Thursday, May 28, 2015

Starred Articles

India ranks 24th on the first Environmental Democracy Index
India > Environmental Democracy Index > May 21
India has managed to secure the 24th position out of a total of 70 countries in the world's first Environmental Democracy Index. The index evaluates nations' progress in enacting laws to promote transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in environmental decision making. The index, which is topped by Lithuania, is a powerful lever that will help governments to become more transparent and allow ordinary citizens to advocate for more rights pertaining to the environment.

India emerges as the 2nd biggest shareholder of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
India > Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank  > May 24
India has emerged as the second biggest shareholder of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which comprises of 57 countries. China is the leading shareholder with 30.85% of the share followed by India with a 10.85% share. The second position will allow India to play an active role in making decisions related to investment in Asia. India will roughly contribute around $11 billion towards the $100 billion share capital of the bank.

Andhra Pradesh to get Rs. 2500 crore loan from World Bank, Singapore companies to transform new capital of Amravathi
India > Andhra Pradesh  > May 26
The World Bank has agreed to sanction a loan of Rs. 2,500 crore to Andhra Pradesh for enhancing the power sector. The funding will boost power supply in rural areas, smart cities and will also strengthen investments including those for the new capital city of Amravathi, according to the State Energy Conservation.

Meanwhile, the government of Andhra Pradesh is set to hire companies from Singapore to transform its new capital of Amravathi. The city will come up on an area of over 270 sq km on the banks of river Krishna, it will also have a green area of 79 sq km and a water network of 11.5 sq km.

Soaring temperatures claim more than 1100 lives across the country
India > Heat  > May 27
Several states in the country faced heat waves with temperatures soaring well above the 45 degree celsius mark. The worst affected states are that of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where 852 and 266 people have died respectively. Andhra Pradesh witnessed a maximum temperature of 46.4 degree celsius, while that in Telangana was 45.6 degree celsius. Apart from these two states, the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan also witnessed temperatures ranging between 42 and 45 degree celsius.

Others

PVR set to acquire DLF's DT Cinemas
Corporate > PVR Cinemas > May 21
India's largest multiplex operator PVR cinemas is reportedly in the process of acquisition of the wholly-owned subsidiary of DLF, DT Cinemas. The deal is likely to value DLF at about Rs 500 crore. A debt of about Rs 20,500 crore has compelled DLF to exit from DT Cinemas business. Both the parties are likely to approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for in-principle approval as PVR Cinemas is the market leader. However, neither of them has commented on the market speculations.

SBI ties up with Snapdeal, PayPal in a single day
Corporate > SBI May 21
Just a day after joining hands with Amazon to develop payment solutions for customers and small businesses, SBI has signed MoUs with Snapdeal and PayPal. The deal with Paypal will allow SBI debit card holders to use a digital payment gateway for buying products from foreign websites and also enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) customers to access a secure payment solution. Its second deal with Snapdeal will allow SBI to provide finance to the sellers who sell products on the e-commerce platform. Both the deals are targeted to boost micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) businesses. SBI hopes to fufill the Prime Minister's dream of `Make in India' and digital India through such deals.

Saina Nehwal regains top spot in World Badminton rankings
Sports > Badminton May 21
Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal regained the number one spot in rankings after temporarily slipping from the position last month. The female ace shuttler had reached the top of the rankings early last month on the virtue of a grand slam victory, which she subsequently lost due to ranking fluctuations. But, the Olympic bronze medalist regained the coveted spot to go as the top ranked player into the Australian Open, starting on the 26th of May, 2015.

Mohan Kumar appointed as the new defence secretary
India > Defence > May 22
1979 batch IAS officer from Odisha, G Mohan Kumar is all set to become the new defence secretary of India, after incumbent R K Mathur's retirement. Kumar was the front runner for the post as he was a pivotal member of the PM's 'Make in India' campaign of which defence was a vital cog. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also appointed Ashok Kumar Gupta, a 1981 batch Tamil Nadu officer, as the new secretary of defence production, who will eventually succeed Mohan Kumar.

Tourists from China, Japan may get to use ATMs here
Banking and Insurance > ATMs > May 22
Reserve Bank of India-promoted NPCI has entered into an agreement with China Union Pay and Japan Credit Bureau in order to enable Chinese and Japanese tourists in India to use local ATM and point of sale terminals. Apart from the international debit card to be launched next month, the National Payments and Settlement Corporation of India (NPCI) is also readying to launch credit cards and implement the Bharat Bill Payment system to facilitate cashless transactions.


Jayalalithaa sworn-in as Tamil Nadu CM for the fifth time
Politics and Government > Jayalalithaa > May 22
The 'caretaker CM' of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam handed over his resignation to Governor K Rosiah, making way for AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to take over the position of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa was swornin for a fifth time as chief-minister of Tamil Nadu on 23rd May, 2015.
In September last year, Jayalalitha was disqualified as MLA and had to step down as CM after a Bengaluru special court convicted her and three others in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced them to five years' imprisonment. Following this, Panneerselvam stepped in and served a brief eight-month term as CM. On May, 11, 2015, the Karnataka High Court acquitted Jayalaithaa in the case and prompted her return as CM.

