india-bahamas

india SIGNED THE FOURTH TAX INFORMATION EXCHANGE AGREEMENT TIEA IN FEB 2011 WITH A COUNTRY CONSIDERED A TAX HEAVEN . 

india-poland

India, Poland to heighten bilateral cooperation in Film sector
India and Poland are to increase bilateral cooperation in the Film sector. In this connection, the Information and
Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni is on a 3-day visit to Poland. India will ink an audio visual co-production agreement
that will furnish a legal framework for encouraging audio-visual productions. Ms. Soni will also push India as a filming
destination and exhibit the policy initiatives attempted to ease co-production arrangements.

Indo-Afghan

India and Afghanistan Signed Four Cooperation Pacts

India and Afghanistan on 12 November 2012 signed four agreements to cooperate in areas of social welfare, fertilizer, coal mining and youth affairs.

President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai was in India on a four day visit from 9 November 2012 to12 November 2012.

During his visit a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by External Affair Minister Salman Khurshid and Afghanistan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul under which India will provide grants to Afghanistan to implement small development projects through local bodies, community organisations, charitable trusts and educational institutions.

The three other Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) signed can be listed as

• The second MoU relates to fertilizer sector and was signed by Salman Khurshid and Afghanistan Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani.
• The third MoU aims at cooperation in youth affairs which was signed by India's external affairs minister and Aghanistan Minister of Information and Culture Sayed Makhdoom Raheenis.

• The fourth MoU was on the development of coal resources and was signed by India's Coal Minister Prakash Jaiswal and Afghanistan Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani.

Both the countries also decided to intensify the cooperation with a special focus on deepening their economic engagement in areas ranging from agriculture and small businesses to mining and infrastructure.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Government of India and Afghanistan along with Afghan investment and business organizations  organized a Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan on 28 June, 2012. The summit took place at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The official language for the summit was English.

Key Highlights (Briefly)

•    India and US to enhance defense cooperation through increased technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defense items in Afghanistan.
•    Eight grants awarded under the Obama-Singh Knowledge Initiative. Next call for proposals in July 2012.
•     India to establish 100 Community Colleges
•     CV Raman Fellowship will place 300 Post-Doctoral fellows in US higher education institutions
•     India and USA to launch a web portal for educational and research collaboration and       exchanges
•     India proposed to organize a regional South Asia Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference that will bring key policy makers, women entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, private sector institutions, and corporations.
•    To facilitate travel between the two countries, an interview waiver pilot program is being introduced to further streamline U.S. visa processing and facilitate legitimate travel.

The participants in the summit were investors not only from the public sectors, but also private sectors. The summit was expected to provide an extraordinary opportunity to get information on investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

Objective of the Summit

•    The primary objective was to attract foreign investment into Afghanistan opening in areas like Hydrocarbons, mining and infrastructure
•    It envisioned fruitful partnerships to help invest in Afghanistan.
•    The summit also included presentations in regard to Investment Climate in Afghanistan.
•    To throw light on Afghanistan’s national growth strategy, long term and short term investment opportunities.

India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai  have already met in the past year ,2011 for a tenure of two days to hold one-to-one and delegation level talks on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai Visited India and discussed on various Issues

Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan paid a state visit to India from 9 November to 13 November 2012 following the invitation of the President of the Republic of India Pranab Mukherjee. On his visit to India he was accompanied by a high-level delegation to India. The Afghani President held delegate level bilateral discussions on various regional and international issues that are relevant for both the nations with the Prime Minister of India.

During his India Visit the Afghanistan’s President attended a business meet at Mumbai on 10 November 2012 participated by the business leaders of India. On 12 November 2012, he delivered a Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial lecture that was organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi.

The geographical conditions of both the countries make them natural strategic partners of each other to create a common platform for the virtue of peace and cooperation in all fields. The good relations started between the two nations after the two signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in October 2011 for creation of strong ties between both the nations.

About President Hamid Karzai 

Hamid Karzai was elected as the 12th President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on 7 December 2004 after playing a dominant role as a political figure after Taliban regime came to an end in the year 2001 in the nation. He was re-elected to the chair of the President in the elections of 2009. Karzai as a dominant political figure from Afghanistan was elected as a chairperson of the Interim Administration for a term of six months, during International Conference on Afghanistan in Germany in December 2012.

