1. Art and Diseño

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Orissa Today
Published Simultaneously Bhubaneswar & Rourkela
w Issue-142
w Bhubaneswar
w 31January,2015
(Dak-01)
w Saturday
w Rs.2.00
People’s Voice
Remember Mahatma Gandhi?
w Vol - 10
RNI NO - ORIENG/2005/16409 For e paper : www.orissatoday. co.in
Postal Regd No-BN/167/13-15 w Page -8
5 killed in Pakistan Shia mosque blast
Islamabad, Jan 30:
At least 35 people were
killed and over 50 injured
as a blast hit a Shia
mosque in Pakistan’s
southern province of
Sindh Friday afternoon,
officials said.
Deputy Commissioner
of the province’s
Shikarpur district, Hadi
Bakhsh, said that 35
bodies and over 50
wounded people were at
hospitals of three cities
in the region, Xinhua
news agency reported.
Bakhsh said that the toll
might rise further as
some of the injured were
in a critical condition and
were being treated in the
intensive care units of the
hospitals.
Deputy Inspector General
of Police, Sain Rakhio
Mirani, said the incident
took place at 1.40 p.m.
when a young boy in the
disguise of a beggar placed
an explosive device near
the stairs inside the
mosque in Lakhi Dar area
in downtown Shikarpur
city.
According to the Bomb
Disposal Squad, at least
five kg of explosives along
with ball bearings were
used in the bomb and it
was detonated with a
remote-controlled device.
“We are checking whether
the boy who brought the
bomb was also killed in the
blast or not, because we
have found the remote
control from the mosque
premises,” said the police
officer.
Earlier, some media
reports said that it was a
suicide attack but no
official has confirmed it so
far.At the time of the blast,
around 600 people were
offering Friday prayers in
the mosque, police said.
Following the blast, the
roof of the old hall of the
mosque also collapsed and
several people were
injured after being trapped
under the debris.
Police and Pakistan
Rangers, a paramilitary
force, have cordoned off
the area and launched a
search operation.
Provincial Health Minister
Jam Mehtab said severely
injured people were being
treated at hospitals in
nearby cities due to the
shortage of medical
facilities at the local
hospital.
The Inter Services Public
Relations, the mouthpiece
of the Pakistan Army, said
the army has also sent four
ambulances and army
doctors from nearby Pano
Aqil Garrison to treat
injured patients.
The bomb attack took place
when Pakistani Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif was
chairing a meeting on the
law and order situation in
the port city of Karachi,
capital of southern Sindh
province.
Reiterating
his
government’s resolve to
eradicate the menace of
terrorism and extremism
in the country, Nawaz
Sharif has condemned the
bomb attack and sought
a report on it.
The prime minister
extended condolences to
the bereaved families and
asked the authorities to
provide the best medical
treatment to the injured.
According to local
English
newspaper
Express Tribune, militant
HC notice to Odisha govt
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weeks as why the circular
should not be quashed.
The petitioner had
contended that the circular
issued by IDCO on
October 24 last year
allowing regularization of
land that had been allotted
for
industries
at
concessional rates but
was being used for social
infrastructure projects
such
as
hotels,
multiplexes
and
educational institutions
was in violation of the
IDCO Act. The petitioner
stated that using land
allocated for industries for
any other use was totally
illegal. The petitioner has
prayed for squashing of
the circular.
According to the circular,
IDCO has fixed different
rates for change in land
use pattern from the
industrial sector to social
infrastructure projects
such
as
hotels,
multiplexes
and
educational institutions.
The norm makes it clear
that if people want to
transfer
land
for
educational institutions,
hospitals or health
services, they would have
to pay 1.5 times the
prevailing market rate. To
transfer the land for
hotels, multiplex, leisure
and
entertainment
establishments, IDCO has
categorised the users by
dividing them into four
categories
–
A
(developed),
B
(developing), C (semideveloped) and D
(underdeveloped).
In zone A, outside the
Bhubaneswar Municipal
Corporation (BMC) limits,
the industrialists will have
to pay two times the
prevailing land rate to use
it for other purposes. But,
in the corporation limits,
the plot owners are
required to pay 2.5 times
the prevailing land rate. In
the zone B areas, one has
to pay 1.5 times the
market rate, but in the C
and D zones, they will
have to pay the regular
market rate.
The IDCO circular was
issued after a meeting of
Dhenkanal, Jan 30:
Three security guards of Bhushan Steel Plant, arrested
by the Kantabania police in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district
yesterday, were forwarded to court today.
“The three security guards— Khirod Sahu, Dilip Dixit
and Ranjit Mohanty— were forwarded to court this
evening,” informed Dhenkanal SDPO Rajkishore
Behera.
According to reports, the workers of the plant had
staged a dharna following the death of Abir Nayak, a
worker, in a mishap inside the plant in the morning.
The irate workers locked the main gate of the plant
its board of directors in
October, which decided
to allow industries to use
the land for other
purposes following an
audit report that land
taken for setting up
industries were being
used for running kalyan
mandaps,
hostels,
godowns for car spare
parts,
educational
institutions, cement
godowns and car
showrooms in the
industrial estates across
the state.
In Bhubaneswar city, 521
industrial units were
allotted 219.732 acres in
four industrial estates –
Rasulgarh, Mancheshwar,
Chandaka
and
Bhagabanpur – at
concessional rates.
A physical verification by
the authorities had revaeled
that of the 521 plots, 20
were used to set up
hostels, four for hotels, 188
for godowns and another
144 were given on rent for
other purposes. Another
165 plots were equally
misused.
Ta k i n g H u m a n
Development Index (HDI)
into consideration, Boudh
is the most povertystricken district of Odisha
with 0.12 followed by
Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj
and Kalahandi with 0.15
HDI each.
In the field of education,
Nuapada has the lowest
rank among the 30
districts of the state with
0.26 HDI while Boudh and
Gajapati districts come
next in this category.With
regard
to
Health
development scenario,
Malkangiri has the lowest
HDI with 0.13 followed by
Nabarangpur (0.14),
Rayagada (0.18) and
Nuapada
(0.19).The
survey has also revealed
that none of the Odisha
districts are in the top 100
developed districts in the
country.
As per the survey,
Khordha is the most
developed and richest
district in the state with
0.41 and ranks 104 among
the 559 districts in the
country while Cuttack is
the
second
most
developed district with a
rank of 169.
Besides, six Odisha
districts have found place
between 201 and 300
ranking list. They are,
Jajpur,
Jharsuguda,
Kendrapara,
Angul,
Jagatsinghpur
and
Dhenkanal.Six other
Odisha districts which
were placed between 301
and 400 in the ranking are
Puri,
Bhadrak,
Sundargarh, Sambalpur,
Baleswar and Nayagarh.
The survey report has
stated that gross disparity
has been found as financial
assistance has not been
given to these districts as
per their requirements.
Mentioned below are the
districts of Odisha and
their all-India rank as per
the survey report.
1. Khordha (104), 2.
Cuttack (169), 3. Jajpur
(213), 4. Jharsuguda
first was an attack on
Rawalpindi’s imambargah
Aun Mohammad Rizvi in
the garrison city’s Chatian
Hatian area. IANS
and demanded compensation to the family of the
M
deceased.In the meanwhile, some people tried to sneak CK Y
into the plant premises. On seeing this, the security
guards on duty allegedly opened fire at them.
However, the bullets missed the target and hit three
minor boys and a woman Sarojini Naik (35) of the
nearby Talabahala village of Banarpal block, who had
come to the nearby nullah near the boundary wall of
the plant for a bath.
All the four injured were rushed to Samal Care Nursing
Home near the plant while one of the injured minor
boys was later shifted to Angul district headquarters
hospital as his condition became critical.
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8 Odisha districts among 50 most backward in country
Bhubaneswar, Jan 30:
A joint survey conducted
by the US-India Policy
Institute and the New
Delhi based Centre for
Research and Debates in
Development Policy has
found that eight Odisha
districts are among the
50 most backward
districts in the country.
The survey report,
released by vice
president Hamid Ansari
on Thursday, has listed
Malkangiri, Boudh,
Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj,
Nuapada, Nabarangpur,
Gajapati and Kandhamal
in the most backward
districts category.
In terms of district-wise
ranking in Odisha,
Nuapada is the most
backward district with a
rank of 589 followed by
Malkangiri
(588),
Nabarangpur (575),
Boudh
(574),
Mayurbhanj (564),
Gajapati
(552),
Kandhamal (551) and
Kalahandi (548).
incident.
It is the second major
attack on a Shia mosque
in the country since the
beginning of 2015. The
Firing in Bhushan’s Odisha plant: Three security guards forwarded to court
IDCO move to regularise wrongful use of land
Cuttack, Jan 30:
The Odisha High Court
today served notices to
the state Chief Secretary,
Industries Secretary and
CMD Odisha Industrial
Infrastructure
D e v e l o p m e n t
Corporation (IDCO) to
reply within four weeks
on a petition filed before
it challenging IDCO’s
circular
allowing
regularization of land
that had been allotted for
industries but was being
used for other purposes
by paying a nominal fee.
A division bench of the
High Court comprising
Chief Justice Amitav Roy
and Justice Dr Akshya
Rath issued the notices
today while adjudicating
on a petition filed by Siva
Sankar
Mohanty
challenging the IDCO
circular
allowing
regularization of land
allotted for industries for
other uses and directed
Chief
Secretary,
Secretary Industries and
the IDCO CMD to file
their replies within four
group Jundallah, which
pledged its support to the
Islamic State last year, has
claimed responsibility for
the attack.
The Majlis Wahdat-eMuslimeen Pakistan and
Shia Ulema Council,
representative
organisations of the Shia
Muslims in the country,
announced a three-day
countrywide mourning
over the attack.
President Mamnoon
Hussain,
Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman
Imran
Khan
and
Muttahida
Qaumi
Movement chief Altaf
Hussain also issued
messages condemning the
(216), 5. Kendrapara
(218), 6. Angul (243), 7.
Jagatsinghpur (253), 8.
Dhenkanal (298), 9. Puri
(301), 10. Bhadrak
(302), 11. Sundargarh
(328), 12. Sambalpur
(352), 13. Baleswar
(369), 14. Nayagarh
(373), 15. Ganjan (408),
16. Bargarh (435), 17.
Sonepur (441), 18.
Rayagada (465), 19.
Deogarh (485), 20.
Keonjhar (507), 21.
Bolangir (531), 22.
Koraput (541), 23.
Kalahandi (548), 24.
Kandhamal (551), 25.
Gajapati (552), 26.
Mayurbhanj (564), 27.
Boudh (574), 28.
Nabarangpur (574), 29.
Malkangiri (588), 30.
Nuapada (589).
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Saturday , January 31 2015
BHUBANESWAR
Modi-Mufti Tango in J&K
E D I TO R I A L
Adverse verdict of the
Bombay High Court
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The government’s decision not to appeal against the adverse
verdict of the Bombay High Court in its Rs.3,200-crore tax case
against Vodafone is the first concrete demonstration of its
resolve to do away with what Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley termed “adversarial” taxation
policies of the erstwhile UPA government. Though the BJP had
during its election campaign, referred to “tax terrorism” in its
election campaign there was little that happened in the first
eight months of the new government to show that such policies
would be reversed. The latest Cabinet decision sends out a
strong signal to foreign investors that this government will be
fair in its tax policies and avoid needless litigation. The decision
not to appeal has implications for other such similar cases
involving multinationals and is, in that sense, a significant one.
It is also an acknowledgment that the Income Tax Department’s
assessment of the case was erroneous. The Vodafone case was
about wrong classification of a capital receipt as taxable income
at the hands of the company. Applying transfer-pricing
guidelines, the I.T. Department held that Vodafone had
underpriced its shares issued to the parent. So it revalued the
shares and deemed the difference to be a loan given to the
parent. This was clearly high-handed and a wrong application
of transfer-pricing regulations.
The government’s decision to accept the High Court verdict is
also a signal to assessing officers that they should refrain from
making unreasonable tax demands, relying on aggressive and
faulty interpretations of rules and sections. Yet, it is also true
that the government turns the heat on these officers when it
decides that tax collections need to be augmented. If the tax
official is confused he cannot be blamed. What is needed is a
stable policy that sends out the signal to both assessing officers
and taxpayers that the government will crack down on evasion
but within the framework of the law; there will be no extraordinary
interpretations of rules and sections even in times of revenue
distress. The focus will now shift to whether the government
moves to neutralise the mischief caused by the retrospective
tax amendment; this is a major demand of foreign investors
who were disappointed that it was not addressed in the first
budget of this government in July last year. The General Anti
Avoidance Rules, or GAAR, are a cause for worry for taxpayers
and foreign investors as they confer wide discretionary powers
on the I.T. Department. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Jaitley
makes a Budget announcement to postpone its implementation
once again as per the recommendations of the Parthasarathi
Shome Committee.
The dragon in the room
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The India-US joint vision statement has committed the two
countries to “promote the shared values that have made our
countries great”. This none-too-subtle promise to stand up to
China’s authoritarianism is followed by a promise to uphold
“freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region,
especially in the South China Sea”. The declaration marks a
dramatic departure in the language of Indian diplomacy,
generally shy of such ideological messaging, but also in
attitudes to China. It wasn’t too many months ago that New
Delhi was reluctant even to conduct serious military-to-military
exercises with Japan, for fear of upsetting China. The turning
point in Modi’s generally Sinophile thinking may well have
been the Chinese intrusion into Chumar back in September,
which took place while President Xi Jinping was visiting Delhi.
