Jan 1 – Jan 10

� The Ministry of Defence scrapped the Rs 3,600-crore deal with Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland to

supply 12 copters to fly top politicians. The 2010 deal was mired in controversy and there were allegations

of payoffs. The cancellation came after a meeting between Defence Minister AK Antony with Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh on Jan 1, 2014.

� The much talked-about Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013, got President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent. The

Bill, which was passed by Parliament in the just-concluded winter session, provides for creation of anti-

graft ombudsman to investigate corruption charges against public functionaries including Prime Minister,

Ministers and Members of Parliament.

� The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic has been killed by an exploding safe. Local authorities

said the blast which killed Jamal al-Jamal was an accident that was likely caused by an anti-theft system

on the door of the safe that he was trying to open.

� New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson cracked the fastest century in one-day international history,

reaching three figures in just 36 deliveries against the West Indies. The previous record was held by

Shahid Afridi, who took 37 balls to reach his ton playing for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 1996.

� Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi, has won a crucial trust vote in the state legislature, demonstrating

that he has the support of 38 of Delhi's 70 legislators, a clear majority.

� The Union Cabinet approved a proposal for sending a presidential reference to the Supreme Court for

conducting a probe into the allegation of sexual harassment against retired top court judge A.K. Ganguly.

The proposal will now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee, who will then send the matter to the Chief

Justice of India, seeking a probe into the issue based on the three points raised in the reference.

� Five days after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised the Maharashtra government’s rejection of

the Adarsh Commission of Inquiry report, the State Cabinet revised its stand and accepted the report.

However, the Action Taken Report (ATR), issued upon acceptance of the report recommends no action

against the six politicians indicted by the Commission for extending “political patronage” to the

controversial building project on the grounds that there were “no allegations of criminality” against them.

� All 52 passengers were airlifted off a research ship that had been trapped in Antarctic ice for more than a

week. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said that the passengers were transported by helicopter

off MV Akademik Shokalskiy and taken to the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis.

� China has agreed to provide Pakistan with a $6.5bn loan to construct twin nuclear power stations in the

southern port city of Karachi, the largest ever Chinese financing deal for a single project in the country.

� Retired Supreme Court judge and chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission Justice A K

Ganguly resigned from the post of 'guest lecturer' of the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS).

A former student of the NUJS who had interned under Ganguly has made allegations of sexual harassment

against him.

� To avoid any controversy on the criteria for giving away Arjuna Awards, the Sports Ministry decided to

grant 90 per cent weightage to medal winners of various international championships and sports events of

disciplines covered in Olympics (Summer, Winter and Paralympics), Asian Games and Commonwealth

Games. The guideline, which is released by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, will be applicable

from 2014 onwards. According to the release, the winners of medals in Olympics and Paralympics will

SNIPPETS

automatically be considered for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Arjuna Awards, depending on the type of

medal won, if the sportspersons have already not been conferred with either of the two honours.

� Israel successfully tested its upgraded Arrow missile interceptor for the second time, pushing forward

work on a U.S.-backed defense against ballistic threats it sees from Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas as well

as from Iran and Syria. One of several elements of an integrated Israeli aerial shield, Arrow III is designed

to deploy kamikaze satellites - known as "kill vehicles" - that track and slam into ballistic missiles above

the earth's atmosphere, high enough to safely disintegrate any chemical, biological or nuclear warheads.

� The US north east coast was preparing for fresh overnight snow after struggling with the most severe

storm so far in a brutal winter that produced fresh concerns about the US economy. Commuter rail

services around New York and some other big cities were forced to operate reduced services, thousands of

flights were cancelled and snow ploughs struggled to clear snow accumulating at a rate of several inches

per hour.

� India beat arch-nemesis Pakistan to be crowned Asian champions in the U-19 tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Indian skipper Vijay Zol and IPL star Sanju Samson laid the foundation with centuries. Pakistan, chasing a

stiff total, failed to keep up with the asking rate and finished 40 runs short.

� Russian President Vladimir Putin reversed a blanket ban on protests at the Winter Olympics in Sochi,

bowing to pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Russia had initially banned any

political protests in the Russian Black Sea resort city during the February Games as part of a tough

security crackdown, ostensibly aimed at preventing attacks by Islamist militants.

� Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on the powerful military to get involved in reforming

the country's junta-era constitution, which currently bars her from becoming president. The Nobel

laureate, who has repeatedly asserted her readiness to take on the top political job, said the nation’s

"tatmadaw" army was "essential" in amending the charter, which is currently being debated by a

parliamentary panel that includes soldiers.

� Facing mounting pressure, Justice A K Ganguly resigned as chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights

Commission (WBHRC) following allegations of sexual harassment by a law intern.

� Ruling that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India was authorised to audit "every rupee flowing into

the Consolidated Fund of India, by way of revenue," the Delhi High court dismissed pleas filed by private

telecom companies against audit of their accounts.

� After years of living on the margins of Israeli society, thousands of African asylum seekers flooded the

streets of central Tel Aviv for a second day to protest their treatment by the Israeli authorities and to

demand recognition as refugees.

� Millions of people across the United States made last minute preparations for an unusually bitter Arctic

blast that could send temperatures plummeting to their coldest in 20 years. The northeastern United

States and parts of Canada have endured heavy snow and deadly sub-zero conditions since the start of

the year, but the deep freeze is now moving through the midwestern United States and threatening

usually balmy areas further south like Tennessee and Alabama.

