Current Affairs

International Namibian capital of Windhoek. The back its seat. P¸m\v ]pXnb {][m-\-a{´n meet was attended by representatives Mitchell report rejected of governments, the UN and media Junichiro Koizumi has been elected Israel has rejected the report of the organisations decided to launch a cam- as the new Prime Minister of Japan. He five-man enquiry panel headed by the paign against restrictions on free flow won the elections held by the ruling former US Senator George Mitchell of information, to fight racism and dis- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He suc- which enquired into the causes of vio- crimination and look for ways to check ceeds Yoshiro Mori as the PM. He is lence in West Asia. The main recom- the use of Internet for spreading com- the 11th Prime Minister of Japan since mendation of this international panel munal hatred. 1989. was that Israel must freeze all building 4 May 3: World Press Freedom Day. 4 In a bold move, the new Prime Min- activity in the Jewish settlements. This 4 It was at Windhoek, 10 years ago, ister has appointed five women in recommendation goes against Israeli that the ‘Windhoek Declaration’ on his Cabinet. This is a record in Japa- policy followed for the past few years. press freedom was adopted. nese politics. Among them is 4 The government of Ariel Sharon Makiko Tanaka who has thus be- John Paul-II creates history has infact planned to approach par- come Japan’s first woman Foreign The Pope, John Paul-II, during his liament for the provision of an ad- Minister. Masajuro Shiokawa has four day visit to Syria created history ditional 1.5 billion shekels (over been appointed as the new Finance by becoming the first Pope to set foot $300 million) to fund building ac- Minister. in a mosque. On May 6, he entered the tivity in the settlements. McDonald’s sued in US Omayyad mosque in Damascus. The 4 Other recommendations include lift- mosque was built on the site of a ing of the ban on the movement of The international foodchain church in 705 AD and contains the people and goods within the Pal- McDonald’s Corporation is in trouble tomb of Saint Joan the Baptist. estinian territories, for Israel to de- over its French fries. It has been sued sist from the use of rubber-coated in US by two Hindus and one non- US loses seat at the UN steel bullets against unarmed Pal- Hindu for using beef fat in preparing The United States, for the first time estinian demonstrators and for Is- french fries over a decade after saying since 1947, lost its seat at the UN Hu- rael to desist from demolishing Pal- it would cook its fries in vegetable oil. man Rights Commission. To add insult estinian houses and levelling farm- Pakistan’s position on to injury those nations which the US land. Kashmir backed consistently criticises for poor human rights record like Sudan have made it LDCs meet at Brussels Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir to the Commission. Later it also lost A meeting of 49 Least Developed issue has been virtually endorsed by the seat at the International Narcotics Countries (LDCs) was held at Brussels China. A reason for this might be Control Board. under the auspices of the Union Na- theperceived closeness of India and 4 To protest at the loss of the seats tions. This is the third UN conference USover issues like NMD. the House of Representatives has on the LDCs. World Conference on withheld some overdue payments 4 The 49 LDCs have a population of Press Freedom to the UN. It has voted to withhold 630 millions or a tenth of global $244 millions out of a total $582 mil- population. Of this, nearly half of A three-day World Conference on them live under the poverty line. Press Freedom was held at the lions. It will be paid once US gets They also count for less than half by Royal/Dutch Shell in 1993. The its seats. percent of the global trade and in- company was forced to leave due to a Djukavoic wins Montenegro vestment. A majority of the LDCs violent campaign by the Ogonis. Their are struggling with unsustainable struggle became famous after their elections external debt and the average life leader, the writer Ken Saro Wiva was The Socialist Party led by the Presi- expectancy in LDCs have reduced hanged with eight other activists by dent Milo Djukavoic has won a slim by 10 years due to AIDS. Nigeria’s ruling junta. majority in the elections to the legisla- 4 The developed nations have failed temI-¯nse Gähpw \à ture. Djukanovic is a supporter of to deliver their promised aid of upto hnam\ Xmhfw tlmt¦m-§n Montenegro declaring its indepen- 0.2 percent of their national income dence from the Yugoslav Federation. to the LDCs and 0.7 percent to de- Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport The slim majority dashes his hopes for velopment assistance. has been voted the best airport in the early declaration of independence. world in a survey in which 4,00,000 trav- 4 Recently Albanians in Montenegro New government in Italy ellers participated. Kuala Lumpur and had revolted against the estab- Silvio Berlusconi, the richest Ital- Singapore won the second and third lished government. ian, has once again voted to power in position. 4 Podgorica is the capital of the Parliamentary elections. His con- Montenegro. servative House of Freedoms Alliance Violence rejected by Basques won a comfortable majority in the The people of Basque-region of Humans affected with F&M Chamber of Deputies (lower House) Spain has rejected parties supporting For the first time since the outbreak and a majority in the Senate. It won 380 violence as a means to achieve inde- foot and mouth disease, three Britons seats in the 630-member lower House pendence. They have supported par- have been affected by the disease. and 204 seats in the 315-member Sen- ties which advocated non-violent sepa- They have blisters either on their ate. His rival, the left wing Olive Tree ration from Spain. PNV or Nationalist tongue or hands and feet. They are Alliance led by Francesco Rutelli came Basque Party, the oldest Basque party feared to have caught the disease while a poor second. and its coalition partner, Eurko helping the disposal of carcasses of Alkartasuna won 33 seats in the 75 slaughtered animals. The new devel- Massive oil spill in Nigeria party legislature or regional assembly. opment goes against the consistently A huge oil spill in Ogoni, south- The Popular Party of the Prime Minis- held view that the disease does not east Nigeria has polluted the area and ter Jose Maria Aznar won 19 seats. affect human beings. is threatening to engulf the district into 4 The Eurkal Herritarok party or EH, a devastating fireball. The spill was believed to be the political arm of German shadow over EU caused by a damaged well abandoned the terrorist organisation ETA, lost integration The further integration of Euro- Summit of the Americas pean Union (EU) has been hit by fears A three-day Summit of the Americas was held in Quebec City, Canada. The of German domination. Germany’s main issue discussed was the creation of the world’s largest free trade area – Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has put Free Trade Area of Americas (FTAA). The leaders of the 34 Nations partici- forward certain proposals for radical pated in the meet. The meeting was not attended by Fidel Castro of Cuba. He changes in the 15-member EU struc- had not been invited because Cuba is not a democratic