Union Cabinet of India approved the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy

The Union Cabinet of India on 22 November 2012 passed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPA). As per the new pricing policy declared by the Union Government, 348 essential drugs would come under price control policy of the nation, which would lead to price reduction of the same.

The policy was approved by the Union Cabinet with an objective to bring in a regulatory framework to make sure that the pricing of essential drugs remains under control and are made available in the market at reasonable prices. 

The approval came in as a response to the deadline of 27 November 2012 set by the Supreme Court of India for finalization of a policy that to without altering or hampering the mechanism for cost-based drug pricing policy in existence. The move would bring down the cost of the drugs to an average of 30 percent as the pricing now would be fixed following the simple average of the rates of all the brands that have more than one percent of market share in the pharmaceutical industry. Following the rules of the policy, the companies will have to take a clearance by NPPA to increase the prices beyond 10 percent on all the 348 drugs enlisted in the new National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved 9.5 percent Stake Disinvestment in NTPC

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the disinvestment of 9.5 percent Government Stake in the Maharatna PSU-National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) on 22 November 2012 from its holding of 84.50 percent. The disinvestment would be done through the stock exchanges following the SEBI Rules, via an offer for sales of the shares.
The equity disinvestment of NTPC would bring back a sum of about 13000 crore rupees. With this disinvestment the governments holding on NTPC would fall down from present 84.5 percent to 75 percent, which will adhere to the minimum public shareholding norms that was stipulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the market regulators. The recorded paid-up equity capital of NTPC on of 31 March 2012 under administrative control of the Ministry of Power was 8245.46 crore rupees.
NTPC
NTPC-the National Thermal Power Corporation is a Public Service Undertaking Company engaged in power generation that came into existence in the year 1975 to accelerate the rate of power generation in India. In the Forbes Global 2000 ranking list of the World’s biggest companies NTPC was ranked at 337th position in 2012. At present NTPCs generating capacity is 39674 MW and by 2032 it is expected that the company would have a capacity of 128000 MW.

Scientists decoded how flu viruses replicate within Infected Cells

Scientists  in the fourth week of November 2012 decoded how flu viruses replicate within infected cells, which could be used in the development of potent vaccines. The study done by the scientists explained the flu virus replication machinery.
Scientists used advance molecular biology and electron-microscopy techniques to see one of influenza's essential protein complexes in detail. They focused on influenza’s ribonucleoprotein (RNP). RNPs contained the genetic material of virus and the special enzyme that is required by the virus to replicate itself.
Any influenza virus contains eight RNPs in its core. RNPs are important to the virus’s ability to survive and spread in its hosts. Each RNP contains a single protein which is the coding gene of the RNA-based viral genome. The viral RNA segment is coated with protective viral nucleoproteins and its structure resembles a twisted loop of chain. The free ends of this twisted loop are held by a flu-virus polymerase enzyme, which is entrusted with two important tasks of viral reproduction-1) making new viral genomic RNA  2)making the RNA gene-transcripts that will develop into new viral proteins. It would be interesting to know how the flu polymerase and the rest of the RNP interact.
The only flu RNPs reproduced in the laboratory, were shortened versions whose structures didn’t match those of native flu RNPs. Still, Scientists developed a test-cell expression system which produced all of the protein and RNA components required to make full-length flu RNPs. The discovery enabled Scientists to analyse molecular samples more easily.

Australia approved the plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin

Australia on 22 November 2012 approved the plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin, an ailing river system. As per the plan, the sum total of five Sydney Harbour’s worth of water to the network every year.  Murray-Darling Basin river system is vital to the Australia’s food bowl. This river network is sprawling across five Australian states and covering the area of one million square kilometers. Two million tonnes of salt will also be flushed out each year under the plan.

The concerned river system affects the livelihood of millions of people, but due to overexploitation it is ailing now. It suffers from increased salt concentrations as well as depletion in its amount of water because of draught.

