A Challenging Time For India-US Relationship 2103

Washington: The year 2013 will be remembered for the challenges it threw up for the ties between the world's two largest democracies, including a row triggered by the arrest and strip-search of an Indian diplomat in the US.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a successful meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House and Vice President Joe Biden made a rare trip to India US Relationship, but the strain in bilateral relations was evident throughout 2013 especially over India's nuclear liability act.
                                     

Also, over 200 American lawmakers made an unprecedented move to vent their ire against India's economic policies. However, the events of the year were capped by the arrest of senior diplomat Devyani Khobragade, the Deputy Consul General in New York, on visa fraud charges.

While the US asserted that by arresting her, it was enforcing the law of the land, India fought back by taking a series of reciprocal measures like withdrawing special privileges of US Embassy personnel in New Delhi.

Following the arrest, one of the rare occasions when an Indian diplomat was detained overseas, the India-US ties came to a standstill. Even earlier, many experts had said that it has plateaued.

This was mainly because both the Congress and the influential American industry - the main drivers of India-US ties in the past decade - openly expressed their anger and anguish over India's economic policies.

Fatwa Issued on Remarriage of Kashmir’s

SRINAGAR: A group of Islamic scholars in Kashmir has issued a fatwa (decree) that a half-widow can remarry four years after the disappearance of her husband.

A huge number of women in Jammu and Kashmir have been living as half-widows due to the disappearance of their husbands in custody of the Indian security forces.
                                         

         
The religious scholars were in Srinagar for a conference on the issue of the remarriage of Kashmiri Fatwa Issued women whose husbands have gone missing over the past two decades since the outbreak of militancy in the state.

Bashir Ahmad Dar, head of Ehsaas, the NGO that organized the conference, said the religious scholars unanimously concluded that the half-widows' whose husbands have disappeared in custody or otherwise over the past 20 years can remarry four years after the disappearance.

Human rights groups say the number of people who have so disappeared in the past twenty years of armed resistance against Indian rule is more than eight thousand. One fourth of them were married.

In all such cases the security forces deny any knowledge about the whereabouts of these men.

Their wives are known as half-widows because they don't know whether their husbands are alive or dead. As such these women cannot decide whether to remarry or whether to wait for their missing me to return.

The Islamic scholars held three rounds of consultations over the issue and before issuing the fatwa.

Okinawa Governor Approves US Base Relocation

Japan's Okinawa island approved the long-stalled relocation of a controversial US military base, putting an end to a decades-long source of friction between Tokyo and Washington.

Local bureaucrats signed on Friday a document that gives the governor's green light to a landfill, paving the way for the construction of a new base on the coast.
                                                   

   
An Okinawan official confirmed Friday that Governor Hirokazu Nakaima approved the Japanese Defense Ministry's application to reclaim land for a new military base on Okinawa's coast. It would replace the U.S. Marine Corps base in Futenma, a more congested part of Okinawa's Governor Approves main island.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe persuaded Nakaima to approve the move in a meeting Wednesday. As part of the agreement, the central government will provide increased financial assistance to the island.

The Futenma relocation is an emotionally charged issue in Okinawa, where anti-base sentiment runs deep amid safety concerns about U.S. military operations.

In 2009, Yukio Hatoyama, the first prime minister after the Democratic Party of Japan took power, raised local hopes by pledging that the base would be moved out of the prefecture “at least.” But he later backed off and decided on a deal with the United States that was almost identical to the 2006 bilateral agreement.

Law College Dissociates itself From Ganguly

Kolkata: West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) on Thursday said it has 'dissociated' itself from its honorary professor Justice (Retd) A K Ganguly accused of sexually harassing a student who had worked as an intern under him.

"We have decided to dissociate ourselves from him. Our executive council, the university's highest decision-making body, will take a final call next month on what other action can be taken in this matter," WBNUJS spokesperson Ruchira Goswami said.
                                                             

The premier law institute's faculty members had yesterday written to vice-chancellor P Ishwara Bhatt saying Ganguly's continued association with the institution undermines the ideals of NUJS that has always strived to teach and foster justice, including gender justice click here for more information about Law College Dissociates  .

"We believe that the position of a professor is that of trust and requires that such person be above reproach, especially above allegations of misbehaviour with students, particularly when such allegations have been found to have prima facie merit by a high-level committee," a group of 12 faculty members had said in a statement.

As an honorary professor of WBNUJS, Ganguly used to attend guest lectures besides supporting other academic activities. Following indictment by a three-member panel of Supreme Court judges over the intern's allegation, he is also facing strident demands to step down as the chairperson of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC).

When contacted, Ganguly refused to comment on the matter saying, "I am not supposed to tell you".

Actors Mohan Babu, Brahmanandam to Return Padma Shri

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has suggested to Telugu film actor-producer Mohan Babu and actor Brahmanandam that it would be appropriate if they returned the Padma Shri awards to the Government of India and then contested a writ petition seeking cancellation of the honour.
                                                       

                   
A bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyothy Sengupta and Justice P. Sanjay Kumar, while hearing a petition filed by BJP leader N. Indrasena Reddy, took serious note of the actor duo prefixing 'Padma Shri' to their names in credits of a movie.

The high court observed that Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam should have surrendered the awards gracefully. The controversy erupted when the recipients carried

the title of 'Padma Shri' as prefix in the credits of the controversial film 'Denikina Ready' (2012), produced by Mohan Babu's son Manchu Vishnu who also played a lead role in it.

Reddy had alleged that both the senior actors used prefix of 'Padma Shri' to their names in the credits of the movie. "According to rules, the award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the award winner's name on letterheads, invitation cards, posters and books among others," Reddy told reporters.

Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam were awarded 'Padma Shri' in 2007 and 2009, respectively. The matter is posted for further hearing on December

Sindhu, Srikanth Win Titles At National Championships

New Delhi: Young shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth notched up contrasting victories in the summit clashes to clinch the women's and men's titles respectively at the 78th Senior National Badminton Championships here today.

A display of determination turned out to the theme of the day with an all-attacking K. Srikanth, ranked 37th in the world, coming up with a standout performance.
                                                     

                     
World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu won her second national title after 2011 while it is a first for Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold winner Srikanth.

