11 January 2016 Current Affairs
Sikri takes over as new CCI chairman
Former Gujarat cadre IAS officer Devender Kumar Sikri has taken oath as the Chairman of Competition Commission of India on 11 January 2016.Mr. Sikri, a 1975 batch IAS officer, replaces Ashok Chawla who demitted office on January 7 and will be the third chairman of the CCI. Mr. Chawla had taken over from Dhanendra Kumar, who demitted office in June 2011. The 62-year-old Mr. Sikri, who superannuated as secretary, department of justice in July 31, 2013, will have a two-and-a-half year tenure (till he attains 65 years of age).
Syrian foreign minister visits India before peace talks
Syria’s foreign minister arrived in New Delhi on 11 January 2016 for talks with his Indian counterpart, trying to build international support for President Bashar al-Assad’s government before peace talks in Geneva. Peace talks between Assad’s government and the Syrian opposition are due to begin on 25 January 2016 as part of an ambitious 18-month plan endorsed by the UN Security Council. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem meet Sushma Swaraj and “other government functionaries” during a three-day official visit
India-Australia social pact comes into force
A new social security agreement signed between India and Australia has come into operation enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other’s country, a pact likely to boost bilateral business linkages.Australian Minister for Social Services Christian Porter and Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer said the Commonwealth government wanted to make sure people who lived and worked in more than one country were not disadvantaged.The Agreement signed in November 2014 came into operation on January 1, 2016.
Reliance to set up Rs. 5,000-crore naval shipbuilding unit near Vizag
Reliance Group, led by billionaire Anil Ambani, will set up a naval ship-building facility near Visakhapatnam at a cost of Rs. 5,000 crore. It is the single biggest investment in Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation.A memorandum of understanding to build the facility was signed between Reliance ADA Group Chairman, Anil Ambani and AP Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, at the CII Partnership Summit and Sunrise AP Investment Meet on 10 January 2016.Reliance will establish the facility at Rambilli, about 70 km from Vizag.
Binny Bansal appointed as CEO of Flipkart
E-commerce firm Flipkart on 11 January 2016 appointed Binny Bansal as the Chief Executive Officer and Sachin Bansal as the Executive Chairman.“Sachin Bansal, CEO and co-founder of Flipkart, will be the Executive Chairman of the company and Binny Bansal, COO and co-founder of Flipkart, will be the Chief Executive Officer”.In his role as the Executive Chairman, Sachin will provide strategic direction and mentor the senior leadership as also look for new investment opportunities.While, Binny as the CEO will now be responsible for operationally driving the company and be accountable for Flipkart’s overall performance.