International and Bilateral Issues

Film star Shah Rukh Khan inaugurated the 42nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa
Festivals such as the IFFI were a manifestation of human happiness and should be seen as a sharing of India, as people gathered to share their joy and creativity. An honest effort was critical for producing anything of value.
Life Time Achievement award, which was revived after almost 10 years, was conferred on French film maker Bertrand Tavernier.
The international jury panel led by renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Members Dan Wolman from Israel, Lawrence Kardish from the U.S., Lee Yong Kwan from the Busan Film Festival and Tahmineh Milani from Iran were felicitated by Rituparna Sengupta.
opening film of the festival, ‘The Consul of Bordeaux,'

Managing relations with China would probably be the most critical element among the security dimensions of India's foreign policy
Mr. Mathai termed 2012 a year of transition. This was because the ability of the international community to respond to global security challenges was limited by the preoccupation of major powers with domestic problems
In its immediate periphery, India's priority was to ensure that the smaller neighbours were not used by anti-India elements by assuring them that their interests would be taken care of through bilateral engagements.
India and China have found common ground on several global issues and the bilateral relationship had evolved after the signing of the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in 2008.
But the rapid strides in economic and military capabilities of China and the manner in which it exercised its power was being “followed carefully not only by us but by other neighbours in East Asia, ASEAN and beyond
Another security aspect in the immediate neighbourhood arose due to open borders with Bhutan and Nepal, which required more intense and effective coordination between the security agencies
Touching on the extended neighbourhood in South East Asia, Central Asia and the Gulf region, he drew attention to the challenges at play: domestic transformations, a large Indian Diaspora and India's growing energy needs.

Both signed two key agreements — on security cooperation and the transfer of sentenced persons.
Agreement on transfer of sentenced persons provides the framework to allow convicted prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentences in their respective home countries, and thereby facilitate social rehabilitation
Agreement on security cooperation seeks to strengthen and develop the existing bilateral framework in areas such as combating terrorism in all forms, addressing activities of organised criminal groups, drug-trafficking, and illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives.
There are around 1,200 Indians imprisoned in the UAE for various crimes, including on drugs and finance-related charges.
There is only one UAE national at present lodged in an Indian jail.
The pact will apply only to those who have already been convicted, and not to undertrials.
As per its provisions, any Indian sentenced in the UAE, who is to be transferred to an Indian jail, should have a minimum of six months of jail-term left and there should not be any pending case against him.

Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland will soon establish a visiting Chair for Tagore studies
The university also plans to open a Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies which it hopes will become an international hub for promoting Indian culture, education, philosophy, art and literature.
Indira Gandhi National Open University has introduced an e-library wherein the university's library collection can be accessed by users from any computer connected to the campus network. Off-campus users can use RATE service (Remote Access to Electronic Resources).

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has suggested that while India's growth record in recent years was unprecedented, a focus on labour markets and agricultural growth could spur the country to a better poverty alleviation record.
China stands out for its remarkable rise in its private and public savings rate, from 33.3 and 5.7 per cent of GDP in 1992 respectively, to 44.7 and 6.2 per cent in 2008.
“China is not alone,” in particular adding that “India possesses high and rising levels of national savings, which include rapidly growing corporate savings.”
the study quoted samples from several Indian rural villages showing that “Low-caste households living in low-caste dominated villages have a higher income than those in villages dominated by a high caste.”
Citing the rapid rise in labour productivity as a key factor driving this growth the study noted that in the case of India structural transformation in labour markets had made the services sector a key source of employment unlike China, where manufacturing appeared to dominate.
OECD said, “Labour has also moved from formal to informal employment, which offsets the positive impact on productivity.”

President Dmitry Medvedev has announced a sweeping package of retaliatory measures if the U .S. goes ahead with its missile defence plans.
Russia would be forced to take countermeasures if Washington continued to ignore Moscow's concerns and build a missile shield that would upset the strategic balance of forces.
he outlined five immediate steps the Defence Ministry would take on his orders: Put on combat alert the newest early-warning radar in the Kaliningrad region; strengthen protection of strategic missile sites; equip newly-built long-range ballistic missiles with advanced systems for overcoming U.S. missile defences; develop low-cost and effective measures of disrupting information and fire-control systems of the U.S.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah signed a deal on Wednesday to hand over his powers after 33 years in office to end 10 months of deadly violence.
Under the agreement, which Mr. Saleh had stalled for months in defiance of intense domestic and international pressure, the veteran leader will his hand powers to Vice-President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in return for immunity from prosecution for himself and his family, though he will remain honorary President for 90 days.