In bitcoin's worst week since 2013, BigB's $100-mn kitty considerably down

The Bitcoin-driven top-up to Bachchan's fortunes comes in the backdrop of Stampede recently listing one of its subsidiaries, Longfin Corp, on the Nasdaq exchange in the US

The crazy swings of Bitcoin prices added more than $100 million to megastar Amitabh Bachchan's fortunes within days, but most of it got wiped out even faster -- thanks to a small stake in a hitherto unknown firm associated with the web of cryptocurrencies.

There may be further such fluctuations with the craze for Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies continuing to drive their prices and the regulatory risks remaining a big drag for the prices that saw Bitcoin skyrocketing to near $20,000 just a few days back before plunging back by almost half and then again recovering to $15,000 level.

While lakhs of Indians are said to have taken a fancy to the Bitcoin and other such virtual currencies, Bachchan is probably the first big name from the country to get associated with this big buzzword -- albeit indirectly and because of a small investment that is at least 3-4 years old.

The link is a Hyderabad-based company named Stampede Capital, which describes itself as a "research driven global trade house" and a "liquidity provider and market maker" at various exchanges driving "millions of dollars trading volume everyday across the globe in nano seconds".

ALSO READ : Cryptocurrency Stocks Still Holding Gains Despite 30% Fall In Bitcoin

In its regulatory filings, the company lists Bachchan as an "individual non-promoter shareholder" with a small stake of 2.38 per cent at the end of last quarter. As per the BSE records, Bachchan figures on the list of shareholders (with 1 per cent or more stake) since at least June 2014, though the quantum he is holding has been changing somewhat.

As on June 30, 2014, Bachchan held 3.39 per cent in the company which could have been worth around Rs 9 crore at that time (going by the share price around then), while the value of his latest holding is almost half at about Rs 4.7 crore.

The Bitcoin-driven top-up to Bachchan's fortunes comes in the backdrop of Stampede recently listing one of its subsidiaries, Longfin Corp, on the Nasdaq exchange in the US....

Click here : Bitcoin

Gujarat election results: BJP seen winning 100 seats, Congress may bag 79

Vijay Rupani, who was earlier trailing, is now leading over Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru in Rajkot West seat

 

Gujarat election results 2017: The BJP was on its way to retain power in Gujarat for the record sixth time, as the party was leading in 100 seats and won four others, according to the latest counting figures.
The Congress emerged victorious in one seat and was ahead of rivals in 80 others.
The Election Commission has so far declared five results, of which four seats have been won by the BJP and one by the Congress.

ALSO READ: LIVE updates: BJP bags Gujarat, Himachal; Rahul says satisfied with result

The Election Commission figures showed that the NCP was leading in one seat and the Bhartiya Tribal Party of Chottu Vasava in two seats. Three independents were also leading.

To form a government in the state, a party or a coalition needs at least 92 seats in the 182-member Assembly.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was earlier trailing after the count of postal ballots, is now leading over Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru in Rajkot West seat.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who was also trailing from Mehsana against Congress candidate Jivabhai Patel earlier, is now leading by a margin of over 7,000 votes.

ALSO READ: MARKETS LIVE: Indices recover as BJP leads in Gujarat; Nifty above 10,400

BJP leader and state fisheries minister Babubhai Bokhiriya defeated senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia in Porbandar.

BJP's Suresh Patel defeated Congress candidate Shweta Brahmbhatt in Ahmedabad's Maninagar, the former constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by 75,199 votes.

In Mahuva seat of Bhavnagar, BJP's Raghav Makwana defeated independent Kanu Kalsaria.
The BJP also won the Umbergaon seat in Valsad.

The Congress won Mahudha seat in Kheda district where its nominee Indrajitsinh Parmar defeated BJP's Bharatsinh Parmar by 13,601 votes.....Click here

Himachal Pradesh election results: BJP leads in 43 seats, Congress in 21

Most exit polls have indicated the BJP's return to power with an absolute majority

Himachal election results 2017 :The BJP is set to take power in Himachal Pradesh with its candidates on a victory lap in 43 of the 68 seats in the Assembly elections. The party won its first seat by defeating Congress cabinet Minister Prakash Chaudhary on Monday.

BJP's Inder Singh Gandhi defeated Chaudhary from Balh in Mandi district with a big margin.

Trends from the other counting centres across the hill state showed the Congress was ahead in 21 constituencies, while the BJP was leading in 43 seats and smaller parties and independents had inched ahead in all others seats.

The Bharatiya Janata Party needs 35 seats to control the Himachal Assembly.

ALSO READ: Gujarat, Himachal election result LIVE: BJP leads; Rupani wins Rajkot West

State BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt told IANS: "We have crossed the half-way mark. This clearly indicates we are going to form the government in the state."

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh (Arki) and his son Vikramaditya Singh (Shimla Rural) were, however, ahead of their BJP rivals.

State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti and BJP Chief Ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal trailed to the Congress from Una and Sujanpur seats.

ALSO READ: Himachal election results 2017: Virbhadra, Dhumal square off in hill state

A total of 337 candidates contested the November 9 election. A total of 37,83,580 people voted in the hill state -- a record 75.28 per cent polling.

The Congress and the BJP contested in all the 68 constituencies. Most exit polls had predicted the BJP's return to power with a majority.

The state has alternately elected Congress and BJP since 1985. In 2012, the Congress won 36 seats and the BJP 26....Read more

Gujarat election results: BJP leads in 104 seats, CM ahead in Rajkot WestCongress ahead in 75 seats; Vijay Rupani was earlier behind Congress candidate Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot West The BJP is leading in 107 seats and the Congress in 75, as per the trends available after the first hour of counting As per the trends available for 182 seats, the BJP is ahead in 104 seats, while the Congress candidates have a slight edge over their BJP opponents in some constituencies. The NCP is leading on one seat. ALSO READ: Gujarat result LIVE: BJP ahead in 96 seats, Congress in 82; market crashes BJP Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was earlier trailing after the count of postal ballots, is now leading in over Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru in Rajkot West seat. However, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel is trailing from Mehsana against Congress candidate Jivabhai Patel by 3,000 votes. Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia is trailing in Porbandar by just 50 votes after counting of three rounds, against BJP leader and fisheries minister Babubhai Bokhiriya. Congress' Alpesh Thakor is leading in Radhanpur seat against Lavingji Thakor of BJP. Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil is trailing against BJP's Virendrasinh Jadeja from Mandvi seat. State BJP chief Jitu Vaghani is leading over Dilipsinh Gohil of Congress in Bhavnagar West. The elections for 182-seat Assembly were held on December 9 and 14, after an acrimonious campaign, which was dominated by a face-off between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Click here : Gujarat election results 2017

Congress ahead in 75 seats; Vijay Rupani was earlier behind Congress candidate Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot West

 

 

The BJP is leading in 107 seats and the Congress in 75, as per the trends available after the first hour of counting

As per the trends available for 182 seats, the BJP is ahead in 104 seats, while the Congress candidates have a slight edge over their BJP opponents in some constituencies. The NCP is leading on one seat.

