NY ‘bomb-foiling’ street vendor set to profit through ‘saw something-say something’ T’s

New York, May 15 (ANI): The handbag vendor, who alerted the security agencies on time to prevent the crude bomb from going off at the Times Square on May 1 has now started selling T-shirts depicting his heroics with a message urging people to be vigilant.

Duane Jackson, along with his fellow vendor Lance Orton were the first ones to alert the police after spotting the suspiciously parked Nissan Pathfinder in a ‘No Parking’ zone at the Times Square’ 45th street.

Jackson said that the idea of selling T-shirts, which has his picture in front of an American flag with words-‘I saw something … so I said something’- was actually his wife’s.

“My wife came up with the design, and I think they just send the message to be vigilant and keep your eyes open,” The Daily News quoted the 58-year old street vendor, as saying.

Jackson, who has tagged his t-shirts with a price of five dollars each, however, said he does not intend to earn a profit through his role in foiling the terror plot.

“I plan on giving a lot more away than selling them. So if you come from Holland or Sweden to say hi to me, I”ll probably give you a shirt. It”s more about getting the message out. If I break even, that”s great. If I don”t, that”s fine too,” he said. (ANI)

Nine-year-old plane crash survivor has been told his family is no more

London, May 15 (ANI): The lone survivor of the Libyan plane crash that left 103 people dead, nine-year-old Dutch boy Ruben van Assouw has been informed that he is the only surviving member of his family.

The boy is reportedly coping well under the adverse circumstances.

“We have explained to Ruben exactly what happened,” said a statement from the boy”s aunt and uncle read out to media in Tripoli. “He knows that his parents and his brother are dead.”

“The time ahead will be a difficult period for us,” the statement said. “We hope that the media will respect our privacy,” The Telegraph reports.

There has been an outpouring of support for the little boy who has lost his parents and brother in the crash. The Libyan Organization for Children is going out of its way to ensure that the boy is able to recover from the trauma. He is being treated at the Tripoli Hospital and is recuperating after surgery was performed on his smashed legs.

Earlier Ruben told a Dutch newspaper he was “fine” but could remember nothing of the crash.

“My name is Ruben and I am from Holland,” he told the Telegraaf newspaper in a telephone conversation.

“I am fine, but my legs hurt a lot,” the boy said.

“I am in a hospital,” Ruben said. “I don”t know how I got here, I don”t know anything more. I really want to go home,”

The boy and his family were returning to Tripoli from a South African safari holiday, when they boarded the ill-fated Afriqiyah Airways flight that disintegrated upon landing on Wednesday. (ANI)

Stafford has ‘not discussed compensation’

The man at the centre of a long-running Queensland murder case says he has not discussed compensation after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled out a retrial.

Graham Stafford spent 15 years in jail for the 1991 murder of his then girlfriend’s 12-year-old sister Leanne Holland.

He always maintained his innocence and last year the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction.

The court ordered a re-trial but the DPP has announced it would not be in the public interest.

Civil liberties lawyer Terry O’Gorman says Mr Stafford should receive compensation.

“He could be talking about anywhere from $5 million onwards,” he said.

“The fact is, if the system has got it wrong then the system has to pay.”

Mr Stafford says his name has been cleared but the killer is still free.

“I feel angry that its taken this long,” he said.

Jean Stafford says her son has paid a heavy price.

“He should has been married with a family, we should have had more grandchildren by now,” she said.

Mr Stafford wants police to reopen the murder investigation.

Call for inquiry

A supporter of Mr Stafford has called for an inquiry into his prosecution.

Graeme Crowley who is a former police officer says the evidence did not stack up and the case should be reopened.

“I’ve got three people who could, who could be, implicated in the matter,” he said.

“I don’t have the resources to follow that up, I’m not a police officer.

“I think if they re-opened it they would resolve this case, they would make an arrest very quickly.”

Police say they will not reopen the investigation without new credible evidence.

