13-14 Feb 2015

US announced new cyber security agency CTIIC to respond to enhanced cyber threats

The US on 11 February 2015 have announced the formation of a new cyber security agency, The new Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC), to respond to enhanced cyber threats.

The CTIIC will foil cyber attacks by sharing intelligence across agencies during a crisis.

The CTIIC will be created as part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and will be structured like the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Initially, the agency will comprise a staff of about 50 people and have a budget of 35 million US dollars.

The agency will work in the area of cyber security and will be tasked with analyzing and coordinating responses to cyber threats. Moreover, the cyber security strategy would focus on four elements:

•Improve cyber defenses using the Cyber security Framework developed last year by the National Institute of Standards and Technology so every organization can manage cyber risks effectively.

•Enhance the government's ability to disrupt, respond to and recover from cyber threats.

•Boost international cooperation between law enforcement agencies to hold criminals around the world accountable.

•Make cyber space intrinsically more secure by replacing passwords with more secure technologies and building more resilient networks, and enhancing consumer protections online.

Comment

President of US Barack Obama has moved cyber security to the top of his 2015 agenda after recent hacking attacks against Sony Pictures.

He recently released a fiscal 2016 budget that seeks 14 billion US dollars to better protect federal and private networks from hacking threats.

In his State of the Union speech, he announced several new initiatives to bolster online security and improve access to cyberspace. Further, he announced to host a cyber summit in second week of February 2015 with industry and Government leaders at Stanford University in California.

Union Government constituted SIT to reinvestigate 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases

Union Ministry of Home Affairs on 12 February 2015 constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) for re-investigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. The newly-constituted SIT has been empowered to examine fresh evidence in the cases that had even been closed.

The three-member SIT will be headed by Pramod Asthana, an IPS officer of 1986 batch. Other two members of SIT are retired district and sessions judge Rakesh Kapoor and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police in Delhi Police Kumar Gyanesh.

The SIT will submit its report in six months and it will look into all serious criminal cases related to the riots, examine evidence and even re-open cases and file charge sheets in the courts concerned.

The SIT was constituted on the recommendations of the Mathur Committee. Mathur Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice GP Mathur was constituted on 23 December 2014 to examine the possibility of constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for reinvestigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases.

The committee submitted its report to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in January 2015 and recommended a fresh probe of the case.

Anti-Sikh riots erupted in Delhi and other northern States of India after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her security guards at her official residence on 31 October 1984. The riots claimed lives of 3325 people (2733 in Delhi and rest were killed in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other States).

SpaceX successfully launched Falcon 9 rocket from Florida

Experimental aerospace firm SpaceX on 12 February 2015 successfully launched the Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on its third attempt.

The rocket carried an unmanned Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite. This satellite will be used by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor the Sun.

The satellite will collect the information on solar storms and will monitor changes in solar wind and provide warnings on hazardous outbursts from earth to warn forecasters. It will also help forecasters to predict changes which affect satellites, power grids and communication systems.

DSCOVR will be positioned at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point, 1500000 kilometre away from Earth. The satellite will reach its final orbit in 110 days after launch. DSCOVR was jointly developed by NOAA, NASA and the United States Air Force.

About Falcon 9 rocket
• Falcon 9 rocket is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), a private space transport services company.
• It is basically used for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and Dragon spacecraft into orbit. It is powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants.
• In 2008, the Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule combination had won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract from NASA to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Odisha Chief Information Commissioner Tarun Kanti Mishra resigned

The Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of Odisha Tarun Kanti Mishra on 12 February 2015 resigned from his position.

A 1975-batch IAS officer, Mishra is also is associated with several cultural activities besides discharging his duties and responsibilities as an administrative officer. Mishra retired from the government service in August 2010.

Post-retirement, he was appointed at the state level selection committee meeting chaired by chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. On 15 November 2010, he was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner of Odisha by replacing D.N. Padhee.

He was the Home secretary of Odisha during communal violence in Kandhamal and other parts of the state during the aftermath of killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on 23 August 2014.

Mishra has also written several books and compilation of short stories. He was also awarded with the prestigious Odisha Sahitya Academy Award for his significant contribution to Odia literature.

PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat died at 84

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the spiritual leader of Malaysia’s opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) died at his house in Pulau Melaka, Kota Baharu on 12 February 2015. He was 84. He is survived by his wife Sabariah Tuan Ishak and 10 children.

Aziz Nik, a revered leader in PAS and popularly known as Tok Guru, had served as Kelantan Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) from 1990 to 2013.

