Andy Murray still feeling hip pain ahead....
Katrina Kaif gets over her phobia of parties page no. 02
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ENGLISH DAILY MORNING REPUTED NEWS PAPER, AHMEDABAD EDITION Editor : Kapilkumar M. Hirpara
Short News Will oppose CBI probe into murder case: Gauri Lankesh’s sister Bengaluru: Murdered journalistactivist Gauri Lankesh’s sister Kavitha has said that she will oppose any move to handover probe in the case to CBI, saying the Special Investigation Team of the Karnataka police had made significant progress, managing to arrest 16 suspects. The Supreme Court had recently recommended a CBI probe into the murders of Gauri Lankesh, rationalist MM Kalburgi and social activist Govind Pansare, to see if there was a “common thread” in the killings that happened over a period of five years. “The SIT did a brilliant job by arresting the accused in the case. It filed two charge sheets also. When there is so much headway, it does not make any sense to hand over the case to CBI,” she told news agency.
Bulandhshahr violence: Police arrests man who shot Inspector Kumar
Bulandhshahr: Prashant Nat, who allegedly shot Inspector Subodh Kumar in Bulandhshahr violence case has been arrested on Thursday, confirmed police. SP of Bulandhshahr, Atul Kumar Srivastava, said, “The accused Prashant Nat has accepted during interrogation that he was the one who fired at Inspector Subodh Kumar. Further investigation is underway.” One more accused in Bulandshahr violence case surrendered in a local court here on December 20. According to police, he has been identified as Lokendra. So far, 25 accused have been arrested in connection with the violence that took place in the town earlier this month. Two people including Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh were killed in the raging violence.
J-K: One militant killed in encounter in Pulwama district
Srinagar : A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Awantipora area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Banderpora-Rinzipora area of Awantipora on Friday morning following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired on the search party of the forces, who retaliated. In the ensuing gunfight, one militant was killed, the official said. He sad the slain militant has been identified as Ishfaq Yousuf Wani, a resident of Qoil area of Pulwama in south Kashmir. Further details are awaited, the official said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the BanderporaRinzipora area of Awantipora on Friday morning following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
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With this India will become fourth nation to send man to space after the US, Russia and China.
3 Indians to spend week in space, Govt okays Rs 10,000 cr Gaganyaan plan
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of Rs 10,000 crore for sending three Indian astronauts to space for a minimum of 7 days by 2022 under the indigenous human spacelight programme - “Gaganyaan”, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced at the media briefing on Friday. With this India will become fourth nation to send man to space after the US, Russia and
China. The announcement of the Gaganyaan project was first made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India’s 72nd Independence Day - his fifth and final address ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Sivan had then said it was a “very, very tight schedule but we are committed to meet the PM’s deadline.
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To curb child pornography, the amendment levies heavy fine for not deleting, destroying child pornographic material. Not reporting child pornography will also invite a hefty fine, the Law Minister said.
Cabinet Approves Death Penalty for Aggravated Sexual Assault, POCSO Act Strengthened New Delhi: The Union cabinet has approved amendments in the POCSO Act which would now have death penalty for aggravated penetrative sexual assault against children. “Stringent punishment, including death penalty for aggravated penetrative sexual abuse of children is among the amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,” Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced at a press briefing. The government has also made provision to protect children in natural calamities and disasters from being abused or administered hormones to attain early sexual maturity
Centre committed to democratic process in J-K: Rajnath Singh tells Lok Sabha
for purpose of assault, the minister said. To curb child pornography, the amendment levies heavy fine for not deleting, destroying child pornographic material. Not reporting child pornography will also invite a hefty fine, the Law Minister said. Brought in 2012, the POCSO has been modified earlier too to make it as foolproof as
possible. The amendment comes after a 40-year-old man was accused of raping his three-year-old neighbor in New Delhi on the sixth anniversary Nirbhaya gang rape that became a worldwide symbol of the dangers faced by women and girls. It was reported that locals found the girl lying face down and unconscious near a school in Bindapur.
Lok Sabha on Friday adopted a resolution on imposition of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Centre asserting that it was committed to democratic process in the state after the Opposition termed the decision to dissolve the Assembly as “unconstitutional”. The Statutory Resolution on imposition of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, which requires Parliament’s approval, was adopted with voice vote amid din in the House.
‘If somebody is denied entry, it does not mean that he is blacklisted forever. It may be reviewed after 6 months or 1 yr,’ official said.
