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December 11, 2013, 5:34 am

Procam International announces detailed arrangements for Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2013

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New Delhi, 11th December 2013: Procam International, promoters of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, unveiled the Route Map for the event and outlined the medical facilities and other arrangements that will be put in place for the 31,000 plus participants expected to run on race day. Present on the occasion was Anil Shukla, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Dr Tamorish Kotel, Medical Director of the Race, Race Director Hugh Jones and Vivek B Singh, Jt. Managing Director of Procam International.

Anil Shukla, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic said “It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and it’s good to see that the event has grown in every manner. This is definitely a long route and we will have our team in full strength to support the event. We close certain routes from 6 am.

“For this year, we have created a few diversions. There is a right turn on Bhishma Pitamah Marg and a left turn on Lodhi Road among others. The people of Delhi have always been supportive and the enthusiasm they share is great,” he added.

Medical Partner Max Healthcare will ensure that every participant has a safe a healthy run and have made elaborate arrangements for the same. “There will two Base Stations, including one especially for Senior Citizens, and six medical stations along the route. Seven advanced Cardiac Life Support ambulances will be pressed into service and manning these will be over 150 doctors, 50 physiotherapists and 100 plus nurses & paramedics,” stated Medical Director Dr. Tamorish Kole.

There will be one Base Camp at the Start and Finish of the Half Marathon and the Great Delhi Run, which will have between 50 to 60 beds, 1400 litres of water, 300 kgs of ice in cube form, Enerzal, 15 tables with drapes, first aid kits, medicines, relief sprays etc.

The second base camp will be at the Start/Finish of the Senior Citizens’ Run and will have around 12 beds with all of the above.

Each of the six medical stations along the route will have 300 litres of water, 150ks of ice, Gatorade, 2 tables with drapes, first aid kits, relief sprays etc.

To keep all participants sufficiently hydrated there will be 14 water stations along the route, from where around 85,000 litres of water will be distributed. These water stations will also distribute around 13,000 tetra packs of Enerzal to the participants. There will also be four orange stations from where oranges will be distributed..

Besides these arrangements, there would be sufficient Law & Order and Traffic Police on Race Day to prevent any untoward incidents. Their efforts would be supplemented by 800 private security guards and around 1000 volunteers.

Arrangements have been made for a total of 100 Porta Pottys, from which 72 will be distributed in the holding areas at the J L N Stadium, while 28 will be stationed along the route.

Procam International has always ensured that thorough cleanup drives are conducted immediately after the event to restore the roads to the condition they were in prior to the event.

This year Procam International has appointed Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), who specialise in waste management, to undertake this task.

All the waste from 21 km route will be collected and brought to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where it will be segregated into dry and wet waste. The same will then be sent to the recycling plants.

All types of Plastic waste and PET bottles will be recycled into plastic granules, while paper waste of all kind will be recycled at the Muzaffarnagar Paper Mill.

The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon will be telecast live on Star Sports 4, the Channel Partner, from7.00 am to 10.00 am with a Simulcast on DD Sports, the Broadcast Partner.

The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2012 for Elite men will start at 7.20 am, followed by the Half Marathon for Elite women at 7.25 am. The Open Half Marathon will start at 7.40 am, followed by the Champions With Disability Event at 8.10am, the Senior Citizens’ Run at 8.20 am and the Great Delhi Run at 9.30 am.

For further information, please contact:

CONCEPT PR

Animesh Biswas +91 9891789639 animesh@conceptpr.com

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Latest Adobe Stats Show Rapid Growth in Digital Publication Readership

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Posted on December 11, 2013 by sagarmedia

Free License to Adobe’s .folio File Specification Aids Expansion of Digital Publishing Industry

India, New Delhi. —December 11, 2013 — Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today released data that shows Adobe® Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) is powering significant circulation growth and reader engagement in digital magazines. Since the launch of Adobe DPS, less than three years ago, more than 150 million digital publications have been downloaded on mobile devices. And in the last twelve months publishers have added more than three times as many unique readers to their digital editions, when compared to 2012. Data also shows readers are engaging deeply with the digital magazines, with subscribers spending an average of 50 minutes* in DPS digital issues each month. Building on this momentum Adobe today announced that, in Q1 2014, it will publish the technical specification for the .folio format for digital magazines under a free license. This will further accelerate digital publication adoption, enabling newsstands to produce their own viewing apps capable of displaying digital magazines built using DPS.

DPS Features Power Reader Engagement

Consumer marketing tools included in DPS magazine apps are helping drive readership growth and can be customized for each title. Features include social sharing of articles on major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest; free preview capabilities for individual articles or entire issues; and custom push notifications that alert readers to new content. These tools have engaged new readers and increased content sales for publishers by improving discovery, immediate access to content and timing/placement of purchase offers. Adobe has published a best practices guide to assist publishers in taking full advantage of DPS features to generate awareness, collect data, formulate optimal pricing and subscription offers, and ultimately maximize readership and purchase conversion. DPS is also used by companies and educational institutions to build beautiful app experiences for their employees and customers.

.folio to be Offered Under Free License

Publishers are increasingly seeking to leverage DPS as their primary digital publishing platform across operating systems and newsstands, including those where DPS magazine apps are not available. In order to maximize reach for digital magazines built using DPS, Adobe will publish, in Q1 2014, the technical specification for the .folio format for digital magazines under a free license. .folio is the format in which all DPS magazines are published and has become the de facto standard for interactive digital editions. This free license will enable any newsstand licensee to implement its own .folio viewer.

Quotes

Nick Bogaty, head of digital publishing, Adobe

· “As the leading digital publishing platform, DPS powers more than three quarters of all digital issues consumed on mobile devices. Engaging reading experiences combined with in-app consumer marketing capabilities provide publishers with the tools they need to continue generating explosive growth in digital circulation. This makes DPS a powerful solution for driving sales of digital content as well as high-value advertising experiences.”

· “Adobe has a long tradition of creating and supporting open file formats to enable content publishing and distribution. PDF was instrumental to the advent of desktop publishing and document sharing, and our work in Web standards, including HTML5, has advanced what’s possible to do on the Web and in mobile apps. We are thrilled to make .folio available for free use to accelerate the growth of digital magazines and other publications.”

Adobe’s newly appointed head of digital publishing for Asia Pacific, Michael Stoddart

· “In the last 12 months media publishers in Australia have recognised the opportunities presented by digital and publishers including News Limited, Pacific Magazines, NewsLifeMedia and Bauer have all begun their digital transformations with Adobe DPS. In 2014, we expect to see more commercial entities shift to digital as they recognize the opportunities it can deliver. Already we have seen NRMA’s Open Road and David Jones validate Adobe’s DPS platform beyond traditional publishing.”

· “Data that allows brands to forge a direct relationship with customers is the key driver of digital publishing. Adobe DPS brings together social sharing, digital marketing and direct engagement which leads to a more personalised, deeper and long term relationship.”

· “Saving costs and avoiding paper wastage are obvious benefits of digital. Digital platforms also allow companies to be more nimble with their marketing campaigns. Brands can adapt marketing campaigns to market conditions quickly and easily on a digital platform.”

· “Developers and partners across Australia and New Zealand will view this opening of the .folio format as an opportunity to develop solutions that are standardized on an industry-recognised format and applicable to specific local market requirements.”

Helpful Links

· Adobe DPS Blog

· Dive deeper into the DPS consumer marketing tools in a whitepaper by Adobe:Driving Digital Readership

· Additional information on DPS customers: DPS Customer Gallery

· For product features, pricing and language versions:www.adobe.com/digitalpublishing

· DPS on Facebook

· DPS on Twitter

*Source: Aggregated Adobe Digital Publishing Analytics

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences. For more information, visitwww.adobe.com/au. For updates and news about Adobe Australia, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook at AdobeANZ and AdobeStudentsANZ

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LG launches World’s First -Curved OLED TV & Curved flexing smartphone

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LG breaks all the barriers of imagination and launches

World’s First -Curved OLED TV & Curved flexing smartphone

New Delhi, 11^th December 2013– LG Electronics today showcased revolution that created waves in the world and is here to take India by surprise. Setting a new milestone in the evolution of the smart screen, LG proudly announced the India arrival of the World’s first stunning range of Curved products, World’s first LG Curved OLED TV, the 55EA9800 and LG G Flex, the world’s first curved flexing smartphone. With the curved range of displays and flexible screens, LG continues to pioneer on futuristic technologies to create premium products.

The industry’s very first curved screen LG 55″ Curved OLED TV features a path breaking ergonomic design with full CINEMA 3D support, cinematic experience and proprietary WRGB technology. The incredibly thin display has a gentle inward flex design, removing the problem of screen-edge visual distortion and detail loss.

The LG G Flex is the latest device in LG’s premium G Series. The G Flex incorporates proprietary innovations from other LG companies in the form of the display and battery such as LG Display and LG Chem. The LG G Flex has captivated early adopters everywhere as the first smartphone curved to follow the contour of the human face, made possible with the implementation of the world’s first curved smartphone battery.

Mr. Soon Kwon, MD – LG India said, “We are proud to present LG Curved OLED TV and LG G Flex Smartphone, world’s first curved technology products to India. India is a strategic market for LG and we are the first company to launch the curved series in this market. The unique and immersive curved design will provide consumers with an ultimate viewing experience. We have initiated a wave of groundbreaking innovation for the industry and also created a milestone for ourselves. We have surpassed anything seen before with our latest innovative creations.”

“The Home Entertainment and Mobile segment is fueled by constant change and growth with new products entering the market every day. Both these segments are growth engines for LG India, and we will strengthen the product portfolio further with new launches. Our target is to capture 30% market share in flat panels and 10% market share in smart phones by end of next year,” added Kwon.

LG CURVED OLED

Picture Perfect

LG’s groundbreaking Curved OLED TV (55EA9800) features unique 4-color pixel technology, a staggeringly thin display (just 4.3mm), a dramatic Curved design and a vivid picture quality that is practically indiscernible from colors found in nature. LG’s Curved OLED TV truly represents the future of TV and is the culmination of years of research and development, with LG committed to continued investment in this technology. LG Curved OLED TV features perfect contrast, absolute motion clarity and a display that produces a pristine image no matter the viewing angle.

Vivid Color and Infinite Contrast

The features that put this television above the rest include its vivid 4 color pixel technology that adds a white sub-pixel to the conventional red, green and blue pixels. The television also allows for ultimate contrast with independently lighted pixels to control their own luminance. Images are now as alive as life, since the contrast ratio is well beyond conventional measure. With self-lighting pixel technology, the TV can range from blazing white to the darkest black with a greater sense of realism and depth on all content.

Clear Speaker

LG’s Clear Speakers offer high quality sound to match the picture quality of the OLED TV. The two channel speaker system consists of thin ceramic film speakers that produce elegant sound. With refined sound at the higher frequencies, you can always enjoy crystal-clear sound at any range or level ahead of conventional display.

Magic Remote

Simple and fun way to choose what one wants to watch. It has features like Gesture, Pointing, Wheel, Voice, and Universal Control; which is the most convenient and advanced TV remote.

The LG Curved OLED 55EA9800 will be available for Rs. 999,000 and is available across LG best shops.

LG G Flex Smartphone

Form + Function: Design that Understands Human Curves

The vertically curved design of the LG G Flex reduces the distance between one’s mouth to the microphone when the device is held against the ear, as traditional telephone handsets used to. The LG G Flex employs a curvature arc that is optimized for the average face, to deliver improved voice and sound quality. The curved form increases the sound level by 3dB compared to typical flat smartphones. The curved design also offers a more reassuring grip and fits more comfortably in one’s back pocket. Also, in landscape mode, the display offers a cinematic experience, with the result being the most comfortable viewing angle for watching videos or playing games. LG G Flex also features the Rear Key first introduced in the LG G2. Devoid of any buttons on the sides, there is less chance of accidentally powering off the phone and the convenience of using one’s index finger to adjust the volume when conversing is maintained.

Innovation Delivered Through Collaboration

The development of LG G Flex was only possible through the successful collaboration with sister companies LG Display and LG Chem. The 6-inch display found in the G Flex is the world’s largest Plastic OLED (POLED) display developed and mass produced specifically for smartphones. The ultra-thin, ultra-light flexible POLED display and curved OLED panel are built on plastic substrates instead of glass, giving LG G Flex its unique shape and durability. The POLED display is brighter and more precise thanks to the application of Real RGB, which contains all three sub-pixels — red, green and blue — in one pixel.

User-Centered Technologies

Among the several new technologies, the LG G Flex is the first smartphone to apply a “Self-Healing” coating on the back cover. The elastic coating has the ability to recover from the daily wear-and-tear scratches and nicks that un-cased smartphones are likely to receive, keeping the G Flex looking newer longer.

LG G Flex will be available in India in February 2014.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics, South Korea was established in January 1997 in India. It is one of the most formidable brands in consumer electronics, home appliances, IT hardware and mobile communications space. In India for a decade, LG has earned a premium brand positioning and is the acknowledged trendsetter for the industry.

LGEIL’s manufacturing unit at Greater Noida is one of the most eco-friendly units among all LG manufacturing plants in the world. The second Greenfield facility is located at Ranjangaon; Pune has the capacity to manufacture, LED TVs, Air Conditioners, washing machine and refrigerators.

Media Contact:

Neeta Linz- neeta.linz@lge.com

Arem Mukim- arem.mukim@lge.com

Divya Khurana- divya.khurana@lg-one.com

Shubreet Sidhu- Shubreet.sidhu@lg-one.com

Kshitija Sharma- Kshitija.sharma@lg-one.com

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On Human Rights Day,People’s Movements Assert Right to Life,

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Human Rights Day

People’s Movements Assert Right to Life, Dignity and Nature

and Expose Failure of Rights Institutions and the State

Mumbai / Nagpur / Delhi, December 10 : Today is Human Rights Day. It is a recognition of the rights of the people but will mean nothing if people across the globe didn’t fight to assert those rights and fight for it.

On this day hundreds of working class people living in slums, bastis, resettlement colonies of Mumbai, under the banner of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, protested in front of State Human Rights Commission, Maharashtra demanding its complete failure in protecting their rights. They charged complete absence of basic amenities – water, sanitation, electricity, education and health services. Rights bodies in State have failed to prevent or provide relief when their homes have been demolished unjustly by the administration or been arbitrarily arrested for defending their homes from getting demolished. Can Rights bodies ensure their safety and protect their constitutional rights, they ask ?

With no permanent shelter and a sword of demolition hanging over their permanent houses, state refuses to recognise their right to livelihood and shelter. Is this not human rights violation? Is this not a threat to the right to life ? Why is Commission silent on this ?

NAPM along with the National Sugar factory Workers Federation launched Sahkar Bachao, Desh Bachao dharna on the second day of the Mahrashtra Vidhan Sabha in Nagpur. The unpaid workers of the sugar factories and farmers, whose land had been taken over by the mills, have joined the rally. Not only were Sugar factories sold at throwaway prices, the workers have not been paid their dues and farmers not been returned their deposit amount along with interest too. Farmers had given their land for cooperative factories and not private units. They should be returned their land. A 20,000 crore scam has taken place in connivance with the political party leaders of Congress, NCP and BJP.

In Delhi, Pension Parishad’s dharna entered 15th day today at Jantar Mantar. In the winter of Delhi nearly 500 elderly people from across the country have been holding on the footpath of Delhi demanding their right to a dignified life, demanding a pension of Rs. 2000, linked with the inflation, which is a meagre Rs. 200 at the moment. Is that too much to ask from a democratically elected State with pretensions of being a socialist republic ? Why is the rights bodies failing to take note of such issues ?

In Muzzafarnagar, more than 30 children die living in the relief camps in this winter after the worst riots with no place to go and the rights bodies, minority, sc/st or woment commissions look other way and have no power to deal with this.

Today, the world is going under control of corporates be it Deshi or Videshi. Nature based communities are being displaced by the corporates with help of the state every now and then across the country in complete violations of their rights. Thousands of people in Koodankulam, Posco, Niyamgiri, Chhindwara and elsewhere are charged with sedition charges because of upholding the rights given in the constitution. A large number of young people from Muslim community are in Indian jails today in fabricated cases with false implications. Is that not a violation of their human rights ?

The time has come when there is an urgent need to address not only the social and political rights of the people but the special rights of the nature based communities to their livelihood, which includes access to land, water, forests, minerals and eek a honest living. Rights bodies, be it NHRC, SHRC, NCW, SC/STC, NCM or others, they all have a role to play in this, more so when State itself violates the rights of the people.

We are besotted with new problems today, manifesting themselves in the climate crisis, having a serious impact on the earth and human beings. Our development model needs to change, the iniquitous growth will lead us no where, this will mean disaster for humanity. It is time we woke up to that.

Medha Patkar - Narmada Bachao Andolan – National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Prafulla Samantara - Lok Shakti Abhiyan, NAPM, Odisha; Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava - Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, MP; Gautam Bandopadhyay – Nadi Ghati Morcha, NAPM, Chhattisgarh; Vilas Bhongade, Suniti SR, Prasad Bagwe - NAPM, Maharashtra; Gabriel Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; C R Neelakandan – NAPM Kerala; Ramakrishnan Raju, Saraswati Kavula, P Chennaiah – NAPM Andhra Pradesh, Bhupender Singh Rawat, Rajendra Ravi, Anita Kapoor – NAPM, Delhi; Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey - NAPM, UP; Sister Celia - Domestic Workers Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Sumit Wanjale, Madhuri Shivkar – Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan, NAPM, Mumbai; Manish Gupta - Jan Kalyan Upbhokta Samiti, NAPM, UP; Vimal Bhai - Matu Jan sangathan, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Krishnakant, Anand Mazhgaonkar, Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat

–

===============================================

National Alliance of People’s Movements6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014
Phone : 011 26241167 / 24354737 Mobile : 09818905316
Web : www.napm-india.org

Facebook : www.facebook.com/NAPMindia

Twitter : @napmindia

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Delhi Male policemen assaulting and beating Catholic sisters

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Delhi police today lathicharged and watercannoned Christian bishops, nuns, pastors and others who were leading a peaceful march of Dalit Christians and Muslims at Parliament street demanding schedule caste rights for Dalit Christians and Muslims.

Several priests and nuns and lay leaders were inured badly in the lathicharge. Thereafter, the Christians courted arrest and were taken to parliament street police station.

This is the first time after 27^th November 1997 that Bishops and Church leaders have been arrested for espousing the Dalit cause.

Among the arrested were Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto, CNI Genral Secretary Alwan Masih, EFI’s Rev. Vijayesh Lal, NCCI’s Dr. Roger Gaikwad, NCDC President Mary John, Delhi Minorities Commission Member A C Michael, National Integration Council Member and All India Christian Council Secretary General Dr. John Dayal and Member of Parliament Anwar Ali.

A complaint has been lodged with the women cell of the police station against the Delhi police for male policemen assaulting and beating Catholic sisters and other women with lathis and manhandling some of them. There was no woman police present at the spot.

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Events photographed

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Delhi Economic Conclave Dec 11-12

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A moving tribute to a legendary figure Nelson Mandela

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

A moving tribute to a legendary figure

Nelson Mandela’s struggle against South African apartheid inspired millions. And his great call for justice and equality continues to resonate around the world, as new generations of young people pursue the ideals he embraced.

Earlier today in Johannesburg, President Obama paid tribute to a hero and a leader — and spoke about the path that’s still ahead.

It’s a powerful, moving speech. Watch this tribute to Nelson Mandela:

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Watch: President Obama's tribute to Mandela

Stay Connected

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ECHO’s International Agriculture conference. ECHO

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	Dear Naresh,Greetings from Ft. Myers, Florida where I’m speaking at ECHO’s International Agriculture conference. ECHO has been working for more than 30 years to help development practitioners around the world disseminate information about sustainable farming practices to communities. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the conference and experts from all over the world are gathered to discuss innovative ways of alleviating hunger and poverty while protecting biodiversity and natural resources. This week, we’re focusing Food Tank’s newsletter on the challenges–and opportunities–older people have in accessing healthy foods and also how they’re sharing their knowledge with younger generations. The number and proportion of older persons–defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as over 60 years old–are growing in almost all countries. On a worldwide level, the elderly population has grown at an average annual rate of 13 percent.By 2050, the over 65 population will grow to be 1.9 billion people, 840 million of whom will be living low-income countries. In 2011, nearly 20 percent of Greece’s population was over age 65. In China, 123 million people are over the age of 65. Brazil projects 30 percent of its population will be aged 60 and over by 2050. By 2020, the population in the United States over the age of 65 is expected to increase to about 55 million. To meet these challenges, many organizations around the world are realizing the importance of making sure that older people are getting the nutrition they need to stay active and healthy for as long as possible. And many older people are staying active in their communities, teaching younger generations about gardening and farming, food culture, and traditional cuisines. Here are 11 programs and projects aiding older people in appropriate nutritional education, connecting them to kids, or providing access to healthy food and active lifestyles. NOTE: You can view this article on the web by clickingHERE. 1. Danny Woo Garden and Children’s Garden Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the Danny Woo Community Garden was created in 1975 and makes up part of 1.5 acres of the largest green space in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District (C/ID). It consists of 100 plots, tended by 70 elderly Asian gardeners and is an important place where low-income gardeners can socialize, get exercise, and raise vegetables that reflect their cultural foods of choice. In 2009 the Children’s Garden began an intergenerational component which is a unique opportunity for immigrant elderly gardeners, most of whom do not speak English, to both teach and learn from the youth who are learning to garden through the Children’s Garden Educational Program. 2. Fly the Phoenix This charity has projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Peru. Fly the Phoenix believes education and food are basic human rights. Sarah Riggott, CEO of Fly the Phoenix, reported that their older people’s program has been handing out food for some time, but now they are trial-ing veggie gardens. These gardens are in several countries and bring together whole families as well as provide nutrition to elders. Fly the Phoenix strives to keep older people as involved in the community as much as possible. 3. Gift of the Givers Foundation In South Africa, about 1,000 Limpopo pensioners who care for their orphaned grandchildren received much needed blankets and food parcels from Gift of the Givers. They are the largest food parcel delivery agency in South Africa. This international non-governmental organization (NGO) responds to hunger crisis, feeding elders and their families through a fast, inexpensive, and efficient system of donations. 4. HelpAge International This global network helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. They provide older people skills to start urban and rural microenterprises and the network also runs socio-legal counseling centers (COSL) in Lima and Ayacucho, Peru helping teach older people about their rights and helping them access legal benefits and state services to which they are entitled. 5. MyPlate for Older Adults The Elder Nutrition and Food Safety (ENAFS) program partnered with faculty and staff at the University of Florida to review and update the 2006 publication, “MyPyramid for Older Adults,” to make it consistent with new dietary guidance and the USDA’s new MyPlate. MyPlate for Older Adults was introduced in September 2011 and includes lower calorie levels in the food plan due to the lower caloric needs of elderly. It also includes foods that are easy to purchase, chew/swallow, and/or prepare. 6. Newbridge on the Charles Retired psychiatrist, Joseph Sabbath, lives on this 162 acre wooded campus. The grounds include both a school and a retirement community, which provides the opportunity for the elderly and school children to create intergenerational relationships through the Newbridge garden. The garden includes 30 raised beds which are accessible to seniors. Sabbath explains, “The garden gives them [school children] the chance to understand the role of food and vegetables in everyday life.” Every spring and fall a group of students work with the retirement community to tend to the garden, while seniors educate them on the importance of food and how it is grown. “It’s a wonderful outlet,” said Sabbath of the garden. 7. Pigsah In Hebrew, Pigsah translates to “the mountain top where Moses saw the promised land.” The Pigsah facility in Los Angeles, CA has been developed by the Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge, and Services (WORKS) organization to house 75 low income elderly citizens and provide access to healthy food and companionship. 8. Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Project In Japan, the country is referred to as a “super-aging society,” which is why International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Japan decided to target middle-aged and elderly people to help them improve exercise and dietary habits. Since 2001, two programs have been created; a Lifestyle Modification program (LiSM10!) to prevent obesity, and TAKE10! to prevent elderly from becoming bed-ridden by targeting behavioral changes. 9. Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) This program awards grants to U.S. states and territories, as well as federally recognized Indian tribal governments, to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. 10. Sustainable Garden Project In Australia, this project was an initiative of Jeff Herd of the Department of Human Services (DHS) as a Neighborhood Renewal project. DHS saw the need for aging residents to have low maintenance and sustainable garden plots. The project helped 15 clients with their gardens allowing them to remain independent in their homes. The project brought people all ages together including; clients, volunteers, client’s children and project coordinators. 11. UGArden This student organization at the University of Georgia seeks to promote the social, environmental, and nutritional benefits of sustainable gardening through the creation of a student-run community garden. UGArden is dedicated to the management of a 1-acre garden plot and has become a teaching garden for students. UGArden produce is also used to help alleviate poverty and hunger in the senior citizen population of Athens, GA. Produce is prepared by Campus Kitchen volunteers and delivered to elderly citizens. Don’t forget to share this article by clicking HERE and please email me at danielle@foodtank.org with any other suggestions of projects we should include!
	Onward! Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Danielle Nierenberg Co-Founder, Food Tank foodtank.org Email: danielle@foodtank.org Phone: 202-590-1037 Let’s Connect!: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Google+ & Flickr! Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.

Ageless Agriculture

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To meet challenges of an aging population, many organizations around the world are realizing the importance of making sure that older people are getting the nutrition they need to stay active and healthy for as long as possible. Food Tank highlights 11 programs and projects aiding older people in appropriate nutritional education, connecting them to kids, or providing access to healthy food and active lifestyles. Read more…

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International Year of Family Farming: Building Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture in Africa

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Mainstreaming organic management for family farmers could help feed people, eradicate poverty, and mitigate the effects of climate change in Africa. Read more…

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The Kokopelli Seed Foundation, Improving Biodiversity and Curbing Hunger

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The Kokopelli Seed Foundation is fighting hunger and cultivating biodiversity in North America by promoting organic heirloom seed cultivation through education and seed donation programs in developing countries. Read more…

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Organic Farming Cooperatives In Nepal: One That Is Exclusively Run By Women

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Panchakanya Agriculture Cooperative, Ltd. is a Nepalese cooperative well known for its use of organic methods and for being an exclusively women run organization. Read more…

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A Recent Article from La Via Campesina Tells Policymakers: Free the Seeds!

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La Via Campesina’s article on peasants and seed regulation criticizes international policy for eradicating traditional seed varieties and, along with them, biodiversity. The article points to peasants around the world as important preservers of this biodiversity, and their traditional seed varieties as a piece of their cultural heritage. Read more…

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Agricultural Improvements in the Semi-Arid Tropics: An Interview with ICRISAT’s Dr. William Dar

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ICRISAT fosters an agriculture research culture focused on smallholder farmer input, open source data sharing, and reducing poverty in the semi-arid tropics. Read more…

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USDA Report Notes the Growing Role of Women in U.S. Farming

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According to the USDA’s “Characteristics of Women Farm Operators and Their Farms,” census data from 1982 through 2007 show that women-operated farms are growing in number, but not in size. Read more…

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International Year of Family Farming: Enset as Women’s Business

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Scaling up enset production could turn it into a cash crop, which may remove it from women’s control, despite the fact that women hold the majority of the knowledge of enset’s cultivation and processing. If enset becomes a viable cash-crop, it’s critical that some control stays in women’s hands. Read more…

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Shuanghui-Smithfield Deal: Water for Waste

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The buyout of the world’s biggest pork producer, US-based Smithfield Food, by its giant Chinese counterpart, Shuanghui International, was water for waste. Read more…

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WIN INDIA-2013 from 17 – 20 December

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(lL-R)Dr. Andreas Gruchow,Mr. Ramakant Joshi and Mr Mehul shah introducing World of industry- India 2013 at New Delhi

Automation & technology extravaganza to promote Indian industry & international trends

[NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12, 2013]: Hannover Messe brings world’s leading industrial trade fair WIN INDIA to NEW DELHI. The leading industrial trade fair WIN INDIA 2013 to be held from 17th to 20th December 2013 at Pragati Maidan. The event will host 5 specialized and dedicated industrial fairs under one roof. The individual fairs are designed to cluster particular kinds of manufacturers together. WIN stands for “World of Industry,” a brand that Deutsche Messe has been using in Turkey for over 10 years. The fair offers unique opportunities to companies seeking new markets and the organisers Hannover Milano Fairs Pvt. Ltd. & Deutsche Messe AG, global leaders industrial trade fair are extremely excited to launch WIN INDIA – World of Industry.

The Press conference was addressed by Dr. Andreas Grochow, Member of Board, Deutsche Messe AG, Mr. Mehul Shah, Managing Director, Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd and Mr. Ramakant Joshi, Managing Director, Festo India Controls Pvt. Ltd. After flying through various countries in the world, Festo Controls India will display the FESTO SMART BIRD for the first time in India with association of HMFI at WIN INDIA 2013. FESTO SMART BIRD is an ultralight and powerful flight model that provides you insight on the optimization of latest technology strengths.

The Government of India has targeted to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the GDP to 25 percent by 2022. To reach this goal, India will have to enhance its productivity by transforming the existing fabric of the Indian manufacturing industry. To support the mission, the show brings a variety of important verticals into focus under the brand of WIN INDIA. “MDA INDIA” will focus on Motion, Drive and Automation, Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Electro-Mechanical Transmission. “Industrial Automation INDIA” will be dedicated to Process and Factory Automation and Industrial Building Automation. “CeMAT INDIA” showcase Materials handling/ Intralogistics, Storage Systems, Warehousing and Logistic Services. “Surface Technology INDIA” will cater to manufacturers in Paint & Coating Systems, Electroplating and Surface Engineering Techniques. “Industrial Supply INDIA” is a platform for Subcontracting, Components & Parts, Composites and New Materials.

WIN INDIA – World of Industry is designed to create a consortium for industrial manufacturers, engineers, wholesalers and decision makers for government procurements like Defence, Airlines, Railways, Public Sector Undertakings of Central and State Government. Buyers and sellers will be able to meet in one location, achieve economies of scale and be able to find solutions to industry wide problems.

Mr. Mehul Shah, Director, HANNOVER MILANO FAIRS INDIA, said “In tough market conditions, it becomes all the more imperative for all businesses to show greater visibility, strong fundamentals and continuation of businesses. The platform is ideal for exhibitors to nurture the trust and confidence across the supply chain. WIN INDIA as a platform for face-to-face meetings with target audiences provides an opportunity for businesses to meet new buyers in person and also renew their contracts with existing buyers.”

Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of Board, Deutsche Messe AG, ’‘We are very happy to be hosting the 7th edition of our globally successful industrial fair topics here in India. WIN India has been able to attract excellent international participation from 27 countries which helps us deliver new business from new networks to India’s dynamic industrial sector. ‘‘

Mr. Ramakant Joshi, Managing Director, Festo India Controls Pvt. Ltd. “Festo is a world-wide leading supplier of automation technology and the performance leader in industrial training and education programs. Our aim has always been focused on maximising productivity and competitiveness for our customers. The Festo brand is a symbol of Innovation Leadership globally since more than 60 years. Festo has deciphered bird flight and develop a SmartBird which flies energy efficient. With the SmartBird in India for the first time, we want to inspire the industry to take an interest in Festo bionic applications and by this get them interested in our automation solutions”’‘

ABOUT HANNOVER MILANO FAIRS INDIA PVT LTD: Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd (HMFI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of two of the world’s leading trade fair organizers Deutsche Messe AG, Germany and Fiera Milano, Italy. HMFI have been bringing world class trade fairs into the Indian market for Indian and international enterprises since 2007. The strong international contacts and the vast expertise and best trade fair practices of its parent companies are deployed in the fairs in India which is the USP of fairs of HMFI. Exhibitors and visitors will gain from the professionalism of the international leaders.

ABOUT DEUTSCHE MESSE: Deutsche Messe – based in Hannover, Germany – is the world’s foremost trade fair company. Deutsche Messe develops, plans and runs trade fairs and exhibitions in Germany and abroad as Hannover Fairs International with a Turnover – 410 Million $. Deutsche Messe was established in 1947; own the largest Fair Ground in the world with Indoor capacity of over 4.5 Lac square meters of display area. It organizes World’s Largest Engineering Trade Fair – Hannover Messe and World’s Largest IT Fair – CeBIT

Your contact for further information:

Maan Jalta – 9891718750

Vishal Shukla – 7838829456

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Categories : Automobile, Business, Media, world News

Letta wins parliament vote

12122013

Enrico Letta on Wednesday won a parliamentary confidence vote triggered by the fall of Silvio Berlusconi, promising to push through a pro-European reform agenda and fight populism.

Letta vowed to bring political stability and economic growth to a country on the point of exiting its longest post-war recession, condemning “chaos” after anti-austerity protests this week across Italy.

“We will not allow Italy to sink again,” Letta told lawmakers, promising to “fight with everything I have to avoid our country being thrown back into chaos just as it is beginning to lift itself up again”. “Today we are drawing a clear line.

On this side are those who love Europe… knowing that without the European Union we would plunge into the Middle Ages. “On that side are those who want to block Europe,” he said in a thinly-veiled reference to Berlusconi and the anti-establishment firebrand politician Beppe Grillo.

Letta won the vote in the lower house handily with 379 in favour and 212 against and was expected to get a majority, although by a far narrower margin, in a vote in the upper house scheduled for later on Wednesday.

Letta admitted that instability had “weakened” his government but voiced hope that the confidence vote would give his coalition a stronger mandate to govern and press ahead with much-needed reforms.

He said he would impose further cuts on Italy’s overweight bureaucratic machine and aim for gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.0 per cent in 2014 and 2.0 per cent in 2015, while also slashing debt.

“Italy will shake off the image of an unstable, Baroque country that can never decide anything,” said Letta, who came to power in April following a two-month stalemate after an inconclusive general election.

Letta also promised to reduce the number of parliamentarians and end public subsidies to political parties – both reforms that have long been mooted in Italy including by Letta but never carried out.

The vote was called after the scandal-tainted Berlusconi’s party quit the ruling coalition and he was ejected from parliament over a tax fraud conviction.

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Jung has invited Delhi BJP

12122013

Jung has invited Delhi BJP for consultation on formation of gov in Delhi

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has invited Delhi BJP legislative party leader Dr. Harsh Vardhan for consultation on formation of government in Delhi.

BJP has emerged as the largest single party in the assembly polls, which threw up a fractured mandate with no party security majority in the 70-member assembly.

BJP has 32 seats, AAP 28 and Congress 8 seats in the assembly. VDr Harsh Vardhan will meeet the LG Najeeb Jung in the evening after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Raman Singh in Raipur in the day.

On Wednesday, both BJP and Aam Aadmi Party stuck to their ground of not forming a government and preferring fresh elections instead.

However, the Congress has indicated that it may consider unconditional support to the AAP for the formation of government.

The Lt Governor, on the other hand, continued consultations with experts to explore the next course of action.

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December 13, 2013, 12:21 am

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ASUS Unveils ‘Three-in-One’ Transformer Book

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ASUS Transformer Book Trio featuring two processors, two operating systems, two batteries and two separate memory allotments further also functions as a tablet, a laptop and even a desktop PC. ASUS tags Transformer Book Trio, in the Indian market for Rs 98,099.

ASUS in its media interaction talked of the Transformer Book Trio, a new ultraportable device with a two-part dock able design.This novel product can be used as a laptop, as a separate tablet and desktop PC further has the ability to switch between Windows 8 and Android at the press of a button. ASUS Transformer Book Trio is powered by a 4th generation Intel Core processor and the 11.6″ display detaches from the PC Station keyboard dock and can be used as a multi-touch Android tablet, powered by its own Intel Atom dual-core processor with up to 64 GB of solid-state storage.

Hence with display docked, Transformer Book Trio can switch between Windows 8 and Android 4.2 with the dedicated Trio key on the keyboard, and the data can be shared between the two operating systems through the tablet’s internal storage. Furthermore it can offer external display connected via Mini DisplayPort or Micro-HDMI, the PC Station can then be used as a self-contained desktop PC with Windows 8, which means Transformer Book Trio can be used by two people, in two different places, at the same time.

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State of the art shooting range inaugurated at Manav Rachna

13122013

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State of the art shooting range inaugurated at Manav Rachna International School, Sector 46, Gurgaon.

Gurgaon campus will now offer world class shooting range for students of Manav Rachna and sports enthusiasts around the region

“Sports education promotes academic learning, builds self esteem, develops cooperation, teamwork and concentration, and promotes a healthier, physically active lifestyle. Shooting needs to be become a popular sporting event right from the school level. I hope that in the time to come, more and more schools in India take inspiration from MREI and include shooting as part of their major games programme. The 10 meter shooting is the base of the categories under the rifle shooting sport, I am sure this shooting range will help many young rifle shooting aspirants solidify their talent.”, Gagan Narang at the launch of the shooting range at MRIS

GURGAON, December 12, 2013: The nation aspires to be an Olympic sporting nation, and shooting has given us hope to catapult us there. The key in competitive world sports lies in catching them young and Manav Rachna adhering to its core principle of holistic growth of personality takes yet another decisive step in that direction. In Athens, Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore gave us the belief that we can win medal in shooting. In Bejing, Abhinav Bindra gave us the first individual gold in our Olympic history. In London Olympics, Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang proved that shooters success is not flash in the pan. Can we produce more of these champions? On the eve of the inauguration of the world class shooting range in Manav Rachna International University in Gurgaon, Olympian shooters and key administrators answered volley of such questions from media persons and shooting enthusiasts.

Manav Rachna International School, situated in Sector 46- Gurgaon, today inaugurated a 10 meter indoor shooting range at its campus. The state-of-the-art range will have modern equipment and qualified instructors who will oversee and train students.

The 10 meter rifle shooting sport is the basis of all the categories under the rifle shooting, be it double trap, Rapid Fire Pistol, Air Rifle, etc. Every Rifle shooting athlete trains through this category before progressing to the other categories of rifle shooting and this Shooting range at MRIS has been set up with the intent to strengthen the aspirants from the grass root level and will be beneficial in preparing world class athletes representing the country.

Raninder Singh, President, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), inaugurated the shooting range in the presence of dignitaries likeBaljeet Singh Sethi, (Advisor – NRAI), Dr.Prashant Bhalla(Chancellor – MRIU) Dr. Amit Bhalla , (Vice – President- MRIU), Sarkar Talwar (Director – Sports, MREI), Olympians Vijay Kumar, who bagged the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Gagan Narang, who won a bronze medal at 2012 Summer Olympic Games, along with Shweta Choudhary and Anisha Khan, other well known names in the world of shooting.

Dr. Prashant Bhalla, Chancellor, Manav Rachna International University (MRIU), said “I am delighted to introduce this world-class shooting range to not only the students of the Manav Rachna School, but also for students of other schools in Delhi/ NCR, as well as marksmen looking to hone their skills through regular practice. It has always been the endeavor of Manav Rachna Educational Institutions to take sports seriously for the well-rounded development of our students. We have a deep focus on sports as part of academics and offer world class infrastructure, gaming equipment and training by qualified experts through our dedicated Sports Academy. The new shooting range is a part of our effort to improve shooting as a sport in India by spotting and grooming young talent early on and providing them state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment.”

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) of the Government of India has given consent to include rifle shooting as a competitive sport in its sports calendar for affiliated schools. This is a great boost to the sports of shooting in India that would help nurture talent at an early age.

