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Meeting of SCO Prime Ministers organised: Russias Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called for creating a 10-year economic road map for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) focused on launching large-scale joint projects. Putin was addressing a meeting of the Prime Ministers of the SCO in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on November 25, 2010. The SCO has six full members Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan , as well as four observer-states India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan.

US Lower House backs Indias Security Council bid: A resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives on November 22, 2010 has appealed to the United Nations to take necessary steps to make New Delhi a permanent member of the Security Council. The resolution by the Congressman, Gus Bilirakis, calls on the UN to amend Article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations to establish India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The resolution has been sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for necessary action. The resolution acknowledges Indias democratic credentials, its contribution to UN peacekeeping missions and the countrys strong commitment to global peace and promotion of the peaceful development of the South Asian region.

Mauritius is No. 1 on Mo Ibrahim Index of African governance: Mauritius, with a score of 83 on a 100 point scale, has topped the Mo Ibrahim Index of African governance for 2010 unveiled by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation on November 26, 2010 while Somalia with a score of 7.9 came last in the list of 53 countries. Mauritius is followed Botswana, Cape Verde and South Africa. The Index Uses indicators across four main categories: Safety and Rule of Law; Participation and Human Rights; Sustainable Economic Opportunity; and Human Development as proxies for the quality of the processes and outcomes of governance. Russian military opens door for foreigners: Russias Defence Ministry has opened the doors for foreigners to join the Russian Armed Forces. According to the amended law posted on the Defence Ministry website in November 2010, a citizen of any foreign country, aged 18-30, can now sign an initial 5-year contract to join the Russian army. A good command over Russian language and absence of criminal record are the basic requirements for joining the Russian Armed Forces. As an incentive, the recruits will be offered Russian citizenship after three years of service. In 2009, about 350 foreign citizens, mostly from CIS countries were serving in the Russian Armed Forces, however, there were also from Latvia, Germany, and Israel. According to RIA Novosti, in the past year 699 foreigners applied to join the Russian military but most were rejected for having poor knowledge of Russian, health problems, or low level of education. In line with an ongoing military reform, the Russian Armed Forces will be downsized to 1 million personnel by 2016, with 150,000 officers and about 745,000 soldiers. President Dmitry Medvedev announced a three-fold increase in the basic pay of the servicemen recently.

ISRO-EADS satellite HYLAS launched from French Guyana: Advanced communication satellite HYLAS, built by ISRO on a commercial basis in partnership with Europes space leader EADS-Astrium, was on November 27, 2010 successfully launched from French Guyana. The HYLAS (Highly Adaptable Satellite) separated from the launch vehicle after reaching its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit, thirty five minutes after the lift-off of European Ariane-5 V198 launch vehicle at Guyana Space Centre at Kourou. ISROs Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka successfully received radio signals transmitted by HYLAS and the satellites health is normal. The satellite has been developed for UK-based Avanti Communications. The contract to build it was won in 2006 after stiff competition with leading manufacturers in USA and Europe through the strategic alliance worked out between Antrix/ISRO and M/s EADS Astrium of France. The alliance was formed to jointly develop communication satellites with ISRO platforms and Astrium payloads and market these internationally.

EU court rejects Italys pure chocolate law : The European Union High Court on November 25, 2010 ruled there is no such thing as pure chocolate, rejecting an Italian law that allows the term to be used as a marketing slogan. The European Commission had sued Italy arguing the term pure chocolate does not exist under EU labelling rules. The court says EU rules require such products to instead be labelled 100 per cent cocoa butter, which must be included in the list of ingredients

UK introduces English test for non-EU Visa applicants: United Kingdom has decided to introduce a new English language requirement from November 22, 2010 for non-European migrants who apply for visas to enter or remain in the U.K. as a partner or spouse of a British citizen or a person settled there. Applicants will need to show that they can speak and understand English to a basic level. They will usually meet this requirement by passing an English language test held by an U.K. Border Agency-approved test provider. It is also possible to meet the language requirement by having an academic qualification equivalent to a Bachelors degree in the U.K. which is offered in English.

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Lagos to become most populous African city in 2015: The number of people living in African cities will triple over the next 40 years and by 2050, 60% of Africans will be city dwellers, according to UN-Habitats State of African Cities 2010 report unveiled on November 25, 2010. Lagos in Nigeria is set to overtake the Egyptian capital Cairo as Africas biggest city by 2015. According to the report, urbanisation is happening faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world.

