Mr. Sisi told that he believed Israel was increasingly convinced of the need for a peace deal, saying it was a “positive sign”.

Mr. Sisi told that he believed Israel was increasingly convinced of the need for a peace deal, saying it was a “positive sign”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in West Bank. File Photo: Reuters

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Peace process remains suspended since 2014, despite a push by West to resume negotiations.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his Russian counterpart and close ally Vladimir Putin wants to host an Israeli-Palestinian summit to revive peace talks, in an interview published on Monday.

Mr. Sisi told state newspaper editors that he believed Israel was increasingly convinced of the need for a peace deal, saying it was a “positive sign”.

Obstacle remains

But Palestinian infighting between the Islamist Hamas rulers of Gaza and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah in the West Bank remained an obstacle, he said in the interview.

Talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas have been suspended since 2014, despite a push by Washington and France to resume the peace process.

Sisi, who is seen as having good ties with both Israel and Mr. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, has also been pushing for a resumption of negotiations.

“Putin has told me that he is ready to receive both (Abbas) and Netanyahu in Moscow to carry out direct talks to find a solution and solve the issue,” President Sisi said. “I see that the conviction of the importance of peace is rising among the Israeli side, and the conviction about finding an exit to the issue is a positive sign.

“At the same time, it is important to end the Palestinian-Palestinian rift... and to have national reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas so that the climate be ready for real efforts to establish a state,” he said.

Breaking deadlock

Mr. Sisi said last month that his country was making serious efforts to break the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians. His remarks followed a trip by Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Israel, the first in nine years.

Egypt became in 1979 the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, after four wars.

Source thehindu

Prime Minister hinted a re-think on Kashmir in his interactions with party leaders.

Prime Minister hinted a re-think on Kashmir in his interactions with party leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting with a delegation of opposition parties from Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi comments mark a departure from his three earlier statements since the outbreak of unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month.

For one, efforts are being taken to provide a healing touch by acknowledging the protesters in the Valley as “part of us, our nation”. It could be a conscious attempt to dilute the hyphenation between young protesters and peace-loving people.

Blaming Pakistan and separatists for instigating protests in the Valley has lent credence to the shrill jingoistic discourse on Kashmir but did little to contain the spread of violence with every killing in the Valley.

At a rally in Madhya Pradesh on August 10, Modi spoke of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s path of “Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat” , but in the same breath, blamed “a handful of misguided people” for “hurting” Kashmir’s great tradition.

At the all-party meet in New Delhi two days later, he talked about the “pain felt by all of us” irrespective of whether it was a civilian or security personnel, injured or killed, adding that “to spread the myth that this is a public agitation is far from the truth”.

The reference to the unrest in Kashmir in his Independence Day speech was marked by an escalation of rhetorical hostility with Pakistan over brutalities in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Monday’s remarks by the Prime Minister, therefore, signalled a change in New Delhi’s assessment of the situation in Kashmir. His appeal to opposition parties to convey to the people in Kashmir his distress over the loss of lives of “our youth”, security personnel and police could be the first step towards bridging trust deficit in the Valley.

