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Russia gives Snowden document allowing him to leave airport

24072013

Russia’s migration service has provided fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden with a document that allows him to leave the Moscow airport transit zone where he has been holed up for the last month, a report said in Moscow today. The document confirms that his application for asylum in Russia is being considered but allows Snowden to cross the Russian border so long as border guards do not object, RIA Novosti news agency said. The agency added that the document was initially given to the lawyer helping him, Anatoly Kucherena, who was now on his way to Sheremetyevo airport and about to arrive. Snowden earlier this month applied for asylum, a process that could take up to three months. Kucherena has said he may even apply for Russian citizenship.

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24072013

Police ends Parliament siege in Bulgaria, frees MPs

Anti-corruption protests that have been peacefully going on for 40 days reached a climax in Bulgaria when demonstrators trapped a hundred ministers, lawmakers and journalists inside the parliament for over eight hours, urging the government to resign.Bulgarian police on Wednesday broke up a blockade of Parliament and escorted out more than 100 lawmakers and ministers who had been trapped inside the besieged building for more than eight hours by anti-government protesters seeking to oust the left-leaning government. Police in riot gear pushed away the protesters and formed a corridor to allow those trapped since yesterday out of the building. Anti-government protests in Bulgaria’s capital have been going on for 40 days, and escalated yesterday evening as several hundred demonstrators trapped 109 people including three ministers, some 30 lawmakers and their staff inside Parliament.

Police had tried to escort the officials out by bus yesterday, but protesters blocked the vehicle hurling stones at it. Seven protesters and two police officers were treated in hospital for head wounds.

The Socialist-backed government took office after early elections in May, following the resignation of the previous cabinet amid anti-austerity protests.

The government commands only 120 seats in the 240-seat Parliament and has to rely on the support from a nationalist party. The appointment of controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski as head of the national security agency sparked this wave of protests.

The appointment was immediately revoked but demonstrators insist the government is corrupt and must resign.

Recent public-opinion polls show they are supported by about two-thirds of Bulgaria’s 7.3 million people, who have the lowest incomes in the European Union.

President Rosen Plevneliev issued a statement calling on the protesters to keep the demonstrations “peaceful and civilised.” “For the first time since the start of the protests we have now witnessed tension and attempts for provocation,” Plevneliev said, urging the protesters to restrain from any acts which increased the tension and breach public order. He also called on the police to help keep the protest peaceful.

Bolivian leader accepts apologies over plane incident as ‘first step’

Bolivia has accepted apologies of Spain, Italy, Portugal and France over the president’s plane that was forced to make a landing in Vienna en route from Moscow on July 2. President Evo Morales said Wednesday that the apologies were accepted as “the first step” because Bolivia wants to develop relations with those countries based on mutual respect. Morales added that Bolivia reserves the right to continue actions in international organizations to rule out such incidents in future.

Cessna that crossed Russian border intercepted by NATO jet fighters in Latvia

France’s Mirage jet fighters from a NATO mission have reportedly forced the Cessna aircraft, which earlier crossed the border into Russia, to land in Latvia. The passenger plane registered in Italy was reportedly flying from Poland to Norway, but illegally crossed the borders of Russia and Latvia. The Russian Aerospace Defense Forces detected an aircraft flying above Polish territory which crossed the Russian border over Gdansk Bay at 8:26pm Moscow time on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The intruder aircraft turned back after the pilot had visual contact with a Russian Su-27 fighter jet crew and headed towards Lithuania, the ministry said.

Darfur rebels launch new attack on Sudan

Rebels from Sudan’s Darfur region launched a new assault on the country’s heartland on Wednesday, attacking an army base and sending civilians running, rebels and witnesses said. Residents in al-Rachad, in the central North Kordofan state, said they could hear explosions and intense gunfire outside the nearby town of Jebel al-Dayer, Reuters reported. “We handed the army a defeat,” said Gibril Adam, spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), one of the biggest rebels groups in Darfur. The military has not commented on the reports. Rachad is close to the state capital El-Obeid and Um Rawaba, a city which JEM and other rebels stormed for one day in April.

Trayvon Martin’s father to address crowd on Capitol Hill

The father of Trayvon Martin, who was shot in February last year, will give a speech on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as part of a hearing focusing on the societal challenges faced by African American boys and men. Tracy Martin will speak at the opening of the inaugural hearing of the recently-formed Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys. Other notable speakers at the event will include president of the NAACP, Kweisi Mfume, executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans, David Johns, and Georgetown University Sociology Professor Michael Eric Dyson. George Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder earlier this month after being arrested for shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was unarmed.

Perm court rejects Pussy Riot Alyokhina’s request for parole

A court in Perm rejected on Wednesday request for parole filed by Russian punk group Pussy Riot’s member Maria Alyokhina. She filed a complaint via video link after her request was rejected in May. The request for parole by another member of the group, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, will be heard on Friday. They were given two-year prison terms after their “punk prayer” in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in February 2012.

