Charred body of youth found inside car

Alapuzha: A burnt body of a youth was found inside a car in Alapuzha on Friday morning. Dilip hailing from Thuravoor was the deceased. Seeing smoke and fire coming out of the car, natives informed police about the mishap. Dilip was into finance dealings in Chertala. The body has been shifted to the Alapuzha Medical College hospital.

Charred body of youth found inside car

Alapuzha: A burnt body of a youth was found inside a car in Alapuzha on Friday morning. Dilip hailing from Thuravoor was the deceased. Seeing smoke and fire coming out of the car, natives informed police about the mishap. Dilip was into finance dealings in Chertala. The body has been shifted to the Alapuzha Medical College hospital.

Mobile number portability up by 2.09 mn in November: TRAI

New Delhi: Request for mobile number portability (MNP) in November 2013 went up by 2.09 million, official data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said Thursday. MNP requests increased from 104.79 million subscribers at the end of October 2013 to 106.87 million at the end of November 2013, it said.

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 904.56 million at the end of October 2013 to 910.14 million at the end of November 2013 -- thereby showing a monthly growth of 0.62 percent. The share of urban subscribers has declined from 60.26 percent to 60.06 percent while share of rural subscribers has increased from 39.74 percent to 39.94 percent in the month of November 2013. With this, the overall teledensity in India increased from 73.32 at the end of October 2013 to 73.69 at the end of November 2013.

Total wireless subscriber base increased from 875.48 million in October 2013 to 881.13 million at the end of November 2013 -- registering a monthly growth of 0.65 percent. The share of urban wireless subscribers has declined from 59.65 percent to 59.45 percent while the share of rural wireless subscribers has increased from 40.35 percent to 40.55 percent. The overall wireless teledensity in India has reached 71.34 from 70.96 in previous month. Wireline subscriber base declined from 29.08 million at the end of October 2013 to 29.01 million at the end of November 2013.

Mobile number portability up by 2.09 mn in November: TRAI

New Delhi: Request for mobile number portability (MNP) in November 2013 went up by 2.09 million, official data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said Thursday. MNP requests increased from 104.79 million subscribers at the end of October 2013 to 106.87 million at the end of November 2013, it said.

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 904.56 million at the end of October 2013 to 910.14 million at the end of November 2013 -- thereby showing a monthly growth of 0.62 percent. The share of urban subscribers has declined from 60.26 percent to 60.06 percent while share of rural subscribers has increased from 39.74 percent to 39.94 percent in the month of November 2013. With this, the overall teledensity in India increased from 73.32 at the end of October 2013 to 73.69 at the end of November 2013.

Total wireless subscriber base increased from 875.48 million in October 2013 to 881.13 million at the end of November 2013 -- registering a monthly growth of 0.65 percent. The share of urban wireless subscribers has declined from 59.65 percent to 59.45 percent while the share of rural wireless subscribers has increased from 40.35 percent to 40.55 percent. The overall wireless teledensity in India has reached 71.34 from 70.96 in previous month. Wireline subscriber base declined from 29.08 million at the end of October 2013 to 29.01 million at the end of November 2013.

SC seeks details of production, sale of synthetic milk from states

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday asked all states and union territories to file affidavits on the steps taken by them on curbing the production and sale of synthetic milk and prosecution of the offenders. A bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Vikramajit Sen also inquired about the steps taken by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Delhi to make provision for life imprisonment under the Indian Penal Code's section 272 for producing and selling synthetic milk and other adulterated food.

Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha were the only states which have amended the section to provide for life imprisonment for food adulteration.
At present, under the section, punishment for the sale of adulterated food or drink items attracts maximum imprisonment of six months, or a fine which may extend to Rs.1,000, or both.

Apparently displeased with the responses of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana and highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Justice Radhakrishnan said that for the last two years, he was taking black coffee.
The court asked Uttar Pradesh to furnish the details of the prosecutions it had launched under the amended section 272 for those found involved in adulterating food articles, including manufacturing and selling synthetic milk.

The court's direction came after counsel Anurag Tomar, appearing for petitioner Swami Achyutanand Tirath of Haridwar-based Bhuma Niketan Ashram, told the court that though there were 52 and 22 cases of synthetic milk in the state during 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively, but in none was prosecution launched under the section. He said it was an admitted position in the Uttar Pradesh government's affidavit.

Tomar contended that 'apathy and inaction' of the central and the state governments in taking 'effective and necessary' measures in curbing the sale of synthetic (chemically prepared) and adulterated milk was violative of the fundamental right to life guaranteed under article 21 of the constitution.

Noting that three states have amended section 272 to increase sentence for food adulteration to life imprisonment, the court, in the last hearing on Dec 5, 2013, had said: 'Considering the seriousness of the offence, it is important that similar amendments are to be made in other states as well.'

The court impleaded all the states in the matter after Additional Solicitor General Rakesh Khanna told it that the central government has received responses from 27 states and was awaiting response from four to five others.

The court by its Dec 5 order had asked the central government as well as the Food Safety Authority to also file a detailed affidavit of the number of cases they have come across with regard to adding synthetic materials to milk and milk products and 'what action various states have taken after they have detected such adulteration'.

Giving three weeks time to the central and state government to file their replies, the court directed the listing of the matter Feb 20.

