Stop cyber-crime army' to be set up in Kerala schools

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Kochi, June 23 (IANS) The higher education department in Kerala on Monday launched a cyber safety awareness campaign as part of which a 'Stop Cyber-Crime Army' will be formed in all schools in the state, officials said.

State-owned IT venture Infopark is playing host to the cyber safety awareness campaign.

'Infopark will always be at the forefront to promote anti-cyber crime initiatives. In this digital age, it is a matter of concern that cyber crimes are increasing at an alarming rate in our country,' said Infopark chief executive Hrishikesh Nair.

'The best way to counter them is by educating the society of the risks and vulnerabilities involved in our increased dependency on the internet,' he said.

The 'Stop Cyber Crime Army', comprising volunteers of the National Service Scheme (NSS), is the brainchild of the higher education department.

The campaign is supported by Orgpeople India Foundation, the official educational partner of Kerala Education Department, and Avanzo Cyber Security Solutions Pvt Ltd.

One lakh students are being targeted under the campaign.

NSS volunteers in Kerala will be provided special training to conduct cyber safety awareness classes in banks, clubs, libraries and resident associations in their areas.

Raycast Technologies, a company being incubated at the NRI-Technology Business Incubator at Infopark, has developed a computer game application for the campaign.

'The 'Stop Cyber Crime' game application is aimed at creating awareness about cyber security among all sectors of the society,' said Abhishek Mohan, CEO of Raycast Technologies.

IANS

Two more witnesses identify Salman Khan in accident case

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Mumbai: Two more witnesses on Monday identified Bollywood actor Salman Khan as being present at the scene of the 2002 hit-and-run accident as he appeared in court where the retrial of the case is underway.

A witness, identified as Rizwan, a manager with the Rain Bar, informed the court that Salman and his friends had ordered food and drinks which were served at their table that night.

Rizwan told public prosecutor Jagannath Kenjalkar that he saw the actor holding a glass with a colourless liquid like water in it, but he was not sure what it was and did not see Salman drinking it.

'I am not sure whether Khan himself consumed the drink as the order was taken by a waiter,' he said.

Later, between 1.15 and 1.30 a.m., Rizwan went to see off Salman and his friends to the door but the actor was walking normally and did not smell of liquor, he added.

In the cross-examination by Khan's lawyer Shrikant Shivade, Rizwan said that from his cabin, he could not see who was having food and drinks as the lighting in the restaurant was dim.

Another witness, Ramashray Pandey, owner of a dairy shop near the scene of the accident, said that he saw Salman alighting out of the front seat of his car after the accident that night in Bandra suburb in which one pavement dweller was killed and four others injured.

He said that the actor's police bodyguard Ravindra Patil (who is now dead) was already outside the vehicle and there was a huge commotion in the area.

'People were shouting 'accident, accident' and some people were under the SUV and crying for help,' he said, adding that some others were trying to pull free the car's front door which was stuck in the laundry shutter while some pelted stones at the vehicle.

The two witnesses' testimony came after the hearing resumed in the retrial of the hit-and-run case against Salman in which he is facing an additional charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts a 10-year jail term.

Last month, three other witnesses had testified before the court and also identified the actor in the case in which the retrial started April 28.

Salman is accused of driving his SUV onto a pavement in Bandra on Sep 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others.

IANS

Government to hike import duty on sugar; prices may go up

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New Delhi: In a move that could lead to rise in the price of sugar, the government today decided to hike the import duty on it and to provide an additional interest- free loan of upto Rs 4,400 crore to pay dues to cane growers.

At a high-level meeting convened by Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, it was decided that the import duty will be raised to 40 per cent from 15 per cent.It was also decided that the export subsidy will be extended till September this year to give relief to the sugar industry, which owes Rs 11,000 crore to cane growers largely in Uttar Pradesh.Efforts will be made to implement mandatory 5 per cent ethanol blending with petrol and subsequently achieve 10 per cent blending.

The meeting held at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direction was attended among others by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Principal Secretary to the PM Nripendra Misra and Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth.'We have taken four key decisions. We have decided to extend the interest-free loan given against excise duty paid by sugar mills for five years instead of three years,' Paswan told reporters after the meeting.

Industry Body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) hailed the decision saying this will improve cash-flow of millers and help clear cane arrears.'There is a need to improve the sugar prices to allow mills to at least cover their cost of producing sugar,' ISMA Director General Avinash Verma said in a statement.

Sugar stocks registered a sharp increase following the government's decision.Verma said that a 40 per cent duty on imports would ensure that sugar from abroad does not flood the market, which is already surplus with 20-25 lakh tonnes.'This would definitely improve the market sentiments, domestic sugar prices and better buying by the traders and wholesalers,' he said.

He said today's decision could result in a rise in sugar prices by Rs 1-2 per kg in the wholesale market from the current range between Rs 28 and 31 per kg.

Paswan said mills can avail additional interest-free loans of up to Rs 4,400 crore from banks, he said, adding this will improve their cash flow to make cane payments.However, the minister said the department is yet to calculate the exact interest-free loans to be provided to the industry against excise-duty.

In December, the Centre had approved Rs 6,600 crore interest-free loans for the sugar industry for clearing cane arrears. It decided to give loans via banks equivalent to the excise duty paid by the mills in the past three years.These decisions will be subject to the mills giving guarantee that they will clear Rs 11,000 crore sugarcane arrears at the earliest, Paswan said.

'We don't have any problems to announce these incentives formally if millers are ready to make payments. If they give assurance today, we will announce incentives today itself', Paswan said.

Some of the decisions will be notified by concerned ministries, while some require the Cabinet nod, he added.
Expressing concern over mounting cane arrears, Paswan said, 'While the Centre fixes the cane price, some states are fixing higher prices that are putting burden on millers.There should be a holistic view on pricing.'

ISMA's Verma said: 'Out of Rs 6,600 crore claims for loans, about Rs 4,000 crore has been disbursed by banks so far based on the eligibility and the criteria set by the government'.'If this is taken into account, we expect Rs 2,500-3,000 crore loans may finally get disbursed out of the approximately Rs 4,400 crore claims that might come up,' he said.

'With improvement in the sentiment because of these decisions taken by the government, we should be able to sell sugar and clear cane arrears soon, which is our top priority,' Verma said.

The sugar industry has been facing a cash crunch due to higher cost of production and lower selling prices in the wake of surplus output over the past few years.

Currently, sugarcane arrears stand at about Rs 11,000 crore across the country, with the maximum of Rs 7,200 crore in Uttar Pradesh.Mills are facing a cash crunch as domestic prices have slipped below the cost of production, hurting their profits.They also fear domestic prices could fall further if cheaper imports are not curbed.Currently, sugar is being imported in smaller quantities.The decision to hike the import duty is expected to curb such shipments. PTI 

Enroll students only under three-year programme: UGC warns DU

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New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) Sunday strictly ordered the Delhi University that admissions for the undergraduate programme should be made only under the three-year programme, which was prevalent prior to the introduction of the four-year programme, or face action under the UGC Act 1956.

The commission has also strictly said that if the varsity does not comply with the orders, it will also withdraw grant facility to the colleges, as the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) violates the National Education Policy 1986 which advocates the 10+2+3 system.

This is the second letter from the UGC to DU.

It had also sent a letter Friday asking the varsity to give admissions under the three-year programme which was there prior to the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).

It also asked DU to make provisions to help students who have already been admitted under FYUP to migrate easily to the three-year programme.

But the varsity held an academic council meet Saturday and passed a resolution saying that it had 'revised' the programme and it no longer violated the NEP, as a student had the option of exiting after three years with a bachelors degree, and that the fourth year was optional.

But students who wanted an honours degree had to complete four years.

So, the commission again wrote a letter Sunday and said: 'The admission for academic year 2014-2015 at the undergraduate level in the general degree programme (including the honours programme in different subjects of humanities, science and commerce) in various colleges shall only be to the three-year undergraduate programme which was offered prior to the introduction of the FYUP and under no circumstances shall the Delhi University or any of its colleges under it admit students under the four-year programme.'

UGC said that since the admission process to the undergraduate programme has already been initiated and the first list for admission is expected to be announced Monday and since there was no compliance to their earlier letter by DU, the commission issued the order Sunday.

In its letter, the UGC has also asked DU to report to the commission 'compliance' of this directive by Monday 'without fail'.

The commission further warned of action if DU deviates from the directives.

'Any deviation or contravention of this order shall be viewed seriously by the UGC and attract action under the UGC Act 1956, including withdrawal of grant facility to the college,' said the letter signed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu, UGC secretary.

The UGC also urged students to pay the fees according to the three-year programme.

In a statement, the UGC said the four-year undergraduate programme introduced by Delhi University is not in consonance with the National Education Policy (1986) and 10+2+3 structure envisaged under it and the Delhi varsity has not followed the procedure prescribed in the Delhi University Act, 1922.

UGC has June 21 also constituted a standing committee under the chairmanship of vice chairman and representatives of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), college principal and teachers, the academic and executive council of DU to advise the varsity to migrate from the four-year programme to the three-year undergraduate programme.

In response to the directive, St. Stephen's College said they will also defer admissions till a final decision is taken by the competent authority.

'In view of the reported UGC directive to the University of Delhi regarding its undergraduate programmes, St. Stephen's College, while continuing with the ongoing selection process, including the publication of provisional lists of selected and wait-listed candidates for various courses, shall defer final admissions till a decision is taken on the matter by the competent authority,' the college said in a statement.

However, the varsity refused to comment on the letter and has also postponed the executive council meet scheduled for Monday.

The students and teachers group who were protesting against the four-year programme hailed the UGC letter.

However, in this war between the DU and UGC, the future of about 2.5 lakh students who have applied to DU lies in uncertainty.

Let this be the final rail fare hike, urges Shiv Sena

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Mumbai: Reluctantly accepting the steep hike in railway fares and freight rates, the Shiv Sena here Monday urged the government this should be 'the final increase'.

In a sharp editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' flaying the sudden hike, the Shiv Sena has pointed out that its ally Bharatiya Janata Party has armed the opposition with a weapon.

The steep, pre-budget hike of 14.2 percent in passenger fares has particularly hit the Mumbaikars hard as they will have to shell out more than double for monthly and quarterly season tickets.

Justifying the hike, the railways said it was running losses of Rs.28,000 crore per annum which had to be offset by the hikes.

The government has said the hike was intended to provide safety, security and comfort to the passengers, but the people and opposition parties are not convinced, the edit said.

'Compared to the railway systems in developed countries in Europe, Russia, the US, ours resembles a 'khatara gaadi'. Our railway stations, railway tracks, signals etc. are in a horrible state. Crowds have increased but new routes have barely been introduced and whatever the British had built, we continue to overload it,' the edit said.

It alleged that in the past 15-20 years, all the railway ministers simply looted it and those (railway ministers) hailing from Bihar gave it a 'Yadavi' (clannish) tone.

The Congress's P.K. Bansal's relative was caught red-handed accepting a bribe, and huge rail works tenders are awarded only for commissions.

'This is the reason accidents keep taking place. People are dying but in every railway budget, the rulers show new dreams to the people. People want all facilities and for this they are ready to shell out money - not for the development of the politicians only... People who feel run over by the latest hike will demand the account now,' the edit added.

The Shiv Sena said that if the same hike had been taken up by the Congress, the opposition would have bombarded it with criticisms and abuses.

Now, the same (opposition) is running the government with full majority and they should introspect on it (the abuses it hurled at the Congress in the past) and should dedicatedly work towards improving the railways.

'In the meantime, the people have condemned the hikes and hope that this will be the final... The people's expectations must be fulfilled,' the edit said.

Odemwingie nails Nigeria's 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina

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Mato Grosso (Brazil): African champions Nigeria eliminated World Cup debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina, thanks to Peter Odemwingie's goal Saturday.

Nigeria grabbed their first World Cup finals win since 1998, gathering four points from two games and placing second after Argentina who have already advanced to the second round after beating Iran 1-0 for their second straight victory, Xinhua reported.

Nigeria are to play Argentina in their final group game Thursday.

Odemwingie scored the winner in the 29th minute, seven minutes after Bosnia-Herzegovina's goal by Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko was incorrectly ruled offside.

'This victory can have a huge impact on us as it brings confidence with it and if we get to the last 16 who knows what can happen, maybe a repeat of what happened in last year's Africa Cup of Nations where we got better and better,' said Odemwingie.

Bosnia-Herzegovina are now unable to advance, regardless of the result against Iran in their final group match Wednesday.

Bitter medicine to be swallowed for economy: Venkaiah on rail fare hike

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Hyderabad: Attacking the previous government, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the hike in rail fares was “thrusted upon” by the UPA, but it was a “bitter medicine” that had to be swallowed in the interest of sound health of the economy.

“The hike in fares is thrust upon us by UPA government. It is the result of the misplaced populism of the UPA’s 10-year misrule. The railways are bleeding. Former Railway Minister (Mallikarjuna) Kharge had sought and received approval of the Prime Minister (for hike) ahead of interim budget,” Mr. Naidu told reporters in Hyderabad.

Describing the rail fare hike as a “bitter medicine”, the Union Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the medicine had to be swallowed in the interest of sound health of the economy.

“The railway board has moved now to give effect to what the Railway Minister and then Prime Minister had concurred. It is a bitter medicine which was necessitated to set right the faltering finances of the railways that were aggravated by UPA’s mismanagement of the economy,” he said.

Mr. Naidu explained the sequence of events relating to rail fare hike beginning with a proposal being made on February 6 this year. Photocopies of an official circular dated May 16 regarding revision of passenger fares were distributed to the media.

Noting that only 4,000 out of 12,000 trains announced by successive railway ministers during the last 10 years have been introduced, he said the present railway projects need Rs. 5 lakh crores for implementation.