� The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India celebrated the 12th edition of the Pravasi

Bharatiya Divas (PBD) with the theme "Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations" from January

7-9, 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, India. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was the partner

Ministry for PBD 2014 and FICCI was managing and coordinating the event. The Divas was formally

inaugurated on 8th January, 2014 by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. On 7th January, a special seminar

entitled the 'Youth PBD', was held to focus on youth diaspora. Hon'ble President of India delivered the

Valedictory Address and conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on 9th January 2014.

� South Sudan rejected rebel calls for an immediate release of detainees after the two sides met briefly for

the first time, seeking to end fighting that has left the world's newest state on the brink of civil war

� The core of the cold came Jan. 6, and Jan. 7. Subzero temperatures affected a large swath from Montana

to New York and as far south as northern Oklahoma and northern Alabama. The National Weather Service

says the summit of Mount Mitchell, N.C., recorded a low of 24 degrees below zero Tuesday morning, the

lowest temperature recorded there since Jan. 28, 1986 – the same day cold weather caused the Space

Shuttle Challenger disaster at Cape Canaveral.

� Nine people were charred to death when a fire broke out in three coaches of Mumbai-Dehradun Express

train near Dahanu road in neighbouring Thane district.

� India's athletes lost all hope of competing under the national flag at the Winter Olympics after the

country's suspended Olympic association said it would hold elections two days after the Games open in

Sochi. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will hold a poll to elect new leaders on February 9, meaning

luge medal hope Shiva Keshavan and three other competitors will be classed as independents, not as

Indians.

� South Sudan's government and rebels were locked in fierce battles across the country, as peace talks

taking place in neighboring Ethiopia appeared to flounder.

� Turkey has moved to curb the powers of the country’s top independent judicial body and block a probe

into a corruption scandal, triggering concern from Europe’s top rights watchdog. The ruling Justice and

Development Party (AKP) submitted a bill seeking constitutional amendments to restructure the Supreme

Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), the latest twist in the political crisis rocking Turkey.

� The ongoing diplomatic spat between India and the United States appeared to further escalate in the

backdrop of the regular energy dialogue between the two nations due next week being called off. US

energy secretary Ernest Moniz will not travel to India for a dialogue launched in 2005 that is considered a

major element of the India-US strategic partnership. It was to have been held on January 15.

� The Government of India has given the green signal to a proposal to increase the number of Bachelor of

Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats by more than 10,000 in recognized government run

medical colleges across India, which is an increase of 45%. The move is expected to increase the total

number of doctors and reduce the current doctor-patient ratio from 1:2000to 1:1000.

� BNP chief Khaleda Zia, who boycotted Bangladesh’s general election, has sought adequate protection as

she is set to lose her protocol and security guards for the first time in 23 years, since she is no longer a

lawmaker.

� Tunisia's premier, Ali Larayedh, handed in his resignation to make way for an interim government of

independents under a plan to end months of political deadlock and mounting social unrest.

� U.S. airlines on Jan. 8, 2014 made progress in getting operations back to normal after several days of

storms and record cold weather forced cancellations of thousands of flights.

� Nearly a month after Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested and strip-searched in a visa fraud

case involving her nanny, the diplomat left New York after a jury indicted her, triggering a swift response

from New Delhi that asked a senior unnamed US embassy official of a similar rank to leave the country.

� Mumbai gets its very own swanky & swish airport terminal, Terminal 2 or T2, inspired by the design of the

peacock feather.

� The Bank of Japan (BOJ) and RBI concluded an agreement that expands the maximum amount of the

bilateral swap arrangement (BSA) between the two countries to $ 50 billion.

� China has conferred a top award on a leading Pakistani scientist for his contribution to boost international

scientific cooperation. Atta-ur-Rahman, the first-ever Pakistani to get the prestigious award by the

country's top science academy, is the president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and a leading

scientist in the field of organic chemistry.

� A top US envoy pushed for reconciliation in Sri Lanka which is under intense international pressure to

probe rights abuses during the final stages of the island's decades-long separatist war. Nisha Biswal, the

assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, held talks with Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris over a

range of issues including allegations that government troops killed thousands of Tamil civilians during the

final months of the war in 2009.

Jan 11- Jan 20

� Chaos prevailed at the much hyped “janata darbar” at Delhi Secretariat on Jan 11, forcing Delhi chief

minister Arvind Kejriwal to leave midway as the crowd became uncontrollable and a stampede-like

situation followed.

The BJP pounced on the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and called the entire show as a sign of “bad

governance”. The saffronites also accused the AAP of promoting “anarchy”.

� Expelled Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, in effect, has been barred entry into the US, with the State

Department saying her name would be placed in visa and immigration lookout systems to prevent routine

issuance of visa.

� The iconic but controversial former Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has died after his medical

condition significantly deteriorated. The 85-year-old politician died in Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomer hospital,

also known as the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, where he had been in a coma since January 2006 after

suffering a stroke and brain hemorrhage.

� Indonesia’s president signed a regulation implementing a mineral ore export ban that comes into effect on

Jan 12, but details will not be released until later.

� The largely unmarked 4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China has peace at hand

after both sides accused each other of scores of border transgressions last year. What could make it

happen is India's experience with Pakistan on keeping in touch at the Director General of Military

Operations (DGMO) level to ensure border tranquility. New Delhi has invited Deputy Chief of General Staff

(CGS) of China's People's Liberation Army for talks on setting up more border meeting points and hotlines

between the top military leadership of the two countries.

