21-22 April
Former Chief Minister of Odisha Janaki Ballabh Patnaik died
Former Governor of Assam and three-time Chief Minister of Odisha Janaki Ballabh Patnaik died on 21 April 2015 in Tirupati. He was 89.
Born on 3 January 1927, in Rameshwar, Puri, Patnaik was a senior leader of Indian National Congress. He served Odisha as its Chief Minister from 1980 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 1999.
He also served Assam as its Governor from 2009 to 2014.
In 1947, he passed out with a degree in Sanskrit from the Utkal University and secured an MA degree in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University in 1949. In 1950, he became the President of the Odisha state unit of the youth wing of the Congress. In 1980, he became the Union Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Labour.
His major contribution to the transportation and tourism of Odisha is construction of New Jagannath Sadak (Chandanpur of Puri district to Sarankul of Nayagarh district).
Novak Djokovic won Monte Carlo Masters title of Tennis
Novak Djokovic of Serbia on 20 April 2015 won his second Monte-Carlo Masters title of Tennis. In the final clash played at Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Djokovic defeated Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
With this win, 27-year-old Djokovic also became the first player to sweep the opening three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events of a season. The previous two titles were won at Indian Wells and Miami.
This was 17th straight win for the world No.1 and a 23rd Masters Crown in total, which equals with Roger Federer for second on the titles list.
List of Leading Masters 1000 winners
• 27 titles: Rafael Nadal
• 23 titles: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer
• 17 titles: Andre Agassi
• 11 titles: Pete Sampras
• 9 titles: Andy Murray
Indian Railways launched E-Samiksha to monitor rail projects online
Indian Railways on 21 April 2015 launched online monitoring mechanism E-Samiksha to monitor rail projects.
It aims at monitoring implementation of various ongoing projects of Indian Railways on real-time basis including Rail Budget proposals.
Highlights about E-Samiksha
• It was designed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• It has been developed to make it a highly interactive web-based, user-friendly and customised system.
• It will be used to monitor budget-related projects and also for monitoring the infrastructure target and board meeting follow-up.
• It will be used by Cabinet Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office and other Ministries for monitoring progress implementation of various programmes and follow-up of meetings.
Nasim Zaidi assumed charge as Chief Election Commissioner of India
Nasim Zaidi on 19 April 2015 assumed the charge as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. He succeeded Hari Shankar Brahma, who had retired on 18 April 2015.
With this, Zaidi became India’s 20th CEC. He will be the sole member of the three-member Election Commission till the government fills up the two vacant posts of election commissioners. He will have tenure of two years as he will attain the age of 65 in July 2017.
Nasim Zaidi is a 1976 batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He had served as the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
About Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India
As per the provisions of Article 324 of Indian Constitution, Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners are appointed by the President. They hold office for the term of 6 years or until they attain age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament.
New species of Geckos discovered at the World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka
A new species of Gecko, a type of lizard usually found in warm climates was spotted by researchers from the Osmania University in Hyderabad. It was spotted at the ruins of the World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka.
The gecko was named as Cnemaspis adii after a young herpetology researcher from Hyderabad, Aditya Srinivasulu.
The discovery of the gecko and its name were published in journal Zootaxa in the current edition by researchers Chelmala Srinivasulu, G. Chethan Kumar and Bhargavi Srinivasulu from the zoology wing of the University.
The species was discovered in 2012 while the team was surveying the location for bats in Hampi. It was found on the walls of the temple in ruins of Hampi.
About the Gecko
Gecko, the lizard belongs to the family of day geckos characterised by round pupils unlike regular geckos which have vertical pupils.
The dorsal scales on the body of the Cnemaspis Adii are small, homogenous, granular and lightly keeled. It has scales ranging between 22 and 26 on its belly.
Significance of the discovery
Discovery of the gecko in Hampi is significant because other species of day geckos are generally found in the Western Ghats and Southern Ghats in peninsular India. This is the first time that the day gecko was found in the central regions of the peninsular India between Eastern and Western Ghats.
This discovery also hints that Hampi and surrounding areas are potentially rich in biodiversity and much research is required in the region to identify new species of smaller vertebrate and invertebrates.
Former Bengal U-19 Cricket captain Ankit Keshri died
Ankit Keshri, an East Bengal Club cricketer died on 20 April 2015 due to an injury sustained during a Cricket Association of Bengal's senior one-day knock-out match. He was 20.
