Japan defeats Australia to lift AFC Women’s Asian Football Cup 2014
Japan won its maiden women’s Asian Football Cup (AFC) defeating defending champion Australia in the final match held in Vietnam. With this win, Japan became the first country to simultaneously hold both the FIFA Women’s World Cup (2011) and AFC Women’s Asian Football Cup (2014). Aya Miyama, the captain of Japan, was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for her efforts.
Japan won its maiden women’s Asian Football Cup (AFC) defeating defending champion Australia in the final match held in Vietnam. With this win, Japan became the first country to simultaneously hold both the FIFA Women’s World Cup (2011) and AFC Women’s Asian Football Cup (2014). Aya Miyama, the captain of Japan, was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for her efforts.
Real Madrid defeats Atletico to clinch Champions League title
Real Madrid clinched the Champions League for a record 10th time beating Atletico Madrid in the final match held in Lisbon, Portugal.
The UEFA Champions League which is popular as Champions League, is an annual continental club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1992. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club event in European football.
Real Madrid has been the most successful club in the competition’s history, having won the tournament 10 times, including its first five editions. Spanish clubs have achieved the highest number of wins (14), followed by England and Italy (12 wins each).
Real Madrid clinched the Champions League for a record 10th time beating Atletico Madrid in the final match held in Lisbon, Portugal.
The UEFA Champions League which is popular as Champions League, is an annual continental club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1992. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club event in European football.
Real Madrid has been the most successful club in the competition’s history, having won the tournament 10 times, including its first five editions. Spanish clubs have achieved the highest number of wins (14), followed by England and Italy (12 wins each).
Olive Ridley Conservation programme restarted after nearly 25 years
The wildlife flank of the Forest Department has re-started the Olive Ridley conservation after nearly 25 years by setting up a hatchery at Besant Nagar in Chennai. The department set up the hatchery in January 2014 near the broken bridge behind the Theosophical Society premises. Around a dozen people have been employed to guard the hatchery and collect eggs.
The Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Olive Ridley Turtles:
- Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea .
- Also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
- Found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific andIndian Oceans.
- Global population of annual nesting females of these turtles reduced to 852,550 by 2008.
- Considered vulnerable because of their few remaining nesting sites in the world.
- Largest breeding ground for these turtles: The Gahirmatha Beach inKendrapara district of Odisha (India), now a part of theBhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Bhitarkanika Mangroves designated a Ramsar Wetland ofInternational Importance in 2002.
- World’s largest known rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
- Two other mass nesting beaches on the mouth of rivers Rushikulyaand Devi.
The wildlife flank of the Forest Department has re-started the Olive Ridley conservation after nearly 25 years by setting up a hatchery at Besant Nagar in Chennai. The department set up the hatchery in January 2014 near the broken bridge behind the Theosophical Society premises. Around a dozen people have been employed to guard the hatchery and collect eggs.
The Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Olive Ridley Turtles:
- Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea .
- Also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.
- Found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific andIndian Oceans.
- Global population of annual nesting females of these turtles reduced to 852,550 by 2008.
- Considered vulnerable because of their few remaining nesting sites in the world.
- Largest breeding ground for these turtles: The Gahirmatha Beach inKendrapara district of Odisha (India), now a part of theBhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Bhitarkanika Mangroves designated a Ramsar Wetland ofInternational Importance in 2002.
- World’s largest known rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
- Two other mass nesting beaches on the mouth of rivers Rushikulyaand Devi.
Performance ratings of Banks’ customer services to be made public from 2015
From 2015, performance ratings of Banks on customer services will be put in public domain by Banking Codes Standards Board of India (BCSBI).
BCSBI is rating banks on customer services on 5 parameters:
- Information dissemination
- Transparency
- Customer-centricity
- Grievance redressal system
- Customer feedback.
BCSBI rated 48 banks for customer service of which only 5 scored high ratings; 25 were rated above average; 17 average; and one below average. The ratings will be made public in 2015. However, banks are not allowed to use these ratings to solicit business.
Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers
The Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers is a Code of Customer Rights, which sets minimum standards of banking practices that member banks have to comply with when they deal with individual customers. The Code provides protection to customers and explains the manner in which banks are supposed to deal with customers in their day-to-day operations.
Banking Codes Standards Board of India (BCSBI)
The Reserve Bank of India established BCSBI in 2007 to ensure that the common consumer of financial services from the banking industry gets what he/she has been promised. The Board operates as an independent and autonomous body. Membership of BCSBI is voluntary and open to scheduled banks.
From 2015, performance ratings of Banks on customer services will be put in public domain by Banking Codes Standards Board of India (BCSBI).
BCSBI is rating banks on customer services on 5 parameters:
- Information dissemination
- Transparency
- Customer-centricity
- Grievance redressal system
- Customer feedback.
BCSBI rated 48 banks for customer service of which only 5 scored high ratings; 25 were rated above average; 17 average; and one below average. The ratings will be made public in 2015. However, banks are not allowed to use these ratings to solicit business.
Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers
The Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers is a Code of Customer Rights, which sets minimum standards of banking practices that member banks have to comply with when they deal with individual customers. The Code provides protection to customers and explains the manner in which banks are supposed to deal with customers in their day-to-day operations.
Banking Codes Standards Board of India (BCSBI)
The Reserve Bank of India established BCSBI in 2007 to ensure that the common consumer of financial services from the banking industry gets what he/she has been promised. The Board operates as an independent and autonomous body. Membership of BCSBI is voluntary and open to scheduled banks.
China’s maritime Silk Road development to get a boost with 10 billion yuan
The development of China’s Maritime Silk Road will be supported by 10 billion yuan (1.6 billion US dollars). The city government of Fuzhou, capital of east China’s Fujian province, inked a pact with the China Africa Development Fund (CAD Fund) and the Fujian branch of the China Development Bank to establish a joint fund.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had proposed a 21st century maritime Silk Road during his visit to Indonesia in October 2013. The sea route from ports in Fujian to overseas markets has been providing China a channel to trade its silk, ceramics and tea to the world for centuries.
The fund will aid such projects as establishing marine aquaculture farms and industrial parks in South-East Asian countries.
The CAD Fund is a private equity fund that is devoted to bridging and connecting China and Africa, as well as governments and companies. It is specialized in operating funds on cross-country cooperation projects.
Maritime Silk Road development project
The project is an initiative by China to resurrect the ancient maritime Silk Road. It is perceived to be an attempt by China to ameliorate relations with South and Southeast Asia—in this case the focus is on maritime trade security. The project will prioritize construction ports and infrastructure in strategically significant countries in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, which includesBangladesh and Sri Lanka. China has already begun building of port projects in Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and Chittagong (Bangladesh) respectively.
However, the map of the project does not show Gwadar port though it mentioned Kolkata and Colombo as cities with which China to build closer trade linkages.
Through this project China also plans to establish free trade zones connecting China’s coastal areas with Southeast Asian nations and in the Indian Ocean. These are the regions with which China had trade relations through ancient maritime Silk Road.
Importance for China
The global economic crisis and domestic social problems have rendered China’s current export- and FDI-driven economic model less effective. China needs to search for new export markets or maintain existing ones, as well as narrow the development gaps between the well-developed coastal areas and the less-developed inland parts of the country and preserve stability inside China and its neighbourhood. This is the main reason why the Chinese current leadership has launched this project.
Route of proposed Maritime Silk Road
Starts: Quanzhou (Fujian province)
Via: Guangzhou (Guangdong province) — Beihai (Guangxi) — Haikou (Hainan)—turns south to Malacca Strait– Kuala Lumpur – Kolkata (crosses Indian Ocean) –Nairobi (Kenya) – towards north around Horn of Africa—through Red Sea—Mediterranean Sea—Athens– meets the land-based Silk Road in Venice.
