Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Starred Articles

ISIS demanded ransom before killing Foley, trading European hostages for huge sums a main source of income for terror groups
World > ISIS > 21 August
The ISIS had asked for a $ 100 million ransom before killing James Foley, the freelance videographer and reporter for GlobalPost and Agence France-Presse. According to an investigation by the Times, kidnapping Europeans and demanding ransom has become a main source of revenue for al Qaida and its affiliates, which have earned at least $125 million in ransom payments in the past five years alone. Although ISIS has recently been expelled from Qaida, its tactics of kidnapping and demanding ransom appear to be in line with other Qaida branches. The United States, unlike several European countries that have given millions in ransom to the terror group to spare the lives of their citizens, refused to pay, which might have cost Foley his life. The ISIS is threatening to kill at least three other US citizens it holds if its demands remain unmet. ISIS is also holding citizens of Britain, which like the US has declined to pay ransoms. Amid growing criticism that the US had not done enough to secure the release of its citizens, authorities revealed that a United States Special Operations team tried and failed to rescue Foley as well as the other American hostages during a secret mission this summer. The ISIS has now threatened to kill a second of its hostages, Steven J. Sotloff, a freelance journalist for Time magazine, who was being held alongside Foley. The American’s government’s no-compromise policy means that captured Americans have little chance of being released. Only a few succeeded in running away and even fewer were rescued in special operations.

No petrol, diesel for vehicles with no PUC certificate in Delhi
India > Delhi > 22 August
In order to ensure that polluting vehicles are off roads, the Delhi Government has decided to stop sale of diesel and petrol to vehicles which do not possess Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. The decision to this effect comes as per the recommendation of the city government’s high-powered committee on environment constituted by Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung. All vehicles registered till 2010 are required to get PUC certificates reissued every three months, while those purchased after 2010 have to get the certification done annually.
Delhi was named among the 5 most polluted cities across the world.
Supreme Court declares all coal blocks allocated since 1993 to 2010 illegal
India > Coalgate > 25 August
The Supreme Court has said that all coal blocks allocated since 1993 to 2010 by the screening committee were illegal as no objective criteria was followed and the allocations were done arbitrarily breaching guidelines. The Supreme Court bench, however, didn’t de-allocate the coal blocks and said that coal exploration from them will continue till further orders. The court has fixed September 1 as the date of the hearing to decide whether there is a need for cancelling the 218 coal block allocations. The coal blocks were allotted mainly in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh to private companies. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to file a closure report in the coal block allocation scam involving Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Coal Secretary P C Parakh after a 10-month probe with the agency stating that they could not find any evidence in this matter.  
Others

Arvind Subramanian, US-based economist, set to become chief economic adviser
Politics and Government > Chief Economic Adviser > 22 August
US-based economist Mr. Arvind Subramanian is set to be named as chief economic adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. The appointment of Subramanian, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, was recommended by finance minister Arun Jaitley. Cabinet-level approval is expected to follow.

To counter China, India deploys Akash missiles in northeast
World > India > 22 August
After basing Sukhoi-30MKI fighters at Tezpur and Chabua, India has now begun deploying six Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) squadrons in the northeast to deter Chinese jets, helicopters and drones. IAF has started getting deliveries of the six Akash missile squadrons, which can "neutralize" multiple targets at 25 km interception range in all-weather conditions, earmarked for the eastern theatre.
The Akash deployment in the northeast is in tune with the overall plan to progressively achieve "meaningful and credible deterrence" against China.
China, incidentally, has been conducting major exercises with its J-10, Sukhoi-27UBK and Sukhoi-30MKK fighters in the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibet plateau in recent times.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed 29th Thai PM
World > Thailand > 25 August
Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, chief of Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), received a royal command appointing him the country's 29th prime minister at Army headquarters. He promised to solve national problems urgently and to be accountable.
Gen Prayuth promised to tackle corruption, especially that in the government sector, and to develop the nation in all dimensions. He asked general public to support the work of his government. The nation's economic problems would be solved quickly and sustainably to prepare Thailand for the ASEAN Community, he pledged.

Flipkart signs pact with Textiles ministry to provide online platform for weavers
Corporate > Flipkart > 25 August
Online e-retailer Flipkart.com has signed an agreement with the Textiles Ministry to provide an online marketing platform to textile weavers from across the country from September. The online initiative will help weavers tap the growing online market. Under the agreement, the company will help weavers choose the right designs, colour schemes and sizes according to what is in demand. The project is being launched on a pilot basis for six months, after which it will be assessed. Flipkart will connect the artisans directly to the buyer and help in relaying the orders to weavers, packaging, collecting and delivering to the buyer. Flipkart will charge a 3-4 commission on sale but there will be no listing charges. The transportation charge will be extra which will be mentioned clearly.

Supreme Court refuses to recognize pending criminal cases against MPs as disqualification
Politics and Government > Criminal Cases Against MPs > 27 August
The Supreme Court of India has refused to recognize pending criminal cases against MPs as a disqualification for their appointment as ministers. However, the SC bench said that both the Prime Minister and chief ministers of states owe it to constitutional morality not to appoint persons with criminal background as ministers. The SC said it cannot read an additional disqualification for appointment of ministers other than what is provided in the Constitution.

France gets new cabinet as political crisis averted
World > France > 27 August
Following the collapse of the government, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls's new cabinet has been unveiled after 4 months. President Hollande had to request the formation of a new cabinet - his third in just over two years - after the government fell apart last weekend.
The new government is said to have been formed in line with his "direction" and is seen by analysts as Hollande's last chance to save his five-year term as president. If the new cabinet fails to get the support of lawmakers, Hollande and France face a political crisis that could lead to the dissolution of parliament and a snap election
France has the world's fifth-largest economy by nominal figures and the ninth largest economy by PPP figures. It has the second-largest economy in Europe (behind its main economic partner Germany) in nominal figures, based on the dynamic industrial structure of the French economy.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Starred Articles

PM Narendra Modi announces Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchayi Yojana
India > Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchayi Yojana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchayi Yojana in Haryana on 19th August. The Yojna has been announced to meet the irrigation needs of all farmers across the country. A sum of 1000 crore rupees has been allocated for implementation of the scheme.