Raninder Singh, President, NRAI, added: “There is a need to inculcate sports excellence among students from the childhood. I wish more universities and schools in India would share the enthusiastic attitude towards sports that MREI has. Indian shooters have begun to do very well in the Olympics and international shooting competitions of repute. I am sure this world-class shooting range will make many students interested in the sports of shooting and, who knows, some of them may go on to participate in the Olympics and bag a medal for India! I thank Manav Rachna for adding to the sports infrastructure of the country.”

Manav Rachna believes in integrating sports with the curriculum to enable students to develop strong, well-rounded personalities. The sports facilities available at the Manav Rachna campus are world-class, complete with state-of-the-art infrastructure and training provided by national-level coaches in sports such as badminton, shooting, table tennis, carom, chess, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, swimming, golf, skating, billiards, football, and kick-boxing.

About Manav Rachna International School

Manav Rachna International School is a new-age, co-educational school in India. It offers its students and staff a pristine environment for learning and developing in all spheres of life. The school focuses on producing people of substance, dedication and values, and above all good human beings. MREI has grown to become one of the best in the country and has built a reputation for excellence in professional education and research. MRIS is part of the futuristic and 12 years old MREI Group, now also encompassing an international university with numerous institutions sprawling over 75 acres in Aravalli hills, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

For more information;

Please Contact:

Jitender Bhasin/ Nupur Singh

9711983594/ 7827531031

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NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARDS and the NATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION PRIZES i

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NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARD FUNCTION on December 16^,2013 (Monday) at 5pm.

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India has kindly consented to inaugurate the function and present the NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARDS and the NATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION PRIZES in the gracious presence of Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge).

Please find below the details in the enclosed and attached invite.

Important note:

1. PIB accredited journalists can enter the venue by showing their PIB accreditation card. Entry will not be permitted otherwise.

2. Non-PIB accredited journalists will require a non- transferable invitation card to attend the function. We request you to reply to this e-mail with the name of the journalist confirmed to attend the event by Friday, tomorrow

3. Anticipating delays in security checks, we request you to be seated, no later than 4pm. Entry will not be permitted post 4pm.

Thanks & Regards,

Kanika Mittal Bansal

9899574833

49998999: 614

____________________________________________________________________________________

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Pradeep Kumar Sinha

Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Power

cordially invites you to the

NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARD FUNCTION

at 05.00 pm on Monday, the 16^th December 2013

Shri Pranab Mukherjee

President of India

has kindly consented to inaugurate the function and present the

NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARDS

and the

NATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION PRIZES

in the gracious presence of

Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia

Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge)

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Oct 2013 IIP at (-) 1.8% and November CPI Inflation at 11.24%

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Dear All,

Growth in industry output, as measured in terms of IIP, for the month of Oct 2013 is estimated at (-)1.8% as compared with 1.9% during Sep 2013. The cumulative growth for the period April-Oct 2013-14 stands at 0.0% as compared to 1.2% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The growth in the three sectors mining, manufacturing and electricity in Oct 2013 stands at (-) 3.5%, (-) 2%, 1.3% as compared 3.3%, 0.6% and 12.9% during Sep 2013 respectively. The cumulative growth for the period April-Oct 2013-2014 in the three sectors mining, manufacturing and electricity over the corresponding year stands at (-) 2.7%, (-) 0.3% and 5.3% respectively.

Recent growth pattern in IIP (% growth)

Industry Group	Weight in IIP	Apr- Oct	Apr-Oct	Oct	Sept
Industry Group	Weight in IIP	2012-13	2013-14	2013	2013
Mining	14.2	-1.0	-2.7	-3.5	3.3
Manufacturing	75.5	1.1	-0.3	-2.0	0.6
Electricity	10.3	4.7	5.3	1.3	12.9
Use based classification
Basic goods	45.7	2.9	0.7	-1.6	5.3
Capital goods	8.8	-11.6	-0.2	2.3	-6.7
Intermediate goods	15.7	2.3	2.5	1.8	4.2
Consumer Goods
Consumer goods	29.8	4.2	-1.8	-5.1	0.7
a) Consumer durables	8.5	5.7	-11.2	-12.0	-10.7
b) Consumer non-durables	21.3	2.8	6.7	1.8	11.5
Overall IIP	100	1.2	0.0	-1.8	1.9

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from CSO

The growth in Basic goods stands at (-) 1.6% during Oct 2013 as compared to 5.3% in Sep 2013. The cumulative growth during April – Oct 2013-14 stands at 0.7% as compared to 2.9% during the corresponding period of last year. Consumer goods have grown at (-) 5.1% during Oct 2013 as compared to 0.7% during Sep 2013. Consumer durables have grown at (-) 12% during Oct 2013 as compared to (-) 10.7% during Sep 2013, while consumer non durables have grown at 1.8% during Oct 2013 as compared to 11.5% during Sep 2013.

The cumulative growth of consumer goods during Apr-Oct 2013-14 stands at (-) 1.8% as against 4.2% during the corresponding period last year. Consumer durables have shown a cumulative growth of (-) 11.2% during Apr-Oct 2013-14 as against 5.7% during the corresponding period last year, while consumer non durables have shown a cumulative growth of 6.7% during Apr-Oct 2013-14 as compared to 2.8% during the corresponding period last year.

Some of the important items showing high positive growth are: ‘Cable, Rubber Insulated’ (143.1%), ‘Air Conditioners (Room)’ (54.7%), ‘Ayurvedic Medicaments’ (48.6%), ‘Steel Structures’ (28.8%), ‘Transformers (Small)’ (24.6%), ‘Tractors’ (22.2%), ‘Razor Blades/ Safety Blades’ (21.5%), ‘Motorcycles’ (21.3%), ‘Dyes’ (21.0%) and ‘Scooters and Mopeds’ (20.9%).

Some of the important items show ing high negative growth are ‘Sugar (including sugar cubes)’ [(-) 71.4%], ‘Earth Moving Machinery’ [(-) 51.2%], ‘Boilers’ [(-) 47.2%], ‘Gems and Jewellery’ [(-) 39.3%], ‘Aluminium Conductor’ [(-) 34.6%], ‘Sugar Machinery’ [(-) 32.7%], ‘Generator/ Alternator’ [(-) 27.0%], ‘Colour T.V. Sets’ [(-) 25.2%], ‘Kerosene’ [(-) 24.2%], ‘Telephone Instruments (incl. Mobile Phones & Accessories)’ [(-) 23.5%], ‘Pens of all kind’ [(-) 23.3%] and ‘Commercial Vehicles’ [(-) 22.6%].

Trend in IIP growth (%)

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Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from CSO

Capital goods have grown at 2.3% during Oct 2013 as compared to (-) 6.6% during Sept 2013. The cumulative growth of capital goods stands at (-) 0.2% during April-Oct 2013-14 as compared to (-) 11.6% during April- Oct 2012-13.

Trend in the growth of capital goods (%)

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Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from CSO

November CPI Inflation at 11.24% – The all India general CPI (Combined) for Nov 2013 stands at 11.24% as compared to 10.09% for Oct 2013. The inflation rates for rural and urban areas for Nov 2013 are 11.74% and 10.53% respectively as compared to 10.11% and 10.20% respectively for Oct 2013.

Warm regards,

Dr. S P Sharma

Chief Economist

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Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, cordially invites you to an action-packed day of activities.

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INVITE

Dear Sir/Madam,

As we inch closer to race day, Procam International, promoters of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, cordially invites you to an action-packed day of activities.

1.45 p.m: .Donovan Bailey and International Elite Athletes will travel from Le Meridian to the Media Centre in a BMW Motorcade, along with Frank Schloder – Director Marketing, BMW and Vivek B Singh, Jt Managing Director, Procam International.

2.15 p.m.: Meet & Greet session with Event Ambassador & Former 100m Olympic & World Champion and 100m World Record holder Donovan Bailey.

3.15 p.m:. Meet & Greet session with Reebok Running Squad along with the cricketing star Gautam Gambhir.

Day & Date: Thursday, December 13, 2013

Time: From 1.45 p.m

Venue: Media Center, 1^st Floor, Jawaharlal

Nehru Stadium (Gate no.1)

R.S.V.P.

Procam International

Deepak M Pilankar

+91 85279 91266 / +91 98207 98135

Concept PR

Animesh Biswas +91 9891789639 / Abhay Pratap Singh +91 9818413169.

Warm Regards,

Bruno Goveas,

Director Media Relations,

Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2013

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Workshop on Public Space, Territorial Breaches and Emotions: Passengers in the Metro by Martin Aranguren

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Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH), Delhi, are delighted to invite you to a Workshop on Public Space, Territorial Breaches and Emotions: Passengers in the Metro by Martin Aranguren of EHESS, Paris.

Date: Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Time: 3.45 p.m.

Venue: Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research, Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021

____________________________________

A basic dimension of face-to-face interaction in public places is territoriality. Drawing on ethology, anthropologist Edward T. Hall and sociologist Erving Goffman called attention to the cultural norms that govern interpersonal distance in everyday encounters, pointing out the emotional nature of territorial breaches (e.g., being vehemently jostled by a stranger). On the other hand, emotion research has become more sensitive to naturalistic studies of emotional processes in real-life situations. Emotions are not just private “feelings”, but also observable patterns of interaction with the environment that transform situations.

The workshop will present the results of a study conducted in the Paris subway metro, based on a novel methodology for studying territoriality and emotions in crowded settings. Among others, the protocol uses field observation and describes passenger’s facial behaviour with the anatomically-based Facial Action Coding System and conducts sequential analysis. The same protocol will be used in a study of the Delhi Metro, to examine the extent to which emotional patterns related to territorial violations in crowded situations vary across cultures. This includes the appraisal of a breach, i.e., the class of events that are perceived as territorial violations, as well as the consequent interactional management of perceived territorial violations. Do Delhi metro passengers respond emotionally to territorial breaches in the same way as users of the Paris subway?

Martin Aranguren (PhD, EHESS-Paris) works on emotions in face-to-face interaction. His dissertation developed a methodology for studying emotional processes in real-life situations and for integrating emotions to sociological analysis. He has studied sociology in Argentina, political science in France, philosophy in Germany, and completed the Research Training Programme at Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata. His current research is part of the larger EMOPOLIS project hosted by the Centre d’Études sur l’Inde et l’Asie du Sud (CEIAS, EHESS-CNRS, Paris). He received his PhD from EHESS, Paris.

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STAR SPORTS INDIA PRO LEAGUES FORUM 2013

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“Growing the Club Culture”

DATE: Friday, 13 December 2013

TIME: 9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.

VENUE: Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Entry from Gate No.3 on Vardhman Marg

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

10 – 11.30 Keynote Speaker: NITIN KUKREJA, President (Sports), STAR India

“THE GAME CHANGER”

KNOWLEDGE SESSION: Making the Right Changes on the Ground to Grow the Club Culture

NITIN KUKREJA, President (Sports), STAR India
RAGHU IYER, CEO, Rajasthan Royals
LARSING MING SAWYAN, CEO & MD, Shillong Lajong FC
JAMIE STEWART, Founder & CEO, Commune Sports & Entertainment
SUKHVINDER SINGH, Managing Director, Libero Sports India

11.30 – 11.45 TEA / COFFEE

11.45 – 1 p.m. Keynote Speaker: YANNICK COLACO, Managing Director-India, NBA

“VISION FOR INDIA THROUGH LEARNINGS FROM CHINA SUCCESS”

KNOWLEDGE SESSION: Getting the Fans Hooked, Building Communities, Talent Development

YANNICK COLACO, Managing Director-India, NBA
KUSHAL DAS, General Secretary, AIFF
SANTANU CHARI, Vice President, Rajasthan Royals
SUPRATIK SEN, National Head-Sports & Events, Red Bull
VIVEK SETHIA, CEO, Arsenal Soccer Schools India

1.00 – 2.00 LUNCH

2.00 – 3.00 Keynote Speaker: SANTOSH DESAI, MD & CEO, Future Brands

“GROWING SPORT IN INDIA… THE BIG PICTURE”

KNOWLEDGE SESSION: Building a Sports League… The IPL Template and Beyond

SANTOSH DESAI, MD & CEO, Future Brands
SUNANDO DHAR, CEO, I-League
HRISHIKESH SHENDE, Head-Sports Marketing, adidas India
RISHI NARAIN, Founder Promoter, RN Golf Management
RATHINDRA BASU, VP & Head of Sales – India, IMG Media
VINIT KARNIK, National Director, GroupM ESP

3.00 – 3.15 NEW LEAGUE: Elite Football League of India (EFLI)

3.15 – 4.15 KNOWLEDGE SESSION: In Cricket’s own Country, Football Expands Second Base

VIJAY RAJPUT, Chief Operating officer, Star Sports India
PRITI SRIVASTAVA, VP, IMG Reliance
VIVEK SINGH, Joint MD, Procam International
LARSING MING SAWYAN, CEO & MD, Shillong Lajong FC
CHIRAG TANNA, Head-Operations, Pune FC
WASIM HAQ, Head-Sports Practice, Asia, Odgers Berndtson
ARUNAVA CHAUDHURI, writer and commentator

4.15 – 4.25 TEA / COFFEE

4.25 – 4.30 SportzPower-GroupM ESP INDIA SPORTS SPONSORSHIP REPORT

4.30 – 5.30 KNOWLEDGE SESSION: LEANDER PAES

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AirAsia Receives RNP-AR APCH Operations Approval

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The airline becomes the First Malaysian Operator to Fly New Efficient Flight Paths

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 December 2013 – AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline for five consecutive years received the approval to flyRequired Navigation Performance Authorisation Required approach (RNP-AR APCH) flight paths in Malaysia from the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA), aviation regulator and air navigation service provider.

The DCA granted AirAsia the nation’s first RNP-AR APCH operations approval after successful validation of the flight paths in Penang. Track mile savings at Penang could save AirAsia nearly 12 nautical miles per approach.

AirAsia has collaborated with GE Aviation, and DCA on the nation-wide flight path program since 2012 to improve operational efficiency at 15 airports in Malaysia. GE Aviation’s Flight Efficiency Services group has delivered procedures at Penang, Kuching, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Miri, Sibu and Kota Bharu airports. AirAsia expects to begin flying the procedures in its fleet of A320s in the coming weeks.

Aireen Omar, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad said, “This is a remarkable achievement for AirAsia and we are proud to be the first airline in Malaysia to be granted the RNP-AR APCH Operations approval. We constantly innovate and do our best to contribute more to the country and elevate the aviation infrastructure. By achieving significant mile savings, we are able to save on fuel costs and this could be translated to more low fares for our guests.”

“We would like to thank the DCA, specifically its respective Flight Operations, Airworthiness and Air Traffic Control divisions and other relevant government agencies for recognizing AirAsia’s operational capability and giving us the approval and trust to operate RNP-AR APCH flight paths in Malaysia. Special thanks to our partner, GE Aviation for the technical support and expertise to make this a reality. Kudos to all AirAsia team members involved in this great undertaking, whose hard work marks another significant milestone for us,” she added.

Performance-based Navigation (PBN) technology allows pilots to use onboard technology to follow a precise track, independent of ground-based navigation beacons that limit where the aircraft can go. RNP-AR APCH procedures, an advanced form of PBN technology, can be designed to shorten the distance an aircraft has to fly en-route, and to reduce fuel burn, exhaust emissions and noise pollution in communities near airports. Because of RNP-AR APCH’s precision and reliability, the technology can help air traffic controllers reduce flight delays and alleviate air traffic congestion.

AirAsia received support from its aviation partner GE, which has a suite of service offerings that increase an aircraft’s overall operational efficiency and is harnessing the power of the Industrial Internet and using software and analytics to make its machines smarter and more efficient. GE used data analytics to identify ways to reduce operating costs, increase aircraft utilization and improve the business of flight for AirAsia.

“The RNP-AR APCH flight paths can save up to 23 nautical miles at Kuching Airport and 18 nautical miles at Kota Bharu, compared to the standard terminal arrival,” said Giovanni Spitale, General Manager of GE Aviation’s Flight Efficiency Services. “Many of the new flight procedures, including Langkawi, now provide aircraft an instrument approach procedure with vertical guidance to runways that did not previously have any.” Once the flight paths are in place at the 15 airports, AirAsia expects to save up to RM1 million a year from reduced fuel costs.

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Aga Hussain elected as an Executive Committee Member of ARFU

13122013

Phnom Penh – Cambodia : Aga Hussain, who is the Vice President of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), was elected for a 2^nd term to the 10 member Executive Committee of Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU). In 2011, he had made history when he became the first Indian ever to be elected to this position. The election took place at the Council meeting of ARFU in Phnom Penh on Sun 8^th December ’13.

Rugby India has grown from strength to strength. It has hosted the 12 Nation Asian Women’s Sevens Championship in Pune three years in a row and The HSBC Asian Men’s Sevens Series, in Mumbai twice.

Aga Hussain, who led the country in its very first International tournament in 1998, has worked tirelessly to popularize and develop the sport of Rugby in India. A game that was enjoyed only in a few metros until recently, has spread across the country. At ARFU, he would continue to serve on the high profile Tournament Committee which is in–charge of organizing and executing Rugby tournaments across Asia, for the next 2 years. Aga Hussain, who was pleased with the outcome said, “I am honored to have been re-elected and thank the 28 member Council for their confidence in me. I am committed to highlight issues of all the developing Rugby Nations in Asia and to ensure an equal representation of their views in all policy decisions. ”

The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) is the governing body of Rugby in Asia under the authority of the International Rugby Board (IRB). Founded in 1968 by eight charter nations, ARFU today has 28 members across Asia, stretching from the Jordan in the West to Japan in the East and from Mongolia in the North to Indonesia in the South.

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Kipyego, Kipsang, Kabuu looking to record personal bests at ADHM 2013

13122013

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New Delhi, 12th December 2013: Jos Hermens, one of the most respected figures in the world of distance running, talent management and coordination of elite athlete participation described the field assembled for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on December 15 as one of best in the world. Speaking to the media while introducing the first group of elite athletes, Hermens said, 㴨e best runners in the world are participating in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2013 and this yearⳠevent will be one the best of the season.伯span>

Speaking on the elite field, Hermens said Edwin Kipyego of Kenya was in good form and would attempt to defend his title here. Kipyego set his personal best at this yearⳠPhiladelphia Half Marathon, where he finished third. KipyegoⳠfellow countryman Geoffrey Kipsang will be his closest rival in the run, added Hermens. Kipyego set his personal best in the RAK Half Marathon, which ranks him No. 1 in the IAAF top lists. In womenⳠcategory, worldⳠfastest women of 2013 Lucy Kabuu of Kenya, and Meseret Hailu of Ethiopia may set new records in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, said Hermens.

Defending champ Kipyego felt the cool weather in Delhi would play a big role in faster timings on Sunday. ㉠am thankful to the organisers to pushing the event to December. The weather is very cool and good for the runners. Last year it was quite hot and humid and some of the participants found it hard to cope with the conditions. The participants are very strong this time, but I am hopeful that I⬬ run my personal best here,䠳aid Kipyego.

Kipsang, the fastest male of 2013 in the half marathon said, ㉠participated here in 2011 and I think this yearⳠfield is stronger than previous seasons. This is a good time to run and I am fully prepared for this event. I am aiming to better my performance and give my best.”

Lucy Kabuu, the fastest woman of 2013 is also making her second appearance here, having won the event in 2011 and is confident of doing well inspite of having just recovered from illness.

㉠have recently recovered from Malaria and initially, my condition was not satisfactory. But my daughter insisted and encouraged me to participate in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and win it.

She always comes first in her school and she expects the same result from me. The weather is good in Delhi and I am hoping for my personal best here,䠳aid Kabuu.

For further information, please contact:

CONCEPT PR

Animesh Biswas +91 9891789639 animesh@conceptpr.com

Abhay Pratap Singh +91 9818413169 abhay@conceptpr.com

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IDSA unveils Annual Survey Report FY 2012-13

12122013

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2 left to right-Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Ms. Chavi Hemanth, Mr. Amarnath Sengupta, Dr. S. P. Sharma

Direct Selling Industry continues to aim high despite hurdles reaching at Rs. 7,164 crores

New Delhi, 12 December 2013:

Key Statistics

· Direct Selling Industry grew by 12.2% in 2012-13

· Industry Market Size reached at Rs. 7,164 crores for 2012-13

· Expected to attain Rs. 34,000 crores by 2019-20

· Average turnover of Northern region reaches at 27% in 2012-13 from 20%in 2011-12

· In Southern region, the turnover has declined to 30% in 2012-13 from 38% in 2011-12

· Growth of total distributor base reported 18.9% growth in 2012-13 over 2011-12

· Total distributor base reaches approx. 60 Lakhs

· Wellness continues to contribute highest to the sales revenue at 47%

· Fiscal contribution touches at about Rs. 987 crores

· Percentage of self-employed distributors base: Men-40.6% & Women-59.4% in 2012-13

Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) in association with PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry released Annual Survey Report 2012-13 on the Indian Direct Selling Industry today in New Delhi.

The survey report was unveiled by Ms Chavi Hemanth, Secretary General, IDSA ; Mr. Amarnath Sengupta, Chairman, IDSA ; Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Executive Director, PHD Chamber and Dr. S.P. Sharma, Chief Economist, PHD Chamber.

Chavi Hemanth, Secretary General, IDSA stated $B!H(BIDSA in collaboration with PHD Chamber as an on$B!>(Bgoing process has benchmarked monitoring of the Direct Selling sector in India. These statistics are one of the imperatives from WFDSA (World Federation of Direct Selling Association)..$B!I(BFor more information on WFDSA, please refer http://www.wfdsa.org

She further said, $B!H(BThe industry continuous to develop and has shown growth of 12% during 2012-13, expanding from Rs. 6,385 crores in 2011-12 to Rs. 7,164 crores in 2012-13. I am confident that we will continue to grow at an annual average of more than 20% for next 3 years. On account of regulatory hurdles specifically in the State of Kerala, the Southern region$B!G(Bs share in sales revenue has reduced to 30% in 2012-13 from 38% in 2011-12.$B!I(B

Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Executive Director, PHD Chamber said that $B!H(BDirect Selling Industry is a rapidly emerging and boosting self employment opportunities, encouraging women empowerment and it holds immense importance to the overall economic system. However, presently the country is faced with several challenges to its growth. Notable among them are high inflation, stagnating manufacturing output, high fiscal deficit, widening current account deficit, volatility in the exchange rate scenario, a sluggish investment environment, poor availability of skilled manpower, slow employment generation and inadequate poverty alleviation which has impacted directly or indirectly the Direct Selling Sector. However, the industry is aiming high but there are several regulatory challenges which affect the growth of industry.$B!I(B

Mr. Amarnath Sengupta, Chairman of IDSA said, $B!H(BDirect Selling companies have been active towards the growth of the Indian economy by contribution to the exchequer and generation of self employment opportunities. The total tax paid by the member company$B!G(Bs amounts to Rs. 987 crore in 2012-13 as compared to Rs. 821 crores in 2011-12. With a growth of 20% in 2012-13 over 2011-12. For self employment opportunities, approx 60 Lakhs Distributors in India are associated with Direct selling companies in India.$B!I(B

He further stated that $B!H(BOut of 60 Lakhs Distributors, Women constitute 60% of total sales force. However the share of men has increased from 37.5% in 2011-12 to 40.6% in 2012-13. The analysis of the figures done to gauge the growing popularity of Menfolk in Direct Selling revealed that they are looking at Direct Selling Industry to provide them with a supplementary income.$B!I(B

Dr. S.P.Sharma, Chief Economist, PHD Chamber said $B!H(BThe Direct Selling Industry has been emerging as an alternative sales distribution channel in Indian market over the years and the growth prospects of the industry are bright which is set to take off as driven by strong consumer base, rising urbanisation, growing middle class population and expanding markets going forward. Though the industry has grown by 12% in the current FY2012-13 but the growth prospects of the industry is estimated to increase five fold by 2019-20 reaching up to Rs. 34,000 crores from Rs. 7,164 crores in 2012-13. Overall the industry is slated to grow at an average of more than 20% in the next three years.$B!I(B

Mr. Amarnath Sengupta, Chairman, IDSA has reportedly said that the government needs to strengthen the regulatory and policy framework for Direct Selling Industry which should completely weed out the fraudulent financial pyramid schemes out of the market.

Ms. Chavi Hemanth, Secretary General, IDSA focused on the key request to the Government for a separate legislation which should focus on money back guarantee, buy back guarantee and product return policies. She stated that once we have a clear policy in place, I can assure that the strength of Direct Selling Companies will manifold to an astounding turnover.

The forum was concluded by Ms. Chavi Hemanth, Secretary General and she expressed her delight with the association between PHD Chamber and IDSA.

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Media interaction at Road show of Pashupati Area Development Trust Nepal in Delhi

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Media interaction at Road show of Pashupati Area Development Trust Nepal in Delhi.
Madam Thapa explained about the Nepal tourism vision to the tourism fraternity and media fraternity present in large numbers to promote the sector with various model,the Hindu,Buddhist religious and wild life sanctuaries spread across pan Nepal. Nepal tourism authorities and third officer from the mebassy with member of PADT were presents.

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Aspen Talk, Rotarians ,PADT Media interact

14122013

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Chileans to vote on Bachelet and Matthei fight in run-off

15122013

Chileans casting their votes in a presidential run-off, with Michelle Bachelet widely expected to win. Left-wing candidate faces Evelyn Matthei, a former minister in the governing centre-right coalition.

Ms Bachelet, who was president in 2006-10, won the first round last month, but failed to secure an outright majority.

The contenders are the daughters of air force generals, once friends, who found themselves on opposite sides when Gen Augusto Pinochet seized power in 1973.

Polls across Chile opened at 08:00 local time (11:00 GMT) and will close 10 hours later.reports BBC.

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Mandela’s funeral

15122013

KUNU, South Africa, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) — Mandela’s funeral is underway at his ancestral village of Qunu in Eastern Cape on Sunday.

Over 4,500 people, including Mandela’s family, African heads of state, politicians and celebrities are present at the funeral ceremony, which is accompanied by full military ceremonial honors.

Malawian President Joyce Banda and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete are among the African leaders at the ceremony. Speakers include Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, representing the family, Mandela’s close friend Ahmed Kathrada.

Prince Charles from Britain, billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe and celebrity Oprah Winfrey are also attending the funeral.

It is the end of the 10-day national mourning since Dec. 5, when the 95-year-old anti-apartheid icon passed away at his home in Houghton.

The funeral is taking place in a white dome, where chants are singing and bands are playing to hail the country’s former president’s life and contribution.

Mandela’s funeral will also be held in a traditional Xhosa customs, which is from his tribe Thembu community.

Mandela’s burial will be held before noon in his family grave site at a more private ceremony, according to the official news. The burial is reported to have only 450 guests.

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UN peacekeepers killed in Mali

15122013

A car bomb explosion has killed several members of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali in the northern city of Kidal, 1,600 kilometers northeast of the capital, a spokesman for the mission said. “There was an explosion this morning and the info I have is that there were several dead and wounded among the blue helmets,” the mission spokesman, Fred Fath, told AP. According to an unnamed intelligence official, two Senegalese peacekeepers are among the dead. He said that a car packed with explosives detonated in front of the only operating bank, guarded by the peacekeepers. Kidal resident, Abdallah Ag Ibrahim, said the bank crumbled, a UN armored personnel car caught fire, and a nearby school was engulfed in flames. He also said he saw four people who were either dead or injured.

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Egypt to vote on new draft constitution

15122013

Egypt to vote on new draft constitution on January 14 -15 – President

Egyptians are set to vote on a new draft constitution on January 14 and 15, Egypt’s interim president, Adly Mansour, announced. The president has called on the opposition to ”give up on their stubbornness,” to stop “following a mirage” and to join the nation. ”Let this constitution be words of justice, that unite and don’t separate,” he said. The constitution was drafted recently and published by Al-Ahram. The referendum had been expected in mid-December.

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France: More assistance in its peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic

15122013

French foreign minister to ask for EU help ‘on the ground’ in Central African Republic

Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, has said that the country needs more assistance in its peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic, where Muslim rebels are waging a war against deposed president Francois Bozize and his Christian supporters. “That is a real, big problem. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Council of Foreign Ministers and I will ask (European partners) for stepped-up, more robust aid, including on the ground,” Fabius told Europe 1 radio. Other European countries have so far provided material resources, but with 1,600 troops, France is the only country with a ground force in the conflict zone.

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Turkmenistan holds parliamentary election

15122013

A total of 283 candidates are seeking seats in the 125-member one-chamber legislature. For the first time since the country gained its independence in 1991, more than one party will run for the Turkmen parliament. Challenging the ruling Democratic Party of the current country’s president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, will be the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs founded in August 2012. Another innovation of the elections is that a mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will monitor the elections.

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China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon

15122013

China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday,the state media. The event marks the first soft-landing on the moon in three decades, joining the USA and former USSR in achieving the feat.

China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that the spacecraft touched down in the Sinus Iridum, known as the Bay of Rainbows, at 9:11 p.m. after hovering over the moon’s surface for an unspecified few minutes, scouting out a suitable place to land. The subsequent soft-landing did not damage the craft, unlike a previous mission in 2007 when China sent a lunar probe to conduct a controlled crash into the moon’s surface.China plans to launch another lunar probe in 2017, with the intention to land the probe on the moon, release the rover, and return the probe back to Earth. Beijing also has plans to build a working space station by 2020.

China sees its space program as a symbol of national pride, rising global influence, and growing technical expertise.

Beijing began its manned space program in 1992. In 2003, China successfully sent Yang Liwei, the country’s first taikonaut, into orbit aboard the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft.

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CAG Report SSNNL 99% Corruption – Order JPC Investigation

15122013

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Honorable Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh
South Block
New Delhi 110011

DAMS, IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT STOPPED SINCE NDA RULE
 National Tragedy, Order Joint Parliamentary Investigation

Respected,

I have received Action on Prime Minister References revealing SHOCKING
REPORTS –

1. Not a Brick Has Been Laid on Renuka, Lakhwar and Vyasi
Multi-Purpose Dams even though Yamuna Water Sharing Agreement of 1954
Between Punjab & UP Cleared the way for building these three dams.

2. Lunatic RIVER LINKING idea has not died and is HINDERING
Multi-purpose Dam building in South Asia – Over 200,000 MW Hydro
Potential is not created enough to produce all the Electricity India
Produces along with 1000 BCM Plus water going to sea.

3. Sardar Sarovar Nigam Project is 99% or 100% Corruption -

http://nca.gov.in/news_index.htm
 While Command Area Irrigated Is Barely 1.1 Lakh Hectares, Against
18.4 lakh Planned, Area submerged and acquired for SSP is 1.175 Lakh
Hectare. SSP WORLD’S WORST PROJECT.

 Original Cost of SSP Project was Rs.6406 crores 1986-87 for Entire
Project, NCA Reports Rs.5736 crores Was Released By GOI for Narmada
Canal against Rs.4,406 cr Estimate, Present Cost as Per TISS Report is
Rs.72,000 crores 2012.

 CAG also reported Substandard Canals & No Maintenance.

 Over 17 Lakh Hectares CCA Shall Not Get WATER forever DUE TO POOR
DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION.

 Against around 3.7 Billion Cubic Meters Illegally Diverted for
Drinking Water & Industry – Just 1.134 BCM was drawn from Canal and
perhaps 0.5 BCM actually reach Consumers.

 Drinking Water is Supplied RAW without treatment – Health Hazard.
 THIS GUJARAT SCANDALOUS MULTI STATE MODEL IS ADVOCATED FOR INDIA.

 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE Should Investigate This.

Thank you,
Faithfully,

Ravinder Singh*
Inventor & Consultant
Progressindia008@yahoo.com
*Ravinder Singh is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power,
Transportation, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing,
Technologies and Projects.

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Woodpecker Film festival, Dec 19-21, 2013, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

15122013

Dear Mr Sagar,

Greetings!

I am happy to share that the first edition of the Woodpecker Film festival will be organised form Dec 19-21, 2013 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. I cordially invite you to attend the festival. Please find attached Festival Invitation and Screening Schedule.

Highlights of the Festival:

Festival Inauguration: Dec 19, 10:00 am, Magnolia, IHC
Inaugural Film: “Celluloid Man” (Dec 19, 02:00 pm)
Film Screenings: Dec 19-21 at Magnolia and Gulmohar (Open for All)
Open Forum: “Sexual Harassment at Workplace” (Dec 20, 12:00 pm)
Special Screening : “As the River Flows”, a film by Bidyut Kotoky (Dec 20, 07:00 pm onwards, Gulmohar, IHC)
Award Nite: Dec 21, 07:00 pm-09:00pm, Hotel Suryaa, New Friends Colony, Delhi

I look forward to meet you during the festival.

With Best Wishes

Narender Yadav

Festival Director

The Woodpecker Film Festival

9810821868

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Press Conference of AAP on “Govt Jokpal”

15122013

The farce in the name of the Lokpal Bill

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On You Tube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmwU7urV1rE

Jan Lokpal was conceived as an independent empowered and accountable ombudsman which could independently, credibly and expeditiously investigate corruption offences of all public servants who are today not being investigated because the investigating agencies are controlled by the same public servants who need to be investigated. Such a Lokpal would need to be functionally, financially and even in terms of appointment and accountability be independent of the government and indeed the political establishment even if they are for the time being not in government. A Jan Lokpal bill was drafted by the Civil Society members of the joint drafting committee for this purpose in June 2011 which had the support of at least 80% people of the country. A fast was undertaken by Anna Hazare at Ramlila Maidan in August 2011 for this purpose, at the end to which the Parliament passed a unanimous resolution committing to passing a Lokpal Bill which would have at least 3 elements: That all public servants, high or low would be included in the investigative ambit of the Lokpal; that the Lokpal would also monitor the Citizen’s charters and have the power to penalize public authorities and servants who violate it; and that the Lokpal bill would contain provisions for Lokayktas on the same lines as the Lokpal for the States, which would take of corruption among State Public servants.

Unfortunately however, the government introduced and passed a farcical bill called the Lokpal Bill 2011 in December 2011. The same bill was then brought before the Rajya Sabha but torn up and thrown away and then referred to the Select Committee. The Bill as passed by the Lok Sabha left the selection of the Lokpal essentially in the hands of the government. It also left the accountability of the Lokpal in government hands, thus completely compromising the independence of the Lokpal. Equally importantly, this bill left the Lokpal’s corruption investigations in the hands of a government controlled CBI. Also, the bill did not contain even a single one of the 3 provisions which the Parliament had unanimously promised Anna Hazare before he broke his fast. Only group A public servants and not all were brought within the Lokpal’s purview; There was no provision for a State Lokayukta’s in this bill; and there was no mention of a citizens charter. Moreover, the investigation of the Lokpal was crippled by the need to first have a preliminary inquiry where the accused public servant would have to be heard (thus allowing him to destroy evidence) before even the FIR could be registered. And worst of all, a person whose complaint was labeled “frivolous or vexatious” by this government controlled Lokpal could be imprisoned for upto 5 years (even more than the punishment for corruption)! That is why we had called this bill a Jokepal bill or a bill for the protection of corrupt public servants.

The select committee has recommended some cosmetic changes in the bill which do not take care of the fundamental defects of the bill. In the selection and removal of the Lokpal, slightly more weightage has been given to the opposition rather than the government, but even with this, the appointment and removal of the lokpal remains under the control of the political class who usually would have the same vested interest to have a weak and pliable Lokpal. Similarly, the select committee has recommended that the CBI officers investigating the corruption complaints entrusted to them by the Lokpal would remain under the suprintendance of the Lokpal which means nothing since the CVC which has some power currently has not been able to prevent the CBI from acting at the behest of the government. However, the essential administrative powers over the CBI officers of promotions, postings, disciplinary control and post retirement jobs would remain with the government, thus rendering them beholden to and dependant on the government. Nothing substantive is proposed by the select committee to deal with 2 of the 3 assurances of Parliament to Anna, namely Lokayuktas on the same lines in the States and the Citizen’s charter.

We are now witnessing an unseemly spectacle in Parliament with the Congress and the BJP fighting to claim credit for passing this farcical Jokepal bill, with or without some of the cosmetic amendments of the select committee. The bill finalized secretly by the Congress and the BJP, would in either case, it would remain a far cry from the Jan Lokpal bill which had been drafted by Team Anna and for which Anna had fasted at Ramlila maidan.

Anna is on fast again at Ralegan Siddhi for the Lokpal bill. Agents of the Congress and the BJP have been going to him to get him to accept this Jokepal bill. He has made a statement that he is willing to accept the bill as proposed by the government, which is not even in the public domain. We realized more than a year ago that these corrupted parties like the Congress and the BJP were not going to allow any independent and credible Lokpal which would send half of their ministers and many of their leaders to jail. That is why we had to form a political party, realizing that we will need to be in the legislatures to get the Jan Lokpal bill passed. No amount of Fasting and protests will force these parties to do what the country really needs. While expressing our full support for the cause for which Anna is fasting, we call upon him to give up his fast and join the resurgent civil society movement for an electoral revolution in the country which promises to bring about the revolutionary changes in the democratic, electoral and anti corruption system in the country.

IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE JAN LOKPAL BILL & THE BILL NOW PROPOSED

As per Govt’s Lokpal Bill	As per Jan Lokpal Bill
Appointment: Lokpal will be selected 5 members: by PM, Leader of Opposition, Speaker, CJI, and one jurist nominated by these 4.(thus majority of those who will select Lokpal will be from the political class, who themselves will need to be investigated by the Lokpal)	Lokpal will be appointed by a 7 member committee, consisting of 2 SC judges, 2 HC judges, 1 nominee of CAG+CVC+CEC, PM and Leader of Opposition
Removal: For removal, only the Govt, or 100 MPs can make a complaint to the SC.(thus rendering the removal largely under control of the government and the political class, and compromising its independence)	Any citizen can complain to the SC seeking removal of any member of Lokpal.
Investigating machinery: The Lokpal would have to get the complaints investigated by any investigating agency, including the CBI, all of which would continue to remain under the administrative control of the government. The transfer, postings and post-retirement jobs of CBI officers would be under the control of the govt, thus compromising the independence of the investigative machinery.	The CBI will be brought under the administrative control of the Lokpal, so that the investigating machinery can be made independent of the government.
Whistleblower protection: Not mentioned in the government’s bill.	The Jan Lokpal Bill includes provisions for protection of whistleblowers.
Citizens Charter: Not mentioned in the government bill.(this was one of the unanimous assurances made by parliament to Anna Hazare when he broke his fast in August 2011)	The Jan Lokpal instituted a mechanism for prosecution of government officials if they failed to fulfill their duties under the citizens charter, which was to be created in this Bill.
Lokayuktas in the State: Have been left to the discretion of the state governments.(this was one of the unanimous assurances made by parliament to Anna Hazare when he broke his fast in August 2011)	The Jan Lokpal bill sought to create a Lokayukta along the same lines as the one at the center.
Frivolous Complaints: Any person making a false or frivolous complaint could be jailed for up to 1 year, which will deter even honest complainants from going to the Lokpal.	There was a penalty up to Rs. 1 lakh, but no provision for imprisonment.
Ambit of the Lokpal: Judiciary excluded completely and MPs excluded in respect of their votes and speeches in Parliament.	Included all public servants, including judges and MPs, with regard to all their public duties.

