News : 1-7 Sep 2013

• Google said the next version of Android will be called 'KitKat' in keeping with its penchant for giving tasty names to its software for powering mobile devices.


• India's advanced multi-band communication satellite GSAT-7, launched from French Guiana by European space consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on August 30, has been successfully placed in the geosynchronous orbit with an altitude of about 36,000 km above earth surface.


• After Ymail and Flicker revamp, Yahoo Inc. now unveils new logo.Yahoo’s $1.1 billion purchase of Tumblr, an Internet blogging service.

Pakistan

1. The Punjab government has allocated millions of rupees to Jamaat-ud-Dawah, a front of the banned LeT, for various development initiatives.


2. Secured a massive $11 billion economic bailout package from international donor agencies including the IMF, to revive the ailing national economy.In addition to the IMF assistance, Pakistan will also get a $5.6 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank as well as countries like Japan, U.S. and U.K..


3. Nawaz Sharif visit to China on July 2013 : Both sides were planning a series of special economic zones, a rail link and a pipeline running from the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar to the old Silk Road town of Kashgar in Xinjiang’s western border.


4. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was given a ceremonial guard of honour on his last day as he became the first democratically elected head of state to complete a full five-year term.


5. India-born Mamnoon Hussain, a close aide of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,  sworn in as the President of Pakistan in sep 2013.Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry administered the oath at a ceremony

Pakistan

• Pakistan regretted North Korea’s decision to conduct an underground nuclear test.
• Pakistan on Friday successfully tested the nuclear-capable Hatf-II ballistic missile with a range of 180 km(short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile)
• Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline work to start on March 11 and agreements for opening two more border crossings at Gabd and Pasni and for setting up an oil refinery in Gwadar will also be signed 
• There is impasse b/w the government and the opposition over who will be the

Kisenganga Project

What is the issue?

Pakistan had pleaded before the Court of Arbitration at The Hague that India’s construction of Project over Kishenganga was a violation of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) signed in 1960.

What is the Project?

India is constructing Rs. 3600 crore, 330 MW, run-of-the-river, hydro-electric project on Kishenganga River (known as Neelam in Pak) which is a tributary river to Jhelum. The

New Visa Agreement Between India and Pakistan

Signed On : 8 Sep 2012

Key features :  

• Visitor Visa :  Places of visit allowable increased from three to five places. In exceptional cases visas can be issued to one year or now it can be of 2 yrs depending on :- 65 yrs of age , person married to other country person and children of age < 12yr accompanying parents.
• Visa on Arrival  can be granted at Attari/Wagah check-post to persons more than 65 years of age for 45 days with single entry.
• Business Visa : Businessmen with an annual income above Pak Rs. 5 million or equivalent or annual turnover above Pak Rs. 30 million or equivalent.
• Group Tourist Visa : Group Tourist Visa for 30 days may be issued for travel in groups, with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members in each group, organized by approved tour operators/travel agents.
• Entry and Exit : Now entry and exit from different designated Immigration Check Posts can be allowed, if indicated in application.However, exit from Wagha/Attari on foot cannot be accepted unless the entry was also on foot via Attari/Wagah.