The Competition Master

RAPID GK SERIES 36

RAPID GK SERIES 36

1. The First Chief Justice (Supreme Court) of India is 2. The annual fair of Rajasthan that is famous for its camel trading event is 3. Th...

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Former ISRO Chief barred from government jobs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5773" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Former (Indian Space Research  Organisation) Isro chief G Madhavan Nair and three other eminent space  scientists have been barred from holding any government jobs in an  unprecedented disciplinary action by the government for their role in  the controversial Antrix-Devas deal. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>An angry Nair blamed his successor and the current Isro chairman  K Radhakrishnan today for the action, accusing him of being behind the  move and pursuing a "personal agenda" by misleading the government.  </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The government action came as an apparent fallout of the Antrix deal  in which a private company was allotted scarce S band spectrum by Isro  allegedly in violation of rules. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Besides Nair, K Bhaskaranarayana,  former scientific secretary at ISRO, K R Sridharamurthi, former managing  director of Antrix, commercial arm of ISRO, and K N Shankara, former  director of the ISRO satellite centre, have been penalised by the  Department of Space.</li>
</ul></div><a href="http://www.tippani.in/blog/xbusiness.php?submit=showComments&id=5773">                                             </a></div>

Former ISRO Chief barred from government jobs

Former (Indian Space Research Organisation) Isro chief G Madhavan Nair and three other eminent sp...

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Andhra Pradesh becomes the first state to achieve 100% EPICs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5775" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to achieve  cent percent issuance of Election Photo Identity Cards, EPICs. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>This has been achieved with the distribution of over 33 lakh EPIC  cards to the voters today coinciding with the second National Voters’  Day today. Several awareness programmes have been held across the state  on the occasion. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Speaking at the main function held in Hyderabad, State Governor E S L  Narasimhan has asked the Election Commission of India to consider  holding all by-elections during a fixed month of every year so that the  development process will not be hampered due to the election code of  conduct. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He also asked political parties to cooperate for a propaganda free  by-election on a pilot basis to save huge amounts of money now being  spent on election campaigning. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Governor administered the pledge to the newly enrolled voters that they will vote during every election.</li>
</ul></div></div>

Andhra Pradesh becomes the first state to achieve 100% EPICs

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to achieve cent percent issuance of Elec...

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Egypt declares partial lifting of emergency

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In Egypt, the military rulers have declared partial lifting of emergency in the country. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The move comes into effect from today, the first anniversary of 25th  January revolution which saw the overthrowing of decades long Mubarak  regime in the country a year ago.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The emergency laws gave sweeping powers to the police to arrest and  prosecute anyone on charges of Thuggery. The opposition and the  activists who led 25th January uprisings last year in Egypt have been  campaigning for the total removal of emergency laws and release of all  civilians in military jails. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The ruling military Council has announced a series of measures on the first anniversary celebrations of the revolution. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>25th January is now a national holiday. Armed forces will hold  celebrations from 25th to 28th January in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. The  celebrations will include musical concerts, artistic and folkloric  festivities from Egypt’s 27 districts and martial displays by Egypt’s  air force and navy. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Young Activists who led the 25th January revolution have organized a  series of marches to converge at Tahrir Square. The move is a part of  the Campaign seeking “Hand over power to the elected parliament” on the  first anniversary of the public uprising. They are demanding immediate  exit of the military. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The campaign calls on MPs to come to Tahrir Square today and take an  oath to restore the rights and demands of the revolution’s martyrs and  injured The MPs are also called upon to end the state of emergency and  free all civilians in military prisons.</li>
</ul></div>

Egypt declares partial lifting of emergency

In Egypt, the military rulers have declared partial lifting of emergency in the country. The move comes into effect from today, the first a...

