3-4 JUNE 2016

India, US signed MoU to Enhance Cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Energy & Climate Change

India and the United States (US) on 2 June 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on energy security, clean energy and climate change.

The MoU will provide framework to work more closely not only for betterment of people but also for creating a positive environment for US companies working in India.

It will also provide momentum for cooperative work which needs to be done in fields of energy security, clean energy and climate change.

Objective of the MoU

• To enhance cooperation on energy security, clean energy and climate change through increased bilateral engagement and further joint initiatives for promoting sustainable growth.

• These activities are intended to increase incentives for innovation including research and development, and voluntary and mutually-agreed technology transfer, as well as the deployment of clean energy technologies.

• Contribute to a global effort to curb the rise in greenhouse gas emissions

• To enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change
The Priority initiatives under the MoU would be:

• US-India Energy smart Cities Partnership

• Greening the Grid

• Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) expansion

• Energy Efficiency including space cooling

• Renewable energy

• Energy security

• Clean energy finance

• US-India partnership for Climate Resilience

• Air quality

• Forestry, Landscapes and REDD+

• Fellowships

• Accelerating innovation on clean energy and climate change

Apart from this, the two nations also inked a pact or exchange of terrorist screening information. As per this Arrangement

• Both sides shall provide each other access to terrorism screening information through the designated contact points, subject to domestic laws and regulations.

• It would also enhance the counter terrorism cooperation between India and USA.

Indian banker Raghavan Seetharaman awarded Green Economy Visionary Award

Raghavan Seetharaman, Qatar-based Indian banker, on 30 May 2016 was awarded the Green Economy Visionary award.

Seetharaman was honoured for his contribution in environment-friendly activities and for promoting green economy for nearly two decades.

The banker was presented with the award at the 2016 Union of Arab Banks International Banking Summitheld in Rome. Mohammed Jarrah Al-Sabah, Chairman of Union of Arab Banks, presented the award to Seetharaman.

Who is Raghavan Seetharaman?

•Raghavan Seetharaman is the Group CEO of Doha Bank, which is one of the largest commercial banks in Qatar.

•In 2015, business magazine Forbes ranked Seetharaman 6th in theForbes’ Top Indian Leaders in the Arab World 2015list.

•He started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the four largest professional services networks.

•In 2002, he became Deputy CEO for Doha Bank.

•He was named CEO in September 2007.

•He graduated with a degree in commerce from the University of Madras and then became a chartered accountant.

•He also earned a double doctorate, first in Global Governance from the European University in 2013 and the second in Green Banking and Sustainability from Sri Sri University in 2015.

India joins Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation

India on 1 June 2016 joined the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation as its 138th subscribing state. India joined it by notifying HCoC Central Contact, Vienna, through diplomatic channels.

India’s joining the Code signals its readiness to further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives. Its subscription reinforces its support for international missile non-proliferation.

This will also help to increase transparency and strengthen security.

Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC)

• The HCOC is a voluntary mechanism that has built a broad international predisposition against ballistic missile proliferation.

• It also promotes transparency and confidence building, including through the Subscribing States’ commitment to submit pre-launch notifications and annual declarations of their relevant policies.

• It consists of a set of general principles, modest commitments, and limited confidence-building measures.

• It is intended to supplement, not supplant, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and is administered collectively by all subscribing states.

• It was formally brought into effect on 25 November 2002, at a launching conference hosted by the Netherlands in The Hague. The number of signatories has increased from 96 to 138.

• Formerly, it was known as the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

• The non-subscribing states include countries like China, Pakistan, Israel and Iran.

India joins Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation

India on 1 June 2016 joined the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation as its 138th subscribing state. India joined it by notifying HCoC Central Contact, Vienna, through diplomatic channels.

India’s joining the Code signals its readiness to further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives. Its subscription reinforces its support for international missile non-proliferation.

This will also help to increase transparency and strengthen security.

Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC)

• The HCOC is a voluntary mechanism that has built a broad international predisposition against ballistic missile proliferation.

• It also promotes transparency and confidence building, including through the Subscribing States’ commitment to submit pre-launch notifications and annual declarations of their relevant policies.