� For a second year running the defence ministry is facing cuts in its budgetary allocation. It is understood

that the government has cut more than `7,800 crore from the allocation despite the ministry’s objections.

� Sheikh Hasina was sworn in for her second straight term as Bangladesh's prime minister and third overall,

following one of the most violent elections in the country's history.

� The ICC has been urged to investigate the alleged war crimes of UK politicians during the Iraq conflict. A

dossier detailing reports of sexual assault, torture and mock executions carried out by British soldiers in

Iraq has been submitted to the Court. The 250-page document entitled “The Responsibility of UK Officials

for War Crimes Involving Systematic Detainee Abuse in Iraq from 2003-2008”, published by the German-

based European Centre for Constitutional Human Rights, calls for "opening of an investigation” into the

actions of senior British officials during the conflict.

� On January 13, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi wrote to the Department of Industrial Policy

and Promotion, withdrawing permission to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the multi-brand retail

sector in Delhi. The letter, a reversal of the previous administration’s decision, dismayed both foreign

investors and India Inc.

� Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for India’s largest nuclear power plant which will

place the state of Haryana in the nuclear league. The first phase of the Gorakhpur-Haryana Atomic Power

Project will see the generation of 1400 MW at a cost of `2100 crore to be completed by 2020-21.

� Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law a ban on same-sex marriage in Africa's most

populous nation.

� The 13th edition of Joint exercises by the Indian coast guard and its Japanese counterpart was held off

Kochi. The Japan Coast Guard Ship Mizuho and its integral helicopter, Indian Coast Guard Ship Samrat,

Chetak helicopter, Dornier aircraft, and Coast Guard participated in the exercises titled Sahayog- Kaijin

2014, and was held approximately, 20 nautical miles off Kochi.

� In a breather for Maharashtra’s former chief minister Ashok Chavan, the Central Bureau of Investigation

(CBI) has decided against requesting the state governor to review his recent refusal to grant mandatory

sanction for prosecution in the Mumbai’s multi-crore Adarsh housing scam case.

� Over 98% of participants in the first Egyptian vote of the post-Morsi era voted in favour of approving a

new constitution. Egypt's government hailed the result as a resounding show of support for the direction

the country has taken since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi last July.

� The U.N. nuclear watchdog planned meeting with Iran next week to discuss steps meant to ease concerns

over its nuclear program has been pushed back to February 8 at Tehran's request. The International

Atomic Energy Agency did not say why Tehran asked for a delay. But the original date, January 21, is just

a day after Iran and big powers are to start implementing an interim deal on curbing Iranian nuclear

activity, suggesting a busy agenda in coming days may have led to the postponement.

� Taking note of the growing menace of corruption in sports, the Central Bureau of Investigation will soon

set-up a specialized unit to handle cases related to sports fraud, fixing and illegal betting. Making the

announcement at the FIFA-Interpol national workshop, CBI Director Ranjit Sinha highlighted lack of a

legal framework as the main hurdle in probing cases related to sports fraud.

� Giving in to the CBI’s demand, the government is likely to announce more autonomy for the agency, with

the status of Secretary for its director. Sources said CBI director Ranjit Sinha will be empowered to

approve planned expenditure up to Rs 15 crore.

� South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrived in New Delhi on jan 15 on a four-day state visit to India.

She was accompanied by a high-level delegation which included the foreign, trade , ICT and science

ministers

� The Vatican said Tuesday it has put a cap of sorts on the often-spiraling budgets for sainthood cases,

another nod to Pope Francis' call for sobriety.

� Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand ruled out deferring snap polls due next month even as the

massive anti-government protests across Bangkok entered the third day with no solution in sight to end

the raging political crisis. Yingluck, who held a meeting with about 37 parties today to discuss the Election

Commission’s suggestion to postpone the February 2 polls, said the majority of participants insisted that

electoral process had to go ahead. Yingluck, who is now a caretaker prime minister, had refused to quit as

demanded by the protesters.

� Cardinal Angelo Amato, head of the Vatican's saint-making office, announced the change during a meeting

of postulators, the officials who shepherd sainthood cases through the lengthy investigations of would-be

saints' lives and miracles. He said postulators must now abide by a "reference price" to curb overall

expenditure and make the process more equitable for less well-funded cases.

� The seventh edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, a mega annual gathering of litterateurs kicked off in

Jaipur on 24 January, 2014 with a keynote speech by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.

� Legendary Bengali actress Suchitra Sen passed away around 8:25am this morning due to a heart attack in

Kolkata. Known for power-packed performances in highly acclaimed Bengali films such as 'Deep Jwele

Jaai' and 'Uttar Falguni' as well as Hindi movies 'Devdas', 'Bombai Ka Babu', 'Mamta' and 'Aandhi', she has

been dubbed as the Greta Garbo of Bengali cinema. She won the best actress award for 'Saat Paake

Bandha' at the Moscow Film Festival in 1963.

� Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has refused to approve a controversial bill to toughen punishments

for homosexuals.

� Holland outplayed a hapless New Zealand 7-2 in a lopsided final to clinch the first edition of the Hero

Hockey World League Final at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

� The Cabinet cleared the Rail Tariff Authority (RTA) giving it more teeth than the mere advisory body the

Railways had planned to create.The RTA, to be formed as per this executive order, will advise the Railway

ministry on fare revision and freight revision with the caveat that Railways will “ordinarily accept its

recommendations”, and in extraordinary cases if Railways disagrees, it will send the recommendations

with its observations back to the authority which will review its decision.

