Business and Economy

• Russia & the US are in a new race to built permanent bases on the moon to begin an industrial-scale delivery of the rare isotope Helium-3 by 2020. Helium-3 is a highly effective fuel for thermonuclear reactors but is a very scarce on earth but abundant on the moon. According to Russia’s Energia Space Corporation President Nikolai Sevastyanov, one ton of Helium-3 could generate as much energy as 14 million tons of oil. Based on this estimate, 100 tons of Helium-3 is enough to meet the earth’s entire energy needs for a whole year. It is estimated that the moon has up to 500 million tons of Helium-3 trapped in the upper layers. The deadline to set up such a base on moon coincides with a timeline to develop thermonuclear reactors based on Helium-3 isotope and the country that could which could deliver Helium-3 to earth will be the global energy leader of the 21^st century.

Environment, Health and Education

• The French Government is seeking an urgent court order to stop an independent verification on the asbestos content in the condemned aircraft carrier Clemenceau. The ship is in the Red Sea on the way to the Alang dismantling facility in Gujarat and not far from Djibouti has been asked to stay out of the Indian exclusive economic zone of 220 nautical miles till February 12 when a verdict from the Supreme Court is due.

• Editorial: Regulate Ship Breaking Business

Terrorism, Defense and Security

• In a move to synchronize actions of multiple countries to fight terrorism, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has invited Russia and India to participate in a joint exercise in Russia. Using simulated scenarios that include nuclear and biological weapons, the troops will have to interact with local authorities and co-ordinate with local officials to disarm terrorists.

• India test fired a surface-to-air missile that can target multiple targets simultaneously. Indigenously developed Akash has a range of 25 kilometers and brought down two targets flown by India’s unmanned aircraft Lakshya. For the first time, an integrated system of surveillance was used to demonstrate how these different systems could be used together. The multi-function phased array weapon control radar (Rajendra), mobile launchers, unmanned aircraft, and surveillance radars were used in the test configuration. The intercept capable Akash is developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in partnership with the Bharat Dynamics Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). 

• Days before the crucial vote on the Iranian nuclear program at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has warned Israel, the United States, and Britain of missile attacks. Accusing these countries of arming militants in the South-Western Khuzestan, Iran said that they will “respond with our very effective missile defense.” Military experts say that Iranian Shahab-3 missile have a range of 2000 kilometers and could easily reach Israel, US-led forces in Iraq, and US bases in the region. As a last ditch effort, Iran said that it was sending a nuclear negotiating team to Brussels to resume negotiations with the EU-3. The West has been trying to convince Russia and China, who have significant investments in Iran, to take a harder stance with Iran. A Non-Aligned Nations group has counseled the West to take the negotiating route with Iran.

• Editorial: Iran's Nuclear Program

• India will hold second series of joint exercises with Russia in August 2006. India and Russian elite airborne combat units will participate in joint operations in Russia. The first joint exercise with Indian paratroopers was held in Rajasthan in October 2005

Neighbors

• Former Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayoom said that the Pakistani Government should have accepted Indian help after the earthquake four months ago. He said that Pakistan “should not have rejected” the offer and termed the Indian offer a “sincere move.” Rejecting proposals to divide the state on religious basis and for independence from India and Pakistan, Qayoom recommended a more detailed examination of the proposal to adopt a federal model. More than 125000 people still live in tents after their houses were destroyed by the killer quake that killed more 30,000 people. Officials in Pakistan say that they are awaiting a Japanese report on a comprehensive development plan and have suspended all construction. Victims of the earthquake accuse the Government of not providing the promised relief of Pak Rs.100000 but officials say that there are problems within families on who should get the relief money. On the Indian side, 6 Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists and 2 Indian soldiers (including a Major) died when they were stopped from entering India from Pakistan.