19th Dec- 20th Dec 2014

Union Home Ministry issued guidelines to step up security in Schools

20-DEC-2014

Union Home Ministry on 19 December 2014 issued guidelines to step up security in Schools. The guidelines were issued across the country in the wake of attack on an Army-run school in Peshawar.
The guidelines spell out steps to be taken in case of random firing, armed intrusion, hostage crisis or bomb attacks.
Highlights of the guidelines are

Each school should have concrete boundary wall, with 3 to 4 gates and each gate should be manned by at least 3 guards, on a 24- hour basis.
There should be proper illumination along the perimeter so that nobody can jump over the wall into the school in the night for any nefarious activity.
Details of telephone number of the Police Control Room and local police station should be maintained and updated regularly by the school authorities.
A telephone connection should be provided at the main gate of the School so that the guards can inform the Police in case of any emergency without waiting for informing the nodal officer or the Principal.
Concertina wire may be fixed on the i

South Korea constitutional court ordered dissolution of leftist Unified Progressive Party

20-DEC-2014

Constitutional court of South Korea on 19 December 2014 ordered the dissolution of leftist Unified Progressive party (UPP) accused of pro-North Korea activities.
This is the first time that constitutional court of South Korea ordered the breakup of the political party since it was founded in 1988.
The Unified Progressive party is a merger of small progressive groups which was founded in 2011. It has five lawmakers and court deprived all of them of their seats.
In November 2013, the Justice Ministry of South Korea petitioned the court to disband the Unified Progressive party (UPP) for supporting North Korea-style socialist systems and posing a threat to liberal democracy of South Korea.
Earlier, UPP party members were arrested for allegedly plotting a pro-Pyongyang rebellion to overthrow the South Korean government in the event of a war on the Korean peninsula before to the petition.
However, UPP members argue that they wanted only greater reconciliation with North Korea. They accuse the South Korea’s spy service of fabricating the rebellion charges to divert criticism over revelations that spy agents launched illicit online campaigning to help then ruling party candidate, now the president, and win elections in December 2012.

Comment
The court order exposes limits of freedom of expression in South Korea. The President Park’s government infringes upon freedom of speech and could further aggravate a bitter political divide between the right and left.

Chief of Vikatan Group S. Balasubramanian died

20-DEC-2014

Chief of Vikatan Group S. Balasubramanian died on 19 December 2014. He was 78.
Balasubramanian made many revolutionary changes in the contents of Ananda Vikatan.
He also introduced a scheme to identify talents among college students in Tamil Nadu and many journalists dominating the field are actually the products of the student’s journalists scheme.
Balasubramanian was arrested and lodged in jail for three days by the Tamil Nadu Assembly after he refused to apologise for the cartoon on legislators published on the cover of the magazine.
He was released after protests around the country. He later filed a suit in the court against his wrongful arrest.
The Madras High Court decided in favour of Balasubramanian and even awarded compensation.
Known for his green fingers, he is an expert farmer with a special interest in the cultivation of high-yielding winter crop vegetables. He also had notable success in breeding high-quality German shepherd dogs.
Also, he is India's most successful and versatile aviculturist.

Vasan Srinivasan inducted into the Australian Multicultural Council

20-DEC-2014

Indian-origin Vasan Srinivasan was on 18 December 2014 inducted into an Australian national body Australian Multicultural Council (AMC). He will be serving the council till 16 December 2017.
Srinivasan is currently the Chairman of Confederation of Indian Australian Associations.
Vasan Srinivasan
• Vasan was a former Member of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Grants Committee. He was a Member of Family Panel from 2003 - 2013
• Vasan is the Founder, Member, Chairman of the Multicultural Liberal Business Club (MLBC). Earlier, he served as the president of Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria.
• Vasan was appointed as the Vice Chairman for the 2010 Commonwealth Games Committee in India for the closing ceremony in Delhi.
• He was also the founding member of Federation of Indian Multi-Faith Organisations of Victoria (FIMO).
Australian Multicultural Council (AMC)
• AMC is a six-member council that advices the Australian government on multicultural affairs and policy programmes.
• It is a ministerial appointed body that works with a focus on harnessing economic and social benefits of Australia's culturally diverse population.
• It advices the government on ways to sustain and support social cohesion within communities.

• It works to ensure that all Australians have the opportunity to participate, engage and contribute to Australian life.

Zomato acquired Cibando, the restaurant search service of Italy

20-DEC-2014

Restaurant search service of Italy Cibando was acquired by online restaurant search firm Zomato on 19 December 2014. The terms of the deal are not disclosed.
The acquisition is expected to be completed till the end of December 2014. The new combined entity will grow to 30-40 people in the next three months and over time the Italy operation is expected to grow to 150-200 people.
Zomato would invest 6 million US dollar in Italy till 2017.
This is Zomato’s fifth acquisition. Zomato acquired MenuMania in New Zealand, Lunchtime in Czech Republic, Obedovat in Slovakia, and Gastronauci in Poland.
Zomato is present in 20 countries. The country is aiming to launch in 15 more countries in the next year or so. The firm gets about 35 million visits per month.
Deepinder Goyal is founder and CEO of Zomato.
Cibando has 82000 restaurants listed across various cities in Italy and has now a 10-member team

