Current Affair 2015

Canada to Supply Uranium to India for 5 Years

Canada has agreed to supply 3,000 metric tonnes of uranium to India under a $254 million five-year deal to power Indian atomic reactors. The agreement for uranium supply was signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper after comprehensive talks in Ottawa, Canada. The agreement comes in line with the Canada- India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement that took effect in 2013. As per uranium supply agreement, Canada’s Cameco Corporation will supply uranium to India for next five years starting from this year. These supplies will be under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Canada is the second-largest producer of uranium globally and is the third country to supply uranium to India after Russia and Kazakhstan. It should be noted that in the 1970s, Canada had banned exports of uranium and nuclear hardware to India after it was alleged that India had used Canadian technology to develop a nuclear bomb. However, Canada- India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2013, Canada moved away from ban and agreed to supply uranium to India.

Dr. Mohan Kumar appointed as new Ambassador to France
Senior diplomat Dr. Mohan Kumar has been appointed the India’s next Ambassador to France. He will succeed Arun Kumar who was recently appointed Ambassador to the United States.

About Mohan Kumar

• Mohan Kumar is a 1981-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. 
• Prior to this appointment, he was serving as Ambassador of India to Bahrain. 
• He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a doctorate (PhD) from the reputed Sciences Po University in Paris. 
• In his over 30 years IFS career, he had served at served at various posts and had handled variety of interesting and challenging assignments. 
• Mohan Kumar had served Deputy High Commissioner at the Indian Diplomatic Mission in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001. He also has served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Paris for 3 years.

BHEL, Russian firm INTMA ink MoU to set power plant in Kazakhstan
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Russian company INTMA to set up a gas-based power project in Kazakhstan. The MoU aims set combined path to execute projects of mutual interest in Russia and Kazakhstan.  In this regard, BHEL’s competence in design and manufacturing of power plants will play important role and INTMA’s strength in handling engineering procurement and construction contractors (EPC) contracts will implement the projects.
By signing this MoU, BHEL will be able to expand its footprint in the commonwealth of independent states (CIS) region. At present, BHEL is has a presence in more than 75 countries and is executing 23 major projects in 16 countries. The state owned company is primarily engaged in manufacturing of power plant equipment like steam turbines, gas turbines, hydro turbines and boilers. While, INTMA is Russia and Kazakhstan’s one of the leading general EPC.  It has wide experience in industrial construction, automation, renovation of facilities and other energy related sectors.

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai sworn in as first lady judge of Sikkim High Court
Mrs. Meenakshi Madan Rai was sworn in as the first lady judge of the Sikkim High Court. Governor of Sikkim Srinivas Patil administered the oath of office to her at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok. After taking oath of office, she took charge as judge. With this Sikkim High Court again got its full strength of three judges after a gap of about one year. It should be noted that Mrs. Rai is also the third High Court judge who hails from Sikkim.

Renowned Assamese Film director, actor Bidyut Chakraborty passes away
Renowned Assamese film director, actor Bidyut Chakraborty passed away on 15 April 2015 in Guwahati, Assam. He was 55. In his film career he had directed several Assamese movies including Goon Goon Gaane Gaane, Dwaar and Raag-Biraag. His directorial film Rag-Birag is based on a novel written by Jnanpith award-winner Mamoni Raisom Goswami. Chakraborty ‘s  last film was Dwar (2012) which was based on a short story by Swarnakamal winning film critic Apurba Sharma. Apart from being film Director Chakraborty also had acted in several Assamese movies and serials. Awards- He was awarded Indira Gandhi award for Best First Film of a Director for his film Rag-Birag in 1996.

Nokia announces to buy Alcatel- Lucent
Finish telecom network equipment maker Nokia on 16 April 2015 announced acquisition of French telecom network firm Alcatel- Lucent. This merger will create the world’s largest supplier of telecom equipment’s that powers mobilephone networks by surpassing Ericsson and Huawei.
As part of the deal,

• The merged entity will be called Nokia and current Nokia Chairman Risto Siilasmaa will chair it. 
• Nokia will buy Alcatel- Lucent in an all-stock deal valued at 15.6 billion euros ($16.6 billion). 
• Nokia is going to give Alcatel-Lucent shareholders 0.55 shares in the merged company for each of their old shares. 
• In the combined entity Nokia shareholders will own 66.5 per cent shares of the company and Alcatel- Lucent shareholders will own 33.5 per cent shares

Pankaj More appointed as Technology Head of Walmart India 
Pankaj More on 15 April 2015 was appointed as Technology Head of Wal-Mart India Private Limited. In his new role, he will play a key role in strengthening company’s technology and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and will report directly to Walmart India President and CEO Krish Iyer. Pankaj has over 19 years of experience and had had joined WalMart in January 2013. He was leading the ISD strategy for the Walmart Asia market including Japan, China & India. He holds B.Tech degree in Computer Engineering from Mangalore University.
About Wal-Mart India Private Limited

• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Stores Inc, the world’s leading multinational retail corporation. 
• At present it owns and operates 20 Best Price Modern Wholesale stores in 9 States across India. 
• The first store was opened in Amritsar, Punjab in May 2009. 
• Incumbent CEO: Krish Iyer.