INTERNATIONAL
Tony
Abbott is Australia’s new Prime Minister
Tony Abbott , Leader of the
Liberal Party elected as the Prime Minister of Australia on 8 October.Liberal
Party won the 44th Parliamentary elections. Liberal Party defeated the in-power
Labor Party in the general elections held on 7 September 2013 to return back in
power as the Liberal-National coalition for the first time in six years.With
this win, Tony Abbott the leader of the Liberal-National Coalition will become
the Prime Minister of the Country and successor of Kevin Rudd of the Labor
Party.The coalition won 88 seats in the 150 seat Parliament. The ruling Labor
Party was successful in winning 57 seats.
US
and Russia Agreement on Removing Chemical Weapons on Syria
The United States and Russia have
on 14 September agreed on a framework for removing chemical weapons from Syria
.The break- through was announced after three day talks between the US
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in
Geneva.The USA and Russia have agreed that Syria’s chemical weapons must be
destroyed or removed by mid-2014. USA outlined a six-point framework under
which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week.
European
Union Pledges 650 million euros To Somalia
The European Union has pledged
650 million euros ($868 million) in aid to Somalia to back a three-year
reconstruction plan aimed at building on fragile security gains in the
country.International donors met in Brussels on 16 September to approve
Somalia’s “New Deal.”International donors pledged 1.8 billion euros for
Somalia.
232
Million Global Migrants Living Abroad World Wide
On 12 September According to the new
figures from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) showed
that 232 million people, or 3.2 percent of the world’s population, live abroad
worldwide, compared with 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990.With more
people than ever living abroad, Asia sees the largest increase of international
migrants in the past decade, and the US remains the most popular
destination.New figures from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(UN-DESA) showed that 232 million people, or 3.2 percent of the world’s
population, live abroad worldwide, compared with 175 million in 2000 and 154
million in 1990.The new estimates include breakdowns by region and country of
destination and origin, and by sex and age. The north, or developed countries,
is home to 136 million international migrants, compared with 96 million in the
south, or developing countries.
Egyptian
Court Bans Muslim Brotherhood
The Egypt court on 23 September has
banned the Muslim Brotherhood from carrying out any activities in the
country.The court also ordered the seizure of any assets held by the
Brotherhood, estimated by the interim military-backed government to have more
than a million members.The administrative court gave the ruling after a lawsuit
was filed by the leftist Tagammu Party to review the Islamist group’s status as
a non-governmental organisation.
INDIA & WORLD
3rd
India – Republic of Korea Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue Held In Seoul
The 3rd India – Republic of Korea
(ROK) Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) was held in Seoul on 2
September .The Indian side was led by Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, Secretary (East),
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) side
was led by First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kim Kyou-hyun.Both
nations discussed ways to further expand and deepen their Strategic
Partnership. They undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, including
in the fields of economic collaboration, defense and security cooperation,
cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.They agreed to step up
cooperation in the spheres of maritime and cyber security.It was agreed that
the 4th India-ROK Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue will be held at New
Delhi at a mutually convenient time in 2014.
Government
Approves India-Abu Dhabi Air Services Agreement
The India-Abu Dhabi bilateral air
services agreement, which ran into controversy following the Jet-Etihad deal,
was approved by the Government of India on 2 September enabling their airlines
to fly 50,000 seats each week, up from the current level of 13,700.The
agreement received post-facto approval of the Union Cabinet at a meeting
chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in NewDelhi
7th
India-Laos Joint Commission Meeting Held In Vientiane
The 7th India-Lao Joint Commission
Meeting on bilateral cooperation was held in Vientiane on 9 September.In the
meeting Indian side was led by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and
the Laos side was led by Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs.An Agreement under Line of Credit for four
Irrigation Projects in three provinces in the Lao PDR for 30.94 million US
dollars was signed and conversion of another Line of Credit to substitute the
Nam Boun-2 hydro power plant by the extension of transmission lines to
Thasala-Laksao amounting to 35.25 million US dollars was approved. The projects
will contribute to socio-economic development in Lao PDR.The two nations
identified agriculture, defence, ICT, culture, education, health, trade and
investment promotion, mining as priority areas of cooperation between the two
countries that would give further impetus to bilateral relations.
India,
Japan Signed Statement To Study LNG Pricing
India and Japan on 9 September signed
a statement on conducting a joint study on the pricing of Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) with an aim to form a transparent and globally competitive LNG price in
the Asia Pacific market.India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas,
Veerappa Moily and Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu
Motegi signed the joint statement in Tokyo.
India
– China Agreed To Enhance Cooperation In Media Sector
India and China on 16 September have
agreed to initiate steps to include media cooperation as part of 2014
celebrations being observed to commemorate “Friendly Exchanges” between the two
countries.The agreement was a part of the first meeting of the India-China
Media Forum being held in New Delhi. The meeting took place between Manish
Tewari, Minister for Information & Broadcasting of India and Cai Ming Zhao,
Minister of State Council Information Office of China.