Some relevant tweets

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ANI ‏@ANI_news3m

Anna wants law,he is a movement,but they want issues beacuse they are a political party now : Kiran Bedi on AAP

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NDTV ‏@ndtv19m

I want to say ‘no comment’: Anna Hazare to questions on rift with Arvind Kejriwal

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Evident that CBI will be independent, Kejriwal should re-read Bill: Kiran Bedi on remarks that control of CBI will remain with the Govt
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Anna Hazare says he has read the provisions of the Lokpal Bill properly#LokpalFight #BreakingNow
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Hazare asks AAP to start fresh agitation to help remove shortcomings, if any, in the amended Lokpal Bill.

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AAP says Anna is being misled. Is he a kid? He has been fighting for #lokpalforever, takes his own final decision: Kiran Bedi

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All political parties to come together and help pass the Bill ” – Shri Rahul Gandhi.

15122013

Indian National Congress

“There is a broad consensus that the Lok Bill is a very important tool of national importance in combating corruption. We have been working on it for the last 3 years and are 99% there. We appeal to all political parties to come together and help pass the Bill ” – Shri Rahul Gandhi.

No matter which political party you support, watch this video, know what has been done till now and call YOUR party’s MP and request them to support the Lokpal Bill.

Please share with friends and likeminded people.

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1st Semi-Final: Coca-Cola Cricket Cup U-16 Inter-School Tournament, Delhi-leg

15122013

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1^st Semi-Final: Coca-Cola Cricket Cup U-16 Inter-School Tournament, Delhi-leg

Prasahant’s All-Round Performance Lifts Salwan Boys School to Final

New Delhi, 14^th December 2013: Prashant Vashisht’s all-round performance helped Salwan Boys Sr. Sec. School, Rajender Nagar beat Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ITO by six wickets in the first Semi-Final of the Coca-Cola Cricket Cup under-16 inter-school tournament, played at Bharat Nagar ground today.

Salwan Boys Sr. Sec. School won the toss and opted to field first. Prashant Vashisht and Sahil Khan’s rattled the opponent’s batting line-up with their four-wicket hauls and bundled out them at a score of 125 for eight in 35 overs.

For Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Shashank Kohli and Himanshu Sharma showed some resistance with their 31 and 24 run knocks.

While chasing, Salwan Boys School achieved the target after losing four wickets. Shivam Chauhan steered the batting line-up with his 40-run knock. He was well-supported by all-rounder Prashant, who remained unbeaten at 25 to win the match in 23 overs.

Prashant was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his all-round performance. Second semi-final match will be played between Kulachi Hansraj Model School, Ashok Vihar and Vidya Jain Public School, Rohini at Bharat Nagar ground.

The Delhi-leg of the Coca-Cola Cricket Cup 2013-14 involved participation from 64 leading under-16 teams with matches played at various grounds across the Capital. The tournament has commenced from the second week of November and will run for around 3 to 4 weeks. Matches until the quarter-finals were played on a knock-out format, the 8 quarter-finalists then played a league.

The teams and players performing will stand a chance to win prizes at each stage post the quarter-final round. The winners and runners up of the Delhi-leg will be awarded prizes worth Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 35,000 respectively.

Brief Scores

BVB, ITO: 125 for 8 wkts in 35 overs (Shashank Kohli 31, Himanshu Sharma 24; Prashant Vashisht 4/17, Sahil Khan 4/17).

SBSSS-RN: 134 for 4 wkt in 23 overs (Shivam Chauhan 40, Prashant Vashisht 25 no; Samyak Jain 2/29, Shubham 2/46).

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Anna to address media in Ralegan Siddhi at 5 pm today

15122013

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Janlokpal ‏@janlokpal11m

Anna to address media in Ralegan Siddhi at 5 pm today

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ANI ‏@ANI_news57s

This Bill is for the betterment of the people, the country : Anna Hazarepic.twitter.com/vzH2c22aCb

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#lokpal Bill should be passed in the ongoing session of Parliament, Govt should extend session if need be to pass it: Anna Hazare

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I won’t end my fast till the time #lokpal Bill is passed in this session of Parliament: Anna Hazare

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Ethiopian Tsegay wins ADHM 2013 with new course record; Florence is women’s champion

15122013

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New Delhi, December 15, 2013:

Ethiopian Atsedu Tsegay demolished a highly competitive men’s elite athlete field and also set a new Course Record to win the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday.

Tsegay stopped the clock at 59.12 minutes to lower by 3 seconds the course record of 59.15, set by countryman Deriba Merga in 2008. He was followed home by Kenyans Geoffrey Kipsang in 59.30 and Wilson Kiprop (59.49). Kipsang, the fastest athlete of 2013 (58.54) was coping with the loss of his 17-year-old brother Elais, who passed away on Friday and did wonderfully to overcome his grief and run a brave race, but was thwarted in his bid to win the race as a tribute to his brother by a strong running Tsegay.

The women’s race, also chasing a course record, failed in its bid due to a slow start, but picked up in the later stages and was won by Kenyan Florence Kiplagat in 68 minutes. Florence, the 2103 Berlin Marathon winner, led a Kenyan clean sweep, with Gladys Cherono finishing second in 68.03 and Lucy Kabuu taking third place in 68.10.

The men’s and women’s winners were richer by USD 25,000.

The Indian category was won by G Lakshmanan and Preeja Sreedharan among the men and women respectively. Lakshmanan, representing the Army, finished in 64.44, followed home by Kheta Ram in 64.49 and Ratti Ram Saini in 64.51. Lakshmanan, finished 15^th overall, with Kheta Ram (16^th) and Ratti Ram (17^th).

Preeja, who has been training at high altitude in Munnar, Kerala, clocked 80.04, followed home by Kavita Raut (80.06) and Lalita Babbar (80.09). The winners took home Rs 2. 5 lakhs each.

A total of 31,000 plus runners participated in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2103, which offered total prize money of USD 210,000.

The men’s race began at a fast clip and was taken through the first 12 kms below the course record pace of 2.48 mins per km by pacers Vincent Rono and Timothy Kiptoo. After the pacemakers dropped out around the 12km mark, the pace fell a bit as the leaders assessed each other, before Atsedu took control of the race. The lead bunch of Atsedu, Kipsang, Kiprop and Kipkemoi were still running strongly and together, before Atsedu ran the 16^th km in 2.45 to open up the lead. Both Kipsang and Kiprop pushed hard to keep up with Atsedu till the 18^th km, who kept his foot on the pedal and gradually pulled away to win convincingly.

Defending champion Edwin Kipyego finished a disappointing eighth.

Atsedu, the fastest athlete of 2012, had a poor run at this event last year, finishing 20^th and suffering an ankle injury, that kept him out of competition for nearly a year. On Sunday he proved that he is back to his top form.

“I am happy to win the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon as I did not run for nearly a year because of an ankle injury. This is only my second race post the injury and am happy with my performance. I paced till 12 km and at 15 km I realized that I have a huge lead and will win the event. The climate was extremely cold so initially it was a little difficult to adjust to the conditions,” said Tsegay.

“This was a tough time for me, as I lost my younger brother two days ago. I was heartbroken, but I decided to stay and compete. I am happy with my performance and I would like to dedicate this race to my younger. While running, I only kept telling myself that I need to run and finish this race for my brother, “said Geoffrey Kipsang.

The elite women had a slow start as they did not keep pace with pacer Alice Kimutai, but picked up the speed and went through the 5km mark at 17.10, much behind course record pace. The next 5 kms were faster and the 10km mark was passed through in 33.17, at which point pacer Kimutai dropped out. It was a bunch of 6 women that went into the lead, among them Lucy Kabuu, Florence Kiplagat, Meseret Hailu, Gladys Cherono and Wude Ayalew. Florence further pushed the pace to take the group through 15km in 49.12 before Meseret dropped back at the 16km mark. The next three kms were run at a fast pace at an average of 3 mins per km and by the 18km mark Florence had opened up a lead of around 100m. Kabuu flagged a bit at this juncture but Gladys kept running powerfully to whittle down the lead, however, she could not catch up with a fast finishing Florence.

Indian men’s winner G Lakshmanan was content to remain behind leader V L Dangi for a major part of the race, before breaking away in the last two kms to win.

“It’s a good feeling to win, especially since I do not really prepare for long distance event. I only prepare for 5 km, 10 km and Asian track events. The weather conditions here were similar to our training camp in Bangalore and that really helped me. I had not expected to win with such good timing and I finished almost two minutes faster than the time I had set in mind,” said Lakshmanan.

The Indian women’s race was a very slow one, with the leading athletes content to bid their time. Preeja broke away in the last km to lead a sprint finish ahead of Kavita.

“I am very excited and happy to win the Airtel Delhi Half marathon. This is the first time I am participating in this event and the conditions here were the same as our camp in Munnar. I think, that was an advantage for me,” said Preeja.

As usual the race witnessed the participation of a large number of enthusiasts and celebrities, among them Anil Ambani, N Chandrasekharan (CEO & MD, TCS), and Rahul Bose. A host of dignitaries including event ambassador Donovan Bailey, besides Bipasha Basu, Gulshan Grover, Rakesh Mittal (Vice Chiarman and MD, Bharti Enterprises Ltd.), Ajay Puri (Director Market Operations, Bharti Airtel), were present to cheer on the participants.

Following are the results:

Overall Athlete Men

Atsedu Tsegay (ETH) 00:59:12 (NCR); Geoffrey Kipsang (KEN) 00:59:30;Wilson Kiprop (KEN) 00:59:49; Kenneth Kipkemoi (KEN) 00:59:55; Nicholas Kipkemboi (KEN) 01:00:24; Philemon Rono (KEN) 01:01:07; Gladwin Mzazi (RSA) 01.:01:12; Edwin Kipyego (KEN) 01:01:21; Leonard Korir (KEN) 01:01:25; Richard Mengich (KEN) 01:01:27.

Overall Athlete Women:

Florence Kiplagat (KEN) 01:08:00; Gladys Cherono (KEN) 01:08:03; Lucy Kabuu (KEN) 01:08:10; Meseret Hailu (ETH) 01:09:05; Wude Ayalew (ETH) 01:09:21; Emily Chebet (KEN) 01:09:22; Alice Kimutai (KEN) 01:10:09; Yebrgual Melese (ETH) 01:11:59; Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 01:12:01; Paskalia Kipkoech (KEN) 01:12:02.

Overall Indian Athlete Men:

G Laxmanan (IND) 01:04:44 (Overall 15th); Kheta Ram (IND) 01:04:49 (Overall 16^th); Rattiram Saini (IND) 01:04:51 (Overall 17^th); V L Dangi (IND) 01:04:53 (Overall 18^th); Indrajeet Patel (IND) 01:06:04 (Overall 19^th); Rahul Kumar Pal (IND) 01:06:17 (Overall 20^th); Mukesh Rawat (IND) 01:06:39; Baliappa A B (IND) 01:06:47; Rajesh Thankachan (IND) 01:08:34; Ajay Kumar Patel (IND) 01:09:45.

Overall Indian Athlete Women:

Preeja Sreedharan (IND) 01:20:04 (Overall 15^th); Kavita Raut (IND) 01:20:06 (Overall 16^th); Lalita Babbar (IND) 01:20:09 (Overall 17^th); Sudha Singh (IND) 01:20:20 (Overall 18^th); Ritu Pal (IND) 01:20:44 (Overall 19^th); Manisha Salunkhe (IND) 01:20:57 (Overall 20^th); Swati Gadhwe (IND) 01:21:09; Rohini Raut (IND) 01:21:55; Ranjana Kumari (IND) 01:27:01; Neetu (IND) 01:29:39.

Men: (35 to u-40 yrs)

Basant Pradhan 01:22:27; Mogon Kherkatary 01:22:30; Rabindra Sirka 01:22:30.

Women: (35 to u-40 yrs)

Jayanti Thapliyal 01:36:24; Lalita Madhwal 01:38:44; Shobha Desai 01:39:07.

Men: (40 to u-45 yrs)

Dan Lowson (UK) 01:14:28; Raman Nanda 01:20:22; Bhupender Singh 01:21:21.

Women: (40 to u-45 yrs)

Aurea Muller Dias 01:39:40; Vaishali Kasture 01:43:36; Shubha Bhargava 01:46:26.

Men: (45 to u-50 yrs)

Dinesh Kumar 01:22:32; Shiva Nanda Shetty 01:23:25; Mukesh Rana 01:24:45.

Women: (45 to u-50 yrs)

Roshini Bakshi 01:57:56; Meena Vankawala 01:59:43; Kiran Chulani 01:59:43.

Men: (50 to u-55 yrs)

Gary Hester (SWE) 01:18:41; Ashok Nath 01:24:26; Naresh Chand 01:34:59.

Women: (50 to u-55 yrs)

Asha Aggarwal 01:54:02; Young Yub Kim 02:00:53; Yukiko Yamamoto 02:02:56.

Men: (55 to u-60 yrs)

Sabhajeet Yadav 01:28:16; Ramdev Yadav 01:39:08; Ajaib Singh 01:39:46.

Men: (60 to u-65 yrs)

Bhasker Desai 01:40:45; Ashok Joshi 01:40:49; Subhash Chand Khatri 01:44:30.

Women: (60 to u-65 yrs)

Mala Honnatti 02:06:10

Men: (65 years and above)

Yudhavir Singh 01:51:06; Virendra Singh Rawat 01:53:22; Mahadev Samjiskar 01:59:38.

DHL Corporate Challenge Winners:

1^st CASV GROUP INDIA PVT. LTD.-05:06:19.

2^nd FREE SCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INDIA PVT. LTD. A-05:30:16.

3^rd GENEX LOGISOLUTIONS PVT. LTD.-05:33:41.

Kingfisher Ishtyle Wale Winner:

1^st (Theme) Queen Mosquito-Amarjeet R Bains ( Individual)

2^nd (Theme) Inflation-Pooja Malhotra (Individual)

3^rd (Theme) Prakurti-Tamanna Oberoi-(Individual)

Kingfisher Sensation Squad Winner:

1^st (Theme) Nirbhaya Damini-The Sovereign School

2^nd (theme) Child Labour-Maharaj Darshandas Charitable Trust

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World’s best to run in Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2013

15122013

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New Delhi, 14th December 2013: The world’s finest distance runners will take center stage on the grand platform that has been set up for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, the world’s most prestigious half marathon, which will be flagged off from the iconic J N Stadium on Sunday.

Keeping them company will be India’s best long distance athletes as well as 31,000 plus participants, competing in the different categories on race day.

Weather predictions for Sunday’s race are good with temperatures expected to range between 8 and 12 degrees during the race. In the men’s elite race, 18 international men will be paced by Timothy Kiptoo and Vincent Rono through around 12kms in 59.00 minutes pace, en route to attack the current Course Record of 59.15. It is expected to be a tight and competitive race amongst some of the key figures, including 2013 World Leader Geoffrey Kipsang (58.54), 2012 World Leader Atsedu Tsegay (58.47) and 2012 ADHM Champion Edwin Kipyego. Some dark horses in the packed elite field are 2013 Bangalore 10km Champion Alex Oloitiptip and 2012 Seven Hills Race champion Nicholas Kipkemboi.

The women’s elite field is not to be underestimated either. Having defending Champion Wude Ayalew, 2013 World Leader Lucy Kabuu (66.09), 2012 World Half Marathon Champion Meseret Hailu, 2013 Berlin Marathon Champion Florence Kiplagat and Silver Medalist of the 2013 World Championships 10,000m Gladys Cherono competing for high honours, it is also expected to be close race. The outsider on the women’s side is double World Cross Champion Emily Chebet.

The Indian men’s race is also expected to be a close race with no clear favourite, though defending champion Rahul Kumar Pal and his teammates from the Army, Kheta Ram V L Dangi, G Lakshmanan and Irappa D Akki, are expected to hold sway over the field. In good form is also Indrajeet Patel of ONGC and Rati Ram Saini of Railways, who are also a part of the Indian camp.

The Indian women’s race will see a fight between the big three of Indian distance running, defending champion Sudha Singh, Preeja Sredharan and Kavita Raut. Former winner Lalita Babbar and Manisha Salunkhe can be expected to chase the lead pack closely.

Sudha Singh said, “I have been practicing for the last month at our national training camp in Bangalore and I have been working hard for the Commonwealth and Asian games. This time too, I will try my best to come in the top 3.”

Preeja Sreedharan stated, “This is my first time in Delhi, and I have been training hard at our camp in Munnar. This event will serve as a good practise race for me as I prepare for the Commonwealth and Asian Games.”

The Half Marathon for Elite men will start at 7.20 am, followed by the Half Marathon for Elite women at 7.25 am. The DHL Corporate Champions race will be flagged off at 7.30 am, followed by the various timed categories in the Open Half Marathon, which will be flagged off between 7.40 am and 8.00 am. These will be followed by the Champions With Disability at 8.10 am, the Senior Citizens’ Run at 8.20 am and the Great Delhi Run at 9.30 am.

As part of the distance running tradition, promoters Procam International organised the ‘Pasta with Pundit’s. The event witnessed a live pasta cook-out involving event ambassador Donovan Bailey, the face of the event Bipasha Basu, Milkha Singh, Rahul Bose, Frank Schloder – Director Marketing, BMW, Meena Bhatia of Le Meridien, Mukul Chowdhury, Director General, NADA, Anil & Vivek Singh from Promoters, Procam International as they wore their toque’s and experimented their culinary skills.

The race day will also see in action different personalities from India Inc. and Bollywood.

Representing India Inc, will be the country’s top honchos and running enthusiast Anil Ambani, Gopal Vittal and N Chandrasekaran.

The Bollywood fraternity would be represented by Bipsha Basu, Face of the event along with Rahul Bose, Manisha Koirala, Mahima Choudhury and Gulshan Grover among others.

Race Day proceedings will be telecast live on Star Sports 4, the Channel Partner from 7.00 am to 10.00 am with a simulcast on DD Sports, the Broadcast Partner.

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Blind Runners to Participate Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

15122013

By sagarmedia on December 15, 2013 | Edit

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George Abraham (From Delhi) – 09810934040

Gulab Bhandari - 0945651519

Blind Runners to Participate Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

George Abraham is from Delhi. This is the second year that George will be participating in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. After completing the 21km run in 2010, George is back this year to raise funds for his organization “Score Foundation” which works towards giving a new vision of life to the blind. He is a communicator by profession and is actively involved in the production of the popular serial on Doordarshan “Nazar Ya Nazariyan”. George’s wife has also participated in the Marathon in 2010 and 2011 while his 2 kids have been his pillars of support during the run.

Gulab Singh Bhandari is from Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He will be running Airtel Delhi Half Marathon this year with his nephew. He has been participating in the Delhi Marathon since 2010. This year he took part in the local run that was held in Dehradun alongwith his daughter who helped him complete the race. The reason behind running the Marathon was so that society gave respect to people like him and he was eagerly looking forward to many more such opportunities to prove that he was perfect just like others in every way.

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Kejriwal –15 Points Are AAP Responsibility, 13 Ten Days Job

14122013

December14, 2013

Forming and Running the government is AAP responsibility – 15 Points
are entirely AAP responsibility – 13 can be implemented in 10 days.
Power, Transportation, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture,
Manufacturing, Technologies are all under AAP Control. All bold black
points are AAP responsibility.

http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/sites/default/files/Letter%20to%20Rajnath%20Singh.pdf
Here I am giving point wise response to all.

1. Supreme Court had already BANNED Red Lights use.

2. Janlokpal is already under implementation.

3. Aam Admi Party is already in a position to form government.
Already Implemented.

4. Full State status needs Parliament Legislation.

5. Discom Audit Can be ordered within 10 days.

6. Fast Meter can be Tested – Not a Problem – Implementable in 10 days.

7. Water related issues can be implemented in ten days.

8 & 9. These Require Capita Investment.

10. This can be implemented in 10 Days – Companies Draw Full Wages
but hire low wage staff.

11. AAP can increase ST on products imported in to Delhi.

12. FDI is Legal Issue – Companies already licensed can’t be removed
easily. E-Commerce is BOOMING – soon there shall be BIG Change in
RETAIL business.

13. AAP can easily provide more SUPPORT to Delhi Farmers, Green
Houses, Drip Irrigation etc.

14. AAP can RESTRICT Private School Enrolment to within 1-2 kilometers.

15. AAP may restrict OUTSTATION Patients. Assist states to open
Hospitals in and around NCT regions.

16. Women Security – Install 5 CCTV in every RWA and opposite Bus
Stops & Metro Stations.

17. AAP can constitute 25 New E-Consumer Courts in 10 Days.

18. Assistance from Center is available through Hundreds of Schemes –
few need Legislation.

Ravinder Singh*
Inventor & Consultant
New Delhi 110016
Progressindia008@yahoo.com
*Ravinder Singh is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power,
Transportation, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing,
Technologies and Projects.

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Hitachi Hosts “Social Innovation Forum New Delhi”

16122013

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Implementing measures to achieve revenues of 300 billion yen in FY2015

as part of India Regional Strategy 2015

Delhi, December 16, 2013 – Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) and Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd., today announced that Hitachi Group will host the “Hitachi Social Innovation Forum New Delhi” in the capital of the Republic of India (“India”) as part of efforts to expand business in the country. This Group exhibition in New Delhi will take place over two days, on December 16 and 17. The Forum will include an Innovation Summit held jointly with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), as well as various business seminars and exhibits of products and solutions. The goal of the event is to introduce to Indian customers and business partners the Hitachi Group’s industrial devices and solutions, rail systems, and other social infrastructures, along with a wide range of other products, solutions, and advanced technologies, such as information and telecommunication systems, construction machinery, automotive devices, and air conditioners.

“This is a momentous day for us as we are organizing the “Hitachi Social Innovation Forum” in India. The Forum comprising of Innovation Summit, Business seminars, and Exhibition organized here on December 16 and 17 have underscored our long-term commitment towards India, which is one of the most important regions in Hitachi’s Global strategy. We have demonstrated this in December 2012, when we conducted for the first time in India a Board meeting outside Japan. After that historic Board meeting, Hitachi announced its “India Business Strategy 2015” targeting consolidated revenues of 300 billion yen (200 billion rupee⁽¹⁾) in Fiscal 2015 which is approximately three times higher than in Fiscal 2011, and executing investments of 70 billion yen (47 billion rupee⁽¹⁾) to promote various measures to achieve this target.” said Junzo Nakajima, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, CEO for Asia Pacific, Hitachi, Ltd. “We at Hitachi aim to stand by India and together fuel a big change of building a sustainable society. And we share our vision for India Tomorrow through the “Hitachi Social Innovation Forum.” We are fully committed to contribute to long-term development of Indian society through our Social Innovation Business.”

Hitachi has positioned India as one of the most important regions in its global strategy; for example, in December 2012, a board meeting was held in India, marking the first time for Hitachi to hold a Board meeting outside of Japan since its establishment. In conjunction with that first overseas board meeting, the company announced its “India Business Strategy 2015,” which focuses on plans for total investments of 70 billion yen (47 billion rupee⁽¹⁾) in India by FY2015 and an increase in consolidated revenues to 300 billion yen (200 billion rupee⁽¹⁾) in FY2015, which is about 3 times the level in FY2011. In keeping with the basic policy of “Contribute to the medium and long-term development of Indian society through the ‘Social Innovation Business’,” Hitachi will expand business mainly by: bolstering businesses that support local production for local consumption in India through increased localization; strengthening partnerships with Indian companies to expand the business base strongly connected with the Indian market; and expanding business into Africa and the Middle East employing India as a base.

Since the announcement of the “India Business Strategy 2015,” Hitachi has been steadily promoting local production for local consumption through increased localization; for example, with the expansion of manufacturing and sales of power electronics products and the startup of a new automotive powder metallurgy and friction materials plant, as well as strengthening construction machinery R&D in India. In terms of promoting global business rollout employing India as a base, Hitachi will start full-scale exports of construction machinery products to Africa and the Middle East and volume exports of power electronics products to Middle East and Asian markets respectively starting from FY2014. Hitachi has also decided to acquire Prizm Payment Services Pvt Ltd., a major provider of settlement services for Indian financial institutions. With this acquisition, Hitachi will establish a firm customer base among major financial institutions, and will utilize its expertise in settlement systems and other solutions for customers in the financial industry, as part of efforts to bolster the IT service business.

Additionally, Hitachi will continue to strengthen its management base in India in order to support business expansion. Specific measures include the establishment of three new local bases of operation; promoting R&D activities with close ties to the regional market; building a human resource management system; and executing the Hitachi Smart Transformation Project, which is a cost structure reform project.

Hitachi will strive to secure new orders for social infrastructure systems, including rail systems, escalators and elevators, in keeping with ongoing urban development in India, while at the same time opening up new business, for example with the startup of activities targeting batch orders for facilities in the solar power generation market, which is expected to demonstrate substantial growth. In this way, Hitachi will steadily execute measures aimed at achieving revenues of 300 billion yen (200 billion rupee⁽¹⁾) in FY2015, the goal laid out in the India Business Strategy 2015, thereby contributing to the medium and long-term development of Indian society.

About Hitachi in India

Hitachi started its business in India in the 1930′s. Currently, Hitachi has approximately 30 business bases and approximately 7,500 employees in India. In addition to being a leader in construction machinery and air-conditioning systems, the Hitachi Group in India is expanding on its ‘Social Innovation Business’, such as information & telecommunication systems, power systems, industrial, transportation and urban development systems. Together with further localization, Hitachi aims to contribute to a sustainable society in India as well as the country’s economic growth.

For more information about the Hitachi Group in India, please visit the website at http://www.hitachi.co.in/.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 326,000 employees worldwide. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal 2012 (ended March 31, 2013) totaled 9,041 billion yen ($96.1 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, power systems, construction machinery, high functional material & components, automotive systems and others.

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16122013

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Nov WPI inflation grows at 7.52%

Driven by increase in the prices of vegetables, potato, milk, fuel & power, the WPI inflation increased to 7.52% (Y-O-Y) for the month of November 2013 as compared to 7% (Y-O-Y) for the month of October 2013. The Index for Wholesale Prices for the month of November 2013 rose by 0.7% to 181.5 from 180.3 for the previous month.

Trend in WPI inflation since April 2011 (Y-O-Y %)

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Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from the office of the economic advisor to the Govt. of India

WPI inflation in select commodities

Commodity		WPI Inflation Y-o-Y % growth
Commodity		Sept’13	Oct’13	Nov’13
1	All Commodities	7.05	7.00	7.52
2	Primary Articles	14.03	14.68	15.92
3	Food Articles	18.68	18.19	19.93
4	Cereals	13.44	12.00	11.32
5	Vegetables	91.15	78.38	95.25
6	Non-food Articles	4.92	6.79	7.60
7	Fuel & Power	11.72	10.33	11.08
8	Petrol	9.64	5.27	4.42
9	Manufactured Products	2.36	2.50	2.64
10	Sugar	(-)7.39	(-)8.50	(-) 8.41
11	Edible oils	(-)2.72	(-)0.74	(-) 0.07
12	Cement & Lime	(-)3.86	(-)3.23	(-) 3.21

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from the office of the Economic Advisor to the Govt. of India

The build up in inflation in the financial year so far (November 2013) stands at 6.70% as compared to a build up of 4.84% in the corresponding period of the previous year. Buildup in WPI inflation has increased due to rise in the prices of vegetables, onion, fruits, milk, egg, meat & fish, fibers, cotton textiles, leather & leather products and rubber & plastic products etc.

Build up in inflation from March in select food commodities (%)

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Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from the office of the Economic Advisor, Govt. of India

Manufacturing inflation rises to 2.64% (weight 64.97%)

The WPI inflation for manufactured products rises to 2.64% vis-à-vis 2.50% in the month of November 2013. The index for this major group rose by 0.2% to 151.9 from 151.6 for the previous month.

Trend in WPI inflation in manufactured products (%) Image may be NSFW.
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Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from the office of the Economic Advisor

Food inflation increases to 19.93% (Weight 14.34%)

Food inflation for the month of November 2013 has increased to 19.93% as against 18.19% for the month of October 2013, on account of increase in the prices of vegetables, pulses, potato and milk.

Pattern of food inflation (Y-o-Y %) Food articles Index since Apr 2011

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Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from the office of the Economic Advisor, Govt. of India

The index for food articles group rose by 2% to 256.4 from 251.4 for the previous month due to higher price of egg (8%), condiments & spices (7%), fruits & vegetables (6%), beef & buffalo meat and fish marines (5% each), pork (4%), urad and jowar (3% each), moong, maize, ragi and wheat (2% each) and arhar, mutton, masur, milk and barley (1% each). However, the price of fish-inland (10%), tea (5%), gram (2%) and poultry chicken and rice (1% each) declined.

Non-food articles inflation rises to 7.60% (weight 4.26%)

The rate of inflation for non-food articles for the month of November 2013 stands at 7.60% as compared to 6.79% for the previous month. The index for non-food articles group rose by 2.1% to 216.7 from 212.3 for the previous month due to higher price of sugarcane (19%), gingelly seed (16%), soyabean (9%), copra (coconut) (8%), tobacco (4%), safflower (khardi seed), rape & mustard seed and castor seed (3% each) and coir fibre, niger seed, fodder and mesta (1% each). However, the price of guar seed (12%), groundnut seed (6%), raw rubber (5%), raw cotton (4%), raw silk (3%), raw jute and flowers (2% each) and sunflower (1%) has declined.

Fuel & power inflation rises to 11.08% (weight 14.91%)

The rate of inflation for fuel and power for the month of November 2013 stands at 11.08% as compared to 10.33% for the previous month. The index for this major group rose by 0.1% to 209.6 from 209.4 for the previous month due to higher price of LPG (5%), bitumen (2%) and high speed diesel (1%). However, the price of aviation turbine fuel (5%), petrol and kerosene (2% each) and furnace oil (1%) has declined.

Warm regards,

Dr. S P Sharma

Chief Economist

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राष्ट्रवादी शिवसेना ने की बिजली कंपनियों की मनमानी को रोकने की मांग।

16122013

नई दिल्ली 16 दिसंबर। राजधानी दिल्ली में बिजली कंपनियों द्वारा बिजली दामों में बढ़ोत्तरी की मांग पर राष्ट्रवादी शिवसेना ने गहरी नाराजगी जताई है और कंपनियों की मनमानी रोकने के लिए उपराज्यपाल दिल्ली व केन्द्र सरकार से हस्तक्षेप करने की मांग की है। पार्टी का मानना है कि निजीकरण के बाद बिजली कंपनियों ने जिस प्रकार से लूट खसौट मचाई है अगर उनके खातों की किसी निष्पक्ष जांच एजेंसी से जांच कराई जाएं तो इन कंपनियों की मनमानियों पर लगाम लग सकती है।

पार्टी द्वारा जारी प्रैस वक्तव्य में राष्ट्रवादी शिवसेना प्रमुख श्री जयभगवान गोयल ने निजी बिजली कंपनियों द्वारा बिजली के दामों में वृद्धि किए जाने की तैयारियों पर आक्रोश जाहिर करते हुए कहा कि शीला सरकार के एक गलत निर्णय के कारण आज दिल्ली की जनता इन कंपनियों के हाथों की कठपुतली बनकर रह चुकी है। उन्होंने कहा कि निजीकरण के समय सरकार ने अगर अन्य विकल्प खुले रखे होते तो राजधानी में ये बिजली कंपनियां अपना एकाधिपत्य नहीं जाता पाती और मनमानी के एवज में अन्य दूसरी कंपनियां लोगों के सामने विकल्प के रूप में खड़ी होती।

श्री गोयल ने कहा कि निजीकरण के बाद से अब तक लगभग हर 6 महीने बाद कंपनियों द्वारा घाटे का नाम लेकर बिजली के दामों में वृद्धि की तैयारियां की जाती रही हैं और लगभग एक साल में तो दाम भी बढ़ाए गए हैं जबकि इन कंपनियों को दिल्ली सरकार सब्सिडी व निःशुल्क जमीन भी उपलब्ध करवा रही है। इसके बाद भी हमेशा ही इन लोगों द्वारा घाटे का रोना रोया गया। उन्होंने कहा कि घाटे का बहाना जनता को लूटने का एक जरिया बन गया है। अगर इन कंपनियों के खातों की सही ढ़ंग से किसी निष्पक्ष जांच एजेंसी के द्वारा जांच कराई जाएं तो घाटे की जगह इन्हे काफी मोटा मुनाफा सामने आएगा। उन्होंने कहा कि चुनाव से पूर्व आम आदमी पार्टी दिल्ली में 50 प्रतिशत बिजली के दामों में कमी का वादा जनता से कर रही थी मगर जनता की परेशानियों के मामले में वह भी अब चुप नजर आ रही है।

उपराज्यपाल व केन्द्र सरकार से मांग करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि इन कंपनियों की मनमानी को रोकने के लिए तत्काल ही कड़े कदम उठाए जाएं ताकि महंगाई से जूझ रही जनता को एक और नई समस्या का सामना न करना पड़े।

भवदीय

भरतलाल शर्मा

कार्यालय सचिव

मो. 9899815284, 9899798000

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‘Suchitra Sen: Biography of a female star’

16122013

Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

cordially invites you to the Weekly Seminar

at 3.00 pm on Tuesday, 17 December, 2013

in the Seminar Room, Library Building

‘Suchitra Sen:

Biography of a female star’

Dr. Smita Mitra,

Delhi College of Arts and Commerce,

University of Delhi.

Abstract:

This presentation maps the accretion of ‘iconicity’ of the well known popular female star of the 1950s and 60s from Bengal, Suchitra Sen. She is an important figure for the popular cinema in Bengal as she became one of the most successful female stars who commanded a status that is very often compared to Kanan Devi, the erstwhile star of the 1930s-40s. This presentation will unpack her stardom through a journey from the 1950s, 60s and the circulation of nostalgia around her that seems to haunt the contemporary as well. The paper will focus on certain cinematic moments from her career, the first phase in the 50s in which she became known for her romantic couple roles opposite Uttam Kumar, then the break- up of their pairing in the 60s to her charting of her individual star text in the 60s where she consolidated her position with the first ever International award won by an Indian actress at the Moscow film festival in 1963 with Saat Paake Bandha. Her star text was calibrated very carefully along the grids of sensual beauty and glamour. In effect it was this combination that led to a sense of unease that is seen in the numerous reader’s letters and responses in the film magazines of that time. She eventually became a recluse after her retirement from the industry in 1978 and after scattered brief public appearances has not been seen in public. Her retirement phase is marked by a curious re-invention of her star persona: thesadhika figure, a devoted devotee of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahans, single handedly orchestrated by her biographer G K Ray, a cine journalist who was associated with the Bangla newspaperJugantor. The questions that the speaker will address are the following: What could explain the possible reasons of unease that is visible in the film magazines of the 1950s -60s around the glamorous and sensuous star image of Suchitra Sen? Why despite being a superstar she is not considered a serious actor like her contemporary Sabitri Chatterjee with whom she is always unfavorably compared? Why has she been ‘remade’ as a renouncer figure? How has nostalgia aided in this contemporary reinvention? Does her star text enable an entry to understand the contours of female stardom in the Indian context?

Speaker:

Dr. Smita Mitra is Associate Professor English at Delhi College of Arts & Commerce, University of Delhi. Her areas of interests include Post- Colonial and Feminist Studies. She has submitted her Ph.D dissertation on, ‘Post-Colonial Modernity: Melodrama and Self Fashioning in the Popular Bangla Cinema 1950-1970’, at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU, New Delhi. Her present work looks at issues of cinematic modernity and stardom in the Indian context. She has published articles on the condition of Bangla film industry in the 1950s, in the Book Review and on Suchitra Sen, the female superstar of the 50S-60s in Seminar. Her recent presentations include ‘Scandalous Love: Eroticism in/and Popular Bangla Love Films of the 1950s’; ‘Writing the Star: Stardom and the Bangla Little Magazine discourse’ and ‘Writing the Stars: Issues of Gender and the Archive in Popular Bangla Cinema’.

All are welcome.

Those wishing to have their names added to the email list may please email us atnmmldirector@gmail.com.

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92.7 BIG FM LAUNCHES ‘DARYADILI’

16122013

92.7 BIG FM LAUNCHES ‘DARYADILI’, A SPECIAL CAMPAIGN TO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED TACKLE NORTH INDIA’S BITTER WINTER

Network takes initiative across its stations in North India, urges, and invites listeners to donate woolens to the needy

New Delhi, December 16, 2013: 92.7 BIG FM today announced the launch of ‘Daryadili’, a simple, unique and socially relevant campaign targeted at the poor and underprivileged across North India. The campaign urges and invites listeners to donate woollens to help those in need tackle the harsh North Indian winter. A tremendously successful ‘Dariya Dili’ has been held for the past 4 years in the national capital, receiving overwhelming support. This winter, 92.7 BIG FM is taking the initiative across its stations, covering 20 cities in North India.

Spread over four phases, the campaign will contribute to making the biting cold warmer through a massive and innovative woollens collection drive. In its first phase, the 92.7 BIG FM RJs will announce the concept on-air and make an appeal to listeners about donating towards this cause. The network will also tie up with prominent NGOs and societies who are involved in socially relevant causes and bring them on-board for this initiative. It will also urge local celebrities and Government authorities of cities to join the crusade and contribute to the drive.

In its second phase, listeners and celebrities get to bid for a song on 92.7 BIG FM. The SMS based bid will be through a number that will stand for the quantity of woollens they would like to donate. Every day, there will 5 songs up for sale – 2 during drive time shows and 1 during the midmorning show. The highest bidder will win a song in his name, and every time the song plays out it will have a tag announcing the highest bidders name and the amount of woollens donated. This bidding will not just be exclusive to individual listeners, bidders can be corporate houses and NGOs as well.

During the on-ground Phase three, the network will request listeners to register their Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) or offices, and get 92.7 BIG FM RJs to visit them and collect donations. Starting 13^th December, a donation drive at one RWA will be organized each day in a prominent location of the city. Also, the name of the RWA locations will be announced a day prior so other listeners can also come and donate clothes at different locations. Similarly, collection drives will be organized at prominent corporate offices across the city, making it into a fun event with games and entertainment. 92.7 BIG FM OB vans will also cover major markets of cities – RJs will disclose the location of the OB van on air, urging people to donate.

In the fourth phase, donated woollens will be distributed among underprivileged people through NGO partners. 92.7 BIG FM vans filled with woollens will be flagged off by a noted local celebrity from studios on 25th December 2013.

The Daryadili campaign will be promoted on air and on-ground through a variety of activations.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head – 92.7 BIG FM said, “While winters bring joy, cheer, festivity and warmth to many people, the season is among the most difficult times of the year for the underprivileged. According to statistics, the winters of 2012-2013 claimed a minimum of 100 lives every day across North India. 92.7 BIG FM is pleased to launch Daryadili, a campaign, which looks at inviting listeners to donate woollens for the underprivileged and through it, meet people at the point of their need. It will be a joy to contribute towards making the winter warmer for people across North India.

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Homosexuality be treated, instead of being legalized :VHP

16122013

Memo to PM, Prez appealed for women safety & cultural security

New Delhi. Dec. 15, 2013. Since UPA came into power, attacks on our temples, culture & values have increased says Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP). After legalizing Live-in Relationship and reducing age of consensual sex, now our five star politicians & so called human right activists are making hue & cry to decriminalize the un-natural, unethical & unsocial act. Reacting to the recent statements made by such politicians & so called activists against the honorable Supreme Court & its historical verdict, the state secretary General VHP shri Satyendra Mohan said that instead of decriminalizing a crime against our culture & values, the Govt. should treat the imported disease, put a complete ban on liquor & make the moral education mandatory. We have sent a memorandum to this effect to the Prime Minister & the President of Bharat, he added.

