Thursday, February 27, 2014

India’s largest solar power plant at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched a 130-MW solar power plant at Bhagwanpur in Neemuch, about 400 km from Bhopal on 26-02-2014.

The Welspun Solar MP project, the largest solar power plant in India set up at a cost of Rs. 1,100 crore on 305 hectares of land, will supply power at Rs. 8.05 a kWh. 

Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned

India’s navy chief, Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned as chief of the Indian navy, owning “moral responsibility for the accidents and incidents during the past few months”, the Defence Ministry said on 26-Feb-2014 Admiral Joshi is the first Indian military commander to have resigned since General Kodandera Subayya Thimmaiah in 1959 -- and the only to have his resignation accepted by the government. 

The naval chief's resignation came hours after a fire on board the newly-refitted Sindhuratna claimed the lives of two naval officers and injured seven -- the third in a series of submarine accidents, including an explosion on the Sindhurakshak which exploded and sank in Mumbai’s naval dockyard in August, 2013, killing 18 crew. Last month, the Sindhughosh ran ground on its way to Mumbai harbour, though without loss of life. 


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Ibrahim Mahlab is the Prime Minister of Egypt


Ibrahim Mahlab, a former official in the deposed Hosni Mubarak government, was on 25-02-2013 named as Egypt's new prime minister, a day after the military-backed cabinet resigned unexpectedly.

Mahlab said he was "officially tasked with forming a new government" by interim president Adly Mansour, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

United States developed fastest car in the world

U.S developed the world's fastest car with a top speed of an incredible 435 kilometres per hour.

US firm Hennessey's Venom GT set the new record for the fastest car in the world during a test run at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Venom beat the previous best record of 431km/h set by Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.


Supreme Court referred legalising Euthanasia to five- judge Constitution bench

Supreme Court on 25-02-2014 referred the issue of legalising euthanasia in the country to a five- judge Constitution bench, saying there has been "inconsistent" opinion in its previous verdicts on withdrawing medical support to terminally ill patients.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that it is extremely important to have a clear enunciation of law on this issue and referred the matter to a larger Constitution bench.

The court said that the Constitution bench will go into all aspects of the issue and take a final decision on framing guidelines.

The Bench also comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and S K Singh passed the order on a PIL to allow a terminally ill person not to continue with artificial medical support.

The Centre had vociferously opposed the plea terming it as "suicide" which could not be allowed in the country.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Olympics concludes with Russia tops the medal list



The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXII Olympic Winter Games were a major international multi-sport event held in Sochi, Russia, in the tradition of the Winter Olympic Games.

The Next winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang in South Korea.
 
Russia tops the medal list with 13 Gold Medals

The following list shows the first four positions ( Gold, Silver, Bronze)


Russia 13-11-9
Norway 11-5-10
canada 10-10-5
Unites States 9-7-12

Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily says RIL contract can't be terminated


The Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Reliance Industries' contract for KG-D6 gas fields cannot be terminated pending arbitration on issue of output lagging targets.

Earlier, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal earlier accused that he price increase was done to benefit RIL, Moily on February 14 wrote to Singh saying ONGC's average cost of producing natural gas was about USD 3.6 per million British thermal unit in 2012-13 and its newer finds in deepsea cost more than current rate of USD 4.2.

Egypt government resigns



Prime Minister of Egypt Hazem el-Beblawi said his government has resigned, paving the way for army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy for president 
.
Beblawi, who was tasked by interim President Adly Mansour with running the government's affairs until the election, did not give a clear reason for the decision.


For Sisi to run for president he would first need to leave his post as defense minister.
He told news agencies that the cabinet had resigned en masse as Sisi did not want to appear to be acting alone.

The top military commander has unveiled a political roadmap meant to lead to elections after toppling Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July following mass protests against his rule.

UN Security Council unanimously adopts Syria aid resolution

UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to boost humanitarian access in Syria that threatens to take 'further steps' in the case of non-compliance, demands cross-border aid access and condemns rights abuses by the Syrian government and opposition armed groups.

The 15-nation UNSC met to vote on the resolution, co-authored by Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg amid uncertainty that Russia and China could veto the draft

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Equal Opportunities Commission for minorities

The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal for setting up the much- awaited Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), a statutory body to check discrimination of minority communities in jobs and education.

The Justice Sachar Committee, which went into the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims, had recommended setting up of such a panel.

The proposal got the nod of the Union Cabinet on Thursday.

EOC will also deal with grievances like denial of accommodation or buying rights to minorities in housing societies.

AAP govt initiatives to stay in Delhi

Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, indicated that the popular initiatives taken by the AAP government will not  be scrapped, including the 50 per cent subsidy on power tariff.

He is  now administering Delhi after President's rule was imposed.

He also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure speedy delivery of various services and provide good governance.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Finance Minister presents interim budget



Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presented  his 9th   and  India's 83rd budget  for 2014-15 in the Lok Sabha on 18-Feb-2014. 

The main budget for the financial year 2014-15 will be presented by the new government that will come into power after the general elections, the schedule for which are likely to be announced by the Election Commission soon.

 HIGHLIGHTS :

GROWTH

* GDP expansion in 2013/14 third and fourth quarters will be at least 5.2 percent

FISCAL DEFICIT

* Fiscal deficit seen at 4.6 percent of GDP in 2013/14

* Says need to bring down fiscal deficit to 3 percent of GDP by 2016/17

CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

* Current account deficit for 2013/14 projected at $45 billion

* Forex reserves to rise by $15 billion by end of 2013/14

EXPORTS

* Merchandise exports seen at $326 billion in 2013/14, up 6.3 percent year on year.

Agriculture exports xxpected to touch $45 billion in 2013/14, up from $41 billion in 2012/13

SPENDING

* Plan expenditure for 2014/15 seen at same level as previous year

* Non plan spending estimated at about 12.08 trillion rupees in 2014/15

SUBSIDIES

* Total spending on food, fertilisers and fuel at 2.5 trillion rupees in 2014/15

DEFENCE

Spending raised to 2.24 trillion rupees in 2014/15, up 10 percent year on year

BANKS RESTRUCTURING

Govt to provide 112 billion rupees capital infusion in state run banks in 2014/15

Other Points to remember

Defence Ministry gets Rs 2,24,000 cr; 10 pc more than last time

Nirbhaya Fund gets additional Rs 1,000 crore in budget






Tejpal charged with rape



Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal was on 17-Feb-2014 charged by Goa police with rape, sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a junior colleague, 80 days after his arrest, and could face imprisonment of more than seven years if convicted.

Police filed a 2,684-page charge sheet against Tejpal, in jail since December 1, under sections354, 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 and 342 (wrongful restraint), 376 (rape), 376(2)(f) and 376 (2)(k) (taking advantage of official position and raping a woman in custody).