CBI says it lacks manpower to probe DMAT scam
The CBI has expressed its inability to probe a scam linked to Vyapam stating that they lack the manpower to investigate the connected issue. In response to a petition by Anand Rai, the whistleblower behind Vyapam, the CBI said “In its scope and depth, the DMAT (Madhya Pradesh Dental and Medical Admission Test) scam appears to be many times more than the Vyapam scam… It is humbly submitted that the CBI is finding it extremely hard and almost impossible to cope with the extent of cases already being investigated…due to scarcity of resources, particularly human resource.” The CBI said 348 posts were currently vacant.
BJP workers posed as census officials in Muslim areas
On Wednesday, five BJP women’s wing activists were arrested in a Muslim dominated area of Bengaluru after they were accused of trying to steal the voter ID cards of residents. The activists told the police that they were campaigning for the upcoming civic polls scheduled for August 22. Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) member R Khaleemulla, said, “Names of Muslims, other minorities and SCs had gone missing from the electoral rolls during the last Assembly and Lok Sabha polls as well.”
Health Ministry not committed to tackling corruption cases at AIIMS
The Centre For Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) had claimed that the ministry was siting on 11 pending corruption cases at AIIMS in a petition to the Delhi High Court earlier this month. The Parliamentary standing committee on Health and Family welfare has asked the Health Ministry to ensure “expeditious investigations into all the corruption cases at AIIMS”, in its 87th report tabled in Parliament last week. The committee has also demanded a status report from the Ministry in three months. The committee chaired by the BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra, pointed out that autonomy for the medical institute should not translate to autonomy for the director resulting in the “freedom from observance of prescribed rules, regulations and procedures”.
Naga interlocutor says ceasefire rules will not be changed
RN Ravi, the Centre’s interlocutor, has written to Union Home Secretary L C Goyal in response to queries the Army had on the implications of the Naga peace deal. Ravi’s response reportedly indicated that there would be no change in the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire ground rules dictate designated camps where all armed cadres of the outfit will be present, and there will be no movement in uniform and with arms outside these camps. Camps will not be located in populated areas or near highways, Army posts or police stations. Further, the movement of NSCN (IM) cadres from one camp to another will be carried out only with intimation to the security forces.
Railways change accounting prices to attract private capital
The Indian Railways has accelerated their change in accounting reforms in an attempt to attract private investors. The first attempt to shift from the cash flow system to accrual accounting has been made in Ajmer. The Bibek Debroy committee had suggested that the railways undertake accounting reforms if it wanted investment in the sector. The step is likely to lead to more investor confidence in the railways, as it makes its finances more transparent and covers assets and liabilities.
Pearson sells Economist stake
Pearson has agreed to sell its stake in the 172-year-old Economist magazine in a £469 million ($731 million) deal with Exor SpA. This follows the sale of Financial Times, last month to Japan’s Nikkei Inc. The Agnelli family owned Exor investment company that controls car maker Fiat Chrysler, paid £227.5 million for 27.8% of The Economist Group’s ordinary shares and £59.5 million for all of the B special share. The Economist Group will buy Pearson’s remaining ordinary shares for £182 million, Pearson said on Wednesday in a statement. This deal brings an effective end to Pearson’s role in the news publishing business after more than 50 years.
44 killed due to blasts in China’s port Tianjin
Two huge explosions occurred at an industrial area in the northeast Chinese port city of Tianjin, killing at least 44 people, including a dozen fire fighters, officials and state media said on Thursday. At least 520 people were injured, according to sources. The exact cause of the blasts was unknown. Industrial accidents are not uncommon in China. Last year, a blast at an auto parts factory in eastern China killed 75 people when a room filled with metal dust exploded.
Wkileaks promises 100,00 dollar reward to anyone who leaks EU-US trade deal
The organization has promised a 100,00 dollar reward to anyone who can provide the public with a copy of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, that is currently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. The reward is to be financed by a crowdsourcing effort by the organization. Wikileaks has already raised more than 55,000 euros in donations — including pledges by the former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked top secret documents during the Vietnam War. TTIP seeks to enhance market access through the elimination of barriers to trade and investment in areas such as the environment, labor, and intellectual property.