Haryana CM to reward village boy selected for NASA astronaut programme

A teenaged village boy, selected by US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its astronaut training programme, will be rewarded by the Haryana government, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said on Friday. The Haryana government will honour Ashish Kumar with its Pratibha Samman, said Hooda, adding he will also get a reward of Rs 150,000 for his achievement, he said, according to a statement. Ashish, who is from Dhaulera village of Mahendergarh district and passed his class 12 exam from Nangal Chaudhary village, and his father Radhey Shyam met Hooda in New Delhi on Friday. Haryana CM to reward village boy selected for NASA astronaut programme Before his selection for the three-year training programme of NASA recently, he had also cleared IISAT (Indian Institute of Space Aeronautics and Technology) competition organized by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He also cleared Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance examination and got the 112th rank. With his goals clear in his mind, Ashish said that he wants to do something for his country in the field of space science. For the Astronaut Training Programme, NASA had selected only 10 candidates across the world. Three of them, including Ashish, are from India. The three-year training programme will be conducted in Washington at the NASA premises. The first Indian-origin woman astronaut, Kalpana Chawla, was also born and brought up in Haryana's Karnal town, 130 km from here. Chawla went on two NASA space missions in board spacecraft Columbia in 1997 and 2003. She died with six other astronauts February 2003 as the Columbia space shuttle bringing them disintegrated on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

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Narendra Modi all set to be declared BJP's prime ministerial candidate amid stiff opposition

On Thursday, Advani was the only one in the party standing against Modi's elevation, with other senior leaders of the party such as Murli Manohar Joshi and Sushma Swaraj choosing to fall in line with the majority decision.

Narendra Modi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to announce Narendra Modi's name as the party's prime ministerial candidate at a board meeting on Friday evening even as senior leader LK Advani threatened to quit if Rajnath Singh goes through with his decision.
Singh said a decision on the party’s prime ministerial candidate will be taken after discussions and consultations.
“We will decide after the talks are held,” he told media in New Delhi, when asked as to when the BJP would come out with the name of its prime ministerial candidate.
The BJP chief is making sincere efforts to bring all senior leaders on board for officially naming Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

However, Modi's anoinment faces stiff opposition from senior party leader LK Advani and his supporters. According to television reports, the anti-Modi camp denies being intimated about the boar meeting on Friday.
On Thursday, Advani was the only one in the party standing against Modi's elevation, with other senior leaders of the party such as Murli Manohar Joshi and Sushma Swaraj choosing to fall in line with the majority decision.
While most of Advani's supporters seem to have deserted the leader, his former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni took to Twitter to question the party's decision.
The anti-Modi camp wants him to give up his post as Gujarat chief minister if named as the PM candidate. The anti-Modi camp also wants someone else to replace Modi as the BJP's election campaign head.
According to certain media reports, Advani has reportedly told Rajnath Singh that fronting Modi as the party's candidate for Prime Minister will be a ‘disaster’ and will ‘destroy the BJP’s prospects’ in the general elections next year.
However, a last ditch attempt to resolve the issue with Advani is like to be made on Friday as BJP leaders are expected to meet the party patriarch later in the day.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the BJP’s ideological mentor, is of the view that any delay in announcing Modi’s candidature will not do any good to the party’s prospects in the general elections.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena on Friday said that it will support Modior "any other candidate" named by the BJP as the prime ministerial candidate.
Taking a dig at RSS over its stand on Modi, Congress leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari tweeted, "A Nagpur-based shadowy cabal of unaccountable geriatric gentlemen in period attire can ram decisions down BJP's throat and call it internal democracy".

Tokyo Awarded 2020 Summer Olympics

AP PHOTO/SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI

TOKYO -- Cheers and shouts of "Banzai!!" echoed across Tokyo just after sunrise as thousands of people started celebrating the city's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics, beating rivals Istanbul and Madrid despite concerns about a nuclear plant leaking radioactive water.

