Science, tech studies priority for India, US: Nancy Powell

New Delhi:The fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics are priorities for both India and the US, outgoing American Ambassador Nancy Powell said here Monday.

'The industries and challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, renewable energy, medicine and healthcare, water and environmental management, developing sustainable cities all require innovators and workers from the arena of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,' Powell said during the flag-off of a group of 15 Indian students selected to participate at the Intel International Science and Engineering fair in the US.

The group was selected from across India based on their innovative projects related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They will compete with over 1,600 participants from 70 nations.

Powell said both the countries have realised the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and have undertaken significant steps to support it.

'I am confident that both India and the US will be among the top countries that have the most STEM-literate innovators in this century,' she said.

Stating that every measure needs to be taken to develop the interest of students in STEM subjects, she said there was a need to expand the student-teacher exchange programmes between the two countries.

'A lot needs to be done to take on the global challenges of addressing the needs of people who have limited or no access to education around the world,' Powell added at the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum here. IANS

Science, tech studies priority for India, US: Nancy Powell

New Delhi:The fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics are priorities for both India and the US, outgoing American Ambassador Nancy Powell said here Monday.

'The industries and challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, renewable energy, medicine and healthcare, water and environmental management, developing sustainable cities all require innovators and workers from the arena of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,' Powell said during the flag-off of a group of 15 Indian students selected to participate at the Intel International Science and Engineering fair in the US.

The group was selected from across India based on their innovative projects related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They will compete with over 1,600 participants from 70 nations.

Powell said both the countries have realised the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and have undertaken significant steps to support it.

'I am confident that both India and the US will be among the top countries that have the most STEM-literate innovators in this century,' she said.

Stating that every measure needs to be taken to develop the interest of students in STEM subjects, she said there was a need to expand the student-teacher exchange programmes between the two countries.

'A lot needs to be done to take on the global challenges of addressing the needs of people who have limited or no access to education around the world,' Powell added at the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum here. IANS

Feel pained at attack on husband, will fight back: Priyanka

Rae Bareli: Breaking her silence, a 'pained' Priyanka Gandhi today said her husband Robert Vadra was being targeted for political reasons and asserted that her resolve to fight back will increase the more the opponents attack.

Campaigning for her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in this constituency of Uttar Pradesh, she said Vadra was being attacked by BJP to divert the attention of people from the development issues to 'meaningless talk' and that the 'truth' about her husband will prevail.

'When you watch TV, what do you see? Harsh words, ridiculing of my family. A lot of things are said about my husband. I feel pained. I feel pained, not for myself, not because somebody is ridiculing and the truth is not being told, not because everyday I tell my children that the truth will prevail. I feel pained at the kind of politics that has come to the fore in these elections,' she told a gathering.

'I am pained that while this election should have been contested on development, needs of the people, employment for youth....instead, an attempt is being made to mislead you towards meaningless talk,' she said.

Later, she told reporters, 'There has been a political attack on my family. They have used my husband for political attack. It has been going on for two years and I feel very strongly about it.'

'There has been a political attack on my family. They have used my husband for political attack. It has gone for two years and I feel very strongly about it,' she told reporters.

Invoking Indira Gandhi, Priyanka said she had learnt from her grandmother how to fight back as 'truth is like a shield.'

Deploring the politics of divisiveness, Priyanka said India was known for its tolerance since it is the land of Buddha and Mahatama Gandhi.

'The country has accepted her mother Sonia, who was not born here, but now attempts are being made to inject 'poison', she said.

'Do you want a country of the Buddha, of Mahatama Gandhi where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians live together or a country where you fight one another and one community is taken forward while another is left behind and division is created in terms of caste and religion,' she asked those present at the public meeting, apparently attacking BJP and its leader Narendra Modi.

She said she was confident that people of the constituency would vote for Sonia as she had always fought for them, which they are 'aware of.'

Priyanka said she was sure that peope would do so not just beacuse they were connected with her family but because they knew of her work.

'My mother has always been with you through your struggles and you too have been with her through her struggles,' she told the gathering.

