92 day long Manipur Economic blockade - Sadar Hills as a full fledged district

Tuesday 01 November, 2011.

92-day long Manipur economic blockade called off The economic blockade that was in place in Manipur was called off on Tuesday after the State Government gave written assurance to upgrade Sadar Hills as a full fledged district after district re-organisation committee submitted its report. The agreement came after mid night and no decision has been made yet on the counter blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) who were opposing the upgrade. UNC said it will not lift the blockade as of now. A meeting has been called on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the ramifications of the MoU signed between the government and SDDC. National highway 39, national highway 53 and national highway 150 continue to remain blocked. UNC has been opposing the move as this will frustrate their ultimate goal for a Nagal homeland or a Nagalim. The 92-day old economic blockade had crippled the state and essential commodities were short supply for the last three months. An LPG cylinder costs over Rs 2,000 while petrol has touched Rs 140 per litre in Manipur. Black marketing had also become rampant. The crisis began on August 1 when the United Naga Committee opposed the Kuki demand to turn Sadar Hills into a full-fledged district.(BJ-01/11)

Annual G20 summit in France- the 6th G20 summit

Tuesday 01 November, 2011.

PM leaves for Cannes tomorrow to attend G20 Summit Prime Minister Manmohan Singh heads for Cannes in France on Wednesday to attend a crucial summit of the world's 20 leading economies(G20) during which India is expected to make a call to resist trade protectionism when the global economic growth is facing a slowdown. Dr. Singh, who will be at the G20 summit for the sixth consecutive time since it was first hosted by the US in 2008, is also likely to push through India's agenda for voluntary exchange of tax information to curb black money. India also wants the G20, which accounts for 85 per cent of the global output and two-thirds of the world population, to include new measures to clamp tax violation channels. The two-day summit to be held in the seaside resort town, famous for the prestigious Cannes film festival, itself hopes to agree on measures to head off the threat of global recession. Dr. Singh is due to return home on Saturday night. It will be dominated by efforts by European leaders to resolve the sovereign debt crisis after the 17-nation Eurozone sealed a deal last month critical for global economic recovery. The summit hosted by French President Nikolas Sarkozy is expected to seek commitments from all G20 members on growth and on rebalancing public finances. US President Barack Obama, British Premier David Cameron and Chinese President Hu Jintao will be among the world leaders at the critical summit. Dr. Singh is expected to urge the G20 to take the necessary steps to address current economic instability and to take concrete steps to put open trade, jobs, social protection and economic development at the heart of the recovery. While underscoring the need to avoid protectionism, he is expected to advocate the importance of an open, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system as a driver of global growth. The economist-turned prime minister, whose advice is often sought at the G20 high table, is expected to give this prescription for providing the necessary confidence to global markets and ensure a more stable global economic environment. Like in the previous five summits at Washington, London, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Seoul, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will be the Prime Minister's sherpa, or chief interlocutor aat the Cannes meet. "This year, this(G20) is not an issue on which there is much of an India focus," Ahluwalia said, adding, "It is an annual event, and it will get dominated by issues related to the management of the global economy and the Eurozone crisis." Besides India and host France, the G20 comprises Brazil, US, Canada, China, Argentina, Australia, South Korea, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Britain, and the European Union(EU). At the summit it is hoped that an agreement will be reached on creating new IMF credit lines to increase the international system's ability to resist systemic shocks. The G20 hopes to adopt the principle that there should be coordination between the IMF and regional funds, and that multinational oversight by the IMF be strengthened, to avoid contagion. The general assessment among the G-20 nations is that the role of the IMF and its capacity should be strengthened. Ahead of the summit, India has reportedly sought French support to push through its agenda of voluntary exchange of tax information to curb black money. New Delhi has sent a draft formulation for the G20 communiqu to France for its endorsement that seeks a call to international community to take a lead in voluntary exchange of tax related information. It also wants the G20 to include new measures to clamp tax violation channels. The G20 leaders will be presented with reports from a global forum on banking secrecy and tax avoidance run by the OECD, detailing which countries still allow foreign nationals to hide revenue in offshore banks. G20 leaders are also expected to work on common guidelines on how to reduce volatility in international capital flows. The leaders will also send a signal of support to the World Trade Organisation(WTO) and voice their determination to fight protectionism. The move to impose small tax on financial transactions as a mechanism to force markets to help pay for government efforts to rescue an economy laid low in part by their excesses is also expected to engage the attention of the G20 leaders. France and Germany have been pushing for this measure while India is opposed to global Financial Transaction tax(FTT). (SP-1/11)

November 01 - News - new Arunachal Cm - Nabam Tuki

Tuesday 01 November, 2011.

