How Indian army can silence Pakistan's rogue army once and for all

By Gurmeet Kanwal On December 23 an officer and 3 soldiers of the Sikh regiment had been ambushed and killed by way of the Pakistan military in the Rajouri zone of LoC. Their bodies were reportedly mutilated. The Indian Army spoke back accurately. Pakistan s rogue navy has mutilated the bodies of Indian squaddies usually within the past http://www.worstpreviews.com/forums/member.php?113620-bathreglazr in flagrant violation of the honour code of soldiering and the provisions of the Geneva Convention. Despite the gravest of provocations over three decades of Pakistan s warfare for Jammu and Kashmir through asymmetric means India showed enormous strategic restraint. After the terrorist assaults at the IAF airbase at Pathankot and the Army camp at Uri the Army conducted surgical moves at several terrorist camps across the LoC in September 2016 and caused big harm. Since then the policy has modified to one in all tactical assertiveness underneath the umbrella of strategic restraint. The goal become to inflict punishment on the Pakistan navy to elevate its fee for the sponsorship of terrorism throughout the LoC as an device of state coverage. The enjoy seeing that then which includes a chief boom inside the range of infiltration attempts and violations of the together agreed ceasefire of November 2003 indicates that the new coverage has no longer https://able2know.org/user/battubrefinish/ worked efficaciously sufficient. Hence it is essential to formulate a complete countrywide-stage method to counter Pakistan s warfare for Kashmir. The political purpose must be to elevate the price for the deep state for waging a non-stop struggle with the intention to sooner or later making the price prohibitive. Indian international relations have to purpose to isolate Pakistan in the worldwide community and feature Pakistan branded as a terrorist state via the UN Security Council. India have to take step one on this regard and itself make a assertion to this effect. The purpose of seasoned-energetic measures in the monetary area must be to choke Pakistan s financial system. The imposition of unilateral economic sanctions and people via the UN Security Council have to be taken into consideration. India could also use its client s clout with defence MNCs to make sure that corporations that promote guns and defence equipment to India refrain from supplying those to Pakistan. The military purpose must be to inflict punishment on the Pakistan military deployed at the LoC for every act of terrorism on Indian soil for which there is credible proof of the navy s involvement or that of the ISI. For each next act of terrorism the size and the intensity of the dose must be extended with the aid of an order http://dafoundry.com/members/shermaksoaks/activity/482375/ of significance. The level of military retaliation should be carefully calibrated to keep away from escalation to big-scale war which isn't in India s hobby. Operations must include artillery moves to damage bunkers on ahead posts; stand-off PGM moves on brigade and battalion HQ communications and logistics infrastructure ammunition dumps and key bridges; and raids by means of Special Forces and border action teams. Every Pakistani submit via which infiltration takes place need to be decreased to rubble. Firepower-heavy operations should be supplemented by way of covert operations by Special Forces as Pakistan isn't always inclined to convey to justice the leaders of terrorist establishments just like the LeT and the JeM terrorists whom they name strategic belongings . When the Pakistan navy begins to hurt and bleed the deep kingdom will comprehend the futility of its nefarious designs on India. While Pakistan won't surrender its claims on J

How Indian army can silence Pakistan's rogue army once and for all

By Gurmeet Kanwal On December 23 an officer and three infantrymen of the Sikh regiment had been ambushed and killed via the Pakistan navy in the Rajouri sector of LoC. Their our bodies were reportedly mutilated. The Indian Army replied as it should be. Pakistan s rogue army has mutilated the our bodies of Indian squaddies normally in the beyond in flagrant violation of the honor code of soldiering and the provisions of the Geneva Convention. Despite the gravest of provocations over three many years of Pakistan s battle for Jammu and Kashmir by asymmetric means India showed substantial strategic restraint. After the terrorist assaults on the IAF airbase at Pathankot and the Army camp at Uri the Army performed surgical strikes at several terrorist camps across the LoC in September 2016 and brought on giant harm. Since then the coverage has changed to one of tactical assertiveness beneath http://programmermeetdesigner.com/user/profile/windowscleanz the umbrella of strategic restraint. The purpose changed into to inflict punishment at the Pakistan military to raise its cost for the sponsorship of terrorism across the LoC as an instrument of state coverage. The experience on the grounds that then such as a primary growth inside the wide variety of infiltration attempts and violations of the http://roosterteeth.com/user/countertopnyz jointly agreed ceasefire of November 2003 shows that the brand new coverage has now not worked efficaciously sufficient. Hence it's miles vital to formulate a comprehensive national-stage approach to counter Pakistan s conflict for Kashmir. The political intention ought to be to elevate the price for the deep state for waging a non-stop battle with a view to finally making the price prohibitive. Indian international relations ought to purpose to isolate Pakistan in the global community and feature Pakistan branded as a terrorist kingdom via the UN Security Council. India ought to take the first step in this regard and itself make a assertion to this effect. The aim of seasoned-energetic measures in the financial field ought to be to choke Pakistan s economic system. The imposition of unilateral financial sanctions and people via the UN Security Council have to be considered. India could also use its consumer s clout with defence MNCs to make sure that companies that sell guns and defence equipment to India refrain from offering those to Pakistan. The army goal have to be to inflict punishment at the Pakistan navy deployed on the LoC for each act of terrorism on Indian soil for which there's credible evidence of the military s involvement or that of the ISI. For each next act of terrorism the dimensions and the depth of the dose have to be improved by way of an order of magnitude. The stage of navy retaliation have to be carefully calibrated to keep away from escalation to big-scale conflict which isn't in India s hobby. Operations should encompass artillery moves to spoil bunkers on ahead posts; stand-off PGM moves on brigade and battalion HQ communications and logistics infrastructure ammunition dumps and key bridges; and raids with the aid of Special Forces and border movement groups. Every Pakistani put up thru which infiltration takes region should be reduced to rubble. Firepower-heavy operations have to be supplemented by means of covert operations via Special Forces as Pakistan is not inclined to carry to justice the leaders of terrorist establishments just like the LeT and the JeM terrorists whom they call strategic belongings . When the Pakistan army starts offevolved to harm and bleed the deep state will comprehend the futility of its nefarious designs on India. While Pakistan won't surrender its claims on J

Angry India slams Pakistan for insults heaped on Kulbhushan Jadhav kin

NEW DELHI: Bristling with anger India protested on Tuesday towards the indignities Kulbhushan Jadhav s wife and mother had been subjected to when they were allowed to go to the previous Indian Navy officer in Islamabad. There become some thing in her footwear says Pakistan about confiscating shoes of Jadhav s wifePakistan on Tuesday rejected as baseless India s contentions that Kulbhushan Jadhav s circle of relatives became stressed and claimed that his wife s footwear had been confiscated on protection grounds as there was something in it. The Indian government disclosed that Islamabad broke an expertise between the two facets and allowed a opposed % of Pakistani reporters to get close to Jadhav s mother Avanti and wife Chetna and harass and hector them by hurling false and inspired accusations about Jadhav. Brushing aside Pakistan s declare of humanitarian considerations in permitting Jadhav s spouse and mother to fulfill him a spokesperson of the ministry of outside affairs stated the two women were treated with complete push aside to spiritual and cultural sensitivities being asked to change garments and take off their bindis and mangalsutras. Diplomat who was to go with Kulbhushan Jadhav relatives denied visaIndia had sought visa for an Indian girl diplomat to accompany the two to Pakistan but this request became rejected via Islamabad. India turned into dissatisfied through this choice but determined to go ahead with the meeting all the identical due to the fact on the give up of the day this become an exercise essentially supposed to offer Jadhav s distressed circle of relatives a few solace. In fact Jadhav s spouse had to go away the Pakistani overseas ministry with out her shoes which became no longer returned to her after the assembly. Pak didn t permit Jadhav s mother communicate to him in Marathi The cultural and religious sensibilities of circle of relatives members had been not noted. This included removal of mangalsutra bangles and bindis in addition to trade in attire that changed into now not warranted with the aid of security the spokesperson said including Jadhav s mother changed into averted from speakme to him of their mother tongue Marathi in spite of it being the language she was secure in. She became time and again interrupted at the same time as doing so and ultimately prevented from proceeding similarly in this regard the authorities stated. India s deputy high commissioner J P Singh who as per the clear understanding among the two facets changed into to be allowed inside the meeting changed into initially separated from the family contributors. The meeting commenced with out his presence and he could be a part of most effective after urgent the problem with officers worried. Even then he turned into stored behind an additional partition that did no longer permit him get admission to to the meeting as agreed the spokesperson said. A Pakistan foreign workplace spokesperson had claimed on Monday that it allowed the assembly due to the fact the country being an Islamic state believed in compassion. India debunked the claim on Tuesday in its formal assertion. We also regret that opposite to assurances the general atmosphere of the meeting turned into intimidating insofar as own family individuals had been worried. Family individuals however treated the situation with excellent braveness and fortitude it stated. NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday hit returned at Pakistan accusing it of violating mutual know-how on Kulbhushan Jadhav s meeting with his family and stated the Indian countrywide regarded coerced and under enormous stress all through the tightly-managed interaction. Pakistan went thus far as to have the mangal sutra bangles and bindi of his mother and wife removed before they may meet him the external affairs ministry stated in a declaration. Also maximum of Jadhav s remarks have been clearly tutored and designed to perpetuate the fake narrative of his alleged spying in Pakistan it said in a no-holds-barred assertion against Islamabad s conduct. Summing up its anger India said the