Awards

Hamid Karzai as a recognized leader has received several awards and recognitions from different educational institutions and governments of different countries. Some of the awards and honours received by him include:

•    On 29 January 2002 he received a commemorative medallion of the 11 September 2001 attacks presented by a member of the house Jack Kingston, an honour to him from the United States House of Representatives
•    He was created an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2003
•    On 7 March 2003 he received an honorary doctorate in literature from Himachal Pradesh University in India
•    He was awarded with the Philadelphia Liberty Medal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 4 July 2004
•    Center for Afghan Studies, University of Nebraska — Omaha conferred him with an honorary degree on 25 May 2005
•    Boston University conferred him with the honorary Doctor of Laws Degree on 22 May 2005
•    On 25 September 2006, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Georgetown University

Historic Indo-Afghan MOU in Iron & Steel sector
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
India and Afghanistan inked a historic MoU for mutual cooperation in the field of iron and steel
sector.
Objective: To pave way for institution and capacity building in the Afghanistan’s iron and steel
sector. To promote economic co-operation b/w India and Afghanistan and promote public and private sector Indian
companies to invest in mineral rich Afghanistan. This paves way for for Indian companies to invest in mineral rich
Afghanistan.
India is one of the biggest contributors and donors to the economic development of Afghanistan. The two nations have
already inked a number of MOUs in several spheres, including mines and minerals, natural gas, and commerce &
industry. In October 2011, Afghanistan and India inked historic strategic partnership agreement acclaiming the
commencement of a new era in their relations.
India’s SAIL-led consortium has already won the mining rights for 3 iron ore blocks atHajigak in November 2011. The 3
blocks in Hajigak have estimated reserves of 1.28 billion tonnes of high-grade magnetite iron ore.

india-france

India and France  signed an agreement in the field of sustainable Urban Development. 



7 agreements----defence,infrastructure,energy,space,research and development and joint ventures at delhi




10 French nationals deported from Bihar for alleged links with Maoists
10 French nationals including 6 women have been deported from Bihar for their alleged links with Maoists. A verdict to
this effect was taken by the Bihar state government. They were detained by police in Nawada district of the state.
These nationals were found moving in naxal hotbeds and holding farmers meeting. Bihar Govt held that the French
nationals have desecrated visa terms and all of them were working for an NGO supposed to have links with frontal
organizations of Maoists. Out of 10 French nationals 9 had come to India on tourist visa and one had an employment
permit to work in Bhopal. Bihar police has also alleged that as per the intelligence reports these French nationals had
maoist links

india-sudan

US welcomes Indian initiative of sending its special envoys to Sudan
and S.Sudan
US welcomed Indian initiative to send its special envoy Mr. Amarendra Khatua to Sudan and
South Sudan to promote peace b/w the two countries. Mr. Khatua is on a visit to both Juba and
and Khartoum as India’s special envoy to promote peace and guard India’s interests in the two
nations. The Indian move comes 3 months after China sent its own special envoy to handle the
crisis and guard its oil interests.
Why US and India are so much interested in maintaining peace b/w Sudan and South Sudan?
India and the US have interest in a stable and peaceful relationship b/w Sudan and South Sudan as
much of the oil is in the south.

india-german

IN 2001, GERMANY APROVED 32 MILION DOLLAR CREDIT FOR INDIA..FOR OCEANOGRAPIC RESEARCH








An accord under the umbrella of Indo-German bilateral development cooperation programme inked
b/w REC (Rural Electrification Corporation) and KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau – German
government-owned development bank, based in Frankfurt) for a loan of euro 100.1 million, together
with a grant component of Euro 0.5 million, for financing ‘Clean energy for rural development’ projects.
Objective: The loan component is support such projects in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency which
contribute to rural development.

india-uk

India, Britain to step up cooperation in cyber security

November 10th, 2012

India and Britain decided to step up cooperation in cyber security during their Foreign Minister-level talks.

SHARED CORE PRINCIPLES

India and Britain went on to define the core principles under which this cooperation would take place.

A joint statement issued at the end of the interaction held that “Both India and the United Kingdom share the core principles of liberty, transparency, freedom of expression and the rule of law which apply in cyberspace”.

Objective: The cyber security dialogue will attempt to cut down the risk of threats from cyberspace to international security and strengthen the bilateral cooperation in tackling cyber crime.

U.K. halts further aid to India

November 13th, 2012

Buckling under mounting domestic pressure, the British government declared stop to additional financial aid to India but all existent commitments until 2015 would be honored. 