January 21 onwards

� Thailand's government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas to cope with

protests that stirred up violent attacks

� The Reserve Bank of India decided to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005, including Rs 500

and Rs 1,000 denominations, after March 31 in a move apparently aimed at curbing black money and fake

currencies.

� The Finance Ministry has approved a proposal for providing a minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to

workers in the organised sector, a move which would benefit 27 lakh pensioners immediately. The

ministry has also approved a proposal for raising the basic wage ceiling under the Employees Provident

Fund Scheme to Rs 15,000 from existing Rs 6,500 per month.

� Morocco scrapped a highly controversial law allowing a child rapist to evade punishment if he marries his

victim, as rights activists pressed the government to legislate to protect women from violence.

� The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the import of products from Ranbaxy’s plant in

Punjab [the company’s fourth unit] due to manufacturing violation, a move that will halt shipment of all

products of the pharmaceutical company to the U.S.

� Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at India’s annual Republic Day parade in New

Delhi. Abe, the first Japanese Prime Minister to be invited to the Republic Day parade, met with his

counterpart Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the same day and the two resolved to deepen the strategic

and global partnership between India and Japan. Abe’s visit to India comes a little over a month

after Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko made an historic trip to India and speaks to even

warmer ties between Asia’s second and third largest economies.

� The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) expelled rebel legislator Vinod Kumar Binny less than two weeks after he

called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a "liar" and a "dictator" and also accused the party of straying

from its principles and poll promises.

� Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Jain community was accorded minority status by the central

government which will enable them to avail of benefits in government schemes and programmes.

� The African Union lifted its suspension of Madagascar's membership after a new president took office

following the island's first election since a coup five years ago. Madagascar was plunged into diplomatic

isolation and donors froze direct aid worth 40 percent of the Indian Ocean island's budget when Andry

Rajoelina grabbed power with military backing in 2009.

� The Supreme Court refused to relook into its verdict criminalizing gay sex in the country. In a big setback

to the LGBT community, the Supreme Court had on December 11 set aside the Delhi high court judgment

decriminalizing gay sex and thrown the ball into Parliament's court for amending the law. The RBI, in its

Q3 monetary policy review, hiked the short-term lending (repo) rate to eight per cent from 7.75 per cent,

and indicated a pause in further rate hikes. It also lowered its growth forecast for this fiscal to less than

five per cent. Industry voiced “disappointment”, while bankers will soon decide on raising interest rates.

Ficci said it hoped banks will not raise lending rates as this would “scuttle any revival”.

� Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov announced his resignation in what he said was a bid to quell the

deepening political crisis created by protests in the former Soviet nation. The announcement came as

lawmakers gathered for a special session of parliament to seek an end to the standoff that has paralyzed

the political system since authorities took a surprise decision in November to back away from closer ties

with the European Union.

� In a clear signal to the Sikh votebank, the Aam Aadmi Party led by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal demanded a

probe by a Special Investigation Team into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. A similar demand was made by the

Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP.

� Russian president Vladimir Putin remains among the nominees for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize despite the

ongoing conflict in Ukraine. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai

are also among the nominees for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Last year, the prize was awarded to the

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for their work in dismantling Syria's

chemical weapons.

� The Andhra Pradesh assembly emphatically rejected the creation of Telangana in a move engineered by

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, embarrassing the Centre and posing a moral dilemma for President

Pranab Mukherjee, who has to take the process forward.

Ariel Sharon, one of Israel's most skilled but controversial political and military leaders, whose ruthless methods

earned him the moniker "The Bulldozer", who fought in all of Israel's major wars before embarking on a turbulent

political career in 1973, held prime ministerial post in 2001 which ended dramatically in January 2006 when he

suffered a massive stroke and subsequent coma, from which he never recovered, died on January 11, 2014 in a

hospital near Tel Aviv.

The former Supreme Court judge Asok Kumar Ganguly, accused by a law intern of sexual harassment, met

Governor M.K. Narayanan in Kolkata on January 6, 2014 and handed over his resignation as Chairperson of West

Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC).

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, who was the first great African footballer, and ranked alongside Pelé as one of the

finest strikers in the history of the sport, died at 71. He was voted Europe’s player of the year in 1965 and,

representing Portugal, was the leading goal scorer in the 1966 World Cup.

Janet Yellen, a key force behind the Federal Reserve's unprecedented and controversial efforts to boost the

U.S.economy, was confirmed by the Senate to lead the central bank just as it begins to unwind that stimulus.

When she succeeds Ben Bernanke, whose second four-year term as Fed chairman expires on January 31, Yellen

will become the first woman to run the Fed in its 100-year history and just one of a handful of women heading

central banks globally. She is currently the Fed's vice chair.

Former Assam DGP Jayanto Narayan Choudhury has taken over as the new chief of the elite counter-terror

commando force of the country—the National Security Guard (NSG).

Conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in on January 27 to a four-year term as President of

Honduras, vowing "zero tolerance" against crime in the impoverished country's battle against illegal drugs. Mr

Hernandez, 45, a lawyer, inhertis a deeply divided country of 8.5 million people where 71 per cent of the

population lives in poverty and a spiralling homicide rate has reached 20 murders per day, one of the highest in

the world.

