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483 dead, flood loss more than Kerala’s annual outlay: Vijayan

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The Kerala flood disaster has claimed 483 lives and the estimated value of destruction “is more than the annual outlay of our state”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vjayan said on Thursday.

Initiating the debate at a special one-day session of the Assembly to discuss the disaster, Vijayan said 14 people still remained missing although flood waters have receded from almost all parts of the state.

He added that at the height of the floods, the worst to hit the state in a century, there were 14.50 lakh people in more than 3,000 relief camps.

“The latest figure is — there are 59,296 people in 305 relief camps. A total of 57,000 hectares of agriculture crops have been destroyed. An approximate estimate of the loss is more than the annual outlay of our state,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the Meteorological Department gave out adequate warnings regarding the rains but the unprecedented showers led to a deluge.

The predicted rains from August 9 to 15 were 98.5 mm but the state got 352.2 mm, he said.

Hitting out at the government, senior Congress legislator V.D. Sateeshan, whose constituency Paravur in Ernakulam district was submerged, called it “a man-made tragedy”.

“This is not a natural calamity, instead a man-made tragedy due to the faulty handling of the dam water management. Dams in the state were overflowing and the primary reason for this tragedy is the way the dam waters were indiscriminately let out,” he said.

“Several dams were opened at midnight. The need of the hour is to fix responsibility and find out who all are responsible for this.”

Thomas Chandy, a former Minister who represents Kuttanadu in Alappuzha, one of the worst hit districts, asked Vijayan to release the Rs 10,000 that the government had promised as interim relief to every family without delay.

K.M. Mani, a veteran opposition legislator, applauded the rescue efforts but said the tragedy could have been avoided had there been a proper dam management policy.

“Now that the tragedy is over, rehabilitation work has to take a systematic approach,” he said.

Mani added that money pouring into building a new Kerala should be collected in a separate account.

“We all know what happened when Ockhi struck and still there has been no proper accounting of the money which is kept in the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. So we should have a separate account.”

The session saw a tough stand taken by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) when it did not allow two of its legislators, Raju Abraham and Saji Cherian, to speak in the Assembly while permitting nine other legislators to do so.

According to informed sources, the Chief Minister was cut up with the two MLAs as they went public criticising the rescue operations and also the way the dams were opened, sending scores of villages and towns under water particularly in the central districts.

Govt to crackdown on moneylenders who harass people

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Karnataka state government has issued a direction to all regional commissioners, IGPs of all ranges and Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police of all districts to take necessary steps to stop harassment of borrowers by moneylenders.

On directions of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Chief Secretary T M Vijayabhaskar has issued a circular: “Government is examining the proposal to table Karnataka Debt Relief Bill 2018 to relieve small farmers, agricultural labours and other weaker sections of the society of their burden of debts. This information has been published in various newspapers.”

In this wake, it has been noticed that many such borrowers are illegally harassed and assaulted by moneylenders in various instances. Hence it is hereby directed to take legal action against those who are harassing or assaulting such borrowers”.

India counters Pakistan’s bid to raise Kashmir at UN, pins hope on Imran Khan

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While countering Pakistan’s latest attempt to raise the Kashmir issue at the Security Council, India has said that it hopes the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan would work constructively to build the region and free it from the scourge of terrorism.

“Pacific settlement (of disputes) requires pacific intent in thinking and pacific content in action,” India’s Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said Wednesday at the Council suggesting a new approach for the new government.

“Regurgitating failed approach which has long been rejected is neither reflective of pacific intent nor a display of pacific content,” he emphasised after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi suggested the Council should resuscitate initiatives on Kashmir from 70 years ago.

“We hope that the new government of Pakistan will, rather than indulge in polemics, work constructively to build a safe, secure and developed South Asian region free of terror and violence,” Akbaruddin said.

The session on mediation and settlement of disputes was presided over by Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, the British Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN.

Lodhi referred to decades-old failed Council efforts and invoked the 1948 Council resolution setting up the UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) for investigating and mediating the Kashmir dispute.

However, UNCIP in a resolution on August 13 that year clearly stated that the Pakistan government “agrees to withdraw its troops from that state” and “endeavour to secure the withdrawal” tribesmen and Pakistanis “who have entered the state for the purpose of fighting.”

Islamabad has failed to keep that assurance and ironically, Lodhi asserted that the Council’s failure to resolve the Kashmir dispute put its credibility was at stake.

The UNCIP admitted in 1949 its failure to mediate the dispute and closed down.

Lodhi suggested that the Council could refer disputes to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion under the UN Charter.

She went further offering her own interpretation of the Charter’s provisions for the Council’s intervention in threats to peace and claimed that it could even unilaterally enforce an advisory opinion from the ICJ over-riding the principle that parties to the dispute have to agree to the court’s jurisdiction.

