India signs 4 agreements with Peru

29102013

Giving a boost to its ties with the fastest growing Latin American country, India on Monday signed four agreements with Peru including one on defence cooperation and another on establishment of a Joint Commission.

The two other agreements are on exchange programme in the field of education and another letter of intent for cooperation in the field of culture.  These agreements were signed at the end of Vice President Hamid Ansari’s three-day visit to the Latin America country.  Earlier on Monday, Ansari launched the Indian Chambers of Commerce (INCHAM) at a special function jointly organised by the Embassy of India in Peru and INCHAM.  The INCHAM aims to facilitate Indian trade and industry to do business in Peru and other countries of Latin America.  The INCHAM is becoming operational at a time when Peru is rapidly becoming one of the more important trade partners for India in this region. Looking at the potential, India and Peru are hoping to start negotiations soon for a Free Trade Agreement.  Mineral- rich Peru is the fastest growing country in Latin America. Ambassador of India to Peru Manpreet Vohra and President of INCHAM Ravi Krishna, senior officials and business leaders from both India and Peru were present on the occasion.  Addressing the gathering on the launch, Ansari said that the new organisation promises to fill what has so far been a vacuum in India-Peru commercial and economic relations.  The official website of INCHAM was also launched. INCHAM will seek to increase awareness of either country’s business opportunities in the other, it will offer information and advisory services, and it will provide the important bridge between businesses and governments that is vital when economic relations reach a take-off stage, as they have between India and Peru. India-Peru bilateral trade is increasing very quickly and has gone up by 7 times in the last 5 years.  The growth rate last year was 35 percent. In the first six months of this year, it rose by over 44 percent. Indian investments in Peru are also rising. The number of Indian companies with offices in the region is increasing steadily, as also the number of Indian professionals working in the region.  Another document that India hopes to finalise with Peru soon is the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

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White House halt to surveillance of allied leaders

29102013

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary

White House is currently evaluating whether to end surveillance programs allegedly targeting the leaderships of allied nations such as Germany.

This follows criticism from Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s chairwoman, who said that she was “totally opposed” to the collection of intelligence on US allies, and said that such surveillance of foreign heads of state would cease immediately.

“The White House has informed me that collection on our allies will not continue, which I support – but as far as I’m concerned, Congress needs to know exactly what our intelligence community is doing. To that end, the committee will initiate a major review into all intelligence collection programs,” she said in astatement on Monday.

“Unless the United States is engaged in hostilities against a country or there is an emergency need for this type of surveillance, I do not believe the United States should be collecting phone calls or emails of friendly presidents and prime ministers.”

The White House said Monday evening that it was conducting an internal review on its surveillance programs, which include the monitoring of allied foreign leaders, to be completed by December.

“We have already made some decisions through this process and expect to make more,” said Caitlin M. Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council.

The Obama administration earlier said the controversial intelligence gathering procedures that have attracted international scrutiny in recent months may require “additional constraints.”

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, made the remark during a scheduled Monday afternoon briefing on the heels of the latest revelations made possible through the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive National Security Agency documents detailing US-led programs that spied on foreign citizens and politicians.

“There are a number of efforts underway that are designed to increase transparency, to work with Congress to look at reform to the Patriot Act [and] to look at ways we can increase oversight and increase constraint on the authorities provided by these programs,” Carney told reporters.

The press secretary also echoed words made earlier that day by National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who tweeted of a balance needing to be reached with regards to how intelligence gathering.

Media agencies

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NSA bugged forty six million phone calls in Italy

29102013

 

 NSA bugged forty six million phone calls in Italy in a month, according to digital library host Cryptome. The report is the latest in the revelations that the agency tapped hundreds of millions of phone lines across Europe. 

This snooping, is of Dec. 10, 2012 and Jan. 8, 2013, reportedly did not appear to track the content of calls but rather telephony metadata, including the origin and duration of the calls.  

Alleged monitoring of citizens’ phone calls follows an article in the Italian weekly, L’Espresso, say that US intelligence had monitored Italian telecoms networks, targeting the government and companies as well as suspected terrorists.

Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) also reportedly monitored telephone, Internet and email traffic carried through three undersea fiber-optic cables in Italy as a part of its Tempora program. 

“In this mass collection, our secret services had a role,” the publication cited Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who helped publish leaked documents obtained by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, as saying. 

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said Thursday that the alleged monitoring of Italian telecommunications by US and British intelligence would be both “inconceivable and unacceptable.”

Letta questioned US Secretary of State John Kerry about the reported bugging during talks in Rome on Wednesday. 

Ahead of an EU summit Friday, Letta said: “Obviously, all checks should be done, but we want the whole truth. It’s not acceptable or conceivable that there are activities of this kind.”

In regards to the Cryptome report, Italian intelligence agencies had no information on the alleged monitoring and were unable to confirm it had taken place. 

A statement released by an Italian parliamentary committee tasked with state security, however, said there was a difference between “spying” and “monitoring.” 

“There is no evidence that the United States is spying on Italian citizens,” the statement from the Parliamentary Committee for the Intelligence and Security Services and for State Secret Control read. 

The committee said that agreements on cooperation in the security sphere precluded the possibility that either side would spy on each other. Media agencies

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RBI hikes key rate by 0.25%

29102013

RBI hikes key rate by 0.25%; consumer loans to get costlier

Updated on : 29-10-2013 12:36 PM

Inflation worries forced the Reserve Bank to continue its firm stance and hike the short-term lending (repo) rate by 0.25 per cent, a step that will make corporate and consumer loans more expensive.

