Month: February 2012

Riyadh, February 01: Afghan government officials and representatives of the Taliban are to hold peace talks in Saudi Arabia, said a Riyadh-based Afghan diplomat on Monday.

“An Afghan government delegation and a Taliban delegation will hold talks in Saudi Arabia,” the diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity but he could not give a timing.

The talks in Saudi Arabia will be separate from the U.S.-brokered meetings held in Qatar and will be the first such talks to take place in the Sunni kingdom.

Hyderabad, February 1: Regional Passport Officer Srikar Reddy assured Hajj committee chairman Khaleeluddin Ahmed and executive officer Prof. S A Shukoor that there will be no hindrance in the issuance of passport, to the aspirants of Hajj committee. Every possible support will be given in issuance of passports.

Chairman and executive officer met Regional Passport Officer yesterday and made representation for the speedy issuance of aspirants’ passports.

Hyderabad, February 01 (INN): Telangana Rahtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday demanded that the state government make all out efforts to meet the genuine demands of the striking junior doctors.

Talking to media persons while expressing solidarity with their agitation at Gandhi Hospital here, whose strike entered the ninth day today, K Chandrasekhar Rao said that the government should relent from it stubborn attitude and convene a meeting with junior doctors to resolve their demands in a cordial atmosphere.

London, February 01: We are thrilled about the prospects for potential medical use of these cells.

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have directly converted mouse skin cells into the main components of brain tissue.

By using the new method, scientists manage to skip the middle stem cell stage in which they have to turn obtained embryonic stem cells and turn them into different cell types such as precursor of nerve cells.

In the early 1980s, while coming out of a Marxist phase, I came across The God that Failed, a collection of confessional essays by once hard-core communists who had left the party and renounced its creed. The book was rivetingly readable, in part because of the quality of the writing (Arthur Koestler, Ignazio Silone and Louis Fischer were among the contributors), in part because erstwhile fanatics are often the most insightful heretics.

Gosaba, January 01: Mamata Banerjee today lent her voice to a pitch to facilitate land acquisition for a life-saving project ‘ an uncommon plea that betrayed the government’s frustration at the slow pace despite the urgency and the promise of generous compensation.

The chief minister persuaded the people of Sunderbans to offer their land to build embankments in low-lying areas of South 24-Parganas, which were devastated by the Aila cyclone in 2009.

New Delhi, January 01: Linking poll wins in states to good governance and development, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday named Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as an example but later clarified that she never meant to praise him.

‘All areas have developed. Yes Gujarat too has developed and that is the reason why he (Modi) has been elected twice. In Assam too, development has helped,’ Dikshit said in response to a question by a reporter at the release of the Congress party’s manifesto in the Taj city.

Hyderabad, January 01: The Andhra Pradesh government would address the promises made to its employees to end the 42-day general strike for Telangana statehood in October, state Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has said. Addressing mediapersons at the Secretariat yesterday, he said the Cabinet sub-committee would hold a meeting with senior officials, including Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi, on February 2 to discuss the issue. The proposed meeting would have a two-point agenda.

Hyderabad, February 01: (Siasat News) President of Deccan Wakf properties, Mr. Osman Bin Mohammed Al-Hajiri reached the Chowkhandi, Hakimpet near Dargah where ground was being leveled for some construction. He spoke to the contractors and workers and informed them that High Court has issued injunction orders on this Wakf property and if any work is done on if it will be illegal which will be treated as contempt of court. He asked them to stop the work of laying the road. The construction company officials contended that the high order has been struck down. Mr.

Hyderabad, February 01: (Siasat News) Chairman of A.P. State Wakf Board told that all the district Inspector of Wakf have been given instructions to identify Wakf properties under the possession of Qadianis.

Hyderabad, February 01: (Siasat News) All India Muslim Minority Organization demanded that 10% reservation should be given to the Muslims in educational institutions and Govt. jobs as recommended by Ranganatha Mishra Commission.

Mr. Syed Mukhtar Hussain, President All India Muslim Minority Organization told that Ranganath Mishra Commission had submitted in report in May 2007 but no action has yet been taken so far by any Govt.

He said that for providing seat in educational institutions and reservation jobs in Govt. and non-Govt. organizations, Minor steps are required to be taken.

Hyderabad, February 01: (Siasat News) Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, C.M. of A.P. has constituted a cabinet sub-committee to review the problems of striking junior doctors of the state for negotiation. The committee includes A. Ram Narayan Reddy, Minister for Finance, Dr. S. Shailaja Nath, Minister for Primary Education, Dr. J. Geetha Reddy, Industries Minister and Dr. D.L. Ravinder Reddy, Health Ministry. The sub-committee with hold discussion with the striking junior doctors and submit the report to C.M.

