“TWO” flags hoisted in Telangana

Hyderabad,January 27 :THE “ TELANGANA flag” fluttered along with the Tricolour in several parts of the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, evoking strong reactions from the people against the formation of the state.

The white- coloured flag with the Telangana map was unfurled following a call by the all- party Telangana Joint Action Committee ( JAC).

BSE Sensex to open lower after holiday

Mumbai, January 27: The BSE Sensex is set to open lower as trade resumes on Wednesday after a holiday, and catches up with a slide in world markets on Tuesday, putting the market on track for a sixth successive fall.

The Morgan Stanley Capital International’s measure of Asian markets, other than Japan, were down 0.1% at 0252 GMT, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.3%.

Nifty India stock futures in Singapore were down 1.8%, pointing to a sharply lower open in the domestic market.

BJP wary of “IDGAH” issue

Bangalore and Belgam ,January 27:Winning elections and losing intrest in the issue is BJP habit they have taken the idgah issue to the boiling point before elections and one in power in karnataka BJP has totally forgotten the idgah issue.

THE BJP has lost an important item on its agenda in Karnataka after the administration hoisted the Tricolour on the Hubli Idgah grounds, following a Supreme Court order restoring the ownership of the land to the local municipality.

4 killed, 5 injured in Bellary building collapse

Bellary, January 27: Four persons were killed and five injured when a five-storeyed under-construction building collapsed and fell on a hostel in the city, police said today.

The mishap took place in Gandhinagar area of the city last night.

The dead included a 22-year-old student of the hostel.

An injured worker rescued from the debris told the police that at least 20 people were still trapped in the debris.

Rescue operations are on. State minister for health, B Sreeramulu, and state minister for tourism G Janardhana Reddy visited the spot.

—-Agencies

US business groups ‘alarmed’ by China’s tactics

Washington, January 27: Business groups told US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and other top US officials on Tuesday they were “increasingly alarmed” by China’s moves to keep out foreign high-tech companies, and urged a firm response by the United States, an influential newsletter reported.

“We are increasingly alarmed by the means China is using to achieve these goals,” the groups said.

Koreas exchange fire near sea border

Seoul,January 27: North and South Korea on Wednesday exchanged what appeared to be artillery fire near a disputed sea border with the South, off the west coast of the peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported government officials as saying.

The rare exchange of fire rattled markets, with Seoul’s main stock exchange extending losses, and the won wiping out early gains against the dollar.

North Korea on Tuesday declared a no-sail zone in the Yellow Sea waters in a sign that it might fire artillery or short-range missiles, media reports said.

Venus knocked out of Melbourne by China’s Li

Melbourne, January 27: Venus Williams was bundled out of the Australian Open on Wednesday, beaten 2-6 7-6 7-5 by Li Na, who joins fellow Chinese Zheng Jie in the semi-finals.

In a match where both players struggled on serve, Li found the composure to hold hers at 6-5, sealing victory over the sixth seed with a cracking forehand winner on her third match point.

Her win gave China two players in the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time.

Sixteenth seed Li will meet either Serena Williams or Victoria Azarenka for a place in the Melbourne final.

—Agencies

Mixed handedness, ADHD linked

Washington, January 27: Children writing with both hands are more likely to struggle in school and be diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder, a new study finds.

In individuals naturally gravitated toward using their right hand, the left hemisphere of the brain, the center for language, is more dominant. In mixed-handed individuals, conversely, it is less clear that one side of the brain is more dominant over the other.

Minissha Lamba finally makes her dream purchase

Mumbai, January 27: Minissha Lamba finally made her dream purchase. She bought her first house last month at Andheri’s Raj Classique, which also houses celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Abbas Tyrewala, Satish Kaushik and Shahid Kapoor, all of whom will be Minissha’s neighbours now.

Minissha bought her three-bedroom apartment after looking for a house for six months. She had looked for a place all over Yari Road, Four Bungalows, Versova only to be disappointed. She even thought of giving up in between.

Mallika’s brother stops her from stripping

Mumbai, January 27: Mallika Sherawat’s older brother, Vikram Lamba, got a little protective of his younger sister on the sets of Hissss. He blasted the crew for making Mallika wear a skin-coloured, flimsy bikini.

The shot was being done on a dark, cold night. Director Jennifer Lynch’s plan was to take Mallika’s close-ups and full body shots of a naked body double. Mallika had to lean on a branch.

Army jawan killed in road accident in Rajasthan

Jaipur, January 27: An army jawan was killed when he fell down from a military truck in the Mahajan firing range in Bikaner district, police said today.

Army jawans were returning in a military truck last evening after a firing exercise when Nagappa Jaipal, who sitting at the rear, suddenly fell down on the road and died on the spot, police said.

—-PTI

Hooch claims 12 lives in AP, Rosaiah orders probe

Hyderabad, Janury 27:Twelve people have died after consuming spurious liquor in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, prompting the state authorities to order a probe today.

Five persons died today while seven deaths were reported last night. 26 others were undergoing treatment at different hospitals, a police official told PTI.

Expressing concern, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who returned from Warangal district to Hyderabad this evening, directed the Prohibition and Excise authorities to conduct an enquiry into the incident and submit a report.