There was no surprise in the first full policy unveiled by new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who increased the repo rate, as was widely expected, by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent and brought down the cost of short-term funds for banks by slashing the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by a similar quantum to 8.75 per cent.  The policy stance and measures, Rajan said, “are intended to curb mounting inflationary pressures and manage inflation expectations in a situation of weak growth. “These will help strengthen the environment for growth by fostering macroeconomic and financial stability. The Reserve Bank will closely monitor inflation risk while being mindful of the evolving growth dynamics,” he said.  The central bank reduced the growth forecast for the current fiscal to 5 per cent from 5.5 per cent projected earlier. Economic growth fell to a decade-low of 5 per cent in the previous financial year.  The RBI left other rates unchanged, such as the cash reserve ratio at 4 per cent, and mandatory holdings in government securities and other liquid assets as a solvency measure (SLR) at 23 per cent.  However, the Governor doubled the borrowing limit of banks against their cash positions or NDTL to 0.5 per cent for both 7-day and 14-day repos, with immediate to increase liquidity in the system.  Following are the highlights of the RBI’s second quarter review of monetary policy 2013-14 : * Repo or short-term lending rate up by 0.25 pc to 7.75 pc;  * Cash reserve ratio unchanged at 4 pc  * Marginal standing facility (MSF) rate cut by 0.25 pc to 8.75 pc  * Difference between repo and MSF rate narrows to 1 pc  * Repo hiked due to upturn of inflation, other factors.  * Wholesale inflation expected to be higher than current levels; warrants ‘appropriate policy response’  * Retail inflation to hover around 9 pc  * Food price pressures may ease with the arrival of summer crop harvest and seasonal moderation.  * Prospect of delay in taper of US Fed Reserve’s bond purchases has brought calm to financial markets * Normalcy will restored in the forex market only when OMCs fully return to the market for their demand  * FY14 GDP growth estimate revised downward to 5 pc vs 5.7 pc  * Growth likely to pick up in second half on good show in exports and agriculture  * Liquidity pressures building on small businesses as large entities holding on payments; remedies lie in speeding-up of Government and PSU payments.  * Average drawdown from MSF has declined to Rs 0.4 trillion by mid-Oct, down from a high of Rs 1.4 trillion in mid-Sep  * Final guidelines on unhedged forex exposures by corporates to be out by December  * Jalan panel on new bank licenses to hold 1st meet on Nov 1, decision of RBI on in-principle approvals will be final.

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Patna Terror suspect sent to judicial custody

29102013

Mohammad Imtiaz Ansari, one of the two terror suspects arrested in connection with serial blasts in Patna, has been sent to judicial custody by a Patna court.

Imtiaz, a resident of Ranchi, was arrested from Patna railway junction after a bomb exploded on platform number 10 on Sunday morning, ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally.A court of the railway magistrate here sent Imtiaz to seven days judicial custody. “He was produced before the court of railway magistrate late Monday night and sent to high security Beur jail under judicial custody,” said Superintendent of Railway Police Upendra Kumar Singh. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said two separate FIRs have been lodged with the government railway police and Gandhi Maidan police stations. Six of the seven blasts took place in and around the rally venue while one blast took place at the railway station. Additional Director General (Special Branch) Rajesh Chandra said Imtiaz, the main accused caught with bombs at the Patna junction when he tried to flee after the first blast, was interrogated and confessed to his involvement. “Imtiaz told police that a group of six people had been divided into three groups with specific assignments to carry out the blasts,” Chandra said. Maharaj said that Patna police will take Imtiaz in police custody in a day or two. Six people were killed and 83 were injured in seven bomb blasts in Patna. The first of the blasts ripped through a toilet at around 10 a.m. at the railway station in the heart of the city, killing one person and wounding another. After an hour, by which time Modi had reached Patna but not the rally ground, four explosions took place inside the Gandhi Maidan, and two around it that caused a lot of panic. The Patna railway station is located two-three kilometres from the Gandhi Maidan.

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When Bhabho comes to Meenakshi’s rescue

29102013

She may be the most tyrannical and strictest mom-in-law on Television but Diya Aur Baati’s Bhabho (Neelu Waghela) is the most reliable friend one can have. Neelu had participated in Nach Baliye last season and is well-versed with the show’s format and rules. Incidentally, Kanika Maheshwari who plays her daughter-in-law Meenakshi in the show is participating in Nach Baliye-6 and is super excited to groove on the stage with her businessman husband Ankur Ghai.

The couple has been practicing for their first ever debut on TV and had plans to use this opportunity to spend quality time with each other. But with Nach Baliye’s schedules clashing with Kanika’s shoot schedules, she is hardly finding any time for rehearsals. Here’s where Bhabho came to Kanika’s rescue! Neelu is helping Kanika manage her shoot time, dance practice along with giving her some tips. Kanika had helped Neelu manage her time last season and now it’s Neelu’s turn to return the favour!  

Talking about Bhabho aka Neelu Waghela, Kanica saids, “Bhabho is truly myfriend, philosopher and guide. I completely look upto her, she always helps me out from situations and is a wonderful person. With my hectic schedules, she has taught me some exercises and is always comforting and ready to ease out the pain.” Aakhir saas ho toh aisi! 

Catch Kanika and Ankur in Nach Baliye-6 starting 9th November, every Satruday and Sunday at 9 pm only on STAR Plus! 

 

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29102013

India ranked 134^th in Doing Business Index

( India ‘s rank in the “Doing Business Index” declined two notches from 132 in DB13 to 134 in DB14)

India has been placed at 134^th position in Doing Business Index 2014 by World Bank and IFC, down from 132^nd position in previous year’s Doing Business Index 2013. India ‘s ranking remained below those of the neighbors like Sri Lanka at 85^th position, Nepal at 105^th, Pakistan at 110^th and Bangladesh at 130^th.

                                                                                        

India stands at 179 in the ranking of 189 economies on the ease of starting a business. These rankings indicate that India could do more to enhance corporate sector profitability by reducing the costs of doing business and improving institutions.

The ease of starting business in India over time

Indicator	DB’08	DB’09	DB’10	DB’11	DB’12	DB’ 13	DB’ 14
Ease of Doing Business (Rank)	120	122	133	134	132	132	134
Starting a Business (Rank)	111	121	169	165	169	173	179
Procedures (no)	13	13	13	12	12	12	12
Time (days)	33	30	30	29	29	27	27
Cost (% of per-cap income)	74.6	70.1	66.1	56.5	46.8	49.8	47.3

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Doing Business in India 2014  by World Bank and IFC.

In “resolving insolvency” India ’s ranking has declined by 5 positions from 116 in DB’13 to 121 in DB’14, for “paying taxes” ranking has deteriorated by 6 positions from 152 in DB’13 to 158 in DB’14. Ranking for “getting electricity” has also gone down by 6 positions from 105 in DB’13 to 111 in DB’14. India ’s rank has gone down for “Trading across borders” and “getting credit” from 127 in DB’13 to 132 in DB’14 and 23 in DB’13 to 28 in DB’14 respectively.