Akbaruddin questioned if the UN and the Council were even capable of mediating disputes, asserting that they were hobbled structurally and would not come to the mediation process “unencumbered.”

The Council’s permanent members had veto powers and without their full cooperation mediators cannot act effectively, he said.

Moreover, the “tortuous decision-making process, imbued with political trade-offs saps the UN of necessary dynamism and flexibility in pursuing mediation” and makes responses to changing circumstances in the mediating process difficult, he added.

Therefore, he said, “upgrading, expansion, or revamping of (the UN) Secretariat rules and regulations” would not work and it would “be more realistic to look at functional solutions rather than structural ones”.

“Rather than try and throw in the UN lap intractable issues, perhaps, a more pragmatic approach is required,” he added, suggesting that the world look at “alternate solutions which use the competencies of the UN more judiciously”.

Ahmad brought in as a speaker Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, who is the spiritual head of a Christian sect, the Church of England.

Another speaker was Mossarat Qadeem, a Pakistani described as an activist for women and the marginalised, who spoke of empowering women as mediators.

(IANS)

Del Potro, Anderson enter US Open 3rd round

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Third-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro rolled through the first two sets and fought off a late challenge in the third to defeat American Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) and advance to the third round of the US Open tennis tournament.

The 2009 champion was untouchable on serve and did not face a single break point throughout the one-hour, 56-minute match here on Wednesday, EfE news reported.

He also used his normal strategy of low slice backhands and mammoth forehands from the baseline to control play against the speedy Kudla.

The 72nd-ranked American was able to keep the third set close and force a tiebreaker. He also rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the third-set tiebreaker, getting one mini-break back before missing a backhand on match point.

Next up for the “Tower of Tandil” in the third round of this Grand Slam tennis event will be Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, who edged the UK’s Andy Murray 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.

Verdasco needed three hours and 23 minutes to overcome the resistance of the 2012 champion, a former world No. 1 who is trying to make a comeback after undergoing hip surgery and being off the ATP Tour for 11 months from July 2017 until June.

Both players struggled in the extremely hot conditions that have been a major factor in the first week of the tournament.

Murray, however, appeared to be the more tired player down the stretch and eventually succumbed in a long final game in which he had break points that could have evened the fourth set at 5-5.

In other men’s singles action Wednesday, fifth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson brushed aside Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in just under two hours.

Anderson, who was runner-up at the 2017 US Open and at this year’s Wimbledon, was dominant on serve and also showcased his much-improved return game.

The 6’8″ South African, whose ranking is currently at a career-best No. 5, did not come close to losing his own serve and also earned four service breaks over three sets.

Ninth-seeded Dominic Thiem also advanced to the third round, rallying from a two-set-to-one deficit to defeat American Steve Johnson 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday.

(IANS)

Asiad 2018: Mamata hails Swapna’s gold medal winning show

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday congratulated Swapna Barman who became the first Indian woman to achieve a top podium finish in the gruelling heptathlon event at the Asian Games.

“Heartiest congratulations to @Swapna_Barman96 our heptathlon queen from India and Bangla, on winning the gold at the Asian Games. You have made us very proud,” Mamata said in a tweet.

Swapna posted a score of 6,026 points to clinch the yellow metal. Wang Qingling of China scored 5,954 to take silver while Japan’s Yuki Yamasaki produced her personal best of 5,873 to bag the bronze medal.

(IANS)

Bengaluru FC lose to Altyn Asyr in Ashgabat, bow out of AFC Cup

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Carles Cuadrat’s Bengaluru FC bowed out of Asian football competition after a 0-2 loss (2-5 agg.) to Turkmen club Altyn Asyr FK in the second leg of their AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-final at the Kopetdag Stadium here on Wednesday.

Second half goals from Altymyrat Annadurdyyev and Vahyt Orazsakhedov settled the tie in favour of the hosts after the Blues found the going tough in attack.

Earlier, Cuadrat rung in one change to the side that faced the Turkmenistan champions at home as Boithang Haokip dropped to the bench in favour of a returning Harmanjot Khabra.

Rino Anto and Rahul Bheke joined Spaniard Juanan Gonzalez at the back as Nishu Kumar was pushed forward to add impetus to the Blues’ attack.

After a spell of holding fort at the back, Bengaluru pushed high up with Miku and Sunil Chhetri creating back-to-back chances with less than half-an-hour on the clock.

While the duo’s efforts went wide, Bengaluru gained momentum and had spells of possession. Udanta Singh and Nishu, attacking from either flank, had attempts of their own, but none dangerous to trouble Mamed Orazmuhamedov in the Altyn goal.

