Silk Road, China’s Grand Canal listed as World Heritage Sites

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Photo taken on June 21, 2014 shows a general view of Gongchen Bridge on China’s Grand Canal, in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province.

The famous ancient Silk Road and China’s Grand Canal, the world’s longest artificial waterway, were inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites here on Sunday.

Jointly submitted by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the application for adding part of the Silk Road, which served as a corridor for trade and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe dating back to 2,000 years ago, to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list was approved by the World Heritage Committee at a session in the Qatari capital.

The application consists of 33 historical sites along the millennium-old trade route, including 22 in China, eight in Kazakhstan and three in Kyrgyzstan. They range from palaces and pagoda sites in cities to ruins in remote, inaccessible deserts.

It is the first time China has cooperated with foreign countries for a World Heritage nomination.

Du Yue, secretary general of the Chinese delegation at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee, said the approval of the application would strengthen cultural exchanges between China and the two Central Asian nations.

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Modi’s pet project GIFT likely to create 1million jobs 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) has the potential to generate over 10 lakh jobs by 2022.

GIFT city, which is being developed by the Gujarat government, aspires to cater to India’s large financial services potential by offering global firms a world-class infrastructure and facilities.  “It is a pet project of Narendra Modi. He was monitoring it personally when he was the Chief Minister. What we are doing is that we are implementing his brainchild. New Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has also been a part of the project.”  “If you take the job potential in expanding economy of the country, on a pan-India basis about 10 lakh jobs can be created,” GIFT MD & Group CEO Ramakant Jha told a news agency in an interview.  The Rs 65,000-crore project is being developed on the lines of global financial services centres, spread over three phases of development to be completed by 2022.  GIFT city has two components of development — domestic financial centre and international financial services centre. It is being developed on 886 acres of land, of which 673 acres is in possession of GIFT.  It has multi-services Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of 250 acres and domestic finance centre and associated social infrastructure on 423 acres.  The state-of-the-art GIFT city will be supported by all basic urban infrastructure comprising external connectivity by roads, metro and BRTS, Jha said.  GIFT is conceptualised as a global financial and IT services hub on the lines of globally benchmarked financial centres such as Shinjuku, Tokyo, Lujiazui, Shanghai, La Defense, Paris, and London Dockyards, he added.  The project is located on the bank of Sabarmati river and is around 12 km from Ahmedabad International Airport.  Jha said many banks and IT companies have already established their offices there.  The Gujarat government is developing GIFT city through a joint venture between its undertaking Gujarat Urban Development Company Ltd (GUDCL) and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS).

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Swiss to work with India on untaxed money stashed in Swiss banks

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Swiss official as per reports in Indian media  has reportedly said that authorities in Switzerland are keen to work with the new government in India over untaxed  black money stashed in Swiss banks.Switzerland, help  to India’s fight against black money,  prepared a list of Indians suspected to have stashed un-taxed wealth in Swiss banks.

The Swiss government is to share the details of the illegal stash with the Indian government this  would provide all necessary support to the newly set up special investigation team (SIT) on black money by Supreme Court.

India has moved up to 58th rank in terms of foreign money lying with Swiss banks, but it accounts for a meagre 0.15 per cent of an estimated USD 1.6 trillion total global wealth held in Switzerland’s banking system.

