Indonesian Government announced to build new sanctuary to save World’s rarest Javan Rhinos

Indonesian Government announced to build a new sanctuary to save World’s rarest Javan rhinos. The new sanctuary will be carved out of the Ujung Kulon National Park.

Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated on the western tip of Indonesia's main island of Java. 

8TH Financial Stability Report released by RBI

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its 8th Financial Stability Report (FSR) on 30 December 2013. The FSR was released against the backdrop of a mild positive market reaction to the announcement of tapering in the US Federal Reserve bond purchase plan from January 2014.

Major Highlights of the report are:
India's external sector has improved with reduction in Current Account Deficit (CAD). CAD is expected to be less than 3 per cent of the GDP during the current financial year 2013-14. 

Report revealed that the banking system is facing rising tide of bad loans. The gross non-performing assets (NPAs) in the system will rise to 4.6 per cent by September 2014 from 4.2 per cent in September 2013. 

The amount of recast loans touched an all-time high of 10.2 per cent of the overall advances as of September 2013.

The state-run banks will be the worst-affected, the report said, pegging the gross NPAs for public sector banks at 4.9 per cent by March 2015. It projected the gross NPAs for private banks at 2.7 per cent in the same period. 

Asset quality continues to be a major concern for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs). The Gross Non-performing Assets ratio of SCBs as well as their restructured standard advances ratio has increased. 

Five sectors — infrastructure, iron & steel, textiles, aviation and mining — have a high level of stressed advances. At system level, these five sectors together account for around 24 per cent of total advances of commercial banks and around 51 per cent of their total stressed advances.

Due to the interconnectedness with banks, liquidity pressure is felt by the money market mutual funds (MMMFs) whenever redemption requirements of banks are large and simultaneous. Regulatory measures are taken to reduce the degree of interconnectedness seem to have been successful in reducing the liquidity risk in the system. 

However, macro-economic adjustment is far from complete, with persistence of high inflation amidst growth slowdown. Fall in domestic savings and high fiscal deficit are other major concerns for India. 

Macro stress tests on credit risk suggest that if the adverse macroeconomic conditions persist, the credit quality of commercial banks could deteriorate further. However, under improved conditions, the present trend in credit quality may reverse during the second half of 2014.

China banned officials from smoking in public places

According to the China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Government on 30 December 2013 banned its officials from smoking in public places. Public places include schools, offices, and hospitals, sports venues, on Public transport or any other places where smoking is banned or to smoke or offer cigarettes hen performing official duties.

Ashraf Jehan, first female judge in Pak’s National Sharia Court

Ashraf Jehan a female judge on 30 December 2013 sworn-in at Pakistan’s national sharia court which hears cases under the Islamic legislation.

Devendra Kumar Pathak appointed as Special DG, BSF

Devendra Kumar Pathak has been appointed as the Special DG, Border Security Force (BSF) on 30 December 2013. At the time of his appointment in BSF, he was serving as the Special DG, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

His appointment as the Special DG, BSF started with immediate effect and will continue till the date of superannuation in March 2016 or until any further orders. 

Pathak is an (Indian Police Service) IPS of 1989-batch of Assam-Meghalaya cadres. He has been serving Central Reserve Police Force since 11 November 2011. -

Nobel Memorial Wall inaugurated at Kolkata by the Swedish Ambassador

Harald Sandberg, the Swedish Ambassador on 25 October 2013 inaugurated the Nobel Memorial Wall in Kolkata. The Nobel Memorial Wall has been set up at the Esplanade Metro Station in Kolkata. Seven of the Nobel Laureates from India are portrayed in the metro station along with the Rabindranath Tagore.  

The Memorial Wall was inaugurated of centenary when Tagore received the Nobel Prize for Literature. The portraits on the Memorial Wall also carry the information related to the life and achievements in the respective field of the Nobel Laureates with the year when they were awarded the Nobel in three languages, namely English, Hindi and Bangla. 

Two more memorial walls would be established at metro stations of Gitanjali and Jorasanko. The work on the Nobel Memorial Wall was done as the part of the seventh edition of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial wee.

India's Foreign Exchange Reserves jumped to 281.12 Billion US Dollars

India's foreign exchange reserves increased for the third week in a row, adding 1.9 billion dollars to touch 281.12 billion dollars in the week ended on 25 October 2013. In the previous week, the reserves had increased by 1.51 billion to 279.24 billion dollars.

The Reserve Bank stated that Foreign Currency Assets, which form the largest chunk of the reserves, jumped to 252.7 billion dollars in the week under review.