However, India has been taking adequate measures for “protecting investors” as its ranking has gone up significantly from 49 in DB’13 to 34 in DB’14. India ’s ranking for “registering property” has also gone up by 2 positions from 94 in DB’13 to 92 in DB’14.

India’s rank in “dealing with construction permits” has remained unchanged at 182 in DB’13 and DB’14.

India’s performance on various parameters

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Doing Business in India 2014 and Doing Business in India 2013 by World Bank and IFC.

Regards,

Dr. S P Sharma

Chief Economist

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WORKSHOP SET TO INITIATE REVISED SCOPE AND INTENTIONS OF IEEE 1547™ STANDARD

29102013

WORKSHOP SET TO INITIATE REVISED SCOPE AND INTENTIONS OF  IEEE 1547™ STANDARD FOR INTERCONNECTING DISTRIBUTED RESOURCES PUCs, utilities, manufacturers and independent power producers worldwide invited 3-4 December 2013 to help shape planned revision of key smart grid standard New Delhi, 29 October 2013 – IEEE, the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced a workshop addressing the full revision of IEEE 1547™ “Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems.” Public utility commissions (PUCs), utilities, manufacturers and independent power producers worldwide are invited 3-4 December 2013 to the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick (N.J.) to help shape the direction of the revised standard.  “Since IEEE 1547’s initial publication in 2003, we have seen the grassroots development of new interconnection lessons learned and engineering practices in the real world of smart grid implementation,” said Dick DeBlasio, chair of IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee (SCC) 21 on Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Dispersed Generation and Energy Storage. “Now, 10 years later, IEEE 1547 is ready for a comprehensive refresh, even as the existing standard continues to inform interconnection and deployment of distributed generation in markets globally and continues to grow into a family of standards addressing emerging market needs.”  From collaboration in the December workshop, SCC 21 will develop a request to launch an IEEE working group to complete a revision of the IEEE 1547 standard by 2018. Please visit https://iecs.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=form_151236 to participate in the workshop. Registration deadline is 22 November 2013.  IEEE 1547 established the first performance, operation, testing, safety and maintenance criteria and requirements for distributed resources with aggregate capacity of 10 MegaVolt Ampere (MVA) or less at the point of common coupling. The standard has informed federal legislation and rule making, regulatory deliberations and critical utility engineering and business practices in markets worldwide. Also, deployment of distributed generation has intensified, revealing new market challenges that have precipitated expansion of a family of IEEE 1547 extension standards to address in depth areas such as conformance tests; monitoring, information exchange, and control; microgrids, and grid impacts including modeling and simulation. Development continues. For example, IEEE P1547.1a™ “Draft Standard Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems Amendment 1” is on a fast track to amend the base standard to address testing requirements around voltage regulation and response to abnormal conditions of voltage and frequency in area electric power systems.  Following the workshop on revising the base IEEE 1547 standard, the IEEE P1547.1a workinggroup will meet 5 December 2013, also at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Please visithttp://standards.ieee.org/develop/project/1547.1a.html for more information about IEEE P1547.1a.  To learn more about IEEE-SA, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ieeesa, follow us on Twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/ieeesa, connect with us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1791118 or on the Standards Insight Blog at http://www.standardsinsight.com.  About the IEEE Standards Association The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 900 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org/.  About IEEE IEEE, a large, global technical professional organization, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more athttp://www.ieee.org.

Regards,

–

Gaurav Goswami, Asst. Account Executive +91 9971285716
		PRHUB Integrated Marketing Communication Pvt. Ltd. #401, 4th Floor, Nirmal Tower, 26, Barakhamba Road  Delhi-110001. Tel: +91 11 41513591

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CALLING PAKISTAN ARMY’S BLUFF- RAJIV KUMAR

29102013

 In my last column (Handling different Pakistans, 4 October) I had argued that India will have to craft a differentiated  strategy to deal with different groups in Pakistan. In this piece I want to elaborate further on this as some readers questioned its viability. It is clear that there can be only one approach towards the Jihadis of all shades, which is to crush them to make it clear that in modern societies only the state has the monopoly of violence.  India should also openly support the US and  NATO  on their its drone attacks and everyone else who is fighting against Jihadis all over the world. It will be good domestically for our population to see India as reinforcing the global coalition against Jihad.

At the other end of the spectrum are the  civil society and Pakistani business who are quite visibly sick and tired of the on-going violence, fear the Talibanisation of Pakistani and have openly expressed and voted with their feet for better relations with India. They have done this despite being threatened with violence and death by the Jihadis. We must, therefore,  reciprocate accordingly with boldness.  There are two steps we can take without in any way jeopardising either our security or economic interests. First, we should immediately implement the liberal visa regime for all Pakistani visitors and do away with the shameful practice of giving restricted visas for a few cities. This is primitive and remains in force only and only because of the backwardness of our security agencies who persist with blanket security approach rather than be more technologically savvy and give the government more degrees of freedom in inter-state relations. Surely, modern technology can help track those who violate their visa conditions and surely too,  Jihadis don’t cross over with visas and through designated border check points.  They come with covering fire in Keran.

Second, India should now seriously consider unilaterally liberalising its import regime rather than wait for Pakistan to grant it the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status.  Evidently, it is difficult for the Pakistan government, beleaguered as it is vis a vis the fundamentalist, to take this step. Also India already has a substantial trade surplus specially  if we take in to account Indian exports to Pakistan via Dubai and even London! By this unilateral liberalization, as we have already done for other South Asian neighbours, we will improve the trade balance and more importantly will provide a huge leverage to Pakistani businessmen  to raise a stronger voice for normalising ties with India. My sincere suggestion is for India to implement the protocol agreed between the two commerce secretaries without waiting for the MFN. My hunch is that it will become very shortly irrelevant with the growth in trade that will ensue in any case. On some occasions it is wise to forego the symbolism as it is quite often more form than substance.

