Endosulfan: Two more die

Adoor: Two more endosulfan victims died here on Thursday. The deceased are Muhammad Kunji, 53, from Adoor Delambadi and K Yasoda, 43 from Puloor. Muhammad Kunji was an employee of a private cashew plantation. Maimuna is his wife and Abdul Rasak, Khaleel, Sameera, Sakeena, Haris, late Asma and Suhara, are his children. Yasoda is daughter of late Kannan and Manikyam and employed with Dinesh Beedi. She was bedridden for the last 6 years. Her sister is Dakshayani.

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BSNL to be turned around in six months: Sibal

New Delhi: Communications Minister Kapil Sibal Thursday said that the government is committed to the betterment of the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and will turn it around in the next six months. 'I am committed to the nation to turn it (BSNL) around in the next six months,' Sibal said in his address at a BSNL awards ceremony held here. According to him, his ministry was looking at formulating a new strategy to turn around the loss-making telecom operator, which has experienced tremendous fall in revenue in the last five years. 'The time has come to start introspecting on how to bring a change. We have to pull up our socks,' Sibal said, emphasizing that the public sector undertaking is capable to compete with the private sector. The minister awarded key performing BSNL's territorial circles based on the revenue performance for the fiscal 2010-11. The categories identified were a circle with annual revenue of more than Rs.2,000 crore. The award went to the Karnataka telecom circle. The second category award was won by Chennai telephone district for an annual revenue between Rs. 1,000 crore to Rs.2,000 crore, while the third rank was shared by Orissa and Himachal Pradesh telecom circles for an annual revenue up to Rs.1,000 crore.

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Yemen clashes widen as tribes warn of 'civil war'

Sanaa: Fighting today spilled across Yemen's capital and frightened residents fled or cowered in basements as a powerful militia alliance warned embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh to either step down or face civil war. At least 28 people were killed as the four-day death toll neared 110. The bold ultimatum reflected the growing confidence among the opposition forces led the Yemen's largest tribe that they could be gaining the upper hand against Saleh's regime with the uprising shifting from near daily street protests to fast-moving urban combat. But Saleh also has shown he will not go easily. He has managed to ride out swelling anti-government demonstrations for more than three months, defections of military commanders and pressure from Arab neighbours and Western powers to leave office. The difference this time for Saleh could be the vast influence of Yemen's main tribes, which command well-armed militias and can tap into traditional clan-based loyalties to try to bring down Saleh's 32-year rule. In the latest battles, government forces pounded tribal fighters with artillery and mortar rounds even as fighting fanned out around the capital Sanaa to areas that included the airport zone. Hundreds of Yemenis raced out of Sanaa or took refuge in basements to escape mortar strikes. (AP)

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Pakistan allows CIA to examine Osama compound

Washington: The CIA will get the opportunity to further search the compound in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden lived before he was killed by Navy SEALs, U.S. and Pakistani officials said on Thursday. The CIA will look for fingerprints and other clues. It's part of confidence-building measures to restore trust between the U.S. and Pakistani intelligence agencies. Pakistan agreed to the search after a meeting between Pakistani intelligence chief Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha and CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell last week in Islamabad, a Pakistani official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters of intelligence. Relations between the two spy agencies were already fractious prior to the May 2 bin Laden raid, which came after the arrest and detention of CIA security contractor Raymond Davis in January. Davis had shot and killed two Pakistanis he said were trying to rob him. The CIA initially denied Davis was its employee, saying he was a diplomat. The Pakistani intelligence service helped secure his release, but the day after his departure, the CIA launched a drone strike in Pakistan's tribal areas that the Pakistanis say killed more than two dozen civilians. Another drone strike followed a high-level summit between CIA director Leon Panetta and Pakistani chief Pasha. The bin Laden compound is in the northwest Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad. It includes a three-storey house where the Al Qaeda chief is believed to have lived for at least five years. It was not clear exactly when the CIA would visit the facility.AP

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Clinton in Pakistan, meets Zardari

Islamabad: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday discussed here security related issues and US-Pakistan ties with President Asif Ali Zardari, a media report said. The Clinton-Zardari meeting, held at the President House, lasted for half an hour. It was followed by delegation level talks, an official told the Associated Press of Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation comprised Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and US ambassador in Pakistan Cameron Munter represented Washington. Clinton arrived here Friday morning on a day-long visit. The talks are taking place in the backdrop of the May 2 killing of Osama bin Laden by US commandos that have strained ties between Washington and Islamabad. Both the Pakistan Taliban and Al Qaeda have vowed to avenge Osama's killing.