Releasing a copy of the memorandum to the media the state media chief of VHP Delhi, shri Vinod Bansal said that even after an year of Damini case, the union Govt. couldn’t punish the real culprit who escaped in pretext of his age but made the live-in relationship legalized, lowered the age of consensual sex and now trying to de-criminalize the crime against culture & values of our country. In our letter to the Prime Minister & the President of Bharat we have appraised & appealed them to keep an immediate check on the increased crime against women, arrange a proper treatment of the imported disease-Homosexuality, rather then any efforts to decriminalize it, make the Moral education mandatory, apart from complete ban on the liquor.

Regards

Vinod Bansal

Media Chief

Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Delhi

Mo. 9810949109

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16122013

National Social Watch

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cordially invites you to the release of

“7^th CITIZENS’ REPORT ON GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT 2013″

Chief Guest

Justice Ananga Patnaik

Judge, Supreme Court of India

Guest of Honour

Shri Satyananda Mishra

Former Central Information Commissioner

Government of India

Date : Tuesday, 17^th December 2013

Time : 3:00 p.m. onwards

Venue : Auditorium, India Islamic Cultural Centre

87-88, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003

For further media co-ordination, you may contact:

Neeraj Shorya, 9310333595, neeraj@impactpr.in

Parul Kohli, 8010133598 parul@impactpr.in,

Sujoy K. Chowdhury, 09310333597, sujoy@impactpr.in

Thanks & regards,

Sujoy Kumar Chowdhury

Manager Media

Impact Public Relations Pvt. Ltd.

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SC asks UP Police not to take coercive action against Taslima

17122013

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Clik here to view. SC asks UP Police not to take coercive action against Taslima

In a relief to controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Uttar Pradesh Police not to take any coercive action against her in connection with an FIR lodged by Muslim cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan.

In the meantime, no coercive action be taken,” a bench headed by Justice B S Chauhan said after brief arguments advanced by senior advocate K K Venugopal on behalf of the author that the issue pertains to human rights and her interest be safeguarded.

Seeking response from UP administration, the bench, however, made it clear that so far as the quashing of FIR is concerned, this plea cannot be entertained at this stage.

It also said that the plea seeking scrapping of Section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act can be clubbed with other similar pleas which are pending hearing in the apex court.

Section 66 (A) of the IT Act provides for arrest of a person hurting the sentiments of others through offensive remarks or information through electronic media, including social networking sites.

During the hearing, Taslima’s advocate said that an FIR has been lodged without any preliminary enquiry by UP Police on a complaint based on a news report.

“The FIR has been lodged by a person who has issued a fatwa, putting Rs five lakhs as bounty on my head,” he said.

Referring to the contents of the FIR, he said her twitter posts were related to the meeting of Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal with Khan for seeking support of Muslims in the elections.

“Why did he (Kejriwal) go to a person who had issued a fatwa against me for seeking support. He did not go to common Muslims,” the counsel said.

The court, which said it may consider any plea seeking transfer of the case outside Uttar Pradesh, has now fixed the matter for further hearing in the second week of Januar

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Antony : Face-offs between Indian, Chinese troops can occur

17122013

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Clik here to view. Face-offs between Indian, Chinese troops can occur: Antony

Not ruling out the possibility of incidents such as face-offs between their troops, Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said India and China have now decided to resolve such issues amicably through the existing mechanisms.

On the incident where five Indian nationals were apprehended by Chinese troops inside Indian territory, he said the Indians apprehended by PLA troops were civilians and not Army personnel and the matter was resolved amicably.

“Now our decision is to maintain peace and tranquility. Whenever any incident takes place, that possibility cannot be ruled out as the boundary is very long….both sides should come together and resolve its amicably,” the Defence Minister said.

He was asked to comment on the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the sidelines of the Vijay Diwas to mark Indian victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

On the boundary talks with China, the Minister said the country should not “expect miracles” in these parleys.

“Don’t expect miracles in resolving the issue. What we are trying is that till a satisfactory solution on boundary issue is found, whenever incidents take place on border, through discussions and official mnechanism, resolve those issues. Of late, we have been able to resolve the issues without much delays. That is an improvement,” he said.

On the impact of the newly-signed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, he said, “After the agreement, by and large, whenever any issue arises, we are able to resolve it as quickly as possible. It does not mean that there would not be any issues as long as the India-China border issue is unsettled, there can always be possibility…”

He said during his and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to China, both the countries had decided to mantain peace and tranquility along the LAC. “We have been able to take a decision, till we find a peaceful solution to the boundary issue,” he said.

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India asks US diplomats to return IDs

17122013

Diplomat row:

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In an escalating diplomatic row, India has asked the US to return IDs issued to all its consular officers posted in the country, a move which may be a precursor to reviewing immunity and benefits enjoyed by them as a protest to the treatment meted out to India’s Deputy Consul General in New York.

“Government has asked the US to return the ID cards given to their consular officers posted in India,” Government sources told.

It is understood that the government intends to review the immunity and benefits enjoyed by US diplomats.

Significantly, the review comes after India reacted sharply to Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade being arrested and handcuffed in public in New York on visa fraud charges last week by summoning US Ambassador Nancy Powell and issuing a demarche in this regard.

The displeasure was also evident among leaders and officials of Indian government.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today cancelled his meeting with a senior US Congressional delegation ostensibly as a mark of protest against the treatment meted out to Khobragade.

On Monday, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had cancelled her meeting with a senior US Congressional delegation due to the same reason.

National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, who also had a scheduled meeting with the five-member US team, did not meet them, apparently for the same reason.

The delegation comprised Congressmen George Holding (Republican – North Carolina), Pete Olson (Republican – Texas) David Schweikert (Republican – Arizona), Robert Woodall (Republican – Georgia), Madeleine Bordallo (Democrat – Guam).

39-year-old Khobragade, a 1999-batch IFS officer, was taken into custody last week on a street in New York as she was dropping her daughter to school and handcuffed in public on visa fraud charges before being released on a USD 250,000 bond after pleading not guilty in court.

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Srinagar experiences coldest night

17122013

Dal Lake Onto freeze

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Clik here to view. Parts of Dal Lake freeze, Srinagar experiences coldest night

Parts of the famous Dal Lake and other water bodies froze in Srinagar as the cold wave continued in Kashmir Valley where Srinagar city witnessed the coldest night of the season at minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed the coldest night of the season as mercury dipped to minus 3.7 degrees Celsius as compared to Friday’s minus 3.5 degrees Celsius,a MeT Department official said in Srinagar.

The subzero temperature in the city for nearly a week now has resulted in partial freezing of Dal Lake and other water bodies.

Leh, in the cold desert of Ladakh, recorded a drop of over one degree in the minimum temperature from the previous nights seasons lowest of minus 13.0 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 14.2 degrees Celsius.

This was the season’s lowest temperature in Leh which continues to remain the coldest place in the state.

The night temperature in the nearby Kargil town also decreased slightly to register a low of minus 10.8 degrees Celsius as against the previous nights minus 10.4 degrees C.

The minimum temperature in the tourist resort of Pahalgam settled at minus 6.6 degrees Celsius as against the previous nights minus 7.2 degrees Celsius.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, an increase of three degrees from the previous nights minus 5.4 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius as compared to minus 4.3 degrees Celsius the previous night.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius as against minus 5.1 degrees Celsius the previous night.

Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius as against the previous nights minus 3.8 degrees Celsius.

The weather in Kashmir continues to remain dry except for a light snowfall at some places in the higher reaches on Wednesday and the MeT Department has said there would not be much change in it.

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Arab League chief to push for more cooperation in India

17122013

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The chief of Arab League Nabil el-Araby will arrive in India on Tuesday where he will meet top leaders and will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation to deepen economic and cultural relationship between the two.

Araby will meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Vice President Hamid Ansari during his visit.

This will be Araby’s first visit to India since assuming the post of Secretary General of the Arab League.

Araby, former Foreign Minister of Egypt, was the Egyptian Ambassador to India in the early 1980s.

The new MOC and Executive Programme (EP) will represent a significant upgrade in the relationship between India and the Arab League.

Under the proposed EP, there will be an annual senior officials meeting in which senior diplomats from the 22 Arab members states will meet with their counterparts from India and every two years.

A Ministerial meeting between the Arab League and India will also be held under the new programme.

It also proposes an Arab-India Partnership Summit in the field of trade and investment, an Indo-Arab Cultural Festival, cooperation in the energy sector, agriculture, education and human resources, as well as the media.

A conference of the Presidents of prominent Indian universities with their counterparts in the Arab world is also being planned in Kuwait in 2014.

The Arab world is one of the largest partner of India with over USD 110 billion in trade

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Lal Thanhawla sworn-in as Mizoram CM

17122013

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Clik here to view. Lal Thanhawla sworn-in as Mizoram CM<br />

Lal Thanhawla, who steered Congress to a landslide victory in Mizoram, was sworn-in as Chief Minister by Governor Vakkom Purushothaman on Saturday.

He was sworn-in and administered oath of office along with his 11-member council of ministers at the Raj Bhavan in Aizawl.This is Lal Thanhawla’s second consecutive term and the fifth overall term as Chief Minister. Of the 11 Ministers sworn-in on Saturday seven are of cabinet rank and the rest are Ministers of state.

Two cabinet Ministers R Romawia and John Rotluangliana are new faces.

They served as speaker and deputy speaker respectively in the previous Ministry.

The other cabinet Ministers are R Lalzirliana, Lalsawta, H Rohluna, Zodintluanga and P C Lalthanliana.

The Ministers of state are Lalrinmawia Ralte, C Ngunlianchunga, Lal Thanzara and B D Chakma are Ministers of state.

Lalthanliana was a Minister of state in the previous Ministry, while Lal Thanzara, who is the brother of the Chief Minister, was a parliamentary secretary as was Lalrinmawia Ralte.

The other two ministers of state are fresh faces in the house.

Mizoram bucked the trend in the last round of assembly elections in five states with Congress retaining power by winning 34 of the 40 seats in the house, polls for which were held on 25th November.

Thanhawla first became the chief minister in 1984 when the party swept the polls defeating the then ruling People’s Conference Party led by Brig Thenphunga Sailo.

In the later part of 1986, he vacated the chair to enable erstwhile underground Mizo National Front leader Laldenga to be installed as chief minister in the MNF-Congress coalition interim government.

Thanhawla returned to power for a second time in 1989 when the Congress and MNF (Democrats) formed the government.

In 1993, he became Chief Minister for the third time when the Congress and Mizoram Janata Dal formed the government.

The Congress was defeated by the MNF in 1998 and in 2003. Thanhawla became Chief Minister for the fourth time in 2008.

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Kapil: Homosexuality ruling: Govt promises urgent steps

17122013

Kapil: Homosexuality ruling: Govt promises urgent steps

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Clik here to view. Homosexuality ruling: Govt promises urgent steps

Updated on : 14-12-2013 08:32 AM

The Govt on Thursday promised urgent steps to overturn the Supreme Court ruling declaring homosexuality as illegal amid indications that it could file a curative petition in the apex court.

“We will have to change the law. If the Supreme Court has upheld that law, then we will certainly have to take firm steps. Change has to be made fast and any delay cannot take place. We will use all means available to make changes at the earliest,” Law Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday in the wake of an uproar over the ruling.

Asked whether government could bring a legislation to amend section 377 of the IPC, he said at this stage “time is of the essence. We must decriminalise adult consensual relationships.”

Responding to questions on the options available with the government, he said “one of the opinion could be to bring it to Parliament at the earliest. The other opinion could be to approach the Supreme Court or take any other route. We will adopt the approach which will give us quick results.”

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the Supreme Court ruling was wrong and all options would be looked at to set right the apex court order.

Terming the judgement “disappointing”, he said the court should have applied “current social and moral values” in the case.

He said the government should file a review or curative petition and that the matter should be heard by a five-bench judge.

Chidambaram, the former Home Minister, said the Delhi High Court judgement was a well-researched one which the Union government accepted and did not challenge in the Supreme Court.

He noted that the bench that gave the order, should have referred the matter to a five-judge bench and that the interpretation of law cannot be static.

When asked why the government did not amend section 377 while amending the rape laws in the wake of Delhi gang-rape incident, Chidambaram said the High Court judgment laid down section 377 only in a limited manner.

“They decriminalised homosexuality only among consenting adults and in private. Therefore, there was no need to amend section 377…section 377 can remain, because between two non -consenting adults it still remains a crime.

“So, there was no occasion to amend the section. And the amendment of the section was necessary only after the final announcement of the judgment. The case was pending in the Supreme Court and there was no occasion to amend it,” he said.

He said the government’s decision of not opposing the High Court judgement in the Supreme Court was also his party’s view.

Expressing similar views, Sibal said millions of people are effected by the judgement.

“And I don’t think we should expose those millions to section 377 of the IPC and we are very firm about this.”

He said in 21st century archaic laws of the nature that are reflected in section 377 should stay as part of the penal code.

“I think these laws must be reversed and contemporaty world do not accept the values of the 19th century.”

Responding to suggestions that flip flops by the government in the past had resulted in the SC verdict; Sibal insisted that there was absolutely no flip flop.

“In fact, the Attorney General appeared for us in the Supreme Court. He made elaborate arguments supporting the judgement of the High Court. He also filed written submissions and the Government of India took a very firm position that the judgement of the High Court needs to be sustained and this law is anachronistic and there is absolutely no flip flop as far as the Government of India is concerned.

“There will no flip flop in any event because we are absolutly firm on decriminalisation of adult consensual relationships,” he said.

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Centre’s approval not required in court-monitored probe: SC

17122013

Centre’s approval not required in court-monitored probe: SC

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that no approval from the Centre is required by CBI to prosecute senior bureaucrats in court-monitored corruption cases, strengthening the arms of the agency to go ahead against the officials without taking prior sanction from government.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice R M Lodha cleared the deck for the agency to prosecute bureaucrats allegedly involved in coalgate scam without waiting for government’s sanction.

The bench passed the order in one of the applications filed in coal blocks allocation scam seeking its direction to do away with the provisions of prior sanction of the Centre in cases monitored by court.

“Sanction is not necessary under section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act when the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act is monitored by court,” the bench said.

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SC ruled that same sex couples could face life in prison

17122013

Dear friends,

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India’s top court has just ruled that same sex couples could face life in prison. But outrage is building and if we show how far the judges are out of step with society, we can help get a successful review of the case, and set love free again! Sign the petition:

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Two judges have just made same sex love illegal. ILLEGAL!! But if we act fast we can help reverse this backwards ruling.

Adults in India now face life imprisonment just because of who they love. Outraged, several groups are rushing for a review, and as one judge just retired, they could win. But only if enough people across India raise our voices before the review request is filed in the next few days.

Let’s help love conquer fear in India and demand that our justices recognise how far attitudes in India have come since the law was passed in 1860! Sign and share the petition below to make love legal, when 100,000 have signed we’ll take out prominent adverts to be sure we get the judges’ attention:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_freedom_to_love_nat/?bDcIObb&v=32661

In 2009, the Delhi High Court made a landmark decision saying that sex between two consenting adults in private could not possibly be an offence. People rejoiced, hailing this as the beginning of a journey where love and identity would no longer be attacked.

But this week the Supreme Court shocked the country by overturning this ruling in an shocking and endorsing the 1860 colonial era law which says that gay sex is “unnatural, immoral and a reflection of a perverse mind.”

How can love be a crime? This ruling is regressive and many fear the law will be used to target the some of the most vulnerable people in India. Now that one of the decision-makers is to be replaced, it’s possible the court would reverse its ruling. Sign the petition and embrace love!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_freedom_to_love_nat/?bDcIObb&v=32661

In most of the world, gay rights have gone through a watershed decade. People everywhere are realising, if they hadn’t already, that love is love and deserves respect and protection. But this didn’t happen by accident — it happened because of conscientious communities like ours who called out injustice wherever we saw it. India is now the next frontier — let’s join together to stand up for love.

With hope and determination,

Meredith, Shreya, Alice, Alex, Dalia, Ricken and the entire Avaaz team

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Outrage in Parliament, govt vows strong action

18122013

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Clik here to view. Diplomat issue: Outrage in Parliament, govt vows strong action

Amidst outrage expressed by members in Parliament, India on Wednesday asserted that it will intervene “effectively and specifically” to ensure the return and restoration of dignity of its Deputy Consul General in New York who has been arrested on charges of visa rules violation.

Responding to concerns expressed by members across party lines in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid condemned the US action and said he will not return to the House if he fails in his responsibility to bring back the arrested diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

Spelling out the series of steps initiated to scale down the privileges granted to US diplomats in India, he said there was a “conspiracy” in which Khobragade was “virtually trapped”.

He said the diplomat is “innocent” and the US action was unwarranted. “It is not illegality that she is accused of, but the illegality she refused to oblige,” he said.

Maintaining that the government was not over-reacting by taking a slew of measures against the US, Khurshid said the treatment meted out to Khobragade had “not happened out of blue” and there is a “history” behind it.

He asserted that the government is determined and “will intervene effectively and specifically to ensure that dignity of the diplomat is preserved.”

Khurshid made suo motu statements in both the Houses after members expressed outrage with demands that a resolution be passed to condemn the US action.

“It is my responsibility. We will bring back the diplomat (arrested in New York) and restore her dignity. If I fail to do it, I will not return to this House,” he said in Rajya Sabha.

In the Lok Sabha, he said, “First and foremost, our effort is to bring her out of this situation and then we will talk to the US government.”

US has said it is “looking into” the facts of the case, even as US Marshals on Wednesday admitted that she had been strip searched as part of “standard procedures”.

“We understand that this is a sensitive issue for many in India. Accordingly, we are looking into the intake procedures surrounding this arrest to ensure that all appropriate procedures were followed and every opportunity for courtesy was extended,” State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said.

Her statement came after India took a series of steps in retaliation to Khobragade’s arrest and ill-treatment in New York last week for alleged visa fraud.

The 39-year-old consular officer was subjected to a humiliating strip search, was swabbed for DNA and was kept in a cell with drug addicts after her arrest.

She was released on bail the same day. “While this is a law enforcement issue and will need to be worked through standard procedures and official law enforcement channels, we will continue to work this issue with India in the spirit of partnership and cooperation that marks our broad bilateral relationship,” Harf said as the US went into damage control mode following India’s tough stand.

A 1999 batch IFS officer, Khobragade, India’s Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested on 12th December by the State Department’s diplomatic security bureau, and then handed over to the US Marshals Service (USMS).

Khobragade was taken into custody as she was dropping her daughter to school before being released on a USD 250,000 bond after pleading not guilty in court.

USMS confirmed that Khobragade was subjected to a “strip search”, the same as other arrestees.

“As for the type of search, I can only confirm that she was subject to the same search procedures as other USMS arrestees held within the general prisoner population in the Southern District of New York, which in this case was a strip search,” USMS spokesperson Nikki Credic-Barrett said.

She insisted that standard intake procedures were followed, saying, “While in USMS custody, standard arrestee intake procedures were followed.”

United States on Tuesday urged India to accord due protection to American diplomats as the South Asian nation was responding angrily to the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.

“We have conveyed at high levels to the government of India our expectations that India will continue to fulfill all of its obligations under the Vienna Convention,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters at a regular press briefing.

She said Washington will continue to work with India to ensure that all of American diplomatic personnel and facilities “are being afforded full rights and protections.”

India on Tuesday also summoned U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell in protest and stopped import clearances for the U.S. embassy, as senior Indian government officials refused to meet with a visiting delegation of U.S. congressmen.

“The U.S. and India enjoy a broad and deep friendship,” Harf said in a statement. “And this isolated episode is not indicative of the close and mutually respectful ties we share.”

She told reporters that U.S. diplomatic security officials followed “standard procedures” during Khobragade’s arrest, and that the Indian diplomat does not have full diplomatic immunity.

“We understand there are sensitive issues involved here,” Harf added. “For example, the State Department isn’t the entity that conducts the intake procedure at the federal courthouse. That’s the U.S. Marshals.”

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Snowden offers to help Brazil in NSA inquiry

18122013

Snowden, the former contractor for the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), has offered to help Brazil investigate the extent of NSA’s spying against the South American country in an open letter published Tuesday.

The letter, addressed to “the people of Brazil” and expected to be sent to authorities there, was published by Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, which had previously run articles on the NSA’s activities in Brazil, based on documents revealed by Snowden.

But Snowden, who blew the whistle on the NSA’s global surveillance scheme and is wanted in the U.S. for divulging secret documents, said, “Until a country grants permanent political asylum, the U.S. government will continue to interfere in my ability to speak.”

Snowden is currently living in Russia under temporary asylum, which is due to expire in August next year. He had previously requested asylum in Brazil, but that request remains unanswered.

The whistleblower said in the letter that several Brazilian senators have asked him for his help in investigating U.S. spying on Brazil, but that Washington would continue to try to prevent him from speaking out until he is able to secure permanent asylum.

Soon after the spying revelations were first made, documents revealed Brazil was a main target of Washington’s political and corporate spying, and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff became one of the most outspoken critics of the U.S. spying policy.

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Mishkat Varma debuts on television in Rajan Shahi’s …Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya

18122013

On a recent shoot in Rajasthan, the actor was mistaken as Ranbir Kapoor!!

Seen in various ad commercials and working as a successful model for various brands, Mishkat Varma makes his debut with Zee TV and Rajan Shahi’s new offering – …Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya.

Playing the role of Raj in the show, Mishkat dons the hat of a simple and fun boy-next-door. Talking about his role, Mishkat said, “I play the role of a young college boy who takes life with a pinch of salt and has his own ways of fighting problems that drive his life. A happy-go-lucky chap, I relate to my character every bit as I am pretty much like that in my real life too.” Taking up a television offer after doing many modeling assignments, Mishkat is a trained dancer and has been a part of Shiamak Davar’s dancing troupe.

Commenting on his journey, Mishkat said, “I’ve been modeling for quite a few years now, and each time I received a television offer, I felt that I was not ready for it. I knew if I’d jointelevision, it would only be if I get to play the lead on the show. I was taken by surprise when I received a call to audition for the role of Raj in …Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. Known for launching many fresh faces as leads in top-rated shows of the industry, I am glad to have Mr. Rajan Shahi’s show as my stepping stone in the showbiz.”

On a recent outdoor shoot in Rajasthan, the young lad was mistaken as superstar Ranbir Kapoor!!! Quiz Mishkat about the incident and the actor blushes red! “It was crazy and flattering at the same time. We were shooting in a temple and the locals out there suddenly started saying, aree ye toh badtameez dil wala ladka hai.. They thought I was Ranbir Kapoor and wanted my autograph. I thoroughly enjoyed the attention. I hope the entire country accepts me as the Ranbir Kapoor of the small screen,” gushes the actor.

The show will also see an entry of another newbie – Kaanchi Singh playing the female protagonist, Avni in the show. …Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya talks about this sublime experience called ‘love’ that a young and spirited Avni is waiting to discover in her life. So is Raj the right guy for her? To know more, stay tuned to Zee TV.

… Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, coming this New Year only on Zee TV!

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Protest at US Embassy

18122013

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भारतीय महिला राजनयिक के साथ हुए दुव्र्यवहार के विरोध में राष्ट्रवादी शिवसेना ने किया अमेरिकी दूतावास के बाहर विरोध प्रदर्शन।

नई दिल्ली, 18 दिसंबर। अमेरिका में तैनात भारतीय राजनयिक देवयानी के साथ अमेरिका में किए गए दुव्र्यवहार के विरोध में राष्ट्रवादी शिवसेना ने आज नई दिल्ली स्थित अमेरिकी दूतावास पर विरोध प्रदर्शन कर अमेरिका से इस कृत्य के लिये सार्वजनिक तौर पर माफी मांगने की मांग की। पार्टी कार्यकर्ता तीन मूर्ति चैक पर एकत्रित हुए और अमेरिका के विरू( नारे लगाते हुए अमेरिकी दूतावास की ओर बढ़े जहां पर पुलिस ने उन्हे बढ़ने से रोक कर गिरफ्तार कर लिया। प्रदर्शनकारियेां ने अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति बराक ओबामा का रूप धारण किए एक व्यक्ति को निर्वस्त्र करके सड़को पर घुमा कर अपना आक्रोश जताया। इस मौके पर पार्टी ने एक ज्ञापन अमेरिकी उच्चायुक्त को दिया। कार्यकर्ताओं की अगुवाई पार्टी प्रमुख श्री जयभगवान गोयल कर रहे थे। कार्यक्रम का आयोजन पार्टी की दिल्ली ईकाई द्वारा किया गया।

इस मौके पर उपस्थित प्रदर्शनकारियों को संबोधित करते हुए पार्टी प्रमुख श्री जयभगवान गोयल ने कहा कि अमेरिका के इस बर्ताव से आज हिन्दुस्तानियों में गहरा आक्रोश है। उन्होंने कहा कि अमेरिका में भारतीयों के साथ हुए दुव्र्यवहार की यह कोई पहली घटना नहीं है, इससे पूर्व भी अमेरिका भारतीय अभिनेताओं, राजनेताओं के साथ दुव्र्यवहार कर चुका है जिस पर अगर उसी समय भारत सरकार कड़ा रूख अपनाती तो आज इस तरह अपमानित नहीं होना पड़ता। उन्होंने कहा कि अब अमेरिका ने अपनी सारी हदें पार कर दी है तभी उसने एक महिला राजनयिक के साथ ऐसा दुव्र्यवहार किया है। उन्होंने कहा कि इस हरकत के बावजूद भी अमरिकियों द्वारा इस घटना को सहजता के साथ लिया जाना अमेरिका के अहंकार को दर्शाता है। मगर अमेरिका को यह याद रखना होगा कि हिन्दुस्तानियों को ”जैसे को तैसा“ की भाषा में भी जवाब देना आता है।

श्री गोयल ने कहा कि हमारे देश में महिला सम्मान सर्वोपरि है और प्रत्येक सच्चा हिन्दुस्तानी, किसी भी महिला का अपमान बर्दास्त नहीं कर सकता। इसलिए इस दुव्र्यवहार के लिए अमेरिका सार्वजनिक तौर पर मांफी मांगे और यह भी सुनिश्चित करे कि भविष्य में हिन्दुस्तानियों के साथ कभी ऐसी घटना घटित नहीं होगी। इस मौके पर प्रदर्शनकारियेां को दिल्ली प्रदेश अध्यक्ष चै. ईश्वर पाल सिंह तेवतिया ने भी संबोधित किया।

इस मौके पर सर्वश्री देवेन्द्र कुमार सिंह, बलदेव राज मनचन्दा, जयप्रकाश बघेल, जितेन्द्र यादव, प्रवीण गोयल, बजरंग बहादुर, मदन लाल माहौर एवं श्रीमति सुमन देवी आदि पदाधिकारी अपने कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ मौजूद थे।

सादर।

भवदीय

भरतलाल शर्मा

कार्यालय सचिव

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Meghna Naidu to enter Jodha Akbar!

18122013

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Meghna’s character Benazir to enter the lives of Jodha & Akbar with a secret agenda

Making an appearance across various reality shows, the Kaliyon Ka Chaman girl Meghna Naidu is all set to make her debut in a fiction show as she gears up for her role of Benazir, the enchantress in Zee TV’s No. 1 show Jodha Akbar. This Andhra beauty has been a famous model, done a number of music videos and acted in Bollywood films before she shifted base to Dubai. Meghna returns to Mumbai to take on this role.

While many actresses who were approached for the role refused it because of its negative shades, Meghna gladly took ‘Benazir’ up. Commenting on what appealed her about the role, she said, “The role holds a lot of mystique for the viewers as Benazir is a girl who’s brought into Akbar’s haveli with a secret agenda … her motivations are not known to the audience … though it will be evident that Benazir is attempting to manipulate the Emperor, people will be left guessing as to what her true intentions are. A tough nut to crack, Akbar will fall prey to beautiful Benazir’s seduction as he is vulnerable after Jodha’s rejection. My character will bring in a lot of interesting twists in the show and I am sure, that Jodha Akbar fans are going to enjoy watching me in the show.”

Talking about her character and comeback on television, Meghna said, “It feels good to come back and take up a role in one of the top-rated shows running on Indian television at the moment. I have been following Jodha Akbar on and off and I love the grandeur of the sets and the entire look and feel of the show. The role is one of a temptress … someone who will captivate Akbar’s attention through her guile and allure. She will be a part of his harem and will dance her way into his heart. So, I am glad the role entails dancing! I am quite excited as I will start shooting soon.”

Also, entering the show is Juhi Aslam, playing the role of ‘Zaiyada’, who is Benazir’s (Meghna Naidu) care taker.

Will the two new entries change the equation between Jodha and Akbar and bring them closer, or will the two end up being separated forever?

Do not miss Jodha Akbar, Monday to Friday, 8 – 8:30 PM only on Zee TV!

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Developing Asia behind the growth of South South trade: UNCTAD

18122013

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Surge in South-South trade is led by China , Vietnam , Egypt , India , Turkey , Peru , Colombia , Brazil , Mexico and Chile .

In the global trade scenario, world merchandise exports have more than tripled over the last two decades and reached US$18.3 billion (in current prices) in 2012 from US $10.5 billion in 2005. One fourth of the world exports comprise of the exports among developing countries called “South-South” trade, which marked a record $4.7 billion, according to the UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics 2013.

The share of South-South trade in total world exports has doubled over the last 20 years, to over 25%. This South-South trade trend has been led largely by developing Asia, followed by developing America . Amongst the developing Asia, China accounts for more than 20% of developing countries’ intra-trade. The other major country which are leading the South South trade are Viet Nam, Egypt, India , Turkey , Peru , Colombia , Brazil , Mexico , and Chile These economies have expanded the most in the South-South trade during the last two decades.

World, developing economies and South-south merchandise exports

(million US dollars)

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Source: PHD Research Bureau, Compiled from UNCTAD,

Fuels with 25% share holds the highest share in South South trade followed by manufactured goods and components for electrical and electronic goods, which accounts for 19% and 15% share in intra South trade. Developing economies have also been gaining market share in international trade in services. The share of exports of commercial service from developing countries in total world exports of services increased from 22% in 1995 to 30% in 2012. In 2012 alone services-sector exports from developing countries increased by almost 8%. In construction and travel exports, developing economies accounts for 40% of the global market. Their importance is also growing in transport and in computer services trade. However, developing and transition economies do not account for much of global trade in financial services and in trade related intellectual properties. South-South trade has been facilitated by various bilateral, regional and inter-regional preferential trade agreements.

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China:U.S. to be cautious on South China Sea issue

18122013

China on Wednesday rebuffed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks on the South China Sea issue and urged the country to be cautious in its words and deeds.

“We have noticed his remarks,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a regular press briefing in response to Kerry, who said on Tuesday that the United States would speak out when China took unilateral actions that raised the potential for conflict.

“We hope the relevant country will respect the efforts made by China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the South China Sea issue, strictly abide by its commitment of not taking a position, and be cautious with its words and deeds,” she said.

Hua noted China always stands for a resolution of the South China Sea issue through direct negotiations among relevant countries, and keeps smooth and effective communication with ASEAN countries on the South China Sea code of conduct.

The spokeswoman urged the United States to be more helpful for the mutual trust among countries in the region and the peace and stability of the region.

Hua also slammed criticism by Japan and the Philippines on China’s East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), urging them to stop sowing discord.

“The performance of relevant parties is enough and should be stopped. If they really care about the region’s peace and stability, they should treat this objectively and fairly and stop sowing discord,” Hua said.

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Mid-Quarter Review of Monetary Policy: 2013-14

18122013

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RBI in its mid quarter review of monetary policy for 2013-14 has kept the CRR unchanged at 4% of net demand and time liability (NDTL); and the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) has kept unchanged at 7.75%. Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF will remain unchanged at 6.75%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 8.75%.

The RBI policy rates so far

Components	Sep-10	Sep-11	Sep-12	Sep-13	29-Oct-13	18-Dec-13
CRR	6.00%	6.00%	4.50%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Repo Rate	5.75%	8.25%	8.00%	7.5%	7.75%	7.75%
Reverse Repo Rate	4.50%	7.25%	7.00%	6.5%	6.75%	6.75%
WPI Inflation	8.90%	9.80%	7.50%	6.1%	6.5%	7.5%@
IIP growth	13.00%	3.30%	0.10%	2.6%	0.6%	(-) 1.8%**
Real GDP growth	8.90%	7.7%ˆ	5.50%”’	4.4%	4.4%	4.8%#

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from various sources

Note: ˆ Data for Q1FY12, “’ Data for Q1FY13, @Data for November 2013,

** Data for October 2013, # Data for Q2 2013-14 estimates

Snapshot of mid-quarter review of monetary policy 2013-14: RBI

The outlook for global growth continues to remain moderate, with an uneven recovery across industrial countries. Activity in major emerging market economies (EMEs) barring China has decelerated on account of weak domestic demand, notwithstanding some improvement in export performance. While volatility in financial markets has receded, it could pick up again following the inevitable taper of quantitative easing in the US , given the large dependence of emerging market economies (EMEs) on external financing.

On the domestic front, the pick-up in real GDP growth in Q2 of 2013-14, albeit modest, was driven largely by robust growth of agricultural activity, supported by an improvement in net exports. However, the weakness in industrial activity persisting into Q3, still lacklustre lead indicators of services and subdued domestic consumption demand suggest continuing headwinds to growth. Tightening government spending in Q4 to meet budget projections will add to these headwinds. In this context, the revival of stalled investment, especially in the projects cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Investment, will be critical.

Inflation – Retail inflation measured by the consumer price index (CPI) has risen unrelentingly through the year so far, pushed up by the unseasonal upturn in vegetable prices, double-digit housing inflation and elevated levels of inflation in the non-food and non-fuel categories. While vegetable prices seem to be adjusting downwards sharply in certain areas, the feed-through to much-too-high headline CPI inflation remains to be seen. Wholesale inflation has also gone up sharply from Q2 onwards, with upside pressures evident across all constituent components. High inflation at both wholesale and retail levels risks entrenching inflation expectations at unacceptably elevated levels, posing a threat to growth and financial stability. High and persistent inflation also increases the risks of exchange rate instability.

External sector – The narrowing of the trade deficit since June through November, on positive export growth and contraction in both oil and non-oil imports, should bring the current account deficit (CAD) down to a more sustainable level for the year as a whole. Robust inflows into the swap windows opened by the Reserve Bank during August-November have contributed significantly to rebuilding foreign exchange reserves thus covering possible external financing requirements and providing stability to the foreign exchange market. Going ahead, these favourable developments should help to build resilience to external shocks.

Policy stance

Headline inflation, both retail and wholesale, have increased, mainly on account of food prices. While CPI and wholesale price index (WPI) inflation excluding food and fuel have been stable, despite a steady and necessary increase in administered prices towards market levels, the high level of CPI inflation excluding food and fuel leaves no room for complacency. There are indications that vegetable prices may be turning down sharply, although trading mark-ups could impede the full pass-through into retail inflation. In addition, the disinflationary impact of recent exchange rate stability should play out into prices. Finally, the negative output gap, including the recent observed slowdown in services growth, as well as the lagged effects of effective monetary tightening since July, should help contain inflation.

RBI in its policy stated that there are obvious risks to waiting for more data; including the possibility that tapering of quantitative easing by the US Fed may disrupt external markets and that the Reserve Bank may be perceived to be soft on inflation. Even though the Reserve Bank maintains status quo in its mid quarter review of monetary policy, it can help guide market expectations through a clearer description of its policy reaction function: if the expected softening of food inflation does not materialise and translate into a significant reduction in headline inflation in the coming times, or if inflation excluding food and fuel does not fall, the Reserve Bank will act, including on off-policy dates if warranted, so that inflation expectations stabilise and an environment conducive to sustainable growth takes hold.

Warm regards,

Dr. S P Sharma

Chief Economist

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Hindustan FC Kick Off Delhi League With A Goalless Draw

18122013

New Delhi: Hindustan FC started its Delhi Senior Division League campaign with a goalless draw against Youngmen FC at the CWG Sports Complex here today.

Hindustan FC were bang on target right in the 2nd minutes of the game, just to be denied a lead by the diving Youngmen FC goalkeeper. The former champions continued in the same vein and unleashed flurry of attacks.

Nigerian recruit O.O. Sola’s solo effort from just outside the box kissed the woodwork in the 8th minute before Mehra’s scorcher went straight to the keeper.

On the other side of the field, Hindustan FC goalkeeper, Rajat Guha came into action and made a sliding tackle to deny a Youngmen striker a sniff at the goal, who had just the experienced custodian to beat.

It was Hindustan FC all over again in the 2nd half, having many sniffs at the goal but all in vain. Former Mohun Bagan skipper Rishi Kapoor made a left footed attempt from 30 yards out which missed the near post by inches.

Thereafter both the side went hard at each other seeking for the winner, but none managed to get that elusive goal as both side had to be content with one point.

Hindustan FC next play Punjab Heroes on Tuesday, 24th December in a 12:45 PM kick off.

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“Role of the National Government and Civil Society Organizations in National EFA 2015 Reviews”

18122013

South Asia Technical Workshop
“Role of the National Government and Civil Society Organizations
in National EFA 2015 Reviews”

UNESCO New Delhi, Government of India and ActionAid Association are organizing the South Asia Technical Workshop on Role of the National Government and Civil Society Organizations in National EFA 2015 Review, from 19-20 December 2013 in New Delhi, at Hotel Umrao. Six countries from South Asia will be participating in the Workshop – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

The workshop will be inaugurated by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, former under secretary general of the United Nations and an eminent author. Also present will beMs Lise Grande, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in India; Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, and Director, UNESCO New Delhi Office, and Dr. Amarjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The workshop will provide a forum for the South Asian countries’ government and CSO representatives, representatives of the EFA convener UN agencies from UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP and World Bank, international experts and resource persons, and also key stakeholders from India with opportunity to explore and discuss issues on Achieving Education for All Goals in South Asia by 2015 and formulating the Post 2015 Education Agenda.

The main objectives of the workshop are:

· Taking stock of the achievements and progress of six EFA goals in South Asia and the gap between projected results and goals in 2015;

· Sharing of best practices, lessons learnt, and experiences on implementation of the EFA goals in the countries of South Asia, highlighting collaboration between government and CSOs;

· Taking stock of the ongoing exercise in conducting National EFA Review and suggest for appropriate modality of working together; and

Making recommendations for the future education goals, and the post 2015 development agenda.