One killed, several wounded in Somalia car bomb

At least one person was killed and several others were wounded Wednesday when a car bomb exploded in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, police said. The blast targeted a car belonging to a member of parliament who was not hurt in the attack. “The bomb destroyed the car of lawmaker Sheikh Adan Mader, but he escaped the attack unharmed,” AFP quoted Somali police official Mohamed Ali as saying. “One civilian was killed and several others injured.” No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Headmistress of school’s deadly food poisoning surrenders

The school headmistress at the center of one of India’s deadliest food poisoning outbreaks in years surrendered in the eastern state of Bihar on Wednesday, Reuters reported, citing local media. Police have been searching for the headmistress for more than a week in connection with the deaths of 23 children from eating a school meal contaminated with a pesticide that is banned in many countries. She is key to solving the mystery as to how the pesticide ended up in the food, police say.

Egypt army chief wants mandate to fight ‘terrorism and violence’

Egypt’s army chief called Wednesday for public rallies this week to give him a mandate to fight “terrorism and violence” amid demonstrations by Mohamed Morsi’s supporters continuing to protest against his ouster.“Next Friday, all honorable Egyptians must take to the street to give me a mandate and command to end terrorism and violence,” AFP quoted General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as saying on state television. The army chief led a coup on July 3 after mass demonstrations demanding Morsi’s ouster. He said he had warned the Islamist president that he must either resign or hold a referendum. Almost 200 people have been killed in clashes since the days leading up to Morsi’s overthrow.

Japan scrambles fighter jets as Chinese aircraft flies near its southern islands

Japan scrambled fighter jets after Chinese aircraft entered international airspace near its southern islands out over the Pacific for the first time, Reuters reports. Japan’s Defense Ministry said a Chinese military aircraft flew through airspace between Okinawa prefecture’s main island and the smaller Miyako Island at around noon. It then took the same route back over the East China Sea. Japan said that indicated China’s move toward further maritime expansion.

UN chemical weapons inspectors arrive in Syria

Two senior UN inspectors have arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, to examine claims that chemical weapons have been allegedly deployed in the ongoing civil war, AFP reported. Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom and the UN high representative for disarmament Angela Kane are set to hold talks with regime officials to gain access to areas of the country to carry out their investigation. Syria’s regime and rebels have accused each other of using chemical weapons in the two-year conflict which has seen over 100,000 people killed.

Gunmen kill 9 police in north Iraq

Militants attacked a police station in north Iraq on Wednesday with mortar rounds and automatic weapons, killing nine police, officials said. The attack, which occurred about 7:30am (04:30 GMT) 60km south of the northern city of Mosul, also wounded another two police, AFP reported. The assault was followed by a roadside bomb exploding as emergency personnel traveled to the scene, wounding two more people. In a separate incident, gunmen shot dead a man in Baquba, north of Baghdad. The previous day, 29 people were killed in violence in Iraq.

Pakistani parties nominate candidates for presidential election

Pakistani political parties have nominated their candidates for the upcoming presidential elections. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party on Wednesday nominated Mamnoon Hussain, a former governor of southern Sindh province. The president is elected by voting in the Senate, National Assembly and the assemblies of the four provinces. The election will be held on July 30, although it was originally scheduled for August 6, after the Supreme Court’s decision. President Asif Ali Zardari’s term expires in early September.

US couple pleads guilty in Russian adopted boy abuse case

A couple from Virginia pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges in connection with the abuse of a young boy they adopted from Russia. Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Sweeney, an officer in the US Navy, pleaded guilty to a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He received a suspended sentence of 60 days behind bars, RIA Novosti said. His wife, Amy Sweeney, pleaded guilty to felony abuse and neglect and will be sentenced in December. Daniil Kruchin was adopted from Russia in 2006 and the couple renamed him Daniel Alexander Sweeney. The boy was eight when he left his home in the middle of the night on July 17, 2012, and rang the doorbell of a nearby home, to show he had bruises on his body. The couple was indicted by a grand jury in January.

Fire breaks out on evacuated Gulf gas well off Louisiana coast

An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast caught fire late Tuesday, hours after 44 workers were safely evacuated from the drilling rig. The evacuation followed a mid-morning blowout. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, Eileen Angelico, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, told AP. It was not immediately clear what caused the gas to ignite. Earlier this month, a gas well off the Louisiana coast flowed for several days before being sealed.

