Saturday, January 9, 2016

Top Indian stars add colour to Coal India Hockey India League
New Delhi, 9th January, 2016:  Coal India Hockey India League, the flagship event of Hockey India – the apex body governing the sport in the country and sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will be highlighted by the presence of some of the biggest overseas and Indian hockey stars. The six Franchises battling for supremacy in the richest field hockey league in the world are Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Delhi Waveriders, Kalinga Lancers, Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Dabang Mumbai and defending champions Ranchi Rays. The star studded tournament that will be played from 18th January to 21st February will have some of the best players from the Indian team.
The two time finalists Jaypee Punjab Warriors have been able to retain some of their key players in the auctions in the month of August. One of the most prominent Indian stars whom they have retained is SV Sunil. SV Sunil was a part of the Hockey World League bronze medal winning Indian team. Sunil has 174 international caps and 56 international goals. Sunil aged 26 years was retained for a sum of $50,000. Sunil will bring stability to the Punjab Warrior’s front line and will be a key player if Punjab is to again put up a good show at the league.
The Indian Captain Sardar Singh who moved from the Delhi Waveriders to Jaypee Punjab Warriors from Season 2016 will be one of the key Indians to watch out for. The Indian Captain and midfielder who has lead the national team to many famous victories has an experience of 236 international caps and has scored 14 international goals. Sardar was crucial for the great Indian victory at the recent Hockey World League Finals as he lead from the front. Sardar who bagged a price of $58,000 in the auction in September 2015 will provide his franchise the necessary experience and depth in the midfield.
The 27 year old Indian defender and drag flicker will be point of notice in the back line of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards is V.R Raghunath who hails from Karnataka and has an impressive record of 203 international caps and 127 international goals will not only be the key man protecting the goal but also will be the key danger to the opponents goal from the penalty corners. He had a good run of form in the test series against Australia and Hero Hockey World League finals scoring crucial goals for the team.
The 25 year old defender from Jharkhand Birendra Lakra will be the key player for the defending champions Ranchi Rays. Ranchi Rays who have been miser in conceding goals in last year’s edition of the Hockey India League will be looking to do the same. Birendra Lakra with 123 international caps and 09 international goals is arguably one of the best players in the ranks of Ranchi Rays. Birendra Lakra who was retained by the franchise for a sum of $55,000 alongside Fergus Kavanagh from Ireland will be looking to put of the similar robust show at the 4th edition of the league.
The Vice – Captain of the Indian team who was recently awarded the Lt. Col. G V Raja Award in 2015 by the Kerala Sports Council will be guarding the goal of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards and will be a force to reckon with in this year’s edition of the Hockey India League. Sreejesh who is amongst the top goal keepers in the world is in the prime of his form with an excellent display at the Hockey World League Finals in December. The combination of VR Raghunath and Sreejesh can be lethal in the defence and will be one of the biggest assets for the Uttar Pradesh Wizards franchise.

HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE PARTNERS
Coal India
Star Sports
Technology Frontier
Shiv Naresh
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JAN
20
CPR is pleased to invite you to a seminar on
South Asian Constitutionalism
Wednesday, 20 January 2016, 3:00 p.m.
Mark Tushnet, Madhav Khosla, Upendra Baxi, Niraja Gopal Jayal, Gilles Verniers, Osama Siddique, Prashant Jha, Arun K Thiruvengadam, Aparna Chandra
Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research
A seminar on South Asian constitutionalism to celebrate the recent publication of Mark Tushnet and Madhav Khosla’s Unstable Constitutionalism: Law and Politics in South Asia(Cambridge University Press 2015). The event will involve legal scholars and political scientists focusing on some of the themes covered in this book, in particular the ongoing political tensions and their legal manifestation across South Asia.
Session I: 3.00 – 4.30 PM
Opening Remarks and Moderator: Mark Tushnet, Harvard Law School
(1)    Upendra Baxi, University of Warwick
(2)    Niraja Gopal Jayal, Jawaharlal Nehru University
(3)    Gilles Verniers, Ashoka University
Coffee: 4.30 – 5.00
Session II: 5.00 – 7.00 PM
Moderator: Madhav Khosla, Harvard University
(1)    Osama Siddique, Law and Policy Research Network, Lahore
(2)    Prashant Jha, The Hindustan Times
(3)    Arun K. Thiruvengadam, Azim Premji University, Bangalore
(4)    Aparna Chandra, National Law University, Delhi
Closing Remarks: Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Centre for Policy Research
The event is in partnership with, and is sponsored by, the South Asia Institute, Harvard University.
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Saudi- 34 country coalition against terrorism.