Kapila Hingorani, who more than three decades ago became the first woman lawyer to file a public interest

litigation on behalf of voiceless under-trial prisoners in Bihar to earn the title 'Mother of PIL', has passed away. She

was 86. In her nearly 60 years practice as advocate, she and her three practicing lawyer children, have fought

more than 100 cases in the Supreme Court voicing concern through PILs for the poor, tortured and remedy-less

before the judiciary. PILs have become a fad these days, with lawyers rushing to court with every published

media report on scams and irregularities seeking judicial intervention. But, the case she fought for Hussainara

Khatoon as the lead advocate in 1979 still remains a pioneering effort as a true harbinger of justice to the

voiceless.

Kunzang C Namgyel was on January 10 named Bhutan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,

becoming the country's first woman ambassador.

Ukraine Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on January 28 in a bid to defuse Ukraine's deadly crisis and

preserve its unity, finally giving into months of pressure from street protesters.

PEOPLE IN NEWS

Pete Seeger, the singer, folk-song collector and songwriter who spearheaded an American folk revival and spent

a long career championing folk music as both a vital heritage and a catalyst for social change, died in Manhattan.

He was 94. He sang for the labor movement in the 1940s and 1950s, for civil rights marches and anti-Vietnam

War rallies in the 1960s, and for environmental and antiwar causes in the 1970s and beyond. “We Shall

Overcome,” which Mr. Seeger adapted from old spirituals, became a civil rights anthem.

Indian-American professor Rakesh Khurana has been appointed Dean of the prestigious Harvard College. He is

the latest addition to a long list of Indian-origin academicians assuming leadership roles at renowned global

universities. He will assume his role on July 1, 2014.

Former telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar, under whom a government IT department was set up for the first

time, has taken over as president of Nasscom — a body representing the $108 billion Indian IT-BPO industry. He

succeeds Som Mittal, who served as the president from 2007-13.

Sheikh Hasina was on January 12 sworn in as Bangladesh's prime minister for the third time along with her 48-

member cabinet after the controversial polls that were marred by deadly clashes, a low turnout and a boycott by

opposition parties. Hasina has 29 full ministers, 17 state ministers, and 2 deputy ministers, few from Ershad-led

Jatiya Party which plans to sit in the opposition but also have a presence in the Cabinet.

Sir Run Run Shaw, the media tycoon who helped bring Chinese martial arts films to an international audience,

died at his home in Hong Kong at the age of 106. With his elder brother, Runme, Shaw co-founded one of the

world's largest film studios, Shaw Brothers. The company has produced around 1,000 movies since 1958, and

helped launch the careers of star actors and directors from across Asia.

At its peak, in the 1960s and 1970s, the studios were making more than 40 films a year, according to a biography

by film history writers Zhan Youpeng and Lan Chao.

Legendary Bollywood actress, Suchitra Sen, who was known as the “Greta Garbo” of Bengali cinema and had 60

films to her credit, died on January 17, 2014 in Kolkata.

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the 52nd spiritual leader of the one million-strong Dawoodi Bohra community,

died in Mumbai.He was 102. He was credited with guiding the 12-lakh-strong Dawoodi Bohra community out of the

shadows and leading them on to the stage of modernity and prosperity. He was honoured with the highest civilian

titles, like the Star of Jordan and Order of the Nile, by the governments of Jordan and Egypt respectively.

V.Kannan assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Vijaya Bank on January 1. Prior to joining

Vijaya Bank, he was Executive Director in Oriental Bank of Commerce.

Civilian Awards

On the eve of the 65th Republic day on January 25, 2014 a list of the 128 awardees of Padma Vibhushan, Padma

Bhushan and Padma Shri were announced.

I. Padma Vibhushan

Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar (Science and Engineering), BKS Iyengar (Yoga).

II. Padma Bhushan

A total of 25 personalities were bestowed with this award including – Gulam Mohammed Sheikh (Art-Painting),

Begum Parveen Sultana (Art-Classical Singing), Kamala Haasan (Art-Cinema), Prof Padmanabhan Balaram

(Science and Engineering), Anita Desai (Literature and Education), Vairamuthu Ramasamy Thevar (Literature and

Education), Ruskin Bond (Literature and Education), Pullela Gopichand (Sports – Badminton), Leander Paes

(Sports-Tennis), Vijayendra Nath Kaul (Civil Service), Late Dr Anumolu Ramakrishna (Science and Engineering),

Prof Anisuzzaman (Literature and Education).

III. Padma Shri

A total of 101 personalities were bestowed with this award including: Mohammad Ali Baig (Art-Theatre), Elam

Endira Devi (Art-Manipuri Dance), Bansi Kaul (Art-Theatre), Sudarsan Pattnaik (Art-Sand artist), Paresh Rawal

(Art-Cinema and Theatre), Wendell Augustine Rodricks (Art-Fashion Designing), Prof Kalamandalam Sathyabhama

(Art-Mohini Attam), Santosh Sivan (Art-Film), Supriya Dev (Art-Bengali Cinema), Vidya Balan (Art-Cinema), Dr

Rama Rao Anumoulu (Social Work), Mukul Chandra Goswami (Social Work), Mukul Chandra Goswami (Social

Work), Madhavan Chandradathan (Science and Engineering), Dr. Govindan Sundarajan (Science and Engineering),

Mallika Srinivasan (Trade and Industry), Dr Mohan Mishra (Medicine), Chhakchhuak Chuuanvawra (Literature and

Education), Dr. Waikhom Gojen Meeitei (Literature and Education), Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri (Literature and

Education), Dr (Mrs) P Kilemsungla (Literature and Education), Anjum Chopra (Sports – Cricket), Dipika Rebecca

Pallikal (Sports-Squash), H Boniface PRabhu (Sports-Wheelchair Tennis), Yuvraj Singh (Sports-Cricket), Late Dr.