way wherein Pakistan performed Jadhav s assembly along with his own family violated the letter and spirit of information that the two international locations had. Countering Pakistan s contention that the assembly became a humanitarian concession India s assertion said this exercising lacked any credibility. From the comments we've received of the meeting it appears that Jadhav became under enormous pressure and speaking in an environment of coercion the MEA assertion stated. We also remorse that opposite to assurances the overall ecosystem of the assembly turned into intimidating insofar as own family participants have been involved it said. Family individuals however treated the state of affairs with first-rate braveness and fortitude the ministry said. Every issue approximately the Kulbhushan Jadhav case in which Pakistan claimed to have captured an Indian spy and sentenced him to loss of life on charges of terrorism has seemed no longer simply scripted however downright hammy. This week s tendencies wherein Islamabad determined to eventually allow Jadhav s mother and spouse to https://www.givology.org/~childstraintz/ fulfill him as a humanitarian gesture on the birthday of Mohammad Al Jinnah match the bill flawlessly. Pakistan s circulate become intended to sign to the arena that it changed into willing to be extra generous to a person whom it has otherwise portrayed as an evil terror mastermind as well as proof of India s alleged perfidy. Instead the exact instances of the assembly has brought about greater questions on how Pakistan has dealt with the person while the International Court of Justice prepares to observe the same query. On Tuesday India s External Affairs Ministry issued a assertion approximately the assembly among Jadhav and his wife and mom. Prior to the meeting the two governments had been in contact thru diplomatic channels to exercise session its modalities and layout. There were clean understandings between the two facets and the Indian side scrupulously abided by using all its commitments the announcement stated. However we note with remorse that the Pakistani side performed the meeting in a way which violated the letter and spirit of our understandings. Indian concernsThe announcement listed the Indian government s worries: Pakistani press changed into allowed to bother Jadhav s wife and mother despite an agreement that journalists might not be accredited close get right of entry to.In the call of safety cultural and spiritual sensibilities had been omitted inclusive of Pakistani authorities insistence that Jadhav s family put off their mangal sutra bangles and bindis. Jadhav s mom changed into prevented from talking to her son of their mom tongue Marathi and turned into repeatedly interrupted whenever she tried to do so. The assembly started without India s deputy excessive commissioner who turned into separated from the family. Even while he became allowed to join he changed into stored behind an additional partition. For some inexplicable motive in spite of her repeated requests the shoes of the wife of Shri Jadhav have been now not lower back to her after the meeting. We could warning in opposition to any mischievous motive in this regard. In addition to these issues the announcement additionally said that based totally on feedback the ministry received after the assembly along with the own family individuals assembly with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj they concluded that Jadhav appears to be beneath strain and speakme in an atmosphere of coercion. Most of his remarks had been simply tutored and designed to perpetuate the false narrative of his alleged activities in Pakistan. His look also increases questions of his health and well being. The statement in reality concludes with a honest argument: The manner in which the assembly turned into conducted and its aftermath became clearly an try to bolster a fake and unsubstantiated narrative of Shri Jadhav s alleged sports. You could all agree that this exercising lacked any credibility. Pakistan s linePakistan as one would possibly anticipate is taking a completely distinct line insisting that the truth that allowed this assembly suggests its magnanimity never mind that India has been annoying both this as well as consular access to Jadhav for the beyond 22 months. The very framing of what the meeting isn't always approximately in fact tells you what Islamabad hoped to do here. This meeting has nothing to do with the case pending earlier than the International Court of Justice or with politics said Muhammad Faisal spokesperson for Pakistan s Foreign Office. Let me be very clear that Pakistan approved the Indian request mostly on humanitarian grounds consistent with Islamic ideas and teachings. Islam is a religion of peace... And it become a gesture of excellent religion and compassion... It has nothing to do with consular get admission to. Except it does even more so after Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif claimed on Sunday that Pakistan had https://www.3dartistonline.com/user/windowscleanz given India consular access to Jadhav a claim that became walked back the following day. Consular get admission to is one of the key elements being taken into consideration by means of the International Court of Justice which surpassed an meantime order in May telling Pakistan no longer to execute Jadhav when you consider that there had been questions about his treatment and due method. That order in May was a setback for Pakistan which has considering that been compelled to stroll a tightrope each the use of Jadhav to whip up anti-India sentiments at domestic whilst additionally seeking to convince the International Court of Justice and the global community that it has acted above board. Faisal even stated on Monday that the assembly among Jadhav and his circle of relatives changed into now not the final and in step with the Express Tribune he is under no immediate threat of execution .Much of this has to do with the truth that the Jadhav case is ready to be taken up again at the International Court of Justice in January and Pakistan would like to have beneficial press inside the run-as much as the hearings particularly after many believed it changed into stuck snoozing whilst it were given the negative order in May. Yet at the equal time considering Islamabad is not truely allowing consular get right of entry to it cannot make the connection to that case express. And consequently the facade of a large-hearted humanitarian gesture that leaves no one satisfied but units the tone for greater headlines approximately the Jadhav case once the focus moves to the Hague subsequent month. The meeting of Kulbhushan Jadhav along with his wife and mother became a raging diplomatic trouble among the 2 nations on Tuesday after India slammed Pakistan for violating mutual understandings at the meeting. India in an legitimate statement stated that the Indian countrywide appeared coerced and beneath extensive pressure during the tightly-managed interplay.Pakistan went to this point as to have the mangalsutra bangles and bindi of his mom and wife removed before they may meet him the outside affairs ministry stated in a announcement.Also the ministry said that most of Jadhav s feedback were genuinely tutored and designed to perpetuate the fake narrative of his alleged spying in Pakistan it stated in a no-holds-barred declaration towards Islamabad s conduct. Summing up its anger India said the manner wherein Pakistan conducted Jadhav s meeting on Monday with his circle of relatives violated the letter and spirit of understandings that the two international locations had.Countering Pakistan s rivalry that the meeting become a humanitarian concession India s assertion stated this workout lacked any credibility. From the comments we've obtained of the assembly it appears that Jadhav was underneath vast stress and talking in an surroundings of coercion the MEA announcement stated. We additionally remorse that contrary to assurances the general surroundings of the meeting become intimidating insofar as circle of relatives contributors were involved it stated.Family contributors but dealt with the scenario with exquisite braveness and fortitude the ministry stated. The 47-year-old Jadhav s appearance also raises questions of his fitness and properly being. The assembly on the Pakistani foreign affairs ministry in Islamabad occurred after repeated requests with the aid of India for circle of relatives get right of entry to. Jadhav who become captured in March changed into sentenced to demise with the aid of a Pakistani military court docket for alleged spying an accusation that India has brushed off as concocted.Pakistan s statementCalling India s claims baseless Pakistan claimed that his spouse s shoes have been confiscated on protection grounds as there was something in it. The Foreign Office in a assertion said that Pakistan does now not wish to take pleasure in a meaningless conflict of words and categorically rejects India s baseless allegations and twists about mindset of government during Jadhav s assembly together with his wife and mom. The Indian baseless allegations and twists that come 24 hours later about the visit of the spouse and mother of Commander Jadhav a convicted terrorist and undercover agent who has confessed to his crimes are categorically rejected the statement said. If Indian concerns had been severe the guests or the Indian DHC should have raised them at some point of the visit with the media which become readily to be had however at a secure distance as asked via India it stated. We do not want to take pleasure in a meaningless war of phrases. Our openness and transparency belies these allegations it stated. Responding to India s contentions that Jadhav s wife s shoes had been not returned to her after https://www.vayable.com/users/266047 the meeting Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal instructed DawnNews that the footwear had been confiscated on safety grounds . There became something in the shoe (of Jadhav s spouse) Faisal instructed the each day including that the shoe is being investigated.He stated Jadhav s spouse were provided substitute shoes and all her jewellery changed into lower back to her. The spokesman said that the fact is that Jadhav s mom publicly thanked Pakistan for the humanitarian gesture which became additionally recorded via the media. Nothing greater needs to be stated on the difficulty he stated.Bringing up the Kashmir issue in his statement Faisal introduced One desirable deed need to beget any other and this sort of selection should serve as a template for others to comply with including in Indian-occupied Kashmir where innocent blood is still spilled. The Foreign Office spokesperson additionally termed Jadhav as the face of Indian terrorism in Pakistan. How Pakistan media covered the issueA file image of Kulbhushan Jadhav meeting his mother and wife in Islamabad. Twitter/@ForeignOfficePkThe diplomatic stress over Jadhav s assembly along with his circle of relatives grabbed headlines not just in India however also in Pakistan. Almost all most important Pakistani newspapers gave prominence to the issue and carried reports of the Foreign Office issuing assertion after India claimed that Jadhav s responses were honestly tutoured that the alleged secret agent changed into below duress all through the meeting.Geo News Dawn The Nation The News International ran the memories on Mohammad Faisal the Foreign Office spokesperson rejecting Indian claims and clarifying that Pakistani authorities took the shoes of Jadhav s wife as officers suspected the presence of a foreign item.Chetankul Jadhav s spouse