Saturday, November 14, 2015

Trade and Investment Facilitator (TIF)
October  2015

United Nations’ projection for India’s exports to do well in coming times is quite encouraging for the country. According to Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2015 recently released by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) exports from India are expected to relatively do well in 2016 as their shipments are largely directed to advanced economies in Europe and North America that are expected to expand in the coming year.
Presently, India’s exports have registered a negative growth at (-) 24.3% for a consecutive tenth month. In light of the major challenges being faced by Indian exporters in the backdrop of the global economic slowdown Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently announced increased support for export of various products and included some additional items under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
Pertaining to global trade growth, WTO lowered forecast for world trade growth to 2.8% in 2015 from 3.3% in April. These revisions reflect a number of factors that weighed on the global economy in the first half of 2015, including falling import demand in China, Brazil and other emerging economies; falling prices for oil and other primary commodities and significant exchange rate fluctuations.
However, World Trade Organisation (WTO) in its recent flagship report World Trade Report 2015 highlighted that full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) reached in December 2013 has the potential to increase global merchandise exports by US$1 trillion per annum, with developing countries expected to capture more than half of these gains.
In the direction of strengthening international economic relations India has signed 18 MOUs/ Agreements with Germany during the visit of Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany to India in the month of October.
Signing of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement by Ministers of the 12 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam is also a major development at the international level.
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The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
cordially invites you to a Public Lecture
(in the ‘Scientific Temper in India’ series)
at 3.00 pm on Monday, 16th November, 2015
in the Common Room, Second Floor, Annexe Building
on

‘From GigaWatts to Shunya:
In search of sustainable energy for India’

by
Prof. Rangan Banerjee,
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay,
Mumbai.
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Paris attacks: More than 150 killed

Naresh Kumar Sagar
French papers this morning 
Embedded image permalink
Paris attacks: More than 150 killed
Paris attacks: 150+ killed and many injured in a series of terrorist acts.
Paris the capital of France hit by terrotist attack and over 150 people have been killed in a series of attacks targeting young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at popular nightspots. The worst carnage was at a concert hall hosting an American rock band, where scores of people were held hostage and attackers ended the standoff by detonating explosive belts killing at least 87 people.
Dozens were also killed in an attack on a restaurant. The attack unfolded with three suicide bombings and an explosion outside the national stadium during a soccer match between the French and German national teams. Eight attackers were dead, seven of them in suicide explosions and one killed by security forces in the music venue, Paris prosecutor’s spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre told Associated Press. Authorities apprehend that some attackers might still be at large and they were searching for possible accomplices.
President Francois Hollande has condemned the attacks as terrorism and declared a State of Emergency.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, although jihadists on Twitter immediately praised them and criticised France’s military operations against Islamic State extremists.
The attacks come weeks before global leaders gather in Paris for talks on a UN-sponsored conference on climate change issues.
PARIS CLOSES DOWN PUBLIC SPACES IN RESPONSE TERROR ATTACKS THAT KILLED AT LEAST 120..Paris has closed down many of its public spaces in response to terror attacks, saying on the city’s official Twitter account that “all of the city’s amenities” – schools, universities, museums, libraries, gyms, swimming pools and markets – will be shut down on Saturday.
State of emergency has been declared in France following a series of attacks in Paris, reportedly by people inspired by ISIS. Over 150 people have been killed and many more injured in 7 attacks.Vatican has condemned the attacks as “terrorist madness,” urging a decisive response to “homicidal hatred.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has cancelled his visit to Italy and France following the deadly attacks in Paris, according to Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cited by the state news agency, IRNA.
“Due to the terrorist incidents in Paris and in coordination with the hosts, the Iranian president postponed his visit to Italy, Vatican and France to a more convenient time,” Zarif said.
Turkey, which hosts a summit of world leaders this weekend, has condemned attacks by gunmen and bombers in Paris as a crime against humanity, saying it fully supported France and its allies in the fight against terrorism.
“These attacks are not only against the French people but all humanity, democracy, freedoms and universal values. Terror has no religion, no nationality and represents no values. Terrorism is a crime against humanity,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s office said in a statement.
“Turkey is in full cooperation with France and other allied countries in the fight against terrorism … and we will fight with full determination.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping has condemned attacks in Paris and expressed his readiness to join France and the international community in stepping up security cooperation and combating terrorism, the Chinese foreign ministry said, according to Reuters. The Chinese and the French leaders spoke on the phone few hours after the attacks.
President Xi also offered condolences to the victims and their families.
World leaders led by UN Secretary-General today expressed shock and outrage over a wave of bombings and shootings in Paris that left over 120 people dead and pledged solidarity with France.
US President Barack Obama called the attacks an outrageous attempt to terrorise innocent civilians and vowed to do whatever it takes to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also telephoned his French counterpart Francois Hollande and offered support in probing the attacks.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council condemned the “despicable” terrorist attacks. Ban said he trusts that the French authorities will do all in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly.
In a separate statement, the Security Council also strongly condemned what the 15-member body referred to as barbaric and cowardly terrorist attacks. The members of the Council also expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Government of France.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was deeply shaken by the news.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “shocked” by the Paris attacks and violence.
China strongly condemned the attacks, saying it is greatly shocked by the terrorist attacks that has caused massive casualties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences and support to his counterpart Hollande and the French people.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani strongly condemned the attacks in Paris, branding them as “crimes against humanity”.
The horrific terrorist attack in Paris has been described as the copycat version of the 2008 Mumbai assault by security experts in Washington who believe that the incident will be a game changer for how the West looks at the threat terrorism presents to all.
A huge fire has broken out at the vast ‘Jungle’ refugee camp near the French port of Calais, just hours after a string of bloody attacks struck Paris, leaving over 100 dead. “There’s about 10,000 square meters on fire. We don’t know the origin of the fire yet…” Phillipe Mignonet said. “The fire brigades are fighting to reduce the fire, but because of the wind it is very difficult.”The Calais deputy mayor told media that the authorities are trying to tackle the blaze.We don’t know yet, because the rescue services are unable to get into the places, because of the intensity of the fire. And because of the wind and bottles of gas it is still quite dangerous,” Mignonet said, as he referred to any possible victims. Media agencies

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