National Political News:
1. GST and Land Acquisition bills for infrastructure projects run into opposition in the Parliament. The Constitutional amendment bill on GST and the land acquisition bill have been referred to a joined committee of parliament before its passage by Rajya Sabha. Land acquisition bill is being opposed by the Congress and its allies as being anti farmer.
2. Acquittal of AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa and 3 others by the Karnataka high court in the disproportioned assets case. A special court in Bangalore had sentenced her to 4 year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs.100 Cr. on September 27, 2014.
3. Alleged Nepal head of Indian Mujahideen terror group Irfan Ahmed has been arrested by the Delhi Police special cell. He has links with Pakistan based terror organization Lashkar-e-Toiba. He had been previously arrested under TADA, was released on parole in 2001 which he subsequently jumped. He had escaped from a Nepalese jail which was hit by the recent earth quake and was trying to escape to India.
4. Tremors in North and East India as 2 earth quakes, 1 having epicenter in Afghanistan and the other in Nepal strike within hours of each other.
5. PM Narendra Modi receives a warm welcome in China from the Chinese President Xi Jin Ping in his home town of Xian. Modi and Chinese Premier Li Kequiang resolve to solve the Sino–Indian border dispute. China visit wound up by PM Modi with the last stop at China’s commercial capital Shanghai with 22 agreements encompassing IT, Infrastructure, Telecom, Metals and Industry signed between Chinese and Indian firms.
International Political News:
1. Macedonia region in East Europe’s Albania is in the throes of ethnic strife. 8 policeman and 14 members of an armed group were killed in a day long gun battle.
2. Indian origin Ms. Priti Patel becomes the first Indian MP to be sworn in as a cabinet minister for employment in the British PM Cameron’s cabinet. A Pakistani origin Sajid Javid has also been appointed as Secretary of State for Business.
3. 4 Indian’s and American national killed in a Taliban attack on a guesthouse in Kabul, Afghanistan. The terrorists stormed the complex which is popular amongst the expatriates.
A musical event was under way at the guesthouse when the terrorists struck at 9 P.M.
4. Coup in African state of Burundi. An army general claims to have sacked President Nkurunziza in a coup in the capital city of Bujumbura. The Burundi Presidents whereabouts are not known.
5. Deposed Egyptian President and leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Morsi has been awarded a death sentence by a Cairo criminal court along with 100 members of his banned group in connection with a mass jail brake in 2001. The uprising along with arson and looting took place in Jan. 2011 revolution when 20,000 prisoners escaped from 3 prisions. The uprising had led to the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
ISIS backed militants kill 3 Judges in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. When the Judges were going for a Court hearing.
6. Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing persecution in Myanmar. About 800 such people escaped by boat to land in Indonesia and Malaysia after entry being declined by Thailand. Indonesia is also trying to push these people back to sea, claiming that the resettlement of these Muslims is a huge social problem. Indonesia is the second largest Muslim country in the World.
7. Boston Marathon bomber Tsarnev of Chechen has been sentenced to death by a US Court in Boston for his role in the 2013 attack at the Boston Marathon. Tsarnev is an adherent of the terrorist organization Al-Qaida.
Business News:
1. Renowned Indian banker K.V. Kamath current Chairman of ICICI Bank and Infosys has been nominated by India to be the first President of $100 billion BRICS Bank to be opened in Shanghai, China. Bricks bank is beings set up by 5 emerging economics that is Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The bank will provide infrastructure loans etc. to emerging economics and shall be rivaling IMF and World Bank.
2. Inflation in India drops to a record low of –2.65 in April as per the WPI index of Central statistical organization. The Indian markets are making a demand in chorus that RBI reduces the interest rates, as deflationary pressure are feared.
Science and Technology:
1. China has launched a mystery satellite into space as per the U.S State Department of Defense (DOD) to destroy the satellites of other countries. The satellite has a ballistic trajectory with peak altitude of 30,000 kms. that is near the geosynchronous orbit where many nations maintain communication and earth sensing satellites.
India has presently 27 satellites in space. 11 out of them are dealing with DTH TV relay, telephony, tele education, tele-medicine and disaster management.
Sports:
1. Moto Racing. In the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, Spain, German driver Nico Rosberg defeated his Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton of England, first time this season. Hamilton has won 3 out of the 4 Grand Prixs in this season. He leads this year’s tables with 111 points for the title of Formula One World Championship.
2. Badminton. Indian lose to Malaysia 2–3 in Dongguan, China in the opening tie of Sudirman Cup for Badminton. Saina Nehwal won her singles match and the doubles team of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Poonappa won their doubles match. Indian Men’s player K. Srikanth, Manu Attri and Sumeet Reddy lost all their matches.
3. Tennis. Andy Murray of Britain scores a stunning victory 6–3, 6–2 over Rafael Nadal in a clay court final in the Madrid Master Tournament.
Indian Player Rohan Bopanna and his team mate Romanian doubles partner Florin Mergea won the Men’s doubles title at the Madrid Master Tournament.
4. Indian Premier League Results
• At Mumbai, Royal Challengers Bangalore scoring 235 runs for 1 wicket in 20 overs beat Mumbai Indians who scored 196 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs.
• In Chennai, Chennai Super Kings scored 157 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs to beat Rajasthan Royals who could manage only 145 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs.
• At Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab set to score 185 runs in 20 overs by Sunrisers Hyderabad could only manage 180 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs and thus lost the match.
• At Hyderabad in a rain curtailed match, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 83 runs for 4 wickets in 5.5 overs to outplay Sunrisers Hyderabad. Royal Challengers Bangalore were set to score 81 runs from 6 overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad had scored 135 for 8 wickets in 11 overs. The D/L system has come under criticism from players in this match as Royal Challengers Bangalore were at an advantage.
• At Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals scored 199 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders 190 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs.
• At Mohali, Kings XI Punjab scored 130 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs and were beaten by Mumbai Indians 134 runs for 3 wickets in 16.5 overs. Kings XI Punjab are out of the Tournament on the basis of points gathered by them.
