Latest news with #LIU
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
What is fusarium graminearum?Chinese couple attempted to smuggle deadly fungus into U.S.
Two Chinese researchers have been charged with smuggling a "potential agroterrorism weapon" — fusarium graminearum — into the United States. Biological pathogens were discovered in Zunyong Liu's luggage at the airport in Detroit. The 34-year old told authorities he was visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33. They are both citizens of the People's Republic of China and were reportedly receiving funding from the Chinese government for their research. According to the Department of Justice report, it's alleged that "Jian's boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America - through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport - so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked." The pathogens could be used as a biological weapon, causing disease or harm to other living organisms such as humans, animals or plants. Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office said 'These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety." "LIU stated that he intentionally hid the samples in his backpack because he knew there were restrictions on the importation of the materials," according to the complaint. "LIU confirmed that he had intentionally put the samples in a wad of tissues so CBP Officers would be less likely to find and confiscate them, and he could continue his research in the United States." The University of Michigan issued a statement on Tuesday condemning "any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission." Adding, "It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals." Fusarium graminearum is a fungal plant pathogen that produces toxins such as deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, which can contaminate grains and poses health risks to humans and animals when infected. The FBI says the toxic fungus causes causes ''head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock." This article originally appeared on What is fusarium graminearum? Chinese researcher charged
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
900-year-old traditiondisrupted: No Bale Miyanfair in Gorakhpur this yr
Gorakhpur: For the first time in what is believed to be a 900-year-old tradition , the iconic Bale Miyan fair in Gorakhpur will not take place this year. The month-long event held in memory of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi—locally called Bale Miyan—was scheduled to begin on May 18. However, the district administration has not granted the necessary security clearance, effectively stalling the fair, claimed the dargah mutawalli (custodian). Notably, the district administration has, however, declared May 19 a local holiday for the urs of Bale Miyan. Earlier this month, the Bahraich district administration had denied nod for the annual Jeth Mela held at the shrine of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi in Bahraich too, citing an LIU report flagging law and order concerns. Before this the state government had denied permission for holding the Sambhal's Neja Mela, also in the name of Salar Masud. This was followed by CM Yogi Adityanath's assertion that glorification of invaders amounted to treason which an "independent India will not tolerate".
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
900-year-old tradition disrupted: No Bale Miyan fair in Gorakhpur this year
Gorakhpur : For the first time in what is believed to be a 900-year-old tradition , the iconic Bale Miyan fair in Gorakhpur will not take place this year. The month-long event held in memory of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi—locally called Bale Miyan—was scheduled to begin on May 18. However, the district administration has not granted the necessary security clearance, effectively stalling the fair, claimed the dargah mutawalli (custodian). Notably, the district administration has, however, declared May 19 a local holiday for the urs of Bale Miyan. Earlier this month, the Bahraich district administration had denied nod for the annual Jeth Mela held at the shrine of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi in Bahraich too, citing an LIU report flagging law and order concerns. Before this the state government had denied permission for holding the Sambhal's Neja Mela, also in the name of Salar Masud. This was followed by CM Yogi Adityanath's assertion that glorification of invaders amounted to treason which an "independent India will not tolerate". The Bale Miyan fair is usually held on the banks of the Rapti river in Bahrampur, where a sprawling ground hosts the festivities. Despite the announcement made by dargah mutawalli Mohammad Islam Hashmi earlier this month, no visible preparations have taken place at the venue. While the committee had formally written seeking security arrangements, officials have not taken any decision so far. Adding to the uncertainty, large amounts of construction material have been stockpiled at the fairground due to the ongoing widening work of the Herbert Dam. "In previous years, the local administration always began preparations for the fair. This year, things were different though. Since we didn't hear anything from the district administration, we submitted a letter to the divisional commissioner seeking security arrangements at the fair. We didn't hear back from them though," the mutawalli said. TOI has a copy of the letter submitted to the divisional commissioner on March 18. According to Hashmi, the fair was supposed to run until June 16. However, as of Saturday evening, the usual hustle and bustle was missing, indicating that only a few devotees might arrive for prayers—without the festive environment the fair typically brings. On the contrary, ADM (city) Anjani Kumar said, "I have not received any request letter so far for the Bale Miyan fair. They only informed us that they will do some rituals, distribute prasad and also offer chadar on the shrine inside the premises. They also informed us that they will set up 15 shops inside their campus, which requires no approval as it is inside their premises." Salar Masood, a semi-legendary figure, is believed to be the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni and served as his military commander. The main source of information about him is contained in Mirat-i-Masudi, a Persian-language hagiography written by Abdur Rahman Chishti during the reign of Jahangir. According to Mirat-i-Masudi, Ghazi was killed in a battle with Maharaja Suheldev of Shravasti at Bahraich in 1034 CE. Where he is believed to have been buried is now the Dargah Sharif in Bahraich. Though Ghazi doesn't find mention in any contemporary 11th century Ghaznavid chronicles, he had become a well-known figure in Delhi Sultanate by the 12th century, when the pilgrimage to his tomb in Bahraich appears to have started.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
