Rocket debris hits 2 homes in China
5
12
2013
Two houses in China were damaged by falling pieces of a rocket launched on Monday. China’s first moon rover, Chang’e-3, was successfully launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan. However, debris from the launch hurtled into a village in neighboring Hunan province, Reuters said. No casualties were reported, but a desk-sized chunk of the rocket had apparently smashed through the wooden roof of a farmer’s house. One person whose home was damaged received 10,800 yuan ($1,800) as compensation and the other received 5,200 yuan. The incident prompted calls for an insurance scheme to cover possible damage from Beijing’s ambitious space program, the China Daily reported.


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6 killed in attack on Iraq intelligence HQ
5
12
2013
Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a police intelligence headquarters in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, killing at least six people, Reuters reported. Security forces and attackers engaged in a two-hour gun battle at the complex where explosions could be heard, police said. Sabah Amir Ahmed, head of the health directorate in Kirkuk, said 47 people were wounded. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.


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Yemen’s Defense Ministry attacked by suicide bomber -
5
12
2013



A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into the gate of Yemen’s Defense Ministry on Thursday causing a large number of casualties, Reuters reported, citing a source at the ministry. The exact number of casualties was not immediately clear. “The explosion was very violent,” a witness said. Gunshots were heard near the area shortly after the explosion.


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NSA leaks: Sweden spied on Russian leaders for US
5
12
2013
NSA leaks: Sweden spied on Russian leaders for US

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Swedish signals intelligence agency FRA spied on Russian leaders and shared the data collected with the US, local media report citing Edward Snowden leaks. Sweden’s ‘cable access’ made its position ‘unique’ in the eyes of the NSA.

The NSA eyes the FRA as a ‘leading partner’ among the US agencies foreign partners in the global data collection program, reported Sweden’s Sveriges Television (SVT) citing documents provided by the fugitive whistleblower through US journalist Glenn Greenwald.

“The FRA provided NSA … unique collection on high-priority Russian targets, such as leadership, internal politics,” reads one NSA document from dated April 18, 2013.

Ahead of a meeting with officials from FRA, NSA bosses were instructed to praise the Scandinavian partners, another said.

“Thank Sweden for its continued work on the Russian target, and underscore the primary role that FRA plays as a leading partner to work the Russian Target, including Russian leadership, … and … counterintelligence,” SVT cited it as saying.

“FRA’s cable access has resulted in unique SIGINT reporting on all of these areas,” it continues, using an abbreviation for signals intelligence.

The SVT report didn’t name any particular individuals and organizations in Russia, which were the subjects of FRA interest. It did not detail the exact methods, which the intelligence agency used to collect information, although the mentioning of cable may refer to internet traffic.

In 2011, the WikiLeaks website revealed US diplomatic cables, which said that FRA was able to monitor some 80 percent of Russia’s internet traffic, which passed through Sweden, and that the country had adopted a new wiretapping law to allow such actions due to Washington pressure.

Currently the FRA is authorized to monitor cable-bound communications to track “external threats” against Sweden. Permits are authorized by a secret court, the Defense Intelligence Court. RT


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Pope Francis sets up Vatican committee to fight child abuse
5
12
2013
Pope Francis on Thursday set up a committee to fight child abuse in the Catholic Church following a recommendation from a council of cardinals that advise him. The committee will also offer pastoral care to victims, AFP reported. The announcement was made by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston and one of the eight members of the council. The precise composition of the new committee will be announced “in the near future,” O’Malley said.


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Anchal Khurana: “I’m like Deepika Padukone in Ram Leela!”
5
12
2013


The actor is back with a vengeance in Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke



After winning millions of fans as the vamp, Charu, in Zee TV’s Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, the pretty Anchal Khurana went missing from the scene. And, now she returns on the show and will be doing what she does best – wreck havoc in the lives of the Garg family. Her entry will be shrouded in mystery and one will not know her real motives.

Donning the avatar of a village belle and  veiling her face with a ghoonghat this time, Anchal will enter the scene as Meethu, Vikram’s (Rahul Sharma) fianc鮠Herghoonghat constantly gets stuck in door knobs, hooks and latches and she constantly does things that reveal that she knows this house very well. Vikram happens to be Shail’s (Vaishnavi Mcdonald) nephew and she’ll use him for her own vested interests.

An excited Anchal said on her comeback, ”The best part of my comeback is my look which has changed completely. Now I’m a village belle with a Rajasthani accent. It’s almost like playing a new character in the show. Meethu bears a lot of resemblance with Deepika Padukone’s character Leela in Ram-Leela. Can’t wait to get back on the sets with the entire gang – Rupal, Mahima, Ankit and now Piyush..”

Anchal’s entry is slated to happen by end of this week. Keep watching Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, every Monday to Fridat at 7 30PM only on Zee TV.


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Is India being dogmatic at Bali?
5
12
2013
In the current global circumstances, India, along with some major emerging economies like Brazil, South Africa and China, has to take the responsibility for safeguarding and strengthening the multilateral trade regime overseen by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

This is because advanced economies, especially the US and those in Europe, have effectively given up on the multilateral trade regime. This is reflected in the spate of bilateral and regional trade pacts which the US and the EU are now pushing across the Atlantic and the Pacific region.

