Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
visited India
13-FEB-2016
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 12 February 2016 concluded his 3-day visit to India. He is also the deputy supreme commander of UAE armed forces
He visited India on invitation of Narendra Modi who became the first Prime Minister to visit the UAE after a gap of 34 years in August 2015.
Highlights of 3-day visit
• He held talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on a gamut of bilateral relations.
• During the visit, both countries signed 9 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding.
• The agreements and MoUs covered a wide range of sectors like the sphere of cyber security, infrastructure, renewable energy and finance.
• Both the countries issued a joint statement that expressed resolve to increase trade by 60 percent over by 2020.
• He visited Mumbai and met Indian business leaders at the Mumbai Stock Exchange.
4th World Government Summit concluded in Dubai
13-FEB-2016
The 3-day long annual World Government Summit (WGS) concluded on 10 February 2016 in Dubai, the UAE. The summit was 4th in the series since the launch of WGS in 2013 by the UAE Government.
The 2016 WGS was attended by 4500 participants from more than 130 countries to discuss challenges and opportunities before present and future governments worldwide.
It also provided an opportunity to showcase innovations, best practice and smart solutions to inspire creativity to tackle these future challenges.
Highlights of 2016 World Government Summit
• It discussed key challenges faced by the humanity – climate change, financial inclusion, pension sustainability, education for all, etc.
• Talks and conferences were held on technological solutions and strategies like sustainable development goals, internet of things, virtual health, etc.
• It was attended by around 2500 government officials and heads of multilateral agencies including Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon.
• During the summit, 2016 Best m-Government Service Awardspresented. Karnataka’s Mobile One project the award in the One Stop App category at the international level.
• Edge of Government report was released that captures leading edge case studies of government innovation across the world.
• At the summit, it was announced that the WGS would commence operations as an international organisation and work throughout the year to achieve its global goals.
• While the summit was hosted by the UAE Government, the UN, the World Bank, OECD and World Economic Forum (WEF) were among the list of strategic partners.
BCCI banned Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf for 5 years for
involvement in 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal
13-FEB-2016
The Disciplinary Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 12 February 2016 banned Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf for 5 years on charges of corruption and misconduct.
The disciplinary committee took this decision after Rauf was found guilty of charges in relation to the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting and spot-fixing scandal of 2013.
With this ban, Rauf became ineligible for umpiring or playing or representing cricket in any form or being associated with activities of the BCCI and its affiliates for 5 years.
Earlier, on 18 January 2016, Ajit Chandila and Hiken Shah were also banned by the committee in relation to the 2013 scandal.
While Chandila was banned for life, Hiken Shah was banned for 5 years from playing or representing cricket in any form or to be associated in any way with the activities of the Board or its affiliates.
Vilas Tonapi appointed as Director of Indian Institute of Millets
Research
13-FEB-2016
Vilas A. Tonapi on 10 February 2016 was appointed as the Director of Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR).
At present, Tonapi is serving as the Principal Scientist at Seed Science and Technology of the IIMR.
Who is Vilas A. Tonapi?
• Tonapi earlier served as Head, Division of Seed Science and Technology, Indian Agric
ultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
• He holds a PhD from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and obtained his post Doctoral from University of Queensland, Australia.
• His special attainments include Planning, development and management of crop improvement programmes and strategies.
• He has 50 research papers to his credit in peer reviewed journals, 30 authored and edited books.
World Radio Day observed with theme Radio in Times of
Emergency and Disaster
14-FEB-2016
13 February: World Radio Day
World Radio Day was observed globally on 13 February 2016 with the theme Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster.
To mark the occasion, various activities conducted across India celebrating importance of radio in the day to day life.
In Odisha, a two-day annual international event Outreach International Radio Fair 2016 was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar.
About World Radio Day
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The theme for 2015 World Radio Day was Youth and Radio.
1st Mega Food Park in Madhya Pradesh inaugurated at Panwa
14-FEB-2016
The first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Madhya Pradesh was on 12 February 2016 inaugurated at Panwa village in Kasarwad tehsil of Khargone district.
The MFP, named after Indus, was inaugurated by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries.
Details related to the Mega Food Park
• It was set up by M/s Indus mega Food Part Pvt. Ltd at an estimated cost of 127.70 crore rupees in an area of 53.78 acres.
• It has a Central Processing Centre at Khargone and three Primary Processing Centres are being set up at Bedia, Ratlam and Ujjain to provide strong backward linkages.
• It is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to about 6000 people and benefit about 25000 to 30000 farmers in its catchment area.
• It will have facilities of 3000 MT Cold Storage, 9000 MT Dry Warehouse, Instant Quick Freeze (IQF) 5 MT per hour, modern Quality Control lab and other processing facilities for fruits and vegetables.
• It will create a modern infrastructure for arresting post-harvest losses of horticultural and non-horticultural produce and provide impetus to the growth of food processing sector in Madhya Pradesh.
• It will help in providing better prices to farmers, reduce wastage of perishables and add value to agricultural produce.
• It will help in creating huge opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment for the youth of the State.
• It will benefit the people of Khargone district and the people of nearby districts of Indore, Ratlam, Ujjain, Dhar, Khandwa, Dewas&Barwani as well.