Press Conference of Oriental Bank of Commerce Q3 Financial Results,

23 01 2015

Oriental Bank of Commerce Q3 Financial Results, 29th January 2015 @ 12.45 pm at Corporate Office, Plot No 5 , Sector 32 Institutional Area , Gurgaon
From: “Andalib.Andy Subzwari”  Fri, 23 Jan ’15 12:03p
To: “Andalib.Andy Subzwari”
Show full Headers    |    View blocked images
1 attachment
Invite_Oriental_Bank_of_Commerce_Q3_Financial_Results_29th_January_2015.jpg62.00 KBDownload

Request for Coverage :
                                 Shri Animesh Chauhan
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Oriental Bank of Commerce
Cordially invite you to a
PRESS MEET
on the occasion of the announcement of
Q-3 Financial Results 2014-15

on Thursday, 29th January, 2015
at 

Oriental Bank of Commerce,
Corporate Office

Plot No 5 , Sector 32

Institutional Area , Gurgoan – 122001

at 12.45 PM

Press Meet will be followed by Lunch
RSVP
Andy : 9999573707
www.obcindia.co.in

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Business

Chaos in Nepal Parliament

23 01 2015

<

Jan 23,
Nepal, the Constituent Assembly has failed to deliver the new Constitution. The political parties missed a deadline to draft a new Constitution that expired last night.
The Parliament session in Kathmandu ended, without agreeing on a draft, amid chaotic scenes. The Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, Subhash Nembang, adjourned the Parliament at 11.45 p.m., after two-and-half hour long obstruction by the opposition parties. Before announcing adjournment of the session, Nembang said he wishes to begin the process of drafting the Constitution and sought cooperation from all parties to forge agreement to promulgate the constitution.
The Parliament is scheduled to meet again at 1 p.m. today.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Legal, Media, Science

Yemen government resigns

23 01 2015

Jan 23
Yemen, President Mansour Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and his cabinet have resigned. The development comes a day after the President agreed to demands of Shia Houthi rebels, who stormed his palace and private home in Sana’a earlier this week. Yemeni Presidential adviser Sultan al-Atwani said Mansour Haadi submitted his resignation just hours after receiving the resignations of Prime Minister Khalid Bahah and his cabinet. However parliament speaker Yahia al-Rai refused to accept the President’s resignation. He has called an extraordinary session of parliament on Friday morning. Yemeni Prime Minister Bahah posted on his Facebook page that he doesn’t want to be a part of what is happening or will happen.
Meanwhile Houthi rebels continued to stand guard President Haadi’s home and palace despite having promised to withdraw militia and siege of both buildings. They have also not released the chief of Presidential staff, Ahmad Awad Bin Omar. Supporters of Haadi protested outside his residency in Sana’a on Thursday, demanding to know where the president was. Houthi leaders said he would come out after implementing the power sharing agreement.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Legal, Media, Politics

Dubai unveils World’s largest vertical maze

23 01 2015

Jan 23
Dubai has set yet another world record for the largest vertical maze. The 55 story Maze tower in Dubai’s financial district has been now confirmed by the records tally-keeper Guinness World Records as the world’s largest vertical maze.The design on the façade of the building is actually a puzzle made from intricate lines of balconies on the front and rear, and there is another garden maze on the roof top. The design uses natural stones and lights up in different colours making it appear light and reflective. It looks like as if it has been carved out of one single massive piece of rock; with the constant play of light and shadow to render it alive. The tower has four other unique features – the Maze Eye which is an eight-meter circular video wall at the top of the building to beam images. It has LED lights built into the exterior of the maze pattern that can display colours and patterns. Plus it has a garden floor in the middle of the building; and a maze garden at the rooftop. Even the pool is maze-shaped. The maze tower has 25 floors of office space and 24 floors of living space. With its latest acquisition, Dubai now holds more than 100 Guinness World Records.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Business, Environment, Science, Trade

Delhi Polls 693 candidates in fray after scrutiny

23 01 2015

Jan 23
A total of 693 nomination papers have been accepted for the 70-member Delhi Assembly elections. 230 nominations have been rejected in the scrutiny held yesterday. After scrutiny, the highest number of valid nominations was 18 from the Burari Assembly seat and the lowest number of valid nomination papers was four in Ambedkar Nagar constituency.
923 candidates from the BJP, Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, BSP, NCP, Left Parties and Independents had filed their nomination papers. The candidates can withdraw their nomination by tomorrow. Polling will take place on 7th of next month. Counting will be held on 10th February.
A total of one hundred and twenty one FIR’s have been lodged against various political parties in connection with the violation of the Model Code of Conduct in Delhi till now. According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, out of these violations, 54 FIR’s have been lodged against Aam Aadmi Party, 24 against BJP, 26 against Congress and 10 cases of violation have been registered against BSP. Besides, around 1600 hoardings have also removed from Public Property and 116 FIR’s have been lodged in this regard.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : election, Politics