Sierra Leone marks one year of Ebola
World > Ebola > May 25
One of the most affected countries of the deadly Ebola virus – Sierra Leone, marked one year of the inception of the disease on the 24th of May, 2015. Ebola has killed more than 11,000 people since it emerged in southern Guinea in December 2013, spreading first to Liberia and then to Sierra Leone where it has killed approximately 4,000 people till date. The virus is highly infectious and spreads through contact of bodily fluids of infected people. Liberia, which saw the most deaths, gave the world hope when it was able to declare that it had eradicated Ebola earlier this month

In the aftermath of the Nepal quake, India rescues children from traffickers
World > Nepal Quake > May 25
Indian authorities rescued more than 20 children who lost their families in the recent earth quake in Nepal from human traffickers. The rescued children have been sent to government rehabilitation centres. Most of them belonged to Indian migrant families, who did odd labour jobs in Nepal, and were returning after the earthquake. The police have arrested 4 traffickers so far and are scanning for more such people who managed to flee.

Snapdeal acquires MartMobi to strengthen mobility platform for sellers
Corporate > Snapdeal > May 25
With a view to strengthen its mobility platform for merchant partners, e-commerce major Snapdeal bought Hyderabad-based mobile technology startup, MartMobi in yet another buyout. The increase in the percentage of orders coming from mobile-based devices led snapdeal to make a deal with MartMobi known for creating mobile sites and apps for e-commerce stores, small and medium-sized businesses. Snapdeal has been on an acquisition spree, beefing up its presence as it takes on players like Flipkart and Amazon in the Indian e-commerce industry.

David Cameron and Vladmir Putin join hands to stop Islamic State
World > Islamic State > May 25
Russian President Vladimir Putin and UK Prime Minister David Cameron have agreed to work together in order to help stop the rise of Islamic State. The two nations have decided to revive the talks which had failed in the past over Mr. Putin's continued support for Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator.UK and Russia had worked successfully together on the Iranian nuclear issue and now hope to work together on matters of mutual interest in the years ahead.

Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings to win IPL 2015
Sports > IPL 2015 > May 25
Mumbai Indians won IPL-8 by defeating Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. While MI scored 202/5, the second-highest score in an IPL final, CSK laboured to 161/8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 41 runs. MI thus joined Kolkata Knight Riders and CSK to become the third team to win the IPL twice. In a surprisingly similar scenario, Mumbai Indians had beaten CSK in the final at Eden Gardens to the win the IPL in 2013.

Malaysian police find 139 migrant bodies buried underground
World > Malaysia Migrant Deaths > May 26
The Malaysian police have found 139 migrant bodies buried at 28 camps on the Malaysia-China border. The sites have provided evidence that the migrants were held captive. The bodies have been sent for post mortem analysis to determine the cause of death.

Make in India: Adani group may foray into defence manufacturing
India > Make in India > May 26
Gujrat-based Adani group is the latest to join the queue of Indian MNCs trying to enter the defence manufacturing industry hoping to benefit from PM Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative. The group, which owns the largest port and SEZ in the country at Mundra, is said to be keen on utilising the same to set up a defence and aerospace manufacturing zone that would be well-connected by sea and land. A clutch of Adani executives has been meeting representatives of large overseas defence companies to explore tie-ups for manufacturing a range of defence equipment.

Sri Lanka declines India's fishing proposal
World > Sri Lanka > May 26
India's proposal to allow its fishermen to catch fish in Lankan waters for 65 days a year has been rejected by Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. The issue is quite sensitive as it involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides and has been disputed for long. A long-term solution is awaited. The fisherman's issue was discussed by Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Sangakkara named CEAT International Cricketer of the Year; Rahane is Indian Cricketer of the Year
Sports > Cricket > May 26
India's Ajinkya Rahane won the CEAT Indian Cricketer of the Year award while former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the International Cricketer of the Year honour at a ceremony organised on May 25. Kapil Dev was conferred with the International Lifetime Achievement Award at the 19th edition of the CEAT awards. The awards honoured the best of cricketers based on their performances in international cricketing in all formats - Test, ODI and T20 - as rated by the CEAT Cricket ratings (CCR) for the year 2014 – 2015.

Yash Birla among five Indian nationals with Swiss bank accounts
India > Black Money > May 27
The names of five “Indian nationals” were published in Switzerland’s Federal Gazette with regard to details sought about them by the Indian authorities. Industrialist Yashovardhan Birla, City Limousine chairman Sayed Mohamed Masood and his wife Chand Kauser Mohamed Masood are among the five Indian nationals whose names featured in the list. However, Yash Birla Group denies having an individual account in Yash Birla's name in the Swiss bank. Earlier also, when Birla's name had come out in a leaked HSBC list of Swiss bank accounts, he had declined to comment



Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Starred Articles

SBI ties up with Snapdeal, PayPal in a single day
Corporate > SBI > May 21
Just a day after joining hands with Amazon to develop payment solutions for customers and small businesses, SBI has signed MoUs with Snapdeal and PayPal. The deal with Paypal will allow SBI debit card holders to use a digital payment gateway for buying products from foreign websites and also enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) customers to access a secure payment solution. Its second deal with Snapdeal will allow SBI to provide finance to the sellers who sell products on the e-commerce platform. Both the deals are targeted to boost micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) businesses. SBI hopes to fufill the Prime Minister's dream of `Make in India' and digital India through such deals.

