9 October
Indian-origin barrister Shami Chakrabarti appointed to UK shadow cabinet
Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, on 7 October 2016 appointed Indian-origin barrister Shami Chakrabarti to the UK’s shadow cabinet.
Baroness Chakrabarti’s appointment as a member of the Lords was met with criticism from prominent Jews and Labour MPs.
Corbyn also handed a major promotion
to his long-time ally Diane Abbott, making her shadow home secretary.
Other appointees include Sir Keir Starmer, who has been invited back as shadow Brexit secretary.
Who is Shami Chakrabarti?
• Sharmishta "Shami" Chakrabarti is a member of the British House of Lords and a British Labour Party politician.
• She was the Director of Liberty from 2003 to 2016.
• When she was the director of Liberty, she campaigned against excessive anti-terror legislation.
• She studied Law at the London School of Economics.
• After graduating, she was called to the Bar and then worked as an in-house legal counsel for the Home Office.
• The Times described her as probably the most effective public affairs lobbyist of the past 20 years.
• In April 2016, she was invited by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to chair an inquiry into anti-semitism in the Labour Party.
• In August 2016, she was nominated by Corbyn to receive a life peerage in the Prime Minister's Resignation Honours.
About Shadow Cabinet
• The Shadow Cabinet is a feature of the Westminster system of government.
• It consists of a senior group of opposition spokespeople who, under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition, form an alternative cabinet to that of the government.
• Members of a shadow cabinet are often but not always appointed to a Cabinet post if and when their party gets into government.
• It is the Shadow Cabinet's responsibility to criticise the policies and actions of the government, as well as offering an alternative program.
Apes can think like humans: Study
A new study suggests that apes have a human-like ability to guess what others are thinking, even in cases when someone holds a mistaken belief.
The findings were published on 6 October 2016 in the journal Science.
The study
• The study was led by Krupenye and Fumihiro Kano, a comparative psychologist at Kyoto University.
• The apes were shown the videos of a capering actor dressed in a King Kong suit.
• The video featured an actor dressed as King Kong, who hits a man holding a long pole before darting under one of two haystacks while the human looks on. In some scenarios, the King Kong character switches haystack while the human disappears out of view behind a door. The man then reappears and smacks the haystack he thinks his assailant is hidden under.
• By using eye-tracking technology, the scientists showed that 17 out of 22 apes tested switched their gaze to show they had correctly anticipated when the man would target the wrong haystack.
What are the findings?
• The findings, in chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, are the first to clearly demonstrate that apes can predict another’s beliefs, even when they know that presumption is false.
• On a psychology experiment, the apes were able to correctly anticipate that someone would look for a hidden item in a specific location, even if the apes knew that the item was no longer there.
• The ability to predict that someone holds a mistaken belief, which psychologists refer to as a theory of mind, is seen as a landmark in cognitive development that children normally acquire by the age of five.
World Post Day 2016 observed with theme Innovation, Integration and Inclusion
9 October: World Post Day
World Post Day 2016 was on 9 October 2016 observed across the world with the themeInnovation, Integration and Inclusion.
The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.
Background
• World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the date of anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern.
• 9 October was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations.
• Approximately 150 countries take part in celebrating the World Post Day every year. Some of the countries promote their new postal services at this special day.
Russia vetoes UN resolution to stop bombing of Aleppo
Russia on 8 October 2016 vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution demanding an end to the bombing of Aleppo city in Syria.
The draft text proposed by France and Spain won 11 votes in favor, Russia and Venezuela voted against the resolution, while China and Angola abstained. It was the fifth time that Moscow used its veto to block the UN action to end the five year war in Syria.
UN estimates say, the Syrian conflict has driven more than 4.8 million refugees to neighbouring countries, hundreds of thousands in Europe, and displaced 6.6 million people inside the Syria against a pre-war population of over 20 million. It says that the war had claimed at least 200000 lives.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had urged the Security Council to take immediate action to save Aleppo from being destroyed by the Russia-backed Syrian bombing campaign.