SECTION C: AWARDS & HONOURS

Former Indian PM in Times 25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century list: Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Albanian nun Mother Teresa, who made India her home, are among Time magazines 25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century list unveiled in November 2010. The US news magazines survey of the women who have most influenced our world is topped by Jane Addams an outspoken advocate for womens suffrage who was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and includes United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the sixth place. Indira Gandhi, ranked ninth, figured on the Time cover, when she was elected the prime minister in 1966, with a line reading, Troubled India in a Womans Hands. Those steady hands went on to steer India, not without controversy, for much of the next two decades through recession, famine, the detonation of the nations first atomic bomb, a corruption scandal and a civil war in neighbouring Pakistan that, under her guidance, led to the creation of a new state, Bangladesh, the magazine said. By the time she was assassinated, in 1984, Gandhi was the worlds longest-serving female Prime Minister, a distinction she holds to this day. Of Mother Teresa, who is ranked 22 , the Time said: Her iconic white garb with its blue stripe trim is now equated with her ideals of service and charity among the poorest of the poor. Sometimes criticized for lacking adequate medical training, not addressing poverty on a grander scale, actively opposing birth control and abortion and even cosying up to dictators, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize nonetheless inspired countless volunteers to serve, and will wear her white habit all the way to Catholic sainthood, it said.
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Dayawati Modi Award 2010 presented to Dr. Karan Singh: Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on November 24, 2010 presented the Dayawati Modi Award 2010 for Art, Culture and Education to Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament and former Ambassador of India to the United States of America, in recognition of his contribution to Indian culture and literature. Dr. Singh is currently the Chairman, Ethics Committee of the Upper House of Parliament; Chairman, Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation; Chancellor of the prestigious Benaras Hindu University and President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), having rank equal to Central Cabinet Minister.

Nepali social worker is CNN Hero of 2010: Anuradha Koirala, a Nepali social worker who helped to rescue thousands of women and girls from sex slavery, has been named as CNNs Hero of the year. Maiti Nepal, the organization headed by Koirala, has helped to rescue some 12,000 sex workers mainly from India since 1993. Koirala was chosen in an online poll on CNN.com. Koirala will receive $100,000 to continue her work with Maiti Nepal, in addition to the $25,000 awarded to each of the top 10 Heroes honoured on November 27, 2010 at the conclusion of the fourth annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. With her organization, she has provided a loving home for these victims. A place for them to heal, go to school, learn a skill for some who are infected with HIV/ AIDS, according to CNN.

Ana Maria Matute wins Cervantes Prize: Spanish novelist Ana Maria Matute on November 25, 2010 won the Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking worlds highest literary honour. The 85-year-old winner of the 125,000 euro (106,000) prize is regarded as one of Spains best post-Civil War writers and her work often centres on the conflict. The author is only the third woman to win the award since it was created in 1975. Spains Maria Zambrano received the award in 1988 and Cubas Dulce Maria Loynaz took the honour in 1992.

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Mauritius President receives Distinguished Parliamentarian award: Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia presented the Ranbir Singh Distinguished Parliamentarian award to Mauritius President Anerood Jugnauth in Rohtak on November 26, 2010. S. Chandhiok is Sikh of the Year 2010: Additional Solicitor-General and Delhi High Court Bar Association president A. S. Chandhiok was honoured with the Sikh of the Year 2010 award of the Sikh Forum International for his outstanding achievements in the legal field and working for betterment of society in London in November 2010. In the past, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, Sikh historian Patwant Singh and former Army Chief General J. J. Singh have been honoured with this award. 5 projects win 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Projects as diverse as a textile factory in Turkey, a school built on a bridge in China and a wetlands project in Saudi Arabia are among the winners of the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, conferred at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar on November 24, 2010. The winning five projects are Wadi Hanifa Wetlands, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Revitalisation of the Hypercentre of Tunis, Tunisia, the Madinat Al-Zahra Museum, Cordoba, Spain, the Ipekyol Textile Factory, Edirne, Turkey and the Bridge School, Xiashi, Fujian, China. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan, to enhance the understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as expressed through architecture. The Award is organised on the basis of a three-year cycle and is governed by a Steering Committee chaired by the Aga Khan. Prizes totalling up to $500,000 constituting the largest architectural award in the world are presented every three years to projects. Winters Bone is the Best Film at Stockholm Film Festival: American woman director Debra Granik won the Best Film award for her film Winters Bone at the Stockholm International Film Festival on September 27, 2010. Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress Award in Winters Bone while Best Actor Prize was won by George Pistereanu for his performance in the Romanian-Swedish film If I want to whistle, I whistle. The Stockholm Visionary Award was presented to director Gus Van Sant while the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Harriet Andersson. The Stockholm International Film Festival started in 1990 with just 45 films and is today one of the leading competitive film festivals in Europe with 180 films.

Shilp Guru Awards presented: Dayanidhi Maran, Textiles Minister, presented Shilp Guru & National Awards for the year 2007 and 2008 to Master Craftspersons & Master Weavers on November 24, 2010 in New Delhi. Shilp Guru Awards were presented to 20 handicraft artisans while 91 National Awards were conferred on to the master craftspersons and master weavers. Each Shilp Guru Award, introduced in 2002, consists of one mounted gold coin, one shawl and a citation. In addition, financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 6.00 lakhs is also given to each selected Shilp Guru to innovate and create 5 new products. National Awards to Master Craftspersons and Masterweavers were introduced in 1965. The award comprises of a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/-, a Certificate, Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.

NHPC Ltd CMD wins Life Time Achievement at IES: S.K. Garg, Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC Ltd, was conferred with a Life Time Achievement Award for achieving excellence in productivity, quality, innovation and management, by the Institute of Economic Studies (IES), New Delhi in November 2010.

Section D: ECONOMY & CORPORATE

News round up Indian Labour Conference organised Prime minister Manmohan Singh on November 23, 2010 said that certain labour laws may be contributing to the rigidities in the labour market and hurting employment growth, in his address to the 43rd session of the twoday Indian Labour Conference at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The conference, a tripartite meet of the government, employer and employee organisations, is a ground for the stakeholders to resolve workforce related issues.

