3-4 JULY 2016
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports grants recognition to Paralympic Committee of India
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 1 July 2016 granted recognition to Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
The recognition comes as a huge confidence boost to the several para-athletes who have qualified for Rio Paralympics.
The Ministry granted recognition to PCI after having conducted free and fair elections with a former Justice of Allahabad High Court as Returning Officer, and after recognition by International Paralympic Committee.
Background
•The Paralympic Committee of India was suspended in April 2015 due to internal conflicts between different groups and persons. The conflicts were deteriorating the development of Paralympic Movement in India.
•On 31 May 2016, the International Paralympic Committee decided to lift the ban on the Paralympic Committee of India with the sole purpose of allowing para-athletes of the country to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games under the tri-colour.
•The IPC had asked the PCI to implement the major reforms programmes outlined by the world body, failing which it could be suspended again.
About Paralympic Committee of India
•The Paralympic Committee of India is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Paralympic Games and other international athletic meets.
•The organisation was founded in 1992 as the Physically Handicapped Sports Federation of India.
•The first president of the Paralympic Committee of India was Rathan Singh.
•The PCI was given public authority status by the RTI Act of 2005.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu becomes first Indian to play in Europa League
Indian footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the first week of July 2016 became the first Indian to play in Europa League.
Sandhu was named in Norwegian club Stabaek FC'ssquad for their Europa League qualifying match against Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads FC.
Who is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu?
•Gurpreet Singh Sandhu plays as a goalkeeper for Norwegian Tippeligaen club Stabæk and the India national team.
•He is the first ever Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club.
•He is the fifth Indian to play professionally in Europe after Mohammed Salim, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and Subrata Pal.
•He made his debut for the India U19s against the Iraq U19s in the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification on 5 November 2009.
•He was then called up to the senior Indian team squad of 23 for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He made his debut against Turkmenistan in a 1–1 draw.
Kerala government decided to ban 'electronic cigarettes'
Kerala government on 1 June 2016 banned 'electronic cigarette'. It was banned in view of studies claiming that its use can cause various health issues, including cancer and heart ailments.
In this regard, the health ministry directed the additional chief secretary (health) to issue an order banning the production, sale and advertisement of 'electronic cigarette' alias 'e-cigarette'.
With this, Kerala became the fourth Indian state to ban e-cigarettes. The other three states are Punjab (1st state to do so), Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Earlier in 2014, an expert committee appointed by the union government to study the ill effects of e-cigarette had recommended banning the device in the country.
E-cigarette
• They are handy electronic devices that emit doses of flavored liquid, which the user inhales.
• The fluid in the e-cigarette, called e-liquid, is usually made of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and flavorings.
• Non-smokers who use e-cigarettes risk addiction to nicotine.
Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel dies
Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate passed away on 2 July 2016 in New York, U.S. He was 87.
In his first book, Night, Wiesel gave an account of his family being sent to the Nazi concentration camps.
Who was Elie Wiesel?
•Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born American Jewish writer, professor and political activist.
•He wrote mostly in French and English.
•He was the author of 57 books, including Night, in which he shared his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
•He was also involved with Jewish causes and helped establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
•He had been described as the most important Jew in Americaby the Los Angeles Times.
•In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Life at Auschwitz concentration camp
•Elie Wiesel was only 15 years old when he was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland with his family in 1944.
•After they were sent to Auschwitz, his mother and his younger sister were killed.
•Wiesel and his father were later deported to the concentration camp at Buchenwald.
•After they were taken to Buchenwald, his father only survived for eight months, dying just a few weeks before the camp was liberated.
•In his book Night, Wiesel recalled the shame he felt when he heard his father being beaten and was unable to help.
•He was tattooed with inmate number A-7713on his left arm.
•The camp was liberated by the U.S. Third Army on 11 April 1945.
Lewis Hamilton wins 2016 Austrian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton on 3 July 2016 won the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.
