Current Affairs : January 16, 2010

Abbreviations
HSWHA: Haryana State Women Hockey Association
NIAIMT: National Institute of Automotive Inspection, Maintenance and Training
NSTL: Naval Science and Technological Laboratory : It is in Vishakhapatnam
NDFB: National Democratic Front of Bodoland

Appointments:
National Human Rights Commission New Secretary General : K S Money
K S Money, IAS is new secretary general of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). He replaces AK Jain.

President Aakhil Bhartiya Sahitya Sammelan – DB Kulkarni
Dr D B Kulkarni is a well known critic and has been elected president of the 83rd Aakhil Bhartiya Sahitya Sammelan (ABSS). This sammelan will be held at Pune in March end.

Awards & Honours:
Tamilnadu State Government Awards 2009

Following is the list of Tamilnadu State Governments Awards
  1. Thiruvalluvar Award : Iravatham Mahadevan, Editor Tamil Daily
  2. Periyar Award : R Gopal, Editor, Nakkiran
  3. Anna Award: Avvai Natarajan, Tamil Scholar
  4. Ambedkar Award: Krishnammal Jagannathan
  5. Kamaraj Award : R Chokkar
  6. Bharathiyar Award: T N Ramachandran
  7. Thiru Vi Ka Award: Annamalai alias Imayam
  8. Bharathi Dasan Award: Tamizhdasan
  9. K A P Viswanatham Award: (K A P Viswanatham Award).

The Above awards were presented by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day .

New Governors:
Former Union home minister Shivraj Patil has been appointed the Governor of Punjab while former (Shiv Shankar Menon is New National Security Advisor) National Security Advisor M K Narayanan & former IB Chief has been appointed the Governor of West Bengal.

Click here for The Updated List of India’s Governors of States:
Events and Happenings:
Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas 2010
Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas is organized every year from 7 to 9 January. 9 January marks the return of Mahatama Gandhi in India from South Africa (January9, 1915) Read Here the Full Article

Ladakh- Spituk Gustor festival
The ‘Spituk Gustor’, is an annual two-day monastic festival that starts the Spituk Monastery in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. This festival marks the victory over the evil and is celebrated during 11th month of Tibetan Calender.

About Spituk Monastery:
Spituk Monastery or Spituk Gompa is located in Spituk village 18 kms from Leh, in Ladakh is famous for its collection of Buddhist artifacts. Besides, the monastery houses collection of ancient masks, antique arms, icons and numerous Thanka paintings, all done in vegetable-based colors.

Conference ‘Life and Achievements of Tipu Sultan’
Conference ‘Life and Achievements of Tipu Sultan’ is a three-day international conference on ‘Life and Achievements of Tipu Sultan,’. This conference has been organized by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums at Mysore.

National Affairs:
Karnataka: Niranthara Jyoti Scheme
Niranthara Jyoti Scheme is of Karnataka Government which intends to to supply 24-hour uninterrupted power to the agriculture and rural areas in the state. This scheme is launched on January 16, 2010.

Ministry approaches World Bank for Satellite Coastal Survey:
Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of India has approached World Bank for an assistance of Rs 1200-crore project proposal which intends to conduct survey of the entire coastline of the country through satellite to demarcate the volatile line in a bid to protect the coast and prevent loss of lives and property. (Jairam Ramesh)

Ministry wishes to ascertain the ground realities before preparing the final draft for the new Integrated Coastal Management Act to be tabled in Parliament with adequate powers to deal with the violators of the CRZ norms. Stringent environment norms have been made for the scores of new ports coming up in the coast including Orissa. The Institute of Ocean Management at Chennai has been asked to make an impact assessment report, regarding the effect on livelihood of traditional fishermen and soil erosion following the proposal of several new ports, before endorsing clearance.

Business & Economy:
Indiagames & BG TV Agreement:
Indiagames and Reliance Big TV sign strategic agreement. Indiagames will provide specialized games for Reliance Big TV.

OVL Investment in Nigeria:
Union Cabinet approves ONGC Videsh Limited’s proposal to invest $359 million for oil exploration in two deep-sea blocks in Nigeria over the next five years. These blocks are OPL 279 & OPL 285. The had been won by ONGC-Mittal Energy Ltd (OMEL) a JV of OVL with LN Mittal

India Plans of Carlson Hotels Worldwide
Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Park Inn are Brands of Carlson Hotels Worldwide (CHW) which is one of the leading global hotel chain with operations in more than 1,060 locations in 77 countries. It has 28 properties in India and plans to take the toll to 50 in next few years.

Global Affairs:
What is reed warbler ? Read here
Researchers for the Wildlife Conservation Society have discovered the breeding area of the large-billed reed warbler at Wakhan Corridor of the Pamir Mountains of north-eastern Afghanistan.

Islamabad Declaration
Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan sign a Joint Islamabad Declaration. This declaration envisages a road map for future interaction in different fields, after a trilateral meeting between foreign Ministers of these three countries.

Sports:
Second National Rural Games:
Second National Rural Games start at Rupnagar Punjab from January 17, 2010. About 2000 players and 400 officials would be participating in the four-day-long event and 23 states have already confirmed their participation in the tournament.

Why Abhinav is angry?
Abhinav Bindra is angry over the ”unprofessional” attitude of the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) claiming it as ”insensitive” towards sportspersons. His name is not there in the list of the participants of the commonwelath games.

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