European company develops mobile robots that are autonomous and multi-tasking

Madrid (Spain), September 19 (ANI): An European company has developed innovative robots which are mobile, multifunctional, collaborative, autonomous and polyvalent, suitable for a wide range of work from street cleaning and rubbish collection to accompanying elderly people.

According to a report carried out in www.basqueresearch.com, this new generation of robots have been developed by TECNALIA Technological Corporation, and are a part of the European DUSTBOT research project under the remit of the VI European Framework Programme and in which TECNALIA is participating.

These latest generation robots are suitable for the monitoring of large spaces (open and closed), as guides for persons in large shopping areas (indicating to them where a particular shop or product is within a shopping centre), for accompanying elderly people or those with certain disabilities (both at home and outside), thanks to their functions of orientation, navigation, communications with others or tele-assistance centres.

They can also be used as guides in teaching spaces (museums, visitor centres), and for transport, storage and transport and goods deliveries, besides the cleaning of both open and closed surfaces, which have either difficult or easy access.

DUSTBOT has collaborative, multifunctional and autonomous robots that are capable of operating in partially destructured environments/situations based on information provided by a map.

The robots can also facilitate working in large areas, stations, airports and other types of public buildings, without being any obstacle for the activity of these places, given its reduced size, and without being a danger for members of the public, thanks to the novel system for the detection and avoidance of obstacles.

The rail station of the Euskotren company in the Bilbao neighbourhood of Atxuri in Spain was chosen for the public presentation of these devices.

The demonstration of two robot models was undertaken: the DustCart and the DustClean.

The DustCart robot, measuring 1.45 metres high and 70 Kg in weight, has a humanoid form and is designed to interact with the user and for the collection of low demand waste.

The DustClean robot, in the form of a small vehicle and measuring 96 cm high and 250 Kg in weight, cleans streets of dirt and dust. Moreover, both control the quality of air in real time.

“These robots are the solution for cleaning areas of difficult access and for the collection of rubbish at the very front door of, above all, persons who have mobility problems when moving the rubbish to the communal waste containers,” said Inaki Inzunza, Director of the Business Unit at the Tecnalia Technological Corporation. (ANI)

Susan Sarandon’s daughter Eva Amurri strips for TV show

Melbourne, Sep 18 (ANI): It seems budding actress Eva Amurri is following in her mother Susan Sarandon’s footsteps, for she is playing the role of a student who turns to stripping in the latest series of US hit show ‘Californication’.

Sarandon was known for doing similar roles more than 20 years ago- in ‘The Hunger’ in 1983, she dropped her clothes for a controversial lesbian love scene with Catherine Deneuve and has never shied away from nudity in films.

And now Eva, 24- born from Sarandon’s relationship with an Italian director during the Eighties- is kick-starting her own acting career in a racy guest appearance on the show.

She stars as Jackie, a student who moonlights in a strip club, during the third season of the show starring David Duchovmy, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The show sees her writhing around Duchovmy’s college professor character Hank Moody, peeling off a corset to dance for him topless.

And later, she is shown at his place taking their relationship to the next level. (ANI)

Malaysia gives RM1 million grant for Malay Indian tuition centre

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 18 (ANI): The Malaysian Government has allocated RM1 million to the Sri Murugan Centre to help poor and deserving Indian students excel in their education.

The centre’s director and founder, M. Thambirajah, informed about the grant after receiving the cheque from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

The centre was established in 1982 to focus on education. It provides tuition for UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM students. It has 103 branches throughout the country, The Star reports.

Thambirajah said that over the years the centre had produced 16,000 graduates, and added that the funds would be used to open new centres with better facilities.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the National Youth Skill Training Institute’s courses would be revised to be more relevant to the job market.

He said his ministry was seeking the assistance of the private sector to identify the areas of demand so that courses could be tailored accordingly. (ANI)

Dial auto service launched in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Sept 17 (ANI): In a bid to provide quick, hassle free and reasonably charged mode of transportation, a dial-an-auto service equipped with GPS navigation system has been launched for the first time in Chandigarh.

The neat and clean pink coloured motor rickshaws, known as Tuk Tuk, are changing the way people travel in the city.

The fleet of 10 dial-an-auto-rickshaw, which is only a phone call away, also boasts of two lady drivers, the first in Chandigarh.

Women passengers, who feel safer traveling with lady drivers, are appreciating their services.

