Monday, February 17, 2014

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Airtel Rising Stars 2013-14 final trials from 20th February in Goa

23 young players selected for final trials
Delhi’s Md. Aqib, Sachin Negi, Karan Khurama and Nachiketa Datt chosen to participate

New Delhi, 17 February 2014: Airtel Rising Stars 2013-14, India’s largest under-16 soccer talent hunt today announced the names of 23 children who will participate in the final trials at a two-day camp in Goa. The final trials will kick start from 20th February 2014.

The 23 players selected for the camp are Arka Dey, Rajib Roy and Akash Dalui from Kolkata, Md. Aqib, Sachin Negi, Karan Khurana and Nachiketa Datt from Delhi, Premchand Singh, Niraj Singh, Kamshon, Azad from Bangalore, Sanath Valldares, Marc D'Souza, Akram Khan from Mumbai, Suraj Basumatary from Guwahati, K. Nagaraj, Rakesh, A. Rahul, Rehan from Hyderabad, and Clerence Furtado, Liston Colaco, Suraj Shirodkar and Jolitan Dias from Goa.

The upcoming camp, overseen by Manchester United coaches, will help choose 11 young footballers who will train at a weeklong camp at the Manchester United Soccer School in the United Kingdom. The camp will mark the culmination of an intensive six-month talent hunt conducted in seven cities with the support of state and district football associations.

The experienced and watchful eyes of the coaches will judge players on their performance, taking into consideration their physical and mental strengths, expertise in position, and technical acumen. Based on their expertise and skills test, players will be selected based on criterion mentioned in the Manchester United Scouting Guidelines.

The names of 11 selected players, including one goalkeeper, will be announced on 21st February 2014.

Started by Bharti Airtel in association with Manchester United, one of the best soccer clubs in the world, ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ screens young footballers across India for sporting capabilities and skillsets based on their performance in tests, real time match simulations etc. The on-ground execution of ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ has been entrusted to Procam International - India’s largest Sports marketing and Leisure Management company.

For more information, please contact:

Concept PR

Animesh Biswas - animesh@conceptpr.com – +91 9891789639
Abhay Pratap Singh - abhay@conceptpr.com - +91 9818413169

