National:

CIC calls India's stance on Mohammad Ali Jinnah regressive

The CIC has asked the government to take a view on disclosure of two speeches made by Pakistan founder
Mohammad Ali Jinnah during pre-independence era which are in the archives of All India Radio and explain
the reasons for withholding them if it intends to do so. Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra
said time has come when all concerned must decide what information relating to pre-Independence period
should be made available to public. The case relates to RTI Act application filed by activist Subhash Agrawal
who sought copy of speeches given by Jinnah during pre-independence days which are held in the archives
of All India Radio. Prasar Bharti informed that these recordings cannot be disclosed citing section 8(1)(a) of
the RTI Act.
India warns citizens against travelling to 3 Nigerian states
India has issued a travel warning to its nationals in Nigeria urging them to be cautious while visiting the oilrich nation's troubled northeastern region, where a state of emergency had been declared in May 14, 2013.
The High Commission of India in Nigeria, on its website, urged its nationals living in Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa states "to weigh their options and consider relocation until the security situation settles down." The
emergency rule had been declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in the three states on May 14 after the
radical Islamic sect Boko Haram continued their campaign of terror by killing security, government officials,
traditional rulers and civilians. More than 2,000 persons have been killed since 2009 when terror groups
started their activities in the country.
India approves $160 mn for power projects in Nepal
India has approved a soft loan of USD 160 million for three power projects in Nepal, fulfilling its commitment
made to the power-starved neighbouring country. Handing over an approval letter to the Finance Ministry, the
Exim bank of India informed about sanctioning of the loan for a 220-KVA Koshi corridor transmission line,
132-KVA Solu corridor transmission line and 32-MW Rahughat hydropower project, under construction.

International:
Susan Rice to be Obamas NSA
Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will replace Tom Donilon as National Security Advisor,
according to officials speaking to media here. Ms. Rices prospective appointment comes after a storm of
controversy over her televised response to an attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya,
on September 11 2012 compelled her to pull out of the race for the Secretary of State nomination. Four
Americans killed including Ambassador Chris Stevens were killed in the attack.
India-Australia first bilateral naval exercise in 2015
India and Australia have decided to bolster bilateral defence ties and acknowledged that maritime security
and freedom of navigation is critical for the growth and prosperity of Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
The two countries also agreed to hold the first ever bilateral naval exercise in 2015. The two sides also noted
that both countries were already cooperating through the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which
Australia will chair in 2014, along with hosting the IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Perth in March 2014, and the
IOR-ARC of which India is currently Chair and Australia the next Chair.
Japan unveils 500 kmph 'levitating' bullet train
Japan has unveiled its new "levitating" bullet train, designed to travel at speeds of upto 500 kmph, which has
undergone its first test on tracks. Japan's first commercial model of a magnetically levitated train has been
placed on an outdoor test track. Commercial runs of the maglev train are scheduled to start between Tokyo
and Nagoya in 2027. The train will travel at speeds of up to 500 kilometres per hour and will link the 2 cities
in 40 minutes. The final train will consist of 16 carriages carrying up to 1,000 passengers at a time, with plans
underway to extend the line to Osaka by 2045. It was in 1964 that Japan was propelled to the forefront of
transport technology after it unveiled its first bullet train known as "shinkansen" to coincide with its hosting of
the Olympic Games.

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6th June 2013

French president awarded a peace prize

French President Francois Hollande has been awarded a UN-sponsored peace prize, barely a year into his
presidency and just months after launching his first war against Islamic extremists. The prize givers and
African leaders attending awards ceremony, including Malian president Dioncounda Traore, say Hollande
deserves UNESCO's Felix Houphouet-Boigny prize precisely because they say the Mali intervention is about
long-term peace for a volatile region. Hollande also won a cash prize worth $150,000 dollars which he is
donating to two organisations: the Network on Peace and Security for Women in the ECOWAS Region, and
Solidarite Defense, which helps care for injured soldiers.
Swedish publisher is new WAN-IFRA president
Tomas Brunegrd, chairman of Swedens Stampen Media Group, is the new president of the World
Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. He was elected to a two-year term during WAN-IFRAs
annual meetings in Bangkok. He succeeds Jacob Mathew of the Kerala-based Malayala Manorama. Mr.
Brunegrd (50) has been a member of WAN-IFRAs Board since 2003 and chairman of its Press Freedom
and Media Development Board. WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with
subsidiaries in Singapore and India, is the global organisation of the worlds newspapers and news
publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in
more than 120 countries. Its core mission is to defend and promote press freedom, quality journalism and
editorial integrity and the development of prosperous businesses.

