FRONT PAGE STORIES |
|
|
| Sonia to attend swearing in | | No rotation for CM post, NC writes for joining UPA | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 2: While Congress and the National Conference are reported to have hammered out most of modalities for running their coalition government, it was today made official that the rotation of the post of Chief Minister will not be the part of mechanism.
Meanwhile, the National Conference president Omar Abdullah is all set to sworn in as Chief Minister on Monday at the head of a six-member coalition Ministry but there will be no rotation of Chief Ministership.
After a meeting with Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, Omar told reporters there that such power sharing created uncertainties and inconsistency in the governance as was observed in the last PDP-Congress gover... | |
| | | | 7 ultras, 2 soldiers killed in first encounters of 2009 | | | | Earlytimes Report
Jammu, Jan 2: In first encounter of the year 2009, at least seven militants and two soldiers are reported to have been killed in Poonch and Kashmir.
Four militants and two soldiers were killed in a fierce gun battle between militants and Rashtriya Rifles in Poonch district of Jammu region, official sources said.
They said that the encounter that started on first day of the New Year at Bathidar, Mendhar in Poonch district, concluded Friday with as many as five militants and two soldiers killed.
Sources said that a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) including two army soldiers killed in an ongoing encounter with militants, however, the body of the JCO is yet to be rec... | |
| | | | PDP outlines role, asks coalition to deliver on promises on promises | | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 2: In its first meeting of legislators after election results were announced, the Peoples Democratic Party today vowed to perform role of responsive and responsible opposition and asked the upcoming government to deliver on its promises of governance.
Party patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said that instead of getting complacent, the Government of India should seize the moment and revive the Kashmir resolution process, with renewed resolve, both on the bilateral and internal fronts. He said it is the opportune time for New Delhi to re-initiate an inclusive dialogue process involving various shades of the political opinion in the State to find amicable solu... | |
| | | | Despite war rhetoric, LoC trade picking up | | | | Early Times Report
Poonch, Jan 2: Despite war cries between India and Pakistan getting shriller, the cross-Line of Control trade from Poonch sector is picking up impressively. Though low in volume, the trade is going so well that even some traders are resorting hoarding and profiteering in items which are popular among people consumers.
The nodal officer dealing with the cross LoC trade has already initiated an inquiry into the reports of profiteering. Meanwhile, the traders in Poonch have sent ten quintals tomatoes and 500 woollen shawls to importers in Pakistan on demand.
They admitted that the demand from Pakistan for Indian goods is more, even though supply is on the lower side.
"T... | |
| | | | STIMULUS | | Govt announce second package | | | Agencies
New Delhi: The government today announced a fresh stimulus to reverse the economic slowdown, taking its total revenue loss to Rs 40,000 crore, through higher public spending and easier credit especially for exports, housing and small industries.
Simultaneously, RBI slashed key policy rates and ratios to pump in an additional Rs 20,000 crore into the banking system, while government asked PSU banks to increase credit targets to ensure maximum fund disbursals at the least cost, particularly when inflation is ebbing.
Signalling a shift in focus from inflation management to growth, the package -- the second in a month and the last for this fiscal -- is part of a process initiated ... | |
| | | | BSF put on alert | | | | Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 18: The BSF is on high alert along the border with Pakistan in the wake of the heightened security scenario following the Mumbai terror attacks, chief of the force, M L Kumawat, said on Thursday.
"We are highly alert at our borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. We have heightened our vigilance and alertness," Director General Border Security Force (BSF) M L Kumawat told reporters in New Delhi today.
"I can assure the country that we are on much alert than ever before. The force is rising to the occasion," Kumawat said after inaugurating an electronic exhibition of the technical branch of the paramilitary force.
Kumawat, however, refuted reports which claimed... | |
| | | | Azad names all Ex-CMs, paints their progress cards gloomy | | Haryana CM Hooda says Congress party of development | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 18: Seeking a clear mandate for Congress party to change development profile of Jammu and Kashmir, the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad named all his predecessors since 1952 –of course, barring Syed Mir Qasim, Bakshi and Sadiq –and read out their “dismal achievement” record during their respective tenure in office.
