LIVE! Modi gifts Madhubani painting to Hannover Mayor

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Sun, 12 April 2015

Modi gifts Madhubani painting to Hannover Mayor

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22:00 Modi gifts Madhubani painting to Hannover Mayor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday presented to the Lord Mayor of Hannover a Madhubani painting depicting various stages of life, nature and the interconnection between nature and life on Earth.

The painting is a creation on canvas by 70-year old national award winning artist, Baua Devi.

The Madhubani style of painting refers to the rural art form developed by women from Mithila, an area in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.

The painting is done with fingers, nibpens, twigs and matchsticks, generally using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns.

Most Madhubani paintings depict man and his association with nature, and scenes and deities from ancient epics.

Natural objects, plants, social events are also represented in these paintings.

21:29 Sania turns world no 1 women's doubles player

Sania Mirza has made history after becoming World No 1 in doubles after winning the final of the WTA Family Circle Cup with partner Martina Hingis.

The duo beat the pair of Casey Dellacqua and Darija Jurak 6-0, 6-4 to claim the title.

The official ranking chart will be issued on Monday.

Before Sania, only Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhuapthi had achieved the top rank when they dominated men's doubles circuit in the last 90s.

Sania is also first female player from the country to win Grand Slam tournaments.

It is Sania's third successive title win with Hingis and they have not lost as a single match since joining forces in March. They won trophy in Indian Wells, which was their first tournament together and followed up that with win in Miami.

French President Francois Hollande would chair a high-level meeting in Paris on Monday to thrash out the finer details of the nearly $5 billion deal for the sale of 36 Rafale jets to India in flyaway conditions.

French sources said the meeting at the Elysee Palace would be held between Hollande, his top officials and executives from Dassault Aviation, the manufacturers of the Rafale jets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who concluded his four-day visit to France today, had asked France to supply 36 Rafale jets in flyaway conditions as soon as possible in view of the critical operational necessity of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The deal would be between the two governments.

"There was nobody, either from Indian side or the French side, when the two leaders spoke about the Rafale. Everyone would be briefed in detail on Monday about what transpired and discussions would be held on how it can be taken forward," sources said.

Matching its competitor HDFC Ltd, State Bank of India Sunday announced a cut in home loan rate by up to 0.25 percent, providing relief to new borrowers.

The cut in interest rate on home loans, with effect from Monday, is higher than the reduction of 0.15 percent in base rate that came into force on April 10.

The bank said in a statement that the home loan rate stood at 10.1 percent for women borrowers prior to the reduction in base rate. It will now be 9.85 percent.

For other borrowers, the new rate is 9.9 percent, down from 10.15 percent before base rate cut.

The rates will be applicable for all new home loans sanctioned on or after April 13, SBI said.

The SBI announcement comes two days after HDFC Ltd, the country's largest mortgage firm, reduced home loan rate by 0.2 percent to 9.9 percent for new as well as existing borrowers.

As of December, 2014, SBI had outstanding housing loan of Rs 1,52,905 crore as against Rs 1,35,129 crore at the end of third quarter of the previous fiscal registering a growth of 13.15 percent.

More than 24 hours after the attack, police today retrieved the bodies of seven STF personnel killed yesterday in a Naxal ambush in Polampalli forests in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

Although bad weather and hostile terrain had hampered the evacuation operation this morning, the security forces finally recovered the bodies of the martyrs.

Amid heavy security, the bodies of the Special Task Force personnel were taken to Kankerlanka camp (around 12 kms from the ambush spot), Additional Director General of Police (anti-naxal operations) RK Vij told PTI.

"From Kankerlanka, the bodies will be airlifted to Jagdalpur district headquarter, where tribute would be paid to the martyrs," Vij added.

Seven STF personnel were killed and ten others injured yesterday when Naxals ambushed them in the forests of restive Pidmel village under Polampalli police station limits, around 450 kms from the state capital Raipur.

The rebels also looted weapons of the martyrs and injured troops before fleeing.