changed into given an change pair of shoes to wear after her shoes have been eliminated Geo News stated. According to the Foreign Office Chetankul s footwear had been taken over after authorities felt there has been some thing fixed in them. Quoting Faisal the file in addition brought that the shoes of Jadhav s spouse have been kept for inspection while all other belongings together with jewellery changed into again. Authorities have been ascertaining whether or not the steel item within the shoe was a camera or a recording chip.Claiming that Pakistan authorized the visit request totally on humanitarian grounds in step with Islamic ideas and teachings Faisal informed the media that the meeting had nothing to do with consular get right of entry to. A medical record via the Saudi German Hospital Dubai was offered too which claimed nothing became wrong with Jadhav. Another claim which become challenged by India.A majority of the Pakistan media refrained from commenting on the issue except more than one opinion pieces in some dailies.An oped in The News International says that for Pakistan Jadhav it seems that stays a secret agent and terrorist who has been sentenced to death. The oped postulates that India s announcement slamming Pakistan for violating mutual know-how turned into expected. It is hard to are expecting how India could have reacted had they captured a Pakistani secret agent with comparable credentials the oped said.The oped in a no longer-so-veiled-attack took on the claims made by using New Delhi and questions what might have they finished in a comparable scenario. The truth that most of Pakistan changed into unhappy that their u . S . A . Allowed Jadhav (a terrorist in their usa) to fulfill his circle of relatives resonates throughut the item. At one factor the author rates senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor who had said that it is a step forward... On the opposite hand the manner in which all of it unfolded became deeply unsatisfactory. Taunting the plain higher ethical ground being taken by means of India the author wrote One wonders what would guys like Mr Tharoor say to mothers fathers wives siblings or youngsters of those killed in activities conceived coordinated and done through men like Kulbhushan Jadhav. Doubts had been right away raised in Delhi that the video may also had been shot below duress. Credibility of the clinical report become questioned too. But Jadhav regarded sharp and in shape. India and Indians must have waited earlier than firing the doubt missiles for it were they who did no longer conform to Jadhav s mom and wife speaking to media and telling their tale. Indian officials were additionally now not agreeable to the idea of Indian media being gift and in all likelihood asking some painful questions. The tone betrays the writer s obvious exasperation in all likelihood misplaced that ultimately no matter the amount of courtesy Pakistan rolled out it changed into never going to be proper sufficient for India which seeks handiest to belittle its neighbour.The editorial in The News International can be summed up in one sentence from the item: But maximum Pakistanis need Jadhav punished for his sins and now not set free like the notorious American Raymond Davis thru a backdoor deal. Another editorial in The Nation commented at the cacophony of opinions circling the problem. The piece in The Nation took a greater balanced view of the problem handy and wrote Ultimately however those are all irreconcilable evaluations and each may be considered accurate if viewed from their subjective angle. The timing of the Jadhav conundrum also comes at a time while Pakistan has been accused of cultivating terror on their soil and has been held responsible for no longer doing enough to control the boom of terrorism within the location. In the view of that newspapers in the us of a calling Jadhav face of Indian terrorism fits into the popular narrative and for Pakistan like this piece mentioned Jadhav and his more than one confessions are a evidence of Indian activities in the place. The Nation editorial lauds the Pakistan government s tries to do what become vital in the worldwide scheme of things and ignoring the deafening cacophony to do what become vital. Who is Jadhav?Jadhav changed into convicted of conducting subversive sports for the Indian authorities in Pakistan and has been sentenced to loss of life by a Pakistani navy courtroom on 10 April. Pakistani government had reportedly arrested Jadhav in what they termed as a counter intelligence operation in Mashkal Balochistan on three March 2016. He has remained in Pakistan s custody ever given that.The curious case of Jadhav has visible many twists and turns within a short span of three hundred and sixty five days in view that his arrest. While the Pakistani aspect has time and again alleged that Jadhav is a Research and Analysis Wing (R

News Live: You may soon fly in a Made in India flight

The Indian hospitality enterprise which has been sluggish is unlikely to see full-size investor hobby inside the near future with the breakeven length for hotel tasks going past 10 years as against 6-7 years earlier. Also the rising fee of construction and real property have further brought to diminishing investor interest said industry representatives and sectoral analysts. They also factor out that motel projects that got here up for the duration of the down cycle publish 2009 are seeing an extended healing length with many private equity buyers nevertheless failing to go out. Longer restoration duration will act as a deterrent to traders. While hotels which opened a 12 months or two earlier than the peak would smash even faster those which opened at some stage in the down cycle (i.E. Post 2009) would take longer. Also the failure of several personal fairness buyers to make an exit have held returned investments stated Pavethra Ponniah vice-president company area scores at ICRA. A senior govt with Blackstone the largest personal asset owner in India stated at the https://www.edutopia.org/users/washinservis situation of anonymity that the modern-day state of affairs turned into now not conducive for investments inside the hospitality area. In the last four to five years the cost of production has long past up even as supply has also risen hence the ache inside the hospitality space can be there for a while. Also no person at this factor in time would be going for investments in greenfield lodge projects and might handiest look at decent operational belongings after few years he stated. Several non-public fairness gamers made tremendous investments in greenfield resort initiatives in the course of 2005-2008 on the again of robust expectations in India s lodge enterprise increase story. Some of the foremost PE investments were via Warburg Pincus Blackstone and Goldman Sachs in projects together with Lemon Tree Four Seasons and Samhi respectively. However the ones properties came up best during the down cycle for the duration of 2009-10 when the market tanked and remained tanked for 6-7 years which was the largest slowdown that the industry had seen stated Mandeep Lamba handling director motels and hospitality group of worldwide property consultants JLL. Also it led to large delays in under-construction projects and an elongation of the gestation cycle because of which PE hobby waned in the course of 2010-15. Meanwhile developers including DLF and RMZ have exited the lodge commercial enterprise in advance bringing up unviable operations even as few like Embassy are constructing best at their workplace parks. We are in hospitality enterprise no longer because of its http://yourparks.nationalparks.org/users/showprofile/50181926 splendor but because it is part of our office parks said Jitu Virvani chairman and coping with director Blackstone-backed Embassy adding with the room charges transferring up we might be in a wait-and-watch mode earlier than similarly investments inside the hospitality area . The Indian hospitality enterprise is hopeful that with important parameters along with occupancies and average room prices rising slowly investor interest should get revived. If a lodge opens now at an excellent and possible place then the cycle goes to remain at the upside for the following couple of years and returns could be higher stated Lamba of JLL. NEW DELHI project capital investments in India plunged to a three-yr low this 12 months a state of affairs that could trigger alarm bells throughout the startup atmosphere whilst normal hazard-capital participation touched new highs. This year to date has seen 435 angel and seed transactions translating to approximately 244.6 million (Rs 1 627.26 crore) down almost 35% from the same 12 months-ago duration. Compared with 2015 angel and seed offers this yr have dropped by means of more than forty six% in terms of value in line with facts collated by using VCCEdge. Additionally collection-A investments have dropped with the aid of approximately 30% to 492.6 million throughout 133 deals in comparison with 2016 highlighting the continuing cautiousness exhibited through early-degree investors in the united states of america s startup surroundings. Industry experts characteristic the reluctance in backing early-stage ventures to a loss of exits for angel investors bulky regulatory rules particularly around taxation and a choice to back startups which have the potential to garner dependable and paying clients. Globally angel investors go out at series-A and that hasn t been excellent in India. The angels have started becoming stricter in phrases of looking ahead to organizations to have as a minimum some paying clients for them to consider within the concept said Ashish Sharma chief govt at undertaking debt company Inno-Ven Capital. Change in Investor Mindset Risk appetite has dropped and subject in terms of seeking commercial enterprise metrics as a parameter to make greater investments is gambling out. So both the tax headaches due to angel tax and those issues are playing out on the early degree he stated. Adding to the mixture is a change in investor attitude which in step with the experts is now centered on entrepreneurial music report in preference to backing founders who have began and shut more than one corporations. There changed into numerous emphasis on failed founders restarting another commercial enterprise in 2015 and 2016 and a tendency among traders to wager on their learnings. 