• It consists of a set of general principles, modest commitments, and limited confidence-building measures.

• It is intended to supplement, not supplant, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and is administered collectively by all subscribing states.

• It was formally brought into effect on 25 November 2002, at a launching conference hosted by the Netherlands in The Hague. The number of signatories has increased from 96 to 138.

• Formerly, it was known as the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

• The non-subscribing states include countries like China, Pakistan, Israel and Iran.

Constitution of National Company Law Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal Notified

Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on 1 June 2016 notified the constitution of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) andNational Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) with immediate effect.

Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya, Judge (Retd.), Supreme Court of India appointed as the Chairperson of the NCLAT while Justice MM Kumar, Judge (Retd.) appointed as the President of the NCLT.

Initially, NCLT will have eleven Benches, two at New Delhi and one each at Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bengluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad,Kolkata and Mumbai.

With the constitution of the NCLT, the Company Law Board (CLB) constituted under the Companies Act, 1956 stands dissolved.

Both the NCLT and NCLAT were constituted under the Companies Act, 2013 which replaced the Companies Act, 1956. The Act came into force on 12 September 2013.

National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)

NCLT will exercise and discharges such powers and functions that were conferred on it through the Companies Act, 2013 or any other law for the time being in force.

The President shall be a person who is or has been a Judge of a High Court for five years.

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judicial Member unless he—

(a) is, or has been, a judge of a High Court; or

(b) is, or has been, a District Judge for at least five years; or

(c) has, for at least ten years been an advocate of a court.

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)

NCLAT constituted to hear appeals against the orders of the Tribunal (NCLT).

(a) The chairperson shall be a person who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.

(b) A Judicial Member shall be a person who is or has been a Judge of a High Court or is a Judicial Member of the Tribunal for five years.

(c) A Technical Member shall be a person of proven ability, integrity and standing having special knowledge and experience, of  not less than twenty-five years, in law, industrial finance, industrial management or administration, industrial reconstruction, investment, accountancy, labour  matters, or such other disciplines related to management, conduct of affairs, revival, rehabilitation and winding up of companies.

The President of the NCLT and the chairperson and Judicial Members of the NCLAT will be appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves Mau-Tarighat Railway line project

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 1 June 2016 gave its approval for a new broad gauge line between Mau Station of North Eastern Railway and Tarighat Terminal station of East Central Railway.

The total length of this new broad gauge line will be 51 kilometers.

The estimated cost of the project is 1765.92 crore and expected completion cost is 2109.07 crore rupees with 5 percent escalation per annum.

It is estimated that the project will be completed in the next six years during 12th and 13th Plan period.

Key highlights of the project

•This project will provide alternative, shorter convenient and better transport infrastructure to the area separated by River Ganga.

•It will ultimately remove the transport difficulties in the area and to boost the socio economic development.

•The catchment area of project line will serve passenger requirement and will facilitate the people of the area for travelling to different parts of the country.

•It will provide an alternative route connecting Northern and East Central railway via NE Railway.

•It has huge potential in enhancing railway traffic and also gives opportunity to develop this area by providing more efficient transportation system.

•The new line crosses the river Ganges at the downstream of existing road bridge for NH 97.

•It is located almost parallel to it and joins the existing BG line from Tarighat to Dildar Nagar.

•This line will be alternative route for train passing from Howrah to New Delhi and back.

•Construction of this line will provide a link to Allahabad-Patna double line electrified section.

• It will also decongest the Allahabad-Mugalsarai-Patna route particularly around Mugalsarai yard.

Tamil actor-director Balu Anand died

Famous Tamil actor and director Balu Anand passed away on 3 June 2016 following a cardiac arrest in Coimbataore. He was 62.

Anand acted in around 100 films and directed a few Tamil movies.

The actor-director is known for movies Anbe Sivam, Annanagar First street, Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga,Rajadhi Raja, and Raja Kulothunga.

Anand has also appeared in several films like Pistha, Anna Nagar Mudhal Theruamong others.

He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

German Parliament passes Resolution recognising Massacre of Armenians as Genocide

German Parliament, Bundestag, on 2 June 2016 passed a resolution recognising the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces during First World War (1915) as genocide.

