Airports Authority of India (AAI) Centre Receives ICAO's Membership

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IBNS): The Indian government on Friday said the Airports Authority of India has received the Trainair Plus accreditation certificate and membership plaque from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its Headquarters in Canada.

The state-run airports body received the ICAO’s Trainair Plus accreditation certificate and membership plaque from ICAO, following an inspection of its Fire Training Centre (FTC) in October, an AAI release said, adding AAI Chairman V P Agrawal received the certificate and the plaque.
                                                     

         
With this membership, FTC would have access to global sourcing of training packages which are in line with ICAO's efforts to "improve safety and efficiency of air transport through establishment, maintenance and monitoring of high standards of training and competency of aviation personnel in a cost-effective manner," it said.

The Civil Aviation Training College in Allahabad and AAI New Delhi have earlier received such an accreditation for the training facilities.

The Certificate and membership plaque were handed over to V.P. Agrawal, Chairman, AAI and G.K.Chaukiyal, Member (Operations), AAI by the General Manager (Fire Service), Md Hanif. 

Bollywood Shocked As Veteran Actor Farooq Sheikh Dies At 65

Bollywood expressed shock over the sudden demise of veteran actor Farooq Sheikh passed away on Saturday in Dubai at 65.

Veteran Bollywood actor Farooq Sheikh died on 28 December 2013 due to heart attack in Dubai. He died at the age of 65 and was born on 25 March 1948.
                                         

He was best known for roles in films like Garam Hawa (1973), Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977), Noorie (1979), Chashme Baddoor (1981), Umrao Jaan (1981), Bazaar (1982) and Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983). He won 2010 National Film Award for best supporting actor in Lahore (a sports film).

He started his Bollywood career in 1973 with Garam Hawa and his last performance was in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in 2013. He was a theatre personality. He was the host of the popular show Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai on television, in which he interviewed the celebrities of Bollywood.

34th National Archery Championship: Deepika Kumari

JAMSHEDPUR: Deepika Kumari marched into history by winning her sixth consecutive title at the 34th National Archery Championships at JRD Tata Stadium here on Wednesday. While Atanu Das of PSPB claimed the men's individual title, it was Deepika who stole the show by finishing with six gold medals.

World Cup silver medallist, Deepika shattered the previous best by Olympian L Bombalya Devi (RSPB), who had set up 333 points out of maximum 360, at the 32nd Sahara Senior National Recurve and Compound Championship here in January 2012.
                                           

Top ranked woman archer of Jharkhand, Deepika Kumari, created another national record 34th Senior National Archery Championship 2013 in JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur. She has also broken Dola Banerjee's record at the event.

She also shattered the previous record of Olympian L Bombayla Devi's (RSPB) 345 out of 360 points record by scoring 346 points in the 60 meter distance. Bombayla Devi had created the record at 32nd Sahara Senior National Recurve and Compound Championship held here in January last year.

Deepika in women's section and Tarundeep Rai (SSCB) in the men's section topped the medal chart today. In the men's 90 meter and 70 meters, Rai hit the bull's eye to earn 323 and 339 points respectively to emerge victorious.

Jharkhand with 10 gold, two silver and five bronze topped the medal chart followed by SSCB with three gold, three silver and three bronze.

Bangalore Celebrates Christmas 2013

Bangalore: It is the time to sing carols, eat a traditional Christmas spread, drink and make merry. It is celebration time for Bangalore as the city dives into the Christmas spirit.

Houses, churches and offices are fascinatingly embellished with colorful lights to mark the festival in a grand way. Bishops and pastors led services and delivered sermons in various churches of different Christian denominations in the city.

                                               

                 
Churches all across the city are at the embellished best and so are the houses. It is not only celebration at a personal level for Bangalore, but also celebrating it with those who cannot celebrate it or cannot afford to celebrate. " Bangalore Celebrate Christmas with those who cannot celebrate it, " says a happy Jean Magesh from CV Raman Nagar who has invited friends over on Christmas

She further informs, "For four weeks we prepare ourselves for today. We keep the baby in the manjer following all the Catholic traditions." Her kids are Hannah(8) and Jessica(4) are indeed the lucky ones as secret Santa has gifted them gold earrings and an original guitar for Christmas. It is sweets at home and traditional Christmas spread after people go for the servic

The Catholic Club at Museum road in the city saw a huge number of Christians celebrating Christmas and dancing together with family and friends. "I went to the catholic club last night and stayed there till 4 am. We had a formal party with lots of dancing," says Sujith Sebastian. His family doesn't follow the traditional western spread but have gone a whole notch up with the menu laid out at the table.