2017 has seen a variety of that perception system shaken up stated Anand Lunia managing companion India Quotient. Investors have started out searching at the reasons in the back of entrepreneurs failure specially whilst market conditions had been supportive. Venture capital investments aside from seed and angel investments additionally dropped sharply in 2017. The yr has seen 306 offers totalling 2.87 billion down approximately 17% in cost terms as compared with ultimate 12 months and 55% decrease compared with two years in the past. Surprisingly the drop in investment has come at a time whilst chance-capital investments in India have shattered information. In 2017 in step with a record launched by means of EY personal fairness and mission capital hobby https://wanelo.co/shermaksoaks (increase-degree strategic investments) reached a brand new excessive with 21.Eight billion investments made throughout 496 deals surpassing the preceding file of 19.6 billion across 767 offers in 2015. Separately 2017 has additionally visible the Indian startup atmosphere rack up exits totalling 2.Fifty five billion blowing past the 1.Eighty billion recorded in 2016 and 1.Sixty nine billion scored two years in the past consistent with facts collated by Venture Intelligence pushed with the aid of both primary and secondary transactions. That said stellar payouts through two of India s most precious startups Flipkart and Paytm have boosted the value of the exits recorded via project capital companies this 12 months touching a document excessive within the method even as also outpacing the quantum of fresh investments. Written by using Published: December 25 2017 12:09 pm Akshay Kumar shines on in The PadMan song. Related News Akshay Kumar kick-starts his Cape Town journey with an adorable photo of Nitara and Valentino 2.0Akshay Kumar on Aiyaary vs PadMan: Neeraj is a dear buddy there is no clash Akshay Kumar: Kesari couldn't appear with Salman KhanAkshay Kumar has usually believed and shown his target market that anyone can turn out to be a superhero. With his new movie PadMan he's telling but some other inspiring tale of Arunachalam Muruganantham a real-lifestyles hero who championed the cause of ladies hygiene and menstruation troubles. While Muruganantham s village concept of him as not anything but a madman in the latest track launched by way of Akshay Kumar from his film PadMan the actor stresses on the precise factor and makes us fall in love with this mad man s superpower. The song titled The PadMan Song offers us a glimpse of this regular man becoming a superhero. As the track proceeds you know that that is yet any other music that works as a great jingle to Prime Minister Narendra Modi s Make In India marketing campaign. What sticks out in the song are the dialogues of Akshay. We personally cherished the sequence wherein he says Bharat ki gareebi dikha dikha ke bohot dogs millionaire hogaye mein naye bharat ki nayi tasveer dikhana chahta hu. (Many have turn out to be millionaires after showing the bad facet of India. I want to expose the arena the brand new India.) Earlier at an occasion in Mumbai Twinkle Khanna who is making a debut as a manufacturer with PadMan defined why she idea no one may want to have achieved the role better than Akshay. Twinkle stated I did consider some humans but once more the element is that if we've anyone who the Indian public idolises and guys look up to https://www.hackerrank.com/sinu_she_ad_ach1 and he wore a sanitary pad then it's miles completely a game-changing occasion. After seeing what R Balki has made Akshay do I even have to mention that no one could have played this as splendidly as Akshay Kumar here. Akshay tweeted the track with the caption Superhero hai yeh Pagla! Meet the Madman with #ThePadManSong Watch the track right here: PadMan is based totally on one of the chapters in Twinkle s e-book The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad which turned into on the existence of Arunachalam Muruganantham. The movie also stars Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte inside the lead roles and will have Amitabh Bachchan in a cameo. It will launch on January 26 2018. For all the contemporary Entertainment News down load Indian Express App IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd More Related News Akshay Kumar on Bill Gates tweeting about Toilet Ek Prem Katha: It s terrific that people sitting there are looking the film Twinkle Khanna on generating female-centric movies: As girls we ve just begun our journey Tags: Akshay Kumar Bsant SinghDec 25 2017 at 1:19 pmsuperb(1)(zero) Reply .Tale-content material span .Story-content material p .Story-content material div color: #000 !Vital; font-circle of relatives: open sans Arial !Critical; font-size: 15px !Essential; Photo: investodisha.Gov.In ALSO READ Make in Odisha: State gears up for 2d summit after achievement of first Odisha Govt performs groundbreaking rite for Rs 11 690-cr new projects After Japan Gujarat draws FDI from China South Korea and Taiwan NEEPCO to make investments Rs 944 cr on two hundred Mw solar plant in Odisha IESA reaches Taiwan to feed electronic call for lessen reliance on China span.P-content material div identification =div-gpt line-peak: 0px; font-size: 0px; Aiming to make the second one edition of its showpiece investment summit- Make in Odisha conclave a gaudy occasion the country authorities has diagnosed 9 nations to be roped in as companion countries. The prospective accomplice or recognition nations figuring on Odisha s radar consist of USA Thailand Japan Germany China UAE Taiwan Malaysia and South Korea. The idea is to make it a globally recognized occasion this time. Also we might be showcasing Odisha s strengths and blessings as an funding vacation spot. The partnership with an recognized country might be quarter specific- say for Australia it can be metals and automobiles for Germany- this is being modelled at the popular Vibrant Gujarat conclave said a state government professional. To company tie-u.S.With capability associate nations the state industries department specially the investment promoting business enterprise below its manipulate- Investment Promotion

Mumbai's AC local train: Cooler ride, better safety, higher fare

Written through Published: December 26 2017 12:fifty one am The Mumbai AC neighborhood teach started out its introductory trials from Borivali to Churchgate on Monday in the presence of country minister Vinod Tawde. (Express Photo: Dilip Kagda) Related News Web seek: What we looked for in 2017In 8 state polls before 2019 s prize checks for PM Narendra Modi and Rahul GandhiIn yr complete of polls little room for coverage stimulus non-public quarter investment is keyIndia s FIRST air conditioned (AC) neighborhood teach at the suburban railway network began running from Mumbai s Borivali railway station at 10:33 am on Monday. The 12-teach AC Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) synthetic with the aid of the Integral Coach Factory Chennai became brought to Mumbai in April 2016. After years of technical trials the local became accepted for walking at the suburban community by means of the Railway Board on December 19: What is distinct approximately the AC nearby teach playing now on Mumbai s suburban rail community? The AC educate is the first rake to ply regionally with computerized doorways the closed doorways will save you commuters from standing on the foot boards of the train that's not unusual in the metropolis s crowded locals and which crucially will prevent deaths. On average ten deaths of folks falling from Mumbai s neighborhood trains are suggested each day India s first AC neighborhood train flagged off in Mumbai: Fares frequency other details Mumbai s suburban railway gadget is one of the most green in India with a local train every three mins at https://totalfratmove.com/user/sandiegoaccount/ a suburban railway station. Three coaches are reserved for ladies two for disabled folks for bags. The motorman s cabin and the guard s cabin are at respective ends of the teach. The guard controls the door closures and openings in the AC local teach. The educate opens inside two seconds after the motorman presses the button. We have set a minimum time of 20 seconds and a maximum time of forty seconds stoppage at each station to permit commuters to get aware of this system. To keep away from injury to passengers doorways will re-open three times if any obstruction is detected with an audio alarm to warning passengers approximately doors last a senior railway legitimate said. The educate will no longer take traction if any of the doors are open. What is the teach s passenger capability? The overall capacity of the rake is five 964 passengers with 1 028 seating capability and 4 936 status capability. It is made up of two vestibuled coaches with each vestibule same to the passenger sporting capacity of six suburban coaches (30 ton in step with instruct). It has air con inside the motorman and defend s cabins first amongst 2 000 suburban trains in the city. There may be 12 offerings of the AC neighborhood teach at the Western Railway. How will the educate run? The AC nearby will run on the fast line with stops at simplest nine main stations Churchgate Mumbai Central Dadar Bandra Andheri Borivali Bhayander Vasai Road and Virar (from south to north). One of the services will run on the sluggish line between Mahalaxmi and Borivali. For upkeep functions it's going to no longer ply on the weekends. In the preliminary week most effective six offerings of the nearby were deliberate among Churchgate and Borivali. The first and 12th coaches from Churchgate quit have been earmarked as ladies coaches seven seats in the 2nd and 11th educate from Churchgate have been reserved for senior residents whilst ten seats inside the fourth and 7th coaches from Churchgate end are reserved for bodily disabled passengers. Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables will be in every train to make certain security. BHEL technicians will also be present to attend to any teething problems. Will journeying on the AC local train be more expensive? The fare of a unmarried journey price ticket of the AC rake fees 1.3 times the base fare of a primary magnificence ticket. A Mumbai Urban Transport Plan (MUTP) surcharge and Goods and Service Tax (GST) of 5% is levied separately at the very last fare. However passengers might be charged 1.2 instances that of the first elegance ticket value within the initial six months which means the minimal fee of a single adventure price tag is Rs 60 even as the maximum ticket fee might be Rs 205. The fare structure would help draw elite commuters touring in automobiles closer to this. The higher fares will make certain limited crowds within the train making sure comfy journey at some stage in top hours a senior Western Railway professional said.Weekly and fortnightly passes will cost an equivalent of five and 7.5 instances a single adventure price tag of the AC teach. What are the demanding situations in working the AC neighborhood teach? Managing a nearby train with computerized doorways that waits ten seconds longer than every other suburban teach at each station can also affect punctuality. We are replacing 12 ordinary train offerings with the AC rake. So ordinary commuters traveling with a 2nd elegance or first class skip may have to wait longer for the following educate an legit stated. Reportedly there had been teething troubles with door closures all through trials. Any issues might lead to the rake s withdrawal till it is repaired. Like metros ladies can occupy seats in the remaining coaches other than those earmarked for them. We can even bifurcate the girls coaches from others through introducing a divider a senior legit stated. For all of the cutting-edge Explained News down load Indian Express App More Related News Lalu Prasad Yadav convicted: Fodder scam file entails Rs 950 crore fraud fifty five cases and a former CM How CBI decide verdict in 2G case stacks up in opposition to SC order scrapping licences Tags: Express Explained No Comments. The first ever air-conditioned suburban neighborhood train parked at Kurla automobile shed in Mumbai. Integral Coach Factory Chennai has constructed the educate at the value of 54 crores. With a potential to ferry 5 964 passengers the https://www.zotero.org/shermaksoaks AC educate can can run at a pace of a hundred and ten kmph. The educate is equipped with Talk Back Facility at every doorway a good way to enable passengers to speak with the locopilot in case of emergency. Unlike the ordinary EMU trains those include vestibule booths. So a commuter can walk across the coaches. The teach does no longer have a separate high-quality compartment but coaches were reserved for girls. The view of mortorman cabin which is likewise air-conditioned. Though the train changed into delivered closing year the date of roll out is yet to be announced.

