S P O T L I G H T

Life term for raping 2-yr-old
Vadodara, December 17
A city court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for raping a two-year-old girl, leading to her death at Bhil village in the district last year. Additional Sessions Judge H.D. Chaglani, who convicted Laxman Hira Vasava yesterday, however, refused to accept the prosecutions appeal for a death sentence. According to the prosecution, the 30-year-old accused lured the victim with a biscuit and raped her in a field when her parents were not at home. UNI

Ballots in bin
Colombo, December 17
The Sri Lankan police today begun an investigation into the discovery of more than 1,000 ballot papers found in a rubbish bin 12 days after Parliamentary elections, officials said. The ballot papers were found in the town of Vavuniya, 254 km north of the capital in a rubbish bin near the main bus station. AFP

‘Monsoon Wedding’
Washington, December 17
Mira Nair’s award winning film the “Monsoon Wedding” will be the opening movie at the 13th annual Nortel Networks international film festival beginning on January 10 in Palm Spring, California. More than 150 films, culled from more than 45 countries, will be screened at the festival. The films include 50 US and 10 world premieres, from across the globe. UNI

Endeavour lands
Cape Canaveral, December 17
The space shuttle Endeavour landed under unprecedented security at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center today, returning to earth after 12 days with three astronauts, who have lived in space since August. Endeavour touched down shortly before 11.30 pm (IST) after delivering a new crew and more than two tonnes of supplies to the International Space Station. Reuters