THE HEADLINES:-
- Finance Minister says, US President Barack Obama's visit has helped in forging new commercial ties.
- India's Ambassador to the US, Dr. S. Jaishankar appointed new Foreign Secretary replacing Sujatha Singh.
- In Delhi Assembly polls, Election Commission starts monitoring press conferences of political parties in addition to public meetings.
- Social Activists Anna Hazare to launch fresh agitation on Lokpal issue; criticizes Centre for its failure to bring back Black Money.
- Supreme Court advises Websites against posting Advertisements for Sex determination tests.
- AND IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, Top seed Serena Williams to take on Madison Keys while second placed Maria Sharapova to clash with Ekaterina Makarova in the semifinals today.
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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that US President Barack Obama's visit has helped in forging new commercial ties. In a facebook post, Mr Jaitley said, the conclave of Indian and American CEOs exhibited strong confidence in India and showed great interest to invest. He also said, their queries related essentially to the ease of doing business in India. Mr Jaitley said, with the American economy growing stronger, US corporates are flush with funds looking to invest elsewhere.
Underlining the need of more resources, the Minister said domestic resources are not adequate and the cost of capital is very high. Mr Jaitley said, while most competing economies are facing serious challenges, India is promising to accelerate its growth.
Referring to the World Economic Forum's annual meeting at Davos last week, Mr. Jaitley said the investors were looking at India with greater enthusiasm.
The Minister also said the four important ordinances relating to land, insurance, coal and mining have demonstrated India’s determination towards reforms.
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The Cabinet has approved a reserve price of 3,705 crore rupees per megahertz (MHz) for 2100 Mega Hertz band for auction. This will be used for 3G mobile services.The decision to this effect was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that a 5 MHz band in this category will be offered in all service areas except Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab.He said, this band will be auctioned along with 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands.
"We have taken the market potential of this band and when in the year 2010 the last auction mainly more than four years ago against the reserve price of seven hundred crores per megahertz. It could get an auction price of 3,350 crores per megahertz. In the year 2015 March that is nearly after five years, we have decided the reserve price as 3,705 crores per mega hertz."
Our Correspondent reports that the auction in 2100MHz band is expected to fetch 17555 crore rupees and out of which 5793 crore rupees will be realized in the current fiscal.
The Government has also decided not to challenge the Bombay High Court's ruling in the Supreme Court that Vodafone telecom was not liable to pay tax demand of about 1308 crore rupees in a transfer pricing case. Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley examined the judgement of the High Court with officials of the Cental Board of Direct Taxes and the Attorney General and came to a conclusion that there is no tax charging in the Vodafone case.
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India's Ambassador to the US, Dr. S Jaishankar has been appointed the new Foreign Secretary. He will replace Sujatha Singh whose tenure has been curtailed by nearly seven months. The decision was taken last night by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training said, Dr. Jaishankar will have a tenure of two years from the date he assumes charge. Sujatha Singh's two-year tenure was to end in August this year.
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Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag has denied that there was any connection between Tuesday's encounter in Jammu and Kashmir and the visit of US President Barack Obama. General Singh told reporters in New Delhi that whenever Army gets inputs on terrorists, it takes action to eliminate them.
I don't think it has any connectivity with the visit it is routine activity which are you aware and sure all of you are aware that the terrorists are there in the valley and moment we get input we take action to eliminate that.
The Army Chief said, Colonel M.N.Rai who was martyred during the encounter was a brave officer who showed exemplary leadership in leading from the front. Head constable Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Sanjeev Kumar Singh also lost his life. Two militants were gunned down in the encounter.
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The Election Commission has started monitoring even the press conferences of political parties in addition to the public meetings and rallies. Representatives from poll panel will attend press conferences to check what is spoken there and if anything may be violative of the Model Code of Conduct. The move is aimed at keeping the poll watchdog abreast itself of the developments amid allegations and counter allegations being leveled by political parties.
Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Chandra Bhushan Kumar said that the idea is that when someone complains, we also have evidence with us to verify the allegations.
Meanwhile, Campaigning for the Delhi assembly elections have reached a feverish pitch with various political parties trying to woo the voters with pro-people promises. Various leaders held rallies and road shows across the city yesterday, with many lined up for today. A report:
"As the high stakes Delhi Elections enters its last lap, the BJP has pushed some of its big guns into the electoral battle to counter Arvind Kejriwal. In this neck and neck race with Aam Adami Party, BJP President Amit Shah is not taking any chances beside micro managing issues himself, he has given campaign responsibilities to Union Ministers based on demographic profile of each of 70 constituencies in Delhi. Leading the campaign the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be addressing four rallies in the National capital. BJP leaders Smriti Irani and Sushma Swaraj has already hit the ground. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has also asked to devote two hours every day to sorting out internal matters and handling the BJP’s day-to-day affairs. Many would believe stakes are high for the BJP because this election will be seen as a referendum on the Modi Government at the Centre. SANJEEV JASROTIA, AIR NEWS, DELHI"
Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held on the 7th of next month. Counting will take place on the 10th.