Narendra Achyut Dabholkar (Social Work), Dr. Sengaku Mayeda (Literature and Education).

ELA Gandhi Honoured

Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, was awarded for her lifetime contribution to the freedom struggle

in South Africa. Ms. Gandhi was one of the three Indian-origin South Africans who was lauded among many

veterans of the Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation)—the armed struggle wing of the African National

Congress.

Gallantry Awards

President Pranab Mukherjee approved gallantry awards on the eve of the 65th Republic Day celebrations on

January 25, 2014. This includes 03 Kirti Chakra, 10 Shaurya Chakra, 1 Bar Sena Medal (Gallantry), 48 Sena Medal

(Gallantry), 02 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), 1 Bar to Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 14 Vayu Sena Medal

(Gallantry).

I. Kirti Chakra

Naib Subedar Bhupal Singh, wing Commander Darryl Castelino (Posthumous), Shri Bhrigu Nandan Choudhary

Constable (Posthumous).

AWARDS & HONOURS

II. Ashok Chakra: Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award:

Sub-Inspector K. Prasad Babu of Andhra Pradesh’s Anti-Maoist Greyhounda force. Babu was posthumously

honoured for an anti-Naxal operation in which he led a Greyhounds assault team near the Andhra-Chhattisgarh

border.

French Award

Bestselling US author Danielle Steel has been awarded France's highest honour the Legion d'honneur on New

Year's Day. Steel joins other foreigners such as singers Bono and Bob Dylan or writer Philip Roth awarded the

"Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur" in recognition of service to France or work that is deemed to uphold its

ideals.

Golden Globe Awards

The 71st Annual Golden Awards for Film and Television were presented in Los Angeles, California on January 12.

The winners are:

Best Drama: 12 Years a Slave

Best Comedy or Musical: American Hustle

Best Actor, Drama: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett Jasmine

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Amy Adams (American Hustle)

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Cecil B Demille Award: Woody Allen

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)

Best Foreign Language Film: The Great Beauty (Italy)

Best Animated Film: Frozen

Best Screen Play: Spike Jonze(Her)

Best Original Score: Alex Ebert (All is Lost)

Best Original Song: Ordinary Love (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Grammy Awards

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards were presented in a glittering ceremony on January 26 in Los Angeles. The

winners are:

Album of the Year: Random Access Memories (Daft Punk)

Song of the Year: Royals (Lorde)

New Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Pop Vocal Album: Unorthodox Jukebox (Bruno Mars)

Pop/Duo Group Performance: Get Lucky (Daft Punk with Pharrell and Nile Rodgers)

Rap/Sung Collaboration: Holy Grail (Jay Z with Justin Timberlake)

Pop Solo Performance: Royals (Lorde)

Rock Song: Cut Me Some Slack (Paul McCartney, Dav Grohi, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear)

Country Album: Same Trailer Different Park (Kacey Musgraves)

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: To be Loved (Michael Buble)

Rap Song: Thrift Shop (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)

Rap Album: The Heist (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

R&B Performance: Something (Snarky Puppy with Lalah Hathway)

Traditional R&B Performance: Please Come Home (Gary Clark Jr.)

R&B Album: Girl on Fire (Alicia Keys)

Urban Contemporary Album: Unapologetic (Rihanna)

Rock Album: Celebration Day (Led Zeppelin)

Hard Rock/Metal Performance: God is Dead (Black Sabbath)

Dance/Electronic Album: Random Access Memories (Draft Punk)

Hindu Prize For Best Fiction 2013

Kerala-based writer Anees Salim won The Hindu Prize for Best Fiction 2013 for his second novel, Vanity Bagh for

consistent writing and humour and imagination. The first Hindu Prize for Best Fiction had been won by Manu

Joseph in 2010 for his debut novel Serious Men.

IDEA Filmfare Awards

The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 were presented in glittering moments in Mumbai on January 24, 2014. The

winners are:

Best Film: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Best Actor (Male): Farhan Akhtar (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Best Actor (Female): Deepika Padukone (Goliyon Ki Raasleela

Best Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Nawazuddin Siddiqui (The Lunch Box)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Supriya Pathak Kapur (Goliyon Ki Raasleela – Ramleela)

Best Choreography: Samir & Arsh Tanna (Lahu Muh Lag Gaya – Goliyon Ki Raasleela – Ram Leela)

Debut (Female): Vanni Kapoor (Shuddh Desi Romance)

Debut (Male): Dhanush (Raanjhanaa)

Debut (Director): Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox)

RD Burman Award for Upcoming Talent in Music: Siddharth Mahadevan (Zinda – Bhaag)

Best Playback (Male): Arjit Singh (Tum Hi Ho-Aashiqui-2)

Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi (Zinda – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Best Music Director: Ankit Tiwari, Mithoon & Jeet Ganguly (Aashiqui-2)

Sony Trendsetter of the Year: Chennai Express

Lifetime Achievement Award: Tanuja

Journalism Award

The Lokmanya Tilak National Award for Excellence in Journalism was, on January 4, conferred on Mammen

Mathew, Chief Editor and Managing Director of Malayala Manorama for his exemplary work in journalism.

