Search operations are underway for the Panama-flag merchant ship, &quot;Marine Express&quot; with 22 Indian crew members which went missing from Benin coast in South Africa on Thursday.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to inform that she has spoken with Foreign Minister of Nigeria Geoffrey Onyeama and he assured to provide all the possible help.

&quot;I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing Merchant Ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon&#39;ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860,&quot; Swaraj tweeted.

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I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing Merchant Ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon&#39;ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860.
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/960551558961233920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The ship has gone missing less than a month after another vessel, &quot;MT Barret&quot;, disappeared off the coast of Benin in January, and was later confirmed to have been hijacked. The 22 crew of &quot;MT Barret&quot;, most of whom were Indians, were reportedly released after a ransom was paid.

The agent for the ship &quot;Marine Express&quot;, Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern said on Twitter on Friday that &ldquo;contact has been lost with the AE-managed MT Marine Express while at Cotonou, Benin. Last contact was on February 1. Authorities have been alerted and are responding.&rdquo;

The owners of the tanker, which was loaded with gas oil, have urged the Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai to get in touch with their counterparts in Nigeria and Benin to carry out search operations for the merchant ship.

The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management.&nbsp;

The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management. The last contact with the ship was made on February 1.

Search operations are underway for the Panama-flag merchant ship, "Marine Express" with 22 Indian crew members which went missing from Benin coast in South Africa on Thursday. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to inform that she has spoken with Foreign Minister of Nigeria Geoffrey Onyeama and he assured to provide all the possible help. "I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing Merchant Ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon'ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860," Swaraj tweeted. I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing Merchant Ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon'ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 5, 2018 × The ship has gone missing less than a month after another vessel, "MT Barret", disappeared off the coast of Benin in January, and was later confirmed to have been hijacked. The 22 crew of "MT Barret", most of whom were Indians, were reportedly released after a ransom was paid. The agent for the ship "Marine Express", Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern said on Twitter on Friday that “contact has been lost with the AE-managed MT Marine Express while at Cotonou, Benin. Last contact was on February 1. Authorities have been alerted and are responding.” The owners of the tanker, which was loaded with gas oil, have urged the Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai to get in touch with their counterparts in Nigeria and Benin to carry out search operations for the merchant ship. The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management.

Indian oil tanker missing feared hijacked, Swaraj seeks help from Nigeria

A Panama-flag merchant ship with 22 Indian crew members which went missing from Benin coast in South Africa on Thursday has still not been located.&nbsp;

The owners of tanker ship MT Marine Express, which was loaded with gas oil sought help from the directorate general of shipping in Mumbai - to conduct search operations with its counterparts in Nigeria and Benin.&nbsp;

Reports had earlier said that the tanker had been hijacked on January 9, however, another hijack is not ruled out yet.&nbsp;

Reports say that the Nigerian authorities have been alerted and search operations will be carried out to look for the missing tanker ship and report to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Anti-Piracy Reporting Centre immediately in London if found.&nbsp;

The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management. The last contact with the ship was made on February 1.&nbsp;

Reports had earlier said that the tanker had been hijacked on January 9, however, another hijack is not ruled out yet

A Panama-flag merchant ship with 22 Indian crew members which went missing from Benin coast in South Africa on Thursday has still not been located. The owners of tanker ship MT Marine Express, which was loaded with gas oil sought help from the directorate general of shipping in Mumbai - to conduct search operations with its counterparts in Nigeria and Benin. Reports had earlier said that the tanker had been hijacked on January 9, however, another hijack is not ruled out yet. Reports say that the Nigerian authorities have been alerted and search operations will be carried out to look for the missing tanker ship and report to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Anti-Piracy Reporting Centre immediately in London if found. The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management. The last contact with the ship was made on February 1.

MT Marine Express-Petrol tanker with 22 Indians still not located

A <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pawan-hans-chopper-crashes-off-mumbai-coast-4-bodies-found-29420" target="_blank">Pawan Hans</a> chopper carrying six senior officials and two pilots crashed on the Mumbai coast on Saturday, six bodies have been recovered so far.&nbsp;

Search operations are still on for the one body that is still missing.&nbsp;

&quot;Out of six bodies, five has been identified. The search for one missing is still underway&quot;, a senior police inspector said.

Officials have informed that the six bodies had been brought to the Cooper hospital for postmortem.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) identified two bodies which were of ONGC employees. There were five ONGC employees in total.