Keshri was hurt on 17 April 2015 during Bengal Division 1's match between East Bengal Club and Bhawanipore Club at Salt Lake ground. In the 44th over, he bumped into bowler Sourabh Mondal while taking a high catch and fell and lost consciousness.
As a cricketer, Keshri captained the Bengal U-19 team in Cooch Behar Trophy and was in the 30-member India U-19 probables list for the 2014 Colts World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. He was also playing for Bengal A (U-23 side) in CK Nayudu national Championship.
Similar incidents since November 2014
• Hillel Oscar, an umpire and former captain of Israel's national cricket team, died on 30 November 2014 after being hit by a ball which was struck by a batsman in a match played in the southern port city of Ashdod.
• Phillip Hughes, an Australian cricketer, died on 27 November 2014 after a bouncer of Sean Abbott hit back of his head during a Sheffield Game at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.
Lupin launched hepatic encephalopathy drug Zaxine in Canada
Drug Maker Lupin Limited on 20 April 2015 launched hepatic encephalopathy drug Zaxine in Canada under a licensing agreement of US-based Salix Pharmaceuticals Company.
The agreement to launch Zaxine drug was signed in September 2014. Under the agreement, Lupin Pharma Canada Ltd has exclusive rights to sell the drug in Canada.
Also, Lupin has the option to exclusively market, distribute and sell other gastroenterology products in Salix’s Canadian portfolio.
Zaxine is the brand name for rifaximin. Zaxine is used to treat hepatic encephalopathy, a complication of cirrhosis of liver. It is used in long-term treatment for adults in 550mg doses.
Lupin will promote the product to hepatologists and gastroenterologists through its own sales people in Canada. Zaxine has been approved by Health Canada under priority review for the reduction in risk of overt HE recurrence in patients.
Zaxine is first launch under the agreement with Salix.
Neeraj Kumar appointed as Chief Adviser of Anti-Corruption & Security Unit of BCCI
Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar was on 20 April 2015 appointed as chief adviser of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption & Security Unit (ACSU). He will have a term of one year, that is, till 2016.
Kumar succeeded Ravi Sawant.
His appointment was made during Governing Council Meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) chaired by IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla in New Delhi.
Neeraj Kumar is a 1976 batch IPS officer of the AGMU cadre. Earlier, he has served as the Delhi Police commissioner for 13 months i.e. from June 2012 to July 2013.
In 2013, Delhi Police under Kumar's leadership arrested cricketer S Sreesanth along with domestic spinners Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila for allegedly getting involved in spot-fixing during the sixth edition of the IPL.
Archana, Anezka won cadet girls’ doubles title at the French Junior and Cadet Open
Archana Girish Kamath and Anezka Ilcikova, the Indo-Czech Republic pair won the cadet girls’ doubles table tennis title at the French junior and cadet open on 19 April 2015 in Metz, France.
In the title clash, Archana and Anezka defeated the French pair of Lucie Gauthier and Leili Mostafavi 10-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 and clinched the gold medal.
2015 French Junior & Cadet Open, ITTF Premium Junior Circuit was held at Metz, France from 15 April to 19 April 2015.
The Bengaluru player Archana, who is the reigning sub-junior national table tennis champion, also claimed a bronze medal in the team event after a loss in the semifinals.
Earlier in first week of April 2015, Archana had won a silver medal (team event) at the Belgium Open. She had also clinched a pair of bronze medals (cadet singles and team event) at the Italian Open in March 2015.
Virat Kohli announced to set up chain of gyms with the investment of 90 crore rupees
Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli on 20 April 2015 announced to set up his chain of gyms and fitness centres with the investment of 90 crore rupees.
The gyms will be launched under the brand name Chisel. The brand is jointly owned by Kohli, Chisel Fitness and CSE, the sister concern of Cornerstone Sport & Entertainment.
It is to be known that India's ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni already has his fitness chain across the country. Also, Kohli co-owns Indian Super League football franchise FC Goa and also has his clothing line for youths Wrogn.
The country's fitness industry comprising branded fitness chains and standalone gyms is pegged at around 1300 crore rupees.
Other Indian cricketers to have invested in business ventures include Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa. While Yuvraj has floated a venture fund YouWeCan Ventures that aims to support young entrepreneurs, Robin Uthappa has co-founded a food startup iTiffin.
