आतंकी हमलों की जांच के लिए बांग्लादेश जाएगी एनएसजी की टीम

बांग्लादेश की जांच एजेंसिया ढाका में हुए आतंकी हमले की जांच कर ही रही थी कि गुरुवार को किशोरगंज में ईदगाह पर बम धमाका हो गया है।

इसी बीच भारत ने बांग्लादेश से बात कर मामले में जांच के लिए सहयोग की पेशकश की है जिसे बांग्लादेश ने स्वीकार कर लिया है। एनएसजी की टीम ढाका आतंकी हमले और आज किशोरगंज में हुए हमले की जांच करेगी। बताया जा रहा है कि एनएसजी की टीम आज रवाना होगी।

गौरतलब है कि ढाका हमले के बाद भारतीय एजेंसियों को सूचनाएं मिली थी कि आतंकी भारत में भी हमला कर सकते हैं।

आपको ये बता दें देश में जहां कहीं भी विस्फोट होता वहां पर छानबीन करने के लिए एनएसजी की टीम जाती है। एनएसजी के पास दुनियाभर में हुए बम विस्फोट का रिकार्ड भी है। बीते हफ्ते ढाका के एक रेस्टोरेंट में हुए आतंकी हमले में दो पुलिसकर्मियों समेत 22 लोगों की जान चली गई थी।

Source: Dainik Jagran hindi news

हरभजन सिंह ने खोला राज, श्रीसंत को क्यों जड़ा था मैदान पर तमाचा

टीम इंडिया के अनुभवी स्पिनर हरभजन सिंह का विवादों से पुराना नाता रहा है और वे इसके चलते कई बार खुद को मुश्किल में डाल चुके हैं। ऐसी ही एक घटना तब हुई थी जब आइपीएल मैच के बाद उन्होंने एस. श्रीसंत को थप्पड़ मार दिया था।एक टीवी शो को दिए इंटरव्यू के दौरान हरभजन ने इस बात का राज उजागर कर दिया है कि उन्होंने श्रीसंत को चांटा क्यों मारा था।

आपको बता दें कि ये घटना मुंबई इंडियंस और किंग्स इलेवन के बीच मैच के बाद हुई थी, जब मैच के बाद श्रीसंत को रोते हुए देखा गया था। उन्होंने बताया था कि भज्जी ने उन्हें थप्पड़ लगाया। इस बारे में भज्जी ने कहा, 'मैं उस घटना के लिए माफी मांगता हूं, मुझे वैसा नहीं करना चाहिए था। लेकिन उसने (श्रीसंत ने) बहुत नौटंकी कर दी थी। वैसे यह मेरी गलती थी कि मुझे मैदान में वैसी हरकत नहीं करनी चाहिए थी। मैंने जीवन में कई गलतियां की हैं और यह उनमें से एक थी, लेकिन मैंने अपनी गलतियों से सबक लिया है।

श्रीसंत ने तो ऐसे रोना शुरू कर दिया था, जैसे मैंने उन्हें बहुत जोर से मारा है, लेकिन बात ऐसी नहीं थी, लेकिन मामला ही ऐसा था कि मैं ही गलत ठहराया गया। मुझे अपनी इस गलती का सदा अफसोस रहेगा।

यह घटना 2008 के आइपीएल मैच के बाद हुई थी, जिसके बाद मुंबई इंडियंस के हरभजन पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया था। उन पर कई मैचों का प्रतिबंध और मैच फीस का जुर्माना लगाया गया था।  Read more http://www.jagran.com/

मैं हर रोज उनके बेडरूम में जाती हूं : प्रियंका चोपड़ा

प्रियंका चोपड़ा इन दिनों बॉलीवुड से ज्यादा हॉलीवुड में छाई हुई हैं। अपने अमेरिकी टीवी शो 'क्वांटिको' की वजह से वो ज्यादातर समय विदेश में ही बिता रही हैं। उनकी पिछली बॉलीवुड फिल्म 'बाजीराव मस्तानी' की रिलीज को करीब छह-सात महीने बीत चुके हैं, मगर अब तक उनकी किसी नई फिल्म की चर्चा नहीं है। वहीं आने वाले समय में भी वो हॉलीवुड में ही बिजी नजर आ रही हैं।

एक तरफ 'क्वांटिको' के दूसरे सीजन की शूटिंग कर रही हैं, दूसरी तरफ अपनी पहली हॉलीवुड फिल्म 'बेवॉच' के प्रमोशन में जुट जाएंगी। हाल ही में इस फिल्म की शूटिंग खत्म हुई है और यह अगले साल रिलीज को तैयार हो जाएगी। ऐसे में इन परिस्थितियों को देखते हुए जब प्रियंका से एक इंटरव्यू में यह सवाल पूछ लिया गया कि क्या उन्हें डर नहीं लगता कि भारतीय दर्शक उन्हें भुला देंगे तो उन्होंने जवाब देते हुए कहा, 'नहीं, बिल्कुल भी नहीं। मैं हर रोज 'क्वांटिको' के जरिए उनके बेडरूम में जाती हूं। वैसे भी मैं सबसे पहले बॉलीवुड फिल्मों की अभिनेत्री हूं।'

