Joko Widodo is the new Indonesian President
20102014
Joko Widodo was inaugurated as Indonesia’s new President om Monday, facing the challenges of rebooting a slowing economy and working with a potentially hostile opposition that has already landed some early blows against his administration.
Widodo, the first Indonesian president not to come from the ranks of the country’s established political, business and military elite, took the oath of office in a ceremony at parliament in the capital, Jakarta, attended by regional leaders and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Widodo, the first Indonesian president not to come from the ranks of the country’s established political, business and military elite, took the oath of office in a ceremony at parliament in the capital, Jakarta, attended by regional leaders and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“To the fishermen, the workers, the farmers, the merchants, the meatball soup sellers, the hawkers, the drivers, the academics, the laborers, the soldiers, the police, the entrepreneurs and the professionals, I say let us all work hard, together, shoulder to shoulder, because this is a historic moment,” said Widodo, popularly known as “Jokowi.”
He ended his speech with a shout of “Merdeka!” or “Freedom,” the independence-era rallying cry associated with the country’s founding president, Sukarno.
A former furniture salesman, the 53-year-old Widodo rose from humble beginnings to become Jakarta’s governor before winning July’s presidential election with 53 percent of the vote.
Polls showed most of his support came from lower-income, non-urban Indonesians attracted by his simple demeanor and record of honest, hard work.
Indonesia is the biggest economy in Southeast Asia, and about 90 percent of its 250 million people are Muslims, more than any other nation.
After years of dictatorship, the country was convulsed by political, ethnic and religious unrest in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Since then, it has consolidated its democratic transition. While most of the country remains poor, it is home to a rapidly expanding middle class.
Outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s two terms in office saw democratic consolidation and a focused fight against Islamist militancy.
But economic growth on the back of a commodities boom has slowed, and a recovery is being hampered by weak infrastructure, rampant corruption and red tape.
Economic growth is currently around 5 percent, barely allowing enough jobs to be created. Widodo is targeting 7 percent growth in the coming years.
To get close
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US, China in candid exchanges on Hong Kong, South China Sea
20102014
Secretary of State John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi held “candid exchanges” on several contentious issues like the current situation in Hong Kong and South China Sea, a top American diplomat has said.
The Kerry-Yang meeting in Boston among other things also discussed the overall security situation in the Asia Pacific region, Afghanistan, human rights issues including Tibet, the dangerous rise of ISIL, spread of deadly Ebola virus, North Korea and cyber security.
The Kerry-Yang meeting in Boston among other things also discussed the overall security situation in the Asia Pacific region, Afghanistan, human rights issues including Tibet, the dangerous rise of ISIL, spread of deadly Ebola virus, North Korea and cyber security.
The meeting was also aimed at paving the ground for US President Barack Obama’s trip to China next month.
“These were constructive conversations in which both the Secretary and the (Chinese) State Councilor listened, were able to probe, and in I think quite effective ways were able to begin the process of thinking through how the other side might be able to take steps that could help generate progress and mitigate concerns.
There was a clear sense of focus on making headway and not defending territory in the form of rhetorical positions,” a top State Department official said. In a rare departure from protocol, Kerry had invited Yang to his Boston home for talks.
On Friday, he hosted the top Chinese diplomat at his home and on Saturday they held a series of talks in the city. The State Department official familiar with the talks spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity.
“Whether and when we will begin seeing the Chinese make headway on the issues of concern to us is a question to which I dont have the answer. But I can say with confidence that Secretary Kerry got a full and careful hearing. These were not combative discussions, although they were direct, candid, and no holds were barred,” the official said.
“It’s important to create an environment that permits the Chinese to really hear us out, and by the same token, on some of these issues, its also valuable to demonstrate to the Chinese that they too are getting a thorough hearing of their positions and their concerns,” he said.
Kerry and Yang had a pretty extensive discussion about the threat from ISIL as well as the problem of foreign fighters, the official said. “The Chinese have publicly indicated that they dont ‘join coalitions’, but at the same time, they have made clear that they share our view and the international view that the threat posed by ISIL is a serious one that requires considerable efforts along multiple lines of effort,” he said.
They talked about what their respective strategies are, where they see areas that require greater effort and greater cooperation, and they discussed also how the US and China can coordinate better over the coming weeks to make sure that they are each doing everything that we can on this account. Kerry and Yang also talked about the issue of the bilateral investment treaty.
