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Showing posts with label Daily gk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily gk. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2013

05.01.2013

  • NATIONAL
  • Half burnt body of unidentified girl found at Puri
  • Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police today recovered the half-burnt body of an unidentified girl near a canal in Odisha''s Puri district but it was yet to be established if it was a case of rape.
  • Coal Scam: CBI questions Manoj Jayaswal
  • New Delhi: CBI today questioned Abhijeet group chairman Manoj Jayaswal in connection with its probe into the coal block allocation scam.
  • Tharoor hails Kerala rape victim kin for coming out
  • New Delhi: He may have been snubbed by his party, but an unfazed Union Minister Shashi Tharoor appears to be standing by his controversial remarks favouring making public the identity of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim.
  • "Taliban-Afghan officials meet a "tentative" exercise"
  • New Delhi: Adopting a wait-and-watch strategy on the recent meeting between Taliban and Afghan government officials, India today said it was a "tentative exercise" and hence was "premature" for it to come to any judgement.
  • Govt asked to pay ex-gratia to 1997 blast victims
  • New Delhi: Ruing that the government has failed to pay ex-gratia to the victims of a 1997 bomb blast in a bus that killed four persons and injured 24 others, a Delhi court today asked it to make payments within four weeks.
  • Gas leakage in zinc plant: 2 dead, 9 hospitalised
  • Jaipur: Two workers died and nine others fainted today after they inhaled poisonous gas at a zinc plant in Rajasthan''s Rajsamand district, police said.
  • J-K Govt to bear treatment expenses of acid attack victim
  • Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government tonight said that the entire expenses spent on the treatment of the woman, who was injured in an acid attack on Wednesday, will be borne by the state government.
  • I&B panel hears Jindal, Zee arguments
  • New Delhi: An inter-ministerial group of Information and Broadcasting Ministry today heard the conflicting versions of representatives of Naveen Jindal led Jindal group and Zee News on allegations of extortion against the channel''s editors.
  •  AFT asks govt to respond to Lt Gen's petition
  • New Delhi: The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) today asked the government to file its reply to a petition by a senior Lt General who has challenged the promotion of two colleagues of same rank as Army Commanders while seeking his own elevation to that post.
  • Diesel, kerosene, LPG prices may go up soon
  • New Delhi: Diesel, kerosene and cooking gas prices may be hiked soon while the government may separately take up a proposal to raise cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders.
  • Noida DM orders closure of schools till Jan 12
  • Noida: The Noida authorities today ordered closure of all schools in the area from January 7 to January 12 to ensure that students do not suffer due to dipping temperature and cold condition.
  • OU police registers another case against Owaisi
  • Hyderabad: Close on heels of registration of two FIRs against Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi for allegedly making "hate speech" against a particular community, the Osmania University Police here today registered another case against him on a court directive.
  • Reddy for deployment of tech tools to protect women's rights
  • Kolkata: Citing use of social networking websites to express outrage over the Delhi gangrape incident, Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy today asked women scientists to focus on deploying technological tools to protect women''s rights.
  • Lt Guv pulls up Transport dept, orders measures
  • New Delhi: With the brutal gangrap of a 23-year-old exposing chinks in the public transport system, Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna has directed Delhi Government to take a series of steps like installing CCTV cameras and GPS devices onboard all public buses at the earliest.
  • Delhi ganrape-cum-murder most horrendous: SC
  • New Delhi: The December 16 gangrape and brutal murder of 23-year-old Delhi girl was described today by the SC as the "most horrendous crime of recent days.
  • Gang-rape: Cong for re-evaluation of Juvenile Act
  • New Delhi: Amid growing clamour for enhanced punishment to perpetrators of the Delhi gang-rape, Cong today underlined need for a re-look at the Juvenile Act.
  • Punjab 'land of opportunities' for NRIs: Sukhbir
  • Chandigarh: Highlighting Punjab as "land of opportunities", Deputy Chief Minster Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the state has the potential to emerge as next economic hub of South-East Asia.
  • Parliament delegation visits to S Africa, Namibia off 
  • New Delhi: In the wake of the death of Delhi gangrape victim, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today cancelled the visit of an Indian parliamentary delegation led by her to South Africa and her own trip to Namibia to attend a Commonwealth Speakers conference.
  • MP min asks women not to cross 'Lakshman rekha'
  • Bhopal/New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya was at the centre of a controversy today over his remark that women must not cross the ''Lakshman rekha'' to avoid unwanted consequences, prompting an embarrassed BJP to disassociate itself from the comment.
  • A matter of interest: India on Pak military doctrine
  • New Delhi: India today reacted guardedly to Pakistan Army''s new military doctrine that described homegrown militant groups and internal dangers as the biggest threat to the country''s security.
  • UP to have 20 per cent women constables: Official
  • New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh is planning to have 20 per cent of its total constabulary as women in the next few years, a top state government official today said.
  • Report on greening rural development released
  • New Delhi: Economic growth, infrastructure creation and holistic development of the country should be based upon the principles of sustainability and inclusion, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said today.
  • BSP submits memorandum on protection of statues
  • Lucknow: A BSP delegation today submitted a memorandum to Uttar Pradesh Governor B L Joshi demanding proper security arrangements around the statues of various Dalit icons and stern punishment to those damaging them.
  • Trehan defends decision to shift victim to Singapore
  • New Delhi: Renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan, who had checked the 23-year-old gangrape victim before she was taken to Singapore, today strongly defended the decision to shift her saying it was done only to stablise her condition and not for any immediate intestinal transplant.
  • Yasin Malik taken into preventive custody
  • Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik along with a number of activists and supporters today were taken into preventive custody here as the group kick-started its 10-day ''jail bharo'' agitation against awarding of death sentences and lifers to Kashmiri prisoners by various courts.
  • Centre asks states for 33 pc women in police forces
  • New Delhi: The Centre today asked all state governments to increase the number of women in police forces to 33 per cent, saying an environment must be created for women and weaker sections to visit a police station without difficulty.
  • "Bhagwat's remark has to be understood in entirety"