"Due to prolonged gun-battle, bodies of the martyred personnel could not been retrieved from the forests yesterday, whereas bad weather and hostile terrain affected the evacuation operation this morning," the ADG said.

In a new twist to the high profile Sebi-Sahara case, the Indian capital markets regulator has approached a US court with a USD 12-million claim on proceeds from sale of a corporate jet owned by a Sahara Group firm.

The court has rejected the demand for now, saying that Sebi could not "properly file a claim prior to the Bar Date and in accordance with the terms of the Court's order".

The Indianapolis court is looking into disbursement of money collected from the aircraft sale that was triggered by a litigation. It ruled however that the court-appointed receiver can initiate wire transfers from the escrow account to Sebi-Sahara Refund Account after being satisfied with the validity of the demands.

This bank account was created after a Supreme Court order in August 2012 for refund to bondholders of two Sahara group firms, which were asked to submit over Rs 24,000 crore with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for making repayments to investors.

While Sahara claims to have already made over 95 per cent of repayments directly, this has been disputed by Sebi and the group chief Subrata Roy has been in jail for more than a year.

The present case in the US relates to an Airbus Corporate Jet, a green aircraft purchased by Sahara group's Hospitality Business Limited (HBL) from Airbus SA in December 2012.

Around 280 million people in the country do not have basic electricity connection and the Centre is aiming at supplying power to all homes by 2019, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said today.

"Around 280 million people in India to this day do not have electricity connection at their homes. Till date, they are denied the basic thing like power," said the minister for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy.

He was speaking at Graduation ceremony at Indian School of Business (ISB) campus in Mohali.

"Country's problem is not about the amount of power generation or the ability to generate. We have surplus power in large parts of the country," he said, adding that "two real root causes of agony" are non-availability of fuel, coal and gas, as well as not being able transmit power all through the country.

The Centre is looking to provide power to all homes by 2019, he said. "The mission we have set out to achieve to get power for all by 2019 not by merely slogans but by actionable agenda by true action on the ground."

Goyal said his ministry is focusing on energy efficiency in a big way in a country where AT&C losses are as high as 25 per cent.

Top ministers of the NDA government met in the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today and discussed major issues like the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh and the strategy for the second part of the budget session of Parliament and the controversial Land Bill.

The meeting, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, was attended among others by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, at Singh's official residence, official sources said.

The top Ministers also decided to provide all necessary assistance to the Chhattisgarh government to deal with the situation arising out of the latest in the series of left extremist attacks on security forces.

The senior ministers discussed further steps to be taken to check the Maoist menace which continues to pose a big challenge for security agencies, the sources said.

Seven policemen were killed and 11 others were injured in yesterday's incident in the insurgency-hit Sukma district.

The challenges facing the land bill in Rajya Sabha and other issues likely to come up in the second part of the Budget session beginning April 20, also came up for discussion, they said.

A US-based researcher has expressed distress over his appointment being politicised and refused to accept a job offer at St Stephen's after an alumni group alleged that the instutition was hiring underserving teachers.

"I am deeply distressed at the way my appointment is being politicized as I gather from various sources. An impression has been created that my appointment is based on something other than my academic merit. I consider this to be a personal affront.

"I have worked hard for my merit and have proved myself in extremely competitive circumstances and my work is well recognized and respected in my field. The communalization of my appointment (going by the information available to me) is a piece of injustice," Dr Cecil Joseph said in an email to college principal Valson Thampu.

Joseph, an alumnus of St Stephens' college, who is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, had applied for the post of Assistant professor in the physics department and was selected for the same.

However, objecting to the allegations being raised of the college's selection process being in favour of Christians, he turned down the same.

Hillary Clinton would make a fine US president, Barack Obama told reporters Saturday, on the eve of the expected launch of her candidacy for the Democratic Party's nod in 2016.

Obama beat Clinton -- who is vying to become the first woman president of the United States -- for their party's nomination in 2008 after a grueling campaign. He then won re-election four years later.

"She was a formidable candidate in 2008. She was a great supporter of mine in the general election. She was an outstanding secretary of state. She is my friend," Obama said at a regional summit in Panama.

