assembly politics

Andhra Pradesh:

1) Opposition to launch Nation wide campaign: The opposition has decided to launch a nationwide campaign to expose the alleged fraudulent means adopted by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, son of chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to get funds for his newspaper Sakshi and the yet to be launched TV channel. Leaders of Grand Alliance, TDP, TRS, CPM and CPI, met at the residence of TDP chief N Chandra Babu Naidu chalked out their strategy.

2) Assembly descends into utter chaos: For the first time in the history of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, proceedings turned violent with marshals and opposition members coming to blow and the latter mouthing expletives for over an hour. Pandemonium broke out when Speaker Suresh Reddy suspended 49 opposition MLAs, including TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu, for stalling the proceedings with their demand that a discussion be taken up on the companies floated by Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s son YS Jaganmohan Reddy. The speaker had adjourned the House thrice. With the suspended legislators refusing to leave, he called in the marshals. What followed was a complete break down of order. The MLAs uprooted nine mikes and ironically, Hareeshwar Reddy (TD), deputy speaker of Assembly prior to 2004, was the first to grab a mike and confront the marshals.

3) Speaker apologizes to people over tussle in house:

Stating that he was deeply hurt with today’s incidents in the house, Assembly Speaker KR Suresh Reddy apologized to the people of the state for the ugly incidents witnessed in the house involving both opposition MLAs and the marshals. An enquiry would be conducted into the incident where in alleged attacks took place between the MLAs and marshals, he added.

4) Roja demands Galla’s ouster:


Telugu Mahila President Roja today denounced forcible acquisition of farm land in Mordanapalli and Kothapalle for digital World project promoted by medical education and health insurance minister Galla Aruna Kumari’s family members.

5) CBI probe into Jagan, Babu sought: Demanding a CBI inquiry into the huge assets owned by YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Heritage Company of TDP president N Chandra Babu Naidu, Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) activists staged a dharna at Gandhi statue in Tirupati.

6) NTR award for Dasari, Raghupati for Tammareddy:

Veteran Film director-producer-actor Dasari Narayana Rao has been selected for the state government’s NTR national award and another veteran film producer Tammareddy Krishna Murthy for the prestigious Raghupati Venkaiah award for the year 2007.

7) TDP alleges discrepancies in house-site pattas: Goddu Hymavathi, wife of Goddu Appala Raju of Matham Veedhji in the 8th ward here, was issued house-site patta measuring 60 square yards in Survey No. 335/4 in Nellimarla mandal. Boundaries to the plot were not mentioned in the patta. Moreover, the patta should be signed by Nellimarla tehsildar but it was signed and stamped by Vizianagaram tehsildar, pointed out Y. Ramana Murty, TDP district president.

PrajaRajyam legal battle for symbol

1) PR to wage legal battle for symbol:

Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi has said his party will embark on a legal battle for the election symbol to his party. Some technical problems are being created at the Election Commission to stop the allotment of single symbol to the party, he said. At a press conference in Balkonda constituency on Wednesday, he said a silent revolution was in store and in the ensuing election; the voters would give a clear verdict in favour of PR. This is indicated by the response coming from the people to his party, he added.

Balakrishna comes to the rescue of BABU

Andhra Pradesh:

1) Balakrishna comes to the rescue of BABU:

Mr. Balakrishna denied the charge that his father was back-stabbed by Chandrababu Naidu to grab the Chief Minister’s gaddi. “Everybody felt bad but the situation warranted a tough decision. My father was under the influence of evil and he was being cornered,” he recalled. He further said NTR and Mr. Chandrababu Naidu were the two persons who inspired him in politics. He was campaigning for the TDP to keep his father’s legacy alive even though he did not intend to be actively involved in politics. “I am ready to do anything such as contesting the Assembly poll or heading the party and even taking up a ministerial position, but only if the party considered it appropriate,” he said.

2) Make Congress bite dust, Balayya tells people: Telugu Desam’s star campaigner and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna urged people to maintain the same spirit until the Congress bites the dust in ensuing elections.

1Pranab, NSA sing different tunes on Pakistan probe

National News:

1) Pranab, NSA sing different tunes on Pakistan probe:



Two days after National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan said Pakistan had “reverted to us and asked a number of questions” on the Mumbai terrorist attacks dossier, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee reiterated that India had received no “official communication” from Islamabad “about the progress of the investigations conducted by them” into the November 26-29 events.

2) No response from Pakistan: Pranab: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday underlined that India was yet to receive any official response from Pakistan.

