Current Affairs 18th September 2015

Current Affairs 18th September 2015 - Important Points

• Which technology has been invented by Disney Researchers to network VLC devices - IoT technology

• Name the National Athletic Coach who has resigned - Nikolai Snesarev

• Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights is written by - Salman Rushdie

• Pakistan to generate 40000 MW nuclear power as part of - Nuclear Energy Vision 2050

• Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) launched by - Union Government

• Where did the 4th meeting of India-Kuwait Joint Working Group on Hydrocarbons held - New Delhi

• Three Gulbarga varsity researchers derived soluble melanin from a micro organism

• Firefox Bikes is acquired by - Hero Cycles

• 8th Edition of Global Innovation Index 2015 released

• Name the mobile app launched by Madhya Pradesh Government for teachers - M-Shiksha-Mitra

• Who has received Icon Award by the Indo-Caribbean Alliance - Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Current Affairs 18th September 2015 - Details

Which technology has been invented by Disney Researchers to network VLC devices - IoT technology

On 7th September 2015, Disney Researchers announced that Internet of Things (IoT) technology can be successfully used in Visible Light Communication (VLC) devices to network them and thereby creating smarter devices.

They proved their invention by successfully experimenting with Light Emitting Diode (LED) based bulbs. They announced this in a research paper titled Linux Light Bulbs: Enabling Internet Protocol Connectivity for Light Bulb Networks.

What is Internet of Things (IoT)?

IoT refers to a network of internet connected devices which are embedded with data transmitting technologies, electronic sensors and light operating systems.

The data which is collected by sensors using the internet in the IoT devices like cars, power systems and even as small as tooth brushes transmitted to other networked devices and data processing systems.

Thus, the information generated by processing the data will be used by the companies and individuals to make better decisions and create smarter environments.

Name the National Athletic Coach who has resigned - Nikolai Snesarev

In third week of September 2015, Renowned Russian middle and long distance coach Dr Nikolai Snesarev, resigned from his position of athletic coach for India due to poor infrastructure and a lack of facilities.

He has sent his resignation letter to Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) one month before as ber the Article 21 of the SAI constitution.

He is known for persistently creating world champions. He is also appreciated for the rise of India’s two Olympic prospects Lalita Babar in 3000m steeplechase and OP Jaisa in long distance running.

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights is written by - Salman Rushdie

On 8th September 2015, the British Indian novelist Salman Rushdie released his book titled Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nightson.

The book is a work of fiction, blends history, mythology, and a timeless love story and can be easily called as an update to Rushdie’s ancient eastern classic, A Thousand and One Nights.

The story of the book moves around the great Spanish-Muslim philosopher Ibn Rushd, deteriorating in exile for his intellectual views, and an evil genie in impersonate Dunia. The story jumps to New York City where Ibn Rushd and Dunia’s distant successor discover that they have special powers.

Pakistan to generate 40000 MW nuclear power as part of - Nuclear Energy Vision 2050

On 17th September 2015, Pakistan as part of the Nuclear Energy Vision 2050 has set a target of generating 40000 MW nuclear energy.

Chairman of the PAEA made this announcement at the 59th IAEA General Conference at Vienna in Austria.

IAEA stands for the International Atomic Energy Agency and PAEA stands for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

Features of Nuclear Energy Vision 2050

• Its motive is to supply one-fourth of Pakistan’s total energy requirement as predicted for 2050.
• 8800 MW and 40000 MW of nuclear energy will be produced by 2030 and 2050 respectively as part of the vision.
• To execute the vision, 32 nuclear power plants (NPPS) will be set up in eight identified sites by constructing 8 plants at a site.

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) launched by - Union Government

On 17th September 2015, the Union Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) to transform the lives of people living in the areas which are affected directly or indirectly by mining.

The objective of PMKKKY

• To execeute various welfare and developmental projects/programs in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government
• To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas by including all aspects of living, to ensure substantial improvement in the quality of life.
• To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts

Where did the 4th meeting of India-Kuwait Joint Working Group on Hydrocarbons held - New Delhi

On 16th September 2015, The 4th meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Working Group on Hydrocarbons was held in New Delhi.

Dr. Ahmad Al-Qattan, representative of the Kuwaiti Oil Sector and Ashutosh Jindal, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas jointly headed the meeting.

Various issues of bilateral engagement in the hydrocarbon sector were discussed during the meeting and expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved on the decisions taken during the 3rd Joint Working Group signed in 2014 in Kuwait.

Three Gulbarga varsity researchers derived soluble melanin from a micro organism

In third week of September 2015, Three scientists, principal investigator Dayanand Agsar, co-investigator M. B. Sulochana and research scholar D. N. Madhusudhan, of Gulbarga University made a major breakthrough in simplifying the production of the melanin.

The team of scientists derived the water-soluble melanin from a new micro organism Tyrosinase from Actino bacterium.

At present, the melanin being used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry is either derived from chemical formulations or derived from micro-organisims other than Tyrosinase and is insoluble in water.

The three scientists worked under the major research project funded by the Department of Biotechnology of the Union government.

