Saturday, 30 November 2013

Ukraine President urged to resign over EU pact

30 11 2013

//
Ukraine’s opposition leaders are demanding the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych. The president is being criticized for shelving an agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.
The Ukraine government was originally intending to sign a deal that would pave the way for the country to join the European bloc. But President Yanukovych changed his course after Russia imposed restrictions on some of Ukraine’s exports.
Protestors gathered in the Ukranian capital, Kiev, on Friday. Demonstrators held hands in a human chain to protest the government’s decision.
Opposition leaders told a massive rally that they are committed to fighting against Russian pressure. They also said that the president betrayed the people. They pledged to urge the president to resign.
The government says it still aims to conclude the deal with the EU. But the country is expected to face challenges as Russia will likely impose further pressure. Media agencies



Copter crashes into Glasgow pub

30 11 2013
//
A police helicopter crashed into a pub in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Friday night.
Several people were reportedly injured.
Police say the incident took place shortly before 10:30 PM. 2 police officers and a civilian pilot were on board the helicopter.
Images of the scene show a wrecked helicopter on the roof of a building and a gaping hole in the roof.
Local media are reporting that several people were injured, but further details are not available.
The pub in central Glasgow was crowded with weekend revelers.
One pub customer said that after a loud bang, part of the room was filled with dust and everyone rushed outside.
Many of the customers reportedly retreated to a nearby hotel and other places of safety.
Emergency crews are searching for anyone who may still be in the building.



Abe pledges effort to improve ties with S.Korea

30 11 2013

Abe pledges effort to improve ties with S.Korea

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reiterated he will try to improve diplomatic ties with South Korea by seeking dialogue at all levels.
Abe was speaking at a joint assembly of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ Union and its South Korean counterpart, held in Tokyo on Friday.
Abe stressed the 2 countries are important neighbors for each other. He said they have faced difficult problems due to their geographical proximity, but that they have many interests in common related to the situation in Northeast Asia.
The prime minister said it’s important to develop bilateral relations for regional peace and prosperity.
He noted he hopes the 2 peoples can joyously celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2015. Media agencies



Taiwan parliament urges protest over China ADIZ

30 11 2013

//
Taiwan’s parliament has urged its government to lodge a stern protest with the Chinese government for declaring a new air defense identification zone in the East China Sea. The zone partly overlaps that of Taiwan. It also covers the Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan.
Lawmakers issued a bi-partisan statement on Friday calling for a strong response by President Ma Ying-jeou and officials of his administration. They are pushing the government not to submit flight plans to Beijing, and better coordinate with Japan.
The executive body of the Taiwanese government issued a statement in response. It notes that China’s action will not benefit the development of their ties and that the administration had expressed a tough stance toward China.
But the statement defended the submission of flight plans, saying that it’s for safety purposes and that it’ s in line with rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The Ma administration is seen to be seeking closer ties with China. Media agencies



Mozambique passenger plane carrying 34 missing: Airline

30 11 2013
 
 
Mozambique passenger plane carrying 34 missing: Airline
A Mozambican Airlines airplane carrying 28 passengers and six crew members has gone missing en route from Mozambique to Angola, the airline said.
Flight TM470 took off from Maputo at 1456 IST on Friday and had been due to land in the Angolan capital Luanda at 1840 IST, but never arrived, the airline said in a statement.
“Initial information suggests it might have landed in Rundu, in northern Namibia near the border with Botswana and Angola.”
“LAM airlines, aeronautical and airport authorities are trying to establish contact to confirm the information,” it added.
Company spokesman Norberto Mucopa could not confirm the nationalities of the people on board nor the time of the last contact with the Brazilian-produced Embraer 190.
It was not immediately clear if government officials were on board.
Mucopa declined to comment on reports the plane went down in a storm.
“We are busy searching. It’s dark now and it makes our job a bit difficult,” said Olavi Auanga, police commander of the Kavango West region, where the control lost signal with the aircraft.
An aviation officer in the area said on condition of anonymity that unconfirmed reports suggested the airplane may have gone down in the Bwabwata National Park around 200 kilometres east of Rundu.
The 6,100-square-kilometre reserve covers the narrow strip of land formerly known as the Caprivi strip, a sparsely-populated area with wetlands and dense forests.



Allahabad-bound train derails near Lucknow,

30 11 2013
Allahabad-bound train derails near Lucknow, passengers injured
Allahabad-bound Haridwar Express on Saturday derailed on the outskirts of the city, leaving some passengers injured.
The last three bogies of the train derailed near Nigoha area at about 3.30 AM when the train was going to Allahabad from Haridwar, Circle officer, Government railway police (GRP), RD Yadav said.He said that some passengers received minor injuries in the incident. Traffic was soon restored on the track.



