Three women, missing for years, found alive in US home

Three women, missing for years, found alive in US home

CHICAGO: Three women who had been missing for years -- two of whom disappeared as teenagers -- were found alive in a house in Cleveland, police in the US state of Ohio said on Monday.

A neighbor spotted one of the women -- Amanda Berry -- screaming and trying to get out of the house.

"I heard screaming... And I see this girl going nuts trying to get outside of the house," Charles Ramsey, a neighbor who found the women, told the local ABC affiliate.

"I go on the porch and she said 'Help me get out. I've been here a long time.'"

Ramsey said he tried to get her out through the door but could not pull it open, so he kicked out the bottom and she crawled through "carrying a little girl."

Police arrived a few minutes later and discovered the two other women.

"All three women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight, seem to be in good health," Cleveland police said in a statement.

"A 52-year-old Hispanic male has been placed under arrest regarding this incident."

Berry was last seen at approximately 7:40 pm on April 21, 2003, after leaving work at a fast food restaurant that was just a few blocks from her home. She was 16 when she disappeared.

DeJesus was 14 when she disappeared while walking home from school on April 2, 2004.

She was last seen at a pay telephone booth, sometime between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm that day.

The story of Knight's disappearance was not immediately known.

Three women, missing for years, found alive in US home

Three women, missing for years, found alive in US home

CHICAGO: Three women who had been missing for years -- two of whom disappeared as teenagers -- were found alive in a house in Cleveland, police in the US state of Ohio said on Monday.

A neighbor spotted one of the women -- Amanda Berry -- screaming and trying to get out of the house.

"I heard screaming... And I see this girl going nuts trying to get outside of the house," Charles Ramsey, a neighbor who found the women, told the local ABC affiliate.

"I go on the porch and she said 'Help me get out. I've been here a long time.'"

Ramsey said he tried to get her out through the door but could not pull it open, so he kicked out the bottom and she crawled through "carrying a little girl."

Police arrived a few minutes later and discovered the two other women.

"All three women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight, seem to be in good health," Cleveland police said in a statement.

"A 52-year-old Hispanic male has been placed under arrest regarding this incident."

Berry was last seen at approximately 7:40 pm on April 21, 2003, after leaving work at a fast food restaurant that was just a few blocks from her home. She was 16 when she disappeared.

DeJesus was 14 when she disappeared while walking home from school on April 2, 2004.

She was last seen at a pay telephone booth, sometime between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm that day.

The story of Knight's disappearance was not immediately known.

China's cyber spying targets US government: Pentagon.

WASHINGTON: China has engaged in widespread cyber espionage in a bid to extract information about the US government's foreign policy and military plans, said a Pentagon report issued.

China kept up a steady campaign of hacking in 2012 that included attempts to target US government computer networks, which could provide Beijing a better insight into America's policy deliberations and military capabilities, according to the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military.

"China is using its computer network exploitation (CNE) capability to support intelligence collection against the US diplomatic, economic, and defense industrial base sectors that support US national defense programs," said the report to Congress.

"In 2012, numerous computer systems around the world, including those owned by the US government, continued to be targeted for intrusions, some of which appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military," it said.

The report marked the most explicit statement yet from the United States that it believes China's cyber spying is focused on the US government, as well as American corporations.

Although President Barack Obama's administration has demanded China stop widespread cyber theft, officials have tended to focus their public comments on the hacking of private business networks and not US government agencies.

The information targeted by the cyber spying could possibly benefit China's arms and technology sectors, as well policymakers interested in US leaders' thinking on China-related issues, the report said.

The cyber spying could assist Chinese military planners in "building a picture of US network defense networks, logistics, and related military capabilities that could be exploited during a crisis," it said.

US officials have grown alarmed over what they call increasingly brazen hacking from China that has penetrated defense contractors including Lockheed Martin and a host of other organizations and agencies.

The digital espionage was part of a broader industrial espionage effort that seeks to secure military-related US and Western technology, allowing Beijing to scale back its reliance on foreign arms manufacturers.

"China continues to leverage foreign investments, commercial joint ventures, academic exchanges, the experience of repatriated Chinese students and researchers, and state-sponsored industrial and technical espionage to increase the level of technologies and expertise available to support military research, development, and acquisition," the report said.