SC seeks details of production, sale of synthetic milk from states

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday asked all states and union territories to file affidavits on the steps taken by them on curbing the production and sale of synthetic milk and prosecution of the offenders. A bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Vikramajit Sen also inquired about the steps taken by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Delhi to make provision for life imprisonment under the Indian Penal Code's section 272 for producing and selling synthetic milk and other adulterated food.

Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha were the only states which have amended the section to provide for life imprisonment for food adulteration.
At present, under the section, punishment for the sale of adulterated food or drink items attracts maximum imprisonment of six months, or a fine which may extend to Rs.1,000, or both.

Apparently displeased with the responses of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana and highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Justice Radhakrishnan said that for the last two years, he was taking black coffee.
The court asked Uttar Pradesh to furnish the details of the prosecutions it had launched under the amended section 272 for those found involved in adulterating food articles, including manufacturing and selling synthetic milk.

The court's direction came after counsel Anurag Tomar, appearing for petitioner Swami Achyutanand Tirath of Haridwar-based Bhuma Niketan Ashram, told the court that though there were 52 and 22 cases of synthetic milk in the state during 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively, but in none was prosecution launched under the section. He said it was an admitted position in the Uttar Pradesh government's affidavit.

Tomar contended that 'apathy and inaction' of the central and the state governments in taking 'effective and necessary' measures in curbing the sale of synthetic (chemically prepared) and adulterated milk was violative of the fundamental right to life guaranteed under article 21 of the constitution.

Noting that three states have amended section 272 to increase sentence for food adulteration to life imprisonment, the court, in the last hearing on Dec 5, 2013, had said: 'Considering the seriousness of the offence, it is important that similar amendments are to be made in other states as well.'

The court impleaded all the states in the matter after Additional Solicitor General Rakesh Khanna told it that the central government has received responses from 27 states and was awaiting response from four to five others.

The court by its Dec 5 order had asked the central government as well as the Food Safety Authority to also file a detailed affidavit of the number of cases they have come across with regard to adding synthetic materials to milk and milk products and 'what action various states have taken after they have detected such adulteration'.

Giving three weeks time to the central and state government to file their replies, the court directed the listing of the matter Feb 20.

SC directs Ma’dani's medical tests, declines bail plea

New Delhi: Declining his bail plea for now, the Supreme Court Wednesday directed medical examination of 2008 Bangalore blasts accused Abdul Nasser Ma’dani to ascertain if he requires medical supervision till his eye surgery is done.

Ordering that Ma’dani be examined by Bangalore's Manipal Hospital in a week's time, the apex court bench of Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice Kurian Joseph said that depending on the outcome of his medical examination, he will be shifted to the hospital. Ma’dani is diagnosed with highly fluctuating and uncontrolled diabetes which was the cause of the rapidly deteriorating condition of his eyes.

Besides he suffers from hypertension, stable coronary artery disease (heart disease) and benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of the prostate gland), amongst a myriad of other illnesses. The court said that authorities would ensure that he gets the required food both in jail and the hospital, adding that Ma’dani's wife and other close relatives would be allowed to visit him in the hospital.

The court said the Karnataka government would bear the expenses of Ma’dani's hospitalisation and treatment as he was in their custody. Earlier appearing for Ma’dani, counsel Prashant Bhushan told the court that his client was in custody for nearly three-and-half years. Earlier also, he was incarcerated for nine years in the Coimbatore blast case in which he was acquitted later.

Pleading that Ma’dani be granted two to three months' interim bail so that he could stay at home and get proper care, food and medical treatment, Bhushan told the court that Ma’dani has not been convicted for any offence so far. He said the only charge against him is that he attended a meeting where an alleged conspiracy was hatched.

The court was told that Ma’dani could not escape or flee as he suffers from multiple ailments -- he is confined to a wheel chair and has one leg amputated. Bhushan told the court that in the last hearing of the matter, the Kerala government had said that while in Kerala, Ma’dani would be provided with security cover. However, Bhushan's plea for an interim bail of two to three months was vehemently opposed by senior counsel Raju Ramachandran who appeared for Karnataka government.

Describing Maudany as "mastermind", Ramachandran said that conspiracy and instigation were far more serious offences. He told the court that considering t he nature of his offence, Ma’dani has been repeatedly denied bail. Having directed the treatment of Ma’dani, the court directed the listing of the matter March 26 next.

SC directs Ma’dani's medical tests, declines bail plea

New Delhi: Declining his bail plea for now, the Supreme Court Wednesday directed medical examination of 2008 Bangalore blasts accused Abdul Nasser Ma’dani to ascertain if he requires medical supervision till his eye surgery is done.

Ordering that Ma’dani be examined by Bangalore's Manipal Hospital in a week's time, the apex court bench of Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice Kurian Joseph said that depending on the outcome of his medical examination, he will be shifted to the hospital. Ma’dani is diagnosed with highly fluctuating and uncontrolled diabetes which was the cause of the rapidly deteriorating condition of his eyes.

Besides he suffers from hypertension, stable coronary artery disease (heart disease) and benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of the prostate gland), amongst a myriad of other illnesses. The court said that authorities would ensure that he gets the required food both in jail and the hospital, adding that Ma’dani's wife and other close relatives would be allowed to visit him in the hospital.

