Month: February 2014

Boko Haram attacks kill 32, including at Christian college

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Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed at least 32 people in three separate attacks in northeast Nigeria, including at a theological college, a local government official and residents said today.

The coordinated attacks in Adamawa state late yesterday came just a day after Islamist militant fighters were blamed for killing 43 people, most of them students, as they slept at a boarding school in Yobe state.

The chairman of the Madagali local government area in Adamawa, Maina Ularamu, said “a large number of militants

47 killed, over 70 injured in Iraq violence

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At least 47 people were killed and over 70 wounded Thursday in separate attacks witnessed in different parts of Iraq, including three deadly bombings in capital city of Baghdad, police said.

In the worst incident in Baghdad’s Sadr City, a booby-trapped motorcycle exploded at a popular market, leaving at least 32 people dead and 56 injured. In another incident, an improvised explosive device struck a minibus, killing five civilians and wounding two, Xinhua reported.

Curfew in 25 Assam villages following clash

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Indefinite curfew was Thursday clamped in 25 villages in Assam’s Darrang district after 13 people were injured in a clash between two groups, officials said.

Darrang Deputy Commissioner M.S. Manivannan said curfew was imposed in 25 villages to stop any deterioration of the situation.

The curfew would be in force till further orders and till the situation improves, he added.

A group of people attacked another group at Udmari village, after suspecting the second group to be of dacoits. A total of 13 people were injured in the incident, a district administration officer said.

12 killed in Qatar restaurant blast

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At least 12 people were killed and 30 injured when an explosion occurred at a restaurant located adjacent to a petrol station in Qatar’s capital city of Doha Thursday morning, officials said.

All 12 reported killed were Asians or Arabs, said the head of Qatar’s police force Maj Gen Saad al-Khulaifi, adding some of the injured were seriously hurt. Initial indications suggested a burst natural gas tank on top of a Turkish restaurant was to blame for the explosion, BBC reported.

Obama to host Palestinian president in March

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US President Barack Obama will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House March 17, the White House said Thursday.

The president looks forward to reviewing with Abbas the progress in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Xinhua quoted White House spokesperson Jay Carney as saying in a statement.

“They will also discuss our continuing effort to work cooperatively to strengthen the institutions that can support the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

On March 3, Obama will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Swine flu kills 19 in Syria

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Swine flu has left at least 19 people killed in Syria, the country’s Health Minister Sa’ad al- Nayef said Thursday.

Nineteen out of 59 suspects died of swine flu in Syria, and in Hama province alone 11 people died of the fatal flu, Xinhua quoted al-Nayef as saying, while also adding the H1N1 medicine was distributed in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Since the outbreak of swine flu, the health ministry has been ordering H1N1 vaccination for all health workers at intensive care units and in high-risk categories, the minister said.

–IANS

US urges Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity

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The US Thursday urged Russia to show respect to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty amid festering events unfolding in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking Crimea peninsula.

“We strongly support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at a regular press briefing, adding “We expect other nations to do the same.”

Security forces in Crimea, an autonomous republic in southern Ukraine, have been put on alert after armed groups seized local government and parliament buildings Thursday, interim Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.

Ramulamma joins Cong

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TRS expelled MP Vijayasanthi today joined Congress fold in the presence of its chief Sonia Gandhi and AICC leader Digvijay Singh. Later talking to media Singh said that Vijayasanthi joined their party as it kept its promise of giving statehood to Telangana. She is a consistent fighter for the cause of Tealngana and we are happy to have her in the Congress, Singh said. Vijayasanthi said that she wanted to support the Congress for according statehood to Telangana. She suggested that the TRS has to keep its promise merging with the Congress at this juncture.

Jairam calls on Governor

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Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today called on Governor ESL Narasimhan at Rajbhavan here. Jairam is understood to have shared his views with Narasimhan pertaining to a final decision on imposing President Rule or selecting a new Chief Minister. The meeting assumes significance as the Union Cabinet is likely to meet on Friday and settle the issue. While the Governor is said to have recommended for President Rule, while leaders of Telangana and Seemandhra sought the Center to put in place a new government by selecting a CM of its choice.

KCR meets party seniors on merger

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Amid speculations of imposition of President Rule or putting in place a new government, The Union Cabinet is expected to take a final call on Friday. The Union Cabinet is expected to discuss and take a final decision in this regard tomorrow as the AICC is in a hurry to settle the issue. Despite passing the T bill in Parliament the Congress wants the TRS to merge into it and then decide on President’s assent and Gazette to be published to accord statehood to Telangana, sources said.