Currently, four Indian Naval ships (Teg, Tarasa, T 11 and T 45) are undertaking the search in the area.

The Pawan Hans helicopter with five ONGC officers, including three of the level of Deputy General Managers, went missing around 10.40 hours today.

The chopper, bearing registration number VT-PWA, was scheduled to land at the designated oil rig at Mumbai High at 11 am. Five employees of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots were onboard the chopper.

The cause of the tragic incident is still unknown.&nbsp;

Officials have informed that the six bodies had been brought to the Cooper hospital for postmortem

A Pawan Hans chopper carrying six senior officials and two pilots crashed on the Mumbai coast on Saturday, six bodies have been recovered so far. Search operations are still on for the one body that is still missing. "Out of six bodies, five has been identified. The search for one missing is still underway", a senior police inspector said. Officials have informed that the six bodies had been brought to the Cooper hospital for postmortem. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) identified two bodies which were of ONGC employees. There were five ONGC employees in total. Currently, four Indian Naval ships (Teg, Tarasa, T 11 and T 45) are undertaking the search in the area. The Pawan Hans helicopter with five ONGC officers, including three of the level of Deputy General Managers, went missing around 10.40 hours today. The chopper, bearing registration number VT-PWA, was scheduled to land at the designated oil rig at Mumbai High at 11 am. Five employees of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots were onboard the chopper. The cause of the tragic incident is still unknown.

Six bodies recovered in Pawan Hans helicopter crash

Rescuers picking through the waist-deep mud on Thursday, two days after a massive mudslide killed at least 17 people along Southern California&#39;s coast, said they feared more bodies may be found but still held out hope for &quot;miracle&quot; survivors.

The walls of fast-moving mud and debris that tore through hillside communities before dawn on Tuesday took the lives of three children, at least one married couple and two people in their 80s, officials said in releasing the names of the dead.

Authorities hiked the number of those considered missing to 43 at an afternoon press conference, up from eight earlier in the day, saying that some of those people may be out of town or in a hospital but that others may be deceased.

&quot;Realistically we suspect we are going to have the discovery of more people killed in this incident,&quot; Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.

Asked by reporters if the operation had shifted from a rescue to a recovery more than 48 hours after the mud came down, the sheriff said his crews had not given up hope.

&quot;There have been many miraculous stories of people lasting many days (following similar disasters) and certainly we are searching for a miracle right now,&quot; Brown said.

About 700 rescue workers in helicopters and high-wheeled military vehicles, some with search dogs, were deployed in the hunt for the missing in a disaster zone littered with the remnants of hundreds of damaged or destroyed homes.

Among the dead were an elderly woman whose house was washed away by mud, the founder of a Roman Catholic school and a real estate executive, according to friends, family and local news media.

The cause of death for all 17 will be listed as multiple traumatic injuries due to flash flood with mudslides, the Santa Barbara Sheriff&#39;s office said in a statement.

&quot;The Sheriff&#39;s Office wants to express our heartfelt sadness to the family and friends of those who lost their loved ones,&quot; it said.

Two of the victims were killed when their houses were swept away in the mudslides.

Josephine Gower, 69, died when she opened the door to her home, her son, Hayden Gower, told NBC station KSBY. Her daughter-in-law Sarah Gower confirmed Gower&#39;s death in a Facebook post. Her body was found that night, near a highway hit by the slide.

&quot;I told her to stay on the second floor, but she went downstairs and opened the door and just got swept away,&quot; Hayden Gower told KSBY. &quot;I should have just told her to leave. You just don&#39;t even think that this is possible.&quot;

Roy Rohter, 84-year-old founder of the St. Augustine Academy Roman Catholic school in Ventura, died when the slide swept him from his home in Montecito, according to school officials and local news media.

Rebecca Riskin, the 61-year-old founder of a real estate firm, was also killed in Montecito, according to the company and local news media.

&quot;She was in the house and was swept away,&quot; said Renee Grub, a friend of Riskin. &quot;I&#39;m told there was about 5 feet (1.5 m) of mud. She was a dear friend. She&#39;s so little she was only like 100 pounds (45.36 kg).&quot;

Heavy rains on hillsides denuded by last year&#39;s record wildfires triggered the mudslides, which also destroyed about 100 homes and injured at least 28 people, officials said.

The region&#39;s natural beauty and easy access to Los Angeles to the southeast have long attracted the rich and powerful, including television personality Oprah Winfrey, former tennis star Jimmy Connors, talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and actor Jeff Bridges.