The action was a warning-growl, coming soon after India agreed
to sell missiles to Vietnam and put in place more robust patrolling
on the Line of Actual Control. India could do little but protest
— and the sense of humiliation, it is likely, lingered.
The argument underlying India’s policy shift isn’t opaque.
Beijing, India’s leadership points out, doesn’t consult Delhi
before sending its submarines to Sri Lanka or blasting roads
through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. There’s no reason, they
have therefore concluded, for India to be reticent about
deepening relationships with China’s near-neighbours — with
countries like Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Australia and even
the Philippines, all of whom have grown increasingly worried
about the dragon’s unpredictable bursts of ire. Modi is reported
to have spent more than half an hour during his one-on-one
conversation with Obama discussing China — and the United
States found, to its surprise, that their views were in complete
consonance. Like the US and its Asian allies, India still hopes
to grow its economic relationship with China, but will at once
participate in growing the strategic partnership to deter the
new giant from using its military muscle.
This argument is, in principle, unexceptionable — but it doesn’t
address the problem of intrusions across the Line of Actual
Control or bring a border deal with China any closer. Indeed,
there are even odds it could make both harder. It takes courage
to poke a dragon in the eye. It may even be necessary. But it’s
wise to have carefully considered the consequences.
WISDOM
Start by doing what's
necessary; then do what's
possible; and suddenly you are
doing the impossible.
Francis of Assisi
2
Under the de facto one-man leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP has set out
to conquer virgin territories all over the country. It will achieve the goal on its
own preferably; however, it will not mind taking any helping hand, because
winning is all that matters. As of now, question mark persists over BJP’s luck
with the Delhi electorate even after anointing the rookie Kiran “Crane” Bedi as
its mascot. However, the party is close to achieving the near impossible feat of
bagging Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir.
Submit
It can be quite lonesome in politics if you like to walk unaccompanied and
become arrogant enough to think you can dictate terms to potential allies and
partners. The whirlwind victories have made the BJP to look at all other parties,
not just those in the opposition but partners too, with some disdain. Its tussle
with the Akalis in Punjab is a case in point. Long time ally Shiv Sena has faced
public humiliation in Maharashtra; the one-year-old ally, TDP is becoming
increasingly jittery with BJP’s open arms policy.
Kashmir has so far remained a forbidden fruit for the BJP despite Murli Manohar
Joshi hoisting the tri-colour in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk at the end of his ‘Ekta
Yatra’ in 1992. During the Kanyakumari to Srinagar Yatra organised and
supervised by young Narendra Modi, Joshi used to boast “We have more
volunteers than the militants have bullets.” But on the morning of January 26,
when he drove to the Clock Tower under heavy security, there was no saffron
surge. Just five dozen BJP volunteers were in attendance; and their feeble
“Vande Mataram” and “Jai Shri Ram” were drowned by the sound of militants’
gunshots from a distance.
This quick recap is to point out that the much talked about second coming of
BJP with Joshi’s Yatra had ended as a damp squib; the party fared no better in
the latest electoral battle for the 87-member Assembly, though much water has
flown into Dal Lake from the Jhelum River. The spectacular electoral sweep in
Jammu (25 seats) has been neutralised by pathetic showing (complete blank)
in the Valley. It did receive the largest vote share of 23% and earned the tag of
king maker, but it was no consolation.
Twenty three years ago, PV helped Joshi complete his Yatra with a sheepish
grin. He got the BJP leader airlifted in an IAF Chetak helicopter “since the party
ran out of oxygen after Jammu” to quote a local publication of the day. Now,
Mufti Mohammad Saeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti are set to do a PV
with their People’s Democratic Party (PDP), providing the crutches of their 28
seats to help the BJP sit on the treasury benches. Both sides have reached a
formal stage where almost all the issues stand sorted out. The terms of the
alliance remain a closely guarded Sudoku, though. The Konaseema-born BJP
national secretary Varanasi Ram Madhav, the party’s pointsman for Kashmir,
indicates that the new alliance will be in place after Delhi elects its new
government on February 7. A shot at the power structure in Kashmir will be a
trophy worth cherishing for the BJP in these days of a powerful homily from the
American President Barack Obama against religious extremism, and concerns
over Parivar’s Ghar Wapsi campaign.
Will the deal with PDP help BJP overcome the handicap of being seen as an antiminority party? Well, it may, but much would depend on Modi’s ability to rein in
the Parivar hotheads, like he did with the likes of Praveen Tagodia in Gujarat
during his second term as the Chief Minister of the state.
It will be patently unfair to say that only Modi’s BJP has been bending backwards
to tie up with the father-daughter duo. The regional outfit is equally eager to
stitch the alliance. In terms of electoral verdict, BJP and PDP have emerged as
the natural choice for treasury benches. The Kashmiri people have clearly voted
out the previous dispensation of National Conference (NC) and the Congress.
The vote is a clear indication that the people wanted an alternative, which could
come only from the PDP and BJP.
The Muftis, unlike the Hindutva big brother from Delhi, cannot walk the talk
with open arms. They have to go through the motion of consultations, and take
on board sections of separatists which are their core constituency. That this
exercise has been completed is clear from last week’s Mufti-speak: “If my shaking
hands with them (BJP) will benefit the state, I will do that.”
By: Malladi Rama Rao
HO MEGE TO PARIKSHITA PATANAYAK VETERAN SOCIAL
WORKER, CO-OPERATIVIAN & KHADI AND V I L L A G E
INDUSTRY ORGANISER ON HIS 11TH DAY
Veteran Social Worker, Sarbodaya Leader, Khadi and Village Industry
Promotor and one of the leading personality in the field of co-operative
and voluntary moment is no more today 31st January,2015 is his 11th
day . Parikshita Patanayak took birth in the village Belapadapatana on
1st January 1938 which is coming under Ganiya Block of Nayagarh
District he has completed his graduation from Ravenshawa College
in the year 1964. He never tried for any job rather he prefer to establish
number of educational institutions To begin with always he took the
honarary teachers responsibility and when the institution started getting
govt. recogniation he withdraw himself and gave chances to the educated
youth. He elected twice as the Chairman of Ganiya Panchayat Samiti.
During his last tenure 74 to 77 when Jayaprakasha Narayan total
revolution germinated in the state of Odisha, Mrs.Indira Gandhi election
declared illegal by the Allhabad High Court and the then Priminister
Indira Gandhi imposed emergency on 25th June 1975. Most of the
veteran political leader labour leader, students leader arrested and put
into the jail. People lost their rights which are given by the constitution
of India. Restrictions imposed on press an all India radio. The time was
so that all the citizen of India in such a juncture they never thought
whether democracy of India will come back or this atoucracy will
continue.In this dark period so many people started to join hands with
the JP Movement Parikshita Patanayak as a peopls representative came
forward and tried his best to protect democracy and work for the
restoration of the democracy. He elected also the president of co-
operative banks and
continuous three years
Nayagarh co operative
Bank was stood first.
Due to his firmness in
Nayagarh region sugar
factory and so many
industries started in cooperative basis, likewise
he initiated so many
employment oriented
programmes for the rural
people
.He
has
established
an
organisation named
GANIA UNNAYAN
COMMITTEE in the
year 1968 which has
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been working for the rural poor till date.MA RAMADEVI recommended
OXFAM a finance org to help the drought affected area Gania with the
help of Parikshita Patanayak.No doubt the death of Parikshita Patanayak
is a great loss for Gania and Nayagarh district as wel as the co operative
and voluntary movement. Pray before God to keep his soul in peace
Bishnu Padaraja Mohanty ,Bhubaneswar
DAILY HOROSCOPE
Aries
A rush of intense love and
romantic passion for a special
someone might turn your mind
toward marriage, Aries. The
wedding of a friend may
contribute to these thoughts. Your
partner may still have doubts
about moving to the next level of
commitment, even though there's
no question that he or she truly
loves you. Be patient and hold
your tongue. You will know when
the time is right.
Taurus
Today you could experience a
strong desire to clear your psyche
of past traumas that limit you,
Taurus. You may decide to
register for a seminar or workshop
of some kind. If you sign up
today, all signs are that you will
not only attain the results you
want but you will also meet some
interesting new people. Among
them could be a potential love
partner. Go for it, and have fun.
Gemini
Love, passion, romance, and
marriage - your mind will focus on
these matters all day even if there's
no special person in your life right
now, Gemini. If you are involved,
don't be surprised if talk of a longterm commitment creeps into your
conversations with your beloved.
If you aren't involved, someone
new and exciting could appear on
the scene. When you go out, make
sure you look your best.
Cancer
The approach of a very special
visitor might cause you to
thoroughly clean your house,
Cancer. Afterward, you could
look for new and interesting ways
to dress it up with some new
plants, throw pillows, or other
decorative touches. This can be
tiresome, but definitely
worthwhile. When your friend
arrives, he or she will feel at home.
Work hard and then make
yourself look great.
Leo
Romantic novels and movies
could be more appealing than
usual today, Leo. You're in an
especially intense mindset. If
you're
involved,
your
relationship could be near the
point where it has to move ahead
or end. Chances are it will move
ahead. If you aren't attached, your
loving nature will attract more
than one potential partner into
your aura. Be prepared, and
expect the unexpected.
Libra
Capricorn
Today you may decide to study
healing, Libra. You could read
about alternative methods
regarding
diet,
herbs,
aromatherapy, massage, or
acupuncture. You might decide
to learn some hands-on methods.
Whether or not you ever practice
any of these professionally,
learning about them should
transform your life for the better
on both physical and emotional
levels. Make the most of it.
If you've considered a career in
healing, psychic, or spiritual
studies or the creative arts,
Capricorn,
today
the
opportunity to make that dream
a reality could come your way. A
close friend could open the door
for you. Your own psychic and
artistic abilities should be
operating at a very high level, so
don't be intimidated. You're good
at what you do and are likely to
remain so.
Scorpio
Aquarius
Romance could be on your
Today you might decide to sign
up for an advanced course of
some kind, Scorpio. This might
include world religions or
perhaps meditation. Stay out of
bookstores, both physical and
online. You might spend a
fortune on books on your chosen
subject. The effect of this is
likely to be more profound than
a simple accumulation of
knowledge. Prepare to be
transformed.
mind today, Aquarius. This
could be due to a recent
wonderful encounter with a
love partner. Since then,
listening to romantic music
may have enhanced your
feelings. You will want to
schedule another meeting,
but you might hold back
because you don't want to
seem pushy. Go ahead and call
your friend. You might be
pleasantly surprised by the
response.
Sagittarius
Virgo
Your financial situation could get
a strong boost today, Virgo. This
might be due to a contract you've
just signed, perhaps involving
some work you will do on your
own rather than for an employer.
The project may have strong
personal significance. The creative
arts could be involved, as well as
technology. Be prepared for a
busy month, but it will be a great
one. Go for the gold!
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A group of friends may invite
you to attend a festival or
workshop involving the creative
arts or metaphysical studies, or
perhaps both, Sagittarius. You
might resist at first, but once you
get there you will find the
subject
and
instructor
captivating. Afterward, you
won't want to talk about it. You
will be too preoccupied with
your thoughts. Write them
down. You will want to
remember them later.
CM
KY
Pisces
A very beautiful, romantic dream
could inspire exalted artistic
activities today, Pisces. You
might want to paint, draw, write,
compose music, sew, or cook up
a new recipe. Whatever you do,
you won't do it simply for your
own amusement. You will want
to show your work to others and
seek their opinions and approval.
Your business acumen could be
as active as your artistic side.
MAIL BOX
E-literacy needed
E-governance has finally
begun as Prime Minister
Narendra
Modi
addressed the 18th
national conference
through Twitter. Mr Modi
has taken an initiative
again for the development
of the nation. But what
about those people who
are not e-literate? We are
ready to move towards egovernance but India still
lacks in the literacy
department.
The
government can make
people go online if it can
make people comfortable
with e-governance.
People need to be
educated and made eliterate for e-governance
to flourish.
Avni Kumar
Via email
Please write Your Valuable
Suggestion mail
to:[email protected]
CM
KY
News
News box
box
Jayanthi bombshell:
Congress questions
timing, calls it
political conspiracy
New Delhi
The Congress has reacted with caution to Jayanthi
Natarajan’s stinging allegations against party vice
president Rahul Gandhi.Party leader Sanjay Nirupam
said the timing of the episode suggests that it is a political
conspiracy to malign the Congress ahead of assembly
elections in Delhi, adding that if Natarajan had any
problem as environment minister she could have spoken
to SonIa Gandhi then.“If somebody is planning to leave
the party, she has to blame Rahul ji, otherwise there would
not be any logic for it,” he said while speaking to a news
channel.On Jayanthi’s allegations of interference by
Rahul Gandhi in the environment ministry, Nirupam said
be it the Vedanta mine issue or the issue of Bhatta Parsaul
farmers, Rahul Gandhi has always been fighting for the
rights of tribals.Arguing that Rahul Gandhi hasbeen
always concerned about environment, Nirupam said that
the Congress vice president could have spoken to
Natarajan or other ministers and it was not a big
deal.Nirupam alleged that Natarajan had made the
allegations as she was about to join the new political outfit
floated by GK Vasan in Tamil Nadu.Nirupam’s party
colleague, PC Chacko said, “These are baseless
allegations, if somebody wants to resign from the party
for personal reasons they are fre to do so... Mking such
wild allegations is unfair.”However, Tamil Nadu
Congress chief EVKS Elangovan decided to play it safe.
