New Delhi

Government approves creation of "National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management"

Malegaon-BlastNew Delhi, Jan 29: The Union Cabinet has agreed to establish "National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management" at Malegaon (Baramati) in Maharashtra, which will cost the government Rs. 73.50 crores in the 11th plan.

The need for the institute is highly apparent since abiotic stresses like drought, temperature extremes, flood, salinity, mineral toxicity and nutritive deficiency are affecting Indian crops to a large extent.

CCEA permits revising of cost of shelter units

New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has permitted the revision of cost of the residence units provided under ''Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme'' f

Inflation rises up to 5.64 percent

india inflation rateNew Delhi, Jan 29, : Rising prices of essential food articles, jet fuel, and alcohol has pushed up inflation for the second consecutive week, to 5.64 percent.

Inflation for the week ending January 17 inched up by 0.04 percent from 5.6 percent a week ago.

Food items like, maize, bajra, jowar, rice, sugar and gur became expensive during the Eight-day truckers strike, which ended on January 12.

The truckers strike restricted the movement of goods, leading to shortages and pricing.

Indian Muslims protest arrests, police torture at Delhi rally

Indian Muslims protest arrests, police torture at Delhi rally New Delhi  - Hundreds of Indian Muslims held protests Thursday against what they called the harassment and torture of their community by police and security forces.

The demonstrators arrived on a train they called the "Ulema Express," which set off from Azamgarh in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh Wednesday and picked up hundreds of Muslims on its 700-kilometre journey to New Delhi.

Congress Working Committee meeting begins today

Sonia GandhiNew Delhi, Jan 29 : A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision making body of Congress, began at 10:30 a. m. at the residence of party Chief Sonia Gandhi.

The committee will discuss strengthening of alliances, finalisation of the manifesto and preparing a strategy to succeed in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not participate in the meeting for the first time in the recent past, as he is on rest following the coronary by-pass surgery.

Tata Steel Indian operations quarterly profit halves

Tata Steel Indian operations quarterly profit halvesNew Delhi, Jan 29 : In view of the continuously slumping sales to half of quarterly profits of the Indian operations of Tata Steel, top officials said that a recovery was only expected in the second half of 2009.

Steelmakers have struggled to keep up the sales, as a global credit crisis has hit the demand of major steel-consuming industries producing automotives, consumer goods and construction material.

Global steel production has tumbled by 24 percent in the last quarter of 2008.

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