Monday, January 27, 2014

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis win 2014 Best New Artist Grammy

27012014
 
 
Macklemore, Ryan Lewis win 2014 Best New Artist Grammy Updated on : 27-01-2014 12:47 PM
Rapper duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took home the first of the major awards at the 56th Grammys beating the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Kanye West and Drake. 
Macklemore, 30, and Lewis, 25, both from Seattle, won best new artist, following their phenomenal success with hits like ‘Same Love’, ‘Can’t Hold Us’ and ‘Thrift Shop’ on Sunday night at LA’s Staples Center.
They also bagged awards for best rap album, best rap performance and best rap song for ‘Thrift Shop’. 
“Wow, we’re here on the stage right now. I want to say we made this album without a record label, we made it independently and we appreciate all the support,” Macklemore said after receiving the awards. 
They have been nominated for seven honours in total, including album of the year for ‘The Heist’.
Grammys 2014 kicked off with a scintillating performance by Beyonce and Jay Z.
The couple selected a duet-track from Beyonce’s last album, ‘Drunk in Love’ for their performance. A black lingerie-clad Beyonce, 32, started the show as she straddled a chair, surrounded by smoke. 
‘Royals’ gets song of the year at Grammy Awards 2014
Rising singer Lorde won the song of the year trophy at the 56th Grammy Awards for her track ‘Royals’ after edging out other works like ‘Just Give Me a Reason’, ‘Locked Out of Heaven’, ‘Roar’ and ‘Same Love’. 
The 17-year-old songstress also earned the best pop solo performance for her debut album ‘Pure Heroine’ last night at LA’s Staples Center.
“This is the one thing I didn’t expect tonight. I also thank fellow nominees and category losers, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry for being inspirational vocal artists,” Lorde said while receiving the best pop solo performance award. 
She missed out on a hat trick by losing her third nomination, record of the year to Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ featuring Pharrell and Nile Rodgers. 
Bruno Mars’ ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ took home the best pop vocal album. 
Other works in the category included ‘Paradise’ by Lana Del Rey, ‘Pure Heroine’ by Lorde, ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke and ‘The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience’ by Justin Timberlake. 
Best country album award went to Kacey Musgraves for her ‘Same Trailer Different Park’. The awards show was hosted by LL Cool J.


 

EGoM approves SUC at 5% for new spectrum

27012014
 
 
EGoM approves SUC at 5% for new spectrumUpdated on : 27-01-2014 02:08 PM
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Monday approved a spectrum usage charge (SUC) of 5 percent of the annual gross revenue on all the new airwaves acquired in auction.
Existing telecom operators will have to pay the weighted average of their existing SUC, and 5 per cent if they acquire new spectrum.
“For all new spectrum, which will be sold, it will be 5 per cent but it will be charged at weighted average. There is no protection of revenue. In this process if government losses some revenue, doesn’t matter. Ultimately consumers have to be benefited,” Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters in New Delhi on Monday.
He added the decision will go to Cabinet for final approval.
The SUC for broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum will continue to remain at 1 per cent as the government has not amended the existing contractual obligation.
However, they will have to pay a SUC of 5 per cent for the new airwaves they acquire. 
These companies have to report separately the revenue earned from BWA airwaves and new spectrum.
“Ultimately it is consumers who need to benefit. Big players (charges) will come down. It will not affect new players,” Sibal said.
Government, at present, gets pan India average SUC of 4.8 per cent on airwaves allocated till date which has now been fixed at 5 per cent. Hence, there will be no adverse impact on existing revenue, official sources said.
The Telecom Commission has recommended three options to the EGoM headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram a levy of 3 per cent with weighted average, 5 per cent with weighted average and continuation of the existing regime.
GSM firms such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular have locked horns with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm following the Trai’s recommendation of a uniform SUC. 
The charge is levied annually by the government as a percentage of revenue earned from telecom services. 
It currently ranges from 3 to 8 per cent for mobile operators, while for firms with Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum such as those of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd and Tikona, the fee is 1 per cent.
“Rationalisation of issue, Nobody should be a loser,” Sibal said, adding,”More investment is sector means more service and lower tariffs for consumers.”
Major telecom operators including Airtel and Vodafone had written to the Department of Telecom to take a call on SUC before auction starts on 3rd February. 


