Naidu seeks Japan’s expertise for AP’s capital

Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that he wants a capital with Japan’s expertise and incorporate best practices into it. “I want to build the capital on both sides of the Krishna River,” he said, adding Vizag too is on his agenda. “We have a 1,000 km-long coastline, natural resources and tourism potential.” On the third day of his visit to Japan, the Chief Minister and his team visited the Nakata Waste Management site in Fukuoka city. Following a 13-minute film on the city’s waste management system, a presentation on landfills was made. In the presentation, the Chief Minister was briefed about the semi-aerobic method which is environment-friendly. The Chief Minister was informed that the landfill can be reclaimed and used for residential or farming purposes. These landfills can be converted into useable land resources.

Don’t import chicken legs from US: KCR

HYDERABAD : Telangana State has recognised poultry as a key sector and the State which is among the country’s largest poultry producers aims to retain its position even in future. This was stated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after inaugurating the Poultry India-2014 conclave in the city on Wednesday. He said the State government had recently increased its budget for the poultry sector from Rs 90 crore to Rs 220 crore, and facilitated power subsidies and affordable maize.

The government was also keen to resolve the VAT issues soon. “We would extend all the facilities to ensure that the State retains its top position in the country in the poultry sector. The State is best place for investments in this sector,” KCR said. He said, “Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the State has increased supplies from 3 crore eggs to 5.25 crore eggs. The State is actively considering the proposal to increase the supply of eggs from two per week per student in government hostels to three per week.” The Chief Minister appreciated the industry for overcoming the challenging times during the Bird Flu epidemic.

Khushboo joins Congress

Actor-politician Khushboo from Tamil Nadu today joined the Congress months after she quit the DMK.Forty-four-year-old Khushboo joined the party in presence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi whom she met at her 10 Janpath residence.She had quit M Karunanidhi's party in June saying her 'hard work for the DMK had been a one-way path". She had joined DMK in 2010, when it was in power in Tamil Nadu.

India, China sign $2.4-bn MoUs

New Delhi : MoUs worth over $2.4 billion were signed at ‘India-China Business Cooperation Conference’, organised by FICCI in association with Zhejiang Federation of Industry and Commerce here on Wednesday. Amongst the MoUs signed, the biggest is between Kunlun Chuangyuan Investment (Zhejiang) and Kiri Infrastructure (India) for the project ‘India International Trade Center in Gujarat’ worth $1,500 million.

Property worth `96 cr attached in Emaar case

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday attached fixed deposits, plots and other assets worth Rs 96 crore in total in connection with probe related to APIIC-Emaar township project. Basing on the chargesheet of the CBI, the ED Hyderabad zone has registered ‘Enforcement Case Information Report’ (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against EHTPL and others, including EHTPL's former director Koneru Rajendra Prasad, Tummala Ranga Rao of Stylish Holmes and Real Estate and N Sunil Reddy, former director of Southend Projects.

The CBI has filed a charge sheet alleging that Emaar Hills Township Private Limited (EHTPL) and others took excess money in cash for plots in EHTPL, without showing that on account books, and did not share this revenue with Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, its JV partner. “Investigation revealed that the accused collected excess amounts in cash from the sale of villa plots in EHTPL to the extent of Rs 96.01 crore and shared this amount among them. This amount forms part of the total amount of Rs 167 crore that constitutes Proceeds of Crime derived by cheating APIIC,” an ED statement said.

All is well with Shanti

Afew days ago it was widely speculated that late actor Srihari’s wife Shanti has been hospitalised due to chronic illness. It is being said that Shanti has been flown to Singapore for treatment over a liver ailment with her sister Lalitha Kumari.  we learnt that Shanti reportedly fell sick due to jaundice and is currently being treated at her sister’s home in Chennai. “Shanti is absolutely fine and there is nothing to panic. She fell sick due to jaundice and it’s not that she is battling a liver disease. Doctors advised her to stop eating non-vegetarian food. It is her inability to resist her temptations that has caused her sickness,” confides a source. Ever since the demise of Srihari, Shanti has been in deep sorrow and is not stepping out of her swanky bungalow. She is hopeful of making her sons Shashank and Megamsh pursue a career in the industry as either a director or a hero.

India can build $10-trn economy by 2034

New Delhi : India has an opportunity to build a $10 trillion economy over two decades with a GDP growth of 9 per cent per annum, as per PwC’s latest report titled ‘Future of India – The Winning Leap’ launched on Monday. The report revealed the winning solutions required to lead India to
unprecedented economic growth coupled with radical improvements in the Human Development Index (HDI) over the next two decades. The report analyses that up to 40 per cent of India’s $10 trillion economy of 2034 could be derived from new solutions. The study stresses that ‘The Winning Leap’ should not be limited to a new approach or solution but rather needs to be seen as a ‘play-to-win’ mind set shift for industry leaders and the country overall. According to the report, if each sector of the Indian economy executes solutions, it will expand fivefold and can achieve 9-10 per cent sustained economic growth over the next 20 years in a resource efficient manner.

