“CATALONIA” AS A QUALITY BRAND IN INDIA,

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BARCELONA-CATALONIA WORKSHOP
25-27 November 2013
PRESS PACK
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“CATALONIA” AS A QUALITY BRAND IN INDIA, A DESTINATION WITH AN AMAZING LIFESTYLE AND REAL QUALITY OF LIFE, WHERE THERE IS DEFINITELY A “PASSION FOR LIFE”
Catalonia is the perfect destination for cultural, gastronomy, shopping, luxury, cruising, sports events and MICE trips.
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Catalonia and its capital city, Barcelona, is purely Mediterranean Situated in the North-East of Spain, close to France and Italy.
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Catalonia is Spain’s top tourist destination and the second most popular in Europe after the Paris region.
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Along with Spanish, Catalonia has also its own language, Catalan, and its own distinctive identity.
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The intercontinental airport of Barcelona is the perfect gateway to Catalonia, the rest of Spain and Europe.
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Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines connect India with Barcelona and Catalonia via Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul, respectively, amongst many other European national carriers.
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3 additional international airports (Girona, Reus – Tarragona & Lleida – Alguaire) and an extensive modern high-speed rail network also enable Indian visitors to reach from Barcelona destinations such as Valencia, Bilbao, Madrid, Salamanca, Granada, Seville, in Spain, and also Switzerland, London, Edinburgh, Rome, Florence, Venice, Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, The French Riviera, The Alps, The Danube River and many other iconic “musts” in Europe.
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With the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop, vibrant Barcelona offers a seductive cocktail of beaches, history and a legendary nightlife. 40 minutes away on the road towards the coastal towns of the Costa Brava, La Roca Village is the perfect day trip for sensational shopping and lunch with a distinctive Mediterranean flavour.
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Catalonia offers the visitor an incredibly diverse range of cultural and natural attractions across its 32,000 square kilometres.
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Its capital Barcelona is the second largest meetings and events destination in the world and the host of EIBTM, Europe’s main MICE exhibition, Barcelona also hosts the Mobile World Congress, the world’s most important mobile phone event.
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Catalonia is a land of Mediterranean sea, the Pyrenees mountains, Romanesque World Heritage Site churches, Gaudi’s modernism, shopping, golf, sport, luxury, wellness and some of the best cuisine in the world.
CULTURAL TOURISM
Catalonia’s cultural offer is diverse and allows visitors following the trace of different architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Modernist, etc.), well-known writers and great artistic geniuses such as Dalí, Picasso, Gaudí, Miró and Tàpies.
There are attractive mountain areas like Montseny, a natural park, as well as
Montserrat monastery and mountain which is much more than just a protected natural area.
The following sites in Catalonia have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO:
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Palau de la Música Catalana. Barcelona. Modernism.
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Hospital de Sant Pau. Barcelona. Modernism.
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Poblet Monastery. Tarragona. the largest Cistercian monastery in Europe.
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Roman Tarraco. Tarragona.
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Mediterranean cave art in the Iberian Peninsula. There are 27 sites in Catalonia with listed paintings found in caves, grottoes and shelters.
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Romanesque churches in Vall de Boí. eight churches and one chapel make one of the most significant sets of Catalan Romanesque art regarding both its architecture and paintings
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The work of Antoni Gaudí:
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Park Güell. Barcelona. First garden city experience.
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La Pedrera (Casa Milà). Barcelona.
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Casa Batlló. Barcelona.
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Sagrada Família. Barcelona. Built between 1884 and 1889, Gaudí’s oldest
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religious work.
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La Patum. UNESCO declared the ancestral La Patum festival in Berga (Barcelona), a Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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Castellers. A genuine piece of Catalan folk culture featuring up to ten-storey human towers, it was recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
GASTRONOMY TOURISM
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Gastronomy is a part of a nation’s cultural heritage. Catalan cuisine dates back to times immemorial, with a long tradition of recipes gathered in ancient handbooks.
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Catalonia is playing an international leading role in gastronomy. Catalonia features 60 stars in the 2013 Michelin Guide.
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Topping the list the two restaurants that have received 3 stars: Sant Pau, of Carme Ruscalleda and el Celler de Can Roca, of Joan Roca, which has been recentely named as the best restaurant in the world.
SHOPPING TOURISM
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La Roca Village is one of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe.
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Chic Outlet Shopping® is the Collection of luxury outlet villages by Value Retail, the only company to specialise exclusively in the development and operation of luxury outlet shopping villages.
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Currently home to more than 900 boutiques, the Villages offer the authentic previous seasons’ collections of leading luxury fashion and lifestyle brands with savings of up to 60%, and sometimes more, on the recommended retail price, all year round.
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CRUISE TOURISM
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Cruise tourism has equally increased considerably in recent years following improvement works in the port, which has become the biggest cruise port in Europe.
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The Port of Barcelona has 7 international passenger terminals and is the leading european cruiser port and a Mediterranean turnaround base. Last year, 2012, the Port of Barcelona received 2.408.634 creuse passangers.
OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
CIRCUIT DE BARCELONA – CATALUNYA– Racing Track
The Catalonia – Barcelone Speed Circuit has set itself up as a modern sports facilities, serving as the venue for the most important motor sport events of the world such as the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix and the Catalan MotoGP Grand Prix. But the Circuit is not only about passion for speed; it also offers the chance to organise all kinds of events and activities for companies thanks to the multi-purpose facilities.
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Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya has 22 years’ experience organising events at the highest levels of the motor racing world, Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix and the Catalan MotoGP Grand Prix being the best examples.
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The Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya is the port of entry for Formula 1 in Europe and it is the chance to get a live shot of the drivers and teams who bring us the most spectacular motor racing display in the world.
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Due to its privileged geographical location, it offers a plethora of possibilities in terms of available tourist attractions. The Circuit is only 30 minutes from Barcelona, and it is very well connected with the city (bus, train and highway) which makes it possible for visitors to experience the city’s fantastic architecture (the Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, La Rambla…), do all kinds of shopping, enjoy the local
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cuisine and participate in a great number of leisure activities (theatre, cinema, musicals, football…)
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Further tourist attractions to be found at Spanish Formula One Grand Prix are the beaches of the Catalan coastline: Costa Brava, Costa Barcelona and Costa Daurada. In addition, the weather in May, the month during which the race is to be held, is perfect. For further information: http://www.circuitcat.com
FC BARCELONA
FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium is one of the icons of the city of Barcelona. Almost 100,000 spectators can enjoy magnificent nights in the biggest and most spectacular stadium in Europe, which was granted five-star status by the UEFA.
Imagine living this experience from an unbeatable view of the pitch and enjoying special comforts in an exclusive setting including catering
and bar service, hostess, CCTV and match line-ups. The Hospitality Programme.
More information: http://www.catalunya.com

