AWARDS AND HONOURS
British trio win 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics
David J Thouless, F Duncan Haldane and J Michael Kosterlitz, all three physicists from the United Kingdom, have won the prestigious Nobel Prize award in Physics. These three scientists are behind the ground breaking theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.
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India- American Vinaya Manchaiah named future Leader of Audiology
India- American An Indian-American associate professor at Lamar University in Texas has been named to the 2016 class of the ‘Jerger Future Leaders of Audiology’ by the American Academy of Audiology. Vinaya Manchaiah named future Leader of Audiology. Audiology is a branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders.
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Elephant researcher Prajna Chowta conferred with knighthood by France
Film-maker and elephant researcher Prajna Chowta has been appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite(Knight in the National Order of Merit), one of the highest civilian recognitions of the French government. The appointment by the President of the French Republic comes “in recognition of a life devoted to caring for wild Asian elephants,” says a letter to Ms. Chowta earlier in June. The official ceremony is expected to be held later this year in Bengaluru.
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APPOINTMENTS
Estonia elects first ever female President
The Estonian parliament has elected the country’s first female head of state .Kersti Kaljulaid, 46, a former EU budget auditor, received 81 votes in the election for the five-year presidential term, well above the two-thirds majority of 68 required.The office is largely symbolic in the Baltic country although it gained weight after outgoing President Toomas Hendrik Ilves carved a role as an outspoken critic of Russia and a campaigner for government digitalization and cybersecurity. The choice of Kaljulaid, who works at the European Court of Auditors, became possible after the six parties in Parliament agreed to propose a political outsider as a single candidate.
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Kalyana Rama is new CMD of CONCOR
V Kalyana Rama has taken over as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR), a navratna PSU under Railways Ministry.Prior to this, he was serving as Director (Projects & Services), CONCOR since June 2015. Having worked in BHEL, BHPV before joining Indian Railways, Rama has held various challenging assignments in his career with Indian Railways and CONCOR. Container Corporation of India Ltd.,is a Navratna Public sector undertaking under the Indian Ministry of Railways.
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Roopa Ganguly nominated to Rajya Sabha
BJP’s Bengal president of Mahila Morch, Roopa Ganguly has been nominated to fill the post in Rajya Sabha vacated by cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned earlier this year. The 49 year old actor turned Politian climbed the ladder in the party fast and became the state president of Mahila Morcha few months ago.Ganguly, a national award winning actress is known to people more for her role as “Draupadi’ in Mahabharat.
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INDIAN AFFAIRS
Govt unveils Urban Development strategy for 20 years
The Centre has unveiled the Urban Development strategy for the next 20 years to use growing urbanization forrapid economic development. Housing and urban poverty alleviation minister M Venkaiah Naidu released “India Habitat III—National report” ahead of the UN Habitat III Conference in Quito,Ecuador later this month where a global New Urban Agenda for the next 20 years is going to be adopted.
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Jharkhand 1st state to implement DBT in kerosene
Jharkhand has become the first state in the country to implement the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene in four identified districts- Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jantara from October 1. Under the DBTK Scheme, PDS kerosene is being sold at non-subsidised price, and, subsidy, as admissible, is being transferred to consumers directly into their bank accounts. The initiative aims at rationalising subsidy, based on theapproach to cut subsidy leakages, but not subsidy per se.
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Goa mulling a ban on open defecation
Goa is likely to ban open defecation in the near future, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar hinted. He said there are few points in Goa where toilets are yet to be set up and once it is done, open defecation would cease to exist in the state. Goa which has best natural environment and touristic destination has ample scope to keep the land clean. We could be the first state where open defecation could be banned. We were offering floral tributes to a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, on his birth anniversary.
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India formally ratifies paris climate change deal
India formally joined the Paris Climate Change Agreement by submitting its instrument India formally joined the Paris Climate Change Agreement by submitting its instrument of ratification at UN headquarters in New York on Sunday – the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. of ratification at UN headquarters in New York on October 2nd- the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
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RBI issued rs.100 coins on shastri’s 100th birth anniversary
The Reserve Bank of India had issued Rs.100 coins in 2004 to mark the 100th birth anniversary of India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. The coin, which has a portrait of the leader, is currently not in circulation but can be ordered exclusively. Notably, Shastri shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.
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BANKING AND FINANCE
SBI becomes 1st domestic bank to open branch in Myanmar
The State Bank of India announced its entry into Myanmar by opening a branch in the capital city of Yangon, becoming the first domestic lender to do so. The Yangon branch is the 54th foreign branch of the nation’s largest lender, chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, who opened the office. This branch extends the global presence of SBI in 37 countries through 198 offices.
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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
European Parliament ratifies Paris climate deal
The European Parliament has overwhelmingly backed the ratification of the Paris climate deal, in a vote attended by UN chief Ban Ki-moon that paves the way for the landmark pact to come into force globally. The vote of 610 for, 38 against and 31 abstentions puts the European Union on track to hand over its ratification to the United Nations, which would then tip the international community above the threshold needed for implementation.
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Russia suspends plutonium disposal deal with US
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to suspend an agreement with the United States on the disposing of weapons-grade plutonium, a further sign of worsening ties between the former Cold War foes. Mr Putin says the deal will be resumed once sanctions are lifted and Russia is paid compensation for damages The deal, which was signed in 2000 and went into force under a 2010 agreement, is being suspended due to “the emergence of a threat to strategic stability and as a result of unfriendly actions by the United States of America towards the Russian Federation.
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FOREIGN RELATIONS
India, Singapore sign three agreements
India and Singapore have signed three agreements, including two in the area of skill development, following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong, who is on visit to Delhi. One memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Education Services (ITEES) and India’s National Skill Development Corporation oncollaboration in technical and vocational education and training.
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SPORTS
Maria Sharapova’s doping ban reduced to 15 months
Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova’stwo-year-doping ban has been reduced to 15 months. The decision by theCourt of Arbitration for Sport means she will be able to return to the competition in April, in time for the French Open. Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January and received a two year ban from the International Tennis Federation. She appealed the decision in June.
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