NASA found the Meteoritic Evidence of Water Reservoir at Mars

20-DEC-2014

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and an international team of planetary scientists found an evidence in meteorites on Earth that indicates Mars has a distinct reservoir of water or ice near its surface.
The findings were published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters on 18 December 2014.
This discovery helps resolve the question of where the missing Martian water may have gone. However, the controversy still surrounds the origin, abundance and history of water on Mars.
The findings support the hypothesis that a buried cryosphere accounts for a large part of the initial water budget of Mars.
Findings of the research
• The research provides evidence for the existence of a third reservoir that is intermediate in isotopic composition between the Mars' mantle and its current atmosphere.
• This reservoir has a non-atmospheric hydrogen isotopic composition. This hydrogen reservoir represents hydrated crust or ground ice.
• The distinct hydrogen isotopic signature of the water reservoir must be of sufficient size that it has not reached isotopic equilibrium with the atmosphere.
• This reservoir could account for a large part of the initial water budge of Mars.
Study Process

Researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington and NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division studied three Martian meteorites.

Scientists compared water, other volatile element concentrations and hydrogen isotopic compositions of glasses within the meteorites which may have formed due to the eruption of rocks to the surface of Mars in ancient volcanic activity.

They examined two possibilities that the signature for the newly identified hydrogen reservoir either reflects near surface ice interbedded with sediment or that it reflects hydrated rock near the top of the Martian crust.

Pakistan became Associate Member Sate of CERN

20-DEC-2014

Pakistan on 19 December 2014 became Associate Member Sate of CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research).
CERN Director-General Rolf Heuer and the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Ansar Parvez, signed a document in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The decision to grant associate membership to Pakistan was taken in lieu of Pakistan’s contribution to building the CMS and ATLAS experiments since it signed a Co-operation Agreement with CERN in 1994. Pakistan is also involved in accelerator developments, making it an important partner for CERN.
Pakistan had applied for the CERN associate membership in February 2013.
By 2010, CERN membership was exclusively restricted to European countries. However, it is now open to non-European states as well.
The status of associate member is also the pre-stage to full membership. In May 2014, Turkey became the Associate Member state of CERN.
Benefit of being a member
Associate Membership will allow Pakistan to participate in the governance of CERN, through attending the meetings of the CERN Council.
Moreover, it will allow Pakistani scientists to become members of the CERN staff, and to participate in CERN’s training and career-development programmes.
Finally, it will allow Pakistani industry to bid for CERN contracts, thus opening up opportunities for industrial collaboration in areas of advanced technology.

Union Finance Ministry approved 8.75 percent interest rate on PF deposits for 2014-15

20-DEC-2014

The Union Finance Ministry on 19 December 2014 approved 8.75 percent interest rate on Provident Fund (PF) deposits for the year 2014-15.
This rate of interest on PF deposits will now be notified by the Union Labour Ministry as well as by the Income Tax Department. The decision will be implemented from the date of notification.
Background
The rate of interest on PF deposits for 2013-14 was 8.75 percent itself. On 26 August 2014, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's Central Board of Trustees (CBT) had decided to retain the interest rate on PF deposits at 8.75 percent only for the 2014-15.
As per the practice, decision of the trustees of EPFO on interest rate is implemented after the concurrence of the Finance Ministry.

Union Government introduced Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill to facilitate introduction of GST

20-DEC-2014

Union Government introduced the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 in the Lok Sabha on 19 December 2014. The introduction of this Bill will facilitate the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India.
The 122nd Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to inserts Article 246A, 269A, Article 279A and omits Article 268A which was inserted by the Constitution (88th Amendment) Act, 2003. It also omits Entry 92 and 92C from the Union List and Entry 52 and 55 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule
Besides, it amends Article 248, 249, 250, 268, 269, 270, 271, 286, 366, 368, Sixth Schedule and the Entry 84 of the Union List and Entry 54 and 62 of the State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
Article 246A: Empowers Legislature of every State to make laws with respect to goods and services tax imposed by the Union or by such State provided that these powers are subject to laws made by Parliament in accordance with the Article 246A (2).
Article 246A (2): Parliament has the exclusive power to make laws with respect to GST where the supply of goods, or of services, or both take place in the course of Inter-State trade or commerce.
Article 269A: Provides that GST on supplies of the good and services taking place in the coruse of inter-state trade will be levied and collected by the Union and apportioned between the Union and the States in the manner provided by the Parliament by law on the recommendations of the GST Council.
Article 279A: Empowers President of India to constitute a Goods and Service Tax (GST) Council within sixty-days of the commencement of the 122nd Constitution Amendment Act.
Main Provision of the Bill