Foreign journalists violating Indian laws liable to be punished: MHA New Delhi: All foreigners have to respect Indian law and those found in violation are liable to be punished but that does not mean they are blacklisted forever, a Home Ministry official said on Friday after a Reuters journalist was denied entry into India for allegedly violating visa rules. The action against Cathal
McNaughton, chief photographer at the news agency’s Delhi office who was recently sent back from the airport here after his arrival from an overseas trip, is not permanent and can be reviewed after six months or a year, the official told PTI. “Everybody has to follow law. For violation, the consequence is the same
Meghalaya mine collapse: A team from Coal India and Kirloskar Brothers is also likely to bring heavy equipment to aid efforts. The NDRF reported a “foul odour” near the mine, suggesting that the miners may be dead.
Meghalaya mine collapse: IAF joins operations as rescuers race against time to save trapped miners
New Delhi : The rescue operation to evacuate the 15 miners trapped inside a rat-hole mine in Meghalaya is still underway even as agencies are racing against time to find them alive. On Friday, an Indian Air Force plane carrying highpower pumps and NDRF personnel took off from Odisha to join the rescue effort. Also on board the aircraft is the Odisha Fire Services team. The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules plane will land in Guwahati, from where the powerful pumps will be taken to Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills. The workers were trapped in the ‘rat-hole’ mine on December 13,
after water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into it. While the water level in the mine has not receded, the rescue personnel have not attempted to pump out any water since Monday, as the two 25-HP pumps have proved ineffective. The Indian Air Force decided to join the rescue efforts after the National Disaster Management Authority requested help to airlift the rescuers. Director General of Fire Services B K Sharma said a 20-member team led by chief fire officer Sukanta Sethi left for Shillong in a special Indian Air Force aircraft with equipment, including high-power pumps.
for everybody. Foreigners should respect Indian law. If any Indian visits abroad and violates the law of that country, he or she is also liable to be punished,” the official said. McNaughton, an Irish national who won the Pulitzer Prize in May 2018, allegedly travelled to restricted and protected areas in Jammu
attention of the public from real issues, Surjewala said, “Fake propaganda by BJP won’t desist us from questioning the Modi government on rural distress, unemployment, demo disaster, flawed GST, failed Modinomics, allpervading corruption! The nation wants Governance, not diversion!” Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot also said the “propaganda” against the Congress and its leaders would not work and the “truth shall prevail”.
and Kashmir without permission. He also reported from the state without valid permission. “He may be a winner of some awards, but that does not give him the licence to violate Indian laws. The Ministry of External Affairs regularly informs foreign journalists about Indian rules and regulations.
PM Modi also mocked Karnataka govt’s much vaunted loan waiver scheme as one of the ‘most cruel jokes’ on farmers.
Karnataka government wants development-free corruption: PM Modi Bengaluru: Tearing into the Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused it of being “steeped” in arrogance and interested only in “developmentfree corruption”. Targeting the ruling coalition over its contradictions and power struggle, PM Modi said it seemed as if they were in power “only to play musical chair”, and mocked its much vaunted loan waiver scheme as one of the “most cruel jokes” on farmers. PM Modi said those in power think that just because they had formed a government “by hook or crook” they can get away with anything, but people would soon teach them a lesson for misgovernance.
Ban on The Accidental Prime Minister in Madhya Pradesh is ‘BJP propaganda’: Congress
New Delhi : The Congress on Friday dismissed reports that the Madhya Pradesh government is mulling a ban on Anupam Kher’s ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’, a political drama based on a book written by former PM Manmohan Singh’s media advisor. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “This is incorrect. The MP government has taken no such decision.” Terming it as “fake propaganda by BJP” and accusing the Narendra Modiled government of trying to divert the
december 29, 2018, saturday
PM Considers 3 Options To Help Farmers Hit By Low Crop Prices: Report
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering three options for a relief package to help farmers suffering because of low crop prices at a cost of as much as Rs. 3 lakh crore, according to three government sources. The possibilities are a direct payment to all landowning farmers, compensation for those who sold produce below government prices, and a loan-waiver programme. PM Modi is looking to claw back support among 263 million farmers and their many millions of dependents after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost power earlier this month to the opposition Congress in three big heartland states, analysts say.
Shaheedi Sabha: Will not tolerate attempt to create rift between communities, says Amarinder Singh Mohali : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who paid homage at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib on Thursday during Shaheedi Sabha, said his government would not tolerate any attempt to create a rift between communities and deal with anyone trying to disturb the state’s secular
fabric with an iron hand. “Sikh religion propagates communal harmony, which nobody will be allowed to disturb,” Singh said during a brief
media interaction, adding attempts were being made by the Akalis to spread communal hatred by fanning the flames of 1984 riots. “Vandalisation of a statue of Rajiv Gandhi in Ludhiana was part of SAD’s petty politics to disrupt the harmony between communities,” he said.
