Karzai takes charge in
Afghanistan
Kabul: Hamid Karzai
took over as the head of the interim government on 22 December that will rule
Afghanistan for the next six months.
The 44-year-old new leader of Afghanistan outlined the principles of the
interim government. Karzai said he would "respect Islamic rules for
Afghanistan" and that one of the basic rules was freedom for all, as well
as fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and in the world.
The ceremony was attended by leaders from across the world, including India's
foreign minister Jaswant Singh.
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IT, Communication
ministries merged
New Delhi: The
government on 22 December announced the merger of ministry of information
technology and ministry of communications. It will have three departments of
Telecom, IT and Posts.
Minister of communication, IT and parliamentary affairs Pramod Mahajan would be
heading the new ministry.
The move comes close on the heels of introduction of Communications Convergence
Bill, 2001 and taking over the communications portfolio by Mahajan recently.
The new Bill seeks to bring a comprehensive legislation for IT, Telecom and
Broadcasting and also proposes to establish a super regulator -- Communications
Commission of India.
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India's forex reserves up $728
mn
Mumbai: India's foreign
exchange reserves soared to a record high at $47,837 million propelled by
massive fresh inflows of $728 million during the week ended December 14.
The upsurge was wholly on the basis of $728 million rise in foreign currency
assets during this period at $44,970 million, according to the Reserve Bank of
India's weekly statistical report.
RBI spokesperson said foreign currency non-repartiable accounts, export
proceeds, foreign direct investment and infusions of funds by foreign
institutional investors have contributed to such a large increase in the
reserves.
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$151 mm World Bank loan
for Karnataka
Bangalore: World Bank
has agreed to extend a $151.6 million funding to Karnataka for rural water
supply and sanitation projects in the state.
The World Bank Board on 18 December approved the project, which has a total
outlay of $193.44 million, of which $151.6 million would be funded mainly by
the Bank.
The World Bank has agreed in principle to extend funding to the state's
programme of reconstructing and rejuvenating 3,000 tanks in the state over a
three-year period.
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AP to invite global bids for
pharma city
New Delhi: Andhra
Pradesh special economic zone will invite shortly global bids for 'pharma city'
to be set up in Visakhapatnam.
KPMG, IL&FS and Ernst & Young are among the global consultants in fray
for conducting a feasibility study for the project as well as prepare terms of
reference. The project is expected to achieve financial closure by August.
The AP government has allotted 1,900 acre land near Visakhapatnam for the
purpose.
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