INS Kamota, India's first indigenously-built warship, commissioned into Navy
India > Navy
INS Kamorta, India's first indigenously-built stealth anti-submarine, was commissioned into the Navy by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday, 23rd August, 2014, at naval dockyard in Vishakhapatnam. The warship has been built by the state-owned Gardenreach Shipbuilders in Kolkata and is the first vessel in the Navy whose all weapon systems are manufactured in India. INS Kamorta, which has enhanced anti-detection features, will form part of the Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern Command. It would carry short-range Surface-to-Air missiles (SAM) and Active Towed Array Decoy System (ATDS). It can also carry an integral ASW helicopter.

RBI spells out rights to customers to prevent mis-selling
Bank Specific > RBI Mandate
The Reserve Bank of India, in order to protect its customers from mis-selling, has spelled out the rights of the financial customer and the responsibilities of the financial service provider (FSP). In a draft charter of consumer right released, RBI has identified five basic rights for consumers and discourage lenders from mis-selling of products. The five basic rights of a customer are:
  • Fair treatment
  • Transparency
  • Fair & honest dealings
  • Product suitability
  • Privacy
  • Grievance redress and compensation
To save the customers from difficult legal language, the RBI states that FSPs (Financial Service Providers) should provide customers with product terms and conditions in an easily understandable simple language. They should also specify the key risks associated with the product and also the features that may be disadvantageous for a customer.
Mis-selling of products has been a serious issue in Indian financial system and that has led to fundamental flaws in the customer protection architecture and has created large welfare losses for customers.

Others

Pakistan University confers degree on renowned Indian agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan
World > Pakistan honorary degree
The University of Agriculture in Faisalabad (Pakistan) has conferred an honorary degree of the Doctor of Science on renowned Indian agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan for his “contribution to farm research and allied areas of plant-breeding, genetics, biodiversity and ecological studies.” Dr. Swaminathan said that the Indian subcontinent should focus on increase in productivity without harming the ecological balance and a nutrition-sensitive agriculture, through programmes rooted in the principles of ecology, economics, gender and social equity, employment and energy.

NASA satellite to help farmers combat drought
Science and Technology > NASA
NASA is set to launch a new satellite with the capacity to measure soil moisture on a global scale. Once operational, data from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite could be used to better inform farmers in agricultural decision making, providing unprecedented levels of detail on moisture trends with an efficiency and speed unattainable using current technology.

'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana' to be rolled out in Aug 28
Economy > Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
The 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana' will be launched on August 28 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme aims to provide bank accounts to each un-banked household. It is estimated that around 7.5 crore households (six crore in rural and 1.5 crore in urban areas) do not have access to any kind of banking facility. Under the new scheme, each account-holder will get a RuPay debit card with accident insurance cover of ₹1 lakh. In the second phase, each of these account-holders will also get life insurance cover and pension products.

ICICI Bank launches apps for loan details
Corporate > ICICI
India’s largest private sector lender, ICICI Bank has announced the launch of two new mobile banking applications; ‘iLoans’ and ‘iTrack’, for accessing loan account details and tracking status of dispatches, respectively. The bank aims to enhance customer experience with the launch of these two new mobile applications. Using these apps, all customers, even those having only loan accounts with the Bank can get easy access to their information, thus eliminating the need to call phone banking or visit a branch.
‘iLoans’ offers customers the convenience of accessing their loan related details on mobile phones. ‘iTrack’ enables customers to track the status of deliverables dispatched sent to them by the Bank, like statements, letters and cheque books for their savings, current, loan or demat accounts. Customers can track their dispatches by either their account number or airway bill number.

Amazon.com acquires video site Twitch
Corporate > Amazon
Amazon.com announced Monday that it had agreed to acquire video site Twitch for $970 million in cash, the latest sign of the e-commerce giant's expansive ambitions in video entertainment. The deal came just months after numerous reports that Google had a deal to acquire Twitch.
Twitch will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc, with Emmitt Shear remaining as CEO. Shear touted the Amazon Web Services platform as an "attractive" aspect of the deal, and that Amazon had "built relationships with the big players in media" which could be used to the service's advantage—particularly in the realm of content licensing. The purchase of Twitch marks the third recent video gaming-oriented acquisition by Amazon, which had previously acquired the developers Reflexive Entertainment and Double Helix Games.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed 29th Thai PM
World > Thailand
Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, chief of Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), received a royal command appointing him the country's 29th prime minister at Army headquarters. He promised to solve national problems urgently and to be accountable.
Gen Prayuth vowed to tackle corruption, especially that in the government sector, and to develop the nation in all dimensions. He asked general public to support the work of his government. The nation's economic problems would be solved quickly and sustainably to prepare Thailand for the ASEAN Community, he pledged.

Flipkart signs pact with Textiles ministry to provide online platform for weavers
Corporate > Flipkart
Online e-retailer Flipkart.com has signed an agreement with the Textiles Ministry to provide an online marketing platform to textile weavers from across the country from September. The online initiative will help weavers tap the growing online market. Under the agreement, the company will help weavers choose the right designs, colour schemes and sizes according to what is in demand. The project is being launched on a pilot basis for six months, after which it will be assessed. Flipkart will connect the artisans directly to the buyer and help in relaying the orders to weavers, packaging, collecting and delivering to the buyer. Flipkart will charge a 3-4 commission on sale but there will be no listing charges. The transportation charge will be extra which will be mentioned clearly.

Government planning to set up solar plants along barren border areas
Politics and government > Solar power
The government is planning to set up solar power plants along the national border, some of which could also fence borders at places which need to be illuminated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the man behind this idea, has proposed setting up 1,000-mw plants on defence land and supply the electricity at a fixed price of Rs. 5.5 per unit for 25 years. This proposal aims to provide electricity to the armed forces, the largest consumers of diesel in the country. Minister of state for power, coal and renewable energy Piyush Goyal also said that the government plans to deploy renewable sources of energy in a major way to provide electricity to a large number of houses which currently do not have electricity access.

