L A T E S T      N E W S

42-day old Telangana strike called off

HYDERABAD: Government employees in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh on Monday night called off their 42-day-long strike for a separate Telangana state. Leaders of Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (TEJAC) decided to call off the strike following talks with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Over 400,000 employees, who were on strike since September 13 as part of a people's strike to demand the creation of a Telangana state, will return to work from Tuesday The chief minister agreed to all nine demands of the employees. The government and TEJAC leaders signed an agreement after several rounds of talks during the day. The government agreed to treat the strike period as special leave and to pay the salaries by approaching the high court to seek exemption from "no work no pay" rule as a special case.

It also accepted the TEJAC's demand to withdraw cases booked against striking employees and reinstate those removed from service. The government agreed to form a committee to monitor implementation of Government Order 610 relating to repatriation of employees belonging to other regions of the state.

With TEJAC's decision, all sections of employees and workers in the region have called off their strike. Last week, teachers, transport employees and coal workers had withdrawn the strike.

China welcomes PM's comments on bilateral ties 

"We have taken note of the statement by Prime Minister Singh. As important neighbours to each other, China and India have maintained sound momentum in the bilateral relationship", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Jiang Yu told a media briefing here on Tuesday reacting to Singh's comments.

She said China is ready to work with India to enhance "China-India strategic partnership". "As for the border issue left over from history, the two sides have been seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution through friendly consultations", she said.

"Pending a final solution, the two sides are committed to maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas," she said.

On October 20, Singh while commenting on India-China ties blamed the media for playing up differences on the border issues, while the overall relations between the two were quite good.

"Despite the persistence of the border problem, both countries have agreed that peace and tranquility should be maintained along the border. "Therefore, by and large, sometimes something appears in the newspapers in our country, something appears in the newspapers in China, that I think invites comments, but overall our relations are quite good," Prime Minister had said.

Award for land owners must be made within 2 years: SC

A Bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya said the time consumed by court litigations should be excluded.

A reading of the relevant provision makes it clear that the Collector is obliged to make an award within a period of two years from the date of the publication of the declaration.

"If no award is made within that period, the acquisition proceedings automatically lapses.By virtue of the explanation, the period during which any action or proceeding to be taken pursuant to the declaration is stayed by an order of a Court is to be excluded in computing the period of two years," Justice Singhvi writing the judgement said.

The apex court passed the ruling while allowing an appeal filed by land owners R Indira Saratchandra and others challenging the acquisition of their land by the Tamil Nadu Housing Development Corporation.

No secret info on chopper that strayed in Pak-held area: Raju

"There was no secret information on that helicopter," Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju told reporters.

Dismissing reports in a section of the media that Pakistan had downloaded information from the strayed helicopter about helipads of the Army's 14 Corps, he said, "It contained regular information that is needed for a flying machine. So I don't think that has happened." He said while India's adversaries would constantly try to secure confidential information, "this does not mean we are not taking safeguards. We are taking every precaution to maintain confidentiality of what is important.

UK bans nearly 1,900 Indian banks for student visa

The new list has just 85 banks operating in India whose statements will be accepted for purposes of student visas.

As part of the application for student visas – Tier 4 under the points-based system – applicants have to show evidence of possessing the necessary funds to pursue a course of study and live in the UK for the duration of the course.

From November 24, if any applicant provides bank statements from the listed nearly 1,900 Indian banks showing they have the necessary funds, the application will not be considered.

Libyan official says Gaddafi buried at dawn

In a text message shown to The Associated Press, spokesman Ibrahim Beitalmal said Islamic prayers were read over the bodies. The information could not be independently verified.

The bodies of Gaddafi, his son Muatassim and former Defense Minister Abu Bakr Younis had been held in cold storage in the port city of Misrata since the dictator and members of his entourage were captured near his hometown of Sirte on Thursday.