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Padma awards announced

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5777" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <div style="text-align: justify;"><span>The President of India  on the eve of Republic Day, Wednesday, approved the list of recipients  of the prestigious Padma Award for 2012. In total 109 Padma Awards would  be conferred this year - 5 Padma Vibhushan, 27 Padma Bhushan and 77  Padma Shri Awards. </span><br />
<br />
<span>The Awards are given in the  field of art, social work, science and engineering, public affairs,  trade and industry, medicine, sports, civil service, literature and  education, etc. The Padma Awards will be conferred by the President of  India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in March/ April 2012. </span><br />
<br />
<strong>Padma Vibhushan</strong><span> </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri K G Subramanyan Art-Painting & Sculpture West Bengal </span><br />
<br />
<span>Late (Dr.)Bhupen Hazarika Art- Vocal Music Assam </span><br />
<br />
<span>Late Shri Mario De Miranda Art-Cartoonist Goa </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Kantilal Hastimal Sancheti Medicine - Orthopedics Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri T V Rajeswar Civil Service Delhi </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<strong>Padma Bhushan</strong><span> </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Shabana Azmi Art - Cinema Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Jatin Das Art - Painting Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Khaled Choudhury Art - Theatre West Bengal </span><br />
<br />
<span>Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta Art - Instrumental Music - Sarod West Bengal </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Trippunithwra Viswanathan Gopalkrishnan Art - Classical vocal and instrumental music Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol alias Dharmendra Art - Cinema Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Ms. Mira Nair Art - Cinema Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri M.S. Gopalakrishnan Art - Instrumental Music-Violin Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Satya Narayan Goenka Social Work Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. (Judge) Patibandla Chandrasekhar Rao Public Affairs Germany </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Anish Kapoor Art - Sculpture UK </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri George Yong-Boon Yeo Public Affairs Singapore </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Shashikumar Chitre Science and Engineering Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Subbiah Murugappa Vellayan Trade and Industry Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Balasubramanian Muthuraman Trade and Industry Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. M S Raghunathan Science and Engineering Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Suresh H. Advani Medicine - Oncology Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty Medicine-Cardiology Karnataka </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. (Dr.) Shantaram Balwant Mujumdar Literature and Education Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Ronen Sen Civil Service West Bengal </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Homi K. Bhabha Literature and Education UK </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Noshir H Wadia Medicine-Neurology Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Vidya Dehejia Literature and Education USA </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Arvind Panagariya Literature and Education USA </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Jose Pereira Literature and Education USA </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri N Vittal Civil Service Kerala </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Mata Prasad Civil Service Uttar Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<strong>Padma Shri</strong><span> </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Vanraj Bhatia Art - Music Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Zia Fariduddin Dagar Art - Music - vocal Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Nameirakpam Ibemni Devi Art - Music- Khongjom Parba Manipur </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Ramachandra Subraya Hegde Chittani Art - Yakshagana dance drama Karnataka </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Moti Lal Kemmu Art - Playwright Jammu and Kashmir </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. R. Nagarathnamma Art - Theatre Karnataka </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Kalamandalm Sivan Nambootiri Art - Indian Classical Dance- Kutiyattam Kerala </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Yamunabai Waikar Art - Indian Folk Music-Lavani. Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Satish Alekar Art - Playwright Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey Art - Chhau dance and choreography Jharkhand </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Ramakant Gundecha Art - Indian Classical Music- Vocal Madhya Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Shahid Parvez Khan Art - Instrumental Music-Sitar Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Mohan Lal Kumhar Art - Terracotta Rajasthan </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Sakar Khan Manganiar Art - Rajasthani Folk Music Rajasthan </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Joy Michael Art - Theatre Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Minati Mishra Art - Indian Classical Dance-Odissi. Orissa </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Natesan Muthuswamy Art - Theatre. Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Umakant Gundecha Art - Indian Classical Music- Vocal Madhya Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Anup Jalota Art-Indian Classical Music- Vocal Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Soman Nair Priyadarsan Art - Cinema- Direction Kerala </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Sunil Janah Art-Photography Assam </span><br />