shattered by allegations: Former SC judge Ganguly

30 11 2013
 
 
Shocked, shattered by allegations: Former SC judge Ganguly
Denying any sexual harassment of a young woman law intern, former Supreme Court judge Justice A K Ganguly on Friday said he was “shocked and shattered” by the charges against him.
“I am denying everything. I have told the committee that all the allegations levelled by the intern are wrong. I don’t know how such allegations have been levelled against me,” he told mediapersons.
He was giving his reaction after an apex court official released a statement that Justice Ganguly had recorded his statement before a three-judge committee that went into the intern’s allegations and has submitted its report to the Chief Justice of India.
The apex court official statement said Justice Ganguly had recorded his statement to the three-judge committee headed by Justice R M Lodha.
The report was handed over to CJI Justice P Sathasivam on Thursday. “I totally deny the allegations. I am a victim of situations,” he told television channels. “I am not ashamed of anything,” he said in reply to a question in regard to the alleged episode which came out in public domain after the intern spoke about in a legal portal earlier this month.
He said the charges against him were totally wrong. The girl had not raised any sexual harassment issue with him, he said, adding that he had not done any physical harm to her.
The former judge said the intern worked with him though she was not officially allocated to him. She came in the place of another intern who had gone abroad after marriage. “I never put up a poster. She came on her own.” He said the girl had come to his house on a number of occasions in connection with the work.
Asked about the charge that he had asked her to come to a hotel room, Justice Ganguly said he was in Delhi at that point of time in connection with work and she was also in Delhi.
“I know what she has said. The question is that when I was in Delhi she was also in Delhi. She came on her own to my…,” he said. “If anybody feels uncomfortable to work with me she was free to leave,” he said, adding that there was inconsistency that she has respect for him and there was no rancour.
He said that the intern was like his child and he treated her that way. Asked if he was worried whether the three-judge committee will pass strictures against him, he said, “I don’t know what kind of strictures will be there.”
To another question if he felt that the committee could have preconceived notions about him, he said,”I am not saying anything.” Asked whether the allegations have cast a shadow on him, he said, he has faith in people and the people will judge him by his “conduct” and by his judicial work.
Justice Ganguly, who demitted office on 12th February last year, said that if this trend continues it will be difficult for the upright judges to continue to work.
“I have worked with several interns in my life, a large number of them and I treat them like my children. They are all well placed in several places in their lives and nobody has made such allegations. I am shocked and shattered.”
He said that his case be not compared with that of Tarun Tejpal. “Don’t compare this case with Tejpal. Please,” he told to a television channel. To a question if asked to prove …, Justice Ganguly shot back “how can I prove the negative.”
The apex court committee recorded the statement of Justice Ganguly, who is at present heading West Bengal Human Rights Commission, after recording the statement of the law intern.
“The committee constituted to inquire into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled by the law intern against a former SC judge held its meetings on November 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27. “The statement of law intern was recorded. She had also submitted three affidavits. The statement of Mr. Justice (retired) A K Ganguly has also been recorded by the committee. The committee has submitted its report to the CJI on 28th November,” the official said in a statement.
The official, however, did not give any details of the findings of the committee comprising Justices R M Lodha, H L Dattu, and Ranjana Prakash Desai which was constituted by the CJI on 12th November.
Hit by allegations of sexual misbehaviour by one of its judges, the Supreme Court constituted a three-judge committee to go into the charge of a woman intern that she was sexually harassed last December by the judge. Justice Ganguly was elevated to Supreme Court on 17th December, 2008 and superannuated on 3rd February, 2012.
The intern, in a blog, had accused the retired judge of having misbehaved with her in a hotel room last December when the nation was grappling with the gangrape of a 23-year-old woman in the capital. On 18th November, the intern appeared before the panel and gave details of the incident and on 21st November, she had sent certain applications and affidavits to the panel.
While setting up the panel on 12th November, Justice Sathasivam had observed that he was concerned as head of the institution (judiciary). “In the cases of sexual harassment, we cannot take it lightly,” the CJI had said.
The young woman intern had first come out in public by writing her experience and ordeal in a blog of NGO ‘Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the Environment’, with which she has been working. She has also got support and solidarity from her employer NGO



30 11 2013

 

China to launch its first moon rover mission next week
 
China to launch its first moon rover mission next week
China will launch its first ever mission to land an unmanned spacecraft on the lunar surface next week, as it moves forward in its ambitious plan to become the world’s pre-eminent space power.
The Chang’e-3 moon rover will be launched at 1:30 a.m. on Monday from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, the mission’s launching headquarters said on Saturday.
China has already sent two moon missions which hovered around the lunar orbit.
This will be the first time for China to send an unmanned spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body and conduct surveys on the moon.
Facilities at the launching site are in good conditions and preparations for the launch are going well, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the space officials as saying.
Chang’e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called “Yutu” (Jade Rabbit).
The rover was named “Yutu” following an online poll seeking name proposals from the Chinese worldwide.
In Chinese folklore, Yutu is the white pet rabbit of Chang’e, worshiped as the moon goddess in China for thousands of years.
Tasks for Yutu include surveying the moon’s geological structure and surface substances, while looking for natural resources.
The Chang’e-3 mission is the second phase of China’s lunar programme, which includes orbiting, landing and returning to Earth. China had launched its Chang’e-1orbiter in 2007 and Chang’e-2 in 2010.
The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon, while the second created a full high-resolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium, a lunar landmark.
Chang’e-2 which was launched in 2010 orbited the moon to finish a more extensive probe than its predecessor Chang’e-1.
After finishing its objectives in June, 2011, Chang’e-2 left its lunar orbit for an extended mission to the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrangian point, according to Chinese space officials.
Besides continuing its lunar programme, China’s space programme is focussing on building a permanent space station like Mir, the Russian space station being used by US.
China has flown to manned missions to link up with an orbiting module to master the manual and automatic space docking technologies.
China’s deep-space exploration should go beyond the moon, and the country’s scientists are actively preparing to implement plans to explore Mars, Venus and asteroids, said Ye Peijian, chief scientist of the Chang’e-3 programme.
“Scientists are always prepared to conduct deep-space exploration and will do it after conditions permit,” said Ye.
India’s Mars mission Mangalyan, which was launched this month, has evoked considerable interest in China as it enabled New Delhi to steal march over Beijing specially with a modest budget of USD 73 million.



China scrambles jets after US, Japan planes enter new air zone

30 11 2013
 
 
China scrambles jets after US, Japan planes enter new air zone
China scrambled several fighter jets to monitor military planes of the US, Japan and South Korea in its newly de clared air defence zone over the East China Sea amid a call by President Xi Jinping to the PLA to enhance war capabilities.
The Chinese fighter jets identified and monitored the two US and 10 Japanese aircraft during their flights through the zone early Friday, Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Shen Jinke was quoted as saying by the state-run China News.
He made no mention of any further action.
“Several combat aircraft were scrambled to verify the identities” of US and Japanese aircraft entering the zone, the state-run Xinhua news agency said, citing an air force official.
Colonel Shen said on Thursday said several fighter jets and an early warning aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted normal air patrols in the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) that Beijing unilaterally declared last week.
Colonel Shen described the move as “a defensive measure and in line with international common practices.”
China’s air force will remain on high alert and will take measures to deal with diverse air threats to firmly protect the security of the country’s airspace, he said when the PLA Air Force conducted its first air patrol in the area.
President Xi, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, ordered the PLA to reinforce the party’s leadership over the troops, enhance its war capabilities and strive to build a strong strategic reserve force.
Military training is critical to beef up the PLA’s war capacities and that trainings must focus on what is needed to fight a war and what it lacks most, Xi said while inspecting the Jinan Military Area Command in the east China.
Beijing announced the establishment of the ADIZ over the disputed islands called Diaoyu by China and Senkakus by Japan.
Till last year the chain of uninhabited were administered by Japan.
China started challenging the Japanese hold with naval patrols and the ADIZ was seen as an effort to enforce its air control over the islands.



