Australian PM widens seabed search for MH370 debris

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Monday the hunt for the missing flight MH370 entered a new phase with seabed search to be expanded to a much larger area.

'If necessary, of the entire probable impact zone which is roughly 700 km by 80 km,' Xinhua quoted Abbott as saying at a press conference after US submarine drone Bluefin-21 completed a sea floor search of a focused area in the Indian Ocean and found no contacts of interest.

The focused area was defined as a circle of 10 km radius around the spot where the second suspicious signal of aircraft black boxes was heard April 8.

Abbott said the new phase of search would be focused on the seabed of the expanded area, which would involve commercial contractors specialised in deep ocean search and may take six to eight months if weather conditions permit.

Contractual equipments could be deployed in weeks and the Bluefin-21 would continue its mission in adjacent areas, he added.

Acknowledging that it is possible to never find the ill-fated plane, Abbott vowed to continue the search as thoroughly as 'humanly possible'.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished mysteriously about an hour after taking off for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur shortly after midnight March 8.

The Boeing 777-200ER was scheduled to land in Beijing the same morning. The 227 passengers on board included five Indians, 154 Chinese and 38 Malaysians.

IANS

Australian PM widens seabed search for MH370 debris

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Monday the hunt for the missing flight MH370 entered a new phase with seabed search to be expanded to a much larger area.

'If necessary, of the entire probable impact zone which is roughly 700 km by 80 km,' Xinhua quoted Abbott as saying at a press conference after US submarine drone Bluefin-21 completed a sea floor search of a focused area in the Indian Ocean and found no contacts of interest.

The focused area was defined as a circle of 10 km radius around the spot where the second suspicious signal of aircraft black boxes was heard April 8.

Abbott said the new phase of search would be focused on the seabed of the expanded area, which would involve commercial contractors specialised in deep ocean search and may take six to eight months if weather conditions permit.

Contractual equipments could be deployed in weeks and the Bluefin-21 would continue its mission in adjacent areas, he added.

Acknowledging that it is possible to never find the ill-fated plane, Abbott vowed to continue the search as thoroughly as 'humanly possible'.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished mysteriously about an hour after taking off for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur shortly after midnight March 8.

The Boeing 777-200ER was scheduled to land in Beijing the same morning. The 227 passengers on board included five Indians, 154 Chinese and 38 Malaysians.

IANS

Sarita to give statement against Abdullakutty on May 5

Thiruvananthapuram : Solar scam accused Sarita S Nair told mediapersons here on Monday that she would give a statement against A P Abdullakutty before the Magistrate court on May 5. Though she had reached the court today to submit her statement, the Magistrate was on leave.

Sarita said she stands firm in all her revelations against Abdullakutty and had evidence of mobile phone conversations and the SMSs to be submitted to the court.

Sarita also flayed allegations raised by Shanimol Usman against her. She said Shanimol is not civilised. She is ready to submit all evidences relating to the solar case before the solar commission.

Sarita to give statement against Abdullakutty on May 5

Thiruvananthapuram : Solar scam accused Sarita S Nair told mediapersons here on Monday that she would give a statement against A P Abdullakutty before the Magistrate court on May 5. Though she had reached the court today to submit her statement, the Magistrate was on leave.

Sarita said she stands firm in all her revelations against Abdullakutty and had evidence of mobile phone conversations and the SMSs to be submitted to the court.

Sarita also flayed allegations raised by Shanimol Usman against her. She said Shanimol is not civilised. She is ready to submit all evidences relating to the solar case before the solar commission.

Akhilesh Yadav, wife have narrow escape as bird hits chopper

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had a narrow escape on Sunday when his chopper was hit by a bird, officials said.

Yadav was accompanied by his wife Dimple Yadav, the MP from Kannauj, and Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav. He was returning from Saifai after attending the funeral of his uncle Ratan Singh Yadav when the incident took place.

Officials said an eagle hit the front window pane of the private chopper at an altitude of 3,000 feet, 12 km away from the Lucknow airport.

The pilots of the helicopter, however, managed to safely land the chopper at the airport.

Several ambulances, fire tenders and officials were rushed to the airport, officials told IANS.

Last week, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati too had a narrow escape at the Lucknow airport when the rear wheel of the private plane she was travelling in got stuck during landing. IANS

Akhilesh Yadav, wife have narrow escape as bird hits chopper

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had a narrow escape on Sunday when his chopper was hit by a bird, officials said.

Yadav was accompanied by his wife Dimple Yadav, the MP from Kannauj, and Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav. He was returning from Saifai after attending the funeral of his uncle Ratan Singh Yadav when the incident took place.

Officials said an eagle hit the front window pane of the private chopper at an altitude of 3,000 feet, 12 km away from the Lucknow airport.

The pilots of the helicopter, however, managed to safely land the chopper at the airport.

Several ambulances, fire tenders and officials were rushed to the airport, officials told IANS.

Last week, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati too had a narrow escape at the Lucknow airport when the rear wheel of the private plane she was travelling in got stuck during landing. IANS

Australia to buy 58 US F-35s for $11.6bn

SYDNEY: Australia will purchase 58 more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at a cost of Aus$12.4 billion ($11.6 billion, the government said.

