13-14 September 2016
Deepa Malik becomes first Indian woman to win medal at Paralympics
Indian athlete Deepa Malik on 12 September 2016 became the first Indian woman to bag a medal at the Paralympics.
Malik clinched a silver medal in the shotput F-53 event. Her throw of 4.61m was the best in her six attempts.
With the win, she confirmed India’s third medal from the Rio Paralympics.
Fatema Nedham of Bahrain won the gold medal with the best throw of 4.76m. Greece’s Dimitra Korokida bagged the bronze medal with a throw of 4.28m.
About Deepa Malik
• Deepa Malik is an Indian athlete born in Sonipat.
• She is associated with Himalayan Motorsports Association (H.M.A.) and Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (F.M.S.C.I.).
• She has done an 8 day, 1700-km drive in sub-zero temperatures which included a climb to 18000 feet.
• She is currently being supported by the GoSports Foundation through their Para Champions Programme.
• She is a member of the working group in the formulation 12th five- year plan (2012-2017) on Sports and Physical Education as nominated by the Planning Commission HRD Division on behalf of the Sports Ministry.
First BRICS Wellness Workshop concludes in Bengaluru
The first BRICS Wellness Workshop concluded on 11 September 2016 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The workshop was inaugurated by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar on 10 September 2016.
Along with the workshop, National Fair on comprehensive Indian Medicine system (AROGYA) was also inaugurated in the city. The four day event is organized by Union Ministry of AYUSH, in collaboration with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). The fair will conclude on 13 September 2016.
Key highlights of the BRICS Wellness Workshop
• The Workshop is organized to promote partnerships with BRICS nations.
• It aimed at promoting knowledge sharing and pushing forward AYUSH initiatives in BRICS countries, which will further help in globalization of AYUSH.
• The Workshop was designed to have sessions related to Traditional Systems of Medicine, Trade and Economy, Wellness and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Wellness indicators for BRICS, Wellness and Tourism among others.
• It included a session on WHO strategy for Traditional Medicine.
• On the other hand, the AROGYA fair provides a good exposure for manufacturers/importers of Traditional Medicines/Raw Materials of the BRICS Countries to have firsthand experience of Indian Traditional Medicinal products/manufacturing facilities.
Union Cabinet approves extension of contract between India and ISA for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules
The Union Cabinet on 12 September 2016 approved the extension of contract between Ministry of Earth Sciences and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules.
The contract has been extended for a further period of 5 years (2017-2022). The earlier contract is expiring on 24 March 2017.
Why the contract is extended?
• By extending the contract, India's exclusive rights for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules in the allotted Area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin will continue.
• It will open up new opportunities for resources of commercial and strategic value in area beyond national jurisdiction.
• Besides, it will provide strategic importance for India in terms of enhanced presence in Indian Ocean where other international players are also active.
• At present, India has an area of 75000 sq.km. located about 2000 km away from her southern tip for exploration of Polymetallic nodules.
What are Polymetallic Nodules?
• Polymetallic nodules are also known as manganese nodules.
• They are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea.
• Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium.
• Out of the minerals found in it, nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.
Tenth of world's wild areas vanished since 1990s: Research
The world's wilderness has reduced by a tenth in the past two decades, according to a study conducted by the scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia.
Their findings are reported in the journal Current Biology in the second week of September 2016.
The findings highlight an immediate need for international policies to recognize the value of wilderness areas and to address the unprecedented threats they face.
Key highlights of the research
• The scientists mapped wilderness areas around the world and compared the results with a previous similar map produced in the 1990s.
• An estimated 1.3 million square miles (3.3 million square km), almost 10 percent, of wilderness has disappeared since the 1990s.
• The Amazon basin and central Africa have been hit the hardest.
• The comparison showed that a total of 30.1 million km2 (around 20 percent of the world's land area) now remains as wilderness. The majority of the areas are located in North America, North Asia, North Africa, and the Australian continent.
• However, comparisons between the two maps show that an estimated 3.3 million km2 (almost 10 percent) of wilderness area has been lost in the intervening years. Those losses have occurred primarily in South America, which has experienced a 30 percent decline in wilderness, and Africa, which has experienced a 14 percent loss.
Union Government issues model guidelines for states to curb Ponzi schemes
The Union Government on 12 September 2016 issued model guidelines for states to regulate direct selling and multi-level marketing businesses while prohibiting pyramid structures as well as money circulation schemes. The guidelines were issued to protect consumers from Ponzi frauds.
The Direct Selling Guidelines 2016 framework was released by the Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. They have been sent to the states and Union Territories for adoption.
Key highlights of the guidelines
• In the guidelines, the Union Government has clearly defined legitimate direct selling and differentiates it from pyramid and money circulation schemes to help investigating agencies identify fraudulent players.
• Direct selling means marketing, distribution and sale of goods or providing of services as a part of network of direct selling other than under a pyramid scheme.
• Pyramid Scheme has also be defined in the framework. Money Circulation Scheme has the same meaning as defined under Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978.
• To conduct direct selling business, the guidelines have prescribed many conditions that need to be complied within 90 days.
• The guidelines bar direct selling companies from charging any entry fee from agents or compelling them to buy back unsold stocks. These entities will have to enter into an agreement with direct sellers or agents, and give full refund or buy-back guarantee for goods and services sold to them.