Netanyahu pushes back meeting with Congress to March

23 01 2015

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington in March to address Congress. He can make one trip to the US instead of two in the run-up to the March 17 Israeli election, Reuters reported, citing a Republican aide as saying on Thursday. Netanyahu announced earlier in the day in a statement the invitation tendered by House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner was bipartisan. Boehner announced the invitation to Netanyahu the previous day, drawing White House complaints that protocol had been breached.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Business, world News

Bomb blast near Egypt’s presidential palace

23 01 2015

At least two people have been injured in a pipe bomb explosion near Egypt’s Presidential Palace in Cairo, Sputnik news agency reported on Friday. One of the injuries is critical, a medical source said. Sinai-based jihadist group Soldiers of Egypt (Ajnad Misr) claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Business

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is dead

23 01 2015

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz  died in hospital. He was undergoing treatment for pneumonia. An official statement has named Saudi Crown Prince Salman the new king.
“His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning,” said the statement on Saudi Arabian state TV channel attributed to Salman.
Salman has immediately appointed his half-brother Muqrin as his crown prince and heir.
King Abdullah had been in hospital for several weeks as he had been suffering from pneumonia and temporarily needed to breathe through a tube on account of his illness.
US President Barack Obama has expressed his condolences and praised the late Saudi King for his “steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.”
Meanwhile, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced that he will be leaving the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in order to travel to Saudi Arabia and pay his respects. Abdullah was officially appointed king in 2006, but prior to that he had run the country for at least 10 years as de facto regent, after his predecessor, King Fahd, suffered a debilitating stroke.
King Salman the new head of state of the number one oil exporter in the world is thought to be 79 years old. King Salman was appointed Crown Prince in 2012 and in the same year started serving as a defense minister. Before assuming these responsibilities, he had been governor of Riyadh province for five decades.
Abdullah was a staunch US ally, who supported the western fight against Al-Qaeda and maintained attempts to keep rival Shia Iran in check. Under his rule, Saudi Arabia strongly backed Syrian rebels trying to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The monarch had also been the first international head of state to congratulate the interim government of Egypt after the July 2013 military coup deposed Mohamed Morsi.
King Abdullah implemented some modest reforms in the areas of women’s rights and economic deregulation, but largely stayed away from any severe changes to the kingdom’s political system. King Salman is said to be part of the royal circle that will continue to pursue similar policies.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : world News

GBSSS, Saket J Block and VCS Agriculture, Khera Kheri take top honours

22 01 2015

GBSSS, Saket J Block and VCS Agriculture, Khera Kheri take top honours at the inaugural Cairn Juniors Hockey Cup 2015

New Delhi, January 21, 2015: GBSSS, Saket J Block and VCS Agriculture, Khera Kheri won the junior (U-17) and sub junior (U-14) finals at the inaugural Cairn Juniors Hockey Cup. The INR 300,000 event was held for the first time at the Shivaji Stadium from January 15 to January 21, 2015.

In the juniors final GBSSS, Saket J Block edged past SS Mota Singh in a penalty shootout to become the first winners of the Cairn Juniors Hockey Cup 2015. The boys from Saket played brilliantly and created several goal scoring opportunities but couldn’t breach the tight defense of SS Mota Singh in regulation time. The match stayed goalless at the end of the regulation time and was decided in a penalty shootout, in which GBSSS, Saket J Block won 2-1. Pawan and Sunil converted for Saket, whereas Tejender scored one for SS Mota.

In the sub junior final VCS Agriculture produced a clinical performance to beat GBSSS, Khanpur 6-1. VCS dominated the proceedings from the word go and took the lead through a penalty corner in the 10^th minute. They doubled the lead in the 17^th minute and raced to a 3-0 lead at half time. They scored three more goals in the second half. GBSSS scored a consolation goal in the 56^th minute of the goal. Kunal socred a hattrick, whereas Sushil, Ankit and Ashish scored a goal apiece for the winners. The only goal for GBSSS was scored by Shantu Kumar.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : sports

Seminar on NTBs in India-Sri Lanka FTA

22 01 2015

Dissemination Seminar on NTBs in India-Sri Lanka FTA
From: “Diya Dutta”  Thu, 22 Jan ’15 12:47p
To: You
Show full Headers
1 attachment
Snap_Shot_on_NTB_Project.docx17.48 KBDownload
Dear Mr. Sagar,
We are organizing a dissemination seminar on our Challenge Fund Study of NTBs in India-Sri Lanka FTA on 30 January 2015 at 2:30pm at CPR. It would be wonderful if you and your colleagues could come and attend the seminar. I am attaching a brief note about the study for your reference. Request you to please circulate this among friends and colleagues who may be interested in the discussion.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : world News

