Month: September 2009

Prachanda hints at joining political mechanism to end deadlock

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Kathmandu, September 27: In a climbdown, Maoists chief Prachanda today said there is no alternative to the “politics of consensus” and hinted at joining a political mechanism with the ruling alliance so as to break the five-month-long parliamentary deadlock.

“There is no alternative to the politics of cooperation and collaboration to find a way of the present political stalemate,” former Prime Minister Prachanda told reporters here after meeting Nepali Congress chief G P Koirala.

No need for CLP meet: Rosaiah

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Vijayawada, September 27: Chief Minister K Rosaiah does not feel there is a need to call the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party to elect its leader or that a situation will arise where he will have to prove his strength on the floor of the house. “I don’t think such a situation will arise. Even the Governor does not feel so,” he said.

Four more swine flu deaths, toll touches 298

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New Delhi, September 27: Four swine flu-related deaths were reported across the country today while another four suspected deaths were confirmed as having caused by the pandemic, taking the countrywide toll to 298.

Also, 189 fresh swine flu cases were confirmed today during lab tests. Of these, four cases are imported while the others are indigenous.

Of the four deaths, Karnataka reported two while one person each died in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh due to the viral infection.

Flooring, ceiling need to be replaced: Report

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Hyderabad, September 27: The battlements on the roof of the Judges Chambers in the High Court, which got badly damaged during the recent fire, have to be removed, according to a report submitted by the Department of Archaeology and Museums on the condition of the monument. As per the findings of the report, which was submitted to the High Court authorities recently, the external structure was intact but some internal changes were needed. Removal of the battlements was necessary to avoid dead load.

Mammoth show of strength by Jagan’s fans

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Hyderabad, September 27: Unuttered but palpable.

At the memorial meeting to YSR at Nalla Kaluva in Kurnool district today, not a single word by Jagan Mohan Reddy suggested a claim to his father’s chief ministerial mantle.

Israel shuts down for Day of Atonement amid fears

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The start of the Jewish Day of Atonement at sundown Sunday marked the beginning of a day like no other in Israel, on which even Israelis with no connection to religion tend to put their normal lives on hold.

This year Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, comes at a particularly somber time following revelations of a previously hidden Iranian nuclear facility and more missile tests by the Revolutionary Guard.

Goutami passengers looted

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Warangal, September 27: The passengers of Secunderabad- Kakinada Goutami Superfast Express were looted in the small hours of Saturday.

Some unidentified men stalled the train by pulling the chain soon after the train crossed Dornakal railway station and was near Bandlagudem on the borders of Khammam district at 1:30 a.m.

One killed, 3 hurt in Kandhamal rehab centre blast

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Phulbani, September 27: One person was killed and three others injured when a crude bomb being prepared at a rehabilitation centre in Kandhamal district exploded today.

The incident occurred this afternoon when the crude explosive went off when it was being prepared by a man at a tent located in the middle of the rehabilitation centre at Nandagiri, 54 km from here, Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar said.

Eight of two families commit suicide in AP’s Guntur district

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Guntur, September 27: Eight persons of two families allegedly committed suicide in two separate incidents in Guntur district today.

Police said that the two families took the extreme step as they were not able to remit debts.

In the first incident, in the temple town of Amaravati, A Venkateswara Rao, a petty trader from the neighbouring Vijawada city, and his wife committed suicide by hanging themselves in a hotel here. But before hanging themselves, they killed their two children by giving a fatal dose of poison. All the four have been died, police added.

Maoists kill Congress leader

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Karimnagar, September 27: After a long lull, Maoists struck in the district last night. They killed a local Congress leader B Sammi Reddy (43) at Edulapuram in Kalvasrirampur mandal.

According to the police, two unidentified men came to his house and took him to the village outskirts on the pretext of talking to him. Later, they were joined by one another at the village canal.

The trio shot him in the head and neck and later hit his head with a boulder.

Significantly, Kalvasrirampur mandal is the native place of Maoist district committee member Kankanala Raji Reddy alias Venkatesh.

Samantha Geimer suffered physical trauma in 1977

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New Delhi, September 27: What is hottest search on internet? Samantha Geimer picture. This is the right answer. The search has registered a surge suddenly as people want to see the woman who suffered a physical trauma around 33-year ago.

A report said that Roman Polanski had sex with a girl when she was just thirteen in 1977. It was said in the report that Polanski, an accused of having sex with a minor girl, fled the scene and was residing mostly in France.

Discipline is the need of the hour: KVP

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Hyderabad, September 27: It is true that people from all walks of life in the State of Andhra Pradesh, including the Congress workers and party leaders, are yet to come out of the shocking death of our beloved Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The party workers, in particular, are aghast at the loss of a towering personality like Dr YSR, and are yet to digest the tragic incident.

AI to set up committee to look into the concerns of pilots

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Mumbai, September 27: After a meeting with agitating executive pilots, the Air India management today decided to set up a committee “exclusively” to look into their concerns over the cut in their Productivity-Linked Incentives (PLIs).

“The committee, comprising Executive Director (Finance), Executive Director (Industrial Relations), General Manager (Operations in Mumbai) and respresentatives of the executive pilots, would address the concerns of the agitating executive pilots over the cut in the PLIs,” Air India Spokesperson Jitendra Bhargava told reporters here.