“Chandigarh is one city where people are safe anyway. We have been told we are safe with the service,” said Alka Thapar, a lady auto driver.

One has to just dial 4242424 for calling an auto rickshaw to get it at your doorstep.

The autos are equipped with tamper proof fare meters to assure passengers of not being overcharged.

“We maintain our call center. Whenever any individual requires an auto he rings up and the call centre picks up the call. They record the call and then convey to the driver by selecting the vehicle nearby to pick up the customer. That’s the procedure and customer has to pay from the pick up point to the drive point only,” said VS Dhillon, Managing Director of the Tuk Tuk Auto Rickshaw Company.

The service aims at providing a quick, reliable and safe journey to people who can relax and sit back without the fear of getting fleeced by drivers.

“I’m using it for the first time It’s reasonably priced and I’m really liking it,” says Charanjit, a customer.

The new service is a welcome change for commuters. With the new service in place, passengers can hope for a change in the attitude of traditional auto drivers who are often accused of fleecing customers. By Sunil Sharma (ANI)

Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford to go head to head with Lincoln biopics

Washington, Sept 16 (ANI): Steven Spielberg will continue work on his new movie based on the life of Abraham Lincoln, even as Robert Redford is making another biopic on the former American President.

Spielberg insists his film will be quite different from Redford’s version.

It is reported that Spielberg’s film tilled Lincoln will have the American Civil War as its plot, while Redford’s The Conspirator will deal with the events leading up to the former President’s assassination in 1865.

Contactmusic quoted Spielberg as telling Daily Variety: “We are very happy that Redford will be doing this Lincoln movie.

“It is completely different from what our DreamWorks Lincoln movie will be, and we believe that it will add to the commercial potential of our film. Lincoln as a subject is inexhaustible.”

The Jaw’s director had announced Lincoln earlier this year but the project has been delayed due to funding problems and changes in script. (ANI)

Oz speed-reader to demystify Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol 2hrs after release

Melbourne, September 14 (ANI): Publishers of Dan Brown’s much-anticipated book, ‘The Lost Symbol,’ will host speed reading competition during its launch in Australia.

The person who ends reading the book fastest will be provided with an opportunity to give its first review.

Speculations are high on the closely-guarded plot, which is believed to focus on the Freemasons.

Publisher Random House will provide a copy of the book at the State Library of NSW the moment it is released.

It is expected that the first person should complete reading in two hours.

After which the reader will give a review to public and press.

“Millions of Australians have enjoyed the pure adrenalin thrill of Dan Brown’s novels, coupled with their fascinating historical insights,” News.com.au quoted Margie Seale, managing director of Random House Australia, as saying in a statement.

The publishers anticipate that the book will match 81 million copies of The Da Vinci Code sold around the world. (ANI)

Flintoff’s England contract won’t hinder his IPL windfall

London, Sep 14(ANI): The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have admitted that despite the incremental contract, they would not be able to stop star cricketer Andrew Flintoff from hawking his cricketing talents around the world.

Flintoff had announced his retirement from Test cricket at the conclusion of the 2009 Ashes series, and under the terms and conditions of the new contract, he must only make himself available for all short-form matches. Outside that, England team director Andy Flower can no longer demand where and when he plays, but only make requests to the all-rounder, The Mirror reports.

It means that once Flintoff recovers from his knee injury he would be free to sign lucrative contracts with Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings, Lancashire and England.

The new contract is also an encouraging sign for Flintoff’s agent Andrew Chandler, who has been in negotiations with local teams from Australia, South Africa and the West Indies for the all-rounder’s services. (ANI)

Chidambaram says Maoists seeking alliance with north-east insurgent groups

New Delhi, Sep 14 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said that Maoists are seeking an alliance with northeast insurgent groups.

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day conference on internal security threats, Chidambaram said the Maoists have been sought alliances with secessionists and insurgentse also said that terrorist groups, including the LeT and the JeM, are persisting with their endeavours to launch terror attacks.

“The Communist Party of India-Maoist besides targeting inimical forces was laying a greater emphasis on targeting infrastructure like roads, bridges,” he added

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will address the conference on Tuesday. He will also present police medals for meritorious services.

The conference provides an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators to freely discuss and debate diverse national security related issues, as also the various operational, infrastructural and welfare related problems faced by them.

Its deliberations would also include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management.

The conference offers opportunities for generation and exchange of new ideas on capacity building for the police in respect of manpower, training, logistics and advanced technology.