Charges of cover-up against N Srinivasan not proved, says SC

22 01 2015

Jan 22
Supreme Court today said there is no proof of charges of cover-up against BCCI president-in-exile N Srinivasan in the IPL spot fixing case. However it observed that Sriniwasan can not contest BCCI elections. The apex court found his son -in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra involved in betting. Verdict in the IPL Betting and Spot Fixing case was delivered today.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Law, Legal, Media

A study of Bangalore’s Urban Taskforces: Neha Sami

22 01 2015

CPR-CSH Urban Workshop: “Power to the People? A study of Bangalore’s Urban Taskforces” View this email in your browser

We are delighted to invite you to a CPR-CSH Urban Workshop: Power to the People? A study of Bangalore’s Urban Taskforces Neha Sami  |  27 January 2015  |  3:45 p.m. 3rd floor Conference Room, Centre for Policy Research Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi With economic liberalization, several new actors have emerged in Indian cities. Earlier, actors like international consultants, financial institutions and foreign architects were largely absent from decision-making processes that influenced urban development. Others, like politicians, developers, landowners and civil society groups are reinventing themselves to adapt to and take advantage of a rapidly transforming urban environment. Building on primary and secondary data collected in India, this paper examines the role that existing and emerging stakeholders play in urban development in post-liberalization India, and the alliances they form to promote a common agenda. These alliances have their roots in largely informal personal social networks and function mainly on the basis of such connections. This talk will focus on coalitions in Bengaluru, Karnataka in the form of taskforces that were set up by consecutive state governments to advise on urban policy, viz. the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) in 1999, that has since been dissolved and the Agenda for Bangalore Infrastructure Development (ABIDe) in 2008. These groups have no formal standing in government and yet have been given considerable power especially in the creation of urban policy that would transform the structure and approach of city government. The argument is that increasingly, it is such coalitions are shaping Indian cities and not the institutional frameworks that have been and are being set up by politicians, corporate leaders and civil society organizations. Neha Sami is faculty at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements in Bengaluru, India. She studies the urban politics of real estate development and governance in post-liberalization India. Her previous research focused on the political economy of land and governance under conditions of globalization. She is currently studying industrial corridor development projects between Indian cities like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. She is also interested in the politics of implementation of urban environmental plans, particularly climate change action plans, in Indian cities and on questions of environmental governance. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business, CSR

Indians having black money in Swiss : Arun Jaitley

22 01 2015

Jan 22
India has said that it has independent evidence of Indians having black money in Swiss accounts and Switzerland has promised expeditious sharing of information in this regard. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said this after meeting with his Swiss counterpart Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meet in Davos yesterday.
Mr Jaitley said, he discussed with Ms. Widmer-Schlumpf, the parameters based on which Switzerland can provide details on unaccounted money parked in their banks once independent evidence is furnished.
In October last year, India and Switzerland had inked a joint statement of understanding with regard to co-operation on tax matters. However, Switzerland has a clear position that the information would not be shared with another country, but such requests would be looked into in case of independent evidence being made available.
On ways to prevent the menace of black money in the future, Mr Jaitley said the global community is moving towards automatic exchange of information. He said, India will sign bilateral pacts with Switzerland and other nations in this regard.
Mr Jaitley also said that the Swiss Minister also discussed economic co-operation.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business

International news

22 01 2015

Indonesian divers find 5 bodies belted in seats near AirAsia fuselage

Indonesian divers on Thursday found five bodies belted into their seats near the main section of an AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea last month with 162 people on board, AFP said. The divers hope to reach the fuselage. A total of 58 bodies have now been found following the crash of flight QZ8501 which went down on December 28. Indonesian Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan said earlier that the plane climbed abnormally fast before stalling and plunging into the sea.

Iran’s  First President,sent to prison

Mohammad Reza Rahimi, who was Iran’s first vice president under former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined, AFP said. Rahimi, 66, is the most senior official from the Ahmadinejad era to have been convicted. The Supreme Court’s verdict came after a trial on corruption charges, according to Iranian media. Iran’s judiciary earlier refused to reveal the details of Rahimi’s case, and media gave no specifics about his crimes.

‘Stall warning’ heard on AirAsia voice recorder

The stall warning of AirAsia Flight 8501 could be heard going off on the cockpit voice recorder, Singapore’s Today newspaper quoted a crash investigator as saying. “The warning kept on screaming and in the background, [the pilot and co-pilot] were trying to recover the plane,” the source said, adding that it wasn’t clear what they said. The flight data recorder also reportedly showed stall warnings were going off. However, there has been no official confirmation of the report.