  • New Delhi: Pushed on the backfoot by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comment that rapes happened in cities, BJP today said the statement should be seen in the proper context.
  • Rape victim's brother regrets juvenile name being left out
  • Ballia(UP): Brother of the Delhi gang-rape victim today regretted that the name of one accused was left out in the chargesheet filed on the grounds that he was a minor, saying his crime cannot be taken as any lesser merely on the basis of his age.
  • Iran rejects allegations in Israeli embassy car attack
  • New Delhi: Denying any role in bomb attack on an Israeli embassy car here last year, Iran today alleged that the charges of its involvement in the incident were made by those who have "their own criminal records".
  • Rail passengers can view fog affected areas on portal
  • New Delhi: With train services hit due to fog in Northern states, Railways have made the train enquiry platform much more interactive helping passengers view the fog affected areas and check the affected stations.
  • Separatist sponsored strikes down in 2012 in J-K
  • Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a fall in strikes sponsored by militants and separatists in 2012 with terror violence registering a dip of nearly 45 per cent from 195 incidents to 118.
  • Women Cong leaders seek dismissal of Shettar Govt
  • Bangalore: A delegation of women Congress leaders today met Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj and urged him to dismiss the BJP Government for its "failure" to safeguard women and children from sexual exploitation.
  • Rural development schemes to drive 'green agenda'
  • New Delhi: Realising their "immense potential", Government is planning to use rural development schemes like MGNREGA as a vehicle to promote green agenda.
  • JD(U) MP resigns, attacks Nitish Kumar
  • New Delhi: Suspended JD(U) MP Upendra Kushwaha today resigned from the party, slamming Chief Minister Nitish Kumar''s alleged "autocratic" functioning in Bihar.
  • Rape convicts names to be on the web in Haryana
  • Chandigarh: Haryana police has begun the process of putting the names of convicted rapists on an official website as also on various social networking sites, including Facebook.
  • "Laws be amended to include death for rape"
  • New Delhi: Laws should be amended to include death as a punishment for rape in cases where after the crime the victim "is no longer able to enjoy a normal state of existence and functioning", Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said today.
  • Constable suspended for hurling shoe at senior
  • Aurangabad: A woman constable, who allegedly hurled a shoe at a senior police officer, who had allegedly sent her lewd messages on her cellphone, has been suspended, officials said.
  • Iran for deeper bilateral ties with India
  • New Delhi: Iran today strongly pitched for deeper bilateral ties and increased cooperation in security and economic arena with India, saying both countries face "common threats and interests".
  • Alagiri furious over Karuna's succession plan
  • Chennai: Fissures re-emerged in DMK after party chief M Karunanidhi hinted that Stalin would lead the party after him with his elder son M K Alagiri today saying that DMK is not a "mutt" to appoint successor.
  • Crimes against women need to be curbed with iron hand: Shinde
  • New Delhi: Maintaining that crimes against women like rape are unacceptable, the goverment said they need to be curbed with an iron hand.
  • Dalai Lama holds special prayer at Nitish residence
  • Patna: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today held a special prayer at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar''s official residence here for world peace and praised the state government for taking interest in Buddhism.
  • "Lokpal to come up in Budget Session of Parliament"
  • New Delhi: The Government has agreed on most of the recommendations of a Parliamentary select committee on Lokpal Bill and the legislation is likely to come up in the Budget Session of Parliament, Union Minister V Narayanasamy said today.
  • Shops observe 2hr shutdown to protest acid attack
  • Srinagar: The commercial hub of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas today observed a two-hour shutdown against the acid attack on a woman here earlier this week.
  • Massive combing operation in Koraput district
  • Koraput (Odisha): Security personnel have launched a massive combing operation at Narayanpatna area of Odisha''s Koraput district following intelligence inputs about the presence of top Maoist leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the region.
  • Haryana puts rapists profiles on net
  • Chandigarh: Haryana police today began putting names and details of convicted rapists on a government website even as two youths were arrested in Jind district for allegedly recording and circulating the obscene MMS of a teenager.
  • Hate speech: Police notice to Owaisi for questioning
  • Hyderabad: AP police issued notices to MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi to appear before it for questioning, a day after registering FIRs against him for allegedly making "hate speech".
  • Can't direct suspension of MPs, MLAs facing criminal cases: SC
  • New Delhi: SC declined to hear a plea for disqualification of MPs and MLAs charge sheeted for crime against women but agreed to go into issues of fast track trial of rape cases.
  • Mount Abu freezes at zero degree Celsius
  • Jaipur: Biting cold has thrown normal life out of gear in parts of Rajasthan where mercury settled at zero degrees Celsius in Mount Abu.
  • EC visits Nagaland, reviews poll preparedness
  • Kohima: The Election Commission reviewed the poll preparedness in Nagaland where Assembly election is due in March.
  • U'khand to implement 'no work no pay' rule
  • Dehradun: Uttarakhand government has decided to strictly implement "no work no pay" regulation to discourage government employees from resorting to frequent strikes in support of their demands.
  • Half of Arunachal still make living out of forest
  • Itanagar: Even though the Arunachal Pradesh government has launched a Green Arunachal campaign to protect its greenery, a recent Census report has found that half of the state''s population is still dependent on forest for their livelihood.
  • Thane police to call up people to them on plaints
  • Thane: In a new initiative to instill confidence among people, Thane police have decided to call up complainants and them about the status of their complaints.
  • Constable arrested for misbehaving with teenager
  • Bahraich (UP): A constable was arrested and suspended for allegedly misbehaving with the teenaged daughter of his colleague here, police said today.
  • Girl jumps out of auto to foil molestation bid
  • Thane: A teenaged girl jumped out of a moving autorickshaw to save herself from the clutches of three men, who allegedly tried to molest and kidnap her in Mumbra township of neighbouring Thane district, police said today.
  • Fog disrupts flight operations at IGI Airport
  • New Delhi: Ops at IGI Airport were affected after fog disrupted schedule of around 30 flights. Around 16 flights were delayed while 1 was cancelled & 3 intl flight were diverted.
  • BJP blames lack of funds for bad roads in MP
  • Bhopal: With Madhya Pradesh scheduled to go for Assembly polls later this year, the bumpy roads in the state may give a jerk to the ruling BJP as it had won the 2003 and 2008 elections by promising to improve quality of roads.
  • Delhiites shiver as minimum dips to 2.7 degrees
  • New Delhi: Delhiites pulled out more woollens from their winter wardrobe as morning temp plummeted to season's lowest of 2.7 degrees Celsius.

