Friday, May 25, 2012

HEADLINES

• Congress not happy with the Petrol price hike and looks for a way out; Petroleum Minister, Jaipal Reddy is summoned back from Turkmenistan for an EGoM
• The United States on Thursday criticised India for its human rights record, pointing to “security force abuses,” “extrajudicial killings,” and corruption at all levels of government

NATIONAL NEWS

• In Geneva, India defends its human rights record
  • India defended its human rights record during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Thursday by the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva but civil society organisations were not satisfied and claimed the presentation quarterbacked by Attorney General (AG) Goolam Vahanvati had left many gaps;
  • Faced with criticism in the run-up to the UPR, Mr. Vahnavati said India accepted all positive suggestions and constructive criticism in the right spirit and drew attention to a unique addition to the Indian UPR — the evolution of fundamental rights through judicial pronouncements over the years;
  • But civil society organisations said the implementation of several legislation, especially for women, the economically and socially downtrodden and in insurgency affected areas were weak. India also did not address the issue of forcible acquisition of land that affected the tribals, Dalits and marginal farmers the most;
  • Backed by a multi-ministerial delegation, the AG listed several initiatives taken around or after the first UPR of 2008 — the Right to Information Act to make governance transparent and accountable as well as several legislation promoting a rights-based approach in areas such as work and employment, education and food security;
  • Taking note of concerns expressed about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Mr. Vahnavati said it was upheld by the Supreme Court. Also, several checks and balances would ensure there were strict guidelines for the armed forces.
• In five years, India will be a superpower in missile technology
  • India will emerge as the superpower with command over a hypersonic version of the cruise missile technology in five years, said A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, on Wednesday;
  • Having achieved self reliance in cruise missile technology, an ambitious project to increase the missile speed from Mach 2.8 to Mach 7 has been taken up;
  • India has left the world leaders in missile technology far behind with its missile speed of Mach 2.8 which, he said, needed to be maintained and upgraded gradually. The Americans had tested their prototype of an advanced hypersonic weapon concept with a speed of Mach 5;
  • Trials for the integration of the missiles into the Indian Air Force (IAF) for air to surface launch have been successful. A new engine for missile launch in air has been developed. The final test-firing of missiles from Sukhoi-30 MKI will be undertaken shortly. After successful trials, the missiles will be integrated into the IAF jets by the year-end;
  • The project on submarine-based underwater supersonic missile launch is in an advanced stage, Mr. Pillai said. The BrahMos Block III missile with advanced guidance would soon be deployed in high-altitude mountain ranges. The missile would boast of high manoeuvring capability at multiple points for steep dive capability from a high altitude. “The missile can hit targets hidden behind mountain ranges too.”
• India seeks Japan's help in setting up intelligent urban transport systems
  • India has sought Japan's assistance in setting up more urban transport systems like monorail projects, intelligent transport networks and the Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS). Japan has already been extending financial assistance for the construction of Delhi Metro;
  • During discussions, the Indian contingent described the need for setting up monorail both as a means of feeder system with the bigger metro rail and as independent means of transport in Tier II cities. Monorail is also being projected as a safe, reliable, economical, quick, comfortable and effective mass public transit system. The high-speed rail-based RRTS, it was pointed out, would allow people living in metropolitan suburbs within a radius of 100 km to commute to work, thereby easing pressure on the infrastructure services within the city;
  • The Union Urban Development Minister who is in Japan for a meeting said the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2011 provides a wide landscape for further diversifying the business ties between our two countries and invited Japanese enterprises to invest in manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
• NAC Members slam Government's flagship scheme for minorities
  • Harsh Mander, a member of the Sonia Gandhi-chaired National Advisory Council (NAC), has described the Multi-Sectoral Development Plan (MSDP), the flagship scheme of the UPA Government for the welfare of minorities, as “blunt” and “ineffective” in alleviating the socio-economic backwardness of the Muslim community, asking the Government to come out of denial and have a fresh look at the scheme. The scheme is being implemented through the States/Union Territories in 90 minority-concentrated districts with at least 25% of population;
  • His comments came after Parliament's Standing Committee for Social Justice & Empowerment in its report criticised the Union Minority Affairs Ministry for underutilisation of funds and failure in delivering to Muslim areas. The report had observed that since the inception of MSDP in 2008, Rs.2,359.39 crore has been released against which an expenditure of only 49% (Rs.1,174.93 crore) has been reported by the States/UTs;
  • The CES report had termed the MSDP a “non-starter” and blamed the UPA Government's “timidity in declaring the scheme Muslim-oriented” for fear of the BJP's charges of “minority appeasement” which subsequently “diluted the community approach” of the scheme reducing it to mere “tokenism”. Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had rebutted saying that it was Constitutionally not possible to specify development schemes for a particular religious community.
• Commonwealth Games aerostat costing crores to be gifted to DRDO
  • The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved handing over of a star attraction of the Commonwealth Games – a huge aerostat (huge float) costing several crores – to the Defence Research and Development Organisation free of cost;
  • Another asset of the Games Organising Committee, the state-of-the-art kitchen equipment, was handed over to the Ministry of Railways free of cost;
  • While some assets were handed over to the Delhi Government and schools run by the Centre and the State Government free of cost, some other unspecified assets were to be sold to the Indian Olympic Association, New Delhi Municipal Council and other local bodies at depreciated value. “The amount so recovered would be adjusted against the dues of the OC to these organisations and cash deposited by the OC in the Government Account,” a Cabinet statement said.
• Today is World Tyroid Day
  • With the Indian Thyroid Society (ITS) having identified thyroid-related disorders as the “next diabetes”, endocrinologists say there is a need to create awareness about the condition;
  • Friday (May 25) being World Thyroid Day, doctors said expectant mothers should get tested for the condition once in two months. The day is observed every year to promote awareness and understanding of thyroid health and the advances made in treating thyroid;
  • Common symptoms of the disorder include low body temperature, particularly low or high pulse, unusually low or high blood pressure, enlarged, tender or sensitive neck or lump in neck.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Supreme Court of Nepal stays Constituent Assembly extension plan
  • Responding to a writ petition, Nepal's Supreme Court on Thursday issued an interim stay order against the government's proposal to amend the interim constitution and extend the term of the Constituent Assembly;
  • On November 25, the Court had issued an order in name of the chairman of the Constituent Assembly, the Prime Minister and Office of Council of Ministers, declaring that the extension of the CA, ending on May 27, would be the last one and the CA must promulgate the constitution within the stipulated deadline. If the CA failed to do so, said the Court, its term would end, and there should either be fresh elections for a new CA, or referendum or any other ‘appropriate arrangements' according to the constitution. A review petition filed against the decision, on the grounds that this was entirely a political decision beyond the prerogative of the judiciary, was quashed by the Court.
  • In its verdict on Thursday, the Supreme Court said instead of taking steps towards the alternatives it proposed — elections, referendum or other appropriate arrangements — the government had acted as if there was no Court decision at all by initiating the process to amend the interim constitution to extend the CA. This, it said, was in violation of the earlier Court order as well constitutional provisions. Since the decision was ‘faulty', the Court issued the order.
• No case to disqualify Gilani, says speaker
  • National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza on Thursday ruled that there was no case for disqualifying Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani as a member of the House. The Speaker's office had become the focal point after the Supreme Court referred to a disqualification from Parliament clause in its judgment in the contempt of court case against the Premier.
• Somalis flee onslaught
  • Thousands of people in speeding trucks or pulling carts piled high with clothes and furniture fled a region north of Mogadishu amid the sounds of gunfire and explosions as troops and their allies tried to take more ground from Islamist insurgents. The Afgoye corridor (an area 30km northwest of Mogadishu) has been a shelter for hundreds of thousands of people seeking relief from violence that has plagued Mogadishu the last several years;
  • African Union and Somali forces pushed al-Shabab militants out of Mogadishu last August and are now trying to seize areas outside of Mogadishu. This week, they moved into the Afgoye corridor to pursue al-Shabab.