​Capitol Hill terror suspect charged for plotting attack

An Ohio man accused of plotting to set off bombs at the US Capitol and kill lawmakers alongside other workers has been officially charged by a federal grand jury. Twenty-year-old Christopher Cornell was charged with attempting to murder government employees, possession of a firearm in furtherance of an attempted crime, and solicitation to commit a crime. If convicted, Cornel could face up to 20 years in prison for the first two charges and up to five years on the third one. Cornell was arrested after reportedly purchasing semi-automatic weapons and 600 rounds of ammunition to carry out his plot, but his father claims his son is innocent and was coerced by an FBI informant.

​NATO tells Russia to remove tanks and troops from Ukraine

NATO says that it has seen an increase in the number of tanks, artillery and other pieces of heavy equipment being used by Russian troops in Ukraine. The organization also reiterated its plea for Moscow to withdraw from Ukrainian territory. Jens Stoltenberg, the Western alliance’s secretary-general, says NATO has been monitoring Russian soldiers in Ukraine for months and it believes their numbers have spiked recently. Russia denies sending any troops into Ukraine.

WHO says year passes with no new polio cases in Syria

Syria has gone a year without a reported polio case, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. A massive immunization campaign was triggered by the disease’s appearance in the war-torn country, and the agency said “the outbreak seems to have been brought under control” in Syria. The campaign was part of a push to immunize millions of children across the Middle East, AFP reported. “It’s a very encouraging sign,” Chris Maher, the WHO’s polio eradication manager, said, adding that the landmark didn’t guarantee Syria was polio-free.

US House Speaker Boehner invites Netanyahu to address Congress on Iran

US House Speaker John Boehner said on Wednesday he had invited Israel’s prime minister to address a joint meeting of Congress next month about the threats from Tehran and radical Islam, AP said. Rebuffing President Barack Obama on Tehran, Boehner released a letter extending the invitation to Benjamin Netanyahu for February 11. Congress will also move ahead on new penalties against Iran, Boehner told a private meeting of GOP lawmakers.

More than 7,000 opposition activists arrested in Bangladesh over unrest

Bangladesh security forces have arrested 7,015 opposition activists since the start of deadly protests a fortnight ago, AFP said, citing officials. Protesting the detention of their leader Khaleda Zia, activists firebombed buses, cars and lorries, killing 29 people, as the opposition called a nationwide transport blockade.

HRW reports deaths of Egypt torture detainees

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized Egyptian authorities for failing to improve detention conditions or to investigate reported detainees’ deaths as a result of physical torture inside prisons, the Daily News Egypt reported. Some detainees apparently died after being tortured or physically abused, but “many appear to have died because they were held in severely overcrowded cells or did not receive adequate medical care,” HRW said in a report, citing local NGOs.

Pakistani security forces catch local ISIS commander – reports

Pakistani security forces have arrested a man they believe is the commander of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) group in the country, Reuters reported. The man, Yousaf al-Salafi, was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore and “confessed during interrogation” that he represented IS in Pakistan, intelligence sources said on Wednesday. Al-Salafi was described as a Pakistani Syrian who arrived in Pakistan via Turkey five months ago. Two accomplices involved in recruiting and sending fighters to Syria were also detained, sources said.

Poroshenko speaks in Davos, calls on Russia to implement peace plan

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on Russia on Wednesday to comply with a peace plan and cooperate in closing the long joint border with Ukraine. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he also urged Russia “to withdraw” its troops from Ukraine, Reuters reported.

2 Turkish policemen sentenced to 10 years in jail over protester’s death

Two Turkish policemen were jailed for 10 years on Wednesday for their part in beating a student to death during anti-government protests, Reuters reported. The family of Ali Ismail Korkmaz, 19, who died after protests in June 2013, described the sentences as too lenient, while supporters of the police saw the treatment as unjust. Police used tear gas after the sentences were announced to disperse protesters in the central Turkish town of Kayseri, according to CNN Turk.

Cuba, US open talks in Havana

The US and Cuba opened two days of historic talks in Havana on Wednesday to reestablish diplomatic relations, AFP said. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Lee and Cuban foreign ministry official Josefina Vidal are meeting in the capital’s Convention Center for talks which will focus on migration issues. The reopening of mutual embassies, closed since relations broke down in 1961, will be discussed on Thursday.

Houthi rebels holding Yemen president ‘captive’ – aides

Shiite Houthi rebels in control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, are holding President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi “captive” in his home, media reports quoted his aides as saying on Wednesday. The president “cannot leave his house” after Houthi rebels removed his guards and deployed their own fighters there, according to one aide. Hadi, a top US ally in the war against Al-Qaeda in Yemen, appears to have run out of options to continue governing the country, AP reported. The Houthis began an offensive across the country in September.

