Current Affairs April 13, 2017 – Mahabaleshwara MS takes charge as new MD and CEO of Karnataka Bank:
NATIONAL
Cabinet approves setting up of IIPE, Visakhapatnam:
The Union Cabinet approved setting up of an Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of over Rs 655 crore. The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved setting IIPE as an Institute of National Importance through an Act of Parliament.
Girdhar Malviya panel submits report of draft Ganga Act to Water Resources Minister:
The Girdhar Malviya Committee, formed to prepare draft Ganga Act, submitted its report to the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti.
PM Modi beats Donald Trump as world’s most followed leader on Instagram:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the most followed world leader on Facebook’s photo-sharing app Instagram with a whopping 6.9 million followers, surpassing US President Donald Trump.
INTERNATIONAL
India, Georgia exploring options for free trade agreement:
India and
Georgia are exploring the option to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement
to promote bilateral economic ties. Both the countries have decided to set up a group to conduct a joint feasibility study on the
free trade agreement (FTA).
This joint statement was signed by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia and Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Banking & Business
World Bank approves $375-mn loan for India’s first waterway project:
The World Bank has approved a
$375 million loan to India’s first waterway project. The National Waterway 1 project is to create a water transport fairway on a
1,360-km stretch of the Ganga River between
Varanasi and Haldia.
The project will also help the Inland Waterways Authority of India acquire a state-of-the-art River Information System as well as navigation aids to make travel on the river safer and more reliable.
APPOINTMENTS
Mahabaleshwara MS takes charge as new MD and CEO of Karnataka Bank:
Mahabaleshwara Mavinakudige Subrahmanya is the new chief of
Karnataka Bank Ltd. He succeeds Polali
Jayarama Bhat, who voluntarily stepped down 15 months ahead of his three-year term as MD and CEO. Mahabaleshwara MS, will assume charge on
April 15, 2017.
UN chief names German to head UNDP:
UN chief
Antonio Guterres has named a German with extensive experience at the world organization,
Achim Steiner, as the
new administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Steiner, who previously served at the UN environment Programme and headed the UN office in Kenya. Headquartered in New York City, the UNDP seeks to reduce poverty, improve social development and encourage women’s empowerment.
AWARDS
SCOPE award for ECIL:
The Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL) has bagged the SCOPE Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution to the Public Sector Management – Institutional Category III (Other Profit Making PSEs) for the year 2014-15. President Pranab Mukherjee presented the award to ECIL Chairman and Managing Director Debashis Das at a function in New Delhi.
Indian Abdulqadir wins top prize at United Nations challenge for open source tool:
An Indian software engineer Abdulqadir Rashik, also an entrepreneur has won the top prize (‘Unite Ideas #UNGAViz Textual Analysis and Visualisation Challenge’) at a global challenge for an open-source tool that enables users to interactively view UN General Assembly resolutions and gain a deeper understanding of the voting patterns of member states.
SPORTS
Harbhajan among eight Champions Trophy ambassadors:
Harbhajan Singh was named one of the eight ambassadors for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled in England from June 1 to 18. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, Bangladesh’s Habibul Bashar, England’s Ian Bell, New Zealand’s Shane Bond, Australia’s Mike Hussey, Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and Graeme Smith of South Africa were unveiled as the other ambassadors for the tournament.