'बीबीसी' की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, प्रियंका ने कहा कि वो दुनिया में कहीं भी चली जाएं, मगर सबसे पहले वो एक भारतीय कलाकार ही रहेंगी। प्रियंका के मुताबिक, वो आज जो भी हैं, हिंदी फिल्म इंडस्ट्री की वजह से हैं। वैसे आपको बता दें कि 'क्वांटिको' की वजह से विदेशों में प्रियंका की लोकप्रियता का आलम ये है कि लोग अब उनकी बॉलीवुड फिल्में देखने लगे हैं। 'क्वांटिको' में प्रियंका एलेक्स पेरिस नामक एक एफबीआई एजेंट बनी हैं, जो बेहद बोल्ड भी है आैर खतरनाक स्टंट्स भी करती है। इस शो का प्रसारण भारत में भी होता है।

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पूर्व पीएम मनमोहन सिंह का दावा, रघुराम राजन बनना चाहते थे RBI गवर्नर

आरबीआई गवर्नर रघुराम राजन के मुद्दे पर सियासी खींचतान के बीच पूर्व पीएम मनमोहन सिंह ने सनसनीखेज दावा किया। उन्होंने कहा कि राजन आरबीआई के गवर्नर बनना चाहते थे। राजन को गवर्नर बनाकर उन्होंने उनका सम्मान किया। मनमोहन सिंह से एक साक्षात्कार में जब ये पूछा गया कि क्या राजन को पिछले दरवाजे से गवर्नर बनाया गया। इस सवाल के जवाब में उन्होंने कहा कि गवर्नर की रेस में कई लोग थे। सरकार योग्य शख्स को इतनी बड़ी जिम्मेदारी सौंपना चाहती थी। रघुराम राजन की योग्यता नि:संदेह इस पद के लायक थी। जब मौका आया तो उन्हें आरबीआई गवर्नर की जिम्मेदारी दी गयी।

इंडियन एक्सप्रेस के मुताबिक मनमोहन सिंह ने पहले राजन को पीएम का अवैतनिक सलाहकार बनाया। इसके बाद जब मुख्य आर्थिक सलाहकार का पद खाली हुआ तो राजन को ये जिम्मेदारी सौंपी गई। मुख्य आर्थिक सलाहकार के पद पर रहते हुए राजन ने ये इच्छा जाहिर किया कि जब गवर्नर का पद खाली हो तो उनकी अर्जी पर विचार किया जाए। इस मामले में तत्कालीन वित्त मंत्री पी चिदंबरम ने भी सहमति जताई और राजन को आरबीआई का गवर्नर बनाया गया। ऐसा करके उन्होंने एक योग्य शख्स का सम्मान किया।

वित्त मंत्री-आरबीआई गवर्नर में होते रहे हैं मतभेद

मनमोहन सिंह ने कहा कि वित्त मंत्रियों और आरबीआई गवर्नर के बीच अनेक मुद्दों पर मतभेद होते रहे हैं। ये कोई नई बात नहीं है। लेकिन उनके कार्यकाल के दौरान रिश्ता बहुत सहज था। उनके समय रहे गवर्नर रंगराजन एक सीनियर टेक्नोक्रेट थे। जब की किसी मुद्दे को लेकर असहमति हुई तो दोनों लोगों ने मिलकर उस समस्या को सुलझाने की कोशिश की। लेकिन इस सरकार में आए दिन सरकार और आरबीआई के बीच टकराव की खबरें न्यूज हेडलाइंस बन जाती हैं।

राजन पर स्वामी साधते रहे हैं निशाना

रघुराम राजन के कार्यकाल की भाजपा सांसद सुब्रमण्यम स्वामी आलोचना करते रहे हैं। उनके जरिए स्वामी ने वित्त मंत्री जेटली को निशाने पर ले लिया था। हालांकि पीएम मोदी ने एक साक्षात्कार में साफ कर दिया कि महज पब्लिसिटी के लिए बयानबाजी से बचना चाहिए। इसके अलावा पीएम ने ये भी कहा कि कोई भी शख्स व्यवस्था से ऊपर नहीं है। संस्थाओं का सम्मान करने की जिम्मेदारी हर एक शख्स की है।

पूर्व पीएम मनमोहन सिंह को है दुख

मनमोहन सिंह ने कहा कि 25 साल पहले 1991 में सत्ता में आने के बाद कांग्रेस के सामने आर्थिक समस्याएं खड़ी थीं। आर्थिक सुधारों के जरिए भारत को मुश्किलों से निकालने की कोशिश हुई। देश आर्थिक तौर पर सबल हुआ। लेकिन आज 25 साल बाद हालात फिर वही है, जो 1991 में थी। मनमोहन सिंह ने कहा कि तत्कालीन पीएम नरसिम्हाराव के सामने जब देश की आर्थिक बदहाली का जिक्र किया गया तो उन्होंने तत्काल कदम उठाने को कहा। उन्होंने जब आर्थिक सुधारों की प्रक्रिया शुरू की तो पार्टी के अंदर ही जबरदस्त विरोध था। लेकिन नाथू राम मिर्धा, मणिशंकर अय्यर ने उनके प्रयासों की सराहना की।

