News

Karunanidhi makes Stalin Deputy Chief Minister

by

Chennai,May 30: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s son and Local Administration Minister, M.K. Stalin, has been re-designated as Deputy Chief Minister, making him next in the line of succession, and number two in government.

A Raj Bhavan press release said on Friday: “On the advice of the Hon. Chief Minister, His Excellency the Governor has appointed Thiru M.K. Stalin, Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration, as Deputy Chief Minister.

Omar meets PM, PC, discusses dialogue with separatists

by

Srinagar, May 30: Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Friday met PM Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram during which a need for initiating an internal dialogue with separatists groups was discussed.

Omar began his day by meeting the Prime Minister during which he requested Singh to convene a high-level meeting to review the recommendations of the four working groups on Kashmir on internal confidence building measures, external confidence building measures, good governance and economic confidence building measures.

AP govt moots more powers to Panchayat Raj: Minister

by

Hyderabad, May 30: The Andhra Pradesh government will further study the possibility of transferring 29 subjects to the Panchayat raj institutions as enshrined in the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act.

“We have so far transferred about 11 subjects and conferred powers on the panchayat raj bodies to discharge those functions. We will have to study further into the issue of transferring more powers and funds to these institutions, AP’s new Panchayat Raj Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said on Friday.

Cong revamp soon, “one-person-one-post formula likely”

by

New Delhi, May 30: After completion of govt-formation and distribution of portfolios, Congress would soon embark on a change in its organisation and a reshuffle in work allocation in the AICC.

“Changes will be brought in the organisation soon,” AICC media department chief Janardan Dwivedi told reporters at New Delhi on Friday.

Dwivedi parried questions on how soon the reshuffle would take place.

Railways to re-start recruitment under disabled category

by

New Delhi, May 30: Thousands of disabled persons can now look forward for an employment opportunity with the country’s largest government employer – Railways – after it submitted an affidavit in the Delhi High court in this regard.

The Railways have submitted a “tentative time frame for finalising special recruitment drive” to fill up backlog vacancies of physically handicapped persons” in group C and D posts along with the top most group A.

Kanimozhi to counter Jaya

by

Chennai, May 30: With her two politician brothers having a role cut out for them, Kanimozhi is the only member of the family on whom M Karunanidhi has not bestowed any political benefits. But the youngest daughter (from his third wife Rajathi Ammal), is willing to bide her time.

Politics:India sticks to its stand on NPT

by

Banglore,May 30: External affairs minister S M Krishna on Friday signalled that India will rebuff renewed American attempts to get the country to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), weeks ahead of a scheduled visit by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

India will reiterate its long-standing position on the treaty, which it regards as discriminatory, when Ms Clinton visits the country in July, he told ET in his first interview to a newspaper after assuming office on Monday.

North Korea Is Warned by Gates on Testing

by

New Delhi,May 30: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned North Korea on Saturday that the United States would not accept it as a nuclear weapons state and would consider any transfer of nuclear material to other countries or terrorist groups a “grave threat” to the United States and its allies.

Sania gets engaged to Hyderabad-based businessman

by

New Delhi, May 29:Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza has got engaged to a Hyderabad-based businessman but her family has ruled out an immediate wedding or early retirement for the star.
The 22-year-old, who is the most successful woman tennis player of the country, will continue playing the game and her father Imran Mirza said it will take a while before the two families decide on when the wedding would take place.

‘Petrol bomb hurled’ at Indian youth in Australia

by

New Delhi,May 29: In a fresh attack targeting Indians in Australia, a student suffered up to 30% burns after a suspected petrol bomb was hurled at him in his home in Sydney.

According to local newspaper for Indian community, South Asia Times, 25-year-old Rajesh Kumar was quickly covered by a blanket by his flatmate after the attack yesterday, an act which saved him from further injuries.

Rahul fends neglect charge by promising to focus on UP

by

New Delhi,May 29: Reestablishing Congress’s primacy in Uttar Pradesh remains top priority for party general secretary Rahul Gandhi who feels the heartland state is tired of being buffetted by caste and religion based politics and is ready for a vision that focuses on development.

Emotional funeral for SKorea’s Roh Moo-hyun

by

New Delhi,May 29: A sea of wailing mourners filled the streets of Seoul for the funeral Friday of ex-President Roh Moo-hyun, whose suicide six days earlier amid a deepening corruption probe plunged South Korea into grief and anger.

Heads bowed, thousands joined a solemn ceremony in the courtyard of the 14th-century Gyeongbok Palace before the hearse carrying Roh’s body headed to a grassy plaza outside City Hall for an emotional public ceremony attended by hundreds of thousands more.

World weary India poised for world title defence

by

London,May 29: Tired limbs, jaded minds and a tricky draw have toughened India’s path as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men defend their World Twenty20 title in England next month.

The June 5-21 tournament is the latest event for Team India in a non-stop roadshow that began with a full tour of New Zealand in February-April before a five-week sojourn in South Africa for the Indian Premier League.

Dhoni’s team returned home for just three days after the IPL before setting off again for England to defend the title they won in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.

