Current Affairs September 2014 ( Third Weak)

Infosys Ltd signed agreements with Microsoft Corp, Hitachi Data Systems and Huawei

19-SEP-2014

Infosys Ltd on 18 September 2014 signed three partnership agreements with Microsoft Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) and China-based telecom vendor Huawei individually.

The agreement is signed for cloud, big data and Hitachi Data Systems. Infosys was already in partnership with Microsoft Corporation and Hitachi Data Systems (HDS).

Highlights of the agreements:
Infosys expanded its decade-long partnership with Microsoft to help enterprises in transforming their business. It will establish a global centre of excellence for Microsoft Azure Machine Learning with capacity of training over 1000 engineers by the end of 2014-15.

With Hitachi Data Systems, Infosys will develop next-generation infrastructure and data centre transformation solutions to enterprises. It will also establish a centre of excellence to jointly create pay-per-use solutions with Hitachi Data Systems.

The partnership between Infosys and Huawei will see a joint offering of cloud, Big Data and communication solutions to enterprise customers with the help of Huawei’s Cloud infrastructure and Infosys’ global IT service expertise.

About Infosys Ltd
• Established in 1981, Infosys is a NYSE listed global leader in consulting and IT services. It is the first IT Company from India to be listed on NASDAQ.
• It help enterprises to transform and thrive in a changing world through strategic consulting, operational leadership, and the co-creation of breakthrough solutions. It provides services in more than 30 countries.
• On 22 May 2014, Infosys was awarded with the Gold Award for sustainable buildings at the 2014 International Ashden Awards held in London.

Indian Air Force gifted vintage Dakota aircraft to Bangladesh Air Force

19-SEP-2014

Indian Air Force on 18 September 2014 gifted a vintage Dakota aircraft from its museum to Bangladesh Air Force. The Dakota aircraft was given on a formal request from Bangladesh Air Force to review and revive the historic ties between the two countries.

The aircraft was handed over to Air Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari, Chief of Bangladesh Air Force by Air Marshal SS Soman, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command of Indian Air Force in a ceremony at Air Force Station Palam, New Delhi.

About Dakota aircraft
The Dakota aircraft played a crucial role in liberation of Bangladesh and formation of Bangladesh Air Force. The aircraft was used for air dropping Army troops in Bangladesh’s Tangail during the 1971 war. It was also used for transporting troops in Srinagar during the 1947-48 war with Pakistan for protecting Kashmir Valley from raiders from across the border.

Dakota was the first transport aircraft to be landed at the heights of 11500 feet in Leh by legendary pilot Wing Commander Mehar Singh

PM Narendra Modi described India-China ties as Inch towards Miles

18-SEP-2014

Inch towards Miles: Inch (India and China) towards Miles (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India-China ties as Inch towards Miles. He explained the term during the visit of President of China Xi Jinping to India. He summarised India and China bilateral ties moving ahead as Inch (India and China) towards Miles (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy).

He hoped that every inch that India and China cover can rewrite history of humanity and every mile they cross will go a long way in making this planet a better place. He also hoped that together India and China cover several miles and these several miles takes not only the two countries forward but also all of Asia and humankind towards the path of progress and harmony.

. RBI proposed to segregate Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) post of PSU banks

18-SEP-2014

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 17 September 2014 proposed to segregate the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) banks. It also proposed a separate committee for appointment of directors on the board of PSU banks.

These proposals are a part of corporate governance reforms in PSU banks and are based on the recommendations of various committees including the PJ Nayak Committee recommendations.

The proposal of RBI may delay the appointments of Chairman in at least ten PSU banks or may bring changes in the top management of the PSU banks. Already top position of 4 PSU banks is lying vacant which are likely to be filled once government finalises the new norms for appointment of bank chairman.

President of India Pranab Mukherjee visited Vietnam

18-SEP-2014

The President Pranab Mukherjee was on a visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 14 to 17 September 2014. During his visit, he held bilateral talks with President Truong Tan Sang and met Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung. They exchanged views on the socio-economic developments and foreign policy of their respective countries, bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

Both the countries Presidents jointly inaugurated the Center for Indian Studies at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration. India also will commence the restoration work of the Cham Monument at My Son in Vietnam.

President Pranab Mukherjee visited cultural and historical sites as well as interacted with the common people.

He gifted a sapling of the Holy Bodhi Tree from Bodh Gaya to Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang, which is a symbol of shared Buddhist heritage between the two countries. He also visited the Tran Quoc Pagoda where a Bodhi tree was planted by the first President of India Rajendra Prasad in 1959.

He also visited the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City which record and demonstrate the stubborn spirit and courage of the Vietnamese people who have emerged victorious against tremendous odds.

President Pranab Mukherjee invited the Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung to India and he is scheduled to visit India in October 2014.

Both the countries concluded 7 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) which will provide the institutional framework for mutually beneficial exchanges. The signed pacts will enhance the diplomatic relations and partnership of two countries.

At present, the post of CMD in PSU banks is vested with one person only. As a result CMDs of PSU banks enjoy absolute power and often dominate the board during their tenure.

The only exception among the PSU banks is State Bank of India where the top position is commanded by the chairman and there are four managing directors with clearly defined executive roles.

Rajasthan became first State to ratify NJAC Bill, 2014

18-SEP-2014

Rajasthan became the first Indian state to ratify the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Bill 2014. The Bill was unanimously passed by the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan on 17 September 2014.

The Assembly of Rajasthan also adopted the 121st Constitutional Amendment Bill that mentions about National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).

The Bill seeks to end the two-decade-old collegium system of appointments and transfers of judges to higher judiciary. It lays down the procedure to be followed by the NJAC for recommending persons for appointment as Chief Justice of India and other judges of the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice and other judges of High Courts.

After the Parliament passed the Bill in August 2014, the NJAC Bill was sent to States in accordance to Article 368 of the Constitution of India. Article 368 empowers the Parliament to amend the Constitution but the amendment is required to be ratified by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the states by resolutions to that effect before the amendment Bill can be presented to the President for assent.

As a result, NJAC Bill needs endorsement by at least 15 states before sending it for the Presidential assent. The bill will become an Act, once it receives the presidential nod.

Article 368 of the Constitution
Article 368 in Part XX of the Constitution of India mentions the provisions of Amendment of Constitution. The Article 368 gives power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure thereof.

In sub-section 368(2) states that any amendment that seeks to make any change in
(a) Article 54, Article 55, Article 73, Article 162 or Article 241, or
(b) Chapter IV of Part V, Chapter V of Part VI, or Chapter I of Part XI, or
(c) Any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule, or
(d) The representation of States in Parliament, or
(e) The provisions of this article
the amendment shall also require to be ratified by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States by resolutions to that effect passed by those Legislatures before the Bill making provision for such amendment is presented to the President for assent. Nothing in article 13 shall apply to any amendment made under this article.

President Pranab Mukherjee visited Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam

18-SEP-2014

Cu Chi tunnels - Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam

Historic Cu Chi tunnels of Vietnam was in news because the President of India Pranab Mukherjee visited it on 17 September 2014.Cu Chi tunnel located in the Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam is one of the most bombed, shelled and devastated areas of world in the military history.

The tunnels are a network consisting of over 200km of tunnels that is connected with one another like a cobweb. From this underground village, the revolutionary forces staged the 1968 general offensive against the US. The tunnels were also used during the Ho Chi Minh campaign in April 1975 to liberate South Vietnam.

