10:51 AM Massive bandobast inside Parliament : Huge security inside the Parliament complex today after Thursday's pepper spray fiasco. At least 250 plainclothes policemen have been deployed inside the corridors of Parliament.
10:49 AM Will the Telangana Bill lapse?: Sources in the government tell us that the Telangana Bill will lapse since the government is not keen on a debate. A union minister, who did not wish to be named, said that the BJP has ditched the bill and reneged from its promise to support the Telangana Bill. The UPA wants the new government to take a decision on Telangana.
10:03 Telangana war on Delhi streets: 2 Metro stations shut from 9am-5pm:
Two metro stations Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan -- will remain shut from 9 to 5 pm on Monday, in view of the protests and demonstrations by the Seemandhara and Telangana activists in Delhi, an officials said.
"Due to security reasons, as advised by the Delhi Police, two metro stations will remain closed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. due to a snap dharna likely to be organised by pro-Seemandhara and Telangana activists near VVIPs residences," a Delhi metro official said.
However, interchange and controlled exit would be allowed at the Central Secretariat station.
09:30 Chidambaram's Interim budget: 10 things to expect:
Finance Minister P Chidambaram will present an interim budget for the coming fiscal year on Monday.
He will also seek Parliament's approval for expenditure through vote-on-account, which will allow the government to cover its expenditure beyond the current fiscal.
By tradition, the interim budget does not contain proposals seeking to tinker with direct taxes, nor are there any policy announcements, although there may be some sops for the common man and sectors that need help.
CLICK HERE to read about 10 things to expect from Chidambaram
09:27 Naroda Patiya riot case: SC to hear Maya Kodnani's bail plea today:
The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the bail plea of former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani, convicted in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case.
A bench of justices H L Dattu and S A Bobde on February 13 asked her to file an affidavit stating the kind of burn injury she had suffered following which it will decide on her bail plea.
The bench then posted the matter for hearing on Feb 17 and exempted her from surrendering till date as her bail expired on February 12.
Kodnani had filed the petition challenging the February 8 order of the Gujarat High Court declining to extend her three months temporary bail granted on medical grounds on November 12 last year.
She had sought extension of bail by 180 days.
The trial court had in August 2012 awarded life imprisonment to Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 29 others for Naroda Patiya incident of 2002 riots in which 97 people were killed.
The trial court had dubbed Kodnani, a sitting BJP MLA and former minister in Narendra Modi government, as "kingpin of riots" in Naroda area and sentenced her to 26 years imprisonment.
08:28 Radiation leak detected at New Mexico nuclear plant:
US investigators have been taking samples at a New Mexico underground nuclear waste site where airborne radiation was detected, though authorities stressed they had found no contamination.
Officials monitoring the possible radiation leak said there was no danger to people or the environment at the the Department of Energy's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the nation's first repository to seal away radioactive waste, mostly plutonium, used for defence research and the production of nuclear weapons.
The waste is dumped 655 meters underground in disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation.
No employees were underground when the continuous air monitor at WIPP near Carlsbad, New Mexico detected underground radiation at 1200 IST Saturday, an agency statement said.
It said no staffer was found to be contaminated by the radiation.
Employees on the surface were told to shelter in place as a precautionary measure and were cleared to leave the site starting at 0630 IST yesterday.
"We are continuing to monitor and we are emphasising that there is no danger to human health and the environment," WIPP spokeswoman Deb Gill told AFP.
08:27 Govt fears Telangana storm may hit Chidambaram's Budget:
However, the government is also worried about the Telangana-triggered interruption in the House.
While the Railway Budget was reduced to a mere 14-minute show, people across the country await Congress-led UPA's last minute attempts to woo the voters ahead of polls.
By tradition, the interim budget does not contain proposals seeking to tinker with direct taxes, nor are there any policy announcements, although there may be some sops for the common man and sectors that need help.
08:27 Chidambaram to present UPA-II's last budget today:
Finance Minister P Chidambaram will present the interim budget for 2014-15 in Parliament on Monday.
Along with the budget, the Finance Minister will present a vote-on-account to seek Parliament's sanction for spending till July.
Also, unlike a regular budget, the interim one does not have any new proposal on the revenue side -- that is, no taxation measures are proposed and status quo is maintained. Such a budget only lists an estimate of the income generated and the expenditure incurred during the previous year, as also the likely expenses during the period for which the vote on account is sought.
However, there may be some sops for the common man and sectors that need help.
Government has indicated that it may tinker with the excise duties and service tax rates in the interim budget in an apparent bid to boost economy but may not pursue key reforms legislations due to lack of political consensus.