As per the RBI data, the gold reserves remained unchanged at 21.765 billion US dollars in the week under review, whereas the special drawing rights jumped by 25.6 million US dollars to 4.46 billion US dollars.

India bagged 37 Medals at the Tehran Air Gun Shooting Championship

Indian shooters bagged 37 medals at 6th Air Gun Shooting Championship which concluded in Tehran, Iran on 26 October 2013. This includes nine golds. They also won 12 silver and 16 bronze medals. Eight of the gold medals were clinched in the junior and youth categories.

Kapil Kumar (10m Air Pistol Jr. Men), Samarjit Singh ((10M Air Pistol Youth Men), Malaika Goel (10M Air Pistol Youth Women) and Sanjeev Rajput (50M Rifle Prone Men) won individual Gold Medals.

India had sent a big contingent of 65 shooters in senior, junior and youth category. This competition was the most successful in terms of good exposure specially to juniors and youth category shooters. It is important to note that three out of four individual gold medals were won by juniors and youth category shooters.

BCCI terminated Pune Warriors from the IPL

The BCCI on 26 October 2013 terminated Pune Warriors from the IPL after the Sahara-owned franchise failed to pay its payments and refused to furnish the bank guarantee for the next season. The decision was taken at the Cricket Board's all-powerful working committee meeting.  BCCI wanted the team to furnish a bank guarantee of 170.2 crore rupees to remain a part of the league next year.

Sahara has been demanding the completion of the arbitration proceedings on the issue of franchise fee, which, it feels, should be lowered since the BCCI did not deliver on its promised number of IPL matches for the team.

Pune Warriors were purchased by Sahara for 370 million US dollars (1702 crore rupees) in 2010 and it was the most expensive franchise on the IPL roster.

World Bank approved 250 Million Assistance US Dollars for Uttarakhand

The World Bank on 25 October 2013 approved 250 million US dollars assistance for Uttarakhand, in the wake of rains and landslides that killed several hundred people in the state in June 2013. The World Bank approved the assistance to help the state undertake rehabilitation work and improve its capacity for disaster management.

India had asked for help from multi-lateral agencies like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for undertaking rehabilitation work in Uttarakhand. 
Prior to this, a joint World Bank and ADB team conducted a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (JRDNA) to rebuild Uttarakahnd's infrastructure damaged in the June disaster.

According to the JRDNA estimate, the total reconstruction work to repair physical damages and infrastructure loss was calculated at about 661 million US dollars. The infrastructure covered sectors such as housing and public infrastructure, water supply, roads and bridges and sanitation, tourism, energy and environment.

Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh visited China

Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh was on a 3-day Official Visit to Beijing on 22-24 October 2013 at the invitation of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. During this visit India and China signed 9 agreements in total. The most important among them was the agreement on defence cooperation.

The Prime Ministers of India held discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues with a view to strengthening the partnership between the two countries. The two nations vowed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral forums including the BRICS, the BRICS and G20.

Sebastian Vettel won the F1 Indian Grand Prix 2013

Sebastian Vettel, the Red Bull driver on 27 October 2013 won the Formula One Indian Grand Prix 2013 at Buddha International Circuit. This is the third continuous victory of Vettel in the Indian Grand Prix. This is the tenth victory of the season of Vettle and thirty sixth victory of his career. He won the race almost 30 seconds ahead of NIco Rosberg of Mercedes. Romain Grosjean of Lotus was placed at third position.     

With this victory, Vettel became the quadruple champion and joined the group of legends like Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio and Alain Prost. He is only the third to do it in a row after Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher. He is the also the youngest quadruple champion, as Sumacher was of 32 when he achieved the fete, Fangio was of 45 and Prost was of 38. 

About Sebastian Vettel 

•  Sebastian Vettel is a German formulae one racing driver and at present he is driving for the Red Bull a Austrian racing team 
•  At present he is the world champion as he won the Championship in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013  
•  He was born on 3 July 1987
• While driving for Red Bull in 2009, he finished as the season as the youngest ever World Driver’s Championship runner-up
•  He became the youngest driver, who won the World Drivers’ Championship in 2010 and the same year he helped Red Bull to win the first team’s World Constructors Championship

Syria Submitted Chemical Arms Destruction Plan to OPCW

Syrian Government on 24 October 2013 submitted detailed plan to destroy its chemical arsenal to International chemical weapons watchdog- OPCW.

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is presently involved in destroying Syria's stockpiles of chemical weapons.

Syria was required to submit the destruction plan under a US-Russian deal agreed in September 2013 that headed off military strikes on Syria. The agreement also gives Syria up to mid-2014 to destroy its chemical arsenal.

