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Maldives Emergency Extended

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<b>Colombo/Male (PTI):</b> The Maldives’ Parliament on Tuesday extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Abdulla Yameen’s recommendation.

Only 38 MPs were present for the vote, which took place hours before the state of emergency was due to expire, despite 43 lawmakers being needed for the vote to take place as required by the constitution, Maldives Independent news website reported.

All 38 were from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and they all approved the extension, it said. The Opposition had boycotted the vote. </div>
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The state of emergency will now end on March 22.

Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh quoted parliamentary regulations which do not include state of emergency declarations among the votes where a constitutionally required quorum is needed.

“There is no other law that requires compliance by citizens to the extent a state of emergency requires compliance. </div>
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We are asking citizens, we are compelling them to let the state suspend and restrict their fundamental rights for more than a month. There is no other violation of the constitution that shines on this clearly,” said opposition MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Eva Abdulla, another opposition lawmaker, accused the speaker of bypassing the constitution and said the state of emergency was illegal.

Shahindha Ismail, executive director of the Maldives Democracy Network, said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance in this country. 
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The controversial vote took place at the second extraordinary session in as many days.

President Yameen declared the emergency on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. Among them was exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his 2015 trial had been unconstitutional.

Under the emergency law, Yameen had two Supreme Court judges arrested, accusing them of corruption. Later, the remaining three judges annulled the order to release Yameen’s opponents. </div>
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There has been international condemnation of the government’s moves, with the US and India expressing concern.</div>

Maldives Emergency Extended

Colombo/Male (PTI): The Maldives’ Parliament on Tuesday extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Abdulla ...

February 20, 2018

Auto-Makers say lack of policy not to hamper development of evs.

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<b>New Delhi (PTI): </b>Automobile manufacturers, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra  Electric and Mercedes-Benz have said that the absence of an electric vehicle (EV) policy will not come in the way of their developing the eco-friendly vehicles. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant had said last week that there was no need for a policy for EVs as an action plan has been prepared and technology should not be trapped by rules and regulations. </div>
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 “As far as we are concerned, there is no change in our EV programme. We will go ahead with our plans as before,” Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Chairman RC Bhargava said. He was responding to a query on whether the absence of an EV policy would alter the company’s EV development programme. MSI had announced that it planned to launch an EV in India by 2020.

Bhargava further said, “The need for electrification (of vehicles) remains and it is for the industry to work out how to do it and if they need support they have to approach the Government.” </div>
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Expressing similar views, Mahindra Electric CEO Mahesh Babu said, “Currently, we are not expecting any additional policy push. We would, however, recommend that the current support under FAME and special tax structure for EVs continues for at least the next 2 years.”

Existing schemes are being implemented on ground and the resultant increase in EV adoption should start showing in the next 1-2 years time-frame, he added.</div>
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Babu said the processing of tender for 10,000 EVs by EESL is already underway and the resultant adoption can already be noticed. Appreciating the Government’s vision of reducing pollution and oil import bills, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Roland Folger said, “Mercedes-Benz advocates a technology agnostic approach with the co-existence of all technologies and we should not foreclose better technological options available, when it comes to define the path for future mobility in India.”

The Internal Combustion Engine (BS-VI), the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles and the EVs should all exist together and there should be a staggered approach, he added. </div>
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 “Mercedes-Benz is fully committed to electrification and we have an ambitious plan to offer at least an electrified alternative in every Mercedes model segment by 2022 –from compact cars up to large SUVs,” Folger said.

Achieving it would mean that the company is planning to have more than 50 electric vehicle variants on the market, he added. “Of these models alone, more than ten will be purely electric passenger cars. By 2025, plans call for all-electric vehicles to account for between 15 and 25 per cent of total Mercedes-Benz sales. </div>
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This will, of course, also depend upon the development of the infrastructure and customer preferences, he said.

Players in Indian automobile industry have been seeking an EV policy to take forward their development programme after Niti Aayog come out last year with a vision for 100 per cent public transport vehicles and 40 per cent of private vehicles to become all electric by 2030.

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Auto-Makers say lack of policy not to hamper development of evs.

New Delhi (PTI): Automobile manufacturers, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra Electric and Mercedes-Benz have said that the absence of an electric ...

February 20, 2018

Cabinet nod to set up tribunal to resolve water dispute.

