Saturday, Novermber 19th, 2011

HEADLINES

• India tells China, its interest in disputed sea purely commercial
• Memogate rattles pakistan; envoy to united states resign
• Kudankulam talks break down

NATIONAL NEWS

• India – China talks
  • India and China reiterated their commitment to developing the best of relations.
  • Dr. Singh maintained that India's exploration of oil and gas resources in the south china sea was purely commercial.
  • The decision to set up a mechanism to ensure against any misunderstanding on the management of the disputed borders was also touched upon
  • The prime ministers met on the sidelines of ASEAN and EAS in Bali.

• India – US talks
  • Dr. Manmohan singh has proposed a joint India – US group to iron out the differences that has emerged in the India nuclear programme and also to iron out the worries of the US nuclear suppliers following India's newly notified rules
  • The two prime ministers also spoke about the future cooperation between the two countries.
    
    
• China signs contract for Indian ocean mining rights
  • China has signed a contract under which the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) will get exclusive rights to explore 10000 sq.km of sea bed in the south west Indian ocean
  • Under this agreement with the international Sea Authority (ISA) China can explore polymetallic sulphide ore deposit in those regions for 15 years.
  • COMRA will have to give up 75% of the region within 10 years following which it will get pre epmtive rights to mine the remaining area.
  • Analysts in India feel that this is a failure on the part of the country to be more proactive in better utilising of the mining exploration rights.
    
    
• 5 new born tiger cubs die in Nandankannan zoological park.
  • Post mortem reports say it died of acute hunger as the mother refused to feed them.

• Belgium associated in long term association with india.
  • The Flemish minister reiterated the long term relationship with Indian companies, universities, research and development centres and ports.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• World's lightest material developed.
  • A metal with density of 0.9mg/cc has been developed by scientists in the university of california.
  • The material consist of 99.99 percent air and 0.01 percent solid
  • This was developed in the nano metre scale.

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS AND COLUMNS

• An opinion on the recent developments in myanmar.
• Editorial on the pension reforms

BUSINESS/ECONOMY NEWS

• India – Russia bilateral trade
  • The indo – Russia Intergovernmental commission(IRIGC) on trade, economic, technological, cultural cooperation resolved to give thrust to the four vectors of cooperation after it failed to reach last years target of $10billion.
  • India – Russia will also strive to revive the north – south transport corridor through Iran.
    
    
• No change in disinvestment target as of now – Pranab
  • Centre planning for Oil India divestment. The details yet to be worked out

• Health care, education services out of tax net
  • The government has opted to keep services such as health care facilities, education, non-AC train travel, metro and taxi out of the tax net.

• India – EU talks to gather pace
  • India and the European Union (EU) will undertake intense negotiation over the next four months in an attempt to tie-up the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before their next summit.
  • the three areas — tariffs, services and procurement — are the main sticking points.
  • The two sides will negotiate on services and establishment this week and expert-level negotiations on non-tariff barriers