For the first time, he was elected to the Parliament of Malaysia in 1967 and since then continued to be an elected politician for 48 years. He won from the Kelantan Hilir parliamentary seat which was later renamed as Pengkalan Chepa and retained the seat until 1986.

Further, he shifted to contest from the Bachok Parliamentary seat and Semut Api (now Chempaka) state seat which he held until his death.

Born on 10 January 1931 in Kampung Pulau Melaka, Kubang Kerian, Aziz Nik was a Malaysian politician and Muslim cleric. He was the Mursyidul Am or Spiritual Leader of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1991 until his death in 2015.

Indian-American Gurpreet Singh presented with National Science Foundation CAREER award

Indian-origin scientist Gurpreet Singh was on 27 January 2015 presented with the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award. The award includes the prize money of 500000 US dollars.

He was honoured for his research on Scalable liquid exfoliation processing of ultrathin two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides nanosheets for energy storage devices.

The award will further help him to develop ultrathin metal sheets that can help produce better rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors and catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.

He will study the large-scale production of ultrathin sheets, that is a few atoms thick and several micrometres wide of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs). At present no methods are available to produce thin TMDs in large quantities cost-effectively. His research will aim to make that possible.

The prestigious award will also help him to organize educational activities for high school students and teachers.

Currently, Gurpreet Singh is assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering at Kansas State University. Some of his other research had focused on using graphene oxide to improve sodium and lithium ion flexible batteries and creating carbon nanotubes for rechargeable batteries.

About National Science Foundation CAREER award
National Science Foundation CAREER award is given by US National Science Foundation as part of Faculty Early Career Development Programme.

It is awarded to persons for supporting early career faculty who effectively integrate research and education within the context of their institution’s mission.

ICICI Bank Limited tied-up with UAE Exchange to offer instant bank transfer service

ICICI Bank Limited on 12 February 2015 tied up with global payment solutions company UAE Exchange to offer an instant bank transfer service named FLASHremit.

Using FLASHremit service, the customers of the bank residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can send money instantly to any ICICI Bank account in India in rupee denominations that too in a secure manner.

FLASHremit is the instant account credit facility that was introduced by UAE Exchange.

Highlights of the FLASHremit service
• ICICI Bank customers can avail this service by visiting any of the 135 branches of UAE Exchange in UAE including over 15 branches across the Dubai Metro network.
• Additionally, an instant SMS confirmation will be sent to the sender and receiver informing about the credit.
• The service will be available to the customers for complete 24 hours and for 365 days a year.

About UAE Exchange
• Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE Exchange serves over 7.9 million customers worldwide and is the world's largest networked remittance brand.
• It was co-founded by business man B.R. Shetty and former Minister of Justice of UAE H.E. Abdulla Humaid Ali Al Mazroei in 1980.
• Currently, it has over 750 branches across 32 countries with over 330 of these are in India through its subsidiary UAE Exchange & Financial Services.

Union Government issued guidelines to tackle increasing number of H1N1 cases

Union Government on 12 February 2015 issued new guidelines for the States to combat the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak. It asked the States to categorise cases for screening, isolation and hospitalization.

Health workers have been asked to screen people with symptoms of the flu on the basis of their severity and categorise them.

Under the new guidelines, the disease has been categorised into three categories, and they are
• Category A:For those who do not require testing for H1N1. This category includes patients with mild fever, cough and sore throat, body ache, headache, nausea and diarrhoea. These patients will be monitored for 24 to 48 hours and will be advised to stay at home and not mingle with other people. They will not need testing for H1N1 and no treatment with Oseltamivir.
• Category B: For those who have all the symptoms mentioned in Category A, but have high-grade fever and are in the high-risk category. They will need treatment with Oseltamivir and will have to be confined at home. High-risk category includes children with mild illness, pregnant women, and persons over 65, patients with lung, liver, heart, kidney, blood or neurological diseases or has been on long-term cortisone therapy.
• Category C: For those who have all the signs and symptoms of Category A and B. They will be hospitalised depending on their health condition. If the patients have breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood, bluish discolouration of nails they will need to be immediately started on the medicine and hospitalised.

Category C will also include children with influenza-like illness, high and persistent fever, inability to feed, convulsions and difficulty in breathing.

Editor Unplugged: Media, Magnates, Netas and Me authored by Vinod Mehta

Editor Unplugged: Media, Magnates, Netas and Me: Vinod Mehta
Book titled Editor Unplugged: Media, Magnates, Netas and Me written by Vinod Mehta was in news in the first week of February 2015. The book was published on 15 December 2014 by Penguins India.

