26 November 2014
National:
18th SAARC Summit begins
The 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Summit is starting at Kathamandu in Nepal. The theme of the summit is 'Deeper
Regional Integration for Peace and Prosperity'. The two-day summit will dwell
upon on a number of crucial issues including improving transport connectivity
among the member states to ensure greater flow of goods and services for
boosting trade and commerce. Meanwhile, Memorandums of Understanding including
development of Arun-III Hydroelectric Project, extension of one billion dollars
credit, setting up a Nepal Police Academy, Tourism, Traditional Medicines and
on Youth Exchange were signed between India and Nepal. Twin-city agreements
between Ayodhya and Janakpur, Kathmandu and Varanasi and Lumbini and Bodh Gaya
were also signed.
Govt accepts proposal to ban sale of
loose cigarettes
The Union government has accepted the proposal to prohibit
the sale of loose or single stick of cigarette and increase the minimum legal
age for sale of tobacco products. In a written reply, Union Health Minister JP
Nadda informed this to Rajya Sabha. The proposal mooted by an expert committee
set up by the Health Ministry also recommended increasing the fine or penalty
amounts for violations of provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
Act, 2003, as well as making such offences cognizable. The Health Ministry had
set up a committee headed by former Delhi government Principal Secretary Ramesh
Chandra to recommend measures to bring down the consumption of tobacco products
and curb their sale.
PM gifts Nepal 200 bed trauma center
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a trauma centre
in Nepal. The eight-storey National Trauma Centre at Kathmandu's Bir Hospital
has a capacity of 200 beds. He said the trauma centre is the best present of
India-Nepal friendship which will help in saving precious lives. He also
presented a ‘Dhruv’ helicopter to Nepal at an army function at Tundikhel in
Kathmandu. Prime Minister Modi said, from now on, visitors to Nepal can carry
500 and 1000 rupees denomination currency notes upto a limit of Rs 25,000 which
was not the case earlier. He also announced the slashing of telephone call
rates by 35 per cent from India to Nepal.
President inaugurates Commonwealth
Science Congress
President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the first
Commonwealth Science Congress in Bengaluru. This first Conference is held after
50 years since 1967 outside London. Addressing over 300 scientists and young
PhD scholars from Commonwealth Countries, the President emphasized that the
Commonwealth forum should explore best ways to utilize science for addressing
the pressing challenges that confront humanity.
Govt launches Swachh Bharat Kosh to
get funds from corporates, individuals
The Union government has launched the "Swachh Bharat
Kosh" to achieve the objective of cleanliness across the country. The fund
will be utilised to build toilets in schools of rural and urban areas to
achieve the objective of cleanliness. The Kosh will be set up by the Ministry
of Finance and will be managed by a Governing Council headed by Expenditure
Secretary. Its functioning will be monitored on quarterly basis by the Finance
Minister and the Prime Minister from time-to-time. The objective of the drive
is to achieve a Clean India by the year 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi.
Haryana govt reduces retirement age
from 60 to 58
Haryana government has reversed the retirement age of
government employees from 60 to 58 years. Also, the retirement age of Class IV,
visually impaired and handicapped employees, has been reversed from 62 to 60
years. It will come in effect from 30th November 2014.
President’s book release on Dec. 11
A diligent chronicler of history, with an insider’s view of
over fifty years of politics and governance, President Pranab Mukherjee in his
new book has compiled a decade that is identified with the country’s first
Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Scheduled for a December 11 release, ‘The
Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years’ by Mr. Mukherjee tells the story of
the 1970s – considered a turning point in the political and economic evolution
of India, dotted as it was with the India-Pakistan war, internal Emergency,
economic reforms and political upheavals. The Dramatic Decade is the first of a
three-part volume; the second one will be on the years between 1981- 88 and the
third volume will be from 1988 to 2012.
First India-Nepal bus service
launched
India and Nepal launched the first ever bus service between
the two countries. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari flagged
off Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi bus service called Pashupatinath Express. The bus
service is touted to be a major boost in terms of trade and tourism. DTC will
run a luxury Volvo bus on the Delhi-Kathmandu route and the tentative one-way
fare is likely to be around Rs 2,300. The semi sleeper bus will be operated
daily covering a distance of approximately 1250 kilometres in 30 hours. It will
halt at Firozabad, Faizabad, Sunouli, and Mugling in Nepal.
International:
India votes against UNGA resolution
on death penalty
India has voted against a UN General Assembly draft
resolution calling for moratorium on the use of death penalty, saying it fails
to recognise each nation’s “sovereign right” to determine its legal system and
punish criminals according to its laws. India was among the 36 nations that
voted against the resolution, which got 114 votes in favour and 34 abstentions.
By the terms of the resolution, the General Assembly would urge Member States
to progressively restrict the use of the death penalty and not impose capital
punishment for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age, on pregnant
women and on persons with mental or intellectual disabilities.
Shakespeare's First Folio found in
France
A librarian dusting off books for an upcoming exhibition has
discovered a rare copy of William Shakespeare's First Folio in France. The 400
year old book, one of the most valuable in the English language, was found by
the librarian in Saint-Omer while preparing books for an exhibition about links
between the region and England. One of the books was missing a title page and
now an expert has confirmed it is a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, a find
that delighted historians and librarians.
