China launched next stage of space station plan

China has launched an unmanned spaceship in the latest step towards creating its own manned space station by 2020. The Shenzhou VIII is scheduled to dock with another craft 343km above the earth’s surface later this week, as China practises a key technique first used by the US and Russia more than 40 years ago.

The Shenzhou VIII was launched on a Long March carrier rocket at 6am on Today and is scheduled to link up with Tiangong I, the space module which was sent up in late September and which will conduct the most important work in preparation for the space station, the China Manned Space Engineering Office said.

Tuesday’s launch is a crucial step in Beijing’s ambitious plan to complete its permanent space station by 2020, just as the International Space Station is scheduled to retire, and leave it as the only nation with such a permanent presence in space.

The spacecraft is carrying a German-built incubator loaded with plant, bacteria and human cell samples for biological and medical tests during the mission.

While China’s space programmes have close ties with those of Russia and the country has exchanges with European counterparts, this marks the first time Beijing has co-operated with another nation in the use of a Shenzhou spaceship.

Attempts to foster exchanges with the US, one of the two leading nations in spaceflight, have been hampered by caution as relations between the two nations still suffer from distrust over possible military implications.

A joint pledge by Barack Obama, US president, and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to expand space co-operation has yet to be translated into solid progress.

Xinhua, the official news agency, called international co-operation in space exploration “difficult”, and pointed out that while China had received delegations from NASA and the US Space Foundation at its satellite launch centre in Jiuquan in western China, a Beijing request to visit the Kennedy Space centre had been denied.

Xinhua said German and other European officials and scientists had witnessed the Shenzhou VIII launch at the Jiuquan centre.

The spaceship is scheduled to approach Tiangong I gradually, which is circling 343km above earth, and then dock with it within two days of its launch.

Different from the first such attempts by the US and Russia, which were steered by astronauts on board, China is going for a fully automated exercise using the on-board laser and satellite systems of the Shenzhou and Tiangong craft to navigate from ground control.

Two such dockings will be conducted before the Shenzhou VIII capsule returns to earth in mid-November. More advanced docking exercises with the Tiangong I are planned next year, one of which will be manned, CMSEO said.

Sensex down by 89 points

The BSE benchmark Sensex was down by 89 points in early trade on Today as lower Asian cues influenced investors to reduce their holdings of capital goods, metal, FMCG, banking and realty stocks.

The BSE benchmark Sensex resumed lower at 17,540.55 and hovered in a range between 17,661.78 and 17,537.06 before quoting at 17,616.08 at 1015 hours, a net loss of 88.93 points, or 0.50 per cent, from its previous close.

The NSE’s 50-share Nifty Index was also down by 30.10 points, or 0.57 per cent, at 5,296.50 at 1015 hours.

The major losers in early trade were Sterlite Industries (down 3.22 per cent), ICICI Bank (2.20 per cent), Larsen & Toubro (2.18 per cent), ITC (1.45 per cent), Tata Steel (1.26 per cent), Jindal Steel (1.11 per cent) and DLF (0.85 per cent).

Meanwhile, most Asian markets began the new month on a relatively subdued note in early trade today. The key benchmark indices in China, South Korea and Taiwan were up by between 0.01 per cent and 0.22 per cent, while indices in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore were down by between 0.56 per cent and 1.47 per cent.

Libya elects little-known scientist new PM

ibya's ruling National Transitional Council has elected little-known academic Abdul Raheem al-Keeb as the new interim prime minister to guide the country as it emerges from a bitter civil war toward a new constitution and democratic elections.

With vast oil and gas reserves and a relatively small population, Libya has the potential to become a prosperous nation, but regional rivalries pent up during Muammar Gaddafi's 42 years of one-man rule could descend into a cycle of revenge.

Keeb, a professor of electrical engineering, will have to rein in the armed militias that sprang up in each town to overthrow Gaddafi and reconcile those remaining loyal to the old rule while brokering a new system to govern the country.

The NTC has promised to hold elections for a national assembly after eight months. The assembly will then spend a year drawing up a constitution ahead of parliamentary elections.

"This transition period has its own challenges. One thing we will be doing is working very closely with the NTC and listening to the Libyan people," Keeb said after 26 of the 51 NTC members elected him for the post in Tripoli on Monday.

An academic and a businessman, Keeb has spent much of his life outside Libya, studying in the United States before taking up academic posts in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

NTC members described Keeb as "quiet and friendly" and said he had helped with the financing of the revolt against Gaddafi.

The prime minister said he expected to choose his cabinet ministers within two weeks.

"We said we would (elect a cabinet) a month from the liberation. We have two weeks left and we intend to meet that deadline."

Keeb did not set out any specific plans for the coming months, but said that worries over foreign oil contracts were unfounded. "We understand that we had 42 years with a brutal dictator ... concerns are in order. But there should be none of them," he said. "We demand respect for our national rights."

Interim Oil Minister Ali Tarhouni had been favorite to become prime minister, but received only three votes, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the emerging politics in the North African state.

Many analysts have pointed to the divisions emerging within the NTC, but Keeb said any fears were unfounded.

The hoped-for departure toward peaceful politics comes as NATO ended its military intervention in Libya which helped bring about the death of Gaddafi.

‘Ra.One’ grosses Rs 170 crore; shatters ‘Bodyguard’ records

After the dismal show on the first day, Shah Rukh Khan would be a lot relieved following latest Box Office figures of his Diwali bonanza, the mega movie of the year – ‘Ra.One’.

SRK`s super hero action film has set a new record at the Indian box office by earning a gross of Rs 170 crore worldwide in the opening weekend (first five days of release).

Eros International Media Ltd (Eros International), a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry has announced a historic and record breaking opening for Shah Rukh Khan’s most ambitious project.