  • INTERNATIONAL
  • Nepal govt protests colonel's arrest in UK
  • Kathmandu: Nepal today summoned the British ambassador and demanded the immediate release of an army colonel arrested in the UK on charges of torture committed during the decade-long Maoist insurgency that claimed almost 15,000 lives.
  • 1,000 ships stuck in China's sea ice
  • Beijing: About 1,000 ships have been left stranded in the water as a thick layer of sea ice has developed on Laizhou Bay in east China''s Shandong Province due to extreme cold.
  • Philippine police rescue Indian, kill 4 abductors
  • Manila: Philippine officials say police have rescued a kidnapped Indian businessman whose severed finger was delivered to his family.
  • Pak teenage activist Malala discharged from British hospital
  • London: Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage activist, has been temporarily discharged from a British hospital after she made "excellent progress in her recovery," doctors said.
  • Chinese official owning 29 houses faces graft probe
  • The procuratorate of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, decided today to investigate Zhai Zhenfeng, the former director of the housing administration bureau in Erqi district of the city.
  • Philippine police rescue Indian, kill 4 abductors
  • Manila: Philippine officials say police have rescued a kidnapped Indian businessman whose severed finger was delivered to his family.
  • US offers India assistance to check crime on women
  • "Our goal is, whether it''s in India or anywhere else, to help strengthen all of the public and private organisations that are working to combat violence against women," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said yesterday.
  • Pak Commerce Ministry asked to speed up MFN process to India
  • The cabinet, during its meeting yesterday, discussed the issue of normalising trade ties and reiterated its earlier resolve of granting MFN-status to India, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said.
  • Protests in Toronto, Ottawa over Delhi gangrape
  • Toronto: Protesters expressing solidarity with the 23-year-old gang-rape victim in Delhi have held rallies in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Ottawa, and demanded speedy justice for the deceased.
  • No delay for Czech presidential election: Court
  • Prague: The Czech Republic''s top court today refused to delay the country''s first direct presidential election planned for January 11-12, ruling against an injunction request filed by a rejected candidate.
  • Shooting rampage in Philippines leaves 9 dead
  • Manila: A man who was apparently intoxicated fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and a 7-year-old girl, before he was shot dead by police today near the Philippine capital, officials said.
  • 7 children among 10 dead in fire accidents in China
  • Seven children died when fire engulfed a private orphanage home in Lankao county in north China''s Henan Province today.
  • Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
  • London: Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage activist, who was shot in the head by Taliban for advocating girls'''' education, has been discharged from a British hospital treating her, the hospital said today.
  • Gunman kills three in Philippines
  • Manila: A gunman killed at least three people and wounded several others on the outskirts of the Philippine capital today, authorities said.
  • SL welcomes closing of UN dossier on child soldiers
  • Colombo: The UN has closed its dossier on Sri Lanka over child recruitment in armed conflict after deciding it is no longer an issue, a move welcomed by Colombo.
  • Bera, Tulsi create histroy; sworn in as US lawmakers
  • Washington: Indian-American Ami Bera & first Hindu US lawmaker, Tulsi Gabbard scripted history after being sworn in as newly-elected members of US House of Representatives.
  • Iraq attack death toll rises to 23 Shiite pilgrims
  • Hilla (Iraq): The death toll from a truck bomb targeting pilgrims after the conclusion of annual mourning rituals for a revered figure in Shiite Islam has risen to 23, an official said today.
  • Pak man extradited to US for role in Qaeda plot
  • Abid Naseer, a Manchester resident, was extradited to Brooklyn yesterday and would make his initial court appearance on January 7 before Judge Raymond Dearie of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
  • Grenades found at Walt Disney World in Florida, US
  • Washington: 3 hand grenades were found in a bin in parking lot of Walt Disney World in Florida. A cleaner spotted grenades while emptying trash containers at Disney area.
  • Indo-Americans elated over Bera, Gabbard's success
  • Bera and Gabbard created history today after being sworn in as new members of the US House of Representatives. They were administered the oath of office by Speaker John Boehner.
  • 9-year-old girl gangraped in Pakistan
  • Lahore: A nine-year-old girl was in a critical condition in hospital after being raped by three men in Pakistan''s Punjab province, police said.
  • Pak panel seeks to ban Indian soaps at prime time
  • The Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting of the National Assembly or lower house of parliament made its recommendation during a meeting chaired by Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Belum Hasnian.
  • Kashmir issue has to be settled by India, Pak: Envoy
  • United Nations: Pakistan said Kashmir issue with India to be settled by two countries while describing UN resolutions as an "important framework" for its settlement.
  • Pak operative extradited to US for role in Qaeda plot
  • Abid Naseer, a Manchester resident, was extradited to Brooklyn yesterday and would make his initial court appearance on January 7 before Judge Raymond Dearie of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
  • Malala Yousafzai to undergo cranial surgery
  • London: Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in head by Taliban for advocating girls' education, will undergo cranial reconstructive surgery within weeks.
  • Clinton plans to return to office next week
  • "Some of the senior staff who spoke to her about half an hour ago say that she''s sounding terrific, upbeat, raring to go. She''s looking forward to getting back to the office," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters.
  • Indian American renominated as federal judge
  • Washington: Indian-American Srikanth Srinivasan is among 33 federal judges re-nominated by US President Barack Obama for the US Court of Appeals.
  • N.Ireland rioters petrol bomb police
  • London: Eight police officers were injured in Belfast after being pelted with petrol bombs in the latest violence sparked by the city council''s decision not to fly the British flag all year round.
  • BUSINESS
  • CNG price in Indian capital Delhi hiked to Rs 39.90
  • New Delhi: CNG price in national capital Delhi was on Friday hiked by Rs 1.55 per kg to Rs 39.90 due to higher input cost. The new price would be effective from midnight tonight.
  • BJP slams Maha govt's new industrial policy
  • Mumbai: BJP today attacked Maharashtra government''s new industrial policy alleging it shows regional disparity and asked the state government to look beyond cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nashik.
  • DoT looking to start 2G auction from March 11
  • New Delhi: The second round of auction for selling unsold telecom spectrum is likely to start from March 11 with a lower base price.
  • Diesel, kerosene, LPG prices may go up soon in India
  • New Delhi: Diesel, kerosene and cooking gas prices may be hiked soon while the government may separately take up a proposal to raise cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders.
  • Power Grid to invest Rs 182.80 cr for project in TN
  • Mumbai: Central transmission utility Power Grid Corp today said its board has approved an investment of Rs 182.80 crore for a project in Tamil Nadu.
  • Govt should do its part in ensuring safety of women: Nasscom
  • New Delhi: With women constituting almost a third of workforce in IT-BPO sector, industry body Nasscom today said the sector had "robust guidelines" for security of employees but the government needs to play its part in ensuring safety of women.
  • Transport Min writes states on vehicles registration
  • New Delhi: In the backof the charge that the bus in which the Delhi gangrape took place was registered on false address, the Union Road Transport Ministry has begun asking the states for action against vehicle registration officials in such cases.
  • Tax concession sought for social sector in Budget
  • New Delhi: Social sector representatives today pitched for tax exemptions and greater involvement of NGOs in implementation of welfare programmes of the government.
  • Rupee plummets 57 paise, biggest in 2 months
  • Mumbai: The Indian rupee on Friday recorded its biggest slump in two months by plunging 57 paise to end at 55.07 on massive demand of the US currency from oil firms, amid dollar gaining strength on speculation that some US Fed officials are not in favour of continuing the bond-buying plan.
  • Countervailing duty: India to send a delegation to US
  • Kochi: India will send a delegation of professionals, including MPEDA officials and members of Seafood Exporters Association to the US next week in the backof America''s move to impose countervailing duty on the seafood industry, an official said today.
  • S&P, Fitch assign negative outlook to Power Grid
  • New Delhi: Two rating agencies Standard & Poor''s and Fitch have assigned negative outlook to state-owned transmission utility Power Grid Corporation in line with the sovereign credit rating outlook of the country.
  • After SC rap, govt set to notify rules for drug trials
  • New Delhi: After over 2,242 deaths during clinical drug trials in last five years, government plans to regulate the USD 500 million sector by bringing changes in drug laws to make lapses by pharma MNCs a punishable offence and enhance compensation among other steps.
  • Sebi allows mkt entities to verify PAN via IT website
  • Mumbai: Sebi today allowed the market entities to verify the Permanent Account Number (PAN) of Qualified Foreign Investors through the Income Tax Department''s website, as against the current practise of asking for their original PAN card.
  • Pak Com Min asked to speed up MFN process to India
  • The cabinet, during its meeting yesterday, discussed the issue of normalising trade ties and reiterated its earlier resolve of granting MFN-status to India, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said.