'The affection we get from you is sufficient..I believe that you (people) will support Soniaji, but I want that you vote for the country,' she said.

Priyanka said that Sonia has ensured development of Rae Bareli and this would continue in the same manner. PTI 

Feel pained at attack on husband, will fight back: Priyanka

Rae Bareli: Breaking her silence, a 'pained' Priyanka Gandhi today said her husband Robert Vadra was being targeted for political reasons and asserted that her resolve to fight back will increase the more the opponents attack.

Campaigning for her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in this constituency of Uttar Pradesh, she said Vadra was being attacked by BJP to divert the attention of people from the development issues to 'meaningless talk' and that the 'truth' about her husband will prevail.

'When you watch TV, what do you see? Harsh words, ridiculing of my family. A lot of things are said about my husband. I feel pained. I feel pained, not for myself, not because somebody is ridiculing and the truth is not being told, not because everyday I tell my children that the truth will prevail. I feel pained at the kind of politics that has come to the fore in these elections,' she told a gathering.

'I am pained that while this election should have been contested on development, needs of the people, employment for youth....instead, an attempt is being made to mislead you towards meaningless talk,' she said.

Later, she told reporters, 'There has been a political attack on my family. They have used my husband for political attack. It has been going on for two years and I feel very strongly about it.'

'There has been a political attack on my family. They have used my husband for political attack. It has gone for two years and I feel very strongly about it,' she told reporters.

Invoking Indira Gandhi, Priyanka said she had learnt from her grandmother how to fight back as 'truth is like a shield.'

Deploring the politics of divisiveness, Priyanka said India was known for its tolerance since it is the land of Buddha and Mahatama Gandhi.

'The country has accepted her mother Sonia, who was not born here, but now attempts are being made to inject 'poison', she said.

'Do you want a country of the Buddha, of Mahatama Gandhi where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians live together or a country where you fight one another and one community is taken forward while another is left behind and division is created in terms of caste and religion,' she asked those present at the public meeting, apparently attacking BJP and its leader Narendra Modi.

She said she was confident that people of the constituency would vote for Sonia as she had always fought for them, which they are 'aware of.'

Priyanka said she was sure that peope would do so not just beacuse they were connected with her family but because they knew of her work.

'My mother has always been with you through your struggles and you too have been with her through her struggles,' she told the gathering.

'The affection we get from you is sufficient..I believe that you (people) will support Soniaji, but I want that you vote for the country,' she said.

Priyanka said that Sonia has ensured development of Rae Bareli and this would continue in the same manner. PTI 

US sees dramatic surge in graduate applications from India

Washington:Applications from prospective Indian students to US graduate schools surged dramatically while those from China slowed down a bit in 2013, according to a new report from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

A 32 percent increase in applications from India, which accounts for 18 percent of all international graduate students at US institutions offset a one percent decline in applications from China, from where one third of the students come.

Thus the preliminary number of applications from prospective international students to US graduate schools increased 7 percent in 2014, up from the 2 percent increase seen in 2013, according to the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey.

This year's encouraging increase is more consistent with the growth trend in international graduate applications seen between 2006 and 2012, after a post-9/11 decrease said the survey.

China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Canada are the top five countries of origin for international graduate students in the United States, the report said. The survey covers in detail seven countries - China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil) and three regions -the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Altogether, the seven countries and three regions highlighted in the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey are home countries to about 86 percent of all international graduate students in the US.

CGS President Debra W. Stewart noted the 7 percent gain is a positive sign for US graduate institutions, which collectively draw 15 percent of their overall graduate enrolments from international students.

"Yet this year's increase is not necessarily a sign of ongoing stability in international graduate applications and enrolments," she said, "especially since a large share of the growth appears to be driven by a single country" - namely India.

"Historically, our ability to recruit the best and brightest international graduate students has enabled the US to become a leader in ground-breaking research and innovations," she said.

"International students stimulate the US economy and research enterprise in many important ways, and we must develop policies that encourage strong, stable growth in international graduate applications and enrolments," Stewart said.