ALSO READ: Gujarat result LIVE: BJP ahead in 96 seats, Congress in 82; market crashes

BJP Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was earlier trailing after the count of postal ballots, is now leading in over Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru in Rajkot West seat.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel is trailing from Mehsana against Congress candidate Jivabhai Patel by 3,000 votes.

Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia is trailing in Porbandar by just 50 votes after counting of three rounds, against BJP leader and fisheries minister Babubhai Bokhiriya.

Congress' Alpesh Thakor is leading in Radhanpur seat against Lavingji Thakor of BJP.
Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil is trailing against BJP's Virendrasinh Jadeja from Mandvi seat.

State BJP chief Jitu Vaghani is leading over Dilipsinh Gohil of Congress in Bhavnagar West.
The elections for 182-seat Assembly were held on December 9 and 14, after an acrimonious campaign, which was dominated by a face-off between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Click here : Gujarat election results 2017

LIVE updates: Counting begins in Gujarat, Himachal, BJP eyes victory

The results of the Gujarat Assembly election 2017 for 182 seats and the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election for 68 seats will be announced after counting of votes today

 

Counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections has started. The result will be announced today itself. The 182 constituencies in the Gujarat Assembly had gone to the polls in two phases – on December 9 and 14. The electors in Himachal Pradesh’s 68 seats had voted to elect their legislators for their respective constituencies on November 9.

The Gujarat election 2017 is seen as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been ruling his home state for over two decades. It is also considered a litmus test for Rahul Gandhi, the newly elected president of the Congress party.

ALSO READ: All eyes on Gujarat as stage set for counting today

In Gujarat, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback to power after being in the Opposition for over two decades. Further, the results are expected to reveal the voter sentiment, especially in the aftermath of the Narendra Modi-led central governments demonetisation and GST decisions. Many see this state election as a mini-referendum ahead of the 2019 parliamentary polls on the policies of the Modi government, which had come to power at the Centre with a thumping majority in 2017, ostensibly on the back of the 'Gujarat model' of development.

Most exit polls have given the BJP a clear majority with more than the 92-seat mark -- some as many as 135 of the 182 seats in the state. PM Modi's ruling BJP is predicted to sweep the election in his home state, surveys showed on Thursday, shaking off the most serious challenge yet from the Opposition.

The counting of votes will be held at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts amid tight security.

Up north, in Himachal Pradesh, the fate of 337 candidates, including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor Prem Kumar Dhumal, will be known on Monday as counting of votes is taken up in the state, where traditional rivals BJP and Congress have both contested in all 68 seats.

Click here :  Gujarat Assembly Election Results 2017

 

Gujarat election polls: Modi says Congress did not look after Junagadh

PM Modi is in Junagadh on a two-day blitzkrieg rallying session in which he will be holding 7 election campaign rallies in his two-day tour for Gujarat elections.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his second day of Gujarat election rally said that, while BJP worked hard to make Junagadh the tourism capital, the Congress did not devote attention to this region. PM Modi also accused the Congress of stalling the ropeway project for years.

PM Modi is in Junagadh on a two-day Gujarat rallying session in which he will be holding 7 election campaign rallies in his two-day tour for Gujarat polls 2017.

Here are the key highlights from Modi’s speech in Junagadh for Gujarat elections:

• For Congress, 'work' was giving a hand pump. They never envisioned something like a SAUNI (Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation) Yojana
• Did lions come to Junagadh after I became CM? Why previous government didn’t promote them to attract tourists from all over the world?
• Rahul visited Somnath temple but does he know whose statue is there besides the one of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Does he know, it is of Hamirji Gohil?
• Jawaharlal Nehru didn’t like the idea of then president Rajendrababu inaugurating Somnath temple as Sardar Patel was associated with the temple project. But Rajendrababu ignored it and inaugurated the temple.
• Junagadh has the potential to be tourism hub of Gujarat. We wanted to install a ropeway. But since Sardar Patel’s name is associated with Junagadh, they didn’t give permission for it in the name of the environment. But now, we’ve given the permission and ropeway will be inaugurated on November 9, 2018 when Junagadh celebrates its liberation day.

CLICK HERE: Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Congress' manifesto proposes alternate model of development for Gujarat

New model to be based on Gandhian and Ambedkarite values; move from GDP to Gross National Happiness Index

 

 

The Congress party on Monday released its manifesto for the Gujarat assembly polls promising a “Gandhian model of development”, which would replace the “top-down approach” of the current ‘Gujarat model of development’. It also commits to implement a 'happiness index' to measure holistic growth, instead of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The manifesto, put together after consultations under the leadership of party leader Sam Pitroda, reaches out to the sections of Gujarat’s population which, it said, the ‘Gujarat model of development’ ignored.

“Constitutional values will be kept at the centre of (all) discussions rather than nationalism,” the manifesto states, while (gujarat polls 2017)it doesn’t mention terms like ‘secularism’ or ‘minority rights’.

The Congress manifesto promises ‘navsarjan’, rejuvenation, of Gujarat based on “Gandhian and Ambedkarite values”. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to release its manifesto. Gujarat polls is slated to take place on December 9 and 14.

On the goods and services tax (GST), which is a key election issue, the Congress has promises it will “simplify” the tax and ensure that tax rate is capped at 18 per cent.

“We will strive for exemption of small traders and manufacturers, with an annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore, from the GST,” the manifesto states.

The 60-page manifesto, which party sources said, is likely to become the template for the party’s manifesto for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls, focuses on education, health, agriculture, jobs and small and medium enterprises (SME) sectors.

To reduce agrarian distress, Congress has promised farm loan waiver and bonus for cotton, groundnut and other ‘special crops’. Responding to exorbitant college fees and privatisation of education, it has promised 80 per cent reduction in fees for self-financed courses....

click here : Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Modi ridicules Rahul's rise, wants Gujarat to dump Congress: 10 highlights

PM Modi pitched the Gujarat elections as a battle between 'vikaswaad' (development) and 'vanshwad' (dynasty)

 

While Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over as Congress president next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday mocked the sixth Nehru-Gandhi scion saying, "Congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj."