‘Achche Din’ yes

New Delhi: A countrywide survey conducted by a news channel on Narendra Modi's performance in first six months of his regime has given a thumbs-up on his promise of “Achche Din”, but is sceptical about his assurance to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks. As many as 63 per cent of the 15,000 people surveyed across India said Modi had delivered on his promise of “Achche Din”.

Of all the states, people of Uttar Pradesh seemed most impressed with Modi’s performance: 94 per cent of the people surveyed in UP said that Modi’s promise of “Achche Din” was fulfilled. However, on the issue of black money, the response was mixed. A majority of the respondents (51 per cent to be precise) felt that in the first six months, it did not appear that black money stashed in foreign banks could be brought back to India. Interestingly, in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, 65 per cent of the respondents said that it did not appear in the first six months that black money could be brought back to India.

Innovative-new-industrial-policy

Hyderabad : The much-awaited Industrial Policy of the newly formed Telangana state was approved by the State cabinet on Sunday and it would be introduced during the ongoing Assembly session. The cabinet also approved a proposal to come up with a Sand Policy. It has decided to set up three corporations- Telangana State Water Grid Development Corporation, Telangana State Rural Road Development Corporation and Telangana State Roads and Development Corporation.

KCRThe three corporations would work under the aegis of the Panchyat Raj Department of the State. The cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, also gave its approval to the much talked-about Women Safety Bill. The cabinet also approved a proposal to sanction Rs 100 crore for the transformation of Hussain Sagar lake. The meeting, which was held for close to three hours, also decided to set up an organisation by name Cultural Ambassador (Sanskrutika Leader), which would extend financial help to 500 artistes of the State.

Chidambaram can try for Cong chief post

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has put out an open dare to former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, saying he can also contest for the Congress president post. Digvijay Singh, who has repeatedly asserted that Rahul Gandhi should formally take up the mantel of the party, has now said that fellow Congress leader can also try if he wants. Earlier in the month, Chidambaram had stirred a storm with his comment that a non-Gandhi can be Congress president.

carlsen retains world chess title

sochi : World chess champion, Norway's Magnus Carlsen retained his title, defeating Indian challenger Viswanathan Anand in the 11th round of their title match at Russia on Sunday. The reigning world champion called off the exchange/sacrifice blunder or bluff of Anand on move 24 and wrapped up the 12 game in 45 moves. Interestingly Anand went for the misadventure of exchange/sacrifice - giving up his rook for Carlsen's bishop when he was enjoying a slight positional advantage.

CarlsenCarlsen scored 6.5 points first to retain the title that he wrested from Anand last year. As predicted earlier Anand played it safe in the initial phase of the game as he was trailing a point behind Carlsen. Playing white, Carlsen opened by pushing his king pawn two squares forward. The game soon transposed into Ruy Lopez-Berlin defence. And as it happened in the earlier games, Carlsen went in for exchange of queens. On move 9, Anand moved his white bishop to d7 square which was considered as a fighting move. Both the players blitzed their moves consuming around five minutes for the first 12 moves. "Again Berlin defence-third time by Anand.

It is unclear whether they played the prepared moves. Seems Carlsen did not expect Berlin defence," World number 26 and Indian Grandmaster P.Harikrishna told IANS. At the end of 13th move, Carlsen's minor pieces were ready to come into play but the same could not be said so for Anand as his rooks and black bishop were rooted to their original squares. "The Berlin defence is like that. Initially black pieces would seem to be inactive but they play an active role in a passive manner," Harikrishna said. Two moves later, Anand opened up his king side by pushing his g file pawn two squares. Carlsen had castled on the king side.

PM congratulates Saina, Srikanth

Saina Nehwal

Hyderabad, Nov 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Badminton player Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth on their victories at the China Open Super Series Badminton Tournament.A wonderful day for Indian badminton! Congrats to Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth for the victories at the China Open Super Series Badminton Tournament, the Prime Minister said.

L&T agrees for changes in Metro Rail alignment

  Hyderabad: At last, Larsen & Toubro, the concessionaire of Hyderabad Metro Rail, has agreed to make changes in the alignment of the metro rail route at certain places as suggested by the Telangana government, ending the months-long stand-off over the alignment. According to official sources, changes in the alignment would be made at Assembly, where the Metro Rail would run from the backside of it and at Sultan Bazar where the rail line would run behind Women’ College. In the Old City of Hyderabad, the alignment would be changed in such a way that would not disturb the religious structures. The L&T agreed for the changes in the alignment as the KCR government agreed to compensate the losses arising out the changes in the alignment.


The State government has been insisting that the earlier alignment would destroy and disturb the iconic heritage structures of the city like Sultan Bazar, Charminar, Mecca Masjid, and the Assembly. Till now L&T was firm on not changing the alignment arguing that it would delay the execution of project and also would cause huge cost-overrun. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday held a review meeting with the L&T authorities headed by its chairman A M Naik on the progress of HMR works and the necessary changes to be in its alignment. He promised that the government would compensate for the losses caused to the concessionaire and the L&T authorities had finally agreed for changing the alignment.