Lukewarm support for Calvary sale

The ACT Opposition and the Greens have reacted cautiously to the Government’s new plan to buy Calvary Public Hospital from the Catholic Church.

The Government’s first deal to buy the hospital from the Little Company of Mary Health Care (LCMHC) for $77 million collapsed early this year due to church divisions

The Government had wanted to own and operate the hospital and in turn sell Canberra’s hospice, Clare Holland House, to the catholic healthcare provider.

But now the Government has put forward a new proposal to buy the hospital but allow LCMHC to continue operating it.

Opposition health spokesman Jeremy Hanson says it is too early to make a judgement.

But he says the new deal shows Health Minister Katy Gallagher was not honest about the first deal.

“She told the community there’s only one way to do this, that was simply not true,” he said.

Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan says a lot depends on the church’s attitude.

“As we know from last time we can’t be comfortable this will go ahead,” she said.

She says the Government needs to negotiate a strong operating agreement.

“So we know the sort of services we want in the ACT are going to be provided,” she said.

But Ms Bresnan says she is glad the Government is not planning to sell Clare Holland House this time around.

Capello to remain England team’s boss until 2012

London, Sep 5 (ANI): Fabio Capello will be England football team’s manager even after next year’s World Cup finals.

There are fears that he will quit as boss if England fails to reach the quarterfinals. But the Italian has a 6 million pound-a-year deal with the Football Association until 2012.

“The target is to respect my full contract. It ends in 2012 and I want to respect it.

It is not only a matter for me but also for the FA,” The Sun quoted Capello, as saying.

Capello has led England to the brink of World Cup qualification with seven straight wins.

But after last month’s 2-2 friendly draw in Holland, the Three Lions chief has warned that there can be no more slip-ups against Slovenia today.

“We have defended very well in all of the competitive games but in the friendly matches we have been so-so. We have made mistakes and I have discussed this matter with the team,” he said.

Skipper John Terry revealed: “The manager is very strong-minded and if he sees a mistake he will sit there for 30 or 40 minutes in the team meeting until the message is clear.” (ANI)

Babel accuses Benitez of breaking promises

London, Sep 3 (ANI): Dutch winger Ryan Babel has accused Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez of breaking promises which could wreck his World Cup dream.

Babel now wants to join Ajax on loan after claiming he was made a scapegoat for last month’s 2-1 defeat at Spurs.

“There were all sorts of assurances and promises from the club but they have not kept them. I should get more playing time but after the first defeat of the season I was the only one who was singled out – and I lost my place,” The Sun quoted Babel, as saying.

Babel bought by Benitez for 11.5 million pounds from Ajax two years ago, has played just 14 minutes as a sub since that defeat.

He lost his place in the Holland squad for Saturday’s friendly against Japan and the midweek World Cup qualifier in Scotland – until Ibrahim Afellay’s injury saw him recalled.

“Being left out was a real shock and very worrying. I didn’t expect not to be named, I’d already booked my ticket! We will have to review the situation again in January,” he said.

“But I think half a season back at Ajax, with a World Cup coming up next summer, wouldn’t be a bad option at all. I see the current situation at Liverpool as a signal I have to be playing more,” Babel added. (ANI)

”Moon rock’ given to Holland by Armstrong, Aldrin just ‘petrified wood’

London, Aug 29 (ANI): A piece of rock from the moon which Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin had gifted to Holland is claimed to be fake.

Curators at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum say that the “lunar rock”, valued at 308,000 pounds, is in fact just a petrified wood.

“It’s a good story, with some questions that are still unanswered. We can laugh about it,” the Telegraph quoted Xandra van Gelder, who oversaw the investigation as saying.

In fact, researchers at Amsterdam’s Free University knew it wasn’t moon rock at the first look. They say that their speculation was later confirmed by tests.

Frank Beunk, a geologist involved in the investigation: “It’s a nondescript, pretty-much-worthless stone.”

Now, the United States Embassy in The Hague is carrying out an investigation into the affair.