Mohan Kumar appointed as the new defence secretary
India > Defence > May 22
1979 batch IAS officer from Odisha, G Mohan Kumar is all set to become the new defence secretary of India, after incumbent R K Mathur's retirement. Kumar was the front runner for the post as he was a pivotal member of the PM's 'Make in India' campaign of which defence was a vital cog. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also appointed Ashok Kumar Gupta, a 1981 batch Tamil Nadu officer, as the new secretary of defence production, who will eventually succeed Mohan Kumar.

UN observes International Day for Biological Diversity
Days > International Day for Biological Diversity > May 22
International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) was observed on the 22nd of May, 2015 by the United Nations (UN), with this year's theme being Biodiversity for Sustainable Development. The theme highlights the relevance of biodiversity in achieving the goal of sustainable development. The first International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) was observed on the 22nd of December 2000 to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

Tourists from China, Japan may get to use ATMs here
Banking and Insurance > ATMs > May 22
Reserve Bank of India-promoted NPCI has entered into an agreement with China Union Pay and Japan Credit Bureau in order to enable Chinese and Japanese tourists in India to use local ATM and point of sale terminals. Apart from the international debit card to be launched next month, the National Payments and Settlement Corporation of India (NPCI) is also readying to launch credit cards and implement the Bharat Bill Payment system to facilitate cashless transactions.

Others

PVR set to acquire DLF's DT Cinemas
Corporate > PVR Cinemas > May 20
India's largest multiplex operator PVR cinemas is reportedly in the process of acquisition of the wholly-owned subsidiary of DLF, DT Cinemas. The deal is likely to value DLF at about Rs 500 crore. A debt of about Rs 20,500 crore has compelled DLF to exit from DT Cinemas business. Both the parties are likely to approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for in-principle approval as PVR Cinemas is the market leader. However, neither of them has commented on the market speculations.

Worldpay to enter Indian market in association with IndusInd Bank
Banking and Insurance > IndusInd Bank > May 20
The Uk-based payment processing giant Worldpay will now be able to provide services in India in association with IndusInd Bank. The pact will mark the first step for Worldpay in entering Indian market as a result of growth in ecommerce across the industry. The association is expected to allow each company to benefit from the other's respective expertise in domestic and international payments and contribute to the growth of the ever-growing Indian ecommerce industry.

India ranks 24th on the first Environmental Democracy Index
India > Environmental Democracy Index > May 21
India has managed to secure the 24th position out of a total of 70 countries in the world's first Environmental Democracy Index. The index evaluates nations' progress in enacting laws to promote transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in environmental decision making. The index, which is topped by Lithuania, is a powerful lever that will help governments to become more transparent and allow ordinary citizens to advocate for more rights pertaining to the environment.

Saina Nehwal regains top spot in World Badminton rankings
Sports > Badminton > May 21
Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal regained the number one spot in rankings after temporarily slipping from the position last month. The female ace shuttler had reached the top of the rankings early last month on the virtue of a grand slam victory, which she subsequently lost due to ranking fluctuations. But, the Olympic bronze medalist regained the coveted spot to go as the top ranked player into the Australian Open, starting on the 26th of May, 2015.

Wipro receives Microsoft's Supplier of the year award
Awards > Technology > May 21
Indian IT major Wipro was honoured by Microsoft with 'Supplier of the Year award' for its demonstration of excellence across multiple disciplines. Wipro has been associated with Microsoft for years, demonstrating its commitment to excellence, innovation and collaboration. With its high impact results, Wipro has been a major factor in the success of Microsoft. Award winners were based on excellence in a number of areas, including quality, value, service and innovation.

Indian Banks Association to sign revised wages pact with banks union
Banking and Insurance > Wage Revision > May 22
The banking regulation body Indian Banks Association (IBA) will formally sign the wage revision pact with (United Forum of Bank Unions) UFBU, which will benefit 8.5 lakh employees from state-run banks, old private banks and some foreign banks. According to the pact, employees will receive a 15% hike in their salaries, which will cost a total of Rs. 4725 crore to the banking sector.

Janalalithaa sworn-in as Tamil Nadu CM for the fifth time
Politics and Government > Jayalalithaa > May 22
The 'caretaker CM' of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam handed over his resignation to Governor K Rosiah, making way for AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to take over the position of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa was swornin for a fifth time as chief-minister of Tamil Nadu on 23rd May, 2015.
In September last year, Jayalalitha was disqualified as MLA and had to step down as CM after a Bengaluru special court convicted her and three others in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced them to five years' imprisonment. Following this, Panneerselvam stepped in and served a brief eight-month term as CM. On May, 11, 2015, the Karnataka High Court acquitted Jayalaithaa in the case and prompted her return as CM.

Indian film ‘Masaan’ wins Fipresci Award at Cannes
Awards > Cannes Film Festival > May 24
Indian film-maker Neeraj Ghaywan’s film “Masaan” was awarded the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival on Saturday, 23rd May, 2015. Masaan is Ghaywan’s debut feature film set in Varanasi and is based on the lives of four people. It also features Bollywood star Richa Chada.

Psychometric tests mandatory for candidates vying for top positions at PSU banks
Banking and Insurance > Bank Recruitment > May 25
Aspiring job seekers for top posts at public sector banks will have to undergo two psychometric tests, which will be a part of three stage selection process, which will also include a background check and personal interview. The RBI has hired global management consulting firm Hay Group to shortlist managing director and CEOs for five PSBs. The intent of the psychometric tests is to evaluate a candidate's leadership qualities, situational judgement capability and overall personality traits.