Indian Navy’s new missile destroyer ship named Visakhapatnam launched
The First ship of Project-15B, a Guided Missile DestroyerVisakhapatnamwas launched on 20 April 2015 at Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai. It is the largest missile destroyer commissioned in India till now.
In keeping with the nautical traditions, the ship was launched by Minu Dhowan, wife of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
Highlights of Visakhapatnam
This warship is entirely made of Indian steel. It is 163-metre-long vessel and weighs approximately 3000 tons.
It is propelled by four gas turbines and is capable to achieve maximum speed of over 30 knots at a displacement of approximately 7300 tons.
It is fitted with modern weapons including advance Action Information System (AIS), Integrated Platform Management system (IPMS), sophisticated Power Distribution System (PDS) and a Combat Management System.
It is also equipped with the Israeli Multi-Function Surveillance Threat Alert Radar (MF-STAR). MF-STAR will provide it with targeting information to 32 Barak 8 long-range surface-to-air missiles on board the warship.
It will also be carrying 8 BrahMos missiles.
It has four 30 mm rapid-fire guns which will provide the ship with close-in-defence capability and also has an MR gun that will enable ship to provide effective naval gunfire support.
Background
The four ships of Project 15B have been designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of Naval designers.
The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fittings which make these ships difficult to detect. These ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters.
Ninth Civil Services Day observed across India on 21 April
Civil Services Day: 21 April
Ninth Civil Services Day was observed across India on 21 April 2015. The day is observed by all Civil Services to re-dedicate and re-commit themselves to the cause of the people.
To mark the Day, a two-day programme was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances began from 20 April 2015.
A series of Panel Discussions was organised at the Vigyan Bhawan. The Ninth Civil Services Day focuses on Minimum Government, Maximum Governance with specific sectoral emphasis on Social Sector, Housing, Employment & Skill Development and Agriculture.
On this occasion, all officers of Central and State Governments are honoured for excellence in public administration. The Prime Minister will confer the Awards to winners of outstanding initiatives in Public Administration for the years 2012–13 and 2013-14.
The award will be present in three categories. Under this scheme of awards instituted in 2006, all the officers individually or as group or as organization are eligible.
During the event, a book on Best Practices – Tomorrow is Here was also released by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Indian surgeons removed world's largest kidney weighing 2.75 kgs
The world's largest kidney weighing 2.75 kgs was removed by Indian surgeons on 20 April 2015 in the 3 hour surgery. The operation was done by the Surgeons of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRM), Delhi.
Dr. Manu Gupta along with the team operated the patient and took the decision to remove both the kidneys of the patient as the person was suffering from Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).
The procedure was quite challenging as a normal kidneys weigh 130 grams approximately whereas this kidney weighed 2.75 kgs which is 20 times more and was stuck to the surrounding intestines.
In 2014 the patient was diagnosed to have ADPKD and was undergoing dialysis and had been planned for a kidney transplant.
The patient who made the record of having largest kidney approached the hospital in Delhi in March 2014 with chronic renal failure and severe pain in abdomen, blood in urine and high grade fever and because of this severe infection his condition was deteriorating.
Earlier, a kidney with dimensions 33.72 X 14.14 X 15.05 cms and weighing 2.15 kgs was the world's largest kidney which was removed in Dhule, Maharashtra in 2011.
22 April 2015 eng
Cricket South Africa launched Africa T20 Cup
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on 21 April 2015 announced a new tournament to be known as the Africa T20 Cup. The tournament was planned to promote the game and nurture young talent in the continent.
The tournament featuring Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia, hosts South Africa and 12 CSA affiliates will run from 4 September to 4 October 2015.
About Africa T20 Cup
• The tournament will be a World Cup-style competition, consisting of four pools of four teams each with the winners of each pool advancing to the semi-finals and eventually to the final.
• Venues for the matches will be spread across several South African provincial stadiums.
Besides, the CSA also announced the appointment of former Proteas paceman Makhaya Ntini as the Africa T20 Cup Ambassador.
Eminent Historian Christopher Alan Bayly died
Eminent historian Professor Christopher Alan Bayly died on 20 April 2015 in Chicago due to heart attack. His death was announced by the Centre for South Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge. He was 70.
