2100 HRS.

21st October, 2011

THE HEADLINES
Changes in Law to make private sector bribery a criminal offence being considered by Government. India and Nepal sign investment protection agreement. A Delhi court dismisses bail plea of Sudheendra Kulkarni and former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora in the cash-for-vote scam. In Chhattisgarh, six policemen killed in a Naxal ambush Bastar district. Allahabad High Court quashes notification for land acquisition in three villages of Noida and Greater Noida; Orders additional compensation for other villages. And.. Sensex falls 151 points; Rupee depreciates 22 paise to a 30-month low of 50 rupees 2 paise against Dollar; Gold up 375 rupees. <><><> The Government is considering changes in law to make private sector bribery a criminal offence. The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, while speaking at the Biennial Conference of CBI and State Anti-Corruption Bureau in New Delhi today said that India has ratified UN Conventions against corruption and to meet its requirements, several measures have beeen taken, which include amendments in laws pertaining to anti-graft measures. S/B of PM "We are considering changes in our laws to criminalize private sector bribery. Another Bill has been introduced in Parliament to provide protection to whistle blowers. The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill has also been introduced in Parliament." The Prime Minister said, the Government is working on ways and means to minimize discretionary powers of public authorities and the issue of a public procurement law to minimize irregularities in the award of government contracts worth thousands of crores of

rupees every year. Earlier, CBI Director A P Singh in his speech said, the CBI must be an integral and independent component in any effort to strengthen the mechanism to combat corruption. <><><> India and Nepal today signed the investment protection agreement. This will enhance investment in the two countries and give further momentum to the developmental activities in Nepal. New Delhi is involved in many development projects including construction of power projects and its distribution in the Himalayan nation. Two other pacts in health were also signed at the end of the talks between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the visiting Nepalese Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai at Hyderbad House this evening. <><><> The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly "Current Affairs" programme tonight will bring you a discussion on "Indo-Nepal Relations." This can be heard on Rajdhani, FM Gold channels and additional frequencies from 9.30 p.m. <><><> A Delhi court today dismissed the bail plea of Sudheendra Kulkarni, former aide of BJP leader L K Advani and an accused in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam. Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal also denied bail to former BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora. The court, while dismissing the bail pleas, observed the accused had ample opportunity to inform the law enforcing agencies when they received the illegal gratification. Besides these three accused, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, his former associate Sanjeev Saxena and BJP activist Sohail Hindustani are in judicial custody for their alleged complicity in the offence. <><><> In Chhattisgarh, six jawans, including an officer of the state police, were killed and three others injured in an ambush set up by naxals near Netanar village in Darbha police station area of Bastar district today. According to reports, the police were heading for the village after receiving a report that the naxals had vandalised a guest house of the Forest

Department there last night. When the police team was on the way back, naxals triggered a landmine explosion and opened fire. Additional forces have been dispatched to the spot. <><><> Wasim Akram Malik, arrested for his alleged role in the September 7 Delhi High Court blast, was today remanded by a city court to NIA custody for three more days. The NIA pleaded that he needs to be further interrogated for nabbing a few more of his accomplices. Malik was produced before the court after the expiry of his 14-days' NIA custody. <><><> Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omer Abdullah today announced that Armed forces Special Powers Act imposed in the state at the begining of militancy will be withdrawn in a few days from some areas. Addressing a function in connection with Police commemoration Day in Zevan near Srinagar the chief minister said that the prevailing peaceful situation has paved way for such initiative. <><><> US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has again pressed Pakistan today to act against terrorist safe havens, pointing out that militant groups have for long operated with impunity in the country and should not be tolerated. Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad with Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Clinton said while US was committed to the people of Pakistan and their future, and wanted its relationship with the country to deliver results for both sides. <><><> France too has asked Pakistan to stop terror attacks from its soil. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in New Delhi today that Islamabad must do everything in its power to prevent terrorists from launching strikes from its territory. <><><> The Allahabad High Court today quashed the notification for the acquisition of land in three villages of Noida and Greater Noida. The court also ordered for additional compensation for most of the other villages. The full Bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice V K