Preliminary increases in applications varied by broad field, the report said. The three most popular fields of study-engineering, physical and earth sciences, and business-together account for 64 percent of all international students enrolled in US graduate programmes

They were also the fastest growing, at 14 percent, 16 percent, and 7 percent, respectively. Gains in applications were also found in 2014 in arts and humanities (3 percent) and other fields (2 percent).

Rates of international applications to social sciences and psychology programmes were unchanged from the prior year.

Applications in education declined 1 percent and life sciences fell, 6 percent.

US sees dramatic surge in graduate applications from India

Washington:Applications from prospective Indian students to US graduate schools surged dramatically while those from China slowed down a bit in 2013, according to a new report from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

A 32 percent increase in applications from India, which accounts for 18 percent of all international graduate students at US institutions offset a one percent decline in applications from China, from where one third of the students come.

Thus the preliminary number of applications from prospective international students to US graduate schools increased 7 percent in 2014, up from the 2 percent increase seen in 2013, according to the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey.

This year's encouraging increase is more consistent with the growth trend in international graduate applications seen between 2006 and 2012, after a post-9/11 decrease said the survey.

China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Canada are the top five countries of origin for international graduate students in the United States, the report said. The survey covers in detail seven countries - China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil) and three regions -the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Altogether, the seven countries and three regions highlighted in the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey are home countries to about 86 percent of all international graduate students in the US.

CGS President Debra W. Stewart noted the 7 percent gain is a positive sign for US graduate institutions, which collectively draw 15 percent of their overall graduate enrolments from international students.

"Yet this year's increase is not necessarily a sign of ongoing stability in international graduate applications and enrolments," she said, "especially since a large share of the growth appears to be driven by a single country" - namely India.

"Historically, our ability to recruit the best and brightest international graduate students has enabled the US to become a leader in ground-breaking research and innovations," she said.

"International students stimulate the US economy and research enterprise in many important ways, and we must develop policies that encourage strong, stable growth in international graduate applications and enrolments," Stewart said.

Preliminary increases in applications varied by broad field, the report said. The three most popular fields of study-engineering, physical and earth sciences, and business-together account for 64 percent of all international students enrolled in US graduate programmes

They were also the fastest growing, at 14 percent, 16 percent, and 7 percent, respectively. Gains in applications were also found in 2014 in arts and humanities (3 percent) and other fields (2 percent).

Rates of international applications to social sciences and psychology programmes were unchanged from the prior year.

Applications in education declined 1 percent and life sciences fell, 6 percent.

50 Technopark employees booked for thrashing murder accused

Thiruvananthapuram: A case has been registered against 50 techies employed in the Technopark campus here for assaulting the prime accused in a gruesome twin-murder case, police said Tuesday.

The case was registered by the Kazhakottam Police station as the incident occurred inside the Technopark campus Monday when accused Nino Mathew, who worked with a IT company in the campus, was brought to his office. 

"The case has been registered against 50 people who can be identified as they were attacking an accused who is under remand," a police official, who did not want to be identified, told reporters. 

The gruesome murder was allegedly executed by Mathew to get rid of his lover and co-worker Anu Shanti's mother-in-law but Shanti's four-year-old daughter was also killed and her husband was badly injured in the attack unleashed by Mathew with a baseball bat and a knife at their home last Wednesday. 

Mathew was picked up by police hours after the murder and police, through the messages and pictures sent to his mobile, nailed the role of Shanti and she was also arrested the following day. 

As part of the probe, a seven-member police team along with Mathew arrived Monday at the IT company in the Technopark campus where the duo worked. 

As soon as Mathew was seen, a large number of IT professionals working in various companies got out and started to verbally abuse Mathew and soon, with tempers and emotions running high, many IT professionals physically attacked him. 

The Kazhakottam police are now viewing the TV channel visuals to identify the IT professionals who physically assaulted Mathew. 

Meanwhile, from Tuesday afternoon, a huge crowd had gathered at the home of Shanti as Mathew was brought to the place of the crime, but police - learning a lesson from Monday's incident - were present in strength to control the crowd. 