The new aircraft will bring Australia´s total JSF force to 72 aircraft, with the first due to arrive in Australia in 2018 and enter service in 2020.

"The F-35 will provide a major boost to the Australian Defence Force´s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement released late Tuesday.

The deal is in addition to 14 F-35s Australia already approved in 2009."The acquisition of F-35 aircraft will bring significant economic benefits to Australia, including regional areas and local defence industry," Abbott added.

The government, which was to make a formal announcement on the deal later Wednesday, will also consider an option to buy another squadron of F-35s to replace the air force´s fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets.

The JSF has been touted as a technological wonder but has suffered setback after setback with a budget blown out to US$390 billion and seven years behind schedule, making it the costliest weapons programme in US history. (AFP)

Australia to buy 58 US F-35s for $11.6bn

SYDNEY: Australia will purchase 58 more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at a cost of Aus$12.4 billion ($11.6 billion, the government said.

The new aircraft will bring Australia´s total JSF force to 72 aircraft, with the first due to arrive in Australia in 2018 and enter service in 2020.

"The F-35 will provide a major boost to the Australian Defence Force´s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement released late Tuesday.

The deal is in addition to 14 F-35s Australia already approved in 2009."The acquisition of F-35 aircraft will bring significant economic benefits to Australia, including regional areas and local defence industry," Abbott added.

The government, which was to make a formal announcement on the deal later Wednesday, will also consider an option to buy another squadron of F-35s to replace the air force´s fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets.

The JSF has been touted as a technological wonder but has suffered setback after setback with a budget blown out to US$390 billion and seven years behind schedule, making it the costliest weapons programme in US history. (AFP)

Dollar holds steady, eyes on Obama Asia tour

TOKYO: The dollar held steady against the yen in Asia on Wednesday, with traders looking for developments in US-Japan free trade talks as President Barack Obama starts an Asian tour.

In Tokyo midday trade, the greenback changed hands at 102.57, a touch down from 102.60 yen in New York Tuesday afternoon, while the euro bought $1.3809 and 141.66 yen, against $1.3804 and 141.65 yen.

Akira Moroga, manager of forex product group of Aozora Bank, said with Obama due in Tokyo later Wednesday investors will be keeping an eye on signs of progress in the vast Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact.

Work on the deal has stalled recently, with Washington and Tokyo at loggerheads over tariffs on Japanese agricultural products. Any signs of progress could help boost the Nikkei and stoke yen selling, Moroga said.

Also on Wednesday, Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda repeated his view that there was no imminent need to expand its stimulus programme to reach an inflation target of 2.0 percent next year.

"At this point, there is nothing more to say than we will continue the quantitative and qualitative easing programme in its current form until we achieve our goal to generate stable 2.0 percent inflation," Kuroda told a parliamentary session.

The Australian dollar fell to 93.14 US cents from 93.75 cents after data showed Australian inflation was lower than expected in the first three months of the year. The figures raise the possibility the country´s central bank will lower interest rates to boost the faltering economy.

Also on investors´ radars is the crisis in Ukraine, which on Tuesday relaunched military operations against pro-Kremlin separatists, hours after US Vice President Joe Biden ended a two-day Kiev visit in which he warned Russia over its actions in the former Soviet republic.

 

 

Dollar holds steady, eyes on Obama Asia tour

TOKYO: The dollar held steady against the yen in Asia on Wednesday, with traders looking for developments in US-Japan free trade talks as President Barack Obama starts an Asian tour.

In Tokyo midday trade, the greenback changed hands at 102.57, a touch down from 102.60 yen in New York Tuesday afternoon, while the euro bought $1.3809 and 141.66 yen, against $1.3804 and 141.65 yen.

Akira Moroga, manager of forex product group of Aozora Bank, said with Obama due in Tokyo later Wednesday investors will be keeping an eye on signs of progress in the vast Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact.

Work on the deal has stalled recently, with Washington and Tokyo at loggerheads over tariffs on Japanese agricultural products. Any signs of progress could help boost the Nikkei and stoke yen selling, Moroga said.

Also on Wednesday, Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda repeated his view that there was no imminent need to expand its stimulus programme to reach an inflation target of 2.0 percent next year.

"At this point, there is nothing more to say than we will continue the quantitative and qualitative easing programme in its current form until we achieve our goal to generate stable 2.0 percent inflation," Kuroda told a parliamentary session.

The Australian dollar fell to 93.14 US cents from 93.75 cents after data showed Australian inflation was lower than expected in the first three months of the year. The figures raise the possibility the country´s central bank will lower interest rates to boost the faltering economy.

Also on investors´ radars is the crisis in Ukraine, which on Tuesday relaunched military operations against pro-Kremlin separatists, hours after US Vice President Joe Biden ended a two-day Kiev visit in which he warned Russia over its actions in the former Soviet republic.

 

 

Asian shares mixed, China manufacturing improves

HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday following another Wall Street rally while a provisional report showed a slight improvement in Chinese manufacturing activity this month.

The dollar held on to recent gains against the yen, with traders keeping watch on US President Barack Obama´s visit to Asia that starts in Japan later in the day.

Tokyo rose 0.57 percent by the break, Sydney gained 0.69 percent and Seoul was up 0.21 percent but Shanghai eased 0.23 percent and Hong Kong was 0.30 percent off.