Apart from describing the Chinese military's focus on cyber warfare, the Pentagon report portrayed a steady build-up of Beijing's armed forces, with investments in anti-ship missiles, space satellites, a new aircraft carrier and stealth fighter jets.

China in March announced a 10.7 per cent increase in its annual defense spending, with a budget of $114 billion.

But the report estimated China's total military spending for 2012 was much higher, between $135 billion and $215 billion.

China's cyber spying targets US government: Pentagon.

WASHINGTON: China has engaged in widespread cyber espionage in a bid to extract information about the US government's foreign policy and military plans, said a Pentagon report issued.

China kept up a steady campaign of hacking in 2012 that included attempts to target US government computer networks, which could provide Beijing a better insight into America's policy deliberations and military capabilities, according to the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military.

"China is using its computer network exploitation (CNE) capability to support intelligence collection against the US diplomatic, economic, and defense industrial base sectors that support US national defense programs," said the report to Congress.

"In 2012, numerous computer systems around the world, including those owned by the US government, continued to be targeted for intrusions, some of which appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military," it said.

The report marked the most explicit statement yet from the United States that it believes China's cyber spying is focused on the US government, as well as American corporations.

Although President Barack Obama's administration has demanded China stop widespread cyber theft, officials have tended to focus their public comments on the hacking of private business networks and not US government agencies.

The information targeted by the cyber spying could possibly benefit China's arms and technology sectors, as well policymakers interested in US leaders' thinking on China-related issues, the report said.

The cyber spying could assist Chinese military planners in "building a picture of US network defense networks, logistics, and related military capabilities that could be exploited during a crisis," it said.

US officials have grown alarmed over what they call increasingly brazen hacking from China that has penetrated defense contractors including Lockheed Martin and a host of other organizations and agencies.

The digital espionage was part of a broader industrial espionage effort that seeks to secure military-related US and Western technology, allowing Beijing to scale back its reliance on foreign arms manufacturers.

"China continues to leverage foreign investments, commercial joint ventures, academic exchanges, the experience of repatriated Chinese students and researchers, and state-sponsored industrial and technical espionage to increase the level of technologies and expertise available to support military research, development, and acquisition," the report said.

Apart from describing the Chinese military's focus on cyber warfare, the Pentagon report portrayed a steady build-up of Beijing's armed forces, with investments in anti-ship missiles, space satellites, a new aircraft carrier and stealth fighter jets.

China in March announced a 10.7 per cent increase in its annual defense spending, with a budget of $114 billion.

But the report estimated China's total military spending for 2012 was much higher, between $135 billion and $215 billion.

Boost memory with three glasses of champagne

London : Connoisseurs have long advocated its benefits -- and now a new British study has suggested that three glasses of bubbly a week can help improve memory.

Scientists are convinced that a regular tipple of champagne can help prevent brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, Daily Mail reported.

The study at Reading University, Berkshire, is the first time scientists have identified health benefits in champagne.

In Britain, one in three 'over 65s' develops dementia.

The compound that helps stave off forgetfulness has been found in the black grapes, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier, used for champagne.

In the words of lead researcher Jeremy Spencer: 'These grapes are used in red wine and lots of research has been done on the health benefits of red wine, so I was curious to find out if there were any health attributes in champagne.'

Red wine, if consumed in modest amount, has been found to help lower blood pressure and protect the heart. This is due to the compound chemicals in vines known as flavonoids.

The memory aid found in champagne, however, is a different compound, phenolic acid.

Spencer suggested that anyone over 40 would be wise to drink two or three glasses of bubbly a week.

'Dementia probably starts in the 40s and goes on to the 80s. It is a gradual decline and so the earlier people take these beneficial compounds in champagne, the better,' the research said.

Most new-born deaths in India: Report

New Delhi: More than 300,000 babies die within 24 hours of being born in India each year from infections and other preventable causes, a report said Tuesday, blaming a lack of political will and funding for the crisis.

India accounts for 29 percent of all newborn deaths worldwide, according to the charity Save the Children which published the findings at the launch of its annual State of the World's Mothers report.

The report on 186 countries showed South Asia - which accounts for 24 percent of the world's population - recording 40 percent of the world's first-day deaths.

Bangladesh and Pakistan also have large numbers of yearly first-day deaths at 28,000 and 60,000 with chronic malnourishment of mothers one of the major factors for the fatalities in the region.