He said that the Congress High Command should respond
to the allegations. “...this has to be replied by the Congress
high command and they are the best people to deny or
respond to the charges.
Delhi rape victim
sues Uber in US court
CM
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San Francisco
CM
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A passenger allegedly raped by an Uber driver in New
Delhi sued the online car service in U.S. federal court on
Thursday, claiming the company failed to maintain basic
safety procedures.The financial executive, who was not
named in the lawsuit, called Uber the "modern day
equivalent of elctronic hitchhiking" in the suit."Buyer
beware - we all know how those horror movies end," the
suit stated.India is Uber`s largest market outside the
United States by number of cities covered, and the
country`s radio taxi market is estimated to be worth $6
billion to $9 billion. The rape allegation has triggered
protests and reignited a debate about the safety of women
in Asia`s third-largest economy, especially in New Delhi,
which has been dubbed India`s rape capital.
An Uber representative didn`t immediately comment
about the lawsuit.
PM Narendra Modi pays
tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes
to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary."My
tributes to Pujya (respected) Bapu," he tweeted.The
Father of the Nation was assassinated on this day in 1948
here.Modi also paid tributes, on the Martyr's Day today,
to all those who have laid down their lives for the
country."On Martyrs' Day, I pay homage to each &
every martyr who laid his or her life for our Nation.
Their bravery & courage will always inspire," he added.
Amit Shah confident of twothirds victory in Delhi polls
New Delhi
Ruling out any rifts within the BJP, its chief Amit Shah
on Thursday said that the party would emerge
victorious with two-third majority in the upcoming
Delhi elections.Claiming that the induction of former
Team Anna member Kiran Bedi as the party's chief
ministerial candidate was not a "compulsion", he said
her clean image would help the party.When asked
about reports suggesting tat certain Delhi BJP leaders
were not happy with the move to get Bedi into the fold,
he said that he could not "change his strategy as per
media's perception"."I can only say that according to
our strategy, and I say that with a lot of responsibility,
that BJP would emerge victorious with two-third
majority," Shah said during an interview with a TV
news channel.
Stressing that there was no infighting within the party,
he said, "In a political party, such kind of feelings
cannot remain hidden, they come to surface. Today
after the date of cancellation of nomination, not one
candidate of BJP is standing as a rebel...Top to
bottom...All are one."Reiterating that Bedi's induction
into BJP was not a "compulsion", the BJP leader said
that BJP had always given a chance to people with a
clean track record and who are active in social
arena."Our agenda is to move from a simple majority
to two-thirds majority and for that I am confident that
Kiran Bedi's image..Of someone who has been
fighting against corruption and crime...Would help,"
he said."Kiran Bedi is not fighting the election alone
and the cabinet is not going to be formed by her alone,
it will be formed by other workers of the BJP," he
further said.He also said that publicising the issue as a
"leadership crisis" in the party only shows that the
media had gone bankrupt of issues against the party.
National
P-3
Saturday January 31 2015
BHUBANESWAR
Jayanthi Natarajan to quit Congress
today, blames Rahul Gandhi for her exit
New Delhi
In a big blow to the Congress, senior party leader
and former Union minister Jayanthi Natarajan is
expected to quit the party on Friday.
As per reports, the former union environment
minister is expected to hold a press conference in
the afternoon to formally announce her decision.
Jayanthi has reportedly written a letter to
Congress president Sonia Gandhi in which she
has alleged a motivated campaign against her in
the party.Jayanthi, environment minister in the
the UPA cabinet, wrote in the letter that she was
forced to reject big-ticket projects upon
receiving specific requests from Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi on environmental
clearances. The projects were denied clearances
despite being favoured by then prime minister
Manmohan Singh and other Cabinet colleagues.
As per the letter details of which have been
revealed by a leading English daily, Jayanthi
claimed that she became a victim of a “vicious,
false and motivated” media campaign by certain
individuals in the party after Rahul Gandhi
changed his stance from being pro-environment
to being corporate-friendly ahead of last year's
Lok Sabha elections.The Congress leader
blamed Rahul's aides for planting stories in the
media that sought to project her resignation as
environment minister not aimed at “party work”.
She also accused Rahul of interference in day-
to-day functioning of the UPA-2 government
under Manmohan Singh.
“I received specific requests (which used to
be directives for us) from Shri Rahul Gandhi
and his office forwarding environmental
concerns in some important areas and I took
from Cabinet
colleagues to grant the
clearance.
She also alleged
interference from the
Congress vicepresident in projects of
the Adani group, and
said, “In fact, you
(Sonia Gandhi) have
yourself conveyed
your concern in this
regard in letters
written to me in
several cases,
including the stalled
GVK power project
regarding Dhari Devi
temple in Himachal
Pradesh, the Lavasa
p r o j e c t
i n
Maharashtra, Nirma
cement plant in
Gujarat and in several
other cases I was given
specific input to make my decision.”
Jayanthi had resigned in December 2013,
months before the May 2014 General
Elections. The Congress had then claimed
that Jayanthi would instead focus on party
work.
care to honour those requests,” she says in
the letter, as per the daily.Jayanthi says
environmetal clearance to Vedanta for
bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills in Odisha
was denied at the request of Rahul Gandhi to
protect “the interests of tribals”. This despite
the fact that the minister was under pressure
Ordinance issue: Tops officials to meet
New Delhi
Racing against time to convert recent ordinances
into legislations in Budget session beginning on
February 23, top officials of several ministries
will sit together on Friday to move forward in
this direction.Sources said that Secretaries and
officials from the ministries of Home, Finance,
Law, Rural Development, Steel and Mines,
Agriculture, Coal and Surface Transport will be
attending a meeting convened by the
Parliamentary Affairs Ministry today to thrash
out the blueprint of the legislations and the
legalities involved.Eight ordinances that the
NDA government has brought in its over sevenmonth rule include those on coal, mines and
minerals, e-rickshaws, amendment to
Citizenship Act, Land Acquisition and the one
on FDI in insurance sector, which seeks to raise
the FDI limit in the insurance sector from 26
percent to 49 percent.The government is
especially under pressure to legislate the
ordinance on insurance sector and the coal
sector in view of the fact that the new systems
in place for attracting FDI in insurance and for
auctioning of coal blocks are not disturbed.As
per the rules, an Ordinance has to be
converted into legislation within 42 days of
commencement of Parliament session else it
lapses. An Ordinance can be repromulgated
only three times.A day after President Pranab
Mukherjee voiced his objection to the
'Ordinance route', senior ministers had on
January 20 met to discuss how the recent
Ordinances can be replaced by legislative
action in the Budget session of
Parliament.The meeting convened by
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah
Naidu was then attended by Home Minister
Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
and six others, who had deliberated upon the
implications that some sectors like coal will
have if the Ordinances are not followed up by
passage of bills in Parliament.After the
ministers' meeting, the Cabinet Committee of
Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) had met the
next day and decided the schedule of the
Budget session. Tomorrow's meeting is a
follow-up to earlier deliberations on the
Ordinance issue, the sources said. It was
slated to take place today but was advanced
for a day.Facing a combined Opposition
onslaught on the Ordinance issue, the Modi
Government is keen that these are converted
into bills soon after the session begins to
avoid disruptions.While the government has
trashed the Opposition charges and also
came out with details or Ordinances brought
during the Congress or Congress-led
governments in the past, it wants to dispel
the notion that it was avoiding Parliament, a
charge repeatedly levelled by the
Opposition.At the CCPA meeting, it was
decided that all MPs and ministers would
explain to the people in their respective
constituencies on the significance of the
ordinances and circumstances in which they
had to be issued.Congress and Left parties
Graft case: CBI faces court's
ire for filing closure report
New Delhi
Taking CBI to task for "hurriedly" filing a
closure report on a corruption case against
some Delhi Jal Board officials, a city court
on Thursday rejected it and directed the
agency further probe the matter and explore
whether the offenders ould be
chargesheeted.eet makes it clear that the
investigating officer (IO) without
conducting detailed probe, hurriedly filed
the closure report only because the sanction
was not accorded by the competent
authority," Special CBI Judge Dinesh Kumar
Sharma said.Maintaining that the report "is
vulnerable on many aspects and cannot be
accepted as such", the court said "the closure
report is rejected."The case pertains to
alleged conspiracy, forgery and criminal
misconduct by DJB officials between 2006
and 2009, when the board had got tubewells
for drinking water installed through private
contractors and sub-standard pipes were
allegedly used.CBI had lodged an FIR
against several persons, including some
public servants, in the case for offences
under various sections of the IPC and
the Prevention of Corruption
Act.Rejecting CBI's closure report, the
court directed it to further probe into the
matter noting that investigating officer
had not conducted a "detailed probe"
and had sought closure of the case only
because the sanction to prosecute the
accused was not accorded by
competent authority.It also asked CBI
to consider whether, in absence of
sanction under the provision of
Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA),
the offenders could be charge sheeted
for offences of conspiracy, forgery and
cheating of IPC.It said that merely
because the sanction was not accorded
for the prosecution under PCA, the IO
took a "somersault and concluded that
there was no sufficient evidence to
prove the guilt against any of the
accused."In its order, the court noted
that it was "disappointed to observe the
Mark attendance through
biometric system: Govt
to employees
New Delhi
The Centre has asked all its employees to use the
biometric attendance system after a huge difference
was noticed in the numbers of registered workers and
those marking their attendance.The secretaries of all
ministries and departments have been requested to
issue directions to all employees to mark their
attendance in BAS Portal on regular basis, Department
of Personnel and Training (DoPT) officials said.The
Centre had late last year decided to use an Aadhaar
enabled bio-metric attendance system in all its offices,
including attachedWhen asked about reports
suggesting that certain Delhi BJP leaders were not
happy with the move to get Bedi into the fold, he said
that he could not "change his strategy as per media's
perception". or subordinate, across the country."All
employees are, therefore, rquired to register themselves
in the system and mark their attendance. Instructions
already exist for dealing with cases of late attendance or
unauthorised absence, which may be followed."It is
requested that necessary directions may be issued to all
employees to mark their attendance in BAS portal on
regular basis," an order issued by the DoPT said.
manner in which the closure report has
been prepared by IO and was
forwarded by the senior officer.""In
the present case, the IO has failed to
conduct the investigation in proper
and detailed manner so as to unearth
the conspiracy and other serious
criminal offences including forgery
committed by the offenders. The
supervisory machinery has also failed
in monitoring the investigation
properly," the court said.According to
the CBI, the contractors were
supposed to use prescribed pipes of a
particular make in the tube-wells but
instead they used sub?standard pipes
which were four times cheaper.
One of the private contractor M/s Nitin
Enterprises, which was awarded 11
contracts allegedly claimed bills on
the basis of forged purchase bills duly
certified and passed by DJB officials,
it had said.The court, in its order, said
that perusal of the charge sheet itself
reveals that it was found during the
probe that the invoice submitted by.
have been targeting the government over
the issue of series of ordinances
promulgated after the NDA assumed
power at the Centre.In the session, the
General Budget will be presented on
February 28, which will be preceded by
the Economic Survey on February 27 and
Railway Budget on February 26.The first
part of this session will continue till
March 20. The second part will
commence after a month-long recess
from April 20. The session will conclude
on May 8.Sources said that the
government is keen that the Ordinances
are converted into legislations in the first
part of the session itself, efforts for which
will start soon after the debate to the
Motion of Thanks to the President's
address on February 24 and 25.While the
first part of the Session is likely to have 26
sittings, the second part would have 19
sittings.A total of 66 bills, including nine
in the Rajya Sabha, are pending in
Parliament.
Mark attendance
through biometric
system: Govt to
employees
New Delhi
The Centre has asked all its employees to use the
biometric attendance system after a huge difference
was noticed in the numbers of registered workers and
those marking their attendance.The secretaries of all
ministries and departments have been requested to
issue directions to all employees to mark their
attendance in BAS Portal on regular basis,
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
officials said.The Centre had late last year decided to
use an Aadhaar enabled bio-metric attendance system
in all its offices, including attached or subordinate,
across the country."All employees are, therefore,
required to register themselves in the system and
mark their attendance. Instructions already exist for
dealing with cases of late attendance or unauthorised
absence, which may be followed."It is requested that
necessary directions may be issued to all employees
to mark their attendance in BAS portal on regular
basis," an order issued by the DoPT said.
Get ready to serve Delhi and
make it safe for women:
Arvind Kejriwal to AAP cadre
New Delhi
In an attempt to mobilise the party
cadre, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday
appealed to members not to
succumb to evil forces and stay
focussed on agenda.
Writing on his Twitter account, the
AAP convenor said: “To all AAP
volunteers n supporters. Evil forces
will try to divert ur attention. But pl
stay focussed on positive agenda for
DelhiKejriwal on Thursday accused
other political parties in Delhi of
trying to buy AAP volunteers ahead
of the February 7 Assembly
CM
KY
Elections.
Writing on Twitter, Kejriwal said he
has asked his party volunteers to
accept the money being offered.