The trio’s findings were also published in the prestigious Biomed Research International in April 2014 and the Journal of Cluster Sciences of the Springer publications in March 2014.

About melanin

Melanin is a pigment produced in the skin of almost all organisms on earth. It is produced by the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine, followed by polymerization. There are three basic types of melanin, viz., Eumelanin, Pheomelanin and Neuromelanin.

It is used widely by pharmaceutical companies for treatment of a type of skin cancer, melanoma. It is also widely used in the cosmetics industry in the production of Skin Protection Factor (SPF) creams.

Firefox Bikes is acquired by - Hero Cycles

On 17th September 2015, Hero Cycles, the world's largest bicycle manufacturer by volume, acquired Firefox Bikes Pvt. Ltd. for an undisclosed sum in an all-cash deal.

Hero Cycles will now acquire 100% stake in Firefox as per the deal. Both the companies also mutually agreed that Firefox Bikes will continue to remain a separate business entity post the acquisition.

The acquisition includes the Firefox brand of bicycles, accessories and spares along with exclusive distribution rights of Trek and other global brands.

Hero Cycles also announced that it will setup a Hero Innovation Centre to upgrade its line of cycles.

8th Edition of Global Innovation Index 2015 released

On 17th September 2015, Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly released the 8th edition Global Innovation Index (GII). It was based on the theme of Effective Innovation Policies for Development.

It shows the new ways through which emerging-economy policymakers can enhance innovation and induce growth by building on local strengths and ensuring the development of a sound national innovation environment.

Switzerland for being the most innovative nation is at the top of the list. Countries like Uganda, India, China, Malaysia, Jordan, Kenya and Viet Nam are among a group of countries outperforming their economic peers as per the GII 2015.

Highlights of the GII 2015

• Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States of America are the world’s five most innovative nations.
• Latin America and the Caribbean is a region with improving but largely untapped innovation potential. Brazil (70th), Argentina (72nd), and Mexico (57th) stand out as economies performing above the region’s GII average.
• In Western Asia, economies have started to diversify and spur innovation in new sectors. This has allowed for Saudi Arabia (43rd), United Arab Emirates (UAE) (47th) and Qatar (50th) to achieve top GII positions within the region.
• With half of its economies in the top 40, South East Asia and Oceania maintained its innovation dynamism with Singapore (7th) and Hong Kong (China) (11th) remain at the top of the regional rankings.
• A number of low-income economies are innovation achievers with Sub-Saharan Africa standing out- Rwanda at 94th place, Mozambique at 95th and Malawi at 98th. In addition, Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso and Uganda are generally outperforming other economies at their level of development.
• India's ranking has slipped further to 81 in the list, compared to 76 in 2014.
• A number of eastern European countries like Bulgaria (39th), or Montenegro (41st) display dynamism and an upward trend.
• In North America, The United States of America (5th) remains the top innovation performer, while Canada (16th) remains in the GII top 25 after slipping from the top 10 in 2012.
• The United Kingdom (UK) with second place on the list is up from the 10th position in 2011.
• In terms of innovation quality, US and the UK stay ahead of the pack, largely as a result of their world-class universities, closely followed by Japan, Germany and Switzerland.
• Top-scoring middle-income economies on innovation quality are China, Brazil and India with China increasingly outpacing the others.

Rankings

• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Sweden
• Netherlands
• United States of America
• Finland
• Singapore
• Ireland
• Luxembourg
• Denmark

Name the mobile app launched by Madhya Pradesh Government for teachers - M-Shiksha-Mitra

In September 2015, Madhya Pradesh Government launched M-Shiksha-Mitra mobile app to provide various services and teaching-related work to teacher in a simple and easy way. The state has became the first to develop such mobile app for teachers.

Features of the app

• With the help of this app, teachers can browse salary slip, scholarships, funds sent to school under various heads, different circulars and GPF statement easily.
• Teachers can also use the app for applying for leave, e-attendance and can send their problems and can know status of its redressal.
• User name and password issued for Education Portal will be used for logging into the app.

Who has received Icon Award by the Indo-Caribbean Alliance - Shivnarine Chanderpaul

On 17th September 2015, the Indo-Caribbean Alliance honoured Veteran Test cricketer of West Indies Shivnarine Chanderpaul with the Icon Award.

Three others were also awarded namely businessman Dave Kadernauth, television personality Lakshmee Singh and New York City council member Eric Ulrich.

It is the highest award given by the New York City-based Indo-Caribbean Alliance.

Do You Know :

Indo-Caribbean Alliance (ICA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Queens, New York. It was founded in 2008 by three residents who wanted to organize their community to create the programs and services in the underserved Indo-Caribbean and South Asian enclaves of South Queens including Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Ozone Park, South Jamaica and Jamaica.

Their mission is to unite and advance Indo-Caribbean and South Asian interests by encouraging joint and collaborative actions among different peoples, organizations and businesses. The alliance acts as a association and an advocate to government agencies, elected officials and other non-profit organizations to create specialized educational, arts and social service programs.