Ex-Mayor convicted in poll code violation case

A local court on Monday sentenced former Mangalore Mayor Abdul Aziz to two months imprisonment and imposed on him a fine of Rs. 10,000 for violating the poll code. Mr. Aziz was found guilty of using his vehicle for campaigning in support of party candidate Ivan D’Souza in 2008.

According to the charge-sheet, Mr. Aziz used his car for an Assembly election campaign in a labour colony in Padau in Mangalore Rural Police limits on May 6, 2008. This car was not among the vehicles permitted for use during campaigning by the Election Commission. A complaint was filed by Assistant Returning Officer Praveen Chandra Karkera. The case was investigated by sub-inspector Bharati.

The III Judicial Magistrate First Class Court Magistrate, Undi Manjula Shivappa, also went through the video-footage of the process of seizure of campaign material that were found in Mr. Aziz’s car. Among those seized were pamphlets of Mr. D’Souza’s campaign and also copies of the Congress manifesto.

The Magistrate convicted Mr. Aziz under the provisions of Representation of People Act. If Mr. Aziz fails to pay fine amount, he will undergo further imprisonment of one month. Assistant Public Prosecutor B. Mohan Kumar examined five government employees, a police head constable and a videographer as witnesses in the case.

Appeal

Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Aziz said that he would file an appeal against the judgment before the Sessions Court on Tuesday and also seek a stay order against the lower court’s order. He said that he was seeking bail from the JMFC court. Mr. Aziz said that he had not used his car for campaigning.

Role of sand mafia

The lorry that collided with the KSRTC bus was reportedly illegally transporting sand to Bangalore. Locals say that the tragedy could have been averted had officials stopped the lorry at the sand checkpost. The suspension of four police and revenue officials by the Deputy Commissioner on charges of dereliction of duty, holding them responsible for Monday’s gruesome accident, gives credence to this. People in the region on several occasions have staged protests demanding stringent action against the sand mafia.

Modi-Sharif meeting not ruled out

India does not have a closed mind on the question of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said here on Monday.

“We do not have a preconceived approach towards it. We shall decide according to how the situation emerges,” Ms. Swaraj said.

Child marriages stopped

A marriage that was planned to take place next month between a 17-year-old girl and a 29-year-old man was stopped by officials in Salem on Monday.

As many as three child marriages planned in various parts of Tirupur district on Sunday, all involving minor girls, were prevented by the timely intervention of the officials of the Social Welfare Department.

In Tirupur district, of the three, one was involving a 16-year-old girl from Panathampatti village under Madathukulam block with a 25-year-old youth and the marriage was planned at Udumalpet.

A 17-year-old girl from Mulanur was to be married to a 23-year-old man at a marriage hall near Vellakoil.

The third incident was involving another 17-year-old from Udumalpet with a 28-year-old man at Udumalpet itself.

Tirupur District Social Welfare Officer M. Jayanthi said all the girls had studied up to SSLC.

She said that written undertakings were obtained from the parents of the girls that they would not marry their girls before them attaining the age of 18.

In Salem, based on a tip off, a team led by District Child Protection Officer A. Devagi visited the girl’s residence in Kootathupatti village in Ayothiapattanam block and found that the engagement for the boy and the girl was over in the early hours on Monday.

The girl was studying her first year B.A. course at a private college in Tiruchengode and the boy was from D. Perumapalayam.

The girl was rescued by the officials and was produced before the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) A. Xavier.

The girl was later sent to the Reception Home for Girls, run by Life Line Trust.

Officials said that counselling would be provided to the parents of the girl in Salem.

“They were asked to appear before the CWC on Wednesday and further course of action would be decided then,” they added.

‘BJP leader offered 4 crore to AAP MLA’

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday released footage purportedly showing Delhi BJP vice-president Sher Singh Dagar and his close associate Raghubir Dahiya allegedly offering Rs.4 crore and other perks to its MLA Dinesh Mohania in exchange for backing the BJP’s efforts to form a government in the Capital.

