UK rejects appeal on student visa curbs

The British government today rejected an appeal by nearly 70 top university heads to review changes to the student visa regime that is likely to put off students from India and other non-EU countries from coming to the UK. In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, the university heads 

noted the economic and other contributions made by international students, and said Britain stood to lose out on the highly competitive international student market unless the recent changes were reviewed.

The university heads said: "In particular we request that international university students be removed from the net migration statistics for policy purposes, bringing us into line with our major competitors".

They added: "We believe that this would help government by creating a clear differentiation between temporary and permanent migration, help universities whose international character is essential to their future success, and help the UK by contributing to economic growth".

Students comprise a major component of overall annual immigration figures.

The recent curbs on student visas are intended to reduce the number of international students as well as prevent abuse, but critics of the curbs say students should not be counted as immigrants since their stay is temporary.

Immigration minister Damian Green, who last week said there had been a 62 per cent fall in student visas issued in the first quarter of 2012, rejected the contention in the letter to Cameron, and said: "Public confidence in statistics will not be enhanced by revising the way the net migration numbers are presented by removing students."

"Students coming to the UK for over a year are not visitors — numbers affect communities, public services and infrastructure.

"The independent Office for National Statistics is responsible for producing net migration statistics according to the internationally agreed definition of a migrant which is someone entering the country for more than a year," he added.

UK rejects appeal on student visa curbs

The British government today rejected an appeal by nearly 70 top university heads to review changes to the student visa regime that is likely to put off students from India and other non-EU countries from coming to the UK. In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, the university heads 

noted the economic and other contributions made by international students, and said Britain stood to lose out on the highly competitive international student market unless the recent changes were reviewed.

The university heads said: "In particular we request that international university students be removed from the net migration statistics for policy purposes, bringing us into line with our major competitors".

They added: "We believe that this would help government by creating a clear differentiation between temporary and permanent migration, help universities whose international character is essential to their future success, and help the UK by contributing to economic growth".

Students comprise a major component of overall annual immigration figures.

The recent curbs on student visas are intended to reduce the number of international students as well as prevent abuse, but critics of the curbs say students should not be counted as immigrants since their stay is temporary.

Immigration minister Damian Green, who last week said there had been a 62 per cent fall in student visas issued in the first quarter of 2012, rejected the contention in the letter to Cameron, and said: "Public confidence in statistics will not be enhanced by revising the way the net migration numbers are presented by removing students."

"Students coming to the UK for over a year are not visitors — numbers affect communities, public services and infrastructure.

"The independent Office for National Statistics is responsible for producing net migration statistics according to the internationally agreed definition of a migrant which is someone entering the country for more than a year," he added.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be extradited to Sweden

London: Britain's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden over alleged sex crimes, closing his final legal avenue of appeal in Britain.
'The request for Mr Assange's extradition has been lawfully made and his appeal against extradition is accordingly is dismissed,' said Supreme Court president Nicholas Phillips.
Assange can conceivably appeal the decision to the European Court of Human Rights but lawyers say such a move is unlikely to stop his extradition for long.
Assange, 40, has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation.
Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

But his secret-spilling work came under a cloud after two Swedish women accused him of molestation and rape following a visit to the country in mid-2010. Assange has denied wrongdoing, saying the sex was consensual, but has refused to go to Sweden, saying he doesn't believe he'll get a fair trial there.

t is r6 � t d ��� @� Mani, after his controversial remarks on parties handling political rivals, was absconding. For the last two days he is not to be seen anywhere in the district. Party leadership has also denied revealing anything about his whereabouts.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be extradited to Sweden

London: Britain's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden over alleged sex crimes, closing his final legal avenue of appeal in Britain.
'The request for Mr Assange's extradition has been lawfully made and his appeal against extradition is accordingly is dismissed,' said Supreme Court president Nicholas Phillips.
Assange can conceivably appeal the decision to the European Court of Human Rights but lawyers say such a move is unlikely to stop his extradition for long.
Assange, 40, has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation.
Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

But his secret-spilling work came under a cloud after two Swedish women accused him of molestation and rape following a visit to the country in mid-2010. Assange has denied wrongdoing, saying the sex was consensual, but has refused to go to Sweden, saying he doesn't believe he'll get a fair trial there.

t is r6 � t d ��� @� Mani, after his controversial remarks on parties handling political rivals, was absconding. For the last two days he is not to be seen anywhere in the district. Party leadership has also denied revealing anything about his whereabouts.