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saturday, 29 december, 2018
Levelling the playing field for online vendors
Tighter rules governing e-commerce platforms notified by the government this week are designed to level the playing field for all vendors in an online marketplace. These impose restrictions on related-party transactions, preferential treatment to suppliers, and inventory dumping. All of these were market imperfections that had crept in since the government had announced the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for the sector in 2016, during which US retail giants Amazon and Walmart came to occupy a commanding position in India’s $41-billion e-commerce industry. Indian brickand-mortar retailers have grown restive, claiming online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart have acquired the power to influence retail prices, in contravention of the policy that restricts FDI in business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, but not in business-to-business (B2B). The government appears to have bought this argument and the new set of rules are meant to give effect to the original e-commerce policy even as inter-ministerial consultations are on for drawing up a new one. India is a crucial battleground for Amazon and Walmart—they have committed a combined $21 billion to this market—and they may now have to review their business operations in the country. Amazon has several joint ventures, including Cloudtail and Appario, that may be affected by the restrictions on sales by related parties. Flipkart has exclusive partnerships with smartphone brands like Xiaomi and Oppo that could, in turn, face a ban on exclusive deals for products. Both offer promotional schemes such as cashbacks and faster delivery, which are now deemed discriminatory. The companies will now have to furnish reports to the Reserve Bank of India annually, adding another dimension to compliance and monitoring of the e-commerce industry. Flipkart and Amazon can thus be reasonably expected to push back against rules they find too constrictive, given the size of their investments in the ecosystem that fuels e-commerce on this scale. The government, on its part, is clear that the new rules are needed to prevent anti-competitive behaviour in the e-commerce industry—online marketplaces should not have any role in determining the prices of the products sold on their platforms. As regulator, it cannot avert its gaze from market distortions, even if the latest rules do not fit snugly into the country’s competition law, which proscribes only a select segment of exclusive arrangements that have a demonstrably significant effect on market freedom. The focus should be on establishing specific arrangements that create barriers to new entrants.
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Editor
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Simmba actor Ranveer Singh: Rohit Shetty is a bonafide big screen director
Only I deserved to win Bigg Boss 12: Surbhi Rana
Mumbai : In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, Ranveer Singh talks about his experience of working with Rohit Shetty, and how rewarding 2018 has been. Remarking that Shetty creates a larger than life world in his films, the actor said, “I think it is correct to say that Rohit Shetty creates a larger than life world in his films. Everything in a Rohit Shetty film is big. You associate largeness, scale, grandeur, visual spectacle, an event film with Rohit Shetty. He is a director who directs large canvas films that are
meant for the big screen. This man doesn’t know any other way. So, his films are big.” With being a big canvas director, Ranveer Singh also thinks that Rohit Shetty knows his trade too well. He said, “I also think he knows the trade, because he is a bonafide big screen director. He is the one who gets the audience to the seats. He is the one who is shot in the arm when the footfall is falling. So, yes, as an audience and an actor who has collaborated with him, I appreciate him in every way.
Mumbai : Surbhi Rana on Thursday made an exit from Bigg Boss 12 during the mid-week eviction. With all six contestants nominated in the finale week, Surbhi received the least number of votes. The wildcard contestant has had an eventful journey on the show. Known for being opinionated and straightforward, Surbhi also drew a lot of criticism over her aggressive and abusive personality. Post her elimination, the exRoadies sat down with indianexpress. com for an exclusive chat. Talking about
After Zero’s debacle, a look at the box office performance of SRK’s recent films
New Delhi : It’s been a while since Shah Rukh Khan has delivered a blockbuster. From Jab Harry Met Sejal, Raees, Fan to Dear Zindagi, all have made quite a dent in his box office appeal. The king of romance fails to realise that his mushy romantic outings do not have as many takers as they had in the past. In fact, he pulled more people to the theaters with the action-thriller Don 2 as compared to a slice of life film Jab Harry Met Sejal. The lifetime collection of Don 2 in India stands at Rs 106.71 crore and JHMS earned only Rs 64.33 crore even after running in theaters for six weeks. Zero, an Aanand L Rai directorial, had a dismal first week. It opened with a collection of Rs 20.14 crore on Friday which dropped to Rs 18.22 crore on Saturday. The film picked up again on Sunday by minting Rs 20.71 crore only to see a drastic fall on its first weekday. On Monday, the Shah Rukh starrer managed to add only Rs 9.50 crore to its kitty and even after five days of its release, the film failed to touch the Rs 100 crore mark. The film’s collection now stands at Rs 81.32 crore. The fate of Imtiaz Ali’s Jab Harry Met Sejal was no different. After a disappointing opening of Rs 15.25 crore, Shah Rukh’s monotonous lover boy image didn’t
Katrina Kaif gets over her phobia of parties
New Delhi : This Christmas Katrina Kaif decided to wash away her prevalent phobia of celebrations and parties which dates back to her birthday in the July of 2008. It was at this infamous party that her then-boyfriend Salman Khan had a public spat with Shah Rukh Khan. On that fateful July evening Katrina had vowed, “Never again!” And she successfully kept her vow to abstain from throwing parties until this Christmas. On an impulse, she decided to invite some of her special friends home for a very private party. But
Bollywood
surprisingly, far from history repeating itself, the exclusive guest list also included an amiable Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan duo the co-star of her latest release Zero and the co-author of her success story, respectively. “And the evening went off swimmingly. Katrina has gotten over her fear of hosting parties. She now intends to host similar get-togethers at her home regularly,” says a friend of the actress. 2018 has seen Katrina shed her somber mood. All her friends say she is warmer, more gregarious and funloving than she was earlier.
