Gaza City - A Palestinian policeman was killed early Friday in an explosion in the police headquarters in Gaza City, according to an official in the de-facto Hamas government.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Ihab Ghussein said the powerful explosion killed Ala Ijleh, 20, from Gaza City.

He said Ijleh, who belongs to the bomb squad in the police force, was killed while attempting to detonate an explosive device discovered in the bomb squad section of the Arafat Police City.

No one else was hurt in the explosion, which sparked a fire in the building, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian fighters engaged an Israeli force which crossed the southern Gaza border with Israel near the town of Khuza'a, east of Khan Younis.

Mumbai, Oct 31: Softened his stand on celebration of ''Chhat'' puja in Maharashtra, MNS chief Raj Thackery today said that he was not opposed to the festival being celebrated in the State but warned against it being used as a show of political strength.

"I have never opposed ‘Chhat’ puja but only spoke against political stunt associated with it.... People from Bihar who live here can perform the religious rituals according to their customs. My party has never opposed it," he said while addressing a press conference.

New Delhi, Oct 31: President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari led the nation in paying homage to Indira Gandhi on her 24th anniversary of the Martyrdom here today.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also paid floral tributes at Shakti Sthal.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards at her residence on October 31, 1984.

Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984.

She was elected to Parliament for the first time in 1964 and also served as the country''s Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the government of Lal Bahadur Shastri.

The FDA did not pay heed to evidence while declaring BPA safe for plastics in baby bottles.

An expert panel reviewed  the FDA’s handling of the controversial subject. According to the report of the panelists, the FDA failed to consider studies calling into question the safety of bisphenol A while declaring it safe.

In response to the attack on the claim of the FDA, it quickly issued a statement saying that its view was "based on all available evidence" which indicated that current levels of exposure to BPA through food packaging do not pose an immediate health risk to the public, including infants and babies.

New Delhi, Oct 31: The Union Cabinet today approved an ambitious scheme to provide stand-alone drinking water system to one lakh schools across the country, which will be implemented from November 14.

Referring to the budget announcement this year that one lakh schools would be provided with clean drinking water facilities, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the Union Cabinet approved the scheme which would cost Rs 200 crore during the current financial year.

He said the Director General Supplies and Disposal (DGS&D) has finalised the technologies, the rates and suppliers for the systems.

“This had also been communicated to the respective governments in the states and union territories,” he added.

Guwahati, Oct 31 : An uneasy calm prevailed in Assam, a day after a series of bomb blasts in quick succession ripped through Guwahati and three other towns on Thursday in which 70 people were killed and over 300 injured.

Although normalcy is returning, the shock caused by serial explosions is still on in the minds of the people.

Ganeshguri, one of worst affected area in the blast, the otherwise busy area lay deserted this morning with vegetables strewn around the place.