However, the volunteers have been
asked to record the act in the form of
a sting to expose the opponents.It is
not the first time that the former
Delhi chief minister has raked the
bribe issue. He had earlier asked
voters in Delhi to accept money from
the Congress and BJP but vote for the
AAP in February 7 elections.After
his repeated remarks, the Election
Commission had warned Kejriwal of
“stern action”.The poll watchdog
"warned" him that it will be
"constrained to take stern action
against you in the event of any further
violation".
Kejriwal had earlier said that he
respects the poll body and the law and
that he would stop making such appeals
if the Commission thinks his
statements were inappropriate.The
public speech made by Kejriwal that
invited EC's ire was: "It's election time.
When people both from BJP and
Congress come offering money, don't
refuse, accept...some have looted
money from 2G, some have looted
money from coal scam... Take money
from both the parties but vote for
AAP.We will fool them this time. They
have been deceiving us for the last 65
years. Now it's our turn."
CM
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CM
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CM
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Business
Business
BHUBANESWAR
News
News box
box
Sensex hits another
peak of 29,844.16;
Nifty at 8,996.60
Mumbai
The BSE Sensex continued its record setting spree and
hit a new peak of 29,844.16 and the NSE Nifty inched
towards the 9,000-level in early trade on Friday on
robust fund inflows and sustained optimism over the
upcoming Budget.The 30-share index rose by 162.39
points, or 0.54 per cent, to hit a new peak of 29,844.16
(intra-day), breaking its previous record of 29,786.32
touched on January 28.In previous ten sessions, the
Sensex had recorded a massive rise of over 2,346 points,
or more than 8 per cent.Stocks of realty, power, IT,
capital goods, PSU and oil & gas sectors, led the
rise.Rising for the eleventh straight session, the 50-share
NSE Nifty gained 44.25 points, or 0.49 per cent, at its
lifetime high of 8,996.60, just shying away from the
psychological 9,000-mark.The gauge had touched an
intra-day high of 8,985.05 in yesterday's trade.Brokers
said apart from beginning of February series in the
derivatives segment, continued buying by foreign funds
as well as retail investors supported by improving macro
economic data amid optimism over upcoming Budget
and encouraging Q3 earnings by some bluechip
companies, lifted the key indices to new highs.Besides, a
mixed trend at other Asian markets and overnight gains
in US markets on solid corporate earnings also boosted
sentiments here, they said.Among other Asian markets,
Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.15 per cent, while
Japan's Nikkei rose 0.63 per cent in early trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.31 per
cent higher in yesterday's trade.
Oil prices mixed
in Asian trade
Singapore
CM
KY
SpiceJet plans to raise Rs 1,500
crore; Marans exit Board
New Delhi
Low cost carrier SpiceJet,
which is going through an
ownership change, plans to
raise Rs 1,500 crore by way of
issuing securities and allotting
non-convertible preference
shares to Marans, its promoters,
who will be exiting the
c o m p a n y. T h e B o a r d o f
SpiceJet, in its meeting on
Thursday, has approved the
entire 58.46 percent stake sale
of its promoter group, Marans,
to Ajay Singh.The embattled
airline, which received a
lifeline from original promoter
Singh earlier this month, would
also issue up to 37.5 lakh nonconvertible cumulative
redeemable preference shares
of Rs 1,000 apiece to Kalanithi
Maran or Kal Airways or both
on a preferential basis.The
Board has also accepted the
resignations of Maran, Kavery
Kalanithi and S Natrajhen with
immediate effect.
In a regulatory filing on Friday,
SpiceJet said its Board of Directors
have taken on record the share sale
and purchase agreement between
the company, Kalanithi Maran, Kal
Airways and Ajay Singh.Pursuant
to the pact, Maran and Kal Airways
Crude prices were mixed in Asia on Friday, after the US
Senate approved a bill to build an oil pipeline from
Canada to refineries in the US Gulf Coast, adding to
concerns over a supply glut.US benchmark West Texas
Intermediate for delivery in March was up two cents by
late morning to USD 44.55 in volatile trading, while
Brent for March eased 16 cents to USD 48.97.WTI fell
below USD 44 a barrel at one point in New York trade
yesterday, a level not seen since March 209.The US
Senate yesterday approved a bill authorising construction
of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from
Canada to the United States.After weeks of sometimes
fierce debate, the bill passed with 62 votes to 36, with
nine Democrats defying President Barack Obama to
support a project that would transport crude from
Alberta's oil sands to refineries along the US Gulf
Coast.The House of Representatives approved its own
Keystone legislation earlier this month and now must
decide whether it passes the Senate measure or enters into
bicameral conference to thrash out a compromise
bill."The keystone pipeline will move US oil production
more efficiently in the long term, and in the grand scale of
things this will further exert downward pressure on oil
prices," said Shailaja Nair, associate editorial director at
energy information provider Platts.Oil has lost more than
half its value since June last year when the commodity
was sitting at more than USD 100 a barrel due to a global
supply glut, boosted largely by robust US shale oil
production.According to the US Department of Energy,
crude-oil stockpiles last week surged to the highest level
in weekly data tracked since 1982. US production,
meanwhile, rose to the highest level since at least 1983.
Wall Street finishes higher in
afternoon rally as oil gains
New York
U.S. stocks enjoyed a late afternoon rally and closed
higher on Thursday as an upturn in oil prices and a rally in
Apple and Boeing shares helped offset some
disappointing earnings and lingering questions over U.S.
monetary policy.The S&P 500 had fallen as much as 0.6
percent earlier, led by energy stocks, which reversed
direction along with oil.While the afternoon rise in crude
was not huge, it was enough to cheer up the market, said
Randy Frederick, managing director at Charles Schwab
in Austin."Technically the market was a little oversold, so
we were in a pretty good position to bounce, so we just
needed a little bit of positive news to spark an afternoon
rally," he said.The market has been advancing and
retreating within a range of 200 to 300 points for some
time as traders grapple with mixed earnings, a strong
dollar and weak oil prices as well as interest rate
uncertainty, said Dennis Dick, head of markets structure
at Bright Trading LLC."There`s a lot technical trading
going on," he said. "When the fundamentals are
confusing and the macro is confusing, you have to lean on
the technicals."Investors also continued to digest
Wednesday`s Federal Reserve statement, which failed to
clarify when rates would rise.Senate Democrats said
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen told them at a private
meeting this afternoon that the U.S. economy is strong
but the U.S. was not going to raise rates immediately,
according to reports. Shares in Visa Inc rose 4.4 percent
after the market closed when it reported better than
expected earnings and a 4-for-1 split of its class A
common stock. Harman International shares rose 23.8
percent, making it the top S&P gainer after it beat profit
and revenue expectations. Dow component McDonald`s
added 5 percent after announcing its CEO`s retirement.
Shares in Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group fell 8.8
percent after revenue missed expectations and
Qualcomm fell 10.3 percent after trimming its 2015
outlook. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 225.48
points, or 1.31 percent, to 17,416.85, the S&P 500 gained
19.09 points, or 0.95 percent, to 2,021.25 and the Nasdaq
Composite added 45.41 points, or 0.98 percent, to
4,683.41. Apple Inc closed up 3.1 percent and Boeing Co
finished 5.8 percent higher. Supporting stocks, data
showed weekly applications for unemployment
insurance fell to their lowest in almost 15 years, adding to
bullish signals on the labor market.
o p t i o n a l l y
o r
otherwise/Global Depository
Receipts (GDRs)/American
Depository Receipts (ADRs)/
Foreign Currency Convertible
Bonds (FCCBs) ("Securities")
for an aggregate amount not
would sell and transfer their entire
shareholding aggregating to 58.46
percent stake to Singh.Besides,
the Board has cleared a proposal to
issue "equity shares/warrants
and/or any instrument convertible
into equity shares whether
Japan inflation slows again in
December as spending drops
Tokyo
CM
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P-4
Saturday January 31 2015
Japan's inflation rate slipped again in
December, data showed on Friday, as
weak consumer spending and lower
energy prices weighed, dealing more
challenges to Tokyo`s war on
deflation.But a slate of figures released
Friday also show that unemployment
hit a 17-year low and factory output
turned positive last month, suggesting
the recession-hit economy may be
t u r n i n g a c o r n e r, e c o n o m i s t s
said.Japan`s core consumer inflation
slowed for a fifth straight month in
December, as the internal affairs
ministry reported household spending
fell a greater-than-expected 3.4 percent
from a year ago.Consumer prices,
excluding volatile prices of fresh food,
are a key measure for Tokyo`s bid to end
years of stagnant or falling prices
blamed for holding back the world`s
number three economy.Prices had been
on the rise, largely due to Japan`s heavy
post-Fukushima energy bills, but oil
rates have tumbled in recent months and
spending dived after the government
raised sales taxes to 8.0 percent from
5.0 percent last year.The economy
quickly fell into recession,
prompting Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe to put off a second sales tax rise
this year, which was aimed at taming
Japan`s enormous national debt.
The figures on Friday showed the
inflation rate last month was at 2.5
percent, down from 2.7 percent in
November. Adjusted for the tax
increase, the rate rose just 0.5 percent
from a year earlier, well short of the
Bank of Japan`s 2.0 percent inflation
goal which it hopes to reach around
the fiscal year ending in April next
year.But earlier this month the
central bank slashed its inflation
outlook as plunging oil prices make
the target look increasingly out of
reach. The move boosted speculation
that the BoJ would have to further
expand its already huge monetary
easing programme."Inflation is still
likely to moderate further," Marcel
Thieliant from Capital Economics
said in a note after the data was
released."Less than half of the
plunge in the price of crude oil has
been passed on to consumers in the
form of lower gasoline prices so far.
What`s more, prices of electricity
and gas should at least no longer be
rising."The central bank now expects
inflation for the fiscal year starting in
April to come in at 1.0 percent, well
down from an earlier 1.7 percent
forecast and the bank`s own
ambitious target."The BoJ is
expected to go ahead with additional
easing in April at the latest," SMBC
Nikko Securities said."Prices are
likely to return to deflation by early
spring and it is highly possible that
the bank will fail to achieve the fiscal
2015 (inflation) outlook. If the BoJ
leaves it unaddressed, it will be
called into question how serious it is
towards raising prices." Taking
office in late 2012, the premier
launched a policy blitz dubbed
Abenomics, which meshes
government spending with massive
monetary easing by the central bank
and reforms to the highly regulated
economy.
e x c e e d i n g
R s
15,000,000,000 or
equivalent currency(ies) to
any person or persons,
whether or not shareholder
of the company."
Post deal, the registered
office of SpiceJet would be
shifted from Tamil Nadu to
Delhi and there would be an
alteration in the articles of
association of the company.
The company's authorised
share capital would be
increased to Rs 2,000 crore.
This would be divided into
150 crore equity shares of Rs
10 each and 50 lakh nonconvertible cumulative
redeemable preference
shares Rs 1,000
each.SpiceJet would seek
shareholders' nod through
postal ballot for all these
proposals which have been
cleared by its Board.Earlier
this month, Singh returned to
SpiceJet with a long-term
plan entailing an investment
of up to Rs 1,500 crore as
Maran family agreed to cede
control with transfer of over
53 percent stake in the
carrier.Shares of SpiceJet
rose more than one percent to
Rs 22.15 in early trade today
on the BSE.
CIL stake sale begins;
shares tank nearly 4%
in early trade
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New Delhi
The government's 10 percent stake sale in bluechip Coal India, to
raise an estimated Rs 22,600 crore, began on Friday.The total issue
of 31.58 crore shares got bids for over 45.02 lakh shares by 1005
hours, as per the NSE data.The retail category of 12.63 crore shares
got bids for over 7.20 lakh shares (0.57 percent). The general
category of over 50.53 crore shares were subscribed nearly 0.75
percent.On the BSE, the company's scrip hit a low of Rs 360.50,
down 3.90 percent over its previous close, soon after the start of
market hours today.It continued to trade in the range of Rs 360.50364 in early trade which was higher than the floor price.The floor,
or the minimum offer, price for CIL's share sale has been set at Rs
358 apiece, wich is 4.57 percent less than yesterday's closing
price.The government is selling 31.58 crore shares, or five percent
stake, through a public offer, with an option to sell another 5
percent.On the BSE, the company's scrip hit a low of Rs 360.50,
down 3.90 percent over its previous close, soon after the start of
market hours today.It continued to trade in the range of Rs 360.50364 in early trade, which was higher than the floor price.At the
floor price, the total 10 percent stake can fetch the government Rs
22,600 crore, although retail investors would get a five percent
price discount and 20 percent shares worth over Rs 4,000 crore
would be reserved for them.This would exceed the existing record
amount of over Rs 15,000 crore raised through a public offer,
which was also by CIL when it had entered the market with its IPO
in 2010.
HCL Tech Q2 Net up 28% at Rs 1,915 crore
New Delhi
India's fourth-largest software services
exporter HCL Technologies on Friday
reported 28 per cent rise in consolidated net
profit at Rs 1,915 crore for the second quarter
ended December 2014 on growth in European
business as well as life-sciences and
healthcare verticals.The city-based firm,
which follows July-June fiscal year, had
posted a net profit of Rs 1,496 crore in the
year-ago period, it said in a BSE filing.