her eviction, Surbhi said, “I really never expected to be eliminated from Bigg Boss, being just inches away from the finale. To be honest, I really saw myself as the winner. I had all the aspects of a champion, but you can’t win over destiny. So I’ll take this on my stride and continue to work hard.” A lot has been said about Surbhi projecting a fake personality in the show. Sharing her side of the story, she said, “Surbhi is a girl who believes in expressing herself.
Hollywood buzz Priyanka Chopra donned a cleavage-highlighting red Dior dress during her second wedding reception
even manage to pull as many people to the theater to make the film sail through the Rs 50 crore mark in its opening weekend. Ultimately, the film ended its run in the theaters with Rs 64.33 crore. The 2017 crime drama Raees had SRK in a seemingly different role. He played the role of a kohl-eyed gangster Raees Alam in the Rahul Dholakia directorial and got the adulation of his fans as well. On the surface, the film appeared to be a hit after it earned Rs 137.51 crore in India, but in comparison with the films of his contemporaries, Salman Khan (Sultan) and Aamir Khan (Dangal), SRK slipped down in the box office ranking.
Tiger Shroff to get into Sylvester Stallone’s skin for director Siddharth Anand film New Delhi : Tiger Shroff who has been working with Bang Bang director Siddharth Anand for an untitled project with Hrithik Roshan is expected to do an encore with the director for the film Rambo. The rights of the original film have been taken, but then there seems to be a slip between the cup and the lip. Before Baaghi 2, Tiger was not a big star whose films could garner a lot of money, and when Munna Michael failed, the makers developed cold feet over the budget of the Indian version of Rambo. Earlier this year, Siddharth had said that he and Tiger had mutually decided to take some time for the actor to prepare to get into Sylvester Stallone’s skin for the role. “I don’t know whether I can talk about this at the moment. We did speak about starting off on Rambo after the release of Baaghi 3,” he says. Interestingly Tiger is also exploring doing a project with the producer of the Hollywood hit from the 90s – Mortal Kombat.
Audience’s love and respect matter more than stardom, says Salman Khan
los angeles : It has been nearly a month since they had two spectacular weddings and multiple receptions that were covered by outlets across the globe. But pictures of Priyanka Chopra in the dress she wore during her second wedding reception weren’t available until Tuesday. The 36-year-old actress’ stylist Mimi Cuttrell shared two photos of the Quantico star in the stunning frock. Chopra donned a low-cut, cleavage-highlighting red Dior dress to the reception that followed the couple’s marriage at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on December 2. The gorgeous frock featured a long frilly bottom and she donned a gorgeous beaded necklace. Her dark tresses were pulled into an elegant bun and she had a smile across her face.
Tom Hanks starrer based on Fred Rogers titled A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Salman will be seen next in Ali Zafar’s “Bharat”, which is slated for an Eid 2019 release. Mumbai: Salman Khan, who turned 53 on Thursday, said love and respect of the audience is more precious to him than his stardom. The “Tiger Zinda Hai” star was speaking to the media ahead of his birthday celebrations on Wednesday. “I am happy that people love me so much. Stardom matters in a way but what makes me more happy is the love and respect of people and that they trust me a lot. This all means a lot to me,” Salman told reporters Wednesday. The actor rang in his birthday with family and close friends at his Panvel farmhouse. Salman’s only release this year, “Race 3” was mocked by critics and the film also
did not do expected business at the box office. The superstar said he will continue to keep working hard and do good work for his fans. Celebrities such as Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Sunil Grover, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Mouni Roy, Ameesha Patel, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, Jimmy Shergill, Mahesh Manjrekar, Satish Kaushik, Bobby Deol, Amrita Arora; directors Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Anees Bazmee; producer Ramesh Taurani and music composer duo Sajid-Wajid were also present. Salman will be seen next in Ali Zafar’s “Bharat”, which is slated for an Eid 2019 release.
los angeles : Hollywood star Tom Hanks’ upcoming film on TV personality Fred Rogers is titled A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The Sony Pictures project is directed by Marielle Heller and is scheduled to be released next year. According to Variety, the movie also features Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Tammy Blanchard, and Sakina Jaffrey. The film is inspired by a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers, star of the long-running Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and awardwinning journalist Tom Junod. The story revolves around a cynical journalist who accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on Rogers and finds his perspective on life changed. Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster have penned the script.The project originated from a true story developed by Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster, first appearing on the Black List in 2013.
