Singapore, July 28: Emerging Asia needs to adapt to a “new reality” of persistently high commodity prices and cannot let up on fighting inflation despite weak growth in advanced economies, the Asian Development Bank said in a report released on Thursday.
Singapore, July 28: Three Singaporeans of Indian origin are listed among the top 40 rich businesspersons of the city state in a list published by Forbes Asia.
Singapore’s 40 richest are now collectively worth USD 54.4 billion, up by USD 8.7 billion, or 19 percent, compared to last year, according to the list released Thursday.
Mustaq Ahmad, who runs the grocery-to-gold Mustafa Centre retail complex in Singapore’s Little India shopping precinct was worth USD 240 million and ranked 37th in the list.
New Delhi, July 28: Income Tax Department Thursday said that it has questioned former Telecom Minister A Raja and others in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation case and will soon come out with its report.
“Our officials are inquiring into 2G spectrum case. They have taken permission from the court. At present it is under investigation. A report will be prepared and action will be taken,” Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Prakash Chandra told reporters here.
New Delhi, July 28: Jailed former Telecom Secretary Siddharath Behura Thursday accused CBI of making a “hue and cry” of Tata “unfairly” losing out to Swan Telecom in the award of 2G spectrum licenses for lucrative Delhi circle.
“Emphasis has been given by the prosecutor on the issue as to why Tata did not get the license. Why this hue and cry? Does CBI hold a brief for the Tata,” senior advocate Aman Lekhi submitted before Special CBI Judge O P Saini.
New Delhi, July 28: State-owned BHEL has been ranked the ninth most innovative company in the world by the renowned US business magazine Forbes.
BHEL is the only Indian engineering company on the list, and is ranked much higher than similar multinational companies in the power equipment field, a company statement said.
Not only does the ranking reflect the innovativeness of the companies, it also recognises the role of the innovative CEOs who have woven the code for innovation into their companies, it said.
Muzaffarnagar, July 28: A major train accident was averted when an alert policeman prevented the pedestrians to cross the railway track after he found the level crossing open at Bajheri on Delhi-Ambala section, officials said here on Thursday.
The incident took place yesterday when the policeman found the level crossing open for the arrival of a Delhi-bound train and immediately prevented the Kawaria pilgrims to cross the track, they said.
Chandigarh, July 28: The Punjab government on Thursday ordered the transfer of 47 officers, including seven IAS in the state with immediate effect, an official spokesman said here.
Anurag Verma (IAS) has been posted as Commissioner Jalandhar division besides Commissioner/Appeals Jalandhar.
Ashok Kumar Singla (IAS) has been posted as Deputy Commissioner Moga and in addition given the charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Moga.
Bhopal, July 28: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday maintained he had never asked for looking into the role of Hindu organisations in connection with the Mumbai serial blasts.
“I had only said that the role of all organizations should be looked into in connection with the Mumbai blasts and I had never used the term Hindu outfits,” the Congress general secretary told a news agency.
Singh observed he had only said what the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had stated regarding the Mumbai blasts.
Islamabad, July 28: The India-Pakistan talks were splashed across the front pages of most Pakistani newspapers Thursday though some news websites decided not to play it up.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar held talks with her Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna in New Delhi Wednesday.
India and Pakistan sought to open a new chapter of “peaceful and cooperative” ties by pledging to intensify counter-terror cooperation and unveiled a host of initiatives to spur trade and travel between the divided halves of Kashmir.
New Delhi, July 28: Former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, in jail for his alleged connection to the 2G spectrum scam, Thursday accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of raising an unnecessary “hue and cry” over the Tata group being refused a 2G licence initially.
Ulaanbaatar, July 28: Giving a fillip to its ties with Mongolia, India on Thursday signed a defence cooperation agreement with the northeast Asian country and announced that it would extend a USD 20 million Line of Credit for a joint IT, education and outsourcing centre to be set up here.
India and Mongolia also inked two pacts on media exchanges and cooperation between their planning commissions in the presence of President Pratibha Patil, who is here on a three-day visit.
Patil is the first Indian President to visit Mongolia in 23 years.
Mumbai, July 28: The Bombay High Court Thursday directed Rheema Khan, wife of Hasan Ali Khan, arrested for alleged money laundering scam, to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) this afternoon and on three days in the next week for questioning.
A division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and U D Salvi was hearing a petition filed by Rheema seeking to quash the proceedings initiated against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The court remarked that at this stage it could grant any relief as the Supreme Court is already monitoring the investigation.
