Mulayam renominates Jaya Bachchan to Rajya Sabha

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has pushed actress-politician Jaya Bachchan for another term in the Rajya Sabha, a controversial move that is likely to further alienate his one-time close aide Amar Singh.The announcement of Bachchan’s nomination was made Wednesday by Mulayam Singh’s son and Uttar Pradesh’s SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. The SP has also nominated Rasheed Masood for the upper house of parliament.“The Samajwadi Party parliamentary board had finalised the names of Jaya Bachchan and Rasheed Masood for nomination to the Rajya Sabha,” Akhilesh Yadav stated in a statement issued here.Bachchan is the wife of mega star Amitabh Bachchan, whose proximity with the former SP leader Amar Singh is well known. Amar Singh has often stated that the Bachchans are like family to him; Jaya Bachchan too had supported him in the days before he finally exited the SP before distancing herself later.Amar Singh had said: “Jaya Bachchan is free to choose the way she likes even though she remains like family to me.”
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Speed up defence research, deliver on time: PM to scientists

India has not matched pace with competitors in defence technology, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday asking scientists to speed up their research and deliver critical technologies on time for the nation to achieve self-reliance.“In many areas, we have moved fast, but our competitors have often moved faster. It is a fact our current level of self-reliance in defence R and D (research and development) is less than our capabilities and it needs to be stepped up significantly,” Manmohan Singh said, addressing defence scientists here on the occasion of National Technology Day.Asking scientists to make sure they have the capacity and the will to compete, innovate and deliver on time in the wake of rapidly changing technology, Manmohan Singh noted: “It is a fact that some defence projects have been delayed and others have faced difficulties during the stage of operational induction.”He stressed that only the most competitive and resilient companies could expect to survive in the fiercely global market. “If our systems are strong and robust, the world will respect us and be willing to work with us. This was the lesson we learnt in the process of negotiating the civil nuclear deal with the international community”.He said the scientists should learn from mistakes and setbacks and be open to new ideas to stay ahead in the competitive world.“We should be able to acknowledge and learn from our setbacks,” he said and urged the premier Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to work closely with the armed forces and industry.“It is essential that DRDO work more closely with the armed forces, as well as the industry,” Manmohan Singh said.The prime minister also acknowledged the findings of the government-appointed defence review panel headed by former secretary for science and technology P. Rama Rao.Some of the recommendations of the panel were implemented earlier this month following which the size of the DRDO was reduced and a watchdog set up to speed up the execution of defence projects and increase private participation in the sector.“I am very glad to note that the ministry of defence is examining the recommendations of the (Rama Rao) committee on the functioning of the DRDO. I firmly believe that if we put our mind to it, there is no reason why our successes in the software sector cannot be replicated in the defence sector.”“We must strive for leadership in research and development in defence technologies. I would urge all of you to think big and to act with a strong sense of self-belief, nationalistic spirit and the desire to excel,” he said.
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Heat wave conditions prevail in Telangana, coastal AP

Hyderabad, May 26 : Heat wave conditions prevailed over Telangana and Guntur districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh today, with the highest maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius recorded at Adilabad, Nizamabad and Ramagundam.Severe heat wave conditions may continue to prevail over Telangana during the next two days.The maximum temperatures rose at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and changed little over Rayalaseema.They were significantly above normal at one or two places over the remaining districts of the state and above normal at many places over Rayalaseema, the Met department said today. Isolated rain or thundershowers could occur over Rayalaseema. Though strong surface winds, at times gusty were likely in the city, the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 44 and 29 degrees, respectively
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India gets first FDI in power sector after 54 months: Shinde

Hyderabad, May 26 : India gets its first foreign direct investment (FDI) in the power sector after 54 months when a Singapore-based company committed to invest in 1,320 megawatt ultra-critical thermal power plant coming up in Andhra Pradesh.Up to 100 per cent FDI is allowed in the power sector in the country.Singapore's Sembcorp will be investing Rs 1,100 crore to pick up 49 per cent stake in the Rs 6,869 crore phase-I of the thermal power plant of the Gayatri Group, the city-based infrastructure company, to come up at Krishnapatnam in Prakasam district.Speaking at the signing of a joint venture agreement here yesterday, Union Power Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde said: ''During my four and a half years tenure, the investment by Sembcorp Group is the first FDI in power sector,'' Mr Shinde said. The project is expected to come up in 40 months. The Minister, who conceded that India could meet only half of the 42,000 mw target in the 10th Plan, said the country is looking at the 78,000 mw target in the 11th Plan which ends in March 2012.Power equipment major BHEL has been tasked with doubling its capacity to manufacture 10,000 mw of power-generating equipment, Mr Shinde said, adding that the State-owned firm would further extend its capacity to 15,000 mw to achieve the 11th Plan target.He said four ultra mega power projects with Rs 16,000 crore investment are also planned in Andhra Pradesh. India needs bigger capacity utilisation even as the UPA Government has assured to electrify every village by 2012. With gas find in Krishna Godavari basin, more gas-based power plant are in the offing, the Minister added.Chief Minister K Rosaiah said his State welcomed investment not only in power but in all sectors. The first private sector power plant in the country had come up in Andhra Pradesh even before liberalisation.Andhra Pradesh had the both coal and natural gas and was the largest hydel generating State in India, the Chief Minister said, indicating that the State could be a favourable destination for investors.
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Student murdered in AP village

Guntur May 26 : A student who successfully completed SSLC (Xth class) Public Examination, the results of which was declared a couple of days ago, was murdered by unidientified persons at Dammalapadu village in Muppala Mandal midnight last night.Police said U Amkama Rao was sleeping outside his house when the miscreants slit his throat with a knife.The profusely bleeding Rao died on the way to a private hospital at Satenapalli.Police, quoting the family members said, had no animosity with anybody.A case was registered and investigation was underway, police added.
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