Armstrong, Michael Collins and Aldrin had given the rock to Willem Drees, a former Dutch leader, during a global tour after their landing in moon almost 50 years ago.

It is one of the moon rocks given to more than 100 countries following lunar missions in 1969 and the 1970s.

Former American ambassador to the Netherlands J. William Middendorf had presented it to Drees, which was donated to the Rijksmuseum after his death in 1988.

Middendorf said: “I do remember that Drees was very interested in the little piece of stone. But that it’s not real, I don’t know anything about that.” (ANI)

Muralitharan to play Twenty20 cricket for Queensland Bushrangers

Melbourne, Aug.27 (ANI): Champion Sri Lankan off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan will join West Indian Dwayne Bravo as the Queensland Bushranger’s second international recruit for the national Twenty20 competition.

While both players are not eligible to play in October’s Champions League international Twenty20 tournament and are committed only for this season’s month-long Big Bash, they would be eligible to turn out at next year’s Champions League if the team qualifies, reports Fox Sports.

In addition, the 37-year-old off-spinner could reshape Victoria’s Twenty20 bowling attack, which in recent seasons has been well-served by the likes of pacers Dirk Nannes, Shane Harwood and Clint McKay.

“It could be an all-spin attack, because really we’ve got [Brad] Hodge and [David] Hussey, [Cameron] White, Murali and also [Jon] Holland and [Bryce] McGain,” coach Greg Shipperd said.

The Bushrangers have also overcome the loss of long-time major sponsor Carlton and United Breweries with a three-year agreement with Dubai-focused property developer Dheeraj and East Coast (DEC). (ANI)

Lily Allen confesses to being obsessive about cricket

London, Aug 25 (ANI): British singer Lily Allen has confessed that she is obsessive about cricket, and just cannot stop talking about it all the time.

Allen, 24, who was spotted cheering at the Ashes during England’s victory, also revealed what she found so fascinating about the game.

“I am obsessed with cricket – I twitter about it all the time. I played in Holland on Friday, got on a bus overnight and then drove to The Oval on Saturday,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“I was trying to listen to the cricket in Amsterdam. I was screaming: ‘Australia are all out!’

“I first got interested in cricket about the time I heard Freddie Flintoff had a wee in the Prime Minster’s garden at Downing Street.

“No, seriously, I followed the 2005 Ashes – my dad is really into it and used to play. The girls would sit in the pavilion making sandwiches and the boys would play cricket.

“I’m an entertainer and my shows last an hour and it’s all very quick – life in the fast lane.

“But I’m not into one-day cricket or Twenty20, I’m into Test matches. I love the five-day slog.

“I think the Ashes should be seven or nine Test matches rather than five. It should be all-out war all summer.

“I’m a traditionalist. I like the beauty of the game, the whites against the green, and the slow pace. I like so many things about cricket,” she added. (ANI)

UK’s popular healthcare firm Holland and Barrett to sell sex toys

London, Aug 22 (ANI): Britain’s popular High Street retailer Holland and Barrett has announced that it is to begin selling sex toys for women.

Known for selling myriad of natural healthcare products, the firm will now begin to sell intimate products.

The shoppers will be able to choose from a selection of ‘intimate massagers’, priced at 49.95 pounds and manufactured by a company called Emotional Bliss.

They are currently available online only, under the category of ‘Sexual Health’, but a spokesman said the products could be hit the stores if sales prove to be brisk.

“We believe sexual wellbeing is an important part of general health, so for us it was an obvious choice to stock Emotional Bliss as their values fit ours,” the Telegraph quoted Michelle Ingleby, senior buyer for non-food at Holland and Barrett, as saying.

According to Phil Geary, the company’s director of trading, the recession has led to increased demand for more intimate products.

“People are spending more time at home during these difficult economic times,” he added.

Paul Telford, a spokesman for Emotional Bliss, said he was delighted that such a prominent High Street chain had chosen to stock the products.

