Current Affairs September 10, 2015

Indian-origin boy wins Oz spelling bee

Anirudh Kathirvel, a nine-year-old Indian-origin boy, has been crowned champion of the first Great Australian Spelling Bee contest, winning a 50,000-dollar scholarship.

Kathirvel, born in Melbourne to a Tamil couple, also won goods 10,000 dollars worth for his school on Tuesday.

Cabinet approves spectrum trading guidelines

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved much awaited spectrum trading guidelines that will allow telecom companies to buy and sell spectrum. This is expected to help address the problem of shortage of spectrum, leading to better quality of services for mobile phone users.

The decision comes close on heels of the government allowing companies to share airwaves in the same band so as to reduce call drops. Presently, spectrum can be acquired by companies only through government auctions. Industry has been demanding clarity on these guidelines for a long time.

Government clears two gold schemes

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two schemes — the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme and the Gold Monetisation Scheme — that could bring an estimated 20,000 tonnes of idle gold lying with Indian consumers into the economy and also reduce India’s dependence on gold imports.

Union Cabinet allows 100 per cent FDI under automatic route for white label ATMs

The Union Cabinet has allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route for white label ATM operations (WLAO). Decision in this regard was taken in Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Union Cabinet approves National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

Union Cabinet cleared National Offshore Wind Energy Policy to generate electricity from offshore windmills located in areas within Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country. Under this policy, offshore wind power projects and R&D activities will be carried in waters up to the seaward distance of 200 Nautical Miles (EEZ of the country) from the base line.

Ratan Tata joins IDG Ventures India as senior advisor

After investing in a few start-ups Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons has now joined the board of IDG Ventures India, a leading venture capital firm, as a Senior Advisor.

South Asian Sub-Regional Drug Focal Point meeting begins in New Delhi

Sub-Regional Drug Focal Point Meeting and Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (CPDAP), South Asia under the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) Expert Group Consultation has begun in New Delhi. The three-day meeting was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh which has been organised by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Gandhi Peace Prize 2014 conferred on ISRO

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2014 on Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar on behalf of the organisation received the prize at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

India, Indonesia sign pact to cooperate on criminal matter

India and Indonesia have signed a pact for repatriation of wanted prisoners and cooperate in all criminal matters, including gathering evidence. In this regard Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an official gazette notification for service or execution of summons or warrant in relation to criminal matters in both countries.

Australia boosts refugee intake

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday bowed to pressure to increase refugee numbers and confirmed Canberra will also join US-led air strikes on the Islamic State group in Syria.

Australia would take an additional 12,000 refugees from the Syria-Iraq conflict.

Source: The Hindu,PIB