NASA announces 715 newly discovered planets

The Earth’s galaxy is looking far more crowded. NASA has confirmed 715 newly discovered planets outside the solar system.

Douglas Hudgins, NASA’s exoplanet exploration program scientist, called Wednesday’s announcement a major step toward the planet-hunting Kepler telescope’s ultimate goal — “finding Earth 2.0.”

It’s also a big step in “the possibility of life elsewhere,” said Lisa Kaltenegger, a Harvard and Max Planck Institute astronomer who wasn’t part of the discovery team.

Scientists using the Kepler telescope pushed the number of planets discovered in the galaxy to about 1,700. Twenty years ago, astronomers had not found any planets circling stars other than the ones revolving around the sun.

“We almost doubled just today the number of planets known to humanity,” NASA planetary scientist Jack Lissauer said in a teleconference.

Astronomers used a new confirmation technique to come up with the largest single announcement of a batch of exoplanets what planets outside our solar system are called.

Wednesday’s announcements also were about implications for life behind those big numbers.

All the new planets are in systems like ours where multiple planets circle a star. The 715 planets came from looking at just 305 stars. They were nearly all in size closer to Earth than gigantic Jupiter.

And four of those new exoplanets orbit their stars in “habitable zones” where it is not too hot or not too cold for liquid water which is crucial for life to exist.

The four new habitable zone planets are all at least twice as big as Earth so that makes them more likely to be gas planets instead of rocky ones like Earth and less likely to harbour life.

So far Kepler has found nine exoplanets in the habitable zone, NASA said. Astronomers expect to find more when they look at all four years of data collected by the now-crippled Kepler; so far they have looked at two years.

Planets in the habitable zone are likely to be farther out from their stars because it is hot close in. And planets farther out take more time orbiting, so Kepler has to wait longer to see it again.

Another of Kepler’s latest discoveries indicates that “small planets are extremely common in our galaxy,” said MIT astronomer Sara Seagar, who wasn’t part of the discovery team. “Nature wants to make small planets.”

And, in general, smaller planets are more likely to be able to harbour life than big ones, Ms. Kaltenegger said.

INDIA Growing with game

Aditya Sharma’s book “Champs of Devgarh” narrates the story of school students growing up with complete devotion to cricket

Cricket has been rightly termed religion in India. And when it features in a book, everyone becomes curious to know about it. At the recently concluded New Delhi World Book Fair which focussed mainly on children’s literature, Penguin Books India launched “Champs of Devgarh” which deals with the game and children. The book written by Aditya Sharma, editor, Reader’s Digest in Mumbai was unveiled by Murali Kartik, the left-arm spinner who represented India from 2000 to 2007.

The launch was attended by a number of cricket fans who came to see their favourite player and to get some cricket tips. Aditya said that it was his pleasure to get the book released by a cricketer of such a great stature. Aditya who grew up in Sonepat, aspired to be a cricketer but when his childhood dream went for a toss, he pursued law and practised couple of years in his hometown until he discovered he wanted to be a writer. Starting his career by freelancing for many national newspapers and magazines and he moved on to his current job.

Releasing the book Kartik said, “The book has been written by a person who wanted to be a good cricketer, so it is worth reading especially for those who have interest in cricket.” Elaborating the role of a coach in cricket, Kartrik stated, “It is the coach only who gives you all round development. Not only the professional training but he also makes you emotionally strong too”. Asked about the new talent from small towns and villages who did not get an appropriate platform, he said now there was no demarcation between those who hail from the metros and those from small towns. “Today many players in our cricket team come from small towns. So one should play with dedication and try honestly.”

The book, set in a fictional town Devgarh, is about players of the Star Eleven cricket team studying in Holy Mission School. Captained by Ajay but led by Aakash, the team, both individually and together, get into one scrap after another with only one goal in sight — being the best cricketing side in Devgarh. In the process of following their dream, they go through a whole gamut of experiences, like learning the value of money and honesty, victory, defeat, first love, all of which transforms them into champs of Devgarh. Asked about Ruskin Bond’s comment that the book took him “back to R.K. Narayan’s Swami and Friends’,” Aditya said, “I have imbibed from R. K. Narayan”.

IPL Chairman:Matches will be transparent

The BCCI on Friday said it has begun taking steps to make the IPL corruption-free, including education of players and franchises on how to avoid mixing up with certain people during matches in the seventh edition of the cash-rich T20 event.