Claiming that four to five AAP MLAs were ready to jump ship, Mr. Dagar is heard convincing Mr. Mohania to resign from the Assembly. These resignations would reduce the total strength of the Assembly, thus helping the BJP obtain a majority even with a lower numerical strength.

Among the offers Mr. Dagar allegedly made to Mr. Mohania in exchange for resigning were payment of a sum of Rs.4 crore and chairmanship of some authority. He is also seen saying all MLAs who accept the offer would be made BJP candidates in the by-polls necessitated after their resignations.

In the footage, Mr. Dagar is also heard claiming that his party high-command as well as the RSS was on board in sealing the deal that would lead to senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi becoming the Chief Minister.

The alleged meeting took place on Sunday afternoon at Mr. Dagar’s residence in South Extension. Mr. Mohania was accompanied by his party colleague Vivek Yadav.

HC directs Madurai Collector to preserve waterbodies around Alagar hills

The Madras High Court Bench here has directed the Madurai Collector to preserve three waterbodies — Murugakone Kanmoi alias Muruganeri, Puthukanmoi and Nayakkankulam kanmoi — on the foothills of Alagar hills near here though a settlement tahsildar had granted patta (land ownership document) with respect to them to private individuals way back in 1970.

Allowing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, a Division Bench comprising Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice V.M. Velumani held that the ‘patta’ would stand cancelled automatically in view of an amendment made in 1975 to Section 3 (b) of the Tamil Nadu Inam Estates Leaseholds and Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act 1963.

Prior to the amendment, the Section stated that every minor Inam including communal land, poromboke, wastelands, pasture lands, forests, mines and minerals, quarries, rivers and streams, fisheries and ferries shall stand transferred to the Government.

The amendment introduced the words ‘tanks and ooranis (including private tanks and ooranis) and irrigation works’ in to the Section.

Further, the amendment introduced Section 10-A which stated that no ‘ryotwari patta’ could be granted in respect of any private tank or oorani.

It also made it clear that any patta granted in respect of private tanks or ooranis, before the amendment, would cease to be in operation from the date of the notification of the amendment to the Act.

Again through another amendment to the legislation in 1976, it was declared that the provisions of the Amendment Act, 1975 shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or any custom, usage or contract or decree or order of a court or other authority.

Death toll in J&K floods mounts to 160

There was no let-up in the flood fury in Jammu and Kashmir with incessant rains feeding the already overflowing rivers and streams and pushing up the death toll to 160.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the State on Sunday.

The rivers Jhelum in Kashmir and Tawi in the Jammu region continued to flow far above the danger mark, flooding houses along the embankments and submerging more villages and towns.

Authorities struggled to rescue thousands of trapped villagers as rain continued to lash the state and officials ran out of boats to reach the marooned. At least nine Army personnel, including an officer, got trapped in the strong currents of Jhelum as their boat capsized during a rescue operation in Pulwama district. Seven were later rescued.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Srinagar on Saturday and later conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu.

He said the worst floods in six decades had affected 2,600 villages — 1,600 in Kashmir and the rest in Jammu, with 450 completely submerged.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said South Kashmir was inaccessible with rescuers unable to reach the affected villages because of torrential rains.

“We are waiting for a break in the weather,” he said.

Mr. Abdullah briefed Mr. Singh at the Srinagar airport and later himself drove the Home Minister through the waterlogged roads of the city.

Revenue and Relief Secretary Vinod Koul said 50 bridges were damaged and hundreds of kilometres of roads were washed away.

Power installations units had broken down and the State urgently needed 25,000 tents and 40,000 blankets, Mr. Koul said. Large parts of Srinagar went without power on Saturday. There was no water supply, too, and residents said they had run out of drinking water.

There were no reports so far of food and essential commodities running out, with people stocking up for the worst.

The city resembled a ghost town with schools, colleges, shops and offices shut. Most of the people were moving their belongings to the second floor as flood waters had entered their homes.

Despite the best efforts of the Army, the National Disaster Response Force and the authorities, many complained that they were left to fend for themselves with no help from the government.