• The guidelines also mandate direct sellers to constitute a grievance redressal committee to protect consumers’ right.
• The guidelines have also made provision for appointment of monitoring authority at both Central and state level to deal with the issues related to direct selling.
• They also prohibit direct selling entities from using misleading and deceptive or unfair recruitment practices.
• The guidelines have also put conditions for contract between direct sellers and direct selling entity, saying that all such agreements should be in writing describing the material impact of the participation.
• The agreement should not compel or induce the direct seller to purchase goods or services in an amount that exceeds an amount that can be expected to be sold to consumers within a reasonable period of time.
• The contract should provide direct sellers a reasonable cooling-off period in which they can cancel it and receive a refund for goods and services purchased.
• The guidelines have also specified certain obligations of direct sellers such as carrying identity card, and full disclosure of the good and services offered by the entity represented by them.
• The new guidelines mandate a seller to provide information about the name of the purchaser and seller, delivery date of goods, procedure of its return and its warranty.
Union Cabinet approves establishment of Higher Education Financing Agency
The Union Cabinet on 12 September 2016 approved the creation of the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA).
The HEFA will be established to give a major push for creation of high quality infrastructure in premier educational institutions.
Key highlights of the HEFA
• The HEFA will be jointly promoted by the identified Promoter and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) with an authorised capital of 2000 crore rupees. The Government equity will be 1000 crore rupees.
• The HEFA will be formed as a SPV within a PSU Bank/ Government-owned-NBFC. It will leverage the equity to rise up to 20000 crore rupees for funding projects for infrastructure and development of world class Labs in IITs/IIMs/NITs and such other institutions.
• It will also mobilise CSR funds from PSUs/Corporates, which will in turn be released for promoting research and innovation in these institutions on grant basis.
• The HEFA will finance the civil and lab infrastructure projects through a 10-year loan.
• All the Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions will be eligible for joining as members of the HEFA.
• For joining as members, the Institution should agree to escrow a specific amount from their internal accruals to HEFA for a period of 10 years. This secured future flows will be securitised by the HEFA for mobilising the funds from the market.
• Each member institution will be eligible for a credit limit as decided by HEFA based on the amount agreed to be escrowed from the internal accruals.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to be appointed as Director of the Board
South Korean electronics major Samsung Electronics announced on 12 September 2016 that Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will be appointed as a registered executive director on the board.
The decision was made keeping in mind the urgent need for strategic decision-making on aggressive investments and new growth engines from a long-term perspective.
Who is Lee Jae-yong?
• Lee Jae-yong is a South Korean business magnate.
• He is the eldest child and only son of Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung.
• He received a degree in East Asian history at Seoul National University.
• He obtained his master's in business administration from Keio University.
• He has also attended Harvard Business School to pursue a Doctor of Business Administration degree, focusing on e-commerce. However, he did not obtain the degree.
• He is referred to as the Crown Prince of Samsung by the South Korean media.
• His wealth is estimated to be worth 7.9 billion US dollar, making him the third wealthiest person in South Korea.
• In 2014, he was named the world's 35th most powerful person and the most powerful Korean by Forbes Magazine's List of The World's Most Powerful Peoplealong with his father Lee Kun-hee.
14 September
Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia wins gold at Rio Paralympics
Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia on 13 September 2016 became the first Indian to clinch two gold medals at the Paralympics. He broke his own world record to clinch the medals at the Rio Games.
Jhajharia, who won his previous gold in the 2004 Athens Games, bettered his own world record to finish on top in the men’s F46 event.
Jhajharia’s previous best was 62.15 metres, which he had achieved in the 2004 Games. In the 2016 Rio Paralympics, he improved the mark with an attempt of 63.97 metres.
World No. 1 Chunliang Guo from China won the silver medal in the event. Sri Lanka’s Herath Priyantha grabbed the bronze.
India now has two gold, one silver and one bronze in the ongoing edition of the Paralympics Games.
Thangavelu Mariyappan had earlier struck gold in the men’s high jump, while Varun Bhati had secured a bronze in the same event. Later, Deepa Malik clinched a silver medal in the women’s shot put event to add to the tally.
About Devendra Jhajharia
• Born on 10 June 1981, Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events.
• The first Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics.
• He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming only the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for India.
• He is currently being supported by the GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme.
China, Vietnam agreed to properly manage differences over South China Sea
China and Vietnam on 13 September 2016 agreed to properly manage their differences over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and safeguard stability. This followed as an international tribunal rejected the Chinese claims over the region on a petition brought before it by the Philippines.
The agreement was reached after talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Chinese premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. Phuc's visit to China is the first by a top Vietnamese leader after the tribunal verdict on 12 July 2016. The Chinese Prime Minister is known as Premier.
Earlier, China rejected The Hague-based tribunal’s verdict. The tribunal in its ruling had concluded that China does not have legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the Sea. It also said that China does not have the right to resources within its nine-dash line which extends hundreds of miles to the south and east of its island province of Hainan and covers some 90 percent of the disputed waters. The ruling was based on the facts that China had no evidence to prove that it had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or their resources.
China is now persuading other claimants - Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei - to settle the disputes bilaterally, without approaching for international arbitration.
As per reports, China and Vietnam have agreed to properly manage maritime differences and further enhance bilateral substantial cooperation.
Besides, the two leaders also saw the signing of agreements on economy and trade, production capacity, infrastructure and education.