Maid murder case: BSP MP Dhananjay Singh denied bail

30 11 2013
 
 
Maid murder case: BSP MP Dhananjay Singh denied bail
BSP MP Dhananjay Singh, arrested along with his wife Jagriti Singh in connection with murder of their maid, was denied by a Delhi court on Friday which observed that he had “actively participated” in atrocities which aggravated the miseries of his domestic helps.
Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma dismissed his plea saying that if released on bail at this stage, he might influence the witnesses or tamper with the evidence keeping in view his previous involvement in 31 cases of heinous crimes.
“This is not a case of simplicitor failure on the part of applicant/accused (MP) in preventing the commission of such continuous act of atrocities on the part of his wife co-accused Dr Jagriti Singh but also actively participating and thereby perpetrating and aggravating the miseries of his domestic servants,” the court said.
“Having regard to the profile of the applicant/accused who has been involved in as many as 31 heinous crimes including murder, extortion, kidnapping and dacoity, it is not difficult to assume that if he is enlarged on bail, he can influence the witnesses and thereby hamper the course of justice,” it said.
The court also observed that according to the investigation, the BSP MP has been “reasonably connected” with the crime and has also tamper with the evidence. “… having regard to the fact that applicant/accused (MP) has been reasonably connected with the offence in question and has tried to tamper with evidence besides the fact that there is reasonable apprehension that if applicant (MP) is released on bail, he might intimidate, influence or try to win over the witnesses, I find that there are no grounds to grant bail to the applicant/accused,” the court said. It also said contents of the FIR and statements of the two key witnesses, who were working as maids at Jagriti’s house, prima facie revealed “gory details of continuous diabolic acts and omissions” on his part in not only allowing his wife to indulge in continuous act of merciless beatings the domestic servants but also encouraging and shielding her.
The judge also said the details of investigation prima facie revealed that Dhananjay himself participated in the acts of torture and beatings to his domestic helps whenever they dared to make complaints against his wife.
Dhananjay had moved bail plea before the sessions court after he failed to get relief from a magisterial court which had earlier dismissed his bail petition saying allegations against him were “very serious” and he does not deserve any leniency due his previous conduct.
He had claimed that he has been falsely implicated in the case due to “political pressure”. Dhananjay and Jagriti were arrested on 5th November in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal.
Dhananjay, who already faces charges of murder and offences under the UP Gangsters Act, was arrested for allegedly destroying evidence, not informing the police about the maid’s death immediately and employing a juvenile as domestic help.
Jagriti was arrested under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 344 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Both are currently in jail under judicial custody. Dhananjay was also recently arrested by Delhi Police in a case in which he was accused of repeatedly raping and criminally intimidating a 42-year-old woman, a railway employee, between 2005 and 2009.
The police also booked him for unnatural offence in the case and he is under judicial custody in the case.



SC asks Centre to frame guidelines to regulate TV contents

30 11 2013
 
 
SC asks Centre to frame guidelines to regulate TV contents
The Supreme Court asked three central ministries and others including Press Council of India (PCI) to respond to a PIL seeking framing of guidelines to regulate contents of television channels.
A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Friday issued notices to ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Law and Justice and Communications & Information Technology.
Besides them, PCI, Election Commission, News Broadcasters Association, Indian Broadcasting Foundation and Advertising Standards Council of India have also been asked to respond to the PIL which has been filed by Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, a registered public charitable trust, through its Mumbai-based lawyer Rajeev K Panday.
The plea also said the court should declare that a 2008 government order will not preclude an authorised officer under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act from initiating criminal prosecution against a channel in case of violation of provisions of the Act.
It alleged that there is “complete absence” of regulatory authority for TV Channels.
“The petition raises a substantial question of public importance and public interest relating to the necessity of an effective regulation of electronic media in matters involving public morality, public decorum, social tranquillity and public order,” Panday said.
“There is no regulatory body for TV channels which is comparable with Press Council of India that regulates the print media. Though TV channels are audio-visual media, there is no censorship on their contents. In other words, a film that cannot be released without censor certificate can straightaway be released on a TV channel,” the PIL said.
The PIL said the so-called self-regulation by electronic media has proved to be “completely ineffective” as the “self-regulating bodies” are private companies and are under control of the media houses.
“The private bodies have a limited power of imposing fine upto Rs one lakh which goes into their own kitty. There is no compensation to victim of media abuse. There is also no control of government over these bodies. These bodies are not accountable to people as they are not organs of the state,” it said.
“The law relating to emergency blocking of objectionable website without prior notice as contained in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for blocking for access of information by public) Rules, 2009 is much more rigorous as compared to TV channels for which there is no law for emergency blocking.
“Thus even though objectionable programme on TV channel can do more harm than an objectionable website, there is no rigorous law to curb objectionable content of a TV channel,” it said.
The belated action on behalf of the Government authorities against erring channels shows that the non-serious attitude of the Centre.
“…the Central Government is also non-serious about exercising its powers with reference to controlling channels by suspension and revocation of license. This has emboldened the channels to violate the programme code in a blatant manner and has given rise to malpractices such as ‘Paid News’ “Extortion by blackmail”, “Character Assassination for TRP” and so on,” it said.



OBC REDUCES ROI ON MSME ADVANCES

30 11 2013
·        Oriental Bank of Commerce has reduced Rates of Interest applicable to MSME sector advances (Manufacturing as well as Services) w.e.f. 01.12.2013.