3) Mumbai attacks: Pakistan may prosecute 120 people: The Pakistan Government plans to prosecute over 120 people who might be connected to the Mumbai terror attacks, but the list includes "few if any" of the top militant leaders against whom India has sought action, according to a media report. This will be the first time that Pakistan will prosecute militants once supported by the country's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency though the absence from the list of most militant leaders whose prosecution has been sought by India "reflects the delicate balance Pakistan is trying to achieve", ABC News quoted a senior intelligence official as saying.

National Education Mission launched:

National Education Mission launched:

Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh formally launched the “National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology”, a Rs.4, 700-crore ambitious project to provide online educational content to the remotest part of the country, at the SVU auditorium at Tirupati on Tuesday. Terrestrial and satellite connectivity for e-classrooms will be provided under the mission that facilitates live interaction with professors, putting virtual laboratories in place and helps one access e-books through the “Sakshat” web portal. Ten thousand university departments and 20,000 other institutions of higher learning are expected to be provided network connectivity, beginning with 5 Mbps each, for which the Central government bears 75 p.c. of the connectivity charges for five years Mr.Arjun Singh said that the selection of the abode of Lord Venkateswara for the launch was not accidental, as he had wanted divine intervention to ensure the project’s success. Resources were never a constraint for meeting the educational needs of the country, he said. Union Minister of State for HRD D. Purandeswari hoped to see a rise in the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by at least 5 p.c. by the end of the XI Plan period due to this initiative.

Satyam Fiasco

Satyam Fiasco:

1) SEBI allowed questioning Raju brothers: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to interrogate in prison B. Ramalinga Raju and B. Rama Raju, the former chairman and the managing director respectively of Satyam Computer Services Ltd., in connection with the financial scam involving the company.

2) Satyam board to discuss suitors today: The Government-appointed board of directors of the embattled Satyam Computer Services will be meeting here on Wednesday for the sixth time since its constitution. Satyam insiders indicated that the board might not appoint any Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, especially in the wake of relaxations being considered by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an open offer so that any company could buy a controlling stake. Sources said that even if the CEO and CFO were appointed, the arrangement would be purely ad hoc, as the new management might put in place these things finally.

3) Satyam board to discuss suitors today: The Government-appointed board of directors of the embattled Satyam Computer Services will be meeting here on Wednesday for the sixth time since its constitution. Satyam insiders indicated that the board might not appoint any Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, especially in the wake of relaxations being considered by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an open offer so that any company could buy a controlling stake. Sources said that even if the CEO and CFO were appointed, the arrangement would be purely ad hoc, as the new management might put in place these things finally. The regulator’s relaxations for an open offer assumed significance in the light of L&T increasing its stake from four per cent to little over 12 per cent.

4) Satyam staff to receive Feb salary on time: Employees of Satyam Computer in India will be paid their February salaries by the month-end, while its employees overseas will be paid in two tranches beginning mid-February, a top source said. "February salaries of Satyam employees abroad would be paid in two tranches--the first by February 15 and the second by this month-end, while India salaries would be paid by the end of this month," the source said in Mumbai on Tuesday. Around Rs 500-600 crore is needed per month to meet salary payment requirements, the source added. When asked how the scam-hit company would meet this and other financial requirements, the source said that Satyam's financial position was not very bad, as it had around Rs 1,800 crore as receivables.
Satyam to vet buyout plan: The two-day Satyam board meeting beginning on Wednesday will consider six-seven proposals for buyout of the beleaguered Information Technology major and discuss the Rs 600-700 crore short-term funding requirements to be provided by three public sector banks. “We have received six-seven EoIs from potential buyers that will be examined during the Wednesday board meeting. The priorities of the board, while considering these proposals, will be to guard the larger interests of Satyam, besides getting a good pricing,” said a top source

Headlines Today

Andhra Pradesh:

1) Congress MLA to join Praja Rajyam: The Congress party has suffered a jolt in Krishna district with party MLA from Malleswaram constituency, Buragadda Vedavyas, announcing his decision to join the Praja Rajyam on Thursday.

2) Chiranjeevi ridicules ‘grand alliance’: Making a dig at the so-called ‘grand alliance’, he said theirs was not ‘mahakootami’, but ‘mayakootami’ and that it could not stand before his ‘megakootami’ comprising youth force, women force, farmers, labourers and his fans. The parties in the ‘mahakootami’ were once arch enemies and vehemently criticized each other, he pointed out.

3) Rs. 10-cr. TTD guest house inaugurated: Madhavam’ guest house built at a cost of Rs.10.5 crore by the TTD to meet the increasing demand for accommodation at Tirupati was inaugurated by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. In his brief address on the occasion, the Chief Minister asked the TTD to give top most priority to amenities for common pilgrims who constituted the bulk of devotees. The six-storeyed complex with 164 AC rooms has two elevators installed for the convenience of the high-end boarders. Each room is provided with a TV and other modern amenities.

