Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority released a data of tourists on 18 July 2013, which claimed that India topped the charts of foreign tourists to the island nation. As per the report, over 83 thousand Indians visited, the Sri Lanka in the first half of this year of which 13000 Indian visitors in June 2013 alone. India was followed by Britain and Germany with 55 thousand and 36 thousand visitors.
Sri Lanka has set a target of attracting 1.25 million tourists to the country un 2013, of which more than half a million people visited the nation by June 2013.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Indian-American Nisha Desai Biswal given key post in Obama Administration
US President Barack Obama has nominated an accomplished Indian-American woman administrator as America's new point person for South Asia to succeed Robert Blake. Subject to confirmation by the Senate, Nisha Desai Biswal, who is currently the Assistant Administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), will replace incumbent Blake to head the South Asia bureau in the US State Department.
Desai is expected to become the first person of Indian-origin to head the bureau, which oversees US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. Biswal, who received a BA degree from the University of Virginia, has been the Assistant Administrator for Asia at the USAID, since September 2010.
Desai is expected to become the first person of Indian-origin to head the bureau, which oversees US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. Biswal, who received a BA degree from the University of Virginia, has been the Assistant Administrator for Asia at the USAID, since September 2010.
Maharashtra extended Ban on Gutkha and Paan Masala
Maharashtra state government on 19 July 2013 announced a ban extension on nicotine-laced gutkha and paan masala for another year considering health hazards of these products.
In July 2012, the government had banned the sale, storage and consumption of nicotine-laced gutkha and paan masala in any form for a year, which was to end on 19 July 2013. The government move was prompted by the incidence of oral diseases, including cancer due to consumption of such gutkha and paan masala.
Under the Food Safety & Standards Act, sale of items containing nicotine or tobacco (as in gutkha or paan masala) has been prohibited in the interest of public health. As many as 26 Indian states have so far banned gutkha and paan masala, besides five union territories.
Parliamentary panel finalizes report on GST
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on 19th July finalized its report on Goods and Services Tax (GST) which will be tabled in Parliament in the monsoon session beginning August 5. The GST Bill, introduced in Parliament in 2010, is being vetted by the Standing Committee on Finance. Now, the states and the Centre would together finalize the draft and bring it back to Parliament.
The proposed GST is aimed at bringing in a common tax regime for goods and services by subsuming most indirect taxes. It is also expected that GST will help increase revenue collections. The GST roll-out has missed several deadlines due to differences between the states and the Centre over contentious issue of central sales tax, compensation to states and design of GST structure.
The proposed GST is aimed at bringing in a common tax regime for goods and services by subsuming most indirect taxes. It is also expected that GST will help increase revenue collections. The GST roll-out has missed several deadlines due to differences between the states and the Centre over contentious issue of central sales tax, compensation to states and design of GST structure.
Renaming of Bengaluru International Airport as “Kempegowda International Airport”
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for renaming Bengaluru International Airport as "KempegowdaInternational Airport" to fulfill the long pending demand of the people of Karnataka, as well as the StateGovernment of Karnataka.
Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) is the premiere Greenfield Airport in South India. It was commissioned and became operational on 24th May, 2008. It is owned and operated by Bengaluru International Airport Pvt. Limited (BIAL). in which KSSIDC (an entity of the Government of Karnataka), the Airports Authority of India, GVK Group, Siemens and Zurich Airport are shareholders. BIA is the fifth busiest airport in the country, built over an area of 4,000 acres.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on 10.12.2012 and the Legislative Council also passed a similar resolution two days later to rename Bengaluru International Airport as "Kempegowda International Airport".
Background
Hiriya Kempegowda, known as Kempegowda was a ruler under the Vijayanagar Empire, who ruled most parts of Karnataka during the sixteenth century. He had the vision of building a large futuristic city and is widely accepted as being the founder of Bengaluru. Kempegowda built Bengaluru Fort and moved his capital fromYelahanka to the new Bengaluru.
