GENERAL NEWS INDIA – FEBRUARY 2009

Friday, February 06th 2009
Recession affects Indians in the Gulf
Many Indians employed in the Gulf are having to return home as global recession hits the region. According to media reports the Indian embassy in the UAE has said that around 20,000 Indians have returned home in the past four months. The Gulf region has been hit hard by sinking oil prices and a slump in the realty sector. Over 90% of the 5 million overseas Indian workers are employed in the Gulf and South-East Asia. It could spell a major crisis for the Indian migrants if the situation worsens.

Saturday, February 07th 2009
Dhruv Choppers to be inducted by the Govt
As a measure to improve the responses of security forces in times of emergencies like the 26/11 terror attacks, the Union Home ministry has decided to induct additional helicopters. Eight 'Dhruv' Advanced light Helicopters will be included next month for quick mobilization of security forces. These copters will be located at four cities-Jammu, Delhi, Guwahati and Patna and it will be available for paramilitary forces which include the National Security Guard (NSG). 

Monday, February 09th 2009
Pakistan to submit 26/11 investigation report today
Pakistan's media reports state that the investigations carried out by Pakistan into the Mumbai terror attacks which occurred on 26/11 have been concluded. Pakistan is expected to hand over its probe report today. According to Pakistan the strikes were planned in a third country, not in Pakistan or India. The report also seems to state that the attackers had accomplices in India. The report has to be reviewed by the defence coordination committee after which it will be handed over to the Indian high commission in Islamabad.

Friday, February 13th 2009
Pakistan finally admits 
79 days have passed since the heinous terror attacks in Mumbai and Pakistan has finally admitted to the fact that the 26/11 terror plot was planned on its soil. The Pakistani government which has been facing unrelenting pressure from the International as well as Indian quarters has had to accept the evidence put together by India and the US's FBI. Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik said in his statement to the media "Some part of it was planned in Pakistan" The Indian foreign ministry has welcomed the new development and stated that Pakistan will now have to begin dismantling the "infrastructure of terrorism" on its soil.

Friday, February 13th 2009
Swiss consulate in Bangalore
Switzerland is planning to have its consulate in Bangalore. This would be the European nation's third worldwide consulate after San Francisco and the one in Singapore. The Swiss government also plans to have scientific community office in Bangalore to encourage good relations between Indian and Switzerland scientists.

Friday, February 13th 2009
India's Israel connection
India and Israel are set to continue their expansion of their defense ties with joint R & D projects ranging from missile systems to Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms as well as arms deals. India is Israel's largest customer of Israeli weapon systems taking up imports worth over a staggering $8 billion since 1999.

Sunday, February 15th 2009
India's first ICBM test in 2010
In its first step towards acquiring its potent Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capabilities which is the preserve of the big -5 countries till date, India will test Agni-V an ambitious strategic missile next year. Agni-V is nuclear capable and is of the 5,000 Km range. DRDO chief M Natarajan expects the missile to be tested before December 2010.

Monday, February 16th 2009
Gujarat riot toll to be up on February 28
The official death toll of the people who died in post Godhra- Gujarat riots will increase from its present number 952 to 1,180 on February 28. 228 people who went missing during the riots will be declared dead as the stipulated wait period of seven years will end on February 28th. 

Monday, February 16th 2009
Interim budget to be presented in the Lok Sabha 
External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee who is holding the charge of the finance portfolio will present the Interim general budget in the Lok Sabha today. The budget as per convention will not announce any tax changes or concessions and major schemes. This would be the last chance for the UPA government to woo voters before the Lok Sabha elections this year. Expectations are running high with this budget considering the economic slowdown.

Tuesday, February 24th 2009
Shri Madhav Chandra next High Commissioner to Republic of Botswana
Shri Madhav Chandra, currently Minister in High Commission of India, London, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Botswana in succession to Shri V.N. Hade.2. 

Thursday, February 26th 2009
26/11 charge sheet gets filed
The police have filed an 11,000-page charge sheet in the court in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks which took place on November 26, 2008. The charge sheet names the Lashkar-e-Taiba as the main conspirator behind the attacks. It also has the names of the 47 accused in the case, out of which 45 are Pakistani nationals. Three have been arrested so far; nine have been killed, 35 nationals from Pakistan are still to be caught. The charge sheet also includes a range of evidence including forensic evidence and statements made by Qasab, the lone terrorist in custody.

Friday, February 27th 2009
Attempt to lift Armed forces act in the valley
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abudallah announced on Thursday that the government has started the process to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Area's Act in the state. The AFSPA was imposed in July 1990 and was intended only for a short duration in order to quell militancy in the troubled valley. However the state government can only recommend such a move as the final decision rests with the Union Home ministry.