India
and US signed First Commercial Agreement Under Nuclear Deal
Five years after India and the US
signed a landmark civil nuclear deal, the two countries have clinched the first
commercial agreement on civilian nuclear power cooperation.President Barack
Obama announced the agreement on 27 September after his meeting with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House Oval Office.India’s nuclear operator
NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) and US firm Westinghouse
have signed an agreement that will pave the way for setting up an atomic plant
in India.
NATIONAL
Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh Launched ‘ Gandhi Heritage Portal ‘ In NewDelhi
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2
September launched the ‘ Gandhi Heritage Portal ‘ in New Delhi.The Gandhi
heritage Portal is set up to preserve, protect and disseminate original
writings of Gandhiji.The Gandhi Heritage Portal is a technology-driven
initiative aimed at making Gandhiji accessible all over the world on an
electronic platform. It would be one of the most authentic open source archives
on the life and work and thought of Mahatma Gandhi.
3rd
All India Survey on Higher Education Launched
On 3 September Minister of State for
Human Resource Development Jitin Prasada launched the third All India Survey on
Higher Education (AISHE)-2012-13 .The survey was initiated in the year 2011 to
prepare a robust data-base on higher education.Data for the year 2010-11 was
collected during the first year of the survey.Keeping in view the usefulness of
data collected during the very first year, Ministry has decided to make this
survey an annual exercise of data collection in higher education sector. The
survey covers all the Higher Education (HE) Institutions of the country
including Universities, Colleges, and Stand-Alone Institutions.The main items
of data collection under survey are Basic details, Programme details, Teaching
& Non-Teaching Staff, Student Enrolment, Examination Results and
Scholarships.
Judicial
Appointments Commission Bill Passed In Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha on 5 September passed
the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which seeks to scrap the collegium
system of appointing judges to higher courts.The bill, which entails
Constitutional amendment, seeks to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission
(JAC) to recommend appointment and transfer of Supreme Court and High Court
judges.
Lok
Sabha Passed Bill To Set Up First National Aviation University
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation
University Bill, 2013 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 6 September.The purpose of
the bill is to establish the first-ever national aviation university in India,
called Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University, which is named after Rajiv
Gandhi. The University would train the cabin crew, pilots as well as aircraft
engineers.The proposed university would come up at Sonia Gandhi’s constituency
of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Cabinet
Committee On Economic Affairs Approved Proposal For Restructuring SJSRY
The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs on 3 September approved the proposal for restructuring of the centrally
sponsored Scheme of Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) in the 12th
Plan and as the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) with an allocation of
approximately Rs. 6,405 crore.The mission of National Urban Livelihoods Mission
(NULM) is reduction of poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households
by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment
opportunities.The mission will also aim at providing shelter equipped with
essential services to the urban homeless in a phased manner.
President
Gave Assent To Land Acquisition Bill
The Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2013,has
received the assent of the President of India on 27 Septmeber.The bill has now
become law.The Lok Sabha passed the bill on 29 August 2013 and Rajya Sabha
passed the bill on 4 September 2013.The Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Law, 2013,
replaces a British-era law of 1894. It provides for fair compensation to owners
whose land is taken over, brings transparency to the process and lays down
measures for rehabilitation of those displaced.
STATES
Union
Minister of Health & Family Welfare Launched New Health Initiatives For
Assam
Union Minister of Health and Family
Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad on 1 September launched several new health initiatives
worth Rs.500 crores under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for the
strengthening of healthcare services in Assam.The new initiatives are – Free
Generic Drug Service, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya karyakram (RBSK), National Iron
Plus Initiative, Fleet of 359 New Ambulances for National Ambulance
Service.Ghulam Nabi Azad also inaugurated Mother and Child Tracking System Call
Centre and Tele-Radiology Project under NRHM.
Himachal
Pradesh Scrapped Palchan-Rohtang Ropeway Project
Himachal Pradesh cabinet on 4
September decided to cancel construction of Palchan-Rohtang ropeway project in
Kullu district. The proposed project was planned to transport around 9000
visitors between Palchan and Rohtang daily to decongest the Manali-Leh road.
There is a huge rush of tourists between May and July every year.
Kerala
Government Launched ‘ E-Payment ‘ Facility
The Kerala Government has launched on
5 September an “e-payment facility” system enabling people to pay various
utility bills and access Government department services online.The payment of
Utility bills of Kerala State Electricity Board, Kerala Water Authority, BSNL
and university fees could be done through the gateway using credit and debit
cards of 66 banks identified for the scheme.One can avail the service at all
Akshaya e-centers of the government which would act as decentralized
information hubs and service delivery points.
MP
Government Decided To Constitute State Disaster Emergency Response Force
The Madhya Pradesh Government on 10
September decided to constitute a State Disaster Emergency Response Force to
deal with any calamity more effectively and provide immediate relief to
affected persons.Initially, the State Disaster Emergency Response Force will be
set up in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur districts.100 jawans will be
deployed in each of these districts.