Earlier, Chidambaram had indicated he may tweak excise duties and service tax rates in the interim budget in an apparent bid to boost the economy, but he may not pursue key reform legislation due to lack of political consensus.
08:27 Renzi to be picked as Italy's youngest PM:
Italian leftist leader Matteo Renzi is to be nominated Italy's youngest-ever prime minister today after a daring power grab that has been welcomed by investors but has left many Italians sceptical.
As head of the Democratic Party, Renzi engineered the ouster of his predecessor Enrico Letta- a member of his own party- accusing him of failing to live up to reform pledges in his stormy 10 months in government.
The 39-year-old will have to move quickly to form a new government once he gets the mandate from President Giorgio Napolitano as expected at 0930 GMT, and then deliver his promise to lead Italy "out of the quagmire".
The previous coalition of the Democratic Party, the centrists and the New Centre-Right party is expected to remain intact even though the leader of the latter, Angelino Alfano, has warned this is "not a given".
The New Centre-Right is a minor partner in the coalition but its votes would be critical for Renzi as all other parties say they are staying in opposition and he does not have a majority in parliament.
08:06 Jagan Reddy to take Telangana battle to Delhi streets today:
As the UPA government gears up for the passage of Telangana Bill in Parliament this week, the two sides of the regional divide in Andhra Pradesh have stepped up efforts in support of their respective agendas.
Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress will hold a dharna in Delhi on Monday against the division of Andhra Pradesh. The party leaders and supporters have already arrived in the national capital in two trains from different parts of the state.
The YSR Congress will hold its protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the division of Andhra Pradesh.
"The dharna would be a battle between Delhi's arrogance and Telugu self-pride and the latter will be the winner eventually," YSRC spokesperson Vasireddy Padma told reporters recently.
08:04 Goa Police to file chargesheet against Tarun Tejpal today:
The Goa police will file a chargesheet today against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal who was accused of sexually assaulting his woman colleague last year.
Tejpal (50) has been accused of raping the woman in a lift at a hotel in Goa during Tehelka's ThinkFest in November 2013.
The high-profile journalist was arrested by the Crime Branch of Goa police on November 30 after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a local court.
Tejpal is currently in judicial custody at the Sada sub-jail in Panaji.
When contacted, a senior police official refused to divulge details of the chargesheet.
Tejpal had been booked under sections 354-A (sexual harassment, physical contact, advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature), 376 (rape), 376(2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.
10:49 AM Will the Telangana Bill lapse?: Sources in the government tell us that the Telangana Bill will lapse since the government is not keen on a debate. A union minister, who did not wish to be named, said that the BJP has ditched the bill and reneged from its promise to support the Telangana Bill. The UPA wants the new government to take a decision on Telangana.
10:03 Telangana war on Delhi streets: 2 Metro stations shut from 9am-5pm:
Two metro stations Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan -- will remain shut from 9 to 5 pm on Monday, in view of the protests and demonstrations by the Seemandhara and Telangana activists in Delhi, an officials said.
"Due to security reasons, as advised by the Delhi Police, two metro stations will remain closed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. due to a snap dharna likely to be organised by pro-Seemandhara and Telangana activists near VVIPs residences," a Delhi metro official said.
However, interchange and controlled exit would be allowed at the Central Secretariat station.
09:30 Chidambaram's Interim budget: 10 things to expect:
Finance Minister P Chidambaram will present an interim budget for the coming fiscal year on Monday.
He will also seek Parliament's approval for expenditure through vote-on-account, which will allow the government to cover its expenditure beyond the current fiscal.
By tradition, the interim budget does not contain proposals seeking to tinker with direct taxes, nor are there any policy announcements, although there may be some sops for the common man and sectors that need help.
CLICK HERE to read about 10 things to expect from Chidambaram
09:27 Naroda Patiya riot case: SC to hear Maya Kodnani's bail plea today:
The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the bail plea of former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani, convicted in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case.
A bench of justices H L Dattu and S A Bobde on February 13 asked her to file an affidavit stating the kind of burn injury she had suffered following which it will decide on her bail plea.
The bench then posted the matter for hearing on Feb 17 and exempted her from surrendering till date as her bail expired on February 12.
Kodnani had filed the petition challenging the February 8 order of the Gujarat High Court declining to extend her three months temporary bail granted on medical grounds on November 12 last year.
She had sought extension of bail by 180 days.
The trial court had in August 2012 awarded life imprisonment to Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 29 others for Naroda Patiya incident of 2002 riots in which 97 people were killed.
The trial court had dubbed Kodnani, a sitting BJP MLA and former minister in Narendra Modi government, as "kingpin of riots" in Naroda area and sentenced her to 26 years imprisonment.
