National:

First Scorpene class submarine, Kalvari, set afloat in Mumbai

Kalvari, the first ship of Scorpene class submarines being manufactured at Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), was set afloat in the Mumbai naval dockyard on 29th October, setting the stage for its sea trials, and eventual commissioning on schedule in Sept 2016.

Scorpene submarines are 67 meters long, 6.2 meters wide and have 1,550 tonnes displacement. The state-of-art features of the Scorpene include superior stealth and the ability to launch an attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube launched anti-ship missiles, underwater or on surface.

Designed to operate in all theatres including the Tropics, the submarines can undertake multifarious missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, operations by special forces and mine laying etc.

The Mazagon Dock is presently constructing six Scorpene class submarines under Project 75 under transfer of technology from DCNS, France. Subsequent boats will be delivered at gaps of nine months from each other. All six are expected to be delivered by 2020.

I&B Ministry now bans documentary on beef

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has banned the screening of a documentary film on beef eating practices, which was slated to be screened at the Jeevika Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival 2015

50 villages in TN chosen for 'Jal Gram' scheme

Fifty villages with acute water scarcity in 25 districts in the State have been chosen for the Central government's Jal Gram scheme to make them water surplus through integrated development and water conservation measures, according to A. Subburaj, Regional Director, the Central Water Commission.

Addressing a workshop on water conservation, water security and water quality, organised by the CWC here on Thursday, Mr. Subburaj said two villages in every over-exploited district had been identified in the first phase for implementation of the scheme, which is one of the components of the Jal Kranti Abhiyan. Villages in other districts would be identified in the second phase.

The main objective was to ensure effective and maximum water utilisation in the villages. Water users will chalk out plans, and block-level and district-level committees will implement them. The project will be designed on the basis of available water sources, quantity and quality and estimated demand of water for each village.

Business and Economy:

World Bank projects sub-8% growth till 2018

The World Bank projected that India's GDP growth will remain below 8 per cent till 2018, the penultimate year of the Modi Government's tenure. The projection contrasts sharply with the Government's projection that the growth rate will cross 8 per cent this year and will be in double digits before the end of its term.

“Productivity and investment need to accelerate to match India's ambitions of double-digit growth,” World Bank's Senior Country Economist for India Frederico Gil Sander cautioned, releasing its India Development Update.

GDP growth is expected to accelerate gradually to 7.5 per cent in 2015-16 and to 7.8 and 7.9 per cent in the subsequent two fiscal years, the Update projected. However, this acceleration in growth is conditional on the growth rate of investment picking up to 8.8 per cent during the period 2015-16 to 2017-18.

RBI allows NRIs to subscribe to National Pension System

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed non-resident Indians (NRIs) to subscribe to the National Pension System (NPS) enabling them access old age income security. RBI has taken this decision in consultation with Union Government under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to appease NRIs.

Key facts:
NPS will act as an investment option for NRIs under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.

NRIs may subscribe to the NPS through normal banking channels and the person is eligible to invest as per the provisions of the PFRDA Act, 2013.

NRIs should pay the subscription amounts of NPS either by inward remittance through normal banking channels or out of funds held in their NRE/NRO/FCNR account.

No restriction will be imposed on repatriation of the annuity or accumulated savings of NPS.

National Pension System (NPS)
Governed and administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

NPS was launched in 2004 and was initially introduced for the new Government recruits (except armed forces).

NPS aims to institute pension reforms in the country and to inculcate the habit of saving for retirement amongst the citizens.

Its objective is to provide retirement income to all the citizens. It was extended for all citizens of the country from 1 May 2009 including the unorganised sector workers on voluntary basis.

Call drop penalty to stay for now, says TRAI Chief

Days after operators' requested withdrawal of regulation on compensating users for call drops, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 29th October said the regulations are valid as of now and operators should ready their systems to comply with them from January 1.

The regulator will, however, examine the issue raised by the industry, post which a final decision will be taken.

In a joint letter to the telecom regulator TRAI, the two industry bodies &ndash COAI and AUSPI, had sought withdrawal of the regulation that mandated services provider to pay subscribers Re.1 for every call drop they experience on their network, subject to a cap of three call drops a day, starting from January 1, 2016.

Uber opposes Maharashtra's Draft City Taxi Scheme

Taxi aggregator Uber has opposed the Maharashtra government's attempt to restrict the size of fleet of individual taxi aggregators and the move to regulate the fares aimed at protecting the interest of regular cab drivers in the state, more specifically in Mumbai.

Uber's objections have come in the form of a legal representation which has been submitted to the Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra, in response to a Draft City Taxi Scheme that has been circulated by the State government and the Transport Department of Mumbai to regulate the growing city taxi sector.

Uber has contested the Draft Scheme's attempt to set a cap of 4,000 vehicles per platform saying this would force it to arbitrarily discontinue partnerships with a majority of drivers, 'resulting in loss of livelihood for thousands of driver partners.'

International:

China ends controversial one-child policy amid shrinking workforce

China has dropped its controversial one-child policy bowing to pressures imposed by the prospects of an ageing society and a growing shortfall in the workforce.

The decision allowing couples to have two children was taken by the Chinese Communist Party (CPC).
The policy change is an advance over the 2013 ruling, which allowed couples, where one of the parents was a single child, to have two children.

