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Analysts’ View: Flemish separatists set for Belgian election win

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – The Flemish separatist N-VA was on course for victory in the Belgian parliamentary election on Sunday.

World

Economists have said that Belgium can ill afford drawn-out coalition talks given its high level of debt.

The following are comments by economists and political analysts.

ETIENNE DE CALLATAY, ECONOMIST AT BANK DEGROOF

“It would surprise me if bond spreads increase on Monday. It’s the confirmation of what we expected. But it could mean that they continue to rise a bit in relation to other European countries.

“The coalition will take a long time. It will take a long time to get an agreement.

“In Belgium it will be difficult to take austerity measures for several months which would mean that we could fall behind other countries in regard to structural reform.”

PHILIPPE LEDENT, ING ECONOMIST

“If the N-VA continues to be extremist in its position, then the game will be very different for other parties. Then it will take much more time to find a majority.

“The most important thing is not which majority we will have. The biggest thing is the question of time, how long do we have to wait before we have a new majority. This is the most important element.

“For the economic situation, it is important to have a new government as soon as possible.

“In this context, I would say finding a new government which is very important for the economy, will depend clearly on N-VA’s attitude.

“I will not characterize the situation as blocked.

“N-VA could have a constructive attitude. We could also have N-VA wanting to stay on its extreme situation, this could lead to a difficult situation for the Belgian economy.

“The most important element is find a majority as soon as possible.

“After September, the reaction of the financial markets would lead to difficult consequences for the Belgian economy.

“I think in the short run, I’m not sure (financial markets’) reaction will be too important. Everybody knew the N-VA would be the biggest party in Flanders, that it would be the biggest winner in the elections.”

“In the medium-term, when negotiations start, if it becomes clear that N-VA stays on its extremist position, then the impact can be more important.”

(Reporting by Ben Deighton and Foo Yun Chee)

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Britain to give 19 million pounds to Gaza

June 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Britain on Sunday announced it was giving 19 million pounds for refugees in Gaza and repeated calls for Israel to lift its blockade of the territory.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is both unacceptable and unsustainable,” International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said announcing the funds, which will help support schools and health clinics for Gazan refugees.

The money is part of a five-year, 100-million-pound agreement signed with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in 2006.

Confirmation of this year’s contribution comes amid renewed concern about Israel’s blockade of Gaza following a deadly raid by Israeli commandos on an aid ship bound for the Palestinian territory earlier this week.

“There is an immediate need for unfettered access to Gaza if the humanitarian situation is to be improved, to allow the economy to get back on its feet, and to give the young people of Gaza the prospect of a better future,” Mitchell said.

“I call on the government of Israel to open the crossings to help end this humanitarian crisis.”

About 70 per cent of Gazans depend on UNRWA for healthcare, education and other basic services, British officials say.

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Monsoon wedding for Tharoor?

May 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

At a time when talk of their engagement and marriage is in the air, Sunanda Puskhar, with her elder brother and father in tow, landed at Shashi Tharoor’s official residence here on Friday. Since Tharoor has been maintaining a low profile ever since his exit from the Union Ministry, there was not much media attention.

She spent a good three-four hours at his 97, Lodhi Estate house and is said to have played the hostess. But there is no confirmation yet on the marriage or engagement dates.

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Indian diplomat arrested for spying for Pakistan

April 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr.27 (ANI): An Indian woman diplomat has been arrested here after confirmation was received of her passing on sensitive information to Pakistan.

Madhuri Gupta, a second secretary with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was arrested here on Sunday after being called back by the Ministry of External Affairs for consultations related to the XVIth SAARC Summit.

Gupta was produced before a court on Monday and remanded to police custody for four days.

A private television channel quoted sources in the ministry as saying that Gupta, 45, had been leaking sensitive and strategic Indian Government information to Pakistan for the past two years.

They said they had been monitoring the activities of Gupta, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS)-B grade officer, for the past year, and added that over the past six months, the surveillance had been raised to a higher level.

The channel said the issue was not so much about the arrest of the diplomat, as it was about Pakistan being successful in planting a mole in the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad.

Gupta, who was a specialist interpreter in Urdu, was posted in the media and information wing of the high commission

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that it will brief the press here in the evening.

As of now, Gupta is being interrogated by personnel of the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing (R and AW). (ANI)

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Tiny tot’s hole-in-one joy at age five

April 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, Apr.19 (ANI): At five, Eleanor Gamble is thought to be the youngest golfer in the world to achieve the feat of driving the ball 86 yards over a lake on a par three hole in a juniors contest.