“Both the players and franchises are being educated on how to avoid match-fixing,” IPL Chairman Ranjib Biswal told reporters after the BCCI’s Working Committee meeting in Bhubaneshwar.

“We have already identified some persons who need to be avoided in order to make IPL matches transparent,” Biswal said.

Stating that all efforts were being made to keep the IPL matches corruption free, the IPL chairman said anti-corruption teams will accompany the players and visit the match venues.

Claiming the BCCI has already implemented about 70 per cent of the report of the Mudgal Committee which probed into the IPL VI spot-fixing scandal, he said, “The committee report is also being worked out in some other areas.”

Replying to a similar question, BCCI President N. Srinivasan said, “BCCI will do everything possible to make the IPL events transparent.”

Warner’s loose talk fills build-up to 3rd test

Both captains claimed they weren’t going to talk about David Warner on Friday; both went on to dedicate a fair bit of time to talking about him.

“He’s becoming a little bit of a rent-a-quote,” South Africa’s Graeme Smith offered.

“He’s a tough bugger, there’s no doubt about it, and he’ll love the challenge he faces when he walks out onto that ground,” was Michael Clarke’s assessment of his Australia teammate.

Warner grabbed the headlines in the lead-up to the third and decisive test at Newlands starting on Saturday when he accused South Africa of underhand ball-management tactics during its 231-run win in the second test.

He was fined 15 percent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council, after telling a Sydney radio station: “We were actually questioning whether or not A.B. de Villiers would get the ball in his hand and with his glove wipe the rough side every ball.”

Clarke said he wanted to focus on the forthcoming test, but admitted he had shared his mind with the left-hander.

“The ICC have dealt with it. We’ve dealt with it in-house,” Clarke said. “I’ve also made very clear to David how disappointed I was, and am, with his comments, and at the appropriate time I will catch up with Graeme and make it clear to him how I feel about it.”

Smith backed up South Africa coach Russell Domingo’s sentiment that Warner’s slur would only spur the Proteas as they attempt to beat Australia in a series at home for the first time since readmission.

“We’ve lost one series in eight years or something like that which is a pretty successful run, and I think that needs to be embraced and enjoyed,” Smith noted.

“If we go on to win this test match it’s another big steppingstone in what this team has been able to create. It would be a big feather in our hat.”

A resurgent Australia side, meanwhile, knows that how it bounces back from its first defeat in six tests could define just how rosy its future becomes.

“Even to sit in the position we are right now is a really satisfying feeling for this group, knowing that we’re one-all going into the third test against the No. 1 team in the world in their own backyard,” Clarke said.

“I think that’s a fantastic achievement from this group.

But we didn’t come here to lose, that’s for sure.”

ASIA CUP :Sri Lanka beat India by 2 wickets

Sri Lanka defeated India by two wickets to record their second win in the Asia Cup in Fatullah on Friday.

Sent into bat, India posted 264/9 in the stipulated 50 overs, and then saw Sri Lanka chase down the 265-run target with four balls to spare at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.

Earlier, Opener Shikhar Dhawan missed out on a century by six runs as spinner Ajantha Mendis returned to haunt India by restricting them to 264 for nine against Sri Lanka.

Sent into bat, Dhawan (94) and captain Virat Kohli (48) led India’s recovery in a 97-run second-wicket partnership, before Mendis, more than three years after his mystery was decoded by the Indian batsmen, came back to trouble them with figures of 4/60 at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.

Mendis castled Kohli and Dhawan with his carrom ball while offspinner Sachitra Senanayake scalped 3/41 as India’s new-look middle order sorely missed Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Thanks to the duo’s exploits, India slipped after being comfortably placed at 175 for two in the 36th over.

Ajinkya Rahane (22), Ambati Rayudu (18) and Dinesh Karthik (4) looked good but could not covert their starts, while Stuart Binny did not trouble the scorers after being out for a zero.

Having come into the limelight with his career-best 6/13 against India in Karachi in 2008, Mendis got a reality check after the currently out-of-favour Vireder Sehwag unleashed his fury on him the next year.

But that was then and on this day Mendis, who was included in place of medium pacer Suranga Kamal, did not let the Lankans down.

The pitch behaved differently with the ball staying low right from the very first over. It was the perfect condition to test the openers who were in the middle of a prolonged lean patch.