  • Sensex rises for 4th day, up 19 pts as oil stocks soar
  • Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex today erased initial losses to end 19 points higher on fag-end buying in oil & gas stocks triggered by expectations of hike in fuel prices, stretching market''s gains to the fourth straight day.
  • Sebi moots corp governance norms overhaul
  • Mumbai: Market regulator Sebi today proposed wide-ranging overhaul of corporate governance norms for listed companies, through measures like checks against unjustifiable CEO pay, greater powers to minority shareholders, an orderly succession planning and hefty penalties for non-compliance.
  • "Govt to soon send comments on new bank licences"
  • New Delhi: The government will soon send its comments to the Reserve Bank on issuing new bank licences, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.
  • Govt yet to take call on hiking fuel prices, says Moily
  • New Delhi: M Veerappa Moily said govt is yet to take view on raising diesel, kerosene and LPG prices. Vijay Kelkar Committee had recommended deregulation of diesel prices.
  • CPI(M) questions legality of cash transfer scheme
  • New Delhi: CPI(M) has questioned the legality of the government''s cash transfer scheme, saying the law on which the pogramme is based has not yet been passed by Parliament.
  • Rural development schemes to drive 'green agenda'
  • New Delhi: Realising their "immense potential", Government is planning to use rural development schemes like MGNREGA as a vehicle to promote green agenda.
  • Indian-origin hedge fund manager pleads not guilty
  • "I plead not guilty, your honour," Martoma, 38, said calmly to each of three counts that US District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan read to him yesterday.
  • OilMin allows RIL,Cairn to explore producing fields
  • New Delhi: In his first major decision, Oil Min Veerappa Moily has allowed Reliance Industries and Cairn India to explore oil and gas within producing fields subject to certain conditions.
  • Govt recasts IFCI board; nominates 2 directors
  • Mumbai: The government today restructured the board of IFCI Ltd by nominating two new directors in the wake of its raising stake in the domestic financial institution (DFI) to 55.57 per cent.
  • "Demand for heating appliances doubles this winters"
  • New Delhi: With steep fall in temperature in North India, the demand for heating appliances has nearly doubled this winters, a survey by industry body Assocham said.
  • Power Grid Corp's outlook negative: S&P
  • New Delhi: The outlook for country''s biggest transmission utility - Power Grid Corporation - is negative, in line with the country''s credit profile, Standard & Poor''s Ratings Services said today.
  • Sebi rejects 149 consent pleas; 16 from RIL group
  • Mumbai: Sebi has rejected 149 consent applications, finding them unsuitable for settlement through payment of charges, including 16 from entities related to Relaince group.
  • Sensex remains sluggish; down 53.03 points
  • Mumbai: Stock market remained sluggish in morning trade, with Sensex down 53.03 points on profit-booking in metals, realty, FMCG, auto and banking sectors.
  • Sensex down 43 points in early trade
  • Mumbai: BSE benchmark Sensex fell by over 43 points in early trade, snapping its three-session winning streak, as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits.
  • Rupee down 33 paise against dollar
  • Mumbai: The rupee weakened by 33 paise to Rs 54.83 against the US dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on increased demand for the American currency from importers amid strengthening of the dollar overseas.
  • Indian-origin hedge fund manager pleads not guilty
  • New York: Indian-origin hedge fund portfolio manager Mathew Martoma pleaded not guilty today to criminal charges after he was indicted last month in one of the "most lucrative" insider trading schemes ever involving USD 276 million.
  • SPORTS
  • Cilic, Wawrinka ousted from Chennai Open
  • French fifth seed Benoit Paire handed two-time champion and third seed Cilic a 6-4 1-6 7-5 defeat in the quarter-final, which lasted one hour and 54 minutes.
  • Misra resigns, AITA feels sorry for him
  • AITA feels sorry for the "respected" man but has not decided as yet if he will be replaced.
  • Gavaskar, Imran blame IPL for India's poor show
  • New Delhi: Sunil Gavaskar and Imran Khan held IPL responsible for Indian team's recent downfall, with former going on to say that for some Indian players national duty comes second to cash-rich Twenty20 league.
  • Players threaten boycott; AITA to give more money
  • Hours after the players issued a fresh threat to pull out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie against South Korea from February 1, the national tennis body dropped enough hints that it may increase the players'' share in the Davis Cup prize money, which is one their major demands.
  • Now IPL-style league in golf
  • New Delhi: Golf is all set to turn shorter and snazzier as the Twenty20 version of the sport is set to make its debut with the USD 400,000 Golf Premier League, scheduled to be held at the picturesque Aamby Valley from February 8 to 10.
  • Batsmen under scanner as Pujara set for ODI call-up
  • New Delhi: Talented Cheteshwar Pujara is all set to get a call-up when selectors meet here to choose team for the upcoming five-match ODI series against England starting in Rajkot.
  • South Africa win despite Brownlie hundred
  • Cape Town: Dean Brownlie hit a maiden Test century for New Zealand but could not prevent a South African victory on the third day of the first Test at Newlands today.
  • India, Pakistan teams arrive in Delhi for 3rd ODI
  • New Delhi: The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams arrived here this evening amid tight security cover for the inconsequential third and final ODI to be held at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground on Sunday.
  • IOA continues defiance of IOC, meeting on Jan 19
  • New Delhi: Blatantly defying the IOC''s diktat not to conduct any official activity after its suspension last month, the Indian Olympic Association has called a meeting of its Executive Council on January 19 here, the first assembly of the office bearers after being barred from the Olympic family.
  • Sections of AIFF against Mohun Bagan ban
  • New Delhi: It is not just restricted to a few former stars but a certain section of the AIFF, too, is against the federation''s decision to ban Mohun Bagan from the I-League for two years.
  • Miandad cancels trip to India in wake of controversy
  • Lahore: Javed Miandad, whose son is married to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's daughter cancelled his visit to Delhi in wake of a raging controversy over giving him visa for trip.
  • Miandad cancels trip to India in wake of controversy
  • Former Pakistan captain Miandad, who was to watch the third and final ODI in Delhi, cancelled his visit to avoid a controversy, a PCB official said on condition of anonymity.
  • I have lot of fire left in my belly: Sreesanth
  • The maverick bowler, who will turn 30 next month, faced the dark prospect of an end to his cricket career because of injuries in his toes suffered on the field. He has been off the field for 14 months during which he has undergone surgeries.
  • Indian hockey team has improved a lot, says Oltmans
  • After a disastrous Olympic campaign in London where they finished last, the fourth-place finish at the prestigious Champions Trophy in Melbourne and the second spot in the Asian Champions Trophy in Doha came as a soothing balm for Indian hockey, as it tries to slowly regain its footing after a steady decline during past decade.
  • Australia lead Sri Lanka but toss away wickets
  • Sydney: Australia made hard work of grabbing a narrow lead over tenacious Sri Lanka on a second day tarnished by reckless run outs and rash shot-making in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
  • 'Time spent on wheelchair was life's darkest phase'
  • New Delhi: Back from two career-threatening injuries, pacer S Sreesanth says that months spent on wheelchair were the "darkest" of his life.
  • Indian team looks jaded : Zaheer Abbas
  • New Delhi: Pakistan's dominance in ongoing ODI series against India has surprised country's former captain Zaheer Abbas, who feels host team looks jaded after too much cricket.
  • I prefer 'underdog' tag: Soumyajit
  • The 19-year-old does not want to take any pressure ahead of the event, starting January 7, as he is expecting tough competition from the likes of Achanta Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai and defending champion Anthony Amalraj.
  • Hockey India League announces Technical Officials
  • New Delhi: Englishman Barry Anderson was today appointed Tournament Director of the inaugural Hero Hockey India League scheduled from January 14 to February 10.
  • Warner, Hughes miss hundreds in Sydney
  • Sydney: David Warner and Phil Hughes missed out on centuries before veteran Mike Hussey came out to bat in his farewell Test for Australia in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney today.
  • We will wait and see, Bopanna on Davis Cup
  • Chennai: Still awaiting AITA's response to their demands, Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna said he and his fellow revolting players will adopt a wait-and-watch approach.
  • Glenn McGrath inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
  • Sydney: Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath was inducted into International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame, making him its 68th male member.
  • Whirlwind Warner gives Australia flying start
  • Sydney: David Warner went on the charge as Australia made a lively run-a-minute response to Sri Lanka''s below-par 294 first innings score on the second day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.
  • South African mountain biker killed in road mishap
  • Johannesburg: Champion mountain biker Burry Stander was today killed in a road accident after being run over by a minibus, local media reported.
  • Bhupathi and partner crash out of Chennai Open
  • Chennai: The top seeded pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Canadian Daniel Nestor were ousted from the Chennai Open ATP Tennis tournament after suffering a defeat at the hands of the unseeded Russian-American pair of Raveen Klaasen and Nicholas Monroe in the doubles quarterfinal here.