He was a historian who specialised in British Imperial, Indian and global history and his works covered the 18th and 19th century India and British imperial history. For his contribution to historical scholarship, he was knighted in 2007.
At the time of his death, Bayly was Harmsworth Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge, Professor of History, Queen Mary University of London and Vivekananda Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago.
Few works of Bayly included
• The Local Roots of Indian Politics: Allahabad 1880-1920 (1975)
• Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the Age of British Expansion, 1780-1870 (1988)
• Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire (1990)
• The Birth of the Modern World: Global Connections and Comparisons 1780-1914 (2004)
Tamil Nadu Government cancelled allotment of land for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd
Tamil Nadu Government on 21 April 2015 cancelled allotment of land for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL) in the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) Industrial Growth Centre in Perundurai.
SIPCOT Managing Director R. Selvaraj issued the cancellation order of 71.34 acres allotted to HCCBPL for non-compliance of terms and conditions of allotment order / lease deed.
SIPCOT allotted 71.34 acres at the Industrial Growth Centre in Perundurai on 21 June 2013. A lease deed was executed and registered by HCCB on 23 January 2014. The lease deed was executed for 17.9 crore rupees for a period of 99 years.
On the issue, HCCBPL replied that company had written to the State government that due to unforeseen pressures and delays it will not be able to invest in SIPCOT, Perundurai.
The plant with a proposed investment of 500 crore rupees needed four approvals/permissions without which the company was unable to apply for Consent to Establish.
Despite sending repeated reminders to SIPCOT, the inordinate delays coupled with local activism could not be prevented by the company
On the other, the allotment and subsequent soil testing triggered a spate of protests from residents of Perundurai and Chennimalai towns and farmers in the area, who feared groundwater depletion and discharge into the water courses.
Japanese Maglev train set the world speed record of 603 kmph
Japanese bullet train Maglev on 21 April 2015 created a new world speed record of 603 kilometer per hour (kmph) in a test run near Mount Fuji. The seven-car maglev (short for magnetic levitation) train broke its previous record of 580 kilometer per hour created in 2003.
Central Japan Railway (JRC) said that the train hit a top speed of 603 kilometer per hour (375 miles per hour) in a test run and managed nearly 11 seconds at over 600 kilometer per hour.
About Maglev
• Maglev, the name derived from magnetic levitation, is a transport method that uses magnetic levitation to move vehicles without touching the ground
• It hovers 10 centimeters above the tracks and is propelled by electrically charged magnets. The use of a magnetic charge helps the train to lift and move it above a guide way
• The technology used in the train provides a smooth, quiet ride in almost twice as a traditional high-speed rail
Central Japan Railway has planned to bring the train into service in 2027 by plying it on the 286 kilometer route between Tokyo and the central city of Nagoya. It is expected that the maglev trains will link Tokyo and Osaka by slashing the journey time to its half by 2045.
Japan is well-established as the world leader in high-speed trains. It developed the first bullet train in 1964.
International Mother Earth Day observed with theme It’s Our Turn to Lead
22 April: International Mother Earth Day
International Mother Earth Day was observed globally on 22 April 2015 with the theme It’s our turn to lead.
The theme highlights the need for change and seeks to inform the communities and leadership that action needs to be taken on climate by promoting a goal of environmental awareness through developing sustainable initiatives and galvanizing every human to pledge Acts of Green.
This is the 45th anniversary of the Earth’s Day, the year when the world leaders will pass a binding climate change treaty in Paris in December 2015. The treaty will be adopted to make sure the future of Earth, our planet and the survival of life on it.
Background
International Mother Earth Day also known as Earth Day is being celebrated across the world since 1970. The first Earth Day was celebrated on 21 March 1970, the day of vernal equinox that year. The concept of observing Earth Day is the brainchild of John McConnell, who proposed the idea of a global holiday called Earth Day at a UNESCO conference on Environment in 1969.
He chose the vernal equinox—the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn in the southern hemisphere—because it is a day of renewal. Vernal equinox is a day on which the night and day are of the same length, everywhere on Earth.
Further the UN Secretary-General U Thant on 26 February 1971 signed a proclamation that stated that the United Nations would celebrate Earth Day annually on the Vernal Equinox as the international Earth Day.
A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson founded a separate Earth Day as an environmental teach-in first held on 22 April 1970.
