Serious fraud probe into Maytas firms
New Delhi, January 19
Suspecting a “nexus” between the fraud in Satyam Computer Services Ltd and other companies promoted by Ramalinga Raju's family, the government today ordered a probe by the serious fraud investigation office (SFIO).

Scandal has hit biz sentiment, says Citigroup

Look after your parents and senior citizens in Punjab or go to jail
Chandigarh, January 19
Days before his son and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal would be sworn in as his deputy, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has given sanction for implementation of the Punjab Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. The law provides for efficacious provision of maintenance of elderly people.

Countries backing terror must pay ‘heavy price’: Pranab
New Delhi, January 19
Maintaining the pressure on Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asserted that countries found wanting in their commitment to zero tolerance for terrorism must be made to pay a ‘heavy price’ by the international community.

Countdown begins
Celebrations kick off as Obama readies for inauguration
Thousands of people from all over the United States filled in the spaces between the marble and granite memorials on the National Mall on a frigid Sunday for a party to kick off Barack Obama’s inauguration celebrations.

Obama may invoke JFK

US President-elect Barack Obama speaks in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial”  on Sunday at the National Mall in Washington, DC.  — AFP

Gurgaon students attend Obama inaugural today
Gurgaon, January 19
As many as six present and former students of Pathways World School here have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of US President Barack Obama to be held tomorrow. Students of Pathways World School were in the first mailing list from the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (PYIC).

President Obama

President’s rule in Jharkhand
New Delhi, January 19
Jharkhand political parties being unable to come to a consensus over the next leader to be the Chief Minister, the President’s rule was imposed today in the state with the 81-member state assembly being kept under suspended animation.

Mega Projects Unitech bagged contract against rules Chandigarh, January 19 Even as the Chandigarh Administration continues to be in a denial mode and blames “vested interests” for the raging controversy over its Mega Projects, now under the CVC scanner, it turns out that Unitech Limited, which bagged the contract for construction of the 73.65-acre Theme/Amusement Park, had allegedly made a closed-door presentation before Administrator Gen (Retd) SF Rodrigues even before the concept for the project was finalised.