Eleanor, of West Wratting, Cambridgeshire, who was playing at the nine-hole Cambridge Lakes Golf Course, said: “I was very excited.”

Last year, restaurant manager Jason Hargett was attending a charity golf event when he made a last minute decision to participate and discovered they were holding a contest: Get a hole-in-one, win a million dollars.

Hargett and five other players at the Mark Eaton Classic charity golf event in Utah who hit the ball closest to the hole on a par 3 were allowed to participate in a one-in 45,000 chance to win the hole-in-one contest.

When it was Hargett’s turn, he made the 150 yard shot with a 9-iron and promptly sent a text message to his wife, Amyee, declaring that their lives had just changed.

She knew prior to the text that he was one of six contestants, but she didn’t know if his follow-up message was legitimate until she called his cell phone for confirmation.

When he answered the phone she heard the crowd going wild and knew he had won the money.

It will take the couple 40 years to reap the entire fortune, which will be paid at a rate of 25,000 dollars a year.

The father of four children claims the extra money each year will come in handy with expenses. (ANI)

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Asif-Veena reach out of court settlement over all issues

April 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.17 (ANI): The conflict between Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Asif and his estranged girlfriend Veena Malik seems to be over with both of them reaching an out of court settlement over all issues between them.

Malik, a famous television actress, told Geo News that matters between her and Asif have been resolved as both have decided to end the muddle amicably.

“Matters between Mohammed Asif and me have been decided and we have reached an agreement. We had two-day long talks to reach a deal,” Malik said.

She, however, refused to divulge details about the ‘agreement’ between the two.

Malik said a mutual friend, Zahid Yusuf, mediated between them following which they decided to call-off the tussle.

However, there has been no confirmation of a settlement from Asif’s side.

Earlier, Malik had asked the concerned authorities to register a case against Asif for giving her ‘fake’ cheques.

In her plea, Malik claimed that she had given 10 million rupees to Asif, and the cheque that the fast bowler had given her to return the money had bounced.

Malik claimed that she had supported Asif both ”emotionally” and ”financially” during his bad days, and now she ‘at least’ wants her money back.

Asif was romantically linked to Malik, and there were rumours last year that both got secretly married in London, which has been denied by both of them.

However, Asif got married to a girl from Lahore, Hina, recently. (ANI)

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Orascom Devt eyes Uganda for budget housing-report

April 15, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

CAIRO, April 14 (Reuters) – Swiss-based developer Orascom Development Holding (ODHN.S) is in talks to build a budget housing project in Uganda and is studying similar developments in Zambia and Ghana, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Orascom (ODHR.CA) is known mostly for building and running high-end resort towns, but is planning several low-income projects, including ones in Romania and Iraq. [ID:nLDE63C14S]

The developer is eyeing 4-5 million square metres of land near Uganda’s capital Kampala for a project similar to Haram City, a budget housing development near Cairo, the daily al-Mal quoted Chief Executive Samih Sawiris as saying.

In a text message requesting confirmation of the news, Sawiris told Reuters: “Let’s wait and see if they deliver before we say it’s happening.

“You know that anyone from any government side who sees Haram City usually calls up to say we want to have one. The question is who has the guts to allocate a huge piece of land very close to his capital at nominal cost to get it,” he said in the message.

Orascom’s main presence is in Egypt, where it lists depositary receipts. It also owns land and runs projects across the Middle East and Europe. (Reporting by Alexander Dziadosz; Editing by David Holmes)

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Coast denies Palmer’s pulling the pin

April 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Gold Coast United says there is no indication the A-League club is about to lose the backing of billionaire owner Clive Palmer.

Fairfax newspapers on Friday reported United owner Palmer was withdrawing his funding of the club, which finished third in its inaugural season earlier this year.

It is understood Football Federation Australia (FFA), which has endured a testy relationship with billionaire Palmer, has little interest in taking over and the competition would remain a 10-team league with the inclusion of newcomers Melbourne Heart.

The report said the iron ore baron on Tuesday sent “written confirmation that he would stop funding the club beyond the end of next week”.

Gold Coast chief executive Clive Mensink, a friend and relative of Palmer, was surprised by the report and was adamant Gold Coast would continue on as part of an 11-team competition in 2010-11.

But he did indicate Palmer, who is involved in a $3 billion float of his business holdings, may be open to sharing or off-loading the club’s licence.

“It’s a bit of a surprise but at the end of the day there are parties interested in the club and if that is the case we’re happy to have a chat – commercially you would be mad not to,” Mensink said.

“(Palmer) says there may be people involved in his overseas dealings that may be tying in with the club as well but there is nothing there at the moment.”