The US and EU are getting into a Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement which will cover more than 50% of the global economy and trade. On the other side, the US is pushing strongly for the finalisation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is a proposed trade and investment and services agreement between 12 Pacific rim countries of Australasia and South and North America. The TPP will pose a special challenge to the WTO regime because it is pushing for a high standard agreement, which will include all the emerging issues as well and could, therefore, lift the bar for future negotiations.

India is excluded from both these mega-regional trade deals and may find that it is frozen out of nearly two-thirds of global markets. Which is why India has the huge incentive to help strengthen the multilateral trade framework. To do that, even if India has to compromise a bit on some issues, it ought to do so and ensure that the drearily prolonged Doha Round is brought to a successful conclusion even if it is at a low level of ambition.

Almost 12 years have gone without any agreement at the WTO. The global trade framework is in a weak position now. If no agreement is reached in Bali, everyone will lose faith in the WTO, which may well face an existential problem. This is not good for India and other emerging and developing nations.

India is being projected as the country that is opposing an agriculture agreement. If a deal on agriculture is not clinched, then there will be no other agreements including the pact on trade facilitation that is expected to boost trade by $1.3 trillion. So, the question is, can India change its position so that there is an agreement at Bali?

In my view, India has thankfully achieved food security and the country no longer depends much on subsidies. The country has 60 million tonnes of foodgrains in store and, in all likelihood, will boost its agriculture output this year and the next. What India should strive for is improving productivity and unshackling the supply constraints. If this is done, the country will not just have surplus grains to export but can also rein in food inflation.

The Aadhaar-based direct benefit transfer, once fully operational, can do wonders for transferring subsidies online, cutting wastages and leakages and reducing the subsidy bill while ensuring food security. So, food security certainly should not and cannot be a non-negotiable issue for India at the WTO.

In this context, it will be wiser for Indian leaders to compromise a bit on agriculture so that there is a bigger agreement at Bali. This will preserve the multilateral trade regime and project India as a strong and mature player on the global trade negotiating table.

Rajiv Kumar

The author is senior fellow, Centre For Policy Research


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Day 22: Coca-Cola Cricket Cup U-16 Inter-School Tournament, Delhi-leg
5
12
2013




Kavish’s Six Wkts Take Salwan Public School to Next Round; Muni International School Outplay Mt. Abu Public School by 44 Runs



New Delhi, 5nd December 2013: Kavish Gaur’s lethal bowling helped Salwan Public School, Mayur Vihar thrash Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School, Ajmeri Gate by two wickets in Group H Round 2 match of the Coca-Cola Cricket Cup under-16 inter-school tournament, played at Parmarth ground today.

Anglo Arabic Sr. Sec. School won the toss and opted to bat first. However, Salwan Public School’s bowler Kavish used the new ball and fresh pitch well as he rattled the opponent’s batting line-up with his deadly bowling. His six-wicket haul helped his team to bowled-out Anglo Arabic Sr. Sec. School in 23.5 overs.

Only Jay Bharadwaj and Sajid Khan showed some resistance and scored 51 and 46 runs respectively to take their team’s score to respectable 153 runs.

Batting second, Salwan Public School faced some deadly spells by Razi Ahmad (5/22) but managed to achieve the target after losing eight wickets. Vimal Kamal led the batting line-up with his unbeaten 51-run knock and won the match in 39.1 overs.

Kavish was adjudged Man-of-the Match for his all-round performance (6/28 & 18 runs).

Brief Scores



AASSS-AG: 153 all out in 23.5 overs (Jay Bharadwaj 51, Sajid Khan 46; Kavish Gaur 6/28).



SPS-MV: 154 for 8 wkt in 39.1 overs (Vimal Kamal 51 n.o.; Razi Ahmad 5/22).



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Match 2: In another league match in Group D, Muni International School, Vikaspuri defeated Mount Abu Public School, Rohini Sector 5 by 44 runs, played at Vikaspuri ground today.

Muni International School won the toss and elected to bat. With the help of Sanjeev Shah (39) and Gurdeep Singh Sodhi (26), they scored 126 runs for seven wickets in 30 overs.

For Mount Abu Public School, Jatin Shokeen (3/6) and Rahul Bhatt (2/9) managed to destabilise the opponents.

While chasing, Mount Abu were bowled-out at a meagre score of 82 runs. Sudhir spearheaded the bowling attack with his three-wicket haul. From the other end, Sankalp Mishra and all-rounder Gurdeep claimed two wickets each and bundled-out the opposition in 26 overs.

Gurdeep was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his all-round performance.



Brief Scores



MIS-V: 126 for 7 wkts in 30 overs (Sanjeev Shah 39, Gurdeep Singh Sodhi 26; Jatin Shokeen 3/6, Rahul Bhatt 2/9).



MAPS-R5: 82 all out in 26 overs (Chetanya Chauhan 16; Sudhir 3/18, Sankalp Mishra 2/10, Gurdeep Singh Sodhi 2/14).