"We had a really grand lunch which had all kinds of meat; turkey, chicken , beef, sea-food. Not the typical western spread happening. And for breakfast it was mutton stew with Uppam. I think, I should be living in the gym for 3 days," says Sujith. It is gift time for a happy Raymond Roy who is celebrating his Christmas with friends over Turkey and drinks.

Consumers Hour to Be observed on December 24

The state government will observe consumer hour from 5.30pm to 6.30pm on December 24 as part of the National Consumer Day observance. The government will also, for the first time, celebrate a consumer week from December 18 to 24 as part of its efforts to spread consumer rights awareness, said food and civil supplies minister Anoop Jacob.
                                                   

"Most of the citizens are even unaware of their rights as consumers observed on December 24. Senior consumers will be felicitated during the consumer hour in three ration shops in each taluk in the state. Also, there will be a lucky dip competition for the customers during the hour in the Supplyco outlets, after which the winner will be awarded a prize," the minister said.

As part of the celebrations, district-wise programmes including seminars and painting and essay competitions for schoolchildren, will be held during the week.

The minister said the consumer clubs in schools will be strengthened. "Currently, there are close to 100 clubs which are mostly concentrated in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. We hope to expand this to over 500 schools across the state," he said. The consumer clubs will organize various programmes to increase the awareness among the schoolchildren about their rights as consumers. "Many of the clubs which are currently defunct will be revived," he added. 

Famous Kannada Poet G. S. Shivarudrappa Dead

Distinguished Kannada poet, writer and researcher G.S. Shivarudrappa (87), popularly known as Prof. GSS, passed away at his residence at Banashankari here on Monday.

Shivarudrappa (87) had been ailing for some time and the end came this afternoon, his family said. He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.
                                   

                       
He was a recipient of the Central Sahitya Akademi award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy award, besides others including the Soviet Land Nehru award. Shivarudrappa was among the triumvarite to have been conferred the prestigious "Rashtra Kavi" (National Poet) title by the Karnataka government, apart from Kuvempu and Manjeshwar Govind Pai. G. S. Shivarudrappa Dead, who has made a lasting contribution to Kannada literature, has published 13 collections of poems and several prose and research works, besides travelogues.

Shivarudrappa was among the triumvarite to have been conferred the prestigious "Rashtra Kavi" (National Poet) title by the Karnataka government, apart from Kuvempu and Manjeshwar Govind Pai.

Shivarudrappa, who has made a lasting contribution to Kannada literature, has published 13 collections of poems and several prose and research works, besides travelogues. Describing Shivarudrappa's death as an "irreparable loss" to the state and Kannada literary world, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a two-day state mourning from today as a mark of respect to him. He also announced a holiday for government offices and educational institutions tomorrow.

Takahashi, Who Tamed Chickenpox, Dies At 85

Dr. Michiaki Takahashi, whose experience caring for his 3-year-old son after the boy contracted chickenpox led him to develop a vaccine for the virus that is now used all over the world, died Monday in Osaka, Japan.He was 85.

The cause was heart failure, said his longtime secretary, Maki Fukui.                                            

 
In 1964 Dr. Takahashi, who had spent several years studying the measles and polio viruses in Japan, was on a research fellowship at Baylor Medical College in Houston when his son, Teruyuki, came down with a severe case of chickenpox after playing with a friend who had the virus.

“My son developed a rash on his face that quickly spread across his body,” Dr. Takahashi Dies recalled in a 2011 interview with The Financial Times. “His symptoms progressed quickly and severely. His temperature shot up and he began to have trouble breathing. He was in a terrible way, and all my wife and I could do was to watch him day and night. We didn’t sleep. He seemed so ill that I remember worrying about what would happen to him.”

“But gradually, the symptoms lessened and my son recovered,” he added. “I realized then that I should use my knowledge of viruses to develop a chickenpox vaccine.”

He returned to Japan in 1965 and within five years had developed an early version of the vaccine. By 1972 he was experimenting with it in clinical trials. Within a few years, Japan and some other countries had begun widespread vaccination programs. Yet the Food and Drug Administration did not approve the United States’ first chickenpox vaccine until 1995.

The delay was caused by several factors, including concerns that the immunity created by the vaccine might not last long enough, that there could be unwanted side effects and, more generally, that chickenpox might not be a serious enough disease to warrant a vaccination program.