'Progress has been made, but more than 1,000 babies die every day on their first day of life from preventable causes throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,' said Mike Novell, the regional director of the charity.

The charity identified three major causes of newborn deaths - complications during birth, prematurity and infections - and said access to low-cost, life-saving interventions could cut down the figures by as much as 75 percent.

'What is lacking is the political will and funding to deliver these solutions to all the mothers and babies who need them,' it said.

A decade of rapid economic growth has allowed India to boost spending on poor and rural communities but Save the Children said most such programmes had not benefited those most in need.

More than half of all Indian women give birth without the help of skilled health care professionals, leading to infections and complications.

In far-flung areas, doctors and hospitals are rare and villagers often put the health of their children in the hands of poorly trained substitutes.

But even in cities such as New Delhi with relatively better healthcare facilities women are delivering at home, said Sharmila Lal, a Delhi-based gynaecologist.

'Even if hospitals are near at hand, the women are having babies at home in a highly unsafe and unhygienic environment just because of lack of awareness,' Lal added.

Lal said India must invest in creating a pool of paramedical staff trained in childbirth to take the load off doctors 'who often don't have time or patience to explain simple life-saving measures to expectant mothers'.

The charity said the problem of infant mortality could be addressed by closing the equity gap in a developing country like India where economic benefits have been shared unequally.

'If all newborns in India experienced the same survival rates as newborns from the richest Indian families, nearly 360,000 more babies would survive each year,' the report said. AFP

Most new-born deaths in India: Report

New Delhi: More than 300,000 babies die within 24 hours of being born in India each year from infections and other preventable causes, a report said Tuesday, blaming a lack of political will and funding for the crisis.

India accounts for 29 percent of all newborn deaths worldwide, according to the charity Save the Children which published the findings at the launch of its annual State of the World's Mothers report.

The report on 186 countries showed South Asia - which accounts for 24 percent of the world's population - recording 40 percent of the world's first-day deaths.

Bangladesh and Pakistan also have large numbers of yearly first-day deaths at 28,000 and 60,000 with chronic malnourishment of mothers one of the major factors for the fatalities in the region.

'Progress has been made, but more than 1,000 babies die every day on their first day of life from preventable causes throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh,' said Mike Novell, the regional director of the charity.

The charity identified three major causes of newborn deaths - complications during birth, prematurity and infections - and said access to low-cost, life-saving interventions could cut down the figures by as much as 75 percent.

'What is lacking is the political will and funding to deliver these solutions to all the mothers and babies who need them,' it said.

A decade of rapid economic growth has allowed India to boost spending on poor and rural communities but Save the Children said most such programmes had not benefited those most in need.

More than half of all Indian women give birth without the help of skilled health care professionals, leading to infections and complications.

In far-flung areas, doctors and hospitals are rare and villagers often put the health of their children in the hands of poorly trained substitutes.

But even in cities such as New Delhi with relatively better healthcare facilities women are delivering at home, said Sharmila Lal, a Delhi-based gynaecologist.

'Even if hospitals are near at hand, the women are having babies at home in a highly unsafe and unhygienic environment just because of lack of awareness,' Lal added.

Lal said India must invest in creating a pool of paramedical staff trained in childbirth to take the load off doctors 'who often don't have time or patience to explain simple life-saving measures to expectant mothers'.

The charity said the problem of infant mortality could be addressed by closing the equity gap in a developing country like India where economic benefits have been shared unequally.

'If all newborns in India experienced the same survival rates as newborns from the richest Indian families, nearly 360,000 more babies would survive each year,' the report said. AFP

Boost memory with three glasses of champagne

London : Connoisseurs have long advocated its benefits -- and now a new British study has suggested that three glasses of bubbly a week can help improve memory.

Scientists are convinced that a regular tipple of champagne can help prevent brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, Daily Mail reported.

The study at Reading University, Berkshire, is the first time scientists have identified health benefits in champagne.

In Britain, one in three 'over 65s' develops dementia.

The compound that helps stave off forgetfulness has been found in the black grapes, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier, used for champagne.

In the words of lead researcher Jeremy Spencer: 'These grapes are used in red wine and lots of research has been done on the health benefits of red wine, so I was curious to find out if there were any health attributes in champagne.'

