2012, മാർച്ച് 7, ബുധനാഴ്‌ച


Fishermen killing: Italy summons Indian envoy in Rome
Posted on: 08 Mar 2012

New Delhi/Rome: More than a week after he visited India, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi Wednesday summoned India's ambassador in Rome to condemn the imprisonment of two Italian marines accused of shooting two Indian fishermen, with New Delhi maintaining that they will be tried according to Indian law.

Terzi conveyed to India's ambssador Debabrata Saha that the imprisonment of the two soldiers in a prison in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, ordered by a judge on Monday was 'unacceptable,' the Italian foreign ministry spokesman said.

Amid growing outrage in Italy over the arrests, Terzi stressed that the preferential treatment afforded to Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who are currently being housed in a separate structure within the prison, was 'not satisfactory.'

Two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki and Gelastine, were mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the security crew of cargo vessel Enrica Lexie on February 15. The two Italian Marines were subseuqently arrested for the shooting.

Terzi had visited India Feb 28 and discussed the incident with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, but the two sides failed to resolve their differences, with Italy stressing that the incident should be tried according to international law.

In New Delhi, official sources said that Italy reiterated its view to the Indian envoy that Indian courts did not have jurisdiction to try the Italian Marines and stressed that they were entitled to immunity as they were fulfilling a 'sovereign act' of protecting the ship against suspected pirates.

The sources in New Delhi said that India maintained that since the case was in an Indian court, it was for the court to decide.

The sources added that vessel protection detachments, a term for military soldiers guarding the vessels, do not enjoy sanctity under global law.

The sources close to the developments also ruled out any discussion with the Indian government on any out-of-the-court settlement.

Fishermen killing: Italy summons Indian envoy in Rome
Posted on: 08 Mar 2012

New Delhi/Rome: More than a week after he visited India, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi Wednesday summoned India's ambassador in Rome to condemn the imprisonment of two Italian marines accused of shooting two Indian fishermen, with New Delhi maintaining that they will be tried according to Indian law.

Terzi conveyed to India's ambssador Debabrata Saha that the imprisonment of the two soldiers in a prison in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, ordered by a judge on Monday was 'unacceptable,' the Italian foreign ministry spokesman said.

Amid growing outrage in Italy over the arrests, Terzi stressed that the preferential treatment afforded to Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who are currently being housed in a separate structure within the prison, was 'not satisfactory.'

Two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki and Gelastine, were mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the security crew of cargo vessel Enrica Lexie on February 15. The two Italian Marines were subseuqently arrested for the shooting.

Terzi had visited India Feb 28 and discussed the incident with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, but the two sides failed to resolve their differences, with Italy stressing that the incident should be tried according to international law.

In New Delhi, official sources said that Italy reiterated its view to the Indian envoy that Indian courts did not have jurisdiction to try the Italian Marines and stressed that they were entitled to immunity as they were fulfilling a 'sovereign act' of protecting the ship against suspected pirates.

The sources in New Delhi said that India maintained that since the case was in an Indian court, it was for the court to decide.

The sources added that vessel protection detachments, a term for military soldiers guarding the vessels, do not enjoy sanctity under global law.

The sources close to the developments also ruled out any discussion with the Indian government on any out-of-the-court settlement.

Fishermen killing: Italian PM calls Manmohan
Posted on: 08 Mar 2012

New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti rang up his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh Wednesday and warned him against setting a 'dangerous precedent' with the jailing and prosecution of two Italian naval guards in India. The two leaders, however, agreed to resolve the issue in accordance with 'law and spirit of friendship'.

'The Italian prime minister condoled the deaths of the two fishermen and expressed regret at the incident,' the external affairs ministry said here.

'The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of deepening relations between India and Italy and agreed that the issues that had arisen following the incident should be resolved amicably in accordance with law and in the spirit of friendship that characterises relations between the two countries,' said the ministry.

'The two leaders said that they were looking forward to meeting each other at the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul,' the ministry said.

Two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki and Gelastine, were mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the security crew of cargo vessel Enrica Lexie Feb 15. The two Italian Marines were subseuqently arrested for the shooting.

According to a statement from the Italian government, Monti reiterated the Italian stand that the incident took place in international waters.