HSBC said its preliminary purchasing managers index (PMI) for China came in at 48.3 in April, up from 48.0 in March. While the figures points to a continuing contraction in manufacturing activity in the Asian economic giant, the rate has slowed.

A figure below 50 suggests shrinkage, while anything above points to growth.

The result will provide a little comfort to traders about the Chinese economy after data last week showed it grew 7.4 percent year on year in January-March, more than expected but sharply down from the previous three months.

"Domestic demand showed mild improvement and deflationary pressures eased, but downside risks to growth are still evident as both new export orders and employment contracted," HSBC economist Qu Hongbin said in a statement, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Eyes are now on the release of early PMI figures for Europe and the United States later in the day after recent figures have pointed to a pick-up in the global economy.

On currency markets the dollar bought 102.63 yen against 102.60 yen in New York Tuesday, while the euro bought $1.3802 and 141.69 yen, compared with $1.3804 and 141.65 yen.

The Australian dollar fell to 93.14 US cents from 93.75 cents after data showed Australian inflation was lower than expected in the first three months of the year. The figures raise the possibility the country´s central bank will lower interest rates to boost the faltering economy.

In New York the three main indexes enjoyed another positive day following a series of deals between pharmaceutical giants Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly that shuffled more than $20 billion in assets.

Added to that were solid or strong earnings from Comcast, Lockheed Martin, Netflix, Travelers and Xerox, among others. The S&P 500 added 0.41 percent and the Nasdaq jumped 0.97 percent, with each index clocking up a sixth successive advance after earlier this month suffering heavy selling.

The Dow climbed 0.40 percent, a third straight gain.

Analysts will be watching Obama´s three-day visit -- the start of an Asian trip -- for any mention of a Pacific-wide trade zone that has stumbled in recent weeks over differences between the US and Japan on the auto and agriculture sectors.

Oil prices were up. New York´s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for June delivery, was up six cents at $101.81 in early Asian trading. Brent North Sea crude for June rose 16 cents to $109.43. Gold fetched $1,283.97 an ounce at 0242 GMT, compared with $1,291.73 on Tuesday. (AFP)

Asian shares mixed, China manufacturing improves

HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday following another Wall Street rally while a provisional report showed a slight improvement in Chinese manufacturing activity this month.

The dollar held on to recent gains against the yen, with traders keeping watch on US President Barack Obama´s visit to Asia that starts in Japan later in the day.

Tokyo rose 0.57 percent by the break, Sydney gained 0.69 percent and Seoul was up 0.21 percent but Shanghai eased 0.23 percent and Hong Kong was 0.30 percent off.

HSBC said its preliminary purchasing managers index (PMI) for China came in at 48.3 in April, up from 48.0 in March. While the figures points to a continuing contraction in manufacturing activity in the Asian economic giant, the rate has slowed.

A figure below 50 suggests shrinkage, while anything above points to growth.

The result will provide a little comfort to traders about the Chinese economy after data last week showed it grew 7.4 percent year on year in January-March, more than expected but sharply down from the previous three months.

"Domestic demand showed mild improvement and deflationary pressures eased, but downside risks to growth are still evident as both new export orders and employment contracted," HSBC economist Qu Hongbin said in a statement, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Eyes are now on the release of early PMI figures for Europe and the United States later in the day after recent figures have pointed to a pick-up in the global economy.

On currency markets the dollar bought 102.63 yen against 102.60 yen in New York Tuesday, while the euro bought $1.3802 and 141.69 yen, compared with $1.3804 and 141.65 yen.

The Australian dollar fell to 93.14 US cents from 93.75 cents after data showed Australian inflation was lower than expected in the first three months of the year. The figures raise the possibility the country´s central bank will lower interest rates to boost the faltering economy.

In New York the three main indexes enjoyed another positive day following a series of deals between pharmaceutical giants Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly that shuffled more than $20 billion in assets.

Added to that were solid or strong earnings from Comcast, Lockheed Martin, Netflix, Travelers and Xerox, among others. The S&P 500 added 0.41 percent and the Nasdaq jumped 0.97 percent, with each index clocking up a sixth successive advance after earlier this month suffering heavy selling.

The Dow climbed 0.40 percent, a third straight gain.

Analysts will be watching Obama´s three-day visit -- the start of an Asian trip -- for any mention of a Pacific-wide trade zone that has stumbled in recent weeks over differences between the US and Japan on the auto and agriculture sectors.

Oil prices were up. New York´s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for June delivery, was up six cents at $101.81 in early Asian trading. Brent North Sea crude for June rose 16 cents to $109.43. Gold fetched $1,283.97 an ounce at 0242 GMT, compared with $1,291.73 on Tuesday. (AFP)

Kerala to launch massive anti-liquor campaign'

Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Tuesday promised to launch a widespread anti-liquor/smoking/drug abuse campaign in the state, a Congress leader said.

State party chief V.M.Sudheeran however said the government was nmot planning to impose prohibition in the state.

Addressing the media Tuesday night after the party's state executive meeting, Sudheeran said speaker after speaker emphasised that whatever gains the state has made in several social indicators is being spoilt by the state leading the country in per capital liquor consumption and also widespread use of other forms of intoxication materials.