The UK has retained its top position with highest share of close to 20 per cent of global wealth in Swiss banking system, followed by the US, West Indies, Germany and Guernsey in the top-five in terms of exposure to banks in Switzerland.  Amid much hue and cry over huge amounts of illicit wealth stashed by Indians in Swiss banks, the latest official data released by Switzerland’s central banking authority SNB shows that Indian money in Swiss banks rose by 43 per cent during 2013 to close to Rs 14,000 crore (2.03 billion Swiss francs), pushing its global ranking up from 70th at the end of 2012.  The rankings are based on the direct client exposure as also the funds held through ‘fiduciaries’ or wealth managers with a total of 283 banks in Switzerland.  India now ranks higher than Pakistan, whose position has slipped from 69th earlier to 74th now, as its total exposure to Swiss banks declined from 1.44 billion Swiss francs at the end of 2012 to 1.23 billion Swiss francs in 2013.  However, China continues to rank higher than India, although it has slipped by four places to 30th.  Among other major emerging economies, Brazil, Russia and South Africa are also ranked higher than India, whose 58th position continues to remain the lowest among major economies across the world.  The countries ranked below India include Philippines, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Iran, Pakistan, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Palestine, Barbados, Macau SAR, Iraq, Brunei and Zimbabwe.  Among top-ranked, UK has the highest exposure of 277 billion Swiss francs, followed by the US (193 billion Swiss francs), West Indies (100 billion Swiss francs), Germany (52.4 billion Swiss francs) and Guernsey (49.6 billion Swiss francs).  In top-20, they are followed by Luxembourg, Jersey, Bahamas, France, Panama, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy, Japan, Russia, UAE, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Australia.  However, only a few countries account for the bulk of global money in Swiss banks and there are only 18 countries whose exposure stands at one per cent or more.  Even among these, only the UK and the US have exposure of more than 10 per cent, at about 20 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.  The UK, the US and West Indies have retained their top-3 positions. Germany and Luxembourg have moved up two and three ranks respectively, while Jersey and France have come down.  Other countries ranked above India include Spain, Belgium, Israel, Bermuda, Cyprus, Argentina, Canada, Greece, Mexico, Indonesia, Gibraltar, Seychelles, Egypt, Thailand, Isle of Man, Nigeria, South Korea, New Zealand and Ukraine.  Those ranked below India and having relatively much smaller exposure of less than 100 million Swiss francs include Madagascar, Congo, Nepal, Macedonia, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Vatican, Mongolia, Mozambique, Burundi, Papua New Guinea, Malawi, Maldives, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Somalia, Bhutan, Solomon Islands and Timor.

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CAG exposes the Reliance scam

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Press Invite : Media Cell AAP

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: Press Invite

From: Media Cell AAP1 <mediacellaap1@gmail.com> Sun, 22 Jun ’14 11:33a

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Show full Headers

1. AAP leader Prashant Bhushan along with senior Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves will address a press conference today, June 22 (Sunday) at 4 PM, at the Constitution Club, second floor (Deputy chairman’s hall).

2. Former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will address a rally organised by the National Capital E-Rickshaw Association, today, (Sunday) June 22, 5 PM at the Adarsh Nagar metro station.

Regards

AAP Media Cell

CAG exposes the Reliance scam

The CAG has now exposed how Reliance, in collusion with the Central Government, siphoned off money from KG basin, misled the country, looted natural gas, violated all its contractual commitments and caused serious damage to national interests.

The CAG has brought out that Reliance, acting as a rogue operator, held the country to ransom, while the Government not only did not impose any penalty, but instead kept on giving into its wishes.

CAG has found the following:

1) Reliance hugely overestimated the reserves

2) Reliance hugely increased its capital expenditure, which is cost recoverable

3) Most of the procurement made was over-invoiced

4) Reliance miserably failed to adhere to its production commitments

5) Reliance did not relinquish its fields as required by the contract

6) Reliance did not pay the full profit petroleum to the Government

Non-cooperation with the CAG

CAG starts its report by stating that Reliance did not cooperate with the audit, did not provide several important documents and records and also desperately tried to mislead the CAG by providing wrong information. This is despite the fact that audit by a government agency is a requirement under the Government-Reliance Contract (the PSC), and CAG has full right to examine the operation of the PSC since it impacted nation’s resources and government revenues. (Paras 2.3.1.1 to 2.3.3.1)

                                 

Issue of non-relinquishment of fields

CAG has stated that in complete violation of the contract (PSC), Reliance was allowed to retain the entire block area till as late as 2013, despite the fact that they had to relinquish 50% of the fields by 2005 and a majority of the remaining fields by 2007. They were allowed to retain the entire area in gross violation of the PSC by the Ministry and the DGH. The CAG also points out that DGH revised its position in April 2013 and asked for relinquishment as per the PSC. However, with regards to the lucrative fields referred to as D29, D30 and D31, the Minister of Petroleum (Mr. Moily) overruled the DGH and allowed Reliance to retain these fields. The CAG has stated that the actions of the Minister were against the technical advice of the DGH and would have a significant financial impact. (para 2.5.2 page 26 to 28)