Ernest Bai Koroma re-elected as the President of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, the incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma, leader of the All People's Congress was re-elected as the President of the nation on 23 November 2012 after the electoral body declared results of the elections that took place in the country in third week of November. He had sworn in as the President of Sierra Leone on the same day, when the results were declared. He won the Presidential elections by securing 58.7 percent votes in his favour.
Julius Maada Bio, the top rival of Koroma won 37.4 percent votes. The incumbent President managed to save himself from the second round of voting by securing more than 55 percent votes in his support. To support the growth of the country and make it one of the fastest growing economies of the world, the President of the war-scarred nation asked all the opposition parties that included Sierra Leone People’s Party’s (SLPP) to unite with each other and work for the cause of overall development of the nation.
Christiana Thorpe, the Chief of the National Elections Commission on 23 November 2012 declared that any citizen of the nation can challenge the validity of the Presidential Elections by filing a petition in the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone within seven days of result declaration.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a mineral resource rich West African Nation, with massive iron ore deposits. The estimates of International Monetary Fund had predicted that use of the mineral resources available in the nation would increase the 2.2-billion dollar Gross Domestic Product by 21 percent.

Arvind Kejriwal named his Political Party as Aam Admi Party

Arvind Kejriwal on 24 November 2012 announced the name of his newly formed Political Party as Aam Admi Party after two months of its split from Anna Hazare and his movement of India Against Corruption at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. The Party on the same day also adopted its Constitution that foresee establishment of Swaraj in the country. All this happened in presence of about 320 people. The name would be publicly accepted on 26 November at Jantar Mantar.
The party would work with an aim of providing more say in law making to Gram Sabhas and would also work to make Judiciary accessible to Common Man. The newly formed party also cleared its stand that it would start its electoral fight from Delhi, where the Assembly elections were due by the end of 2013. The Party had also filed an application with the Election Commission to allot a symbol to the party.
Anna Hazare and Kejriwal broke away on 19 September 2012 due to the differences registered between them over formation of a political party. After this on 2 October 2012, Kejriwal also declared that he would be naming the Party and launch it officially, on 26 November 2012, the day when India adopted the Constitution in 1949.

National Cancer Institute and a National Cardio Care Centre to be developed at Jhajjar

The Union Government of India on 24 November 2012 announced to set up a National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a National Cardio Care Centre (NCCC) at the second campus of All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Badhsa village of Jhajjar, Haryana during the inauguration of the Outreach OPD of the AIIMS-II campus spread over 300 acres. This outreach OPD is well equipped with all the facilities and has a capacity of 1000 beds and the first OPD in the nation to provide free medicines to the patients.
On this occasion, the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also declared that the AIIMS-II, with a total capacity of 2,100 beds, would be developed as a world-class institute. International bids in form of the Expression of Interest for drafting the master plan was already called on by the ministry. The Proposed National Cancer Institute would be the country’s largest cancer institute with a capacity of 600 beds and facilities of treating almost every form of cancer.

BJP suspended Rajya Sabha Member Ram Jethmalani from the Party

The BJP(Bhartiya Janta Party) on 25 November 2012 suspended senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani from the party for gross indiscipline. Ram Jethmalani recently, openly attacked the party for criticizing the appointment of the new CBI chief. He had also challenged the party to take action against him on the issue.
The party had also taken strong exception Ram Jethmalani’s public outburst against senior party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley who had written to Prime Minister expressing their reservations over the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as the new Director of the CBI.

New Drug Discovered that can Halt Cancer from Multiplying

Scientists in the last week of November 2012 developed a new drug called Aflibercept for stopping the cancerous cells from multiplying. The new drug compels the cancerous cells to sleep which in turn stops them in multiplying. The drug is said to trick the tumours for becoming inactive by swapping the molecular switches in cancer structure so that there is no multiplication of the cancerous cells.