1991 में सोना गिरवी रखना जरुरत थी

मनमोहन सिंह ने कहा कि कांग्रेस के सत्ता में आने से पहले सोने की एक खेप को गिरवी रखा जा चुका था। कांग्रेस ने सिर्फ प्रक्रियाओं का पालन करते हुए दूसरी खेप को बिना किसी शोर-शराबे के गिरवी रखा। ये बात सच है कि विपक्ष ने कांग्रेस के इस कदम की आलोचना की। लेकिन हकीकत ये थी कि अगर ऐसा कदम नहीं उठाया गया होता तो देश मुश्किलों में फंस जाता और उससे निकलने का रास्ता बेहद ही कठिन था। 

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भारत से लड़कर कभी भी कश्‍मीर नहीं जीत सकेगा पाकिस्‍तान: हिना रब्‍बानी

पाकिस्तान की पूर्व विदेश मंत्री हिना रब्बानी खार ने कहा है कि पाकिस्तान कभी भी भारत से युद्ध कर कश्मीर को नहीं पा सकता है। इसके लिए भारत से सिर्फ संबंधों को सुधारना और वार्ता को जारी रखना ही एकमात्र जरिया हो सकता है। रब्बानी ने यह बातें पाकिस्तान के एक न्यूज चैनल पर इंटरव्यू के दौरान कहीं। पाकिस्तान के अखबार द डॉन के मुताबिक उन्होंने इस इंटरव्यू में यह भी कहा कि पाकिस्तान को इसके लिए अनुकूल माहौल बनाना होगा और भारत से बातचीत जारी रखनी होगी।

कश्मीर के मुद्दे पर पूछे गए सवाल के जवाब में उन्होंने कहा कि युद्ध इसका उपाय नहीं है, इसलिए बातचीत ही एकमात्र उपाय है। यह तभी संभव है जब हमारे संबंध भारत के साथ सामान्य होंगे। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि भारत और पाक को एक दूसरे पर विश्वास करते हुए इस मुद्दे पर आगे बढ़ने की जरूरत है। खार ने कहा कि पीपीपी सरकार भारत के साथ रिश्तों को सुधारने के लिए काफी प्रयास किए। इसके लिए सरकार ने वीजा नियमों में भी कुछ छूट दी और दोनों देशों के बीच व्यापार को सुधारने के लिए भी काफी कदम उठाए। उन्होंंने साफ कहा कि दोनों देशों के बीच यह मुद्दा वर्षों पुराना है और यह किसी भी तरह से सही माहौल बनाए बिना इसको सुलझाया नहीं जा सकता है।

गौरतलब है कि हिना रब्बानी खार वर्ष 2011 से 2013 तक पाकिस्तान की विदेश मंत्री रही थीं। उन्होंने कहा कि इस मुद्दे पर लगातार बातचीत के जरिए किसी नतीजे पर पहुंचा जा सकता है। विदेश नीति मे फौज का अधिक प्रभाव होने के सवाल पर उनका कहना था कि एक डिप्लोमेट के नाते कई सारी चीजें जारी रहती हैं और सभी को साथ लेकर बैलेंस बनाते हुए आगे बढ़ा जाता हैै।

भारत की मौजूदा भाजपा सरकार पर अपनी राय देते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि कुछ लोगों का मानना है कि भारत में भारतीय जनता पार्टी की सरकार रहते हुए और पाकिस्तान में फौज की हुकूमत रहते हुए कश्मीर का मुद्दा कभी नहीं सुलझ सकेगा। उनका कहना था कि वह मानती हैं कि मुशर्रफ ने अपनी सरकार के दौरान भारत को इस विषय पर काफी ढ़ील दी थी।

पाकिस्तान और अमेरिका के संबंधों पर पूछे गए एक सवाल के जवाब में उन्होंने कहा कि इस क्षेत्र में चीन की दखल को रोकने के लिए अमेरिका भारत को बेहतर सहयोगी मानता है। इसके साथ ही उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि अमेरिका के भारत की ओर झुकने की एक बड़ी वजह है कि वहां पर देश की जनता की चुनी हुई सरकार है न कि फौज की हुकूमत चलती है। भारत में आज भी डेमाेक्रेटिक ट्रेडिशन मौजूद है।

Read more http://www.jagran.com/

#Jagran Forum : जागरण के 'तालाबों का पुनर्जीवन' अभियान की सीएम ने की तारीफ

जागरण फोरम में मुख्यमंत्री अखिलेश यादव ने दैनिक जागरण के तालाबों का पुनर्जीवन अभियान का जमकर तारीफ की। इस मौके पर मुख्यमंत्री ने दैनिक जागरण की तारीफ करते हुए कहा कि इस समाचार पत्र के जरिए उन्हें जिम्मेदारियों का हमेशा खयाल रहता है।

उन्होंने कहा कि तालाबों को पुनर्जीवन देने के लिए दैनिक जागरण का प्रयास काबिल-ए-तारीफ है। मुख्यमंत्री ने विकास, रोजगार से लेकर कानून व्यवस्था के बारे में सरकार की उपलब्धियों को गिनाया। उन्होंने कहा कि सरकार के विकास कार्यों से विपक्ष बौखला चुकी है। लिहाजा वो आरोप लगाने के अलावा और क्या कर सकती है।

Read more http://www.jagran.com/

आखिर कैसे हो गई अनुष्‍का शर्मा से इतनी बड़ी चूक?

