Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Wild Asian elephant Attacks on Foreign Tourists in Sri Lanka

Feb 15, 2017

Over the past few decades, tourism has become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world and a key driver of socio-economic progress.

The economic activity generated by travel and tourism represents around 5% of GDP and an estimated 6 – 7% of the world’s jobs (World Tourism Organization 2015). In 2010, the number of international tourists reached 940 million and this is forecast to grow to around 1.6 billion by 2020 (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2012). Tourism is one of the key sectors propelling the economic growth of Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka has introduced a program to attract 2.5 million tourists annually, by year 2016 (Ministry of Economic Development 2011). Wildlife and nature are one of eight product categories Sri Lanka tourism focuses on, and elephants are one of the main wildlife products identied (Ministry of Economic Development 2011). The Department of Wildlife Conservation Sri Lanka (DWC) has also identied elephants as a key component for promoting wildlife tourism (DWC 2016). The majority of tourists visiting Sri Lanka are interested in observing elephants in the wild (Senevirathna & Perera 2013). Therefore the elephant is a key component of Sri Lankan tourism industry. However, elephants can also pose a danger to tourists. This study analyzed incidents of wild Asian elephant (
Elephas maximus
) attacks involving foreign tourists in the past three years

Materials and methods
Google Sri Lanka <http://www.google.lk> was used to search for articles related to wild elephant attacks on foreign tourists. The keywords ‘Wild Elephant’, ‘Attack’, ‘Tourist’ and ‘Sri Lanka’ were used for searching. A total of 28 articles were found and after removing repetitions of incidents and irrelevant material, three incidents were identied. Further information on the incidents was collected by interviewing DWC and police ofcers and eyewitnesses. Altogether 13 persons were interviewed

Results
Case 1 – A tourist was attacked in March 2014 when she attempted to follow ‘Rambo’, a free – ranging elephant, which frequented the electric fence at the Udawalawe National Park boundary, along the Thanamalwila road. Rambo has been frequenting this area for many years, but was very docile with passers-by, who even hand-fed him through the electric fence. The tourist had rst fed Rambo and had been highly fascinated to be at such close quarters to a wild elephant. Rambo had then walked along the fence and the tourist had crept through the fence and followed him, in spite of villagers warning her not to do that. When she approached Rambo he had turned around and hit her with his trunk, sending her sprawling to the ground. He then kicked her, injuring her head badly, and walked away. She was rushed to a hospital where she was treated and subsequently recovered.Case 2 – A tourist was attacked in February 2016 by an elephant, which frequented th

34Habarana – Polonnaruwa road, which runs along the Minneriya National Park. This particular elephant was used to getting food from people visiting a nearby temple. Local people commonly went close to the elephant but he did not show any aggression towards them. The tourist was attacked when he attempted to photograph the elephant after going close to him, and sustained a leg injury.Case 3 – An elephant attacked a tourist killing him, in May 2016 on the Habarana – Sigiriya road. The incident happened where the road runs across the Moragaswewa Forest Reserve. According to the DWC, the victim had attempted to take a photograph with the elephant, as pieces of a broken camera were found at the site of the incident. However, his companion stated that they were attacked while they were travelling on the motorbike

Discussion
All three attacks occurred on or close to main roads in proximity to protected areas, where free – ranging elephants are commonly seen. In all the cases the victims tried to approach the elephants, presumably without knowing the risk. A study by Durrheim and Leggat (1999) found that seven tourists were killed by wild animals in South Africa, in a period of ten years. Three of the deaths resulted from tourists approaching lions on foot, while the management of KwaZulu-Natal Reserve was held responsible for another death caused by a lion. Ignorance of animal behaviour and disregard of rules contributed to two fatalities involving hippos. Unusual behaviour due to illness was responsible for the death caused by an elephant. The same study found 14 nonfatal attacks on tourists, including ve by hippopotami, three by buffaloes, two by rhinos, and one each by a lion, leopard, zebra and an elephant. Only the last occurred while a visitor was in a motor vehicle. Durrheim and Leggat (1999) suggest that attacks by wild animals are an uncommon cause of injury to tourists in South Africa. Our results suggest that the situation is similar in Sri Lanka, with deaths and injury to tourists being related to ignorance of the danger posed by wild animals
Most tourists may not have experienced large wild animals in their countries of residence. Therefore they may not be aware of the potential danger posed by them. During Safari trips in protected areas, tourists are accompanied by DWC ofcers, travel guides or jeep drivers, who would advise them of such danger, reducing the possibility of incidents. However, the dangers are greater when tourists are on their own. Creating awareness among tourists about the risks posed by wildlife could prevent such incidents. Activities such as information display at airports and roadside notices on roads where wild animals could be encountered would be useful in this regard.

