29.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday dropped former captain Sunil Gavaskar from the governing council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but retained Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Ravi Shastri.The governing council was reconstituted after the board suspended IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi earlier this year over charges of murky dealings.
• NANDURBAR (Maharashtra): Ten adivasis from the tribal hamlet of Tembhli on Wednesday became the first to receive the Unique Identity Numbers from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who said this would help the poor get the benefits of welfare projects.Singh and Gandhi distributed the first ten 'Adhaar' cards of Unique Identification Authority of India to ten residents of the tribal hamlet.
• MELBOURNE: After a long lull in the racial attacks in Victoria, a 21-year-old man was reportedly bashed and bruised after being asked if he was an Indian.According to a local newspaper Dandenong Leader, police said the man was walking to Sandown Park rail station about 6.40 am when four teenage males on bikes approached him, three with baseball bats.
• An al-Qaeda-linked plot to launch a Mumbai-style terror attack simultaneously on London and major cities in France and Germany was disrupted by intelligence agencies, a report has said.
• LONDON: Computers may soon be able to recycle part of their own waste heat, using a material being studied by researchers.The material is a semiconductor called gallium manganese arsenide. Researchers at the Ohio State University describe the detection of an effect that converts heat into a quantum mechanical phenomenon – known as spin – in a semiconductor.

28.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• The Allahabad High Court will deliver its verdict in the 60-year-old Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit on Thursday after the Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the path by dismissing a petition seeking its deferment.
• Buckling under pressure from the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Tamil Nadu government today decided to hand over to Central Bureau of Investigation five cases regarding repeated death threats issued to its party chief Jayalalithaa.
• MUMBAI: Maharashtra Government today submitted to the Bombay High Court a CCTV footage of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab assaulting jail staff and opposed his plea for a closed-door interview with his lawyers.The high court is hearing confirmation of death sentence awarded to Kasab for his role in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed.
• NEW DELHI: India is still allowing the sale of Rosiglitazone — the diabetes drug that has been found to cause heart attacks.Even as several countries start to take action against the drug — Europe and UAE are banning its sale while US has placed stringent restrictions over its sale — India is yet to take a call on whether to take the drug off its shelves.
• WASHINGTON: The United States has a secret "retribution" plan to bomb more than 150 terror camps in Pakistan in the event of another major terrorist attack originating from that country.This startling disclosure about Washington's "all bets off" policy towards an ostensibly dubious ally in the war on terror is contained in Bob Woodward's opus " Obama's War," which details an evolving US approach in the region.
• LONDON: Cell phone users may soon be able to recharge their devices wirelessly. Japanese technology company Fujitsu  has developed a system capable of simultaneously charging multiple portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras and laptop computers without the need for cable connections.

27.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• Initiating long-pending reforms in the selection process for the elite all-India services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), the government has decided to introduce an aptitude test at the preliminary examination level while doing away with the assessment on the optional subjects.The Civil Services Aptitude Test, which will be common for all candidates, would be introduced from next year, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Prithviraj Chavan said in an interaction with The Indian Express journalists at the ‘Idea Exchange’ programme here.
• NEW DELHI: South Africa led the charge of the African nations against the shoddy Commonwealth Games preparations on Sunday. As the Delhi  government carried out frantic clean-up operations in the Games Village, South Africa set the cat among the pigeons by saying a snake had been found in an athlete's room.South Africa's high commissioner to India  Harris Majeke told reporters a snake had been found in the room of an athlete at the Games Village. "That was really a threat to the lives of our athletes," he said, complaining of filth in the living quarters including basements of the buildings. "When everything is done, then we will ask our teams to come," he added.
• NEW DELHI: The Indian establishment is worried about a startling increase in the number of stand-offs between Indian and Chinese border patrols and more aggressive posturing by Chinese soldiers along the border.The political leadership has been briefed about this qualitative change in the assertiveness of Chinese troops along the border, sources said.
• MUMBAI: Wikipedia, the world's free online encyclopedia that is one of most visited sites after Google with 375 million visitors a month, will shortly be launching an India office - probably in Mumbai - besides setting up an India Chapter of the Wiki Foundation, the owners of Wikipedia and its other arms, in Bangalore said.
• BEIJING: A sophisticated malicious computer software, or malware, described by security firms as a "new cyber-weapon," is attempting to infiltrate factory computers in China's key industries, threatening the country's national security, cyber experts have warned.Called Stuxnet, the worm was first discovered in mid-June and was specially written to attack Siemens supervisory control and data (SCADA) systems commonly used to control and monitor industrial facilities - from traffic lights and oil rigs to power and nuclear plants, the state-run Global Times daily reported quoting experts.
• LONDON: In good news for people working away from their offices, HP has introduced a new range of printers that connect directly with mobile devices and can be accessed remotely.The launch of the new ePrint platform gives each device an e-mail address and allows documents to be e-mailed directly to the printer for immediate printing.

