21st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadhbhavna Award to Amjad Ali Khan

21^st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadhbhavna Award to Amjad Ali Khan

30.07.2013:
 

 21^st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadhbhavna Award will be given to Amjad Ali Khan. On the occasion of birth day ceremony of former Rajiv Gandhi i.e. on 20^th August 2013, this award will be given to him. Other recipients of this award are KR Narayanan, Dilip Kumar, Harsh Mander, Maulana Wahiuddin Khan, Sunil Dutt, Mohammed Yunus, Mother Teresa, Swami Agnivesh, Bismillah Khan, and Teesta Setalvad. This award will be given for outstanding contribution to National Integrity, Communal harmony and peace. Every year August 20^th Nation celebrates Harmony day.

At 66, Mother India gets ready for her 29th baby

Telangana will be 29th state, Hyderabad to be common capital for 10 years

 Telangana will be the 29th state of India comprising 10 districts with plenty of water and some other natural resources in a backward region lacking development that was at the heart of the separate state demand.

As and when the state is formed, the jewel in the crown will always be the city of Hyderabad, which may for some time, at least 10 years to start with, be the joint capital for the rest of Andhra.

With a population of over 3.5 crore, the new state comprising mostly the areas of the princely Nizam state will have 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 assembly seats.

When it joins the Indian Union, people of the region would hope that the new identity would help them overcome the challenges of poverty and backwardness which were at the roots of the separate state movement.

The demand for a separate identity for Telangana is virtually as old as the state of Andhra Pradesh, which came into existence in November 1956 through the States Reorganisation Act.

The Andhra Pradesh government website says: "Telangana agitation was started by the people of the region when they felt that Andhra leaders had flouted the Gentlemen's Agreement which facilitated the formation of Andhra Pradesh.

"In the beginning, the movement demanded the implementation of the safeguards agreed upon earlier, but later it wanted the separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh."

That the seat of government in Hyderabad has persistently ignored the needs of Telangana at the expense of the other regions of the state has been a constant grouse of the advocates of separate statehood.

The new Telangana state would comprise the 10 districts of Hyderabad, Medak, Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Warangal.

Now, according to the Backward Regions Grant Fund 2009-10, 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh have been identified as being backward, of which nine are in Telangana.

Classified as a semi-arid region with a predominantly hot and dry climate, Telangana is not amongst the most fertile regions of the country.

But it does have its share of natural resources and notably contains 20% of the country's coal deposits.

Among other natural resources are mica and bauxite along with some limestone reserves.

But given the lack of development, Telangana has served as a fertile ground for the Maoist insurgency to take root.

A clutch of leaders of the Naxalite movement hail from the region. Slain Maoist Kishanji, who was No.3 in the rebels' hierarchy, hailed from Karimnagar district.

As proponents of a separate Telangana claim, the carving out of a new state would give a fresh impetus for the people of the region to aspire for growth and development.

Especially with the inclusion of Hyderabad, Telangana would find itself in control of one of the primary centres of India's tech story.

Offices of major national and international corporates houses are present in Hyderabad, drawing people from across the country to the city.

Needless to say it is the loss of Hyderabad which would rankle most with 'Unified Andhra' supporters.

But the people of Telangana argue that the seat of the Nizams was always an integral part of their region.

The Telangana agitation, as they point out, was started by the people of the region who complained that "Andhra" leaders had flouted the "Gentlemen's Agreement" which had facilitated the formation of the state, in November 1956.

The feeling of betrayal was also implicit in the discontent, which spread among Telangana officials and the unemployed youth of the region, who felt they were being exploited by the people from the rest of the state who had flocked to the new capital.

Chairman of the Twentieth Law Commission of India

20th law commission 

Justice DK Jain appointed as the
Chairman of the 20th Law Commission

Justice D.K. Jain, Judge, Supreme Court of India, was appointed as the Chairman of the Twentieth Law Commission of India. The appointment of Justice Jain was effective from the day after 24th January, 2013 on his retirement from the Supreme Court. The Twentieth Law Commission was constituted through a Government Order with effect from 1st September, 2012. It has a three-year term ending on 31st August, 2015

INSAT-3D and Alphasat satellites launched successfully

INSAT-3D and Alphasat satellites launched successfully

July 28th, 2013

 

European space consortium Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket launched INSAT-3D  and Alphasat satellites from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana, giving a boost to weather forecasting and disaster warning services.