The motion was put forward for voting by Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition of right and left and the opposition Greens.

It was passed with support from all the parties in Parliament with only one abstention and one vote against.

Effect of the resolution

• The passage of the resolution resulted in creation of tensions between Germany and Turkey.

• The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that this decision will seriously impact Turkish-German relations.

• Turkey denies the killings, started in 1915 and continued till 1917, as genocide and terms it as victims of civil war and unrest.

• The Armenian president and foreign minister welcomed the vote and thanks lawmakers of the country.

• Armenia termed the decision as a valuable contribution to the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian genocide.

Armenians Genocide by Ottoman forces

The Armenian Genocide also known as the Armenian Holocaust/Massacres was the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects inside their historic homeland, which lies within the present-day Republic of Turkey. The estimations project the number of vitims between 15 lakh and 30 lakh.

The genocide was carried out during and after World War I and implemented in two phases:

• The wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population through massacre and subjection of army conscripts to forced labour

• It was followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly and infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian Desert.

The event is viewed as the first genocide of 20th century by several scholars.

India, Tunisia sign MoUs for co-operation in IT, handicrafts sector

India and Tunisia on 2 June 2016 signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation in Information Technology and promotion of traditional handicrafts.

The MoUs were signed after the delegation level talks between the two countries in the presence of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid in Tunis. After the meet, the two nations also released a joint press statement saying that the entire gamut of bilateral as well global issues was discussed. The two sides had discussion on bilateral ties focused on economic partnership and adding new areas of collaboration in IT and education.

The two sides also decided to enhance co-operation in counter terrorism.

Apart from this, Ansari also appreciated Tunisia's support to India's candidature to the expanded United Nations Security Council. He also invited 350 Tunisian citizens to India for training in different institutes over the next five years.

He said that the meeting of the India-Tunisia Joint Committee will be held later in 2016 and focus of the meeting will be promotion of tourism.

India announces to Double Investment in Clean Energy Research in next five years

India on 2 June 2016 announced its plan to double the investment in Clean Energy Research in next five years. At present, India is investing 72 million US dollars in Clean Energy Research and it seeks to double it to 145 million dollars.

This announcement was made by the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan who led the Indian delegation at the 7th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM7) and the inaugural Mission Innovation (MI) Meet.

The CEM7 and MI meet was held at San Francisco, the US from 1 and 2 June 2016.

The announcement was made along with other MI partner countries who also released plans to double the clean energy research and development funding over the next five years.

New joint collaborations with MI Countries

With the UK, India announced to expand India’s collaboration by setting up a Joint Virtual Clean Energy Centre to address the challenges in solar energy.

With the US, Minister announced to launch a new Research Track on Smart Energy Grids and Energy Storage under the Indo-US Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R).

Global Cooling Challenge launched

It was launched by Dr. Harsh Vardhan at CEM7. The challenge will accelerate the introduction of super-efficient air conditioners which can reduce the energy demand from 60 GW of energy to 40 GW, a saving of over 30%.

In terms of cost saving, it will lead to saving of 2.8 billion dollars in consumer energy bills and and GHG reductions of 20 million tons of CO2 equivalent.

Mission Innovation (MI)

• Mission Innovation (MI) was launched on 30 November 2015 by 20 participating countries, including India, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris-Le Bourget, France.
• Mission seeks to accelerate public and private global clean energy innovation ushering in an era of Clean Energy Revolution.
• India is a Founding Member of the Steering Committee of the Mission Innovation and also a Member of the two sub-groups: Joint Research and Capacity Building and Private Sector Engagement.
• Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology is coordinating the national efforts towards the Mission.

India’s achievements in the field of Clean Energy

India has successfully implemented the world’s largest LED lighting programme. This programme has seen India lead the way by driving 12% of global LED demand at present, up from 0.1% a couple of years ago.

P Sreeramakrishnan elected as Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly

P Sreeramakrishnan was on 3 June 2016 elected as the Speaker of the 14th legislative assembly of Kerala. He was the candidate of ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and a two-time legislator from Ponnani constituency.

