CPM woman councillor hangs to death

POTHENKODE: CPM woman councillor M S Sangeetha, 31, was found to have committed suicide by hanging today. The victim, who represented the Attipra ward of Thiruvananthapuram corporation, is believed to have committed the deed yesterday night after consuming poison. Her death came at a time when her father Mohanachandran was readying to take part in a function to mark his retirement from the post of Madhavapuram co-operative society secretary.

      
Police said the incident occurred at her rented house in Manvila at 11 pm on Friday. Sangeetha committed suicide while her husband was watching TV. He came to know about the incident only when their daughter saw her mother hanging and alerted her father. Though she was taken to the medical college hospital, she died at 12:30pm.   Sangeetha had been a DYFI state committee member and DYFI district vice-president. She was also the district patron of the party wing’s children’s organisation.

She is survived by husband and university college lecturer Manoj, and wards Atheena, Athul, besides her parents and siblings. Though the immediate reason for suicide is not known, it is suspected that she had some issues over her Nedumangadu property. Of late, she also showed less interest in CPM’s activites, it is known.

CPM woman councillor hangs to death

POTHENKODE: CPM woman councillor M S Sangeetha, 31, was found to have committed suicide by hanging today. The victim, who represented the Attipra ward of Thiruvananthapuram corporation, is believed to have committed the deed yesterday night after consuming poison. Her death came at a time when her father Mohanachandran was readying to take part in a function to mark his retirement from the post of Madhavapuram co-operative society secretary.

      
Police said the incident occurred at her rented house in Manvila at 11 pm on Friday. Sangeetha committed suicide while her husband was watching TV. He came to know about the incident only when their daughter saw her mother hanging and alerted her father. Though she was taken to the medical college hospital, she died at 12:30pm.   Sangeetha had been a DYFI state committee member and DYFI district vice-president. She was also the district patron of the party wing’s children’s organisation.

She is survived by husband and university college lecturer Manoj, and wards Atheena, Athul, besides her parents and siblings. Though the immediate reason for suicide is not known, it is suspected that she had some issues over her Nedumangadu property. Of late, she also showed less interest in CPM’s activites, it is known.

Philippine typhoon toll rises to 5,632

Manila: The deaths from typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines Saturday rose to 5,632, a government agency said. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 34 bodies have been recovered in central Tacloban city, one of the worst affected areas in the disaster, reports Xinhua.

The number of deaths till Thursday was 5,598.The NDRRMC said the number of people injured due to the typhoon stood at 26,136. The number of people still missing remained at 1,759, it added. 
The cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure has been estimated at 30.6 billion pesos ($699.7 million).(IANS)

Philippine typhoon toll rises to 5,632

Manila: The deaths from typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines Saturday rose to 5,632, a government agency said. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 34 bodies have been recovered in central Tacloban city, one of the worst affected areas in the disaster, reports Xinhua.

The number of deaths till Thursday was 5,598.The NDRRMC said the number of people injured due to the typhoon stood at 26,136. The number of people still missing remained at 1,759, it added. 
The cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure has been estimated at 30.6 billion pesos ($699.7 million).(IANS)

CPM plenum concludes

Thiruvananthapuram:The three-day plenum of the CPM ended on Friday with a resolution to put an end to factionalism  within the party.  Opposition leader V S Achtuthananadan  did not attend the function on Friday after he was criticised by cadres a day earlier at the plenum. The meeting was marred by an advertisement row in which the party was caught off guard. The party newspaper reportedly carried an advertisement from a person who has been accused in a criminal case. V S Achuthanandan called for the removal of the advertisement and has taken up the issue with party General Secretary Prakash Karat and P B member Seetharam Yechuri .

CPM plenum concludes

Thiruvananthapuram:The three-day plenum of the CPM ended on Friday with a resolution to put an end to factionalism  within the party.  Opposition leader V S Achtuthananadan  did not attend the function on Friday after he was criticised by cadres a day earlier at the plenum. The meeting was marred by an advertisement row in which the party was caught off guard. The party newspaper reportedly carried an advertisement from a person who has been accused in a criminal case. V S Achuthanandan called for the removal of the advertisement and has taken up the issue with party General Secretary Prakash Karat and P B member Seetharam Yechuri .

Italian Marines case won’t be resolved by Christmas: Envoy

Rome: Rome's envoy in the case has said that the case of the two Italian Marines facing trial in India for murder will not be resolved by Christmas. Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were arrested for the killing of two Indian fisherman off the coast of Kerala in February last year. They are currently on bail pending trial and are living and working at the Italian embassy in New Delhi.