About INSAT-3D:

• Designed to provide meteorological observation and monitoring of land and ocean surfaces.
• INSAT-3D also carried the newly developed 19 ‘Channel Sounder’, the first such payload to be flown on an ISRO satellite mission. It will perform weather monitoring through its atmospheric sounding system, which provides vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and integrated ozone from surface to top of the atmosphere.
• It will provide continuity to earlier missions and further augment the capability to provide various meteorological as well as search and rescue services.
• The Data Relay Transponder (DRT) will be used to receive meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data from remote, uninhabited locations over the coverage area from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) like automatic weather station, automatic rain gauge and agro met stations.
• It is equipped with a Search and Rescue payload that picks up and relays the alert signals originating from the distress beacons of maritime, aviation and land based users to the Indian Mission Control Centre located at Isro Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network here.
•  

Who will be the major users of Satellite Aided Search and Rescue service in India?

• The major users of Satellite Aided Search and Rescue service in India are Indian Coast Guard, Airports Authority of India, directorate general of shipping, defence services and fishermen.

What will be the expanse of service region of INSAT-3D?

• The Indian service region includes a large part of the Indian Ocean region covering India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania for rendering distress alert services.

What are Alphasat satellites?

• Alphasat is Europe’s largest telecommunication satellite-ever manufactured and results from a large-scale public-private partnership between the European Space Agency and Inmarsat.

photos: Tomatina Festival in Boyaca

Tomatina Festival in Boyaca

Its that time of the year when the people of Columbia take to the streets to celebrate the Tomatina festival.

Revellers play with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan province in Boyaca June 2, 2013.

Revellers play with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan province in Boyaca.
 
A reveller plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan province in Boyaca.

India to be most Populous Country by 2028

India to be most Populous Country by 2028
 

The UN report titled World Population Prospects was released on 13 June 2013, forecasted that India will be the most populous country of the world by 2028 leaving behind China. The report also claimed that by 2025 the world population will increase by one billion and reach to 8.1 billion from 7.2 billion at present. By 2050, the world population will be 9.6 billion as per the report.

London welcomes newborn prince

Royal Baby: London Events Mark Prince's Birth

 

 

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate proudly showed off their newborn baby

Amartyasen

Amartyasen

Amartyasen

• An Indian economist and philosopher
• Wn Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences in 1998 for making contribution to welfare economics and social choice theory
• A professor at Thomas W. Lamont University
• A Professor of Philosophy and Economics, at Harvard University.
• Some of the books authored by him include:
•  The Argumentative IndianInequality reexamined The Idea of Justice
  Poverty and Famines
  Commodities and Capabilities
  Hunger and Republic Action
  Development as Freedom
  Choice, Welfare and Measurement
  Rationality and Freedom
  Identity and Violence the illusion of Destiny

An Uncertain Glory: India and Its Contradictions

An Uncertain Glory: India and Its Contradictions

At a time when the public discourse is all about the falling GDP growth rate and India’s economic troubles, Professors Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze shake you up with their latest book, An Uncertain Glory — India and Its Contradictions. It is not the slowdown that is a worry — indeed, growth will return presently. The bigger concern for India today should be the continuing deep disparities in society that are only widening with every percentage point growth in GDP.

In their book  “An Uncertain Glory: India and its Contradiction”, Amratya Sen along with Jean Drèze, have presented a view of the conditions of contemporary India with a collection of the wealth of revealing data. The book presents the booming maintenance of the world’s largest democracy and achievements of India since independence. They have also discussed about the prevalent flaws in the development strategy of the nation. Major focus is over the role of human capabilities  as an end in them and as a means of further progress.

