Rajya Sabha passes women's quota bill, PM calls it a ‘historic step forward'

March 9th, 2010: (Credit: IANS) After two days of bitter wrangling, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the historic women's reservation bill giving 33 percent representation to women in parliament and state assemblies. "This is a momentous development in the long journey of empowering our women," PM said at the end of a lively debate on the bill that seeks to reserve a third of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women. After frenzied opposition and repeated disruptions, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday evening finally debated the historic ...

India, US to ink framework pact on trade, investment

March 9th, 2010: (Credit: IANS) India and US are set to sign a framework agreement on trade and investment here next week during a three-day visit by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma. Sharma and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk will sign the document that seeks to build on the success of the Trade Policy Forum by facilitating trade and investment flows between the United States and India on March 17, the Indian embassy IN Washington announced on Monday. During his stay in Washington, Sharma is also scheduled to have meetings ...

Akon sings 'Smack That' at Shah Rukh's behest

March 9th, 2010: (Credit: IANS) International R&B singer Akon sang his popular number "Smack That" at a party here hosted by Shah Rukh Khan as it was the Bollywood superstar's favourite song. "Shah Rukh has requested me to sing 'Smack That' at the party," Akon told reporters here Monday night. The party was hosted by Shah Rukh ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. The superstar is the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team. "My kids love him, I love him. I want you all to give him the biggest welcome into the ...

IPL bidding to be held afresh

March 9th, 2010: (Credit: IANS) The Indian Premier League (IPL) bids for the new two new franchises will be held afresh after two weeks as the bidders objected to some of the financial clauses which were not there at the time of the bidding for the first edition. The new tenders, which were to be opened on Sunday, will now be floated on March 9 and will be opened March 21st without the clause requiring the bidder to have a net worth of $1 billion. The new tender form will have two amended clauses -- one reducing the advance deposit from $100m to a $10m ...

Indra Nooyi, Sonia Gandhi among Asia's 8 top power women

March 9th, 2010: (Credit: IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Pepsico's India-born CEO Indra Nooyi and ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar figure in CNN's list of eight of Asia's top power women. Taking a "look at the key women who are shaping Asia's political and economic landscape" on the occasion of 100th International Women's Day, the CNN's list is headed by China's "Paper Queen" Zhang Yin. Indra Nooyi, in the second place, "lords over some 185,000 corporate minions in close to 200 countries", notes CNN. "Nooyi's ...