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What is ILC? The Indian Labour Conference (ILC) is the apex level tripartite consultative committee in the Ministry of Labour & Employment to advise the Government on the issues concerning working class of the country. All the 12 Central Trade Union Organisations, Central Organisations of employers, all State Governments and Union Territories and Central Ministries/Departments concerned with the agenda items, are the members of the ILC. As a matter of practice, and to maintain continuous dialogue with social partners, a meeting of this apex body is convened once in a year to discuss the topical issues concerning labour. The first meeting of the Indian Labour Conference (then called Tripartite National Labour Conference) was held in 1942 and so far a total of 42 Sessions have been held. The 42 February, 2009. Agenda The Conference deliberated three major issues
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Session was held in

(i) Global Financial downturn its impact job losses comprehensive package for protection of labour force, etc. (ii) Problems of contract labour social security, wages, etc. and amendments in the contract labour legislations (iii) Employment generation and skill development. Are labour laws inflexible? Private sector has been demanding greater freedom to hire and fire while the trade unions resolutely defend their right to collective bargaining and oppose retrenchments and layoffs. Many studies have argued that inflexible labour laws are largely the reason organised employment remains abysmally low. A 2004-05 survey showed 26 million employed in organised sector against 433 million in the unorganised sector where wages are low and work conditions bad. The organised sector employment rose to 27.5 million by 2008. Contract labour on the rise: Some economists say rigid labour laws are largely the reason companies opt for capital intensive manufacturing as opposed to labour intensive ones and hire contract labour instead of permanent workers. The number of contract workers, according to government estimates, has increased from about one million in 2006-07 to 1.39 million in 200910. Even some of the state run companies now outsource work that is usually performed by contract workers, the reason why public sector employment has dropped. The labour ministry has already floated a proposal to change the law making it mandatory for all employers to treat contract labour on a par with permanent employees on all fronts, except term of employment. The need to enforce better working terms for contract labour was one of the main areas of discussion at the two days conference. Trade union leaders alleged that wages were not increasing commensurate to the level of profits. The government has total sympathy towards corporates and behaves as if trade unions do not have any role to play in the discussion. CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta Environmental clearance accorded to Navi Mumbai Airport project The Navi Mumbai Air Port Project was on November 22, 2010 formally accorded the environmental clearance after a compromise reached between the Ministry of Environment and Forests, CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The project has gone through several ups and downs, with many environmental concerns raised by NGOs as well as the environment ministry. Ministry of Environment and Forests has put 32 conditions for environmental clearance that will have to be fulfilled before the project is commissioned. Mumbai will become the first city in the country to have two operational airports. Together, they will have a capacity to handle 50 million passengers a year by 2015. Phase one of the new airport will handle 10 million passengers, a figure that will expand to 40 million by 2030 at an investment of Rs. 9,970 crore. The Navi Mumbai airport is vital, as Mumbais existing 1,840-acre Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport already handles 25.8 million passengers a year and will reach its 40 million capacity in four years with no space to expand. This has already compelled airlines like GoAir and Air India to shift base to Delhi.

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The airport project is likely to be awarded in 10-12 months and the first phase will be complete by 2014-15. The Navi Mumbai airport is being developed as a public-private partnership, with the private sector partner holding 74 per cent equity, while Airports Authority of India and CIDCO holding 13 per cent each. Hyderabad-based GVK Group, which is the private operator for Chhatrapati Shivaji airport, will have first right of refusal for the new airport.

Committee on ownership & governance of exchanges submits report A committee headed by former Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Bimal Jalan has recommended sweeping changes in the ownership and governance structure of the countrys stock exchanges. The committee was appointed by market regulator SEBI in December 2009 to review the ownership and working of capital market infrastructure institutions (MIIs). Redefining anchor investors: In its 74-page report, submitted in November 2010, the sevenmember committee has suggested stringent ownership norms for stock exchanges. While the committee is in favour of allowing anchor investors, it restricts this to only a specific set of players. The report says only banks, insurance companies and domestic financial institutions which fall under the category of public financial institutions having a net worth of Rs. 1,000 crore can be roped in as anchor investor. They can hold 24 per cent stake in an exchange, with a clause to reduce this to 15 per cent in 10 years. All others can hold a maximum of 5 per cent. Profits: The committee has also suggested keeping the profits made by stock exchanges under strict oversight and has voiced its concern over super-normal profits, although it stopped short of capping profitability. Entry barriers: The panel justified the higher entry barriers, saying the concept of regional stock exchanges is no longer relevant due to the wide reach of technology and absence of product differentiation. It wanted SEBI to increase its regulatory role and set a level playing field with regard to fees and entry, among other things. No Listing: It opposed listing of stock exchanges on bourses. Being public institutions, any downward movement in their share prices may lead to a loss of credibility and this may be detrimental to the market as a whole. Therefore, the committee is not in favour of permitting listing of MIIs, the report stated. Many foreign investors had picked up equity in Indias oldest stock exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), in the hope that its shares would be listed on stock markets. In August, billionaire investor George Soros picked up a 4 per cent stake in BSE for $35 million. Foreign investors now hold 30 per cent stake in BSE, lower than the permissible limit of 49 per cent.

