Angelina Jolie feels ‘a sense of responsibility’ for all people
Positive Petra Kvitova looking forward to a stronger 2018
18/12/2017, monday Edition: Ahmedabad
RNI NO.: GUJENG/2014/59629
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ENGLISH DAILY MORNING REPUTED NEWS PAPER, AHMEDABAD Editor : Kapilkumar M. Hirpara
Short News AIADMK distributed Rs 100 cr: Stalin alleges ‘cash-for-vote’ in RK Nagar
Chennai: The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu on Sunday told the Election Commission of India that the ruling AIADMK party distributed over Rs 100 crores to the voters for the byelection to RK Nagar constituency. DMK working president MK Stalin said Tamil Nadu witnessed largescale distribution of money to garner votes for the December 21 bypoll. He also requested the poll panel to disqualify AIADMK candidate E Madhusudhanan. “Take appropriate and necessary action against AIADMK and the erring officials and to ensure free and fair election in RK Nagar Assembly Constituency,” his letter read. Earlier on Saturday, a local AIADMK functionary, N Anbukarasu was ‘caught’ by rival DMK men with money which they alleged was ‘cash-for-votes’. AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan dismissed the DMK charge as a lie. “
AIADMK battles war within; top actors eye political vacuum in TN
Chennai: 2017 was politically tumultuous for Tamil Nadu keeping the ruling AIADMK busy in putting its house in order as it faced storm after storm postJayalalithaa and the year also saw cinema veterans Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan hinting at entering public life. ‘Resort politics’ came to dominate the headlines even as a new dispensation under Chief Minister K Palanisamy took over following a rebellion by his predecessor O Panneerselvam against V K Sasikala in February.
After claiming interest in an alliance, Musharraf now calls LeT, JuD ‘patriotic’
Karachi: Hailing LeT and JuD terror groups as “patriotic,” former military dictator Pervez Musharraf has said that he was ready to enter into an alliance with them for Pakistan’s “safety and security,” according to a media report. The 74-year-old retired general, who is on selfexile in Dubai, had in November said that he was the biggest supporter of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind who heads the banned Jamaat-ud Dawah. “They (LeT and JuD) are patriotic people. The most patriotic.
AAP likely to take decision on candidates for 3 Rajya Sabha seats by January
New Delhi :The AAP is likely to decide on its candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats by January first week, a party leader said, insisting that it is looking for faces outside the organisation. There are many aspirations within the AAP for the three seats for the Upper House of Parliament that goes to polls in the mid-January. The election has also created a bitterness in the party. This is also one of the reasons to delay the announcement of the candidates. Senior party leader Kumar Vishwas, who has been at odds with the leadership for some time now, was considered to be one of the strongest contenders. However, given his present equation with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the chances of the party sending him to the Upper House are slim.
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December 18, 2017, monday
Saeed’s remark comes as India and Bangladesh are celebrating December 16 as ‘Vijay Diwas’ and ‘Victory Day’, respectively.
Will ‘liberate’ Kashmir to avenge Pak’s defeat in 1971 war: Hafiz Saeed
Lahore: The 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, wants to “liberate” Kashmir to avenge the defeat of Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. “We will avenge creation of Bangladesh by liberating Kashmir,” the global terrorist said while addressing a gathering in Lahore on Saturday. Saeed’s remark comes as India and Bangladesh are celebrating December 16
as ‘Vijay Diwas’ and ‘Victory Day’, respectively. The 1971 war is heralded as one of the most convincing victories of the annals of the military history. It culminated with
the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), with almost 1,00,000 being taken prisoners of war (PoWs), and the conclusion of Bangladesh
Liberation War. The Jamat-udDawa chief, who is a wanted terrorist by India and the United States for his alleged role in masterminding the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives, had recently announced that he would contest the general election in 2018. The global terrorist carries a bounty of 10 million USD (approx. Rs 66 crore) and continues to exercise a lot of influence in religious circles.