Red wine, if consumed in modest amount, has been found to help lower blood pressure and protect the heart. This is due to the compound chemicals in vines known as flavonoids.

The memory aid found in champagne, however, is a different compound, phenolic acid.

Spencer suggested that anyone over 40 would be wise to drink two or three glasses of bubbly a week.

'Dementia probably starts in the 40s and goes on to the 80s. It is a gradual decline and so the earlier people take these beneficial compounds in champagne, the better,' the research said.

Compliant from newspapers: Chief secretary completes probe

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief secretary Bharath Bhushan has completed the probe on Kerala Police intelligence report that accuses a section of the media , Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama and Kerala Kaumudi of stories favoring Tamil Nadu on the water sharing dispute between the two states. 

Chandy asked chief secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan to submit a report in three days on the A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said the decision to initiate a probe came after managing director of newspapers 'Kerala Kaumudi' M.S. Ravi, managing editor of 'Malayala Manorama' Philip Mathew and managing editor of 'Mathrubhumi' P.V. Chandran wrote to Chandy demanding a probe into the intelligence report.

Last week, the media in Kerala had reported that the intelligence wing of Kerala Police claimed that a Malayalee, Unni Krishnan from this city, was 'spying' for the Tamil Nadu government on inter-state water issues.

Police had said that Krishnan works for the Tamil Nadu government and had been passing on contents of Kerala government files dealing with water sharing between the two states.

A TV channel, quoting from the intelligence report, said that some journalists have close links with Unni Krishnan.

Earlier this week, Chandy rubbished media reports that a Tamil Nadu government employee was a spy in the state secretariat and had been passing on vital documents on the water sharing dispute between the two states.

Compliant from newspapers: Chief secretary completes probe

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief secretary Bharath Bhushan has completed the probe on Kerala Police intelligence report that accuses a section of the media , Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama and Kerala Kaumudi of stories favoring Tamil Nadu on the water sharing dispute between the two states. 

Chandy asked chief secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan to submit a report in three days on the A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said the decision to initiate a probe came after managing director of newspapers 'Kerala Kaumudi' M.S. Ravi, managing editor of 'Malayala Manorama' Philip Mathew and managing editor of 'Mathrubhumi' P.V. Chandran wrote to Chandy demanding a probe into the intelligence report.

Last week, the media in Kerala had reported that the intelligence wing of Kerala Police claimed that a Malayalee, Unni Krishnan from this city, was 'spying' for the Tamil Nadu government on inter-state water issues.

Police had said that Krishnan works for the Tamil Nadu government and had been passing on contents of Kerala government files dealing with water sharing between the two states.

A TV channel, quoting from the intelligence report, said that some journalists have close links with Unni Krishnan.

Earlier this week, Chandy rubbished media reports that a Tamil Nadu government employee was a spy in the state secretariat and had been passing on vital documents on the water sharing dispute between the two states.

Ruling party wins Malaysia elections

The ruling National Front coalition has won a simple majority in Malaysia's election, extending its 56-year rule.

The Election Commission said PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional coalition won 133 of the 222 in parliamentary seats - well short of the two-thirds majority it lost five years ago.

The opposition won 89 seats, up from 82, in Sunday's election.

Defeated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim accused the ruling coalition of widespread fraud.

Some 80% of registered voters cast ballots, said election officials.

Voters had been faced with returning the ruling party, or choosing Mr Anwar's untested three-party alliance, Pakatan Rakyat.

As the result was confirmed, Mr Najib, 59, urged all Malaysians to accept his coalition's victory.

'The results show a trend of polarisation which worries the government. If it is not addressed, it can create tension or division in the country,' he said.

'We have to show to the world that we are a mature democracy.'
Fraud claims

Earlier, Mr Najib had said he was confident Malaysians would retain his coalition and even return the two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Barisan Nasional, while credited with bringing economic development and political stability, has also been tainted by allegations of corruption.

In what was considered a tight race, it had campaigned hard to shore up its base among poorer ethnic Malay neighbourhoods and in rural areas.

But Mr Anwar refused to concede defeat, accusing the authorities of widespread abuses which he said had distorted the result of the election.

'It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the Electoral Commission has failed,' he told a news conference after midnight on Monday.

Allegations of election fraud surfaced before the election.

Some of those who voted in advance told BBC News that indelible ink on their hands - supposed to last for days and show they had already voted - had easily washed off.