The court said the Karnataka government would bear the expenses of Ma’dani's hospitalisation and treatment as he was in their custody. Earlier appearing for Ma’dani, counsel Prashant Bhushan told the court that his client was in custody for nearly three-and-half years. Earlier also, he was incarcerated for nine years in the Coimbatore blast case in which he was acquitted later.

Pleading that Ma’dani be granted two to three months' interim bail so that he could stay at home and get proper care, food and medical treatment, Bhushan told the court that Ma’dani has not been convicted for any offence so far. He said the only charge against him is that he attended a meeting where an alleged conspiracy was hatched.

The court was told that Ma’dani could not escape or flee as he suffers from multiple ailments -- he is confined to a wheel chair and has one leg amputated. Bhushan told the court that in the last hearing of the matter, the Kerala government had said that while in Kerala, Ma’dani would be provided with security cover. However, Bhushan's plea for an interim bail of two to three months was vehemently opposed by senior counsel Raju Ramachandran who appeared for Karnataka government.

Describing Maudany as "mastermind", Ramachandran said that conspiracy and instigation were far more serious offences. He told the court that considering t he nature of his offence, Ma’dani has been repeatedly denied bail. Having directed the treatment of Ma’dani, the court directed the listing of the matter March 26 next.

NASA technology to reveal ice melting impact on climate

Washington: A new laser-based technology from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) holds promise to tell how the melting of earth’s frozen regions may affect our climate.

This opens a new vista for researchers to better track the melting or growth of ice sheets, glaciers and sea ice. A high-altitude aircraft from NASA flew over the icy Arctic ocean and the snow-covered terrain of Greenland recently.  Aboard that aircraft flew the Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar, or MABEL, which is an airborne test-bed instrument for NASA's ICESat-2 satellite mission - slated to launch in 2017. Armed with a new photon-counting technique, MABEL flew over southwest Greenland's glaciers and sea ice to test a new method of measuring the height of earth from space.

The MABEL sent out pulses of green laser light and measured how long it took individual light photons to bounce off earth's surface and return. “Using the individual photons to measure surface elevation is a really new thing,” said Ron Kwok, a senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. ICESat-2 is tasked with measuring elevation across earth's entire surface but with a focus on change in the frozen areas of the planet, where scientists have observed dramatic impacts from climate change, said a NASA press release.

The two types of ice - ice sheets and sea ice - reflect light photons in different patterns. Ice sheets and glaciers are found on land, like Greenland and Antarctica, and are formed as frozen snow and rain accumulates. Sea ice, on the other hand, is frozen seawater, found floating in the Arctic ocean and offshore of Antarctica. “MABEL's Greenland campaign was designed to observe a range of interesting icy features,” said Bill Cook, MABEL's lead scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland. With the photon counts from different surfaces, other scientists could start analysing the data to determine which methods allow them to best measure the elevation of earth's surface.

The flights over the ocean near Greenland allowed researchers to demonstrate that they can measure the height difference between open water and sea ice, which is key to determining the ice thickness. MABEL can detect enough of the laser light photons that bounce off earth's surface and return to the instrument, and programmes can then make necessary elevation calculations, Cook added. “We were pretty happy with the precision. The flat areas are flat to centimetre level and the rough areas are rough,” he said. The density of photons detection could also tell researchers what type of ice the instrument was flying over. The instrument team is planning a 2014 summer campaign to fly over glaciers and ice sheets in warmer weather. 

IANS

NASA technology to reveal ice melting impact on climate

Washington: A new laser-based technology from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) holds promise to tell how the melting of earth’s frozen regions may affect our climate.

This opens a new vista for researchers to better track the melting or growth of ice sheets, glaciers and sea ice. A high-altitude aircraft from NASA flew over the icy Arctic ocean and the snow-covered terrain of Greenland recently.  Aboard that aircraft flew the Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar, or MABEL, which is an airborne test-bed instrument for NASA's ICESat-2 satellite mission - slated to launch in 2017. Armed with a new photon-counting technique, MABEL flew over southwest Greenland's glaciers and sea ice to test a new method of measuring the height of earth from space.

The MABEL sent out pulses of green laser light and measured how long it took individual light photons to bounce off earth's surface and return. “Using the individual photons to measure surface elevation is a really new thing,” said Ron Kwok, a senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. ICESat-2 is tasked with measuring elevation across earth's entire surface but with a focus on change in the frozen areas of the planet, where scientists have observed dramatic impacts from climate change, said a NASA press release.

The two types of ice - ice sheets and sea ice - reflect light photons in different patterns. Ice sheets and glaciers are found on land, like Greenland and Antarctica, and are formed as frozen snow and rain accumulates. Sea ice, on the other hand, is frozen seawater, found floating in the Arctic ocean and offshore of Antarctica. “MABEL's Greenland campaign was designed to observe a range of interesting icy features,” said Bill Cook, MABEL's lead scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland. With the photon counts from different surfaces, other scientists could start analysing the data to determine which methods allow them to best measure the elevation of earth's surface.

