The Moonballer book by Nirupama Vaidyanathan launched

The Moonballer: Nirupama Vaidyanathan

Nirupama Sanjeev (Vaidyanathan), the former Tennis Player from India on 5 August 2013 released her book, The Moonballer. The book was launched by the tennis ace Vijay Amritraj in Chennai. 

The book elaborates her story in a crisp manner and has tried to expose people and their self-centred approach. 

About Nirupama Vaidyanathan
• At present she is based on US and runs a Tennis Academy in Bay Area, California. 
• Nirupama Vaidyanathan (36) represented the country in SAF Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Sydney Olympics apart from the Fed Cup
• She turned professional at the age of 18 and started playing mainly in Europe
• She has also won the Bronze Medal at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games in Mixed Doubles, partnering Mahesh Bhupathi
• Nirupama has been on the expert commentary team along with Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj for the four Grand Slams
• She represented India to play in the Commonwealth Games 2010 and in Asian games in Guangzhou

Maria Sharapova topped the Forbes List of Female Athletes

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova topped the Forbes list of highest-paid female athletes for the ninth straight year. According to Forbes, Sharapova earned 29 million US dollars between June 2012 and June 2013. The 26-year-old's earnings came from prize money and endorsement deals.

 The Forbes list was released on 6 August 2013. American Serena Williams is second on the list with earnings of 20.5 million US dollars, followed by Chinese tennis player Li Na on 18.2 million US dollars and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka on 15.7 million US dollars. Besides being a successful athlete, Sharapova also launched a candy business in 2012 and looks forward to expand into fashion, accessories and make-up.

 She has also launched her own brand of sweets, Sugarpova. Sharapova, number 22 in the top 100 list, earned more than the current men's number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia (26.9 million US dollars) and Spain's Rafael Nadal (26.4 million US dollars). - 

India Successfully Test-fired Pinaka Rockets from Chandipur

India on 7 August 2013 successfully test-fired two rounds of indigenously developed Pinaka rockets from a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) from a base at Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, off the Odisha coast.The tests were routine trials conducted for training purpose. The tests were conducted by personnel from Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune unit at Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) firing point-2.

Earlier IN 2013, ten rounds of Pinaka rockets were tested from the same base. More advanced and second generation Pinaka Mark II Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System had undergone successful firing trials at Chandhan area in Pokhran field firing ranges in western Rajasthan during July 2013.

The Main Features of Pinaka
• Pinaka is an area weapon system with a range of 40 km.
• The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of Pinaka will give an edge to the Army during a minor conflict situation.
• Pinaka system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. The battery of six launchers can neutralise at a time a target area of 3.9 sq km.
• Pinaka is capable to incorporate several types of warheads which makes the weapon deadly for the enemy as it can even destroy solid structures and bunkers.

New International Terminal became operational at Chennai Airport

The New International Terminal constructed at Chennai airport started its operation on 7 August 2013. An investment of about 2000 crore rupees was made on the construction of the new terminal. 

International departure operations through New International Terminal commenced in a phased manner with the departure of a flight bound for Singapore on 7 August 2013. Now onwards, all international flights of Indigo, Spice Jet, Jet Airways and Air Austral will operate through New International Terminal. 

Ministry of Communications and IT inaugurated Data Portal of India

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology inaugurated Data portal of India in New Delhi on 8 August 2013. It is aimed at sharing more and more data as it empowers and connects to policy making. It will also help in bringing more transparency in the system and continuing the information revolution which started with the RTI act. The information revolution that started with the Right to Information act has brought us to a stage where government is now willing to share data with everybody because we realised that is the absence of data you cannot yet appropriate decision making. Open Data Application and Data portal is a part of Manmohan-Obama Initiative which allows to plug in all type of Data. -

World's First Talking Robot Kirobo sent into Space

World’s first talking robot Kirobo was successfully sent into space on 4 August 2013 by Japanese Scientists. The robot was sent by H2B rocket from the island of Tanegashima. The rocket carried food, water and other supplies. Kirobo will serve as a companion for Japanese astronauts.