ICICI launches voice password facility for users
Banking and Insurance > ICIC Bank > May 25
In a first, customers of ICICI Bank will now be able to make transactions using their voice only with the new voice recognition service launched by the bank. The service will authenticate the customers based on their speech patterns and act as a password for them to perform transactions through the bank's call centre. This hands-free alternative is set to enhance the everyday banking experience of the customers.

Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings to win IPL 2015
Sports > IPL 2015 > May 25
Mumbai Indians won IPL-8 by defeating Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. While MI scored 202/5, the second-highest score in an IPL final, CSK laboured to 161/8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 41 runs. MI thus joined Kolkata Knight Riders and CSK to become the third team to win the IPL twice. In a surprisingly similar scenario, Mumbai Indians had beaten CSK in the final at Eden Gardens to the win the IPL in 2013.

Sangakkara named CEAT International Cricketer of the Year; Rahane is Indian Cricketer of the Year
Sports > Cricket > May 26
India's Ajinkya Rahane won the CEAT Indian Cricketer of the Year award while former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the International Cricketer of the Year honour at a ceremony organised on May 25. Kapil Dev was conferred with the International Lifetime Achievement Award at the 19th edition of the CEAT awards. The awards honoured the best of cricketers based on their performances in international cricketing in all formats - Test, ODI and T20 - as rated by the CEAT Cricket ratings (CCR) for the year 2014 – 2015.

Employees to transfer their dormant PF accounts
Economy > Provident Fund > May 26
According to data from the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Rs. 27000 crores is lying inoperative in dormant Employees Provident Fund Accounts. Owing to the above reason, the government decided not to accrue interest on the amounts of such accounts, which remain dormant for more than 36 months. The government has asked employees to transfer their dormant bank accounts and EPFO has recently set up an online help desk to enable people to settle or transfer their dormant accounts.






Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Starred Articles

India signs 24 agreements with China
India > Sino-India Foreign Relations > May 15
During the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China, India signed 24 agreements with the Chinese government for cooperation and to help restore bonding between the two countries. Some of the prominent agreements and MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) are as follows: establishment of consulates-general, development of entrepreneurship, cooperation in trade negotiations, cooperation in foreign relations, improving and enhancing the railways of India, education exchange programme, cooperation in mining and minerals sector, space cooperation and health and safety. MoU was also signed in terms of broadcasting, tourism, establishing India-China think-tank, earth sciences, ocean sciences, geo-sciences, establishing Gandhi studies and Indian culture and establishment of Yoga College.

India demands social security cover for Indians working in the US
Economy > US Social Security > May 19
The Indian government raised the issue of providing social security cover to Indian professionals working in the US. The issue was raised five years ago, but a consensus could not be reached then. Renewed talks about the issue signals improved ties between the two countries in recent times. The demand comes in the light of Indians contributing more than $1 billion annually to the social security fund via federal taxes, but receiving no benefits in return. The United States has in return sought to check India's social security programmes in order to start the bilateral scheme.

Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai wins Man Booker International Prize
Awards > Man Booker International Prize > May 20
"Visionary" Hungarian writer Laszlo Krasznahorkai has been announced as the winner of the sixth Man Booker International Prize. Krasznahorkai was chosen out of 10 contenders from around the world due to "extraordinary intensity and vocal range" of his work. The prize is given every two years for "an achievement in fiction on the world stage".

Others

More than 2400 villages in Andhra Pradesh adopted by Indian-Americans
India > Adoption > May 15
As part of 'Smart Village-Smart Ward' programme which aims at comprehensive development, Indian-Americans have decided to adopt more than 2400 villages in Andhra Pradesh. During a visit to the US, Nara Lokesh, Telugu Desam Party leader and son of Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, met several Indian-Americans and asked them to invest in villages under the ward.

Electronic tourist visas extended to Chinese nations: PM Modi
India > Chinese e-visas  > May 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced sanction of e-visas to Chinese tourists at an event in Beijing. The decision to grant e-visas was left to Modi ahead of his China visit and hours before this declaration, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had said "no decision has been taken yet". India this year has announced 'Visit India Year' in China to attract more tourists in order to boost tourism revenues. The announcement came in spite of strong oppositions from the Home Ministry and security agencies over security concerns of its misuse.

Union Home Ministry decides to implement NERS for women
India > Nationwide Emergency Response System  > May 16
The Union Home Ministry has invited proposals from IT service providers in order to implement NERS (Nationwide Emergency Response System) to rescue women in distress. The Police Response Systems in current existence are restricted to a particular city. The NERS will have at least one Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in each state, from where the location of the caller as well as an evaluation of the emergency situation will be used to dispatch Police Personnel to the site. NERS was originally the inspiration of the UPA Govt following the Nirbhaya case in 2012. It is hoped that the NERS will help the issue of women's safety in India.

India to assume presidency of World Health Assembly in Geneva after 19 years
India > World Health Assembly  > May 16
The top decision-making body of the World Health Organisation, World Health Assembly (WHA), is set to have an Indian president after a gap of 19 years. Union Health Minister J P Nadda will preside over the WHA session to be held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Union health minister is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with a host of countries including China, the Netherlands, the US, the UK, Russia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brazil and others.