The drug had shown positive results in UK, where scientists performed trials on the patients. The patients had shown significant life extension. There were over 1400 patients involved in the trial and some of these were also suffering from advanced bowel cancer. These patients with advanced bowel cancer had already gone through chemotherapy which prolonged their life by two years.
Scientists believe that the drug would be useful across a wide range of cancers in the future studies. Aflibercept in comparison to the conventional drugs had statistically better survival benefits for treating bowel cancer which had spread even after initial treatment.
Aflibercept is usually given as 30-minute infusion with chemotherapy. As of now, it is found in US only. Europe would soon approve the drug for cancer treatment.

The 2nd India-China Strategic economic Dialogue held in New Delhi

 

The 2nd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 26 November, 2012. During the 2nd meeting of the Dialogue, India and China discussed a wide range of topics including greater cooperation at the global level, strengthening communication on macro-economic policies, deepening and expanding trade and investment and promoting bilateral cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors. The proposals and recommendations made by the five Working Groups were considered during the 2nd Dialogue and directions given for their future activities.

India and China agreed that in the current global economic situation it was important to raise the level of economic engagement between India and China. The agreements are as following:

(i) Cooperation at the global level: Exchanging views on current global economic and developmental challenges, India and China recognized that as major developing economies, they needed to maintain close coordination and communication to pursue their common interests. Among them is the reform of international monetary and financial systems, stabilizing the volatility in global commodity markets, working towards sustainable development and climate change goals, and ensuring food and energy security. Both countries believe that the ongoing and future cooperation on existing and upcoming issues will greatly enhance mutual trust and expand common interests. 

(ii) Strengthening communication on macroeconomic policies: Following detailed discussions on the global and national economic situations, the two countries agreed that development growth trends globally have weakened as a result of a number of factors since the onset of the global financial crisis. This included weakening demand in the developed markets, the ongoing Eurozone crisis, lower business confidence, and growing inflationary trends. Both sides seek to maintain continued economic growth while adjusting manufacturing and services, upgrading levels of technologies and skills, while developing the hard and soft infrastructure for encouraging economic growth. The two countries agreed that they would regularly conduct joint studies on issues of mutual interest, focusing on benefits of best practices and information exchanges. 

(iii) Deepening and expanding trade and investment: With a view to promoting greater economic and commercial engagement, both sides recognized the need to explore potential synergies in areas where the two sides have mutual complementarities, improve trade and investment environments, work towards removing market barriers, enhance cooperation in project contracting, deepen business to business exchanges, improve transportation links, encourage greater bilateral investment and work towards achieving a more balanced and sustainable bilateral trade. 

(iv) Expanding cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors: Both sides have agreed to intensify the cooperation in the financial sector by encouraging financial institutions of the two countries to set up operations in either country to support enterprises of the two countries to establish / expand commercial operations. Both sides agree to undertake studies in related areas including innovative financial methods to support the requirements of priority sectors particularly the infrastructure sector having significant scope for furthering economic development.

The main outcomes of the five Working Groups are as follows: 

(a) In the Policy Coordination Working Group, both countries discussed plan priorities and ways and means of achieving plan targets recently unveiled in their 12th Five Year Plans. They exchanged views on skills development and industrial park development. The two nations also submitted assessment reports on the investment environments in each other’s country based on the experiences of the enterprises of the two countries and discussed possible solutions to improve the investment environment. India and China also agreed to carry out joint studies on planning cooperation and skills development for employability, and entered into related MoUs. 

(b) In the Infrastructure Working Group, with its focus on enhancing railway cooperation, both countries exchanged views on the broad policies and plans for railway development in each other’s country. The two countries also discussed high-speed rail development programme, heavy haul and station development and entered into an MoU to exchange views and other related information in these areas.

(c) In the Energy Working Group, India and China briefed each other on the development of the power sector in the two countries, the ongoing cooperation in the power equipment sector, opportunities and challenges in the wind energy sector, the possibility of Chinese power equipment manufacturers setting up service centres in India and relevant policy environment to support the ongoing cooperation, and reviewed the small hydro power workshop that was successfully held in Beijing in October 2012. 