To design India’s possible approach to the civilian government in Islamabad, we will need to  distinguish between the political class and bureaucracy and then categorise those who are close to the armed forces and others,  which are relatively less so. In general I have noticed that the bureaucracy has far deeper and extensive ties with the armed forces. This could be for many reasons including that both come from the same professional family background and   that the bureaucracy has had to be subservient to the army for decades. Very often Pakistani diplomats and bureaucrats appear to be liberal towards India but actually do only the army’s bidding. So our better bet is to strengthen our relationship with that segment of the  political class who openly profess their friendship towards India and are not Jihadi supporters.  PML and MQM today qualify   on this criteria and will be useful to develop ties between politicians of the two Punjabs and between Mumbai and Karachi.  Frequent interaction should be organized  between the legislators from the two sides, along with track two events involving politicians, business and academics from the two sides and meeting with the officials on the sidelines. These will help remove misunderstandings and build much needed trust between the politicians.

Vis-a-vis the Pakistan army, our stance must be uncompromising and punishing. Incidents on the line of control (LOC), covering fire for infiltration by Jihadis or suspected ISI involvement with Jihadi attacks as in Mumbai must invite immediate and disproportionate retaliation and retribution. Our government must give clear and unequivocal free hand to our armed forces to deal with the situation. This should include the dismantling of training camps across the LOC which really are a perpetual symbol of India’s inability to shake off the nuclear bluff and allow Pakistan to persist with adventurism and continue with its policy of trying to bleed India with small cuts. It also allows the Pakistani army to continue with its coalition with the Jihadis who are given a free hand and support to attack India and take on Kabul and its allies as long as they do ISI’s bidding. India will have to explain to the US, China, Russia and the  NATO countries that these terrorist training camps are simply unacceptable as are ISI supported incidents.  These incidents are also harmful for the Pakistani population because they allow the ISI and the army to determine nature of Indo-Pak relations and abort any promising opening.

Does this stance convert me to a hawk against Pakistan? No it does not. In fact I am sure that a large majority of Pakistanis want to have their army put in its proper place. It should stay in the barracks and give up grandiose ambitions that have cost Pakistan dear. For India it is stupid for our TV anchors and  foreign policy hawks to ask for complete freeze on all contacts with Pakistan and breaking off all dialogue or interaction every time an incident happens on the LOC . This only serves the purpose of the Jihadis and Rawalpindi as it does not punish them but instead burns up the goodwill among the people that takes enormous effort and time to rebuild.  The stick should be wielded on the culprits and not on friends. India has to help the peace loving people of Pakistan by throwing our full weight against their army and Jihadis and opening  our markets, cricket fields, cultural platforms and hearts to the others, which are undoubtedly the great majority.

____________________________________________________________

Author is Senior Fellow,  Centre For Policy Research

 

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Twitpic – Share photos and videos on Twitter

29102013

Naresh Kumar Sagar 

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“Blasts in Patna & Home minister Sushil Shinde enjoying dance at music launch of film Rajjo,” was the subject of many tweets and re-tweets.

TWENTY ONE COUNTRIES FOR ANTI-NSA UN RESOLUTION

OCTOBER 28, 2013 BY SAGARMEDIA

 

Twenty-one countries, including US allies France and Mexico, have now joined talks to hammer out a UN resolution that would condemn “indiscriminate” and “extra-territorial” surveillance, and ensure “independent oversight” of electronic monitoring.

The news was reported by Foreign Policy magazine, which has also obtained a copy of the draft text.

The resolution was proposed earlier this week by Germany and Brazil, whose leaders have been some of the most vocal critics of the comprehensive spying methods of the US National Security Agency.

It appears to have gained additional traction after the Guardian newspaper published an internal NSA memo sourced from whistleblower Edward Snowden on Friday, which revealed that at least 35 heads of state had their phones tapped by American intelligence officials.

One of those is likely German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Earlier this week the White House failed to deny that her personal cell phone had been tapped in the past, though it claims that it no longer listens in on Merkel’s private conversations.

Other countries involved in the talks reportedly include Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Paraguay, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Navanethem Pillay – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

While the document does not single out the US as the chief electronic spy, its text seems to be a direct response to alleged NSA practices.

The draft says that UN member states are “deeply concerned at human rights violations and abuses that may result from the conduct of extra-territorial surveillance or interception of communications in foreign jurisdictions.”

Snowden’s leaks over the past months have revealed that NSA intercepts data directly from data cables stationed around the world. Internal documents also showed that American intelligence staff did not need a warrant or any other legal basis to freely spy on a non-US citizen.

The proposed document also claims that “illegal surveillance of private communications and the indiscriminate interception of personal data of citizens constitutes a highly intrusive act that violates the rights to freedom of expression and privacy and threatens the foundations of a democratic society.”

As opposed to the targeted spying of the past, where agencies would tap a specific phone or intercept letters addressed to a person, new technologies mean that almost all data that passes through the internet is saved onto the NSA servers. This includes private emails, web searches, and personal data of billions of people. NSA agents then fish out the needed information with precise searches.

The resolution, which is expected to be presented in front of the U.N. General Assembly human rights committee before the end of the year, turns NSA’s activities into an issue of fundamental rights as opposed to international diplomacy, requiring the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a report on the problem. The draft also asks to institute “independent oversight mechanisms” that would curb the untrammelled surveillance, though it does not specify how such a secretive activity could be effectively supervised.

When I was in Budapest - A New Learning Experience of my Life'

Dear Friend,

We are happy to inform you that an interactive talk 'When I was in Budapest - A New Learning Experience of my Life' will be held byDr. Vijaya Sati, former Visiting Professor at the Department of Indo-European Studies, ELTE University, Budapest, about her memories and experiences in Hungary.

Venue: Balassi Institute Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi

              (1-A Janpath, New Delhi - 110 011)

Date and time: on Monday, 28th of October 2013 at 6.00 p.m.

Please. see the invitation attached.

All are welcome!

Best regards,

Hungarian Centre

India, China out-educating us: Obama

27102013

Updated on : 27-10-2013 03:29 PM

Billions of people from countries like India and China are striving hard to”out-educate” Americans in mathematics and technology, President Barack Obama has said while stressing on education reforms to prepare Americans for a global economy where “jobs can go anywhere.”