It may here be pointed out that after the DGH stuck to its view that Reliance had not done the necessary exploration tests (which were a PSC requirement) and had to relinquish the fields, the UPA Government in its last days, while the model code of conduct was in force, moved a proposal for amendment of the PSC in order for Reliance to retain these fields. Though the said proposal could not be cleared, it shows that the DGH was right in its understanding of the PSC and the Government is desperate to bail out Reliance.

Over-estimation of reserves and underproduction

The CAG points out that in 2004, Reliance had filed an Initial Development Plan (IDP) as per the PSC that envisaged an expenditure of $2.39 billion and a production of 40 mmscm per day of natural gas. This was based on its claim that it has calculated the reserves with the best of studies by international experts. DGH, based on this, stated that the Original Gas in Place (OGIP) is 5.45 TCF with recoverable reserves of 3.81 TCF. 

However, within 2 years, in 2006, Reliance filed an Addendum to the IDP (AIDP) stating that after more exploration it has come to know that OGIP reserves are actually 14.16 TCF with recoverable reserves of 12.04 TCF (four times the number given just two years ago with much fanfare). Therefore, Reliance stated that the expenditure be allowed to be increased to a whopping $8.4 billion and that they will produce 80 mmscm per day of natural gas. The Ministry and the DGH approved this AIDP in haste.

We all know that this AIDP is the first major step by Reliance in this sorry saga of deceit and fraud. Reliance stated that gas reserves are 14.16 TCF, however now it states that reserves are only 3.6 TCF(OGIP). So either Reliance was lying through its teeth in 2006 to quadruple its sanctioned capital expenditure (which it has siphoned off) or is now deliberately hoarding the gas till its demand for price increase is met.

CAG points out that today the production is only a fraction of what Reliance had committed and yet the Government has not been able to impose any penalty on Reliance. Only on some part of it, Reliance has been denied cost recovery for the shortfall. CAG has noted with concern the declining production in D1-D3 fields. It has noted that Reliance has failed to adhere to the AIDP targets in terms of wells to be drilled and connected and the gas production rate. Further the CAG has rejected Reliance’s argument that the PSC does not stipulate that production has to be as per AIDP. CAG has noted that as per Articles 10.9, 10.12 and 10.13 of the PSC, the contractor has specific obligations and commitments as per the PSC. CAG has also noted that in spite of the government direction to Reliance to remit the additional profit petroleum within 30 days consequent to disallowing cost recovery of $1.7 billion, Reliance has not done so till date and has instead invoked arbitration. CAG has also noted with concern that the government has not been able to enforce its decisions in this matter. (para 2.6 page 28 to 38)

Inflation of expenditure

As has been brought out by the last CAG report of 2011, the operator of the field has great incentive to increase its capital expenditure (whose cost is recoverable) since it allows the operator to increase its share of profits enormously and deny the government of its share in the profits from natural gas. CAG in this latest report has found as to how Reliance indulged in extravagant expenditure and inflated its costs (gold-plating), in order to make illegitimate profits and defraud the government. In addition to that, the CAG has found that in violation of the Contract, the Management Committee (that includes Government representatives) completely failed to exercise its oversight over the expenditures.

As per the PSC, Reliance is required to place orders for its plant, machinery and other requirements through international competitive bids. In its 2011 report, CAG had pointed out that bids were arbitrarily rejected to favour some parties. Just one company namely Aker group got 8 out of 10 contracts. CAG had specifically mentioned ‘serious deficiencies’ in the award of $1.1 billion order for a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel from Aker Floating Production, which had no prior experience of FPSO and was set-up after the tender had been floated. CAG also points out that many of the single bid contracts were handed out to the Aker Group companies amounting to more than $2 billion.