The development of China’s Maritime Silk Road will be supported by 10 billion yuan (1.6 billion US dollars). The city government of Fuzhou, capital of east China’s Fujian province, inked a pact with the China Africa Development Fund (CAD Fund) and the Fujian branch of the China Development Bank to establish a joint fund.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had proposed a 21st century maritime Silk Road during his visit to Indonesia in October 2013. The sea route from ports in Fujian to overseas markets has been providing China a channel to trade its silk, ceramics and tea to the world for centuries.
The fund will aid such projects as establishing marine aquaculture farms and industrial parks in South-East Asian countries.
The CAD Fund is a private equity fund that is devoted to bridging and connecting China and Africa, as well as governments and companies. It is specialized in operating funds on cross-country cooperation projects.
Maritime Silk Road development project
The project is an initiative by China to resurrect the ancient maritime Silk Road. It is perceived to be an attempt by China to ameliorate relations with South and Southeast Asia—in this case the focus is on maritime trade security. The project will prioritize construction ports and infrastructure in strategically significant countries in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, which includesBangladesh and Sri Lanka. China has already begun building of port projects in Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and Chittagong (Bangladesh) respectively.
However, the map of the project does not show Gwadar port though it mentioned Kolkata and Colombo as cities with which China to build closer trade linkages.
Through this project China also plans to establish free trade zones connecting China’s coastal areas with Southeast Asian nations and in the Indian Ocean. These are the regions with which China had trade relations through ancient maritime Silk Road.
Importance for China
The global economic crisis and domestic social problems have rendered China’s current export- and FDI-driven economic model less effective. China needs to search for new export markets or maintain existing ones, as well as narrow the development gaps between the well-developed coastal areas and the less-developed inland parts of the country and preserve stability inside China and its neighbourhood. This is the main reason why the Chinese current leadership has launched this project.
Route of proposed Maritime Silk Road
Starts: Quanzhou (Fujian province)
Via: Guangzhou (Guangdong province) — Beihai (Guangxi) — Haikou (Hainan)—turns south to Malacca Strait– Kuala Lumpur – Kolkata (crosses Indian Ocean) –Nairobi (Kenya) – towards north around Horn of Africa—through Red Sea—Mediterranean Sea—Athens– meets the land-based Silk Road in Venice.
WHO concerned about MERS virus
The WHO’s Emergency Committee for MERS-CoV has raised concerns about the sharp surge in the number of ‘Middle East Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus’(MERS-CoV) cases since March 2014. The sharp increase has been seen particularly in Saudi Arabia and in the United Arabian Emirates. The Emergency Committee has advised a number of measures to be urgently taken, including better national policies for infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities.
Since the virus was first detected in humans 2 years back, a total of 152 people have now died and 495 have been confirmed to have contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia. Recently, cases have also been reported from Egypt, Greece, Malaysia,Philippines, and the U.S. in which infected individuals had travelled there from the Middle East.
Although it is known that the virus is widespread in camels in the Middle East and north-east Africa, it is yet to be ascertained how transmission from animals to humans takes place. As MERS-CoV causes mostly respiratory disease in humans, the common thinking is that such transmission takes place via a respiratory route.
It is also speculated that milking a camel exposes the milker and those around them, as well as the drinker of fresh frothy milk, to an aerosol which may contain MERS-CoV. The WHO has called for studies to better understand the epidemiology of the disease and risk factors related to the spread of the virus.
The WHO’s Emergency Committee for MERS-CoV has raised concerns about the sharp surge in the number of ‘Middle East Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus’(MERS-CoV) cases since March 2014. The sharp increase has been seen particularly in Saudi Arabia and in the United Arabian Emirates. The Emergency Committee has advised a number of measures to be urgently taken, including better national policies for infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities.
Since the virus was first detected in humans 2 years back, a total of 152 people have now died and 495 have been confirmed to have contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia. Recently, cases have also been reported from Egypt, Greece, Malaysia,Philippines, and the U.S. in which infected individuals had travelled there from the Middle East.
Although it is known that the virus is widespread in camels in the Middle East and north-east Africa, it is yet to be ascertained how transmission from animals to humans takes place. As MERS-CoV causes mostly respiratory disease in humans, the common thinking is that such transmission takes place via a respiratory route.