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Deputy Crown Prince and Minister for Defence of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman will visit Pakistan on Sunday, official sources said.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will receive him upon his arrival at Nur Khan Base.
Sources said the Saudi Defence minister will hold meetings with key personalities in Pakistan.
The Saudi-led 34-nation coalition against terrorism is likely to come under discussion as well as the prevailing situation in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on an important two-day visit to Pakistan.
The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, and other senior officials received the distinguished guest at the airport.
The Saudi minister is scheduled to hold meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and other high ranking officials.
Sources said the Saudi minister will also discuss Pakistan’s inclusion and its role in a Saudi-led 34-country coalition against terrorism.
He will also have talks with the Pakistani leadership on different aspects of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The foreign minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was scheduled to visit Pakistan on January 3 but it was postponed after a rise in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, after Iranian protestors ransacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran – Pakistan’s neighbour to the west – deteriorated as Iranian protestors reacted with fury to Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr earlier this week.
The international community has urged Saudi Arabia and Iran to observe restraint after tensions over the execution of the cleric and 46 others — Saudi Arabia’s biggest mass execution for decades.
The Saudi foreign minister’s visit comes as Iran accused the Saudi collation warplanes of attacking its embassy in Yemen’s capital, a development that would exacerbate tensions between the two regional powers. Riyadh said it would investigate the accusation.
Pakistan has expressed concern over ongoing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the Foreign Office condemning the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Office said providing security to diplomatic staff and mission is the responsibility of the state and that hostile forces could try to take advantage of the differences of the Muslim Ummah.
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Foreign Tourist Arrivals in December 2015 grow at 3.2% (y-o-y)

Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India. Following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of December, 2015:
Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)
§  FTAs during the Month of December 2015 were 9.13 lakh as compared to FTAs of 8.85 lakh during the month of December 2014 and 8.22 lakh in December 2013. There has been a growth of 3.2% in December 2015 over December 2014.
§  FTAs during the period January- December 2015 were 80.16 lakh with a growth of 4.4%, as compared to the FTAs of 76.79 lakh with a growth of 10.2% in January- December 2014 over January- December 2013.
§  The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (18.67%) followed by Bangladesh (11.64%), UK (11.60%), Australia (5.25%), Canada (4.23%), Russian Fed. (3.68%), Malaysia (3.13%), Germany (2.61%), China (2.48%), Sri Lanka (2.39%), Singapore (2.01%), France (1.99%), Japan (1.85%), Thailand (1.68%) and Pakistan (1.60%). These top 15 countries account for 74.81% of total FTAs during December 2015.
§  The Percentage share of  Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December    2015 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (27.34%) followed by Mumbai Airport (20.82%), Haridaspur Land check post (6.65%), Bengaluru Airport (6.33%), Chennai Airport (5.44%), Goa Airport (5.24%),Kolkata Airport (4.22%), Cochin Airport (4.04%), Hyderabad Airport (3.67%), Ahmedabad Airport (3.29%), Trivandrum Airport (2.19%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.67%), Gede Rail (1.39%), Attari-Wagah Land check post (1.28%) and Sonauli Land check post (1%). These top 15 ports account for 94.57% of total FTAs during December 2015.
 Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in Rupees terms and in US$ terms
§  FEEs during the month of December 2015 were Rs. 13,253 crore as compared to Rs. 12,988 crore in December 2014 and Rs. 11,994 crore in December 2013.
§  The FEEs in Rupees terms during December 2015 registered a positive growth of 2.0% over December 2014 as compared to positive growth of 8.3% in December 2014 over December 2013.
§  FEEs from tourism in rupees terms during January- December 2015 were Rs. 1,26,211 crore with a growth of 2.3% as compared to the FEE of Rs. 1,23,320 crore with a growth of 14.5% during January- December 2014 over January- December 2013.
§  FEEs in US$ terms during the month of December 2015 were US$ 1.991 billion as compared to FEEs of US$ 2.069 billion during the month of December 2014 and US$ 1.936 billion in December 2013.
§  The FEEs in US$ billion in December 2015 registered a decline of 3.8%  over December  2014 as compared to positive growth of 6.9% in December 2014 over December 2013.
§  FEEs from tourism in US$ terms during January- December 2015 were US$ 19.676 billion with a negative growth of 2.8% as compared to the US$ 20.236 billion with a positive growth of 9.7% during January- December 2014 over January- December 2013.
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Mid-Day News Headlines:-
Benajir Sultana Khanom, Assistant Professor of ‪#‎CottonCollege‬ in‪#‎Guwahati‬, was murdered by her husband at her ‪#‎Nagaon‬ residence.