Goody’s widower threatens suicide

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London, September 27: Jade Goody’s widower Jack Tweed, who is in jail awaiting trial on a rape charge, has threatened to kill himself, his mother says.

Tweed was accused by a girl after returning to his bachelor flat from a night out.

“The first time I saw Jack in Pentonville was the worst. I went with his brother Lewis and sister Laura and we were allowed a two-hour visit in private – but it was horrible. Really, really horrendous.

“Jack was in shambles. He hadn’t washed in days, he looked grubby and grimy and there was dirt round his neck,” thesun.co.uk quoted Mary as saying.

All records transparent: Ponnala

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Hyderabad, September 27: Major Irrigation minister Ponnala Laxmaiah has said that all the records of the irrigation bills in the State were transparent and there was no need for him to hoodwink the people.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, he refuted allegations levelled by the Telugu Desam Party that clearance of bills worth about Rs 10,000 crore to irrigation contractors was pending.

Ponnala said bills amounting to about Rs 5,000 crore were outstanding till a few weeks ago and the government had already cleared Rs 2,300 crore so far.

New Zealand beat Lanka, keep their semifinal hopes alive

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Johannesburg, September 27: Riding on a splendid all round show, New Zealand saw off Sri Lanka by 38 runs in a high scoring Group B match to keep their semifinal chances alive in the Champions Trophy here today.

Kiwi Skipper Daniel Vettori shone with both bat and ball in his team’s victory as he first contributed an invaluable 48 and then took two crucial wickets.

Invited to bat, New Zealand overcame a mid-innings collapse to post a challenging 315 for seven and then bundled out Sri Lanka for 277 in 46.4 overs at the New Wanderers Stadium.

Mahanavami celebrated across West Bengal

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Kolkata, September 27: Showers failed to dampen the festive spirit as people took part in community feasts and poured out on the streets in their thousands to visit the marquees (pandals) on Mahanavami, the fourth day of the Durga Puja celebrations, across West Bengal Sunday.

The city received 15 minutes of rain Sunday evening, forcing people to look for shelter. But once the downpour stopped, the huge crowd of pandal-hoppers got back into the celebratory mode, as the streets were chock-a-block with people.

It’s 8 crore people’s wish, say Rajasekhar

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Kadapa, September 27: Actor couple Rajasekhar and Jeevitha have demanded that the Congress high command appoint Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy as chief minister as per the wish of eight crore people of the State.

The couple visited YSR Ghat at Idupulapaya today and paid homage to the former chief minister.

Hardcore Maoist held in Bihar

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Aurangabad, September 27: A hardcore Naxalite belonging to the proscribed outfit CPI (Maoist) was arrested from Deo police station ares of Bihar’s Aurangabad district.

ADG (Headquarters) Neelmani said the Maoist has been identified as Sushil Bhuian.

Bhuian has been wanted in half a dozen cases including blasting of a community building, encounter with police in Madanpur police station area of the district.

—Agencies

Rosaiah finally to move to CMO on October 2

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Hyderabad, September 27: Chief Minister Rosaiah has finally decided to move to the Chief Minister’s chamber in the C Block of the Secretariat and he is likely to occupy the office on October 2.

Some modifications are being done to the Chief Minister’s chamber in the sixth floor of the C block from where former Chief Ministers N Chandrababu Naidu and YS Rajasekhara Reddy carried out their activities.

Rosaiah took oath as Chief Minister on September 3 in the aftermath of the demise of YS Rajasekhara Reddy on September 2.

England set 324 run target for South Africa

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Centurion, September 27: England made a mammoth 323 for eight in 50 overs against hosts South Africa in a Group B match of the Champions Trophy at the New Wanderers Stadium here Sunday.

Owais Shah was the top scorer with 98 while Paul Collingwood (82) and Eoin Morgan (67) played crucial knocks

–Agencies

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in Champions Trophy

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Johannesburg, September 27: New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 38 runs in a Group B match of the Champions Trophy at the New Wanderers Stadium here Sunday.

Chasing a target of 316, Sri Lanka were all out for 277 in 46.4 overs.

–Agencies

Shopian victims’ swab samples switched, admits doctor

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Srinagar, September 27: In a startling revelation, the gynaecologist who conducted autopsies on the bodies of the two women who were raped and murdered in south Kashmir’s Shopian town has admitted that she did not take the vaginal swabs of the victims but submitted slides of other women, sources here said Sunday.

Sibal assures autonomy to protesting IIT teachers

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New Delhi, September 27: The government would not interfere in the administration of the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal has assured the protesting IIT teachers, even as he sought to clarify some of their contentions.

“The IIT system can (be) rest assured Kapil Sibal will not interfere,” the minister told Karan Thapar in an interview telecast on the CNN-IBN Sunday night.

Shatrughan Sinha showers praise on Rahul Gandhi

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Nagpur, September 27: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has an “impressive personality” and a bright future, film star turned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shatrughan Sinha said Sunday.

Speaking to reporters on a visit here, Sinha, am MP from Bihar, said in Hindi: “He (Rahul) is a nice person, has impressive personality and has a bright future.”

Continuing his praise of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son, Sinha said: “He (Gandhi) is working at the grassroots and progressing well.”

-Agencies