The CAG, in its latest report, has attempted to calculate the inflation of costs in a few of the purchases made by Reliance:

a) Reliance provided huge concessions to the vendor for Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Construction (EPIC) of offshore facilities. This amounted to 200 million Euros ($280 million). CAG has concluded that these concessions were outside the purview of the contract and a violation of the PSC and therefore should not be allowed for cost recovery. (para 2.7.1.1 pages 44 to 50)

b) Reliance made irregular payment of $45 million above the contract value for chartering the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) to the vendors even though there was delay by the vendor and there was no such provision in the contract. (para 2.7.1.2 pages 50 to 53)

c) Irregular payment of Rs. 111 crore ($19 million) was made by Reliance on Free Issue Material ( material being arranged by Reliance and not the vendor) to the vendors even though they had not incurred any expenditure on these items. (para 2.7.2.2 pages 54 to 56)

d) Additional amount of Rs. 489 crore ($82 million) was spent over the estimated cost by Reliance for the construction of the Offshore Terminal due to faulty planning and execution. (para 2.7.3.1 pages 56 to 57)

e) Reliance changed  the terms of hiring the FPSO on payment of an additional $17.4 million to the vendor without sufficient justification. (para 2.7.3.2 pages 58 to 60)

f) There was improper expenditure of refurbishing of living quarters on the FPSO at a cost of $15 million. (para 2.7.3.3 pages 60 to 61)

g) Reliance never considered long term hiring of rigs which would result in substantial cost savings and incurred avoidable expenditure of $88.8 million. (para 2.7.4 page 61-62)

h) Reliance made irregular payment of bonus for rig movement to vendors totaling $2.8 million. (para 2.7.5 pages 65 to 67)

i) Reliance made irregular payment of $15.5 million as uptime bonus to the FPSO vendors even though this was not provided for in the contract. (para 2.7.5.2  page 67-68)

j) Reliance paid $12.5 million as start up and production bonus to its employees even though the PSC does not provide for such payments. (para 2.9.8 page 88 to 90)

Thus the total inflated expenditure made by Reliance, on these major items, according to the conservative estimates of the CAG, is about $ 580 million.

Accounting of Natural Gas and other issues

a) Reliance was charging the consumers a price of $4.205 per mmbtu even though the EGoM had fixed the price at $4.2 per mmbtu. This additional price resulted in excess billing of all consumers to the extent of $ 9.7 million for sale of natural gas until 2012-13.(para 2.8.4.1 page 76-77)

b) Reliance was charging a marketing margin of $0.135 per mmbtu from all customers even though there was no provision for making these charges either directly or indirectly under the PSC. In addition, they are also not including this amount as revenue for the purpose of cost recovery, royalty and profit petroleum inspite of directions from the Petroleum Ministry to do so. Based on sales till 2012-13, Reliance has thus collected marketing margin totaling $261 million in an irregular way. (para 2.8.4.2 page 77 to 79)

c) Upto the year 2011-12, CAG fond that Reliance has booked expenditure of $ 101.4 million under “ Corporate Office Support”. This was earlier booked as“Parent Company Overheads”. Even though this has been previously disallowed by the Management Committee, since such expenditures are not permitted under the PSC, Reliance continues to book these irregular expenditures. (para 2.9.2 page 82-83)

Thus the total irregular expenditure made by Reliance, in the above category, as pointed out by the CAG, is $ 372 million.

d) Reliance also did not produce records regarding expenditure ofRs. 38.6 crore ($6.4 million) relating to interior decoration work in Gadimoga, the landfall point in Andhra Pradesh. It stated that these files are not traceable. In absence of these files CAG has refused to certify these expenditures. (para 2.3.3 page 19)

e) Three wells were dug in violation of the PSC provisions byReliance and its cost recovery was disallowed by the DGH and the government. Even though this decision was communicated to Reliance, it continued to claim cost recovery for these wells in its accounts for the years 2011,2012, 2013 and government was not able to enforce its decision. The total cost towards these wells is $ 160.8 million and cost recovery for this has to be disallowed. (para 2.4.2 pages 21-22)

In light of the above evidence of siphoning off huge sums of money, there is a clear suspicion that such amounts are being laundered and funneled back into Reliance companies, which needs a thorough criminal investigation.