The flights over the ocean near Greenland allowed researchers to demonstrate that they can measure the height difference between open water and sea ice, which is key to determining the ice thickness. MABEL can detect enough of the laser light photons that bounce off earth's surface and return to the instrument, and programmes can then make necessary elevation calculations, Cook added. “We were pretty happy with the precision. The flat areas are flat to centimetre level and the rough areas are rough,” he said. The density of photons detection could also tell researchers what type of ice the instrument was flying over. The instrument team is planning a 2014 summer campaign to fly over glaciers and ice sheets in warmer weather. 

IANS

Eight die in Maharashtra bus fire

Thane: At least eight passengers were killed and 11 injured when a private luxury bus rammed into an oil tanker and caught fire on the Mumbai - Ahmedabad highway early Wednesday, police said. 
The accident took place when the Ahmedabad-bound bus was near Kuregaon village in Thane district's Manor town, said Investigating Officer Sudhakar Yenare.

According to preliminary information, the accident occurred when the bus driver was attempting to overtake the oil tanker and rammed into it, around 70 km north from Mumbai. Fire brigade officials and villagers doused the fire after the accident which resulted in massive traffic jam on the busy inter-state highway and other arterial roads.

The injured victims, two of whom are reported to be serious, were rushed to a hospital.  There were a total of 21 passengers on the bus. The condition of the remaining passengers and the bus driver and the conductor is not known. The bus left Pune for Ahmedabad around 6.30 p.m. Tuesday. The cause of the fire, which was reported around 1.45 a.m., is not yet clear, he added.

Eight die in Maharashtra bus fire

Thane: At least eight passengers were killed and 11 injured when a private luxury bus rammed into an oil tanker and caught fire on the Mumbai - Ahmedabad highway early Wednesday, police said. 
The accident took place when the Ahmedabad-bound bus was near Kuregaon village in Thane district's Manor town, said Investigating Officer Sudhakar Yenare.

According to preliminary information, the accident occurred when the bus driver was attempting to overtake the oil tanker and rammed into it, around 70 km north from Mumbai. Fire brigade officials and villagers doused the fire after the accident which resulted in massive traffic jam on the busy inter-state highway and other arterial roads.

The injured victims, two of whom are reported to be serious, were rushed to a hospital.  There were a total of 21 passengers on the bus. The condition of the remaining passengers and the bus driver and the conductor is not known. The bus left Pune for Ahmedabad around 6.30 p.m. Tuesday. The cause of the fire, which was reported around 1.45 a.m., is not yet clear, he added.

PM faces protest at Delhi Waqf event

New Delhi: A conference attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was disrupted here Wednesday by a man who said none of the government schemes for the minorities were reaching the beneficiaries.

As soon as the prime minister concluded his speech at the launch of the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO) in Vigyan Bhavan here, promising more steps to empower minorities, a man, later identified as M. Faheem Baig, stood up and shouted that none of the schemes were reaching the people.

"There is no need for a new scheme when government cannot ensure the implementation of the existing welfare schemes," Baig shouted as Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries seated on the stage looked on. "I have written 150 letters to you but my voice is not being heard," Baig said before being gagged and escorted out of the conference hall.

NAWADCO is a new central public sector enterprise under the minority affairs ministry and will work towards the development of the 4.9 lakh Waqf properties in India, the largest in the world. The revenue generated from the assets would be used to benefit the Muslim community. The prime minister later asked Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan, who was also present at the event, to meet Baig and "hear his views and consider his petition".

PM faces protest at Delhi Waqf event

New Delhi: A conference attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was disrupted here Wednesday by a man who said none of the government schemes for the minorities were reaching the beneficiaries.

As soon as the prime minister concluded his speech at the launch of the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO) in Vigyan Bhavan here, promising more steps to empower minorities, a man, later identified as M. Faheem Baig, stood up and shouted that none of the schemes were reaching the people.

"There is no need for a new scheme when government cannot ensure the implementation of the existing welfare schemes," Baig shouted as Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries seated on the stage looked on. "I have written 150 letters to you but my voice is not being heard," Baig said before being gagged and escorted out of the conference hall.

NAWADCO is a new central public sector enterprise under the minority affairs ministry and will work towards the development of the 4.9 lakh Waqf properties in India, the largest in the world. The revenue generated from the assets would be used to benefit the Muslim community. The prime minister later asked Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan, who was also present at the event, to meet Baig and "hear his views and consider his petition".

Indian-American student develops 3-D printed loudspeaker

New York: Led by an Indian-American student Apoorva Kiran, scientists at Cornell University here have 3-D printed a working loudspeaker - seamlessly integrating the plastic, conductive and magnetic parts - and ready for use almost as soon as it comes out of the printer. The thrilling discovery means that rather than assembling consumer products from parts and components, complete functioning products could be fabricated at once, on demand.


Kiran and Robert MacCurdy, graduate students in mechanical engineering, worked with Hod Lipson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to develop this unique technique, said a press release by Cornell University. "Everything is 3-D printed," said Kiran, as he launched a demo by connecting the newly-printed mini speaker to amplifier wires.


For the demo, the amplifier played a clip from President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech that mentioned 3-D printing."A loudspeaker is a relatively simple object. It consists of plastic for the housing, a conductive coil and a magnet. The challenge is coming up with a design and the exact materials that can be co-fabricated into a functional shape," Kiran said.