'Any attitude from the Indian side that is not fully in line with international law... risks creating a dangerous precedent for international peacekeeping and anti-piracy missions,' Monti was quoted as saying. 'Missions in which Indian military are also involved,' he stressed.

'The alleged incident -- the circumstances of which still have to be clarified -- occurred in international waters and jurisdiction is therefore only Italian,' Monti also told Manmohan Singh, according to a government statement. Monti said he was following the case with 'maximum attention and concern'.

Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi summoned India's ambassador in Rome to condemn the imprisonment of two Italian marines accused of shooting two Indian fishermen, with New Delhi maintaining that they will be tried according to Indian law.

Terzi conveyed to India's ambassador Debabrata Saha that the imprisonment of the two soldiers in a prison in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, ordered by a judge Monday was 'unacceptable,' the Italian foreign ministry spokesman said.

Amid growing outrage in Italy over the arrests, Terzi stressed that the preferential treatment afforded to Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who are currently being housed in a separate structure within the prison, was 'not satisfactory.'

Terzi had visited India Feb 28 and discussed the incident with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, but the two sides failed to resolve their differences, with Italy stressing that the incident should be tried according to international law.

In New Delhi, official sources said that Italy reiterated its view to the Indian envoy that Indian courts did not have jurisdiction to try the Italian Marines and stressed that they were entitled to immunity as they were fulfilling a 'sovereign act' of protecting the ship against suspected pirates.

The sources in New Delhi said that India maintained since the case was in an Indian court, it was for the court to decide.

The sources added that vessel protection detachments, a term for military soldiers guarding the vessels, do not enjoy sanctity under global law.

The sources close to the developments also ruled out any discussion with the Indian government on any out-of-the-court settlement.

Fishermen killing: Italian PM calls Manmohan
Posted on: 08 Mar 2012

New Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti rang up his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh Wednesday and warned him against setting a 'dangerous precedent' with the jailing and prosecution of two Italian naval guards in India. The two leaders, however, agreed to resolve the issue in accordance with 'law and spirit of friendship'.

'The Italian prime minister condoled the deaths of the two fishermen and expressed regret at the incident,' the external affairs ministry said here.

'The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of deepening relations between India and Italy and agreed that the issues that had arisen following the incident should be resolved amicably in accordance with law and in the spirit of friendship that characterises relations between the two countries,' said the ministry.

'The two leaders said that they were looking forward to meeting each other at the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul,' the ministry said.

Two Indian fishermen, Ajesh Binki and Gelastine, were mistaken as pirates and shot dead by the security crew of cargo vessel Enrica Lexie Feb 15. The two Italian Marines were subseuqently arrested for the shooting.

According to a statement from the Italian government, Monti reiterated the Italian stand that the incident took place in international waters.

'Any attitude from the Indian side that is not fully in line with international law... risks creating a dangerous precedent for international peacekeeping and anti-piracy missions,' Monti was quoted as saying. 'Missions in which Indian military are also involved,' he stressed.

'The alleged incident -- the circumstances of which still have to be clarified -- occurred in international waters and jurisdiction is therefore only Italian,' Monti also told Manmohan Singh, according to a government statement. Monti said he was following the case with 'maximum attention and concern'.

Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi summoned India's ambassador in Rome to condemn the imprisonment of two Italian marines accused of shooting two Indian fishermen, with New Delhi maintaining that they will be tried according to Indian law.

Terzi conveyed to India's ambassador Debabrata Saha that the imprisonment of the two soldiers in a prison in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, ordered by a judge Monday was 'unacceptable,' the Italian foreign ministry spokesman said.

Amid growing outrage in Italy over the arrests, Terzi stressed that the preferential treatment afforded to Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who are currently being housed in a separate structure within the prison, was 'not satisfactory.'

Terzi had visited India Feb 28 and discussed the incident with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, but the two sides failed to resolve their differences, with Italy stressing that the incident should be tried according to international law.

In New Delhi, official sources said that Italy reiterated its view to the Indian envoy that Indian courts did not have jurisdiction to try the Italian Marines and stressed that they were entitled to immunity as they were fulfilling a 'sovereign act' of protecting the ship against suspected pirates.

The sources in New Delhi said that India maintained since the case was in an Indian court, it was for the court to decide.

