Kiliroor case: CBI court finds 5 guilty of crime
Thiruvananthapuram: The CBI court has found 5 accused in the sensational Kiliroor sex scandal case guilty of crime. Charges of rape, kidnapping and conspiracy were booked against them. The quantum of punishment will be announced after hearing their views too. The verdict was announced by the Thiruvananthapuram CBI special court on Monday morning.

There were seven accused in the case. The 7th accused Soman was acquitted by the court. The charges against Soman was that he had helped the accused hire a room to stay in Kumili. But the court ruled that the prosecution was unabe to prove this charge.

The CBI which probed the case made the first accused Omanakutty as approver. The court found Lata Nair, Praveen, Kochumon, Manoj and Prashanth guilty of crime.

The case relates to sexual exploitation of a girl named Shaari from Kiliroor, near Kottayam, by the accused after offering her roles in television serials. Shaari died at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital on 13th November 2004.

Kiliroor case: CBI court finds 5 guilty of crime
Thiruvananthapuram: The CBI court has found 5 accused in the sensational Kiliroor sex scandal case guilty of crime. Charges of rape, kidnapping and conspiracy were booked against them. The quantum of punishment will be announced after hearing their views too. The verdict was announced by the Thiruvananthapuram CBI special court on Monday morning.

There were seven accused in the case. The 7th accused Soman was acquitted by the court. The charges against Soman was that he had helped the accused hire a room to stay in Kumili. But the court ruled that the prosecution was unabe to prove this charge.

The CBI which probed the case made the first accused Omanakutty as approver. The court found Lata Nair, Praveen, Kochumon, Manoj and Prashanth guilty of crime.

The case relates to sexual exploitation of a girl named Shaari from Kiliroor, near Kottayam, by the accused after offering her roles in television serials. Shaari died at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital on 13th November 2004.

Rahul good enough to be PM but that’s not his central aim: Priyanka


Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Sunday said her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was "good enough" to be the prime minister but occupying the post was not his central aim and Manmohan Singh was "an extremely good prime minister."

Responding to queries from the media, Priyanka said her brother did not see his political career in terms of occupying posts of Congress president or prime minister, but in terms of work he has to do.

"I think my brother is good enough for it already but I don't think that should be the central point of his political carrer and I think we have an extremely good prime minister. We are fortunate to have a person who is so honest and who is works well and I don't think the question arises at this moment," she said. 

She said once Rahul decides upon a task, he completes it, and in the process of his work, if he has be party president or assume a post, he would do it. 

Asked if time had come for her brother to take up responsibility as prime minister, Priyanka said her brother was more concerned about his work.

"You see his political career in terms... that he should become party president, prime minister. Rahul does not see his career like that and I think we family members also do not think like this. We are concerned with work."

Priyanka, who is in Rae Bareli to campaign for party candidates in the forthcoming assembly polls, said she had heard many times that Rahul should be party president and about his work in the Youth Congress. 

She said her brother was bringing about a sea change in the working of of the party's youth wing by democratising its working and the effort will not only postively impact Congress but also have a bearing on internal elections in other parties. 

"Whatever he decides, he does it. This is his political career. In the process if he needs to become party president or occupy a post then (he) would do it otherwise not, and keep working," she added.

Rahul good enough to be PM but that’s not his central aim: Priyanka


Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Sunday said her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was "good enough" to be the prime minister but occupying the post was not his central aim and Manmohan Singh was "an extremely good prime minister."

Responding to queries from the media, Priyanka said her brother did not see his political career in terms of occupying posts of Congress president or prime minister, but in terms of work he has to do.

"I think my brother is good enough for it already but I don't think that should be the central point of his political carrer and I think we have an extremely good prime minister. We are fortunate to have a person who is so honest and who is works well and I don't think the question arises at this moment," she said. 

She said once Rahul decides upon a task, he completes it, and in the process of his work, if he has be party president or assume a post, he would do it. 

Asked if time had come for her brother to take up responsibility as prime minister, Priyanka said her brother was more concerned about his work.

"You see his political career in terms... that he should become party president, prime minister. Rahul does not see his career like that and I think we family members also do not think like this. We are concerned with work."

Priyanka, who is in Rae Bareli to campaign for party candidates in the forthcoming assembly polls, said she had heard many times that Rahul should be party president and about his work in the Youth Congress. 

