Current Affairs 2010 May - III

·         India, the world's second fastest growing large economy, also provided the second highest returns from equities, just behind Indonesia, an Asian Development Bank report said.(Go for Part I, II)

·         The world's cheapest car, Tata Nano, has won gold prize in the best new product segment under the transportation category at the 2010 Edison Awards.

·         The annual bilateral trade between Indonesia and India had grown from $4 billion to $10.55 billion within a span of four years between 2005 and 2009 following the strengthening of ties between the two nations.

·         The size of the education sector may double to USD 50 billion by 2015 with the rise in government expenditure along with an increase in middle-class income, an industry chamber CII study has said.

·         Thai film 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives', a spooky tale of reincarnation by 39-year-old Apichatpong Weerasethakul, won the Best Picture Palm d'Or honour at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in Cannes.

·         Internet search titan Google and electronics giant Sony are among "the world's most reputed companies", as customers have placed a lot of faith and trust in these firms, says a study. Entertainment and media firm The Walt Disney Company and German luxury car maker BMW have been ranked at the third and the fourth place respectively while auto maker Daimler/ Mercedes-Benz secured the fifth place in the world's 28 most reputed companies.

·         Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been conferred honorary life membership of Portugal Football Players' Association thus joining a list of all time greats including Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes.

·         India unveiled the draft of the ambitious National Green Mission, aiming to increase its forest cover by 10 million hectares by 2020 and enhance ecosystem services at an estimated cost of Rs 44,000 crore.

·         AirAsia Group CEO Dato’ Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes was the proud recipient of the Masterclass Global CEO of the Year award at the 2nd Malaysia Business Leadership Award (MBLA) 2010 ceremony.

·         The Planning Commission has approved Central funding to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore for building canal network under Narmada project in Gujarat.

·         After five postponements, the Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday said the 34th National Games will be held from 9th-22nd December in Jharkhand.

·         India and energy-rich Turkmenistan decided to step up engagement in a number of areas, particularly trade and hyrdrocarbons, and signed five pacts, including one in the economic field.

·         Monica Lakhanpaul, a consultant community paediatrician and senior lecturer at the University of Leicester has been honoured here at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards for 2010.

·         The number of mobile phone subscribers will touch a staggering 5 billion worldwide this year from 2.2 billion in 2006, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

·         The Commerce and Industry Ministry announced financial assistance of Rs 95 lakh for about 19,000 rubber growers in the country during the current financial year.

·         India became the UAE's largest trading partner in 2009, ousting China from the top position and accounting for nearly 15 per cent of the country’s total commercial exchanges, an Emirates Industrial Bank (EIB) study has revealed.

·         According to the Worldwide Quality of Living survey 2010 for 221 cities globally, Bengaluru remains the best placed among Indian cities in the global list at 140th rank this year, an improvement from its 142nd rank in last year's list. The country's national capital, New Delhi, climbed to 143 rank in this year's list from 145th slot last year and financial hub Mumbai moved up four places to 144th rank. As the list is topped by Vienna (Austria), followed by Switzerland's Zurich and Geneva at second and third positions, respectively.

·         Mango exports from India, the world's largest producer of the fruit, is likely to rise 8.5 per cent to over 90,000 tonne in the 2009-10 season on increased demand from the Middle East, an agri-export promotion body APEDA said.

·         A global non-profit organisation will start food banks in the country aiming to provide food to the needy by the end of this year. Chicago-based Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), which provides food to the poor people in 30 countries, plans to open food banks in the country.