Arrests made over death of Kim Jong-nam

Malaysian police say first female suspect was carrying Vietnamese passport and was alone at the time of arrest.

16 Feb 2017 04:16 GMT

Malaysian police have detained a second woman believed to be connected to the death of Kim Jong Nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported.

Police Inspector General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the detention on Thursday and said an official statement would be released later in the day, state news agency Bernama said.

On Wednesday, a a woman carrying Vietnamese travel documents bearing the name Doan Thi Huong was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the scene of Monday's poisoning.

Police are also hunting for further suspects.

Kim died on Monday after suddenly falling ill at Kuala Lumpur airport. He had been on his way to the Chinese territory of Macau, where he had been living. He was reportedly living under China's protection.

He died on his way to hospital.

An autopsy was to be performed on Wednesday, police said.

Police and authorities were working with diplomats from North Korea and Vietnam to confirm whether or not the suspect is a Vietnamese citizen, local media reported.

Al Jazeera's Karishma Vyas, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, said police are looking for several others suspects, including four men who might be involved in the murder of Kim Jong-nam.

"Kim had lived in exile for many years and kept a low profile. He never publicly expressed interest in challenging his half-brother Kim Jong-un for the North Korean leadership, however, he has been critical of the regime. He did not support the dynastic style of the political rule [and] that may have been perceived as threat."

'Brutality of Kim Jong-un regime'

South Korea's spy agency suspects that two female North Korean agents assassinated Kim, South Korean MPs in Seoul have said.

"If the murder of Kim Jong-nam was confirmed to be committed by the North Korean regime, that would clearly depict the brutality and inhumanity of the Kim Jong-un regime," South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is also the country's acting president, told a security council meeting.

Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from Seoul, said: "The National Intelligence Service here says this is a long-standing order from the North Korean leadership. There was [reportedly] an attempt in 2012 to kill him. There have long been efforts to eradicate this family member."

Kim Jong-nam, left, was the exiled half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, right [File: AP]

While there was speculation over the timing of the incident, the head of Seoul's spy agency has said that North Korea probably just made the most of an opportunity that presented itself, said Fawcett.

Kim, 46, was targeted in the shopping concourse at the airport and had not yet gone through immigration for his flight to Macau, said a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case involves sensitive diplomacy.

Kim told medical workers that he had been attacked with a chemical spray, the official said.

Although Kim had been tipped by some outsiders as a possible successor to his father, others thought that was unlikely because he lived outside the country, including recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

Stephen Colbert’s anti-Trump experiment is starting to work

By Callum Borchers February 14 at 10:58 AM

Stephen Colbert dropped the “L” word (lie) and the “F” word (you know) on the Trump White House on Monday night. It was the late-night comedian’s latest blast of politically charged commentary — primarily directed at the 45th president. And it was the kind of performance that just a short time ago seemed to risk alienating large numbers of potential viewers but now appears to be making the “Late Show” host a very big draw.

Colbert lampooned White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, who on his tour of the Sunday political talk shows asserted that “the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned.”

“Will not be questioned? Let me test that theory,” Colbert said. “What the f--- are you talking about?”

Colbert then challenged Miller, who said he is “prepared to go on any show, anytime, anywhere,” to appear on Tuesday’s “Late Show.”

“Listen, if you don’t show up, I’m going to call you a liar,” Colbert said. “And if you do show up, I’m going to call you a liar to your face.”

Miller did not show.

With forceful remarks like this, Colbert has been gaining on late-night king Jimmy Fallon, who is far less inclined to take on the president in a harsh manner.

Conventional wisdom is that Fallon’s approach works best on a major broadcast network. When the Hollywood Reporter commissioned a survey of late-night viewers in the fall of 2015, shortly after

Colbert’s debut on CBS, it found that Fallon appealed to people across the political spectrum. The “Tonight Show” host’s audience was 36 percent Democrat, 31 percent Republican and 27 percent independent.

