Sushma to lick liquor ads into submission
When India play Australia in the Pepsi Triangular Series final on Tuesday, you can stop counting the liquor ads after they enter double digits. If Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sushma Swaraj has her way, you can stop counting them altogether. Swaraj intends to appeal to satellite networks to stop airing them completely, pending the introduction of the Broadcasting Bill.
Sonia to revive Cong parliamentary board
AICC president Sonia Gandhi will revive the Congress Parliamentary Board as part of the reorganisation programme. However, this will be done only after the reconstitution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). The high-level Parliamentary Board was wound up by P V Narasimha Rao when he was party president.
IT slab for super-rich likely
The Union finance ministry plans to introduce a fourth personal income tax slab for the people in the higher income bracket and specifically those who have declared unaccounted income under the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS), in the coming budget. The fourth slab of income tax was likely to attract a higher rate which could range between 35 to 40%.
Governors' reshuffle, team expansion soon
Within three weeks of taking power, the BJP-led government is all set to undertake not only a Cabinet expansion, but has also decided to review the appointments of the Governors of Goa and Mizoram that were done by the "caretaker" Gujral government. Prime Minister A B Vajpayee said that the Cabinet would soon be expanded before the next session of Parliament.
1 dead, 50 hurt as storm hits Midnapore again
Even before Midnapore could begin convalescing from the effects of the tornado which left over 50 dead and hundreds injured last month, a fierce hailstorm accompanied by lightening lashed the Sabong block on Saturday affecting a large number of villages. The hailstorm destroyed over 300 mud huts, uprooted trees, communication lines, leaving over 50 people injured and one dead.
We will not join Vajpayee government, says Mamata
Trinamool Congress will not join the Vajpayee government even after the likely expansion of the Union cabinet next month, said party leader Mamata Banerjee. Mamata stated that her party had already made its stand clear but added that it would extend all support to the BJP government from outside.