Defending mixed doubles champions Aparna Balan and Arun Vishnu retained their crown while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa regained the women's doubles crown for the first time since 2009.

However, it was a maiden title for Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold winner Srikanth, who dug deep into his reserves to get the better off RMV Gurusaidutt in a 40-minute men`s singles contest.

While second seed Sindhu, who is currently ranked 11th in the world, defeated Rituparna 21-11 21-17, Srikanth beat Guru 21-13 22-20 at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.

Defending mixed doubles champions Aparna Balan and Arun Vishnu retained their title, while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa regained the women`s doubles crown for the first time since 2009.

In the men`s doubles competition, top seeds Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar clinched the title with a 21-19 21-17 win over second seeds Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy B in a 39-minute contest.

Somali Parliament Approves New PM

MOGADISHU: Somali lawmakers on Saturday overwhelmingly endorsed Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed who was appointed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud last week.
                                       
Ahmed replaces outgoing premier Abdi Farah Shirdon, who was ousted last month by parliament following a rift with the Somali Parliament president over policy differences, Xinhua reported.
                                               

                                           
Ahmed, an economist, previously worked at the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia. He replaces Abdi Farah Shirdon who was forced out by lawmakers in a vote of no confidence after falling out with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Western donors had worried a prolonged vacuum at the head of government would interrupt efforts to rebuild state institutions and defeat al Qaeda-linked militants who control swathes of the rural south and center of the Horn of Africa country.

In a statement, Mr. Ahmed assured lawmakers and the Somali people “that I will form a capable government to move this country forward and to a better future.”

The statement added that his government would honor existing international legal agreements and would strengthen Somalia’s relationships with neighboring states.

Ahmed, 54, faces a giant task to rein in corruption, crush Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents battling to topple the central government, and rebuild the troubled Horn of Africa nation.

“I’m very grateful with parliament for endorsing my nomination,” the new prime minister said after the vote.

LCA Tejas to Get Initial Operational Clearance Today

India's indigenously designed and developed frontline fighter Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is poised to achieve an important milestone today.

This fourth generation aircraft will get its second Initial Operations Clearance today to pave the way for its induction into Indian Air Force, IAF squadrons.
                                         

                     
Defence Minister A K Antony and Air Force Chief NAK Browne will be present on this momentous occasion in Bangalore.

After the second clearance, the defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will take up series production of the aircraft.

Tejas is a supersonic fighter developed by HAL, and was sanctioned three decades ago by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

It has undergone 2400 test flights and Browne had earlier said that it would be battle-ready by 2014. (ANI)

British Author Paul Torday Dies At 67

British novelist Paul Torday, who had a surprise best-seller with his debut novel "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," has died at age 67, his publisher said Thursday.

Torday died at home in Northumberland a day earlier, surrounded by his family, said publisher Weidenfeld and Nicolson. It did not provide a cause of death.
                                                           

                   
Torday launched his writing career in his late fifties, publishing "Salmon Fishing on the Yemen" in 2007 — the story of a rich sheik who dreams of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to his desert country.

What Paul Torday Dies never publicly disclosed was that this extraordinary output reflected a personal race against time. Having wanted to write all his life, he was faced with a cancer diagnosis shortly after his first book was swept away on the whirlwind of an international award-winning literary sensation and he recognised the extent to which his time might be limited.

The novel was adapted into a 2011 film starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, with Blunt as the sheik's representative and McGregor as a cynical fisheries expert who begrudgingly accepts the challenge.

After getting a degree in English literature, Torday spent years in the engineering business before turning to writing. Following on the success of his first novel, Torday went on to write six more novels and two eBooks.

The novel was adapted into a 2011 film starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt.

He is survived by his wife Penelope, his ex-wife Jane, sons Piers and Nicholas and stepsons Jonathan and Charles.

Finland Raises Nokia's Tax Issue With India

WORDS IN THE ARTICLE

Mutual Agreement Procedure (MPA): The principal function of the Mutual Agreement provision in Article 25 is to resolve situations of double taxation caused by differences in interpretation and application of the treaty. It is according to the Article 25 of the United Nations. Article 25 establishes a “mutual agreement procedure” (MAP) which enables the parties to a bilateral treaty to better carry out the interpretation and application of the substantive treaty provisions. The MAP is administered by the “competent authorities”, the persons (Ministry or Tax Authority).                                  

                           

WHAT IS THE ISSUE         

⇒ India Tax authorities had issued a notice to Nokia to pay Rs. 2,058 for alleged tax evasion which it didn’t pay during the period from 2006. This particular factory was started by Nokia in 2006.

⇒ Nokia has been charged with nonpayment of withholding tax on royalties earned on import of software. The Income Tax Department had slapped a notice on Nokia’s Tax Issue Indian subsidiary for violating withholding tax norms since 2006 while making royalty payments to its parent company in Finland. (Nokia is a company belonging to country Finland). In short, Nokia produced mobile phones here. In it software was added. Royalty for this software was paid to its parent company in Finland which is actually the tax evasion.

⇒ But with recent calculation, Income Tax department is saying that Nokia owes Rs. 21,153 crore towards liabilities arising from a seven-year period, because of failing to deduct TDS from royalty payments made to the parent company.

⇒ Now Nokia was going to sale its Indian assets to Microsoft. Fearing that Nokia would flee India without settling tax dispute, income tax department froze all the assets of Nokia in India.

INDIA AND FINLAND

⇒ India wants’ its tax evaded money.

⇒ Finland on the other hand is claiming that the royalty money belongs to it & how India can have a right over it.

About the recent verdict

⇒ Indian court recently accepted the plea of Nokia to release the Chennai based local factory which is the biggest manufacturing facility of Nokia & which is a part of the deal between Nokia & Microsoft.

⇒ But it is conditional. Nokia will have to deposit Rs. 2,250 crore as a conditional amount for security purpose.

⇒ Now Nokia can sell its assets to Microsoft.

⇒ The court also said that Microsoft will not be liable to pay Nokia’s India tax dues and that it can buy Nokia’s assets as long as relevant conditions are met.

⇒ This verdict protects the interest of both the parties i.e. Income Tax department (by taking some amount as a security deposit from Nokia) & of Nokia (by allowing it to sale Chennai based plant. As the agreement between Microsoft & Nokia had the deadline of December 12).

