Earth to be closest to Sun tomorrow

New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Stargazers will get a celestial treat on New Year with Sun coming nearest to our planet tomorrow.

The Earth will be at its nearest point from the Sun at 10:10 AM tomorrow at a distance of 147 million km, Planetary Society of India General Secretary N Sri Raghunandan Kumar said today.

Gang-rape: I have written to all parties to facilitate decision making, says Shinde

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday said he has written letters to all political parties asking them to send their suggestions on the issue of laws relating to crimes against women to the Justice Verma Committee so that it is easier to take decisions.

"I have written to all the political parties to give their suggestions to the Justice Verma Committee to facilitate the decision making," Shinde told mediapersons outside the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) here.

The Home Minister, however, refused to comment on the opposition's demand for an all-party meeting to discuss the contentious issue.

Shinde had earlier on Saturday said that the rape laws would be made more stringent.

"Government is committed to seek deterrent punishment for all the culprits. Government is also committed to make necessary changes in the law to make it more stringent so that such incidents do not recur in future," said Shinde is his condolence message on the demise of the gang-rape victim.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram had yesterday rubbished the BJP''s demand to convene a special session of Parliament.

Chidambaram said the government has already set up a committee headed by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice JS Verma to review the existing criminal laws to provide more severe punishment in cases of sexual assault on women.

The Finance Minister, who was responding to a media query on BJP's demand for a special session in this regard, said the need for a special session for the passage of more stringent law might arise only after the submission of the report by the committee.

The committee - headed by former Chief Justice of India JS Verma - was constituted to look into possible amendments to criminal law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for those accused of ''sexual assault of extreme nature against women''. The committee is to submit its report within a month.

The girl, a physiotherapy student, was gang raped and brutally assaulted allegedly by six men in a moving bus in South Delhi on the night of December 16.

Happy Birthday: Actor Vidya Balan turns 35 today Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/happy-birthday-vidya-balan-turns-35/1/240327.html

Happy Birthday! Actor Vidya Balan  will be celebrating her 35th birthday on January 1 , 2013 with her family members. She came back from her Caribbean honeymoon to spend New Year and her birthday with her parents and in laws.

The actor ended the year 2012 by marrying UTV CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur in a non-glamorous wedding sans any Bollywood celebrity with the exception of Rekha getting invited for her menehdi ceremony.

Vidya's wedding took place with minimum fuss and simplicity.

Hyderabad: 23-yr-old Osmania University student found dead, classmate absconding

Hyderabad: A 23-year-old post-graduate student of Osmania University in Hyderabad was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Monday night. She was found at the residence of her classmate who is now absconding.
Police say that the victim appears to have been strangled to death.
The police are not ruling out a possible case of sexual assault but are awaiting the post mortem report.

Tamil Nadu: rapists will be booked under modified 'Goondas Act'

Responding to the protests across the nation, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday ordered toughest action against rapists and sexual offenders in the state and set up fast track courts in all the districts to speed up the justice delivery system.

The chief minister favored death for rapists and chemical castration to prevent them from repeating such an offense.

She has also asked the center to immediately amend laws relating to rape, so that people dare not even think of indulging in the crime.
In a written order the chief minister also announced the launching of 24x7 women's helpline that will be monitored by senior police officials.
Reviewing of the 'Goondas act' and its modification to make it tougher, stricter are part of Jayalalithaa's plan to deal with the rapists and criminals targeting women in an exemplary manner.
The rapists will be booked under a modified 'Goondas Act', she said in her order issued a few hours ago on Tuesday.
Coming down heavily against crime against women, the chief minister asked the top police officials to review the pending rape cases and ensure that they get justice.
Application of modified provisions of the 'Goondas Act' will ensure that the accused do not escape.

Delhi government announces a job, Rs. 15 lakhs for 'Amanat's' family

New Delhi: The Delhi government has announced a government job for one member of Amanat's (NOT her real name) family along with Rs 15 lakhs.