Kirobo was put through a series of zero-gravity and other safety tests prior to sending him into space. Kirobo is 34 centimetres tall and can speak Japanese. It will provide emotional support for people in space.

The main features of kirobo are as following:-
• Kirobo will talk to JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata when he arrives at the space station in November 2012.
• The name of Kirobo is a merging of Kibo and robot.
• Kirobo was designed by scientists and engineers at the University of Tokyo.
• It is equipped with voice-recognition and face-recognition technology, as well as a camera, emotion recognition software and natural language processing.

Who: Japanese Scientists.

What: world's first talking robot Kirobo was successfully sent into space.

When: 4 August 2013.

Why: to serve as a companion for Japanese astronauts.

Zimbabwe Parliamentary Election 2013: Zanu-PF, the party of Robert Mugabe declared Winner

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on 3 August 2013 declared Zanu-PF party has won the Parliamentary Election (Presidential Election). MDC secured 49 seats as compared to 158 seats won by the ZANU-PF party of the total 210 seats.  

ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front), the political party of the incumbent President Robert Mugabe on 3 August 2013 won the Presidential election of Zimbabwe that was held on 2 August 2013. The 89 year old Mugabe won 61 percent of the vote against the 34 percent won by the Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. Morgan is the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.

With this win, Mugabe has won his seventh term to the office of the President of Zimbabwe and is heading Zimbabwe, since 1980, the year when the country got its independence. The symbol of the party is a black cockerel that is crowing loud and hard. 

The Electoral Process: Zimbabwe Electoral Commission conducts the electoral processes in the country by putting in all the necessary logistics in place to ensure that the process runs smoothly.

A number of seats in the Senate, the National Assembly and the Provincial Councils of the country are allocated on the basis of a party-list system of proportional representation.

Robert Mugabe
• Robert Mugabe is one of the leaders of the guerrilla movements against white-minority rule of Zimbabwe and was elected to power in 1980. 
• He served as Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and as the first executive head of state since 1987. 
• He was born on 21 February 1924
• Mugabe was a political prisoner in Rhodesia for more than 10 years from 1964 and 1974
• He is also the and commander-in-chief of the armed forces

About Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. Zambia lies to the northwest with the Zambezi river and its Victoria Falls forming the border. Mozambique lies to the northeast with its border formed by the Eastern Highlands. Botswana lies to the southwest and South Africa to the south (its border formed by the Limpopo River). Zimbabwe achieved its freedom (de jure sovereignty) from United Kingdom in April 1980. It remained as an unrecognised state under the conservative white minority government of Rhodesia for 14 years from 1965. Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona and Ndebele being most common.

- See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/zimbabwe-parliamentary-election-2013-zanupf-the-party-of-robert-mugabe-declared-winner-1375694895-1#sthash.LiSip0B2.dpuf

India won its first ever Bronze Medal at Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013

Indian Junior Women Hockey team won its first ever Bronze medal in ERGO Hockey Junior World Cup at Monchengladbac, Germany on 4 August 2013. India beat England by 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out. The tournament was played at Mönchengladbach, Germany from 27 July to 4 August 2013. India ended at third position in the tournament. 

In the third-fourth place playoff match, both the teams India and England had scored 1-1 in regualtion time of 70 minutes. Defender Sushila Chanu captained the Indian side and Shona McCallin captained the English side. Indian forward Rani was declared the Best Player of the ERGO Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013.

The Vice-Captain and forward Rani scored India's only goal in the regulation time. Navneet Kaur's strike helped India a 3-2 lead in the shoot-out.

Earlier, India lost to defending champions the Netherlands in second semi-final match on 2 August 2013.

The Netherland team won the final against Argentina 4-2 in the shoot-out and clinched the trophy for a record third time.

Top Four Places won by
1.    Netherland: Gold Medal was captained by Renske Siersema  
2.    Argentina: Silver Medal was captained by Florencia Habif
3.    India: Bronze Medal
4.    England

The coach for the Indian team was Neil Hawgood.  