Blast in Alawite neighborhood of Syria’s Homs kills at least 7

At least seven people were killed and 30 wounded by a car bomb on a shopping street in Syria’s government-controlled third city of Homs on Wednesday, AFP reported. Governor Talal Barazi described the explosions as“a cowardly terrorist act.” The neighborhood is majority Alawite, the sect to which President Bashar Assad belongs. It has been hit by multiple attacks, as well as mortar fire.

US-led coalition launches 23 air strikes on IS targets

The US and its allies launched 23 air strikes in Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State since early on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Ten of the strikes hit near the embattled Syrian border town of Kobani, with three others falling elsewhere in Syria, according to the Combined Joint Task Force. In Iraq, 10 air strikes were conducted, including three near Tal Afar.

German man kidnapped by Boko Haram in Cameroon ‘freed’

A German man believed to have been kidnapped in Cameroon by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram has been freed, Berlin said. The man, whose name wasn’t released, is now safe in Cameroon’s capital, AP quoted Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer as saying. It wasn’t clear how the man was released and no details of his condition were given. A crisis team had been working on the case for months, Schaefer said. He also thanked the Cameroon government for its cooperation.

Thousands of Iranians mourn Iranian general slain in alleged Israel attack

Thousands gathered in Tehran on Wednesday at a funeral procession for a Revolutionary Guards general killed by Israel, AFP reported. General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi died alongside six fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah group in the attack on Sunday near Quneitra on the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights. The mourners, who chanted “Death to Israel,” burned two Israeli flags. An Israeli security source said one of its helicopters carried out the strike. UN observers in the Golan, however, raised the possibility that drones may have been used.

EU watchdogs to review opposition to states sharing airline passenger data

Europe’s data privacy watchdogs will meet soon to discuss revising their earlier opposition to countries sharing airline passenger data, Reuters said. EU President Donald Tusk earlier said he would press lawmakers in the European Parliament to drop their resistance to the EU Passenger Name Record system in the wake of deadly Islamist attacks in France. Lawmakers have resisted endorsing the system for sharing data, known as the PNR, saying that it would infringe on people’s privacy by instituting mass tracking and surveillance of all travelers.

Boko Haram leader claims mass killings in Baga, NE Nigeria

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for mass killings in the northeastern Nigerian town of Baga, AP said. As many as 2,000 civilians were killed and 3,700 homes and business were destroyed in the January 3 attack on the town near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, according to Amnesty International. In a video posted on YouTube, Shekau said: “What you’ve just witnessed is a tip of the iceberg. More deaths are coming,” as cited by SITE Intelligence Group.

At least 42 people killed as Congo protesters clash with police for 3rd day – rights group

Police fired tear gas at crowds during a third day of protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, Reuters said. The opposition says a proposed change to the law will delay elections by years and keep President Joseph Kabila in power. At least 15 people have been killed in clashes, the government said, while a rights group put the figure at 42. Fresh clashes erupted on Wednesday on the campus of the University of Kinshasa. Protests were also reported in three other areas of the teeming riverside capital.

Yemen closes airport, sea and land crossings in Aden amid turmoil

Yemen’s security authorities closed air, sea and land crossings into the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The move was announced by local television after fighting in the capital Sanaa plunged the restive Arab state deeper into turmoil. The security committee described the Houthi militia attacks on state institutions in Sanaa as an “aggressive coup on [President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi] personally and on the political process as a whole.”

Ukraine govt asks MPs to raise number of servicemen to 250,000

The Ukrainian government has asked parliament to increase the total number of servicemen by 68,000 up to 250,000, TASS quoted Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk as saying on Wednesday. He said the bill should be considered urgently. The PM added that 90 billion hryvnas ($5.6 billion) will need to be set aside in the state budget for the increase.

Russia to be represented at Auschwitz events – Lavrov

Russia will certainly be represented at the Auschwitz events despite the fact that the president hasn’t been formally invited to attend them, TASS quoted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying on Wednesday. “We will never forget these tragic and simultaneously heroic pages of World War II history,” Lavrov said. The Soviet Union’s Red Army liberated the Nazis’ biggest concentration camp at Auschwitz in southwestern Poland on January 27, 1945.

08:29

PM Abe returns home to lead Japan hostage crisis response

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived home from the Middle East on Wednesday. He will take charge of the country’s response to Islamic militants threatening to kill two Japanese nationals unless he pays a $200 million ransom, AFP said. Abe has vowed he will not bow to terrorism. Speaking in Jerusalem on Tuesday, he strongly demanded the hostages “not be harmed and that they be immediately released.”