New Governors named for Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa
Politics and government > Governors
Kalyan Singh, Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao and Mridula Sinha have been appointed as Governors of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa respectively, by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, August 26. Kalyan Singh is a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Mr. Vala had earlier been the finance minister in the Gujarat government and was elected the Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly in 2013. Mr. Rao had earlier served as a Union Minister of State for Home in the Vajpayee government. Mridula Sinha was the former BJP Mahila Morcha president and had earlier held the post of Central Board of Social Welfare chairperson.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Starred Articles

Australian State Approves $2 Billion Rail Line for Adani Coal Project
World > Adani Coal Project
Adani Mining has got the state approval to build a rail line for its $15 billion Carmichael coal project in Australia, bringing it a step closer towards making a final decision on whether to go ahead with the massive scheme. The state of Queensland approved the A$2.2 billion ($2 billion) North Galilee Basin Rail project, a 300 kilometre (186 mile) railway to connect the Carmichael mine and potentially other mines in the untapped Galilee Basin to the east coast port of Abbot Point.

Adani recently signed an agreement with POSCO Engineering & Construction Co Ltd to build the rail line. Costs and other details of the contract are due to be set by the end of this year.

RBI imposes restriction on free usage of same-bank and cross-bank ATM transactions
Bank Specific > ATM Transactions
The usage of ATMs will become expensive as the RBI has imposed a restriction of three transactions per month from ATMs of other banks and five transactions from ATMs of same bank in six metropolitan cities. The customers will be required to pay a fee of up to Rs. 20 for using ATMs beyond the permitted numbers of transactions in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. These rules will not be applicable to customers having basic or small savings bank accounts in these cities. Transactions can be both financial and non-financial. Taking out a mini-statement or even changing PIN will amount to a transaction. Currently, banks are not allowed to charge their own customers for use of the ATM network, regardless of the number of transactions. However, RBI has said that a bank may offer more than three free transactions at other bank ATMs to its account holders if it so desires. The RBI has imposed the limit following a request by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to levy charges on transactions at other banks’ ATMs to cope with the growing cost of ATM deployment and maintenance incurred by banks. At present, each balance enquiry costs the bank Rs. 11, while a transaction costs around Rs. 18.

Dot Bharat domain to roll out on August 21
India > Dot Bharat Domain
Minister of Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad would be unveiling the dot Bharat domain name on August 21 in New Delhi, which would facilitate multi-lingual Internet access. It is being said that having domain names in the Indian languages would boost Internet penetration in the country and would help drive the local content and related services in the remote and rural areas of the country.

The autonomous body National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is working together to provide the dot Bharat domain name and it can be registered in several languages with Devnagari scripts. Some of the languages include Marathi, Nepali, Konkani, Bodo and Maithili.



Others

Vijayawada likely to be interim Andhra capital
India > Andhra Capital
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has decided to make Vijayawada the temporary capital until a permanent one is constructed. In a meeting with the central government’s advisory committee on the new Andhra Pradesh capital, Naidu said that the new capital should be built in a way that it should have world class infrastructure and other facilities and should also become a tourist attraction.

Meanwhile, the K S Sivaramakrishnan committee appointed by the Centre to examine and recommend suitable places to build the new AP capital is all set to submit its report on August 26 or 28. After receiving the report, the final decision of the state government on the new capital will be made public.

RBI board approves Rajan’s proposal for overhaul, Nachiket Mor frontrunner for COO
Bank Specific > RBI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board has approved RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan’s proposal for major reforms aimed at revamping the Central Bank and removing bottlenecks. Among his recommendations is the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) who will be responsible for pushing financial inclusion, differentiated banks and developing new structures for financial markets. It will not interfere with the existing structures that administer banks and financial markets. The new position may not be ranked at deputy governor level as sought by Rajan, at least for the time being. Nachiket Mor is the front-runner for the COO's job. Mor is a former executive director of ICICI Bank and also headed the RBI committee on financial inclusion. Rajan also proposed bringing all aspects of the RBI under 5 functional departments to be supervised by the COO and 4 Deputy Governors. He also wants to merge similar departments of the bank to avoid overlap and is keen on making lateral hires from the private sector.

Rajni Razdan appointed chairman of UPSC
India > UPSC
Rajni Razdan, a 64-year-old former Indian Administrative Service officer from the Haryana cadre, has been appointed the next Union Public Service Commission chairman. She will replace Professor D.P. Agrawal. Razdan has been a UPSC member since April 19, 2010 and has held several important administrative posts throughout her long career. She worked as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food, and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. She retired as Secretary, Department of Pension and Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in 2007.

Government launches insurance, pension scheme for senior citizens
India > Pension Scheme for Senior Citizens
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has re-launched an insurance scheme for senior citizens that will provide monthly pension ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. The revived scheme, called the Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY), would be available between August 15, 2014 and August 14, 2015 for the benefit of citizens aged 60 years and above. The scheme would be administered by LIC and the minimum investment (purchase price) for the scheme would be Rs 66,665 and the maximum over Rs 6.66 lakh. The pension will start from next year of purchase of insurance. The full purchase price will be refunded to the nominee in case of death of the insured. VPBY introduced earlier in 2003-04 by then NDA Government, covered 3.83 lakh senior citizens. LIC collected Rs 7,100 crore under the scheme.

The Finance Minister hoped LIC will cover a much larger number of people this time.

HDFC Bank unveils `ForexPlus’ card for Haj, Umrah pilgrims
Corporate > HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank Ltd has launched an exclusive ‘ForexPlus’ card for people making the Haj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Pilgrims can use the card to make all payments during the pilgrimage in a convenient and secure manner and thus avoid carrying Saudi Riyals, which might get misplaced. ForexPlus card can be used to withdraw money from ATMs as well. Both HDFC Bank customers and the general public can avail of the product.

Google acquires image-recognition startup Jetpac
Corporate > Google
Google has acquired Jetpac, makers of an app that recommends destinations based on an analysis of publicly shared Instagram photos. The Jetpac employees will join Google's Knowledge team, which is attempting to build a more sophisticated understanding of the real world into search results.