“In previous generations, America’s standing economically was so much higher than everybody elses that we did nothave a lot of competition,” Obama said.  “Now you have got billions of people from Beijing to Bangalore to Moscow, all of whom are competing with you directly. And they are — thosecountries are working every day to out-educate and out-compete us,” Obama said in his remarks to students at the Pathways in Technology Early College High School in Brooklyn on Friday.  “And every year brings more research showing them pulling ahead, especially in some of the subject matter that this school specialises in — math and scienceand technology.So we have got a choice to make,” he said.  He said if the workforce is not educated enough, it will be left behind and find it hard to get a job that pays a living wage.  “We live in a 21st century global economy. And in a global economy, jobs can go anywhere. Companies, they are looking for the best-educated people, whereverthey live, and they will reward them with good jobs and good pay,” the president said.  “We can just kind of shrug our shoulders and settle for something less, or we can do what America has always done,which is adapt.We pull together, we up our game, we hustle, we fight back, we work hard, and we win,” he said.  Obama joked that he had asked students at the Brooklyn school if they could help him help his daughter Malia with her math homework.  “I don’t know if some of you have experienced this where you get to the point where your children ask you for help and you suddenly realise you have no ideawhats going on,” he said amid laughter from his young audience.  The President said America has to educate its young people and prepare them for the global economy. With the cost of higher education escalating, Obama said heis working hard to reduce the burden of student loans on young people.  “We need to bring down the cost of college and give more young people the chance to go to college. So a couple of months ago, I put forward an ambitious newplan to do that, to reduce the cost of college,” he said.  Obama stressed that America needs a budget that is responsible, fiscally prudent and one that “cuts what we don’t need, closes wasteful tax loopholes thatdont create jobs, freeing up resources to invest in the things that actually do help us grow — things like education and scientific research, and infrastructure,roads, bridges, airports.  Having dealt with the government shutdown, Obama has his eyes set on passing the country’s immigration reforms.  “As we close out the new year, we still have a chanceto get immigration reform done and a chance to affirm that we’re a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.”

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International Newshot

27102013

German intel chiefs to travel to US after spying scandal

Senior German officials will travel to the US to talk with the White House and the National Security Agency about the allegations that the US spied on Germany. The heads of Germany’s foreign and domestic intelligence agencies will participate in the talks, government spokesman Georg Streiter said Friday. At a summit Friday in Brussels, EU leaders vowed to maintain a strong trans-Atlantic partnership despite allegations of widespread US spying, including on Chancellor Angela Merkel. However, France and Germany say new surveillance rules should be agreed upon with the US this year

39 killed in six car bomb attacks in Baghdad

At least 39 people have been killed in six separate car bombings in Baghdad on Sunday, government officials and doctors said. The explosions also led to 50 people being wounded, AFP reported. Five different areas of the capital were struck, all in predominantly Shi’ite districts. There is still no information on who was behind the attack, but Sunni militias have been stepping up their sectarian campaign of violence toward the Shi’ite-dominated government and people since the withdrawal of US forces from the country in December 2011.

Pakistan supports Saudi decision to opt out of UN Security Council

Saudi Arabia’s decision not to join the UN Security Council after securing a non-permanent seat for the 2014-2015 term, received full backing from Pakistan, which shares the Saudi view that the international body cannot adequately perform its functions. Pakistan agrees with the Saudi Government that there should be forward movement and progress on all issues including Syria; Palestine and other long standing issues like Kashmir,” a Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement. Saudi Arabia, after being elected unopposed last week, rejected the seat because of its continued dissatisfaction with how the Syrian crisis is being handled, arguing for more action against President Bashar Assad. The Saudis likewise criticized the UNSC’s perceived inability to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the failure to make the Middle East a WMD-free zone.

Georgians head to polls to choose presidential candidates

Georgians go to polling stations on Sunday to elect their next president, who will replace Mikhail Saakashvili after 10 years in power. Opinion polls put Georgy Margvelashvili, a candidate endorsed by Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, ahead of his main competitors. Those include former parliamentary speakers and Saakashvili allies David Bakradze and Nino Burjanadze. Bakradze has been backed by Saaakashvili as his preferred candidate, while Burjanadze joined the opposition to Saakashvili in the wake of Georgia’s war with Russia over South Ossetia in 2008. This election is likely to complete the transition of power from Saakashvili’s United National Movement to Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition, which won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections last year.

Dozens detained by Egypt security forces in Sinai

Egyptian security forces detained dozens of suspects after raiding several Sinai villages as well as areas in and around El-Arish, officials told Ma’an News Agency. Ammunition and explosives were seized, along with cameras, cell phones and laptops which allegedly contain evidence of both past and future illegal operations in Sinai. Officials told the agency 11 of those detained are wanted criminals, some of whom have been implicated in the murder of Egyptian soldiers. Six detainees are reportedly Palestinian citizens illegally residing in Egypt.

Japan vows to counter China if it uses force

Japan will stand up to China, if provoked, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. He said China was attempting “to change the status quo by force”, not by the law. If it “opts to take that path, then it won’t be able to emerge peacefully,” Abe said. In the past year relations between Beijing and Tokyo have deteriorated over a territorial dispute in the East China Sea, where China claims an archipelago that it named Diaoyu, but that is administered by Japan under the name of Senkaku.

Man with guns, ammo in luggage arrested in New York airport

A man carrying two handguns, two defaced rifles and high-capacity magazines was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the officials said. Keenan Draughon from Clarksville, Tennesee, had the arsenal in his luggage, with one of the rifles loaded. The 23-year, traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

Early results give Social Democrats lead in Czech parliamentary election

The main opposition Centre-left Social Democrats, led by former finance minister Bohuslav Sobotka, have won 22.2 per cent of the vote to lead in the Czech parliamentary election, Reuters reports. The election committee has so far received results from 10 per cent of the country’s polling sections. “I firmly believe we will be able to form a strong government by the end of the year,” Sobotka said, adding that his party is aiming for a third of the vote. The Communists are vying for the second position with a new protest movement called, ANO, both on around 18 per cent on the basis of the early results. Four other parties seemed set to cross the minimum 5 per cent threshold to enter parliament.