Life OK Screen Awards

The Kamla Pasand 20th Annual Life OK Screen Awards were presented in a star-packed glittering awards ceremony

held in Mumbai on January 14, 2014. The winners are:

Best Film: Bhaag Mikha Bhaag

Best Director: Shoojit Sircar (Madras Café)

Best Actor (Male): Farhan Akhtar (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Best Actor (Female): Deepika Padukone (Goliyon Ki Raasleela – Raam – Leela, Chennai Express)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Saurabh Shukla (Jolly LLB)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Swara Bhaskar (Raanjhanaa)

Best Actor in a Comic Role (Male/Female): Richa Chadda (Fukrey)

Best Actor in a Negative Role (Male): Rishi Kapoor (D-Day)

Best Actor in Negative Role (Female): Shilpa Shukla (BA Pass)

Best Cinematography: S Ravi Varman (Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela)

Best Background Score: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Best Music: Pritam Chakraborty (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Best Singer (Male): Arjit Singh (Tum Hi Ho Aashiqui 2)

Best Singer (Female): Shreya Ghosal (Sunn Raha Hain Na tu – Aashiqui 2)

Best Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire (Maanjha – Kai Po Che

Most Promising Newcomer (Male): Sushant Singh Rajput (Kai Po Che)

Most Promising Newcomer (Female): Aida El-Kashef (Ship of Theseus)

Best Story: Mohan Sikha (BA pass)

Best Choreography: Remo D’Souza (Badtameez Dil – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani)

Most Promising Debut Director: Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox)

Best Child Artiste: Japtej Singh (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Best Ensemble Cast: Club60 (Sanjay Tripathi)

Best Action: Manohar Verma (Madras Café)

Life OK Screen Jodi of the Year: Aditya Roy Kapur & Shraddha Kapoor (Aashiqui 2)

Lifetime Achievement: Amitabh Bachchan

Popular Choice (Male): Shah Rukh Khan

Popular Choice (Female): Deepika Padukone

Outstanding Contribution to Cinema: Ronnie Screwvala

Special Jury Award: Anand Gandhi (Ship of Theseus)

National Bravery Award

On the eve of Republic Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conferred the National Bravery Awards to 25 kids –

nine girls and 16 boys for their exemplary acts. Out of them 5 kids were awarded posthumously including Mausmi

Kashyap (won Bapu Gaidhani award), Manio Chachei. Delhi-based eight-year-old Mahika Gupta was conferred with

the Bharat Award. Other awardees include Aryan Raj Shukla, Sagar Kashyap, Subin Mathew etc.

People’s Choice Awards

Actress Sandra Bullock swept the 40th People’s Choice awards on January 8 in Los Angeles with four wins,

cementing her status as a favorite among the fan-selected winners, while singer Justin Timberlake dominated the

music categories with three wins. Bullock picked up three awards for favourite movie actress, dramatic movie

actress and comedy movie actress for her roles in existential space drama Gravity and in female buddy-comedy

The Heat. She also won favourite movie duo alongside her Gravity co-star George Clooney, while the film won

favourite drama movie. Timberlake won favourite album, favourite male artist and favourite R&B artist, but was

beaten in the favourite pop artist category by Britney Spears who won her first People’s Choice award in her career

spanning 15 years. Actor Robert Downey Jr. was named favourite action movie star for Iron Man 3, which also won

favourite action movie star for Iron Man 3, which also won favourite movie and action movie. Adam Sandler won

favourite comedic actor for Grown Ups 2.

PETA "PERSON OF THE YEAR"

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor has been named the "Person of the

Year" by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India for using the power and prestige of his office

to advocate for the protection of animals.

PRAVASI BHARATIYA SAMMAN-2014

On the concluding session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas president Pranab Mukherjee honoured many persons of

Indian origin with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2014 in New Delhi on January 9, 2014. Important among them are:

Lisa Maria Singh: For maintaining a healthy and friendly relationship between India and Australia.

Kurian Varghese: For his enhancing business contributions, understanding and business promotion activities

between India and Bahrain.

Vasdev Chanchlani: For his collective community services in Canada which fosters good relationship between

India and Canada.

Ramakrishna Mission from Fiji: For its collective humanistic activities in Fiji enhancing and delighting Indians'

prestige in Fiji.

Satnarainsing Rabin Baldewsingh: For public services conducted in Netherlands.

Bikas Chandra Sanyal: For his contributions in educational and cultural activities which enhanced Indian image

in France.

Sasindran Muthuvel: For his public service activities conducted in Papua New Guinea.

Shihabudeen Vava Kunju: For maintaining good business relationship between Indian and Saudi Arabia.

Ela Gandhi: For public service activities in South Africa.

Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath: For promotional activities connected with health, business and maintaining good

relationship matters connected with emirates of India in UAE.

Shailesh Lakhman Vara: For helping Indian NRIs in United Kingdom.

Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai: For helping better relationship between India and USA.

Renu Khator: For enhancing activities of Indian prestige in USA.

Queen's Honours List

Fifteen Indian-origin men and women, including prominent educationist Asha Khemka, have been named in Queen

Elizabeth's New Year's Honours List for 2014. Khemka has been named a Dame Commander of the Order of the

British Empire (DBE) for her service to the deprived areas of the West Midlands as principal of West

Nottinghamshire College for the last eight years.