50 Technopark employees booked for thrashing murder accused

Thiruvananthapuram: A case has been registered against 50 techies employed in the Technopark campus here for assaulting the prime accused in a gruesome twin-murder case, police said Tuesday.

The case was registered by the Kazhakottam Police station as the incident occurred inside the Technopark campus Monday when accused Nino Mathew, who worked with a IT company in the campus, was brought to his office. 

"The case has been registered against 50 people who can be identified as they were attacking an accused who is under remand," a police official, who did not want to be identified, told reporters. 

The gruesome murder was allegedly executed by Mathew to get rid of his lover and co-worker Anu Shanti's mother-in-law but Shanti's four-year-old daughter was also killed and her husband was badly injured in the attack unleashed by Mathew with a baseball bat and a knife at their home last Wednesday. 

Mathew was picked up by police hours after the murder and police, through the messages and pictures sent to his mobile, nailed the role of Shanti and she was also arrested the following day. 

As part of the probe, a seven-member police team along with Mathew arrived Monday at the IT company in the Technopark campus where the duo worked. 

As soon as Mathew was seen, a large number of IT professionals working in various companies got out and started to verbally abuse Mathew and soon, with tempers and emotions running high, many IT professionals physically attacked him. 

The Kazhakottam police are now viewing the TV channel visuals to identify the IT professionals who physically assaulted Mathew. 

Meanwhile, from Tuesday afternoon, a huge crowd had gathered at the home of Shanti as Mathew was brought to the place of the crime, but police - learning a lesson from Monday's incident - were present in strength to control the crowd. 

SC to hear curative plea on gay sex; gives hope to LGBT

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear in open court curative plea of gay rights activists against its order of criminalising gay sex, giving a ray of hope to LGBT community that the controversial verdict may be reconsidered and modified. 

Curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by Judges in chamber without giving parties to argue. In rare cases such petitions are given an open court hearing. 

A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam decided to give an open court hearing to a bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists, an NGO Naz Foundation and other persons including noted film director Shyam Benegal challenging the apex court's verdict upholding the validity of Section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex an offence punishable up to life imprisonment. 

"List in the court next week," the bench, also comprising justices R M Lodha, H L Dattu and S J Mukhopadhaya, said in its brief order. 

The petitioners, including Naz Foundation which has been spearheading the legal battle on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, contended that there was an error in the judgement delivered on December 11 last year as it was based on old law. 

The apex court had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence. 

The court had said it did not see any reason to interfere with the December 11, 2013 verdict and had also rejected the plea for oral hearing on the review petitions which are normally decided by judges in-chamber. 

The Supreme Court had on December 11, 2013 set aside the Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising gay sex and thrown the ball in Parliament's court for amending the law. 

The judgement revived the penal provision making gay sex an offence punishable with life imprisonment in a setback to people fighting a battle for recognition of their sexual preferences. PTI

SC to hear curative plea on gay sex; gives hope to LGBT

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear in open court curative plea of gay rights activists against its order of criminalising gay sex, giving a ray of hope to LGBT community that the controversial verdict may be reconsidered and modified. 

Curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by Judges in chamber without giving parties to argue. In rare cases such petitions are given an open court hearing. 

A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam decided to give an open court hearing to a bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists, an NGO Naz Foundation and other persons including noted film director Shyam Benegal challenging the apex court's verdict upholding the validity of Section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex an offence punishable up to life imprisonment. 

"List in the court next week," the bench, also comprising justices R M Lodha, H L Dattu and S J Mukhopadhaya, said in its brief order. 

The petitioners, including Naz Foundation which has been spearheading the legal battle on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, contended that there was an error in the judgement delivered on December 11 last year as it was based on old law. 

The apex court had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence. 

The court had said it did not see any reason to interfere with the December 11, 2013 verdict and had also rejected the plea for oral hearing on the review petitions which are normally decided by judges in-chamber. 

The Supreme Court had on December 11, 2013 set aside the Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising gay sex and thrown the ball in Parliament's court for amending the law. 

The judgement revived the penal provision making gay sex an offence punishable with life imprisonment in a setback to people fighting a battle for recognition of their sexual preferences. PTI