·        Under Micro & Small Enterprises

A.  Reduction in Rates of Interest ranges from 25 bps to 75 bps for advances above Rs.25 lacs & upto Rs.1.00 crore

B.  Reduction in Rates of Interest ranges from 50 bps to 200 bps for advances above Rs.1.00 crore.

·        Under Medium Enterprises

A.  Reduction in Rates of Interest ranges from 25 bps to 150 bps for advances upto Rs.1.00 crore

B.  Reduction in Rates of Interest ranges from 50 bps to 150 bps for advances above Rs.1.00 crore.

·        The revised Rate of Interest shall be applicable to all theexisting as well as fresh advances sanctioned to MSMEunder manufacturing as well as service sector.

·        With this revision,  the rates of interest now offered by Oriental Bank of Commerce to MSME advances are most competitive in the industry.


Andy
99 99 57 37 07



Michelle Yeoh to be chief guest at IFFI closing ceremony

30 11 2013
 
 
Michelle Yeoh to be chief guest at IFFI closing ceremony
Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh will attend the closing ceremony of the 44th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held on November 30.
The 50-year-old Malaysian actress’s documentary film ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’ on which she served as an executive producer, will also be screened at the on-going festival.
The film directed by Wendy J N Lee, chronicles an arduous 450-mile journey across the Himalayas undertaken by Buddhist monks led by his holiness Gyalwang Drukpa to spread the message of environmentalism. His holiness will also accompany Yeoh to the film festival.
“Michelle Yeoh will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony. She would be here with her film called ‘Pad Yatra’. She will be here with his holiness, who has conducted the whole pad yatra. The film would be screened on 29,” IFFI director Shankar Mohan told.
Yeoh, known for her roles in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, Bond film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ has previously attended the festival in 2011, when her film ‘The Lady’, based on the life of Burmese Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was the concluding movie.
The opening ceremony of the 11-day festival saw the attendance of international names like Hollywood star Susan Sarandon, Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, and a host of Bollywood stars – Waheeda Rehman, Rekha, singer Asha Bhosle, Tamil superstar Kamal Hassan, actress Rani Mukerjee, ‘Sholay’ helmer Ramesh Sippy, Nana Patekar, R Madhavan, Huma Qureshi and Alia Bhatt among others.
When asked if the closing ceremony will also see substantial Bollywood presence, Mohan said, “A whole lot of people are expected. We are working on that.
We are awaiting confirmations. It is too premature for me to be taking the names. You will be seeing good representation from the Indian film industry as you saw at the opening ceremony.”
Media agencies



Modi,Nitish Shiela to address rallies in Delhi

30 11 2013
The chief of various poliitcal parties  BSP, BJP, Congress,JDU,are in Delhi to lure voters to cast their votes on Dec 04 ,2013 for the seventy legislature assembly election,Delhi with cosmopolitan population with migrant population rising in large proportion,social media and mobile in action brings the poll to interesting end.
Urban poor to rich and super rich Delhi find its   politicians making various models to convince their suitability.Money,muscle,community, rumors,self style leaders with self praise walk the streets of Delhi to build their political base.
Congress which has been ruling this tiny state from last fifteen years has completely evaded and overlooked the interst of the common man. With rising cost of electricity,water,LPG,and public transport the common man loaded with government high cost amenities and open market of essential eatable rising cost every day,week has made the 1.30 Cr people express unhappiness thus making the Delhi assembly election an interesting feature of this year.
Election is other four states is considered a semifinal for ensuing General election next year.
Bjp the second biggest party of the nation is making its valiant effort to garner votes in their favors but mood of the people and the pulse is too vibrant, systematic the scams and scams would bring change or coalition government. Most of the political parties have become family entity and even one man show party is emerging fast, even the media picking from the nursery of activist seedling it to politician leveling is poor example of building a political party in this multi-cultural nation.
Activist with aggression in their blood has no space in political space which depends on debate  of ultimate order with ideas of all sorts and the best to be produced . Role of criticizing,harping on one point, self praise  without professional thinkers, absence of man of integrity,absence of experts and visionary people by handful activist may not bring desired political change.
Role of media hasbeen put to test as new media celebrities are born who are reading from the ideas shunted to them and pose to be the builders of new breed of leaders. Media intervention with enforcing ideas is dreaded disease and their clamor of being the hottest breed is actually bringing more desperation and stops the rightful leaders to emerge. A way the words are uttered by the leaders speaks volume about the personality and his class. Let’s us wait for righteous to take its shape.




Tarun Tejpal hearing for bail ends

30 11 2013
On bail plea of Tarun advocate said the body language of victim after the incident was normal.The video of  event exhibited the lady ran away from the lift of five star hotel in which the victim and the Tarun were together . Tarun in his oficial email has confessed the crime and thus complaint in the court has its basic evidence  which leaves no chance to escape.
Geeta Luthra the advocate of Tarun pleaded for bail in session  court of Goa  for more than hour.
Government prosecution too pleaded with lots of reasoning,that Tarun has been evading the police,his statement were changing time to time and the victim was sticking to her claim.
Victim’s father is friend of Tarun and his wife has not co-operated with the police,thus court after hearing two side of the story has reserved its judgement upto 4.30PM today.
As Tarun Tejpal came out of the court a man tried to attack Tarun with slippers and black cloth but was taken over by the police. Many women protest against Tarun.
Victim father is ill and she is only bread earner the Goan police said and Tarun has not co-operated.
Tarun advocate pleaded  that his clients has done various sting operation those involved, they are pressuring to take their revenge.

Friday, 29 November 2013

MEDIA DOSE OF TODAY

29 11 2013

 

POSTED ON NOVEMBER 29, 2013

US reaffirms defense treaty with Japan covers islands disputed with China


US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a phone call with his Japanese counterpart, Itsunori Onodera, has reaffirmed support for Tokyo. He said that the defense treaty between the two countries covers the group of islands claimed by both China and Japan, where Beijing established a new airspace defense zone last week. Hagel pledged to consult closely with Tokyo to avoid untoward incidents around the islands, a Pentagon spokesman said.

