HEADLINES
- Nine Chief Ministers urge the Prime Minister to withdraw the order notifying the NCTC on grounds that it violates federalism and infringes on the power of states govts (law & order)
- Jawhar Sircar to be appointed the Prasar Bharati CEO almost a year after B.S Lalli was removed on corruption charges
- Supreme Court drops TADA charges against Abu Salem as they contain penalty of death; at the time of the extradition of Salem from Portugal the Indian Govt had confirmed that he would not be awarded the death penalty
- UNESCO says that rebuilding the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 is not feasible
NATIONAL NEWS
- India opens negotiations for Rafale; inducts Russian Mi-17 V5 helicoptors
- The defence minister opened discussions with Dassault Aviation for the acquisition of the Rafale aircrafts, and gently brushed aside Britain's suggestion to reconsider the selection;
- After the contract negotiation committee reviews the agreement for the procurement, it will then go to the Defence Ministry and the finance department for review and then to the Central Vigilance Commission for independent monitoring;
- Thereafter, it would go to the National Security Council, Finance Ministry and then the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval;
- The Indian Air Force recently inducted the Mi-17 V5 helicoptors which will give an extra edge while flying through tough terrain, including naxal infested jungles. The helicopters have night-vision devices so that it can operate all through the day. The first set was delivered in 2011 by Russia and after tests have just been inducted. 59 more are expected to be inducted in 2014.
- Coast Guard says Italian vessel erred in judgement
- The Coast Guard on Friday said Italian tanker Enrica Lexie, which is detained at Kochi harbour pending investigation into the killing of two Indian fishermen by Italian marines on board, had committed a mistake as it fired on unarmed fisherman within the Exclusive Economic Zone of India (i.e. Indian waters);
- As per usual practice a ship which has a piracy attack has to report it to the MRCC, the piracy reporting centre of the region. The italian vessel did not follow this requirement and only confirmed the firing after the Coast Guard asked it for a confirmation.
- Enviro Minister overrules wildlife panel to approve dam on Lohit river in Arunachal
- The Union Environment Minister has overruled a key wildlife committee to approve the construction of a major hydel power project on the Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh;
- The State government had reportedly argued that the 1,750 MW Demwe Lower Hydro Electric project was needed to counter Chinese plans to build mega hydel projects across the border in Tibet. The Lohit river originates in China;
- A committee appointed by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to study the case visited the site and said the dam would harm the grassland ecosystem, and the Bengal bustard and wild water buffaloe — both highly endangered species — that live in it, as well as fragmenting the habitat of the Gangetic dolphin downstream, and submerging a nearby conservation area of medicinal plants;
- However, the State government officials insist that neither the grasslands nor conservation area would be submerged, adding that there are no reports of sighting the Gangetic dolphin near the proposed dam site. The Minister cleared the project in light of India's developmental needs.
- CRPF female unit sets off for UN Mission
- The sixth batch of the Female Formed Police Unit of the Central Reserve Police Force has set off to Liberia as part of the United Nations Mission there;
- the 124-personnel contingent's primary duties in Liberia would be to help the local police in restoring law and order in the country torn by civil war. It will guard the office of the President of Liberia and other important VIPs;
- The CRPF contingent is not only meant for maintaining peace and for riot control in Liberia but also to train the Liberian police personnel to address the civil disorder problem.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- France-UK pact, a challenge to the US
- Britain and France decided to further strengthen their cooperation in the defence sector and will jointly produce a combat capability stealth drone. They also agreed to accelerate plans to create a joint control and command centre for future military operations;
- The agreements are in keeping with strategic defence cooperation known as the Lancaster House Accords which Mr. Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed by the two leaders in November 2010. The two countries account for 60% of the European Unions defence;
- Britain and France also signed a raft of agreements in the nuclear and energy sectors with Britain giving its final thumbs up to France's powerful EPR nuclear reactor which is to be built at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Rolls Royce is to sign a €480-million deal with France's Areva;
- The cooperation between these two countries will prove a challenge for US and Israel which have so far had a dominant position in supply to the region.
- Two-time Pulitzer winner Anthony Shadid is dead
- Anthony Shadid, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent who died on Thursday at 43, had long been passionately interested in West Asia, first because of his Lebanese-American heritage and later because of what he saw there firsthand;
- Mr. Shadid spent most of his professional life covering the region, as a reporter first with The Associated Press; then The Boston Globe ; then with The Washington Post , for which he won Pulitzer Prizes in 2004 and 2010; and afterward with The New York Times . At his death, from what appeared to be an asthma attack, he was on assignment for The Times in Syria;
- He was known most recently to Times readers for his clear-eyed coverage of the Arab Spring. For his reporting on the sea change sweeping the region which included dispatches from Lebanon and Egypt The Times nominated him, along with a team of his colleagues, for the 2012 Pulitzer in international reporting.
- German President, Chritian Wolfe over a scandal for favours he granted before he became president
EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS
- Read this editorial on the national policy for urban street vendors. Very interesting
- If you have time read this article on the happenings around Iran's nuclear advances and this article on how Russia has been benefitting with the fuel embargo on Iranian supplies
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS
- Central Govt moves Supreme Court to review Vodafone verdict
- The Centre on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking review of the January 20 judgment, holding that the Income-tax Department did not have the jurisdiction to levy Rs.11,000 crore as tax on the overseas deal between Vodafone International Holdings (VIH) and Hutchison Group;
- In its 101-page review petition, the Ministry of Finance through its Secretary and the Assistant Director of Income-tax assailed the judgment saying that it suffered from error apparent on the face of the record and failed to consider the case submitted by them at least on 15 aspects;
- In its petition, the centre has also made it clear that it is not questioning the FDI policies of the country but that it was an issue specific on capital gains tax when an asset in India is relinquished.
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