India Looks Set to Leapfrog the UK and France to Become the World&

Get politics updates at once to your inbox SubscribeThank you for subscribing!Could not subscribe try again laterInvalid EmailIndia has leapfrogged Britain and France to become the world s 5th biggest economy a report exhibits nowadays. The Asian large seized the spot as the UK prepares for Brexit in line with http://www.aeriagames.com/user/cheapwigsz/ the 2018 World Economic League Table. Brazil will overtake France and the UK and turn out to be the 6th biggest economic system with the aid of 2028. The stats produced by http://www.unionspringsal.gov/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/74507/Default.aspx using Centre for Economic and Business Research also forecast that the https://www.intensedebate.com/people/washinservis UK will bounce back to overtake France in 2020 http://newtonapples.com/members/battubrefinish/ due to the fact quitting the EU could have less of an effect than feared. The think tank predicts China will overtake the US to come to be the sector s largest dollar economy in 2030. And thanks to a susceptible oil fee Russia will drop from eleventh in 2017 to 17th in 2032. The World Economic League Table tracks the scale of different economies across the globe and projects adjustments over the subsequent 15 years. CEBR Deputy Chairman Douglas McWilliams said: The World Economic League Table shows that in spite of transient setbacks from demonetisation and the introduction of the new GST (goods and services tax) India s financial system has still caught up with that of France and the UK and in 2018 may have overtaken them both to end up the arena s fifth largest financial system in dollar phrases. Report Oliver Kolodseikeco-writer stated: The interesting fashion emerging is that by means of 2032 five of the ten largest economies can be in Asia at the same time as European economies are falling down the ranking and the us loses its top spot. Technology and urbanisation might be crucial elements remodeling the world economy over the subsequent 15 years. Indian Army jawans on Monday crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and killed 3 Pakistan Army squaddies the information corporation ANI reported.The document which rates intelligence resources added that the assault was in retaliation to 4 Indian Army jawans being killed in Keri region of Jammu and Kashmir s Rajouri district on Saturday.Indian Army troops crossed over the Line of Control (PoK)

Mercedes F1 engines drive £110m investment in UK

The UK is basking in balmy weather for this time of year but some hopeful punters are still dreaming of a white Christmas with a spike in bets placed on snow to fall today. Bookmakers have reported a surge in customers having a flutter on a flurry of snow in 13 of the UK s biggest cities. Aberdeen has the shortest odds at 2-1 for snowfall while Birmingham and Manchester are both on 6-1 with London trailing on 8-1. The warm weather brought out brave swimmers who took part in festive dips in the North Sea at Tynemouth as well as in the Serpentine Lido Hyde Park. A Met Office spokesman confirmed it was unseasonably warm - but could not rule out snow. This swimmer made the most of the balmy 12C weather today and took part in the Christmas day swim at Porthcrawl south Wales. Bookies have taken a flurry of bets on it being a white Christmas despite the mild conditions White Christmas: Twin sisters Caroline and Stephanie Adams 28 dressed up as angels as they took the plunge for the annual Christmas dip in South Wales Wearing little more than a Father Christmas jacket this swimmer braved the cold for the festive dip in south Wales One Christmas reveller was dressed as Father Christmas as she frolicked in the sea in Brighton. She was there for the annual festive swim in the Channel The UK is enjoying unseasonably warm weather this Christmas - but that has not stopped hopeful punters placing bets on a white Christmas. This sunrise was pictured this morning in Tynemouth Bookmakers have reported a surge in customers having a flutter on a flurry of snow in 13 of the UK s biggest cities. Pictured: The sun rising over St Mary s Lighthouse in Tynemouth on Christmas morning The warm weather enticed out hundreds of brave swimmers to take part in the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park These were some of the swimmers who braved the North Sea s icy waters on Christmas morning as they took part in the annual dip at King Edward s Bay in Tynemouth These hardy swimmers gathered at the crack of dawn at King Edward s Bay in Tynemouth to take part in the annual Christmas Day Dip Swimmers basked in the 12C heat as they took a dip in the icy waters at the Serpentine Lido Hyde Park. Despite the warm weather the Met Office could not rule out a white Christmas Optimistic punters have rushed to back a white Christmas - despite the warm weather. Temperatures of 12C lured the swimmers to the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning This swimmer stopped to catch a breath at the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in London s Hyde Park Bookmakers have recorded a spike in betting on a white Christmas. Britain is currently experiencing unseasonably warm weather. These swimmers made the most of it at the annual dip at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Theresa May looks full of Christmas cheer as she arrives at... Meghan and Kate stroll side-by-side to church as thrilled... Euston station throws open its doors to give hundreds of... Share this article Share They said: For most places it will be fairly mild. Across England and Wales it should stay around 12C. That s quite mild as the average for this time of year is 7 or 8C. Throughout the day a cold front will move inwards bringing heavy rain to Northern Ireland and northern England. How do the Met Office decide what is a White Christmas? The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.Traditionally they used to use a single location in the country to define a white Christmas which was the Met Office building in London. However with the increase in betting on where will see a white Christmas the number of locations have increased and can now include sites such as Buckingham Palace Belfast (Aldergrove Airport) Aberdeen (Pittodrie - Aberdeen FC) Edinburgh (Castle) Coronation Street in Manchester and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.They also analyse the data from their observing stations around the UK to provide a complete picture of where snow has fallen or was lying on Christmas Day.Source: Met Office It will also be fairly windy with gusts of 70mph for the most exposed areas such as Cumbria. Then as the night comes in temperatures will drop quite quickly as that band of heavy rain passes through. It could be a white Christmas for hills and higher grounds. The Met Office said parts of north Wales will probably see some snow and the north of England and Scotland may also enjoy a white Christmas.Boxing Day is expected to have a bright dry start but a weather system will push through southern England bringing with it heavy rain.Temperatures will plunge in the evening and the rain could turn to sleet or snow across the country.The Met Office spokesman added: It s difficult to predict for Boxing Day it s on the verge of sleet and snow. It probably won t stick because there will be a lot of rain around. The rest of the week is expected to be dry and bright. Coral spokesman Harry Aitkenhead said: It may be punters betting with their hearts rather than their heads but over the last few months we have taken a record number of bets on this year being a white Christmas. We will be paying out long into Boxing Day if snow does fall. The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK.Traditionally they used to use a single location in the country to define a white Christmas which was the Met Office building in London. However with the increase in betting on where will see a white Christmas the number of locations have increased and can now include sites such as Buckingham Palace Belfast (Aldergrove Airport) Aberdeen (Pittodrie - Aberdeen FC) Edinburgh (Castle) Coronation Street in Manchester and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.They also analyse the data from their observing stations around the UK to provide a complete picture of where snow has fallen or was lying on Christmas Day. In at the deep end: Swimmers dived into the water at Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning A spokesman for bookmakers Coral said the surge of bets on a white Christmas could be punters acting with their hearts rather than their minds. Temperatures at Hyde Park for the annual Christmas swim reached a balmy 12C Ready set... The festive swimmers prepared to dive into the Serpentine this morning as the country bathed in unseasonably warm weather Confirming it was unseasonably warm the Met Office said it still could not rule out snow falling in some parts of the UK. Swimmers gathered at Tynemouth beach (pictured) this morning for the annual Christmas dip The definition that the Met Office uses to define a white Christmas is for one snowflake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December somewhere in the UK. Pictured: Swimmers at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park this morning Wearing Santa swimming shorts and a Santa hat this brave swimmer made the most of the balmy weather to take part in the annual Christmas swim at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park London Swimmers Malcom Fidler 60 and Mallory Smith 65 spent their Christmas morning wading through the waves at King Edward s Bay in Tynemouth Many people spent the morning opening presents around the Christmas tree - but these brave swimmers took a dip in the North Sea at Tynemouth One swimmer gave the thumbs up to the camera as he climbed out of the Serpentine Lido in London s Hyde Park Festive swimmers prepared to take the plunge at King Edward s Bay in Tynemouth this morning Hands up if you re having fun: Kerri Elston Doherty (centre) and Estelle Zauner Maughan (centre left) looked to be enjoying themselves in Tynemouth this morning more videos 1 2 3 Watch video Centre stage: Little girl brings down house at Xmas concert Watch video Suicidal man falls from building during rescue attempt in Lima Watch video Adorable NZ penguin hops across road to greet man Watch video Shocking moment antisemitic driver calls Hitler a great man Watch video Time-lapse shows the many sleep positions of man woman and dog Watch video Heartwarming moment school kids give classmate Nintendo 3DS Watch video Half-naked brawlers exchanged punches in Walsall town centre Watch video Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall play Scrabble on Christmas Eve Watch video GRAPHIC CONTENT: Pet dog is attacked by an alligator Watch video Charlie Wright explains why he refuses to leave his home Watch video Young couple suffer severe injuries after rope jump goes wrong Watch video Touching moment parents get engaged again after divorce The Queen went out of her way to welcome Meghan Markle to the Royal Family in her Christmas message as she said she looked forward to welcoming new members into the family in the New Year.A framed photograph of the bride-to-be with her beau Prince Harry was displayed with other family pictures as the monarch spoke and the couple also featured in video footage aired at the end of the festive broadcast. She will also have been talking about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge s new child which is due to be born in April 2018.The Queen did not however mention the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by name. A framed photograph of the bride-to-be with her beau Prince Harry was displayed with other family pictures as the monarch spoke The Queen will pay tribute to the Royal Family during her 60th Christmas speech as she poses next to photos of her and Prince Philip her great-grandchildren Charlotte and George Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Prince Charles and CamillaThe monarch gave the speech in the 1844 room alongside portraits of her and Prince Philip and her great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte.Also visible on another table were the official engagement portrait of Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle as well as Prince Charles and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall taken earlier this year by Mario Testino.The Queen and her husband featured in a black and white image from their 1947 wedding and in a colour photo released to mark their 70th wedding anniversary celebrated in November.Taken by photographer Chris Jackson the portrait of Prince George was issued by Kensington Palace on July 22nd to mark the youngster s fourth birthday.The photo of Charlotte was taken by her mother the Duchess of Cambridge to mark her second birthday on May 2nd. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next BREAKING NEWS: At least four people are killed and 15 hurt... I was so crazy in love with this woman : Salim Mehajer s... I want peace for the country : Trump shares his Christmas... Theresa May looks full of Christmas cheer as she arrives at... Share this article Share 6.5k shares Pictured left to right: The Queen and Prince Philip on their wedding day in 1947; the royal couple on their 70th wedding anniversary this year; Princess Charlotte s official second birthday portrait; Prince George s official fourth birthday portrait The Queen and Prince Philip feature in a black and white image from their 1947 wedding Photographs of the Queen s great-grandchildren Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right) will also be on displayThe portrait of Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall was taken earlier this year as a 70th birthday present from Camilla to Charles. Prince Harry and Ms Markle were photographed outside Kensington Palace to mark their engagement announcement in late November. Ms Markle 36 who is spending Christmas at Sandringham with Harry and other senior royals is likely to have watched the Queen s message with members of the monarchy.Her appearance in the Queen s end of year address to the nation is another sign of how quickly she has been accepted into Britain s most prominent family. Earlier today Meghan stunned the crowds as she attended a Christmas church service with the Royal Family. The photograph of the prince and his fiancee and their video footage were from the day of their engagement announcement in NovemberThe actress stepped out in an eye-catching brown beret and wrapped up warm against the chilly winter temperatures in a beige 986 Sentaler coat which she tied up at the front. Meghan clutched on to her Royal beau Prince Harry 33 and proudly displayed the engagement ring that he himself designed before their engagement in November. As well as her beret and beige combination Meghan wore a pair of Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots and carried a 1 550 leather handbag by Chloe.She is also wearing a pair of Birks snowflakes earrings - which she donned at the Queen s Christmas lunch. This year it is understood that Prince Harry and his fiancee will stay with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate at Anmer Hall their home in the Sandringham grounds rather than in the main house.Markle will have to adjust to the royal family s idiosyncratic ways and customs ingrained in centuries of tradition. Earlier today Meghan stunned the crowds as she attended a Christmas church service in Sandringham with the Royal Family The Queen s speech in full Sixty years ago today a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change as she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark.Six decades on the presenter has evolved somewhat as has the technology she described. Back then who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones as some of you are today. But I m also struck by something that hasn t changed. That whatever the technology many of you will be watching this at home.We think of our homes as places of warmth familiarity and love; of shared stories and memories which is perhaps why at this time of year so many return to where they grew up. There is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home. For many the idea of home reaches beyond a physical building to a home town or city. This Christmas I think of London and Manchester whose powerful identities shone through over the past twelve months in the face of appalling attacks. In Manchester those targeted included children who had gone to see their favourite singer. A few days after the bombing I had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents. I describe that hospital visit as a privilege because the patients I met were an example to us all showing extraordinary bravery and resilience. Indeed many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert. It was a powerful reclaiming of the ground and of the city those young people call home.We expect our homes to be a place of safety sanctuary even which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered. A few weeks ago The Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities. And here in London who can forget the sheer awfulness of the Grenfell Tower fire? Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much; and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives this past year saving others. Many of them of course will not be at home today because they are working to protect us.Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family and in particular for 70 years of marriage. I don t know that anyone had invented the term platinum for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren t expected to be around that long. Even Prince Philip has decided it s time to slow down a little having as he economically put it done his bit . But I know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year. In 2018 I will open my home to a different type of family: the leaders of the fifty-two nations of the Commonwealth as they gather in the UK for a summit. The Commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together be it through the Commonwealth Games which begin in a few months time on Australia s Gold Coast or through bodies like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra & Choir: a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is. Today we celebrate Christmas which itself is sometimes described as a festival of the home. Families travel long distances to be together. Volunteers and charities as well as many churches arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. We remember the birth of Jesus Christ whose only sanctuary was a stable in Bethlehem. He knew rejection hardship and persecution; and yet it is Jesus Christ s generous love and example which has inspired me through good times and bad.Whatever your own experiences this year; wherever and however you are watching I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas. European officials have warned that Britain s new blue passports could spell travel delays and extra paperwork rather than the enhanced freedom promised by the government. Theresa May sought to end a difficult political year on a high note on Friday by confirming the return of navy travel documents after Brexit. She said that abandoning the EU-style burgundy design introduced in 1988 was an expression of independence and sovereignty that reflected citizenship of a proud great nation . But as the announcement divided domestic opinion along increasingly entrenched cultural battle lines sources in Brussels pointed out that holders of any colour of British passport could see diminished travel rights after Brexit unless there were further negotiating concessions. One senior official said that depending on how negotiations go on all free movement issues after Brexit there was a significant risk that British passport holders would lose the right to use a fast-track citizens lane when travelling on the continent and may also be obliged to use a new visa waiver scheme. The EU travel information and authorisation system (Etias) is modeled on the US Esta scheme and could require British travellers to Europe to register in advance and make a small administrative payment. Although a chance remains for Britain to retain fast-track privileges if there is further shift in the prime minister s red lines on immigration British experts said this looked unlikely. At the moment it looks absolutely certain that we won t be able to go through the European citizens lane because the legal code in the Schengen borders code says it is only for citizens or people with free movement rights said Steve Peers a professor of law at Essex University. Brussels sources pointed out that the tendering process for printing the new passports was likely to take place under existing EU procurement rules something that the current British contractor De La Rue recently warned could mean they were produced abroad. Despite this the announcement was loudly cheered by Brexit supporters on Friday after a string of recent concessions from the government. The Home Office minister Brandon Lewis told the Sun that one of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport . You can t be a nation unless you have this symbol added a jubilant Nigel Farage. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The old blue British passport and the burgundy European Union design introduced in 1988. Composite: PR Under a system first agreed by Margaret Thatcher s government in 1981 Britain is not legally obliged to use the same burgundy design as most other members but agreed to do so in a joint resolution of member states in the European council. The agreement to harmonise certain design features followed a backlash over more ambitious plans for a community-wide passport but it also included rules to put the words European Community in front of the name of the member state. Council members including Britain s then ambassador to the EU Michael Butler signed a resolution aiming to strengthen the feeling among nationals of the member states that they belong to the same community but left an opt-out clause that is still used today by some members such as Croatia which also has a blue passport. May said Britain was choosing to return to its iconic blue design even though the shade proposed would be significantly lighter than the near-black navy used in previous larger UK passports. The majority of changes since this period have been mandated by other international aviation and security agreements outside the EU and will continue to dictate the size and content of UK travel documents. Experts stressed that the balance between national sovereignty and harmonising travel rules was more complex than changing the appearance of a passport. The reality is that the new passports will symbolise having fewer free movement rights said Peers. We will also still have to go through the slow lane even if we have non-expired burgundy passports. It may not be vastly more difficult but it will be somewhat more difficult. It does seem odd to make a big patriotic noise about something that makes it harder for you to travel. Fabian Zuleeg chief executive of the European Policy Centre agreed that it would depend on the final EU/UK settlement as to whether it would be harder for British passport holders to travel in Europe in future. If UK citizens were treated as nationals of the European Economic Area the EU plus Norway Iceland and Liechtenstein then there would be no problem. Otherwise they could face longer queues though he stressed nothing was definite. In Britain opposition politicians rejected the prime minister s claim that changing the colour was a victory for sovereignty. What utter nonsense this belittles our country and your office said the Labour MP Chuka Umunna. We ve always been a great nation proud to be British and of our standing in the world. The former Labour leader Ed Miliband added: It is an expression of how mendacious absurd and parochial we look to the world. David Lammy the MP for Tottenham said Brexit was turning us into a laughing stock . We re swapping the right to live and work in 27 countries for new passports he said. But don t worry when we re all stood in the airport for four hours we can stand in the queue and look at just how blue they are. Academic experts on Brexit urged remain supporters not to underestimate the power of symbolism for leave supporters. It s a sign of the times that the mirror image of it appealing to a certain segment of the British population is that it will be a total turn-off to the other said Anand Menon at King s College London. It s a reflection of how divided our society is: some people just cannot compute and other people are celebrating. The former British diplomat Sir Simon Wall suggested it was a measure carefully targeted at a demographic group most in need of buoying up after recent concessions. It s aimed at the Brexit generation. Anyone under the age of 50 will hardly remember any other passport than we have now he said. It seems from her recent performance that Theresa May has belatedly grasped the fact that we need to make some pretty dramatic compromises and she needs a bit of smoke as well this is part of that. European officials distanced themselves from the original decision to adopt burgundy passports stressing it was voluntarily agreed to by member state governments. This has nothing to do with the European commission nothing at all said the spokesman Mark English. Claude Moraes the British Labour MEP who chairs the European parliament s civil liberties justice and home affairs committee warned that the new passports could become a symbol of what British nationals stand to lose from Brexit. What