बॉलीवुड की हीरोइनें एक्टिंग के अलावा अपने लुक का खासा ध्यान रखती हैं। इसके लिए वो अपने कपड़ों से लेकर सैंडिल तक हर छोटी से छोटी चीज बिल्कुल परफेक्ट चाहती हैं और इन सबके बीच एक चीज का तो कुछ ज्यादा ही ख्याल रखती होंगी, वो ये कि किसी के साथ मैचिंग-मैचिंग ना हो जाए। या यूं कह लें कि कोई और भले ही उनकी कॉपी कर ले, मगर उन्हें किसी भी कीमत पर 'कॉपीकैट' का टैग ना मिले।

अब यहीं लगता है अनुष्का शर्मा से चूक हो गई। वो वीकेंड पर अपनी फिल्म 'सुल्तान' के प्रमोशन के लिए महबूब स्टूडियो पहुंची थीं, मगर उन्होंने जो टॉप पहनी थी, उसने आथिया शेट्टी की याद दिला दी। दरअसल, आथिया भी हाल ही में एयरपोर्ट पर अनुष्का जैसा टॉप ही पहनी नजर आई थीं। आप खुद ही देख लीजिए। कलर भी एक ही है।

जाहिर सी बात है, ये इत्तेफाक से ही हुआ होगा। खैर, दोनों हीरोइनों की प्रोफेशनल लाइफ की बात करें तो अनुष्का की ईद पर फिल्म 'सुल्तान' रिलीज होने वाली है। वहीं आथिया की अभी किसी फिल्म की चर्चा नहीं है। उन्होंने पिछले साल सलमान खान की प्रोडक्शन फिल्म 'हीरो' से बॉलीवुड में एंट्री मारी थी और सुनील शेट्टी की बेटी हैं। Read more http://www.jagran.com/

Russia says Syria to attend peace summit

RUSSIA has offered fresh assurances the Syrian government will show up at a new round of peace talks next week and will soon ship more toxic agents abroad for destruction under a deal to eliminate its chemical weapons arsenal.

The statements appeared intended to ease Western concerns about President Bashar al-Assad's commitment to a peace process that started last month, and to abandoning his chemical arsenal by mid-year under a deal brokered by Russia and the US.

They came as Russia hosted the leader of the Syrian opposition National Coalition for the first time in the three-year-old conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 people and spawned mutual recriminations between Russia and the West.

Syria plans to send a large shipment of toxic agents out of the country this month and can complete the removal process by March 1, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov.

He added: "The Syrians announced that the removal of a large shipment of chemical substances is planned in February. They are ready to complete this process by March 1."

Russia is Mr Assad's most powerful diplomatic backer, but politicians in Moscow have been under pressure to push Damascus to speed up shipments since it emerged last week less than 5% of its chemical stockpile had been given up. The operation was far behind schedule and the deadline for sending all toxic agents out by this week will be missed.

American officials accused Damascus of dragging its feet, and Secretary of State John Kerry asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a security conference in Munich last Friday to put pressure on Mr Assad's government to accelerate the operation.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said: "The Syrian government is slowing the destruction of its chemical weapons. Bashar al-Assad's government must respect the commitments it has made."

Russia has said Western concerns are overblown and rejected accusations the delays are deliberate.

The new peace talks are due to start in Geneva on Monday.

Source: Hindi News

From  HS News

CII snap poll suggests economic recovery visible, albeit fragile

According to CII CEOs' snap poll conducted at its National Council Meeting predicted that the GDP in the second half would grow in the range of 4.5-5.0 per cent, while ruling out the possibility of any significant improvement in GDP growth in the second half as compared to that in the first half of the current fiscal.

The poll revealed that the Economy had expanded by 4.6 per cent in the first-half.

Meanwhile, the survey showed that the percentage of respondents expecting GDP to grow higher in a range of 5.0-5.5 per cent increased sharply from 13 per cent in third quarter to 29 per cent in fourth quarter.

Commenting on the snap poll results, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said that while the early signs of economic recovery were being noted, the same needed to be built up by way of necessary policy interventions in the next several quarters.

Substantiating the fragile economic recovery argument, most of the respondents (48 per cent) expect only moderate recovery in gross sales in the fourth quarter over the previous one. Recovery in sales, even if moderate, is underpinned mainly by revival in export demand in the backdrop of improvement in global economic prospects. Over 60 per cent of the respondents felt that their exports would increase at a moderate pace during the current quarter.

Notably, improvement in sales is being supported by an improvement in capacity utilization, as over half (53 per cent) of respondents expect their capacity utilization to improve moderately in the fourth quarter.

Even though most (38 per cent) of the CEOs saw investment staying at around the same level in the fourth quarter as in the third quarter, next highest 29 per cent respondents expected it to increase moderately over the same time period.

In view of the stagnation of investment expansion in majority cases, credit demand was also seen to stagnate in the fourth quarter by majority (52 per cent) of the respondents.

"For investment activities to pick up, a decisive revival in domestic demand for consumer goods is vital. High food inflation, growth uncertainty and rising borrowing costs have all impeded consumer demand. With inflation showing some signs of moderation, it is time that the monetary policy is now directed at stimulating growth", suggested Mr. Banerjee.