In the voting held, he secured 92 votes against UDF's V.P. Sajeendran from Kunnathunadu constituency, who got 46 votes in the 140-member legislative assembly.

The only MLA of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) O Rajagopal voted in favour of P Sreeramakrishnan whereas the Independent MLA PC George's vote was marked invalid.

Earlier on 25 May 2016, veteran CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn-in as 12th Chief Minister of Kerala.

In the Assembly Election held in May 2016, the CPI (M)-led left Democratic Front (LDF) came back to power in Kerala after 5 years, winning 91 seats in the 140 member Assembly, while UDF won 47 seats. The other two seats were won by BJP and Independent candidate each.

Singapore International Arbitration Centre to open Representative Office at GIFT City

Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) in June 2016 signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited (GIFTCL) and GIFT SEZ Limited (GIFT SEZ) to establish a representative office in India.

The representation office will be located in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). The center will be instrumental in resolving international commercial disputes. It will also promote SIAC's arbitration services to Indian users.

Highlights of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)

• The signatories will collaborate to promote the use of arbitration, mediation, and other dispute resolution mechanisms.

• The mechanisms include the Arb-Med-Arb service, which is a process where a dispute is first referred to arbitration before mediation is attempted.

• SIAC and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) will collaborate with the Indian companies to resolve international commercial disputes in India's International Financial Services Centre in GIFT-City (IFSC-GIFT).

About International Arbitration Centre (IAC)

• IAC is a centre where the disputes are handled that arises due to commercial agreements in sectors like insurance, shipping, construction, private equity and other trades.

• Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). It is a technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts.

• Since they are different from litigations, they turn up to be less time taking and are done in private between the lawyers representing the aggrieved parties.

• The parties to a dispute refer it to arbitration agree to be bound by the arbitration decision.

CCEA approved Minimum Support Prices for Kharif Crops for 2016-17 Season

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 June 2016 approved for Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Kharif Crops of 2016-17 season.

The prices will come into effect from effective from 1 October 2016.  The higher MSPs would increase investment and production through assured remunerative prices to farmers.

The approved MSP is based on recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) which takes into account the cost of production, overall demand-supply among others.

Above the recommendations of the CACP, the CCEA decided to give a bonus of 425 rupees per quintal for Kharif pulses like Arhar (Tur), Urad and Moong, a bonus of 200 rupees per quintal for Sesamum and a bonus of 100 rupees per quintal for kharif oilseeds like Groundnut-in-shell, Sunflowerseed, Soyabean, and Nigerseed.

This is expected to give a strong price signal to farmers to increase acreage and invest for increase in productivity of pulses and oilseeds.

About Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

• It is an attached office of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare which came into existence in January 1965.

• It is mandated to recommend minimum support prices (MSPs) to incentivize the cultivators to adopt modern technology, and raise productivity and overall grain production in line with the emerging demand patterns in India.

• CACP submits its recommendations to the government in the form of Price Policy Reports every year, separately for five groups of commodities namely Kharif crops, Rabi crops, Sugarcane, Raw Jute and Copra.

P Dhanapal re-elected as Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker

P Dhanapal and Pollachi V Jayaraman on 3 June 2016 were unanimously re-elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively for the 15th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

The two AIADMK leaders held the respective offices in the previous assembly also.

As Soon as the House assembled on 3 June 2016, the Protem Speaker S Semmalai announced Dhanapal as Speaker as he was the only person to file nomination for the post.

His name was proposed by AIADMK Chief and TN CM J Jayalalithaa and Finance Minister and Leader of the House O Panneerselvam.

As a convention, the Leader of the House and leader of the Opposition M K Stalin (DMK) conducted Dhanapal to his chair.

Newly elected Speaker announced V Jayaraman as the Deputy Speaker as there was no other nomination filed for the post.

Dhanapal was re-elected as Member of Legistative Assembly (MLA) from Avinashi (Reserved) constituency for sixth term while Jayaraman was re-elected from Pollachi constituency  for fourth term.