4) YSR offers prayers at Tirumala:

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday offered prayers at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara, Tirumala. Dr. Reddy, who chose to have the darshan like any other commoner, reached the main entrance of the temple – ‘Mahadwaram’ through the Vaikuntam queue complex. On his arrival at the temple complex, he was received with the traditional temple honours by the temple priests in the accompaniment of the temple drums and was led into the sanctum sanctorum. He stood in front of the main deity for nearly ten minutes and paid his obeisance before leaving the temple.
5) NTP to contest on PRP symbol: The Nava Telangana Party (NTP) of Devander Goud will contest elections on the symbol of Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party. But the former TDP No.2 denied reports that his party would be merged with the PRP.

6) Congress ouster our main agenda: CPI: The political atmosphere in the State has skewed in favour of the Grand Alliance formed by the TDP and left parties with the entry of TRS, CPI State secretary K. Narayana said.

7) TTD drops move for scanner at Alipiri gate: The move by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to establish a hi-tech scanner for checking the vehicles, including buses, cars and two wheelers, that enter Alipiri Toll Gate enroute Tirumala has been reportedly shelved due to fears that the X-rays used by the machine may be harmful, highly placed sources said.

7) YSR landed state in dept- trap: Balaiah: Telugu Desam Party star campaigner N. Balakrishna said that it was his responsibility to ensure that all election promises made by party supremo N Chandra Babu Naidu were fulfilled after coming to power. Addressing road shows in Allagadda, Chagalamarri, Rudravaram, Gospadu, Nandyal, Panyam, Orvakallu, Kurnool and Kallur mandals, he said that the Congress Party which came to power by making tall promises conveniently forgot them after coming power.

8) TTD dairy farm at Palmaner: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is setting up a modern dairy farm and a research centre at Palmaner to conserve the local cattle breeds of the region. It has also decided to take up a campaign to protect cows as there is an alarming increase in the sale of barren cows to slaughterganur. Cattle fair with all modern facilities will be set up in Critter district to ensure that farmers get better price for their milch cattle.

news updates

News Update for 03.02.2009

Andhra Pradesh:

1) TRS is non existent in Telangana, says YSR: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday asserted that the ‘grand alliance’ by the Opposition would not have any impact on the Congress’ prospects in Telangana as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), hitherto perceived as a dominant force in the region, has become ‘non-existent’ now. The Chief Minister claimed that a major chunk of TRS’ vote-bank shifted to the Praja Rajyam (PR) as the people lost faith in the TRS leadership. “This will benefit the Congress which is set to come back to power again,” he said. Dr. Reddy made these comments during an informal chat with reporters in the Assembly lobbies.

2) ‘End Congress rule’: Actor N. Balakrishna gave a call to people to end the anarchic Congress rule in the State. He took part in road shows at Dhone, Bethamcharla, Banganapalli, Koilkuntla and Allagadda on Monday drumming up the support for the Telugu Desam party in the forthcoming election.

3) Land row: SVU to seek YSR’s intervention: The row between the TTD and the Sri Venkateswara University over a stretch of 147.65 acres located on the university campus is getting more and more curious. The controversy assumes importance in the context of the visit of Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday to SVU to take part in the launch of the National Education Commission by the Human Resource Development Minister, Dr. Arjun Singh. The land skirting the base of the Tirumala hill range had to be handed over to the TTD by SVU for establishment of Vedic University. .

1) Chiranjeevi may contest from two places: Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi said that he was toying with the idea of contesting the Assembly elections from two constituencies. Tirupati is under active consideration, while another constituency is yet to be chosen, he told a press conference.

2) Reliance gas supply on Feb. 25: The long-awaited natural gas supply from the Dhirubhai wells of the Reliance Industries Ltd in the Krishna-Godavari basin, which can drastically change the State’s economic scenario, will finally commence on February 25.

3) Government consults partners of Maytas Infra: Companies in different consortia, which have Maytas Infra Ltd (MIL) as lead player or member, informed the government that they had no issues with the latter in the implementation of irrigation projects/packages. Ith the Maytas Infra as leader/partner, the consortia are implementing 25 irrigation projects/packages, whose agreement value is Rs. 16,261 crore. The share of MIL is Rs. 5,439 crore.

4) ‘Pratibha Rajiv Awards’ announced: The A.P. State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation Ltd on Monday announced ‘Pratibha Rajiv Puraskar’ to 18 persons in six fields for 2006, 2007 and 2008. A three-member committee comprising Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, Chairman, AP State Cultural Council, P. Dayaratnam and Vedavati Prabhakar finalized the names of the award-winners here on Monday in the fields of music, literature, cartoon, social service, rural arts and dance.