⇒ This issue can be solved by use of Mutual Agreement Procedure (MPA) provision provided that things move fast.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE FUTURE TO PROTECT INVESTMENTS 

⇒ India should develop a robust and fair dispute resolution mechanism for cross-border disputes.

⇒ Income tax department plans to have dedicated tax officers to solve such matters which is a good step.

⇒ The need is also for qualitative upgradation and training of manpower to deal with tax disputes. 

Bipan Chandra Honoured With ‘Itihas Ratna’

The Asiatic Society, Bihar, on Monday honoured eminent historian Bipan Chandra with ‘Itihas Ratna’ award “for enriching the technique of secular and scientific writing of history”.

Secretary of the Society, O.P. Jaiswal, presented the award to Prof. Chandra on his 85{+t}{+h}birthday at a function at the Academic Staff College at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Those who have been given the award include late R.S. Sharma, Irfan Habib and J.S. Grewal.
                                                       

                           
Former professor of ancient Indian history and archaeology, Patna University, and founder secretary of Asiatic Society Bihar, O P Jayaswal, left for JNU campus in New Delhi where Chandra will be honoured with a citation and shawl.

Chandra, a Padma Vibhushan, would be fourth such historian to be honoured with 'Itihas Ratna' by the society. Late Ram Sharan Sharma (November 19, 2010), Irfan Habib (September 9, 2011) and J S Grewal (September 9, 2012) were the other three felicitated by the society which was set up in 1999 by a group of city's intellectuals with an objective to conduct basic research in secular and scientific ways to unravel the dynamics of social change. Former VC, Patna University, M Mohiuddin is its president click here for more information about Bipan Chandra Honoured .

"Chandra is not able to move outside New Delhi because of his poor health. So, we have decided to honour him there," Jayaswal told TOI. The citation reads, "His (read Bipan) writings will prove a beacon light to guide and inspire the future generations as he has done much to support the cause of historical research and changed the direction of National Book Trust, New Delhi, as its chairman."

Chandra is associated with Marxist school of Indian historiography. He served as chairman of the National Book Trust, member, UGC, and chairperson, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU, New Delhi. He has authored several books on modern Indian history and freedom movement.

Nirbhaya Fund: Finance Ministry okays 3 Proposals

The Ministry of Finance has approved three proposals to utilise the resources in the Nirbhaya Fund to enhance the security of women in India.

In the Budget speech on 28.2.2013, the Union Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram had announced that the Government will set-up a Fund called the Nirbhaya Fund and contribute Rs.1000 crore to the fund.
                 
                                                     

The amount of Rs.1000 crore could be transferred only during the first Supplementary Demands for Grants.

The Appropriation Bill was approved by Parliament on 7.9.2013 and received the assent of the President of India only on 11.9.2013.

"Ministries/Departments concerned were requested to formulate proposals to utilise the resources in the Fund with a view to enhance the safety and security of women in the country.

After several rounds of consultations, three proposals have been approved in-principle by the Ministry of Finance, details of which are given below. The Ministry/Department concerned has been requested to move the Cabinet for approval," the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

Pujara is Emerging Cricketer of The Year

Rising Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara bagged the ‘Emerging Cricketer of the Year Trophy as India had to be content with just two winners in the ICC annual awards announced on Friday in which Australian captain Michael Clarke clinched the top honours.

“Australia captain Michael Clarke was today announced as the winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year and was also named as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year,” the ICC said in a statement.                              

The announcement was made ahead of the broadcast of the awards TV show on Saturday in most countries across the globe.

“The show is hosted by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting who won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2006 and 2007, ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2006 and was appointed captain of ICC’s ODI Team of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2010,” the ICC stated.

Clarke steals the show

Clarke was earlier named in the ICC Test and ODI Teams of the Year in Mumbai on December 3. In the same event, India captain M.S. Dhoni was revealed as the LG People’s Choice award winner.

Clarke has been joined on the winners’ list by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, and Pujara, who claimed his first-ever ICC award.

Pujara became the second fastest Indian to get to 1000 Test runs, during the course of his double hundred against Australia in March at Hyderabad, where he put on a 370-run record second wicket partnership with Murali Vijay.

The 25-year-old Pujara has 1310 runs in 15 Tests at an average of 65.50.

“Also joining Pujara on the winners’ list for the first time are New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, who won the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award, Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul, whose five for six against South Africa won him the ICC T20I Performance of the Year award, Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien, who won the Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award, and Richard Kettleborough of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, who won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year.”

England’s Sarah Taylor clinched the ICC Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardena won his second ICC Spirit of Cricket award, this time for walking without waiting for an umpire’s decision when batting on 91 against New Zealand in Galle in November 2012.

CCEA Approved Panchayati Raj Ministry Proposal on BRGF

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 12 December 2013 approved the proposal of the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj to continue district component of Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGF) in the current financial year (2013-14).

The district component of BRGF covers 272 backward districts in 27 states and the entitlement of each district is one crore rupees. The amount is used primarily to build capacity for elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj institutions.
                                                             

The BRGF will have budgetary estimate of 6500 rupees during 2013-14. The fund will contribute towards poverty alleviation in backward districts and promote accountable and responsible panchayats and municipalities.

About Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGF)

The Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF), launched by the Prime Minister at Barpeta in Assam on 19th February 2007, signifies a new approach to addressing persistent regional imbalances in development. The programme subsumes the Rashtriya Sama Vikas Yojana (RSVY), a scheme earlier being administered by the Planning Commission.

Objectives of BRGF

The Backward Regions Grant Fund is designed to redress regional imbalances in development by way of providing financial resources for supplementing and converging existing developmental inflows into the identified backward districts, so as to:

• Bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements that are not being adequately met through existing inflows,

• Strengthen, to this end, Panchayat and Municipality level governance with more appropriate capacity building, to facilitate participatory planning, decision making, implementation and monitoring, to reflect local felt needs,

• Provide professional support to local bodies for planning, implementation and monitoring their plans,

• Improve the performance and delivery of critical functions assigned to Panchayats, and counter possible efficiency and equity losses on account of inadequate local capacity.

SEBI Panel Prescribes Stricter Norms on Insider Trading

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) panel, headed by former chief justice of India N. K. Sodhi, has suggested that trades by promoters, employees, directors and their immediate relatives would need to be disclosed internally to the company.