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Flat fraud: Look-out notices issued

Kochi: Police have issued a look-out notice against Apple a day Properties owners who are absconding in a cheating case for not surrendering flats on time to those who had paid money. The notices were issued against managing director Saju Kadavil from Edapally and director Rajeev Cheruvara. Cheating cases were registered at the Palarivattom police station. Police said apart from this more than 40 cases have been registered against the duo for cheating. Complaints stated that lakhs of money was given to the company but they have not completed the construction and surrendered the flats on time. On the basis of the complaint, police raided the offices of Apple a day properties in Palarivattom and sales manager Ramachandran was arrested. At first complaints were registered by those who had booked flats at Big Apple projects. When representatives of a company in Bangalore had tried to takeover the work, those who had booked the flats opposed it. Investors, including NRIs, filed a complaint with the chief minister alleging that the company had cheated them as they promised flats in Nedumbassery. Police stated that company owners who lead a luxurious life might be hiding in some big hotels or flats. Any information can be given to Assistant commissioner of police, Ernakulam-9497990069, Ernakulam north Ci-9497987104, Palarivattom Si-9497980425 and police station-0484-2345850.

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Tri-furcation: Muneer says CM informed of difficulties

Thrissur: Minister M K Muneer has appraised the chief minister of the difficulties in the tri-furcation process and said if any problem arises in future that would be informed to the sub-committee. Muneer said the division of department comes under the purview of CM's power. He doesn't think he would face any difficulties on governance. He said it is the front and the party who should think about division and examine whether it is right. The local self-governance department was divided into three, corporation and municipality were made part of industries department, village development was given to K C Joseph and Muneer has the charge of Panchayat and social welfare, and that has triggered a fresh row.

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Spicejet aircraft makes emergency landing in Mumbai

Mumbai: A Spicejet Mumbai-Hyderabad flight made an emergency landing at Mumbai Airport early Friday after smoke was detected in the cabin, an official said. The incident occurred when the Hyderabad-bound flight SG-401 took off at 5.29 a.m. Ajiv Patil, a passenger on board, said that soon after take-off, there was burning smell inside the aircraft and passengers felt a burning sensation in their eyes. Even as there was panic among the passengers, the pilot announced that on account of some technical problem, the aircraft would return to Mumbai, Patil told IANS. The Mumbai Airport authorities had made full emergency preparations to tackle any eventuality, but the aircraft landed safely at 6.05 a.m. and all the passengers were immediately disembarked, the official said. The aircraft was shifted to a different location and the emergency alert was withdrawn at 07.08 a.m., he said. There was no disruption to the operations of any other flight at the Mumbai Airport on account of the emergency, he added.

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Antony to lay foundation stone for CG Academy on May 28

Kannur: Defence Minister A K Antony will lay the foundation stone for the proposed Indian Coast Guard Academy (ICGA) at Irinavu, near Azhikkal, on May 28. According to Coast Guard sources, State Industries Minister P K Kunhali Kutty, former Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem, MPs, MLAs and top officials of Coast Guard would participate in the fuction. The ICGA, the first-of-its-kind in India, is being established at Irinavu. Being set up near the INA, the ICGA is designed to equip new recruits of Coast Guard from all over the country with professional skills and training. The ICGA will offer all maritime-specific courses for personnel of the Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Marine Police and members of littoral countries. The Academy will have state-of the-art infrastructure for training about 500 personnel, a ICGA release said. --UNI

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Jayamala's daughter Soundarya enters silver screen

Bangalore: Soundarya, daughter of Kannada actress Jayamala, who was embroiled in the Sabarimala controversy a few years back, is entering the silver screen. Soundarya will be acting in `Godfather', directed by noted cinematographer P C Sriram. Soundarya had done a 6-month crash course in acting at the Kishore Namith Kumar Acting School in Mumbai before signing up for the movie. Jayamala had made it clear that she would not knock anyone's door to seek an acting career for her daughter. Though Jayamala was the first women president of the Kannada Film Chambers of Commerce, she preferred Soundarya to enter the film world through her own skills. Sriram had booked Soundarya seeing her photo on the net. Soundarya is very happy with her first assignment as she had signed the movie on her own without her mother's influence. Soundarya feels that she would fulfil the faith imposed on her. Earlier she was offered roles in Punith Rajkumar's `Lagori' and in another Telugu movie but she opted out of these two at the last minute. Kannada actor Upendra is the lead actor in `Godfather' and is doing a triple role as a father and two children. `Godfather' is the remake of the Tamil movie `Varalaru' directed by K S Ravikumar and starring Ajith and Asin. Also Oscar award winner A R Rahman would be doing the music for `Godfather'. After years of waiting by his fans, Rahman is entering the Kannada film world with `Godfather'. There are six songs which Rahman is preparing for `Godfather'.