At a rally in poll-bound Gujarat's Rajkot, PM Mofi pitched the Gujarat elections as a battle between 'vikaswaad' (development) and 'vanshwad' (dynasty).

Here's how Modi targetted Congress party:

1. Modi likens Rahul's elevation to dynastic succession in the Mughal dynasty

"I congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj.' For us, the well-being of the people matters and 125 crore Indians are our high command," said PM Modi.

'Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was a minister in the Congress government, has said ‘did elections happen during Mughal rule? After Jehangir, Shah Jehan came, was any election held? After Shah Jehan it was understood that Aurangzeb would be the leader’. Does the Congress accept that it is a one-family party? We don’t want this Aurangzebi Raaj (Aurangzeb’s rule). For us, the country comes first, 125 crore (1.25 billion) people of this country are our high-command.'

2. Congress has abandoned 'public modesty'

 

Without referring to the National Herald case, in which Rahul Gandhi had got bail, Modi said, "Congress has gone bankrupt, as it is going to make a person who is out on bail in corruption case its president."

3. Congress injured ‘Gujarati asmita’

Seeking to play up emotive card, he reminded voters that Morarji Desai, who hailed from Valsad district, was arrested by the Congress regime during Emergency and put behind bars for 19 months.
For the voters of Gujarat and the Valsad district, (gujarat polls 2017)time has come to punish those who kept on hurling insults on Gujarat. “Stop insulting Gujarat,” he said the Congress always presumed that people of Gujarat should be insulted and shown in poor light.”
They did not do this with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. What offence we did, was it our offence that we produced Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” he said.

4. Gandhi dynasty kept Uttar Pradesh poor

Gandhi dynasty kept Uttar Pradesh, which sent its members to the prime ministerial chair, poor and backward. Modi reminded the people how Congress was wiped out in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and would soon be wiped out in Himachal Pradesh, too.

 

Click here : Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Rahul Gandhi succeeding Sonia: PM Modi calls Cong politics 'Aurangzeb Raj'

Mani Shankar Aiyar had referred to Mughals while speaking about the Gandhi scion's election as party chief

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday stoked a controversy when he invoked the rulers of the Mughal dynasty in the election of Rahul Gandhi as party President, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi latched on to quickly to call it "Aurangzeb Raj".

"When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir did any election happen? And when Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan did any election happen? It was known to everyone that the throne of the king will automatically go to the heir," Aiyar said, retorting to the "dynasty" jibes of the BJP on Rahul Gandhi's election.

"But in a democracy elections are held. I openly invite Poonawala to file the nomination and contest," Aiyar said, adding has anyone heard of Shehzad Poonawala.

He was replying to a question about BJP's criticism following Maharashtra Congress leader Poonawala calling Rahul Gandhi's election as party chief rigged.

Modi was quick to pounce on Aiyar's remarks. Addressing a public meeting in Dharampur constituency in Gujarat, Modi(Gujarat polls) said: "Mani Shankar Aiyar, who never shies away from showing loyalty to one family, proudly said -- When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir did any elections happen? And when Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan did any election happen? It was known to everyone that the throne of the king will automatically go the son," Modi said.

"I congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj.' For us, the wellbeing of the people matters and 125 crore Indians are our high command," he said.

He also said that the Congress leaders admit that it is not a party but a kunba (family).

 Read here : Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Guj polls: Rahul takes on Modi over unemployment, contract workers' plight

Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday, raised concerns over safety, health, education and crimes against women in the state

 

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping the youth of Gujarat unemployed and not implementing the 7th Pay Commission leading to the plight of contract and fixed salary workers in the state.

Keeping up at his 22 questions in the countdown to the Gujarat Assembly polls, as promised, Gandhi said: "22 salon ka hisaab, Gujarat mange jawaab. Gujarat ke haalat par Pradhanmantri se chatha sawal (as he directed his sixth query at Modi on Gujarat's condition).

"The double whammy of BJP government -- on one side the youths of the state are unemployed, while on other hand lakhs of contract and fixed salary workers condition is miserable.

"Despite Rs 18,000 salary per month as per the 7th Pay Commission, why only Rs 5,500 and Rs 10,000 is being paid to the fix and contract workers?" he asked.

Gandhi's question comes in the wake of the party's strategy to pose one question to Modi every day till the polling day on December 9.

Gandhi on Sunday raised concerns over safety, health, education and crimes against women in the state.

On Saturday, he questioned Modi on "extraction" of high fees from students by government educational institutes in Gujarat.

Polling for the 182-member Gujarat assembly will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. The counting of votes will take place on December 18.

Read more about Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Gujarat polls 2017: Decoding the challenges BJP faces in rural belt

Party on overdrive to allay concerns of farmers

Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: Lakshman Dobariya of Jasdan in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat has seen his realisation drop from Rs 1,200 per 20 kg of groundnut to Rs 600 per 20 kg in the past five years. Although the state government announced a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 900 per 20 kg right before the Assembly elections in the state, Dobariya is forced to sell his produce at market prices of Rs 500-600 per 20 kg. The queues at government procurement centres are unending.

“My costs have risen from Rs 5,000 per bigha to Rs 8,000 while realisations have fallen from Rs 1,000-1,200 per 20 kg to Rs 500-600. This is accentuated by rising pest infestation and an erratic monsoon,” says Dobariya.

Dobariya’s experience shows how farm distress is brewing discontent among Gujarat’s rural electorate. The state government has pulled out all the stops to assuage the rural voter in the run-up to a crucial election. Among other things, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government announced a support price of Rs 900 per 20 kg of groundnut (or Rs 4,500 per quintal) last month, after market prices had crashed to Rs 3,250 per quintal.

The state government also unveiled a Rs 500-crore Budget for procuring groundnut. Sagar Rabari, convenor of Jamin Adhikar Andolan Gujarat that works with farmers, says with that kind of Budget, the government will be able to procure 110,000 tonnes of groundnut this season. The output was 2.96 million tonnes last year, and estimates suggest production this year will be 3.2 million tonnes. The majority of Gujarat’s groundnut farmers will be left in the lurch.

“The government cannot procure all the stock because it also has to sell in the open market where prices are low. The roots of the problem lie elsewhere, in the lack of market and support infrastructure,” says Rabari. But Chimanbhai Shaparia, Gujarat’s agriculture minister, says the government has increased the collection centres to 215 this year from last year’s 87. “We are trying to reach where the farmers are,” he adds.