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Social activist Anna Hazare has said that he will launch a fresh stir against the Narendra Modi government as it has failed to fulfill the promises on bringing back black money and appointing a Lokpal. He was talking to reporters at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra last evening. Criticising the Narendra Modi government, Hazare said, people will teach it a lesson. He said, the government is not serious on the issue of corruption which is why an agitation will be launched once again on Lokpal, Land Acquisition Act and black money.
Hazare, however, refused to be drawn into the ongoing political slug-fest between Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and BJP's Kiran Bedi.
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The Supreme Court has directed search engines like Google India to strictly comply with the laws and block advertisements on sex determination. The court categorically said, if any advertisement existed on any search engine, they should be withdrawn. The court also directed the search engines to upload on their policy page and the terms of service page its order that they would not advertise or sponsor any advertisement which violated Section 22 of Prohibition of advertisement relating to pre-natal determination of sex (PC-PNDT) Act.
The apex court said, matters relating to complete blocking of the items suggested by the government and providing the URL and IP addresses by Google, Yahoo and Microsoft would be taken up on the 11th of next month.
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The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to implement the National Livelihood Mission (NLM) in the state. The decision was taken in a cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday. More from our correspondent:
"The National Livelihood Mission will be implemented in the cities having a population of one lakh and above as per census of 2011. Currently there are 82 such cities and towns which also include all the 75 district head quarters. The population living below the poverty line in these cities will be the target of the Mission. The Mission will develop potential building, training and Urban Livelihood centres to facilitate the targeted persons. Besides, the Mission will also help urban poor to find self employment, assistance to street vendors and housing to homeless including several other things. MERJUDDIN, AIR NEWS, LUCKNOW."
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At least two Israeli soldiers and a Spanish UN peace keeper were killed and seven others injured when a missile fired by Lebanese Hezbollah group hit an army convoy yesterday. Israel Defence Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz said that an anti-tank missile fired from southern Lebanon struck an Army vehicle traveling with other military vehicles, killing two soldiers and a UN peace keeper. More from our correspondent:
"The clashes erupted in response to Israel shelling five villages on the Lebanese border yesterday. Earlier, Hezbollah fired a missile destroying an Israeli military convoy along the Israel-Lebanon border in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and seven others were injured. A UN peacekeeping soldier from Spain was also killed in the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned of serious repercussions over the attack and said the militants will suffer the same fate as Hamas in Gaza last year. Israel has shut its borders with Lebanon, Israeli troops shelled more than 50 times and carried out air strikes targeting Syrian artillery and Hezbollah positions along Golan Heights since yesterday. ATUL TIWARY, AIR NEWS"
The UN Security Council is to discuss the fighting at an emergency meeting called by France in New York.
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In Australian Open Tennis, both the Women's Singles semi-final matches will be played today. For a place in the final, world number one Serena Williams will take on fellow American Madison Keys, while world number two Maria Sharapova of Russia will clash with compatriot Ekaterina Makarova.
In the Men's Singles, one semi-final is scheduled for today. World number six Briton Andy Murray will play Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic for a final berth.
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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
- "Sena stokes Hindutva fire" is the banner headline in the Mail Today. The paper adds that the NDA ally demands removal of 'Socialist' and 'Secular' from Preamble even as government defends controversial ad. "Sena adds fuel to Preamble ruckus" is the headline in The Hindustan Times. The Hindu quotes the union Telecommunication Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as saying "Let nation debate the Preamble."
- "BJP brings out big guns for last lap" is the splash story in TheHindustan Times. The paper carries a photograph of Meenakshi Lekhi and Satish Upadhyay at a press conference in the Delhi BJP office in its front page. The Asian Age headline says "BJP's top leaders to join Delhi campaign." The subhead says "saffron camp all out to check Kejriwal."
- The Pioneer in its front page writes that 'Post US bohomie, India reaches out to China." The paper adds 'swaraj to address issues of concern during four day visit to Beijing'. The Statesman says 'Sushma to visit China, discuss bilateral issues.'
- '6 month to go, foreign secretary told to go' is the banner headline in the Indian Express. The Hindu in a box item writes 'JaiShankar is Foreign Secretary.'
- 'Government won't appeal in Vodafone case' leads The Business Standard. While The Business Line writes 'Vodafone case: government not to appeal against Bombay High Court ruling. The paper adds that it 'sends a positive message to global investors.
- On the Nithari serial killings, The Tribune writes "High Court commutes Koli's death sentence'. The Times of India in a box item writes 'Nithari killer's death sentence changed to life."
- The Asian Age on its bottom spread carries the story that the Railways replicating the Metro card model, now have a 'Go-India card scheme' allowing passengers to pay for tickets and make transactions cashless.
- And finally, get ready for a new search engine that claims to outsmart Google.
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IN SOME MORE NEWS;
In the United States, residents of the country's north-east are digging out after up to 36 inches of snow fell in a day long blizzard. The storm destroyed part of a seawall and flooded parts of coastal Massachusetts. Two deaths have been reported from Long Island. Clean-up is being hindered by freezing temperatures. New York City and areas south were spared from an earlier prediction of a potentially historic blizzard. City officials have imposed a driving ban.