 Actor Manjula dead

july 23,2013 current affair

Yesteryear actor Manjula Vijayakumar, 59, who paired with major heroes, including M.G. Ramachandran, died here on Tuesday, following a brief illness.

The actor, who made her first screen appearance as a child artist in ‘Shanthi Nilayam,’ was recently admitted to a private hospital, Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, here for treatment after a fall. Her health took a turn for the worse when she lost consciousness on Tuesday morning, and died just a couple of months short of her 60th birthday. She was born on September 9, 1953.

Her role as Gemini Ganesan’s teenaged daughter in ‘Shanthi Nilayam’, the Tamil film industry’s adaptation of Sound of Music, marked her debut. This was in 1969. Only two years later, she got her big break, when she was chosen to play the heroine beside MGR in the 1971 blockbuster ‘Rickshawkaran’. That was a grand re-entry into the world of films, and one that ensured that this star was on the ascendant for the nearly the next 10 years. 

 Spouse: Vijayakumar

Children: Sridevi Vijaykumar, Preetha Vijayakumar, Vanitha Vijaykumar, Arun Vijay

 

South Florida Sun Sentinel wins Pulitzer

2013 Pulitzer Prize

 

 The Sun Sentinel was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for public service journalism 

 The newspaper launched its three-month investigation after an off-duty Miami police officer was pulled over by a Florida state trooper for driving 120 mph in the fall of 2

Appointed as The Chief Justice of India in the forenoon of 19.07.2013

Justice P Sadasivam new Chief Justice of Supreme Court

Saturday, 29 June 2013

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday issued orders appointing Justice P Sadasivam as Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

The present incumbent Althamus Kabir was about to superannuate on July 18, 2013. Justice Sadasivam has been elevated as Supreme Court Judge on August 21, 2007. 64-year-old Sadasivam served as Judge in Madras High Court and Punjab High Court. He was the 40th Chief Justice of the apex court and he will continue in the post till April 26, 2014. 

Eminent Carnatic vocalist Nookala passed away

Eminent Carnatic vocalist Nookala passed away

July 19th, 2013

 

Eminent Carnatic vocalist Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana, a recipient of Padma Bhushan, passed away.

About Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana:

Born: 1923 at Anakapalle in Andhra Pradesh, he was famously called “Mahamahopadhyaya” by his students and music lovers.

• As a child he was a prodigy with theatrical tastes.
• Learned to play violin from renowned musician Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu.
• Later, he was influenced with Pinakapani and took up Carnatic vocal.

Honors for Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana:

• Padma Bhushan
• ‘Asthana Vidwan’ for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Kanchi Kamakoti, Sringeri Sankara, Pushapagiri Peetham and the Ganapati Sachidananda Ashram.
• ‘Sangeetha Kala Acharya’ by the Madras Music Academy after his demonstration of ‘Pancharatna Kirtanas’ of Thyagaraja.

Meerut girl Razia Sultan receives first UN Malala Award

 

 Razia will be felicitated as United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education's Youth Courage Award for Education.

A young girl from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, who has been tackling the problem of child labour has been conferred with the first United Nations Malala Award for educating child labourers.
On learning this news, there was excitement and ecstasy in and around the residence of Razia Sultan.
Sultan, 15, will be felicitated as United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education's Youth Courage Award for Education.
July 12 has been heralded as Malala Day, to remember the contributions of Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai, who was shot at by the Taliban for voicing her opinions against the latter’s ban on girls attending schools in the Swat Valley.
Razia is a resident of Nanglakhumba village in Meerut District. She used to stitch footballs in her village like several other girls, when she was four.
After being rescued by a non-governmental organisation, she joined a school and eventually became a youth leader in her native place.
In her new role, she encouraged other children in her village to join schools.
Interacting with media, Razia said she has transformed the lives of 48 children trapped in child labour.

Veteran actor Pran died

Veteran actor Pran died due to prolonged Illness

 

Legendary actor Pran, loved and feared in equal measure by moviegoers for his roles in Bollywood hits like ‘Milan’, ‘Madhumati’ and ‘Zanjeer’, passed away at a suburban hospital here this evening at the age of 93.

