Current Affairs 1st November 2014

Current Affairs 1st November 2014 - Important Points

• Wanted in Bhopal gas tragedy, Warren Anderson passed away at 92

• Minor damages caused to INS Kora, as it was scraped by merchant vessel

• Lokesh Chandra appointed as President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations

• After 4 years captivity, Somali Pirates freed 7 Indian sailors

• Rajiv Mehrishi took charge as Economic Affairs Secretary

Current Affairs 1st November 2014 - Details

Wanted in Bhopal gas tragedy, Warren Anderson passed away at 92

Former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson passed away in Florida at the age of 92. He was former Union Carbide chief and was wanted by India to face prosecution for his role in the Bhopal gas tragedy. 

In the year of 1984, poisonous gas leak at the company's plant in Bhopal killed thousand's and thousands were affected by it. 

Minor damages caused to INS Kora, as it was scraped by merchant vessel

On 31st October 2014, Indian Naval Ship Kora was scraped by a foreign merchant vessel about 300 NM at sea from Visakhapatnam which resulted in minor damages to the ship, though there were no damage to the watertight integrity of the ship or any injuries or loss of life.

This minor accident was occurred whrn INS Kora and INS Gaj were on passage from Visakhapatnam to Port Blair. Merchant cargo ship was from Chittagong in Bangladesh to Colombo.  

Lokesh Chandra appointed as President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations

On 27th October 2014, Prof Lokesh Chandra was appointed as chairman of ICCR (India Council for Cultural Relations). President Pranab Mukherjee appointed him for a term of three years.

Prof Chandra succeeded Congress leader Karan Singh, as Karan Singh resigned from office on 18th August 2014. Earlier Prof Lokesh Chandra was the Honorary Director of the International Academy of Indian Culture, which is a premier research institution for Asian cultures.

Prof Chandra had served as a member of the Rajya Sabha twice from 1974-80 and 1980-86 and was also honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2006.

After 4 years captivity, Somali Pirates freed 7 Indian sailors

On 30th October 2014, Seven Indian sailors were freed from a captivity of four years by Somali pirates. 

Sailors's release was confirmed by Kenyan-based Ecoterra International which monitors maritime activity on the Indian Ocean.

Rajiv Mehrishi took charge as Economic Affairs Secretary

On 31st October 2014, 1978 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre Mr. Rajiv Mehrishi took charge as Union Finance Secretary under the Union Ministry of Finance. Mr. Rajiv Mehrishi succeeded Mr. Arvind Mayaram,  as Mr. Arvind Mayaram shifted to Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on 30th October 2014.