• The move would save Britain over £200 million over the next three years.
• Britain’s new focus will be to offer technical help and investment in private sector poverty-alleviation projects
• Move consequence to the economic crisis U.K. itself is facing and considering that India is ‘successfully developing’

BAE Systems inked an Agreement with Smile Foundation for Health Care and Primary Education

The BAE Systems, a British Defence major, on 7 October 2012 signed an agreement with Smile Foundation, a Non-Government Organisation for supporting the underprivileged in Health Care and Primary Education. The BAE Systems have inked the agreement for strengthening its social presence in India.

The company is aimed at making its contribution in development of India by supporting the development programs of Smile Foundation in terms of Primary education and Health Care in both urban and rural communities of seven states of India and the states are Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.

India, U.K. amend convention on DTAA

India and the U.K. inked a protocol amending the 1993 bilateral convention on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion related to taxes on income and capital gains.

Main features of this protocol:

• Streamlining the partnership and taxation of dividends provisions in both the countries.
• Provide tax stability to the residents of the two countries.
• Facilitate mutual economic cooperation besides stimulating flow of investment, technology and services b/w the two nations.
• Provisions for effective exchange of information b/w the tax authorities of the both sides.
• Exchange of banking information and supplying of information irrespective of domestic interest.
• Sharing of information to other agencies with the permission of the supplying state.

UK Lifted Travel Advisory on Jammu and Kashmir

The United Kingdom on 6 November 2012 lifted its around twenty years old travel advisory for its nationals against travel to Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh, referring improvements of the security situation in the State.

The lifting of travel advisory came to testimony the fact that security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is improved.

The UK Foreign office declared on their website that they no longer advise against travel to Jammu and Kashmir or against travel on the Jammu to Srinagar highway.

The lifting of Travel Advisory came just before British foreign secretary William Hague’s visit to India.
The lifting of Advisory is going to encourage more UK tourists to visit and provide a platform for businesses which in turn benefit the local economy of Jammu and Kashmir.

UK is the third country to lift the ban on travel to these places in the state after Germany and Japan. Earlier the Country of Japan on 19 October 2012 lifted the advisory while Germany in July 2011 had relaxed travel restriction to Jammu and Kashmir for its National.

The travel Advisories were imposed as a result of the outbreak of militancy in the state of Jammu and Kashmir after 1989 and with the abduction of some foreign tourists

Cabinet approves for Indo-UK JV on affordable healthcare
The Cabinet approved the implementation of a joint venture programme on affordable Healthcare.
The Department of Biotechnology and the Wellcome Trust, London, U.K., one of the world’s largest bio-medical
research charities, propose to establish a joint funding initiative called R&D for Affordable Healthcare in India. The
programme will support translational and innovative research projects at Indian institutions potentially leading to safe,
efficacious and affordable healthcare products such as drugs, vaccines, bio-equipment products etc.

U.K. to slash aid to India

November 6th, 2012

Britain is planning to slash its £280 million a year aid to India from 2015 following increasing domestic pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to halt funding emerging economies such as India, China and Brazil at a time when Britain itself faces a serious economic crisis.

The funds, however, will still be diverted to aid projects abroad, rather than helping to ease the deficit or fund public services in the country.

Aid to India by Britain may end soon
Britain is gearing up to cease its aid program to a flourishing India and is improbable to renew its
commitment after 2015. Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development,
held that his department’s 1.6 billion pounds programme for India is in its final phases and will be
wound up as the Indian economy booms and its own efforts to ease poverty become progressively effectual. Currently,
the UK government has publicly devoted to funding aid programmes in India until 2015. Whilst more than 1 billion
pounds has been sent to India over the past 5 years, 600 million pounds remain committed but, Andrew Mitchell did
not commit to renewing aid to India beyond that date.
Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, quoted that "I completely understand
why people question the aid programme to India and we questioned it ourselves. That’s why we reviewed
every aspect of it when we came into government and changed it fundamentally. The fact is we didn’t mess
around. . . We won’t be there forever".
British Media held that: “There is growing political pressure to end aid to a country that boasts its own space
programme and spends 70 billion pounds a year on poverty alleviation, dwarfing the Britain’s contribution”.

