Athens on brink of euro exit
The eurozone was dealt a blow on Tuesday as Greece became the first developed nation to default on a loan to the International Monetary Fund after it failed to make a $1.8 billion debt payment to the lending agency. Greece has relied on a bailout programme for the last five years. However, eurozone chiefs on Tuesday refused to grant a last-minute extension that would have enabled the country to pay off its debt. However, the IMF said that its executive board would consider a Greek request to extend the loan. Greeks will vote in a referendum on Sunday on whether to approve a deal proposed by the country's creditors. A 'no' vote would almost certainly force the country to stop using the euro currency.
More than 100 feared dead in Indonesian plane crash
An Indonesian Air Force transport plane with 122 people on board crashed into a residential area shortly after take off in the city of Medan on Tuesday. No survivors were found. The plane was carrying military personnel and their families, apart from 12 crew members. There were no reports regarding how many people on the ground may have died due to the crash. So far, 74 bodies have been recovered.
India isn't alarmed about Chinese sub in Pakistan
Responding to reports of a Chinese submarine docking at Karachi port last month, the Indian Navy said the matter was of no concern though the situation was being monitored. Claiming that it was routine for the navy to monitor vessels operating around Indian waters, Vice Admiral P Murugesan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, added that Indian submarines also docked in foreign countries.
FCRA licences for Setalvad's NGOs may be cancelled
The government could soon cancel the registration of two of activist Teesta Setalvad's Non-Governmental Organisations for alleged violations of the Foreign Currency Regulation Act, Union Home Ministry officials have indicated. Claiming that Seetalvad's Sabarang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace had violated of the act, the government has served notices regarding cancellation to both NGOs last month after an inspection of records and books. Sabarang Trust is likely to have its registration revoked because it publishes a magazine and the FCRA doesn't allow correspondents, columnists, cartoonists, editors, owners, printers and publishers of registered publications to accept foreign contributions. CJP's licence is likely to be revoked as the NGO is registered to receive contributions for educational and economic purposes, but it received contributions for legal aid.
Digvijaya moves SC over Vyapam case
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, asking for the Central Bureau of Investigation to look into Madhya Pradesh's multi-crore Vyapam scam. He claimed that the state government and a Special Investigation Team had disregarded key evidence he had presented to them in the cash-for-jobs case and "tarnished" his reputation by accusing him of fabricating evidence. Singh's petition come when the government is facing questions about the deaths of over 40 witnesses and accused in the scam. Singh added that the information he had received revealed the state's chief minister and his family had been part of the scam.
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The eurozone was dealt a blow on Tuesday as Greece became the first developed nation to default on a loan to the International Monetary Fund after it failed to make a $1.8 billion debt payment to the lending agency. Greece has relied on a bailout programme for the last five years. However, eurozone chiefs on Tuesday refused to grant a last-minute extension that would have enabled the country to pay off its debt. However, the IMF said that its executive board would consider a Greek request to extend the loan. Greeks will vote in a referendum on Sunday on whether to approve a deal proposed by the country's creditors. A 'no' vote would almost certainly force the country to stop using the euro currency.
More than 100 feared dead in Indonesian plane crash
An Indonesian Air Force transport plane with 122 people on board crashed into a residential area shortly after take off in the city of Medan on Tuesday. No survivors were found. The plane was carrying military personnel and their families, apart from 12 crew members. There were no reports regarding how many people on the ground may have died due to the crash. So far, 74 bodies have been recovered.
India isn't alarmed about Chinese sub in Pakistan
Responding to reports of a Chinese submarine docking at Karachi port last month, the Indian Navy said the matter was of no concern though the situation was being monitored. Claiming that it was routine for the navy to monitor vessels operating around Indian waters, Vice Admiral P Murugesan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, added that Indian submarines also docked in foreign countries.
FCRA licences for Setalvad's NGOs may be cancelled
The government could soon cancel the registration of two of activist Teesta Setalvad's Non-Governmental Organisations for alleged violations of the Foreign Currency Regulation Act, Union Home Ministry officials have indicated. Claiming that Seetalvad's Sabarang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace had violated of the act, the government has served notices regarding cancellation to both NGOs last month after an inspection of records and books. Sabarang Trust is likely to have its registration revoked because it publishes a magazine and the FCRA doesn't allow correspondents, columnists, cartoonists, editors, owners, printers and publishers of registered publications to accept foreign contributions. CJP's licence is likely to be revoked as the NGO is registered to receive contributions for educational and economic purposes, but it received contributions for legal aid.
Digvijaya moves SC over Vyapam case
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, asking for the Central Bureau of Investigation to look into Madhya Pradesh's multi-crore Vyapam scam. He claimed that the state government and a Special Investigation Team had disregarded key evidence he had presented to them in the cash-for-jobs case and "tarnished" his reputation by accusing him of fabricating evidence. Singh's petition come when the government is facing questions about the deaths of over 40 witnesses and accused in the scam. Singh added that the information he had received revealed the state's chief minister and his family had been part of the scam.