Consolidated revenues grew by 13.4 per cent
at Rs 9,283 crore in the October-December
2014 quarter as against Rs 8,184 crore in the
same quarter of the previous fiscal.In the JulySeptember quarter, the firm had reported a net
profit of Rs 1,873 crore and revenues of Rs
8,735 crore."The Global IT industry is
undergoing a seismic change as the scope of
IT buying expands to capture adjacencies
beyond IT. This is not only changing the
contours of the traditional buyer as we know it
but also bringing technology to the very
centre stage of organisational
competitiveness," HCL Technologies
Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer Shiv
Nadar said.In such a scenario, a balanced
Alibaba quarterly revenue
disappoints, shares fall
Beijing
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd`s shares
fell more than 10 percent early on
Thursday, wiping more than $25 billion
of market value after third quarter
revenue at the Chinese internet giant
fell short of analysts`
expectations.Revenue at the world`s
largest e-commerce company rose 40
percent to $4.22 billion in the
December quarter, short of the average
analyst estimate of $4.45 billion,
according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Earnings per share (EPS), calculated to
exclude one-off and extraordinary
items, beat estimates of $0.75, coming
in at $0.81.
But investors appeared to have other
concerns, four months after the
company`s $25 billion IPO."Today`s
(stock price drop) is not about EPS, it`s
about the top line growth," said Tian
Hou, a Beijing-based analyst with TH
Capital. "When Alibaba said they were
expanding, investing, people`s
expectations were for top line growth
and the bottom line would shrink.
However they did the opposite, so
that was contradictory to
expectations."
Even strong numbers for mobile
revenues and total value of goods
sold on smartphones, closely
watched metrics in the world`s
biggest smartphone market,
weren`t enough to stop the Wall
Street-listed stock being
hammered as trading began on the
New York Stock Exchange.
Shares were down almost 10
percent at 1528 GMT at $88.75.
Alibaba did not address
Tuesday`s announcement that its
second-biggest shareholder
Yahoo Inc plans to spin off its 15
percent stake in the Chinese
c o m p a n y. B u t A l i b a b a ` s
Executive Vice Chairman Joe Tsai
did use the post-results
conference call to take a shot at a
Chinese regulator, after the
watchdog called out the company
in a report published on
Wednesday for failing to do
enough to stamp out illegal
business on its platforms. Tsai
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portfolio, integrated IT
services and engineering
capabilities have ensured
that HCL remains service
provider of choice for
companies looking for
business model
transformation, he
added.In dollar terms, the
company's net profit rose
by 27.3 per cent to USD
307.2 million in the
reported quarter, while
revenues grew 12.8 per
cent to USD 1.43
billion."Our continued
focus in developing next generation
propositions around digitalisation,
engineering platform services and target
operating model for enterprise IT have
allowed us to stay ahead of the innovation
said the report was "flawed" and
assured listeners that Alibaba had
not seen the report before it was
published, nor had it requested its
publication to be delayed. The
report by the State Administration
for Industry and Commerce
(SAIC) sparked concern that
Alibaba had failed to disclose risk
factors to its investors prior to its
bumper listing in September.
Revenue growth, at its lowest
level since at least 2013, and
margins slipped as sales through
mobile devices, typically
smaller-ticket items, accounted
for a bigger slice of total sales
than in the previous quarter.Gross
merchandise volume (GMV), or
the sum of all Alibaba`s online
commerce transactions, rose 49
percent to $127 billion. Mobile
GMV continued to grow,
accounting for 42 percent of total
GMV, up from 36 percent in the
September quarter.
The number of mobile monthly
active users nearly doubled from
the same quarter the previous
year to 265 million. Overall
annual active buyers grew 45
percent to 334 million from 307
million in the September quarter exceeding the population of the
United States.
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curve and gain significant market share in the
global IT services market," HCL Technologies
President and CEO Anant Gupta said.For the
quarter ended December, HCL Technologies
had cash and cash equivalents of Rs 1,221
crore.
The company signed 15 transformational
engagements during this quarter with more
than USD one billion of total contract value
(TCV).Total headcount of the company
crossed the one lakh mark to stand at 1,00,240
at the end of December, with gross additions at
11,734 and net at 4,718.The attrition for IT
services on LTM basis stood at 16.4 per cent.In
order to expand the retail base, the company's
Board has recommended issuance of bonus
shares in the ratio of 1 share for every 1 share
held.
It also declared an interim dividend of Rs 8 per
equity share of Rs 2 each.Shares of the
company were trading 9.67 per cent up at Rs
1,805 apiece.
Google Q4 revenue misses
Wall Street target, shares fall
San Francisco
Google Inc`s revenue grew 15 percent in the fourth quarter,
falling short of Wall Street`s target on declining online ad prices
and unfavorable foreign exchange rates. Shares of Google fell
3.5 percent to $493 in after-hours trading on Thursday.Google
said on Thursday the average price of its online ads, or "cost per
click," decreased 3 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter,
while the number of consumer clicks on its ads increased 14
percent.Consolidated revenue in the three months ended Dec. 31
totaled $18.10 billion, compared to $15.71 billion in the yearago period. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S were
looking for revenue of $18.46 billon.
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BHUBANESWAR
Saturday January 31
P-5
2015
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World
News
News box
box
US condemns deadly terror
attacks in Egypt
Washington
The US condemned the deadly attacks in Egypt`s North
Sinai province that has so far left at least 26 Egyptians
dead, and pledged to continue support for the Egyptian
government`s anti-terrorism efforts.
"A prosperous and strong Egypt requires an
environment of security and stability, and the United
States remains steadfast in its support of the Egyptian
government`s efforts to combat the threat of terrorism in
Egypt as part of our continuing commitment to the
strategic partnership between our two countries,"
Xinhua reported citing a statement issued by the US
State Department on Thursday.A source in the province
told the state TV earlier that ten mortar shells and a car
bomb targeted the North Sinai Security Department
headquarters and army detachment 101, destroying a
large part of the department.Egypt has recently extended
a curfew in many parts of North Sinai for another three
months due to the unstable security conditions in the
area and the recurrent terrorist attacks targeting security
men and facilities.Anti-security attacks started across
Egypt after the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed
Morsi by the military in July 2013, and the subsequent
crackdown on his supporters left about 1,000 killed and
led to a similar number of arrests.
Most of the anti-security attacks were claimed by the
Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group, affiliated to
the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Iraq and Syria.
Greek vote stokes antiausterity mood in Ireland
Saturday January 31
BHUBANESWAR
P-6
2015
US armed drone program in
Yemen facing intelligence gaps
Washington
The United States is facing increasing
difficulty acquiring intelligence needed
to run its stealth drone program in
Yemen, undermining a campaign
against the most lethal branch of al
Qaeda after Houthi rebels seized
control of parts of the country’s security
apparatus, US officials say.Gaps in onthe-ground intelligence could slow
America`s fight against a resurgent al
Qaeda in Yemen and heighten the risk of
errant strikes that kill the wrong people
and stoke anti-US sentiment,
potentially making the militants even
stronger in areas where al Qaeda is
already growing.Iran-backed Houthi
rebels have taken up positions in and
around several defence and intelligence
installations whose teams had
previously cooperated with
Washington, cutting off key sources of
information for drone-missile attacks,
the officials told a news agency.Turmoil
in the wake of last week`s collapse of a
US-backed Yemeni government after
days of clashes in the capital Sana'a, has
already forced the US State Department
to reduce staff and operations at the US
embassy.US officials told a news
agency last week that Washington has
also halted some counter-terrorism
operations, but described the
measures as temporary.The turmoil
has also cast doubt over the future of a
key partnership for Washington in the
fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula, or AQAP. Only last
September President Barack Obama
touted cooperation with Yemen as a
model in counter-terrorism.AQAP
claimed responsibility for shootings
this month in Paris that killed 17
people and has been accused of
plotting attacks against American
interests.The crisis in the Arab
world`s poorest country threatens to
create a power vacuum that could
allow AQAP to expand, while
pushing Yemen toward a broader
conflict between majority Sunni
Muslims and minority Shi`ite
Houthis, who are hostile to both the
United States and al Qaeda. US
officials said training of Yemeni
special forces had ground to a halt in
the capital, though some joint
activities were continuing in the
Sunni-controlled south.Many US
personnel remain in place with
Yemeni government forces at the
southern al-Anaad air base, an
intelligence post for monitoring the al
Qaeda group. Stephen Seche, who
served as US ambassador to
Yemen from 2007 to 2010 and now
works in Washington at a law firm,
said, however, he expected
collaboration between US and
Yemeni intelligence services to
suffer."If there’s no leadership,
there’s no clear direction, there’s
no real motivation to do that,” he
said.The White House and the
Pentagon have said counterterrorism efforts in Yemen will be
undeterred by turmoil in the
country. "We do continue to have
an ongoing security relationship
with the national security
infrastructure in Yemen. Some of
which, much of which, is still
functioning," White House
spokesman Josh Earnest told
reporters.Some US officials,
however, privately say the reduced
intelligence sharing could
undermine the armed-drone
program.Information has dried up
from Yemeni security offices in
Sana'a and there has been less
cooperation from local security
services outside the capital, the
officials told a news agency,
speaking on condition of
anonymity.
Houthis have erected checkpoints
at entrances at security institutions
and have stationed operatives
inside, Yemeni officials say. Rebels
also surround the homes of the
defence minister and the head of
the National Security Bureau.
US authorities treat some Yemeni
intelligence leads with scepticism,
concerned local officials might be
trying to settle scores, and typically
seek corroboration from multiple
sources, the officials said.But they
will now be forced to rely more on
surveillance drones, spy satellites
and electronic eavesdropping, as
well as their own "human
intelligence" sources on the
ground, said one official with direct
knowledge of the operations.
Seeking to stabilise the country,
Washington has signalled at least
limited contacts with the Houthis,
who oppose the American drone
campaign but are also enemies of al
Qaeda.“As a new part of Yemen`s
leadership, the Houthis will have
many reasons to talk with the
international community,” said
White House spokesman Alistair
Baskey. He cited the need for
security assurances for
diplomats and to “articulate
their intentions” on the
country`s political transition,
but insisted there was no US
intelligence sharing with the
Houthis.With little prospect of
collaborating with the Houthis,
Washington will also face
trouble mounting raids on al
Qaeda hideouts similar to those
carried out in the past by UStrained Yemeni special forces
working close with US
officials.The United States will
maintain some security
cooperation in southern Yemen,
an al Qaeda stronghold and
where former president AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi retains
some support, even while the
rebels control the capital and
much of the north, the officials
said.The U.S. officials added
that they can continue drone
strikes such as Monday’s attack
on a car in eastern Yemen that
killed three men believed to be
al Qaeda militants, including
one identified as a youth by a
Yemeni rights group.
The Central Intelligence
Agency, which conducts the
bulk of drone operations in
Yemen, has no drone bases on
Yemeni soil but operates from
Saudi Arabia and Djibouti, US
officials say.
They also insist tht while
“collateral damage” is always a
risk in counter terrorism
operations, they do the utmost
to avoid civilian casualties.
Athens
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Ireland`s economy is speeding ahead and unemployment
is dropping, but the coming to power of a radical new
government in fellow eurozone member Greece has
revived debate about the pain of austerity.Support for
opposition parties -- including for the radical left-wing
Sinn Fein party -- has been surging for months on the back
of their anti-austerity stance, and Syriza`s win in Greece
is an extra boost.Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams spoke to
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras this week, backing the new
Greek leader`s campaign for a European Debt conference
like the one that wrote off German debt after World War
II."Austerity has heaped severe hardship on citizens in
Greece, Ireland and across Europe," Adams said,
according to a statement on Sinn Fein`s website.The
Greek vote "has given renewed hope to working people
across Europe, including Ireland, that there is a fairer and
more just way to deal with the economic challenges that
we face," he said.Ireland estimates its 2014 growth at 4.7
percent and forecasts 3.9 percent for 2015, while
unemployment is predicted to fall to 9.8 percent this
year.The country is no longer taking on new EU/IMF
bailout loans but is still stuck with repayment and Sinn
Fein wants a renegotiation, in particular of the EUR 64
billion pumped into the banks since 2008.Despite some
similarities, the Irish government has stressed that it is not
Greece, and points to the positive macroeconomic
data."There`s a situation here where media speculation
and political speculation is ahead of where the Greek
government is," said Simon Harris, junior minister at the
department of finance."We don`t know exactly what the
Greek government is going to ask for," he said.
Harris also pointed out that Ireland had already
restructured its bailout debts four times by striking deals
to repay the IMF loans early, cut interest rates, extend
maturities and restructure loans.This week the IMF said
Ireland`s recovery is off to a "good start" but efforts were
needed to put "the public debt on a firmly downward
path.""Ireland`s medium-term prospects are positive, yet
euro area stagnation poses downsides," the Fund said in
its latest post-bailout review.The introduction of new
water charges from January 1 this year, as well as a string
of political mishaps in 2014, has seen support for the
governing parties fall to an all-time low in recent months,
although it rebounded slightly in a poll last weekend.
The water tax was the final piece of almost EUR 30
billion in tax hikes and spending cuts since 2008 which
has hit all citizens, in a country where unemployment
surged to 15.1 percent in 2012.This month, however,
there were modesttax cuts from Ireland`s first
expansionary budget in seven years and cabinet ministers
sold the message of economic recovery at every
opportunity.But the outcome of the Greek vote proves
results deemed incredible "even five years ago are now a
possibility", according to Nat O`Connor from Tasc, an
independent think tank."We now have the potential for a
similr electoral upheaval here in Ireland but also in
Portugal and Spain," he said.Ireland is facing the
possibility that neither of the two historically dominant
parties, Fine Gael or Fianna Fail, will be in power after an
election for the first time since the foundation of the
state.With a general election due in 2016, the Greek
negotiations on debt re-restructuring will be watched
closely in Ireland.