Dobariya's woes do not end with low prices for his produce. Add loan repayments and crop insurance, and Dobariya’s profits shrink drastically.

Click here Gujarat polls 2017 

Gujarat Assembly elections 2017: BJP's Muslim outreach worries Congress

Congress workers say top leaders unwilling to campaign in Muslim areas; BJP encourages Muslims to attend its public meetings

 

 

 

As the Congress embraces “soft” Hindutva in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the Muslim community of the state.

In Bharuch, Modi accused the Congress of stoking a Hindu-Muslim divide. He said Bharuch and Kutch, two districts with significant Muslim populations, are economically the fastest growing districts of Gujarat. The PM went on to say how during the Congress rule, celebrating festivals comes with the apprehension of violence.

The PM’s comments(Gujarat polls 2017) come on the heels of a finely-tuned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) outreach campaign among the minority as well as the majority communities in Gujarat, which has the Congress worried.

According to Congress workers as well as activists, the feedback is increasingly that several in the Muslim community, even if they do not vote for the BJP, might not turn up in adequate numbers to vote for Congress candidates.

Of the 43.3 million people eligible to cast their votes in the state in the forthcoming Assembly polls, Muslims make a bit over nine per cent of the electorate. The state will see elections on December 9 and 14.

Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

According to internal estimates of political parties, Muslims comprise more than 10 per cent of the electorate in 65 of the 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat. Of the 65, Muslims comprise almost a fifth of the electorate on 20 seats.

In 2012, the BJP won 42 seats with a margin of almost 15,000 votes or less. The Congress has identified 30-odd of these seats it believes it can wrest from the BJP. With the Patidar community divided, several of the 30-odd seats are on the list of 65 where Muslims can be a factor if the BJP fails to get a consolidated Hindu vote. A low turnout of Muslim voters would hurt the Congress.

Gujarat elections: Narendra Modi accuses Congress of stoking communal fire

Those opposing bullet train should travel by bullock carts, says PM Modi

 

 

A day before Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to file his nomination papers for election to the post of Congress president, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the opposition party for the “absence of internal democracy”.

Defending his government’s ambitious bullet train project, Modi said it would bring investment and employment to the region. “Those opposing the bullet train project should travel by bullock carts. We won’t mind,” he said, addressing a public rally in Bharuch.

At another public meeting, in Surendranagar, the PM said the Congress’ internal election was rigged. He also accused the Congress of having a history of stoking caste and religious conflicts, dividing communities, disrupting peace and unity, and making Hindus and Muslims fight each other. “The Congress makes brother fight brother...You keep fighting each other, getting killed, and the Congress polishes off the cream,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala reacted to the allegations by reminding the PM how a long list of his and BJP chief Amit Shah’s “victims of internal democracy”, like LK Advani, Haren Pandya, and Sanjay Joshi, “have been compulsorily lost in the pages of history”.

With his party workers trying to shape a narrative on the ground of how a Congress rule in the state would result in a return of poor law and order and conflict that would hit trade and business, Modi said the Congress rule was marred by chaos.

ALSO READ: Gujarat Assembly elections 2017: BJP faces challenge in rural belt

Later in the evening, Modi addressed a rally in Rajkot. On Saturday, the Congress party had alleged that BJP workers beat up Congress candidate Indranil Rajguru’s brother. The Congress said the police beat up Rajguru, party candidate against Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and other leaders when they protested in front of Rupani’s residence. “Gujarat, do not let this scare you,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Sunday, with a photograph showing torn clothes of party Lok Sabha member Rajeev Satav. He said Rupani had resorted to violence since he was scared of losing his seat.

ALSO READ: Why the Gujarat election is crucial for both BJP and Congress

In Rajkot, in a reference to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism that the BJP government in Gujarat had given away acres of land to the Tata group for its Nano project, Modi said some people needed to visit a psychiatrist to be making such allegations. For the first time, Modi also sought to counter some of the criticism by Rahul Gandhi, particularly on Gujarat government’s poor record in education and health sectors.

The polling for the first phase of the assembly elections is on Saturday, when 89 of the 182 seats are slated to vote. The PM is scheduled to address four public meetings on Monday. In Bharuch, the PM reached out to the Muslims of Bharuch and Kutch, saying the two districts were the fastest-growing districts in the state.....

Read more about Gujarat polls 2017 

Modi's Gujarat poll campaign is all about himself, his past: Chidambaram

In a series of posts on Twitter, the former finance minister also asked if Modi had forgotten he was prime minister

 

 

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday hit out at the prime minister and said the elections were not about "Mr Modi, the individual" but the promised "achhe din" that had not arrived even after 42 months.

In a series of posts on Twitter, the former finance minister also asked if Modi had forgotten he was prime minister.

"Mr Modi's campaign is about himself, his past and the alleged disdain of Gujarat and Gujaratis. Has he forgotten he is Prime Minister of India?

Continuing his attack, Chidambaram said the prime minister does not talk about issues like joblessness, lack of investment, collapse of SMEs, stagnant exports and price rise because he has no answers to the "hard reality".

According to him, Modi had forgotten that Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian and the son of Gujarat.
"Gandhiji was, and is, revered as Father of the Nation; and Gandhiji's chosen instrument to lead the freedom struggle was the Congress party," Chidambaram asserted.

The prime minister and the BJP, he added, may now "desperately embrace" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, "but the redoubtable Sardar had rejected the BJP's parent RSS and its divisive ideology"....

Read more about Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

'Grand Stupid Thought' to 100 years for BJP, 10 things Modi said in Gujarat

The PM told one of the gatherings that the Congress had always betrayed the Gujaratis

 

From retorting to Rahul's 'Gabbar Singh Tax' jibe with 'Grand Stupid Thought' to urging that 'BJP shouldn't be voted out for 100 years', here are the highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gujarat poll campaign on Wednesday.

Here are 10 things that Modi said:

1. In a stinging rebuttal of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Goods and Services Tax, Modi said a recently emerged 'economist' was propagating a 'grand stupid thought' by suggesting a uniform GST rate of 18 per cent.

Taking a dig at the Nehru-Gandhi family, he added that those who looted the country for years can only think of dacoits

2. The PM raked up the issue of the Narmada dam, targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family for trying to scuttle the project and singing paeans to Sardar Patel. He said the Congress depended on the ‘hand-pump’ model, whereas the BJP relied on the Narmada model. 