Kiran used one of the lab's Fab@Homes - a customisable research printer that allows scientists to tinker with different cartridges, control software and other parameters. For the conductor, Kiran used a silver ink. For the magnet, he employed the help of Samanvaya Srivastava, a graduate student in chemical and biomolecular engineering, to come up with a viscous blend of strontium ferrite.

After making a detailed digital model of the telegraph, they printed it on a research fabber.

3-D printing technology could be moving from printing passive parts toward printing active, integrated systems, added the release. But it will be a while before consumers are printing electronics at home.


Most printers cannot efficiently handle multiple materials.It's also difficult to find mutually compatible materials - for example, conductive copper and plastic coming out of the same printer require different temperatures and curing times. Creating a market for printed electronic devices could be like introducing colour printers after only black and white had existed. "It opens up a whole new space that makes the old look primitive," the release added.

Indian-American student develops 3-D printed loudspeaker

New York: Led by an Indian-American student Apoorva Kiran, scientists at Cornell University here have 3-D printed a working loudspeaker - seamlessly integrating the plastic, conductive and magnetic parts - and ready for use almost as soon as it comes out of the printer. The thrilling discovery means that rather than assembling consumer products from parts and components, complete functioning products could be fabricated at once, on demand.


Kiran and Robert MacCurdy, graduate students in mechanical engineering, worked with Hod Lipson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to develop this unique technique, said a press release by Cornell University. "Everything is 3-D printed," said Kiran, as he launched a demo by connecting the newly-printed mini speaker to amplifier wires.


For the demo, the amplifier played a clip from President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech that mentioned 3-D printing."A loudspeaker is a relatively simple object. It consists of plastic for the housing, a conductive coil and a magnet. The challenge is coming up with a design and the exact materials that can be co-fabricated into a functional shape," Kiran said.

Kiran used one of the lab's Fab@Homes - a customisable research printer that allows scientists to tinker with different cartridges, control software and other parameters. For the conductor, Kiran used a silver ink. For the magnet, he employed the help of Samanvaya Srivastava, a graduate student in chemical and biomolecular engineering, to come up with a viscous blend of strontium ferrite.

After making a detailed digital model of the telegraph, they printed it on a research fabber.

3-D printing technology could be moving from printing passive parts toward printing active, integrated systems, added the release. But it will be a while before consumers are printing electronics at home.


Most printers cannot efficiently handle multiple materials.It's also difficult to find mutually compatible materials - for example, conductive copper and plastic coming out of the same printer require different temperatures and curing times. Creating a market for printed electronic devices could be like introducing colour printers after only black and white had existed. "It opens up a whole new space that makes the old look primitive," the release added.

Sea killing: Italian MPs seek amicable resolution of marines issue

New Delhi: As NIA prepares to file a charge sheet against two Italian marines accused of killing two Kerala fishermen, a Parliamentary delegation from Italy has requested diplomats from European Union here to facilitate an "appropriate" solution to the issue.  The 16-member delegation led by the Senate's Chairman of the Committees on External Affairs Pier Ferdinando Casini held talks with European Union ambassador and number of EU diplomats seeking their support on the issue. 

Home Ministry has already given sanction to NIA to prosecute the marines under Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA). The SUA provides for death penalty.  The delegation, in a statement, said they came here to express the strong support and solidarity of the Italian Parliament towards the two officers. 

Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were on board Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie' and now lodged in Italian Embassy premises here, allegedly shot dead the two fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.  In the meetings, the delegation, which arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, underlined the "international repercussions" of the issue and sought its amicable resolution. 

The delegation said it wanted to initiate dialogue at parliamentary level aimed at facilitating an appropriate and honourable solution to the issue, in the light of the traditional friendly ties that the two nations have always maintained.  NIA completed its probe after questioning four Italian marines, who were witness to the incident, through video conferencing after their refusal to come to India. 

The Supreme Court had shifted the case to Delhi, saying the Kerala Police had no jurisdiction over it and backed the government's decision to hand over the case to NIA.  The Italian government has already challenged before the Supreme Court invoking of anti-terrorism law SUA, saying it is against the order of the apex court which allowed proceedings only under the Maritime Zone Act, IPC, CrPC and UNCLOS. 

Sea killing: Italian MPs seek amicable resolution of marines issue

New Delhi: As NIA prepares to file a charge sheet against two Italian marines accused of killing two Kerala fishermen, a Parliamentary delegation from Italy has requested diplomats from European Union here to facilitate an "appropriate" solution to the issue.  The 16-member delegation led by the Senate's Chairman of the Committees on External Affairs Pier Ferdinando Casini held talks with European Union ambassador and number of EU diplomats seeking their support on the issue. 

Home Ministry has already given sanction to NIA to prosecute the marines under Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA). The SUA provides for death penalty.  The delegation, in a statement, said they came here to express the strong support and solidarity of the Italian Parliament towards the two officers. 

Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were on board Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie' and now lodged in Italian Embassy premises here, allegedly shot dead the two fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.  In the meetings, the delegation, which arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, underlined the "international repercussions" of the issue and sought its amicable resolution. 

The delegation said it wanted to initiate dialogue at parliamentary level aimed at facilitating an appropriate and honourable solution to the issue, in the light of the traditional friendly ties that the two nations have always maintained.  NIA completed its probe after questioning four Italian marines, who were witness to the incident, through video conferencing after their refusal to come to India. 