country. At the end of ture. The main point of the plan, which the Summit an agreement was signed to usher in FTAA by 2005. The accord will be laid before the EU Constitutional would create a barrier free-trade zone from the Arctic to Argentina. It would Convention in 2004, is the creation of a create a market of about 800 millions and bring about a $13 trillion economy. A stronger European Parliament. The new highlight of the pact is the so-called Democracy clause that denies participa- parliament will reduce the role of the tion of undemocratic nations in the FTAA. national parliaments. The plan has raised visions of a German domination because Germany is still the economic powerhouse of EU and is also the most populous nation with over 80 million. Russia and China to sign friendship treaty China and Russia are likely to sign a friendship treaty when the Chinese _n tKävkns\ ]n³XÅn hmÄ«³ Gähpw henb [\n-I³ President, Jiang Zemin visits Russia inJuly. The Foreign Ministers of the After a remarkably long stay at the top, Bill Gates, the Chairman and Chief twocountries signed a protocol on Technology Officer of Microsoft Corporation has been pushed down to sec- theagreed draft when the Chinese ond spot as the world’s richest man. His position has been taken by Sam ForeignMinister, Tang Jiaxuan, visited Robson Walton, the owner of Wal-Mart supermarket empire. He is currently Moscow. The new treaty is likely to worth £45.3 billion. This is eight million pounds more than Gates’s worth. A bebased on mutual support in matters major reason for the slump in Gate’s worth has been the loss sustained by his ofsovereignty, the fight against company’s stocks. He is likely to regain his spot once Microsoft’s stocks terrorism,extremism and separatism and make gains. The list was released by The Sunday Times on April 22. Walton border. heads a retail chain having 4,000 outlets worldwide. 4 When signed, it will be the first po- 4 The NRI-Hinduja brothers worth fell from £1.95 billion last year to just £700 litical treaty China has signed million pounds. withany foreign country for years. Aftera friendship treaty with the formerSoviet Union expired in 1979, Chinamade it a rule not to conclude anypolitical pacts with other coun- tries .WEO forsees slower growth The World Economic Outlook Foreign Ministers held at Moscow, it Pradesh, can give the value of the (WEO) report released by the Interna- was decided to fight terrorism, improve square, cube and fourth powers of any tional Monetary Fund (IMF) has fore- economic ties and discuss humanitar- two digit numbers faster than a calcu- cast only 3.2 percent growth rate forthe ian issues. The original agenda of the lator. He can also recite from memory global economy. A main reason grouping established five years ago the first 7,000 decimal places of the deci- hasbeen the slowdown in US economy had been to boost border security and mal expansion of ‘pi’ both backwards andslow recovery of Japan while reduce troop levels along China’s and forwards. almostall countries in Asia have been frontier’s with the Central Asian coun- India elected to NCB, vari=ously affected. China and India tries which were part of the former are expected to remain relatively well USSR. A pact on joint fight against ter- UNAID sustained. This would provide some rorism, separatism and extremism is India has been elected to the Inter- stability to the region. A reason for the likely to be signed during the Summit national Narcotics Board (INB) and Co- relatively good showing of India and in Shanghai later in July. ordination Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS. China has been their moderate expo- Fighting rages in Jaffna sure to external developments. 4 The US lost its seat at the Interna- 4 India’s GDP growth slowed down to The Sri Lankan army was forced to tional Narcotics Control Board. withdrawn to its pre-offensive posi- 6.4 percent in 2000 and is likely to Deendar Anjuman banned slow down to about 5.6 percent in tions in Jaffna peninsula due to strong attacks by the Liberation Tigers of The Centre has banned the 2001. According to IMF, the main Deendar Anjuman. The organisation challenge to Indian policy makers Tamil Eelam (LTTE). On April 27 the army had launched an offensive code has been accused of engineering bomb was to sustain and improve on the blasts in May-July 2000 in church pre- strong economic growth of the 1990s named “Agni Khiela” or Fireball in the Jaffna peninsula. mises in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka to reduce poverty and also cut down and Goa. It is also accused of carrying overall public sector deficit. out a late campaign against the Chris- Shanghai Five expands tian community. The organisation based at Mardan in Pakistan was also agenda planning to launch a Jehad in India. The Shanghai Five, a grouping The validity of the ban is to be deter- consisting of Russia, China, Indian boy faster than mined by a Tribunal and once upheld Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan calculator will be effective for a period of two years has decided to move away from its G. Uday Shankar of Nizamabad, a once publicized in the Gazette. original agenda. At a meeting of the student from Guntur in Andhra NRC wants to enlarge fundamental rights by both Houses of Parliament with PM The National Commission to re- reasons attached for imposing it. As The Prime Minister, Atal Behari view the working of the Constitution regards appointment of governors Vajpayee, has made it clear that im- headed by Justice M.N a Committee comprising the Prime port tariffs on agricultural products Venkitachellaiah has released four Minister, Union Home Minister, the could be raised further to protect the more consultation papers for public dis- Lok Sabha Speaker and Chief Min- interests of the farmers . He was dedi- cussion. Among them is a paper on “en- ister of the concerned State should cating the Jamnagar-Loni LPG pipe- largement of fundamental rights”. This select a Governor. line to the nation at Loni in Uttar paper calls for enlarging the list of pro- Rakmanov visits India Pradesh. The pipeline built at an esti- hibitions under Articles 15 and 16 of The President of Tajikistan, mated cost of Rs. 1,250 crores is the the Constitution to include “ethnic or Emomali Rakhmanov, visited India re- longest of its kind in the world. The social origin, age, language, political cently. He met the Prime Minister and 1.7 million tonnes capacity pipeline or other opinion, property and birth”. also the Union Home Minister L.K. would be enhanced to 2.5 million As a result, the move to debar Sonia Advani. India has offered a grant of $5 tonnes by 2011-12. The pipeline Gandhi from holding any high office million to Tajikistan to tackle the acute passes through Kandla, Jamnagar, would be nullified by reserving high drought situation in that country. Both Okha, Hazaria and Gandhar to offices only for “naturally born Indian countries also signed a treaty for legal Haryana, Palanpur, Ajmer, Jaipur, citizens”. Another suggestion is to assistance in criminal matters as a pre- Piyala Mandanpur-Khadar and on codify as fundamental rights certain cursor for jointly tackling the menace toLoni. It draws LPG from the Reliance freedoms which the Supreme Court has of terrorism. refinery at Jamnagar and the Indian already declared as such. These in- Oil Corporation’s import unit at clude: Farmers would