"I think she would be an excellent president."

Maharashtra Legislature Principal Secretary has issued a notice to writer Shobhaa De asking her to explain her tweets about the state government's decision to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi movies during prime time.

"I have sent her the notice on behalf of the Speaker asking her to explain her stance in a week," Legislature Principal Secretary Anant Kalse said today.

The notice was issued two days ago, he said, adding, it has been admitted and De has been asked to submit her explanation.

During the Budget session which concluded on Friday Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had filed a notice of breach of privilege against De after she tweeted on the government's decision.

The novelist tweeted, "Devendra 'Diktatwala' Fadnavis is at it again!!! From beef to movies. This is not the Maharashtra we all love! Nako!Nako! Yeh sab roko!"

De tweeted that it was nothing but hooliganism. "I love Marathi movies. Let me decide when and where to watch them, Devendra Fadnavis. This is nothing but Dadagiri."

Reacting to the tweet, Sarnaik filed a breach of privilege against De for "insulting CM Devendra Fadnavis and the sentiments of the Marathi speaking people."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wound up his first visit to France, gifted President Francois Hollande a painting titled 'Tree of Life' which reflects the traditional societal respect for nature in India.

The painting, pigments on silk, has been done by an Odisha artist, Bhaskar Mahapatra, who has been practicing the art form for the last 30 years along with the rest of his family, and works from his home in the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur, a PMO statement said.

Mahapatra, who has been honoured by Lalit Kala Akademi, is inspired by his training and expertise in palm leaf painting and pattachitra.

The message behind gifting it seemed to be the emphasis on sustenance of life and clean environment ahead of the global meet on climate change that France will be hosting in December this year.

"The tree, as a divine gift central to human life, is a recurring element in Indian artistic practice. The Tree of Life, with multiple roots and branches like a banyan tree, is a motif for a tree's benevolence, fruit, seeds, shelter, healing, procreation and regeneration faculties that sustain life and clean the environment," the statement said.

France will be hosting the meeting of Conference of Parties on UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2015.

Around 3.5 lakh well-off people have given up subsidised LPGs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, noting that the money saved on this will be diverted to those who still use wood for cooking.

Addressing a congregation of NRIs in Paris, he recalled that he had casually wondered over a week ago why well-off people do not surrender subsidised LPG.

"Responding to this, two lakh people voluntarily surrendered subsidised LPG within a week," he said, adding this encouraged him.

"By Thursday last, 3.5 lakh people had surrendered subsidised LPG," Modi said.

The money saved will not go to the government treasury but it will be given to those who still use wood for cooking.

"We will transfer this subsidy," he added.

This will also help address the problem of climate change.

"Cutting of jungles will continue till people continue cooking using wood," he said.

Referring to Jandhan scheme, the Prime Minister said it was introduced to ensure that the poorest people get a bank account each.

He recalled that he made the announcement from Red Fort on Independence Day address last year and the aim was to complete the scheme by Republic Day this year.

Modi said the outcome of this scheme was that 13 crore now get direct transfer of subsidy, "plugging leakage" and keeping out the middlemen.

The family of cricket icon Richie Benaud has declined the offer of a state funeral, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott said today.

Abbott said the offer was a mark of respect for a man who meant so much to millions of people in Australia and around the world.

But he said the former Test captain and renowned commentator, who died aged 84 on Friday after fighting skin cancer, wanted a quiet and private funeral.

"My understanding is that Richie's own wishes was for something very, very quiet and very, very private," Abbott told reporters.

Benaud's widow, Daphne, phoned the Prime Minister's office on Saturday to kindly decline the offer of a state funeral, he said.

Benaud instead will be remembered this week with a private gathering attended only by his immediate family.

Overall Benaud played in or commentated on approximately 500 Test matches and has been lauded as the most influential Australian cricketer and broadcaster of his era.

A passenger, who arrived from Dubai at Cochin International Airport, was today arrested and two gold bars valued at Rs 54 lakh seized from his possession, officials said.