India, Venezuela to Have Cultural Exchanges

New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) India and Venezuela here Friday signed a programme on cultural exchanges in the fields of publication, film and media, image and space arts, stage and music arts.

The programme will last for three years and will be renewed automatically thereafter.
                                                       

         
The cultural exchange programme was signed by Ravindra Singh, secretary, ministry of culture, India and Javier Sarabia, ministry of people's power for culture, Venezuela.

"The countries have decided to promote the exchange of bilingual publications (traditional and contemporary stories), encourage participation of Venezuelan and Indian poets and writers in the literature festivals organised by both countries," said an official statement.

There will also be exchanges between theatre groups, film makers and representatives from both countries, among other things.

Antarctica May Have A New Type of ice: Diamonds

(Reuters) - A kind of rock that often contains diamonds has been found in Antarctica for the first time, hinting at mineral riches in the vast, icy continent -- where mining is banned.

No diamonds were found, but researchers said they were confident the gems were there.
                                                                     

                                                                   
A 1991 environmental accord banned mining for at least 50 years under the Antarctic May Have Treaty that preserves the continent for scientific research and wildlife, from penguins to seals.

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, an Australian-led team reported East Antarctic deposits of kimberlite, a rare type of rock named after the South African town of Kimberley famed for a late 19th century diamond rush.

"These rocks represent the first reported occurrence of genuine kimberlite in Antarctica," they wrote of the finds around Mount Meredith in the Prince Charles Mountains.

Diamonds are formed under immense heat and pressure around 160 kilometers below ground in the molten rock of Earth’s mantle. Millions of years later, they are brought to the surface in powerful eruptions and preserved in the distinctive igneous rock formations called kimberlites.

Women's Reservation Bill All About

INTRODUCTION

The proposed legislation to reserve 33 per cent seats in parliament and state assemblies is quite a news these days. Introduction of this bill was first made in Lok Sabha on 12th September, 1996. This bill was drafted by H D Deve Gowada (former Prime minister of India) let united front government. If this bill is passed then one third of the seats would be reserved for women in nation, state and at local government level (local government reservation is already present). It has not been passed till now because of lack of political consensus.                                        

               

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF BILL

⇒ It would give gender equality in parliament.

⇒ Bill will empower women.

⇒ Increase political participation of women will help to fight women’s against abuse, discrimination, inequality now they are suffering.

⇒ Now women will themselves be able to solve women related issues.

REASONS FOR OPPOSITION TO THE BILL

⇒ Only higher class group women (i.e. women from elite families) will get benefit of this reservation.

⇒ Many men candidate of political party will not be getting chances for election so many political parties are not giving support to this women's reservation bill.

⇒ It will only increase further discrimination and under representation of the poor and backward classes in the legislative bodies.

⇒ Political parties are not ready to give such a huge reservation to women citing the reservation need for other minority groups.

⇒ Most of the political parties are favouring quota with quota policy for women reservation.

⇒ Also, if 33.3 per cent reservation for women is added to the already existing 22.5 percent for scheduled castes and tribes, more than 55 per cent of seats in Parliament would be reserved.

THE MAIN PROBLEMS ARISING

⇒ In order to remove inequality, we will be creating a new form of inequality.

⇒ Why should we vote for someone just coz for being a woman?

⇒ About temporary quota for 15 years for this bill: There is no such thing as a short-term or temporary quota: The SC/ST/OBC Quota was supposed to be there only for the first 15 years too. Then, why is it still there?

⇒ This bill is empowering women but by giving pity & not the real power.

PRESENT STATE OF THE BILL

⇒ It is passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010 itself.

⇒ It is waiting to be passed by Lok Sabha & hopefully will be tabled soon.

Gujarat’s Kutch Rann Utsav 2013-14 Dates Announced

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) announced that the Kutch Rann Utsav will be celebrated from December 15, 2013 to February 15, 2014. The festival provides an exclusive opportunity to witness the creative initiative of the artisans and craftspeople of Gujarat. Nearly 32 cultural troupes from various districts of Gujarat participate in the Dance and Musical Carnival.
                                                       

       
Four hundred air-conditioned tents with modern facilities will accommodate the visitors at Rann of Kutch and there will be facilities for hot-air ballooning, adventure sports and fairs, said an official of Gujarat Tourism, as per a report in Telegraph India.

Started in 2005 as a three-day event, the Rann Utsav has grown into a two-month festival. Last year, it had attracted 10,000 visitors. A two-night-three-day package will cost Rs 15,000, including pick-up from Bhuj, lodging and dining. A three-night package will come for Rs 22,000.

