HEADLINES

• Pakistan Govt and Army on warpath as PM Gilani sacks the defence secretary
• Election Commission puts the 4.5% minority sub-quota on hold in the poll bound states

NATIONAL NEWS

• Telecom Department violated Cabinet decision on 2G: Finance Ministry official
  • A Finance Ministry top official told the JPC that the Dept of Telecommunication had clearly violated a Cabinet decision in awarding 2G spectrum licences in early 2008;
  • The Cabinet has stipulated in 2003 that the price of the 2G spectrum be fixed in consultation between the Telecom department and the Finance Ministry. The decision was also part of the terms of reference of the Group of Ministers constituted in February 2006 to consider release and pricing of additional spectrum. However, by keeping the Finance Ministry out of the pricing decision, the DOT went against the Cabinet decision.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• China says disputes with India should be settled 'calmly'
  • Ahead of border talks with India, China has called for both countries to settle their disputes wisely calmly and properly, to prevent them from becoming barriers to an expanding relationship. The 15th round of border talks are scheduled to happen in Delhi next week;
  • The Chinese representative said that China values its relationship with India and attaches great importance to resolving the long pending boundary issue through dialogue.
• Iran slams US and Israel for the death of one of its Nuclear scientists

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Read this article on the upcoming major leadership changes expected in China this year. Over 60% of the existing leadership committees are expected to retire and be replaced in 2012. There is also a strong neo-marxism revival seen amongst the future leaders
• Read this article on the African National Congress which recently celebrated its 100 years on January 8
  • It started as a peaceful liberation movement against the British and Boer (Dutch) colonisers, and as a militant group which fought apartheid, and finally the party which saw the transition in the post-apartheid South Africa;
  • It is the oldest political party in Africa. The Apartheid laws were first enacted in 1949 and people were surprised that the post-world war new order did not say anything against it for 13 years from then! Until finally the UN adopted a resolution against apartheid. Finally in 1994 the country had its first free elections without apartheid and the ANC won with a huge majority;
  • India was the first country to break trade ties with South Africa over the apartheid issue and highlighted the same on many occasions. While the country is on the fast road to development, the ANC is losing its sheen with corruption cases etc.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• After find Kepler 16, which was the first binary star system (where a planet orbits two stars), scientists have now found 2 similar systems in Kepler 34b and Kepler 35b

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

• Govt mulls 4.4 Mhz as base spectrum as opposed to the existing 6.2 Mhz base
  • The Communications Ministry is likely to fix 4.4 Mhz as the start up spectrum for new operators as against the 6.2 Mhz which are enjoyed by today's telecom operators;
  • However, such a move to existing operators who recently started operations could prove to be contentious to the Govt as there are other operators who have already been given 6.2Mhz. The new operators have been given 4.4 Mhz and are likely to approach the courts if there is any change in the terms at the time of providing the licence.
• Govt to infuse Rs.6000 cr fresh capital into SBI