Dear all,
Welcome.
Malala day: At United Nations, seven girl children's were awarded "UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Youth Courage", out of which two are from India. Also, Malala's friend had been awarded with it. She had been injured during the attack. The other awardees are from Bangladesh, Nepal, Morocco, and Sierra Lone.
Corruption: The Pak Official accused in scam had been extradited from UAE. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had stated that Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority's President had fled to UAE after his appointment had been declared illegal.
He is involved in 8200 crore INR scam. He had bribed a Security Official at Afghanistan Border. Along with him, two PM are made accused. He is charged with misuse of powers, fraud, and violation of an agreement between World Bank & ADB.
Nuclear Plant: Chinese govt. had cancelled construction project of a Nuclear Power Plant worth 600 crore dollars(35900 crores INR) following security concerns being raised through demonstrations. As per govt. news agency, at Guangdang province Nuclear fuel reprocessing project is cancelled. It was to be put in operation by 2020. It is the first ever nuclear project to have been cancelled by China. The protests for environment protection is no rise. The sluggish economy is also stated to be a reason for it.
It is to note that Chinese govt. had issued White Paper during past year October on Electricity stating that China has 15 Nuclear electricity producing units with total capacity of 12.54 GW. Additional 30 units would be producing 32.81 GW. It is to note that 1GW = 1000 MW. By 2020, it would become third biggest Nuclear Electricity producing country after US & France.
Bhutan: During Bhutan's second Parliamentary elections, Chief Opposition party, People's Democratic Republic had registered record victory. The Druck Fuensum Tsogpa party (DPT) lost over the issue of soaring fuel price following no subsidy from India on Kerosene and Domestic LPG. It is to note that Bhutan had adopted democracy during 2008. During past electioins, PDP had won only two seats. PDP had won 32 seats and got majority with 8 more than required in 47 member National Assembly. During past elections, DPT had got 45 seats. The voting percentage was 80%. However, it is learnt that the subsidy stopped w.e.f. June 30 would be subject to strict accounting, if Bhutan requires it. PDP General Secretary had stated that it is not due to it's closeness with China. Indian CEC had been engaged in conducting elections there. In the initial stage, DNT & DCT were out of race. During second round of elections, it got reduced between DPT & PDP.
India Inc. Amidst rumours of early general elections, foreign countries are also concerned about their business concerns in India. France is concerned over Rafael fighhter planes and Jaitapur Nuclear Power plant. Also, The KNPP at Koodankullam is delayed despite being ready for operation and permissiion from AERB. French diplomat had come on visit to India with some such agenda. It is working for supply of Rafael planes by the year 2016. It is to note that India had finalised the deal of 126 such planes. The selection was announced during February'2012. But it is delayed due to following of various procedures, which would also require clearance from CCS.
As per diplomatic sources, the Atomic Electricity Power plant had not yet started it's production. It could take another two months. Also, due to flaws in Civil Nuclear deal, it is presumed that KNPP's third and fourth stage would not be feasible. At Jaitapur, France's AREVA co. had not been able to install all its six Nuclear units of 1650 MW capacity. It is to note that despite Civil Nuclear 123 deal, no agreement had been made so far.
The Central govt. had, under National Electronics Policy, approved investment projects worth 3,300 crore INR. Under the new policy, investments of both Samsung and Bosch Electronics are included. The govt. had kept the target of attracting investment worth 25,000 crores INR.
Bosch would invest 544 crores INR in automotive electronic segment and Samsung would invest 406 crore INR in mobile phones.
Besides, three new Electronic cluster with investment projects worth 2,327 crores INR are approved. The telecon. & IT minister had stated that additional 1,000 crore INR worth projects would be approved. Standards are being set for approving. DoPT Secretary had stated that Samsung and Bosch would be granted subsidy worth 25% and 20% respectively.
Maruti Suzuki Ltd. had told it's 200 contractual labours to go on indefinite leave. It had cited low production during the past month. The sale during past month had been 84,455 units. The Diesel engine car's production is stopped at Manesar Plant. The third shift is stopped. The production capacity had been 3 lakh units.
The reduction in Car sales continuously during past eight months had caused Automobile industry to demand relief package. The sale had declined by 9%. The domestic sales had been 1,39,632 units. During past year same month, it had been 1,53,450 units. As per fresh statistics, it had declined by 10.41% whereas industry had predicted it by 3-5%. Two wheeler vehicles had reduced by 0.82% and commercial vehicles sales had declined by 8.12%.
As per Association President, due to slow economic development, high interest rate and costlier fuel, the situation is weak. The govt. should give an incentive package so that high growth rate may be attained. But there is no such writtern proposal.
During June, Maruti Suzuki had got sale reduced by 8.17%. Hyundai motors sale had been 30,577 units. Tata motors sales had also reduced by 29.7%. Mahindra and Mahindra sales was also 15,916 units during this month.
With regards,
M.K.Pachraiya
Original_app_mssg(1) US-EU talks
The chief negotiators in new U.S.-European trade talks were upbeat Friday as the first round came to a close, saying tensions over secret American surveillance of European diplomats did not cloud the weeklong session.
The American negotiator Daniel Mullaney and his European Union counterpart, Ignacio Garcia-Bercero, told a news conference in Washington that some of the most difficult challenges they see ahead are in removing regulations that hinder trans-Atlantic trade.
The two economic powerhouses aim to seal a sweeping agreement that will remove most tariffs and other barriers to trade in order to boost jobs and growth. The first round of talks began on Monday and was ending on Friday.
Mullaney said America's "overarching priority is to promote U.S. economic interests and to provide increased opportunities for American workers, businesses farmers and ranchers, and we are very optimistic about our prospects."
Garcia-Bercero said the first round had been productive.
"Our first objective has been met," he said. "We had a substantive round of talks covering the full range of topics that we intend to cover in this agreement. Both of us see this agreement as having the potential to deliver something that will be transformative for our economies in terms of market access, in terms of regulatory compatibility and in terms of rule making."
Mullaney noted the two economies are already hugely integrated, with almost $3 billion in trade in goods and services every day, nearly $4 trillion in mutual foreign direct investment and a combined base of about 800 million consumers.
The launch of the talks last month during President Barack Obama's visit to Europe almost snagged on French demands for a delay. The demands were in response to revelations that the U.S. had spied on European diplomats.
However, Mullaney said this issue did not even arise in their talks.
"Those conversations are taking place in another channel, so those topics did not come up among the trade negotiators this week," he said.
The negotiating teams are grappling with how to reduce a host of regulations that obstruct trade, such as Europe's tight standards on imports of American genetically modified foods and meat that has been washed with chemicals.
Mullaney also addressed complaints from activists that the talks are not transparent enough because negotiating texts are not being released. He said there had been a number of sessions for activists and others to present their views to the teams and the negotiators were considering other ways to open up the process.
There were signs of diverging positions on a proposed mechanism in the trade deal known as "investor-state dispute resolution."
The U.S. wants the provision, which would allow multinational companies to challenge a range of U.S. or European regulations in international courts.
Some activist groups have expressed alarm over the provision. They said it would elevate corporations to the level of sovereign states and allow them to challenge policies and laws that could cut into their profits.
Mullaney said the U.S. sees value in protecting investors and ensuring they have a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory process for settling disputes. Garcia-Bercero stressed the importance of protecting regulators and letting them do their jobs.
M.K.Pachraiya
Image from Japan Meteorological Agency's MTSAT of Haiyan over the Leyte Gulf. Photograph: Zuma/rex
Dark clouds loom over the skyscrapers of Manila. Photograph: Rouelle Umali/REX
Path of typhoon Haiyan
