Trump seeks to downplay reports of his isolation at G20 Summit

Washington, Jul 14 (PTI) US President Donald Trump today said that he has a good relationship with all G20 leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as he sought to downplay reports that he was isolated at the last week's summit of the bloc in Germany.

India and 18 other members of the G20 during their summit in the German city of Hamburg last week termed the Paris climate deal as "irreversible" and threw their weight behind the landmark agreement from which Washington has decided to pull out.

Trump responding to questions related to the summit said, "It's a good thing that I have a good relationship with (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping). It's a good thing I have a good relationship with every one of them - Modi - you saw that." 

He was referring to his instant chemistry with Modi when he visited the White House last month.

"Every single one of them of all 19 - there's 20 with us. All 19, I have a great relationship with," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One who were travelling with him from Washington DC to Paris.

Sensex crosses 32k, Nifty at new high on rate cut chances

Mumbai, Jul 13 (PTI) The Sensex today went past the 32,000-mark for the first time ever soaring over 232 points and the Nifty closed at a new peak 9,892 as inflation hit a record low, offering the RBI leeway for a lower policy rate.

The 30-share BSE index took 33 sessions to rise 1,000 points before it finally went beyond the psychologically significant 32,000.

Higher Asian and European stocks provided fodder after the US Fed chief, in a House testimony, signalled that the approach to higher rates will be steady, prompting investors here to buy more.

Retail inflation for June hit a historically low 1.54 per cent and industrial output growth for May slumped to 1.7 per cent, boosting chances of a rate reduction by the Reserve Bank at its upcoming August policy meet. The macro numbers were released after market hours yesterday.

The BSE Sensex settled at a new peak of 32,037.38, up 232.56 points, or 0.73 per cent. It surpassed its previous record of 31,804.82 touched yesterday.

In past four days, the index had gained 676.75 points.

The broader 50-issue NSE Nifty spurted 75.60 points, or 0.77 per cent, to close at fresh lifetime high of 9,891.70, bettering its earlier record 9,816.10 hit yesterday.

Both indices rose for the fourth consecutive session.

ITC emerged as the top gainer by rising 3.03 per cent.

Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and Sun Pharma rose up to 1.84 per cent.

The largest IT exporter, TCS, firmed up 0.20 per cent ahead of its June quarterly earnings today.

Traders said ample liquidity in the market is driving the current phase of the rally amid optimism over earnings from blue-chip companies.

Consumer goods and banking stocks had a good day. The FMCG index rose the most by surging 1.58 per cent, followed by capital goods and banking.

Foreign investors have been supporting the ongoing rally by pumping in sizeable money into domestic markets. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 361.25 crore yesterday while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 330.58 crore, showed provisional data.

Buying activity also rubbed off on broader markets, with mid-cap and small-cap indices ruling up

India ready to forge 'ambitious' trading relations with UK: May

London, Jul 12 (PTI) India is among the countries ready to forge an "ambitious" new trading relationship with the UK after Britain leaves the European Union (EU), Prime Minister Theresa May has told the Parliament.

In a statement in the House of Commons on the recently concluded G20 summit in Hamburg, May said that her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi involved discussions on a wide range of issues, including tackling modern day slavery.

"At this summit, I held a number of meetings with other world leaders, all of whom made clear their strong desire to forge ambitious new bilateral trading relationships with the UK after Brexit. This included America, Japan, China and India," May said in her statement on Monday.

In response to Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn on the issue of striking new trade deals, she added: "I am very happy to tell him (Corbyn) that we are already working with the Americans on what a trade deal might look like. We already have a working group with the Australians, and we have a working group with India as well.

"We are working on trade in three areas. Obviously, one area is looking ahead to the trade agreements we can have with those countries we do not currently have them with as a member of the European Union.

"The second is ensuring that, where there are trade agreements with the EU, we are able to roll those forward as we leave the EU.

"The third area is working with countries such as India and Australia to discuss what changes we can make now, before we leave the EU, to improve our trade relationship."

Labour MP Graham Jones asked May if she had raised the issue of modern day slavery and child prostitution in India during her meeting with Modi, to which she said that it was an issue "previously" raised with the Indian PM as the UK wants "people around the world to address it".

"We are very clear that we want to see this issue being dealt with. That is one of the reasons why we have put into legislation the requirement for companies here in the UK, which will be manufacturing and will be sourcing products from around the world, to look at their supply chains and report on what they find in them and whether or not modern slavery is taking place within them," she told Parliament.