Business & Economy:

Import duty on gold hiked to 8 %
With spiralling gold imports putting huge pressure on the current account deficit, the government has hiked
the import duty on gold to 8 per cent, up by 2 percentage points, in a bid to rein in demand. The import duty
on gold has been increased from 6 per cent to 8 per cent, Revenue Secretary Sumit Bose told. This is the
second hike in the duty in six months as gold imports touched an alarming 162 tonnes in May 2013. The
imports touched a staggering $15 billion in the last two months.
Sebi penalises 105 companies for missing shareholding rule deadline
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has penalised promoters of 105 companies, including Adani
Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd and Tata Teleservices Maharashtra Ltd, for failing to comply with its
minimum public shareholding rule. The SEBI had asked all listed private companies in India to cut the stake
held by promoters, or key shareholders, in their companies to a maximum of 75 percent by June 3.
Nestle Group alone can use Maggi trademark
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board has ruled that Nestle Group alone can use the trademark Maggi
for its culinary products, while rejecting a Mumbai-based companys claim for the trademark to its domestic
appliances. Swaraj Industrial and Domestic Appliances Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, filed applications for registration of
the trademark Maggi for its electrical products such as fans, heaters, geysers, bulbs and tube lights. Nestle
said its trademark was derived from the surname of Julius Maggi, founder of Nestle Group and the word
Maggi was not one derived from the dictionary. The word Maggi, therefore, connotes and denotes Nestles
products exclusively.
Tata Power JV ties up funds for South African wind farm project
Tata Power, through its equal joint venture company with Exxaro, Cennergi (Pty.) Ltd., has achieved financial
closure for its 134 MW Amakhala Emoyeni wind farm project in South Africa. The company was selected as
the preferred bidder for the Amakhala wind farm project, and the 95 MW Tsitsikamma wind farm project by
the Department of Energy, Government of South Africa, in 2012.
Latvia gets go-ahead to become 18th euro member
Latvia has won approval to become the 18th country to join the troubled euro currency union despite doubts
among many Latvians and international concerns about the country's banking system. The current 17-strong
group of EU countries that use the euro is struggling with a crisis over too much government debt, a
stubborn recession, and 12.2 per cent unemployment.
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6th June 2013

Fake products cause Rs.100,000 crore loss to industry

Counterfeit and smuggled products and tax evasion caused an annual sales loss of Rs.100,000 crore to the
Indian industry. According to the FICCI CASCADE (Committee against smuggling and counterfeiting
activities destroying the economy) report, the sale of counterfeit and smuggled products and tax evasion in
seven key sectors that include auto, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), alcohol and tobacco, resulted in
a loss of Rs.26,190 crore loss to the exchequer in 2012. The seven sectors covered under the study were auto components, alcohol, computer hardware, FMCG (personal goods), FMCG (packaged foods), mobile
phones and tobacco.
Larsen & Toubro wins Aramco gas project in Saudi Arabia
Larsen & Toubro won a contract to build facilities, including a gas processing plant, for state-run Saudi
Aramco at its Midyan gas field. L&T, India's largest construction and engineering firm, will build a plant with a
processing capacity of 75 million standard cubic feet per day (scfd) of non-associated gas and 4,500 barrels
of condensate per day.
Sport:
Balan Pandit passes away
M. Balan Pandit, who gave Kerala cricket a new direction with his lyrical batting and wicket-keeping in the
1950s, passed away. He was 86. Pandit played 46 Ranji matches, for Kathiawar, Travancore-Cochin and
Kerala scoring 2,317 runs and taking five wickets during his career. He was the highest run-getter for Kerala
in a Ranji innings with his unbeaten 262 against Andhra in December 1959 till Sreekumar Nair came up with
his triple ton in 2007.

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6th June 2013