Union
Government Approved 1000 crore Proposal To Develop J&K sports
The Union Government of India on 16
September approved a special package 1000 crore Rupees to strengthen sports
infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir .The objective of the special package is
construction of new stadiums and sports fields across the state.The Jammu and
Kashmir Government made a policy under which every block in the state will be
provided with both indoor and outdoor sports complexes. Every panchayat in the
state will be provided with a sports field, and the government will also
upgrade the already available sports equipments.
Prime
Minister Manmohan Laid The Foundation Stone For New Airport In Rajasthan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 21 September
laid the foundation stone for a new airport at Kishangarh town in Ajmer
District, Rajasthan.Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singhon also announced that
small destinations in the country will have air connectivity with a network of
more than 100 airports, planned to meet the expected passenger load capacity of
30 crore, by 2020.The first such airport will come up in Kishangarh town in
Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, the airport which is scheduled to get operational
by 2016.
CONFERENCES
8th
G-20 Summit Held In Saint Petersburg
The eighth G20 Summit was held at St.
Petersburg , Russia on 5 – 6 September 2013.The G20 nations discussed ways to
ensure economic growth and financial stability, create jobs and combat
unemployment, stimulate investment and promote multilateral trade,
international development and anti-corruption. The members of the Group of
Twenty (G-20) are: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, Germany,
European Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, China, Mexico, Russian
Federation, Saudi Arabia, USA, Turkey, France, South Africa, Republic of Korea,
and Japan. The presidency of the G20 rotates annually among its members.During
the summit, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh focused on the ongoing
economic crisis and urged the G-20 nations to pay more attention to their
monetary policies.The 2014 G-20 Australia summit will be the ninth meeting of
the G-20 heads of government.It will be held in Brisbane, the capital city of
Queensland, Australia, on 15-16 November 2014 .In a 27-page declaration adopted
at the end of the two-day Summit , the group of 20 industrialised and major
emerging economies also reaffirmed its commitment to roll back new
protectionist measures.
Important
Points of G-20 Leaders’ Declaration :-
Recognising
the risk of economic slowdown and weakening trade posed by protectionism, the
G20 has decided to extend until the end of 2016 its standstill commitment to
further progress in removing barriers and impediments to global trade and
investment.
G-20
Leaders endorsed an ambitious action plan to change national tax rules that
encourage multinational companies to shift their profits to low- or no-tax
jurisdictions, allowing them not to pay tax on much of their income.
The
declaration committed itself to cooperate to ensure that policies implemented
to support domestic growth also support global growth and financial stability
and to manage their spillovers other countries.
It
noted that the most urgent need is to increase the momentum of the global
recovery, generate higher growth and better jobs while strengthening the
foundations for long term growth and avoiding policies that could cause the
recovery to falter or promote growth at other countries’ expense.
Agreeing
on the Action Plan, the leaders said cross-border tax evasion and avoidance
undermine public finances and trust in the fairness of the tax system.
The
Summit also shared Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s views on the need for
orderly exit from the monetary stimulus undertaken in the context of 2008
economic crisis.
AWARDS
& HONOURS
Zubin
Mehta Received Tagore Award
World acclaimed orchestra conductor
Zubin Mehta was conferred the prestigious Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony on
6 September by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.The award carries an
amount of One Crore Rupees, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an
exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.He is the second recipient after
sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Amitabh
Bachchan Honoured With ‘ 2013 Global Diversity’ Award
Veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh
Bachchan was conferred with the ‘ 2013 Global Diversity Award ‘ at the House of
Commons in the Palace of Westminster, Britain on 11 September.Speaker of the
House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, presented the award to Amitabh
Bachchan.Bachchan, who has acted in more than 180 films, was voted the greatest
star of the millennium in a 1999 BBC poll.France’s highest civilian honour, the
Knight of the Legion of Honour, was conferred upon him by the French Government
in 2007 for his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond.
Indian
Freedom Fighter Gets ‘ House of Commons Award ‘
On 11 September An Indian freedom
fighter was posthumously conferred a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at UK’s House
of Commons for his contribution during India’s independence movement and its
journey afterwards.Britain’s Minister for Business Engagement with India
Gregory Barker and Virendra Sharma, Chair of the Indo-British All Party
Parliamentary Group jointly presented the award to late Jawaharlal Darda’s son,
Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, MP and Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat, the most
widely circulated Marathi language newspaper.
John
Abraham Honoured With ‘ Pride of the Nation Award ‘
Bollywood actor John Abraham has been
conferred with the Pride of the Nation award on 16 September for his attempt to
raise the sensitive issue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination
through his role as a RAW agent in Madras Cafe.The award was presented by Anti
Terrorist Front chairman Maninderjeet Singh in New Delhi. All-India
Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) is an anti-terrorist organisation led by
Maninderjeet Singh Bitta.In Madras Cafe film John Abraham made a courageous
attempt to unravel the conspiracy behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The
film “Madras Cafe” is set in the late 80s and early 1990s, during the time of
Sri Lankan civil war and the assassination of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Malala
Yousafzai Received ‘Amnesty ‘ International Award
Pakistani education rights activist,
Malala Yousafzai has been named as the recipient of 2013 Amnesty
International’s highest award.Malala received Amnesty International’s
Ambassador of Conscience Award along with American singer and human rights
activist Harry Belafonte at ceremony on 17 September in Dublin, Ireland.The
Ambassador of Conscience Award is the human rights group’s highest honour,
recognizing individuals who have promoted and enhanced the cause of human
rights through their life and by example.She made her first public appearance
on 12 July 2013, her 16th birthday, when she delivered a speech at the United
Nations General Assembly in New York.