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Interim Budget 2014

GDP growth rate in Q3 and Q4 of 2013-14 will be at least 5.2%

Average growth under UPA-I was 8.4 per cent and UPA-II 6.6 per cent: GDP growth rate in Q3 and Q4 of 2013-14 will be at least 5.2%
PSUs to achieve record capex of Rs 2,57,645 crore in 2013-14. Drinking water and sanitation ministry gets Rs. 15,260 cr; Social Justice and Empowerment gets Rs. 6730 cr: Chidambaram.
19 oil blocks were given out for exploration and 7 new airports are under construction.
I have kept Rs. 5,55,322 cr for plan expenditure.For Ministry of Housing & Poverty Alleviation-Rs. 6000 crore;Rs. 21k cr to Ministry of WCD,said  Chidambaram.
Ministry of HRD gets Rs. 67,398 crore. Non-lapsable Rs 1,000 crore for Nirbhaya fund for safety and dignity of women: Chidambaram.
Panchayati Raj Ministry to get Rs 7,000 cr. High allocation for food subsidy to enable roll out of the Food Security Act.
Railways need to mobilise support through market borrowing: Budgetary support to railways has been increased to Rs 29,000 crore.
Gender budget has Rs. 97,000 crores and child budget Rs. 87,000 crores:
The allocation for the Defence Ministry has been increased to Rs. 2,24,000 crores
Rs.1,200 crore to be released for additional assistance to the north-eastern states this fiscal: Chidambaram
Today we have more than 3.9 lakhs of rural roads. Health allocation has also been increased:
Expenditure on education has increased from Rs 10,145 crore 10 years ago to Rs 79,251 crore this year: Chidambaram.
National Solar Mission to undertake 4 ultra mega solar power projects in 2014-15
Ministry of health and family welfare gets Rs 33,725cr: FM
Non plan expenditures will be over Rs.12 lakh crore
Current fiscal deficit to be contained at $45billion.I can confidently assert that the economy is more stable today than it was two years back: Chidambaram
Further Chidambaram said growth in Q2 stands at 4.8%. FM says he has been vindicated.
I can confidently assert that the FD is declining, the CAD is constrained, inflation is moderated; exchange rate is stable: Chidambaram.
Fall of investment in the manufacturing sector is a cause for worry: P Chidambaram .
Our aim is to create 1 million jobs. Govt, RBI acted in tandem to curtail inflation
Added $15 bn to foreign reserves this fiscal. Growth in Q3-Q4 will be at least 5.2%: FM.
Foodgrain production estimated at 263 million tons in 13-14; Agriculture credit will cross USD 45 bn against USD 41 billion in 2012-13.
Exports have recovered sharply and are expected to grow to $326 billion, up by 6.4%: Chidambaram.
Rating companies no longer hint of downgrade, says Chidambaram
Among emerging economy currencies, the rupee was affected least: Chidambaram.
We have added highways and rural roads under the PMGSY, and railway tracks.
Launch of WEC India Energy Portal: 31st January 2014
Shri Anil Kr. Jain, Adviser (Energy), Planning Commission with his team presented ‘India Energy Scenarios 2047’, an Excel based open source Scenario model developed by the Planning Commission, to be launched shortly in the public domain. This model is an interactive tool giving option of four energy pathways to 2047.
WEC India Energy Portal, a comprehensive one stop resource center developed by WEC india was launched on the occasion by Shri Anil Razdan, Former Secretary (Power).  Shri Prabhat Kumar, Joint Secretary, MEA was also present on this occasion.
  1. Forget discoms, Bawana plant costliest power supplier to Delhi
    Arvind Kejriwal seemed to have missed out on costliest source of power supply in Delhi.
  2. Radiation leak detected at New Mexico nuclear plant
    US investigators have been taking samples at a New Mexico underground nuclear waste site where airborne radiation was detected, though authorities stressed they had found no contamination.
  3. Indian solar industry divided as US government moves WTO against JNNSM
    The recent case by the US government in WTO against the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) has created rift in the Indian solar industry.
  4. NTPC gives nod to Katwa power plant in West Bengal
    The board of state-run power producer NTPC has approved the 1,320-MW thermal power plant at Katwa in West Bengal, clearing the last hurdle for the longdelayed project.
  5. India records peak power deficit of 4%: CEA
    Country's peak power deficit -- shortfall in electricity supply when the demand is at the maximum point -- was 5,378 MW or 4 per cent last month.
  6. Investors aren't going to like a coalition govt: Christopher Wood
    Interview with Chief equity strategist, CLSA
  7. Welspun Energy keen on bidding for solar UMPPs
    Welspun Group, has shown interest in participating in government's programme of setting up 4,000 MW solar ultra mega power projects in the country.
  8. Hindustan Cleanenergy to set up 150 mw solar farm in Punjab
    Hindustan Cleanenergy, which has chalked out Rs 5,500-crore capex plan by 2016, has inked an MoU with Punjab to set up a 150-mw solar farm.
  9. Ravana remains the ultimate metaphor for coalition politics
    A significant, if still barely recognized, by-product of the tortured UPA decade is the collapse of voters’ trust in any patch-up, last-minute conglomeration.
  10. Odisha okays site change for Tata Power's 2,000 Mw plant
    Projects of JSW Steel, JGreen referred to HLCA
  11. No norms compromised in granting environmental nods: Moily
    The environment minister has cleared projects worth over Rs 150,000 crore and is nearing clearing the backlog
  12. Panel on coal linkages to now meet on Feb 21
    An inter-ministerial panel which was to meet on February 19 to review the status of existing coal supply agreements with the power sector will now meet on February 21
  13. Goldman’s ReNew in solar dash as US moves WTO
    ReNew Power, Tata group, First Solar among 68 bidders vying for projects as India seeks clean alternatives to fossil fuels
  14. Power tariffs set to go up in Bihar
    State govt has already submitted its proposal to Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission
  15. Iran asks India for $1.5 billion in oil payments under nuclear deal: report
    Indian refiners are holding about $3 billion in payments due the Middle Eastern crude producer, says the report
  16. Essar Energy gets mining clearance for Mahan coal block
    The nod from environment ministry for the Madhya Pradesh mine is subject to fulfilment of some further conditions, said Essar Energy on its website
  17. India to double renewable power capacity by 2017
    Govt plans to add around 20,000 MW of wind and around 10,000 MW of solar capacity by 2016-17
  18. Bailout for gas-based power plants on the anvil
    The plan will affect plants generating around 19,000 megawatts of power, and cost around `5,677 crore
  19. Delhi power crisis: Supreme Court agrees to hear Reliance Infra-owned BSES's plea against NTPC 'ultimatum'
    NTPC had asked Anil Ambani-owned discoms to cough up dues or face suspension of power supply.
  20. Delhi's power struggle: NTPC threatens cuts to BSES firms from February 11
    NTPC Ltd issues notices to the two ADAG group firms distributing electricity in Delhi.
For more information Contact - WEC India Secretariat, C/o NTPC Limited, 7th Floor, Core-6, SCOPE Complex, New Delhi-110 003, India
Email: info@wecindia.in, Phone: 011-2436 3719, Fax: 011-2436 9530, Website: http://www.wecindia.in