It's not clear exactly what Google will do with Jetpac's technology for finding things like popular bars and scenic vistas, but the startup has several technologies that mesh with Google's priorities. First, its technology works automatically, extracting information from large numbers of publicly available photos instead of relying on curation or other human processes. Google's search algorithms use the same broad approach to analyzing the Web, working at a scale and speed impossible for humans.

Jetpac's City Guides app offers personalized recommendations based on photo attributes like smiles, lipsticks, and blue skies.

34 state-owned PSUs operate without a chief executive despite Companies ACT 2013 mandate
Politics and Government > PSUs
As of July 15, more than 34 central PSUs are operating without a chief executive or a full-time chairman or managing director for the last 4 years. Reasons for the vacancies include the scrapping of recommended panel of candidates by the government, delays in obtaining vigilance clearance or approval of competent authority and court cases filed by those lower down in the empanelment process. According to the new Companies Act 2013, delays in appointments of the top posts in companies are in violations of the provisions of the legislation. Also according to the Companies Act 2013, appointment of a MD, chairman or CMD is vital to the enforcement of corporate governance norms. The CMD’s post is lying vacant in such state-owned companies as Coal India Ltd, , BSNL, NHPC, IRCTC, ONGC Videsh and MTNL to name a few.

Government revamping rules for senior-level appointments in PSU Bank boards
Bank Specific > Appointments
Following the alleged Syndicate Bank bribery scandal, the government is taking prompt action to revamp and clean-up the entire process of senior-level appointments in state-run bank boards. The government has decided to split the post of the chairman and managing director. The chairman would be a reputed person from the industry or a professional while the MD would have a fixed term of three years, which would be extendable by two more years. The primary focus would be to make the boards free of any political interference and induct reputed professionals such as economists, management professionals and other experts. A new set of guidelines will also be announced for the appointment of independent directors. They are expected to bring in expertise from their respective fields and provide an oversight on the management. Similarly, a person appointed as an executive director must be an expert on risk management. The government is also likely to bring a provision to transfer an MD if a bank slips, marking a clear shift from the past practice.





Starred Articles

Tackling Ebola grows tougher as many doctors retreat, more than 1 million affected
World > Ebola
According to a latest update issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 128 new cases of Ebola virus disease, as well as 56 deaths, were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone between August 10 and 11, bringing the total number of cases to 1,975 and deaths to 1,069.

On August 13th, Guinea declared the Ebola outbreak,that has killed 377 in the nation, a health emergency. Guinean President Alpha Conde announced a series of measures including strict controls at border points, travel restrictions and a ban on moving bodies “from one town to another until the end of the epidemic”.

Efforts to contain and treat the Ebola Virus disease has become significantly difficult following the departure of Western doctors and health workers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the 3 countries worst affected by the disease. It has weakened the already under-staffed health systems of the country. For example, Liberia has only 250 doctors against a population of 4 million. Western doctors and health workers are going back for fear of contracting the disease. Seven doctors in Liberia have contracted Ebola, and two of them have already died. At least 170 African health workers have contracted the disease and more than 80 have died. Although international organizations, wealthy countries and charitable groups are providing much needed aid and resources, the practical problem lies in the shortage of properly-trained doctors and volunteers to fight the epidemic. Not only African health workers, an American doctor, Dr. Kent Brantly, had also been infected. He is now being treated in an Atlanta hospital after receiving ZMapp, an experimental drug. ZMapp has also been flown in from America at the request of the Liberian President. A huge increase in aid is needed to fight the disease. However, airlines have canceled flights that could have carried in such supplies, despite assurances from the W.H.O. that properly screened passengers pose little risk. The American military has trained over 230 Liberian soldiers to use protective equipment and support health efforts and financial aid is also pouring in from the World Bank to help buy supplies, provide food and hazardous duty pay to health workers in hopes of attracting back some of those who fled their jobs in fear. Despite all efforts, the situation is grim because of fear and miscommunication. Protestors had looted an Ebola quarantine center in Liberia because they didn’t want such a center in the community. Health care workers are treating community members as disease-carriers rather than as humans with families. Only an increased number of trained infectious-diseases doctors and C.D.C. experts along with a proven medicine and proper communication in disease-prone areas can now bring the diseases under control.

Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ call gets Rs 200 crore from TCS, Bharti
Politics and Government > Swachh Bharat Mission
In his Independence Day speech, PM Narendra Modi had asked everyone to be a part of the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign and to make it a public movement rather than just a government mission. His call has evoked a quick response from two major corporates. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Bharti Foundation, an arm of Bharti Enterprises have announced a total expenditure of Rs 200 crore as part of their CSR initiatives to construct toilets in schools. Tata Consultancy Services announced it would finance hygienic sanitation facilities for girl students across 10,000 schools in the country and said it would spend Rs 100 crore for this initiative. Bharti Foundation announced an initiative named 'Satya Bharti Abhiyan' to improve rural household sanitation facilities in Punjab. The foundation has decided to adopt Ludhiana, the home district of the founders of Bharti and invest up to Rs 100 crore in constructing toilets over the next three years. On August 15, Oriental Bank of Commerce was the first to earmark Rs 2 crore to construct over 200 toilets for girls and boys in government primary schools in villages.


Others

FIR filed against Google over Mapathon 2013
Corporate > Google
A case against Google has been registered for collecting classified data, which is in violation of the National Map Policy 2005. Google organised 'Mapathon 2013' competition which collected data, including classified data. "An FIR has been lodged by Survey of India with the Delhi Police in February, 2013" union minister Jitendra Singh said. Presently CBI is investigating the case.