Houthi fighters stand guard outside Yemen president’s home

Gunmen from Yemen’s Houthi movement replaced guards on Wednesday outside the private residence of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Reuters said, citing witnesses. The president’s home is normally protected by presidential security officers, but sentry posts were empty and there was no sign of the presidential guard at the compound. It was a scene of clashes between Houthis and security guards on Tuesday.

Japan govt says IS hostages video authentic

Japan’s government has authenticated an Islamic State video showing hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto, RIA Novosti quoted Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga as saying. The video published on Tuesday purported to show two Japanese captives and threatened to kill them unless the Islamist group received $200 million in ransom. Earlier, Japan’s media and officials had cast doubt on the authenticity of the video. Tokyo hasn’t yet contacted the IS fighters over the hostages’ fate, Suga said, as cited by TASS.

Yemen Al-Qaeda branch urges ‘lone-wolf strikes’ in Western states

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen, has urged Muslims to carry out lone-wolf strikes in Western countries, Reuters said. “If he is capable to wage individual jihad in the Western countries that fight Islam… then that is better and more harmful,” Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, an official with AQAP, told the group’s media wing, as cited by SITE Monitoring. The group said two weeks ago that it was behind the Paris attacks.

​Preliminary AirAsia crash report won’t be published – Indonesia

Indonesian authorities won’t make public a 30-day preliminary report on the investigation into last month’s crash of an AirAsia plane, Reuters reported on Wednesday. “One month after the accident we will just make a preliminary report. No comment and no analysis,” Tatang Kurniadi, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee, told reporters. “This will not be exposed to the public. This is for those countries that are involved.” 162 people died in the AirAsia jet crash during the flight from Indonesia to Singapore on December 28. There were no survivors.

media agencies

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : world News

Congress condemns Janardan Dwivedi’s remarks

22 01 2015

Jan 22
Congress has condemned the remarks of Party General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s victory in 2014 Elections as a win of Indianness. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today party spokesperson Ajay Maken said Congress’ view about Indianness is completely opposite to what Mr. Dwivedi has said.
Replying to a query about disciplinary action against Dwivedi, he said party leadership will take a decision on it.
He said what Mr. Dwivedi has said is not the view point of Congress. Mr. Maken said Mr. Modi is in no way representative of Indianness.
Mr. Dwivedi had said yesterday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP’s victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections was a victory of Indianness. He had also said that Mr. Modi’s ascension to power marked the beginning of a new period.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dwivedi has said that he never compared Indianness with Mr. Modi. He said he has been misquoted. He said people like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rammanohar Lohia are examples of Indianness and not Narendra Modi.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business, CSR, Politics

EU lifts ban on import of mangoes from India

21 01 2015

The EU on Tuesday decided to lift a seven-month-long ban on the import of mangoes from India after the world’s biggest producer made significant improvements in plant health controls and certification system, clearing the way for them to return to the 28-member bloc by March.

However, the prohibition on the import of vegetables from India will be reviewed at later stage after collecting more evidence, the EU said in a statement.A European Commission committee meeting in Brussels voted to lift the ban on mangoes on Tuesday. “A proposal by the Commission to lift the import ban of mango fruits from India was today endorsed by Member State experts meeting at the relevant Regulatory Committee concerned with Plant Health,” the statement said.
“An audit carried out by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office in India in September 2014 showed significant improvements in the phytosanitary export certification system. The European Union’s “temporary ban” came into force on May 1, 2014 and was to remain effective until December 2015 after authorities in Brussels found consignments of the premium Alphonso mangoes infested with fruit flies that they feared could damage European salad crops. After Tuesday’s vote, the EU said, “India has also provided assurances that appropriate measures are now available to ensure that the exports of mango fruits are free from quarantine pest, like the fruit flies not known to occur in the Union.
“The measures will allow the import of mango fruits before the start of the next import season in March 2015,” the statement said.
The legislation now needs to be formally adopted and published by the European Commission. This will take around a month, but the positive vote by the Committee gives certainty to Indian exporters and UK importers about the position for the forthcoming mango season.
The EU accounts for more than 50 per cent of total exports of fruits and vegetables from India. The UK is the main destination, followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. The UK imports nearly 160 lakh mangoes from India and the market for this fruit is worth nearly 6 million pounds a year.
India, the world’s largest exporter, sells about 65,000-70,000 tonnes of all varieties of mangoes in the global market out of total production of 15-16 lakh tonnes.
In 2013-14 fiscal, India had exported mangoes worth USD 8.9 million (nearly 4,000 tonnes) to EU nations. Overall, India exported mangoes worth USD 50.7 million in 2013-14 financial year and USD 43.9 million in the first six months of current fiscal.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business

11.5 Cr Jan Dhan accounts opened

21 01 2015

As many as 11.5 crore bank accounts have been opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, exceeding the enhanced target of 10 crore and covering 99.74 per cent of households, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.