Modi,Nitish Shiela to address rallies in Delhi

30 11 2013

The chief of various political parties  BSP, BJP, Congress,JDU,are in Delhi to lure voters to cast their votes on Dec 04 ,2013 for the seventy legislature assembly election,Delhi with cosmopolitan population with migrant population rising in large proportion,social media and mobile in action brings the poll to interesting end.
Urban poor to rich and super rich Delhi find its   politicians making various models to convince their suitability.Money,muscle,community, rumors,self style leaders with self praise walk the streets of Delhi to build their political base.
Congress which has been ruling this tiny state from last fifteen years has completely evaded and overlooked the interest of the common man. With rising cost of electricity,water,LPG,and public transport the common man loaded with government high cost amenities and open market of essential eatable rising cost every day,week has made the 1.30 Cr people express unhappiness thus making the Delhi assembly election an interesting feature of this year.
Election is other four states is considered a semifinal for ensuing General election next year.
Bjp the second biggest party of the nation is making its valiant effort to garner votes in their favors but mood of the people and the pulse is too vibrant, systematic the scams and scams would bring change or coalition government. Most of the political parties have become family entity and even one man show party is emerging fast, even the media picking from the nursery of activist seedling it to politician leveling is poor example of building a political party in this multicultural nation.
Activist with aggression in their blood has no space in political space which depends on debate  of ultimate order with ideas of all sorts and the best to be produced . Role of criticizing,harping on one point, self praise  without professional thinkers, absence of man of integrity,absence of experts and visionary people by handful activist may not bring desired political change.
Role of media hasbeen put to test as new media celebrities are born who are reading from the ideas shunted to them and pose to be the builders of new breed of leaders. Media intervention with enforcing ideas is dreaded disease and their clamor of being the hottest breed is actually bringing more desperation and stops the rightful leaders to emerge. A way the words are uttered by the leaders speaks volume about the personality and his class. Let’s us wait for righteous to take its shape.
Titbits of election continue;

 Bjp prime ministerial candidate, star campaigner Narendra Modi on Saturday mocked at PM Manmohan Singh and F M P Chidambaram over rising prices at an election rally in Delhi on Saturday. In  Delhi, Modi said that this time the elections are being fought by the people. and called elections as festivals of democracy, leader said that what can be better than the people themselves fighting the elections.

Raising the poll pitch in the national capital, BJPs PM nominee said that political parties must give answers to the people and tell the public what they did during their regime.

Coming down hard at the Congress, Modi said, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh and Madhya Pradesh CM ShivrajSingh Chouhan went between the people and informed them about the work they did in their respective states. But Congress leaders of Delhi and Rajasthan are arrogant as they are not willing to answer the people.

Modi asked the gathering, Delhi has such big leaders of the Centre. Should they not meet you, address you and talk to you.

His attack continued on the Congress, Modi said that it has become a fashion for the grand old party to demand answers from Gujarat even if elections are in any other state.