'Chandy assured the meeting that very soon a joint task force comprising of the various key ministries - home, local self government, health, youth welfare, excise and social empowerment -would be set up and if necessary fresh laws will also be enacted to see how this menace can be tackled.

'The various non-governmental agencies who are involved in this work would also be invited to strengthen the awareness campaign besides the local bodies also will be playing an important role in this campaign,' said Sudheeran.

He however ruled out bringing in total prohibition in the state.

'In 1996, the then chief minister A.K.Antony went ahead with the bold step of banning arrack and in 2004, Chandy also took steps to see that the number of toddy shops be cut down. All these are the Congress' policy of taking the route of what the Father of the Nation wanted,' added Sudheeran.

The Congress' anti-liquor steps comes at a time when the state recorded a record turnover of Rs.9,300 crore in sales of liquor and beer last fiscal, up from Rs.8,818 crore during 2012-13.

By Wednesday, a broad consensus would be reached to finalise the new liquor policy of the state and also all eyes are on whether a decision would be arrived to reopen 418 bars, which was closed down last month, after they were found to be maintained improperly.

Kerala to launch massive anti-liquor campaign'

Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Tuesday promised to launch a widespread anti-liquor/smoking/drug abuse campaign in the state, a Congress leader said.

State party chief V.M.Sudheeran however said the government was nmot planning to impose prohibition in the state.

Addressing the media Tuesday night after the party's state executive meeting, Sudheeran said speaker after speaker emphasised that whatever gains the state has made in several social indicators is being spoilt by the state leading the country in per capital liquor consumption and also widespread use of other forms of intoxication materials.

'Chandy assured the meeting that very soon a joint task force comprising of the various key ministries - home, local self government, health, youth welfare, excise and social empowerment -would be set up and if necessary fresh laws will also be enacted to see how this menace can be tackled.

'The various non-governmental agencies who are involved in this work would also be invited to strengthen the awareness campaign besides the local bodies also will be playing an important role in this campaign,' said Sudheeran.

He however ruled out bringing in total prohibition in the state.

'In 1996, the then chief minister A.K.Antony went ahead with the bold step of banning arrack and in 2004, Chandy also took steps to see that the number of toddy shops be cut down. All these are the Congress' policy of taking the route of what the Father of the Nation wanted,' added Sudheeran.

The Congress' anti-liquor steps comes at a time when the state recorded a record turnover of Rs.9,300 crore in sales of liquor and beer last fiscal, up from Rs.8,818 crore during 2012-13.

By Wednesday, a broad consensus would be reached to finalise the new liquor policy of the state and also all eyes are on whether a decision would be arrived to reopen 418 bars, which was closed down last month, after they were found to be maintained improperly.

30 Indian builders to showcase properties in US

Thiruvananthapuram : A 15-day property show is being held in the US at which 30 builders from India will showcase their latest projects.

A real estate business group based in the US told IANS over phone that the eighth annual edition of the India Property Show would be held in Edison, New Jersey, Houston, Sunnyvale and Seattle from May 31 to June 15.

Riya Sunny of the Revista Global group, said: 'Builders are coming in from across India. We help them sell their properties in the US and the Middle East by organising property shows. Unlike earlier years, we expect to get a few builders from Kerala.'

30 Indian builders to showcase properties in US

Thiruvananthapuram : A 15-day property show is being held in the US at which 30 builders from India will showcase their latest projects.

A real estate business group based in the US told IANS over phone that the eighth annual edition of the India Property Show would be held in Edison, New Jersey, Houston, Sunnyvale and Seattle from May 31 to June 15.

Riya Sunny of the Revista Global group, said: 'Builders are coming in from across India. We help them sell their properties in the US and the Middle East by organising property shows. Unlike earlier years, we expect to get a few builders from Kerala.'

Move to close down NAFED

Kozhikode: The Union government plans to gradually down the shutters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce, functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture.

NAFED now functions as a nodal agency of the Centre. Owing to acute funds crunch, a total of 92 staff have been offered voluntaryretirement scheme (VRS) till March 31.

In order to ensure fair price for 29 agricultural produces, including copra, the NAFED used to procure the produces at minimum support price.

The organisation has been facing funds shortage for the last few years. The Centre offers subsidy for the loss it incurs while procuring the commodities at MSP. As per functionaries of an employees union, the NAFED has not suffered any major loss under this.

During 2003-04, the NAFED strayed away from its core objectives and entered into joint ventures with some high –level private firms and also export businesses expecting huge profit. But it proved unsuccessful and the organisation suffered a loss of around Rs 1800 crore.

Now, the debt has touched Rs 4,000 crore, including interest. NAFED had suffered the heaviest loss as the business venture it launched with a private quarry lobby on export of iron ore flopped.

As it started losing ground, the NAFED board was forced to take measures like resizing staff strength by offering VRS. Accordingly, 92 employees, including senior managers, were released in the first phase on March 31. As many as 78 employees, who applied for VRS, will be relieved in the months of April and May.

The NAFED board also enforced a 10 percent pay cut for all staff from January onwards. Moreover, the annual increment was stopped since January. Around 400 contract employees were relieved two weeks back and the staff strength cut to 400 from 520.

Meanwhile, a project was submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Centre to reorganise NAFED and its functioning. But the Centre has not given its nod so far. Accordingly, the existing employees are also waiting to avail the VRS option.