Prime Minister expanded Council of Ministers; Portfolios distributed

by

New Delhi, May 29: Expanding his six-day-old Council of Ministers by inducting 59 ministers, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made Anand Sharma the Commerce Minister and allocated the portfolio of HRD to Kapil Sibal, Law to M Veerappa Moily and Road Transport and Highways to Kamal Nath.

With this induction, the size of Council of Ministers went up to 79- 34 Cabinet Ministers, 7 Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 38 Ministers of State.

AP govt seeks more funds from Centre for irrigation projects

by

Hyderabad, May 29: The Andhra Pradesh Government has sought more funds from the Centre for the implementation of its massive ‘Jalayagnam’ (irrigation mission) project taken up with an outlay of over Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

“We are trying to get more funds from the Centre. We had some problem earlier because we did not have permissions for the irrigation projects”.

U.S. Presses China for Tough Response to North Korea

by

Washington,May 29: The United States is pressing China to consider taking a variety of severe sanctions against North Korea, including the inspection of suspect ships and planes, as it tries to ratchet up the global response to Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test, administration officials said Thursday.

But it is not clear that the Chinese government has the stomach for a heightened showdown with North Korea, these officials said, even though its criticism of the underground test on Monday was unusually vehement.

Inside Iraq: Living with the enemy

by

Baghdad, May 28: I first met Abu Wissam at the foot of his son’s shallow grave. Never will he be able to erase the last image he has of his son’s body.

“He was cut to pieces,” he said. “His hands and feet were chopped off. And he was decapitated.”

For a long time, Iraqis would say that it was “outsiders” that were carrying out such atrocities. The truth that is so hard to accept for many is that that often was not the case.

Amnesty targets Pakistan and SLanka rights records

by

London,May 28: The conflicts in Sri Lanka and Pakistan have added to human rights abuses in Asia this year, Amnesty International said in its annual report.

As the global economic downturn bites, Amnesty said millions of migrant workers in China who have lost their jobs face “an uncertain future”.

On a more positive note, the rights group noted that the devastating cyclone in Myanmar last year prompted China and other nations in Southeast Asia to take rare steps to ensure that survivors received desperately needed aid.

Amnesty criticises tough crackdown on terror after 26/11

by

New Delhi, May 28: Tough crackdown on terror in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, activities of anti-naxal force Salwa Judum and anti-Christian riots have been listed by Amnesty international among others as alleged human rights issues facing the country.

In its annual report for 2009, the international human rights organisation, has said, authorities responded to the November Mumbai attacks by tightening security legislation which includes “sweeping and broad definitions of acts of terrorism and of membership of terrorist organisations.”

US ‘misused’ Bible to sell ‘holy’ war on terror

by

Washington, May 28: Religious authorities have lashed out at the former US administration’s recently-exposed manipulation of the Holy Scriptures to glorify their ‘anti-terror’ campaign.

The former officials have been revealed to have quoted biblical verses out of their context in the classified reports which would be submitted for high-level consideration, Los Angeles Times reported on Monday.

West Bengal cyclone toll reaches 100, situation grim

by

Kolkata, May 28: The death count in floods triggered by Cyclone Aila reached 100 in West Bengal on Wednesday as the Sunderbans faced a severe drinking water crisis and lack of civic amenities led to protests in Kolkata.
Two days after the cyclone pummeled coastal areas of the state, uprooting trees, snapping power cables and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, vast areas remained submerged affecting 4.6 million people as victims complained of lack of relief.

Deccan Chargers reach Hyderabad to a rousing welcome

by

Hyderabad, May 28: Deccan Chargers, the winners of the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa, arrived here Wednesday night to a rousing welcome from fans.

The fans were, however, disappointed a bit as only three players – Tirumalsetti Suman, Harmeet Singh and Shoaib Ahmed – arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

The crowd was hoping to catch a glimpse of captain Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Herschelle Gibbs, R.P. Singh and Rohit Sharma, who played key roles in the team’s victory.

No change in TDP’s stand on Telangana

by

Hyderabad, May 28: Telugu Desam’s two-day Mahanadu began with its president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, making it clear that there is no change in its stand on separate Telangana.

Inaugurating the annual meeting, Mr. Naidu sought to put at rest speculation that the party could reverse its stand towards Telangana in the wake of the poll debacle. He ruled out the possibility of such a change asserting how it was included in the manifesto after a long debate.

‘Pak has 60 nuke bombs, is building more’

by

Washington, May 28: Pakistan with about 60 nuclear warheads; primarily targeted towards India, is continuing production of fissile material for weapons and adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles, a US Congressional report has said.

The latest report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) – a research wing of the US Congress which prepares reports for Congressmen – has confirmed the recent statements and media reports that Pakistan was expanding its nuclear arsenal.

Lick your lips, a mango bonanza is in town

by

Hyderabad, May 28: With an impressive array of 229 varieties of the ‘king of fruits’, the Annual Mango Show organised by the Horticultural Department took off, much to the delight of curious visitors and invitees alike.

Earlier slated to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, the event instead saw reappointed Minister for Agriculture, N Raghuveera Reddy take the dais as chief guest for the function at Public Gardens on Tuesday. The three-day event at Jubilee Hall would showcase some of the finest produce from orchards and farms spread over 4.83 lakh hectares in the State.