Author: Starvision News Desk

London, July 10 (IANS) The city council in Oxford in central southern England has approved plans to convert changing rooms at a derelict sports pavilion into a Hindu temple and a community centre, a media report said. The Oxford Hindu Temple Project will transform the football changing rooms located at Court Place Farm in Marston, Oxford the BBC reported. While plans for the internal design are due to be submitted, the new structure will house two halls in the building — one as a place of worship, and the second as a place for community gatherings. “We feel extraordinarily proud…

Islamabad, July 10 (IANS) After India released about 185,000 cusecs of water, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a flood alert and warned of heavy rain in the next 24 to 48 hours. The NDMA has notified that the release of water from India’s Ujh Barrage would cause the flow in the Ravi river to rise, which will be coupled with expected heavy rain showers in the next 48 hours. The Austhority has directed relevant government quarters to initiate evacuation drive of locals settled along the river and move locals to safer locations.“Last year, India had released 173,000…

New York, July 10 (IANS) An Indian-American doctor, accused of deliberately driving his wife and two kids off a 250-foot California cliff, suffers from a major depressive disorder and needs treatment, his lawyers have said.Dharmesh Patel, a 42-year-old radiologist, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse in February to which he pleaded not guilty. According to the New York Post, Patel received a diagnosis that would allow him to enter a statewide diversion program and avoid jail time in connection with his attempted murder case. During a July 31 hearing, a judge will lay out the process for…

Beijing, July 10 (IANS) China’s Ministry of Water Resources on Monday activated a level-IV emergency response for flood risks in Shandong and Sichuan provinces.From Tuesday to Friday, heavy rain will lash parts of Sichuan and Shandong, causing water levels of rivers to rise sharply, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.Multiple rivers are expected to see water levels exceed their warning lines, according to the Ministry.China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with level I being the most severe response.–IANSksk

The Hague, July 10 (IANS) Just two days after the collapse of his government, Mark Rutte, the longest-serving Dutch Prime Minister, on Monday announced his departure from politics.In a brief statement prior to the debate on the fall of his fourth government in The Hague, Rutte stated that he will no longer be available as leader of his People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the next elections slated to take place later this year, reports Xinhua news agency.On Saturday, the 56-year-old had announced the collapse of his government after a failure to reach an agreement on an immigration…

Lucknow, July 10 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government has decided that voluntary blood donors can now use their donor cards in exchange for blood from any of the state-run blood banks in the state.The state blood transfusion council (SBTC) announced that the blood donor cards issued by any of the government blood banks after voluntary blood donation can be redeemed at all the state blood banks.Earlier, the donor card could be exchanged only at the same blood bank that issued the card.Donor cards are issued for each unit of blood donated voluntarily and for which blood is not obtained in…

Wellington, July 10 (IANS) New Zealand and the European Union (EU) have signed a ground-breaking Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will provide “significant new trade access” to the country’s fourth-largest trading partner, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday.The FTA will increase New Zealand’s exports to the EU by up to NZ$1.8 billion per year by 2035, Xinhua news agency quoted Hipkins as saying.Tariff savings on New Zealand exports are NZ$100 million from day one of the agreement entering into force, the highest immediate tariff saving delivered by any New Zealand FTA, he said, adding that is around three times…

Tokyo, July 10 (IANS) A woman in her 70s died after a landslide hit her house in Fukuoka prefecture on Monday as heavy rain pounded parts of Japan’s southwestern region, local media reported.An emergency call was made at around 3.40 a.m. on Monday that an elderly couple were trapped in their house in the town of Soeda due to the landslide, Xinhua quoted Kyodo News as saying citing local authorities.The woman was later confirmed dead while her husband was slightly injured, it added.The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said Kurume in Fukuoka logged record rainfall for a three-hour period of 167…

Beijing, July 10 (IANS) China’s National Meteorological Centre on Monday renewed an orange alert, the second-highest alert level for high temperatures, as scorching heat waves continue to sweep the country.During daylight hours on Monday, temperatures in parts of north China, regions between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River, regions south of the Yangtze River, south China and Sichuan Basin are forecast to exceed 35 degrees Celsius, Xinhua news agency quoted the Cetnre as saying.In some areas of Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Zhejiang and Fujian, temperatures may surpass 40 degrees.People have been advised to avoid outdoor activities during high-temperature periods, and…

Canberra, July 10 (IANS) Australian supermarket giant Woolworths on Monday announced that the country’s first batch of “tearless” onions will hit the shelves in stores across New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory from Wednesday until September.”The unique onion variety is exactly as the name implies, an onion that’s less likely to make you cry when you cut it,” Xinhua news agency quoted Woolworths as saying in a statement.According to the statement, the tearless variety contains fewer natural chemicals and enzymes, also known as volatile compounds, that can cause tears and irritation.In addition, these compounds continue to reduce…