UN marks Ambedkar's birth anniversary for the first time

United Nations, Apr 14 (PTI) For the first time, the UN celebrated the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar with a top official describing the noted Indian social reformer as a "global icon" for marginalised people and voiced the world body's commitment to work with India to fulfil his vision.

"On behalf of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), I commend India on celebrating this important anniversary at the UN," UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said in her keynote address at a special event organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN to commemorate Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary for the first time at the global body.

"We are committed to continuing our very close partnership with India to help realise the vision of the 2030 Agenda and ensure that Ambedkar's vision becomes reality for the poor and marginalised around the world," said Clark who is among the candidates for the post of the next UN Secretary General.

The 125th birth anniversary of the principal architect of India's Constitution was observed yesterday at the world body.

The event was organised in association with civil society advocacy groups Kalpana Saroj Foundation and Foundation of Human Horizon.

Clark who is Chair of the UN Development Group, addressed a packed audience of diplomats, scholars and Ambedkar's followers and said the occasion commemorates the "legacy of a very great man" who understood that "rising and persistent inequalities" pose fundamental challenges to the economic and social well-being of nations and people.

Emphasising that Ambedkar's ideals are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago, former New Zealand prime minister Clark said his work on the empowerment and inclusion of excluded groups, reform of labour laws and promotion of education for all "made him an icon for marginalised people in India and in other countries".

On the occasion, a panel discussion on 'Combating inequalities for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals' was also organised featuring Professor Stan Kachnowski and Associate Professor Anupama Rao from Ambedkar's alma mater Columbia University and Harvard University lecturer Christopher Queen.

Clark said reducing inequalities and discrimination in all their forms, the cornerstone of Ambedkar's vision and work, is also at the "heart" of the new development agenda the world has committed to achieving by 2030, adding that Ambedkar had a "deep understanding" of the far-reaching measures that are needed to address inequalities.

Indo German Agreement on Namami Gange Signed

New Delhi : An Implementation Agreement for Ganga Rejuvenation under the Namami Gange Programme was signed in New Delhi today between the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and German International Cooperation (GIZ) of Germany.

The objective of the agreement is to enable responsible stakeholders at National and State level to apply integrated river basin management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga. This will be based on Indo-German Knowledge exchange and practical experience on strategic river basin management issues, effective data management system and public engagement. The project will closely cooperate with other National and international initiatives including Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) and ‘Sustainable Environment-friendly Industrial Production’ (SEIP).  The project duration is three years i.e. from 2016 to 2018 and the German contribution in the project will be to the tune of Rs. 22.5 crore. Initial actions will focus on the State of Uttarakhand, with scope of expansion to other upstream Ganga States.  The ultimate goal is to adopt the successful river basin management strategies used for Rhine and Danube and replicate the same, wherever possible for attaining the pristine status of river Ganga.

The agreement was signed in the presence of the German Ambassador to India, Dr. Martin Ney and Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Shashi Shekhar. Speaking on the occasion German Ambassador said that his country understands the devotion and cultural importance of river Ganga and will do its best to bring back mother Ganga to its pristine glory. Thanking the Government of Germany Shri Shekhar said the technical no how support from Germany will be immensely fruitful in pollution abatement of river Ganga. He said, “Now onwards we will move at a much faster pace for cleaning of river Ganga”.

‘Namami Gange’ Programme, is a flagship programme of Government of India with a renewed impetus to decrease river pollution and conserve the revered river ‘Ganga’. In this connection, the Indian Government solicited support from various countries to rejuvenate the Ganga. Government of Germany, with its vast experiences in cleaning and rejuvenating European rivers such as Rhine, Elbe and Danube, was keen to join hands for collaboration with Government of India.

India welcomes William and Kate

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi receives the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on April 12, 2016. 

South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for India adopting the Statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) and India and becoming its formal member in order to strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation in the region. 

SAWEN, a Regional network is comprised of eight countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It aims at working as a strong regional inter¬governmental body for combating wildlife crime by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region. 

Adoption of SAWEN statute envisions India being part of the regional inter¬governmental body in combating wildlife crime in the region and beyond. Following objectives have been set to attain the goal: 

• To take initiatives for bringing harmonization and standardization in laws and policies of member countries concerning conservation of fauna and flora; 

• To document the trend of poaching and illegal trade, and related threats to the natural biodiversity within and across countries in the region; 

• To strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach; and 

• To encourage member countries to prepare and implement their National Action Plans in curbing wildlife crime and to collaborate towards effective implementation. 

The South Asia region is very vulnerable to illegal traffic and wildlife crimes due to presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the south East Asian region. The collaboration in harmonising as well as enforcing the wildlife protection in the region is considered very important for effective conservation of such precious biodiversity.