5) Governor hails YSR tenure:

Governor N. D. Tiwari has presented a rosy picture about the Rajasekhara Reddy government’s performance, hailing its tenure as “glorious years in State’s history”, of course, citing various economic indicators.
6) Governor’s address an ‘election pamphlet’: BJP: The Opposition has described as “bundle of lies”, the achievements listed out in the Governor’s address to the joint session of the Legislature and accused the government with ‘thoroughly misleading him’. Reacting to the Governor’s address, the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu said there was no policy direction.

7) Ecstasy marks Surya Jayanti: The auspicious ‘Surya Jayanti’ also known as Ratha Saptami festival was on Monday celebrated at the temple of Lord Venkateswara amidst religious fervour. Tens of thousands of devotees participated in the annual festival held from dawn to dusk. The processional deity of Lord Malayappa flanked by his two divine consorts on either side was carried out in a grand procession around the mada streets encircling the holy shrine on seven different vahanams during the day-long festival.

8) SVIMS doctors drop strike plan: The faculty and doctors Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), who were to observe a one-day token strike on Monday, as part of their on-going agitation demanding implementation of 6th Pay Commission scales dropped their move. The withdrawal of the strike call follows negotiations SVIMS Director G. Subramanyam and Tirupati MP Chintha Mohan had with Faculty Council leaders led by its president Aba Chandra.

9) Meet on education today: A day ahead of eminent personalities in the field of higher education converging on Sri Venkateswara University campus here for a national convention, which is to be attended by Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) thought of a novel way to seek solution to the ‘complex situation’ confronting the education sector and the student community as a whole. Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities, Directors of IITs, IIITs, IIMs, Chairpersons of AICTE, UGC, Higher Education Secretaries of all States, Vice-Chancellors of IGNOU and all varsities in the State will be attending the summit on Tuesday.




Satyam Fiasco:
13. SEBI to amend rules for open offer: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Monday decided to amend the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997, to give ‘a transparent pricing’ for open offer of Satyam Computer Services.

14. Apex court to hear SEBI plea today: The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a direction to interrogate B. Ramalinga Raju and B. Rama Raju, former chairman and managing director respectively of Satyam Computer Services, on the financial scam in the company.

15. Hindujas join race for Satyam: The number of suitors for the beleaguered Satyam Computer is increasing as Hinduja Global Solutions, an arm of the Hinduja Group, has evinced interest in acquiring the troubled IT Company.

16. L&T firms up as Satyam bidder, to increase stake: Larsen and Tubro is firming up as a bidder for Satyam and is expected to make an open offer if SEBI relaxes pricing norms. Sources tell Network-18 that L&T is expected to increase its stake in Satyam from the current 12 per cent to 15 per cent so that it can make an open offer for an additional 20 per cent as per SEBI acquisition norms.

17. ED moves court on Satyam: The Directorate of Enforcement has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the Sessions court here under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the Satyam Computer Services case.


National:
18. ‘CEC has no independent power to recommend removal’:

Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj on Monday asserted that Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami had no independent authority or power to recommend the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla in the absence of a reference from the President on the advice of the Union government.
19. Gopalaswami’s claims on timing of missive are seriously misleading: Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami has been widely criticized, among others by top constitutional lawyers Fali Nariman, Shanti Bhushan, and K.K. Venugopal, for the timing of his missive to the President just three months ahead of the 15th general election and three months ahead of his own retirement as CEC. In response, Mr. Gopalaswami has gone on record essentially blaming Election Commissioner Navin Chawla for the timing, claiming that he sent his ‘final reply’ to the allegations made in the BJP’s petition only on December 10.

20. CEC, ECs to hold meeting of parties today: In the run-up to the 15th Lok Sabha elections due in April-May, the Election Commission will hold discussions and invite suggestions from the political parties on Tuesday. Representatives of seven recognized national parties and 40 State parties have been invited for the meet in which Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami and Election Commissioners Navin Chawla and S.Y. Quraishi will participate.

21. BJP seeks Centre’s response: State BJP President Bandaru Dattatreya on Monday demanded that the Central government respond to the reported letter written by Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami recommending the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla from the post.

22. Centre must accept CEC’s advice: BJP: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday reiterated that its reading of the constitutional position was that Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami’s recommendation of removal from office of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla was “binding” on the government.

23. Minister slams bribery in judiciary: Union Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj on Monday asserted that the in-house procedure evolved in 1997 to probe cases of judicial misconduct and corruption had failed to yield the desired results, and sought a review of the mechanism. Mr. Bhardwaj told journalists that corruption in judiciary was a serious disease, which the in-house mechanism had failed to cure.