Mike Mulvey, who also coaches the club’s National Youth League team, says Palmer has given no indication of a change of heart.

“Clive Palmer has been a great supporter of the club,” he said.

“Just when we played the Youth League grand final [at Docklands] two weeks ago, he flew 50 of our families and supporters and friends to the game so they could watch it.

“That’s a sign of commitment to me.

“I am sure that Mr Palmer only wants what is best for Gold Coast United and FFA wants what is best for the game.

“When you have those situations you are always going to get agreements [and] disagreements from time to time, but I am sure it is businesses as usual.”

A Gold Coast United spokesman says the club is finalising a statement rejecting the media report.

Mulvey said he and head coach Miron Bleiberg are making plans for next season.

“Miron has been scouting around having a look for a couple of players in positions we are looking at, and we are also discussing some of the youth boys who had a very successful year last year,” he said.

“Eight of those [guys] will be turning up for the first team training on May 3 so I think you can say planning’s well underway from a coaching perspective.

“Miron and I are looking, with regard to both teams, very positively towards the future.”

United goalkeeper Scott Higgins was surprised on Friday morning to receive dozens of text messages asking about the club’s demise.

Higgins said Palmer had been with the players a month ago when United’s youth team won their grand final in Melbourne.

“I don’t know if there is any truth in it,” Higgins told Gold-FM radio.

“He was putting in plans for the future of Gold Coast United and was getting ideas off players.”

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NT Govt failing petrol sniffers: Mills

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Northern Territory Opposition says the Labor Government is failing to provide rehabilitation for petrol sniffers.

Opposition Leader Terry Mills said a young petrol sniffer in the Darwin Magistrates Court last week was given bail and allowed to go back to his community on the condition he attends volatile substance rehabilitation, but only if space at the rehabilitation centre became available.

Mr Mills said it was disgraceful that the Government had allowed this to happen.

“If you are serious about reducing crime, there needs to be the capacity for the treating of the underlying problem,” Mr Mills said.

“You can’t assume that if petrol sniffing is a problem that there is going to be an improvement if there is no rehabilitation available.”

The Heath Minister Kon Vatskalis said the court chose not to force the youth to go to rehabilitation, but his department is now looking at imposing a mandatory treatment order.

“I find it very cute for the Opposition to come out and talk about the lack of beds for treatment when they never ever put any money or any beds to treat people who used volatile substances,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“We have got now nearly 40 beds around the Territory.”

Mr Mills said the Government should outline how much it spends on rehabilitation services for petrol sniffers.

“The message from Government is ambiguous. There is the assumption from Government that something needs to be done but there is no confirmation that anything will occur,” Mr Mills said.

“Now that is not a satisfactory basis upon which to deal with a law and order problem.”

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City retailers vent DFO fears

March 25, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Tasmanian retailers have renewed their opposition to the state’s first Direct Factory Outlet being built at Hobart airport after confirmation of the project’s timeline.

The developer Austexx and Hobart Airport say construction of the 60-shop complex will begin later this year.

Hobart Airport’s chief executive Brett Reiss says the DFO should be operating before Christmas 2011.

“It’ll bring some diversification to the experience and to the land use of the airport and I think it’ll also add to the airport in terms of just the quantum of other businesses that will end up being there,” he said.

Andrew Winch from the retailers’ association says the $70 million complex will pull customers away from existing businesses in Hobart’s CBD.

“We’re going to see probably more empty buildings, more empty businesses and vacant shops with the existing mainland businesses or big-box type retailers moving out to that location,” he said.

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Meatworks sale to offer ‘certainty’

March 25, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Mayor of Leeton says there is new certainty today for one of the shire’s main employers, Rockdale Beef.

The multinational beef processor, JBS of Brazil, is doing due diligence checks to buy the Japanese owned feedlot and abattoir near Yanco.

The abattoir cut 150 jobs last year in the global financial downturn.

Leeton Mayor Paul Maytom says the sale should mean security for some Rockdale workers after months of uncertainty.

“There’s been some I suppose rumours in the community that the business was in trouble,” he said.

“Now there was no confirmation that the business was in trouble. All we got was they were looking for a buyer and I know that they’ve been scaling back some of the work on the feedlot side as far as reducing the cattle numbers.

“They have been reducing staff and the last I heard a few weeks back was they were reducing the staff quite substantially in the feedlot side of things because they had to reduce the cattle numbers, as I understood at the time, right back to, I think zero, before the changeover could occur. Now whether that’s happening now with the proposed new owners I do not know.