Iraqi artist aims
kick at IS jihadists
Baghdad
The Islamic State group militant glares at Baghdad
residents with bulging eyes and bared teeth, but neither
kidnapping nor death are imminent, because this
jihadist is made from a shoe.A black, treaded sole with
the toe broken off serves as his face and nose, while old
shoelaces evoke both black headscarf and long hair.For
teeth, zippers dangle into a mouth formed by the space
between the heel and toe, and round metal pieces stand
in for bulging eyes.The jihadist is the creation of Iraqi
artist Akeel Khreef, who takes worn-out shoes and
transforms them into faces representing the "ugliness"
of the Islamic State (IS) group, which has committed a
slew of atrocities in his country."I wanted to portray the
extent of the criminality and ugliness and ugly acts of
the organisation`s members," says Khreef, a 35-yearold architectural engineering professor who is working
on a mural of two dozen shoe faces.IS has done much to
provoke the anger of Iraqis, leading a June offensive
that swept down from the city of Mosul and overran
large parts of the country`s Sunni Arab heartland,
sowing fear and displacing hundreds of thousands of
people.It has killed thousands of people in areas it
controls in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, targeted
religious and ethnic minorities, sold women and
children as sex slaves and destroyed historical
sites.With the faces, Khreef says he wants to portray
"the ugly condition" that has prevailed in Iraq since
June, and fashioning them from old shoes does so with a
calculated insult of an especially Iraqi persuasion.In
Iraq it is considered extremely rude to call someone
"waja al-kundara" -- literally "face of the shoe".
Winston Churchill still looms
large over Britain of 2015
London
Fifty years after Winston Churchill`s death,
the wartime prime minister remains a
touchstone of British political life -- and a
reminder of a faded age of global
influence.Top politicians will be amog those
attending a re-enactment of his funeral
procession in London on Friday, 50 years to
the day since it was watched on television by
350 million people, complete with a gun
salute and the raising of Tower Bridge."His
enduring legacy and influence on political
life and British culture is testament to his
formidable strength of character and
remarkable achievements," Prime Minister
David Cameron, who will also attend a
wreath-laying ceremony at parliament,
said.His Conservative colleague Boris
Johnson, the mayor of London, has just
penned a biography entitled "The Churchill
Factor: How One Man Made History".To
this day, British politicians often evoke
Churchill to add weight to their arguments,
tapping into a deep attachment felt by many
who were alive during World War II,
according to University of Exeter historian
Richard Toye."For many people he`s not a
historical figure -- people continue to feel an
emotional connection to him," Toye
said.Before World War II, Churchill was seen
as a maverick, discredited by the huge loss of
life caused by the poorly planned World War I
landings at Gallipoli and regarded as a
political opportunist for switching from the
Liberal Part to the Conervatives and back.But
the image that endures of Churchill was
forged in 1940, when he was appointed prime
minister: a charismatic figure in a bowler hat,
bow tie, wrinkled brow and fat cigar, defying
Adolf Hitler.Chris Ryland, 65, hitchhiked to
London aged 15 to see him lying in state.
"It was a sombre moment. We were aware that
something great had passed, whether
Churchill or the whole of that era," said
Ryland, who now owns the boat that carried
Churchill`s coffin and will retrace its journey
at Friday`s commemoration."Churchill
remains hugely relevant today because
without him the history of the world would be
very different."Born to an aristocratic family
at the height of British imperial power,
Churchill had the untroubled belief in English
superiority common to his era, and has
always had plenty of critics.Black spots
include his contempt for Indian leader
Mahatma Gandhi, failure to send food to
Bengal as a famine killed millions during
World War II and brutality in Ireland on his
watch at the War Office after World War
I.There was anger in Britain last year after an
election candidate was arrested for quoting
Churchill`s critical comments about Islam,
but historian Warren Dockter told AFP it is a
"myth" that he was Islamophobic."He is a
hardcore imperialist, but also very interested
in being magnanimous and kind to British
subjects, who believed Islam was a civilising
force," Dockter said.Broadcaster Jeremy
Paxman this month called Churchill a
"ruthless egotist" who would be unelectable
today.Yet to many Britons, he remains a link
to a proud past at a time when much of the
country is haunted by a sense of decline.The
anti-EU UK Independence Party has used an
image of Churchill making his V for victory
sign as a symbol of defiance against Europe.
Ironically, then EU Commission president
Jose Manuel Barroso in 2013 instead urged
the British to embrace Churchill`s wish for a
"United States of Europe".Churchill was
acutely conscious of his own legacy, shaping
his memoirs to "put himself in the best
possible light", Toye said.Randolph
Churchill, born two days before his greatgrandfather`s death, told a news agency that
his ancestor lived on in the freedoms enjoyed
in Britain to this day."Fifty years on, what I
feel is we`re really doffing our hat to
Churchill, a younger generation.
Iraqi artist aims kick at IS jihadists
Baghdad
The Islamic State group militant glares at
Baghdad residents with bulging eyes and
bared teeth, but neither kidnapping nor
death are imminent, because this jihadist is
made from a shoe.A black, treaded sole
with the toe broken off serves as his face
and nose, while old shoelaces evoke both
black headscarf and long hair.For teeth,
zippers dangle into a mouth formed by the
space between the heel and toe, and round
metal pieces stand in for bulging eyes.The
jihadist is the creation of Iraqi artist Akeel
Khreef, who takes worn-out shoes and
transforms them into faces representing the
"ugliness" of the Islamic State (IS) group,
which has committed a slew of atrocities in
his country."I wanted to portray the extent
of the criminality and ugliness and ugly acts
of the organisation`s members," says Khreef,
a 35-year-old architectural engineering
professor who is working on a mural of two
dozen shoe faces.IS has done much to
provoke the anger of Iraqis, leading a June
offensive that swept down from the city of
Mosul and overran large parts of the country`s
Sunni Arab heartland, sowing fear and
displacing hundreds of thousands of people.It
has killed thousands of people in areas it
controls in Iraq and neighbouring Syria,
targeted religious and ethnic minorities, sold
women and children as sex slaves and
destroyed historical sites.With the faces,
Khreef says he wants to portray "the ugly
condition" that has prevailed in Iraq since
June, and fashioning them from old shoes
does so with a calculated insult of an
especially Iraqi persuasion.In Iraq it is
considered extremely rude to call someone
"waja al-kundara" -- literally "face of the
shoe"."This is what I want to say," Khreef
explains.In Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle
East, it is deemed offensive to even have the
bottom of one`s shoes facing another
person.Iraq also has a history of protest by
footwear, with a journalist famously hurling
his shoes at then US president George W.
Bush during a press conference in 2008.When
"you look at the works, you see they are made
from remains of waste and worn-out shoes,
but they appear sick in their mentalities, and
bloodthirsty," Khreef says."I will not get them
out of my country with this work, but... I am
certain they would be embarrassed by it," he
says.American officials frequently refer to
breaking the "image" or "myth" of IS
invincibility, but this can come to pass
through art and humour in addition to military
force.
China vows no
`Western values`
in universities
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Beijing
China`s education minister has vowed to ban
university textbooks which promote
"Western values", state media said, in the
latest sign of ideological tightening under
President Xi Jinping.
"Never let textbooks promoting Western
values appear in our classes," minister Yuan
Guiren said, according to a report late
Thursday by China`s official Xinhua news
agency."Remarks that slander the leadership
of the Communist Party of China" and "smear
socialism" must never appear in college
classrooms, he added according to Xinhua.
China`s universities are run by the ruling
Communist party, which tightly controls
discussions of history and other topics it
construes as a potential threat to its grip on
power.The party often brands concepts such
as multiparty elections and the separation of
powers as "Western", despite their global
appeal and application.China has tightened
controls on academics since President Xi
Jinping assumed the party leadership in 2012,
with several outspoken professors sacked or
jailed.Xia Yeliang, an economics professor at CK YM
the prestigious Peking University, was fired
from his post in 2013 after a 13-year tenure in
a decision he attributed to persistent calls for
political change in China.Xia was one of the
original signatories of the reformist petition
Charter 08, whose main author Liu Xiaobo
remains in prison even after winning the
Nobel Peace Prize.The university attributed
the dismissal to poor teaching, and he moved
to the US last year.Yuan`s remarks came a
month after Xi called for authorities to
increase the Communist party`s leadership of
universities, and to "strengthen and improve
ideological work".Teachers must "stand firm
and hold the "political, legal and moral
bottom line," Yuan added, using a common
expression for support of China`s
authoritarian political system.A Chinese
province last month announced plans to instal
CCTV cameras in university classrooms,
sparking an outcry from lawyers who say the
move would further curb academic freedom.
Authorities have in the past installed video
equipment in the classrooms of outspoken
academics, most notably .
Ukraine peace talks due as EU
hits Russia with more sanctions
Minsk
Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia
and Europe are set to hold fresh
peace talks on Friday in a bid to end a
surge in fighting between Kiev and
Kremlin-backed rebels, with
tensions running high after the EU
hit Moscow with more sanctions.
The talks in Belarus`s capital Minsk
will bring together the contact group
of representatives of Ukraine,
Russia and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), the Belarus foreign
ministry said.But the meeting is set
to be overshadowed by a deal
reached by EU foreign ministers
Thursday to tighten sanctions
against Russia over the conflict,
which the United Nations says has
left at least 5,100 people
dead.Former Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev warned Thursday that
the sanctions risk turning the new
Cold War atmosphere into a globally
destabilising "hot" armed conflict
between Moscow and the West.EU
foreign ministers agreed the new
measures against Russia during
emergency talks called after dozens
died in fighting in the east Ukrainian
port of Mariupol, overcoming
reluctance from Greece`s radical new
government."I cannot say I am happy
that we have taken this decision because
the situation on the ground is nothing to
be happy about," EU foreign policy
chief Federica Mogherini told a press
conference in Brussels."But the one
thing I can be happy about is that we
have kept our unity."The United States
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welcomed the EU move, and
warned Russia that it was
mulling fresh sanctions of its
own.State Department
spokeswoman Jen Psaki said
the EU agreement was "a
further sign that the actions of
the last several days and
weeks are absolutely
unacceptable and that there
will be new consequences put
in place."The EU deal
extends a series of targeted
sanctions -- hitting more than 100
Russian and Ukrainian figures -- by
six months until September. The
sanctions were introduced after
Russia annexed the peninsula of
Crimea from Ukraine last
March.Foreign ministers also
agreed to come up with more names
to be hit with the travel bans and
asset freezes within a week, and to
start work on further "appropriate
action" if Moscow and the rebels
keep breaching a largely
disregarded peace deal signed in
Minsk in September.That could
open the door for the widening of
much tougher sectoral sanctions
hurting the Russian economy
which were introduced after the
shooting down of Malaysia Airlines
flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine
in July.Greece`s new Prime
Minister Alexis Tsipras, who is
close to Russia, had raised doubts
about the need for more sanctions
earlier in the week, but fears that
Athens could veto new measures
failed to materialise.Kiev and local
officials said six civilians and five
Ukrainian soldiers had been killed
over the previous 24 hours.The
West says Russian forces are in
Ukraine supporting the rebels -- a
charge the Kremlin denies -- and
has urged Moscow repeatedly to
respect the Minsk peace
deal.Ukraine`s Western-backed
President Petro Poroshenko had
earlier called for urgent talks,
saying they should lead to "an
immediate ceasefire and the
withdrawal of heavy weapons
from the line of contact".ProRussian militants last week
pulled out of peace talks and
announced a new offensive that
was followed by a rocket attack
on the strategic port of Mariupol
in which 31 civilians
died.Gorbachev, the last Sovet
leader, appeared to pin the
blame on the West for the
worsening situation, saying
sanctions which had cut Russian
access to US and European
capital markets threatened to
spiral into open warfare.
"Where will that lead all of us? A
Cold War is already being
waged openly. What`s next?"
the 83-year-old Nobel peace
prize winner asked.
"Unfortunately I cannot say for
sure that a Cold War will not
lead to a `hot` one."Russia`s
resurgence has alarmed eastern
members of the EU that used to
be in the Soviet sphere of
influence.Poland, which has
taken a harsh tone against
Moscow, said Thursday it would
soon allow civilians to sign up
for military training as it boosts
its defence system due to
anxiety over events in
Ukraine.TPoor`s slap a "junk"
rating on Moscow`s debt.
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Sports
Sports
News
News box
box
Lewis Hamilton, Nico
Rosberg give new
Mercedes a first run
London
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and team
mate Nico Rosberg gave their 2015 Mercedes race car a
`shakedown` test at Silverstone on Thursday before a
snowstorm forced an end to proceedings.Mercedes said
the F1 W06 hybrid car, due to be formally unveiled at the
first pre-season test in Jerez on Sunday, took to the track
in icy conditions for a limited mileage promotional
event."Driven first by Nico Rosberg, then Lewis
Hamilton, the car completed a total of 18 laps (47.2 km)
before a blizzard brought filming to a halt," the team said
in a statement.Mercedes won both championships last
year, with Hamilton taking 11 victories to Rosberg`s
five.The team are expected to set the pace again this
season, with Britain`s Hamilton chasing his third title,
although rival engine makers Renault, Ferrari and Honda
hope the performance gap will have narrowed.