The tunnels facilitated communication and coordination between the Viet Cong controlled enclaves, isolated from each other by South Vietnamese and American land and air attacks.

The tunnels have kitchens, food and ammunition storage caches, medic care chambers, meeting chambers, commanding rooms and others. The secret underground passages also allowed the Viet Cong to mount surprise attacks wherever the tunnels went- even within the perimeters of the US military base at Dong Du and to disappear suddenly into hidden trapdoors without a trace.

President of India Pranab Mukherjee visited Vietnam

18-SEP-2014

President Pranab Mukherjee visited cultural and historical sites as well as interacted with the common people.

President Pranab Mukherjee invited the Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung to India and he is scheduled to visit India in October 2014.

Rajasthan became first State to ratify NJAC Bill, 2014

President Pranab Mukherjee visited Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam

18-SEP-2014

Cu Chi tunnels - Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam

The tunnels facilitated communication and coordination between the Viet Cong controlled enclaves, isolated from each other by South Vietnamese and American land and air attacks.

Rajasthan became first State to ratify NJAC Bill, 2014

US House of Representatives approved Obama's plan to train moderate Syrian opposition

The US House of Representatives on 17 September 2014 approved President Barack Obama's plan to train and arm the moderate Syrian opposition taking on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The proposed plan of 500 million US dollar was passed by 273 votes to 156 in the Republican-controlled House. But before being fruitful, the proposed plan needs to be adopted by the Senate. This plan authorises the US military to arm and train Syrian fighters battling ISIS that is also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).

In the House of Representatives, the strategy saw both support and opposition from Democrats and Republicans, in which 159 Republicans voted in favour against 71 against and same was the thing for Democrats in which 114 voted in favour against 85 against.
The plan was endorsed after Obama repeated that the US would not send American combat troops to ground operations in Iraq.
Till now, the US has undertaken 174 air strikes against ISIS in Iraq since mid-August 2014.

Bombay HC passed an ex-parte order restricting Park Hotel from using Candy Crush Saga image

18-SEP-2014

Bombay High Court on 18 September passed an ex-parte order restricting the Park Hotel owned by Apeejay Surrendra Group from using the images of the Candy Crush Saga game. The court passed the order after recognizing that King.com is the owner of the game and also in the lights of evidence presented.

The Bombay HC passed the order after the owner of Candy Crush saga filed a case on 17 September 2014 to protect Intellectual Property Right (IPR). The case was filed to restrict Apeejay Surrendra Group from using the images of game.

Following the order passed by the Bombay HC, King.com decided to put an end to the suit entering into consent terms with the group. Subsequently, King also sent a notice to Rowthu and certain other websites to cease and desist from using the intellectual property of the game.
Candy Crush Saga is the most popular game on smartphones and tabs. The Candy Crush Saga has 97 million daily active users.
Background
A musical event named Candy Crush was planned to be held in the Apeejay Group-managed Park Hotel at Vishakhapatnam. The advertisements copied the visual graphics of the Candy Crush game and its images were also used in the event promotion material.
After knowing this, king.com filed the copyright infringement suit against the owners of Park Hotel.
However, after the order was served on Park Hotel, King realized that it was merely a location for the event and was not directly involved in the infringing activity.

AIBA permitted Indian boxers to take part in Asian Games under Tricolour

18-SEP-2014

International Boxing Association (AIBA) on 16 September 2014 permitted Indian boxers (pugilists) to take part in the 17th Asian Games 2014 under the national tricolor. This permission was given by AIBA after it gave provisional recognition to Boxing India on 15 September.

This action of AIBA means that national anthem will be rendered during the medal ceremony when an Indian wins a gold medal at the Asian Games (Asiad) that will be played from 19 September to 4 October 2014 at Incheon, South Korea.

Apart from this, AIBA has also asked the newly-elected Boxing India body, headed by industrialist Sandeep Jajodia, to apply for membership of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Apart from this, with recognition of Boxing India as a formal body to represent Boxing in India, the world body declared that the six-member ad-hoc body appointed by IOA to handle boxing affairs in India has ceased to exist. This ad-hoc body was controlling the boxing affairs of India since December 2012, the year when the erstwhile Indian Amateur Boxing Federation was terminated for alleged manipulation in elections.

Ex-Assam DGP Shankar Baruah accused in Saradha chit fund scam died

18-SEP-2014

Former Director General of Police of Assam, Sanker Baruah committed suicide on 17 September 2014. He shot himself down with his .32 licensed-revolver at his Uzan Bazar residence in Guwahati.

His suicide came after CBI raided his residence during the course of investigation of multi-crore Saradha chit fund case. CBI raided his house on 28 August 2014.

Sanker Baruah was a 1974 batch IPS officer and became DGP of Assam on 31 July 2009. He served the state as the head of Assam police till January 2012.

Union Government to launch ETC programme under the brand name FASTag

18-SEP-2014

Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on 16 September 2014 decided to roll out Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme in the country under the brand name FASTag.

ETC is a programme of electronically making the payment on highway tolls without stopping the vehicle at the toll plazas.

Characteristic features of the FASTag programme
• The vehicles will be provided a unique number of the RFID Tag that should be affixed on the wind shield of the vehicle.
• The RFID Tag on windshield will be read by the readers fitted in the dedicated ETC lanes of plazas, which will deduct an appropriate amount depending upon the class of vehicle from the account of the user.
• The complete process of payment will be automated.
• The dedicated ETC lanes will have colour coding for distinct identity recognized as FASTag lanes.
• The RFID based FASTag will be provided by ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. They will provide Central Clearing house (CHH) services through their franchises or agents and at point of sales near the toll plazas.
• Road users can enroll and get FASTag affixed on their vehicles at designated toll plaza locations or Point of Sale (POS) stations of Axis bank and ICICI bank.

Similar highway tag brands are available in developed countries with different names like Eazee Pass, SunPass in the US, e-Passin Australia, Salik in Dubai and others.

Lalitha Kumaramangalam appointed as chairperson of National Commission for Women

18-SEP-2014

Lalitha Kumaramangalam was appointed as chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW). She was appointed by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Menaka Gandhi on 17 September 2014. She is the eighth chairperson of NCW.
At the time of appointment, Lalitha Kumaramangalam was the National Spokesperson and Member of National Executive of Bharatiya Janata Party.

About Lalitha Kumaramangalam

• Lalitha runs Prakriti, an NGO and contested Lok Sabha elections in 2004 & 2009 but lost in both the elections.
• She was born to Mohan Kumaramangalam a communist ideologues, politician and trade union leader and Kalyani Mukherjee.
• She is a graduate in economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi and an MBA from Madras University.

About National Commission for Women

The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. It was set up to review the Constitutional and legal safeguards for women, recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

Functions of NCW
• Investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and legal safeguards for women, recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
• It will present report to the Central Government annually and at such other items as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards.

• The NCW constitutes Expert Committees for dealing with such special issues as may be taken up by the Commission from time to time.
• Some important issues taken up by the NCW include sexual harassment at workplace, women in detention, anti-arrack movement, issues concerning prostitution and political and technological empowerment of women in agriculture.

US foreign policy on the edge of Mission Creep

18-SEP-2014

Mission Creep: Haunts US foreign policy

Mission Creep was in news recently due to remarks made by General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, before the US Senate Armed Services Committee on 16 September 2014.