Vinod Mehta is a veteran journalist and was Editor-in-Chief of Outlook weekly magazine until February 2012.

The author’s new book takes forward the story of Lucknow Boy, recounting his experiences in the corridors of power in Delhi.

Mehta in the book has highlighted his views on Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and his decoding of coalition politics and the significant changes ushered in by the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, are expressed with his characteristic sharp insights, wit and wisdom.

The book examines the lack of humour in our political leaders and changing perspective of the Indian middle class and mistakes and regrets of his life.

The book also has presented his analysis of the sweeping changes that took place in the print and TV media. He has also tried to portrait personalities such as Ratan Tata, Niira Radia, Khushwant Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Arundhati Roy.

World Radio Day observed on 13 February

13 February: World Radio Day

World Radio Day was observed globally on 13 February 2015 with the theme Youth and Radio.

The day is a global celebration of radio as a forum for entertainment and information, as a bridge of communication for remote communities and its role in empowering people.

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) annually celebrate the World Radio Day by planning activities with broadcasters, organizations and communities around the world.

World Radio Day
UNESCO at its 36th General Assembly on 3 November 2011 proclaimed 13 February as World Radio Day. The first World Radio Day was officially celebrated in 2012.

World Radio Day marks the anniversary of the first broadcast by United Nations Radio in 1946. 13 February 1946 was the day when the UN Radio transmitted its first call sign.

Currently, UNESCO is using radio to broadcast health emergency messages in response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

Telugu novelist Kesava Reddy passed away

Veteran Telugu novelist Kesava Reddy passed away on 13 February 2015 in Nizamabad district of Telangana following a prolonged illness. He was 68.

Kesava Reddy was born on 10 March 1946 in Thalapula Palli village of Chittoor District in Andhra Pradesh. He was a doctor by profession and had obtained MBBS degree from Pandichheri medical college.

He did PG diploma in dermatology and had worked as Medical officer in Victoria Hospital, Dichpally, Nizamabad. During his medical career, he treated a number of leprosy patients.

Moreover, Reddy was known for his writings that addressed many important social problems in India like poverty, prejudices and superstitions. In all, he had penned eight novels, short and long stories.

His novels are Mugavani Pillana Grovi (1996), Chivari gudise (1996), Athadu Adavini Jayinchadu (1980), Incredible Goddess or Kshudra Devatha (1979), Swasanam dunneru (1979), City Beautiful (1982), Ramudunaadu- Raajjaymundaadi (1982), Muneamma (2008).

Some of his novels were also translated into English and other languages.

ICC Cricket World Cup started with ceremonies in Melbourne and Christchurch

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 started on 12 February 2015 with inaugural ceremonies held in Melbourne, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand.

During the inaugural ceremony, the Cricket World Cup trophy was unveiled by International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson saying it was a symbol of the ICC's values of excellence, integrity and inclusion.

Australia and New Zealand are co-hosting 2015 Cricket World Cup that will see 49 matches spread over 43 days.

Opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the ICC World Cup
The 11th edition of the ICC World Cup was officially declared open an event that saw a wonderful mix of culture and traditions of the host nations Australia and New Zealand. The events that marked the start of the great event, some of them events included
• Fireworks that lit the skyline along with fine musical acts from artists
• Captains of the fourteen playing nations were participated with the trophy; ten captains were in Melbourne while the remaining four were present at Christchurch
• The opening ceremony show an impressive puppetry on show with a giant batsman enacting all the key performances from past world cup finals
• Jhoom Bollywood Dance Company represented India at the opening ceremony
• Group of British ballet dancers displayed their performances
• Rhythm of Pakistan performed Jazba Junoon
• A group of Bangladeshi performers wearing the official jersey of their cricket team showcased a dance act
• Traditional Mauri artists displayed an impressive show

The World Cup will see 14 cricketing nations playing against each others to win the cup. The participant teams are India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotlandand United Arab Emirates.

The first match of the mega event will be played on 14 February 2015, with New Zealand playing against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and Australia playing against arch-rivals England at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

India will play against its arch-rivals Pakistan on 15 February 2015 at the Adelaide.

The finals will be played on 29 March 2015 a Melbourne, Australia.

RWB released the World Press Freedom Index 2015: India ranked at 136th position

The Reporters Without Borders (RWB) on 12 February 2015 released the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) 2015. In the WPFI 2015, India was placed at 136th position out of 180 nations that were surveyed worldwide in terms of press freedom.

In the top of the list were three Scandinavian countries: Finland on the 1st position followed by Norway and Denmark. At the other end of the scale, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea were the worst performers securing the last places in the index.