Indian High Commission in Singapore had written to the Central Government as far back as on 31^st August 2011 requesting for such an investigation. The High Commission had stated that Rs 6530 crores have come into India from Bio Metrix Marketing Ltd., a one room company in Singapore that does not do any business. It was pointed out that this is a company with no assets, no equity and does not file an income tax returns in Singapore claiming to be a small company. Yet, this huge investment by this company of Rs 6530 crores is the single biggest FDI into India from Singapore. The High Commission had stated that all this money has gone into Reliance group of companies in India with the major chunk going to Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure Ltd which is a company 100% owned by Mr. Mukesh Ambani personally. The Commission had pointed out that one Mr. Atul Shanti Kumar Dayal effectively owns this company Bio Metrix (which has now closed down). Mr. Dayal is nothing but a front for Reliance since he is a Director in 32 Reliance group companies. Thus it became absolutely clear that Reliance is laundering its ill-gotten profits from KG Basin through Singapore and depositing the same into accounts of Mr. Mukesh Ambani. On being asked as to the status of the investigation, the Government had told the Supreme Court in March 2014 that investigation is still going on.

Conclusion

From the latest CAG report, it is clear that Reliance has persistently violated its production sharing contract (PSC) with the Government and defrauded the nation. The Government instead of terminating the PSC, has allowed Reliance to siphon off huge amounts of money and showered them with undue benefits. The report of the CAG proves the facts argued on behalf of the PIL petitioners before the Supreme Court, and also the contents of the FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi.

Also, recently public sector ‘navratna’ ONGC (which holds the neighbouring KG Basin block) has been forced to go to Delhi High Court against its own government by stating that Reliance has simply stolen natural gas worth Rs 30,000 crores from its block and the Ministry & DGH have not taken any action despite ONGC’s complaints. Mr. Moily was furious with ONGC and on May 22, 2014 (just before new minister took over) wrote a big note calling for an inquiry why ONGC dared to escalate matters. Will the new government also target those who take on Reliance? And as the IB report indicates, will anyone who speaks against the loot of natural resources be termed as anti-national?

CAG has pointed out that government had itself told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum (which gave a scathing report against Reliance) that the only remedy in case of default by the operator is to terminate the PSC. However no such action has been initiated. We therefore demand that the PSC be immediately terminated, the production facilities taken over by a public sector company (since government has already paid for these facilities) and appropriate penalty be imposed on Reliance to compensate for the losses suffered by the country. 

Also, it has now become apparent that this current government is pushing for increasing the prices of gas as demanded by Reliance. In light of this CAG report, there is no justification for increasing the prices of gas that would only benefit this rogue operator and would have disastrous impact on the economy. The matter of gas prices is also sub-judice before the Supreme Court. The investigation by the ACB of Delhi is also under progress and the Delhi High Court has directed the Government and Reliance to cooperate with the investigation. If the prices are now increased, they would only show that the NDA government is in the same grip of crony capitalism, just as the UPA government was.

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Press Invite : Media Cell AAP

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: Press Invite

From: Media Cell AAP1 <mediacellaap1@gmail.com> Sun, 22 Jun ’14 11:33a

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Show full Headers

1. AAP leader Prashant Bhushan along with senior Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves will address a press conference today, June 22 (Sunday) at 4 PM, at the Constitution Club, second floor (Deputy chairman’s hall).

2. Former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will address a rally organised by the National Capital E-Rickshaw Association, today, (Sunday) June 22, 5 PM at the Adarsh Nagar metro station.

Regards

AAP Media Cell

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P5+1 and Iran talks in Vienna on July 2 

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The next round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 countries (comprising the US, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany) would be held in Vienna on July 2, a top US diplomat has said.

“On July 2nd, we will be back in Vienna to begin the next round of negotiations. I expect that the pace and intensity of our meetings will somehow manage to increase, though I can’t quite imagine after this week how that will be, but they will,” Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, said on Friday as the latest round of discussions with Iran concluded in Vienna.