Mani's arrest to be delayed

Thodupuzha: Though police registered a case against MM Mani for his controversial remarks, he might not be arrested soon. Ernakulam range IG K Padmakumar said the arrest would be held after a initial probe. The first level of evidence collection might be completed with a week. 
Police on Tuesday quizzed the cameraman of a channel who had captured Mani's controversial statement addressing a public function. 
At the same time it is reported that MM Mani, after his controversial remarks on parties handling political rivals, was absconding. For the last two days he is not to be seen anywhere in the district. Party leadership has also denied revealing anything about his whereabouts.

Mani's arrest to be delayed

Thodupuzha: Though police registered a case against MM Mani for his controversial remarks, he might not be arrested soon. Ernakulam range IG K Padmakumar said the arrest would be held after a initial probe. The first level of evidence collection might be completed with a week. 
Police on Tuesday quizzed the cameraman of a channel who had captured Mani's controversial statement addressing a public function. 
At the same time it is reported that MM Mani, after his controversial remarks on parties handling political rivals, was absconding. For the last two days he is not to be seen anywhere in the district. Party leadership has also denied revealing anything about his whereabouts.

CPM files petition against media, police

Kochi: CPM filed a petition in the Kerala High Court demanding action against mediapersons and police for contempt of court in TP Chandrasekharan murder case. CPM district secretary TP Ramakrishnan submitted a petition through Adv TV Kunjikrishnan. 
In the petition it was alleged that police are propagating false information and the statements made by the accused and the media are not in the right direction. It is violation of HC order in 2010 that policemen are leaking information to the media. Media should refrain from doing this, the petition demanded

CPM files petition against media, police

Kochi: CPM filed a petition in the Kerala High Court demanding action against mediapersons and police for contempt of court in TP Chandrasekharan murder case. CPM district secretary TP Ramakrishnan submitted a petition through Adv TV Kunjikrishnan. 
In the petition it was alleged that police are propagating false information and the statements made by the accused and the media are not in the right direction. It is violation of HC order in 2010 that policemen are leaking information to the media. Media should refrain from doing this, the petition demanded

Malayalee teacher died under mysterious circumstance in UP

Adoor: A Malayalee teacher who was about to return to Kerala after securing money needed to complete her houses construction, found dead in mysterious circumstances. Usha, 24 daughter of Raghavan and Sankari from Neduman was died, as per the information received by the relatives. Her father field complaint with Adoor police and CM seeking a probe.
Usha was working with Christhujyothi School in Gorakhpur, UP. She was residing in the school premises itself. She said she will reach home by Wednesday as she will leave from UP on Monday,.
But on Monday morning Ajayan, form Karuvaloor, Anchal who helped Usha to gain job in UP called at her home anf said she met with an accident and is in serious condition.
By Monday noon he again called and said Usha died and asked whether relatives would be able to reach before 6 pm that day. Her relatives asked to keep the dead body in mortuary. But Ajayan agisn called and said as there is no mortuary facility; the dead body is already buried. He said Usha was found hanging in her room.On Saturday Usha called her sister Nisha and said she will come with money needed for house construction. They belong to a very poor family. 

Malayalee teacher died under mysterious circumstance in UP

Adoor: A Malayalee teacher who was about to return to Kerala after securing money needed to complete her houses construction, found dead in mysterious circumstances. Usha, 24 daughter of Raghavan and Sankari from Neduman was died, as per the information received by the relatives. Her father field complaint with Adoor police and CM seeking a probe.
Usha was working with Christhujyothi School in Gorakhpur, UP. She was residing in the school premises itself. She said she will reach home by Wednesday as she will leave from UP on Monday,.
But on Monday morning Ajayan, form Karuvaloor, Anchal who helped Usha to gain job in UP called at her home anf said she met with an accident and is in serious condition.
By Monday noon he again called and said Usha died and asked whether relatives would be able to reach before 6 pm that day. Her relatives asked to keep the dead body in mortuary. But Ajayan agisn called and said as there is no mortuary facility; the dead body is already buried. He said Usha was found hanging in her room.On Saturday Usha called her sister Nisha and said she will come with money needed for house construction. They belong to a very poor family.