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Wei, Li won men's & women’s singles of Canada Open Badminton tournament 2015

2015-06-30T04:13:00.002-07:00

Who: Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Michelle Li of Canada
What: won men's and women's singles title of the Canada Open Badminton tournament
When: 28 June 2015

Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Michelle Li of Canada on 28 June 2015 won the men's and women’s singles title of the Canada Open Badminton tournament respectively.

In the finals played at Calgary, Wei defeated Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong 17-21 13-21 and Li defeated Kaori Imabeppu of Japan 21-17 25-23.

This was second back to back title for the former World Number One following an eight-month doping ban. On 22 June 2015, he won the US Open.

The mixed doubles event was won by Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen (China). They defeated Kaixiang Huang and Sijie Wang (China) 17-21 21-12 21-18.

The women's doubles title was won by Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwni Ponappa. They defeated Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek in straight games of 21-19, 21-16.

Canada Open Badminton tournament was held between 23 June 2015 and 28 June 2015.

Gutta-Ponappa won women's doubles of Canada Open Badminton tournament 2015

2015-06-30T04:09:00.002-07:00

Who: Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwni Ponappa
Where: Calgary, City in Alberta, Canada
What: Won the women's doubles of Canada Open Badminton tournament 2015
When: 28 June 2015

Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwni Ponappa on 28 June 2015 won the women's doubles of Canada Open Badminton tournament 2015. In the final played at Calgary, the third seeded Indian pair defeated top Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek in straight games of 21-19, 21-16.

This was first title of the 2015 season for Gutta and Ponappa.

Other Results
Men’s Singles: Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) defeated Ng Ka Long Angus (Hong Kong)
Women’s singles: Michelle Li (Canada) defeated Kaori Imabeppu (Japan)
Mixed Doubles: Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen (China) defeated Kaixiang Huang and Sijie Wang (China)

Canada Open Badminton tournament was held between 23 June 2015 and 28 June 2015.

First species of Yeti Crab in Antarctica named Kiwa tyleri discovered

2015-06-30T04:04:00.003-07:00

Who: First species of Yeti Crab named Kiwa tyleri
Where: hydrothermal vent systems of East Scotia Ridge in Southern Ocean, Antarctica
What: Discovered

A team of British scientists led by Dr Sven Thatje on 24 June 2015 published the discovery of the first species of Yeti Crab in Antarctica in the journal PLOS ONE. The species has been named Kiwa tyleri after British deep-sea and polar biologist Professor Paul Tyler from the University of Southampton.

The crab that belongs to an enigmatic group of squat lobsters, known as Kiwaidae, was found from hydrothermal vent systems of the East Scotia Ridge in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica.

Earlier when this hairy crab was first discovered in the Antarctic waters, it was nicknamed as The Hoff, in reference to actor David Hasselhoff.

These crabs flourish in the hot waters surrounding the geothermally heated hydrothermal vents and are dominant species at these sites occurring at extremely high densities, exceeding 700 specimens per square metre.

Yeti crabs are famous for its body, which is densely covered by bristles, known as setae, and bacteria that gives it a fur like appearance.

Bajaj Allianz launched weather-based crop insurance scheme for three districts of Maharashtra

2015-06-30T04:01:00.002-07:00

Who: Bajaj Allianz
Where: Nagpur, Hingoli and Washim districts of Maharashtra
What: Launched a weather-based crop insurance scheme
When: 28 June 2015
Why: To protect orange crops

Private insurer Bajaj Allianz on 28 June 2015 launched a weather-based crop insurance scheme for orange crops in Nagpur, Hingoli and Washim districts of Maharashtra. This index-based insurance policy will cover losses incurred by orange fruit-growing farmers due to deviation in weather conditions.

The losses will be assessed on the basis of pre-defined and government-approved term sheets and actual weather data received from an approved automatic weather station installed in each block of these districts.

Farmers who have taken loan through the kissan credit card (KCC) will automatically get insured under this scheme by their banks, while those who don’t have KCC but savings accounts need to visit the bank branches and authorize the banks to enroll them in the scheme.

The company also launched a campaign to create awareness about the scheme in these three districts. As part of the awareness campaign, a van will travel for 10 days in the orange-growing belt of Katol, Narkheda and Kalmeshwar and educate farmers. It will also use radio, hoardings, street plays mediums.