Scores of Indian pilgrims died after a bus accident in Kathmandu, Nepal
12 Indian pilgrims died and 37 more injured on 21 April 2015 after a bus accident in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The bus with Indian number plate was carrying around 45 pilgrims from Gujarat on a visit to the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.
They were returning to Gorakhpur in India after a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
The bus veered off the Prithvi highway at a point about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Kathmandu at Naubise village in Dhading district.
The bus fell about 300 meters from the highway before it landed in a river at the bottom of the hill.
The famous 5th century Pashupatinath temple is dedicated to a manifestation of Shiva called Pashupati (Lord of Animals). It attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, mostly from India.
Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand declared as India's 48th Tiger Reserve
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on 21 April 2015 accorded final approval to Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand as India's 48th Tiger Reserve. With this notification, Uttarakhand got its second tiger reserve after the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The notification was announced by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat while releasing logo of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
The Rajaji National Park that came into existence in 1983 is spread across three districts of Uttarakhand namely Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal in an area over 820 square km.
The park is a home to 315 bird species, 40 species of reptiles and fish and 400 Asian elephants.
The park was named after the last Governor-General of independent India, C Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji. C. Rajagopalachari was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1954.
Uttarakhand is a state that has the second highest tiger population in the country after Karnataka. Tigers are present in the state in the Chilla and Dhaulkhand ranges of the Rajaji National Park. The park encompasses the Shivaliks near the foothills of the Himalayas.
Besides this, the Union government also decided to form three new tiger reserves namely Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh, Sunabeda in Odisha and Guru Ghasidas in Chhattisgarh. These parks have received an in-principle approval by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for creation of reserves.
The decision was made soon after the tiger census in January 2015 showed an overall rise in numbers of the big cat.
Apart from this, NTCA also gave final approval to a proposal to declare Kudremukh National Park in Karnataka as tiger reserves.
State governments have been asked to send conservation proposals to provide more protected spaces for the endangered species in different areas like Suhelwa in Uttar Pradesh, Mhadei in Goa, Srivilliputtur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary/ Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary/ Varushanadu Valley in Tamil Nadu, Dibang in Arunachal Pradesh and Cauvery-MM Hills in Karnataka.
Union Finance Ministry retained interest rate for GPF at 8.7 percent for 2015-16
Union Finance Ministry retained the rate of interest for General Provident Fund (GPF) and other related schemes at 8.7 per cent for 2015-16. The notification was issued by the Finance Ministry on 21 April 2015.
The 8.7 per cent interest will apply on Provident Funds of central government employees, railways and defence forces. The rate of interest will be effective from 1 April 2015.
The interest rate for GPF is in line with the interest rate fixed for Public Provident Fund (PPF) at 8.7 per cent for 2015-16. The Government had raised the interest rates for other small saving schemes.
• The interest rate for senior citizens savings scheme was hiked from 9.2 per cent to 9.3 per cent and
• The interest rate for Sukanya Samriddhi Account, the special deposit scheme for girl child has been hiked from 9.1 per cent to 9.2 per cent.
• The interest earning for Kisan Vikas Patra has been retained at 8.7 per cent.
Work on Saraswati Revival Project launched in Haryana
Haryana assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal on 21 April 2015 inaugurated the excavation work on the Rs 50-crore Saraswati Revival Project at Rolaheri village in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
Features of the Saraswati Revival Project
• In the first phase, the excavation work for the Saraswati River would be done in eight villages from Rola Heri to Sandhai.
• A check dam would be constructed in Somb River to store rain-water, which will be diverted to Saraswati.
• It has also been proposed that a reservoir would be constructed in the village of Chhallour over an area of 400 acres.
• The Irrigation Department is conducting the technical survey of the dam and reservoir.
Benefits of the project
The integrated project would cover several aspects like flood protection, promotion of eco-tourism and pilgrimage tourism, water conservation, improving ecological balance among various other things.
Earlier, the initial excavation work of the River was undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
About Saraswati River
The Saraswati River is one of the main Rigvedic Rivers. It is mentioned in Rig Veda (period existed in 1700–1100 BC) and later Vedic and post-Vedic texts. Nadistuti hymn in the Rig Veda (10.75) mentions that the Saraswati flows between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west.
Some Later Vedic texts like Tandya and Jaiminiya Brahmanas as well as the Mahabharata mention that the Saraswati dried up in a desert.