<br />
<span>Ms. Laila Tyebji Art-Handicrafts Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Vijay Sharma Art-Painting Himachal Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Shamshad Begum Social Work Chattisgarh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Niranjan Pranshankar Pandya Social Work Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Uma Tuli Social Work Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Sat Paul Varma Social Work Jammu and Kashmir </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt.Binny Yanga Social Work Arunachal Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Yezdi Hirji Malegam Public Affairs Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Pravin H. Parekh Pubic Affairs Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Reeta Devi Social Work Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. P.K. Gopal Social Work Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Phoolbasan Bai Yadav Social Work Chattisgarh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. G. Muniratnam Social Work Andhra Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. V. Adimurthy Science and Engineering Kerala </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Krishna Lal Chadha Science and Engineering - Agriculture Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Virander Singh Chauhan Science and Engineering Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Rameshwar Nath Koul Bamezai Science and Engineering Jammu and Kashmir </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Shoji Shiba Trade and Industry Japan </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Gopinath Pillai Trade and Industry Singapore </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Arun Hastimal Firodia Trade and Industry Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Swati A. Piramal Trade and Industry Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Mahdi Hasan Medicine-Anatomy Uttar Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Vijaypal Singh Science and Engineering - Agricultural Research Uttar Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Lokesh Kumar Singhal Science and Engineering Punjab </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan Science and Engineering Karnataka </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Jagadish Shukla Science and Engineering USA </span><br />
<br />
<span>Ms. Priya Paul Trade and Industry Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Viswanathan Mohan Medicine - Diabetology Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. J. Hareendran Nair Medicine - Ayurveda Kerala </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Vallalarpuram Sennimalai Natarajan Medicine - Geriatrics Tamil Nadu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Jitendra Kumar Singh Medicine - Oncology Bihar </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Surjit Singh Patar Literature and Education - Poetry Punjab </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Vijay Dutt Shridhar Literature and Education - Journalism Madhya Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Irwin Allan Sealy Literature and Education Uttarakhand </span><br />
<br />
<span>Ms. Geeta Dharmarajan Literature and Education Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Sachchidanand Sahai Literature and Education Haryana </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Pepita Seth Literature and Education Kerala </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Ralte L. Thanmawia Literature and Education Mizoram </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Shrinivas S. Vaishya Medicine-Healthcare Daman and Diu </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Nitya Anand Medicine - Drugs Research Uttar Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Late Dr. Jugal Kishore Medicine - Homoeopathy Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Mukesh Batra Medicine-Homeopathy Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Eberhard Fischer Literature and Education Switzerland </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Kedar Gurung Literature and Education Sikkim </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Ajeet Bajaj Sports - Skiing Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Smt. Jhulan Goswami Sports - Women's Cricket West Bengal </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Zafar Iqbal Sports-Hockey Uttar Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Devendra Jhajrija Sports - Athletics- Paralympics Rajasthan </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Limba Ram Sports - Archery Rajasthan </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Syed Mohammed Arif Sports - Badminton Andhra Pradesh </span><br />
<br />
<span>Prof. Ravi Chaturvedi Sports- Commentary Delhi </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Prabhakar Vaidya Sports-Physical Education Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri T. Venkatapathi Reddiar Others-Horticulture Puducherry </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. K. (Kota) Ullas Karanth Others-Wildlife Conservation and Environment Protection Karnataka </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri K Paddayya Others-Archaeology Maharashtra </span><br />
<br />
<span>Shri Swapan Guha Others-Ceramics Rajasthan </span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Kartikeya V. Sarabhai Others - Environmental Education Gujarat </span></div></div></div>