The company identified the need to offer the product in these areas looking at the volumes of the produce and how unfavourable weather conditions had an impact on produce. It will mitigate the losses incurred and ensure that farmers do not lose out on their income because of uncertainties of nature.

Greece PM called for referendum on extension for bailout programme

2015-06-30T03:59:00.001-07:00

Who: Call for referendum on extension of bailout package
What: Given by Greek PM Alexia Tsipras
When: 27 June 2015

Greek Prime Minister Alexia Tsipras on 27 June 2015 called a referendum on extension to the bailout programme offered by the troika viz., International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission (EC) and European Central Bank (ECB).

The Greece Parliament is set to vote on 5 July 2015 on the referendum call.

Tsipras called for referendum against the backdrop of austerity demands put forward by the lenders as a pre-condition to extend the bailout programme for six months. It is set to expire on 30 June 2015, the same day IMF’s debt is due.

As per the troika, Greece needs to raise its primary surplus within two years in order to avail the 15.5 billion euros of funding, which in turnrequires pension and tax reforms for which the Syriza government is reluctant to.

The left-wing government came into power in January 2015 on apromise to end austerity measures.

Without the bailout funds, Greece is set to default on the loans and will be closer to imposing capital controls that will create chaos in the economy and financial markets.

If people vote for the extension of the bailout programme (Yes vote), a new government may have to be formed to finalise talks with the lenders and implement reforms agreed upon.

If people vote against the extension of the bailout programmes (No vote), it will pave the way for the exit of Greece from the Eurozone and possibly European Union.

Greece, which has been facing financial crisis since 2009, has a total debt of 320 billion euros. This is 180 percent of Greece GDP and 2 percent of the sovereign debt in the European Union.

International Cricket Council approved amendments to playing conditions in ODIs and T20Is

2015-06-30T03:57:00.002-07:00

Who: Amendments to the ODIs and T20Is playing conditions
What: Approved by the ICC
When: 23 June 2015

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executives Committee on 23 June 2015 approved amendments to the ICC playing conditions.

The approvals were given during the ICC Annual Conference held in Barbados.

The key changes were

• In One Day Internationals (ODIs), there will be no compulsory catchers from the first to the 10th over.
• In ODIs, no batting powerplays will be allowed between the 15th and 40th over.
• In ODIs, five fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle between the 41st and 50th over, rather than the current four.
• In ODIs and T20Is, all no-balls, not just foot faults, will lead to a free hit.

These playing conditions will come into effect for series starting on or after 5 July 2015.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament

2015-06-30T03:34:00.004-07:00

Who: Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena
What: Dissolved Parliament
When: 26 June 2015

Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the Parliament on 26 June 2015. Sirisena signed a gazette notification dissolving parliament in an effort to consolidate power and push through political reforms.

Sirisena dissolved the parliament within 160 days after assuming his office in January 2015. This dissolution ends the term of the coalition government that was appointed for a period of 100-days after the presidential election. The date of dissolution was extended to implement Constitutional reforms.

To elect a new Parliament, elections will be held on 17 August 2015.

Nadia district won the UN Public Service Award 2015 for eliminating open defecation

2015-06-30T03:31:00.003-07:00

Who: Nadia district of West Bengal
What: Was conferred with the United Nations Public Service Award 2015
When: 26 June 2015
Why: For eliminating open defecation in the district

The district administration of Nadia, West Bengal was on 26 June 2015 conferred with the United Nations Public Service Award 2015 for eliminating open defecation in the district.

The award was presented by acting Secretary General of the UN Lenni Montiel along with Head UN Women Stefani Senese to District Magistrate of Nadia and Sabhapati of Nadia Zilla Parishad on conclusion of United Nations Day Celebrations 2015 held at Medellin, Columbia.

Nadia district could achieve this feat due to its collaborative effort with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Bank aimed at construction of toilets across the district.

Till October 2013, half of the district’s population was defecating in open spaces. However, the situation was improved under the Sabar Souchagar (Toilets for All) programme that was launched on 2 October 2013 by the district administration.

Under this programme, around 356000 toilets were built that resulted in decline in the number of people continuing with the practice to meager 0.2 percent.

Earlier, on 30 April 2015, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared Nadia as the first open defecation-free (ODF) district in Indiaand launched Mission Nirmal Bangla (MNB) aimed at making the state open defecation free.

She also declared 30 April as Nirmal Bangla Diwas, to be observed across the state, to mark the occasion.

About United Nations Public Service Awards

It is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide.