When the copra prices came down in Kerala, the NAFED had provided the farmers much relief by procuring the commodity at minimum support price.

A large number of farmers across the country are also beneficiaries of the various schemes implemented by the organisation.

Given the impact the closure of NAFED could make in the lives of farmers, the farmers unions have sought the immediate intervention of the Centre in the matter. 

Move to close down NAFED

Kozhikode: The Union government plans to gradually down the shutters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce, functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture.

NAFED now functions as a nodal agency of the Centre. Owing to acute funds crunch, a total of 92 staff have been offered voluntaryretirement scheme (VRS) till March 31.

In order to ensure fair price for 29 agricultural produces, including copra, the NAFED used to procure the produces at minimum support price.

The organisation has been facing funds shortage for the last few years. The Centre offers subsidy for the loss it incurs while procuring the commodities at MSP. As per functionaries of an employees union, the NAFED has not suffered any major loss under this.

During 2003-04, the NAFED strayed away from its core objectives and entered into joint ventures with some high –level private firms and also export businesses expecting huge profit. But it proved unsuccessful and the organisation suffered a loss of around Rs 1800 crore.

Now, the debt has touched Rs 4,000 crore, including interest. NAFED had suffered the heaviest loss as the business venture it launched with a private quarry lobby on export of iron ore flopped.

As it started losing ground, the NAFED board was forced to take measures like resizing staff strength by offering VRS. Accordingly, 92 employees, including senior managers, were released in the first phase on March 31. As many as 78 employees, who applied for VRS, will be relieved in the months of April and May.

The NAFED board also enforced a 10 percent pay cut for all staff from January onwards. Moreover, the annual increment was stopped since January. Around 400 contract employees were relieved two weeks back and the staff strength cut to 400 from 520.

Meanwhile, a project was submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Centre to reorganise NAFED and its functioning. But the Centre has not given its nod so far. Accordingly, the existing employees are also waiting to avail the VRS option.

When the copra prices came down in Kerala, the NAFED had provided the farmers much relief by procuring the commodity at minimum support price.

A large number of farmers across the country are also beneficiaries of the various schemes implemented by the organisation.

Given the impact the closure of NAFED could make in the lives of farmers, the farmers unions have sought the immediate intervention of the Centre in the matter. 

SC forms panel over government advertisements

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday constituted a three member committee to frame guidelines to regulate issuance of advertisements by the government and its departments with an obvious political message.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said that the existing DAVP guidelines do not cover such advertisements.

The three member committee would comprise N.R. Madhavan Menon, founder director of Bangalore's National Law University, T.K. Vishwanathan, former Lok Sabha secretary general and senior counsel Ranjit Kumar.

The court said that I&B secretary would be coordinating and assisting the committee. The committee will submits its first report to the apex court in three months time.

SC forms panel over government advertisements

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday constituted a three member committee to frame guidelines to regulate issuance of advertisements by the government and its departments with an obvious political message.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said that the existing DAVP guidelines do not cover such advertisements.

The three member committee would comprise N.R. Madhavan Menon, founder director of Bangalore's National Law University, T.K. Vishwanathan, former Lok Sabha secretary general and senior counsel Ranjit Kumar.

The court said that I&B secretary would be coordinating and assisting the committee. The committee will submits its first report to the apex court in three months time.

Rupee continues to decline vs dollar, drops 24 paise

Mumbai: The rupee continued to fall against the American currency for the third day today in early trade by slipping another 24 paise to 61.00 per dollar on good Greenback demand from banks and importers despite weakness of dollar in the overseas market.

The rupee resumed lower at 60.88 per dollar as against the last closing level of 60.76 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and dropped further to 61.06 before quoting at 61.00 per dollar at 1000hrs. It hovered in a range of 60.87-61.06 per dollar during the morning trade.

Persistent dollar demand from banks and importers mainly affected the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said.
However, sustained capital inflows into equity restricted the rupee's fall, he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian benchmark sensex rose by 92.99 pts or 0.41 per cent to 22,851.36 at 1000hrs after hitting all-time high of 22,871.27 during the morning trade.

In New York, the U.S. dollar fell against the Australian dollar yesterday as investors looked ahead to Australian first-quarter inflation data that could provide more evidence of a rate hike from the country's central bank. PTI

Rupee continues to decline vs dollar, drops 24 paise

Mumbai: The rupee continued to fall against the American currency for the third day today in early trade by slipping another 24 paise to 61.00 per dollar on good Greenback demand from banks and importers despite weakness of dollar in the overseas market.

The rupee resumed lower at 60.88 per dollar as against the last closing level of 60.76 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and dropped further to 61.06 before quoting at 61.00 per dollar at 1000hrs. It hovered in a range of 60.87-61.06 per dollar during the morning trade.

Persistent dollar demand from banks and importers mainly affected the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said.
However, sustained capital inflows into equity restricted the rupee's fall, he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian benchmark sensex rose by 92.99 pts or 0.41 per cent to 22,851.36 at 1000hrs after hitting all-time high of 22,871.27 during the morning trade.