Officer who leaked new images of Boston Marathon bombing suspect stripped of gun

Sgt. Sean Murphy, the Massachusetts state trooper who released photos of suspected Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev at the moment of his capture in response to a now controversial Rolling Stone cover, has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an investigation. The magazine’s cover, which depicts a somewhat stylized portrait of Tsarnaev, was seen as insensitive by many who found it to glorify and even glamorize the accused bomber, who was the subject of a dramatic police manhunt through Boston suburbs in late April. Murphy was infuriated by the magazine cover, and in response released new images showing a bloodied Tsarnaev emerging from the boat in which he was found in the back yard of a Watertown residence, with a sniper’s laser target clearly visible on his forehead, to depict what he referred to as the “real” story.

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Woman arrested in ricin-letter case gives birth in custody

Shannon Guess Richardson, the Texas woman accused of mailing poisonous ricin letters to US President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a gun control lobbyist, gave birth prematurely to a baby boy while in custody on July 4. Richardson’s attorney told reporters the child remains hospitalized after being born four months early. It weighed less than two pounds at birth. Richardson was arrested on June 7 after federal officials say she tried to lead investigators into believing her husband had sent the ricin-laced letters, all of which could have been potentially fatal had they not been intercepted.

Afghan woman governor wins Magsaysay

Afghanistan’s first and only female governor and a humanitarian worker from the Kachin minority in Myanmar, Habiba Sarabi, is among this year’s recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award.Sarabi was honoured for helping build a functioning local government and pushing for education and women’s rights in Afghanistan’s Bamyan province despite discrimination and poverty.

Lahpai Seng Raw helps rehabilitate damaged communities amid armed conflict.

The awards announced on Wednesday, will honour three individuals and two organisations for changing their societies for the better.

The Philippine leadership prize is named after the popular Philippine president who died in a plane crash in 1957.

Textiles Minister Assures Exporters to take up Issues with the Finance Minister

Textiles Minister Assures Exporters to take up Issues with the Finance Minister Epch to Set Up Handicrafts Productivity Centre at Jaipur

The Union Minister of Textiles Dr. K.S. Rao today met the exporters from Rajasthan in Jaipur during an interactive meet on Export Promotion of Handicrafts, Carpets, Wool, Textiles and Allied products and discussed the strategy for growth of export from Rajasthan. Smt. Panabaaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Rajendra Pareek, Minister for Industry, Government of Rajasthan, Shri Rakesh Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan and Shri S.S. Gupta, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) were also present during the interactive meet. While responding to the issues raised by the industry leaders present in the exporters meet Dr. Rao said that the demand of raising of the interest subvention for handicrafts and cottage sector from the existing 2% to 5% is genuine. He felt that the cost of funds as on today is high and needs to be reasonable so that people could invest more in their business and not in other investment avenues like gold and other fixed assets, which are not productive for the national growth. He urged the exporters that skill development is the need of the hour and it is important to establish worker linkages between MNREGA and the production in the cottage sector, he said, he would take up the matter in the Cabinet.  Further, he also mentioned that he is likely to hold a meeting the Ministry of Finance and discuss issues related to Service Tax on participation in overseas fairs/exhibitions by exporters and also on Membership fees of the Export Promotion Councils. He was also highly concerned about the issue of classification of items as handicrafts, which leads to delaying of shipments at the customs. He informed that he will take up the matter with Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) and the Ministry of Finance. The Minister disclosed that the Jodhpur Mega Cluster project will be kicked off in a time bound manner within two months. He also assured that a grant of Rs. 10 crores for Handicrafts Productivity Centre would also be put into action at the earliest. He announced that the problem of wool sector related to quarantine at ports has also been waived off by the intervention of his Ministry. The Minister also opined that it is the responsibility of the State Government to provide land to the entrepreneurs and also find tangible solutions to the pollution and the related issues. He said that his Ministry would provide all necessary funds for setting up of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) or other measures for its long-term solutions. Dr. Rao, while discussing issues emphasized is that craftspersons and workers are the backbone of the industry and urged the industry to provide them their due. He also urged the exporters to come forward and take benefit of the funding schemes of the Central and State Governments which covers skill development, training and workshed housing. A large gathering of over 500 leading exporters and stakeholders from handicrafts, carpets, wool, textiles and allied products attended the meeting along with Senior Central and State Government officials. The Interactive meet was followed by laying of foundation of Handicrafts Productivity Centre which is being implemented by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts with the partial funding from the Ministry of Textiles.  The facility will come up in an area of 4000 sq. mtrs with an estimated cost of around Rs. 10 crores.   The Centre will include the facilities such as common facility centre for seasoning including chemical treatment of wood for the purpose of export production, integrated resource centre to provide information to the exporters on various aspects of exports like production techniques, marketing information, financing, documentation, internet, books and journals and testing laboratory for testing of wood and textile crafts for the handicrafts exporters from Rajasthan region. While unveiling the foundation stone the Dr. Rao said, “This Handicrafts Productivity Centre would be a landmark project at Jaipur and would help the craftspersons, entrepreneurs and exporters in the years to come.” He further congratulated EPCH and the handicrafts community for having conceptualized such facility at Jaipur and hoped to have a magnifying affect on the production and exports of handicrafts from the state in the future. The Minister also urged the exporting community to achieve the target of USD 5 billion for Handicrafts sector against target of USD 3.8 billion for the year 2013-14 Shri Lekhraj Maheshwari, Chairman EPCH, elaborating on the discussions said, “Today’s interaction with Ministers and senior Government Officials would pave way for better understanding of the needs of various export sectors of Rajasthan and help formulate the policies accordingly. He further added that the initiative of Handicrafts Productivity Centre would have a very positive impact on the production and exports from Rajasthan in general and Jaipur in particular”. Shri Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director-EPCH made a presentation on the concept of the Handicrafts Productivity Centre and provided details about the project and said “The centre will be able to cater to the needs of the exporters from Rajasthan and help them in development of modern skills, availability of trendy and new designs, knowledge of latest production techniques, quality and technological upgradation, mechanism in manufacturing and innovation in product lines and product development. This Centre will meet the demands of the exporters of the Rajasthan region would help double the exports which at present is 30% of the total Exports of handicrafts products”. The exports of Handicrafts have shown an increase of Rs. 534.57 crores, from Rs. 3185.95 to Rs. 3720.52 crores, an increase of 16.78% in rupees terms and an increase of US $ 73.88 millions, from US$ 591.36 million to US$ 665.24 million, an increase by 12.49 % in dollar terms during the first quarter of the current financial year i.e 2013-14 over the similar period in 2012-2013.