Saudi Arabia gives UN $100 million to fight terrorism
World> Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday gave $100 million to the United Nations to support counter-terrorism efforts and called on other countries to do the same. Saudi Arabia had earlier given $500 million to support the UN effort to help Iraqi refugees fleeing a jihadist offensive launched by the Sunni militant group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Ukraine crisis takes toll on Germany, Eurozone’s largest economy
World > Ukraine Crisis
The Ukraine crisis involving sanctions on Russia and counter sanctions from Russia seems to have taken its toll on the German economy. Germany, which accounts for more than one-fourth of the overall Eurozone economy, is witnessing an economic struggle and a steep decline in economic sentiment. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development put forward an analysis on Monday which said that growth in Germany had slowed and an official report said that German factories had produced far less than expected in June. The dispute between the West and Russia over Ukraine has led to sanctions and counter-sanctions from the United States and Europe on the one hand and Russia on the other. While Russia’s share of the global economy is small, about 3 percent, it is one of Germany’s 10 largest trading partners and nearly 300,000 German jobs depend on exports to Russia. The Eurozone which had emerged from recession in the second quarter of 2011 had never fully recovered from the global financial crisis and the sovereign debt crisis that shook Spain and Italy with punishingly high borrowing costs and led to bailouts for Cyprus, Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Italy has fallen back into recession and France, the Eurozone’s second biggest economy has witnessed moribund growth. A further escalation of the Ukraine crisis could start to seriously hurt the economy and hence strengthening domestic demand and investment should be the top priority at the moment.

Adani Power to buy Lanco's 1200 MW Udupi thermal plant for Rs 6000 cr
Corporate > Adani Group
Adani Power will acquire Lanco Infratech's 1,200 MW Udupi thermal plant in a deal worth over Rs 6,000 crore. The deal comes less than three weeks after Reliance Power agreed to acquire three hydel projects of Jaypee Group. Adani Power, which is part of Adani Group, was also in the race for those hydro plants.
While 90% of the electricity generated from the plant is supplied to Karnataka, the remaining is given to Punjab.

According to Lanco Infratech, the Udupi plant is the first independent power project in the country based on 100% import coal with a captive jetty of four million tons per annum and an external coal handling system in the new Mangalore Port Trust.

UK to suspend sale of military equipment to Israel
World > UK - Israel
The British government will suspend some of its arms exports to Israel if hostilities resume in Gaza due to concerns that the British-made products could be used by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). A statement from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) said that they had identified 12 arms export licenses that included the sale of equipment used by the Israeli army in Gaza. The licenses relate to military equipment including “components for military radar systems, combat aircraft and tanks.

British authorities have come under increasing fire for what many have perceived as a muted response to the Israeli military assault on the Strip. Their failure to openly condemn Israel’s actions led to the resignation of Conservative Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi, who called the government’s policy on Gaza “morally indefensible”.
Britain’s economy recovers but wages slip
World > Britain
The Bank of England on Wednesday raised slightly its forecasts for growth and inflation in Britain, and gave further indications that it was moving closer to gradually increasing its key interest rates if wages improve.
The central bank is concerned about slower growth in pay in Britain, as wages including bonuses dipped in the second quarter from a year ago, and it lowered its annual outlook for wage growth this year. The decline in wages could present a challenge to Britain’s continued recovery, which has outpaced other parts of Europe. In the Inflation Report, the bank predicted that the British economy would grow at an annual pace of 3.5 percent in 2014, slightly faster than the 3.4 percent growth it had forecast in May. For 2015, the bank maintained its estimate of 2.9 percent annual growth. ​​The bank expects unemployment to fall to below 6 percent by the end of the year.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait to abide by U.N. blacklisting of citizens
World > Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait agreed to comply with a United Nations resolution aimed at stopping financing for Islamist militant groups in Syria and Iraq after four of their nationals were named among a group blacklisted by the international body.

The UN Security Council had unanimously adopted a resolution intended to weaken the Islamic State - an al Qaeda splinter group that has seized swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate - and al Qaeda's Syrian wing, Nusra Front. Under the resolution, the six people will be subject to an international travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

Dot Bharat domain to roll out on August 21
India > Dot Bharat domain
Minister of Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad would be unveiling the dot Bharat domain name on August 21 in New Delhi, which would facilitate multi-lingual Internet access. It is being said that having domain names in the Indian languages would boost Internet penetration in the country and would help drive the local content and related services in the remote and rural areas of the country.

The autonomous body National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is working together to provide the dot Bharat domain name and it can be registered in several languages with Devnagari scripts. Some of the languages include Marathi, Nepali, Konkani, Bodo and Maithili.

China steps us strict anti-monopoly scrutiny, finds Mercedes-Benz guilty of price manipulation
Corporate > Mercedes-Benz
The Chinese government has in recent years stepped up its enforcement of a 2008 anti-monopoly law, bringing several multinational companies across various sectors under the radar. Authorities in China have found German car maker Daimler AG's luxury brand division Mercedes-Benz guilty of manipulating the prices of its spare parts, repair and maintenance services in downstream markets by using its leading market position. In such cases, China’s anti-trust regulator, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), can impose fines of up to 10 percent of a company's Chinese revenues for the previous year. The auto industry has witnessed a wave of investigations prompting carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen AG's Audi, and BMW to slash prices on spare parts in recent weeks. Early this month the NDRC said it would punish Audi and Fiat SpA's Chrysler for monopoly practices. The Chinese government is also conducting an anti-monopoly probe into US tech giant Microsoft Corp. and US chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. Almost 100 government antitrust investigators had simultaneously visited four of Microsoft’s offices across China last month and interrogated a company vice president and other senior managers, copied contracts and financial records, and downloaded large amounts of internal data from the company’s computer servers. Similar actions have taken place in foreign companies that cover sectors such as technology, car parts, pharmaceuticals, jewelry retailing and food packaging. While many multinationals feel that the regulations are intended primarily to promote big, powerful state-owned companies, China says that it is using the law to protect the interests of consumers.

Israel partially lifts fishing ban within three nautical miles off Gaza shores
World > Israel
Israel has partially lifted its fishing ban in Gaza to allow fishing within three nautical miles off Gaza shores. The move is a goodwill gesture for reaching a deal which would end Israel's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza which was launched on July 8, as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are still conducting indirect talks in Cairo. While Israel was launching its military operation in Gaza in July, the Palestinians said that its military enforced a 500-metre restriction on fishing, comparing with a previous distance of three nautical miles off shore.