Hamilton started the race from pole and went on to win the race after colliding with Nico Rosberg on the final lap. As a result, Rosberg finished fourth behind Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
About Austrian Grand Prix
•The Austrian Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race.
•It has been held at two different locations in the Zeltweg area located in Spielberg in southeastern Austria.
•It was first held at an airfield there for two years. Then, a permanent race track called the Österreichring was built in 1969 and Formula One first raced there in 1970.
•Each subsequent race has been held there in three distinct periods as the circuit has been redeveloped and sold.
•Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg was the winner of the 2015 Austrian Grand Prix.
ICC relaxes Decision Review System for LBWs
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 2 July 2016 approved a change to the DRS (Decision Review System) playing condition relating to the LBW “Umpire’s Call”. The decision will allow changes to the decision review system which will make it easier to overturn not-out LBW decisions.
The decision was taken at ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh.
As per the amendment, the size of the zone inside which half the ball needs to hit any part of the stumps for a not out decision. Currently, half of the ball would need to be hitting a zone between the centre of leg and off stumps.
This amendment will come into effect from 1 October (or from the start of any series using DRS that commences just prior to this date).
Decision Review System
• The Umpire Decision Review System is a technology-based system used in the sport of cricket. It was introduced in an attempt to eliminate incorrect umpiring decisions.
• The system was first tested in an India v Sri Lanka match in 2008 and was officially launched by the ICC on 24 November 2009 during the first Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the University Oval in Dunedin.
• It was first used in One Day Internationals in January 2011, during England's tour of Australia.
Other decisions taken at ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh include
• ICC agreed to support the inclusion of a women’s cricket event in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa. For this purpose, it has decided to work closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation in order to ensure cricket’s inclusion on the program and to determine the specific tournament structure and qualification process that will be applied.
• It decided to arrange a trial to better understand whether the third umpire could use instant replays to call No balls more accurately. Under this, the third umpire will judge No balls being delivered and communicate this to the on-field umpire.
• The ICC reiterated its position that the wearing of helmets in international cricket should not be mandatory, but that if a player decides to wear a batting helmet, then it must comply with the new British Standard (BS) - BS7928:2013.
BRICS Working Group Meeting on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency begins in Visakhapatnam
The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group onEnergy Saving and Energy Efficiencycommenced on 4 July 2016 in Visakhapatnam. The meeting will be concluded on 5 July 2016.
The two-day meeting will be attended by all 5 members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries.
The Union Power Ministry is hosting the meeting of the Working Group.
India assumed the BRICS chair for 2016and will accordingly shape and steer the BRICS agenda.
Agenda for BRICS Working Group Meeting on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency
•The BRICS countries will make presentations on measures taken by them in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency.
•India will showcase its efforts in energy saving, energy efficiency.
•India, in particular, will showcase the LED street lighting programme and Performance Achievement & Trade (PAT) programme for Industrial energy efficiency.
•The Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency will deliberate on a Work Plan on development of cooperation in energy saving and energy efficiency within BRICS.
•During the meeting, a Joint Statement will be agreed upon. The statement will be a guiding tool for the BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency.
Background
•The BRICS energy Ministers signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding in Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency during the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Energy held on 20 November 2015 in Moscow.
•By signing the Memorandum, they agreed to pursue their energy cooperation through joint research and technology projects, technology transfer, and conferences and so on.
•The Ministers also decided to create a Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency to coordinate their cooperation.
Michael Cimino, director of film The Deer Hunter, died
Michael Cimino, the director of the Vietnam War classic The Deer Hunter, died on 2 July 2016 at his Los Angeles home. He was 77.
Cimino was best known for directing, producing and co-writing the 1978 Academy Award-winning film The Deer Hunter. The film won five Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture for Cimino.
He was also remembered for writing and directing Heaven's Gate, which proved to be a financial failure.