Pressure was mounting on the authorities to ease family-size norms after it became evident that the one-child policy meant to restrain a burgeoning population in the seventies, was leading to severe labour shortages and an ageing population.

According to UN estimates, nearly 440 million people in China would be over 60 by 2050, signaling a sharp decline in the labour pool. Last year, the working population between the ages 15-59 slid by 3.71 million.

Following its findings last year, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said that the mainland should, without delay, permit all couples to have a second child because the total fertility rate had dropped to 1.4, signifying the average number of children to be born of a woman in her entire lifespan. This was well short of the 2.1 mark that should be reached to ensure a balanced population profile.

Pakistan loses UNHRC seat

Pakistan on Wednesday failed to win a re-election to the top UN human rights body, garnering just 105 votes in the 193-member General Assembly.

A total of 18 members were elected to the UN Human Rights Council through a secret ballot. Pakistan's current term is set to expire on December 31 and it was seeking re-election to the 47-member Council.

The new members, who will start their three-year terms from January 1 next year, are Belgium, Burundi, Cd'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Kenya, Panama, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Togo, Slovenia, Switzerland, UAE and Venezuela.

Pakistan lost the seat in the Asia-Pacific category in which five seats were vacant. India is also a member of the Council and its term will end in 2017.

Flogged blogger Badawi wins EU rights prize

Gets Sakharov Prize for human rights for being a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech.

A Saudi blogger sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for insulting Muslim clerics has won the European Union's prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights.

Raif Badawi was honoured with the award as a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech in an announcement greeted with a standing ovation on at the European Parliament assembly in Strasbourg, France.

The freedom of thought award is named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov. It was set up in 1988 to honour people and organizations, which are defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Mr. Badawi was one of three nominees for the prize this year, along with the Venezuelan opposition movement Mesa de la Unidad Democratica and assassinated Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.

Raif Badawi, author of the website Free Saudi Liberals received an international fame in 2012 after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia for insulting Muslim clerics.

About Raif Badawi

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is annual award given by the European Parliament.

Bestowed on individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.
Established in December 1988 and named after Soviet scientist (physicist) and dissident Andrei Sakharov.

The first prize was jointly awarded to South African Nelson Mandela and Russian human rights campaigner Anatoly Marchenko.

It is awarded annually on or around December 10, the day on which the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, also celebrated as Human Rights Day.

China condemns US warship's passage near disputed islands in South China Sea

China has strongly condemned US warship's passage near disputed artificial islands in the South China Sea spiraling tensions between both nations.

On 22 October 2015, guided missile destroyer USS Lassen had entered the 12-nautical mile zone claimed by China around Zhubi reefs in the Spratly archipelago in South China Sea. China is claiming its full sovereignty over these disputed islands and its adjacent waters in South China Sea.

China's Argument: Patrolling and non-permitted entry of US Ship in Spratly archipelago has threatened its sovereignty and security interests and also harmed the regional peace and stability.

US Argument: The warship has entered in this region as it is having right of freedom of navigation in international waters and does not require any prior permission.

Background of Disputes in South China Sea

Disputes in South China Sea is fight mainly between China, Philippines, Vietnam over the territory and sovereignty of Spratly and Parcels islands in South China Sea along with other atolls, reefs and rocky outcrops.

Importance of these islands: They are strategically located in South China Sea which is major international shipping route as world's half merchant ships passes through it. They are also having reserves of natural resources around them including petroleum.

China's claim: It is saying that major portion of these islands belong to them as part of the historical events and area defined by Nine Dash Line.

Under its claim, China already has started and even completed building artificial islands and even strategic runways for mobilising its airforce from these islands.

India's position: Explicitly supports and believes in international laws and arbitration process for resolving the disputes for regional stability.

Sports:

Cricket Australia XI openers share record stand against NZ

Aaron Finch and Ryan Carters shared the largest opening partnership in Australian first class history, putting on an unbeaten 501 for a Cricket Australia XI against New Zealand.

Finch was 287 not out and Carters 208 not out when the Cricket Australia XI declared its first innings at 501-0 on the second day of the tour match at Blacktown International Sportspark.

The stand surpassed the Australian record of 456, set by Bill Ponsford and Edgar Mayne for Victoria in 1923-24.

The world record for a first-class opening partnership remains 561, set by Waheed Mirza and Mansoor Akhtar at Karachi's National Stadium in 1976-77.

The Cricket Australia XI had resumed at 376-0 Friday on the second day of the three-day match.

Indian Badminton League to return in January 2016

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has announced that it will conduct the second edition of the Indian Badminton League (IBL) from January 2 to 17, on a much superior scale and without the support of any external agency.

Even as Sporty Solutionz, the company which claimed intellectual rights for the event, having conducted the first edition in collaboration with BAI in August 2013, approached the Delhi High Court with a fresh petition, BAI was categorical that the contract had been cancelled and a caveat filed in both the High Court and Supreme Court, in May this year.

Addressing the media on Thursday, BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta assured that the body had the expertise to conduct the event, as it had shown by holding the Super Series events, World Championship, Commonwealth Games, apart from the Thomas and Uber Cup finals.

2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, 2018 in India: Thakur

The next year's Asia Cup T20 tournament will be held in Bangladesh in February with India hosting the 2018 edition of the marquee event, said BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

The BCCI secretary was a part of the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Singapore, where he proposed about India hosting the 2018 Asia Cup (50-over format) and the members agreed.