(d) In the Environmental Protection Working Group, the two nations agreed to enhance cooperation in the implementation of energy efficiency projects through energy service companies (ESCOs), encouraging visits to industrial and manufacturing centres excelling in energy efficient initiatives, cooperate and jointly develop testing protocols and standards and have entered into a related MoU. The two sides also exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in water-saving technologies covering the areas of waste water recycling and water-efficient irrigation systems. 

(e) In the Hi-Technology Working Group, the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in the Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services (IT/ITES). Both sides also agreed to carry out / support joint studies to better understand the IT/ITES markets of each country and have entered into a related MoU in this area. The two sides also reached a consensus to explore the possibility of working together for developing common standards for digital TV, audio and video codec standards and mobile communication technology.

India and China signed the following MoUs:

(a) Memorandum of Understanding between the Planning Commission of the Government of the Republic of India and National Development and Reform Commission of the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Undertaking Joint Studies.

(b) Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of the Republic of India and National Development and Reform Commission of the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Enhancing Cooperation in the Field of Energy Efficiency.

(c) Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Railways of the Government of the Republic of India and Ministry of Railways of the Government of the People’s Republic of China on enhancing technical cooperation in the railway sector.

(d) Memorandum of Understanding between the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), India and the China Software Industry Association (CSIA) on Enhancing Cooperation in the IT/ITES Sector.

India and China agreed that the 3rd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue will be convened in China in 2013. They also agreed that prior to the 3rd Dialogue, the Working Groups would meet to implement the consensus and decisions agreed to by the two sides at the 2nd Strategic Economic Dialogue.

What is India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue?
Established during the visit to India of Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China in December 2010, the India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue is aimed at improving macro-economic policy coordination, promoting exchanges on economic issues and enhancing India-China economic cooperation. The 1st Dialogue had been successfully held at Beijing in September 2011 where the two countries agreed to constitute five Working Groups on policy coordination, infrastructure, energy, environment protection and high-technology. A working level delegation from China visited New Delhi in March 2012 following which the five Working Groups met in Beijing in the months of August and September 2012. This preparatory work has contributed immensely to the successful deliberations in and outcomes of the 2nd Dialogue.

 

India-Maldives Joint Military Training Exercise EKUVERIN 2012 held in Belgaum

EKUVERIN 2012- The fourth joint military training exercise between India and Maldives held in Belgaum.

The fourth Joint Military Training Exercises between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) - EKUVERIN 2012 - was held in Belgaum, India from 12 to 25 November 2012. A total of 45 personnel from the MNDF are taking part in the exercises along with the personnel from the Indian Army. The bilateral annual exercises, which commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, are alternately held in India and Maldives. The aim of the exercises is to enhance the close military cooperation between the two countries.

In April 2012, both countries, along with Sri Lanka, held joint Coast Guard/Naval exercises – DOSTI XI - off the coast of Male (Maldives) to strengthen the bonds of friendship and enhance mutual operational capability and cooperation in the region.

 

Union Government approved an Anti-Piracy Scheme in Audio-Visual Sector

The Union Government of India on 27 November 2012 approved a scheme under the 12th Five Year Plan for carrying out an anti-piracy initiative in the audio-visual sector with an allocation of two crore rupees. The new scheme of Information and Broadcasting Ministry aimps to put special focus on piracy on the internet. Under the scheme, the campaign on piracy through audio-visual, internet and print media will be launched.

The piracy continues to be a key challenge for the Indian film sector and has been a prime reason for the decline of the home video market in the country. The emerging threat to legitimate exhibition of films is illegal download of films available on websites.

 

The drive will give special focus on piracy on the Internet where mechanisms of regulation do not exist, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said in a statement. 

