approached the apex court against the verdict.

Patanjali had launched ‘Atta Noodles’ earlier this week in 70 gram packs priced at Rs 15, claiming to be cheaper than competitors, with an eye to take onMARKET leader Nestle’s Maggi, which had returned to the shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it.

(Agencies)

Muslims should declare Jihad against terrorism: Maulana Mahmood Madani

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Maulana Mahmood Madani

New Delhi: The Muslims should declare a jihad (holy war) against terrorism as radicals and zealots have unleashed a reign of terror that challenges the basic tenets of Islam, which propagates and promotes peace and harmony, an Islamic scholar said on Tuesday.

“Waging a jihad is a positive act intended to root out evils from society. Killing of innocents can never be accepted as an act of jihad,” Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind leader Maulana Mahmood Madani said at a press conference at the Constitution Club here. It is the responsibility of Islamic nations to wage war against terrorists who are misusing the name of Islam, the Islamic scholar said.

“There is a need to check groups spreading hatred. Intolerance should be discouraged at all costs,” he said.Quoting teachings of Prophet Mohammed, he said that “saving one human being is like saving humanity”.Madani said countrywide protests would be held on November 18 to denounce terrorism. Protest rallies would be held in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and over 65 other cities in which leaders of various Muslim groups and organisations were expected to participate.

The Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind leader said it is a matter of great concern that terrorists are commiting brutal killings in the name of Islam.”They claim they represent the real face of Islam. So, it is incumbent upon Muslims, scholars and clerics to preach and propagate the real message of Islam and defeat the designs of fanatics who are out to malign Islam,” he said.

Madani said no one could deny that terrorist attacks have caused maximum harm to the Muslims. He said his organisation has held a series of conference and rallies against terrorism since 2007.

(IANS)

Former minister Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli passes away

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Gurupadappa

Bengaluru: Veteran BJP leader and former forest minister Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli passed away here on November 17 at Vikram hospital in Bengaluru.

Gurupadappa(74) was taken to the hospital following a cardiac arrest. He is survived by five sons and two daughters.

Former chief minister Yeddyurappa and other leaders have expressed their heartfelt condolences on his demise.

“Gurupadappa’s contribution to the co-operation sector has been immense,” said senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa.

He was elected as an MLA six times and served as a minister thrice. He was KJP MLA from Bidar north constituency.

The veteran’s last rites will be held in Bidar on Wednesday.

(Agencies)

Syrians in Raqqa tell of ‘insane nights’ of French air strikes

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Activists say abandoned ISIL bases hit in city suburbs with no civilians or fighters as France carries out air strikes.

A man in Raqqa stands where a statue of Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez used to be [Hamid Khatib/Reuters]

A man in Raqqa stands where a statue of Bashar al-Assad’s father Hafez used to be [Hamid Khatib/Reuters]

by Diana Al Rifai, Al Jazeera

French defence officials say that, for the second time in less than 24 hours, fighter jets have targeted Raqqa, the de-facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in northern Syria.

Ten Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighters carried out the raid early in the morning, dropping 16 bombs, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, as France hits back at ISIL in retaliation for Friday’s Paris attacks that killed at least 129 people and wounded hundreds more.

“Both targets were hit and destroyed simultaneously,” the ministry said.

“Conducted in coordination with US forces, the raid was aimed at sites identified during reconnaissance missions previously carried out by France.”

On Sunday, the French defence ministry said 30 air strikes destroyed an ISIL training camp and munitions dump in Raqqa.

However, a media activist in Raqqa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that French air strikes had targeted abandoned ISIL bases in the suburbs of the city where there are no civilians or ISIL fighters.

“It has been two insane nights. Abandoned ISIL posts were targeted at the entrance of the city, along with ISIL checkpoints and several other points. Electricity and water have been cut off as supply lines were hit too.

“We can confirm that there were no civilians killed or injured in the latest French air strikes.

“People are horrified and everyone here lives in fear. We are sure that several ISIL fighters at the checkpoints were killed in the air strikes.”

The Pentagon said that over the past few days it had also bombed ISIL posts in Iraq and Syria.

On Monday, the US-led coalition’s warplanes struck ISIL targets in Raqqa and several posts were destroyed, the US defence department said on its website.

France is part of the coalition, which was launched in September 2014, but conducted its first air strike in Syria only in September 2015.

‘Raqqa is devastated’

The Syrian activist in Raqqa said that in the past few days Russian air strikes had caused the most destruction.