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Read this editorial on the petro price hike
• If you have time, you can read this rather insipid article about our president's term

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

• Bharti buys 49% in Qualcomm BWA unit for $165 million
  • Bharti Airtel, on Thursday, announced a Rs.922 crore ($165 million) deal with Qualcomm Asia Pacific, a move that will help the telecom operator establish a stronghold in the fast-growing high speed internet services;
  • The Bharti Group firm has acquired 49 per cent stake in Qualcomm Asia Pacific's Indian broadband wireless access (BWA) entities with licences to offer 4G data services in four circles of Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala;
  • Bharti Airtel will buy 26 per cent stake in Qualcomm AP from Global Holding Corporation and Tulip Telecom (13 per cent) and the balance 23 per cent by subscribing to fresh equity of Qualcomm;
  • Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Infotel is the only company to have pan-India (22 circles) BWA spectrum for the 4G services.
• Auction at least 10Mhz: Telecom Commission
  • Giving a breather to the new telecom companies, the Telecom Commission, on Thursday, said that at least 10 Mhz of spectrum should be sold through auction but deferred the decision on pricing of airwaves to the next meeting on Saturday;
  • Telecom regulator TRAI had recommended that only 5 Mhz spectrum should be auctioned and additional spectrum should be made available only if spectrum is left after reserving it for future need of refarming and minimum four bidders want to buy the additional spectrum;
  • “The Commission has deliberated part of the recommendations (TRAI) and will meet on Saturday again to conclude its view on all recommendations. Pricing-related matters will be again taken up in the next meeting,” Telecom Secretary R. Chandrashekhar told reporters here. The auction will take place in 8 blocks of 1.25 Mhz each;
  • Out of this, new telecom companies will be required to buy minimum 4 blocks (5 Mhz) and the existing companies can buy up to two blocks (2.5 Mhz). In a scenario where new player is unable to get 4 blocks, the government will provide additional spectrum in blocks of 1.25 Mhz each.