The Intelligence Bureau organised the first ever conference of IGPs in India in 1920 and since then, these conferences have been held regularly at New Delhi in the post-independence period. The first conference was organised in 1950.

To begin with, it was a biennial event, but after 1973, it became an annual meeting for the Heads of Police Organisations in the States/Union Territories and of the Central Police Organisations. Director, Intelligence Bureau, is the ex-officio Chairman of the conference. (ANI)

No toxic substance found in Urumqui’s latest syringe attack victims’ body

Urumqui, Sep. 14 (ANI): The blood samples of Urimqui’s latest syringe attack victims showed no trace of radioactive, toxic or viral substances, such as AIDS, an expert at a Beijing-based laboratory has said.

However, Director of Disease Control and Biological Security Office with China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Qian Jun, has said that the victims have showed signs of depression.

“Although no radioactive or toxic substances were found, some patients showed various levels of anxiety and depression and have been recommended for psychological counselling,” China daily quoted Quian, as saying.

Meanwhile, the first group of syringe attack suspects were prosecuted in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

At least 500 cases of attacks have surfaced in the city since mid-August.

Two men and a woman were given sentences ranging from seven to 15 years in jail for syringe stabbings or robberies in which they threatened their victims with needles.

The court sentenced 19-year-old Yilipan Yilihamu to 15 years in prison for injecting a woman with a hypodermic needle on August 28 at a roadside fruit stall. (ANI)

Asda to sell salwar kameez under new Asian clothing range

London, Sep 14 (ANI): Supermarket giant Asda is set to launch an Asian clothing range, which will include the traditional Indian garments.

The store chain would sell garments such as salwar kameez suits and khurta tunics under the George range.

And the prices of the clothes would be starting at 7 pounds.

The George range is thought to be the first of its kind on the High Street.

“We are extremely proud,” The Daily Star quoted Fiona Lambert, brand director at George, as saying. (ANI)

DGPS/IGPs conference to deliberate on major internal security issues

New Delhi, Sep 14 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will inaugurate the DGPs/IGPs Confernce-2009 here today.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will address the conference on the second day and also present police medals for meritorious services.

The conference is expected to deliberate on major internal security threats, including left wing extremism, terrorism, coastal security, insurgency in the north-east and circulation of fake currency notes in the country.

The agenda also includes presentations on important policing issues such as the National Police Mission, corporate fraud and security arrangements being planned for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The conference provides an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators to freely discuss and debate diverse national security related issues, as also the various operational, infrastructural and welfare related problems faced by them.

Its deliberations would also include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management.

The conference offers opportunities for generation and exchange of new ideas on capacity building for the police in respect of manpower, training, logistics and advanced technology.

The intelligence Bureau organised the first ever conference of IGPs in India in 1920 and since then, these conferences have been held regularly at New Delhi in the post-independence period. The first conference was organised in 1950.

To begin with, it was a biennial event, but after 1973, it became an annual meeting for the Heads of Police Organisations in the States/Union Territories and of the Central Police Organisations. Director, Intelligence Bureau, is the ex-officio Chairman of the conference. (ANI)

Natalizumab drug improves quality of life of MS patients

Washington, Sept 13 (ANI): A new study has found that multiple sclerosis patients taking Tysabri (Natalizumab) experienced a significant improvement in both their physical function and psychological well-being.

“The symptoms that an MS patient deals with on a daily basis result in significant psychological and physical effects that can adversely impact their quality of life,” said Dr William Stuart, medical director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta.

“In a previous pivotal trial, TYSABRI not only showed a reduction in relapse rates and disability progression, but also improved quality of life.

“Results from this observational study further demonstrate the impact of TYSABRI on improving MS patients’ well-being as reported by patients who live with this disease every day,” he added.

The study assessed the health outcomes from patients’ perspectives before starting TYSABRI and after the third, sixth and 12th infusions of TYSABRI.

After six TYSABRI infusions, patients reported statistically significant improvement in disease-specific quality of life (QoL), which measures the physical impact of MS in terms of mobility and self care, as well as the psychological impact of MS in terms of anxiety/depression.

The participants also scored higher in general health-related quality of life.

The findings were presented at the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). (ANI)

Even a simple road can turn subsistence communities into commercial hunting camps

Washington, September 13 (ANI): In a new study, scientists have found that even a simple road can turn subsistence communities into commercial hunting camps that empty rainforests of their wildlife.

