1. Kamal Nath sworn-in as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha
i. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was today sworn-in here as the Protem Speaker of the newly constituted Lok Sabha by President Pranab Mukherjee.
ii. 67-year-old Nath, a nine-term MP, was administered the oath at a simple function in the Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Minister of State (Parliamentary Affairs) Santosh K Gangwar.
iii. The former Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Lok Sabha Member from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara was congratulated by the President and other dignitaries after the oath-taking ceremony in the ‘Yellow Drawing Room’ of the President's House.
2. Obama proposed 1 billion dollar US Security Plan for Eastern Europe
i. The US President Barack Obama on 3 June 2014 proposed a 1 billion US dollar (about 730 million Euros) US security plan for Eastern Europe to finance extra US troop and military deployments to new allies in Eastern Europe.
ii. This announcement was made during Obama’s visit to Poland to attend the 25th anniversary of Poland’s first free elections.
Reason for this security plan
The security plan came in the backdrop of concerns and fears of West over the Ukraine crisis and the escalating pro-Russian uprising in ex-Soviet Union.
The pro-Russian insurgency in eastern region of Ukraine grew rapidly after 25 May 2014, the day on which, Poroshenko won the Ukrainian presidential election on a promise to end the fight and same the nation from economic collapse. The recent protest of the pro-Russian saw an attack on the Ukrainian border guard service camp in the Russian border region of Lugansk on 2 June 2014.
3. Jammu and Kashmir raised retirement age of employee to 60
i. Jammu and Kashmir government on 3 June 2014 announced the enhancement of the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 60 years. The cabinet also raised the upper age limit for youths to obtain government jobs from 37 to 40 years.
ii. It also announced several other employee-friendly measures and pledged itself to redress their grievances.
iii. Besides, it also decided to absorb all temporary casual labourers and need-based workers who have completed 7-year of service into regular government services. The decision will benefit more than 60000 employees in Jammu and Kashmir.
4. Amla appointed as test cricket captain of South Africa
i. Hashim Amla was appointed as new test captain of South African cricket team on 3 June 2014.
ii. Amla is the successor of Graeme Smith who retired in March 2014 after serving the test side of South African cricket for more than a decade.
iii. AB de Villers, the captain of the ODI squad and seemed to be the front runner for the job was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test squad. However, Amla will be his deputy in the ODI squad.
5. India became the second largest exporter of textiles in the world: UN Comtrade
i. India became the second largest exporter of textiles in the world. This was revealed by the recent data released by UN Comtrade in Global Textiles as well as Apparel Exports.
Global Textile Exports
i. In Global Textiles Exports, India overtook Italy to become the second largest exporter. China still remains the largest exporter of textiles in the world.
ii. India’s share in Global Textiles increased by 17.5% in the year 2013 compared to 2012. As a result India's share in the global textile exports in 2013 is 5.2%
iii. Currently India’s textiles exports to the world stand at 40.2 billion US dollars.
6. Exim Bank provides $46 mn line of credit to Mauritius
i. Exim Bank has extended USD 46 million line of credit to Mauritius for financing goods and defence related vehicles purchases.
ii. Exim Bank has entered into an agreement...for a Line of Credit of USD 46 million for financing eligible goods, machinery, equipment and services including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing purchase of specialised defence-related equipment and vehicles for the Mauritius Police Force [MPF] in Mauritius," RBI said in a notification.
iii. Exim Bank and Mauritius had entered into the agreement on February 12, 2014.
iv. Of the total credit, goods and services including consultancy services of at least 75 per cent of the contract price are expected to be supplied by seller from India and remaining 25 per cent goods and services may be procured from outside India.
v. The credit agreement is effective from May 15, 2014 and the date of execution of agreement is February 12, 2014.
7. BJP MP Sumitra Mahajan tipped to be next Lok Sabha Speaker
i. Senior BJP leader and eight-time Member of Parliament from Indore Sumitra Mahajan is most likely to take over as the next Speaker of the Lok Sabha, reports said on Wednesday.
ii. The election of the new Speaker will be held on Friday. If elected, Sumitra Mahajan will be only the second woman Speaker ever.
iii. Meira Kumar, who presided over the House for the last five years, was the first woman to grace the chair of Lok Sabha Speaker.
i. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was today sworn-in here as the Protem Speaker of the newly constituted Lok Sabha by President Pranab Mukherjee.
ii. 67-year-old Nath, a nine-term MP, was administered the oath at a simple function in the Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Minister of State (Parliamentary Affairs) Santosh K Gangwar.
iii. The former Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Lok Sabha Member from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara was congratulated by the President and other dignitaries after the oath-taking ceremony in the ‘Yellow Drawing Room’ of the President's House.
2. Obama proposed 1 billion dollar US Security Plan for Eastern Europe
i. The US President Barack Obama on 3 June 2014 proposed a 1 billion US dollar (about 730 million Euros) US security plan for Eastern Europe to finance extra US troop and military deployments to new allies in Eastern Europe.
ii. This announcement was made during Obama’s visit to Poland to attend the 25th anniversary of Poland’s first free elections.
Reason for this security plan
The security plan came in the backdrop of concerns and fears of West over the Ukraine crisis and the escalating pro-Russian uprising in ex-Soviet Union.
The pro-Russian insurgency in eastern region of Ukraine grew rapidly after 25 May 2014, the day on which, Poroshenko won the Ukrainian presidential election on a promise to end the fight and same the nation from economic collapse. The recent protest of the pro-Russian saw an attack on the Ukrainian border guard service camp in the Russian border region of Lugansk on 2 June 2014.
3. Jammu and Kashmir raised retirement age of employee to 60
i. Jammu and Kashmir government on 3 June 2014 announced the enhancement of the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 60 years. The cabinet also raised the upper age limit for youths to obtain government jobs from 37 to 40 years.
ii. It also announced several other employee-friendly measures and pledged itself to redress their grievances.
iii. Besides, it also decided to absorb all temporary casual labourers and need-based workers who have completed 7-year of service into regular government services. The decision will benefit more than 60000 employees in Jammu and Kashmir.
4. Amla appointed as test cricket captain of South Africa
i. Hashim Amla was appointed as new test captain of South African cricket team on 3 June 2014.
ii. Amla is the successor of Graeme Smith who retired in March 2014 after serving the test side of South African cricket for more than a decade.
iii. AB de Villers, the captain of the ODI squad and seemed to be the front runner for the job was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test squad. However, Amla will be his deputy in the ODI squad.
5. India became the second largest exporter of textiles in the world: UN Comtrade
i. India became the second largest exporter of textiles in the world. This was revealed by the recent data released by UN Comtrade in Global Textiles as well as Apparel Exports.
Global Textile Exports
i. In Global Textiles Exports, India overtook Italy to become the second largest exporter. China still remains the largest exporter of textiles in the world.
ii. India’s share in Global Textiles increased by 17.5% in the year 2013 compared to 2012. As a result India's share in the global textile exports in 2013 is 5.2%
iii. Currently India’s textiles exports to the world stand at 40.2 billion US dollars.
6. Exim Bank provides $46 mn line of credit to Mauritius
i. Exim Bank has extended USD 46 million line of credit to Mauritius for financing goods and defence related vehicles purchases.
ii. Exim Bank has entered into an agreement...for a Line of Credit of USD 46 million for financing eligible goods, machinery, equipment and services including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing purchase of specialised defence-related equipment and vehicles for the Mauritius Police Force [MPF] in Mauritius," RBI said in a notification.
iii. Exim Bank and Mauritius had entered into the agreement on February 12, 2014.
iv. Of the total credit, goods and services including consultancy services of at least 75 per cent of the contract price are expected to be supplied by seller from India and remaining 25 per cent goods and services may be procured from outside India.
v. The credit agreement is effective from May 15, 2014 and the date of execution of agreement is February 12, 2014.
7. BJP MP Sumitra Mahajan tipped to be next Lok Sabha Speaker
i. Senior BJP leader and eight-time Member of Parliament from Indore Sumitra Mahajan is most likely to take over as the next Speaker of the Lok Sabha, reports said on Wednesday.
ii. The election of the new Speaker will be held on Friday. If elected, Sumitra Mahajan will be only the second woman Speaker ever.
iii. Meira Kumar, who presided over the House for the last five years, was the first woman to grace the chair of Lok Sabha Speaker.