President
of India Presented National Communal Harmony Awards For The Year 2011 &
2012
The President of India Pranab
Mukherjee presented the National Communal Harmony Awards for the year 2011 and
2012 at a function in New Delhi.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2011: - Odisha’s MD Janab Haji Abdul Bari and Mizoram’s Khamliana jointly awarded for the year 2011 individual category. Both are social activists.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2012:- The Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity, Delhi awarded for Organisational category. The foundation formed in 1984.The Foundation works for spreading amity and communal harmony.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2011: - Odisha’s MD Janab Haji Abdul Bari and Mizoram’s Khamliana jointly awarded for the year 2011 individual category. Both are social activists.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2012:- The Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity, Delhi awarded for Organisational category. The foundation formed in 1984.The Foundation works for spreading amity and communal harmony.
Bunker
Roy and Malala Yousafzai Received Clinton Global Citizens Awards
India environmentalist Bunker Roy and
Pakistan’s teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai on 23 September 2013
declared as winners of the Clinton Global Citizens Awards for the year 2013.
Roy is the founder of the Barefoot College, which has been providing solutions
to problems in rural communities for more than 40 years.Malala Yousufzai has
co-founded Malala Fund with the intension to continue support for universal
access to education.They received these awards during Clinton Global Initiative
Annual Meeting on 24 September in New York City.The Clinton Global Citizen
Awards were launched in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals for their
visionary leadership, demonstrated impact, and sustainable and scalable work in
solving global issues.
SPORTS & GAMES
US
Open Tennis Tournament 2013 Winners
Women’s Singles :- On 8 September Serena Williams (U.S) won the US Open Tennis Tournament 2013 Women’s singles title after defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.With this win Serena Williams secured her fifth US Open title and 17th Grand Slam title of the overall career.
Men’s Singles :- Rafael Nadal (Spain) won the 2013 men’s singles U.S. Open title after defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in the final.It is Nadal’s second US Open title, and his 13th Grand Slam.
Women’s Doubles :- Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the U.S. Open women’s doubles title after defeated Australia’s Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the final.
Men’s Doubles :- The pair of Leander Paes of India and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic won the doubles title after defeated Alexander Peya of Austria, and Bruno Soares of Brazil in the final .Leander Paes has earlier won the US open title two times .Now Paes has 14 major titles in his cupboard, including six mixed doubles trophies.
Women’s Singles :- On 8 September Serena Williams (U.S) won the US Open Tennis Tournament 2013 Women’s singles title after defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.With this win Serena Williams secured her fifth US Open title and 17th Grand Slam title of the overall career.
Men’s Singles :- Rafael Nadal (Spain) won the 2013 men’s singles U.S. Open title after defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in the final.It is Nadal’s second US Open title, and his 13th Grand Slam.
Women’s Doubles :- Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the U.S. Open women’s doubles title after defeated Australia’s Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the final.
Men’s Doubles :- The pair of Leander Paes of India and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic won the doubles title after defeated Alexander Peya of Austria, and Bruno Soares of Brazil in the final .Leander Paes has earlier won the US open title two times .Now Paes has 14 major titles in his cupboard, including six mixed doubles trophies.
Tokyo
To Host 2020 Summer Olympics
On 7 September Tokyo has been chosen
to host the 2020 summer Olympic Games by the event’s organising committee,
beating out Istanbul and Madrid in the final vote tally.Japan won the right to
host Olympic Games for the second time. It had previously hosted the Games in
1964.
Wrestling
Selected for 2020 Olympic Games
Wrestling regained entry into the
Olympic Games program on 8 September after the International Olympic Committee
selected the sport for inclusion in the 2020 and 2024 Games over bids from
squash, baseball and softball.IOC at its 125th session held in Buenos Aires,
Argentina decided to include wrestling in the 2020 Olympics in addition to the
25 core sports.Wrestling, squash and baseball/softball were in contention for
being included as an additional sport in the 2020 Olympics.
Afghanistan
Won SAFF Championship 2013
Afghanistan, for the first time in its
history, won the trophy of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)
Championship 2013 defeated India 2-0 in the final held at Dasharath Stadium in
Kathmandu on 11 September. India has won the championship six times (1993,
1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011).The next edition of the SAFF Championship will be
held in India in 2015.
