Bill for creation of Telangana gets assent of Union Cabinet
The Union Cabinet has approved for the creation of Telangana with 10 districts and sketched the draft for carving out the India’s 29th state from the current Andhra Pradesh.
The Cabinet chaired by PM Manmohan Singh gave its nod to a draft reorganization bill based on the recommendations of Group of Ministers (GoM) and dropped a debatable move to add two districts of Rayalaseema to Telangana.
What next?
Now, the bill will be sent to the President with a request to make a reference to Andhra Pradesh assembly to obtain its views. The government intends to bring the bill in the winter session of parliament but it depends on when the President returns the bill after signing it.
Highlights of the Telangana Bill:
Telangana will have 10 districts and the rest of Andhra Pradesh 13 districts.
Both the states will have Hyderabad as their capital for a period not exceeding 10 years.
Governor of Telangana will have to bear a special responsibility for security of life, liberty and property of all those who reside in the common capital area. The Governor may be assisted by two advisors to be appointed by the Government of India (GoI).
Financial and other assistance to the creation of a new capital for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh will be provided by the Government of India. The capital will be recommended by an expert panel.
For proper management of water resources and projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers, institutional mechanism with full involvement and participation of government of India will be set up.
Polavaram will be declared as a national project and will be executed by the union government following all environmental and R&R norms.
There are detailed provisions in the bill on matters relating to coal, power, oil and gas, division of assets and liabilities and allocation of government employees.
Article 371 D will continue for the both states to ensure equitable opportunities for education and public employment.
Current admission quotas in higher technical and medical institutions will remain for a period not exceeding 5 years.
Oxford researchers develop new malaria vaccine
In a major scientific development, scientists at Oxford University have developed a new malaria vaccine which can guard against the deadly mosquito-borne disease.
The vaccine has shown promising results in the first clinical trial in which some of the adult volunteers were completely protected against malaria.
It’s the first time that a vaccine has been shown to have a protective effect through a sufficiently high immune response involving cells called CD8 T cells. It is CD8 immune cells that are seen to vanguard a protective response against malaria in similar studies in mice.
How this vaccine is different from existing vaccines?
At present, every vaccine in use generates antibodies. But there are two divisions to the body’s immune system for combating infection: antibodies and T cells. The latest vaccine is different in a way that it aims to induce an immune response involving T cells particularly CD8+ T cells. CD8 T cells are vital because they are the main killer cells in the immune system. They can attack nearly all types of infected cells – in this case liver cells infected with the malaria parasite.
India to host 2017 under-17 FIFA World Cup
The Under-17 FIFA World Cup 2017 tournament will be hosted by India. India bagged the landmark rights by beating other bidders like South Africa, Ireland and Uzbekistan.
As a host nation India will get the opportunity to participate in the 24-nation biennial mega event for the first time. This will be the biggest ever football tournament India will be hosting and the first FIFA event in the country’s history. Previously, India has hosted Asian Football Co federation’s Youth Championships (Under-20) in 2006 and then the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 but never any FIFA tournament.
This year’s (2013) tournament was hosted by the United Arab Emirates while Chile will be the host country for the 2015 edition.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter supported India hosting the event and wants India to build the required infrastructure and facilities.
Malala wins UN Human Rights Prize 2013
Pakistani teen activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived bullet-injury inflicted by the Taliban for championing girls’ education has won the UN Human Rights Prize 2013.
The winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2013 are -
Ms. Malala Yousafzai (student activist), Pakistan
Mr. Biram Dah Abeid (campaigner against slavery) from Mauritania
Ms. Hiljmnijeta Apuk (human rights activist and campaigner for rights of people with disproportional restricted growth – short stature) from Kosovo
Ms. Liisa Kauppinen of Finland – President emeritus of the World Federation of the Deaf
Ms. Khadija Ryadi - former President of the Morocco Association for Human Rights
Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice – the Constitutional Court
The twentieth anniversary of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action are also organized with the Award Ceremony which would take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Human Rights Day (December 10).
What is the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights?
An honorary award given to individuals and organizations in recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights in every five years.
The Laureates who won this award later are – Amnesty International, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt.
The Prize not only gives public recognition to the achievements of the recipients themselves, but also sends a clear message to human rights defenders the world over that the international community is grateful for, and supports, their tireless efforts to promote all human rights for all.
China’s air defense zone unacceptable by White House
Screenshot_2China’s new air defense zone over the East China Sea was not recognized by the United States. From this move of China, tensions will create in one of the world’s most geo-politically sensitive areas.
What’s the issue?
China had set up an air defence zone that covered the international airspace over parts of the disputed East China Sea and required all non-commercial air-crafts to notify its authorities of their flight plans to avoid triggering a response from air defence forces. The ADIZ is a predefined area over international airspace within which the Chinese military will monitor and track aircraft.
The zone extends into international airspace east of China’s territorial airspace into the East China Sea, and up to 130 km from Japan’s territorial airspace. The Chinese ADIZ overlaps with the ADIZ that Japan has already established in the region, with both zones covering the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The move is likely to fuel tensions with Japan, coming at a time when both countries have sparred over the disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea.
Anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela passed away
Nelson Mandela (95), South African anti-apartheid icon passed away at his residence at Johannesburg. The death of the great statesman is being mourned by his nation and the world with tributes flooding in from the leaders and people all over the globe.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela:
Born: July 18, 1918 to the Thembu royal family belonging to Xhosa clan.Sobriquet:The Father of the Nation (South Africa), Madiba, or as Tata (“Father”). He studied law at Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand. Joined anti-colonial politics and the African National Congress (ANC) and became a founding member of its Youth League.
Politically he was a nationalist and democratic socialist.
In 1948, when the South African National Party came to power, he rose to prominence in the ANC’s 1952 Defiance Campaign, was appointed superintendent of the organisation’s Transvaal chapter and headed the 1955 Congress of the People.
Repeatedly arrested on the charges of sedition and, with the ANC leadership, was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961.
Arrested in 1962 and convicted of conspiracy to subvert the government, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial.
Spent 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island, and later in Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison.
In 1990, he was released following escalating pressure from an international campaign for his release and growing civil tension.
Initiated talks with President F.W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory.
In 1994, he became South Africa’s first black president and formed a Government of National Unity in an attempt to defuse racial tension.
He also promulgated a new constitution and created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights abuses.
His government took initiatives with liberal economic policy and took steps to promote land reforms, combat poverty, and expand healthcare services.
Served as the President of the ANC from 1991 to 1997.
Served Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
Acted as mediator between Libya and the United Kingdom in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial, and supervised military intervention in Lesotho.
He didn’t contest for a second term, and subsequently became an elder statesman, focusing on charitable work in fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS through the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Awards and Honors:
Mandela was showered with several national and international honors from countries and organizations across the globe. He received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin, and the Bharat Ratna.
‘Brazuca’ : The new FIFA World Cup ball unveiled
Sports goods manufacturer Adidas unveiled the new ball for 2014 World Cup – called the “Brazuca,” in honor of Brazil at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Adidas has been following the tradition of providing the official ball for every World Cup tournament since 1970.
What does Brazuca mean?
The word “Brazuca” has a dual meaning, used as a term for Brazilians living overseas – including its many footballers – but also as slang used to describe national pride or anything “Brazilianish”. The ball is decorated with a ribbon design in shades of blue, gold and green, which the manufacturer says represents the traditional “wish bracelets” worn in Brazil.
The ball will be introduced in the inaugural game of FIFA World Cup 2014 on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, and will be played with until the final on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Previously, Adidas manufactured a ball named “Jabulani” for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in held in South Africa.
Bali Ministerial of the World Trade Organisation 2013
What is WTO Ministerial Conference?
The WTO Ministerial Conference is the topmost decision-making body of the World Trade Organization which regularly convenes every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.
The conference has key issues to discuss viz. Trade facilitation, Agriculture negotiations, Cotton Least-developed countries Monitoring mechanism, Small and vulnerable economies, Yemen’s accession, E-commerce “Non-violation” in intellectual property, etc.
What was India’s stand at the Bali Ministerial of the World Trade Organisation 2013 ?
India decided not to agree to the ‘Peace Clause’ for agriculture subsidies that the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevedo has proposed for Bali talks.
Here, India stands to seek safeguards for subsidies given to the farmers for food security purposes by poor countries. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that for India, food security is non-negotiable, it is an integral part of the millennium development goals and the need for public stockholding of food grains to ensure food security must be respected, and for this WTO rules must be updated.
For this valuable cause, India got support from many WTO members like South Africa, Nepal, Egypt, Uganda, Namibia, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mauritius and Nicaragua, etc.
What is the Peace Clause under current context and why an issue over this Peace Clause?
Under this ‘Peace Clause’, developing countries can provide WTO-prohibited subsidies to farmers without inviting any dispute under the Agreement on Agriculture, developed countries will have the right to drag these countries to the WTO Disputes Settlement Body, under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. This would render the peace clause null-and-void.
Note : Developed countries pressurizing India to accept a peace clause, which offers four years of immunity against penalties imposed for breaching the farm subsidy cap of 10 per cent under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
Outcome of the 9th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Because of India’s concern of Food security, WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference revised draft decisions on a package of issues designed to streamline trade, allow developing countries more options for providing food security, boost least developed countries’ trade and help development more generally.
RBI proposes new capital rules for D-SIBs (banks too-big-to-fail)
To safeguard the financial system from any possible crisis situation where large financial institutions faltered due to loss of confidence in the financial system, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the draft report to introduce increased capital requirements by 2016 for banks regarded as too big to fail and make them subject to greater regulatory oversight.
Key Elements of the RBI Report on D-SIBs (banks too-big-to-fail)
It outlines the methodology to be adopted for identifying the D-SIBs and regulatory policies for them.
The sample of banks for D-SIBs will be selected when its’ size is more than 2 % of GDP .
Banks classified as systemically important will be required to hold additional capital in the range of 0.2 % to 1 % of their risk weighted assets.
The banks designated as D-SIBs will be subjected to more intense supervision in the form of higher frequency and higher intensity of off- and on-site monitoring.
A D-SIB in lower bucket will attract lower capital charge and a D-SIB in higher bucket will attract higher capital charge.
Large banks such as the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Canara Bank and Punjab National Bank were likely to fall under this category of systemically important banks (D-SIBs) or too large to fail.
Domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs)
These are large and highly interconnected financial institutions—whose failures failure might trigger a financial crisis or can impact the orderly functioning of the financial system and harm the economy.
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