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Indian Affairs
Committee on Consumption of Junk Food by School Children submitted its report to WCD Ministry
- The committee set up by Ministry of Women and Child Development recommended that Junk food should be clearly defined.
- It also suggested that the food falling under such a definition of Junk food should be banned from school canteens and from the shops and restaurant selling food within the 200 metres of a school premise.
- Till now there is no particular definition of junk food has been given under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 though the guidelines to provide wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to the school children are framed by Central Advisory Committee, FSSAI.
India to host ‘Call To Action Summit 2015′ ending preventable child and maternal deaths’
- CALL TO ACTION SUMMIT 2015 for ending preventable child and maternal deaths will be co-hosted by The Ministry of Helath and Family Welfare, Government of India along with Ministry of Health Government of Ethiopia, USAID, UNICEF, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Tata Trusts in New Delhi on August 27-28, 2015.
- The two-day Leadership Summit will be a confluence of health ministers from 24 priority countries that committed to the Global Call To Action for Child Survival in June 2012 , state health ministers from India, international academic experts, health practitioners, and global leaders from diverse sectors – corporate, civil society and media.
- The New Delhi Summit will be a prelude to the United Nations Summit for the adoption of post-2015 development agenda that will be held as a high-level plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly in September 2015.
- As world leaders prepare to be in New York to redefine goals that will carry forward the legacy of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), India will co-host this landmark event that will enable countries to take stock of progress, share best practices, and forge alliances for ending preventable child and maternal deaths.
US’ top medical body collaborates with Apollo Hospitals
The American College of Cardiology (ACC), a top medical body in the US, collaborated with Apollo Hospitals to expand medical education in India by providing new opportunities to cardiovascular physicians to improve their skills.
- The American College of Cardiology is a 49,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team.
- As part of the collaboration, ACC will provide its guideline-driven educational content to physicians participating in Apollo’s Medvarsity e-learning programme.
- Medvarsity participants will have access to the ACC’s valvular heart disease education module, which focuses on training healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of adult patients with valvular heart disease.
Chengalikodan Banana from Kerala accorded GI status
The ‘nendran’ banana variety, ‘Chengalikodan’, has been accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) status. It was first cultivated in Chengazhikode, that is why it is known as Chengazhikodan banana and now known as Chengalikodan banana.
- The banana, the special variety grown in suburbs of Thrissur and Thalappilly taluks, is known for its unique size, shape, colour and taste.
- GI status is an indication that identifies goods as produced from a particular area, which has special quality or reputation attributable to its geographical origin.
- Chowannur, Puzhakkal, Wadakkanchery, Pazhayannur and Ollukkara block panchayats are the prime producers of this banana variant in Thrissur.
Gujarat HC stays implementation of compulsory voting Act in local polls
Gujarat government recently framed the rules making voting compulsory in the local elections, the Gujarat High Court stayed its implementation after a lawyer moved a public interest litigation challenging the constitutional validity of the same.
- The ‘right to vote’ itself provides right to refrain from voting and it cannot be turned into ‘duty of voting’, the high court said while acting on a petition challenging the Gujarat Local Authorities (Amendment) Act 2009, which makes voting mandatory in local body polls in the state.
- The government had notified the law saying those who fail to vote will have to pay a fine of Rs 100.
- The local body of Gujarat polls in 253 municipalities, 208 taluka panchayats, 26 district panchayats and six municipal corporations are expected to be held in October, 2015.
Minority Ministry Launches OAMS for “Nai Roshni”
- Union Minister for Minority Affairs Dr.Najma Heptulla Launched Online Application Management System (OAMS) for “Nai Roshni” .
- This scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women since 2012-13.The scheme is implemented through Non -Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Societies, Trust etc.
- So far, more than 1.67 lakh women have been trained in 24 States with an amount of about Rs. 36 Crore in last three years.
- It is tune with Good Governance Mission and Digital India Mission of present Government.
International Affairs
Pakistan cancels Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
- Pakistan cancelled the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference as India had threatened to boycott the meet if Pakistan did not extend invite to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly speaker.
- The conference, which was to bring together speakers of Commonwealth nations, will now be held in New York in the first week of October.
- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz had said Kashmir was a disputed territory and Pakistan does not recognize its Assembly.
- Pakistan had ruled out inviting the J&K Assembly speaker saying it does not recognise and accept the state assembly as legitimate one.
- A year ago, India cancelled talks between the two nations’ foreign secretaries after a similar meeting with Kashmiri separatists.
- Twenty-seven out of the 28 members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association voted in favour of changing the venue of the meet to New York.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned
- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has resigned on August 20, 2015. He has submitted his resignation to President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
- The resignation comes after a divide within the governing left-wing party over the terms of the country’s latest bailout.
- According to the government sources, he has also proposed for early elections. He had proposed the elections on September 20, 2015.
