PERSONS IN NEWS
A). APPOINTMENTS
R K Mathur appointed as CIC
Former Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur has been appointed as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). He will have tenure of about three years (2017) till he attain the age of 65. He succeeds Vijai Sharma as he has retired after completion of his tenure. R K Mathur is a retired IAS officer of Tripura cadre. He had served as Defence Secretary for two years. He also had served as Secretary Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Defence Production and Supplies.
Air Marshal Bhadauria takes over as Deputy Chief of Air Staff of IAF
Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria took over as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff on 1 January 2016. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the IAF in June 1980. Prior to taking over as DCAS, Air Marshal Bhadauria was Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command of IAF.
Abid Ali Z. Neemuchwala appointed as CEO of Wipro
India’s third largest IT exporter Wipro Limited has appointed Abid Ali Z. Neemuchwala as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Member of the Board of the company. He succeed incumbent CEO T.K. Kurien who has been elevated as the Executive Vice Chairman of the company. Prior to this appointment Neemuchwala was serving as the chief operating officer (COO) of the company since April 2015. Before joining Wipro, he was working with India’s largest IT exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for 23 years.
Sikri takes over as new CCI chairman
Former Gujarat cadre IAS officer Devender Kumar Sikri has taken oath as the Chairman of Competition Commission of India on 11 January 2016. Mr. Sikri, a 1975 batch IAS officer, replaces Ashok Chawla who demitted office on January 7 and will be the third chairman of the CCI. Mr. Chawla had taken over from Dhanendra Kumar, who demitted office in June 2011. The 62-year-old Mr. Sikri, who superannuated as secretary, department of justice in July 31, 2013, will have a two and-a-half year tenure (till he attains 65 years of age).
Binny Bansal appointed as CEO of Flipkart
E-commerce firm Flipkart on 11 January 2016 appointed Binny Bansal as the Chief Executive Officer and Sachin Bansal as the Executive Chairman.” Sachin Bansal, CEO and co-founder of Flipkart, will be the Executive Chairman of the company and Binny Bansal, COO and co-founder of Flipkart, will be the Chief Executive Officer”. In his role as the Executive Chairman, Sachin will provide strategic direction and mentor the senior leadership as also look for new investment opportunities. While, Binny as the CEO will now be responsible for operationally driving the company and be accountable for Flipkart’s overall performance.
B). RESIGNS
Blatter Resigns from FIFA Amid
After proclaiming himself “President of every body” seep blatter had announced his resignation as president of FIFA he spent 17 years at the helm of FIFA and 40 years as an employee with in soccer’s International governing body.
Bobby Jindal resigns as Louisiana Governor
The governor of Louisiana in America, the Indian person Bobby Jindal resigns his post at end of his second four-year term. Bel Edwards the democratic governor in Deep South is now in that governor position Jindal is the first Indian to hold such a position.
C). DEATHS
Veteran Communist Party leader A.B. Bardhan dead
Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and former general secretary of the party Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan died in New Delhi on 2 January 2016. Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan was born in Barisal, Bengal Presidency in present-day Bangladesh on 25 September 1924. Bardhan held a postgraduate degree in economics and a degree in law.A.B. Bardhan was elected as a member of the Maharashtra assembly from Nagpur in 1957.
Music artist David Bowie passed away
Music Legend David Bowie died on 11 January 2016 at the age of 69 following a battle with cancer. The singer released his latest album Blackstar on his birthday on January 8. His last live performance was at a New York charity concert in 2006. Blackstar, which includes just seven songs, has been well received by critics.
Lagaan actor Rajesh Vivek dies
Actor Rajesh Vivek, mainly known for his roles in super hits like Lagaan and Swades, died due to a heart attack in Hyderabad on 14 January 2016. Vivek was first introduced by Shyam Benegal in his film Junoon (1978). Basically a theatre actor, he had also acted in popular television series like Mahabharata, Bharat Ek Khoj and Aghori. He made his mark as a villain in the beginning with films like Veerana and Joshilay, often playing roles of henchman, but later on he started doing comic and supporting roles. Some of his latest films include Bunty Aur Babli, Bhoot Uncle, What is Your Rashee, Agneepath, Son of Sardaar & Dishkiyaoon. He had played the role of a dreaded dacoit in Bandit Queen.