 

2 Sudanese vaccination campaign workers killed in West Darfur


Two Sudanese health workers participating in a nationwide measles vaccination campaign have been killed in West Darfur state. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Ali Al-Za’tari, on Friday condemned the killing of two staff of the Sudanese Ministry of Health, a vaccinator and a driver. “I call on all parties to ensure the protection of all personnel working to deliver assistance to populations in need throughout Sudan,” Za’tari said.


UK govt urges Big Six energy companies to freeze prices until 2015


The British government has reportedly called upon energy companies to freeze prices until the middle of 2015. The Big Six firms are urged to commit to an immediate freeze on prices as part of a deal that could cut bills for families, the Daily Telegraph said. Ed Miliband called for a price freeze in September because his Labour party wants energy companies to be legally barred from raising household bills from 2015 until the start of 2017. The Conservative Party, which earlier claimed a freeze on tariffs would be problematic, now appears to be attempting to prevent increases before the next election.


18 people killed execution-style near Baghdad 


Iraqi police have uncovered the bodies of 18 people who were abducted from their homes and killed execution-style, two police sources said on Friday. The corpses were found grouped together and shot in the head in Meshahda, about 32km north of Baghdad, Reuters reported. It is seen as the deadliest in a series of execution-style killings in Iraq.


Turkey sign huge energy contracts with Iraqi Kurdistan – reports


Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan signed a package of landmark contracts earlier this week, sources close to the deal said on Friday. The contracts will see the semi-autonomous region’s oil and gas shipped to international markets via pipelines through Turkey, Reuters said. The deals were reportedly signed during a meeting between the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Nechirvan Barzani , and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. The move could further infuriate Baghdad, which claims the sole authority to manage Iraqi oil.


‘Catastrophic’ life for Syrian refugee children in exile – UN


Hundreds of thousands of Syrian children are facing a life of “catastrophe” in exile, without normal childhood freedoms, the Guardian said, citing a new report of the UN refugee agency. More than a million Syrian children could miss out on education, and child labor is a big problem for those already traumatized by war, according to the report, the Future of Syria: refugee children in crisis, published by the UNHCR on Friday. The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, said in a previous report in March that one in 10 Syrian refugee children in the region is engaged in child labor.


US drone kills 1 alleged militant in Pakistan


A suspected US drone has killed one militant in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region, intelligence officials said Friday. Missiles fired from a suspected drone overnight hit a house in Qazi Kot village in the North Waziristan tribal area, killing an alleged member of the Punjabi Taliban, AP said. Pakistani officials accuse drone attacks of violating sovereignty.


80 injured in Hong Kong ferry collision


Eighty people have been injured after a high-speed ferry hit an “unidentified object” on its way from Hong Kong to Macau in the early hours of Friday. “Information received from the Marine Department suggested that 80 people on the ferry were injured. Among them four were classified as seriously injured,” a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said, AFP reports. There were 105 passengers and 10 crew members aboard, with no reports that anybody was missing, he added.



Egypt arrests top activist amid widening crackdown


Egyptian police have arrested a leading political activist, accusing him of calling for protests in defiance of the country’s new law that heavily restricts demonstrations. Blogger and activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah played a key role in the 2011 uprising that overthrew the regime of Hosni Mubarak. His wife has tweeted that policemen beat and insulted her while arresting her husband, in addition to taking their laptops and cellphones. A new law passed earlier this week gives the Interior Ministry the right to ban any meeting of more than 10 people in a public place.

120 Italian football fans detained in Poland ahead of match

More than 120 supporters of Rome club Lazio were arrested in Warsaw ahead of Thursday night’s European tie with Legia. “Bottles and stones were thrown from the Italian group in the direction of the police cars,” said a police spokesman. Police say the fans may be barred from watching the match at the stadium.



New Egyptian constitution bans religious parties, preserves army role


A preliminary text of the new Egyptian constitution published in the official al-Ahram newspaper bars any parties “founded on a religious basis” and does away with explicitly Islamic language and statutes in its articles. It also preserves Mubarak-era army privileges, such as its right to pick its own defense minister, and to try civilians in military courts. The constitution, which will be voted on by the public next month, was drafted at the behest of the army-led regime by a constituent assembly made of secularists, which replaced the previous Islamist-dominated drafting body.



​50 police injured in Tunisia strike violence


Fifty Tunisian policemen have been injured ‘to varying degrees’ in clashes with protesters after a strike descended into violence, according to an interior ministry statement released on Thursday. The strike snowballed on Wednesday in the northern town of Siliana after masses gathered to mark the anniversary of riots which left over 3,000 people injured last year. Both police vehicles and public buildings were damaged in the unrest, with the violence running well into the night as participants hurled rocks and burned tires. Police fired teargas to disperse the crowds. An earlier statement said that the number injured only stood at 32.



At least 10 dead in Libyan weapons depot assault explosion – official


At least ten people have died and 15 more have been injured, as a weapons depot in southern Libya exploded during an attack by militants. General Mohamed al-Dhabi, a regional military commander, told AFP news agency that the incident took place in Brak al-Shati, 650 kilometers south of the capital Tripoli. A further three commandos were killed in Benghazi on Thursday during fighting between Libyan special forces and Islamist group, Ansar al-Sharia.




One killed in Egypt protests


One demonstrator has been killed in clashes between police and protesters which shook Egypt’s capital on Thursday, medical sources told Reuters. Supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi and security forces came into conflict outside Cairo University. On Sunday, the army-backed government passed a law restricting demonstrations.



Free Syrian Army to fight as Assad holds power – spokesman


The Free Syrian Army (FSA) will not stop fighting while President Bashar Assad holds power, a spokesman for the rebels’ supreme military council, Louay Mekdad, has said. There will be no talks until all those detained by the authorities are freed and a transitional government is established, he told the Voice of Russia radio on Thursday. The international community has “no leverage” to affect the situation in Syria, and the Geneva 2 conference is “only a means to extend the existence of the Assad regime,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying. The FSA is ready to take part in the conference, Mekdad said, if it has a clear plan and if the regime “ceases to exist.”