Barcelona FC wins 5th La Liga title
Sports > Football  > May 17
Spanish football club Barcelona FC won the La Liga title defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. This is Barcelona’s fifth La Liga title in seven years and their 23rd overall. Barcelona’s forward Argentine Lionel Messi shone as he scored the only goal to take his team to victory.

Aruna Shanbaug's death provides a strong case for legalising euthanasia
India > Aruna Shanbaug Case  > May 18
The recent death of Aruna Shanbaug, who was a nurse at the KEM hospital in Mumbai, has sparked alive the debate on euthanasia. The nurse was assaulted and sexually harassed by a ward boy on the night of 27th November, 1973. After the attack she went into a permanent state of coma for a period of 42 years and finally died on 18th May, 2015. When Shanbaug’s case was taken up in the Supreme Court in 2011, it gave a landmark judgement by legalising passive euthanasia, but did not sanction active euthanasia which remains a crime. Even after passive euthanasia was allowed, Shanbaug went on to live for four more years due to the consistent care given to her by KEM nurses. In such a situation, passive euthanasia is clearly not the solution as the KEM nurses refused to part with her because of the love and care they had for her.

Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments, such as antibiotics, necessary for the continuance of life. Active euthanasia entails the use of lethal substances or forces, such as administering a lethal injection, to kill. A number of authors consider these terms to be misleading and unhelpful.

ISIS captures Ramadi in Iraq
World > Iraq > May 18
Islamic State's militants drove out Iraqi government forces out of the city of Rabadi, as the city was captured by the ISIS. According to reports approximately 500 civilians and Iraqi soldiers have died. The militants have captured key government buildings including the army bases and have complete control of the city of Rabadi.

Britain's most wanted female terrorist – 'the white widow' suspected to have carried out Kenya university bombings
World > Terrorism > May 18
Britain's most wanted female terrorist, Samantha Lewthwaite, commonly known as the 'White Widow' is believed to have killed 400 people and has directed terror raids, suicide attacks and car bombings in Somalia and Kenya. She is an integral part of the Somalia-based terror group Al Shabaab, and is suspected to have masterminded last month's attack in the Kenyan University. Lewthwaite is the widow of Germaine Lindsay - one of the 2005 London attack suicide bombers. She has also been accused of being one of the masterminds behind the Westgate mall attack in Nairobi where 67 people died

Jan Kranti Adhikar Morcha: a third alternative to Bihar people
Politics and Government > Bihar > May 18
In an initiative that would provide a "strong third alternative" to people of Bihar in the next assembly election, Lok Sabha member from Madhepura Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav formed Jan Kranti Adhikar Morcha (JKAM). This new found party claims to fight all wrongs in the society, including the anti- people system. Whether the party would go alone or merge with any or enter into an alliance with any political party is yet to be decided.

South Korea-India sign agreements on defence and trade cooperation, India to get $10bn for infrastructure development
India > Foreign Relations > May 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea, the final destination of his 3-nation tour. South Korea decided to provide $10 billion to India for infrastructure, development of smart cities, railways, power generation and other diversified areas. PM Modi and the South Korean President also held talks on a wide range of issues to develop and expedite defence, trade and investment, and regional cooperation. The two sides signed seven agreements and Memorandum of Understanding including one on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income. The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation between the two armed forces and further strengthen regular consultations between the National Security Council structures of the two countries.

Djokovic and Sharapova win men’s singles and women’s singles titles in Italian Open
Sports > Tennis > May 18
Novak Djokovic, current world no. 1, clinched his fifth title of the season with a major victory over World no. 2-ranked Roger Federer at Rome. This is the fourth time that Djokovic has won the Italian Open. He has managed to move ahead of Federer with his 24th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown. Not only has he won four of the five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in 2015, but he is also on a 22-match winning streak.

Meanwhile, Russia's Maria Sharapova secured her third Italian Open crown with a creditable win over Spain's Carla Suarez. This is Sharapova's second title of the year after her Brisbane win, and she openly admits that she is slowly returning to her winning form.

Service tax with a rate of 14% to come into effect from 1st of June, 2015
Economy > Service Tax > May 20
The new service tax rate of 14% will come into effect from the 1st of June this year. The hike is set to make some common services like dining, cinema, utility bills etc. more expensive. The current rate of the tax is 12.36% and will be increased to 14% as per the announcement made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while he presented the union budget earlier this year.

Twitter signs deal with Google to show tweets in search results
Corporate > Twitter-Google > May 20
Micro-blogging website Twitter signed a deal with search engine giant – Google, which will display tweets in Google search results. The deal is a renewal of a tie-up that ended in 2011 and wasn't renewed since, which also led to a sluggish growth of Twitter and decreased its share price. However, the deal will at present only be implemented on the mobile and application platform and a desktop version will be followed later.

Maggi faces ban in UP over high content of mono-sodium glutamate
India > Maggi Ban > May 20
Nestle product 'Maggi 2 minute instant noodles', which is immensely popular all over the world, has come under the scanner. Regulators in the state of Uttar Pradesh have found high concentrations of a harmful chemical mono-sodium glutamate in the samples collected in the area. The Lucknow Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has found that Maggi contains 17 parts per million (ppm) lead, while the permissible limit is only 0.01 ppm. The regulatory body initiated an inquiry into the matter and has written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in New Delhi to cancel the licence of Maggi.


