Industry says Food Security Bill will harm fiscal deficit
The morning after the Lok Sabha passed Sonia
Gandhi's pet Food Security Bill, industry is raising concerns about the effect
this massive subsidy will have on the country's economy. The project is
expected to cost the exchequer Rs 1,25,000 lakh crore per annum, and growing.
CII president Kris Gopalakrishnan said,
"There are concerns (about the Bill). Such a large outlay at this point in
time will definitely have a negative impact on the fiscal deficit. This needs
to be managed. The larger concern is regarding the effective implementation of
such a critical social agenda of the government."
Gopalakrishnan said the use of ration shops to
channelise the subsidy raises question about the efficacy of the model.
Targeting is another area that will need special attention. "CII hopes
that the government will put proper focus on these aspects, mainly targeting
the needy so they can benefit from this subsidy,
SC warns courts against showing leniency towards rape convicts
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that
compromise between rape survivor and rape convict cannot be a ground to reduce
sentence of imprisonment.
Even offer of marriage by the accused to rape
survivor cannot persuade courts to reduce sentence of rape convicts, the top
court said.
The apex court said law permits the court to
reduce sentence even in rape cases under exceptional circumstances but
compromise between the assaulted woman and the rapist cannot be a ground for
that exception.
The top court said allowing compromise between
rape survivor and convict for reduction of sentence would allow the accused to
exert every kind of pressure on the rape survivor to settle for a compromise.
Long delay in trial and the fact that rape
survivor has settled in life were also no grounds to reduce sentence of
rapists, the SC ruled.
Religion, caste or status of accused too should
not make any difference to the case trial and imposition of sentence when convicted,
the court said.
Justifying harsh punishment in rape cases, the
court said rape is not only a physical and mental assault of a woman but also a
crime against society requiring courts not to show leniency to rape convicts
when it came to imposing sentence.
Triumphant Indian women archers return home
The triumphant Indian women's recurve team, which
clinched the World Cup Stage IV crown in Poland, returned home in the wee hours
on Tuesday to a lukewarm response.
The archery team, comprising Bombayla Devi,
Deepika Kumari and Rimil Buriuly, were later felicitated at the resident of
President of Archery Association of India (AAI), V K Malhotra.
The archers were, however, a little disappointed
that no top officials had come to receive them at the Indira Gandhi
International airport.
"We are a bit disappointed. If we compare
with other sports, there are lot of people receiving the players at the
airport. This is a very big achievement, we defeated Korea. It would have been
great had we received a big welcome but its okay our job is to do better and we
will do it," Rimil said.
European stocks slide on tension over Syria
European stock markets fell on Tuesday, mirroring
losses in Asia and overnight on Wall Street, as investors factored in possible
US military intervention in Syria.
In late morning deals, London's FTSE 100 index of
leading shares dropped 0.82 percent to stand at 6,438.72 points, as dealers in
London returned to their desks after a three-day holiday weekend.
Frankfurt's DAX 30 sank 1.50 percent to 8,308.84
points and the CAC 40 in Paris shed 1.47 percent to 4,007.36 compared with
Monday's closing values.
Banks slap charges on phone banking
After SMS alerts, banks are now charging
customers to speak to phone banking executives.
Standard Chartered Bank has informed savings
account and credit card customers that from next month they will be allowed
only two free calls to their phone banking executive each month. For any calls
made thereafter, they will be charged Rs 50 per call.
HDFC Bank charges Rs 50 per call for those
customers who have not maintained the average minimum balance prescribed for
their account if they insist on speaking to an executive when the information
is available through an interactive voice response (IVR) system.
Banks may extend education loan repayment period
With the rupee continuing to hover near 64 to a
dollar and 100 to a pound, many banks are contemplating extending the repayment
period of educational loans taken by students to pursue higher studies abroad.
"This would result in the EMI (equated monthly installment) coming
down," India Bank CMD T M Bhasin said. He also headed an Indian Banks
Association (IBA) committee on educational loans.
Similarly, State Bank of Hyderabad may extend the
repayment tenure for loans taken for higher studies abroad from seven to ten
years. "Every attempt at restructuring would be looked into, including
extension of loan tenure," MD of State Bank of Hyderabad, M Bhagavantha
Rao said.
HDFC Credila has gone a step further. It plans to
extend tenure to 15 years for select cases. "A 10-12 year repayment is
becoming the norm now," country head of Credila Financial Services,
Prashant A Bhonsle, said.