Source hindustantimes

Gearing up for the roll out of GST from April 1

Gearing up for the roll out of GST from April 1

FMs to meet industry chambers to discuss model GST law

New Delhi: Gearing up for the roll out of GST from April 1, the state finance ministers will meet representatives of trade and industry on August 30, to sort out vexed issues like place of delivery of services, registration of entities and intra-company services.The meeting comes in the backdrop of certain procedural issues raised by the trade and industry with regard to implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will create an unified market with a single rate of tax.The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST, headed by West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, will meet representatives of CII, Ficci and Assocham, among others.During the meeting, industry is likely to demand that location of supplier of goods and services and location of recipient of goods and services need to be defined in the subsequent legislations so that there is no ambiguity.The government targets to roll out GST from April 1, 2017, and to this effect it has to bring two legislations — CGST and IGST — detailing the new tax code in the Winter Session of Parliament in November. Similar tax law SGST will also have to be passed by the states.The GST Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament earlier this month and so far three states, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand, have ratified the Bill. A constitutional amendment requires ratification by at least 50 per cent of the states.Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has already held meetings with 10 sectors, including telecom, IT/ITeS, banking, e-commerce and tourism, to understand their concerns.During the meeting, e-commerce players flagged compliance issues under GST as these operators would be responsible for collecting tax at source from sellers.The ecommerce companies want that onus of paying taxes to be shifted to the supplier, an official said, adding this is not possible as tax compliance has to be borne by an aggregator.Further tourism sector wants that foreign tourists stay in India be treated as exports and no GST be levied on them.The Constitutional Amendment Bill did not have the GST rate and the GST Council, which will have representation from both the Centre and states, will now work out a rate.The subsequent legislations Central GST (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST) — would mention the GST rate.A panel headed by Arvind Subramanian had last year suggested 17-18 per cent ‘standard’ rate for bulk of goods and services while recommending 12 per cent for ‘low rate goods’ and 40 per cent for demerit goods like luxury car, aerated beverages, pan masala and tobacco. For precious metal, it recommended a range of 2-6 per cent.

Source fpj

Response from Microsoft came regarding a customer query

Response from Microsoft came regarding a customer query

According to customer complaints, the battery life was shorter than expected on their particular models. Now, Microsoft has claimed that the company is extremely close to solving the issue.

In its initial response to the problem, the Redmond-based company said that the issue was not with the battery cells of the device and could be "addressed via software." However, the company has still not provided the update to fix the battery issue. Although

Microsoft's General Manager for Surface Brian Hall replied via Twitter to a query regarding the issue on Tuesday by saying "Stay tuned. We think we got this one but need a little more time to confirm through depth testing."

Even though Microsoft rolled out an update early last month to improve the battery life on device, it has evidently not brought respite to affected customers.

Read more on gadgets.ndtv

Supreme Court ordered BCCI to implement Lodha Panel reforms by October 15

Supreme Court ordered BCCI to implement Lodha Panel reforms by October 15

BCCI Challenges Implementation Of Lodha Panel Reforms, Moves Supreme Court

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has moved the Supreme Court and has sought a review of the Lodha Panel recommendations.

The BCCI have been asked to implement the Lodha Panel reforms by October 15.

© BCCI

HIGHLIGHTS

• 1Supreme Court ordered BCCI to implement Lodha Panel reforms by October 15
• 2Justice Katju had called the Lodha Panel bogus
• 3BCCI have said the July 18 verdict has some mistakes

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has challenged the implementation of the Justice Lodha Panel reforms and has moved the Supreme Court, asking them to review the July 18 order.

In a petition to the Supreme Court, the BCCI have argued that the July 18 verdict has several mistakes and they want the review to be done by a five-judge bench.

The petition argues that the Lodha Panel does not have the powers and expertise to deal with the case and has said the Supreme Court has outsourced the verdict through the Lodha Panel which is not permissable under the law.

BCCI further said the judgment authored by the CJI and Justice F M I Kalifulla (since retired) has "neither noted the contentions and facts correctly, nor dealt with the same". "The judgment is unconstitutional and contrary to many binding precedents of this Court and adversely affects and nullifies the fundamental rights granted to citizens under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution," it said, adding "the judgment outsources judicial power to a committee of retired judges, which is impermissible in law."

"The judgment is a nullity as the judges were functus officio after passing of the main judgment of January 22, 2015 and the matter could not have been revived suo motu as no provision of law empowers the same and is contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers and contrary to settled law that the judiciary cannot make laws," the plea said.

This comes in the wake of Justice Markandey Katju calling the Lodha panel 'bogus' and has stressed that the Supreme Court cannot force reforms on the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Lodha panel was created to restructure the Indian cricket board.

The report, which was presented to the BCCI, added, "The matter ought to have been forwarded by the Supreme Court with the Lodha committee recommendations to Parliament with its own recommendation. So that Parliament could enact a law if required."

The report also pointed out that the order does not apply to State Associations as it infringes the rights in Article 19 ( c ) of the constitution.

The Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Panel categorically instructed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to implement a 15-step reform by October 15 ranging from constitutional reforms to principles of awarding various contracts, including lucrative TV rights.

Source ndtv

CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar's daughter salutes her father's coffin

CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar's daughter salutes her father's coffin

Hundreds Weep As 7-year-old Daughter Salutes CRPF Hero Who Died in KashmirE

CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar's daughter salutes her father's coffin

KOLKATA:  Hundreds of people gathered outside the home of CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar were in tears as his seven-year-old daughter Aarna saluted her father's coffin, wrapped in the national flag.

The 44-year-old commanding officer of the 49th battalion of the CRPF or Central Reserve Police Force, was killed in a terrorist attack in Kashmir on Monday, about an hour after he had raised the national flag at an Independence Day function in Srinagar. Last rites were performed this evening in Mihijam Palbagan, his hometown on the Bengal Jharkhand border.

In photos from the Independence Day event on Monday, the officer is seen saluting the national flag. He then addressed his men in a moving speech. The CRPF said when Commandant Kumar learned about the attack in downtown Srinagar's Nowhatta Chowk, he rushed to the spot and took charge of operations.

"Leading from the front, he along with his men succeeded in eliminating two militants before he was hit on the upper neck," the CRPF said in a statement. The officer was brought to Srinagar's Base Hospital in a coma and died soon after.
 

CRPF commandant Pramod Kumar was killed in a terrorist attack in Kashmir on Monday

Nine other security personnel were injured in the gun battle, which lasted four hours.  

Early on Tuesday morning, his body was brought home by a special aircraft. Jharkhand's top police officers, local people and relatives visited his home to pay tributes before last rites were performed. Pramod Kumar is survived by his wife, Neha, daughter and his parents and four sisters.

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Commandant Kumar had been promoted as CO of his battalion only last month, a day before his daughter turned seven. He could not come home for the birthday, but sent presents.

The decorated officer had been serving in Srinagar since 2014 and was expecting to be posted out soon.

The CRPF has described him as an officer with high operational acumen, and an "empathetic leader to his men."

Source ndtv

Flag fell to the ground when J&K Chief Minister tried to unfurl it

Flag fell to the ground when J&K Chief Minister tried to unfurl it

Probe After Flag Fiasco At Mehbooba Mufti's Independence Day Function

The incident happened during Independence Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar.

SRINAGAR: 

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Flag fell to the ground when J&K Chief Minister tried to unfurl it
2. An angry Ms Mufti has asked for action against officials: Sources
3. A high-level inquiry has been ordered: Senior Police Official

 A police inquiry has been ordered in Jammu and Kashmir after the national flag fell to the ground when chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tried to unfurl it in a stadium in Srinagar on Independence Day today.

Instead of unfurling, the flag fell as soon as the Chief Minister pulled at the rope. Police officials rushed to the stage to fix it back up.

The incident was seen as an embarrassment for Ms Mufti, who took the occasion to speak about the unrest that has gripped the state over the last month after the killing of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani.

"The Director General of Police has ordered a high-level inquiry. Special DG will hold the inquiry into the incident," said L Mohanti, a senior police officer.
 

Mehbooba Mufti appealed for peace in the valley.

Sources said Ms Mufti was very angry over the incident and she has asked for strict action against police officials responsible for the arrangements at Independence Day function.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took a swipe at Ms Mufti over the incident on Twitter.

 Follow

Omar Abdullah 

✔@abdullah_omar

Now @MehboobaMufti will have to find someone to blame for failing to hoist the  in Srinagar since nothing is ever her fault.

12:36 PM - 15 Aug 2016

 
•  7272 Retweets
 
•  130130 likes

In her address, the Chief Minister called for peace in the valley, reiterating that dialogue and not guns that can help the people of Kashmir.

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Blaming the political leadership for the current problems, she expressed hope that the Narendra Modi government will follow former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision for the state.

The opposition parties however boycotted the Independence Day function in Srinagar. No leader from National Conference or the Congress attended programme.

Source ndtv