Russia test launches land, submarine-based ICBMs

STAFF WRITER 19:22 HRS IST

Moscow, Oct 28 (PTI) Russia today successfully launched two inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from land and naval platforms in order to test the operational capability of deployed missiles.

The RS-12M Topol missile was launched from the Plesetsk space centre in northern Russia and hit its designated target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, Space Forces spokesman Lt Col Alexei Zolotukhin told ITAR-TASS.

The tested missile was in active service from 1987 to 2007 with the 54th Strategic Missile Division near the town of Teikovo in Ivanovo region, about 240 km northeast of Moscow.

Today's test launch has allowed Russia to extend the service life of Topol missiles to 23 years from initial 10 years.

The Defence Ministry said today that the Russian naval submarine "Bryansk" also test launched the regular 'Sineva' ballistic missile from the submerged position in the Barents Sea.

Nearly 6,000 complaints against Afghan vote

STAFF WRITER 19:33 HRS IST

Kabul, Oct 28 (AFP) An Afghan election watchdog has registered almost 6,000 complaints following last month's parliamentary poll, around half of which could affect the final results, an official said today.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has already thrown out 1.3 million votes amid concerns about fraud in the September 18 poll, the second of its kind since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.

The cancelled votes account for more than 23 percent of the ballots cast.

Ahmad Zia Rafaat, a spokesman for the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) a UN-backed election watchdog, said his organisation received nearly 6,000 complaints about irregularities and fraud since voting day.

"From the election day to date we have received 5,971 complaints," Rafaat told reporters, putting around 2,500 of the complaints in the most serious category of potential irregularities known as "group A".

He said 70 percent of the objections had been processed.

Now, second check-in bag to cost $50 extra on flights to US -

NEW DELHI: Now the key to get a great bargain between India and US is — travel light. From November 15, the world's largest airline, Continental, and German major Lufthansa will stop allowing economy passengers to check in two bags, weighing up to 23kg, free of cost. Instead, they will levy a $50 charge on the second bag and a similar fee for each subsequent bag.

The two other US carriers operating in India, American Airlines and Delta, already levy a charge for the second check-in bag. Recently, the Air France-KLM combine introduced this concept even on flights between India and Europe. Industry sources say it's just a matter of time before Indian carriers start emulating their western counterparts to earn some more money and reduce spending on handling baggage.

"India was the last market in the world where we were allowing two free check in bags. From mid-November, economy class passengers will have to pay $50 for the second bag. This charge won't apply to flyers who are member of our frequent flyer programme," Charles M Duncan, V-P (Transatlantic and India) of the recently merged United-Continental said.

Continental Airlines has a daily direct flight between New York Liberty and Delhi (the first non-stop flight between the two countries launched five years back) and Mumbai. Incidentally, Continental was the last US carrier to be serving free hot meals on domestic flights in America, a practice it has now discontinued.

Indian carriers will wait and watch as foreign carriers start levying new charges. "A number of foreign airlines, especially American, only serve soft drinks free of cost to economy flyers and sell liquor and beer. Foreign low cost carriers (LCCs) that have started flights between India and nearby countries like Gulf and southeast Asia now charge for food.

The new age traveller has accepted the idea of paying for add-ons and we will also introduce them at the appropriate time," said an Indian LCC head.

The new charges may not always mean extra burden for flyers. For instance, Air France-KLM combine earlier used to allow any number of check in bags free of cost as long as their combined weight was 20kg. Now they allow one check bag of up to 23kg and charge $55 for the second bag.

On their part, airlines insist the charge for check-in bag is as much a move to enhance revenue as also to act as deterrent for packing in more bags. "Handling every bag costs money and has risks associated with it. Having a lower volume of check-in bags will mean lower handling costs, quicker turnaround time and optimal utilization for cargo," said an official.

Read more: Now, second check-in bag to cost $50 extra on flights to US - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-second-check-in-bag-to-cost-50-extra-on-flights-to-US/articleshow/6831963.cms#ixzz13iVdcfkE

Ratan Tata to host Obama at Taj

MUMBAI: During her visit to Mumbai in July 2009, Hillary Clinton stayed at the Taj to express and lend her support to iconic hotel that was one of the main targets during the 26/11 terror attack. Now, on November 6, Barack Obama will follow suit. And host Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, is believed to meeting the US president and his team in an exclusive meeting.

He, along with trusted lieutenant, R K Krishna Kumar will brief the US President on the more than 48-hour siege that Taj was under. During those horrific nights, more than 160 people, including guests and staff, lost their lives. Obama will be staying at one of the suites of the hotels heritage wing to mark the second anniversary of the attack . He and his wife Michelle Obama will be the first high-profile guests to occupy the opulent suite since the hotel became entirely functional in August.

Later, Obama will be delivering a keynote address to a select group of business leaders from US and India at the Trident Hotel to promote better trade and investment links between the two nations. Terry McGraw CEO of McGraw Hill Companies will lead the US delegation. Other business leaders that make up the elite guest list include India-born CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi, GE's Jeffrey Immelt and Honeywell's David Cote.

India Inc will be represented by Wipro's boss Azim Premji, Mukesh Ambani , chairman of RIL, Anand Mahindra, MD of Mahindra & Mahindra and Adi Godrej, chairman of Godrej group.

Read more: Ratan Tata to host Obama at Taj - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Ratan-Tata-to-host-Obama-at-Taj/articleshow/6819079.cms#ixzz13WukAqZU

North Korea may be preparing for third nuclear test: Repo

SEOUL: North Korea appears to be preparing for a third nuclear test, a South Korean newspaper said on Thursday, citing a government source.

US satellites detected movements of personnel and vehicles at the location where the reclusive communist state carried out its first two nuclear tests, the Chosun Ilbo said.

But a South Korean defence ministry official said on condition of anonymity that such movements were being constantly detected, possibly for the daily maintenance of key strategic facilities there.

"Hectic movements of personnel and vehicles have recently been detected in Punggye-ri," Chosun quoted the unidentified government source as saying.

The North also appears to be restoring tunnels demolished during the first two tests, according to the source.

"However, it is unlikely (the North will) carry it out soon. It is expected to take another three months (to complete preparations for a third test)," the source said.

North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in October 2006 and a second in May 2009 in Punggye-ri in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, the month after it walked out of six-party nuclear disarmament talks.

The Chosun report came as Seoul is preparing to host a Group of 20 summit next month, welcoming world leaders including US President Barack Obama.

North Korea said on Saturday it was willing to resume the six-nation disarmament talks but would not be "hasty" because the United States and some other parties were "not ready".

The United States says the North must mend relations with the South and show sincerity about nuclear disarmament before any resumption of the negotiations.

China, the North's sole major ally and economic lifeline, is pressing to restart the six-party forum, which groups the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia and began in 2003.

Prospects for renewed negotiations have been clouded by South Korean and US accusations that the North torpedoed one of Seoul's warships in March, a charge Pyongyang denies.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended only in an armistice and without a formal peace treaty.

Read more: North Korea may be preparing for third nuclear test: Report - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-Korea-may-be-preparing-for-third-nuclear-test-Report/articleshow/6784705.cms#ixzz12xmjSR2A