The sources added that vessel protection detachments, a term for military soldiers guarding the vessels, do not enjoy sanctity under global law.

The sources close to the developments also ruled out any discussion with the Indian government on any out-of-the-court settlement.

Assembly elections, Congress president Sonia Gandhi sent out several messages to the faithful, when she made a consciously staged public appearance before the press: she was still in charge, she wanted the import of the electoral verdict to be taken seriously and party members to take their responsibilities seriously.
But she also sent out a message to party leaders, taking a swipe at those who had guided the campaign in Uttar Pradesh. She laughed and said, while answering a question on the lack of leadership, “I will say rather than the lack of leadership... actually we have too many leaders. Perhaps that's our problem.”
The next challenge — the Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled States — would have to be faced squarely, she stressed. “We have Gujarat, then we have Himachal... Karnataka yes... we have to pull our socks up and get going.”
But all was not lost, and the results would not have any impact on the stability of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition.
To a question on UPA allies, she said: “We have seen in the past that the opposition has been in some cases a little... well unhelpful. My view [and] .. that of the Prime Minister and government is that if we continuously and regularly stay in touch and talk to our coalition partners and opposition, [then] on issues which are beneficial to the people of the country, I have every hope, they will understand and support [us].”
After an interregnum of several months — in which she had taken a back seat, thanks largely to ill-health — Ms. Gandhi stepped out into the public domain. Interestingly, it was immediately after a series of one-on-one meetings she had on Wednesday morning with general secretaries in charge of the States that had gone to the polls at her rarely used office at the party headquarters, not behind the heavily guarded high walls of 10 Janpath.
General secretary in charge of U.P. Digvijay Singh met her on Tuesday: he is believed to have offered his resignation, which was not accepted. On Wednesday, she said all those in charge of the States had worked very hard.
Ms. Gandhi's interaction with the media was of a piece with son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi accepting publicly the responsibility for the verdict in U.P. on Tuesday — sending out a signal that while they meant to analyse the results, and find out what or who went wrong, they were also willing to accept responsibility for failure.


Assembly elections, Congress president Sonia Gandhi sent out several messages to the faithful, when she made a consciously staged public appearance before the press: she was still in charge, she wanted the import of the electoral verdict to be taken seriously and party members to take their responsibilities seriously.
But she also sent out a message to party leaders, taking a swipe at those who had guided the campaign in Uttar Pradesh. She laughed and said, while answering a question on the lack of leadership, “I will say rather than the lack of leadership... actually we have too many leaders. Perhaps that's our problem.”
The next challenge — the Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled States — would have to be faced squarely, she stressed. “We have Gujarat, then we have Himachal... Karnataka yes... we have to pull our socks up and get going.”
But all was not lost, and the results would not have any impact on the stability of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition.
To a question on UPA allies, she said: “We have seen in the past that the opposition has been in some cases a little... well unhelpful. My view [and] .. that of the Prime Minister and government is that if we continuously and regularly stay in touch and talk to our coalition partners and opposition, [then] on issues which are beneficial to the people of the country, I have every hope, they will understand and support [us].”
After an interregnum of several months — in which she had taken a back seat, thanks largely to ill-health — Ms. Gandhi stepped out into the public domain. Interestingly, it was immediately after a series of one-on-one meetings she had on Wednesday morning with general secretaries in charge of the States that had gone to the polls at her rarely used office at the party headquarters, not behind the heavily guarded high walls of 10 Janpath.
General secretary in charge of U.P. Digvijay Singh met her on Tuesday: he is believed to have offered his resignation, which was not accepted. On Wednesday, she said all those in charge of the States had worked very hard.
Ms. Gandhi's interaction with the media was of a piece with son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi accepting publicly the responsibility for the verdict in U.P. on Tuesday — sending out a signal that while they meant to analyse the results, and find out what or who went wrong, they were also willing to accept responsibility for failure.


Russia unveils robot for space missions
Posted on: 07 Mar 2012

Moscow: Russia has built an android -- a robot resembling a human being -- to work in orbit.

The robot, S-400, will be Russia's first space robot in more than two decades, the Izvestia daily said.

It can perform simple tasks such as screwing bolts and searching the spacecraft for damage.

The robot will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) within two years' time, and will also be joining future missions to the Moon and Mars, the paper said.