Since its release, ‘Ra.One’ has been creating history by shattering regional, national and international box office record with the biggest Diwali day opening followed by the biggest single day collections for an Indian film and now the biggest ever weekend release for both India and overseas box office.

‘RA.One’ opened at over 3,100 plus screens in India and 904 prints internationally, including 3D, Tamil and Telugu. In the UK, for some strange reason, the film didn’t open wide and is getting a bigger release only from Monday.

However, experts feel that even if the Eros figures are accurate, ‘RA.One’ is still a long way away from the ‘3 Idiots’ lifetime gross of Rs. 358 crore.

Nevertheless, SRK’s baby has plenty of feats to achieve. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in the first quarter of 2012 across several territories including South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine, Brazil, Spain, Italy and Greece.

Digvijay questions Sri Sri’s UP yatra

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, Tuesday, questioned Sri Sri Rav Shankar’s plan to take out an anti-corruption yatra from Uttar Pradesh.

Taking a dig at the renowned spiritual guru, Singh tweeted: “Charity begins at home. Shouldn't Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have begun his campaign from Karnatak? But then, love is blind!”

“Waiting to see Mayavatiji's reaction when Sri Sriji speaks against corruption in UP,” he added.

On a self congratulatory mode, Singh who had earlier alleged that while Ramdev and Anna Hazare were "Plan A and B" of the RSS and BJP, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was "Plan C", wrote, “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the Roll in UP against corruption! Again I have been proved correct. Anna/Gadkari want to me to go to mental asylum.”

On Team Anna, Digvijay tweeted: “For Anna's Super Team. Na Khata na Bahi. Jo Kejriwal kahe woh sahi! (There are no records of the financial transactions, whatever Kejriwal will say is correct).”

He further added: “Super Team Anna to do an impossible Act. Return 40 Lakhs to unknown Donors. Only the Super Heroes can collect from unknown and return them.”

Air India flights cancelled due to 100 pilots threaten to quit

As many as 23 Air India pilots reported sick leading to cancellation of 10 international flights and the state-owned airline could face more trouble with around 100 pilots threatening to quit.
    
The pilots belonging to the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), which has pilots of the erstwhile Air India as its members, are headed for a confrontation charging the management today with adopting discriminatory attitude against them and stalling their career progression.
    
The threat to quit could hit Air India's international operations and comes on the back of cancellation of the 10 flights of its low budget arm "Air India Express" in the last seven days.
    
Air India sources said that 10 commanders and 13 co-pilots reported sick during this period.
    
The Gulf sector remained unaffected but the Kolkata-Dhaka and Chennai-Singapore sectors were hit, the sources said.

The threat to quit came four days ahead of the launch of a training programme for pilots to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the first of which is expected to join the airline by December.

In a letter to Air India CMD Rohit Nandan, over 100 pilots, owing allegiance to the IPG said they were "compelled to seek a No Objection Certificate so that we may consider seeking employment elsewhere".

Copies of the letter were also sent to Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi and other officials, besides the Regional Labour Commissioner, Mumbai.
    
Reacting to the development, an Air India spokesperson said, "We have not received any strike notice so far or a notice for NOC formally from the IPG ".
    
One of the prime grievances of the IPG is the management's decision to train pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines for the Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

When contacted, Air India officials, requesting anonymity, said the IPG office-bearers were currently holding negotiations with the management and "we are hopeful of sorting out their issues".

The IPG represents around 200 pilots of the pre-merger Air India, while the Indian Commercial Pilots Association that had gone on strike in April-May this year represents around 1,400 pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines.

A total of 101 pilots signed the letter claiming they felt "cheated by the management's unfair and discriminatory decisions, leading to a complete stall of our career progression", IPG sources said.

Manipur: 93-days old long economic blockade ended today

The 93-days old economic blockade on two national highways in Manipur ended early Tuesday morning after the government agreed to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district.

The protestors lifted the blockade on NH 39 and NH 53 that was crippling the economy of the state in the absence of transportation.

It should be noted that yesterday, one of the sponsors, Sadar Hills District Demand Committee, called for a 48-hour bandh in five hill districts to mount pressure on the government.

A spokesman of the SHDDC had said a 48-hour bandh has been called in Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur districts.

It was to be followed by an indefinite general strike and bandh in the Sadar Hills in Senapati district till the government agreed to its demand, he said.

It has been blockading the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati (NH 39) and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar (NH 53) since August 1.

Opposing this, the United Naga Council, blockaded the two national highways since August 21.

The efforts to ferry in supplies from outside the state by security forces were being disturbed by volunteers picketing on the national highways, official sources said.

This has resulted in suffering for a population of 27 lakh in the state which is spread over 22,327 square kilometres.

The cabinet had met seven times on the issue of Sadar Hills in the past two months, but could not take a decision fearing an ethnic clash between Nagas and Kukis, they said.

Over 1000 people were killed in the early 1990s in Kuki-Naga clashes in hill districts because the Nagas wanted to drive out Kukis from Naga-settled areas, they added.

The price of cooking gas which cost about Rs 400 has gone upto Rs 1650 per cylinder, petrol which costs Rs 50 per litre has gone upto Rs 120 or more in the black market.

Prices of onions, potatoes, and other essentials have also shot up considerably.

Home Minister P Chidambaram had appealed to the agitating groups in Manipur to withdraw their blockade of national highways and assured action on the report of the District Reorganisation Commission (DRC).

"My appeal to all groups, especially the Kuki groups and other groups agitating for a separate district to be curved out of Jiribam, that they should suspend their agitation and allow the DRC to look into the matter and give its report," he told reporters here.

Chidambaram had also assured all groups that the Central government would certainly urge the Manipur government to act on the report of the DRC, once it is made available.