Congratulate India's golden girl Sindhu on her World crown!

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Last updated on: August 25, 2019 18:32 IST rediffmail.com

IMAGE: P V Sindhu celebrates after clinching victory. Photograph: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Indian badminton's golden girl P V Sindhu produced a brilliant performance to beat Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 and bag the gold medal at the World Badminton Championships, in Basel, on Sunday.

In a dominating display the 24-year-old from Hyderabad romped home in just 36 minutes, winning the first game in 16 and next in 20.Sindhu, who finished second best in the previous two editions of the tournament, displayed dogged determination and great stubbornness to claim her first World Championships gold.

Marching towards the summit clash, the Rio Olympics silver medallist first defeated former world No 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the quarter-finals and then secured a comfortable straight games victory over All England champion Chen Yu Fei in the semi-finals.

BOTH POLITICIANS AND NAPPIES NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON

THE HAIRCUT

Blessed are those that can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you ' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a MP came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill , the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The MP was very happy and left the shop

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen MPs lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

As Margaret Thatcher said: Both politicians and nappies need to be changed often and for the same reason!

BJP bulwark Arun Jaitley dead :-livemint Aug 24 2019

New Delhi: Former Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley, 66, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Saturday, where he was under treatment for over a fortnight.

Jaitley was admitted to AIIMs on 9 August after he complained of breathing problems. Earlier, in September 2014, he had undergone bariatric surgery to correct the weight he had gained because of a long-standing diabetic condition and in May last year, he underwent renal transplant surgery at AIIMS. He also underwent treatment in the US in January this year.

The veteran leader was one of the most articulate defenders of the BJP and as well as policies of its government both within Parliament and outside it. As a Parliamentarian and minister, Jaitley had set a high benchmark of probity.

When he took charge as finance minister during the previous NDA government, one of the first things he did was to delegate decision making in a controversial tax dispute to his then junior minister Nirmala Sitharaman as he had been consulted by the company involved in the case prior to his quitting law practice in 2009. His decision to recuse himself from the matter was to avoid even the mere appearance of bias in the handling of the tax dispute. According to legal experts, the incident was significant as it was of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should be seen to be done.

During his time as finance minister in the previous term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Jaitley presided over the rollout of the goods and services tax (GST), which is considered the biggest tax reform in independent India. He also led efforts to reform India’s ineffective laws dealing with industrial sickness with a new bankruptcy code.

Jaitley opted out of joining the Modi government in its second term due to health issues. He was away from active politics since the beginning of the year but was writing about important political and judicial developments and engaging in discussions on key electoral issues through his blog.

Jaitely was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior political leaders before his death was announced. A panel of doctors headed by professor V.K. Bahl, head of the cardiology department at AIIMS, treated Jaitley for respiratory and other health problems.

Ramdev's aide Balkrishna admitted to AIIMS Balkrishna (47), who heads Patanjali Yogpeeth, was first taken to a hospital in Haridwar from where he was referred to AIIMS in Rishikesh, sources in the yoga institute said.

Yoga guru Ramdev's close aide Balkrishna was on August 23 admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here after he complained of chest pain and giddiness.

Balkrishna (47), who heads Patanjali Yogpeeth, was first taken to a hospital in Haridwar from where he was referred to AIIMS in Rishikesh, sources in the yoga institute said.He was admitted in the ICU around 4.15 pm, AIIMS Medical Superintendent Brahmaprakash told reporters.

Balkrishna was admitted in a state of "altered consciousness", a medical condition in which the patient fails to recognise his immediate surroundings.He was restless, Brahmaprakash said.

"Some tests have been done which show that his vital parameters are normal. A neurophysician and a cardiologist have examined him and he is stable."However, some reports are still awaited including the ones on enzymes in the blood stream. He is under the observation of a specialist team. He will be kept at the hospital as of now," Brahmaprakash said.Later, in a video message, Ramdev thanked people for showing their concern about Balakrishna's health.He said that Balkrishna took ill after eating a peda offered by a visitor at Patanjali on the occasion of Janmashtami."He fainted and began showing symptoms similar to that of food poisoning like nausea. However Acharya shri (Balkrishna) is improving and will soon be fine," Ramdev said.





Source:-moneycontrolnews

Highlights: Nirmala Sitharaman gives 32-slide dose to cure India's economy, says more coming next week Over the last few weeks, FM has chaired a series of meeting with industry leaders, bank representatives. ET Online|Updated: Aug 23, 2019, 07.01 PM IST

Making several announcements to boost Indian economy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said government has decided to withdraw surcharge on FPI and angle tax on startups. Among other important announcements, Sitharaman said the CSR violations wouldn't be treated as criminal offence and all pending GST refunds will now be released within 30 days. 

To address slowdown in the auto sector, the government also announced a slew of measures on purchase of BS-IV vehicles and additional 15 per cent depreciation on vehicles. 

Here are some key announcements:

* Enhanced surcharge on FPIs stands withdrawn. Surcharge on domestic investors in equity markets also withdrawn 

* All pending GST refunds till now shall be paid in 30 days. Future GST refunds to be paid in 60 days. 

* BS-IV cars purchased till March 2020 to remain operational for the entire period of registration. 