It provides for constitution of a Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to recommend to the Union and States on the inclusion and exclusion of goods and services
It brings petroleum crude, high speed diesel, motor spirit, natural gas, aviation turbine fuel and tobacco and tobacco products within the purview of Union List and State list.
It proposes an additional tax on supply of goods, not exceeding one percent, in the course of inter-State trade will be levied and collected by the Union for a period of two years and apportioned to the States
The net proceeds of additional tax on supply of goods, except the proceeds from Union Territories, will not form the part of Consolidated Fund of India and shall be deemed to have been apportioned to States from where the supply originates.
It proposes that Parliament by Law on the recommendation of the GST Council provide for the compensation to the States for loss of revenue arising on account of implementation of GST for a period of five years.
It subsumes all the Central indirect taxes, levies and Central Sales Tax and State Value Added Tax and Sales Tax
It dispenses with the concept of declared goods of special importance under the Constitution
It covers all goods and services except alcoholic liquor for human consumption for the levy of GST.
In case of petroleum products, these goods will not be subjected to GST till a date is notified on the recommendation of the GST Council

About Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council

1.The GST Council comprises of following members

Union Finance Minister: Chairperson
Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance: Member
Minister in charge of Finance ot Taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State government: Members

2.The GST Council should choose one amongst them to be the Vice-Chairperson of the Council for such period as they may decide.

3.Functions of GST Council

To make recommendations to Union and State on the taxes, cesses and surcharges levied by Union, State or local bodies that can be subsumed in the GST
To make recommendations on goods and services that may be subjected to, or exempted from the GST
To propose a model GST Laws, principles of levy, apportionment of Integrated GST and the principles that govern the place of supply
Recommend the threshold limit of turnover below which goods and services amy be exempted from GST
Recommend the rate including floor rates with bands of GST
Recommend any special rate or rates for a specified period to raise additional resources during any natural calamity or disaster
Recommend special provisions with respect to the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

4.Every decision of the Council shall be taken by a majority of not less than three-fourth of the weighted votes of the members present and voting in accordance with the following principles:
(a) The vote of the Union government shall have a weightage of one-third of the total votes cast
(b) The votes of all the States government taken together shall have a weightage of two-third of the total votes cast in the meeting
5. One half of the total number of members of the GST Council shall constitute the quorum at its meeting
Analysis
The tabling of the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha is only half-a-step towards implementing the reforms much needed to rejuvenate the economy. The Bill is a result of a series of hectic-negotiations with the empowered committee of state finance ministers which seeks to ensure seamless transfer of goods and services across the country by removing the cascading effect of several state and central levies.
Although Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley called the Bill as the biggest tax reform since 1947, however, tax experts said the structure of the Bill is riddled with intrinsic conflicts.
According to Harishanker Subramaniam, national leader, indirect tax, Ernst & Young, “the 1 percent additional levy is distortionary. It is for origin or manufacturing states while the GST as such is a destination-based tax. Centre has gone too far to get states on board. It has travelled more than half way to bring them.”
Also, it would be better that Union government now takes the step towards introducing Direct Tax Code Bill. Because implementing these two tax reforms bill will only make the economic reforms a complete one.

Bombay High Court appointed a team of 17 lawyers to function as Commissioners of Court

20-DEC-2014

The Bombay High Court on 19 December 2014 appointed a team of 17 lawyers to function as Commissioners of Court to help in removing the illegal hoardings.
The court also ordered that all civic bodies should have a toll-free number to enable people to register complaints against illegal hoardings.
Tasks to be served by the Commissioners of Court
• These Commissioners of Court were asked by a bench of judges headed by Justice Abhay Oka to visit various places in the state and detect illegal posters, banners and hoardings put up by political parties.
• After detecting the illegal hoardings, these Commissioners will then have to inform the concerned civic body so that steps can be initiated to remove them.
• The Court Commissioners have also been asked to check whether the concerned municipal body has taken action against such illegal hoardings or not.
• The commissioners of court have to submit a report in this regard by the end of February 2015.
Background
Earlier, the Bombay High Court was hearing a bunch of petitions alleging that political parties were putting up hoardings, posters and banners without taking permission. These hoardings were defacing public and private properties.
In November 2014, the court had pulled up municipal bodies in the state for not complying with its earlier orders on removal of illegal hoardings, posters and banners exhibited by political parties.
The bench of judges had even warned that it would dissolve civic bodies if they do not take steps to remove illegal hoardings.

US and Cuba restored ties by ending 50 years hostility

20-DEC-2014

The United States and Cuba agreed on 17 December 2014 to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries. The US President Barack Obama and Cuba President Raul Castro announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The US President Obama called for an end to the long economic restriction against its old Cold War enemy Cuba. He also announced the opening of an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half-century by ending the hostility between two countries.
Obama announced that a rigid and outdated policy of isolating Cuba had failed to achieve change in Cuba. The Vatican and Canada facilitated the deal where Pope Francis played an active role in pressing for American Alan Gross release from Cuba.
Restrictions lifted
Both the countries Presidents Obama and Raul Castro agreed on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of embassies in each other's countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce.
The US administration policy shift includes an opening to more commerce in some areas, allowing use of US credit and debit cards, increasing the amount of by RoyalShopperApp">money by RoyalShopperApp\\\0022 ""> that can be sent to people of Cuba and allowing export of telecommunications devices and services.
The deal includes Cuba to release American Alan Gross, 65, who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years and the US in return to release three intelligence agents of Cuba held in the US.
Restrictions remained
Travel restrictions for most Americans to visit Cuba will be eased but the restrictions will not yet be open for broad US tourism to Cuba.
The US by RoyalShopperApp">trade by RoyalShopperApp\\\0022 ""> restrictions will remain same that has been in force more than 50 years until t it gets congressional approval of the US.
Background
Cuba and the United States have been ideological enmity since the 1959 revolution in Cuba which brought Fidel Castro, to power who was old brother of Raul Castro.
The US broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 as Cuba steered a leftist course that made Cuba into a close ally of the former Soviet Union. The hostilities were disturbed by crises over spies, refugees and the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962 that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
After the disintegration of Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in early 1990s, the US was alone in its efforts to squeeze Cuba.
Since 2008, Raul Castro who took over the President from Fidel Castro has maintained a one party political system.