National Tourism Ministers’ Conference Held for Realising Tourism Potential
The National Tourism Ministers’ Conference was held in New Delhi on 18 July 2013. The objective of the conference was discussion of the future strategies for realising the complete tourism potential of India. The Union Tourism Minister, K. Chiranjeevi chaired the conference.
NSE regains top slot as largest bourse for equity trades
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has regained its position as the world's largest bourse in terms of volumes in equity trades, in June, according to the latest data of World Federation of Exchanges (WFE). After maintaining its lead in the first three months of 2013, for equity trading volumes, NSE had slipped to the second slot in April and May.
Despite witnessing a fall of 9.7 per cent in its equity trades last month, NSE registered a total of 11.2 crore trades on its platform, making it the world's top exchange on this parameter among the 50 bourses listed with WFE. Meanwhile, NSE was also ranked first in number of equity trades for the first half of 2013 with a total of 71.18 crore trades. In June, NSE was followed by NYSE Euronext and Nasdaq OMX at the second and the third positions. NYSE Euronext and Nasdaq recorded 10.65 crore and 9.88 crore trades, respectively in their equity segments. China's Shenzhen SE, which emerged as the top bourse in May, has slipped to the fourth place. The exchange recorded a total of 8.44 crore trades in June.
Another major Indian bourse, BSE, stood at the eighth place with 2.44 crore trades on its platform. While the total number of listed companies is much larger in case of the BSE, the exchange lags behind NSE significantly in terms of volume and value of trades. Others among the top-ten for June included Korea Exchange (5th), Shanghai SE (6th), Japan Exchange Group - Tokyo (7th), Canada's TMX Group (9th) and BM&FBOVESPA (10th).
Despite witnessing a fall of 9.7 per cent in its equity trades last month, NSE registered a total of 11.2 crore trades on its platform, making it the world's top exchange on this parameter among the 50 bourses listed with WFE. Meanwhile, NSE was also ranked first in number of equity trades for the first half of 2013 with a total of 71.18 crore trades. In June, NSE was followed by NYSE Euronext and Nasdaq OMX at the second and the third positions. NYSE Euronext and Nasdaq recorded 10.65 crore and 9.88 crore trades, respectively in their equity segments. China's Shenzhen SE, which emerged as the top bourse in May, has slipped to the fourth place. The exchange recorded a total of 8.44 crore trades in June.
Another major Indian bourse, BSE, stood at the eighth place with 2.44 crore trades on its platform. While the total number of listed companies is much larger in case of the BSE, the exchange lags behind NSE significantly in terms of volume and value of trades. Others among the top-ten for June included Korea Exchange (5th), Shanghai SE (6th), Japan Exchange Group - Tokyo (7th), Canada's TMX Group (9th) and BM&FBOVESPA (10th).
Bono honoured with highest cultural award of France
Paul Hewson, popularly known as Bono, the face of the rock band U2 and anti-poverty activist, was awarded with the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, the highest cultural award of France on 17th July for the contribution to music.
He was also praised for utilizing his popularity serve the humanitarian causes. The Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters was awarded to him by the French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti in Paris. The award was started in the year 1957 and the previous awardees include Shakira, David Bowie, Roger Moore, Bruce Willis, Bob Dylan and Sean Connery, among others.
He was also praised for utilizing his popularity serve the humanitarian causes. The Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters was awarded to him by the French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti in Paris. The award was started in the year 1957 and the previous awardees include Shakira, David Bowie, Roger Moore, Bruce Willis, Bob Dylan and Sean Connery, among others.
Approval of the Plan scheme 'Development Communication and Information Dissemination' for the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for implementing the Plan Scheme "Development Communication and Information Dissemination" during the 12th Plan period with an outlay of Rs.630 crore.