2 killed, 2 injured as Antonov An-2 biplane crashes in Russia’s East Siberia

An Antonov An-2 biplane has crashed upon landing in East Siberia, killing two and injuring another two people who were on board. The two survivors have been taken to a local hospital. The accident has been likely caused by engine failure, a police spokeswoman said, citing the survivors. “The pilots were looking for a place where to land, but failed. The aircraft fell and caught fire,” she said.

Turkish police prevent student protests in Ankara, arrest 24

Ankara police have dispersed a protest by students against a project that threatens to destroy 3,000 trees to make way for a controversial road. Hundreds of students were preparing to march, but police prevented the demonstration and scuffles broke out between police officers and students.Turkish riot police fired tear gas. Some 24 people who formed a human chain were detained.

Cairo court throws out ‘betrayal of trust’ case against ElBaradei

A Cairo court has dismissed a lawsuit against former interim vice president Mohamed ElBaradei for “betrayal of trust.” Cairo’s Misdemeanours Court judge Wael El-Mahdi said the case lacked sufficient grounds. ElBaradei resigned Aug. 14 after security forces attacked protest camps set up by Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Cairo, killing hundreds of people. Anti-Mursi Egyptian law professor Sayyid Al-Ateeq filed the suit against ElBaradei in August.

UN envoy supports Iran’s participation in Geneva-2 talks

The UN envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, on Saturday expressed hope that Iran would be invited to participate in the Geneva-peace 2 conference on ending the Syrian war, Iran’s Press TV news channel reported. “We believe that the participation of Iran in the Geneva conference is natural and necessary as well as fruitful, so we are hopeful that this invitation is made,” Brahimi told reporters in Tehran, Press TV reported.

Russian FM, UN Syria envoy ‘agree on further steps’ for Geneva-2 peace conference

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has had a phone conversation with UN and Arab League special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, in which they agreed further steps in preparation for the Geneva-2 peace conference on Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Lavrov told Brahimi about his visits to a number of Middle Eastern countries, and stressed the importance of both getting the Syrian opposition to work together in negotiating with Bashar Assad’s government and of involving key regional countries in the talks.

​Suicide vests, bombs found in Dagestan terrorists’ cache

Security forces found 10 unarmed suicide vests, three IEDs, wigs and car license plates among the things discovered in a suspected terrorist cache in the republic of Dagestan in southern Russia, the country’s National Counter-Terrorism Committee reports. The explosives and the building, which apparently was used as a workshop by militants, have been blown up with explosives. Law enforcement agencies believe the items were meant to be used in a series of terrorist attacks in Russia. The cache was seized in a village one day after a fire-fight with a group of militants in Dagestan. The two gunmen, who were killed in the clashes, were transporting two powerful bombs with a combined yield of 100 kilograms of TNT, as well as a smaller bomb and a number of firearms in their car.

Greenpeace activist hangs from Eiffel Tower to protest ‘Arctic 30’ detentions in Russia

A Greenpeace activist suspended himself from Paris’ landmark Eiffel Tower to protest the detention 28 activists and 2 journalists who were arrested 38 days ago after trying to scale a Gazprom oil platform off Russia’s northern coast. The activist unfurled a large yellow banner reading: Free the Artic 30,” He was brought down two hours later by firefighters. A Russian court recently moved to drop the charges of privacy against the group, opting instead to charge them with hooliganism, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years behind bars.

Gunfight erupts between Afghan and NATO-led soldiers outside Kabul

A so-called “insider attack” between Afghan and foreign soldiers outside the capital Kabul on Saturday has left at least one Afghan soldier dead and a number of other troops injured, according to Afghan and NATO officials. “There was an argument between an Afghan and foreign soldier inside a military base… where they opened fire on each other. An investigation is ongoing,” defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said, as quoted by Reuters. The soldier killed was Afghan, a spokesman for the NATO-led contingency noted. Insider attacks are severely straining relations between the NATO-led alliance and Afghan authorities, even as the western military coalition prepares to exit the Central Asian country by the end of 2014.

​Iran hangs 16 people ‘in response’ to deadly border clashes

Sixteen people were hanged in an Iranian prison Saturday morning “in response” to overnight clashes that left at least 14 Iranian border guards killed, Iranian Students’ News Agency reports, citing Mohammad Marzieh, the attorney general of Sistan-Baluchestan province, where the clashes happened. He said the executed people belonged to groups hostile to the country, but offered no further details.

08:24

​Arrested Chinese journalist confesses to taking bribes on TV

Chen Yongzhou, a Chinese journalist has confessed to taking bribes on state broadcaster CCTV on Saturday, eight days after his arrest. He said he had written false reports about Zoomlion, a partly state-owned firm, which he claimed had financial troubles. Chen’s newspaper, New Express, on Wednesday ran a full-page appeal for his release.

06:11

​14 Iranian guards reported killed on Pakistan border

Clashes at the Iranian-Pakistani border have claimed the lives of 14 Iranian guards, Iran’s IRNA state news agency reported. The soldiers were killed in an overnight skirmish with militants in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, the report said, citing an anonymous source. Five other guards were injured in the fighting.

Media agencies

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Rahul Gandhi kick-starts Congress campaign in Delhi; says Sheila government

27102013

Sunday, 27 October 2013
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi kick-started party’s poll campaign in Delhi by addressing a huge election rally at Mangolpuri. While speaking on the occasion, he showered praises on Congress government in Delhi led by Sheila Dixit and said that the Congress govt has transformed the state in the past 15 years. “The shining Metro in Delhi has become a model for others” he said. “The Congress Government in Delhi has welcomed the migrants with an open heart and also authorised several resettlement colonies in Delhi. Further ownership rights were handed over to 45 resettlement colonies also by the Congress Govt” said Rahul Gandhi.

“Congress Government at the Centre has initiated a process of granting rights to the people. We gave you the right to job, right to information and right to food”, said Rahul Gandhi. “The Right to Information empowered the people. Now they can get any information about the government functions. The decisions which were taking behind closed doors have now come out open and people can have access to it now” said the Congress Vice President.

“The Food Security Bill guarantees rights to food for the poor in the country. But the opposition questioned this policy too by asking from where we will have funds for it. But we showed them that we can arrange resources for it” said Rahul Gandhi slamming the BJP’s efforts to block the pro-poor measures of the UPA Government.