Instant Noodles Can Help Fight World Hunger:
Research
Researchers
from different universities, in the last week of August 2013, claimed that the
instant noodles can prove to be very helpful for satiating the world hunger all
over the world.
Deborah Gewertz, the G. Henry Whitcomb 1874 Professor of Anthropology at Amherst along with her co-workers examined history, marketing, manufacturing as well as consumption of the foodstuff and revealed that the instant noodles will play a significant global role in the years to come.
Deborah Gewertz explained that as the protean food designed for quotidian consumption, instant noodles already proved to be the great source to ease the hunger. She also explained that as the food will become scarcer in near future, tasty, cheap, shelf-stable and convenient instant noodles will become all the more important.
Deborah Gewertz and her co-authors of the research, Frederick Errington, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Emeritus, at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and Tatsuro Fujikura, professor at the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies at Kyoto University and a member of Amherst's Class of 1991, after the study, explained about the biophysiology of human taste. This biophysiology of human taste provided an insight into the mechanism of marketers for penetrating into new markets with their industrial foods. The study also analysed the thing required for feeding billions of people.
In order to understand the impact of the instant noodles on diverse populations of the world, the authors studied three markets. The first market was Japan. The instant noodles were invented in the year 1958 in Japan and have been accepted widely since then. During World War II, these noodles were considered as the sign of modernity, but at present, they are treated as a convenient snack.
The market of Papua New Guinea was also studied, where the instant noodles arrived in 1980s. The market analysis showed how the instant noodles served as a source of intriguing as well as cheap food options, especially for the urban poor. The instant noodles, in this market, were eaten not just as the snacks but also as the proper meals.
The study concluded that instant noodles could be very well established as the source of ending world hunger in the future.
What are instant noodles?
• Instant noodles, also called Ramen are the precooked or dried noodles which are sold with the packets of flavouring. The dried noodles are cooked after soaking in boiling water. The precooked noodles can be eaten directly from the packet or can be simply reheated.
• Momofuku Ando of Nissin Foods, Japan was the first one to invent instant noodles. These noodles were first marketed by Ando's company Nissin on 25 August 1958 under the brand name of Chikin Ramen.
• Ando was the first one to develop the production method of flash frying of these noodles after they were made, thereby creating instant noodles.
Deborah Gewertz, the G. Henry Whitcomb 1874 Professor of Anthropology at Amherst along with her co-workers examined history, marketing, manufacturing as well as consumption of the foodstuff and revealed that the instant noodles will play a significant global role in the years to come.
Deborah Gewertz explained that as the protean food designed for quotidian consumption, instant noodles already proved to be the great source to ease the hunger. She also explained that as the food will become scarcer in near future, tasty, cheap, shelf-stable and convenient instant noodles will become all the more important.
Deborah Gewertz and her co-authors of the research, Frederick Errington, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Emeritus, at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and Tatsuro Fujikura, professor at the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies at Kyoto University and a member of Amherst's Class of 1991, after the study, explained about the biophysiology of human taste. This biophysiology of human taste provided an insight into the mechanism of marketers for penetrating into new markets with their industrial foods. The study also analysed the thing required for feeding billions of people.
In order to understand the impact of the instant noodles on diverse populations of the world, the authors studied three markets. The first market was Japan. The instant noodles were invented in the year 1958 in Japan and have been accepted widely since then. During World War II, these noodles were considered as the sign of modernity, but at present, they are treated as a convenient snack.
The market of Papua New Guinea was also studied, where the instant noodles arrived in 1980s. The market analysis showed how the instant noodles served as a source of intriguing as well as cheap food options, especially for the urban poor. The instant noodles, in this market, were eaten not just as the snacks but also as the proper meals.
The study concluded that instant noodles could be very well established as the source of ending world hunger in the future.
What are instant noodles?
• Instant noodles, also called Ramen are the precooked or dried noodles which are sold with the packets of flavouring. The dried noodles are cooked after soaking in boiling water. The precooked noodles can be eaten directly from the packet or can be simply reheated.
• Momofuku Ando of Nissin Foods, Japan was the first one to invent instant noodles. These noodles were first marketed by Ando's company Nissin on 25 August 1958 under the brand name of Chikin Ramen.
• Ando was the first one to develop the production method of flash frying of these noodles after they were made, thereby creating instant noodles.
IBSA issued Statement on the Middle East Peace
Process
The
foreign ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) on 23 August 2013
after consultations agreed on the following statement: IBSA reaffirms that the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains an urgent and key issue for the
international community, the resolution of which is a prerequisite for building
a sustainable and lasting peace in the Middle East region.
