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Feedback on December 03, 2009

1. /MUMBAI STORIES

Navy against helipads on high-rise buildings The navy feels that the government plan to have helipads on high-rises is a threat to national security. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sanjeev Bhasin, Vice Admiral Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, said the proliferation of helipads on buildings is a security threat. (DNA, Mumbai + All )

Navy puts South block on private choppers The Navy will not allow private helicopters to move from private helipads in South Mumbai, the flag officer commanding-in-chief of the Western naval Command said today. Vice Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin cited security reasons and the examples of the helipads set up by the Tatas and the Ambanis. ( Mumbai Newsline, Indian Express )

Thackeray on centre stage, Uddhav pushed to background Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray's hold on the party seems to be slipping as his father and Sena chief has started asserting himself in party affairs, taking over the reins after the debacle in Assembly polls. ( , Mumbai)

CM orders single-shot clearance for industries Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who conducted the review, has asked officials to set up a single-window system at the district headquarters to expedite clearance of industrial projects. ( The Indian Express, Mumbai )

Road accidents: over 1 lakh insurance claims pending in Maharashtra According to the figures submitted by the state government before the , the claims have increased to 21,714 in 2009 from a single claim filed in 1982 taking the total number of pending claims to 1,08,966 this year. ( The Indian Express, Mumbai )

Maharashtra Govt. to back Maria Six days after Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria complained to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Chandra Iyengar about the allegations made against him by slaim IPS officer 's wife Vinita, the government ahs deicded to unconditionally back Maria. The decision was taken earlier this week at a series of meetings in Delhi between Iyengar and some top union home ministry officials. (, Times of India )

Maharashtra gets Rs. 671 cr to tackle droughts The Union Government on Wednesday sanctioned over Rs. 671.88 crore as drought relief to Maharashtra from the National Calamity Contingency Fund. ( The Free Press Journal, Mumbai )

All is not hunky-dory with Mumbai Fire Brigade The corporators of the civic Standing Committee alleged that four Fire officers, who showed exemplary courage during the 26/11 rescue operations, have been demoted due to internal squabbling in the brigade. ( The Free Press Journal )

Editorial: Trial by error It was a matter of some pride that India decided to honour the principles of jurisprudence when it began the trial of , the one terrorist caught alive during the November 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai. However, the incidents of the last few days culminating in the sacking of the defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi by the judge MH Tahiliyani has cast a needless shadow over the proceedings. The course before the court now seems to be to wrap up the trial as fat and as smoothly as possible. Due procedure must be followed but the case should not open itself to ridicule any more. There is a new defence lawyer and delaying tactics must not be attempted by him or accepted by the judge either. ( DNA, Mumbai)

2. NATIONAL STORIES

PM sends 40 lakh for her crumbling school Assam girl Dhanjita Das had handed PM a note on the condition of her school. Last week, the local district administration received a letter from the PMO, asking for details of a Rs. 40-lakh rebuilding and expansion plan for Dhanjita’s school. ( Indian Express, Mumbai)

Were you 15 when you fought for India's independence Surprised by a surge in numbers of freedom fighters seeking pension, govt inserts age clause. To check the misuse, the ministry has fixed the age limit at 15 years, which means the claimant should have been at least 15 when he or she participated in the freedom struggle. The ministry has also decided not to entertain any case except those forwarded by courts, minister of state for home Ajay Makan said. (DNA )

Like China, India may set its carbon intensity cuts Though the exact number for the reduction is still not clear, government sources said it was possible for New Delhi to reduce its carbon intensity by about 30 per cent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. ( The Indian Express, Mumbai + All newspapers )

PC's 'Hindu' fixation irks BJP Home Minister P. Chidambaram exchanged angry words in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday with Opposition BJP, which objected to his statement on 'Hindu militancy." (The Free Press Journal, Mumbai + DNA, Mumbai )

Govt. drops idea of linking key rivers Plans to pursue inter-linking of peninsular and Himalayan rivers separately ( The Free Press Journal)

3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Obama’s early Afghan exit plan worries India US President Barack Obama gave his generals in Kabul the military support they sought by announcing a plan to send in 30,000 more troops. No doubt, New Delhi will be pleased with Obama’s new resolve to quash the Taliban, but it will also be worried that publicizing firm dates will encourage the Taliban troops to wait out US troops. (DNA, Mumbai + All newspapers)

Vacuum left by US may be filled by Taliban Sceptics in India are upset at US president Barack Obama's roadmap for exiting Afghanistan, fearing that the vacuum left by the Americans will be filled by the Taliban, al Qaeda and assorted jihadi groups. This, in turn, will encourage the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other anti-India groups to again freely plan and execute terror strikes inside the country. (DNA, Mumbai)

Strategic partner is Obama’s Pak Mantra In President Barack Obama's new Afghanistan policy, the emphasis is on a new strategic 'partnership' with the Paksitan government and army. In a speech televised nationwide, Obama billed an 'effective partnership' with Paksitan as one of the three 'core elements' for defeating extremisms. (Free Press Journal, Mumbai )

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