Mohameddan
Sporting Won Durand Foot Ball Cup
Kolkata’s Mohammedan Sporting club won
the 126th Durand Foot ball tournament on 19 September as it defeated ONGC 2-1
in the final at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.They have lifted the cup
after 73 years having won it back in 1940.The Durand Football Tournament was
started at Simla in the year 1888 by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, who was then,
the Foreign Secretary to Government of India. Durand is the third oldest
football tournament in the world and oldest in Asia and India.
Sania
Mirza Wins Pan Pacific Open Doubles Title
Sania Mirza of India and Cara Black of
Zimbabwe won the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis championship women’s doubles
title after defeated Hao-Ching Chan (Chinese Taipei) and Liezel Huber (USA) in
the final at Tokyo on 28 September .This was Sania’s fourth title of the season.
India
Won Sultan of Johor Cup Hockey Tournament 2013
India defeated Malaysia 3-0 to win 3rd
Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament in Johor Bahru on 29 September
.The goals from the Indian side were scored by Amon Mirash Tirkey (22nd), Affan
Yousuf (52nd) and Manpreet Singh (64th).
ECONOMY
Microsoft
Decided To Buy Nokia’s Mobile Phone Unit and Services
Microsoft Corporation and Nokia
Corporation on 3 September announced that both companies have decided to enter
into a transaction whereby Microsoft will purchase substantially all of Nokia’s
Devices & Services business, license Nokia’s patents, and license and use
Nokia’s mapping services.Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay
3.79 billion Euros to purchase substantially all of Nokia’s Devices &
Services business, and 1.65 billion Euros to license Nokia’s patents, for a
total transaction price of 5.44 billion Euros in cash.Nokia Corporation is a
Finnish multinational communications and information technology corporation
(originally a paper production plant) that is headquartered in Espoo,
Finland.Its principal products are mobile telephones and portable IT
devices.Nokia owns a company named Nokia Solutions and Networks, which provides
telecommunications network equipment and services.
India
Now Has 7850 Ultra Wealthy Individuals
On 11 September According to the ” 2013
Wealth-X report “, India has 7850 UHNW (Ultra-High-Net-Worth) individuals in
2013 compared to 7730 in 2012 an increased of 1.6 percent. Out of these, 103
individuals have wealth of over USD 1 Billion dollars. The billionaire club has
shrunk from 109 people in 2012 to 103 in 2013.Total combined wealth of
billionaires also fell by 5.3 per cent $180 billion ($190 bn in 2012).A
city-wise analysis shows that more than 90 per cent of India’s UHNW population
live in top 10 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad,
Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Gurgaon and Jaipur.Mumbai and Delhi, however,
dominate with more than 50 per cent of the country’s UHNW population based in
one of these two cities.
Cabinet
Approved Buying $ 4.3 billion World Bank Bonds
The Union Cabinet on 12 September gave
the go-ahead to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to invest $4.3 billion in
special bonds of the World Bank as it would help in securing additional funding
from the multilateral lending agency for infrastructure development
projects.Under the arrangement, the Reserve Bank of India will subscribe to
special private placement of bonds by the IBRD, a lending arm of the World Bank.
Indian
Economy To Grow At 5.3% In 2013-14
The Economic Advisory Council to the
Prime Minister (of India) on 13 September 2013 released the report “ Economic
Outlook 2013-14 “ in New Delhi.The economic growth forecast of India for the
current fiscal 2013-14 was lowered to 5.3 percent from 6.4 percent projected
earlier. The PMEAC had in April 2013 projected 6.4 percent growth for Indian
economy for current financial year.RBI too had earlier lowered its growth
projection for this fiscal to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent.
Highlights of the of Economic Outlook India are as following : -
Highlights of the of Economic Outlook India are as following : -
The
PMEAC expects the agriculture sector to grow by 4.8 percent in the current
fiscal up from 1.9 percent, while the industrial growth has been pegged at 2.7
percent as against 2.1 percent in 2012-13.
Services projected to grow at 6.6%in 2013-14
as against 7.1% in 2012-13.
Referring to the external sector, the advisory
council expressed hope that the Current Account Deficit (CAD) in 2013-14 will
come down to 70 billion US dollars or 3.8 percent of GDP, from 88.2 billion US
dollars or 4.8 percent a year ago.
The
trade deficit ,would come down to around USD 185 billion in 2013-14, against an
estimated USD 195.7 billion in 2012-13.
Between
2010-11 and 2012-13, the combined impact of higher net oil and net gold imports
on the CAD (Current Account Deficit) was almost 57 billion US dollars or 3
percent of GDP.
The
CAD may go even below $ 70 billion in 2013-14 if the recent trends in exports
and imports are maintained through the year.
Net
Capital flows are projected to fall to USD 61.4 billion in 2013-14 against an estimated
USD 89.4 billion in 2012-13 putting pressure on the country’s forex reserves.
RBI
Increases Repo Rate By 25 Basis Points
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 20
September increased the repo rate or the short term lending rate by 25 basis
points to 7.5 per cent from 7.25 per cent with immediate effect. This means
that the Repo rate has been increased by 0.25 percent.The cash reserve ratio
(CRR) remained unchanged at 4 percent.The RBI previously raised the repo rate
in October 2011 by 0.25 per cent to 8.5 per cent.