Where does South Asia Stand on EFA Goals

In this connection it will be opportune to look into the performance of the world, particularly South Asia with regard to the EFA goals. It needs to be pointed out that the world is not on track on all six EFA goals set in 2000. Some are close to targets and some are far from the targets. The enrolment in absolute number and Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) has increased at primary level significantly from 1999. The proportion of Out-of-School children (OOSC) at the primary level has reduced substantially from 23% in 1999. It is now only 7% in 2011 in South and West Asia. At the same time, at the lower secondary level (upper primary level for India) it was 40% and now it is 30% in 2011.
Among the participating six countries of South Asia in this workshop namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka the highest proportion of OOSC at the primary level is in Bhutan with 8.2% in 2011, where as the lowest proportion of OOSC is in India with 1.1% in 2011. However, at the same time, in terms of the proportion of OOSC at lower secondary level (upper primary) the highest proportion is from India with 22.8% and lowest from Nepal with 6.0% in 2011. The large proportion of out of school children in India could be attributed to the drop out among girls at that age, prevalence of child labour etc.
In terms of the number of out-of-school children at the primary level, it has gone down from 40 million in 1999 to 12 million in 2011 in South and West Asia. The number of OOSC at lower secondary (upper primary) level has gone down from 39.6 million to 31.2 million from 1999 to 2011.
The six participating countries is the homeland of 341 million adult (15 years and above) illiterate populations out of world’s 773.5 million (UIS 2013 September) adult illiterate populations. Among six countries India contributes 37% of World’s adult illiterate population.
Background

As we approach the target set for Education for All by 2015, there is an urgent need to review in a systematic and effective manner how various countries, which are the Member States of the UN have achieved the goals of the Education for All (EFA). The EFA review will provide better understanding of the bottlenecks and barriers and achievements of EFA.

At the World Education Forum (Dakar, 2000), the international community recognized the central role of civil society in the achievement of the EFA goals. Since then, civil society’s involvement in education has expanded considerably and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are now considered a vital EFA partner to achieve the goal of EFA 2015. Accordingly, the EFA Review 2015 Technical Guidelines has also suggested to include civil society organizations in the Review national team. It is in this context that UNESCO and Government of India are partnering with ActionAid Association (www.actionaid.org/india) in organising this EFA 2015 workshop involving number of other civil society organisations from various South Asian countries as well. The Action Aid Association works in 24 states of India for promoting free and adequate schools for children belonging to Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, girls, urban poor and other vulnerable communities.

For more details you could contact:

Ms. Rekha Beri, Documentionalist and Public Information, UNESCO New Delhi Tel: 26713000-106
Dr. Alex George, Head of Child Rights, Action Aid Association, New Delhi: M: 9968293621

Kind regards,

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Documentation and Public Information

United Nations
Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization
UNESCO Office in New Delhi – Cluster Office for Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka
B5/29 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110 029, India
Tel. +91-11-26713000; Fax. +91-11-26713001
Email: nd.library@unesco.org
r.beri@unesco.org
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/newdelhi
http://www.facebook.com/unesconewdelhi

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EU considers suspending some Iran sanctions

18122013

EU considers suspending some Iran sanctions

The EU has promised to suspend some sanctions against Tehran once the IAEA has verified that Iran is on a compliance course under the terms of the Geneva agreement reached in November. In a statement, EU foreign ministers said that they are “committed to…suspend those EU sanctions as set out in the [agreement] immediately after the IAEA has verified the implementation of the nuclear-related measures by Iran.” They added that ”a swift implementation of the voluntary measures by all sides is now key. Iran has to implement its commitments in good faith.”

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Categories : Uncategorized, world News

Russian MPs pass presidential amnesty draft

18122013

The lower house of Russia’s parliament, State Duma, on Tuesday passed in the first reading President Vladimir Putin’s bill on amnesty in honor of the 20th anniversary of Russia’s Constitution. The document was unanimously supported by 442 MPs, Itar-Tass reported. According to the accompanying documents, some 25,000 people will be granted amnesty. They include the people who committed crimes when they were under age, women with underage children, pregnant women, women older than 55 and men older than 60, severely disabled persons, military servicemen, law enforcement officers, plus some other categories.

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NATO voices concern over Russian Iskander missiles deployment

18122013

NATO has voiced concerns over Russia’s deployment of Iskander missiles on the Baltic Coast, claiming that better communication channels are needed with Moscow. “We have to have a medium of trusted, constant, reliable communication,” said NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Air Force General Philip Breedlove. Because of the nature of military deployment of NATO and Russian forces in various parts of the world, “there can be no room for miscalculation,” he said. Meanwhile NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the deployment of Iskander missiles “is counter-productive to the kind of partnership NATO seeks with Russia and to the goals we have agreed for the enhancement of security in the region.” Calling for more transparency, she assured Moscow that “NATO’s goal is a truly strategic partnership with Russia.” Media agencies

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Lokpal is a reality now, It is passed in Loksabha..

18122013

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"We should complete the unfinished work of fighting corruption... Six anti-corruption bills are pending. If necessary, can we not extend this session of parliament?" Gandhi said.</p> <p>Noting that the Lokpal bill was part of this comprehensive framework, he said the RTI law was the first on the UPA list.</p> <p>The other bills include the right of citizens for time-bound delivery of goods and services and also cover areas of public procurement, foreign bribery, judicial accountability and protection for whistleblowers.</p> <p>#INCLeader<br /> #INCMessage<br /> #DPCC

‪#‎AnnaHazare‬‘s ‘thank you’ note

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Clik here to view. #Lokpal Bill: Arvind #Kejriwal missing in #AnnaHazare's 'thank you' note http://ndtv.in/1dNrC0z

Lokpal is a reality now, It is passed in Loksabha..Transparency in governance comes by strong will and intention to make things better. It takes time to discuss and understand the requirement and at the end the fruit is sweet for we all.

Lets step towards emerging India with positive mindset. ”We should complete the unfinished work of fighting corruption… Six anti-corruption bills are pending. If necessary, can we not extend this session of parliament?” Gandhi said.

Noting that the Lokpal bill was part of this comprehensive framework, he said the RTI law was the first on the UPA list.

The other bills include the right of citizens for time-bound delivery of goods and services and also cover areas of public procurement, foreign bribery, judicial accountability and protection for whistleblowers said Rahul Gandhi tweets.Big Celebration in Hazare village as Lokpal bill is passed

Several thousand supporters of fasting social activist Anna Hazare lustily cheered here as the Lok Sabha passed the much-anticipated Lokpal bill.

As soon as the news flashed on TV screens, there were screams of joy and merriment in the gathering and a frail Hazare gathered strength to stand up on the dias.

“Jai Hind, Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata ki Jai,” he cheered on the microphone, acknowledging the greetings and happiness of the people gathered there.

‪#‎Thanks4Lokpal‬

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Moscow confirms deployment of Iskander missiles on NATO borders

18122013

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Clik here to view. Iskander high-precision missile system in place during military exercises. (RIA Novosti/Alexei Danichev)

Iskander high-precision missile system in place during military exercises.

Russian Defense Ministry confirmed media reports on the deployment of short-range Iskander missiles in the country’s west, near its borders with the Baltic states and NATO members, saying that it does not violate international agreements.

German newspaper Bild wrote this weekend that Russia stationed several Iskander tactical ballistic missile systems – which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads – in its westernmost exclave of Kaliningrad, along the border with Baltic states. The paper said it obtained “secret satellite” images showing at least 10 Russian missiles close to the EU border, which were deployed over the past year.

Moscow confirmed that it did station the missiles, which have been designated by NATO as SS-26 Stone, in the region.

“Rocket and artillery units of the Western Military District are really armed with Iskander tactical missile systems,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, head of the Defense Ministry’s press service, told reporters on Monday.

“The concrete areas of the deployment of Iskander missile battalions in the Western Military District do not contradict any international agreements or treaties,” he added, as quoted by Interfax.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas said earlier that he was concerned over the reports of Russian missiles near his country’s border. He added that the former Soviet state had discussed with its neighbors and NATO partners “how to react and protect” themselves, because “any incidents were hypothetically possible,” Delfi news website reported on Monday.RT News

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The core of AAP is Swaraj, people’s participation in major decisions.

18122013

Arvind Kejriwal

Congress replied to our letter seeking clear answers to the 18 questions. They said that 16 did not require their support and they would support AAP on the remaining 2. BJP did not even bother to respond, making us wonder what “constructive opposition” means!On one hand, there is history of Congress’s support to other parties and what they did to them. We also fought on the principle of neither giving, nor seeking support from either BJP or Congress. On the other hand, a section of people believe that the political parties will not be able to play and tricks till the Loksabha elections. So AAP should form a government and work for the betterment of Delhi during this time.The core of AAP is Swaraj, people’s participation in major decisions. This one involves the future of Delhi. We ask you for your opinion. Should AAP form the govt. in Delhi, in the present circumstances. You can express your opinion at the link below.

AAP candidates are also reaching out in their constituencies in the next few day to collect the opinion of people. All responses received will be collated by Monday morning and the decision will be conveyed.

We are committed to making the right decision for the people of Delhi. Therefore, their participation in this process is key. After all, we have always maintained that democracy is not a once in 5 year event!

http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/Should-AAP-Form-A-Govt

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Congress replied to our letter seeking clear answers to the 18 questions. They said that 16 did not require their support and they would support AAP on the remaining 2. BJP did not even bother to respond, making us wonder what "constructive opposition" means! </p><br /> <p>On one hand, there is history of Congress's support to other parties and what they did to them. We also fought on the principle of neither giving, nor seeking support from either BJP or Congress. On the other hand, a section of people believe that the political parties will not be able to play and tricks till the Loksabha elections. So AAP should form a government and work for the betterment of Delhi during this time. </p><br /> <p>The core of AAP is Swaraj, people's participation in major decisions. This one involves the future of Delhi. We ask you for your opinion. Should AAP form the govt. in Delhi, in the present circumstances. You can express your opinion at the link below. </p><br /> <p>AAP candidates are also reaching out in their constituencies in the next few day to collect the opinion of people. All responses received will be collated by Monday morning and the decision will be conveyed. </p><br /> <p>We are committed to making the right decision for the people of Delhi. Therefore, their participation in this process is key. After all, we have always maintained that democracy is not a once in 5 year event! </p><br /> <p>http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/Should-AAP-Form-A-Govt

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Sony introduces PlayStation 4

18122013

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The Panchala MahaUtsav

18122013

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Gender, Youth and Migration (GYM) A New Web Portal is Now Online!

18122013

–18 December 2013
On the occasion of the International Migrants Day and in continuation of UNESCO’s work on internal migration, UNESCO announces the launch of an online knowledge platform on Gender, Youth and Migration (GYM), as a sub-community of practice of the Gender Community of UN Solution Exchange. The GYM initiative, supported by UNESCO, hopes to bridge the gap and link researchers, practitioners and decision makers working on gender, youth and migration in India.
Worldwide, there are 740 million internal migrants, almost 4 times as many as those who have moved internationally i.e. 214 million (UNDP 2009). Internal migration in India accounts for a large population: 326 million or 28.5 percent of the population are internal migrants (NSSO 2007-08), projected to reach 400 million (Census 2011). 70 percent of internal migrants are women (Census 2001) and about 30 percent of internal migrants belong to the youth category, i.e. between 15-29 years (Rajan 2013, Census 2001).
While research interest and policy intervention in international migration has garnered some attention, there is no dedicated ‘resource hub’ yet that promotes or brings together researchers, practitioners and decision makers working on issues of internal migration, enabling them to learn from each other and stay connected.
The GYM web page is linked to the Gender Community-UN Solution Exchange web portal, supported by UNICEF and UN Women, and provides access to over 200 resources on internal migration, gender and youth, at policy, research and case-studies level. The GYM webpage is now online and in the following months, online queries and discussions would be initiated on themes of gender, youth and internal migration in India.
GYM
GYM, launched with support from UNESCO, as a sub-community of the Gender Community of Practice, UN Solution Exchange, is an online platform connecting experts, researchers, NGOs and decision makers who share a common concern on the topic of internal migration, gender and youth; tapping research and policy recommendations from India, South Asia and BRICS countries.
GYM Membership
Members can sign up for free via a membership form available on the web portal. All members will be merged under a common mailing list to create an effective and inexpensive way to collect, disseminate, and create policy relevant knowledge for better policy making; also enhance individual and organizational capacities on addressing GYM issues.
GYM Web page available at:

http://solutionexchange-un-gen-gym.net/

• A one-stop “research and policy hub” on internal migration
• Search by keyword from over 200 resources on gender, youth and migration
• Data base of Books , Reports Research Articles and Policies
• National and International Laws
• Directory of Experts, Research Institutes and Organizations
• Online Queries and Discussions
• Upcoming events and latestnews
• Important Web links
For membership and further queries, please contact us on:
se-gen_gym@solutionexchange-un.net.in

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Categories : culture, Education, Uncategorized

India’s SOMDEV DEVVARMAN to battle it out in main draw of Aircel Chennai Open 2014

18122013

The 28-year-old has dramatically broken into the top 100 list and has had an impressive run at tournaments across the world in 2013

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 18, 2013: Even as Estonia’s Jurgen Zopp has pulled out from the Aircel Chennai Open 2014 with a back injury, India’s Somdev Devvarman has entered the singles draw for the upcoming 19^th edition of the tournament, scheduled to take place from 30th December 2013 to 5th January 2014 at Chennai’s SDAT Tennis Stadium. The World No. 90 will be spearheading India’s representation at the US $450,000 tournament.

Cutting off at 89, the strong player field for the region’s most exciting and hard fought tennis tournament will see an inspiring array of players and include thrilling talent such as World No. 8 Stanislas Wawrinka, World No. 15 Mikhail Youzhny, World No. 16 Fabio Fognini, and Defending Singles Champion Janko Tipsarevic. The 2014 edition marks only the second time in the history of the tournament where three returning singles champions form part of the playing field.

This year, 28-year-old Devvarman dramatically broke into the top 100 list had an impressive run at tournaments. In the space of 10 months, he climbed more than 550 spots to a No. 90 Emirates ATP Ranking. He recorded main draw wins at his first six tour-level events of 2013, highlighted by a third-round run at the Sony Open Tennis, and followed with success on the ATP Challenger Tour circuit, reaching the semi-finals at four events. He also advanced to the second round of Roland Garros and the US Open and the third round of the Citi Open – all as a qualifier – to re-enter the Top 100 by September.

Noteworthy that Somdev also was nominated for Comeback Player of the Year for the ATP.

Other leading players who will add excitement to the event include France’s Benoit Paire, Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, Spaniards Marcel Granollers & Roberto Bautista-Agut, and Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vesselin.

The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum category headed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

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TATA STEEL & PGTI ANNOUNCE THE 12TH TATA OPEN GOLF

18122013

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TATA STEEL & PGTI ANNOUNCE THE 12TH TATA OPEN GOLF

~Prize money of Rs 50 lakh~\

~Top names in the field include Rashid Khan, Mithun Perera, Shamim Khan, Chiragh Kumar

Jamshedpur, December 17, 2013: TATA STEEL and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) have announced the 12^th TATA Open Golf which will be held in Jamshedpur from 19^th – 22^nd December, 2013. The four-day tournament will be hosted at the Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses in Jamshedpur. The Pro-Am will be played on 18^thDecember, 2013. The prize money for the event is Rs. 50 lakh.

The tournament will feature 124 golfers including 118 professionals and six amateurs. Top professionals (as per the PGTI’s Rolex Rankings) competing at the event include defending champion Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka, former champions Mukesh Kumar, Shamim Khan (reigning Rolex Rankings champion) and Vinod Kumar as well as other leading Indian professionals like Rashid Khan (current Rolex Rankings leader), Chiragh Kumar, Harendra Gupta, Om Prakash Chouhan, Shankar Das, Chikkarangappa S and Angad Cheema, to name a few.

Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and Anura Rohana, Kunal Bhasin of Australia, Nepal’s Shivaram Shrestha and Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah will be the other foreigners to watch out for besides defending champion Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka.

The local challenge will be led by Jamshedpur-based top Indian amateur Karan Taunk.

Mr. T V Narendran, Managing Director, Tata Steel said, “Tata steel has a proud legacy of supporting sports and has always helped in creating an atmosphere conducive to sports promotion creating champions who have made India proud. Tata Open Golf is an annual domestic professional golf tournament of repute, which gives an opportunity to the top golfing talent from across geographies to display their skill and talent. The tournament has, over the years, become one of the most talked about golfing events in the country and has been instrumental in elevating the standards of Indian professional golf. We welcome all golfers to the steel city and wish them the very best.”

Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “We thank TATA STEEL for their committed support to Indian professional golf over the last decade. The 12^th TATA Open promises to be a treat for golf fans in Jamshedpur as the top professionals in the country engage in an exciting contest in order to secure berths at the McLeod Russel Tour Championship, PGTI’s year-ending championship, and also make a bid for the Rolex Player of Year title. We wish the players all the best and look forward to an exhilarating week of golf.”

The two venues for the tournament, the Beldih and Golmuri golf courses, are both lush green, beautiful and very well-maintained, with the charming Dalma Hills in the background. While the 70-year-old Beldih Golf Course flaunts long fairways, Golmuri is a smaller, greener, boutique course disallowing golfers any room for error.

About Tata Steel and Sports

Established in 1907 as Asia’s first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group is among the top-ten global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of over 29 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). It is now the world’s second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries.

Tata Steel is the only Indian company to invest in world-class sports facilities, create academies and maintain and manage international level arenas. The cadets of its Tata Football Academy, the nursery for the sport in India, as well as those of Tata Archery Academy, the only one-of-its-kind for archery, besides Tata Athletics Academy, have justified the faith that the Company has in the talent and ability of its youth. Today, a significant part of the Indian Football team, India’s best archers, some of its finest cricketers, athletes, shooters, a Grand Master and several national and international legends have realised their dreams as a result of the support they have received from TATA Steel’s Sports Academies. Tata Steel is the only Corporate in the country to have been awarded Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar by the Hon’ble President of India. Cadets from the various academies have won honours like Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Padmashree, Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Award and Dhyan Chand Life Time Achievement Award. They have been Olympians, Asian Medalists and winners at innumerable medals at International & National levels.

About PGTI:

Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognized official body of professional golf in India. PGTI’s objective is to promote professional golf in the country as well as give players an opportunity to be involved in decision making for all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Gautam Thapar (President), PGTI’s governing body comprises of leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.

Chief, Corporate Communications

Tata Steel

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DFW International Airport Welcomes New Etihad Airways Service to Abu Dhabi

18122013

DFW International Airport Welcomes New Etihad Airways Service to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Starting In 2014

Etihad Airways arrival at DFW expands travel options to the Middle East and beyond

December 18, 2013 – Etihad Airways today announced it will launch new international service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport three times a week to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, starting on December 3, 2014. Etihad Airways will operate the Dallas/Fort Worth route with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft featuring a three-class design.

“We are thrilled to have Etihad Airways bring its highly respected international service to Dallas/Fort Worth,” said Sean Donohue, Chief Executive Officer of DFW Airport. “Etihad Airways has established a reputation for excellence, and we are confident that DFW customers will be eager to take advantage of the new route for travel to the Middle East and beyond.”

“The United States is one of Etihad Airways’ most important global markets and we are delighted to add Dallas/Fort Worth, a key U.S. destination and hub, to our flight network, bringing the number of American cities we will serve to five by the end of 2014,” said James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “The new service will also strengthen the deep commercial and bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.”

The addition of Etihad Airways further extends DFW’s record expansion of air service, in which the Airport has added 23 new international services and ten new airline partners in the past three years. With this announcement, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport now serves a total of 206 destinations, with Abu Dhabi set to become DFW’s 58th international destination.

“This new flight from Etihad Airways demonstrates that the Dallas/Fort Worth region continues to grow as one of the most vital business and tourism centers in the world, and it demonstrates the continuing benefit of having a world-class airport to help drive international growth,” said Donohue. “We are confident the combination of DFW Airport and Etihad Airways will create an outstanding travel experience for customers.”

Etihad Airways offers travelers connections from Abu Dhabi to over 90 destinations around the world. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began commercial operations in November 2003. Since then, Etihad Airways has gone on to become the fastest growing airline in the history of commercial aviation, and has been named ‘World’s Leading Airline’ at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years.

The Etihad Airways service is expected to produce an additional $90 million in annual economic impact to the Dallas/Fort Worth region in terms of additional visitors, business ties and investments, according to DFW Airport estimates.

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world’s fourth busiest, offering 1,800 flights per day and serving 60 million customers a year. DFW provides nonstop service to 148 domestic and 58 international destinations. For seven consecutive years, DFW has ranked among the top ten large airports worldwide for customer service in surveys conducted by Airports Council International. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, visit www.dfwairport.com or download the Official DFW Airport Mobile App for Apple iOS, Android or Blackberry devices.

(re)defining DFW International Airport

DFW International Airport’s $2.3 billion Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) is (re)defining first class for this global gateway. For the latest details regarding TRIP, log on to www.dfwairport.com/redefine.

Follow DFW International Airport On:

http://twitter.com/dfwairport

http://www.youtube.com/user/DFWIntlAirport

http://www.facebook.com/dfwairport

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Decoding Arvind Kejriwal: A servant-leader in the making

18122013

Some recent comments by Santhosh Babu

A political party established in November 2012 became a ray of hope for voters in Delhi. Kejriwal went on to defeat three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Delhiites disillusioned with corruption and poor governance put their faith in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Kejriwal, an engineer by training and a former joint commissioner with the income tax department. His single-minded, focused approach to fighting corruption helped him to create a paradigm shift in Indian politics. India is ranked 94th among 177 nations in the global corruption index by Transparency International.

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AAP Collected Rs.2 Per Capita from Delhi

18122013

AAP Collected Rs.2 Per Capita from Delhi

AAP Collected $3m from all over the world, $1m from India and around 3 crores from Delhi Residents.

Kejriwal is on my mailing list for 10 years – He has yet to respond to even a single mail.

Youth of India are SMARTER than generally believed.

Every passing day without Forming a Government His Credibility Is Going Down –

He may BREAK RECORD of Fastest to join Discredited Political Party List.

CAG or CBI shall not running Government in Delhi.

Out of about 2m voters over 80% voted for him because BJP & Congress are CLEAN and Kejriwal is Cleanest of Three So Far.

SMART MOBILES ARE GOOD TO CREATE MISCHIEF & RIOTS NO GOOD TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT

Ravinder Singh

Inventor & Consultant

Progressindia008@yahoo.com

On 12/18/13, ashishjsanyal@gmail.com <ashishjsanyal@gmail.com> wrote:

Ha Ha Sirjee.

AAP/AK is the Smartphone of Indian politics – “Cool and Innovative”

Youth will be drawn towards the party. (70m plus smartphones sold tilldate!)

The Youth are fed up with the traditional way politics is conducted in the country.

We saw yesterday how in the Rajya Sabha political parties across the board, closed ranks and supported/passed the watered down version of the Jan Lokpal bill.

Sorry that IAC/Anna got co-opted but the people of India see through this game.

Asking the people of Delhi to advise them if they should form the Govt in Delhi is a unique way to involve the people in decision making with the use of technology.

The established political parties have once again resorted to ridiculing AAP. Proof that they continue to be out of touch with the new and changing India and that AAP is on the right track.

They will learn the Hard Way in 2014.

Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel

Kejriwal Lacks Leadership Qualities Misunderstand Democracy

December18, 2013 (C)

We humans arrive in this world head first with powerful brains to lead rest of humanity and all other life forms.

Kejriwals lack of Confidence and Ability to Lead, is like a Soldier who look back 20 times and seek orders of the General to fire every bullet at the enemy.

Kejriwal was voted to Lead Delhi by voters to Form Government and deliver on promises made.

A General or Even a Soldier never Complains about Size of Weapons Numbers of Soldiers and is battle ready all the time doesn’t wait for second order to accomplish the assigned task. Only One General Has Done So in India Recently.

Best Generals Achieve Much Better Successes, with Limited Capability & Resources, Well Within Time Specified.

I had been Politically Alert, Ace Chess Player, and Inventing before Kejriwal was born and for last ten years providing Expert Opinion all Political & Development issues within hours – Kejriwal is on my mailing list am not with him because I am not sure of his Core Ideology.

General Seeking Directions from Soldiers Following Him

I am puzzled when other political parties refuse to form government and wanted to support AAP – Kejriwal was not expected to look back all the time it is ten days and he is not yet decided whether to be Incharge of the Government or Sit Back in opposition Benches.

But what is worse under Presidents Rule is that AAP shall neither be Chief Minister of Government in power nor lesser option Leader of Opposition.

And yield Jhadoo for another six months in Delhi streets.

With his Look Back Policy Not Just His 28 Legislators and all others too in Delhi suffer from delays in Constituting Delhi Assembly – they are all without Job and authority.

In hung situation they will not Local Area Development fund and may not get salary also.

He has not Understood as Yet that he has to Run The Government as Per Law & Constitution & Make Rules That are in Best Interests of People of Delhi.

What he has not Understood is that in Democracy term of Government is always uncertain. Even if has 69 seats in 70 member Delhi assembly – any corruption case against him could send him to jail Under Lokpal.

Finally if he thinks he can run the government then he should run the government.

People may not like Leaders Who Look Back & Calculate Losses all the time.

Ravinder Singh

Inventor & Consultant

Progressindia008@yahoo.com

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CJ of M.P. High Court resolves to address concerns of canal affected farmers

Principal Secretary, NVDD summoned to Court today and tomorrow

The new Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Hon⢬e Justice A.N. Khanvilkar, along with Hon⢬e Justice Shantanu Kemkar has been hearing two public interest petitions on the Omkareshwar (OSP) and Indira Sagar Canals (ISP) since yesterday. One of these was filed in March, 2013, on behalf of thousands of canal affected families (CAFs) many of those are already seriously affected by the canal network. This petition raises serious issues of social and environmental impacts, lack of rehabilitation, unnecessary excavation of canals in irrigated villages, severe crop losses etc. The other petition was filed by one Mr. Virendra Patidar, complaining of slow work, illegalities by the contractor, corruption, impacts of water logging in the 1st Phase of the Omkareshwar Project.

The Chief Justice questioned the state authorities on the issue of project delay yesterday. There was a dispute over the governmentⳠclaims that 95% of work in the Right Bank Canal (RBC)ࠡnd 80% work in Left Bank Canal (LBC) of Omkareshwar was complete. Since the counsel and Superintending Engineer could not convince the Court, Mr. Rajnish Vaish, Principal Secretary of the Narmada Valley Development Department, was summoned in the Court today and questioned on delay in the project work, status of overall canal works including construction. Referring to the peopleⳠagitation being shown as a ᢡrrier⬠by the state, the CJ asked as to why will people agitate if their issues are solved and demands met within the framework of law.

Even the Principal Secretary, did not give a complete and correct account of the construction as also compliance on other legal measures including environmental measures and rehabilitation. We questioned the same on the basis of field level reality, upon which the CJ directed him to place his statement on affidavit tomorrow. The CJ also asked the Principal Secretary as to whether there were financial constraints and directed him to consult the Chief Secretary and file an affidavit with details.

The CJ, expressed an initiative to resolve all the outstanding issues within the framework of law such as non-compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court, recommendations of the Expert Committees of the Union Environment Ministry, lack of rehabilitation, severe crop loss in dozens of villages due to water logging and muck disposal and lack of compensation for the same, lack of dialogue and use of police force on aggrieved farmers etc. The hearing shall continue tomorrow as well in the Court of the Hon⢬e Chief Justice at Indore. Medha Patkar pleaded on behalf of the canal-affected farmers. Adv. Dharmedra Chelawat appeared for the petitioner in the other case, Mr. Virendra Patidar.

Lalchand Patidar Mukesh Bhagoria

For details: 0982681198

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December 19, 2013, 6:57 am

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DELHI’S DOOR CLOSED TO FDI IN MULTI – BRAND RETAIL

Posted on December 19, 2013 by sagarmedia
DELHI’S DOOR CLOSED TO FDI IN MULTI – BRAND RETAIL

A significant yet unnoticed fall-out of the Delhi Assembly elections is that New Delhi will not be playing host to foreign retailers like Tesco, Carrefour, Walmart and others at least for the next five years. By overwhelmingly voting for the BJP and AAP, the citizens of Delhi have endorsed the stand of both these parties that are opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail.
Pointing this out, Mr. B. C. Bhartia, National President and Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, National Secretary General of Confederation of All India Traders said: “The voters of Delhi have vindicated our stand. With BJP and AAP winning 90% of the assembly seats, even if there is a re-election it is clear that one of these two parties will be running the Delhi government soon. The Centre’s policy on FDI in multi-brand retail has left it to the States to decide if foreign retailers can open stores in their geographic area. Neither the BJP nor AAP are going to permit this in Delhi in the coming years.”
“The trader community turning against the Congress was a big factor in the Delhi elections. With the winds of change blowing in the country, our group will be mobilising the full force of traders with votes numbering over 100 million to actively support the parties that are opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail,” added Khandelwal.

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Sexual Harassment of Women Sports-Persons

20122013

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that during the past, a few cases of sexual harassment of women sportspersons in various sports bodies were received by the Government. While action on such complaints including seeking reports from the concerned NSFs and giving suitable advice to NSFs was taken by the Government, state-wise data is not maintained.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Jitendra Singh said, in order to bring in transparency and good governance in sports bodies, the Government has issued guidelines which, inter-alia, provide for prevention of sexual harassment of women in sports. These guidelines are contained in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 (NSDCI) which are effective from 31.1.2011. Under these instructions, the National Sports Federations (NSFs) are to take the following steps:

(i) Notify, publish and circulate in appropriate ways, express prohibition of sexual harassment.
(ii) Include rules/regulations prohibiting sexual harassment in their rules and regulations and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offender.
(iii) Provide appropriate conditions in respect of work, leisure, health and hygiene to further ensure that there is no hostile environment towards women and no employee woman should have reasonable grounds to believe that she is disadvantaged in connection with her career.
(iv) Women should be allowed to raise issues of sexual harassment in appropriate forums and it should be affirmatively discussed.
(v) Complaint Mechanism: The NSFs should set up a complaint mechanism for redressal of the complaint made by the victim. Such complaint mechanism should ensure time bound treatment of complaints.
(vi) Disciplinary Action: Where such conduct amounts to misconduct, appropriate disciplinary action should he initiated in accordance with rules.
(vii) Criminal Proceedings: Where such conduct amounts to a specific offence under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law, the NSFs shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with law by making a complaint with the appropriate authority. In particular, it should ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. The victim of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.
(viii) Complaints Committee: The complaint mechanism referred to in (g) above, should be adequate to provide, where necessary, Complaints Committee, a special counselor or other support service, including the maintenance of confidentiality. The Complaints Committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its member should be women. Further, to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such Complaints Committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.
(ix) Awareness: Awareness of the rights of the female employees in this regard should be created in particular by prominently notifying the guidelines in a suitable manner.
(x) Third Party Harassment: Where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an act or omission by any third party or outsider, the NSFs will take all steps necessary and reasonable to assist the affected person in terms of support and preventive action.

****

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Kamal Nath: Five more Proposals Received for Central Assistance for Metro Projects

20122013

Five more Proposals Received for Central Assistance for Metro Projects says Union Urban Development Minister
Submission of Final Proposal for Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Awaited

The State Governments/Union Territories which have approached the Central Government for financial assistance to set up metro train network are Chandigarh Administration for Tri-City of Chandigarh, Mohali & Panchkula Metro Rail project, Government of Gujarat for Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro Rail project, Government of Maharashtra for Pune Metro Rail project, Government of Punjab for Ludhiana Metro Rail project and Government of Uttar Pradesh for Lucknow Metro Rail project.

The above proposals are besides the projects that have already been sanctioned by Government of India, which are under operation or under various stages of implementation in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Govt. of Gujarat had forwarded a proposal in December, 2011 for metro rail corridor between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar for a total length of 52 kms at a completion cost of Rs 9000 crore and requested this Ministry for Central Financial Assistance to the extent of 25% of the total cost of the project. The proposal did not fit the criteria of funding as per NUTP 2006 according to which Government of India provide funding upto 20% of the cost. Accordingly, the State Government was requested to submit its final proposal as per the GoI norms for funding. The State Government is yet to submit its final proposal.

As per National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006, Government of India provides funding to the extent of 20% of the cost of metro rail projects either through equity and subordinate debt (for 50% Central taxes/duties) if the project is taken up through a 50:50 jointly owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Government of India & the State Government or through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) if the project is taken up in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Government of India also provides upto 50% funding for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) projects.

This information was given by Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Urban Development in the Rajya Sabha.

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Categories : Automobile, Business, Politics, Trade, Transport

NTPC and KfW-(Germany) ink agreement for research cooperation

20122013

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has tied up a fixed interest term loan facility for EUR 55 million with KfW, the German government developmental financial institution to part finance the capital expenditure on Electro Static Precipitators and other selected packages of its Mouda Stage-II power project. An agreement to this effect was signed today by Shri G.K. Sadhu, Executive Director (Finance) on behalf of NTPC. The facility has a door to door maturity of 12 years including availability period of 4 years. The loan is on a standalone basis without sovereign guarantee reflecting the trust and confidence reposed by the German financial institution in NTPC’s strong credit quality and professional management. KfW has in the past provided financial support to the company’s renovation and modernization and emission reduction schemes.

NTPC Ltd also signed a Financing Agreement with KfW-Germany today to setup of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Lab at NETRA under the aegis of Indo-German Research Cooperation through a Grant of Euro 5 million and matching contribution from NTPC. These world class labs are being setup with assistance from German R&D institutions M/s DLR, Cologne and ISE, Fraunhofer for characterization of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic prototypes and components.

The MoU was signed by Shri Thomas Joseph, Executive Director, NTPC-NETRA, Mr. Peter Hilliges, Director (KfW) and Mr. Andreas Thermann, Deputy Director (KfW) in presence of Shri A.K Jha Director (Technical), NTPC and other officials from NTPC and KfW

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Categories : Energy, Finnance, Science, world News

Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011

20122013

The Rajya Sabha passed the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 on December 17, 2013 and the Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha today.

Some of the important features in the Bill are as below:-

Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the level of the States.
The Lokpal will consist of a Chairperson and a maximum of eight Members, of which fifty percent shall be judicial members.
Fifty per cent of members of Lokpal shall be from amongst SC/ST/OBCs, Minorities and Women.
The selection of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal shall be through a Selection Committee consisting of:-
Prime Minister;
Speaker of Lok Sabha;
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha;
Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI;
Eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India on the basis of recommendations of the first four members of the Selection Committee.
Prime Minister has been brought under the purview of the Lokpal.
Lokpal’s jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants.
All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs per year are brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal.
Provides adequate protection for honest and upright Public Servants.
Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by Lokpal.
A high powered Committee chaired by the Prime Minister will recommend selection of the Director,CBI.
Directorate of Prosecution headed by a Director of Prosecution under the overall control of Director;
The appointment of the Director of Prosecution, CBI on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission;
Transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of Lokpal;
The Bill also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.
The Bill lays down clear time lines for Preliminary enquiry & investigation and trial and

towards this end, the Bill provides for setting up of Special Courts.

A mandate for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by the State Legislature within a period of 365 days from the date of commencement of the Act.

*******

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Categories : culture, Education, election, Law, Legal, Media

Katoch on Preservation and publication of archaeological Manuscripts

20122013

The Minister of Culture Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch has said that palm leaf manuscripts are preserved in a scientific manner by National Archives and are stored in a conducive atmosphere in repositories. Further in the year 2011, NAI and Soka University, Japan have jointly published facsimile copies of the Giligit Manuscript (medium-birch bark and one in palm leaf). Besides above National Museum, New Delhi has collection of Palm leaf Manuscript and coins which are scientifically preserved and are encapsulated/laminated in special reversible polyester film to minimize effects of pollutants. Publication on Palm leafs and other manuscripts are being done by National Mission for Manuscript. Similarly, inscriptions and coins are scientifically preserved by National Museum, Epigraphy and Science Branch of Archaeological Survey of India, including making of estampages of inscriptions in conventional method on paper. The mending and pasting of photo estampages, a prelude for digitization, is under process.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Smt. Katoch said, the Central Advisory Board on Archaeology (CABA) during its meeting held in the year 2009 had recommended the constitution of five sub committees i.e. Conservation and Preservation of Monuments; Exploration & Excavation; Antiquity and Museum; Epigraphy and Role and Restructuring of ASI. The recommendations of these five sub committees and minutes of the CABA meeting held on 2nd December, 2009 were confirmed during the CABA meeting held on 27th & 28th May, 2011. In pursuance of above, the vacant post in the Epigraphy Branch, archaeology cadre, etc. have been filled up. Draft policies/guidelines recommended by the subcommittees have been framed.

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Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications on Bandwidth of Spectrum

20122013

GSM Association in their communications has raised, among others, issues of refarming of 900 MHz band, spectrum pricing and allocation of entire 700 MHz band spectrum to mobile services. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said that the National Telecom Policy-2012 ( NTP-2012) envisages, among others, to make available additional 300 MHz spectrum for IMT services by the year 2017 and another 200 MHz by 2020. He said that the frequency bands 806-824/ 851-869 MHz, 824-844/ 869-889MHz and 890-915/935-960MHz are available for Telecom. The frequency band 698-806MHz has also been earmarked for telecom, out of which 15 MHz has been identified for non commercial usage. The refarming of spectrum in this band is being carried out. This would ensure introduction of new technologies and would accrue revenue to the Government.

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Categories : Business, Telecom

Internet and Wi-Fi Plan for Rural Areas

20122013

The Government has approved a project for creation of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) to connect all the Gram Panchayats of the country through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC). Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said that NOFN is planned to connect all the Gram Panchayats (approximately 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats) in the country through optical fibre utilizing existing fibers of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) viz. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), RailTel and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and laying incremental fiber wherever necessary. Dark fibre network thus created will be lit by appropriate technology thus creating sufficient bandwidth at Gram Panchayats (GPs) level. Non-discriminatory access to the network will be provided to all the telecom service providers and other access providers to launch various services in rural areas. The project is being funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) viz. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL). BBNL is getting the project executed through 3 CPSUs viz. BSNL, RailTel and PGCIL.

Shri Sibal informed the House that three Pilot Projects have been completed to cover 30 Gram Panchayats of Arain Block in Ajmer District (Rajasthan), 15 Gram Panchayats of Panisagar Block in North Tripura District (Tripura), 14 Gram Panchayats of Paravada Block in Vishakhapatnam District (Andhra Pradesh). 59 Gram Panchayats in these three Pilot Project Blocks have been provided with 100 Mbps bandwidth.

Presently, the survey work is being done by the 3 CPSUs and tenders for supply of material and execution of the project are under process in BBNL and 3 CPSUs. The fibre connectivity is to be delivered at the Gram Panchayat Bhavan or any other suitable location in the Gram Panchayat identified by the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration.

The initial estimate for the project is Rs. 20,000 Crore. The project is being funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for free Right of Way (RoW) has been signed with all States including West Bengal & Union Territories (UTs) except the States of Haryana and Tamil Nadu and UTs of Chandigarh and Lakshadweep. The efforts are underway to sign the MoU with the remaining States and UTs.

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Categories : Business, Energy, Media, Politics, Science, Telecom, Trade

Extension of Time to Sez Developers

20122013

In addition to Seven Central Government Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 12 State/Private Sector SEZs set up prior to the enactment of SEZ Act, 2005, formal approval has been accorded to 574 proposals out of which 391 SEZs presently stand notified. A total of 175 SEZs have commenced export. A list showing State-wise distribution of formally approved, notified and operational SEZs is at Annexure-I.