Amanat, 23, died of the horrific injuries she received during a one-hour attack of unmitigated depravity by six men.  Her male companion and she were assaulted with an iron rod before she was raped by each of the men. The couple was then thrown from the bus onto the road.

The medical student died in Singapore on Saturday, three days after she was flown on an air ambulance with her family to a hospital there famous for its expertise in organ transplants.

She was cremated on Sunday morning in Delhi.

Thousands of Indians have been lining the streets with candles and placards, vowing that her death is not in vain, and that they will lobby for better safety for women along with a stronger and more effective legal system for cases of sexual assault.

Amanat's parents sold the small piece of land they owned to give her the education she was so passionate about.

U.N. chief expresses sorrow at death of Delhi gang-rape victim

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has voiced “deep sorrow” at the death of the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim, asking the Indian government to implement reforms to deter such crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr. Ban “utterly condemns this brutal crime” and expresses “deep sorrow” at the death of the girl, who was brutally gang-raped and assaulted by six men in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, and succumbed to her severe injuries at a Singapore hospital on Saturday.

The death of the girl, whose body was cremated in Delhi on Sunday morning, led to a massive outpouring of grief and anger across India.

Millions of Indians held candle-light vigils and protests demanding immediate action from the government to punish perpetrators of the heinous crime and strengthen laws that deal with violence against women.

Mr. Ban welcomed efforts of the Indian government to take urgent action in the case and called for “further steps and reforms to deter such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice,” a statement issued on Saturday by the U.N. Secretary General’s spokesperson said here.

He also encouraged the Indian government to strengthen critical services for rape victims and said the U.N. Women and other agencies of the United Nations stand ready to support such reform efforts with technical expertise and other support as required.

The U.N. chief offered his sincerest condolences to the girl’s parents, family and friends.

“Violence against women must never be accepted, never excused, never tolerated. Every girl and woman has the right to be respected, valued and protected,” he added.

Woman held for New York subway death

A 31-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday and charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime in connection with the death of an Indian who was pushed onto the track of an elevated subway station at Queens in New York and crushed by an oncoming train.

Erika Menendez selected her victim because she believed him to be a Muslim or a Hindu, said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown.

“The defendant is accused of committing what is every subway commuter's nightmare: being suddenly and senselessly pushed into the path of an oncoming train,” Mr. Brown said in an interview.

In a statement, he quoted Menendez, “in sum and substance,” as having told the police: “I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslims ever since 2001 when they put down the twin towers I've been beating them up.” She conflated the Muslim and Hindu faiths both in her comments to the police and in her target for attack, officials said.

The victim, Sunando Sen, was born in India and, according to a roommate, was raised Hindu.

Sen “was allegedly shoved from behind and had no chance to defend himself,” Mr, Brown said. “Beyond that, the hateful remarks allegedly made by the defendant and which precipitated the defendant's actions should never be tolerated by a civilised society.”

Mr. Brown said he had no information on the defendant's criminal or mental history.

“It will be up to the court to determine if she is fit to stand trial,” he said.

Menendez, of Queens, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. By charging her with murder as a hate crime, the possible minimum sentence she faced would be extended to 20 years from 15 years, according to prosecutors.

On Saturday night, Menendez, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, was escorted from the 112th Precinct to a waiting car by three detectives. Greeted by camera flashes and dozens of reporters, she let out a loud, unintelligible moan. She did not respond to reporters’ questions.

The attack occurred around 8 p.m. on Thursday at the 40th Street-Lowery Street station in Sunnyside.

Sen, 46, was looking out over the track when the woman approached him from behind and shoved him onto the track, according to the police. Sen never saw her, the police said.

The woman fled the station, running down two flights of stairs and down the street.

By the next morning, a brief and grainy black-and-white video of the woman, who the police said was behind the attack, was being broadcast on news programmes.