Interbank Mobile Payment Service launched India on November 21, 2010 moved a step closer to making mobiles virtual wallets by launching Mobile remittance services that allow seamless and real-time fund transfer from one persons bank account to another through cellphones. The Interbank Mobile Payment Service (IMPS), which currently has seven banks (State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank) was launched by the RBI deputy governor, Shyamala Gopinath in Mumbai. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), promoted by 10 banks, will act as the settlement agency between banks and deliver the back-end support to the system. Process: To avail of the service, an account holder will have to get mobile money ID (MMID) from the bank. MMID will be his ID for all mobile-commerce transactions. The banks will install special application on the mobile phone from where the remitting will be done. Once the process is complete, the bank account holder can remit money to anyone, provided he has the receivers MMID and mobile phone number.

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Mobile number portability launched Mobile number portability (MNP) that allows amobile subscriber to retain his/her existing mobile number despite changing the mobile operator, was launched in the country on November 25, 2010. MNP will now be available in Rohtak, Haryana, and then eventually roll out across India by January 20, 2011. For change of service provider i.e. porting, a subscriber has to send an SMS (PORTMobile Number) from the number he wishes to be ported, to number 1900 whereby a Unique Porting Code (UPC) will be received on SMS from his current service provider. The subscriber will need to apply in the prescribed application form to the chosen new service provider quoting the UPC which will act as a reference while filling up the application form with new service provider. The new service provider will then take action to get the required processes completed to enable the subscriber to get connected to his network. Porting has to be completed within 7 working days. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has put a ceiling of Rs. 19/- on porting charges which the new service provider may collect from the subscriber. Post-paid subscribers before making the porting request, have to make sure that their last bill has been paid failing which the request for change to new service provider shall be rejected. In the case of pre-paid subscriber any balance amount left will not be carried forward when the number is transferred to the new service provider.

4th Kaiga unit propels India into elite N-league India became the sixth country in the world to have 20 or more nuclear power reactors in operation when the fourth unit of Kaiga Generating Station (KGS-4) going critical on November 28, 2010. The other nations are USA, France, Japan, Russia and S Korea. Criticality, in nuclear terms, signifies the start of the self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction in the reactor core, which leads to the production of energy. KGS-4, which is an indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), will start its commercial production in December, raising Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limiteds (NPCIL) installed capacity at Kaiga (from four 220 MW units) to 880 MW. The total installed capacity of NPCIL, which has 20 reactors at seven plants across the country, with KGS-4 is 4780 MW. Situated on the banks of the Kali River upstream of Kadra Dam in Karwar, Kaigas two reactors have been operating since 2000 and the third one attained criticality in 2007. According to NPCIL, its installed capacity will reach 9580 MW by 2016 with the progressive completion of the nuclear power reactors under construction. NPCIL, whose first plant at Tarapur with a capacity of 160 MW started operations on October 28, 1969, has a vision to reach 20,000 MW or more by 2020 and play a major role in reaching the countrys installed nuclear power capacity of 63,000 MW by 2032. Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Srikumar Banerjee signed a document to mark Kaiga-4 achieving criticality in Karwar in the presence of C&MD, NPCIL, S.K. Jain and AEC member M.R. Srinivasan. NPCIL has demonstrated comprehensive capabilities in various facets of nuclear technology namely site selection, design, construction, commissioning operation and maintenance, renovation, modernisation and life extension of nuclear power plants.

Govt. announces subsidy for electric cars The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on November 22, 2010 announced a Rs 95 crore incentive scheme to give a boost to the environmentally friendly vehicles in India. The scheme provides incentives of up to 20 per cent on the ex-factory prices of the vehicles, subject to a maximum limit. The cap on the incentive will be Rs. 4,000 for low speed electric two wheelers, Rs. 5,000 for high speed electric two wheelers and Rs. 1 lakh for an electric car. To be eligible for the scheme, electric vehicles must have at least 30 per cent indigenous content, a sizeable operation in retail and after sale service outlets. The manufacturers will have to give at least one year comprehensive warranty. World over the countries are offering incentives for adoption of electric vehicles. There is also a quota on the number of vehicles which will be provided subsidy in a year. In 2010-11, the government will subsidise 20,000 units of low speed electric two-wheelers and another 10,000 units of high speed two-wheelers. In 2011-12, the numbers would increase to 80,000 units and 20,000 units low-speed and high-speed two-wheelers respectively. Additionally, the government has also decided to incentivise 100 units of three-wheelers and 140 units of

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passenger cars in the rest of this year, which would be upped to 166 units and 700 units in the next financial year. Mahindra Reva, the only electric car available in India, has sold around 3,000 units in the last 10 years. Hero Electric, Avon Cycles, BSA Motors and Lohia Auto are the leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers, which has a market size of 85,000 units.

