1. Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman passes away
Eminent cartoonist, illustrator and humorist Rasipuram Laxman passed away
in Pune. He was 94.
Creator of the ubiquitous mute spectator ‘Common Man’, Laxman was admitted to a hospital in Pune on January 17 for urinary infection.
He suffered multi-organ failure and was put on ventilator. He died yesterday.
Laxman, brother of late novelist R K Narayan, is survived by writer wife Kamala, retired journalist son Srinivas and daughter-in-law Usha.
2. Divya Prakash Sinha appointed as Security Secretary in the Union Cabinet Secretariat
Divya Prakash Sinha was appointed as Secretary (Security) in the Union Cabinet Secretariat. His appointment was approved by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
The post of Secretary (Security) had been lying vacant since November 2013 when then Secretary Yashovardhan Azad resigned after being appointed as Information Commissioner by the Union Government.
The move is part of the Government's effort to fill up key posts in the security establishment.
3. Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece's Syriza party, sworn in as new prime minister
Radical left leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece's new prime minister Monday after forming a surprise alliance with a small right-wing nationalist party Independent Greeks, signalling possible confrontation over the country's bailout.
The 40-year-old broke with tradition and took a secular oath rather than the Greek Orthodox religious ceremony with which prime ministers are usually sworn in.
Tsipras' anti-bailout Syriza party gained the backing needed to form a government by obtaining the support of Independent Greeks, which took 4.7 per cent of the votes.
Radical left leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece's new prime minister Monday after forming a surprise alliance with a small right-wing nationalist party Independent Greeks, signalling possible confrontation over the country's bailout.
The 40-year-old broke with tradition and took a secular oath rather than the Greek Orthodox religious ceremony with which prime ministers are usually sworn in.
Tsipras' anti-bailout Syriza party gained the backing needed to form a government by obtaining the support of Independent Greeks, which took 4.7 per cent of the votes.
4. Major Mukund Varadarajan, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh posthumously awarded with Ashok Chakra
Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh were on 26 January 2015 posthumously awarded with the highest peacetime military honour the Ashok Chakra by President Pranab Mukherjee. The awards were received by their wives at the 66th Republic Day celebrations.
Both the army men sacrificed their lives while battling groups of militants in separate operations in Shopian and Kupwara districts of Kashmir.
In April 2014, Major Mukund Varadarajan had killed three terrorists in an encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. He was an officer in the 44th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (22 Rajput) of the Indian Army. However, he died after being severely hurt in the operation.
In August 2014, Naik Neeraj Singh died after heavy fire from terrorists. He was leading a search operation in general area Gurdaji of Kupwara district. He was serving in the 57th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles.
5. Russia announces anti-crisis plan after rating downgrade
After a top ratings agency cut Russia’s credit grade to “junk” status, the government in Moscow today announced a plan that will see the economy return to a budget surplus in 2017.
Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s rating to BB-plus late yesterday, a non-investment grade, for the first time since 2004, citing a slide in the ruble and weakening revenue from oil exports. The agency said Russia’s financial system is weakening, limiting room for manoeuvre for Russia’s Central Bank.
Russia’s economy has been hit hard by the double impact of weaker energy prices and Western sanctions over its role in Ukraine. It is expected to contract by 4 to 5 per cent this year for the first time since President Vladimir Putin took the helm in 2000.
Capital outflows, which averaged $57 billion annually during 2009 to 2013, soared to $152 billion last year.
Foreign currency reserves have dropped below $400 billion for the first time since August 2009.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced today that the government has adopted an anti-crisis plan that will freeze the level of spending. The plan also sees the budget returning to a surplus as soon as in 2017 and the government preparing structural reforms “so that we do not burn recklessly through Russia’s sovereign reserves.”
After a top ratings agency cut Russia’s credit grade to “junk” status, the government in Moscow today announced a plan that will see the economy return to a budget surplus in 2017.
Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s rating to BB-plus late yesterday, a non-investment grade, for the first time since 2004, citing a slide in the ruble and weakening revenue from oil exports. The agency said Russia’s financial system is weakening, limiting room for manoeuvre for Russia’s Central Bank.
Russia’s economy has been hit hard by the double impact of weaker energy prices and Western sanctions over its role in Ukraine. It is expected to contract by 4 to 5 per cent this year for the first time since President Vladimir Putin took the helm in 2000.
