Current Affairs 3rd July 2014

Current Affairs 3rd July 2014

Updated : 03-Jul-2014

Current Affairs 03rd July 2014 - Important Points
Current Affairs 03rd July 2014 - Details
"First Citizen: Pranab Mukherjee", a coffee table book released in Rashtrapati Bhavan
On 2nd July 2014, The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received the first copy of a coffee-table book titled "First Citizen: Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan" at a function to be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The book was published by The Week magazine was released by Dr. Karan Singh in the presence of the President and Mr. Philip Mathew, Managing Editor, the Week.

The coffee-table book is a compilation of articles which have appeared in The Week under the title 'First Citizen' from January 2013 to May 2014. The contents cover the President’s initiatives to reach out to citizens on issues concerning them, his tours across the country and abroad, the new initiatives taken to open up the doors of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the common citizen, the ceremonies associated with the presidency, the Kitchen etc.
The book includes never before seen archival photographs of former Presidents from the Rashtrapati Bhavan collection, interesting new snippets of information and three articles authored by the President on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda which were published in The Week.
Michelle Howard Becomes The Navy's First Female 4-Star admiral in US
Among the international Current Affairs, Michelle Howard became the first female four-star admiral in US Navy. She is the first women admiral in 238 year old history of US Navy. Vice-Admiral Michelle was promoted to the highest rank of four-star admiral at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in US on 1st July 2014. The Promotion ceremony was presided over by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.
Graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1982, Howard also attended the Army's Command and General Staff College, where she earned a master's degree in military arts and sciences in 1998. In 1999, she became the first African-American woman in U.S. history to take command of a ship in the Navy. She was honored with the USO Military Woman of the Year award in 2011 and the NAACP Chairman’s Image Award in 2013.

French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy charged with corruption and influence peddling
On 2nd July 2014, the former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy was charged with corruption and influence peddling.
Sarkozy was charged on the allegation that he sought insider information from a judge regarding an investigation into illegal campaign financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
With this, Sarkozy became the first French President who was taken into custody in criminal investigation. The ex-President for the second time has lost presidential immunity from legal prosecution. He lost presidential immunity for first time in 2013 but the case was later dropped against him.

CCEA approved inclusion of onion and potato under Essential Commodities Act, 1955
On 2nd July 2014, The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the inclusion of onion and potato under the purview of stock holding limits under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
This will empower the State Governments to undertake de-hoarding operations and to control the prices of onions and potatoes.
This decision is expected to help in the efforts being taken to tackle the problem of rising prices and also improve the availability of these commodities to the general public especially vulnerable sections. The main objective of Control Orders is to enable State Governments to continue to take effective de-hoarding operations under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 by fixing stock limits/licensing requirements etc. in respect of these commodities especially in view of rising prices. The Central Government has already delegated powers by empowering State Governments to fix stock holding limits etc., as per local conditions and to undertake de-hoarding operations commensurate with the objective of the Central orders.
Do you Know ?

The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was enacted to ensure the easy availability of essential commodities to consumers and to protect them from exploitation by unscrupulous traders. The Act provides for the regulation and control of production, distribution and pricing of commodities, which are declared as essential for maintaining or increasing supplies or for securing their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices.
Swamy Goud elected as Chairman of Telangana Legislative Council

On 2nd July 2014, TRS leader K Swamy Goud was elected Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council.
As many as 21 MLCs, including eight from the Congress and two from the TDP, participated in the voting and all of them voted for Goud. Soon after his election was formally announced, Goud took over as the first Chairman of the 40-member House. Earlier, as the House assembled and protem Chairman N Vidyasagar directed Legislative Council Secretary Raja Sadaram to start the poll process, Congress members demanded that the election be put off, terming it unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Ram Naresh Yadav sworn-in as Governor of Chhattisgarh
On 2nd July 2014, Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav was sworn-in as Governor of Chhattisgarh at Raj Bhawan, Raipur. Chief Justice Yatindra Singh of the Bilaspur High Court administered the oath of office to Mr. Yadav in a function organised here at Raj Bhawan. Speaking to the reporters after the ceremony, Mr. Yadav said he will make efforts to bring Naxalites into mainstream and ensure their role in development of the State.
Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav replaced Mr. Shekhar Dutt, who resigned as the Governor of Chhattisgarh on 18 June 2014.
Do you Know ?
Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1977 to 1979 from Janata Party.