“The highlight of the place is the full moon shining on the white sand as well the sunrise,” said Kingshuk Biswas, Marketing Manager, TCGL.

Kamlesh Patel, Chairman, TCGL, who was in the city recently to promote the destination, said it was one of the most ambitious tourism projects of the Modi government. “We have spent over Rs 1,200 crore over the past five years on upgrading our infrastructure to promote tourism. The tent city is one of our most ambitious so far,” Patel added.

Yemen Parliament Banned Use of US Drones

Yemen’s parliament approved a non-binding motion on Sunday to end drone attacks in the country, in a sign of mounting opposition to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles against militants by the U.S. in the Middle East.
                                           

The U.S. says its drone program in Yemen has been able to contain al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, which Washington considers the most active wing of the terrorist organization worldwide. Sunday’s proposal, which follows reports of a deadly drone strike earlier in the week on a wedding party, is seen as a recommendation to Yemen's president who holds veto power.

The non-binding motion needs to be approved by the president in order to have any political weight. At the moment, the motions passed by the Yemeni parliament are seen as no more than recommendations to the government, Reuters stressed.

Yemen’s parliament, which is dominated by the party of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Islamist Islah party, voted on Sunday in favour of halting drone attacks.

“The parliament appears to be giving orders to authorities, when it has lost its credibility long time ago,” said political analyst Abdelbari Tahar.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot frequently attack state institutions, the military and foreign missions in the country. On Dec. 5, 12 al-Qaida militants attacked the Yemeni defense ministry, killing 56 people and injuring more than 200.

“If the government fails to stop American planes from... bombing the people of Yemen, then it has no rule over us,” tribal chief Ahmad al-Salmani told AFP.

A section of the Yemeni public and the country's politicians agree that without drone attacks, AQAP would have widened its network in Yemen. However, critics among Yemeni nationals argue that civilian casualties from drone strikes stir anti-American sentiments and sympathetic attitudes toward the militants.

Lal Thanhawla Sworn-in As Mizoram Chief Minister

AIZAWL: Lal Thanhawla, who steered Congress to a landslide victory in Mizoram, was sworn-in as Chief Minister by Governor Vakkom Purushothaman on Saturday.

He was sworn-in and administered oath of office along with his 11-member council of ministers at the Raj Bhavan here.
                                                             

                                         
Mizoram Governor Vakkom B Purushothaman will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Thanhawla and his Cabinet colleagues today at 11 am at Raj Bhavan.

Newly-elected Congress party legislators had on Wednesday met here and formally elected 71-year-old Thanhawla as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

When asked if former finance minister H Liansailova, who lost in the Assembly elections, would be the party's candidate during bypolls to either of the two seats Lal Thanhawla Sworn has won, he said, "I think he will be a good choice."

After H Liansailova's defeat was known on counting day, Lal Thanhawla had said, "My happiness [over the Congress win] cannot be complete."

The Chief Minister had won from Serchhip and Hrangturzo constituencies.

The Congress had won 33 seats in the Mizoram Assembly elections, counting of which was done on December 9.

deliton.net

EU Puts An End to Suspense over GSP Plus to Pakistan

The suspense over whether Pakistan would get the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status from the European Union has ended with the European Parliament voting 409-182 in favour of granting the status to Pakistan.

“An overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament supported the granting of GSP Plus (GSP+) status to Pakistan,” said the office of the EU Delegation to Pakistan in a press release.
                                         

                         
As a result, 20 percent of Pakistani exports would get zero-tariff access to the 27-member EU market, while another 70 percent of products would get access at preferential rates to the EU market for four years, beginning January 1, 2014.

The GSP Plus status is expected to greatly benefit Pakistan’s textile producers and exporters, who would now be able to better compete with countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who already have duty-free access to the European markets.

According to experts, Pakistan would now be able to export most of its textile products to the EU at zero-duty or at concessionary tariff rates. In fact, around 900 of the 2,500 tariff lines that would benefit belong to the textile sector.

At present, textiles and clothing constitute more than 50 percent of Pakistan’s total exports worth US$ 9.5 billion to the EU market.

Chaudhry Sarwar, Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province who was in Brussles for lobbying Pakistan’s case for GSP Plus, said the European Parliament’s decision would result in increasing Pakistan’s exports by US$ 1 billion, and it would generate new job opportunities for about one million Pakistani citizens.

deliton.net

Pope Francis Named Time's ‘Person of The Year 2013’

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pontiff, elected nine months ago, was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2013, leaving whistleblower Edward Snowden in second place, the magazine revealed on Wednesday.