TOP STORY Small units, SCs/STs to get preference in govt purchases The government on Tuesday approved a procurement policy under which state-run departments and PSUs will give preference to micro and small entrepreneurs (MSEs), including those belonging to SCs/STs. HEADLINES Mobile tariffs may fall, TRAI suggests zero termination charge  In a development that would bring mobile telephone tariffs further down, telecom regulator TRAI has suggested doing away with termination charges in a phased manner over the next three years. Nabam Tuki sworn in as Arunachal Chief Minister  Dissident leader Nabam Tuki was on Tuesday sworn in as Arunachal Pradesh's seventh Chief Minister, ending a two week political drama over the demand for leadership change. 2G scam: SC asks CBI response on its stand on Kanimozhi The Supreme Court asked the CBI to explain on what basis it took decision not to oppose the bail plea of of DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others in the trial court in 2G scam. IT Dept sends notices to persons involved in black money cases The Income Tax Department has started sending notices to persons involved in black money cases on the basis of information received from abroad. NATIONAL Govt hails CRPF's role in disturbed areas Jaya moves SC challenging Bangalore court order to reappear SC sought Centre to respond, J&K on plea for probe into leader death 92-day long Manipur economic blockade called off INTERNATIONAL Japan accepts plan to send ground troop mission to S. Sudan  China spacecraft launches on key mission Gaddafi loyalists thirst for revenge in Bani Walid US stops financial contribution to UNESCO after Palestine vote BUSINESS Mobile tariffs may fall, TRAI suggests zero termination charge  2G scam: SC asks CBI response on its stand on Kanimozhi Govt launches e-payment system Wipro Q2 net up 1.24 pc at Rs 1,300.9 cr SPORTS Dhoni, Bindra to don army uniform today Vikas zooms to 2nd, Vijender not there in latest AIBA Rankings Darren Bravo show goes on in Dhaka Vettel clinches first ever Indian GP, Sutil earns 2 points

TRAI suggest Zero Termination charge

Tuesday 01 November, 2011.

Mobile tariffs may fall, TRAI suggests zero termination charge In a development that would bring mobile telephone tariffs further down, telecom regulator TRAI has suggested doing away with termination charges in a phased manner over the next three years. Mobile tariffs may fall, TRAI suggests zero termination charge Termination charges, a part of Interconnection Usage Charges, are a levy paid by one operator to another on whose network a call ends. Any change in it will have impact on mobile tariffs. At present, termination charge is 20 paise per minute and it forms a part of mobile tariffs. In its submission to the Supreme Court, Trai has submitted a number of models for calculating IUC, but it has suggested that termination charges should be completely removed by 2014. "It is felt that it will take another two years for asymmetries in traffic flows to converge to some form of equilibrium between new and old operators, especially with an enabling termination charges regime with termination charges set at lower levels than at present," TRAI said in the affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court. A final decision on the issue will be taken by the apex court. GSM operators are on one side opposing any move to reduce termination charge, while the CDMA players and new operators together on the other hand are supporting any move for complete removal of the levy. The move to reduce the fee has been opposed by incumbent operators as they stand to lose revenue. But new players are in favour of a low termination rates because for them the net outflow of traffic is more than incoming calls. TRAI is of the opinion that there should be a progressive reduction in termination charges finally converging to zero termination charges i.e. Bill and Keep (BAK) at the end of two years from now, it added. TRAI said establishment of a clear three-year outlook for IUC would provide regulatory predictability and enable service providers to plan their networks and businesses accordingly. In the meantime, TRAI is of the view that the termination rates arrived at through pure long run incremental cost (LRIC) method may be made applicable now which will glide towards BAK in two years. "This will give sufficient time to operators to adjust to the changes in the termination regime and will ensure a smooth transition," TRAI said. New players are likely to benefit from such reductions since they are likely to be the first ones to drop tariffs, which would then put pressure on incumbents to follow suit despite being negatively affected by lower charges. The Supreme Court had earlier directed TRAI to evolve a new set of interconnection charges between operators for carrying calls of one network through others. The apex court had given its direction on a petition by TRAI challenging the TDSAT order, which had set aside the TRAI's Interconnection Usage Charges (Regulation), 2009. The TDSAT had set aside TRAI's 2009 IUCR on a host of petitions by various mobile service providers objecting to the telecom regulator's order. In its 2009 IUC regulation, TRAI had fixed a mobile termination charge (MTC) at 20 paise per minute for all local and national long-distance charges. It had also raised the MTC for incoming international calls to 40 paise per minute from 30 paise, while putting a ceiling on carriage fee of 65 paise per minute for domestic long-distance calls.(ST-01/11)

GOI has approved a new procurement policy

Tuesday 01 November, 2011.

Small units, SCs/STs to get preference in govt purchases The government on Tuesday approved a procurement policy under which state-run departments and PSUs will give preference to micro and small entrepreneurs (MSEs), including those belonging to SCs/STs.  The "path-breaking" policy cleared by the Cabinet, ahead of assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh next year, will set an annual target of 20 per cent procurement for the Central Government departments and PSUs from MSEs. Within this limit, four per cent of the orders should be placed to the SC/ST entrepreneurs and 16 per cent for others. "But, given their unique nature, defence armament imports will not be included in computing the 20 per cent goal for Ministry of Defence. In addition, defence equipment like weapon system remain out of purview of such policy for reservation," according to an official statement. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni described the decision as "path-breaking". It was also in line with the "Congress manifesto", she said. However, the procurement policy would be voluntary in nature for three years. It would be made mandatory after three years. After it becomes mandatory, non-conforming departments will be required to provide reasons for not meeting the targets to a Review Committee. Elaborating, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister Virbhadra Singh said with announcement of the new policy, PSUs are expected to buy goods worth Rs 35,000 crore from the MSEs, of which a business of Rs 7,000 crore would go to the SCs/STs. Also, PSUs and government departments would be required to report the goals set with respect to procurement to be met from small units and the achievement made in their respective annual reports. The MSMEs, which account for 45 per cent of the country's manufacturing output and 40 per cent of exports, have also been hit by the rising input cost and interest rates. The sector employs 60 million people in 26 million units producing over 6,000 products.(ST-01/11)