25-26 September 2016
25 September
PM approves constitution of two committees for birth centenary of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 September 2016 approved the constitution of two committees for the commemoration of the birth centenary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
Modi will head the 149 member National Committee while Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the 23 member Executive Committee.
Former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and H.D. Deve Gowda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Manohar Parrikar, former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and BJP President Amit Shah are the members of National Committee.
Besides, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, Film Director Chandraprakash Dwivedi, former Hockey player Dhanraj Pillai, former Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap will have also been included in the National Committee among others. The committee includes several Governors, Chief Ministers, Scientists, Journalists, Academicians, Social Workers and Spiritual Leaders. Union Minister Dr.
Mahesh Sharma will be the Convenor of the committee.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who was born on 25 September 1916 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, was the ideologue of Jan Sangh, the parent organisation of BJP.
BJP is planning year-long celebrations which will be inaugurated by the party chief at its National Council at Kozhikode.
Barack Obama vetoed a bill that would have allowed families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia
US President Barack Obama on 23 September 2016 vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. Earlier, the Justice against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was passed by both the chambers of the Republican controlled Congress.
As per President, the JASTA, would have jeopardized the long standing international principles regarding sovereignty and wouldhave made adverse impact with US interests and nationals overseas.
In his message accompanying his veto, he said that the bill departs from longstanding standards and practice under US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. It also threatens to strip all foreign governments of immunity from judicial process in the country based solely upon allegations by private litigants that a foreign government's overseas conduct had some role or connection to a group or person that carried out a terrorist attack inside the United States.
The US President said the bill would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for the country's national interests and it can even complicate relations with its closest partners.
Asia’s oldest MTB race kicks off in Shimla
The 12th edition of Asia’s oldest and world’s 3rd toughest mountain biking (MTB) race kicked off on 24 September 2016 from historic Ridge Maidan of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.
Nearly 67 participants from 14 countries including 11 men of SSB are taking part in the race which would conclude on 3 October 2016 in Dharmshala, the district headquarter of Kangra.
Mohit Sood, President Himalayan Adventure Sport and Tourism Promotion Association said that total 650 kilometers would be covered by the participants during their journey. This year the new route of race is going to be more challenging to the riders in terms of terrain.
There will be an equal amount of uphill and downhill segments in the race. Looped circuits of approximately 60-70 km each day of the race will be covered by the riders.
On the way these bikers would also meet 10000 school children’s studying in the different government schools and aware them to preserve environment as well as adopt habit of cycling in their day today activities.
26 September
Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova lifts Toray Pan Pacific Open trophy in Tokyo
India's Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova on 24 September 2016 lifted the women’s doubles title in the Toray Pan Pacific Open trophy in Tokyo. In the final clash, the Indo-Czech pair defeated the unseeded Chinese pair of Chen Liang and Zhaoxuan Yang 6-1, 6-1.
This is Sania and Strycova's second title in three tournaments since they have paired together.
This is Sania and Strycova's second title in three tournaments since they have paired together. They won their first title in Cincinnati.
The victory puts Mirza and Strycova one step closer to a potential spot in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Entering Tokyo the duo sat at No.19 on the Road to Singapore Leaderboard, trailing the Top 8 by about 500 points. With 470 points now in the bag, the team received a major boost in their standings.
India's Velavan Senthilkumar wins U-19 Asian Junior Individual squash title in Kuala Lumpur
India's Velavan Senthilkumar on 24 September 2016 bagged the Under-19 Asian Junior Individual squash championship title. In the final clash played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he defetaed Jordan's Mohammad Al-Sarraj 12-14, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.
The Chennai player, who trains at the Indian Squash Academy, is the second Indian to win the title after Ravi Dixit in 2010.
From among 31 Indian players in various age categories at the tournament, there were two more medal winners in Tushar Shahani, who claimed silver in boys'U-17, and Yash Fadte who earned a bronze in boys' U-15 section.
Mission Parivar Vikas to be launched in seven states for improved family planning services
The Union Health Ministry has decided to launch Mission Parivar Vikas in 145 High Focus districts in seven states for improved family planning services. The Mission will be implemented in all the 145 districts at one go.
Its main objective is to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.
These districts having the highest total fertility rates are in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam. These states constitute 44 percent of the country’s population.
How these districts were identified?
These 145 districts have been identified based on total fertility rate and service delivery (PPIUCD and Sterilization performance) for immediate, special and accelerated efforts to reach the replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025.
Recent data suggests that these 145 districts have TFR of more than/equal to 3.0 (56% of the 261 districts in the 7 HFS) and are home to 28% of India’s population (about 33 Crores).
However, only 22% of India’s protected couples and 40% of India’s couples with unmet need reside in these districts. These districts also have a substantial impact on maternal and child health indicators as about 25-30% of maternal deaths and 50% of infant deaths occur in these districts Moreover, 115 of these districts (79%) have high percentage of adolescent mothers.
Key Strategic Focus area
The key strategic focus area of this initiative will be on improving access to contraceptives through delivering assured services, dovetailing with new promotional schemes, ensuring commodity security, building capacity (service providers), creating an enabling environment along with close monitoring and implementation.
Tamil Film Visaranai is India’s official entry for 2017 Oscar
Visaranai, a Tamil film directed by Vetrimaran and produced by Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films, has been selected as India's entry in the Foreign Language Film category for the 89th Academy Awards (Oscars) to be held in 2017.
