UN REJECTS RUSSIAN ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA

The UN General Assembly on 27 March 2014 passed the non-binding resolution that refuses recognition of annexation of Crimean peninsula by Russia from Ukraine. This resolution was supported by 110 countries, opposed by 11 and abstained by 58 (including India) in the 193-nation assembly.

Russia has described this resolution as counterproductive and the Russian Foreign Ministry has termed the resolution as an effort to complicate the internal political crisis of Ukraine.     

Apart from this in another incident, the US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to stop intimidating Ukraine and reduce number of troops on its border area. This action of US President came following the Russian action, in which it had massed a forced of thousands of troops (around 30000 troops) close to the eastern frontier of Ukraine.

Earlier, Russia claimed that the troops are there for military exercises. But earlier, similar steps were practiced by the yesteryear, Russian leaders during the Cold War.

The accession of Crimea in the Russian Federation was signed between Russia and Crimea on 18 March 2014 in Kremlin in Moscow. This was done following the referendum voted by the residents of Crimea (maximum of which are ethnic Russian) to break away from Ukraine and join Russia on 7 March 2014. This referendum was termed as illegal by Ukraine and the Western powers.

RAJIV TAKRU APPOINTED AS THE NEW REVENUE SECRETARY

Rajiv Takru, an IAS officer of 1979 batch of Gujarat cadre was appointed as the Revenue Secretary on 25 March 2014. He will succeed Sumit Bose, who will retire on 31 March 2014.  Takru at the time of appoinment was serving the Financial Services Department as its Secretary under the Union Finance Ministry.

Apart from this Gurdial Singh Sandhu, a Rajasthan cadre IAS officer of the 1980 batch has been appointed as the Financial Services Secretary. Sandu at the time of appointment was serving as the Minorities Affairs department in the Rajasthan Government and with this appointment he succeeds Takru.

Previously, Takru before his appointment as the secretary was serving as the Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He had also served Prasar Bharti as its CEO and has worked in the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

This appointment of the duo has been approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The committee had also made a temporary posting of Secretary Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shaktikanta Das, an IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre of 1980 batch for a period of absence of Aradhana Johri, IAS (UP, 1980) from 22-30 March 2014.

RUSI DINSHAW, PAKISTAN’S ONLY PARSI CRICKETER DIED

Rusi Dinshaw, the only Parsi Community cricketer of Pakistan died on 24 March 2014 in Karachi. He was 86 and was suffering from schizophrenia.

• He was selected in a Pakistan’s first test Squad that first toured India in 1952-53, but didn’t played  
• He was a left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner
• He went to Pakistan after partition of post Independent India
• He scored a double hundred in the Ruby Shield schools tournament in Kolkata
• He led the Karachi University in 1946 that won against Bombay University in the Maharaja Kumar of Cooch Behar Trophy
• He debuted in the first-class cricket in 1948 for Sindh at the Karachi Gymkhana against West Indies (their tour to Pakistan)

PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE GOES TO SHIGERU BAN

Japanese architect Shigeru Ban was named the winner of Pritzker Architecture Prize 2014, the most prestigious prize in architecture., largely because of his work designing shelters after natural disasters in places like Rwanda, Turkey, India, China, Haiti and Japan.

The Pritzker Jury cited Ban for his innovative use of material and his dedication to humanitarian efforts around the world, calling him a "a committed teacher who is not only a role model for younger generation, but also an inspiration."

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually to "honor a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.

Founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy, the award is funded by the Pritzker family and sponsored by the Hyatt Foundation

• Considered to be one of the world's premier architecture prizes.
• It is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture.
• The recipients receive US$100,000, a citation certificate, and since 1987, a bronze medallion

GOVIND MISHRA SELECTED FOR SARASWATI SAMMAN 2013

Govind Mishra, the renowned Hindi author will receive Sarawasti Samman for the year 2013 for his book ‘Dhool Paudho Par’ published in 2008. This honor will make Mishra the second Hindi author to receive the honor after Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

In 1991, Harivansh Rai Bachchan became the first Hindi author to receive this honor. 

First novel of Mishra was ‘Wo Apna Chehra’ published in 1969. Lal Peeli Zameen published in 1976 is MIshra's much talked novel. Earlier on 2 August 2013 the Saraswati Samman 2012 was given to Sugathakumari, the Malayalam poetess for ‘Manalezhuthu ‘ (the Writings on the Sand), a collection of poems in Malayalam. 

Saraswati Samman is an annual award and is given in recognition of outstanding prose or poetry literary works in Indian languages that are listed in Schedule VII of the constitution of India. This Samman is given for the literary works of last 10 years. The award was established in 1991 by K. K. Birla Foundation and carries a prize amount of 10 lakh rupees along with a certificate.