Indonesia to build world's largest
sea wall to protect Jakarta
Indonesia is planning to build the world's largest sea wall
to try and prevent Jakarta from disappearing under rising sea levels. The
capital is slowly sinking at a rate of seven centimetres every year and experts
say half the city will be below sea level by 2030. However, environmentalists
say the massive project to protect reclaimed land could wipe out coastal and
fishing communities. The extraction of water from below ground, mainly for use
on big construction projects, is seen as the main reason for the city's
predicament.
Mali confirms eighth Ebola case
Mali has confirmed a new case of Ebola, bringing to eight
the number of people who have fallen ill with the deadly disease in the West
African country. All of Ebola cases in the country can be traced back to a
70-year-old imam who was brought to the country from Guinea, where the epidemic
first began. Six of the eight Ebola patients have died. The World Health
Organisation says Ebola has killed more than 5,400 people in West Africa,
mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Business & Economy:
RBI tightens screws on foreign fund
raising
Tightening screws on foreign fund raising, the Reserve Bank
has banned domestic firms from raising such funds above the permitted levels
and from extending guarantees for them to meet domestic funding needs. Forex
funds are cheaper than the rupee funds and it was noticed by the apex bank that
in recent years, some Indian companies have been tapping up forex debt market
to repay rupee loans or to meet other capex needs. As per official data, India
Inc's foreign borrowing soared 44 per cent to 2.78 billion US Dollar in
October. Of this only 69.43 million US dollar came through approval route and
the rest 2.71 billion US dollar through automatic route.
Kotak 1st bank to fully own an
insurance business
Kotak Mahindra Bank became the first bank to get the Reserve
Bank of India's (RBI's) permission to set up a wholly-owned non-life insurance
company. The bank is already the promoter of a life insurance company in
partnership with Old Mutual of South Africa. RBI guidelines allow a bank to
hold a maximum 50% in an insurance joint venture. However, the central bank had
allowed some exceptions to this rule, which include State Bank of India and
ICICI Bank. In both these partnerships, the banks hold 74% while the balance
26% is held by a foreign partner. Kotak General Insurance will be the 29th
non-life company in the country. The last non-life insurer to get permission
from the regulator was Cigna TTK — a health insurance company. The last company
to set up a full-fledged general insurance business was Liberty Videocon
General Insurance. At present, Kotak Mahindra Bank is a corporate agent for
Tata AIG General Insurance.
Telangana introduces new Bill for
speedy industrial clearances
The Telangana Government has introduced the State Industrial
Project Approval and Self Certification System Bill 2014 for providing investor
friendly atmosphere in the state. “TS-iPass” bill is aimed at speedy processing
of providing clearances for new industrial establishments in the state. The
Bill will facilitate setting up the state level committee headed by Secretary
Industries and district level committees headed by District Collector to give
clearances in 30 days based on self certification provided by the applicant at
a single point.
Aurobindo Pharma U.S. recalls
epilepsy drug
Aurobindo Pharma USA has announced that it was voluntarily
recalling a product lot of its epilepsy drug, Gabapentin capsules, after the
lot was found to contain some empty capsules. Empty capsules could result in
missed dose(s) of Gabapentin, which is used in the treatment of epilepsy and
for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles), resulting
in adverse health consequences.
Sports:
Sania named UN Goodwill Ambassador
Sania Mirza was named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador
for the South Asian region by UN Women. Described as a “woman of achievement”
and “youth icon”, Sania will undertake initiatives to promote women empowerment
in the region.
World Women’s Boxing: Sarjubala,
Saweety win Silver medals
Women Boxers Sarjubala Devi and Saweety have won Silver
medals in the World Women's Boxing Championships in Korea. In the final of the
48kg division, Sarjubala lost to Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan, 0-3. In the 81kg
final, Saweety lost to China's Xiaoli Yang, 0-3.
Hughes critical after being hit by
bouncer
Australian batsman Phil Hughes was fighting for his life
following emergency surgery after he was knocked out by a bouncer in a freak
incident which shocked the cricket world. The 25-year-old, who is pressing for
a Test recall, crashed to the ground unconscious after the heavy blow to the
lower head and was rushed to hospital from the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Ethiopian Adola wins Delhi Half
Marathon in record time
Ethiopia's Guye Adola set a course record as he emerged
victorious in the international elite men's category, while Florence Kiplagat
of Kenya finished on top in the women's category of the Airtel Delhi Half
Marathon (ADHM). Adola clocked 59.06 minutes and broke co-Kenyan athlete Atsedu
Tsegay's 2013 record of 59:12 to take home prize money of $27000 plus the
additional course record bonus of $7500. He beat second placed World Half
Marathon champion Geoffrey Kipsang (59:07) by a margin of one second and
third-placed Mosinet Geremew (59:11) by a margin of five seconds in a closely
contested encounter. In the women's elite category, two-time world champion
Florence Kiplagat stunned reigning World Half Marathon champion Gladys Cherono
and became the first runner to defend a women's crown in Delhi.
Phelps wins Golden Goggle as Male
Athlete of Year
Michael Phelps has been crowned Male Athlete of the Year for
a fifth time at the 2014 USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards despite being
suspended from competition for six months after a drunken driving arrest in
September 2014. The 18-time Olympic gold medallist stepped away from training
in early October. Olympic gold medallist and world record-holder Katie Ledecky
capped her memorable 2014 season by claiming three awards, including USA
Swimming's Female Athlete of the Year.
