1.

Crackdown continues in Adarsh case A day after filing the First Information Report (FIR) in the Adarsh housing society scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids in Maharashtra and Bihar on the premises of five accused, and in the office of the Adarsh housing society in Colaba. Senior CBI officials said raids were conducted on the premises of Brigadier (retd.) M.M. Wanchu, Congress leader Kanhaiyalal Gidwani and the society's chief promoter R.C. Thakur. All the three have been named as the main accused in the FIR, a senior CBI official told. 2. Big share for India in Sudan Despite the imminent bifurcation of Sudan, India should continue to look for opportunities to enhance its footprint in the country. There is a big share for India and Asian countries, Sudan's Ambassador to India Khidir Haroun Ahmed told. India is Sudan's third largest partner in the oil sector, and its companies account for a 25 per cent share of the African nation's oil off-shore industry. Mr. Ahmed disclosed that an ONGC delegation was in Sudan recently to discuss acquiring equity in an untapped field in the north. 3. Chief Ministers' meet to discuss internal security The Centre has convened a conference of Chief Ministers for February 1 to discuss the internal security scenario amid rising concerns about the rise of right-wing Hindu terror groups, Maoist violence, and police reforms. The meeting will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and could witness some fireworks in the shape of aggressive batting by the BJP-ruled State Chief Ministers, against the backdrop of the recent linking of right-wing terror groups with some wings of the Sangh Parivar. 4. Police question Karmapa, two more arrested The Himachal Pradesh police questioned the Karmapa, even as they arrested two more persons in connection with the seizure of foreign currency worth over Rs. 7.5 crore from the offices of a trust backed by him. The Karmapa said the charges against him were grossly speculative and without foundation. A team of police officers put about 50 questions to Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje at the Gyuto Monastery at Sidhbari but he feigned ignorance about the foreign currency and other documents recovered from there. 5. All subordinate courts will be made fast track courts: Moily Union Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily said that all subordinate courts in the country would be converted into fast track courts (FTC) within three months. Mr. Moily said Rs. 20,000 crore was sanctioned for the purpose and the Chief Justices of all the 21 High Courts in the country were informed of this. He said that henceforth there would be no selective fast track courts. The Law Minister's answer was to a query on 235 fast tracks courts in U.P., the validity of which expires on February 28. He said the idea behind the exercise was to ensure that justice was not delayed and no case was pending for more than three years. 6. Debar charge-sheeted candidates: CEC Differing with the Election Commission's suggestion that even charge-sheeted candidates be debarred from contesting elections and state funding of elections be avoided, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said that candidates implicated in false cases should not be barred till they were convicted by court. Speaking at the inaugural session of the regional consultation on electoral reforms, she suggested that the entire poll expenses be borne by the government of India. State funding, she argued, would help to cure the evils plaguing the electoral system, including criminalisation of politics. She also called for a law to end criminalisation of politics, but wanted safeguards to prevent its misuse. 7. Study group' on black money set up Seeking to tackle the issue of black money in a proactive manner, the Finance Ministry has set up a study group to improve voluntary compliance and address the issue of revenue leakage by suggesting appropriate measures to motivate tax evaders to disclose their unaccounted income. The decision comes in the backdrop of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee asserting that two groups had been constituted to look into different aspects of tackling black money, including an amnesty scheme to unearth unaccounted wealth. As per the statement of the proposal put forward by the Income Tax Department, Co mplexity and innovation in business structures, new financial products, a large number of taxpayers, growth in international trade supported by rapid expansion of e-commerce, and commoditisation of tax avoidance schemes are some of the factors leading to increased compliance risk for the tax administration.

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8. ElBaradei emerging as the political face of the uprising The former International Atomic Energy Agency chief-turned -reformist leader, Mohamed ElBaradei, appeared to be fast emerging as the new political face of the Egyptian uprising, as the regime of President Hosni Mubarak seemed fractured despite its desperate attempt to project a united front. Opposition parties, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, endorsed Mr. ElBaradei as their representative in future negotiations for change in anticipation of Mr. Mubarak's early exit from the political scene. Political groups support ElBaradei to negotiate with the regime. 9. Tunisian Islamist leader returns Thousands turned out on to welcome Tunisian Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi's return after more than 20 years in exile, as political Islam prepares a comeback following the fall of Tunisia's regime. God is great! Mr. Ghannouchi cried out, with thousands of cheering supporters crowding around him, before driving off to visit his family. There were also dozens of people protesting his arrival at the airport, holding up placards that warned against Islamist fundamentalism. 10. Australia takes unassailable lead Australia claimed the One-Day International series against England with a 51-run win in the fifth match at the Gabba. After winning the toss and batting, Australia made 249, with Chris Woakes picking up a record equalling six wickets. It seemed insufficient, but England slumped to 145 for nine, before a late flurry from Steve Finn (35 off 24 balls) boosted its score to a more respectable 198. The result gave Australia an unbeatable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series, ending England's run of five straight ODI series wins, and the match also raised more than $6 million for victims of the recent Queensland floods.

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