60 crushed to death in Ivory Coast stadium stampede

 ABIDJAN: About 60 people were crushed to death in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan overnight after a New Year's Eve fireworks display, an emergency official and state radio said on Tuesday.

"There are around 60 dead, and about 200 injured, this is a provisional estimate," a rescue official told Reuters, asking not to be named. He said the incident happened near a stadium where a crowd had gathered to watch fireworks.

60 crushed to death in Ivory Coast stadium stampede

 ABIDJAN: About 60 people were crushed to death in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan overnight after a New Year's Eve fireworks display, an emergency official and state radio said on Tuesday.

"There are around 60 dead, and about 200 injured, this is a provisional estimate," a rescue official told Reuters, asking not to be named. He said the incident happened near a stadium where a crowd had gathered to watch fireworks.

Doctors expect Hillary Clinton's full recovery from clot

WASHINGTON: Doctors treating US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a blood clot in her head said blood thinners were being used to dissolve the clot and they were confident she will make a full recovery. Clinton didn't suffer a stroke or neurological damage from the clot that formed after she had a concussion during a fainting spell at her home in early December, doctors said in a statement Monday. Clinton, 65, was admitted to a New York City hospital on Sunday when the clot was found on a follow-up exam on the concussion, Clinton spokesman Phillipe Reines said. The popular secretary of state and former first lady had already planned to step down at the beginning of US President Barack Obama's second term, which begins this month. Whether she will return to work before she resigns remained a question. The clot is located in the vein in the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear. She will be released once the medication dose for the blood thinners has been established, the doctors said. In their statement, Dr. Lisa Bardack of the Mount Kisco Medical Group and Dr. Gigi El-Bayoumi of George Washington University said Clinton was making excellent progress and was in good spirits. Clinton's complication "certainly isn't the most common thing to happen after a concussion" and is one of the few types of blood clots in the skull or head that are treated with blood thinners, said Dr. Larry Goldstein, a neurologist who is director of Duke University's stroke center. He is not involved in Clinton's care. The area where Clinton's clot developed is "a drainage channel, the equivalent of a big vein inside the skull. It's how the blood gets back to the heart," Goldstein said. Blood thinners usually are enough to treat the clot, and it should have no long-term consequences if her doctors are saying she has suffered no neurological damage from it, Goldstein said. Clinton returned to the U.S. from a trip to Europe, then fell ill with a stomach virus in early December that left her severely dehydrated and forced her to cancel a trip to North Africa and the Middle East. Until then, she had canceled only two scheduled overseas trips, one to Europe after breaking her elbow in June 2009 and one to Asia after the February 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Her condition worsened when she fainted, fell and suffered a concussion while at home alone in mid-December as she recovered from the virus. It was announced Dec. 13. This isn't the first time Clinton has suffered a blood clot. In 1998, midway through her husband's second term as president, Clinton was in New York fundraising for the midterm elections when a swollen right foot led her doctor to diagnose a clot in her knee requiring immediate treatment. Clinton's three-week absence from the State Department has raised eyebrows among some conservative commentators who questioned the seriousness of her ailment after she canceled planned Dec. 20 testimony before Congress on the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. Clinton had been due to discuss with lawmakers a scathing report she had commissioned on the attack. It found serious failures of leadership and management in two State Department bureaus were to blame for insufficient security at the facility. Clinton took responsibility for the incident before the report was released, but she was not blamed. Looking to the future, Clinton supporters have been privately, if not publicly, speculating how her illness might affect a decision about running for president in 2016, when Obama's two terms are up. Americans admire Clinton more than any other woman in the world, according to a Gallup poll released Monday - the 17th time in 20 years that Clinton has claimed that title. And a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 57 percent of Americans would support Clinton as a candidate for president in 2016, with just 37 percent opposed. Websites have already cropped up hawking "Clinton 2016" mugs and tote bags. After decades in politics, Clinton has said she plans to spend the next year resting. She has long insisted she had no intention of mounting a second campaign for the White House after running in 2008. But the door is not entirely closed, and she would almost certainly emerge as the Democrat to beat if she decided to run again. Her age - and her health - would probably be a factor under consideration, given that Clinton would be 69 when sworn in, if she were elected in 2016. Publicly, Democrats reject the notion that a blood clot could hinder her political prospects. "Some of those concerns could be borderline sexist," said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist who worked for Clinton when she was a senator. "Dick Cheney had significant heart problems when he was vice president, and people joked about it. He took the time he needed to get better, and it wasn't a problem." It isn't uncommon for presidential candidates' health - and age - to be an issue. Both in 2000 and 2008, Republican Sen. John McCain had to rebut concerns he was too old to be commander in chief or that his skin cancer could resurface. Two decades after Clinton became the first lady, signs of her popularity - and her political strength - are ubiquitous. Even Republicans concede that Clinton would be a force to be reckoned with. "The Republican Party today is incapable of competing at that level," Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and 2012 GOP presidential candidate, said in December.