24. NCW distances itself from member’s report: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday sought to distance itself from the Mangalore pub incident report submitted to it by its member Nirmala Venkatesan.


25. Court refers Gowda’s letter to Lokayutka: The Karnataka High Court on Monday referred to the Lokayukta a letter by the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda and the book published by the party’s legal cell on the contentious Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP) taken up by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). Mr. Gowda had sent his letter and book on January 8 to several High Court judges, including Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran.

26. BJP plans 100 days war to capture power: The Bharatiya Janata Party has chalked out an extensive campaign plan of 100 days which will be launched on February 06 from Nagpur to what the party described as a ‘100 day war’ to capture power in New Delhi.

27. Money power of political parties worries EC: The Election Commission is mired in controversy with Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy sending a recommendation to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil for the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla. But apart from the war within, the Election Commission is also facing two big challenges, which include ensuring free and fair Lok Sabha elections and dealing with the prevalence of money power in Indian politics. "I have come to the conclusion that muscle power is less harmful than money power. One could silence the muscle power but money power is really a great blot," CEC Gopalaswami has said.


28. IGI Airport hijack drama: man held: Jitender Kumar, a passenger on board the Indigo flight from Goa who allegedly set off a hijack scare at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday, was arrested on Monday and produced in a city court that sent him to 14 days judicial custody.

29. Mangalore pub attack victims lying low: the men from Sri Rama Sene, accused of assaulting some young women in a Mangalore pub on January 24, might be back somewhere in the crowd, but the women they attacked are still lying low.

30. Top US Senators worried over SL violence: Two senior US Senators jointly urged Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels to safeguard civilians and ease humanitarian access to areas affected by the deadly conflict. Democrat John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Republican Richard Lugar, the panel's top Republican, said they were "greatly concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation."

31. Kerala Chief Minister breaking ranks? Political crisis looms large within the Left ranks in Kerala, as speculation is rife that Chief Minister VS Achutanandan is considering floating his own party, something which could spell doom for the Communists in its bastion. It is the CPI (M)'s worst nightmare, that too just month before the Lok Sabha elections. A split in the parties red bastion within Kerala is looming large. As party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan launched his much publicized Nav Kerala Yatra. However, what caught one's attention was the absence of Chief Minister VS Achutanandan. Last minute attempts by the CPI (M)'s top brass to assuage a sulking chief minister seemed to have failed.

32. India signs IAEA deal can enter nuke trade: India on Monday signed a key safeguards agreement with the IAEA to allow inspection of additional civilian reactors and clearing the decks for supply of atomic fuel and technology. This formally ended a 34-year-old nuclear trade embargo imposed after the 1974 nuclear test at Pokhran.

International:

33. U.N. official kidnapped in Balochistan: An American working for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees was kidnapped and his driver killed in the Balochistan provincial capital Quetta on Monday.

34. 9 die in hospital shelling: At least nine civilians were killed and 15 injured as shells hit an overcrowded Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullathivu district on Monday amid the all-out war between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE. Puthukkudiyiruppu and parts of Visuamadu are the two last remaining settlements of the Tigers with an estimated 1.2 lakh civilian population.

35. Israeli planes bomb Gaza police station: Israeli aircraft bombed an empty Palestinian police station in the centre of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, witnesses said on Monday, hours after Israel vowed to respond to militant fire. There were no reports of casualties or injuries in the strike on the building on Sunday.

36. Obama to meet Congress leaders: US President Barack Obama and Vice-president Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders at the White House on Monday afternoon in an effort to press Congress to move swiftly on an $800 billion-plus economic stimulus package. On Sunday, Mr. Obama said he was confident Republicans will come around to support the final version of the legislation, repeating what his top aides and officials have been telling reporters in recent days, that the final package would be close to its objectives — to save or create 3 to 4 million jobs — and Republicans would be able to back it.

37. Pak summons envoy to discuss 26/11 probe: Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik, has been asked to return to Pakistan for consultations in connection with the probe in Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008. Sources indicate that Malik will meet the officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office on Tuesday.

38. Hillary Clinton sworn in as Secy of State: Hillary Clinton has been publically sworn in on Monday February 2) as US Secretary of State by Vice President Joe Biden at a ceremony held at Foggy Bottom in Washington. Hillary's husband and former US President Bill Clinton and her daughter Chelsea were also present at the ceremonial swearing in ceremony yesterday, which included several former Secretaries of States and Congressional leaders.