Sharma, particularly, struggled against the odd ball as Sri Lanka, who were playing with three specialist spinners, brought on offie Senanayake in the sixth over.

Lanka seemed in perfect control, conceding only 37 runs in the first power play which also yielded Sharma’s wicket.

After all his struggle, Sharma’a anxious stay finally came to an end when he got to out to a dubious decision.

Umpire Nigel Llong ruled the batsman out despite being long way down the track.

The breakthrough incidentally turned around India’s fortunes with last match centurion Kohli starting off with a boundary.

At the other end, Dhawan looked to have got his fluency back and Kohli’s reassuring presence further calmed the left-hander’s nerves.

Brief scores:

India: 264/9 in 50 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 94, Virat Kohli 48; Ajantha Mendis 4/60, Sachitra Senanayake 3/41)

Sri Lanka: 265/8 in 49.2 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 103, Kusal Perera 64; Ravindra Jadeja 3/30)

LEGEND Lauda urges Mercedes to stay calm despite positive F1 tests

Formula One legend Niki Lauda says Mercedes should not get carried away with their success in testing before the 2014 Formula One season.

“There is no comparison (to actual racing). Everything is theory because you don’t know who has already played out how much of their resources,” he told the online edition of Auto, Moto and Sport magazine on Friday.

“Every time it comes down to the aerodynamics and the engine. The truth will be seen first in Australia,” added the three-time world champion.

The efforts of Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have been particularly impressive so far when compared to current world champions Red Bull who have struggled with car and engine problems.

The third and final pre-season test continues at the Sakhir track in Bahrain Friday before the campaign opens in Melbourne on March 16.

Gold falls on profit-selling, global cues

Snapping a four-day rising streak, gold prices drifted by Rs 200 to Rs 31,300 per ten gram in New Delhi on Friday on profit-selling by stockists at existing higher levels against sluggish demand amid weak global trend.

Silver also halted a five-day rally, tumbling by Rs 1,740 to Rs 46,560 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said stockists booking profits at prevailing higher levels following a rise of Rs 350 against sluggish demand mainly kept pressure on gold prices.

They said a weakening trend in overseas markets also influenced the trading sentiment.

Gold in London, which normally sets price trend on the domestic front, fell by 0.35 per cent to $ 1327.20 an ounce and silver by 0.42 per cent to $ 21.17 an ounce.

Investor shifting their funds from weakening bullion to rising equities for quick gains also reduced the precious metal demand, they added.

On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity fell by Rs 200 each to Rs 31,300 and Rs 31,100 per ten gram respectively, after gaining Rs 350 in last four sessions.

Sovereign, however, held steady at Rs 25,500 per piece of eight gram in limited deals.

In a similar fashion, silver ready suffered a loss of Rs 1,740 to Rs 46,560 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 480 to Rs 47,360 per kg. The white metal had gained Rs 800 in the previous five sessions.

Silver coins also plunged by Rs 1,000 to Rs 88,000 for buying and Rs 89,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

STOCK MARKET:Sensex ends above 21,000 level after 5 weeks

The benchmark Sensex on Friday jumped over 133 points to reclaim the 21,000 mark buoyed by gains in bluechips like TCS, Tata Motors and Hindalco, to log the best weekly rise since November 2013.

Brokers said sentiment was strong as foreign investors have remained net buyers of Indian stocks in the past ten days.

Firm global cues also helped after US Fed Chairperson Janet Yellen on Thursday reiterated the Fed is likely to continue tapering asset purchases at a “measured” pace.

After gaining 450 points in past four sessions, the BSE Sensex shot up by 133.13 points, or 0.63 per cent, to end at 21,120.12. The index last closed above the 21,000 level on January 24 when it concluded at 21,133.56.

The gauge had touched the day’s high of 21,140.51 intra-day on Friday. Experts said all eyes are on India’s October-December quarter GDP growth.

Hindalco led the 18 gainers in 30-share Sensex. TCS, Tata Motors, Sun Pharma, ONGC and BHEL were among notable winners.

However, Maruti Suzuki led the 12 Sensex losers. Shares of the carmaker lost 4.54 per cent, amid investor concerns regarding its proposed Gujarat plant.

For the week, the Sensex gained 419.37 points - the biggest rise since the week ending November 29, 2013 when the barometer surged 574.54 points.

“Going ahead, the markets would continue to follow developments on the political scene and geopolitical developments in Ukraine,” said Sanjeev Zarbade, Vice President- Private Client Group Research, Kotak Securities.

