Current News 30 September 2014

1. BJP leader Lalitha Kumaramangalam took charge as the chairperson of the National Commission for Women and said that she will work for uplift of women without politicising issues. The position of NCW chairperson had been vacant after the previous incumbent Mamta Sharma demitted office

2. Ashraf Chani Ahmadzai has become Afghanistan's second president since the 2001 U.S. invasion. His ascension to the presidency is the country's first peaceful transfer of presidential power.

3. In a rare meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed a wide range of issues including defence cooperation and the situation created by the Islamic State (IS) in West Asia.

4. Tennis star SaniaMirza teamed up with SakethMyneni to clinch the gold in mixed double while SeemaPunia also brought glory with her gold-winning act as India maintained the ninth position in the overall standings on the 10th day of competitions in the 17th Asian Games.

5. General Motors India has commenced vehicle exports to Chile. The first 140 left hand drive Chevrolet Seat cars were shipped from Mumbai on September 25. They are expected to reach Chile in the next few weeks.

6. Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister for MSME inaugurated the India Pavilion at the ICA Royal Perth Show 2014. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that it is a matter of great pleasure to be here at this Interactive Business Session organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation, the High Commission of India (Perth) as a promotional activity on the sidelines of the India country level participation as Guest Country.

7. As a tribute to the heroic struggle of Indian immigrants against discriminatory immigration laws of Canada in the early years of twentieth century, the Government of India has decided to commemorate the centenary of Komagata Maru incident on completion of 100 years after the incident.

8. Enthused by growing interest of institutional investors abroad including in the US for investing in the Indian markets, top fund house Reliance Capital Asset Management Company (RCAM) has said it will consider launching more India-focussed funds in foreign markets.

9. Japanese electronics firm Casio has roped in singer and music director A.R. Rahman as brand ambassador for its electronic musical instruments division. Association with Mr. Rahman will help it develop market and change its image as a high quality keyboard maker, Casio India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the ¥6 billion consumer electronics giant Casio Computer said in a statement.

10. State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) is no longer keen to acquire a stake in Russian natural-gas producer OAO Novatek's USS 20 billion Yamal LNG project. ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of India's largest oil and gas producer, along with Petronet LNG Ltd and Indian Oil Corp (IOC) was last year in negotiations with Novatek for a 9-10 percent stake in the project.