Thai government lifts emergency

On 22nd January, the Shinawatra-led caretaker government imposed a state of emergency for 60 days to quell protests. The emergency was due to expire on 22nd March.

The emergency had expanded the power of security forces to issue orders and search, arrest and detain people.

Violence had erupted in Bangkok and other parts of the country ahead and during the 2nd February snap polls, boycotted by main opposition Democrat Party demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck.

Twenty-three people have been killed and over 700 injured in the political conflict since November.

Surapong Tovichakchaikul, chief advisor to the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) which has been set up to handle anti-government protests, had yesterday said the body will ask for the state of emergency to be lifted.

Japan to impose sanctions against Russia over Crimea

President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognising Crimea as an independent state following a weekend referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a move that has fanned the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.

"It's deplorable that Russia recognised the independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a move that violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Japan will suspend negotiations on easing visa requirements, and will not begin talks on a new investment accord, an outer space accord and an accord aimed at preventing risky military activities," it added, without elaborating.

The United States and Europe announced sanctions on Monday, with the White House saying the measures, the toughest against Russia since the Cold War, would target economic power brokers in Moscow if the Kremlin does not change course.

There was no sign of Putin backing down, however, and Crimea's pro-Moscow authorities made plans to swiftly honour Sunday's 96 percent referendum vote to return to the Russian fold.

"Japan urges Russia to understand the position held by the G7 (Group of Seven)" world powers, including Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Suga, the top government spokesman, added that Japan "is, of course, thinking" about further action against Russia.

He did not supply details. However, Suga disputed suggestions that Tokyo's apparent lukewarm sanctions, compared with its western partners' travel bans and asset freezes against Russian and Ukraine officials, are linked to efforts aimed at solving a decades-old territorial disputes with Moscow.

"That's not the case," he said. "Japan never overlooks an attempt to change the status quo through force."

Information Courtesy : www.ddnews.gov.in
 

President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia

President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia on 18-Mar-2014, describing the move as correcting past injustice and responding to what he called Western encroachment upon Russia's vital interests.


In a  40-minute speech televised live from the Kremlin, Putin said "in people's hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia."

He referred to Ukraine as a state born out of an illegal secession from the Soviet Union.

crimea declares independence from Ukraine

crimea's regional assembly on Monday declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia, saying all Ukrainian state property on the peninsula would be nationalised.

"The republic of Crimea appeals to the United Nations and to all countries of the world to recognise it as an independent state," read a document approved by the assembly.

"The Republic of Crimea... applies to the Russian Federation to accept the Republic of Crimea as a member of the Russian Federation," it said.

killed in Naxal attack on security personnel in Chhattisgarh

ambushed a security patrol killing 16 people including 11 of the CRPF in a daring daytime attack in the worst-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, a gory reminder of the 2010 Dantewada massacre in which 76 CRPF personnel were gunned down in the same area.

The Naxals, who were 200 in number, walked away with the arms and ammunition of the slain policemen after the encounter that lasted nearly three hours. The attack at a road construction site came exactly a month before the Lok Sabha elections in Chattisgarh.

They struck at 'Jeerum Nullah', 400 km from Raipur, at around 1015 am when a contingent of 48 joint security forces personnel was trapped and struck by heavy fire and landmine blasts while it was out for an operational task in the jungles of Tongapal, close to the Dantewada and 'Jeerum Ghati' axis, notorious for Naxal violence.

Jat community is included in the Central list of OBCs in nine states

Union Cabinet on 02-March-2014 approved the inclusion of the Jat community in the Central list of OBCs for the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and the National capital territory of Delhi.


An approximate number of nine crore Jats are living in nine states -- Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Bihar.

2-yr age relaxation for civil service exams

recently approved two additional attempts for all categories of candidates beginning with the Civil Services Examination, 2014, and okayed the consequential age relaxation across the board.

Under the existing rules, an unreserved or general category candidate is permitted a maximum of four attempts with the age limit for such candidates to take the examination being 30 years.

But from this year onwards, unreserved category candidates will get six attempts until 32 years of age, the Ministry of Personnel said in a statement on Tuesday.

