Andhra bids YSR a tearful adieu

Lakhs of people on Friday bid a tearful farewell to charismatic Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who was killed in a helicopter crash, as his body was interred in his family’s expansive estate here after a state funeral.

The last rites were performed in this rural town in Pulivendla constituency after a galaxy of national leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leader of the Opposition LK Advani joined a sea of humanity that had all parts of the state to bid adieu to him in Hyderabad.

60-year-old Reddy’s son Jaganmohan (36), the cynosure of all eyes against the backdrop

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://epaper.financialexpress.com/

Black Tornado heroes to protect city

The commandos who shot down the terrorists during the Taj Hotel and Nariman House siege in Mumbai last November will head the National Security Guard hub in the city

Brigadier Subash Rangi and Lt Col. Sandeep Sen, who took part in Operation Black Tornado following the November 26 terror attack, will be leading the team of 250 NSG commandos to protect the city against jihadi terrorists as well as Maoists

“We will be dealing with counter terrorism and counter hijack operations,” said Brig. Rangi. “We are not going to say that we will not touch left wing extremism. In case a situation of specific nature comes up like a hostage situation we will be dealing with it.” The local NSG hub will be covering Hyderabad and nearby areas and other cities within the State

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.dc-epaper.com/

Match point for Sania Mirza

It's another love-all start for Sania Mirza. The Indian tennis star, who has been plagued by injuries over the last two years, looks to be on the cusp of a new doubles partnership. However, this time, it is off the court.

A family source told HT on Thursday that Sania is set to get engaged to long-time friend Sohrab Mirza on July 10 in her hometown, Hyderabad. It is learnt that invitations have already been sent out.

“The boy is not related to them,” the source said after being asked about the common surname. “She knows him from her school days.” The groom-to-be is a businessman from Hyderabad.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com

City takes Chargers, trophy to its heart

Deccan Chargers returned with the IPL trophy to possibly the biggest imprompt party ever seen in the city’s history.

Hyderabad simply took ownership of the Chargers and the trophy, thousands of people joining the team bus in their own vehicles, and thousands upon thousands more lining the roads to cheer the team.

Fans stopped the bus to see their heroes, leaned into the windows to shake hands and everyone started taking photographs. At places, they just stopped the vehicle to dance to let their joy be known.

It seemed bigger than the welcome Mumbai gave to Team India after winning the T20 World Cup last year. The welcome was set up on its own by the city.

To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://dc-epaper.com

China drill was to be in Secunderabad

The Indian Army was initially in favour of Secunderabad (Hyderabad’s twin city) being the venue of the second joint Sino-Indian Army exercises in the country, well-placed South Block sources have revealed. The exercise, codenamed Exercise Handin-Hand, has started in Belgaum, Karnataka, which was ultimately selected as the venue. Sources indicated that it was felt in government circles that Belgaum should be the venue, probably because several sensitive defence establishments are located near Secunderabad and Hyderabad. Sources said that the thinking in government circles from the beginning was that the exercise could be held in southern India.

The Army had earlier considered other venues, including Mhow in Madhya Pradesh and Dehradun in Uttarakhand. But once it became clear that the exercise was to be held in southern India, the Army initially proposed that Secunderabad be the venue, sources said. This was due to several reasons.

Sources said that whenever exercises with a large neighbouring country like China are conducted, the focus is on showcasing the best in terms of infrastructure to gain what is known as “moral ascendancy”.

To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit:
http://epaper.asianage.com/Asian/AAge/2008/12/06/index.shtml

Tired of controversies, Sania stops playing in India

Tired of being dragged into one controversy after another in the past few months, Sania Mirza has decided against playing in India for now.

Sania has opted out of next month's Bangalore Open and has cited the petty controversies that have been dogging her for quite some time for the pullout.

"I am not playing in Bangalore Open. I have been advised by my manager not to play (there) because a lot has been happening in the past few months," Sania said.

"Everytime I have played in India, there has been some kind of problem. So we just thought it was better not to play this time," she added.

Ever since her breakthrough 2005 season, Sania has been battling controversies ranging from her on court attire being dubbed indecent by Islamic fundamentalists to the recent flag controversy during the Hopman Cup in December last year.

In fact, the off-court furores had shaken the world number 29 to such an extent that she had contemplated giving up the game altogether a few weeks before last month's Australian Open.

Sania, who will undergo a MRI scan on Tuesday, said she is pleased with the good beginning in this season, reaching the mixed doubles final at Australian Open in the company of Mahesh Bhupati.

On her encounter with Venus Williams, Sania said, ''though I played well in the first set, I could not break her service in the second set."

The injury, due to a torn abductor muscle, in the left leg had forced her out of the first three matches in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group One competition at Bangkok. Sania saved India from relegation in the Federation Cup beating Hong Kong 2-1 in the final match.

image and article source:www.ibnlive.com