Cybercriminals using Ebola fear as bait to infect PCs: Symantec
World > Cybercrimes
According to a new report by Symantec, a group of cyber criminals are using the Ebola epidemic in West Africa as bait to steal passwords via emails.

Symantec says that cyber criminals are sending unsuspecting users emails with fake Ebola reports as attachments. Users who download the attachments get an infection of the Trojan.Zbot malware. Hackers are also sending emails impersonating a major telecom provider with a presentation on the Ebola virus.
Ebola, which is a severe epidemic in West Africa, has no known cure. Cyber criminals are using an email talking about a possible drug that cures Ebola virus to lure users into opening in the emails.

34 state-owned PSUs operate without a chief executive despite Companies ACT 2013 mandate
Politics and government > PSUs
As of July 15, more than 34 central PSUs are operating without a chief executive or a full-time chairman or managing director for the last 4 years. Reasons for the vacancies include the scrapping of recommended panel of candidates by the government, delays in obtaining vigilance clearance or approval of competent authority and court cases filed by those lower down in the empanelment process. According to the new Companies Act 2013, delays in appointments of the top posts in companies are in violations of the provisions of the legislation. Also according to the Companies Act 2013, appointment of a MD, chairman or CMD is vital to the enforcement of corporate governance norms. The CMD’s post is lying vacant in such state-owned companies as Coal India Ltd, , BSNL, NHPC, IRCTC, ONGC Videsh and MTNL to name a few.

Pakistan stock market suffers Rs. 350 bn due to protests
World > Pakistan
Pakistan’s capital market has suffered a loss of around Rs. 350 billion due to anti- government protests which have been going on for 5 days now. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the protests have hit the national economy which has shown signs of recovery after hectic efforts by the PML-N government. The government has announced to form two multi-party panel to hold talks with the protest leaders.

So far the protests have been peaceful but there are fears that violence may breakout if protesters tried to invade the high security ‘Red Zone’, where the Parliament, the President and the Prime Minister’s residences and embassies are located.

Telengana government conducts controversial household survey, state at standstill
Politics and government > Telengana
Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had announced an 'Intensive household survey 2014' to be conducted across the state. It was announced that nearly 4 lakh enumerators will survey 84 lakh households on August 19. The survey has raised eyebrows and generated a lot of controversy. Although the state government says that the survey is intended to eliminate false beneficiaries of government welfare schemes, a strong rumour is there that those who miss out on the survey will lose property and other rights. Residents of Hyderabad who originally came from Andhra areas feel that the survey will be used to profile them and use the information against them. Pharmacy staff and milk suppliers too were unwilling to miss out on the survey. The government declared holidays under the Shops and Establishment Act. The state came to a standstill on the day. Prominent IT companies and eating joints remained shut. Autos stayed off roads and most buses were booked by the government to ferry enumerators. Over 650 fuel stations were shut throughout the day. The survey which went on till midnight will cover the remaining households on Wednesday.

Married daughter part of parents’ family: Bombay HC
India > Court Verdict
In a landmark order, the Bombay high court has ruled that a married daughter does not stop being a part of her parents' family. The state's rules that discriminate against a married daughter and exclude her from the purview of the expression "family" were unconstitutional and infringed on fundamental rights, ruled a division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and A S Chandurkar in a case of transfer of a kerosene retail licence.

The state government rules say "family" includes the husband, wife, major son, major unmarried daughter, daughter-in-law, dependent parents, legal heir and adopted son. A divorced daughter could be considered part of the family, but any licence granted would be revoked if she remarried.

The high court pointed out that according to the state's rules, a major daughter before her marriage would be eligible to be treated as a member of the family of her parents who have been granted a retail licence. Similarly, a divorced daughter, too, would fall within the definition of family. But even if a married daughter is supporting her parents in their old age, she would be excluded from being considered for a retail licence held by them when they pass away.

Islamic State militants behead US journalist, release video
World > Iraq
Islamic State militants posted a video on Tuesday allegedly showing the beheading of an US journalist James Foley and images of another US journalist, Steven Joel Sotloff, whose life they said depended on how the United States acts in Iraq. The video titled "A Message to America" talked about serious consequences to the American air-strikes in Iraq. It follows a video posted on Monday, warning of attacks on American targets if Washington strikes against its fighters in Iraq and Syria. The recent beheading video warns America that it is no longer fighting an insurgency but an Islamic army and a state that has been accepted by a large number of Muslims worldwide. The kneeling man in the video who was beheaded calls his friends, family and loved ones to rise up against his ‘real killers, the US government’, because of what happened to him ‘as a result of their complacency and criminality’. The White House said that it was working to determine the authenticity of the video and expressed condolences to Foley’s family and friends. Obama aides however said that the President was determined not to put US combat forces on the ground in Iraq.





Thursday, August 14, 2014

Obama orders targeted airstrikes in Iraq as more than 40,000 take refuge atop Mount Sinjar; Iraqis nominate Maliki successor as defiant Maliki stages political showdown in Baghdad
World > Iraq
On Thursday, the US President Barack Obama gave permission for 'targeted airstrikes' to break the siege by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in northern Iraq. He said that the move was necessary to protect Americans in Iraq and a ‘potential genocide’ of innocent Iraqis by ISIS militants. However he insisted that the American combat troops, which were withdrawn in 2011, won’t return to Iraq. US fighter jets and drones hit specific, small assets of the Islamic State forces near Irbil, destroying three vehicles and damaging two others.
Thousands of Iraqi citizens, most of them Yazidis, a small and ancient religious sect that ISIS has vowed to exterminate, have been forced to flee their homes in the area of Sinjar. People loaded whatever supplies they could and fled towards the big cities. Some fled for miles on foot without any belongings. As many as 40,000 displaced Yazidis have taken refuge atop Mount Sinjar and some 200,000 have fled to other parts of northern Iraq. There is no food or water on the mountain and people are dying of thirst and starvation. They could not climb down for fear of getting killed. Parents were spitting into their children’s mouths to try to get them some liquid. Airdrops by the Iraqi government and US forces have not reached a large number of refugees since they are spread over large areas and the tricky mountainous region makes it difficult to spot people and airdrop supplies. Over the past week ISIS has executed a large number of Yazidis and hundreds of women and young girls were taken away as brides or slaves for jihadis and given the choice of conversion or death.
Under heavy pressure from the United States, Iraqi lawmakers chose a replacement for Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, widely blamed for his country’s polarized politics. Haidar al-Abadi, a member of Maliki’s own Shiite party was named by President Fouad Masoum to replace Maliki. But Mr. Maliki angrily rejected the move, vowing to fight in the courts and deployed militias and special forces on the streets, creating a dangerous political showdown in Baghdad. Although Mr. Maliki is widely reviled in Iraq, he remains a formidable force, with relatives who command special security forces, courts that are heavily shaped by his influence and a history of exacting revenge on his domestic opponents. Ironically, the US had helped Mr. Maliki rise to power eight years ago but now holds him responsible for alienating the country’s Sunni minority and helping fuel the rise of the ISIS.