be protected, Kandla. a) the right to freedom of the press; b) freedom of information; c) right to privacy; PM visits Malaysia d) right to free elementary education The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was on a two-day visit to Malay- up to the age of 14 sia. During his visit the good bilateral relations existing between the two e) right to clean and healthy environ- countries was strengthened further. A significant achievement was that ment; and Vajpayee was able to convince and bring around the Malaysian Prime Minis- f) right to have access to courts and ter, Dr. Mahathir Mohammed, to accept India’s position on the Kashmir dis- legal aid. Another significant sug- pute. He also raised the recent killing of ethnic Indians in Malaysia. A number gestion is that of “Right of Compen- of economic co-operation agreements was also signed. Malaysia has become sation” against a callous and brutal the first country to use the GSLV and PSLV facilities to launch its own satel- state authority. Hence it wants Ar- lites. A memorandum towards this was signed by Antrix Corporation, a sub- ticle 21 to be expanded as: “Every sidiary of DoS and Malaysia’s Astronautic Technology. Another agreement person who is illegally deprived of was signed between IRCON International and the Malaysia government to his right to life or liberty shall have facilitate the construction of a $1.8 billion doubling of the existing railway line an enforceable right to compensa- from Padang Besar on the Thai border to Ipoh. This is the largest-ever signed tion”. Another far-reaching sugges- by an Indian company. Both countries also agreed to co-operate at the next tion is that “in a case where a per- round of WTO negotiations in Doha. Yet areas of concern remain. An issue son belonging to the weaker sec- unsettled was the extradition of the controversial Italian businessman Ottavio tion is deprived of property because Quattrochi to India to face trial in the Rs. 64-crore Bofors payoff case. Further of acquisition of agricultural and Malaysia has been ambivalent as to support India’s candidature to UN Secu- homestead lands, he shall he pro- rity Council as a permanent member. vided with land of quality atleast equal to the land he previously re- habilitated”. The commission has also put forward certain suggestions on Article 356 which provides for dismissal of a State Government. It has suggested that imposition of President’s rule must be approved Defence sector opened up CBI court grants reprieve to In keeping with the trend of 20 A new scheme to disburse pension through post offices was launched on liberalisation, the Union Cabinet tooka The trial of Union Home Minister, April 30 by the Union Labour Minister major decision to throw open L.K. Advani, the Union Human Re- Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya. defenceequipment production to the sources Development Minister Murali privatesector with permission for for- Manohar Joshi and Union Sports Min- SC upholds EC’s power eign direct investment. The manufac- ister, Uma Bharati, and 18 other accused on model code ture of mmunition and other defence- in the Babri Masjid case has been put The Supreme Court (SC) has up- relatedproducts will now be permitted on hold by the special CBI court. The held the power of the Election Com- by theprivate sector with even a for- trial has been put on hold until ‘de- mission (EC) to enforce the model code eign direct investment (FDI) of up to fects’ in the Uttar Pradesh of conduct from the date of announce- 26 percent. The Union Cabinet also government’s notification is rectified. ment of elections. The EC and Govern- decidedto raise the FDI limit in telecom ICG set up ment has reached an agreement on the raisedto 74 percent from 49 percent, 100 following issues: percent FDI in mass rapid transport An Intelligence Co-ordination Group (ICG) is being setup to look af- i) the announcement of elections system in metros and 100 percent FDI should be made ordinarily not more in ourier services, hotels and tourism, ter “systematic intelligence oversight” at the apex level. The existing key tech- than three weeks in advance of the development of townships, airports date of notification; andpharmaceuticals. nical agencies would function under the control of the proposed Defence ii) inauguration of projects may be Balco stir ends Intelligence Agency (DIA). The ICG permitted by civil servants during The 67-day-old Balco strike has would include the Cabinet Secretary enforcement of the model code of come to an end. This followed an ac- and chiefs of RAW, the Intelligence conduct. cord between the striking workers and Bureau, DIA and other agencies and 4 This is yet another instance where the management. The workers presided over by the national security SC has supported EC’s contention. wereprotesting the sale of 51 percent advisor. The ICG would meet monthly Earlier it had granted the EC pow- stakein Balco by the Union Govern- to consider the assessments of the ers to discipline and even suspend ment. Itsplant is situated at Korba National Security Council Secretariat erring officials, including from the inChhattisgarh. (NSCS). These decisions were based police forces while they are de- 4 In a related development, on the recommendations of the Group ployed on election duty. Chhattisgarh has decided to issue of Ministers (GoM) on National Secu- 4 The model code of conduct is a notices to Essar and Daewoo com- rity. A Technology Co-ordination voluntary agreement between the panies over the lease of tribal lands. Group (TCG) is also being setup to EC and political parties. Highest personal bonds co-ordinate and regulate plans for ac- Fire at ammunition depot quisition of all new, costly and major The personal bonds for Rs. 15 Yet another ammunition dump caught strategic facilities and equipment by crores furnished by the two Hinduja fire. This time it was the Simble Chowk the intelligence agencies. It would brothers – Srichand and Gopichand – ammunition on the outskirts of Pathankot also be chaired by the National Secu- is the highest in the country’s legal his- on April 29. Ammunitions weighing 427 rity advisor. tory. They furnished these bonds to tonnes and worth Rs. 15 crore were de- enable them to go abroad after the CBI Election of 11 MLCs set stroyed. The Defence Ministry has or- questioning over the 64-crore Bofors aside dered a Court of Inquiry into the accident. 