Virat Kohli named ICC world cricketer of the year

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Indian captain Virat Kohli has been named the world cricketer of the year at the ICC annual awards announced in Dubai today. Kohli reclaimed the award he first won in 2012. This is the second time in succession that an Indian has won the overall cricketer of the year award. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had claimed the honour last year.

Kohli also bagged the top honour for ODI players. This is the first instance since 2013 that the ODI Cricketer of the Year award has been won by a non-South African. Quinton de Kock received the accolade for 2016, with AB de Villiers winning it in 2014 and 2015.
Kohli was also named captain of the ICC Test and ODI teams of the year.

In the qualification period from 21st September, 2016 to the end of last year, Kohli amassed 2,203 Test runs at an average of 77.80 including eight centuries. In ODIs, he scored 1,818 runs including seven centuries at an average of 82.63. In Twenty-20s, Kohli made 299 runs at a strike rate of 153.

Australian captain Steve Smith claimed the Test Player of the Year honour. He had scored 1,875 runs in 16 matches at an average of 78.12, with eight hundreds and five 50s.

UNSC to step up pressure on Pakistan

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Pakistan is accused of supporting the Taliban and various militant groups in Afghanistan.US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley has said, the UN Security Council should step up pressure on Pakistan to change its behaviour.

Briefing reporters after returning from a UN Security
Council visit to Afghanistan, she said, the Afghan government has asked the 15-member powerful wing of the world body to step up pressure on Pakistan. She said, the Afghan government is starting to see the Taliban concede.

The Kabul visit of UN Security Council members came ahead of the Kabul Process meeting next month where the Afghan government is expected to present its strategy for reaching a settlement with the armed opposition.

India’s exports surge

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

India’s exports grew by 12.36% in December 2017 to 27.3% 03 billion US dollars on account of strong performance by sectors like engineering goods and petroleum products.

According to data released by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, exports have been on a positive trajectory since August 2016 to December 2017 with a dip of 1.1 % in the month of October last year.

Exports of engineering goods as well as petroleum products showed an increase of over 25% in December.

Benjamin:Come to Israel, Invest in Israel

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today India and Israel are the oldest cultures on earth and both are democracies.

Both the countries share love for freedom and are a match made in Heaven. Talking at the India-Israeli Business Summit in Mumbai today which was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis besides business leaders of both countries, he said Indo-Israel partnership is reaching unprecedented heights.

Netanyahu further said that an efficient and direct flight route with India. The ability to have this contact is very important for innovation and progress .

He assured that Indian Businessmen will be received in Israel with unbelievable warmth and tremendous respect.

He ended his address with Come to Israel, Invest in Israel and Israel will come here as well. Speaking at the power breakfast with the top corporate honchos, Israeli Prime Minister said the future belongs to those who innovate and therefore it is crucial that business leaders of both countries meet.

The business leaders, who were present at the breakfast included, Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, and Chanda KochharNetanyahu wraps up his six-day India visit today.

Other engagements of Mr Netanyahu today include, dedicating memorial at Nariman house and the ‘Shalom Bollywood’ programme for film personalities.

SC strikes down ban on release ‘Padmaavat’

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Supreme Court has cleared the decks for the all-India release of controversial movie ‘Padmaavat’ on the 25th of this month.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, today stayed the orders issued by Rajasthan and Gujarat governments prohibiting the release of the film, also restraining any other state from issuing any such notifications and orders. The bench observed that the states are obliged to maintain law and order.

The producers had approached the apex court challenging the notification and orders issued by the states prohibiting the film’s release.

Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi, representing producers of the movie, told the bench that states have no power to issue such notifications when the Central Board of Film Certification has given a certificate of release.The bench posted the matter for further hearing in March.

India successfully test-fires Agni-5

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

India successfully test-fired indigenously developed long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Agni-5, off the Odisha coast today. The state-of-the-art missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO, was test fired successfully from the Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island at 9:54 AM. The three-stage solid propellant Agni-5 missile has a strike range of over 5,000 kilometres and can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. Defence sources said the missile covered 4,900 kilometres in 20 minutes in today’s launch.