Mission Creep is a term that has come to describe a gradual shift in objectives during the course of a military campaign, often resulting in unplanned long-term commitment. The term came into the American lexicon during the Somali civil war in the 1990s.

The phrase first appeared in articles concerning the United Nations peacekeeping mission during the Somali Civil War in the Washington Post on 15 April 1993, and in the New York Times on 10 October 1993.

The term was originally applied exclusively to military operations, but has recently been applied to many different fields.

In the testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee, General Martin Dempsey said that to protect the US and the world at large from the threats of ISIS they may include the use of US military ground forces.

The testimony runs counter to the US President Barack Obama strategy of tackling the ISIS threat by not sending the US troops. Three years ago, Obama fulfilling his campaign promises pulled out US troops from the region after a decade-long war that produced minimal gains at unacceptable human and financial cost to the US.

Chinese President appointed Le Yucheng as China's New Ambassador to India

18-SEP-2014

Chinese President Xi Jinping on 16 September 2014 appointed Le Yucheng as China's new Ambassador to India. Le Yucheng replaced Wei Wei who previously served as China's envoy to India.

Le Yucheng
• Le Yucheng was born in Jiangsu Province of China in June 1963.
• He served as Counselor for the Permanent Mission of China to the UN from 1998-2001.
• He served as China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011-2013.
• Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to India, he served as the China's ambassador to Kazakhstan.

Basketball: FIBA allowed players to wear religious head coverings

18-SEP-2014

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on 16 September 2014 allowed players to wear religious head coverings, such as hijabs or turbans, on a trial basis. The permission was granted after FIBA’s central board met over the weekend at the Men’s World Cup in Spain and voted to allow a two-year testing phase that let players to wear head coverings.

FIBA has allowed the head coverings in its 3-on-3 competitions unless it presents a direct threat to the safety of players on the court. Further, the rule will be evaluated in 2015 and then it will be decided whether it will become a permanent rule change post the 2016 Olympics.

Reason for allowing religious head covers
In July 2014, during the FIBA Asia Cup campaign in China, two Sikh players namely Amjyot Singh and Amritpal Singh of the Indian team were asked to remove their turbans before starting the game. The players were told by the match officials that they were breaking the FIBA rules and thus were not allowed to play with turbans.

Earlier, FIBA under its rules allowed a player to wear a 5-centimeter headband to control hair and sweat and this rule drew objections. The group that objected on the rules termed it as a discrimination against Muslim and Sikh players, who had head coverings for religious reasons. Many Sikh Organisations ran a social media campaign named#LetSikhsPlay and urged the international basketball federation to not bar Sikh players due to their religious head covering.

Similar kind of change was made in the football rules by FIIFA in 2012. FIFA allowed female Muslim players to wear head scarves. The decision was made following a campaign by executive committee member Prince Ali bib Al-Hussein of Jordan.

Goa became permanent venue for IFFI

18-SEP-2014

Goa on 17 September 2014 became a permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

To make Goa a permanent venue for IFFI, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka and Chief Secretary of Goa State B. Vijayan. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The 45th International Film Festival of India will be held from 20 November to 30 November 2014 in Goa. The years’ edition of the festival will have a new section of Konkani and Marathi cinema, along with a separate section on northeastern cinema.
Background
Goa became the venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2004, the year when the venue was shifted from New Delhi. Since 2004, Goa has been an ad-hoc arrangement between the state and the central authorities and was renewed every year but was formalised on 17 September 2014.

World's first water-based nuclear battery developed by Kwon’s research group at MU

18-SEP-2014

World's first water-based nuclear battery was developed by Jae W. Kwon’s research group at the University of Missouri (MU). This research titled Plasmon-assisted radiolytic energy conversion in aqueous solutions was published in the journal Nature on 11 June 2014.

Highlights of the study
• The battery can be used as a source of reliable energy in automobiles and space flight.
• It uses a radioactive isotope called strontium-90 that boosts electro-chemical energy in a water-based solution.
• A nano-structured titanium dioxide electrode with a platinum coating in the battery collects and converts energy into electrons.
• Water acts as a shield and its efficiency is increased by the surface plasmons created in the battery.
• The ionic solution is not easily frozen at very low temperatures. It can work in a wide variety of applications including car batteries and spacecrafts as well.

Union MRT&H issued Draft Notification on E-rickshaws

18-SEP-2014

Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry (MRT&H) on 16 September 2014 issued draft notification on e-rickshaws. The Ministry specified safety standards for e-rickshaws to provide legal status to these vehicles.

Highlights of the draft notification
• e-rickshaws will have top speed of 25 km an hour.
• The power of e-rickshaw's motor will not be more than 2000W.
• It will carry a maximum of four passengers or 40 Kgs of luggage in total.
• It also proposed to make driving licence and periodic fitness certificates mandatory for e-rickshaws.
• Every driving license issued or renewed by a licensing authority to drive an e-rickshaw shall be valid for a period of not more than three years from the date of issue or till the validity of the driving license, whichever is earlier.
• The fitness certificate will be made only after carrying out tests. The government asked for sample vehicles from e-rickshaw associations by 30 November 2014 for verification by a test agency.
• The e-rickshaws will run on specified areas or routes only.
• The safety standards of e-rickshaws were also specified including lights, wheel rims and the battery.

Scientists warned Climate change will exacerbate the threat of Megadroughts

17-SEP-2014

Scientists warned that Climate change will exacerbate the threat of Megadroughts. This was revealed in a report titled Assessing the risk of persistent drought using climate model simulations and paleoclimate data published in September 2014 issue of American Meterological Society’s Journal of Climate. The lead author of the study is Dr Toby Ault.

The report is the first to scientifically establish that climate change exacerbates the threat of Megadroughts.

Megadroughts

The term megadrought is generally used to describe the length of a drought, and not its acute intensity. In scientific literature the term is used to describe decades-long droughts or multi-decadal droughts.

They have historically been associated with prolonged La Niña conditions, which create cooler than normal water temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. This reduces evaporation and, in turn, the amount of rainfall.

Threats of Megadroughts

Experts warned that the droughts could be even more severe than the prolonged water shortage currently afflicting California. In California, residents have resorted to stealing from fire hydrants amid mass crop failures and regular wildfires.

Megadroughts will become considerably more frequent as global warming increases temperatures and reduces rainfall in regions already susceptible.

Without climate change, there would be a 5 to 15 per cent risk of a megadrought in the south-west of the US this century. With it, the probability jumps to between 20 per cent and 50 per cent, with the southernmost part of the country particularly at risk.

The threat megadroughts poses is so great that it could decimate the world’s economy and food supply, inflicting a humanitarian crisis.

Effects of Megadroughts

Megadroughts have occurred periodically around the world in the past few thousand years. In some cases it had caused civilisations to collapse, such as the ancient Puebloan native-American tribes in the south-west of the US. They abandoned their homes during a megadrought in the late 13th century and the Khmer empire of Cambodia in the 14th century.

The fallout from future megadroughts will be even more severe because the global population is larger and the strain on water supplies is greater.

Global Warming susceptible to droughts

Global warming will make droughts evermore severe and devastating in the future.
The south-west of the US, southern Europe, much of Africa, India, Australia and much of Central and South America could all have a drought that lasts decades.