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Starred Articles

USTAAD Scheme for Traditional Artisans launched by Union Ministry of Minority Affairs
Politics and government > USTAAD Scheme > May 15
USTAAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) Scheme was launched by the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on 14 May 2015. The scheme is launched with an objective to improve the poor conditions of the traditional artisans and craftsmen. It also aims to provide employment opportunities and a better future to the youths belonging to the minority community.

Electronic tourist visas extended to Chinese nations: PM Modi
India > Chinese e-visas > May 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced sanction of e-visas to Chinese tourists at an event in Beijing. The decision to grant e-visas was left to Modi ahead of his China visit and hours before this declaration, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had said "no decision has been taken yet". India this year has announced 'Visit India Year' in China to attract more tourists in order to boost tourism revenues. The announcement came in spite of strong oppositions from the Home Ministry and security agencies over security concerns of its misuse.

Union Home Ministry decides to implement NERS for women
India > Nationwide Emergency Response System > May 16
The Union Home Ministry has invited proposals from IT service providers in order to implement NERS (Nationwide Emergency Response System) to rescue women in distress. The Police Response Systems in current existence are restricted to a particular city. The NERS will have at least one Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in each state, from where the location of the caller as well as an evaluation of the emergency situation will be used to dispatch Police Personnel to the site. NERS was originally the inspiration of the UPA Govt following the Nirbhaya case in 2012. It is hoped that the NERS will help the issue of women's safety in India.

India to assume presidency of World Health Assembly in Geneva after 19 years
India > World Health Assembly > May 16
The top decision-making body of the World Health Organisation, World Health Assembly (WHA), is set to have an Indian president after a gap of 19 years. Union Health Minister J P Nadda will preside over the WHA session to be held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Union health minister is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with a host of countries including China, the Netherlands, the US, the UK, Russia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brazil and others.

Others

New series of currency notes to be released by RBI
India > Corporate > May 14
With a view to improve security features of the currency bills, RBI is gearing up to release new series of currency notes with new security features. Speaking about the recent reports of counterfeit notes that were being circulated, the RBI said that the paper, the ink and the security threads have not been breached. The new series of currency notes are part of RBI’s constant endeavor to further strengthen security.

India honoured for contribution to UN peacekeeping
India > UN Peacekeeping > May 14
India was honoured for its contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations for the past six decades at the event organized by Better World Campaign, The UN Association of the USA and the US-India Business Council. India is among the countries with largest deployment of troops with ten UN Peacekeeping Missions, including the first Female Formed Police Unit under the UN. India's Ambassador to the US, Arun K Singh, received the award on the eve of International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Hyderabad may become first Indian city to be covered by Google Street View
Science and Technology > Google Street View > May 14
Following a request made by Telangana government, Google has agreed to make Telangana the first state which will get Google Street View. Street View lets one explore places around the world through 360-degree, panoramic and street-level imagery. Until now, applications of Google Street View have been limited to tourist sites like Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar in India. Currently, Google is in talks with the union home ministry to get their permissions for conducting the Street View exercise at a city wide level.

ASSOCHAM organizes 6th National Conference on Nuclear Energy in New Delhi
India > Nuclear Energy > May 15
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) organized the 6th National Conference on Nuclear Energy in New Delhi with the theme 'Nuclear Energy: A Clean Energy Option' on 15 May 2015. 2015 is also the Diamond Jubilee year of BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), making this conference a special event. The conference discussed many issues related to the status of Nuclear Energy in India. At the moment, it looks like India will double its nuclear power generation capacity to more than 10,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020. This will be instrumental in decreasing India's reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation.

Kayakalp Award Scheme launched by Union Government
Awards > Kayakalp Award Scheme > May 15
The Kayakalp Award Scheme has been launched by The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda on 15 May 2015, in order to motivate Public Health Facilities (PHFs) in the country to maintain hygiene. The award scheme aims to:
  • Recognize PHFs showing exemplary adherence to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control,
  • Install systems and procedures for bio-waste disposal,
  • Impart a system of continuing assessment and peer review of performance with regards to sanitation,
  • Develop sustainable practices for improving hygiene in PHFs.
Under this scheme, five awards will be given in all; two to District Hospitals, two to Community Health Centres, and one to a Primary Health Centre. Cash awards along with a citation will be received by award winners.

Gagan Narang wins bronze at Shooting World Cup
Sports > Shooting > May 15
Gangan Narang of India won the bronze medal in the 50m Rifle Prone Event of the ISSF World Cup at Fort Benning in USA. With this win, Narang was assured a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Narang is the third Indian shooter to make it to the Rio Olympics after Jitu Rai and Apurvi Chandela.

ICICI bank's first Chinese branch inaugurated by PM Modi in Shanghai
Banking and Insurance > ICICI Bank > May 16
India's top private sector lender ICICI bank opened its first branch in China in order to support India and China's cross-border businesses. The new branch seeking stronger relations with China was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi with expectations of heightened amount of bilateral activity taking place between the two countries in the near future. The new branch would begin with 17 banking professionals handling different functions including corporate banking, operations, finance and treasury.

