Sunday, 30th June, 2013

NATIONAL NEWS

• Centre plans to increase FDI in media
  • In line with recommendations made by an official panel recently, the government has stepped up consultations on whether to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) caps in media. The Finance Ministry asked other relevant ministries for their views on the proposal, while the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) held talks with broadcasters and print industry leaders
  • Ten days ago, a committee headed by Economic Affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram had recommended easing FDI ceilings in a host of sectors, including Defence and Telecom. In regard to the media, it suggested increasing the limit to 49 per cent in radio, print and broadcasting segments under the automatic route, without needing to go through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

• India china to strengthen border mechanism
  • India and China have discussed putting in place additional confidence-building measures (CBMs) and strengthening mechanisms for communication along the border, following two days of talks here between their Special Representatives on the boundary question.

• Navy inducts third russian frigate
  • The Indian Navy has taken delivery of the last of three stealth frigates built by Russia at a Baltic shipyard. INS Trikand was commissioned on Saturday at a ceremony at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad attended by Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra, Deputy Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Robin Dhowan and Russian officials.

• Foriegn ministers views on a stable Iran and Afganistan

• India – Russia fail to resolve nuclear liability
  • Russian sources said there was no progress on the thorny issue, which has stalled signing of contract for the construction of Units 3 and 4 at the Kudankulam nuclear power project.
  • India is insisting on placing the new reactors under its Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, 2010, which holds the operator wholly liable in the event of an accident, giving it a right of recourse against suppliers if the accident is caused by defective equipment.
  • Russians refer to the inter-government agreement of 2008, which makes the operator alone liable for possible damages at Units 3-6 to be built at Kudankulam.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Un to take over Mali security from France
  • United Nations (U.N.) soldiers will take over from African troops in conflict-scarred Mali from Monday, making up the organisation’s third-largest peacekeeping force by the end of the year.
  • The majority of his soldiers will be Africans already stationed in Mali but China has offered to supply more than 500 troops, its biggest contribution to U.N. Peacekeeping.
  • Sweden will send around 70 troops for a maximum of one year while Norway is to contribute 25 soldiers and police. Bangladesh is thought to have offered the largest non-African contingent of up to 1,000 troops although no deal has yet been confirmed.
  • The U.N. has called on member states to contribute critical resources, including personnel and equipment, to ensure that it can support Mali in implementing the accord and preparing for the elections.
  • A Security Council briefing heard this week that the mission — to be known as MINUSMA — is seeking pledges for helicopters, intelligence and special forces.