Scientists warned that the continued global warming could lead to multiple regions experiencing a hot megadroughts at the same time in the future. This could lead to global economic, food and humanitarian shocks.

Naseeruddin Shah released his autobiography And then One Day: A Memoir

17-SEP-2014

And then One Day: A Memoir by Naseeruddin Shah

Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah on 12 September 2014 released his autobiography And then One Day: A Memoir.

And Then One Day is the poignant and inspiring memoir of the acclaimed Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah.

Summary of the Book

The autobiography depicts his extraordinary journey from a feudal village near Meerut, to Catholic schools in Nainital and Ajmer, and finally to stage and film fame in Mumbai.

Along the way, he narrates his passages through Aligarh University, the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, where his life actually started to change. And Then One Day is a compelling tale, written with uncommon honesty and elegance, infused with tongue-in-cheek humour.

About Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah has been an actor-director-teacher in theatre, having played the lead in more than two hundred feature films and over sixty professional theatre productions, both in India and abroad.

He is also passionate about playing and watching tennis, cricket and movies, and in that order.

Awards

Among the list of National Film awards, he was given the Padma Shri in 1987 and Padma Bhushan in 2003.

In 2000, he won Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and International Indian Film Academy Award.

Scientists detected 13 lactic acid bacteria in raw honey with potential to fight wound

17-SEP-2014

Scientists from Sweden detected 13 lactic acid bacteria in raw honey with potential to fight wound including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

This was revealed by a study published in the International Wound Journal (IWJ) in the second week of September 2014. The lead author of the study was Tobias Olofsson, professor of Medical Microbiology at Lund University in Sweden.

The study found that these 13 lactic acid bacteria combined together are more effective than conventional antibiotics in fighting deadly wound infections. The test has already been effectively tested on horses and it may be a stepping stone towards an alternative solution to antibiotics.

Scientists isolated 42 different pathogens in the open wounds of 22 patients like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) as well as MRSA and then treated them with the 13 lactic acid bacteria from honey. The results are compared with antibiotics and may be even more effective against the growing number of drug-resistant threads of common infections.

Antibiotics are mostly one active substance and effective against only a narrow spectrum of bacteria. When used alive, these 13 lactic acid bacteria produce the right kind of antimicrobial compounds as needed, depending on the threat.

K P Reddy of ruling TRS Party won by-election for Medak Parliament constituency

17-SEP-2014

Kotha Prabhakar Reddy of Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS) Party won the by-election for Medak Parliament constituency in Telangana on 16 September 2014. The election for the constituency was held on 13 September 2014.

Prabhakar Reddy got 571810 votes while her nearest rival Suneetha Lakshma Reddy of Indian National Congress got 210524 votes giving a majority of 361286 votes.

The Medak Parliamentary constituency seat was left vacant after TRS Chief K Chandra Shekar Rao (KCR) resigned to become the Chief Minister of the State.

In the simultaneous elections held for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha of Telangana in May 2014, KCR contested from both Gajwel Assembly seat and Medak Parliament constituency. He won both the seats with majority. However, he resigned from Medak constituency and opted for Gajwel Assembly seat to become the Chief Minister of the State.

NTPC and AP government signed MoU for development of 1000 MW Solar Power Projects

17-SEP-2014

NTPC and state government of Andhra Pradesh on 16 September 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for developing 1000 MW solar power(s) in Andhra Pradesh. The MoU was inked in Hyderabad, the joint capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

As per the MoU, NTPC shall develop 1000 MW solar power Project(s) at sites identified by Government of Andhra Pradesh on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis, in a phased manner. The MoU was signed by Dr. Arup Roy Choudhury, Chairman & Managing Director, NTPC and Shri Ajay Jain, Secretary to Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Energy.

On the occasion, the documents for transfer of land for 4000 MW Pudipadaka Thermal Power Project were also handed over to NTPC on the occasion.

700 people drowned in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea

17-SEP-2014

700 people on 10 September 2014 drowned in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea off the Malta Coast.

As per the survivors, the traffickers ordered the migrants to change vessels in the middle of the Mediterranean. The migrants refused which lead to a confrontation that ended when traffickers rammed the ship carrying the migrants. After these the ship sinks.

The vessel had set off on 6 September 2014 from Damiette, Egypt, and sank off Malta's coast on 10 September 2014. The people were on board are Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese. They were trying to reach Europe.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that the death toll reached to almost 3000 in the 2014.

The issue of Migration

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), some 130000 people have arrived in Europe by sea so far, compared with 60000 in 2013.

Italy has received more than 118000, most of them rescued at sea under its naval operation Mare Nostrum.
Half of those arriving in Europe by boat are refugees from Syria and Eritrea.

Migrants are streaming out of North Africa, mostly lawless Libya, in rickety boats in rising numbers for years. Many head for Italy, a gateway to the European Union (EU).

They do not have other very easy options to get anywhere else from Libya. They are not able to get to surrounding countries in North Africa from Libya. These are all factors pushing up the number of people desperate to make the crossing who are preyed on by unscrupulous traffickers.

Tangirala Sowmya of TDP won Nandigama Assembly by-poll of AP

17-SEP-2014

Tangirala Sowmya of Telugu Desam Party won Nandigama Assembly by-poll of Andhra Pradesh on 16 September 2014. The election was held on 13 September 2014. She won by 74827 votes on her rival Bodapati Babu Rao of Indian National Congress.

Sowmya, a software engineer, got 99748 votes while her opponent got 24921 votes. She won the by-polls, riding on the sympathy wave of her father’s death.

YSR Congress, the main Opposition Party of Andhra Pradesh didn't fielded candidate after TDP requested other parties to make the election unanimous.

Indian National Congress, which lost the identity after AP bifurcation suffered the loss yet again. However it lost without losing the deposit, this was the only thing to cheer up for the National Party.

Background

The by-election was held in Nandigama Assembly Constituency due to the vacancy caused by the death of TDP MLA, Tangirala Prabhakara Rao due to a cardiac arrest. He died days after he was elected in the May 2014 General Election polls. The newly elected MLA T.Sowmya is the daughter of Late MLA T.Prabhakara Rao.

Gilead gave voluntary licenses to Indian pharma companies to make genetic version of Sofosbuvir

17-SEP-2014

Gilead on 16 September 2014 gave voluntary licenses to Indian pharma companies to make generic version of hepatitis C drug Sofosbuvir. US based pharma major Gilead is the patent holder of Sofosbuvir drug.

Besides, Gilead also decided to provide the wonder drug Sofosbuvir in India at 1.1 lakh rupees compared to 50.4 lakh rupees for 24-week course in the US.

As per the deal, seven Indian companies will be allowed to sell the cheap drug in 91 developing countries. But these Indian companies will not be allowed to sell sofosbuvir in Brazil, Russia, China, Thailand and many other middle-income countries.

The seven Indian pharma companies who have been given the voluntary license ar: Cadila Healthcare, Cipla, Hetero Labs, Mylan Laboratories, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Sequent Scientific and Strides Arcolab.

These companies have the right to develop and market generic versions of sofosbuvir and a related drug, ledipasvir, in 91 developing countries.

Granting of voluntary licenses will foster competition between these companies which in turn will bring down the price of the generic version of sofosbuvir and thus this will help bring about better access to patients globally.