4 Last year a similar fire broke out in payoffs. The election of 11 Members of Leg- Bharatpur destroying 1600 tonnes islative Council (MLC) was set aside Laloo and Mishra issued of ammunition causing a loss of by the Karnataka High Court. The de- warrants over Rs. 600 crore. cision followed a petition by Vatal The former Chief Minister Nagaraj, whose nomination paper had DPC to terminate accord Jagannath Mishra and Laloo Prasad been rejected on grounds that he was Yadav were among the 100 persons The Dabhol Power Corporation has holding an office of profit. The court against whom a special CBI court is- authorised its Managing Director, Neil observed that this decision was “im- sued non-bailable arrest warrants. They Mc Gregor, to issue a notice of intent proper and illegal”. have been accused in the multi-crore to terminate its Power Purchase Agree- fodder scam. Pension through post offices ment (PPA) with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB). Ivanov visits India Telengana agitation gathers Igor Ivanov, the Russian Foreign Minister, visited India on May 4 and 5. momentum India utilised the opportunity to clear its stand on the NMD. It was made clear The agitation for a separate state that the strong support for NMD would not be at the cost of the traditional of Telengana to be carved from Andhra friendship with Russia. India fully backed the Russian plan on the 1972 Anti- Pradesh has gained momentum. This Ballistic Missile Treaty. The Russian position is that it is not opposed to the follows the resignation of K. idea of dismantling the ABM. But it wants any transition towards a new nuclear Chandrasekhar Rao as Deputy Speaker order through a negotiated agreement between Moscow and Washington. of the Legislative Assembly and his Sibbal (both Congress), Praful Patel launch of the Telengana Rashtra Samiti JPC appointed to probe stock (NCP), C. Ramachandriah (TDP), Amar (TRS). He has also resigned as MLA market scam Singh (Samajwadi Party) and C.P. and from the primary membership of A 30-member Joint Parliamentary Thirunavukkarasu (DMK). the party. Committee (JPC) has been constituted 4 For the first time CPI a national Hurriyat all but rejects to probe the recent stock market scam. party does not have a nominee. peace talks It is to be headed by Lt. Gen. Prakash 4 The JPC set up to probe the 1992 Mani Tripathi. He is a former Deputy stock scam was chaired by Ram The All-Party Hurriyat Conference Chief of Army Staff and has won two Nivas Mirdha. (APHC) has almost rejected the Union gallantry medals. He was also the ar- 4 Earlier the Railway Budget was Government’s new offer of talks. A main chitect of the indigenously developed passed without any discussion by reason was that it was unwilling to hold Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun. The a voice vote. talks with the Centre as part of the JPC has been given the following terms ‘crowd’ (ie, being a part of many other Second phase of border of reference – probe rent irregularities Kashmiri groups). It has also called for fencing cleared and manipulations in the recent stock Pakistan’s involvement in the process. market crash including allegations of Following the killing of 16 BSF The AHPC’s view was that only “tri- insider trading, probe the role of banks, jawans on the Assam-Meghalaya- partite talks” involving India, Pakistan brokers and promoters, stock ex- Bangladesh border by the Bangladesh and the Hurriyat could lay the founda- changes, financial institutions, corpo- Rifles (BDR), the Union government tion for a durable peace. rate entities and regulatory authorities has accorded technical sanction” for 4 Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat is the and fix responsibility of persons, insti- the second phase of the fencing of the Hurriyat Chairman. tutions or authorities in these transac- India-Bangladesh border. Once the 4 Shabir Shah of the Jammu and tions; Biggest deterrent measures second phase is completed by 2007, Kashmir Democratic Party (JKDP) against those found guilty of violating the entire India-Bangladesh border, ex- has welcomed the new process. the regulations. cept 890 km. will be sealed. Uttaranchal gets special The JPC has 20 members from Lok 4 The Government has announced status Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. The an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 7.5 lakhs 20 memebrs from Lok Sabha are Prakash to the families of the slain 16 sol- The Union Cabinet has decided to diers. confer “special category” status on Mani Tripathi, V.P. Badnore, Vijay Goel, Uttaranchal. This would enable the Maheshwar Singh, Kirit Somaiya, FCI permitted to export rice State to get liberal central assistance. Kharabela Swain and Harim Pathak (all The Food Corporation of India BJP), Mani Shankar Aiyar, Margaret It is the 11th State to be conferred the (FCI) has been given sanction by the Alva, Pravin Rashtrapal, S. Jaipal status. The Cabinet also decided to Union Government to export 30 lakh Reddy (all Congress), Anant Geete i) rename Jhubberhatti airport near tonnes of rice during the current finan- (Shiv Sena), C. Kuppuswami (DMK), Shimla as Shimla airport and cial year. The price would not be less Jagannath Mallik (BJD), Rupchand Pal Bhuntar airport near Kullu-Manali (CPI-M), P.H. Pandian (AIADMK), than Rs. 3.50 a Kilogram which is the airport; Kunwar Akhilesh Singh (Samajwadi central issue price for Below Poverty ii) all retired Chief Justices of India, Party), Prabhunath Singh (Samata Line (BPL) population. except those who were part of vari- Party), Baliram (BSP) and K. Yerran 4 The FCI reportedly has 232.24 lakh ous commissions, would be pro- Naidu (TDP). The 10 members from tonnes in its godowns. Of this 118 vide an allowance of Rs. 10,000 a Rajya Sabha are Ram Das Agarwal and lakh tonnes is buffer stock and the month for engaging secretarial as- S.S. Ahluwalia (both BJP), Nilotpal rest 114.24 lakh tonnes is surplus sistance. Basu (CPI-M), Prem Chand Gupta stock. (RJD), K. Rahman Khan and Kapil 4 The move is also aimed to create space for the ongoing rabi harvest. should be reduced from 60:40 to The Securities and Exchange Board of 4 The Union Cabinet has also ap- 5:95 for those subscribers who use India (SEBI) has announced a se- proved a proposal to amend the the WLL facility with limited mobil- ries of steps to prevent another Food Corporation Act, 1964 to en- ity. stock scam. These include: able the FCI to borrow funds pro- ii) phone companies who have failed i) Banning of the 135-year old badla portionate to their stockholding. to meet their existing obligations from July 2; SC frowns on FTCs should be asked to submit addi- ii) Automated Lending and Borrow- tional undertakings and perfor- ing Mechanism (ALBM), Borrow- The ambitious Fast Track Courts mance guarantees (PGs) for ensur- ing and Lending of Securities (FTCs) scheme has been termed as a ing compliance with the unfulfilled Scheme (BLESS) and Continuous “non-starter” by the Supreme Court roll out obligations. Net Settlement (CNS) all have been (SC). It further criticised the Centre for iii) telecom revenue districts should be scrapped from July 2. not having brought the whole scheme divided into three categories – ru- iii) 414 stocks to be on T+5 rolling to the notice of the Chief Justice of In- ral, semi-urban and urban. Each of settlements from July 2. dia (CJI) before it was announced. It these categories should be equally iv) Transition period to square up ex- felt that the Chief Justices (CJs) of the covered for each phase of the pre- isting position allowed till Septem- respective High Courts should have scribed roll out. ber 7. been given the discretion of identify- v) Mandatory rolling settlement for all ing the cases and areas for FTCs for its stocks/scrips from January 2, 2002. effectiveness. vi) No circuit filter from July 2. Two departments abolished vii) Rolling settlement, options trading Two departments viz. the Depart- IT in tax net from July 2. ment of Supply and the office of the Information Technology sector 4 Badla meant a system where deals Chief Controller of Accounts have has been brought under the Income- are carried forward upto 90 days. been abolished by the Government. tax Act. It has provided for 50 percent Cash Reserve Ratio cut depreciation on new commercial ve- These steps are part of the efforts to The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hicles acquired and put to use on or downsize the Government. has cut the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) after April 1, 2001. It has also enhanced by 5 percent from 8.0 percent to 7.5. Alexander Committee depreciation for plant and machinery This cut will release Rs. 4,500 crore into submits report used in weaving, processing and gar- the open. P.C. Alexander-chaired Governor’s ment sector. 