For first time, India not being Rajnath Singh accuses blamed for collapse of WTO Karnataka govt of Suresh Prabhu communally polarising State Buenos talks: of talks, Aires : Commerce breakdown Bengaluru : Accusing the Congress government in Karnataka of communally polarising the state, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said the Siddaramaiah administration fooled the Muslim community with the promise of reservation in jobs and education sector. “Congress government here wants to divide Karnataka community to rule. I received information that even though there is no such regulation in the constitution, Muslim community here was befooled with reservation which was later out ruled by the Court,” Singh was quoted by ANI as saying during a BJP rally in Bengaluru. Questioning the delay in solving the murders of
Paresh Mesta, an 18-year-old youth in Uttar Karnataka, and journalist Gauri Lankesh, Singh said the culprits will be punished once BJP forms the government
in Karnataka. “Paresh Mesta was recently killed. What this government is doing in these murder cases? Gauri Lankesh was killed. I want to assure Karnataka public that when our government is formed, we will probe her death from all angles, culprits will be punished.
and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said this was probably the first time in recent history that India was not being blamed for the collapse of talks at the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO). “We came here with an open mind” but things did not move because of the adamant attitude of some members, Prabhu told reporters here. The talks at the 11th ministerial conference of the WTO collapsed with the US going back on the commitment made by it along with other member countries to find a permanent solution to the public food stockpile issue. Following the
there was no ministerial declaration at the end of the conference, though chair and Argentinean Minister Susana Malcorra made a statement highlighting the developments. “This is (for the) first time that India is not being blamed…we are definitely not going back as villains,” Prabhu said, adding the country has not lost anything but gained a lot, especially in terms of the goodwill of the developing nations. At previous ministerial meetings, India was often blamed for adopting an uncompromising and stern attitude which thwarted attempts of member nations to reach consensus on key issues.
Interpol cancels red corner notice on Zakir Naik over ‘religious bias’
New Delhi: The Interpol has cancelled the red corner notice on Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) president and preacher Zakir Naik, who is being probed under terror and moneylaundering charges by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). “Interpol has cancelled red corner notice on Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, have cited political and religious bias among other reasons,” a spokesperson of Naik said.The NIA’s request for red corner notice against Naik was not accepted by the Interpol as the chargesheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol. Now, the NIA will submit a fresh request to the Interpol as a chargesheet has already been filed in the concerned NIA court in Mumbai. The Islamic preacher is facing charges of incitement of terror activities, hate speeches among youth and moneylaundering. Naik fled from India after some terrorists allegedly involved in the Dhaka cafe attack claimed that they were inspired by his speeches. Last year, the National Investigation Agency’s Mumbai branch had registered a case against Naik under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after the Union Home Ministry had declared his Mumbai based IRF as an unlawful association.
Work begins to integrate Brahmos missile on 40 Sukhoi aircraft
Suicide attacks on Pakistan’s Methodist Church kills 8, injures 44
Karachi/Islamabad: Heavily-armed terrorists attacked a church during a midday service Sunday in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least eight people and wounding 44 others including children and women. The attack on the Bethel Memorial Church on Zarghoon road in Balochistan capital came just over a week before Christmas. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that at least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack on church. “One attacker was killed at the gate by police after an intense gunfight while the other wearing suicide vest entered the church and detonated his explosives,” he said. Bugti said that the terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church. “The security forces foiled their plan,” he added. Balochistan’s Inspector General Moazzam Ansari said there were 400 worshippers inside the church when it was attacked. Ansari said that police assigned to the church’s security reacted in a timely manner and averted a much larger tragedy.
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While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power.
Gujarat poll result tomorrow Modi’s prestige battle, litmus test for Rahul Ahmedabad: Counting of votes will be held on Monday for the Gujarat Assembly polls, considered a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi. While the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades. The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls
also as Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat ‘model of development’. The muchawaited results of the keenly fought elections will be announced on Monday when the counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the state’s 33 districts, amidst tight security. The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holdsbarred attacks on each others. Modi led the campaign for the BJP,
while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress’ electioneering. During the campaign, Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remarks. Gandhi persistently attacked Modi and the BJP for “not talking about the future of Gujarat” and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.
New Delhi: Work has begun to integrate the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft which is expected to fulfill critical needs of the Indian Air Force in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region. The airlaunched variant of the Brahmos, the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test fired from a Sukhoi-30 combat jet on November 22, marking a major milestone to enhance the precision strike
capability of the air force. “The work to integrate the Brahmos missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft has begun. A timeline for the project is being set,” official sources told news agency PTI without elaborating. It is learnt that the project is expected to be completed by 2020. The fleet of 40 Sukhoi jets will undergo structural modifications at the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd or HAL for integration of the missile on them.