The Plan scheme envisages making the common person aware of the benefits envisaged in various Government schemes so that the benefit of these schemes is realized to the maximum possible extent. The scheme will be implemented by the media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, through various modes of awareness generation such as; outdoor publicity, electronic and print media, Public Information Campaigns, press tours, conducted tours, people to people contact, special outreach programmes, live art and culture shows, the new media etc.
The Government of India has launched many welfare and employment generation schemes for the people in general and for the disadvantaged sections in particular by creating entitlements backed by legal guarantees for an individual`s rights. The main objective of the Government under these schemes is all round development of the people. The success of all government sponsored flagship schemes depends largely on awareness about these schemes and the benefits likely to accrue to targeted beneficiaries.
The Plan scheme envisages making the common person aware of the benefits envisaged in various Government schemes so that the benefit of these schemes is realized to the maximum possible extent. The scheme will be implemented by the media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, through various modes of awareness generation such as; outdoor publicity, electronic and print media, Public Information Campaigns, press tours, conducted tours, people to people contact, special outreach programmes, live art and culture shows, the new media etc.
The Government of India has launched many welfare and employment generation schemes for the people in general and for the disadvantaged sections in particular by creating entitlements backed by legal guarantees for an individual`s rights. The main objective of the Government under these schemes is all round development of the people. The success of all government sponsored flagship schemes depends largely on awareness about these schemes and the benefits likely to accrue to targeted beneficiaries.
Monday, July 8, 2013
UN released Millennium Development Goals Report 2013
United Nations on 1 July 2013 released the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report with more targets to be achieved by 2015. The report that seeks urgent address to several important challenges being faced by the world and its people was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The 2013 MDG Report looks forward to areas that requires urgent attention such as, one of every eight people of world remain hungry, death of women during childbirth, although facilities to protect them are available, lack of improved sanitation facilities for more than 2.5 billion people, of which one billion continue to practice open defecation, a major health and environmental hazard. Our resource base is in serious decline, with continuing losses of forests, species and fish stocks, in a world already experiencing the impacts of climate change. The report highlights major eight goals to be worked upon.
The 2013 MDG Report looks forward to areas that requires urgent attention such as, one of every eight people of world remain hungry, death of women during childbirth, although facilities to protect them are available, lack of improved sanitation facilities for more than 2.5 billion people, of which one billion continue to practice open defecation, a major health and environmental hazard. Our resource base is in serious decline, with continuing losses of forests, species and fish stocks, in a world already experiencing the impacts of climate change. The report highlights major eight goals to be worked upon.
The eight major Goals set by United Nations under the Millennium Development Program were: Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger, Achieve Universal Primary Education, Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, Reduce Child Mortality, Improve Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, Ensure Environmental Sustainability, Develop Global Partnership for Development. These goals were set for the first time at the time of Project inception in July 2002.
Progress Report of the major Eight Goals:
• Goal 1: Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger – Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day. Some of the quick facts about improvement:
a) With about less than 700 million people, who live in extreme poverty conditions in 2010 than in 1990, the Poverty rates have been halved
b) Widening of the global jobs gap by 67 million people due to the economic and financial crisis One in eight people still go to bed hungry, despite major progress
c) Globally, nearly one in six children under age five are underweight; one in four are stunted
d) An estimated 7 per cent of children under age five worldwide are now overweight, another aspect of malnutrition; one quarter of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa
• Goal 1: Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger – Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day. Some of the quick facts about improvement:
a) With about less than 700 million people, who live in extreme poverty conditions in 2010 than in 1990, the Poverty rates have been halved
b) Widening of the global jobs gap by 67 million people due to the economic and financial crisis One in eight people still go to bed hungry, despite major progress
c) Globally, nearly one in six children under age five are underweight; one in four are stunted
d) An estimated 7 per cent of children under age five worldwide are now overweight, another aspect of malnutrition; one quarter of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa
• Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education – If current trends continue, the world will not meet the goal of universal primary education by 2015. Quick Facts:
a) By 2011, 57 million children of primary school age were out of school, down from 102 million in 2000
b) More than half of these out-of-school children live in sub-Saharan Africa
c) Globally, 123 million youth (aged 15 to 24) lack basic reading and writing skills; 61 per cent of them are young women
• Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women – Steady progress has been made towards equal access of girls and boys to education, but more targeted action is needed in many regions. The quick Overview:
a) Gender parity is closest to being achieved at the primary level; however, only 2 out of 130 countries have achieved that target at all levels of education
b) Globally, 40 out of 100 wage-earning jobs in the non-agricultural sector are held by women
c) As of 31 January 2013, the average share of women members in parliaments worldwide was just over 20 per cent
• Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality – Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate. The Quick Overview:
a) Since 1990, the child mortality rate has dropped by 41 per cent; 14,000 fewer children are dying each day
b) Still, 6.9 million children under age five died in 2011—mostly from preventable diseases
c) In sub-Saharan Africa, one in nine children die before age five, more than 16 times the average for developed regions
• Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health – Maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 1990, but falls far short of the MDG target. Quick Overview:
a) In Eastern Asia, Northern Africa and Southern Asia, maternal mortality has declined by around two thirds.
b) Only half of pregnant women in developing regions receive the recommended minimum of four antenatal care visits.
c) Some 140 million women worldwide who are married or in union say they would like to delay or avoid pregnancy, but are not using contraception
• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases – The incidence of HIV is declining steadily in most regions; still, 2.5 million people are newly infected each year. The Quick Overview of the Facts:
a) In 2011, 230,000 fewer children under age 15 were infected with HIV than in 2001.
b) Eight million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV at the end of 2011.
c) In the decade since 2000, 1.1 million deaths from malaria were averted.
d) Treatment for tuberculosis has saved some 20 million lives between 1995 and 2011
• Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability – Forests are a safety net for the poor, but they continue to disappear at an alarming rate. The Quick Overview of the Facts:
a) Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by more than 46 per cent since 1990.
b) Nearly one third of marine fish stocks have been overexploited.
c) Many species are at risk of extinction, despite an increase in protected areas.
d) More than 2.1 billion people and almost 1.9 billon people, respectively, have gained access to improved water sources and sanitation facilities since 1990.
e) An estimated 863 million people reside in slums in the developing world
• Goal 8: Develop Global Partnership for Development – The global financial crisis and euro zone turmoil continue to take a toll on official development assistance. The Overview of the Facts:
a) Official development assistance stood at $126 billion in 2012.
b) Eighty-three per cent of least developed country exports enter developed countries duty free.
c) The debt service of developing countries consumes only 3 per cent of their export revenues.
d) In the developing world, 31 percent of the population uses the Internet, compared to 77 percent of the developed world
MDG targets have already been met or are within close reach:
• The proportion of people living in extreme poverty has been halved at the global level
• Over 2 billion people gained access to improved sources of drinking water
• Remarkable gains have been made in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis
• The proportion of slum dwellers in the cities and metropolises of the developing world is declining
• A low debt burden and an improved climate for trade are levelling the playing field for developing countries
• The hunger reduction target is within reach
MDG targets, for which accelerated Progress and bolder actions needs to be taken
• Environmental sustainability is under severe threat, demanding a new level of global cooperation
• Big gains have been made in child survival, but more must be done to meet our obligations to the youngest generation
• Most maternal deaths are preventable, but progress in this area is falling short
• Access to antiretroviral therapy and knowledge about HIV prevention must expand
• Too many children are still denied their right to primary education
• Gains in sanitation are impressive—but not good enough
• There is less aid money overall, with the poorest countries most adversely affected
Areas with disparities, where attention needs to be focused as these often stand in the way of further improvements:
Rural-urban gaps persist—access to reproductive health services and to clean drinking water is only two examples: In 2011, only 53 per cent of deliveries in rural areas were attended by skilled health personnel, versus 84 per cent of them in urban areas. Eighty-three percent of the population without access to an improved drinking water source lives in rural communities.