21 female pro-Morsi supporters jailed in Egypt


A court in Egypt has sentenced 21 female supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to 11 years in prison, the BBC said. The multiple charges included belonging to a terrorist group, obstructing traffic, sabotage and using force at a protest in the city of Alexandria last month. Seven are under 18 years of age. Human rights groups criticized the sentences.


Europe’s top court strikes down sanctions on Iranian power company


Europe’s highest court on Thursday overturned sanctions against Fulmen, an Iranian power company as well as its majority shareholder, Fereydoun Mahmoudian. The US government earlier named the firm as involved in building a secret uranium enrichment plant in Iran, Reuters said. It is the latest legal ruling against measures that the EU has imposed over Iran’s nuclear program, after last Sunday’s agreement between Iran and world powers. A lower EU court had already overturned several sanctions due to the refusal of EU states to disclose evidence. The European Court of Justice also said on Thursday that if a case is to be made, evidence must be presented.


Qatar camels have MERS virus linked to human spread – health officials


Cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have been found in camels in Qatar, health officials said on Thursday. The SARS-like coronavirus emerged in the Middle East last year and has killed almost 40 percent of around 170 people so far infected. It was found in three camels in a herd. A barn was also linked to two human cases of MERS infection, Reuters reported. A scientific paper is still being prepared, but the Qatari health council said that as a precaution, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions should avoid any close animal contact when visiting farms and markets.


Syria army recaptures Deir Attiyeh on strategic route


Syria’s army recaptured Deir Attiyeh on Thursday, state television said. Jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front seized the town on the strategic highway between Damascus and the central city of Homs six days ago. The army “has taken total control of the town of Deir Attiyeh in Damascus province after it crushed the terrorists’ last enclaves there,” the broadcast said. A high-ranking security official in Damascus confirmed the report, AFP said. Operations to expel the terrorists from nearby areas were ongoing, he said. Deir Attiyeh, in the Qalamoun region north of Damascus and along the Lebanese border, is home to around 10,000 people.


Pope nominates personal secretary for 2 committees on Vatican’s finance reform


Pope Francis on Thursday named his personal secretary, Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, to be his delegate on two commissions of inquiry he set up this year. The Vatican said Xuereb was tasked with keeping his eye on the committees and keeping the Pope informed on their working procedures and possible initiatives. The reform concerns the troubled Vatican Bank and the Holy See’s finances.


IAEA warns of suspected activity at N. Korea reactor


Activity at a North Korean nuclear site is consistent with an effort to restart a reactor, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said on Thursday. The IAEA is continuing to monitor developments at Yongbyon, mainly through satellite imagery. Activities “are consistent with an effort to restart the 5MW(e) reactor,” Amano told the IAEA’s 35-nation board. North Korea said in April that it would revive its aged research reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex to seek a deterrent capacity.


6 units off after S. Korea nuclear reactor shutdown


Operation of the 587-megawatt Kori No. 1 reactor, over 300km southeast of Seoul, was suspended early on Thursday morning after it was shut down automatically as a result of a “safety-related action.” The reactor, which started operation in 1978, had recently come back on stream after nearly 180 days of scheduled maintenance, Reuters reported. The tally of the closed reactors has now been brought to six, and South Korea faces severe power shortages again this winter due to cuts in nuclear power.


Australia’s Russell granted bail, last from Arctic Sunrise crewmembers to be released


The St. Petersburg City Court on Thursday granted bail to Australian national, Colin Russell, the radio officer of the Greenpeace vessel, Arctic Sunrise. He was detained with 29 others after a protest in the Pechora Sea and was the only Arctic Sunrise crewmember remaining in custody. The court set bail for Russell at 2 million rubles ($60,600), Interfax reported. The activist himself took part in the hearing through a video link with the detention center, which he will leave as soon as the money is transferred.


Putin among top 5 nominees for Time Magazine’s 2013 Person of the Year poll


Singer-actress Miley Cyrus has become the front runner of Time magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ online poll. Cyrus, 21, garnered 28 percent of the votes as of November 27. She is ahead of the chief minister of Gujarat state in India, Narendra Modi, former NSA defense contractor Edward Snowden, and Syria’s president, Bashar Assad. Russian President Vladimir Putin ranked fifth in the poll. This year, Time has added Twitter to encourage more participation.


Tehran invites UN watchdog to inspect nuclear-linked heavy water facility


Iran has invited UN inspectors to visit a nuclear-related heavy water facility on December 8, Reuters reported. The move is seen as a first concrete step under a new agreement with world powers. The International Atomic Energy Agency was looking into how Sunday’s deal to curb Tehran’s atomic activity could be “put into practice,” IAEA director general, Yukiya Amano, said on Thursday.


Iran to produce more low-enriched uranium – official


Tehran plans to increase production of low-level enriched uranium, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s nuclear department, has said. Machines which were earlier producing 20 percent enriched uranium will be engaged in producing low-level enriched uranium, he was quoted by state media as saying. “Hence, the production of five percent enriched uranium will increase,” he said. Nuclear facilities will continue their work, and “only production of 20 percent enriched uranium will halt,” according to Salehi. Last weekend, Iran agreed to freeze part of its nuclear activities in exchange for an easing of Western sanctions.


S. Korean plane defies China’s new air defense zone – military


A South Korean plane has flown through China’s newly-declared air defense zone in the East China Sea without informing Beijing, the military in Seoul said Thursday. “We did not notify China,” a Defense Ministry spokesman said. The flight on Tuesday was part of a regular military surveillance exercise around a submerged, South Korean-controlled rock known as Ieodo, AFP reported. The place has long been a source of diplomatic tension with Beijing. China unilaterally declared a new “air defense identification zone” on Saturday. The area includes Ieodo, as well as a set of islands at the center of a territorial dispute between China and Japan.