“Most of India today is included in the banking system,” he said, adding that more than Rs 9,000 crore has been deposited in the Jan Dhan accounts.Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the financial inclusion scheme in his first Independence Day speech last year.
It was launched in August with a target to open bank accounts for 7.5 crore poor persons by January 26, 2015. The target was later increased to 10 crore accounts.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Jaitley said the government would use these bank accounts to pass on benefits to individuals under its various social security schemes.
Financial Services Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that even Guinness Book of World Records has recognised the achievements made under PMJDY.
In its citation, the Guinness Book said: “Most bank accounts opened in one week as part of the Financial Inclusion Campaign is 18,096,130 and was achieved by the Department of Financial Services, Government of India from August 23 to 29, 2014.”

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business

Top Golfers to tee off at the Hero Indian Open 2015

21 01 2015

Top Golfers to tee off at the Hero Indian Open 2015
Charismatic Jiménez to headline the field
New Delhi (India), January 21, 2015:
Spanish pro Miguel Ángel Jiménez, one of the most charismatic players in world golf, will headline a strong field comprising players from Europe and Asia as the Hero Indian Open gets underway here next month.
The 51st edition of India’s national open will be held from February 19 to 22, 2015 at the historic Delhi Golf Club in the national capital. The Hero India Open, which carries an enhanced prize purse of US $ 1.5 million, will also be making its debut on the European Tour from this year.
The flamboyant Jiménez has won 21 times on the Race to Dubai, as well as having represented Europe in the Ryder Cup on four occasions. The 51 year old was also the playing captain of the European Team at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia last year.
Continuing its association with Golf in general and the Hero Indian Open in particular, for the tenth year in succession, Mr. Pawan Munjal, Vice Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd said, “Golf is fast emerging as a popular sport among the youth in India, and we are glad to have played a catalyst role in this movement. Hero MotoCorp has been associated with golf for close to two decades now, thereby nurturing the game since its nascent stage. The Hero Indian Open being co-sanctioned by the European Tour from this year is an acknowledgement of the rising stature of Indian golf in the world arena. I am sure this will go a long way in further popularising the game in India. I am also delighted to see a strong Indian line-up in this year’s edition which will compete against some of the best in the world. We look forward to seeing some top-class golf at the Hero Indian Open 2015.”
– PrizePrizePrize Prize moneymoney money enhanced enhanced enhancedenhanced to US $ 1.51.51.5 million million million million
– HeroHero IndianIndianIndianIndianIndian OpenOpen to be co -sanctionedsanctioned sanctioned sanctioned withwith with EuropeanEuropean European TourTour Tour for the first firstfirstfirst time time
– AllAll the the top Indian IndianIndianIndian starsstarsstars expectedexpectedexpected expectedexpected to tee up at thethe 51st 51st edition edition edition edition
Page | 2
Even as entries continue to come in, some of the top stars, including Sidikkur who won the event in 2013, are expected to feature in the coming edition. SSP Chowrasia and Anirban Lahiri, who were both tied second and Rashid Khan and Chiragh Kumar, who were tied fourth, on that occasion, are also expected to tee up at the event. The field is also expected to include the likes of Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa, the only three-time Indian winner of the Hero Indian Open. Over the next few weeks, as the entries come in, more top names from European and Asian Tours will be confirmed.
Nimbus Sport, which has promoted the Hero Indian Open since 2011, has acquired the rights to manage the tournament for the next three editions from 2015 to 2017.
The Hero Indian Open has been synonymous with the rise of golf in India, and has been at the forefront of unearthing some of the best golfing talents that the country has seen, including the likes of Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar.
It has also attracted an impressive array of international players in the past, with Ryder Cup stars Peter Hanson and Edoardo Molinari, Englishman James Morrison, two-time European Tour winner Richie Ramsay, Swedes Rikard Karlberg and Daniel Chopra, as well as victorious Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley all having played previously.
Supporting Quotes:
[1] Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills said: “It is with great pleasure that we return to India for the Hero Indian Open 2015, and we look forward to a strong field assembling at Delhi Golf Club next month. The European Tour has always enjoyed coming to this wonderful country and we look forward to returning as the tournament continues to grow the game in the country. We would therefore like to thank Pawan Munjal from Hero MotoCorp Ltd for his support of this event, and of the game of golf in India, as without him the sport would not be where it is today. It was also a great pleasure to welcome him to Gleneagles last September for The Ryder Cup, and we look forward to working with him and our tri-sanctioning partners the Indian Golf Union and the Asian Tour on this event. We are also looking forward to working with Nimbus Sport over the next three years, and appreciate their help in staging the event.”
[2] Mr. Jaydeep Chitlangia, President, Indian Golf Union said, “It has been a great journey for us and a matter of immense pride to see Hero Indian Open become a part of the European Tour. We sincerely thank Hero MotoCorp for their continued support to the Hero Indian Open and the sport of golf in India.”
