10/1/2018

1st October, 2009 to 31st October, 2009

  1. Carbon Foot print: The total set of greenhouse gas (GHG): Carbondioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Ozone emissions as caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product is commonly called ‘carbon footprint’. This is often expressed as tonnes of carbon-di-oxide equivalent (tc02e). To calculate a reliable carbon footprint it is mandatory to follow a structured process to identify, classify and quantify all possible sources of GHG emission thoroughly.Typically there are three major categories of GHG emissions:

Direct emissions that result from activities that are controlled by the organization/individual.

Emissions from the use of electricity.

Indirect emissions from the use of products and services.

  1. A notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), says, that persons receiving gifts, in cash or kind, will have to pay a tax, if the value exceeds Rs. 50,000.
  2. ‘Anty-Virus’,is a software that thwarts Cyber Crime. ‘Digital ants’ which roam through computer networks look for computer ‘worms’ and when they detect one, an army of ‘ants’ converge at that location, drawing the attention of human operations.
  3. Legendary playback singer Manna Dey will be honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2007.
  4. IAEA Director-General, Mohammed El Barade; was honoured with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for his “impassioned opposition to the use nuclear energy for military purposes”.
  5. The recent G20 summit was held at Pittsburgh:
  6. An important decision made was the designation of the ‘G20’ as the “premier forum for future discussion of international economic issues. This broadens the international government structure.

Next G20 summit to be held in Canada, next year.

With the diffusion of power, G8 deliberations will presumably, be confined to non-economic matters and will be far less crucial than the larger more representative forum.

  1. As of now, the developing countries quote is about 43%. The four BRIC countries had suggested a rebalancing to the extent of 7% in which case the developing countries would have more than 50% or nearly that .But this was not acceptable to the West the G20 agreed to effect a 5% shift in the IMF quota share- used to allocate voting rights-from over-represented countries to dynamic emerging markets and developing countries which are currently under represented, by early 2011.
  2. There would be no premature withdrawal of the “trillion dollar” stimulus flowing from its last two summits. G20 agreed to press ahead with the stimulus measures currently being implemented till recovery was certain.
  3. The battle to recapitalize the World Bank and other regional development banks – a key priority for India-was only partially won the ‘G-20’ agreeing to find the necessary resources based on a review of the capital needs of these banks to be completed in the first half of 2010.
  4. In another first, G20 has tasked the IMF to assist in a new mechanism for a peer review of every country’s economic policy framework and performance. This is a big step towards ensuring that the policies pursued by the G20 countries “are collective consistent with more sustainable and balance trajectories for the global economy.

1st October, 2009 to 31st October, 2009

IMF also is tasked with preparing a report by next year on how to get the financial sector to “make a fair and substantial contribution towards paying for any burdened associated with government interventions to repair the banking system”. This suggestion mooted by Germany, is meant to cover proposals like the “Tobin Tax” on speculative capital flows.

  1. To revive the global economy and insulate it from financial instability, the G-20 communique emphasis three ‘Rs’ – Reflation, Regulation risk management, and Representation.
  2. China celebrated the 60th birthday of the People’s Republic in magnificent style showing its post- 1978 economic development in 150 minute Tian anmen event.
  1. Rio De Janeiro’s dream of bringing the Olympic to South America for the first time became a reality when they won the vote to host the 2016 edition.
  2. GE (chairman and CEO – Jeffery R. Immelt) healthcare unit merges with Wipro (Chairman – Azim Premji).
  3. Ashok Leyland will soon commence delivery of its Ultra Low Entry (ULE) buses for Delhi and other states from its new bus building facility at Alwar in Rajasthan.
  4. On October 2nd, a total of 360 cadres of Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Garolsa Faction), led by its self styled Commander –in-Chief Niranjan Hojai and Deputy Commander in-Chief, Daniel Damasa formally deposited / Surrendered arms at a ceremony at Halfon HQ of Southern Assam’sNorth Cacharhills District. This event marked the beginning of peace dialogue between DHD(Jewel), also known as Black Widow, and the government.The outfit’s demands include creation of an autonomous state, changing the nomenclature of the N. C. Hills district to Dima Hasao Raji, release of the failed DHD (jewel) leaders and cadres, an increase in the number of Assembly seats from the present 1 seat to 10 seats, introduction of a inner line permit system and rehabilitation of the cadres.
  5. The Union Cabinet has rechristened NREGA as the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act after Mahatma Gandhi’s 140th birth anniversary. On October 2nd, this year, the 50th anniversary of the launching of Panchayati Raj was also celebrated.
  6. Marking the International Day of Non-Violence the United Nations released a Mahatma Gandhi stamp on the occasion of his 140th birth anniversary.The United Nations Postal Administration released the $1 stamp designed by Miami based artist Ferdie Pacheco.
  7. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was unanimously elected second‘Vice-Chair’ of G-24 countries at its meeting held at Istanbul.

Mr. Mukherjee was the Union Finance Minister in 1982-84 when India held the chair of G-24 last time.

So from now, the Chair (Brazil), First Vice Chair (South Africa), and India (Second Vice-Chair) would all be countries that form part of the IBSA (India – Brazil – South Africa) group.

  1. IT Czar Sam Pitorda has been appointed Adviser to PM Manmohan Singh on Infrastructure Innovation and Information.
  2. Finance Ministers of the BRIC Nations discussed the challenges facing the World and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the wake of the global financial crisis, and arrived at a consensus on several key issues pertaining to a shift in parity and quota shares to benefit the dynamic emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs).