The panel on insider trading also recommended that trades within a calendar quarter of a value beyond Rs. 10 lakh (or such other amount as the capital market regulator may specify) would be required to be disclosed to the stock exchanges.
                                             

           

Code of fair disclosure

Every entity that has issued securities which are listed on a stock exchange or which are intended to be listed would be required to formulate and publish a code of fair disclosure governing disclosure of events and circumstances that would impact price discovery of its securities,” said SEBI anel Prescribes in a press release on Wednesday.

The Justice Sodhi Committee on Insider Trading Regulations has made a range of recommendations to the legal framework for prohibition of insider trading in India and has focused on making this area of regulation more predictable, precise and clear by suggesting a combination of principles-based regulations and rules that are backed by principles.

The Committee has also suggested that each regulatory provision may be backed by a note on legislative intent.

While enlarging the definition of “insider”, the term “connected person” has been defined more clearly and immediate relatives are presumed to be connected persons, with a right to rebut the presumption. The term “immediate relative” would cover close relatives who are either financially dependent or consult an insider in connection with trading in securities.

Uruguay First Country To Legalize Marijuana Industry

Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the marijuana trade on Tuesday in a 16-13 vote. Supporters of the law gathered near Congress holding green balloons and Jamaican flags in homage to Bob Marley.

The vote was 16 to 13, with the governing Broad Front majority united in favour. The plan now awaits the signature of President Jose Mujica, who wants the market to begin operating next year.
                                       

                                                   
The government will also set up a database of adults registered to consume marijuana, and will enforce limits of marijuana purchased (40 grams a month) or marijuana plants grown (six allowed at home).

Cannabis has long been legal for personal use in Uruguay, but growing, selling, or buying it was publishable with a prison term. Marijuana consumption is popular in the country with about 120,000 of the country’s 3.4 million population saying they partake at least once a year, according to the National Drug Council.

Marijuana legalization efforts have gained momentum across the Americas in recent years as leaders watch the death toll rise from military responses to unabated drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America. Presidents Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala also have called for reforms, and a recent report by a commission of the Organization of American States encouraged new approaches, including legalization of marijuana.

EC to Recognise Aam Aadmi Party As State Party in Delhi

With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) winning over 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Election Commission is all set to recognise it as a ‘State party.’

The party registered as a political party by the Commission only in March this year.
                                   

                           
"It is our responsibility to give a popular government to the people of Delhi. We will find out the solution and try our level best to give an alternative to the people of Delhi by forming a government under the leadership of Harsh Vardhan," former BJP president Nitin Gadkari, who was also the party's in-charge for the Delhi elections, was quoted as saying.
                                     
Asked whether the BJP was mulling over drawing support from the debutant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said: "This question does not arise, neither there is any proposal from their side."

“This election shows that honest politics can win over corrupt politics,” said Mr. Kejriwal at a televised press conference Sunday evening. “In many ways, this is a historic election.”

The AAP, which was allotted “broom” as the election symbol by the Commission, will now have the choice of retaining it as the party’s permanent election symbol or design its own symbol provided it is within the rules and regulations of the Commission. The EC recognition would mean that the AAP can participate in the all-party meetings convened by the EC/the State/Central governments, get a permanent common symbol for all their contestants, and can address the voters through the All India Radio and Doordarshan during poll.

If a party is recognised as a “State Party” in four or more States, then it will automatically become a national party. It will lose the recognition if it performs poorly in the subsequent polls.

Centre Rejects Demand For ILP in Meghalaya

The Centre has rejected the demand for introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya, saying the Constitution does not provide for expanding the special provision to new areas.

In a communication to the Meghalaya government, the Union Home Ministry has conveyed that it was bound by Article 19 (d) of the Constitution which allows any Indian citizen to move freely throughout the territory of the country.
                                       

                   
“The Constitution does not allow introduction of ILP in Meghalaya any new area,” a Home Ministry official said.

ILP is an official travel document issued by an empowered State government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area for a limited period.

Obligatory for outsiders

It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those States to obtain permit for entering the protected State.

The document is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international borders.

Currently, ILP is in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Various organisations in Meghalaya have been demanding introduction of ILP claiming the demography of the State has been changed due to the unabated influx. — PTI

International’s Corruption Perception Index of 2013

Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index of 2013 has listed Australia as among the 'big decliners' from 85 in 2012 to 81 in 2013 (on a scale from 0 perceived "highly corrupt" to 100 perceived "very clean.")                                                              

           
Transparency International Australia's Executive Director Michael Ahrens said the four-point drop of Australia was uncommon. He told SBS that Australia's decline may be attributed to the prosecution of Securency and Note Printing Australia executives, findings of ICAC in relation to Eddie Obeid and corruption in the New South Wales state government.
                                                         
More than two thirds of the 177 countries in the 2013 index score below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

“The Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 demonstrates that all countries still face the threat of corruption at all levels of government, from the issuing of local permits to the enforcement of laws and regulations,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.

Anti-corruption is an increasingly attractive platform for politicians, with many incorporating anti-corruption pledges into their election campaigns. It reflects waning public tolerance towards corruption. The danger, however, is that these anti-corruption promises fail to materialise.

Government guarantees of greater accountability do not always bring about tangible results at the local level. Protests in Brazil this summer showed public exasperation at the continuation of political scandals in spite of governmental assurances of a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.

PM Dedicates Dabhol-Bangalore Gas Pipeline to Nation

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday dedicated GAIL India Ltd's 1,000 km Dabhol-Bangalore natural gas pipeline to the nation.

While the pipeline was completed earlier this year, the Prime Minister dedicated it to the nation during the inauguration of the 8th Asia Gas Partnership Summit (AGPS) in Bangalore in the presence of Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily.
                                         

                                                                                                               
Singh said GAIL had witnessed rapid growth over the years to become a diversified conglomerate. "Today, GAIL is one of our best public sector enterprises and has been categorised as a Maharatna," Singh said.

The Dabhol–Bangalore pipeline connects South India to the national gas grid for the first time, GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said. Constructed with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore, the pipeline can carry 16 million standard cubic meters per day of natural gas, which can be used to produce 3,000 MW of clean energy.