South Korea-India sign agreements on defence and trade cooperation, India to get $10bn for infrastructure development
India > Foreign Relations > May 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea, the final destination of his 3-nation tour. South Korea decided to provide $10 billion to India for infrastructure, development of smart cities, railways, power generation and other diversified areas. PM Modi and the South Korean President also held talks on a wide range of issues to develop and expedite defence, trade and investment, and regional cooperation. The two sides signed seven agreements and Memorandum of Understanding including one on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income. The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation between the two armed forces and further strengthen regular consultations between the National Security Council structures of the two countries.

HDFC Bank launches co-branded medical card with Apollo Hospitals
Banking and Insurance > HDFC-Apollo Medical Card > May 18
India’s second largest private sector lender HDFC Bank has launched a co-branded medical benefits card with Apollo Hospitals which allows corporates to pay out medical allowances to their employees and has insurance cover for accidents. Companies can load the desired allowance onto the card each month and employees can avail of the allowance at Visa/MasterCard outlets.

Golfer Rory McIlroy registers record win in US PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship
Sports > Golf > May 18
World no 1 golfer Rory McIlroy proved his position as the world’s best golfer with a record win in the US PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship. The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland broke the previous 72-hole tournament record set by Anthony Kim in 2008 by five strokes. He became the first two-time winner of the event. He had previously won it in 2010 which was the first of his 11 US PGA Tour titles.

Barcelona FC wins 5th La Liga title
Sports > Football > May 18
Spanish football club Barcelona FC won the La Liga title defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. This is Barcelona’s fifth La Liga title in seven years and their 23rd overall. Barcelona’s forward Argentine Lionel Messi shone as he scored the only goal to take his team to victory.

Djokovic and Sharapova win men’s singles and women’s singles titles in Italian Open
Sports > Tennis > May 18
Novak Djokovic, current world no. 1, clinched his fifth title of the season with a major victory over World no. 2-ranked Roger Federer at Rome. This is the fourth time that Djokovic has won the Italian Open. He has managed to move ahead of Federer with his 24th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown. Not only has he won four of the five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in 2015, but he is also on a 22-match winning streak.
Meanwhile, Russia's Maria Sharapova secured her third Italian Open crown with a creditable win over Spain's Carla Suarez. This is Sharapova's second title of the year after her Brisbane win, and she openly admits that she is slowly returning to her winning form.

Arun Kumar Singh replaces S Jaishankar as India's ambassador in US
India > Foreign Relations > May 19
Following S Jaishankar's elevation to foreign secretary earlier this year, Arun Kumar Singh assumed his new assignment as India's envoy to the US on April 30. Singh was the first of the seven new ambassadors to present his credentials at a traditional ceremony marking the formal beginning of service in Washington. Singh said that he planned to work towards making the India-US partnership global, strategic and transformative. He was warmly welcomed back to Washington by US President Barack Obama, who wished him success in his new responsibilities.
Singh had joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1979. He has previously been India's ambassador to France and Israel, as well as served in missions at Washington and Moscow. Singh has served as joint secretary dealing with the UN policy, as well as with the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran divisions at the external affairs ministry. He has also served at India's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Starred Articles

India, Iran sign MoU for development of Chabahar port
India > MoU
India signed an agreement with Iran for development of Chabahar port which will give India access to sea-land route to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. After extensive talks, an MoU was signed between the two nations. US had been warning countries to not rush into any trade agreements with Iran until it works out a deal on nuclear programme. However, India went ahead with the deal as the port is set to reduce transportation costs of India. Another advantage of a container and cargo terminal at Chabahar is that it would provide landlocked Afghanistan with access to the sea, reducing its reliance on Pakistan.

Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha
India > Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill
The Lok Sabha passed a bill on the 7th of May, 2015 to amend the Juvenile Justice Bill passed in 2014, which will allow the judiciary to treat children between the age of 16-18 as adults depending on the heinousness of the crime committed. The Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014 will now replace the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. The amended bill also categorises offences as petty, serious and heinous, and defines differentiated processes for each category.

Jayalalitha set to return as TN CM after acquittal
India > Politics
AIADMK chief Jayalalitha was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court on the 11th of May, 2015 in a case of Disproportionate Assets (DA). Apart from Jayalalitha's verdict the court also acquitted her close aide Sasikala Natarajan, her relatives J Elavarasi and V N Sudhakaran and Jayalalithaa's disowned foster son. Earlier, Jayalalitha had to step down as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu as a trial court had convicted her for a term of four years and imposed a Rs. 100 crore fine. But, the acquittal on Monday will serve her as a breather and she is likely to become the CM again.

Record 3100 youths in Jammu and Kashmir offered jobs
India > Others
Over 3100 youths in the state of Jammu and Kashmir were offered jobs this year by corporates, the highest since the inception of the 'Udaan' scheme in the valley. The NDA government opted to change their strategy and implement 13 recruitment drives in the state after the September 2014 floods. Since the inception of the scheme in 2013, there were only 940 odd recruitments, but the number this year has exceeded 3100, which has been viewed as a success.

Rs 6,400 crore deposited in 339 accounts by Indians in Swiss bank, SIT tells SC
Economy > India
339 Indian accounts in HSBC bank holding a total sum of Rs 6400 crore owe an amount of Rs 4,520 crore to the income tax department, reported the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT was able to gather information on black money holders with the help of International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). SIT said it had conducted investigations on the data provided by the Consortium and a large number of cases of such offshore entities were not disclosed to the Income Tax department.