“Only Congress understands the pain of the people. They need jobs, they need adequate health facilities. Most of the earning they make, the poor are forced to spend it on treatment. We realise it and we framed policies to solve these issues being faced by them” added the Congress leader.

The assembly elections in Delhi will be held on December 4th and the counting will be done on Dec 8.

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Vice President Inaugurates Festival of India in Lima, Peru

27102013

Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari inaugurated the “Festival of India-2013” in Lima, the capital of Peru today. The First Vice President of Peru Mrs. Marisol Espinoza and other important dignitaries were present on the occasion. The Festival is being conducted in the Latin American Countries of Peru and Cuba from October 25 to 31, 2013, to disseminate Indian culture in Latin America.In Peru, the festival comprises of a Film festival, Dance festival and a literary festival. With these the people of Peru will be exposed to the diversity of Indian culture and closely integrate with its various components.

At the inaugural function, “Nrityarupa”, the mosaic of six Indian dances – Bharatnatyam; Kathak; Odissi; Manipuri; Kathkali; and Chhau, encapsulated the experience of Indian dance as it has evolved in various parts of the India.

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Quake of M7.3 – OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU

27102013

 Quake of M7.3 – OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU

Quake of M7.3 – OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude	7.3
Date-Time	25 Oct 2013 17:10:16 UTC 26 Oct 2013 03:10:17 near epicenter 25 Oct 2013 21:10:16 standard time in your timezone
Location	37.194N 144.663E
Depth	10 km
Distances	325 km (201 mi) ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan 326 km (202 mi) E of Namie, Japan 331 km (205 mi) SE of Ofunato, Japan 333 km (206 mi) ESE of Yamoto, Japan 475 km (294 mi) ENE of Tokyo, Japan

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Modi address BJP’s ‘Hunkar rally’

27102013

Modi’s began Hunkar rally in Patna with cheers and slogan shouting greets his narration diction in Bhojpuri. He added Maithili, the dialect spoken in North eastern Bihar. Modi thanked people present in large number also praised Bihar BJP leaders for their efforts in making Hunkar Rally a success.

Serial blast in Gandhi Maiden did not dither the BJP to call off ‘Hunkar rally’, as per schedule began the proceedings of the rally with well attended leaders.

Rajnath Singh the President of BJP spoke after the state leaders with thundering applause began lauding the people of Bihar, cursing the UPA government thanking the people to be present in large number to make it historical moment before change.

Modi said “When democracy was threatened in India, then Bihar always stood first with marked presence in all era’s and presently Gandhi in Champaran, later Jayaprakash Narayan in post independence changed the course of the nation in right direction.”

Taking a Jibe onto Vice President of Congress, Modi said he will stop calling Rahul the Shahzada if Congress stops it dynastic agenda.

Modi accused Nitish of cheating the BJP and the people of Bihar and called him an opportunistic leader, Nitish’s PM ambitions led him to break the 17-year-old alliance with the BJP and work hand in glove with the Congress. He further said, One who can ditched JP can do the same with BJP.

BJP’s ‘Hunkar rally’ too brought national debate on security because five killed and eighty six have been injured in eight low intensity blasts in Patna on Sunday, first blast at railway station in Patna, seven blast occur at Narendra Modi’s address to a rally in the Bihar capital.

Seven low intensity blasts occurred on the outer periphery of the Gandhi Maidan, police said.People were seen rushing the injured to the hospital as the explosions sparked panic.

Six persons were injured in a blast before the Eliphistine cinema hall on the western side of the rally venue, police sources said.

Hours before that, a bomb exploded in a newly constructed toilet at the Patna railway station, two kilometers from the BJP’s ‘Hunkar rally’ venue, injuring one person.

Immediately after the explosion, bomb disposal swept the area and discovered two more crude bombs, Railway Superintendent of Police Upendra Kumar Sinha said.

One security personnel was injured while defusing a bomb recovered from the toilet, he said. At the rally, plumes of smoke billowed from a couple of sites even as BJP leaders, including its Prime Ministerial candidate Modi, addressed the crowd.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and appealed for calm.

He spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and asked him to speedily probe the blasts and ensure that perpetrators are punished.

The Home Ministry has sought a report from the Bihar government on the explosions and is sending teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guard (NSG) to the state.

NIA and NSG teams have been rushed to the blats sites in Patna, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Sunday.

“There were five blasts in and around Gandhi Maidan in Patna where five people were killed and 72 people were injured. I am in contact with the Bihar government,” Shinde told reporters in Mumbai.

Shinde also informed that the NIA team stationed at Bodh Gaya in Bihar in connection with the July bombings was also being rushed to the site of explosions in Patna.

When asked if it was a terror strike, the Home Minister evaded a direct reply, saying he was giving whatever information he had with him.

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NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS

27102013

National Office : 6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110 014 . Phone : 011 2437 4535 | 9818905316

E-mail: napmindia@gmail.com | Web : www.napm-india.org

हिन्दी निमंत्रण नीचे दिया गया है।

AN INVITATION

Two Day Meeting on

New Land Acquisition Act, People’s Movements and its Political Implications

November 19-20, 2013. Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi

New Delhi, October 26, 2013

Dear Friends,

JIndabad

After years of struggles by the people’s movements in the country, the colonial Land Acquisition Act, 1894 has been repealed and a new law titled, Right to Fair Compensation, Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, been enacted.

General Elections and Assembly Elections in many of the states are due in coming months. Political parties, those in power and in opposition have all started working on plans, schemes and legislations targetting electorates and addressing their constituencies. UPA government has passed on some of the key legislations with political benefits in mind in the coming elections, including the new land act along with the National Food Security Act. However, the broader questions of people’s participation in development process, development with dignity, equity and justice and strengthening of communities rights over natural resources remain unaddressed.

National Alliance of People’s Movements have been engaged in the process of developing an alternative to the whole framework of land acquisition by State in the name of public purpose using the power of eminent domain since late 80s. The question of protecting land rights, livelihoods of nature based communities, making displacement a coterminous agenda with development to be addressed by the government and a whole new framework of development planning, was put in public domain by NAPM.