“The community have had some degree of uncertainty over the last few months over what might be happening with the business. The good thing about the announcement in the last day now gives some certainty I suppose to the employees because effectively the business is in good hands with the new owner.”

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says it is yet to play a role in the proposed acquisition of Rockdale Beef.

An ACCC spokeswoman says if the sale is likely to happen, the commission would look into whether the acquisition would substantially lessen competition.

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Union Cabinet to take up HRD Education Reforms Bills

March 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): The Union Cabinet is expected to take up four Education Reforms Bills of Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ministry, which includes the one to ban unfair practices in technical and medical educational institutions and universities.

The other proposed legislations include the Accreditation Bill and the one to amendment the Architects Act that has already got the confirmation of a Group of Ministers (GoMs).

As per the bills, charging of capitation fee or failure of educational institutions to keep promises of quality education could attract imprisonment up to three years for guilty administrators or fine up to Rs 50 lakh for the institute.

The bill seeks to consider such practices as criminal or civil offences depending on the nature of the crime.

As per the bill, if an institute makes certain promises in its prospectus, but does not deliver or charges capitation fee from a number of students, then such practices should be considered criminal offences.

However, in case of an isolated instance of malpractice involving just one or two students, the offences could be considered civil offences.

The criminal offences should be tried in a court of law while civil offences will be tried in educational tribunals to be set up soon.

The ministry has also drafted the Educational Tribunal Bill, which provides for setting up of tribunals to settle all types of disputes, including any type of malpractice or harassment. (ANI)

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Top Pak Taliban commanders among 30 extremists reportedly killed in FATA

March 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Mar.6 (ANI): At least 30 extremists, including top Taliban commanders Maulana Faqir Mohammad, Qari Ziarur Rehman and Fateh Mohammad were reportedly killed as helicopter gunships pounded a suspected militant hideout in Mohmand Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

“The Taliban surround attacked sites when they lose important leaders or commanders and that is why we believe Rehman and Faqir are among the killed,” The Daily Times quoted a security official, who refused to be named, as saying.

Sources said that Maulana Faqir, the chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Bajaur agency, and the two other ‘commanders’ were seen in Mohmand on Wednesday.

Faqir had reportedly moved to Mohmand after his main base in Damadola was captured by Pakistani troops last week.

However, there was no official confirmation of the report.

Meanwhile, in Ghalanai security forces showed four bodies of militants to the media.

The extremists were said to be killed by the security forces during a raid in Chamar Kand area of the Mohmand Agency on Thursday. (ANI)

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Need ID card info, pay: Nandan’s revenue model

November 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

You can count on Nandan Nilekani’s entrepreneurial spirit to build a revenue model in a project that was originally believed would only add to the government’s budget.

The co-founder of Infosys Technologies has weaved in annual revenues of Rs 288 crore in the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), of which he is chairman – money that will part-offset project costs estimated at Rs 3,000 crore, and make it self-sustainable.

The unique identification number will authenticate an individual to private companies and public sector entities for a small transaction fee. The UIDAI proposes to charge user companies Rs 5 to verify each address, and Rs 10 for every biometrics confirmation, once the system is fully in place.

The UIDAI may also explore the option of charging beneficiaries of the cards to offset enrolment costs. The Authority estimates it may cost Rs 20-25 to enroll each resident, adding up to Rs 3,000 crore.

Nilekani told The Indian Express that “by providing identity authentication, the UIDAI will be taking on a process that costs agencies and service providers hundreds of crores every year”.

“The Authority will charge a fee for its authentication services, which will offset its long-term costs. Registrars and service providers will also be able to charge for the cards they issue residents with the UID number,” Nilekani said.

A physical verification of an address and other information about an individual generally costs a company between Rs 100 and Rs 500. The basic identity confirmation will be provided free to firms, which would merely generate a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response to confirm the identity based on the UID number, name and an additional parameter. This service could potentially be of use to airlines to check in passengers.

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Hole-in-one makes family man a millionaire

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Utah (US), Sep.19 (ANI): Restaurant manager Jason Hargett was attending a charity golf event when he made a last minute decision to participate and discovered they were holding a contest: Get a hole-in-one, win a million dollars.

When it was Hargett’s turn, he made the 150 yard shot with a 9-iron and promptly sent a text message to his wife, Amyee, declaring that their lives had just changed, reports the Daily Telegraph.

She knew prior to the text that he was one of six contestants, but she didn’t know if his follow-up message was legitimate until she called his cell phone for confirmation.

When he answered the phone she heard the crowd going wild and knew he had won the money.