Some SEZ developers have sought extension of validity period of the letter of approval granted to them for the execution of their projects stating reasons including adverse business climate due to global recession, delay in approvals from statutory/State Government bodies, delay in environmental clearance, lack of demand for space in SEZs, changed fiscal incentive regime for SEZs etc. After deliberations and taking into account the facts and circumstances of each case, the Board of Approval for SEZs has granted approval for extension of validity of approval in the case of several developers for the execution of their projects. The State wise position of extension of validity of approvals granted for developers from 1.4.2012 till 30.11.2013 is given as per Annexure-II.

*****

Annexure-I

State-wise distribution of SEZs (As on 05.12.2013)
State	Formal Approvals	Notified SEZs	Operational (Exporting) SEZs
Andhra Pradesh	109	78	40
Chandigarh	2	2	2
Chhattisgarh	2	1	1
Delhi	3	0	0
Dadra & Nagar Haveli	2	1	0
Goa	7	3	0
Gujarat	43	30	18
Haryana	45	34	5
Jharkhand	1	1	0
Karnataka	61	40	22
Kerala	29	24	8
Madhya Pradesh	19	9	2
Maharashtra	101	65	20
Manipur	1	0	0
Nagaland	2	2	0
Odisha	10	5	1
Puducherry	1	0	0
Punjab	8	2	2
Rajasthan	10	10	5
Tamil Nadu	67	53	34
Uttar Pradesh	31	21	9
Uttarakhand	2	1	0
West Bengal	18	9	6
GRAND TOTAL	574	391	175

Annexure-II

State-wise details of number of SEZ Developers granted extension of validity

of their Approvals for setting up SEZ (w.e.f. 1.4.2012 to 30.11.2013)

Sl. No.	State	No. of SEZ Developers granted extension of Approvals
1.	Andhra Pradesh	13
2.	Gujarat	10
3.	Haryana	9
4.	Jharkhand	1
5.	Karnataka	12
6.	Kerala	15
7.	Madhya Pradesh	2
8.	Maharashtra	18
9.	Nagaland	3
10.	Odisha	5
11.	Tamil Nadu	16
12.	Uttar Pradesh	6
13.	West Bengal	5
	GRAND TOTAL	115

The information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M.

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Categories : Business, Media, Trade

Indo-Pak Trade at Glance

20122013

The trade data between India-Pakistan for last 3 financial years is as follows:

(Value in US $ Million)

Year	Exports	Imports	Total Trade
2010-11	2039.53	332.51	2372.05
2011-12	1541.56	397.66	1939.21
2012-13	2064.79	541.87	2606.66

Source -DGCIS, Kolkata

The Line of Control (LoC) Trade is a Confidence Building Measure implemented through M/o Home Affairs. Eligible items produced on either side of the LoC are traded under this mechanism at Zero duty between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. LoC trade in Jammu & Kashmir is not India-Pakistan trade.

The information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M.

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Categories : Business, Trade

Inclusion of Jat community in the Central List of OBCs

20122013

Inclusion of Jat community in the Central List of OBCs for the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Bihar

The Union Cabinet today approved the following as suggested by the Group of Ministers.

Jats are already included in the State List of OBCs in nine States. Formal reports of the State Backward Class Commissions on the subject for the States of Haryana (2012) and Himachal Pradesh (2002) and books relating to socio economic status of farming communities in northern India and caste, land and political power in Uttar Pradesh are available. These may contain valuable and relevant material which can be utilized by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to give its advice on the demand for inclusion of Jats in the Central List of OBCs in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan (two districts), Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Bihar.

This decision would enable the Jat Community to avail the benefits of reservation available to the Other Backward Classes for employment/ admission in /to Central Government services and posts/ educational Institutions.

Background:

Jat Community has been demanding inclusion in the Central List of Other Backward Classes for various states. The NCBC which was set up under the NCBC Act 1993, has been entrusted with the function of examining requests for inclusion of any Class of citizens as a backward class in the lists (Central List of Other Backward Classes) and hear complaints of over inclusion or under inclusion of any backward class in such lists, and tender advice to the Central Government as desired appropriate. At present, the Jat Community is included, in the Central List of OBCs for the States of Gujarat – Jat (Muslim) and Rajasthan (except in Bharatpur and Dhaulpur districts). They are, at present, included in the State Lists of nine States. The requests of Jats for inclusion in the Central List of OBCs for the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur and Dhaulpur districts of Rajasthan was earlier rejected by NCBC in 1997. The NCBC under the NCBC (Power to Review Advice) Rules 2011, decided to consider requests for inclusion of the Jat community after collecting additional socio-economic data through the ICSSR, in addition to data from the SECC. A GoM was constituted on 20.8.2013 to (i) engage with the representatives of the Jat community periodically; and (ii) apprise itself of the progress of the survey being conducted by NCBC through ICSSR in six states.

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Categories : Business, culture, Education, election, Legal, Media, Politics

Inflation Indexed National Saving Securities

20122013

Inflation Indexed National Saving Securities- Cumulative (IINSS-C) Issued for Retail Investors

The Government of India, in consultation with Reserve Bank of India(RBI), has announced issuance of Inflation Indexed National Savings Securities-Cumulative (IINSS-C) for retail investors by opening the subscription on December 23, 2013 and closing the subscription on December 31, 2013. The subscription can be closed earlier than December 31, 2013 with a prior notice.

Interest rate on these securities would be linked to final combined Consumer Price Index [CPI (Base: 2010=100)]. Interest rate would comprise two parts, i.e. fixed rate (1.5% per annum) and inflation rate based on CPI and the same will be compounded in the principal on half-yearly basis and paid at the time of maturity. The final combined CPI will be used with a lag of three months, i.e. final combined CPI for September 2013 will be used as reference CPI for all days of December 2013.

Early redemptions will be allowed after one year from date of issue for senior citizens (i.e. 65 years and above of age) and 3 years for all others, subject to penalty charges at the rate of 50% of the last coupon payable for early redemption. Early redemptions, however, can be made only on coupon dates.

The eligible investors would include individuals, Hindu Undivided Family, Charitable Institutions registered under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act and Universities incorporated by Central, State or Provincial Act or declared to be a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956). As distribution/ sale of IINSS-C would be through banks, eligible investors may approach the branches of State Bank of India, Associate Banks, Nationalized Banks, three private sector banks (viz. HDFC Bank Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd. and Axis Bank Ltd.) and Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd. during their working hours.

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WTO held in Bali, Indonesia during 3-7 December 2013

20122013

WTO held in Bali, Indonesia during 3-7 December 2013

The Union Cabinet today approved the stand taken by India at the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the WTO held in Bali, Indonesia during 3-7 December 2013.

Background:

The two key issues for the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the WTO were Trade Facilitation and a proposal on Food Security.

While the accumulation and holding of public stocks for food security purposes is classified as non trade-distorting, procurement at administered prices (Minimum Support Prices in India) is considered to be implicitly trade distorting and is, therefore, subject to a limit under WTO rules.

Since the limit can be a constraint on the procurement operations of developing countries, India, along with other developing countries submitted a proposal in the WTO for a suitable amendment in the rules to address this issue.

During the conference, ministers agreed on a decision that provides for an interim period of protection to public stockholding programmes for food security purposes of developing country members from being challenged in the WTO, on the grounds of exceeding the support which they are entitled to provide. It further provides that members must agree on a permanent solution on this issue for adoption by the 11th Ministerial Conference of the WTO.

This Decision ensures that trade rules in respect of agriculture do not come in the way of initiatives aimed at self-sufficiency in food and stabilization of domestic prices. As a result of the decision, procurement operations of developing countries will not be constrained by their existing farm support limits. Developing countries will be able to run food security programmes for their under-nourished and hungry populations without the fear of violating WTO rules under the Agreement on Agriculture.

Prior to the Bali Ministerial Conference, the Cabinet had provided directions to the Commerce and Industry Minister on the stand to be taken by India. Acting on these directions, India took the position from the beginning that food security was non-negotiable and maintained its position that until a permanent solution to the issue was found, the interim mechanism must not be terminated.

As a result of its unwavering stand and the support it was able to muster, India succeeded in getting the text on Food Security appropriately amended.

The final agreed text addresses India’s core concerns. It has a firm commitment from members to work on a permanent resolution. In the interim, until a permanent solution is found, eligible members will be protected against challenge in the WTO, under the Agreement on Agriculture in respect of public stockholding programmes for food security purposes. By implication, until a permanent solution is found, countries like India will have the flexibility of providing support to its farmers without the apprehension of breaching its entitlements.

Since most of India’s demands and concerns were appropriately addressed in the Trade Facilitation Agreement, India endorsed the proposed Trade Facilitation Agreement. The new agreement will create a set of disciplines that would ensure that all WTO Members not only simplify their rules and procedures, but also follow modern techniques for facilitating clearance of goods across international borders. The agreement would eventually lead to reducing dwell time, removing unnecessary formalities and documentation, and ensuring faster release and clearance of goods at international borders. This will go a long way towards improving India’s trade administration and providing a more conducive business environment to traders.

On other issues being negotiated for the Ninth Ministerial Conference, India supported the broader consensus as it did not have any specific concern.

This was a landmark Ministerial Conference as the WTO has been able to conclude a multilateral agreement for the first time since its establishment. The outcome at Bali has restored faith in the WTO as a multilateral negotiating forum. It is a major step towards resuming the Doha Round of trade negotiations, especially in the agriculture sector. It has also given a clear signal to the world that while India is prepared to negotiate, it cannot and will not accept unbalanced agreements in any area, and least of all in an area of its topmost priority, namely food security and the welfare of its farmers and its poor.

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Categories : Business, world News

Pinaka rockets successfully test-fired

20122013

Pinaka rockets have been successfully test-fired from a multi-barrel rocket launcher from a base at Chandipur-on-sea near in Balasore, Odisha on Thursday.

“Six rounds of Pinaka rockets were successfully tested from the proof and experimental establishment at Chandipur,” defence sources said.

Pinaka, which has undergone several tough tests since 1995, has been inducted into the armed forces and the present trials were conducted with some improvements in the system, the sources said.

The tests were conducted by personnel from Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune unit.

The unguided rocket system was meant to neutralise large areas with rapid salvos.

The rockets with a range of 40 km, capable of acting as a force-multiplier, was developed to supplement artillery guns, the sources said.

The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of the system gave an edge to the Army during a low-intensity conflict situation, they said.

The system’s capability to incorporate several types of warheads made it deadly for the enemy as it could even destroy solid structures and bunkers.

The Pinaka system with a battery of six launchers could fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds and could neutralise a target area of 3.9 sq km.

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Categories : Science, world News

Awami activists sentenced to death in Bangladesh

20122013

Eight student activists of the ruling Awami League were sentenced to death and 13 others were given life terms on Wednesday by a fast-track Bangladeshi court in Dhaka for hacking to death a Hindu man during a nationwide strike in 2012.

“They (the eight) will be hanged to death,” pronounced tribunal-4 judge ABM Nizamul Haque at the packed courtroom as six convicts appeared in the dock.

During the 10-minute proceedings of the day, the court observed that Biswajit Das’ murder case is quite different from the others.

It took place in the broad daylight instead of night which was heinous and deplorable killing, the court said.

Two other death penalty convicts and 11 of the 13, who were awarded the life term, were tried in absentia as they were on the run to evade punishment.

Under the Bangladeshi law, the High Court must review death penalties even if the convicts do not appeal against the lower court’s verdicts.

The Chhatra League activists hacked to death the 24-year-old tailor on the street in Old Dhaka’s Bahadur Shah Park area on December 9 last year during the opposition enforced blockade.

The incident was captured live on television cameras. Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) is the student front of the Awami League.

Sutrapur police filed a murder case in this regard on the same day.

On June 2, charges were framed against the 21 Chhatra League activists. The murder drew flack on the ruling Awami League.

Reacting to the verdict, Das’s brother said, “I am satisfied…we got justice.”

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Categories : Media, Politics, world News

US budget deal clears Senate hurdle

20122013

Senate advanced a bipartisan budget deal on Tuesday; virtually assuring passage of a bill that sets spending caps for the next two years and reduces prospects of a US government shutdown in 2014.

The Bill, which cleared a Senate procedural hurdle with a bipartisan 67-33 vote and has already won House approval, is now expected to pass Congress this week before lawmakers go on their year-end recess.

President Barack Obama has indicated he will sign the deal into law, which increases the USD 967 billion cap for 2013 spending to USD 1.012 trillion next year, and importantly brings some normalcy to a budget process rocked by chaos in recent years.

Passage will allow lawmakers to spend their two-week break crafting spending plans for government agencies such as the defence and agriculture departments. Those appropriations must be made and agreed to by January 15, or lawmakers risk a government shutdown.

Tuesday’s advancement required 60 votes to break a Republican filibuster, or blocking tactic. The deal received support from all Democrats and 12 Republicans, a surprising number given the opposition voiced by conservatives who said the deal failed to sufficiently rein in federal spending.

A vote on final passage, which requires a simple majority in the 100-seat chamber, is expected tomorrow. By all accounts the deal is a modest one.

It eliminates USD 63 billion in blunt automatic spending cuts known in Washington as sequestration, and reduces the deficit by about USD 23 billion.

The accord, struck by Democratic Senate Budget Committee chairwoman Patty Murray and Republican House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan, does not close tax loopholes or include an extension of unemployment benefits, something Democrats have complained bitterly about.

Nor does it address reform of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, an approach long-advocated by Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012. “This bill is a compromise and that means neither side got everything we wanted, and we both had to give a bit,” Murray told her colleagues.

“It doesn’t tackle every one of the challenges we face as a nation. That was never the goal,” she added. But it “takes the first steps toward rebuilding our broken budget process.”

Washington has been embroiled in a near-constant cycle of fiscal warfare since 2011, when a grand bargain between Obama and Republicans collapsed. The gridlock came to a head in October, when the feuding parties failed to agree on a budget and plunged the government into a costly, 16-day shutdown.

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Categories : Business, world News

Abdul Basit to be new Pakistani envoy to India

20122013

Pakistan on Thursday appointed career diplomat Abdul Basit as its new High Commissioner to India.

Basit, 55, was earlier tipped to take over as Foreign Secretary but the government recently made several changes in proposed appointments.

The government initially zeroed in on Syed Ibne Abbas as the new envoy to New Delhi but changed its mind as officials felt he was too junior for the crucial posting.

Though the government decided on Basit, a former Foreign Office spokesman, nearly 10 days ago, a formal notification was issued only on Thursday, official sources said.

Basit will take over in New Delhi from former Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir at a time when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is pushing for better ties with India.

Basit earlier served as a Director General during 2008-09 and as Additional Secretary (Europe) during 2009-12.

His last posting was as the envoy to Germany.

Current High Commissioner Salman Bashir had been asked to continue in New Delhi for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to India last week.

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Categories : Politics, world News

China asks Nepal’s Maoists to accept poll

20122013

Chinese leader has asked the Maoists in Nepal to accept the election results and join the constitution-writing process to ensure progress and peace in the country.

Ai Ping, the vice-minister of the International Department of Communist Party of China (CPC), held separate meetings with UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda and CPN-Maoist leader Mohan Baidya and said that the message from China was loud and clear: get involved in the constitution-writing process, the Himalayan Times reported.

The UCPN-Maoist, which received an unexpected drubbing in recent polls, is hesitant to join the Constituent Assembly while its breakaway faction CPN-Maoist is calling for an outright boycott of the assembly.

Ping also asked Prachanda to accept the election results.

“Our observation is that the people of Nepal have given the mandate that parties should move ahead by forging consensus,” Prachanda’s aide Chudamani Khadka quoted the Chinese leader as saying.

The UCPN-M chairman told the Chinese vice-minister that his party “will play a constructive role in the new CA to achieve the task of writing the constitution and concluding the peace process”.

Claiming that the votes were rigged, the UCPN-M had taken a tough stance to not become a part of the 601-member CA until an independent probe commission was set up, putting the process of drafting the countries constitution at risk.

“We apprised the envoy and the vice-minister of the post-election developments, our party’s commitment to write the constitution and our stance on election results,” UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.

Ping arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday, leading a 14-member delegation. He is the senior-most CPC official to visit Nepal since the November 19 elections.

He also meet Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on Thursday, whose parties emerged as the top two in the elections.

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Categories : Politics, world News

Malian president’s party wins parliamentary election

20122013

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and its allies has won the Mali the West African nation’s parliamentary elections, according to provisional results announced by the government.
The Rally for Mali (RPM) and its junior partners have 115 of the 147 seats in the national assembly following a second round of voting on Sunday, Minister of Territorial Administration Moussa Sinko Coulibaly said on Tuesday on state television, with the exact breakdown still to be worked out.

The Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), the party of beaten presidential candidate Soumaila Cisse, will have between 17 and 19 members in the new parliament, allowing him to realise his ambition to be leader of the opposition.

Turnout in the second round reached 37.2 per cent, a drop on the 38.6 perc ent achieved in the first round, which itself was deemed disappointing.

The election marked the completion of Mali’s return to democracy after it was upended by a coup last year and then had its northern half occupied by Islamists linked to Al-Qaeda before being liberated by a French-led military intervention launched in January.

There were no serious incidents during 10 hours of voting but many voters were believed to have stayed away because of a recent upsurge in rebel attacks against African troops tasked with election security alongside French and Malian soldiers.

Two Senegalese UN peacekeepers were killed and seven wounded on Saturday when a suicide bomber ploughed his explosives-laden car into a bank they were guarding in the northeastern rebel bastion of Kidal. The second round of the parliamentary election was Mali’s fourth nationwide ballot in less than five months and some observers also blamed voting fatigue for the low turnout.

Louis Michel, the European Union’s chief election observer in Mali, said on Monday his team had positively evaluated 98 per cent of the 705 polling stations observed during the election. He said the “legal framework” for the polls “remains aligned with international standards for democratic elections”.

Michel also headed the EU’s observation mission for the first round on November 24 and for the presidential polls which brought Keita to power in July and August.

“Nobody would have thought we could organise the return to constitutional order and the rule of law this fast,” Michel said, adding that Mali had “now found democratic conditions to allow it to reboot to assume full development, education and reconciliation”.

Previous elections have been marred by accusations of widespread fraud and the result becomes official only if it is confirmed by the constitutional court in the coming days.

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Global news dose

21122013

China launches Bolivia’s first satellite

Bolivia’s first telecommunications satellite TKsat-1 has blasted off on top of a Chinese rocket from China’s Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The 5.1-ton spacecraft will service Bolivian territory as well as neighboring countries. The Long March-3B/E carrier rocket cost $302 million and was financed by the China Development Bank. Bolivian President Evo Morales, who travelled to China to witness the launch, said it would end Bolivia’s dependence on foreign powers for its communications.

14 killed in bombings, shootings in Iraq

At least 14 people were killed in a wave of sectarian bombings and shootings in northern Iraq on Friday. Two roadside bombs exploded in a livestock market in the town of Tuz Khurmatu, 175 kilometers north of Baghdad, killing nine people and wounding 24, police and medics reported. Also Friday in the northern town of Hawija, militants attacked two adjacent houses, killed five members of the family that lived there, and then bombed the buildings before escaping. Police believe the attack was part of infighting between Sunni insurgent groups currently under way in the area.

Spain approves tight restrictions on abortion

Spain’s conservative government approved Friday new restrictions on abortion, allowing the procedure only in cases of rape or if there is a serious health risk to the mother or fetus. The legislation now goes to parliament for final passage, which is likely. The ruling Popular Party, long an ally of the Roman Catholic Church, made the move one of its top promises in the 2011 vote that swept them to power. Women seeking abortions must have approval from two doctors not performing the procedure. Doctors can now decline to perform an abortion on reasons of conscience, Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said. A child likely to have disabilities will not be an acceptable reason for an abortion. Opponents of the bill fought vigorously against it, saying it is an attack on women’s rights. Over 1,000 people marched to the Justice Ministry Friday, as scuffles with police broke out after a life-size effigy of Ruiz-Gallardon was burned, AP reported.

Libya’s intelligence chief killed at a wedding

Chief of Benghazi’s military intelligence Colonel Fethallah al-Gaziri was “shot dead” by an unknown assailant, AFP reports citing an anonymous official. The colonel in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi was killed while visiting family for the marriage of a niece in neighboring Derna. Unrest in Libya continues following the assasination of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and foreign invasion.

Syria most dangerous place for reporters – study

For a second consecutive year, Syria has been labeled as the most dangerous spot for journalists with 19 press workers dying covering the conflict, International News Safety Institute announced. The institute also noted that kidnappings and disappearances of reporters was rising globally, with 18 foreign and 20 Syrian journalists are believed taken in Syria. Overall INSI found that 126 journalists lost their lives in 2013, 21 fewer than last year.

Security forces clash with pro-Morsi protesters across Egypt

Law enforcement have fired tear gas to disperse supporters of former president Morsi. Egypt’s Health Ministry said eight civilians were injured. Clashes erupted after Friday prayers in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez in eastern Egypt. The Interior Ministry announced that 85 “rioters” have been arrested following Friday’s unrest, while 5 officers and 3 soldiers sustained injuries.

1 killed, 3 wounded by IDF in Gaza cross-border violence – reports

Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian and wounded three others in separate incidents of cross-border violence in the Gaza Strip on Friday, medics and media reported. “The martyrdom of a young man of around 20 shot by the occupiers’ bullets,” Al Rai news reported. In separate incidents, the medics announced that three other Palestinians were wounded by the IDF. The army confirmed using live ammunition near the border saying ”several hits were identified”. It did not confirm the dead or wounded but added that a mortar was fired into Israel while blaming Palestinians for damaging the border fence.

2 soldiers killed in Sinai in an attempt to arrest militant leader

At least two Egyptian soldiers have been killed while battling militants in the northern Sinai Peninsula in the village of Nagaa Shabana, military officials announced. Eight more have been wounded as the troops sustained a “dense fire from all directions,” Col. Ali Ahmed, said in a statement. Three militants have also been killed in the clashes, while Islamic extremists paraded with one of the soldier’s body while it hung from a pole, witnesses report. The military was attacked while leading an operation to arrest Shadi a-Menei, an alleged chief of the al Qaeda-linked Ansar Beit al Maqdis cell.

Agreement with Russia allowed Ukraine to avoid bankruptcy, no need of IMF loan – PM

Ukraine faced bankruptcy until it reached the agreement with Russia, Ukrainian Prime Mininiter Nikolay Azarov told a local TV station. “Upon finalizing agreements with Russia, financing has opened for us under normal conditions,”Azarov said. The PM also noted that bilateral agreements facilitate favorable trade with the Russia and with the Customs Union, but most of all lower gas payments. He noted that the $15 billion credit line offered by Russia, annihilated the need to ask the IMF for credit.

2014 Pentagon budget addresses sexual assault, Guantanamo trials

The US Senate has approved $630 billion for the 2014 defense budget with conditions that will make it easier to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay, and will overhaul the military’s handling of sexual assault. The budget, which provides approximately $80 billion for the end of the Afghanistan war, makes it more difficult for commanders to sway the justice system when sexual assault victims come forward. The changes also call for the dishonorable discharge of sexual-assault convicts and enacts a civilian review board for cases that military prosecutors decide not to pursue. The new rules come on the heels of a number of high-profile military sexual assault cases within the past year. The Senate also voted to remove the restrictions that prevent Guantanamo detainees from being tried in the US, where President Obama has sought to charge them in a criminal court.

Utah’s same-sex marriage ban struck down

A federal judge struck down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage on Friday on the grounds that it violated the US Constitution’s guarantee for due process and equal protection under the law. “The state’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason,” wrote US District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby. The judge noted that “any regulation adopted by a state, whether related to marriage or any other interest, must comply with the Constitution of the United States.” The state’s attorney general’s office requested an emergency stay to halt same-sex marriages, which had already begun in the wake of the court’s ruling, reported the AP.

Geneva nuclear expert-level talks extended

Iran and six other world powers have extended closed-door expert consultations in Geneva by a day, according to diplomats. The negotiations are targeted at putting into practice the November 24 deal which will see the country freezing its nuclear program. The new round of talks kicked off on Thursday and was scheduled to have reached its conclusion by the end of Friday.

5.3-magnitude earthquake hits eastern Japan, shakes buildings in Tokyo

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake has hit eastern Japan, causing buildings in Tokyo to shake seismologists said. It hit the southern part of Honshu’s Ibaraki prefecture, 35 kilometers north east of the capital Tokyo, at 01:10 am (1610 GMT Friday). There is no risk of a tsunami. The epicenter of the quake has been registered at a depth of 67-kilometres, the United States Geological Survey reported. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Britain to destroy part of Syria chemical stockpile

The British government has stated that it will be involved in the destruction of part of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. The process will take place at a commercial facility after being transported to the country by ship, according to a statement from the Foreign Office seen by Reuters.

Spanish police raid ruling People’s Party HQ in corruption probe

Spanish police have searched the headquarters of the ruling People’s Party (PP) for 14 hours as part of a corruption investigation, Reuters reported. Police followed late on Thursday the order of examining Magistrate Pablo Ruz, to search for documents and invoices over evidence of off-the-book payments linked to renovation work on the building carried out from 2005 to 2011. They left the central Madrid building on Friday morning, according to a PP spokesman. Ruz is looking into an alleged slush fund operated by former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas. The corruption scandal has threatened to destabilize the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

More than 30 injured as London bus crashes into tree

At least 32 people have been injured in a bus crash in south London, with seven in serious condition, after the bus struck a tree, Sky News reported, citing police. Two people were believed to be trapped inside the bus after it collided with a tree on Kennington Road, in south London. The No. 59 bus was en route to King’s Cross, and the incident occurred around 10.50 am on Kennington Road, near the Imperial War Museum.

Russian aviation watchdog to revoke Tatarstan Airlines license

The Federal Air Transport Agency will annul the operating license of Tatarstan Airlines as of December 31, 2013, the aviation watchdog announced Friday. The decision, dated December 19, was taken after violations of certification requirements had been exposed in the airline, as well as violations of the work time and leisure time of the crews, Itar-Tass reported. Rosaviatsiya also said the crews had not taken advanced training courses. All passengers and crewmembers – a total of 50 people – died in the air crash of a Boeing-737 belonging to Tatarstan at Kazan airport on 17 November.

India govt asks Supreme Court to review anti-gay law

India’s government asked the country’s Supreme Court on Friday to review a decision in which it upheld a colonial-era law that bans homosexual acts, AP reported. Law Minister Kapil Sibal said he hoped the court would overturn the law. The Supreme Court ruled last week that only lawmakers and not the courts can change the law. In 2009, a lower court said that the law violated fundamental human rights. The law, dating back to the 1860s, makes homosexual acts punishable by up to a decade in prison.

UN says 2 Indian peacekeepers killed in S. Sudan

Two UN peacekeepers from India have been killed and a third wounded when a UN base in South Sudan was overrun by armed youths, the organization’s spokesman Joe Contreras said Friday. Previous reports indicated three Indian peacekeepers died in the incident Thursday. Contreras said two civilians were also killed when Lou Nuer youths breached a UN compound in Jonglei State. He did not confirm comments by presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny that 54 people from the ethnic Dinka group were killed in the raid.

Indian activists attack Dominos Pizza over diplomat row in US

Activists of a small Indian political group ransacked a Dominos Pizza outlet in a Mumbai suburb on Friday, Reuters reported. The protesters were demanding a ban on US goods until Washington apologizes for the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York. No-one was hurt in the attack, but the Republican Party of India, which carried it out, sent pictures to media showing a broken glass door at the outlet. Diplomats from the two states are seeking to defuse the row over the arrest and subsequent strip-search of Devyani Khobragade in a visa fraud case.

UN-mandated probe cites Syria’s ‘systematic campaign’ of disappearances

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry has said in a report that the Syrian government forces are “waging a systematic campaign of enforced disappearances to terrorize the population,” AFP reported.“Enforced disappearances are perpetrated as part of a widespread campaign of terror against the civilian population,” the UN-mandated probe said. The commission said the enforced disappearances were committed as part of an attack against the civilian population, and therefore “amount to a crime against humanity.” In 2011 through to early 2012, the majority of those who disappeared “were men aged between 16 and 40 who were seized at demonstrations,” it said, adding that the net has widened since then.

Lebedev to discuss with lawyers possibility of applying for pardon

The former head of the Menatep Group, Platon Lebedev, will discuss with his defense team the possibility of submitting a request for a pardon, his lawyer Aleksey Miroshnichenko told Interfax Friday. The issue will be discussed at a “meeting at the penal colony today,” he said. The decision is expected to be announced later Friday. Lebedev’s business partner and former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky was pardoned by President Vladimir Putin on Friday morning.

US deploys 45 troops to S. Sudan to protect personnel

The US has deployed 45 troops to protect US personnel and assets in South Sudan amid ongoing fighting between rebels and government forces, the White House said. President Barack Obama sent a letter to Congress, saying the group of soldiers was sent Wednesday, AFP reported. The small force will remain in South Sudan “until the security situation becomes such that it is no longer needed,” Obama said. “Although equipped for combat, this force was deployed for the purpose of protecting US citizens and property.”

Senate approves defense bill to crack down on sexual assault in military

Congress has sent President Barack Obama a defense bill that would crack down on sexual assault in the military and add protection for victims. The Senate voted 84-15 Thursday night for the legislation, after a year-long campaign to address cases of rape and sexual assault in the ranks, AP reported. The military’s handling of high-profile cases of assault and other crimes had angered both the House and Senate, setting in motion what will be sweeping changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Philippines mayor, 3 others killed in Manila airport ambush

Four people, including the mayor of a southern Philippines town, were killed Friday in an ambush at Manila airport, AFP reported, citing its general manager. The mayor of Labangan, Ukol Talumpa, and his family and some security escorts were attacked, Angel Honrado said. Talumpa, a member of the opposition, won a mayoral race in last May’s elections.

Turkey has more journalists detained than any other country – report

For the second consecutive year Turkey has been ranked the number one jailer of journalists in the world by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Forty journalists are currently serving time in Turkey, a number lower than the 49 who were locked up as of December 1, 2012, but still more than Iran (35) and China (32). The three countries account for more than half of the 211 journalists imprisoned around the world, according to the rights watchdog. “Jailing journalists for their work is the hallmark of an intolerant, repressive society,” said Joel Simon, CPJ executive director. The agency speculated that Turkey cracked down on journalists in part because of the Gezi Park protests. Meanwhile, Vietnam, Egypt, and Syria also reported increases in the number of jailed media personnel.

Media agencies

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India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-III missile

23122013

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Clik here to view. India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-III missile

Updated on : 23-12-2013 06:07 PM

India on Monday test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile with a strike range of more than 3,000 km as part of a user trial by the Army from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast, defence sources said.

The operation of the surface-to-surface missile was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army with logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The indigenously developed missile was flight-tested from a mobile launcher at launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range at about 1655 hrs, defence sources said.

“It was the second user trial in the Agni-III series carried out to establish the ‘repeatability’ of the missile’s performance,” a DRDO official said.

For data analysis, the entire trajectory of today’s trial was monitored through various telemetry stations, electro-optic systems and sophisticated radars located along the coast, and by naval ships anchored near the impact point, the sources said.

The Agni-III missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system. With a length of 17 metres, the missile’s diameter is 2 metres and launch weight is around 50 tonnes.

It can carry a warhead of 1.5 tonne which is protected by carbon all composite heat shield.

The sleek missile, already inducted into the armed forces, is equipped with hybrid navigation, guidance and control systems along with advanced on-board computer.

The electronic systems are hardened for higher vibration, thermal and acoustic effects, a DRDO scientist said.

Though the first developmental trial of Agni-III carried out on July 9, 2006 could not provide desired result, subsequent tests on April 12, 2007, May 7, 2008 and February 7, 2010 as well as the first user trial on September 21, 2012 from the same base were all successful.

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Relief for India, Pak objections rejected

23122013

Kishenganga issue: Relief for India, Pak objections rejectedUpdated on : 22-12-2013 10:38 PM
In a major relief for India, The Hague-based International Court of Arbitration has rejected Pakistan’s objections by upholding New Delhi’s right to divert water from the Kishenganga river for power generation in Jammu and Kashmir.

In its final award on the India-Pakistan arbitration case, the court also decided that India shall release a minimum flow of nine cumecs (cubic meters per second) into the Kishenganga/Neelum river below the Kishenganga hydro-electric project (KHEP) at “all times.”

The issue of minimum flow was left unresolved by the partial award issued on February 18, 2013. The court, in its final award pronounced yesterday, also decided that both India and Pakistan may seek “reconsideration” of its decision through the Permanent Indus Commission and the mechanisms of the Indus Waters Treaty “after a period of seven years from the first diversion of water from the Kishenganga river.”

In its partial award, the court had unanimously decided that the 330 mw project in Jammu and Kashmir is a run-of-river plant within the definition of the Indus Waters Treaty. It had also held that India was free to divert water from the Kishenganga/Neelum River for power generation.

The court has given India the right to divert water for the project and has accepted Pakistan’s demand for uninterrupted flow of water. Pakistan has claimed that the project would rob it of 15 per cent of its share of river waters.

It also accused India of trying to divert the river to harm Pakistan’s Neelum-Jhelum hydro-electric project (NJHEP).

Recalling the matters already decided in the partial award, the court noted that India had “coupled intent with action” in the planning and construction of the KHEP before Pakistan achieved the same with respect to NJHEP, and that the KHEP had acquired “priority in right” as a result.

The final award is binding upon the two countries without recourse to appeal. On May 17, 2010, Pakistan had moved for arbitration against India under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

The Indus Waters Treaty is an international agreement signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 that regulates the use waters of the Indus system of rivers by the two neighbours.

The KHEP is designed to generate power by diverting water from a dam site on the Kishenganga to the Bonar Nallah, another tributary of the Jhelum, through a system of tunnels, with the water powering turbines having a capacity of 330 mw.

In commencing the arbitration, Pakistan challenged the permissibility of the planned diversion by the KHEP of the waters of the Kishenganga into the Bonar Nallah and the effect that this diversion would have on NJHEP.

Besides others, India’s case was defended by jurists Fali S Nariman and R K P Shankardass. The seven-member Court of Arbitration was chaired by judge Stephen M Schwebel of the US who is former president of the International Court of Justice.

The other members of the court were Franklin Berman and Howard S Wheater (UK), Lucius Caflisch (Switzerland), Jan Paulsson (Sweden) and judges Bruno Simma (Germany) and Peter Tomka (Slovakia).

In June 2011, the Court of Arbitration conducted a site visit to the Kishenganga project and surrounding areas located on the Kishenganga river. In February 2012, a delegation of the court carried out a second site visit to the Neelum river valley.

From August 20 to 31, 2012, the Court of Arbitration held a two-week hearing on the merits of the dispute between India and Pakistan before giving a partial award in February last year.

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23122013

Tejpal’s judicial custody extended by 12 days

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Updated on : 23-12-2013 03:53 PM

A local court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal for 12 days even as his lawyer moved a bail petition.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Sarika Faldesai extended the judicial custody of Tejpal, after his initial 12-day custody expired on Monday.

Tejpal, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman journalist, has been lodged in Sada sub jail near Vasco town.

The lawyers representing Tejpal today moved a petition before the district court seeking his bail stating that “the accused has not been questioned by police since he was lodged in the judicial custody.”

The petition mentions that Tejpal was only questioned when he was in the police lock-up, and was not interrogated from the time he was remanded in judicial custody. Hearing on the bail petition would be held on December 26. Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior woman colleague in a hotel here in early November, was arrested by Goa Police on November 30.

He has been booked under IPC sections including 354-A (sexual harassment, physical contact, advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature), 376 (rape) and 376 (2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position).

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Kejriwal stakes claim to form govt; LG sends proposal to President

23122013

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Clik here to view. Kejriwal stakes claim to form govt; LG sends proposal to Prez

Updated on : 23-12-2013 02:14 PM

Ending the fortnight-long deadlock, the Aam Aadmi Party today staked claim to form the government in the national capital with outside support from the Congress.

After the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) met Monday morning and decided to go with the results of the ‘referendum’ which overwhelmingly favoured the party taking the reins of power, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and and handed over him a letter staking claim to form government.45-year-old Kejriwal, who was the party’s face in the elections, will be the new Chief Minister who will be sworn-in at a public event in the Ramlila Maidan, the venue of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement for a Janlokpal Bill.

He said he would table a confidence motion in the assembly and “let’s see what happens”.

This will be the capital’s first minority government.

The date and timing of the swearing-in ceremony would be decided once President Pranab Mukherjee gives his decision, Jung told Kejriwal when he met him.

The Lt Governor told Kejriwal that he would send the proposal of government making to the President for his decision.

After the two-hour-long meeting of the PAC at AAP office in Kausambi nearby Ghaziabad district, Kejriwal said AAP has decided to give a letter to the Lt Governor expressing its readiness to form the government.

“We were called by the Lt Governor to discuss government formation on December 14. We had sought time to take a decision as ours is a party of common people and we want to their views.

“We got responses from the citizens through website, phone calls, SMS and by holding public meetings and most of them favoured government formation by AAP. We are now going to give the letter to LG saying that AAP is ready to form the government,” Kejriwal told reporters at AAP’s office in Kausambi, Gaziabad.

He said the party held 280 public meetings across Delhi and in 257 such gatherings people favoured formation of government by the party while the rest opined that they it should not take powers.

There has been deadlock over government formation in Delhi for nearly two weeks after the announcement of the results on 8th December.

AAP has 28 seats while Congress with 8 has agreed to give outside support. BJP is the single largest party with 31 seats in its kitty.

Lets take a look at Kejariwal’s journey from Engineer to Politician.

With a thumping victory in the recently concluded Delhi assembly elections, Aam Admi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal and his party have garnered immense prominence across the country.

A former Indian Revenue services officer who is in his mid forties , Arvind Kejriwal, hails from Haryana and is a graduate in Mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

His association with issues affecting the common man have always earned him appreciation from various quarters.

He earned the Magsaysay award for EMERGENT LEADERSHIP in 2006 for pioneering the passage of right to information law as a part of his fight against systemic corruption in the country.

In the same year Arvind Kejriwal also gave up his job and channelised all his energies to put up a spirited fight against the issues affecting common man and society at large.

Joining ranks with anti-corruption social activist Anna Hazare in 2011, Arvind Kejriwal formally associated himself with India Against Corruption movement to mobilise the masses in support of a strong and effective mechanism to curb corruption .

The eleven day protest for the passage of Jan Lokpal from the stage of Ram Leela Maidan in New Delhi received an overwhelming response from all walks of life and especially from youngsters.

The resounding public protests and the alleged callous response from the government made Arvind Kejriwal realise that real change within the system is possible only by direct political involvement .

Though his decision was vehemently disapproved by his mentor Anna Hazare as well as former IPS officer Kiran Bedi , other team members like Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Kumar Vishwas, Manish Sisodia and others came forward to join Kejriwal.

Arvind Kejriwal formally announced his political party on the Gandhi Jayanti day of 2012 and christened it as Aam Aadmi Party on 26 th of November.

With broom as its election symbol, the debutant party positioned itself with innovative electoral campaigns claiming to cleanse the political system.

Sensing the pulse of Aam Aadmi, the party raised the very common issues plaguing the people of Delhi like increasing crimes against women , surging power tariffs, insufficient water-supply, all pervading corruption and rising inflation.

The party also for the first time came up with the concept of constituency specific manifestos.

The party launched hard hitting campaigns on social media platforms including facebook and twitter and even launched dedicated mobile applications.