In early 90s a draft Bill was submitted to the Government of India, later in 2006 a different version was accepted by National Advisory Council and since then many presentations to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Ministry of Rural Development, other concerned Ministries and political parties have been made. The act now passed by the Parliament draws from our efforts starting with the very fact that there is a comprehensive Act, as opposed to two separate legislations, one for land acquisition and another for resettlement and rehabilitation. In addition, the inclusion for provisions of Social Impact Assessment, an expanded definition of project affected families, R&R benefits to the landless and groups other than land owners and role for Gram / Basti Sabha at different stages, consent of project affected and so on.

However, the new Act has many problems as pointed by NAPM and will not put an end to forcible land acquisitions and conflicts around that. It will neither end the miseries of displacement and nor empower communities rights and our struggle for democratic development and against corporate loot will continue. Even then, it is imperative that many of us who have been part of the struggles engage with the new legislation, strategise and make it a tool along with other laws to challenge the corporate loot of precious natural resources.

Land acquisition is going to increase given the large number of thermal power plants, dams, nuclear power plants, special investment regions, industrial corridors, manufacturing zones, highways, ports, airports, real estate projects and other infrastructure projects planned by the governments threatening the livelihood of millions and this new Act is to facilitate that.

There is a purposeful propaganda spread by the corporations and corporate media that the new Act is detrimental to industrialization, what we believe is that this is going to create a havoc in the country and cause sever land conflicts and will only facilitate the land acquisition. Hence, it is important to understand the new Act, to engage with it and see it as a tool for struggle.

The rules for the new Act have been put up for comments from public by the Ministry of Rural Development. As in past, we should read it, engage with it and give our reactions to it, in whatever form we deem fit.

It is in this context that we invite you to a two day consultation to discuss and debate the provisions of the new Act, proposed draft rules for the Act and people’s movements strategy in the upcoming Elections.

The meeting will be held on November 19-20, 2013 from 9:30 to 6:00 PM, at Gandhi Peace Foundation, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi.

Tentative agenda :

• Session One : Understanding the New Act
• Session Two : Discussion on Implications of the Provisions of the Act for Communities
• Session Three : Responses to the Act and Draft Rules
• Session Four : Upcoming Assembly and General Elections

We do hope you will be able to join us for this important meeting and together develop a common strategy to fight the corporate design for land and resource grab and develop a counter narrative to the dominant development and growth propaganda.

We look forward to be with you and do let us know, if you need more information.

Warm Regards,

Medha Patkar, Prafulla Samantara & Lingraj Azad (Orissa), Arundhati Dhuru (Uttar Pradesh), Dr. Sunilam, Aradhana Bhargava & Meera (Madhya Pradesh), C R Neelakandan (Kerala), D. Gabriele (Tamilnadu), Gautam Bandopadhyay (Chattisgarh), Sister Celia (Karnataka), Mahendra Yadav & Kamayani Swami (Bihar), Anand Mazgaonkar & Krishnakant (Gujarat), Ramakrishna Raju, PS Ajay and Saraswati Kavula (Andhra pradesh), Suniti. S. R., Vilas Bhongade, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe (Maharashtra), Bhupender Singh Rawat, Rajendra Ravi, Madhuresh Kumar and Seela M (Delhi), Vimal Bhai (Uttarakhand)

For details contact : napmindia@gmail.com | 9212587159 | 9818905316

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EC’s guidelines on use of social media

27102013

EC  guidelines on use of social media

All content posted by political parties and election candidates on internet and social media websites like Facebook and twitter.com will now come under the scanner of the Election Commission after it today issued detailed instructions in this regard.

EC has directed all political parties and candidates to get their advertisements pre-certified by it before issuing them on social media websites.It also asked the parties and candidates contesting the upcoming Assembly polls to provide details of their internet/ social media accounts along with a statement of expenditure incurred for creating them. However, as to content posted by persons or entities other than candidates and political parties, EC said it was considering the matter in consultation with the government to find a practical way out. Issuing detailed instructions in the matter ahead of Assembly polls in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh, EC averred that the said steps were being taken in the interests of transparency and would provide a level-playing field. “The provisions of the model code of conduct and related instructions issued from time to time shall also apply to the content being posted on the internet, including social media websites, by candidates and political parties,” an EC order said today. In a direction to the Chief Electoral Officers of all states and various political parties in the country, EC said, “No political advertisements are to be released on any internet-based media/websites, including social media websites, by political parties/candidates without pre- certification from competent authorities in the same format.” EC said that since social media websites came under electronic media, by definition, therefore, instructions for the latter would also apply “mutatis mutandis to websites including social media websites and shall fall under the purview of pre-certification”. “As far as the content posted by persons other than candidates and political parties is concerned, (we are) considering the matter in consultation with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on practical ways to deal with the issue,” the poll body said. EC also directed candidates and parties that they would have to include all expenses incurred during campaigning, including spending on advertisements on social media, in the statement of expenditure. That would include payments to internet companies and websites for carrying advertisements and also campaign-related operational expenditure on creative development of content, operational expenditure on salaries and wages paid to the team of workers employed to maintain such social media accounts. EC said candidates were required to file affidavits in Form-26 at the time of filing of nominations, providing details of their email IDs and authentic social media accounts. The poll watchdog said that the prevalence of web and social media had increased over the years and there have been demands from political and social groups to regulate social media during elections the way every other media format is. EC regulations would henceforth apply to all kinds of social media like collaborative projects (Wikipedia, etc.), blogs and micro blogs (like twitter.com), content communities (like YouTube), social networking sites (like Facebook) and virtual game-worlds (like Apps).

Rashid win the BILT Open 2013

Greater Noida, October 26, 2013: Delhi Rashid Khan defeated rookie Angad Cheema of Panchkula in a playoff to win the BILT Open 2013 at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort in Greater Noida. Rashid and Angad headed for the playoff after ending the regulation 72 holes with identical totals of 16-under-272. Rashid finally prevailed on the second playoff hole.

Rashid Khan (64-68-69-71), the overnight leader by one stroke, had an eventful start to the day as he made birdie-bogey-birdie on the second, third and fourth holes. RashidⳊthree-putt on the third was followed by a fabulous up and down from 120 yards on the fourth. Khan, the wire-to-wire leader from round one till the end, sank birdie putts from 10 to 15 feet on the 11^th and 13^th to maintain a slender one shot lead over nearest competitor SSP Chowrasia.