Doctors expect Hillary Clinton's full recovery from clot

WASHINGTON: Doctors treating US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a blood clot in her head said blood thinners were being used to dissolve the clot and they were confident she will make a full recovery. Clinton didn't suffer a stroke or neurological damage from the clot that formed after she had a concussion during a fainting spell at her home in early December, doctors said in a statement Monday. Clinton, 65, was admitted to a New York City hospital on Sunday when the clot was found on a follow-up exam on the concussion, Clinton spokesman Phillipe Reines said. The popular secretary of state and former first lady had already planned to step down at the beginning of US President Barack Obama's second term, which begins this month. Whether she will return to work before she resigns remained a question. The clot is located in the vein in the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear. She will be released once the medication dose for the blood thinners has been established, the doctors said. In their statement, Dr. Lisa Bardack of the Mount Kisco Medical Group and Dr. Gigi El-Bayoumi of George Washington University said Clinton was making excellent progress and was in good spirits. Clinton's complication "certainly isn't the most common thing to happen after a concussion" and is one of the few types of blood clots in the skull or head that are treated with blood thinners, said Dr. Larry Goldstein, a neurologist who is director of Duke University's stroke center. He is not involved in Clinton's care. The area where Clinton's clot developed is "a drainage channel, the equivalent of a big vein inside the skull. It's how the blood gets back to the heart," Goldstein said. Blood thinners usually are enough to treat the clot, and it should have no long-term consequences if her doctors are saying she has suffered no neurological damage from it, Goldstein said. Clinton returned to the U.S. from a trip to Europe, then fell ill with a stomach virus in early December that left her severely dehydrated and forced her to cancel a trip to North Africa and the Middle East. Until then, she had canceled only two scheduled overseas trips, one to Europe after breaking her elbow in June 2009 and one to Asia after the February 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Her condition worsened when she fainted, fell and suffered a concussion while at home alone in mid-December as she recovered from the virus. It was announced Dec. 13. This isn't the first time Clinton has suffered a blood clot. In 1998, midway through her husband's second term as president, Clinton was in New York fundraising for the midterm elections when a swollen right foot led her doctor to diagnose a clot in her knee requiring immediate treatment. Clinton's three-week absence from the State Department has raised eyebrows among some conservative commentators who questioned the seriousness of her ailment after she canceled planned Dec. 20 testimony before Congress on the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. Clinton had been due to discuss with lawmakers a scathing report she had commissioned on the attack. It found serious failures of leadership and management in two State Department bureaus were to blame for insufficient security at the facility. Clinton took responsibility for the incident before the report was released, but she was not blamed. Looking to the future, Clinton supporters have been privately, if not publicly, speculating how her illness might affect a decision about running for president in 2016, when Obama's two terms are up. Americans admire Clinton more than any other woman in the world, according to a Gallup poll released Monday - the 17th time in 20 years that Clinton has claimed that title. And a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 57 percent of Americans would support Clinton as a candidate for president in 2016, with just 37 percent opposed. Websites have already cropped up hawking "Clinton 2016" mugs and tote bags. After decades in politics, Clinton has said she plans to spend the next year resting. She has long insisted she had no intention of mounting a second campaign for the White House after running in 2008. But the door is not entirely closed, and she would almost certainly emerge as the Democrat to beat if she decided to run again. Her age - and her health - would probably be a factor under consideration, given that Clinton would be 69 when sworn in, if she were elected in 2016. Publicly, Democrats reject the notion that a blood clot could hinder her political prospects. "Some of those concerns could be borderline sexist," said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist who worked for Clinton when she was a senator. "Dick Cheney had significant heart problems when he was vice president, and people joked about it. He took the time he needed to get better, and it wasn't a problem." It isn't uncommon for presidential candidates' health - and age - to be an issue. Both in 2000 and 2008, Republican Sen. John McCain had to rebut concerns he was too old to be commander in chief or that his skin cancer could resurface. Two decades after Clinton became the first lady, signs of her popularity - and her political strength - are ubiquitous. Even Republicans concede that Clinton would be a force to be reckoned with. "The Republican Party today is incapable of competing at that level," Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and 2012 GOP presidential candidate, said in December.

Woman falls on subway tracks in New York, dies

NEW YORK: New York City police say a young woman stumbling around on a Manhattan subway platform not far from Times Square fell onto the tracks and was killed by a train.

The accident happened at about 5 am on New Year's Day at a station just one stop from where revelers gather in Times Square to celebrate at midnight.

Police say the victim was in her 20s. Her name wasn't released.

Subway deaths are common in the city. Last year, according to a report in the Daily News, there was about a fatality a week. But track deaths have been getting extra scrutiny in recent weeks after two men were pushed to their deaths in December.

Woman falls on subway tracks in New York, dies

NEW YORK: New York City police say a young woman stumbling around on a Manhattan subway platform not far from Times Square fell onto the tracks and was killed by a train.

The accident happened at about 5 am on New Year's Day at a station just one stop from where revelers gather in Times Square to celebrate at midnight.

Police say the victim was in her 20s. Her name wasn't released.

Subway deaths are common in the city. Last year, according to a report in the Daily News, there was about a fatality a week. But track deaths have been getting extra scrutiny in recent weeks after two men were pushed to their deaths in December.

US 'fiscal cliff' crisis averted as House approves deal

WASHINGTON: After fervent New Year brinkmanship, the US Congress on Wednesday finally backed a deal to avert a "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and slashing spending cuts that had threatened to unleash economic calamity. As global stock markets made their 2013 debut, the House of Representatives passed a deal between the White House and Senate Republicans to raise taxes on the rich and put off automatic $109 billion budget cuts for two months. The deal passed the Senate early on Tuesday, but its fate hung in the balance for hours as House conservatives sought to amend it to include big spending cuts, which would likely have killed it. In the end, the House voted 257 votes to 167 to pass the original bill with minority Democrats joining a smaller number of majority Republicans to pass the legislation after a bitterly contested and unusual session on New Year's Day. President Barack Obama planned to make brief remarks at the White House within minutes of passage of the deal, which relieved investors who feared that continued logjam could have sent global stock markets spinning. Had the deal splintered, all Americans would have been hit by tax increases and the spending cuts would have kicked in across the government, in a combined $500 billion shock that could have rocked the fragile recovery. The House vote took place after a conservative rebellion fizzled when it became clear there were not sufficient votes in the restive Republican caucus to send an amended version of the bill with spending cuts back to the Senate. Republican party leaders ultimately feared they would carry the can if the deal collapsed, leaving Americans enraged by higher taxes and the prospect that an economy slowly recovering from crisis could be plunged back into recession. The angry political feuding which spanned the Christmas and New Year holidays reflected the near impossibility in forging compromise in Washington, where power is divided between a Democratic president and Republican House. It also was a signal that Obama, despite a thumping re-election win in November, may find tough sailing for his major second term legislative goals, including immigration reform, clean energy legislation and gun control. The truce in Washington's dysfunctional, divided Congress is likely to be brief, given the fight that will ensue over the spending cuts that now looms at the end of February as well as over regular budget bill extensions. Those fights will be paralleled by one over Obama's request for Congress to lift the country's $16 trillion borrowing limit. Republicans are demanding concessions on expenditures while Obama has warned he will not bargain. Democratic congressman Jim Moran warned that Tuesday's deal would simply "set up three more fiscal cliffs." "We're going to look back on this night and regret it." Earlier, House Speaker John Boehner's coalition vented fury that the deal had not contained significant spending cuts to eat into national debt. "We have to in some way address spending," Republican congressman Spencer Bachus said. The powerful number two Republican in the chamber Eric Cantor had injected momentum into the rebellion after he told a high-stakes meeting of the party caucus that he was opposed to the bill. The deal to avert the fiscal cliff agreed on Monday raised income taxes only on households earning $450,000 a year and exempted anyone else. The vote represented a win for Obama as it raises taxes on the richest Americans in line with a re-election campaign promise -- albeit above an income threshold higher than he and other Democrats had wanted. The deal also includes an end to a temporary two percent cut to payroll taxes for Social Security retirement savings -- meaning all Americans will pay a little more -- and changes to inheritance and investment taxes.

US 'fiscal cliff' crisis averted as House approves deal

WASHINGTON: After fervent New Year brinkmanship, the US Congress on Wednesday finally backed a deal to avert a "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and slashing spending cuts that had threatened to unleash economic calamity. As global stock markets made their 2013 debut, the House of Representatives passed a deal between the White House and Senate Republicans to raise taxes on the rich and put off automatic $109 billion budget cuts for two months. The deal passed the Senate early on Tuesday, but its fate hung in the balance for hours as House conservatives sought to amend it to include big spending cuts, which would likely have killed it. In the end, the House voted 257 votes to 167 to pass the original bill with minority Democrats joining a smaller number of majority Republicans to pass the legislation after a bitterly contested and unusual session on New Year's Day. President Barack Obama planned to make brief remarks at the White House within minutes of passage of the deal, which relieved investors who feared that continued logjam could have sent global stock markets spinning. Had the deal splintered, all Americans would have been hit by tax increases and the spending cuts would have kicked in across the government, in a combined $500 billion shock that could have rocked the fragile recovery. The House vote took place after a conservative rebellion fizzled when it became clear there were not sufficient votes in the restive Republican caucus to send an amended version of the bill with spending cuts back to the Senate. Republican party leaders ultimately feared they would carry the can if the deal collapsed, leaving Americans enraged by higher taxes and the prospect that an economy slowly recovering from crisis could be plunged back into recession. The angry political feuding which spanned the Christmas and New Year holidays reflected the near impossibility in forging compromise in Washington, where power is divided between a Democratic president and Republican House. It also was a signal that Obama, despite a thumping re-election win in November, may find tough sailing for his major second term legislative goals, including immigration reform, clean energy legislation and gun control. The truce in Washington's dysfunctional, divided Congress is likely to be brief, given the fight that will ensue over the spending cuts that now looms at the end of February as well as over regular budget bill extensions. Those fights will be paralleled by one over Obama's request for Congress to lift the country's $16 trillion borrowing limit. Republicans are demanding concessions on expenditures while Obama has warned he will not bargain. Democratic congressman Jim Moran warned that Tuesday's deal would simply "set up three more fiscal cliffs." "We're going to look back on this night and regret it." Earlier, House Speaker John Boehner's coalition vented fury that the deal had not contained significant spending cuts to eat into national debt. "We have to in some way address spending," Republican congressman Spencer Bachus said. The powerful number two Republican in the chamber Eric Cantor had injected momentum into the rebellion after he told a high-stakes meeting of the party caucus that he was opposed to the bill. The deal to avert the fiscal cliff agreed on Monday raised income taxes only on households earning $450,000 a year and exempted anyone else. The vote represented a win for Obama as it raises taxes on the richest Americans in line with a re-election campaign promise -- albeit above an income threshold higher than he and other Democrats had wanted. The deal also includes an end to a temporary two percent cut to payroll taxes for Social Security retirement savings -- meaning all Americans will pay a little more -- and changes to inheritance and investment taxes.

Kochi Metro will be implemented, says Antony

KOCHI: Kochi Metro will be implemented after clearing all obstacles in connection with Kochi Metro, said Defence Minister A K Antony. A decision on Vallarpadom Container Terminal will be taken after holding discussions with all.

Kochi Metro will be implemented, says Antony

KOCHI: Kochi Metro will be implemented after clearing all obstacles in connection with Kochi Metro, said Defence Minister A K Antony. A decision on Vallarpadom Container Terminal will be taken after holding discussions with all.

No political aim in visiting Madhani, says ET

BANGALORE: There is no political aim in meeting PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani, jailed in Karnataka in connection with the Bangalore blast case, said Muslim League leader E T Muhammed Basheer.

No political aim in visiting Madhani, says ET

BANGALORE: There is no political aim in meeting PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani, jailed in Karnataka in connection with the Bangalore blast case, said Muslim League leader E T Muhammed Basheer.

Regional Manager, family commit suicide

KOLLAM:  Four members of a family including the regional manager of Beverages Corporation, Thiruvalla, were found dead at their residence in Thevally. They have been identified as Jayakumar (50), his wife Prasanna (43) and daughters Sudhi and Swathy aged 23 and 21. The family’s relative who reached home as per the instruction of Jayakumar found them lying dead.

Regional Manager, family commit suicide

KOLLAM:  Four members of a family including the regional manager of Beverages Corporation, Thiruvalla, were found dead at their residence in Thevally. They have been identified as Jayakumar (50), his wife Prasanna (43) and daughters Sudhi and Swathy aged 23 and 21. The family’s relative who reached home as per the instruction of Jayakumar found them lying dead.

Four of family found dead in Kollam

KOLLAM: Four of a family was found death at Thevally in the district. They have been identified as Jayakumar (50), his wife Prasanna (44), and daughters Shruthi and Swathy aged 20 and 18 respectively

Four of family found dead in Kollam

KOLLAM: Four of a family was found death at Thevally in the district. They have been identified as Jayakumar (50), his wife Prasanna (44), and daughters Shruthi and Swathy aged 20 and 18 respectively

Naming anti-rape law after girl will be an honour, says family

BALLIA, UP: A day after Union Minister Shashi Tharoor favoured naming the revised anti-rape law after the Delhi gang-rape victim, her family members on Wednesday said they have no objection to it and the move would be an honour to the girl.

The family members of the 23-year-old girl said that "if her name is made public for this purpose, they have no objection to it".

Talking to the father and brother of the girl said that "if the government names the revised anti-rape law after her, they have no objection and it would be an honour to her".

Tharoor had yesterday favoured making public the identity of the gang-rape victim wondering what interest was served by keeping her name under wraps.

Tharoor, the minister of state for human resources development, had also said the revised anti-rape legislation should be named after the victim if her parents do not have any objection.

"Wondering what interest is served by continuing anonymity of #DelhGangRape victim. Why not name&honour her as a real person w/own identity?" he asked on micro-blogging site Twitter.

"Unless her parents object, she should be honoured&the revised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human being w/a name, not just a symbol," Tharoor, who is known for speaking his mind, said.

On reports of Telugu filmmaker Ramana Gaddam planning to make changes in his upcoming film to highlight the brutal gang rape, the girl's brother said before doing so he should meet them and give information about the storyline.

He said the director would have to clarify what he wants to portray in the movie.

Asked about the financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh announced by the Uttar Pradesh government and assistance of Rs 15 lakh and job announced by Delhi government, the brother said though announcements have been made, they are yet to receive the assistance.

However, the girl's father said he was satisfied with the announcements made by the government.

The family members termed as misleading reports in the media that the girl was about to get married.

On a question regarding police charge sheet in the case, the brother said they do not want to comment on the issue and only want justice.

Naming anti-rape law after girl will be an honour, says family

BALLIA, UP: A day after Union Minister Shashi Tharoor favoured naming the revised anti-rape law after the Delhi gang-rape victim, her family members on Wednesday said they have no objection to it and the move would be an honour to the girl.

The family members of the 23-year-old girl said that "if her name is made public for this purpose, they have no objection to it".

