Manmohan Singh becomes third longest-serving PM

Manmohan Singh has become the third longest-serving prime minister of India as he completed 2,273 days in office Wednesday.India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru tops the list at 6,130 days, while his daughter Indira Gandhi remains the second longest-serving prime minister with 5,829 days in office.“There are no special celebrations for the day. The prime minister is following his routine schedule,” an official in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), who declined to be identified, said.“The main functions he celebrates related to his office are the anniversaries of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government.They are all well publicised functions attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other leaders,” the official added.Manmohan Singh, 77, moved to the thrid slot Wednesday, replacing his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had been in office for 2,272 days over three terms.Vajapyee was prime minister for 13 days in 1996 and for 2,256 days in the second and third terms during 1998-2004.The Manmohan Singh-led UPA-1 (2004-2009), at 1,826 days, holds the second position among the longest-serving central governments. Indira Gandhi’s second stint (March 18, 1971-March 24, 1977) tops the list at 2,198 days. This became possible for Indira Gandhi as her government’s tenure was extended during the emergency.After Nehru, Manmohan Singh is the only prime minister to have been re-elected on completion of a full five-year-term.“Dr. Singh does not bother about ornamental statistics. His focus is always on dedication and quality of work,” said the PMO official.
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Court reinstates Andhra varsity vice-chancellor

Hyderabad, Aug 11 : The Andhra Pradesh High Court Wednesday reinstated Kusuma Kumari as the vice-chancellor of the Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Anantapur district. She was removed by the government earlier this month over alleged lapses.In an interim order, the court set aside the government order dismissing her for alleged involvement in irregularities in recruitment of professors. Justice N. Ramamohana Rao while reinstating Kusuma Kumari said her removal without giving her a hearing was against the principle of natural justice. University Chancellor and Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan sacked her Aug 2 on the state government's recommendation. The move followed a probe by a retired judge of the high court into allegations against Kusuma Kumari, 60. The high court directed the government to provide a copy of the probe report to her and gave her a month's time to go through the same and inform the court. It was the first time in the state's history that the government had removed a university vice-chancellor on charges of irregularities. The issue had assumed political overtones with Kusuma Kumari accusing the K. Rosaiah government of targeting her for being close to the camp of his rival and Congress MP Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy. Kusuma Kumari is the sister-in-law of former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), B. Karunakar Reddy, a loyalist of Jagan. She challenged the government order in the high court and contended that she was removed without even giving her an opportunity of being heard. She said she was sacked by the government in a great hurry as it came a day after the government received the judicial commission's report. Governor Narasimhan Monday defended the action against Kusuma Kumari and denied that there were any political motives behind it.
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Conference, workshop on type 2 diabetes on Aug 21

Hyderabad, Aug 11 : The first international conference and live workshop on heal interposition for type 2 diabetes (DIA-SURG 2010) will be held at Marriott Convention Centre here on August 21.Dr Aureo Ludovico de Paula of Brazil, who is the pioneer of procedure - Heal Transposition Surgery (small intestinal switch) for control and finally cure of Diabetes, will address the conference, which is likely to be attended by more than 100 doctors from all parts of the country, Conference Organising Chairman Surendra Ugale said in a press release here today.''It is his maiden visit to India...This is the first ever conference by Dr Paula not only in our country but in Asian continent. India, being the diabetic capital of the world, and Hyderabad being India's diabetic capital, this procedure should be able to do a lot of good for Indian diabetics,'' Dr Ugale added.
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Trains cancelled, re-scheduled due to derailment

Hyderabad, Aug 11 : Some trains were diverted, cancelled and rescheduled due to derailment of Hyderabad-Aurangabad passenger train at Kohir station on Vikarabad-Parli-Vaijnath section of Secunderabad Division today.According to a statement here, train no 7205 Manmad-Kakinada Town Express, which left Manmad yesterday and arrived at Pangaon, has been diverted to run via Parli Vaijnath, Parbani, Mudhked, Nizamabad and Secunderabad.Train no 6594 Bangalore-Nanded Express, which left Bangalore yesterday, had been diverted to run via Vikarabad, Secunderabad and Mudhked.Train no 6593 Nanded-Bangalore Express, scheduled to leave Nanded at 0600 hrs today, left at 0900 hrs.Train no 347 Hyderabad-Purna Passenger train, scheduled to leave Hyderabad at 0755 hrs today, had been cancelled. Train no 348 Purna-Hyderabad Passenger Train, scheduled to leave Purna at 0710 hrs tomorrow, had been cancelled, the released added.
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Press Academy conducts mid-career training for mediapersons