Modi and May had held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany last week, during which the Indian leader had raised the issue of Indian economic offenders like liquor baron Vijay Mallya and former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi and sought the UK s cooperation in extraditing them to face the Indian courts.

Mobile app “GST Rates Finder”

Mobile app “GST Rates Finder” which is available on android platform to be soon available on ios platform as well.

              

CBEC Mobile app “GST Rates Finder” which is available on android platform and soon will be available on ios platform as well. To install "GST Rate Finder", user of Android mobile has to first open Google Play Store and in the search option has to type GST Rate Finder. There may be many more apps available with similar names. The user has to download the app with CBEC Logo i.e.

Once downloaded and installed the icon will appear on the screen of the mobile. Now this mobile app is ready to operate and it will also operate in off-line mode.

 After clicking the icon with the above logo for the mobile app, home screen will appear. On this screen the most important feature is Quick Search.  The user can search for any goods and services by typing the name or chapter heading of the commodity or services.

If the user is not aware of the Chapter Heading of HSN then the user can type the name of the Goods or Services. For e.g. if the user search for Taxi related services then , Taxi has to typed in Quick Search. This search will provide the list of Goods and Services containing the name "Taxi", which was typed in the search box. Now the user may scroll the list and click on the specific category which the user is searching and as a result of the click, a window will pop-up

            This window will contain details like “GST rate”, “Chapter heading of the HSN”, and description of services. If still the user is not satisfied then a link of CBEC website is available on the home screen. This link will open the GST page of the CBEC website. The details are available on this website.           

            If the user is aware of the chapter heading or the HSN Code then the specific HSN code can be typed in Quick search box and the user can immediately see the specific description.

For example, any person who has been billed by a hotel or restaurant or for footwear can cross verify the rates through this mobile app.  It will increase transparency and truly empowers every citizen of the nation and serves as a ready reckoner for one and all.

Govt reviews security in Kashmir after brazen attack on yatris

Srinagar/New Delhi, July 11 (PTI) The army chief rushed to Kashmir today to review the security in the valley following an audacious terrorist attack on a pilgrims' bus that was reportedly masterminded by a Pakistan-based militant leader.

Seven pilgrims from Gujarat and Maharashtra were killed and 19 others injured in last night's attack by terrorists who sprayed the bus with gunfire from all directions.

The victims had earlier visited the Amarnath shrine and were on their way from Srinagar to Jammu.

The bus driver, Salim Sheikh Gafoor, a native of Gujarat, was hailed as a hero for saving the lives of some 50 others in the bus by speeding away through the hail of gunfire with a shattered windshield blocking his view, stopping only after 2 kilometers at a security post.

The attack drew widespread condemnation including by Amnesty International, the United States and across the Indian political spectrum.

"This act of violence has shaken the edifice of Kashmiri ethos and culture," said Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who spent the night in a hospital in Anantnag where the injured were being treated. "This incident is a blot on all Kashmiris and Muslims. We will not keep quiet till we bring the culprits to book," she said.

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat rushed to Srinagar this morning where he held a series of meetings, including with Governor N N Vohra and Mehbooba.

He also chaired a security review meeting in Srinagar which was attended by top Army officials, Director General of S P Vaid and Chief Secretary B B Vyas, an Army spokesman said.

"The COAS (Chief of Army Staff) condemned the dastardly act of terror against innocent Amarnath pilgrims, and indicated that the security forces will counter this menace with greater resolve," the spokesman said.

The Army chief exhorted the commanders and troops to keep up the pressure on the terrorists, the spokesman added.

TV channels reported that the attack was masterminded by a Pakistan-based LeT commander Abu Ismail. However, there was no independent confirmation of that.

In New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired another meeting that was attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior officials of the central police forces.

During the hour-long meeting, Singh took stock of the situation in Kashmir, particularly the two routes to the Amarnath shrine, located in the Himalayas at an altitude of 12,756 feet.

Later, the NSA briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Despite the attack, hundreds of pilgrims continued to journey to Amarnath cave, chanting 'Bam bam Bhole'.

Meanwhile, bodies of the seven victims were received by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Surat.

The governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and the Centre announced lakhs of rupees in compensation for the relatives of the deceased as well as the injured.

Rupani said he will recommend the driver for a bravery award.

The J&K government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) separately announced cash rewards totalling Rs 5 lakh for the driver.

"God gave me strength to save their lives," said Sheikh.

"Terrorists should not be spared. They should be killed as they are killing innocent people.

BSE stock surges nearly 9% in intra-day on NSE

New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) Shares of BSE surged nearly 9 per cent in intra-day trade on NSE today after trading resumed at the bourse during the afternoon session following a technical glitch.