India, US agree in principle to logistics exchange agreement

The US Defence Secretary, Mr. Ashton B. Carter calls on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 12, 2016. 

India and the United States have agreed in principle to share military logistics, the countries' defense ministers said on Tuesday, as both sides seek to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China.

Washington has for years urged New Delhi to sign a Logistics Support Agreement that allows the two militaries to use each other's land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repair and rest.

India has had concerns that a logistics agreement would commit it to hosting U.S. troops at its bases, or draw it into a military alliance with the United States and undermine its traditional autonomy.

But after years of delays, the two sides said an agreement was in hand, although not yet ready for signing.

"We have agreed in principle that all the issues are resolved," U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told reporters in New Delhi after talks with his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar.

The two sides would finalize the text of an agreement in coming weeks, Carter said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, faced with an assertive China expanding its influence in the South China Sea and into the Indian Ocean, has signaled its desire to draw closer to the United States. China is also a close ally of India's arch rival, Pakistan.

Modi is also keen to access U.S. technology for his "Make in India" plans to build a domestic industrial base and cut expensive arms imports.

The U.S. military has made clear it wants to do more with India, especially in countering China. Carter is on his second visit to India in less than a year, aimed at cementing defense cooperation in the final months of Barack Obama's presidency.

Washington's desire for deeper security cooperation with India has been tricky without the signing of the logistics agreement, as well as two other pacts that would allow for secure communications and the exchange of nautical and other data. The agreements are considered routine between the United States and its other defense partners.

Reaching the logistics agreement would make it easier to conclude the other two pacts, a senior U.S. defense official said.

"There's increasing recognition on the Indian side that there's real mutual benefits to doing them, so I do think that the prospects are good," the official said, on condition of anonymity.

Carter said the two countries would also soon conclude an agreement on exchanging information on commercial shipping.

COLLABORATION ON CARRIER

He said the two countries were also advancing collaboration in aircraft carrier design and technology, potentially the biggest joint project since they launched a Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) in 2012.

India, which operates a re-tooled Russian-built carrier, plans to build its biggest indigenous carrier, for which is it looking at U.S. technology to launch heavier aircraft.

"We have decided to take forward discussions under DTTI more aggressively on key areas such as jet engine technology. We will also continue our very useful and productive discussions on cooperation ... on aircraft carriers," Parrikar said.

India is concerned about China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean, traditionally New Delhi's backyard, and it said on Tuesday that it had agreed with the United States to launch discussions between the countries' two navies on anti-submarine warfare and submarine safety.

(Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Ease of doing business simplified in India by Foreign entities

As a measure towards improving the ease of doing business, it has now been decided that except for a few sectors viz. Defence, Telecom, Private Security, Information and Broadcasting and Non-government organization and except a few countries, the power to grant approvals for establishment of Branch Office (BO)/Liaison Office (LO)/Project Offices (PO) in India by foreign entities, would be delegated to the Authorised Dealers Category-I Banks. Further, anyone who has been awarded a contract for a project by a Government authority/PSU would be automatically given approval to open a bank account. 

Regulations in this regard have been notified by RBI vide G.S.R. 384 dated March 31, 2016. 

Earlier these entities used to seek the approval of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before setting-up their BO/LO/PO office in India. While Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gives permission in those cases where 100% FDI is allowed under automatic route, all other cases are referred to the Government for approval. 

The establishment of Branch Office (BO)/Liaison Office (LO)/Project Offices (PO) in India by foreign entities is regulated in terms of FEMA 22/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000, as amended from time to time. The foreign entities can set-up their BO/LO/PO in India without registering themselves as companies/trusts etc. under Indian Laws. 

India's 2016 monsoon rains seen above average: Skymet

India's annual monsoon rains are likely to be above average, the country's only private weather forecaster said on Monday, snapping two straight years of drought that cut farm output and farmers' income.

The July to September monsoon delivers nearly 70 percent of annual rains and waters half of India's farmlands that lack irrigation facilities.

Monsoon rains are expected to be 105 percent above a long-term average, with a 35 percent probability of above average rainfall, Skymet said in a statement.

The El Nino effect is likely to wane after monsoon hits the southern Kerala coast by the end of May, the statement said.

El Nino, or warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific, can lead to scorching weather conditions across Asia and east Africa, but heavy rains and floods in South America.

India's west coast and central parts will get good rains, Skymet said, bringing in relief for farmers and policy makers, who are struggling with droughts and severe water scarcity in some regions.

Above average monsoon rains play a key role in boosting demand for an array of consumer goods, as 70 percent of India's 1.3 billion people live in villages.

Agriculture accounts for about 14 percent of India's $2 trillion economy, Asia's third-biggest, but it supports two-thirds of Indian's population.

State-run India Meteorological Department is expected to issue its forecast for this year's monsoon rains soon.

