Panel to probe if officials involved in interception followed procedures

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has constituted a three-member review committee headed by the chief secretary to find the truth into the alleged phone tapping cases during the previous BJP government. 

Principal secretary law and principal secretary agriculture would be the other two members of the committee. The additional DG (intelligence), additional DG (ATS/SOG) and IG Range-I have also been asked to assist the committee.

The decision comes more than a week after DNA carried a news report mentioning how more than 100 phones, including those of many high profile persons, were tapped by the police during Raje government in violation of the provisions of law.  

Holds meetings with youth at 10 different places in city as well as in Gandhinagar 

Washington  - US President Barack Obama on Monday promised to halve the country's ballooning federal budget deficit by the end of his four-year term in office, despite a deepening recession that has forced his administration to spend record amounts of money.

Obama, who took office in January, inherited a 2008 budget deficit of 1.3 trillion dollars. That figure could top 2 trillion dollars - more than 10 per cent of US gross domestic product - in 2009 in an effort to halt the country's disastrous economic slide.

Wellington  - Representatives of New Zealand's recording industry and internet service providers are negotiating a compromise copyright agreement after the government postponed a controversial new law, according to news reports on Tuesday.

The law, which instructs internet service providers to block online access to anyone accused of repeatedly flouting copyright by illegally downloading films and music, whether they have been convicted or not, was to have taken effect on Saturday.

Washington  - US President Barack Obama on Monday promised to cut the federal budget deficit more than half by the end of his four- year term in office, despite a deepening recession that has forced the government to spend record amounts of money.

Obama, who took office in January, inherited a 2008 budget deficit of 1.3 trillion dollars. That figure is expected to top 2 trillion dollars - more than 10 per cent of US gross domestic product - in 2009 as the country confronts a massive economic crisis.

Johannesburg - The former Methodist bishop, who will lead South Africa's new Congress