“No one is coming to help us. Yesterday the CM came and assured us that the government would provide us blankets and food but nothing has come yet. Our children are starving,” Nazir Ahmad said.

‘We last saw floods in 1996’

For the last three days and nights, everyone was waiting for floods. Under the grey skies, residents hoped the waters spare them this time but they knew it was just a matter of time before their houses submerged. While some were being evacuated, others were busy shifting their goods to the second floor of their two-storey building. At 1.30 p.m., the water finally breached the one embankment that was standing in between and came roaring towards them.

“We last saw floods here in Natipora in 1996. We almost forget that there could be floods, and kept investing in houses and property,” said Mohammad Shafi, a 51-year-old shopkeeper, even as he was busy selling milk powder, candles and baby-food to a horde of anxious people who want to stock up on essentials.

Scores of neighborhoods now find themselves marooned in their three-storey houses and are looking for safe places to park their big vehicles.

Nearby, on both sides of the Nowgam-Lasjan Highway on the outskirts of Srinagar, dozens of new vechiles were battling water inside the showrooms. Army personnel rescued people from the second floor and ferried them to the safety of the highway.

Call taxis make an impressive start in Mysore

 The introduction of call taxis in Mysore for the first time, by at least two private players over the last three weeks, is expected to give locals as well as tourists the option of an alternative mode of transportation.

Available on call round the clock, these taxis, enabled with Global Positioning System (GPS), are offering competitive rates to lure customers. “When we launched in the second week of August, we were receiving about 10 calls per day. But, three weeks later, we are receiving 60 calls per day,” said J. Binny, Manager of Nano Taxi Service, Mysore.

Encouraged by the good response, Nano Taxi — which has deployed around 21 vehicles at present — is planning to increase its fleet by another 20 to 25 vehicles in the coming weeks.

B.S. Prashant, who runs a travels company in the city, said the availability of taxis on the doorstep within minutes of making a call was surely an added commuting facility that a tourism centre like Mysore badly needed.

Though the cabs rented out by his company cater to a different segment of travellers, Mr. Prashant said sections of the business class, who travel with blazers and three-piece suits, may opt for such city taxis over commuting by autorickshaws. Nano taxis can be hired for a minimum of Rs. 70 up to 4 km after which Rs. 14.50 is charged for every km.

Meanwhile, Fast Track, which operates in a few Indian cities, also launched its services in Mysore last week. “We not only provide pick-up and drop facility, our cabs can be engaged on hourly basis,” said Varun, marketing manager of Fast Track in Mysore.

Representatives of these taxi services said they were receiving more calls from certain middle and upper middle class areas like in Hebbal, Jayalakshmipuram, J. Nagar, Jayanagar and Gokulam. “Such taxis will be convenient for a family to travel from home to railway station or bus-stand,” said Satish, a resident of Rajarajeshwarinagar in the city.

“Our cabs are often engaged for visits to tourist destinations within the city as well as Brindavan Gardens and Chamundi Hills,” said a representative of one of the taxi service. “With automatic billing system, there is no room for confusion over the fare,” he said.

With traffic police putting up checks for drunken driving, a representative of the taxi service said they receive a lot of calls in the night from people who are at clubs and restaurants as well as from people, who wished to be dropped home.

Indian Mujahideen operative held

Aijaz Sheikh, a suspected Indian Mujahideen operative, who had sent e-mails claiming responsibility for the Jama Masjid and Varanasi blasts in 2010, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police, Aijaz, 27, was working for a BPO in Pune to hide his real identity.

He was arrested on Friday after the police got information that a suspected IM operative, closely linked with Riyaz Bhatkal and Mohsin Chaudhary, would be arriving in Saharanpur. He was nabbed near the railway station.

“Apart from sending e-mails, Ajaz used to provide logistics to the Indian Mujahideen operatives in India, prepare fake Identity Cards to procure SIM cards, collect Western Union Money Transfers (WUMT), obtain rooms on rent and even help operatives enrol themselves in professional educational institutions as a cover,” said Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) S.N. Shrivastava.