Govt. to introduce MFI Bill after RBI consent Faced with mounting crticism of Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) for their coercive ways of functioning, the government on November 22, 2010 said it will introduce a bill on the sector after taking into account the views of the Reserve Bank and the recommendations of an RBI sub-committee. The department of financial services proposes to introduce the Micro Finance (development and regulation) Bill, 2010 after taking into account the views of RBI and the Malegam Committee recommendations, the minister of state for finance, Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The government is looking at regulating the sector as the usurious rate of interest and alleged coercive recovery system adopted by micro finance institutions (MFIs), the government is looking at regulating the sector. In October 2010, the Reserve Bank had set up a sub-committee, headed by Y H Malegam, to look into MFI activities, including their interest rate structures. The committee is expected to submit its report by January-end. While RBI does not regulate the interest rates charged by MFIs, it has issued instructions on Fair Practice Code, to be adhered to by all non-banking financial companies. These state that the NBFCs should not charge exorbitant rates of interest and resort to undue harassment for recovery of loans. RBI regulates only those MFIs, which are registered with it as non-banking finance companies (NBFCs). Others are regulated by sectoral norms under which the MFIs fall. In October 2010, the Andhra Pradesh state government had issued an Ordinance to control MFIs, following a spate of suicide cases being reported across the state, apparently due to the strong arm tactics of these institutions and high interest rates charged by them.

Parliamentary committee recommends higher royalties for lyricists, composers Lyricists and composers could get a greater share of royalties in film music. A key parliamentary committee has broadly supported amendments proposed by the government to the Copyright Act which were aimed at ensuring that lyricists, composers, and other types of authors, whose works are used in films, receive a much greater share of revenues earned from the sale of film music. The report was tabled in Parliament on November 24, 2010 by Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, Oscar Fernandes. A review of Bill on Copyrights Act amendments: The Bill on amendments to Copyrights Act was introduced earlier this year following demands from lyricists and artists for greater rights over such royalties, most of which currently go to producers and music companies. The committee, in its report on the Bill, has proposed changes, which, if accepted, would allow for royalties to be shared equally between lyricists and composers on the one hand, and producers on the other. Current practice: Currently, the norm in the film industry is for such author-composers to sign away their rights to royalties to producers, in exchange for a flat fee. The producers then auctioned them off to music companies. If the proposals go through in this form, the way in which music companies bid for music rights of films may change, said an industry observer. Music companies may actually see these rights as being worthless, given that half the royalties would now remain with the author-composers. Producers disagree: The film producer lobby has opposed the changes, saying they amounted to government interference in contracts signed between author-composers and producers. Recommendations of parliamentary standing committees are not binding on the government or on Parliament, and the final shape of the Bill could change as it winds its way through the legislature. Film copyrights: The parliamentary committee rejected another proposal by the government that directors be made co-owners of copyright in a film, along with the producer, and that copyright in films be extended to 70 years. Currently, copyright of a film is owned by the producer only, and for 60 years.

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Indias agricultural land at 182.4 million hectare in 07-08 Land for crops on the decline: Agricultural land in the country has declined to 182.4 million hectare in 2007-08 from 183 million hectares in 2004-05. Land acquisition has increased for various non-agricultural needs such as special economic zones, urbanisation, power projects, roads and mining. As a result, the percent share of agricultural land has declined to 59.7% in 2007-08 from 59.9% in 2004-05, the agriculture ministry said in response to a question in Parliament in November 2010. Yield, not land, is the prime concern: The decline in land available for cultivation has raised concerns on the food security front. However, farm experts are not worried over the diversion of farm land for other use, saying that the real issue is not land, but farm productivity. Over the years, agricultural area will come down as there are other uses where returns are more, said PK Joshi, director, National Academy of Agricultural Research and Management, Hyderabad. With less land, China produces more: China produces more with less land: India has more agricultural land than China, but its farm output is much less because of a sharply lower per hectare yield for most crops, due to agricultural practices, poor use of inputs and fragmented land holdings that makes mechanisation difficult. Independent estimates put Indias crop land at 170 million hectare as compared to 135 million hectare for China, but the latter manages to produce more from the smaller area it has under cultivation. In 2008, for instance, China produced 112 million tonne of wheat, but India managed only 78.6 million tonne, says Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Similar differences exist in other farm produce as well. Experts recommend an increase in cropping intensity, shorter duration crops and focus on higher productivity to compensate for the decline in land. CBI unearths LIC Housing Finance scam: The CBI on November 24, 2010 unearthed a real estate loan racket and arrested senior executives of LIC Housing Finance, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank all state-owned entities and Money Matters Finance Services. The scam involved Money Matters, a non-banking financial company specialising in debt syndication, allegedly bribing the bank executives to secure favourable terms for real estate companies. CBI has started looking into whether loans disbursed by LIC Housing Finance and some banks to five real estate companies made their way into the stock markets instead of projects for which they were sanctioned. Meanwhile, the government on November 25 directed all public sector banks, insurance companies and financial institutions to review their exposure to companies identified by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged involvement in the real estate loan racket. India International Trade Fair 2010 concludes: The fortnight-long India International Trade Fair 2010 organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi concluded on November 27, 2010. Clean and Energy Efficient Technology Products & Services was the theme of IITF 2010. Maharashtra was the Partner State while Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were the focus states. ITPO Chairman-cum-Managing Director Dr. Subas Pani informed that over 600 delegates from 64 countries participated in the fair. While Gujarat bagged the gold medal in States/Union Territories category, Meghalaya won the gold in North Eastern State category. Among the foreign participants Afghanistan won the gold medal and Thailand got the silver. Infra remains largest contributor to GDP: The infrastructure sector remained the largest contributor to Indias GDP amongst the key sectors reviewed, according to PMI-FICCI Market Survey released on November 21, 2010. The survey reviewed the performance of six sectors namely, IT-ITES, realty, power, energy, defence and infrastructure. The study aims to fill the void in comparative studies on project management. The infrastructure sector was also found to have the least project delivery performance coupled with poor adoption of best project management practices. While automobile and ITES sectors have high application of best project management practices as well as high project delivery performance. In the defence sector, though best practices in project management are implemented, project delivery performance is still not up to the mark. Y.V. Reddys book released: Renowned statistician C.R. Rao released the book Global Crisis, Recession & Uneven Recovery authored by Reserve Bank of India former Governor Dr. Y.V. Reddy on November 27, 2010. Published by Orient BlackSwan, the book offers a lucid explanation of the financial crisis and accounts for its consequences. In addition to bringing out the root causes of the global financial crisis, Dr. Reddy makes certain proposals for reform in the book. The work outlines the consequences of the crisis one of them being shift in the balance of economic power in favour of Asia while it also highlights the role of central banks in the evolution of the crisis as well as their role in the developing countries. The book is a sequel to Dr. Reddys India and the Global Financial Crisis: Managing Money and Finance.