Addressing a rally in Sardarpura, Jodhpur, Moid had said that the Finance Minister has attributed inflation to buying gold.

Strongly rebutting Modi’s remarks, Chidambaram has sent a letter to the Gujarat Chief Minister, details of which are:

After his lessons in history, Shri Narendra Modi has delivered his first lesson in economics. This is  reported by the Indian Express, he said at Jodhpur: The Finance Minister attributes inflation to buying gold. I am not as educated as him.but I know inflation is not because of buying gold but due to corruption. 

 

I recall having said on many occasions that buying gold which is almost entirely imported worsens the Current Account Deficit (CAD). I don’t recall saying that buying gold causes inflation. Anyway, all economists may take note of the new lesson. Media agencies

China scrambles jets after US, Japan planes enter new air zone

30 11 2013

China scrambled several fighter jets to monitor military planes of the US, Japan and South Korea in its newly de clared air defence zone over the East China Sea amid a call by President Xi Jinping to the PLA to enhance war capabilities.

The Chinese fighter jets identified and monitored the two US and 10 Japanese aircraft during their flights through the zone early Friday, Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Shen Jinke was quoted as saying by the state-run China News. He made no mention of any further action. “Several combat aircraft were scrambled to verify the identities” of US and Japanese aircraft entering the zone, the state-run Xinhua news agency said, citing an air force official. Colonel Shen said on Thursday said several fighter jets and an early warning aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted normal air patrols in the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) that Beijing unilaterally declared last week. Colonel Shen described the move as “a defensive measure and in line with international common practices.” China’s air force will remain on high alert and will take measures to deal with diverse air threats to firmly protect the security of the country’s airspace, he said when the PLA Air Force conducted its first air patrol in the area. President Xi, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, ordered the PLA to reinforce the party’s leadership over the troops, enhance its war capabilities and strive to build a strong strategic reserve force. Military training is critical to beef up the PLA’s war capacities and that trainings must focus on what is needed to fight a war and what it lacks most, Xi said while inspecting the Jinan Military Area Command in the east China. Beijing announced the establishment of the ADIZ over the disputed islands called Diaoyu by China and Senkakus by Japan. Till last year the chain of uninhabited were administered by Japan. China started challenging the Japanese hold with naval patrols and the ADIZ was seen as an effort to enforce its air control over the islands.

Kosovcevic: Violence does not solve any problem 

Serbian Film Director Kosovcevic: Violence does not solve any problem

Director of Serbian film ‘The Whirlpool’, Bojan Vuk Kosovcevic said that his film gives the message that through violence you will never get anything good. During a media interaction, ‘Meet the Director’ at the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panjim, Goa today, he said, Indian films are liked by Serbian people for their artistic appeal. He said that ‘The Whirlpool’, is set in the second half of the 1990s in Belgrade against the backdrop of disintegration of Yugoslavia and its socio-economic impact on Serbia. He said that social extremes were apparent everywhere in Serbia especially among the youth during the collapse of Serbia. He said that due to war, inflation, physical isolation and sanctions, Serbia was becoming a kind of closed society, which was most visible in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade. He said, his film ‘The Whirlpool’ is about this isolated environment, where the young begun to create their own worlds. It is seen from the perspectives of those youth who were becoming adults, and about their efforts to find themselves getting sucked into a chaotic whirlpool of violence. The debut feature film director said that though his country is rich in terms of infrastructure and marketing of films, still people are not going to theatres because of

Goa police:Complainant before a magistrate & summons Tarun Tejpal

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A political build up is on rise in disguise of various stories which are building around Tarun the media personality which reflects the cozy coterie and is third biggest clash of political titan.

Coalition politics will give rise to various wagering pacts and understanding and its result however will be that of ‘Cash for vote’ scam. But the ego ride could be tough days for media icon.

Let us ask ourselves are we trying to do self introspection and let these sensational stories in the edifice of Savior laws are of extreme steps. Lots of contemplation may not get us to some results  as the saying goes on everything is fair in game of love and war. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.Masses needs the fertile brain and professionals to lend their mind in constructive program-me rather than  creating sensation for smaller ends.

 

Sushma Swaraj alleging, Congress party was shielding Tejpal. “Union Cabinet Minister who is the founder and patron of Tehelka is shielding Tarun Tejpal,” she tweeted, refraining from naming the minister. Sibal has clarified that he has nothing to do with the publication.

Goa Police today recorded the statement of the complainant before a magistrate in the sexual assault case against Tehelka Founder-Editor Tarun Tejpal. Police sources said  that they will oppose Tejpal’s anticipatory bail application in the Delhi High Court.

Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury’s name could be added to the FIR against Tehelka Founder-Editor Tarun Tejpal for trying to suppress the sexual harassment complaint, say sources.as reported in e channel.