4 CRR is the portion of deposits to Committee setup to review the imple- New measures to regulate be maintained by banks with the mentation of welfare programmes for SCs & STs submitted its report to the stock exchange Reserve Bank of India (RBI). President K.R. Narayanan. The other members of the Committee were Gov- ernors of Meghalaya (M.M. Jacob), New group in Parliament Kerala (Sukhdev Singh Kang), The Kerala Congress (Mani) Member of Parliament (MP), P.C. Thomas Karnataka (V.S. Rama Devi), Himachal has formed a “Democratic Parliamentary Forum” (DFP) in the Lok Sabha. It is Pradesh (Suraj Bhan), Orissa (M.M. to be consist of eight other members who are Mohan Dilkar (independent Rajendran) and Haryana (Babu from Dadra Haveli), Rajesh Ranjan Yadav (independent from Bihar), Dr. Parmanand). Rongpy (Assam Hill Development Council), Simranjit Singh Mann (Akali Dal-Mann, from Punjab), Prakash Ambedkar (RPI, Mumbai), S.K. Limited mobility panel’s Bwiswnuthiary (independent from Bodoland, Assam), Vanlal Zawma (inde- report pendent, Mizoram) and Haribabu Shankar Mohale (JD-S, Maharashtra). The The report of the Group on Telecom DPF would take up the cause of farmers, development of their respective and IT Convergence (GoT-IT) on lim- constituencies and States. ited mobility has submitted its report to the Prime Minister. Among its rec- ommendations are: i) present revenue sharing arrange- ment between basic phone compa- nies and long distance operators Bank deposits raises New Internet virus sphere of the planet. The aggregate deposits of sched- A new Internet virus Vbswg.x or New HIV detection kit uled commercial banks have risen Homepage has been found to be A new rapid HIV detection kit sharply by Rs. 35,366 crores (3.7 per- spreading fast through the Internet. named ‘Naked Eye Visual Agglutina- cent) to Rs. 993.374 crores during the The virus sends itself as an e-mail at- tion Array’ (NEVA) has been launched fortnight ended April 6. Foreign cur- tachment to all addresses listed in the by the Department of Biotechnology, rency reserves had risen by $33 million infected user’s address book. Delhi University and the Ahmedabad- to $42,722 million and foreign currency 4 The new virus is similar to the Anna based Pharma Company, Cadila Phar- assets was $39,987 million. Kournikova virus released last year. maceuticals. The kit utilises the unique Global Competitiveness 4 VIRUS: Vital Information Re- recombitant fusion proteins compris- sources Under Siege. Report ing a monovalent-monoclonal anti- According to the latest global com- Electric car launched body fragment fused with HIV proteins petitiveness ranking, India has fallen India’s first electric car, REVA, was of diagnostic importance. by two points to stand at 41st position launched on May 11 – the PC sales, Dell ranks first NationalTechnology Day. The battery in 2001. In 2000 she had secured 39th According to two market research operatedcost effective car has been position. US continues to be at the top firms Gartner Dataquest and Interna- manufactured by the Bangalore based followed by Singapore. The rankings tional Data Corp, Dell Computer Cor- company, which won the national were done by the Swiss-based man- poration has become the worldwide awardfor successful commercialisation agement development organisation, market leader in PC sales in the first of indigenous technology. The car has IMD. quarter of 2001. It was followed by adriving range of 80 kms and a topspeed 4 India has secured the first rank in Compaq Computer Corporation. of 65 kms an hour. criteria such as availability of IT Compaq had been the worldwide leader skills, qualified engineers, personal Largest plane takes to air since 1990s. income-tax rate and social security The giant Ukrainian Antonov AN- 4 The top five manufacturers are Dell contributions by employers and 225, the world’s largest aircraft, madeits Computer Corporation (4.2 millions), employees, sixth place in terms of first test flight on May 7 at Ukraine.The Compaq Computer (3.9 millions), the fiscal policy and almost at the AN-225 is almost the length of Hewlett-Packard Corporation (2.4 bottom of the list vis-a-vis infra- afootball pitch. It has been named million), IBM Corporation (2.0) and structure maintenance and devel- Mriya(dream) and can carry 250 tonnes NEC Corporation (1.5 millions). opment. ofcargo. Pioneer 10 not lost Exports of marine products Earliest bird fossil discovered increases Pioneer 10 spacecraft, which was Paleontologists have discovered believed to be lost, has once again send The recently released figures by the complete fossil of an early dino- signals. It had last sent a signal in Au- the Marine Products Exports Develop- saur which probably is also the earli- gust 19, 2000. NASA had launched the ment Authority (MPEDA) shows that est bird in north-eastern China’s spacecraft on March 2, 1972. exports of marine products have grown Liaoning Province. The fossil, which 4 Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft by 23 percent in 2000-2001. In money is about 130 million-year-old, is the first to pass through the asteroid belt terms it was Rs. 6,300 crores as against to be found with its body covering in- and the first to obtain close-up im- Rs. 5,117 crores in 1999-2000. In terms tact. The new species, it is assumed, ages of Jupiter. In 1983, it became of quantity, it was 4.21 lakh tonnes in belongs to dromaeoraur class. the first man-made object to leave 2000-2001 compared to 3.85 lakh tonnes Dromaeosaur is a small, fast-running the solar system when it passed the in 1999-2000. dinosaur related to velociraptor. orbit of Pluto. 4 Japan (41 percent), US (18.6 per- 4 Sinosauropetryn, the first dinosaur 4 The spacecraft is now 11.73 billion cent) and EU (15.3 percent) were discovered with primitive feathers, km from Earth. the three main importers. was also found at Liaoning in 1995. 4 Shrimp with 67.1 percent of export Simputer developed value continues to be the number Planet gobbled by star A group of scientists of the Indian one commodity export. A scientist has found for the first Institute of Science (IISc) lead by Vinay 4 K.J. Syriac is the Chairman of the time proof that a star No. 82943 has L. Deshpande has developed the MPEDA which is based at Kochi. swallowed a planet. This is based on Simputer (simple computer). A unique the presence of lithium-6 in the atmo- feature of the new device is that it of- fers text to speech capability in local lan- as the new principal of the Thiruvanantha- has been elected chairman of a guages. Thus even illiterates can use it. puram Medical College. treaty under the international hu- Presently the facility is now available 4 The following have been ap- man rights instruments. for Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and other lan- pointed as principals of the rest four S.C. Gupta: He has been appointed the guages. It can thus greatly help reduce Medical Colleges Dr. K.A. Kumar – new Chairman and Managing Director the increasing