Thai PM calls for dialogue to avert confrontations


Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday called on anti-government demonstrators to cease their protests and hold dialogue. A few hours after easily winning a confidence vote in parliament, Yingluck said on television that the rallies were hurting the economy. The premier urged her opponents to agree to join a panel to find a way out and to avert street confrontations, Reuters reported.


China encourages public to file complaints over internet


China plans to reform its decades-old civil petitioning system so that grievances by members of the public can be better resolved, AP reported. Zhang Enxi, deputy director of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls, said the country will aim to refer more such complaints to the courts. The bureau has also encouraged the public to file complaints over the internet to boost transparency. Local officials are being urged to be more proactive in addressing letters. Residents currently often go to Beijing to appeal to the central government over complaints in their regions.


Embattled Thai PM easily survives no confidence vote


Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra easily survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Thursday as the nation is swept by massive anti-government protests. Yingluck won 297 votes, with 134 votes against her. She required 246 of the 492 votes in the lower house to prevail in the no-confidence vote. Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators rallied outside four Thai government ministries, a major state office complex and 24 provincial halls as opposition protests gained momentum.



France evicts 800 people from Roma camp


French police cleared one of the largest Roma camps in the country on Wednesday, evicting around 800 people, including children, just outside of Paris, AFP reported. 300 police officers took part in the operation, while some of the residents evacuated on their own ahead of time after receiving a warning. About 250 remained at the camp and were cleared from wooden shacks, 70 of which were children. Police stated the operation went ahead “without incident”. Only a minority of those evicted will receive temporary housing for the night, while others will probably move to other Paris-area Roma camps. France has been proceeding with the controversial policy of evicting Roma from camps outside major cities and in most instances even paying migrants to return to their country of origin (often Romania and Bulgaria).


Greece to remain in recession through 2014 – OECD


Greece will stay in recession in 2014 and might need another bailout, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Wednesday. According to the organization, the country’s economy will likely contract by 0.4 percent. “The need for further assistance to achieve fiscal sustainability cannot be excluded,” the OECD said. “If negative macroeconomic risks materialize…serious consideration should be given to further assistance to achieve debt sustainability.” This projection contradicts most recent Greek estimates that projected the recession would end next year, as the country’s economy would grow 0.6 percent in 2014, according to the budget unveiled last week.

Militant gang leader killed in a security raid in southern Russia


Security forces established the identity of two militants that were killed after a raid on Wednesday in Plievo settlement in the republic of Ingushetia, southern Russia, according to the National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAC). One of them was a gang leader Murad Pliev, or ‘Moussa’, wanted by federal forces since 2010. He specialized in killing law enforcement officers, shelling houses, manufacturing homemade explosives. In addition, two homemade explosive devices equal to 12 kilograms of TNT each, four machine guns, a Kalashnikov, a grenade launcher, a suicide belt, grenades and more than 7,000 rounds of ammunition were found, said the NAC statement.

Italy Senate approves expulsion of Berlusconi from Parliament


The Italian Senate has expelled ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi from Parliament with immediate effect over his tax fraud conviction. Together with his position in Parliament, the ex-premier also lost his immunity. However this decision does not mark the end of his political career. The three-time former prime minister relaunched his Forza Italia party in September. Berlusconi is currently appealing other convictions for having sex with an underage prostitute, abusing his powers and leaking a confidential police wiretap to damage a political rival.

US regulator says Boeing icing problems could lead to forced landings


Icing problems that have occurred on Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 747-8 aircraft, using engines made by General Electric, could lead to forced landings, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday. The airworthiness directive from the US aviation regulator had been expected after a series of incidents this year, Reuters reported. The problems affected nine flights and in two cases affected both engines on the flight, the FAA said. Icing could occur in high-altitude thunderstorms and “could lead to a forced landing,” it added.

Pakistan envoy to UN calls for end to US drone strikes


Pakistan has reportedly called for the immediate cessation of “illegal” US drone strikes on its territory. The UN General Assembly Third Committee adopted a resolution on Tuesday that underscores the need for an agreement on legal questions involving the use of such aircraft. “When armed drones kill unarmed, innocent civilians, there is a clear breach 



CONGRESS ENTANGLES NATION IN THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF POVERTY,

29 11 2013


CONGRESS ENTANGLES NATION IN THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF POVERTY, CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY-SUKHBIR
·        ‘Big push Modi’ is required to break this vicious circle into virtuous circle
New Delhi, November 28
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today lashed at Congress party for entangling the nation in the vicious circle of poverty, corruption and economic crisis. He said that NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narinder Modi would prove to be a Big Push to break this vicious circle into virtuous circle.
Addressing an election rally in the favour of BJP candidate from Tilak Nagar Mr. Rajiv Babbar at Santgarh, SAD President said that  Congress always mislead people by showing farce dreams. He said that since independence people repeatedly voted Nehru-Gandhi family led Congress keeping faith on their promises that they would remove poverty. “Congress a poll season party used to make false promises to attain power and used this power for looting the natural resources and hard earned money of tax payers through various scams instead of framing concrete policies to eradicate poverty”, he added.
Describing Modi as a Big Push required to break the vicious circle into virtuous circle, Mr. Badal said that now it’s time for Delhi voters to remove Congress from Delhi to make a better ground for Modi as next PM. He said that Modi known for his leadership and management would act as a stimulus for overall and rapid development of the nation. He said that it was during the NDA era that the world saw India as a nation scaling new heights of socio-economic development but these dreams shattered after the NDA lost office. “India is rich in resources but still its people are poor only because of Congress governments. One should visit states being governed by Shiromani Akali Dal or BJP to see the difference. We are bleeding our finances to enable our people to cope with the inflation caused by the mismanaged policies of Congress led UPA. Even Congress copied the Atta-Dal scheme of SAD-BJP government and renamed it as food security eyeing the 2014 Lok Sabha elections”, he added.
Later, Mr. Badal also addressed massive rallies in the favour of Shiromani Akali Dal candidates from Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh Sirsa at Chaukhandi and from Hari Nagar Shyam Sharma at Fateh Nagar.