The Supreme Court had shifted the case to Delhi, saying the Kerala Police had no jurisdiction over it and backed the government's decision to hand over the case to NIA.  The Italian government has already challenged before the Supreme Court invoking of anti-terrorism law SUA, saying it is against the order of the apex court which allowed proceedings only under the Maritime Zone Act, IPC, CrPC and UNCLOS. 

Nigerian gunmen attack toll reaches 85

Abuja: The number of people killed in the Sunday's gunmen attack in Nigerian state of Borno reached 85, after more bodies were found, an official said Tuesday. However, 16 people remain missing in the incident. Rescuers found more bodies while combing the area for casualties Tuesday, Xinhua quoted a government official as saying.

Ali Kaka Yale, scribe of Konduga local government area of the restive northern state, said 16 people were still missing after rescue operators had counted up to 85 dead bodies which littered the area after the tragic incident. The incident occurred when Kawuri district came under serious attack Sunday evening despite a state of emergency being in place for last one year.

More dead bodies might be found as search and rescue mission continued, Yale said, while receiving Governor Kashim Shettima, who went to sympathise with the community over the carnage. Some 50 people who sustained injuries during the attack were assisted to local hospitals where they are being treated, he said.

Local residents said scores of gunmen, who wielded AK 47 rifles and shot indiscriminately, set hundreds of houses ablaze with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The unidentified gunmen fled into Sambisa Games Forest, which has recently served as a place of refuge for fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

Nigerian gunmen attack toll reaches 85

Abuja: The number of people killed in the Sunday's gunmen attack in Nigerian state of Borno reached 85, after more bodies were found, an official said Tuesday. However, 16 people remain missing in the incident. Rescuers found more bodies while combing the area for casualties Tuesday, Xinhua quoted a government official as saying.

Ali Kaka Yale, scribe of Konduga local government area of the restive northern state, said 16 people were still missing after rescue operators had counted up to 85 dead bodies which littered the area after the tragic incident. The incident occurred when Kawuri district came under serious attack Sunday evening despite a state of emergency being in place for last one year.

More dead bodies might be found as search and rescue mission continued, Yale said, while receiving Governor Kashim Shettima, who went to sympathise with the community over the carnage. Some 50 people who sustained injuries during the attack were assisted to local hospitals where they are being treated, he said.

Local residents said scores of gunmen, who wielded AK 47 rifles and shot indiscriminately, set hundreds of houses ablaze with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The unidentified gunmen fled into Sambisa Games Forest, which has recently served as a place of refuge for fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

Time to 'fix our broken immigration system': Obama

US President Barack Obama says Democrats and Republicans in the House want to overhaul immigration laws. He calls on them to pass legislation this year. In his State of the Union address, Obama says it is time to heed the calls to change immigration laws from business and labor leaders,

religious leaders and law enforcement officials.

The Senate passed broad legislation last year that enhances border security and provides a path to citizenship for about 11 immigrants in the United States illegally. Among the proposals under consideration by House Republican leaders is one that would give legal status to immigrants in the US illegally but not citizenship. The White House has said Obama wants the legislation to lead to citizenship. But Obama did not make that demand Tuesday night.
AP

Time to 'fix our broken immigration system': Obama

US President Barack Obama says Democrats and Republicans in the House want to overhaul immigration laws. He calls on them to pass legislation this year. In his State of the Union address, Obama says it is time to heed the calls to change immigration laws from business and labor leaders,

religious leaders and law enforcement officials.

The Senate passed broad legislation last year that enhances border security and provides a path to citizenship for about 11 immigrants in the United States illegally. Among the proposals under consideration by House Republican leaders is one that would give legal status to immigrants in the US illegally but not citizenship. The White House has said Obama wants the legislation to lead to citizenship. But Obama did not make that demand Tuesday night.
AP

Kerala mulls rubber procurement

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala plans to procure rubber from the open market to meet the demand from its production units, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the state assembly Tuesday. Responding to a calling attention motion, Chandy told the assembly that fall in rubber price is on account of the price of natural rubber dropping sharply in the international market.

'The centre had agreed to our request to levy a charge on rubber imports but with prices dropping like never before that also has not yielded results,' said Chandy. Price of natural rubber is experiencing a free fall in international markets. India stands fourth in the production of natural rubber and Kerala accounts for 90 percent of the country's rubber production.

Chandy pointed out that the union commerce ministry has a price stabilisation fund and the state has sought Rs.100 crore for rubber procurement. 'We are seriously considering how rubber procurement can be effected,' he said. Earlier, moving the calling attention motion, CPI-M legislator Raju Abraham blamed the state government's callous attitude on the serious issue.

'Rubber price in 2011 was Rs.248 per kg and it fell drastically... In 2012, it was Rs.200, in 2013, Rs.150 and now it stands at Rs.135. The lives of five million families have been affected as almost 40 percent of them are dependent on income from rubber. The state government did nothing and finally when the centre decided to levy an import duty, it was too late as international prices were dropping at a very fast pace,' said Abraham.

Abraham also claimed that the biggest beneficiaries have been the tyre companies in the country. 'In 2011, when the price of rubber was Rs.248 per kg, a truck tyre was priced at Rs.17,000 and today when the price is Rs.135, the same truck tyre is costing Rs.23,000... The loss suffered by our rubber farmers after this government came stands close to Rs.10,000 crore,' added Abraham.