The country's largest bourse NSE today halted trading for over three hours due to a technical glitch, leaving investors with no real time updates.

National Stock Exchange (NSE) had earlier in the day sought clarification from rival BSE about a significant increase in the trading volume of its shares.

Shares of BSE zoomed 8.82 per cent to Rs 1,161.05 on NSE in intra-day trading session. It later trimmed most of the early gains and closed at Rs 1,085.10, up 1.70 per cent.

On the volume front, a total of 1,02,668 shares of the exchange were traded on NSE during the day.

The BSE, which got listed on NSE's platform in February, said no price sensitive information is pending with it for furnishing to NSE.

"Significant increase in volume has been observed in BSE Limited. The exchange, in order to ensure that investors have latest relevant information about the company and to inform the market place so that the interest of the investors is safeguarded, had written to the company," NSE said.

In its response BSE said that there is no such announcement or price sensitive information, which is pending to be intimated by the company to the stock exchange concerning its performance.

Trump cuts isolated figure on world stage

Washington, Jul 9 (AFP) During a difficult visit to Europe Donald Trump appeared out of sync with traditional allies, struggling to show that unorthodox strategies toward rival powers Russia and China can deliver results.

At one point Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel exchanged a knowing glance as the US president veered off on another tangent.

What were to be remarks about women entrepreneurs had become a Trumpian soliloquy on his daughter Ivanka's merits and his paternal failings.

"If she weren't my daughter it would be so much easier for her," Trump said. "It might be the only bad thing going for her."

A few feet away, Merkel and Trudeau's nervy laughs were corporal acknowledgment that Trump's political peers are still unsure how to take the mercurial 71-year-old.

Throughout the meeting there was a sense the president of the United States, leader of the so-called "indispensable nation," has shifted positions, leaving everyone else struggling to correct.

In Warsaw, on the first stop of his four day trip, Trump sought to reassert his claim to lead the free world.

Like a king riding along the cavalry frontline, he sounded the charge against terrorism and bureaucracy, which he painted as threats to Christian civilization.

He embraced allies by affirming his commitment to NATO's mutual defense clause, satisfying long-standing demands to be clearer about the alliance.

But for many, Trump's idea of the West as a group of nations that "cry out 'We want God'" -- a West of high borders and fierce nationalism -- seemed out of kilter with the times.

"It is no accident that he gave this speech to a country with an ultra-conservative and Eurosceptic government," said Thomas Wright of the Brookings Institution.

"The great risk," Wright added, is that Trump's remarks "begin dividing Europe into old and new -- or those who don't like him and his message and those who do."

Trump's claim to be the guardian of Western values was further undermined by a press conference that saw sustained attacks on the free press and a downplaying of Russia's election interference.

Modi seeks UK's help in return of economic offenders

Hamburg, Jul 8 (PTI) As India works hard to ensure return of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pressed upon his British counterpart Theresa May to ensure UK's cooperation to bring back economic offenders.

Mallya has been in the UK for months, escaping arrest warrants against him, while a court in London is also hearing a case regarding his return to India.

Modi today met May during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here and sought UK's help in this regard.

Both leaders also talked about the complete range of India-UK ties.

In a tweet after the meeting, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the Prime Minister asked for UK's "cooperation for return of escaped Indian economic offenders".

Mallya, who is wanted in India for Kingfisher Airlines' default on loans worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore, has been in the UK since March 2016.

In April, he had attended a central London police station for his arrest and was released on conditional bail a few hours later after providing a bail bond worth 650,000 pounds, assuring the court of abiding by all conditions associated with extradition proceedings, such as the surrender of his passport and a ban on him possessing any travel documents.

India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty, signed in 1992, but so far only one extradition has taken place under the arrangement - Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India last October to face trial in connection with his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

"Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @theresa_may met and held talks on the complete range of India-UK ties," India's PMO said in a tweet.

7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on Allowances published in Gazette of India yesterday i.e. 6th July, 2017

The Central Government’s decision on recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on Allowances published in Gazette of India yesterday i.e. 6th July, 2017; All allowances are given effect from 1st July 2017;
Concerned Ministries advised to issue their Orders on Allowances governed by them immediately so that the revised rates of allowances get reflected in the current month's Salary Bills of the Government employees

                                                           

Resolution conveying the Central Government’s decision on recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on Allowances has been published in Gazette of India yesterday i.e.6^th July, 2017.

Based on the Report of Committee on Allowances (CoA) and the recommendation of E-CoS, the Cabinet had earlier approved the modifications in 34 Allowances in its Meeting held on 28th June 2017. 