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SPORTS ROUNDUP
Smith, Warner’s form in T20 leagues key to World Cup selection: Cricket Australia
Steve Smith and David Warner were handed year-long bans by CA for their role in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March. Melbourne : Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts on Friday said Steve Smith and David Warner’s performances in the upcoming T20 leagues around the world will play a vital role in deciding the banned duo’s selection in next year’s World Cup squad. Both Smith and Warner will be competing in the Bangladesh Premier League followed by the Indian Premier League in the coming year and Roberts said CA will keep a close eye on their forms in the T20 events. “We’ll obviously take their form in those tournaments into account, so that will be important to watch,” Roberts was quoted as saying by ABC Radio.
“There’s got to be consistency, fairness and justice in our selection criteria and so that’s our focus on making the road as smooth as possible,” he added. Smith and Warner were handed year-long bans by CA for their role in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March. While serving his one-year ban, Smith has participated in several T20 competitions, including in Canada and the Caribbean, in a bid to get match time. “From what I hear around the traps, there’s no concerns with the form of Steve and Dave, so it’s just a matter of that continuing out in the middle as opposed to in the nets,” Roberts said.
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Andy Murray returned to the ATP tour in June after having hip surgery at the start of the year but ended his season in September to concentrate on being in the best possible shape for 2019.
Andy Murray still feeling hip pain ahead of Brisbane return
Brisbane: Andy Murray is still feeling the effects of a hip injury that forced a premature end to his 2018 activity, but the Briton hopes the pain will ease as he plays more matches in the lead-up to next month’s Australian Open. The former world number one returned to the ATP tour in June after having hip surgery at the start of the year but ended his season in September to concentrate on being in the best possible shape for 2019. “I still have some pain in my hip but I need to play matches and see how it feels when I am able to play three, four, five matches in a row and take it from there,” Murray told reporters ahead of next week’s Brisbane International. “Last year when I came here it was tough, I was struggling quite a lot. It definitely feels a bit better than it did coming here last year. I’ve always loved
playing here.” Murray, whose world ranking has dropped to 256, said that he was in a “better place” than he was a few months ago when he missed Wimbledon and stumbled to a second-round defeat at the US Open. He ended his 2018 season after losing in the quarter-finals of the
Shenzhen Open and Murray said he hoped to return to his best in the next few weeks in Australia. “I would just like to get through the tournaments and feel like I am able to compete and not be restricted by my hip,” Murray, who will be unseeded in Brisbane, added.
Virgil Van Dijk highlights defensive unity as key to Liverpool surge
New Delhi: Liverpool’s impressive climb to the top of the Premier League has been built on the foundations of a solid back-line in which every defender regularly makes a key contribution, centre back Virgil van Dijk said. Dutchman Van Dijk, who joined the club from Southampton in January for a reported 75 million pounds ($95 million) has become the lynchpin of a defence that has conceded only seven
goals in 19 matches and helped Liverpool move six points clear. However, the Netherlands captain said the camaraderie in Juergen Klopp’s side has played a major role in helping unbeaten Liverpool tighten up at the back as they look to claim a first English title for 29 years. “I tell them, it is all of us, all of us together, working day in and day out,” Van Dijk told the club’s official website.
India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 3: Jasprit Bumrah’s six-wicket haul was followed by a four-wicket blast by Pat Cummins in which he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli for ducks.
Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins reap rewards on bowlers’ day out in Melbourne Melbourne : 451 runs were scored in the first two days of the Boxing Day Test for the fall of just seven wickets. On Day 3, 197 runs were scored and a jaw dropping 15 wickets fell – 10 of these were shared between Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins. India decided against enforcing a followon when they got Australia all out for 151. Bumrah led the way with six wickets and it meant that the visitors started their second innings with a lead of 292 runs. Openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal were looking good in the first 10 overs but that was before the introduction of
Cummins. The 25-year-old got Vihari off the last ball of the 13th over with a short delivery, just as he did in the first innings. First innings centurion Cheteshwar Pujara replaced Vihari but Day 3 was destined to be a bowler’s day for a change. In the next Cummins over, Pujara holed out at leg gully. In the same over, Pujara’s firstinnings partner in crime, Virat Kohli holed out in the same position. The pair had shared over 400 balls between them in the first two days and scored 170 runs but this time, they faced a combined six deliveries for no runs.
