Current Affairs 13th July 2016

1. INS Karna commissioned by Navy chief

i. Indian Navy has commissioned INS Karna, an independent base of Marine Commandos (MARCOS) at Bheemunipatanam Naval Base, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

2. Najma Heptulla, G M Siddeswara quit Modi Cabinet

i. Union ministers Najma Heptulla and GM Siddeshwara resigned.
ii. Dr Heptulla, the Minority Affairs Minister, was replaced by Minister of State Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who has been given independent charge. The portfolio held by Mr. Siddeshwara - junior minister for Heavy Industries - will be taken over by Babul Supriyo, who was the junior minister for Urban Development.

3. SBI signs MoU with IIT Bombay to promote startups

4. Bangladesh, India sign Rampal power plant construction agreement

i. Bangladesh and India have signed a landmark deal for the construction of a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power plant, the biggest project under bilateral cooperation that would mark the transition from electricity export to generation level.

5. Pokhara-New Delhi direct bus service launched

6. K V R Murthy new CMD of Jute Corporation

7. SRK, Akshay join Taylor Swift in Forbes highest paid celebrity list

8. William H McNeill, prize-winning world historian, died at 98

i. William H McNeill, the prize-winning scholar who wove the stories of civilizations worldwide into the landmark “The Rise of the West” and helped pioneer the history of disease and epidemics in “Plagues and People,” has died at age 98.

9. IDFC Bank acquires Grama Vidiyal

i. IDFC Bank has announced it had acquired Tamil Nadu-headquartered microfinance institution Grama Vidiyal in an all-cash deal. 

10. HDFC to sell masala bonds 

11. Cabinet approves stake sale in NBCC India

12. ICC has released Test, ODI, and T20I Rankings

i. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the official ICC men’s Team Rankings from Test, One Day International (ODI) and T20I cricket.
ii. India held the second position in the latest ICC Test rankings with
112 rating points followed by Pakistan and England. Australia leads the Test rankings with 118 rating.
iii. Top 3 teams in ICC ODI Rankings: 1. Australia  2. New Zealand  3. India
iv. Top 3 teams in ICC T20 Rankings: 1. New Zealand  2. India  3. West Indies
v. Top 4 teams in Women’s Rankings: 1. Australia  2. England   3. New Zealand  4. India