Background

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won the May 2016 Assembly elections for a consecutive term. It was 133 MLAs in the 234-member house with three vacancies.

The Party can ensure election of its nominees for the key posts.

TRAI launches DND Services Mobile Application to register complaints against pesky calls, SMSes

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 1 June 2016 launched DND Services Mobile Application for telecom subscribers to register their complaints against pesky calls and SMSes.

The new mobile application will help people in easily registering complaints and help the authority in monitoring such activities.

The DND services mobile application is an easy alternative for filing pesky calls and SMS complaints.

Earlier, subscribers had option of filing complaint by forwarding SMS to 1909 which they received from telemarketers and mention mobile number from which they have received it along with date of receiving.

Key highlights of the application

•The application is available on Android and will be soon launched for Apple iOS.

•It will ease filing of complaints and also help us in monitoring action taken by telecom operators on complaints.

•The mobile app will show SMS in a list form and mobile numbers from the source.

•Customers need to click on the check box to select such SMSes or calls and then click on report option to file complaint.

Two Indian-origin women in Forbes' Self-Made American Women List

Two Indian-origin women on 1 June 2016 featured on the Forbes' second annual list of America's wealthiest and most successful self-made women include 60 trailblazers. It is list of women who crashed ceilings through invention and innovation.

India-born Neerja Sethi ranked 16th on 'America's Richest Self-made Women' list while president and CEO of Arista Networks Jayshree Ullal is ranked 30th.

Forbes ranked Diane Hendricks as number one. She is the owner of largest wholesale distributor, ABC Supply. She is now worth 4.9 billion US Dollars that is 1.2 billion US Dollars more than 2015 when she was ranked second.

The Other notable names on the list include TV czar Oprah Winfrey (2), Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg (14), pop icon Taylor Swift, Alex + Ani jewellery brand founder Carolyn Rafaelian, actress-turned-entrepreneur Jessica Alba (42), Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman (6), designer Tory Burch (19), singer Madonna (25), Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer (33), singer Celine Dion (37) and pop icon Beyonce (56).

The categories in which the Richest Self-made Women are categorized are, Youngest, NewComers, Technology, Entertainment and Founders.

Neerja Sethi

The 61 year old Sethi assets account for a net worth of 1.1 billion US Dollars. Her company employs more than 25000 people and boasts a recent market cap of 3.6 billion US Dollars.

Sethi, co-founded IT consulting and outsourcing firm Syntel with her husband Bharat Desai.

She is the current the vice president of corporate affairs and a role since the company's inception.

Jayshree Ullal

The 55 year old Jayashree Ullal was born in London and raised in New Delhi. She became president and CEO of Arista Networks in 2008, when it had no revenues and fewer than 50 employees. The company reported 838 million US Dollars in revenue in 2015, after going public in June 2014.

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2016 observed

3 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2016 was observed across the world on 3 June 2016.

The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.

The day affirms the commitment of the United Nations (UN) to protect the rights of children.

Background

•The day was established on 19 August 1982.

•It originally focused on victims of the 1982 Lebanon War.

•The General Assembly, having considered the question of Palestine at its resumed seventh emergency special session, decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

4 June

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2016 observed

3 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2016 was observed across the world on 3 June 2016.

The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.

The day affirms the commitment of the United Nations (UN) to protect the rights of children.

Background

•The day was established on 19 August 1982.

•It originally focused on victims of the 1982 Lebanon War.

•The General Assembly, having considered the question of Palestine at its resumed seventh emergency special session, decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

Navin Agarwal appointed DG of National Anti-Doping Agency

Senior IPS officer Navin Agarwal was on 3 June 2016 appointed as Director General (DG)/ Chief Executive Officer (CEP) of National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved his appointment as Chief of NADA. He is appointed to the post for five years term.

Navin Agarwal is a 1986 batch IPS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre.

National Anti Doping Agency (NADA)

It was set up as registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1890 on 24 November 2005 with a mandate for Dope free sports in India.

The primary objectives are to implement anti-doping rules as per World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, regulate dope control programme, to promote education and research and creating awareness about doping and its ill effects.

The primary functions of NADA are:

• To implement the Anti Doping Code to achieve compliance by all sports organizations  in the Country.