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Leopard strays into Hema Malini's bungalow

MUMBAI: A leopard strayed into actress-MP Hema Malini's bungalow in suburban Malad on Friday, forest officials said. The veteran filmstar was not present at her residence when the incident happened at her bungalow, located at Dindoshi area. A team of forest officials have rushed to the spot, they said. When contacted, Maharashtra forest minister Patangrao Kadam said that he has sought information from senior officials on the incident. 'We will found out how the leopard strayed into the bungalow,' Kadam said.

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Qatar temporarily closes embassy in Yemen: Report

Doha: Qatar Thursday decided to ' temporarily' suspend its embassy operations in Yemen and withdraw its diplomatic mission. The step came due to escalating violence after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-brokered initiative for the third time, Xinhua quoted Qatar News Agency stating in a report. The decision was undertaken following lack of response to the initiative and appeals to resolve the crisis, the report quoting sources from the Qatari foreign ministry said. The diplomatic mission would resume after violence and fighting comes to an end, and the demands of the Yemeni people and their choices are met, the report said. Qatar earlier this month exited the GCC-brokered initiative to resolve the crisis in Yemen due to Saleh's delay in signing the deal. Embattled President Saleh has balked at the US-backed GCC deal three times since April. On Thursday, Saleh ordered the arrest of opposition tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar and his brothers who supported anti- government protesters demanding the end of Saleh's rule.

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KP Dandapani, takes charge as Advocate General

Kochi: Kerala high court senior advocate KP Dandapani, took charge as the Advocate General of Kerala, on Thursday. Chandy cabinet had earlier informed that the appointments were made to the vacancies formed after the Advocate General and the Additional Advocate General of the last LDF ministry resigned. Senior High Court lawyer K.P. Dandapani whose was recommended for the post of Advocate-General by the Cabinet has a standing of 42 years in the legal profession.Dandapani, succeeds CP Sudhakara Prasad.

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Minister says no to opening of Consumerfed's 39 liquor shops

Thrissur: Co-operation minister CN Balakrishnan rejected the move to start 39 liquor shops by Consumerfed. The Minister dismissed a direction which came to the official level, after the new ministry was sworn in. The Minister said though he is well aware of the revenue generated from liquor, he is doing such a move foreseeing the adversity created by liquor. He said this during his visit to the Mathrubhumi office on Thursday. During the meet the press programme in Thrissur press club he said for the development of Thrissur he would work beyond politics. The issues prevailing in the agricultural university would be solved after having discussion with the concerned minister.

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More funds for rural development under new system

Kottayam : Kerala Rural Development Minister K C Joseph today alleged that the controversy on trifurcation of local self-government department was part of a move to blackmail the UDF. Participating at a meet-the-press programme here, the Minister said, 'the controversy is either due to misunderstanding or a deliberate move.' However, rural development, plan activities and decentralisation of power would not be affected as a result of the allocation of the portfolios to different ministers, he said. Under the new system, rural development would get more importance, attention and more funds, he claimed. --UNI

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Headley no longer proud of Mumbai attack

Chicago: A day after saying that he was 'pleased' with the deadly 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, self-confessed Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley has said that he is no longer proud of the carnage. During cross examination Thursday by lawyers defending his longtime friend Pakistan born Tahawwur Rana, Headley aka Daood Gilani said that he was proud of the attacks by the Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists then, but no more. Headley, who has pleaded guilty to 12 terror charges to escape the death penalty, was asked by defence attorney Patrick Blegen: 'You were proud of it (the attacks) then?' 'Yes,' he replied. 'Are you still proud of it today?' Blegen asked. 'No,' Headley replied without hesitation. Headley has said that when the attacks happened in November 2008, he was proud of them because he said they were in retaliation for the deaths of Muslims. But he offered no explanation for the change in his feelings Thursday.

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N Sakthan sworn in Kerala pro-tem speaker

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress legislator N Sakthan was sworn in as pro-tem Speaker for the 13th Kerala assembly. He was sworn in by governor RS Gavai at a function held at the Raj Bhavan. The election of Speaker to the new Assembly is to be held on June 2. The state cabinet had already recommended to the Governor to convene the first session of the assembly from June 24.

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