It will take the couple 40 years to reap the entire fortune, which will be paid at a rate of 25,000 dollars a year.

The father of four children claims the extra money each year will come in handy with expenses. (ANI)

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Bali bombing mastermind killed in police raid

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jakarta, Sep. 17 (ANI): Terrorist mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top was killed in a police raid on a militant hideout in Central Java on Thursday, Indonesian police have officially confirmed.

The 41-year-old Malaysian-born extremist was one of four militants killed in the raid near Solo, national police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters.

The terrorist, who was on the run for almost seven years, was identified using fingerprint analysis, Danuri said.

“He is Noordin M Top,” Danuri said, sparking a round of applause throughout the room.

Noordin led a hardline splinter group of terror organisation Jemaah Islamiah.

He was the suspected mastermind of July’s attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta that killed seven, including three Australians.

Authorities believe he also masterminded a 2003 attack on the Marriott, a 2004 attack on Australia’s embassy in Jakarta and the 2005 Bali bombings that killed four Australians.

It’s believed he also helped plan the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.Police came close to catching Noordin several times but he always managed to elude capture.

Noordin’s death will be a major setback for Islamic extremists throughout Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s office said it was aware of reports of Top’s death.

“We are awaiting official confirmation from the Indonesian government,” Fairfax News quoted a spokesman, as saying. (ANI)

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‘US preparing sanctions against Iran’

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jerusalem, Sep. 11 (ANI): Following an apparently unyielding diplomatic engagement in Iran, the Obama administration is preparing the groundwork for sanctions against the Islamic country, two senior US officials have told Jewish leaders in Washington.

The Jerusalem Post quoted US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, as saying that the Obama administration wants to lay the sanctions now, so that it will be ready to implement them at the end of the year.

US President Barack Obama has long backed diplomatic outreach, though he has also warned of the possible need for sanctions. He has given Teheran a deadline of September 24, when the G-20 nations will next convene, to evaluate Iran’s response to his offers of engagement, the report said.

However, top White House Middle East adviser Dennis Ross told Jewish leaders that the administration’s focus on diplomatic engagement had shifted following the Iranian elections, and indicated that the White House now had a more sceptical view of that approach which could give way to sanctions, it added.

Top officials have spoken of imposing “crippling sanctions” should diplomacy fail, though that hasn’t been fleshed out.

Both officials, addressing a forum of more than 300 Jewish activists in Washington to press for action on Iran, pointed to a wide menu of sanctions options beyond the narrower targeting of Iran’s refined petroleum imports proposed in bills before Congress.

However, according to the paper, the White House and State Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for confirmation of the two officials’ comments. (ANI)

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Schoolteachers baton-charged in Lucknow on Teachers’ Day

September 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Lucknow, Sep 5(ANI): At least 12 primary schoolteachers suffered injuries during a demonstration to demand confirmation of their jobs and increments on Teachers’ Day.

The teachers alleged they were staging a peaceful protest when the police, for no fault of their own, baton-charged them.

“The teachers had staged a peaceful protest. During the demonstration, the police baton-charged the teachers on the orders Chief Minister Mayawati. This is the gift to all the teachers on the occasion of Teachers’ Day,” said Suraj Yadav, a teacher.

Meanwhile, the police said they had to use force to disperse the protestors after they blocked the road.

“Today, in front of Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) teachers had staged a sit-in protest. Some people tried to block the road. They were requested to clear the road. Stones were pelted in which our ADM (Additional District Magistrate) and SP (Superintendent of Police) city and others have been injured. They were chased away by the police,” said R N Dwivedi, police circle officer.

The police further claimed that no one was seriously injured in the incident. (ANI)

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PMO confirms death of Andhra CM

September 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep.3 (ANI): The Prime Minister Office has confirmed the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajshekhera Reddy and four others after their Bell 430 chopper crash-landed about 40 nautical miles east of the Kurnool mountainous area.

The body of Reddy’s principal secretary has also been recovered.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to leave for Hyderabad shortly.

The reports of five bodies being discovered at the crash site as been received, and an official confirmation would be forthcoming in short while. Among the dead are Reddy, his principal secretary, his personal security officer and two pilots.

Earlier, Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said the chopper was in a very damaged state.

The Home Ministry had ordered paratroopers to immediately airdrop themselves at the location to determine the exact physical status of Reddy and the four others.

The State Government is due to address a press conference in a short while to formally confirm the news of his death.

The Congress party is reported to be in a state of shock and the Union Cabinet is meeting to discuss the next steps. (ANI)

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Andhra CM, four others feared dead: Congress sources