30 JANUARY 2014

Ø  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally launched the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO), a new public sector enterprise, in the Capital on Tuesday morning. The enterprise, established on December 31 last, has an authorised share capital of Rs.500 crore to mobilise resources for developing Waqf properties in agreement with Shariah laws. Resources thus generated will be invested in activities for the welfare of Muslim. Sachar Committee Report on the Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community estimated that Waqf properties, if properly developed, could fetch an annual income of Rs.1,200 crore. India has the largest number of Waqf properties in the world with more than 4.9 lakh registered The current annual income from the assets, according to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, is close to Rs.163 crore.

Ø  Google has topped the latest list of ‘100 best American companies to work for’ followed by software developer SAS and strategy consultants the Boston Consulting Group in the second and third positions

Ø  A former Norwegian Minister nominated whistleblower Edward Snowden for the Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.