03 January 2013 Current Affairs
Violin maestro MSG passes away
M.S. Gopalakrishnan — legendary violinist known for his mastery of both the Carnatic and Hindustani systems of classical music — passed away on 03 January 2013 in Chennai.In his career spanning 75 years, he not only broke new ground as an accompanist, but also rose to become one of the best solo violinists in the country, along with Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and T.N. Krishnan. The three are considered the ‘violin trinity’ of south Indian classical music.Despite enviable success and accolades that came in the form of national honours such as the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, and innumerable titles, including the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ title awarded by The Music Academy, Chennai.
South Korean court orders first chemical castration of child rapist
A court in Seoul had delivered the country’s first ever ruling on chemical castration. A 31-year-old pedophile has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and 3 years of chemical castration.South Korea has become the first Asian country to approve a bill imposing chemical castration in 2011.In Poland and in some US states chemical castration of pedophiles is mandatory.Canada, Israel, Britain, Denmark and Sweden offer chemical castration drugs to sex offenders on a voluntary basis.
Mukesh Ambani 18th richest man in world
Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani is the 18th richest person in the world with a personal wealth of $24.7 billion in 2012, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world’s 100 wealthiest individuals. Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim remained the world’s richest person last year holding a personal fortune of more than $70 billion.Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the founder of fashion retailer Zara, Amancio Ortega, got a second and third places respectively.
Swaminarayan sect opens $100-million quake-proof temple near Hollywood
One of the biggest Hindu temples in the US, built at a whopping cost of $100 million near the Hollywood city in Los Angeles .The 68th Swaminarayan temple of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) had been built using 35,000 pieces of meticulously hand carved Italian Carrara marble and Indian Pink Sandstone.
Haryana Government announced Kanyadan Scheme for Bride participants of Mass Marriages
The Government of Haryana on 3 January 2012 announced its plan of launching a Kanyadan Scheme in the state for brides participating in the mass marriage ceremony, which would be organised by any of the registered NGO or the Red Cross Society. The scheme would carry an incentive amount of 11000 rupees and would come into effect from 1 April 2012. The incentive amount of 11000 rupees would be given to brides from all castes, creeds, race, religion and the income category to which the girl belongs.
New VSSC Director:S.Ramakrishnan
S. Ramakrishnan, ‘distinguished scientist’ at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was appointed as a Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.Mr. Ramakrishnan, with over four decades of experience in rocketry, took over from P.S. Veeraraghavan after heading the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) for two years.Mr. Ramakrishnan is an expert in aerospace propulsion and project management.
Shamshuddin in ICC International panel of Umpires
C Shamshuddin was the lone Indian among the five new third umpires appointed to the ICC’s international panel announced on 03 January 013.The 42-year-old Shamshuddin made his international debut in the India-England Twenty20 match in December 2012.After that he stood in the Twenty20 International between India and Pakistan in the same month.
LIC Launched New Jeewan Nidhi & Flexi Plus Policies
The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India launched two new Insurence policies New Jeevan Nidhi, a pension scheme, and Flexi Plus on 3 January .New Jeewan Nidhi provides the facility of insurance coverage of full amount while the insured person keeps depositing premiums.The Flexi policy is a unit linked insurance product. The plan not only provides a lump sum benefit on death but also maturity benefit irrespective of survival of the policy holder
Malala won ” 2012 Tipperary International Peace Award “
On 3 January Malala Yousafzai, the teenaged Pakistani school girl shot by a Taliban gunman last year , has been awarded the ” 2012 Tipperary International Peace Award ” from Ireland for her courage and determination to speak out in support of equal access to education for children.Malala is the second Pakistani to get the award. In 2007, it was given to late Benazir Bhutto.
Malala’s Father Appointed as Education Attache in Birmingham
On 3 January Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai has been appointed as the education attache at the Pakistan consulate in Birmingham, England.The job is believed to be for up to three years.