All allowances are given effect from 1st July 2017. 

Concerned Ministries have now been advised to issue their Orders on Allowances governed by them immediately so that the revised rates of allowances get reflected in the current month's Salary Bills of the Government employees.

Major Highlights of the Allowances approved by the Union Cabinet are as follows:

• Cabinet approved recommendations of 7^th CPC on allowances with 34 modifications - revised rates effective from 01.07.2017
• It will benefit 34 lakh Civilian employees and 14 lakh Defence Forces personnel
• 7^th CPC examined 197 allowances, recommending abolition of 53 allowances and subsuming 37 in others.
• 7^th CPC recommended revised rates commensurate with Dearness Allowance
• Fully DA-indexed allowances - no raise, not DA indexed raised by 2.25, partially indexed raised by 1.5, % based rationalised by 0.8
• Risk & Hardship Matrix evolved for allowances linked to risk and hardship
• 7^th CPC projected additional financial implication at Rs.29,300 cr per annum, modifications to have additional implication of Rs.1448.23 cr
• Combined additional financial implication estimated at Rs.30748.23 crore per annum.

1.        Number of allowances recommended to be abolished and subsumed:

·          Government decided not to abolish 12 allowances in view of specific functional requirements

·         3 of 37 subsumed allowances will continue as separate identities due to unique nature of these allowances.

2.        House Rent Allowance (HRA)

·         HRA will be paid @24%, 16% & 8% for X, Y & Z cities respectively

·         HRA not to be less than Rs.5400, 3600 & 1800 for X,Y&Z cities, calculated @30,20,&10% of min pay of Rs.18000 - to benefit >7.5 lakh employee

·         7^th CPC recommended revision of HRA when DA reaches 50% & 100%, Govt decided to revise rates when DA crosses 25% and 50% respectively.

3.        Siachen Allowance:

• Rates of Siachen Allowance increased from Rs.14000 pm (Soldiers) to Rs.30000 & Rs.21000 pm (Officers) to Rs.42500 for extreme risk & hardship.

4.        Dress Allowance:

·         Government decided to pay Dress Allowance to Nurses on monthly basis due to high maintenance and hygiene requirements.

·         Higher rate of Dress Allowance for Special Protection Group accepted by Govt.

5.        Tough Location Allowance:

·          7^th CPC recommended-TLA not to be granted with SDA-Govt decided to give option of SCLRA at pre-revised rates with SDA at revised rates

6.                     Recommendations in respect of some important allowances paid to all categories:

·           Children Education Allowance increased from Rs.1500 pm/child (max.2) to Rs.2250/child and Hostel Subsidy increased from Rs.4500 pm to Rs.6750 pm.

·           Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities doubled from Rs.1500 pm to Rs.3000 pm

·            Higher Qualification Incentive for Civilians increased from Rs.2000 - Rs.10000 (Grant) to Rs.10000 – Rs.30000 (Grant)

7.        Recommendations in respect of some important allowances paid to Uniformed Services: Defence, CAPFs, Police, Indian Coast Guard and Security Agencies

·       Abolition of Ration Money Allowance and free ration to Defence officers in peace areas not accepted, RMA to be credited in bank account

·       Technical Allowance (Tier-II) not to be merged, Govt. decided to continue Technical Allowance (Tier-II) @Rs.4500 pm-courses to be reviewed

·       Aeronautical Allowance increased Rs.300 pm to Rs.450 pm and extended to Indian Coast Guard also

·       Counter Insurgency Ops (CI Ops) Allowance for counter – insurgency ops increased from Rs.3000 - Rs.11700 pm to Rs.6000 – Rs.16900 pm

·       MARCOS and Chariot Allowance paid to marine commandos increased from Rs.10500 - Rs.15750 pm to Rs.17300 – Rs.25000 pm

·       Conditionality of 12 hrs reduced to 4 hrs for Sea Going Allowance and rates increased from Rs.3000 - Rs.7800 pm to Rs.6000 – Rs.10500 pm

·       COBRA Allowance granted to CRPF personnel in Naxal hit areas increased from Rs.8400 - Rs.16800 pm to Rs.17300 – Rs.25000 pm

·       Modified Field, Field & Highly Active Field Area Allowances increased from Rs.1200 - Rs.12600 pm to Rs.6000 – Rs.16900 pm.

