Current Affairs Today – August 24 2015

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Indian Affairs 

Gujarat set to become the first state in the country to launch ‘agro-solar policy’

• Gujarat is set to become the first state in the country to launch ‘Agro-Solar policy’ under which farmers will be motivated to tap energy from sun which will also help them earn additional income from power generation companies,
• Under ‘Agro-Solar policy’ farmers and power generation companies will be in a win-win situation with generation of solar energy in agricultural fields.
• Power Generation Companies like GIPCL (Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited), GSECL ( Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited) and GPCL ( Gujarat Power Corporation Limited) have set up SPV plants in farm fields on the experimental basis.
• Farmers are likely to get 30 to 40 per cent share from the profit of power generation companies and the solar photo voltaic plant will be set up on poles so that farmers can also grow their crops.

DJB commissioned 1st ever Hydro-power plant at Chilla

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has commissioned the first-ever hydropower plant in the national capital which will produce 20,000 kWh of electricity per year at Chilla area in East Delhi.

• This is the first plant in Delhi which will be run through hydraulic turbines propelled by treated effluent coming out of a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).
• The use of fossil fuels leads to generation of carbon dioxide, which in turn leads to Green House Effect and Global Warming. However, no fossil fuel is being used in generation of power through Hydro-power at Chilla.
• This technology at Chilla is termed “Pollution Free Technology”.

International Affairs 

Britain, Iran reopen embassies in each other’s countries

After 4 years, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond reopened the British Embassy in Tehran. Britain has had no diplomatic presence in Tehran since hard-liners protesting the imposition of international sanctions stormed it in November 2011.

• The Iranian Embassy in London was simultaneously reopened in London.
• The two countries are expected to appoint ambassadors in the coming months.
• Reason for closure of Embassies:
• The attack erupted after Iran’s parliament voted to expel the British ambassador and reduce trade relations in retaliation for sanctions against Iran’s banking sector.
• Students rampaged for hours through the diplomatic compound in downtown Tehran, tearing down the British flag, ripping up pictures of Queen Elizabeth II and trashing offices. Staff were seized by protesters.

ISIS blows up Baalshamin Temple in Syria’s Palmyra

Baal Shamin was built in 17AD and it was expanded under the reign of Roman emperor Hadrian in 130AD. Known as the Pearl of the Desert. Islamic State blew up the ancient temple of Baal Shamin in the Unesco-listed Syrian city of Palmyra.

• Isis, which controls swaths of Syria and neighbouring Iraq, captured Palmyra on 21 May said that the inner area of the temple was destroyed and the columns around collapsed.
• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors the country’s civil war, confirmed the destruction of the temple.
• Baal Shamin name first appeared on a tablet in the 19th century BC as a stopping point for caravans travelling on the Silk Road and between the Gulf and the Mediterranean.

Awards 

• Syrian woman Journalist Zaina Erhaim wins 2015 Peter Mackler Award
• Punjabi University wins Maulana Abul Kalam Azad trophy 2014

Appointments & Resigns

Justice M L Tahaliyani sworn in as Lokayukta of Maharashtra

Justice (Retd) M L Tahaliyani who is often called a ‘green judge’ due to his passion for nature was sworn in as the new Maharashtra Lokayukta, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao administered the oath of office to Justice Tahaliyani at a brief ceremony held at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan.

• Justice Madanlal Laxmandas Tahaliyani was the retired judge of Bombay High Court.
• Tahaliyani was born in the Gondia district and studied law in Nagpur before being appointed as the metropolitan magistrate in 1987 at the Bandra Metropolitan Court.
• He was appointed as Judge of Bombay City Civil Court in 1997, Registrar (Inspection) High Court of Bombay in 2008, 2nd Additional Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Mumbai, in 2009, 1st Additional Principal Judge in 2009 and Principal Judge Bombay City Civil Court in 2010. He was elevated as High Court Judge on March 18, 2011.

Indian-origin businessman appointed CEO of DGCX

• Indian-origin businessmanGaurang Desai has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange in the UAE.
• Desaiwas the one of the founding members of the team that setup DGCX in 2005, is ideal to take the Exchange to its next stage of development of the company.
• Hewas previously Chief Operating Officer of DGCX.

About DGCX:

• DGCX is majority owned by DMCC, a strategic initiative of the Government of Dubai, with a mandate to enhance commodity trade flows through the Emirate by providing the appropriate physical, market, financial infrastructure and services required.
• It is an electronic commodity and currency derivatives exchange with 267 members from across the globe, offering futures.

Amol Palekar appointed chairman of India’s Oscar jury

• Veteran actor-filmmaker Amol Palekar has been appointed the chairman of India’s Oscar jury by the Film Federation of India (FFI), the body which selects the country’s official entry in the Best Foreign Film category of the prestigious Academy Awards. He will succeed veteran film directors Hariharan and Goutam Ghose as the chairman of the committee
• Amol Palekar will be heading a 17-member jury from September 17 to September 24 that will select India’s official entry for the 88th Academy Awards, to be held in Los Angeles on February 28
• Amol Palekar’s directorial film Paheli was chosen as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in 2005. He is known for his roles in films like Rajnigandha, Chhoti Si Baat, Chitchor and Golmaal.He has also directed National Award-winning films like Dhyaas Parva and Quest.
• He was last seen in the Marathi film Samantar with Sharmila Tagore.
• Awards and honours: He received one Filmfare award and six State awards as Best Actor.
• Note : Mother India, Salaam Bombay! Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India are the Indian films that made it to the top five at the Academy Awards

