Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Nepali Congress has nominated Party President Sushil Koirala for the post of Prime Minister to lead the national consensus government.

The party’s Central Working Committee in Kathmandu on Wednesday unanimously endorsed the decision to propose Mr. Koirala as their Prime Ministerial candidate. During the meeting, Vice President Ram Chandra Poudyal Poudel proposed Mr Koirala’s name while the and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba supported his candidacy.

Mr. Poudyal said after the meeting that the unanimous nomination will help clear doubts that there is an internal rift in the party .

The UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-UML on Tuesday asked the Nepali Congress to name their prime ministerial candidate.

Earlier in the morning the UCPN (Maoist) said that it is ready to call back it’s Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai from the office of the prime minister if a package deal on holding the Constituent Assembly elections and ending the constitutional deadlock is reached.

The President had set a deadline till tomorrow for the political parties to recommend a prime ministerial candidate to lead the consensus government.

FDI in multi-brand retail win in Lok Sabha

FDI in multi-brand retail today got the approval of the Lok Sabha as the Opposition motion seeking immediate withdrawal of the decision was rejected convincingly as BSP and SP walked out.> 218 voted in favour of the Opposition motion, while 253 voted against it in the House where 471 members participated in the voting. The total strength of the House is 545. House also rejected the motion seeking amendment to the rules notified by the Reserve Bank under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to enable FDI in multi-brand retail.While 254 voted in favour of the government, 224 were against.
Members of SP and BSP, with respective strength of 22 and 21, did not participate in the voting as they walked out alleging that interests of farmers and small retailers had been ignored.The victory of the government after two days of heated debate was immediately hailed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
“FDI policy that we have put in place has the approval of this House (Lok Sabha),” said Singh, who is a member of Rajya Sabha but was present during the voting in the Lower House.This was after a gap of many years that an executive decision of the government was put to vote in Parliament.Earlier, replying to the discussion, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma dismissed the Opposition charge that the move would hurt small traders and farmers and that the government has rushed the decision.
He said the decision was not taken overnight and deliberations were held with chief ministers and other stake holders like association of farmers, consumer organisations and representatives of the food processing industry.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who had moved the motion, maintained that majority of the House was against FDI in retail which was reflected in speeches of leaders of different political parties.Sushma Swaraj appealed to the Prime minister to reconsider the decision as only four out of 18 parties spoke in favour of the decision. She said, the motion could be defeated only because, the parties who took part in the Bharat bandh against FDI, and also spoke against it in the house chose to abstain by staging a walk out. She said, the debate was not on matters relating to communal or secular issues, but affecting poor people.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Mr. Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI said FDI in multi-brand retail will create monopolies that will manipulate local markets and dictate prices. He warned the Government that overdependence on foreign funds will not be in India’s interest.
Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the multi-brand retailers will eventually squeeze out the middlemen from the supply chain. She wanted to know whether the Government has considered where will those thousands of small traders and wholesale retailers rendered unemployed go to find jobs.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi furnished documentary evidence to prove how FDI in Retail will go against the country’s interest


Oriental Bank of Commerce
Corporate Office, Gurgaon
                                    
Oriental Bank of Commerce ties up with UTI Mutual Fund
distributing its MF schemes
Oriental Bank of Commerce, a leading Public Sector Bank has today tied up with UTI Asset Management Company Ltd. (UTI AMC) for distribution of UTI MF schemes. Under the agreement, Oriental Bank of Commerce will offer the entire bouquet of UTI MF's schemes through its 1900 plus Branches Pan India.
UTI AMC is one of the largest mutual funds in India with investor accounts of more than 10 million under its 87 domestic schemes / plans as on September 30, 2012. UTI AMC reaches has wide distribution network, comprising 149 Financial Centers (UFCs), 410 Business Development Associates & Chief Advisors and over 43000 AMFI/NISM certified Independent Financial Advisors.
The MoU in this connection was signed by Shri Atul Gautam, General Manager (Marketing), Oriental Bank of Commerce and Shri Debashish Mohanty, Country Head - Retail, UTI AMC in the gracious presence of Shri S.L. Bansal, CMD – Oriental Bank of Commerce, Shri V. Kannan, ED - Oriental Bank of Commerce, Sh. Imtaiyazur Rahman, ACEO - UTI Asset Management Company Limited and other Top Executives of the Bank.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Bansal said that with the signing of this agreement with UTI AMC, the Bank has taken another major step forward to meet the diverse financial needs of its valued customers, all under one roof. This will also help in boosting the Non-Interest Income of the Bank.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rahman said that this tie-up will enable UTI AMC to offer comprehensive range of mutual fund products to a wider segment of the society. 18.25 million Customers of Oriental Bank of Commerce will get an opportunity to invest in our schemes at the branches where they do their banking transactions.
Place  : Gurgaon
Date    : 5th December, 2012