AIR correspondent reports that the missile is about 17 metres long, 2 metres wide and has a launch weight of around 50 tonnes.Today’s test is the fifth developmental trial of the long-range missile, carried out by the Strategic Forces Command of Indian Army to check its operational readiness. Unlike other missiles of Agni series, the latest one ‘Agni-5’ is the most advanced having new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

The missile can hit most northern parts of China and other parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. Defence sources said after some few more trials, Agni-5 will be inducted into the Services. Once this missile is inducted into Services, India will join the super exclusive club of countries with Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles alongside the US, Russia, China, France and the UK. The last test of the missile was conducted from the same test range on December 26, 2016.

Viorica Dancila,PM elect Romanian

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appointed Social Democrat nominee, European lawmaker Viorica Dancila, as prime minister on Wednesday and handed her a mandate to form a new government.

Dancila will become the first woman prime minister in the history of the Eastern European country.

Iohannis made the decision after consultations earlier Wednesday with parliamentary parties when main opposition parties had neither concrete proposals for the prime minister’s position, nor a political understanding between them.

“Having weighed all arguments, taking into account the concrete situation in Parliament, I have decided to give the Social Democratic Party (PSD) one more chance,” said the president, stressing that now the Social Democrats must show a strong performance, as “Romanians have great expectations, I have great expectations as well.”

The president called on those involved in forming the government to get moving so that the entire procedure can be completed by Feb. 1.

CEC dates on NE states election

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Tripura votes on Feb 18, Meghalaya, Nagaland on Feb 27; results on March 3, 2018.
Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti said, in Tripura, the polling will take place on the 18th of next month, while Meghalaya and Nagaland will go to polls on 27th February.The counting of votes for all the three states will be held on 3rd March.

Gazette notification for the poll in Tripura will be issued on the 24th of this month. For polls in Meghalaya and Nagaland, the notification will be issued on 31st January.

Mr Joti said, VVPATs will be used with EVMs during the polling in the three states. He said, the expenditure ceiling for candidates in the polls will be 20 lakh rupees.

Replying to media query on electoral bonds, Mr Joti said, it is a step in right direction as there will be a digital trail of donations made.

With the announcement of the schedule, the model code of conduct has come into force. Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura have 60 Assembly seats each.

IBMA, in the SME sector face closure, GST at 18%

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Why 18% GST on Biscuits when noodle GST rate is 12%.

Media interaction with the association of Indian Biscuits Manufacturers’ Association, Mr. B P Agarwal, President, (IBMA) told that , “Biscuits are common product of consumption from a rickshaw puller to a low-wage laborer in search of hygiene, energy, nutrition at a low cost.

Similar food products are subject to LOWER GST RATES, such as Sweets (5%), Processed Dry fruits (5%), Tea(5%), Juice, Namkeen, Jam/Jelly, Noodles, Pasta, Tomato Ketch-up (all 12%) but to utter surpise GST at 18% is imposed on Biscuit.

We urge the government to review their decision of imposing 18 % GST on Biscuit industry. There is urgent need to bring down the GST rate to 12% to avoid stagnation in growth of the industry” He further added that at the Proce level of Rs.5/- today the biscuit packet contains 50 grammes by weight , but if GST is not brought down to 5% , they may be forced to reduce this weight to 35 or 40 gms.

Biscuit manufacturers, especially in the SME sector, are hard hit because of unjustified imposition of Goods & Services Tax (GST) at a very high rate of 18%. The growth in the industry has started to stagnate since the imposition of the 18% GST and there is urgent need to bring down GST rate to 12%.

Biscuit is a mass consumption food product, hygienically processed and consumers of biscuit belong predominantly to the poorer segment but biscuits have been mistakenly understood to be a premium product, preferred for the consumption by the affluent society, whereas biscuit has been placed in the higher tax slab denying level playing field for biscuits in contrary  to  similar products.

