Events of National & International Importance
President wishes Oman on eve of its National Day
1. President Pranab Mukherjee
has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Sultan and people of the
Sultanate of Oman.
2. Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said, Mr
Mukherjee said, India and Oman have historically enjoyed close and friendly
relations based on millennium-old cultural and economic exchanges
3. The
President expressed confidence that the mutually beneficial comprehensive
partnership encompassing various spheres of engagement.
Universities should assume greater responsibility for mitigation of
problems: President Pranab Mukherjee
1.
Universities are the integral part of the society and they have to assume
greater responsibility for overall development and mitigation of problems
concerning the society at large.
2.
Universities should undertake outreach activities for successful
implementation of various government programmes.
3.
Education is a potent vehicle for social emancipation and economic
rejuvenation. He said, economic growth in the future will depend more on
efficient use of resources and deployment of better technology.
4.
The President also asked the students to contribute to the society
whatever the field they choose to work.
Ace shuttlers Saina Nehwal, K Srikanth win China open singles
tiltles
1. In
a historic day for Indian Badminton, top shuttlers Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth
on Sunday clinched the women's and men's singles title of the China Open Super
Series Premier in Fuzhou, China.
2. While
Olympic bronze-medallist Saina defeated Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, Srikanth
notched up a stunning straight-game victory over two-time Olympic champion Lin
Dan of China to register his maiden Super Series title.
PM Modi announces opening of Indian Cultural Centre in Sydney
by Feb 2015
1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced
opening of Indian Cultural Centre in Sydney by February next year.
2. He also said that next
Pravasi bhartiya Diwas will be held in Gujarat in January.
6.7 magnitude
quake strikes off New Zealand coast
1.
A strong earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale hit
178 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of the North Island city of Gisborne off
the New Zealand coast on Monday morning.
2.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the
quake’s epicentre was a relative deep 35 kilometers.
3.
New Zealand is part of a geologically active region that’s
often called the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in
the Pacific Basin.
Environment
Increasing
reports of catching Amur falcon in Manipur
1. Amur falcon is one of the migratory birds which come from Siberia to the
northeastern states for a few days.
2. However wildlife wing
officials of the forest department and bird lovers are not happy with the large
scale trappings of these winged friends.
3. There is photographic
evidence to show that these birds are caught in concealed traps.
4. Besides guns and slingshots
are widely used to kill them. The live birds, roasted and curried delicacies
are on sale in many shanty towns of some northeastern states.
5. The bitter fact is that
many species of migratory birds are caught and killed in terms of hundreds every
day .
6.
Meanwhile, there are increasing reports of catchings of such
migratory birds at other lakes including the Loktak which is the largest lake
in eastern India.
Economic Development
Trade deficit narrows to $13 bn in
Oct
1.
Due to decline in oil import, India's trade deficit for the
month October has narrowed to 13 billion dollars
2.
As compare to the previous month of 14.25 billion dollars.
3. Trade deficit in October
last year had stood at 10.5 billion dollars.
4. Gold imports jumped to
4.17 billion dollars from 1.09 billion dollars a year ago.
5. Silver imports were
reported at 686 million dollars. Meanwhile, the exports in October also hit
lowest level since March 2014.
IR & Diplomacy -
India-Australia
Maritime Relationship
Background
-
1.
Engaging with the Indian
expatriate community is, indeed, fast becoming Modi’s signature move on his
tours abroad.
2. There are a
number of issues for discussion, but one that is likely to top strategic agenda
is “maritime security.”
3. Ever since
Canberra officially declared its interests in the Indian Ocean last year
4.
There has been speculation in the strategic community about an evolving
maritime coalition in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
5.
Australia has in recent years sought to strengthen its nautical posture
in the Indian Ocean, reviving its ties with regional states.
What they say -
1. Maritime watchers point out that Australia’s consistent efforts for a
deeper, more purposeful maritime association with India have begun to bear fruit.
2.
Last year, the Indian
Navy sent its latest indigenous warship INS Sahyadri to participate in the International Fleet Review (IFR) in Sydney
3. a move widely perceived as a sign of a growing nautical convergence.
4. Safety of sea-borne trade was on the agenda during Abbot’s visit to New
Delhi in September this year
5. Both sides are reaffirming the need for a “peaceful, prosperous and
stable Asia-Pacific region, underpinned by cooperative mechanisms.
Ground reality
1.
Still, the maritime
interaction between the Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has yet to
attain the critical mass needed for a self-sustaining relationship.
2. it is true that the two navies have worked together in anti-piracy
operations in the Gulf of Aden.
3.
Joint maritime endeavors still
lack the momentum needed for a durable partnership.
4. The statements of intent have been encouraging, but they have yet to
trigger operational cooperation in all areas of maritime security.
5. If security cooperation has to be taken to a higher level, India has
little choice but to focus on high-end engagement during the exercises next
year.
6. Australia recently announced a partnership with Seychelles and
Mauritius in a “blue economy” project in the Indian Ocean.
7.
The centerpiece of the
proposal is a plan for greater hydrocarbon exploration and better Australian
technology to harvest renewable energy from the ocean’s waves.
8. Nonetheless, by underwriting marine economy projects Canberra has shown
it is willing to think imaginatively in nurturing its Indian Ocean ties.
9. The extent to which Canberra regards cooperation with New Delhi as
critical for regional maritime security is clear from Australia’s 2013 Defence
White Paper.
10. Friendly relations with Japan and Indonesia are a key factor in India’s
own geopolitical calculus, and critical in maintaining strategic balance in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Major Concern –
1. The growing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean, and the concept of the “Indo-Pacific.
2. In the past few years China has expanded its military-maritime footprint
in the IOR.
3.
A reality starkly brought home
by the recent deployment of a Chinese submarine to the region.
4. The imperative for India to cooperate with Australia is also driven by
the fact that the latter is prominent in both the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
(IONS) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
5. Two multilateral institutions in which New Delhi has a significant stake.
Upcoming Events –
1. A bilateral maritime exercise in 2015 is considered to be the most
encouraging development in India-Australia maritime ties.
2. The last time the two navies engaged operationally was during Exercise
Malabar in 2007.
Editorial -
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