The 2015 World Press Freedom Index highlights the worldwide deterioration in freedom of information in 2014.

Declines in the WPFI 2015
• Andorra with 32nd position witnessed the sharpest fall in the index. It fell by 27 places as a result of the many conflicts of interests and lack of independence of its media from financial, political and religious interests.
• In Asia, East Timor fell by 26 places to 103rd position. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Congo fell 25 places to achieve 107th rank in the index.
• Western Europe saw numerous countries in decline. Italy was ranked at 73rd position, it fell 24 places. Iceland was down by 13 places to get 21st rank in the index by paying the price of worsening relations between politicians and media.
• Pressure on independent media continued to intensify in Russia which fell by 4 places to be placed at 152nd rank.
• The United States was placed at 49th position by falling down by 3 places. In 2014, the New York Times journalist James Risen came under US government pressure to reveal his sources.

The risers in the WPFI 2015
• Mongolia rose 34 places and was ranked at 54th position, the Index’s biggest jump.
• Tonga strengthened its position by achieving 44th rank due to an independent press. It rose by 19 places.
• The end of long-running political crisis in Madagascar boosted the country by 17 places. It stood at 64th position.
• In Europe, Georgia continued to rise for the third year by securing 69th position, up by 15 places.
• In 86th place, Ivory Coast was up by 15 places. It continued to emerge from the political and social crisis that plunged the country into full-scale civil war in 2010.
• Nepal at 105th position was up by 15 places as the country witnessed drop in violence by the security forces against journalists, especially at demonstrations.
• Tunisia rose seven places to achieve 126th rank, a relative increase although in absolute terms the country stagnated.
• A cause for satisfaction was Brazil which rose by 12 places to get 99th rank in the index.
• In America, Mexico managed to pull itself up four places, it got 148th rank.

Top 10 in WPFI 2015

Rank	Country	Overall Score
1	Finland	7.52
2	Norway	7.75
3	Denmark	8.24
4	Netherlands	9.22
5	Sweden	9.47
6	New Zealand	10.06
7	Austria	10.85
8	Canada	10.99
9	Jamaica	11.18
10	Estonia	11.19

India in World Press Freedom Index 2015
In WPFI 2015, India has shown improvement from its rank of 140 in 2014. However, India’s overall score declined from 40.34 to 40.49. In 2014, India stood at 140th position.

About World Press Freedom Index (WPFI)
• World Press Freedom Index is produced by France-based international non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RWB). WPFI aims to promotes and defends freedom of information and freedom of the press.
• The WPFI ranks the performance of countries according to index calculated based upon various parameters.
• These parameters include media pluralism and independence, respect for the safety and freedom of journalists and the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the media operate.

BT acquired U.K. Wireless Carrier EE for 19 Billion US dollar

BT Group Plc on 5 February 2015 acquired UK wireless carrier EE Limited for 19 billion US dollar. Orange SA and Deutsche Telekom AG, will receive as much as 6.2 billion US dollar in cash and the remainder in new BT shares.

The combination will generate cost savings valued at about 3 billion US dollar. The deal is projected to be completed by March 2016.

After the deal, London-based BT will control the biggest high-speed broadband network as well as the largest wireless operator in the U.K., letting it sell packages of mobile, TV, home phone and Internet services.

BT, Britain's biggest fixed-line telecoms provider, has been in exclusive talks since December 2014 to buy the country's biggest mobile network operator.

Under the terms of the deal, BT will pay EE owners Deutsche Telekom and Orange a combination of cash and shares. It will leave Deutsche Telekom – Germany’s partly state-owned telecoms company with a 12% stake in BT, while France’s Orange will be paid about 3.4 billion pounds in cash and hold a 4% stake.

Fiber Expansion

Carriers worldwide are pursuing a strategy that lets them sell a broader array of services to increase revenue and customer loyalty. Europe’s mobile companies are still coping with declining sales after years of intense competition to win subscribers in saturated markets.

For BT, the move into wireless is part of the former phone monopoly’s transformation that’s included rolling out a high-speed fiber-optic broadband network and bidding for exclusive access to popular sports broadcast rights.

Still, a multi-billion dollar acquisition leaves BT with diminished coffers to bid for TV rights such as those for the U.K.’s Premier League soccer games. In 2012, as BT prepared to unveil its sports channels, the company agreed to pay 246 million pounds a season for the franchise.

BT reported net debt of 6.2 billion pounds at the end of 2014. Its debt is rated BBB, the second-lowest investment grade, by Standard & Poor’s. The carrier plans to finance the purchase with borrowings and about 1 billion pounds in a stock placement.