is being lost with the burgundy passport are the freedoms to move in the EU27 and other related freedoms he said. There is every risk now that with the UK passport you will be subject to greater queus greater checks and more inconvenience. The MEP who is one of the lead negotiators for the parliament on Etias said he was deeply sceptical that the EU27 would offer the UK a special deal. He said the UK would be on the other side of policies aimed at strengthening the EU s external border including Etias and a stronger border and coastguard agency. That is something people will have to get used to and the new passport will symbolise that. The United Kingdom s post-Brexit trade deal with the EU will be along the same lines as the ones signed between the union and countries like South Korea Japan and Canada the European Commission s chief negotiator has said. Michel Barnier said Theresa May s red lines to take Britain out of the customs union and single market and to reject the jurisdiction of European courts meant a close relationship similar to the ones the EU has with other non-EU European countries was off the table. The statement is an explicit knock-back for Downing Street which said only the day before that it wanted a bespoke deal with the EU that was significantly more ambitious deal than the EU s agreement with Canada . Read more EU says Brexit transition will end no later than 31 December 2020 Logically for the economic side of our partnership we ll be working on the basis of a free-trade agreement along the same lines of what we negotiated and signed with Canada South Korea and Japan Mr Barnier told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday. There are of course differences between these different models because each of these trade models is of course tailor-made and specific to these countries when we sign these agreements. But it s the same approach and logic underpinning these agreements. That ll be the situation with the United Kingdom in light of what they said their position is themselves. Crucially Mr Barnier said no other EU free-trade agreement had yet covered financial services suggesting the City of London could be left out in the cold. Financial services were potentially to be a part of the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) agreement with the United States but talks on this agreement have now collapsed. A slide drawn up by the chief negotiator and widely circulated in Brussels shows that the UK could not have a Norwegian or Icelandic-style deal because of the PM refusing jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) free movement regulatory alignment and making a financial contribution to the EU budget. Read more The DUP will not have to name the source of a 425 000 Brexit donation UK Government s Nissan letter is too sensitive says business ministry EU unlikely to back UK over Falklands after Brexit says ex-diplomat Chief EU negotiator says the City will have no place in Brexit deal A Swiss-style deal is also off the table because of the UK s rejection of free movement regulatory alignment and financial payments. Britain would also be unable to have a relationship with the EU similar to the one enjoyed by Ukraine which would require some regulatory alignment and recognition of the ECJ. The model followed by Turkey is also ruled out because of the UK s desire to sign trade agreements with other countries leaving a looser deal such as the one with non-European countries like South Korea as the only option. Also speaking at the same press conference Mr Barnier confirmed that the commission wanted any Brexit transition deal to end on 31 December 2020 just under two years. This recommendation which is broadly in line with the request made by Theresa May in her Florence speech coincides with the end of the EU s multi-annual financial framework effectively its budget period. Theresa May has ruled out single market and customs union membership putting a close economic relationship off the table (PA) The transition period is useful and it will enable the public administration in Britain to prepare themselves for the kind of challenges that they will have to face at their borders which are also our borders and to prepare for the new relationship he told reporters in Brussels. It should be of a short and specific duration: at Florence Theresa May in her speech referred to a maximum of two years. Our position the European Commission s position is that this would run logically to 31 December 2020 because that s also the duration of the current multi-annual financial framework. Brexit: the deciders 8 show all Brexit: the deciders 1/8 European Union s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks to the media as he arrives at the Council of the European Union ahead of an EU Council meeting on April 29 2017 in Brussels Belgium. The 27 members of the European Union will meet in Brussels for a special European Council meeting to discuss the continuing Brexit negotiation Getty 2/8 French President Emmanuel Macron (R) at the Elysee Palace in Paris Getty 3/8 German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters 4/8 Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA 5/8 The European Parliament s chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt gestures as he addresses a press conference with the European Parliament president after Britain initiated the process to leave the EU Getty 6/8 Britain s Prime Minister Theresa May stands on the flight deck and speaks to crew members of the 65 000-tonne British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth after it arrived at Portsmouth Naval base its new home port on August 16 2017 in Portsmouth England. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship in the new Queen Elizabeth class of supercarriers. Weighing in at 65 000 tonnes she is the largest war ship deployed by the British Royal Navy. She is planned to be in service by 2020 and with a second ship HMS Prince of Wales to follow Getty Images 7/8 Brexit Secretary David Davis in central London Getty 8/8 Britain s Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond leaves 11 Downing Street in central London PA But he warned that if negotiations collapsed there would still be no transition period arguing that an orderly withdrawal and transition go hand-in-hand . The UK and EU are expected to move onto talks about the Brexit transition period swiftly in the new year but talks about of the framework for the future trade relationship have been put back until March to give both sides more time to prepare. More about: Brexit Japan EU South Korea Canada Trade Michel Barnier Reuse content This stunning set of Second World War portraits show some of the earliest incarnations of a technique that would inject the photography industry with colour and rule supreme for nearly three-quarters of a century.The photographs were taken by John Cyril Redhead who headed up Kodak s Photo Finishing department in Harrow north-west London using the then-revolutionary Kodachrome.They highlight both famous faces and unsung heroes of the wartime in stunning detail far beyond the limitations typical technology of its time that produced inferior black-and-white results.From ordinary nurses and volunteers all the way to the royalty of Princess Margaret Redhead was fascinated in creating portraits of a wide range of people using his privileged access to the company s hi-tech equipment.Kodachrome is regarded as the first modern colour photographic process by using a subtractive process of red-orange and blue-greens to add in colours as the photo was being taken all of its predecessors for colour pictures used additives to transform black-and-white images.Images such as these are so rare because Kodachrome was imported into Britain from the USA and was in very short supply during World War Two.Kodachrome remained the most popular material for photography for 75 years following its invention in the mid-1930s but was gradually discontinued after the turn of the century as digital photography came to the fore. Popular singer and actress Pat Kirkwood (1921-2007) photographed in a glamorous pose lying on a sofa with a bearskin. She appeared in films with George Formby and Arthur Askey in the 1930s and 1940s. Although her ambitions for a Hollywood film career faltered after World War Two she continued to work in theatre and television until the 1990s. She was the first woman to have her own television show on the BBC and once continued to perform at the London Palladium in the midst of an air raid A Kodachrome colour photograph of a Miss B Hall probably a Kodak employee who would have been one of Redhead s employees while he was head of the company s Photo Finishing department in Harrow north-west London. Lieutenant Doyle of the United States Army taken by JCA Redhead (1886-1954) during World War Two. A veteran soldier wears the scarlet dress uniform of an officer in The Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment the senior line regiment of the British Army. The medals on his chest show that he is a veteran of World War One. He also proudly wears the Distinguished Service Order medal. Civil Defence volunteer Miss Carter who wears the uniform of a Civil Defence ambulance driver and poses next to a Civil Defence flag. Volunteers often women were trained in civil defence duties including fire-fighting first aid and ambulance driving. This Kodachrome image shows a woman named Mrs Bateman. She is wears the uniform of the United States Navy. A young woman dressed as a Pearly Queen taken by JCA Redhead (1886-1954) during World War Two. Pearly Kings and Queens are a London tradition dating back to the 1870s. It grew out of the flashy costumes worn by street-sellers also known as costermongers. Kings and Queens dress in costumes decorated with pearl buttons. A young bride taken by JCA Redhead (1886-1954) during World War Two. A woman named Miss Kamp dressed in British Naval uniform taken by JCA Redhead (1886-1954) during World War Two. Although not allowed to fight during World War Two many women volunteered for support roles in the Armed Forces working as nurses or in staff administration Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) a pioneering female photographer and photojournalist wearing United States Army Airforce uniform. Bourke-White was the first female war correspondent and the first to be allowed to work in combat zones during World War Two. She survived the sinking of a ship flew on American bombing raids and was one of the first photographers to enter and document the Nazi death camps. American film producer Ben Goetz (1891-1979). Goetz was a Metro Goldwyn Mayer film producer and executive and was in charge of MGM s British studios during the 1940s. Before finding success in production he had also directed two films The Inevitable and In The Hands Of The Law as well as acting in a number of shorts during the First World War. George Hill(1887-1952). The wine cellar clerk is photographed in the wine cellar of the Reform Club on Pall Mall London a gentleman s club dating back to the 1830s. The club was used as the headquarters of the Liberal Party in the 19th Century but is now simply used as a social venue with no association to any political organisations A Kodachrome colour photograph of Brigadier General Swinton taken while he was in active service during World War Two. Brigadier General Swinton is wearing British army battle dress. His shoulder patch shows he is a Scots Guard An American war correspondent named Mr Porter an American war correspondent. Although not soldiers American war correspondents were required to wear army uniform. The Allies recognised the importance of war correspondents to the war effort. By late 1944 the public relations headquarters in Paris had enough staff and facilities to deal with the output of nearly 1 000 war correspondents. In addtion it could handle 35 000 photographs and 100 000 feet of film footage each week Major-General Lejeune of the US Marine Corps. A veteran of the Spanish-American War he was promoted to the rank of Major-General towards the end of the First World War having commanded the US Army 2nd Division during the victorious action at the battle of St Mihiel. By the time this photograph was taken he was an elderly man and died midway through the Second World War in 1942. Colonel Seibert of the American Army taken by JCA Redhead (1886-1954) during World War Two. Colonel Nordlie aide-de-camp to King Haakon VII (1872-1957) of Norway. Colonel Nordlie is photographed wearing Norwegian army uniform. King Haakon fled Norway when the Germans invaded in 1940 setting up a government in exile in London. An uncle of British monarch George VI he returned to cheering crowds in Norway in July 1945 and continued to reign until his death 12 years after the war s completion A nurse Mrs Cooke. Nurses worked closer to the front lines than they ever had before. Within