Union Cabinet to take final call on President rule in AP on friday

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A final decision regarding imposition of President Rule in Andhra Pradesh is expected to be taken by the Union Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, who is also in charge of party affairs in AP, disclosed this to the media and said that the issue was discussed with the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who after assessing all pros and cons had concurred with the senior party leaders suggestion for brining the state under the central rule.

Krishna rao likely to be new CS

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Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) IYR Krishna Rao is likely to become Chief Secretary as the incumbent P K Mohanty’s term is expiring on Friday.
It is customary that the CCLA is a likely successor of the incumbent for the top post in Andhra Pradesh Government. It is pertinent to note that Mohanty said to have not opted extension of the post for time-being as bifurcation process was going on. To avoid the future headache of bifurcation which may take a couple of months or so, Mohanty was planning to make a calm and peaceful exit, sources said.

TG, Erasu, Ganta to join TDP

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Peeved at bifurcation, some of the Seemandhra Congress leaders are all set to join Telugu Desam Party. Staunch Samaikyandhra leaders like TG Venkatesh, Erasu Prathap Reddy, Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Sridhar Krishna Reddy are understood to be joining the TDP. They, along with others, called on TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu and expressed their willingness to join the party. Naidu is said to have invited them into the party which will improve the poll prospects of the TD in the forthcoming general elections. Naidu is reportedly given his nod for those seniors from the Congress.

Jairam raps Chiru for opposing T bill in Parliament

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Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today ridiculed his cabinet colleague from Seemandhra Chirnjeevi for his googly and raising a banner of revolt in Parliament when Telangana bill was taken up. “We did not expect him to protest against the bifurcation bill, but Chiranjeevi did it raising many an eyebrow”, he remarked.

MLA sees KCR plan behind mammoth V rally

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Mancherial MLA Arvind Reddy today alleged that TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao organized a massive Telangana “Victory Rally” with an intention to enhance his bargain power with the Congress.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, Aravind Reddy said KCR should merge his party with Congress without any conditions. He said KCR had said that a Dalit leader of his party would be made chief minister of Telangana State. But KCR did not take a single Dalit leader when he called on AICC president Sonia Gandhi along with his family members.

TITA shares happiness with V. prakash on T

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Telangana Information Technology Association (TITA) Core Members met Political Analyst and founder of Prof. Jayashankar Research Foundation V. Prakash and congratulated him on the achievement of Telangana statehood.
The TITA members called on Prakash on Thursday at his residence.
TITA founder-president Sundeep Kumar Makthala, vice-president Rana Pratap, general secretary KL Narsimha Rao, treasurer Vijay Kalimicharla, joint secretary Pashupathinath, Pavan, Vikas and others were present. (NSS)

BJP alone can develop Seemandhra: Haribabu

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was only capable of developing the Seemandhra region, senior leader Haribabu said here today.
Speaking to mediapersons here, Haribabu, who hails from Seemandhra, said they would go to the people and tell them that BJP alone can develop the region. He said Seemandhra region would be developed soon if the available natural resources are utilized well. He also stressed the need to solve the problems of Seemandhra people as they were feeling insecure after bifurcation of the State.

VH demands immediate TRS merger with Congress

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Senior Telangana Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumanth Rao has demanded immediate merger of TRS with Congress.
Speaking to mediapersons at Warangal on Thursday, Hanumanth Rao said a Backward Class leader should be made chief minister of Telangana State. He ridiculed the comment of Kiran Kumar Reddy that without Seemandhra people, the roads in Hyderabad would remain deserted. (NSS)

Techno management Fest at Gitam

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GITAM University, Hyderabad Campus Engineering and Management students are jointly conducting two days Techno Management Fest in the name of ‘Pramana-2K14’ on February 28 and March 1, 2014. Prof. Ch.Sanjay, Director, GITAM Hyderabad Campus informed in a press release on Thursday.

HC sets up panel to hold elections in FMC

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The decks have been cleared at last for the conduct of the much-awaited elections in Fateh Maidan Club (FMC) with the High Court constituting a three-member committee to complete the election process by March 31.
While the Registrar of Societies would be the Chairman of the three-member committee, the other two members are M. Mohan Reddy and K. Sudhakar Rao, both long-standing members of the club.

Political polarization begins after state division

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Political polarization apparently began after Parliament gave its consent for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh recently.
Displeased with Congress party’s decision to bifurcate the State, its own MPs, MLAs and even those who enjoyed minister posts in Kiran Kumar Reddy government began consulting their supporters to switch over to other parties. Senior Congress leader and former minister J C Diwakar Reddy and his brother JC Prabhakar Reddy are expected to join the TDP for which N. Chandrababu Naidu reported to have given green signal.