Science & Technology

Android’s next: Marshmallow

• Who doesn’t like marshmallows? The folks at Android must really do since they have chosen it as the name for the next Android update (6.0). The fluffy treats beat the likes of M&Ms in the grand tradition of naming Android versions after any thing sweet, and in alphabetical order.
• The previous versions of Android in order are: Cupcake (1.5); Donut (1.6); Eclair (2.0–2.1); Froyo (2.2–2.2.3); Gingerbread (2.3–2.3.7); Honeycomb (3.0–3.2.6); Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0–4.0.4); Jelly Bean (4.1–4.3.1); KitKat (4.4–4.4.4, 4.4W–4.4W.2) and Lollipop (5.0–5.1.1)

Environment

MoEF limits eco-sensitive zone around Okhla Bird sanctuary

Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar announced that the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Delhi will be kept within reasonable limits after consulting members of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had forbidden the Noida Authority from giving completion certificates to the projects that fall within a 10-kilometre radius of the Okhla bird sanctuary near Noida over a year ago.
• Keeping in mind the requirements of property buyers within the 10 km radius of the sanctuary. This move that is likely to cheer home-buyers in the region, the limiting of the ESZ does not amount to any violation of orders.
• Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) Hem Kumar Pande and attended by representatives of the governments of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh has given its stamp of approval to a limit that extends to 100 metres on the east, west and south sides of the sanctuary while it will stretch out to 1.27 kilometres on the northern side.

Sports

• Cincinnati Masters title of Tennis 2015 – Complete Overview

Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin for gold in 100 at worlds championship

Usain Bolt crossed the line 0.01 seconds ahead of his twice-banned American rival Justin Gatlin to retain his world 100m title and wins World Championships 100m title for the third time.

• Bolt crossed the line in 9.79 seconds, fractionally ahead of the seemingly unassailable Gatlin.
• At these world championships, 66 competitors have formerly been banned.
• For the first time since his Olympic 100m triumph in the same Bird’s Nest Stadium seven years ago, the bookies did not give him a chance.
• Usain St. Leo Bolt, born 21 August 1986, is a Jamaican sprinter. Regarded as the fastest person ever, he is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records since fully automatic time measurements became mandatory in 1977.

Pro Kabaddi League 2015: U Mumba crowned champions

• U Mumba overcame a fighting Bengaluru Bulls in a thrilling summit clash to crown Pro KabaddiLeague 2015 at a packed NSCI Stadium in Mumbai.
• The U Mumba gottop prize of Rs one crore and the Bulls got Rs 50 lakh.
• Telugu Titans beat Patna Pirates  to finish third.
• U Mumba’s captain : Anup
• Bengaluru Bulls  Captain :Shabeer Bapu

England won 2015 Ashes Test series 3-2

• England cricket team captain won 2015 Ashes Test series 3 – 2,46 runs at against Australia in the fifth and final match at The Kia Oval.
• Chris Rogersof Australia and Joe Root of England shared man of the series and England team turn to become the best team in the world.
• Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke retired after the final match of Ashes andSteven Smith was named the new captain.
• England Cricket team captain:Alastair Cook.

World Athletics Championships: Lalita breaks national record

Lalita Shivaji Babar 26-year-old Maharashtra girl Babar, who trains under Nikolai Snesarev smashed her own national record in a creditable performance to qualify for the women’s 3000m steeplechase final in the World Athletics Championships.

• Babar, Asian champion, clocked 9:27.86 to finish fourth cut more than six seconds than her own earlier national record time of 9:34.13.
• Lalita Shivaji Babar, who also won silver in this event in the 2014 Asian Games, is the first Indian to have qualified for the final round of the 3000m steeplechase event in a World Championships.
• Hailing from Satara, the drought prone Sahyadri region of Maharashtra, Babar is no stranger to hard work.
• With her parents as farmers and the terrain being rendered difficult for agriculture, the toil during her youth has given her body the ability to recover faster than most.

Obituary

Noted journalist Pranab Kumar Borah passes away

Veteran journalist Pranab Kumar Borah age 63, passed away at his residence at Morikolong and his body was taken to Nagaon Press Club before cremation.

• Borah was associated with prominent Assamese daily Dainik Janambhumi, The Sentinel Group, Doordarshan and Bishmoi and also He was the pioneer in arranging the first Book Fair of the state held at Nagaon in 1978.
• Former chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, minister Rockybul Hussain, former MLA Girindra Kumar Borooah and others condoled his death describing Borah as an uncompromising journalist who always fought for justice.
• He is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

Books & Authors

India ‘won’ 1965 war with Pakistan: New Army book

New army book named 1965, Turning the Tide: How India Won the War written by defence analyst Nitin Gokhale revealed details which prove that India was the victor in the 1965 war with Pakistan according to the quoting the statistics from the book .

• Pakistan, since the war has celebrated September 6 as the ‘Defence of Pakistan Day’ claiming that they won the war although analysis showed that the war ended in a draw.
• According to statistics from the book:
• India had lost only 540 sq km of its own land while capturing 1,920 sq km of the Pakistani land.
• India lost less than 100 tanks, Pakistan had lost over 450 tanks.
• India had lost 2,862 soldiers while Pakistan had lost 5,800. But because Pakistan says that they lost only 1,033 soldiers in the war, the figures cannot be verified.