In Kerala, 70 percent of the rubber farmers own less than a hectare of land and earnings from rubber production, after the diaspora remittances, are the biggest succour to the 3.30 crore state population. With prices dropping and the weather also turning unfavourable for rubber, 60 percent of the farmers have stopped rubber tapping. Another reason that has hit the farmers badly is the price hike in fertilizer and chemicals and also the tapping charges, which is around Rs.2 per tree.

SC dismisses homosexuality review plea

New Delhi: Surpreme Court Tuesday dismissed a plea by the centre and NGO Naz Foundation seeking the review of its Dec 12, 2013 verdict holding homosexuality to be an offence. An apex court bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay dismissed the review petition in a chamber hearing Tuesday afternoon.

A Supreme Court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi (since retired) and Justice Mukhopadhyay had set aside a Delhi High Court order overturning Section 377 of the IPC, which held that even consensual sex between adults of same gender was a criminal offence.

SC dismisses homosexuality review plea

New Delhi: Surpreme Court Tuesday dismissed a plea by the centre and NGO Naz Foundation seeking the review of its Dec 12, 2013 verdict holding homosexuality to be an offence. An apex court bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay dismissed the review petition in a chamber hearing Tuesday afternoon.

A Supreme Court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi (since retired) and Justice Mukhopadhyay had set aside a Delhi High Court order overturning Section 377 of the IPC, which held that even consensual sex between adults of same gender was a criminal offence.

Kerala mulls rubber procurement

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala plans to procure rubber from the open market to meet the demand from its production units, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the state assembly Tuesday. Responding to a calling attention motion, Chandy told the assembly that fall in rubber price is on account of the price of natural rubber dropping sharply in the international market.

'The centre had agreed to our request to levy a charge on rubber imports but with prices dropping like never before that also has not yielded results,' said Chandy. Price of natural rubber is experiencing a free fall in international markets. India stands fourth in the production of natural rubber and Kerala accounts for 90 percent of the country's rubber production.

Chandy pointed out that the union commerce ministry has a price stabilisation fund and the state has sought Rs.100 crore for rubber procurement. 'We are seriously considering how rubber procurement can be effected,' he said. Earlier, moving the calling attention motion, CPI-M legislator Raju Abraham blamed the state government's callous attitude on the serious issue.

'Rubber price in 2011 was Rs.248 per kg and it fell drastically... In 2012, it was Rs.200, in 2013, Rs.150 and now it stands at Rs.135. The lives of five million families have been affected as almost 40 percent of them are dependent on income from rubber. The state government did nothing and finally when the centre decided to levy an import duty, it was too late as international prices were dropping at a very fast pace,' said Abraham.

Abraham also claimed that the biggest beneficiaries have been the tyre companies in the country. 'In 2011, when the price of rubber was Rs.248 per kg, a truck tyre was priced at Rs.17,000 and today when the price is Rs.135, the same truck tyre is costing Rs.23,000... The loss suffered by our rubber farmers after this government came stands close to Rs.10,000 crore,' added Abraham.

In Kerala, 70 percent of the rubber farmers own less than a hectare of land and earnings from rubber production, after the diaspora remittances, are the biggest succour to the 3.30 crore state population. With prices dropping and the weather also turning unfavourable for rubber, 60 percent of the farmers have stopped rubber tapping. Another reason that has hit the farmers badly is the price hike in fertilizer and chemicals and also the tapping charges, which is around Rs.2 per tree.

TP case: 11 convicts, including 3 CPI(M) activists, get life term

Kozhikode: Special Judge R Narayana Pisharadi awarded life imprisonment to 11 of the 12 accused, who were found guilty in the sensational T P Chandrasekharan murder case. M.K. Pradeepan aka Lambu was awarded 3 years Rigorous Imprisonment for hiding the weapons used for killing TP after committing the crime.

The 7 who were awarded life term belonged to the killer gang. They were also slapped a fine of Rs 52,000 by the court.

The rest 4 were given life term, including CPM leader P K Kunhanandan, for taking part in the conspiracy to murder TP Chandrashekaran.

M.C. Anoop (1st accused), Manoj Kumar aka Kirmani Manoj (2nd accused), N.K. Sunil Kumar aka Kodi Suni (3rd accused), T.K. Rajeesh (4th accused), K.K. Mohammed Shafi (5th accused), Annan Shijith (6th accused), K. Shinoj (7th accused), K.C. Ramachandran (8th accused), member of the Kunnummakkara local committee Manojan aka Trouser Manojan (11th accused), former branch secretary of Kadanganpoyil of the CPI(M) P.K. Kunhanandan (13th accused), member of the Panur area committee of the CPI(M) P.V. Rafeeque (18th accused) were awarded life term by the special court.

Kodi Sunni and Kirmani Manoj, who were part of the killer gang, were also awarded punishment for safeguarding the weapons that was used for the crime. Apart from life term, Kodi Sunni was awarded 10 years RI and Kirmani Manoj 5 years RI.

Special Judge R Narayana Pisharadi heard both the defence and prosecution and also the pleas of the convicts. Defence counsel pleaded for lesser punishment.