The opposition also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denied.

Independent pollster Merdeka Center also cited unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given ID documents and being allowed to vote.

And the international organisation Human Rights Watch said there had been well-planned attacks against the country's independent media ahead of the polls.

Most traditional media in Malaysia are linked to the governing parties so their opponents rely almost exclusively on the internet to get their message out, correspondents say.BBC

Ruling party wins Malaysia elections

The ruling National Front coalition has won a simple majority in Malaysia's election, extending its 56-year rule.

The Election Commission said PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional coalition won 133 of the 222 in parliamentary seats - well short of the two-thirds majority it lost five years ago.

The opposition won 89 seats, up from 82, in Sunday's election.

Defeated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim accused the ruling coalition of widespread fraud.

Some 80% of registered voters cast ballots, said election officials.

Voters had been faced with returning the ruling party, or choosing Mr Anwar's untested three-party alliance, Pakatan Rakyat.

As the result was confirmed, Mr Najib, 59, urged all Malaysians to accept his coalition's victory.

'The results show a trend of polarisation which worries the government. If it is not addressed, it can create tension or division in the country,' he said.

'We have to show to the world that we are a mature democracy.'
Fraud claims

Earlier, Mr Najib had said he was confident Malaysians would retain his coalition and even return the two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Barisan Nasional, while credited with bringing economic development and political stability, has also been tainted by allegations of corruption.

In what was considered a tight race, it had campaigned hard to shore up its base among poorer ethnic Malay neighbourhoods and in rural areas.

But Mr Anwar refused to concede defeat, accusing the authorities of widespread abuses which he said had distorted the result of the election.

'It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the Electoral Commission has failed,' he told a news conference after midnight on Monday.

Allegations of election fraud surfaced before the election.

Some of those who voted in advance told BBC News that indelible ink on their hands - supposed to last for days and show they had already voted - had easily washed off.

The opposition also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denied.

Independent pollster Merdeka Center also cited unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given ID documents and being allowed to vote.

And the international organisation Human Rights Watch said there had been well-planned attacks against the country's independent media ahead of the polls.

Most traditional media in Malaysia are linked to the governing parties so their opponents rely almost exclusively on the internet to get their message out, correspondents say.BBC

Mumbai humiliate Super Kings, go 3rd in the table

Mumbai : Mumbai Indians moved into the top four in the standings of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a comprehensive 60-run win over Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium here Sunday.

With the win, Mumbai leapfrogged Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad into third place with 14 points. The Super Kings lost their first match in seven games but with 18 points they still sit pretty at the top of the table.

Mumbai Indians scored 139 for five with captain Rohit Sharma top scoring with 39 off 30 balls.

Mitchell Johnson took three wickets in one over to help restrict the league leaders to their lowest ever total and the fourth lowest total in IPL history of 79 all out.

Pragyan Ojha and Lasith Malinga too chipped in with three and two wickets, respectively.

Super Kings got off to a fortuitous start with Kieron Pollard dropping Michael Hussey (22) thrice in Mitchell Johnson's first over.

However, the Australian picked up three wickets in his next over to send the visitors into panic.

Pollard somewhat made up for the dropped chances by taking a stunning catch to dismiss Suresh Raina (0) giving Johnson his second wicket.

The Super Kings never recovered from this point and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Hussey failed to make use of the reprieve given to him and was sent back packing by Pragyan Ojha.

However, till the time captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10) was at the crease, Chennai still had a sniff. Dhoni, though, could not produce a miracle innings and got out tamely to Ojha.

The tailenders hardly put up a fight and served as easy prey for Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, who bowled his first over in the 14th over of Super Kings' innings.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians found themselves in a spot of bother with the score on 66 for four.

Sachin Tendulkar (15) once again failed with the bat while Dwayne Smith (22) and Dinesh Karthik (23) failed to capitalise on a good start.

However, Rohit Sharma once again played the captain's innings and together with Harbhajan Singh forged a crucial unbeaten partnership of 67 for the sixth wicket.

Mumbai humiliate Super Kings, go 3rd in the table

Mumbai : Mumbai Indians moved into the top four in the standings of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a comprehensive 60-run win over Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium here Sunday.

With the win, Mumbai leapfrogged Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad into third place with 14 points. The Super Kings lost their first match in seven games but with 18 points they still sit pretty at the top of the table.

