A high-level delegation of tax and revenue officials is set to soon travel to Switzerland in order to pursue cases of black money and secret accounts held by Indians in banks in the Alpine nation.

Sources said that the delegation, which will lay special focus on a number of pending requests, will be led by Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das and will have CBDT Chairman KV Chowdary and two other officials of the finance ministry’s foreign taxation wing as its members.

The official visit, sources said, was set up in quick time after the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) was taken into confidence by investigative agencies that a one-on-one visit between the officials of the two countries was necessary to take the probe in these cases forward.
“The meeting will happen during this week,” sources said.

Officials said that the decision to send the team has also been cleared by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the officials would be armed with legal documents, dossiers and the charter of the SIT to satisfy the Swiss authorities as to how much “importance India is giving to unravelling the facts in these cases keeping in mind public sentiments and the government’s commitment to unearthing black money“.

The upcoming meeting will be the first high-level one between the officials of the two countries after the Narendra Modi government came to power at the Centre with a poll-time promise that it would probe all cases of illegal funds stashed away abroad and ensure legal action in them.

The visit comes against the backdrop of Switzerland refusing to share details on names obtained by Indian authorities through other countries, namely France and Germany, saying they figured in lists stolen by certain ex- employees of the banks concerned and no details can be shared on the basis of illegally-obtained information.

India has been asking Switzerland to cooperate in these cases under obligations of the bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and the policies and guidelines framed by OECD, of which both countries are active members.
Sources said the delegation will meet top Swiss banking and government officials in a span of two days.

The last time the two sides met over these issue was in February this year in New Delhi. Finance Minister Jaitley had in July informed Parliament that Switzerland has raised some legal issues with regard to providing the details of Indian citizens who have parked illegal funds in Swiss banks.

Despite repeated requests from India, including through at least four letters written by former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Switzerland has maintained that its local laws prohibit administrative assistance in matters where information has been sourced illegally, including through stolen lists.

From Hindustan Times

Cyclone Hudhud left a swathe of destruction in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, but the loss of life appeared limited after tens of thousands of people sought safety in storm shelters, aid workers and officials said. The cyclone struck just before midday on Sunday, bringing torrential rain and winds of nearly 200 kmph.

As the two states estimated the damage Hudhud had caused, photos of a man rescuing his wife at Gopalpur beach in Odisha made headlines. Little is known about the couple but they are safe. Here are images of their encounter with Hudhud

Oslo: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 to India’s Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.”

“Children must go to school and not be financially exploited. In the poor countries of the world, 60 per cent of the present population is under 25 years of age. It is a prerequisite for peaceful global development that the rights of children and young people be respected. In conflict-ridden areas in particular, the violation of children leads to the continuation of violence from generation to generation,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee opined.

Kailash Satyarthi has been declared as the Nobel prize recipient for showing great personal courage. The committee said that Satyarthi maintained Mahatma Gandhi’s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. “He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions on children’s rights,” the committee said.

On the other hand, Malala Yousafzai has been awarded for having fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and showing by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations. “This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls’ rights to education,” the committee said.

The Nobel Committee also said that it is an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism. “Many other individuals and institutions in the international community have also contributed. It has been calculated that there are 168 million child labourers around the world today. In 2000 the figure was 78 million higher. The world has come closer to the goal of eliminating child labour,” the committee said.

“The struggle against suppression and for the rights of children and adolescents contributes to the realization of the “fraternity between nations” that Alfred Nobel mentions in his will as one of the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize,” the committee said.

A human rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi has been at the forefront of a movement in India to end child slavery and exploitative child labour since 1980. Satyarthi has helped free children from slave-labor conditions and advocated for reforms, as director of the South Asia Coalition on Child Servitude and leader of Bachpan Bachao Andolan. In 1994, he founded a group now known as Goodweave, which certifies child-labor-free rugs and provides assistance to rescued and at-risk children

Satyarthi has also played an important role in linking the fight against child labor with the efforts for achieving ‘Education for All’.

The Nobel Laureate is a member of a high level group formed by UNESCO on Education for all comprising of select Presidents, Prime Ministers and UN Agency Heads.

Kailash Satyarthi has survived numerous attacks on his life during his crusade to end child labour, the most recent being the attack on him and his colleagues while rescuing child slaves from garment sweatshops in Delhi on 17 March 2011.

In 2004 while rescuing children from a local circus mafia, Kailash Satyarthi and his colleagues were brutally attacked. Despite of these attacks and his office being ransacked a number of times his commitment for the cause has been unwavering.