The National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose 38.15 points, or 0.61 per cent, to end at 6,276.95, after climbing to 6,282.70 intra-day.

Sectorally, the BSE healthcare sector index gained the most by rising 2.27 per cent, followed by IT index (1.44 per cent), Auto index (1.37 per cent) and Capital Goods (1.18 per cent). Overall, nine of the 12 sectoral indices gained. Oil & gas, consumer durables and FMCG ended in the red.

Global markets, including those in Asia, were positive ahead of reports on American housing, consumer spending and economic growth.

RBI:Forex reserves dip by $ 383.7 mn to $ 293.4 bn

The foreign exchange reserves declined by $ 383.7 million to $ 293.405 billion for the week to February 21 on account of fall in foreign currency assets, the Reserve Bank said on Friday.

In the previous reporting week, the reserves had jumped by a healthy $ 1.46 billion to $ 293.79 billion.

Foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major part of the overall reserves, fell by $ 378.7 million to $ 266.87 billion in the week under review, RBI said.

FCAs, expressed in dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of the non-US currencies such as the euro, pound and yen, held in its reserves.

The gold reserves, during the week, were unchanged at $ 20.075 billion.

The special drawing rights also dipped by $ 3.5 million to $ 4.455 billion, while the nation’s reserve position with the IMF dipped by a tad $ 1.5 million to $ 2.005 billion, the RBI said.

Coal India officers serve three-day strike notice

State-owned Coal India (CIL) on Friday said a group of executives has served a three-day strike notice from March 13 for not finalising their demands for performance related pay and new pension scheme, among others.

“Coal Mines officers’ Association of India (CMOAI) has served strike notice for 3 days with effect from March 13, 2014 to March 15, 2014 against non-finalisation of PRP (Performance Related Pay), New Pension Scheme and other demands,” CIL said in a filing to BSE, adding that efforts are being made to reconcile the same.

The CMOAI had earlier said that it may resort a three-day strike if its demands were not met.

“Significantly, all the Maharatna PSUs except Coal India Ltd have already been given order for payment of Performance Related Pay (PRP) by their ministries concerned...We are constrained to communicate to you our strike notice w.e.f March 13, 2014 to meet our genuine and justified demands,” CMOAI had said in a letter to Coal India CMD.

The demands include finalisation and payment of PRP pending since 2007, immediate refund of recovered performance-linked pay advance from retired executives, immediate implementation of new pension scheme and removal of pay anomaly of different grades in general and in particular junior grades among others, it added.

Earlier, the Department of Public Enterprises had strongly objected to the Coal Ministry’s proposal on PRP for executives of CIL’s subsidiaries from its consolidated account, stating that this would have wider ramifications as other PSUs may seek similar dispensation.

As per the DPE guidelines, in the absence of sufficient profit before tax (PBT), loss-making CPSEs are not allowed to distribute performance related pay and there is no concept of providing PRP based on the consolidated account of holding company.

However, the Coal Ministry had sought permission for allowing CIL to determine the corpus of PRP due since 2007 on profit before tax based on its consolidated accounts and not from the individual accounts of the subsidiaries.

CIL will have to shell out about Rs 200 crore on account of PRP to loss-making subsidiaries, including Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), if the proposal is accepted.

The Coal Ministry in its proposal had said that CIL is the holding company which appointed executives and controlled the cadre, also transferring functionaries from one arm to another on promotion.

At present, as per the 2007 pay revision, PRP is directly linked to Profit Before Tax and the rating of a PSU besides performance of individual executives.

CIL produces over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. It has 8 subsidiaries: ECL (West Bengal), BCCL (Jharkhand), Central Coalfields (Jharkhand), South Eastern Coalfields (Chhattisgarh), Western Coalfields (Maharashtra), Northern Coalfields (Madhya Pradesh), Mahanadi Coalfields (Orissa) and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (Ranchi).

CIL achieved an output of 366.57 Million Tonne (MT) between April-January, missing the 383.88 MT target for the period.

RIL shares hit 6-month low, close below Rs 800 level

Shares of Reliance Industries, the owner of the world’s largest refining complex, on Friday fell nearly 2 per cent on bourses, closing below the Rs 800 mark for the first time since August 2013.

