31 December 2006
WORLD LAST WEEK
Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006
· BJP president Rajnath Singh says the party would rebuild the Ram temple at Ayodhya.
· UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Iran, targeting its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
· Australian speedster Glenn McGrath says he will retire from all forms of cricket after the World Cup.
Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006
· Iranian President Ahmedinejad dismisses UN resolution imposing sanctions, saying “it is a piece of torn paper by which they aim to scare Iranians”. Russia says it will continue its nuclear ties with Iran.
· Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s fast against Singur car project land acquisition in West Bengal enters 21st day, rejecting PM’s call to call it off.
· AIADMK vows to form a third alternative at the national level as the “UPA regime is surrendering the country’s sovereignty”.
Monday, Dec. 25, 2006
· Pilgrims throng Bethlehem for Christmas mass amidst gloom over weeks of internal Palestinian violence and regular Israeli travel restrictions.
· K.G.Balakrishnan, Chief Justice of India-designate, says he does not mind including his post in the ambit of the Judicial Inquiry Bill now before Parliament.
· Out-of-form speedster Irfan Pathan is sent home from South Africa to play Ranji matches to hone his skills.
Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006
· India and other Asian countries observe the second anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck the shores of India and a few other countries, claiming thousands of lives, on Dec. 26, 2004.
· UP Minister Babu Lal quits over the Kavitha Rani murder case.
· At least 200 die in a vandalised gasoline pipeline explosion in Lagos, Nigeria. The toll could mount to 500.
· Iraq’s highest appeals court upholds the death sentence for Saddam Hussein and says it must be carried out within 30 days.
· Australia’s Shane Warne becomes the first in the world to take 700 wickets at the Melbourne Test against England when he scalps Andrew Strauss.
· South Africa is 257/8, (Prince 98 n-o., Sreesanth 3/74) at the 2nd Test against India at Durban.
Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006
· PM Manmohan Singh denies BJP’s charge of appeasing Muslims, saying his govt. was committed to removing “inequities” and “imbalances” faced by the community.
· The NDA plans to seek President Kalam’s help to save Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on fast for 24 days protesting the Singur car project land acquisition.
· Former US President Gerald Ford dies aged 93.
· South Africa scores 328 (Prince 121, Sreesanth 4/104) against India (103/3, Tendulkar 43 n-o.) on day two of their 2nd Test at Durban.
· Former ICC and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya quit as president of Cricket Association of Bengal.
Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006
· Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee ends her 25-day fast following West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s letter inviting her for talks on the Singur car project issue. PM sends her a message too. President Kalam talks to Buddhadev.
· TN CM M.Karunanidhi announces Pongal bonus for govt. staff which was discontinued after 2001.
· Vatican condemns the death verdict on Saddam Hussein. An Iraqi militant group loyal to Saddam vows to strike US interests worldwide if their leader is executed while he asks Iraqis not to hate the invaders.
· South Africa (328 & 64/0) leads India (240) by 152 runs as bad light stops play on the third day of their second Test at Durban.
Friday, Dec. 29, 2006
· Deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s execution is feared to be imminent, with a judge saying that all arrangements were ready and there was no reason for any delays, even as people worldwide rally in protest against the death sentence.
· US President Bush who ordered invasion of Iraq is voted the villain of the year in an American opinion poll.
· Skeletons of 15 children, killed by a man, are recovered from a drain in Noida, near Delhi.