WHAT is called OPEC+, that is the 13 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) together with 11 other petroleum exporting countries led by Russia, decided on October 5 to cut their oil production by 2 million barrels per day, starting from November. The US had been pressing OPEC not to take this decision. There had been hectic lobbying by the US to prevent this outcome, and several visits by top US officials to Saudi Arabia, including even by President Joe Biden, to press home the point.

BALASANGHAM, a children's organisation of Kerala, organised an all-India workshop for young minds at the EMS Academy in Thiruvananthapuram to create scientific awareness and equip them with the logic of reasoning, to take on future challenges facing the society. The workshop was a new experience for children who were exuberant with a fighting spirit. The workshop was filled with playfulness, scientific thought, and debates based on reason.Children from 20 states attended the workshop which has formed a roadmap for the future organisational tasks.

ON October 3, 2022, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)’s indigenously-designed and produced Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in Jodhpur in the presence of the defence minister who named the aircraft ‘Prachanda’ or fearless. “The induction of LCH underlines the fact that just as the country trusts the Indian Air Force, the IAF equally trusts the indigenous equipment,” the minister said.

IN 1793 Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Land Settlement. By the induction of this land tenure, the zamindars (or landlords) became the hereditary permanent holders of the land. They got the legitimate right to loot and exploit. 212 years after this Act, in 2005 the Left, supported by other democratic forces at the time of the UPA-I government, proposed a new legislation - The Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2005. By this Act, it was proposed that the acquired land under this law could not be sold to anyone and that the forest areas should be protected.

A ROUND table meeting organised at the initiative of CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh state committee demanded the BJP-led central government to fulfill the promises made to the state and to implement the State Re-organisation Act.The meeting was chaired by P Madhu, a former member of parliament who appealed the ruling YSRCP and the main opposition TDP to decide whether they would fight for the state interests or would continue to follow the dictates of the BJP. If they continue to go along with the BJP, they have to face the ire of people, speakers warned.