Business
Trai recommends spectrum charges Govt mulls zero interest on timely for BSNL’s satellite phone services crop loan repayment as new year gift
New Delhi: The controversy related to ICICI Bank, the largest private lender of India, is refusing to die as the government on Thursday indicated that inspection of the books of six companies linked to the row is at an advanced stage. The corporate affairs ministry had ordered inspection of six companies, including NuPower Renewables, on April 23. It was alleged that Videocon group pumped money into NuPower Renewables, a firm owned by Deepak Kochhar, husband of Chanda Kochhar. Amid the raging controversy, Chanda Kochhar stepped
New Delhi: Telecom regulator Trai on Friday recommended that spectrum charges for state-owned BSNL’s satellite phone services be fixed at 1 per cent of the revenue accrued from such services, replacing the current model of formula-based levy. If the regulator’s recommendations are accepted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it could drive down the cost of
ICICI Bank loan row probe ‘almost’ complete
down as the bank’s managing director and chief executive officer in October. It was alleged that former ICICI Bank chief and her family members were involved in a loan provided to Videocon Group on a quid pro quo basis. Confirming the development, corporate affairs secretary Injeti Srinivas said, “It (inspection of the books) is at a very advanced stage. The inspection is being carried out by the regional director (western region) under section 206(5) of the Companies Act, 2013.” “Regional directors have completed inquiries.
using satellite phone services by nearly 50 per cent, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava told PTI. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has favoured that upfront formula-based spectrum charges be replaced with adjusted gross revenue (AGR)based fees when it comes to BSNL’s satellite services through INMARSAT.
The Global Satellite Phone (GSP) service is being provided by BSNL to end consumers and is mainly harnessed for remote area communication and emergency services. So far, these services are largely being availed by defence, Railways, disaster management agencies, and maritime agencies. The company had submitted that due to heavy spectrum charges, the service is not affordable. In its latest recommendation, Trai said: “The formulabased spectrum charges should be replaced with AGR-based spectrum charges in respect of provision of services by BSNL...These charges would cover the entire spectrum charges for handsets as well as for gateway.
Of the 7 state-owned banks, Bank of India may get the highest amount of Rs 10,086 crore.
7 PSU banks set to get Rs 28,615 crore lifeline in 4 days
New Delhi: The government is set to infuse Rs 28,615 crore into seven public sector banks through recapitalisation bonds in four days to help them meet regulatory capital requirement, official sources said on Thursday. Of the 7 state-owned banks, Bank of India may get the highest amount of Rs 10,086 crore, followed by Oriental Bank of Commerce (Rs 5,500 crore), sources said. Other banks to receive capital in this round include Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 4,498 crore), UCO Bank (Rs 3,056 crore) and United Bank of India (Rs 2,159
crore). While no official announcement has been made, banks have received letters from the ministry on recap and they are likely to notify exchanges on Friday. The
government had earlier announced infusion of Rs 65,000 crore into PSBs in 2018-19. Of this, Rs 23,000 crore has already been disbursed. Earlier this month, finance minister Arun Jaitley said PSBs would get Rs 41,000 crore additional capital and on December 20, the government sought Parliament’s approval for the same. Recapitalisation, the finance minister said, will enhance PSB’s lending capacity and help them come out of the Reserve Bank of India’s prompt corrective action (PCA) framework.
New Delhi: In a bid to address farmers’ distress ahead of 2019 general elections, the government is considering waiving interest on crop loans for farmers who pay on time, costing an additional Rs 15,000 crore to the exchequer, according to sources. There is also a proposal to completely waive premium for taking insurance policy for food crops. The premium on horticultural crops could also be reduced, they said. The ruling BJP government has swung into action to address distress in the agriculture sector after it lost power to the Congress in three heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
and Chhattisgarh in the recent state polls. According to sources, several rounds of meetings have taken place at the highest level in the last few days to chalk out a plan to address difficulties faced by farmers in view of low realisation in several crops amid bumper production. To provide immediate relief, one of the proposals being studied is to waive 4 per cent interest rate on farmers repaying farm loan promptly within the due date. At present, farmers get for shortterm farm loan of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7 per cent interest rate. An additional incentive of 3 per cent is being given to farmers for prompt repayment.