“Now this was not a negotiating session. But there was a strong shared view that promoting investment in both directions and ensuring that there is a solid legal framework governing investments between us is a high priority. They took stock of the work that our teams have underway and agreed to each go back to their respective capitals and encourage continued progress,” the official said.
The US, according to officials, are not looking for a softening of tone on the part of the Chinese when it comes to cyber or other areas of significant difference. “We are looking for an improvement in behavior,” the official said.
The Kerry-Yang conversation over the last 24 hours was an exploration of “what we see as the problem, what we see as the downstream consequences if China doesnt take steps to adjust behavior and to remedy these problems, and how we think a process could be shaped that would lead to outcomes and adjusted policies that work within the Chinese system but that are more respectful of international rules and norms,” the official added.
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BJP largest party in Maharashtra
20102014
BJP central observers’ visit to Mumbai and Chandigarh to decide the names of BJP legislature party leaders in Maharashtra and Haryana, has been deferred till tomorrow. The visit was scheduled for today. The decision was taken, as all legislators may not be able to attend the meeting today. Party sources said that the observers would now visit the states tomorrow to decide on who will lead the BJP governments.
Meanwhile, sources said, BJP is not averse to taking support and bringing back its old ally Shiv Sena in its government in Maharashtra, where it falls short of majority. BJP patriarch L K Advani and some RSS leaders have also pitched for taking support from Shiv Sena. NCP has already offered unconditional support to BJP from outside to form government in the state.
In the meantime, informal discussion is on within the BJP central leadership over the name of Chief Ministers in the two states. BJP’s state president Devendra Fadnavis is the front-runner for the post in Maharashtra while party leader Manohar Lal Khattar, state unit chief Ram Bilas Sharma and Capt Abhimanyu are in the race of top post in Haryana.
BJP Chief Amit Shah today met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at his residence to discuss post-poll strategy in Maharashtra. The meeting is also significant amid reports that BJP may send Mr. Gadkari back to Maharashtra as the Chief Minister. However, after the meeting, Mr. Gadkari categorically denied the possibility, saying he is not in the race.
Maharashtra, results of counting of votes of all 288 constituencies have been declared. BJP has emerged as single largest party winning 122 seats. Its previous ally Shiv Sena has won 63 seats. Congress has won 42 seats and Nationalist Congress Party has won 41 seats.Independent candidates have been declared winning from 6 constituencies.Peasants and Workers Party 3 and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi Party have won three each.
All India Majlis E Ittihadul Musalmeen 2 and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Samajwadi Party, CPIM, RSP and has won one each seat. Former Chief Minister Prthaviraj Chavan and former Deputy Chief Minister NCP leader Ajit Pawar has been declared elected.
BJP State unit President Devendra Phadanavis, former leader of opposition in the assembly Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in the Council Vinod Tawade have also won the elections.Nitesh Rane son of senior Congress leader Narayan Rane has won from Kankwali seat.
Chief Minister NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has won from Yevla seat by a margin of above 43 thousand votes.
He has defeated his nearest Shiv Sena rival. Former Minister and Congress candidate Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has won Shirdi seat.
He has defeated his nearest Shiv Sena rival. Former Minister and Congress candidate Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has won Shirdi seat.
He has defeated his nearest Shiv Sena rival by margin of above 74 thousand votes.
Daughter of senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde and congress nominee Praneeti Shinde has won Solapur City Central seat.
Dharavi seat has gone in the favour of Congress. Its nominee Varsha Gaikwad has defeated her nearest Shiv Sena rival by margin of about 15 thousand votes.
Son of former Chief Minister late Vilasrao Deshmukh and congress candidate Amit Deshmukh has won Latur City seat.
Congress candidate Ameeta Chavan wife of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has won Bhokar constituency.
Senior Congress Leader Narayan Rane and Rajendra Darda have lost their elections. PCC President Manikrao Thakare has resigned. His son has also lost the poll.
Meanwhile the Shiv Sena said today that it has not received any proposal from the BJP to support them to form the next government in Maharashtra after declaration of results of counting of votes of Assembly polls.
Party has made it clear that it will not lend unsolicited support to BJP in forming the government.