The study was carried out by researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the IDEAS-Universidad San Francisco de Quito at Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park.

The researchers, in the park, found that the presence of a single road in a protected area and the subsidies provided by oil companies to local people can fundamentally change how indigenous communities use their resources by providing both access to deeper parts of the forest and a cheap means of getting meat to nearby wildlife markets.

“We’ve found that a road in a forest can bring huge social changes to local groups and the ways in which they utilize wildlife resources,” said WCS and USFQ researcher Esteban Suarez, lead author of the study.

“Communities existing inside and around the park are changing their customs to a lifestyle of commercial hunting, the first stage in a potential overexploitation of wildlife,” Suarez added.

“A simple, seemingly inoffensive road can have far-reaching effects on a landscape and its people,” said Dr. Avecita Chicchon, Director of WCS’s Latin America and Caribbean Program.

“It provides hunters with more access to a wider range of forest while providing a low-cost transportation route to markets. More importantly, it plugs communities more easily into the larger economic world while creating increased demand for numerous species of animals. It is the road to unsustainability,” he added.

In the study, WCS scientists measured the levels of wild meat sold in a market in Pompeya, located about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) outside Yasuni National Park, between the years 2005-2007.

The wild meat market emerged shortly after the construction of the road.

Although road access was strictly controlled, the oil companies operating this concession provided free travel along the road for hunters from local Waorani communities, according to the study.

The availability of cheap transportation is the biggest factor in determining the large amount of wild meat making it to market from Waorani communities.

In fact, the road’s very existence prompted many Waorani to abandon their semi-nomadic lifestyle; three Waorani communities now live along the road.

Between the years of 2005 and 2007, the researchers recorded more than 11,000 kilograms (24,000 pounds) of wild meat moving through the Pompeya market each year. (ANI)

Taliban now terrorise 80% of Afghanistan after eight years of war: Report

Kabul, Sep. 11 (ANI): Almost eight years after the war began in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 carnage, the Taliban insurgency has spread across 80 percent of the country.

The violent incidents this week have drawn attention to the deteriorating security situation of northern Afghanistan, which had largely remained peaceful so far, the Christian Science Monitor reports.

The northern provinces are facing difficult times as heavy insurgent activity has spread to 80 percent of the country – up from 54 percent two years ago, the report says.

The militants’ focus has shifted to northern parts following continuous pressure from their Pakistani counterparts to attack NATO’s second supply route situated here, it adds.

“[Militants] have been trying to widen the ground for the insurgency in Afghanistan and now they have got momentum. The militants are eager to target this route to prevent a smooth supply chain from northern Afghanistan,” the report quoted Waliullah Rahmani, executive director of the Kabul Center for Strategic Studies, as saying.

Last week’s airstrike targeted two fuel tankers headed to supply NATO troops in Kabul that had been hijacked by the Taliban.

Although the increase in violence is only a recent phenomenon, the conditions had worsened long ago, the report says.

The violence can be linked to districts with large Pashtun populations, whose grievances the government has failed to address – making them sympathetic to the Taliban, who share their ethnicity and language, it adds.

“The districts which are turning violent are those which have had a very recent history of abuses against the Pashtuns.

The government has allowed these conditions to go unaddressed and this is now being addressed by the population by giving shelter to the Taliban and other insurgents,”the report quoted Prakhar Sharma, the head of research at the Center for Conflict and Peace Studies, as saying.(ANI)

Sea levels rose as much as 2 feet this summer along the US East Coast

Washington, September 12 (ANI): Reports indicate that sea levels rose as much as 2 feet (60 centimeters) higher than predicted this summer along the US East Coast, surprising scientists who forecast such periodic fluctuations.

According to National Geographic News, though the immediate cause of the unexpected rise has now been solved, the underlying reason remains a mystery.

Usually, predicting seasonal tides and sea levels is a pretty cut-and-dried process, governed by the known movements and gravitational influences of astronomical bodies like the moon, according to Rich Edwing, deputy director for the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

But, NOAA’s phones began ringing this summer when East Coast residents reported higher than predicted water levels, much like those associated with short-term weather events like tropical storms.

These high seas persisted for weeks, throughout June and July.

The startling rise caused only minor coastal flooding, but puzzled scientists.

Now, a new report has identified the two major factors behind the high sea levels-a weakened Gulf Stream and steady winds from the northeastern Atlantic.