DRDO successfully tested an indigenous 1000 kg glide bomb

20-DEC-2014

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 19 December 2014 successfully tested an indigenously built 1000 kg glide bomb. The bomb had successfully hit a target 100 km away in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.
The bomb was dropped by an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft in the ocean. It glided for nearly 100 km before hitting the target with great precision. The bomb was guided by an on-board navigation system.
The flight of the glide bomb was monitored by radars and electro-optic systems stationed at Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha’s Balasore district, about 230 km from Bhubaneswar.

About the Glide Bomb
• The glide bomb was designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Multiple DRDO laboratories including Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) have contributed towards development of the glide bomb.
• The complete avionics package and navigation system for the testing of bomb was designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI).

US President Barack Obama signed Ukraine Freedom Support Bill, 2014 for more sanctions on Russia

19-DEC-2014

The US President Barack Obama on 18 December 2014 signed Ukraine Freedom Support Bill, 2014 passed by the US Congress. With this, the Bill has now become Ukraine Freedom Support Act, 2014.
The Act authorizes more sanctions on Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis. However, it does not intend to impose sanctions on Russia. Rather, the Act gives the administration additional authorities that could be utilized if any circumstance arises.
The Act also authorizes 350 million US dollars in lethal and non-lethal military aid to the Ukrainian government, including anti-Tank weapons, munitions and surveillance drones.
The Act also gives the administration the authority to impose further sanctions on Russia against Ukraine crisis, that is, Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The Act extends applicability of certain US sanctions involving Russia and Ukraine to non-US persons.
However, the Act would terminate when the US President certifies to Congress that Russia has, among other actions, ceased undermining the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The Act significantly expanded the scope of US sanctions against Russia as a result of the Ukrainian crisis and it comes on the same day when European Union imposed new sanctions on Russia which was described by Russia as absolutely unacceptable.

Michael Garcia resigned as Chief ethics investigator of FIFA Ethics Committee

19-DEC-2014

Michael Garcia on 18 December 2014 resigned as Independent Chief Ethic investigator of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Ethics Committee.
He resigned from the post in protest over the handling of his 430-page report on awarding the bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. FIFA had earlier awarded bid to Russia and Qatar despite allegations of corruption.
Garcia resigned a day after FIFA's appeal panel rejected his challenge that FIFA Judge Hans-Joachim Eckert had submitted a wrong summary of his report and cleared Russia and Qatar as World Cup hosts.
Timeline of controversy
• 2 December 2010: Russia and Qatar chosen to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups
• 4 October 2013: FIFA sets up taskforce to look into alternative dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
• 1 June 2014: Surfacing of news that former FIFA Vice-President Mohamed bin Hammam paid 3 million pounds to FIFA officials for support to Qatar’s bid
• 5 September 2014: Michael Garcia submits report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process to FIFA
• 13 November 2014: 42-page summary of Garcia report released by FIFA clearing Russia and Qatar of corruption
• 13 November 2014: Garcia disowns the summary released and claimed it contains erroneous representations
• 16 December 2014: FIFA rejected Garcia appeal against FIFA Judge Eckert's
• 17 December 2014: Garcia resigned as Independent Chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee's Investigatory Chamber

Comment

The report prepared by Garcia was meant to restore some trust in an organisation plagued by years of scandal. However, the resignation of Garcia has put the FIFA into more turmoil.

SoftBank Corp announced its third investment of 570 crore rupees in Housing.com

19-DEC-2014

Japanese telecom & internet giant SoftBank Corp on 16 December 2014 announced its third investment of 570 crore rupees in Housing.com.
SoftBank will acquire around 30% stake in the property portal for 470 crore rupees. With this, the value of Housing.com increased to 1550 crore rupees.
Online real-estate ventures have seen a steady flow of investor money in recent months with the likes of PropTiger getting a 30 million US dollar investment from Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp.
The existing companies in the housing sector are 99acres, Magicbricks, part of the Times Group, and new-age startups like Bengaluru-based Commonfloor.
Housing sector is witnessing a promising future because of its technology backbone and heavy focus on data and analytics.

Helios Travel launched Magic Cabs in Bengaluru

19-DEC-2014

Helios Travel on 16 December 2014 launched Magic Cabs in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Magic Cabs service has its own fleet of taxis and can be accessed through a combination of voice calls, online reservations and mobile application. The service will initially be available on Android phones.
The company’s online system will extend its footprint to more than 30 cities across India within two to three months.
Magic Cabs’ fully automated high-end reservation and logistics management systems ensure seamless service delivery even as customers enjoy reliable rides in clean, well-maintained cars driven by experienced chauffeurs. The cabs are equipped with a swipe machine for card payments.
The company plans to raise 40 crore rupees to strengthen its national presence with a coverage of 150 locations to emerge as a 600-crore rupees company within five years.
B Rajiv is the CEO of Helios Travel Solutions.

