Friday 23 November 2012

Daily News - 23 Nov

Makemake, the Massive Dwarf Planet of Solar System Has No Atmosphere

 Astronomers from Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, CSIC, Spain in the third week of November 2012 discovered that the distant drawf planet called Makemake, which is 2/3rd that of Pluto in size does not have atmosphere. Planet makemake revolves around sun in its distant route which lies away from Pluto. This distance is closer to sun than Eris’, the massive dwarf planet in entire solar system. In the previous observations it was found that Makemake was quite like the fellow dwarf planets which compelled some astronomers to believe that it had atmosphere, maybe like that of Pluto. But in the new study it was discovered that Makemake does not have significant atmosphere. The team that carried out the study combined the observations from three telescopes- New Technology Telescope, Very Large Telescope and TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) at European Southern Observatory's La Silla and Paranal observing sites in Chile.

Australian Scientists Claimed South Pacific Island Does Not Exist At All
 
Australian scientists from the University of Sydney discovered in the third week of November 2012 that the South Pacific Island which is located between Australia and New Caledonia in South Pacific is not in existence. The island is shown on the marine charts, world maps as well as Google Earth, but in reality it has no existence. Geologists from the University of Sydney became suspicious about its existence when navigation charts which are used by ships showed 1400 metres depth in the area while the scientific maps as well as Google Earth showed large island at that place. When the geologists sailed through the place, they found nothing except the blue ocean. The error had broadcasted through to world coastline database, which is responsible for making a lot of maps. It is notable that the island which does not exist at all has also appeared in the scientific publications since 2000.

Harley Davisdon launched its New Model Fat Bob in Indian Market
 
Harley-Davidson India on 22 November 2012 launched its new bike model Fat Bob which is priced at 12.80 lakh rupees in ex-showroom, Delhi.
The new model is assembled at the company's facility at Bawal province of State of Haryana. The model has a 1585 cc engine with a six-speed cruise drive transmission, and a fuel tank which have an outstanding capacity of 18.8 litres.This new addition of Harley Davidson Bike from the Dyna family expands its portfolio of completely knockdown (CKD) models to six.

Union Cabinet of India approved the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy

 The Union Cabinet of India on 22 November 2012 passed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPA). As per the new pricing policy declared by the Union Government, 348 essential drugs would come under price control policy of the nation, which would lead to price reduction of the same.The policy was approved by the Union Cabinet with an objective to bring in a regulatory framework to make sure that the pricing of essential drugs remains under control and are made available in the market at reasonable prices. The approval came in as a response to the deadline of 27 November 2012 set by the Supreme Court of India for finalization of a policy that to without altering or hampering the mechanism for cost-based drug pricing policy in existence. The move would bring down the cost of the drugs to an average of 30 percent as the pricing now would be fixed following the simple average of the rates of all the brands that have more than one percent of market share in the pharmaceutical industry. Following the rules of the policy, the companies will have to take a clearance by NPPA to increase the prices beyond 10 percent on all the 348 drugs enlisted in the new National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy.
 
Lula da Silva awarded Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development
 The former President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was awarded with Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on 22 November 2012 at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.
Lula was conferred with the award for his contribution towards elimination of hunger. He has also brought inclusive growth in his country. He was awarded for advocating stronger ties among the developing economies as well as for the signal contribution for India-Brazil partnership.

Autar Kaw, a professor of Indian Origin won US Professor of the Year Award-2012

 Indian Born Academic, Autar Kaw, a mechanical engineering professor at University of South Florida (USF) on 15 November 2012 was declared winner of the prestigious 2012 US Professor of the Year award. Autar Kaw was conferred with the award in the category of Outstanding Doctoral and Research Universities Professor of the Year- for his abilities of providing solutions of complex mathematical equations to students making it simple by providing logical solutions to it beyond the classroom through his website, twitter account and lectures available on You Tube Video.He is also known as Methods Guy. He was conferred with the award in the National Press Club and the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC along with other three lecturers nominated from the list of 300 nominees.