&quot;Our home has been severely damaged, but we are safe, and so thankful for that and for the first responders who are working tirelessly to save people,&quot; Bridges wrote on Twitter. &quot;We are heartbroken over the loss of lives in our community.&quot;

Last month&#39;s spate of wildfires, including the largest in California history, burned away grass and shrubs that held soil in place, and baked a waxy layer into the earth that prevents water from sinking deeply into the ground.

At least 28 people were injured, authorities said, while 30,000 remained subject to mandatory evacuation orders

Rescuers picking through the waist-deep mud on Thursday, two days after a massive mudslide killed at least 17 people along Southern California's coast, said they feared more bodies may be found but still held out hope for "miracle" survivors. The walls of fast-moving mud and debris that tore through hillside communities before dawn on Tuesday took the lives of three children, at least one married couple and two people in their 80s, officials said in releasing the names of the dead. Authorities hiked the number of those considered missing to 43 at an afternoon press conference, up from eight earlier in the day, saying that some of those people may be out of town or in a hospital but that others may be deceased. "Realistically we suspect we are going to have the discovery of more people killed in this incident," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. Asked by reporters if the operation had shifted from a rescue to a recovery more than 48 hours after the mud came down, the sheriff said his crews had not given up hope. "There have been many miraculous stories of people lasting many days (following similar disasters) and certainly we are searching for a miracle right now," Brown said. About 700 rescue workers in helicopters and high-wheeled military vehicles, some with search dogs, were deployed in the hunt for the missing in a disaster zone littered with the remnants of hundreds of damaged or destroyed homes. Among the dead were an elderly woman whose house was washed away by mud, the founder of a Roman Catholic school and a real estate executive, according to friends, family and local news media. The cause of death for all 17 will be listed as multiple traumatic injuries due to flash flood with mudslides, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's office said in a statement. "The Sheriff's Office wants to express our heartfelt sadness to the family and friends of those who lost their loved ones," it said. Two of the victims were killed when their houses were swept away in the mudslides. Josephine Gower, 69, died when she opened the door to her home, her son, Hayden Gower, told NBC station KSBY. Her daughter-in-law Sarah Gower confirmed Gower's death in a Facebook post. Her body was found that night, near a highway hit by the slide. "I told her to stay on the second floor, but she went downstairs and opened the door and just got swept away," Hayden Gower told KSBY. "I should have just told her to leave. You just don't even think that this is possible." Roy Rohter, 84-year-old founder of the St. Augustine Academy Roman Catholic school in Ventura, died when the slide swept him from his home in Montecito, according to school officials and local news media. Rebecca Riskin, the 61-year-old founder of a real estate firm, was also killed in Montecito, according to the company and local news media. "She was in the house and was swept away," said Renee Grub, a friend of Riskin. "I'm told there was about 5 feet (1.5 m) of mud. She was a dear friend. She's so little she was only like 100 pounds (45.36 kg)." Heavy rains on hillsides denuded by last year's record wildfires triggered the mudslides, which also destroyed about 100 homes and injured at least 28 people, officials said. The region's natural beauty and easy access to Los Angeles to the southeast have long attracted the rich and powerful, including television personality Oprah Winfrey, former tennis star Jimmy Connors, talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and actor Jeff Bridges. "Our home has been severely damaged, but we are safe, and so thankful for that and for the first responders who are working tirelessly to save people," Bridges wrote on Twitter. "We are heartbroken over the loss of lives in our community." Last month's spate of wildfires, including the largest in California history, burned away grass and shrubs that held soil in place, and baked a waxy layer into the earth that prevents water from sinking deeply into the ground.

More mudslide fatalities expected, number of missing rises

An Iranian oil tanker collided with a bulk freighter and caught fire off China&rsquo;s eastern coast, leaving&nbsp;32 crew members missing on Saturday night.

Of those missing were 30&nbsp;Iranian nationals and two&nbsp;from Bangladesh, according to the Chinese government. The 21 rescued were all Chinese nationals.

Thick clouds of dark smoke could be seen billowing out of the Sanchi tanker, engulfing the vessel as rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather and fire on and around the ship, Mohammad Rastad, head of Iran&#39;s Ports and Maritime Organisation, told Iranian television.

The Sanchi collided with the CF Crystal about 160 nautical miles off the coast near Shanghai on Saturday evening, the Chinese Ministry of Transportation said in a statement.

