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CURRENT AFFAIRS
FEBRUARY 05, 2009 |
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TOP STORIES OF THE DAY |
HIGHLIGHTS |
India has called for collective action by developed and developing nations to deal with the issue of climate change; Sustainable Development leadership award for 2009 presented to visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Entire world under terrorist threat, warns India. Government approves two AIIMS-like institutions in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to provide quality health care. Inflation dips to 5.07 per cent; Sensex falls by over 100 points. A.S. Murthy is the new Chief Executive Officer of Satyam Computers. Election Commission directs States to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha elections. India and Myanmar sign two agreements to boost bilateral trade. India set a target of 333 for Sri Lanka in the fourth one dayer in Colombo. ***** |
India has called for collaborative action by developed and developing nations to deal with the issue of climate change. Inaugurating the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit today , External Affairs Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said ,the international community can work together and climate change provided an unique opportunity for it. He asked developed nations not to cite the current financial crisis as an excuse to renege on their commitments to address global warming.
Earlier, Mr. Mukherjee presented the Sustainable Development Leadership Award for the year 2009 to the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon. Accepting the award, Mr. Moon identified the challenges in the field of climate change and called for greater cooperation to deal with this problem of grave concern.
Several world leaders, environmentalists and policy makers are participating in the summit to prepare a plan of action to ensure sustainable development.
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New Delhi has warned that perpetrators of terror responsible for Mumbai attacks ,are preparing to target the world. Foreign Secretary Mr. Shivshankar Menon said in Paris that Pakistan continues to misrepresent the facts even after a dossier of evidences linking Mumbai attacks to Islamabad was handed over to it. Mr. Shivshanker Menon said India still awaits response from Pakistan even one month since the evidence was provided to it.
In his address on India's Foreign policy Mr. Menon reminded the international community that terrorism remains a great threat to global peace and stability and any compromise with terrorist organizations, their sponsors and those funding them will only encourage these elements who follow an ideology that recognizes no boarders. He emphasized that Pakistan continues to be the epicenter of global terror and the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul and Mumbai terror attacks were planned in Pakistan and the organizers were and remain the clients and creation of the ISI.
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The government has approved setting up of two AIIMS like institutions in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal besides upgrading five medical colleges to provide quality health care to the people. While the proposed institution in West Bengal will come up at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, the site for the AIIMS-like college and hospital in UP has not yet been identified. Briefing mediapersons after a meeting of the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Home Minister Mr P. Chidambaram said, each institution, to be set up under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna will have a 960-bed hospital intended to provide healthcare facilities in 39 speciality or super-speciality disciplines. He said national policy on safety, health and environment at work place has been approved by the cabinet.
In another major decision, the Government today gave its nod to the setting up of an electric locomotive manufacturing plant at Madhepura and a diesel locomotive plant at Marhowra in Bihar at an investment of about 2,000 crore rupees.
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After rising for two weeks, inflation dipped to 5.07 per cent for the week ending on January 24. This is due to falling prices of fruits and vegetables and manufactured goods. It was 4.78 per cent a year ago.
In the primary articles group, the prices of fruit, vegetables and bajra declined by two per cent each, while coffee became cheaper by one per cent.
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The benchmark Sensex today dropped 111 points to close at 9,090.88. The broader 50-issue Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also moved down by 23.00 points to close at 2,780.05.
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Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI today said that it will examine the existing regulations and change accordingly to enhance compliance, transparency and efficiency in the corporate system. The SEBI chairman Mr. C B Bhave said this at a Confederation of Indian Industries-CII-- conclave in Mumbai today. Commenting on Satyam scam Mr. Bhave said the regulators had responded swiftly to the scandal and the challenge is to ensure that the culprits are booked in a time-bound manner.
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The State-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam, MTNL today became the first to commercially launch third generation services. Under this, a customer would be able to access live TV, movie downloads and high speed Internet on mobile phones, at a monthly rental of 599 rupees and a call charge of 60 paise per minute.