Vision 2022 for the Indian Electrical Equipment Industry

Praful Patel Launches Vision 2022 for the Indian Electrical Equipment Industry Says, Government Must Support the Growth of Domestic Industry Electrical Equipment Industry output to Reach US $ 100 Billion

Shri Praful Patel, Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, here today launched the ‘Indian Electrical Equipment Industry Mission Plan 2022’. The Mission Plan seeks to steer, coordinate and synergise the efforts of all stakeholders to accelerate and sustain the growth of the domestic electrical equipment industry. It identifies five key areas for action: (i) Industry competitiveness; (ii) Upgrading technology; (iii) Skill development; (iv) Promotion of exports; and (v) Conversion of latent demand. Detailed recommendations have been formulated for strategic and policy interventions in these five critical areas that need to be addressed by the industry, with support from the government. The Mission Plan envisages to make India the country of choice for the production of electrical equipment and reach an output of US $100 billion by balancing imports and exports. It has been evolved by the Department of Heavy industry through an elaborate exercise involving all stakeholders and with the support of the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA). Dr. Sutanu Behuria, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry and Shri Raj H. Easwaran, President-Elect, IEEMA, were also present on the occasion. To carry forward the recommendations arising out of the Mission Plan, Inter-Ministerial Groups, comprising of representatives of the Department of Heavy Industry and other concerned Ministries / Departments, IEEMA, industry and other stakeholders will be constituted for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations and for periodic follow-up of its status. To enhance industry competitiveness, the Mission Plan calls for providing a level playing field in the country to domestic electrical equipment manufacturers vis-à-vis foreign manufacturers, replacing the L1 criteria of procurement by power utilities in India with two part bidding, augmenting domestic testing facilities to cover the type testing of all equipment, mandating type testing of imported small equipment in Indian labs, supporting SMEs in technology up gradation and testing, standardisation of product ratings and specifications of electrical equipment, providing funds at globally competitive rates of interest to domestic manufacturers, establishing clusters of electrical and component manufacturers and providing them funds for technology up gradation. For technology up gradation, the Mission Plan recommends a coordinated and collaborative effort by industries and utilities. For any R&D project, the user organisation or main beneficiary should be supported by the government for leading the research in a planned and committed manner. It also recommends public-private partnership (PPP) for fast development of new technology / systems. Under skills development, it is suggested to set up a Sector Skill Council (SSC), which will undertake skill mapping and interact with the industry to provide training to the workers and also train the trainers / teachers, propose changes in curriculum, etc. It will also arrange for accreditation of the institutes and certification of the students. The Mission Plan calls for greater involvement of industry in the periodic review of the curriculum of technical institutes, summer training of students and for guest lectures by industry experts. To boost exports of electrical equipment, the Mission Plan recommends providing policy support to domestic manufacturers to enhance their competitiveness in the global market and address issues of quality of the products, high transaction costs, non-recognition of test certificates of CPRI by some countries, high cost of production, high cost of finance, etc. The Mission Plan calls for more project specific lines of credit by the EXIM Bank to other countries with an emphasis on acceptance of equipment / material only from India for such projects. To convert the latent demand for power in the country, the Mission Plan calls for timely completion of power generation projects and the downstream transmission projects for evacuation of power and improvement in the health of power distribution companies. It recommends the State Governments to acquire land, construct approach roads, and arrange construction power supply and other clearances, with the project developers reimbursing the costs. It suggests that urban areas with high aggregate technical & commercial losses be handed over to private sector on the input-based franchisee model with the provision for investment by the franchisee for system improvement, with the franchisee being asked to set up decentralised distribution-cum-generation (DDG) projects in identified rural areas. Launching the Mission Plan, Shri Patel said that the Indian electrical industry has come a long way, with both big and small companies having contributed to its growth. He said that while making plans was the easier part, industry and the government needed to work in synergy to translate them into reality. He further said, “The Government’s positive intervention was required to give domestic industry the needed boost, specifying that the government would protect its own industry. This is the norm the world over, and we should not shy away from according preference to our industry. We have to look at the larger issues”. Shri Patel said that the industry and the Government together shared a huge responsibility to develop the economy and build the nation. The target of 8 to 9% GDP growth would be attainable if both worked together in that direction. He was confident that new products would continue to be developed and promised all cooperation from the government to the industry. Shri Patel said, “while India’s electrical exports currently stood at a rather modest $ 5 billion, it is a matter of no small satisfaction that the country’s products are now being increasingly accepted and in demand in the global marketplace.” He said that it is imperative to build our own industry to make it competitive for its global growth and we should also look at ways and means to draw in more investment. The size of the sector is growing, and companies can pool their resources for investing in R&D for moving ahead.

