Briefly Nation

SC urges Pak to release Indians.

SC urges Pak to release Indians

NEW DELHI: Stating that it did not have powers to issue direction to other countries,the Supreme Court on Monday appealed to the government of Pakistan to release Indian prisoners languishing in various jails there on humanitarian grounds. The appeal came while the court was disposing of a petition filed by family members of one Gopal Dass,who has been languishing in a Lahore jail for the past 27 years after serving his sentence.

SC snubs Andhra govt for probe delay

NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradesh government faced the Supreme Courts ire on Monday when it sought more time to file its response to a petition seeking a judicial probe into the killing of Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in Adilabad in July last year. The SC gave it time till March 28 to file its affidavit.

Appeal for solidarity with Sikh community

WASHINGTON: A prominent Californian leader has requested people of the Sacramento region to wear a turban for a day to show solidarity with the Sikh community after two elderly members of the community were shot at early this month. Darrell Steinberg,Democratic President pro Tempore of the California Senate,on Sunday went to a Sikh Temple in West Sacramento along with several leaders and officials. On April 13 President pro Tempore Steinberg will wear a turban in solidarity with the Sikh community,a media release said.

Air Force to get tech savvy with 3G

NEW DELHI: Air Force personnel are set to get tech savvy with the service getting ready to provide close to 80,000 personnel with an exclusive 3G wireless service that will be used to communicate voice,video and data over a secure network. As part of the Air Force Network that was launched last year,all officers and air warriors of the rank of Sergeant and above will be provided with HCL made 3G CDMA handsets by June this year. The network will be available in Delhi first.

7-yr-old twins from Jammu create record

JAMMU: Seven-year-old twins Swapnil and Swapnila Acharya created a record on Sunday by flying in a Microlite Aircraft as co-pilots,in New Delhi,as a part of an awareness program by the Air Force adventure wing. The twins carried out separate sorties on special invitation,making them perhaps the youngest in the country to achieve the feat.

Bangalore man sets spelling record

BANGALORE: 25-year-old Guinness Book record holder Shishir Hathwar not only spelt the word 8216;Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia8217; meaning fear of long words without batting an eyelid but in the reverse order as well. Bangalore based Hatwar,an electronics engineer in BHEL,clinched the world record this week for the 8220;fastest backwards spelling of 50 words8221; in one minute 22.53 seconds. The earlier record was held by Deborah Prebble from UK two min 21 seconds.