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Aadhaar to link universal health cover under NHAM
20102014
The Government is planning to link the universal health assurance scheme for providing medical treatment to all citizens with Aadhaar number to check ghost beneficiaries and fraudulent claims.Under its flagship National Health Assurance Mission (NHAM) which will be launched shortly, government has planned to cover the entire population.
“The government has planned to seed Aadhaar numbers with its universal health programme NHAM. The experts think that this would help in keeping a check on any fraudulent insurance claims or ghost beneficiaries under the scheme,” a source privy to the development said.
As per experts, since Aadhaar provides proof of identity of person based on biometrics details including iris scan and finger prints, there will be remote chance of fraudulent insurance claims after seeding the unique identification number with the scheme.
According to the source, the idea of seeding Aadhaar numbers with the universal health coverage for all citizens in India is likely to be approved as government wants to launch a fool proof insurance cover.
The highlights of the proposed NHAM include 50 essential drugs with a package of diagnostics and about 30 AYUSH drugs to be made available to all citizens at government hospitals and health centres across the country.
A package of preventive and positive health information will also be made available to all citizens and the health insurance will be a built-in feature of the mission.
As per media reports, the government now wants to provide Aadhaar number to all prisoners.
Besides there are plans to use Aadhaar for direct transfer of various benefits including fuel and food subsidies into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Under Aadhaar projects, around 69.54 crore unique identification numbers have been issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Government has approved the Phase-V of Aadhaar project which allows it to enroll residents in four more densely populated states comprising Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, having population of around 40 crore.
Now the government wants UIDAI to generate Aadhaar numbers for the entire population by June next year.
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IBM to spend $1.5 bn to sell semiconductor biz to Globalfoundries
20102014
From: Infotech Lead <editor@infotechlead.com> Mon, 20 Oct ’14 9:49a
To: You
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IL Newsletter
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IBM to spend $1.5 bn to sell semiconductor biz to Globalfoundries
20102014
From: Infotech Lead <editor@infotechlead.com> Mon, 20 Oct ’14 9:49a
To: You
Show full Headers | View blocked images
IL Newsletter
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Press Conference 22nd October, 1.30 pm at National Science Centre, Delhi
20102014Edit : Edit
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Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
20102014
UNITED NATIONS DAY
24 October 2014
Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of multiple crises. Poverty, disease, terrorism, discrimination and climate change are exacting a heavy toll. Millions of people continue to suffer deplorable exploitation through bonded labour, human trafficking, sexual slavery or unsafe conditions in factories, fields and mines. The global economy remains an uneven playing field.
The fo
unding of the United Nations was a solemn pledge to the world’s people to end such assaults on human dignity, and lead the way to a better future. There have been painful setbacks, and there is much work ahead to realize the Charter’s vision. But we can take heart from our achievements.
The UN Millennium Development Goals have inspired the most successful anti-poverty campaign ever. United Nations treaties addressing inequality, torture and racism have protected people, while other agreements have safeguarded the environment. UN peacekeepers have separated hostile forces, our mediators have settled disputes and our humanitarian workers have delivered life-saving aid.
At this critical moment, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering the marginalized and vulnerable. On United Nations Day, I call on Governments and individuals to work in common cause for the common good.
***
United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan
55 Lodi Estate
New Delhi-110003, INDIA
Phone: 91-11-4653-2242; 2462-3439
Fax: 91-11-2462-0293
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“L’AFFASCINANTE CASO DELLE STAZIONI DELLA METROPOLITANA DI NAPOLI ”
20102014
ARTE PUBBLICA IN SPAZI PUBBLICI
PUBLIC ART IN PUBLIC SPACE
L’ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA È LIETO
DI INVITARE ALLA CONFERENZA
THE ITALIAN EMBASSY CULTURAL CENTRE HAS THE PLEASURE TO INVITE
YOU TO THE TALK
“L’AFFASCINANTE CASO DELLE STAZIONI DELLA
METROPOLITANA DI NAPOLI ”
“THE FASCINATING CASE OF THE SUBWAY STATIONS IN NAPLES”
DI /BY
EUGENIO VIOLA
GIOVEDÌ 30 OTTOBRE 2014, 19.00
THURSDAY, 30TH OCTOBER 2014, 7.00PM
SALA TESSITORI
ITALIAN EMBASSY CULTURAL CENTRE
50–E, CHANDRAGUPTA MARG (ENTRY FROM NYAYA MARG)
CHANAKYAPURI, NEW DELHI
EUGENIO VIOLA, ART CRITIC AND CURATOR AT LARGE AT MADRE, CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OF
DONNAREGINA NAPLES. HE WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THIS OPERATION THAT HAD MADE SOME
OF THESE STATIONS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SUBWAY STATIONS INEUROPE.