Talking to the father and brother of the girl said that "if the government names the revised anti-rape law after her, they have no objection and it would be an honour to her".

Tharoor had yesterday favoured making public the identity of the gang-rape victim wondering what interest was served by keeping her name under wraps.

Tharoor, the minister of state for human resources development, had also said the revised anti-rape legislation should be named after the victim if her parents do not have any objection.

"Wondering what interest is served by continuing anonymity of #DelhGangRape victim. Why not name&honour her as a real person w/own identity?" he asked on micro-blogging site Twitter.

"Unless her parents object, she should be honoured&the revised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human being w/a name, not just a symbol," Tharoor, who is known for speaking his mind, said.

On reports of Telugu filmmaker Ramana Gaddam planning to make changes in his upcoming film to highlight the brutal gang rape, the girl's brother said before doing so he should meet them and give information about the storyline.

He said the director would have to clarify what he wants to portray in the movie.

Asked about the financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh announced by the Uttar Pradesh government and assistance of Rs 15 lakh and job announced by Delhi government, the brother said though announcements have been made, they are yet to receive the assistance.

However, the girl's father said he was satisfied with the announcements made by the government.

The family members termed as misleading reports in the media that the girl was about to get married.

On a question regarding police charge sheet in the case, the brother said they do not want to comment on the issue and only want justice.

happy new year

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happy new year

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Sensex surges 132 points

MUMBAI: Stock markets opened on a promising note on the first trading day of 2013 with the BSE benchmark Sensex rising over 132 points in early trade on increased buying by funds as well as retail investors. The 30-share index rose by 132.22 points, or 0.68 per cent, to trade higher at 19,558.93 points with all the sectoral indices led by realty and metal, trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.23 per cent. The Sensex had shed 18.13 points in the previous session in two-way movements. The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 37.90 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 5,943.00. Brokers said sentiments buoyed largely in tandem with overnight gains on the US markets on fresh hopes for a last-minute deal to avoid the economy-crunching fiscal cliff. Besides, expectations of rate cut by the RBI later this month also triggered buying by participants, they said. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.28 per cent higher in yesterday’s trade, while most of Asian markets are closed today for a public holiday.

Sensex surges 132 points

MUMBAI: Stock markets opened on a promising note on the first trading day of 2013 with the BSE benchmark Sensex rising over 132 points in early trade on increased buying by funds as well as retail investors. The 30-share index rose by 132.22 points, or 0.68 per cent, to trade higher at 19,558.93 points with all the sectoral indices led by realty and metal, trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.23 per cent. The Sensex had shed 18.13 points in the previous session in two-way movements. The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose by 37.90 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 5,943.00. Brokers said sentiments buoyed largely in tandem with overnight gains on the US markets on fresh hopes for a last-minute deal to avoid the economy-crunching fiscal cliff. Besides, expectations of rate cut by the RBI later this month also triggered buying by participants, they said. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.28 per cent higher in yesterday’s trade, while most of Asian markets are closed today for a public holiday.

Marines will be back, says Italian government

NEW DELHI: Italy on Monday assured India that the two marines, facing murder charges in Kerala, will be back in the country within the first week of January as per the court order.

"You can be assured that they will be back. The Republic of Italy has given its word in writing and we will honour that," a senior Italian government official told PTI here amid reports of uncertainty over their return.

Recently media reports had said the marines would not be back as they are likely to contest elections there.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were allowed by the Kerala High Court this month to visit their family in Italy for Christmas.

"This (allowing them to visit Italy) is a testimony of the Indian sensitivity towards the value of the Christmas festivities considered of the utmost importance by all Italians," Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said in Italy.

The two marines were arrested from Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie' on February 19 for shooting down two Indian fishermen off Alapuzha coast on February 15.

The Kerala High Court permitted them to go home for two weeks while asking them to give a bank guarantee of Rs6 crore and imposing stringent conditions.

Italy has approached the Supreme Court for jurisdiction to try the marines at home, arguing the February firing took place in international waters.

Italian government sources said the issue of marines is "highly sensitive and sentimental" and they were looking forward to early settlement of case.

They said the Supreme Court here is likely to pronounce the judgement in the case in January.

Marines will be back, says Italian government

NEW DELHI: Italy on Monday assured India that the two marines, facing murder charges in Kerala, will be back in the country within the first week of January as per the court order.

"You can be assured that they will be back. The Republic of Italy has given its word in writing and we will honour that," a senior Italian government official told PTI here amid reports of uncertainty over their return.

Recently media reports had said the marines would not be back as they are likely to contest elections there.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were allowed by the Kerala High Court this month to visit their family in Italy for Christmas.

"This (allowing them to visit Italy) is a testimony of the Indian sensitivity towards the value of the Christmas festivities considered of the utmost importance by all Italians," Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said in Italy.

The two marines were arrested from Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie' on February 19 for shooting down two Indian fishermen off Alapuzha coast on February 15.

The Kerala High Court permitted them to go home for two weeks while asking them to give a bank guarantee of Rs6 crore and imposing stringent conditions.

