Supersonic Akash Missile test-fired by Army in very low Altitude in ITR Balasore

1.    Supersonic Akash Missile test-fired by Army in very low Altitude in ITR Balasore

i. Indian Army on 18 June 2014 test-fired surface-to-air Akash missile from an Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore, Odisha.

ii. This test was last among the validation trials being carried out by the Army on the first off production models of Akash Supersonic missile. Now it is ready for being induction in Indian army.

iii. The missile intercepted fast-moving, small unmanned aerial vehicle named Banshee at an altitude of 30 meters above the sea level. This test-fire at a low altitude has proved its capability against subsonic cruise missile.

2.    GMR wins arbitration award against Maldivian govt

i. Indian infrastructure giant GMR has won the arbitration award against Maldivian government for wrongful termination of Airport project contract.

ii. According to the media reports, the amount of compensation to be awarded to the company will be decided at a later stage of proceedings.
iii. GMR has sued Maldives for 1.6 billion dollar compensation under the contract. Maldivian government has so far refused to respond to the news.
iv. Former President Mohamed Nasheed's government had signed a lease with Indian infrastructure giant GMR to develop and operate Male International airport. But President Dr. Mohamed Waheed had terminated the agreement in 2012 immediately on coming to power after overthrowing Nasheed.

3.    Former Captain of Bangladesh Mohammad Ashraful banned for eight years

i. Former Captain of Bangladesh Mohammad Ashraful on 18 June 2014 was banned for eight years by the disciplinary panel set up by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. 

ii. He was found guilty on four charges of fixing matches in Bangladesh Premier League of 2013. Ashraful has also been ordered to pay a fine of one million taka (12280 US dollar).

iii. The 29-year-old was under suspension since June 2013 after he admitted to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit that he had indulged in fixing BPL matches.

4.    Magnus Carlsen bags FIDE World Rapid Chess Ch’ship

i. World Number One Magnus Carlsen has bagged the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship title in Dubai.
ii. The World Champion scored 11 out of 15 points to win the Gold medal. Aremian Fabiani Caruana came second while India’s Vishwanathan Anand won the bronze medal at the third place in the tournament.

iii. In his last game against Anand had to settle for a draw yesterday against Teimour Radjabov. The Blitz version of the Chess Championship follows next.
iv. It will be for 21 rounds with superfast 5-minute game of chess for a result with quick and agile moves The Winner from each category takes away prize money worth $200,000. 113 Grandmasters from 46 countries are participating in the championship.