Free Entry upon presentation of valid ID. Parking outside the Italian cultural centre will be available.
Italian Embassy Cultural Centre
50-E, Chandragupta Marg
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110 021
Phone: 0091-11-26871901/03/04
Fax: 0091-11-26871902
50-E, Chandragupta Marg
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110 021
Phone: 0091-11-26871901/03/04
Fax: 0091-11-26871902
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“Swachh Bharat – Case Stud…” in [Swachh Bharat
20102014
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Barack Obama, I am absolutely confident that we can prevent
20102014
“I am absolutely confident that we can prevent a serious outbreak here in the United States, and we can continue to lead the world in this urgent effort.” —President Obama on Ebola
Watch the weekly address: http://ofa.bo/q1Hw
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19102014
BJP govt in Haryana, largest party in Maharashtra
BJP, which contested assembly polls on its own in Haryana for the first time, is set to form government, winning 45 seats and leading in 02 others in the 90-member assembly.
The prominent winners in Haryana assembly election are- Chief Minister and Congress candidate Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla Kiloi, National spokesperson of Congress and candidate from Kaithal Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Kiran Chaudhry, daughter in law of former Chief Minister Bansi lal won from Tosham.
Indian National Lok Dal candidates Abhay Singh Chautala won for the third time from Ellenabad, while Naina Chautala wife of Ajay Chautala who contested on behalf of her husband who is serving sentence in teacher recruitment scam won from Dabwali defeating Congress candidate Kamalvir Singh.
Bhartiya Janta Party senior leader from Ambala cantt. Anil Vij, probable Chief Ministerial candidates Captain Abhimanyu Singh, O P Dhankar and M L Khattar and BJP state president Ram Bilas Sharma have won.
Congress turncoat Chaudhry Birender Singh’s wife Prem Lata defeated Hissar MP and INLD candidate Dushyant Chautala and won Uchana Kalan Assembly seat.
Haryana Janhit Congress could only manage two seats. Party Chief Kuldeep Bishnoi won from Adampur seat and his wife Renuka Bishnoi from Hansi constituency.
The main losers in these elections were Hisar Congress candidate Savitri Jindal, Indian National Lok Dal State President Ashok Arora, Haryana Janhit Congress senior leader and brother of Kuldeep Bishnoi Chander Mohan, newly formed Haryana Janchetna Party supremo Vinod Sharma and his wife Shakti Rani Sharma.
Haryana Lokhit Party supremo Gopal Kanda lost to INLD candidate Makhan Lal Singla from Sirsa assembly constituency.
Union Minister Sushma Swaraj’s sister and BJP candidate Vandana Sharma has lost in the Safidon constituency. She lost to Independent candidate Jasbir Deswal.
In Maharashtra, BJP is heading to emerge as a single largest party in the Assembly polls.
The party has won 91 seats out of 218 results declared so far and leading in 32.
Its former ally Shiv Sena has won 47 seats and leading in 14.
The ruling Congress has won 36 seats and leading in 07 followed by its former ally NCP winning 29 and leading in 12.
Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has won one seat. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen fighting for the first time in the Maharashtra polls has won one seat and leading in two.
BJP on Sunday gave enough indications that it was not averse to the outside support offered by NCP and made it clear that it will be going ahead with formation of government in Maharashtra.
“As per norms of democracy, the largest party has the right to form the government. BJP will be forming the government in Maharashtra,” party President Amit Shah told a press conference in New Delhi as the results showed that BJP will fall short of a majority.
Virtually ignoring its erstwhile ally Shiv Sena, he said that the NCP has on its own offered “unconditional outside” support and “does not want to join the government”.
Asked specifically what would the BJP do on NCP’s offer, Shah said, “Just wait for sometime. The (BJP) Parliamentary Board will be meeting shortly.”
To repeated questions, Amit Shah maintained that BJP had not broken the alliance with Shiv Sena.
Taking a dig at Sena with which the alliance broke over seat sharing, the BJP chief said, “The results have proved who was correct… We won more seats than we were being offered.”