Maternal smoking ups cot death

New York, January 27: Smoke exposure during pregnancy damages the baby’s blood pressure control system, increasing his/her risk of cot death, a new study finds.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death with an unknown reason among infants aged between 1 and 12 months. Low birth weight and prematurity are considered important risk factors for the condition.

According to the study published in Hypertension, maternal smoking increases the risk of SIDS in the newborn by two thirds.

Iran seeks US’ extraditions over scientist killing

Tehran, January 27: Iran called on the United States to extradite members of a “terrorist group” which the Islamic Republic has linked to this month’s killing of a university scientist in Tehran.

Iranian officials have blamed both Israel and the United States for the January 12 bomb attack that killed professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi. Washington has dismissed the charge of US involvement as absurd.

Some Iranian media have also reported that a Western-based pro-monarchy group claimed responsibility for the attack, but have not said how they knew this.

25 children hurt as balloon pumping cylinder explodes in Pune

Pune, January 27: About 25 children were injured today when a gas cylinder used to pump balloons exploded at a slum colony in Kothrud area here, police said.

The children who sustained minor injuries were admitted to a hospital and discharged later.

The mishap occurred when the balloons were being sold by a hawker in the densely populated area, police added.

—PTI

Jawan injured in Pak firing, truce violation in J-K on R-day

Jammu, January 27: One jawan was injured when Pakistani troops violated the border truce by resorting to unprovoked firing for several hours as BSF personnel foiled two infiltration bids in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

The latest ceasefire violation came even as the country was celebrating the Republic Day. There were 16 infiltration bids and six truce violations along the Indo-Pak border in this month.

New drug combo prevents HIV/AIDS

London, January 27: A new drug combo, consisting of medications commonly used to fight HIV/AIDS, has shown promising results in protecting individuals against the disease.

According to a study published in PloS One, Truvada, a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine, prevents HIV infection through major routes of transmission in mice with “humanized” immune systems.

The drug is believed to produce pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through preventing the virus from creating more viruses in the body.

Building collapses in Karnataka, 4 killed, several injured

Bellary, January 27: Four people were killed and several injured when an under construction building collapsed in Bellary in Karnataka.

The rubble of the building fell into the premises of a boys’ hostel causing serious injury to several unsuspecting students.

The mishap took place in Gandhinagar area of the city last night.

The dead included a 22-year-old student of the hostel.

An injured worker rescued from the debris told the police that at least 20 people were still trapped in the debris.

Dalai Lama should cherish opportunity of fresh talks: China

Beijing, January 27: Special envoys of the Dalai Lama arrived in China to resume talks on the political status of the region as Beijing asked the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader to “cherish” the opportunity of fresh talks.

Representatives of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen and the Chinese government officials are to meet for their ninth round of talks after a gap of more than a year.

“At the request of the Dalai Lama, the Chinese Government has arranged for his representatives to come to China for consultation,” foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said.

Efforts on to rid India of violence for 9% growth rate: PC

Coimbatore, January 27: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said serious efforts are on to make the country free of terrorism and communal tension to achieve nine per cent growth rate and increase foreign investments.

He said the last 14 months have not seen any terror attacks or communal violence, resulting in economic growth and benefits to all sections of society.

Krishna to take assault issue with Australian FM

New Delhi, January 27: With assaults on Indians in Australia showing no let-up, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is expected to take up the issue with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith whom he will meet on the sidelines of a conference in London later this week.

This comes in the backdrop of increasing attacks on Indian students including fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Nitin Garg earlier this month.

Sources said the meeting was sought by Smith to apprise Krishna of the measures taken by Australian government to ensure safety and security of Indians there.

Obama to freeze salaries of top White House officials

Washington, January 27: US president Barack Obama is to freeze salaries of senior White House officials and other top political appointees, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

The official confirmed a Washington Post report that said the decision would likely be mentioned in Obama’s State of the Union address on Wednesday.

The newspaper said the decision would affect White House officials earning more than $1,00,000 and other top administration appointees, including politically appointed ambassadors – about 1,200 people in total.

Sh40m spent to deport al Faisal

Nairobi, January 27: Kenya paid more than $500,000 to deport controversial Jamaican Muslim preacher Abdullah al-Faisal, according to Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang.

He was finally expelled last week on a chartered jet, after Kenya had spent three weeks trying to deport him.

Meanwhile, two immigration officials have been suspended for letting Faisal into the country in the first place.

The cleric spent four years in a UK jail for soliciting the murder of Jews and Hindus.

South African link

Climate scientists are only humans: Pachauri’s deputy

London, January 27: With the IPCC and its Chairman Rajendra Pachauri coming under fire over the Himalayan glacier blunder, the UN body’s deputy defended him saying scientists are “only humans” who can make “mistakes.”

Climate scientists are “only humans” who can make mistakes like everyone else, said Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, the deputy leader of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Van Ypeersele also apparently saw nothing wrong over Pachauri using the word “voodoo science” to slam India’s Environment ministry which contested the UN body’s claim.

Bangladesh to cancel registration of over 20,000 NGOs

Dhaka, January 27: Bangladesh government will cancel registration of over 20,000 non-government organisations that remain inactive for several years.

“We shall cancel the registration of those organisations immediately as we are committed to citizen’s welfare and we can’t allow any organisation to make people suffer in the name of volunteering,” Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid told the ‘Daily Star’.