“Valuation and Reserve Price of Spectrum”

TRAI releases Consultation Paper on “Valuation and Reserve Price of Spectrum”

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released Consultation Paper on “Valuation and Reserve Price of Spectrum”.On 10th July 2013 the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sought the TRAI’s recommendations on the applicable reserve price for the auction of spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. In this context, TRAI has issued this consultation paper raising specific issues for consideration of stakeholders. The key issues raised in the consultation paper are quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, eligibility for participation, roll-out obligations, methods to be used for valuation and estimation of reserve price of spectrum, review of spectrum usage charges and spectrum trading. The consultation paper has been placed on TRAI’s website http://www.trai.gov.in. Written comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 14th August 2013 and counter-comments by 21st August 2013. Stakeholders are requested to send their comments by due date as there is an urgency to complete the consultation process. In its reference, the DoT has stated that, in light of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directive, TRAI may consider an expedited process; hence there will be no further extension of timelines. This is also an advance notice that Open House Discussion on the consultation paper will be held on 26th August 2013 in New Delhi. The comments and counter-comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form at trai.jams@gmail.com For any clarification/ information Shri Arvind Kumar, Advisor (NSL), TRAI may be contacted at Tel. No.+91-11-23220209 Fax No.+91-11-23230056.

REC signs Loan Agreement with DVC

Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), a Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Power and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), a thermal and hydro power generating public organization of India has signed a loan agreement for funding of the first 2X660 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Unit at Raghunathpur in West Bengal’s Purulia district.. The agreement was signed on at Kolkata recently in the presence of Shri Rajeev Sharma, CMD, REC, Shri R.N Sen, Chairman, DVC and other senior officials from both the organizations. The Loan amount of Rs. 6,362 crores is to be funded solely by REC. These units will be a part of Raghunathpur Phase –II expansion programme of DVC. Entrusted with the responsibilities of providing the vital input power for industrial growth in the resource rich Damodar Valley region, DVC has been practically operating as a pioneer, using latest available technologies to supply bulk power at reasonable rates to the major industries. REC provides financial assistance and promotes rural electrification projects throughout the country. It funds State Electricity Boards, State Government Departments and Rural Electric Cooperatives for rural electrification projects.

