17-18 May 2015 Hindi
18 may
Novak Djokovic won 4th Rome Masters Tennis title
Novak Djokovic of Serbia on 17 May 2015 won his fourth Rome Masters Tennis title. In the summit clash, Djokovic defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland 6-4, 6-3.
With this win, Djokovic earned prize money of 628100 US dollar and 1000 Emirates ATP Rankings points.
This was the fifth title of the season for Djokovic, the other titles are the Australian Open (defeated Andy Murray), the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (defeated Roger Federer), the Miami Open (defeated Andy Murray) and the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (defeated Tomas Berdych).
Besides, Maria Sharapova of Russia defeated Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to win the women's title. It was the 35th WTA Tour title of Sharapova's career.
India and Mongolia signed 13 agreements to enhance bilateral relations
India and Mongolia on 17 May 2015 signed 13 agreements to further enhance bilateral ties and co-operation between the two countries. India also announced to provide one billion US dollar credit to Mongolia.
The agreements were inked during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Mongolia. Modi’s visit to Mongolia is the first ever visit of Indian Prime Minister to the country.
Prime Minister Modi is on a three nation visit to China (14 May to 16 May 2015), Mongolia (17 May 2015) and Korea (18 May to 19 May 2015).
The 13 Agreements include
• Revised Air Services Agreement: This Agreement updates from previous arrangements of international air services between India and Mongolia, both being parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
• Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons: Under the treaty, Indian prisoners convicted in Mongolia can be brought to India to serve the remaining part of their sentence. Similarly Mongolian citizens convicted in India can be sent to their home country to serve their sentence.
• Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Animal Health and Dairy: This Agreement envisages joint cooperation activities in the areas of dairy, quality control, modern technical application and marketing in dairy, animal disease control measures, etc.
• MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy: This MoU intends to establish broad based cooperation in forms such as exchanging of experts for training of practitioners, mutual recognition of pharmacopoeias and formularies, educational qualifications and traditional preparations, setting up of Academic Chairs, providing scholarships, and others.
• MoU on Establishment of Cyber Security Training Centre in the Ministry of Defence of Mongolia: Under this, India will establish a Cyber Security Training Centre and will also undertake the training of personnel in cyber security.
• MoU on Establishment of India-Mongolia Joint Friendship School in Mongolia: This MoU is for the establishment of a school jointly by India and Mongolia which would follow an open, inclusive and flexible curriculum to harness the potential of each child enabling them to grow both personally and professionally.
• Programme on Cooperation in the field of Culture for the Years 2015-2018: This Agreement aims to enhance cooperation in the field of culture through organization of exhibitions, film festivals and also exchange of experts, students, journalists, etc.
• MoU for Cooperation between the National Security Council of India and Mongolia: This MoU was entered to hold regular consultations alternatively in New Delhi and Ulaanbaatar. It would cover both traditional and non-traditional security issues, counter-terrorism, intelligence cooperation and exchange, and others.
• MoU on Cooperation between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and Mongolia: The MoU will focus on all aspects of the bilateral relationship, especially in the areas of political, economic, commercial, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. The MoU supersedes the existing Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and Mongolia signed on 17 September 1996.
• MoU for cooperation on development of new and renewable energy technologies: This will cover cooperation on Solar Energy and Wind Energy through the modalities of exchange of information and personnel, transfer of equipment and know-how, development of joint research or technical projects, determination of renewable energy resources, etc.
• MoU on enhancing cooperation between the border guarding forces: This MoU envisages the setting up of a Joint Steering Committee between Ministry of Home Affairs of India and General Authority for Border Protection of Mongolia for cooperation in the areas of capacity building, exchange of best practices, conduct of joint exercises, technologies for border guarding, surveillance and policing, etc.
• MoU between the Tata Memorial Centre of India and the National Cancer Center of Mongolia for Gifting Bhabhatron-II Tele-therapy Unit along with a Radiotherapy Simulator: Guided by the MoU signed between the two countries on the 14 September 2009 for mutual cooperation, the present MoU sets the terms and conditions for the presentation by the Government of India, through TMC of one unit each of the Bhabhatron-II Telecobalt Unit and the Radiotherapy Simulator designed, developed and manufactured in India.
• MoU to enhance their skills and improve the training programme in both the countries: This MoU would help in exchange of trainees, students, faculty members and experts between India and Mongolia.
Apart from this, during this visit of Modi, the two nations issued joint statement on strategic partnership. Modi also addressed to the Mongolian Parliament and gifted a rare history manuscript to Mongolian president.
Besides, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met with Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. He also visited Gandan Tegchinlen Monastery in Ulaanbaatar.