They
support the mediation efforts undertaken by the U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry and welcome the announcement of the resumption of direct final status
negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. This is an encouraging
development, one that has the potential for reverting the deadlock and
paralysis that have plagued the peace process in recent years. They hope this
renewed effort will lead to the full and overdue realization of a two-state
solution based on 1967 borders.
IBSA has
noted with satisfaction the decision of Israel to release 104 Palestinian
prisoners, which is a gesture that contributes to the spirit of cooperation
surrounding the negotiations. IBSA is also pleased with the announcement made
on 30 July by John Kerry indicating that the Palestinian and Israeli
negotiators are committed to reaching a comprehensive peace agreement within
nine months. Such an agreement should culminate in the full realization of an
independent Palestinian State. IBSA call on the parties to adhere strictly to
this timetable.
As IBSA
reiterates its call for the Security Council to fully exercise its functions
under the UN Charter, with regard to the Palestinian Question, we express our
firm belief that the Council should provide sustained support to the peace
process and work towards its full and satisfactory completion.
Vice President of Afghanistan Mohammed Karim
Khalili visited India
The 2nd
Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E. Mohammad Karim
Khalili, was on an Official Visit to India on 20-22 August 2013 upon the
invitation of Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari. The Vice President of
Afghanistan was accompanied by a high level Ministerial and official delegation
from Afghanistan which includes Afghan economy minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal,
higher education minister Obaidullah Obaid and Afghan army chief of staff Sher
Mohammad Karimi. His visit was aimed at implementing the commitments which were
agreed between Kabul and New Delhi.
Vice
President Khalili's visit, after President Karzai’s visit in May 2013, carries
forward the high-level engagement between the two countries.
During this visit, India and Afghanistan held talks on security related issues
During this visit, India and Afghanistan held talks on security related issues
The Number of Foreign Tourists in India increased
to 207.31 Lakh in 2012
As per
the data released by Ministry of Tourism on 26 August 2013, the number of
foreign tourists visiting India has shown a steady increase in the past three
years. The number of foreign tourist visits has increased to 207.31 lakh in
2012 as compared to 194.97 lakh in 2011 and 179.10 lakh during 2010. This shows
an increase of almost 16 per cent in the past two years. The highest number of
foreign tourists inflow was recorded in Maharashtra at 51.20 lakh followed by
Tamilnadu at 35.62 lakh and Delhi at 23.46 lakh in the year 2012.
The
Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism has also shown a significant
growth rising to 94487 crores rupees in 2012 as compared to 77591 crores rupees
in 2011 and 64889 crores rupees in 2010. This marks an increase of around 46
per cent in the three year period from 2010 to 2012. The Foreign Exchange
Earnings (FEEs) is estimated as 50448 crores rupees in the period January to
June 2013.
The
number of Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) to States/UTs has also shown an
impressive growth of around 39 per cent in the past three years. The number of
DTVs in 2012 is estimated at 103.64 crores as compared to 74.77 crores in the
year 2010.
England Won Ashes 2013 Test Series by 3-0
England cricket team won Ashes Test Series-2013 by 3-0 against Australia on 25 August 2013 at England.
England and Australia drew the fifth Test as the Ashes series ended in a dramatic draw on the final day at The Oval on 25 August 2013. With this fifth test match draw England finished the five-match contest as 3-0 winners having triumphed in three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s. (England won ashes series in 2009,2011, 2013).
England retained the Ashes after the third Test match was drawn to give them an unassailable 2–0 lead in the series. England took an unbeatable 3–0 lead in the series with a 74-run win in the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street.
Alastair Cook captained the England Side in the tournament, whereas, Michael Clarke captained the Australian team.
Five test match series
1st Test: 10-14 July England won by 14 runs, at Trent Bridge
• Player of the match: James Anderson (Eng)
2nd Test: 18-22 July England won by 347 runs, at Lord's
• Player of the match: Joe Root (Eng)
3rd Test: 1-5 August Match drawn, at Old Trafford
• Player of the match: Michael Clarke (Aus)
4th Test: 9-13 August England won by 74 runs, at Chester-le-Street
• Player of the match: Stuart Broad (Eng)
5th Test: 21-25 August Match drawn, at Oval
• Player of the match: Shane Watson (Aus)
Players of the series
Ian Bell (England) and RJ Harris (Australia)
Leading run-scorers
562 Ian Bell (Eng) - average 62.44
418 Shane Watson (Aus) - average 41.80
388 Kevin Pietersen (Eng) - average 38.80
Leading wicket-takers
26 Graeme Swann (Eng) - average 29.03
24 Ryan Harris (Aus) - average 19.58
22 Stuart Broad (Eng) - average 27.45
History of Ashes Series
The Ashes is a Test cricket series which has been played between England and Australia since 1882. The Ashes is played biennially between England and Australia taking turns to host it. The Ashes series consists of five Test matches; if a series is drawn, the country holding the Ashes retains series.