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monday, 18 December, 2017
The new normal is that every rule will be bent to influence the election
Come to the world of the new normal. The new normal is that elections will be fought not on the performance of the ruling party (of 22 years, in the case of Gujarat) but on an indiscreet remark that will be distorted and blown out of proportion to the weight it deserved. The New Normal The new normal is that outrageous allegations can and will be levelled against a former Vice-President of India, a former Prime Minister of India, a former Chief of Army Staff, former High Commissioners to Pakistan and several former civil servants and, when called out, an apology will be demanded from the former Prime Minister! The new normal is that the government’s position will become the ‘national’ position and every one will be forbidden to hold a view contrary to the ‘national’ position! (So, believe that demonetisation was good, the design and implementation of the GST were perfectly fine, the ‘first-ever surgical strike’ pulverised Pakistan and the Doklam standoff ended in a decisive victory for India over China). The new normal is that every rule will be bent to influence the election — ride on a borrowed seaplane from the Sabarmati waterfront to the Dharoi dam on the last day of campaign or launch a new submarine on polling day. In the run-up to the parliamentary election in 2014, Mr Narendra Modi had re-invented himself as a moderate politician whose paramount interest was the economic development of India and, in fact, of all the people of India. Many controversial aspects of his brand of governance as Chief Minister of Gujarat were buried in a brilliantly conceived and imaginatively executed election campaign. The result vindicated the person and the campaign. That model was turned on its head in the election to the Gujarat Legislature. In a state that the BJP had ruled for 22 years, the party did not run on its record. The BJP’s campaign was a textbook case study of how a well-oiled election machine, bereft of ethics and using unlimited resources, can blur the difference between truth and hype. The party may still ride to victory. Heed the Warning Signals Meanwhile, the economy continues to tank. The fact that the government is celebrating a minor upturn in the growth rate (from 5.7 per cent in Q1 of 2017-18 to 6.3 per cent in Q2) is quite telling. In October 2017, the Index of Industrial Production grew by a paltry 2.2 per cent over the same month a year ago. Manufacturing grew by 2.5 per cent. Inflation continued to rise: retail inflation that was 3.6 per cent in October inched up to 4.9 per cent in November and it was driven by the rise in prices of essential items of consumption. For example, inflation in vegetable prices was 22.5 per cent, up from 7.5 per cent in the previous month. Agriculture recorded a dismal growth rate of 1.7 per cent in the second quarter (JulySeptember) of 2017-18.
- Kapilkumar M. Hirpara
Editor
Man charged with hate crime for vandalising mosque, gets 15 yrs in prison Fort Lauderdale: A man who vandalised a Florida mosque in January 2016 and left a raw slab of bacon on its doorstep was sentenced to 15 years in prison on a hate crime conviction, a state attorney’s spokesman said on Wednesday. Michael Wolfe, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to criminal mischief to a place of worship in a case considered a felony hate crime, said Todd Brown, spokesman for Florida’s 18th Judicial District, which includes Brevard and Seminole counties. Surveillance video after the 2016 incident showed a man with a shaved head and camouflage clothing breaking windows, cameras and lights with a machete at the
mosque in Titusville, Florida, near Cape Canaveral, police said. Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products including bacon, and hate groups have used pork products as a way to desecrate US mosques, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. The Islamic Society of Central Florida Masjid Al-Munin Mosque agreed with prosecutors and defense attorneys in determining Wolfe’s sentence, Brown said. “The Florida Muslim Community is suffering an unprecedented number of hate crimes,” Florida CAIR spokesman Wilfredo Ruiz said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
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Hollywood - Bollywood Hrithik Roshan: Service to society can change the world Meet Janhvi Kapoor as Pari and Ishaan Khatter as Madhuk in Dhadak’s new still So far, Dhadak makers have made sure to put a smile on our face by revealing chirpy romance between newcomer Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter’s characters. We know that the film is a remake of Marathi blockbuster Sairat and deals with the concept of honour killing. However, now we have been given a clue about their characters too. Janhvi will be playing Pari while Ishaan would be playing Madhuk. In the new still released by the makers, we feel the intensity of the film for the first time. Janhvi and Ishaan look heartbroken in this still. While they have their names etched on a big rock, there’s a revolver right next to them. The still was shared by Karan Johar. He wrote, “Janhvi and Ishaan in #Dhadak …shoot progressing rapidly! Directed by @ShashankKhaitan releasing 6th July ,2018!” Karan Johar has acquired the remake rights of Nagraj Manjule-directed Sairat, which created history in the Marathi cinema by entering the elite Rs 100-crore club and became a phenomenon as it ran in cinema houses for over 100 days, especially in Maharashtra.
Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who will be playing educationist Anand Kumar in the biopic Super 30, regards contribution and service to society as the most important virtue. “Contribution and service – these two simple words have the power to change and envision a different world around you. Contribution to your fellow men, contribution to your society itself is a thing to bring about positive change. And that is the highest form of service,” he said at the 43rd Giants International Convention 2017 here on Saturday.“It is the noblest of all virtues and closest
to God,” said Hrithik. Super 30, run by Anand Kumar, is an educational program in Patna that hunts for 30 meritorious talents from among the economically backward sections of society.Sharing an experience with his kids, Hrithik said that he constantly wonders in future, say 20 years from now, “what success will mean to them (his kids Hrehaan and Hridhaan), what values will they uphold? Which virtue will they hold the highest in their mind?” “There is one value that stands the tallest, which I hope and pray that they inculcate.
Alyssa Milano slams Matt Damon
Matt Damon’s latest comments on sexual misconduct has brought him a lot of backlash, and now, actress Alyssa Milano Alyssa Milano is speaking out in an open letter to him. JustJared.com reports that the Martian actor recently gave an interview in which he said that he believes “there’s a spectrum of behavior… There’s a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right? Both of those behaviors need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn’t be conflated.” Matt’s ex-girlfriend Minnie Driver is one of the many people who have slammed his comments. “Dear Matt Damon, It’s the micro that makes the macro.
Angelina Jolie feels ‘a sense of responsibility’ for all people Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie feels that she has “a sense of responsibility” towards people “all around the world”, as she was awarded with a humanitarian award from the UN Correspondents Association Awards. While accepting the award, the 42-yearold actor revealed that she always strives to be a “global citizen”, reports Contactmusic. com.Whilst she believes the term still makes her an American at heart, she can also connect with people across the world.She said, “It is being suggested by some people today that to consider yourself a global citizen is to care less for your country, to be insufficiently patriotic. We’ve been led to believe that international institutions and treaties, commitments on human rights built over generations, are a straightjacket upon the interests of individual countries. As if the only way for any nation to rise is at the expense of others. like everyone here, I love my own country.”“I am proud to be American. But I also feel a sense of responsibility towards all other people all around the world fighting for the freedoms that we are very lucky to have secured years ago.
Shraddha Kapoor follows Farhan Akhtar’s footsteps for Saina Nehwal biopic Shraddha Kapoor was earlier training under Pullela Gopichand and Saina Nehwal to get her style right for the biopic being made on Saina. And, after a couple of injuries, Shraddha has now approached Jitesh Padukone from the Padukone Shuttlers Academy to learn better badminton for her character. “Shraddha was taking a very long time to get the act right because it is not easy for any actress to look like a sportsperson. It is important that she gets the nuances right when she is playing someone
like Saina, since she will be under scrutiny. After all, the film is not just about acting, but also about playing the sport,” says our trade source. Shraddha is following her close friend Farhan Akhtar’s footsteps as she essays the role of a living sports legend. Farhan had played the role of Milkha Singh in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. He trained for a year to get his body fit for the role of an athlete.
I feel extremely lucky about the kind of roles I have got, says Bhumi Actor Bhumi Pednekar, who has played characters such as a overweight woman in Dum Laga Ke Haisha and a vivacious girl in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, feels lucky for the roles that have come her way. “You feel happy when your films do well commercially but I feel extremely lucky about the kind of roles I have got. Yes, it is great to be part of a film that has done well but it is even better to have something substantial to do in a film,” Bhumi, told news agancy. The actor hopes to get such roles in the future. “I really hope to continue getting such roles. I am really happy the way life is going on,” she added. Bhumi Pednekar has not only kick-started her career with back to back hits but has also encouraged her mother Sumitra Pednekar to take up films, Bhumi’s mother will make her debut as a producer with a low budget youth centric film The Journey of Bhangover. Talking about the film, Sumitra had earlier said, “I came into films because of my daughter, Bhumi Pednekar. She is doing so well and she urged me to start doing something as she said, ‘Mom, why don’t you start doing something.
The first ever Smita Patil memorial award was given to Rekha for her contribution in the film industry. National award-winning actor Smita Patil passed away in 1986.