President Bashar al-Assad's regime has already handed over an inventory of its chemical weapons and facilities, and international inspectors are on the process of  destroying its weapons. 

OPCW also stated that, Syria’s latest disclosures "provide the basis on which plans are devised for a systematic, total and verified destruction of declared chemical weapons and production facilities. 

The document from Syria includes a general plan of destruction for consideration by the OPCW Executive Council. The OPCW's Executive Council will use the Syrian declaration to decide by 15 November 2013 on "destruction milestones" for Syria's arsenal. 

Syria has also sent in a declaration of its chemical weapons activities and facilities, meeting its obligations as a new state party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

Syria on 14 October 2013 officially joined the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws production and use of chemical weapons.

Back ground

Syria’s submission of its plan is in line with the deadline set by the OPCW Executive Council in its decision of 27 September 2013 requiring a complete initial declaration by 27 October 2014. Such declarations provide the basis on which plans are devised for a systematic, total and verified destruction of declared chemical weapons and production facilities.

Under the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention, new States Parties are also required to submit a declaration covering activities and facilities that are not prohibited under the Convention but can be subjected to routine verification measures as a confidence building measure and to establish the peaceful intent of commercial activities. 

About the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an independent, international body set up in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention.

• It carries out inspections of destruction procedures, as well as evaluating members' own declarations, in order to verify that the convention is being adhered to.

• It is based in The Hague, Netherland and has 189 member states, covering around 98 percent of the world's population. These member nations have agreed to work together to create a world free from chemical weapons.

Chinese Scientists Developed Vaccine for H7N9 Bird Flu Virus

Chinese scientists on 26 October 2013 announced the independently developed a vaccine for the H7N9 bird flu virus.

The vaccine was jointly developed by the School of Medicine of the Zhejiang University, Hong Kong University, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Food and Drug Control, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

China reported the world's first human case for H7N9 bird flu infection in March 2013. As of now, a total of 136 people were confirmed to have been infected with the virus. Of the infected, 45 died, representing a fatality rate of about 33 per cent.

What is the avian influenza A (H7N9) virus/Bird Flu Virus?

Avian influenza A H7 viruses are a group of influenza viruses that normally circulate among birds. The avian influenza A (H7N9) virus is one subgroup among the larger group of H7 viruses. Although some H7 viruses (H7N2, H7N3 and H7N7) have occasionally been found to infect humans.

Ding Junhui won Indian Open Snooker Title 2013

Ding Junhui of China won the 2013 Indian Open Snooker title with a 5-0 victory over Aditya Mehta of India in New Delhi on 18 October 2013.

Ding Junhui, world number four, 26, scored two century breaks as he earned the 50000 Pounds first prize.

Aditya Mehta, 72nd in the world, became the first Indian player to make the last four of a major ranking event when he reached the semi-finals on 17 October 2013 and he was also first Indian ever to reach the final of the event.

He knocked out former world champions Peter Ebdon and Mark Williams on the way, collecting 25000 pounds as runner-up. The 27-year-old Aditya defeated former world number two Stephen Maguire 4-3 in the semi-final, scoring a highest break of 132.

But he could not match Ding Junhui, who followed a steady run of 52 in the opening frame with breaks of 81, 107, 93 and 100 to clinch victory. Earlier, Ding defeated  England's Robbie Williams 4-1 in his semi-final.

Aditya Mehta fact file
Born: 31 October 1985 in Maharashtra, India

Titles: 2012 Asian champion

Medals: Gold: 2013 World Games (singles), 2009 Asian Indoor Games (team); Silver: 2010 Asian Games (team); Bronze: 2006 Asian Games (team), 2010 Asian Games (singles)

Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting Held

The Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting was held in Brasilia on 14 -15 October 2013.The main issues discussed in the meeting were the entire gamut of India-Brazil Strategic Partnership including Political, Economic and Commercial, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Defence, Cultural, Hydrocarbon etc. 

The Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting was co-chaired byLuiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Salman Khurshid, External Affairs Minister of Republic of India.

Highlights of the Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting 
• The Ministers welcomed the signature of a bilateral protocol to the Brazil-India Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement that amends its Article 26, regarding the exchange of information. The protocol is a further step in the global effort to establish an international financial system based on co-operation between countries, transparency and effective exchange of information in tax matters.
• Both Ministers discussed the issue of the ratification of the bilateral Agreement on Mutual Assistance on Customs Matters which will strengthen cooperation between customs authorities, in order to enforce customs laws and regulations
• They signed an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which will enhance prospects of a closer cooperation between Brazil and India in legal assistance matters.
• They also renewed the Agreement on Cooperation between their respective diplomatic academies, the Foreign Service Institute and Instituto Rio Branco, signed in 2007.The agreement has offered so far a most valuable opportunity for the new generations of Brazilian and Indian diplomats to deepen mutual understanding and better know each other's values and traditions. 
• Brazil expressed its interest in implementing the new program for the interchange of professors between the two diplomatic academies, still in 2013.

