20 july

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated first 'Aam Aadmi Clinic' at Peeragarhi Relief Camp

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 19 July 2015 inaugurated the first 'Aam Aadmi Clinic' at Peeragarhi Relief Camp in West Delhi. The clinic is a peripheral health care unit which is aimed at providing better medical facility to the weaker sections.

Inaugurating the clinic, he said that his government would set up 1000 such facilities within a year, as announced in its maiden budget.

The Chief Minister said that the clinics will be able to cure 95 per cent of the patients and will reduce the rush at hospitals.

About Aam Aadmi Clinic
• It has been set up at a very low cost of around 15 to 20 lakh rupees.
• The clinic has all testing facilities too so patients can get any test, from blood tests to ECG, done.
• The clinic aims to make primary health care more accessible to people

2 new plant species named Vellithumpa & Eriocaulon manoharanii discovered in Western Ghats

A team of researchers led by CN Sunil reported discovery of two new plant species christened as Vellithumpa (silver flower)andEriocaulon manoharanii. These plants were discovered from the Pooyamkutty-Adamalayar and Neriamangalam forest regions of Western Ghats in Kerala. 

These plants were discovered during investigations conducted as part of a UGC-sponsored project on the flowering plants of Ernakulam district of Kerala. The findings of the discovery were published in the June 2015 issue of the international journal Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography

About Vellithumpa
• It was found growing on steep wet rocks on Shoolamudy, the highest peak in Ernakulam district, deep inside the Edmalayalar forest range.
• It is a shrub plant belonging to the mint family
• The species was named after the place of collection and was given vernacular name Vellithumpa because of the white silvery hairs under the leaf. 
• The plant bears small white flowers with red anthers in cylindrical closely packed clusters. 

About Eriocaulon manoharanii
• It was found growing in the wet rocky mountain grasslands of Mamalakandam-Munippara area in the Neriamangalam forest range. 
• It is an herbaceous plant belonging to the pipeworts family and carries small white flowers growing in clusters.
• It was named after former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests TM Manoharan as recognition of his contributions to biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection.

India, Myanmar issued joint statement on bilateral cooperation

India and Myanmar on 16 July 2015 issued a joint statement on bilateral cooperation after the conclusion of the first meeting of the India-Myanmar Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) in New Delhi.

The JCC meeting was co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Foreign Minister of Myanmar U Wunna Maung Lwin.

The second JCC meeting is scheduled to be held in Myanmar in 2016.

Highlights of India, Myanmar joint statement

• Both the leaders agreed that negotiations should be conducted to enable early conclusion of the bilateral MoU on Movement of People across the Land Border.
• First meeting of the India -Myanmar Joint Boundary Working Group, with a mandate to address all outstanding boundary issues, would be held in New Delhi at the earliest.
• A joint survey by officers of the two Foreign Ministries is expected to be undertaken to inspect the earth blockage site on Ti-Ho (Tizu) river on India-Myanmar border to inspect the efforts made by local authorities of Mizoram to remove the debris and restore the normal course of river.
• Investments by Indian companies in areas like ports, power, agro-industries, forest products, mining, construction industry, consumer goods, highways, oil & gas, plantation, manufacturing, hospitality and ICT would be specifically encouraged.
• Trial runs of Imphal-Mandalay Bus Service will be held at the earliest.

Nelson Mandela International Day observed on 18 July

18 July: Nelson Mandela International Day

Nelson Mandela International Day was observed across the world on 18 July 2015 to honour the former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela (1918-2013).

The overarching objective of the Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good.

For the first time the day was celebrated on 18 July 2010 as per a UN General Assembly resolution of November 2009.

The UN created the Mandela Day to recognize his contribution to end the discriminatory apartheid system in South Africa.

Further, the day also presents an occasion to remember his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.

Amelie Mauresmo inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame

Amelie Mauresmo, the two-time Grand Slam winner and former number one tennis player of France, was on 18 July 2015 inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Mauresmo was unable to travel to the ceremony on Bill Talbert Center Court at the Hall of Fame because she's in her third trimester of pregnancy

The Frenchwoman is one of 21 players in the history of the WTA to rise to No.1, spending a total of 39 weeks there in the 2004 and 2006 seasons. She won two Grand Slam titles in 2006 season, first at the Australian Open and then at Wimbledon (beating Justine Henin in both finals). She won 25 singles titles and was a silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

At present, she coaches Scottish professional tennis player Andy Murray. She is also the first woman to coach a top male tennis player. 

She's one of only three Frenchwomen to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, alongside Mary Pierce(Australian Open in 1995 and French Open in 2000) and Marion Bartoli (Wimbledon in 2013).

Besides, Australia’s six-time Paralympic medallist David Hall was also induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Indian-origin Shiv Pande received honorary fellowship from University of Central Lancashire

Indian-origin doctor Shiv Pande on 17 July 2015 received honorary fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) of the UK for his contribution to the community as a general practitioner and medical educator.