Goa Police lands in Mumbai to record the woman’s statement where she reportedly corroborated the details in the FIR filed by the police.
The Goa police on Wednesday issued summons to Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting his junior colleague.

A senior police official confirmed that Tejpal has been issued summons to remain present before the investigating officer.He, however, refused to mention whether the accused has been given any date or time to present himself before the investigating authority.

The Goa crime branch is investigating the complaint against Tejpal by a woman journalist.

The police official also said the victim will be called to record her statement before a magistrate.

“She has been fully cooperating with the police and her statement is very crucial for the case,” the official said.

Investigating Officer Sunita Sawant has already met the victim in Mumbai and recorded her statement on Tuesday.

The Goa police had on 22nd November lodged an FIR against Tejpal under IPC sections 376 (rape), 376 (2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position) and 354 (outraging modesty) in connection with the incident.

The police had on Tuesday issued an “immigration check post alert” against Tejpal so that he cannot leave the country.

IMF chief to pay first visit to Myanmar

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IMF chief Christine Lagarde will next month pay her first visit to Myanmar as the once authoritarian government pursues reforms that have fueled growth, the global lender said.

Lagarde will visit Myanmar’s showcase capital Naypyidaw and its largest city Yangon during the December 6-7 visit, which will come after stops in South Korea and Cambodia. “I will visit three countries in different stages of transition — Korea, the world’s 13th largest economy; Cambodia, a frontier economy on the rise; and Myanmar, undergoing a great awakening to countless possibilities,” Lagarde said in a statement released on Tuesday.  In Myanmar, Suu Kyi will meet with government and economic leaders as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who spent most of the past two decades under house arrest and has now entered democratic politics, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have been expanding their relationship with the country formerly known as Burma since 2011, when the military government officially dissolved and launched reforms that have included easing censorship and freeing political prisoners.  Myanmar has also taken economic reforms including allowing its currency to float. In January, international lenders agreed to cancel nearly USD 6 billion of Myanmar’s debt. In May, the IMF estimated that Myanmar’s economy would expand 6.75 percent in 2013-14, a notch up from the previous year, driven by gas production and investment in the resource-rich Southeast Asian nation.  Since its transition to democracy, Myanmar’s relations have warmed markedly with the United States which has ended most sanctions imposed during military rule.  Human rights activists, however, point to continued abuses against minorities including the mostly Muslim Rohingya people.

Thai protesters besiege govt buildings, call on PM to quit

Updated on : 26-11-2013 03:50 PM

A Thai court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for a top anti-government leader as thousands of demonstrators besieged government buildings demanding beleaguered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's resignation.

"We sought an arrest warrant for Suthep (Thaugsuban) and the Criminal Court just approved it," said Colonel Sunthorn Kongklam of Bang Sue police station in the capital. "I ask him to surrender, otherwise police can arrest him on sight." Thousands of protesters continued their siege of government buildings which began yesterday as the Parliament discussed a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister. Demonstrators surrounded the interior, agriculture, transport, and sports and tourism ministries, ordering officials inside to leave, a day after they broke into the finance and foreign ministries and cut off electric and water supply. Suthep, a former deputy Prime Minister and senior leader from the opposition Democrat party, vowed to "seize all ministries" after storming the finance ministry yesterday. The protests raised fears of fresh street violence since 2010 as thousands of demonstrators rallied against Prime Minister Yingluck and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. The demonstrations, sparked by an amnesty bill that could have allowed the return of Thaksin from self-imposed exile, escalated troubles for Yingluck since she took office in 2011 with Thaksin support from the "Red Shirts", whose 2010 protests were crushed by the then Democrat-led government. Opposition Democrat Party leader and former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva attacked Prime Minister Yingluck denouncing her as the "centre of comprehensive corruption practises". During the first day of the censure debate against Yingluckand Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Abhisit alleged corrupt practices centred on Yingluckat every step and added that she tolerated corruption from "mountaintop to overlapping sea territories with ulterior motives". Abhisit said the Yingluckgovernment may have won the majority in the House but it also had caused hardship. "The government has held the country and its people hostage on several occasions. The prime minister let individuals in the government commit corruption." The People's Army to Overthrow Thaksin's Regime announced that its protesters would stay overnight in front of the Interior Ministry. They could not enter the ministry's compound because riot-control policemen were deployed to guard the ministry.

Oldest 'shrine' discovery suggests Buddha lived in 6th Cen BC

Updated on : 26-11-2013 02:39 PM

Archaeologists have unearthed the earliest ever 'Buddhist shrine' at Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, which suggests the sage may have lived in the 6th century BC, two centuries earlier than thought.