Shukla and Justice S U Khan pronounced judgement for 63 villages of Greater Noida and Noida. The court quashed the notification of Devla, Chakshahberi and Asadullahpur villages. The Court ordered that farmers from these villages who had already taken compensation, have to return the compensation to the authorities to get their land. The court has dismissed two petitions of Noida but the rest of the villages will get higher compensation. <><><> Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that a special programme will be launched to control encephalitis in eastern UP and Bihar. Talking to reporters in Gorakhpur today he stressed the need for a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the menace. He said that a coordination committee of different Union Ministries, would be formed for a long-term strategy on the issue. Byte (S.I.) of Ghulam Nabi "If we want to eradicate this disease, then we have to coordinate two-three ministries at the Center and State levels. We also have to pool the resources of ministries and chalk out programme at the medium and long term basis." Mr. Azad said, while the cases of Japanese Encephalitis have come down from 36% in 2005 to 10% this year, the cases of water-borne encephalitis are mounting. He said safe drinking water and clean surrounding is the need of the hour to control water-borne encephalitis. <><><> Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has emphasised the need for better coordination between monetary and fiscal policies for improving overall economic stability and growth. Addressing the foundation day function of Vijaya Bank in New Delhi today, Mr. Mukherjee said, current global economic developments and more particularly, the sovereign debt crisis of Europe, have once again brought into focus the need for better co-ordination between monetary and fiscal policies. Speaking to reporters after the function, the Finance Minister expressed concern over the inflation rate crossing the double digit mark, reaching 10.6 per cent. S/B of Pranab

"We shall have to ensure that, which are the supply constraint, which is major reson for the food inflation, how to tackel it." <><><> Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today reviewed the micro-economic situation in the country with RBI Governor D. Subbarao in New Delhi today. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the RBI Governor said that the meeting took place ahead of the credit policy scheduled to be unveiled ahead of Diwali on the 25th of this month. Our correspondent reports that the RBI plans to further tighten the monetary policy in the wake of rising inflation. <><><> NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD. "The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange dropped 151 points, or 0.9 percent, to 16,786, today, on worries about an interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank. The Nifty declined 42 points, or 0.8 percent, to 5,050. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea ended mixed. The rupee weakened 22 paise, to a 30-month low of 50.02 against the dollar. Gold surged 375 rupees to 26,940 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver rose 400 rupees, to 52,600 rupees per kilo. And U.S. crude oil futures gained 77 cents, to 86.84 dollars a barrel, while Brent crude stayed below 110 dollars a barrel.Pradeep Kumar, AIR News" <><><> Social activist Arvind Kejriwal has been sent a fresh notice by the Income Tax Department, asking him to pay over nine lakh rupees dues by this month-end. Sources in the Income Tax department said that a fresh notice has been issued to Kejriwal, for violating bond clauses under which he went on a study leave for two years and asked him to deposit the money. <><><> In a relief to former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the Karnataka High Court today quashed proceedings initiated against him and his wife in a lower court, terming the case

against them as politically motivated. Passing the order, Justice V Jagannathan referred to an unseen hand behind the private complaint filed by an advocate, wondering how he secured the copies of communication between the then Chief Minister and his Political Secretary without applying under te Right to Information Act . <><><> In Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK has captured the posts of Mayor in seven places and is leading in three places. DMK has finished second and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam led by Actor politician Vijayakant has forfeited deposit. All the winners are leading with a high margin. According to the latest state Election Comission summary, out of the 13 thousand 592 posts, AIADMK has won in 5739 seats of which 3076 are for town panchayats, 1674 posts in, municipalities and 304 in corporations. The DMK is the runner up with 3099 seats. Till now, Independents are in the second runner up position with 2705 seats to their credit. <><><> The Supreme Court today cleared the decks for the Formula 1 race in Greater Noida, stipulating that the organisers would deposit 25 per cent of sale proceeds from tickets in a separate account which would not be operated without its permission. A bench of justices D K Jain and A R Dave in an interim order directed that the amount would be subject to the final outcome of a plea challenging tax exemptions accorded to the organisers of the Formula 1 race. <><><> The National Investigation Agency has announced a cash award of ten lakh rupees each for the persons who give information about three terrorists involved in the Delhi High Court blast case. The information must lead to their arrest. According to Home Ministry sources, Shakir Hussain Sheikh, Amir Ali Kamal and Junaid Akram Malik of Kisthwar district of Jammu and Kashmir belong to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfit. Sources said that they are also involved in several other terrorist acts in Kishtwar area. <><><>

Reactions to the killing of Gaddafi yesterday have been trickling in from various quarters. Arab League has urged Libyans to maintain peace while Iran has said it was doomed to happen. <><><> The Chairman of Libyan National Oil Corp. Nuri Berruien has expressed hope that the unfolding events yesterday will help revive efforts to raise its crude output to normal levels. Rise in Libyan exports may cause OPEC members to consider reigning back supply when the 11-nation group meets on 14TH December in Vienn a. Libya has one of the Africas biggest crude reserves. The Oil companies are striving hard to restore production to about 1.7 million barrels a day over the next one and a half years after its output fell sharply in the wake of eight month long civil strife. The collapse in exports led to sharp rise in global oil prices by nearly 34 percent earlier this year. Subsequently the International Energy Agency had to announce a global release of emergency stockpiles for the third time in the agencys history.