24.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• The Tamil Nadu Government today announced a ten per cent hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for its staff, teachers and pensioners.Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had ordered the increase with retrospective effect from September 1, 2010, an official release here said.The hike would cost the exchequer an additional Rs 2,190 crore annually, the release added.
• India’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile failed to take off during a user trial from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the Orissa coast on Friday apparently due to a technical problem, defence sources said.
• WASHINGTON: Ahead of his meeting with Indian counterpart A K Antony, US defence secretary Robert Gates has said the Pentagon wants to strengthen and expand its military to military ties with India."We are looking to expand this relationship in ways that are mutually beneficial," Gates told reporters at a Pentagon briefing ahead of the crucial Antony visit next week.
• NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has, for the first time, been ranked number eight for its two-year Postgraduate Programme (PGP). According to the latest Financial Times (FT) Business School  rankings for its Masters in Management programme 2010, the premier Indian B-school's MBA programme has been placed among the top 10 in the list of 65 B-schools. This is the first time IIM-A participated in the ranking assessment.
• MELBOURNE: India  bribed 72 Commonwealth countries $100,000 each to get the hosting rights for the scandal-hit 19th edition of the Games which will start in Delhi from October 3-14, a media report claimed.A report in the Daily Telegraph claimed that Delhi pipped Hamilton in the bid after offering huge sums of money to the 72 Commonwealth countries during the final presentation in Jamaica.
• MUMBAI: India  and Argentina have signed an agreement for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, according to department of atomic energy.Agreement between the government of India and the Argentine Republic for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was signed at Vienna by Dr S Banerjee, chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and Dr Norma Boero, president of the Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA)
• NEW DELHI: A MiG-27 of the IAF crashed 40 km east of the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal at 8.30 am on Friday morning.The aircraft crashed at Duria village in West Midnapore district this morning but the pilot ejected safely.

23.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• In a bid to restrict the large-scale smuggling of contraband spirit into the State, the Excise Department has suggested that modern X-ray scanners be installed at major border check-posts to scan the inside of vehicles without unloading passengers and cargo.Official sources said on Tuesday that the State government would possibly require the permission of the Central government authority on radiological protection to install such large scanners, which would cost approximately Rs.12 crore a piece. 
• Having burnt their fingers with the online Common Admission Test (CAT) last year after virus attacks undid the IIMs’ first attempt at switching from a paper-pencil test to a computer-based one, the country’s top-notch business schools are now working on a plan to set up their own online testing firm. 
• BAREILLY: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today demanded Rs 2000 crore from the Centre for conducting flood relief operations in the state."We need Rs 2000 crore for flood relief operations in the state. Of the Rs 2000 crore, Rs 1000 crore was needed for Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal (eastern UP) and the rest for Western UP," Mayawati told reporters here after undertaking an aerial survey of the flood affected areas.
• CHENNAI: Thirty two unemployed SC/ST graduates were appointed as bank officers for ICICI Bank on Friday, as part of a placement scheme overseen by Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO).
•  NEW DELHI: With just a day left for the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court to deliver its verdict on the contentious issue of the title suits of the disputed site at Ayodhya, suspense over its outcome and anxiety over the possible fallout keeps rising.

20.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• An all-party delegation led by Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit to assess the ground situation in Kashmir Valley which has witnessed unabated violence in recent months.
• India put up an improved performance to crush Pakistan in straight sets, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22, in the final league match of the third Asian volleyball championship (central zone) at the Netaji Indoor Stadium to set up a revenge match in the final against Iran on Monday.
• NEW DELHI: The month's wettest day, with heavy rain in the morning and an incessant drizzle thereafter, made Sunday the coldest September day experienced by Delhiites in at least five years. The maximum temperature crashed to 23.6 degrees Celsius -- 10 degrees below normal -- barely 0.5 degrees above the minimum temperature. The city saw 56.2mm rain till 8.30pm, most of came between 8.30am and 11.30am. 
• BANGALORE: Its good news for citizens, for they get to voice their opinions and ideas before the Planning Commission. The panel will introduce an inclusive process, which will help people to participate in the 12th five-year plan.
• MUMBAI: The plethora of online Nigerian frauds, instances of hacking and obscene text messages might be spiralling endlessly, but the city is yet to see a single conviction in cyber crime cases in the last 10 years.
  