digital divide. It can also Kottayam, Dr. Malini Thomas – of the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). send and receive voice mails and e-mails Kozhikode, Dr. M.R. Chandran – Virendra Gupta: He has been ap- and uses a Linus Operating System. Thrissur, Dr. K. Rajan – Alappuzha. pointed the new envoy to Trinidad and GSAT-1 drifts away Justice Chandra Mohan Nayar: A sit- Tobago. ting judge of the Delhi High Court who H.K. Dua: The veteran journalist and The Geostationary Satellite (GSAT- has been appointed as the new Chair- information advisor to the Prime Min- 1) launched by the indigenously-built man of the Monopolies and Restric- ister who has been appointed India’s Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle tive Trade Practices Commission ambassador to Denmark. (GSLV) has drifted from its orbit. As a (MRTPC). C. Sadasivan Pillai: The noted medi- result GSAT-1, India’s first space sat- V.V. Saseendran: A veteran trade union cal practitioner who has been ap- ellite would circle the Earth once in leader who has been elected as the pointed Director of medical education. every 23 hours instead of being geo- Chairman of Kerala State Cooperative New permanent Judges: Justice synchronous. The main reason for the Federation for Fisheries Development Bhaskaran Rayaroth, Justice drift was the depletion of the onboard (Matsyafed). Moorkanat Ramachandran, Justice propellant which was the result of an H.K. Dua: The Information Adviser to Kurien Joseph, Justice Ammukkutty unequal consumption of fuels from the the Prime Minister who has been ap- Lekshmikutty and Justice Narayana two tanks. pointed as the new Ambassador to Pillai Krishnan who have been ap- Silicon barrier set to be Denmark. pointed as new permanent judges of broken Elsvan Breda Vriesman: The Dutch the High Court. who has been appointed the President The latest technology breakthrough P.C. Sharma: An IPS officer of the 1966 of the Federation Internationale de in US has all promises of breaking batch and currently Special Director of Hockey (FIH) for the next term. She is the“silicon barrier”. Silicon barrier is the the Central Bureau of Investigation the first-ever lady President of hockey’s limiton the number of transistors that (CBI) who has been appointed as the most important body. She is also per- couldbe squeezed on to a computer “acting director” of the organisation. haps the first women head of an inter- chip.Nanotubes, tiny cylinders of car- He succeeds Dr. R.K. Raghavan. national organisation of any sport. bon atoms, is all set to replace them. Karia Munda: The senior BJP Member E. Achuthan Unni: The former District Thesenanotubes could be used to cre- of Parliament has been appointed Chair- and Sessions Judge who has been ap- ate millions of interconnections and man of the 30-member Parliamentary pointed Insurance Ombudsman for switches that make up a microchip. Committee on the Welfare of Sched- Kerala, Lakshadweep and Mahe. 4 Nanotubes were discovered uled Castes and Scheduled tribes for Sanjeev Goenka: The Vice-Chairman of 10years ago by Dr. Sumio Iijima 2001-02. RPG Enterprises who has taken over as atJapan’s NEC Research Laborato- President of the Confederation of Indian ries. Industry (CII). 4 Ashoka Soota, CEO and Chairman of Mind Tree Consulting has been elected as Vice-President of CII. UNESCO-Guillermo Cano Prize- Krishan Kumar: Appointed as the Di- M.C. Chowhan: The Secretary-General 2001: The 2001 UNESCO-Guillermo rector-General of the Central Public of the Table Tennis Federation of India Cano World Press Freedom Prize has Works Department (CPWD). (TTFI) who has been re-elected Vice- been awarded the senior Myanmar K. Raghunath: Former Foreign Secre- President of the International Table journalist U.Tin by the UNESCO Di- tary who has been appointed as India’s Tennis Federation (ITF) for two years. rector-General Koichiro Matsuura. ambassador to Russia. Justice P.N. Bhagwati: The retired U.Tin is currently in jail serving a 14- Ted Dexter: The former England cap- Chief Justice of India who has been year sentence given in 1989 by the mili- tain who is to become the new unanimously elected Chairman of the tary junta. Maryelborne Cricket Club (MCC) Presi- UN Human Rights Committee. Award for industrialists: Ernakulam Chamber of Commerce has conferred dent from October 1. 4 It is for the first time that an Indian the KCI Mather memorial Vyavasaya Dr. P.C. Kesavankutty Nair: Appointed Shree award on K. Ravindranathan Nair Healthcare and Chitra Tirunal Institute Rukmini Devi Award for 2001 has been of Vijayalakshmi Cashew Company for Medical Science and Technology presented to Sarada Hoffman. Hoffman and Joseph Chakola memorial have been awarded the ‘National award had been taught and groomed by Vyavasaya Jyothi award to M.C. Jacob for successful commercialisation of in- Rukmini Devi Arundale and still follows of Kitex Ltd. for the year 2000-01. digenous technology 2001. They re- her ideals. Saraswati Samman The ninth and ceived the award for developing artifi- 4 The annual award has been insti- tenth Saraswati Samman has been cial heart valve prosthesis. The prod- tuted by Centre in memory of awarded to the noted Tamil author Dr. uct costs around Rs. 18,000 which is Rukmini Devi Arundale who had Indira Parthasarathy for Ramunajar only one-third of imported artificial built the Kalakshetra at Adayar near and to the Oriya and English writer valves. Chennai. Manoj Das for Amruta Phala. Crossword Book Award: The Cross Commonwealth Writer’s Prize: Peter Sting gets Humanity Award: The noted Book Awards 2000 were given away at Carey, the New York-based Australian British rock star Sting has been con- ferred the Khalil Gibran Spirit of Hu- Delhi. The Rs. 3 lakh award for best novelist, has won his second Common- manity Award for his work on human English fiction was won by Jamyang wealth Writer’s Prize by winning this rights and the environment. Norbu for his book The Mandala of years prize. He won it for The true his- International Independent Film and Sherlock Holmes, a book on Tibetan tory of Kelly gang. He had earlier won Video Festival: Maya The Reality a film culture. The award for regional lan- the prize in 1998 for Jack Maggs. His by Pune-based film-maker Vishal guage fiction in translation was won best-known work Oscar and Lucinda Bhandari has bagged the ‘Best Foreign by Bhama for her autobiographical has been made into a film. Feature’ in the prestigious New York Tamil novel Karukku. Z-gold Bollywood awards: Kaho Na International Independent Film and 4 The Crossword Book Award is Pyar Hai once again dominated the Video Festival 2001. It is a 90-minute India’s youngest and richest liter- award ceremonies at the Z-gold bilingual (English-Hindi) film on “one ary prize. Bollywood awards given at New York. night in the life of a sex worker” shot Eurasia Commonwealth Writers The winners are: Kaho Na Pyar Hai with a digital video cam (DV) stars Prize: The Commonwealth Writer’s Prize (Best film), Hrithik Roshan (Best male Sonali Kulkarni in the title role. for Eurasia region has been won by The actor & best male debutant), Karishma Kamukara award: The fifth Kamukara Glass Palace written by Amitav Ghosh. Kapoor (Best female actress), Rakesh Award for lifetime achievement has 4 He however withdrew his book Roshan (Best director), Rajesh Roshan been given to the veteran playback from the finals competition in pro- (Best music director for Kaho Na Pyar singer, P. Su-sheela. test against the classification of his Hai). Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards: Fifty book under the “Commonwealth artistes were awarded the Sangeet Literature”. Natak Akademi Awards by the Vice- Kunjan Award, 2001: Kalamandalam President Krishan Kant. These include Prabhakaran, a thullal exponent, has Neyyattinkara Vasudevan (Carnatic been selected for this year’s Kunjan Sudhakarrao Naik: Former Congress vocal), Appukkutty Poduval Award. Chief Minister of Maharashtra who (Maddalam maestro) and Nelliyodu Jameo de Oro Award: India’s ace chess passed away recently at the age of 67. Vasudevan Namboodiri (Kathakali) champion and World Chess Champion, Didi: The illustrious Brazilian footballer from Kerala. Other notable winners in- Viswanathan Anand, is to be honoured who passed away. His real name was clude Swapnasundari (Kuchipudi), with the highest civilian award of Waldir Pereira. He was a part of the Shovana Narayan (Kathak), T.N. “Jameo de Oro” given by the Govern- Brazilian team of 1958 and 1962 which Seshagopalan (Carnatic vocal), Leela ment of Lanzaroti. won the World Cup. The team then in- Samson (Bharatanatyam), Mallika Muttathu Varkey Award: The cluded Pele, Garrinicha and Vava. He Sarabhai (creative), Seema Biswas (the- Muttathu Varkey Award for 2001 has was evolver and greatest exponent of atre). been presented to the noted writer N.P. the dead ball kicking. His viciously 4 Bhupen Hazarika is the chairman of Muhammed for his work Daivathinte swerving folha seca (falling leaf) free Sangeeta Natak Akademi. Kannu. The award carries a cash prize kick was later perfected by Eusebio and Player of the Year: Naiyaf Al Temyat of Rs. 33,333, a citation and a memento. Michel Platini. He was also the first to of Saudi Arabia was awarded the AFC 4 The Muttathu Varkey Award for score a goal at the legendary Maracana Sanyo Player of the Year by the Asian young talents have been given to Stadium in 1956. Football Confederation. V.H. Nishad and P.P. Shaji Kumar. Fardeen Khan: The Hindi film star and Chitra Institute wins award: TTK Rukmini Devi Award: The first son of noted film-maker Feroze Khan who has been arrested by the police as Mary Poppins and The Sound of as New Zealand’s Don Bradman and for possession of cocaine. Music who has been awarded the Ella played 42 Tests scoring five centuries Ronnie Biggs: Britain’s “Great Train Award. and averaging 40.1. His highest score Robber” who has returned home after 4 The Ella Award has been instituted was 230 not out in Delhi on the 1965 spending 35 years in Australia and Bra- in memory of the legendary singer tour. zil. Ella Fritzgerald. It is given to high- Viktor Bannykov: The famous Ukrai- 4 He had pulled off a £2.5 million heist light the work of singers who com- nian and former Soviet goalkeeper who in a running train in 1963 and es- bined musical careers with contri- passed away recently. caped from prison in 1965. butions to humanitarian causes. Shashi Tharoor: The interim head of M. Krishnan Nair: The veteran direc- Alexi Tupolov: The noted aircraft de- the UN Department of Public Informa- tor and the recent J.C. Daniel Award signer of Soviet era who passed away tion whose term has been extended for for lifetime achievement who passed recently. Among the aircraft he de- an indefinite period. away recently. signed include TU-144, the first Soviet 4 He was earlier Communications Ad- 4 Nair has worked with all film-star- supersonic passenger jet and Buran viser to the UN Secretary-General, turned Chief Minister’s M.G. Space Shuttle on the lines of the US Kofi Annan. Ramachandran, N.T. Rama Rao and Space Shuttle. Namagiripettai Krishnan: A doyen of J. Jayalalitha. He was MGR’s 4 His father was also a famous air- ‘nadaswaram’ and recipient of various favourite director. craft designer – Andrei Tupolov. awards including Padma Bhushan who Malabar Sukumaran Bhagavathar: A Chung Ju Yung: The founder of the passed away recently. well-known vocalist, Kerala Sangeeta South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Babu Chhiri: The Nepalese mountain- Nataka Akademi award winner and who died recently. eer who holds the world record for fast- founder of Pookkad Kalalayam at Sajjan Singh Sethi: The Life President est ascent of Mount Everest died re- Chemmencheri near Kozhikode passed of the National Rifle Association of cently. away recently. India (NRAI) who passed away re- N.K. Singh: The Officer on Special Professor B.M. Grover: The Chairman cently. Duty (OSD) in the Prime Minister’s Of- of the Indian Council of Historical Re- Dr. Mohan Lal Piramal: The leading fice (PMO) who has been shifted to search who passed away recently. textile industrialist who died recently the Planning Commission as a Mem- Jose Ramos-Horta: The East Timorese due to self-inflicted gun shots. ber. independence leader who has quit the Zubin Mehta: The Indian-born inter- Saeeda Bano: The first woman broad- legislature. nationally renowned conductor who caster of India who passed away re- Stanley Fischer: The No.2 in the Inter- has received lifetime honorary member- cently. national Monetary Fund (IMF) who is ship of the Vienna Philharmonic Or- 4 She had joined the All India Radio to quit later this year. chestra. (AIR) at Lucknow in 1947. Mammen Mathew: The editor of Shoaib Akhtar: The Pakistani fast Malayala Manorama has been elected bowler, sometimes called the world’s president of the Editors Guild of India fastest bowler has been cleared of any for the year 2001-2002. illegality in his bowling. The Douglas Adams: The author of the cult “Rawalpindi Express”, as he is also science fiction comedy The Hitch known, was found not guilty of throw- Dhantewada: A village in Chattisgarh Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who ing by the University of Australia’s to State where the National Mineral De- passed away recently. He was Britisher whom he was referred by the Interna- velopment Corporation Ltd. will set up by birth. tional Cricket Council (ICC). a 3-lakh tonne capacity steel plant. Perry Como: The famous singer whose Bentla D’Couth: The 31-year old from Caral: A city in the Supe valley in Peru career lasted over fifty years (1930s to Kochi who has become the first Indian where US archaeologists have un- 80s) who passed away at Florida. to enter the FIFA Women’s Referees earthed what is thought to be oldest Marcel Marceau: The world-re- panel. She had earlier achieved the dis- city in Americas. nowned French mimic who has been tinction of becoming the first woman Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh Govern- named the first goodwill ambassador national referee. She had also been the ment has decided to rename Allahabad for the United Nations Second World vice-captain of Indian team. as Prayagraj. Assembly on Aegeing. It will be held Bert Sutcliffe: The former New Malkangiri: The district headquarter in April in 2002 at Madrid, Spain. Zealand left-hand batsman who passed town in southern Orissa where the lo- Julie Andrews: The star of films such away recently. He was often described cal people have launched an agitation United was voted “footballer of the year” by the Football Writers Associa- Three new Governors tion (FWA). He has so far scored 20 goals for his team including a hat-trick. The Union Government has appointed the following persons as Gov- 4 This makes him the first English ernors of different states Kidar Nath Sahani – Sikkim, Amolak Ratan player since Alan Shearer in 1994 Kohli – Mizoram and N.N. Jha as the Lieutenant Governor of to win the award. Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Family Circle Cup demanding the shifting of Tamil Refu- 4 In yet another incident involving Jeniffer Capriati, the Australian gees from Sri Lanka settled here by the football spectators, over 130 people Open winner won the Family Circle Cup Government. were killed and hundreds injured in defeating the world No. 1 Martina Canada: The North American country a stampede following crowd trouble Hingis in the finals. which had been named as the best at the Ghanian capital Accra. Pak Se Ri wins Longs Drugs country to live in by the United Na- New Cricket Academy tions. Tournament The South Zone Cricket Academy Pak Se Ri of South Korea won the has been launched with the former In- Longs Drugs Challenge Tournament dian-wicket keeper Syed Kirmani has played at Lincoln in USA. been appointed the chief coach. Asrian wins Dubai Open Asia Cup Pollock new entrant into elite club Grandmaster Asrian Karen of Ar- China defeated South Korea to lift menia won the Dubai Open chess cham- The South African cricket team cap- the Asia Cup Badminton Trophy pionship 2001. tain, Shaun Pollock, has become the played at Singapore. eighth player in Test history to achieve East Bengal wins NFL title Legends series tournament the double of 2000 runs and 200 wick- The Kolkata-based football giant Henri Leconte of France defeated ets. He thus becomes the first South East Bengal won its maiden National Bjorn Borg of Sweden to win the Leg- African to achieve the feat. Football League (NFL) title. It won Rs. ends Series tournament played at 4 The other players to have done so 40 lakhs for this effort. Last year’s win- Mumbai. The doubles title was won by are Richie Benaud (Australia), Sir ner Mohun Bagan and Churchill Broth- Bjorn Borg and Mansour Bahrami. Garfield Sobers (West Indies), Ian ers finished second and third respec- Botham (England), Imran Khan (Pa- US Claycourt Championship tively. kistan), Kapil Dev (India), Sir Rich- 4 NFL consisted of 12-teams which Leander Paes and Mahesh ard Hadlee (New Zealand) and played 132-matches. The top scorer Bhupathi of India defeated Kevin Kim Wasim Akram (Pakistan). was Mohun Bagan’s Jose Ramirez and Jim Thomas of US to win the Baretto-12 goals. doubles title in the US claycourt cham- Monte Carlo Open pionship. The men’s single title was Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, affec- NIIT Open rating won by Andy Roddick of US. tionately called Gugga, defeated championship Hicham Arazi of Morocco to win the Sriram Jha won the NIIT Open rat- FIDE zonal tournament Monte Carlo Open. G.M. Krishnan Sasikiran and I.M.W. ing championship played at New Delhi. Pallavi Shah emerged champions in the London Marathon World table tennis FIDE World Chess Championship zonal Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco championship tournament in Colombo. and Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia respec- tively won the men’s and women’s The world table tennis champion- German Open events at the London Marathon. It was ships were played at Osaka. China domi- Amelie Mauresmo of France de- El Mouaziz’s second win in three years. nated the tournament winning the feated Jennifer Capriati of US to win Paul Tergart of Kenya and defending women’s doubles (defeating North the $1.2 million German Open title. champion Antonio Pinto of Portugal Korea 3-0) and men’s doubles (defeat- ing Belgium 3-0). Stadium collapsed claims lives came second and third. Derartu is a two- Atleast four persons were killed time Olympic 10,000 metres champion. and scores injured when metal awnings Footballer of the year collapsed onto fans at a soccer stadium Teddy Sheringham of Manchester in north-east Iran. A Sourcebook of Indian Civiliza- Im³ taf: "Zn k¬kv dqw' anI¨ Nn{Xw tion: Niharrunjan Ray and others How to Prepare for the C.A.T: Im³ Ne-¨n-t{Xm-Õ-h-¯nse ]c-tam-¶X _lp-a-Xn-bmb "tKmÄU³ ]man'\v Cäm- Muhammed Muneer en-b³ kwhn-[m-b-I³ \m\n samsd-än-bpsS Zn k¬kv dqw F¶ Nn{Xw sXc- Practicising Global Journalism – sª-Sp-¡-s¸-«p. kwhn-[m-b-I³ samsd-än- X-s¶-bmWv Nn{X-¯n {][m\ IYm- Exploring reporting issues world- ]m-{Xs¯ Ah-X-cn-¸n-¨-Xv. wide: John Herbert 4 Bkv{Sn-b-¡m-c-\mb anJm-tb lm\Iv kwhn-[m\w sNbvXZn ]nbmt\m So¨À Exploring Sikhism – Aspects of anI¨ c­m-as¯ Nn{X-¯n-\pÅ {Kmâ v ss{]kv t\Sn. Cu Nn{X-¯n-e-`n-\- Sikh Identity, Culture and Thought: bn¨ satKm-bnäv amKn-taepw Ck-s_ lps¸À«pw bYm-{Iaw anI¨ \S\pw W.H. McLeod \Sn-¡p-apÅ ]pc-kvIm-c-§Ä t\Sn. Communal Politics – An Illus- 4 anI¨ kwhn-[m-b-I-\pÅ AhmÀUv Zn am³ lq hmkv t\m«v sZbÀ kwhn- trated Prime: Ram Puniyane [m\w sNbvX Po³ tImb\pw kwhn-[m\w sNbvX Vasco da Gama and the Linking of tUhnUv en³Npapw ]¦n-«p. aÄtlm-f­v ss{Uhv Europe and Asia: Anthony Disney, Emily Booth (Editors)  Murali Nair’s A Dog’s Day was one of the 22 entries in the section titled “A Security Studies in South Asia – Certain Regard”. It was the only Indian entry. Earlier his film Marana Change and Challenges: Dipankar Simhasanam had won in 1999. Banerjee.  The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) had setup a pavilion Jawaharlal Nehru – The States- at the festival. man as Writer: C.D. Narasimhaiah  Giles Jacob is the president and Veronique CeKyala is the Managing Direc- Taliban – A Shadow Over Afghani- tor of the festival held every May on the French Riviera. stan: Burchard Brentjes  Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge opened the festival. N.V. Krishna Warrior – K.V. Ramakrishna Defending India – Jaswant Singh Jinnah-Vajpayee-Ore Mugham: E.K. Nayanar India in the New Millennium – Dr. P.C. Alexander from New Delhi which was seized Day. The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes under orders from a Division Bench May 24: Communication Day. : Jamyang Norbu of the Delhi High Court. The court May 31: Anti-tobacco Day. Karukku: Bhama also found that its Editor-in-Chief June 5: World Environment Day. Punjabi Saga–1857-2000: Madhu Trehan was guilty of hav- June 20: Fathers’ Day. Prakash Tandon ing committed contempt of court. June 26: International Day against Amritsar to Lahore: Stephen Alter The magazine reportedly carried a Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking. My Friend, My Enemy: Ismat write-up with photographs of the Chughtai judges reflecting on their integrity, Una Storia Italiana (An Italian quality of judgements, depth of ba- Story): It is the biographical account sic knowledge, observance of of the former Italian Prime Minister punctuality and so on. CARA – Central Adoption Rescue and media magnate Silvio Berlusconi. Agency India’s China Perspective – WCWD – Women and Child Welfare Subramaniam Swamy. Department. Hangman’s Journal: Shashi NMD - National Missile Defence. Warrier May 1: Workers’ Day (International The Mammaries of the Welfare Labour Day). State: Upamanyu Chatterjee May 3: Press Freedom Day. Early Medieval Indian Society: May 8: World Red Cross Day. R.S. Sharma May 9: World Thalassaemia Day. Violence & Compassion: The Dalai May 11: National Technology Day. Lama and Jean-Claude Carriere May 12: International Nurses’ Day. Notes on the Great Indian Circus: May 15: International Day of the Khushwant Singh Family. Wah India! May 17: World Telecommunication 4 A fortnightly magazine published