india-africa

2nd meeting of the India-Africa Trade Ministers, New Delhi
The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles of India, Sh. Anand Sharma, and the
African Trade and Industry Ministers met in New Delhi for the 2nd meeting of the India-Africa
Trade Ministers.
Backgrounder: The ‘India-Africa Trade Ministers Dialogue’ is an annual event, of which the 1st
meeting was held in Addis Ababa in May, 2011, on the occasion of the 2nd Africa-India Forum
Summit held at Head of State level.
Key Points at the 2nd meeting of the India-Africa Trade Ministers:-
 2nd Meeting of the India-Africa Trade Ministers
 The India-Africa Business Council (IABC) launched/meets for the first time.
 India Africa Revise Trade Target to US$ 90 billion by 2015
 Cotton Technical Assistance Programme in the C-4 Countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, Mali), Malawi, Nigeria
and Uganda Launched
 India Africa Stress Centrality of Development in Doha Round
The India-Africa Business Council (IABC) launched:
 The Ministers launched the India-Africa Business Council (IABC) co-chaired by Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman,
Bharti Group from India side and Mr. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, President, Chief Executive, Dangote Group,
Nigeria from African side. The Council will suggest the way forward on enhancing economic and commercial
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
relations between India and Africa and also identify and address issues which hinder growth of economic
partnership between India and Africa.
India-Africa bilateral trade at US $ 90 Bn by 2015:
 Indian and African Ministers set the target of India-Africa bilateral trade as US $ 90 bn by 2015. In the year 2011,
India-Africa bilateral trade has reached US $ 60 bn.
The Cotton Technical Assistance Programme in the C-4 countries:
 The Cotton Technical Assistance Programme in the C-4 countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, Mali), Malawi,
Nigeria and Uganda was also launched. It is an initiative of the Government of India under the umbrella of the
‘India-Africa Forum Summit’ towards helping the above-mentioned cotton growing countries of Africa to build
capacity, technical expertise and thereby competitiveness in the field.
Integrated Clusters:
 The proposed Integrated Clusters (Integrated Textiles as well as other clusters) to be set up by India in African
countries expected to bring together investments of US $ 350 mn and generate employment for 60,000 textile
workers in Africa.
Centrality of Development in Doha Round:
 India and Africa reiterated their commitment towards the centrality of the development dimension and the
expeditious completion of the Least Developed Countries’ (LDC) issues in the Doha Development Agenda, and
agreed that by concluding the Doha Round of negotiations with development at its core, the multilateral trading
system envisaged by the WTO would be strengthened.
 India and Africa share a common platform on many issues of importance to developing countries and their joint
efforts have played a key role in preventing any dilution of the development agenda.
Pan-African Institutions being set up by the Indian Government:
For capacity building and human resource development across many areas, Pan-African Institutions being set up by the
Indian Government under the umbrella of the ‘India-Africa Forum Summit’. These are:-
 India-Africa Institute of Foreign Trade,
 India-Africa Diamond Institute,
 India-Africa Institute of Educational Planning and Administration
 India-Africa Institute of Information Technology
 India-Africa Food Processing Cluster,
 India-Africa Integrated Textile Cluster,
 India-Africa Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting,
 India-Africa University for Life and Earth Sciences,
 India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development, and
 India-Africa Civil Aviation Academy.

india-jordon

India to help Jordan set up poll watchdog
India to assist Jordan set up an independent poll panel for improved election management and
electoral reforms in Jordan, followed by a request from Jordanian PM Awn Khasawneh to Chief
Election Commissioner of India S.Y.Quraishi.
The Jordanian PM complimenting the Indian poll panel for its ‘remarkable work’ held that his country would like to
profit from the Indian experience. To this, Dr. Quraishi offered to train Jordanian officials at the recently created India
International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), and proposed the training can take place in
either nation.

india-kenya

Kenya keen on India’s participation in LAPSSET
LAPSSET: The Lamu Port and Lamu Southern Sudan-
Ethiopia Transport Corridor aka The Lamu corridor is a
transport and infrastructure project in Kenya that when
complete will be the country’s second transport
corridor. Kenya’s other transport corridor is the
Mombasa port and Mombasa – Uganda transport
corridor that passes through Nairobi and much of the
Northern Rift.
The project will involve the following components:
 Standard gauge railway line to Juba (capital of
South Sudan)
 Road network
 Oil pipelines (Southern Sudan and Ethiopia)
 Oil refinery at Bargoni
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
 Three Airports
 Three resort cities (Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana shores)
The project was initially conceived in 1975 but never took off due to various reasons. The project was later revived and
included in Kenya’s Vision 2030. Recent estimates put the cost of the project at between US $ 22-23 Billion.
Kenya invited India to participate in one of the largest infrastructure development projects in Africa the LAPSSET.
Kenya demanded the Indian participation the project.

india-russia

Sistema issue: India hopes agreeable solution

In reply to Russia’s comment to take the cancellation of 2G license of Sistema for international arbitration if it is not resolved in Indian courts, India has said that the matter is commercial and all parties are free to take legal recourse that they deem appropriate to meet their commercial goal.

