12th August 2014 - Daily Current Affairs updtes

12th August 2014 - Daily Current Affairs updtes

National Affairs

• The Bombay High Court today banned participation of children below 18 years in forming human pyramids during the popular Dahi Handi festival. 
• Today is the birth anniversary of father of India's space programme and Indian physicist Dr.Vikram Sarabhai‬.
• Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone for Leh-Kargil-Srinagar transmission system. He also dedicated the 45 MW Nimoo Bazgo Hydroelectric Project to the nation.
• Narendra Modi today came down strongly on Pakistan for its “proxy war of terrorism” against India as he announced new funds and development projects during a day trip to Kashmir.
• To prevent incidents of violence, Assam government has been advised to take strict security measures, including seizure of illegal weapons, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. 
• What happened ? 46 people lost their lives in May following violence in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts of Assam. 
• Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill making enforcing dress code and banning entry of persons wearing ‘dhoti’ in public places a cognizable offence punishable with jail term.
• In a move that will help families whose kin have passed away abroad, government introduces an online system that will enable them track the transportation of the mortal remains.
• Delhi's Dwarka Sector-21 metro station’s platform number 2 was lit up by energy produced from solar panels placed on the roof of the station. This officially marked the commissioning of the country’s first solar power plant at a metro station. 

International Affairs

• Italian Premier Matteo Renzi today spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and sought a "rapid and positive solution" in the case of the two Italian marines being held in India for allegedly shooting to death two Indian fishermen in 2012.
• The US has continued with its two-pronged mission in Iraq, hitting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets and providing humanitarian aid to thousands of people stranded on Mount Sinjar.  
• The EU's anti-fraud office Today urged Gibraltar and Spain to launch legal action after it found signs that organised crime was behind a rise in cigarette smuggling in southern Spain. 
• The UN has named three experts as members of an independent inquiry commission that will probe possible human rights violations and war crimes committed, particularly in the Gaza Strip, during the recent conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
• Amal Alamuddin - London-based British-Lebanese human rights lawyer
• William Schabas - Professor of international criminal law 
• Doudou Diene - United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism

Awards & Honors

• Arun Jaitley conferred with Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (2010)
• Dr. Karan Singh conferred with Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (2011)
• Sharad Yadav conferred with Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (2012) 

Business & Economy

• In an attempt to ensure plurality of news and views, broadcast regulator Trai today suggested restriction on political bodies and corporates entering the television and newspaper business.  
• Britannia Industries Ltd (BIL) is looking at an entry into Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The company which makes biscuits, cakes and rusk, is also planning to launch a disruptive product within this year.

Deaths

• Actor Robin Williams dead at 63 in apparent suicide bid.

Books & Authors

• Samanth Subramanian -  This Divided Island (this is his second book. his debut was a travelogue titled Following Fish)
• "This Divided Island" explores the grave issues of post-war #SriLanka through a narrative history of the country’s residents