Colbert’s audience skewed sharply to the left: 47 percent Democrat, 17 percent Republican and 31 percent independent.

A liberal slant helped make Colbert a star on Comedy Central, but “CBS executives made it clear that they expected Mr. Colbert to broaden his appeal when he moved to the medium of late night on a network,” the New York Times reported at the time of his hiring.

Colbert, however, was among Trump’s fiercest critics during the campaign and never really moderated his politics. Ratings throughout his first year on the “Late Show” were underwhelming, much to the delight of conservative publications such as the Weekly Standard, which in May called Colbert’s early struggles “sweet schadenfreude.”

Former Daily Show host Stephen Colbert weighed in on the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump during an interview with CBS News' Face the Nation on Dec. 25, 2016. (Reuters)

Absent another survey of late-night audiences, it is unclear what exactly has reversed Colbert’s fortunes. Are liberal viewers tuning in in greater numbers? Or is Colbert bringing in conservatives who were uncomfortable with Trump during the campaign and who feel unnerved by his fledgling administration?

It is worth noting that Colbert’s skewering of Miller on Monday night had little to do with liberal or conservative policy ideas; it was about a claim to unchecked power, which could alarm anybody.

We’ll see whether Colbert can sustain his recent success. But if he was waiting for ratings to catch up to his vision for the “Late Show,” his patience is being rewarded, for now.

Trump throws Palestinian future into doubt with wavering on two-state solution

US president says he would be 'happy' with one-state solution, indicating move away from US commitment to Palestine state in West Bank

Trump and Netanyahu at the White House (Reuters)

Graeme Baker-Wednesday 15 February 2017

The goal of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank was thrown into confusion on Wednesday as Donald Trump said he was neither committed to its existence nor against a "one-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a news conference at the White House with the Israel prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president said he was committed to a "really great" peace deal, but failed to give any commitment when asked what form that deal should take.

"The United States will encourage a really great peace deal. It is the parties themselves that must directly negotiate. Both sides will have to make compromises," said Trump.

I'm looking at two-state and one-state and I like the one that both parties like. I can live with either.

Donald Trump

Asked if he was moving away from endorsing a two-state solution, Trump said: "I'm looking at two-state and one-state and I like the one that both parties like. I'm very happy with the one that both parties like.

"I can live with either one. I thought for a while it looked like the two-state, looked like it may be the easier of the two, but honestly if Bibi [Netanyahu] and the Palestinians and Israel are happy, I am happy with the one they like the best."

The Israel-Palestine peace deal has for decades been predicated on agreeing to the creation of a Palestinian state to live beside Israel as an independent nation. However, the White House under Trump has indicated it is no longer committed to it as a defacto solution.

Trump's words echoed those of officials speaking on condition of anonymity, who said that a two-state agreement "that doesn't bring peace is not a goal that anybody wants to achieve".

"Peace is the goal, whether that comes in the form of a two-state solution if that's what the parties want, or something else if that's what the parties want."

Trump said Israel was being unfairly treated with boycott campaigns (screengrab)

Netanyahu said that he did not want to see a two-state solution that would give rise to a "terrorist, Islamic dictatorship".

"What does Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president] mean by two states? What are we talking about? Costa Rica or another Iran?"

Netanyahu said "radical Islamic terror" was the gravest threat to his nation, and that for any peace deal to be successful, Palestinians must recognise the "Jewish state" and end their calls for Israel's destruction.

"Two pre-requisites: recognition of the Jewish state, and Israel's security west of the Jordan river," he said.

He claimed the issue of illegal settlements in the West Bank were not the "core" of the conflict. Israel has recently passed a law that effectively endorses settlements under Israeli statute.

The settlements are illegal under international law.

Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu's far-right education minister, praised Trump's refusal to commit to a two-state solution.

"A new era. New ideas. No need for 3rd Palestinian state beyond Jordan & Gaza. Big day for Israelis & reasonable Arabs. Congrats," he said on Twitter in English.

In Hebew, he said: "After 24 years, the Palestinian flag has come down from the mast and the Israeli flag has taken its place," alluding to the 1993 Oslo accords which promised to establish an independent Palestinian state.

