Ø Following an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report that alleged
foreign-funded NGOs were creating obstacles to India’s economic growth, the
Home Ministry has clamped down on Greenpeace, an international campaign group present in 40 countries.
Greenpeace was specifically targeted because the IB report
had charged it with orchestrating “massive efforts to take down India’s
coal-fired power projects and mining activity.” According to the report,
public protests in Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli region — which produces 15,000 MW
energy — were being engineered by Greenpeace, “actively aided and led by
foreign activists”.
Ø At least three UPA-appointed governors face the axe on the ground that
“Constitutional immunity to Governors does not apply to those who are wanted
for ongoing investigations. Narrowing
down the list of governors who face likely removal, a highly placed government
source, in an interview to The Hindu-BusinessLine ,
specifically mentioned the names of Shiela Dixit (Kerala),
M.K. Narayanan (West Bengal) and Bharat Vir Singh Wachoo (Goa). The CBI wants to examine Mr. Narayanan and Mr. Wanchoo in the
AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal and FIR has been lodged against Ms. Shiela
Dikshit in a streetlight project scam ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Ø
The Army on
Wednesday test-fired a surface-to-air Akash missile, which intercepted a fast-moving, small unmanned aerial vehicle
called Banshee at an altitude of 30 metres above the sea level off the coast of
Odisha.
Ø Sanjaya Rajaram,
veteran plant scientist, has been chosen for this year’s World Food Prize for
his “scientific research that led to a prodigious increase in world wheat
production.” M.S. Swaminathan, founder of the M. S.
Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and chairman, global jury for selection
of the Food Prize Laureate, told reporters on Wednesday that Dr Rajaram, now
settled in Mexico, was selected for his “outstanding work in the improvement of
wheat crop and wheat production in the world.
Ø “Mehrangir” — the bungalow of the late Dr. Homi Bhabha, the father
of India’s atomic energy programme — was sold for an unprecedented Rs.372 crore
— effectively Rs.2,80,000 per square foot.
Ø Former Norwegian premier Gro Harlem Brundtland was named Wednesday as the first recipient of
the Tang Prize, touted as Asia’s version of the Nobels, for her work as the
“godmother” of sustainable development. Ms. Brundtland was awarded the
debut prize, created by one of Taiwan’s richest men with a $100 million
donation, with winners in three other categories to be announced this week. She
was awarded the biennial prize for “her innovation, leadership and
implementation” of sustainable development, said Yuan T. Lee, chair of the
award selection committee. A former director general of the World Health
Organisation (WHO), she also headed the U.N. World Commission on Environment
and Development.
Ø
Jihadist from Islamist State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS) attacked Iraq’s largest oil refinery at Baiji.
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