For accessing the MTNL 3G 'Jadoo Service' a user will have to pay a one time activation charge of 500 rupees and, thereafter, a monthly rental of 599 rupees, besides usage charges with regards to voice calls and data downloads.
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Mr.A S Murty has been appointed Satyam computer's Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Member of the government constituted Board Deepak Parekh said in a statement in Hyderabad today that the company has received bank sanction for 600 crore rupees to meet working capital requirements. These two key decisions towards a revival path of the scam hit company were taken following extended deliberations for two past days.
Realizing the need for an internal leader to steer the scam-ridden IT major at this critical juncture, the 6-member board has chosen Satyam Veteran, Murthy as its new CEO. Having been with the IT major, for over 15 years, Murthy has proven expertise in leading a business unit and the customer relationships.
Meanwhile, a seven-member group has joined the SEBI team today to continue the interrogation of Satyam Computers former Chairman Ramalinga Raju at a central jail in Hyderabad .
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The Election Commission today directed states and union territories to spare no effort for conducting free and fair elections. The Poll Panel also asked them to ensure that all officials who have been posted at one place for more than 3 years in the last 4 years, or those who are posted in their home districts, should be immediately transferred out with a compliance report to the commission by 28th of this month.. Full election commission today took a meeting with the Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police to review the election preparedness and the security arrangements required for the conduct of elections. The meeting presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner Mr. N Gopal Swami was third in a row. The poll Panel held discussions with the leaders of the political parties and CEO's during the last two days.
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India and Myanmar today signed two memoranda of understanding on setting up of an English Language Training Centre and an Industrial training centre. The agreement was signed in the presence of visiting Vice President Mohd.Hamid Ansari and Vice senior Generals of Myanmar Government, Mr. Maung Aia at the capital city of Myanmar Ney Yepyi Taw this evening.
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Sri Lanka were 161 for 3 in 30 overs against India in the fourth one-dayer in Colombo when reports last came in.
Earlier, winning the toss, India posted a comfortable 332 for five in the stipulated 50 overs. Gautam Gambhir smashed a career-best 150, his sixth ODI century. Gambhir also became the highest individual scorer in a one-dayer in Sri Lanka. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni contributed 94 runs.
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Holland will take on New Zealand and India will meet Germany in the on-going four nation Punjab Gold Cup Hockey tournament at Chandigarh tomorrow.
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India has expressed concern over the plight of civilians caught in the war-zone of Sri Lanka. The External Affairs Minister Mr Pranab Mukherji said, New Delhi has urged the Sri Lankan government that along with the military operation against LTTE, it will have to be ensured that the lives and property of civilians are not put in danger. Talking to newspersons in the Capital, he said, civilians have to brought in the safe zone.
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The latest round of talks between Egypt and Hamas has temporarily ended in Cairo without a final agreement on a truce in Gaza. According to Egypt's official News Agency MENA, Hamas is expected to give Egypt its final response on a truce with Israel on Saturday.
Long-term truce between Israel and Hamas and who will have control over reconstruction activities in Gaza are the two key sticking points for now, in Palestine tangle. The main hurdle on reaching agreement on ceasefire, is the opening of Gaza's borders.
The relief and reconstruction work in Gaza seems to have also become the victim of Palestinian politics. International agencies and most of the Western countries recognise only Fatah as sole representative of Palestinians while Hamas controls Gaza where reconstruction is needed.
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The Government has opened first generic drug stores in Delhi to provide medicines to people on cheaper rates. Inaugurating the store at Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi today the Union fertilizers and chemical minister Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan said that the objective of the Jan Aushadi campaign is to provide good quality medicines at affordable price. Mr. Paswan also launched the National Helpline Service to provide medical assistance to the consumers. The helpline service will be available to people round the clock. The helpline no. is 1800-180-8080.
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