3. Modi also trained his guns at Rahul Gandhi’s (gujarat polls) visit to the Somnath Temple, saying that Nehru had opposed the temple’s reconstruction. “The land of the brave will not forgive those who acted against the Somnath Temple”, he said.

"When Sardar Patel took up the work of the reconstruction of the Somnath temple, Nehru was unhappy. Your great-grandfather Nehru wrote a letter to President Rajendra Prasad when he was to come for the opening ceremony of the temple," the IANS quoted Modi as saying.

4. Taking a subtle dig at the Congress for its support of reservation for the Patel community, Modi called out the Congress’ double standards for blocking a Bill in Rajya Sabha that conferred constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. He said the NDA govt had allowed the Bill to be passed in the Lok Sabha but it got docked in the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress enjoyed a majority. Making a strong appeal to the Patidar community, he said that the BJP shouldn't be voted out for the next 100 years...

Read more about  Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Gujarat lost Rs 26,000 cr in power purchase scam, alleges Congress

The Congress party has alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Gujarat government "squandered Rs 26,000 crore of the public exchequer" by purchasing electricity from four private companies at "unimaginably high rates".

The companies in question, according to party(Gujarat polls)spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, are Adani, Essar, Tata and China Light & Power. None of the companies responded to the allegations, made in Ahmedabad.

The reported payments are Rs 10,896 crore to Adani, Rs 4,282 crore to Essar, Rs 8,491 crore to Tata and Rs 1,966 crore to China Light, over 2013-16. Spokespersons for the energy department of Gujarat and officials in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam did not respond.

Surjewala said state-owned power plants had a capacity to generate 8,641 Mw but were operated at a mere 33-38 per cent capacity in those three years. He said power was bought from these private companies at Rs 24.67 a unit, many times more than what was charged by the government-owned NTPC.

Click here Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Gujarat polls: Rahul promises farm loan waiver, free college education

Unfazed by the Somnath temple controversy, he visited Gadhdha Swaminarayan temple where he offered prayers

 

Gujarat polls: Rahul Gandhi on Thursday signed off his two-day tour of poll-bound Gujarat with a promise to waive loans of farmers and provide free education in government-aided colleges if the Congress party comes to power in the state.

Unfazed by the Somnath temple controversy, he visited Gadhdha Swaminarayan temple where he offered prayers.

A row erupted on Wednesday after Gandhi's name was found written in the entry register meant for non-Hindus at the famous shrine.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader claimed, "Modiji waived loans worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore of his five-ten industrialists' friends, but Modiji and (Finance Minister Arun) Jaitleyji say that it is not their policy to waive loans of farmers when they ask for it."

He was campaigning in Lathi in the Patidar-dominated Amreli district on the last day of his two-day tour.

ALSO READ : Gujarat Polls Not A Referendum On Implementation Of GST: Derek O'Brien

"Modiji talked for 22 years about farmers, but you have not got anything, your land has been taken away, your water is diverted to industrialists, and you do not get crop insurance," he told a poll meeting.

"We make this promise to you that we will frame a policy within 10 days of forming a government in Gujarat to waive your loans," he said.

Gandhi promised free college education in government- aided colleges and said that fees in other colleges will be reduced by 80 per cent if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

He said the middle class and poor people have to pay Rs 10-15 lakh to realise their dream of making their children engineers or doctors.

"We will offer free education in government-aided colleges which are given money and aid by the government. (We will) reduce by 80 per cent fees (in other colleges)," he said.

Accusing Modi of proximity with select corporates, Gandhi said for the first time he has seen that all sections of the society in the state were "protesting", whether it was the Patidars, Dalits, Anganwadi workers or farmers.

"Only five-ten persons are not protesting. They fly in chartered planes and are Modiji's friends," he said, alleging that "some of them get Rs 33,000 crore (loan) to make Nano car".

Read more about Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Vodafone cashback offer: How to recover Rs 2,200 for your Micromax 4G phone

The special offer would require customers do a recharge of at least Rs 150 per month for 36 months

---

Technology :Vodafone India on Thursday said it has rolled out cashback offers on four more entry-level Micromax 4G smartphone models, expanding its ongoing association with the handset maker for bundled offerings.

In a statement, Vodafone said that its existing and new customers can purchase the new Micromax smartphones - Bharat 2 Plus, Bharat 3, Bharat 4 and Canvas -1 - and avail cashback offers.

The move is expected to accelerate the adoption of 4G smartphones at the entry level, the statement added.

The special offer would require customers do a recharge of at least Rs 150 per month for 36 months. The company said that users will receive a cash back of Rs 900 at the end of 18 months, and another tranche of Rs 1,300 cashback after another 18 months. This would the total cashback to Rs 2,200.

"The cash back will be credited to their Vodafone M-Pesa wallets," he added.

Depending on the model, the Vodafone cashback offer  would bring down the effective price of these models to Rs 1,549 (against price of Rs 3,749) to Rs 3,799 (against original price of Rs 5,999).

"Recently, through our partnership with Micromax we launched the most affordable smartphone in the country at a very attractive price of Rs 999. We are now...bringing four more entry level Micromax 4G smartphones within the special cash back offer," Avneesh Khosla, Associate Director Consumer Business, Vodafone India said.

Xiaomi announces 'Desh ka smartphone' Redmi 5A with 8-day battery life

Redmi 5A is priced at Rs 4,999 for the base model with 16 GB internal storage and 2 GB RAM, and Rs 6,999 for top model with 32 GB internal storage and 3 GB RAM

 

technology: India’s leading smartphone maker Xiaomi has launched Redmi 5A smartphone on November 30. Dubbed as ‘Desh ka smartphone’, the device houses 3,000 mAh battery, which according to company’s claim offers 8 day power backup.

The Redmi 5A seems to a minor upgrade over the predecessor Redmi 4A. However, going by the company’s claim, some critical changes have been done inside the phone – especially in terms of battery and charging technology -- that makes it a compatible device to beat electricity and power woes of India.

Going by the specifications, the Redmi 5A a 5-inch HD (1280x720) screen with three capacitive buttons below it. It is powered by a Snapdragon 425 SoC clocked at 1.4GHz, coupled with 16 GB/ 32 GB internal storage and 2 GB / 3 GB RAM, respectively. There is a microSD slot that can accommodate a chip of up to 128 GB storage to expand the device storage. The phone runs Android Nougat covered under Xiaomi’s proprietary MIUI 9 theme on the top.

The handset sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP front facing selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. Among other features, the primary camera supports burst mode, panorama mode and HDR mode.

