Current Affairs Update – 8th March, 2015

• Veteran journalist and author Vinod Mehta passed away after prolonged illness in the Capital on Sunday.
• Mr. Mehta, 72, who had founded the Outlook Magazine and served as its Editor-in-Chief, last held the post of editorial Chairman of the publication.
• An eminent political commentator, Mr. Mehta was served as the editor of several publications, including The Pioneer, The Sunday Observer, The Independent and The Indian Post.

• Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to build its first all-electric car in Austria.
• The luxury car-maker’s Jaguar brand could begin production of the vehicle next year.
• JLR’s electric debut would be the latest in a string of launches after its new XE “baby Jag” and F-Pace sports utility vehicle, as well as a new factory in China and one under construction in Brazil.
• The company is believed to be devising plans for a small production line in Austria, making about 10,000 cars a year, by leasing space in an existing factory, according to The Sunday Times.
• Jaguar wants to build an electric vehicle, in part to sidestep looming European Union emission fines.
• Manufacturers are racing to produce electric and hybrid cars, with Germany’s BMW enjoying surging sales of its i8 and i3 petrol and electric plug-in hybrids.
• The Tata Group, which paid $2.3 billion in 2008 to buy JLR from Ford and has more than doubled the workforce to 32,000.

• The government has decided to recruit young female officers in the force and deploy them at select locations like Nathula Pass along the Indo-China frontier.
• This is a maiden initiative undertaken for women empowerment in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• ITBP is the designated security force to secure 3,488 km of the Line of Actual Control with China. Since its raising in 1962, the force has never directly inducted women officers in its ranks considering the arduous nature of its task along the icy and inhospitable frontier running along the Himalayan mountain ranges.
• Till now, women could only don the combat uniform in the officer cadre in all central security forces like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the border guarding forces Border Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal, except ITBP.
• ITBP, at present, has about 1,400 women with the majority being in the rank of constables.

• Japanese major Sumitomo Corporation has evinced interest in setting up of a 4,000 MW ultra-mega power project in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
• A representative of the corporation told that it would be based on ultra-supercritical technology with each unit of 1,000 MW.
• Supercritical technology projects are extremely energy-efficient and productive.
• Normally, supercritical technology units come in 660 MW and some 800 MW but this ultra-supercritical unit takes it to 1,000 MW for each unit.

• Arun Singh has been appointed as India’s ambassador to the U.S. succeeding S. Jaishankar, who was named the Foreign Secretary in January, the External Affairs Ministry announced on Sunday.
• Currently India’s Ambassador to France, the 1979-batch IFS officer is expected to take up his assignment shortly, the Ministry said.
• However, it is believed that Mr. Singh will take up his new posting after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to France next month. Mr. Modi is likely to travel to Canada in April on a bilateral visit and is expected to make a stop-over in Germany while going and in Paris on his return.
• Mr. Singh, who has been joint secretary in-charge of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan division in MEA, has done postings in Japan and Israel among other countries.

• Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal’s quest for becoming the first Indian woman to win the most prestigious All England badminton championship ended in agony after she suffered a heart-breaking loss to Spain’s Carolina Marin in the summit clash here today.
• The World No. 3 Indian let go of a huge opportunity to script history as she squandered an opening game lead to go down 21—16, 14—21, 7—21 to the reigning world champion in the women’s singles final that lasted for little over an hour.
• Olympic bronze medallist, Saina, thus, failed to emulate her long-time coach Pullella Gopichand (2001) and legendary Prakash Padukone (1980), who had won the prestigious title in the past.
• Saina, who has been competing at the All England since 2007, had never lost to Carolina and looked on course for an encore before the World No. 6 Spaniard scripted a remarkable comeback in the second game to put paid to the Indian’s hopes at the Barclaycard Arena.

• Kumar Sangakkara became only the second batsman after Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar to score 14,000 One—day International runs when the Sri Lankan veteran reached the landmark against Australia in a World Cup Pool A match here today.
• He also became the first batsman to score hundreds in three consecutive World Cup matches.
• Sangakkara was 39 short of reaching the milestone when he came out to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Chasing a mammoth 377—run target, Sangakkara put up a spirited show with his fluent century and kept Sri Lanka in the hunt till he was dismissed.
• The retired Tendulkar remains way in front with 18,246 runs in 463 matches.
• The three centuries took Sangakkara’s tally to 24 hundreds and he has the most centuries for Sri Lanka after Sanath Jayasuriya’s 28 tons.
• The classy left—handed batsman features fourth on the list of all—time most hundreds in ODIs, which includes Tendulkar (49), former Australian captain Ricky Pointing (30) and Jayasuriya on third.
• Sangakkara also became the first Sri Lankan batsman to notch up 14,000 runs in ODIs.

• International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
• This year’s theme, “Empowering Women - Empowering Humanity: Picture It!" envisions a world where each woman and girl can exercise her choices, such as participating in politics, getting an education, having an income, and living in societies free from violence and discrimination.
• In 2015, International Women’s Day will highlight the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that sets the agenda for realizing women’s rights. While there have been many achievements since then, many serious gaps remain.

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