Egypt offers settlement in Sinai

The news conference came as reports from Israel had suggested the Palestinian president had rejected an offer by Egypt to resettle his people in land in the Sinai peninsula and annex that to the Gaza Strip - another suggestion that a two state solution based on Palestinian land in the West Bank was no longer being considered.

Speaking to a gathering of his Fatah party in Ramallah on Sunday, Abbas said that an unnamed senior Egyptian official had recently suggested the idea, which was originally proposed by former Israeli national security adviser Giora Eiland.

"They [the Egyptians] are prepared to receive all the refugees, [saying] 'let’s end the refugee story'," Abbas was quoted by Maan news agency as saying.

Abbas told the crowd that if Israel had its way, Gaza would become the Palestinian state while the West Bank would remain under Israeli influence.

Trump meanwhile said that he would "love to see" the US embassy move from Tel Aviv in Jerusalem - a plan that has attracted great criticism from Muslim leaders and Palestinians as itself endangering the two-state solution. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to form the capital of their future state.

"We are looking at it with great care, believe me. We'll see what happens," Trump said.

He added that Palestinians must stop teaching their children "tremendous hate" towards Israel.

"I have seen what they are taught. It starts at a very early age, it starts in the school room. They have to acknowledge a very great country.

"I want the Israel people to know the US stands with Israel against terrorism. Peace requires nations to uphold the dignity of human life and be a voice for all of those who are endangered and forgotten."

He also said Israel was unfairly targeted at the UN and boycotts that target Israel.

On other matters, the US president added that Israel's "security challenges are enormous including Iran's nuclear ambitions" and said the Iran nuclear deal was "one of the worst deals I've ever seen".

"I will do more to prevent Iran from ever developing a nuclear weapons. I mean ever".

Abbas speaks out

After Trump met with Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement on Wednesday that demanded a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory. It added that was committed to a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel.

Abbas said he agreed with Trump's call for Israel to refrain from settlement building in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"The presidency demands that (Israel) agree to (Trump's call), and that of the international community, to halt all settlement activities including in occupied East Jerusalem," the statement said.

Abbas' statement added that the Palestinians affirmed their "readiness to deal positively with the Trump administration to make peace". Talks have been frozen since 2014.

The Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the Israeli occupied West Bank, territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war and the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Lessons of the West, this week

Uditha Devapriya-2017-02-14

Reports indicating that Donald Trump might issue a new Executive Order to bypass the Circuit Court of Appeal suspension of his earlier order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries amuse me. They amuse me because the West, for all intents and purposes, is witnessing the same paradigm shift it tried to prevent in the East. They amuse me because the United States of America has elected arguably the most populist leader since Andrew Jackson, whose approval ratings have since plummeted.

Lessons of the West.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

Economics of murder in the Philippines

Philippine opposition finds its voice as Duterte pauses his bloody drug war

by Mark R Thompson-Feb 15, 2017

( February 15, 2017, Hong Kong SAR, SriLankaa Guardian) After slow-drip revelations last month that several members of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group had kidnapped and killed a South Korean businessman in October 2016, a reluctant Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called off his “war on drugs” at the end of January.

It was particularly embarrassing for the government that these criminal cops had taken Jee Ick-joo to police headquarters in Metro Manila where they strangled him before demanding a large ransom from his wife, who was led to believe he was still alive.

With guns falling silent in what had been a nightly crackdown over the past six months, this may prove to be the turning point in a bloody campaign that, at last count, has left more than 7,000 people dead.

Covering tracks

Critics claimed that Jee’s killing was further proof that corrupt police had been using the war on drugs to commit crimes of their own – particularly against those involved in the drug trade – in order to cover their tracks. But there’s also growing evidence that many of those killed in the drug war were innocent.

Of course, all of those murdered either in “police encounters” or by motorcycle assassins riding in tandem were denied any sort due process. But a number of stories have emerged that suggest mistakes were being made or scores settled under the cover of the drug crackdown.

The fact that both kinds of killing have stopped since the suspension of the anti-drug campaign appears to confirm what critics always suspected: the murders by police and mysterious vigilantes were closely linked.

One of the most heart-wrenching stories is that of the Rosales siblings. The murder of Lauren Rosales led to one of the most moving pleas to end the “collateral damage” of the war on drugs. Her brother JR was killed by assassins while investigating her murder.

