Hydropower centrepiece of ties with India: Bhutan PM
Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay says he was pleasantly surprised and honoured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked Bhutan as his first international stop for a 2-day visit beginning on Sunday. In an exclusive interview to The Hindu, Mr. Tobgay, who replied to written questions, says hydropower is the centerpiece of Bhutan-India ties, and Bhutan recognizes that the lack of power is a constraint to India’s growth. Mr. Tobgay also addressed the contentious reachout by China, with whom Bhutan shares a disputed border.
C Radhakrishnan selected for Moortidevi Award
I.C Radhakrishnan, the eminent Malayalam scientist-turned-writer was selected for the prestigious Moortidevi Award for 2013 on 13 June 2014. He has been selected for his novel Theekkadal Katanhu Thirumadhuram.
II.The novel is a biographical account of Thunchat Ramaanujan Ezhuthachan, the person who is regarded as the father of Malayalam language. The novel is an attempt to bring back life to the socio-cultural ambience of 15th century. Radhakrishnan as a person has also contributed to popular science and all branches of literature, mostly fiction.
III.Radhakrishnan is the second Malayalam writer to be awarded with the Moortidevi award. The first Malayalam author to win the award was Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri in 2009 for his selected poems.
Amit Shah elected as Gujarat Cricket Assn chief
I.Former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah, a close aide of the Prime Minister, was on Friday elected as President of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), ending speculation about the successor of Narendra Modi who had stepped down after shifting to New Delhi last month.
II.At a special General Body Meeting, GCA, one of the richest sports organisations in India, “unanimously” elected Shah, a sitting BJP MLA from Naranpura Assembly constituency in Ahmedabad. Modi, who had replaced Congress leader and former Deputy CM Narhari Amin as GCA chief in September 2009, had resigned on May 30 from the post.
III.Until now, Shah, who had played a pivotal role in getting Modi elected as GCA chief, was one of the four Vice-Presidents of the association. In fact, Amin ruled the GCA for 16 years until he was toppled by Shah and replaced “unopposed” by Modi. Later, Amin, too, joined the BJP in 2012 on the eve of the Assembly elections.
ACC appoints Badami as new CEO
ACC has appointed Harish Badami as CEO and Managing Director designate with effect from August 1. Badami will replace Kuldip Kaura who will demit office on August 13 before his term expires on December 31. On Wednesday, the board approved the new appointment for a term of five years. Badami, who has 25 years of experience in the chemical industry, is joining ACC from Celanese India.
Maharashtra Assembly passed a Bill to put a complete ban on dance bars across the State
I.Maharashtra Assembly on 13 June 2014 approved the Bill to amend the Dance Bar Prohibition Act. The Act has been amended to remove a legal Lacuna that led Supreme Court to strike down the State Government’s 2005 order to ban dance bars.
II.This amendment has prohibited dance performances in three-star and five-star hotels by terming that licenses of the dance bars stand cancelled and will be withdrawn within 30 days. However, it does not extend a ban to family parties in pubs and discotheques, and orchestras.
III.The approved amendment to Maharashtra Police Act states that dance performances in bars and restaurants across all types of hospitality industry has been banned. It says that any breach of the code would invite an action of minimum three months to maximum five years jail term and minimum one lakh to five lakh rupees fine, besides cancellation of hotel permit.
Kiritlals launches ‘Regale’ as part of 75th year celebrations
I.Kirtilals, a premium fine diamond and gold jewellery brand, today launched its exclusive diamond jewellery collection ‘Regale’ as part of its 75th year celebrations.
II.The signature line was introduced by Suraj Shanthakumar, Director–Business Strategy, and Seema Mehta, Director-Creative, at its showroom here today.
III.Every piece of the ‘Regale’ collection is inspired from Indian Flora and Fauna that brings life through its modern technology enhanced by handpicked diamonds. This collection will showcase the shades of various celebrations and sparkling finesse.