In New York, the U.S. dollar fell against the Australian dollar yesterday as investors looked ahead to Australian first-quarter inflation data that could provide more evidence of a rate hike from the country's central bank. PTI

Supreme Court upholds Michigan's ban on using race as factor in college admissions

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld Michigan's ban on using race as a factor in college admissions.

The justices said in a 6-2 ruling that Michigan voters had the right to change their state constitution in 2006 to prohibit public colleges and universities from taking account of race in admissions decisions. The justices said that a lower federal court was wrong to set aside the change as discriminatory.

Justice Anthony Kennedy said voters chose to eliminate racial preferences, presumably because such a system could give rise to race-based resentment.

Kennedy said nothing in the Constitution or the court's prior cases gives judges the authority to undermine the election results.

"This case is not about how the debate about racial preferences should be resolved. It is about who may resolve it," Kennedy said.

In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the decision tramples on the rights of minorities, even though the amendment was adopted democratically. "But without checks, democratically approved legislation can oppress minority groups," said Sotomayor, who read her dissent aloud in the courtroom Tuesday. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sided with Sotomayor in dissent.

At 58 pages, Sotomayor's dissent was longer than the combined length of the four opinions in support of the outcome.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas agreed with Kennedy.

Justice Elena Kagan did not take part in the case, presumably because she worked on it at an earlier stage while serving in the Justice Department.

In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld the consideration of race among many factors in college admissions in a case from Michigan.

Three years later, affirmative action opponents persuaded Michigan voters to change the state constitution to outlaw any consideration of race.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the issue was not affirmative action, but the way in which its opponents went about trying to bar it.

In its 8-7 decision, the appeals court said the provision ran afoul of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment because it presents an extraordinary burden to affirmative action supporters who would have to mount their own long, expensive campaign to repeal the constitutional provision.

Similar voter-approved initiatives banning affirmative action in education are in place in California and Washington state. A few other states have adopted laws or issued executive orders to bar race-conscious admissions policies.

Black and Latino enrolment at the University of Michigan has dropped since the ban took effect. At California's top public universities, African-Americans are a smaller share of incoming freshmen, while Latino enrolment is up slightly, but far below the state's growth in the percentage of Latino high school graduates.

The case was the court's second involving affirmative action in as many years. In June, the justices ordered lower courts to take another look at the University of Texas admissions plan in a ruling that could make it harder for public colleges to justify any use of race in admissions.

The case is Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, 12-682.

Supreme Court upholds Michigan's ban on using race as factor in college admissions

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld Michigan's ban on using race as a factor in college admissions.

The justices said in a 6-2 ruling that Michigan voters had the right to change their state constitution in 2006 to prohibit public colleges and universities from taking account of race in admissions decisions. The justices said that a lower federal court was wrong to set aside the change as discriminatory.

Justice Anthony Kennedy said voters chose to eliminate racial preferences, presumably because such a system could give rise to race-based resentment.

Kennedy said nothing in the Constitution or the court's prior cases gives judges the authority to undermine the election results.

"This case is not about how the debate about racial preferences should be resolved. It is about who may resolve it," Kennedy said.

In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the decision tramples on the rights of minorities, even though the amendment was adopted democratically. "But without checks, democratically approved legislation can oppress minority groups," said Sotomayor, who read her dissent aloud in the courtroom Tuesday. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sided with Sotomayor in dissent.

At 58 pages, Sotomayor's dissent was longer than the combined length of the four opinions in support of the outcome.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas agreed with Kennedy.

Justice Elena Kagan did not take part in the case, presumably because she worked on it at an earlier stage while serving in the Justice Department.

In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld the consideration of race among many factors in college admissions in a case from Michigan.

Three years later, affirmative action opponents persuaded Michigan voters to change the state constitution to outlaw any consideration of race.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the issue was not affirmative action, but the way in which its opponents went about trying to bar it.

In its 8-7 decision, the appeals court said the provision ran afoul of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment because it presents an extraordinary burden to affirmative action supporters who would have to mount their own long, expensive campaign to repeal the constitutional provision.

Similar voter-approved initiatives banning affirmative action in education are in place in California and Washington state. A few other states have adopted laws or issued executive orders to bar race-conscious admissions policies.

Black and Latino enrolment at the University of Michigan has dropped since the ban took effect. At California's top public universities, African-Americans are a smaller share of incoming freshmen, while Latino enrolment is up slightly, but far below the state's growth in the percentage of Latino high school graduates.

The case was the court's second involving affirmative action in as many years. In June, the justices ordered lower courts to take another look at the University of Texas admissions plan in a ruling that could make it harder for public colleges to justify any use of race in admissions.

The case is Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, 12-682.

Drones unearth more details about Chaco culture

ALBUQUERQUE: Recently published research describes how archaeologists outfitted a customized drone with a heat-sensing camera to unearth what they believe are ceremonial pits and other features at the site of an ancient village in New Mexico.

The discovery of the structures hidden beneath layers of sediment and sagebrush is being hailed as an important step that could help archaeologists shed light on mysteries long buried by eroding desert landscapes from the American Southwest to the Middle East. The results of the research were published earlier this month in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Since the 1970s, archaeologists have known that aerial images of thermal infrared wavelengths of light could be a powerful tool for spotting cultural remains on the ground. But few have had access to million-dollar satellites, and helicopters and planes have their limits.

Now, technology is catching up with demand.