A slight favorite ahead of the International Olympic Committee's vote in Beunos Aires, Argentina, Japan's capital defeated Istanbul 60-36 in the final round. Madrid was eliminated in the first round.

More than 1,200 dignitaries and Olympic athletes crammed into a convention hall in downtown Tokyo at 5 a.m. local time Sunday to usher in the start of the buildup for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Shouts of "Banzai" - a typical Japanese celebratory yell after big victories - filled the hall when the winning bid was confirmed.

"This is a credit to the efforts of the entire nation," said bid ambassador Saori Yoshida, a three-time gold medalist in women's wrestling. "The chance to see the highest level of sport live is a great chance for everyone and as an Olympic athlete I'm thrilled."

(MORE: Japan's Historic Heat Wave)

Tokyo, which promoted its bid as the reliable choice at a time of global political and economic uncertainty, had been on the defensive in the final days of the campaign because of mounting concerns over the leak of radioactive water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

In the final presentation before the vote, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave the IOC assurances the Fukushima leak wasn't a threat to Tokyo and took personal responsibility for keeping the games safe.

Thousands of residents celebrated at Komazawa Olympic Stadium, a soccer venue when Tokyo last hosted the Olympics in 1964. Across town in the Shibuya entertainment district, late-night revelers marked the occasion with cheers of "Nippon! Nippon!"

Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Games was hampered by lukewarm public support, but that wasn't a problem this time. Benefiting in part from Japan's strong showing at the London Olympics, Tokyo had a 70 percent approval rating.

"As a mother, I am thrilled that this will give the youth of Japan the chance to experience the thrill and the excitement of the Olympics," said Wakako Tsuchida, who won the gold medal in the women's 5,000 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The news will also be welcome on the economic front. Abe's "Abenomics strategy" is aiming to fuel a lasting recovery from years of stagnation. Japan's economy grew a slower-than-expected 2.6 percent last quarter as companies wary over the prospects for a sustained recovery kept a tight rein on investment.

The mass circulation Asahi Shimbun issued a special edition to mark Tokyo's victory.

"Having Tokyo win is a bigger thrill than winning a medal at the Beijing Olympics," said Nobuharu Asahara, a bronze medalist in the men's 4x100 relay in Beijing. "Staging the Olympics here in seven years will be a great opportunity to express to the world the wonderful aspects of Japan."

MORE: Tornado Strikes Japan

1 / 7

Caught on Camera

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This photo taken by an anonymous Tsukuba resident shows a tornado in Tsukuba city, northeast of Tokyo, Sunday, May 6, 2012.

Jammu and Kashmir: 3 militants killed in attack on CRPF camp

Shopian: Three unidentified militants were killed today when they attacked a paramilitary camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian town, 50 km from capital Srinagar. Two bodies have been recovered so far.

Police said they have also recovered weapons including hand grenades and AK-47 rifles from the militants. 

Some CRPF jawans were also injured in the attack.

The attack came hours before the high-profile Zubin Mehta peace concert in Srinagar, scheduled to begin at 5 pm today and expected to be attended by over 1500-strong exclusive audience, including government ministers and diplomats. (Read)

The separatist groups in Kashmir have boycotted the concert with a total shutdown in Srinagar today.

A parallel counter concert has also been organised by a few groups, barely 10 km away from Shalimar Gardens, the venue of Mr Mehta's much anticipated concert.

Hyderabad under police siege for Seemandhra meet

Accusing the state government of anti-Telangana attitude, Telangana Joint Action Committee has called for 24-hour shutdown, which began Friday midnight.

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HYDERABAD: Hyderabad is under police siege as Seemandhra employees are set to hold 'save Andhra Pradesh' meeting amid tight security later Saturday during a shutdown in Telangana, which brought normal life to halt.

The city is on the edge as hundreds of policemen and personnel from paramilitary forces have been deployed in view of the threats by some Telangana groups to disrupt the meeting being organized by Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association to oppose proposed bifurcation of the state.