Mumbai Indians scored 139 for five with captain Rohit Sharma top scoring with 39 off 30 balls.

Mitchell Johnson took three wickets in one over to help restrict the league leaders to their lowest ever total and the fourth lowest total in IPL history of 79 all out.

Pragyan Ojha and Lasith Malinga too chipped in with three and two wickets, respectively.

Super Kings got off to a fortuitous start with Kieron Pollard dropping Michael Hussey (22) thrice in Mitchell Johnson's first over.

However, the Australian picked up three wickets in his next over to send the visitors into panic.

Pollard somewhat made up for the dropped chances by taking a stunning catch to dismiss Suresh Raina (0) giving Johnson his second wicket.

The Super Kings never recovered from this point and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Hussey failed to make use of the reprieve given to him and was sent back packing by Pragyan Ojha.

However, till the time captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10) was at the crease, Chennai still had a sniff. Dhoni, though, could not produce a miracle innings and got out tamely to Ojha.

The tailenders hardly put up a fight and served as easy prey for Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, who bowled his first over in the 14th over of Super Kings' innings.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians found themselves in a spot of bother with the score on 66 for four.

Sachin Tendulkar (15) once again failed with the bat while Dwayne Smith (22) and Dinesh Karthik (23) failed to capitalise on a good start.

However, Rohit Sharma once again played the captain's innings and together with Harbhajan Singh forged a crucial unbeaten partnership of 67 for the sixth wicket.

India to have five rocket launches, including Mars mission, in 2013

Chennai: India's space agency is planning to have a total of five rocket launches in 2013 from its rocket launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here. This will include a mission to Mars later this year.

Four of the launches are expected to happen between June and December, including the launch of communication satellite G-Sat 14 using heavier rocket - Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) - powered with a domestic cryogenic engine.

'Between June 10 and 15 we are planning to launch the first navigational satellite, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-R1A (IRNSS-R1A) and it will be followed by the launch of G-Sat 14 some time in July,' a senior official at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS, preferring anonymity.

According to officials, the assembling of two rockets is going on at a good pace at the rocket launch centre. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) version that will carry the navigation satellite is being assembled at the first launch pad.

'The assembling of the first stage/engine and the strap on motors has been completed. The second stage is under preparation. The satellite is expected soon from the satellite centre in Bangalore,' officials said.

The IRNSS-R1A satellite will be the first of seven satellites to be launched into earth orbit to provide real-time position, navigation and time services to multiple users. The space agency plans to launch the second navigation satellite three months after in-orbit tests of the first one and the remaining five satellites over a 14-month period by 2014-15.

These two launches will be followed by the mission to Mars later this year. The launch of one more remote sensing satellite is also being planned before the end of this year.

In February this year India launched the Indo-French Saral satellite and six other small foreign satellites using the PSLV rocket.
India started putting into space third-party satellites for a fee in 1999 on its PSLV-C2 rocket. Since then India has been successful in launching medium-weight satellites for overseas agencies. Initially ISRO started carrying third-party satellites atop PSLV rockets as co-passengers of its own remote sensing/earth observation satellites.

In 2007 ISRO for the first time launched an Italian satellite - Agile - as a standalone for a fee.

India has earned a revenue of $17.17 million and euro 32.28 million by launching 35 foreign satellites till date, parliament was told recently by V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

'Some customers paid in dollars and some in euros and hence we are giving it separately,' an ISRO official said.

India to have five rocket launches, including Mars mission, in 2013

Chennai: India's space agency is planning to have a total of five rocket launches in 2013 from its rocket launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here. This will include a mission to Mars later this year.

Four of the launches are expected to happen between June and December, including the launch of communication satellite G-Sat 14 using heavier rocket - Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) - powered with a domestic cryogenic engine.

'Between June 10 and 15 we are planning to launch the first navigational satellite, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-R1A (IRNSS-R1A) and it will be followed by the launch of G-Sat 14 some time in July,' a senior official at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS, preferring anonymity.

According to officials, the assembling of two rockets is going on at a good pace at the rocket launch centre. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) version that will carry the navigation satellite is being assembled at the first launch pad.

'The assembling of the first stage/engine and the strap on motors has been completed. The second stage is under preparation. The satellite is expected soon from the satellite centre in Bangalore,' officials said.