The iconic title goes each year to the one chosen by prominent US magazine Time as the individual who had the most influence on the world and news over the year.
                                             

               
"For pulling the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, for committing the world’s largest church to confronting its deepest needs and for balancing judgment with mercy, Pope Francis is TIME's 2013 Person of the Year," as managing editor, Nancy Gibbs, explained the magazine’s choice.

“He took the name of a humble saint and then called for a church of healing.”

“The first non-European pope in 1,200 years is poised to transform a place that measures change by the century,” Time wrote about the Argentinian, who outran former NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden, who took second place.

The Vatican reacted to the news saying that the pontiff is not looking for fame.

“The Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honors. But if the choice of Person of the Year helps spread the message of the gospel - a message of God's love for everyone - he will certainly be happy about that" said Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, as cited by “Today”.

Supreme Court Asks Centre, States To Make Functional CBI Courts

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday set a fresh four-month deadline for Centre and states to make functional all the 22 CBI courts across the country for trying corruption cases involving politicians and public servants and warned that failure to comply with its order would invite contempt action against chief secretaries.

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and C Nagappan also observed that these CBI courts are necessary for “speedy and expeditious” disposal of corruption cases.
                                       

                   
"We expect the Central government and the state governments to make all Central Bureau of Investigation courts functional. If not complied within four months, chief secretaries will be liable for proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act," said the Bench while pointing out that the people's confidence in administration of justice is restored by expeditious disposal of corruption cases.

The court had earlier expressed its displeasure over the Centre's failure to set up adequate special functional CBI courts despite its repeated orders.

The court had on January 30 directed the Centre to set up 22 special CBI courts within two months across the country while making it clear that it was not satisfied with the reasons and explanations given by the authorities concerned.

"We have been passing orders since 2011... But every time you come out with reasons and explanations. If you wish, you can do it within an hour," the bench had observed.

The court had earlier taken cognisance of a letter written by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to chief ministers in July 2009 for creation of additional special courts.

The government had in 2009 decided to set up 71 additional special courts exclusively for trial of CBI cases in various states.

deliton.net

Armed Forces Flag Day Observed Throughout The Country

7 December: Armed Forces Flag Day

Armed Forces Flag Day was observed across India on 7 December 2013. The day is observed to remember the sacrifices made by gallant servicemen of India in defending the integrity of our borders and to salute the martyrs, honour the brave and express solidarity and support towards welfare of widows, children, disabled and sick ex-servicemen.
                                                       

                                               
The day is observed on 7 December every year in India, since 1949.
                                                     
The officials of Kendriya Sainik pinned Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Lapels on Dignitaries and collected donations from the public which goes into the AFFD corpus. The fund collected with the donation is utilized to give grants to various ESM welfare institutions and relief to ex-servicemen and their dependents besides host of other welfare measures.

Significance and Purpose of the Flag Day

The Flag Day is observed to serve three basic purposes

• Rehabilitation of battle casualties

• Welfare of serving personnel and their families

• Resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their families

On Armed Forces Flag Day funds are collected from the Indians by distribution of flags. This process gives Indians a chance to express gratitude and appreciation to the military personnel of India.

deliton.net

Parliament Passes Bill to Prohibit Employment of Manual Scavengers

A bill seeking to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, to those employing such labour was passed by Parliament on Saturday.

The bill has provisions for providing for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well.
                                               

It has a wider scope for higher penalties than the 1993 Act. Offences under the Bill shall be cognisable and non-bailable and may be tried summarily. The penalty could be up to five years imprisonment.

The bill, which had got a strong push from Congress President Sonia Gandhi and seeks to wipe out this "social stigma" by arranging for alternative jobs and providing other provisions to those in such work and their families got the unanimous approval of Rajya Sabha today.

Lok Sabha had passed the bill on Friday.

Moving the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2013 in the Rajya Sabha, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Selja said the new bill had to be brought in as the earlier Act did not prove very effective.

Under the new law, each occupier of insanitary latrines shall be responsible for converting or demolishing the latrine at his own cost. If he fails to do so, the local authority shall convert the latrine and recover the cost from him.

Nepali Congress Emerges Largest Party in Parliament

The Nepali Congress Party won the largest share of seats in the Constituent Assembly, according to official election results announced on Tuesday.

The party, which already won 105 seats through direct election, took an additional 91 seats though the proportional representation system, for a total of 196. The 601-member Assembly will also function as a parliament.
                                     

                     
The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninists won a combined total of 175 seats.

The Unified Maoist party, which was the largest in the previous parliament, won 80 seats, the election commission said. The party is demanding an investigation into alleged voting irregularities.

“The agenda will still be the same, only the drivers of an old bus have changed,” said political commentator Bijay Kumar Pandey.

“Federalism is still the agenda of all the three major parities and it will still be a secular Nepal.” In the previous Constituent Assembly, the Maoists had a total of 229 seats, while the Nepali Congress had 115 and the UML had 108 seats.

That 2008 Assembly failed to produce a draft constitution after several deadline extensions and was disbanded in 2012.

EGoM Approves M&A Norms For Telecom Sector

The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Telecom, on Tuesday, approved the ‘mergers and acquisitions’ (M&A) guidelines, besides clearing the sale of over 400 MHz of 2G spectrum (1800 MHz band), a move that would help further growth and consolidation of the cellular phone market in the country.

At its meeting, the EGoM, headed by Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, also approved payment of market rates for spectrum above 4.4 MHz allotted to the acquired entity.
                                         

   
"EGoM has approved M&A guidelines, which will now go for the approval of the Cabinet," the source said, adding that legal opinion will be taken if M&A amounts to sale of equity.

The M&A guidelines are expected to pave the way for consolidation in the telecom sector where there are 12 mobile service providers, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, BSNL, Tata Teleservices and Aircel.

"The M&A rules have been approved," Communications Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after a meeting of the empowered group of ministers, headed by finance minister P Chidambaram. The Cabinet is expected to meet shortly to ratify the changed rules.

The government in the Budget has provisioned about Rs 41,000 crore from spectrum revenue, which included upfront money from auction and various fees levied on airwaves used for commercial mobile communications.

E-BRC Project Won 2013 EASIA Award

Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s e-BRC project has won the 2013 eASIA Award under Trade Facilitation category. The award was announced by Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 29 November 2013.

About e-BRC Project

electronic Bank Realization Certificate (e-BRC) project was launched on 5 June 2012, to electronically transmit foreign exchange realization details on exports from the respective banks to Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
                                     

The project has created an integrated platform for receipt, processing and subsequent use of all Bank Realization related information by exporters, banks, central and state government departments. It was made mandatory with effect from 17 August 2012.

The Bank Realization Certificate is required for discharge of export obligation and to claim incentives under Foreign Trade Policy. Earlier, this certificate was issued by banks manually. BRC is also used by state government departments for refund of VAT.

About the Award

The award is administered by Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT). Its principal focus is to facilitate international transactions, through the simplification and harmonization of procedures and information flows, and so contribute to the growth of global commerce.

AFACT aims to support in the Asia Pacific region and its adjacent countries and economies policies and activities, especially those promoted by United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), dedicates to stimulate, improve and promote the ability of business, trade and administrative organizations, to exchange products and relevant services effectively through the simplification and harmonization of processes, procedures and information flows in a non-political environment.

Pan Asian eCommerce Alliance (PAA) is the Association member of the AFACT and the member countries are: 

• Afghanistan

• Australia

• China

• Chinese Taipei

• Cambodia
 
• India

• Indonesia

• R. Iran

• Japan

• Malaysia
 
• Mongolia

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Korea

• Singapore
 
• Sri Lanka

• Saudi Arabia

• Thailand

• Vietnam

'Fast & Furious' Star Paul Walker Killed in Car Crash

Santa Clarita, California (CNN) -- Actor Paul Walker, who shot to fame as star of the high-octane street racing franchise "Fast & Furious," died in a fiery car crash in Southern California on Saturday. He was 40.

Walker was in the passenger seat of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, driven by a racing team partner, that slammed into a light pole and burst into flames in an office park in the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Hollywood.
                                               

     
The actor was travelling as a passenger in a new Porsche when his friend who was driving - who has been described as an "experienced driver"  lost control of the vehicle and collided with a street light, and then a tree.

A statement on the actor's Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend's car, and that Paul Walker  Killed was in the area to attend a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.

Deputy Mark Pope said the accident was under investigation and he did not know how fast the car was going.

The Los Angeles Times identified the driver as Roger Rodas, 38, a friend of Walker's who owned Always Evolving, an auto dealership and racing services company.

Walker also is the star of "Hours," an independent film scheduled to be released December 13 about a father struggling to keep his newborn infant alive in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

"Completely numb and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Paul Walker," wrote one.

Hollywood condolences came from Will Smith, Jack Osbourne, DMX and others.