Patrol officers picked up Menendez after someone who had seen the video on television spotted her on a Brooklyn street and called 911, said Paul J. Browne, chief spokesman for the Police Department. She was taken to Queens and later placed in line-ups, according to detectives. —

Justice for 'Amanat': protesters say movement will continue

Car Bombing Targeting Shiites in Pakistan Kills 19

(QUETTA, Pakistan) — A car bomb targeting a bus carrying Shiite Muslim pilgrims killed 19 people in southwest Pakistan, officials and eyewitnesses said.
Earlier Sunday, 21 tribal policemen believed to have been kidnapped by the Taliban were found shot dead in Pakistan’s troubled northwest tribal region, government officials said.
Reports conflicted about whether the car bombing was a suicide attack or the device was detonated remotely.
Pakistan has experienced a spike in killings over the last year by radical Sunni Muslims targeting Shiites, whom they consider heretics. The violence has been especially pronounced in Baluchistan province, where the latest attack occurred.
In addition to the 19 people killed in the bombing in Baluchistan’s Mastung district, 25 others were wounded, many of them critically, said Tufail Ahmed, a local political official. The blast destroyed the bus and damaged a nearby bus also carrying Shiites.
Ahmed and a person who was riding in the second bus, Mohammed Ayan Danish, said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
The bomber “rammed a small car into the first bus, which contained 43 pilgrims,” said Danish.
But Akbar Durrani, the home secretary in Baluchistan, said the explosion was caused by a car packed with explosives that was parked beside the road and detonated by remote control.
(MORE: Why We’re Stuck with Pakistan)
The pilgrims who were targeted were headed to Iran, a majority Shiite country that is a popular religious tourism destination, Ahmed said.
Shiites make up around 15 percent of Pakistan’s 190 million people. Baluchistan has the largest community, mainly made up of ethnic Hazaras, identifiable from their facial resemblance to Central Asians.
An escalation in recent years of Sunni extremists’ attacks against Shiites in Pakistan has been fueled mainly by the group Laskar-e-Jangvhi, aligned to Pakistani Taliban militants in the tribal region. More than 300 Shiites have been killed in Pakistan this year, according to Human Rights Watch.
The violence has pushed Baluchistan deeper into chaos. The province was already facing an armed insurgency by ethnic Baluch separatists who frequently attack security forces and government facilities. Now the secessionist violence has been overtaken by increasingly bold attacks against Shiites.
The sectarian bloodshed adds another layer to the turmoil in Pakistan, where the government is fighting an insurgency by the Pakistani Taliban and where many fear Sunni hard-liners are gaining strength. Shiites and rights group say the government does little to protect Shiites and that militants are emboldened by their perceived links to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.
The 21 tribal policemen who were shot dead were found shortly after midnight Sunday in the Jabai area of Frontier Region Peshawar after being notified by one policeman who escaped, said Naveed Akbar Khan, a top political official in the area. Another policeman was found seriously wounded, Khan said.
The 23 policemen went missing before dawn Thursday when militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons attacked two posts in Frontier Region Peshawar. Two policemen were killed in the attacks.
Militants lined the policemen up on a cricket pitch late Saturday night and gunned them down, said another local official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.
Also Sunday, two Pakistani army soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in the North Waziristan tribal area, the main sanctuary for Taliban and al-Qaida militants in the country, security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with official policy.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the escalating violence, especially the continuing targeting of religions minorities, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
“These cruel acts of violence cannot be justified by any cause or grievance,” Ban’s spokesman said. “Their perpetrators should be brought to justice.”
The secretary-general stressed the U.N.’s solidarity and support for the government and people of Pakistan and “their efforts to defend their country’s institutions and freedoms in the face of the scourge of terrorism,” Nesirky said.