Mr. Shrivastava said during interrogation Aijaz disclosed that he became part of the banned terror outfit through Mohsin, his cousin.

“After the Batla House encounter in 2008, when IM operatives were being arrested in various States, Mohsin left India along with Riyaz and Iqbal, the Bhatkal brothers, and some other IM members of the Azamgarh module,” Mr. Shrivastava added.

The Special Commissioner said Mohsin and Riyaz told Aijaz, then a young member of the IM, to stay back in India.

“They wanted someone to stay undercover so that their back-end needs could be met,” Mr. Shrivastava said.

Aijaz has a diploma in hardware, networking and Linux operation.

He is also adept at the latest information and communications technology and started working for a BPO in Pune to maintain his cover, the police claimed.

The first task assigned to Aijaz was to assist Yasin in the German Bakery blasts in February 2010.

Aijaz arranged the mobile handset, SIM card and the rented accommodation near Bharti Vidyapeeth, Pune, which was used by Yasin to fabricate the IEDs and carry out the blasts, the police said.

He recceed several sites along with Yasin and was instrumental in finalising the German Bakery, the police said.

After the blasts, he was tasked with sending e-mails to various media organisations claiming responsibility for the IM's attacks.

Monitor cases against MPs and MLAs: Law Minister writes to CJs

Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has written to the Chief Justices of the High Courts to monitor cases against MPs and MLAs against whom charges have been framed for the offences specified in Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Court directive

Pointing to a recent direction of the Supreme Court that trials of MPs and MLAs should be concluded speedily and in no case later than one year from the date of framing of charges, Mr. Prasad urged the Chief Justices to evolve a suitable mechanism to monitor such cases so that the directions of the Supreme Court were complied with by the trial courts in letter and spirit.

“The Supreme Court had also directed that if for some extraordinary circumstances the concerned court is not able to conclude the trial within one year, it would submit a report to the Chief Justice of the respective High Court indicating reasons for the delay.

In such a situation, the Chief Justice may issue direction to the concerned court extending the time for the trial,” the Minister said in the letter.

The Law Minister’s letter follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that all cases against the lawmakers should be decided expeditiously, preferably within one year of framing of charges.

Union Government approved Task Force to monitor Citizenship, Long Term Visas

Who: task force to monitor and expedite processing of citizenship and LTV applications

What: Union Home Ministry approved its setting up proposal

When: 5 September 2014

Union Home Ministry on 5 September 2014 approved setting up of a task force to monitor and expedite the processing of citizenship and Long Term Visa (LTV) applications. The task force will be headed by a Joint Secretary level officer and will start its operation in next two weeks.

The task force will review the matters relating to grant of citizenship that takes a long time for completion of the entire process. This time schedule and other matters cause hardships and difficulties to applicants, especially to minorities from neighboring countries who are often of poor economic background.


Activities that will be performed by the Task Force would
• Cases having complete documents will be expedited so that all processing is completed within two months.
• Where representations are received about specific pending cases in State Governments, Ministry Home Affairs (MHA) will follow up with State Governments concerned. MHA officials may also be sent to coordinate with State Home Department and FRO officials.
• Since the initial applications are filed online, the Task Force would monitor the applications filed and keep track of progress.
• For many applicants, the grant of LTV would have to be processed/considered first. The Task Force will coordinate LTV related matters also.

State that would be benefitted with the work of the Task Force
The work of the task force will be beneficial at least for the people of Goa and will help the state government to resolve the issue of dual citizenship of many residents of the state (Goans) who registered their births in the Portuguese registry and in such case their Indian citizenship seems to be in danger.

Reasons behind the births of residents of the state in Portuguese registry
Goa was a Portuguese territory from 1510 to 1961. It remained under Portuguese territory of the Empire control even after independence of India in 1947 and the process of making Goa an integral part of India saw certain happenings like Operation Vijay of December 1961 and United Nations resolution condemning the action of India was proposed in the UNSC.


Further, under Indian control, Goa voted in a referendum to become an autonomous, federally administered territory. Goa was admitted to Indian statehood in 1987.