Michael Cimino
• He directed eight films, starting in 1974 with crime movie Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, for which he also wrote the screenplay.
•Other films directed by him includes
a) The Deer Hunter (1978)
b) The Rose (1979)
c) Heaven’s Gate (1980), the film was based on the Wyoming Johnson County war of 1889-93
d) The Dogs of War (1981)
e) Year of the Dragon (1985)
f) The Sicilian (1986), which was adapted from a novel by Godfather author Mario Puzo.
g) Desperate Hours (1990)
h) Sunchaser (1996)
In 2001, he published his only novel, BIG Jane. The book narrated the story of the 1950s and the Korean War.
Haryana to develop new Industrial Township at an expense of $5 billion
The Haryana Government on 2 July 2016 announced that it would develop an industrial township in the state at an expense of 5 billion dollar. The new industrial township will spread in over 1500 acres of land in Sohna and Manesar areas of Gurgaon.
For this purpose, the Haryana Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Fortune Land Development (CFLD) Company in New Delhi.
Under the agreement, HSIIDC and CFLD Company would execute the project as a joint venture (JV).
Work of CFLD
• The Chinese firm would develop infrastructural facilities, industrial units and residential and commercial projects in the township.
• Industrial units related to automobiles and electronics would be established in the township.
• The project that would be completed in next 10 years will help in generating employment opportunities for lakhs of youth.
Linda Burney becomes first Indigenous woman elected to Australia's lower house
Linda Burney, a former teacher, on 2 July 2016 became the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives (lower house) of the Parliament of Australia. She achieved the fete after claiming victory in the marginal seat of Barton.
She won the seat as a candidate of the centre-left Labour Party in the national polls.
With this, she joins first Aboriginal MP Ken Wyatt of the conservative Liberal Party who was elected in 2010. Olympian Nova Peris was the first indigenous woman in the upper house of the Parliament.
Linda Burney
• In 2003, Burney (59) became the first woman Aboriginal to enter the New South Wales state parliament.
• She also was the first Aborigine to gain a Diploma of Teaching at Charles Sturt University.
• She had served on the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and with international United Nations working groups.
• She is of Wiradjuri descent and grew up in Whitton, a small town in south west NSW near Leeton.
• She served in the state parliament for 13 years where she was deputy leader for five years.
• In 2005, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training.
• After 2007 election, she became Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Youth, and Minister for Volunteering.
• In September 2008 she was promoted to Minister for Community Services.
• In December 2009 she was appointed Minister for the State Plan.
• She lost her portfolios following the change of government at the 2011 state election.
• In December 2014, she became the interim leader of the opposition after the resignation of John Roberson.
• She is an ambassador of the Australian woman Education Foundation.
Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard dies
Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France, passed away on 2 July 2016 in Paris, France. He was 85.
Rocard served as Prime Minister under President Francois Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991.
About Michel Rocard
•Michel Rocard was born on 23 August 1930 in Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine.
•He entered politics as a student leader whilst studying at Sciences-Po. He became chair of the French Socialist Students.
•From 1967 to 1974, he led the dissident Unified Socialist Party (PSU).
•He ran in the 1969 presidential election but obtained only 3.6% of the vote.
•In 1974, he joined Francois Mitterrand and the renewed Socialist Party (PS).
•In 1977, he was elected as the Mayor of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
•Under Mitterrand's first presidency, Rocard served as the Minister of Territorial Development and Minister of Planning from 1981 to 1983 and Minister of Agriculture from 1983 to 1985.
•After Mitterrand's re-election, Rocard was chosen as Prime Minister.
2016 BRICS Youth Summit held with theme Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges
The 2016 BRICS Youth Summit held in Guwahati, Assam concluded on 3 July 2016. The theme of the 2nd youth summit that started on 1 July 2016 was“Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges”.