Tiger Woods struggles
as Keegan Bradley in
early control
Scottsdale
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While Tiger Woods struggled in his first PGA Tour start
of the season, Keegan Bradley birdied four of his last
eight holes to seize an early one-shot lead at the Waste
Management Phoenix Open on Thursday.
Bradley, who recently switched back from a long to a
short putter, produced a sizzling display of all-round golf
on the way to a six-under-par 65 in the opening round at
the TPC Scottsdale.The 28-year-old American racked up
seven birdies and a lone bogey to end a mainly overcast
day in the Arizona desert one stroke ahead of compatriots
Zach Johnson, Robert Streb and Ben Martin, and
Scotland`s Martin Laird."Feels so good to go out and play
a really solid round tee to green," Bradley, a three-times
winner on the PGA Tour, told reporters."Made a bunch of
putts, which feels good. It`s a relief to go out and shoot a
good number in the first round to hopefully get my season
going."Woods, however, looked very rusty in his first
PGA Tour event in five months, especially struggling
with his short game as he reached the turn in a messy fourover 39.Watched by massive galleries more reminiscent
of a major championship than a regular tour event, the
former world number one mixed three bogeys with a
double at the par-three fourth and a sole birdie to
plummet well down the leaderboard.Twice major
champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina was among a
group of six players knotted on 67 while three-times
former winner Phil Mickelson, a popular figure at
Scottsdale after attending the nearby Arizona State
University, carded a 69.Left-hander Mickelson was
relieved to cover his back nine in three-under 32 after
making a slow start that included an ugly double bogey at
the par-five 15th where he twice hit shots into water.
"I feel like I`m driving the ball well and hitting some good
shots," said Mickelson, who failed to win on the PGA
Tour last season, his first title drought on the U.S. circuit
since 2003."I came out and I just made a bunch of dumb
mistakes and I`m three over. I ended up playing the front
nine (his second) really solid ... hit a lot of good shots.
"This was an important thing for me, because I`m in a
position now if I get hot tomorrow I can get right back in
it."
Australilan Open, 2nd
semi-final: Confident
Djokovic ready for
Wawrinka challenge
Supremely confident Novak Djokovic is the hot favourite
for a fifth Australian Open crown but he is expecting a
draining battle with defending champion Stan Wawrinka
to make Sunday`s final.Wawrinka upset the Serb world
number one in the quarter-finals on the way to winning
his first Grand Slam final in Melbourne last year and has
shown so far he is not willing to give up his title without a
big fight.While seven-time major winner Djokovic has
looked highly impressive in reaching Friday`s semi-final
without dropping a set and losing only one of his 74
service games, he must get past the Swiss fourth
seed.That is more easily said than done with all their three
Grand Slam encounters and a Davis Cup tie running to
five sets.Djokovic has won all but one of those epic
encounters and yet he will have to be on his guard after
Wawrinka easily brushed aside US Open finalist Kei
Nishikori in straight sets to reach his second consecutive
Australian semi-final.The Serb, who has a 48-6 match
record in Melbourne, thrives on the Australian Open hard
courts where he has never lost a final, while Wawrinka is
in the midst of a 12-match winning run going back to last
year`s tournament."I feel very good about my game at the
moment. Stan and I have played five-set matches in the
last two Australian Opens," Djokovic said."I`m going to
be ready for a fight. But knowing that I have raised the
level of my performance and coming off playing the best
match of the tournament so far, I take a lot of confidence
into the next match."Djokovic has progressively stepped
up his campaign with strong wins against Fernando
Verdasco, Gilles Muller and Milos Raonic in his last three
matches and looks the player to beat for this year`s
title."Being the defending champion, he`s got some of the
pressure here," Djokovic added."He is facing this kind of
pressure for the first time in his life. He`s been playing
some great tennis under the circumstances. Got to give
him credit for that. I like Stan, respect him a lot."
BHUBANESWAR
P-7
Saturday , January 31 2015
Branislav Ivanovic fires warning
ahead of Manchester City showdown
London
Chelsea defender Branislav
Ivanovic has warned Manchester
City that the Premier League leaders
are back to full power heading into
their seismic showdown at Stamford
B r i d g e o n S a t u r d a y. J o s e
Mourinho`s side are five points clear
of second placed City and Ivanovic
claims they are confident of
extending that lead over the
champions after a much-needed
morale boost in the League Cup in
midweek.Stung by their humiliating
FA Cup fourth round defeat against
third tier Bradford last weekend, the
Blues responded impressively by
booking a League Cup final berth
thanks to a 1-0 semi-final second leg
win over Liverpool.The victory was
secured by Ivanovic`s extra-time
goal and the Serbia international
celebrated by insisting the result was
a sign Chelsea are ready to hit peak
form in the crucial clash against
City.
"We showed the real power of our
team and in the end deserved to be in
the final," Ivanovic said.
"We know we can improve and
we`ll improve in the next couple of
games."Ivanovic`s bold declaration
might not sound so threatening to
City if Chelsea`s star striker Diego
Costa is suspended this weekend.
Costa is facing a three-match ban
for his apparent stamp on
Liverpool`s Emre Can on Tuesday,
although the Spain international has
appealed the charge of violent
conduct and a Football Association
verdict is due by Friday.Facing
Chelsea without Costa would be a
significant lift for City, who have
struggled badly since influential
Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure
departed for African Cup of Nations
duty.Toure`s exit has coincided with
a run of three games without a win
for City, including damaging back to
back home defeats against Arsenal in
the league and then second tier
Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.But City
manager Manuel Pellegrini is adamant
his players, including veteran
midfielder Frank Lampard who is set
for his first return to Chelsea since
leaving the Bridge at the end of last
season, are still confident of
overhauling the Blues."I am concerned,
not because of the Chelsea game, but
because in the last two games at home
we didn`t score goals and we conceded
two goals in each," he said."But we
don`t have any problem with
motivation. I
think we are
going to work
hard and I hope
we can win at
S t a m f o r d
Bridge."A City
defeat would
o f f e r
encouragement
to Southampton
and Manchester
United that they
could leapfrog
Pellegrini`s
team.
But third
p l a c e d
Southampton,
five points
behind City, host
Swansea on Sunday with boss
Ronald Koeman battling a
growing injury list.
Already hit by injuries to Toby
Alderweireld, Victor Wanyama,
Morgan Schneiderlin, Sam
Gallagher and Jay Rodriguez,
the Saints suffered another blow
this week when Republic of
Ireland striker Shane Long was
ruled out for six weeks with
fractured ribs.United, sitting 12
points adrift of Chelsea in fourth
place, need to get back on track
against bottom of the table
Leicester after failing to beat
fourth tier Cambridge in the
FA Cup last week.That
lackluste display underlined
United`s problems in attack
this season.Dutch forward
Robin van Persie has scored
just once in his last six
appearances and he lifted the
lid on his team`s frustration in
some candid comments this
week."Obviously we are not
scoring enough goals,
including me," van Persie
said."Everyone feels
responsible. I do, definitely.
This year I have played
something like 20 games and I
have scored eight goals."I am
not happy with that. I want to
score more."Liverpool
manager Brendan Rodgers
has no concerns about how
Daniel Sturridge will fit into
his redefined formation ahead
of the striker`s long-awaited
c o m e b a c k f r o m
injury.Sturridge will be in
Liverpool`s squad for their
Premier League clash against
West Ham at Anfield, having
not played for the Reds since
the end of August with calf
and thigh problems.However,
Rodgers reverted to a fluid 34-3 system during a lean spell
of results in Sturridge`s
absence and Liverpool saw a
marked improvement."We are
very much built around the
collective, but it doesn`t half
help when you have someone
to finish it off at the top end of
the field and have that power
and pace that Daniel has,"
Rodgers said.
LIVE, ODI tri-series: Mattia Destro gets rousing
reception on joining AC
India vs England
Milan from Roma
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Live updates of the match between India and England from the WACA at
Perth.
LIVE SCORECARDMoeen Ali is introduced and he continues to impress
against India. Just two runs come from the over. Finn then concedes six
runs with singles produced from all deliveries. Good runs here. Ali then
gives away a boundary to Rahane who gets a thick edge towards third man
for four. Dhwan then plays a shot away from his body and edges to Buttler.
He departs and Kohli comes in. Wicket maiden from Stokes.India have
got off to a very good start. Rahane survives a run-out chance off Broad
from his own bowling and a throw results in a single. Dhawan then gets a
tight single. Rahane plays through mid-wicket for a single. Broad then
bowls a very good bouncer. Finn continues and Dhawan gets a run
through the off side for a single. Rahane then pulls a short ball for one.
Dhawan calls for a single and is denied. India bringing up their fifty. Slow
but effective start this given the conditions. Finn comes in and both
batsmen rotate strike to get four runs. Broad then bowls a good over
before Dhawan gets a four through the off-side. Finn continues and
Rahane gets a single through mid-wicket. Dhawan gets a close shave off a
LBW appeal. Erasmus the umpire doesn't give the decision as it may have
pitched outside the line and could have got the inside edge as well. He then
gets a four through the off-side. Two runs come from the last ball. India
have seen the first twelve overs of the match well here. Not many runs on
the scorecard but they will be happy. England have used the conditions
well. Woakes and Anderson bowls well again before Broad gives away a
boundary. Rahane hits through the off-side for four. Anderson then
follows it with just two runs. Broad continues and Rahane gets two runs
through the leg side. He then calls Dhawan for a short run. Dhawan then
gets an inside edge for four. Lucky break that. Eight runs come.Woakes
concedes five runs from his over which sees three quick singles after
defensive shots and two runs guided through to third man. Anderson then
bowls a maiden after Dhawan fails to get anything out from a superb over.
Rahane them makes room and plays a shot high up over through mid-off
for two runs. Dhawan then gets a welcome boundary slashing one past
point for four. Nine runs come. Anderson then concedes just two runs as
England have got off to a very good start here.James Anderson starts off
well here. Nice line and length and gives nothing away. Rahane beaten
and and also plays some soft handed shots. One run comes from the over.
Woakes starts at the other end and well he too bowls perfectly. Dhawan
gets a leading edge off a bouncer but that misses to reach the gully fielder.
After that he nearly runs himself out as Woakes misses a chance to hit the
stumps. Two run comes from the over. Anderson then concedes a run after
Rahane misses the edge once again. Good stuff this!
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Milan
Striker Mattia Destro joined
struggling giants AC Milan from
AS Roma on Thursday and was
greeted by dozens of fans who
created chaotic scenes at Milan
central station. "It`s been a
wonderful welcome," the 23-yearold told Milan`s website after he
was met by chief executive Adriano
Galliani and they were escorted off
the platform by police, amid a
crowd of fans, photographers and
cameramen."I can`t wait to get on
the pitch and play."Destro, who still
had to face a medical, has scored five
goals for Roma this season but
relations with coach Rudi Garcia
have deteriorated as he has started
only eight games.Milan did not give
any details of the deal but Italian
media said it would be a loan with an
option to buy.Destro, who has played
for Italy at every age level, joined
Roma in the 2012 close season from
Siena.He initially found it difficult to
get into the team, then injured his left
knee in a Coppa Italia match against
Inter Milan in January 2013.It was
predictedthat he would be out of
action for two months and he made a
gradual return to the Roma team
towards the end of the season.But
a f t e r a E u r o p e a n u n d e r- 2 1
championship match for Italy in
Israel in June he suffered a
recurrence of his injury, leading to a
war of words between the national
team and the Serie A side. He finally
returned to action in December
2013, making an instant impact after
he came off the bench against
Fiorentina to score the winner.He
went on toscore 13 league goals in
20 appearances last season and
made the provisional list for Italy`s
World Cup squad, but was cut from
the final 23.
McLaren unveil Honda-powered MP4-30
London
McLaren unveiled their new car,
the MP4-30, which will be piloted
by former world champions
Fernando Alonso and Jenson
Button in 2015, in an online
presentation on Thursday.The
British marque will be running
Honda engines for the first time
since 1992 and they hope that
Alonso and Button will help them
end two years in the Formula One
wilderness.But despite resuming
their partnership with Japanese
engine manufacturer Honda, the
new car retains the predominantly
grey livery synonymous with the
team's 20-year partnership with
Mercedes."Although our renewed
alliance began again many months
ago, the launch of the McLarenHonda MP4-30 marks the start of a
lengthy journey," said chief
executive Ron Dennis in a
statement."We've come a long way
already and, although there's a lot
of work to do before we can expect
to repeat the level of success we
enjoyed together 25 or so years
ago, it's already clear that there's
enormous synergy and potential in
our partnership."I'm positive that,
together, we'll get to where we
want to be: winning Grands Prix
a n d e v e n t u a l l y Wo r l d
Championships as McLarenHonda."lecks of red along the
MP4-30's snout recall the red and
white cars of McLaren's Hondapowered glory days in the late
1980s, when Alain Prost and
Ayrton Senna dominated the
sport.Those days have seemed a
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distant memory over the past two
seasons, during which time McLaren
failed to register a single victory, but
two-time champion Alonso said the
team are ready to challenge for
honours again. "I've done a lot of
training during the winter break, to
reach my peak physical fitness, and
I've been working hard in preparation
for this new era of McLaren-Honda,"
said the Spaniard, who will be the first
man to drive the new car in testing at
the Spanish circuit of Jerez on
Sunday."I've never felt better, or more
ready for a new season.Of course,
we're prepared for a steep learning
curve, but it's clear to see that inside
McLaren-Honda there's total
commitment, and a real change in
feeling, as we start this new
partnership."Button's place in
McLaren's line-up was not
confirmed until late last year, with
the 35-year-old Briton only retaining
his seat after a battle with rookie
Kevin Magnussen.But ahead of his
sixth season with the team, Button is
eager to begin his partnership with
Alonso.