US Senate passes USD 631 bn defence bill

US Senate has unanimously passed a sweeping USD 631 billion defence bill, which issues new sanctions against Iran, changes the detention policy of American citizens and seeks quick action for withdrawal of this country’s combat troops from Afghanistan.
The Defence Authorisation Bill -passed by 98-0 votes by the Senate yesterday would require the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit to Congress an assessment of the risk to the US mission and security interests associated with a reduction of American forces in Afghanistan.
“It is only the second time in 50 years there has been a unanimous vote on a defence authorisation bill,” Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.
“This bill will enable our Armed Forces to continue to take the battle to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Just as importantly, it keeps Democrats’ promises by supporting President (Barack) Obama’s plan to bring our troops home from Afghanistan,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said after the passage of the bill.
In view of the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, the defence spending bill also authorises an increase of up to 1,000 additional Marine Corps personnel assigned to the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group.
“It also provides the resources, training, equipment and authorities necessary for our military to succeed in Afghanistan and provides continued support to the Afghanistan National Security Forces as they assume increased responsibility throughout Afghanistan,” Senator John McCain said.
The House of Representatives has already passed the Defence Authorisation bill.
Since there are differences on the two versions of the bill, it now goes to the House-Senate conference committee, which needs to sort out the differences.
The bill would provide USD 526 billion for the base defence budget, USD 17 billion for defence programmes in the Energy Department and USD 88 billion for the war in Afghanistan.
It also added new sanctions on Iran’s energy and shipping sectors in a fresh bid to scuttle its nuclear ambitions.
The White House has threatened to veto the bill, if a series of measures, including restrictions on detainee transfers to foreign countries in the House version of the bill, make it to the final bill.
rex_conclive
2.jpgrex_logo.jpgDear Friends,  Act on the change you want to see in our world. This day as our tribute to Gandhiji we announce REX 2012 and invite all of you to join us in the knowledge & cultural movement.  Everyone has brilliant ideas and wants to speak on these ideas and share them with likeminded, socially responsible people.    But not everyone gets a 12 million + audience globally who listens to your ideas and helps translate the ideas to action.  At REX Conclive, all speakers who speak at the on-ground event shall reach a live audience as well as global audience globally through our online LIVE REXcast.  Watch the REX video presentation to know more about our history and impact. Video (This amazing video was created for us  pro bono by BBDO PROXIMITY. Thank you to everyone in Team BBDO for all their solidarity, support and for all their proactive efforts over the months)  If you have any idea that can be acted upon to make a difference in our world and want to bring about a change in our society. It could be a business idea, a social venture model, an idea for a street play, a idea for a cause movie, a CSR idea, an advertising idea , a social marketing campaign, a PIL that you plan to file against something that is being done wrongly, a learning model, a music album for national integration, any idea about anything with  making a difference woven into it.   send us your profile and the abstract/ concept of the idea you wish to speak on. You could be the  ROCKSTAR SPEAKER chosen to speak at REX. If you are chosen you shall join the ranks and share a place of pride with some of the most eminent, credible and finest orators from across the globe who are our erstwhile REX ROCKSTAR SPEAKERS.  REX delegates have listened to an eclectic mix of speakers ranging from Princesses & Princes to captains of industry to International celebrities, movie stars, sports stars, authors, grassroots NGO leaders and global activists. See list of past speakers.  We shall be choosing 5 speakers overall (1 speaker each) from the following categories.      Student/ Youth: If you are a college going student or just out of college and below 25 years of age.     Corporate Executives: You may be the CEO or the newly joined Executive…. if you have a great CSR idea or an idea to promote Humane Capitalism as a business model.     