Pfizer announced to acquire Hospira for 17 billion US dollar

Pfizer on 6 February 2015 announced to acquire Hospira for 17 billion US dollar. Hospira Inc is a provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies.

The acquisition of the British drug maker Hospira would be the largest ever so-called inversion.

The deal is the land of opportunity as the deal would push emerging market for biosimilars. Biosimilars are generic drugs seeking to copy expensive and more complex drugs called biologics that until now have largely been immune from competition in the United States.

Biologic drugs, which are made in living cells, cannot be precisely copied, which is why the new class of drugs are referred to as biosimilars and not merely generics.

Although biosimilars have been available elsewhere for years, including in Europe, where Hospira sells some products, they have not arrived on the market in the United States because the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any.

That is most likely about to change, an advisory panel to the F.D.A. recommended approval of a close copy of the Amgen drug Neupogen, which is used in cancer treatment. If the agency approves the biosimilar, which is made by Sandoz, a unit of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, it could pave the way for more such drugs to enter the marketplace.

Several large drug companies including Amgen, Teva and Hospira have been developing biosimilars in anticipation of their approval in the United States.

Pfizer is wading deeper into a market that is seen as potentially lucrative because biosimilars, while offered at a discount from the expensive drugs they are mimicking, are expected to sell for higher prices than their traditional generic cousins.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York City. Pfizer develops and produces medicines and vaccines for a wide range of medical disciplines, including immunology, oncology, cardiology, diabetology/endocrinology, and neurology.

Pfizer's products include the blockbuster drug Lipitor, used to lower LDL blood cholesterol; Lyrica, Diflucan, Zithromax (azithromycin), an antibiotic; Viagra (sildenafil, for erectile dysfunction); and Celebrex/Celebra (celecoxib), an anti-inflammatory drug.

Russian Central Bank cut its interest rate from 17 percent to 15 percent

The Russian Central Bank in the end of January 2015 announced to cut its key interest rate from 17 percent to 15 percent following the fear of recession.

The move implies a shift in the Bank of Russia's priorities away from clamping down on rising inflation and supporting the ruble, towards trying to support economic activity, which the bank expects to fall sharply in the coming months.

Earlier in December 2014, the Bank of Russia had hiked the interest rates by 6.5 percent. The measure was intended to head off a collapse in the value of the ruble, which fell to an all-time-low of 80 rubles to One dollar and 100 rubles to One euro in December 2014.

However, the sharp rate hike put pressure on the country's already struggling economy, which was being buffeted by a combination of collapsing oil prices and Western economic sanctions over Russia's role in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Comment

The decision will fuel speculation that recent changes in the bank's senior management have shifted the bank towards more dovish monetary policy, possibly under pressure from the Kremlin, banks and business lobbies.

The shift in policy may also reflect the realisation that Russia's economy is heading for a hard landing as low oil prices look set to persist and the conflict in Ukraine has worsened, defying hopes of an early end to Western sanctions.

14 feb

Chhetri and Devi presented with 2014 AIFF Player of the Year award

Indian men’s football team captain Sunil Chhetri and striker Bala Devi on 13 February 2015 were awarded with the All India Football Federations (AIFF) 2014 Player of the Year trophy in men and women category, respectively.
Others to be honoured with AIFF awards, include
• 2014 Player of the year (Men): Sunil Chhetri
• 2014 Player of the year (Women):Bala Devi
• 2014 Emerging Player of the Year:Sandesh Jhingan
• 2014 Best Referee:Santosh Kumar
• 2014 Best Assistant Referee:Sappam Kennedy
• Best Grassroots Programme: Western India Football Association (WIFA)
• Long Time Contribution to Indian Football: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

Chhetri was voted as the winner by I-League coaches and this was the fourth time that he received the award. Earlier, he was named as the Player of the Year in 2007, 2011 and 2013. With the fourth title, he surpassed the legendary Inivalappil Mani Vijayan who won the award thrice.

Devi was recognised with the award for scoring 47 goals, including 18 in international matches in 2014. Her teammate Oinam Bembem Devi won it on the last two occasions.

Besides a trophy, Chhetri also pocketed 2 lakh rupees, while Devi received a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees. On the other hand, Jhingan who played for the Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League received a cash prize of 75000 rupees.

SC directed CBI to probe RBI and SEBI in multi-crore chit-fund scam

The Supreme Court of India on 13 February 2015 directed CBI to probe the role of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in the multi-crore chit-fund scam. It has directed the CBI to investigate their role for effecting a mechanism.