the chain of evacuation established by the Army Medical Department during the war nurses served under fire in field hospitals and evacuation hospitals on hospital trains and hospital ships and as flight nurses on medical transport planes. The skill and dedication of these nurses contributed to the extremely low post-injury mortality rate among American military forces in every theatre of the war. Mrs Claude Elliott dressed in the uniform of a Women s Voluntary Service (WVS) nurse. While many members of the WVS mucked in on pretty much all tasks the idea of an organisation without a hierarchy would not have worked and so while there were no ranks there were titles. Women were recruited for specific tasks whether that was to drive ambulances to be a member of a knitting work party or collect National Savings. Inevitably those women who signed up for one thing often ended up being co-opted for other work especially if they showed aptitude. Princess Margaret (1930-2002) the Queen s younger sister aged about 12. Unlike other members of the royal family Margaret was not expected to undertake any public or official duties during the war. She developed her skills at singing and playing the piano. Viscount Halisham had written to Winston Churchill encouraging the young princesses be evacuated to Canada but the Queen Mother famously replied: The children won t go without me. I won t leave without the King. And the King will never leave. Sir Mordant Snagge in his judges wig and robes taken by JCA Redhead (1886-1954) during World War Two. Eager shoppers splashed out a record 1bn on Christmas Day in an online shopping splurge as retailers braced for a further spending flurry on Boxing Day.Shoppers across the country hit the high street for Christmas Eve s Super Saturday in a frenzy of panic buying but that did not stop another major outlay today as sales smashed the billion pound barrier for the first time.And the chance of snagging a huge bargain on Boxing Day is expected to see 1million spent a minute amid 88 per cent discounts.A record 895million is expected to be spent online - up 11 per cent on last year - as sales started yesterday or today online according to a Centre for Retail Research study for VoucherCodes based on interviews with 80 major UK retailers and 1 000 shoppers. Frustrated shoppers took to social media to show their anger at the store Some shoppers tweeted screenshots similar to those that are used by tickets venders at rock concerts showing the waiting timeHowever some websites are struggling with the numbers of bargain shoppers with shoppers complaining about Boots website crashing.Frustrated shoppers took to social media to air their grievances with the pharmaceutical chain.One tweeted: I ve waited over 40 minutes to get on your website. Another said: Mother in law has just waited 45 minutes to get onto boots website for it only to say we re really busy now come back later . Disgusting! Waited all that time and can t get on! Others tweeted screenshots of their computers showing the waiting time to get on the site. Speaking to the MailOnline a Boots spokesman said they had experienced unprecedented demand to the site .They added: Due to a technical issue with the sale we are intermittently closing the site for short periods of time while we resolve this. We re sorry for any inconvenience this is causing our customers and our stores will be open tomorrow with the same great deals. Some tweeted GIFs and memes from popular TV shows to show their frustration at the pharmacy Shoppers tweeted their frustration at the lack of stock and long waiting times on the Boots website The chance of snagging a huge bargain on Boxing Day is expected to see 1million spent a minute amid 88 per cent discounts Signs for Boxing Day sales were already going up across the country on Christmas Eve. Pictured: Shoppers search for a bargain outside a Next Store in central London Boxing Day is due even bigger bargains as sales start early online today and from 6am Tuesday in stores Online sales started with AO.com at 12noon Christmas Eve with Next joining from 3pm John Lewis and M&S from 5pm and Debenhams also due to start. Argos online sale was starting at 6am on Christmas Day Seventeen million shoppers splashed out on Super Saturday on Saturday - capping Britain s 7billion busiest ever week before Christmas as price cuts hit 88 per cent. Pictured: Boxing Day sale signs in One New Chance in central London on Christmas Eve Last minute shoppers flock to London s West End yesterday in search of 11th-hour gifts for friends and family Customer queues in some shops in the West End which stayed open until late last night Left: Crowds mill around Oxford Circus underground station as night descended on the capital. Right: Hundreds of customers created queue of over 50 yards in each direction on Regent Street as they wait for Hamley s Toy Store to open yesterday Shoppers fuelled by caffeine grab last minute bargains in Central London last night Crowds grow in London s west end on Christmas Eve as last minute shoppers hunt for gifts Seventeen million shoppers splashed out on Super Saturday yesterday - capping Britain s 7billion busiest ever week before Christmas as price cuts hit 88 per centIt works out at 932 000-a-minute over the 16 hours most are awake on Christmas Day.Store spending today is set to pass 105million as 1.5million shoppers spend at a record number of convenience stores and garages also opening up.Christmas Day online spending peaked at 10am as cash gifts and vouchers were opened and another spike is expected at 6pm before big evening TV shows experts say.Consumer electronics will be popular purchases while Amazon expects movies and music downloads to be big sellers. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 2 Next Tis the season to be JOLLY grateful for Prince Albert!... Theresa May uses festive Christmas message to praise Armed... Sealed with a kiss: How Kate Maltby continued to send Damian... Jeremy Corbyn supporter calls for female MP to be HANGED... Share this article Share Professor Joshua Bamfield director of the Centre for Retail Research said: It looks like the first ever 1billion Christmas Day. The day is getting stronger every year for online spending. Shoppers want the bargains retailers make available when post-Christmas sales start early online. Post-Christmas sales started online on Christmas Eve.Online sales started with AO.com at 12noon Christmas Eve with Next joining from 3pm John Lewis and M&S from 5pm and Debenhams also due to start. Argos online sale was starting at 6am on Christmas Day.Seventeen million shoppers splashed out on Super Saturday on Saturday - capping Britain s 7billion busiest ever week before Christmas as price cuts hit 88 per cent.And Boxing Day is due even bigger bargains as sales start early online today and from 6am Tuesday in stores. Last minute Christmas shoppers throng the city centre in Leeds West Yorkshire Last minute Christmas shoppers throng the city centre in Leeds West Yorkshire Shoppers get some last minute presents for Christmas in Bristol on Christmas Eve Shoppers get some last minute presents for Christmas in Bristol on SundaySaturday had even more shoppers than are due on Boxing Day with one in three adults shopping yesterday as 1.7billion was spent. Fourteen million jammed high streets and shopping centres to spend 1.45billion with 3.4m shopping online spending an additional 220million.Bluewater Kent was expected to have seen 110 000 shoppers yesterday with 100 000 at Lakeside Essex. Best Christmas bargains Bourjois Une Skin Matt Foundation was cut 88 per cent from 12.49 to 1.49 by FragranceDirect.co.uk.A women s Reebok CrossFit Tank Top was cut 84 per cent from to 2.99 by mandmdirect.comBig chains including Next and Oasis have cut up to 70 per cent off prices with Top Shop River Island and Argos at up to 50 per cent off and some Currys deals at close to half-price. St David s Cardiff was due 250 000 shoppers with 220 000 at Birmingham s Bullring 180 000 at Manchester s Trafford Centre and 90 000 at Bristol s Cabot Circus.Scottish malls were anticipated to appraoched 100 000 at the Braehead Centre near Glasgow 80 000 at Glasgow s Silverburn and 70 000 at Aberdeen s Union Square.The splurge capped a record 7billion spree for the last shopping week before December 25 the spending data showed with around 5.5billion spent in stores this week and another 1.5billion online.The mega spree was due to a late rush after shopper totals were down 10 per cent on last year over the first three weeks of December. Professor Joshua Bamfield director of the Centre for Retail Research said: This may well be the busiest ever week before Christmas in terms of shopper numbers and the biggest spending week before Christmas ever. Saturday has the highest ever number of shoppers before Christmas forecast as it falls right before Christmas Eve. There is a trend of spending late. And prices are falling so shoppers can expect bargains. Mintel director of retail research Richard Perks added: More and more shoppers are leaving it until the last minute. Travel disruption Many of Britain s mainline train routes were partially shut as Network Rail carries out its biggest ever Christmas investment programme.Great Western Railway urged passengers to complete journeys by Saturday at the latest as London Paddington were closed between Christmas Eve and December 27.The West Coast main line will be halted between Preston and Lancaster from Christmas Eve to December 27 with buses replacing trains.Passengers travelling between London and Glasgow during this time are advised to go via Edinburgh adding around an hour to journeys. Coach operator National Express is running its largest ever Christmas schedule to meet increased demand from key locations such as Bournemouth Cardiff Leeds Edinburgh Portsmouth Bristol Glasgow and Manchester.Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) were due to stage a series of walkouts on Virgin Trains West Coast starting on Friday but they were called off after a deal to end a row over pay. A busy High Street in Canterbury Kent as shoppers purchase last minute presents on Christmas Eve A busy High Street in Canterbury Kent as shoppers purchase last minute presents on Christmas Eve Shoppers get some last minute presents for Christmas in Bristol on Christmas Eve People may have been leaving their shopping to the last minute but traffic was unexpectedly light on the M5 south near Birmingham as people appear to have made their journeys for the festive holidays Very light Christmas Eve traffic on the M5 south near Birmingham West Midlands New Delhi: Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD) has invited application from eligible candidates for 2018 Commonwealth Scholarship in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is for students in Master s and doctoral degree programme. The study will commence in September/ October 2018. There is a provision for maximum 65 nominations for the scholarship out of which 26 have to be for PhD. Candidates wishing to apply for the scholarship can do so in the online mode. The last date to apply for the scholarship on the MHRD website is February 7 2018 and the last date to apply for the scholarship on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission s Electronic Application System (EAS) is February 22 2018. It is compulsory for candidates to apply at both the portals before the last date in order to be eligible for the scholarship. The Master s course will be of one year duration and doctoral programme will be up to three/four year duration. Scholarship would be offered under following development themes and all candidates must apply under one of the themes:Science and technology for developmentStrengthening health systems and capacityPromoting global prosperityStrengthening global peace security and governanceStrengthening resilience and response to crisesAccess inclusion and opportunityEligibilityThe candidate must not be older than 40 years as on February 7 2018.Candidates applying for the Master s course should have completed or expected to complete the Bachelor degree by October 2018. The candidate must have 60% or above marks in Social Science subjects and 65% or above marks in Science subjects.Candidates applying for the Doctoral degree should have completed or expected to complete the Master degree/qualifying examination by October 2018. The candidate must have 60% or above marks in Social Science subjects and 65% or above marks in Science subjects.While MHRD does not want students to take IELTS tests as a further condition of the award the university may ask student to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency. The students who are applying for Master s programme will have to submit a plan of studying and those who are applying for the Doctoral degree will have to submit a research proposal. Click here for more Education News