New Delhi, Sept 24: Union Minister of Labour and Employment (Independent charge) Oscar Fernendes on Wednesday reportedly apologised for his pro-worker remarks on the murder of the CEO of an Italy-based company in Greater Noida.

Sacked employees of the car-parts maker Graziano Transmissioni on Monday attacked Chief Executive Officer Lalit Kishore Chaudhary at the company’s office in Greater Noida, when discussions over a long-running labour dispute turned violent.

Describing the killing of Chaudhury as a fallout of the ‘simmering discontent among the workers,’ Fernendes on Tuesday said this should serve as a warning for managements.

New Delhi, Sept 24: The Northern Railways on Wednesday diverted 26 trains and cancelled 10 others due to the Yamuna river being spate.

According railway sources, the old Yamuna bridge has been closed to rail and road traffic since 3 a. m. in the wake of water level rising. The railway authorities also terminated 27 trains.

The Yamuna has crossed the danger mark and water level touched a high of 205.25 meters earlier this week. The river is still flowing above the danger mark.

New Delhi, Sep 24 : The first Chinese astronaut is likely to walk in space on Friday, a day after spacecraft Shenzhou VII lifts off.

The historic moment will be broadcast live across the world, said Cui Jijun, the commander-in-chief of the mission’s ground operation on Tuesday. He hoped that the space environment is expected to be fine for the mission.

Shenzhou VII is scheduled to blast off from Jiuquan in Gansu province on Thursday night, Xianhua reported.

The Shenzhou-VII mission entered the countdown stage after the final check on the spacecraft, the carrier rocket and the ground operation system was completed on Tuesday morning.

New Delhi, Sept 24 : The Supreme Court will today hear the case of extending ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

On August 25, the apex court had extended the ban on the SIMI by six weeks. A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan also fixed September 24 as the date for next hearing in this case.

The Centre had challenged the decision of the Special Tribunal headed by Justice Geeta Mittal to lift the ban on SIMI.

On August 6, a bench headed by the Chief Justice Balakrishnan had stayed a Special Tribunal order that had earlier ordered lifting restrictions on its activities.

The apex court had also issued notice to SIMI and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.

New Delhi, Sept 23 : As a tribute to the great patriotic poet Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinakar’, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi released a book on his birth centenary today.

The book, titled ‘Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinakar’: Vyaktitva aur Krititva’ has been written by Khagendra Thakur, a well-known critic and writer, and published by Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The book gives a detailed account of the creative and personal life of Dinakar.

New Delhi, Sept 23 : Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil undertook an aerial survey of flood affected areas of Orissa to day.

Union minister Chandra Shekhar, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition J B Patnaik, state Congress president Jaydev Jena and senior Home ministry officials accompanied Patil.

Patil also held a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and discussed the latest flood situation.