It is also speculated that milking a camel exposes the milker and those around them, as well as the drinker of fresh frothy milk, to an aerosol which may contain MERS-CoV. The WHO has called for studies to better understand the epidemiology of the disease and risk factors related to the spread of the virus.
Rajiv Mathur appointed new Chief Information Commissioner
President Pranab Mukherjee appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Mathur (64) as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). Mathur succeeds Sushma Singh as the head of the transparency watchdog. His name was recommended by a three-member selection panel headed by outgoing PM Manmohan Singh. His term will be of just 3 months.
At present, there are seven Information Commissioners — Vijai Sharma, Basant Seth, Yashovardhan Azad, Sharat Sabharwal, Manjula Prasher, M A Khan Yusufi and Prof Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu.
President Pranab Mukherjee appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Mathur (64) as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). Mathur succeeds Sushma Singh as the head of the transparency watchdog. His name was recommended by a three-member selection panel headed by outgoing PM Manmohan Singh. His term will be of just 3 months.
At present, there are seven Information Commissioners — Vijai Sharma, Basant Seth, Yashovardhan Azad, Sharat Sabharwal, Manjula Prasher, M A Khan Yusufi and Prof Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu.
“SIMBEX 14″: India-Singapore naval drill starts in Andaman Sea
The navies of India and Singapore are conducting the 2014 edition of the ‘SIMBEX 14’ series of annual bilateral naval exercises in the Andaman Sea. SIMBEX 14 is the 21st in the series, designed to enhance inter-operability and mutual understanding between Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
The two navies started formal bilateral cooperation in 1994 when RSN ships began training in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) with the Indian Navy. SIMBEXstands for ‘Singapore Indian Maritime Bilateral Exercise’.
The navies of India and Singapore are conducting the 2014 edition of the ‘SIMBEX 14’ series of annual bilateral naval exercises in the Andaman Sea. SIMBEX 14 is the 21st in the series, designed to enhance inter-operability and mutual understanding between Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
The two navies started formal bilateral cooperation in 1994 when RSN ships began training in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) with the Indian Navy. SIMBEXstands for ‘Singapore Indian Maritime Bilateral Exercise’.
Gujarat’s ‘Rani ki Vav’ to be replicated digitally in UK
Gujarat’s famous archeological monument “Rani ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell)” is among five international heritage sites to be recreated digitally using latest technology in Scotland, UK. The Scottish Ten — an ambitious five-year-project aims to create accurate digital models of Scotland’s five Unesco-designated World Heritage Sites and five international heritage sites in order to help in conservation and management of these sites.
The digital models will help conserve significant historical sites for the benefit of future generations and provide 3D digital models and data to site staff to better preserve these sites. The laser scanning measurements will enable identification of problems and rate of decay of the monuments which can then be addressed quickly. Scotland hopes that digitally documenting stepwell would bring the site to a much wider audience and enhance both its national and international profile.
Gujarat’s famous archeological monument “Rani ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell)” is among five international heritage sites to be recreated digitally using latest technology in Scotland, UK. The Scottish Ten — an ambitious five-year-project aims to create accurate digital models of Scotland’s five Unesco-designated World Heritage Sites and five international heritage sites in order to help in conservation and management of these sites.
The digital models will help conserve significant historical sites for the benefit of future generations and provide 3D digital models and data to site staff to better preserve these sites. The laser scanning measurements will enable identification of problems and rate of decay of the monuments which can then be addressed quickly. Scotland hopes that digitally documenting stepwell would bring the site to a much wider audience and enhance both its national and international profile.
DeitY’s ”Mobile Seva” project wins UN Public Service Award
India’s Mobile Seva Project started by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) has won the 2014 United Nations Public Service Award. The award has been given in the category of promoting whole of government approaches in Information Age.
The United Nations Public Service Awards is the most prestigiousinternational recognition of excellence in public service. It honors the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries across the world. These awards promote the role, professionalism and visibility of public service through an annual competition.