In 2014, the project Mobile Seva under Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) had won the second rank in the 2014 United Nations Public Service Award.

It won the second place in the Asian and Pacific Region in the Category 3: PROMOTING WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACHES IN THE INFORMATION AGE.

Dealing with China: An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower by Henry M Paulson

2015-06-30T03:25:00.001-07:00

What: Released
When: 14 April 2015

Dealing with China: An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower: Henry M. Paulson

Book titled Dealing with China: An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower authored by Henry M. Paulson was released on 14 April 2015.

The book takes the reader behind closed doors to witness the creation and evolution and future of China’s state-controlled capitalism.

The book draws an unprecedented access to modern China’s political and business elite and answers several key questions like how so quickly China become an economic superpower, the process in which business is done in the country, best ways for Western business and political leaders to work with, compete with, and benefit from China and how can the U.S. negotiate with and influence China given its authoritarian rule, its massive environmental concerns, and its huge population's unrelenting demands for economic growth and security.

President conferred Punyabhushan Award on Prataprao Pawar

2015-06-30T03:21:00.003-07:00

Who: 27th Punyabhushan Award
Where: At Balgandharva Auditorium in Pune
What: Conferred on Prataprao Pawar, Chairman of Sakal Media Group
When: 26 June 2015

President Pranab Mukharjee on 26 June 2015 conferred Punyabhushan Award on Prataprao Pawar, Chairman of Sakal Media Group (SMG) at Balgandharva Auditorium in Pune.

Pawar is the 27th recipient of the Punyabhushan award and his name was selected for the award by a committee led by scientist Raghunath Mashelkar.
Besides, President also felicitated five veteran freedom fighters in the function.

Punyabhushan Award
The Punyabhushan (Pride of Pune) award constituted by Tridal, Puneis annually announced by the Punyabhushan Foundation on 23 March with a view to commemorate the memory of Indian revolutionary martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

It is awarded to an eminent personality from the field of art, music, culture, science, industry, social service, or sports in the city of Pune Maharashtra, India. The award carries a memento and cash prize of 1 lakh rupees.

26th Punyabhushan Award was presented to Dr Cyrus Poonawalla for his contribution to the field of Medicine & Research.

US Supreme Court legalized Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide

2015-06-28T00:21:00.002-07:00

Who: US Supreme Court
What: Legalized Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide
When: 26 June 2015

The United States (US) Supreme Court on 26 June 2015 legalized same-sex marriage across the nation in a closely divided ruling by a 5 to 4 vote. The 28-page ruling was made by Justice Anthony Kennedy and was agreed by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

With this ruling, now the states cannot deny marriage rights enjoyed for thousands of years by opposite-sex couples to gay men and lesbians. The decision is expected to trigger same-sex marriages in fourteen states that banned the practice.

The court ratified the Bill of Rights and added the Fourteenth Amendment that states no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.

The decision came exactly two years after Kennedy's majority opinion in United States v. Windsor struck down a federal law denying benefits to married same-sex couples. In this decision, Justice Kennedy embraced a vision of a living Constitution that evolves with societal changes.

According to the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, which tracks the demographics of gay and lesbian Americans, there are an estimated 390000 married same-sex couples in the United States.

Union Government approved a proposal for setting up second airport at Jewar in NCR

2015-06-28T00:18:00.002-07:00

Who: Union Ministry of Civil Aviation
Where: Jewar, Greater Noida
What: Approved a proposal for setting up a second international airport
When: 25 June 2015

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on 25 June 2015 approved a proposal for setting up a second international airport at Jewar in the National Capital Region. The proposal would soon be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval

Once the project gets the required approvals, the civil aviation ministry will offer the contract for building and running the proposed Jewar airport in Greater Noida to the GMR Group where the government acquired 2378 acres of land for the project.

Under RoFR norms, GMR Group has the Right of First Refusal (RoFR) for any airport that is built within a 150-km radius of the existing airport in Delhi. According to the rules, GMR’s bid will be accepted only if it is equal to or less than 10 percent of the bid offered by the lowest bidder. It will be asked to match the lowest bid arrived at after the bidding process for the proposed Jewar airport.

According to norms in the Policy on Airport Infrastructure of India, the Union Government will need to amend certain regulations to enable development of the new project as the establishment of greenfield airports in places where an existing one is unable to meet the projected requirements of traffic or in case a new focal point of traffic emerges with sufficient viability.