The Panama-registered tanker was sailing from Iran to South Korea, carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate, an ultra-light crude. That is equivalent to just under 1 million barrels, worth about $60 million, based on global crude oil prices.

A search operation is being carried out by the Chinese and South Korean authorities.&nbsp;

&quot;There is a wide perimeter of flames around the vessel because of the spillage and search and rescue efforts are being carried out with difficulty,&quot; Rastad said.

&quot;Unfortunately, up to this moment, there is no news of the crew,&quot; he said.

Eight vessels have dispatched by the Chinese maritime authorities for search and rescue operation.

South Korea has dispatched a coast guard ship and a fixed-wing aircraft to assist in the search and rescue operation.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Of those missing, 30 are Iranian nationals and two are from Bangladesh, according to the Chinese government. The 21 rescued are all Chinese nationals

An Iranian oil tanker collided with a bulk freighter and caught fire off China’s eastern coast, leaving 32 crew members missing on Saturday night. Of those missing were 30 Iranian nationals and two from Bangladesh, according to the Chinese government. The 21 rescued were all Chinese nationals. Thick clouds of dark smoke could be seen billowing out of the Sanchi tanker, engulfing the vessel as rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather and fire on and around the ship, Mohammad Rastad, head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation, told Iranian television. The Sanchi collided with the CF Crystal about 160 nautical miles off the coast near Shanghai on Saturday evening, the Chinese Ministry of Transportation said in a statement. The Panama-registered tanker was sailing from Iran to South Korea, carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate, an ultra-light crude. That is equivalent to just under 1 million barrels, worth about $60 million, based on global crude oil prices. A search operation is being carried out by the Chinese and South Korean authorities. "There is a wide perimeter of flames around the vessel because of the spillage and search and rescue efforts are being carried out with difficulty," Rastad said. "Unfortunately, up to this moment, there is no news of the crew," he said. Eight vessels have dispatched by the Chinese maritime authorities for search and rescue operation. South Korea has dispatched a coast guard ship and a fixed-wing aircraft to assist in the search and rescue operation.

32 sailors missing after Iranian ship collides with bulk freighter off China's east coast

At least eight people died and 13 are missing after a passenger boat capsized off the coast of Borneo on Monday, an official said, in the latest deadly maritime accident in Indonesia.

The ferry was carrying some 45 people when it sank just minutes after leaving Tanjung Selor in North Borneo province, said Gusti Anwar Mulyadi a senior official of the local search and rescue agency.

Some 33 people have so far been rescued and navy personnel have been dispatched to search for the remaining passengers, but he said high waves are impeding operations.

&quot;We don&#39;t know yet what has caused the accident and how exactly it happened. But we&#39;ll try to figure that out and are now focusing on finding the remaining passengers,&quot; Mulyadi told AFP.

It is the latest boat accident in the vast Indonesian archipelago, which relies heavily on boats to ferry people around its 17,000 islands, but has a patchy safety record.

Last July, eight people drowned in a boat accident on the same route from Tarakan to Tanjung Selor.

On New Year&#39;s day last year at least 23 people died when a tourist boat from Jakarta burst into flames.

It was carrying about 250 local holidaymakers to celebrate the New Year on Tidung island near Jakarta. 
&nbsp;

The boat was carrying around 45 passengers including children and sank off Indonesia?s Kalimantan island on Monday

At least eight people died and 13 are missing after a passenger boat capsized off the coast of Borneo on Monday, an official said, in the latest deadly maritime accident in Indonesia. The ferry was carrying some 45 people when it sank just minutes after leaving Tanjung Selor in North Borneo province, said Gusti Anwar Mulyadi a senior official of the local search and rescue agency. Some 33 people have so far been rescued and navy personnel have been dispatched to search for the remaining passengers, but he said high waves are impeding operations. "We don't know yet what has caused the accident and how exactly it happened. But we'll try to figure that out and are now focusing on finding the remaining passengers," Mulyadi told AFP. It is the latest boat accident in the vast Indonesian archipelago, which relies heavily on boats to ferry people around its 17,000 islands, but has a patchy safety record. Last July, eight people drowned in a boat accident on the same route from Tarakan to Tanjung Selor. On New Year's day last year at least 23 people died when a tourist boat from Jakarta burst into flames. It was carrying about 250 local holidaymakers to celebrate the New Year on Tidung island near Jakarta.