Smita Patil was a far better actor than me, says Rekha
Legendary actor Rekha, who received the first Smita Patil Memorial Award in Mumbai, said she found the late actor was a far better performer than her. The award was conferred to Rekha for her contribution in the field of cinema on Saturday. “I am really glad that I am receiving an award
in the name of Smita. I also want to say that you all did the right thing that you decided to give the first-ever Smita Patil Memorial Award to me because I think only I have the right to receive this award,” Rekha said. Elucidating her comment, Rekha said, “This award signifies the excellence of her (Smita Patil’s) craft, which includes her acting abilities, dancing abilities or her ability to be fearless in front of the camera or in choosing her
roles or the way she could just live that moment and make a statement onscreen with her beautiful eyes without saying a single word. “I am not saying this because I have won an award in her name. It is because I feel she had far more finesse and was brilliant as an actor. I realized this thing 30 years ago when I decided to watch all her films. Today, I can say that she was a far better actor than me and than anybody else.
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Virat Kohli and I play to win and not pass time: Ravi Shastri
New Delhi: India will probably face one of its toughest tests in recent times when the tour to South Africa begins from January 5. In Tests, team India has held their numero uno ranking after winning nine successive Tests on the trot but the Proteas are no pushovers, especially in their own den. Hence, a lot will depend on the Indian think-tank on how they formulate strategies to beat South Africa at home and achieve a feat no other Indian side has done before- win a Test series in the rainbow nation. However, before the men in blue embark on their tour to South Africa, head coach Ravi Shastri, in a recent interview with CNN-News 18, opened up on his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli and how they both play to win at all costs and not waste time. He also gave insights on the possible opening partnership that the Indian team will have for the Test series in South Africa. Speaking to the news channel, 55-year-old Shastri opened up on his chemistry with Virat Kohli and said, “Equation is great.
Sports Special PV Sindhu finishes the year-ending World Super Series Finals with a silver medal after going down in a thriller to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.
PV Sindhu finishes with silver medal after a marathon BWF Super Series Final New Delhi: PV Sindhu fell narrowly short in the summit clash of the BWF Super Series Finals in a marathon contest against Akane Yamaguchi that went all the way and tested both players on nerves, physically and mentally. In the contest that went both ways, Yamaguchi emerged victorious by 15-21, 21-12, 21-19 in a final that was played over 94 minutes. In the process, Sindhu became the second Indian female shuttler to finish with a silver medal in the season-ending tournament.
In 2011, Saina Nehwal went down to Wang Yihan. The match shifted both ways in the decisive third game that was played over a course of 43 minutes – longer than the mixed doubles final that preceded it. Both players traded blows in an equal game with Sindhu and Yamaguchi remaining head-tohead throughout the third game amid numerous lengthy rallies. One such point was when Yamaguchi erred in picking up a Sindhu shot that looked to be going out but as the point continued,
both players stretched other all over the other before Sindhu’s drop shot proved far too good for the Japanese player to retrieve. A few points later, Sindhu displayed exemplary defensive skills to pick up a smash after another from the 20-year-old’s racket before closing the point out with a drop that brought Yamaguchi down on the court. Despite such quality on offer, Sindhu couldn’t survive and add a gold medal to her cabinet with two errors helping Yamaguchi to the yellow metal.
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I am sure the team under Virat Kohli can create history in South Africa: Anil New Delhi: Former India coach Anil Kumble has thrown his weight behind the Virat Kohli-led Indian team to go and win a Test series in South Africa. While this feat hasn’t been matched by any of the previous Indian sides touring the African country, Kumble remains firmly confident that the current Indian squad can create history. The series against the Proteas begins from 5th January. Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Bangalore, Kumble, said, “I’m confident that the team which we have will certainly go on to create history in South Africa and then beyond. That’s the confidence I have.” Kumble also lauded skipper Virat Kohli for his aggressive captaincy and the good work that the Indian team has done under his leadership in the past few years. “I’m sure the team under Virat certainly has the capabilities to achieve that and continue all the good work they have been doing,” TOI quoted him saying.
Positive Petra Kvitova looking forward to a stronger 2018 London: Returning to playing tennis again was all Petra Kvitova could have hoped for after being stabbed in the hand last December and the twice Wimbledon champion is glad that a tough and emotional year is coming to an end. The Czech required four hours of surgery on her left hand last December after being attacked by a man wielding a knife who had gained access to her apartment
by posing as a utility worker. Kvitova returned to action, after months of rehabilitation, during the French Open in May and went on to win the Aegon Classic in June. She last played at the Tianjin Open in October and was preparing to open her 2018 season at the Brisbane International in January. “This year has been a rollercoaster. The beginning wasn’t very nice, so I’m really glad that it’s over.