In terms of connectivity, the budget device covers major options including 4G LTE, VoLTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and micro-USB for data transfer, but cuts down on a fingerprint scanner.

The phone is priced at Rs 4,999 for the base model with 16 GB internal storage and 2 GB RAM, and Rs 6,999 for top model with 32 GB internal storage and 3 GB RAM. The phone will go on sale on Flipkart, Mi Store and offline retail stores starting December 7.

Aadhaar will work as weapon against benami properties: PM Modi at HT Summit

By linking Aadhaar to Mobile and Jan Dhan, we have created a system that could not have been imagined few years back: Modi

 

economy news: Describing Aadhaar as a major "power" to bring about an "irreversible change" in the common man's life, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Unique Identification Number will now be used in cases involving benami properties.

"By linking Aadhaar to Mobile and Jan Dhan, we have created such a system that could not have been imagined few years back.

"In last three years, with the help of Aadhaar, crores of fake names have been removed from the system. Now it is going to be a big weapon against benami properties," Modi said while addressing the inaugural session of the Hindustan Times Summit.

He said that the country saw a "behavioural change" after demonetisation, which helped in converting to a "clean and healthy economy".

"For the first time after Independence the corrupt people are scared of transacting in black money. They are scared of being caught. The black money which was earlier base of parallel economy, has now become part of formal economy," he said.

"Such an irreversible change is getting boost from Aadhaar. Aadhaar is such a power through which this government want to ensure rights of poor. It is also playing a big role in providing subsidised ration, scholarships, medicines, pensions and other government subsidies," he said.

He said the day the country would adopt maximum transactions via digital addresses, "organised crime would come to an end to some extent".

Modi said "big transformations" do not come easily and for it "hauling up of the entire system was needed".

"We can increase our ease of doing business ranking from 142 to 100 only when we take initiatives for big transformation," Modi said.

Most Popular Alternative Healing Therapies

Alternative Healing Therapies are healing methodologies that differ from the usual line of treatment than that of a doctor.

 

 

health news : Alternative Healing Therapies are healing methodologies that differ from the usual line of treatment than that of a doctor. In other words therapeutic practices that are currently not considered as an integral part of conventional medical practice are classified as alternate healing therapies or alternate medicine. Many a times the benefits and healing abilities of these therapies are established through research, other times they may be unproven scientifically. With alternate healing therapies, healing, treatment and cure may be achieved through diet, self healing mechanism of the human body, various energies, herbal and other supplements and much more. Few of these healing techniques are thousand of years older than conventional medicines. Over the last couple of decades there has been a renewed interest in holistic and natural healing and thus various alternative healing therapies have found acceptance and are getting popular both in India and world over. Some of the most popular alternative healing therapies are:

Acupuncture – One of the better known alternative healing therapies is acupuncture. The healing technique has its origin in ancient China and has been practiced for thousands of years. Acupuncture practioners believe that diseases and ailments are caused due to imbalances of universal energies. In our body there are invisible paths through which the energies Ying and Yang run. These two opposing forces are constantly merging, but can also become unbalanced. The energy network of the body has specific acupuncture points that are linked with various organs or body functions. In acupuncture needles are inserted into the subcutaneous connective tissue at these very specific points which in turn helps balance, slow down or stimulate certain energies and thus provide healing.

Acupressure – Acupressure just like acupuncture works on the principal of various specific points being energy centers of the human body. Stimulation of these points helps correct imbalances in the flow of life energy and thus provides healing. In acupressure correct amount of pressure is applied at these vital points in the human body using hands, elbows or specific devices to release blockages and provide healing.

Read more Alternative healing therapies

Google detects app that can steal your photos and Facebook, WhatsApp data

Tizi steals sensitive data from social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, LinkedIn, Telegram

 

 

Technology : Google has detected an app 'Tizi', which has been stealing information from call records and also from social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and also take pictures from mobile phones without even displaying them on the screen of the device.

"Tizi is a fully featured backdoor that installs spyware to steal sensitive data from popular social media applications. The Google Play Protect security team discovered this family in September 2017 when device scans found an app with rooting capabilities that exploited old vulnerabilities," a post on Google security blog said.

The company has removed the app from Play Store, notified all known affected devices and suspended the account of the app developer, the post dated November 27 said.

The post said that earlier variant of Tizi did not have rooting capabilities but it developed later on and thereafter started stealing sensitive information from devices.

"The rooting capabilities give an app full control of the device. It can bypass all restriction posted on it by the Android security system. An app with rooting is like a user using the device. Presence of such app on Google Play Store raises concerns about secure apps on the app store," cybersecurity expert Jiten Jain said.

The post said that after gaining rooting capability, Tizi steals sensitive data "from popular social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, LinkedIn, and Telegram."

The backdoor capability of Tizi was common to commercial spyware, such as recording calls from WhatsApp, Viber, and Skype, sending and receiving SMS messages, and accessing calendar events, call log, contacts, photos, Wi-Fi encryption keys, and a list of all installed apps

"Tizi apps can also record ambient audio and take pictures without displaying the image on the device's screen," the post said.

The post said that in and after April 2016 vulnerabilities in devices which could have been affected by Tizi were fixed with new software codes.

"If a Tizi app is unable to take control of a device because the vulnerabilities it tries to use are all patched, it will still attempt to perform some actions through the high level of permissions it asks the user to grant to it, mainly around reading and sending SMS messages and monitoring, redirecting, and preventing outgoing phone calls," the post said.

Read More About google detect spy app Tizi 

Bitcoin tops $11,000 barrier after $1,000 surge in 12 hours

bitcoin uses encryption and a blockchain database that enables the fast and anonymous transfer of funds

Markets : Bitcoin zoomed past $11,000 to hit a record high for the sixth day in a row on Wednesday after gaining more than $1,000 in just 12 hours, stoking concerns that a rapidly swelling bubble could be set to burst in spectacular fashion.

After soaring more than 1,000 percent since the start of the year, bitcoin rose as much as 15 per cent on Wednesday.

It topped $10,000 for the first time in early Asia trading, before surging above $11,000 less than 12 hours later to reach $11,395 on Luxembourg-based Bitstamp, one of the largest and most liquid cryptocurrency exchanges, and then dipping back below $11,000.

Bitcoin's rapid ascent has led to countless warnings that it has reached bubble territory in recent weeks. But the warnings have had little effect, with dozens of new crypto-hedge funds entering the market and retail investors piling in.