The Supreme Court bench of Justice TS Thakur and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in its order said that these regulatory bodies cannot turn a blind eye to the multi-crore chit-fund scam spread across several states. The bench observed that it needs to be investigated and there is nothing which remains outside the scope of the investigation.

The bench in its ordered referred 9 May 2014 order in which it directed the investigating agency to probe the duping of over 10000 crore rupees through several ponzi schemes in West Bengal, Odisha and Assam.

Parle Products launched nationwide Litter Free Campaign

Parle Products on 12 February 2015 launched its nationwide Litter Free Campaign to urge consumers to show garbage its place.

Parle Products has launched the first phase of the Litter Free campaign. The campaign aimed at setting the course for community and raise awareness with its positive messaging, across the country through a series of Television Commercials.

The commercials are set in a series of everyday scenarios that viewers can identify with and encourage them to Show Garbage Its Place.

Parle Product is one of India's pioneers in the biscuit and confectionery manufacturing segment. Parle Products is a brand that generates disposable biscuit, candy and chips wrappers and in many instances consumers toss them on the streets and other public areas without a second thought.

Through the Parle Litter Free Campaign, Parle Products offered a potentially brighter future of curbing garbage build-up in our surroundings and saving our environment.

The campaign is in line with the Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan. Previously, Parle Products had associated the campaign with Indian festivals and successfully spread the Litter Free message at Raas Garba and Jagadhatri Puja in West Bengal.

Researchers found new 3D vaccine for cancer and infectious diseases

Researchers found new 3D vaccine for cancer and infectious diseases. The vaccine is able to self-assemble into a 3D structure and manipulate immune cells, teaching them to attack cancer as well as infectious disease.

The research paper was published in Nature Biotechnology from senior author David Mooney of Harvard University in December 2014.

The Process

The vaccine is composed of nanoscale silica rods, which are administered via injection. Once inside the body, the rods group together into a scaffold-like structure. This structure is then able to draw in immune cells and teach them how to take on threats to the body. Rather than introducing a weakened version of the disease in order to expose the immune system to it, this works on the immune cells directly.

Previous research used a dime-sized scaffold in mouse models, attempting to reprogram dendritic cells. These cells are responsible for locating specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells, and then calling in an attack if they find anything that needs to be eliminated.

This vaccine was successful in slowing down tumor progression in the mice, and 90% of them outlived control mice who did not receive the cell reprogramming.

In the current paper, the scaffold was deconstructed into the vaccine, and spontaneously assembled once inside the organism. Two groups of mice with lymphoma received either the scaffold vaccine or a traditional bolus injection that just exposed the immune system to the antigens and medications.

At the end of 30 days, 60% of the mice who received the bolus injection were still alive, while 90% of the mice who received the scaffold vaccine lived.

Union Government approved revised Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

Union Government on 12 February 2015 approved revised Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

The guidelines were revised to accord priority in the selection of roads for new connectivity as well as upgradation, leading to the eligible habitations in the Gram Panchayats identified by the Members of Parliament (MP) under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Union Minister for Rural Development. This is in accordance with the Cabinet decision wherein all Ministries/Departments of the Central Government have been asked to take necessary action to make suitable changes in the guidelines of their respective Central sector and Centrally Sponsored schemes/programmes to enable priority to be given to the Gram Panchayats selected under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.

Highlights of the guidelines

The model villages adopted by the MP under the SAGY will now get rural roads under PMGSY on priority basis. Similarly, in these model villages, rural roads constructed or upgraded under PMGSY would have to be maintained by the State Governments up to prescribed standards and even beyond the built in period of first five years.
As per the amended Guidelines, the State Governments shall give priority to all roads leading to the Gram Panchayats identified under SAGY irrespective of Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) to include all eligible unconnected habitations in the selected Gram Panchayats.
In case of upgradation of roads, priority shall be given to the roads which have Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Value-I & II in the Gram Panchayats identified under SAGY.
However, the length required for upgradation of these roads should be within the overall target allocated to various States under PMGSY-I and PMGSY-II.
Moreover, in case of roads already built under PMGSY, in the Gram Panchayats identified under SAGY, State should carry out maintenance as per the activities suggested in the Operations Manuals and Rural Roads Manual, even if the maintenance period of 5 years is over.
The State Governments must ensure PCI of not less than four for all such roads at all times. Adequate funds for this purpose will be provided by State Governments.

The United Arab Emirates closed its embassy in Yemen

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 14 February 2015 has closed its embassy in Yemen and evacuated staff over security concerns after a Shiite militia seized power.

The UAE followed Saudi Arabia, the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Italy in shutting their missions in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. France, Germany and Italy closed their Embassy on 13 February 2015.

