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Engineering course fees increased by 10%

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Students willing to apply for engineering courses in Karnataka will see a fee hike of 10% from that of the past academic year. The decision was gone up against Thursday after a meeting between private school management and the State government.

Senior authorities in the Higher Education Department said that fees for seats overall quotas will see a hike of 10%. But, management of a few private building schools are not satisfied.

“College management had really looked for a 20% hike in fee structure, however, the government has consented to top it at 10%. A consensual understanding in such manner is probably going to be marked on Friday itself,” said an administration individual from a private engineering school.

Rs 550 cr in Karnataka budget for sustainable farming

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The Karnataka budget for 2018-19 on Thursday allocated Rs 550-crore for progressive and sustainable farming after waiving a whopping Rs 34,000 crore loans of 17-lakh farmer families across the state.

Presenting a pro-farmer budget in the assembly, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who holds the Finance portfolio, told lawmakers that Israeli model of sustainable irrigation could suit the state’s farmers in improving their lives.

“I visited Israel last year and studied their farm practices myself. I have no doubt that Israeli model of irrigation would protect the crops and make farmers’ lives better,” he saidin his two-hour long budget speech.

The budget allocated Rs 150 crore for creating Israeli model of irrigation, which makes use of drip irrigation methods to conserve water, in 5,000 hectares of dry land in each of the districts of Kolar, Chitradurga, Koppal and Gadag.

Another Rs 150 crore has been set aside to implement the same model of farming in 5,000 hectares land in each of Karwar, Tumakuru, Yadgir and Haveri districts.

The Chief Minister proposed that the state implements zero budget natural farming on the lines of Andhra Pradesh for better yields with lesser investment.

Rs 50 crore was allocated to implement zero budget natural farming in the state, with the support of United Nations Environment Programme which is offering technical assistance through Sustainable India Finance Facility.

The budget also made Rs 190 crore provision for coconut farmers, who have been witnessing unproductive crops due to shortage of rain in the state.

In health sector, the budget made provisions of Rs 10 crore for strengthening drug control, Rs 30 crore for heart, kidney, liver transplantation for the poor, Rs 40 crore for a 300 bed super speciality hospital in Ramanagara, and Rs 200 crore for new hospitals in Gadag, Koppal, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Belagavi, Mysuru and Kalaburagi.

Mother and child health services and mental health protection services will be integrated with the Emergency Response Services available through ambulance and helpline numbers, Kumaraswamy said.

The Chief Minister announced Rs 150 crore package for infrastructure repairs of state-run primary schools, high schools and pre-university college buildings.

Another Rs 250 crore was set aside for development and infrastructure repairs of state-run graduate and post-graduate colleges.

Classes in English medium will be held along with Kannada in 1,000 state-run primary schools on an experiment basis, which will attract children to state-run schools, Kumaraswamy said.

The budget provided Rs 5 crore to install biometric instruments in all 48,000 government schools of the state to monitor the attendance of teachers and students.

Through the ‘Chief Minister’s Mathrusree Scheme’ announced in the budget, Rs 1,000 per month will be transferred to the bank account of pregnant women from below poverty line (BPL) families for three months prior to the delivery and three months for the lactating mother, Kumaraswamy said.

Rs 350 crore has been earmarked for the scheme, which will be implemented from November 1.

Abducted J&K policeman killed by militants

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The body of a local policeman abducted by militants was found on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said.

Javaid Ahmad Dar was abducted on Thursday evening from his home in Shopian district’s Vehil village.

Dar’s body was found in Kulgam’s Pariwan village, the police said.

Meanwhile, militants fired at Muhammad Ashraf, a cleric, in Pulwama district. His condition is said to be critical.

Chief Justice is master of roster: SC

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The Supreme Court on Friday reiterated that the Chief Justice alone was the “master of roster” and have powers to allocate cases to different benches.

It also cautioned against any “tinkering” as it could hurt the independence of the judiciary.

“Although the Constitution is silent on the role of the Chief Justice as ‘master of roster’ but it is based on healthy practice to maintain the discipline and decorum of the court,” said Justice A.K.Sikri.

Justice Ashok Bhushan in a concurring but separate judgement said that it is difficult to accept the interpretation that the CJI means entire collegium. Such an interpretation would make day to day functioning difficult.”

Both Justice Sikri and Justice Bhushan rejected the plea that the Supreme Court should adopt some of the practices prevailing in the top courts of other countries.

They said that there could not be a “mechanical imitation” or import of practices prevailing in the courts overseas but admitted that there was scope for improvement which they said was always happening.

The court said this while disposing of a petition by senior counsel Shanti Bhushan contending that the Chief Justice should exercise his power to allocate the cases in consultation with the four other judges in the collegium.

He had contended that the collective opinion of the collegium was much safer than the opinion of the Chief Justice alone.

UK court grants implementation order in Mallya assets case

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A UK High Court judge has issued an implementation order in favor of a consortium of 13 Indian banks, seeking to recover funds owed to them by beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya who is fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore.