39. Suu Kyi sets terms for UN role: Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s celebrated democracy campaigner, has told United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari that her National League for Democracy would press for “the release of all political prisoners” and a dialogue with the junta. Mr. Gambari, who met Ms. Suu Kyi and five top NLD leaders in Yangon on Monday, wanted to know her terms and priorities for the proposed visit to Myanmar by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

40. Hard times in Russia spell trouble for Putin: Over the last eight years, as Vladimir Putin has amassed ever more power, Russians have often responded with a collective shrug, as if to say: Go ahead, control everything, as long as we can have our new cars and amply stocked supermarkets, our sturdy ruble and cheap vacations in the Turkish sun.But now the worldwide financial crisis is abruptly ending an oil-driven economic boom here, and the unspoken contract between Mr. Putin and his people is being thrown into doubt. In newspaper articles, among political analysts, even in corners of the Kremlin, questions can be heard.

41. Protester hurls shoe at Chinese PM at Cambridge University:

A protester threw a shoe at the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday as he delivered a speech on the global economy at Cambridge University. Jiabao was coming to the last part of his address when a young Western-looking man stood up, blew a whistle and shouted: "How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to these lies?" The man then took off his shoe and threw it at the stage missing the Prime Minister by a few feet.

Business:
42. Mastek puts 425 on ‘virtual bench’: The economic downturn has forced Mastek to scale down its staff strength, putting 425 staff on ‘virtual bench’ for the next 12 months and also ‘aggressively’ reduce its staff benefit costs. “We witnessed a slowdown in demand at the end of the last quarter. This move by Mastek is being taken to maintain its guidance and to maintain the company’s profitability,” Chairman and Managing Director Sudhakar Ram.


43. Global telecom cos form association: Global telecom companies, providing enterprise telecom services in India, on Monday announced the formation of the Association of Competitive Telecom Operators (ACTO). ACTO will be an industry body focused on policies that will enhance enterprise telecommunications in India and its founder members include Verizon Business, AT&T, Cable & Wireless, Orange Business Services and British Telecom.

44. Spice Group buys Cellucom arm: B.K. Modi-promoted Spice Group has fully acquired the Indian subsidiary of Dubai-based mobile and IT products retailer, Cellucom. Under the share-swap deal, Spice will acquire 100 per cent stake in Cellucom, which in turn will get 26 per cent stake in the Spice Group’s mobile retail venture, Hotspot.

45. Exports show signs of revival:


Halting the sharp fall for the past two months and giving indications of a revival, exports declined by a meagre 1.1 per cent in December 2008 over the same month last year showing a negative growth for the past three months but with signs of withstanding the worsening global economic crisis.
46. NABARD cuts refinance rates: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Monday said it has reduced interest rates on refinance for investment credit by 25-75 basis points for lending by rural financial institutions.
47. Interest rates set to fall, PSU banks assure govt: PSU banks on Monday assured the government of reducing interest rates in the back drop of falling bank deposit rates, a move that would boost economic activity, especially in the cash- strapped realty, construction and sectors. As deposit rates have moderated, there is general expectation that interest rates will come down, Finance Secretary Arun Ramanathan told reporters after the review meeting of PSU banks with External Affairs minister Pranab Muhkerjee, who is also holding the charge of the Finance Ministry.


48. An unemployment rises Uncle Sam has job offers: Economists says the Federal work is the key to economic recovery.

49. Gold funds glitter in India: Gold has been a safe investment and now gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) are gaining popularity among investors in India.

50. Nano likely to roll out by March end:

The wait for the world's cheapest car could soon be over as Tata Motors could commence limited commercial production of the Rs 100,000 Nano from alternate locations so that the first car could roll out towards the end of March 2009 from Pantnagar till the mother plant came up in Sanand near Ahmedabad.

News updates for today

Andhra Pradesh:

1) SVU all set to host mega education event: The 1,000-acre sprawling campus of Sri Venkateswara University Tirupati is spruced up to host the mega event — launch of the ‘National Mission on Education Through Information and Communication Technology’ for the first time in India. The Rs. 4,612 crore massive ‘mission’ funded by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) would have as its stakeholders all the State governments, institutions of higher learning and their faculty members besides the students and knowledge experts in the country with a view to empowering our teachers and learners through ‘anytime and anywhere’ availability of knowledge modules and facilities for mutual interaction, said N.K. Sinha, Joint Secretary.

2) Special act to check red sanders smuggling mooted: In view of the spurt in illegal transportation of red sanders from the State for the past few months, the Forest Department is planning to bring out an Act to check timber smuggling and book the culprits.