‘
India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 ‘ Report Released
According to the Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ‘s latest report titled,
‘India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 ‘ was released on 13 September in
New Delhi.
Highlights of the ‘India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 ‘ Report :-
Highlights of the ‘India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 ‘ Report :-
India’s
entertainment and media industry to clock over INR 224, 500 crore by 2017:
CII-PwC study forecast CAGR of 18% over 2012-17
Now
the size of the Indian M&E sector increased from about 805 billion INR in
2011 to almost 965 billion INR in 2012 representing an year-on-year growth of
20%.
The
television and print sectors dominate the industry with about 40% and 22%
contribution to industry revenues respectively in 2012.
Internet
access now commands about 18% share and films 12% of industry revenues.
Internet access now commands about 18% share
and films 12% of industry revenues.
The
print sector revenues are expected to increase at over 9% CAGR to reach 331
billion INR in 2017 from 212 billion INR in 2012.
Year-on-year
sectors such as internet access (30%), internet advertising (29%), gaming
(19%), and music (15%) are expected to continue on their high growth
trajectory.
The
radio sector is also expected to receive a fillip with the successful
conclusion of Phase III licence auctions and it is expected to grow at a robust
CAGR of about 16%.
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
Indian
Air Force inducts its Biggest Transport Aircraft ‘ C-17 Globemaster III ‘
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Union Defence Minister AK Antony on 2
September formally inducted IAF’s biggest 70-tonne heavy-lift transport
aircraft ‘ C-17 Globemaster III ‘ into service at the Hindon Air Base near
Delhi.The C-17 Globemaster III aircraft has been procured from the US under a
deal expected to be over Rs.20,000 crore.The C-17, with a capability to carry
around 70 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops, will replace the
Russian Il-76 as the biggest aircraft in the IAF inventory till now.The IL-76
has the capability to carry loads upto around 40 tonnes.The IAF has placed
orders with the US for ten C-17 aircraft under the deal signed in 2011 and
three of them have already been delivered.The US Air Force is scheduled to
complete the delivery of all the 10 planes by the end of 2014.
NASA
Launches Spacecraft To Study Moon Atmosphere
NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust
Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission was successfully launched by a Minotaur 5
(spin stabilised delivery version) rocket on 7 September from NASA’s Wallops
Flight Facility in Virginia.LADEE is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon
to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the
surface, and environmental influences on lunar dust.
World’s
Largest Volcano Discovered Under Pacific Ocean
The world’s largest volcano has been
discovered on 5 September by University of Houston researchers on the floor of
the Pacific Ocean. The volcano, 1,600 kilometres east of Japan and called the
Tamu Massif, is the size of the British Isles.At 310,000 sq km (119,000 sq mi)
Tamu Massif is comparable in size to Mars’ vast Olympus Mons volcano – the
largest in the solar system..The volcano consists of a vast single rounded dome
in the shape of a shield, which is believed to have been formed 144 million
years ago when it last erupted.Its top lies about 6,500 feet below the ocean
surface.
Japan
Launches New Epsilon Rocket
Japan’s Epsilon-1 rocket — the first
in a new generation of space rockets and the country’s first rocket in 12 years
— lifted off on 14 September from a space center on Japan’s southern main
island of Kyushu.The rocket, 24 meters in height and 90 tons in weight, placed
the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of
Atmosphere, or SPRINT-A, into its orbit about an hour after the launch. The
telescope will be used to observe planets including Venus, Mars and Jupiter
from its Earth orbit.The Epsilon is the first new rocket design for Japan since
the H2A was introduced in 2001. The H2A remains Japan’s primary rocket but
officials hope the Epsilon will lead to improvements in the more costly H2A
program. Japan hopes to be more competitive in the international
rocket-launching business.
India
Successfully Test Fired Nuclear – Capable ‘ Agni V ‘ Long Range Missile
India’s most deterrent nuclear capable
ballistic missile, Agni-5 was successfully test fired on 15 September from
Chandipur Test Range in Balasore district off Odisha coast.Developed by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-5 can carry a
single nuclear warhead of over 1000 kg and can strike with precision targets in
China and Europe.The indigenously developed missile Agni-V is capable of
striking a range of more than 5000 km. It is about 17 meter long and 2 metres
wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes.The first test flight of the Agni-5
on 19 April 2012 was a phenomenal success after which India joined the select
club of the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China who have such
capabilities. Agni-5 will give India the ability hit back or have second-strike
capability even after a nuclear attack. The missile is India’s
fastest-travelling object and the first one to cross the Equator when launched
from India.In the Agni series, India at present has Agni-1 with 700 km range,
Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500 km to more than 3500
range.
US
Launches Unmanned Cygnus Cargo Ship To ISS
Orbital Sciences Corp launched the
first flight of its unmanned Cygnus cargo ship on 18 September to the
International Space Station, as NASA forges ahead with its plan to privatise US
space missions.The Cygnus capsule, hitched to Orbital Science’s Antares rocket,
blasted off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility off Virginia’s eastern
coast.Cygnus will ferry about 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms) of food, clothing
and other cargo for the crew aboard the space station.