Singh also assured investors of the government’s commitment to provide a stable and enabling policy environment for exploration of new sources of energy

The pipeline passes through Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Bellary, Devanagere, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Ramanagaram, Bengaluru Rural and Bengaluru Urban districts.

The participants from international organizations and companies will include top officials from International Energy Agency, International Gas Union, BG Group, Carrizo Oil and Gas of the US, PetroChina Company Limited, GDF Suez of France, Shell, Total Gas and Power and Natural Gas Fenosa of Spain, besides others. (ANI)

India Successfully Tests N-Capable Prithvi II Missile

Bhubaneswar, Dec 3: India Tuesday successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile from a military base in Odisha for the third time within two months, a senior official said.

The indigenously-developed ballistic missile with a maximum range of 350 km was fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district, about 230 km from Bhubaneswar.
                                         

                           
Inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003, Prithvi,II Missile the first missile developed by DRDO under India's prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program), is now a proven technology, said a defence official.

"The launch was part of a regular training exercise of SFC and was monitored by DRDO scientists," he said. Such training launches clearly indicate India's operational readiness to meet any eventuality and also establishes the reliability of this deterrent component of India's strategic arsenal, the official said.

Prithvi is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvering trajectory. The last user trial of Prithvi-II missile was successfully carried out from the same base on October 7.

International Day For The Abolition of Slavery 2013 Monday, December 2

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery   is observed every year on 2  December.it is  orga nized by the   United Nations General Assembly . It was first  celebrated in 1986. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery  is celebrated to eradicate any form of slavery in modern society.

The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
                                                   

So what are people doing to help turn things around?   The online and print media promote the day through news, debates and forums.  Flyers and newsletters are put up in public places like universities, where students will learn about the negative impact of slavery on people and society.

Slavery has evolved and manifested itself in different ways throughout history. Today some traditional forms of slavery still persist in their earlier forms, while others have been transformed into new ones.

The UN human rights bodies have documented the persistence of old forms of slavery that are embedded in traditional beliefs and customs.International Day These forms of slavery are the result of long-standing discrimination against the most vulnerable groups in societies, such as those regarded as being of low caste, tribal minorities and indigenous peoples.

There has been important progress in the last year. A number of countries have acted to combat slavery through stronger domestic legislation and greater coordination. More and more businesses are working to ensure their activities do not cause or contribute to contemporary forms of slavery in the workplace and their supply chains.”

International Heavy Minerals Conference 2013 in Visakhapatnam

The 9th International Heavy Minerals Conference (HMC 2013) was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from 27 to 29 November 2013.

The biennial International conference is ninth in a series of conferences that focus on the heavy minerals industry. This International conference was held for the first time in India by the Mining Engineers Association of India (MEAI) in collaboration with and support from the Government of India, other professional organisations and industry.
                                                       

The Conference theme is: Overcoming New Challenges. 

The aim of HMC 2013 was to discuss the technical, managerial, business opportunities and challenges facing the sector worldwide. Delegates attended the conference including from Australia, Canada, Africa, US, China, Vietnam, Srilanka and Europe.

The earlier editions of the conference were held in diverse places as Cape Town (SA), Jacksonville (US) Fermantle & Perth(Australia) etc. The first conference held in Kwazulu Natal (SA) and the previous conference held in Perth.

Heavy Minerals

The Minerals with a density greater than 2.9 g/cm3 are called as heavy minerals. Examples of heavy minerals include garnet, zircon, tourmaline, topaz, magnetite, hematite, apatite, kyanite, glauconite, etc

UAE, Nepal Qualify For Bangladesh Twenty20 World Cup 2014

Nepal and the UAE on 27 November 2013 qualified for the ICC T20 World cup which will be held in Bangladesh in 2014.
                                           
Nepal defeated Hong Kong by five wickets in Abu Dhabi on 27 November 2013. Nepal survived a last-over scare to score the required 13 runs, with 10 runs coming from the first two deliveries and a last-ball misfield producing the winning runs.
                                                     

                                                                                     
The UAE has also qualified for the tournament as they defeated the Netherlands by 10 runs.

This will be the first time since the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996 that the UAE and Nepal will make an appearance on the global stage. Four teams have now qualified for the ICC T20 in Bangladesh next year. These include Afghanistan, Ireland, Nepal and UAE qualified .

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Bangladesh from 16 March 2014 to 6 April 2014 and a total of 16 teams are participating in this tournament.

Pakistan Launched Construction of Country's Largest Nuclear Power Project

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 26 November 2013 launched the construction of the country's biggest Nuclear power project.
                                                           
The 2200-MegaWatt- Karachi Coastal Power Project, comprising the K-2 and K-3 nuclear plants, is being built at Paradise Beach, located 40 km from the Karachi.
                                             

                       
The nuclear power plant is to be built with Chinese technical assistance on the Arabian Sea coast.

Pakistan Launched Construction already has three operational nuclear plants generating a total of around 740 MW of power. The World Nuclear Association has estimated the cost of the new project at nearly 10 billion Dollars.

Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission engineers will work on the project with help from the China Atomic Energy Authority. As Pakistan is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it is excluded from the international trade in nuclear materials and technology, and can rely only on its neighbour China for help.

Union Cabinet Approved Land Transfer For Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial

Union Cabinet on 25 November 2013 approved a proposal to transfer Indu Mill land in Mumbai to Maharashtra government for constructing Dr B R Ambedkar memorial.
                                         
The decision was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. It would empower the Centre to acquire certain area of the Mill belonging to National Textile Corporation Limited in Mumbai for facilitation of construction of the memorial.
                                                 

           
Over 48000 square metres of land will be acquired for the purpose. According to the cabinet note, NTCL will be paid 45.77 crore rupees for the land. In this regard, Dr. B R Ambedkar Memorial Bill, 2013 is likely to be introduced in Parliament in the winter session beginning on 5 December 2013.

The legislation is aimed at empowering the Central government to acquire a portion of the land belonging to the National Textile Corporation Limited (NTCL) for facilitation of the construction of a memorial for Ambedkar. The ashes of Dr Ambedkar are interred at Chaitya Bhoomi, which is situated in the vicinity of the Indu Mill.