3) Media men, officials manhandled: Several media persons and staff of the Information and Public Relations Department, including Regional Deputy Director L. Swarnalata, covering Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s visit, were ‘manhandled’ by police at Tadepalligudem. The visibly-embarrassed media personnel staged a demonstration, stalling Dr. Reddy’s convoy, demanding action against police. The incident happened when some policemen denied access to media coverage of his address at the Tadepalligudem High School grounds. When Ms. Swarnalatha, District Public Relations Officer S. Srinivasa Jeevan and Divisional Public Relations Officer R.V.S. Ramachandra Rao tried to help media personnel they tasted police ‘excesses’. She was dragged away by a police officer. A policeman held a reporter from Tadepalligudem by collar and pushed him aside. Police did not honour passes issued to the media personnel by RDO. An annoyed Chief Minister summoned Superintendent of Police B. Balakrishna and sought an explanation.

4) Launch quality products: YSR: ‘Bio- Asia 2009’ was launched by Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy here on Sunday, with a call to biotech companies to promote quality products and dietary supplements to improve people’s health.
5) Vacant posts in TTD will be filled: YSR: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy has assured the TTD Employees Association that he would give necessary instructions to the authorities concerned to immediately fill all the 1,818 posts remaining vacant in different departments in the TTD.
6) Take action if there are lapses in Heritage: Naidu:

Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday dared the Government to inquire into alleged irregularities in the Heritage Foods, owned by his family. “Unable to answer queries being raised over the favours given to Maytas Infra, the Government is trying to divert the attention of the people by its claims on so-called irregularities in Heritage,” he further said” They are in power and they can take steps in accordance with law”,
7) GRAND Alliance is to obstruct formation of Telangana: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ch. Vidyasagar Rao has alleged that the ‘grand alliance’ comprising the TDP, TRS and the Left parties is only aimed at obstructing the formation of separate Telangana.

8) Maoists spreading base in coastal region: Arrest of two key Communist Party of India (Maoist) commanders from Tenali in the coastal region of Guntur district has given credence to the rumours that the naxalite movement was witnessed in Nallamalla region in Guntur district.

9) Congress ready to discuss Satyam: YSR:

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said his party was ready to discuss any issue, including Satyam Heritage foods, in the budget session of the state legislative Assembly that begins tomorrow.

Satyam Fiasco:



10.Satyam, Heritage issues may dominate last session: The final session of the 12th Legislative Assembly is all set to commence from Monday. The short session to adopt the vote-on-account budget will start with Governor N.D. Tiwari’s address to the two houses – the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

National:

11.Plane makes emergency landing amid high drama: A couple of unruly passengers on board a flight from Goa set off a hijack alert at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Sunday, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. Confusion prevailed for almost two hours at the airport with no official explanation forthcoming as to why Indigo flight E-664 was taken to an isolated bay and no passenger was allowed to disembark. Soon after, the flight touched down around 5.30 p.m., National Security Guards and Central Industrial Security Force personnel surrounded it.

12.Incubator fire: Minister quits: A day after five newly borns were burnt alive in an incubator fire, Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Tikshan Sood on Sunday resigned owning moral responsibility for the tragedy. He sent-in his resignation to Balbir Punj, in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Party’s affairs in Punjab, party sources said.


13.Man Mohan Singh back home:

Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh was discharged on Sunday morning from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was admitted to the hospital on January 23 for a heart surgery that took place the next day.

14.JD(S) to go it alone in LS polls: The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that the Janata Dal (Secular) will go it alone in the coming Lok Sabha elections with the party deciding to field candidates in all the 28 seats in the State.

15.Call for general strike illegal: TN:

The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday declared that the general strike called by the Sri Lankan Tamil Protection Movement for February 4 is illegal as per Supreme Court orders.


16.CEC suggestion ‘out of bounds,’ says CPI (M): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday termed the suo motu recommendation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswami to remove Election Commissioner Navin Chawla “out of bounds” and pointed out that it can damage the institution of the Election Commission.

17.Navin Chawla set to take over as CEC: With the congress seeming to be in no mood to concede the demand of chief election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami, election commissioner Navin Chawla is set to take over as CEC after Gopalaswamy retires on April 20.

18.CEC says He is right: I am right, Chief Election Commissioner N Goplalaswami said on Sunday, unfazed by the sharp criticism to his recommendation for the removal of election commissioner Navin Chawla for ‘partisan’ functioning. Gopalaswami pointed out that while the move had been criticized by some jurists, for other leading lawyers like Harish Salve he was within his constitutional right to make such a recommendation. It is bound to happen. Each person looks at the information he has. For some people, timing wrong and for others it is not the CEC said.