08:28 Radiation leak detected at New Mexico nuclear plant:
US investigators have been taking samples at a New Mexico underground nuclear waste site where airborne radiation was detected, though authorities stressed they had found no contamination.
Officials monitoring the possible radiation leak said there was no danger to people or the environment at the the Department of Energy's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the nation's first repository to seal away radioactive waste, mostly plutonium, used for defence research and the production of nuclear weapons.
The waste is dumped 655 meters underground in disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation.
No employees were underground when the continuous air monitor at WIPP near Carlsbad, New Mexico detected underground radiation at 1200 IST Saturday, an agency statement said.
It said no staffer was found to be contaminated by the radiation.
Employees on the surface were told to shelter in place as a precautionary measure and were cleared to leave the site starting at 0630 IST yesterday.
"We are continuing to monitor and we are emphasising that there is no danger to human health and the environment," WIPP spokeswoman Deb Gill told AFP.
08:27 Govt fears Telangana storm may hit Chidambaram's Budget:
However, the government is also worried about the Telangana-triggered interruption in the House.
While the Railway Budget was reduced to a mere 14-minute show, people across the country await Congress-led UPA's last minute attempts to woo the voters ahead of polls.
By tradition, the interim budget does not contain proposals seeking to tinker with direct taxes, nor are there any policy announcements, although there may be some sops for the common man and sectors that need help.
08:27 Chidambaram to present UPA-II's last budget today:
Finance Minister P Chidambaram will present the interim budget for 2014-15 in Parliament on Monday.
Along with the budget, the Finance Minister will present a vote-on-account to seek Parliament's sanction for spending till July.
Also, unlike a regular budget, the interim one does not have any new proposal on the revenue side -- that is, no taxation measures are proposed and status quo is maintained. Such a budget only lists an estimate of the income generated and the expenditure incurred during the previous year, as also the likely expenses during the period for which the vote on account is sought.
However, there may be some sops for the common man and sectors that need help.
Government has indicated that it may tinker with the excise duties and service tax rates in the interim budget in an apparent bid to boost economy but may not pursue key reforms legislations due to lack of political consensus.
Earlier, Chidambaram had indicated he may tweak excise duties and service tax rates in the interim budget in an apparent bid to boost the economy, but he may not pursue key reform legislation due to lack of political consensus.
08:27 Renzi to be picked as Italy's youngest PM:
Italian leftist leader Matteo Renzi is to be nominated Italy's youngest-ever prime minister today after a daring power grab that has been welcomed by investors but has left many Italians sceptical.
As head of the Democratic Party, Renzi engineered the ouster of his predecessor Enrico Letta- a member of his own party- accusing him of failing to live up to reform pledges in his stormy 10 months in government.
The 39-year-old will have to move quickly to form a new government once he gets the mandate from President Giorgio Napolitano as expected at 0930 GMT, and then deliver his promise to lead Italy "out of the quagmire".
The previous coalition of the Democratic Party, the centrists and the New Centre-Right party is expected to remain intact even though the leader of the latter, Angelino Alfano, has warned this is "not a given".
The New Centre-Right is a minor partner in the coalition but its votes would be critical for Renzi as all other parties say they are staying in opposition and he does not have a majority in parliament.
08:06 Jagan Reddy to take Telangana battle to Delhi streets today:
As the UPA government gears up for the passage of Telangana Bill in Parliament this week, the two sides of the regional divide in Andhra Pradesh have stepped up efforts in support of their respective agendas.
Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress will hold a dharna in Delhi on Monday against the division of Andhra Pradesh. The party leaders and supporters have already arrived in the national capital in two trains from different parts of the state.
The YSR Congress will hold its protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the division of Andhra Pradesh.
"The dharna would be a battle between Delhi's arrogance and Telugu self-pride and the latter will be the winner eventually," YSRC spokesperson Vasireddy Padma told reporters recently.
08:04 Goa Police to file chargesheet against Tarun Tejpal today:
The Goa police will file a chargesheet today against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal who was accused of sexually assaulting his woman colleague last year.
Tejpal (50) has been accused of raping the woman in a lift at a hotel in Goa during Tehelka's ThinkFest in November 2013.
The high-profile journalist was arrested by the Crime Branch of Goa police on November 30 after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a local court.
Tejpal is currently in judicial custody at the Sada sub-jail in Panaji.
When contacted, a senior police official refused to divulge details of the chargesheet.
Tejpal had been booked under sections 354-A (sexual harassment, physical contact, advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature), 376 (rape), 376(2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.