The order grants permission to the UK High Court Enforcement Officer to enter the 62-year-old tycoon’s properties in Hertfordshire, near London. It permits the officer and his agent’s entry to Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge in Tewin, Welwyn, where Mallya is currently based. However, it is not an instruction to enter, which means the banks have the option to use the order as one of the means to recover estimated funds of around 1.145 billion pounds.

“The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya),” notes the order by Justice Byran, dated June 26. “The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any Enforcement Agent acting under his authority, may use reasonable force to enter the Property if necessary,” it states.

According to legal experts with knowledge of the case, the latest order by the High Court’s Queen’s Bench Division is the granting of permission, should it be required, while the banks consider “all the enforcement options available to them”.

The order relates to the UK’s Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and follows a UK High Court ruling in May, which refused to overturn a worldwide order freezing Mallya’s assets and upheld an Indian court’s ruling that the Indian banks were entitled to recover funds. It marked the first recorded case of a judgment of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in India being registered by the English High Court, setting a legal precedent.

The victory for the 13 Indian banks which include State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Corporation bank, Federal Bank Ltd, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of Mysore, UCO Bank, United Bank of India and JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Co. Pvt Ltd enables them to enforce the Indian judgment against Mallya’s assets in England and Wales.

Mallya has made an application in the Court of Appeal seeking permission to appeal against the order, which remains pending. Mallya, who is separately fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, had recently issued a media statement condemning the charges against him as politically motivated.

He then took to social media to clarify that he made the statement “after a long period of silence” because he had filed an application before the Karnataka High Court on June 22, setting out available assets of approximately Rs 13,900 crores.

“We have requested the Court’s permission to allow us to sell these assets under judicial supervision and repay creditors, including the Public Sector Banks such amounts as may be directed and determined by the Court,” he tweeted.

“If the criminal agencies such as ED or CBI object to my proposal, and object to the sale of assets, it will clearly demonstrate that there is an agenda against me ‘the Poster Boy’ beyond recovery of dues to Public Sector Banks, he added.

Meanwhile, the former Kingfisher Airlines boss remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. He will return for his extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on July 31, when closing arguments are expected from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), acting on behalf of the Indian government, and Mallya’s defence team. A judgment is expected in the case at a later date.

While the CPS claims it has successfully established a prima facie case of fraud against the businessman, Mallya’s lawyers have sought to establish that the criminal charges against him are “without substance”. They have also challenged the case on human rights grounds, questioning the conditions at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where the businessman is to be held post-extradition.

Delhi CM okays doorstep ration delivery, orders implementation

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday approved the much-debated doorstep ration delivery system and directed the Food Department to implement it immediately.

“Approved Doorstep Delivery of Rations. Overruled all objections to the proposal…Directed… to keep me informed of daily progress,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Doorstep ration delivery has been one of the key isues over which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had been jostling with Lt Governor Anil Baijal and the Centre.

The tussle was expected to continue with the city government issuing the fresh order for the implementation of the public welfare scheme.

Kejriwal is scheduled to meet Baijal at 3 p.m.

Congress spokesman seeks Centre’s attention over fake news

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Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday sought the Centre’s attention towards the menace of fake news circulating on social media that maligns the image of reputed persons.

“Modi Govt needs to crackdown on this ‘Fake News Factory’ that is unleashed on SM (social media) by BJP supporters. Lies and photoshop driven fakery are being spread that violate 153 A, 295 A, 500 and 505(2) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code),” Surjewala tweeted.

Through his tweet, the leader also urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to curb the peril.

“Hope @HMOIndia and @DelhiPolice under Rajnath Singh ji will act against culprits.”

Surjewala’s remarks come after Indiaflare.com published a manufactured quote attributing to the Congress leader.

It said: “Mohammed Irfan (Mandsaur rapist) cannot be considered a rapist because Islam permits the rape of women from other religion. He should be released.”

This was the same narrative pushed by the fake news website in its article on ‘Muslims demanding the release of Mandsaur rapist’, Surjewala said.

He said the fake quote was shared on “Join and Support PM Modi 2019” by one Anurag Tiwari, whose account seems fake as there is no activity on the profile.

It has more than 500 shares, added Surjewala.

Earlier, another Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi was misquoted in a fake news circulated on social networking sites and then threatened along with her 10-year-old daughter through a vicious message posted by a person, now in police custody, on his Twitter handle.

US begins trade war against China, Beijing to ‘fight back

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A trade war between US and China officially began on Friday as President Donald Trump’s administration imposed tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese products, with Beijing vowing to “fight back”.

The penalties went into effect at 12:01 a.m., reports The New York Times.

Minutes after the tariffs went into effect, a spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement: “China promised not to fire the first shot, but in order to safeguard the country’s core interests as well as that of the people, it is forced to fight back.”

The statement did not however, provide details on its retaliation.