The national award-winning film documents four migrant workers who suffer police brutuality and corruption after being jailed on false charges.
The film is based on true events recorded in novel Lock Up written by M Chandrakumar, an auto rickshaw driver from Coimbatore.
As per reports, Ketan Mehta, the head of the Film Federation of India's jury for the year, picked Vetrimaaran's film from 29 films that included Neerja, Udta Punjab and Sairat.
Earlier, the film Visaranai was premiered at the Venice International Film festival in 2015 and had a theatrical release in February 2016. At the 63rd National Film Awards, it had won three National awards viz. Best Supporting Actor, Best Feature Film in Tamil and Best Editing. It also won the Amnesty International Italia Award 2015 and has been doing the rounds of festivals ever since.
Hey Ram directed and starred by Kamal Haasan was the last Tamil movie that made into the list of official entry to the Oscars. In 2015, India had sent Marathi film 'Court' as the official entry for Oscars.
R Ashwin becomes fastest Indian & second overall to take 200 Test wickets
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on 25 September 2016 became the fastest Indian and second overall to take 200 wickets, reaching the milestone in his 37th Test.
Ashwin trapped New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in front to get to the 200-mark on day four of the first Test at the Green Park in Kanpur.
With this feat, Ashwin left behind the likes of Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis, who took 38 Tests to get to 200 wickets. South African pacer Dale Steyn took 39 Tests to reach the landmark.
Only leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett got to the double century of wickets faster than Ashwin as the Australian reached there in 36 Tests.
Besides, Ashwin is also the ninth Indian bowler to record 200 in Tests and also the ninth highest wicket-taker for the country in a list lead by current coach Anil Kumble who holds the record of 619 wickets.
ISRO launched 8 satellites in two different Orbits
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on 26 September 2016 successfully launched eight satellites in two different orbits in a single mission. These satellites were launched with the PSLV C35 from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta.
The satellites that was carried into space include the primary payload SCATSAT-1 of India, weighing 371 kg, and seven other customer payloads (five foreign and two domestic) together weighing 304 kg during lift off. The weather satellite SCATSAT-1 will be hurled into a polar sun synchronous orbit of 730 kilometer height.
The other seven satellites that will be injected into a different orbit as compared to the principal payload are
• Three smaller payloads from Algeria: Alsat-1B 103 kg, Alsat-2B 110 kg and Alsat Nano 7 kg. They are meant for earth observation, remote sensing and technology demonstration.
• One from US: Pathfinder-1 of 44 kg. It is a high resolution imaging microsatellite and is owned by BlackSky.
• One from Canada: NLS-19 of 8 kg developed at University of Toronto, Canada. It is a nano-satellite to experiment reduction of space debris.
• The other two satellites are from India and they are
a) Pratham: A student-satellite of the IIT, Bombay. It would estimate the total electron count with a resolution of 1km x 1km location grid.
b) PISAT (पैसेट): It is developed by a consortium-led by the PES University in Bengaluru. It would explore remote sensing applications.
SCATSAT-1 of India would serve as a continuity mission for the highly acclaimed Oceansat-2 that has completed its operational life. Its data to accurately predict the landfall of the Cyclone Phailin in Odisha coast recently helped avoid major loss of lives as precautionary measures could be taken in advance.
As per reports, this will be made possible by shutting down and restarting the fourth and last stage of the vehicle twice during the flight. The ISRO has gained valuable expertise on restarting the engine of the polar synchronous satellite launch vehicle PSLV in space during June 2016 and December 2015. Through them, the scientists of the space agency gained the expertise to use a single launch mission to inject multiple satellites in different orbits altogether.
So far, the PSLV has launched 39 remote-sensing satellites of ISRO including the Chandrayaan-1 of 2008 and the Mars mission of 2013-14. Apart from this, it has also launched 74 foreign commercial and university satellites.
Alexander Zverev defeats Stan Wawrinka to win St Petersburg Open Men’s Singles title
German tennis player Alexander Zverev on 25 September 2016 defeated Stan Wawrinka to win his first tour title in the St. Petersburg Open final.
Zverev defeated Wawrinka by 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 to win the title.
With this, Zverev becomes the first man to beat Wawrinka in a tour final since 2013. The loss also ends a 10-match unbeaten run for Wawrinka.
About St. Petersburg Open
• The St. Petersburg Open is a professional men's tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts.
• It is a part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour.
• The tournament has been held annually at the Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex in St. Petersburg, Russia, since 1995.
• 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, former World No. 1 Marat Safin and Andy Murray are the only players to have won the singles titles more than once.
• Milos Raonic was the winner of the 2015 St Petersburg Open Men’s Singles title.
Golf legend Arnold Palmer passes away
US golfer Arnold Palmer passed away on 25 September 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania due to heart complications. He was 87.
Palmer is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in professional golf history.
About Arnold Palmer
• Born on 10 September 2016, Arnold Palmer was an American professional golfer.
• He learned golf from his father, who had suffered from polio at a young age.
• He attended Wake Forest College on a golf scholarship.
• He won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955.
• He was nicknamed as The King.
• He was a part of The Big Three in golf during the 1960s, along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
• He is also credited by many for securing the status of The Open Championship (British Open) among U.S. players.
• Major events won by him are The Masters (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964), the U.S. Open (1960) and the Open Championship (1961, 1962).
• In 1960, he won the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year and Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award.
• He won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.
• He was one of the 13 original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.