[3] Mr. Sunil Manocha, COO, Nimbus Sport said, “Since its inauguration in 1964, Hero Indian Open has grown from strength to strength and played a remarkable role in popularizing the sport in India. It’s being inducted in the prestigious European Tour is a huge achievement and a
Page | 3
shot in the arm for Indian golf. Nimbus Sport is proud to be associated with the Hero Indian Open and the Indian Golf Union, and look forward to exciting times on the greens.”
# # #
Notes to Editors:
[1] The name of the tournament is ‘Hero Indian Open 2015’. Hence, request you kindly use tournament name in its entirety.
About Hero MotoCorp Ltd:
Hero MotoCorp is the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer in terms of unit volumes sold in a calendar year by a single company. The company sold over 6.64 million two-wheelers in the calendar year 2014. The New Delhi, India-headquartered Hero MotoCorp currently sells its range of motorbikes and scooters in 23 countries spread across Asia, Africa and South and Central America. By the year 2020, Hero aims to be present in 50 countries with an annual combined sales volume of 12 million units. By that year, Hero also aims to surpass the cumulative sales of 100 million two-wheelers.
For over two decades, Hero has been associated with various disciplines of sports including golf, cricket and hockey. In the biggest-ever celebrity brand endorsement initiative by an Indian company, Hero MotoCorp in 2014 signed on 14 times major champion Tiger Woods as its Global Corporate Partner. Top Indian golfers Anirban Lahiri, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Daniel Chopra and India’s top woman professional Sharmila Nicollet are also Hero brand ambassadors.
Hero has been sponsoring the men’s Indian Open since 2006 and the Women’s Indian Open since 2010. Hero also sponsors India’s domestic Pro Tour for women. Hero last year became the title sponsor of the Tiger Woods Invitational – the Hero World Challenge – which is also a PGA Tour event.
About European Tour:
The European Tour is committed to celebrating the game of golf from the origins of the professional game, building a proud history of achievement, sportsmanship and integrity as well as showcasing our diverse global talent and rich landscapes. The European Tour’s innovative approach enables us to embrace the world, combining championships of tradition with new tournaments in the cities and countries of the future. The European Tour International Schedule, which from 2009 has incorporated The Race to Dubai, is a thriving global brand which, in 2015, will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments spread across five continents; the European Challenge Tour focuses on the up and coming players of the future; while the European Senior Tour provides a new start for champions celebrating their 50th birthday. The European Tour’s corporate identity features the iconic silhouette image of six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon who gives his name to The Harry Vardon Trophy, presented to the player who is crowned European Tour Number One and winner of The Race to Dubai at the end of the season.
About Nimbus Sport:
Nimbus Sport is the full service sports marketing division of Nimbus Communications Ltd., specializing in Rights Distribution and Management, Television Production, Sponsorship Services and Event Management.
Nimbus Sport has been involved in managing rights transactions worth over USD 2 billion to date, among the largest in Asia. It has extensive experience of rights management and/or television production with multiple sports federations and dozens of major sponsors. It is a leading producer of World Feeds of Live sports events with over 4500 hours of Live content delivered and also manages best-in-class sports events.
For further information, please contact:
Piyush Kant / Ayonava Bagchi
Young Monk Communications
M: +91 98102 52379 / 98187 74606
E: pk@youngmonk.in / ab@youngmonk.in

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : sports

Obama declares end to financial crisis

21 01 2015

Jan 21
US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the country’s financial crisis. In his annual State of the Union address to Congress, he said that the US had turned a page after the worst recession since the Depression.
The US President pledged economic policies to benefit all Americans. He called for Congress to close tax loopholes for the richest Americans. He said that he will veto any Bill which threatens his administration’s achievements on health insurance, financial regulation or immigration.
On foreign policy, Obama urged Congress to pass a resolution that authorises the use of force against the militant group, Islamic State. He stressed his ongoing commitment to fight extremist groups.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business

Union Budget to be presented on 28th Feb

21 01 2015

Jan 21
The Budget Session of Parliament will start from the 23rd of next month and the first part of the session will continue up to the 20th of March. Sources said in New Delhi that the second part of the session will take place from the 20th of April till the 8th of May. The Union Budget will be presented on the 28th of February. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affair headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business

Bibek Debroy takes over as member of NITI Aayog

21 01 2015

Bibek Debroy has taken over as the member of NITI Aayog today. Debroy has been working as a professor at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi .
He has previously worked as Director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies and as a Consultant in Finance Ministry in various capacities. He was also the Chairman of High Powered Committee of the restructuring on Railways.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a comment

Categories : Business