Excavations within the sacred Maya Devi Temple at Lumbini in Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage site long identified as the birthplace of the Buddha, uncovered the remains of a previously unknown sixth-century BC timber structure under a series of brick temples. This is the first archaeological material linking the life of the Buddha - and thus the first flowering of Buddhism - to a specific century, according to the research co-led by Robin Coningham from Durham University, UK. The timber structure contains an open space in the centre that links to the nativity story of the Buddha himself - his mother Queen Maya Devi gave birth to him while holding on to a tree branch within the Lumbini Garden. The researchers suggest the open space in the centre of the most ancient, timber shrine may have accommodated a tree. Geoarchaeological research also confirmed the presence of ancient tree roots within the temple's central void, according to the study published in the journal Antiquity. Until now, the earliest archaeological evidence of Buddhist structures at Lumbini dated no earlier than the third century BC, the time of the patronage of the Emperor Asoka, who promoted the spread of Buddhism, from present-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh. "Very little is known about the life of the Buddha, except through textual sources and oral tradition. Some scholars have maintained that the Buddha was born in the third century BC," lead researcher, Coningham from Durham University's Archaeology Department, said. There is dispute over the birth date of Buddha, many scholars believe that the sage lived and taught in the 4th century BC and died at the age of 80. "Now, for the first time, we have an archaeological sequence at Lumbini that shows a building there as early as the sixth century BC," Coningham said. Coningham, worked with Kosh Prasad Acharya from the Pashupati Area Development Trust in Nepal and an international team of archaeologists. To determine the dates of the timber shrine and a previously unknown early brick structure above it, researchers tested fragments of charcoal and grains of sand using a combination of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence techniques. The discovery contributes to a greater understanding of the early development of Buddhism as well as the spiritual importance of Lumbini, researchers said. "These discoveries are very important to better understand the birthplace of the Buddha," said Ram Kumar Shrestha, Nepal's minister of culture, tourism and civil aviation. "The government of Nepal will spare no effort to preserve this significant site," Shrestha said in a statement released by Durham university. Lost in the jungles of Nepal in the Medieval period, ancient Lumbini was rediscovered in 1896 and identified as the birthplace of the Buddha on account of the presence of a third-century BC sandstone pillar. The pillar, which still stands, bears an inscription documenting a visit by Emperor Asoka to the site of the Buddha's birth as well as the site's name - Lumbini. Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He renounced the world at the age of 29 to seek enlightenment.

India, Malaysia sign MoU to boost co-operation

Updated on : 25-11-2013 08:25 PM

India and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday to strengthen co-operation in public administration and governance as part of the efforts to enhance their strategic partnership.

The MoU covers eight areas of co-operation including human resource management, e-governance, public delivery system, accountability and transparency, skills and capacity building and quality results. The MoU was signed by Malaysia's Public Service Department Director-General Mohamad Zabidi Zainal and the Secretary of India's Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Sanjay Kothari. Zabidi said the MoU was a strategic cooperation and collaboration to strengthen ties between the two countries. He added that apart from that it could also assist in socio-economic development through an efficient, accessible, transparent and accountable civil service. The MoU envisages cooperation via tours, workshops and conferences, sharing of public administration and governance information and expertise, common project implementation mechanisms and exchange of publications, state-run news agency Bernama said.

Discover Germany Workshop

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ENKAYSAGAR HOLDING P LTD

Greetings from The German National Tourist Office, India.

We acknowledge your registration at the Discover Germany Workshop to be held tomorrow 26^th November, 2013. Look forward to your presence at the event and thank you for your support as always. Please find below the details of the venue-

Date:       26^th November 2013

Venue:    The Ballroom

The Imperial, Janpath
New Delhi- 110001 India

Telephone: (91-11) 23341234

Time:  10:00 hrs – 14:00 hrs

Time:  10:00 hrs – 14:00 hrs

10:00 – 10:30                  Registration

10:30 – 14:00                  B2B session

14:00 onwards                Lunch  

 The Panel includes –

Mr. Ashsih Sharma               - Representing Saxony Tourism, Germany

Ms. Annette Biener             - Representing Frankfurt City, Germany

Ms. Irina Ens                         – Representing Deutsche Bahn, Germany

Mr. Sebastian Worel           -  Representing Alpha Travel Consultants, Germany

Mr. Hans Hadbawnik          – Representing Stuttgart Marketing, Germany

Ms. Elisabeth Romero        – Representing Visit Berlin, Germany

Mr. Mark Spivey                  – Representing Maritim Hotels, Germany

Mr. Bernd Niemeyer           – Representing Steigenberger Hotels, Germany

Ms. Karin Gerling                 – Representing Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Schifffahrt AG, Germany

Mr. Mohit Chopa                 – Representing TV Tower, Berlin

Mr. Tarun Sharma               - Representing Emirates Airlines

Mr. Till Weigl                        -  Representing The German National Tourist Board, Germany

Mr. Romit Theophilus         -  Representing The German National Tourist Office, India 

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SAD LAMBASTS CONGRESS

SAD LAMBASTS CONGRESS

SAD LAMBASTS CONGRESS FOR JUSTIFYING  1984 SIKH MASSACRE

Newdelhi, November 25 : The Shiromani Akali Dal lambasted the PPCC Spokesman Mr. Sukhpal Singh Khaira for his comments justifying 1984 sikh massacre and described the statement as double standards of the Congress leader.