The current policy states, No greenfield airport will normally be allowed within an aerial distance of 150 km of an existing airport. Where it is allowed as a second airport in the same city or close vicinity, the parameters for distribution of traffic between the two airports will be clearly spelt out.

The airport in Jewar was proposed by the erstwhile Mayawati-led Government in Uttar Pradesh and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) to decide on the issue.

Veselin Topalov won the Norway Chess Tournament 2015

2015-06-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

Who: Veselin Topalov
What: Won the Norway Chess Tournament 2015
When: 25 June 2015

Veselin Topalov on 25 June 2015 won the Norway Chess tournament 2015 by leaving behind Viswanathan Anand into a quick draw. Topalov secured 6½ points while Anand ended the tournament in second place with 6 points.

Results of the Norway Chess tournament 2015
• Hikaru Nakamura showed excellent technique and won by 6 points and stood at third place by leaving behind Levon Aronian with 3 points.
• Magnus Carlsen played very poorly again losing to Jon Ludwig Hammer who got 3 points.
• On the other hand, Grischuk ended on 3½ points (-2) and Vachier-Lagrave got 4 points (-1).
• Caruana got 4 points on -1 and Giri acquired 5½ points and stood at fourth position.

Norway Chess Tournament 2015

Topalov, Veselin	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½
Caruana, Fabiano	- Giri, Anish	½-½
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Grischuk, Alexander	½-½
Aronian, Levon	- Nakamura, Hikaru	0-1
Hammer, Jon Ludvig	- Carlsen, Magnus	1-0

Patrick Macnee, star of The Avengers, died

2015-06-28T00:10:00.003-07:00

Who: Patrick Macnee
What: Died
When: 25 June 2015

Patrick Macnee, star of the legendary Avengers TV series, died on 25 June 2015 at his home in Rancho Mirage in California. He was 93. Macnee was known for playing the role of secret agent John Steed in the 1960s television series The Avengers.

During his schooling, he acted in a production of Henry V with his classmate Christopher Lee. After completing his education from Eton College, he served in the Royal Navy during World War Two by working on torpedo boats in the English Channel and the North Sea.

He also appeared in a few London stage productions and films including his role as Marley in the Alastair Sim's A Christmas Carol.

He was born as Daniel Patrick Macnee on 6 February 1922 in London and grew up in Lambourn.

Ujjwal Batria appointed as CEO of Lafarge India

2015-06-28T00:08:00.001-07:00

Who: Ujjwal Batria
What: Appointed as CEO of Lafarge India
When: 25 June 2015

Ujjwal Batria was on 25 June 2015 appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of French cement maker Lafarge's India operations.

Batria succeeded Martin Kriegner, who will now be Area Manager-Central Europe of Lafarge Holcim, an entity to be formed by the proposed merger of the world's top two cement firms.

Prior to his appointment as the CEO of Lafarge India, Batria was the Managing Director of Lafarge India Private Limited and was managing the cement business of the company.

Ujjwal Batria has been working with Lafarge for the past 16 years. He joined Lafarge in 1999 and since then he has held different positions across functions. He brings with him rich and diverse experience in the construction material industry.

About Lafarge India
• As a top-ranking player in its Cement, Aggregates and Concrete businesses, Lafarge contributes to the construction of cities around the world.
• Lafarge started operations in India in 1999. Today, it has an established presence across major cities and towns in India.
• The company offers comprehensive solutions for housing, road and railroads, infrastructure, and public/private buildings through its Cement, Aggregates and Ready Mix Concrete businesses.

India, US signed MoUs to enhance cooperation in areas of Health Sector

2015-06-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

Who: India, United States
What: Signed MoUs
When: 25 June 2015
Why: To enhance cooperation in areas of Health Sector

India and the United States (US) on 25 June 2015 signed a series of agreements on health sector to enhance cooperation in areas such as cancer research, infrastructure development, training, capacity building and better assessment and application of new diagnostic technologies.

List of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed by India and US:

MoU on cancer research, control, prevention and management: Both the countries signed a MoU on collaboration in the areas for conducting research and training on development of low-cost technologies, diagnostics of existing medications against common cancers and development of existing therapies related to oncology.

This MoU was signed among the NCRI (AIIMS), ICMR (DHS), the Department of Biotechnology, (MoST), NCI (NIH) and the US' Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

MoU on collaboration in Environmental, occupational Health and Injury Prevention and Control: They also signed an agreement to further the cooperation in education and training, infrastructure development, and capacity-building for their reciprocal and mutual benefit.