BJP wanted to contest 134 out of 288 seats but Shiv Sena was not ready to give more than 119.
As per the trends, BJP, along with some small ally parties looks set to win 123 seats.
“We respect our allies and want to keep our alliances but not by sacrificing our workers,” Shah asserted.
Describing the electoral victory in Maharashtra and Haryana as “two more steps towards Congress-free India”, he said the win is “a kind of stamp of approval by the people on the Modi government’s work, its policies and initiatives in the last four months.”
The performance of BJP has rendered Congress ineligible for even the post of Leader of Opposition in both the states, he said.
He said this victory has shown that “Modi is the undisputed leader of the country” and belies the theory of rivals that “Modi-wave is over” after minor bypoll setbacks.
“The results have proved that like a tsunami, the Modi-wave is demolishing all opposition,” Shah said.
BJP, which is emerging as the single largest party in Maharashtra, has ruled out any alliance with NCP but appeared to be keeping its options open on former ally Shiv Sena to form the government in the state.
BJP, which is emerging as the single largest party in Maharashtra, has ruled out any alliance with NCP but appeared to be keeping its options open on former ally Shiv Sena to form the government in the state.
“We fought Congress and NCP, their corruption. We brought out skeletons of corruption from their cupboards. There is no question of allying with NCP,” Union minister Prakash Javadekar said in New Delhi on Sunday.
It will be an insult to us and voters, he said when asked about possibility of BJP allying with NCP to form the government.
When told that the BJP will have to tie up with another party, probably the Shiv Sena, since it does not have numbers on its own, Javadekar said, “Why do you want me to take political decisions during a debate on channels. The party will take a final decision.”
When pressed on the issue, he said BJP had never attacked Shiv Sena and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made it clear during the campaign.
Meanwhile, the BJP Parliamentary Board will meet in New Delhi on Sunday evening and decide on government formation as it emerged the single-largest party in Maharashtra and looked set to capture power in Haryana.
All eyes are now on the meeting which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah as to the strategy it will adopt in Maharashtra — whether to go with its old ally Shiv Sena or seek support from others including NCP.
Sources said that the Board will decide on the political situation arising in Maharashtra where the party is not getting an absolute majority after breaking its alliance with Sena and may have to seek support from others to form a government of its own.
“The BJP Parliamentary Board will meet today evening in the party headquarters to decide on further course of action and will assess the assembly poll results,” a senior BJP leader said.
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Sweden troops near Stockholm
19102014
Sweden’s Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, the place of the suspected foreign threat was detected in the southern part of the Kanholmsfjärden, a major bay in the Stockholm archipelago, only 50 km from the city center.
A local witness, Robert Erikson, who was fishing off the island of Skarpö in Stokholm Archipelago at around 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) told TT that he saw the start of the military operation.
“The coast guard came in over the inlet with an airplane and flew round and round for a long time,” he said, “There was a large military boat that stayed further south on Kanholmsfjärden.”
The suspected incident comes a month after Swedish authorities accused Russian jets of violating the country’s airspace. According to Sweden’s armed forces, two Russian SU24 fighter-bombers were detected flying over the country in September.
Sweden’s armed forces have deployed planes and ships in the waters near the country’s capital due to possible “foreign underwater activity” in the Stockholm archipelago, said the country’s military.
The counter-intelligence operation was carried on Friday night and will continue all Saturday, the country’s military said.
“This will continue until we consider that we are done,” Jesper Tengroth, press officer for the Swedish army, told Swedish TT news agency, as cited by The Local.
He added that Sweden’s forces are now trying “to verify the information we received yesterday, which we assess comes from trustworthy sources, and see whether it has any substance or not.”
Tengroth although could not reveal if there were any observations during the operation on Friday night. He also didn’t provide any information on the nature of the threat or which country is responsible for the activity.
Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist also told TT that he was receiving regular updates of the operation in Stockholm’s Archipelago. He said that the maneuvers involving at least 200 troops were “necessary and well-founded.”
“I have full trust in their judgment,” he added.
“We have support for the analysis work we are now carrying out in the area in the form of ships, planes and territorial army personnel. The area is heavily trafficked, which is why it’s important for us to go public with information about what we’re doing,” said a statement from Jonas Wikström, commanding officer of the operation, on Sweden’s armed forces website.
He spoke only about certain underwater foreign activity, without mentioning any submarines.
Media agencies
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