India, Belarus Sign Protocol to Boost Trade Ties

India Looks for Long-Term Contract for Potash Supply

The 6th Session of the India-Belarus Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation was held today here. The session was co-chaired from the Indian Side by Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Mr. Dmitry S. Katerinich, Minister of Industry of the Republic of Belarus.Highlighting that the meeting is yet another step in the direction of strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries, Dr. Natchiappan said that “sectors like pharmaceutical, fertilizers, information technology and research & development offer tremendous potential for cooperation between India and Belarus.” Elaborating on the fertilizer sector, the Indian Minister conveyed that “India is looking for long-term contracts for supply of potash to meet its growing requirements.” He also added that Indian companies can also look for “opportunities for setting up joint ventures in Belarus for production of potash-based fertilizers.” The Belarusian side recommended India to determine an Indian counterpart deputed to negotiate on the long-term cooperation agreement, take decisions and signing of the agreement for the full volume of the deliveries. The JSC “Belaruain Potash Company” and an Indian counterpart to be nominated by the Government of India should finalise the volumes, terms and conditions of the long-term cooperation agreement for MOP deliveries to India within specified time period. The two Ministers also signed a Protocol after the Meeting. It was decided by both the sides that necessary steps will be taken to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Textiles, India and the Belarusian State Concern for Manufacturing and Marketing of Light Industry Goods (concern “Bellegprom”) on Cooperation in the Field of Textiles, Clothing and Fashion Industries. The Republic of Belarus also asked India to recognise Belarus as a market economy country. The Indian side responded that the matter is under active correspondence between the sides. India is considering the issue of grant of market economy status to Belarus within the framework of India’s Antidumping Rules. The Indian side stated that the matter is being examined positively and the official decision would be taken before the next session of the Commission. The Belarusian side flagged the issue related to the introduction and long duration of action of antidumping duties on a number of products of the petrochemical complex: tire cord fabric manufactured by JSC “Grodno Azot” and acrylics fibers manufactured by the plant “Polymir” of the OJSC “Naftan”. Belarus advocated for revocation of the antidumping duties on these goods and expressed the intension to maintain the export of the products to India, mostly of interest to Indian consumers. Both the sides also agreed to create a Certification Centre of Belarusian companies and professionals in the field of software at the earliest possible time. The Belarusian Side will provide a draft concept of the Certification Centre of Belarusian companies and professionals in the field of software to initiate negotiations with the Indian Side. The Belarusian delegation proposed to hold the 9th meeting of the Business Council “India-Belarus” in 2013 to promote the collaboration of business representatives, as well as agreed to define the dates of the National Exhibition (exposition) of the Republic of India during 2013-2014 in Minsk.

Transfer of Technology for Wireless Traffic Control System (WiTraC) to domestic companies

R&D initiatives of DeitY leading to Transfer of Technology for Wireless Traffic Control System (WiTraC) to domestic companies

The Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY) has come out with a number of policies and initiatives to boost the electronic hardware manufacturing in the country. It has been a sustained endeavor of the department to take up R&D through its own societies as also academic institutions and R&D laboratories to develop technologies, which could be transferred to domestic companies at affordable cost for commercialization.In one such initiative, the department has looked into the need for development of appropriate technology to address the area of traffic control system in corridors in medium and large cities. Accordingly in October, 2009 a collaborative research program to develop indigenous intelligent transport system technology suitable for Indian conditions was taken up through CDAC, with an outlay of Rs.14.75 crore. Through a systematic development phase CDAC developed the vehicle actuated Wireless Traffic Control System powered by solar panels. This state-of-the-art technology in the area of Traffic Control System meets IEC 60068 standard and is certified by Electronic Regional Testing Laboratory. WiTraC supports 868MHz (licensed), 5.8 GHz (unlicensed) wireless and wired Control Area Network (CAN) communication protocol for signal time switching apart from 2.4 GHz (unlicensed) ISM Band. It is power efficient and the installations run on solar panel designed with 72 hrs power backup. WiTraC has been designed for pole mounting and does not require digging or ducting of roads. Today, Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Communications & Information Technology and Law & Justice, handed over the WiTraC technology developed by CDAC. Technology partners identified for the ToT are – M/s Shakti Enterprise Pvt. Ltd, Jaipur; M/s Onnyx Electronics, Delhi; M/s Envoys Electronics, Gurgaon; Electro-Ads, Indore; DIMTS, Delhi; and Metro Infrasys, Delhi.

India’s Poverty Ratio declines to around 22% in 2011-12

(The percentage of population below poverty line in 2011-12 has been estimated at 25.7% in rural areas, 13.7% in urban areas).

The poverty estimates for 2011-12 released by Planning Commission (68th Round NSS-2011-12) reveals that there has been a reduction in poverty levels across the country. The percentage of population below poverty line declines to 21.9% in 2011-12 from 29.8% in 2009-10 and 37.2% in 2004-05. The overall rural poverty has declined to 25.7% in 2011-12 from 33.8% in 2009-10 and 41.8% in 2004-05, whereas the urban poverty has declined to 13.7% in 2011-12 from 20.9% in 2009-10 and 25.7% in 2004-05.

It is encouraging to note that most of the northern and central states have been able to reduce their poverty numbers significantly over the period of two years. The percentage of population below poverty line in Bihar declined by around 20 percentage points and Rajasthan by about 10 percentage points. Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have also been able to reduce their percentage of population below poverty line by around 5 percentage points and more. While states like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand have shown only marginal decline in percentage of population below poverty line. However, the increase in percentage of population below poverty line in J&K is disappointing.