* Govt asks its departments to replace old vehicles 

* Higher vehicle registration fee deferred to June next year. 

* Higher depreciation for all vehicle: Depreciation increased to 30 per cent for all vehicle purchased till March 2020. 

* Scrappage policy to be announced soon.

* Govt withdraws angle tax provision for startups and their investors. 

* Banks to make home, auto loans cheaper. Banks have agreed to pass on the rate cut announced by RBI to customers. Banks to launch Repo Rate linked loans. 

* Online tracking system for home, auto loans. 

* PSBs to return loan documents to customers within 15 days of loan closure. 

* NBFC can now use Aadhaar-based KYC 

* Prepayment notices issued to NBFCs will be monitored by banks. 

* Additional liquidity to support Housing Finance Companies by National Housing Board increased to Rs 30,000 crore 

* Aadhaar-based KYC for opening demat accounts and investment in mutual funds 

* One-time s ettlement policy for MSME loans. Policy to be based on check box approach 

* Laws to be amended to ensure one MSME definition. 

* Govt to release Rs 70,000 crore upfront for PSBs recapitalisation. 

* CSR violation would be treated as a civil offence, not a criminal offence. 

* FM vows steps to end tax harassment. Old tax notice to be decided by October 1. 

* From October 1, all Income Tax notices must be disposed off within 3 months. 

* Govt working to bring offshore rupee market to domestic market. 

* Govt to consult with RBI to enhance Credit default swap options. 

* As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, govt respects the wealth creators. Govt wants resolution not prosecution. 

* Task Force to be formed to finalise ways to fund infra projects; projects to be monitored actively to accelerate capital expenditure and investment. 

* FM Sitharaman vows to simplify the GST system further. 

* Slowdown in consumption is not specific to India and emerging nations. 

* Current global GDP growth is expected at 3.2% and probably going to be revised downwards. 

* Indian growth is still higher compared to many countries. 

* China trade war and currency devaluation leading to volatile. 

Read more at:
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Ravi Shankar Prasad dials FM Nirmala Sitharaman for telecom relief The minister seeks cut in levies such as licence fee, GST after meeting industry leaders. By Anandita Singh Mankotia, ET Bureau|Updated: Aug 23, 2019, 11.00 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has sought urgent relief from finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the stressed sector, seeking a cut in levies such as licence fees and goods and services tax (GST), as part of a four-part agenda. Prasad has also urged that the Rs 36,000 crore that’s accumulated as input tax credit due to the telecom companies be adjusted against future GST levies. 

“I have met with the chief executive officers of the telecom service providers to discuss the steps to be undertaken for sustainability and growth of the telecom sector,” Prasad said in his August 22 letter to Sitharaman. ET has seen a copy of the note. 

The development follows Prasad’s meeting with Vodafone Idea chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and new CEO Ravinder Thakkar on August 20. Prasad has proposed an “urgent” reduction in GST on telecom equipment, first to 12% and then lower, from the current 18%. He told FM that telecom networks were part of the country’s essential infrastructure, serving as a backbone for other services. 

‘Need to Improve Sector’s Viability’ 

Hence the viability of the sector needed to be improved, he said. 

He noted that the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) of the sector had shrunk by one-fourth to Rs 1.39 lakh crore in FY19 from Rs 1.85 lakh crore in FY17, reflecting its poor health 

The telecom sector’s debt is nearly Rs 8 lakh crore, with that of Bharti Airtel at Rs 1.16 lakh crore and Vodafone Idea’s at Rs 99,300 crore at the end of the June quarter. Reliance Jio Infocomm is the only company registering profits in the telecom industry after having unleashed a tariff war on its rivals that left them bleeding. Other companies such as Aircel and Reliance Communications have gone bust amid a wave of consolidation. 

Sources told ET that the minister told the telecom companies they hadn’t invested adequately in technology before Jio’s entry and that’s why they find themselves in such dire straits. 

The telecom companies have told the minister that they are making “substantial losses and have claimed that their liquidity position is under stress,” he said in the letter. 

“Telecom service providers (TSP), reportedly, have accumulated input tax credit against GST of about Rs 36,000 crore,” he said. They should be allowed to adjust the the accumulated input tax credit “against future levies of GST payable by TSPs on capex, other inputs and GST on government levies”. 

He also suggested that the government could further adjust annual licence fees, spectrum usage charges (SUC) and even deferred spectrum payments against the accumulated input tax credit. 

The government has budgeted Rs 50,519.8 crore as proceeds from the telecom sector in FY20. This will be derived mainly from licence fees, deferred spectrum payments against the accumulated input tax credit. 

The government has budgeted Rs 50,519.8 crore as proceeds from the telecom sector in FY20. This will be derived mainly from licence fees, deferred spectrum payment and SUC from telecom operators. Prasad has also sought a reduction in the universal services obligation (USO) levy to 3% from the current 5% charge, which would effectively reduce the licence fee to 6% from the current 8%. 

“The 2% reduction may be linked to utilisation by the telecom service providers for R&D activities, especially to promote the Make in India initiative,” the minister said in the letter, highlighting that the move will give an impetus to telecom manufacturing in India, thus reducing import dependence. 

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