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NTPC signs JV with ADB for renewable energy: NTPC Limited (NTPC), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Kyuden International Corporation (Kyushu) on November 24, 2010 signed an agreement to form a JV company (JVC) in NCT of Delhi, to develop projects and establish over a period of three years, a portfolio of about 500 MW of Renewable Power Generation in India. JVC shall presently develop wind power and small hydroelectric power projects and in future may also develop other renewable power generation resources. NTPC, ADB and Kyushu shall contribute in the ratio of 50:25:25 in the equity share capital of the Company.

Financial Stability Development Council set for launch: The Financial Stability Development Council (FSDC) is expected to come into force in the month of December, 2010. The Ministry of Finance has consulted all the financial sector regulators on the formation of the Council. This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena in Parliament on November 23, 2010. The objectives of FSDC would be to deal with issues relating to: OBJECTIVES of FSDC Financial stability Financial development sector Financial literacy Financial inclusion Macro prudential supervision of the economy including the functioning of large financial conglomerates Coordinating Indias international interface with financial sector bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB)

Inter-regulatory coordination

S. N. A. Zaidi appointed Civil Aviation Secretary: The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet on November 22, 2010 approved the appointment of Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi, presently Director General (Civil Aviation), Ministry of Civil Aviation as Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Reed Hastings is Fortunes Businessperson of the Year 2010: Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, was named Fortune magazines Businessperson of the Year 2010 by the in November 2010. Indias Ratan Tata was 25th in the list of 50 CEOs picked from companies worldwide. Hastings was followed by Alan Mulally (Ford), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Ellen Kullman (DuPont), Robin Li (Bidu), Larry Ellison (Oracle), Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway), Ray Dalio (Bridgewater) and Jeffrey Bezos (Amazon) in the top ten list.

Radars for coastal security plan approved: India on November 25, 2010 placed an order worth Rs 76 crore with Swedish firm SAAB for surveillance radars atop 90 lighthouses along the 7,516-km long coastline. The order will be executed under the national coastal security plan formulated by Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks. Indias forex reserves at $297.985 billion on November 19: The countrys foreign exchange reserves fell $330 million to $297.985 billion for the week ended November 19, according to the weekly statistical supplement released by the Reserve Bank of India. The fall in reserves was on account of changes in currency valuation. Foreign currency assets fell by $319 million to $269.179 billion. Foreign currency assets expressed in US dollar terms include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies such as the euro, sterling and yen, held in reserves. Gold was unchanged at $21.668 billion. SDRs fell $8 million to $5.144 billion. The reserve position in the IMF fell $3 million to $1.998 billion.

Surats Zari gets GI status: The grand and glittering centuries-old zari-making craft of Surat district in Gujarat was in November 2010 granted Geographical Indication (GI) status, protecting it against infringement. GI of goods refer to the geographical indication referring to a place of origin of that product, which attributes it the quality, reputation and distinctiveness. Zari is a type of thread made of fine gold or silver wire used in traditional Indian and Pakistani garments. This thread is woven into fabrics, primarily made of silk to create intricate patterns. Chinese zari manufacturers and few domestic producers in other parts of the country have been flooding the markets with duplicate Zari. The GI indication will help put an end to such duplication.

India ranked highest on Global Retail Theft Barometer Study: The Indian retail sector lost Rs 9,295.9 crore to shoplifting and theft during the 12-month period ended June, 2010, according to the Global Retail Theft Barometer (GRTB) Study report unveiled on November 23, 2010. India also had the dubious distinction of the highest rate of retail shrinkage a reduction or loss in inventory due to shoplifting and theft in the world. Retail shrinkage in India continues to rank the worlds highest at 2.7 per cent. Total cost of retail crime reached Rs 9,295.9 crore, shared at Rs 6,631 per family, according to the GRTB. As per the study, the lowest rate of shrinkage was witnessed in Taiwan, at 0.87 per cent of retail sales. The study covers key trends in retail shrinkage and crime in 42 countries and regions across the world, including the US, China, India, Europe, Japan and Australia.