Indicating that the economy may have to manage with fragile recovery in the short-term, the survey indicated that there would be a major turnaround in investment activities not before the third quarter of the next fiscal.

This is not surprising, given the phase of political uncertainty existing till the formation of a new government at the centre. When asked to rank the risk factors to their business outlook, majority (58 per cent) of the respondents mentioned political uncertainty as the biggest concern.

Source: Hindi News

From BS News

Index outlook: Market in search of a foothold

Investors disappointed by Act I of the Fed taper drama in December — when the financial markets reacted insipidly to the announcement — would have been pleased this time around. Funds are fleeing emerging markets; currency markets are in a state of pandemonium and even investors in developed equity markets such as the US and Europe are wondering if the party is over.

There was no dearth of drama in Indian markets either. Stock prices caved in on Monday morning, pulling both the Sensex and the Nifty below critical support levels. The RBI provided no relief by choosing to hike the repo rate. The Federal Reserve’s callous indifference to the plight of emerging markets in its policy statement exacerbated the decline that started on Monday.

The week ahead is going to be, as the Chinese put it, just as interesting. Inflation in the Euro Zone at 0.7 per cent in January has brought back fears of deflation in that region and expectations are high that the European Central Bank could cut its policy rate in the meeting scheduled this week. That can strengthen the dollar further, leading to rupee weakness. That does not bode well for our stock market.

FII outflow has accelerated from both equity and debt ever since the emerging market contagion began. There has been net outflow of $1.5 billion from equity and debt so far this year.

According to EPFR, a global fund-tracker, emerging market equity funds have lost $6.3 billion in the week ending on January 29, the biggest weekly outflow since August 2011. Oscillators in the daily chart of both the Sensex and the Nifty have plunged deep into the negative zone following the sell-off witnessed last week. The point of worry, however, is the sell signals in the medium-term charts. This is negative for the medium-term view.
Sensex (20,513.8)

We had expected short-term weakness, but the ferocity of the sell-off was quite unexpected. The Sensex has breached our farthermost short-term target last week. It has also closed below the recent low at 20,625, emphasising that the short-term trend has reversed lower.

The week ahead: We had a hammer and a star pattern in the daily candlestick chart. This implies indecision. A rally in the early part of next week will face resistance at 20,744, 20,911 and 21,000.

Inability to move beyond 20,911 will imply that the index can head lower in the upcoming sessions. Downward targets are 20,272, 20,087 and 19,973.

Investors can now look out for the support around the 200-day moving average positioned at 20,000. This is also a key medium term support for the index.

The short-term view will remain negative as long as the index trades below 21,000,

Medium term view: As explained in our last column, the Sensex is moving in a sideways range since November 2013. The decline last week is pulling the index towards the lower end of this sideways trend. But the range has not been breached and investors need not worry about the medium-term trend yet.

The alarm bells for medium-term investors need to be set off if the index records a strong close below 20,000. This is where the 200-DMA and a key Fibonacci support are placed. Subsequent targets are 19,500 and 19,000. If the Sensex continues vacillating in the zone between 20,000 and 21,500, it will retain the possibility of a new high this year.
Nifty (6,089.5)

The short-term trend in the Nifty too is down. The floor of the gap formed last Monday, at 6188, will be an important resistance for the Nifty in the week ahead. The 50-day moving average at 6,220, can also thwart rallies in the short term.

The week ahead: There can be a short-term bounce to 6,154 or 6,200 in the coming sessions. Inability to get past 6,200 will be the cue for short-term traders to initiate fresh short positions. Downward targets are 6,008 and 5,954. Short-term trend will turn positive only on a strong close above 6,234.

Medium-term trend: The medium-term trend in the Nifty is sideways since the November-peak of 6,342.9. Last week’s decline can make the index head towards the lower end of this medium-term trading range that is held aloft by a cluster of important supports at 5,973 (November 2013-trough), 5,971 (200-DMA) and 5,920 (38.2 per cent retracement of the previous medium-term up-move).

Investors, therefore, need not fret as long as the Nifty holds above 5,920. Continued movement in the band between 5,900 and 6,400 for few more months will be construed as positive from a long-term perspective. That said, decline below 5,900 can drag the index to 5,770 or even 5,618.
Global cues

Most global indices ended the week on a negative note. The CBOE VIX spiked to 19 before closing the week at 18.4. The medium-term view for this index will however be hurt only on a strong close above 23. The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved further lower last week. It has lost 5 per cent since the beginning of this year. The index is however still above the 15,703-support indicated last week. Next support is at 15,445. The short-term view will turn negative only if the Dow goes on to close below this level. Key medium-term support is at 14,700.

Source: Hindi News

From BL News

France and Britain Agree on Outer Space, but Find No Common Ground on Europe

Britain and France are stepping up their cooperation in outer space, but in Europe they still move in very different orbits.

At a meeting on Friday designed to bridge differences between the two neighbors, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President François Hollande of France agreed to invest in joint space technology, but then openly clashed over the future of the European Union.

Mr. Cameron’s ambition to revise the union’s rule book and renegotiate Britain’s terms of membership, before holding a referendum in 2017 on whether his country should stay in the 28-country bloc, was dealt a blow by the French president.