UNGA adopted resolution referring North Korea to ICC for human right abuses

19-DEC-2014

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 18 December 2014 adopted a resolution referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for human right abuses and for charges of crimes against humanity.
The UNGA adopted the resolution with 116 accepted votes to 20 rejected votes. More than 50 countries abstained from voting. China and Russia voted against the resolution along with Belarus Cuba, Iran, Syria and Venezuela.
The resolution also called UNGA to consider targeted sanctions against the Pyongyang leadership for the repression of civilians in North Korea.
Why the need for resolution on North Korea?
A UN report released in February 2014 revealed that civilians of North Korea faced unspeakable atrocities. It also detailed wide-ranging abuses in North Korea which includes deliberate starvation, forced labour, executions, torture, rape and the denial of reproductive rights enforced through punishment, forced abortion and infanticide.
The report also revealed that North Korea didn’t co-operate with the report findings.
In November 2014 UN human Rights Committee voted in favour of referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also condemned human rights abuses of North Korea.

HTC Global Services acquired CareTech Solutions Inc

19-DEC-2014

IT services company HTC Global Services on 19 December 2014 acquired a US based firm CareTech Solutions Inc. Both companies are headquartered in Troy, Michigan.
Highlights of the acquisition
• Madhava Reddy, president and CEO of HTC Global Services, will also take on the role of chairman of CareTech Solutions.
• However, Jim Giordano will continue to lead CareTech as president and CEO.
• CareTech will retain its brand name and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of HTC under its current leadership team.

About HTC Global Services
• Established in 1990, HTC Global Services is an INC. 500 Hall of Fame company and one of the fastest growing privately held companies in Michigan.
• HTC Global Services has offices in several countries and global delivery centres in North America, India and Malaysia to serve customers across the globe.
• Recently, HTC Global Services won the annual Aetna Supplier Award for 2014.

About CareTech Solutions Inc
• CareTech provides information technology (IT) services and Web products and services for US hospitals and health care systems.
• From implementing emerging technologies to supporting day-to-day IT operations, CareTech offers clients expert health information technology services.
• CareTech won the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 Best in KLAS award for IT Outsourcing (Extensive).

Veteran freedom fighter Chunibhai Vaidya passed away

19-DEC-2014

Veteran Gandhian and freedom fighter Chunibhai Vaidya passed away on 19 December 2014 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat following brief illness. He was 97.
Chunibhai Vaidya
• Chunibhai Vaidya was born on 2 September 1918 in a small village in Patan district of North Gujarat.
• He began his life in activism with freedom struggle. He also actively participated in Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement.
• Being an editor of Bhoomiputra magazine, he raised battle against political emergency in 1975 and faced imprisonment.
• Vaidya formed Gujarat Lok Samiti, a voluntary organization in 1980.
• He was felicitated with Vishva Gujarati Pratibha award by Vishva Gujarati Samaj.
• He wrote a book titled Assassination of Gandhi : Facts and Falsehood which was translated and published in eleven languages.

GSLV Mark-III-X successfully test fired along with human Crew module, CARE

19-DEC-2014

GSLV Mark-III-X was in news recently because Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 18 December 2014 launched it successfully from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
GSLV Mark-III-X is the heaviest rocket (630 tonnes) of India, which was launched on an experimental mission along with human Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment (CARE). It was launched with an aim to check its atmospheric stability with luggage of around four tonne and to study re-entry characteristics of the crew module.
In the experimental mission, the crew module separated itself from the rocket at an altitude of 126 km for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. Crew module, in the process of re-entry into earth’s atmosphere, was controlled by 3 parachutes which helped it to splash safely into the Bay of Bengal off Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Further, the crew module was successfully recovered by the Indian Coast Guard near Indira Point, the southernmost point of India.

UN Security Council extended mandate of UN Disengagement of Forces agreement in Golan Heights

19-DEC-2014

United Nation Security Council (UNSC) on 18 December 2014 extended the mandate of the UN Disengagement of Forces agreement (UNDOF) in Golan Heights until 30 June 2015.
It extended the mandate so that UNDOF personnel are able to carry out unimpeded delivery of its equipment and the temporary use of alternative ports of entry and departure.
The UNSC while extending the mandate called on both Israel and Syria to scrupulously abide by the terms of the disengagement accord to prevent any breaches of the ceasefire.

Main highlights of the UNSC decision

The Council reaffirmed to put sanction on groups providing financing and arms support to Al-Nusra Front or to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Levant (ISIL).
It condemned Syrian rebel groups’ use of improvised explosive devices in the UNDOF area of operation.
It underscored that there should be no military activity of the armed opposition groups in the area of separation and urged Member States to convey this message to Syrian armed groups.
It also recognized the necessity to adjust UNDOF’s posture on a temporary basis to minimize security risk to UN personnel while continuing to implement its mandate.
It also requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to continue to report every 90 days on developments in the area and measures taken to implement relevant resolutions.