"Government today approved a scheme under 12th Five Year Plan for carrying out an anti-piracy initiative in the audio- visual sector. This new scheme of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has an outlay of Rs 2 crore for the Plan period 2012-17," it said. 

"Piracy continues to be a key challenge for the Indian film sector and has been a prime reason for decline of home video market in the country," it said. 

Quoting the FICCI-KPMG report for 2011, the ministry said that the piracy market accounts for 600-700 million unit sales of DVDs each year with more than 10000 vendors operating in illegitimate DVD market. With increased competition, prices of pirated DVDs are declining, the ministry said. 

"Another new emerging threat to legitimate exhibition of films is illegal download of films available on websites. The magnitude of this problem is set to increase in the coming years, given the expansion and availability of broadband infrastructure." 

According to the ministry, the film sector faces a massive challenge from software on web-based platforms in the current environment as mechanisms for regulation of content on the Internet are non-existent. 

"It is generally felt that money from piracy goes towards funding anti-national activities. In view of the foregoing, there is no alternative to government intervention. Hence, it has been envisaged to spread an awareness campaign against piracy in collaboration with stakeholders like business chambers, schools, colleges, etc," it said.

Sports |Nov

Asian under 10 Girls Chess Champion: Nuthaki Priyanka Won World Youth Chess Championship

Asian under 10 girls chess champion Nuthaki Priyanka bagged the world youth chess championship at Maribor, Slovenia on 18 November 2012. She completed with 9.5 points of 11 rounds.

Priyanka completed her game against US-based Wang Annie in 38 moves. She is the 5th standard student of Mustabada Sports and Educational Academy.

Formula One: Lewis Hamilton Wins U.S. Grand Prix in Texas

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday in Texas

Championship leader Vettel finished second after starting his 100th career F1 race on pole position while Alonso remained in contention with third place.

Previous winners of US GP

• 2007 - Lewis Hamilton - McLaren

• 2006 - Michael Schumacher - Ferrari

• 2005 - Michael Schumacher - Ferrari

• 2004 - Michael Schumacher - Ferrari

• 2003 - Michael Schumacher - Ferrari

• 2002 - Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari

Czech Republic wins Davis Cup title 3-2 over Spain

Radek Stepanek upset Nicolas Almagro in the final reverse singles to give the Czech Republic a 3-2 victory in the Davis Cup final and its first title as an independent nation.

The Czechs' only Davis Cup victory came in 1980 as Czechoslovakia, which split in 1993..

The 37th-ranked Stepanek beat his 11th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (0), 3-6, 6-3.

The 33-year old Stepanek, with some fine play at the net, converted his second match point to send more than 14,500 noisy fans at the O2 Arena into wild celebration Sunday.

The victory means the Czechs completed a rare double just two weeks after the women secured the Fed Cup title in the same arena. No country has won both competitions in the same year since the United States in 1990.

 

Yuvi- Book on Cricketer Yuvraj Singh authored by Makarand Waingankar Released

The book on Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh named Yuvi was released in third week of November 2012. Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar, the former cricketing legends were invited at the launch ceremony to offer insight on the cricketing star. 

Yuvi, the book on Yuvraj Singh is published by Harper Sport and written by Makarand Waingankar. The bookillustrates the brilliance of cricket shown by Yuvraj Singh in his career as a cricketer and the way he recovered from Cancer.

Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix named IAAF World Athletes of the Year 2012

Usain Bolt won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year Award 2012 for the fourth time and United States sprinter Allyson Felix won women's World Athlete of the Year Award 2012 on 24 November 2012 during the IAAF's 100th Anniversary Celebration. The Jamaican sprinter Bolt had won for defending his gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter races of the summers’ Olympic Games, he also won the same award previously in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Bolt managed to be ahead of United States hurdler Aries Merritt and Kenyan runner David Rudisha to win the award. 

Allyson Felix managed to secure her Gold medal in the London Olympics in the 200 meter race. Before this she managed to settle down with the Silver in the Beijing Olympics in the year 2008. New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams and British heptathlete Jessica Ennis were the other finalists of the Women award segment, who also were the gold medalists in London Olympics. 