Archaeologists can get quality images from very specific altitudes and angles at any time of day and in a range of weather using inexpensive drones and commercially available cameras that have as much as five times the resolution of those available just a few years ago. A basic eight-rotor drone starts at about $3,700.

Jesse Casana, an archaeologist at the University of Arkansas, teamed up with University of North Florida professor John Kantner last summer to test the drones in a remote area of northwestern New Mexico, south of Chaco Canyon - once the cultural and religious center of ancient Puebloan society.

Kantner has been studying a village in the area known as Blue J. He found two households at the village's edge through test digs, but much of Blue J's secrets remain buried under eroded sandstone and wind-blown silt.

Blue J was most active close to 1,000 years ago, around the same time as Chaco. So finding structures such as kivas and great houses at the site would help solidify the theory that Chaco's influence spread far and wide. Kivas are circular, subterranean meeting places associated with ceremonial activities. Great houses were massive multistory stone buildings, some of which were oriented to solar and lunar directions and offered lines of sight between buildings to allow for communication.

Aside from dozens of anthills, the drone picked up on much larger, unnatural circular shapes that are thought to be kivas. From the surface, these structures are invisible, Kantner said. He said crews can use the drone information to plan a dig at the location to search for the archaeological remnants.

"Really within a few hours we were able to survey this area that took me a long time, years of what we call ground reconnaissance and excavation to see what's below the surface," he said. "So this is great for quickly and pretty cheaply being able to find sites."

There already is talk about using the drones in other dry environments such as Saudi Arabia and Cyprus, where the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures would be great enough to allow the heat signatures of buried stone structures or other features to pop up on the thermal images.

Some researchers also have suggested using drone technology to search for a lost Spanish fort in Georgia and along the banks of Florida's St. Johns River, Kantner said.

Sarah Parcak, an archaeologist at the University of Alabama in Birmingham who was not involved in the New Mexico research, said she's excited about the potential for using the technology in her work in Egypt. She said drones outfitted with sensors can hone in on what's most important in archaeology - the landscape and features that are buried beneath the ground.

"We think we know a site, and we've been working there for a long time, and lo and behold, new technologies show us things we weren't even expecting," Parcak said. "The great thing about remote sensing is it really gives you a new set of eyes in the sky to see what is otherwise invisible."

The drones have their limits. For example, flights usually are less than 15 minutes depending on battery power and camera weight, and the eight-rotor mini copters have been known to stop and come crashing to the ground.

There also are questions about whether federal regulators will toughen rules governing drone flights.

Kantner said as drones become more reliable, their ability to survey vast areas quickly will become even more important. He pointed to potential threats of oil and gas development and coal and uranium mining throughout the Chaco region.

"There are resources that we obviously need for our nation's self-sufficiency, but on the other hand, we don't want to give away our cultural patrimony by losing these archaeology sites," he said.

 

 

 

 

Drones unearth more details about Chaco culture

ALBUQUERQUE: Recently published research describes how archaeologists outfitted a customized drone with a heat-sensing camera to unearth what they believe are ceremonial pits and other features at the site of an ancient village in New Mexico.

The discovery of the structures hidden beneath layers of sediment and sagebrush is being hailed as an important step that could help archaeologists shed light on mysteries long buried by eroding desert landscapes from the American Southwest to the Middle East. The results of the research were published earlier this month in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Since the 1970s, archaeologists have known that aerial images of thermal infrared wavelengths of light could be a powerful tool for spotting cultural remains on the ground. But few have had access to million-dollar satellites, and helicopters and planes have their limits.

Now, technology is catching up with demand.

Archaeologists can get quality images from very specific altitudes and angles at any time of day and in a range of weather using inexpensive drones and commercially available cameras that have as much as five times the resolution of those available just a few years ago. A basic eight-rotor drone starts at about $3,700.

Jesse Casana, an archaeologist at the University of Arkansas, teamed up with University of North Florida professor John Kantner last summer to test the drones in a remote area of northwestern New Mexico, south of Chaco Canyon - once the cultural and religious center of ancient Puebloan society.

Kantner has been studying a village in the area known as Blue J. He found two households at the village's edge through test digs, but much of Blue J's secrets remain buried under eroded sandstone and wind-blown silt.

Blue J was most active close to 1,000 years ago, around the same time as Chaco. So finding structures such as kivas and great houses at the site would help solidify the theory that Chaco's influence spread far and wide. Kivas are circular, subterranean meeting places associated with ceremonial activities. Great houses were massive multistory stone buildings, some of which were oriented to solar and lunar directions and offered lines of sight between buildings to allow for communication.

Aside from dozens of anthills, the drone picked up on much larger, unnatural circular shapes that are thought to be kivas. From the surface, these structures are invisible, Kantner said. He said crews can use the drone information to plan a dig at the location to search for the archaeological remnants.

"Really within a few hours we were able to survey this area that took me a long time, years of what we call ground reconnaissance and excavation to see what's below the surface," he said. "So this is great for quickly and pretty cheaply being able to find sites."

There already is talk about using the drones in other dry environments such as Saudi Arabia and Cyprus, where the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures would be great enough to allow the heat signatures of buried stone structures or other features to pop up on the thermal images.