Comment
The mandate was extended following a recent fighting in the area and amid the reports that region is likely to remain tense due to ongoing conflict in Syria spilling over to neighbouring nations.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in its latest report covering September to November 2014 period warned that the military activities in the area of separation have the potential to escalate tensions between Israel and Syria.
The report further said that this would jeopardise the ceasefire between the two countries and poses a risk to local civilians as well as UN personnel on the ground.
About UN Disengagement of Forces agreement (UNDOF)
UNDOF was established by the UNSC to monitor the ceasefire between Syria and Israel after their 1973 war. Since then, UNDOF has remained in the area to maintain the ceasefire and to supervise the implementation of the disengagement agreement.
As of 31 July 2014 there are 1223 peacekeepers from six countries serving in UNDOF. The countries namely are Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands, and the Philippines.

TVS Chairman Venu Srinivasan conferred honorary citizenship of Busan

19-DEC-2014

TVS chairman Venu Srinivasan was made Honorary Citizen of Busan, Korea on 18 December 2014. He was conferred with the citizenship for his efforts to enhance friendship and cooperation between India and Republic of Korea.
He was conferred the title by Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, Suh Byung-soo during the honorary citizenship ceremony held at Busan, the second largest city in Korea, after Seoul.
Srinivasan, who is also Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai, is the first Indian industrialist to be granted honorary citizenship.
About Venu Srinivasan
• He is an Indian industrialist who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Sundaram Clayton Ltd and Chairman of TVS Motor Company, the third largest two wheeler manufacturer in India.
• For the year 2009-10, he served as the President of Confederation of Indian Industry.
• In 2010 he was conferred with Padma Shri by the President of India for his contributions in the field of trade and industry.
• In 2010, he was honoured by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, with the distinguished civilian honour, Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, in recognition of his contribution in promoting bilateral relations between South Korea and India.
• Asian Network for Quality (ANQ) chose Venu Srinivasan as one of the winners of its prestigious Ishikawa-Kano Award for the year 2012 for his substantial contribution to the advancement of theories and practices of quality management within TVS Motor.
• He was appointed as the Honorary Commander of Korean Navel vessel, ROKS Choi Young (DDH-981). This is a rare honour for a civilian, and is given in appreciation for his/her dedication to enhance the friendship and Co-operation between the Republic of Korea and India.

UN Security Council renewed Humanitarian aid to Syria for 12 Months

19-DEC-2014

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 17 December 2014 renewed its authorization for humanitarian aid to Syria for 12 months without Syria’s government consent. The resolution, pursuant to resolution 2165 passed in July 2014, extends the humanitarian assistance for Syrian civilians until 10 January 2016.
Main highlights of the Resolution
• The humanitarian aid renewed is for conflict lines and four border crossings in Syria from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan.
• The four border crossings namely are Al Yarubiyah on the Iraq border, Al-Ramtha from Jordan, Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa from Turkey.
• It called on UN humanitarian aid agencies and their partners to scale up humanitarian deliveries into hard-to-reach and besieged areas, including by using, as effectively as possible, (the authorized) border crossings.
• It expressed grave concern over the ineffective implementation of its previous resolutions 2139 and 2165 and demanded increased aid access to civilians in hard-to-reach areas.
• It called on all parties to the Syrian domestic conflict to cease attacks against civilians and the targeting of schools and hospitals, as well as the indiscriminate use of weapons and use of starvation of civilians as a method of combat.
• It strongly condemned the arbitrary detention and torture of civilians and kidnappings and demanded the immediate end of these practices and the release of all arbitrarily detained persons starting with women, children, the wounded and elderly.
• It called for continuing monitoring mechanism for loading aid convoys in neighbouring countries, which confirms for Syria that aid consignments are in fact humanitarian relief.
• It also supported UN mediator for Syria Staffan de Mistura's action plan to implement local ceasefires in some regions of Syria by voice.
According to UN estimates, at present some 12.2 million people of Syria need humanitarian aid, an increase of 2.9 million people in just 10 months. Nearly half of the population of Syria is displaced with more than 7.6 million internally displaced and over 3 million refugees in neighbouring countries of Syria.

Veteran poetess Imtiaz Dharker awarded with the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry 2014

19-DEC-2014

Noted Pakistan-born poetess Imtiaz Dharker was on 17 December 2014 awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry 2014 for her latest poetry collection Over the Moon.
The award recognizes Imtiaz Dharker life’s contribution to poetry. It will be presented to Dharker in 2015.
Earlier on 4 December 2014, Dharker was unanimously chosen for the award by the Poetry Medal Committee at Windsor. Her nomination was approved by the Queen of the United Kingdom.
Imtiaz Dharker
• Dharker was born in Pakistan in 1954 but grew up a Muslim Calvinist in a Lahori household at Glasgow, Scotland.
• Some of her poems are included in syllabus of schools in the United Kingdom.
• She has so far published five books including Postcards from God and Purdah in 1997, I Speak for the Devil in 2001, The Terrorist at my Table in 2006, Leaving Fingerprints in 2009 and Over the Moon in 2014.
• Imtiaz is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has been Poet in Residence at Cambridge University Library. She is also a recipient of the Cholmondeley Award.
• She has also been awarded by the President of India with Silver Lotus for the best short film.
Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry
• The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry was created in 1933 by George V at the suggestion of the then poet laureate John Masefield.
• The award is given for a book of verse published by someone from the United Kingdom or a Commonwealth realm.
• The committee of eminent men and women of letters under the chairmanship of the Poet Laureate gives the recommendations for the award.
• The recipient receives a gold medal. The obverse of the medal bears the crowned effigy of The Queen.
• In 2013, the medal was won by Douglas Dunn. Other winners of the award were W. H. Auden (1936), R. S. Thomas (1964), Ted Hughes (1974), Fleur Adcock (2006)and John Agard (2012).

