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Kingfisher crisis: CEO summoned

"No, government is not going to have any bailout," the Minister told reporters, adding that the "government is not going to ask banks or private industry for that matter".

"Recently government had seized their bank accounts also. So our first concern is that flights which are ongoing, passenger safety should not be compromised and then let us see what reply they give. DGCA is inquiring into it," Singh said.

He said Kingfisher is facing several financial problems.

"Day before yesterday, as they did not give salary to their employees for many months, people went on strike in Kolkata. Naturally, the flights got cancelled," he said.

DGCA's role, he said, was to see that there are no questions on passenger safety.

Kingfisher was holding talks with banks and they have given their business plan.

The government has made some changes recently including in respect of aviation fuel policy whereby airlines could directly import jet fuel, Singh noted.

Shooting innocent fishermen unpardonable
crime: Shipping Minister

CHENNAI: The killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in firing allegedly by two Italian mariners on board an oil tanker is an 'unpardonable crime' and the guilty would be punished, Shipping Minister G K Vasan said here today.

"As I have already said it is condemnable. They (Kerala police) are looking into it as a suspicious incident. Our waterfront is not infested by pirates. So it is an unpardonable crime to shoot innocent fishermen thinking they are pirates.

“There is no second opinion on whether to punish them for the act," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Asked if the mariners would be tried under Indian law, he said, "One thing I am very clear. Punishment should be given to the guilty. We have lost two precious lives of fishermen, which cannot be pardoned, which cannot be taken for granted." Assuring that steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of such attacks, he said "The Mercantile Marine Department under the Shipping Ministry, along with Defence, Law and External Affairs ministries are investigating the issue and the guilty will be punished...Centre will give full protection to them."

The two fishermen, Ajesh Binki (25) and Jalastein (45) were killed on February 15 off Kollam coast near Kerala when armed guards of 'Enrica Lexie' fired at their boat.

Ponting dropped from Australia's ODI squad

BRISBANE: Ricky Ponting's ODI career appears to be over after the two-time World Cup-winning skipper was today dropped from Australia's squad for their next two matches in the ongoing tri-series also involving India and Sri Lanka.

Even as Ponting was ignored, all-rounder Shane Watson, skipper Michael Clarke and Ryan Harris returned to the 13-man squad after recovering from injuries.

The selection committee has lost patience with the 37-year-old out-of-form Ponting, who has scored just 18 runs from five innings at an average of 3.6.

The failure against India at the Gabba yesterday must have sounded the death knell on his ODI career.

"Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the squad due to his lack of form in the five Commonwealth Bank Series matches to date in this series," chairman of selectors John Inverarity said in a statement today.

"The team will not seem the same without him, but moving on from the omission of players who have been outstanding over a long period of time is the nature of elite sport.

"Ricky's record speaks for itself. He is one of the truly great performers in the history of Australian ODI cricket, with his reputation enhanced further by him captaining Australia to two World Cup victories," he added.

Under Ponting, Australia have won ODI's biggest prize in 2003 in South Africa, where he pulverised India in the final with a big hundred, and then defended the title in the West Indies four years later. PTI