Now I can look at everything positively again,” Kvitova added. “It was a pretty tough year and I had a lot of emotions during my comeback… I can see that I can play tennis – and I can play it well, and for me this is the best outcome I could have hoped for. “I have started to live with my new hand. I’ve started to try to like it, to love it and that’s how I am going to take it. It’s my hand and I am
Market watchdog Sebi will come down heavily on illicit ‘initial coin offers’ seeking public investments with promise of high returns from Bitcoins and other virtual currencies
just happy that I have all of my fingers.” The former world number two had a successful run throughout the grasscourt season followed by progression to the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open and the semi-finals of the China Open. But the 27-year-old was yet to regain full fitness. “It will probably take more than a year to get full movement back, I’m not sure,” Kvitova told The Guardian.
business
Bitcoin-inspired illicit investment schemes to face regulatory axe
New Delhi : Market watchdog Sebi will come down heavily on illicit ‘initial coin offers’ seeking public investments with promise of high returns from Bitcoins and other virtual currencies, amid a mushrooming of such schemes in the absence of any regulatory regime. However, Sebi is not keen to take on the mantle of a regulator for such ‘trading’ -- currently being offered on a number of socalled exchanges despite there being no rules in this regard -- as the underlying product, which is Bitcoin or any such crypto currency, is not an approved product by RBI or any other agency, top officials said. At the same time, Sebi cannot allow gullible investors to be taken for a ride with unlawful promises by these exchanges and those claiming to ‘mint’ crypto currencies. A number of them are suspected to be indulging in fraudulent activities without actually minting any such virtual currencies that require very complex algorithms, the officials noted. A number of ‘coin offerings’ being made in India
are nothing but fraudulent Ponzi or pyramid schemes, including some offering secondary trading in Bitcoins or other established virtual currencies, while many others are plain frauds
without any such currency actually being in play, they added. RBI has already made public its disapproval for all such currencies and has said it has not approved any of them, while
tax authorities recently conducted searches at various exchanges and are believed to have collected information on lakhs of entities including HNIs who could have ‘traded’ there. The regulators and government agencies are in a state of quandary as even imposing a tax would amount to giving a legal status to such currencies, for which any consensus remains elusive given the huge risks, including money laundering and terrorist financing, attached with such activities.However, there is a kind of unanimity emerging about subjecting such trading to laws against black money, money laundering and frauds so that the interest of general public remains safeguarded, a senior official said, while adding that any final decision would be taken at highest level and a multi-regulatory panel may be assigned that job. A gravity-defying bitcoin rally to over Rs 10 lakh a unit, interspersed with ‘stories’ of people making crores from thousands, has left the regulators flummoxed.
Govt’s recapitalisation plan: Not all banks to get fund infusion in first tranche
New Delhi : Not all banks will be eligible for capital support of the government this fiscal, but those who have performed relatively better and need capital most will be considered for fund infusion, sources said. It is not necessary that all banks will be issued recapitalisation bonds in the first tranche, but the money will be given depending on fulfilment of various parameters,
including reforms undertaken, a senior official said. Capital infusion would be contingent upon performance, reforms undertaken and future road map, official said. The quantum of the capital infusion during the current fiscal would be known after Parliament will give nod for this, the official said, adding that the government is yet to decide on SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) status
for recapitalisation bonds. The SLR status will ensure tradeability of bonds. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in October had announced an unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore two-year road map to strengthen Public Sector Banks, reeling under high non performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans. Their NPAs have increased to Rs 7.33 lakh crore as of June 2017, from Rs 2.75 lakh crore in March 2015.
Foreign funds flock to Indian markets with over $30 billion inflows in 2017 New Delhi : Foreign investors are flocking to the Indian capital markets in a big way with a net inflow of over $30 billion (more than Rs 2 lakh crore) of so-called ‘hot money’ in 2017, with equities alone getting over $8 billion -an amount bigger than the cumulative investment of the previous two years. As the year draws to a close, the Indian stock market seems to have regained its status as one of the most favoured destinations for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), as they have taken their net investment position in equities so far in 2017 to Rs 55,000 crore -- the highest in three years after Rs 20,500 crore in 2016 and Rs 17,800 crore in 2015. However, this remains a far cry from the heady levels seen earlier -- Rs 97,000 crore in 2014, Rs 1.13 lakh crore in 2013 and Rs 1.28 lakh crore in 2012. However, a sharper turnaround was seen in 2017 in terms of FPI inflows into debt markets where the the net investments have soared to a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore ($23 billion) after a net outflow of about Rs 43,600 crore in 2016.