Italy has approached the Supreme Court for jurisdiction to try the marines at home, arguing the February firing took place in international waters.

Italian government sources said the issue of marines is "highly sensitive and sentimental" and they were looking forward to early settlement of case.

They said the Supreme Court here is likely to pronounce the judgement in the case in January.

U.S Senate approves fiscal cliff legislation

WASHINGTON: The Senate passed legislation early New Year’s Day to neutralise a fiscal cliff combination of across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts that kicked in at midnight. The pre-dawn vote was 89-8.

Senate passage set the stage for a final showdown in the House of Representatives, where a vote was expected later on Tuesday or perhaps on Wednesday.

Without legislation, economists in and out of government had warned of a possible new recession and spike in unemployment if the fragile U.S. economy were allowed to fall over the so-called fiscal cliff of tax increases and spending cuts.

Even by the recent dysfunctional standards of government-by-gridlock, the activity at both ends of historic Pennsylvania Avenue was remarkable as the Obama administration and lawmakers spent the final hours of 2012 haggling over long-festering differences.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long to come to an agreement, and this shouldn’t be the model for how we do things around here,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who negotiated the agreement with Vice President Joe Biden, a former senator.

Under the deal, taxes would remain steady for the middle class and rise at incomes over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples levels higher than President Barack Obama had campaigned for in his successful drive for a second term in office.

Spending cuts totaling $24 billion over two months aimed at the Defence Department and domestic programs would be deferred. That would allow the White House and lawmakers’ time to regroup before plunging very quickly into a new round of budget brinkmanship certain to revolve around Republican calls to rein in the cost of the Medicare health care program for the elderly and other government benefit programs.

Officials also decided at the last minute to use the measure to prevent a $900 pay raise for lawmakers due to take effect this spring.

“One thing we can count on with respect to this Congress is that if there’s even one second left before you have to do what you’re supposed to do, they will use that last second,” the President said in a mid-afternoon status update on the talks.

As darkness fell on the last day of the year, Obama, Biden and their aides were at work in the White House, and lights burned in the House and Senate. Democrats complained that Mr. Obama had given away too much in agreeing to limit tax increases to incomes over $450,000, far above the $250,000 level he campaigned on. Yet some Republicans recoiled at the prospect of raising taxes at all.

Democratic senators overwhelmingly supported the measure after being briefed at a closed-door session at the Capitol with Biden.

“The argument is that this is the best that can be done on a bipartisan basis,” said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, when asked about the case the Vice President had made.

Passage sends the measure to the House, where Speaker John Boehner refrained from endorsing a package as yet unseen by his famously rebellious rank-and-file. He said the House would not vote on any Senate-passed measure “until House members and the American people have been able to review” it.

Numerous Republican officials said McConnell and his aides had kept the speaker’s office informed about the progress of the talks.

The House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, issued a statement saying that once the legislation cleared the Senate, “I will present it to the House Democratic caucus.”

And while the nominal deadline for action passed at midnight, Obama’s signature on legislation by the time a new Congress takes office at noon on Jan. 3, 2013 the likely timetable would eliminate or minimize any inconvenience for taxpayers.

Tax rate cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 during President George W. Bush’s administration were set to expire at the end of the year. The pending across-the-board reductions in government spending, which would slice money out of everything from social programs to the military, were put in place last year as an incentive to both parties to find ways to cut spending. That solution grew out of the two parties’ inability in 2011 to agree to a grand bargain that would have taken a big bite out of the deficit.

If Obama and Congress failed to act, about $536 billion in tax increases, touching nearly all American workers, and about $110 billion in spending cuts, about 8 per cent of the annual budgets for most federal departments, were scheduled to go into effect beginning in January.

A late dispute over the estate tax produced allegations of bad faith from all sides.

Earlier, McConnell had agreed with Obama that an overall deal was near. In remarks on the Senate floor, he suggested Congress move quickly to pass tax legislation and “continue to work on finding smarter ways to cut spending” next year.

The White House and Democrats initially declined the offer, preferring to prevent the cuts from kicking in at the Pentagon and domestic agencies alike. A two-month compromise resulted.

Officials in both parties said the agreement would prevent tax increases at incomes below $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples.

At higher levels, the rate would rise to a maximum of 39.6 per cent from the current 35 per cent. Capital gains and dividends in excess of those amounts would be taxed at 20 per cent, up from 15 per cent.

The deal would also raise taxes on the portion of estates exceeding $5 million to 40 per cent. At the insistence of Republicans, the $5 million threshold would rise each year with inflation.

Much or all of the revenue to be raised through higher taxes on the wealthy would help hold down the amount paid to the Internal Revenue Service by the middle class.

In addition to preventing higher rates for most, the agreement would retain existing breaks for families with children, for low-earning taxpayers and for those with a child in college. Also, the two sides agreed to prevent the alternative minimum tax from expanding to affect an estimated 28 million households for the first time in 2013, with an average increase of more than $3,000. The law originally was designed to make sure millionaires did not escape taxes, but inflation has gradually exposed more and more households with lower earnings to its impact.

