Current Affairs - 20th, 21st April 2014
World Heritage Day celebrated
World Heritage Day was celebrated on 18 April across the globe and the theme of this year was “Heritage of Commemoration”. Till Jan 2014 there are 981 world heritage sites across 160 countries. The day is also known as “International Day for Monuments and Sites” and is celebrated promote awareness about the heritage sites and the importance of their conservation.
'Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology outstanding services award' 2014
The award has been given to Shriprakash KS, who is vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health sciences. He was given this award working for prevention of blindness at the World Ophthalmic Conference held in Tokyo.
New rules for listed companies by SEBI
SEBI came out with new and stricter rules for listed companies for protection of investor rights and p[provide equitable treatment to minority and foreign shareholders. These rules will come into force from October 1, 2014. They require a company to get shareholders’ approval to get related party transactions as well as establish whistleblower mechanism. Now, it will be mujst for them to have atleast one woman in the board of directors.
These new rules are aimed at adopting best practices for corporate governance. Now companies will have to provide an option of e-voting to shareholders on all resolutions proposed to pass at general meeting by amending clause 35B and 49 of listing agreement. Now, an independent director can serve on maximum 7 boards’ of companies. In case of whole time director, the maximum number is ceased to 3.
Engineer John C Hoboult dies
NASA engineer John C Hoboult, who had made a great contribution to NASA’s successful moon landing in 1969, dies at the age of 95. Houbolt started his career with NASA’s predecessor in 1942, served in the Army Corps of Engineers and worked in an aeronautical research and consulting firm before returning to NASA in 1976 as chief aeronautical scientist. He retired in 1985 but continued private consulting work.
US ban Hamid Aboutalabi to attend UN General Assembly Session
US enacts a law that bans Hamid Aboutalebi, the anti US- Iran ambassador to UN to enter the country for attending annual general assembly. His involvement in the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran and his role as an interpreter for the captors has drawn ire from US. The legislation bans any UN representative that have been hostile to the host nation to enter that country.
Cadbury to be renamed as Mondelez India
Cadbury India famous for its chocolates will be renamed as Mondelez India after its US base parent company Mondelez International which acquired Cadbury in 2010. The company is also planning move out of its headquarters at Peddar Road in Mumbai. Cadbury has been in India since 1948. Mondelez is the new identity of the former Kraft Foods after it was restructured two years back and given the name “Mondelez”. Now, the Indian arm of Cadbury is doing the same by renaming itself.