Bollywood filmmaker Anil Ganguly passes away
Anil Ganguly died on Jaunary 15, 2016. He was an Indian film director and screenwriter. Anil worked in Hindi cinema from 1970s to the 1990s. Ganguly was best known for Jaya Bhaduri starrer, Kora Kagaz (1974) and Tapasya (1975), both of which won the National Film. Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Ganguly other noted film was Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh starred Saaheb (1985). Later in is career, Anil made several actions films, mostly with Mithun Chakraborty. Gangulay started his career making literary adaptations with strong female roles and themes of marital discord.
Veteran journalist Dr. Aroon Tikekar passed away
Mumbai Veteran journalist and author of 20 books in English and Marathi, Dr.Aroon Tikekar died on 19 January 2016 following respiratory complications. He was 72.Aroon Tikekar worked as a college teacher for some years.From 1991 to 2002, he worked as an editor of the Marathi newspaper Loksatta.
D). VISITORS
Syrian Foreign Minister visits India before peace talks
Syria’s foreign minister arrived in New Delhi on 11 January 2016 for talks with his Indian counterpart, trying to build international support for President Bashar al-Assad’s government before peace talks in Geneva. Peace talks between Assad’s government and the Syrian opposition are due to begin on 25 January 2016 as part of an ambitious 18-month plan endorsed by the UN Security Council. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem meet Sushma Swaraj and “other government functionaries” during a three-day official visit.
Sushma Swaraj to visit Palestine, Israel
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Israel and Palestine on January 17-18 to further build on the goodwill generated by the trip of President Pranab Mukherjee to the two West Asian nations three months back.Palestine will be Ms. Swaraj’s first destination where she will hold talks with leadership of the country with an aim to boost bilateral engagement and deepen mutual understanding at the political level.After completing her engagements in Palestine on January 17, Ms. Swaraj will go to Israel the same day for a two-day visit during which she will hold discussions with the Israeli leadership and review the entire gamut of India-Israel relations.
Indian Foriegn Secretary Jaishankar visit Colombo
Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on 12 January 2016 arrived in Sri Lanka to hold bilateral discussions with the island nation’s leadership. Mr. Jaishankar is expected to meet Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera among other dignitaries, According to the report, during the course of his visit, Mr. Jaishankar is expected to pave the way for the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission (ISLJC) meeting scheduled to be held in Colombo next month. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to attend the ISJLC meeting.
E). MISCELLANEOUS
Sainthood’ to Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary, will be given Sainthood i.e. will be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in September 2016. Pope Francis has recognized a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa, intercession with God. Earlier in 2003, Mother Teresa was beatified by then late John Paul. Beatification requires one miracle and is the last step before sainthood. Mother founded the Missionaries of Charity and spent 45-years serving the poor, sick, orphaned and dying on the streets of Kolkata. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Padma Shri (1962) and Bharat Ratna (1980).
Miss Philippines crowned Miss Universe-2015
Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach crowned Miss Universe 2015 at the final of 64th edition of Miss Universe held in Las Vegas, the USA. She was crowned by Miss Universe 2014 winner Paulina Vega of Columbia. Urvashi Rautela who represented India in the contest couldn’t make it top 15 semi-finals round.
Obama as most popular leader
US President Barack Obama has been named as Most Popular Leader in the World. Whereas, Indian Prime Minister occupied 7th Position in the poll participated by people of 65 countries. Obama received 59 percent votes in his favour as opposed by 29 percent unfavourable. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron were ranked as Second and Third for a score of +13 percent & +10 percent respectively. Chinese President Xi Hinping stood at 6th Position. Modi garnered 24 percent favourable and 20 percent unfavourable votes to settle with a score of +4 percent. While French President Hollande and Russian PM Vladimir Putin came 4th and 5th in the poll, Brazil President Dilma, Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud and Iran President Hassan Rouhani were at 8th, 9th and 10th Positions respectively.
Smriti Irani inaugurated 43rd New Delhi World Book Fair
Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani on 9 January 2016 inaugurated the 43rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair which commenced in New Delhi with China as the guest of honour country and a theme presentation of the cultural heritage of India. The nineday fair, touted as the largest in Asia, is hosting about 30 countries in which a series of programmes including panel discussions, dramas, classical and folk dances, workshops, discussions, authors’ meets, conferences, seminars and cultural programmes will be held.
Indian-origin girl tops Mensa test in UK
A 11-year-old Indian-origin girl in the UK has achieved the top possible score of 162 on a IQ test of Mensa, becoming one of the youngest brainiest students in the country. Mumbai-born Kashmea Wahi achieved the top score of 162 out of 162, putting her in the league of scientists Albert Einstein and Steven Hawking and in the top 1 per cent of the country’s brightest. Both Hawking and Einstein are thought to have an IQ of 160.