8 killed, 13 missing after boat capsizes in Indonesia

A Catholic priest has disappeared in Bangladesh, police said&nbsp;Wednesday, a day before Pope Francis starts a landmark visit to the Muslim-majority nation wracked by Islamist extremism.

Walter William Rosario, 40, is from the same village in northern Bangladesh where suspected Islamist extremists last year hacked a Catholic grocer to death as he opened his shop.

A major search has been launched for Rosario, who is also headmaster of a Catholic school in Natore district, after his family reported him missing, police said.

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<h5>Pope Francis arrives in Bangladesh&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;on the first visit to the country by the head of the Catholic Church in 31 years</h5>
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&quot;He has been missing since late&nbsp;Monday. His mobile has been switched off,&quot; local police chief Biplob Bijoy Talukder told AFP.

Gerves Rosario, the bishop of the nearby city of Rajshahi, said he believed the priest had been kidnapped and that Catholics in the region were deeply worried.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pope-francis-meets-aung-san-suu-kyi-as-rohingya-crisis-simmers-25346" target="_blank">Also read: Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi, avoids using the term &#39;Rohingya&#39;</a>

&quot;He was organising for around 300 Catholics to travel to Dhaka to see the Pope and attend his holy mass. But his disappearance has marred their joy. They don&#39;t want to go to Dhaka anymore,&quot; said the bishop.

The family received a phone call from someone using Rosario&#39;s number to demand a ransom, but Talukder said police believed this was a hoax.

They have not ruled out the possibility he was abducted by Islamist extremists, who have carried out attacks on religious minorities in the region in the past four years.

Pope Francis arrives in Bangladesh&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;on the first visit to the country by the head of the Catholic Church in 31 years.

The trip will be dominated by the plight of more than 620,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled ethnic unrest in Myanmar and taken refuge in Bangladesh.

Christians, who make up less than 0.5 percent of Bangladesh&#39;s 160 million people, have in recent years faced attacks by Islamist radicals.

Since 2015 at least three Christians, including two converts from Islam, have been hacked to death in attacks blamed on the militant Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

In July last year militants from the same group stormed a Dhaka cafe and massacred 22 hostages including 18 foreigners in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

However, the government has denied the international militants&#39; involvement and security forces have killed more than 70 alleged militants since the cafe attack.

Walter William Rosario, 40, is from the same village in northern Bangladesh where suspected Islamist extremists last year hacked a Catholic grocer to death

A Catholic priest has disappeared in Bangladesh, police said Wednesday, a day before Pope Francis starts a landmark visit to the Muslim-majority nation wracked by Islamist extremism. Walter William Rosario, 40, is from the same village in northern Bangladesh where suspected Islamist extremists last year hacked a Catholic grocer to death as he opened his shop. A major search has been launched for Rosario, who is also headmaster of a Catholic school in Natore district, after his family reported him missing, police said. Pope Francis arrives in Bangladesh Thursday on the first visit to the country by the head of the Catholic Church in 31 years × "He has been missing since late Monday. His mobile has been switched off," local police chief Biplob Bijoy Talukder told AFP. Gerves Rosario, the bishop of the nearby city of Rajshahi, said he believed the priest had been kidnapped and that Catholics in the region were deeply worried. Also read: Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi, avoids using the term 'Rohingya' "He was organising for around 300 Catholics to travel to Dhaka to see the Pope and attend his holy mass. But his disappearance has marred their joy. They don't want to go to Dhaka anymore," said the bishop. The family received a phone call from someone using Rosario's number to demand a ransom, but Talukder said police believed this was a hoax. They have not ruled out the possibility he was abducted by Islamist extremists, who have carried out attacks on religious minorities in the region in the past four years. Pope Francis arrives in Bangladesh Thursday on the first visit to the country by the head of the Catholic Church in 31 years. The trip will be dominated by the plight of more than 620,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled ethnic unrest in Myanmar and taken refuge in Bangladesh. Christians, who make up less than 0.5 percent of Bangladesh's 160 million people, have in recent years faced attacks by Islamist radicals. Since 2015 at least three Christians, including two converts from Islam, have been hacked to death in attacks blamed on the militant Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). In July last year militants from the same group stormed a Dhaka cafe and massacred 22 hostages including 18 foreigners in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. However, the government has denied the international militants' involvement and security forces have killed more than 70 alleged militants since the cafe attack.