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Gov Rick Scott: Another Record Year for Florida Tourism
Nearly 95 million tourists came to Florida in 2013

Governor Rick Scott announced that according to preliminary estimates* released today by VISIT FLORIDA - the state’s official tourism marketing corporation - 94.7 million visitors came to Florida in 2013, an increase of 3.5 percent over 2012.  This represents a record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 91.5 million in 2012.  The number of direct travel-related jobs in 2013 was also a record high, with 1,088,200 Floridians employed in the tourism industry - up 2.9 percent from 2012.

Governor Rick Scott said, “With nearly 95 million visitors traveling to the Sunshine State, today’s news that Florida broke another record year for tourism is a victory for Florida families.  Every 85 visitors to Florida equals one job in our state – and it is clear that more visitors to the Sunshine State means more jobs for Florida families. That is why my ‘It’s Your Money Tax Cut Budget,’ commits $100 million to VISIT FLORIDA so we can grow more job opportunities for Florida families.”

"We are excited for our future in Florida and we are glad to be able to bring new jobs and economic growth to our community and to the state," said Bill Davis, president of Universal Orlando Resort.  "We are also grateful for the strong public-private partnership that continues to help our industry grow."

Governor Scott made today's announcement at the Universal Orlando Resort where they will be creating nearly 3,500 new jobs this year across their destination.  Universal Orlando is currently constructing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, adding a new on-site hotel and expanding their CityWalk Entertainment complex.

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that 11.5 million overseas visitors and 3.7 million Canadians came to Florida in 2013, both of which are record highs and represent 11.1 percent and 4.1 percent increases over 2012 respectively.  Estimates reflect a 2.5 percent increase in domestic visitors to Florida in 2013 and show that Floridians took a record total of 20.1 million in-state pleasure trips. 

“Three years of record-breaking visitation and a record number of tourism-related jobs proves that tourism continues to be a vital force in Florida,” said Tammy Gustafson, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.  “It also proves that our industry is directly tied to Florida’s economic growth.  This means we cannot let go of our effort to continuously advance Florida tourism.”

Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased every month year-over-year from January through November 2013 (last reported month), representing a 5.9 percent increase over the same period in 2012.  For 2013, the average daily room (ADR) rate rose 4.6 percent and the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 3.5 percent compared to 2012.  Both ADR and occupancy increased every month year-over-year in 2013.