What is the matter over Sistema?

• Sistema is a Russian telecom company.
• Incorporated in 1993, Sistema is now one of Russia’s top ten companies by revenues and is one of the largest investment companies in the world.
• It has a joint venture with and it holds a major stake in Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd. whose 21 out of 22 licences were cancelled by the Supreme Court in February, 2012 (when SC cancelled 122 licences).

• Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd (SSTL), a JV between Russian conglomerate Sistema and India’s Shyam Group.
• Mobile Tele Systems or simply MTS India is a subsidiary of Russian conglomerate Sistema
• Russia had previously asserted it will not let Sistema’s USD 3.1 billion investment (in its Indian telecom venture) go waste due to "internal problems" in India
  .

DEC 2002 DELHI DECLARATION WAS SIGNED WITH PM OF INDIA AND PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA, BY THIS INDIA GOT MANY MILITARY WEAPONS AND TECHNOLOGIES FROM RUSSIA

























India has urged Russia to open its flourishing $19-billion pharmaceuticals market and accelerate the list of 500 drugs that it presently imports from India. India has urged Russia to let Indian pharmaceutical companies form joint partnerships with Russian companies.
India has demanded the Russian side to constitute a nodal agency to craft a joint committee for execution of MoU b/w
Indian and Russian pharma companies, particularly in the field of quality control and standard essentials in accordance
assessment of pharmaceuticals and bio-pharmaceuticals.
Russia’s pharmaceuticals market sprang up to $19 billion in 2011 from $6.6 in 2005, growing at a compound yearly
growth rate of 23%. Still, there are a lot of non-tariff barriers Russia inflicts which makes it hard for foreign companies
to move into this market, in terms of drugs registration and research and development of fresh drugs.
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)
Already India has constituted its own nodal agency— The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) — under the Department of Pharmaceuticals. All the same, the Russian side is yet to constitute an suitable nodal agency.




India signed 30 agreements including civil nuclear cooperation,antiterrorism with russia IN DEC 2010





Russia court dismisses plea seeking ban on translated version of Gita
Russian court in the Siberian city of Tomsk dismissed the petition seeking a ban on a translated version of Bhagwad
Gita for being extremist. State prosecutors in the Siberian city of Tomsk had filed an appeal
against a lower court’s dismissal of their original plea seeking a ban on Bhagavad Gita .
Their claim was that the text was extremist literature full of hatred and insult to nonbelievers
which promoted social discord. The higher court in Tomsk kept the verdict of the
lower court intact.
Brajendra Nandan Das, Director ISKCON media communication in India, expressed happiness over the verdict. The case
had drawn criticism from Hindus across the world.

india-nepal

Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepalese authorities signed an MoU on 19 September 2012 for granting the amount to Shri Mahendra Higher Secondary School in Achham district under Indian-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme.

The proposed building will provide better educational opportunity to over 1300 students, about half of whom are girls. Besides, India has gifted two ambulances to health care facilities in the district.

India to provide grant of 3 crore Nepali Rupees to Nepal
India is to offer grant assistance of 3 Crore Nepali Rupees for Dailekh district in far -Western Nepal. MoU inked b/w
India and District Development Committee Dailekh and Shree Bhairav Higher Secondary School for the
construction of 3 storied building for the grant aid under the Nepal- India Economic Cooperation
Programme. This is the third development project being taken on in Dailekh district with government
of India’s support.







India, Nepal agree to expedite work on proposed Jayanagar-Baridabas
rail link
India and Nepal have accorded to speed up work on the proposed Jayanagar-Baridabas rail link
which will lead to easier and faster connectivity b/w the two nations.
India and Nepal reviewed the progress on the execution of two rail links, namely 17.65 km Jogbani
in Indian side linking Biratnagar in Nepal and 68 km Jayanagar in Indian side to Baridibas in Nepal.
These projects are under Phase-I of the cross- border rail link.
