The Gulf Stream is a northward-flowing superhighway of ocean water off the US East Coast.

Running at full steam, the powerful current pulls water into its “orbit” and away from the East Coast.

But this summer, for reasons unknown, “the Gulf Stream slowed down,” Edwing said, sending water toward the coasts-and sea levels shooting upward.

Adding to the sustained surge, autumn winds from the northeastern Atlantic arrived a few months early, pushing even more water coastward.

The higher waters caused inconveniences for some anglers and boaters and rearranged a bit of shoreline.

“A couple of sand beaches we’d normally fish from were eaten up. And the volume of water was higher than it normally would be,” said Paulie Apostolides, owner of Paulie’s Tackle in Montauk on New York State’s Long Island.

Even before the new report, released by NOAA on September 2, Apostolides said that many local fishers had already attributed the sea level rise to the “ferocious” winds from the northeast. (ANI)

Lover of collapsed MG Rover director paid 1.7-mn pounds for a year’s work

London, Sep 12 (ANI): MG Rover’s director paid his lover 1.7 million pounds for a year’s work, according to a report on the collapse of the car manufacturing giant.

In May 2000, the Phoenix consortium-John Towers, Nick Stephenson, Peter Beale and John Edwards-acquired the business for a nominal 10 pounds from BMW.

BMW ensured that MG Rover could survive for a few years. But from the outset, it was clear that it had no long-term future unless it could find a substantial business partner within the motor industry.

The report into the demise of the giant compiled by Gervase MacGregor, a partner at the accountants BDO Stoy Hayward, and the barrister Guy Newey QC condemns the consortium which made a fortune out of the collapsed car maker, The Independent reports.

They reported that the four directors supplied inaccurate and misleading information about Rover’s finances to MPs, and singled out evidence Beale gave to the Commons trade and industry select committee.

They expressed concern over the plainly excessive fee of almost 1.7 million pounds paid to Dr Qu Li for advice she gave the Phoenix management about potential business partners in China.

For some of the time Dr Li was paid by Rover, she and Stephenson were having an affair. The report protested about the poor “corporate governance” of the Phoenix team: some board members were not invited to several board meetings and inaccurate minutes were taken of discussions.

Despite the failure of MG Rover between 2000 and 2005, the Phoenix Four continued to pay themselves generously right up to the group’s demise in 2005.

Towers, who led the buyout, was paid 8.96 million pounds, Stephenson 8.98 million pounds and Edwards received 9.02 million pounds. Beale, who is accused of misleading the parliamentary inquiry into the company’s collapse, was paid 8.98 million pounds over the four years, while Howe pocketed 5.71 million pounds.

The report cleared ministers of blame for MG Rover’s demise. (ANI)

DGPS/IGPs conference to deliberate on major internal security issues

New Delhi, Sep 11 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will inaugurate the DGPs/IGPs Confernce-2009 on September 14.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will address the conference on the second day and also present police medals for meritorious services.

The conference is expected to deliberate on major internal security threats, including left wing extremism , terrorism, coastal security, insurgency in the north-east and circulation of fake currency notes in the country.

The agenda also includes presentations on important policing issues such as the National Police Mission, corporate fraud and security arrangements being planned for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The conference provides an interactive platform for senior police professionals and security administrators to freely discuss and debate diverse national security related issues, as also the various operational, infrastructural and welfare related problems faced by them.

Its deliberations would also include formulation and sharing of professional practices and processes in tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management.

The conference offers opportunities for generation and exchange of new ideas on capacity building for the police in respect of manpower, training, logistics and advanced technology.

The intelligence Bureau organised the first ever conference of IGPs in India in 1920 and since then, these conferences have been held regularly at New Delhi in the post-independence period. The first conference was organised in 1950.

To begin with, it was a biennial event, but after 1973, it became an annual meeting for the Heads of Police Organisations in the States/Union Territories and of the Central Police Organisations. Director, Intelligence Bureau, is the ex-officio Chairman of the conference. (ANI)

Biocon limited, Amylin pharmaceuticals enter global development agreement

Bangalore/ California Sep 11(ANI/Business Wire India): Biocon, Limited (NSE: BIOCON) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to jointly develop, commercialize and manufacture a novel peptide therapeutic for the potential treatment of diabetes.

Amylin and Biocon will collaborate to develop the therapeutic potential of the compound and share development costs. Research will center on Amylin’s “phybrid” technology. A phybrid is a peptide hybrid molecule that combines the pharmacological effects of two peptide hormones into a single molecular entity.