Chandrakala Padia appointed as first women chairperson of IIAS

Who: Chandrakala Padia

Where: Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS)

What: appointed as first women chairperson

When: 5 September 2014

Chandrakala Padia was on 4 September 2014 appointed as first women chairperson of Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).

She succeeded the former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

Currently, she is working as Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Ganga Singh University in Bikaner.

She was a visiting associate of IIAS. She was National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies in 2003-04.

Professor Padia’s areas of specialisation include political theory, Indian and Western political thought, women’s studies, Gandhian studies and human rights.

In 2002, she edited Feminism, Tradition and Modernity, published by the IIAS, which questions the western understanding of feminism.

About Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS)

The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) is a prestigious research institute based in Shimla, India.


It was set up by the Union Ministry of Education in 1964.

Rechargeable magnesium battery developed at IICT- Hyderabad

Who: Rechargeable magnesium battery

What: was developed by the IICR researchers

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) developed a rechargeable magnesium metal battery. The discovery was announced by the ICCT under Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Hyderabad on 3 September 2014.
The rechargeable Magnesium battery was developed by a team led by Vatsala Rani. The battery is a substitute to lead acid battery and has advantages like eco-friendliness and is cost effectiveness as compared to conventional lead acid battery.

About Magnesium battery 
• The new battery utilizes eco-friendly materials such as modified natural graphite (cathode), magnesium (anode), and ionic liquid electrolyte. These are both safe and abundantly available.
• The battery replaces highly toxic lead acid batteries with the eco-conscious rechargeable magnesium battery.
• The new battery with natural graphite cathode is safe, cost effective and best applicable for stationary applications like UPS and inverter.
• The Mg-ions from the anode diffuse into the graphite layers of the cathode during discharge and while charging they revert to the anode.
• The ionic liquid used as electrolyte was prepared in-house. The liquid was found to be stable and non-corrosive at room temperature.
• The electrode materials are reusable and also biodegradable.
• The cycle life of the battery is established for 800 to 900 cycles and the shelf life of the battery is estimated to be 2-3 years.
About Lead acid battery

Lead compounds are extremely toxic and its long term exposure to even tiny amounts of these compounds can cause problems like brain and kidney damage, hearing impairment, and learning problems in children. Lead acid battery can be recycled and it is possible to prevent lead emission.

India won the five matches ODI series 3-1 against England

Who: India

Where: Indian cricket team

What: won the 5-match ODI series played against England by 3-1

When: fifth match was played on 5 September 2014

Why: as it defeated England in 2nd, 3rd and 4th matches

India won the 5-match One-Day International (ODI) series played against England by 3-1. The first match of the series was washed out due to rain without a ball being bowled. However, India won the second, third and fourth matches of the series but suffered a defeat by the hands of England in the fifth and the final match.

The last match of the series was played at Headingley, Leeds on 5 September 2014 in which India suffered a loss by 41 runs. Joe Root’s century in the final match helped England to win the match. While, chasing 295 for victory, team India was bundled out for 253 in 48.4 over.


• Man of the match of fifth match – Joe Root
• Man-of-the-Series – Suresh Raina

Series report 
• India in England at County Ground, Nevil Road - 25 August 2014, was washed away due to rain
• India in England at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff - 27 August 2014, India won by 133 runs
• India in England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham - 30 August 2014, India won by 6 wickets
• India in England at Edgbaston, Birmingham - 2 September 2014, India won by 9 wickets
• India in England at Headingley, Leeds – 5 September 2014, England won by 41 runs


During the tour to England, Indian team earlier lost the 5-match Pataudi Trophy test-series played against England by 3-12. Whereas before wrapping their tour to England, India will play a Twenty-20 match on 7 September 2014 in Birmingham.