In 2003, Bolt and Felix won the Rising Star awards for the most promising young athletes of the year.

United States hurdler Aries Merritt was successful in winning the Inspiration Award for his season and the award included a gold medal and a world record in the 110-meter hurdles. David Rudisha won the Performance of the Year award for his record-setting gold medal run in the 800 meters; he was the winner of the Athlete of the Year in 2010. Keshorn Walcott, Javelin thrower of Trinidad and Anthonique Strachan sprinter of Bahamas won the Rising Star awards.

M. Mahalakshmi and R. Vaishali won Gold at the World Youth Chess Championship

M. Mahalakshmi and R. Vaishali from Chennai on 19 November 2012 won Gold at the World Youth Chess Championship in Slovenia. Arvindh Chithambaram (Under-14 Open) from Madurai and Girish A. Koushik (Under-16 Open) from Mysore won Silver Medals in the championship. G.K. Monnisha (under-14) and Savant Riya (Under-12) secured Bronze at the Championship for India.

R. Vaishali was successful in securing her position in under-12 girls honours. Arvindh Chithambaram lost gold after losing the tie-up with the American Troff Kayden by a tie-break score at the end of the 11-round event.

 

DGP of Andhra Pradesh V. Dinesh Reddy appointed as the President of IHF

V. Dinesh Reddy, the Director-General of Police for Andhra Pradesh has been appointed as the New President of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on 7 November 2012. Dinesh Reddy replaced R.K. Shetty after he resigned from the post.

Reddy’s elevation to the post happened because he was the senior most Vice-President of the organization after R.K. Shetty and would be at the post till next elections of the federation takes places.  

Indian Olympic Association’s Electoral College has also released a list for elections that is scheduled for 25 November and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) was allowed to vote attend the meetings scheduled in the future for the elections, but would not be allowed to vote in the elections. Hockey India (HI) would be placing three representatives who are eligible for Voting during the elections.

Gaganjeet Bhullar Declared Youngest Indian on Golfer List

Indian Golf Player Gaganjeet Bhullar became the First Indian who made it to the elite group of the world’s top-100 players in the latest ranking.

The title was previously held by Jeev Milkha Singh, who broke the record in 2006 at the age of 34 with Jyoti Randhawa following him in the same year when he was also aged 34.

As per the latest Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Bhullar had jumped 10 ranks on the back of a tied-18 finish in the $7 million WGC-HSBC Champions in China to take the 98th position in the world. Only Jeev Milkha Singh is ahead of Bhullar currently, and is placed at 95 in the OWGR. The next best placed Indian is Anirban Lahiri ranking 234 on the list. 

Gaganjeet Bhullar is currently in Singapore, where he is going to play the $6 million Barclays Open.

In Year 2012, Gaganjeet Bhullar had won the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship on 17 September 2012 which was followed by his win over the Venetian Macau Open in the month of October.

 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Renamed his Super Bike Team and Signed Two New Members

Indian cricket team Captain M.S. Dhoni’s Superbike championship team on 7 November 2012 changed its name from MSD R-N Racing Team India to Mahi Racing Team India and had signed two new members.

The two new members that had been signed up are world champion Kenan Sofouglu and former world champion Fabien Foret
Sofouglu is a driver from turkey and had won the championship three times in 2007, 2010 and the recently-concluded season with the Kawaski team after the Portuguese Grand Prix.
 
While, Fabien Foret is a driver from France and is a 2002 World champion. At the end of 2008, he had 24 podium finishes under his name which includes 11 wins and 12 pole positions.

The riders are going to test the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R machines during the official winter testing season. Earlier named MSD R-N Racing Team India, the Indian skipper’s team competed in the 600cc class in 2012, becoming India’s first FIM world superbike championship team.

