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. .
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.
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.
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