“We are over the moon that we are the first company of our kind to be taken up by Holland and Barrett online.

“It’s brilliant news that a well-established and respected British company like Holland and Barrett is supporting Emotional Bliis, a British manufacturer. We couldn’t be happier,” he added. ANI)

History’s worst inventions revealed

London, July 14 (ANI): Exploding dogs, flying cars, and parachute suits are some of history’s worst inventions, according to a new book.

Authored by Eric Chaline, ‘History’s Worst Inventions’ describes some of the funniest and freakiest ideas that have gone awry.

Published by New Holland Publishers, the tome is priced at 10.99 pounds, reports the Sun.

Some of history’s worst inventions are:

Anti-tank dogs (1939-1945)

During World War Two the Russians faced the mechanical might of the German Army’s tanks, which made Soviet engineers to create canine mines or “anti-tank dogs”. The dogs, fitted with explosives, would be starved before battles and trained to search for food under vehicles, where they would explode.

But the biggest problem was the dogs often ran towards their own lines, blowing up tanks on their own side.

The Parachute Jacket (1912)

The “flying tailor” Franz Reichelt jumped from the Eiffel Tower to demonstrate his parachute overcoat. Huge crowds gathered to watch the magical event.

Sadly things didn’t go to plan, and he fell to his death.

The Flying Car (1930s)

Waldo Waterman created two Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-style flying cars between 1930-40. The American inventor’s 20ft-long Aerobile had a top air speed of 112mph and he flew it from California to Ohio.

It was never put into commercial production because of technical problems and flight regulations.

Wicker Chair Spaceship (1500)

A Chinese official named Wan Hoo dreamed up the idea of flying to the moon using 47 large rockets strapped to his wicker chair. For his first flight, he instructed his servants to light the rocket fuses ready for blast off. There was a huge explosion but when the smoke cleared Wan had disappeared.

Mythical tales told of him living in space but recent reconstructions show he was probably blown to bits.

Animal testes as cure for erectile dysfunction (19th Century)

Before testosterone was discovered, Mauritian-born Dr Charles-Edouard Brown-Sequard (1817-94) injected himself with his preparation made from the testes of guinea pigs and dogs.

He believed it would stave off old age and improve his potency, but his tests flopped.

The TWIKE (mid-1980s)

Short for two in a bike, the pedal-powered three-wheeler TWIKE looked like a kids’ toy. An updated Nineties version had an AC motor and could hit 53mph.

Despite sounding like a good idea, the Swiss firm behind the machine are said to have sold just 2,000 of their machines.

Betamax (1975)

Sony lost billions of pounds with their failed Betamax video format in 1975. It was blown out of business by the release of VHS a year later.

Sony’s 100 per cent share of the VCR market in 1975 shrunk to just 25 per cent by 1981 as a result. (ANI)

‘Royal protection officers played poker, traded porn in Buckingham Palace’

London, Jun 30 (ANI): A former royal protection officer, who has been accused of being involved in a 3-million-pound betting and property scam, has laid claims that his colleagues played poker and traded pornography while working at Buckingham Palace.

Paul Page, 38, of Granville Road, Chafford Hundred, Grays, Essex, is said to have allegedly cheated colleagues and others out of their life savings.

Page, who describes his job as an “easy life”, denies fraudulent trading, intimidation and threatening to take revenge on a victim who spoke to police between January 1 2003 and March 30 2007.

His wife Laura, 42, was acquitted on June 26 of charges she originally faced in connection with the case.

During his opening defence at Southwark Crown Court today, Page, a father-of-five, revealed that officers in the royal protection command could earn 50,000-60,000 pounds a year with overtime “for doing very little”.

Shifts involved two hours on post, followed by at least an hour off post.

“You didn’t work for a living. That is the bottom line,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

“You have got time to study… There was one officer and he did sell porn. He used to get it from Holland, bring it back and sell it to officers while on duty.

“Everyone knew about it but no one would say anything. Officers were running poker games for money in down time. If people want to do that that is fair enough but senior officers let it go,” he said.