            Reacting strongly to the statement of Mr. Khaira, the SAD Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that during a workshop of Congress party’s spokespersons in Delhi Mr. Khaira himself had questioned the party high command that how should the spokespersons  justify 1984 massacre before the media ? But it is ironical to see the same PPCC Spokesman now coming with a strange logic to defend the Congress in Delhi state assembly elections.

            Dr. Cheema further said that on one hand the Congress party has given a ticket to the son of Mr. Jagdish Tytler, prime accused in 1984 anti sikh riots, sending the impression that Congress party still stands committed to the second generation of perpetrators of crime against Sikhs and on the other hand the Congress leaders are shredding crocodile tears in the streets of Tilak Nagar of Delhi which has suffered the most during 1984 anti sikh riots.

SAD ALLEGES LARGE SCALE BOGUS VOTES IN RAJOURI GARDEN

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New Delhi, 25 November :—

The Shiromani Akali Dal urged the Election Commision of India to conduct an enquiry into the registration of bogus votes in 27- Rajouri Garden Assembly Constituency.

In a written complaint filed by the Shiromani Akali Dal Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema the SAD alleged that 266 bogus votes have been registered in Khayala village which is the native place of official candidate of Indian National Congress Party Mrs. Dhanwanti Chandila. Dr. Cheema alleged that in two small plots bearing house nos WZ 101 and WZ 102, 93 & 142 bogus votes have been registered respectively and 42 votes have been registered in the same houses in the supplementary voter list issued by the returning officer.

Dr. Cheema informed the commission that it is surprising to see that in the same houses five years ago a similar complaint of registration of bogus votes was filled by Shiromani Akali Dal on 25 November, 2008. In that case the house nos were also WZ 101 & WZ 102.

The Shiromani Akali Dal demanded immediate deletion of all bogus votes, strict punishment to the guilty officials and strict action against the Indian National Congress party candidate Mrs Chandila.

(Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema)
Secretary & Spokesman
Shiromani Akali Dal.

HE Princes Belgian Economic Mission with FICCI delegates

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Dy PM and Foreign Minister of Belgium

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Belgium Economic Mission and PHD

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Volcanic alert for Mount Sinabung, on Sumatra,

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Indonesia has ordered the evacuation of 15,000 people from their homes near an active volcano as it pushed up the alert for emergency to the highest levels.

Officials on Sunday raised the volcanic alert for Mount Sinabung, on Sumatra, after it began throwing clouds of ash, gravel and gas as high as 5,000m, according to government volcanologists but no casualties have been reported so far.

“We have raised the status to ‘caution’, which is the highest of levels for volcanic activity because we anticipate
there will be more eruptions and because the intensity of eruptions has been increasing,” the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said in a written statement.

About 6,000 people have already been moved from the area, 88km from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, and were placed in 16 safe locations. Authorities narrowed the evacuation radius to 5km from 3km and the military geared up to move residents out.

Media agencies

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Honduras presidential vote

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The conservative ruling party Prez candidate has claimed victory in Honduras’ presidential election as an early vote count put him ahead, but his leftist rival also said she was the winner, setting the stage for a conflict.

Electoral authority late on Sunday said a partial count of votes gave National Party candidate, Juan Hernandez, 34 percent support while Xiomara Castro, wife of deposed former leader Manuel Zelaya, had 28.5 percent.

The preliminary tally was based on a count from 43 percent of polling booths. Final results are expected on Monday.

A Hernandez victory would deal a blow to Zelaya, who was ousted in a 2009 coup that plunged Honduras into a political crisis. He had hoped to stage a political comeback behind Castro.  Honduran Election Tribunal has consistently been called into question by Castro’s Libre Party.  The party has also warned of fraud and voter intimidation.

“All of these parties have been conducting their own polling for months and they are convinced that their polling is correct,” Al Jazeera’s Adam Raney, reporting from the capital Tegucigalpa, said. ”So, whatever this tribunal says, it’s going to be hard to convince the loser that this is an accurate count.”

Castro was campaigning to become the first female president of Honduras, the poorest country in the Americas after Haiti with an estimated 71 percent of the population living in poverty.”The people have decided, and the people want change,” she said after voting in Catacamas. “A new era has started for all Hondurans.

Media agencies

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EU to lift partly Iran sanctions in December

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Lots of  cheering supporters welcomed Iranian negotiators arrival home. 

Iran has agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for about $7bn in sanctions relief.

Israel called the deal a “historic mistake”.

Carrying flowers and Iranian flags at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, crowds hailed Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, as an “ambassador of peace” and chanted, “No to war, sanctions, surrender and insult”.