Union government allocated 5000 crore for development of AYUSH
The Union Government on 17 May 2015 allocated 5000 crore rupees for the growth of Department of AYUSH (it comprises Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy).
It also launched an independent National AYUSH Mission aimed at capacity building for the sector.
Besides, the Union Minister of State (MoS) for AYUSH Sripad Naik in Mumbai informed that to create awareness about Ayurveda his ministry is planning to observe Ayurveda Day.
The Union Government on 19 November 2014 approved and notified National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Former Army Brigadier David Granger sworn-in as eighth President of Guyana
Former Army Brigadier David Granger on 16 May 2015 was sworn in as the eighth President of Guyana. He was sworn-in as the President after his A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party-led coalition won the national elections.
In the national elections held on 11 May 2015, his coalition APNU – Alliance for Change (AFC) defeated the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). With this, it ended the 23 year old grip on power of Indo-Guyanese PPP.
The APNU-AFC coalition riding high on the campaign to reduce high youth unemployment and violent crime as well as crack down on piracy won 207200 votes. The PPP, on the other hand, got 202674 votes.
Further, Granger's coalition is expected to have three-four seat majority in the 65-member Parliament.
Besides, Indo-Guyanese politician Moses Nagamootoo, who defected from the PPP, was tapped as Prime Minister and the full cabinet is expected to be unveiled on 26 May 2015.
Earlier Donald Ramotar, the PPP veteran and incumbent President, had forced an early elections after suspending and dissolving the parliament in November 2014 to avoid a no-confidence vote.
Brad Haddin, the Australia wicketkeeper retired from ODI cricket
Brad Haddin, the Australian wicketkeeper batsman on 17 May 2015 retired from One Day International (ODI) cricket. His final ODI appearance was the seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in World Cup final in Melbourne on 29 March 2015.
He will continue to represent Australian side in Test and Twenty20 international cricket.
Brad Haddin in the cricketing world
Haddin, a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, played his debut ODI match on 30 January 2001 against Zimbabwe at Hobart. He represented Australia in all three forms of international cricket, that is, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 International.
Details of his ODI cricket career
He played 126 matches and scored 3122 runs at an average of 31.53 of which 110 (against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2010) was his highest score.
As a wicketkeeper, he claimed 170 catches and did 11 stumping over 14 years in the 50-over format, which was the third-most dismissal for Australia after Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy.
Official website of 10th World Hindi Conference launched
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 16 May 2015 launched the official website of 10th World Hindi Conference at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi. It can be visited atwww.vishwahindisammelan.gov.in.
The logo for the Conference was also chosen by the Logo Selection Committee after a logo design competition was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs. Khyati Gupta from Banglore was awarded the prize money of 50000 rupees by the External Affairs Minister.
The 10th World Hindi Conference (WHC) will be held from 10 September to 12 September 2015 at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal. The conference will be hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with state government of Madhya Pradesh. The main theme of the Conference is Hindi Jagat: Vistar avm sambhavnai.
Apart from this, to fulfill various aspects of the conference, three committees on Advisory, Management and Programme have been constituted. Sushma Swaraj will be the Chairperson of the Advisory and Programme Committees, while Gen. (Retd) Dr V K Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, will be the Chairman of the Management Committee.
The decision to organize the 10th edition of the Conference in India was taken at the 9th World Hindi Conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2012.
The first World Hindi Conference was held in 1975 in Nagpur, India and since then, nine such Conferences have been held all over the globe.
PM Modi inaugurated ICICI’s first branch in China at Shanghai
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 16 May 2015 inaugurated the first branch of ICICI Bank in China at Shanghai. The branch was inaugurated in presence of Chanda Kochhar, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank, Senior Chinese and Indian government officials.
The Shanghai Branch received regulatory approval in March 2015 to commence operations and it will begin with 17 well trained banking professionals spread across different functions including corporate banking, operations, finance and treasury.
The Shanghai branch will engage in banking activities permitted under the guidelines of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.
In addition, the Branch will also facilitate:
• International trade between China and other countries
• Support of Chinese Corporate/EPC contractors bidding for infrastructure projects and funding requirements in India
• Business expansion of Indian joint ventures and subsidiaries of Indian entities in China
• Remittances from China to India
In March 2003, the Bank established a representative office in Shanghai to develop strong relationships with Chinese banks and corporate for their India linked banking needs. ICICI Bank has now upgraded its representative office in Shanghai to a branch keeping in mind the rising trade volumes between India and China.
Mumbai KEM Nurse Aruna Shanbaug died after 42-years in coma
Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse of Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, died on 18 May 2015. She died after battling with coma for past 42-years following a sexual assault by a hospital ward boy.