 

Egypt to hold presidential election first: Mansour

27012014
 
Egypt to hold presidential election first: Mansour
Egypt will hold a presidential election before parliamentary polls this year, interim President Adly Mansour said today, a move that could pave the way for the swift election of army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
“I have carried out several dialogues with political groups, which saw a majority in favour of holding presidential elections first,” Mansour said in a televised address. 
“And I have amended the roadmap to meet their demands.” A political roadmap, laid down after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year, called for parliamentary elections first.
But many political parties said they would not be ready for a legislative vote this spring. 
The change is likely to benefit powerful army chief el-Sisi, also the defence minister, who has said he would stand in the polls if there is a “popular demand”. 
Mansour did not announce a date for the vote, a task that falls to the High Elections Commission. 
It must be held no less than 90 days after the adoption of the new constitution earlier this month, which will require a ballot before mid-April. 
Several legislative amendments to the law regulating exercise of political rights and elections are also expected in accordance with the provisions of the new constitution. 
The President also said he would increase the number of courts dealing with terrorism charges to “bring perpetrators to justice swiftly”. “We’re determined, both the people and the state, to root out terrorism…We will not hesitate to take any extraordinary measures if necessary,” he said. 
Egypt has witnessed a steep rise in violence, with blasts now a regular occurrence, since the army toppled Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood amid mass rallies against his one year turbulent rule. 
Security forces have blamed Islamist elements for a series of blasts and violence and intensified a crackdown on them. 
The President’s comments came after 49 people were killed and 247 injured in violence on the third anniversary of the 2011 uprising which ended the three-decade-long autocratic regime of Hosni Mubarak. 
Mansour also said he had urged the prosecutor-general to look into the status of those being detained pending investigation, university students in particular.


 

Wawrinka stuns injured Nadal to win Aussie Open

27012014
 
 
Wawrinka stuns injured Nadal to win Aussie OpenUpdated on : 26-01-2014 09:19 PM
Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka claimed his first Grand Slam title in dramatic fashion on Sunday when he upset injury-troubled world number one Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final. 
The eighth seed roared through the first two sets and overcame the distraction of a back injury to Nadal, and then the loss of the third set, to take it 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours 21 minutes. 
Nadal, who was chasing his 14th major title, looked as if might pull out with the back injury but he fought back to take the third set and force the match into a fourth set. 
It was a stunning win for Wawrinka, who had not beaten Nadal in their previous 12 matches as he rallied to win the fourth set and take the championship. 
Wawrinka began nervelessly and after holding his opening two service games for the loss of only two points he made the first move in the final, breaking Nadal in the fourth game. 
The Spaniard played a poor drop-shot which was followed by a double-fault to open the door for Wawrinka. 
The Swiss again had a break point in Nadal’s next service game as he held his own serves without undue pressure. 
But he was three break points down serving out for his first ever set against Nadal, only to win the next five points with some magnificent serves to go one set up in 37 minutes. 
Fresh from his psychological breakthrough, Wawrinka broke Nadal to love in the opening game of the second with with a cracking backhand return winner. 
The Swiss was in the zone, reeling off 12 consecutive points against the non-plussed Nadal, who received a time violation warning for slow play between points. 
Nadal’s problems mounted when he grabbed his back after playing a forehand. He called for the trainer at the next changeover and went off the court for a medical timeout at 2-1 in the second set. 


 

Binny calls of dharna

27012014

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AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny on Monday called off his dharna against Arvind Kejriwal government after just four hours but threatened to launch a major stir if his demands, including passage of Janlokpal bill, are not met in 10 days.
A day after he was thrown out of Aam Admi Party, the rebel MLA said he will continue support to the government on “public-related” issues and was withdrawing his stir for now as Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Anna Hazare had suggested that “some days” should be given to the AAP government to fulfil promises made by it during the Delhi Assembly election.

“If Kejriwal government fails to bring Anna’s Janlokpal Bill in the given time, I would begin protest across the country,” Binny told reporters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
He also demanded immediate setting up of ‘Mahila Surksha Dal’ and 700 litres of free water to residents along with reduction in electricity bills by upto half as Kejriwal promised during election.
“If AAP government fails to meet these three demands in the next ten days, I will begin country-wide agitation from February 6 next month,” he said.
“I am not withdrawing my support from the AAP-led government. I am giving support to the government on the public-related issues,” he added.
The MLA began his protest at Jantar Mantar at noon and called it off nearly four hours later Asked why he he was withdrawing his dharna on the first day, Binny told reporters that the LG and Hazare had suggested to him that “some days should be given to the AAP-led government so that he (Kejriwal) could work on public-related issues”.
“Women security is the first priority of mine. Before forming government, Kejriwal had said that he would form ‘Mahila Suraksha Dal’ to ensure women security in the Delhi, but he is running away from this promise,” Binny alleged.
Earlier, launching a blistering attack on AAP, he accused Kejriwal of acting like a dictator.
He met the Delhi Lt Governor to take up issues which have not been addressed by the Kejriwal government and demanded action against controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti.<

ECBs stand at US$ 4.56 bn during Dec 2013

27 01 2014

 
 

 
Indian firms have raised US$ 4.56 bn through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in the month of Dec 2013 and US$ 2.18 bn during Nov 2013 by automatic and approval route. The borrowings stood at US$ 4.56 bn in Dec 2013 as compared to US$ 1.14 bn in Dec 2012.
 