The river plays an important role in Hinduism, as Vedic Sanskrit as well as the first part of the Rig Veda mentions that the Vedic people lived in its banks.
New York Times won prestigious Pulitzer prizes for West Africa Ebola coverage
The New York Times on 20 April 2015 won two prestigious Pulitzer prizes for coverage of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The coverage is described by the Pulitzer board as courageous and vivid journalism that engaged the public and held authorities accountable.
For its Ebola coverage, The New York Times staff won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting and freelancer Daniel Berehulak won Pulitzer Prize for the feature photography.
The Pulitzer Prize honours the extraordinary work in US journalism, literature, drama and other areas and brings welcome attention and recognition to newspapers and websites.
Other winners
• The Pulitzer for Public Service went to Charleston, South Carolina's Post and Courier for its series on domestic violence.
• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch won the Pulitzer Prize for photographic coverage of the Ferguson, Missouri, riots.
• The Seattle Times staff won prize for coverage of a deadly landslide.
• The Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig won the prize for coverage of security lapses at the Secret Service.
• The Wall Street Journal won a prize in investigative reporting for Medicare Unmasked, the first reporting Pulitzer for the newspaper since 2007, when it was purchased by News Corp.
• New York Times reporter Eric Lipton won the prize for investigative reporting on how lobbyists can sway congressional leaders and state attorneys general.
• The Pulitzer for explanatory reporting went to Zachary Mider of Bloomberg News for showing how US corporations dodge taxes. It is the first Pulitzer for the New York-based news agency.
• Ned Parker and a Reuter’s team of reporters were finalists in international reporting for their work on the disintegration of Iraq and rise of ISIS.
• The local reporting prize went to Rob Kuznia, Rebecca Kimitch and Frank Suraci of the Daily Breeze of Torrance, California for their look at corruption in a small, cash-strapped school district.
• The feature writing prize went to Diana Marcum of the Los Angeles Times for drought coverage.
• The commentary prize went to Lisa Falkenberg of the Houston Chronicle. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times won for criticism and the editorial writing prize went to Kathleen Kingsbury of the Boston Globe.
• The editorial cartooning prize went to Adam Zyglis of the Buffalo News.
• The fiction award went to Anthony Doerr for All the Light We Cannot See and the drama prize went to Stephen Adly Guirgis for Between Riverside and Crazy.
• The history prize went to Elizabeth A. Fenn for Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People, published by Hill and Wang.
• David I. Kertzer won the prize for biography for The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe published by Random House.
• Gregory Pardio won the prize for poetry for Digest; Elizabeth Kolbert won in general nonfiction for The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History and the music prize went to Julia Wolfe for Anthracite Fields.
IT Department awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration
The Income Tax (IT) Department on 21 April 2015 was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for easy tax compliance through quality service. The award was presented at a function at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on occasion of Civil Services Day.
The Prime Minister Award for excellence in public administration to the Income Tax Department demonstrates the commitment of the Department towards achieving Minimum Government and Maximum Governance in tax administration.
The award was conferred to the Income Tax Department for successful implementation of end to end solution of core services including integrated e-governance initiatives viz:
• Tax Information Network (TIN)
• E-filing portal
• Centralized Processing Cell (CPC-TDS) for processing of TDS statements
• Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) for processing of Income Tax Returns
The projects have been conceptualized based on principles of USAGE- Uniform interpretation of tax laws, Simplification of forms, Easy Accessibility of services, Good tax governance and Empowerment of taxpayer with information.
MakeMyTrip acquired travel startup Mygola
Online travel services provider MakeMyTrip on 22 April 2015 has acquired startup travel guide firm Mygola.
MakeMyTrip Group has acquired 100 per cent of Mygola. The amount of the acquisition was not disclosed. The acquisition is done through the company’s earlier announced innovation fund, which is formed to invest in start up or early-stage companies in the travel technology space.
Mygola was founded in 2009 by Anshuman Bapna and Prateek Sharma. The company has raised capital from Helion Ventures, Blumberg Capital and 500Startups, among other angel investors.
MakeMyTrip’s services and products include air tickets, customised holiday packages, hotel bookings, railway tickets, bus tickets, car hire and facilitating access to travel insurance.
Mygola Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Anshuman Bapna. MakeMyTrip Group CEO is Deep Kalra.