Three China ships in territorial waters: Japan

TOKYO — Three Chinese government ships have entered territorial waters around East China Sea islands at the centre of a dispute with Tokyo, Japan's coastguard said.
One of the surveillance ships entered waters around the islands known as the Senkakus in Japan and Diaoyus in China at around 1:32pm (0432 GMT), while another followed about 20 minutes later, the coastguard said.
The third vessel entered the waters around the islands, controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing, at about 2:35 pm, it said.
The ships were spotted by coastguard aircraft which were patrolling the region, and were later ordered by a Japanese patrol vessel to leave the area, the coastguard said.
In response, the third Chinese vessel reiterated Beijing's claim.
"The ship responded in Chinese by saying in essence that Diaoyu and related islands are an inherent part of Chinese territory," a Japanese coastguard spokesman told AFP.
The three ships were still inside what Japan claims as its territorial waters as of 3:50 pm (0650 GMT), the Japanese coastguard said.
China has repeatedly sailed into waters around the disputed islands since Japan nationalised the chain in September.
Beijing sent its ships into the area as recently as December 21, after the conservative Liberal Democratic Party swept to a landslide election victory in Japan.
Newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he wishes to mend Tokyo's ties with Beijing.
But analysts predict that China is unlikely to change its claim to the islands and will probably continue to send its ships into the surrounding waters to bring the world's attention to the dispute.
Earlier in December, a state-owned Chinese plane breached Japanese airspace over the islands. Tokyo responded by scrambling fighter jets and said it was the first time Beijing had breached its airspace since 1958.

17 elephant deaths in Odisha's Ganjam district this year

Has Odisha's Ganjam district become a graveyard for elephants? One can presume so going by the number of jumbo deaths this year.
Altogether 17 elephants were killed in the district, the latest being at Sabalaya under Khallikote forest range where six were killed when they were hit by a train yesterday.
Of the elephants killed, nine were females, three males and five calves.
The deaths were reported from the forest ranges of Muzagada, Khallikote, Buguda, Gallery and Tarsingi, official sources said.
While seven were killed on railway tracks, six died of electrocution and the others to disease or old age, they said.
A female elephant and its two-month-old calf died of electrocution at Kanakhai forests in Khallikote forest range on October 7.
Another female elephant and its male calf died after coming into contact with electric wires laid by poachers at Karadabani forests under Gallery range in Ghumusar (North) division on October 6.
A tusker died of electrocution at Karchuli jungle in Buguda range on September 26.
The elephants had migrated from the Chandaka elephant sanctuary near Bhubaneswar and from Gajapati district to forests in Ganjam in search of food. 
Following the deaths, forest officials said they were tracking the elephants for informing people in nearby areas and the railways.
Additional staff have been deployed to patrol forests.
"We have also sensitised the people to ensure safety of the wild animals," divisional forest officer, Berhampur, SS Mishra said.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Ghumusar (North), K C Mishra said that patrols have been doubled by engaging more people on contract.
"We have also declared rewards for information about laying of electric wires in jungles for poaching," he said.

Minor molested in bus was earlier raped by brother

Fresh facts have emerged in the case of a minor girl molested in a bus here with police arresting her teenaged brother for allegedly raping her six months ago and molesting her thereafter.
The tragic story of the girl unfolded yesterday after the 16-year-old girl recorded her statement with police. Her brother Nazakkat Ali (19) was arrested following her complaint.

The girl was molested on Saturday night allegedly by a conductor when she had ran away from her house following harassment by her family. The conductor Ranjit Singh was arrested in connection with the case, which comes close on the heels of the brutal gangrape of a girl in a moving bus in south Delhi.

Police went to her house in west Delhi's Khyala yesterday to record her statement during which she told investigators about her ordeal. A senior police official said her father had married thrice and they were living with his third wife. She claimed that there were problems in the family.

"She also told us that her brother had raped her six months ago and was molesting her thereafter. We have arrested the boy," the official said. On Saturday night, the girl had left her house at around 9:30 pm and when the bus reached Mandi House at around 11 pm, police personnel noticed the girl inside the bus alone crying.

A case of kidnapping was found registered about her at Khyala police station after her family approached police.

Sonia Gandhi not to celebrate New Year in view of Delhi gangrape inciden

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will not be celebrating the New Year in view of the gangrape incident in the national capital.
"Sonia Gandhi has appealed to partymen and well-wishers against coming to her to extend New Year greetings in the wake of gangrape incident," party General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said here today.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi were present at the airport when the mortal remains of the 23-year-old gangrape victim were flown in here yesterday morning from Singapore where she was shifted from Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital for treatment. She died in Singapore's Mount Elizebeth Hospital on Saturday morning.
Both Singh and Gandhi had spoken to the family members and consoled them.
"December 28 is close to New Year. Normally, we wish each other but not so this time as our thoughts are with the young woman...," she had told reporters on the 127th Foundation Day of Congress at AICC headquarters here on Friday.
Gandhi has sought speedy action against the perpetrators of the "barbarous" attack on the girl who was brutally raped and assaulted in a moving bus on December 16 in South Delhi.