RIL’s scrip ended 1.39 per cent lower at Rs 799.25 on the BSE. During the day, it had lost 2 per cent to touch Rs 794.

At the NSE, the stock settled at Rs 797.30, down 1.65 per cent from its previous close.

Meanwhile, renewing its attack on RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday alleged that some of his Reliance Group companies were involved in money laundering in connection with investments by a Singapore-based firm.

AAP leader and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan also alleged that the UPA government did not even bother to investigate the matter and “showered one benefit after another” on Mr. Mukesh Ambani.

Reliance Industries rejected Mr. Bhushan’s allegations that the FDI investments in some of its companies by the Singapore-based company Biometrix are “laundered monies” invested in this country.

In a statement, it said the allegations are highly “defamatory, false, irresponsible” and devoid of any merit or substance whatsoever.

These “false and baseless” allegations are being repeatedly made in the media and in judicial proceedings and have been already responded to, it said, adding an “orchestrated, politically motivated” campaign is being fuelled against Reliance Industries.

Vodafone for resolving the Rs. 20,000 crore tax

The government will take a decision on withdrawal of conciliation offer to Vodafone for resolving the Rs. 20,000 crore tax dispute after a transfer pricing case concerning the U.K. telecom giant is settled.

“The Cabinet has decided to instruct the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) to expeditiously solve the Vodafone transfer pricing case. Once that is done, the Cabinet will review the conciliation process,” a senior Finance Ministry official said after a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Friday.

Vodafone is locked in twin tax disputes with the government. One pertains to its 2007 acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa’s stake in Hutchison Essar and the other is the transfer pricing case involving Vodafone India Services.

“The cabinet has decided not to take any hasty decision regarding review of conciliation talks with Vodafone,” the official added.

The decision regarding the Vodafone conciliation offer may have to be taken by the next government as ITAT, which will hear the transfer pricing case from March 19, will take a few months to decide on the dispute.

The Cabinet had in June 2013 approved a Finance Ministry proposal to go in for conciliation with Vodafone to resolve the capital gains tax dispute related to its acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa’s stake in Hutchison Essar.

While the basic tax demand is Rs. 7,990 crore, the outstanding dues, including a penalty of a similar amount and accrued interest, run into Rs. 20,000 crore.

Earlier this month, the Finance Ministry circulated a draft Cabinet note seeking to withdraw the conciliation talks after Vodafone demanded that the Rs. 3,700 crore transfer pricing row be clubbed with the capital gains tax case.

It followed a notice under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement by Vodafone International Holdings BV to the government over the tax dispute. It said the amendment to the IT Act will cause Vodafone International Holdings substantial financial loss.

Fuel price hike:Petrol costlier by 60 paise, diesel by 50 paise

Petrol price was on Friday increased by 60 paise a litre, the second increase this year, and diesel by 50 paise per litre, the 14th increase since January 2013.

The hikes, effective from Friday midnight, are excluding local sales tax or VAT and actual increase will be higher and will vary from city to city.

Petrol price, which was last increased by 91 paise on January 4, 2014 will cost Rs. 73.16 a litre in Delhi from, up 73 paise from Rs. 72.43.

In Mumbai, the fuel will cost Rs. 82.07 a litre as against Rs. 81.31 at present.

The price of diesel in Delhi will be hiked by 57 paise, including tax, to Rs. 55.48 per litre, while it will cost Rs. 63.86 a litre in Mumbai as against Rs. 63.23 at present.

Announcing the price increase, Indian Oil Corporation, the nation’s largest fuel retailer, said petrol price has been increased because international oil rates have risen and rupee depreciated against the U.S. dollar, making imports costlier.

The diesel price increase is in line with the January 2013 decision of the government to raise rates by up to 50 paise per month till such time that the entire losses on the fuel are wiped out, and prices made market determined.

IOC said even after the 14th price hike since January 2013, the oil companies are incurring Rs. 8.37 per litre loss on sale of the fuel.

Since January 2013, diesel rates have risen by a cumulative Rs. 8.33.

Besides diesel, oil firms are losing Rs. 36.34 a litre on sale of kerosene through public distribution system (PDS) and Rs. 605.50 on every 14.2-kg domestic cooking gas (LPG).

IOC said in a statement: “The price of petrol was last revised upwards by Rs. 0.75 a litre (excluding state levies) with effect from January 4, 2014.