Iran
Displays 30 Missiles With 2000 km Range
Iran paraded 30 missiles with a
nominal range of 2,000 km on 22 September, the first time it had displayed so
many with a stated capacity to hit Israeli targets.Iran displayed 12 Sejil and
18 Ghadr missiles at the annual parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak
of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.The stated range of both missiles would put not
only Israel but also US bases in the Gulf within reach.
PERSONS IN NEWS
A)
APPOINTMENTS
Rakesh
Sood Appointed as PM’s Special Envoy on Disarment and Non-Proliferation
On 1 September Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh has appointed Rakesh Sood, India’s former Ambassador to Nepal,
Afghanistan and France and the country’s first Ambassador in charge
of Disarmament in Geneva, as his new Special Envoy for Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation.Rakesh Sood is a recognised expert in his field and will be
able to make a valuable contribution to the country’s foreign policy on
security, non-proliferation and disarmament issues.
Deepak
Sandhu Becomes The First Woman Chief Information Commissioner
On 5 September Deepak Sandhu became
the first woman Chief Information Commissioner of the country.She was
administered the oath of the office by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.Sandhu
served in many key positions like Principal Director General (Media and
Communications) in the Press Information Bureau, Director General of DD (News),
Director General (News) All India Radio before taking over as Information
Commissioner in 2009.
Kulkarni
Becomes First Indian American State Judge In Northern California
On 6 September A leading Indian
American lawyer, Sunil R Kulkarni, has become the first South Asian American
state judge in Northern California with his appointment to Santa Clara County
Superior Court.In 2010, Indian American Paul Singh Grewal was appointed a
magistrate judge in US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Thomas
Bach is new IOC president
Thomas Bach of Germany on 10 September
has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC).Bach succeeds Jacques Rogge, the Belgian who is stepping down after 12
years.Bach is also the first gold medalist to become IOC president. He won gold
in team fencing for West Germany in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Justice
Prafulla Chandra Pant Appointed First Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court
On 19 September Justice Prafulla
Chandra Pant has been appointed as the first Chief Justice of the newly
established Meghalaya High Court.Justice Pant will succeed Justice T Meena
Kumari whose term as the Meghalaya Chief Justice was over two months
ago.Justice Pant is a judge of the Uttarakhand High Court.Born in Pithoragarh
district of then undivided Uttar Pradesh, he joined the UP Judicial Service in
1976 and held different posts. After the creation of Uttarakhand, he was the
first Secretary, Judicial, of the state.
Srinivasan
Re-Elected As BCCI President For The Third Term
Narayanaswamy Srinivasan has been
re-elected as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
for a third term at its 84th annual general meeting (AGM) held at Chennai on 29
September. He was unanimously re-elected as the president of BCCI for the term
of 2013-14.
Ranjib
Biswal Appointed as new IPL chairman
Former national selector Ranjib Biswal
on 29 September has been appointed as chairman of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) during the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) at Chennai.Prior to this appointment Ranjib Biswal was manager of
the Indian Cricket team during the ICC World Cup 2011 and the ICC Champions
Trophy 2013. He is also the head of Orissa Cricket Association.
B)RESIGNS
Rajasthan
Minister Babulal Nagar Resigned
Minister of State for Food and Civil
Supplies Babulal Nagar on 19 September resigned from the Rajasthan cabinet
after being accused of raping a woman.
C)DEATHS
Audio
Pioneer Ray Dolby of famed Sound System Died
Ray Dolby, the engineer who pioneered
the noise reduction in audio recordings that produced clearer sound for music
and cinema, died on 12 September in San Francisco.He was the founder of Dolby
Laboratories.His works in noise reduction and surround sound has been
appreciated across the world and have won recognitions too.Dolby moved his
company to San Francisco in 1976 and in 1989 was awarded an Oscar for his
contributions to cinema, which he shared with Dolby executive Ioan Allen.Dolby
also was given music’s Grammy award 1995 and television’s Emmys in 1989 and
2005.
World’s
Oldest Man Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez Died
The world’s oldest man, a former
musician and coal miner, Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez has died at the age of 112
in Grand Island, New York on 13 September.Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez was
officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest man.He was
born on 8 June 1901 in Spain.
D)VISITORS
Liberia
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Visited India
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of
the Republic of Liberia, visited India from 9 – 13 September 2013 .During this
visit,President Sirleaf met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in NewDelhi and held
delegation level discussions on bilateral, regional and international
issues.Both sides noted that there still remained considerable potential for
cooperation and agreed to enhance the partnership between the two countries in
all areas of mutual interest.On 12 September 2013, the Indira Gandhi Prize for
Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2012 was conferred upon
President Sirleaf.