The legislation leaves untouched a scheduled 2 percentage point increase in the payroll tax, ending a temporary reduction enacted two years ago to help revive the economy.

Officials said the White House had succeeded in gaining a one-year extension of long-term unemployment benefits about to expire for an estimated two million jobless.

The legislation also prevents a 27 per cent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients.

Also included is a provision to prevent a threatened spike in milk prices after the first of the year.

Even as time was running out, partisan agendas were evident.

The White House and Congress had spent the seven weeks since the Nov. 6 elections struggling for a compromise to protect the economy.

Obama used his appearance at the White House not only to chastise Congress, but also to lay down a marker for the next round of negotiations early in 2013, when Republicans intend to seek spending cuts in exchange for letting the Treasury to borrow above the current debt limit of $16.4 trillion.

“Now, if Republicans think that I will finish the job of deficit reduction through spending cuts alone and you hear that sometimes coming from them ... then they’ve got another think coming. ... That’s not how it’s going to work at least as long as I’m President,” he said.

“And I’m going to be President for the next four years, I think,” he added.

Obama’s remarks irritated some Republicans.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona they would “clearly antagonize members of the House.”

U.S Senate approves fiscal cliff legislation

WASHINGTON: The Senate passed legislation early New Year’s Day to neutralise a fiscal cliff combination of across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts that kicked in at midnight. The pre-dawn vote was 89-8.

Senate passage set the stage for a final showdown in the House of Representatives, where a vote was expected later on Tuesday or perhaps on Wednesday.

Without legislation, economists in and out of government had warned of a possible new recession and spike in unemployment if the fragile U.S. economy were allowed to fall over the so-called fiscal cliff of tax increases and spending cuts.

Even by the recent dysfunctional standards of government-by-gridlock, the activity at both ends of historic Pennsylvania Avenue was remarkable as the Obama administration and lawmakers spent the final hours of 2012 haggling over long-festering differences.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long to come to an agreement, and this shouldn’t be the model for how we do things around here,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who negotiated the agreement with Vice President Joe Biden, a former senator.

Under the deal, taxes would remain steady for the middle class and rise at incomes over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples levels higher than President Barack Obama had campaigned for in his successful drive for a second term in office.

Spending cuts totaling $24 billion over two months aimed at the Defence Department and domestic programs would be deferred. That would allow the White House and lawmakers’ time to regroup before plunging very quickly into a new round of budget brinkmanship certain to revolve around Republican calls to rein in the cost of the Medicare health care program for the elderly and other government benefit programs.

Officials also decided at the last minute to use the measure to prevent a $900 pay raise for lawmakers due to take effect this spring.

“One thing we can count on with respect to this Congress is that if there’s even one second left before you have to do what you’re supposed to do, they will use that last second,” the President said in a mid-afternoon status update on the talks.

As darkness fell on the last day of the year, Obama, Biden and their aides were at work in the White House, and lights burned in the House and Senate. Democrats complained that Mr. Obama had given away too much in agreeing to limit tax increases to incomes over $450,000, far above the $250,000 level he campaigned on. Yet some Republicans recoiled at the prospect of raising taxes at all.

Democratic senators overwhelmingly supported the measure after being briefed at a closed-door session at the Capitol with Biden.

“The argument is that this is the best that can be done on a bipartisan basis,” said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, when asked about the case the Vice President had made.

Passage sends the measure to the House, where Speaker John Boehner refrained from endorsing a package as yet unseen by his famously rebellious rank-and-file. He said the House would not vote on any Senate-passed measure “until House members and the American people have been able to review” it.

Numerous Republican officials said McConnell and his aides had kept the speaker’s office informed about the progress of the talks.

The House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, issued a statement saying that once the legislation cleared the Senate, “I will present it to the House Democratic caucus.”

And while the nominal deadline for action passed at midnight, Obama’s signature on legislation by the time a new Congress takes office at noon on Jan. 3, 2013 the likely timetable would eliminate or minimize any inconvenience for taxpayers.

Tax rate cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 during President George W. Bush’s administration were set to expire at the end of the year. The pending across-the-board reductions in government spending, which would slice money out of everything from social programs to the military, were put in place last year as an incentive to both parties to find ways to cut spending. That solution grew out of the two parties’ inability in 2011 to agree to a grand bargain that would have taken a big bite out of the deficit.

If Obama and Congress failed to act, about $536 billion in tax increases, touching nearly all American workers, and about $110 billion in spending cuts, about 8 per cent of the annual budgets for most federal departments, were scheduled to go into effect beginning in January.

A late dispute over the estate tax produced allegations of bad faith from all sides.

Earlier, McConnell had agreed with Obama that an overall deal was near. In remarks on the Senate floor, he suggested Congress move quickly to pass tax legislation and “continue to work on finding smarter ways to cut spending” next year.

The White House and Democrats initially declined the offer, preferring to prevent the cuts from kicking in at the Pentagon and domestic agencies alike. A two-month compromise resulted.

Officials in both parties said the agreement would prevent tax increases at incomes below $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples.