External commercial borrowings (ECBs) since April 2011                                                                                                       (US$bn)
 Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from RBI
Note: ECB contains both automatic and approval routes
 
India has received gross ECBs worth around US$233 bn between FY2001 and FY2014 (till Dec 2013).
 
Gross ECB Inflows                                                                                                                                        (US$bn)
Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from RBI
* Data pertains till Dec 2013
Note: ECB contains both automatic and approval routes
 
A closer look at the ECBs pattern reveals that the lion’s share in ECB during the month of Dec 2013 is held by Overseas Acquisition contributing to about 62% of the total, followed by Other (Import of Non-Capital Goods) at about 11% and import of Capital Goods at about 8%.
 
  Pattern showing ECBs during Dec 2013                                                                                                           (% share in total)
  Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from RBI, Note: ECB contains automatic& approval route both
*Others with share of 0.15% include the external commercial borrowings by Vautid shah Hardface Private Limited and SGS India Private
 Limited however, the purposes is not mentioned in the release.
 
Warm regards,
 
Dr. S P Sharma
Chief Economist
__________________




Magnificent Trailer Launch of Balaji Motion Pictures Main Tera Hero

27 01 2014
Varun_Dhawan_at_the_Trailer_Launch_of_Main_Tera_Hero__2_

It was an afternoon to remember where the trailer of one of the most anticipated films of the year ‘Main Tera Hero’ was launched. With youthful energy and vibrancy, this event felt another aura of energy.

The king of comedies ‘David Dhawan ’ will be seen directing his younger son Varun Dhawan for the very first time. Main Tera Hero is a comic love triangle which encircles around Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’cruz and Nargis Fakhri with various twists and turns.
The Trailer of the film which recently released created a tremendous amount of buzz and people are already quite keen to see the film.
The entire cast and crew of Main Tera Hero were present on stage to interact with the media and share wonderful moments from their experiences together: Producer Ekta Kapoor, Director David Dhawan and Actors Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’cruz and Nargis Fakhri.
Directed by David Dhawan and produced by Balaji Motion Pictures,Main Tera Hero is all set to hit the screens on 4th April 2014, starring Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’cruz and Narghis Fakhri in the lead roles.
Shailesh Giri
Effective Communication
(A Division of Shailesh Giri Media Group)

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Quake of M6.0 – at GREECE

27 01 2014
Today at 3:07 AM
Globe with Earthquake Location
Preliminary Earthquake Report to early to gauge details of lossMagnitude6.0Date-Time
  • 26 Jan 2014 13:55:43 UTC
  • 26 Jan 2014 15:55:44 near epicenter
  • 26 Jan 2014 17:55:43 standard time in your timezone
Location38.208N 20.425EDepth18 kmDistances
  • 0 km (0 mi) NW of Lixourion, Greece
  • 61 km (37 mi) NW of Zakynthos, Greece
  • 87 km (53 mi) SSW of Preveza, Greece
  • 89 km (55 mi) WSW of Mesolongi, Greece
  • 289 km (179 mi) W of Athens, Greece





Vinod Kumar Binni expelled from AAP at dharna

27 01 2014
Embedded image permalink
  • Rebel MLA Vinod Kumar Binny expelled from AAP<br /> http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mla-vinod-kumar-binny-expelled-from-aam-aadmi-party/1/339964.html
Vinod Kumar Binni expelled from AAP to hold dharna
Vinod Kumar Binny as per  the e channels reports will hold protest at Jantar Mantar today against AAP leaders on his expulsion.He said that he has the support of 3 -4 MLA against the party unethical behavior.
AAP Press Release – Vinod Kumar Binni expelled from AAP
From: Media Cell AAP  Sun, 26 Jan ’14 10:16p
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Show full Headers
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party formed a disciplinary committee, on 19-Jan-2013, headed by Pankaj Gupta to look into the matter of Vinod Kumar Binny. The other members of the committee included Ashish Talwar, Illyas Azmi, Yogendra Yadav and Gopal Rai.
This disciplinary committee has decided to expel Vinod Kumar Binny and terminate his primary membership from the party, for publicly making false statements against the party and its leadership, thereby bringing disrepute to the party. A letter to the same end has been issued to Vinod Kumar Binny.
Thanks.
Regards,
AAP Media cell

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