IRDA imposed penalty on Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance & Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers

19-DEC-2014

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) on 18 December 2014 imposed monetary penalty on Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) Life Insurance Company Ltd and Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers for violating regulatory norms.
Penalty on Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance Co
The monetary penalty imposed on Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance Company Ltd was 31 lakhs rupee which has to be remitted within 15 days from the date of receipt of the order. The company was penalised on charges of delay in payment of claims, non-adherence to product specification and violating licensing of corporate agents norms.
The Life Insurer practice was considered violation of Clause C-7 of the Group Insurance guidelines and the penalty was imposed by IRDA under powers vested under section 102 of the IRDA Act, 1999.
IRDA also advised the company to strengthen its internal controls to ensure strict compliance with investment regulations.
Penalty on Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers
Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers was imposed a penalty of 5 lakh rupees which is payable through Demand Draft drawn within 15 days from the receipt of letter.
The company was directed to stop transfer of funds between broker and their parent company Anand Rathi Financial Services. IRDA also warned the company to ensure strict compliance of the regulations.
IRDA took action against the company under Regulation 34(2) of IRDA (Insurance Brokers) Regulations 2002.

US released three Cuban spies of Wasp Network

19-DEC-2014

Wasp Network was in news recently because the United States in third week of December 2014 released three Cuban spies of this network. These spies were released as part of announcement restoring diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba after more than 50 years of enmity.
The Wasp Network is a spy ring of Cuba that included five members of a 14 member espionage team called La Red Avipsa.
The Wasp Network was engaged in a wide range of activities, including locating vulnerable points of entry into the state of Florida for the importation of arms and explosives, infiltration of the US Southern Command, and the attempted subversion of anti-Communist organizations in the US.
In 2001, five members of spies of Cuba were convicted of being unregistered foreign agents, and three also were found guilty of espionage conspiracy for failed efforts to obtain military secrets from the US Southern Command headquarters.
United Nations sent team of international experts to clean up Sundarbans oil spill
The United Nations (UN) on 18 December 2014 sent a team of international experts to help Bangladesh in cleaning up the Sundarbans oil spill. The team belonging to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) was sent on a request from Bangladesh government.
The UN team will help Bangladesh government in the ground work and will also conduct an assessment and advise on recovery and risk reduction measures. The team comprises of experts from Britain, European Union, France and the United States.
Besides, the UN asked Dhaka to impose a complete ban on the movement of commercial vessels through the Sundarbans.
Sundarbans, the world largest mangrove forest, was hit by huge oil spill after an oil-tanker carrying 350000 litres of furnace oil collided with another vessel in Mongla near River Shela in Bangladesh on 9 December 2014.
The oil spill has now spread 350 sq km inside the delicate protected mangrove forest area that are home to rare Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins and endangered Royal Bengal Tigers.

The accident occurred inside one of three sanctuaries set up for the dolphins in 2011 after studies found they are home to some 6000 dolphins.
Sunderbans are spread over an area of 10000 sq km and is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. The delta comprises a network of rivers and canals straddling Bangladesh and India.

Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, main accused of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, granted bail

19-DEC-2014

The mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, was in news recently after an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan granted bail to him on 18 December 2014.He was granted bail against a surety amount of one million rupees (10000 dollars).
Lakhvi, Chief Operation Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was among the seven persons charged with planning and helping carry out the Mumbai attacks in 2008 in which more than 160 people were killed. Other six who have been charged with planning, financing and executing the attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital are Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Anjum.
He was arrested in Pakistan in 2009 in connection with the attack on Mumbai after the lone surviving gunman identified Lakhvi as the mastermind of the attack. Lakhvi was in Pakistan’s top-security Adiala Jail in the city of Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital, Islamabad.
He is also the accused of overseeing the 2006 train bombings in Mumbai, in which over 200 people were killed and 700 injured.
The court’s verdict came two day after Pakistan saw one of its biggest ever militant attacks. The attack happened in an Army-run school of Peshawar in which at least 141 people including 132 students were killed.
India’s response to the Court’s verdict
India condemned the verdict and immediately called upon Pakistan to take steps to reverse the decision of granting bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. It said that release of Lakhvi on bail is unacceptable to India and is very unfortunate.