Accusing the state government of anti-Telangana attitude, Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) has called for 24-hour shutdown, which began Friday midnight. The state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport CorporationBSE 1.88 % (APSRTC) buses went off the roads in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana. Educational institutions, shops and business establishments were closed.

TJAC is protesting the police permission for the APNGOs meeting and denial of the same to it and other groups for peace rallies. Osmania University Joint Action Committee has threatened to disrupt the meet.

Lal Bahadur Stadium in the heart of the city has turned into a fortress with the police sealing off all routes and allowing only government employees from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra). Barricades have been erected about two km radius from the stadium.

More than 5,000 policemen and paramilitary forces personnel have been deployed as part of the massive security around the stadium. The police have also imposed traffic restrictions at several points in the core area of the city.

Tension prevailed at Nizam College near the stadium as police arrested dozens of students, reportedly planning a protest against the meeting. Police entered the college premises and removed several students from the hostel. Students pelted stones on police, who retaliated with baton charge.

Tension also prevailed late Friday night at few places in Nalgonda district when pro-Telangana activists allegedly pelted stones on buses bringing Seemandhra employees to Hyderabad.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed on Vijayawada-Hyderabad and Kurnool-Hyderabad roads to provide security to employees coming to the state capital in buses, cars and other private vehicles. Police set up 16 check posts at the entry points into the city and were checking the vehicles.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said only Seemandhra employees carrying identity cards would be allowed into the stadium. He warned that police would deal firmly with anybody trying to take law into his hands.

Thousands of employees from 13 districts of RayalaseemaBSE -3.60 % are coming to Hyderabad by trains and buses for the meeting, the first show of strength in by those opposing state's division. Seemandhra employees working in government offices in Hyderabad would also attend the meet.

APNGOs expect a turnout of one lakh employees in Seemandhra, where over four lakh employees and two lakh teachers are on indefinite strike to demand the centre to withdraw its decision to carve out separate Telangana state.

APNGOs president P. Ashok Babu said the meeting would be held peacefully despite the provocation by Telangana groups. "Through this meeting we want to tell people why the state should be kept united," he said.

Indian Navy gets its biggest offshore patrol vessel

Panaji, Sep 2 (IANS) The Indian Navy's largest offshore patrol vessel, the INS Sunayna, was Monday handed over to it by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

The 105-metre vessel will be used by the navy for undertaking ocean surveillance and surface warfare operations for preventing infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty, said an official statement issued by the defence ministry-run shipyard.

"This vessel is suitable for monitoring sea lines of communication, defence of offshore oil installations and other critical offshore national assets. Besides, the vessel can be deployed for escorting high value ships and fleet support operations," the statement said.

The INS Sunayna is a Sarju class patrol vessel, one of the batch of four which the GSL has been commissioned to build. Two other offshore patrol vessels - INS Sumitra and INS Sumedha - are likely to be handed over to the navy over the next two years.

Indian rupee rises 77 paise to two-week high of 65.24 vs dollar

The Indian rupee continued to strengthen against the dollar on the back of announcements by new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan, rising 77 paise on Friday to close at 65.24, the highest level in almost two weeks.

Dollar sales by exporters, a weak US currency overseas and renewed capital inflows also helped the rupee to gain.

The rupee opened at 66 against the dollar from 66.01 previously at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market and touched a low of 66.32. It bounced back to a high of 65 before settling at 65.24, a rise of 77 paise or 1.17 per cent.

The local currency has spurted 239 paise, or 3.53 per cent, in three sessions. This was the highest level for the rupee since August 26, when it had closed at 64.30.

News from the venue of the G-20 Summit in St Petersburg in Russia also appeared to give hope to investors.

The BRICS grouping, including India, has decided to launch a $100 billion currency reserve fund to help them navigate through an imminent phase out of the US stimulus. Separately, India and Japan have expanded their currency swap arrangement to $50 billion from $15 billion.

"One important step for the rupee was taken at the G-20 summit where India and Japan have extended their existing currency swap facility," said Abhishek Goenka, CEO of India Forex Advisors. "This will enable our country to defend the exchange rate."