India signed 70 million US Dollar loan agreement with World Bank

Government of India on 22 November 2012 signed a 70-million US Dollar loan agreement with World Bank for financing the Karnataka Health Systems Development as well as Reform Project. Primary objective of this project is improvisation of public-private collaboration, health services delivery and financial aid for vulnerable groups and underserved in Karnataka. The agreement was signed by the Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and India Operations Advisor of World Bank in New Delhi.

The components of the project include:

•    Strengthening present health programs of the Government of India
•    Innovations in the health financing as well as service delivery
•    Project management, evaluation as well as monitoring
Additional financing of this project is scheduled to be implemented till 31 March 2016.
 
Senior IPS Officer Ranjit Sinha Appointed as CBI Director for Two Years

 Ranjit Sinha, the Bihar Cadre Senior IPS Officer of 1974 batch was appointed as next director of Central Bureau of Investigation on 22 November 2012 for two years. In the official order, it was declared that Sinha would serve as the CBI director for two years starting from the date when he joins the office. Sinha will be taking over the office from AP Singh, the IPS of 1974 Jharkhand Cadre, who is retiring on 30 November 2012.

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Announced 1650 Crore Rupees Agri Loan waiver

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 22 November 2012 announced an agricultural loan waiver worth 1650 crore Rupees which is supposed to benefit about half a million small and marginal farmers. The agricultural loan waiver is applied to farmers who had taken up to 50000 rupees of loan from the UP Sahkari Gram Vikas Bank (UPSGVB) against farm land as security. The provision is that the borrower should have repaid at least a tenth of the principal amount by March 31, to be eligible. The waiver would include both the principal due and interest on it.In its proposal for legislative assembly poll, the Samajwadi Party led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav promised earlier in 2012 that they are going to stop the practice of Auctioning farmer’s land to recover loan dues.

BBC Appointed Tony Hall as its New Director General

 Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall on 22 November 2012 was appointed as director general of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).Tony Hall is due to take up his post in early March 2013 when acting Director General Tim Davie steps down. Tony Hall is replacing George Entwistle, who resigned on 10 November 2012 over the corporation's reporting of child sex abuse.Tony Hall who is 61 years old, was director of BBC news, and was a candidate for the top job in 1999 when Greg Dyke secured the position. Hall is a former BBC employee, having worked there for 28 years. He was head of BBC News and Current Affairs between 1996 and 2001.

Tenth ASEAN-India Summit Concluded at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The tenth ASEAN-India Summit that was held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia concluded on 19 November 2012. The summit was chaired by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia- Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN Sen and attended by the leaders of the ten Member states of ASEAN and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. During the summit the discussions were held on identifying the future course of action on the ASEAN-India relations. Success was achieved in deciding the convening of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit scheduled to be held on 20 December to 21 December 2012 at New Delhi, India, the summit will be held to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. 

Twenty first ASEAN Summit concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The 21st ASEAN Summit Phnom Penh was held on 18 November 2012 at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia- Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen was the Chairperson for the 21st ASEAN Summit Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The head of states of the ASEAN members and the Secretary-General of ASEAN participated in the 21st ASEAN Summit and discussed about things like progress of the Implementation of ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for an ASEAN community. 

Issues Discussed

1.    Follow-up to the 20th ASEAN Summit
2.    The Progress Report on the Implementation of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity
3.    Signed Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
4.    Exchange of View on Regional and International Issues

The Seventh East Asia Summit concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

 The seventh East Asia Summit (EAS) was held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 19 November 2012. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen chaired the meeting. The Leaders of East Asia Summit adopted a joint declaration for the 7th East Asia Summit following the regional responses to control Malaria and address the resistance to anti-malarial medicines. The Phnom Penh Declaration of the East Asia Summit Development Initiative was also taken on this occasion. Discussions and exchange of views on different regional and international issues was also done between the leaders of the member-nations. Apart from the 10 members of the ASEAN representatives from eight different countries namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and United States of America also participated in the summit.


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