In a landslide victory , the Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second largest party winning 28 out of 70 seats in the national capital playing a game spoiler to three times CM , Sheila dikshit led congress and Harshvardhan led BJP.

Congress was decimated to a third place with just 8 seats while BJP emerged as single largest party with 31 seats , but declined from seeking to form the government in Delhi.

Now that Aam Aadmi has clearly expressed that it wants to see only people who deliver on the promise of corruption free government, the onus is on Aam Aadmi Party to perform , as its single line agenda is Corruption free Governance.

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23122013

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Boletín informativo. Lunes 23 de Diciembre 2013.

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La viñeta de la semana

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Al grano | Rafa Maltés

España

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POR QUIM GONZÁLEZ MUNTADAS
La industria está donde la hemos dejado

Nuestra industria está donde la han dejado los escasos esfuerzos dedicados a la formación técnica universitaria y la escasa o deficiente política de formación profesional.

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PR JAVIER LÓPEZ | ATENEO PRIMERO DE MAYO
Aproximación a los problemas de la formación profesional para el empleo

Los recursos de la Formación para el Empleo proceden de la cuota que empresas y trabajadores depositamos en la seguridad social, unos recursos que, en plena crisis, suponen 1.860 millones de euros, en el presente año.

Economía

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ESTIMACIONES DE LOS TÉCNICOS DE HACIENDA
El primer Gordo de Navidad con impuestos aportará 188 millones a la recaudación de Hacienda

Pese a suponer el 27% de los ingresos de Loterías, no salvará los malos resultados del Impuesto de Loterías. La recaudación final por Loterías se situará en 435 millones de euros, la mitad de lo previsto.

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GESTHA | TÉCNICOS DE HACIENDA
Si me ha tocado la lotería, ¿en cuánto se me queda el premio?

Contesta Carlos Cruzado | En primer lugar, si le ha tocado la lotería, está de enhorabuena. Siempre se trata una buena noticia, sobre todo con los tiempos que corren.

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El 62.246 es el ‘Gordo’ de Navidad

El número 62.246 ha resultado agraciado con el Gordo, el primer premio del Sorteo Extraordinario de Lotería de Navidad, dotado con 4.000.000 euros a la serie. El 79.712, ha sido agraciado con el segundo premio y el51.689, con el tercer premio.

Sanidad

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POR ENRIQUE ÁLVAREZ CONDE | CATEDRÁTICO DE DERECHO CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA UNIVERSIDAD REY JUAN CARLOS
La privatización del aborto

El Consejo de Ministros del día 20 de diciembre, como si de una trágica inocentada navideña se tratara, ha aprobado, mediante la modificación de diferentes leyes, una nueva ley del aborto que viene a derogar a la actualmente vigente. La aprobación de este proyecto de ley en la mitad de la Legislatura lo que ha puesto de relieve no es sino la evidente pérdida en materia de derechos, los cuales constituyen un patrimonio universal, incluso por encima de las religiones.

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DEFENSA DE LA SANIDAD PÚBLICA
Las múltiples facetas de la estrategia para privatizar la sanidad

Por Marciano Sánchez Bayle y Manuel Martín García | Vivimos momentos críticos para el futuro de la Sanidad Pública en España.

Salud sexual y educación sexual hoy en Europa

Por Marlis González | A lo largo del año que ahora termina se han producido, al menos, dos intentos de que -por parte de las Instituciones Europeas- se tomen acciones en materia de Salud Sexual y Educación Sexual

América Latina

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CRÓNICAS DE AMÉRICA LATINA
La inflación no da tregua en Argentina

El gobierno lanza un nuevo acuerdo de precios para contener la presión.

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CRÓNICAS DE AMÉRICA LATINA | JAVIER M. GONZÁLEZ
Murió Nelly Omar, la Malena del Tango

Tenía 102 años y actuó hasta hace dos años.

Cultura

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RELATOS | CARMEN BARRIOS
La habitación del olvido

143.353 nombres innombrables han permanecido ocultos en el enorme archivo de la habitación del olvido, fueron relegados allí para borrar cualquier rastro de su existencia…

Ciencia

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LOS QUBITS Y SUS POSIBILIDADES
Materiales de diseño

La mecánica cuántica ha proporcionado un conocimiento más profundo del comportamiento de la materia y eso permite que los científicos puedan partir de la teoría en vez del método de ensayo y error para diseñar y fabricar materiales para aplicaciones específicas.

Opinión

· Vicenç Navarro: El enorme deterioro del mercado de trabajo en España (incluso peor en Catalunya)
Uno de los hechos que ha impactado más negativamente el bienestar y calidad de vida de los españoles ha sido el gran deterioro de las condiciones laborales…

· Juan Torres López: Sociedad sumisa
Sabemos por la biología que el conocimiento y la consciencia, e incluso podríamos decir que también la esperanza, son el resultado de la acción…

· Rafael Fernando Navarro: Nunca fue primavera
Pons hacía frases redondas, esféricas, para que nada se escapara de ese ruedo sonoro del valenciano que tiene camisa blanca…

· Alex Vidal: Si es que abortan como zorras…
El aborto puede ser en muchos casos un asunto de pareja, pero es en todo caso, una cuestión de la mujer. Por eso hay quien lo regula…

MODIFICAR / CANCELAR SUSCRIPCIÓN

Está recibiendo este boletín tras solicitar este servicio a través de la web de Nueva Tribuna. En cualquier momento puede modificar o cancelar su suscripción accediendo a esta dirección.

Nueva Tribuna Información continua y análisis para una ciudadanía comprometida con los valores de libertad, igualdad y justicia.

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23122013

these upcoming events in Zagreb

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Zagreb Touristinfo | Events | Hotels

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Pan Arena Ice Fever

Arena Zagreb
January 23^rd, 25^th & 27^th- Info

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PBZ Zagreb Indoors

Dom sportova
February 1^st – 9^th- More info

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Zagreb Coffee & Chocofest

HDLU – Croatian Association of Artists
February 6^th – 9^th - More info

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Dream Theater
An Evening With Dream Theater

KC Dražen Petrović
February 3^rd- Tickets

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Simple Minds
Greatest Hits Tour

Dom sportova
March 4^th- Tickets

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Rufus Wainwright

Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
April 2^nd- Tickets

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Zagreb Touristinfo | Events | Hotels

Zagreb Tourist Board - info@zagreb-touristinfo.hr - www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
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दंगा रोधी बिल मुस्लिम तुष्टीकरण की हद : विहिप

23122013

हिन्दू युवा सम्मेलन में हजारों बजरंगियों ने ली त्रिशूल दीक्षा

नई दिल्ली। दिसम्बर 22, 2013. हिन्दुओं के विरुद्ध दमनकारी प्रवृति को प्रोत्साहित करने वाले सांप्रदायिक हिंसा रोकथाम विधेयक का तीव्र विरोध करते हुए विश्व हिन्दू परिषद ने इसे मुस्लिम तुष्टीकरण की पराकाष्ठा बताया है। हिन्दू युवा सम्मेलन को सम्बोधित करते हुए विश्व हिन्दू परिषद के केन्द्रीय मंत्री डा सुरेन्द्र जैन ने आज कहा कि इस विधेयक की वकालत करने वाले लोग गुजरात, मुजफ़्फ़र नगर, नेल्ली व मुम्बई के दंगों की बात तो करते हैं किन्तु उन दंगों के पीछे के गोधरा, लव जिहाद, गंभीर हिन्दू उत्पीडन तथा मुम्बई विस्फ़ोट की घटनाओं पर वे मौन धारण कर लेते हैं। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि मुस्लिम तुष्टीकरण की यह पराकाष्ठा नहीं तो और क्या है कि राजधानी दिल्ली के सुभाष पार्क पर कब्जे के बाद अब जिहादियों के हौसले इतने बुलन्द हो गए हैं कि उन्होंने दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय परिसर में भी अपना जबरन कब्जा जमा लिया है। न्यायालय के प्रवेश द्वार क्रमांक 5 के बगल में चोरी छुपे मस्जिद का निर्माण कार्य तीव्र गति से जारी है और अनेक स्थानीय शिकायतों के बावजूद सभी सम्बन्धित सभी एजेन्सियां इस गंभीर मसले पर मौन धारण किए हुए हैं। बजरंग दल के कार्यकर्ता समस्त हिन्दू समाज को साथ लेकर जिहादियों के राष्ट्र विरोधी मंसूबों को सफ़ल नहीं होने देंगे।

पश्चिमी दिल्ली के शिवाजी कालेज के सामने स्थित सांवलिया ग्राउण्ड में एकत्रित हजारों बजरंगियों की त्रिशूल दीक्षा के उपरान्त दल के राष्ट्रीय संयोजक श्री राजेश पाण्डे ने कहा कि प्राचीन गुरुकुल शिक्षा पद्धति में शास्त्रों के साथ शस्त्रों की शिक्षा भी दी जाती थी जो आज पूरी तरह से विलुप्त हो चुकी है। हमने देश के लाखों नौजवानों को त्रिशूल दीक्षा देकर सेवा, सुरक्षा व संस्कारों के माध्यम से राष्ट्र, धर्म व संस्कृति की रक्षा के लिए संकल्पित किया है। उन्होंने देश की तरुणाई का आह्वान करते हुए कहा कि वे भगवान शंकर के प्रसाद रूपी इस त्रिशूल को धारण कर मन्दिरों, गौ, गीता व गायत्री पर हो रहे हमलों, जिहादी आतंकवाद, लव जिहाद, महिला उत्पीडन, व समलैंगिकता जैसी बीमारियों से समाज को छुटकारा दिलाने हेतु आगे आएं और भय मुक्त भारत का निर्माण करें।

बजरंग दल के प्रान्त संयोजक श्री शिव कुमार द्वारा संचालित मंच से विहिप के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता श्री प्रकाश शर्मा, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय उपाध्यक्ष श्री ओम प्रकाश सिंहल, प्रान्त अध्यक्ष श्री स्वदेश पाल गुप्ता, उपाध्यक्ष सरदार उजागर सिंह, क्षेत्रीय संगठन मंत्री श्री करुणा प्रकाश, प्रांत संयुक्त महा मंत्री श्री राम कृष्ण श्रीवास्तव, प्रान्त मंत्री श्री राम पाल सिंह यादव,बजरंग दल के राष्ट्रीय प्रशिक्षण प्रमुख श्री मनोज वर्मा सहित अनेक वक्ताओं ने सम्वोधित किया।

भवदीय

विनोद बंसल,

मीडिया प्रमुख,

इंद्रप्रस्थ विश्व हिंदू परिषद, दिल्ली.

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M Dharma breaks victory barrier with three-stroke triumph at 12th TATA Open

23122013

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Local Lad Karan Taunk finishes runner-up

Jamshedpur, December 22, 2013: M Dharma of Bangalore joined the winner’s circle on the PGTI after a three-stroke victory at the 12^th TATA Open in Jamshedpur on Sunday. Dharma fired a two-under-69 in the final round to end up with a tournament total of 13-under-272. Jamshedpur-based amateur Karan Taunk had a creditable runner-up finish at 10-under-275.

On Sunday, the entire field played nine holes each on both courses – Beldih and Golmuri. While one half of the field teed off from Beldih, the other half began its round from Golmuri. Thirty-three golfers with the best scores at the end of round three teed off from Golmuri and finished at Beldih. The par for the combined courses was 71.

M Dharma (66-70-67-69), the overnight joint leader, made three birdies against a lone bogey in the fourth round to finally break the victory barrier in his ninth year on the professional circuit. The 27-year-old Dharma, who hails from the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) course in Bangalore, played a steady final round as he made good chip-putts for birdies on the fourth, ninth and 12^th to stay ahead through the day. The only blemish on his card was the bogey on the eighth that came as a result of a three-putt.

“I had a fabulous week here as I played to my potential and just had one ordinary round on the second day. My chipping was excellent today and I never lost focus. My good results in the last five weeks can be attributed to my brilliant ball-striking,” said Dharma, who has now climbed from 19^th place to seventh position on the PGTI’s Rolex Rankings for 2013 after picking up the winner’s cheque of Rs. 8,08,250 at the 12^thTATA Open.

The Bangalore-based professional, who will become a father for the first time early next year, added, “It feels great to finally cross the line and have a title under my belt. I would now like to end the year on a high with a good performance next week as well. I would like to thank the KGA and its members for their continuous support over the years.”

Local amateur Karan Taunk (67-69-69-70), lying third after round three, delighted the home crowd with his second-place finish after returning a one-under-70 in the last round. Karan, who will be turning professional at the PGTI’s Qualifying School in January 2014, sank four birdies and dropped three bogeys on Saturday. He played a good chip for birdie on the ninth and converted birdie putts from 10 to 15 feet on the 13^th and 15^th. This was Taunk’s best-ever finish in a professional event.

Taunk said, “This performance is a huge boost for me before beginning my professional career. I used the local knowledge to my advantage through the week. However, today I did not create enough birdie chances for myself. I played a couple of poor chip shots on the 10^th and 11^th that led to bogeys and kept me from getting close to Dharma’s score.”

Delhi’s Shamim Khan (68-72-71-66) claimed third place with a total score of eight-under-277. Shamim carded a five-under-66 in the final round that featured six birdies and a bogey.

Manav Jaini of Delhi was a further shot behind in fourth position.

The last event of the 2013 PGTI season will now be staged in Kolkata next week and will feature only the top-60 players in the Rolex Rankings after the 12^th TATA Open along with five invites. Rashid Khan leads the Rolex Rankings at this stage with earnings of Rs. 41,80,634 for the season so far.

Top scores after Round 3:

13-under-272: M Dharma

10-under-275: Karan Taunk (A)

Eight-under-277: Shamim Khan

Seven-under-278: Manav Jaini

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23122013

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Clik here to view. The White House, Washington

Good afternoon –

The Affordable Care Act has been in the news a lot recently — and increasingly for the right reasons.

The law is working: More than half a million Americans have enrolled throughHealthCare.gov in the first three weeks of December alone — and 800,000 more are on track to get Medicaid through their states. These are people for whom health insurance might not have previously been an option — people who in the past might have been discriminated against for simple medical conditions like asthma, or who may have been dropped from their coverage just because they got sick.

Now, thousands of Americans are signing up for coverage every day. That matters. It means financial security for families all across the country. It means freedom from the fear that one illness or accident might cost you everything you’ve worked so hard to build.

If you don’t have health insurance, go to HealthCare.gov right now and sign up. You can compare plans based on your own needs and budget, and you can sign up for coverage.

And if you do it before December 23rd, you can be covered on the first day of the New Year.

Now, if you already have health insurance, I’m asking you right now to help make sure that your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and the people you go to college or church with know the facts about how they can get covered, too. Moms and dads, remind your kids this holiday season. And if you’ve recently signed up, tell your friends.

I’m asking you to spread the word about getting covered — and we’re providing some tools to help you do it.

Whether you talk to a family member, share a photo or a story on Facebook, tweet using the hashtag #GetCovered, or walk a friend or colleague through the website — your effort will make a difference right now.

That’s because the most important source of information about this law isn’t going to be me, or anyone here at the White House. It’s going to be you, telling the people you know to check out HealthCare.gov for themselves, and make their own decision about getting covered.

Tens of millions of people have already felt the benefits of reform, from free, recommended preventive care like mammograms, to more affordable prescription medications. But there are millions more of our fellow citizens who stand to be helped — and we’ve got to make sure they know exactly how.

Thanks for your help.

President Barack Obama

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23122013

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Contact : Priti Setia, +91 8826417555/Shilpita Banerjee, +91 97171 62424

Email : priti.setia@edelman.com/ shilpita.banerjee@edelman.com

Autodesk is changing the way the world is designed and made: Showcases new version of Autodesk360 at Autodesk University Extension (AUx) Mumbai

Indian R&D powers Autodesk’s technology innovation in the cloud

December 24, 2013 - Autodesk, Inc. , a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment creation software announced today that the next generation of Autodesk 360, shall lead the company’s vision of providing a project-centric cloud solution that covers all aspects of the design and engineering workflow.

Developed out of its India research and development facilities at Hyderabad, Autodesk 360 can help professional as well as amateur designers streamline their workflows, effectively collaborate, and quickly access and share their work anytime and from anywhere on a real time basis. The next generation of Autodesk 360 delivers a cloud based collaboration platform specifically for Design & Engineering Projects. It addresses the entire design & engineering workflow, from start to finish and includes the entire project team, not just the designers.

This continuous, unbroken workflow represents a significant productivity enhancement for users who had been accustomed to working on a file with one app, saving it, converting it, and then opening it up with another app to perform the next step in the design process. The net result is that users in the Architecture, Engineering, & Construction; Manufacturing; and Media & Entertainment industries will be able to do more, achieve better results faster and collaborate more effectively. As a hub for project and team collaboration, the next generation of Autodesk 360 allows all project collaborators access from any device, including desktops, tablets and mobile phones. Upon logging in to Autodesk 360, users view a real-time “dashboard” rollup of all of the data, projects, people, tasks, discussions, activities, issues and alerts that are associated with design or architecture projects that they are working on.

The Autodesk 360 Technology will feature the following capabilities:

Projects: The new Autodesk 360 puts the project at the center, connecting all data, activities and people in a single cloud-based user experience.
Search: Autodesk 360 incorporates deep search functionality helps you find exactly what you’re looking for. Find critical design information within the context of the project.
Collaboration: Autodesk 360 organizes and provides access to all project information –not just design data – to all project team members, via a great user experience on any device at any time.
Viewing: Autodesk 360 works with virtually any data type, not just Autodesk formats, including non-design data like documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. Anyone involved in a project can view files without the need for special tools or software.
Rendering: Take advantage of virtually infinite computing power in the cloud to create high resolution renderings in a fraction of the time, and without the need for expensive hardware.

Patrick Williams, Senior Vice-President, Autodesk, APAC said, “Autodesk has always focused on relevant innovation specific to the industry requirements and customer expectations. It’s an indisputable fact that majority of our customers work in teams on extensive and sophisticated projects and we realize that till now there has been a considerable lack of infrastructure to support them. With the new Autodesk 360, we are positioning the project in the center of the workflow, bringing together people, data, and activities in an unprecedented and innovative way that works for all personas in the project.”

In the future, Autodesk 360 will integrate with the broad set of Autodesk’s cloud products and services enabling users to leverage the near-infinite computing power of the cloud to easily tackle a variety of tasks, without tying up the desktop or requiring specialized, expensive hardware.

Pradeep Nair, Managing Director, Autodesk, India and SAARC, further adds, “India is among the top five users of Autodesk consumer products in the cloud through mobile and smart devices. The role of India research and development effort in the development of Autodesk 360 is a reiteration of the role and importance of this country in the growth of Autodesk globally. With Autodesk 360, we enable projects to become open and connected with an efficient, seamless workflow.”

He further added that, “Cloud is a strategic priority for Autodesk and we recently introduced a cloud-based rental model for pay-as-you-go access to our technology.”

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, Autodesk 360 are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

Warm Regards Priti SetiaSenior Account Manager
Edelman India Private LimitedVatika Triangle, 6th Floor, Sushant Lok – 1, Block A, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 002, India T: +91 124 4131 421 \| F: +91 124 4131 499 \| M: +91 88264 17555, +91 9811898075\| E: priti.setia@edelman.com

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Mikhail Youzhny: I just want to keep playing and enjoying tennis

23122013

In 2008, World No.15 Youzhny won the tournament when he routed SpainⳠRafael Nadal in the final

CHENNAI, December 23, 2013: World No.15 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia is among the top ranked players to be participating in Aircel Chennai Open 2014 that boasts of top names such as World No.8 Stanislas Wawrinka, World No. 16 Fabio Fognini, and World No. 26 Benoit Paire among others. On his second visit to play in Chennai, Youzhny will be back for another shot at a title he won when he routed SpainⳠRafael Nadal 6-0, 6-1 in the 2008 final.

He has had a very impressive year that started on an incredibly positive note as he recorded his 400th career ATP World Tour-level singles win over Benjamin Becker in Doha. He finished runner-up in Halle final losing to Roger Federer and after that became the first Russian champion in 18 years at Gstaad, defeating Robin Haase. ㉠think I put up a good fight right through. I played consistently during all three sets. We both played good tennis but Roger played little better!䠳aid the 31-year-old describing his match with the World No.6 in Halle.

Reaching the US Open quarterfinals for the third time, beating Haas in round three and Hewitt in round four boosted YouzhnyⳠconfidence. 㗨ile I feel that I did not do bad job, I do not have the euphoria of success because I always want to do better. As far as I know, there are only two players in the ATP Tour, who have finished all years since 2002 in the top 50. I am fortunate to share that honour with Federer! I think it is not that bad,䠨e said talking about the year that has gone by. He is positive about 2014 and plans to make no changes to his training schedule.

This year, Youzhny also went on to win his second ATP World Tour crown of the season and lifted the 10th trophy of career with victory over 31-year-old David Ferrer at the Valencia Open 500. It was Youzhny’s 10th career title and first victory over a Top 5 opponent since 2010, when he upset Novak Djokovic in the Rotterdam semi-finals. Speaking about the experience, he said, ㉠just went to play my best and did not think about the result.䠼u>

The Russian is someone who really wants to keep playing good tennis wherever he goes. While he was disappointed that he lost to Djokovic twice, he feels he did not take advantage of the chances he got. クth were two very different matches. At the Monte Carlo Masters, it was the first clay court tournament for both of us and we both were not in best shape. I think I had some chances to win, but did not convert. In New York, we both were in good shape, but Novak was fresh. He was more consistent. I was just out of a tough five set match against Hewitt in the fourth round,䠨e said expressing his views.

As a passionate Russian eager to learn, Youzhny has been coached by Boris Sobkin since he was a 10-year-old and the two continue to share a close working relationship. He was proud to be part of the countryⳠDavis Cup winning teams in 2002, 2006 and believes the future of tennis is bright thanks to an abundance of promising young talent such as Evgeny Donskoy, Andrey Kuznetsov and Karen Khachanov. He is known for his signature military style salute, which he uses to thank spectators for watching the match.

Youzhny is one among a number of top players who are drawn to Chennai because they like the tournament, the crowds and excitement, and the city. Since he practices in Thailand in December, he is not far away and is well prepared to face the weather.

When he gets some time to unwind, he likes to spend time holidaying in Dubai and with the family. Reading Russian Classic literature, catching a game of football, enjoying music such as Russian Chanson or his favourite group Lesopoval rejuvenates him. He also likes Russian humour and wouldnⴠmind taking part in comedy if an opportunity comes his way. He says he has many funny tennis stories to entertain people.

When he comes to India, Youzhny loves to indulge in chicken curry and would like to tour the country if he has some time. For now, all eyes are on him as he begins his new season at the USD $450,000 tournament. Will he repeat his 2008 performance in Chennai?

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It’s a landscape 2014 at National Museum Cardiff in Wales

23122013

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Cardiff - National Museum & City hall Towns & Villages

From sculpture, to landscape, Dylan Thomas and the UK’s biggest art prize, National Museum Cardiff in Wales has a feast of art exhibitions for everyone in 2014 and admission is free!

2014 sees the celebrations surrounding the Dylan Thomas Centenary year. At National Museum Cardiff Sir Peter Blake presents his illustrations of Under Milk Wood (1953). This major body of work is the culmination of a 25-year project and is exhibited for the very first time. The show includes portraits of each of the characters in the cast, watercolours of the dream sequences and collages and paintings of scenes and locations in the fictional village of Llareggub.(now until 16 March 2014).

Ivor Roberts-Jones was one of this country’s finest portrait sculptors and produced some impressive monumental public sculptures in bronze. The Double Edge: Ivor Roberts-Jones exhibition focuses on his remarkable portraits in bronze of Welshmen who achieved greatness in all walks of life (7 December 2013 – 11 May 2014).

A new exhibition Wales: A Visitation. Poetry, Romanticism and Myth in Art takes inspiration from American writer, Allen Ginsberg’s poem Wales Visitation using works from the Museum’s collection to explore modern and contemporary forms of Romanticism. Ginsberg visited Wales in 1967 and after taking LSD explored the Welsh countryside. His experience inspired his poem Wales Visitation which drew on an imagined Celtic past and the landscape and folklore of Wales. Featured artists include David Jones, Richard Long, Graham Sutherland and Clare Woods. Supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust. (22 February-7 September 2014).

Colwinston Charitable Trust also supports a new installation by Andrea B촴ner combining two diverse collections held at National Museum Cardiff – the drawings of Gwen John from the art collections and moss from the herbarium. (22 February-7 September 2014).

One of Constable’s most famous paintings Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows will be on loan to the museum from the Tate Gallery for six months. The display and a series of related events are supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund. (7 March – 7 September 2014)

During his brief and tragic life, the Welsh artist James Dickson Innes (1887-1914) painted a unique vision of the Welsh landscape in an intensely colourful Post-Impressionist style. Marking the centenary of the artist’s death, the exhibition Landscapes by JD Innes: Beauty Most Wild will shed new light on the work of this unjustly neglected artist. (12 April – 20 July 2014)

A major exhibition Richard Wilson: The Transformation of European Art marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Richard Wilson (1714-1782), perhaps Wales’s greatest artist. Before Wilson, British artists painted the landscape to record its appearance. Wilson showed how landscape paintings could have layers of meaning and convey mood and emotions too. A partnership with the Yale Center for British Art. (5 July – 26 October 2014)

Efforts and Ideals: Prints of the First World War is a display of all 66 lithographs from the 1917 print portfolio The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals, commissioned by the Ministry of Information. They provide a fascinating representation of Britain’s war objectives, military activities and effort on the Home Front, and include some of the best-known British artists of the period such as Augustus John, Frank Brangwyn, William Rothenstein and C.R.W Nevinson. (Sat 2 August-January 2015)

The Artes Mundi 6 Exhibition will be presented for 17 weeks at the National Museum of Art, Chapter and other locations around Cardiff from 25 October 2014. The Artes Mundi 6 Prize will be awarded on the 22nd January 2015. Ten artists from eight countries have been shortlisted coming from the UK, USA, Portugal, Israel, Croatia, Iceland, Brazil and the Netherlands. The winner will be announced in 2015 and receive £40,000.

Entry to National Museum Cardiff is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

- Ends –

For more information, please contact

Jasmine Roy

Manager- Corporate Communications

Visit Florida

Tel: +91 22 42163144

Mobile – 9004690231

jroy@aviareps.com

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Ten Reasons to Visit Orlando in 2014

23122013

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Multi-Park Expansion and Innovative Performing Arts Center

Among Orlando’s Must-See additions

Orlando continues to reinvent itself with enticing additions opening in 2014. New offerings found inside its world-famous theme parks and throughout the destination give families even more reason to visit Orlando in the New Year. From hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando Resort to catching a Broadway show at the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando delivers unrivaled experiences to satisfy all ages and interests. Here are 10 reasons to visit Orlando in 2014:

THEME PARKS

1) DUPLO Valley at LEGOLAND Florida will bring the LEGO DUPLO line of preschool building toys to life for Orlando’s youngest visitors. The new farm-themed attractions, including a train, mini tractor ride and water play area, are geared to toddlers ages 2 to 5.

2) Building on the popularity of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort in Florida will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films. Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within Universal Studios Florida, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. When complete, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank. Guests will be able to travel between ‘London’ and Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express.

3) Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will complete the final phase of New Fantasyland – the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history – with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster. This family coaster will transport guests on a musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” Also coming to Magic Kingdom this year is Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, an all-new daytime parade featuring characters and music from memorable Disney films.

ATTRACTIONS

4) Orlando’s tallest and steepest free-fall water slide is coming to Aquatica – SeaWorld’s Waterpark. Ihu’s Breakway Falls will be the only multi-slide of its kind in Orlando.

5) Located in the heart of downtown Orlando, the $429 million Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will be the new home for Broadway productions and Orlando Ballet among other performances. The arts center will include two performance theaters, a 300-seat community theater, outdoor plaza and banquet room.

6) Visitors with a need for speed will love the new I-Drive Indoor Kart Racing. This multi-level entertainment center includes a half-mile (805-meter) track for the electric-powered go-karts, bowling lanes and an arcade.

ACCOMMODATIONS

7) Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is located just minutes from Magic Kingdom and Epcot. With 444 guest rooms (including 68 suites), a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, full-service spa, three restaurants and an elaborate pool area, guests will feel totally immersed in the luxury resort experience.

8) Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is soon to be the fourth and largest on-site hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. Inspired by retro resorts of the 1950s and 60s, the 1800-room hotel will feature moderately priced family suites and value-priced guest rooms. When complete, guests can experience a 10-lane bowling alley and enjoy two massive pools with sand beaches, a lazy river, waterslide and more.

DINING

9) Capa boasts Spanish influenced cuisine and nightly views of Magic Kingdom fireworks. This rooftop steakhouse will be located on the 17th floor of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

10) It’s all about Southern comfort food at The COOP in foodie haven, Winter Park. For this new restaurant concept, John Rivers, owner of the local-favorite 4 Rivers Smokehouse, will serve classic southern dishes like chicken and waffles, deviled eggs, buttermilk biscuits, po’ boys and artisanal pies.

For more information about vacation experiences in Orlando, to order a complimentary vacation planning kit that includes a comprehensive Official Visitors Guide and Orlando Magicard® or to purchase discount attraction tickets, visitors can log onto Orlando’s official website at VisitOrlando.com or call an Official Travel Counselor at 1-800-551-0181 (United States and Canada) or 407-363-5872. For real-time updates, follow us at Twitter.com/VisitOrlando andFacebook.com/VisitOrlando.

###

Editor’s Note: For additional press information or high-resolution downloadable images,
please visit VisitOrlando.com/media

For more information, please contact

Jasmine Roy

Manager- Corporate Communications

Visit Florida

Tel: +91 22 42163144

Mobile – 9004690231

jroy@aviareps.com

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23122013

Presents

Zee TV to premiere Rajan Shahi’s new show on Jan 6^th 2014 at 10PM

Love doesn’t appear with any warning signs. Everyone has their own version of falling in love. Some call the moment magical, some call it explosive. It’s one unique and unmistakable experience, an exhilarating mix of feelings that brings two people together. The routine “girl meets boy… boy and girl fall in love…boy and girl get married” is common in all love stories, however it’s the process and the experience of falling in love that makes every story unique from the others. Bringing together this simple yet complicated concept called ‘love’ and one’s realization of it, is a beautiful story titled …Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. Conceptualized by ace producer Rajan Shahi’s Director’s Kut Productions and Zee TV, the show will premiere on January 6th 2014, Mon – Fri at 10PM.

…Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya talks about this sublime experience that a young and spirited Avni is waiting to discover in her life. She is a hopeless romantic who feeds on a daily dose of traditional romantic classics and romanticizes the idea of “falling in love”. Based in the bustling city of Jaipur, the show boasts of an interesting cast who will form the characters of the two families who are central in the narrative. Both the families belong to the same community but follow a very different value system. The key cast includes newbie Kaanchi Singh and Mishkat Varma as the leads in the show respectively – Avni and Raj. Avni’s parents’ characters will be played by the graceful actress Reena Kapoor and Rajeev Singh respectively. Other key cast comprises ofWaseem Mushtaqh, Ashita Dhawan, senior actor Rajeev Verma and newcomer Nikita Agarwal amongst others.

Mr. Ajay Bhalwankar, Content Head, Hindi GECs, ZEEL, said, “…Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya centers around the thought that -you don’t find love, love finds you! Falling in love is one of the most magical experiences that happen between two people. And to share this experience is master story teller, Rajan Shahi who is the producer as well as the director of the show. The story encapsulates the life of a vivacious young girl, Avni and her experience of falling in love. It has the quintessential Rajan Shahi touch in terms of the look and feel. The cast has fresh talent and we hope our audiences will embrace this journey of love.”

Woven beautifully around the culture and traditions of the Marwari community, Avni lives, eats and breathes romantic books and romantic movies. Her notion and her idea of love is fuelled by these visuals until the moment of truth happens and she realizes that what she was looking for was always right in front of her.

Producer of the show and directing the series along with Romesh Kalra and Neeraj Baliya, Rajan Shahi said, “…Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya is a look into the life of a young girl who leads a protected life in the city of Jaipur. She is bound by the rule book that her highly traditional family has laid down for her. It captures the journey of Avni who transcends the boundaries set for her and begins to experience life in all its glory. We’re glad to have found our Avni in Kaanchi and Raj in Mishkat. We wanted a cute, innocent, young face and Kanchi fits the bill to the tee. Mishkat has got the typical chocolate boy good looks and is soon to become another heartthrob in the industry. Reena is also making a comeback to TV after a long time.”

As far as the promotion of the show is concerned, the channel has lined up a well rounded plan which includes endorsements in the print, television, DTH, Cable platforms amongst other initiatives. An interesting audience engagement program targeting couples is also underway.

…Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, is a journey of discovering, accepting, negating and falling in love. A coming of age story about two young people who have different notions about love. The story celebrates the first flush of love…the small, tender moments which develop between these two individuals, painted against the picture perfect backdrop of the pink city. Like Alexander Smith said“Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition”. So will love find Avni?? Come find out this New Year!

…Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya premieres on 6 January 2014, Mon–Fri at 10PM only on Zee TV

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23122013

AIRCEL CHENNAI OPEN AND HYATT REGENCY CHENNAI ANNOUNCE THREE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

As part of the deal, the contemporary 5 star hotel will be the Ꮶficial Hotel⠯f the Aircel Chennai Open until 2016

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 23, 2013: The organizers of the Aircel Chennai Open today announced that the tournament has entered into a new partnership with Hyatt Regency Chennai. The contemporary abode in the heart of Chennai will be the championshipⳠᏦficial Hotel⠦or the next three editions of the USD 4,50,000 tournament, which is India and South AsiaⳠonly ATP World Tour event.

Hyatt Regency Chennai marked the first foray of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts into South India. Since its inception, the contemporary hotel has been providing authentic hospitality to discerning business and leisure travelers with multiple award-winning food & beverage outlets, luxurious Siddh Spa and fitness centre, 327 aesthetically designed rooms & suites, state-of the-art banquet and event spaces and exquisite theme based art installations in the hotel.

The 19th edition of the tournament will be held at ChennaiⳠSDAT Stadium from December 30th 2013 to January 5th 2014. It features one of the strongest playing fields ever, with an impressive lineup of talent including top 20 players Stanislas Wawrinka, Mikhail Youzhny, Fabio Fognini and defending champion Janko Tipsarevic among others. Both Indian and International participants will compete for the coveted title. The tournament promises to give the subcontinent access to a week of scintillating tennis action.

In its capacity as Official Hotel, Hyatt Regency Chennai will play host to players, tournament officials and guests. Apart from hosting the worldⳠleading tennis players for the entire duration of their stay in Chennai, the hotel will also host the one-of-a-kind player parties and partner events.

Situated on the iconic Anna Salai or Mount Road, the hotel is easily accessible from the Chennai domestic and International airport and is in close proximity to consulates, business districts, ChennaiⳠIT corridor, Chennai Trade Centre and prime residential areas, including Boat Club Road and Poes Garden.

Ashu Jindal, COO IMG Reliance said, どrcel Chennai Open is proud to be associated with Hyatt Regency, Chennai. We appreciate their efforts to provide excellent hospitality, warmth and attention to detail when it comes to hosting premier events. Aircel Chennai Open is glad to announce a three-year partnership with the hotel and looks forward to enjoying their varied offerings in the seasons to come.䠼u>

Mr. Sunjae Sharma, Area Director Hyatt Bangalore, Chennai, Hampi, Kathmandu and Kolkata and General Manager, Hyatt Regency Chennai said, ㈹att Regency Chennai is delighted to be the Official Hotel of the Aircel Chennai Open, India and South AsiaⳠonly ATP World Tour event. While Chennai offers players the best setting for the game, Hyatt Regency Chennai shall ensure the guests feel more than welcome with our authentic hospitality and experience a truly memorable stay. Our team has various tennis theme promotions planned during the event and it shall definitely be an exciting time. As India witnesses a sporting revolution, we are delighted to be a part of it. We look forward to welcoming you to Hyatt Regency Chennai.䠼u>

The Title Sponsor for the tournament is Aircel and the event is supported by a consortium of sponsors in the Platinum category headed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

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December 24, 2013, 1:03 am

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News dose around the globe
24
12
2013
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Thai opposition party plans to continue protests
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Thailand’s main opposition Democrat Party plans to boycott a lower house election and continue its anti-government protests. Attention is now on whether the election will be held as scheduled.

Candidacy registration for the February poll began on Monday. 34 parties have filed their candidates.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered around the registration site to try to block the election. Some of them sat in front of the entrance and others voiced protests.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra decided to dissolve the lower house for an election in response to anti-government demonstrations.

Protestors have been demanding Yingluck’s resignation and an end to the influence of her brother, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Demonstrators say they will continue their protests on Tuesday.

Explosives found near road to court, Musharraf trial delayed

The start of the trial of former Pakistani leader, Pervez Musharraf, for treason was delayed on Tuesday over security fears after explosives were found near the road he was to take to court. Musharraf, 70, is expected to appear in person before a special court in the capital, Islamabad, AFP reported. The allegations relate to the imposition of emergency rule in November 2007. Musharraf and his lawyers have dismissed the case as politically-motivated.

Central African Rep. militia ‘hack to death’ UN peacekeeper from Congo

A United Nations peacekeeper from the Republic of Congo has been killed in the Central African Republic by militia. The soldier, stationed in the town of Bossangoa, was killed by the anti-balaka group late on Sunday,“with an unprecedented level of barbarity,” an official told AP, adding that they “hacked his head”. Bossangoa has recently been the epicenter of fighting between the country’s Muslim minority and Christian majority. French and UN forces, deployed to the CAR earlier this month to combat the violence between both groups, have been criticized for taking sides in the conflict.

Former Pakistani president Musharraf to be tried for treason

Pakistan’s ex-ruler, Pervez Musharraf, is set to go on trial on treason charges. Apart from a number of other charges, General Musharraf will be tried for suspending the constitution and imposing emergency rule in 2007. Musharraf will be the first military ruler to go on trial for treason. His petition to be tried by a military court has been rejected. Pervez Musharraf seized power in 1999 after a military coup and remained president till 2008, when the democratically elected government forced him to quit.

Judge rules that same-sex mariage can continue in Utah

A federal judge has denied the Utah state government’s request to put a hold on same-sex marriage in the state, meaning the unions may continue. The issue has been particularly divisive in Utah, a traditionally red state with a sizable Mormon population. Yet US district judge Robert J. Shelby ordered that Utah begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately, writing that “the state’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in doing so, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason.”

White House castigates Syrian government for recent bombings

The White House criticized Monday recently reported missile and bomb attacks on civilians by the Syrian government, saying Damascus must honor its commitment to allow delivery of humanitarian aid. ”The attacks over the weekend killed more than 300 people, many of them children,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement. “The Syrian government must fulfill its November commitment to do more to facilitate the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, so that millions of Syrian men, women, and children have access to urgently needed services.”
Iraqi military forces eliminate camps of Al-Qaeda-linked militant group

The Iraqi military forces have destroyed two of Al-Qaeda-linked militant group’s camps in Anbar province, the country’s Defense Ministry said. Aerial photographs of the camps and intelligence information indicated“the arrival of weapons and advanced equipment from Syria to the desert of western Anbar and the border of Nineveh province,” the ministry’s spokesman said. Military forces located 11 militant camps near the border with Syria.