Earlier, Russia presented its own draft text that urged for a separation of moderate and extremist forces in Syria but making no mention of a bombing halt in the besieged city of Aleppo. The draft, put forward by Moscow failed to get the support of minimum nine votes. This text received 4 votes in favour, 9 against (France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States), and 2 abstentions (Angola and Uruguay).
It is reported that Russia's introduction of a rival resolution yesterday took Western supporters of the French draft by surprise. Several diplomats privately called it a brilliant move by Moscow because it will force Western powers to veto as well.
Hindu husband can divorce wife if she tries to separate him from aged parents: SC
Supreme Court in its decision on 6 October 2016 held that a Hindu son can divorce his wife if she tries to separate him from his elderly parents. The apex court held that it is 'pious obligation' of a son to maintain his parents.
It held that a Hindu son can’t separate himself from his parents on getting married at demand of his wife, at least when he is the only earning member in the family.
The observation was made by a bench comprising Justice Anil R Dave and L Nageshwara Rao while confirming the decree of divorce sought by a Karnataka-based man.
As reported, the apex court allowed the man to annul a 24-year old marriage, while setting aside Karnataka High Court judgement which had dismissed the decree of divorce granted by a Bangalore family court in 2001.
Highlights of the observation
• A woman becomes part of the husband’s family and thus she cannot seek to separate him from his parents just to enjoy his income.
• It held that insisting husband to live separately from his parents is a western thought which is alien to our culture and ethos.
• It held that a son who was brought up and given education by his parents has a moral and legal obligation to take care and maintain his parents when they become old and when they have either no income of have a meager income.
• A woman, who becomes an integral part of husband’s family after being married, should have a justifiable reason to separate his husband from his family.
World Mental Health Day observed with theme Psychological First Aid
10 October: World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day was observed on 10 October 2016 with theme ‘Psychological First Aid’. The day is annually observed with an aim to raise awareness about mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.
The year’s theme focuses on basic pragmatic psychological support by people who find themselves in a helping role whether they are health staff, teachers, firemen, community workers, or police officers.
Union Health Minister launched National Mental Health Policy of India
The day was first observed in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
Mental health
Mental health is a level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness. It is the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health includes subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, inter-generational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems
WHO’s Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020
This comprehensive mental health action plan was adopted by the 66th World Health Assembly. The plan focuses on international attention on a long-neglected problem and is firmly rooted in the principles of human rights. The four major objectives of the action plan are to:
• Strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health.
• Provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings.
• Implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health.
• Strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.
Each of the four objectives is accompanied by one or two specific targets, which provide the basis for measurable collective action and achievement by Member States towards global goals. A set of core indicators relating to these targets as well as other actions have been developed and are being collected via the Mental Health Atlas project on a periodic basis.
Agnieszka Radwanska wins 2016 China Open Women's Singles
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska on 9 October 2016 won the 2016 China Open Women's Singles at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China.
Radwanska defeated Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 to grab the title.
About Agnieszka Radwanska
• Agnieszka Radwańska is a Polish professional tennis player.
• She achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 in July 2012 and is currently ranked world No. 3 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
• She is the first Polish player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final (the 2012 Wimbledon Championships), the first Polish to win the WTA Finals (in 2015), and the first Polish to claim a WTA singles title (the 2007 Nordea Nordic Light Open).
About China Open
• The China Open is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Beijing, China.
• The men's singles and doubles events were first held in 1993, as the ATP opened a series of new tournaments in Asia.
• In 1998, the tournament was dropped from the ATP tour calendar, but was reinstated in 2004.
• In 2006, the China Open became the first tournament outside of the United States to use the Hawk-Eye system in match play.
• Novak Djokovic is the only player to have won the title six times. He also holds the record for consecutive wins with four titles.
• In doubles, the Bryan Brothers are the only doubles pair to have won consecutive titles.
• Agnieszka Radwanska, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Serena Williams hold the record for most titles won in the women's tournament, with two titles each.
• Garbine Muguruza was the winner of the 2015 China Open Women's Singles.