“Since the last price change, international prices of gasoline (petrol) have increased from $116.04 per barrel to $118.10, and the rupee has also depreciated from Rs. 62.02 to a U.S. dollar to Rs. 62.12.”

The combined impact of both these factors, has warranted the increase in petrol prices by Rs. 0.60 per litre, excluding state levies.

In pursuant to the government’s order dated January 17, 2013, oil marketing companies have been authorised to increase the retail selling price of diesel (retail) within a small range every month until further orders.

“Accordingly, since then, retail diesel prices are being revised every month. In continuation of above, IOC has decided to effect the aforesaid increase in retail diesel prices,” it said.

IOC said it is likely to end the 2013-14 fiscal with an under-recovery or revenue loss of around Rs. 74,000 crore on sale of diesel, LPG and kerosene.

“The movement of prices in international oil market and Rupee-U.S. dollar exchange rate is being closely monitored and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes,” it added.

The revised prices of petrol and diesel in four metros:

Price revision chart

Petrol

City	Current price	Revised	Increase
Delhi	72.43	73.16	0.73
Kolkata	80.20	80.96	0.76
Mumbai	81.31	82.07	0.76
Chennai	75.71	76.48	0.77

Diesel

City	Current price	Revised	Increase
Delhi	54.91	55.48	0.57
Kolkata	59.50	60.09	0.59
Mumbai	63.23	63.86	0.63
Chennai	58.56	59.17 0.61

(All rates in Rs/litre)

Indian economy grows 4.7% in third quarter

The Indian economy grew 4.7 per cent in the third quarter of this financial year mainly due to improved performance in the agriculture and services sectors.

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) had expanded 4.8 per cent in the July-September quarter and 4.4 per cent in April-June.

Growth in the first nine months (April-December) was 4.6 per cent compared with 4.5 per cent in the same period a year ago.

The economy had expanded 4.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2012-13, according to official data released here today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Given the performance in the first nine months and GDP growth of 4.9 per cent projected by the CSO in its advance estimates for this financial year, the economy must expand 5.7 per cent in the fourth quarter ending March.

Farm sector output expanded 3.6 per cent in October-December compared with 0.8 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The sector grew 3.6 per cent in April-December.

The manufacturing sector declined 1.9 per cent in the third quarter as against a growth of 2.5 per cent a year ago.

The output of the sector contracted 0.7 per cent in the first nine months.

Growth in electricity, gas and water supply was 5 per cent compared with 2.6 per cent a year earlier and it touched 5.5 per cent in the April-December period.

The construction sector expanded 0.6 per cent as against 1 per cent in the year-ago period. During April-December, the sector grew 2.5 per cent.

Growth in the trade, hotels, transport and communications segment slowed to 4.3 per cent in the third quarter from 5.9 per cent in the same period last year. In the first nine months, it grew 4.1 per cent.

The services sector, including financing, insurance and real estate, expanded 12.5 per cent in the October-December quarter as against 10.2 per cent a year earlier. The segment grew 10.5 per cent in April-December compared with 10.8 per cent in the same period a year ago.

Mining and quarrying contracted 1.6 per cent as against a decline of 2 per cent in the same period of the previous financial year. During April-December, the sector’s output contracted 1.6 per cent compared to a 1.1 per cent dip in production in the same period a year ago.

The community, social and personal services segment grew 7 per cent as compared to 4 per cent earlier. During the nine-month period, the segment grew 6.7 per cent.

Gross Fixed Capital Formation, an indicator of fresh investments, at constant (2004-05) prices remained flat at Rs 5 lakh crore in the third quarter compared with the same period of the previous financial year.

UK not to engage with Modi

A meeting organised on Wednesday by the U.K. based groups Awaz and the Monitoring Committee resolved to put pressure on the British government not to engage with Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi until justice is done for victims of human rights violations during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The event was hosted by Labour Party MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell and supported by party MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn at the House of Commons.

The meeting resolved that it would seek an Early Day Motion to the House of Commons and take a delegation of MPs to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office asking that there should be no official engagement with Mr. Modi until he has been held legally accountable for his responsibility in the 2002 violence. The meeting also heard that action is underway for an international tribunal on genocide in Gujarat.

The speakers at the meeting included Suresh Grover of the Monitoring Group; Pragna Patel from the women’s group Southall Black Sisters; Chetan Bhatt, director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics; and Professor Gautam Appa, professor emeritus from the LSE.