Mr. Anoop Bector, MD of Cremica Biscuits was not present but send a note saying that “Biscuit is made of agricultural products like wheat, vegetable oil, sugar and milk and higher production of biscuit would benefit larger number of farmers.
Mr Shekhar Agrawal present made it known that Biscuit is highly Labour intensive, and stagnation in growth in production would adversely affect the industry which is estimated to provide employment to about 7.5 lakh workforce directly and more than 30 lakh persons indirectly in marketing, retail network, transport etc”.
All the people expressed that in case of any Natural calamity or Disaster the first consignment which is airlifted to the affected areas is packets of Biscuits and also it is in the World food programme and as such it is not a luxury but a essential food and basic necessity for the masses.
“Biscuit industry is subjected to escalation in cost of inputs/ingredients due to higher cost of transportation, fuel, packaging, wages etc.”added Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, CEO of Bonn Biscuits.
Swami Ramdev who was speaking to Sagar Media inc  Senior Correspondent , SAgrawal during the  launch of Patanjali Online expressed that GST needs to reviewed for lot of daily use items and also he was categorical in mentioning the Biscuit Industry which is under strain and the Government needs to may be have two slabs of taxes for biscuits of premium and ordinary category.
Concluding the Interaction it was proposed  that certain category of biscuit is like salt and even the Government may think of abolishing the tax structure applicable as this is a healthy food even being served to patients in the Hospitals and case of emergencies all over the country.
IBMA has informed that they have submitted detailed representation to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Miss Harsimran Kaur Badal and also to the Finance Ministers of all states, who are members of the GST Council.

IBMA has also sought intervention and support from Members of Parliament from various political parties for favorable consideration of levy of GST at lower slab of 12%.
“Lowering the rate of GST on Biscuit would result in higher production and would not affect revenue to the Central and State Governments,” was the opinion expressed in a note by Mr. Deepak Bherwani, Director, Krown Biscuits.

The media meet of IBMA was attended by various medias and biscuits manufacturers in large number and showed keen interest on the ready made food of biscuits for all purposes.

ELECTION COMMISSION PRESS CONFERENCE

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR ELECTION COMMISSION PRESS CONFERENCE

The Election Commission shall address a Press Conference to announce Election Schedule to Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya, Tripura & Nagaland  at 12 Noon today, 18th January ,2018 at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi.

Please follow following instructions

1. Correspondents

• Entry to the 4th Floor Press Conference Hall /venue shall be strictly on the basis of special entry passes, which shall be available from Special Desks set up in front lawn of Nirvachan Sadan from 10.30  AM onwardstoday.

• Only one special pass will be issued per media organizationon a first-come, first-served basis on production of PIB Card.

1.  First , PIB Accredited media persons will be issued “Special Entry Pass”       

                          and

2.   afterwards based on the availability of seats‘Special Entry Pass” will be issued to Non-PIB Accredited media persons based on Identity card of Media Organisation.

• As the number of entry passes are limited, you are advised to collect the same expeditiously on a first-come, first-served basison production of PIB Card.

2. Still Photographers & Audio-Visual Camerapersons

Entry to the Press Conference Hall on 4thFloor is restricted to the following agencies:

• Still Photographers: Photo Division, PTI, & UNI,

• AV Camerapersons: Doordarshan & ANI
• (C)     LIVE VISUALS / RAW FEED
• Live visuals/ Raw Feed of the press conference shall also be available at Media Centre at Ground Floor via a pool signal.News channels who wish to access the same, may authorize their Reporter/ Correspondent to collect entry passes for their technical staff, from Special Desks set up in front lawn of Nirvachan Sadan between 10.30AM and 11.50 AM today. Up to 2 passes only, per channel, shall be issued on production of PIB Card or Identity card of Media Organisation.

Such technical Staff/s will be allowed access to Media centre at Ground Floor for smooth reception of pool signal.

Rajesh

Mumbai Maharathi pulls out of PWL

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

In a reaction to unethical act by the organisers of the PWL, led by Sunil Yash Kalra, the CEO of ProSportify, the team owners of Mumbai Maharathi have decided to withdraw from the 3rd edition of the PWL with immediate effect, according to a release issued by the team today

 While the team management has taken in its stride several instances of mismanagement and operational glitches by the league organisers, they reacted strongly to the incident that occurred at the toss between Mumbai Maharathi and their opponents. After Sakshi Malik won the toss, she oped to block the wrestler in the 74 kg category, but was prevented to so so by the organisers in a clear violation of the rules. Sakshi then had no option but to block a wrestler in another weight category and the 74 kg category proved vital in the final outcome of the match, with Mumbai Maharathi losing the tie 3-4 to Veer Maratha.