After this win, Hockey India announced a cash prize of one lakh rupees for the each member of India's junior women hockey team and coach. 50000 rupees was announced for the support staff. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/india-won-its-first-ever-bronze-medal-at-junior-women-hockey-world-cup-2013-1375709272-1#sthash.PEKNOVli.dpuf

Hassan Rouhani sworn in as the new President of Iran

Hassan Rouhani on 4 August 2013 took oath as the new President of Iran in the ceremony held at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran. The 64 year old Rouhani, kissed the Quran and took his oath to the office before the countries senior politicians, foreign dignitaries and MPs. The newly elected, Iranian President began his four-year mandate to the office from 3 August 2013 after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme leader certified his victory in the Presidential election that was conducted on 15 June 2013. 

Rouhani is the seventh (different) President of Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He secured a little over 50 percent votes to win the election and has succeeded Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the President.
    
Earlier, he defeated Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf of Islamic Society of Engineers party. The Presidential elections in Iran took place on 14 June 2013.

Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari attended the swering-in ceremony of Rouhani at Tehran.

About Hassan Rohani

• Hassan Rohani was born on 12 November 1948 and started his political activities during beginning of Iranian Islamic movement by following Ayatollah Khomeini.
• Since 1999, he remained a member of Assembly of Experts also known as Council of Experts. It is the deliberative body of Islamic theologians, also called Mujtahids. The Assembly of Experts is the body that has charge of electing as well as removing Supreme Leader of Iran as well as supervising his activities.
• He also remained a member of Expediency Council since 1991. Expediency Council or Expediency Discernment Council of the System is the administrative assembly which is appointed by Supreme Leader of Iran. Originally, Expediency Council was established to resolve differences between Council of Guardians and the Majlis.
• Apart from this, he was the member of the Supreme National Security Council since 1989.
• In the book titled, National Security and Nuclear Diplomacy, there is an autobiography of Hassan Rohani which describes about his experience as in-charge of Iran's nuclear case as well as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
• Hassan Rohani has remained the deputy speaker of the 4th and 5th terms of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005.
• He was the head of the Center for Strategic Research since 1992.
• He was the head of former nuclear negotiating team of Iran and was among the top negotiators of Iran with the three nations of European Union namely, Germany, UK and France, on the nuclear program of Iran.
    
Important facts about the Election of President of Iran, according to the Constitution of Iran

• According to Article 117 of the Constitution of Iran, the President is elected by an absolute majority of votes polled by the voters.
• According to Article 115 of the Constitution of Iran, the President must be elected from among religious and political personalities.
• According to Article 114 of the Constitution of Iran, the President is elected for a four-year term by the direct vote of the people. His re-election for a successive term is permissible only once.

- See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/hassan-rouhani-sworn-in-as-the-new-president-of-iran-1375704542-1#sthash.vkUegASU.dpuf

Handwoven Pashmina Shawls of Kashmir Accredited With the Geographical Indication Mark

The handwoven Pashmina shawls of Kashmir were accredited with the Geographical Indication (GI) mark. The Chief Minister of Kashmir Omar Abdullah, on 5 August 2013 launched the Kashmir Pashmina GI mark, which will now be imprinted on all handwoven Kashmiri Pashmina Shawls, in the form of label. 

This GI Mark will be imprinted at Testing and Quality Certification Centre. The Centre was inaugurated on 5 August 2013 by Omar Abdullah at Craft Development Centre. The GI Mark labels will be attached to Kashmiri Pashmina shawl after it has been tested on weaving technology, spinning method, originality of fabric as well as fineness of thread. The mark of Kashmir Pashmina will also provide details of the manufacturer as well as quality of shawl. The label will also carry a number, which will be verifiable from official website. 

This move will help in restoring the handicrafts of Kashmir. It will also help in economic prosperity of the artisans. At the same time, it will also help in removing the fake handicrafts sold in the name of Kashmir. As an initial action, fake Pashmina shawls would be replaced by Kashmir patent hand woven original Pashmina shawls. In order to stop fake as well as unscrupulous trade in handicrafts sector, the testing lab at Craft Development Institute (CDI) at Nowshera will be used. 