The poorest children are most likely to be out of School:Children and adolescents from the poorest households are at least three times more likely to be out of school than children from the richest households. Girls are more likely to be out of school than boys among both primary and lower secondary age groups, even for girls living in the richest households Gender-based inequalities in decision-making power persist: Whether in the public or private sphere, from the highest levels of government decision-making to households, women continue to be denied equal opportunity with men to participate in decisions that affect their lives
Measuring progress towards the MDGs: Progress towards the eight Millennium Development Goals is measured through 21 targets and 60 official indicators. This report presents an accounting to date of how far the world has come in meeting the goals using data available as of June 2013. Most of the MDG targets have a deadline of 2015, using 1990 as the baseline against which progress is gauged.
The basis for this Analysis: Regional and sub-regional figures presented in this report are compiled by members of the United Nations Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators (IAEG). In general, the figures are weighted averages of country data, using the population of reference as a weight. For each indicator, individual agencies were designated as official providers of data and as leaders in developing methodologies for data collection and analysis. The team that prepared the report was headed by the Department of Economic and Social affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, in response to the wishes of the General Assembly for periodic assessment of progress towards the MDGs.
UN Millennium Project: The Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people. In 2005, the independent advisory body headed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, presented its final recommendations to the Secretary-General in a synthesis volume investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
UN Millennium Campaign: The United Nations Millennium Campaign, started in 2002, supports and inspires people from around the world to take action in support of the Millennium Development Goals.
Measuring progress towards the MDGs: Progress towards the eight Millennium Development Goals is measured through 21 targets and 60 official indicators. This report presents an accounting to date of how far the world has come in meeting the goals using data available as of June 2013. Most of the MDG targets have a deadline of 2015, using 1990 as the baseline against which progress is gauged.
The basis for this Analysis: Regional and sub-regional figures presented in this report are compiled by members of the United Nations Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators (IAEG). In general, the figures are weighted averages of country data, using the population of reference as a weight. For each indicator, individual agencies were designated as official providers of data and as leaders in developing methodologies for data collection and analysis. The team that prepared the report was headed by the Department of Economic and Social affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, in response to the wishes of the General Assembly for periodic assessment of progress towards the MDGs.
UN Millennium Project: The Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people. In 2005, the independent advisory body headed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, presented its final recommendations to the Secretary-General in a synthesis volume investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
UN Millennium Campaign: The United Nations Millennium Campaign, started in 2002, supports and inspires people from around the world to take action in support of the Millennium Development Goals.
Women officers to be inducted in BSF for First Time
The government of India for the first time in Month of July 2013 has given its nod for recruitment and commissioning of women officers in BSF, the border guarding force.
As per the BSF, Young women under and up to the age of 25 years will be recruited as direct entry officers in the rank of Assistant Commandants (ACs), and these officers are expected to be posted to lead their troops along the two most crucial borders the BSF guards at present-- Pakistan and Bangladesh.
To the present time women could only get into the combat uniform in the officer cadre in two other central security forces, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which are tasked to carry out a variety of duties in the internal security domain and not along Indian frontiers as these forces are not mandated for border guarding duties.
It is important to mention here that, at a time when India has so many women troops in these forces there were no women combat commanders. Though, having male officers was not a problem but deputing women as leaders surely sends the message that they are second to none and can do any task given to them.
This first batch of women officers will be on ground by late 2014 and their recruitment will be completed by December 2013.
Two other border guarding forces, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) also do not have women officers in combat roles although they have a good number of women personnel in their constabulary.
As per the BSF, Young women under and up to the age of 25 years will be recruited as direct entry officers in the rank of Assistant Commandants (ACs), and these officers are expected to be posted to lead their troops along the two most crucial borders the BSF guards at present-- Pakistan and Bangladesh.