“We are at a very crucial moment in these negotiations. Our conversations this week have been very tough but constructive. We reviewed every element that we believe should be included in a comprehensive plan of action and had very intensive sessions focused on the very hard work of drafting text,” she said.

The goal remains to reach a comprehensive agreement that ensures Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon and that its program is entirely peaceful, she said.

Noting that officials from the member nations would be working round the clock to meet the July 20 deadline to reach an agreement, she said the US and the rest of the P5+1 remained committed to a joint comprehensive plan of action that achieves this objective.

“What is still unclear is whether Iran is really ready and willing to take all of the steps necessary to assure the world that its nuclear program is and will remain exclusively peaceful. As we’ve noted before, Iran’s leaders have insisted from the outset that they don’t want and have never intended to develop a nuclear weapon,” she said.

“If that is indeed the case, then a good agreement is obtainable. Iran would be able to achieve comprehensive sanctions release over time,” She said. Sherman said it was critical that “we give this process every chance to succeed in exchange for taking verifiable steps that will provide assurance that their program is exclusively peaceful”.

According to a senior administration official, if the deal is not reached by July 20, as scheduled, the P5+1 countries would not mind in extending the deadline for a few days.

“What is most crucial and what is undeniable is that the P5+1 and the European Union are 100 per cent unified on the objectives here, and that is to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon and that the world is assured that their program is exclusively peaceful.

“And there is absolute unanimity on that objective. And because that is the paramount interest for every country sitting at the table, we have been able to maintain that unity,” the official said.

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Hollande, Merkel call on Putin

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Hollande, Merkel call on Putin to promote Ukraine talks<

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday to back talks between Kiev and rebels in eastern Ukraine

In a three-way telephone conversation, Hollande and Merkel “called on all sides in the conflict to cease hostilities and asked the Russian president to promote the resumption of negotiations,” the French president’s office said in a statement.

The statement said Hollande and Merkel had “taken note” of Putin’s statements after Ukraine’s new Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko announced a unilateral week-long ceasefire on Friday.

“They also reiterated the importance of ensuring full control of the Russian-Ukrainian border in order to avoid infiltrations of equipment and armed men,” the statement said.

Putin today called for Ukraine’s leadership and rebels to start genuine dialogue, saying Kiev should halt military operations and guarantee the rights of Russian speakers in the separatist east.

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Train to Vaishno Devi before Rail Budget 

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After missing several deadlines, Railways has finally got the mandatory safety clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to commission the much-awaited train service to Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, before the Rail Budget 2014-15.

The 25-km long Udhampur-Katra rail section in Jammu and Kashmir is slated to be inaugurated by this month-end by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda. The CRS had conducted the inspection of the Udhampur- Katra line, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,050 crore, for three days from January 27. There were certain issues raised by the CRS and the mandatory clearance was obtained this month after those were addressed, said a senior Railway Ministry official. Although a date for opening of the Katra line is yet to be finalised, it will most probably be before the Rail Budget as all preparations for the inaugural run are almost complete, the official added. The NDA government’s first Rail Budget is expected to be presented on July 9. Ahead of that exercise, railways has hiked passenger fares by 14.2 per cent.  There has been a trial run of the Udhampur- Katra service after it got the CRS clearance.  The 53km-long Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational and once the Udhampur-Katra line, which is a part of the Kashmir rail link project, is made operational, the trains will be able to come up to Katra directly. That would enable pilgrims headed to the Vaishno Devi shrine to travel directly to the base camp at Katra.  Railways is considering extending Jammu Mail and Sampark Kranti trains up to Katra, besides introducing new trains, including Katra-Kalka Express, Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Udhampur Express, and Ahmedabad-Udhampur Express.  According to the official, there are demands from several zones for train services to Katra. A set of local trains from Jammu to Katra and Pathankot to Katra are also likely to be introduced to cater to the rush of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims from Jammu and Pathankot to Katra. An estimated 10 million devotees visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine every year. The line to Katra has seven tunnels and over 30 small and big bridges.  Katra station has been completed with modern facilities, including tourist guide counter, cloak room, waiting hall, VIP lounge, escalators and lifts and parking space on either side.

