Current Affairs : July 16, 2011

July 16, 2011

Common Service Centre Diwas to be observed on 16^th July, 2011

Common Service Centre, CSC, Diwas to be observed on 16^th July, 2011
Department of Information and Technology decided to observe it every year to mark the incorporation of CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd on this day in 2009

Satellite GSAT-12 functioning well

The GSAT-12 satellite is functioning well and all operations are proceeding according to plan
Satellite has been injected into the sub Geo synchronous Transfer Orbit with perigee, nearest point to the earth 284 kms and apogee, the farthest point from the earth 21,000 kms
The orbit will be raised over the next few days
The solar panels were automatically deployed and were generating power
The Master control Facility at Hassan also took control of the satellite and that the telemetry and telecommand systems were working well
The perigee of the satellite would be raised in a series of operations
Once the final orbit is attained, the payloads will be tested and operationalized
GSAT has an expected mission life of about eight years

Eight banks not able pass the EU stress test with 16 in danger zone

8 out of 90 European banks have not been able to pass the Stress Tests designed to ensure they can withstand another financial crisis
As per the European Banking Authority (EBA), which carried out the health-check, another 16 banks were in the danger zone
The EBA called on national financial regulators to ensure that capital shortfalls would be quickly resolved
5 Spanish banks were not able to pass, as well as one in Austria and two in Greece
Germany’s Helaba pulled out of the stress tests, effectively making it the 9^th bank to join the category

14 Taliban members removed from the Sanctions List by UN

The UNSC (United Nations Security Council) removed 14 former Afghan Taliban leaders from an International blacklist on the request of the Government in Kabul
They include 4 members of the Peace Council set up by the Afghan Government last September to pave the way for talks
But it is understood that the Sanctions Committee refused to remove some other names as requested

Rabi Bernard elected to Rajya Sabha

The AIADMK nominee for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu has been declared elected
Mr. William Rabi Bernard: Popular TV host
Mr. Rabi received the certificate of election from the returning officer and Assembly Secretary Mr A.M.P. Jamaludeen

Mumbai Cricket Association Elections: Deshmukh defeats Vengsarkar

Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh defeated former Indian Captain Dilip Vengsarkar, by 47 votes to become the president of the Mumbai Cricket Association
Term of Office: Two next years

Libyan Rebels recognized as Legitimate Government by the 32 Nation Libyan Contact Group

The Libya Contact Group has formally recognized main opposition group as the Country’s Legitimate Government until a new interim authority is created
The 32-nation Contact Group
on Libya or the Libya Contact Group includes members of NATO, the EU and the Arab League
The contact group declared Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s regime no longer legitimate
This will potentially open up cash that the rebels fighting Libyan forces urgently need

IGRUA to train 200 Pilots in coming years

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA)
Government owned IGRUA to train 200 pilots in coming years
Academy’s governing council has sought budgetary support from the Government in the 12th Plan for infrastructural requirements
Helicopter Training also to start at IGRUA

Cancel meeting with Dalai Lama: China to USA

China asked the US President Barack Obama to cancel a meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, which is due to take place
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said, President Obama should not do anything that could interfere with China’s internal affairs
China accuses the Dalai Lama of being a separatist