The security situation in Yemen deteriorated after the Shia Houthis undermined the legitimate authority and the political transition based on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative and results of the UN Security Council-backed national dialogue.

The Shiite Houthi militia dissolved Yemen’s government and parliament on 6 February 2015 after seizing the presidential palace and key government buildings.

Arvind Kejriwal sworn-in as Chief Minister of Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal on 14 February 2015 was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Delhi.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at Ramlila Ground, Delhi.

Other than Arvind Kejriwal, six other party members Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, Jitendra Tomar, Gopal Rai, Sandeep Kumar and Asim Ahmed Khan were administered oath as Cabinet Ministers.

President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 13 February 2015 appointed Arvind Kejriwal as the Chief Minister of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

With the appointment, President of India revoked the order of President’s rule with effect from 14 February 2015. The orders of Presidents rule in National Capital Territory of Delhi were issued earlier on 16 February 2014, under Article 239AB of the Constitution.

Also, he had appointed six AAP leaders as ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister.

Portfolio of Delhi Cabinet:

Arvind Kejriwal: Chief Minister
Manish Sisodia: Deputy Chief Minister, Finance & Planning, Education, UD, Vigilance, Services, Administrative Reforms, Information Technology, Revenue & any other department that is not allocated to any Minister
Sandeep Kumar: Women and child Social Welfare, Language, SC/ST
Gopal Rai: Transport, Development, Labour, General Administration Department and Employement
Asim Ahmed Khan: Food and Civil Supply, Environment and Forest and Election
Jitender Singh Tomar: Law and Justice, Home, Tourism, Art and Culture
Satyendar Jain: Power, Health, Gurudwaras, Industries, PWD and IFC

He became 7th Chief Minister of Delhi as a person and 10th Chief Minister as tenure wise.

List of Chief Ministers of Delhi

S.No.	Chief Ministers Name	Took Office	Tenure
1.	Chaudhary Brahm Prakash	1952	One
2.	G N Singh	1955	One
3.	Madan Lal Khurana	1993	One
4.	Sahib Singh Verma	1996	One
5.	Sushma Swaraj	1998	One
6.	Sheila Dikshit	1998	Three
7.	Arvind Kejriwal	2013	Two

Religious decrees cannot override the written code of law: SC

The Supreme Court (SC) on 9 February 2015 stressed that religious decrees cannot override the written code of law. SC voiced concern over the future of secularism in the country.

Justice Vikramjit Sen was hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Clarence Pais. The PIL asked the Bench to put its law of stamp on the decrees of divorce and other such decrees issued by an ecclesiastical court or tribunal. An ecclesiastical court, set up under the Canon Law, is an institution for Catholic Christians.

The Bench expressed anxiety over the challenges faced by secularism in the country. The PIL, seeking a declaration that the Canon Law is the personal law of Indian Christians, also questioned the jurisdiction of criminal courts to prosecute Roman Catholics under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code for bigamy without considering the Canon Law.

However, the bench retorted, this cannot be accepted otherwise every religion will say it has a right to decide various issues as a matter of its personal law.

Petitioner Clarence Pais urged the Supreme Court Bench to consider this important question of law and religious freedom, claiming it impacted over one crore Indian Christians on marriage and its dissolution.

During the hearing, the court referred to honour killing as an example of the dangers that may ensue if religious or self-styled socio-political institutions were given legal backing.

Tintu Luka won gold in 800m in 35th National Games

Middle-distance runner Tintu Lukka on 13 february 2015 won gold in 800m in 35th National Games.

In 800m race, she broke the 18 years old record of Rosa Kutty of Kerala. Tintu finished the distance with a time of 2:01.86 sec to win gold. The previous record of 2:03.08 sec was in the name of Rosa Kutty of Karnataka in 2007.

Gomathi Marimuthu of Tamil Nadu finished second with 2:05.09 sec to win silver and Kerala Markose won bronze with a timing of 2:06.37 sec.

Tintu is a Silver Medal winner in the 800m at the Asian Games 2014. A Gold medal winner in 4 X 400 m relay in the 2014 Incheon Asiad.

Middle-distance runner Tintu Lukka on 13 february 2015 won gold in 800m in 35th National Games.

Gomathi Marimuthu of Tamil Nadu finished second with 2:05.09 sec to win silver and Kerala Markose won bronze with a timing of 2:06.37 sec.

Tintu is a Silver Medal winner in the 800m at the Asian Games 2014. A Gold medal winner in 4 X 400 m relay in the 2014 Incheon Asiad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated Cricket diplomacy, called four SAARC leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 February 2015 called four SAARC leaders, namely Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to wish for 2015 Cricket World Cup. He called the leaders of the cricket playing nations and wished them luck.