01.01.2013

  • NATIONAL
  • IAF to airlift 370 stranded passengers between Jammu, Leh
  • Jammu: Indian Air Force will today airlift 370 passengers stranded between winter capital city Jammu and Leh belt of Ladakh region, officials said.
  • Direct cash transfer Scheme rolled out in Rajasthan
  • Jaipur: Centre''s ambitious Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme was today rolled out in three districts of the Rajasthan.
  • Tharoor's suggestion "needless diversion", says BJP
  • New Delhi: BJP today termed as a "needless diversion" the controversial tweet of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor suggesting that the name of the Delhi gangrape victim be made public and demanded that he should instead focus on passing a stringent anti-rape law.
  • Ramakrishnan takes over as Director of VSSC
  • Thiruvananthapuram: S Ramakrishnan, a senior Scientist of ISRO with more than four decades of experience in rocketry in the Indian space programme, today took over as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here.
  • Direct cash transfer scheme rolls out in Delhi
  • New Delhi:  The govt's ambitious direct cash transfer programme was rolled out in two districts of Delhi today with only four out of 26 identified schemes being covered.
  • Peaceful protests continue against Delhi gang-rape
  • Chandigarh: Tributes continued to pour in for the Delhi gang-rape victim as employees of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking today observed two minute''s silence in the memory of the girl who died at a Singapore hospital.
  • Dikshit in damage control mode
  • New Delhi: Days after stoking a controversy, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today appeared in damage control mode saying her remarks that Rs 600 were enough to buy a month''s supply of foodgrains for a family of five was meant to suggest that the amount would help them get basic rations.
  • High speed train on Delhi-Mumbai route on track
  • New Delhi: Railways today expressed optimism over progress in its plans to run passenger trains on busy Delhi-Mumbai corridor at 200 km per hour and launching for the first time train sets services on shorter routes.
  • Osmania Univ student killed; ex-classmate suspect
  • Hyderabad: A 23-year-old post graduate student of Osmania University was allegedly strangulated to death by her friend at his residence in Chatrinaka area of Old City, police said today.
  • Won't allow male hawkers in women's coaches: Patil
  • Mumbai: Male vendors won''t be allowed to sell their wares in the ladies compartments of local trains, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said today.
  • Delhi shivers at season's lowest of 4 degrees Celsius
  • New Delhi: Bone chilling cold and dense fog rang in the New Year in the capital today as mercury plummeted to the season''s lowest of four degree Celsius.
  • Will try to fine tune operational strategies: IAF chief
  • New Delhi: Aiming to validate and fine tune its operational strategies and timely integration of new technologies and inductions, IAF has planned two exercises early this year, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said today.
  • Police to include Singapore doctor as witness
  • New Delhi: The Singapore doctor who carried out the postmortem of the 23-year-old gangrape victim will be included as a witness by the Delhi Police in the 50-page charge sheet.
  • Tharoor favours making public identity of gangrape victim
  • New Delhi: In remarks that can stoke a controversy, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today favoured making public the identity of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim wondering what interest is served by keeping her name under wraps.
  • Pak judicial panel to arrive India in January
  • New Delhi:  The Pakistani Judicial Commission, which will cross examine four witnesses in 26/11 terror attack case, is expected to arrive here by the end of January.
  • Haryana Minister calls Geetika 'servant' of Kanda
  • Sirsa: Haryana Minister Shiv Charan Sharma was at the centre of a controversy after calling suicide victim Geetika Sharma a "servant" of his former ministerial colleague Gopal Kanda who is the prime accused in the case.
  • Maoist violence has declined in Jharkhand: Jairam
  • Ranchi/Garhwa: Union Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh today said that Maoist violence by and large had declined in Jharkhand.
  • Panchayat member accused of raping 15-yr-old girl
  • Bulandshahr: A 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a Zila Panchayat member in a village here.
  • IAF airlifts 203 stranded passengers from Leh town
  • Jammu: Coming to the rescue of stranded passengers in Jammu and Ladakh regions, India Air Force today airlifted 203 stranded people from Leh town to Jammu.
  • Govt constitutes task force to look into women's safety issues
  • New Delhi: A special task force, headed by the Union Home Secretary, has been set up to look into the safety issues of women in the national capital on a fortnightly basis.
  • J-K govt to review laws relating to sexual offences
  • Jammu: Amid growing public consensus over toughest possible punishment to the rapists, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to tighten the existing laws dealing with sexual offences to make them more deterrent.
  • Air Marshal Burli takes over Air Force Academy chief 
  • Hyderabad: Air Marshal Ravi Burli today took over the command of Air Force Academy at Dundigal near here.
  • Spl Public Prosecutor not to speak to media on gangrape case
  • New Delhi: Lawyer Dayan Krishnan, who has been appointed as the Spl Public Prosecutor in gangrape case, made it clear that he would not speak to media on the case.
  • Delhi rape victim's ashes immersed in river Ganga
  • Ballia (UP): Ashes of Delhi gang-rape victim were immersed in river Ganga at Bharauli ghat as hundreds of people, including women and children, bid adieu to the braveheart with teary eyes.
  • Odisha bans use of 'gutkha', chewing tobacco
  • Bhubaneswar: Odisha government today announced a state-wide ban on the manufacture, sale and use of guthka and chewing tobacco containing nicotine.
  • MDMK to contest Lok Sabha polls
  • Chennai: After boycotting the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls and a token contest in the Sankarankoil (SC) bypoll later, MDMK has decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in 2014.
  • Maoists a big problem: Gogoi
  • Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the presence of Maoists in the state was a "big problem" and promised measures to tackle it.
  • J&K witnessed 71 border firing incidents; 7 killed
  • Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed over 70 incidents of cross-border firing along Indo-Pak border in which seven persons including four security personnel were killed and 15 others injured this year.
  • SPO shoots self in J-K
  • Jammu: A Special Police Officer allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today.
  • Mentally challenged girl raped
  • Bangalore: A 17-year-old mentally-challenged teenaged girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour at Machanayakanahalli here, police said today.
  • Narayanasamy blames TN for fishermen's plight
  • Puducherry: Union Minister of State V Narayanasamy today blamed the Tamil Nadu government for its "inaction" to facilitate a dialogue between Indian fishermen and their counterparts in Sri Lanka.
  • Rajni Patil is Cong candidate for RS by-poll in Maha
  • New Delhi: Former MP Rajni Patil is the Congress candidate for a Rajya Sabha by-poll in Maharashtra, the party said today.
  • Raj police to submit charge-sheet in rape case
  • Jaipur: Rajasthan''s Barmer police would be setting an example by submitting the charge-sheet in a gang rape case within a week''s time.
  • Naxal camp unearthed in C'garh, two ultras held
  • Raipur: Security forces unearthed a Naxal camp and arrested two ultras following a gun battle with them in Chhattisgarh''s Narayanpur district, police said today.
  • 23-yr-old woman found dead at classmate's house
  • Hyderabad: A 23-year-old student of Osmania University was found dead under mysterious circumstances at the house of her classmate in Chatrinaka area of Old City here, police said today.
  • Protest for girl's death by diving into cold water
  • Shillong: Numbed by the death of the Delhi gangrape victim, 28 men and children took a dip in a pool having sub zero temp last night to ring in 2013 in memory of the brave girl.
  • Subhash Chawla elected Chandigarh MC Mayor
  • Chandigarh: Subhash Chawla of Congress was today elected new mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
  • CPI(M) in Kerala launches land rights campaign
  • Thiruvananthapuram: Launching a massive land rights campaign, CPI-M in Kerala today asked the UDF government to take immediate steps to take over surplus land and distribute it to the landless.
  • Spurned lover attacks girlfriend, attempts suicide
  • Thane: A jilted lover allegedly attacked a girl with a blade and later consumed poison in Kopri area of Thane city, police said today.
  • Mild tremors in Vizag
  • Visakhapatnam: Mild tremors were experienced in some parts of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh this morning.
  • Rajasthan shivers as mercury dips
  • Jaipur: Mercury plummeted in parts of Rajasthan with Churu recording a freezing minimum of 0.7 degree Celsius.
  • Five New Year revellers killed in accident
  • Thiruvananthapuram: Five New Year revellers were killed and one was seriously injured when the car in which they were travelling collided with a lorry at nearby Kallamblam, police said today.
  • Curfew lifted from Pulwama town in J-K
  • Srinagar: Authorities today lifted four-day curfew from Pulwama town in south Kashmir following improvement in law and order situation in the area, officials said.
  • Jayalalitha for harsher punishment for rape accused
  • Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa said her govt would request Centre to make necessary changes in law to include death penalty and chemical castration.
  • Green issues to be discussed during Maha Kumbh
  • Lucknow: In a unique initiative, an environmental kumbh would be held during the Maha Kumbh in Allahabad to discuss green issues related to the river Ganga.
  • Bomb near gangrape accused's house, man held
  • New Delhi: A 37-year-old man was arrested for allegedly planting two ''bombs'' made of simple explosives near the house of one of the accused in the gangrape of 23-year-old girl.
  • Investor confidence to be top priority in 2013
  • The economic turnaround, however, may take time and more efforts on the part of the government as well as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as global factors do not indicate the possibility of a strong revival.
  • Common test, NCERT books keep HRD busy
  • Kapil Sibal, who termed the single nationwide test for engineering programmes as his "dream", did realise it before he made way for M M Pallam Raju as the HRD Minister in October but not before he faced stiff resistance from the IITs who vetoed his plans.
  • Cold and chilly start to New Year in Delhi
  • New Delhi: Delhi ushered in the New Year with bone chilling cold and dense fog today with mercury plummeting to the season's lowest of four degree Celsius.
  • Water Ministry busy with national disputes in 2012
  • New Delhi: International arbitration against Pakistan over Kishenganga project, the Cauvery water dispute, bringing states on board for National Water Policy among other things kept Water Ministry officials busy in 2012.
  • 2012 saw new schemes for overseas Indian workers
  • Fulfilling a long-standing demand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January announced the pension and life insurance scheme for overseas Indian workers to benefit over 5 million workers, especially those in the Gulf, and help them save for their return, resettlement and old age.