The Ashes series is named after a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, The Sporting Times, in 1882 after a match at the Oval in which Australia beat England on an English ground for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour to Australia (1882–83) as the quest to regain the Ashes.
Bradley Manning Announced Intention of Living like
a Woman; to be Named Chelsea Manning
Chelsea
Elizabeth Manning, also known as Bradley Edward Manning, convicted as well as
sentenced to the military prison for leaking important classified documents in
Wikileaks case, announced the intention of living the life as a woman. He was
diagnosed of gender-identity disorder by an Army psychiatrist. The Army Prison
refused to provide hormone therapy to him.
Who is Chelsea Manning or Bradley Manning?
• Chelsea Elizabeth Manning was born as Bradley Edward Manning on 17 December 1987.
• He is the former United States Army soldier.
• He was convicted in July 2013 for violating the Espionage Act as well as many other offences, after he released largest set of official documents to the public through Wikileaks. He was therefore sentenced to 35 years of imprisonment on 21 August 2013.
Background of the Case
In the year 2009, he was assigned the role of intelligence analyst to an Army unit which was based near Baghdad. He had access to the databases which were used by the United States government in order to transmit the classified information.
In May 2010, he was arrested in Iraq after a hacker named Adrian Lamo informed Army Counterintelligence about Manning leaking the official documents to Wikileaks. The material leaked included 2009 Granai airstrike in Afghanistan, 2007 Baghdad airstrike and much more. The material was published by Wikileaks between April and November 2010.
Eventually, Bradley Manning was charged with 22 offences in all, in which, the most serious charge was that of aiding the enemy. He was held at Marine Corps Brig, Quantico, Virginia, from July 2010 to April 2011 under Prevention of Injury status, which led to solitary confinement along with other restrictions. He was then transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He pleaded guilty, therefore bringing down his number of charges to ten. The trial of the remaining charges began on 3 June 2013 and on 30 July 2013, he was convicted finally of 17 of original charges as well as amended versions of other four.
Bradley Manning serves the sentence at Fort Leavenworth
Who is Chelsea Manning or Bradley Manning?
• Chelsea Elizabeth Manning was born as Bradley Edward Manning on 17 December 1987.
• He is the former United States Army soldier.
• He was convicted in July 2013 for violating the Espionage Act as well as many other offences, after he released largest set of official documents to the public through Wikileaks. He was therefore sentenced to 35 years of imprisonment on 21 August 2013.
Background of the Case
In the year 2009, he was assigned the role of intelligence analyst to an Army unit which was based near Baghdad. He had access to the databases which were used by the United States government in order to transmit the classified information.
In May 2010, he was arrested in Iraq after a hacker named Adrian Lamo informed Army Counterintelligence about Manning leaking the official documents to Wikileaks. The material leaked included 2009 Granai airstrike in Afghanistan, 2007 Baghdad airstrike and much more. The material was published by Wikileaks between April and November 2010.
Eventually, Bradley Manning was charged with 22 offences in all, in which, the most serious charge was that of aiding the enemy. He was held at Marine Corps Brig, Quantico, Virginia, from July 2010 to April 2011 under Prevention of Injury status, which led to solitary confinement along with other restrictions. He was then transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He pleaded guilty, therefore bringing down his number of charges to ten. The trial of the remaining charges began on 3 June 2013 and on 30 July 2013, he was convicted finally of 17 of original charges as well as amended versions of other four.
Bradley Manning serves the sentence at Fort Leavenworth
Rajya Sabha passed The Marriage Laws (Amendment)
Bill,2010
The Rajya
Sabha on 26 August 2013 passed The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010
by voice vote. It seeks to amend the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special
Marriages Act, 1954 which provides for irretrievable breakdown on marriage as a
ground for divorce as well as grants women the right to a share in the property
of their husbands.