Padma awards announced

The President of India on the eve of Republic Day, Wednesday, approved the list of recipients of...

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High-speed trains for Delhi-Mumbai route

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5778" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Going ahead with its ambitious high-speed train proposal, <strong>Railways have joined hands with Japan </strong>to begin the ground work to reduce travel time by half on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor.  </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Railways will procure a new set of trains with electric locomotives to run on the existing Delhi-Mumbai track.  </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="text-align: justify;">Currently, Mumbai Rajdhanis run  at an average speed of 100 km per hour and take about 15 hours to reach  the destination. Plan is to set up trains which travel at 160-200 km per  hour.</span> </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="text-align: justify;">Train sets are like EMU trains consisting of self-propelled electric locomotive and 10 to 12 modern coaches. </span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="text-align: justify;">There will be a new fare structure for the high-speed train for the Golden Rail Corridor. </span> </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="text-align: justify;">The Western <span>Dedicated Freight Corridor</span> is likely to be commissioned by 2016-17. </span></li>
</ul></div></div>

High-speed trains for Delhi-Mumbai route

Going ahead with its ambitious high-speed train proposal, Railways have joined hands with Japan to...

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Chinese aircraft to monitor disputed seas

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li>A Chinese maritime surveillance aircraft based in Shanghai will  expand their area of coverage this year to include waters of the East  China Sea disputed with Japan. </li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="text-align: justify;">The reports quote officials of  the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration as saying the plane's range  includes China's territorial waters as well as what the country claims  as its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.</span></li>
</ul><ul><li>That would encompass the disputed territory known as the Senkaku  Islands to the Japanese and as Diaoyu to the Chinese, as well as areas  between the two countries where China has been unilaterally developing  natural gas deposits to the consternation of the Japanese.<br />
</li>
</ul><ul><li>Under the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea, countries are  entitled to claim 200 nautical miles from their shores as their EEZs.  But the EEZs claimed by China and Japan overlap. </li>
</ul></div>

Chinese aircraft to monitor disputed seas

A Chinese maritime surveillance aircraft based in Shanghai will expand their area of coverage this year to include waters of the East Chin...

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WEF summit kicks off as uncertainties stare at world economy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5780" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><strong>The World Economic Forum`s five-day annual meeting began in Davos</strong>  this morning with top business and political leaders from across the  world in attendance in this snow-laden skiing resort town, away from the  gloomy economic scenario prevailing in most parts of the globe. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Ahead of the summit, a worldwide CEO survey last evening showed that  the confidence has plummeted sharply about the global economic growth,  even as the companies are relatively more optimistic about their own  revenue growth. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In its first session, the WEF Annual Meeting 2012 is hosting a  debate on the future of capitalism and its relevance in the 21st  century, even as the event is often known as an annual congregation of  the rich and powerful of the world. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><strong>The theme of this year`s meeting is `The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models`.</strong> </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The meeting, among other issues, would discuss `India`s Tall  Ambitions`, its preparedness to deliver inclusive growth for a huge  population, while achieving effective governance at central and state  levels and promoting its model of democratic capitalism. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>There would also be a discussion on `How Immune Is India`, in the  backdrop of the Europe, Japan and the US facing serious structural and  societal challenges.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>WEF, a Geneva-based non-profit  organisation, has been holding this Annual Meeting here for over four  decades now. Close to 40 heads of state or government from across the  world are attending the meeting this year, while WEF is anticipating a  record of over 2,600 participants this year, including more than 1,600  business leaders from across the world.</li>
</ul></div></div>

WEF summit kicks off as uncertainties stare at world economy

The World Economic Forum`s five-day annual meeting began in Davos this morning with top business...

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KMF launches Rs 4 milk in Tetra Pak package

KMF launches Rs 4 milk in Tetra Pak package

Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (KMF), the second largest cooperative dai...