The Mobile Seva Project is lead by Dr. Rajendra Kumar, joint secretary (e-Governance), Deit. It was launched in January 2012, and won in second prize the category “Promoting Whole of Government Approaches in the Information Age” for Asia Pacific.
The project mainly develops and provides mobile apps for government and citizen use. Available on the government website, mgov.gov.in, some of the active 299 apps include those for passport services, election commission or more. For example, the passport service app -mPassport Seva facilitates users to locate centres, calculate fee for a particular service, track application status and more. There are other apps for intra-departmental use like the employee Leave Management System app, currently live only for Rajasthan. The project covers over 1,000 government departments and agencies from across the country.
The first prize in the category was bagged by the Korean health and welfare information service.
India’s Mobile Seva Project started by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) has won the 2014 United Nations Public Service Award. The award has been given in the category of promoting whole of government approaches in Information Age.
The United Nations Public Service Awards is the most prestigiousinternational recognition of excellence in public service. It honors the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries across the world. These awards promote the role, professionalism and visibility of public service through an annual competition.
The Mobile Seva Project is lead by Dr. Rajendra Kumar, joint secretary (e-Governance), Deit. It was launched in January 2012, and won in second prize the category “Promoting Whole of Government Approaches in the Information Age” for Asia Pacific.
The project mainly develops and provides mobile apps for government and citizen use. Available on the government website, mgov.gov.in, some of the active 299 apps include those for passport services, election commission or more. For example, the passport service app -mPassport Seva facilitates users to locate centres, calculate fee for a particular service, track application status and more. There are other apps for intra-departmental use like the employee Leave Management System app, currently live only for Rajasthan. The project covers over 1,000 government departments and agencies from across the country.
The first prize in the category was bagged by the Korean health and welfare information service.
Indian-American Akhil Rekulapelli clinches National Geographic Bee Championship
Akhil Rekulapelli (13), an Indian American student from Virginia, has bagged the prestigious National Geographic Bee Championship that includes a $50,000 college scholarship. Rekulapelli beat fellow Indian American Ameya Mujumdar in the final round of the contest held in Washington. His triumph as the national Geographic Bee champion continues a series of Bee dominance exhibited by Indian American students, who have also regularly topped the Scripps National Spelling Bee in recent years, too.
Anti-Terrorism Day observed on MAY 21
May 21, 2014 was observed as Anti-Terrorism Day throughout the nation. The day is observed annually to spread awareness among the people of all sections of the society, about the danger of terrorism and violence and its effect on the people, society and the country as a whole. The day commemorates the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi fell to the designs of terrorists in on the same day in 1991.
Objective: The objective behind the observance of Anti-Terrorism Day is to wean away the people from terrorism and violence. On this occasion, debates, discussions, symposia, seminars, etc. are organized in schools, colleges and universities on the threats of terrorism and violence.
UPSC to notify Civil Services Examination on May 31, 2014
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will issue the notice for Civil Services Examination 2014 on May 31, 2014. The esteemed exam is conducted every year to select officers for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.
The examination is held in 3 stages — preliminary, mains and interview. As per tentative dates, the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is scheduled to be held on August 24, 2014.The mains examination is slated to be held on December 14, 2014.
Scientists create Nano-diamonds which last only for seconds
Researchers at Rice University in the US accidentally created microscopic diamonds from coal which exist only for some seconds. Scientists witnessed this intriguing effect while working on ways to chemically reduce carbon from anthracite coal and make it soluble. They used a powerful electron beam for the purpose knocking the hydrogen atoms off the coal. Surprisingly, the energy input brought clusters of hydrogenated carbon atoms together, some of which transformed into the lattice-like structure of nano-diamonds. Even without the kind of pressure needed to make macroscale diamonds, the energy knocked loose hydrogen atoms to kick off a chain reaction between layers of graphite in the coal that resulted in diamonds between 2 and 10 nanometres wide.
But the most of the nanodiamonds were seen to fade away under the power of the electron beam in a succession of images taken over 30 seconds. The small diamonds are not stable and they revert to the starting material, the anthracite.
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