According to the rules, one weight  category cannot be blocked for consecutive matches and for a total of 2 out of the 5 league matches. Mumbai Maharathi had blocked the 74 kg category in their first encounter and now sought to do so in their third encounter, adhering to the rules, but the league organisers stepped in to twist the rules and thwart Mumbai Maharathi.

 Mumbai Maharathi are the 6th owners who have walked out of the league in 3 years.

.

Regards

Anuja Sharma

8860228778

56 billion animals are subjected to unbearable conditions

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Danny Auron – Avaaz

To nksagar_1@yahoo.com

Thursday, 18 January, 2018 1:21 AM

56 billion animals are subjected to unbearable conditions and slaughtered every year to feed our meat addiction. There’s one simple thing we can do together today: eat less meat. Join the global pledge and together let’s help end this cruelty: PLEDGE NOW Dear friends, 56 BILLION animals are crammed into filthy, windowless cages and slaughtered every year to feed our meat addiction. It’s truly horrible, and it may take years to shut down these factory farms, but there’s one thing we can all do today that could accelerate their end: eat less meat. Avaaz is 46-million-strong and global. If we each pledge to go meat-free just one day a week, even if we are already vegetarian or vegan, then invite our friends, celebrities, and companies to join, we could help build the largest global pledge ever! Let’s send a signal to industrial meat producers that the tide is turning. Count me in to cut back on meat!  I’m already vegetarian/vegan, or I already cut back! What we eat shouldn’t be dictated by governments or vigilantes but free choice. And we have the choice to say no to such levels of planet-killing meat consumption! Livestock contributes more to global warming than all cars, planes, and buses worldwide, and 75% of all our agricultural land is devoted to crops for livestock feed. It’s gotten out of hand! We don’t all have to become vegetarian overnight, but experts say cutting back on meat is the single best thing we can do to stop planetary catastrophe. Momentum is already building, but if we supercharge a global pledge now, our movement from India, to Brazil, to the United States has unique potential to spark a worldwide trend to radically reduce demand for meat, and eventually shut down these revolting farms. Let’s each pledge one small step today: Count me in to cut back on meat!  I’m already vegetarian/vegan, or I already cut back! Many said we could never stop our fossil fuel addiction, but when enough of us together started changing our habits, and demanding our governments took action, the needle moved. Let’s come together again to stop this cruelty and save our planet, together. With love and hope for 2018, Danny, Allison, Marigona, Nataliya, Lisa and the entire Avaaz team

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS & EXECUTIVES DELEGATION TO USA

ON JANUARY 18, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Feb 19-23, 2018 : Washington D.C., Pittsburgh/Boston & Silicon Valley, CA

Building on the success of the eight edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 held first time in India in the city of Hyderabad from Nov 28 -30, 2017, FICCI is building a delegation of technology led women entrepreneurs to the United States of America in February 2017.

The GES was the largest entrepreneurial conference attended by over 1200 entrepreneurs from across the world that was jointly organised by NITI Aayog and the Government of the United States of America. The Summit was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in the presence of Ms. Ivanka Trump, Advisor to President Trump who was leading the US delegation.

On the sidelines of the GES 2017, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) jointly with NITI Aayog organized seven Road to GES events in Chennai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh and Hyderabad which brought together over 1500 entrepreneurs and key stakeholders from the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Over 50 percent participation in each of these programs was from women entrepreneurs.

To keep the momentum on by strengthening the ecosystem that nurtures and fosters entrepreneurship, FICCI is partnering with leading institutions and universities in the US to design a one week programme especially for women entrepreneurs from India. As a part of this delegation, FICCI will be organising immersion boot camps, B2B Meetings, visit to iconic companies and interaction with US investors. The visit will culminate with a cultural evening.

We invite women entrepreneurs & executives from across the country from diverse sectors including but not limited to pharmaceuticals, healthcare, biotechnology, energy, media, financial technologies, information technology, cyber security, water, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics, e-commerce,etc. to join the delegation.