It is expected that some positive action will be taken by the Govt.

–Siasat News–

Hyderabad, February 01: (Siasat News) President of YSR Congress, Jagan Mohan Reddy said that there is an emergency situation in the state due to the strike of the junior doctors. He said that the demands of the junior doctors are genuine. By not solving their problems, the Govt. is playing with the careers of the junior doctors. The Govt. which has failed on every front has no right to continue in power.

Damascus, February 01: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov says a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution on Syria will pave the way for a “civil war” in the Arab country.

Gatilov told Russian media on Tuesday that a draft resolution on Syria “will not help in the search for a compromise” if it is approved.

“Pushing it through is the path towards civil war,” Gatilov added.

Hyderabad, February 01 (INN): Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday assured textile traders that his party would grill the government in the ensuing budget session of Assembly over the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on textile trade.

New Delhi, February 01: In a blow to every corrupt politician or bureaucrat shielded by the executive’s unwillingness to let them stand trial, the Supreme Court on Tuesday set a three-month deadline for governments to decide whether or not to grant sanction for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Hyderabad, February 01 (INN): Come March and six Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh will fall vacant. Those who will be out of the august body after completing the regulatory six-year tenure will be Dr K Keshav Rao, Rashid Alvi, Dasari Narayan Rao, G Sanjiva Reddy; all from the Congress; Dr M Y Mysoora Reddy of Telugu Desam and Communist Party of India’s Aziz Pasha.

Hyderabad, February 01 (INN): Erstwhile Praja Rajyam MLA from Bhimili Assembly constituency Avanthi Srinivas on Tuesday condemned TDP MLA Devineni Uma Maheshwar for alleging irregularities in granting lease of Bhavani Island near Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada.

Tehran, February 01: The door is open to Iran to engage in serious and meaningful negotiations [over Tehran’s nuclear program], and I confirm the EU’s commitment to continue to work for a diplomatic solution, in accordance with the dual-track approach.”

President of the European Council has called for a diplomatic approach to resolve the disputes over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program, while expressing his support for the bloc’s recent sanctions on Iran.

Islamabad, February 01: The Pakistan Supreme Court will take up the contempt case against embattled Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday. Gilani was issued a contempt of court notice for failing to act on the apex court’s order to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani had himself appeared in the court during the last hearing on January 17 and earned exemption from personal appearance on future dates. However, the court had asked his lawyer to submit a detailed reply at the next hearing on February 1.

Hyderabad, February 01: The indefinite fast of the representatives of junior doctors, who are agitating for hike in the stipend among other things, entered the seventh day today. The condition of two of them was serious, said Phani Kumar, a representative of the striking doctors. Four others have already been admitted to ICU. No invitation had yet come from the government for talks, Phani said. Criticising the government for its insensitive attitude he said the agitating doctors were now “going to the people”. They distributed pamphlets highlighting their cause in Hyderabad today, he said.

Mumbai, February 01: Bollywood’s ex love birds Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif is all set for some action for their upcoming movie Ek Tha Tiger. Reports suggest that Katrina and Salman are getting trained for performing the best stunts under the ace Hollywood action director Conrad Palmisano.

Melbourne, February 01: West Indian batting legend Brian Lara’s knowledge of how to amass big scores at rapid rate without putting his wicket at risk makes him a “superior” batsman of his era than Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, writes former Australian captain Ian Chappell.

Chappell said Lara’s remarkable feat of scoring the only 400 in Test cricket, a triple century and seven double centuries, probably highlights an area where Lara was better than the senior India batsman Tendulkar and former Aussie skipper Ponting.

Mumbai, February 01: The actor, whose boyish charms made many hearts flutter in his first film, is many movies down but the dimple-cheeked smile still can slay many women’s heart. Despite being one of the most eligible bachelors, Akshaye Khanna is still not ready to settle down.

The simple and down-to-earth actor was recently in DailyBhaskar’s Noida office, where he spilled beans on love, life and much more.

New Delhi, February 01: Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Tuesday said that abandoned baby Falak’s health is deteriorating.

Reading out Falak’s medical bulletin to reporters, Dr MC Mishra, director, Trauma Centre, AIIMS said that the baby has very bleak chances of survival.

“Falak is still on ventilator. There has been no material change in her condition. The health of the baby is deteriorating”, said Dr Mishra.

The doctors at AIIMS also said that the next 72 hours are very critical for Falak.