Social Entrepreneur: If you have an idea that would make a huge impact in society by addressing issues related to communities, agriculture, energy or environment.     Schools students: If you are a student from Class 5 onwards  and have an idea to bring about change in our society.     People at large: Any person who has an idea that could make a huge social impact.  So without any further delay send us your details at the earliest and who know you may join the CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE @ REX.  You may upload your details as a speaker or join us as a delegate/ participant  on http://www.rexideas.com/speaker.aspx  Jai Hind & warm regards to all!  Jeroninio Almeida Founder & Just Another Volunteer | International Confederation of NGOs | www.iCONGO.in  |  M - + 91 828.500.0262 | Skype - Jeroninio  | Together as ONE we can RIGHT every WRONG  | icongo-micro-logo.jpg   iCONGO believes that it is not mindless & arrogant charity but humble & involved social justice that is wanting in our world . We passionately work with PEOPLE across the globe, for encouraging social justice through citizen action with a vision of creating a just, humane, egalitarian and responsible society. On the other end, we work with the PEOPLE SECTOR (i.e. the NGOs which are rapidly losing out on credibility today), to reclaim and preserve public trust for the people sector. We have constantly endeavored and  taken the less trodden path, to encourage more involvement of citizens with social issues and created movements like The Joy of Giving, RIGHT every WRONG, Karmayuga and Karmaveer movement and inspired other socially relevant ideas with our thought leadership. This TV story by CNBC on iCONGO shall tell you about our mission in just 9 minutes. Watch Video    “icongo intel & associates” is a consulting & training practice for working with companies, civil society organizations, communities, media, government bodies, youth/students and children. iiA is a subsidiary of iCONGO- International Confederation of NGOs and has been working in India for over 7 years now. We work with everyone to understand the physical, mental, social & spiritual dimension of their mission by finding more meaning & purpose in what they do as a business, a movement, a campaign, a mission, an individual or an initiative. We also conduct high energy motivational talks for large gatherings and annual function . Check video of the latest talk to a gathering of entrepreneurs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DFAXRRjoKk&list=UU-RBdLJ3gCDauP9MI6_CmtA&index=6&feature=plcp  Last year we hived off the training practice which is now promoted under the Karma Kurry – Learning & Human Development aegis. The name is borrowed from our series of books “Karma Kurry for the mind, body, heart & soul” that is being published by a leading publishing house. The book is about our potential as Humans to go beyond and make a difference, once we find purpose & meaning in our life by understanding our strengths rooted in on our values that we imbibe based on the universal principles like integrity & honesty, self-respect, resourcefulness, transparency and courage of conviction. The book has 100s of stories of our Karmaveer awardees over the past 6 years as is shown in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd3LPSAx7Qw

119TH OFFSHORE SECURITY COORDINATION
COMMITTEE MEETING


1.                 The 119th Meeting of the Offshore Security Co-ordination Committee (OSCC) was held at New Delhi on 05 Dec 12, under the Chairmanship of Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan AVSM, NM Director General Indian Coast Guard, to review and enhance security of offshore installations.

2.                 The Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilisers in 1978, to ensure smooth and effective functioning of offshore security arrangements. The Committee whose members are drawn from the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Air Force, the IB and ONGC, meets every quarter to examine issues related to the safety and security of offshore assets.

3.                 The Chairman brought to notice of all share holders the various threats to offshore security and the resultant need to enhance preparedness. The Chairman underlined the fact that a number of measures have been initiated by both the Coast Guard and the Navy for surveillance and security of the ODAs. Ships and aircraft are being regularly deployed in the area by the Coast Guard and Navy in coordination with each other. The Chairman also exhorted all agencies to institute additional measures to enhance security.  

4.                 The committee deliberated on various issues pertaining to offshore security, intra agency coordination, danger from derelict vessels, etc.

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