Aiming to convey to the public that he did more work in two and half years than any Chief Minister did since early 1950s, Azad said, “my short regime was full of unprecedented development, progress, employment, peace and prosperity”. He further added, Congress made impossible look possible and gave hope to the hopeless people of the state... | |
| | | | Last round to be contest of elites | | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 18: Following a highly competitive election over six phases that saw huge voter turnout all over the state, focused has now shifted on twin Capital Cities and their outskirts where a contest between political elites is on the cards on December 24 –the last phase of polling.
As many as 21 constituencies of Jammu, Samba and Srinagar are going to polls where around a dozen and half former Ministers and over a score of former legislators are seeking election. Former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah is contesting election from two constituencies in Srinagar district –Hazratbal and Sonwar.
Over 63 per cent polling was recorded yesterday in the sixth phase, ... | |
| | | | Media guidelines for covering terror | | | | Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 18: National Broadcasting Association (NBA) on Thursday announced new guidelines for the electronic media, to be followed in times of crisis like the situation that arose during the Mumbai terror attacks. As per the new rules, there would be a complete ban on live TV reporting of terrorist attacks.
Moreover, news channels cannot divulge details –during an ongoing operation- such as the number of hostages or their identity.
Apparently, concerned about the situation where critical operational information was divulged by the media, like the visuals of commandoes being airdropped during the Nariman House stand off, the new guidelines prohibits revealing anything abo... | |
| | | | Team India’s Pak tour called off | | | | Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 18: Taking into account the "recent developments in Mumbai", the government has asked the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) not to proceed with Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Sports Minister MS Gill have also personally Indian team’s tour to Pakistan , according to a top BCCI official.
Senior BCCI official Rajeev Shukla said, "The proposed tour of the Indian cricket team to Pakistan stands cancelled."
External talked to BCCI President Shashank Manohar to convey their decision.
The Sports Minister gave the first indication of the government view when he sent out a strong message by bluntly suggesting that the team's tour of Pakistan should... | |
| | | | Omar has faux paus on Mufti’s flight | | | |
Ealy Times Report
Jammu, Dec 18: When Peoples Democratic Party Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took a flight from Srinagar this morning; the National Conference President Omar Abdullah’s aides probably did not check his ticket details.
Mufti was headed for Jammu but Omar was informed that he has left for New Delhi. In election season when leader of a regional party from Kashmir leaves for New Delhi, the guesses are obvious –discussing power scheme with the Congress high command.
Omar’s guess, therefore, was not out of place but his information was awfully wrong. Every flight from Srinagar does not always head for New Delhi. Mufti had actually taken a flight for Jammu where he had hectic... | |
| | | | Biometric passport system by 2010 | | | |
NEW DELHI: With a view to checking human trafficking, the Government plans to introduce biometric passport system that will include finger-printing, by 2010, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
"We have decided to introduce biometric passport system. We intend to complete the entire process by 2010," he said replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.
Stating that there was a nexus of recruiting agencies and employers in human trafficking, Mukherjee added that Indian workers fall for the lure of more money and resort to illegal migration and end up being harassed and exploited.
"Our policy is whenever the nationality (of the worker detained b... | |
| | | | Jallianwala massacre included in national movement | | | |
MALERKOTLA: Yielding to a long standing demand of granting freedom fighter status to martyrs of the Kuka movement and Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the
Centre has now formally made them part of the national freedom movement.
The Union ministry of home affairs' communique to the principal secretary, Punjab, sent on December 13, states: "Respecting the sentiments of Punjab government ... (ministry) is pleased to accord freedom fighter status to the martyrs of Kuka movement of 1872 and that of Jallianwala Bagh in 1919." It goes on to add that "these massacres have been formally included in (the national) freedom movement" and the martyrs covered under Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Schem... | |
| | | | No pay hike for Indian Inc | | | |
NEW DELHI: Anticipating a decline in its business performance in 2009, India Inc is likely to cut back on the planned salary increase in the coming
year, while most firms want to avoid huge job cuts, a latest survey says.
Majority of companies in the country are trying to be selective in planning the workforce, compensation and benefit cuts for 2009, while they anticipate a decline in their company's business performance next year, according to global HR consultancy Mercer.
The survey revealed that as much as 83 per cent of companies expect salary increases in the coming year to be lower than originally planned by them. The responses indicate that the companies are planning to ... | |
| | |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|