Andy Murray wins 2016 China Open Men's Singles
Andy Murray on 9 October 2016 won the 2016 China Open Men's Singles title at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China.
World Number two Murray defeated Grigor Dimitrov by 6–4, 7–6.
About China Open
• The China Open is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Beijing, China.
• The men's singles and doubles events were first held in 1993, as the ATP opened a series of new tournaments in Asia.
• In 1998, the tournament was dropped from the ATP tour calendar, but was reinstated in 2004.
• In 2006, the China Open became the first tournament outside of the United States to use the Hawk-Eye system in match play.
• Novak Djokovic is the only player to have won the title six times. He also holds the record for consecutive wins with four titles.
• In doubles, the Bryan Brothers are the only doubles pair to have won consecutive titles.
• Agnieszka Radwanska, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Serena Williams hold the record for most titles won in the women's tournament, with two titles each.
• Novak Djokovic was the winner of the 2015 China Open Men's Singles.
PV Sindhu appointed as Brand Ambassador of Vizag Steel
Badminton champion and Rio silver medallist P V Sindhu was on 8 October 2016 appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited which is also popularly known as Vizag Steel.
The company will have its brand logo on Sindhu's playing jersey in international and domestic tournaments under the aegis of Badminton World Federation and Badminton Association of India.
The deal was facilitated by Baseline, a sports marketing and a brand licensing firm.
Sindhu, currently amongst the top 10 ranked players in the world, became the first Indian female athlete to win an Olympic silver medal at Rio Olympics 2016. She is also the first athlete to win back-to-back medals at the World Badminton Championships.
About Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited or Vizag Steel
• It is the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and a Navaratna PSE under the Union Ministry of Steel.
• Visakhapatnam Steel Plant ¬ popularly known as Vizag Steel is the first Shore based Integrated Steel Plant in the country and is known for its Quality Products.
• A market leader in long Steel products, it caters to the requirements of the Construction, Manufacturing Automobile, General Engineering and Fabrication sectors.
• It is the first integrated Steel Plant to be certified for ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 standards.
Sprinter Srabani Nanda wins 24th Ekalabya Award
Sprinter Srabani Nanda on 8 October 2016 won the 24th Ekalabya Award for the year 2016 in recognition of her sporting excellence. With this, she will get a cash price of 5 lakh rupees along with a citation at the Ekalabya Award function.
Athlete Dutee Chand won the award in the year 2015.
About Srabani Nanda
• Nanda is an Indian woman sprint runner athlete from Odisha specialized in 4x100m relay, 100 metre and 200 metre sprint events. She belongs to Kandhamal District of Odisha.
• She made it to Rio Olympics 2016 in the women's 200m category.
• Srabani won gold in 200m, silver in 100m and 4x100m relay in 12th South Asian Games held in Guwahati in February 2016.
• She had also won bronze in 100m and 4x100m relay in Asian Grand Prix Athletics in Thailand in June 2015.
About Ekalabya Award
• Ekalabya Award, which was instituted in the year 1993 by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT) of IMFA group of companies.
• It is given every year to young sportspersons of Odisha in recognition of their outstanding performance in the preceding two years.
• It was instituted to promote, encourage and recognise Odia Sports personalities in the State.
New termite species named Chiraharitae discovered
A new termite species, Glyptotermes Chiraharitae, was discovered at Kakkayam in the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala.
The species has been named Chiraharitae after the tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, where it was discovered.
The research paper describing the new species was published last week in Zoosystema, the journal of Natural History Museum, Paris.
About the newly discovered species
• Termites are of three types: damp wood, dry wood and subterranean. Glyptotermes Chiraharitae species are of the damp wood category.
• Chiraharitae infest parts of woods with high moisture content, the decaying or rotting areas in particular.
• They are exclusively wood dwelling and do not require any contact with soil.
• The flying adults of this species are approximately 10 mm long, while the soldiers are around 9.5 mm long.
• Its relatives are known to attack mango, sal, Rhododendron, banyan trees, Artocarpus, silver oak, and jamun trees.
• In India, there 285 species of termites and among them 61 are documented from Kerala.