On matters pertaining to the IMF the ministers agreed to aim for achieving a significant seven% shift in Quota Shares favour of the EMDCs, and also discussed the ‘New Arrangement to Borrow’ (NAS).

1st October, 2009 to 31st October, 2009

As for the World Bank, the BRIC nations discussed ways and means of enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and agreed to aim for a shift of 6% for parties.

They also supported an increase in capital for both the World Bank and its private lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

  1. Three Americans, whose 1960 research laid the foundation for today’s world of computerized images and lightening-fast communication, shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing ‘fibre – optic cable’, and the eye of digital cameras.

‘Charles K. Kao’ was cited for discovering how to transmit light signals over long distances through glass fibres as thin as human hair. His 1966 breakthrough led to the creation works built on this ideas to create the first fibres that could be used for large-scale on a distance communication.

William S. Boyle and George E. Smith were honoured for inventing the eye of the digital camera.

  1. Three scientists, including Indian-born Venkataraman Rama Krishnan, who produced atom-by-atom maps of the mysterious life giving ribosome won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, a breakthrough, vital for the development of new antibodies.

While DNA molecules contain the blue print for life inside each cell of every organism, is the ribosome that translates that information into life.

Americans Dr. RamaKrishnan and Thomas Steitz and Isreal Ada Yonath shared the prize for showing how the ribosome, which produces protein, functions at the atomic level.

  1. British Novelist, Hillary Mantels historical novel, ‘Wolf Hall’, set in the court of Henry VIII has won this years ‘Man Booker Prize’. For the first time in many years, there was no Asian writer in contention.
  2. Herta Mueller, a member of Romania’s ethnic German minority won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature. Ms. Mueller made her debut in 1982 with a collection of short stories titled Niederungen.Ms. Mueller is the 12th woman to win the literature prize.
  3. Barack Obama receives Nobel Prize for his work without nuclear arms.
  4. A Prithvi – II missile developed by the DRDO blasts off from the Integrated Test Range Chandipur – on- sea in Orissa. Two surface-to-surface missiles were successfully test-fired. Prithvi – II has a range of 350 km and can carry nuclear weapons.
  5. American Economists Elinor Ostrom (First woman to win the economics Nobel) and Oliver Williamson, won the Nobel Economics Prize. Their research shed light on mostly forms of social organizations.
  6. C.B. Muthamma, India’s first woman career diplomat and first woman ambassador passed away.
  7. India signed an agreement in civilian nuclear cooperation with Argentina, the seventh pact it has inked after coming out of isolation in the civilian nuclear field.

The nuclear pact was among the 10 agreement signed with Argentina.

The Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy was signed by Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vivek Katju and Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Talana.

Taking into account their respective countries and experience in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, both India and Argentina have agreed to encourage and support scientific, technical and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit in this field.

1st October, 2009 to 31st October, 2009

India had signed civilian nuclear pacts with the US, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Mangolia.

The two leaders agreed to fix the bilateral trade target at $3 billion by 2012.

  1. US President, Barack Obama signed into law the Kerry-Lugar Bill that will provide $7.5 billion in aid to Pakistan over the next five years.
  2. Polaris Software Lab (Arun Jain) took over Suresh Kamat –founded Laser Soft Infosystems.
  3. Delaware Corporation, a subsidiary of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, has entered into a definitive agreement with the Swiss based UBS AG and its affiliate UBS Service Centre (India) Private limited (USB ISC) to acquire UBS ISC for about $75 million.
  4. The Maldivian cabinet met at the bottom of the sea to frame an SOS to global leaders to save their atoll nation from being submerged by the rising seas.

UN panel on climate change had warned that even a rise in sea levels between 18 and 60 cm would submerge the islands by 2100.

Maldives comprises more than 100 islands scattered over 800 km across the equator, and 90% of them are just a metre above sea level.

  1. Following an agreement between the US and India for expanded co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, India granted sites at Virdi in Gujarat and Kovvada in A.P. to the US led consortia.
  2. In assembly Polls, Arunachal Pradesh – Congress won 42/60 seats. Congress and NCP to form govt. in Maharashtra. Hung assembly in Haryana (Congress short of five votes).
  3. NASA launched the world’s tallest rocket, Ares I –X, on a two minute test flight.
  4. Asterix, France’s most popular cultural hero turns 50. In August 1959, writer Rene Goscinny and illustrator Albert Uderzo created the Asterix and Obelix comics.
  5. NTPC – BHEL power projects Pvt. Ltd. (NBPPL) a 50:50 joint venture between NTPC and BHEL said, it would set up its first power equipment manufacturing plant with an outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore at Mannavaram in A.P.To be fully operational by 2014, the new plant, country’s first integrated plant making turbines, generators and boilers at one place, will have an annual capacity to manufacture up to 5,000 MW of equipment.
  6. A massive fire broke out in the Indian Oil corporation (IOC) depot in the Sitapura Industrial Area on the outskirts of Jaipur. A leak in the pipes is expected to be the cause.
  7. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committees (GEAC) recommended that Brinjal be commercialized. It is the country’s first approved GM food crop. Thus transgenic seed with biosafety and other regulatory requirement process will be approved. Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis), a common soil bacterium gives the Bt crops, a pest-resistant character.Introduced Commercially in the US in the mid-1990s, genetically modified crops have expanded substantially. An estimated 125 million hectares were under such cover in 2008 in 25 countries, including China, Brazil, Egypt and Australia.

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