The administration’s 25 per cent tariffs are targeting Chinese products such as industrial machinery, medical devices and auto parts.

On Thursday, Trump showed no signs of backing down from his fight and suggested the possibility of tariffs on almost $500 billion more of Chinese goods.

“Thirty-four, and then you have another 16 in two weeks and then, as you know, we have 200 billion in abeyance and then after the 200 billion we have 300 billion in abeyance. OK?” Trump told reporters aboard the Air Force One.

“So we have 50 plus 200 plus almost 300.”

Following Friday’s development, rhe Shanghai Composite index fell 1.1 per cent, after reaching more than a two-year low this week, reports the Guardian.

Chinese manufacturers have already been hit by a strengthening yuan that has made exports more expensive.

Trump and his advisers argue the tariffs are necessary to pressure China into abandoning unfair practices such as stealing intellectual property and forcing American companies to hand over valuable technology, reports CNN.

In addition to the tariffs, the White House is placing restrictions on investment and on visas for Chinese nationals.

The clash with China comes as the Trump administration is also fighting over trade with American allies such as Canada and the European Union.

American tariffs on steel and aluminium imports have provoked retaliatory measures against billions of dollars of American exports.

Amarnath Yatra resumes from Pahalgam route

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The annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on Friday from the Pahalgam route in the Kashmir Valley while it continued to remain suspended for the third day from the Baltal route.

“After improvement in weather, the yatris were allowed to move towards the cave shrine from the Pahalgam base camp. However, no one was allowed to proceed from Baltal,” officials said

Landslide clearance operation is ongoing on the Baltal trek route which was hit by a landslide on Tuesday killing four pilgrims and a local. Ten others were also injured in this accident after which the Yatra was suspended.

Governor N.N. Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), visited the Baltal base camp to take stock of the situation.

So far, 68,000 pilgrims have performed this year’s pilgrimage which started on June 28.

Politicians use nationalism, religion to unite people for wrong reasons: Stellan Skarsgard

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Stellan Skarsgard doesn’t want to enter the political world thanks to US President Donald Trump. The Swedish actor, who has been part of films like “Good Will Hunting”, “Thor”, “Avengers” and “Mamma Mia!”, says politicians unite people for all the wrong reasons.

He feels there is a wave of religious nationalism around the world, and that it will lead to more bloodshed.

Skarsgard has always been vocal about everything, including politics. He has said on several occasions that his perspective about the world changed after reading the Bible and the Quran after the 9/11 tragedy.

“For decades since the Second World War, the West had become a developed democracy… developed an idea that everybody is equal, values of humanism and tolerance. Now, in the last 10 years, there has been a backlash… And there is religious nationalism all over the world,” Skarsgard told IANS over the phone from Scotland.

“I believe everybody should have the right to have their own religion. But that doesn’t mean that they should forget everybody else’s right to have their own religion… The idea of nationalism is excluding, not including.”

Skarsgard pointed out that “nationalism and religion are always used by strong politicians to unite people for the wrong reasons”.

Skarsgard looked back at the time when work brought him to India, and he saw a world embracing diversity in its true sense.

“When I was working in Mumbai, it was in the 1980s… What I loved about the city and India was that it was not very violent. You could walk in the middle of the night and didn’t have to fear of getting attacked or robbed or anything.

“There were a multitude of different approaches of religion and approaches of life and they were all tolerated. And I must say that the current religious nationalism is encouraging the opposite. They are encouraging fight and there has been a lot of bloodshed and more will come.”

As a child, Skarsgard wanted to become a diplomat and travel the world with the message of harmony and peace. But instead found his way into showbiz and went on to do iconic roles like Jan Nyman in “Breaking the Waves”, Professor Gerald Lambeau in “Good Will Hunting”, Bootstrap Bill Turner in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, Bill Anderson in “Mamma Mia!”, Dr. Erik Selvig in the “Thor” and “The Avengers” franchise.

The actor turned 67 last month. Indian channel Sony Pix had a special screening session and aired some of his iconic films as part of the birthday celebrations.

Does he think he is spreading the message of peace as an actor?

“No, I don’t… I wanted to become a diplomat as a child and I thought it would be a great idea… I don’t believe actors have the power to change reality.”

For a lot of fans, Skarsgard, who has dabbled in all the mediums — be it films or small screen or theatre — will be an inspiring politician. But he wants to stay away from politics.

“No, because in this, if I know more about the world than Trump, then I don’t know enough.”

His opinions have created trouble for him in the past, but that doesn’t deter him from calling a spade a spade.

Recalling an incident, he said: “I always say what I have on my mind. And it is not always appreciated. I did an American horror film and on the premiere at the red carpet somebody asked me ‘What scares you?’, and it was at the time of George W. Bush. I said the reign of this country scares me and that had repercussions… But you still have to express (yourself).”

On the work front, he will soon be seen in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”, “Music, War and Love”, “Out Stealing Horses”, “Chernobyl” and “The Painted Bird”.

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