South Asia a danger zone for journos

South Asia continued dangerous place in the world for journalists accounting 25 killings, out of total 70 across the world in 2012. As many as 13 journalists have lost lives in Pakistan, followed by 5 in India, 3 in Bangladesh, two each in Nepal and Afghanistan. Syria, however, tops the list in the world withnessing killings of 28 journalists followed by 12 in Somalia.
A south Asia media monitor report released here says that violence against journalists and theirphysical security remained a major issue and one of the biggest threats to freedom of expression in most of South Asia. Insurgency-hit Balochistan and the northern parts of Pakistan were the most dangerous areas with the range of threats and trauma growing. Journalists here had to steer a perilous course between hostile elements losing 13 of their peers.
The report, while chronicling the pulls and pressures against media in India during 2012, however, fails to mention severe thrashing received by journalists while covering outrage against gang-rape in Delhi.
It mentions that media persons in the conflict zones — Jammu and Kashmir, north-eastern states, Jharkhand — were targeted by non-state actors, enjoying support of extremist elements. Threats of murder and “death sentences” in the north-east and conflicting pressures from militants and official agencies elsewhere made their job extremely difficult. Ironically there were mini conflict zones in “normal” states as well.
The five journalists who lost their lives were, Chandrika Rai (February), Rajesh Mishra (March), Raihan Nayum (September), Chaitali Santra (September) and Thangjam Dijamani, Prime News channel (December). Only Mishra’s killers were caught red-handed.
Apart from these deaths, 22 attacks – in one incident a large crowd attacked 100 journalists covering local election results in Uttar Pradesh, damaging their equipment — and threats against journalists, writers, cartoonists, filmmakers, theatre-persons and artists were recorded in 2012.

Hillary Clinton hospitalized

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was hospitalized with blood clot, and is being treated with anti-coagulant, her spokesman said Sunday night.
"In the course of a follow-up exam today, Secretary Clinton's doctors discovered a blood clot had formed, stemming from the concussion she sustained several weeks ago," Clinton's spokesman, Philippe Reines, said in a statement.
Reines added that Clinton is being treated at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and her doctor continues to monitor her condition in order to determine if any further action is needed.
Clinton has encountered a number of health problems recently. On Dec. 15, she fainted and hit her head, consequently sustaining a concussion.
Prior to that, Clinton had just canceled her scheduled trip to North Africa and the Middle East due to a stomach virus.
Clinton, 65, has said she will step down as secretary of state when President Barack Obama finishes his first term. Obama has tapped Democratic Senator John Kerry as her successor.
Related:
Hillary Clinton faints, has concussion
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has fainted and hit her head, sustaining a concussion, her spokesman said Saturday.
"While suffering from a stomach virus, Secretary Clinton became dehydrated and fainted, sustaining a concussion," spokesman Philippe Reines said in a statement. "She has been recovering at home and will continue to be monitored regularly by her doctors." 

Protest continues at Jantar Mantar; traffic restrictions eased

NEW DELHI: Demanding justice for 23-year-old woman who was gang-raped in a moving bus in the national capital, the protesters continued to gather at Jantar Mantar on Monday, a day after she was cremated.

Various student groups, women activists and citizens who gathered at Jantar Mantar said the protests would continue.

"We will fight for the girl. I'm on hunger strike for the past three days and will continue till the gang-rape victim gets justice and fast-track courts hear cases of sexual harassment," Babusingh Ram, who is sitting on a hunger strike told a news channel.

Students organisation All India Students Association (AISA) has decided to organise a protest march at 3pm from the Central Park in Connaught Place.