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Govt scraps weekly release of WPI and opts for monthly release

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The government will discontinue weekly  release of food and fuel inflation data based on wholesale price index  (WPI) and instead shift to monthly reporting, a government official  said, without citing a reason. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"The data will now come on a monthly basis," Neelam Kapur, the government's spokeswoman told Reuters. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The timeframe for the shift to monthly reporting is not known as yet. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Earlier, the Business Standard newspaper reported that a group of  ministers in charge of economic affairs has approved in principle to  release inflation figures only on a monthly basis to "curb speculative  movement in prices and give a holistic inflation picture". </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The WPI-based data tracks the rate of price rise for food articles, primary articles, fuel and power. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>India used to release the WPI inflation data only on a weekly basis  until October 2010, when it began reporting inflation data on both  weekly and monthly basis, the paper said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The report said the food and fuel inflation numbers for the week  ending January 14, however, will be released on Friday, a day later than  its usual release day as January 26 is a public holiday. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The monthly inflation data is released on the 14th of every month.</li>
</ul></div>

Govt scraps weekly release of WPI and opts for monthly release

The government will discontinue weekly release of food and fuel inflation data based on wholesale price index (WPI) and instead shift to m...

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IMF lowers India's growth forecast to 7%

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The International Monetary Fund (IMF)  has lowered India's economic growth rate forecast to 7 percent for the  year 2012, which is 0.5 percentage point lower than its projection made  last September for the same period.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>For 2013, the IMF has revised the growth forecast to 7.3 percent,  which is again 0.8 percentage point lower than it  earlier forecast.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The IMF, in its revised estimates, has also brought down the  economic growth forecast for most of the major economies, including  China.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"The global recovery is threatened by intensifying strains in the  euro area and fragilities elsewhere. Financial conditions have  deteriorated, growth prospects have dimmed, and downside risks have  escalated," said the latest World Economic Outlook report released by  the IMF.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Global output is projected to expand by 3.25 percent in 2012 a  downward revision of about 0.75 percentage point relative to the  September 2011 World Economic Outlook.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>This is largely because the euro area economy is expected to go into  a mild recession in 2012 as a result of the rise in sovereign yields,  the effects of bank deleveraging on the real economy, and the impact of  additional fiscal consolidation, the report said.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"Growth in emerging and developing economies is also expected to  slow because of the worsening external environment and a weakening of  internal demand," the World Economic Outlook report said.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The most immediate policy challenge is to restore confidence and put  an end to the crisis in the euro area by supporting growth. </li>
</ul></div>

IMF lowers India's growth forecast to 7%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered India's economic growth rate forecast to 7 percent for the year 2012, which is 0.5 p...

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EU blacklists Iran’s Bank Tejarat

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5784" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The European Union has blacklisted Iran’s state-owned Bank Tejarat and imposed trade sanctions on it. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><strong>The EU said that Bank Tejarat had directly facilitated  Iran’s nuclear efforts in various ways to Iran’s Atomic Energy  Organization to acquire yellowcake uranium.</strong> </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>It said that Bank Tejarat has a history of helping designated  Iranian banks circumvent international sanctions. It stated that by  providing financial services to other banks, Bank Tejarat has also  tacitly supported the Revolutionary Guards and other Iranian military  organizations. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The move is aimed at further isolating Iran and exerting pressure on  it to begin talks on its disputed nuclear program. EU governments  agreed on Monday to an immediate ban on all new contracts to import, buy  or transport Iranian crude oil, and to freeze the assets of Iran’s  central bank. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>They also agreed to ban all trade in diamonds, gold and other  precious metals with the central bank and other public bodies. Western  powers allege Iran’s program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons  capability. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Iran says it is enriching uranium solely for peaceful purposes.</li>
</ul></div></div>

EU blacklists Iran’s Bank Tejarat

The European Union has blacklisted Iran’s state-owned Bank Tejarat and imposed trade sanctions on ...

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Ex-IAEA chief El Baradei to lead mediation mission to Syria

Ex-IAEA chief El Baradei to lead mediation mission to Syria

The former chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA and the Egyptian Nobel laureate, Mohammed ElBar...