Cosmonaut Sergei Avdeyev said S-400's trip to the ISS will be a 'test' before 'more interesting tasks'.

Oleg Saprykin, an official at Russia's space agency Roscosmos, said S-400 was the country's 'first step towards a robot cosmonaut'.

'Manipulators were designed for (Soviet space shuttle) Buran and the Mir space station, but they did not get into space in the end,' Saprykin said.

The US has already launched an android, Robonaut, to the ISS. Japan and Germany are also planning to send androids in space.

Russia unveils robot for space missions
Posted on: 07 Mar 2012

Moscow: Russia has built an android -- a robot resembling a human being -- to work in orbit.

The robot, S-400, will be Russia's first space robot in more than two decades, the Izvestia daily said.

It can perform simple tasks such as screwing bolts and searching the spacecraft for damage.

The robot will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) within two years' time, and will also be joining future missions to the Moon and Mars, the paper said.

Cosmonaut Sergei Avdeyev said S-400's trip to the ISS will be a 'test' before 'more interesting tasks'.

Oleg Saprykin, an official at Russia's space agency Roscosmos, said S-400 was the country's 'first step towards a robot cosmonaut'.

'Manipulators were designed for (Soviet space shuttle) Buran and the Mir space station, but they did not get into space in the end,' Saprykin said.

The US has already launched an android, Robonaut, to the ISS. Japan and Germany are also planning to send androids in space.

Party organisation weak in UP: Sonia Gandhi
Posted on: 07 Mar 2012

New Delhi: The party's organisational structure in Uttar Pradesh was weak, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Wednesday. She told reporters that the wrong choice of candidates had also contributed to the party's performance in the state assembly elections.

Discourage frequent visits by Lankan VIPs to TN: Jaya
Posted on: 07 Mar 2012

Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked the Centre to 'discourage' frequent visits of Sri Lankan VIPs to the state as the people were 'greatly exercised' over the island government's conduct on the Tamils issue.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa also said the Sri Lankan VIPs be allowed to the state only
after consulting the state.

Noting that Sri Lankan VIPs and other dignitaries come on private visits without informing the state government, she
wanted such trips to be allowed only after consulting the state.

Jayalalithaa said the difficulties faced by her government due to the frequent visits of officials and VIPs from Colombo
without informing the state government had already been brought to the notice of the Ministries of External and Home
Affairs.

'As you are fully aware, the people of Tamil Nadu are greatly exercised over the conduct of the Sri Lankan
government while dealing with Sri Lankan Tamils and their rights,' the Chief Minister said in the letter.

The people's perception here was that Colombo had 'completely failed' to ensure the Tamils rights 'to live with
dignity, self-respect and equal constitutional status on par with the Sinhalese,' she pointed out.

'In view of the prevailing situation, it would be appropriate if the state government is given prior information
about the visits', the chief minister said.

'It would also be appreciated if the Government of India discourages such frequent visits to Tamil Nadu and allow such
visits only after consulting the government of Tamil Nadu in the future,' she said.

Citing instances in the recent past when Sri Lankan VIPs and other dignitaries came on private visits to the state
without informing the state government, Jayalalithaa recalled an attempt to attack Thirukumaran Natesan, brother-in-law of
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Rameswaram.

Since there was no information from the island government or Indian government, no precautionary measures could be
taken, she said.

'My attention was also drawn to the letter from the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Southern India addressed to
the Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu and the letter from Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs. The
tone and tenor of the letter is unwarranted, unacceptable and totally unjustified,' she said. PTI

Discourage frequent visits by Lankan VIPs to TN: Jaya
Posted on: 07 Mar 2012

Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked the Centre to 'discourage' frequent visits of Sri Lankan VIPs to the state as the people were 'greatly exercised' over the island government's conduct on the Tamils issue.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa also said the Sri Lankan VIPs be allowed to the state only
after consulting the state.

Noting that Sri Lankan VIPs and other dignitaries come on private visits without informing the state government, she
wanted such trips to be allowed only after consulting the state.

Jayalalithaa said the difficulties faced by her government due to the frequent visits of officials and VIPs from Colombo
without informing the state government had already been brought to the notice of the Ministries of External and Home
Affairs.

