News of the Day 10 June 2019

Noted playwright, actor and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad dies at 81

Girish Karnad (81), well-known writer, playwright and actor, passed away early on Monday morningin Bengaluru.

The Jnanpith awardee succumbed to multiple-organ failure at his residence on Lavelle Road in the city, according to sources.

Born in May, 1938, he was one of the most prominent theatre personalities of the 60s and 70s, a period regarded the Renaissance of Indian theatre. He worked with mythology and history and gave them a contemporary resonance in plays such as Tughlaq and Hayavadana. His latest play was Rakshasa Tangadi, published last year.

He was also a film and theatre director and actor. He made a name not only in parallel cinema but also in mainstream films in multiple languages. He acted in films like Manthan and Samskara, and directed Utsav and Kaadu.

A highly regarded public intellectual, he often became the target of Hindutva right, for instance for his views on Mysuru king Tipu Sultan. He was believed to be on the hitlist of the gang that killed Gauri Lankesh and was given security by the State police in the aftermath of her murder.

Rupee rises 8 paise to 69.38 vs $ in early trade

The rupee appreciated by 8 paise to 69.38 against the US dollar in opening trade Monday, driven higher opening in domestic equities.

Forex dealers said, the local currency also gained strength amid weakening of the greenback in overseas markets.

However, rising crude oil prices and sustained foreign fund inflows weighed on the domestic currency and restricted the upmove.

The rupee opened at 69.40 at the interbank forex market then gained further ground and touched 69.38 amid a positive opening in domestic equities, displaying gains of 8 paise over its last close.

The rupee Friday had settled at 69.46 to the US dollar.

Meanwhile, the 10-year government bond yield was at 7.01 per cent on Monday, against previous close of 6.97 per cent on Friday.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the capital markets, pulling out  478.84 crore on a net basis Friday, provisional exchange data showed.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.51 per cent to $63.61 per barrel.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex was trading higher by 268.04 points, or 0.68 % to quote at 39,885.74 while the NSE Nifty was trading at 11,943.10, higher by 72.45 points, or 0.61 %.

Source – The Hindu

shivam