Page also revealed that members of the royal household instilled a class culture and royal protection officers were treated as a “necessary evil” who were expected to turn a blind eye to crime at the palace.

“You are not police officers any more. For example instances of domestic abuse in the royal household where the servants live and sleep in the palace,” he said.

“Some have drink problems and fight. You are told not to get involved. There is a class culture within the palace.

“You are treated like dirt – that includes police officers on the gate.

“Some (members of the royal household) are very nice but the majority, they treat you like you are on a lower level,” he revealed.

He added that he believed money was “thrown at you” because the security level had to be kept up.

“I shouldn’t be saying what I am saying but it has to be done – I need you to understand the culture,” Page added at the court hearing. (ANI)

Gazza splashes out £120 on health foods

London, June 30 (ANI): Former English soccer star Paul Gascoigne, who has been infamous for his alcoholic habits, was recently spotted shelling out 120 pounds on health foods.
The Geordie soccer legend, a.k.a Gazza, seemed to reminisce glorious days of his career wearing an England training top and shorts on a trip to a Holland and Barrett store, The Sun reports.

The 42-year-old also had a small chat with a traffic warden in Newcastle city centre.

“Gazza looked in great shape. It was lovely to see him walk out of a health food shop and not falling out of a boozer,” an onlooker said. (ANI)

Shot woman, Neda, becomes global symbol of Iranian protests

New York, June 22 (ANI): The death of Neda, which means “voice” in Farsi, has become the central rallying cry of the Iranian protests that followed the disputed presidential election.

Iranian state media has confirmed 17 deaths as a result of the protests. But one death, a woman by the name of Neda, has stood out to protesters and to the world.

Neda was shot at a protest in Tehran, and her shocking and quick death in the arms of her howling father was captured on close up video, now widely circulated on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other sites.

The fresh-faced teenage girl killed by what appears to be a single sniper shot on the streets of Tehran Saturday is now a potent symbol for Iran’s pro-democracy protesters.

“RIP Neda, the world cries seeing your last breath,” was one of a flood of messages on Twitter.

“They killed Neda, but not her voice,” read another. “Neda is everyone’s sister, everyone’s daughter, everyone’s voice for freedom,” said a third.

Within hours of her death, posters of the girl’s face, open-eyed and bloody, were being brandished by demonstrators in Los Angeles and New York City, the Daily News reported.n Iranian expatriate in Holland said that a doctor friend in Tehran, who tried to save the girl, sent the video to him.

He identified her as Neda Soltani, a 16-year-old philosophy student. A Facebook group created to mourn her calls her “The Angel of Iran.”n Tehran on Sunday, the streets were quiet for the first time in a week, but the city was bracing for more unrest today when thousands are expected to mourn the girl’s death. (ANI)

Morrissey cancels more shows due to illness after b’day gig

Washington, May 26 (ANI): Just two days after marking his 50th birthday with a homecoming set in Manchester, singer Morrissey has cancelled gig dates because of ill-health.

The ex ‘Smiths’ frontman cancelled his May 25th’s show at the Salisbury City Hall and May 26th’s concert at the Troxy Ballroom in Mile End, east London.

Labelled the “greatest lyricist of his generation” this week, the singer-songwriter has been warned not to sing by doctors, said a spokeswoman.

“Morrissey is on doctor’s orders to postpone the show, to ensure a complete recuperation,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

She added: “Event organisers would like to apologise to fans for the disappointment and are working to reschedule this show, so advise ticket holders to hang on to their tickets.”

Apparently, these are not the first on the 50-year-old’s world tour with shows at the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Academy called off while an appearance on ‘Later… With Jools Holland’ was also scrapped.