   Trend in variation in population below poverty line over 2009-10 to 2011-12

States	2004-05	2009-10	2011-12	Decline over the period 2011-12 over 2009-10 (percentage points)
Bihar	54.4	53.5	33.7	19.8
Chhattisgarh	49.4	48.7	39.9	8.8
Delhi	13.1	14.2	9.9	4.3
Haryana	24.1	20.1	11.2	8.9
HP	22.9	9.5	8.1	1.4
J & K	13.2	9.4	10.4	(0.9)
Jharkhand	45.3	39.1	36.9	2.1
MP	48.6	36.7	31.7	5.1
Punjab	20.9	15.9	8.3	7.6
Rajasthan	34.4	24.8	14.7	10.1
UP	40.9	37.7	29.4	8.3
Uttarakhand	32.7	18	11.3	6.7
India	37.2	29.8	21.9	7.9

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Planning Commission

The percentage of population below poverty line stands highest in the state of Chhattisgarh at around 40% followed by Jharkhand and Manipur at about 37% each, Arunachal Pradesh at around 35%, Bihar at about 34%, Odhisa, Assam and Madhya Pradesh at around 32% each. However, states like Delhi, Daman & Diu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh; Kerala holds percentage of population below poverty line less than 10%.

WHO warns against complacency in the fight against leprosy24 July 2013, Bangkok: The fight against leprosy has made great progress in the past two decades but complacency may now be threatening the last push towards a world free of this debilitating disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on the opening day of the International Leprosy Summit.

The three-day summit (24-26 July), being organized by WHO and the Nippon Foundation, brought health ministers from eight countries and global experts to discuss the current leprosy situation and strategies for further reducing the disease burden and realizing a leprosy-free world.

The development of multidrug therapy in the 1980s effectively cured 16 million people in the past 20 years. But in many countries where the disease is endemic, new case-detection rates have been either static or showing increases. Globally, every 2 minutes, a new case of leprosy is detected and 7 out of every 10 cases is a child. Misinformation about leprosy is common and the disease continues to be shrouded in stigma with communities shunning patients even after they are cured.

“Our challenge is to sustain the quality of leprosy services and to ensure that all persons affected by leprosy, wherever they live, have an equal opportunity to be diagnosed early and treated by competent health workers,” says Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia. “While we’ve covered a lot of ground in reducing the disease burden in all endemic countries, there is no room for complacency. The final battle against leprosy is yet to be won.”

Mr Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, agreed with Dr Samlee and cautioned that the remaining challenges are becoming increasingly more difficult and complex.

“The target populations are living in difficult to reach areas such as urban slums, border areas and ethnic minority areas. Moreover, available resources in each country have declined,” Mr Sasakawa said.

He called on all parties involved to make political commitments and contribute resources and expertise to the fight against leprosy. To this end the Nippon Foundation will be committing US$20 million for the next five years, Mr Sasakawa announced.

Since 1995, WHO has been providing free multidrug therapy (MDT) to all patients worldwide. This was initially funded through The Nippon Foundation and, since 2000, through the MDT donation provided by the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development. Nearly 16 million people have been cured of leprosy using MDT and more than 10 million people have been prevented from developing visible deformities.

The number of highly endemic countries has gone down from 122 in 1985 to less than 20. However, despite significant progress, leprosy continues to be a health concern in these endemic pockets.

In 2012 there were 232 850 new cases of leprosy reported, with 94% of these cases restricted to 15 endemic countries – many of them in South-East Asia and Africa. This represents an increase of 6224 cases since 2011. Additionally, the number of people with leprosy who sought treatment only once they’d already developed visible deformities increased from 13079 in 2011 to 14409 in 2012. This is indicative of the need to detect cases early to prevent deformities among new cases.

Significant gender inequities remain in reaching leprosy-affected persons, especially when it comes to case detection. Although the distribution of disease is likely to be even between women and men, leprosy is detected in a lower percentage of women.

In order to bridge these gaps, and ensure that leprosy work continues on the path to further reduce the global disease burden, more work needs to be done. WHO is advocating prompt treatment with MDT and allocating more resources to facilitate early case detection. This can be accomplished by training existing health workers to recognize and treat leprosy, which will help detect new cases earlier and remove leprosy’s status as a “special” or “feared” disease. Community awareness is also important in encouraging health seeking behaviour among the general public.

Lastly, discrimination and stigma remain a huge issue for leprosy-affected persons. Many countries still have outdated laws from the 1800s which, for example, list leprosy as grounds for divorce or forbid persons with leprosy from running for office or obtaining a driver’s license – even after they have been treated. Several countries, however, have led the way in repealing these laws. In 2011 Bangladesh enacted a bill repealing discriminatory laws directed against persons with leprosy and the United Kingdom removed visa restrictions in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.  “Discriminatory laws and regulations against leprosy-affected people continue, depriving them of many legal rights and social entitlements, and in fact jeopardizing their basic human rights,” cautions Dr Samlee.

The Bangkok Declaration, to be adopted during the summit, is a recognition that further work needs to be done and reaffirms WHO and partners’ resolve to achieve a leprosy-free world.

