Malala Yousafzai nominated for 'Children's Nobel'

Schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban, was nominated for the World Children's Prize in Sweden today for championing education rights for girls.

Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala elected as the Prime Minister of Nepal

Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala was 10-Feb-2014 elected Prime Minister of Nepal with the support of the CPN-UML, ending months of political instability following last year's elections.

Koirala, the sole contestant in the premier race, was elected with 405 votes in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

CBI need for sanction of IB officials in Ishrat case : Attorney General

The Attorney General of India GE Vahanvati has said that the CBI needs the sanction of the government before it prosecutes serving and retired Intelligence Bureau officers charged in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case.

The CBI in their supplementary chargesheet filed on Thursday accused former Gujarat IB chief Rajinder Kumar with murder and three serving officers - P Mittal, MK Sinha and Rajiv Wankhede - with conspiracy and illegal confinement in the 2004 killings.

Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old college student, was killed by Gujarat police along with three men in June, 2004 in a fake encounter on the allegation that they were on their way to kill state Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

India to procure NASA aircraft for cyclone prediction

India is planning to procure a NASA aircraft equipped with a lab to study wind patterns at high altitude for better prediction of such calamities. India is hit by five cyclones on its eastern coast last year.

India will procure McDonnell Douglas DC-8 aircraft from NASA  and will get by 2015-2016.

This assumes significance as several cyclones, including the powerful Phailin that left a trail of destruction, had hit the country's eastern coast last year.

Indian Meteorological Department chief Laxman Singh Rathore had last month said five cyclones including Phailin and Helen had originated in the Bay of Bengal.

Data gathered by the aircraft and by remote sensing have been used for studies in archaeology, ecology, geography, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, volcanology, atmospheric chemistry, cryospheric science, soil science and biology.

Union Cabinet to consider Telangana Bill

Group of Ministers  headed by  Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde cleared the draft legislation to be placed before the Union Cabinet on 06-02-2013 to pave the way for its tabling in Parliament.

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Assembly rejected the  Telangana bill.

 
A comprehensive Bill will be brought before the Union Cabinet and suggestions will be incorporated after discussions in the Cabinet.

Following the Union Cabinet's nod, the legislation will be sent to the President for his approval before being taken up by Parliament, probably next week. A special economic package with substantial additional funds for construction of a new capital for Seemandhra region will be part of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.

The move comes days after the Andhra Pradesh Assembly rejected the Telangana Bill by voice vote, capping weeks of acrimonious drama and embarrassing Congress, which favoured creation of the separate state.

Experts are of the opinion that despite the Assembly's rejection of the bill, Parliament can go ahead with its legislative process for creation of the new state.

Parliament session commences on Wednesday and is scheduled to conclude on February 21. This will be the last session before the tenure of the UPA-II comes to an end.

Meanwhile, amid uncertainty over the bill on Telangana, TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 04-Feb-2014 to press for passage of the legislation for creation of the new state and said he got an assurance on the issue.

Indian-born Satya Nadella is the new CEO Microsoft

Indian born Satya Nadella was  as the new CEO of 78 billion USD  Microsoft Corporation who would succeed the retiring Steve Balmer.

The Hyderabad-born Nadella is the third CEO of Microsoft and

the first Indian to head the world's largest software firm in its 38-year history.

Nadella, along with Google's Sundar Pichai, were the contenders for the top job.

John Thompson, who is currently lead independent director, will succeed Microsoft founder Bill Gates as Chairman.

Delhi Giovernment clears Jan Lokpal Bill

The Delhi cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cleared  much talked-about Jan Lokpal bill which provides for covering all public servants - from chief minister to Group D employees -- and seeks life term as maximum punishment for those found guilty of corruption.


bill provides for a legal right of protection to honest officials, whistleblowers and witnesses besides having provisions for time-bound investigation and trial of corruption cases.

Jan Lokpal is the key promise made to the voters by AAP

there is  no provision for any "special privileges" for even the chief minister and council of ministers has been proposed in the bill

He said government will not send the bill to the Home Ministry for approval.

Sources said the Law Department had mentioned in its noting that there as per existing norms, Delhi government has to get clearance from the Home Ministry before tabling any bill.

"The only law which comes closest to this bill is the bill passed by the Uttarakhand assembly in 2011, but it too had some limitations in filing complaints against the CM and ministers. This bill for the first time provides a legal right of protection for the whistleblowers and witnesses in corruption cases.

Asked whether the bill will at least be sent to the Lt Governor for clearance, Sisodia only said it will be tabled in the House.

When asked whether Delhi Police, DDA and NDMC will come under ambit of Jan Lokpal, he refused to reply.

But officials said as these three bodies come under the purview of Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Bureau, they will automatically come under the ambit of the proposed legislation when the ACB is merged with the Lokpal.

This provision may be opposed by the Centre as all the three agencies report directly to the Home Ministry.