Shiv Pande is a dedicated medical practitioner, charity campaigner, accomplished broadcaster and distinguished academic.

The honorary fellowship of the UCLAN is a prestigious distinction given to individuals for achieving excellence in one’s field of work.

About Shiv Pande

• Born and educated in India, he obtained his MBBS and MS (General Surgery) degrees in India.
• He moved to the UK in 1971 where he worked in cardio-thoracic surgery at various hospitals including London Chest Hospital and Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool until 1974. 
• In 1975, he entered general practice and eventually worked as a General Practitioner in the National Health Service (NHS) before retiring in 2005.
• He worked as Treasurer of the General Medical Council (GMC). GMC is a fee-based registered charity and maintains a register of medical practitioners as per UK’s laws.
• He received a Most Excellent order of the British Empire (MBE) from the Queen in 1989 for his community work.

Kerala tourism's Muziris heritage project bagged PATA award

Kerala Tourism's Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) on 18 July 2015 bagged the 2015 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) award in the ‘Heritage & Culture’ category.

The award was conferred on the Muziris heritage project for its conservational aspect, uniqueness, and impact on local community. It recognises the projects objective that is, restoring the historical and cultural significance of the ancient town that stretches across North Paravur in Ernakulam to Kodungalloor in Thrissur.

Muziris heritage project, the flagship project of the State is one of the biggest heritage conservation projects of modern India. 

The award will be presented on 8 September 2015 at the PATA travel mart in Bangalore. 

Kerala Tourism's Muziris Heritage Project
The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) is designed to involve and integrate the local community in all intended developmental initiatives. It stretches across from the municipality of North Paravur in Ernakulam district to that of Kodungalloor in Thrissur district. It includes four panchayats in Ernakulam district viz. Chennamangalam, Chittatukara, Vadakekkara, Pallippuram, and three panchayats in Thrissur district viz. Eriyad, Mathilakam and Sreenarayanapuram.

The Muziris Heritage Project intends to conserve and to showcase the culture of 3000 years or more for posterity

About the PATA Award
The annual award sponsored by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is given by Pacific Asia Travel Association. It is given in recognition of the achievements of 25 separate organizations and individuals.

PATA is a membership association working to promote the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.

 

Noted Urdu writer Dr Bisheshar Pradeep died

Noted Urdu fiction writer Dr Bisheshar Pradeep died in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 19 July 2015. He was 80.

Pradeep was a prolific writer who penned more than a dozen fiction books in Urdu and was best known for his 'Afsana Nigari', the fiction writing form in Urdu.

Retired as director from state PWD of Uttar Pradesh, he was a native of a place near Pakistan's Faisalabad and migrated to India after partition. 

He was awarded with 'Urdu Hindi Sahitya Akademi Award' in 1996 and also won a national level award for his children's book 'Surkh Gulab'.

 

Alex Rocco, the actor known for his role in Godfather, died at 79

American actor best known for his role as Moe Greene in crime drama The Godfather, Alex Rocco died on 18 July 2015. He was 79. 

Rocco won the Emmy award (1990) as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in sitcom The Famous Teddy Z.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 29 February 1936, Rocco made his debut in 1965 film Motor Psycho. He worked in several films like The Friends of Eddie Coyle, The Facts of Life, The Boston Strangler, Smokin' Aces, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Scammerhead, The Job, The Simpsons, The Pope Must Die, The Last Producer, Batman: Year One and others.

 

Varunavat Mountain witnessed crack in its range; landslides feared

Varunavat Mountain: Deep cracks appeared above the Tambakhani tunnel of the range
Varunavat Mountain in Uttarakashi region of Uttarakhand was in news in fourth week of July 2015. It came in news after it developed a 25-meter-long and 4 to 5-inch wide crack in its range. 

This crack on the range triggered doubts of landslides in Indira Colony and Jansu residents of Uttarkashi. Houses situated at the foot of the mountain are especially under high risk.

Following the reports of crack in the mountain, District Magistrate Indudhar Bodai issued orders to block the road in front of the Tamba Khani tunnel. Few cracks have also reportedly occurred on stairs constructed for treatment of the mountain.

Besides, report related to the crack has been sent to the administration and two teams of geo-scientists have been deployed for surveying the damage at the spot, and to recommend appropriate solutions.

 

Swati Maliwal takes charge as Chairperson of DCW

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Swati Maliwal on 20 July 2015 took over as the new Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). 

Maliwal, who is an RTI Activist, succeeded Barkha Shukla whose tenure ended in July 2015.

Maliwal, the wife of AAP leader Navin Jaihind, has been associated with Arvind Kejriwal work at 'Parivartan' since 2006 and was the youngest member of the India Against Corruption.

Prior to her appointment to the post of Chairperson of DSW, she worked as an adviser (grievances) to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on public grievances and handled Janta Samwad. 

Other members of the newly constituted DSW include Promila Gupta, Farheen Malik and Sarika Chaudhary. Every member of the commission will hold the office with effect from 18 July 2105 for three years as provided under Section 4 of the DCW Act, 1994.