19 January 2013 Current Affairs
Pakistani singer Mehnaz Begum is no more
Renowned Pakistani singer Mehnaz Begum died on 19 January 2013.Mehnaz specialized in ghazal, thumri, dadra, khayal, drupad and reciting salam, noha and marsiya.Mehnaz was the daughter of popular sub-continental singer Kajjan Begum.She sang over 2,500 songs for radio‚ television and films in a variety of genres like ghazal, thumri, dadra, khayal and drupad.
U.R. Rao to join Satellite Hall of Fame
Prof U R Rao, former Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space is being honoured by the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) by inducting him as a Member of the highly prestigious “Satellite Hall of Fame”, Washington. Since 1987, the SSPI Hall of Fame has been recognising the invaluable contribution of the visionaries who have transformed life on planet earth for the better through satellite technology. Members of the Hall of Fame are recognised pioneers in communications, satellite related aerospace scientific research or development and delivery of applications for business, institutions and government via satellite.The induction of Prof Rao into the Satellite Hall of Fame is scheduled to take place on March 19, 2013 at a gala function to be held in Washington, D.C. USA.
AICC endorses Rahul Gandhi as Congress vice president
Over 1,200 delegates of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on 20 January 2013 endorsed the party’s decision to make de facto number two Rahul Gandhi as the party’s vice president. The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision making body had 19 January 2013 approved that Rahul Gandhi be made the party’s vice president keeping in mind the huge demand from workers to give him a bigger role in the run up to the 2014 general elections.He is the third Vice President of CWC.
Ved Prakash is UGC chairman
Ved Prakash, serving as acting chairman of the University Grants Commission, had been appointed as its chairman on 18 January 2013.The chairman’s post remained vacant ever since S. Thorat retired in February 2011. Since then Mr. Prakash had been the acting chairman.
India claim top spot in ICC ODI rankings
India claimed the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings after their win over England in Ranchi coupled with South Africa’s loss to New Zealand later in the day.India has accumulated 4279 points from 36 matches, taking their rating to 119. England, on 118, are following India closely.South Africa are 3rd with 2201 points from 19 matches giving them a rating of 116.
140 Nations Agreed On Global Mercury Limits
On 19 January , More than 140 nations have agreed on the first legally binding treaty to curb mercury pollution.Delegates at UN discussed in Geneva approved measures to control the use of the highly toxic metal, which is widely used in chemical production and small-scale mining, in order to limit mercury emissions.The governments agreed to ban the production, export and import of a range of products containing mercury by 2020.The treaty has been discussed for four years, but it is only now that the negotiators agreed over the final version of the document. The treaty, known as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, provides controls and reductions across a range of products and processes where mercury is used, released and emitted.