Comment

Although the deal would be beneficial to India as it is estimated to have approximately 18.2 million people living with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, China, with the largest HCV burden of 29.8 million infected, and Brazil and Ukraine with 2.6 million and 1.9 million HCV burden respectively have been excluded as they are considered commercial markets.

Many other countries with large HCV burden like Thailand, Malaysia, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia have also been left out of the agreement.

What are covered are typically poorer countries where the burden is not as high. These countries would not have borne the burden of patent system as they have been exempt from patent obligations.

About Hepatitis C

• Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis infection, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.

• The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus and the most common modes of infection are through unsafe injection practices; inadequate sterilization of medical equipment in some health-care settings; and unscreened blood and blood products.

• 130–150 million people globally have chronic hepatitis C infection.

• A significant number of those who are chronically infected will develop liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

• 350 000 to 500 000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.

• Antiviral medicines can cure hepatitis C infection, but access to diagnosis and treatment is low.

• Antiviral treatment is successful in 50–90% of persons treated, depending on the treatment used, and has also been shown to reduce the development of liver cancer and cirrhosis.

• There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C, however research in this area is ongoing.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio appointed as UN Messenger of Peace

17-SEP-2014

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was appointed as United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on climate change. He was appointed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 16 September 2014.

Leonardo will join the other 11 UN Messengers of Peace and one Goodwill Ambassador who have been advocating on behalf of the UN on a variety of priority issues for the organisation. As a Messenger of Peace he will address the UN Climate Change Summit in the US on 23 September 2014.

About UN Messengers of Peace
UN Messengers of Peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of art, film, literature, music and sports, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the Organization’s ideals and activities.

Through their public appearances, contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the United Nations helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Some of the UN Messengers of Peace along with DiCaprio are George Clooney, Edward Norton and pianist Lang Lang.

About Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo is a Hollywood actor and an environmental activist. He established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 with the mission to protect the planet's last wild places and implementing solutions to build a harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world.

He had won two Golden Globe Awards for The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street as Best Actor.

Prime Minister launched Gujarat Government's 11 schemes under Swavalamban Abhiyan

17-SEP-2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 September 2014 launched 11 schemes under Swavalamban Abhiyan, an initiative of the Gujarat Government. The schemes were launched in a function held at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar in the presence of Governor OP Kohli and Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

The launched schemes includes

• Financial support to women cattle breeders from the tribal communities to procure milch cattle and equipment
• Distribution of milking machines and chaff cutters assistance to women members of the milk producing co-operative societies
• Assistance to women milk producing co-operative societies and free allotment of land for establishing Dairies, dudh ghar
• Mukhyamantri Amrutam Maa Vatsalya Yojana, a health scheme for lower income families
• Assistance for health care to construction labors suffering from occupational health diseases
• Pandit Dindayal Upadhyaya young entrepreneurship scheme: Interest subsidy on self-employment loans for ITI traniees
• Tablet distribution to ITI trainees who have passed Computer Courses
• Shri Nanaji Deshmukh housing scheme for construction workers
• Interest benefit to farmers to build warehouse in farm, tablet distribution to ITI apprentice studying computer courses
• Dattopant Thengadi Artisans Interest Subsidy Scheme
• eMPEXb - Formation of a new apex organisation for employment facilitation and extension services

Delhi Police to launch its first e-police station to deal with vehicle thefts

17-SEP-2014

Delhi Police on 16 September 2014 decided to launch its first e-police station to deal exclusively with vehicle thefts.

The move comes as a part of its plan to record vehicle thefts online.

The Crime Branch will be the nodal unit for completing all the backhand tasks related to the virtual police station.

Digitally signed FIRs

The digitally signed FIRs will be generated as soon as a victim fills in his details and writes his complaint at the virtual or e-police station. The app will use the one-time password system for verifying the complainant's identity. Once the FIR is generated, a copy will be sent to the victim's email-address.

The FIR will also be automatically sent to the PCR and area Station House Officer (SHO) concerned. Moreover, it will be subsequently sent to all SHOs of Delhi and all district superintendents of police in the country for investigation purposes.
Comment
The initiative is seen a big relief to people most of whom never get the cars back after these are stolen. However, they still have to run from pillar to post to get an untraced report to claim insurance.
With this initiative in place, the victim will be able to report the loss of his vehicle from home, get an updated status and even be informed automatically as soon as the car is traced. If not, they will automatically get an untraced report within a stipulated time period, sources said.
With around 71500 cases registered overall in the same time period, data indicates that every seventh case is that of a vehicle theft.

ISIS: The eminent threat to the world peace and stability

17-SEP-2014

In past few months a new threat to the world has emerged in the form of ISIS. ISIS stands for Islamic State for Iraq and Syria. The rise of the ISIS militant group has the potential to destabilize and aggravate the already fragile Middle-east region.

The threat of ISIS and its crystal clear intention to turn the region into an Islamic Caliphate with brute and inhuman killings of innocent people, has once again led to formation of US-led allies to counter this immediate threat. The formation of US-led allies is somewhat reminiscent of launch of Operation Infinite Justice by US in Af-Pak border after the 9/11 attack and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq in 2003.

But the biggest question arises, Will the Middle-east region, rich in oil, get stabilized and will the world get rid of ISIS threat? The answer seems to be Big No. The reason being the very forces that were responsible for the rise of ISIS have once again colluded in the name of establishing peace in the region. The result would be far worse and might give fillip to ongoing sectarian violence and civil war in the region.

Further US and its allies not collaborating with Iran and Syria in the region, which have significant Shiite population, means that the strategy to counter ISIS threat is faulty at the onset.

The reason to collaborate with Syria and Iran mainly arises from the fact that, it is the enmity between the US, Iran and Syria that gave rise to ISIS by alienating the Sunni populations of the region.

The strategic catastrophe of US invasion of Iraq in 2003 gave birth to al-Qaeda affiliates and other radical groups such as ISIS. The post-invasion instability and involvement of U.S. troops in Iraq provided a suitable environment and excuse for such groups to grow and recruit to fight what they call American imperialism and occupation.

Iran’s support for the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government gave ISIS the tools to exploit the growing disaffection of Iraqi Sunnis, who were left out of the political process. Without Iranian support for its close ally Syria, as well as U.S. involvement in Iraq, it is hard to imagine that ISIS would have found the right landscape in Syria (and later Iraq) to become a monster and a powerful non-state actor.

International Economic Association appointed Kaushik Basu as President-Elect

17-SEP-2014

The International Economic Association (IEA) on 16 September 2014 appointed Kaushik Basu as president-elect of the association beginning September 2014. However, he will continue to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of World Bank.

This will be the second time that an Indian will be heading this association that produces a large number of research papers and books and organizes round tables on topics of contemporary interest. Amartya Sen became the first Indian to join IEA.

Kaushik Basu
• Kaushik Basu is Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of World Bank. He was appointed as Chief Economist at the World Bank on 5 September 2012.
• He is currently the fourth President of the Human Development and Capabilities Association which was founded by Amartya Sen and a member of the Board of Directors of the Exim Bank of India.
• He is on leave from Cornell University where he is Professor of Economics and the C. Marks Professor of International Studies.
• In May 2008, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards by the President of India.
• From December 2009 to July 2012, he served as the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to the Government of India at the Union Ministry of Finance.
• Kaushik Basu is also a columnist for BBC News Online, the Hindustan Times, Business Standard and is the author of several books on economics.