* Prime Minister reviews security situation in Pathankot; Undertakes aerial survey of Border areas.
* United States asks Pakistan to conduct a complete and thorough probe into Pathankot air base terror attack.
* In Sri Lanka, Prime Minister presents resolution to make parliament a constitutional assembly for making new Constitution.
* Brisbane International Tennis tournament, Pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis to play their final today.
45 Indians and overseas Indians in Forbes list of achievers under 30
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Divya Dutta launches ‘CLAP’

Actress Divya Dutta at C.L.A.P launch

Renowned actor Divya Dutta  launches ‘C.L.A.P’ with
Artist Mishti V​a​rma & Entrepreneur Faisal Poonawala
Mumbai, January 08, 2016:  An evening of art & culture,​ ​
Mumbai was star-studded at​
the launch of​ ​
C.L.A.P – Creative Learning Art & Performance  -​ ​
India’s first ever  self development centr​e​
at Solitaire II opposite Infinity Mall today. Unveiled by the multitalented
​and noted versatile actress ​
Divya Dutta
and entrepreneurs Mishti Varma and ​Faisal Poonawalla, the launch was a huge success amidst much celebration, fanfare and free flowing happiness and good vibes!
​​Another highlight of the event was an interactive discussion with Divya Dutta
​ and Mishti Varma​
 who recited a sensational poem​ and lit the inaugural diya amidst other star attendees such as TV Actor Joy Sen Gupta, ​TV actress Gun Kansara, TV Actor Kunal Motling, prominent psychologist Dr. Kanan Khatau Chikhal, Film-maker & Masterchef finalist Rajan Nagpaul, Trustee of popular Besant Montessori Ms. Zenobia Khodaigi, Jamnabhai Narsee Trustee
Urvashi Thakkar​ and ​
Jamnabhai Narsee Advisor Jassi Vaz​.​
“The art of learning is to learn how to find your wings and that is precisely what the medium of art can do, lend wings to the mind, spirit and being, C.L.A.P is built with just that thought says co-founder Mishti Varma.
C.L.A.P is an empowerment lab with facilitators and experts from fields of yoga, theatr​e​, board games, dance, creative arts, story- telling and counsel
​l​in to e​nsure the overall development of a child with a focus on identifying each child’s unique potential and self- expression.
For more information, log on to: http://clap.center/About C.L.A.P:
C.L.A.P is an empowerment lab with facilitators and experts from fields of yoga, theater, board games, dance, creative arts, story- telling and counseling. ​
C.L.A.P ensures the overall development of a child with a focus on identifying each child’s unique potential and self- expression.
About the founders Mishti Verma and Faisal Poonawala:Mishti Verma is an experiential corporate trainer and the founder of Inner KatLa
Interventions. She is also a playwright and experienced theatre director.Trained under top international experts in expressive arts therapy and creative learning.
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3rd Republican Constitution for the country

Sri Lanka today embarked on the exercise of making a new Constitution for the country by resolving to convert the current Parliament into a constitutional assembly.
The resolution to draft a new constitution was presented to the parliament by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe this morning at a special session.
Following this, President Maithripala Sirisena addressed the Parliament and called upon all parties to unite to create the 3rd Republican Constitution for the country.
All India Radio News's photo.

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