Sania Mirza & Brazilian teammate Bruno Soares won Mixed Doubles trophy of US Open

Who: Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares

What: won Mixed Doubles trophy of the US Open

When: 5 September 2014

Why: after defeating a team of Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez, 6-1, 2-6, 11-9

India’s Sania Mirza and her Brazilian teammate Bruno Soares on 5 September 2014 won the Mixed Doubles trophy of the US Open Tennis. In the title clash, the top seeded, Indo-Brazilian pair defeated the American-Mexican team of Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez, 6-1, 2-6, 11-9. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the season.


This win has helped Sania to claim her maiden US Open and career's third Mixed Doubles Grand Slam title. Previous two mixed titles for Sania were with Mahesh Bhupathi. The duo won the Australian Open in 2009 and French Open in 2012.

Whereas in the women’s doubles, the third seeded Sania and her partner Cara Black of Zimbabwe lost in the doubles semifinals on 4 September 2014 by the hands of unseeded Swiss-Italian pair of Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-4.


On the other hand, this was the second US Open mixed doubles crown for Bruno Soares, as in 2012, he won the title along with Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova.


The singles final of the US Open trophy will be played on 7 September 2014.

WHO released first global report on suicide prevention

Who: World Health Organization

What: released its first report on suicide prevention

When: 4 September 2014

The World Health Organization (WHO) on 4 September 2014 released its first global report on suicide prevention. The report is aimed to increase awareness of suicide and suicide attempts among the people and urge governments to develop comprehensive suicide prevention strategies.


The report was launched just a week before World Suicide Prevention Day that is observed every year on 10 September. The Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention around the world.

Highlights of the WHO's first global report on suicide prevention
• More than 800000 people die by suicide every year and around one person dies every 40 seconds.
• Around 75 percent of suicides occur in low and middle income countries.
• Usually, people use pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms to commit suicide.
• The key to reduce deaths by suicide is a commitment by national governments to the coordinated plan of action.
• Presently, only 28 countries have implemented national suicide prevention strategies.
• Suicide occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age. However, suicide rates are highest in people who are 70 years old and above.
• Notably, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-29 year-olds.
• In low- and middle-income countries, adults and elderly women have higher rates of suicide than in high-income countries where more men die by suicide than women.
• Women over 70 years old are more likely to die by suicide than women aging between 15-29 years.

Ways to prevent suicide as suggested in the report
• One way to reduce deaths by suicide is to limit the access to means of suicide.
• Other effective measures include responsible reporting of suicide in the media by avoiding the language that sensationalizes suicide.
• Early identification and management of mental disorders in communities and by health workers in particular can help in reducing the deaths.
• A proper follow-up care by health workers through regular contact of people who have attempted suicide is essential as people who already attempted suicide are at the greater risk of trying it again.
• WHO recommended countries to involve government departments in developing a comprehensive coordinated response. High-level commitment is needed in the health sector as well in education, employment, social welfare and judicial departments.

The global target
WHO Member States have committed themselves to achieve the global target of reducing the suicide rate in countries by 10% by 2020 as states in the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020.

WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme was launched in 2008. It prioritized suicide prevention and provided evidence-based technical guidance to expand service provision in countries.

Suicide in the WHO region
In the WHO African Region, the estimated suicide rate was close to the global average of 11.4 per 100000 in 2012. The most common method of committing suicide is the intentional pesticide ingestion.

In the WHO Region of the Americas, estimated suicide rates are generally lower.  Guyana is the country with the highest estimated suicide rate for 2012 globally and Suriname has the sixth highest.

In the WHO European Region, the estimated suicide rate is somewhat above the global average of 11.4 per 100000 in 2012. Six European countries are among the top 20 countries with the highest estimated suicide rates globally. Lithuania has the fifth highest and Kazakhstan has the tenth highest globally.

In the WHO Western Pacific Region, the estimated suicide rate in low and middle income countries is lower than the global average of 11.4 per 100000 in 2012. The Republic of Korea is the country with the third highest estimated suicide rate and China accounted for the second highest estimated number of suicides in 2012 globally.
Suicide in the WHO South-East Asia Region
In the WHO South-East Asia Region, the estimated suicide rate is the highest as compared to other WHO regions. Mostly, suicides in the world occur in the South-East Asia Region with 39 percent of those in low and middle income countries.