“Last week, Russian air strikes destroyed one of the main bridges in the city in addition to the national hospital. Most hospitals in the city have been destroyed in Raqqa,” he said.

“Russian air strikes have resulted in so much destruction. If these countries wanted to bomb the heartland of ISIL, they could have done so. But they still have not targeted the group’s most important bases.

“This is what we do not understand. The targets bombed by French warplanes were mostly abandoned by ISIL fighters.

“The US, Russia and France are all bombing Syria. How many more countries want to bomb us?

“Raqqa is devastated. Raqqa has endured the unbearable and we live in fear under ISIL’s dictatorship.

“A lot of people fled the the city. In fact, most refugees heading to Europe are from Raqqa. That is how desperate they are to leave here. People are fed up here and just want to live normal lives.

“Our lives are all under threat. ISIL controls every aspect of our lives and we are not allowed to expose the truth.

“Not everyone who lives in Raqqa approves of ISIL. I am a citizen of Raqqa and I refused to leave my hometown just like many others did.

“What the world needs to know is that we live under ISIL control on the ground, and constant air strikes from the sky. We are trapped,” the activist said.

Separately, the anti-ISIL group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered said on Sunday that overnight air strikes hit a stadium, a museum, several clinics, a hospital and a governmental building.

The group told Al Jazeera that no civilians were hurt or injured in any of the latest French air strikes.

“Of course we do not like to see people afraid of air strikes and explosions, but we support any actions that will take ISIL out of Raqqa,” the group said on its Twitter account.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said activists reported hearing explosions in Raqqa resulting from air strikes.

The activists’ network said no civilian death toll has been recorded due to the strikes.

Predictable and deplorable: US lawmakers vow to slam door on refugees

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As more than a dozen governors pledge to close state borders, advocates decry actions as cowardly and ‘un-American’

A Syrian woman holds her baby after their arrival on a small boat from the Turkish coast on the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. (Photo: AP/Santi Palacios)

A Syrian woman holds her baby after their arrival on a small boat from the Turkish coast on the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. (Photo: AP/Santi Palacios)

by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams

In what appears to be a textbook case of xenophobia and political fearmongering in the wake of a tragedy, more than a dozen U.S. governors have declared their states off-limits to Syrian refugees in the days following Friday’s terror attacks in Paris.

The leaders of Wisconsin, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Maine, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas, and Arkansas on Monday all pledged to stop or oppose any additional Syrian refugees from resettling in their states, following announcements made by the governors of Alabama and Michigan on Sunday.

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan was the first Democratic governor to join her Republican counterparts.

In a statement Monday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, decried the rolling announcements as “un-American,” saying those who reject refugees are allowing fear to overrun national ideals.

“This un-American rejection of refugees, who will face significant security checks prior to entry, sends entirely the wrong message,” CAIR said. “Governors who reject those fleeing war and persecution abandon our ideals and instead project our fears to the world.”

Responding to news that Michigan Governor Dan Snyder would rescind his previous commitment to accept Syrian refugees into his state, Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan declared: “This type of behavior is the exact cowardice and capitulation that the terrorists seek to force out of our elected leaders. Instead of stoking the fear that drives his party to a frenzy, Gov. Snyder should do the right thing and show Michiganders that we’re a state that will accept responsibility as global citizens to do our part to help people in crisis and that we can do that in a way that is both safe and responsible.”

Similarly, the ACLU of Florida issued a statement denouncing Governor Rick Scott for “blaming Syrian refugees for the very violence they are escaping.”

“We mourn those lost in the horrific attacks in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad, and wish to express our condolences, grief and condemnation,” the ACLU continued. “However, we must also warn against what we have often seen since 9/11: the impulse in the wake of a terrorist attack to overreact and curtail the freedoms that make our country great.”

In response to the prospects of a similar backlash in Europe, the UK-based refugee council said on Monday, “The world was moved by the response of Parisians who rallied round to help each other—opening their doors to people fleeing the murderous attacks. We should follow this example by offering safety to others who need it. We cannot leave refugees fleeing to Europe from these very same terrorists without safe haven.”

“We cannot use these deplorable events as an excuse to turn our backs on vulnerable refugees; compromising our most cherished values in the face of terror,” the statement continued. “We cannot let them divide us. We cannot let hatred and fear win.”

The windfall of anti-refugee sentiment came as U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced that the recent terror attacks would not change his plan to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees.

“The people who are fleeing Syria are the most harmed by terrorism; they are the most vulnerable as a consequence of civil war and strife,” Obama declared at the close of the G20 summit in Turkey. “We do not close our hearts to these victims of such violence and somehow start equating the issue of refugees with the issue of terrorism.”