Capital outflows, which averaged $57 billion annually during 2009 to 2013, soared to $152 billion last year.
Foreign currency reserves have dropped below $400 billion for the first time since August 2009.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced today that the government has adopted an anti-crisis plan that will freeze the level of spending. The plan also sees the budget returning to a surplus as soon as in 2017 and the government preparing structural reforms “so that we do not burn recklessly through Russia’s sovereign reserves.”
6. Obama offers $4 billion in investment, loans
Further cementing trade ties with India, US President Barack Obama on Monday announced investments and loans worth $4 billion. Half of this will flow into renewable energy projects in India.
Jointly addressing the India-US Business Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama said that the US EXIM Bank will finance $1 billion in exports of “Made in America” products to India.
Another $1 billion will be given in loans by Overseas Private Investment Corporation to small and medium-sized enterprises in the country’s under-served rural areas, while the US Trade and Development Agency will invest $2 billion in India’s renewable energy sector.
Pushing for further trade and investment ties between the world’s two largest democracies, Obama pointed out that while US bilateral trade with China is $520 billion annually, with India it is still about $100 billion. “It shows trade potential between the two of us,” he said.
7. Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos passes away
Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos passed away in Athens, Greek. He was 68.
He was best known for his hit operatic pop ballads in the 1970s and 1980s and for his high-pitched voice and melodies inspired by Greek folklore which sold about 60 million records worldwide.
8. Libby Lane, first female bishop of England consecrated
Church of England has consecrated Reverend Libby Lane as its first female bishop in a ceremony held at York Minster (a Gothic cathedral) in northern England.
With this consecration, Church of England ended its 500 year old male dominated tradition and considered as a historic move towards widening female participation in the Church.
9. SBI to raise Rs. 15,000 cr additional capital from market this year
State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, has decided to raise up to Rs. 15,000 crore additional capital from the market in the year ahead.
SBI’s “committee of directors for capital raising have an enabling approval from the shareholders for raising additional equity capital up to Rs. 15,000 crore by way of public issue (i.e. follow-on public issue) or rights issue or private placement, including qualified institutional placement (QIP) / global depository receipts (GDR) / American depository receipts (ADRs) and/or any other mode or a combination therefore,” SBI said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
The government has said it would allow its stake in State-owned banks to fall to 52 per cent. At present, the Government holds 58.6 per cent in SBI.
SBI last raised equity capital to the tune of Rs. 8,032 crore, with the Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) subscribing to over 40 per cent of the issue in January last year.
The committee has also decided to seek the Government of India or Reserve Bank of India’s approval for raising capital under the State Bank of India Act.
State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, has decided to raise up to Rs. 15,000 crore additional capital from the market in the year ahead.
SBI’s “committee of directors for capital raising have an enabling approval from the shareholders for raising additional equity capital up to Rs. 15,000 crore by way of public issue (i.e. follow-on public issue) or rights issue or private placement, including qualified institutional placement (QIP) / global depository receipts (GDR) / American depository receipts (ADRs) and/or any other mode or a combination therefore,” SBI said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
The government has said it would allow its stake in State-owned banks to fall to 52 per cent. At present, the Government holds 58.6 per cent in SBI.
SBI last raised equity capital to the tune of Rs. 8,032 crore, with the Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) subscribing to over 40 per cent of the issue in January last year.
The committee has also decided to seek the Government of India or Reserve Bank of India’s approval for raising capital under the State Bank of India Act.
10. India retains fourth position in world steel order
With a total production of 83.20 million tonnes (MT), India remained the world's fourth-largest steel producing nation for the fifth year in a row in 2014 as well, according to data compiled by World Steel Association (WSA).
In fact, there was no change in the world order of steel production in the past year with China remaining at the top, Japan second and US at the third position, producing 822.7 MT, 110.66 MT and 88.34 MT of steel, respectively.
India was at the third position in 2009, but it has been at the fourth place since 2010.
With a total production of 83.20 million tonnes (MT), India remained the world's fourth-largest steel producing nation for the fifth year in a row in 2014 as well, according to data compiled by World Steel Association (WSA).
In fact, there was no change in the world order of steel production in the past year with China remaining at the top, Japan second and US at the third position, producing 822.7 MT, 110.66 MT and 88.34 MT of steel, respectively.
India was at the third position in 2009, but it has been at the fourth place since 2010.
1. Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman passes away
Eminent cartoonist, illustrator and humorist Rasipuram Laxman passed away
in Pune. He was 94.
Creator of the ubiquitous mute spectator ‘Common Man’, Laxman was admitted to a hospital in Pune on January 17 for urinary infection.
He suffered multi-organ failure and was put on ventilator. He died yesterday.
Laxman, brother of late novelist R K Narayan, is survived by writer wife Kamala, retired journalist son Srinivas and daughter-in-law Usha.
2. Divya Prakash Sinha appointed as Security Secretary in the Union Cabinet Secretariat
Divya Prakash Sinha was appointed as Secretary (Security) in the Union Cabinet Secretariat. His appointment was approved by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
The post of Secretary (Security) had been lying vacant since November 2013 when then Secretary Yashovardhan Azad resigned after being appointed as Information Commissioner by the Union Government.
The move is part of the Government's effort to fill up key posts in the security establishment.
3. Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece's Syriza party, sworn in as new prime minister
Radical left leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece's new prime minister Monday after forming a surprise alliance with a small right-wing nationalist party Independent Greeks, signalling possible confrontation over the country's bailout.
The 40-year-old broke with tradition and took a secular oath rather than the Greek Orthodox religious ceremony with which prime ministers are usually sworn in.
Tsipras' anti-bailout Syriza party gained the backing needed to form a government by obtaining the support of Independent Greeks, which took 4.7 per cent of the votes.
Radical left leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece's new prime minister Monday after forming a surprise alliance with a small right-wing nationalist party Independent Greeks, signalling possible confrontation over the country's bailout.
The 40-year-old broke with tradition and took a secular oath rather than the Greek Orthodox religious ceremony with which prime ministers are usually sworn in.
Tsipras' anti-bailout Syriza party gained the backing needed to form a government by obtaining the support of Independent Greeks, which took 4.7 per cent of the votes.
4. Major Mukund Varadarajan, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh posthumously awarded with Ashok Chakra
Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh were on 26 January 2015 posthumously awarded with the highest peacetime military honour the Ashok Chakra by President Pranab Mukherjee. The awards were received by their wives at the 66th Republic Day celebrations.
Both the army men sacrificed their lives while battling groups of militants in separate operations in Shopian and Kupwara districts of Kashmir.
In April 2014, Major Mukund Varadarajan had killed three terrorists in an encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. He was an officer in the 44th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (22 Rajput) of the Indian Army. However, he died after being severely hurt in the operation.
In August 2014, Naik Neeraj Singh died after heavy fire from terrorists. He was leading a search operation in general area Gurdaji of Kupwara district. He was serving in the 57th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles.
5. Russia announces anti-crisis plan after rating downgrade
After a top ratings agency cut Russia’s credit grade to “junk” status, the government in Moscow today announced a plan that will see the economy return to a budget surplus in 2017.
Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s rating to BB-plus late yesterday, a non-investment grade, for the first time since 2004, citing a slide in the ruble and weakening revenue from oil exports. The agency said Russia’s financial system is weakening, limiting room for manoeuvre for Russia’s Central Bank.
Russia’s economy has been hit hard by the double impact of weaker energy prices and Western sanctions over its role in Ukraine. It is expected to contract by 4 to 5 per cent this year for the first time since President Vladimir Putin took the helm in 2000.
Capital outflows, which averaged $57 billion annually during 2009 to 2013, soared to $152 billion last year.
Foreign currency reserves have dropped below $400 billion for the first time since August 2009.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced today that the government has adopted an anti-crisis plan that will freeze the level of spending. The plan also sees the budget returning to a surplus as soon as in 2017 and the government preparing structural reforms “so that we do not burn recklessly through Russia’s sovereign reserves.”
After a top ratings agency cut Russia’s credit grade to “junk” status, the government in Moscow today announced a plan that will see the economy return to a budget surplus in 2017.
Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s rating to BB-plus late yesterday, a non-investment grade, for the first time since 2004, citing a slide in the ruble and weakening revenue from oil exports. The agency said Russia’s financial system is weakening, limiting room for manoeuvre for Russia’s Central Bank.
Russia’s economy has been hit hard by the double impact of weaker energy prices and Western sanctions over its role in Ukraine. It is expected to contract by 4 to 5 per cent this year for the first time since President Vladimir Putin took the helm in 2000.