IOC signs pact with Nepal oil body
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and Indian OilCorporation (IOC) inked an agreement on the supply
of petroleum products for the next 5 years. As per the agreement, IOC has agreed to waive off
2.5% Price Adjustment Factor, which includes refinery and transportation charges among other
technical losses under IOC’s existing price formula. As per NOC, this will assist Nepal to save 2 billion Nepali rupees
yearly. IOC has also settled to add a fresh port in Mumbai to allow Nepal Oil Corporation easily distribute petroleum
products in mid- western and far western regions.
At present fuel has been supplied by IOC to Nepal via Haldia port in West Bengal. They also agreed to forward the
process to enhance the supply of cooking gas to Nepal from other Indian refineries, which presently is supplied via
Haldia and Mathura refineries.






3 day India-Nepal crafts festival begins in Nepal
In Nepal, a 3-day India-Nepal crafts festival began in the capital Kathmandu. Inaugurating the festival, Nepal’s
President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav held that such a common platform which would help artisans in both Nepal and India.

india-malysia

Ranjit Ajit to take over as the new Chairman of Securities
Commission Malaysia
Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh to succeed Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar who will retire from the post of Chairman of
Securities Commission (SC) of Malaysia. Datuk Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also
Finance Minister, has appointed Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh to succeed Zarinah as chairman and Datuk Dr
Nik Ramlah Mahmood (left) as deputy chief executive, and their new appointments take effect from
April 1, 2012.
Ranjit is recognised internationally for his expertise in securities regulation.

india-norway

NRI children brought in Delhi from Norway
The 2 NRI children Abhigyan and Aishwarya, who were kept in foster care by authorities in Norway for nearly a year,
arrived in New Delhi after a protracted legal battle. The children came with by their foster father. A Norwegian court
handed over the 2 NRI children in foster care to their paternal uncle, ending months of custody row that saw India
escalating diplomatic pressure on Norway to send back the children. The children were taken away from their parents
Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya by Norway’s Child Welfare Agency in May 2011 on grounds of "emotional
disconnect”.








India assures Norway fair solution for Telenor
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
India reassured Norway of a fair resolution for Telenor whose multi-billion investment in India faces
incertitude after cancellation of 122 telecom licence by the Court. The issue arose for discussion at a
meeting b/w PM Manmohan Singh with his Norwegian counterpart Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of
Nuclear Security Summit.

india-singapore

HMEL promoted Bathinda oil refinery would be inaugurated in
April 2012.
The ambitious 9 million tone HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL) promoted Bathinda oil refinery would be
inaugurated in mid-April 2012. It is a Rs 21,500-crore mega project. The construction of crude oil terminal
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
and laying of 1,017 km pipeline between Gujarat’s Mundra port and Bathinda was also completed in record 27 months.
The refinery would produce high value petroleum products such as LPG, naphtha, petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, pet coke
etc. The liquid products would be marketed through HPCL, while solid products like sulphur, pet-coke and
polypropylene would be sold directly by HMEL.
‘HMEL’ is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Mittal Energy Investment
Pte Ltd Singapore – a Lakshmi N Mittal group company.

india-s.korea

India offers to launch South Korean satellites; ink agreement on
simplifying visa restrictions
PM Dr. M. Singh arrived in Seoul on a four day official visit. India has offered to launch a satellite for
Seoul and invited its businesses to invest in the country, especially in the infrastructure sector. This was
in order enhance ties b/w India and South Korea.
Both nations expressed happiness over the increase in bilateral trade following the signing of the CEPA
(Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) in 2011 and set a target of achieving $ 40 billion trade by 2015.
India and South Korea are to sign an agreement on simplifying VISA restrictions for their nationals travelling to each
others’ country.
Dr. M. Singh will attend the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit scheduled for March 27-28 2012.

PM invites Korean investments in solar, nuclear sectors
South Korean businessmen were asked by the PM Manmohan Singh to assist India expand its
mushrooming solar and nuclear power sectors by investing in these environment-friendly technologies.
Apparently sensing the concerns of the Korean businessmen with regard to the much-delayed $12 billion
Posco steel project in Odisha, the PM told the CEOs that India’s processes can be slow but there are
effective mechanisms for resolution of problems and differences and a strong rule of law. The government is keen to
move forward with the Posco project and there is some progress in this regard. PM held that India is a stable and
profitable long-term investment opportunity.