Cabinet clears Bill to let minors be tried as adults for heinous crimes
Politics and Government > Juvenile Justice Bill 2014
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014 that gives powers to the Juvenile Justice Board to decide if a juvenile above 16 years, involved in heinous crimes like rape, would be tried in an adult court. The Bill comes in the backdrop of countrywide outrage after a minor convicted in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case was handed a three-year term in a reform home. However, the Bill lays down that in no case a juvenile involved in a heinous crime will be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. The new Bill also lays down provisions for punishment related to recruitment of child soldiers by militant groups, subjecting a child to corporal punishment which includes physical and verbal abuse and ragging of students within and outside an institution. The proposed Bill also provides for facilitating faster adoption of children and setting up foster care homes.

Russia Bans Food Imports in Retaliation for Western Sanctions
World > Russia
In response to Western sanctions, confronting Russians with a type of economic isolation largely unseen since the Soviet era, Russia has banned imports of a wide range of U.S. and European foods. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev outlined the products subject to the one-year ban—beef, pork, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, cheese, milk and other dairy products from the U.S., Canada, the European Union, Norway and Australia—in a radical response to penalties imposed on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.
He also announced a ban on Ukrainian flights transiting through Russian airspace, and warned that Russia could issue a similar ban on U.S. and European planes.

Others

Dhoti Bill Introduced in Tamil Nadu to ensure entry of dhoti-clad Tamils into clubs
Politics & Government > Dhoti Bill
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has introduced a bill in the assembly that will ensure that veshti - clad Tamils are not denied entry into clubs and other institutions.
The bill states that any establishment that restricts the use of traditional clothes stands to lose its licence. Any establishment or person found responsible for violation could attract a penalty of Rs 25,000 or a jail term of one year. The law would apply for any "recreation club, association, trust, company or society".
The move comes after a Madras HC judge wearing a veshti was denied entry into a Chennai club. The Tamil Nadu Entry into Public Places (Removal of Restriction of Dress) Bill, 2014 proposes penalties to establishments and a jail term to persons responsible for violations.

One lakh children go missing in India every year: Home ministry
Politics & Government > Home Ministry
A recent report by the Home Ministry has revealed that over 3.25 lakh children went missing between 2011 and 2014 (till June) at an average of nearly 1 lakh children going missing every year. The Government data has revealed that after 1.7 lakh children missing in 2013, now over 1.5 lakh more children have gone missing and one child goes missing in every eight minutes. Over 3,25,000 children went missing between 2011 and 2014 (till June) which turns out to be nearly an average of 1,00,000 every year.
In the past three and a half years, over 50,000 children have disappeared in Maharashtra with Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh recording less than 25,000 missing children for the same period.

City in Xinjiang China bans beards, veils in buses
World > China
Authorities in Karamay, a city in the restive Xinjiang region of China has banned "five groups of people" — those who wear burka, headscarves, veils or hijab, any clothing bearing the crescent moon and star, as well as long beards. All of these symbols are associated with Islam. The ban comes within days of a major terrorist attack and subsequent police action that killed nearly 100 people in the bordering Kashgar area of the same province. The government blames Islamist separatists for the attacks in Xinjiang province. The ban disallows people in these groups from using facilities like buses and other means of public transport. This is in view of a local sports competition on August 20 and may be extended beyond that. State leaders in Xinjiang are also known to be working on a controversial proposal to implement family planning equally on all ethnic groups, including Muslims, who until now had been exempt from China’s two-child policy. Chinese authorities have earlier discouraged Muslim government employees from fasting during Ramzan on the grounds that it can affect their health and performance. The police were also concerned about crowding and inter-mingling during the fast-breaking time because they feared it might give terrorist groups the opportunity to expand their network.

RBI releases draft guidelines for Bharat Bill Payment System
Economy > BBPS
The Reserve Bank of India has issued draft guidelines for the implementation of Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). The BBPS will function as a tiered structure for operating the bill payment system in the country and will provide customers the convenience of ‘anytime anywhere’ bill payment. The draft guidelines outline the requirement and the basic tenets of operating the BBPS, and prescribe the eligibility criteria, standards for settlement model and customer grievance redressal, roles and responsibilities and scope for entities seeking to be part of BBPS. The RBI has invited comments from stakeholders by September 5.

Prime accused Sher Singh Rana convicted in Phoolan Devi murder case
India > Phoolan Devi Murder Case
A New Delhi court on Friday convicted prime accused Sher Singh Rana in the 2001 murder of dacoit-turned-MP Phoolan Devi. The court however acquitted 10 others accused in the case. A 12th accused, Pradeep, had died of heart attack in Tihar Jail in November 2013. Phoolan Devi, a Samajwadi Party MP from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead on July 25, 2001, outside her residence at Ashoka Road by Rana and his aides. As per police, the motive behind the killing was to take revenge for the alleged murder of upper caste men by her.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee and 4 others likely to be awarded Bharat Ratna this year
Awards > Bharat Ratna
The union government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may soon announce its decision to award the coveted Bharat Ratna Award to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is the former Prime Minister of India, as well as a veteran leader of the BJP. Names of Madan Mohan Malviya, the freedom fighter, along with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, as well as Kanshi Ram, the Dalit leader and the founder of the Bahunjan Samaj Party, and also Dhyanchand, the legendary hockey player, are also under consideration for the prestigious award.
Last year, the UPA government had given the award to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist CNR Rao. The BJP, then in the Opposition, had criticized the UPA for ignoring Vajpayee's contribution and said it will bestow the honour upon him as soon as it comes to power.

