Month: December 2010

Don’t date Arab men: Rabbis’ wives to Israeli girls

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Rome, December 30: Wives of around 30 rabbis in Israel have published an open letter asking jewish girls to avoid dating Arab men because their courtship will result in maltreatment.

The letter comes three weeks after an uproar sparked by a religious ruling signed by 50 state-appointed rabbis telling Jews not to rent or sell property to non-Jews.

The new letter published by some websites and news outlets warned Israeli girls that Arab men’s gentlemanly behaviour won’t last.

APUWJ resents KCR call to scribes

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Nellore, December 30: The Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) has taken a serious objection to the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhara Rao, calling for a split in the union.

Addressing the 33rd State conference, the Indian Union of Journalists secretary general, Mr Srinivasa Reddy, angrily asked how would KCR feel if the APUWJ gave a call for splitting his tongue. He said that no one could split the APUWJ which has a history of 54 years. He said those who did not like the union could go out and start their own outfits.

Rosaiah in trouble over land scam

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Hyderabad, December 30: Congress’ worries over corruption seem to be far from over with former Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah, Wednesday, being named in an case pertaining to irregularities committed in transfer of government land worth Rs 200 crore during his tenure.

Rosaih and 16 others have been accused of conniving to illegally denotify a nine acre plot in Maitrivanam in Ameerpet area of the state capital to private parties for developing a commercial complex.

Suspense over status of Hyderabad, PM reviews Telangana at High-level meeting

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New Delhi/Hyderabad, December 30: Even as the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee is all set to submit its report on the crucial Telangana issue, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday convened a high-level meeting of his senior Cabinet ministers to review the pros and cons, especially the law and order situation, in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of the committee’s report.

Telangana report likely to be submitted today

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New Delhi, December 30: The five-member Justice Srikrishna committee, which was constituted to asses the possibility of carving a separate state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, is expected to submit its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs Thursday.

As per report, the 800-page document will be formally signed by the committee members in a small ceremony and then be handed over to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

CBI closes Aarushi murder case

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Ghaziabad, December 30: The CBI on Wednesday filed a closure report in the Aarushi double murder case before a court on the grounds there was no available evidence at the crime scene to pursue the probe, meeting a dead-end in the case that shook the country over two years back.

After a detailed two-and-a-half year probe marked by botched up investigations, the CBI said it found it impossible to reach any plausible conclusion because of lack of concrete forensic evidence at the crime scene to nail the culprits and decided to close the case.

Now we can say we’ve done well in most places: Dhoni

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Durban, December 29: Relieved after notching up a series-equalising win against South Africa in the second Test, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Wednesday’s triumph and performance of the past couple of years has shown that the team can do well anywhere in the world.

“More often than not you are one-down in a series. I said in the first press conference that we don’t start well. We’re more used to batting under pressure,” he said after the 87-run win in the second Test.

Jaipur-bound GoAir flight delayed by three hours

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Mumbai, December 29: A Jaipur-bound GoAir flight got delayed by over three hours today with a section of the passengers complaining that the airline did not inform them about the late departure.

GoAir, however, refuted the charge.

There were around 150 passengers on board the GoAir Mumbai-Jaipur flight, scheduled to take off at 14.50 pm, which finally departed for its destination at around 18.30 pm.

“The flight was scheduled to take off at 14.50 pm.

Give us Telangana state: TRS to Prime Minister

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Hyderabad, December 29: TRS today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to form separate Telangana state as promised last year, a day before the Srikrishna Committee is likely to submit the report on the issue.

“I appeal to the Prime Minister to implement the promise made in Parliament. If the promise made in Parliament is not fulfilled, will the people have faith in democracy?” TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao said, addressing a gathering at the party office here.

Gold surges, silver soars to new record high

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Mumbai, December 29: Gold prices continued to surge at the bullion market here today on hectic buying by stockists and jewellers in tandem with a steep rise in international level.

Silver flared up to hit a new record high, topping the Rs 46,000 a kg mark on the back of frantic speculative buying amidst a huge rise in overseas.

Silver ready (.999 fineness) shot up by a hefty Rs 1,145 per kilo to close at Rs 46,710 from Tuesday’s closing level of Rs 45,565.

Standard gold (99.5 per cent purity) zoomed by Rs 110 per 10 grams to end at Rs 20,615 from Rs 20,505 yesterday.

Two Air India flights return from US

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New Delhi, December 29: Despite difficult weather conditions, Air India today managed to fly back two of its three aircraft that had been stuck in the US since Sunday, helped by passengers’ readiness to travel without baggage due to problem in ground-handling due to heavy snow at airports there.

The operation of the ‘passengers only’ flight was made possible as air travellers agreed to collect their baggage a couple of days after their journey, an Air India statement said here.

Sen”s family grateful to Jethmalani for offering help

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Kalyani (WB), December 29: The family members of rights activist Binayak Sen, sentenced by a trial court to life imprisonment for sedition, was happy that prominent lawyer Ram Jethmalani has offered to defend him.

“When an advocate of the stature of Ram Jethmalani has offered his professional help to defend Sen, it proves that there are flaws in the verdict,” the activist’s 84-year-old ailing mother Anasua Sen said here in Nadia district.

“It is a matter of great luck for me. I am grateful to him (Jethmalani),” she said.

PM holds meet on Telangana; report likely tomorrow

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New Delhi, December 29: As Andhra Pradesh waits with bated breath for the report on Telangana statehood issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reviewed the political and security situation in the state with his senior cabinet colleagues.

The five-member Justice Srikrishna committee, which went into the demand for Telangana state, may submit its report to Home Minister P Chidambaram tomorrow, a day before the term of the committee expires. It will suggest “several options with their pros and cons” on the statehood issue.

Rashtrapati Nilayam to be opened to public

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Hyderabad, December 29: The Rashtrapati Nilayam, a sprawling estate of the President of India here, will be opened to the public next month.

People can visit the Rashtrapathi Nilyam from January 1 to 10 free of charge, President’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) (PR) Archana Dutta told PTI.

The Rashtrapathi Nilayam is spread over 90 acres and recently adopted several eco-friendly measures including a herbal garden, among others.

The Rashtrapathi Nilayam building was taken over from the Nizam of Hyderabad after independence and handed over to the President’s Secretariat.

–Agencies

Completion of Kasab trial paves way for water pipeline

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Mumbai, December 29: Completion of the trial of Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab at Arthur Road Jail had not only brought relief for nearby residents but also for the civic body, which has now received the green signal to lay water pipelines in the area in Central Mumbai.

Due to security reasons, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) could not lay water pipelines in the area and the work was delayed for over a year. But now the civic body has received approval from the police department for the project, which will commence next week, BMC officials said.

OUJAC welcomes lifting of cases

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Hyderabad, December 29: The Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) has welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw the cases registered against the student activists who took part in the Telangana agitation.

“The government has delayed the process intentionally but ultimately it had to bow to the pressure of various sections of people. We appeal to the people to unitedly launch the separate Telangana movement after January 1,” OUJAC spokesperson P Kailash said. He hailed the efforts of Congress MPs K Keshav Rao and G Vivek in building up pressure on the government.

Tenders over, warehouses to be ready in one year

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Hyderabad, December 29: With the increase in agricultural production every year, the requirement for storage space is going up in the State. To address this need, the AP State Warehousing Corporation (APSWC) is coming up with 14 new warehouses with a capacity of 5.56 lakh metric tonnes by November next year. This is in addition to the existing 21.5 lakh MT of storage space available with the corporation.

4 batches of IPS officers elevated

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Hyderabad, December 29: A major reshuffle in the IPS fraternity appears imminent after the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) cleared promotions of four batches of the IPS today – 1986, 1992, 1997 and 1998.

Nine (IGPs) from the 1986 batch have been promoted as Additional DGPs, six of 1992 batch (DIGs) have been made IGPs, five of the 1997 batch (SPs) to DIGs and 16 officers in the 1998 batch to the selection grade.

The formal promotion orders will be issued tomorrow and new postings on December 30.

Venkaiah, Kishan held during BJP procession

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Hyderabad, December 29: BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu, party state president G Kishan Reddy and other leaders were arrested by the police while they were marching on the Secretariat from Indira Park to draw the attention of the government to the problems of farmers.

Seemandhra JAC opposes move

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Guntur, December 29: Lifting of cases against the students who indulged in arson during the agitation for separate Telangana state is unconstitutional, Seemandhra Students Joint Action Committee convener A Kishorekumar has said. The student JAC comprising 14 universities of Seemandhra held an emergency meeting here today to discuss the course of action to be followed after submission of the Srikrishna Committee report if it is in favour of bifurcation of the state.

Andhra: Taxpayers’ money spent on luxury ride!

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Hyderabad, December 29: The road ahead may be bumpy for Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy but the journey is going to be a lot smoother than ever before. Surprised? Leave aside politics for a while. It’s time for New Year gifts.

In a month from now, the Chief Minister will be travelling in brand new Toyota Fortuners – one of the most powerful and luxurious cars in the world.

And not to forget, expensive too.

Kiran Kumar Reddy needs to thank his predecessor K Rosaiah for the gift for it was he who had cleared the proposal to “upgrade” his convoy of Scorpios.

7 officers held for graft

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Hyderabad, December 29: An ACB team, led by DSP A Venkata Rao, raided the house and properties of N Venkata Subrahmanyam, revenue officer of Kanuru village, Vijayawada district today and found disproportionate assets worth Rs 2 crore with him. According to officials, the VRO had 88 acres of land in and around Vijayawada, seven plots, two cars, a building and Rs 78,000 in cash. The VRO is absconding.

Two men charged for AP student’s murder in US

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Washington, December 29: The US authorities have booked two men for gunning down a 22-year-old Indian student in a robbery on Christmas morning at a convenience store in Texas where he was working part time.

Daniel Jacob Stiner, 22, and Michael Ray Morris, 29, both from Pasadena, Texas, were charged Monday in the fatal shooting of Jayachandra Elaprolu inside the convenience store in the town, the Houston Chronicle reported.

‘Sentence is a miscarriage of justice’

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Hyderabad, December 29: Asserting that the Raipur additional district and sessions judge B P Verma’s judgement pronouncing life imprisonment to People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) national vice-president Dr Binayak Sen under charges of sedition was a miscarriage of justice, PUCL – Andhra Pradesh unit general secretary Jaya Vindhyala said that efforts would be made to build public opinion against the ongoing persecution of activists and human rights defenders in the country.

Emaar row: HC treats MLA’s letter as writ plea

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Hyderabad, December 29: A division bench of the AP High court comprising Justice V Eswaraiah and Justice P Swaroop Reddy on Monday granted time to the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to file its counter in a letter addressed by minister P Shanker Rao to the court on the Emaar issue. The court has taken up the letter as a writ petition.