International Affairs
Scientist Predict Brain Activity Pattern
Researchers have, for the first time, decoded and predicted the brain activity patterns of word meanings within sentences.
It may help brain injury and stroke patients communicate better.
The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure human brain activation.
The study makes key advances towards understanding how information is represented throughout the brain.
Sarkozy to Run for French President
Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his candidacy for the 2017 French presidential elections.
He is expected to lead a campaign based on hardline ideas on immigration & security in a country.
Sarkozy lost the presidential election to Socialist Francois Hollande in 2012 after his first term.
The French presidential election will take place in two rounds in April and May next year.
2 Ind-American Named White House Fellows
Two Indian-American women have been selected for the prestigious White House Fellow programme.
Astrophysicist Anjali Tripathi from California & physician Tina R Shah from Chicago are appointed among the 16 White House Fellows .
It offers first hand experience of working at the highest levels of the US federal govt.
The White House Fellows Program was created in 1964 by President Lyndon B Johnson
National Affairs
Himachal Pradesh Ratifies GST Bill
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has unanimously ratified the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.
The hill State is the fourth State after Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand to ratify the GST Bill.
The bill was introduced by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who also holds the finance portfolio.
It will help in boosting trade and commerce once it was implemented in the country.
Awards & Honors
IOA President Ramachandran Awarded
President of the Indian Olympic Committee N Ramachandran was awarded the Olympic Order for his outstanding services to the Olympic movement.
The President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, formally presented the award to Ramachandran.
The Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement.
It is awarded for particularly distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement.
Mukhi Sworn in as Lt Gov of Andaman
Prof. Jagdish Mukhi assumed office as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Mr. Justice Girish Chandra Gupta, acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court administered the Oath of Office.
He took over from Lt General A K Singh (Retd) who was appointed in July 2013.
He was a professor in Delhi University and has authored a book titled ‘Company Law and Secretarial Practice’.
Purohit Sworn in as Governor of Assam
Banwarilal Purohit was sworn in as the Governor of Assam.
Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ajit Singh administered the oath of office & secrecy to Purohit at the Raj Bhavan.
He succeeded Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, Governor of Nagaland who was Governor in-charge of Assam.
He was a three-time Lok Sabha MP from the Nagpur.
He is also credited with revival of ‘The Hitavada’,an English daily.
Badnore Takes Oath as New Punjab Gov
VP Singh Badnore has sworn in as the new Governor Punjab and also as Administrator of Chandigarh.
He was administered the oath of office by Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice SJ Vazifdar.
He succeeds Kaptan Singh Solanki,who is the Governor of Haryana & was holding additional charge of Punjab Governor & Administrator of Chandigarh since Jan 2015.
Badnore belongs to Bhilwara in Rajasthan
Sports
National Sports Awards 2016 -3
Fifteen sportspersons have been chosen for Arjuna Award & three with the Dhyan Chand Award.
The Punjabi University of Patiala will be awarded the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2015-16.
The Selection Committee for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award & the Arjuna Award was headed by Justice S.K. Agarwal, retired Delhi High Court Judge.
The awards will be distributed by President on Aug 29.
National Sports Awards 2016 -2
Six sports coaches will be honoured with Dronacharya Awards
They are Nagapuri Ramesh for Athletics, Sagar Mal Dhayal for Boxing, and Raj Kumar Sharma, Cricket.
Dipa Karmakar’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi will receive the award for Gymnastics.
The Dronacharya Award for Lifetime contribution will be given to S. Pradeep Kumar for Swimming & Mahabir Singh for Wrestling.
National Sports Awards 2016 Announced
National Sports Awards have been announced.
Olympic Medalists P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik will get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards.
Shooter Jitu Rai and Gymnast Dipa Karmakar have also been selected for the top national sports award.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years.
2016 Rio Olympics Medal Standings
The Rio Olympics has been dominated by the United States, Great Britain and China.
The United States finished the Olympics at the top of the medal table, with Great Britain beating China for second place.
US has won total 121 medals with 46 gold,37 silver & 38 bronze medals followed by Great Britain with 67 medals (27 gold).
India was placed at 67th position with one silver & one bronze.
India Loses Top Test Rank
India has lost its top test ranking despite a 2-0 series victory over West Indies.
India had to win the last game of the four-match series to retain its No. 1 position, but four days without play led to the match being declared a draw.
Pakistan takes the top spot for the first time after its 2-2 test series draw with England.
India was top of the rankings for less than a week.
Sania Mirza Top of WTA Doubles Rankings
Indian tennis ace player Sania Mirza has move into the number one spot in the latest WTA doubles rankings.
Mirza & Strycova outclassed her Martina Hingis & Coco Vandeweghe in the summit showdown clash in Cincinnati.
She will move alone to the top of the rankings, after her and Swiss Hingis ended their highly successful partnership last month.
The dominant pairing claimed 14 titles.
Business & Economy
SBI Merger Exempt from CCI Approval
SBI will not need Competition Commission of India (CCI)’s approval for merging 5 associates & Bhartiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with itself.
It will create a global sized bank with an asset base of Rs. 30 lakh crore.
The acquisition is exempt from the approval of CCI under the Competition Act 2002.
As per the amendment consolidation in the banking sector space is exempt from the approval of CCI.
ExRBI Dy Guv Named Senior Fellow at Yale
RBI’s former Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan has been named senior fellow at the prestigious Yale University’s institute.
He will join the 2016-2017 class of 15 Senior Fellows at The Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.
Senior Fellows are leading practitioners in various fields of international affairs who spend a year or semester at Yale teaching courses and mentoring students.
India, Germany Sign Pact
India & Germany has signed an agreement that aims to improve workplace-based vocational training in India’s industrial clusters.
Under the pact, German technical assistance will be used to enhance industry institute partnerships between Indian & German org.
The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) & German International Cooperation (GIZ).
Ashok Chawla Named Part-Time Chairman
Former head of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) Ashok Chawla will take over as the non-executive part-time chairman of YES Bank.
He was appointed as the Chairman of the CCI for the period 2011-2016.
YES Bank is the country’s fifth-largest private sector bank.
He will take charge with effect from Oct 30 for a period of three years .
Deaths
Former President of Singapore Dies
Former President of Singapore,SR Nathan has passed away.
He held office from 1999 to 2011 & was the longest-serving president of Singapore
Prior to becoming President, Nathan held key positions in the civil service, as well as in security & foreign affairs.
He was appointed as Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia in 1988 & later Singapore’s Ambassador to the USA from 1990 to 1996.
Legendary journalist George E Curry Dies
George Curry, the legendary columnist, commentator and champion of black journalists has passed away.
He served two stints as editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a news service for black papers.
He mainly reported on racism, poverty and national politics for newspapers.
His syndicated column was carried in more than 200 African American-owned newspapers.
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