HEADLINES

• Traders held an all India bandh yesterday to protest FDI in multi-brand retail
• Ishat Jehan encounter case handed over to CBI by the High Court which said that the Gujarat police did not instill confidence in the victims; FIR in the case to be refiled by the CBI
• PM calls for early meeting between officials of TN and Kerala to discuss the Mullaperiyar dam issue

NATIONAL NEWS

• India denies security pact with Australia, US
  • Australian Foreign Minister had said that a trilateral security pact between Austrlia, US and India would be worth exploring and that the Indian Govt had been positive about this. Reacting to this India denied giving a green signal to any such agreement;
  • India has always been weary of bilateral and trilateral security pacts apart from broadbased arrangements such as ASEAN defence ministers meeting etc. Such a trilateral security pact would be to counter China and India has always been hesitant to push sensitivities;
  • India, Japan and US were scheduled to have a trilateral dialogue next month but that has been postponed due to scheduling problems.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• New Govt in Yemen soon. The opposition is presently tasked with the interim Govt for 90 days
  Russia sending its warships to Syria next week shortly after news of US deploying its nuclear capable warships in the area
• Hillary Clinton visits Myanmar; asks leaders to continue and expand reforms; Meets Aung Sang Suu Kyi

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Read this article on the recent events in India and Chinese ties
• Read this article on why Govt intervention for the declining rupee is not healthy for the economy

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

• Ranbaxy launches generic version of Lipitor in US market
  • With the patent period for Pfizer's lipitor expiring recently, Ranbaxy has announced that it has launched the generic version of the same. Chemically known as Atorvastatin, the drug is a cholesterol reducing medicine. The manufacture and sale will take place in the US.
• Central Govt says no going back on approval for FDI in retail