A change in European Union treaties, Mr. Hollande made clear, is “not a priority.” France wants a better-run union, he said at a televised news conference, but “if there are going to be amendments to the text, we don’t feel that for the time being they are urgent.”

Standing next to the French president at an air base in Oxfordshire, about 65 miles northwest of London, Mr. Cameron disagreed politely. “Europe needs to change,” he said. “We want to see that renegotiation.”

“There will be further treaty changes coming,” he insisted, adding that he wanted Britain to vote in 2017 “to be part of a reformed union.”

France and Britain have long been on opposing ends of the European Union, with Paris lobbying for deeper political integration and London preferring a larger but looser cooperation among European nations based chiefly on economic ties.

Under pressure from the anti-union United Kingdom Independence Party, which is gaining ground with voters, Mr. Cameron has vowed to loosen British links with the union, which has its headquarters in Brussels. He would have greater leverage to get what he wants in Europe if there were a treaty change giving all leaders veto power.

But like many politicians in France, who were stunned nine years ago when a French referendum on a painstakingly negotiated European Constitution failed, Mr. Hollande appears reluctant to embark on another big negotiation. He is not alone on the Continent. Germany, the union’s biggest nation, has cooled on the idea of significant treaty change, too.

Friday’s meeting, after which the two leaders lunched in a country pub, was the first Anglo-French summit meeting attended by Mr. Hollande. It came at a time of some turmoil for the French president, who languishes in the opinion polls and split from his partner, Valérie Trierweiler, following reports that he had an affair with another woman.

Asked by a British reporter if the president’s private life had made his country an “international joke,” Mr. Hollande declined to comment.

Both leaders did their best to highlight areas of common interest. The Brize Norton air base where they held talks is a “symbol of solidarity” between the two nations, Mr. Hollande said. From there 70 years ago, British planes flew missions in preparation for the D-Day landings in Normandy. More recently, planes took off from Brize Norton to refuel French aircraft involved in operations in Mali.

Britain and France are the two biggest military powers in the European Union, and agreements announced included an investment of nearly $200 million in developing armed drones and unmanned underwater vehicles able to find and neutralize seabed mines.

“We have agreed on an exciting new collaboration on space,” added Mr. Cameron, “that will create new economic opportunities for both our industries with a 15 million-pound investment paving the way for joint work on earth observation, telecommunications and space research.”

On economic policy, familiar differences surfaced. Mr. Cameron sidestepped the question of whether he agreed with a Conservative colleague in his cabinet, Grant Shapps, who said recently that the French economy had been “run into the sand.” Growth is rebounding more strongly in Britain, where Mr. Cameron’s Conservative-led coalition has been busy trimming public spending, than in France, where the Socialist Mr. Hollande lowered the retirement age soon after taking office.

“Both of us are facing situations where we have to take difficult economic decisions,” Mr. Cameron said diplomatically, welcoming more recent proposals by Mr. Hollande to reduce French labor costs.

“Of course we are not going to agree about everything,” he said. “François is a French Socialist and I am a British Conservative.”

Source: Business News Hindi

From NYT News

EU, UK evaluating FDA findings on Ranbaxy's Toansa facility

Days after the US Food and Drug Administration banned import of Ranbaxy products to America from its Toansa plant , health regulators of EU and the UK have said they are evaluating the FDA inspection findings to assess if deviations from Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) have any implication in their markets.

European Medicines Agency (EMA), a body under the European Union, said Ranbaxy Laboratories site in Toansa, Punjab is a supplier of active ingredients for four centrally authorised medicines Enyglid (repaglinide), Repaglinide Krka (repaglinide), Repaglinide Teva (repaglinide) and Nevirapine Teva (nevirapine), besides several non-centrally authorised medicines.

"The EMA and national medicines authorities in the EU have been informed of the recent FDA inspection findings and prohibition of importation or distribution within the US of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from the Ranbaxy Laboratories' site in Toansa, India, due to deviations from GMP identified during the inspection in Toansa," EMA said in an email reply.

"European authorities are currently evaluating the FDA inspection findings, which have been shared under confidentiality arrangements.

"They are also evaluating information requested from the marketing authorisation holders in the EU and from Ranbaxy itself, in order to assess the impact that these GMP deficiencies may have on medicines on the EU market," EMA said.

As part of this evaluation, the EMA and national medicines authorities will take 'any measures necessary to protect' the health of EU patients should a risk to public health be identified, it further said.

Citing manufacturing norm violations, the FDA had last week prohibited Ranbaxy Laboratories from distributing drugs produced at the Toansa unit in the US, including medicines made by the company's Ohm Laboratories facility in New Jersey.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of UK said they are aware of the results of the FDAs inspection relating to GMP issues at the Toansa plant.

MHRA said as of now, they found no evidence that Ranbaxy's medicines in the UK are defective, so people can continue to consumes them as usual.

"We are aware of the results of the FDA's inspection relating to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) issues at Ranbaxy's Toansa plant in India," an MHRA spokesperson said.

"Patient safety is our priority and we are currently working with EU and International regulatory partners to assess whether these findings have any implication for the UK.

There is no evidence that medicines in the UK are defective so people should continue to take their medicines accordingly," the spokesperson added.