A 2008 Human Rights Watch investigation of a similarly violent crackdown on drugs in Thailand in 2003, in which nearly 3,000 people are estimated to have been killed, showed that more than half of those who died had no connection to drugs whatsoever.

As British academic and writer James Fenton pointed out in his recent account of the drug killings, this underlines the truth of the words British writer GK Chesterton put in mouth of his detective Father Brown:

Where does a wise man hide a pebble? … on the beach … Where does a wise man hide a leaf? … In the forest … And if a man had to hide a dead body, he would make a field of dead bodies to hide it in.

Penal populism for the poor

Observers have often been at a loss to explain why Duterte’s drug crackdown has enjoyed strong public support. But perhaps because of the drug war, a recent survey showed more than three-quarters of Filipinos claim it had reduced the drug menace in their neighbourhoods.

Drawing on the appeal of “penal populism”, which has been defined as “a political style that builds on collective sentiments of fear and demands
for punitive politics”, Duterte has implemented his authoritarian “Davao model” (named after the southern city of Davao, where he was mayor) nationally.

He uses violence as spectacle to humiliate friends and families of purported drug dealers and users, who are portrayed as subhuman and thus legitimate targets of extermination. And this discourages investigation of the killings and conveys the political message that he can protect ordinary people.

State-encouraged violence thus creates a sense of political order amid weak institutions.

The war on drugs in the Philippines has created “an economy of murder” according to a new report by Amnesty International. The human rights group has revealed that police are paid hundreds of US dollars for each extrajudicial killing – but not for arrests. And that the murders are staged to make they seem like legitimate police operations through planted evidence and falsified reports.

Besides often stealing from the home of the murder victims, police also have links to funeral homes, who pay to get the corpse delivered to them, according to the report, causing the usually destitute families of the victims additional hardship.

Police lock down poor neighbourhoods under a policy known as Oplan TokHang – a portmanteau combining the Cebuano words tuktok (knock) and hangyo (plead) – to get drug dealers and users to surrender. This is in stark contrast to their polite treatment of people in rich neighbourhoods, where they go from house to house investigating people for possible drug use.

Most victims of police and vigilante “hits” are poor and defenceless people, making the war against the drugs appear more like a war against the poor.

Mounting resistance

But it now seems that something like a “poor Filipino lives matter” movement is gaining strength.

The country’s Catholic bishops, long intimidated by Duterte’s threats to reveal the Church’s hypocrisy over sex scandals, issued a pastoral letter on February 5 unequivocally condemning the violent anti-drug campaign as a “reign of terror” for poor communities of the country.

The communist left is involved in protracted peace negotiations to end a five-decade long insurgency, against the government. It had accepted three social welfare oriented cabinet-level positions in the current government, but has recently been distancing itself from its informal alliance with Duterte.

As the number of drug-related killings mounted, the hard left’s role in Duterte’s government became increasingly untenable. Its position became particularly difficult as promises made by the government to improve the life of the poor in exchange for support failed to materialise.

There’s been no movement on land reform, and little sign that the administration is serious about fulfilling its promise to put a stop to the rampant practice of offering short-term contracts – a process that enables companies to roll over employee contracts to avoid paying benefits and keep wages low.

The Communists suspended a ceasefire after accusing the military of “encroaching” on territory they controlled in the countryside and of the government of reneging on a promise to release jailed comrades. Duterte retaliated by cancelling peace negotiations, warning the rebels to be “ready to fight” again.

It is telling that three of the most high-profile figures who oppose Duterte’s violent drug crackdown are women – former vice president Leni Robredo, Senator Leila de Lima, and US-based activist Loida Nicolas-Lewis.

These women stand in contrast to Duterte’s tough guy image and misogyny (he has gone so far as to joke about rape victims).

All three “loathsome ladies,” as Duterte social media “trolls” have dubbed them, have been smeared, often using sexual innuendo and even faked sex videos. His congressional allies held hearings interrogating de Lima’s driver, who was also her lover (a dual sin in a class-bound society with double standards), about alleged links between de Lima and drug lords.

Duterte couldn’t resist giving the story a final machismo spin. “She was not only screwing her driver, she was screwing the nation,” he said.

A pause in the killing

Duterte’s early presidency has seen a monomaniacal commitment to his violent drug crackdown during which he has drawn on his deep-seated nationalism to fend off Western criticism.