She said her brother was bringing about a sea change in the working of of the party's youth wing by democratising its working and the effort will not only postively impact Congress but also have a bearing on internal elections in other parties. 

"Whatever he decides, he does it. This is his political career. In the process if he needs to become party president or occupy a post then (he) would do it otherwise not, and keep working," she added.

Iran to set up space launch base

Posted on: 05 Feb 2012

Tehran: Iran plans to establish a national satellite launch base in the southeast of the country, adjacent to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, Press TV reported.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered the cabinet to approve the plan and earmark funding for the project, space agency chief Hamid Fazeli said.

RIA Novosti reported that earlier Friday, Iran successfully launched an observation satellite, Navid (Harbinger), to take pictures of the Earth at low altitudes of 250 to 370 km.

Tehran launched its first domestically-produced satellite Omid (Hope) in 2009, an endeavour which made it the ninth country having the capability to launch satellites.

Iran also plans to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019.

Iran to set up space launch base

Posted on: 05 Feb 2012

Tehran: Iran plans to establish a national satellite launch base in the southeast of the country, adjacent to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, Press TV reported.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered the cabinet to approve the plan and earmark funding for the project, space agency chief Hamid Fazeli said.

RIA Novosti reported that earlier Friday, Iran successfully launched an observation satellite, Navid (Harbinger), to take pictures of the Earth at low altitudes of 250 to 370 km.

Tehran launched its first domestically-produced satellite Omid (Hope) in 2009, an endeavour which made it the ninth country having the capability to launch satellites.

Iran also plans to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019.

China, Russia vetoes UN Syria resolution, India votes in favour

Posted on: 05 Feb 2012

United Nations: Russia and China today vetoed an Arab League-backed resolution at the UNSC that called on the Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down, while India along with the US and 12 others backed the move.

France, Britain and Pakistan also voted in favor of the resolution aimed at putting pressure on Syria to end its
11-month-long crackdown on anti-government protests that has killed more than 200 people in one of the bloodiest episodes
of the uprising against Assad's regime.

This is the second time that Russia and China have carried out their double veto after the first one on October
5.

Voting in favour of the UNSC resolution, India said it supported the effort of the Arab League for a peaceful
resolution of the 11-month-old Syrian crisis.

'Our support for the Resolution is in accordance with our support for the efforts by the Arab League for a peaceful
resolution of the crisis through a Syrian-led inclusive political process,' said Hardeep Singh Puri, the Indian
Ambassador to the UN.

Explaining the reasons for India's position on Syria, Puri told the powerful 15-member body that New Delhi believes
that the leadership of Syria is a matter for the Syrian people to decide.

'It would be necessary for all opposition forces in Syria to peacefully engage in constructive dialogue with the
authorities. We hope that this will create a new environment for peace and facilitate a political process,' he underlined.

He said this political dialogue should build upon the 'political reforms already announced by the Syrian leadership
with necessary changes so that they find acceptance among all sections of Syrian society'.

American Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said the US is disgusted that 'a couple of members of this Council continue
to prevent us from fulfilling our sole purpose here-addressing an ever-deepening crisis in Syria and a growing threat to
regional peace and security.'

'Since these two members last vetoed a resolution on Syria, an estimated 3,000 more civilians have been killed.
Another almost 250 killed just yesterday,' she said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he deeply regrets that the Council 'has been unable to agree on a resolution supported by the League of Arab States to bring an early end to the violence and the killing in Syria.'

'This is a great disappointment to the people of Syria and the Middle East, and to all supporters of democracy and
human rights,' he said in a statement.

He said it undermines the role of the UN and the international community in this period when the Syrian authorities 'must hear a unified voice calling for an immediate end to its violence against the Syrian people.'

'In spite of today's vote, the international community and the Syrian people must redouble our efforts to seek a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system,' the UN chief said, underlining that it has now become 'even more urgent'.

Ban said the UN stands ready to step up its efforts to work closely with the Arab League and others in the international community to find a peaceful and durable solution which will bring the violence and the killing in Syria to a halt.

Ahead of the vote, President Barack Obama blamed the Syrian government of 'unspeakable assault' on its civilians in
the city of Homs, as he demanded that President Bashar Assad step down.