Under the terms of the Development and Commercialization Agreement, Amylin will provide expertise in peptide hormone development, particularly in the area of phybrid technology, as well as metabolic disease therapeutics. Biocon will utilize its expertise in recombinant microbial expression to manufacture the compound and also leverage its experience in pre-clinical and clinical development of diabetes products.

“This agreement fully leverages the synergistic capabilities of the two companies,” said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon, Ltd. “Amylin’s knowledge of peptide therapeutics and their leadership in the diabetes market, paired with Biocon’s capabilities in process development, manufacturing and clinical development, provides this global program with the potential to effectively bring a novel therapy to patients living with diabetes.”

“This program could unleash the potential of cutting-edge peptide science to transform the lives of patients with diabetes,” said Daniel M. Bradbury, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “We are pleased to work with Biocon, a biologics innovator and world-class manufacturing expert, and look forward to collaborating with them on this exciting program.”

Amylin Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. (ANI)

US Navy ship sunk in World War II battle located

Washington, September 11 (ANI): A research mission has located and identified the final resting place of the YP-389, a US Navy patrol boat sunk approximately 20 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, by a German submarine during World War II.

Six sailors died in the attack on June 19, 1942. There were 18 survivors.

The wreck is located in about 300 feet of water in a region off North Carolina known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” home to US and British naval vessels, merchant ships, and German U-boats sunk during the Battle of the Atlantic.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and its expedition partners mapped and shot video of the wreck using high-resolution camera equipment, multibeam sonar and an advanced remotely operated vehicle deployed from the NOAA ship Nancy Foster.

Researchers were able to locate and positively identify the YP-389 by reexamining data from the Duke Marine Laboratory expedition that discovered the USS Monitor in 1973.

Today, the relatively intact remains of the YP-389 rest upright on the ship’s keel.

The wreck site is home to a variety of marine life. Much of the outer-hull plating has fallen away, leaving only the intact frames exposed.

“She rests now like a literal skeleton, a reminder of a time long ago when the nation was at war,” said Joseph Hoyt, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary archaeologist and principal investigator for the project.

Built originally as a fishing trawler, the YP-389 was converted into a coastal patrol craft and pressed into service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The ship was equipped with one 3-inch deck gun to protect the ship from enemy aircraft and surfaced submarines and two .30-caliber machine guns.

However, on the day of the attack by the German submarine U-701, the ship’s deck gun was inoperative, and the YP-389 could return fire only with its machine guns.

Weeks after the attack on the YP-389, the U-701 was sunk by Army aircraft in the same vicinity as the YP-389.

According to Rear Admiral Jay A. DeLoach, USN (Ret), director, Naval History and Heritage Command, “The US Navy considers the YP-389 discovery a grave site and, by law, it is to be left undisturbed.” (ANI)

Centre creates “Invest India” company to promote foreign investment in the country

New Delhi, Sep 10 (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the formation of a company ‘Invest India’ for the promotion of foreign investments under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Announcing the formation of ‘Invest India,’ Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said “The company will be a joint venture between the Government of India, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the State Governments will be responsible for promoting foreign investments into the country in a more focused, comprehensive and structured manner.”

The new company is expected to assist the government in its efforts towards projecting India as an attractive investment destination for foreign investors. The company will also assist foreign investors in identifying and realizing investment opportunities in India.

“The unique feature of this company is the partnership between the private sector organization and the Government of India and the State Governments. This is, unlike anywhere else in the world and seeks both to leverage the synergies of all three as well as address their investment priorities,” Sharma added.

Sharma informed that “The Board of Directors of the Invest India comprises of six members from Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and six members from FICCI.”

“Secretary DIPP will be its Non Executive Chairman. The Board of Directors will appoint a Managing Director and FICCI will provide the administrative, personnel and management support for day to day functioning,” Sharma said.

The authorized capital of the company will be Rs 10crore and the initial paid up capital Rs. one crore. While FICCI will have 51percent share in the equity, DIPP will have 49 percent share to begin with. DIPP’s share will be reduced overtime to 35 percent of paid up capital with induction of fresh equity by the State Governments.

The company will act as the first reference point for any investor interested in India and will also facilitate in setting up business within the country, by making available sector wise consultants and coordinating with the state government on feasible measures, Sharma said. (ANI)