The Blues had their best chance of the first period in the 38th minute when Miku fed Chhetri on the counter, but the skipper’s foray into the rival box was met with a strong tackle from an Altyn Asyr defender. Shouts for a penalty were waved away as referee Turki Al-Khudair chose to book the Blues’ number 11 instead.

While the first half was an even affair, the hosts struck twice early on in the second to effectively seal the tie.

Annadurdyyev scored the opener in the 50th minute with a strike from the edge of the box that Bengaluru keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu struggled to get his hand to.

Striker Vahyt Orazsakhedov then added another with his third goal of the tie, tapping home from close after defender Mekan Saparov’s strike from distance cannoned off the upright, making it 2-0 on the day and 5-2 on aggregate.

As the Blues kept on pushing ahead in search of the elusive goal, it was Altyn Asyr goalkeeper Mamed who pulled off two saves to keep the score unchanged.

Miku, who managed to create a yard for himself, had his shot from distance palmed away in the 65th, before Chhetri’s shot was tipped onto the vertical.

The Blues return to Bengaluru, where they will prepare for the opener of the 2018-19 Indian Super League, against Chennaiyin FC, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on September 30.

Swapna, Arpinder create Asiad history

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(180829) — JAKARTA, Aug. 29, 2018 (Xinhua) — Swapna Barman of India celebrates after women’s heptathlon 800m of athletics at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia on Aug. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

Swapna Barman created history by winning the women’s heptathlon title while Arpinder Singh ended India’s 48-year wait for men’s triple jump gold as Indian athletes enjoyed another successful day at the 18th Asian Games here on Wednesday.

Experienced sprinter Dutee Chand grabbed her second silver medal at this year’s Asiad after finishing second in the women’s 200 metres event.

Swapna’s triumph in the women’s heptathlon is the first ever gold for India in the event at the Asiad.

Swapna posted a score of 6026 points. Wang Qingling of China scored 5954 to take silver while Japan’s Yuki Yamasaki produced her personal best of 5873 to bag the bronze medal.

Purnima Hembram, the other Indian in the fray, finished fourth with 5837 points.

In men’s triple jump, Arpinder won gold with an effort of 16.77 metres. He pipped Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Kurbanov, who took the silver medal with a personal best jump of 16.62 metres. The bronze medal went to China’s Cao Shuo, who jumped 16.56 metres.

Before the 25-year-old Arpinder, the previous Indian champion at the Asiad was Mohinder Singh Gill in 1970 with an effort of 16.11m.

A.V. Rakesh Babu, the other Indian in the fray, was sixth with a best attempt of 16.40 metres.

Arpinder flopped in his first attempt. After the invalid jump, he came back strong with a jump of 16.58 metres in the second attempt which made him the leader after the first two attempts.

Babu, in his second attempt of 16.40, was second behind his compatriot, even as Ruslan till then had his best of 16.28.

Arpinder gained further ascendancy when he came out with a jump of 16.77m. Ruslan too made his best attempt of 16.62 metres. The Uzbek athlete however could not topple Arpinder as the former made attempts of 15.99, 16.43, 16.41 in his final three chances respectively.

Arpinder jumped 16.08 in his fourth attempt before fouling the last two attempts.

China’s Cao delivered his best in his sixth and last attempt with a jump of 16.56 to push Japanese Kohei Yamashita to the fourth spot.

Yamashita had fouled his last three attempts. His best of 16.46 came in his third attempt.

In the women’s 200m, Dutee clocked 23.20 seconds to finish behind Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong, who claimed the gold medal with 22.96 seconds. Wei Yongli of China got the bronze medal with a time of 23.27 seconds at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Stadium.

Dutee, who also took silver in the 100m, grabbed her second silver of the Games.

The Odisha athlete had topped the standings in the semi-finals on Tuesday with a time of 23.00 seconds — her personal best — while Odiong was second in 23.01 seconds.

In the final, the 22-year-old Dutee was 0.20 seconds slower than her Tuesday’s performance. Running in the third lane, Dutee started strong and in the first 3040 metres she was in the third position.

But she peaked and gave a tough fight to 21-year-old Odiong, who seemed the favourite from the start. After the 7-metre mark, it was nearly obvious that the top two positions would be taken by Odiong and Dutee respectively.

Odiong, with a long stride, never looked beatable by Dutee. The latter then just had to held off Yongli, who was pushing to the limit.

Asian Championships bronze medallist Olga Safronova, who had finished a spot ahead of Dutee in the Bhubaneswar meet in 2017, claimed the fourth spot. The Kazakh sprinter finished with a timing of 23.32.

The two medals for Dutee at this Games meant that her career had taken a completely different turn after she was barred in 2014 for high androgen levels.

Earlier in the morning session, Khushbir Kaur finished fourth in the women’s 20km race walk.