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<b>New Delhi (PTI):</b> The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the sharing of Mahanadi river water, official sources said.

The decision by the Cabinet comes following the Supreme Court directive to the Centre last month to form the tribunal within a month to resolve the long-standing dispute. </div>
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The Odisha Government had moved the court in December, 2016, seeking an order asking Chhattisgarh to stop its construction work in projects on the upstream of Mahanadi, saying it had affected the river flow in the state.

It had also pitched for setting up of the tribunal.The tribunal would determine water sharing among basin States on the basis of the overall availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution of each State, the present utilisation of water resource in each state and the potential for future development, official sources said. </div>
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According to an official statement, the tribunal shall consist of a chairman and two other members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from amongst the judges of the Supreme Court or High Court.

Further, services of two assessors —water resources experts having experience in handling sensitive water-related issues -- will be provided to advise the tribunal in its proceedings, it said. </div>
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As per provisions of the Inter State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956, the tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within a period of three years, which can be extended for a period not exceeding two years due to "unavoidable reasons".</div>

Cabinet nod to set up tribunal to resolve water dispute.

New Delhi (PTI): The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisga...

February 20, 2018

CPM is becoming terror outfit: Cong

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<b>Kochi (PNS):</b>The Congress in Kerala on Tuesday accused the CPI(M) of becoming a terror organisation that was unwilling to abandon politics of violence.

Referring to the brutal murder of Youth Congress leader SP Shuhaib in Kannur last week, Opposition leader in the State Assembly and former State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala said on Tuesday, </div>
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“The CPI(M) with its tendency of committing murders continuously has turned into a terror organisation.”

Chennithala, who had last week alleged that the Marxists’ ‘Red terror’ was the fountainhead of all violence in Kannur, said in Kozhikode, “The CPI(M) leadership is providing murderers with protection and encouragement”. </div>
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According to him, this has become evident from the alleged reluctance of the police to arrest the actual killers of Shuhaib. Calling for a people’s movement for putting an end to murderous politics, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy said, “We can’t expect the CPI(M) to learn lessons from experience. Shuhaib’s murder has proved that the Marxists are not prepared to abandon their politics of violence.” </div>
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 The CPI(M) suffered a setback on Tuesday with the police confirming that all the accused in the case relating to Shuhaib’s murder were CPI(M) activists. State CPI(M) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan had repeatedly claimed that their party had no role in the murder.</div>

CPM is becoming terror outfit: Cong

Kochi (PNS): The Congress in Kerala on Tuesday accused the CPI(M) of becoming a terror organisation that was unwilling to abandon politic...

February 20, 2018

Kamal Haasan to launch his Party today.

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<b>Chennai (PNS): </b>Tamil Nadu is set to see the birth of yet another political ‘star’ and a star-led party on Wednesday when matinee idol Kamal Haasan would declare the  name and programme of the political outfit which he is launching.

As a prelude to the launching of his political party, Haasan went around Chennai city during the last two weeks seeking the blessings of veteran leaders like M Karunanidhi, CPI leader R Nallakannu and DMDK leader Vijayakanth. </div>
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He had also called on Rajnikanth who too is expected to launch a political party soon.

Political commentators in Tamil Nadu are of the view that Kamal Haassan in all likely would  forge an alliance with the DMK for the upcoming elections. “His stance against communalism, his passion for  the Dravidian ideology all make Kamal Haasan and the DMK ideal coalition partners,” said N K Kalyanasundaram, Tamil Nadu’s political historian. </div>
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Haassan had called on leaders of all parties barring the AIADMK, the BJP and the PMK. “Why should I call on people who do not know my politics, principles or ideology? They have been claiming that the political party I am going to launch would make no impact in Tamil Nadu,” the actor told reporters when he was asked about his ignoring the AIADMK. About the BJP, Kamal Haassan had repeated many times that he would not have any kind of truck with a party which is communal.

The PMK is another outfit which had been ignored by the star. Dr S Ramadoss, the party founder has made it known that Tamil Nadu could be saved from the present plight (corruption and nepotism) only by getting rid of the cinema culture from the State’s politics.</div>
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Anbumani Ramadoss, the Chief Ministerial candidate of the PMK too has asked the people to shun film actors from politics.