Preliminary data from Smith Travel Research indicates Florida tourism has been steadily regaining market share since January 2013, outpacing the rest of the U.S. by 1.3 percentage points.  According to the same study, room revenue in Florida for 2013 was up 8.2 percent compared to 2012, while the U.S. is only up 6.2 percent.

“We are incredibly encouraged to see domestic, Canadian and overseas visitor numbers all peaking together in 2013, and look forward to continuing to build on this momentum in 2014 to make Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. 

For fourth quarter 2013, preliminary estimates show a record 21.9 million people visited the Sunshine State. This represents the largest fourth quarter visitation number Florida has ever seen and reflects an increase of 2.2 percent over the same period in 2012.  VISIT FLORIDA also reports that an estimated 3.2 million overseas visitors traveled to Florida in the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of 12.1 percent, and 724,000 Canadians traveled to Florida, reflecting an increase of 4.2 percent over the same period in 2012. 

To view additional Florida visitor data, go the Research page on VISIT FLORIDA’s media website.

*Preliminary estimates are issued 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Final estimates are released when final data are received for all estimates in the report.
Bangladesh's opposition chief Zia faces arrest warrant

Bangladesh
A Bangladeshi court on Sunday warned ex-premier and opposition chief Khaleda Zia that she would be arrested if she fails to appear before it for the next hearing in a major graft case, in which she is a key-accused.


"She (Zia) is being given time for the last time to appear before the court during the hearing on charge framing in the two cases. She must be present in the court on March 19," Special Judge Rezaul Islam was quoted as saying by court officials.

The judge made the comments after Zia's lawyers sought to defer the hearing claiming their client was sick.

The Anti-Corruption Commission in 2009 filed the case against Khaleda, her elder son and BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman and four others on charge of embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore by forming a "fake" trust.

The officials said with the deferment of the hearing today, Zia so far sought time for the 41st time in the Zia Orphanage Trust and for the 11th time in the Zia Charitable Trust graft cases in the court which was set to try both the cases.

The court warning came after public prosecutors filed a petition seeking an arrest warrant for Zia for her repeated failure to turn up as her lawyers submitted a prayer for postponement of the hearing on grounds of her "cold related illness".

Zia's counsels, however, assured Judge that their client would certainly be present in the next hearing.
International Gandhi Award

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the International Gandhi Award for the year 2013 to Dr. Vijaykumar Vinayak Dongre and Prof. Guocheng Zhang for making outstanding contribution in the field of leprosy on February 15, 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the need of the hour is to intensify our efforts towards early detection of leprosy cases, provide equitable access to appropriate treatment and provide integrated leprosy services in the geographically focused areas. Over the years, the scourge of leprosy has remained a blot on humanity. More than the medical condition, the social stigma attached to the disease is a cause for concern. He stated that there is a need to empower those who have been socially discriminated an account of leprosy, through advocacy and information dissemination. Social challenges for leprosy do persist, but at the same time, it is heartening to note that the United Nations has now passed a resolution on discrimination against people affected by leprosy and efforts are being made to repeal laws that prevent people affected by leprosy from participating in society.

The President extended his heartiest congratulations to the recipients of the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy– Prof. Guocheng Zhang and Dr. V. V. Dongre who have both dedicated several decades of their lives to eradicating leprosy through treatment, training and research.

The President said that the latest World Health Organization Expert Committee has set the challenge to reduce the rate of new patients with disability due to leprosy to one in a million by 2020. This challenge can be met only through a multi – dimensional and integrated approach. He urged all stakeholders to come together and make concerted efforts for the total eradication of leprosy. He also wished the Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation and all those involved in this noble mission all success in their endeavors.

The International Gandhi Award was instituted by the Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s service and scientific approach towards leprosy. The two awards are given every alternate year to individuals/institutions for making outstanding contribution in the field of leprosy.

Competitiveness, climate, security Finn’s priorities Ministry of Finance release Finnish road map of EU presidency. Finland i...