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UGC: DU not to conduct admission under FYUP

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UGC asks DU not to conduct admission under FYUP, warns of ‘consequences’

Toughening its stand, University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday asked Delhi University and all its colleges to conduct admissions only under the three-year undergraduate programme and not under the controversial FYUP while warning of “consequences” if its direction is violated.

The UGC direction for the coming academic session came a day after the Delhi University struck a defiant note, rejecting the Commission’s directive to scrap the controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).  “Under no circumstances shall the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it admit students to the FYUP for academic year 2014-15,” the Commission said in a statement.  “And further that any deviation from this directive either by the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it shall be deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956 with its consequences,” it said.  Officials said disobeying the UGC direction could spell trouble for DU as it could stand to lose grants and degrees offered by the varsity could be de-recognised.  The UGC said that it would be ensured that students, who were admitted in 2013-14 in FYUP when it was introduced, are able to migrate to the three-year programme.  In the statement, the UGC said “admission for academic year 2014-15 at the undergraduate level in the general degree programmes (including the Honours programme in different subjects of Humanities, Science and Commerce) in various colleges under the University of Delhi shall only be to the 3-year undergraduate programme which was offered prior to the introduction of the FYUP”. UGC has also decided to constitute a ten-member committee with representations from teachers, students and statutory bodies to advice DU for the implementation of the directive.  They would ensure that students, who were admitted in 2013-14 are able to migrate to the three-year programme, without any hassle and acquire necessary academic and other competencies during the next two academic years, it said.  The committee would comprise the vice chairman of UGC, president of DUTA and students’ body DUSU among others.  At its full commission meeting on June 13, UGC had asked DU to review the programme as it felt that it was in violation of the national policy on education which follows the 10-plus 2-plus 3 pattern.  DU, however, stood by the programme and in a reply to the commission has maintained that it has followed due procedure.  The varsity on Saturday said it had revised the programme to make it compliant with the National Policy on Education (NPE).  Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) along with several student organisations such as AISA, NSUI and ABVP has been demanding immediate roll back of the FYUP and the VC’s resignation.  BJP had during the elections promised to scrap the FYUP if it comes to power.  UGC is a statutory organisation responsible for co-ordination, determination and maintenance of standards of education as well of disbursal of funds for universities in the country.

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Germany in their 2-2 Group G draw with Ghana

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Ghanna praiseworthy knock against German Kept hopes of Ghanna alive.

Germany and Ghana were forced to settle for a share of the points after their back-and-forth thriller in Fortaleza finished 2-2. All the goals came in the second-half of the Group G contest as strikers Miroslav Klose and Asamoah Gyan both equaled FIFA World Cup™ scoring records. 

The Africans had the first chance of the game at the Estadio Castelao. Lively winger Christian Atsu raced up the right and crossed low and dangerously through the area, where Asamoah Gyan was only able to slam the ball over the bar with a sliding effort. Not long after, in the 13th minute, Kwadwo Asamoah stretched Manuel Neuer with a swinging shot from the edge of the box.

It soon became clear that Ghana would be a far tougher proposition for the Germans than Portugal were in their first game. The Africans’ speed and agility caused the Europeans problems throughout the first-half. But Thomas Muller, hat-trick hero from their opening game, continued to look dangerous in attack for the Mannschaft. Near the half-hour mark Sulley Muntari tested Neuer again with a pile-driver from well outside the area that had the German No1 scrambling to punch clear. 

Mario Gotze had a snap-shot saved ten minutes from the break. Most of the German attacks up to then fizzled out before any serious danger was caused, slid away by a highly elastic Ghanaian central defensive pairing, who stretched and dove to keep the score-sheet clean. 

German coach Joachim Low must have figured things out at the half, because it took his side only six second-half minutes to open the scoring. Gotze snuck in between the centre-backs and hit home a Muller cross from the right with his thigh. The early cross was the secret weapon to unlocking the Ghanaians. 