Kamal Haassan would be ninth film star to launch a political party in Tamil Andu. It began in 1972 when M G Ramachandran, MGR to fans,  who was expelled from the DMK by the Karunanidhi clan, launched the All India Anna DMK  which captured power in the State within five years.

Though Sivaji Ganesan, another super star of the MGR era, had  launched Tamizhaka Munnetra Munnani in 1987, the party died a silent death within three years. He was followed by Bhagyaraj, S S Rajendran, T Rajender , Sarat Kumar and Seeman. But none could make any kind of impact in Tamil Nadu politics except Vijayakanth who launched the DMDK in 2005 and went on to poll 10 per cent of the popular votes in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. </div>
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The DNDK forged an alliance with the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly election and won 28 seats which saw Vijayakanth emerging as the Leader of the Opposition. But his party got disintegrated and  in the 2016 assembly election even Vijayakanth  was defeated.

On Wednesday  morning, Kamal Hassan would visit Rameswaram to offer prayers at the memorial of APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India. Since he is against the Hindutwa politics, the actor would had declared that he would not vist the Sree Ramaswamy Temple at Rameswaram. He would declare the name of his party and its manifesto later in the day at Madurai, also known as the Temple City of Tamil Nadu. </div>
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At the time of going to press, there are reports which state that second rung leaders of the Trinamool Congress, the DMK, the CPI(M) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would grace the occasion.</div>

Kamal Haasan to launch his Party today.

Chennai (PNS): Tamil Nadu is set to see the birth of yet another political ‘star’ and a star-led party on Wednesday when matinee idol Kam...

February 20, 2018

Govt. approves logistic and warehousing policy.

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<b>Lucknow (PNS):</b> A day before the ‘UP Investors’ Summit, the State Government approved logistic and warehousing Policy streamlining warehouse operation in the State aiming to boost horticulture and floriculture.

A senior Minister said that Logistic and Warehousing Policy was the need of the hour and it was unfortunate that till now there were no well defined policy. </div>
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He said that taking forward ‘Make in India’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh has already launched ‘Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy, 2017’ and ‘Food Processing Industry Policy, 2017’ to create a supporting ecosystem for investments in industries and related infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storages, silos, etc.

“Therefore, the State was committed towards strengthening its foothold in the logistics sector,” he said.

The Minister said that being strategically located on the golden quadrilateral and having the largest rail network spanning over 8949 kms, UP is poised to meet the requisites of expanding logistics industry. </div>
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As per cabinet decision opportunities in logistic sector in Uttar Pradesh include warehousing, silos, cold storages, setting up of E-commerce hubs, real time logistics.

“With higher use of Internet and e-commerce, there is scope to provide services that helps in tracking and monitoring the transported goods,” the source said.

In another decision, the cabinet approved amendment in ‘UP Excise Act’ under which a consumer can consume liquor in a model shop after purchasing it. </div>
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The source said that the Government has decided to bring an amendment allowing people to consume liquor in model shops.</div>

Govt. approves logistic and warehousing policy.

Lucknow (PNS): A day before the ‘UP Investors’ Summit, the State Government approved logistic and warehousing Policy streamlining wareho...

February 20, 2018

khadi & Village Industries get online boost; Pact sealed

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<b>Lucknow (PNS):</b> On the eve of the first ever ‘UP Investors’ Summit’, the Khadi and Village Industries Board and global e-commerce giant Amazon India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to promote Khadi apparel manufactured in the State under the brand of ‘UP Khadi’ over its online marketplace. </div>
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As per the MOU, Team Amazon would educate and train khadi artisans to directly sell their products to online customers. The online portfolio would include products such as Khadi shirts, kurtas, dhotis, towels and gourmet food which have huge potential and demand in urban areas.

The agreement was signed by Khadi Minister Satyadeo Pachauri and Director and General Manager of Amazon India, Gopal Pillai. </div>
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“We would deploy our team to train Khadi artisans associated with units that are onboard with us,” Pillai said.

He claimed there was rising demand for khadi products globally and it was becoming the fabric of choice for the people, especially youth. Pillai further said, </div>
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“Since UP is famous for distinct traditional industries across its 75 districts, the company would be willing to consider other such products as well in the league of ‘UP Khadi’ if there was adequate demand apart from commensurate State Government push.”</div>