India – S.Korea: Key areas of talk b/w the heads of the two nations
During the talks between the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the South Korean President, Lee Myung-Bak in
Seoul the key areas of discussion b/w the two sides were:-
 South Korea offered by India to launch S. Korean Satellites on ISLVs (Indian Space Launch Vehicles).
 The two sides agreed to expand political and security cooperation.
 The need for comprehensive UN reforms including the expansion of the Security Council to make it more
representative and effective.
 Commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of
delivery.
 The two sides had agreed to upgrade the already booming business cooperation to achieve an ambitious trade
target of 40 billion dollars by 2015, doubling the figure.
 Concern over North Korea’s plan to launch an application satellite which could escalate tension in the peninsula.
 Concern over the continued threat of terrorism and piracy emanating from various quarters.
 India also sought South Korea’s support in its bid for the Membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and
other international regimes related to nuclear trade.
 S. Korea requested for an allocation of a site in India to build nuclear reactors.

India and South Korea agreed to bolster civil nuclear energy

cooperation as well as space activities, including the launch

of Korean satellites by India. Both sides judged the

developments and expansion of their Strategic Partnership

during the second India-Republic of Korea, Foreign Policy

and Security Dialogue in New Delhi. The two sides reviewed

the status of bilateral relations and exchanged views on

regional and global matters of interest including the position on the KoreanPeninsula.

Green Tribunal suspends environment clearance to POSCO
The National Green Tribunal, suspended the environment clearance granted to South Korean company POSCO’s
proposed mega steel project in Orissa. The National Green Tribunal directed the Union
Environment and Forest Ministry to review afresh the clearance for the long-delayed
project and attach specific conditions which POSCO would have to follow in a defined
timeline.
The tribunal decision has come just days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak in Seoul that the project will be implemented and there was progress on it.

india-italy

Indian laws applicable in killing of fishermen case

India in connection with the arrest of two Italian marines for allegedly killing two India fishermen,
asserted that the India’s laws were applicable in the incident and it will abide by the conclusion of
legal process in Kerala.
Italy does not feel Indian court has jurisdiction over it (killing of Indian fishermen). Italian Foreign
Minister Giulio Terzi had summonedIndia’s Ambassador to Rome Debabrata Saha to condemn the imprisonment of
the two Italian marines accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen. Terzi allegedly told India’s Ambassador
Debabrata Saha that Italy “does not recognise the legitimacy” of the legal case in India “due to the absence of
jurisdiction.”
However, India’s view has been very consistent in the case. India held that the vessel protection detachments do not
have global sanctity in terms of international laws and Indian laws are applicable in this case but Italy has a difference
of opinion on this.

india-australia

Australian schools to teach Hindi; Australia releases the Asian Century White Paper

November 1st, 2012

Announcing that Asia’s rise is“unstoppable”, Australia brought out a challenging plan aimed at fortifying its links with India and other booming economies of the Asian region. The Australian plan includes teaching languages like Hindi and Mandarin in its schools. All Australian schools will engage with at least one school in Asia to support the teaching of a priority Asian language — Mandarin, Hindi, Indonesian or Japanese. Australia also released ‘Asian Century White Paper’ with an aim to extend and strengthen it links with Asia.

What is the aim of ‘Asian Century White Paper’?

Australia intends to take advantage of a booming Asian region. The Australian Government commissioned a White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century on September 28, 2012. It released this white paper to consider the likely economic and strategic changes in the region and what more can be done to position Australia for the Asian Century. The white paper lays a strategic framework to guide Australia’s navigation of the Asian Century. It includes:

• Current and likely future course of economic, political and strategic change in Asia, including China, India, the key ASEAN countries as well as Japan and South Korea.
• Domestic economic and social opportunities and challenges of the Asian Century for Australia, including in the economy, science and technology collaboration, clean energy, education, business-to-business and people-to-people links and culture;
• Political and strategic implications of the Asian Century for Australia
• Role of effective economic and political regional and global cooperation.
• Actions that will be taken over the next 5 years and further policy initiatives to be developed over the next 10 to 15 years.

The Hyderabad-based GVK Power and Infrastructure Limited in Second week of October received Australian federal government's approval for its Terminal-III (T3) development at the port of Abbot Point, near Bowen in Australia, under the environment protection and biodiversity conservation Act 1999.

The approval for GVK's Alpha Coal Port Project at Abbot Point follows a separate approval for the Alpha mine and rail projects which was made on August 23 2012.

The Project approval came after a rigorous and thorough assessment process by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.