RBI's liquidity-tightening measures may be rolled back by October as market sentiment and the rupee are expected to improve, Barclays said. The fresh RBI steps are likely to raise the possibility of better forex inflows in the next three months, it added.

The rupee helped stocks to rise, with the BSE Sensex climbing 290.30 points, or 1.53 per cent. FIIs injected a net Rs 1,101.41 crore into shares on Thursday.

US job growth below expectations

WASHINGTON: The US economy is producing jobs at a still-subpar pace - a trend the federal reserve will weigh in deciding this month whether to slow its bond buying and, if so, by how much.

Employers added 1,69,000 jobs in August but many fewer in June and July than previously thought, the labor department said on Friday. Combined, June, July and August amounted to the weakest three-month stretch of job growth in a year. 

The unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 per cent, the lowest in nearly five years. But it fell because more Americans stopped looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed. The proportion of Americans working or looking for work reached its lowest point in 35 years. 

The jobs picture is sure to weigh heavily when the Fed meets Sept. 17-18 to discuss whether to scale back its $85 billion a month in Treasury and mortgage bond purchases. Those purchases have helped keep home-loan and other borrowing rates ultra-low to try to encourage consumers and businesses to borrow and spend more. 

Friday's report "is a mixed bag that can be used to support an immediate tapering of the Fed's monthly asset purchases or delaying that move until later this year," said Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said. 

The revised job growth for June and July shrank the previously estimated gain for those months by a combined 74,000. July's gain is now estimated at 1,04,000 - the fewest in more than a year and down from the previous estimate of 162,000. June's was revised to 1,72,000 from 1,88,000. 

In the past three months, employers have added an average of just 1,48,000 jobs. The average monthly gain for 2013 so far is 1,80,000, almost identical to the 1,83,000 average for 2012. 

Stocks fell slightly in midmorning trading, but that may have stemmed mainly from tensions over the prospect of US military action against Syria. The Dow Jones industrial average declined about 54 points. 

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.92 per cent, from 2.95 per cent before the jobs report was released at 8:30am Eastern time. Investors may think the report makes it less likely the Fed will significantly slow its bond purchases. 

Ashworth said he still expects the Fed to begin slowing its bond buying later this month. Chairman Ben Bernanke has said the Fed could begin pulling back on its purchases by year's end if the economy continues to strengthen - and end the purchases by mid-2014. 

One possible concern for the Fed is that most of the hiring in August was in lower-paying industries such as retail, restaurants and bars. This continues a trend that emerged earlier this year. 

Retailers added 44,000 jobs in August. Hotels, restaurants and bars added 27,000. Temp hiring rose by 13,000. 

In higher-paying fields, the report was mixed. 

Manufacturers added 14,000, the first gain after five months of declines. Government, which has been a drag on job growth since the recession ended more than four years ago, gained 17,000. It was the biggest such increase in nearly a year. The increase was all in local education departments. Federal employment was unchanged, and state government lost 3,000 jobs. 

Auto manufacturers added 19,000 jobs. Americans are buying more cars than at any time since the recession began in December 2007. Some of the jobs also likely reflected workers who were rehired last month after being temporarily laid off in July, when factories switched to new models. 

But construction jobs were unchanged in August. And the information industry, which includes high-tech workers, broadcasting and film production, cut 18,000 jobs. The biggest losses were in the film industry. 

The report contained some other positive signs: Average hourly earnings picked up, rising 5 cents to $24.05. Hourly pay has risen 2.2 per cent in the past 12 months. That's slightly ahead of the 2 per cent inflation rate over the same period. 

The average hourly work week ticked up to 34.5 from 34.4, a sign that companies needed more labor. That can lead to larger paychecks. 

The modest jobs figures contrast with other recent data that suggested that the US economy could be picking up. For example, reports from the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, showed that manufacturers expanded at the fastest pace in more than two years last month. 

And service firms grew at the quickest pace in more than eight years, the ISM found.