Although he has threatened to substitute the military for the police in order to resume his war on drugs and has won the alleged support of Donald Trump for the drug crackdown, the killings have ended for now.

This will spare dozens of lives daily, mostly in the poorest parts of Metro Manila and other areas in the Philippines targeted during the crackdown. Pressure, from South Korea and also from the foreign business community in the Philippines generally, was crucial in influencing the suspension.

But whether this form of state violence can be stopped in the long term will largely depend on how strong opposition becomes within the country itself.

Mark R Thompson, Professor of Politics & Head of the Department of Asian and International Studies, City University of Hong Kong

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

India and Russia seek to revive stalled helicopter venture

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend an exchange of agreements event after the India-Russia Annual Summit in Benaulim, Goa, October 15, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Konstantin Zavrazhin via REUTERS/Files

By Sanjeev Miglani | BENGALURU, INDIA- Thu Feb 16, 2017

India and Russia are nearing a joint venture to make light helicopters in India, reviving a plan announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015.

Delhi needs to replace hundreds of ageing utility helicopters deployed along its Himalayan border with China as well as in the disputed Kashmir region.

This means an initial order of 200 Kamov-226 helicopters, of which 140 will be built in India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to build a domestic defence industrial base and cut imports, is expected to be increased.

And final documents relating to the $1 billion Kamov deal involving Russian Helicopters, Rosoboronexport and India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has been submitted to Putin, HAL's chief T. Suvarna Raju, told reporters on Wednesday.

While India has sealed deals with the United States for 22 Apache attack and 15 heavy lift Chinook helicopters at total cost of about $2.5 billion, plans to buy Russian helicopters and fifth generation fighter aircraft have been dogged by problems.

"There are issues between parties, but these are being tackled," Sergey Goreslavsky, deputy director general of Rosoboronexport, said at India's biggest air show in the southern city of Bengaluru.

A team will assess the Indian manufacturing facilities over the next few months. "We are keeping our fingers crossed about launching production this year," an executive at Russian Helicopters said.

The executive, who did not want to be named, said the joint venture will be modelled along the lines of Brahmos, the India-Russia entity producing supersonic missiles, which which military analysts say are among the deadliest in their class.

Russia was long the main supplier of military equipment to India, but Delhi has turned to France, Israel and increasingly the United States for supply of hardware in recent years.

U.S. aerospace and defence firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing have both offered to set up production lines in India to make combat planes.

(Editing by Alexander Smith)

India puts record 104 satellites into orbit, in one go

With a single rocket, India successfully put 104 satellites into orbit, breaking the previous record set by Russia.

14 Feb 2017
India has successfully put a record 104 satellites from a single rocket into orbit on Wednesday, in the latest triumph for its famously frugal space agency, officials announced.

Scientists gathered for the launch in the southern spaceport of Sriharikota burst into applause as the head of India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced all the satellites had been ejected.

"My hearty congratulations to the ISRO team for this success," ISRO director Kiran Kumar told scientists who had gathered at the observatory to watch the progress of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately congratulated the scientists for the successful launch which smashes a record previously held by Russia.

The rocket took off at 9:28am (03:58 GMT) and cruised at a speed of 27,000km per hour, ejecting all the 104 satellites into orbit in around 30 minutes, according to ISRO.

The rocket's main cargo was a 714kg satellite for earth observation, but it was also loaded with 103 smaller "nano satellites", weighing a combined 664kg.

Nearly all of the nano satellites are from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the United States.

The launch means India now holds the record for launching the most satellites in one go, surpassing Russia which launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) built the PSLV-C37 seen here with a Mobile Service Tower at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota [EPA]

The business of putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is growing as phone, Internet and other companies, as well as countries, seek greater and more high-tech communications.

India is competing with other international players for a greater share of that launch market and is known for its low-cost space programme.

Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites, including 13 from the US.

It sent an unmanned rocket to orbit Mars in 2013 at a cost of just $73m, compared with NASA's Maven Mars mission which had a $671m price tag.

ISRO is also mulling the idea of missions to Jupiter and Venus.

Modi has often hailed India's budget space technology, quipping in 2014 that a rocket that launched four foreign satellites into orbit had cost less to make than Hollywood film "Gravity".