The cooperation under the MoU will cover:
• Prevention of illness related to toxic chemicals and hazardous substances
• Development and use of improved tools, technologies and methods for enhancing environmental and occupational public health, and injury prevention efforts, including surveillance
• Focus on public health effects of indoor air pollution including a focus on exposures associated with burning of solid fuels for cooking, prevention of illness and injury related to hazards at the workplace.

Letter of Intent (LoI) on Anti-microbial Resistance Research: A Letter of Intent (LoI) on anti-microbial resistance research was signed between the ICMR, Department of Biotechnology (MoST) and US's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health and DHHS.

This includes setting up of mechanism of antimicrobial resistance, application of systems biology, comparative testing and assisting the validation of new diagnostics and explore possible patterns of AMR in neonatal intensive care units as observed in India and the US.

The MoUs and LoI were signed by B P Sharma, Secretary Health; K Vijay Raghavan, Secretary Department of Biotechnology under Union Ministry of Science and Technology and Richard Verma, US Ambassador to India.

Delhi Budget 2015-16: Highlights

2015-06-26T09:53:00.004-07:00

Who: Delhi Budget 2015-16
What: Presented by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia
When: 25 June 2015

Delhi Budget 2015-16 was presented by the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on 25 June 2015 in the Vidhan Sabha. The budget has been termed as firstSwaraj Budget and is the first participatory budget of India.

Main Highlights

The 41129 crore rupees budget comprises of 19000 crore rupees Plan Budget and 22129 crore rupees as Non-Plan Buget
A Swaraj Fund of 253 crore rupees is proposed to be created with an aim to prioritize implementation of the programmes selected by the citizens for the development of their area.
Proposes to set up a new agency Delhi Urban Development Agency (DUDA) in each revenue district to execute the works recommended by the citizens under the Swaraj Fund and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Fund

Proposes to provide a total financial support of 5908 crore rupees to local bodies in 2015-16 which is 14.4 percent of the total budget
Proposes 1690 crore rupees as subsidy for measures like reduction of electricity bill and supplying free water up to 20000 litres per month
Creation of buffer stock of onion and potato to be released during the scarcity period
Proposes to launch free Wi-Fi services in all colleges and rural areas during 2015-16
Doubling the outlay on education by a whopping 106 percent, the budget proposes to spend 4570 crore rupees on education
50 schools to be developed as Model Schools with modern facilities and infrastructure and 236 new schools have been planned
Proposes to launch a Higher Education and Skill Development Guarantee Scheme wherein students can get loan up to 10 lakh rupees without any collateral or margin money
Proposes 310 crore rupees for promotion of Vocational education and for setting up a Skill University for skill development diploma/degree courses
Proposes to open three new ITIs in Rahola, Chhatarpur and Bakkarwala, five new polytechnics one each in North, North East, Central, New Delhi and West Districts of Delhi
Proposes to upgrade Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology into a University and increasing its strength from 3000 to 12000 over five years
Proposes to set up three new hospitals with total bed capacity of 1800 at Nangloi, Siraspur and Madipur
Proposes to set up 500 Mohalla Clinics in all parts of Delhi in 2015-16
Proposes to set up an Advance Trauma Care Centre in LN Hospital for sports injury rehabilitation with 100 trauma beds including ICU and OT facilities
Proposes to provide 1500 rupees subsidy on purchase of e-rickshaw so as to provide last mile connectivity
Proposes to bring 10000 buses of different specifications to meet the differentiate need of the commuters from the private sector under the PPP Cluster Scheme
Proposes to introduce Passenger Information System to provide the real-time information
Proposes to launch a mobile app for Self Meter Reading and Bill Generation to provide water and sewer services to citizens in efficient and friendly manner
Proposes to create a Energy Conservation Fund in 2015-16 to finance energy efficient projects and street lighting, etc
A new scheme Jan Jal Prabandhan Yojana will be launched to involve the community in management of water and sewerage services in a decentralized manner
A new Water Treatment Plant is proposed to be set up at Iradatnagar and existing water treatment plants at Chandrawal and Wazirabad will be rehabilitated to increase the water production to meet the demand

RBI extended deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes by 6 months

2015-06-26T09:48:00.006-07:00

Who: Deadline for exchanging pre-2005 currency notes
What: Extended by 6 months by RBI
When: 25 June 2015

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 25 June 2015 extended the date to exchange pre-2005 bank notes till 31 December 2015.