International Economic Association (IEA)
The IEA was founded in 1950 as a non-governmental organization at the instigation of the Social Sciences Department of UNESCO. It aims to promote personal contacts and mutual understanding among economists in different parts of the world.

The association has been influential in shaping global economic policy and research. Nobel laureates like Robert Solow, Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz are among IEA past presidents.

IEA organizes World Congress after every three years. The event serves as one of the largest gatherings of economists from around the world.

IEA’s seventeenth World Congress was held at Dead Sea, Jordan in June 2014. The 16th World Congress of International Economic Association was hosted by China in Beijing in 2011

Cognizant acquired healthcare software company TriZetto

17-SEP-2014

Nasdaq-listed Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp on 15 September 2014 acquired healthcare IT services provider TriZetto Corp for 2.7 billion US dollars. The acquisition is aimed at boosting the healthcare business of Cognizant.

Cognizant acquired TriZetto from London-based private equity firm Apax Partners LLP. Apax Partners acquired TriZetto in 2008 and was exploring a sale of the company.
Cognizant is expected to have revenue synergies of 1.5 billion US dollars over the next five years from this deal. Cognizant will fund the deal through a combination of cash and debt.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp provides services such as claims processing, billing and call center operations to insurers, hospitals. It also provides state-run healthcare exchange set up under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare.

Cognizant's healthcare business accounted for about 26 percent of total revenue in 2013. However, it declined in the last three quarters.

WPI-based Inflation declined to 5-year low of 3.74 percent

17-SEP-2014

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation declined to 5-year low of 3.74 percent in August 2014. This was revealed by the WPI data released on 15 September 2014 by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The WPI inflation in August 2014 is the lowest since October 2009, when it stood at 1.8 percent. The inflation measured on WPI was at 5.19 percent in July 2014 and 6.99 percent in August 2013.

The decline in the WPI-based inflation was mainly on account of declining prices of vegetable and other food articles.

Inflation in the food segment witnessed a significant decline to 5.15 percent in August 2014 as against 8.43 percent in July 2014. On the other hand, vegetable prices contracted 4.88 percent, the third continuous month of decline.

Inflation in the fuel and power segment which include LPG, petrol and diesel declined to 4.54 percent as compared to price rise of 7.40 percent seen in July.

Besides, the retail inflation measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) also eased to 7.8 percent in August 2014 as compared to 7.96 percent in July 2014.

Meanwhile, wholesale inflation based on final index for June 2014 was revised upwards to 5.66 per cent from the provisional estimate of 5.43 percent.

Infosys Ltd signed agreements with Microsoft Corp, Hitachi Data Systems and Huawei

19-SEP-2014

Tangirala Sowmya of TDP won Nandigama Assembly by-poll of AP

17-SEP-2014

Sowmya, a software engineer, got 99748 votes while her opponent got 24921 votes. She won the by-polls, riding on the sympathy wave of her father’s death.

YSR Congress, the main Opposition Party of Andhra Pradesh didn't fielded candidate after TDP requested other parties to make the election unanimous.

Background

Tangirala Sowmya of TDP won Nandigama Assembly by-poll of AP

17-SEP-2014

Sowmya, a software engineer, got 99748 votes while her opponent got 24921 votes. She won the by-polls, riding on the sympathy wave of her father’s death.

YSR Congress, the main Opposition Party of Andhra Pradesh didn't fielded candidate after TDP requested other parties to make the election unanimous.

Background

Educationist Kireet Joshi died

15-SEP-2014

Educationist Kireet Joshi died on 14 September 2014. He was 83. He was a former education adviser to the Union government in 1976.

Joshi played an important role in developing and spreading the message of Integral education both in India and abroad.

About Kireet Joshi
• Joshi was a philosopher
• He studied law at the Bombay University
• He was selected for the Indian Administrative Services in 1955 but resigned in 1956
• In 1958, he was appointed as Registrar of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education of the Ashram at Pondicherry.
• In 1976, he was appointed as education adviser by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.
• He also served as the chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research.
• He was appointed as special secretary to the Government of India in 1983. He was also the vice-chairman of the UNESCO Institute of Education, Hamburg from 1987 to 1989.
• He was also formally Educational Advisor to the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2008 to 2010.

ASSOCHAM estimated J&K floods caused losses of 5700 crore rupees to state’s economy

15-SEP-2014

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on 14 September 2014 estimated that floods in Jammu & Kashmir have caused losses of 5700 crore rupees to the State’s economy. The estimated loss is about 10 percent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Further, the hardest hit industries by the floods include trade, hotels, restaurants, horticulture, and handicrafts besides basic infrastructure of power, railways and communication.

ASSOCHAM in its estimation distributed the state’s economic loss into two parts, and they are
• About 2630 crore rupees: due to the loss of hotels, trade, agriculture- horticulture, roads and bridges in the Jammu and Kashmir regions
• About 2700 to 3000 crore rupees: due to destruction of high-cost Railways, power and communication in the hilly terrains

However, ASSOCHAM said that the real loss to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir will be much higher, which would be seen in the later days.

Comment: One of the worst floods of Jammu and Kashmir in last 60 years has not only disrupted the life of people and thrown out the infrastructure like railways, communication and power, but it also raised a question that does the human attitude and efforts to disturb nature to fulfill his/her desire is a challenge for the next generation?

Chinese Army stopped water supply for Indians from T-Point in Demchock, Ladakh

15-SEP-2014

T-Point in Demchok area of Ladakh: Chinese army stopped Indians from using water supply
T-Point of Demchok area of Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir was in news in September 2014 due to incursion by China. During the incursion, Chinese army stopped Indians from using water supply and construction work at T-Point in Demchok area. Demchock area is about 300 kilometer from Leh.

As per reports, the Chinese army and civilians from across the border came near the T-point and didn’t allowed Indian labourers and contractors to complete the water supply project near the river.

The water supply project is being developed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by the Leh district administration. The water of this river is also used by Chinese civilians.

Hurricane Odile hit Mexico's Baja California resort

15-SEP-2014

Hurricane Odile: Category Three storm

Hurricane Odile on 14 September 2014 hit the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in western Mexico. The hurricane struck near the resort city of Cabo San Lucas.

The region is home to massive resort complexes, as well as fishing communities and low-lying shantytowns.

At least 26000 foreign tourists and 4000 Mexicans in the region and those in areas at risk of flooding were being evacuated.

The storm with a speed of 200 kilometers per hour (or 125 miles per hour) has been rated as Category Three storm by the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The Hurricane Odile is the strongest storm to hit the southern tip of the peninsula since Kiko in 1989. Kiko was also a category three hurricane.

Earlier, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami had reported that Odile would be a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 135 mph, but it lost some strength as it reached the coast.

India observed Hindi Divas on 14 September

15-SEP-2014

14 September: National Hindi Divas

National Hindi Divas (Hindi Day) was observed across India on 14 September 2014. The day was observed to promote the Matra Bhasha – the mother tongue of India and show its importance as a language in the country.

On the occasion of Hindi Divas, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented Rajbhasa awards in various categories at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. These awards were instituted by the Rajbhasha Vibhag, Ministry of Home Affairs to recognize the excellent contribution of Ministries, Departments and Nationalized Banks and others in the field of Hindi.