  • INTERNATIONAL
  • Seven killed in Pak after gunmen fire at car
  • The gunmen ambushed the car near the remote Sher Afzal Banda area of Swabi district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province this afternoon.
  • Chinese ships begin patrolling South China Sea areas
  • China''s State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said its two vessels aided by a surveillance aircraft patrolled waters near the Beibu Gulf of the South China Sea, where Vietnam recently complained of harassment of Chinese vessels obstructing its survey ship.
  • Egypt orders 15-day detention for Israeli
  • El-Arish (Egypt): El-Arish (Egypt), Jan 1 (AP) Egyptian security officials say a former sergeant in the Israeli army has been ordered detained for 15 days for investigation into his illegal entry from Israel into the Sinai Peninsula.
  • Russian ban on US adoptions comes into force
  • Moscow: Russia''s controversial ban on adoptions of Russian children by American families came into force today, days after its signing by President Vladimir Putin sparked an international outcry.
  • 60 dead, in New Year's celebration in ICoast
  • Abidjan:  At least 60 people died and dozens more were injured as crowds stampeded overnight during celebratory New Year''s fireworks, Ivory Coast rescue workers said today.
  • Israeli-Palestinian clashes erupt in West Bank
  • Tamoun (West Bank): Tamoun (West Bank), Jan 1 (AP) Palestinians say a raid by Israeli soldiers disguised as vegetable vendors to seize members of a militant group has sparked clashes in the northern West Bank.
  • 7 killed in Pak after gunmen fire at car
  • The gunmen ambushed the car near the remote Sher Afzal Banda area of Swabi district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province this afternoon.
  • Clinton treated with blood thinners to dissolve clot in brain
  • Clinton, 65, was admitted to a New York hospital on Sunday after doctors discovered a blood clot related to the concussion she suffered last month after she fainted and fell down while recovering from a stomach infection.
  • US Senate approves bill to avoid fiscal cliff
  • Washington: To avoid the much-discussed 'fiscal cliff', the US Senate approved a bill with 89-8 majority to avert automatic tax hikes and huge spending cuts.
  • Iran blasts Obama for Latin America law
  • Tehran: Iran today blasted US President Barack Obama for enacting a law aimed at countering Tehran''s alleged influence in Latin America, saying it was an overt intervention in the region.
  • China to be a responsible major power, says Hu
  • Beijing: Hu Jintao said China will forge ahead by pushing forward reform and opening-up drive and independent innovation, to further strengthen vitality of its economic growth.
  • China's new leaders map out anti-graft campaign
  • Xi Jinping, who succeeded Hu Jintao as the General Secretary of CPC two months ago held the 25-member Politburo meeting to map out this year''s anti-corruption efforts to display new leadership''s resolve to tackle the problem seen as a threat to the party''s stability and legitimacy.
  • Soon, sensors in cars to prevent drunken driving
  • Washington: US researchers are developing breath-based and touch-based sensors to be installed in cars to prevent drunk drivers from starting their engines.
  • Thousands march against Hong Kong leader
  • Hong Kong: Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong today, calling for the city''s embattled leader to quit and demanding greater democracy 15 years after it returned to Chinese rule.
  • 8 people, including three fire fighters killed in China
  • Beijing: Eight people including three firemen were killed in different accidents in China.
  • Afghan negotiator welcomes prisoner release
  • Kabul: A top Afghan negotiator today said he hopes that eight members of the Taliban released by Pakistan will serve as mediators in the effort to end the 11-year war in Afghanistan.
  • US Senate approves bill to avoid fiscal cliff
  • The proposal would extend tax rates on annual household income under USD 4,50,000 and postpone automatic spending cuts for two months.
  • Boy killed, over 200 hurt in Philippine revelry
  • Manila: Celebratory gunfire killed a four-year-old boy and more than 200 others were injured by powerful firecrackers in typically rowdy New Year celebrations in the Philippine capital, said officials.
  • Pak, China sign contract for Al-Khalid-I tank
  • Islamabad: Pakistan and China have signed a deal for manufacturing the Al-Khalid-I main battle tank, the latest version of the combat vehicle jointly developed by the two "all-weather" friends.
  • Despite last minute deal, US misses fiscal cliff deadline
  • Washington: Despite last minute deal reached between the White House, Democrats and the Republicans US missed Monday midnight "fiscal cliff" deadline to avert tax hikes.
  • Economic environment in 2013 not easier: Merkel
  • Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cautioned citizens to be prepared for tough times ahead in view of a deteriorating economic situation but said the difficulties "should not despair us".
  • US reached borrowing limit of $16.4 tn: Geithner
  • In a letter to the Congressional leadership, his second in less than a week on the issue, Geithner said the Department of Treasury has begun employing "extraordinary measures to avoid default as it bumps up against the borrowing cap." The Department of Treasury is beginning a "debt issuance suspension period," he said.
  • Subway death: Indian man cremated in NY
  • Sunando Sen''s cremation was held yesterday and was attended by his friends, business partners and a representative of the Indian Consulate in New York, a senior Consulate official told PTI.
  • UN Security Council sanctions DR Congo rebels
  • United Nations: United Nations, Jan 1 (AFP) The UN Security Council has slapped sanctions on M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and their alleged Rwandan allies the FDLR, diplomats said.
  • US urges CAR rebels to cease hostilities
  • "We also call on the rebels to ensure the safety of the civilian population," the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, said in a statement yesterday.
  • Clinton treated with blood thinners to dissolve clot
  • Washington: US Sec of State Hillary Clinton was treated with blood thinners to dissolve clot in her head & doctors were confident top American diplomat will make full recovery.
  • Word gurus in US push 'fiscal cliff' off the edge
  • Washington: Language gurus at a Michigan college doubled down on the fiscal cliff in their year-end bucket list of trending words and phrases that ought to be kicked down the road in 2013.
  • Canada mulls joining Mali training effort
  • Ottawa (Canada): Ottawa (Canada), Jan 1 (AFP) Canada is considering sending troops to Mali to help train the west African nation''s army as it seeks to take back the Islamist-controlled north, Defense Minister Peter MacKay said.
  • NY Times reporter forced to leave China
  • New York: A New York Times correspondent who has worked in China for more than a decade has been forced to leave the country because his visa wasn''t renewed.
  • Turkey, jailed Kurd leader discuss disarmament: official
  • Ankara: Turkey''s intelligence services are in talks with jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan for disarming his PKK group in a bid to bring an end to the nearly three-decade old insurgency, officials said.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