The court had acquitted 24 of the 36 accused including P Mohanan, CPI(M) district secretariat member and husband of party MLA K K Lathika.

While the seven who carried out the murder were hired killers, five others found guilty included three local functionaries of the CPI-M.

Chandrasekharan, once a CPI (M) functionary from the party bastion of Onchiyam near Vatakara in Kozhikode district, was hacked to death on May 4, 2012.

He left the party a few years ago over differences with the leadership and floated a parallel outfit called Revolutionary Marxist Party. He was 51 at the time of murder and suffered 51 hack injuries on the body.PTI

TP case: 11 convicts, including 3 CPI(M) activists, get life term

Kozhikode: Special Judge R Narayana Pisharadi awarded life imprisonment to 11 of the 12 accused, who were found guilty in the sensational T P Chandrasekharan murder case. M.K. Pradeepan aka Lambu was awarded 3 years Rigorous Imprisonment for hiding the weapons used for killing TP after committing the crime.

The 7 who were awarded life term belonged to the killer gang. They were also slapped a fine of Rs 52,000 by the court.

The rest 4 were given life term, including CPM leader P K Kunhanandan, for taking part in the conspiracy to murder TP Chandrashekaran.

M.C. Anoop (1st accused), Manoj Kumar aka Kirmani Manoj (2nd accused), N.K. Sunil Kumar aka Kodi Suni (3rd accused), T.K. Rajeesh (4th accused), K.K. Mohammed Shafi (5th accused), Annan Shijith (6th accused), K. Shinoj (7th accused), K.C. Ramachandran (8th accused), member of the Kunnummakkara local committee Manojan aka Trouser Manojan (11th accused), former branch secretary of Kadanganpoyil of the CPI(M) P.K. Kunhanandan (13th accused), member of the Panur area committee of the CPI(M) P.V. Rafeeque (18th accused) were awarded life term by the special court.

Kodi Sunni and Kirmani Manoj, who were part of the killer gang, were also awarded punishment for safeguarding the weapons that was used for the crime. Apart from life term, Kodi Sunni was awarded 10 years RI and Kirmani Manoj 5 years RI.

Special Judge R Narayana Pisharadi heard both the defence and prosecution and also the pleas of the convicts. Defence counsel pleaded for lesser punishment.

The court had acquitted 24 of the 36 accused including P Mohanan, CPI(M) district secretariat member and husband of party MLA K K Lathika.

While the seven who carried out the murder were hired killers, five others found guilty included three local functionaries of the CPI-M.

Chandrasekharan, once a CPI (M) functionary from the party bastion of Onchiyam near Vatakara in Kozhikode district, was hacked to death on May 4, 2012.

He left the party a few years ago over differences with the leadership and floated a parallel outfit called Revolutionary Marxist Party. He was 51 at the time of murder and suffered 51 hack injuries on the body.PTI

Police suspect suicide in Tata Motors MD Karl Slym's death

BANGKOK/MUMBAI: Karl Slym, managing director of India's Tata Motors Ltd, died after falling from a hotel room in Bangkok in what police said on Monday could be possible suicide.

Slym, 51, had attended a board meeting of Tata's Thailand unit in the Thai capital and was staying with his wife in a room on the 22nd floor of the Shangri-La hotel. Hotel staff found his body on Sunday on the fourth floor, which juts out above lower floors. 'We didn't find any sign of a struggle,' Police Lieutenant Somyot Boonyakaew, who is heading the investigation, told Reuters.

'We found a window open. The window was very small so it was not possible that he would have slipped. He would have had to climb through the window to fall out because he was a big man. From my initial investigation we believe he jumped. 
The police found a three-page note, written in English, which they were translating into Thai. An autopsy on Slym's body should begin on Monday.

A spokeswoman for Tata Motors, India's biggest automaker, declined to comment on the possible cause of Slym's death. A company statement on Sunday said Slym had provided leadership in a challenging market environment.

Turning the corner Slym, a British national, was hired in 2012 to revive Tata's flagging sales and market share in India. Tata Motors is part of the Tata conglomerate.

'His death comes at a time when the company seems to be close to turning the corner,' said Anil Sharma, an analyst with researchers IHS Automotive. 'It comes before his efforts bear fruit. We should be able to see the results in a year or two.'

Tata Motors recently introduced a new petrol engine for its passenger vehicles and was planning to launch a hatchback and compact sedan this year, the first all-new Tata-branded passenger vehicles since 2010.

Slym led the automaker's operations in India and international markets including South Korea, Thailand and South Africa, but he did not look after the Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) luxury unit that Tata Motors acquired in 2008.

The Thai police said they were called to the Shangri-La hotel around 7:45am on Sunday after staff found Slym's body. They woke up Slym's wife, who looked shocked when she was told what had happened to her husband.

Tata Motors had lost traction in the Indian passenger vehicle market as domestic and foreign rivals rolled out new models while it mostly tweaked existing models and offered heavy price discounts.

The firm has not had a hit car at home since 1998. Sales of the Nano, the world's cheapest car which it unveiled in 2008, have been lacklustre.

Before joining Tatar Motors, Slym was executive vice president of SGMW Motors, China, a General Motors joint venture. Before that he had headed General Motors in India.