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Crime caper American Hustle won the top film prize at the Screen Actors Guild awards held on January 18 in Los

Angeles, earning another big boost in Hollywood’s all-important Oscars race. Australian Cate Blanchett won best

actress for her role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, while Matthew McConaughey took home best actor for AIDS

activist movie Dallas Buyers Club. Jared Leto won best supporting actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club and best

supporting actress went to Lupita Nyong’o in the harrowing drama 12 Years a Slave. On the small screen, best

drama went to cult series Breaking Bad and best comedy to Modern Family.

UN Award for Sustainable Tourism

Kerala has been conferred the top United Nations award for its global leadership in creating innovative initiatives

for sustainable tourism. This is the first time an Indian state has been conferred this honour. Kerala walked away

with the top honours at the annual united Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Awards for Excellence

and Innovation in Tourism presented on January 22 in Madrid, Spain. It won the UNWTO Ulysses Award for

Innovation in Public Policy and Governance.

Axis Bank on January 8, 2014 said it has opened a branch in Shanghai after receiving permission from the China

Banking Regulatory Commission. With this, Axis Bank has become the first domestic private sector lender to have

a branch presence in China.

To promote women entrepreneurship, the country’s first Women’s Bank the Bharatiya Mahila Bank has chosen

to do away with collateral for loans availed by the fairer sex. The BMB will provide collateral-free loans for amounts

upto Rs. 1 crore, which will instead be covered under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small

Enterprises (CGTMSE)

Mr Raj Jain, who had in 2013 joined the Bharti Group as an adviser, was on January 3, 2014 named Chief

Executive Officer of Bharti Retail.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world’s 300 wealthiest individuals,

Microsoft founder Bill Gates emerged as the world’s richest person with estimated fortune of $78.5 billion. Mr.

Gates regained top spot from Mexican Investor Carlos Slim. The aggregate net worth of the world’s top billionaires

stood at $3.7 trillion at the market close on Dec. 31, according to the ranking. The biggest gains came in the

technology industry, which soared 28 percent during the year. Of the 300 people who appeared on the final

ranking of 2013, only 70 registered a net loss for the 12-month period.

Social networking giant Facebook announced a deal to buy out Indian start-up Little Eye Labs that builds

performance analysis and monitoring tools for mobile Android apps. This is the first time that Facebook has

acquired an Indian company. The acquisition is in line with Facebook’s efforts to boost its technology prowess as

the company focuses on growing its mobile business.

The GMR Group has divested its 40% stake in the Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen International airport for Rs. 1910

crore. This is the second major divestment of overseas assets by the GMR Group. In March 2013, it had divested

its stake in GMR Energy (Singapore).

The Central Government in January 2014 raised the import tariff value of gold and silver to $407 per 10 gram

and $663 a kg respectively. The tariff value of imported gold earlier stood at $392 per 10 gram and on silver at

$638 a kg.

IT major Infosys on January 16, 2014 regained its status as Indian stock market’s most influential stock in key

bench marks, pushing FMCG giant ITC to the second position.

Jet Airways (India) Ltd., on January 16, 2014 announced the resignation of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Garry

Kenneth Toomey

The world’s largest dairy products maker, Groupe Lactalis SA (Lactalis), has acquired Hyderabad-based Tirumala

Milk Products in a deal estimated to be around $250-300 million. The transaction is likely to give Lactalis, which

develops well known international brands including Président, Galbani and Parmalat, a foothold in India. Tirumala

is the second-largest private dairy company in South India with a processing capacity of 1.66 million litres per day

across 7 plants. The company was founded in 1996 by current managing director D Brahmanandam and others.

The Lenovo Group of China is buying IBM’s server business for $2.3 billion, expanding a product line-up

dominated by PCs, tablets and smartphones.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily announced the launch of the portability of LPG connection

scheme across 4800 districts of the country. Consumers can now switch to the distributor of their choice.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

NCDEX, the leading commodity exchange, has announced the launch of GOLDHEDGE, an innovative gold contract

that will signal the most transparent and straightforward price benchmark of this precious metal to the consumer.

The contract is available for trading from January 16, 2014.

The government has granted environmental clearance to South Korean firm Posco’s Rs. 52,000 crore steel plant

in Odisha – the largest ever FDI project in India. The Posco plant was an embarrassment for India not only in

terms of its ties with South Korea but also in the larger context of its ability to resolve internal roadblocks in

infrastructure development. It was only recently that Posco pulled out of Rs. 30,000 crore project in Karnataka due

to delays.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) purchased the remaining 35 percent of a

Brazilian offshore oil block from their partner, Brazil's state-run Petroleo Brasileiro SA.

The Reserve Bank of India on January 28, 2014 effected a surprise 25 basis point increase in key interest rates

in a bid to contain high consumer inflation which has been corroding household budgets. The RBI increased the

short-term lending (repo) rate to 8 percent from 7.75 percent and set a path for achieving an 8 percent consumer

inflation target by January next year.

The Government has decided to extend UK Sinha’s term as the Chairman of regulator SEBI for a period of two

years.

India’s trade deficit with China reached a record $31.4 billion in 2013, with two-way trade declining last year by

1.5 percent on account of a sharp decline in Indian exports. The fall in exports was largely due to curbs on the

export of iron ore, which had emerged as India’s single biggest export to resource-hungry China.

The service tax amnesty scheme has yielded around Rs. 7700 crore to the exchequer. The Voluntary

Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES), which was launched on May 10, 2013, to enable service tax

defaulters to pay dues without penalty or late payment charges, closed on December 31.