Tuesday, January 24, 2012

HEADLINES

• 13/7 Mumbai blasts case solved by the Anti-terrorism branch
• Chief Election Commissioner says Elections are the biggest source of corruption
• Legal experts say that reading of Satanic Verses by Rushdie is not banned as only the import of books are prohibited in India
• UP NHRM scam: Key accused found dead; 4th dead in the case
• Pakistan's upper house adopts unanimous adopts a resolution demanding the arrest of Musharraf the minute he arrives in Pakistan
• Today is the National Girl Child Day

NATIONAL NEWS

• Child Labour ban to go in non-hazardous units as well
  • The Govt has decided to end all forms of child labour, irrespective of hazardous or non-hazardous industries. An amendment ot the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act banning any form of labour by children under the age of 14 is expected soon. At present, child labour is only banned in 18 hazardous industries and 65 processes;
  • This move comes in light of the recommendations of the National Advisory Council to the PM. The amendments are expected in the next session of Parliament.
• Delhi among 419 districts to get focus in education under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
  • Central Delhi (Chandni Chowk area) has been included in the list of 419 districts special focus districts for 2012-13 under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Last year it was 389 districts;
  • The Ministry describes these 419 districts as being “characterised by marginalisation and backwardness and yet to be on a par with other districts” on school education parameters;
  • In 2011-12, 67% of the total outlay for school education was sanctioned for 389 districts on a priority basis. The States have been asked to prepare detailed and need-based plans for these districts so that the social and infrastructure gap can be bridged. For 2012-13, the additional districts have been included broadly under the categories of out-of-school children, high gender gap and low retention rate. The highest inclusion has been in districts where retention rate is below 60%.
• Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's role in environmental activism ignosed: Jairam Ramesh
  • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's role in planning for industry and science in India as well as his contribution to environmental activism in the country has been ignored by historians, said Jairam Ramesh on the occasion of Netaji's 115 birth anniversary;
  • He also emphasised Netaji's role as a forerunner of the “Look East Policy” which has been an important element of India's foreign policy in recent years;
  • He also pointed out that it was in 1938 when Netaji was the president of the Indian National Congress that the National Planning Committee, the first form of the planning commission in India, was set up;
  • Mr. Ramesh also highlighted that in the Dooars in North Bengal, a movement was organised against the Taungya system, which was used by the British to manage the ecosystem, but did not involve forest dwellers. This movement predates the Chipko movement and came into being after a visit by Netaji to Jalpaiguri in 1939.
• Rare dragonfly spotted
  • The lesser blue wing dragonfly (Rhyothemis triangular), a rarity in South India, has been spotted and photographed at the Thenmala Butterfly Safari Park in Kollam district;
  • The slow-flying lesser blue wing is a medium sized elusive dragonfly with metallic blue markings on the base of its wings. Ponds and marshes are their favourite spots.
• Human rights activist Dayabai, who works among the tribal population in Chindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, has been selected for the Good Samaritan National Award
• World Bank approves funds worth 74cr for 37 incomplete roads and bridges in Himachal Pradesh

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• World Health Organisation adopts mental health resolution
  • The WHO adopted a resolution that focuses on the global burden of mental disorders, and the coordinated response from the health and social sector at the country level. The resolution was moved by India at the 130th executive board meet of the WHO, and was supported by the USA and Switzerland;
  • India had played a key role in getting mental disorders included in the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) list at the first Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Non-communicable Disease Control in Moscow last year;
  • Mental disorders account for 13% of the global burden of the diseases and the resolution recognises the importance of early identification, care and recovery, the problems of stigma, poverty and homelessness and the need for community-based intervention including deinstitutionalised care.
• India and EU join hands for anti-piracy military operations
  • India and the EU have joined hands for launching joint military operations in the Indian Ocean against piracy activities. EU has deployed four warships and supporting military ships of EU member-countries and is engaged with the Indian Navy in developing strategy;
  • He said the EU bloc and India were seeking to put in place a concrete strategy for launching anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, share intelligence and exchange high-level visits in an effort at forging a new strategic relationship on dealing with the new global security dimensions.
• EU delays embargo on Iranian oil
  • The 27 country EU bloc has passed a resolution banning oil and oil products from Iran, but only after July 1, thereby giving their main users – Greece, Italy and Spain time to find alternative suppliers.
• Syria's Bassad rejects the Arab League's plan to call for a national unity Govt on grounds that it violates Syria's sovereignty

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Read this article which is yet another good short editorial on the Vodafone judgement
• Read this article on why the measures in India against female foeticide are ineffective as is witnessed in the 2011 child sex ratio, the lowest since Independence
• Here is an article on the broadcasting sector and its liberalisation, which is not often discussed

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

• FTA unlikely between EU-India at the upcoming summit
  • With both sides still poles apart on issues of services, procurement policy, duty cuts on automobiles and wines and spirits, India and EU are working hard to put in a place a “political agreement” during the India-EU Summit slated for February 10 as the free trade agreement (FTA) is unlikely to happen.
• The Federation of Indian Export Organisations questions TDS for overseas transactions
  • In light of the Vodafone judgement, FIEO has questioned the very basis of imposition of TDS (tax deduction at source) for payment with regard to overseas transactions;
  • Under Section 195 of the Income-tax Act, exporters are asked to pay TDS on payments made for foreign agency commissions, royalties and offshore professional services even if there is no permanent establishment of the foreign agency in India.