21st August 2014 - Daily Current Affairs updates

21st August 2014 - Daily Current Affairs updates


National Affairs

• Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan's death anniversary today.
• Government today (Thursday) barred the release of controversial Punjabi film ‘Kaum De Heere’ on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination tomorrow (Friday) citing apprehensions of law and order problems in parts of the country.

• The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a writ petition filed by Uttarkahand Governor Dr. Aziz Qureshi challenging the Union Home Secretary’s oral communication asking him to resign from the post.
• Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Constitution amendment and National Judicial Commission Bills providing for replacing the collegium system of appointment of Judges to High courts and Supreme Court.  
• PM NarendraModi laid foundation stone of New Incubation Facility at STPI Centre at Ranchi.
• Modi dedicates 765 kv Ranchi-Dharmjaygarh-Sipat Transmission Line (Powergrid) to the nation.
• Modi dedicates the Mouda Super Thermal Power Project-Phase I to the nation during his brief visit to Nagpur today.
• Modi laid  the foundation stone of ambitious Metro Rail Project in Nagpur.

Business & Ecnomy

• Five Indian companies, including Hindustan Unilever and Tata Consultancy Services, are among Forbes’ list of the world’s 100 most innovative companies that investors think are most likely to “generate big, new growth ideas“. The list has been topped by California-based global cloud computing company Salesforce for the fourth year in a row.
• The Reserve Bank today said its surplus (profit) for the FY’14 fiscal declined 14.75 per cent to Rs. 52,679 crore as its interest income from investments in foreign sovereign bonds declined during the year even as its investments increased.
• RBI projects 5.5 per cent GDP growth this fiscal, but rules out too much impact of deficient monsoons.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), today tightened the norms for giving loans against shares by non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
• The Finance Ministry today expressed hope that domestic diesel prices will soon become market linked in the backdrop of softening global crude oil rates.
• Engineering major Larsen & Toubro today said it has bagged contracts worth Rs. 1,832 crore from various business segments since July.

Sports

• Manchester United completed the signing of Argentina defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon today. In a five-year deal reportedly worth around £16 million, full-back Rojo arrives at the club while winger Nani returns to his former club on a season-long loan.
• Barcelona confirmed they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) after FIFA upheld its decision to ban the club from signing for the next two transfer windows for irregularities over the signing of underage players.