India brings to light carbon tax issue with Australia
India CEOs, led by Forum co-chair Naveen Jindal, conveyed concern over the proposal of the Australian Govt to inflict a 30% tax on big mining companies. The act come into effect in July 2012 and will apply to mining giants.Indian CEOs
have latched on with their Australian counterparts the matter of imposition of carbon tax on mining activities in
Australia and has conveyed the desire that a resolution would be found to settle the issue. Nevertheless, the Australian
side has also conveyed concern over the fresh mining law purported in India that entails profit sharing by mining companies to the tune of 26% to tribal development fund. These issues was taken up at the first meeting of the India-Australia CEOs Forum held in New Delhi.
Both sides also expressed the desire that the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be concluded shortly to put in place a apparatus for improved economic engagement b/w the two nations.















India, Austria ink pact on Technology Cooperation in
the Shipping and Ports Infrastructure Sector
2012-10-06 02:10:18 Puneet
India and Austria signed an MoU on Technology Cooperation in
the Shipping and Ports Infrastructure.
There has been regular exchange of high level visits b/w the two
nations during which the special emphasis is put on
strengthening economic and commercial cooperation and
scientific cooperation.
How Austria is important for India?
Austria has importance as it plays active role in international organizations.
Geographically, as the country is centrally located in the heart of Europe and
historically, linkages and legacy with the countries of the region, Austria can serve
as a gateway to upcoming market economies in Central & East Europe. High-end
technology is Austria`s bastion in several specialized areas of interest to us,
particularly in infrastructure.
India can utilize Austria’s technology in the areas like implementation of
International Ship & Port Security code, use of radio frequency identification
in logistics and transport planning and optical character recognition in terminals
to speed up the processing of containers in and out are the areas












Indian billionaires shove for coal in Australia
Impelled by an insatiate requirement for energy back home, a number of Indian billionaires are thrusting to get their
hands on Australian coal mines.
G.V.K. Reddy-led and Gautam Adani-led conglomerates have already invested billions in various Australian coal mining
projects. The names of other Indian coal barons include Anil Ambani, Aditya Birla and Madhusudhan Rao who are have
a presence in Australia. Adani Enterprises Ltd and GVK Group are in the headlines in recent times in Australia as they
have put forward plans to construct a 500-km railroad to connect Queensland’s coal-rich Galilee Basin to the coast.
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
Carmichael is expected to produce 60 million tonnes of coal and is projected to be Australia’s largest coal mine. The
Galilee Basin covers more than 247,000 sq km in Queensland and reportedly contains more than 14 billion tonnes of
coal.
Various other Indian Companies also showed coal mining interests in Australia as they attempt to pump their
operating or under-construction Power Plants in India.
March 5, 2012

india-maldives

On his three day visit from 15 September 2012 to 17 September 2012 to Maldives the Defence Minister of India, A.K. Antony opened Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) hospital, SENAHIYA at Male on 16 September 2012. The hospital that was developed with Indian assistance is an example of a shining collaboration and cooperation model in between the two countries.

India has also provided the hospital with 25 bed state-of-the-art medical equipment and a team of highly qualified medical experts. This team will be functional as a unit that will take care of fine functioning and smooth running of the hospital. The defence minister of India also participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Maldivian National Defence Force’s training academy.

The Defence Minister of Maldives Mohamed Nazim thanked India for its assistance in the collateral development of the nation and hoped for strengthening of the bond between the two countries under every circumstance. He also declared that Maldives will stand by the side of India for assurance of the maritime security in the sensitive regions of the Indian Ocean.

India-Turkmenistan

PIPELINE DEAL BETWN BOTH








India has assured Turkmenistan of all cooperation in Information and Communication technology (ICT) for the mutual benefit of both the countries. 

It was decided in the inaugural session of TurkmenTEL 2012 at the Turkmenistan capital Ashgabat on 17 September 2012 by the Minister for Communications & IT and HRD, Kapil Sibal.

Recalling the historical ties between India and Turkmenistan, it was emphasized that the need for regional cooperation to uplift the social and economic status of the people in the region is uttermost important.

Kapil Sibal shared the success story of Indian Telecom Sector and gave an overview of the spectrum of policy initiatives in India’s National Telecom Policy 2012. 

India could extend cooperation to Turkmenistan in the fields of e-health, e-education and e-governance services. Turkmenistan can be connected to Indian Universities through National Knowledge Network and students sitting in Turkmenistan can directly be part of academic sessions in various disciplines in India. 

Turkmenistan Minister and his delegation was invited to participate in India Telecom 2012 in Delhi, from 13 to 15 December 2012, as the event could be an excellent platform for further strengthening  mutual cooperation and for promoting ICT and its eco system in the region.