Catholic priest disappears in Bangladesh before Pope's visit

Mumbai is justifiably proud to celebrate the recent surge in the birth of girl child but the trend, unfortunately, is not consistent with rest of India. The 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) findings show that India&rsquo;s &ldquo;Tinseltown&rdquo;, along with five other Maharashtrian cities, has crossed the shining mark of 1000 girl child. Thus, the coveted quantitative equality between the male and female population has been reached there. However, a closer look at the NFHS report, beyond the narrow confines of city limits, reveals a different story. A story that is grim and more consistent with India&rsquo;s past record of low sex ratio for girls. 
 
The decrease is most stark when we consider the sex ratio of the total population, and not only data on children. Indian states of Maharashtra, Assam, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, to name a few, show a decline in the number of recorded females. Optimists may point out that, except the states of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, all the above mentioned states exhibit a &ldquo;healthy&rdquo; sex-ratio of more than 950 females per 1000 men. But the most disconcerting aspect of the issue is that, instead of improving, or at least holding on to past achievements, these states are all sliding, as is evident when we compare the present with the situation a decade back. 
 
Contrary to popular assumption that female-male sex ratio is skewed more in rural India, it is in the urban milieu that we see a sinking number of females.This is equally true for the BIMARU states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and not so obvious states of Assam and Karnataka. It is particularly disconcerting to see the Indian state of Assam in the list because the north-eastern parts of India have been traditionally known to have a favourable sex-ratio for girls. 
 
This declining rate of girl child and women in the national population have created an all-round anxiety. Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has coined the term &ldquo;missing women&rdquo; to underline how silently, imperceptibly, albeit dangerously, an increasing number of women are lost through sex-selective abortions, female infanticide, inadequate health care and undernutrition. The Indian census data of 2011 on male-female ratio vindicates Sen&rsquo;s theory. 
 
According to the 2011 Indian census report, there were 943 females for every 1000 males - a gap of 57 person. Instead of the ideal 1:1 ratio, this number implies that 5.70 per cent of India&rsquo;s 1.311 billion population is &ldquo;missing&rdquo;. This sums up to a staggering number of 37,363,500 missing women. 
 
While India&rsquo;s shining image of an economic superpower is projected worldwide, its female population by and large continue to suffer from various forms of discrimination, neglect and even violence. Perhaps, the most repulsive aspect of the whole story is that much of the violence against Indian women, which translates into a skewed sex ratio, largely stems from the intimate circle of family members. While the Indian state watch helplessly. 
 
(WION)

National survey shows demographic trends for females in India are worrying, but sometimes in subtle and imperceptible ways

Mumbai is justifiably proud to celebrate the recent surge in the birth of girl child but the trend, unfortunately, is not consistent with rest of India. The 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) findings show that India’s “Tinseltown”, along with five other Maharashtrian cities, has crossed the shining mark of 1000 girl child. Thus, the coveted quantitative equality between the male and female population has been reached there. However, a closer look at the NFHS report, beyond the narrow confines of city limits, reveals a different story. A story that is grim and more consistent with India’s past record of low sex ratio for girls. The decrease is most stark when we consider the sex ratio of the total population, and not only data on children. Indian states of Maharashtra, Assam, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, to name a few, show a decline in the number of recorded females. Optimists may point out that, except the states of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, all the above mentioned states exhibit a “healthy” sex-ratio of more than 950 females per 1000 men. But the most disconcerting aspect of the issue is that, instead of improving, or at least holding on to past achievements, these states are all sliding, as is evident when we compare the present with the situation a decade back. Contrary to popular assumption that female-male sex ratio is skewed more in rural India, it is in the urban milieu that we see a sinking number of females.This is equally true for the BIMARU states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and not so obvious states of Assam and Karnataka. It is particularly disconcerting to see the Indian state of Assam in the list because the north-eastern parts of India have been traditionally known to have a favourable sex-ratio for girls. This declining rate of girl child and women in the national population have created an all-round anxiety. Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has coined the term “missing women” to underline how silently, imperceptibly, albeit dangerously, an increasing number of women are lost through sex-selective abortions, female infanticide, inadequate health care and undernutrition. The Indian census data of 2011 on male-female ratio vindicates Sen’s theory. According to the 2011 Indian census report, there were 943 females for every 1000 males - a gap of 57 person. Instead of the ideal 1:1 ratio, this number implies that 5.70 per cent of India’s 1.311 billion population is “missing”. This sums up to a staggering number of 37,363,500 missing women. While India’s shining image of an economic superpower is projected worldwide, its female population by and large continue to suffer from various forms of discrimination, neglect and even violence. Perhaps, the most repulsive aspect of the whole story is that much of the violence against Indian women, which translates into a skewed sex ratio, largely stems from the intimate circle of family members. While the Indian state watch helplessly. (WION)