66-year old Shanbaug was sexually assaulted on 27 November 1973 by a ward boy-cum-sweeper of the hospital, Sohanlal Bharta Valmiki, after throttling her with a dog chain. Since then, she was hospitalised in KEM hospital and was cared by hospital staff.
While hearing the Aruna Shanbaug case in March 2011, the Supreme Court of India rejected the mercy killing (euthanasia) petition for her. The petition was filed by former journalist and author Pinki Virani.
However, SC laid down guidelines for passive euthanasia instead of active euthanasia. Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments, such as antibiotics, necessary for the continuance of life.
In 1998, a biography was written on Aruna by Pinki Virani which was titled Aruna’s Story. Duttakumar Desai wrote the Marathi play, Katha Arunachi which was staged under director Vinay Apte in 2002.
Union Government launched official website of NITI Aayog with blog section
Union Government on 18 May 2015 launched official website of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. The website is launched by Dr Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. The website can be accessed on http://www.Niti.Gov.In.
The website is launched with blogs section that will have articles, field reports, work in progress and opinions by the officials. The portal will provide details of the constitution, functions and current activities of the NITI Aayog. The web page will also have reports prepared by the Aayog in its initial stages.
The government replaced the Planning Commission with NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015. Thereafter, the government had archived the website of the Commission in the first week of January 2015.
The Aayog has been mandated to serve as a policy think-tank for the central as well as state governments and has Prime Minister as its Chairperson.
India assumed Presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly after 19 years
India on 18 May 2015 assumed Presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA) after 19 years. The session was presided by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda at Geneva.
The 68th World Health Assembly will be held from 18 May 2015 to 27 May 2015.
The 68th World Health Assembly will deliberate on key issues of global interest including anti-microbial resistance, air pollution and health, global health emergency, preparedness and surveillance, global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property, and research and development in neglected tropical diseases.
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world's highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.
Dr Roberto Morales Ojeda, Minister of Public Health of Cuba, was the President of the 67th World Health Assembly held in Geneva from 19 May -24 May 2014.
India, South Korea signed 7 agreements to upgrade relations to special strategic partnership level
India and South Korea on 18 May 2015 signed seven agreements to upgrade relations to special strategic partnership level.
The agreements were inked during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to South Korea. Prime Minister Modi is on a three nation visit to China (14 May to 16 May 2015), Mongolia (17 May 2015) and South Korea (18 May to 19 May 2015).
List of Agreements/MoUs signed during the visit of Prime Minister to South Korea
• Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income:India-South Korea Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (signed 1985) has been revised with a view to avoiding the burden of double taxation on taxpayers in the two countries.
• India-Korea Agreement on Cooperation in Audio-Visual Co-Production: The Agreement is being signed under the provisions of India-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA); it would enable co-production of films, animation and broadcasting programmes. The Agreement would enable opportunities for collaboration between Indian and Korean film industries, and facilitate collaboration and exchange.
• MoU for Cooperation between the National Security Council of India and South Korea: The MoU would formalize consultations between National Security Council structures of the two countries in a number of areas.
• MoU for Cooperation in the field of Electric Power Development and New Energy Industries: The MoU envisages cooperation in areas of electric power development and new energy industries such as renewable energy, smart grids and power information and technology, transmission and distribution of electric power, energy efficiency and storage system.
• MoU on Cooperation in Youth Matters: The MoU will strengthen and encourage cooperation on youth matters through participation in events and activities through exchanges, international conferences, seminars, youth camps, festivals etc.
• Framework of Cooperation in the Field of Road Transport: To be signed under the provisions of India-South Korea CEPA, the FOC envisages cooperation in areas including road policies, design and construction, road operation, road management and safety, intelligent transport systems and electronic toll collection systems.
• MoU on Cooperation in the Fields of Maritime Transport and Logistics: The MoU envisages cooperation between the two countries in the fields of maritime transport and logistics including through sharing of technologies, information and experiences, the training of seafarers, exchange of experts and port operations etc.
During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with South Korean President Park Geun Hye in Seoul. Later, the two leaders released a joint statement.
Besides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Seoul.
Maria Sharapova of Russia won the women’s single of Italian Tennis Open for third time
Russian Maria Sharapova on 17 May 2015 won the women’s singles of Italian Open for the third time. She defeated Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro by 4-6 7-5 6-1. The Italian Open title was held in Rome, Italy.
The men’s singles of the Italian Open (also called Rome Masters) was won by Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
The Italian Open is the most prestigious red clay tennis tournament in the world after the French Open. The men's competition of the Open is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, and the women's competition is a Premier 5 event on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour.
The two events were combined in 2011. The tournament is played on clay courts, currently during the second week of May. The event is also known as the Rome Masters and the Italian Championships.