Coloured Capsicums can control diabetes, obesity: Study
A new study revealed that different coloured capsicums can control diabetes and obesity (Diabesity). The findings of the study were published in the Natural Products Research journal on 13 April 2015.
The research was carried out by a team of scientists led by Dr Ashok Kumar Tiwari of the CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT). They analysed green, yellow and red bell peppers for their anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect and found encouraging results.
Particularly, they studied the impact of the bell peppers, popularly known as capsicum, on nutrition digestive enzymes carbohydrate cleaving enzyme alpha-glucosidase and lipid-slicing enzyme pancreatic lipase.
Normally, carbohydrates are broken down into disaccharides and ultimately into glucose by the activity of alpha-glucosidase enzyme present in the intestinal wall while pancreatic lipase converts lipid into fatty acids.
Interestingly, the scientists found that yellow and red bell peppers slowed down digestion of carbohydrates and lipids. It was found that yellow capsicum significantly inhibited the activity of alpha- glucosidase and lipase enzyme as compared to green capsicum.
Once the digestion of carbohydrates and lipids gets slow down, the concentration of glucose and lipids in the blood would be less and as a result the chances of developing hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidemia would be reduced.
Findings of the Study
Yellow capsicum would naturally be a better option than green capsicum. Yellow and red capsicums were more effective than green capsicum due to the presence of oligomerised anthocyanins. They were better inhibitors than pro-anthocyanins found in green capsicum.
Moreover, yellow and red capsicums possess better anti-oxidative activity than green variety. Oxidative stress gives raise to free radicals which damage biomolecules and has been implicated in many diseases, including diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Pakistan conferred highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan on Chinese president Xi Jinping
Pakistan on 21 April 2015 conferred its top civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan on Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The award was conferred for his outstanding contribution in promotion of relationship between the two countries.
The award was presented by the President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain at the President House during the award giving ceremony.
The award ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal ministers, members of National Assembly and Senate, services chiefs and Chinese delegation.
Earlier, in 2013 the award was presented to Li Keqiang, Premier of the People's Republic of China.
The Nishan-e-Pakistan is the highest of civil awards and decorations given by the Government of Pakistan for the highest degree of service to the country and nation of Pakistan.
The award was established in 1957.
NRL & BPC signed MoU to export petroleum products to Bangladesh
Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) on 22 April 2015 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to export petroleum products to Bangladesh.
The MoU was signed by Mustafa Qudrat-I-Elahi, General Manager (Planning and Development) of BPC and Bruno Ekka, NRL’s General Manager (Marketing and Business Development) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Highlights of the MoU
• It seeks to provide cooperation in export of petroleum products from NRL’s marketing terminal in Siliguri, West Bengal to BPC’s depot at Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
• As per the agreement, petroleum products will be exported through the proposed Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) and at the capacity of one Million Metric Tonne Per Annum (MMTPA).
• The IBFPL pipeline of 130 km length will be implemented through a joint venture (JV) company formed by NRL and Bangladesh Petroleum.
World Bank established Pollution Management and Environmental Health program
World Bank on 18 April 2015 established Pollution Management and Environmental Health (PHEM) program. The program was officially launched on Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day in Washington, D.C.
The 45 million US Dollar PMEH program will initially run from 2015 to 2020 and focus primarily on air quality management in countries facing rapid urbanization and strong needs for pollution abatement measures, but also tackle water and land pollution.
In particular, the program will focus on air quality management in five major urban areas in India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.
The PMEH program was backed by a new multi-donor trust fund. It was builds upon the knowledge of World Bank experts as well as internal and external stakeholders and partners to achieve three objectives:
•Support countries to significantly reduce air, land and water pollution levels through pollution management planning and investment to improve health,
•Generate new knowledge on pollution and its health impacts in urban, rural and marine areas,
•Promote awareness on this issue among policymakers, stakeholders and the public
Pollution contributes to the preventable deaths of an estimated 9 million people each year - most of them in developing countries.
An estimated 7 million people were killed by diseases related to indoor and outdoor air pollution alone in 2012 according to the World Health Organization
Comment
The World Bank has been committed in providing support to countries most severely impacted by pollution. Between 2009 and 2014, World Bank commitments (IBRD/IDA) to pollution management and environmental health totaled approximately 5 billion US dollar, with results spanning air pollution reduction in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, disposing safely of persistent organic pollutants in five countries in Africa, to easing pollution in China’s rivers.