Foxconn to produce top-end Apple iPhones in India in 2019
Mumbai: Apple Inc will begin assembling its top-end iPhones in India through the local unit of Foxconn as early as 2019, the first time the Taiwanese contract manufacturer will have made the product in the country, according to a source familiar with the matter. Importantly, Foxconn will be assembling the most expensive models, such as devices in the flagship iPhone X family, the source said, potentially taking Apple’s business in India to a new level. The work will take place at Foxconn’s plant in Sriperumbudur town in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, said the source. Foxconn, which already makes phones for Xiaomi Corp in India, will invest Rs 25 billion ($356 million) to expand the plant, including investment in iPhone production, Tamil Nadu’s
industries minister MC Sampath told Reuters. The investment may create as many as 25,000 jobs, he added. Another source also said Foxconn planned to assemble iPhones in India, in a move that could help both it and Apple to limit the impact of a trade war between the US and China. An Indian daily first reported on December 24 that the Foxconn plant would begin manufacturing various models of the iPhone. Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller declined to comment. Foxconn said it did not comment on matters related to current or potential customers, or any of their products. Until now, Cupertino, Californiabased Apple has only assembled the lowercost SE and 6S models in India through Wistron Corp’s local unit in the Bangalore technology hub.
4 / Dt. 29-12-2018, saturday, Ahmedabad
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As per the government release, Rupani has asked the vigilance commissioner to submit preliminary inquiry report as early as possible
Gujarat CM orders probe in graft charges against pilgrimage board
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government on Friday asked the vigilance commissioner to probe the allegations of corruption in carrying out projects at religious sites by the pilgrimage development board and ordered suspension of an officer. Chief minister Vijay Rupani ordered the suspension of an officer whose audio clip brought the issue of alleged corruption in the board to the fore. In an official release, the government said the CM has asked the vigilance commissioner to probe the allegations of corruption against the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board. The issue came to the fore after a purported audio clip, having conversation of a senior government officer and an RTI activist, went viral on social media platforms. In
the purported clip, Anil Patel, additional secretary in the state panchayat department, can be heard admitting largescale corruption in the board where he was once posted. Patel can be heard saying that corruption took place in carrying out various works at pilgrimage places such as Pavagadh, Rameshwar,
Bahucharaji, Shabri Dham and Dwarka. As per the government release, Rupani has asked the vigilance commissioner to submit preliminary inquiry report as early as possible. The CM also asked the corruption watchdog to take action against those found guilty during the probe. Terming Patel’s conduct as
“inappropriate”, the CM has ordered his suspension for engaging in “indiscipline”, said the release. Patel has violated various provisions of the service conduct rules by “criticising the government” and providing information “without having any authority” to do so, it added.
Three First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged against him at Varachha police station and he was arrested.
Hardik’s aide Kathiria arrested for ‘misbehaving’ with police
AHMEDABAD: Patidar leader Alpesh Kathiria, a close aide of quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, was arrested by the Surat city police on Friday on the charges of rioting and misbehaving with traffic police. Kathiria alleged that it was the police who misbehaved with him when he opposed towing away of his car. Police commissioner Satish Sharma said that Kathiria had an altercation with traffic police on Friday morning. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged against him at Varachha police station and he was arrested. A court granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 15,000 in the evening, said Kathiria’s lawyer Yashwantsinh Vala. Kathiria walked out of jail earlier this month after he was
granted bail by the high court in a sedition case and by the Surat sessions court in a case of attempt to murder. Sharma alleged that Kathiria assaulted the policemen who were towing away his vehicle. FIRs were lodged against him for obstructing and
Wear clothes that do not affect children’s psychology: Vadodara Police advisory
Vadodara Police have come up with New Year advisory including dresses one should wear that do not have an adverse effect on children. “People have been advised not to wear such clothes that may have an adverse effect on a child’s psychology,” said Vadodara Police Commissioner Anupamsinh Gehlot. “People gather in large numbers on roads, multiplexes and party plots for celebrating New Year. An adequate number of CCTV cameras is must in such places for ensuring safety and security of all. Also, alcohol and drugs are banned. There is also a ban on the use of crackers that can cause damage to life and property, and disturb people. There should be no such activity that can create a disturbance to others,” he asserted. Police informed that teams with breath-analyzers have been deployed to check any violation. More than 1000 police personnel will man the law and order on streets on December 31 night and 40 checkpoints have been made all over the city to keep a check over unwarranted movements.
threatening police, rioting and unlawful assembly and abusing police during detention, Sharma told reporters. “It seems Kathiria is trying to establish himself as a leader with such behaviour. We will not tolerate anyone who tries to disturb law and order. He must not forget that he was granted bail in earlier cases on the condition of not indulging in such activities,” the commissioner said. Kathiria is one of the key members of Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). Following his arrest, a large number of PAAS supporters gathered at the police station demanding his release. The police also released CCTV footage of the lock-up which showed Kathiria shouting and abusing an assistant commissioner of police.