Separately, Farm Secretary Shobhana K. Pattanayak said current climatic conditions indicate that El Nino is gradually fading and giving way to La Nina, indicating bountiful rains this year.

(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath and Susan Thomas)

Tata Steel sells UK Plant to Greybull

Tata Steel has sold its Long Products Europe business, including its Scunthorpe plant, to investment firm Greybull Capital for a token £1 or €1.

Tata Steel agreed to sell one of its main British steelworks to investment firm Greybull Capital for 1 pound on Monday, saving a third of the 15,000 jobs placed in jeopardy by the Indian conglomerate's decision to sell up in Britain.

Prime Minister David Cameron has been under pressure to keep the plants open to save jobs after Tata, one of the world's biggest steelmakers, said on March 30 it would sell its loss-making British business.

Cameron, already grappling with a divided ruling party ahead of a June 23 referendum on membership of the European Union, has been scrambling to try to find buyers for Tata's Scunthorpe plant and its other main plant at Port Talbot, to save jobs.

The move will safeguard 4,400 UK jobs, but workers are being asked to accept a pay cut and less generous pension arrangements.

Greybull said it was arranging a £400m investment package as part of the deal.

The business will be rebranded as "British Steel" once the deal is completed in eight weeks, it said.

The new business would include the Scunthorpe works, two mills in Teesside, an engineering workshop in Workington, a design consultancy in York, a mill in Hayange, France, and sales and distribution facilities.

The token sale price reflects the difficulties involved in turning around the loss-making business, but Greybull partner Marc Meyohas said he was "delighted" with the agreement and believed the division could become a "strong business".

"At its core, it's a very, very good business," he said.

He also said Greybull had not ruled out buying other parts of Tata's UK steel business.

Sensex zooms 348 pts on hopes of good monsoon

 Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) Buoyed by expectations of a good monsoon this year, the BSE Sensex regained the 25,000-mark on Monday by rebounding 348 points to snap its two-day losing run, as investors widened their bets in bank and IT sectors in the last two hours of the session.

Hopes of a strong performance from IT firms in the upcoming fourth quarter earnings, beginning Friday with Infosys, also boosted the sentiment.

The government on Monday said after two years of deficient rainfall, monsoon this year is expected to be normal.

"El nino condition is declining. It is expected that La Nina condition will takeover and will perhaps favour a good monsoon this year," Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Patnaik said.

Met Department's predictions will be out later this month.

Sensex resumed higher at 24,789.40 and hovered in a range of 25,049.92 to 24,523.20 before ending at 25,022.16, showing a recovery of 348.32 points or 1.41 per cent. The gauge had lost 226.79 points in the previous two sessions.

The NSE Nifty crossed the 7,600-mark in a volatile trade.

At the close, it was higher by 116.20 points or 1.54 per cent, at 7,671.40. It hovered between 7,678.80 and 7,516.85.

Out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 26 ended higher.

Adani Ports topped the gainers among Sensex constituent by surging 4.54 per cent to Rs 228.90.

Shares of Bharti Airtel too stole the show by climbing 4.20 per cent to Rs 348.35 after the company announced that it will acquire rights to use 4G spectrum of Aircel in eight telecom circles for Rs 3,500 crore.

Other big gainers included BHEL, Tata Motors, Wipro, TCS, Tata Steel, SBI, NTPC, Axis Bank, Hero MotoCorp, L&T, Bajaj Auto, ITC Ltd, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever and Infosys.

Among losers, Lupin, Cipla, Dr Reddy's and M&M fell by up to 1.51 per cent, which restricted the upside in the indices.

Sector-wise, the BSE teck index gained the most by surging 2.25 per cent followed by power 2.10 per cent, auto 2 per cent, IT 1.92 per cent, metal 1.78 per cent, consumer durables 1.76 per cent, capital goods 1.70 per cent and banking 1.67 per cent.

While mid-cap rose 1.09 per cent, small-cap ended 0.63 per cent higher.

Globally, other Asian markets ended mixed while European stocks were higher in their opening trade.

Kremlin does not comment on deliveries of S-300 missile system to Iran

Iran’s TASNIM news agency reported earlier on Monday that the first batch of the S-300 air defense missile system has been delivered to Iran

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. The Kremlin does not comment on the beginning of deliveries to the Iranian side of Russia’s S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems.

"I’ll leave it without comment", Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Iran’s TASNIM news agency reported earlier on Monday, quoting Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari that the first batch of the S-300 air defense missile system has been delivered to Iran.

Iranian state television demonstrated on Monday the footage provided by the country’s Defense Ministry about the delivered first batch of the S-300PMU missile system. The weapons in camouflage covering were transported by heavy-duty army tractor units. The video showed a convoy of at least eight tractor units with trailers.