The world's largest bitcoin wallet provider, San Francisco-based Coinbase, signed up 300,000 new users between last Wednesday and Sunday, during the US Thanksgiving holiday, according to data compiled by Altana cryptocurrency fund manager Alistair Milne. It now counts more than 13 million customers.

The evidence suggests that few of the users are buying bitcoin to use it as a means of exchange, but are speculating to increase their capital.

"What's happening right now has nothing to do with bitcoin's functionality as a currency - this is pure mania that's taken hold," said Garrick Hileman, a research fellow at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School.

"This is very much a bubble that will very much correct itself at some point and people need to be very careful."

Hileman, who last week gave a lecture to the Bank of England on the risks of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, also flagged the risk of the whole market collapsing entirely.

"There's always the possibility that some fundamental cryptographic flaw that we can't solve craters the whole space, or that regulators unite and decide this represents systemic risk and actually could trigger the next financial crisis," he said.

"Exit Ramps"

Created in 2008, bitcoin uses encryption and a blockchain database that enables the fast and anonymous transfer of funds outside of a conventional centralized payment system.

It has far outstripped gains seen in any traditional asset classes or currencies this year. It rise accelerated in recent months as exchanges such as the CME Group Inc and the Chicago Board Options Exchange announced plans to offer futures contracts for the cryptocurrency.

Read More about Bitcoin

Surprise! OnePlus 3, 3T also had OnePlus 5T's face-unlock feature all along

The face-unlock feature in earlier devices works flawlessly and is almost as quick as the one in the latest flagship

Technology: Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has been promoting face unlocking as one of the OnePlus 5T, besides other upgrades that the phone brings. The feature is promised to roll out in the OnePlus 5 with the Android Oreo update. However, the yesteryear’s flagships are said to have been kept out from the list of phones that get the feature in the software update.

If you are using one of the earlier OnePlus flagships – OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T – and thinking of upgrading to the OnePlus 5T only for its face-unlock feature, we have a reason for you to stick around for a little more.

It turns out, the face unlock feature has all along been available in the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T devices as well -- sitting within the settings options. And, it works flawlessly -- almost as quickly as the one in the latest flagship.

Here’s how to enable the face-unlock feature in the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T devices running on the Android Oreo operating system:

Step 1: Go to settings and look for ‘security & fingerprint’ option and click on it

Step 2: In the security & fingerprint option, there is another option of ‘Smart Unlock’ under the device security tab

 

Step 3: The smart unlock option provides 5 different ways that can be used to unlock the device – On-body detection, Trusted places, Trusted devices, Trusted face and Trusted voice. Click on Trusted face option to set up the face-unlock feature

 

Read More About OnePlus 3T

Maggi noodle in crisis, again: After lead, now it's ash taking away spice

An FSSAI official said the body was closely monitoring the developments

 \ 

Companies: Just when India’s favourite instant noodle brand Maggi was about to claim back its dominance over the market, the iconic brand is under pressure, again. Maggi noodle, which had earlier faced a lot of scrutiny and a subsequent market share loss over an alleged presence of lead, is now under a regulator's scanner over alleged violation of another safety norm.

The district food and drug administration officials of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, have sent a legal notice to Nestle India – the makers of Maggi noodle – and its trade partners in the region, seeking Rs 71 lakh as damages and for violation of food safety norms. The notice was issued after the UP FDA found a high level of ash content in the samples of the noodle. According to a PTI report, the Maggi noodle samples were collected from the Shahjahanpur area in November 2016.

While Nestle India is yet to receive a copy of the notice, it told Business Standard that the lab report might have been formed on the basis of quality standards that are now obsolete. However, the question that haunts millions of consumers and its patrons is how the noodle failed a lab test after the matter was settled in 2016, when the country’s apex court had given it a clean chit following stringent tests at independent laboratories across India.

After lead, it's ash:

From the facts that have emerged so far and from a research done by this publication, it prima facie appears that the issue of ash content in packaged food, specifically in case of Maggi noodle, is an ambiguous area. Last time, when Maggi noodle was found to be sub-standard for human consumption, the main issue pertained to the presence of lead in a quantity higher than permissible. This, eventually led to a ban on the products across the country on 5 June, 2015. What followed was a period of uncertainty for the Swiss major in India and elsewhere.

Read full story : Maggie fails lab test inUP

I am LeT's biggest supporter; Hafeez Saeed likes me too: Pervez Musharraf

The former president added he was always in favour of terrorist action in Kashmir

Politics: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has come out in support of the terror groups, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), saying they were the biggest force against the Indian Army in Kashmir.

Speaking on Pakistan's ARY News, Musharraf said, "I am the biggest supporter of the LeT and I know they like me and the JuD also likes me."

He further said he liked the global terrorist, JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, and had met him.

The former president added he was always in favour of terrorist action in Kashmir, and the LeT and the JuD were the biggest forces to take on the Indian Army in the state.

"I was always in favour of action in Kashmir and of suppressing the Indian Army in Kashmir and they [LeT] are the biggest force," Musharraf said.

He also accused India of declaring the LeT and the JuD as terror groups with the help of the United States.

"India got them declared as terrorists by partnering with the US," Musharraf said, adding," Yes, they [LeT] are involved in Kashmir and in Kashmir it is, between, we [Pakistan] and India."

Earlier this week, the US strongly condemned the release of LeT leader Hafiz Saeed from house arrest and called for his immediate re-arrest and prosecution.

Read More: Parvez musharraf on LeT

Bitcoin at all-time high, tops $10,000 in some exchanges

It has soared more than 900 per cent so far this year, posting the largest gain of all asset classes

 

 

Virtual currency bitcoin soared to an all-time high above $10,000 on Tuesday on some smaller exchanges and digital currency indexes, but remained just below that milestone in major trading platforms such as Luxembourg-based BitStamp.

Created in 2009, bitcoin uses encryption and a blockchain database that enables the fast and anonymous transfer of funds outside of a traditional centralised payment system.

It has soared more than 900 per cent so far this year, posting the largest gain of all asset classes, amid increased institutional demand for crypto-currencies as financial and mainstream use has expanded.
On the CEX.IO exchange, bitcoin hit $10,234. On crypto-currency index coinmarketcap.com, it touched $10,050.

On BitStamp, it hit a high of $9,968 and last traded up 1.7 per cent on the day at $9,876.99.
Neither did it reach $10,000 on Coinbase's digital asset US-based exchange GDAX, or on Gemini Exchange, owned and operated by virtual currency entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

"With bitcoin nearing $10,000, long-time bitcoiners finally feel vindicated that their currency that has been ridiculed for years, is at last being taken seriously," said Sol Lederer, blockchain director at US technology company LOOMIA.

