HEADLINES

• An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck eastern turkey; many feared dead
• Indian army helicopter strays into PoK; released as Pakistan realises that the incident due to weather
• First free elections in Tunisia being held; first Arab country to go to polls after the recent revolutions

NATIONAL NEWS

• Indo-Russian Multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) runs into rough weather
  • The Govt raised objections to the business plan submitted by the Russian side as it did not have much involvement from the Indian side in the development of the aircraft. Further, India is not happy with the tardy progress on the design and development of the aircraft. The two sides are expected to meeting next month;
  • The HAL and two Russian companies, UAC Transport Aircraft and Rosonboronexport had signed a shareholders agreement for the 50:50 joint venture between the countries for the design, development and production of the aircraft in November 2007. The investment in th programme is approximnately USD 600 million.
• Special CBI Court permits charge of criminal breach of trust by Raja, Behura
  • Sec 409 of the IPC which provides the charge and penalty for criminal breach of trust by a public servant has been slapped on Raja, the former Telecom Minister, and Behura, the former Telecom Secretary. The Court said that they were the trustees of the spectrum. This charge carries a life sentence if proved in court;
  • DMK MP Kanimozhi and others have been charged with criminal conspiracy to commit criminal breach under Sec 120B of the IPC (the section provides for penalty for any person who conspires with another to undertake a crime under the IPC; in this case the crime under Sec.409);
  • This is in addition to other charges that the accused have been slapped with by the CBI.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Bhutan's 5th Monarch, King Jigme Wangchuk and wife visits India
• Vote to name Saudi King's Heir
  • Saudi Arabia's absolute monarch will make an historic concession to the principle of the ballot as a special council votes for the first time on who should succeed him as the ruler;
  • The move follows the announcement of the death of the King's half brother who was the crown prince. With the many upheavals in the middle east this move is seen as Saudi's move to embrace change. The council which will vote on the choice is however one which was installed by the King himself to make the process more transparent.
• Experts say that quakes in England may because of gas extraction. Read this article on the topic.

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Every wondered how the middle east got so many weapons for its recent revolutions? Here is a good article which discusses this aspect.
• Here is an editorial on this year's booker prize.
• Read this article on the Carriage by Road Act which was enacted in 2007 but has not been effective.