However, the cancelled Birmingham and Albert Hall shows have now been rescheduled as part of a small October tour, it was announced last week. (ANI)

Flintoff may miss World Twenty20 tournament

London, May 16 (ANI): England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is unlikely to be fit for next month’s World Twenty20 due to the slow response of his right knee to an operation performed last month. lintoff, 31, had keyhole surgery on April 28 after damaging his knee playing for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

At the time, the England and Wales Cricket Board issued a bullish statement saying they expected him to return for the World Twenty20, which begins on June 5.

Yet Flintoff, in an interview with Sky Sports due to be shown on Saturday, has cast doubt on that prognosis.

“I’m making progress, and I’ve been on the bike for 45 minutes. But I’m still a while away from running – maybe a week and a half or so. One of the things we’ve got to be careful about is swelling, which is why we’re constantly icing and monitoring it after one session before I can do the next one,” he told Sky News.

England’s opening game in the World Twenty20 is against Holland at Lord’s in 19 days’ time, but Flintoff’s presence there always looked far from optimistic despite his selection in the 15-man squad. (ANI)

Gazza signs ‘nutritious’ deal with UK’s health food store

London, May 15 (ANI): Football legend Paul Gascoigne a.k.a Gazza has signed a ‘nutritious’ deal with UK’s health food store Holland and Barrett.

The shop executives had seen the England midfielder sporting ripped abdominal muscles on last month’s Match of the Day.

And were keen to help him stay fit, and stay away from the drugs and booze.

Gazza is being sponsored with nutrition products, including his favourite strawberry protein powder by the health food store bosses.

“I have been training hard and keeping fit and strong on a healthy diet to keep me mentally and physically fit – and taking nutritional supplements to help aid my recovery,” the Daily Star quoted Gazza as saying.

“My problems are never going to be behind me. But at the moment, I don’t want to take the booze and I don’t want to be using again,” he added.

A Holland and Barrett spokesman said: “We have been supplying him with some of his favourite nutrition products to aid his sports regime.” (ANI)

Oz bowler Nannes living his IPL dream

Cape Town (South Africa), May 1 (ANI): Dirk Nannes would never in his wildest dreams have thought that he would be playing cricket in South Africa, let alone in an extravaganza filled with such mega-stars as the Indian Premier League.

But after setting up the Delhi Daredevils’ victory over the top IPL dog Deccan Chargers at SuperSport Park on Thursday with his left-arm, fast, swing bowling, this 32-year-old Australian has catapulted himself to the forefront of the cricketing world.

His is a story that is truly fascinating one, involving skiing, the saxophone and Japanese.

The first question to answer is why the 32-year-old did not even come close to appearing in the recent gripping series between Australia and South Africa. He has never come close to selection for the Australian national team and, even if he continues to shine in the IPL, he will not be playing for Ricky Ponting’s men in the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

“I don’t think I can be chosen for Australia for the T20 World Cup because I wasn’t in the preliminary squad of 30 that has already been named. But I’ll be in the Holland squad because I have a Dutch passport through my parents.

“I never had any real aspirations to play international cricket, I just kind of fell into it. I always played in the backyard with my brother, but I was in the thirds at school and in the thirds at my club side,” Nannes explained.

Nannes made a sluggish start to his career as a cricketer mainly due to the fact that he was an accomplished skier. The Victorian travelled the world competing in World Cup skiing events, so he is an athlete in every sense of the word.

It was only once his skiing career ended that a previously hidden talent for cricket emerged.

“After skiing, someone said I should go to my local club and try and get a game in the park.”

A flurry of wickets followed and “a couple of years later, someone said I should try to play first-class cricket” – and a first-class debut followed in 2005/6.

He was instrumental in Victoria winning Australia’s domestic twenty20 title in 2007/8 and he enjoyed a stint with Middlesex last year before Daredevils coach Greg Shipperd, who also coaches Victoria, signed him up for the IPL.

Nannes has a place in the starting line-up thanks to the fact that fellow Australian Glenn McGrath is still struggling to get over the tragic fact that his wife died last year after a long fight with cancer.

