India’s growth to reach 6.3 per cent in 2016: UN report

20012015

Jan 19

The United Nations today said India will see a gradual growth acceleration with its GDP expected to reach 5.9 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent in 2016.

According to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 report, India’s economy expanded by an estimated 5.4 per cent in 2014, an improvement from growth of 5.0 per cent recorded in 2013, but still significantly below the 8.0 per cent pace of the pre-crisis period.

The report said the recovery is partly the result of improved market sentiment after the new administration took office in the second quarter of 2014 and announced plans to reform the bureaucracy, labour laws and public subsidies.

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Categories : Business

Khaleda Zia released from house arrest

20012015

Jan 19

The 17-day house arrest of Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia was today lifted unexpectedly by authorities, but the defiant former premier vowed to continue nationwide blockade and demanded an inclusive poll, dashing hopes of finding a solution to the deadly political violence.

The additional police and barricade around the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief’s upmarket Gulshan district office here was removed around 3 am local time.

Zia wants Hasina to call fresh elections after last year’s controversial poll boycotted by opposition parties. The opposition boycotted the polls over their demand tohold the polls under a neutral caretaker government.

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Categories : Politics

Pahlaj Nihalani to be new chief of Censor Board

20012015

Jan 20

Filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani will be the new chief of Central Board of Film Certification, CBFC. The government reconstituted the Board and appointed nine new members yesterday. They include, film director Dr. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, filmmaker Ashok Pandit and BJP leader Vani Tripathi Tikoo. An official release said that the tenure of the Chairperson and the members of the CBFC will be of three years.

Earlier, the entire Board, including the chairperson Leela Samson had resigned, accusing coercion and interference by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the CBFC affairs. She was also unhappy after Film Certification Appellate Tribunal had cleared the controversial film Messenger of God, featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the lead role. The Censor Board had earlier denied the clearance certificate to the film.

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Categories : Entertainment, films

SIT questions Shashi Tharoor

20012015

Jan 20

With media chasing Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor was questioned by a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Delhi Police last night in connection with the mysterious death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. The police had registered a case of murder nearly three weeks ago on the basis of a medical report that concluded that she had died of poisoning. Tharoor had been issued a notice by the SIT to join investigation. The Congress MP had a meeting with his lawyers at his residence in Lodhi Estate before proceeding to SIT office. Sources said that Tharoor was asked about the 15 injuries on her body, especially injury number ten, which was an injection mark.

The medical report has indicated that the poison which caused her death could have either been taken orally or injected. He was also asked about the reason of the tiff he had with Sunanda on the flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on 15th of January, following which she left him at the airport and checked in at the Hotel. Tharoor was quizzed about the empty Alprax tablets, which were found in the hotel room and who used to consume them, as the viscera tests were found negative. Sunanda Pushkar had been found dead at the hotel on 17th of January last year. Some of those questioned in the case include Tharoor’s domestic help Narayan Singh, family friend Sanjay Dewan, the hotel doctor who pronounced her dead and the hotel staff, including its manager.

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Categories : Business

BJP releases list of 62 candidates

20012015

Jan 20

BJPpresident Amit Shah  declared Kiran Bedi as its Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi Assembly elections. A decision in this regard was taken at the party Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi last night. Briefing reporters after the meeting, BJP President Amit Shah said that the Board has unanimously taken the decision to contest Delhi assembly polls under her leadership.

He said, Ms Bedi will contest from Krishna Nagar assembly seat, earlier represented by Union Minister Dr. Harshvardhan. Mr. Shah also rubbished reports of dissent within Delhi BJP unit over Ms. Bedi’s entry into the party. Former team Anna member, Kiran Bedi had joined the BJP three days back.

BJP has also decided to field former student leader Nupur Sharma against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat for ensuing Assembly elections in the national capital. Senior Party leader Jagdish Mukhi will contest from Janakpuri seat, while former Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta will contest from Rohini. Former Union Minister and Congress leader Krishna Tirath, who joined BJP yesterday, will try her luck from Patel Nagar constituency. BJP has released the list of 62 candidates for the 70 member Delhi Assembly after the party’s Central Election Committee meeting in New Delhi late last night. All sitting MLAs have been re-nominated by the party.

Announcing the list, party General Secretary J P Nadda said that former AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binni, who joined BJP two days back, will fight from Patparganj, where AAP has given ticket to its senior leader Manish Sisodia. He said party national secretary Sardar R P Singh has been fielded from Rajinder Nagar seat and M S Dhir, former Delhi Assembly speaker and AAP MLA, from Jangpura seat. Mr. Nadda also said BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay will not contest the elections. He said the party has given a proper representation to all sections of the society in the ticket distribution and remaining eight candidates will be declared soon after a discussion with Akali Dal.