About National Hindi Divas
National Hindi Divas is observed annually in India. Hindi Day is observed because on 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Union. The International forms of Indian numerals were also accepted as numerals
About Hindi
Hindi as a language is the fourth most spoken language of the world. In India Hindi is used as a mother tongue by around 258 million people and is a native language for most people living in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Outside Asia, Hindi is an official language in Fiji. The Constitution of Fiji states 3 official languages, namely English, Fijian, and Hindi. The dialect of Hindi spoken there is known as Fiji Baat or Fiji Hindi.

Constitutional Provision for Hindi language
Official Language policy of the Union has been explained in detail under Article 120 (Part-5), Article 210 (Part-6), Article 343, 344 and from 348 to 351. In Part - 17 (Article 343 to 351) of the Constitution, the Official Language of the Union and States has been prescribed.

Cambridge University scientists developed first graphene-based flexible screen

15-SEP-2014

Scientists at the Cavendish Laboratory of the Cambridge University for the first time developed a graphene based flexible screen. The development will pave the way for next generation of high-tech wearable and foldable electronic devices.

A flexible display incorporating graphene in its pixels' electronics was successfully demonstrated by Professor Andrea Ferrari, Director of the Cambridge Graphene Centre and Plastic Logic.

Graphene-based flexible screen

• The new prototype is an active matrix electrophoretic display, similar to the screens used in today's e-readers, except it is made of flexible plastic instead of glass.
• In contrast to conventional displays, the pixel electronics, or backplane of this display includes a solution-processed graphene electrode. It will replace the sputtered metal electrode layer within Plastic Logic's conventional devices which will bring product and process benefits.
• The new 150 pixel per inch backplane was made at low temperatures (less than 100 degrees Celsius) using Plastic Logic's Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) technology.
• The graphene electrode was deposited from solution and subsequently patterned with micron-scale features to complete the backplane.
• For this prototype, the backplane was combined with an electrophoretic imaging film to create an ultra-low power and durable display.
• Future demonstrations may incorporate liquid crystal (LCD) and organic light emitting diodes (OLED) technology to achieve full colour and video functionality.
Importance of grapheme-based flexible screens
• The prototype will accelerate the commercial development of graphene. It is a first step towards the wider implementation of graphene and graphene-like materials into flexible electronics.
• The ultra-flexible graphene layer may enable a wide range of products, including foldable electronics.
• Lightweight flexible active-matrix backplanes may also be used for sensors, with novel digital medical imaging and gesture recognition applications already in development.

About Graphene

Graphene is a two-dimensional material made up of sheets of carbon atoms. It is among the strongest, most lightweight and flexible materials known, and has the potential to revolutionise industries from health-care to electronics.

It is more flexible than conventional ceramic alternatives like indium-tin oxide (ITO) and more transparent than metal films. It can also be processed from solution bringing inherent benefits of using more efficient printed and roll-to-roll manufacturing approaches.

In 2010, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov of Russia won the Nobel Prize for research on graphene. Dr Novoselov is among the youngest winners of a prize that normally goes to scientists with decades of experience.

SBI celebrated 150 years of its operations in Sri Lanka

13-SEP-2014

State Bank of India (SBI) on 13 September 2014 celebrated 150 years of its operations in Sri Lanka.

SBI Managing Director Krishna Kumar reaffirmed the bank's commitment to partner in Sri Lanka’s efforts in developing its economy.

India has committed large resources for the progress of Sri Lanka. Indian assistance to Sri Lanka is in tune of 1.6 billion US dollars and one fourth of this is in form of direct grant assistance while the rest is soft long-term loans for development projects.

About State Bank of India, Colombo

State Bank of India, Colombo is operational since 1864. It was earlier a branch of Bank of Hindustan, which was taken over by Bank of Madras in 1867. In 1921, Bank of Madras was merged with the Imperial Bank of India. Subsequently in 1955, Imperial Bank of India became State Bank of India.

The branch was mainly opened to handle the business of export of coffee and the Government business. The branch is the oldest bank in the country.
The branch is located in a heritage building in the Fort area of Colombo, which is the financial hub of Sri Lanka.
The branch is fully equipped with modern technology and with modern communication facilities such as SWIFT etc. All the Branches are networked with each other.

It's catering mainly to the Corporate and Retail clients and the product range from all types of deposit accounts, financing working capital, term loans, vehicle loans, housing loans and trade finance.

West Bengal cabinet cleared farmer-friendly project Sech-Bandhu Prakalpa to boost irrigation

13-SEP-2014

The West Bengal cabinet on 12 September 2014 cleared a farmer-friendly project Sech-Bandhu Prakalpa to boost irrigation.

The project aimed to offer 46000 new pump sets with power connectivity to the farmers to boost irrigation.

The move will help the farmers in a big way and keep them away from illegal power consumption. As a result, it would help reduce power theft and improve regularised power supply in rural Bengal.

Colleges to have website

Along with this, the state cabinet also decided that all colleges have to launch its own website for introduction of online admission process from the 2015-16 academic year.

State’s higher Education Ministry has already sanctioned 1.5 lakh rupees to each college for the purpose.

Also, the state cabinet upgraded 100 class-VIII standard schools in the state to secondary standard and 400 secondary schools to Higher Secondary standard with effect from the 2015-16 academic year.

Delhi Government to charge one rupee cess on cigarette and liquor to promote public transport

13-SEP-2014

Delhi government on 12 September 2014 decided to charge cess of one rupee on every packet of cigarette and every bottle of liquor to promote public transport.

Delhi government decided to establish an urban transport fund to promote public transport and its use in a bid to tackle the rising pollution levels in the national capital.

The decision was taken under the high powered committee meeting. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung.

The committee was constituted in May 2014. The committee was formed to suggest short-term and long-term measures to help check pollution levels.
Following are the decisions taken by the committee to curb rising Pollution

• The government has also decided to introduce eight coaches in 129 metro trains by March 2017. So far, only 58 metro trains run with 8 coaches.

• The Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms for all vehicles plying in Delhi will be regularised. Soon Delhi Traffic Police will make it mandatory for all vehicles to display a valid PUC sticker on the vehicle.

• The Public Works Department (PWD) and Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) will make provisions of U-turns or underpasses at specific border locations so that entry of non-destined vehicles in Delhi may be prohibited and they be turned back.

• Also, to check the menace of overloading, the Transport Department has been asked to prepare a plan to install weigh-in-motion systems at all entry points in Delhi.

• Delhi Traffic Police will take strict action against unauthorised, obstructive parking and will carry out an exercise to enforce ‘No Parking/No Stopping/No Tolerance Zone’ in the city.

• DMRC has selected three metro stations to provide the charging infrastructure support for the pilot fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles.

• In addition, the DMRC has operationalised 34 CNG Mini buses.

• Meanwhile, Delhi government will carry out an awareness drive about air pollution in the city and will sensitise the public about measures that they can adopt to help check pollution.

SC ruled 3 percent quota for disabled persons in all government jobs

13-SEP-2014

The Supreme Court on 12 September 2014 ruled 3 percent quota for disabled persons in all government jobs, including Indian Administrative Services (IAS), and promotions.

A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha said that the disabled people have not got their due in the last 19 years. Despite the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act was passed in 1995. The bench also comprised Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton F Nariman.