Five SAARC Nations are playing in the ongoing Cricket World Cup. Modi called and wished luck to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President of Sri Lanka Maithiripala Sirisena.

This courtesy call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be termed as Cricket Diplomacy, which has been used in past by other leaders of the world for connecting their countries through the means of sports. In context of the SAARC nations, cricket helps people of the region to connect with each other and promote goodwill.

With this cricket diplomacy, Modi also announced that the soon the Foreign Secretary Dr S Jaishankar will be sent on a SAARC Yatra to further strengthen the ties

Cricket Diplomacy
Cricket diplomacy means use of cricket as a political tool to enhance or worsen the diplomatic relations between two cricket playing nations. Cricket, the second-most widely played game in the world after football is used as a political tool to bridge the gap in diplomatic vacuum. It can be said that cricket diplomacy is better than gunboat diplomacy in which forces are deployed and coercion is used against the opponent.

Cricket Diplomacy between India and Pakistan
In context of India and Pakistan, the cricket diplomacy has been playing a vital role in bridging the gap in diplomatic relations. The cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan began in 1987, the year when the then Pakistan's president, General Zia ul-Haq, attended a test match between India and Pakistan in Jaipur. His arrival to India helped to end the tensions that they faced against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Soviet pressure on India.

Further in 2005, the then President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf visited India to watch a cricket match and met Man Mohan Singh to revive talks on Kashmir. After the 2005, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani toured India during 2011 Cricekt World Cup to watchthe semifinal match between India and Pakistan. This helped the two nations to ease their relationship which was estranged after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

BrahMos missile successfully test-fired from INS Kolkata

India on 14 February 2015 successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Indian Navy's latest destroyer INS Kolkata.

The launch off the Goa coast was flawless as the missile met all its designed parameters.

BrahMos is a missile with a range of 290 kilometers and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kilograms. It has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. This speed makes BrahMos one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world. It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft and land
About INS Kolkata
INS Kolkata the country’s largest indigenously built warship was commissioned in Indian Navy on 16 August 2014. The warship was constructed by Mazagon Dockyards Limited and was designed by Navy’s design bureau. It weighs 6800 tonnes and is a technology demonstrator.

It was handed over to Indian Navy in July 2014 after completing its sea trails. INS Kolkata is a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy. The Kolkata class destroyer also includes INS Kochi and INS Chennai which are in pipeline.

INS Kolkata has the capability of firing 16 BrahMos missile in salvo mode, which is the highest as other ships normally has the capacity to fire eight missiles.

RBI decided to bring back one rupee notes

The Reserve Bank of India on 13 February 2015 announced that soon the currency notes of one rupees denomination will be in circulation. The notes will be printed by the Government of India.

RBI in its release informed that these currency notes are legal tender as provided in The Coinage Act 2011. It said that the existing currency notes in this denomination in circulation will also continue to be legal tender.

Dimensions and composition of One Rupee Currency Note will be:

Denomination of Note	Shape and Size	Paper Composition
One Rupee Currency Note	Rectangular 9.7 x 6.3 cm	100 per cent (Cotton) Rag Content
	Weight of Paper	90 GSM (Grams per Square Meter) with tolerance of +/-3 GSM
	Thickness of Paper	110 microns with tolerance +/-5 microns
	Multitonal Watermarks	(i) Ashoka Pillar in the window without words Satyamev Jayate (सत्‍यमेव जयते) (ii) Hidden Numeral 1 in the centre (iii) Hidden Word Bharat (भारत) vertically arranged on right hand side.

Details of the look and feel of these notes
Obverse: These notes will contain the words Bharat Sarkar (भारत सरकार) above the words Government of India with the bilingual signature of Rajiv Mehrishi, Finance Secretary and with the replica of New Rupee One coin with symbol of 2015 issued with Satyamev Jayate (सत्यमेव जयते) and capital insert letter ‘L’ in numbering panel. The numbering will be in black at right hand bottom portion of the note.

Reverse: The note on the reverse side will contain the words Bharat Sarkar (भारत सरकार) above the words Government of India with the year 2015 on the representation of One Rupee coin with symbol having floral design and the surrounding design will consist of the picture of Sagar Samrat - the oil exploration platform and with the authentic rendering of value in fifteen Indian language in language panel and the year figure shown in the centre bottom in international number.

Overall Colour Scheme: The colour of one Rupee Currency Note will be predominantly pink green on obverse and reverse in combination with others.