RBI in an official statement said that the notes can be exchanged for their full value. It has also clarified that all such notes continue to remain legal tender.

Soliciting cooperation from members of public in withdrawing these banknotes, it also urged them to deposit the old design notes in their bank accounts or exchange them at a bank branch convenient to them.

Earlier on 23 December 2014, it extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005 of various denominations by another six months till 30 June 2015 from previous 31 December 2015.

How to identify the pre-2005 currency notes?
As per RBI, the currency notes which were issued before 2005 do not have the year of printing on the reverse side, whereas, notes issued post 2005 have the year of printing at the bottom of the reverse side.

Why this exchange is essential?
According to RBI, the post-2005 notes have added security features and will help in curbing the menace of fake currency.

World's first flexible and skin-like display developed

2015-06-26T09:42:00.004-07:00

Who: World's first flexible and skin-like display
What: Developed
When: 11 June 2015

A team of scientists led by Indian-American Debashis Chanda from University of Central Florida (UCF) developed a nature-inspired technique for creating the world's first full-colour, flexible thin-film reflective display. The findings were published in Nature Communications journal on 11 June 2015.

This technology can help you switch your dress colour to a different colour in the blink of an eye, if someone at a wedding reception is wearing the same dress as yours.

Characteristic features of the display

The use of Polarization-independent liquid crystals (LC)-plasmonic system makes LC-plasmonic systems more attractive candidates for display, filter and other actively tunable optical technologies.
It does not need its own light source. Rather, it reflects the ambient light around it. Your camouflage, your clothing, your fashion items- all of that could change with this innovation.
This display is only about few microns thick, compared to a 100-micron-thick human hair. Such an ultra-thin display can be applied to flexible materials like plastics and synthetic fabrics.

How it was developed?

By using a specially designed nanostructured plasmonic surface in conjunction with high birefringence liquid crystals, the team demonstrated a tunable polarization-independent reflective surface where the colour of the surface is changed as a function of applied voltage.

A large range of colour tunability was achieved by utilizing an engineered surface which allows full liquid crystal reorientation while maximizing the overlap between plasmonic fields and liquid crystal.

In combination with imprinted structures of varying periods, a full range of colours spanning the entire visible spectrum was achieved, paving the way towards dynamic pixels for reflective displays.

Importance of the development

The research has major implications for existing electronics like televisions, computers and mobile devices that have displays considered thin by today's standards but monstrously bulky in comparison.

Main artery of 2800-km K2K Economic Corridor nearly ready: China

2015-06-26T09:39:00.001-07:00

K2K Economic Corridor: Kolkata (India) and Kunming (China) Economic Corridor

The term K2K Economic Corridor was in news in the fourth week of June 2015 as China announced that the main artery of the corridor is nearly completed.

The 2800 km long corridor is at the core of the Bangladesh, India, China and Myanmar-Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) initiated by four countries in 2014.

Objective of the Corridor

• At the macro level, the corridor is aimed at deepening friendly cooperation among the four member nations.
• The primary focus of the economic corridor is to facilitate trade and connectivity between the landlocked and underdeveloped southwestern parts of China and the North Eastern region of India.
• It will link South Asia with Southeast and East Asia by building multi-modal connectivity, harnessing economic complementaries and enhancing people-to-people relations.

Route map of the Corridor

• From Kolkata, the corridor will head towards Benapole, a border town in Bangladesh. After passing through Dhaka and Sylhet, it will re-enter the Indian territory near Silchar in Assam.
• From Assam, the passage will be connected with Imphal and then pass through the India-built Tamu-Kalewa friendship road in Myanmar before passing through a small stretch in Arunachal Pradesh.
• In Myanmar, the corridor will pass through Lahiso and Muse prior to Mandalay.
• The Chinese stretch extends from Ruili before reaching Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, through Longling and Dali.
• China also wants to include Mizoram as part of the corridor so that the K2K corridor will be connected with the Kaladan Project.

How addition of Kaladan project will be beneficial to India?

Under the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project, initiated in 2008, Mizoram will be connected with Myanmar’s port of Sittwe, through the Kaladan River.

Addition of Kaladan project will facilitate northeastern states in India to get easier access to Kolkata, compared with the land route, located just 539 km away.