'As you are fully aware, the people of Tamil Nadu are greatly exercised over the conduct of the Sri Lankan
government while dealing with Sri Lankan Tamils and their rights,' the Chief Minister said in the letter.

The people's perception here was that Colombo had 'completely failed' to ensure the Tamils rights 'to live with
dignity, self-respect and equal constitutional status on par with the Sinhalese,' she pointed out.

'In view of the prevailing situation, it would be appropriate if the state government is given prior information
about the visits', the chief minister said.

'It would also be appreciated if the Government of India discourages such frequent visits to Tamil Nadu and allow such
visits only after consulting the government of Tamil Nadu in the future,' she said.

Citing instances in the recent past when Sri Lankan VIPs and other dignitaries came on private visits to the state
without informing the state government, Jayalalithaa recalled an attempt to attack Thirukumaran Natesan, brother-in-law of
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Rameswaram.

Since there was no information from the island government or Indian government, no precautionary measures could be
taken, she said.

'My attention was also drawn to the letter from the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Southern India addressed to
the Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu and the letter from Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs. The
tone and tenor of the letter is unwarranted, unacceptable and totally unjustified,' she said. PTI

Party organisation weak in UP: Sonia Gandhi
Posted on: 07 Mar 2012

New Delhi: The party's organisational structure in Uttar Pradesh was weak, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Wednesday. She told reporters that the wrong choice of candidates had also contributed to the party's performance in the state assembly elections.

Vidya Balan is best actress, best film award shared by Byari

Girish Kulkarani
Bollywood star Vidya Balan won the National award for the best actress for her performance of a
Southern sex siren in 'The Dirty Picture' at the 59th national awards, announced today.

The best feature film award was shared by 'Byari' directed by Suveeran and Marathi film 'Deool', which also won its actor Girish Kulkarni the best actor award.

Onir directed 'I Am', a compilation of four stories on identity, won the best Hindi feature film.

The winners of the prestigious 59th National Film Awards were announced by chairpersons of the jury today. The awards
will be given to the winners in a ceremony on May 3.

For feature films the names of the award winners were declared by Rohini Hattangady, who was the chairperson of the
Feature Films Jury (Central Panel).

Ramesh Sharma, the chairperson of the Non-Feature films jury and Vijaya Mulay, who chaired the jury on the Best
Writing on Cinema announced the names of other award winners.

The best Malayalam film is Director Renjith Balakrishnan `Indian Rupee'. The malayalam movie `Aadimadhyantham' directed by Sherry got a special mention by the jury.

Shah Rukh Khan's superhero film 'RA.One' was named for best special effects and Harry Hingorani and Keitan Yadav won the award for their work in 'RA.One'.

The best entertainment movie was bagged by Azhagarswamiyin Kuthirai, the Tamil movie.

The best child actist award was bagged by Parthav Gupta in Stanley Ka Dabba.

Vidya Balan is best actress, best film award shared by Byari

Girish Kulkarani
Bollywood star Vidya Balan won the National award for the best actress for her performance of a
Southern sex siren in 'The Dirty Picture' at the 59th national awards, announced today.

The best feature film award was shared by 'Byari' directed by Suveeran and Marathi film 'Deool', which also won its actor Girish Kulkarni the best actor award.

Onir directed 'I Am', a compilation of four stories on identity, won the best Hindi feature film.

The winners of the prestigious 59th National Film Awards were announced by chairpersons of the jury today. The awards
will be given to the winners in a ceremony on May 3.

For feature films the names of the award winners were declared by Rohini Hattangady, who was the chairperson of the
Feature Films Jury (Central Panel).

Ramesh Sharma, the chairperson of the Non-Feature films jury and Vijaya Mulay, who chaired the jury on the Best
Writing on Cinema announced the names of other award winners.

The best Malayalam film is Director Renjith Balakrishnan `Indian Rupee'. The malayalam movie `Aadimadhyantham' directed by Sherry got a special mention by the jury.

Shah Rukh Khan's superhero film 'RA.One' was named for best special effects and Harry Hingorani and Keitan Yadav won the award for their work in 'RA.One'.

The best entertainment movie was bagged by Azhagarswamiyin Kuthirai, the Tamil movie.

The best child actist award was bagged by Parthav Gupta in Stanley Ka Dabba.