• PARIS: A Frenchman whose arms and legs were amputated swam across the English Channel this weekend using leg prostheses that have flippers attached.Philippe Croizon, 42, had expected the tough crossing to take up to 24 hours and instead, he finished in only 13 and a half. His team believe this is a record time for a disabled swimmer.
• People who think more about whether they are right have more cells in an area of the brain known as the frontal lobes.UK scientists, writing in Science, looked at how brain size varied depending on how much people thought about decisions.But a nationwide survey recently found that some people think too much about life.

19.09.2010 - Current Affairs

• BJP Parliamentary Party chief L.K. Advani called up Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday to discuss the firing outside the Jama Masjid in which two foreign tourists were injured, and enquired about the steps being taken to handle the situation.
• China has suspended senior bilateral contact with Japan over the detention of a Chinese captain accused of ramming his boat against Japanese patrol vessels in disputed waters, said state media on Sunday.
• The Indian economy is entering a new phase of development as the prospects for balanced growth in 2010-11 have given rise to expectations that the performance in the next and subsequent years will be even more heartening. As a result of the bountiful rainfall in many regions in North India and even in the areas such as Bihar and Eastern States where it was apprehended for a time that severe drought condition would prevail, the yield of food and cash crops in the kharif season may constitute an all-time record.
• Bharti Airtel on Friday said it had tied up with technology major IBM for managing its computing technology and services for its African operations spanning 16 countries. The strategic partnership would enable Bharti Airtel to scale up its network and systems to cater to more than 10-crore African customers by 2012.
• When Indian officials last month wanted to engage with their Chinese counterparts over the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) objection to the visit of the chief of the Army's Northern Command, they were faced with a problem. They were directed to voice their concerns to an official in the Foreign Ministry. Yet, this was a government department that had had no role in the decision, and, according to some officials, had even voiced reservations that the PLA's move would unnecessarily strain relations against the backdrop of a recent warming up of ties.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has embarked on a major programme with an aim to introduce career-oriented programmes in universities and colleges across the country. In the academic year 2011-12, the commission will support a variety of such courses in science, arts and commerce. These courses will be offered as an add-on activity under the scheme.
• Making amends for their opening-day defeats, Somdev and Bopanna downed their higher-ranked rivals in a do-or-die situation and led India to its first ever win in a Davis Cup tie from a 0-2 deficit.

Current Affairs - 09.09.2010

• Nakoda, a leading player in the polyester filament yarn segment, is set to commence its wind power project in Madhya Pradesh. It proposes to acquire wind mills from Global Wind Power, a company floated by Reliance ADAG Group. The company will invest Rs.32.92 crore. After commissioning of the new machines, Nakoda's wind power capacity will increase from 6.75 MW to 12 MW, says a company release.
• India has slipped by two places to 51st in the World Economic Forum's global competitiveness rankings, while rival China has managed to improve its standing to 29th.As per the WEF's Global Competitiveness Report 2010-11, released today, Switzerland is No. 1 in the world in terms of its ability to provide the most competitive environment on several fronts.
• Private sector lender ICICI Bank has been awarded the World Finance Awards 2010 in three categories.The three categories are Excellence in NRI services-Worldwide, Excellence in Remittance Business-Worldwide and Excellence in Private Banking Business-Asia-Pacific Region awards at the prestigious World Finance Awards, UK, 2010, a press release stated.
• President Barack Obama today underlined his determination to end tax incentives for companies that create jobs overseas, saying he will provide a generous tax credit to companies that create more jobs in the US.Amid indication that outsourcing could become a hot issue in the November elections, Obama said the tax breaks should go to companies that create jobs in the US and not overseas.
• India today condemned the plan of small Florida church pastor to burn copies of the holy Quran to mark the 9/11 attacks and called on US authorities to take "strong action" to prevent such an "outrage" being committed.Union Home Minister P Chidambaram while deploring Pastor Terry Jones's move to burn copies of Islam's holiest text on September 11 also urged the Indian media to exercise "great restraint" over the coverage of the act to help maintain peace and harmony. 
• A year-long Environmental Impact Assessment study has been taken up on the Sethusamudhram project by the Centre and only after it is completed will it be decided whether to continue the project or not, said Rajendra K. Pachauri, Director-General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), here on Thursday.