On the other hand, government contended that reservation cannot be given in case of promotion to Group A and Group B officers category as it is not a case of appointment.

The bench, however, observed that appointment is a broader concept and the Centre is giving a narrow interpretation of it.

Hence, SC allowed the reservation in all categories of government jobs including in the matters of appointment, selection, direct recruitment, deputation and also for promotions.

The bench also included that the principle of not exceeding 50 per cent reservation would not be applicable while granting quota for differently-abled people.

The bench ruled that the objective of the reservation policy, as envisaged by Parliament, was unequivocal that the differently-abled people must get the benefits without technical impediments.

The court dismissed the petition of the Centre challenging an order of Bombay high court which had directed the Centre and the Union Public Service Commission to implement 3 per cent quota in direct recruitment and promotions for the disabled in the IAS.

Barack Obama authorised air strikes against ISIS militants in Syria

12-SEP-2014

The US President, Barack Obama on 11 September 2014 authorised US air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants in Syria for the first time. He also asked to escalate the airstrikes in Iraq. The aggressive offensive to combat ISIS, announcement came on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attack of World Trade Center.

This will be the first open-ended bombing campaign of the US against jihadist ISIS militants in Syria. As per the plan, the airstrikes will be a systematic campaign of against the group.

Obama in his speech said that the air strikes were necessary counter-terrorism action of the country to prevent the ISIS group to become a threat for the US in future, thus his order doesn’t need congressional approval. ISIS militants have captured a swath territory in northern parts of Iraq and Syria.

The US will also deploy 475 troops of advisers to help Iraqi forces to identifying further targets for air strikes. In August 2014, to halt the ISIS advances the US military launched more than 150 air strikes in Iraq.

Apart from this, the key ten Arab countries have agreed to help the US in its fight against the jihadist group, Islamic State (IS), after their talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Jeddah. They have promised to provide military support and humanitarian aid to the US to halt the flow of funds and foreign fighters to ISIS. Only, the NATO member, Turkey refused to join in the group of Arab nations that will support the US.

However, Russia has warned the US against expanding its campaign of air strikes from Iraq into its neighbouring country Syria, without the backing of the UN Security Council. It said that the US action would be an act of aggression and a gross violation of international law.

Besides, Syria also expressed reservations about the air strikes. It said that it was ready to cooperate only if US is ready to seek approval from the Syrian government

EU imposed new economic sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

12-SEP-2014

The European Union on 12 September 2014 imposed new economic sanctions on Russia over Ukraine. The restrictions include financing for some Russian state-owned companies and asset freezes on leading Russian politicians.

Sanctions included asset freezes and travel bans on Igor Lebedev, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, other deputy speakers of the Russian lower house of parliament, and a number of leaders of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Sanction was also put on Sergei Chemezov. He is chairman of Rostec, a leading defence and industrial group that includes arms supplier Rosoboronexport and a firm that is planning to build energy plants in Crimea.

Through this move, the EU wants to put pressure on Russia over the annexation of Crimea. Earlier, the restrictions were put on Russia in March 2014 by EU and United States.

However, EU could lift some or even all of the sanctions within weeks provided Moscow abides by a fragile truce and respects a peace plan.

The EU and the United States have been stepping up pressure on Moscow after its annexation of Crimea. West sees the annexation by Russia as an effort to further destabilise Ukraine by backing pro-Russian separatists in the east with troops and arms.

However, State-owned Rosoboronexport said it did not expect the sanctions to have an impact on its business.

SEBI censured BSE for guilty of lapses in share sale of NMDC

12-SEP-2014

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 11 September 2014 censured Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for its conduct in share sale of National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) worth 6000 crore rupees through Offer for Sale (OFS).

The censure was issued by SEBI after it found BSE guilty of lapses while conducting share sale of 39.65 crores worth 6000 rupees offered by NMDC through OFC.

BSE in its order passed by Prashant Bhushan, the whole time member of the SEBI, in Mumbai further asked BSE
• To engage one or more independent consultants to review the entire sequence of events in the matter, the process followed, checks in place, systems employed while accepting the OFS bids by BSE.
• The Consultant should bring out the shortcomings, if any, and suggest remedial measures within a period of three months.
• BSE shall make a report to its Board, under intimation to SEBI within a further period of three months as to how the recommendations of the Consultant have been implemented including the action as directed.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India is advised to conduct a detailed probe into the confirmation of bids by Citibank N.A.

The Case
NMDC on 12 December 2014 offered 39.65 crore equity shares of the company through the OFS mechanism of BSE and National Stock Exchange (NSE). After the closure of issue, SEBI sought the bid data from BSE and NSE so as to ascertain the final cumulative bid.

However, on receiving the final cumulative bid, SEBI found a difference of about 4.55 crore equity shares and sought a clarification from BSE on 13 December 2012.

In its reply to SEBI on 24 December 2012, BSE stated that the difference in the final cumulative bid was due to the fact that it was not able to upload the bid of Citibank for 4.55 crore equity shares worth 902 crore rupees on time.

The bids could not be uploaded on the exchange system in time, on account of an inadvertent human error and due to large volume of bids received in the last half an hour before the close of trading i.e. prior to 03.30 PM. Therefore, Citibank was permitted to formally confirm the bid for 4.55 crore shares in the system between 06.22 PM to 06:30 PM.

SC asked Union Government to reinstate Rajeshwar singh as Deputy Director of ED

12-SEP-2014

Supreme Court on 8 September 2014 asked the Union Government to reinstate Rajeshwar singh as permanent Deputy Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Rajeshwar Singh is an officer probing the money laundering cases in the 2G scam.

The two judges SC bench led by Justice H L Dattu censured the Union Government for not complying with the directions of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) issued on 24 December 2013.

Now, SC ordered that the execution of his reinstatement must be done within the timeline of three days.

Earlier, On 1 May 2014 the Supreme Court ordered to reinstate him into the investigation.

Background

Rajeshwar Singh was on deputation in ED with the money laundering investigation in the 2G spectrum swindle. The ED bosses wanted him to be repatriated to UP Police when his deputation came to an end, but Singh challenged the decision in the Central Administrative Tribunal.

Sensing ED's reluctance to give him a permanent perch, others took up cudgels for him by petitioning the SC. Their effort was rewarded when the court expressed concern over Singh being harassed and having to fight his own case of reinstatement in the ED.

The court was perhaps impressed by the fact that Singh handled investigation into virtually all important and politically sensitive cases with ED.

About Rajeshwar Singh

He is investigating Commonwealth Games, 2G spectrum allocations, Coalgate scam, AgustaWestland helicopter deal and money laundering probes against Jaganmohan Reddy, former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda and former Haryana CM O P Chautala.

He is also the youngest gallantry award winner. He is famously known as encounter specialist.

Chitresh Tatha is the youngest sailor at the Asian Games 2014

12-SEP-2014

Chitresh Tatha, 12, is the youngest sailor to represent India at the 2014 Asian Games . He sails in the Optimist Dinghy category.

The 17th edition Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4 October 2014.

About Chitresh Tatha
• Tatha is a student of Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram (Kilpauk)
• He is a sailor who has travelled widely across the world namely Ireland, France, UK, Malaysia, Turkey, the Netherland, Bahrain and Malta

Sailing in Optimist Dinghy
The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy that is intended for use by children up to the age of 15. It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150000 boats officially registered with the class. The Optimist is recognized as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation.