1. Earth Day being observed today
i. April 22nd, 2014 is the 44th anniversary of Earth Day, an occasion for people to celebrate and raise awareness of the nature.
ii. It was founded by the US senator Gaylord Nelson as an environment teach-in held on this day in 1970.
iii. With over 20 thousand partners and organisations in 190 countries, more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the World.
iv. Earth day marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement.
v. In the current scenario, the Earth Day is as important as ever as our environmental challenges and problems continue to need attention.
vi. Today with news of melting glaciers, increasingly severe droughts, floods and storms and rising ocean levels, Earth day celebrations around the world are marking the anniversary with new calls to combat global warming and to protect our threatened environment.
vii. Eco-friendly ways of transport helps in reducing your carbon footprint.
viii. Earth day is a time to pledge for making our planet a better place to live. But it is also important that we continue to practice an eco-friendly lifestyle throughout the year.
iii. With over 20 thousand partners and organisations in 190 countries, more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the World.
iv. Earth day marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement.
v. In the current scenario, the Earth Day is as important as ever as our environmental challenges and problems continue to need attention.
vi. Today with news of melting glaciers, increasingly severe droughts, floods and storms and rising ocean levels, Earth day celebrations around the world are marking the anniversary with new calls to combat global warming and to protect our threatened environment.
vii. Eco-friendly ways of transport helps in reducing your carbon footprint.
viii. Earth day is a time to pledge for making our planet a better place to live. But it is also important that we continue to practice an eco-friendly lifestyle throughout the year.
2. Andhra records highest growth in milk production
i. Andhra Pradesh has recorded highest growth in terms of milk production at over 41 per cent and per-capita milk availability about 36 per cent, during the period 2006-10.
ii.While disclosing the information, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India said, the state ranked third in terms of milk production with over 1.1 million tonnes milk produced annually.
iii.It said milk production across India has grown at a significant rate of about 19 per cent during the aforesaid period with overall milk production crossing 121 million tonnes mark as of 2010-11.
iv. The Industry body also said growing at a compounded annual growth rate of over four per cent, milk production in India is expected to rise to about 177 million tonnes by 2019-2020.
iv. The Industry body also said growing at a compounded annual growth rate of over four per cent, milk production in India is expected to rise to about 177 million tonnes by 2019-2020.
3. India & Bhutan sign agreement on development of hydropower projects
i. India and Bhutan have signed an agreement on development of hydropower projects.
ii. The inter-governmental agreement provides framework for implementing four hydro-electric projects totalling 2120 MW on a joint venture-model between public sector undertakings of the two countries.
iii. An MEA release issued in New Delhi, said the agreement was today signed by Secretary in the Ministry of Power P K Sinha and Sonam Tshering, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan in Thimphu.
iv. Our Correspondent reports that three projects are already operational in Bhutan and supplying 1416 MW electricity to India.
ii. The inter-governmental agreement provides framework for implementing four hydro-electric projects totalling 2120 MW on a joint venture-model between public sector undertakings of the two countries.
iii. An MEA release issued in New Delhi, said the agreement was today signed by Secretary in the Ministry of Power P K Sinha and Sonam Tshering, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan in Thimphu.
iv. Our Correspondent reports that three projects are already operational in Bhutan and supplying 1416 MW electricity to India.
4. Delhi ranked 21st in shopping centre development: Report
i. New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore were among the global cities with maximum shopping centre space under construction in 2014, according to the latest Global Viewpoint report from realty consultant CBRE.
ii. According to CBRE, it signals that India continues to see a wave of new shopping centre development despite some developers pushing back completion dates due to financing issues.
iii. While New Delhi was ranked at 21st rank, Hyderabad stood at 23rd position and Bangalore grabbed the 31st place in the global ranking while Chennai was among the top 15 most active shopping centre development markets in the world in 2013.
iv. India�s tier I and II cities were also among the most active markets globally for shopping centre development as per the report.
5. India wants Kazakhstan to relax rules in banking sector
i. India is likely to urge Kazakhstan to relax its qualification and visa rules for the banking sector that is weighing heavy on Punjab National Bank that started operations in the country in 2011.
ii. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who is scheduled to visit the country later this month, may also seek help from Kazakh officials for recovery of dues that PNB inherited when it acquired 91 per cent stake in local Dana Bank in 2011.
iii. �PNB is finding it difficult to run its branches in Kazakhstan because of archaic banking laws, sizeable irrecoverable loans and problems related to work permits and business visas for India-based officers,� a Government official pointed out.
iv. PNB chose Kazakhstan to establish its presence because of the growing economic ties between the two economies, especially in the energy sector.
Slow visa processing
Three years down the line, not only is the bank suffering because of slow processing of visas for its officials, what it finds especially objectionable is that even senior officials of PNB are made to appear for a qualifying written test conducted by local authorities before they can be posted in the Kazakh branches.
Three years down the line, not only is the bank suffering because of slow processing of visas for its officials, what it finds especially objectionable is that even senior officials of PNB are made to appear for a qualifying written test conducted by local authorities before they can be posted in the Kazakh branches.
�PNB nominated directors of the board and top executives of the bank have vast experience in banking. We are going to demand that they be exempt from the regulation of appearing in a test before they can work in the Kazakh branches,� the official said.
Recovery of dues
The bank is also facing problems with recovering �substantial�� dues that it inherited while taking over Dana Bank. �Despite obtaining court orders in PNB�s favour, the bank is not able to execute and recover the dues due to lack of support from related Government departments,� the official said.
The bank is also facing problems with recovering �substantial�� dues that it inherited while taking over Dana Bank. �Despite obtaining court orders in PNB�s favour, the bank is not able to execute and recover the dues due to lack of support from related Government departments,� the official said.
6. BMB signed an agreement with Trends to promote Women Entreprenuership
i. Trends in Vogue entered into an agreement with Bhartiya Mahila Bank (BMB) to promote women entrepreneurship. Trends in Vogue is a CavinKare initiative that manages hair saloons under Green Trends.
ii. Under the agreement, Green Trends plans to have 500 salons nationally set up by women entrepreneurs by the end of 2014-15. Green Trends has also introduced mobile and online check- in service for customers
ii. Under the agreement, Green Trends plans to have 500 salons nationally set up by women entrepreneurs by the end of 2014-15. Green Trends has also introduced mobile and online check- in service for customers
iii. Further, Bhartiya Mahila Bank will provide the collateral free loans to prospective franchises across the country, especially to women. The rate of interest will be between 11.5 per cent and 12.5 per cent.
iv. The bank will provide loans of up to 75 per cent of the total project cost to women entrepreneurs across the country.
iv. The bank will provide loans of up to 75 per cent of the total project cost to women entrepreneurs across the country.
7. Mathangi Sathyamurthy to receive M S Subbulakshmi Award 2014
i. Mathangi Sathyamurthy, Karnataka musician was selected for M S Subbulakshmi Award 2014.
ii. It was announced by the M S Subbulakshmi Foundation on 19 April 2014. She will receive a cash award of 10001 rupees and a plaque. The awards will be presented to her on 2 May 2014.
8. Donna Vekic won the BMW Malaysian Tennis Open 2014
i. Donna Vekic of Croatia won the BMW Malaysian Open 2014 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 20 April 2014. The win made Donna Vekic richer by 43000 dollars. BMW Malaysian Open 2014 was held from 14 to 20 April 2014.
ii. Donna Vekic (ranked 95) beats Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia (ranked 10) 5-7, 7-5 and 7-6 in the final. This was her�s first maiden Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles title.
iii. Recently, Vekic had lost to Cibulkova at the Indian Well Open, United States of America. She was a finalist in Tashkent open 2012 and Birmingham Open 2013.
9. Meb Keflezighi won Boston Marathon 2014
i. Meb Keflezighi on 21 April 2014 became the first US male athlete to win the Boston Marathon in three decades (since 1983). The women winner of the marathon was Rita Jeptoo of Kenya and this was her second consecutive win at the Boston Marathon.
ii. Second and third winner among the male runners - Wilson Chebet and Frankline Chepkwony of Kenya
iii. Second and third winner among the women - Buzunesh Deba and Mare Dibaba both of Ethiopia
iii. Second and third winner among the women - Buzunesh Deba and Mare Dibaba both of Ethiopia
About Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon is an annual event and is held on Patriots Day i.e. the third Monday of April. It started in 1897. It is world�s oldest annual marathon and is ranked as one of the world�s best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors and is hosted by several cities in Greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts.
Boston Marathon is an annual event and is held on Patriots Day i.e. the third Monday of April. It started in 1897. It is world�s oldest annual marathon and is ranked as one of the world�s best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors and is hosted by several cities in Greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts.
10. Canadian Author Alistair Macleod died
i. Canadian author Alistair MacLeod on 20 April 2014 died due to a heart stroke. He was 77. He was best known for his short story collections and novel No Great Mischief.
ii. He wrote his first short story The Boat in 1968. MacLeod's only novel No Great Mischief was published in 1999. The novel won Ontario's Trillium Prize and the prestigious 2001 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
11. Chennai to host World Bridge Championships next year
i. More than 800 participants from 30 countries will take part in the World Bridge Championships to be held in Chennai next year.
ii. Disclosing this on Tuesday, Bridge Federation of India President N R Kirubakara Moorthy said it will the first time that the biggest event of the mind game would be held in the country.
iii. He said the World Bridge Federation in its meeting in Dallas, USA, on March 22 last decided to award the event to Chennai. The prestigious event will be held from September 26 to October 10 at Chennai's ITC Grand Chola hotel.
iii. He said the World Bridge Federation in its meeting in Dallas, USA, on March 22 last decided to award the event to Chennai. The prestigious event will be held from September 26 to October 10 at Chennai's ITC Grand Chola hotel.
iv. "Hosting the event in India will further promote the game within India, especially, among the youth with the best players in the world competing for the championship, Indian bridge players and enthusiasts have a wonderful opportunities to witness the games of high quality," Moorthy said.
v. The 15-day event is also expected to provide a tremendous boost to the tourism industry with a lot of spending on shopping, food and travel from the visitors, Moorthy added.
v. The 15-day event is also expected to provide a tremendous boost to the tourism industry with a lot of spending on shopping, food and travel from the visitors, Moorthy added.
12. Bengaluru FC crowned champions on I-League debut
i. Bengaluru FC etched their names in the annals of Indian football history, beating Dempo 2-4 at the Nehru Stadium in Margao on Monday to be crowned the kings of the I-League in their debut season.
ii. The Australian striker was at the end of a perfectly-slid in Robin Singh cross as Bengaluru shot to a lead in the second minute.
iii. Dempo began the second half with a plan familiar to them - plenty of possession. But Bengaluru had other plans and this time it was Robin's turn to flash the trademark salute when he scores.
iii. Dempo began the second half with a plan familiar to them - plenty of possession. But Bengaluru had other plans and this time it was Robin's turn to flash the trademark salute when he scores.
iv. Bengaluru did have a nervy last few minutes but killed Dempo in their pursuit for an equaliser with a goal themselves. This time, it was Chhetri on the list with a calm finish that takes him to joint top scorer of the League this far with 14 goals.
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