To defray a part of the expenses incurred in connection with organizing the visit, a delegation fee of INR 50,000/- ( + GST @ 18%) is being charged per delegate. The travel & accommodation cost has to be taken care of by the delegate themselves.

For any further details & registration, your office may please feel free to get in touch with my colleague Mr Amit Tyagi, Additional Director, FICCIamit.tyagi@ficci.com. Last date of registration is 24th Jan 2018.

Looking forward to your response at the earliest.

With best regards,

Nirankar Saxena
Deputy Secretary General
FICCI

68th Senior National Championship for Men and Women begins today

ON JANUARY 17, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

68th Senior National Championship for Men and Women begins today at JLN Stadium, Chennai 

Chennai 17th January 2018: The 68th Senior National Championship for Men and Women has started at the JLN Stadium, Chennai. 57 teams from all over India are participating which includes 31 Men’s teams and 26 Women’s teams. All the scores from Day 1 morning matches are below:

Category	Level	Group	Winning Team	Winning Team Pts	Losing Team	Losing Team Pts	QaurteWise Pts	Winning Team Top Scorers	Losing Team top Scorers
Women	1	B	Rajasthan	89	Telangana	61	26-16,17-17,28-11,18-17	A.S. Thampi 27pts, P. Divya 18pts, M. Gayathri	Nisha Sharma 31pts
Women	1	B	Indian Railways	89	Delhi	39	32-07,16-08,18-09,23-15	S. Menon 15pts, Navaneetha 16pts	Pratima Singh 16pts
Men	2	F	Maharashtra	65	Bihar	41	09-13,15-24, 10-19,07-09	Rohit Kumar 13 pts, Sanjeev Kumar 12pts	Amit Gahlot 19pts, Rakesh 09pts
Men	1	B	Punjab	76	Gujarat	65	22-12,10-10,20-27,24-16	Gurvinder Singh Gill 22pts, Satnam Singh 17pts, Rajveer Singh 14pts	Harpal 17pts, M. Kasirajan 15 pts
Men	1	A	Uttrakhand	85	Odisha	62	21-11, 27-16,21-17,16-18	Mohit Bhandari 20pts, Murali Krishna 17pts, Arjun Singh 15pts	Suman Sahoo 19pts, Ashok Kumar Nayak 12pts
Men	2	D	A.P	76	J&K	75	25-17, 21-15,18-19,12-24	T. Tammu Sandeep 20pts, J. Tharun Kumar 19pts	Ranbir Singh 18, Iqbal 19pts
Men	2	D	Pudducherry	22	Telangana	54	13-25,5-22,2-5,2-2	Sri Ganesh Patil 15pts, Prudhvi Reddy 8pts
Men	2	C	Chhatissgarh	49	Goa	32	12-06,10-05,08-10,19-11	Pratham Singh 15pts, Krishna Pandy 10pts	Flobert 14pts, Dilano 12pts
Men	2	F	U.P	88	West Bengal	76	15-10,17-17,21-23,00-12	Sagar Joshi 28pts, Arshdeep Singh 16pts	M. vivek 29pts, Vishal kumar 29pts

Veere Di Wedding to release June 1st 2018 !

ON JANUARY 17, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Veere Di Wedding starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania is all set to hit theatre screens on the 1st June 2018.

There has been massive anticipation surrounding the film ever since it’s announcement, as two power producers Ekta Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor came together ,to present audiences with a fun ride that explores the spirit of the modern day Indian woman.

With the posters of Veere Di Wedding piquing the audiences’ curiosity even further, the wait is finally over as the wedding of the season will now release on the first Friday of June this year.

Says producer Ekta Kapoor, ” This is definitely going to be a wedding to remember . We are happy to announce that Veere Di Wedding will release on the 1st June 2018″.

Adds producer Rhea Kapoor, ” We are hoping that Veere Di Wedding will usher in a new phase in the Hindi film industry. Nothing like this has been attempted before and we hope it’s a fun ride for the audience”.

Directed by Shashank Ghosh and written by Mehul Suri and Nidhi Mehra,  the film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania.