UDF recommends CBI probe into second Marad riot
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF on Thursday recommended for a CBI probe into the conspiracy behind second Marad riot. The demand for CBI probe was made by Muslim League in the UDF meeting. 

UDF recommends CBI probe into second Marad riot
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF on Thursday recommended for a CBI probe into the conspiracy behind second Marad riot. The demand for CBI probe was made by Muslim League in the UDF meeting. 

115 killed in Syria: Report

Damascus: An anti-government organisation has claimed the Syrian military Wednesday killed at least 115 people in a massacre in Aleppo province.

The Syrian Local Coordination Committees, an umbrella organisation of 14 anti-government groups, said 25 of those killed were children.

Around 5,000 people died in Syria's civil war in August, making it the deadliest month since violence started almost 18 months ago, according to activist groups.

More than 26,000 people have died in the conflict that started in March 2011.

115 killed in Syria: Report

Damascus: An anti-government organisation has claimed the Syrian military Wednesday killed at least 115 people in a massacre in Aleppo province.

The Syrian Local Coordination Committees, an umbrella organisation of 14 anti-government groups, said 25 of those killed were children.

Around 5,000 people died in Syria's civil war in August, making it the deadliest month since violence started almost 18 months ago, according to activist groups.

More than 26,000 people have died in the conflict that started in March 2011.

First Dreamliner aircraft delivered to Air India in the US

New Delhi: Flag carrier Air India Thursday took charge of the first of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft at Charleston in South Carolina in the US, ahead of flying it down to the Indian capital.

'Our technical team in the US has taken the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner aircraft. We expect the aircraft to land in India by Saturday evening,' a senior Air India official told IANS here.

According to Air India's Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan the new aircraft will allow the airline to operate on new routes and enable it to save fuel cost.

'The 787 aircraft will allow Air India to open new routes in a dynamic marketplace and provide the best in-flight experience for our passengers,' Nandan said.

The 787 plane has the range and capability to allow Air India to deploy it on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Key airline officials like general manager for the wide-bodied aircraft and director of operations took the delivery and will stay in the US to finish the final modalities of sale and lease before flying the aircraft home.

The development comes after an Aug 3 decision of the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) which approved the proposal of the civil aviation ministry allowing the flag carrier to take delivery of 27 Boeing 787 aircraft after signing the delay-compensation settlement agreement.

Air India will be the fifth global airline after All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines to receive the fuel-efficient and eco-friendly aircraft.

Air India had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006 in a mega deal. The carrier was to get the delivery in May 2008, but that got pushed forward to the end of the month for a variety of reasons including manufacturing delays.

The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered from September 2008 to October 2011. But due to certain design and production issues, these were delayed and rescheduled to be delivered between June 2012 and March 2016.

The airline plans to deploy the 787 Dreamliner aircraft on domestic routes to save on fuel, train the crew and add flexibility in its winter schedule by flying out to select domestic and overseas destinations.

'A key feature of the aircraft is fuel saving. It consumes 20 percent less fuel than other aircraft. The proposal to deploy the aircraft on domestic routes will help us save on high jet fuel cost,' the official said.

The Boeing 787 aircraft is made of composite materials. Its newly-developed engine and advanced flight technologies make it highly fuel-efficient. The plane can fly up to 16,000 km non-stop.

The aircraft comes with a slew of advanced technologies which reduce noise and emission during all phases of flight, including take-off, cruise and landing.

The Air India's 787 will also be equipped with best-in class seats for its 256 passengers from Contour Aerospace and Weber Aircraft.

While Contour Aerospace will equip the 18 business class seats, Weber would provide the other 238 seats.

The official said it would have state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system from the aviation electronics major Thales.

First Dreamliner aircraft delivered to Air India in the US

New Delhi: Flag carrier Air India Thursday took charge of the first of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft at Charleston in South Carolina in the US, ahead of flying it down to the Indian capital.

'Our technical team in the US has taken the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner aircraft. We expect the aircraft to land in India by Saturday evening,' a senior Air India official told IANS here.

According to Air India's Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan the new aircraft will allow the airline to operate on new routes and enable it to save fuel cost.

'The 787 aircraft will allow Air India to open new routes in a dynamic marketplace and provide the best in-flight experience for our passengers,' Nandan said.

The 787 plane has the range and capability to allow Air India to deploy it on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Key airline officials like general manager for the wide-bodied aircraft and director of operations took the delivery and will stay in the US to finish the final modalities of sale and lease before flying the aircraft home.

The development comes after an Aug 3 decision of the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) which approved the proposal of the civil aviation ministry allowing the flag carrier to take delivery of 27 Boeing 787 aircraft after signing the delay-compensation settlement agreement.

Air India will be the fifth global airline after All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines to receive the fuel-efficient and eco-friendly aircraft.

Air India had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006 in a mega deal. The carrier was to get the delivery in May 2008, but that got pushed forward to the end of the month for a variety of reasons including manufacturing delays.

The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered from September 2008 to October 2011. But due to certain design and production issues, these were delayed and rescheduled to be delivered between June 2012 and March 2016.

The airline plans to deploy the 787 Dreamliner aircraft on domestic routes to save on fuel, train the crew and add flexibility in its winter schedule by flying out to select domestic and overseas destinations.

'A key feature of the aircraft is fuel saving. It consumes 20 percent less fuel than other aircraft. The proposal to deploy the aircraft on domestic routes will help us save on high jet fuel cost,' the official said.

The Boeing 787 aircraft is made of composite materials. Its newly-developed engine and advanced flight technologies make it highly fuel-efficient. The plane can fly up to 16,000 km non-stop.

The aircraft comes with a slew of advanced technologies which reduce noise and emission during all phases of flight, including take-off, cruise and landing.

The Air India's 787 will also be equipped with best-in class seats for its 256 passengers from Contour Aerospace and Weber Aircraft.

While Contour Aerospace will equip the 18 business class seats, Weber would provide the other 238 seats.

The official said it would have state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system from the aviation electronics major Thales.

Barack Obama accepts party's nomination for second term

Charlotte, North Carolina: President Barack Obama has accepted his party's nomination for a second term, saying voters face the clearest choice at any time in a generation.

Obama says at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night that America has been tested by the cost of war, a troubled economy and crippling political gridlock.

He calls the election a choice between two different paths for America and two fundamentally different visions of the future.

His re-election in doubt, President Barack Obama conceded only halting progress Thursday night toward fixing the nation's stubborn economic woes, but vowed in a Democratic National Convention finale, 'Our problems can be solved, our challenges can be met.'

'Yes, our path is harder - but it leads to a better place,' he declared in a prime-time speech to convention delegates and the nation that blended resolve about the challenges ahead with stinging criticism of rival Mitt Romney's proposals to repair the economy. He acknowledged 'my own failings.'

'Four more years,' delegates chanted over and over as the 51-year-old president stepped the podium, noticeably grayer than four years ago when he was a history-making candidate for the White House.

The president's speech was the final act of a pair of highly scripted national political conventions in as many weeks, and the opening salvo of a two-month drive toward Election Day that pits Obama against Republican rival Romney. The contest is ever tighter for the White House in a dreary season of economic struggle for millions.
AP

Barack Obama accepts party's nomination for second term

Charlotte, North Carolina: President Barack Obama has accepted his party's nomination for a second term, saying voters face the clearest choice at any time in a generation.

Obama says at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night that America has been tested by the cost of war, a troubled economy and crippling political gridlock.

He calls the election a choice between two different paths for America and two fundamentally different visions of the future.

His re-election in doubt, President Barack Obama conceded only halting progress Thursday night toward fixing the nation's stubborn economic woes, but vowed in a Democratic National Convention finale, 'Our problems can be solved, our challenges can be met.'

'Yes, our path is harder - but it leads to a better place,' he declared in a prime-time speech to convention delegates and the nation that blended resolve about the challenges ahead with stinging criticism of rival Mitt Romney's proposals to repair the economy. He acknowledged 'my own failings.'

'Four more years,' delegates chanted over and over as the 51-year-old president stepped the podium, noticeably grayer than four years ago when he was a history-making candidate for the White House.

The president's speech was the final act of a pair of highly scripted national political conventions in as many weeks, and the opening salvo of a two-month drive toward Election Day that pits Obama against Republican rival Romney. The contest is ever tighter for the White House in a dreary season of economic struggle for millions.
AP

 20 injured as Cong demonstrators clash with police in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR:  Around 20 persons were injured as Congress workers protesting against the BJD government on Thursday tried to gherao the Odisha Assembly and fought a pitched battle with police. When water cannon and teargas failed to disperse the Congress demonstrators near the Lower PMG close to the Assembly building the police used batons, police sources said. The demonstrators retaliated with stones, they said. Among the injured were DCP Nitinjeet Singh and seven policemen, the sources said. A dozen demonstrators were also injured in the police action, the sources said. Earlier, the demonstrators were addressed by Congress stalwarts including state in-charge Jagdish Tytler and PCC president Niranjan Patnaik who dubbed the BJD government as the most corrupt in Odisha. The Congress leaders also raised the coal block allocation and fertiliser scarcity issues and held the chief minister responsible for irregularities. Accusing the state government of depriving the poor of rice and wheat provided by the Centre, the Congress leaders alleged that the BJD government was providing only 25 kg per family against 35 kg given by the central government under various schemes like Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Denying the allegations, the Chief Minister told reporters that the charges against the BJD were meaningless in view of the scams in which the Congress-led UPA government was allegedly involve

 20 injured as Cong demonstrators clash with police in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR:  Around 20 persons were injured as Congress workers protesting against the BJD government on Thursday tried to gherao the Odisha Assembly and fought a pitched battle with police. When water cannon and teargas failed to disperse the Congress demonstrators near the Lower PMG close to the Assembly building the police used batons, police sources said. The demonstrators retaliated with stones, they said. Among the injured were DCP Nitinjeet Singh and seven policemen, the sources said. A dozen demonstrators were also injured in the police action, the sources said. Earlier, the demonstrators were addressed by Congress stalwarts including state in-charge Jagdish Tytler and PCC president Niranjan Patnaik who dubbed the BJD government as the most corrupt in Odisha. The Congress leaders also raised the coal block allocation and fertiliser scarcity issues and held the chief minister responsible for irregularities. Accusing the state government of depriving the poor of rice and wheat provided by the Centre, the Congress leaders alleged that the BJD government was providing only 25 kg per family against 35 kg given by the central government under various schemes like Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Denying the allegations, the Chief Minister told reporters that the charges against the BJD were meaningless in view of the scams in which the Congress-led UPA government was allegedly involve