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Spectrum row:PAC to examine journalists

Murli Manohar Joshi, who heads parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said Sunday that the journalists whose names have surfaced in the 2G spectrum scam will have to appear before the panel.

Joshi said that all those whose names were revealed in corporate lobbyist Nira Radia's taped conversations cannot escape from appearing before the PAC.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said that the country suffered a huge loss on account of 2G spectrum bungling and everybody was accountable for their conduct.

"Editors and senior journalists who have incriminated themselves in a way on the 2G (spectrum) scam tapes will be summoned by the PAC," Joshi said.

Contacts between some well-known names in the media world and Radia came to the surface after the Income Tax department tapped her telephones.

The scam revolves around the allocation of airwaves in 2008 to mobile companies at below market prices. This caused a loss of crores of rupees to the government.

UAE will participate in 16 trade fairs

To attract more foreign investments, the United Arab Emirates will participate in 16 international trade fairs and exhibitions across the globe, including one in India, this year.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade (MFT) is also busy in arranging promotional tours to many countries this year.

Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, the undersecretary of the MFT, said that the ministry's plans include the participation in over 16 international trade fairs and exhibitions that are scheduled to take place around the world this year.

The ministry also aims at boosting the export of UAE products to important global markets and at promoting various investment opportunities in the country with the aim of attracting more foreign capital, he added.

The list of fairs and expos that the ministry plans to participate in includes: The UAE-Spain Forum in Spain, which is scheduled from Jan 31 to Feb 1; the 19th International Engineering & Technology Fair in New Delhi, India, from Feb 10-12; the GCC Economic Forum in Romania from March 8-10; the Australia Arab Business Forum & Expo 2011 in Australia from May 5-6; Africa's Big Seven in Johannesburg and Cape Town from July 17-18; and the Trade Expo - Indonesia in Indonesia from Oct 19-23.

Pregnancy really calm and good

Actress Natalie Portman says that her pregnancy has been easy so far.

"I feel great. I'm through my first trimester. It's been really calm and good," usmagazine.com quoted her as saying.

Portman walked away with the best actress award for her role in "Black Swan" at Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles, Friday. The teary-eyed star thanked her parents, Avner and Shelley Hershlag during her acceptance speech.

"If I am a shadow as good a parent, an echo, then I will be the best in the world, so thank you," she said.

She also credited "Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky for introducing her to her fiance, choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

"I have to thank you (Aronofsky) for this incredibly fulfilling experience. You made me very skinny, and now you're indirectly responsible for getting me fat. You introduced me to my love, Benjamin Millepied, who also choreographed the film, and I am so incredible grateful for that most special of gifts," she added.