"The off-season has really brought
about a sense of renewal coming into
2015," said the 2009
champion."Continuing my
relationship with McLaren, getting
married, and now embarking on such
an exciting chapter: McLaren's new
partnership with Honda. I've trained
hard over the winter, and I'm
absolutely itching to get going in the
new McLaren-Honda MP4-30."I'm
also looking forward to working
with my new team-mate, Fernando,
and I'm confident that our joint
experience on track will pay
dividends in our development race to
get our team back to the front of the
grid. I'm hugely motivated to make
more history in this new McLarenHonda era."
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Saturday , January 31 2015
BHUBANESWAR
P-8
State-of-the-Art Archery Centre and Gymnasium
Complex set up by Rourkela Steel Plant
Rourkela:Mr.
G.S.Prasad,
CEO,
Rourkela Steel Plant
(RSP) inaugurated the
Archery Centre and the
Gymnasium Complex at
the Biju Patnaik Hockey
Stadium
Complex,
Sector-5 on 24th
January. Many senior
officers of the plant
were present on the
occasion. Notably, these
facilities are the latest
addition to the sporting
facilities being provided
by Rourkela Steel Plant.
The centre boasts of
State-of-the-art facilities
for encouraging the
players of Archery. The
centre
known
as
‘Dhanurvidya Kendra’
will provide intensive
training to local talents to
groom
them
for
participating in National
and International archery
events. Initially 10 boys
and 10 girls have been
identified for the training.
The archery centre has
been termed as the best
archery ground in the
state by the Secretary of
Odisha
archery
Association and the
Archery Coach of Sports
Authority of India facility
at Sundargarh.
The gymnasium complex
has excellent equipments
for maintaining a great
physique through world
class
exercising
equipments. The gym has
electronic treadmills,
specialized exercise
cycles, lifting and
bodybuilding equipments.
The facility will not only
serve the employees of
the steel plant but also the
sportspersons of the city.
It is worth mentioning
here that RSP has been
promoting
sporting
talents in the region in a
big way and giving them
a platform to showcase
their talents. The SAIL
Hockey academy run by
RSP is one of the best
coaching centres in the
field of hockey. Sporting
events such as InterSchool Cricket and
Football Tournaments,
Rural
Hockey
Tournament
and
Samvardhan Football and
Kabaddi Tournaments are
organized round the year
by RSP to promote the
culture of sports in the
region. These two
facilities will definitely go
a long way in encouraging
sporting activities in and
around Rourkela.
Odisha Patrakar Sangha Cuttack district Organised Executive Comitee meting and Get together at cuttack
FLOWER SHOW INAUGURATED AT
India and US have great potential to expand
RALWAY STADIUM,SAMBALPUR
cooperation in energy sector: Dharmendra Pradhan
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more cooperation.
India and US have great
potential to expand
cooperation in energy
sector including in oil &
Gas. Visit of President
Obama with a contingent
of important leaders from
the U.S. Business and
government provided a
good opportunity to
discuss various avenues
of possible cooperation.
New
Delhi/
Bhubaneswar, January
30: Visit of US President
Barack Obama in a three
day long official tour to
India not only will go a
long
way
in
strengthening bilateral
relations between two
powerful democracies of
world but wouldl pave
ways for economic
Odisha to set up 219 new medical
termination of pregnancy centres by 2017
Bhubaneswar: The State Government has
set a target to increase the medical
termination of pregnancy (MTP) centres
from existing 155 to 374 (219 new) by
2017 for safe abortion in order to check
maternal mortality rate.This was informed
by Health and Family Welfare Secretary
Arti Ahuja here at a workshop on safe
abortion.
Apart from MTPs, efforts are on to train
Asha and other grassroots health
workers on safe abortion.On the
occasion the Health Secretary also
launched safe and comprehensive
abortion care to reduce maternal
mortality.The healthcare facilities and
schemes for women however, remain
a cause of concern in the State .
India is already scheduled
to buy LNG from the U.S.
From 2017
Though officially, Obama
attended India’s Republic
Day celebrations as the
guest of Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi,
the presence of top
American CEO’s speak of
the emerging importance
of India as an investment
destination.
Sambalpur,30/01: East Coast Railway Women’s Welfare
Organisation (ECoRWWO), Sambalpur organized Flower
Show at Railway Stadium at Rail Nagar,Sambalpur on 30th
& 31st January – 2015. On this occasion DRM Shri Ajaya
Pratap Singh, Chief Guest stated that “ to devlop a
beautiful flower it requires lot of hard work blended with
aesthetic sense of the flower lover.
President , East Coast Railway Women’s Welfare
Organisation (ECoRWWO), Sambalpur Smt.Anu Singh
stated flower is greatest gift of nature,it relieves the mental
and physical stress and gives refreshment to the soul.This
show will showcase the beauty of various flowers in a
natural and sprawling area.
52 categories of flowers and thousands of flower pots
along with sapplings will attract the viewers with its colour
and fragrance. Dr. S.P.Mishra,Dr. Lilimani Tripathy, Dr.
Sudarson Nanda, Dr. Sudam Charan Biswas and Shri
Prassanna Kumar Pradhan were the judges for the Flower
Show.Participation in the Flower Show Flowers cames
from Sambalpur, Baragarh, Kantabanji, Rairakhol, Burla
and Hirakud .
Shri S.S.Guru, Retired COM of Railway, Members of East
Coast Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation, Railway
Officers,Staff and ther family members ,general public and
flower lovers attended the Flower Show.It has been
decided by President ,ECoRWWO to include Vegetable
Show also alongwith Flower Show from next year
onwards.
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Vigilance raids homes, office of Odisha CM laid foundation-stones for 18 projects
R &B executive engineer
Boudh: Chief Minister a second bridge over the Rana and many other
Bhubaneswar, Jan 30:
Odisha government’s Vigilance department today
conducted simultaneous raids at seven locations,
including the office and residences of the Executive
Engineer, Roads and Bridges (R&B) Khordha, for
accumulating disproportionate assets.
Raids by Vigilance department sleuths were on at the
houses and office of Satyanarayan Sahu, Executive
Engineer, Roads and Bridges (R&B) Khordha in seven
locations – three in Bhubaneswar including his Niladri
Vihar house, two places in Brahmapur and his Khordha
office when reports last came in.
Naveen Patnaik on
Friday laid foundationstones for 18 projects
and inaugurated four
projects in Boudh during
his visit to the district.
A meeting was held at
Kharasankulei
in
Dhalapur gram panchayat
where the Chief Minister
laid foundation-stone for
Mahanadi.
Besides the Chief
Minister, Agriculture
Minister
Pradeep
Maharthy,
Energy
Minister Pranab Prakash
Das, Finance Minister
Pradip Amat, Kandhamal
MP
Pratyusha
Rajeshwari
Singh,
Kantamal MLA Mahidhar
BJD leaders presented
on this ocassion.
Finance Minister Amat
announced that the
Government would
construct Marjakuda
setu and a bypass road
at Boudh if the Centre
doesn’t do it in six
months’ time.
MORE NEW TRAIN THROUGH EAST COAST
Odisha Potato Mission goes for a toss as farmers distress sale produce ONE
RAILWAY CONNECTING SOUTH INDIA & ASSAM.
CM
KY
Sundargarh, Jan 31:
The
Odisha
government’s tall talk
about giving a big boost
to potato production and
enhancing in the state
after the prolonged crisis
in supply last year has
proved to be so much
hot air for potato
growers in Nuagaon and
Bisra
blocks
in
Sundargarh district, who
are having to sell their
produce in distress in the
absence of cold storages
and marketing avenues.
Farmers in Nuagaon and
Bisra
blocks
in
Sundargarh district, who
had taken up potato
cultivation with seeds
provided by LAMPS and
had dreamt of reaping
rich profits despite a
bumper harvest have
alleged
that
no
arrangements had been
made either for marketing
of their produce or for its
storage.
The two cold storages at
Kuanrmunda and the new
cold store of the
Integrated
Tribal
Development Agency
(ITDA) at Nuagaon are
closed.
“The government had
provided us seeds at Rs 42
a kg, now potato is selling
at Rs 7 a kg, we are even
unable to recover our
costs of cultivation. I
don’t know how we will
repay our loans. Now we
are under mental stress.
There are no cold stores
or similar facilities to
preserve our produce. We
are in big trouble and are
forced to undersell our
produce rather than allow
it to rot and suffer
complete loss, ” said a
farmer.
“This year, we have
provided 275 quintals of
potato seeds. We have
supplied certified seeds of
a company called Cadila.
We have provided loans
through LAMPS at
Hatibari, Lathikata and
Nuagaon for potato
cultivation. Out of 275
quintals of seeds, 205
quintals have been
provided in Nuagaon block
and 70 quintals in Lathikata
block,” said SP Nayak,
the assistant director of
horticulture, Sundargarh.
Collector Bhupider Singh
Punia has admitted that
NACC Peer Team Visit to
Brahmanjharilo Mahavidyalya
Bhubaneswar:
The
National Assessment and
Accrediation Council
(NAAC) peer team
c o m p r i s i n g
Prof.M.S.Khokar
(Chairperson),
Dr.E.Vijayan (Member
Co-ordinator) & Dr.
Maitreyee Bardhan Ray
(member)
visited
Brahmanjharilo
Mahavidyalya from Jan
12 to 14 Jan 2015.
The team verified different
documents, interacted
with faculties ,stydent and
staff and suggested
various measures of
improvement. Mrs Anu
Mishra Prinicipal and the
institutional co-ordinator
Dr. Sandhyarani Dash
assisted the tram during
their visit.
there are problems in
putting in place marketing
arrangements for the crop
and private parties are
being incentivized to open
cold
stores
for
preservation with a 70
percent subsidy on setting
up such facilities.
“We are identifying land in
different blocks for private
entrepreneurs and are
encouraging them to set
up cold stores. We are
providing 70 percent
subsidy for the purpose
and efforts are on for
setting up cold store in
different places in the
district,” Poonia said.
In the wake of last year’s
potato crisis which pushed
up the price of the tuner
to Rs 50 a kg at one time,
the state government had
constituted a task force to
find a permanent solution
for the recurring potato
crisis. The government
has accepted the road map
given by the task force for
production, preservation
and distribution of potato
and even decided to
implement a Potato
Mission from fiscal 201516 to make the state selfsufficient in potato
production and storage
over a period of three
years.
But the experience of the
potato
farmers
in
Sundargarh proves that
this was one of those
dozens of promises,which
the government makes to
tide over crisis situations
with no intention of acting
on it ever.
REAL EMPOWERMENT OF
RAILWAYMEN
THROUGH
MOTIVATIONAL
AND
INSPIRATIONAL TRAINING:
Bhubaneswar:East Coast Railway has taken the first
step towards empowering its Supervisors & field Staff
through motivational and inspirational training by
Management Experts. This training module will be
imparted to Supervisors to hone their skills and develop
better productivity and create a positive impact on their
minds.
The first module of the 2-day training session with a
large member of participants was started on 29th
January 2015 at Udayagiri Conference Hall, East Coast
Railway Headquarters. The programme was
inaugurated by Smt. Manju Ray, Chief Personnel
Officer. More such training programmes will be
organised for Railway Non-gazetted staff in the near
future.
Bhubaneswar,
As announced in Railway
Budget for running of
weekly Express train
between
Tata
and
Yesvantpur, Ministry of
Railways has decided to
introduce Tata-Yesvantpur
weekly express.
18111/18112 TataYesvantpur-Tata weekly
Express will leave Tata at
1835hrs o-n every
Thursday and will arrive
at Yesvantpur at 1830hrs
o-n every Saturday. In the
return direction, this train
will leave Yesvantpur at
1000hrs o-n every
Sunday and will arrive at
Tata at 1235hrs o-n every
Tuesday.
On the inaugural run, this
train will be introduced
from Tata on 29th
January 2015 and will run
as a special train.
However, the regular run
of this train will
commence
from
Yesvantpur w.e.f. 1st
February 2015.
This train has O-ne AC-2
tier, Three AC-3 tiers,
Seven Sleeper Class
Coaches, Six General
Second Class Coaches and
Two Guard cum Luggage
Vans in its composition
having stoppages at
Rourkela, Jharsuguda,
Sambalpur, Bargarh Road,
Balangir, Titlagarah,
Kesinga, Muniguda,
Rayagada, Parvatipuram,
Bobbili, Vizianagaram &
Visakhapatnam between
Tata & Yesvantpur.
Demise of Mr. Gurudas Kamat, Independent Director, Sesa Sterlite
Mumbai: It is with deep regret that the
Company announces the sudden demise of
Mr. Gurudas Kamat, Non-Executive
Independent Director of the Company, on
27 January 2015. Mr. Kamat had been
associated with the Company as an
Independent
Director
since
December2005.
Mr.Kamat retired as Chief Justice of
Gujarat High Court in January 1997 and
had over 45 years of experience in the
field of legal practice and judiciary.
609-C
13012/11/0052/1415
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CM
KY
email:[email protected], [email protected]
Editor : Abinash Mishra
CM
KY