Are you in Iran? What are your thoughts on the deal? What difference will the sanctions relief make to your life. Let us know.

US Secretary of State Kerry assured Israel will be safer over the next six months due to the agreement reached in Geneva concerning Iran’s nuclear program and uranium enrichment plan.

Though “Israel is threatened by what has been going on in Iran”,the deal brokered on Saturday will keep the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program under supervision and control, said John Kerry.

“But I believe that from this day – for the next six months – Israel is in fact safer than it was yesterday because we now have a mechanism by which we are going to expand the amount of time in which they (the Iranians) can break out (toward making a nuclear bomb),” he told CNN.

The remark comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had slammed the international deal over Iran’s nuclear program as a “historic mistake.” He said that after this agreement was reached, the world has become “a more dangerous place.”

In an attempt to reduce tension Kerry assured that from this day there will be “insights” into the program “that we didn’t have before.”

The much-anticipated agreement reached in Geneva gives Iran initial relief from sanctions in exchange for halting its enrichment of uranium to above 5 per cent for six months.

However Kerry stressed that “there’s very little sanctions relief here – that the basic architecture of the sanctions stays in place.”

The Obama administration pointed out that it has no illusions about the risks that the Islamic state might not follow through but the US entered the deal with eyes “absolutely wide open.”

The US and Iran secretly engaged in a series of high-level talks over the past year, according to an AP report. The negotiations were allegedly hidden even from America’s key ally in the region, Israel.

The talks were held in the Middle Eastern nation of Oman and were personally authorized by President Barack Obama, the report claims. It says that since March top US officials – Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Jake Sullivan, Vice-President Joe Biden’s foreign policy adviser – have met at least five times with Iranian diplomats. The last four meetings were held after Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani was inaugurated in August and were very productive, three senior administration officials told AP on condition of anonymity.

EU will likely ease sanctions in place against Iran in December, said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. The announcement comes hot on the heels of a landmark deal over Tehran’s nuclear program that ended a decade of diplomatic deadlock.

The European Union will ease sanctions imposed on Tehran “in December,” the French foreign minister told radio Europe 1 on Monday. Fabius added that a meeting between EU foreign ministers had been scheduled for the coming weeks to discuss the lightening of the sanctions. 

Although Fabius did not specify which sanctions would be lifted, he said that the move would be“reversible.”

“We are doing the same as the American side,” said Fabius. The P5+1 reached a deal with Iran in the early hours of Sunday morning that will allow Tehran access to $4.2 billion in funds frozen as part of the financial penalties imposed on the country. 

The agreement will allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium, but only to 5 per cent, a far cry from the 90 per cent needed for the construction of an atomic bomb. Minister Fabius said that although the international community had agreed to let Iran continue enrichment, the deal does not acknowledge Tehran’s “right to enrichment.”

“Iran cannot do whatever it wants, there are specific limitations,” he said. After the deal was clinched the international community has diverged somewhat in its interpretation of what it means for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on Twitter that the right to enrichment had been recognized in negotiations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov intimated that Iran’s right to enrichment has been acknowledged. 

“This deal means that we agree with the need to recognize Iran’s right for peaceful nuclear energy, including the right for enrichment, Lavrov told Russian press following negotiations.

In contrast Washington said that while it accepted Tehran’s right to a “peaceful nuclear program,” its right to enrichment had not been acknowledged.

“The first step, let me be clear, does not say that Iran has a right to enrich uranium,” said Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday. 

The Geneva has, for the most part, been hailed as a success by the international community and a step towards the normalization of relations with Iran. However, Israel has opposed the deal and condemned it as a “historic mistake.”

At a cabinet meeting on Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was not bound by the new agreement

“The regime in Iran is committed to destroying Israel. [But] Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself from any threat, [and] will not allow Iran to develop a military nuclear capability.”

When asked if he feared the possibility of a preventative, Israeli strike, Fabius said he did not because“no one would understand” such a move “at this stage.”

Media agencies

 

 

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International Newshot

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Conference on Palestine needed similar to one on Syria – envoy

It would be possible to convene a conference to settle the Palestinian problem that will be similar to an international conference on Syria in Geneva, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Fayed Mustafa said Monday.“We believe that after the Geneva conference on Syria and future Geneva-2 and probably Geneva-3 may be held,”Itar-Tass quoted the envoy as saying. “Perhaps, one more Geneva conference – the third one or the fourth one may be convened… to resolve the Palestinian problem.”

About 600 people rallying in Kiev – Ukrainian police

Some 500 pro-EU protesters were rallying in the Ukrainian capital’s Europe Square on Monday morning, RIA-Novosti reported, citing police in Kiev. Another 50 people gathered on Independence Square. Nobody was detained during the morning’s peaceful protests or during the night, police said. Demonstrators are demanding the authorities sign an agreement on association and free trade with the EU. The government last week suspended preparations for the signing.