China Set up Air Defence Zone over East China Sea

China on 23 November 2013 announced that it was set up an Air Defence Identification Zone over an area in the East China Sea. The Zone includes Senkaku islands that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

In this regard, the Chinese Defense Ministry issued a map of an East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone including a chain of disputed islands. The zone came into effect from 10:00 local time from 23 November 2013.
                                                     

China also issued a set of rules for the zone, saying all aircraft must notify Chinese authorities and are subject to emergency military measures if they do not identify themselves or obey orders from Beijing. It stated it would identify, monitor, control and react to any air threats or unidentified flying objects coming from the sea.

China-Japan islands row

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, that lie in the East China Sea are a source of rising tension between China and Japan. The eight uninhabited islands with a total area of about 7 sq km are lie northeast of Taiwan, east of the Chinese mainland and southwest of Japan's southern-most prefecture, Okinawa.

They matter because they are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits. The islands are controlled by Japan.

Heads of Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations Signed The Delhi Accord

The Heads of the Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations signed a Joint Accord namely Delhi Accord on 22 November 2013 at 3rd BRICS International Competition Conference (ICC) at New Delhi. 

The Delhi Accord was signed to ensure effective enforcement of competition rules, among the BRICS nations and to strengthen the co-operation among their fair trade regulators by exchanging views and boosting communication. 
                                             

       
BRICS Competition Authorities also considered the need of establishing good communication between the BRICS Competition Authorities on competition law and policy to further improving and strengthening the relationship between the BRICS Competition Authorities. 

BRICS Competition Authorities, while recognising the benefits of technical cooperation among the competition agencies, in sound and effective enforcement of competition laws expressed their resolve and commitment to exchange views on different aspects of competition policy.  The Competition Authorities of BRICS also support the hosting of the Fourth BRICS ICC during 2015 at South Africa. 


The Delhi Accord was signed by Alessandro Serafin Octaviani Luis, Commissioner, CADE for the Brazilian Competition Policy System, by Andrey Tsarikovsky, Stats Secretary-Deputy Head of the FAS, Russia for the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation, by Ashok Chawla, Chairman, for the Competition Commission of India, by Sun Hongzhi, Vice Minister, for the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and by Tembinkos Bonakele, Acting Commissioner for the Competition Commission of South Africa. 

3rd BRICS International Competition Conference inaugurated by Prime Minister of India 

Hamid Ansari Released Book Entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr A.R. Kidwai

Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai edited by Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari 

Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India on 21 November 2013 released a book entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai. The book has been edited by Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari.
                                           

Dr A.R. Kidwai has been compiled in the book creatively. He was a learned scientist and served as a professor at Aligarh Muslim University. He contributed in the formation of Mewat Development Board in Haryana Click here for more information about hamid ansari released book   .

About Dr A.R. Kidwai

• Professor and Head, Department of Chemistry; Dean, Faculty of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (1951-67).

• Chairman and Member, Union Public Service Commission of India (1967-79).

• Two times, he served Bihar as the Governor of Bihar from 1979-85 and 1993-98

• He served West Bengal as its Governor from 1998-99

• He became the member of Rajya Sabha from January 2000 to July 2004.

• He also remained the member of the following Parliamentary Committees:

a) Consultative Committee for the Ministries of Science and Technology, Environment and Forest from 2000-04

b) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Water Resources and Food Processing Industries from 2000-04

c) Committee on Subordinate Legislation from 2000-04

India And Vietnam ink Eight Agreements

New Delhi:  India and Vietnam on Wednesday inked eight agreements, including one for oil and gas exploration in the seas off Vietnam that includes the South China Sea as visiting Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks in New Delhi.

Nguyen Phu Trong is the general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party.

The eight agreements as well as a $100-million line of credit to Vietnam for defence purchases is a major step forward in India's "Look East Policy".
                                                                                 

                                                         
Manmohan Singh "reaffirmed that Vietnam was a pillar of India's 'Look East Policy', which was supported by the general secretary. They envisaged a more active role for India in the regional and international arena," a joint statement said.

Outlining their strong convergence of interests in working together, Dr Singh said, "Vietnam's emergence as one of the most vibrant economies in the Asia Pacific region is greatly welcomed by India, especially because we regard Vietnam as a trusted and privileged strategic partner and an important pillar of our Look East Policy."

Boosting connectivity, both sides inked an air services agreement that would see direct flights between the two countries and also promote an international aviation system based on competition.

Both sides also inked an agreement for india and vietnam setting up a high-tech crime lab in Hanoi.

India is to provide a financial grant for buying technical equipment and teaching aids for the Indira Gandhi Hightech Crime Lab (IGHCL) and also depute experts to Vietnam.

The MoU "consolidates the cooperation between the two countries in the field of crime investigation, counter terrorism and other transnational organised crime, and other relevant areas".

The MoU between Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) provides for joint exploration, development and production of petroleum resources between the two countries for new investments by OVL in oil and gas blocks in Vietnam for oil and gas exploration and production.

Petro Vietnam is also to participate in open blocks in India and in third countries.

Vietnam's industry and trade ministry also inked a MoU with Tata Power Ltd. for development of the Long Phu 2 coal-fired power plant project in Soc Trang, Vietnam.

"The project is to be operated through a BOT Company owned by TATA Power and additional investors, with TATA Power as the lead member and will reach commercial operation in accordance with Agreements with the Vietnam side," the statement said.

Tata Power Co. Ltd won a $1.8-billion contract to develop the thermal power plant in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Tran after beating competition from South Korea and Russia to win the 1,200 MW contract.

A Vietnam-India English and IT Training Centre at the National Defence Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi will also be set up.

Both sides are on course to achieve the trade target of $7 billion by 2015.

A new Joint Sub-Commission on Trade has been tasked to work towards realizing the enormous potential of our economic relations, said the prime minister.

Dr Singh expressed appreciation for Vietnam's decision to award Tata Power the thermal power project and the offer of another offshore block to ONGC Videsh Limited for continued oil and gas exploration.

"We also look forward to boosting our bilateral economic ties through the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and connectivity projects," he said.

In India's first gift of a supercomputer to another country, a PARAM High Performance Computing Facility was inaugurated at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the prime minister said.

The Archaeological Survey of India has also voiced readiness to take up conservation and restoration of the Cham monuments "which are a symbol of our historical, civilizational and cultural contacts".