4 / Dt. 18-12-2017, monday, Ahmedabad Surat city BJP president Nitin Bhajiyawala, however, dismissed the Congress’s claim, saying that they will win all the 12 urban seats
In Surat, Congress claims win on 5, and BJP on all 12
Surat : While Surat unit of the Congress on Saturday claimed that the party will win five of the 12 Assembly seats in Surat city, the BJP claimed that it will win all the 12 seats. “This time, the fight was tough. We will win on five seats — Surat North, Limbayat, Varachha, Kamrej and Surat East — and there will be close results in
three seats — Katargam, Karanj and Olpad,” said Hasmukh Desai after holding a meeting of local Congress leaders and state leaders here. Surat city BJP president Nitin Bhajiyawala, however, dismissed the Congress’s claim, saying that they will win all the 12 urban seats. “Congress was not in the picture. They contested on three
Two held for stealing tyres worth Rs 10 lakh
VADODARA: Mohammed Shahjat Mev and Mohammed Arik Khan Mev, both residents of Mewat in Haryana, were arrested on Friday night for stealing tyres worth Rs 9.95 lakh from a truck at National Highway 8 near Jambuva in September this year.Four persons including the two arrested had attacked a truck driver who was carrying the tyres from Hyderabad to Ahmedabad. Police said that after attacking the driver, they drove the truck to an unidentified location on September 18. Later they transferred the tyres of tractors, auto rickshaw, two-wheelers and other rubber tubes worth Rs 9.95 lakh into their vehicle and fled from there. Police investigations revealed that the accused duo had used a multi-axle truck from Godhra for this purpose. According to police, the duo was nabbed by Ahmedabad crime branch in connection with another robbery case registered in Bharuch. City police got their custody on Friday after which they were formally arrested. A police official said that the duo will be interrogated about the tyres which they had stolen and also about their accomplices who are on run. “They are also historysheeters and have been involved in many other highway robberies in different states of the country.
horses — Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani. The Patidars are part of the BJP organisation and they definitely did not vote for the Congress,” Bhajiyawala said. Surat city had voted in the first phase of election on December 9. The turnout in the city was recorded at 66.39 per cent, three per cent less than 2012 Assembly polls.
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Man behind Vadodara’s landmarks passes away Vadodara: Prominent sculptor Nagji Patel, who gave Vadodara some of its prominent landmarks, died due to a suspected heart attack at his residence on Saturday night. Patel was declared dead when he was taken to a private hospital in the Sama area of the city. Patel is survived by his wife Taraben, son Chirag Patel and daughter Dhanu. Patel fell unconscious at his residence on Sunday night at around 8.30pm. He was rushed to the Rhythm Multispeciality Hospital where he was declared brought dead. A heart attack is suspected to be the reason for his demise, said doctors at the hospital. Patel had made the famous The Banyan Tree sculpture that was commissioned in 1991 and is a symbolic landmark of the tree from which the city derives its name. It is popularly called as the ‘Vad’ sculpture. The sculpture is now installed at Chhani Jakatnaka. The other sculpture ‘Abacaus’ was installed at Akshar Chowk in 2004, but is now located at Sama.
New parking policy for 7 main roads in Surat soon
SURAT: With just a couple of days left for the model code of conduct to end, urban planners and ruling BJP leaders in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) are all set to implement the new parking policy in the Diamond City.In the first phase, at least seven main roads in the city have been identified where vehicle owners will be charged a specific amount for parking their vehicles on the road. The charges range from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for two-wheelers, Rs 20 to Rs 30 for four-wheelers and Rs 50 to Rs 150 for heavy vehicles. Official sources said the new parking policy was delayed due to Gujarat assembly elections. The results will be out on December 18 and the municipal corporation is all set to implement the new parking policy in the city.
