Current Affairs March 01, 2014

Current Affairs March 01, 2014

International Affairs

1. Arseniy Yatsenyuk to be the new Prime Minister of Ukraine.  

He won the parliament's approval by securing 317 votes out of the total 450.

He has been the minister of Economy and Foreign together with being the speaker of Parliament.

2. World observes the inaugural 'Zero Discrimination Day' on March 1 with the slogan "No matter how you look, where you come from or who you love – everyone has the right to live a full life with dignity"  

The day was introduced to the world by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé in Beijing recently.

3. World’s Largest Aircraft Unveiled in Britain

Britain has unveiled the world’s largest aircraft—a 300 feet long monster which is part plane, airship and helicopter, capable of flying non-stop for three weeks without refuelling. The Airlander, which was originally developed for the US military, is 300 feet (91 metres) long, according its British maker Hybrid Air Vehicles.

It was shown off in a giant hangar in Cardington, central England, where great British airships of the past were built, including the ill-fated R101. The R101 crashed in 1930 on its maiden voyage, killing 48 passenger and crew. The new craft is longer than the current record holder, the Russian Antonov An-225, which is 84 metres long, and the Boeing 747-8, at 76 metres long.

4. India Russia to conclude deal on two Kudankulum reactors

India and Russia on Wednesday agreed to conclude at an early date the general framework agreement on reactors 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu, official sources said.

The “general agreement” concerning the reactors was reached during the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin in Delhi.

The meeting also focused on nuclear, space, energy and economic cooperation.

The two sides discussed the possibility of Russia being the partner in the India International Trade Fair in 2015 and agreed that the India Trade Show to be held in Moscow in September this year would be an appropriate opportunity for major tie-ups for businesses of both sides.

The possibility of export of Indian bovine meat to Russia was also an item of discussion, the sources said.

5. Ferrer retires in Mexico, Murray into semis

Top-seeded David Ferrer withdrew from his Mexican Open quarterfinal against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the second set on Thursday due to a left thigh strain. Ferrer’s exit leaves Andy Murray as the big favorite to win the Mexican Open 500.

6. Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait plans to expand its operations in India

i. The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, BBK, plans to expand its operations in India by opening its fourth branch in the country in New Delhi.

ii. The CEO of BBK said that the bank would pump in an additional $15 million in its Indian operations this year. In 2013, it had invested about $30 million.

7. US company to ray free wi-fi to entire world from space

i. A US company is planning to build an 'Outernet - a global network of cube satellites broadcasting Internet data to all the people on the planet - for free.

ii. The idea is to offer free Internet access to all people, regardless of location, bypassing filtering or other means of censorship, according to the New York based non-profit organisation, Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF). 

iii. The organisation claims that 40 per cent of the people in the world today are still not able to connect to the Internet - and it's not just because of restrictive governments such as North Korea - it's also due to the high cost of bringing service to remote areas, 'phys.org' reported. 

iv. The Outernet would be one-way - data would flow from feeders to the satellites which would broadcast to all below. 

v. MDIF has acknowledged that building such a network would not be cheap. Such satellites typically run USD 100,000 to USD 300,000 to build and launch.
vi. The timeline for the project calls for deploying the initial cubesats as early as next summer. 

National Affairs

8. Gandhi Peace Prize for Chipko pioneer

i. Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt has been selected for the 2013 Gandhi Peace Prize.

ii. A pioneer of the Chipko Movement for which he was also awarded the Magsaysay Award in 1982, Mr. Bhatt was given the Padma Bhushan by UPA-I in 2005.

iii. A pioneer of the Chipko Movement for which he was also awarded the Magsaysay Award in 1982, Mr. Bhatt was given the Padma Bhushan by UPA-I in 2005.

About Chipko Movement 
A decision of a group of peasants in a remote Himalayan village (Reni village of Chamoli, Uttrakhand) to stop a group of loggers from felling a patch of trees has been termed as Chipko Movement. The name was dubbed as the protesters hugged trees to protect them from being felled. This landmark struggle to protect trees started on 27 March 1973 and can be considered as the modern Indian environmental movement.

About Gandhi Peace Prize
The government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a very prestigious Award and carries an amount of 10 million rupees, a citation and a Plaque. The Award is selected by a Jury under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

9. National Food Security Act Comes into Force In Madhya Pradesh

National Food Security Act has come into force in Madhya Pradesh from 1 March 2014. Total population of 75 percent people will be covered under the Act.This implementation of the National Food Security Act in the state is a part of the national Bill that became an Act after receiving the nod by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 10 September 2013.

10. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves Rs. 975 crore for 'River Basin Management' (RBM) scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources during 12th Plan Period.

11. Arvind Saxena takes over as President and Managing Director of  General Motors India. He succeeds Lowell Paddock as such.

12. Oil Marketing Companies delink LPG, Aadhaar

Oil Marketing Companies issued instructions to all LPG gas dealers to delink Aadhaar-LPG to supply domestic cylinders. The circular has come as a big relief to consumers who were waiting for it ever since the Centre took a decision on January 30.

However, according to dealers, the delinking will come into force by March 8 due to some ‘technicalities’ with regard to issuance of bills at the dealer level. “We got the circular delinking Aadhaar-LPG. It will take a week for it to come into force,” said D. Ashok Kumar, president, Greater Hyderabad LPG Dealers’ Association.

