Daily News (In Short)-19-June-2015

#* Open war? Vasundhara Raje snubs Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, cancels Anandpur Sahib visit

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who has been caught in the middle of the Lalit Modi controversy, on Friday cancelled her visit to Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, where she was supposed to share stage with BJP president Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh."Due to back pain, the Chief Minster's doctor has advised her to take rest so she has cancelled her visit to Punjab today," Raje's press advisor said.This development comes at a time when speculation has raged over whether the BJP leadership would discuss with her the issue of her continuance in the wake of damaging disclosures that she had allegedly signed a secret witness document favouring Lalit Modi's immigration plea in a London court.Moreover, none of the BJP central leaders have come to her defence in the last 48 hours since the controversy came out in public.

#* Delhi and Islamabad relations have been better under Modi's leadership, says Arun Jaitley

New York: From being in the midst of a disturbed neighbourhood, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's relations with its neighbours have improved, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. New Delhi is interested in improving relations with Islamabad and the PM has developed an excellent relationship with the Chinese leadership, Jaitley told an audience here yesterday."The Prime Minister has particularly developed an excellent relationship even with the Chinese leadership. We have a boundary issue with them. And the boundary issue is unresolved. There are other several issues related to China, which are issues of our concern. But at least the tense situation around the boundary doesn't exist," Jaitley said.
Economic trade relations with China has become fairly normal, he said, adding that the Prime Minister recently got a very rousing reception in China. On Pakistan, Jaitley said India is interested in improving relationship with it. Jaitley, who is on a 10-day visit to the US had yesterday said the onus of creating an environment for improving Indo-Pak ties and normalising the bilateral relationship is more on Pakistan and depends on the kind of "provocation" that comes from that country.

#* First ODI: Bangladesh simply wanted the win more than India

Never before in the 29 One Day Internationals played between the two teams, had Bangladesh crossed a total of 300 against India. Shortly after posting a record total of 307 runs against their sub-continent neighbour, at the 30th attempt, star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan gave a quick mid-match interview. "We are 25 runs short," he said. "We lost too many wickets at a crucial time.”There was no patting on the back, there was no self-congratulation. There was just disappointment at not making more. He was merely stating the fact, as after the start the home team had got – racing to 108 in 15 overs for the loss of a solitary wicket – a bigger score was definitely on the cards.Bangladesh are playing a brand of fearless cricket on a consistent basis. AFP Photos.Bangladesh are playing a brand of fearless cricket on a consistent basis. AFP Photos.This remarkable self-belief is why Bangladesh is no longer the Asian minnow, at least in the shorter form of the game.Right from the moment the coin went up for the toss and Mashrafe Mortaza called it right, the aggression in the home side’s approach was evident. They chose to bat first, despite knowing there was forecast of rain during the chase. They opted for four genuine fast-bowlers and just two spin options, despite the pitch looking like a typical sub-continent belter. Their batsmen, Tamim Iqbal in particular, kept dancing down the track to attack the Indian fast bowlers, despite getting beaten or cramped for room on quite a few occasions.

#* How to make Google Hangouts your default text message app

Once upon a time the humble text message app was the life and soul of your phone - then Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp rocked up to spoil the party and it's left the poor SMS client looking and feeling a little out of place.But fear not! For you, proud Android owner, can upgrade your text message experience with the help of Google's Hangouts app.Hangouts replaced the search giant's Chat service, and as well as acting as a rival to Whatsapp and Skype (it does voice and video calls), it can also be your default text application.Even better, it's really easy to set up.

#* LK Advani's 'Emergency' gift to Opposition: Kejriwal, Nitish make hay of senior BJP leader's remarks

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's battle with the Narendra Modi government got a much needed boost with BJP veteran LK Advani's comments on the lack of commitment to civil liberties and his fear that not much has been done to prevent the imposition of another Emergency.The veteran BJP leader has systematically been sidelined by the current party leadership. ReutersThe veteran BJP leader has systematically been sidelined by the current party leadership. Reuters"I don’t think anything has been done that gives me the assurance that civil liberties will not be suspended or destroyed again. Not at all," the BJP veteran said when asked whether he believed there exists a possibility of Emergency being imposed in the country once again.
"At the present point of time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger,” Advani told The Indian Express in an exclusive interview. “But that it cannot happen again — I will not say that. It could be that fundamental liberties are curtailed again."

Filipinos fear `armed conflict` with China over sea row: Poll

Manila: Eight in 10 Filipinos are worried a festering South China Sea territorial dispute could lead to "armed conflict" with the world`s most populous nation, an independent polling outfit said Friday.Manila-based Social Weather Stations said this sentiment had weighed on people`s minds since the Philippines backed down from a tense standoff with China over control of rich fishing grounds around Scarborough Shoal in 2012.The study showed 84 percent of 1,200 respondents were "worried" about armed conflict with China.About half were "worried a great deal" while more than a third were "somewhat worried".The same poll has been conducted every year since 2012, and in each of the surveys at least 80 percent of respondents have been concerned that the sea dispute could escalate into a full-blown conflict with the Philippines` powerful Asian neighbour."It is natural for us to worry about armed conflict as it is a fact that it does not benefit anyone," presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte told AFP, reacting to the survey results.

#* Guidelines needed to monitor corporates' CSR spending, says Ratan Tata

Eminent business leader Ratan Tata today said there should be some guidelines to monitor spending of CSR funds by corporates as there might be some companies either "wasting money" or "siphoning in some form".Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus said corporate social responsibility (CSR) must come form one's heart."I don't think you can make it (CSR) into a tax which is 2 per cent of your net profit. We don't expect that there should be a penalty (for not adhering to)," he added."There are companies that will make great contribution to the country and there would be some companies which would be either wasting the money or siphoning in some form," Tata said at the 107th annual general meeting of Indian Merchants Chambers here.

#* Delhi’s Connaught Place 5th most costliest prime office market in world

Delhi’s Connaught Place has ranked fifth in the list of most expensive prime office markets in the world, owing to rupee depreciation.According to a survey by property consultant CBRE, at nearly USD 157 per sqft per annum, Delhi’s central business district (CBD) of CP has gained the fifth spot in the list of most expensive prime office markets in the world.
Mumbai’s alternative business district of Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), however stood at the 15th position, while Nariman Point was ranked 30th on the top 50 rankings for global prime office properties.“Although Connaught Place moved up one spot in the rankings, due to the rupee depreciation, occupancy costs in this market remained largely stable due to a positive market sentiment,” CBRE South Asia Chairman and Managing Director Anshuman Magazine said.

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