Satyarthi has been honoured by the Former US President Bill Clinton in Washington for featuring in Kerry Kennedy’s Book ‘Speak Truth to Power’, where his life and work featured among the top 50 human rights defenders in the world.

Wikipedia states that Satyarthi has been the subject of a number of documentaries, television series, talk shows, advocacy and awareness films.

He has also won many international awards, including:

·       2014: Nobel Peace Prize, shared with Malala Yousafzai

·       2009: Defenders of Democracy Award (US)

·       2008: Alfonso Comin International Award (Spain)

·       2007: Medal of the Italian Senate (2007)

·       2007: recognized in the list of “Heroes Acting to End Modern Day Slavery” by the US State Department[3]

·       2006: Freedom Award (US)

·       2002: Wallenberg Medal, awarded by the University of Michigan[4]

·       1999: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Award (Germany)[5]

·       1995: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (US)[6]

·       1985: The Trumpeter Award (US)

·       1984: The Aachener International Peace Award (Germany)

Greater mutual cooperation in pilgrimage tourism by promoting a combined Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, linking Lumbini with Bodh Gaya to strengthen bilateral ties.

“We need to work out plans on how to link Lumbini (birth place of Lord Budhha) with Bodh Gaya (where Buddha said to have obtained enlightenment) of India so as to promote a combined Buddhist pilgrimage circuit,” Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said.

“We are seriously working towards linking the two Buddhist circuits, Nepalese and Indian Buddhist circuits,” he added.

“The idea is to link the two Buddhist circuits so that Buddhist pilgrims visiting either Nepal or India can enjoy a total Buddhist package in an integrated way.

“We need to work on what should be done to make this an attractive tourist destination and how to strengthen cultural, religious and economic linkages between the two countries,” said Rae.

Dinesh Bhattarai, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, said that a stable and democratic Nepal stands as a more trustworthy and reliable neighbour to act as a stabilising force for regional peace and the world at large.

“Nepal and India have vital interests in each other’s democracy, wellbeing and independence generating a plentiful of goodwill and the two countries deserve cooperation for mutual benefits,” said Bhattarai.
A stable and democratic Nepal stands as a more trustworthy and reliable neighbour to act as a stabilising force for regional peace and the world at large, said Bhattarai, while attending “Nepal-India Friendship and Economic Cooperation” programme organised by Nepal India Forum for Peace and Development in Kathmandu.

“Democracy has taken strong roots in India and despite its huge population and ethnic diversity democracy has survived in India, and I want to see democracy flourish in Nepal in the same manner as in India,” Bhishma Narayan Singh, former governor of Orissa and Tamil Nadu said.

“After the promulgation of the new Constitution, Nepal will be the most prosperous country in this region,” he said.

“South Asia region along with China, is poised to become an important place for global trade, global investment and technology transfer,” Mahesh Acharya, Nepal Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation said.

China has finally surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest economy, according to International Monetary Fund figures, which are based on GDP measured according to Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

With $17.6 trillion, China has surpassed the US as the largest economy, a position held by the latter since it overtook the United Kingdom in 1872.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) measures economy in terms of market exchange rates and purchasing power basis, rather than nominal GDP. According to calculation based on PPP, China contributes more to global growth than any other countries.

The United States with the GDP of 17.4 trillion falls slightly behind Chinese economy, the World Economic Outlook says according to a News Week report.

Business Insider explains how the conclusion was reached: “Though a typical person in China earns a lot less than the typical person in the US, simply converting a Chinese salary into dollars underestimates how much purchasing power that individual, and therefore that country, might have.”

The reported numbers are based on PPP, which makes adjustment because of the fact that goods and services are cheaper in countries such as China relative to the US. However, if it were not for these adjustments for living costs, the Chinese economy is still, in practice, smaller than that of the US.

After three decades of double-digit growth in China, economists around the world had long assumed that the country would one day, overtake the economy of the United States. Many experts believe that by 2020, China will surpass the US in terms of nominal GDP as well.

Hudhud: Andhra, Odisha grapple with aftermath, PM to visit

Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were today grappling with the aftermath of cyclone Hudhud which has left tens of thousands homeless and badly battered infrastructure in nearly a dozen districts, including port city Visakhapatnam which resembled a war zone.

The cyclone, which has claimed eight lives and forced over seven lakh people to take shelter in camps, had moved from coastal Andhra Pradesh to Odisha, where it damaged about 50,000 thatched houses, power network and roads, before heading to Chhattisgarh and weakening into a “deep depression”.