VMC boundary would be extended to incorporate out-growth surrounding areas: CM Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Vijaybhai Rupani today categorically stated that accepting the resolution of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), the state government would extend the boundary of Vadodara city to incorporate the outgrowth surrounding areas of the city, which would now avail certain civic amenities that were so far deprived to them. He was speaking at ‘The Vikas Parv’ (Development Festival) organized by the VMC in Vadodara city today. On the occasion, Mr. Rupani also dedicated to people and laid foundation stones for several civic amenities projects in total worth of Rs. 169.24-Crore. The Chief Minister said to fulfill the pledge taken by Prime Minister Mr. Narendrabhai Modi to provide house to each and every homeless family as their gift on 75th Independence Day, the state government is determined to make avail a house to every
poor in Gujarat. Gujarat is leading the country in implementing Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) with more than one-lakh beneficiary families of it, so far. Mr. Rupani said we are following the development mantra of providing benefits of Rs. 1.25 to the people against expenditure of Rs. 1, given by Mr. Modi. This is the “Certificate” that our government is functioning very scrupulously. Those who spoke on the occasion included Gujarat Assembly Speaker Mr. Rajendra Trivedi, Vadodara City Mayor Dr. Jigishaben Sheth and others. The event was graced by Member of Parliament Mrs. Ranjanben Bhatt, MLAs – Mr. Yogeshbhai Patel, Mr. Jitubhai Sukhadia, Ms Manishaben Vakil, Ms Seemaben Mohile, Mr. Shaileshbhai Mehta, Deputy Mayor Dr. Jivraj Chauhan, VMC Commissioner Mr. Ajay Bhadoo, Acting District Collector Mr. Kiran Jhaveri, and others.
Ahmedabad: Fire at ISRO, no casualty reported
Ahmedabad : A fire broke out at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad office, said an official on Friday, as quoted by news agency PTI . Five fire tenders have been rushed to the spot. The fire broke in ISRO’s Space Application Centre, the official said. The fire was doused and brought under control within an hour said Chief Fire Officer M F Dastur. He further added that of the five tenders, only one was used. “The fire started in a store room in the SAC campus Friday morning. Only some old books got burnt in the incident. The fire was brought under control within one hour,” he said.
international Three of Indian-origin family killed in accident in Iceland
London : Seven members of a UKbased Indian-origin family were involved in a freak accident in Iceland when their SUV crashed off a bridge on Thursday, killing two women and a child. Four others, including two British Indian brothers and two young children, remain in critical condition after being airlifted to a hospital in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. The family was reportedly on holiday in the Nordic island country when their hired Toyota Land Cruiser slammed through a railing while crossing a high single-lane bridge
at Skeidararsandur, a vast sand plain in the southern part of the country. Local police have only identified the victims as British, with their names and ages not yet released until formal identification. The Indian Ambassador to Iceland, T Armstrong Changsan, visited the injured at Landspítali hospital, where he spoke to hospital staff and the chaplain before contacting family members in India. He confirmed that three people died, one of them a young child, and said the other family members were in a “stable” condition in hospital on Thursday night.
Labour bid to force general election matter of ‘when, not if’:’ Jeremy Corbyn
London : British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Independent newspaper the Labour party’s attempt to force a general election by tabling a noconfidence motion was a matter of “when, not if.” Corbyn suggested the move would be unavoidable if British Prime Minister Theresa May fails to secure backing for her Brexit policies from parliament. “We’ve made clear it’s a question of when not if we do a vote of no confidence in the government, and obviously we do (it) at a time
when their confidence is the lowest ever, which I suspect will be after they’ve lost the vote”, Corbyn told The Independent in an interview. The Labour leader added that the party has selected candidates in all of its marginal seats in preparation for a snap election. A new election is not due until 2022 but one could be called if May fails to get her primary policy through parliament. Corbyn also urged May to recall parliament early during the new year to bring forward a critical vote on the Brexit deal.
Weakened Bangladesh opposition hopes for change in Sunday’s election
Dhaka : Campaigning for Bangladesh’s general election at the weekend ended on Friday after weeks of violence, mainly against workers and officials from an opposition alliance, that has been criticised by the United States and others. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League is seeking its third straight term in Sunday’s election against the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which boycotted the last vote in 2014. The Awami League is promoting
its economic record over the past decade but the BNP-led opposition alliance, many of whose leaders have been jailed, has vowed to remove curbs on the media, raise wages and freeze energy prices. “The government has lost moral support,” BNP SecretaryGeneral Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a news conference late on Thursday, urging voters to “restore democracy”. “But the people are with us. They want change,” he said. The BNP’s preparations have been
hamstrung by the February jailing of their chairwoman, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, on what they call trumpedup corruption charges. Awami League leaders deny any misuse of power and say they will return to government with an overwhelming majority. Hasina told supporters on Thursday they must “ensure victory of pro-liberation forces”, a reference to Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 led by her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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