They said the two gold bars, totally weighing two kg, were found inside a white coloured bath towel of the passenger, who is a native of Mallapuram.

A top customs official said the passenger tried to smuggle the gold bars by concealing them inside the towel and tying it around his waist under his trousers.

The gold bars are of 24 carat purity, weighing two kg, and valued at Rs 54,00,000, officials said.

The passenger was attempting to exit the arrival hall by the green channel without declaring the gold for purpose of evading duty, they said.

Officials said, the passenger during questioning told them that he attempted to smuggle the gold for monetary benefit and that he was only a carrier of gold and not its owner.

Top performers are in for rosy days as they are likely to bag up to 30 per cent increment this year as companies try to limit high attrition rates amid rising employee expectations and a buzzing job market.

According to the latest survey by TimesJobs.com, top performers may get 25-30 per cent hike this year to "stay on" in the company while the average salary increment may work out to 10-13 per cent this year across industries.

"While average performers are expecting a 10-15 per cent hike, top performers could be getting 2-3 times these average increments, in order to stem attrition," TimesJobs.com COO Vivek Madhukar said.

The survey further said hiring activity has shown a considerable month-on-month increase over the past 4 months.

This trend is only going to gather pace in future.

"While corporates are hiring for growth and expansion, this positive sentiment does not seem to reflect in their internal appraisal processes. Companies should be prepared for higher employee churn as employers poach talent from one another due to this mismatch," Madhukar added.

The biggest hikes are likely in the e-commerce sector, which is expected to roll out the most generous appraisals (average 13 per cent) to retain top talent, reveals the survey.

Indian students in France can now extend their stay in this country beyond completion of their studies as can French students in India.

This is possible under an agreement signed between the two sides during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which concluded today.

The two sides agreed on the new scheme to allow Indian students in France and French students in India to stay for a period of 24 months.

The scheme offers Indian Visa for 12 months renewable once for a period of 12 months for 250 French students and a 'second residence permit' of 12 months for the Indian students in France following the 12 months already granted.

11:15 Send troops or pay the price: UAE to Pakistan

The UAE has strongly condemned Pakistani parliaments decision to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, according to a report published in Khaleej Times.

"The Arabian Gulf is in a dangerous confrontation, its strategic security is on the edge, and the moment of truth distinguishes between the real ally and the ally of media and statements," Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash tweeted after a unanimous resolution passed by joint session of parliament.

The resolution, however, backed the government's commitment to protect Saudi Arabia's territory.

Gargash said Pakistan is required to show a clear stand in favour of its strategic relations with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, "as contradictory and ambiguous views on this serious matter will have a heavy price to pay". "This is nothing but another chapter of laggard impartial stand," Gargash said.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign will centre on boosting economic security for the middle class and expanding opportunities for working families, while casting the former senator and secretary of state as a "tenacious fighter" able to get results, two senior advisers have said.

They provided the first preview of the message that Clinton planned to convey when she launches her long-anticipated campaign on Sunday with an online video.

Until now, the former first lady has offered only hints of what would drive her if she were to run a second time for the White House.

Clinton, who lost the 2008 nomination to Barack Obama, will skip a flashy kickoff rally in favour of conversations with voters about the economic needs of middle class families and the next generation.

Clinton appears unlikely to face a formidable primary opponent, though a handful of lower-profile Democrats such as former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley have said they are considering campaigns.

00:41 What Modi wants, Canada expects

It would be Wednesday morning by the time Air India One carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi wings it way across the Atlantic to touch down at Ottawa International Airport. The weatherman predicts temperatures to vary between a low of 4 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees during the April 14-16 sojourn of Prime Minister Modi. Yet the warmth of relationship between Modi and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper should more than make up for the cold weather around this time of the year.

Read more HERE

00:08 Capitol Hill on lockdown after shots fired

Capitol Hill in Washington, DC was on lockdown. Lt. Kimberly Schneider, a spokesman for the US Capitol Police, said the incident took place on the West Front of the building. She said the shooter has been neutralized but that the building has been locked down as a precautionary measure.

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