"It won't be possible to resolve this question by Christmas, as was our hope.But we want the case to be concluded so that the two riflemen can return to their home country with their heads held high, "said diplomat Staffan De Mistura.  De Mistura said Italy was waiting for a report due in December from Indian investigators over the alleged killings.

It has been reported that Indian investigators had recommended to the home ministry that Latorre and Girone be sentenced to death. Italian officials have been working to secure the return of the two Marines, who were guarding an oil tanker and claim they merely fired warning shots into the sea in the direction of the fishermen's boat, believing they were pirates.

Italy disputes India's jurisdiction over the case, claming the incident took place in international waters. The case sparked a major diplomatic row between the two countries when Rome refused to return Latorre and Girone to New Delhi after they were allowed home to vote in national elections. 
Amid escalating tension, Italy relented and sent the Marines back when it received assurances from India that the pair would not face the death penalty.

(IANS)

Italian Marines case won’t be resolved by Christmas: Envoy

Rome: Rome's envoy in the case has said that the case of the two Italian Marines facing trial in India for murder will not be resolved by Christmas. Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were arrested for the killing of two Indian fisherman off the coast of Kerala in February last year. They are currently on bail pending trial and are living and working at the Italian embassy in New Delhi.

"It won't be possible to resolve this question by Christmas, as was our hope.But we want the case to be concluded so that the two riflemen can return to their home country with their heads held high, "said diplomat Staffan De Mistura.  De Mistura said Italy was waiting for a report due in December from Indian investigators over the alleged killings.

It has been reported that Indian investigators had recommended to the home ministry that Latorre and Girone be sentenced to death. Italian officials have been working to secure the return of the two Marines, who were guarding an oil tanker and claim they merely fired warning shots into the sea in the direction of the fishermen's boat, believing they were pirates.

Italy disputes India's jurisdiction over the case, claming the incident took place in international waters. The case sparked a major diplomatic row between the two countries when Rome refused to return Latorre and Girone to New Delhi after they were allowed home to vote in national elections. 
Amid escalating tension, Italy relented and sent the Marines back when it received assurances from India that the pair would not face the death penalty.

(IANS)

Chandy promises help to endosulfan victims

Kasargod: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday promised all help to endosulfan victims who have not got benefits from different schemes implemented by government. Speaking after inaugurating the Mass Contact Programme in the district at municipal stadium here, he said problems of endosulfan pesticide did not confine to this district alone.

Though Central and State Governments had implemented many schemes for the victims, those deserving were not getting the much needed help. 'Government is taking steps to give gram sabhas the right to find the people who deserve help', he added. A medical college hospital was sanctioned to the district considering the health problems faced by people in the district, he said.

Construction work of the College would be inaugurated tomorrow and work would be completed fast, he said. Hundreds of persons suffered varioius types of health problem due to environment and water pollution following aerial spraying of endosulfan in cashew plantations in the district in the 1990s.Government has announced various compensation package, inclduing pension to victims.

Referring to the Jana Sambarka Paripadi, he said it was not just the distribution of assistance that was taking place in JSP. 'It is the begining to bring changes in administration to render the needed help for the people, he said.

The outdated rules and laws are posing problems to resolve problems of people. Officials cannot be blamed for the same, he said. Chief Minister also sanctioned relief to various persons to a tune of Rs.60 lakhs in the early hours of the programme that would contine for the whole day. State Minister K P Mohanan, MLAs and top government officials were present.

Chandy promises help to endosulfan victims

Kasargod: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday promised all help to endosulfan victims who have not got benefits from different schemes implemented by government. Speaking after inaugurating the Mass Contact Programme in the district at municipal stadium here, he said problems of endosulfan pesticide did not confine to this district alone.

Though Central and State Governments had implemented many schemes for the victims, those deserving were not getting the much needed help. 'Government is taking steps to give gram sabhas the right to find the people who deserve help', he added. A medical college hospital was sanctioned to the district considering the health problems faced by people in the district, he said.

Construction work of the College would be inaugurated tomorrow and work would be completed fast, he said. Hundreds of persons suffered varioius types of health problem due to environment and water pollution following aerial spraying of endosulfan in cashew plantations in the district in the 1990s.Government has announced various compensation package, inclduing pension to victims.

Referring to the Jana Sambarka Paripadi, he said it was not just the distribution of assistance that was taking place in JSP. 'It is the begining to bring changes in administration to render the needed help for the people, he said.

The outdated rules and laws are posing problems to resolve problems of people. Officials cannot be blamed for the same, he said. Chief Minister also sanctioned relief to various persons to a tune of Rs.60 lakhs in the early hours of the programme that would contine for the whole day. State Minister K P Mohanan, MLAs and top government officials were present.