There is no restriction on the number of attempts by candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

But the age limit for such aspirants has now been extended by two years from 35 to 37 years, it said.

Till last year, the stipulation was for a total of seven attempts and an age limit of 33 years for aspirants belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

But as per the revised norms, an OBC candidate will now get nine attempts until 35 years of age.

Physically handicapped candidates in the general and OBC categories will now be eligible for nine attempts as against the seven at present.

They will also get age relaxations of 42 years for general and 45 years for OBC candidates.

There is no cap on the number of attempts by physically handicapped candidates in the SC and ST categories while there will be an age limit of 47 years for them as against the present 45 years, the statement said.

The Civil Services Examination (Preliminary), 2014, is tentatively scheduled to be held on 24th August this year.

The examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), among others.

Information courtesy  : http://www.ddinews.gov.in/National/National%20-%20Headlines/Pages/civilexams.aspx

Former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas refuses to head Lokpal search panel

Supreme Court judge K T Thomas on 03-March-2014 turned down the offer to head Lokpal search committee, days after jurist Fali Nariman opted out of the panel.

Thomas was a judge in the apex court between March 29, 1996 to January 1, 2002. Fali Nariman had recently also refused to be part of the Lokpal search panel, voicing fears that the best will be overlooked by the multi-layered procedure.

The eight-member search committee is mandated to prepare a panel of persons to be considered by the Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appointment of chairperson and members of Lokpal.

The Selection Committee has as members the Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him, and an eminent jurist who could be nominated by the President or any other member.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for establishment of a Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into corruption charges against public functionaries.

The Centre had already got nominations from various individuals for becoming its chairperson and members.

India’s largest solar power plant at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched a 130-MW solar power plant at Bhagwanpur in Neemuch, about 400 km from Bhopal on 26-02-2014.

The Welspun Solar MP project, the largest solar power plant in India set up at a cost of Rs. 1,100 crore on 305 hectares of land, will supply power at Rs. 8.05 a kWh. 

Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned

India’s navy chief, Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned as chief of the Indian navy, owning “moral responsibility for the accidents and incidents during the past few months”, the Defence Ministry said on 26-Feb-2014 Admiral Joshi is the first Indian military commander to have resigned since General Kodandera Subayya Thimmaiah in 1959 -- and the only to have his resignation accepted by the government. 

The naval chief's resignation came hours after a fire on board the newly-refitted Sindhuratna claimed the lives of two naval officers and injured seven -- the third in a series of submarine accidents, including an explosion on the Sindhurakshak which exploded and sank in Mumbai’s naval dockyard in August, 2013, killing 18 crew. Last month, the Sindhughosh ran ground on its way to Mumbai harbour, though without loss of life. 

Ibrahim Mahlab is the Prime Minister of Egypt

Ibrahim Mahlab, a former official in the deposed Hosni Mubarak government, was on 25-02-2013 named as Egypt's new prime minister, a day after the military-backed cabinet resigned unexpectedly.

Mahlab said he was "officially tasked with forming a new government" by interim president Adly Mansour, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

United States developed fastest car in the world

U.S developed the world's fastest car with a top speed of an incredible 435 kilometres per hour.

US firm Hennessey's Venom GT set the new record for the fastest car in the world during a test run at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Venom beat the previous best record of 431km/h set by Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

Supreme Court referred legalising Euthanasia to five- judge Constitution bench

Supreme Court on 25-02-2014 referred the issue of legalising euthanasia in the country to a five- judge Constitution bench, saying there has been "inconsistent" opinion in its previous verdicts on withdrawing medical support to terminally ill patients.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that it is extremely important to have a clear enunciation of law on this issue and referred the matter to a larger Constitution bench.

The court said that the Constitution bench will go into all aspects of the issue and take a final decision on framing guidelines.

The Bench also comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and S K Singh passed the order on a PIL to allow a terminally ill person not to continue with artificial medical support.

The Centre had vociferously opposed the plea terming it as "suicide" which could not be allowed in the country.

Olympics concludes with Russia tops the medal list

The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXII Olympic Winter Games were a major international multi-sport event held in Sochi, Russia, in the tradition of the Winter Olympic Games.

The Next winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang in South Korea.