Lens-free on-chip Microscope developed to image pathology samples

19-DEC-2014

The Lens-free on-chip Microscope developed by the researchers can be used for the wide-field computational imaging of pathology samples. The study was published on 17 December 2014 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The study was conducted by the team of researchers including Aydogan Ozcan, professor of electrical engineering and bioengineering at University of California.
The Lens-free on-chip Microscope can emerge as a less expensive and more portable technology for performing common examinations of tissue, blood and other biomedical specimens to detect the presence of cancer.
The method may prove useful in remote areas and in cases where large numbers of samples need to be examined quickly.
Lens-free on-chip Microscope
• The Lens-free on-chip Microscope can be used for high-throughput 3-D tissue imaging to study the disease.
• The device works by using a laser or light-emitting-diode to illuminate a tissue or blood sample that has been placed on a slide and inserted into the device.
• A sensor array on a microchip captures and records the pattern of shadows created by the sample.
• The wide-field lens-free images produced by the microscope have sufficient image resolution and contrast for clinical evaluation.
Study Process
The team tested the device by studying Papanicolaou smears, human breast section which indicated cervical cancer, tissue specimens containing cancerous breast cells and blood samples containing sickle cell anaemia.
The lens-free device produced images that were many hundred times larger in area than those captured by conventional bright-field optical microscopes.

Background
Optical examination of microscale features in pathology samples is one of the gold standards to diagnose disease.
However, the use of conventional light microscopes is partially limited due to their relatively high cost, bulkiness of lens-based optics, small field of view (FOV), and requirements for lateral scanning and 3D focus adjustment.

US Senate passed resolution recognising Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai as symbols of peace

19-DEC-2014

The US Senate on 16 December 2014 unanimously passed a resolution recognising Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai as symbol of peace. Satyarthi and Malala are the joint winners of Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2014.
The resolution recognised them as symbol of peace and advocates for ending the financial exploitation of children and for the right of all children to an education. They were recognised for their efforts to end the scourge of child slavery and advance education for all children.
The resolution also lauded all individuals working around the world to end the scourge of child slavery and to advance education for all children. It recognised the challenges that remain in ending the financial exploitation of children and providing access to an education for all children.
The resolution was introduced by outgoing Senator Tom Harkin on 11 December 2014 and was the last item passed by the US Senate in the 113th Congress.

Lok Sabha passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014

19-DEC-2014

The Lok Sabha on 18 December 2014 passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to legalize e-rickshaws by bringing them under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 15 December 2014. The Bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Provisions of the Bill
• Under the Act, a motor vehicle or vehicle is defined as any mechanically propelled vehicle adapted for use upon the roads.
• The bill does not include (i) a vehicle running upon fixed rails or (ii) a vehicle of a special type adapted for use only in a factory or in any other enclosed premises or (iii) a vehicle having less than four wheels fitted with engine capacity of not exceeding 25 cc.
• The Bill brings e-carts and e-rickshaws under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. E-carts and e-rickshaws are defined as special purpose battery powered vehicles, having three wheels, and with power up to 4000 watts.
• Under the Act, a person shall be granted a learner's licence to drive public service vehicles, goods carriages, educational institution buses or private service vehicles, only if he has held a driving licence to drive a light motor vehicle for at least one year.
• The Bill states that the conditions for issuing of driver licences for e-cart or e-rickshaw shall be prescribed.
• The Bill also provides for the central government to make Rules on the specifications for e-carts and e-rickshaws and the manner and conditions for issuing driving licenses.

Veteran Telugu Sports Journalist Maddineni Babu Rao died

19-DEC-2014

Senior Telugu sports journalist Maddineni Babu Rao passed away on 17 December 2014 at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh following a cardiac problem. He was 74.
Maddineni Babu Rao
• Born at Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh in 1941, Babu Rao worked as physical education teacher in Zilla Parishad High Schools at Kaluvapamula, Jaggaiahpeta, Mylavaram, Penamaluru, Guntupalli.
• After his retirement as a physical education teacher, Rao wrote sports news for some Telugu newspapers including Eenadu, Vaartha and Andhra Jyothi and covered several national and State meets.
• He was the first Telugu sports journalist in the Krishna district and had an authority on all sports.

Italian film actress Virna Lisi died

19-DEC-2014

Acclaimed Italian actress Virna Lisi died on 18 December 2014. She was 78. Famed in 1960s for appearing opposite stars like Frank Sinatra, Lisi carved a successful career in Hollywood.
Lisi is now survived by a son, Corrado Pesci and three grandchildren.
About Virna Lisa Pieralisi
• She was born in Ancona near Adriatic coast on 8 November 1936
• She won best actress at Cannes for 1994 French historical epic La Reine Margot
• She won several other awards like David di Donatello (presented by The Academy of Italian Cinema), Nastro d'Argento (also known as Silver Ribbon (it is given by Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists)) and Cesar award (national film award of France)
• She debuted in Italian film industry with La corda d'acciaio (The line of steel, 1953) and further starred in several movies like E Napoli canta (Napoli sings, 1953) and the successful Questa è la vita (1954, with the popular Totò)
• She debuted in Hollywood with How To Murder Your Wife (1965) and other films include Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966), Assault on a Queen (1966), The Secret of Santa Vittoria, The 25th Hour
• In 2004, she was awarded an honorary Italian Golden Globe award in recognition of her cinematic achievements