About India and Brazil international relations
 • India and Brazil were established their diplomatic relations in 1948.
• Although the two countries are divided by geography and distance, they share common democratic values and developmental aspirations. 
• Both countries enjoy cordial and friendly relations, which are characterized by regular    exchange of visits at all levels, shared values and convergence of views on issues of mutual interest. 
• Both are large developing countries, each an important player in its region, both stable, secular, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, large democracies as well as trillion-dollar economies.
• Shared vision of India and Brazil enabled forging of close cooperation and coordination in the multilateral arena be in IBSA, BRICS, G-4, BASIC, G-20 or other organizations.

Lata Mangeshkar was Presented the First National Yash Chopra Memorial Award

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was presented the first national Yash Chopra Memorial Award at a star studded function in Mumbai on 19 October 2013 by the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting. The award is a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra on the eve of his first death anniversary.

The award carries a cheque of 1 million rupees and a citation. Yash Chopra the memorial award will be given annually to people in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the field of art and culture.

The Yash Chopra Memorial Award has been instituted by the TSR Foundation of T. Subbarami Reddy.  Yash Chopra was a victim of dengue in Mumbai on 21 October 2013.
Lata Mangeshkar was conferred several national and international honours, including Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, three national film awards and the One Time Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India's Independence.

Lata, had started her singing career in 1942.She has continued singing for over seven decades, which includes over a thousand Hindi movies. Moreover, She has given her voice in 36 Indian and foreign languages.

Jorge Lorenzo won Australian Grand Prix 2013

Jorge Lorenzo won the Australian Grand Prix on 20 October 2013 at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Phillip Island. The strong contender Marc Marquez was disqualified for delaying a compulsory pit stop. Lorenzo of Yamaha, won a race shortened to 19 laps by 6.9 seconds from Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and veteran Valentino Rossi.

Marquez was disqualified five laps from the finish after staying on the track one lap longer than permitted before he took a pit stop. He couldn’t gain any points from the race which allowed Lorenzo to close his lead in the championship standings to 18 points with two rounds remaining.

Compulsory bike changes were required for the first time in Motor GP history in the race. It was reduced from 27 to 19 laps because of safety concerns over the tires on the resurfaced Phillip Island circuit.

NASA discovered First Known Tilted Planetary System

NASA’s Kepler space telescope on 18 October 2013 discovered a distant planetary system in the Space. The newly discovered planetary system features two inner planets orbiting at a severe tilt to their host star called Kepler-56.  It is first known tilted star system. That axis is tilted 45 degrees to the line of sight from Earth. These findings allow scientists to get a detailed picture of a distant system that provides a new and critical test of our understanding of the structure of these how these solar systems.

The team of Scientists studied regular changes in the brightness of the host star, Kepler-56, which is an old red giant star with two planets in close orbits and a massive third planet in a distant orbit.

Scientists measured those oscillation frequencies and they measured the star’s diameter and other properties using spectroscopy data about the star’s temperature and chemistry. Kepler-56 is more than four times the radius of our Sun. Its mass is also 30 per cent more than our Sun. It is about 3000 light years from Earth.

World Osteoporosis Day was Celebrated

20 October 2013: World Osteoporosis day

World Osteoporosis day was celebrated across the world on 20 October 2013. Osteoporosis occurs when there is a loss in the peak bone mass and loss of calcium leading to hip, knee and shoulder fractures. World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on 20 October, and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. It is organised by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). World Osteoporosis Day involves campaigns by national osteoporosis patient societies from around the world with activities in over 90 countries.

World Osteoporosis Day was launched on 20 October 1996 by the United Kingdom’s National Osteoporosis Society and supported by the European Commission. Since 1997, the day was organised by the International Osteoporosis Foundation. In 1998 and 1999, the World Health Organization acted as co-sponsor of World Osteoporosis Day.

The Deficiency of vitamin D and lack of mineral-rich food are the other causes of calcium loss in the bones. For this, doctors advise exposure to sun. Similarly, people suffering from arthritis, liver diseases or who sweat excessively too are prone to bone diseases. The bone diseases among women are a common occurrence, but of late, Osteoporosis, is fast affecting men, mostly after they turn 60. It is estimated that there will be around 36 million people in the world suffering from the disease by the end of this year