3 killed in clashes of Libyan army, Islamist militants

Clashes between Libyan troops and militants in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday killed at least three people and wounded a dozen more, officials said. Gunfire and explosions were heard in Benghazi and smoke rose from the Ras Obeida area, Reuters reported. Fighting broke out when an army special forces unit pursued a suspect into an area where Islamist militant group Ansar Al-Sharia operates its own checkpoints. A year ago, the group was blamed for the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi when the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed.

Protesters break into Thailand Finance Ministry

About 40 anti-government protesters forced their way into Thailand’s Finance Ministry on Monday, Reuters reported. The move followed a march of more than 30,000 of demonstrators to 12 buildings in Bangkok seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The building’s power was cut shortly after protesters burst into the ministry, according to a witness. Demonstrators spread across the city on Monday to government offices, military and naval bases and state TV channels to stop the alleged influence of the deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

IAEA starts review of work to scrap Fukushima reactors

A team of experts formed by the International Atomic Energy Agency began Monday reviewing the efforts to scrap the crippled reactors at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The IAEA team will focus on the management of the radioactive water buildup at the site and fuel removal work that has just started at a pool inside the damaged No. 4 reactor building, Kyodo quoted team leader Juan Carlos Lentijo as saying in Tokyo.“The removal of the spent fuel is an essential activity toward decommissioning,” Lentijo said. The full process that TEPCO has developed will be reviewed, as well as all the precautions adopted to develop these activities in a safe way.

Saudi court sentences Jeddah US consulate attacker to death

A Saudi court has sentenced one man to death and another 19 to jail terms ranging from 18 months to 25 years for storming the US consulate in Jeddah in 2004, Reuters reported. Another 35 defendants in the case will be sentenced on Monday and Tuesday. In the December 6 attack, five militants stormed the US consulate with bombs and guns, killing four Saudi security personnel and five local staff. Three of the attackers were killed and two were captured. The attack was seen as part of an Al-Qaeda campaign aimed at ousting the ruling Al Saud family. The campaign was crushed in 2006, with more than 11,000 people being detained.

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China sends letter of protest to Japan and US

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China has send formal letters of protest to Japanese and US embassies in Beijing, after both countries criticized China’s move to create the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone over islands disputed with Japan, China’s Defense Ministry said on Monday. The accusations toward China are “absolutely groundless and unacceptable,” ministry’s spokesman Yang Yujun said. On Saturday PRC said that any Japanese planes in the vicinity of Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands need to submit their flight patterns to China’s Foreign Ministry or civil aviation administration and they must maintain radio contact with Chinese authorities, as the country introduced the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.

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Azarov: ​Russia may review gas contract with Ukraine

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov says Moscow is considering reviewing a 2009 gas contract that Kiev believes to be unfavorable. “We have been persistently trying to persuade the Russian Federation to review the contract,” Azarov told Ukrainian TV channel ICTV. “Now, generally speaking, there is such a pledge, and we hope we will implement it during the talks.” Ukraine considers the gas contract signed in 2009 by then-Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers Vladimir Putin and Yulia Tymoshenko as financially unfavorable. Ukraine repeatedly warned that if Gazprom refuses to revise the contract, it would stop importing gas from Russia.

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Tehelka Case Wake Up Call for Media: Indian Media Centre (IMC)

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New Delhi, November 25, 2013: The Indian Media Centre strongly condemns the prima facie serious case of sexual harassment of a young woman journalist by Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal and demands that the matter be probed thoroughly by the authorities concerned in the interests of probity in the media.

No corporate or editorial head can set the terms of his own punishment. The magazine’s management should have taken prompt action on the basis of the Vishakha guidelines laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The malafide and serious dereliction of duty on the part of the management and its opting for an ‘internal inquiry’ in such a serious matter cannot be condoned and is not acceptable.  It is a clear cut case of institutional failure and the law of the land must take its course.

The unfortunate incident should also serve as a wakeup call for the entire media to institutionalize mechanisms where even the minutest instance of the violation of the Vishakha guidelines is taken congnizance of and it is ensured that the law takes it course.

The Government on its part must notify the relevant laws with immediate effect and provide for a mechanism to ensure compliance. It is suggested that this work be entrusted to the National Commission for women.

The IMC shall also be organizing a National Consultation on the issue with all stakeholders and like minded organizations in the near future.

Indian Media Centre is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to the highest standards in journalism – print, electronic and Internet. It has 16 chapters across the country.

Dr Chandan Mitra,                                                                                       K G Suresh

Chairman, IMC                                                                                            Director, IMC      

(Editor-in-Chief, The Pioneer)                     (Editor, Vivekananda International Foundation)

Prof B K Kuthiala                                                                                         Prof Shivaji Sarkar

V ice-Chairman, IMC                                                                       National Secretary, IMC

Vice-Chancellor, Makhanlal Chaturvedi

National University of Journalism, Bhopal