Under the
new bill, a provision has been made to restrict the grant of decree of divorce
on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage if the court is satisfied
that adequate provision for the maintenance of children born out of the
marriage has not been made consistently with the financial capacities of the
parents.
The bill
allows wife to oppose grant of divorce on the basis that a dissolution of
marriage will lead to grave financial hardships. The court can also restrict
grant of divorce if it is not satisfied about adequate provision for
maintenance of children born of marriage.
The bill also has provisions that the court shall not hold marriage to have broken down irretrievably unless it is satisfied that the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of not less than three years before filing petition for divorce.
The bill also has provisions that the court shall not hold marriage to have broken down irretrievably unless it is satisfied that the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of not less than three years before filing petition for divorce.
The Bill
would provide safeguards to parties to marriage who file petition for grant of
divorce by consent from the harassment in court if any of the party does not
come to the court or willfully avoids the court to keep the divorce proceedings
inconclusive.
At
present, various grounds for dissolution of marriage by a decree of divorce are
laid down in section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The grounds inter alia
include adultery, cruelty, desertion, conversion to another religion,
unsoundness of mind, virulent and incurable form of leprosy, venereal disease
in a communicable form, renouncement of the world and not heard as being alive
for a period of seven years or more. Section 27 of the Special Marriage Act,
1954 also lays down similar grounds.
However,
section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act and Section 28 of the Special Marriage
Act provide for divorce by mutual consent as a ground for presenting a petition
for dissolution of marriage. The said sections inter alia provide that a
petition for dissolution of marriage by mutual consent, if not withdrawn before
six months after its presentation or not later than 18 months, then, the court
may, on being satisfied after making inquiry, grant decree of divorce by mutual
consent. However, it has been observed that the parties who have filed petition
for mutual consent suffer in case one of the parties abstains himself or
herself from court proceedings and keeps the divorce proceedings inconclusive.
This has been causing considerable hardship to the party in dire need of
divorce.
The Law
Commission in its 71st report submitted in 1978 had recommended amendments to
Hindu Marriage Act to make of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a new
ground for divorce. A report of Law Commission in 2009 had also made similar
recommendation. On 23 March 2012, the Union Cabinet of India approved the
Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010, by which irretrievable breakdown of
marriage was included as a ground for dissolving a marriage under the Hindu
Marriage Act, 1955 and the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Indian-Origin Beverly Singh to Help Build Fastest
Car of the World in UK
Indian-Origin
Beverly Singh (29), a mechanical engineer from Port Elizabeth, became a
part of the team of specialist engineers building the fastest car of the world
in the UK. The fastest car of the world will be called the Bloodhound
supersonic car.
The role of Beverly Singh will be to design the Bloodhound supersonic car which is being created by the team of around 30 engineers in the high-tech centre near Bristol. The Bloodhound supersonic car is the rocket-powered car which will come to South Africa first in the year 2015 for test runs that will be conducted for several months. The car will break the sound barrier and current land speed record of 1228 km/h.
In the year 2016, this car will also try to set the record of 30 percent faster than 1228km/h record, 1609 km/h. Beverly Singh won the Bloodhound Chevening Scholarship for her masters in mechanical engineering at the University of West of England. She will become the part of this team in September 2013. She will work along with the engineers from world-established companies such as Rolls-Royce and Boeing, who have the responsibility of assembling this car.
Beverly Singh explained that the engineers who are working on the Bloodhound supersonic car are the best ones in the world. She however, also explained that she did not know exactly her work area on the Bloodhound supersonic car project. The test runs as well as record attempts will happen at the Hakskeenpan in the Northern Cape Province
The role of Beverly Singh will be to design the Bloodhound supersonic car which is being created by the team of around 30 engineers in the high-tech centre near Bristol. The Bloodhound supersonic car is the rocket-powered car which will come to South Africa first in the year 2015 for test runs that will be conducted for several months. The car will break the sound barrier and current land speed record of 1228 km/h.
In the year 2016, this car will also try to set the record of 30 percent faster than 1228km/h record, 1609 km/h. Beverly Singh won the Bloodhound Chevening Scholarship for her masters in mechanical engineering at the University of West of England. She will become the part of this team in September 2013. She will work along with the engineers from world-established companies such as Rolls-Royce and Boeing, who have the responsibility of assembling this car.
Beverly Singh explained that the engineers who are working on the Bloodhound supersonic car are the best ones in the world. She however, also explained that she did not know exactly her work area on the Bloodhound supersonic car project. The test runs as well as record attempts will happen at the Hakskeenpan in the Northern Cape Province
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