SPMCIL Conferred With Engineering Excellence Award 2013

Engineering Excellence Award 2013 was conferred on the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a Public Sector Unit under the Ministry of Finance, and Government of India on 19 November 2013. The award was given by Engineering Watch at SCOPE Convention Centre in Delhi.
                                                     

                                           
The second Best Engineering Excellence Award 2013 Marvel for Project Innovativeness was conferred on Modernisation of Ink Factory Project at Bank Note Press, Dewas. Indigenisation of Bank Note Paper production at Security Paper Mill, Hoshangabad and Modernisation of Bank Note Press, Dewas have been awarded under the Special Mention Category.

Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited 

Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) was formed after corporatization of nine units including four mints, four presses and one paper mill, which were earlier functioning under the Ministry of Finance. The Company was incorporated on 13 January 2006 under the Companies Act, 1956 with its headquarters at New Delhi. SPMCIL is a Miniratna Category-I CPSE, and wholly owned Schedule ‘A’ Company of Government of India. It is engaged in the manufacture of security paper, minting of coins, printing of currency and bank notes, non-judicial stamp papers, postage stamps, travel documents and others.

NASA Launched MAVEN Mission to Study Mars Atmosphere

The US space agency NASA on 18 November 2013 launched its MAVEN orbiter Mission to Mars planet. The orbiter mission was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 18:28 GMT.                                                

         
The probe will have a 10-month cruise to the Red Planet- Mars. MAVEN is going to study Mars' atmosphere. During the course of the long cruise, Maven will perform four trajectory corrections, with the first scheduled to occur on 3rd December 2013.

About MAVEN Mission

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolutio NASA (MAVEN) mission is part of NASA's Mars Scout program. The mission will explore the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind.

The trip to Mars takes 10 months, and MAVEN will go into orbit around Mars in September 2014. MAVEN will be the NASA’s first spacecraft mission dedicated to exploring the upper atmosphere of Mars.

Scientists will use MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatile from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time, giving insight into the history of Mars' atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability. The entire MAVEN mission cost 671 million US Dollars.

First Integrated Check Post on Indo-Bangla Border to Start on Sunday

AGARTALA: The first multi-use integrated check post (ICP) along the India-Bangladesh border is all set to be opened at Akhaura in West Tripura on Sunday by the home ministers of both India and Bangladesh.

Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and his Bangladesh counterpart, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, are likely to dedicate the ICP on the Indian side of the border to international users.
                                                     

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has built the Akhaura border terminal at a cost of Rs 73.5 crore over a period of two years to facilitate international traders and business users.

"Though Akhaura is the first multi-purpose ICP on the Bangladesh border, in India it is second after Attari in Punjab along the Pakistan border, First Integrated Check Post on Indo-Bangla Border which was inaugurated in April last year by the then home minister P Chidambaram," Tripura industries and commerce minister Jitendra Choudhury said on Friday.

Besides the home ministers of the two countries, Bangladesh shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran and Tripura CM Manik Sarkar will also attend the inauguration ceremo.

"The ICP is equipped with all modern facilities such as goods loading and unloading zone, security watch tower, warehouse, export-import zone and all international services under a single roof along with an international standard passenger terminal," said Choudhury.

According to him, everyday 150-175 loaded trucks on an average are entering through the Akhaura check post with various export items, mostly clothes, fish, electronic items, stone chips and cement.

Till October this year, the volume of business between India and Bangladesh in all eight land customs stations (LCS) was recorded at Rs 105.62 crore, which was Rs 343.03 crore in the last fiscal.

33rd India International Trade Fair Opened At New Delhi

The 33rd India International Trade Fair began at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on 14 November 2013. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the India International Trade Fair (IITF). The trade fair aimed to spur international trade while highlighting India's economic growth.
                                                       
The Theme of IITF 2013 is Inclusive Growth. The 14-day event scheduled from 14 to 27 th November 2013. About 6000 exhibitors including 250 from foreign countries are participating in the fair.
                                       

             
This year Japan is a partner country and South Africa, the focus country. 33rd India International Trade Fair While Bihar is a partner state, Odisha is the focus state.

About India International Trade Fair

The trade fair is organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization, and the fair is housed at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The IITF is one of the largest international trade fairs in the world.

The Indian International trade fair first opened in 1980. And this annual event provides a common platform for the manufacturers, traders, exporters and importers.

The fair displays comprises a wide range of products and services including Automobiles, Coir Products, Jute, Textiles, Garments, Household Appliance, Kitchen Appliances, Processed food, Beverages, Confectionery, Drugs, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunication, Power sector, Electronic Sector, Furniture, Home Furnishings, Sports Goods, Toys, Engineering Goods etc. 

NASA Cassini Spacecraft Provided New View of Saturn And Earth

NASA in November 2013 released a natural-color image of Saturn from space, the first in which Saturn, its moons and rings, and Earth, Venus and Mars, all are visible. The panoramic mosaic of the majestic Saturn system was taken by Cassini Spacecraft of the NASA. It shows the view that can be seen by the human eyes. It was unveiled at the Newseum in Washington on 12 November 2013.
                                                                     

To create the panorama, the image team of Cassini processed 141 wide-angle images. The image sweeps 404880 miles across Saturn and its inner ring system, which includes Saturn rings out to the E ring, the second outermost ring of Saturn.

On July 19, people for the first time had advance notice a spacecraft taking the picture from planetary distance during the Cassini’s Wave at Saturn campaign. During the campaign, NASA Cassini Spacecraft Provided invited public to celebrate by finding Saturn in their part of the sky, waving at the ringed planet and sharing pictures over the internet.

An annotated version of the Saturn system mosaic labels points of interest. Earth is a bright blue dot to the lower right of Saturn. Venus is a bright dot to Saturn’s upper left. Mars also appears, as a faint red dot, above and to the left of Venus. Seven Saturnian moons are visible, including Enceladus on the left side of the image. Zooming into the image reveals the moon and the icy plume emanating from its south pole, supplying fine, powder-sized icy particles that make up the E ring.

The E ring shines like a halo around Saturn and the inner rings, because it is tenuous and can be seen with the light shine from behind it.

About the Cassini Spacecraft

Cassini Spacecraft was launched in 1997 and explored the Saturn system for more than nine years. NASA has planned to continue the mission through 2017 with the anticipation of many more images of Saturn, its rings and moons, along with scientific data.  

