Current Affairs January 13, 2010

Loomba Trust is a global charity which works for the upliftment and betterment of widows. Preity Zinta becomes its brand ambassador. The trust aims at helping the disadvantaged and marginalized widows to empower themselves through its various projects worldwide. The same trust is also compaigns for UN’s recognition of June 23 as International Widows Day.

Jharkhand’s First Muslim police chief – Neyaz Ahmad
Jharkhand gets its first Muslim director general of police (DGP) in Neyaz Ahmad, a 1974 batch Indian Police Service officer.

Bharti : Top Management Changes:
With an aim to enhance focus on international markets Bharti makes the following moves.
CEO Manoj Kohli has been named as head of its International Business Group.
Deputy CEO Sanjay Kapoor elevated to the post of CEO.

Events & Happenings:
Animal Welfare Fortnight
Animal Welfare Fortnight, 2010 commences from January 12, 2010. Animal Welfare Rally is flagged off from New Delhi which is being led by Acharya Omswaroop, Member, AWBI. Objective is to sensitize masses towards preventing cruelty to animals and to let people know about animal protection laws and generate awareness about the Animal Welfare Schemes of the Ministry.

Animal Welfare Fortnight was started from 14th January 1964 by Late Smt. Rukumini Devi Arundale, Founder Chairpersons, AWBI. It is celebrated every year to activate the Animal Lovers, representatives of the Animal Welfare Activities, State Animal Welfare Boards, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) to dedicate their contributions and their services in the field of animal welfare.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India releases grants- in – aid to the Animal Welfare Board of India for Plan regular and four Central Sector Schemes to meet the various schemes begin implement for the welfare of animals. The board has granted recognition to about 2600 Animal Welfare Organization (AWOs), to whom regular grants is given for various animal welfare activities.

National Affairs
Vice President’s Africa Visit
Our Vice president Hamid Ansari has returned from a 12-day tour of three African nations- Zambia, Malawi and Botswana respectively
Read here the full report.

Maharashtra: Mumbai Monorail Project:
Mumbai Monorail is being constructed by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. This is going to be first monorail of Independent India.
In British India there was Patiala State Monorail Train ways which got closed in 1927.
Its a 4 line project & will be opened in 2011. Construction has started from January 2009 and today, first Monorail rake arrives at Nhava Sheva Port from Malaysia and is awaiting clearance from the Custom authorities. The single Mono Rail rake, which sailed from Port Klang, Malaysia, on January 7, 2010, in vessel TS Malaysia, is about 12 meters long and has the carrying capacity of about 110 people. The rake will ride on the beams, for the trial tests, three days before the scheduled trial run on January 26, 2010.

Rs. 200 Crore for Tiger Conservation:
Next 5 years Indian Government proposes to spend Rs. 200 crore on tiger conservation. Major part of this money will be spent for the development of Sundarbans biosphere in West Bengal, which is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to 400 Royal Bengal Tigers. Money will be infused for integrated coastal zone management from World Bank. Money will be used for plantation, wildlife protection and anti-trafficking activities under the Project Tiger scheme of the federal government running since 1973.

How many tiger reserves are there in India at present?
At present there are 27 tiger reserves covering an area of 37761 square kilometers with a population of 1498 tigers .

UP Council Polls : BSP Sweeps
Bahujan Samaj Party makes a clean sweep in the Uttar Pradesh legislative council polls, winning 31 of the 33 seats.

CBI Charge sheet against Sajjan Kumar
Central Bureau of Investigation, for the first time files charge sheets against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others in two separate cases relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302, 153-A and 120-B. January 18 is next hearing.

BJP’s Vision 2025
BJP drafting a ‘Vision Document 2025’ for all regions of the country to solve the problems of population explosion in metros, increase in migration there, and lack of infrastructure to make India a super economic power. Beginning with Delhi at how it would like the national capital to be in the year 2025

Tigernet
A national website on tiger conservation www.tigernet.nic.in has been launched to give Tiger reserve directors and chief wildlife wardens in India the ability to key-in crucial information about Tiger deaths, poaching and seizures immediately. The Tigernet website will be the first consolidated database on mortality and details on poaching related to Tigers and other protected species within Tiger reserves. Gathering accurate information on such Tiger activities is crucial to assisting anti-poaching efforts

Business & Economy
MV Aquamarine operators throw hands up over costs.
MV Aquamarine, the first liner to offer cruises in India launched recently with much fanfare calls off the business, due to high charges at Cochin Port. It was being operated by Louis Cruises India, a subsidiary of the world’s fifth largest cruise company Louis Cruises.
In Colombo, the charge for day is $4,000, and at Cochin Port, this is $25,000 – Oneil Khosa, MD Louis Cruises India,

Sugar Import Sops:
The import of raw sugar at zero duty is done under the name of a particular mill. It is supposed to be processed only in that mill. If it is processed elsewhere, then duty has to be paid. This measure has been waived in a cabinet meeting held recently. The government has already permitted the import of raw sugar at zero duty up to Dec 31, 2010. This facility has now been extended for the import of refined sugar.
The new relaxations has been made to make sure sugar reaches markets more easily.

World’s Most Inventive Firm : IBM

IBM is world’s most inventive firm which has secured 4,914 US patents in 2009. This is 4 times the HP’s patents and exceeds the combined issuances of Microsoft, Oracle, Apple, Accenture, Google and HP.

Science & Technology:
World’s First Molecular transistor
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals, and it is the fundamental building block of modern electronic devices. Scientists from the US and South Korea have created world’s smallest transistor from only six atoms of carbon suspended between two gold electrodes. (Journal Nature)

Sports : Idea Tricup Series
Sri Lanka is Idea Tri cup series Champion held in Bangladesh 4 January to 13 January, 2010. The tournament involved the national teams of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The tournament was won by Sri Lanka who defeated India in the final match which was held on 13 January, 2010.

Ranji Trophy: Mumbai Retains Title
Mumbai retains its Ranji Trophy Crown at Gangotri Glades cricket ground, in Mysore defeating Karnataka.

46th National junior football championship. : Dr. B C Roy Trophy
Karnataka has regained the Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy after eight years defeating Orissa with a 2-0 triumph in the final of the 46th National junior football championship.

Supremo Cup Kabaddi Tournament:
Utkarsha Kreeda Mandal lifts the men’s first division title in the Supremo Cup Kabaddi Tournament after a 36-14 win over Sahasi Kreeda Mandal. Women’s title was lifted Chembur Kreeda Kendra and Datta Seva Kreeda Mandal with narrow 19-17 victory.
Neelesh Chindarkar was named the man of the final and the tournament.
Smita Patil from Dataa Seva Kreeda Mandal bagged the best player award in the women’s section.

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Month: Current Affairs - January, 2010

Category: Government Schemes Current Affairs