To the present time women could only get into the combat uniform in the officer cadre in two other central security forces, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which are tasked to carry out a variety of duties in the internal security domain and not along Indian frontiers as these forces are not mandated for border guarding duties.
It is important to mention here that, at a time when India has so many women troops in these forces there were no women combat commanders. Though, having male officers was not a problem but deputing women as leaders surely sends the message that they are second to none and can do any task given to them.
This first batch of women officers will be on ground by late 2014 and their recruitment will be completed by December 2013.
Two other border guarding forces, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) also do not have women officers in combat roles although they have a good number of women personnel in their constabulary.
Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil appointed new Governor of Sikkim
Dadasaheb Patil has represented Maharashtra's Satara in the Lok Sabha as an MP. He is also a former IAS officer, and will replace presently serving governor of Sikkim BP Singh.
73,years old Dadasaheb Patil was elected to the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha from the Karad constituency in Maharashtra on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP ticket).
73,years old Dadasaheb Patil was elected to the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha from the Karad constituency in Maharashtra on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP ticket).
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Vidya Balan got the Best Actress Award at IIFA 2013
Vidya Balan on 6 July 2013 got the Best Actress award at 14th IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards 2013 held in Macau for her portrayal of a pregnant woman in search of her husband in Kahaani while Ranbir Kapoor was named Best Actor for Barfi.
Barfi also bagged the award for best film. In fact, it won 9 awards in technical category- Best Cinematography (Ravi Varman I.S.C.), Best Background Score (Pritam), Best Screenplay (Anurag Basu and Tani Basu), Best Production Design (Rajat Poddar), Best Song Recording (Eric Pillai), Best Sound Design (Shajith Koyeri), Best Sound Mixing (Debajit Changmai), Best Costume Designing (Aki Narula and Shefalina) and Best Make-Up (Uday Serali). Barfi is a romantic comedy about a mute and deaf man and his relationship with two women.
Ranbir, who played a deaf-mute boy in Barfi was not present at the ceremony and the award was accepted on his behalf by the film's director Anurag Basu.
Highlights of IIFA 2013:
• Gangs of Wasseypur won two awards, one for Best Action (Shyam Kaushal) and the other for Best Dialogue (Zeishan Quadri, Akhilesh, Sachin Ladia and Anurag Kashyap) was shared with Juhi Chaturvedi for Vicky Donor.
• The award for Best Editing was won by Kahaani (Namrata Rao) and Best Choreography went to Ganesh Acharya for Agneepath.
• Ek Tha Tiger won the award for Best Special Effects (Pankaj Khanopur, Sherry Bharda and Vishal Anand).
• Gangs of Wasseypur won two awards, one for Best Action (Shyam Kaushal) and the other for Best Dialogue (Zeishan Quadri, Akhilesh, Sachin Ladia and Anurag Kashyap) was shared with Juhi Chaturvedi for Vicky Donor.
• The award for Best Editing was won by Kahaani (Namrata Rao) and Best Choreography went to Ganesh Acharya for Agneepath.
• Ek Tha Tiger won the award for Best Special Effects (Pankaj Khanopur, Sherry Bharda and Vishal Anand).
Russia to send Olympic torch to space
Russia who will be hosting 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi has announced to send an unlit Olympic torch into space.
The Russian Federal Space Agency will take the torch to the Soyuz TMA-11M manned spaceship in early November 2013 as part of the four-month torch relay. Once it reaches space, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryazansky and Oleg Kotov will take the Olympic torch on a spacewalk. It will be first event of its kind.
Himachal Pradesh becomes country’s first ‘smoke-free’ State
Himachal Pradesh has been declared the first “smoke-free” State in the country in compliance with Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. The State has achieved 85.45% compliance with the relevant parameters. The State government intends to eliminate tobacco products and has hiked taxes on bidis and cigarettes from 11 and 18% to 22 and 36%, respectively in the 2013-14 Budget.
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