Khushbhir, who had bagged silver medal at the 2014 edition, clocked one hour, 35 minutes and 24 seconds to finish one minute and 22 seconds behind bronze medallist Kumiko Okada of Japan.

China’s Jiayu Yang and Shijie Qieyang claimed the top two positions respectively. Both clocked a Games record timing of one hour, 29 minutes and 15 seconds but Jiayu was declared the winner in a photo finish.

Another Indian in the women’s category, Soumya Baby and men’s 20km race walkers K.T. Irfan and Manish Singh Rawat were disqualified.

In the men’s race, China’s Wang Kaihua won the gold medal with a timing of one hour, 22 minutes and 04 seconds. He was 0.06 seconds faster than Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi.

The bronze medal went to Jin Xiangqian, who posted a time of one hour, 27 minutes and 58 seconds.

Hackers now executing low-profile attacks to steal money: Trend Micro

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Cybercriminals are moving away from attention-grabbing ransomware attacks to more covert methods intended to steal money and valuable computing resources globally including in India, cyber security leader Trend Micro said on Thursday.

Crypto-jacking — where a hacker steals cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin from digital wallets — attempts are making the biggest impact so far this year, said the report titled “Midyear Security Roundup 2018.”

Trend Micro recorded a 96 per cent increase in cryptocurrency mining detections in the first half of 2018 compared to all of 2017, and a massive 956 per cent increase in detections versus the first half of 2017.

This indicates that cybercriminals are shifting away from the quick payout of ransomware in favour of the slower, behind-the-scenes approach of stealing computing power to mine digital currency.

“In the wake of several breaches over the last few years, the country is reeling under the spate of attacks that have compromised databases belonging to banking institutions, government email servers, and Indian enterprises at large,” said Nilesh Jain, Vice President-South East Asia and India, Trend Micro.

“We have also seen few Public Cloud providers getting compromised this year. Next year, the customers who don’t take adequate measures to their applications or data which are hosted in Public Cloud, might even get compromised,” he added.

Another shift in the first half of the year is toward unusual malware types, such as fileless, macro and small file malware.

Trend Micro recorded a 250 per cent increase in detections of one particular small file malware “TinyPOS” compared to the second half of 2017.

“The recent change in the threat landscape mirrors what we’ve seen for years that cybercriminals will constantly shift their tools, tactics and procedures (TTPs) to improve their infection rates,” said Jon Clay, Director of Global Threat Communications for Trend Micro.

(IANS)

Asiad 2018: Brar loses in judo pre-quarters

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India’s Harshdeep Singh Brar lost in the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s 81 kilogram category of the judo competition at the 18th Asian Games here on Thursday.

Brar was outclassed 3-10 by Lee Seungsu of South Korea in a one-sided contest in the Round of 16.

Earlier, Brar thrashed Rajitha Pushpa Kumara of Sri Lanka 10-1 in his campaign opener.

Benfica, PSV, Red Star complete Champions League lineup

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The lineup for the 2018-19 Champions League has been set as Benfica, PSV Eindhoven and Red Star Belgrade have qualified for Europe’s elite club competition.

After managing only a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg, Benfica were far from assured of advancing against PAOK Salonika, who opened the scoring Wednesday night with a goal by Aleksandar Prijovic in the 13th minute, reports Efe news.

Jardel responded for the visitors seven minutes later, heading-in a corner, and Benfica surged ahead in the 26th minute on a penalty.

Eduardo Salvio converted from the line after PAOK goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis brought down an attacker in the box in desperation after failing to gather in the ball.

Pizzi increased Benfica’s advantage to 3-1 with a goal in the 39th minute and Salvio completed the brace four minutes into the second half, again from the penalty spot.

PAOK tried to get back on terms, but whatever chance they had disappeared with the expulsion of Leo Matos in the 76th minute, clearing the way for Benfica to advance 5-2 on aggregate.

In Eindhoven, PSV began with a 3-2 edge over BATE Borisov after winning the first leg in Belarus and added to their advantage just 14 minutes into the contest, as Steven Bergwijn redirected a ball from Luuk de Jong, who went on to score himself in the 36th.

Hirving Lozano got a goal in the 61st minute to seal the 6-2 aggregate victory.

The day’s most exciting contest unfolded in Salzburg, where Red Bull hosted Red Star Belgrade with everything to play for following the 0-0 first leg in the Serbian capital.

The hosts had the better of the chances in the first half and took the lead right before the break on a goal by Moanes Dabour, who converted from the penalty spot three minutes into the second period to give Salzburg a 2-0 advantage.

But Red Star’s Ben Nabouhane turned the game on its head, scoring in the 65th and 66th minutes to make it 2-2, and the Serbian side qualified by virtue of the away goals.

(Ians)

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