Some researchers also have suggested using drone technology to search for a lost Spanish fort in Georgia and along the banks of Florida's St. Johns River, Kantner said.

Sarah Parcak, an archaeologist at the University of Alabama in Birmingham who was not involved in the New Mexico research, said she's excited about the potential for using the technology in her work in Egypt. She said drones outfitted with sensors can hone in on what's most important in archaeology - the landscape and features that are buried beneath the ground.

"We think we know a site, and we've been working there for a long time, and lo and behold, new technologies show us things we weren't even expecting," Parcak said. "The great thing about remote sensing is it really gives you a new set of eyes in the sky to see what is otherwise invisible."

The drones have their limits. For example, flights usually are less than 15 minutes depending on battery power and camera weight, and the eight-rotor mini copters have been known to stop and come crashing to the ground.

There also are questions about whether federal regulators will toughen rules governing drone flights.

Kantner said as drones become more reliable, their ability to survey vast areas quickly will become even more important. He pointed to potential threats of oil and gas development and coal and uranium mining throughout the Chaco region.

"There are resources that we obviously need for our nation's self-sufficiency, but on the other hand, we don't want to give away our cultural patrimony by losing these archaeology sites," he said.

 

 

 

 

Hamid Mir’s condition improving

KARACHI: The condition of Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir is improving, while doctors have restricted visitors from meeting the renowned journalist for next three days.

According to hospital sources, Hamid Mir is in immense pain from his injuries and doctors are giving him medicine to deal with the pain. The medicine being given to Hamid Mir keeps him in a state of drowsiness, doctors add.

There has been no decision to remove the three bullets which still remain lodged in Hamid Mir’s body.

Hamid Mir’s condition improving

KARACHI: The condition of Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir is improving, while doctors have restricted visitors from meeting the renowned journalist for next three days.

According to hospital sources, Hamid Mir is in immense pain from his injuries and doctors are giving him medicine to deal with the pain. The medicine being given to Hamid Mir keeps him in a state of drowsiness, doctors add.

There has been no decision to remove the three bullets which still remain lodged in Hamid Mir’s body.

Teachers force Muslim, lower caste students to clean toilets in India: Report

NEW DELHI, AFP: Some Indian teachers force children from lower castes and minority religions to clean toilets and sit separately from their classmates as part of "persistent" discrimination in classrooms, a rights group said on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch said pupils from marginalised communities often dropped out of school and started working as labourers rather than face continued humiliation at the hands of teachers and principals.

The 77-page study on schools was compiled through interviews with more than 160 teachers, principals, parents and students in four states which have large populations of low-caste poor, indigenous tribals and Muslims.

"India's immense project to educate all its children risks falling victim to deeply rooted discrimination by teachers and other school staff against the poor and marginalised," said the report's author Jayshree Bajoria.

"Instead of encouraging children from at-risk communities who are often the first in their families to ever step inside a classroom, teachers often neglect or even mistreat them," she said.

Children from Muslim communities were among those often made to sit at the back of classrooms or in separate rooms. They were called derogatory names, were denied leadership roles and were served food last, the report said.

The report comes as a mammoth general election is underway which is likely to vault Narendra Modi and BJP to power after a decade of Congress party rule.

Some children said they were segregated and neglected because they were considered dirty, while Muslim students said they were called "mullahs", a term for an Islamic cleric, instead of by their names.

India's Parliament passed landmark legislation in 2009 that guarantees state schooling for children aged six to 14 and enrolments have reached more than 90 percent nationally.

But HRW said the law does not contain punishments for those who discriminate in the classroom.

Most education authorities have failed to establish proper mechanisms to monitor and track children, who were at risk of dropping out, and acting to ensure they were able to remain in school, the report said.

Teachers force Muslim, lower caste students to clean toilets in India: Report

NEW DELHI, AFP: Some Indian teachers force children from lower castes and minority religions to clean toilets and sit separately from their classmates as part of "persistent" discrimination in classrooms, a rights group said on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch said pupils from marginalised communities often dropped out of school and started working as labourers rather than face continued humiliation at the hands of teachers and principals.

The 77-page study on schools was compiled through interviews with more than 160 teachers, principals, parents and students in four states which have large populations of low-caste poor, indigenous tribals and Muslims.

"India's immense project to educate all its children risks falling victim to deeply rooted discrimination by teachers and other school staff against the poor and marginalised," said the report's author Jayshree Bajoria.

"Instead of encouraging children from at-risk communities who are often the first in their families to ever step inside a classroom, teachers often neglect or even mistreat them," she said.

Children from Muslim communities were among those often made to sit at the back of classrooms or in separate rooms. They were called derogatory names, were denied leadership roles and were served food last, the report said.

The report comes as a mammoth general election is underway which is likely to vault Narendra Modi and BJP to power after a decade of Congress party rule.

Some children said they were segregated and neglected because they were considered dirty, while Muslim students said they were called "mullahs", a term for an Islamic cleric, instead of by their names.

India's Parliament passed landmark legislation in 2009 that guarantees state schooling for children aged six to 14 and enrolments have reached more than 90 percent nationally.

But HRW said the law does not contain punishments for those who discriminate in the classroom.

Most education authorities have failed to establish proper mechanisms to monitor and track children, who were at risk of dropping out, and acting to ensure they were able to remain in school, the report said.