DAILY GK-05.08.2011



NASA discovers First Evidence of Water on Mars
NASA Scientists claimed to have discovered the first substantiation of flowing
water on Mars Evidence collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter the first discovery of active liquid water in the ground on the red planet The orbiter circling Mars since 2006, monitored several instances of what seemed to be water flows occurring at numerous locations during the Martian spring and summer Time-sequence imagery of the Newton crater in the southern mid-latitude region showed finger-like markings spreading along several steep slopes and then fading again once colder temperatures move in.
Soil Health Cards to be issued to farmers by 2013
Soil health cards to be issued to farmers across the country by 2013 Government according high priority to soil testing to get the status of its health and ascertain fertility for subsequent crop utilization. Central Government providing assistance to state governments for setting up Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) for increasing current capacity of states for soil testing About 413 Lakh soil health cards have been distributed to farmer’s up to 2010-11.
SC postulates tour operators not to carry luggage on roof of buses
The Supreme Court ruled that the tourist operators cannot keep the luggage on the roof of the buses as it will jeopardize the life and safety of passengers It discarded the argument of transporters that limitations imposed on storing the luggage at the top was offensive of the fundamental rights guaranteed to a citizen for carrying out an occupation without restriction The apex court passed the judgement while dismissing appeals filed by transporters challenging Rule 128(9) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989,which says that no luggage could be carried on the roof of the vehicle.
Government to expand diabetes screening programme
Government to expand the diabetes screening programme all over the country to tackle its rising cases
The International Diabetes Federation estimated the total number of people in India with diabetes to be over five crore in 2010 The figure likely to go up to eight crore by 2030 Unhealthy lifestyle, physical inactivity and inappropriate diet are the major
reasons for increase in diabetes Centre has also initiated a National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases in one hundred districts in 21 States
Finance Minister: Nationalized banks can’t stop disbursement of loans for fear of poor recovery
As per the Government: ‘Nationalized banks cannot stop disbursement of loans for fear of poor recovery ‘ Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee opined that a balanced approach needed to
disburse loans in the priority sector and necessary measures are being taken to contain the growing trend of Non Performing Assets, of the bank; all nationalized banks have been asked to take due care while granting loans.
SPIC MACAY to get Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award
SPIC MACAY An organization promoting Indian classical music and culture 19th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award to be presented to the SPIC MACAY for its outstanding contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill The award is given annually on 20th August
Rs. 1,134 Crore provided by Government for establishing model schools in
17 states
Government provided Rs. 1,134 Crore for setting up 1,107 model schools at block level in 17 states
Andhra Pradesh has got the maximum of Rs. 412 Crore for setting up 355 model schools and Bihar, the second highest at Rs. 118 Crore Government in 2009, launched a centrally-sponsored scheme to set up 6,000 model schools at block level Of these, 3,500 were to be set up in educationally backward blocks via the State Governments and the remaining in blocks which are not educationally backward
via PPP.
Decontrolling of urea prices approved by National NeGoM
A group of ministers on fertilizers approved decontrol of urea prices The Meeting also allowed the companies to raise rates of the fertilizer up to 10% this fiscal Objective: The move will aid government reduce its subsidy billGovernment spends around Rs. 75,000 Crore on fertilizer subsidy at present Urea is the only fertilizer which is till now under government control The government had partially freed other fertilizers from its control inthe last financial year Urea is the cheapest and the most used fertiliser in the country.

Friday, August 5, 2011

DAILY GK-04.08.2011

Gowda set to assume charge as CM, disquiet in rival camp
  • Bangalore: D V Sadananda Gowda is all set to assume charge as new Karnataka CM today even as there was disquiet in the rival camp which lost out in the bitterly fought secret ballot. Gowda, who defeated Jagadish Shettar in the secret ballot, is slated to be sworn-in by Governor H R Bhardwaj at 4.30 pm.

DAILY GK-03-08-2011

769.68 cr scholarships for minority students in 4 yrs
  • New Delhi: The Ministry of Minority Affairs today said it has granted over 12 lakh scholarships worth Rs 769.68 crores in the last four years and plans to target 20,000 fresh ones every year.
Shivaraj V Patil sworn in as new Karnataka Lokayukta
  • Bangalore: Former Supreme Court judge Shivaraj V Patil was today sworn in as new Karnataka Lokayukta by Governor H R Bhardwaj.

Question hour reverted to normal slot

  • Having failed to find acceptance among the major political parties for conduct of question hour in the afternoon, the Rajya Sabha on Monday reverted back to the original practice of conducting the same as the first business of the day.
  • Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari took the initiative to shift question hour to the afternoon slot following continued disruption of House business in the morning. However, the experiment could not find favour with different political parties.
  • Even as the House returned to the old practice, the Opposition forced adjournment on various issues soon after the Chairman read out the obituary statement on the opening day of the Session.

MCI amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha


  • The government on Tuesday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to increase the tenure of the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India (MCI) from one to two years.
  • The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2011, provides for extending the board's tenure till May 2012. It was introduced by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare S. Gandhiselvan.
  • The Indian Medical Council Act was amended after the MCI was dissolved in 2010 following the arrest of its then president, Ketan Desai, by the CBI on corruption charges.
  • The MCI was replaced with a board, which was reconstituted in May this year by extending its term through an ordinance.
  • The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill was necessitated by delay in enactment of legislation to set up a National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH).

Rangarajan favours decontrolling diesel prices



  • C. Rangarajan, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, on Tuesday favoured decontrolling diesel prices.
  • Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Indian Overseas Bank, Mr. Rangarajan said: “At some convenient point, we should really start the process of deregulation of diesel prices” as they should reflect international crude prices.
  • Asked about the Index of Industrial Production that had a slower growth rate in the first quarter of this year, he said the IIP figures were expected to pick up later this year. “We expect it will pick up in the second half and reach about 7.5 per cent,” he said.
  • To a query on whether the Reserve Bank of India would continue to hike the lending rates, Mr. Rangarajan said the RBI strategy would hinge on the behaviour of inflation.
  • “If that [inflation] does not come down, then the present policy [by the RBI] will continue,” he said.

Award for Nirupama Rao

  • Former Foreign Secretary and U.S. Ambassador-designate Nirupama Rao has been selected for the annual award instituted by the Sree Chithira Tirunal Trust for the year 2011. The award comprises Rs.1 lakh and a citation.
  • Former U.S. Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan, who was the chairman of the judging committee, said Ms. Rao was chosen for the award for her role in shaping the country's foreign policy and her deep understanding of the India-China border issues. The jury included educationist N.A. Karim, Cochin Port Trust trustee P.K.R. Nair, Sree Chithira Tirunal Trust chairman T. Raveendran Thampi, and managing trustee T. Satheesh Kumar. Mr. Sreenivasan said the date of the function would be announced later.
Audi to start used car business in India by year-end
  • Gurgaon: German luxury car maker Audi today said it will start operations for its used car business in India by the end of this year, expecting it to account for up to 20 per cent of its new car sales in future.