"We are expecting at least a thousand students to participate in the march. We wil raise our voice till our demands are met," Sucheta De, general secretary, AISA said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police lifted all traffic restrictions during the day. However, partial restrictions will be back from 7pm in view of New Year celebrations.

"No vehicle will be allowed after 7pm in and around Connaught Place in central Delhi beyond Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg crossing, Bengali Market, and Chelmsford Road," a Delhi traffic police advisory said.

Apart from this, three Metro Stations - Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Patel Chowk - will shut down early at 7.30pm on Monday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Sunday.

"The commuters will not be allowed to enter or leave the three stations because of security restrictions for New Year celebrations," Delhi Metro said in a statement. Tickets will not be sold at these stations after 7.15pm.

However, the passengers will be able to interchange stations at Rajiv Chowk till 11pm. All other stations on the Delhi Metro network will function as usual.

The 23-year-old victim, who was gang-raped Dec 16 in a moving bus was quietly cremated on Sunday morning after her body was flown in from Singapore, where she succumbed to her injuries in a hospital.

13 journalists killed in Pakistan, five in India this year

Pakistan saw the highest number of journalists losing their lives in South Asia with 13 of them dying in the line of duty, followed by India with five among a total of 25 media persons falling victim to violence.

"In 2012, South Asia- the most volatile region- mourned the murder of 25 media persons, with Pakistan again remaining in the lead. 13 journalists lost their lives in Pakistan, followed by five in India, three in Bangladesh, and two each in Nepal and Afghanistan," a report of the South Asia Media Monitor said.
The report states that though no journalist was killed in Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives, mediapersons there continued to face professional challenges and hazards.
"The media also came under scrutiny for laxity in professionalism in achieving accuracy and being unbiased," the report said.
Insurgency affected Balochistan and the northern parts of Pakistan were the most dangerous areas with the range of threats and trauma growing.
In India, five killings point to the dangers journalism faced apart from the constant pressure of commercialisation. Tensions persisted in the conflict prone regions such as Kashmir, the report said.
It claimed that journalists working in North-East India face threats from both the Maoists and the security agencies.
In Sri Lanka, media has seen no major improvement even after the end of the civil strife there, the report said.
The Indian journalists who lost their lives in 2012 were Chandrika Rai, Rajesh Mishra, Raihan Nayum, Chaitali Santra and Thangjam Dijamani.
Journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern states and Jharkhand were targeted.
"Ironically, there were mini-conflict zones in 'normal' states as well," the report said.
South Asia Media Monitor rued that there was little advance towards evolving a credible regulatory mechanism.
"Self-regulation in the electronic media touched only the fringe of TV programmes while it was not even tried in the print media. All were, however, opposed to government control in any form," the report said.

Delhi Metro stations around Connaught Place to close early on New Year eve

NEW DELHI: Three Metro stations in and around Connaught Place will be closed three-and-a-half hours before the usual time tomorrow in view of security restrictions due to New Year celebrations.

Rajiv Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Patel Chowk Metro stations will be closed from 7:30 PM on New Year's Eve.

However, inter-change will be allowed at Rajiv Chowk station.

Sale of tickets at the three Metro stations will stop at 7.15 PM and shutters of all entry gates will be closed at 7:30 PM.

"However, interchange facility between Line-2 (HUDA City Centre - Jahangirpuri) and Line-3/4 (Dwarka Sec-21 - NOIDA City Centre/Vaishali) will remain operational at Rajiv Chowk Metro station till the end of revenue services, i.e, 11 PM," a Delhi Metro spokesman said.

Services at all other Metro corridors and stations will continue normally.

Delhi gang-rape: PCI cancels New Year's celebrations

The Press Club of India has cancelled its New Year's celebrations following nation-wide grief over the death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim.
"We are not going to celebrate New Year's eve in the club as a mark of respect to the brave girl who died after battling for life for 13 days," Anil Anand, Secretary General PCI, said in Delhi on Sunday.
"We condole the death of the girl," he said.
"Tomorrow, the club will remain open but there will be no celebrations," he said.