22 kids among 90 from Bangladesh held in Mathura
Representative image AGRA/DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR: As many as 90 Bangladeshi nationals, including 22 children, were taken into custody in Mathura district for allegedly staying in India illegally. The group was apprehended from brickyards in Khajpur village under Naujheel police station limits in the temple town. Separately, Uttarakhand police also arrested two foreign nationals — a US citizen and a Bangladeshi woman — during a verification drive. Acting on a tip-off received Friday, joint teams from Mathura's Naujheel police station and the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) conducted a raid and detained 37 men, 31 women, and 22 children. During the operation, police also seized 31 mobile phones, two Aadhaar cards, four photocopies of Aadhaar cards, and one PAN card. A senior Mathura police official involved in the probe told TOI, 'During questioning, they told us they had arrived 10 to 15 years ago, crossing porous borders. After that, they moved around in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar etc. They were in Mathura for nearly 3–4 months, while some arrived 15–20 days ago in the city. We've started questioning the contractors and owners of the brick yards where they were working.' He added that some of the children are as young as two to three months. Mathura SSP Shlok Kumar said, 'A case has been filed under Section 14 of Foreigners Act, 1946 and BNS Sections 318(4) (cheating), 338 (forgery), 336 (altering documents), 340(2) (forged document or electronic record as genuine, knowing it to be forged). The Aadhaar cards seized from them are from UP's Pratapgarh and other districts. Central agencies have also been informed about this, and we will move ahead in the direction of deporting them lawfully.' Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, police arrested a US national from Pithoragarh on April 30 and a Bangladeshi woman from Haridwar on Thursday. Both were found to be residing in the state without valid documents.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
90 Bangladeshis, including 22 kids, held in UP; 2 foreign nationals arrested in U'khand
Agra/Dehradun/Haridwar: As many as 90 Bangladeshi nationals, including 22 children, were taken into custody in Mathura district for allegedly staying in India illegally. The group was apprehended from brickyards in Khajpur village under Naujheel police station limits in the temple town. Separately, Uttarakhand police also arrested two foreign nationals — a US citizen and a Bangladeshi woman — during a verification drive. Acting on a tip-off received Friday evening, joint teams from Mathura's Naujheel police station and the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) conducted a raid and detained 37 men, 31 women, and 22 children. During the operation, police also seized 31 mobile phones, two Aadhaar cards, four photocopies of Aadhaar cards, and one PAN card. A senior Mathura police official involved in the probe told TOI, "During questioning, they told us that they had arrived 10 to 15 years ago, crossing porous borders. After that, they moved around in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar etc. They were in Mathura for nearly 3–4 months, while some arrived 15–20 days ago in the city. We've started questioning the contractors and owners of the brick yards where they were working." He added that some of the children are as young as two to three months. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Need To Kill Time On Your Computer, This Popular Strategy Game Is A Must Heroes of History Undo Mathura SSP Shlok Kumar said, "A case has been filed in connection with the matter under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and BNS Sections 318(4) (cheating), 338 (forgery), 336 (altering documents), 340(2) (forged document or electronic record as genuine, knowing it to be forged). The Aadhaar cards seized from them are from UP's Pratapgarh and other districts. Central agencies have also been informed about this, and we will move ahead in the direction of deporting them lawfully. Apart from the arrested people, three other families are also under our scanner; they are claiming to be from Assam and West Bengal, but we are verifying their documents." On being asked about the detained children, Kumar said, "For kids, lawfully, there are child care homes, but in some cases, we allow them to stay with their mothers." Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, police arrested a US national from Pithoragarh on April 30 and a Bangladeshi woman from Haridwar on Thursday. Both were found to be residing in the state without valid documents. A senior officer told TOI that the US citizen, identified as Henry Mitchell, told police he had entered India through Delhi on a valid visa a few years ago, but continued to stay even after it expired and claimed he had lost his passport. He was booked under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act and sent to jail. Police have also written to the US embassy to verify his identity. The Bangladeshi woman, Rubina Khatoon, 30, is alleged to have entered India illegally a decade ago with her then-5-year-old son and relatives, police said. She had been living in Haridwar since 2018, where she met and married Santosh Dubey, a Pilibhit resident working as a daily wager. He allegedly arranged a fake Aadhaar card and other documents for her. SP (city), Haridwar, Pankaj Gairola said, "Following the revelations, she was arrested along with Dubey. Her 15-year-old son has also been apprehended. She was still in contact with her father back in Bangladesh. We are also collecting details about her relatives living in other parts of the country."