Air India incurred loss of over 5,500 cr in 2009-10
  • New Delhi: National carrier Air India incurred a loss of over Rs 5,500 crore during the 2009-10 fiscal, the government said today.
Brahmasree Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri passed away
  • Eminent Sanskrit scholar and Bhagavatham proponent Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri passed away in Kuruppanthara,near Kottayam‘Bhagavata-Hamsam’ Brahmasree Malliyoor Shankaran Namboothiri (91) was a well known proponent of ritual narration of Bhagavatam-stories. 
  • Obama Signs Bill To Raise Debt Ceiling
    US President Barack Obama signed an agreement raising the US Government’s debt ceiling The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 74 to 26 The new law instantly authorized the Treasury to borrow an additional $400 bn, with additional borrowing allowed later The Bill also planned to reduce the nation’s $14.3 trillion deficit by at least $2.1 trillion over 10 years After an intense debate for weeks, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 269 to 161 As per the bill, a bipartisan committee in Congress to work in order to find further savings in federal budgets..
  • New Chairperson of NCW: Mamta Sharma
    New chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW): Mamta Sharma Succeeded Ms Girija Vyas Ms Sharma was a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and President of Rajasthan State Women Congress Committee.
26th Asian Men’s Elite Boxing Championship starts in South Korea
  • The 26th Asian Men’s Elite Boxing Championships starts in Inchio, South Korea 160 boxers from 23 nations entered the Asian Boxing Confederation’s biggest event of the year 10-member Indian squad is participating in the tournament The Indian squad consists qualified athletes such as Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Amandeep Singh, talented Santosh Harijan, Asian Championships silver medalist Jai Bhagwan Singh, Beijing Olympian Dinesh Kumar and Commonwealth Games winner Paramjeet Samota .
NSSF: National Social Security Fund
  • NSSF approved by the Union Cabinet of India NSSF intended for unorganized sectors, likely to profit 43.3 crore workers in the unorganized sector.


 


DAILY GK-02.08.2011

Ace Shooter Ronjan Sodhi ranked No.1 by ISSF
  • Ronjan Sodhi : Champion double-trap shooter and Asian Games gold medalist Sodhi ranked No.1 in the world by the International Shooting Sport Federation(ISSF) Sodhi won gold in the World Cup Finals in Turkey in 2010
  • He recently won the silver medal in the Beijing World Cup to reserve a seat in the Olympics.

India-Japan CEPA comes into Force
  • India- Japan CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) entered into force.
  • India’s 3rd CEPA (after Singapore and South Korea)
  • India’s 1st CEPA with a developed country
  • India Japan CEPA was signed on 16th Feb, 2011 in Tokyo 
2010TK7 : The 1st Trojan Asteriod of Earth Discovered
  • Astronomers discover 2010TK7 using WISE Telescope.
  •  2010TK7 – First known Trojan Asteroid in Earth’s Orbit.
  • Trojan asteroids were anticipated but never discovered yet.
New Director (Finance) of Power Grid Corporation of India: R.T.Agarwal
  • New Director (Finance) PGCIL (Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd): R.T. Agarwal
FM asked Industrialists to recommend ways to revitalize Indian Economy
The Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee asked the Indian industry to give explicit recommendations to the government for revitalizing the Indian economy As per Mr. Mukherjee the journey on the road of reforms will continue and the weakening of business sentiment is somewhat due to an uncertain global environment and partly due to rising cost of domestic credit, but the fundamentals of the economy remain strong. The pessimism regarding deficiency of movement on policies and institutional process is based more on perception than facts.

Rajiv Awas Yojana anticipated to envelop about 250 cities across country by the end of 2017
  • The Rajiv Awas Yojana is anticipated to cover about 250 cities nationwide by the end of 2017
  • The scheme was launched in pursuance of the Government’s vision of creating a slum-free India in June 2011
  • The States to select the cities in consultation with the Centre.
  • States to include all cities with over 3 Lakh population as per the 2001 Census
  • Scheme meant to benefit slum-dwellers and the urban poor



DAILY GK-01.08.2011

August 1, 2011: The monsoon session of the Parliament commences
Government decided to introduce 32 new bills including the Lokpal Bill
Other key bills to be introduced include Land Acquisition Bill, Food Security Bill,
the Benami Transactions Bill and the Mines and Minerals Bill..

Payment dispute of crude oil resolved b/w Iran and India
Iran and India resolved the payment disagreement that was bullying to arrest the
Iran’s crude exports to India As per the National Iranian Oil Company the two sides agreed to settle the bill as
soon as possible Earlier, Iran had jeopardized to cut off supplies to India in case of payments not made by India till August 1, 2011US sanctions on Iran made it hard to send International bank payments About 12% of India’s oil demand is met by crude from Iran.

Rajan Mathai: New Foreign Secretary of takes charge

Rajan Mathai: New Foreign Secretary of India took charge Mr. Mathai was India’s former ambassador to France To hold office for a two-year term He succeeds Nirupama Rao, who has been named India’s ambassador to the US Mr. Rakesh Sood, India’s ambassador to Nepal, will succeed Mathai as New Delhi’s envoy in Paris.
Export restrictions from cotton lifted by Government
Government lifted export restrictions on cotton Now Cotton is allowed to be shipped under Open General Licences for the rest of the cotton season Restrictions lifted as there is ample stock of cotton in the country
After registering themselves with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Exporters free to export any quantity for the remaining 2 months of the season.Government placed a cap on cotton exports at 55 Lakh bales in October 2010 in order to check spiralling prices and ensure availability of the raw material for the
domestic textiles industry As per the Cotton Advisory Board, due to low industry demand over 50 Lakh
surplus bales to be available at the end of the current season.
Country’s Growth forecast 8.2% this fiscal year: PMEAC
PMEAC (Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council)PMEAC lowered country’s growth forecast to 8.2% this fiscal while revising the inflation projection upward to 6.5% till March 2012.As per PMEAC Chairman Dr C.Rangarajan, Inflation to continue to hover around 9% in July-October period and is expected to moderate only after November, 2011
SEBI: Mandatory for Promoters to Disclose Share Dealings
SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) decided to make it mandatory for all promoter entities to disclose any considerable purchase or sale of shares by them.Objective: To rein in insider trading by promoters without investors’ knowledge Currently, the Directors and the Top executives of listed companies are needed to make these revelations After SEBI’s decision in this regard however, all the promoters and persons who
are part of the promoter group of a listed company would also be required to reveal their share dealings It would be essential for the promoters to make initial disclosures relating to their shareholding at the time of becoming promoter or part of promoter group.Continuous disclosures also be required whenever there is a change in their holdings exceeding 5 Lakh in value or 25,000 shares or 1% of total shareholding
or voting rights, whichever is lower, At present, alike disclosures are obligatory to be made by the directors andofficers of the company.
New Air Chief Marshal: Norman Anil Kumar Browne
New Air Chief Marshal: Mr. Norman Anil Kumar Browne.He took charge as India’s 23rd Chief of the Air Staff.He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik.In Air Force Circles, Nick-named: Charlie Browne Currently appointed as one of the Honorary Aides De Camp to the President of India Built the Indian Defence Wing in Tel Aviv in 1997 and served as the Defence Attache till July 2000 Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal bestowed upon him in the past.
New Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs: Naved Masood
Naved Masood took over as the New Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Naved Masood: 1977 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre Mr. Masood substituted Mr. D.K.Mittal who was appointed as Secretary Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance Mitul Desai (An Indian-American) appointed as Senior Adviser in the U.S. State Department.Mitul Desai (an Indian-American), appointed as Senior Adviser in the U.S. State.Department’s South and Central Asia Bureau to strengthen ties with the Diaspora groups Mr. Mitul in charge for working out means to facilitate the US Government to put
together an alignment of groups to make it comfortable for Indians in the Diaspora as well as other Diaspora communities to make contributions to growth Diaspora: “movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland” or “people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location” or “people settled far from their ancestral homelands”.
Journalist-turned-Polotician Mr. Inder Jit passed away
Veteran journalist-turned-politician Mr. Inder Jit passed away In 1948, Mr. Inder Jit commenced his career as a journalist with the Hindustan Times and worked with The Times of India, India News, Feature Alliance and even with many Foreign Newspapers including London’s Daily Telegraph and The Times In 1988, Mr. Inder Jit was implemental in negotiating the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill.
Council (DGHC) agreement b/w the Gorkha National Liberation Front’s Subhash Ghisingh and the Centre
On August 22, 1988, the agreement was signed in Kolkata After inking of the landmark agreement, Mr. Jit was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Darjeeling constituency in West Bengal in 1989 and 1991 on the Congress
ticket.