Friday, December 17, 2010, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

China dodges core concerns
New Delhi, December 16
The much-anticipated summit between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao today was rich in symbolism but poor in substance. Belying New Delhi’s expectations, the Chinese leader remained non-committal on reversing Beijing’s policy of giving stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir or endorsing India’s candidature for a permanent UN Security Council seat.

SC tells CBI just how to conduct  2G investigation
Issues 7-point directive, also wants agency to probe BJP-led NDA tenure
New Delhi, December 16
The Supreme Court today issued a seven-point directive to the CBI on the 2G spectrum scam, asking the premier probe agency to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the grant of telecom licences since 2001, when the BJP-led NDA was in power at the Centre, with “particular emphasis” on government’s loss and the corresponding gain to telcos.

Monitoring 2G probe

Punjab Government chopper crashes at Chandigarh airport, 2 pilots injured 
Chandigarh, December 16
A day after the providential escape of 65 passengers of a Jet Airways aircraft, two pilots suffered minor injuries when a Dolphin helicopter (AS 365 N3) came crashing down immediately after take off from the Chandigarh airport around 10 am today. The chopper, belonging to Pawan Hans, was on lease to fly Punjab ministers. It was to fly Punjab Industry and Local Government Minister Manoranjan Kalia to Mukerian in Hoshiarpur today.

Close call: The Dolphin helicopter that came crashing down immediately after take-off in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

providential Escape
Chopper was just about to fly Kalia
Chandigarh, December 16
Punjab’s Industries and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia had a miraculous escape as the today’s chopper crash at the Chandigarh airport took place just minutes before he was to board it. It was his first day of looking after the work of the state’s Chief Minister.

New twist to Justice Balakrishnan’s statement
Moily says former CJI didn’t name any minister
Chandigarh, December 16
The case of the Madras High Court Judge Reghupati’s complaint that former Union Telecommunications Minister A. Raja had tried to influence him through an advocate to bail out his two relatives in a criminal case in Chennai is getting curiouser and curiouser.
Ex-CJI KG Balakrishnan (L) and Veerappa Moily

CBI to probe corruption in NREGS, Centre tells SC
New Delhi, December 16
The CBI has been asked to investigate complaints of corruption in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the Centre informed the apex court today. Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaisingh gave the information to a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia. 

Now, green trouble for Mundra Port project
New Delhi, December 16
The Mundra Port & SEZ Limited, a private port and special economic zone being developed on the west coast of the country, has landed in trouble with the Environment Ministry for violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 1991.

Pepsi, Dabur Endorsements Cornered, IMA bosses go after whistleblower doc Put him on notice; action after MCI cracks the whip on association’s chief, secy New Delhi, December 16 It’s the proverbial tit for tat. In the dock for violating medical ethics by endorsing commercial products in exchange for money, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) bosses have struck back by going after the doctor who blew the lid off the scandalous issue.