Women in Saudi Arabia will finally participate as voters in Election 2015
- Women in Saudi Arabia will finally get a chance to cast their ballot and contest in the upcoming election (Municipal elections) in December 2015.
- On August 17, 2015 the two women who became the first two women to register as voters were Jamal Al-Saadi and Safinaz Abu Al-Shamat from the electoral offices of Madinah and Mecca, respectively.
- In September 2011, King Abdullah made the official declaration about this reform that women of Saudi Arabia would be allowed to participate as voters from 2015.
TCS Amongst World’s 100 Most Innovative Companies: Forbes
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and four other Indian companies like Hindustan Unilever, construction services firm Larsen & Toubro, pharma major Sun Pharma Industries and Bajaj Auto have been named among the world’s 100 most innovative companies by Forbes in a list that has been topped by Tesla Motors.
Ranks in Forbes List:
· TCS at 64
· HUL at 41
· Larsen & Toubro at 58
· Pharma major Sun Pharma Industries at 65
· Bajaj Auto at 96.
The top five in the list are Tesla Motors (1), Connecticut-based biotech firm Alexion Pharmaceuticals (2), British semi-conductor company ARM Holdings (3), fast moving consumer goods company Unilever Indonesia (4) and New York-based biopharmaceutical company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (5).
World’s Highest Paid actresses Forbes – Jennifer Lawrence Top
- Jennifer Lawrence, 25-year-old “Hunger Games” movie star tops the list of highest-paid actresses according to the annual thespian earnings survey by Forbes.
- Jennifer Lawrence has her signature role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games trilogy this year banked $52 million, more than any other actress in the world and her highest paycheck to date.
- Her pre-tax payday is $16.5 million more than second-ranked Scarlett Johansson, who earned $35.5 million.
The top 10 paid actress are:
1. Jennifer Lawrence, $52 million
2. Scarlett Johansson, $35.5 million
3. Melissa McCarthy, $23 million
4. Bingbing Fan, $21 million
5. Jennifer Aniston, $16.5 million
6. Julia Roberts, $16 million
7. Angelina Jolie, $15 million
8. Reese Witherspoon, $15 million
9. (tie) Anne Hathaway, $12 million
10. (tie) Kristen Stewart, $12 million
Banking & Finance
Insta Account launched by ICICI
- An online investment account has been launched by ICICI Securities for investment in mutual funds. This will save the lengthy process of submitting the documents by an investor who is KYC compliant.
- There will be no charges for opening the account. In order to open the account, investor has to provide the Permanent Account Number and date of birth.
Awards
Appointments & Resigns
Actor Anupam Kher appointed as the advocate for United Nations’ campaign “He For She”
- Indian actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the advocate for the United Nations’ Campaign “He For She”on August 19, 2015.
- UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri declared that Anupam Kher will collaborate with the United Nations for the campaign which has been initiated by UN Women for making men and boys to participate in the voices against gender inequalities and discrimination.
- The campaign “He For She” started with the special event on September 20, 2014 at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. The event was hosted by UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson.
AirAsia India appointed Mittu Chandilya as Managing Director
- AirAsia India on August 20, 2015 appointed Mittu Chandilya as the Managing Director (MD) of the company in addition to his current role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
- Along with this he has also been appointed as the first full time independent Executive Director of AirAsia India.
Science & Technology
Sports
Deepak Paul pulls off dramatic win in National Racing
- Deepak Paul Chinnappa pulled off a dramatic win in the top-end Indian Touring Cars race in the fifth and concluding round of the MMSC-FMSCI National Racing Championship.
- Also tasting success was Mohit Aryan of Anish Racing in the Formula LGB 1300 category who started from pole position and saw off early challenge for his fifth win in nine starts to increase his championship tally to 113 for a 13-point lead over Chetan Korada who came in third in the race behind his Wallace Racing team-mate Raghul Rangasamy.
Obituary
Eminent Sanskrit Scholar and Indologist NR Varhadpande passed away
- Eminent Sanskrit Scholar and Indologist NR Varhadpande passed away in Nagpur at the age of 94.
About NR Varhadpande:
- Varhadpande authored several books on contemporary Indian history, Sanskrit, philosophy and riddles of ancient history.
- He was famously known for his book titled “Aryan Invasion-A Myth” that is considered as one of the most profound works in changing the course of ancient Indian history.
- He worked as the Chief Psychologist with the Ministry of Defence and was instrumental in devising various Psychological tests for the armed forces personnel.
- He is the the Founder Editor of the periodical Sanskrit Bhavitavyam and also served as the President of Sanskrit Bhasha Pracharini Sabha. He was the champion of providing education in mother tongue and re-popularising Sanskrit language.
Editor Satyanand Pathak passed away
- Editor Satyanand Pathak, editor of a local Hindi daily, passed away on August 21, 2015 due to a brief illness.
- He was 53.Pathak was serving as the Editor of Hindi daily Dainik Purvoday and was earlier the Executive Editor of Purvanchal Prahari