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Obama to put more trade pressure on China

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5786" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>US President Barack Obama said he would step up pressure on China  and other countries that unfairly subsidize exports to the United  States. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Announcing a push to shore up American manufacturing and create  jobs, he said he would establish a  new government body dedicated  to fighting countries which subsidize exports to the United States. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He also pledged more vigilance against imports of counterfeit and  unsafe products from abroad. "Tonight, I'm announcing the creation of a  Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair  trade practices in countries like China," he told Congress in his annual  State of the Union address. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American  products," he said. "And I will not stand by when our competitors don't  play by the rules.  We've brought trade cases against China at nearly  twice the rate as the last administration -- and it's made a  difference." </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"It's not right when another country lets our movies, music, and  software be pirated. It's not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg  up on ours only because they're heavily subsidized."</li>
</ul></div></div>

Obama to put more trade pressure on China

US President Barack Obama said he would step up pressure on China and other countries that unfair...

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SC pulls up Centre for prolonged detention of Pak prisoners

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5787" style="display: block; text-align: justify;">                                          <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Supreme Court pulled up the Union government for prolonged  incarceration of several Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails despite  their having completed their sentences. "There is total inaction and  laxity on the part of the government. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The bench said it was more concerned about the liberty of the  persons who continue to be in jails despite serving their sentences. The  bench comprises of justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale while ruing that  some prisoners had been kept in detention even without having any case  registered against them </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The bench pointed out that the prolonged detention of foreign  nationals was violative of the constitutional right of the life and  liberty granted under Article 21 to every person in the country,  including the foreign nationals, infraction of which cannot be condoned  by the courts. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The apex court directed Additional Solicitor General Vivek Tankha to  furnish to the court the government's policy, if any, for dealing with  such foreign nationals. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The apex court pointed out that the case relating to the alleged  illegal detention of foreign nationals was pending with the courts since  2005 but the government was not taking any steps to deport them, even  after they having completed their respective prison terms. </li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The apex court made the observation while dealing with two separate  public interest litigations (PILs) relating to alleged prolonged  incarceration of Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals in Indian jails.</li>
</ul></div></div>

SC pulls up Centre for prolonged detention of Pak prisoners

The Supreme Court pulled up the Union government for prolonged incarceration of several Pakistani...

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UN Conference on Disarmament could fail: Ban Ki-moon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has  warned that the UN Conference on Disarmament could fail because of a  three-year stalemate over Pakistan's reluctance to discuss nuclear  power. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In a statement in Geneva, Ban said this distinguished body is no longer living up to expectations. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Warning the delegates from 65 countries, Ban said that the tide of  disarmament is rising, yet the Conference on Disarmament is in danger of  sinking. The UN chief lamented that the practice of deciding by  consensus is currently used as a de facto veto power to stall every  attempt to break the impasse. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Urging the immediate start of nuclear negotiations, Ban said the future of the conference is in the hands of member states. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Citing national security, Pakistan has since May 2009 balked at  implementing a work programme established by the UN conference, blocking  the resumption of nuclear talks.</li>
</ul></div>

UN Conference on Disarmament could fail: Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that the UN Conference on Disarmament could fail because of a three-year stalemate over Pakist...

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Sachin not recommended for Bharat Ratna

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's name  has not been recommended for the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna by  the sports ministry, according to media reports.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><strong>The sports ministry has sent the names of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and mountaineer Tenzing Norgay for the award this year</strong>. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Recently the scope of the Bharat Ratan had been expanded to include  exceptional services or performance of the highest order "in any field  of human endeavour", thus sportspersons could also be chosen now for the  award. Earlier the award could be given only in fields like arts,  literature, science and public service. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Talking to reporters, Sports Minister Ajay Maken said that the  sports ministry has forwarded all the names recommended by the sports  federations for the award and BCCI did not send any name for  consideration</li>
</ul></div>

Sachin not recommended for Bharat Ratna

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's name has not been recommended for the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna by the sports ministry, ac...

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