Study reveals Indian women still 'missing'

An Indian Air Force plane carrying 29 military personnel to a remote island chain in the Bay of Bengal went missing on Friday, the military said.&nbsp;The AN-32 was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar chain of islands, from the southeast city of Chennai when it disappeared from radar. 
 
A navy spokesman told Reuters surveillance planes and ships were searching for the aircraft. It was carrying service personnel to the strategic islands near the Malacca Straits, where India has a military base. 
 
The last contact with the plane, which was carrying six crew members, was made around 15 minutes after take-off from the southern Indian city of Chennai, air force spokesman told AFP. 
 
The Navy has pressed into service two Dornier aircraft and 13 ships with the Eastern Fleet Commander on board for the search and rescue operation 200 knot mile from east of Chennai.&nbsp; 
 
While IAF has pressed into service a C130 plane along with two AN32, the Navy has deployed two P8i maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the strategically important Port Blair. 
 
Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said, &quot;Navy has been deployed in full force in the Bay of Bengal for the search and rescue operation&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, Coast Guard said their reconnaissance Dornier aircraft has reached the site from where the IAF plane had sent the signals for the last time. 
 
&quot;Our Dornier (plane) has reached the site where the signals were sent by the (IAF) aircraft for the last time. We are looking for clues,&quot; said a senior Coast Guard official. 
 
Coast Guard has rushed four ships--ICGS Sagar and Samudra Pehredar from Chennai and ICGS Rajshree and ICGS Rajveer from Port Blair--to the spot. 
 
Another ships ICGS Vishwasth has been on stand-by at Prot Blair. 
 
&quot;The ships should reach the spot by night. But the rough sea is making the operations difficult,&quot; the official added.&nbsp; 
 
Ministry of defence statement 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Full scale Search &amp; Rescue launched to look for IAF AN 32 overdue at Port Blair since 1130 hrs. Max assets being deployed at earliest.
&mdash; DPR (@SpokespersonMoD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/756411001768140800">July 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
&quot;A search operation is on. The plane was airborne at 8:30 am (0300 GMT)and was supposed to land at Port Blair at 11:30,&quot; Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said. 
 
Defence sources said the plane was at about 23,000 feet when the last contact was established. 
 
Known as the &#39;Sutlej&#39; in the IAF, the An-32 is the workhorse of the transport fleet travelling to far-off bases such as Leh, Thoise, Kargil, other northern high-altitude areas in Ladakh and a number of ALGs (Advanced Landing Grounds) such as Mechuka, Along, Walong and Vijaynagar in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas to deliver much-needed supplies to the Army outposts. In the recent years, IAF&rsquo;s An-32s have expanded their operations by landing at more remote airstrips such as Nyoma and, even DBO (Daulat Beg Oldie) in Aksai Chin. 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

Four coast guard ships, a submarine and two Dornier aircraft deployed for search operations in Bay of Bengal