Syria National Coalition threatens to boycott Geneva-2 peace talks if bombings continue

Syria National Coalition says it will not attend planned peace talks in Geneva if bombings “the Assad regime is carrying” out continue. The statement follows an aerial attack that killed more than 300 people in an eight-day bombing campaign on Aleppo. The so-called Geneva 2 talks, slated for January 22, 2014, are aimed at ending the 33-months long civil war that, according to UN estimates, has claimed lives of 126,000 people.

Iraqi gunmen kill four in attack on TV station

Iraqi gunmen besieged the local government television station, Salahuddin, in the northern city of Tikrit on Monday, killing four of its employees. The gunmen, who were wearing explosive vests, stormed the premises after detonating a car bomb near the entrance, according to Reuters’ sources. The confrontation ended when a firefight with security forces at the channel killed the militants responsible for the attack. “Two of the attackers blew themselves up when security forces raided the station and the others were killed in the clashes,”said a senior police officer.

New round of Turkey and Israel talks for Gaza flotilla raid

A senior Turkish diplomat met with an Israeli delegation in Istanbul last week to discuss compensation for the victims of the Mavi Marmara raid. “The talks did not stop. The recent meeting is a part of the ongoing process,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told Hurriyet Daily News. The Israeli delegation was headed by National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen, and the group met with Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, Feridun Sinirlioğlu. Israel made a deadly raid on the Gaza-strip bound and Turkish-owned flotilla in 2010, leading to the deaths of nine. Dozens were also wounded. Compensation talks after Israel’s prime minister issued an apology to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The process has been on hiatus for several months. “There are still differences regarding the amounts, but they have narrowed,” Haaretz quoted a senior Israeli official.

450 Muslim Brotherhood inmates go on hunger strike in Egypt

More than 450 jailed Muslim Brotherhood members have launched a hunger strike over their “inhuman treatment” by the Egyptian prison system, Lebanese website Naharnet reports. The prisoners have been “banned from family visits, legal counseling, medical care and (live in) overcrowded and unhygienic cells,” the organization said on its twitter page. Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members were arrested by the Egyptian security forces following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3 and violent Islamist protests across the country.

13 hurt as tour bus crashes off Freeway 10 in Baldwin Park, Calif.

Los Angeles County Fire has transported 13 people after a bus crashed off the westbound 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park on Monday. Two people suffered moderate injuries, while the rest had minor injuries, KABC reported. Shortly after 4:30am the bus, believed to be coming from a casino in Palm Springs, went off the road and into a small drainage canal. It then reportedly hit a light pole and came to lean on a fence. Crews had to force entry into the bus.

Dubai police seize $31mn worth of drugs

Police in Dubai have made a record drug seizure of some 4.6 million Captagon pills, an amphetamine-like stimulant, worth more than $31 million, AFP said. Five people of different Arab nationalities were implicated in the shipment, three of whom have been arrested. The operation codenamed “Nine Ball” dealt a major blow to drug trafficking in the United Arab Emirates, the Khaleej Times reported, citing Dubai’s police chief, Major General Khamis Mattar al-Mazeina.

At least 20 killed in Iraq attacks

A new wave of attacks across Iraq has killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens, AP reported. The government earlier pressed on with its offensive to hunt down Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the country’s volatile western desert. On Monday, in an attack near Baghdad’s western suburb of Abu Ghraib, militants fired mortar rounds into a military base, killing three officers and three soldiers, a police officer said. Seven soldiers were wounded. Hours later, a bomb went off next to a passing military patrol in the same area, killing two, and two other soldiers were wounded.

Philippines police ban caps, sunglasses to fight crime at Manila malls

Police in the Philippine capital have banned the wearing of caps and sunglasses in shopping malls. The move is aimed at stopping criminals concealing their identity from security cameras, AFP reported. The ban was imposed after a gang looted a jewelry store at a popular suburban Manila shopping mall on December 15. The suspects used baseball caps to hide their identities. Those wearing caps and sunglasses will not be allowed into malls and will be stopped by security guards.

1 dead as African peacekeepers fire on C. Africa protesters

African peacekeepers shot dead a protester in the capital of the Central African Republic on Monday, AFP reported. The Chadian soldiers opened fire on stone-throwing protesters who accused them of complicity with rebels, witnesses say. Several hundred Christian demonstrators had massed outside Bangui airport to call for the departure of President Michel Djotodia. The former rebel became the first Muslim leader of the majority Christian nation after a March coup. The protesters were also demanding the departure of Chadian troops within the African Union’s MISCA force.

300 killed in 8 days of Syria’s air raids on Aleppo – monitoring group

Syrian warplanes have killed more than 300 people in an eight-day bombing campaign against rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday. “From December 15 to 22, 301 people have been killed, including 87 children, 30 women and 30 rebels,” said the monitoring group, which relies on activists and witnesses on the ground. The army adopted the tactic because of a lack of ground forces, AFP quoted a security source as saying. He said the heavy civilian toll was because the rebels were in residential areas.

8 troops killed in attacks west of Baghdad

Attacks in and near a western Baghdad suburb have killed four officers, Iraqi officials said. Militants fired mortar rounds into a military base in Abu Ghraib, west of the Iraqi capital, killing three officers. The attack also wounded seven soldiers. In the same area, a bomb went off next to a military patrol, killing a soldier. Two other soldiers were wounded.

Communist Party tells China media not to report ‘wrong points of view’

China’s ruling Communist Party told the state media on Monday that they should not be reporting on wrong points of view. New guidelines adopted to enforce “core socialist values” suggest that the media must“steadfastly uphold the correct guidance of public opinion.” The rules, published by Xinhua news agency, said the media should “not provide channels for the propagation of the wrong points of view.” Core socialist values include “ideals like democracy, equality and rule of law, but also the guiding position of Marxism in today’s China,” according to the guidelines.

Kuwait’s Cabinet ministers resign en masse

Kuwait’s entire Cabinet submitted their resignations Monday to the prime minister, parliament speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim said. The move could pave the way for a cabinet reshuffle, Reuters reported. “I hope… that Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah will succeed in reshuffling the government,” the speaker said.

EU bans arms exports to Central African Republic

The EU on Monday banned the export of arms and sending mercenaries to the Central African Republic. The ban follows a UN Security Council resolution this month requiring all countries to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms to the country, which remains wracked by sectarian violence, Reuters said. The ban covers financial and technical assistance, including mercenary personnel. French President Francois Hollande said earlier the 28-nation EU would decide next month on a joint operation in the republic to support a French military intervention.

Yemen reopens international airports after closure

Yemen has reopened its international airports after a brief closure Monday due to a strike by workers at the civil aviation authority, the transport minister said. Earlier in the day, workers went on strike after a dispute with the Finance Ministry over the aviation authority’s independence. The finance ministry froze the authority’s funds, Reuters reported. Transport Minister Waed Batheeb promised the workers that he would help to resolve the issue.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen offers rare apology over hospital attack

In a rare public apology, Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen has said that one of its fighters disobeyed orders and attacked a hospital during a December assault that killed 52 people, AP reported. In a video posted on militant websites, Qassim al-Rimi, commander of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, said that the attackers were warned in advance not to enter the hospital within the complex. “Now we acknowledge our mistake and guilt,” Al-Rimi said. “We accept full responsibility for what happened,” he said, adding he was ready to “pay blood money for the victims’ families.”

China says aircraft carrier tests in South China Sea successful

China’s first and only aircraft carrier has successfully carried out a series of tests during a training mission in the disputed South China Sea, Reuters reported, citing state media. The drills this month off the coast of Hainan Island mark the first time China has sent a carrier into the South China Sea. This was also the first time it has maneuvered with the kind of strike group of escort ships US carriers deploy, analysts say. “The Liaoning successfully performed several tests of the combat system… and organized for the first time comprehensive combat training,” China Daily reported.

Civilians killed as Pakistan launches offensive against Taliban – witnesses

Residents of Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun region of North Waziristan accused government troops on Monday of killing dozens of civilians after military launched an operation against Taliban insurgents, Reuters reported. The operation started after a December 18 suicide bomb attack on a checkpoint in North Waziristan. Officials said at least 23 militants had been killed in clashes with security forces in the Mir Ali region of North Waziristan following the attack. Authorities imposed a curfew across the lawless region and residents said many people had fled from their homes after days of shelling and helicopter raids.

Yemen shuts airports due to strike

Yemen shut its international airports on Monday after workers at its civil aviation authority went on strike, officials said. The strike was due to a dispute with the finance ministry over the independence of the civil aviation authority, Reuters reported. The Finance Ministry froze the authority’s funds, according to an official at the Transport Ministry. Officials at Sanaa, Aden and Mukalla airports confirmed the shutdown.

NATO soldier killed in eastern Afghanistan

NATO has said one of its service members was killed in attack in eastern Afghanistan. The soldier died after coming under direct fire by enemy forces on Monday, AP reported, citing a statement from the US-led International Security Assistance Force. The coalition provided no other details or the nationality of the killed soldier. The death brings to eight the number of coalition deaths so far this month.

US will reimpose sanctions if Iran breaks a nuclear deal – Rice

The US and the West will find ways to to reimpose sanctions on Iran if Tehran violates the recent nuclear P5 + 1 agreement. “We will not construct a deal or accept a deal in which we cannot verify exactly what they are doing,” national security adviser Susan Rice told CBS. “And if they’re caught, we will ensure that the pressure is reimposed on them.” Under November’s deal, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear program for six months in exchange for limited relief from sanctions. media agencies

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Blast rocks Cairo
24
12
2013
A powerful car bomb explosion has rocked a police headquarters in an Egyptian city north of Cairo, killing at least 14 people and injuring 120, officials said.

An interim government spokesman accused the Muslim Brotherhood of orchestrating the attack and branded it a “terrorist organisation.” The Brotherhood then quickly condemned the blast in an emailed statement.

The Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi described the attack as a “terrorist incident,” and vowed that the perpetrators “will not escape justice.”
The explosion was so strong that parts of the gate surrounding the directorate are demolished. Rescue teams are pulling people from under rubble.

“The Muslim Brotherhood considers this act as a direct attack on the unity of the Egyptian people and demands an enquiry forthwith so that the perpetrators of this crime may be brought to justice,” the statement said.

The Middle East News Agency quoted Cabinet spokesman Sherif Shawki as saying that the Muslim Brotherhood showed its “ugly face as a terrorist organisation shedding blood and messing with Egypt’s security.”

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Ban Ki-moon: Double peacekeeping force in South Sudan
24
12
2013
Ban Ki-moon advised the UN Security Council 5,500 additional soldiers and over 400 more police should be sent to South Sudan to reinforce the current UN mission there amid increasing violence in the fledgling nation.

Additional security forces would add to the nearly 7,000 soldiers that currently make up the UN mission in South Sudan. The reinforcements would come from other UN missions in Africa, according to a letter from Ban to the Security Council, AFP reported.

The Secretary-General said earlier Monday from UN headquarters in New York that allegations of rights violations in South Sudan will be investigated.

“The UN Mission in South Sudan is protecting civilians at its bases, supporting humanitarian deliveries, monitoring the human rights situation and investigating reports of abuses,” he said. “We have lost two peacekeepers in the past week and one was wounded. I commend our brave peacekeepers, as well as the mission’s staff and leaders.“

Two Indian peacekeepers were killed last week during an alleged rebel ambush on a UN compound.

Tens of thousands of people have fled the country amid fighting between rebels supporting former Vice President Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir’s forces. Last week, Machar denied he was preparing a coup, as alleged by Kiir.

Fighting began last week in the capital of Juba, then spread to other cities in South Sudan, the youngest country in Africa since breaking from Sudan in 2011.

Hundreds of people have been killed as a result of the dispute, according to reports. UN compounds are housing over 40,000 civilians, the Secretary-General said Sunday.

Machar is of the Nuer community while Kiir is of the majority Dinka ethnic group. Their rivalry is feared to be fuel for further conflict between the groups.

“Let me be absolutely clear,” the Secretary-General said Monday. “The world is watching all sides in South Sudan. Attacks on civilians and the UN peacekeepers deployed to protect them must cease immediately. The United Nations will investigate reports of grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Those responsible at the senior level will be held personally accountable and face the consequences – even if they claim they had no knowledge of the attacks.”

United States President Barack Obama told members of Congress on Sunday that American efforts in South Sudan could be ramped up in the coming days as the security of US citizens and others in the East African nation are increasingly put at risk.

An attempted rescue mission by the US on Saturday to try and remove Americans currently residing in South Sudan was aborted after rebel fighters reportedly aligned with former Vice President Machar opened fire on US planes, injuring four.

Around 380 American citizens and around 300 others have been evacuated by the US from Juba so far, but on Sunday the President sent a letter to select congressional leaders informing them that he may advise the military to increase its efforts.

“As I monitor the situation in South Sudan, I may take further action to support the security of US citizens, personnel, and property, including our embassy, in South Sudan,” Obama wrote on Sunday. 150 US Marines are making their way to the Horn of Africa in the likelihood that they will be ultimately sent to South Sudan in order to evacuate Americans and protect the US Embassy in the war-torn nation, according to various reports.

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Inventor of AK-47 rifle Mikhail Kalashnikov dies
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12
2013
Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov as he designed his AK-47 assault rifle. (RIA Novosti)

Mikhail Kalashnikov holds the first manufactured model of AK-47 assault rifle. He died at the age of 94, he had been in intensive care in Izhevsk since November 17.

Kalashnikov, who was famous for his frugal lifestyle, was feted as a straightforward hero.

The self-taught peasant turned tank mechanic who never finished high school, but achieved a remarkable and lasting feat of engineering while still in his twenties.

He was forever asked if he regretted engineering the weapon that probably killed more than any other in the last fifty years.

“I invented it for the protection of the Motherland. I have no regrets and bear no responsibility for how politicians have used it,” he told them.

Senior Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov as he designed his AK-47 assault rifle. (RIA Novosti)

“Mikhail Kalashnikov’s entire life is a shining example of dedication to serving your country,” said a statement from Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed “deep condolences” over the death of the engineer.

Kalashnikov who continued working well into his nineties, had been suffering from heart and intestinal problems, and on November 17 was admitted into intensive care in Izhevsk in central Russia – where the plant that produces the eponymous rifles is located. The official cause of death will be revealed following a mandatory autopsy.

A public funeral will be organized by the regional administration, in consultation with surviving relatives, though no date has been named so far.RT news

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Arvind Kejriwal invited to be CM of Delhi
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2013
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Arvind Kejriwal set to become the youngest CM of Delhi
President has given nod to the Aam Admi Party and its leader Arvind Kejriwal to form government in Delhi thus given seven days time to prove the majority on the floor of assembly. He-becomes the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi, likely to take oath on Thursday at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Prashant Bhushan has clarified that AAP government may not last longer keeping in view of track record of Congress in this arena.
Activist turn organisation makes their foray into political outfit with their trump on people participation but people at large still doubt on their perfect integrity and in whisper rumour mills of gathering honey go around at various occasion first at time of Annas protest on Lokpal, during the making of party AAP NRI donation collection, Leader former colleagues do not have words of praise of his integrity. Arvind to be elevated from IRS to activist to Politician is in itself a robin-hood story of today’s times. But people fed up with monotonous politics wanted badly a change and AAP foot the bill.
Kejriwal on conveyed to the Leutinent Governor of Delhi, the decision of his party to form the government with the Outside support of the Congress Party.The 45 year old former Indian Revenue Service Officer and social activist, Arvind Kejriwal stormed into the political scene of the Capital only a year ago, when he formed his political party, called Aam Admi Party.Kejriwal himself and all the other MLAs of his party are the first time MLAs. Soon after he was invited by the Leutinent Governor to be the Chief Minister, Kejriwal declined official security cover.
Recent tweet on face book of Arvind kejriwal explains his fans following

Arvind Kejriwal
With regards government formation in Delhi, we want reiterate few things below. Please watch and share the video below. (available in 5 languages)
1. It is only outside support, not an alliance, which means that it will be AAP Government, AAP agenda/manifesto that will be implemented.

2. Decision is based on overwhelming wish of people of Delhi that AAP should form government

3. AAP will not make any compromises and pursue its agenda of anti-corruption. AAP plans to pass Delhi Lokayukta bill in first 2 weeks of Jan and go after the corrupt.

4. AAP fully intends to deliver on the 18 point agenda that brings power back to the people and addresses their needs

5. If Congress withdraws its support and the government falls, then AAP will go back to the people. AAP will not make compromises with the Congress just to stay in the government.

Arvind Kejriwal
The opinion of the people who participated in the referendum process was overwhelming in favour of formation of the government in Delhi. Respecting this message, AAP has decided to form the govt. AAP leaders met the Lt. Governor of Delhi and conveyed this decision. We thank the people for their faith & support. We look forward to your continued support. Thank you.

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‘Mobile Seva’ Launched
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12
2013
IT Signals the Beginning of a Nationwide Initiative Aimed at Providing Government Services Through Mobile Devices

The ‘Mobile Seva’ (the national mobile-governance initiative of DeitY) was dedicated to the citizens here today by Shri J. Satyanarayana, Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), at a function organized at DeitY, Electronics Niketan. The logo for ‘Mobile Seva’ too was unveiled at the function.
Mobile Seva aims to provide government services to the people through mobile phones and tablets. It has been developed as the core infrastructure for enabling the availability of public services through mobile devices. Mobile Seva enables the integration of the mobile platform with the common e-Governance infrastructure consisting of State Data Centers (SDCs), State Wide Area Networks (SWANs), State and National Service Delivery Gateways (SSDGs/NSDG). It enables a government department to integrate both web and mobile based services seamlessly and enhances the access to electronic services tremendously leveraging the very high penetration of mobile phones, especially in rural areas. Availability of government‐wide shared infrastructure and services enables rapid development and reduced costs for the departments in rolling out mobile based services.

As on date, 833 Central and State Govt. Departments are using Mobile Seva for providing SMS-based services, and over 55.25 Crore SMS notifications have been sent to citizens for various mobile based services. Citizens can now directly interact with Government Departments through SMS. As on date, 254 public services have been made available to the citizens. A Mobile Applications Store (m-App Store) has also been developed by DeitY as part of Mobile Seva. The Mobile Governance Portal and the m-App Store can be accessed at http://mgov.gov.in/. The m-Appstore currently hosts over 240 live mobile applications. The live applications can be downloaded and installed free of cost on a mobile phone by any person.

A Mobile Applications Store (m-App Store) has also been developed by DeitY as part of Mobile Seva. The Mobile Governance Portal and the m-App Store can be accessed at http://mgov.gov.in/. The m-Appstore currently hosts over 240 live mobile applications. The live applications can be downloaded and installed free of cost on a mobile phone by any person. Citizens can visit http://mgov.gov.in/ for more information.

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Ghulam Nabi Azad Launches ‘AV Magni-Visualiser’ Screening Device for Cervical Cancer
24
12
2013
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad launched screening device for cervical cancer, called ‘AV Magni-Visualiser’, here today. The device has been designed and developed at Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO), NOIDA which is one of the premier Institutes of ICMR and is involved in epidemiology and development of indigenous HPV vaccine.

Speaking at the launch function, Shri Azad congratulated the scientists at ICMR and ICPO for designing and developing this cost-effective and affordable device for screening cervical cancer in its early stages. He stated that cervical cancer is still the number one killer cancer in several parts of rural and semi-urban India. It has been estimated that about 1 lakh 32 thousand cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year and 74, 000 deaths occur due to it every year. It accounted for 9% of total deaths due to cancer in 2010. He further said that many of the cases may still be going unreported in many rural areas taking the number even higher.

The Health Minister stated that with this device it will be easy to screen and detect cervical cancer in its early stages thus making treatment more effective. He stated that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the “National Programme on Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs, and Stroke” in 2010 in 100 selected districts taken up initially as pilot project across 21 States to address the challenges posed by the rapidly increasing burden of NCDs, particularly Cancer, Diabetes and CVDs.

Sh Azad said that presently screening for cervical cancer is available only in the regional cancer institutes and medical colleges. He added that the equipment presently being used is expensive, as a result of which not many medical colleges can afford this equipment. This device, which will be much cost effective, will be first rolled out in the district and sub-district community health centres (CMCs) and subsequently in the primary health centres (PHCs), he noted. As not all PHCs have lady doctors and nurses, staffing and training will form an important part of roll out paln, he stated.

Dr. V M Katoch, DG, ICMR said that this will benefit a large number of women in the country and bring down the rates of morbidity and mortality due to cervical cancer, which is high at present as it is not detected in the early stages. Cervical cancer does not occur de-novo. It starts from certain pre-cancerous states/lesions called dysplasias and it takes about a decade for cancer to develop from pre-cancerous lesions. Detection and appropriate treatment of pre-cancerous lesions will halt their progression to invasive cancers. He further stated that the accuracy and efficacy of the device has been evaluated through tests in five regions during the past two years. He also said that this device has a white light source with variable interchangeable magnification and it can be operated on 12 Volt battery in rural and semi urban areas where electric supply is not regular. Magnivisualizer has been found to pick up 1.5 times more High grade pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions than the ordinary tungsten light.

Also present at the launch function were Smt. Santosh Chowdhary, MoS (Health), Shri A. H. Khan Chowdhury, MoS (Health), Shri K Desiraju, Secy (Health), Sh Lov Verma, Secy (DAC), and senior officers of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and scientists.

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December 24, 2013, 5:37 am

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16th Bharat Rang Mahotsav – 2014

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I N V I T A T I O N

National School of Drama

solicits your gracious presence for a

PRESS CONFERENCE

Shri Ratan Thiyam, Chairman, National School of Drama Society

Prof. Waman Kendre, Director, National School of Drama

Shri Suresh Bharadwaj, Professor National School of Drama

to announce the commencement of

16^th Bharat Rang Mahotsav – 2014

featuring theatre performances from across the country and other nations

Friday, Dec 27, 2013 at 3.00 pm

Followed by High Tea

Sammukh Auditorium

National School of Drama

Bahawalpur House, Bhagwan Das Road

New Delhi-110 001

RSVP:

Anuj/ Santosh / Shabana/ Mehak A.K Barua

Le Communiqué Consultancy Public Relation Officer

Ph:9958372662/9990937676/9818759958/9953052623 National School of Drama

Email: anuj@lecommunique.co.in Ph: 9810329401

santosh@lecommunique.co.in

Warm regards,

Santosh Kumar

M 9990937676

9968509492

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December 25, 2013, 2:10 am

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Arvind Kejriwal to be sworn-in as Delhi CM on Dec 28

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Media awaits on 23 Dec for press Conference at Constitution club New Delhi but there was no arrangements and entire Delhi media waited for more than ten hours and could get moving bite. Some of the media in waiting.President Pranab Mukherjee accepted Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung’s proposal on government formation by Aam Aadmi Party. Home ministry thus sent the President’s communication to Najeeb Jung. “It is up to the L-G to decide the date of swearing-in after holding consultation with Chief Minister designate,” the Home Ministry said. Media reports Arvind Kejriwal to be sworn-in as Delhi chief minister on December 28 at noon. The ceremony will take place at the Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. Congress with second thought and various deliberations has accepted to grant outside support in formation of the Delhi government headed by Arvind kejriwal who is placed in Catch 22 situation and will do his utmost to show his idealistic intention to run the government, his move shall chart out the history of AAP and new era or the hooliganism joined activist turn politicians who look upon the solid society as their volunteers reach an interesting point of gamesmanship which begins on Dec 28 noon . People of Delhi are excited about this new show so is India but the move is bed rocked with one man showmanship .

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal will take oath as Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday at Ramlila Maidan.Kejriwal will take oath alongwith 6 ministers. Aam Aadmi party has finalised names of six MLAs to be inducted in the Kejriwal cabinet. These are Manish Sisodia, Rakhi Birla, Satendra Jain, Girish Soni, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Somnath Bharti. The date of swearing in ceremony was finalised soon after the Delhi LG Najib Jung invited Kejriwal to form government on Wednesday. Delhi Chief Secretary D M Spolia met Kejriwal at his residence and conveyed the invitation by the LG to him for forming government. Earlier the LG had received the formal communication by the President Pranab Mukherjee regarding AAP’s government formation in Delhi.Kejriwal had on Monday met the LG and staked claim to form government in Delhi.

Kejriwal had proposed Ramlila Maidan as the venue for his swearing in ceremony.Arvind Kejriwal has said he will start implementing his party’s manifesto from the day his government takes charge. Kejriwal met AAP supporters and party workers and deliberated on a future strategy on Wednesday. Later speaking to news persons, he said MLAs who want to support AAP on its 18-point charter are welcome to do so. AAP on Wednesday reiterated it is not in any sort of coalition or understanding with the Congress and expects “support of the majority” on the floor of the House for its 18 issues.

Party leader Yogendra Yadav said Aam Aadmi Party will go to the floor with its 18 point agenda and 28 MLAs.

He added the party expects the support of the majority in the house on these points. If they failed to get it, they would move out.

Discontent was also visible within the Congress over its support to AAP.

A section of the party is opposing the decision and some people have even taken to the streets to protest against it. The party has however, accepted the divide within over supporting AAP.

Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said the party had decided to support AAP after much consideration.

Meanwhile, BJP said AAP’s talk of alternative politics was a sham after the reported rifts over ministerial berths.

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December 25, 2013, 11:43 pm

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Cambodian PM visits Vietnam

26122013

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) and his wife Bun Rany gesture as they leave for a visit to

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen left here Thursday for a three-day visit to Vietnam to boost ties as the opposition’s protests to demand his resignation and a re- vote has entered the 12th day.

The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, Finance Minister Aun Porn Moniroth, Chief of Border Affairs Var Kimhong, Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron, as well as other senior officials. “During the visit, Prime Minister Hun Sen will hold a bilateral talk with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung,” Sry Thamarong, minister attached to Prime Minister Hun Sen, told reporters at the Phnom Penh International Airport before departure. “The two premiers will also witness the signing ceremony of nine agreements including a treaty on extradition as well as those on cooperation in public security, trade, bridge construction, education, and information,” he said.

Besides, the prime minister will pay separate courtesy calls on Nguyen Sinh Hung, president of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, and Nguyen Phu Trong, secretary general of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Hun Sen makes the visit to Vietnam as political dispute at home remains tense. Since Dec. 15, the country’s main opposition party has launched a new round of daily protests in the capital to demand his resignation or a re-election following allegations of serious fraud during the July’s election.

The July’s poll results showed that the Hun Sen’s ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the Sam Rainsy’s opposition party, but the opposition refused to accept the outcome and has boycotted parliament since then.

Hun Sen said on Friday last week that he would neither step down nor call a re-vote because he has done nothing wrong.

He also warned the opposition of its outlawed protests, saying the government would take legal action against protesters if they try to block highways or capture government buildings.

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Fumio Kishida : Japan, Russia to meet on territorial issues

26122013

Japan and Russia will meet on territorial issues here on Jan. 31 in an effort to resolve the deadlock of the issues between the two countries, said Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida Thursday.

The meeting, which will involve Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and his Russian counterpart Igor Morgulov, is also expected to cover bilateral economic cooperation.

Kishida told a press conference that he hopes the meeting could shore up Japan-Russia relation as a whole and could be conducive to help the two countries to conclude a peace treaty.

Japan and Russia are at odds over a series of islands north of Japan’s Hokkaido. The islands, which are known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, prevent the two countries from signing a peace treaty since the end of World War II.

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U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

26122013

At least four people were killed and several others injured in a U.S. drone strike late Wednesday night in Pakistan’s northwest tribal area of North Waziristan, reported local Urdu TV channel ARY on Thursday.

According to local media reports, U.S. unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a house suspected of being a militant hideout in Miranshah, a main town of North Waziristan which borders Afghanistan.

Identities of the killed and wounded and other details are not immediately available.

The U.S. drone strike in North Waziristan is the 26th of its kind (counted on daily basis) in Pakistan since this year. At least 166 people have reportedly been killed in such strikes so far this year.

While most of the victims are believed to be suspected militants, the U.S. drone strikes do often kill innocent people.

Late last month, U.S. drones launched an attack on a religious school in Pakistan’s northwest district of Hangu, killing at least 15 people including many students.

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Snowden call to mass data collection

26122013

Former US security agency contractor Edward Snowden has urged governments to stop collecting personal communications data.

Snowden has warned about a loss of privacy in a message recorded in Moscow by Britain’s Channel 4.

He said people have sensors in their pockets that track them everywhere they go. He added that a child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all.

The former National Security Agency contractor said the ongoing debate on data collection will determine the amount of trust in technology and the governments that regulate it.

He said if governments really want to know how people feel, they should ask them instead of spying on them.

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Serial bombings in Iraq Christian area

26122013

A series of bombings killed at least thirty eight people in a Christian-populated district in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday.

AS per the Police say a car bomb exploded near a church in the south of the city after Christmas mass.

The police add other bomb attacks occurred elsewhere in the district on the same day.

At least 38 people were killed and 70 wounded, most of them Christians.

Iraq is estimated to have around 300,000 Christians with the vast majority of the citizens Muslims.

On Christmas Eve, a mass was held in another church in Baghdad where Muslim leaders attended in a move to overcome religious differences.

No one has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks.

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Christmas message at the Vatican

26122013

Pope Francis has prayed for an end to the conflict in Syria, while calling for social harmony in South Sudan.

The pontiff delivered his Christmas message to the tens of thousands of Catholics that gathered at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday.

The pope noted that too many lives have been shattered by the conflict in Syria, fueling hatred and vengeance. He prayed that peace be granted to the country and to the whole world.

The pope also reflected on South Sudan, where thousands of people have died recently after troops loyal to President Salva Kiir clashed with forces supporting former vice president Riek Machar.

He prayed for social harmony to be fostered in the country.

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South Sudan president calls for dialogue

26122013

The president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, has called for dialogue to end the tribal-based armed conflict between his supporters and backers of the African country’s former vice president, Riek Machar.

Fighting between the two different ethnic groups erupted in the capital Juba on December 15th and has spread to other parts of the country. At least 500 people have died and 80,000 have fled their homes.

In a televised speech on Wednesday, Kiir said innocent people have been wantonly killed and people are targeting others because of their tribal affiliation. He added that this is unacceptable and these atrocities have to cease immediately.

International efforts are continuing to mediate a ceasefire. The US government has sent a special envoy to urge both sides to end the hostilities.

Media reports say government troops clashed on Wednesday with supporters of the former vice president in an oil-producing city in the north of the country. Media agencies

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Kim urges military to increase combat readiness

26122013

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has urged the military to step up combat readiness. His remark comes as tension is rising on the Korean Peninsula.

The North’s state-run television on Wednesday reported, with many photos, that Kim visited the command of an army unit in charge of the country’s west.

The visit was made on Tuesday, the anniversary of his late father Kim Jong Il’s assuming supreme commandership of the Korean People’s Army.

Kim reportedly instructed the unit to be prepared to the utmost in combat readiness and to bear in mind that war breaks out without prior notice.

Kim was accompanied by 3 top military leaders: the head of the military’s political department Choe Ryong Hae; Chief of General Staff Ri Yong Gil; and defense chief Jang Jong Nam.

Observers say his remark is intended as a threat to the South, indicating the possibility of military provocation from the North without notice.

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Opposition rejects Thai PM’s proposal on national reform council

26122013

Thailand’s prime minister proposed a “national reform council” on Wednesday, following weeks of mass street protests against her government. Yingluck Shinawatra said the body would be set up in parallel with a February-2 general election, AFP reported. The council would recommend constitutional amendments, economic and legal reforms and anti-corruption measures. Protest leaders immediately rejected the plan, reiterating that reforms should go before elections, in a bid to curb the political influence of the prime minister’s family. She can “show her responsibility and sacrifice by stepping down so that the reform process can begin”, said a spokesman for the protest movement, Akanat Promphan.

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Militants killed in Pakistan by US drone strike

26122013

A suspected US drone fired two missiles at a home in a northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, killing at least three foreign militants, according to Pakistani intelligence officials. The strike took place just before midnight on Wednesday in the village of Qutab Khel in North Waziristan, AP said. Initial reports suggested the slain men were Arabs.

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Deepika Kumari creates national record in women’s 50 m archery

26122013

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Top ranked women recurve archer Deepika Kumari has created a national record in women’s 50 metre round in the 34th Senior National Archery Championship in Jamshedpur. World Cup silver medallist Deepika shot 346 points breaking the previous record of 333 points held by Olympian L Bombayla Devi. Former Olympian V Praneetha finished second in the event with 332 points while Reena Kumari scored 322 to clinch the bronze.

In the Men’s section, Atanau Das emerged winner in the individual Olympic round. Olympian pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari won the recurve mixed team event.

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Bangladesh polls:

26122013

In Bangladesh, the armed forces personnel are being deployed from today to help the Election Commission maintain law and order in the 10th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 5, amid a boycott by the BNP-led Opposition. Election Commission sources say around 50,000 armed forces personnel will be deployed for a period of 15 days till January, 9 2014, who will assist regular law enforcing agencies in election-related works.

Voting will take place in 146 out of 300 constituencies, as 154 single candidates stand elected unopposed. There is no army deployment is 5 districts where candidates in all constituencies have been elected unopposed. Army has been deployed during all parliamentary elections in Bangladesh from 1973 to 2008. Security in Election Commission Secretariat has been strengthened with the installation of several closed circuit cameras inside and outside the buildings.

Meanwhile Opposition BNP has announced ‘March to Dhaka’ on December 29th, urging all Bangladeshis to join the movement to resist the elections and protect democracy.

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Egypt declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group

26122013

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The Egyptian Government has officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group. Deputy Prime Minister Hossem Eissa announced the move which will give the authorities more powers to crackdown on the Brotherhood. Muslim Brotherhood has denounced it as an illegitimate act to frame Brotherhood and said its protests would continue. Our West Asia correspondent reports that the Muslim Brotherhood has been blamed for the deadly attack on the Police Headquarters in Mansoura on Tuesday as well as attacks on churches and other violent incidents across the country. The Cabinet orders mean more powers to the Government for crackdown on Brotherhood. A Cairo court has already banned activities by the Muslim Brotherhood , issued orders for dissolving it and frozen its assets. Since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi and the eviction of pro Morsi sit ins in Cairo ,a massive crackdown is on by the security forces.

Entire top brass of Muslim Brotherhood including the ouster President Mohammed Morsi and its supreme Guide Mohamed Badie are now behind bars facing several charges of inciting violence, propagating attacks on security personnel and the killing of protesters.

However experts say that the decision may face serious legal challenges and raised apprehensions that it can be used to silence any opposition voice against the Government.

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Turkey PM reshuffles cabinet amid graft charges

26122013

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has reshuffled his cabinet amidst graft charges. He has replaced nearly half his cabinet bringing in 10 new faces. Erdogan has replaced three resigning ministers and his EU affairs minister, while reshuffling the justice, transport, family, sports and industry portfolios, and one of his four deputy prime ministers’ posts.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a major cabinet reshuffle, replacing 10 key ministers amid a widening high-level corruption scandal rocking his government.

The move came late on Wednesday, shortly after the resignation of interior, economy, and environment ministers. Each of them had a son detained on December 17 in a long-running investigation into graft allegations involving state-run lender Halkbank.

After a closed-door meeting with President Abdullah Gul in Ankara, Erdogan has named 10 new ministers.

The move follows the resignation of three Ministers yesterday in the wake of a probe into a corruption case. The Minister for the Economy, the Interior Minister and the Environment Minister had to resign on charges that they along with their sons, have been involved in a high level fraud involving illicit money transfers to neighboring Iran and bribes for construction projects. Last weeks dozens were arrested including the sons of the Ministers who have resigned and millions of dollars were found in one of their homes.

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Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet – Nritya Mahotsav

26122013

Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet – Nritya Mahotsav to be held on 16^th, 17^th & 18^th January 2014 at 6:45 P:M at Shankar Lal Hall, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi.

I shall be grateful if you can cover this news item, viz “Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet – Nritya Mahotsav” in your Newspaper/ Magazine/ TV Channel. Looking forward to receive you at the MAHOTSAV and with kind regard.

Encl: Letter to editor and group photograph of artists.

Thanking you,

With Best Wishes,

Uma Sharma

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December 26, 2013, 10:24 pm

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Happy Holidays from the Tow Center! As we prepare for another year of programming, the Tow Center announces two opportunities for you to get involved with our research: 1) apply to be a paid research assistant for the Single-Subject News Project, and 2) volunteer with the Amateur Footage research team.

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Tow Center Seeks Research Assistant for Single-Subject News Project
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The Tow Center has an opening for a paid Research Assistant for the Single-Subject News Project. Apply by January 1, 2014.

Takeaway: Tow Tea: Starting a Startup
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In today’s shifting media industry landscape, creating a job for yourself by starting a journalistic startup is becoming a more common and appealing possibility. On Dec. 4, 2013, about 50 people gathered for Tow Tea at Columbia Journalism School to hear from panelists on the front lines of this trend to hear about the realities of going into the media business for yourself.

The Real Impact of Virtual Activism
-Philip Howard, Tow Fellow
There’s been an active debate over the impact of digital media on political life. Initially, the digital optimists seemed to have the upper hand, arguing that social media and its array of platforms vitally contributed to these movements – and made the grip of unelected rulers elsewhere all the more precarious. The digital pessimists then struck back, citing example after example of autocratic governments that used technology ruthlessly and efficiently to stifle dissent, monitor civil society groups more closely, and further consolidate power. For many people, the core issue in the debate is whether or not you think digital activism can have much of an impact on politics. To investigate, we’ve been digging into real cases of digital activism: not just the high profile ones, and not just the successes

Data Journalism MOOCs Offer New Options for Distributed Learning
-Alexander Howard, Tow Fellow
One of the most common questions I’ve heard since I began investigating data-driven journalism has been “where can I go to learn more?” Every day, those options are expanding. Starting in early 2014, for instance, the European Journalism Centre is offering a relatively novel option: a “massive open online course” (MOOC) focused on building data journalism skills

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Egypt to vote on new draft constitution on January 14 -15 – President

French foreign minister to ask for EU help ‘on the ground’ in Central African Republic

The farce in the name of the Lokpal Bill

​EU considers suspending some Iran sanctions

Global news dose

China launches Bolivia’s first satellite

14 killed in bombings, shootings in Iraq

​Spain approves tight restrictions on abortion

Libya’s intelligence chief killed at a wedding

Syria most dangerous place for reporters – study

Security forces clash with pro-Morsi protesters across Egypt

1 killed, 3 wounded by IDF in Gaza cross-border violence – reports

2 soldiers killed in Sinai in an attempt to arrest militant leader

​Agreement with Russia allowed Ukraine to avoid bankruptcy, no need of IMF loan – PM

2014 Pentagon budget addresses sexual assault, Guantanamo trials

Utah’s same-sex marriage ban struck down

Geneva nuclear expert-level talks extended

5.3-magnitude earthquake hits eastern Japan, shakes buildings in Tokyo

Britain to destroy part of Syria chemical stockpile

Spanish police raid ruling People’s Party HQ in corruption probe

More than 30 injured as London bus crashes into tree

Russian aviation watchdog to revoke Tatarstan Airlines license

India govt asks Supreme Court to review anti-gay law

EU considers suspending some Iran sanctions

Spain approves tight restrictions on abortion

Agreement with Russia allowed Ukraine to avoid bankruptcy, no need of IMF loan – PM