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manage the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras. The imaging team is based at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo.

COP-19, UN Climate Change Conference Kicked off at Warsaw, Poland

The UNFCCC's 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) began on 11 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland.

The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will be held from 11 to 22 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland. In this conference, delegates from more than 190 countries are meeting to discuss the global climate change issues, plans and solutions.
                                                                 

                                                       
The COP19/CMP9 Climate Change Conference began with calls for governments to harness the strong groundswell of action on climate change across all levels of government, business and society and make real progress here towards a successful, global climate change agreement in 2015.

One of the key talking points in COP 19 will be the Global Climate Fund (GCF), the mechanism being used to transfer money from the developed to the developing world to assist with the effects of climate change.

About UNFCCC

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was created in 1992. Each year it hosts the Conference of the Parties (COP) in a different city around the world in order to debate and discuss the most effective ways to combat climate change. 

India Declared It Self Free From Bird Flu

India on 12 November 2013 declared itself free from Notifiable Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly called bird flu and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
                                             
India notified the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (H5N1) at poultry production unit, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg and Government Poultry Farm, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on 05th August, 2013.
                                                       

The control measures adopted in the outbreak was taken in form of stamping of the entire poultry population and it included the destruction of eggs, declared it self free from bird flu litters, feed and other infected materials within the radius of one kilometer around the location of the outbreak, restriction of the poultry movement, disinfection and cleaning up of the infected premises and subsequently issuing of the Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP). On 12 August 2013 the POSP was issued.


Although India is free from the bird flu, but regular surveillance will be continued across the country especially in the vulnerable areas that is bordered by the infected countries and in areas which are visited by migratory birds. 

World Pneumonia Day observed on 12 November

12 November 2013: World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day was observed on 12 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness of pneumonia. The United Nations (UN) first celebrated the day on 12 November 2009.
                                                         

 
This year, the theme for World Pneumonia Day will focus on innovation – highlighting innovative solutions to end childhood pneumonia, while at the same time emphasizing that there are existing simple interventions that need to reach the most vulnerable children.

About Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, making breathing painful and limiting oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the biggest killer of children under age five worldwide. Nearly one in five global child deaths result from pneumonia every year. In 2012, 1.1 million children under five died from pneumonia, the bulk of whom were less than 2 years old. The impact of pneumonia is worst among the poorest and most marginalized children. 

Afghanistan Signed Agreement With ADB For The Development of Dara-Suf to Yakawlang Highway

The Government of Afghanistan on 10 November 2013 signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of road network in the country at a cost of 220 million US dollar. The agreement was signed between Afghan Finance Minister Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and the ADB Country Director Joji Tokeshi in Kabul.

Major Highlights of the Agreement                                     
• The agreement envisages reconstruction of 178 kilometer north-south corridor road joining northern Balkh province with the central Bamyan province of Afghanistan Signed Agreement With ADB. This connectivity will play an important role in joining Afghanistan to the other regional countries.

• The agreement includes reconstruction of the 178km Dara-Suf to Yakawlang highway, preliminary survey of Gardan Diwal to Cheghcharan road and preliminary survey of Kabul’s ring road.

• It is important to note that the northern and southern parts of Afghanistan are linked by the Asian Highway which passes through the Salang Pass situated at an altitude of nearly 12000 foot in the Hindukush Mountains. However, due to the snowfall during winters, the highway gets blocked leading to the obstacle in connecting northern and southern Afghanistan.

• The proposed north-south corridor will provide an alternative route between the two reagions of the country.

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also facilitated execution of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project, which is actually an opportunity for the regional cooperation at an unprecedented scale, linking the four countries economically.

It is worth noticing that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had earlier decided to support Afghanistan and commit to the economic development after the year 2014. 

13th Council of Ministers Meeting of The Indian Ocean Rim Association Was Held in Australia

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held its 13th Council of Ministers meeting in Perth, Australia on 1 November 2013. On the occasion, India handed over the chair of the IORA to Australia. India chaired the IORA, since 2011.

The Perth reviewed the process made by IORA since 2012 meeting in Gurgaon, India. The future directions and initiatives to advance were considered then for the interests of the IORA and its members.

The thirteenth Council of Ministers' Meeting was visited by the member states Foreign Ministers namely Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.                        

Perth Principles                            

                                                    

• Reiterating that IORA is the apex pan-regional organisation for the Indian Ocean 13th Council of Ministers Meeting.

• Recalling the six priority areas of cooperation agreed at the eleventh COMM (Council of Ministers' Meeting) in Bengaluru, namely: Maritime Safety and Security; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Fisheries Management; Disaster Risk Management; Academic and Science and Technology Cooperation; and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.

• Recalling Also our desire to promote the sustainable growth and balanced development of the Indian Ocean region and IORA Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic cooperation.

• Committed to promoting cooperation and collaboration between IORA and other Indian Ocean regional stakeholders including Dialogue Partner States and other regional and international forums.

• Reaffirming our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, to the Charter of IORA, and to the applicable principles of international law.

• Reaffirming Also our commitment to 'The Future We Want', as adopted at the 2012 United Nation as Conference on Sustainable Development, and to the protection, restoration, health, productivity and resilience of the Indian Ocean and its resources.

• Recognising that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources and plays a vital role in maintaining peaceful cooperation and stability across the Indian Ocean.

About the IORA 

The IOR-ARC was formally launched at the first Ministerial Meeting in Mauritius on 6 – 7 March 1997. This meeting adopted the IOR-ARC Charter, and determined a number of administrative and procedural matters.

The apex body of the IOR-ARC is the Council of (Foreign) Ministers (COM). The meeting of the COM is preceded by the meetings of the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI), and the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO). The Coordinating Secretariat of IOR-ARC is located at Ebène, Mauritius. Apart from a Secretary-General, its present staff strength at the executive level includes two Directors and eight local staff.

IORA was formerly known as IOR-ARC (Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation).

Members of IORA (IOR-ARC)

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an International/Diplomatic Organization with 20 Member States namely Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Whereas the China, Egypt, France, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States of America are Dialogue Partners of the IOR-ARC. The Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation (IOTO) and Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG) have been granted Observer Status.