Besides Visakhapatnam, the other north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari have suffered widespread damage. Odisha’s Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada were the worst affected out of the eight districts hit by the cyclone.

The Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing that he will visit Visakhapatnam tomorrow while Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Chief Ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which are likely to be lashed by heavy rains in the wake of the cyclone.

An alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been sounded in the four north coastal districts Andhra districts and in several parts of Odisha.

Gusty winds and heavy rains have ravaged the picturesque port city of Visakhapatnam, where the cyclone made landfall yesterday, with uprooted trees, knocked down cell towers, transformers, hoardings and telephone poles blocking roads.

The Visakhapatnam airport also bore the brunt of the cyclone fury with the roof over a portion being blown away due to the gales.

Communication systems and electricity supply have snapped in the city since Saturday night and people at many places depended on the radio to know the cyclone updates.

People in the port city, who were confined to their homes since Saturday night, ventured out today after rains stopped.

“There is no power, no water or food. We are not getting petrol. We cannot move on the roads. It is difficult to survive a single day here,” said a resident.

Most of the petrol pumps were closed due to the damage caused by the cyclone and those which had opened today, saw people queueing up in large numbers. Residents complained that vegetables and other food items were in short supply and their prices have shot up.

Authorities have begun efforts to remove the debris and to restore normalcy.

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Wishes poured in for Amitabh Bachchan from the film fraternity as many stars took to Twitter to express their love and admiration for the megastar, who celebrated his 72nd birthday today.

Celebrities like like Priyanka Chopra and Karan Johar wished a long and healthy life to Bachchan, calling him their favourite hero.

“Happy birthday to the formidable the legendary SrBachchan. Thank you for the Inspiration Sir.. Health and happiness always,” Priyanka wrote on her Twitter page.

“The world’s collective wishes are like a ‘force of nature’ that honour you and love you. Happy Birthday Amitji! SrBachchan,” Boman Iranni tweeted.

Flimmaker Karan Johar, a family friend of the Bachchans, wrote, “Reverence…Respect and immense admiration to @SrBachchan!! Happy birthday amit uncle! We are blessed to be around you.”

Actor Uday Chopra, who is a childhood friend of Abhishek Bachchan, also wished the superstar. “A very happy birthday Amit uncle SrBachchan lots of love,” he said.

“Happy birthday SrBachchan. Thank you for inspiring us with your work and your being. You truly are the best actor we have,” actress Anushka Sharma posted on Twitter.

Bollywood star couple Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh,

music composer Shekhar Ravjiani, actresses Divya Dutta and Preity Zinta, Manoj Bajpayee and singer Mika, are also among the celebrities who have sent their wishes for the evergreen star.

The 16th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival announced the Jury for International competition, India Gold and Dimensions Mumbai sections.

British filmmaker Peter Webber (Girl With a Pearl Earring, Hannibal Rising) will head the International Jury which comprises Indian filmmaker Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox), Chad-born and Paris-based filmmaker Mahamat Saleh Haroun (A Screaming Man, Grigis) and Canadian documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Imagine the Sound, Comic Book Confidential).

India Gold Jury will be headed by Serbian director Goran Paskaljevic (Midwinter Night’s Dream, How Harry Became a Tree) and will comprise Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage (With You Without You), Chinese actress Bai Ling (Red Corner, Southland Tales) and French producer Serge Bromberg (Inferno, The Extraordinary Voyage).

Dimensions Mumbai section will be judged by actor Huma Qureshi, film critic Rajeev Masand, actor-director Satish Kaushik, and directors Gauri Shinde and Homi Adajania.

The 16th Mumbai Film Festival will be held from 14th – 21st October 2014 at PVR Cinema Andheri and Cinemax Versova as the main venues.

Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi alleged on Sunday that a temple in Madhubani was “washed” after his visit. He added that the people behind the incident, however, do not hesitate to touch his feet to seek “personal favours”.

Recalling the incident, Manjhi said he visited Parmeshwari Sthan, in Brahmin-dominated Tharhi village in Rajnagar assembly constituency, during the bypoll campaign last month. “My ministerial colleague Ram Lashan Raman told me how the deity and temple were cleaned soon after I visited the temple… I had gone on someone’s request,” said Manjhi, who belongs to the scheduled caste

“Those who would not hesitate to touch my feet to seek personal favours nurse such feelings… Tell me what is this,” he said.

However, no case has been lodged against the temple priests in the absence of a formal complaint. – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/temple-was-washed-after-my-visit-says-bihar-cm/#sthash.rnVsD8u3.dpuf