47 killed in Karachi bus attack, Taliban claims responsibility
World > Terrorism
47 people have been reported dead after a passenger bus carrying members of the Shia community was fired at, in Karachi by gunmen on motorbikes. The attack has been considered as the worst till date on the Shia community. There were conflicting reports of militant groups claiming responsibility for the attack. A splinter faction of the militant group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called Jundullah, or Army of God, had claimed responsibility for the attack. There were also reports of leaflets found at the scene claiming the attack on behalf of the Islamic State group. The police have started a search operation for the militants, who fled after the attack.
Others

Achal Kumar Jyoti appointed as Election Commissioner
India > Civic Affairs
Achal Kumar Jyoti was appointed as one of the Election Commissioners, filling one of the two vacancies of the Election Commission (EC), which comprises of three members – one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners. The general tenure of an Election Commissioner is six years or till the age the employee attains 65 years. As Achal Kumar Jyoti is 62 years old, he will serve for a period of 3 years. He has previously served as the Chief Secretary for Gujarat under the then chief minister of the state Narendra Modi.

Shashi Kapoor receives Dada Saheb Phalke award
Awards> Dada Saheb Phalke award
Shashi Kapoor received the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award from Union Information and Broadcasting Minster Arun Jaitley in Delhi. The award is given for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. After Prithvi Raj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor is the third member of the Kapoor family to receive the award.

Central Government appoints new governors in six states
India > Governance
On Tuesday, 12th of May, 2015, the central government appointed new governors for the states of Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya. Odisha minister Droupadi Murmu will be the governor of Jharkhand, replacing Syed Ahmed who will now serve as the governor of Manipur. BJP national executive member V Shanmuganathan has been appointed the governor of Meghalaya. Ex-chief secretary of Assam J P Rajkhowa will take over as the governor of Arunachal Pradesh, replacing Lt Gen (retd) Nirbhay Sharma who will become the governor of Mizoram while, Tathagata Roy will become the governor of Tripura.

Lahore High Court sets free 97 bonded Hindu labourers
World > Others
A court in Lahore, Pakistan has set free 97 Hindus, which also included women and children who were employed as bonded labourers at a brick kiln in Pakistan's Punjab province. One of the bonded labourers managed to escape the kiln to reach the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which then filed a petition at the Lahore High Court to release the labourers.

Yoga day to be observed on June 21 in US
World > Yoga Day
The historic National Mall of the US is set to host the first International Day of Yoga celebration on June 21. Since the event is being organised by the Indian Embassy in the US, it will feature an exclusive video message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With an aim to promote yoga across the world, the Indian government is planning to celebrate the First International Day of Yoga in all countries, including the US.

Russia and US to hold bilateral talks in the midst of easing tensions
World > Diplomacy
After more than a year of the crisis in Ukraine, US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to hold talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin. The tension caused over Ukraine between the US and Russia was regarded as the lowest point in diplomatic relations between the two countries since the cold war. The meeting will supposedly be held in Sochi, Russia and will be the first official US visit to Russia since the Ukraine crisis. The US Secretary of State would meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov along with president Putin.

CCI to analyze Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Jabong and Myntra price discount
Corporate > E-retail
After rejecting allegations of unfair business against e-retail giants Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Jabong and Myntra, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has started monitoring the price discount arrangements between manufacturers and distributors associated with these companies. The CCI has come across instances of resale price mechanism where a manufacturer does not allow distributor or trading platform to sell its product below a certain price and is under the process of checking whether such practices are in violation of competition norms.

7.3 Earthquake hits Nepal again, tremors felt across Northern and Eastern India
India > Earthquake
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Nepal struck again, killing 60 and injuring nearly a 1000, triggering tremors across Northern and Eastern India. A number of casualties were reported in Bihar, Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The quake hit when the country was still recovering from the massive quake that killed around 8000 people last week. The quake that struck near Mount Everest was followed by at least six successive aftershocks.

North Korea executes defence chief on treason charges
World > North Korea
Hyon Yong Chol, the defence military head of North Korea was executed on treason charges. He was put in front of an anti-aircraft gun at a firing range Hyon was said to have disobeyed North Korea's current leader Kim Jong Un and shown disrespect to him by dozing off at a military event. South Korea's spy agency said that Kim had ordered the execution of 15 senior officials this year as punishment for challenging his authority. Kim Jong Un took power after his father's death in 2011 and since then North Korean internal politics has remained volatile.

SC prohibits politicians’ photos on government ads
India > SC
The Supreme Court recently passed a verdict that restrains political parties from publishing photos of political leaders in government-funded advertisements. The judgment ensures that the tax payer's money is not spent on building “personality cults” of political leaders. According to the apex court, such photos promote a “personality cult” by associating an individual with government projects. However, the use of photographs of the President, Prime Minister and CJI in the advertisements is allowed.
Modi government condemns PoK project ahead of China visit
Politics and Government > India

Just before PM Modi's visit to China, Modi government has expressed its disapproval of the $46 billion deal signed by Chinese President Xi Jingping to develop a superhighway to Pakistan that passes through PoK . The displeasure comes after India's earlier oppositions to any international involvement in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. By flagging the issue India may be intending to confront China at the India-China meet.