Yusuf Dawood and Imran Dawood, U.K. citizens of Gujarati origin whose close relatives were killed in Gujarat in 2002 were also present.

The sharp polarisation of political opinion within U.K.-based Indian community was on display at the meeting. A group of supporters of Mr. Modi engaged in arguments with the speakers and then staged a noisy walkout towards the end of the meeting, demanding proof of the allegations made against Mr. Modi.

Mr. Modi has considerable cross-party political support in Britain. Even within the Labour Friends of India there have been attempts to get the government to revoke the earlier restrictions that had been placed upon his visiting the U.K.

In fact, this meeting was initially to have been hosted by Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing and Southall. However, he pulled out of his sponsorship a day before the meeting. While Mr. Sharma said it was because he did not want to associate with the “anti-Hindu” agenda of the meeting, the organisers said that it was because of pressure from his pro-Modi constituency.

Messages of support were read out from the artist and sculptor, Sir Anish Kapoor, Baroness Helena Kennedy, a distinguished barrister and human rights campaigner and Mike Wood, MP for Batley and Spen.

Mr. Kapoor said: “I am deeply grateful you are doing this. We are in a moment of great danger and your call to our sense of justice is much needed.”

Uganda :Aid cuts over anti-gay law

Uganda’s government has been hit with substantial aid cuts after the president enacted a severe anti-gay measure over which some Western governments had warned of consequences.

At least three European countries are withdrawing millions in direct support to Uganda’s government, which depends on donors for about 20 percent of its budget.

The Dutch government said in a statement on Thursday that it is suspending aid to Uganda’s government but will continue supporting non-governmental groups, joining the governments of Norway and Denmark in taking such action. Norway is withdrawing at least $8 million but will increase its support to human rights and democracy defenders, while Denmark is restructuring aid programs worth $8.64 million away from the Ugandan government and over to private actors and civic groups.

Jim Mugunga, a spokesman for Uganda’s Finance Ministry, said the government is waiting for official communication of the aid cuts.

Washington has also signalled it could cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay measure the White House described as “abhorrent.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday compared the law to oppressive government crackdowns on German Jews in the 1930s and black South Africans during apartheid, saying he was going to direct American ambassadors to look at “how we deal with this human rights challenge on a global basis.”

Ugandan officials have been reacting with scorn, saying that Western governments can keep their money.

Uganda’s president on Wednesday told African leaders attending a summit in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa that although the matter of gay rights is “dear” to the West, “even the homosexuals need electricity.”

President Yoweri Museveni enacted the bill on Monday, drawing widespread condemnation from the United Nations, rights watchdog groups, as well as some of the East African country’s development partners. In signing the bill, Mr. Museveni said he wanted to deter Western groups from promoting homosexuality in Africa. The anti-gay law is widely popular in Uganda, and some analysts believe Mr. Museveni’s enactment of the bill boosts his popularity ahead of presidential elections in 2016.

Ofwono Opondo, a spokesman for Uganda’s government, said on Thursday that the aid cuts show Ugandans “that the world does not owe them a living.”

“It’s actually a trap for dependence,” he said, talking about donor support. “It’s actually good that they removed the aid, so that we can live within the means we have.”

Uganda’s new anti-gay law calls for life imprisonment for those convicted of engaging in gay sex. It also creates the offenses of “conspiracy to commit homosexuality” and “aiding and abetting homosexuality,” both of which are punishable by seven years behind bars. Those convicted of “promoting homosexuality” face similar punishment.

Ukraine Interior Minister: Russian military blocking Sevastopol airport

Simferopol airport operations reported normal after armed men, wearing similar gear to a group of 100 gunmen who stormed the Crimean parliament and raised the Russian flag, entered the building

Russian military were blocking an airport in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea, near the Russian naval base, while unidentified men were patrolling another airport serving the regional capital Simferopol, Ukraine’s new Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Friday.

Mr. Avakov wrote in a Facebook post that the Belbek international airport in Sevastopol was blocked by military units of the Russian navy. “I can only describe this as a military invasion and occupation,” he said.

The Russian foreign ministry refused to comment while a spokesman for the Russian defence ministry was not available for comment.

Early on Friday, around 50 armed men in military uniform arrived in three trucks without licence plates and surrounded the domestic flights terminal at the airport of Simferopol, the regional capital of Crimea, before moving on to other parts of the site, Interfax-Ukraine news agency cited witnesses as saying.