13. Petrol and diesel prices hiked

Petrol price was hiked by 80 paise a litre in the city on Friday, the second increase this year, and diesel by 62 paise per litre, the 14th hike since January 2013. The hikes, effective from midnight, are including local sales tax or VAT. The actual increase in the price will be higher and will vary from city to city.

Petrol price, which was last hiked on January 4, will cost Rs 79.91 a litre in Hyderabad from midnight, up 80 paise from Rs 79.11 at present. The price of diesel will be hiked by 62 paise, including tax, to Rs 60.45 per litre in city.

14. Airport: HC refuses to extend interim injunction from proceeding over RFQ

Madras High Court today said it would not extend the interim injunction granted from proceeding any further over Request for Qualification (RFQ) invited from private parties for management of Chennai Airport.

15. Government approves Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension

Government on Friday approved the proposal to ensure Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension under a scheme of retirement fund body EPFO that would immediately benefit 28 lakh pensioners.

16. PK Mohanty stays as Chief Secretary, IYR goes on leave

The Centre has extended the tenure of chief secretary P.K. Mohanty, who was due to retire on Friday, by four months.

The decision came after Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan recommended that it was essential to retain Dr Mohanty to complete the formalities of the state’s division. After repeatedly announcing that he would not stay in office after attaining superannuation age, the CS changed his mind.

The extension created ripples in state bureaucratic circles with chief commissioner of land administration I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, the next in line to be the CS, going on leave to convey his protest.

17. Union Ministry of Environment & Forest approved field trials for GM crops

Union Ministry of Environment & Forest approved field trials for Genetically Modified (GM) crops rice, wheat, cotton and maize on 26 February 2014. Ministry of Environment & Forest cleared Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee’s (GEAC) decision to allow gene modification field trials for food crops.

18. Tirupati laddu wins Geographical Indications battle

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is all set to successfully enforce its Geographical Indications Rights for the Tirupati laddu, which is the prasadam of the Lord. So popular are the Tirupati laddus among the devotees, that small sweet shops across South India try to cash in on the sentiments by selling laddus with names similar to the Tirupati laddu.

The temple administration had been trying to enforce its rights under the Geographical Indications, which was facilitated by CII’s AP Technology Development and Promotion Centre and was accorded in September 2009. However, in 2013, when the TTD came to know that Ganga Sweets in Chennai was making laddus similar to the Tirupati laddu and advertising for the same through its website, the TTD filed a civil suit in the Madras HC, seeking to restrain the Ganga Sweets and others from using the name ‘Tirupati Laddu’. TTD maintained that it was the original manufacturer of the Tirupati laddu for which it was granted GI protection. On February 25, 2014, the Madras HC passed an order decreeing the suit, confirming the rights of a registered GI.

19. Saurabh Chandra takes over as Secretary, Petroleum Ministry

i. Saurabh Chandra assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, on Saturday. He succeeds Vivek Rae, who demitted office on superannuation on February 28.

ii. An officer of the Indian Administrative Service, 1978 batch of the UP cadre, Chandra was earlier Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.

iii. He is a Graduate in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and holds a Diploma in Management.

20. AL Banerjee is new DGP of UP

i. Uttar Pradesh government has appointed A L Banerjee as new Director General of Police. He succeeds Rizwan Ahmad, who retired Friday.

ii. Mr Banerjee, a 1979 batch IPS officer, was till now heading the vigilance department.

21. Former BJP president Bangaru Laxman dies in Hyderabad

i. Former Bharatiya Janata Party president Bangaru Laxman died today in Hyderabad after a prolonged illness.

ii. He was admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad.

iii. Laxman had to step down as the president of the BJP after a sting operation by Tehelka and was convicted by a court in 2012. He was out on bail and was being treated for health problems in Hyderabad.

iv. In 2000, a hidden camera caught former BJP chief Bangaru Laxman accepting bribe for a fictitious arms deal.

22. Acclaimed Telugu writer 'Janamaddhi Hanamachhaastri' dies aged 90.   

Few of his popular books are Vidurudu, Mahasoudham, Maa Seema Kavulu and Tyaagamoorthulu. 

Science and technology

23. Government approves the Mission document on the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).   

It aims to improve the health of the Himalayan Ecosystem for sustainable development. 

NMSHE was launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with a budget outlay of Rs. 550 crore during the 12th Plan period. 

24. Nation's first post office savings bank ATM comes up in Chennai.  

The move is in tune with the modernization project to revive the struggling 150-year-old Department of Posts by using technologies. 

Sports

25.  Sri Lanka beat India by 2 wickets

i. Experienced Kumar Sangakkara showed the way with a breathtaking 84-ball 103 as Sri Lanka recovered from a middle-order batting c

ollapse to pull off a thrilling two-wicket victory over India in the Asia Cup in Fatullah, Bangladesh on Friday.

ii. Chasing 265 for win, the islanders rode on the 36-year-old's masterclass to complete the task with four balls to spare at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.
iii. The win helped Sri Lanka jump to the top of table in the five-nation continental tournament. 

26. Rashid Khan wins SAIL-SBI Open golf

i. Rashid Khan of India claimed a play-off victory over Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman at the SAIL-SBI Open with a birdie on the first extra hole at the Delhi Golf Course (DGC) in New Delhi on Saturday.

ii. The 23-year-old completed a memorable wire-to-wire victory at his home course, atoning for his heartbreaking play-off defeat at the same event a year ago to countryman Anirban Lahiri.

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