• To coordinate dope testing program through all participating stakeholders.

• To promote anti doping research and education to inculcate the value of dope free sports.

• To adopt best practice standards and quality systems to enable effective implementation and  continual improvement of the program.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports will be the Ex-officio Chairman of NADA while Secretary, Dept. of Sports Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports will act as Vice Chairman where Director General ofNADA will be Ex-officio Member Secretary of the Organisation.

Muhammad Ali, the All-time Greatest of Boxing, dies at 74

All-time boxing icon Muhammad Ali died on 3 June 2016 in the Phoenix, Arizona, after a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 74.

About Muhammad Ali

• He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on 17 January 1942.

• He was considered as one of the most recognized sports figures of the past 100 years.

• He was crowned Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated andSports Personality of the Century by the BBC.

• He also wrote several best-selling books about his career, includingThe Greatest: My Own Story and The Soul of a Butterfly.

• He won the world heavyweight championship in 1964 at the age of 22.

• He converted to Sunni Islam in 1975 and changed his name toMuhammad Ali and 30 years later He began adhering to Sufism.

• Ali remains the only three-time lineal world heavyweight champion; he won the title in 1964, 1974, and 1978.

• He was nicknamed The Greatestand was involved in several historic boxing matches. Notable among them in which Ali was winner were the first Liston fight, three with rival Joe Frazier, and one with George Foreman.

Asia’s largest annual security forum Shangri-La Dialogue inaugurates in Singapore

Asia’s largest annual security forum Shangri-La Dialogue was inaugurated in Singapore on 3 June 2016. It is the 15th Asia Security Summit to openly discuss and debate security matters in the Asia-Pacific region.

It is expected that the 2016 discussions will by dominated by the issues like territorial disputes in the South China Sea, military provocations of  North Korea and Islamist extremism, migration, counterterrorism, military competition and cybersecurity.

Asia Security Summit: Shangri-La Dialogue

• The Singaporean government alomg with British think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies launched the Summit in 2002.

• The forum is organised by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

• The annual three-day summit became an unofficial conclave for regional defense ministers, along with European and US military officials.

• The 2016 dialogue got its name from the location of the meeting, the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore.

• The forum serves for military officials as a venue to meet behind closed doors.

• The event will be attended by at least 20 Defence Ministers from Asia-Pacific countries which India’s Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. It will be led by Pentagon chief Ashton Carter.

• It provides opportunities to defence ministers, military chiefs and high-ranking defence officials to hold bilateral meetings on its sidelines.

• The primary interest to delegates attending 2016 is China’s assertive activities in the South China Sea as it continues to gobble up islets and challenge the passage of US Navy ships and aircraft through the area.

• The Legislators, academic experts, journalists and business delegates from around the globe will attend the dialogue.

• The previous editions of the conference were marked by heated public exchanges between US and Chinese officials.

PM Modi, Ghani inaugurates Afghan-India Friendship Dam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Dr Ashraf Ghani jointly inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam with in Herat province in Western Afghanistan on 4 June 2016.

The Dam was earlier known as Salma Dam on the river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat neighbouring Iran. It will irrigate 75000 hectares of land and generate 42 Mega Watts of power.

At the inaugural function, Afghan President conferred the highest civilian honour of Afghanistan, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Afghan-India Friendship Dam

• The Landmark Infrastructure Project is funded by Union Government.

• It is a multipurpose project planned for generating 42 MW of power, irrigating 75000 hectares of land, water supply and other benefits to the people of Afghanistan.

• It is a landmark infrastructure project undertaken by Union Government on river Chist-e-Sharif, in Herat province of Afghanistan.

• The project is executed and implemented by WAPCOS Ltd which is an undertaking of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

• The project is located 165 kilometers east of Herat town and connected with earthen road.

• The gross capacity of the Dam is 633 Million M3. The height of the Dam is 104.3 Mt, length 540 Mt and width at the bottom is 450 Mt.

• The successful completion of the project represents culmination of years of hard work by 1500 Indian and Afghan engineers and other professionals in very difficult conditions.