Current Affairs : August 8, 2011

August 8, 2011

Lobsang Sangay: Tibet’s PM-in-exile

Mr. Lobsang Sangay took oath as Kalon Tripa, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, at a ceremony held in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh
Ceremony presided over by the spiritual leader Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama also announced to hand over all political responsibilities to THE democratically-elected leadership of Lobsang Sangay
Mr. Lobsang Sangay (44) is a senior fellow of Harvard Law School. He took over the reigns of the government from 73-year-old monk-scholar Samdhong Rinpoche, who held the post for the past 10 years in two 5-year terms

Singapore celebrates ASEAN’s 44th anniversary

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) marked its 44^th anniversary on August 8, 2011 with a flag-raising ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore
Indonesia is the current Chairman of ASEAN
For the first time ASEAN flag will be flown at all member states’ diplomatic and consular missions in ASEAN countries
ASEAN day is celebrated every year to promote greater awareness, and understanding of ASEAN countries among its peoples and communities

India, Pakistan to contend for vacancy at WTO’s highest court

India and Pakistan going to battle it hard for a vacancy for judge at the WTO’s highest court for trade disputes–
the Appellate Body
India nominated former trade envoy Mr. Ujal Singh Bhatia as its candidate
India and Pakistan have nominated their recent trade envoys
Mr. Bhatia was India’s ambassador to the WTO during 2004 and 2010
Pakistan nominated its former trade envoy Manzoor Ahmad, who has worked closely with Islamabad’s trade ministry

N.S. Prabhakar Naidu: Aeronautical Engineer who flight-tested the first Indian Sail Plane Naidu died

Aeronautical engineer N.S. Prabhakar Naidu (83)
A doyen among the first batch of aeronautical engineers to graduate from the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1952, passed away in Seattle, United States
An eminent technocrat whose innovative concepts contributed to advanced aircraft design, performance, safety and reliability
He flight-tested the well known Folland Gnat jet fighters

‘Sausage Skin’ To Cure Diabetes

Researchers have created a sleeve implant, which resembles a “giant sausage skin” to treat diabetes
The two feet long device, built up as an incision-less option to a kind of weight-loss surgical procedure called a duodenal switch, can reverse the illness in a few weeks
The duodenum is the name for the first 10 to 12in of the small intestine, which connects to the stomach
The device named as the EndoBarrier is devised to have the similar effects as surgical treatment but is far securer
It is a plastic sleeve, which lines the duodenum, meaning food can only be absorbed lower down the intestine
The process is carried out under anesthetic within one hour