“He died after a spell of prolonged illness,” his daughter Pinky told PTI.

The veteran actor, who played villain and character roles with elan and was conferred the country’s highest cinema honour — Dada Saheb Phalke award — in April, was admitted to Lilavati hospital a month ago.

Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi died in Milan

 

Controversial Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who was a key figure in the Bofors payoffs scandal, on 13 July 2013 died in Milan, Italy following a stroke. He was 74 years old.Ottavio Quattrocchi was an Italian businessman who was being sought until early 2009 in India for criminal charges for acting as a conduit for bribes in the Bofors scandal.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had named Quattrocchi in a chargesheet as the conduit for the Bofors bribe. The case against him was strengthened in June 2003.
On the basis of the Interpol warrant he was detained in Argentina on 6 February 2007. The CBI had come under attack for putting up a half-hearted effort towards his extradition.

Brazil wins Confederations Cup 2013

Brazil wins Confederations Cup 2013

July 5th, 2013

Brazil vanquished world and European champions Spain by registering a 3-0 win in the Confederations Cup final. Brazil who will be hosting the next World Cup has clinched the cup for a third time in a row.
FIFA Confederations Cup
 

• International football tournament for national teams
• Held every four years by FIFA
• 8 Teams contest - holders of each of the 6 FIFA confederation championships (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, OFC), along with the FIFA World Cup holder and the host nation.
• 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup was the 9th FIFA Confederations Cup, and was held in Brazil.

‘Supermoon’ lights up world skies

‘Supermoon’ lights up world skies

June 24th, 2013

Supermoon occurred on June 23, 2013, as the closest and largest full moon of the year and the Moon’s closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013.
 
What is a Supermoon?
A supermoon is a situation of a full moon or a new moon with the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the largest apparent size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth. The technical name is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. It is called a Supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect.
How does it occur?
The Moon which is a natural satellite of the Earth revolves around it in an elliptical orbit rather than a circular one. While revolving, when it reaches the perigee (closest point to Earth from its orbit) , the Moon is about 356,992 km away, as compared to the 405,696 km away that it is at its furthest distance from the Earth (apogee). This closeness combined with the coincident of a full moon gives it a bigger look from the Earth.
The next ‘Supermoon’ is expected to appear in August 2014.

Tianhe-2: World’s fastest Supercomputer developed by China

Tianhe-2: World’s fastest Supercomputer developed by China

June 19th, 2013

China achieved a big breakthrough in the field of supercomputers as it successfully developed fastest supercomputer in the world, named, Tianhe-2.
 
About Tianhe-2:

• Supercomputer developed by China’s National University of Defense Technology
• Processing speeds of 33.86 petaflops (1000 trillion calculations) per second.
• It is far ahead of the current fastest U.S.-designed Titan which has a speed of 17.59 petaflops per second
• Likely to boost China’s capabilities in both scientific and defence fields.

As per a survey, five of the world’s 10 fastest computers are installed in the U.S., with the two in China, two in Germany and one in Japan. But the U.S. still dominates the overall supercomputer rankings, with 252 systems in the top 500 list.

 

39th G8 summit held in Northern Ireland

39th G8 summit held in Northern Ireland

June 18th, 2013

• The 39^th G8 summit was held on June 17-18, 2013 at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland of United Kingdom. The summit was presided over by the U.K.

•   The earlier G8 summits hosted by the United Kingdom were held at London (1977, 1984, 1991), Birmingham (1998) and Gleneagles (2005).

• The official theme of the summit was tax evasion and transparency. 
•  However, the Syrian civil war dominated the talks. A seven-point plan on Syria was agreed after much debate. Other agreements included a way to automate the sharing of tax information, new rules for mining companies, and a pledge to end payments for kidnap victim releases. The United States and the European Union agreed to begin talks towards a broad trade agreement.

Besides eight nations, Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, and Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council were also a part of the meet.
Who are the members of G8?

• G8 nations are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the USA and UK. 
•