Alleging that the UPA has “derailed the economy”, the Union Minister said tough decisions have to be taken to put the economy back on track.

Asserting that the Narendra Modi government has the moral courage to take concrete decisions, Mr. Naidu expressed hope that the people would understand the facts.

Referring to the row over using Hindi on social media, he said the government circular to the effect was issued on March 10 this year when UPA was in power.

“Chidambaramji forgets this and says government should be sensitive to the regional feelings. Others also criticise.

The circular talks about promoting Hindi in ‘A’ category (Hindi-speaking) states. This government only sent it down the line. Nobody said do it in Tamil Nadu. What is objectionable in this?” he said. 

Sunni militants capture another town in Iraq's west

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BAGHDAD: Sunni militants have seized another town in Iraq’s western Anbar province, the fourth to fall in two days, officials said on Sunday, in what is shaping up to be a major offensive in one of Iraq’s most restive regions.

The officials said the militants captured Rutba, about 150 kilometres east of the Jordanian border, late Saturday. Residents were on Sunday negotiating with the militants to leave after an army unit on the town’s outskirts threatened to start shelling.

The latest advance has dealt another blow to Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is fighting for his political life even as forces beyond his control are pushing the country toward a sectarian showdown.

In a reflection of the bitter divide, thousands of heavily armed Shia militiamen eager to take on the Sunni insurgents marched through Iraqi cities in military-style parades Saturday on streets where many of them battled US forces a half decade ago.

The towns of Qaim, Rawah, Anah and Rutba are the first seized in predominantly Sunni Anbar province since fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant overran the city of Fallujah and parts of the provincial capital of Ramadi earlier this year.

The capture of Rawah on the Euphrates River and the nearby town of Anah appeared to be part of march toward a key dam in the city of Haditha, the destruction of which would damage the country’s electrical grid and cause major flooding.

The militants may use the remaining 39 Indian hostages as human shields in case of a military offensive by Iraqi or US authorities, the only person among the group to flee the captors has told government officials.

Swiss govt prepares list of Indians with suspected black money

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ZURICH: In a major boost to India’s fight against black money, Switzerland has prepared a list of Indians suspected to have stashed non-taxed wealth in Swiss banks and the details are being shared with Indian government. The names of these Indian individuals and entities have come under scanner of the Swiss authorities during an ongoing exercise to identify real beneficiary owners of funds held in various banks operating in Switzerland, a senior Swiss government official said. “These individuals and entities are suspected to have held non-taxed money in Swiss banks through structures like trusts, domiciliary companies and other legal entities based out of countries other than India,” the official said. He refused to divulge the identity of these persons and entities, as also the quantum of funds held by them in Swiss banks, citing confidentiality clause of the bilateral information exchange treaty between two countries. The official further said Swiss authorities were very keen to work with the new government in India and they would also provide all necessary support to the newly set up Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money. He, however, dismissed claims that black money stashed in Swiss banks by Indians could be trillions of dollars, as the latest Swiss National Bank data pegs the total foreign client money across 283 banks in Switzerland at USD 1.6 trillion. When asked about rise in Indian exposure to Swiss banks at 2.03 billion Swiss francs (Rs 14,000 crore), he said these are the funds held by clients who have declared themselves as Indian and therefore were unlikely to be ill-gotten wealth. While declining to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to media, the senior official further said the details are being shared with India on a ‘spontaneous’ basis and are different from the information sought earlier by the Indian authorities on the basis of ‘leaked’ or ‘stolen’ lists of certain banks, including the so-called ‘HSBC list’.

Monica Gill from US is Miss India Worldwide 2014

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Dubai: Miss India US Monica Gill was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2014 here Friday night. The second place went to Miss India Switzerland and third to Miss India Bahrain.

More than 40 contestants of Indian origin settled in various countries across the globe between the age of 17 years and 27 years, unmarried and citizens, residents, or born in the country they represent, participated in the Miss India Worldwide pageant.

The finale happened at the Al Raha Beach Resort, Abu Dhabi in UAE where Gill was announced as the winner. She was crowned by Miss India Worldwide 2013 Nehal Bhogaita. Being hearing impaired, Bhogaita is the first differently-abled contestant to have successfully come away with the crown in the competition's history.

This year, all the participating girls arrived in Dubai on Sunday from countries including Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, Kenya, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sweden and the Netherlands.

The pageant included rounds like evening gown, Indian dress, a talent contest and question-and-answer sections.

Surat girl Anugya Sharma represented India at Miss India Worldwide.

The winner took home a cash prize of $8000 and various sponsored gifts, including photo sessions and modelling assignments apart from the crown.

IANS