National Political News:
1. Overwhelming win for RJD, JDU, Congress etc. Mhagathbandan in Bihar. 178 MLA’s from the grand alliance against 58 of the BJP lead alliance. RJD is the single largest party in Bihar assembly with 80 seats followed by JDU with 71 seats and INC with 27 seats. 1 out of every 4 elected MLA’s in the Bihar assembly is Yadav by caste.
LaluYadav backs Nitish Kumar for 3rd term as Bihar Chief Minister. Nitish Kumar elected as the leader of the Grand Alliance.
These results have wide ramifications for national politics. Murmurs of dissent in BJP over Bihar debacle. Old guard head by LK Advani, MM Joshi and YashwantSinha criticize the conduct of BJP in the Bihar elections.
2. Sikh state demand revived at resolution adopted at so called Sarbat Khalsa held at village Chabba, near Amritsar. Punjab government is in a crackdown mode against the organizers and the appointees at that congregation. Bhindranwala is back in the limelight. Sarbat Khalsa is the highest decision making body of Sikhs – Khalsa Panth (Baptised Sikhs). It can only be convened by the Akal Takht Jathedar, temporal head of Sikhs who has not done so in the present case.
3. The Tipu row escalates in Karnataka. Celebrations of birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan – 18th Century Mysore rural are opposed by VHP, BJP and RSS. It is believed that Tipu converted Hindu and Christians to Islam forcibly.
International Political News:
1. Myanmar also known as erstwhile Burma witnesses 80% turnout in the first free polls in 25 years. The Nobel laureate Suu Kyi lead National League for Democracy (NLD) party wave is on in Myanmar with 80% of the seats going to them. Inspite of the win for Suu Kyi, the army scripted constitution bars her from Presidency.
2. Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 after the Chinese civil war. Taiwan is a US backed democracy and claims independence of China. China considers it to be a renegade province to be brought under its control. The first meeting of their leaders have now taken place in Singapore between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-geou in Singapore to ease the tensions in the area.
3. Maldives lifts the 30 day emergency within a week of its declaration. It claims that its security forces have solved the attack on the Presidential entourage and arrested the weapon carrying people under suspicion of the attack.
4. Major ISIS terrorist strike in Paris, France. 3 groups of terrorist target a national football stadium in which a friendly football match between the German and French teams was underway with the President of France viewing the match, the Bataclan Concert Hall where a American rock band was performing and a cafe. Atleast 129 people have been killed in the attack by suicide bombers and the gunmen. 8 of these attackers have been gunned down by security forces.
There is worldwide condemnation of the terrorist strike. French President Francois Hollande declares merciless reprisals against the barbarian terrorists of ISIS known as ‘Daesh’ in France.
Business News:
1. Nestle’s Maggi is now available in 100 towns across the country after the lifting of the ban, imposed on it 5 month ago for having excessive lead content above the permissible limits. Nestle has suffered a damage of Rs. 530 crores on this count.
Maggi samples have now been cleared by 3 NABL accredited labs as mandated by Bombay High Court.
2. The IIP figure for September has come at a low of 3.6% due to subdued performance in the manufacturing sector and the non consumer durable goods.
The retail inflation has also climbed to 5% as per data realized by CSO, Government of India.
3. India and UK sign deals worth £9 billion for collaboration in defence and cyber security on the eve of the PM Modi’s visit to England, where he has addressed the British Parliament and was the guest at a lunch with Queen Elizabeth.
4. FDI norms eased in 15 sectors by the Government. 49% FDI funding in defence sectors allowed. 100% FDI allowed in construction, retail and broadcasting. Private banking FDI at 74% and aviation at 49%.
Single window clearance by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) uptoRs. 5000 crores instead of the previous Rs.3000 crores.
Science and Technology:
1. Photomics is the technology of 21st Century just as electronics was of 20th Century.
Photomics is regarding emission, detection, transmission and modulation of light whether natural or man made.
Worldwide telecommunications, computing, security, healthcare, imaging, medicines, defence, optics and electronics will be relying onit. The equipment used in this field are laser guns, optical fibres, optometric instruments, optical data storage besides others.
2. Earth temperature has gone up by 1°C as greenhouse gases emission reaches record level as per the British Met Office. 2°C is the rise of the temperature which is the thresh old level humanity should not cross warn the scientists. 145 million people living in coastal areas of China and 55 million in India will get submerged as per Climate Central, a US based research body because of risein waterlevels of the oceansdue to polar caps melting.
Sports:
1. Australia beat New Zealand at Brisbane in the first test of the 3 match series. Australia scored 556 runs for 4 wicket declared and 264 for 4 wicket declared in the first and second innings respectively. New Zealand replied with a total of 317 and 295 runs in the first and second innings.
2. Saina Nehwal beats Yihan Wang of China in the Semi final of China open Super Series Premier Tournament of Badminton 21–13, 21–18. She is thus one step away from retaining her title.