Ahmedabad, July 28: RR Verma Thursday took charge as the fourth chief of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ishrat Jahan police encounter case at the agency’s office in Shahibaug area here.
Verma, a 1978 batch IPS officer, was appointed as chairman of the three-member SIT set up by Gujarat High Court which is monitoring the probe.
He is currently posted as Additional Director General with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Delhi.
New Delhi, July 28: Former Law Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani’s objectionable reference to China as the “enemy” of both India and Pakistan left many squirming at the Pakistan’s High Commission’s official reception for the visiting Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
As reported by a leading daily, Jethmalani, during a party thrown by Pakistan High Commission for Khar yesterday night, called China an “enemy” of both countries in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador.
Shillong, July 28: The transaction on the first day of the revived ‘haat’ along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya was hit by restriction on selling goods produced beyond five km from the location of the trading centre.
A government official said some Bangladeshi traders yesterday brought goods which were produced beyond the five km radius and as such did not have the requisite certificate from their district administration.
New Delhi, July 28: The government on Thursday approved the constitution and operation of the National Social Security Fund for unorganised sector workers with an initial allocation of Rs 1,000 crore.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee had announced setting up of the fund in his 2010-11 Budget speech.
The constitution of the fund, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet today, will support social security schemes for various segments of unorganised workers like weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers, beedi workers etc.
Rajkot, July 28: A city-based human rights activist has dashed a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue of 54 Indian Prisoners of War (POW) languishing in Pakistani jails having not figured in the recently held talks between the two foreign ministers.
Concerned over the issue not figuring in the domain of talks, MK Paul, who has been working more than last three decades for the release of POWs, fishermen and citizens of India lodged in Pakistani jails, has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing displeasure.
Male, July 28: External Affairs Minister SM Krishna arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit to Maldives with an aim to further enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including in trade sector.
Krishna will hold talks with his Maldivian counterpart Ahmed Naseem on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest.
Besides, he will call on President Mohamed Nasheed.
The External Affairs Minister will also offer USD 5 million as cash assistance to Maldives for organising the the SAARC Summit to be held here in November.
Chennai, July 28: The proposed National Food Security Bill aimed at providing foodgrains at subsidised price to the poor is likely to be introduced in Parliament by December this year, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food KV Thomas said pm Thursday.
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) had approved the draft Bill which was now before the Law Ministry, he told reporters here.
Ajmer, July 28: The CRPF will soon have a new squad of more than 600 women for rendering internal security duties.
These young recruits, trained in unarmed combat and weapon firing for 44-weeks, will be a part of the third exclusive women battalion of the force.
“The unit, comprising 620 women, will be inducted on August 2 here at a colourful ceremony,” a senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer said.
The unit will be commanded by a senior women officer of the force.
New Delhi, July 28: The government on Thursday approved inclusion of more ministries in the governing council and executive committee of SSA as well as in the executive committee of RMSA respectively to ensure better convergence and coordination between these two programmes.
The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) programmes aim to universalise elementary education and expanding and improving the standards of secondary education.
New Delhi, July 28: The 26/11 trial in Pakistan has “not moved at all” and faster action by it would have been welcomed by India, former Home Secretary GK Pillai said on Thursday.
“We would welcome a much faster action on the 26/11 trial. It has not moved at all. It is a big concern,” Pillai, who retired recently, said here.
Pillai’s statement came a day after Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbanai Khar said that judicial processes take time and it was in her country’s interest that the trial is completed quickly.
New Delhi, July 28: The security of CRPF headquarters here as well the residence of its Chief K Vijay Kumar was beefed up after an anonymous letter claimed about 100 armed Maoists will attack these two locations.
The letter to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in this regard had been received by the operations unit of the force recently.
Intelligence inputs have said armed Maoists have entered the national capital and are meeting here to storm these locations around the Independence Day on August 15.
New Delhi, July 28: The government on Thursday decided to reduce the term of fixed deposit from 10 years to 3 years for beneficiaries of Tsunami affected areas of Andaman & Nicobar Island whose amount of compensation is equal to or less than Rs 10,000.
The decision, which was taken at a Cabinet meeting, is aimed at helping the beneficiaries to withdraw the funds earlier for their requirement.
Chennai, July 28: The proposed National Food Security Bill for providing subsidised foodgrains to the poor is likely to be introduced in Parliament by December this year, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food K V Thomas said on Thursday.
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) has approved the draft Bill, which is now before the Law Ministry, he told reporters here.