'I strongly condemn the Syrian government's unspeakable assault against the people of Homs and I offer my deepest

China, Russia vetoes UN Syria resolution, India votes in favour

Posted on: 05 Feb 2012

United Nations: Russia and China today vetoed an Arab League-backed resolution at the UNSC that called on the Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down, while India along with the US and 12 others backed the move.

France, Britain and Pakistan also voted in favor of the resolution aimed at putting pressure on Syria to end its
11-month-long crackdown on anti-government protests that has killed more than 200 people in one of the bloodiest episodes
of the uprising against Assad's regime.

This is the second time that Russia and China have carried out their double veto after the first one on October
5.

Voting in favour of the UNSC resolution, India said it supported the effort of the Arab League for a peaceful
resolution of the 11-month-old Syrian crisis.

'Our support for the Resolution is in accordance with our support for the efforts by the Arab League for a peaceful
resolution of the crisis through a Syrian-led inclusive political process,' said Hardeep Singh Puri, the Indian
Ambassador to the UN.

Explaining the reasons for India's position on Syria, Puri told the powerful 15-member body that New Delhi believes
that the leadership of Syria is a matter for the Syrian people to decide.

'It would be necessary for all opposition forces in Syria to peacefully engage in constructive dialogue with the
authorities. We hope that this will create a new environment for peace and facilitate a political process,' he underlined.

He said this political dialogue should build upon the 'political reforms already announced by the Syrian leadership
with necessary changes so that they find acceptance among all sections of Syrian society'.

American Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said the US is disgusted that 'a couple of members of this Council continue
to prevent us from fulfilling our sole purpose here-addressing an ever-deepening crisis in Syria and a growing threat to
regional peace and security.'

'Since these two members last vetoed a resolution on Syria, an estimated 3,000 more civilians have been killed.
Another almost 250 killed just yesterday,' she said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he deeply regrets that the Council 'has been unable to agree on a resolution supported by the League of Arab States to bring an early end to the violence and the killing in Syria.'

'This is a great disappointment to the people of Syria and the Middle East, and to all supporters of democracy and
human rights,' he said in a statement.

He said it undermines the role of the UN and the international community in this period when the Syrian authorities 'must hear a unified voice calling for an immediate end to its violence against the Syrian people.'

'In spite of today's vote, the international community and the Syrian people must redouble our efforts to seek a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system,' the UN chief said, underlining that it has now become 'even more urgent'.

Ban said the UN stands ready to step up its efforts to work closely with the Arab League and others in the international community to find a peaceful and durable solution which will bring the violence and the killing in Syria to a halt.

Ahead of the vote, President Barack Obama blamed the Syrian government of 'unspeakable assault' on its civilians in
the city of Homs, as he demanded that President Bashar Assad step down.

'I strongly condemn the Syrian government's unspeakable assault against the people of Homs and I offer my deepest

Unfair, cowardice to release only convenient portions: Nair

Posted on: 05 Feb 2012

Bangalore Picking holes in the high-level team report that indicted him in the Antrix-Devas deal, former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair today said it had 'inconsistencies and inaccuracies' and attacked the Department of Space headed by his successor K Radhakrishnan for 'cowardice' in releasing only 'convinent portions'.

'The convenient portions they have picked up and put it in public domain. This is totally unfair. When you publish a report, it should be in totality,' Nair told PTI a day after DOS released two key reports based on which he and three other
scientists were barred from holding any government position.

The DoS last night made public the report of the high power review committee (HPRC) made up of B K Chaturvedi and
Prof Roddam Narasimha and (only) conclusions and recommendations of the five-member high-level team (HLT),
headed by former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha.

HPRC went into various aspects of the scrapped Antrix-Devas agreement while HLT was set up to examine the
deal and identify acts of omission and commission on part of officials.

Nair said there are a 'lot of inconsistencies and inaccuracies' in the HLT report. 'This shows that it is not a
fair deal meted out to the entire team (of four scientists).

Terming the HLT findings as 'very serious allegations,' he wondered why no explanation was sought from the people
concerned and a formal inquiry conducted. 'This has not happened. This is what is puzzling me,' Nair said.