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GMR ties up funds for Male airport project: GMR Male International Airport (GMIAL), a subsidiary of Hyderabadbased GMR Infrastructure, on November 25, 2010 said it has achieved financial closure for the project to modernise, expand and operate Republic of Maldives capital Males international airport. Earlier on June 24, the consortium led by GMR Infrastructure (GIL) with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), had won concession for the Male airport for 25 years.

CCEA approves five more mega food parks: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on November 25, 2010 approved the setting up of five more mega food parks under the Infrastructure Development Scheme with a total grant of Rs. 250 crore. Ten projects are already being executed. The scheme, approved by the government in 2008, aims to increase the processing of perishable foods from 6 to 20 per cent, value addition from 20 to 35 per cent and the share in global food trade from 1.5 to 3 per cent by 2015. It also seeks to provide infrastructure for food processing industries along the value chain from the farm to the market. Each park will have 30-40 food processing industries.

Mahindra buys 70% in Ssangyong: Mahindra & Mahindra, market leader in the utility vehicle and tractor segments in the domestic market, on November 23, 2010 signed a definitive agreement to buy a 70 per cent stake in the debtridden South Korean auto maker, SsangYong Motor Company (SYMC), for $463 million (Rs. 2,100 crore). Mahindra intends to launch as many as three new SsangYong models in the next few years in an attempt to revive sales of the company, fifth largest in the sector in that country. Ssangyong had sought bankruptcy protection after continued dismal sales. Oracle wins $1.3 bn from SAP in copyright case: Oracle Corp on November 24, 2010 won a $1.3billion jury verdict at a federal court in Oakland, California, against rival SAP AG for copyright infringement by a now-defunct software maintenance unit, TomorrowNow. Oracle sued SAP, the worlds largest maker of business application software, in 2007 claiming its TomorrowNow unit in the US made hundreds of thousands of illegal downloads and several thousand copies of Oracles software to avoid paying licensing fees and steal customers.

Mexicos Cemex set to buy Murli Cement: Mexicos Cemex SAB de CV, the worlds third-largest cement maker behind European giants Lafarge and Holcim, is close to buying the cement business of Nagpur-based Murli Industries for about $550 million. The entry of large global players will also help lower costs. India is already the second-largest producer of cement with a capacity of around 275 million tonnes after Chinas 1.06 billion tonnes. Aditya Birla group, which controls Grasim Industries and Ultratech Cement, is countrys largest cement producer.

SECTION E: SPORTS
News round up Hosts China top medals tally at Guangzhou Asian Games The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, was a multi-sport event in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 27, 2010. Guangzhou was the second Chinese city to host the Games, after Beijing in 1990. A total of 476 events in 42 sports was contested by athletes from 45 countries, making it the largest event in the history of the Games. The final medal tally was led by traditional powerhouse China, followed by South Korea and third place Japan. China set a new Games record with 199 gold medals. Some three World and 103 Asian records were broken. Chinese badminton player Lin Dan was named Guangzhou Asian Games' Most Valuable Player (MVP). The 27-yearold claimed the last major title that had eluded him when he defeated Malaysian World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the final. He is already a three-time World champion and the current Olympic champion

Medals Tally: Top 10 Rank 1 2 3 4 Nation China (CHN) South Korea (KOR) Japan (JPN) Iran (IRI) Gold 199 76 48 20 Silver 119 65 74 14 Bronze 98 91 94 25 Total 416 232 216 59

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5 6 7 8 9 10

Kazakhstan (KAZ) India (IND) Chinese Taipei (TPE) Uzbekistan (UZB) Thailand (THA) Malaysia (MAS)

18 14 13 11 11 9 477

23 17 16 22 9 18 479

38 33 38 23 32 14 621

79 64 67 56 52 41 1577

Total India at the 2010 Asian Games

India ended the games at 64 medals including 14 golds which is India's second best showing ever since inception of Asian Games in 1951. It was a commendable effort by the strong Indian contingent of 626 athletes to come up with a decent performance of 64 medals including 14 gold, to be ranked sixth in the Asian Games. Overall, it was a healthy improvement from the 53 medals won in the last edition, and it was the best result for India after the 15 gold medals in 1951. Athletics accounted for the highest number of golds (5) followed by Boxing, Tennis & Kabaddi (2 each) and Shooting, Rowing and Cue Sports (1 each).

Indias Gold medal winners Name Pankaj Advani Bajrang Lal Takhar Ronjan Sodhi Preeja Sreedharan Sudha Singh Somdev Devvarman, Sanam Singh Somdev Devvarman A. C. Ashwini Joseph Abraham Vikas Krishan India India Sport Cue Sports Rowing Shooting Athletics Athletics Tennis Tennis Athletics Athletics Boxing Kabaddi Kabaddi Event Men's English Billiards Singles Men's Single Sculls Men's Double Trap Women's 10,000m Women's 3000m Steeplechase Men's Doubles Men's Singles Women's 400m Hurdles Men's 400m Hurdles Men's 60kg Women Men Women's 4 x 400m Relay Boxing 75 kg

Manjeet Kaur, A. C. Ashwini, Sini Jose, Mandeep Kaur Athletics Vijender Singh Boxing

Anil Kumble elected KSCA President: Former India cricket captain and Indias leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs, Anil Kumble was elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) defeating the incumbent Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, in the elections at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on November 28, 2010. Former India bowler J. Srinath was elected secretary. Saina reclaims second spot in BWF rankings: Saina Nehwal was ranked second in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings announced after the Asian Games. Saina, who crashed out of the Asian Games in the quarterfinals, is ranked second behind Chinas Xin Wang held. Another Chinese, Yihan Wang, occupied the third spot followed by Denmarks Tine Baun and Chinese Shixian Wang.