“We don’t have religious tests to our compassion,” he added.

In a letter sent to Obama on Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott specifically urged him to abandon this plan. “Neither you nor any federal official can guarantee that Syrian refugees will not be part of any terroristic activity,” Abbott stated. “As such, opening our door to them irresponsibly exposes our fellow Americans to unacceptable peril.”

Predictably, the move to close U.S. borders is being championed by Republican presidential candidates, including Ben Carson, Ohio Governor John Kasich, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who on Sunday said U.S. resettlement efforts should focus on Christian refugees.

Not to be outdone, Senator Rand Paul on Monday said he would introduce a bill to put an immediate moratorium on U.S. visas for refugees “as well as others from obtaining visas to immigrate, visit, or study in the U.S. from about 30 countries that have significant jihadist movements.” Paul told reporters in a press call that the legislation would be paid for “with a special tax on arms sales to any of these countries.”

Despite the political bombast, legal experts are questioning whether such restrictions can even be made by state officials. According to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Hines v. Davidowitz, “the supremacy of the national power in the general field of foreign affairs, including power over immigration, naturalization and deportation, is made clear by the Constitution.”

Or as Jen Smyers, associate director for immigration and refugee policy at the Church World Service, told Mother Jones, “There are really clear discrimination protections against saying someone can’t be in your state depending on where you’re from.”

However, as journalist Glenn Greenwald noted in this tongue-in-cheek Biblical reference, elected officials claim to take their directions from a higher moral authority.

Fourth day’s play also called off in Bengaluru Test

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India South Africa

Bengaluru: The fourth day’s play in the India-South Africa second Test match was called off without a ball being bowled due to rain at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday.

“The play has been officially called off. Another day lost to rain. If weather permits, tomorrow the play will start at 9:15 A.M. #IndvsSA,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wrote on Twitter.

There was no sign of rain till 1.40 p.m as the umpires announced the delayed start because of a wet outfield by inspecting the ground twice at 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. After the second inspection, they took the decision that the game can be resumed at 2 p.m.

But a light drizzle forced the ground to be covered, and the umpires to call off play.

Play was also called off on Sunday and Monday and with Tuesday too washed away, as many as nine sessions have been wasted because of rain.

India, at 80 for no loss, were trailing South Africa by 134 runs at the end of Day One with openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan batting on 28 and 45 respectively.

Earlier, India bowled out South Africa for 214 runs in the first innings.

(Agencies)

Chittoor Mayor brutally murdered, husband injured in attack

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Katari Anuradha

Chittoor: The Mayor of Chittoor was today stabbed to death and her husband seriously injured by unidentified assailants, in an attack suspected to be a fallout of a family dispute, police said.

The incident occurred at Chittoor Municipal Corporation office when five-six persons with their faces covered barged into Mayor Katari Anuradha’s chamber and stabbed her, resulting in her death, DIG (Anantapur Range) K Satyanarayana told PTI.

The Mayor, aged around 50, belonged to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Before escaping from the spot, the assailants went into an adjoining room where Anuradha’s husband K Mohan, also senior TDP leader, was sitting and apparently shot at him before stabbing him, Andhra Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R P Thakur said.

Asked specifically if the mayor was shot dead, Thakur said she was stabbed to death.

Mohan was taken to the Christian Medical College Hospital at Vellore for treatment where his condition was reported to be serious, Satyanarayana said.

“As per preliminary information, the attack was carried out following a family dispute. An investigation has been launched and the truth will be revealed soon. The attackers belong to Karnataka and a hunt has been launched to nab them. We will catch them very soon,” he said.

A pistol and a knife have been recovered from the spot, the DIG added.

(PTI)

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal dies

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ashok singhal

New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal died at a hospital in Gurgaon near Delhi today.

The 89-year-old leader was admitted to the Medanta Medicity Hospital in the city on November 13 in critical condition. He was suffering from respiratory problems for over a month.

In a message posted on Twitter, PM Narendra Modi has said “The demise of Ashok Singhal ji is a deep personal loss. He was an institution in himself, whose life was centred around serving the nation.”

The VHP is an affiliate of the BJP’s ideological mentor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS.

Mr Singhal was at the forefront of the VHP’s campaign for a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Mr Singhal was earlier admitted to Medanta on October 20 after his condition deteriorated. He was flown in to Delhi from Allahabad in an air ambulance. He was discharged on November 11.

(Agencies)

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