- Pune NGO wins UN prize for sustainable farming model
Swayam Shikshan Prayog, a city-based NGO, has been awarded the United Nations Development Programme’s Equator Prize for devising an ecologically sustainable agriculture model to combat the adverse impacts of drought.
It is the only Indian organisation to win the award, making the cut from more than 800 nominations across 120 countries.
- N.R Rao chosen for international honour for materials research
Eminent scientist, Professor C.N.R Rao, has become the first Asian to be chosen for the prestigious Von Hippel Award for his immense contribution in materials research.
The award is the US-based Materials Research Society’s (MRS) highest honour.
It recognises “those qualities most prized by materials scientists and engineers – brilliance and originality of intellect, combined with vision that transcends the boundaries of conventional scientific disciplines
- Subramanian to get extension as CEA for one year
The government will extend the term of Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian by one year till October 2018.
Subramanian, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, was appointed India’s Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) in October 2014. His term was for three years, which was to end on October 16.
- Appoints New Envoys to China & Pakistan
India’s high commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale has been appointed the ambassador to China and India’s ambassador to Poland Ajay Bisaria will be the next high commissioner to Pakistan.
The reshuffle was necessitated by appointment of India’s ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale as Secretary (Economic Relations) in MEA.
- Pradhan to host first LPG Panchayat in Gandhinagar
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate one of the ambitious programmes of the Centre — LPG Panchayat, aimed at encouraging rural communities to turn to clean fuel.
The Centre plans to organise one lakh LPG Panchayats across the country, where discussions will take place between officials of fuel companies and villagers on awareness and uses of the LPG.
- Andhra CM Naidu declares 2017 as e-pragati year
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has declared the year of 2017 as e-pragati year. That would be taken to the ground-level. All districts must come under the purview of real time governance. If any college students are trained on e-pragati, the program can be taken to basic level.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Andhra Pradesh Sports Policy 2017. On “Parishkara Vedika”, a call center that has been set up to hear and redress the grievances of the public, Naidu said any complaints would be resolved quickly
- Himachal Pradesh becomes first Indian state to introduce 25 electric buses
Himachal Pradesh will be the first state to introduce 25 electric buses on the Manali-Rohtang pass (13,050 feet) route. The purchase order for this would be placed within a week.
The state cabinet had exempted electric vehicles from paying token tax and registration fee in compliance with the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to provide sustainable, environment friendly, public transit system and encourage the use of electric vehicles.
- NITI Aayog, IRF to work for intelligent transport system in India
The NITI Aayog has signed an agreement with Geneva-based International Road Federation for cooperation in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and to design a policy framework for the same.
The National ITS policy will cover various sectors including traffic management, parking management, electronic enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.
- Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi inaugurates “Hunar Haat” in Puducherry
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has to establish “Hunar Hub” across the country to provide a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display as well sell their products.
Naqvi and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy have inaugurated “Hunar Haat” is being organised at Craft Bazaar, Gandhi Thidal Beach, Goubert Avenue in Puducherry, one of renowned centre of art & culture, till 30th September, 2017 to provide market and opportunity to master artisans from across the country.
- Harshvardhan Launches Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana
The Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harshvardhan has launched “Pt Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana” which will experiment and endeavour to formulate and implement appropriate S&T Interventions for Sustainable Development through cluster approach in Uttarakhand.
This project has been inspired by teachings and ideals of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year.
- India to host World Congress on Adolescent Health
Home to around 253 million adolescents, India will next month host the World Congress on Adolescent Health, billed as the biggest global event in adolescent health this year.
Held once in every four years, the International Association for Adolescent Healths 11th World Congress on Adolescent Health, themed Investing in Adolescent Health the Future is Now will be held here from October 27-29.
- Infosys partners with ToneTag for sound based payments
Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infosys announced a partnership with ToneTag, a provider of near-field communications, payments and location-based services using sound waves.
Finacle and ToneTag will offer a joint solution that will leverage the latter’s sound wave technology to enable proximity payments and interactions.
- China Real Estate Developer Hui Ka Yan Becomes Asia’s Richest Man
Hui Ka Yan, the chairman of big China real estate developer China Evergrande Group, has become Asia’s richest man following a run-up in the company’s Hong Kong-listed shares.
Among mainland Chinese, Hui’s estimated fortune of $42.2 billion puts him ahead of Tencent Holdings Chairman Ma Huateng ($39.1 billion), Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma ($38.9 billion), and Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin ($30.4 billion), according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List.
- NATO wraps up naval exercise Dynamic Monarch in Eastern Mediterranean
NATO Allies wrapped up a submarine search and rescue exercise, Dynamic Monarch 2017, off the coast of Marmaris in southwestern Turkey.
Canada, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States took part in the exercise, which focused on Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) operations.
The exercise demonstrated the importance of cooperation for NATO-led naval missions and involved a wide array of equipment and up to 1,000 military and civilian personnel. In total, three submarines, four submarine rescue ships, five surface ships, four aircraft, three medical teams, and one submarine parachute assistance group participated in Dynamic Monarch.
- MC Mary Kom to be AIBA representative at IOC athletes’ forum
Five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medalist M C Mary Kom has become the first Indian to be picked as the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) representative for the IOC Athletes’ Forum scheduled in November.
The 33-year-old, who is also an active parliamentarian, has been invited to attend the 8th International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Forum in Lausanne from November 11 to 13.
- India’s Mudit Dani wins Under-23 table tennis tournament in US
Mumbai’s Mudit Dani continued his good run on the world stage, winning the under-23 title in the prestigious 2017 Butterfly Badger Open in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin (United States).
Playing in a highly competitive field in the $16,000 prize money tournament, India’s rising table tennis player Mudit Dani beat Polish-born Wojciech Wolski 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7 in the final to clinch the title.
- Boxing legend Jake LaMotta has died aged 95
Jake LaMotta, the boxing champion whose memoir inspired Martin Scorsese’s 1980 film “Raging Bull,” is dead. He was 95.
Over the course of his career as a boxer, LaMotta earned the nickname “The Raging Bull” for his rough and aggressive fighting style.
- Federer, Nadal win 1st ever doubles match
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played as doubles partners for the first time on the second day of the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague. Swiss Federer and Spaniard Nadal, who have won a combined 35 Grand Slam titles.
In the final match of the Laver Cup, Federer and Nadal defeated the American combo of Jack Sock and Sam Querrey by 6-4 1-6 10-5, sending Team Europe 9-3 in front before the last 4 matches that will be played(every will worth 3 points).
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