Source:  Hindi News

From BT News

Indian-origin woman banker arrested in UK in ongoing anti-terrorism operation

A woman banker of Indian origin has been arrested in London reportedly as part of an anti-terrorism operation. Kuntal Patel has been charged with attempted murder.

The 36-year-old banker, the daughter of a magistrate, Meena Patel, will be produced at the Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon. She was arrested in Counter Terrorism Command raids, the police said.

The 19-year-old son of a senior British diplomat was also arrested during the raid, but there will be no further action against him, the police said. He was released on bail.

The police have refused to share details about Ms Patel's arrest. But reports said officers in protective clothing were seen searching the Stratford, east London, home of her mother, Meena Patel.

A police statement said, "A 36-year-old woman (B) arrested on 26 January on suspicion of an offence under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 remains in custody at an east London police station...We are not able to discuss further at this stage." It also said, "Inquiries are ongoing as part of an intelligence-led pre-planned operation." 

Ron Manley, a local councillor who has known the Patels for more than 20 years, described them as an "upstanding family," the Daily Telegraph said.

"Meena is a magistrate and used to work for a local authority, Kuntal works in the city and Meena's younger daughter Poonam is a pharmacist. They are a Hindu family and I've known the two girls since they were at primary school. They have always been very polite, very nice girls," Mr Manley was quoted as saying.

The Times reported that counter-terrorism officers conducted the operation due to intelligence that police might find dangerous chemicals, but the focus was on potential criminal rather than terrorist offences.

The police said there was nothing to suggest that the public was at risk. Britain's Foreign Office has declined to comment on Ms Patel's arrest.

Newspaper reports said the teen arrested on suspicion of an offence under anti-terrorism laws and later released was the son of a first secretary -- typically the third rung below an ambassador and the deputy head of mission in an embassy. The diplomat had worked in Brazil and Cuba, the reports said.

Source: Hindi News

From NDTV News

SIT clean chit for Modi; so put to rest matter: NCP

Nationalist Congress Party, NCP has said that the matter related to BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi should be put to rest as Special Investigation Team had given Modi a clean chit.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's comments on Gujarat riots, NCP leader & Union Minister Praful Patel said that since a judicial probe has given Modi a clean chit, the matter should rest. He said, the judicial pronouncement should be respected.

Meanwhile, Congress downplayed its ally NCP's contention that any judicial pronouncement on Narendra Modi's alleged involvement in the post-Godhra riots should not be questioned.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters in New Delhi that all political parties are entitled to an opinion on political issues.

Source: Hindi News

From News On Air

Sensex surges 145 pts in early trade on corporate earnings

 

The benchmark BSE Sensex today gained over 145 points in early trade on the back of encouraging corporate earnings coupled with a firming trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share barometer, which had lost over 690 points in the previous three sessions, recovered by 145.17 points, or 0.70 per cent, to 20,828.68.

All the sectoral indices led by auto, banking and realty, were trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.32 per cent.

Brokers said fresh round of buying by participants driven by better-than-expected Q3 earnings by NTPC and Bharti Airtel and a firming trend in the Asian region following overnight gains on the US markets buoyed the trading sentiments here.

Stocks of country’s largest thermal power producer NTPC gained 0.74 per cent at Rs 129.785 after company posted over 10 per cent rise in its net profit for the third quarter ended December 31, 2013, and announced that it will pay an interim dividend of nearly Rs 2,500 crore to the government.

Shares of Bharti Airtel climbed 2.51 per cent to Rs 314 after company’s third quarter net profit jumped 115.1 per cent to Rs 610 crore.

On similar lines, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 40.15 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 6,166.40.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose by 0.96 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei gained 1.74 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.57 per cent higher in yesterday’s trade. 

Source: Hindi News

From Tehelka News

Indian IT workforce gets middle age-heavy

The executive suite is not the only place that is greying in India's 40-year-old information technology sector.

As the $108-billion industry enters middle age and its growth slows, the three-million-strong workforce is also getting older, making it harder to extract some of the cost advantages of the young, cheap labour for which it is known.

Firms have had to change in order to attract and support employees with a more mature set of priorities, as the bright youngsters they recruited years earlier have become earnest family types.

"Middle-aged or married couples prefer to go back home on time, so don't like to stay back at work till late or do weekends," said Megha Jain, 34, a Bangalore-based employee of an Indian IT company. "There is more focus by the company to fine-tune policies around work from home and overtime."

Less partying, more parenting

The likes of Bangalore-based Infosys and Wipro were built on a young, cheap and educated workforce that also drew global giants such as IBM and Accenture to the country.

And the vibrancy of the new industry was epitomized by a corporate culture that was far more influenced by Silicon Valley than traditional Indian attitudes.

In India, many in their first jobs continue to live with parents, whereas working in IT often meant moving to another city, such as Bangalore, Hyderabad or Pune.

Organized weekend outings for staff were a common way of building bonds in the workplace for IT firms whose employees had mostly come straight from college.

Some firms also gave employees free movie tickets and let them expense meals with boyfriends or girlfriends.

Flush with money and new-found independence, these IT staffers were known both for working late and partying hard.

"There were not many mothers, or not many parents," Kingshuk Sanyal, a management consultant at Booz and Co, said of those early years in the industry.

