In brief

NID to host cartoonist,award-winning author
AHMEDABAD: The National Institute of Design (NID) will host internationally-acclaimed cartoonist and graphic novelist Andy Diggle and award-winning crime-writer Denise Mina at an open for all convention-interaction on March 3.
Diggle is the cartoonist behind super-hero comics and graphic novels like Daredevil,Green Arrow and Batman. At present,Diggle is working for comics giant Marvel Comics,and has also worked with Guy Ritchie for the film Gamekeeper.
Mina is the author of the crime trilogy Garnethill,which won her the ‘Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey Memorial Dagger’ award in 1998. She was also honoured with the ‘Crime Writers’ Association Macallan Short Story Dagger’ award in 1999.
The interaction,part of the British Council’s “Lit Sutra: UK – India Literary Conversations”,will be hosted by NID Animation Film Design faculty Dhiman Sengupta between 5.30 and 7pm,and will take the form of a conversation between the three.

Four sentenced to life for murder
BHARUCH: A LOCAL court here on Friday sentenced four persons to rigorous life imprisonment for the murder of a man over a land dispute in 2008. Sessions Judge H K Ghayal also fined Ahmed Bapu,Firoz Bapu,Nazir Bapu and Ibrahim Bapu Rs 2,000 each for the murder of Hanif Yusuf Ahmed.
According to details of the case,Hanif had complained that Ahmed had illegally constructed a house on the Sarod village panchayat land in Jhambusar taluka. Based on Hanif’s complaint,the sarpanch had issued a notice to Ahmed.
Angered by the notice,Ahmed and his friends Firoz,Nazir and Ibrahim went to Hanif’s house on July 3,2008,and abused and beat him up. The next day the four once again caught hold of Hanif and assaulted him again,but this time,in a fit anger,Firoz speared him to death.

PTI

Diamond smuggling: China says will keep India informed
AHMEDABAD/BEIJING: China has refused to divulge the case details of 21 Indian traders detained for smuggling diamonds,saying they will be dealt according to law and that Indian authorities will be kept informed. Most of the traders belong to Surat and work for leading trading and polishing firms. “We believe the local authorities will handle the case according to law and relevant Chinese authorities will keep contact with the Indian side,” a Chinese Foreign Office spokesman said yesterday while answering a query. The official said foreigners must accept China’s laws,adding that “their legitimate rights and interests will be protected”. He added: “As for their specific condition,we do not have more information to provide.”

ENS/PTI

State passes Bill to bring Class VIII in primary segment
GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government on Friday passed a Bill in the Assembly seeking amendment in the Bombay Primary Education Act,1947 and Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Act,1972,to bring Class VIII in the primary education system.
The Bill was introduced by Education Minister Ramanlal Vora,who said that the Bill has been brought in to bring conformity with the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,2009.