RULING CONGRESS USING POLICE TO TERRORISE WORKERS : SAD

29 11 2013

· COMPLAINS TO ECI DEMANDING ACTION AGAINST MAYAPURI SHO FOR INTIMIDATING PARTY WORKERS.
New Delhi November 29—
The Shiromani Akali Dal complained to Election Commission of India to immediately transfer the Maypuri SHO Mr. Som Nath from the Mayapuri police station for intimidating party workers and illegally interfering in the election campaign of Shiromani Akali Dal in Hari Nagar Assembly Constituency. In a written complaint submitted to Chief Election Commissioner of India, Chief Electoral Officer, NCT Delhi and Returning Officer of the Hari Nagar Assembly Constituency the party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that in order to help the ruling party candidate and to demoralise our party cadres the SHO is misbehaving and threatening the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and workers.
Quoting the today’s incident of Khajan Basti in which the SHO stopped Mr. Narinder Kumar Sharma Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab and other party workers to do door to door campaigning, Dr. Cheema said that this action of police officer is totally illegal, unjustified, politically motivated and biased. “First they were stopped from campaigning and then two of our party workers namely S. Harijinder singh rajji and Mr. Bhupinder Sharma were illegally taken to Mayapuri police station and threatened to leave the constituency,” added Cheema.
In the statement Dr. Cheema further said that on the instructions of Delhi Congress Government similar things are happening in other parts of Delhi also. He alleged that at some places permissions to hold public meetings are being cancelled at the 11th hour as happened in Kalkaji yesterday. Similarly vehicles bearing Punjab numbers plates are being illegally detained and workers are being harassed.
Dr. Cheema informed the Election commission of India that such pressure tactics being used by the ruling congress party are aimed at demoralizing our party cadres. He urged Election Commission of India that such illegal activites should be stopped forthwith, so that elections are held in a free and fair atmosphere.
(Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema)
Secretary & Spokesman



29 11 2013
“Michelle and I send warm wishes 
“Michelle and I send warm wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah.” —President Obama
 
"Michelle and I send warm wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah." —President Obama</p><br /> <p>Chag Sameach.


Thursday, 28 November 2013

Sexual harassment at IFFI


The Goa State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of reports in local newspapers of a student’s allegations of sexual harassment by a senior International Film Festival of India (IFFI) official on November 16 night and has directed IFFI Director Shankar Mohan to submit a report on or before December 2.
The Delhi girl had alleged sexual harassment by a Deputy Director of the Directorate of Film Festivals when she was working under him during preparations for IFFI and had expressed dissatisfaction over an oral apology he tendered following an inquiry conducted by a three-member Committee formed under the Vishakha guidelines by the Director of Film Festivals.

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Abdullah announces New Initiatives to bring Clean Cooking



27112013
Abdullah announces New Initiatives to bring Clean Cooking Technologies to Rural India during the India Clean Cookstove Forum 2013
With the vision of enhancing the use of improved cookstove technologies, envisaged under the National Biomass Cookstove Programme (NBCP), Dr Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy inaugurated the India Clean Cookstove Forum 2013 organised jointly by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH operating on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).Speaking on the occasion, Dr Farooq Abdullah said “increased use of clean and efficient cookstoves is crucial to reduce the burden of disease from indoor air pollution as well to avoid the overuse of biomass resources. Efficient cooking technologies have a direct tangible impact on the livelihoods of the poor, as they save time and money that previously had to be spent on procuring cooking fuels.”
During the Forum, the Minister launched a new initiative on biomass cookstoves developed under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate Change to reduce the cost of improved stove technologies to rural customers through the sale of carbon credits. He added that this is just one of several joint efforts to provide clean and reliable energy to rural areas and these initiatives have further endorsed the close relations and cooperation between India and Germany.
Mr. Heiko Warnken, Head of the Development Cooperation, German Embassy highlighted the importance of cooperation between India and Germany on renewable energy attributing it to the relevance for both poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability, as well as the energy needs of the vast rural population for cooking and income-generating activities. He added that this is just one of several joint efforts to provide clean and reliable energy to rural areas and these initiatives have further endorsed the close relations and cooperation between India and Germany.

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Discover Germany Workshop

26112013





Image

Image

Image

Image
ENKAYSAGAR HOLDING P LTD

Greetings from The German National Tourist Office, India.

We acknowledge your registration at the Discover Germany Workshop to be held tomorrow 26th November, 2013. Look forward to your presence at the event and thank you for your support as always. Please find below the details of the venue-

Date:       26th November 2013

Venue:
    The Ballroom

The Imperial, Janpath
New Delhi- 110001 India
Telephone: (91-11) 23341234

Time:  10:00 hrs – 14:00 hrs
Time:  10:00 hrs – 14:00 hrs

10:00 – 10:30                  Registration
10:30 – 14:00                  B2B session
14:00 onwards                Lunch  

 The Panel includes –

Mr. Ashsih Sharma               - Representing Saxony Tourism, Germany
Ms. Annette Biener             - Representing Frankfurt City, Germany
Ms. Irina Ens                         – Representing Deutsche Bahn, Germany
Mr. Sebastian Worel           -  Representing Alpha Travel Consultants, Germany
Mr. Hans Hadbawnik          – Representing Stuttgart Marketing, Germany
Ms. Elisabeth Romero        – Representing Visit Berlin, Germany
Mr. Mark Spivey                  – Representing Maritim Hotels, Germany
Mr. Bernd Niemeyer           – Representing Steigenberger Hotels, Germany
Ms. Karin Gerling                 – Representing Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Schifffahrt AG, Germany
Mr. Mohit Chopa                 – Representing TV Tower, Berlin
Mr. Tarun Sharma               - Representing Emirates Airlines
Mr. Till Weigl                        -  Representing The German National Tourist Board, Germany
Mr. Romit Theophilus         -  Representing The German National Tourist Office, India 


 

EU leaders express concern over US-China trade war  European Union have expressed concern over the intensifying trade friction between ...