What: International Leprosy Summit
When: 24 – 26 July 2013
Where: Hotel Dusit Thani, Bangkok, Thailand

TRADERS OF DELHI ADOPT AGITATION PATH AGAINST ANTI TRADES ISSUESThe traders of Delhi have decided to come together against their
exploitation by different government department of Delhi. The
agitation will start from 26th July when the traders of Delhi will
organize a “Mammoth Dharma” on Arya Samaj Road in the main market of
Karol Bagh, New Delhi. The decision to raise the voice against anti
traders attitude by Government Department was taken in a meeting of
traders organized by confederation of All India Tarders at Hindi
Bhawan. In this meeting more than 150 Trade Leaders representing
different Trade Organisations participated National President of CAIT
Shri  B. C. Bhartia and Secretary General Shri Praveen Khandelwal
where auspicially  present in this meeting.Prominent Trade Leaders present in the meeting  included Shri Narendra
Madaan, Shri Ramesh Khanna , Shri Satish Garg, Shri Sushil Goel, Shri
Dilip Bindal, shri Satinder Jain, Shri Devraj Baweja, Shri Naresh
Samabar, shri Vipin Ahuja, Shri Ram Lal, Shri Satwant Singh, Shri
Ashok suri, Shri Rajinder Gupta, Shri Vijay Gupta, Shri Balkishan
Jindal etc.

The major issues against which trade leaders are agitated includes
problem related to VAT, the hanging sword  of parking & conversion
charges being levied by Delhi Municipal corporation  acute problem in
getting trade licenses, the possible issues that may arise in ensuring
Delhi Rent Act, the pending notification in respect 351 roads,
possible amendment of Master Plan 2021 and number of pending and
negative trade policies & resettlement  of many markets by DDA in
casual manner. The traders of Delhi are totally frustrated because no
Government is addressing there issues  .

The traders of Delhi have made agitation plan according to which there
will a Dharna on 26th July similarly on 30th July there will be a
protest march in at least in 50 different markets. On 7th August,
there will be effigy burning in at least 100 different markets. In
this way the traders are going to express their anger and displeasure
towards Government. The traders of Delhi said that Government
different agencies of Delhi are bent upon to create trouble for
traders and there is no one to hear their voice. The traders in the
meeting gave  an ultimatum to the Government that if the political
parties  do not act for redressal of problem of traders then the
traders in forth coming election will vote out such political parties.

RBI announces further measures to address the Exchange Market Volatility

RBI has set the overall limit for access to LAF for each bank at 0.5% of its own NDTL and mandated the banks to maintain a minimum daily CRR balance of 99% of its requirements.

RBI has undertaken further measures to contain the foreign exchange market volatility which are as follows:

• The overall limit for access to Liquidity Adjustment Facility by each individual bank is set at 0.5% of its own NDTL outstanding as on the last Friday of the second preceding fortnight. This measure will come into effect immediately, i.e., from July 24, 2013 and will remain in force until further notice.

• Currently, banks are allowed to maintain their Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) prescribed by the RBI on an average daily basis during a reporting fortnight, with a minimum of 70% of the required CRR on a daily basis. Effective from July 27, 2013, banks will be required to maintain a minimum daily CRR balance of 99% of the requirement.

India, China talk on defence cooperation

With reports of frequent incursion of Chinese troops into Indian territory, officials of India and China met on Tuesday in New Delhi to discuss defense cooperation.

Biden for removal of trade barriers

US Vice President Joe Biden today said New Delhi should take fresh initiatives to help remove trade barriers and inconsistencies in tax regime . This he said could propel annual bilateral trade to 500 billion US dollars. He did not set up a deadline for massive rise in bilateral trade.

Biden, the first US Vice President to visit India in three decades, noted that the two-way trade grew five-fold in the last 13 years to touch 100 billion dollars.

Welcoming the recent relaxation in the FDI regime by the government, Biden, however, called for more such measures, saying the two countries still have a lot of work to do on a wide range of issues US including caps on FDI, inconsistent tax system, barriers to market access, civil nuclear cooperation, bilateral investment treaty and policies protecting innovations.

The US Vice President also said economic reforms have helped boost the country’s overall exports from 20 billion dollars then to over 300 billion dollars in financial year 2013.

Earlier ,addressing Mumbai stock Exchange Joe Biden has asserted that partnership between India and US economy will help change the course of 21st century. He added with the changing world there is a need to formulate new rules on strategic and economic front. He urged the two countries to deepen their economic relationship to achieve their individual domestic goals. The US Vice President said that India’s concern on food security needs to be addressed at the upcoming WTO meeting in December.

On co-operation in the nuclear sector, he said that a power project of 6,000 MW can be set up in Gujarat with supply of nuclear reactors from US companies. Mr. Biden said that the US had been sharing intelligence with India on terror in order to avoid a 9/11 and 26/11-like situation in both the countries