Now, many Indian IT firms have tied up with childcare centers to help working couples manage. Some offer flexible working hours or extended time away from work, options that exist with few other Indian employers.

Market leader Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which once had ad hoc policies around flexible hours and vacations, formalized them about four years ago as the ranks of older staff grew, said HR head Ajoyendra Mukherjee.

Middle-age spread

IT firms in India are placing increasing emphasis on training and developing existing staff, while slower growth means they no longer recruit college leavers at the same pace. Read more..

Source: Hindi News

From TOI News

Raghuram Rajan: RBI a vigilant owl, not a dove or a hawk

 

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on Tuesday said monetary policy can contribute to reviving consumption and investment in a sustainable way only by bringing down inflation to a low and stable level. “Inflation is also a tax that is grossly inequitable, falling hardest on the very poor,” Raghuram Rajan said after unveiling the monetary policy. Excerpts:

ON INFLATION AND INTEREST RATE:

“The juxtaposition of growth and inflation is not correct. Even if we cut rates, banks won’t cut rates as inflation is still high. We have to get away from the fact that there is a magic wand. The notion about inflation being irrelevant has to be revisited. We are confident we will bring down inflation within more tolerable limits. Let’s first fight the fight that needs to be fought.”

ON WITHDRAWAL OF NOTES ISSUED BEFORE 2005:

“It is not intended to get at black money, tax evasion, etc. I am not saying those are good things. This is technical action, in order to withdraw notes which have fewer security features than new notes. It is an attempt to reduce the possibility of counterfeiting and give more reliable notes at the hands of the public. We have no doubt we are in a constant race, we have to keep improving the security features and counterfeiters keeps trying to figure out how to do that. Notes will continue to be withdrawn. I have no doubt today’s note will be withdrawn at some point.”

ON COMMENT THAT RATE HIKE WAS HAWKISH WHILE GUIDANCE WAS DOVISH:

“We are neither hawks, not doves but we are owls, vigilant when others are resting. An owl is traditionally a symbol of wisdom. The broad point is that don’t try and put us into buckets. We are doing what is necessary for the economy. Last time, we needed to convey the signal that we are ready to act. This time, we have acted. We will take action on the rate cut front whenever the situation warrants.”

PATEL PANEL PROPOSALS:

“The RBI is studying the recommendations of the panel on monetary policy and complete implementation of its report will need a dialogue with. 

Source: Latest Hindi News

From TFE News

BSE Sensex trims initial gains, still up 96 pts

 

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex trimmed its initial gains, but was still quoted higher by 96 points on buying from operators mainly in capital goods, auto, realty, power and banking sectors coupled with higher Asian cues.

The market may remain volatile ahead of the expiry of futures and options January contract tomorrow.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) jumped 7.02 per cent on bargain hunting as the company's board has approved the expansion project in Gujarat.

The Sensex resumed higher at 20,784.04 and firmed up further to a high of 20,828.68 on strong buying. However, it fell afterwards to 20,761.10 on selling pressure before quoting at 20,779.82 at 1030 hours, still showing a gain of 96.31 points or 0.47 per cent.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also rose by 31.70 points or 0.52 per cent to 6,157.95 at 1030 hours.

Other gainers were Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries 2.93 per cent, BHEL 2.04 per cent, Tata Motors 1.50 per cent, Coal India 1.34 per cent, Larsen 1.33 per cent, ICICI Bank 1.23 per cent and Cipla 0.95 per cent.

Asian markets edged higher in their early trade after Turkey stunned investors with a huge hike in interest rates, stirring hopes the drastic action would short-circuit a vicious cycle of selling in emerging markets and revive risk appetite generally. Read more..

Source: Hindi News

From TFE News

Sensex up 53 points ahead of RBI policy

The benchmark BSE Sensex on Tuesday recovered over 53 points in early trade after two sessions of losses on emergence of buying by funds and retail investors ahead of the RBI’s policy review.

The 30-share index, which had lost over 666 points in the previous two sessions, recovered by 53.76 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 20,761.21, with stocks of consumer durables, capital goods, power, realty and metal sectors leading the recovery.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved up by 11.05 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 6,146.90.

Brokers said emergence of buying by funds at prevailing levels ahead of the RBI’s policy review to be announced later in the day and a firming trend in the Asian region mainly influenced the trading sentiment.

In the Asian region, Japan’s Nikkei rose by 0.10 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.16 per cent in early trade. Read more..

Source: Hindi News

From TH News

Airports Authority of India head VP Agrawal quits as Central Vigilance Commission refuses to clear extension

The sudden exit of VP Agrawal, the chairman of Airports Authority of India, came after the Central Vigilance Commission declined to approve the extension granted to him by the ministry of civil aviation on January 1. Agrawal had completed a term of five years as the chairman of India's largest and state-owned airport operator.

In a very brief interaction with ET late on Friday, Agrawal said, "the Chief Vigilance Commission did not approve the extension. I have no further comments to make."

Agrawal was immediately replaced by ministry of civil aviation's joint secretary Alok Sinha, who was given additional charge as the AAI chairman till a permanent replacement is found. Sinha's work was related to airports over the past one-and-a-half years at the civil aviation ministry.   Read more..

Source: Hindi News

From TOI News