'If the Department is so much convinced that so many atrocities have been committed, they should order an enquiry
and get to the root of the issue,' he said. 'This (HLT report) is...I will imagine is the feelings of one or two individuals
of the committee rather than the actual findings,' Nair said in an indirect reference to Radhakrishnan, who is also part of
the five-member HLT.

Ever since the government action against the scientists came to light, Nair has persistently targeted Radhakrishnan
blaming him for the action, accusing him of pursuing a 'personal agenda'.

After the government action provoked an outrage among the scientific community, Radhakrishnan had said the two reports
would be made public after due clearance, apparently to defend himself against the attack.

Nair was, however, all praise for the HPRC report, saying: 'They have stated all facts; it is fair enough... One of the best reports we can think of. Now you read these two reports (HLT and HPRC) together, you see inconsistencies in the whole process and the type of conclusions'.

Seeking to target Radhakrishnan again, he charged: 'This play of hide and seek is really a cowardice act on the part of
the people who are dealing with these files, especially in the Department of Space'.

Nair said making public the select portions of the HLT report is aimed at defending the action against the four scientists. 'They are trying to justify themselves for whatever wrongdoing they have done. It shows certain amount of cowardice on the part of the Department of Space'.

'They are not coming out with all the details. They should come with analysis (in the HLT report). What's the secret in that?' he said, adding, the entire thing beginning from the process of negotiation with Devas should be made public.

Noting that four scientists and four administrative people have been indicted in it, he asked: 'What happened to
the administrative people? Have they taken any action against them?'PTI

Unfair, cowardice to release only convenient portions: Nair

Posted on: 05 Feb 2012

Bangalore Picking holes in the high-level team report that indicted him in the Antrix-Devas deal, former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair today said it had 'inconsistencies and inaccuracies' and attacked the Department of Space headed by his successor K Radhakrishnan for 'cowardice' in releasing only 'convinent portions'.

'The convenient portions they have picked up and put it in public domain. This is totally unfair. When you publish a report, it should be in totality,' Nair told PTI a day after DOS released two key reports based on which he and three other
scientists were barred from holding any government position.

The DoS last night made public the report of the high power review committee (HPRC) made up of B K Chaturvedi and
Prof Roddam Narasimha and (only) conclusions and recommendations of the five-member high-level team (HLT),
headed by former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha.

HPRC went into various aspects of the scrapped Antrix-Devas agreement while HLT was set up to examine the
deal and identify acts of omission and commission on part of officials.

Nair said there are a 'lot of inconsistencies and inaccuracies' in the HLT report. 'This shows that it is not a
fair deal meted out to the entire team (of four scientists).

Terming the HLT findings as 'very serious allegations,' he wondered why no explanation was sought from the people
concerned and a formal inquiry conducted. 'This has not happened. This is what is puzzling me,' Nair said.

'If the Department is so much convinced that so many atrocities have been committed, they should order an enquiry
and get to the root of the issue,' he said. 'This (HLT report) is...I will imagine is the feelings of one or two individuals
of the committee rather than the actual findings,' Nair said in an indirect reference to Radhakrishnan, who is also part of
the five-member HLT.

Ever since the government action against the scientists came to light, Nair has persistently targeted Radhakrishnan
blaming him for the action, accusing him of pursuing a 'personal agenda'.

After the government action provoked an outrage among the scientific community, Radhakrishnan had said the two reports
would be made public after due clearance, apparently to defend himself against the attack.

Nair was, however, all praise for the HPRC report, saying: 'They have stated all facts; it is fair enough... One of the best reports we can think of. Now you read these two reports (HLT and HPRC) together, you see inconsistencies in the whole process and the type of conclusions'.

Seeking to target Radhakrishnan again, he charged: 'This play of hide and seek is really a cowardice act on the part of
the people who are dealing with these files, especially in the Department of Space'.

Nair said making public the select portions of the HLT report is aimed at defending the action against the four scientists. 'They are trying to justify themselves for whatever wrongdoing they have done. It shows certain amount of cowardice on the part of the Department of Space'.

'They are not coming out with all the details. They should come with analysis (in the HLT report). What's the secret in that?' he said, adding, the entire thing beginning from the process of negotiation with Devas should be made public.

Noting that four scientists and four administrative people have been indicted in it, he asked: 'What happened to
the administrative people? Have they taken any action against them?'PTI