Ghana’s response, however, was immediate and similar. An early cross from the right picked out Andre Ayew, who headed home brilliantly to the back post just seconds after seeing his side go behind. Ghana were suddenly in the mood and Gyan made it 2-1 to the Africans, tying the immortal Roger Milla of Cameroon as the top-scoring African in World Cup history. Muntari picked off a slack pass in midfield and laid on a righteous ball for the racing Gyan, who fired inside the back post to send the Ghanaian fans into ecstasy. 

But the Germans weren’t done yet and second-half substitute Miroslav Klose slid home a flicked-on corner-kick in the 71st minute to level the score again. It was the striker’s 15th World Cup goal, bringing him level with Ronaldo as the top marksman in World Cup history. There were chances at either end as the clock wound down, but 2-2 it was to stay.

 

Miroslav Klose equalled Brazilian legend Ronaldo´s record of 15 World Cup goals with the equaliser for Germany in their 2-2 Group G draw with Ghana in Fortaleza on Saturday.
Mario Goetze had given Germany the lead before goals from Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan turned the game on its head and threatened to cause a major upset for the Black  but Stars. Klose  with goal .gave a lead.

 Boateng brothers failed in their efforts   as Germany right-back Jerome missed the second half with a leg injury while Ghana´s Kevin-Prince made way for Jordan Ayew early in the second-half.
.Germans could be knocked from top of the group and must beat Jurgen Klinsmann´s Stars and Stripes in Recife on Thursday to be sure of reaching the knock-out stages.Having at times bossed the first half, and only been denied by two fantastic Manuel Neuer saves from Sulley Muntari and Christian Atsu, Ghana switched off at the start of the second.
Thomas Mueller picked out Goetze running into the box and the Bayern Munich midfielder stopped unconvincingly to head goalwards with the ball going straight down onto his knee before rebounding past Ghana goalkeeper Abdul-Fatawu Dauda, who like his two centre-backs had been ball-watching.
The lead lasted only three minutes before Harrison Afful crossed into the box and Ayew, on his 50th appearance for the Black Stars, climbed above Shkodran Mustafi and the static Per Mertesacker, playing his 100th game for Germany, to flick a header beyond Neuer.Nine minutes later things got even better for Ghana as Muntari dispossessed Germany captain Philipp Lahm in midfield and slid the ball through to Black Stars captain Gyan to smash the ball past Neuer.
The Black Stars broke out in some impressive dance moves in celebration wafter Gyan´s goal.
Ghana were running riot and Germany hanging on by their fingernails but an inspired substitution by coach Joachim Loew brought Klose into the fray to stab home from a yard out after Benedikt. Hoewedes flicked on Toni Kroos´s corner.Both sides had late chances to win the game as Jordan Ayew headed over with the German defence again all at sea.At the other end, only a superb Kwadwo Asamoah tackle denied Mueller before Ozil also went close, while Gyan pulled a late shot wide in a frantic finish.

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Nigeria  beat Bosnia 1-0

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Bosnia-Hercegovina’s maiden appearance at a World Cup finals ended in disappointment as Peter Odemwingie’s goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat by African champions Nigeria in Cuiaba and ensured they could not qualify for the second round.

Nigeria’s win, their first at a World Cup finals since 1998, leaves them as favourites to join Argentina in the second round.Argentina are on six points after beating Iran 1-0 earlier on Saturday to leave the Iranians on a point while the Nigerians are on four points.

Nigeria play Argentina in their final group game on Thursday the Africans have lost all three times they have previously played the South American side in the group stages, losing 1-0 on the last occasion in 2010.

Nigeria were a completely different team to the one that had barely got out of a Sunday morning stroll in the 0-0 draw with Iran.

Emmanuel Emineke always looked a threat and it was he who created the goal, as he burst down the right and engaged in a race for the ball with veteran Bosnian skipper Emir Spahic, who tried vainly to obstruct the Nigerian.

However, the central defender had completely misjudged the situation as Emineke went the opposite side and outpaced him to collect the ball before unselfishly squaring it to Peter Odemwingie, with the Stoke City striker tucking the ball away.