IV.“Regale is culmination of all the strengths of Kirtilals, which have grown over the past 75 years. Kirtilals has a special privilege of choosing the diamonds at mines itself. Thus, all stages of Diamonds ‘after-mines-to-customers' are processed under our group itself,” Suraj Shantakumar said.
Lt Gen Amit Sharma appointed as Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Forces Command
Lt Gen Amit Sharma was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Forces Command on 13 June 2014. He replaced Vice Admiral SPS Cheema.
About Amit Sharma
• Sharma was the Chief of Staff of the Japiur-based South Western Command of the Army and had headed the force's elite 21 Strike Corps.
• He also served as Director Long Term Force Structuring, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
• He was the Defence Attache at Embassy of India in Paris where he was responsible for Army and Naval cooperation with France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Union Bank opens central processing cell in Bangalore
I.Union Bank of India (UBI) has set up its central processing cell (Saral) in Bangalore to process and clear all proposals with limits of Rs. 1 crore and above.
II.The cell was opened at Chamarajpet in Bangalore by the bank Executive Director, K Subrahmanyam, in the presence of R S Pandey, General Manager, and A V Ramana, Deputy General Manager, K S Ananth, Chief Manager (Credit), B N Rajasekhar, Chief Manager (P&D),and other senior officials.
The Book titled Warrior State written by T V Paul presented to Vice-President
I.The book titled Warrior State: Pakistan in the Contemporary World written by T V Paul was presented to the Vice President Hamid Ansari on 13 June 2014. The book published by Oxford University Press, New York was launched in January 2014.
II.The book presents a comprehensive treatment of Pakistan's insecurity predicament using literature from history, sociology, religious studies, international relations. Further, it develops the concept of geostrategic curse, an important notion similar to resource curse and oil curse. The book provides powerful tool for policymakers and scholars alike to understand this pivotal yet troubled country in a comprehensive and insightful way.
RBI allows FIIs to buy up to 49% stake in Idea Cellular
I.Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) can now purchase up to 49 per cent stake in telecom operator Idea Cellular Ltd.
II.The FII limit in the company was 24 per cent earlier. “... FIIs, through primary market and stock exchanges, can now purchase up to 49 per cent of the paid up capital of Idea Cellular Limited under the Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS),” the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in release on Friday.
III.The decision to increase the FII limit in the company has come after passage of resolution at the board of directors’ level and a special resolution by the shareholders for enhancing the limit from 24 per cent to 49 per cent.
IV.As per the data available on the BSE, FIIs held 19.51 per cent share in the company as of quarter ended March 2014.
India became permanent signatory to Washington Accord
I.India on 13 June 2014 became a permanent signatory to Washington Accord. The Accord was signed by National Board of Accreditation at a meet of International Engineering Alliance of WA member countries held in Wellington, New Zealand.
II.With India becoming the permanent signatory, India joined a select group of 17 countries who are permanent signatories of the Washington Accord (WA). The signatory status will substantially increased global employment opportunities for technical and engineering graduates of India.
Jitu Rai won Silver medal in 10m air pistol at Munich Shooting World Cup
I.Jitu Rai of India on 11 June 2014 won Silver Medal in men’s 10-meter air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Shooting in Munich. In the finals, Jitu scored 199.4 after aggregating 583 in the qualification stage.
II.The Gold was clinched by Pablo Carrera of Spain and Bronze was bagged by Pavlo Korostylov of Ukraine.
Neymar, the referee and the fans: Brazil’s successful World Cup start
I.Neymar’s brace, some help from the Japanese referee, and big support from the local fans have given hosts Brazil the perfect start to the World Cup.
II.The 3-1 victory over Croatia in the tournament opener Thursday sparked widespread celebrations in the country, and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is relieved that his team can book a place in the last 16 as early as Tuesday if they beat Mexico, and other results go their way.
III.“This victory gives us a chance to breathe and another victory gives me room to breathe,” Scolari said, describing his players as excellent.
IV.However, he also admitted that the Selecao needs improvement in order to reach the desired goal of lifting a sixth World Cup trophy on July 13.
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