Ukraine says it's close to taking rebel-held Donetsk
World > Ukraine
After making significant gains that have divided rebel forces, Ukrainian government forces are preparing for the final stage of recapturing the city of Donetsk from pro-Russian separatist rebels. The developments come as Ukraine said it had agreed on a Red Cross-led humanitarian aid operation with Russia, the European Union and other international partners to alleviate suffering in the rebel-held city of Luhansk.
Donetsk which was once a bustling metropolis is facing worsening shortages of food, water and fuel. Few civilians are on the streets, but groups of armed separatist fighters can be seen. There is relatively little traffic, with gasoline in short supply.

Russian Intervention in Ukraine Is Likely, NATO Says
World > Ukraine
NATO is warning that a Russian intervention in Ukraine is likely, fearing that a convoy of humanitarian aid dispatched by the Kremlin to the separatist-held city of Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine, is being used as cover for a military buildup. Russian aid, which is being delivered as part of a Red Cross–administered program, comes in response to setbacks suffered by pro-Russian rebels in the past week. The Putin Administration insists the assistance is purely humanitarian, and Ukraine has indicated that it welcomes the international relief mission of which the Russian convoy is a part.
The conflict in Ukraine has led to a crisis between East and West at a level not experienced since the Cold War, with wide-ranging sanctions on Russia imposed by the E.U. and the US.

Large banks should be required to raise at least 30 percent of their funding in the form of equity: Anat R Admati
World > USA
Stanford Finance Professor Anat R. Admati has said that post-financial crisis regulatory changes remain insufficient.
Her solution is to make banks behave more like other companies by forcing them to reduce sharply their reliance on borrowed money. That would likely make the banking industry more stodgy and less profitable — reducing the economic risks, the executive bonuses and, for shareholders, both the risks and the profits.
According to her, large banks should be required to raise at least 30 percent of their funding in the form of equity, about six times more than the current average for the largest American banks. This would not affect the ability of banks to accept deposits; it would not even affect their borrowing from other sources. Instead, she says, banks should be required to suspend dividend payments, thus increasing their equity by retaining their profits, until they are sufficiently capitalized.

FBI to probe into Missouri teen's shooting
World > Michael Brown Shooting
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has opened a probe into the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager in this St. Louis suburb, as more unrest broke out following looting and widespread property damage. The FBI will conduct its own investigation in addition to one already under way by St. Louis county police into a shooting by a Ferguson police officer that left 18-year-old Michael Brown dead. The FBI review will focus on whether the civil rights of Mr. Brown were violated.
Background:
The shooting of Michael Brown occurred on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, United States. Brown was an unarmed 18-year-old African American man who was shot by a Ferguson police officer. The incident sparked protests and acts of vandalism in the St. Louis suburb as well as national calls for an investigation into the incident.

Israel prepared to ease conditions in Gaza following 72-hour ceasefire
World > Israel-Palestine
According to a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israel has agreed to ease conditions in the Gaza Strip during indirect cease-fire talks in Cairo, Egypt. The latest three-day cease-fire between Israel and Islamist group Hamas has held so far, with normal life beginning to return to streets of Gaza. As part of easing conditions, Israel might agree to expand the fishing zone off Gaza from its current range of three nautical miles to six. Israel is also willing to ease the passage of people from Gaza to both Israel and the West Bank, and to increase the number of permits authorized each month to 5,000. It is also willing to significantly increase the number of Gazan trucks carrying various goods which can enter Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing on the Gaza Strip-Israel-Egypt border. Israel might also be prepared to allow the transfer of money to Gaza to pay the salaries of Hamas through a third party, provided it is not Qatar or the United Nations.
However, there has been a serious deadlock regarding the return of the bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, two Israeli soldiers killed in the latest conflict, held by Hamas. Hamas is demanding the release of Hamas members jailed in Israel who were captured during the latest offensive. Israel said that the military would be ready to protect Israel if Hamas violated the truce and a Hamas spokesman has said the talks were "the last chance" to agree on a long-term truce. However, easing the conditions won’t include the construction of a seaport or an airport in Gaza as demanded by Hamas.

West Africa uses centuries old tactic - cordoning of disease infected areas, to contain Ebola
World > Ebola Outbreak
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has reached such massive proportions that governments there have revived a disease-fighting tactic not used in nearly a century: the “cordon sanitaire,” in which a line is drawn around the infected area and no one is allowed out. Cordons, common in the medieval era of the Black Death, have not been seen since 1918. Centuries ago, in their most extreme form, everyone within the boundaries was left to die or survive, until the outbreak ended. Plans for the new cordon were announced on Aug. 1 at an emergency meeting of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the three countries hardest hit by Ebola. The plan was to isolate a triangular area where the three countries meet, separated only by porous borders, and where 70 percent of the cases known at that time had been found. As of Monday, the region had seen 1,848 cases and 1,013 deaths, according to the World Health Organization, although many experts think that the real count is much higher because families in remote villages are avoiding hospitals and hiding victims. Disease-control experts say the tactic could help contain the outbreak but should be used humanely. Food, water and medical care must reach those inside, and the trust of inhabitants must be won through communication with their leaders. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, large sections of districts affected by Ebola have been cut off by military roadblocks. Inside the cordoned areas, alarmed residents have told reporters that they fear starving because food prices are rising. Many farmers have died, and traders who cannot travel cannot earn money. It is not clear whether plans to deliver food, water and care are underway. World Health Organization, which last week declared the outbreak an international public health emergency said it will work with the World Food Program and other agencies to make sure food and supplies get in.