Rise in DA for Central staff

    New Delhi: The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today approved the rise in Dearness Allowance (DA) by three percent of their basic salary at present for Central government employees and pensioners. After the cabinet meeting, the Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath also informed that the Cabinet has cleared the proposal to amend the State Bank of India Subsidiary Bank Act to allow the split of stocks of State Bank of India. The stock split would enable greater participation of retail investors. The decision will be effective from January 2006. The hike in DA from the current 21 to 24 per cent will cost the Government an additional Rs 1,130 crore per annum. The burden for January-February 2006-07 on account of the DA increase will be Rs 1,320 crore.

ULFA demands Rs 25 lakh from candidate (Go To Top)

     Guwahati: Asom's rebel ULFA has delivered a note to Bijo Kr. Nath, an independent candidate from Guwahati East, asking him to cough up Rs.25 lakh if he wants to contest the upcoming State Assembly polls. "I am contesting as an independent candidate. They called me up on my mobile and wished me luck and asked me to reply to the letter by the 27th of March 2006. After an hour, I received a number of calls at home. I also received a packet along with an Assamese 'gamcha' and a demand note for 25 lakh rupees," claimed Nath. Nitul Gogoi, Superintendent of Police, Kamrup Metro, said that ULFA would not be allowed to disrupt the election process and steps would be taken to ensure a free and fair election in the state. "Regarding this demand note, I am enquiring into that, whether its authentic or not and I am enhancing the security. We will not allow ULFA to interfere in the process of elections. It has to be free and fair. It is our solemn responsibility to ensure free and fair elections, so that people can come and cast their votes without fear," said Gogoi. Polls in Assam will be held in two-phases - the first phase for 65 assembly constituencies will take place on April 3 and the second phase for the remaining 61 seats will take place on April 10. The last date for filing nominations for the first phase was on March 17. The nominations have been scrutinised and the last date for the withdrawal of nominations is today. The elections for the 126 seats will be held when ruling Congress is expected to be locked in a multi-cornered contest due to the split in Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bhartiya Janta Party's (BJP) try to become the king-maker.

Tata on UK Business Advisory Council (Go To Top)

      London: Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has announced that Ratan Tata will be one of the 12 members of the newly formed International Business Advisory Council for the UK. Tata and the other 11 members of the Council will advise Brown and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, over the next three years on how to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation to ensure the UK continues to be one of the top locations for international companies' high value- added activity. The Council's first members are renowned internationally for their expertise and have first-hand experience of global business across a range of sectors and regions. "There is no more important question for advanced industrial countries today than how to rise to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation. In Britain we have strong foundations, built on macroeconomic stability, openness to competition and trade, and investment in infrastructure, science and skills," Brown said. "Meeting the challenges and opportunities of globalisation is at the heart of our drive to create the conditions for business success. Science and innovation is a key priority which is why we invest 3.4 billion pounds every year in this vital area. We cannot and should not try to compete with the emerging economies of China and India on cost, but we can compete on ideas and knowledge. Working with business has always been central to our policy-making and the establishment of the International Business Advisory Council will further cement that relationship," added Johnson.

Asif Ali Zardari's properties confiscated (Go To Top)

     Islamabad: The Pakistan government has confiscated around 150 acres of agricultural land belonging to PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto. Zardari's properties were confiscated on the basis of last month order by an Accountability Court, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said in a press release. According to the release, the DCOs (district coordination officers) of Nawabshah, Sanghar and Hyderabad submitted to the court the details of the confiscated properties - 98 acres of agricultural land in Sanghar, 48 acres in Hyderabad, two acres in Nawabshah and a plot in the Cooperative Society, Nawabshah. The NAB has also moved an application at the accountability court for attachment of Zardari's overseas properties and the court will take up the application on April 4, reported the Dawn.

Chris Cairns launches charitable body (Go To Top)
by Sushil Pareek

      Mumbai: Following the footsteps of the former Australian cricket team captain Steve Waugh and inspired by his charity work, former New Zealand (one-day) captain and one of the finest all-rounders in the cricket world, Chris Cairns, has launched the "Chris Cairns Foundation", a charitable organization that would work for the education of underprivileged children. Talking about his passion for child education, Cairns said that the foundation would give him an opportunity to give something in return for the big profile that they have received in this country. "This is an opportunity for me to give back. Cricket has given us a very big profile in this country. And so to have the ability to help children, I have got two little boys of mine," Cairns said. "Chris Cairns Foundation" will be working for the education of underprivileged children with the help of 'Pratham', a Non- Government Organisation already working in India. Dwelling upon the performance of the Indian cricket team, Crains praised wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Indian skipper Rahul Dravid. He also expressed hope that the Indian team would perform well at the One Day matches. "I think we will see a very good performance at the One Day and I think India will win," Cairns said.

Rajyavardhan wins gold (Go To Top)

      Melbourne: Adding to the heap of gold on the Indian side, shooter Lt. Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won gold in the Men's Double Trap shooting event at 18th Commonwealth Games here on Thursday. Rathore, who shot to fame with his Olympic silver in the same category, fired a total of 181 (137+44) to win the gold. He defeated Stevens Walson of England who took the silver with a total of 180 and Williams Chetcuti of Malta who grabbed the bronze with 179 points. Competing with the other participants, Anuja Jung also won the gold in the women's 50m rifle three position shooting event. She fired a total of 670.7 (574+96.7). She defeated Esmari Van Reenen of South Africa who bagged the silver with 670 (576+94) but also beat Malaysian Nur Suryani, who picked up the bronze for 668 (576+92). Jung, whose husband Samaresh is a fast emerging superstar at the Commonwealth Games has already won five Melbourne gold medals, clinched the 50m Rifle 3 Positions individual title to follow the silver, she won with Anjali Bhagwat in the pairs' competition. Anuja said she was not as consistent as her record-seeking husband, who has been nicknamed 'Goldfinger' here as he sets his sights on a record seven gold medals. "I have done my bit. I had promised myself two medals in Melbourne. I have gold and silver. Not bad is it?" she said. Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar and Pemba Tamang won the gold and silver medal respectively in men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol shooting event. In this event, Amir Hasli Izwan of Malaysia bagged the bronze. Celebrating victory on one side, there is disappointment on other side as weightlifters, Tejinder Singh and Edwin Raju have been tested positive for doping. Further details are yet to come. According to the Indian contingent sources, they are not aware and cannot pinpoint on the issue. They said this is all speculative. Following this, Tejinder did not turn up for competition in men's 85 kg category on March 20, despite the Weightlifting Federation of India initially enter the lifter's name. In the 85kg category, the Indian squad had two lifters - Tejinder and Sateesha Rai.

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