E)MISCELLANEOUS
Malala
Yousafzai Inaugurates Europe’s Largest Library In UK
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani
schoolgirl shot in the head in a failed assassination attempt by the Taliban,
on 3 September inaugurated Europe’s biggest public library in her newly adopted
home of Birmingham in UK.The library of Brimingham was built with cost of
189-million pound ,while it has more than 200 public access computers,theatres
,an exhibition gallery and music rooms.
Zardari
Becomes First Pakistani President To Serve Full Term
Pakistan’s president stepped down on 8
September 2013, after finishing his five-year term .Asif Ali Zardari is the
first president in the history of Pakistani democracy to be democratically
elected, serve his full term, and then step down.He served as the 11th
President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.
Diana
Became First Woman to Swim Across Florida Straits without Shark Cage
Diana Nyad, 64-year old American
long-distance swimmer became the first person to cross Florida Straits from
Cuba without any shark cage on 2 September 2013. This was her fifth attempt to
cross the 110-mile (177-km) distance.Diana Nyad completed the 110-mile or
177-km distance.
Nina
Davuluri Wins ‘ Miss America ‘ 2014 Title
Nina Davuluri, Miss New York, was
crowned the new Miss America on 15 September in Atlantic City, New Jersey.Miss
New York, Nina Davuluri, became the first contestant of Indian heritage and the
second consecutive contestant from New York to win the Miss America pageant.She
succeeds another Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, whose tenure was cut short when
the pageant moved back to Atlantic City after a six-year stint in Las Vegas,
where winners were chosen in January.Nina Davuluri from Syracuse, sashayed off
with the tiara and the $50,000 scholarship cash.She is the first Miss America
winner of Indian descent.
Megan
Young Crowned Miss World 2013
Megan Young of Philippines was crowned
Miss World 2013 at the Bali Nasa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia on 28
September.Miss France, Marine Lorphelin took second place, while Miss Ghana,
Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter ,came in third. Miss India World Navneet Kaur
Dhillon finished among the top 20 finalists but couldn’t reach final ten. She
won the title of Miss Multimedia.
PLACES
IN NEWS
China
Inaugurated World’s Highest Daocheng Yading Civilian Airport
China has opened the world’s highest
civilian airport named ” Daocheng Yading” on 16 September in a restive and
remote Tibetan region of southwestern Sichuan province.The Daocheng Yading
airport in Ganzi prefecture in southwestern China is the world’s highest
civilian airport.The region is a gateway to Tibet.Daocheng airport in Garzi, a
heavily ethnic Tibetan part of Sichuan, is 4411 metres above sea level, and
overtakes Qamdo airport in Tibet, which sits at 4334 metres above sea level, for
the title of world’s highest.
Strong
Earthquake Hits Pakistan
A major 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit
southwestern Pakistan on 24 September, killed more than 350 people and damaged
several houses near the epicentre in a remote part of Balochistan province. The
quake, with its epicentre 69 km from Awaran, was originally measured at 7.4 on
the Richter Scale by the US Geological Survey which later it revised to 7.8.
Pakistan’s meteorological office gave the magnitude as 7.7.The 7.6 magnitude
quake in 2005 killed at least 73,000 people and left several million homeless
in one of the worst natural disasters to hit Pakistan.
BOOKS IN NEWS
”
India and Malaysia : Interwined Strands” Book Released By Vice President of
India
The Vice President of India M. Hamid
Ansari on 9 September released a book entitled ” India and Malaysia:
Intertwined Strands ” at New Delhi . The book is authored by former Diplomat
Veena Sikri. The book is written for the Institute of South East Asian Studies
(ISEAS), Singapore. It is a comprehensive book on a very useful subject of
relationship between India and Malaysia.
COMMITTEES
Nachiket
Mor Committee To Frame Vision For Financial Inclusion
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 23
September announced a 13-member committee, including former Citibank CEO Vikram
Pandit and Axis Bank chief Shikha Sharma, to frame a clear and detailed vision
for financial inclusion/deepening across the country.The Committee is headed by
Nachiket Mor, Member on the RBI’s Central Board of Directors. The committee,
which will submit its final report by December 31.Committee is to lay down a
set of design principles that will guide the development of institutional
frameworks and regulation for achieving financial inclusion and financial
deepening in India.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND
DATES
International
Day of Peace Observed on 21 September
International Day of Peace observed on
21 September 2013 across the world to recognise the efforts of those who have
worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. The International Day of Peace
is also a day of ceasefire.The theme for the year 2013 is Education for
Peace.Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on
21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to
strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and
peoples.The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution
36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening
session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September.
World
Rabies Day Observed on 28 September
World Rabies Day observed on 28
September 2013 across the world to raise awareness about the impact of rabies
disease and to deliver the message that rabies is preventable.The theme for the
year 2013 is Rabies: Understand it to defeat it.World Rabies Day is an
initiative of Global Alliance for Rabies Control and the day started it in 2007
to create a global opportunity for people to focus on rabies prevention.The
World Rabies Day is observed each year on 28 September- on the death
anniversary of Louis Pasteur who developed the first efficacious rabies vaccine
with his colleagues.
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