L A T E S T      N E W S

Centre alerts metros on possible terror design

New Delhi: In the wake of the RDX haul in Haryana, the Centre has advised authorities in four metros besides Hyderabad and Bangalore to remain on high alert as terrorists may try to strike during the festival season.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the Centre asked authorities in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore to remain on high alert to foil any possible terrorist design to attack the cities in the run up to and during Diwali and other festivals, sources said on Friday. The centre asked the police chiefs of these cities to intensify vigil and deploy additional forces in all sensitive locations, religious places, markets, airports, railway stations, bus terminals and other crowded places to ensure peace.

PM calls for critical review of RTI

New Delhi: Calling for a critical look at the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said the law should not adversely affect the deliberative processes in the government. Addressing the Sixth Annual convention of Information Commissioners here, the prime minister said there have been concerns that RTI could end up discouraging honest, well meaning public servants from giving full expression to their views.

“I think we need to remember here that a point of view brought under public scrutiny and discussion in an isolated manner may sometimes present a distorted or incomplete picture of what really happened in the processes of making the final decisions.

Manmohan holds talks with Myanmar President

New Delhi: India and Myanmar, the energy-rich Southeast Asian nation, on Friday held wide-ranging talks that focused on expanding their strategic, economic and energy ties. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with Myanmar President U. Thein Sein on a host of issues, including intensification of economic and security cooperation between the two countries. Myanmar's President was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before he sat down for talks with Manmohan Singh.

IPL V starts on April 4 in Chennai

Hyderabad: The fifth edition of the Indian Premier League will be held from April 4 to May 27 next year with the inaugural match to be played in Chennai, it was announced today. The IPL Governing Council, after its meeting here, decided that player regulation, including participation of Pakistani players, and trading modalities of the auction will be discussed at the next meeting, the dates of which have not yet been announced. 

2G: Court to decide on framing of charges on Oct 22

New Delhi: A Delhi court will pronounce on October 22 its order on framing of charges in the 2G spectrum case, involving former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 15 others. "Put up for order on charge on October 22," said Special CBI Judge O P Saini, reserving its order on the crucial stage of the framing of charges, after which a formal trial begins in a criminal case. 

In the process of framing of charges, the court decides as to who among the accused has sufficient prima facie evidence against him to be put on trial. The court also made it clear it would resume hearing on the bail applications of various accused, including DMK MP Kanimozhi, from October 24.

Interest rates will have to move in tandem with inflation: RBI

New Delhi: Ahead of its monetary policy review later this month, the Reserve Bank today said interest rates will have to move in tandem with inflation, as the central bank has no other instrument to check the rate of price rise.

"If inflation goes up, interest rates will go up anywhere in the world... I have no other (monetary policy) instrument available with me (to anchor inflationary expectations)," RBI Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty said on the sidelines of an event organised by FICCI here.

His comments came after the release of data that showed headline inflation remained close to double digits at 9.72 per cent in September.

Ralegan Siddhi: Anna Hazare on Friday distanced himself from Prashant Bhushan on the issue of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was not the team's stand and the lawyer-activist was airing his personal views. "Prashant Bhushan's statement (on Kashmir) is not the views of the team. He has never asked the team. These are his personal views. The team is not responsible for the comments. We are not in agreement with him," Hazare told reporters here. "We didn't like this (statement). It is not our view," he said.

Defying the high court's orders, workers continued their sit-in strike on the premises of Maruti Suzuki India's Manesar plant for the eighth consecutive day on Friday, with production activities at a complete standstill. The strike by workers at Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd (SPIL) in support of their colleagues at the Manesar plant has made the situation even more precarious for the Maruti Suzuki India management. The company has decided to stop production at its main factory in Gurgaon today and tomorrow on account of a severe shortage of engines and transmissions due to the strike at SPIL. Workers at Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) have also resorted to a strike to press their colleagues' demands.

Encephalitis claims six more lives, death toll 438