Hyderabad, Aug 10 : Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh today announced that two exclusive courses for experienced mediapersons under ''Mid-Career Training for Mediapersons'' to improve their skills.In tune with the road-map announced for the current year, the academy has initiated the two courses with the association offered by Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNA and FAU).In this regard, MOU was signed between Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh and Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University in the presence of Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Minister for Information and Public Relations J Geetha Reddy, Commissioner of Information and Public Relations C Parthasarathi, Chairman, Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh, Vice-Chancellor, JNA and FA University Tirumalagiri Surender and Dr P Padmavathi.As per the MOU, two courses Digital Production Techniques in Media and Photo Journalism will be organised by the JNAFAU and CFA, Hyderabad.The duration of each course is of three months and the number of seats are 30 in each course.The date of commencement of courses will be announced later, a release from press academy of AP said.
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Southern DGPs meet opens tomorrow

Hyderabad, Aug 10 : Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy will open the third southern states Directors General of Police (DGPs) meet here tomorrow.The DGPs of Southern States -Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry-will be attending the meet with their teams of CID and Intelligence Officers. The purpose of the conference is to exchange information and extend mutual co-operation among the southern states. This conference would provide a common platform enabling member State Police Departments on the matters of exchanging information and intelligence relating to various traditional and special crimes viz., property crime, bodily crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, fake Indian currency notes circulation crimes, narcotics and psychotropic substances crime. marine policing issues pertaining to coordination with Coast Guard and other agencies will also be discussed along with the best practices in prevention, detection and prosecution in organised crimes.The conference is also intended to suggest/exchange information on ways and means to tackle left wing extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism apart from busting various organised crime modules and also to keep police agencies informed in tracing out hard core criminal gangs and executing non-bailable warrants (NBWs) on inter-state criminals.Several other subjects such as Video Piracy, Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) and illegal immigration networks operated by unscrupulous elements to Gulf and South East Asian Nations will also be discussed in the day-long conference. The measures to effectively tackle the Video Piracy, Narcotic Drugs, fake Indian currencies from source to destination will be debated at length. Gangs of dacoits, robberers and offenders operating in diverting attention across the border and such operational information will also be discussed. The conference will address all the above issues for which it is being held and enable southern states to work together to bring the offenders of all hues to justice.Prior to this, the first Conference was held by Tamil Nadu in August 2008 and by Kerala in August 2009, according to an official release here today.
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Firecrackers blast kills five in Andhra

Hyderabad, Aug 10 : Five people were killed and six injured when firecrackers being manufactured illegally in a house in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district exploded Tuesday, police said. A probe has been ordered.So powerful was the blast in Peddaellamelli village of Unguturu mandal that three houses were damaged. The incident set off panic in the entire area. Local people told police that fire broke out in the house where firecrackers were being manufactured illegally. It was followed by blasts and the flames engulfed the neighbouring houses. An eight-year-old boy was among those killed. Police said the bodies had not yet been identified as some of them have been charred beyond recognition. The toll might go up as the work to clear the debris is on. District Superintendent of Police Ravi Verma said some people were reported missing. "The death toll will be known only after all the debris is cleared," he said. The injured were shifted to a hospital at Tadepalligudem. After a visit to the scene of the accident, District Collector Vani Prasad ordered a probe . ============================================================

Headmistress tortures students with burning wood

Hyderabad, Aug 10 : In a shocking incident, the headmistress of a government-run primary school in Andhra Pradesh's Warangal district tortured students with a burning wood as they were making noise in their classes.At least 13 children of Class 1 to 4 sustained burn injuries on different parts of their bodies Monday. The incident that took place in Jamandlapalli village of Mahabubabad mandal came to light Tuesday when parents along with their children staged a protest outside the school, demanding action against the headmistress, Shruti Kirti. Acting swiftly, the district education officer of Warangal suspended the headmistress and ordered a probe into the incident. Parents alleged that the headmistress had been cruelly punishing students for the last few days. The children, including girls, showed torture marks on their hands and legs.
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