India accounted for the highest estimated number of suicides in 2012. Suicide by intentional pesticide ingestion is one of the most common methods of suicide globally and particularly in rural agricultural areas of the South-East Asia Region.

Grandmaster Repertoire -1.e4 vs The French, Caro-Kann and Philidor written by Parimarja

Who: Grandmaster Repertoire - 1.e4 vs The French, Caro-Kann and Philidor

Where: in India

What: written by Parimarjan Negi was launched

When: 5 September 2014

Grandmaster Repertoire — 1e4 vs The French, Caro-Bar and Philidor : Parimarjan Negi
The book tittled Grandmaster Repertoire - 1.e4 vs The French, Caro-Kann and Philidor written by Parimarjan Negi was launched in India on 5 September 2014.

The book was launched by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The book was already released in Europe and the US in August 2014.

About the book

In the Grandmaster Repertoire – 1.e4 series, author presents his own world-class repertoire.


Building on a foundation of tried-and-tested main lines, the author shares a wealth of his innovative analysis to chart a course towards an advantage for White.
He has authored a book, first of a five-part series. Volume One covers the French, Caro-Kann and Philidor.

About Parimarjan Negi

Parimarjan Negi is a chess Grandmaster from India. At the age of 13 years, he became the second-youngest Grand Master ever.

In July 2005, he earned his third and final International Master norm at the Sort International open chess tournament in Sort, Spain.

Australian PM Tony Abbott returned 11th century stolen idols to India

Who: Australian PM Tony Abbott

What: returned 11th century stolen idols to India

When: 5 September 2014

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on 5 September 2014 returned two stolen antique statues of Hindu deities to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

One of the idol is a Nataraja, the dancing Shiva. Nataraja statue belonged to the Chola dynasty of 11th-12th century. The other sculpture is of Ardhanariswara which represents Shiva in half-female form. It belonged to the 10th century.


Both the statues were allegedly stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu before being bought to India by art galleries in Australia.

Background
The Nataraja statue was purchased by the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) in February 2008 at a price of 5.1 million US Dollars from art and antiquities dealer Subhash Kapoor, owner of the "Art of the Past" gallery in New York.

While, the Ardhanariswara statue was purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2004 at a price of approximately 300000 Australian dollar.

In 2012, Subhash Kapoor was arrested in Germany and subsequently brought to India for trial. He was accused of committing burglary and smuggling antique idols of Hindu deities belonging to Chola dynasty.

This case is currently at the prosecution stage in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, Australian authorities also assisted India in conducting investigations in Australia.

In March 2014, the ministry of external affairs made a formal proposal to the Australian department of attorney general for the return of the two idols.

Find land to rehabilitate Pandits: Union Home Minister to Chief Minister of J&K

Who: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

What: directed government of J&K to identify land for Kashmiri migrants

When: 5 September 2014

Why: for their rehabilitation

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on 5 September 2014 directed the state government of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to identify suitable land for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants (mainly pandits) in the state. Rajnath Singh has written a letter to Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah in relation to implementation of the rehabilitation scheme.

The Home Minister, in his letter has advised to the Chief Minister to look for the land nearby the areas from where they had migrated. He also suggested him to provide adequate security in such areas.

The step of writing and asking the Chief Minister for rehabilitation of the Kashmiri migrants pandits can be looked as the commitment of the Union Minister to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of the migrants.

The NDA government has committed that it will help in return of about 62000 Kashmiri Pandit families with full dignity to their homes in the Valley. For this purpose, the Finance Minister in 2014-15 Union Budget, allocated 500 crore rupees for the purpose of rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.


Kashmiri Pandits migrated from the Valley after the militancy in 1990. At present, about 62000 registered Kashmiri Families who migrated from the Valley are residing in different parts of India, mainly either in Jammu and Delhi.

Wales Declaration of NATO Summit 2014

 Who: NATO Summit 2014
Where: Wales, UK
What: Was held
When: 4-5 September 2014

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit 2014 was held in Wales, UK from 4 to 5 September 2014. This was the first summit held in the United Kingdom since Margaret Thatcher welcomed NATO leaders to London in 1990.