An Indian Air Force plane carrying 29 military personnel to a remote island chain in the Bay of Bengal went missing on Friday, the military said. The AN-32 was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar chain of islands, from the southeast city of Chennai when it disappeared from radar. A navy spokesman told Reuters surveillance planes and ships were searching for the aircraft. It was carrying service personnel to the strategic islands near the Malacca Straits, where India has a military base. The last contact with the plane, which was carrying six crew members, was made around 15 minutes after take-off from the southern Indian city of Chennai, air force spokesman told AFP. The Navy has pressed into service two Dornier aircraft and 13 ships with the Eastern Fleet Commander on board for the search and rescue operation 200 knot mile from east of Chennai. While IAF has pressed into service a C130 plane along with two AN32, the Navy has deployed two P8i maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the strategically important Port Blair. Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said, "Navy has been deployed in full force in the Bay of Bengal for the search and rescue operation". Meanwhile, Coast Guard said their reconnaissance Dornier aircraft has reached the site from where the IAF plane had sent the signals for the last time. "Our Dornier (plane) has reached the site where the signals were sent by the (IAF) aircraft for the last time. We are looking for clues," said a senior Coast Guard official. Coast Guard has rushed four ships--ICGS Sagar and Samudra Pehredar from Chennai and ICGS Rajshree and ICGS Rajveer from Port Blair--to the spot. Another ships ICGS Vishwasth has been on stand-by at Prot Blair. "The ships should reach the spot by night. But the rough sea is making the operations difficult," the official added. Ministry of defence statement Full scale Search & Rescue launched to look for IAF AN 32 overdue at Port Blair since 1130 hrs. Max assets being deployed at earliest. — DPR (@SpokespersonMoD) July 22, 2016 "A search operation is on. The plane was airborne at 8:30 am (0300 GMT)and was supposed to land at Port Blair at 11:30," Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said. Defence sources said the plane was at about 23,000 feet when the last contact was established. Known as the 'Sutlej' in the IAF, the An-32 is the workhorse of the transport fleet travelling to far-off bases such as Leh, Thoise, Kargil, other northern high-altitude areas in Ladakh and a number of ALGs (Advanced Landing Grounds) such as Mechuka, Along, Walong and Vijaynagar in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas to deliver much-needed supplies to the Army outposts. In the recent years, IAF’s An-32s have expanded their operations by landing at more remote airstrips such as Nyoma and, even DBO (Daulat Beg Oldie) in Aksai Chin. (Agencies)

Search for Indian Air Force plane with 29 on board ongoing

Hopes of finding flight MH370&#39;s final resting place are &quot;fading&quot;, and the massive three-nation search for the doomed jet will be suspended if nothing is found in the suspected crash zone, Malaysia, Australia and China said today. 
 
With the designated search area due to be fully scanned within weeks, transport ministers from the three countries made their announcement after holding talks on the future of the unprecedented deep-sea hunt for the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane. 
 
&quot;With less than 10,000 square kilometres of the high priority search area remaining to be searched, ministers acknowledged that despite the best efforts of all involved the likelihood of finding the aircraft is fading,&quot; said a joint statement after the meeting in Malaysia&#39;s administrative capital Putrajaya. 
 
Unless &quot;credible new evidence&quot; turns up by the time the current operations are completed, &quot;the search would not end, but be suspended&quot; until solid new information pointing to a crash site emerges, they said. 
 
&quot;The suspension does not mean the termination of the search. Ministers reiterated that the aspiration to locate MH370 has not been abandoned,&quot; said the statement by meeting host Liow Tiong Lai, Australia&#39;s Darren Chester and China&#39;s Yang Chuantang. 
 
The use of the term &quot;suspended&quot; was an apparent nod to anguished families who have stepped up demands recently for authorities not to fully abandon efforts to locate the aircraft. 
 
The Boeing 777 vanished March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard, mostly Chinese nationals, in what remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. 
 
The Australian-led operation is scouring the seafloor within a 120,000-square-kilometre belt of remote Indian Ocean where authorities believe the passenger jet went down. 
 
(AFP)

Until new information pointing to a crash site emerges, the hunt will be suspended but not terminated

Hopes of finding flight MH370's final resting place are "fading", and the massive three-nation search for the doomed jet will be suspended if nothing is found in the suspected crash zone, Malaysia, Australia and China said today. With the designated search area due to be fully scanned within weeks, transport ministers from the three countries made their announcement after holding talks on the future of the unprecedented deep-sea hunt for the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane. "With less than 10,000 square kilometres of the high priority search area remaining to be searched, ministers acknowledged that despite the best efforts of all involved the likelihood of finding the aircraft is fading," said a joint statement after the meeting in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya. Unless "credible new evidence" turns up by the time the current operations are completed, "the search would not end, but be suspended" until solid new information pointing to a crash site emerges, they said. "The suspension does not mean the termination of the search. Ministers reiterated that the aspiration to locate MH370 has not been abandoned," said the statement by meeting host Liow Tiong Lai, Australia's Darren Chester and China's Yang Chuantang. The use of the term "suspended" was an apparent nod to anguished families who have stepped up demands recently for authorities not to fully abandon efforts to locate the aircraft. The Boeing 777 vanished March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard, mostly Chinese nationals, in what remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The Australian-led operation is scouring the seafloor within a 120,000-square-kilometre belt of remote Indian Ocean where authorities believe the passenger jet went down. (AFP)

MH370 hopes 'fading', search to be suspended

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