“According to a survey by my team, BJP will not get majority in Gujarat... This is based on a survey among voters in both rural and urban areas,” said Sanjay Kakade. Ahmedabad : Sanjay Kakade, an independent MP supported by the BJP, on Saturday said the party will not win enough seats in Gujarat to form the government, but the Congress will get close to a majority. “According to a survey by my team, BJP will not get majority in Gujarat… This is based on a survey among voters in both rural and urban areas,’’ he told a TV channel in Pune. The MP also said the Gujarat elections were “not fought on a
Pressure lifted on the embattled leader after she struck a deal with the European Union over Britain’s divorce terms last Friday.
Theresa May hits back, says Brexit deal proves critics wrong
towards a successful exit from the EU,” she wrote in the centre-right broadsheet, calling the agreement “a watershed” in negotiations. “Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job,” she added. “We will not be derailed
from this fundamental duty to deliver the democratic will of the British people.” The Prime Minister said it was important to work out the exact terms of an implementation period, designed to soften the effects of Brexit after the
Tourism stake holders meet was organised in Hotel Rock Regency, Ahmedabad on 17th December, 2017. A total of 65 participants gathered to discuss importance of cleanliness and tourism. On this occasion they have taken an oath to contribute their part for cleanliness drive at tourism destinations. The programme was organised by Dr. Ravinder Dogra, Mr. Ramakrishna Kongalla, Ms. Divya Talreja, Mr. Alok Kaloskar, Mr. Vijay Verma and Mr Babu lal, the Officials of Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior. IITTM is conducting Swachhata drive in three different locations of Ahmedabad with 9 activites.
BJP won’t win enough seats to form govt in Gujarat: MP SanjayKakade
international London: British Prime Minister Theresa May has hit back at critics of her handling of Brexit, writing in the Sunday Telegraph that she had “proven the doubters wrong” after securing an interim deal. Pressure lifted on the embattled leader after she struck a deal with the European Union (EU) over Britain’s divorce terms last Friday, enabling talks to turn to the country’s future trading relationship after months of fraught negotiations. “We have proven the doubters wrong and are making progress
Tourism stakeholders have pledged to keep Ahmedabad clean and promote cleanliness in Tourism.
March 2019 leave date, “as soon as possible... to provide invaluable certainty for employers.” She also played down fears of Brexit voters that Britain would end up being bound by EU rules, insisting that the country would regain “control of our borders, and set our own laws”. However, prominent Brexit campaigners in her own cabinet appeared concerned that Britain would be restricted by EU rules during the transition period, which is expected to last for around two years.
plank of development… emotional issues occupied the prime slot”. Responding to Kakade’s statement, BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said all exit polls have predicted a victory for the BJP in Gujarat. “Wait for the result… everything will be clear,’’ he said. BJP MP from Pune, Anil Shirole, also echoed the same view. On whether Kakade was now a primary member of the BJP, as reported by some media outlets, Bhandari refused to comment.
Court reserves order on The Wire’s plea against gag order Ahmedabad: An Ahmedabad court on Saturday concluded the hearing on a petition filed by news portal The Wire against a gag order in connection with a civil defamation suit filed by Jay Shah, son of BJP chief Amit Shah. Additional Senior Civil Judge B K Dasondi said the order may be passed on December 23. Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had rejected the news portal’s petition challenging the gag order, and asked it to approach the court which had passed the order. The high court also asked the lower court to decide The Wire’s plea before December 26. The lower court had issued an injunction while hearing the Rs 100-crore civil defamation suit filed by Jay Shah against seven respondents over an article published by the news portal. It prohibited The Wire from publishing, broadcasting or printing anything on the basis of the article in question till the suit was disposed of. Meanwhile, in a criminal defamation suit filed by Jay Shah over the same article, a magistrate’s court allowed exemption applications of Rohini Singh, the author of the article, and another respondent, allowing them to remain absent during today’s hearing. Additional Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi adjourned the proceedings to January 9.
Pak says ‘processing’ visa applications of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s wife, mother Islamabad: Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has confirmed that the visa applications of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother and wife were being processed. “Visa applications of mother and wife of Commander Jadhav received for their visit on humanitarian grounds. Being processed,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted on Saturday. Pakistan Today has reported that the FO, on Thursday, issued directives to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to issue visas to Jadhav’s wife and mother. The Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan will also be allowed to accompany Jadhav’s
family during the meeting. The Pakistan Government had decided to allow Jadhav to meet his wife and mother on December 25, Geo News reported citing Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, as saying. Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for India’s intelligence
agency – the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan this year in April. However, the ICJ on May 18, 2017, stayed the hanging after India approached it against the death sentence.
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