The IRNSS-R1A satellite will be the first of seven satellites to be launched into earth orbit to provide real-time position, navigation and time services to multiple users. The space agency plans to launch the second navigation satellite three months after in-orbit tests of the first one and the remaining five satellites over a 14-month period by 2014-15.

These two launches will be followed by the mission to Mars later this year. The launch of one more remote sensing satellite is also being planned before the end of this year.

In February this year India launched the Indo-French Saral satellite and six other small foreign satellites using the PSLV rocket.
India started putting into space third-party satellites for a fee in 1999 on its PSLV-C2 rocket. Since then India has been successful in launching medium-weight satellites for overseas agencies. Initially ISRO started carrying third-party satellites atop PSLV rockets as co-passengers of its own remote sensing/earth observation satellites.

In 2007 ISRO for the first time launched an Italian satellite - Agile - as a standalone for a fee.

India has earned a revenue of $17.17 million and euro 32.28 million by launching 35 foreign satellites till date, parliament was told recently by V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

'Some customers paid in dollars and some in euros and hence we are giving it separately,' an ISRO official said.

Woman delivers twins on train - for the second time!

A woman from Uttar Pradesh gave birth to twins on a moving train - the second time in four years that she has delivered twins in a train!

The bizarre coincidence took place Sunday on board the Kushinagar Express. Zubin Nisha, along with her husband, was travelling from Mumbai to Gonda for delivery when she went into labour in the general compartment (S-10) between Unnao and Lucknow.

As the train chugged ahead, alarmed fellow passengers cleared the area around berth 63 and made room for other women passengers to attend to the woman.

Some passengers called railway staff and alerted a medical team stationed at Lucknow of the 'developments on the train'. The medical team was kept on standby mode.

Before the train could reach Lucknow, however, the woman gave birth to twin boys. Both the babies were handed over to the waiting medical team, safe and healthy.

The mother and the twins were immediately wheeled away to the Queen Mary Hospital here, officials told IANS.

Habibullah, the proud father of the twins, said they were going to their village Kundera in Gonda when his wife went into labour in Kanpur. But before he could decide on de-boarding the train, the train moved, and he was left with no option but to wait till the train reached Lucknow.

'I am very thankful to Allah and my fellow passengers who helped me a lot,' Habibullah told IANS, adding that he and Zuben have four-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, who also arrived in a moving train.

Cradling the two babies, Habibullah said he was feeling on 'top of the world' and shared the amusement of his co-passengers that his wife had delivered twins twice in a moving train.

'Well, indeed this is some sort of a record, but what can I say,' he said, sounding a bit surprised himself. 'I can call this a rare blessing of god almighty that my kids come into this world in such a manner,' he said.

Woman delivers twins on train - for the second time!

A woman from Uttar Pradesh gave birth to twins on a moving train - the second time in four years that she has delivered twins in a train!

The bizarre coincidence took place Sunday on board the Kushinagar Express. Zubin Nisha, along with her husband, was travelling from Mumbai to Gonda for delivery when she went into labour in the general compartment (S-10) between Unnao and Lucknow.

As the train chugged ahead, alarmed fellow passengers cleared the area around berth 63 and made room for other women passengers to attend to the woman.

Some passengers called railway staff and alerted a medical team stationed at Lucknow of the 'developments on the train'. The medical team was kept on standby mode.

Before the train could reach Lucknow, however, the woman gave birth to twin boys. Both the babies were handed over to the waiting medical team, safe and healthy.

The mother and the twins were immediately wheeled away to the Queen Mary Hospital here, officials told IANS.

Habibullah, the proud father of the twins, said they were going to their village Kundera in Gonda when his wife went into labour in Kanpur. But before he could decide on de-boarding the train, the train moved, and he was left with no option but to wait till the train reached Lucknow.

'I am very thankful to Allah and my fellow passengers who helped me a lot,' Habibullah told IANS, adding that he and Zuben have four-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, who also arrived in a moving train.

Cradling the two babies, Habibullah said he was feeling on 'top of the world' and shared the amusement of his co-passengers that his wife had delivered twins twice in a moving train.

'Well, indeed this is some sort of a record, but what can I say,' he said, sounding a bit surprised himself. 'I can call this a rare blessing of god almighty that my kids come into this world in such a manner,' he said.