19. Law Minister takes on CEC, says he cannot ask for Chawla's removal


In an indication of the Centre's thinking that it may not accept the CEC's proposal for removal of his colleague Navin Chawla, Law Minister HR Bhardwaj today said N Gopalaswami should do his job in the EC and not behave like a "political boss". The Law Minister said that the CEC has no constitutional right to write to the president seeking the removal of EC. "It is true that the President appoints the Election Commissioner and any action or any advice can be given only when the President requires," he said.




20. Congress terms BJP’s suggestion an assault on Election Commission: The Congress on Sunday said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “irresponsible and short-sighted assault” on the Election Commission, a constitutional body, would set a dangerous precedent.

21.Centre sends official to probe Mangalore pub attack: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has sent Kiran Chadha, Joint Secretary (Women Bureau) of the Ministry, here to inquire into January 24 attack on women at a local pub by Sri Ram Sene activists. Ms. Chadha, who arrived here on Sunday, visited the pub and met several people, including officials and women.

22.Naxalities kill SI, 14 cops in Maharashtra:

A group of armed Naxalities on Sunday killed 15 policemen, including a young police sub- inspector, in an encounter at Markegaon in Gadchiroli district here, police said. They then fled the scene with eight AK47s, two Insa self- loading rifles, four self loading rifles, one pistol and two inch mortar he said.

23.More names under scanner: IPS officer’s Drug Racket: The probe into him alleged drug racket of UPS officer Saji Mohan, arrested by the Mumbai ATS with 12kg of heroin, has broadened with more names including that of a media person coming under the scanner.
International:

24.Colombo: we will destroy LTTE shortly: Sri Lanka Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday asserted that the forces would shortly “destroy” the Tigers.

25.Pakistan may lose $1.5 billion U.S. aid: Pakistan may loose $1.5 billion financial aid from the U.S. as a Congressional bill, which was set to debate the 10-year package, has lapsed, a news report said.

26. Israel vows to hit Hamas after Gaza rocket fire: Israeli on Sunday vowed to strike back at hamas after renewed rocket fire from the Islamists Gaza stronghold, two weeks after the end of a bloody was in the battered Palestinian terrority.

27. Jaffnaites tire of Tigers tactics: About 20,000 people participated in a rally in Jaffna on Sunday, appealing to the Indian Prime Minister, the Srilankan President and the UN secretary general, to pressure the LTTE to release the lakhs of Tamil civilians they were holding captive in the war zone in the Wanni to be used as human shields against the advancing Srilankan army.

28. Japan PM faces political heat at home:



Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Taro Aso on Sunday prepared for tough questioning in parliament over the ailing economy and upcoming polls as he returned home from the World Economic Forum in Davos. Aso has rejected calls for snap polls from the opposition. The opposition has denounced a stimulus package which he pushed through parliament to revive the economy, calling it a waste of taxpayer’s money.
29.Sania-Mahesh wins mixed doubles title:


Business:

30. Jan saw 2, 77,000 job losses @ 9000 a day: More and more people are becoming unemployed this year, with nearly 9,000 jobs vanishing world- wide on an average each day in January. As the financial turmoil continues to rattle world’s economies, layoffs so far this year has crossed the 2, 77,000- mark with a stunning 80,000 job cuts announced January 26.

31. Kingfisher posts Rs 626 cr loss in Q3:

Private air carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, on Sunday said it has reported a net loss of Rs 626 crore during Q3 FY09 as against Rs 423 crore in the same quarter last year. The increase in loss in the quarter was on account of initiation costs of international operations (Rs 174 crore) and exchange rate impact of dollar denominated expenses (Rs 60 crore), the company said in a statement issued in Mumbai. Vijay Mallya-led Kingfisher Airlines also incurred losses due to interest expenses during Q3 FY09 which increased by Rs 103 crore as compared to the same quarter last year and on account of operating costs in the quarter which included provisions for contigencies for return of aircraft worth Rs 30 crore.

32. Indian IT spending to slow in 2009: The country's IT spending is expected to slacken this year, growing at an annual 14.1 per cent, down from 18.1 per cent recorded in 2008 due to the ongoing economic slowdown, according to a research report. Springboard Research in its brief titled 'India IT Market Predictions 2009' said, IT spending in verticals like retail and real estate will be hardest hit, while the advent of 3G and a protected financial system will help sustain growth in the telecom and banking/finance verticals respectively. In addition, government initiatives will spur economic growth and increase spending on public security and national defence, coupled with rural sector initiatives should include outlays for new technology in the years to come.

33. Infosys likely to slash variable pay:

Anticipating weakening demand from the US market, coupled with pricing and margin pressures in the fourth quarter of the current financial year, Infosys Technologies will look at slashing variable pay-out to its employees.

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