Current Affairs - 08.09.2010

• The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday staked claim to form a government in Jharkhand under the former Chief Minister, Arjun Munda. In Ranchi, party leaders presented to Governor M.O.H. Farook a list of 45 MLAs ready to give unconditional support to the new government.
• An ordinance has been promulgated by the Governor to give preference to persons who have studied in Tamil medium for jobs in the State.According to the gazette, candidates who have studied in the Tamil medium have little chance of getting employed in the Central government, other State Governments or in the private sector. 
• China on Tuesday underlined its role in South Asia, saying that as an “important member” of Asia it was willing to work with India for peace and stability in the sub-continent.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said China was committed to safeguarding peace and stability of Asia, including South Asia.
• NEW DELHI: Facing shortage of teaching staff in the wake of capacity augmentation, IITs have proposed to appoint foreign nationals to its faculty positions.The move, if accepted, could enable the prestigio us institutes to appoint foreign teachers on permanent positions which could be up to 10 per cent of the faculty strength, said IIT officials.
• AGARTALA: Indian and Bangladesh railway  officials Wednesday completed technical formalities and finalised alignments to link their networks to improve connectivity between the two countries.Senior officials of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), Bangladesh Railways and the Tripura government held a series of meetings here this week and visited several places proposed to be utilised for laying the railway tracks.

Current Affairs - 07.09.2010

• Banking services will be hit in Bangalore on Tuesday in view of the all-India strike called by the Left parties.The State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Overseas Bank branches are expected to function, but services in the associate banks of SBI, and Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank are likely to be hit.
• A group of 141 Indian fishermen were on Monday released by Pakistani authorities from Malir Jail in Karachi, completing the process of freeing 442 fishermen.
• As many as 650 persons, mainly volunteers and teachers from schools and colleges took part in the Lead India 2020 launched here on Saturday by District Collector P. Umanath and City Police Commissioner C. Sylendra Babu.
• KOLAR GOLD FIELDS: Declared sick and shut down in 2001, Kolar mines may glitter again.Plans are afoot to revive the second deepest mine in the world (the first is in S Africa). After serving the nation for 121 years, Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) still has reserves that could yield 10 tonnes of gold per year for 15 years. With gold selling at a record Rs 19,000-plus per 10 grams, it would be a windfall.
• At the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, the paediatrics department emergency ward is overflowing with patients — two-to-a-bed is the rule, many beds have even three. There is no other way to accommodate 240 patients on 108 beds. NEW DELHI: Eight more people died today as unrelenting rains wreaked havoc in northern India where major rivers swelled dangerously causing flooding in several areas and Army called in for relief and rescue operations in Haryana.

Current Affairs - 06.09.2010

• The term of the 243-member Assembly will end on November 27. This will be the first election after Mr. Quraishi took over as the Chief Election Commissioner on July 30.
• Biopiracy, which is gradually robbing India of its precious assets and rich bio-diversity, has emerged as one of the biggest concerns before the union environment and forests ministry.
• BrahMos cruise missile was successfully test-fired on Sunday and the highlight of the mission was the missile performing a steep dive at a supersonic speed.
• India, looking to launch a second green revolution to boost its food security, has begun looking at distant South America where countries have been able to ramp up food production with new technology and farming methods. And to take lessons first-hand, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will visit Argentina, Brazil and Mexico this month.
• India has replaced the U.S. as the second most important foreign directive investment (FDI) destination for transnational corporations, according to a survey conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• Asked about China's needling of India by referring to J&K as 'India-controlled Kashmir', PM Manmohan Singh agreed that Beijing could be tempted to use Kashmir and Pakistan 'to keep India in low-level equilibrium'.
• As number of dengue cases rose to 1370, Delhi Government today asked citizens not to panic and said there was no shortage of platelets in any of its designated hospitals offering treatment to the people affected by the vector-borne disease.