More than 60 world leaders attended the NATO Summit. Ukraine, Afghanistan was the top agenda for leaders of NATO Summit.

The summit in Wales was also attended by the US President Barrack Obama, with this, Obama became the first sitting President to visit Wales. Earlier, no sitting President of US has visited Wales. 

Wales declaration on Ukraine Crisis

• The Heads of NATO and Ukraine Commission condemned Russia’s illegal and illegitimate self-declared annexation of Crimea, which created destabilization of eastern Ukraine that is a violation of international law. 

• They called on Russia to reverse its self-declared annexation of Crimea and must end its support for militants in eastern Ukraine, withdraw its troops and stop its military activities across the Ukrainian border.

• NATO recognized Ukraine’s intent to expand its Distinctive Partnership with NATO and strategic consultations in the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

• NATO will also provide assistance to Ukraine to rehabilitate injured military personnel and encouraged NATO’s advisory presence at the NATO offices in Kyiv. 

• NATO also considered Ukraine’s requests for military-technical assistance, and many Allies are accepted to provide additional support to Ukraine on a bilateral basis.

Wales Declaration on Afghanistan

• International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will conclude at the end of 2014 as planned. ISAF and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have assisted the Afghan people to regain control over their nation’s destiny over the past thirteen years.

• With the end of ISAF, the nature and scope of NATOs engagement with Afghanistan will change and it will be envisaged in three parallel, mutually reinforcing, strands of activity.

1. Resolute Support Mission - Under the Resolution Support Mission, NATO Allies and partner nations stand ready to continue to train, advise and assist the ANSF after 2014. For this purpose, a new, non-combat mission will be established and establishment is contingent on the signing of the US-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement and NATO-Afghanistan Status of Forces Agreement.  

The Resolute Support Mission should be in consultation with the Government of Afghanistan and it should be supported by a United Nations Security Council Resolution.

2. Financial Sustainment of the ANSF - NATO and its allies have decided to provide support to the ANSF, as appropriate, through the Transformation Decade. They renewed their financial commitments to support the sustainment of the ANSF till the end of 2017, but they also want that Afghanistan should take its financial responsibility for its own security forces by 2024 that was agreed at Chicago summit.

Oversight and Coordination Body was already established to ensure donors can confidently commit this support and decided to maintain and strengthen the transparent, accountable and cost-effective of relevant international funding mechanisms since Chicago summit 2012. 

3. NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership - NATO and its allies committed to the NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership. Under this partnership, both the political and practical elements of the partnership should be jointly owned and strengthened through regular consultation on issues of strategic concern.

NATO is ready to work with Afghanistan to develop this partnership in line with NATO’s Partnership Policy, possibly including the development of an Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme at an appropriate time.

• NATO decided to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and inclusive peace process, as stated at the 2011 Bonn Conference and at the Chicago Summit in 2012. 

• They also decided to support Afghanistan in making further progress towards becoming a stable, sovereign, democratic and united country, where rule of law and good governance prevail.

• They emphasized the particular importance of strengthening efforts to implement the rights of women, need for the protection of children from armed conflict and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, and to include women fully in political, peace and reconciliation processes. 

Wales declaration on the Transatlantic Bond

• North America and Europe agreed to increase defence expenditure in real terms as GDP grows and will direct their defence budgets as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

• At Present, the aim is to move towards the existing NATO guideline of spending 2 percent of GDP on defence within a decade, with a view to fulfilling NATO capability priorities. 

 North Atlantic Alliance- The North Atlantic Alliance binds North America and Europe in the defence of common security, prosperity and values. It guarantees the security of its members through collective defence. 

It strengthens security in Europe, and projects stability further afield through crisis management and cooperative security with its unique set of partnerships.

About NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also called the North Atlantic Alliance. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949.

The last NATO summit was held in Chicago in 2012 and the next NATO Summit will be held in Warsaw, Poland in 2016.