Thursday, February 17, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

PM breaks silence on scams
Exonerates himself from any wrongdoing in ISRO-Devas agreement
New Delhi, February 16
With the UPA government’s image tarnished by a series of scams and scandals, an embattled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today broke his long spell of silence in an effort to put the record straight on allegations that are being flung at him and the ruling dispensation.

Media interaction a cover-up, says Gadkari
Remarks not against coalition: DMK

Accuses BJP of blackmail
New Delhi, February 16
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today accused the BJP of “blackmail, double talk and holding up reforms process by stalling proceedings in Parliament. Manmohan Singh reiterated his commitment to economic reforms, but at the same time said that he was unhappy with the way the Opposition, the media and the judiciary were projecting the image of his government.

News Analysis: PM’s rescue act too little, too late

Anil Ambani appears before CBI over 2G
New Delhi, February 16
With the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) being accused of projecting Swan Telecom as its front to benefit from the alleged largesse of former Telecom Minister A Raja in the allotment of 2G spectrum, its chief Anil Ambani today made a surprise appearance at the CBI headquarters here. According to the company, the visit was to “clarify ongoing issues, relating to telecom matters for the years 2001 to 2010”.
Anil Ambani after meeting CBI officials. A Tribune photograph

Navjot Singh Sidhu, former Indian opener, begins an exclusive series for The Tribune on the World Cup
This World Cup is made for India
Welcome to the home of cricket. Welcome to the nation where one billion hearts throb to the beat of ‘India! India!’, a country which has become the Mecca of cricket, the Marketing Manager of the sport; the heart, soul and body of the game.

India, Japan sign free trade agreement
This is the third comprehensive economic partnership agreement signed by India
New Delhi, February 16
India and Japan today signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to open markets and reduce barriers on goods, services and movement of people between the two countries. The pact was signed between Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Seiji Maehara in Tokyo.

Jairam ministry gives go-ahead to new projects in Ludhiana
New Delhi, February 16
The Environment Ministry has lifted its January-2010 moratorium on environmental clearance for new projects and expansion in eight critically polluted areas, including Ludhiana in Punjab.

Courts or victims’ kin to decide Davis fate: Gilani
Lahore High Court to take up the issue of diplomatic immunity to American today
Islamabad, February 16
As a tense US-Pak standoff persisted over diplomatic immunity to an American official arrested for killing two men in Lahore, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today made it clear that the fate of the accused would be decided by the courts. (Details on World page)

Sperm shock for young, macho Punjabi Ludhiana, February 16 The big, macho Punjabi male is losing his vigour and that, too, fast. The sperm count of men from Punjab has drastically gone down, thanks to drug abuse, alcoholism and overuse of pesticides. Data compiled by a World Health Organisation committee has brought these findings to the fore. “The sperm count is going down and this is evident from increasing cases of infertility in young males,” says Dr BS Shah, who is a member of the WHO committee on semen analysis.