“To play ahead of the best fast bowler in history is unbelievable, I have to pinch myself. But he’s been fantastic, always offering me support and help. I wasn’t expecting too much when I came here, so when I heard I was going to play in the first game I was really happy for the opportunity,” Sports24 quotes Nannes, as saying.
Nannes, who was a student of the saxophone at Melbourne University and admits to a passable mastery of speaking Japanese, said his dreams of being a fast bowler were restricted to the days he fell asleep on the couch with a piece of salami in his hand watching West Indian greats Curtley Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner rip through the Australian batting in the 1980s. (ANI)

Swine flu check on air passengers reaching Delhi

New Delhi, May 1 (ANI): Authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport are screening passengers to check for swine flu symptoms.

Official said special medical counters were set up to attend to passengers.
“We have set up special counters so that passengers can be screened. Passengers are being asked to fill up forms to declare if they have recently visited countries like America, Mexico and Canada,” said Arun Arora, Associate Vice-President, Corporate Communication, Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Passengers said they were being asked whether they were suffering from swine flu.

“They are asking about have you had fever?, have you had rash?. They just ask you about the symptoms of swine flu and they screen you,” said Varva, a passenger.

On Thursday, a senior official of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that there is no swine flu in India, but added that should the virus hit the country, the government is fully prepared to handle it.

Vineet Choudhary, Joint Secretary, Health, said here that there is no suspected case of swine flu in India and that surveillance is in place at all airports.

Choudhary also said the Ministry is taking to companies that manufacture the antidote.

Earlier, the Government of Tripura had sounded an alert across the state to check an outbreak of the deadly virus, official sources said.

The announcements in India followed a World Health Organisation (WHO) warning that “all of humanity is under threat” from a potential swine flu pandemic.

The WHO raised the swine flu threat awareness level to 5 out of 6, indicating that the world is on the brink of a pandemic.

Holland and Switzerland both confirmed their first cases of swine flu on Thursday, bringing the total number of countries affected around the world to 11.

In Mexico there have been eight confirmed deaths from the virus, with another 160 suspected swine flu fatalities.

There have been 93 confirmed cases in the US, 19 in Canada, 13 in New Zealand, five in Britain, four in Germany, 10 in Spain, two in Israel, and one in Austria. (ANI)

No swine flu in India, says health ministry official

New Delhi, Apr.30 (ANI): A senior official of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said that there is no swine flu in India, but added that should the virus hit the country, the government is fully prepared to handle it.

Vineet Choudhary, Joint Secretary, Health, told a press conference here that there is no suspected case of swine flu in India and that surveillance is in place at all airports.

Choudhary also said the ministry is in talks with companies that manufacture the antidote.

Earlier, the Government of Tripura had sounded an alert across the state to check an outbreak of the deadly virus, official sources said.

The decision to issue the alert was taken at a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary of the Health Department, Yash Pal Singh. Two health directors S R Debbarma and R K Dhar were also present at the meeting.

Debbarma said four district level meetings would be organised soon with the chief medical officers and other health officials for making people aware of the disease.

The announcements in India followed a World Health Organisation (WHO) warning that “all of humanity is under threat” from a potential swine flu pandemic.

The WHO raised the swine flu threat awareness level to 5 out of 6, indicating that the world is on the brink of a pandemic.

Holland and Switzerland both confirmed their first cases of swine flu on Thursday, bringing the total number of countries affected around the world to 11.

In Mexico there have been eight confirmed deaths from the virus, with another 160 suspected swine flu fatalities.

There have been 93 confirmed cases in the US, 19 in Canada, 13 in New Zealand, five in Britain, four in Germany, 10 in Spain, two in Israel, and one in Austria.

WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans as she made the announcement late on Wednesday night.

Phase 5 indicates that there is evidence of the virus being spread from human-to-human in at least two countries in one WHO region. Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by increased and sustained transmission in the general population.

Dr Chan said that raising the alert level was a signal to governments, health officials and the pharmaceutical industry to take urgent action in readiness to tackle a pandemic. (ANI)