India Challenges WTO Panel's Ruling In The US Poultry Import Case

India has challenged the ruling of a WTO panel that holds India's ban on US poultry product imports as something inconsistent with the global norms.  India has filed an appeal in the Dispute Settlement Board of the World Trade Organization (WTO).  

"WTO Secretariat received ... a notice by India announcing its decision to appeal certain issues of law and legal interpretation in the panel report in the case ....," a WTO statement said.

A government source has also confirmed that India has gone to WTO's appellate authority against the ruling that is not in the country’s favor.

The Indian import of various agricultural products was banned in 2007 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Avian Influenza. Taking a retaliatory action, the US dragged India to the WTO against the ban on US poultry products. The WTO panel ruling came on 14 October 2014 that was in favor of the US, and called the Indian move "arbitrarily and unjustifiably discriminate between Members where identical or similar conditions prevail and are applied in a manner which constitutes a disguised restriction on international trade".

The US sees India growing as one of its principal markets for the poultry products; US is the largest chicken exporter in the world. India's chicken consumption in 2014 was 3.72 million tons, and is expected to grow at a rapid speed in the times to come.    

The US has been saying that India's Avian Influenza fears are completely based on false premises, neither has it fulfilled a relevant international standard nor has a proper scientific risk assessment.

India, on the other hand, says that the WTO panel made many legal errors in its interpretation and application of numerous articles of the SPS agreement.         

The WTO has a provision for parties in a dispute to appeal against the ruling of the panel.

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Obama Stresses On Communal Harnomy, Wonem Security, and Mutual Ties Before Concluding Three-Day India Visit

Obama Stresses On Communal Harnomy, Wonem Security, and Mutual Ties Before Concluding Three-Day India Visit

US President Barack Obama has tried to draw the India attention towards the article 25 of the Constitution of India which says that every India has the right to 'practice and propagate' religion of his/her choice. The President concluded his three-day visit to India after addressing a gathering of around 1500 young people and a few other guests at the Siri Fort, New Delhi. He later took off for Saudi Arabia.

"India will succeed so long as it is not splintered on religious lines", Obama said. "Everyone has the right to practice their faith without fear of persecution, discrimination,"

The President spoke about the false perception of some people that he is a Muslim, and not a Christian. "There have been times where my faith has at times been questioned by people who don't know me, or they've said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing," Obama added.

Remembering his own experience as someone hailing from a minority community, Obama said though he has had various opportunities but, "There were moments in my life where I've been treated differently because of the color of my skin." 

Indicating towards Modi's 'educate the daughter, save the daughter' slogan he said, "Nations are more successful when their women are successful." He emphasized on women security and empowerment, "Every woman should be able to go about her day - to walk the street, or ride the bus - and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves."

President of the US started his speech with 'Namaste' and emphasized that Indo-American relation can be a trend-setting phenomenon in this century.  He has been using words and phrases every now and again in his three-day visit to India quoted a famous dialogue Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge to enchant his audience, "Senorita...bade bade deshon mein...you know what I mean."

He pointed the similarities between two of the world's biggest democracies, and said that America will definitely help India in bringing people out of stark poverty and providing them with proper healthcare.  

The concluding words of his speech were: "I believe America can be India's 'best partner; the world will be better if we stand together."   

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Bomb Explosion Kills 3 In Arrah Civil Court, Bihar

At least three persons were killed and fourteen injured in a suspected bomb explosion in the Civil Court premises in Arrah, a western district of Bihar. 

According to the eye-witnesses, a woman entered the court compound carrying a purse that had bomb inside. The bomb exploded and she died on the spot along with two civilians, injuring several others. 

 

The bomb exploded advertently or otherwise, is yet to be found out; the nature of the blast is also not clear yet. 

The injured people are sent to a nearby hospital, and the DM, District Judge, and the SP have reached the crime spot that has been cordoned off. 

More information on the incident is awaiting.    

The whole nation is on high-alert in the light of US President Obama's visit to India.   

Image source: NDTV.com  

US Secret Service Personnel Arrive In India Ahead Of President Obama's Visit

Ahead of Barak Obama's arrival in India, 25 of the best US Secret Service agents have come to Delhi to supervise his safe stay in the country. The agents are presently staying in the The Maurya Sheraton Hotel. They have held a meeting with officials of Indian security agencies and Delhi police to discuss the security issues; the meeting was conducted in the basement of the hotel and lasted for an hour and half.    

“Ahead of the US President’s scheduled visit, an “advance security liaisoning meeting” was held in the basement of the hotel where the senior officials of intelligence agencies and officials from Security Wing of Delhi Police, Additional Commissioner of Police SBS Tyagi and Additional DCP Amit Roy were present,” a source said.

The Delhi Police officials presented their plan of action to their US counterparts and asked them to reciprocate. The agents of the US secret service are satisfied with the security road map of the Delhi Police. 

But the Indian officials could not get much success in convincing the US security folks to let the President travel in the Indian President's limousine that will take him to Rajpath. The matter is supposed to be negotiated again.  

“Interestingly, US secret agents told the Indian intelligence agencies that the US President will be accompanied by his chefs to ensure that his food is not spiked,” a police source informed the media.

It should be noted that when President Obama went to Myanmar last year in November to attend the East Asia Summit, six aircraft of equipment, vehicles, oil tankers, helicopters,  and 1600 US personnel were send to oversee the visit. Even the fuel used by the security cavalcade of President was brought from the US in Navy ship.  

Around 10000 paramilitary personnel will join the Delhi Police whose strength is around 80000 to make the Rajpath parade a full-proof exercise.

Barak Obama will be landing on Indian soil on 25 January.  

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Government Approves Ordinance For Amendments In The Existing Land Acquisition Act

The Union Cabinet today recommended an ordinance that makes significant changes to the Land Acquisition Act including the removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas including PPP projects, defense, rural infrastructure, affordable housing, and industrial corridors.  

The Cabinet chaired by the PM himself, made the decision to amend the Act to bring it under its purview 13 central legislations to provide the person whose land is being acquired with higher compensation and rehabilitation.

FM Arun Jaitely said the government has decided to relax a few provisions of the act and add a section 10A to the legislation. He said that the consent clause and Social Impact Assessment will not be applicable to the acquisition process if the land is being acquired for one of the five afore mentioned purposes.     

However, it is worth noting that the compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement packages will be given as per the new Land Acquisition Act for acquiring land for these purposes. One of the significant changes that are supposed to be included in the new Act is now a multi-crop irrigated land can also be acquired for these purposes. 

"Such projects are vital to national security and defense of India including preparation for defense and defense production," Jaitley said.

When asked by the media about the consent clause, the FM said, "if the land acquisition is for the five purposes, then the consent clause will be exempted." The existing act asks for the consent of 70 percent of the land owners whose land is being acquired for the PPP projects.  

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