·       Flying Allowance increased from Rs.10500 - Rs.15750 pm to Rs.17300 – Rs.25000 pm and extended to BSF Air Wing also

·       High Altitude Allowance increased from Rs.810 - Rs.16800 pm to Rs.2700 – Rs.25000 pm

·       Higher Qualification Incentive for Defence Personnel increased from Rs.9000 – Rs.30000 (Grant) to Rs.10000 – Rs.30000 (Grant).

·       Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Allowance increased from Rs.1500 / 3000 pm to Rs.4100 / 5300 pm

·       Additional Free Railway Warrant (Leave Travel Concession) extended to CAPFs.

·       Territorial Army Allowance increased from Rs.175 - Rs.450 pm to Rs.1000 –Rs. 2000 pm

·       Ceilings of Deputation (Duty) Allowance for Defence Personnel increased from Rs.2000 - Rs.4500 pm to Rs.4500 - Rs.9000 pm

·       Detachment Allowance increased Rs.165 - Rs.780 per day to Rs.405 – Rs.1170 per day

·       Para Jump Instructor Allowance increased from Rs.2700/3600 pm to Rs.6000/10500 pm

·       Govt. increased Special Security Allowance for Special Protection Group to 55% and 27.5% of BP for ops and non – ops duties

·       Housing provisions for PBORs and their families residing at other stations significantly improved and linked to HRA, process simplified

8. Allowances paid to Indian Railways

·       Additional Allowance increased from Rs.500 / 1000 pm to Rs.1125 / 2250 pm and extended to Loco Pilot Goods and Senior Passenger Guards @Rs.750 pm

·      Special Train Controller’s Allowance @5000 pm introduced for Train Controllers of Railways

9. Allowances paid to Nurses & Ministerial Staffs of Hospital

·       Governmentt increased rate of Nursing Allowance from Rs.4800 pm to Rs.7200 pm

·       Operation Theatre Allowance not abolished and rates increased from Rs.360 pm to Rs.540 pm

·       Hospital Patient Care Allowance/Patient Care Allowance increased from Rs.2070 - Rs.2100 pm to Rs.4100 – Rs.5300 pm

·       7th CPC recommendations modified and HPCA / PCA to continue for Ministerial staff

10. Allowances to Pensioners

·       Fixed Medical Allowance for Pensioners increased from Rs.500 pm to Rs.1000 pm

·       Constant Attendance Allowance on 100% disablement increased from Rs.4500 pm to Rs.6750 pm

11. Allowances to Scientific Departments

·         7th CPC recommendations to abolish Launch Campaign Allowance and Space Technology Allowance not accepted – rates revised from Rs.7500 pa to Rs.11250 pa

·         Professional Update Allowance for non-gazetted staff of DAE will continue at enhanced rate of Rs.11250 pa

·         Antarctica Allowance – Summer rates revised from Rs.1125 per day to Rs.1500 per day, Winter rates from Rs.1688 per day to Rs.2000 per day

12. Allowance paid to D/o Posts & Railways

·              Cycle Allowance not abolished - rates doubled from Rs.90 to Rs.180 pm for functional requirements of Postmen in Posts and Trackmen in Railways.

Modi, Netanyahu make waves with barefoot stroll on beach

Tel Aviv, Jul 6 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu today made waves online with their camaraderie as a barefoot stroll on the beach, a discussion in ankle deep water and a toast to life with desalinated water reflected the warmth in their relationship.

The bonhomie between the two leaders was on ample display as they witnessed the demonstration of sea water purification technology pioneered by Israel at a water desalination unit on the Olga Beach in north Israel.

The two leaders spent some time on the beach and had a long chat standing ankle deep in the waters with waves hitting their feet.

Modi had his trousers folded up as he entered the waters while Netanyahu came smartly dressed in casuals with a polo shirt.

The two leaders later drove together in the mobile water desalination unit, which looked like a dune buggy, and sipped desalinated water from wine glasses, raising a toast saying -- lehaim (to life) -- with desalinated water.

They took a barefoot stroll along the Mediterranean shore with Netanyahu later tweeting, "There's nothing like going to the beach with friends!" 

Later, Netanyahu also gifted Modi a signed picture of them strolling barefoot at the Olga beach in northern Israel with a message hailing their friendship.

"To Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with deepest friendship on your historic visit to Israel," Modi tweeted the picture gifted to him by his Israeli counterpart.

Modi and Netanyahu's camaraderie created waves online with many discussing their "budding bromance".

The Israeli premier accompanied Modi almost like a shadow since Modi landed here on the first visit by an Indian premier to the Jewish state, with both of them hugging each other at every possible opportunity.

The two leaders also constantly referred to each other as "my friend" and used superlatives while appreciating each other.