The three day summit saw participation of officials and youth of the delegation from BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The summit concluded with certain recommendations and they are
Recommendations for Skills Development & Entrepreneurship
• Create and strengthen apprenticeship programmes in the existing BRICS institutions
• Document and disseminate success stories among the BRICS nations
• Facilitate transfer of skills between mentors and mentees among the BRICS nations
• Ensure access to decent jobs for youth across the BRICS nations
• Promote and replicate the Know About Business (KAB) entrepreneurship programme within the BRICS nations
• Provide training to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on business development services, business plans and website development
• Create and promote regular expositions of young people and youth entrepreneurs to facilitate exchange of best practices, new technologies and seek financial support
Recommendations for Social Inclusion
• Social inclusion is a cross-cutting concern within the BRICS nations. Initiatives must, therefore, prioritise marginalised and vulnerable young people to ensure access to education, healthcare, including reproductive health and social protection services.
• Initiate capacity building programmes for professionals who work with young people in the BRICS nations.
• Create a BRICS Social Science Youth Research Network.
Recommendations for Youth Volunteerism
In order to raise the value of youth volunteering:
• Facilitate cross-learning to access opportunities for leadership development.
• Accredit and recognise youth volunteer programmes for acceptance across the BRICS nations.
• Establish online platforms to highlight best practices, opportunities and recognise good work.
In order to promote exchanges on volunteerism among the BRICS nations through structured volunteering and civic service projects:
• Design and facilitate volunteer exchange programmes with a unified set of standards.
• Provide volunteers with opportunities to have mutually enriching learning experiences including internships with official institutions.
• Develop capacities of professionals managing volunteer programmes.
Recommendations for youth participation in Governance
• In order to create and systematise a road map for youth exchange programmes between the BRICS nations, promote model of BRICS Summer School in respective countries and offer opportunities for youth to participate.
• Coordinate existing and create new opportunities for youth participation in governance and decision making.
• Facilitate the capacities and participation of youth in public policy, programme formulation and monitoring & evaluation.
• Advocate for incorporation of lessons on public policy, governance and civic engagement in school curricula.
• Explore the possibility of creating a BRICS Youth Council (BYC) with a minimum of two thirds representation of youth.
Means of Implementation
• Appeal to the New Development Bank to provide financial support for youth initiatives as proposed by the BRICS nations.
• Design and facilitate exchange programmes in the four thematic areas.
• Establish the BRICS Youth Secretariat initially in virtual form, consisting of one government official and one youth representative from each nation to ensure the realisation of youth initiatives agreed upon at the BRICS Youth Summits.
• Create an online platform to share best practices and opportunities.
• Report on the progress made at the next BRICS Youth Sum.
The 1st BRICS Youth Summit was held in Kazan, Russia in 2015.
B Sai Praneeth wins 2016 Canada Open Grand Prix Badminton Men’s Singles title
Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth on 3 July 2016 clinched the Canada Open Grand Prix Badminton Men’s Singles title at Calgary.
Praneeth defeated Lee Hyun II of Korea 21-12, 21-10.
On the other hand, men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddyalso grabbed Men’s doublestitle at the tournament.
Top seed doubles pair Attri and Reddy defeated Adrian Liu and Toby Ng 21-8 21-14 in a lop-sided final. The pair of Attri and Reddy is the first Indian men's doubles pair to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
Who is B Sai Praneeth?
•Sai Praneeth Bhamidipati is a badminton player hailing from Hyderabad, Telangana.
•He is currently ranked 33rd in the Badminton World Federation.
•His highest ranking has been 31st as on 23 July 2015.
About Canada Open Grand Prix Badminton
•The Canada Open in badminton is an international open held in Canada since 1957.
•In 1957, the Canadian Badminton Federation decided to open the Canadian National Championships and they were combined with the Canadian Open until 1961.
•In 1962, they were divided and held as separate tournaments.
•Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia was the winner of 2015 Canada Open Men’s singles title.
•China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen won the men's doubles title at the 2015 Canada Open.