15 December 2013

Ø  Lal Thanhawla was sworn in as the Mizoram Chief Minister by Governor Vakkom Purushothaman at the Raj Bhawan in Aizawl

Ø  The initial operational clearance (IOC) for the home grown light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ which will replace the ageing MiG – 21 Type 77 aircraft will be given on December 20

Ø  Rs. 92-crore Disaster Recovery Centre of Natgrid in Yelahanka, As a counter-terror measure, Natgrid would collect and collate information from state-run databases, including tax and bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records and itineraries of rail and air travel. Natgrid data will be accessed and shared by 11 central intelligence agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, Research and Analysis Wing, Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau and the Enforcement Directorate.  The state-run National Building Construction Corporation will build the disaster recovery centre by 2015.

Ø  Iran has walked out of expert level talks in Vienna, following the imposition of fresh sanctions by the United States — its move demonstrating the fragility of the implementation of the nuclear deal in Geneva between Tehran and the six global powers.   On Thursday, the U.S. treasury department imposed curbs on 19 companies and individuals for evading sanctions against Iran.

Ø  China on Saturday for the first time landed a rover on the Moon — the first country to do so since 1976 — marking a landmark for the country’s fast-developing space programme.  A lunar probe carrying the “Jade Rabbit” or Yu Tu rover landed in the Bay of Rainbows, or Sinus Iridum, on the Moon’s surface.

Ø  At a summit in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “agreed to enhance co—operation in ensuring freedom of overflight and civil aviation safety.  The cautious show of support for Tokyo in its bitter row with Beijing came as Japan pledged USD 20 billion in aid and grants for the region. A Danish chemical expert says Danish and Norwegian ships can safely ferry up to 500 tons of Syria’s most dangerous chemical weapons out of the strife-torn country.  The Danish warship and a Norwegian frigate will act as escorts. Both are docked in Cyprus along with a cargo ship.

Prince Harry has become the first British royal to reach the South Pole after a three-week charity trek with injured military veterans from Britain, the U.S., Canada and Australia. Harry and the 12 servicemen and women reached the globe’s most southerly point following a 320-km journey across Antarctica, organisers Walking With The Wounded said.