The Government of Kashmir has already achieved the GI for six handicrafts, which will have same testing facilities. 

What is Geographical Indication (GI)?

• Geographical Indication of any good is defined as aspect of the industrial property that refers to geographical indication referring to any country or a particular place situated therein. 
• It is basically a sign or a name which is used on certain products which relate specifically to a geographical location or the origin, which can be a town, region or the country. 
• Using GI can act as the certification of the product and that it holds certain qualities and enjoys certain reputation because of its geographical origin. 
• India, which is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and it came into force from 15 September 2003. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/handwoven-pashmina-shawls-of-kashmir-accredited-with-the-geographical-indication-mark-1375770512-1#sthash.sE1Nt7RC.dpuf

Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi won Denmark's Politiken Cup

Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi, the chess player from India won the Denmark's Politiken Cup on 5 July 2013 at Copenhagen, Denmark by gaining 9 out of the total possible 10 points. He defeated the seventh seed, Italian Sabino Brunello in just 31 moves of Ruy Lopez. Earlier, he won the same tournament in 2009. 

Parimarjan was the only Indian participant to the Denmark Politiken Cup that featured about 600 players from across the world. He scored eight wins and two draws (with Cheparinov and David Bekker Jensen) in the Open tournament. 

This was the second title won by Parimarjan in last three outings, which includes DC International Open and he tied for the top place in the World Open. The performance rating of Parimarjan Negi was 2769 and this would help him to gain about 16-18 valuable ELO points and move past 2660.

Further, he will participate in the World Cup 2013 scheduled to begin on 10 August 2013 at Tromso in Norway. 

About the Parimarjan Negi

• He is a chess grandmaster from India
• He won his international master at the Sort International open chess tournament in Sort, Spain
• At the age of 13, in 2006, he became the second-youngest GM ever, second only to Sergey Karjakin, when he earned his third and final GM norm at the Chelyabinsk Region Superfinal Championship at Satka in Russia
• At the Hastings Chess Congress in January 2006, he won his second grand master norm 
• He became the youngest Grandmaster in India in July 2006 after drawing with Russian Grandmaster Ruslan Sherbakov and finished with six points from nine rounds of the Chelyabinsk Region Superfinal chess tournament in Satka. He replaced Pendyala Harikrishna as India's youngest ever Grand Master

Ruy Lopez
Ruy Lopez is the Spanish Opening in the game of chess that is characterized by the moves: 

    1. e4 e5
    2. Nf3 Nc6
    3. Bb5

The term Ruy Lopez in chess is associated with the name of the Spanish priest Ruy Lopez de Segura of 16th Century. Being one among the few most popular openings, it includes a vast number of variations in the encyclopedia of Chess Openings with all codes from C60 to C99, which is assigned to it. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/grandmaster-parimarjan-negi-won-denmarks-politiken-cup-1375767130-1#sthash.xIurIl2x.dpuf

Agni-V to be Inducted By 2015 with Two or Three Successful Test Firings in 2013

The Director of Agni Missile Project, Defence Research and Development Organisation- Tessy Thomas announced on 2 August 2013 that the Agni V missile would become operational by 2015, with two or three successful test firings. The announcement was made at the National Conference on Systems, Energy and Environment organised by the Government College of Engineering at Mangattuparamba.

This is the project, which in turn will carry out multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles that can be used for delivering multiple warheads at various targets. Agni V missile is one of the biggest achievements of India. The ballistic missile has a range of 5000 km. It is also important to note that there are more than 2000 institutions, which have link up with DRDO for this project.  

The plans like this were also underway for two-stage Agni-IV, which had the 3500 km strike range. This missile is ready for induction by the end of 2014. The armed forces inducted Pakistan-specific Agni-I (700-km) and Agni-II (over 2000-km) and 3000 -km Agni-III. 

However, Agni-IV and Agni-V missiles have a different kind of class because they have the capability to deal against China in times of crisis. China has the massive nuclear arsenal as well as missiles such as 11200-km Dong Feng-31A, which is capable of attacking any Indian city.