Monday, November 28th, 2011

HEADLINES

• US, NATO trying to soothe Pakistani nerves after the incident of 28 Pakistani soldiers being killed by NATO attack
• Maoist calls for nation wide two day bandh to protest against the killing of party's leader Kishenji
• Cheating case filed against Kiran Bedi by Delhi police
• Jayalalitha follows Mayawati, says No to FDI in Retail in TN

NATIONAL NEWS

• Exploring India's cultural heritage
  • Archealogist TKV Rajan has written a book 'From Kanchi to Cambodia – Greater India revisited' where he has explored the 2000 year old tradition and culture amalgamated in many countries of Asia.
  • A Tamil Brahmi script dated 2^nd century excavated in Ohu Kao Thong in Thailand,Mahabharath scenes in Angkor Vat Cambodia, a bilingual inscription in Kandhahar and the many forms of Lord Ganesha in South east asia are examples of India's cultural influence

• India – Nepal sign revised Taxation pacts
  • India and Nepal signed a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with the aim of encouraging Indian investment in Nepal, preventing fiscal evasion and easing procedures for stake holders
  • The revised DTAA will provide Tax stability to the residents of India and Nepal and facilitate mutual economic cooperation as well as stimulate flow of investment, technology and services between the two countries.
  • The provisions of the DTAA includes, “Exchange of information, assistance in collection of taxes between tax authorities, and anti abuse provisions.
  • The exchange of information will extend to exchanging bank details and could be shared with the law enforcement authorities.
    
    
• New earth like planet may have water, life
  • Scientists claim to have discovered a potentially habitable planet which has an environment similar to that of the earth and may contain water and even life.
  • The exopanet, called Gliese 581g, orbits a star at a distance that places it squarely in the habitable of goldilocks zone.
  • The new findings are based on the 11 years of observation of the nearby red dwarf star Sliese 581using the HIRES spectrometeron the Keck 1 telescope
  • There are around 6 known planets around this star
  • Gliese has a mass of three to four times the earth, and revolves around the star in 37 days
    
    
• Sarangi Maestro Ustad Sultan Khan passed away
  
  
• Manmohan to consider coal panel's suggestion on duty cut.
  • PM is considering the Chaturvedi committee report to exempt 5% customs and 5% countervieling duty on coals
  • This is following the coal shortage which the country faces, following increase of export duties by Australia and Indonesia.

• Panel on health coverage addresses world bank concerns
  • A high level expert group on universal health coverage for India held a brain storming session to address the world banks queries on its recommendations in the 12^th five year plan
  • The world bank has said the report has marginalised the role of the private sector.
  • The world bank senior health economist said India's universal health coverage strategy will be much more successful in delivering health if it could focus more on primary and district level than on the tertiary clinics. He also said that the Rashrtriya Swasthya bima yojana is doing the opposite.
  • The expert group was headed by Srinath Reddy.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Arab league approves Syria sanctions
  • The Arab league approved the sanctions against syria to pressure damascus to end its deadly eight month crackdown on dissent
  • The sanctions include cutting off transactions with syrian central bank and halting arab governments projects in Syria.
  • Iraq and Lebanon abstained from voting.

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS AND COLUMNS

• An opinion by Jean Dreze on the problems surrounding the Socio economic caste census, Poverty line, National food security bill and PDS.
• An editorial on the controversial FDI in Retail.
• An editorial on the recent move by the EU to ban Xray security checking in the airports.
• An opinion column on Justice Katju's involvement in the PCI.

PEOPLE IN NEWS

• Farhad Dahya dubbed as the Afgan Elvis is Afganistan's role model and an Ambassador of US performed to packed women audience in Afganistan.
• Vladimir Putin nominated for president from the ruling party for the next years presidential election