 

Russia tops the medal list with 13 Gold Medals

The following list shows the first four positions ( Gold, Silver, Bronze)

Russia 13-11-9

Norway 11-5-10

canada 10-10-5

Unites States 9-7-12

Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily says RIL contract can't be terminated

The Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Reliance Industries' contract for KG-D6 gas fields cannot be terminated pending arbitration on issue of output lagging targets. Earlier, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal earlier accused that he price increase was done to benefit RIL, Moily on February 14 wrote to Singh saying ONGC's average cost of producing natural gas was about USD 3.6 per million British thermal unit in 2012-13 and its newer finds in deepsea cost more than current rate of USD 4.2.

Egypt government resigns

Prime Minister of Egypt Hazem el-Beblawi said his government has resigned, paving the way for army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy for president 

.

Beblawi, who was tasked by interim President Adly Mansour with running the government's affairs until the election, did not give a clear reason for the decision.

For Sisi to run for president he would first need to leave his post as defense minister.

He told news agencies that the cabinet had resigned en masse as Sisi did not want to appear to be acting alone.

The top military commander has unveiled a political roadmap meant to lead to elections after toppling Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July following mass protests against his rule.

UN Security Council unanimously adopts Syria aid resolution

UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to boost humanitarian access in Syria that threatens to take 'further steps' in the case of non-compliance, demands cross-border aid access and condemns rights abuses by the Syrian government and opposition armed groups.

The 15-nation UNSC met to vote on the resolution, co-authored by Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg amid uncertainty that Russia and China could veto the draft

Equal Opportunities Commission for minorities

The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal for setting up the much- awaited Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), a statutory body to check discrimination of minority communities in jobs and education.

The Justice Sachar Committee, which went into the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims, had recommended setting up of such a panel.

The proposal got the nod of the Union Cabinet on Thursday.

EOC will also deal with grievances like denial of accommodation or buying rights to minorities in housing societies.

AAP govt initiatives to stay in Delhi

Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, indicated that the popular initiatives taken by the AAP government will not  be scrapped, including the 50 per cent subsidy on power tariff.

He is  now administering Delhi after President's rule was imposed.

He also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure speedy delivery of various services and provide good governance.

Finance Minister presents interim budget

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presented  his 9^th   and  India's 83rd budget  for 2014-15 in the Lok Sabha on 18-Feb-2014. 

The main budget for the financial year 2014-15 will be presented by the new government that will come into power after the general elections, the schedule for which are likely to be announced by the Election Commission soon.

 HIGHLIGHTS :

GROWTH

* GDP expansion in 2013/14 third and fourth quarters will be at least 5.2 percent

FISCAL DEFICIT

* Fiscal deficit seen at 4.6 percent of GDP in 2013/14

* Says need to bring down fiscal deficit to 3 percent of GDP by 2016/17

CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

* Current account deficit for 2013/14 projected at $45 billion

* Forex reserves to rise by $15 billion by end of 2013/14

EXPORTS

* Merchandise exports seen at $326 billion in 2013/14, up 6.3 percent year on year.

Agriculture exports xxpected to touch $45 billion in 2013/14, up from $41 billion in 2012/13

SPENDING

* Plan expenditure for 2014/15 seen at same level as previous year

* Non plan spending estimated at about 12.08 trillion rupees in 2014/15

SUBSIDIES

* Total spending on food, fertilisers and fuel at 2.5 trillion rupees in 2014/15

DEFENCE

Spending raised to 2.24 trillion rupees in 2014/15, up 10 percent year on year

BANKS RESTRUCTURING

Govt to provide 112 billion rupees capital infusion in state run banks in 2014/15

Other Points to remember

Defence Ministry gets Rs 2,24,000 cr; 10 pc more than last time

Nirbhaya Fund gets additional Rs 1,000 crore in budget

Tejpal charged with rape

Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal was on 17-Feb-2014 charged by Goa police with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a junior colleague, 80 days after his arrest, and could face imprisonment of more than seven years if convicted.

Police filed a 2,684-page charge sheet against Tejpal, in jail since December 1, under sections354, 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 and 342 (wrongful restraint), 376 (rape), 376(2)(f) and 376 (2)(k) (taking advantage of official position and raping a woman in custody).