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Ashok Kumar wins DDA Open golf: Ashok Kumar won the Rs. 30 lakh DDA Open golf title with a 10-stroke margin over Sujjan Singh in the final at the Qutub Golf Course, New Delhi on November 27, 2010. The triumph, worth Rs. 4,84,950, also helped Ashok match Mukesh Kumars record of 11 titles on the PGTI-organised domestic tour. Sujjan Singh received Rs. 3,34,950 while third-placed Vijay Kumar collected Rs. 1,87,950. Rolex Rankings (Seasons top-five money earners): 1. Ashok Kumar (Rs. 48,93,092), 2. Anirban Lahiri (Rs. 37,36,208), 3. Vijay Kumar (Rs. 30,32,425), 4. Mukesh Kumar (Rs. 28,75,217), 5. Shamim Khan (Rs. 28,50,375) .

Bopanna, Qureshi win Arthur Ashe award: Their message of Stop War Start Tennis fetched Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Of The Year award during the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November 2010. The two players rose to prominence by reaching the final of the US Open where they ended runners-up to the legendary Mike and Bob Bryan. While Qureshi has received this award in the past as well when he teamed up with Israels Amir Hadad in 2002, its a first for Bopanna.

Lakshman Reddy is Mr World 2010: 25-year-old Lakshman Reddy of Hyderabad was crowned Mr World 2010 in the World Bodybuilding Championship in Las Vegas in November 2010. Kenyans win Airtel Delhi Half Marathon: Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya survived a stiff competition from Ethiopians to clinch the mens title, while the 2008 winner, Aselefech Mergia, won in the womens elite category at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in Delhi on November 28, 2010.

India win Test series against NZ 1-0: Hosts India beat New Zealand by an innings and 198 runs in the third and final test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Nagpur on November 23, 2010 to clinch the 3 test series 1-0. Rahul Dravids won the Man-of-the-Match award for his 191 run knock in Indias only innings. Harbhajan Singh was adjudged the Player-of-the-Series for his all-round effort of 315 runs at an average of 105.00 and 10 wickets at 42.00. st st nd Scores: New Zealand 1 innings: 193; India 1 innings: 566 for eight decl; New Zealand 2 innings: 175. The first two tests at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad and Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad had ended in draws. Air India wins Nehru hockey tournament: Air India defeated Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC XI) 4-3 to win the Nehru hockey tournament title at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on November 25, 2010. Air India got the winners cheque for Rs two lakh, while runner-up ONGC bagged Rs one lakh. In the third-place playoff, Army XI rallied to beat Indian Oil 2-1.

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Voices of the Week

CBI is showing us that it has recorded 5,000 calls and seized 8,000 documents. This is beating around the bush. Has the minister been examined? The CAG report is replete with his involvement in the entire episode. Has this gentleman been questioned? Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly asking the CBI why former telecom minister A Raja has not been interrogated I am saddened with India. I would like to have thought that India would be standing behind us. That it would have followed in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmarese dissident leader, expressing her sadness with the way New Delhi engaged with the military regime in Yangon while she was in detention I may have entered politics as a member of the Gandhi family but now I have my own identity. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP

We do not call a person for questioning unless we have made a foolproof case. Then we subject him to 8 to 10 hours of intense interrogation so that he cannot evade questions. KK Venugopal, CBI counsel, saying the agency has to follow a proper process.

Ultimately it is for the people of Myanmar to decide their own future. India cannot force the pace democracy in another country. of

Lalit Mansingh, former Indian Foreign Secretary saying Indias engagement with Myanmars military regime is for strategic reasons that involve national security

"It would be better for him (Rahul) if he heads Tribal Ministry and works for the welfare of people instead of just visiting them." Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

Nitish entered through the gaping hole between me and Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP chief) because we went apart, east and west, in the last (2005) polls. He still remains in that hole and does not come out. Lalu Prasad Yadav

When the issue of development is discussed, Lalu becomes furious like a bull does seeing a red rag. Lalu is not reliable in politics.

Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister

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I would like to tell all opposition parties that they should refrain from following double standards on the issue of corruption and take effective measures as done by the Congress and the UPA government. Sonia Gandhi, Congress president, referring to BJPs reluctance to act against land scam accused BJP Karnataka Chief Minister

I will keep those selfish people and my kin away from the administration. I will give good governance in the coming two years tenure BS Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Chief Minister, alleged to have denotified land to benefit companies owned by his sons and daughter

With great respect to the Opposition, I think this is not the right demand at all. There was a JPC on Harshad Mehta, what happened? Nothing. Bofors, nothing happened. Arun Shourie, telecom minister in the NDA government

"I will appeal to the members of the Opposition that please do not obstruct proceedings of the House. Accept the proposition that CAG report on 2G will be examined by the PAC. Let them examine it and after that we will see what further course of action is needed" Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister, rejecting opposition demands for setting up JPC to probe 2G spectrum scam

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