Let US, China ratify CTBT first: India

Let US, China ratify CTBT first: India

New Delhi, Dec 29: Japan on Tuesday urged India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), but kept the door open for civil nuclear cooperation and high-tech trade in the future. India in its turn put the onus on the US and China to show the way by ratifying the treaty.

Civil nuclear cooperation was among key issues Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed with his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama in wide-ranging talks. They vowed to push for an early conclusion of an economic partnership agreement to scale up trade and investment and cooperate on a range of global issues, including the UN reforms, climate change and nuclear disarmament.

The two leaders signed an ambitious joint declaration entitled “New Stage of India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership”, which has an action plan on advancing security and counter-terror cooperation as its centrepiece.

Sensex falls off highs, closes flat

Sensex falls off highs, closes flat

MUMBAI, Dec 29: A key Indian equities index gave up its gains on Tuesday to close flat, just 0.24 per cent higher than its previous close, even as broader indices managed sizeable gains. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 17,388.67 points and closed at 17,395.52 points, up 40.95 points or 0.24 per cent from its previous close at 17,360.61 points. It had risen over 125 points to 17,486.05 points in the last hour of trade. At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,187.95 points against the previous close at 5,178.4 points, a gain of 0.18 per cent.

Goldman to buy 9.4% in Max India for $116 mn: Report

Goldman Sachs will pick up a 9.4% stake in Max India for Rs 5.4 billion (USD 116 million), the Economic Times and Business Standard newspapers reported on Sunday, citing the outcome of a board meeting held on Saturday.

Max India will issue compulsory convertible debentures that will be converted to shares after 15 months. The proceeds will be used to fund the company's existing insurance and healthcare businesses, the newspapers said.

Shibu Soren to take oath on December 30

RANCHI, Dec 27: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren will be sworn in as Chief Minister on December 30 at the Marabadi grounds here. Soren met Governor K Sankarnarayanan on Sunday afternoon and expressed his desire to take the oath on December 30 and the Governor accepted his request.

“Now Soren will be Chief Minister and I appeal to the people to remain awake,” Soren told reporters after the meeting.

Earlier, the Governor asked President Pratibha Patil to revoke President’s rule in the State to allow a new government to be formed, Raj Bhavan sources said on Sunday. The Governor sent a report to the President on the political situation in Jharkhand after the November 25-December 18 Assembly elections, a source in the Governor’s house told IANS.

Soren on Saturday staked claim to forming the government with a list of 45 legislators supporting him in the 81-member House. He is being supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU), Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and two independents.