At higher levels, the rate would rise to a maximum of 39.6 per cent from the current 35 per cent. Capital gains and dividends in excess of those amounts would be taxed at 20 per cent, up from 15 per cent.

The deal would also raise taxes on the portion of estates exceeding $5 million to 40 per cent. At the insistence of Republicans, the $5 million threshold would rise each year with inflation.

Much or all of the revenue to be raised through higher taxes on the wealthy would help hold down the amount paid to the Internal Revenue Service by the middle class.

In addition to preventing higher rates for most, the agreement would retain existing breaks for families with children, for low-earning taxpayers and for those with a child in college. Also, the two sides agreed to prevent the alternative minimum tax from expanding to affect an estimated 28 million households for the first time in 2013, with an average increase of more than $3,000. The law originally was designed to make sure millionaires did not escape taxes, but inflation has gradually exposed more and more households with lower earnings to its impact.

The legislation leaves untouched a scheduled 2 percentage point increase in the payroll tax, ending a temporary reduction enacted two years ago to help revive the economy.

Officials said the White House had succeeded in gaining a one-year extension of long-term unemployment benefits about to expire for an estimated two million jobless.

The legislation also prevents a 27 per cent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients.

Also included is a provision to prevent a threatened spike in milk prices after the first of the year.

Even as time was running out, partisan agendas were evident.

The White House and Congress had spent the seven weeks since the Nov. 6 elections struggling for a compromise to protect the economy.

Obama used his appearance at the White House not only to chastise Congress, but also to lay down a marker for the next round of negotiations early in 2013, when Republicans intend to seek spending cuts in exchange for letting the Treasury to borrow above the current debt limit of $16.4 trillion.

“Now, if Republicans think that I will finish the job of deficit reduction through spending cuts alone and you hear that sometimes coming from them ... then they’ve got another think coming. ... That’s not how it’s going to work at least as long as I’m President,” he said.

“And I’m going to be President for the next four years, I think,” he added.

Obama’s remarks irritated some Republicans.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona they would “clearly antagonize members of the House.”

Surplus land should be distributed to landless, says Pinarayi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Launching a massive land rights campaign, CPI-M in Kerala Tuesday asked the UDF government to take immediate steps to take over surplus land and distribute it to the landless. Thousands of party cadres and activists of feeder outfits gathered in all the 14 districts across the state as part of the first phase of stir in identifying land to be taken over by the government. Addressing the agitators at Vadakkanchery in Thrissur, CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the strike would be intensified if the UDF government refrained from retrieving the land identified by the campaigners. Pinarayi said there had been concerted efforts by "land mafia" with the support of the government to sabotage the land reform legislation, which set ceiling of 15 acres for non-plantation land to be possessed by a family. He said the move to upset the legislation that restricted reclamation of paddy fields and wetlands was also a matter of grave concern. Senior CPI (M) leaders, including opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, also addressed the campaigners in different parts of the state. Party leaders claimed that about one lakh people had lined up for the campaign being carried out with participation of the party's feeder outfits like farmers and farm workers unions and scheduled caste and scheduled tribes' units.

23-yr-old woman found dead at classmate's house

HYDERABAD: A 23-year-old student of Osmania University was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the house of her classmate in Chatrinaka area of Old City here, police said today. The young woman was suspected to have been strangled to death last night. Her body has been sent for postmortem, they said.

The body was found lying at the house of Shiv Kumar, who is a Ph.D student at the Osmania University, police said.

Chatrinaka Police said Shiv Kumar was absconding since the incident.

An autopsy was being conducted on the girl's body and only after the report more details will be clear about the incident, police added.

23-yr-old woman found dead at classmate's house

HYDERABAD: A 23-year-old student of Osmania University was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the house of her classmate in Chatrinaka area of Old City here, police said today. The young woman was suspected to have been strangled to death last night. Her body has been sent for postmortem, they said.

The body was found lying at the house of Shiv Kumar, who is a Ph.D student at the Osmania University, police said.

Chatrinaka Police said Shiv Kumar was absconding since the incident.

An autopsy was being conducted on the girl's body and only after the report more details will be clear about the incident, police added.

Surplus land should be distributed to landless, says Pinarayi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Launching a massive land rights campaign, CPI-M in Kerala Tuesday asked the UDF government to take immediate steps to take over surplus land and distribute it to the landless. Thousands of party cadres and activists of feeder outfits gathered in all the 14 districts across the state as part of the first phase of stir in identifying land to be taken over by the government. Addressing the agitators at Vadakkanchery in Thrissur, CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the strike would be intensified if the UDF government refrained from retrieving the land identified by the campaigners. Pinarayi said there had been concerted efforts by "land mafia" with the support of the government to sabotage the land reform legislation, which set ceiling of 15 acres for non-plantation land to be possessed by a family. He said the move to upset the legislation that restricted reclamation of paddy fields and wetlands was also a matter of grave concern. Senior CPI (M) leaders, including opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, also addressed the campaigners in different parts of the state. Party leaders claimed that about one lakh people had lined up for the campaign being carried out with participation of the party's feeder outfits like farmers and farm workers unions and scheduled caste and scheduled tribes' units.