Capital outflows, which averaged $57 billion annually during 2009 to 2013, soared to $152 billion last year.
Foreign currency reserves have dropped below $400 billion for the first time since August 2009.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced today that the government has adopted an anti-crisis plan that will freeze the level of spending. The plan also sees the budget returning to a surplus as soon as in 2017 and the government preparing structural reforms “so that we do not burn recklessly through Russia’s sovereign reserves.”
6. Obama offers $4 billion in investment, loans
Further cementing trade ties with India, US President Barack Obama on Monday announced investments and loans worth $4 billion. Half of this will flow into renewable energy projects in India.
Jointly addressing the India-US Business Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama said that the US EXIM Bank will finance $1 billion in exports of “Made in America” products to India.
Another $1 billion will be given in loans by Overseas Private Investment Corporation to small and medium-sized enterprises in the country’s under-served rural areas, while the US Trade and Development Agency will invest $2 billion in India’s renewable energy sector.
Pushing for further trade and investment ties between the world’s two largest democracies, Obama pointed out that while US bilateral trade with China is $520 billion annually, with India it is still about $100 billion. “It shows trade potential between the two of us,” he said.
7. Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos passes away
Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos passed away in Athens, Greek. He was 68.
He was best known for his hit operatic pop ballads in the 1970s and 1980s and for his high-pitched voice and melodies inspired by Greek folklore which sold about 60 million records worldwide.
8. Libby Lane, first female bishop of England consecrated
Church of England has consecrated Reverend Libby Lane as its first female bishop in a ceremony held at York Minster (a Gothic cathedral) in northern England.
With this consecration, Church of England ended its 500 year old male dominated tradition and considered as a historic move towards widening female participation in the Church.
9. SBI to raise Rs. 15,000 cr additional capital from market this year
State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, has decided to raise up to Rs. 15,000 crore additional capital from the market in the year ahead.
SBI’s “committee of directors for capital raising have an enabling approval from the shareholders for raising additional equity capital up to Rs. 15,000 crore by way of public issue (i.e. follow-on public issue) or rights issue or private placement, including qualified institutional placement (QIP) / global depository receipts (GDR) / American depository receipts (ADRs) and/or any other mode or a combination therefore,” SBI said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
The government has said it would allow its stake in State-owned banks to fall to 52 per cent. At present, the Government holds 58.6 per cent in SBI.
SBI last raised equity capital to the tune of Rs. 8,032 crore, with the Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) subscribing to over 40 per cent of the issue in January last year.
The committee has also decided to seek the Government of India or Reserve Bank of India’s approval for raising capital under the State Bank of India Act.
State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, has decided to raise up to Rs. 15,000 crore additional capital from the market in the year ahead.
SBI’s “committee of directors for capital raising have an enabling approval from the shareholders for raising additional equity capital up to Rs. 15,000 crore by way of public issue (i.e. follow-on public issue) or rights issue or private placement, including qualified institutional placement (QIP) / global depository receipts (GDR) / American depository receipts (ADRs) and/or any other mode or a combination therefore,” SBI said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
The government has said it would allow its stake in State-owned banks to fall to 52 per cent. At present, the Government holds 58.6 per cent in SBI.
SBI last raised equity capital to the tune of Rs. 8,032 crore, with the Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) subscribing to over 40 per cent of the issue in January last year.
The committee has also decided to seek the Government of India or Reserve Bank of India’s approval for raising capital under the State Bank of India Act.
10. India retains fourth position in world steel order
With a total production of 83.20 million tonnes (MT), India remained the world's fourth-largest steel producing nation for the fifth year in a row in 2014 as well, according to data compiled by World Steel Association (WSA).
In fact, there was no change in the world order of steel production in the past year with China remaining at the top, Japan second and US at the third position, producing 822.7 MT, 110.66 MT and 88.34 MT of steel, respectively.
India was at the third position in 2009, but it has been at the fourth place since 2010.
With a total production of 83.20 million tonnes (MT), India remained the world's fourth-largest steel producing nation for the fifth year in a row in 2014 as well, according to data compiled by World Steel Association (WSA).
In fact, there was no change in the world order of steel production in the past year with China remaining at the top, Japan second and US at the third position, producing 822.7 MT, 110.66 MT and 88.34 MT of steel, respectively.
India was at the third position in 2009, but it has been at the fourth place since 2010.
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