An Associated Press photographer saw military men armed with assault rifles on Friday morning patrolling the airport. The men, who were wearing uniforms without any insignia, refused to talk to journalists, and it was not immediately clear who they were.

The men wore similar gear to a group of 100 gunmen who stormed the Crimean parliament on Thursday and raised the Russian flag over the building, the report said.

The armed men since left the building, according to broadcaster Russia Today.

The airport appeared to be operating normally, with flights landing and taking off, RIA-Novosti news agency quoted a worker at the airport as saying. The airport’s website showed flights arriving and departing on schedule.

On Thursday, masked gunmen with rocket-propelled grenades and sniper rifles seized the parliament and government offices in Simferopol and raised the Russian flag over the parliament building.

The events in the Crimea region have heightened tensions with neighbouring Russia. It scrambled fighter jets on Thursday to patrol borders in the first stirrings of a potentially dangerous confrontation reminiscent of Cold War brinksmanship.

Russia also has granted shelter to Ukraine’s fugitive president, Viktor Yanukovych, after recent deadly protests in Kiev swept in a new government.

Mr. Yanukovych has a news conference scheduled Friday in Russia’s south near the Ukrainian border. He has not been seen publicly since Saturday, and he declared on Thursday in a statement that he remains Ukraine’s legitimate president.

Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday elected a new government led by a pro-Western technocrat who promptly pledged to prevent any national break-up.

Moscow has been sending mixed signals about Ukraine but pledged to respect its territorial integrity. Ukraine’s population is divided in loyalties between Russia and the West. Crimea, which was seized by Russian forces in the 18th century under Catherine the Great, was once the crown jewel in Russian and then Soviet empires.

It only became part of Ukraine in 1954 when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred jurisdiction from Russia, a move that was a mere formality until the 1991 Soviet collapse meant Crimea landed in an independent Ukraine.

In a bid to shore up Ukraine’s fledgling administration, the International Monetary Fund has said it is “ready to respond” to Ukraine’s bid for financial assistance. The European Union is also considering emergency loans for a country that is the chief conduit of Russian natural gas to Western Europe.

Ukraine’s finance ministry has said it needs $35 billion over the next two years to avoid default.

U.S. Sherry Rehman: perfect storm for Pakistan predicted

Pointing to international and regional conflict trends in the vicinity, former ambassador to the U.S. Sherry Rehman predicted a perfect storm in the context of the coalition forces leaving Afghanistan and the elections there, even as Pakistan has to brace for fresh challenges this brings.

Speaking on Transition 2014 — Conflict and Regional Futures organized by the Jinnah Institute on Thursday, Ms. Rehman said a consensus on key policy issues was crucial and shifting the regional game with India in terms of peace and trade instead of conflict and crisis management was one of them. The other was moving away from seeking strategic depth or avoiding power brokering in Afghanistan by seeking no favourites.

The Bilateral Security Agreement could be signed post elections and the foggy timeline had added fresh uncertainty, she said. There was much to worry for Pakistan as there would be multiple transitions and most of it up in the air. The west was looking to cut its losses and it was less and less interested in preserving the fragile gains in Afghanistan, she said. Afghan stability remains a crucial stake and as it stand the news looks bad, and the USA's own intelligence predicts a sub optimal future for Pakistan.

She said Pakistan asked been asked to brace for a fresh influx of refugees. In addition the flow of drugs and guns could add to the disruption. Pakistan has hard choices to make, existential choices, and it was vital to curb terrorism. By offering talks to the Taliban this has already been compromised and the security policy is still a work in progress. There has to be clarity across the political horizon, she said.

Senior journalist Zahid Hussain said there was complete indecisiveness in the government over handling terrorism and the peace talks have not gone anywhere. The problem he said is that extremism had created huge problems for the state and while the government can still talk it cannot evade its responsibility. The government has shown weakness by agreeing to talk and the Taliban took advantage of that. The kind of action the government is taking now in the form of air strikes could be harmful if it's not part of a clear strategy, he said, adding that there was no clear counter terrorism policy. The counter terror narrative was given to clerics and religious parties, he said.

Ms. Khawar Mumtaz, chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women said women could end by being marginalized in conflict if they did not have a voice or adequate support structures. In Swat women who were displaced faced sexual violence and had no systems to address their needs and problems. The issue has to be looked in terms of a rights perspective, she pointed out.