It will also reduce reliance of China on the Straits of Malacca (to reach the Indian Ocean) that is militarily dominated by the USA.

Assam entrepreneurs signed pact on waste management

2015-06-26T09:35:00.002-07:00

Who: Pact on waste management
What: signed between two entrepreneurs and several civic bodies in Assam
When: Fourth week of June 2015
Why: To do away with plastic hazards under a solid-waste management project

Two local entrepreneurs, namely Satyaki Saikia and Pulak Roy, in fourth week of June 2015 signed agreements with several civic bodies in Assam to do away with the plastic hazards under a solid-waste management project.

Basic objective of the project is to save society from hazards and pollution created by the huge amount of increasing municipality solid waste.

Features of the project
• These would minimise the waste produced in the urban areas and convert them to useful products like bio-manure and bricks.
• Plastic part of waste will be converted and used to manufacture Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite Board (RTCB), which is a perfect replacement for wood and largely used for making shutters, furniture and doors

• The biodegradable part will be converted into bio-manure, which has a great demand in agricultural sector

To manage wastes, they have acquired technology from Calcutta-based SKC Group of Companies. At present, the technology is being used in states like Odisha, Bengal and Bihar.

Each of these project will cost around 20 – 30 crore rupees which would be sponsored by the Union Government.

Two-day long annual Hemis festival of Ladakh

2015-06-26T09:31:00.002-07:00

Who: Two-day long annual Hemis festival dedicated to the Guru Padmasambhava
Where: largest monastery of Ladakh Hemis monastery of J&K
What: Began in Ladakh
When: 26 June 2015

Two-day long annual Hemis festival dedicated to the Guru Padmasambhava began on 26 June 2015 in largest monastery of Ladakh Hemis Gompa (monastery) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hemis festival is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. During this festive season, Lamas called 'chhams,' perform masked dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. The head lama presides over the function.

The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high Thanka depicting Padmasambhava is displayed.

List of festivals of Ladakh and venue for celebrations

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed globally

2015-06-26T09:24:00.004-07:00

Who: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
What: Observed globally
When: 26 June 2015

26 June: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was on 26 June 2015 observed globally with the theme Let’s Develop our Lives, our Communities, our identities without Drugs.

This important day was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 7 December 1987 to help create a society free of illegal drugs and drug abuse. Each year the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selects a theme for the day.

The day is observed internationally by various countries by spreading awareness about Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking through events and programmes.

Union Government asked Bihar, TN, Rajasthan to introduce milk in mid day meal scheme

2015-06-26T09:20:00.003-07:00

Who: Introduce milk in mid day meal scheme
What: Union Government asked Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan
When: 25 June 2015
Why: To increase the nutritional level in the Mid-Day Meal for school children

Union Government on 25 June 2015 requested the Chief Ministers of Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan to encourage supply of free milk in the Mid Day Meal to school children.

Milk Products will be provided with an aim to increase the nutritional level in the Mid Day Meal for school children.

The decision was made in a review meeting in which it was found that the State Milk Federations of these states have surplus stock of skimmed milk powder.

In relation to supply of free milk products to students, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has written a letter to these states.

At present, two states Karnataka (under project Ksheerabhagya started in 2012-13) and Madhya Pradesh provides free milk products to school children under the Mid Day Meal scheme.

Comment
The serving of milk under mid day meal scheme would help the milk producers and cooperatives because milk contributes close to a third of the gross income of rural households. On the one hand, it will lead to increase in the purchase of milk and on other hand, it will financially empower the rural folks residing in these states.

US Supreme Court gave nod to subsidies under US Health Care Law in States without health exchanges

2015-06-26T09:17:00.003-07:00

Who: Health subsidies under Obamacare to States without health exchanges
What: Approved by the US Supreme Court
When: 25 June 2015

The US Supreme Court on 25 June 2015 ruled that federal subsidies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), 2010 could be made available to individual States, even if those States did not set up their own insurance exchanges.

The judgment was delivered by a 9-judge bench in the King v. Burwell case with 6-3 division. The bench was headed by the Chief Justice John Robert.

The verdict will benefit 6.4 million people in the 34 states as they are eligible to receive health-insurance subsidies even though those States did not create insurance marketplaces to purchase their policies.

Health insurance marketplaces or health exchanges are organizations set up to facilitate the purchase of health insurance in each state in accordance with the ACA, 2010 or Obamacare.