"Bitcoin's future is still uncertain; it faces the same serious technical challenges it has for years and faces stiff competition from newer, more sophisticated blockchains. But even if it were to crash, it's apparent that bitcoin is here to stay."

In some emerging markets, bitcoin has hit well over $10,000. In Zimbabwe, bitcoin traded at $17,875 on Monday. Tuesday's price in Zimbabwe was not available.

In South Korean exchanges, bitcoin was already close to $11,000 or higher. It traded at nearly $11,000 on Tuesday on bithumb after hitting the $10,000 milestone on Monday. At Coinone, bitcoin traded at more than $11,700, and at $11,734 on Korbit.

Bitcoin has been boosted as exchanges such as the CME Group Inc and the Chicago Board Options Exchange announced plans to launch futures contracts for the currency.

Mike Novogratz, a former macro hedge fund manager at Fortress Investment Group, said in a Reuters Investment Summit earlier this month that mainstream institutional investors were about six to eight months from adopting bitcoin.

GES 2017: Make in India for the world, Modi tells entrepreneurs

He said women entrepreneurs received over three-fourths of the Rs 4.28 lakh crore loans under the MUDRA Scheme since 2015

 

economy policy:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited global entrepreneurs to invest and make in India.

“To my entrepreneur friends from across the globe, I would like to say, come, make in India, invest in India, for India and for the world. I invite each one of you to become a partner in India's growth story. And once again assure you of our wholehearted support," he said, inaugurating the Global Entrepreneur Summit (GES) here.

The keynote was given by Ivanka Trump, advisor to US President Donald Trump, who is leading a US delegation to the summit. The event, being hosted by the governments of India and the US, is focused on women entrepreneurship; more than half of the 1,500 participants from 150 countries are women.

ALSO READ: GES 2017: Ivanka Trump bats for women power in business

Listing the several initiatives of his government such as Startup India, the goods and services tax (GST), actions on black money and on bankruptcy and insolvency, he said his government has taken several steps to improve the business environment, leading to a jump in the country’s World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking (to 100 from 130 earlier) and improvement in the country’s ratings by Moody’s. He said the government was not satisfied and would strive to improve further to the fiftieth rank on the World Bank rating. “Our StartUp India programme is a comprehensive action plan to foster entrepreneurship and promote innovation. It aims to minimise the regulatory burden and provide support to start-ups. Over 1,200 redundant laws have been scrapped, 87 rules for FDI have been eased in 21 sectors, and several government processes have been taken online,” Modi claimed.

The PM said an environment of transparent policies and a rule of law providing a level-playing field was necessary for entrepreneurship to flourish. “A historic overhaul of the taxation system has been recently undertaken, bringing in the GST. Our Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is a step towards ensuring timely resolution for stressed ventures. We have recently improved this by preventing wilful defaulters from bidding for stressed assets,” he said, after inaugurating the eighth edition of the GES and the first one to be held in any South Asian country.

Read More: Ivanka trump at GES 2017

Onion brings tears as price skyrockets to Rs 80/kg in Delhi

Onions in other metro cities are being sold at Rs 50-70 per kg depending on the quality and locality

 

 

economy policy: Retail onion prices have touched Rs 80 per kg in the national capital owing to tight supply, while a similar spike is seen in other cities as well, as per the trade data.

Onions in other metro cities are being sold at Rs 50-70 per kg depending on the quality and locality, the data showed.

At Azadpur mandi here, Asia's largest vegetable market, onion prices are ruling at over Rs 50-60 per kg, and the same onion is being retailed at Rs 80 per kg today, a trader said.

Wholesale and retail prices are ruling high because of lower arrivals from the key growing states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

In Maharashtra's Lasalgoan mandi -- Asia's biggest market for onion -- arrivals have dropped by 47 per cent to 12,000 quintal today from 22,933 quintal on the same day a year-ago.

Onion at Lasalgoan is being sold at Rs 33 per kg today as against Rs 7.50 per kg a year-ago, as per the data maintained by the Nasik-based National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF).

Meanwhile, the Centre has asked state-owned MMTC to import 2,000 tonnes of onion and directed Nafed and SFAC to source 12,000 tonnes locally to boost supplies.

A minimum export price of USD 850 per tonne has been imposed to restrict outbound shipment of onion.

Click Here : Onion prices in delhi 

Women first, prosperity for all: What we know of Ivanka's GES 2017 agenda

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit is being held for the first time in South Asia in Hyderabad

​​

US President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump arrived in India amid tight security early on Tuesday to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), beginning here later in the day. Speaking a day ahead of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), Ivanka Trump said, "as the world's largest democracies... there is much we can and should do together. We share common priorities, including promoting economic growth and reform, fighting terrorism, and expanding security cooperation."

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit is being held for the first time in South Asia in Hyderabad, India, from November 28-30. The event will comprise a line- up showcasing abundant talent, stories of perseverance with a dash of glamour.

Here's all you need to know:

Inaugural session
The inaugural session will be addressed by Prime Minister Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Ivanka Trump. Following this, a session will be moderated by John Chambers, Chairman Emeritus, Cisco.

This will see the participation of Ivanka Trump, Sibongile Sambo, Managing Director of SRS Aviation and SRS Petroleum and Marcus Wallenberg, the Chairman of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB).

Indian bigwigs to attend dinner at Hyderabad's Falaknuma Palace
Hyderabad's Falaknuma Palace has the world's largest dining hall. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the White House advisor Ivanka Trump at this luxurious palace today. The who’s who of India Inc, including Reliance Group Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani would attend the dinner, according to officials. PM Modi and Ms Trump will dine at the Hyderabad Nizam's famous '101 Dining Hall' that can seat can seat 101 guests at a time. 

On the second day of GES 2017, Ivanka Trump will be part of a discussion on increasing women in the workforce through skills training, education, and mentorship. Innovators in workforce development and training will discuss what works and what more can be done to open doors for women at the workplace.

GES 2017 - Day 3
The closing session of GES will bring together key influencers that support, promote and fund women entrepreneurs. Panelists will share efforts to advance women in leadership positions and ensure that women have "seats at the table" while breaking down the barriers that disproportionately affect women's ability to start and grow businesses.

It will also feature a panel discussion themed "Women Win, We All Win: Promoting Inclusive Environments for Women Entrepreneurs", which will be moderated by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu.

Read  full story : Ivanka trump at GES 2017