The Budh International Circuit is hosting the superbike world championship event in March 2013, leading to a rush in interest for India’s first bike racing team, involving Dhoni, who had passion for speed and bike.

About Superbike Race
The Superbike race first started in year 1970 when super bike race is held in many countries mainly in USA and Australia. At that time the races were of large capacity bike of up to 1100cc and were strictly limited to four stroke machines. But soon the grand prix bikes arrived in the states which were accompanied and later replaced by 700 and 750 two stroke, three or four cylinder machines.

 

Pakistan won the Asian Kabaddi Championship

Pakistan on 6 November 2012 was declared champion of the Asian Kabaddi Championship after Indian team walked out from the field in a protest against the referee’s decision of penalizing the Indian Coach. 

The Pakistani team was leading the game by 40 points against 31 points scored by the Indian side. The protest by the Indian players came after the Coach of Indian side; Goormel Singh was shown a green card after continuously disturbing the finals in protest of decision of the referee.

 

Cricketer Vernon Philander Named South-African Sportsman of the Year 2012

South African fast bowler Vernon Philander on 4 November 2012 at the South African Sports Awards ceremony in Sandton named Sportsman of the year beating two Olympic gold medallists for the award.

The top title of Sports Star of the Year went to Olympic gold-medallist swimmer Chad Le Clos who had won gold in the men's 200m butterfly at the London Olympic Games 2012.

27 Years old Vernon Philander made huge public impact since his Test debut in 2011 and he is now ranked the number two bowler in the world only behind his fellow teammate Dale Steyn.

Earlier in 2011, Hashim Amla had won the award and was nominated again this year.

Vernon Philander is the fastest player to take 50 Test match wickets in more than 100 years of cricket history and the phenomenal thing is that he has done  it in his debut year of Test match cricket.

He was named Man of the Match in South Africa's Test victory at Lord's this year in 2012when the Proteas claimed the No.1 ranking in Test match cricket.

 

Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna won First ATP Tour Masters Title

Sports Current Affairs 2012.Indian Tennis Player Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna on 4 November 2012  won their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title together defeating Pakistan's Aisam- Ul- Haq Qureshi and Netherlands' Jean- Julien Rojer by 7-6(6), 6-3 in the final of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris. 

The pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna won € 142500 in prize money and had also claimed 1000 ATP Doubles Team Rankings points, while their opponent and Barclays ATP World Tour Finals qualifiers Aisam-Ul- Qureshi and Jean- Julien Rojer claimed €69780 prize money and 600 points.

Mahesh Bhupati, till date, had won 16 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies, while for Bopanna it his second shield. 

Also, together for Bhupati and Bopanna it is their second title of the year 2012. Earlier they had won the Dubai ATP event in March 2012 and ended runners-up at Cincinnati and Shanghai.

In 2011, Rohan Bopanna and Aisam- Ul- Haq  Qureshi won the Paris title.

BCCI annual awards

 

Who won Col CK Nayudu Lifetime achievement award?
Sunil Gavaskar

Who won the award for completing 100 international centuries in cricket for India?
Sachin Tendulkar

Who won the Polly Umrigar award?
Virat Kohli

Who won the Lala Amarnath award (Best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy)?
Stuart Binny

Who was awarded the best all-rounder in limited overs cricket?
Laxmi Ratan Shukla

Who was conferred with Madhavrao Scindia Trophy (Highest Run getter in Ranji Trophy)
Robin Bist

Who is the Highest wicket-taker in the Ranji trophy
Ashoke Dinda

Who was awarded with MA Chidambaram trophy as best U-16 cricketer of 2011-12?
Mohd Saif

Who was awarded wth MA Chidambaram trophy as best under-19 cricketer?
Vijay Zol

Who won the MA Chidambaram trophy as best under-22 cricketer?
Satyam Choudhary

Who won the MA Chidambaram trophy as best woman cricketer (Sr)?
Anagha Deshpande

Who was adjudged as Best umpire in domestic cricket?
S Ravi

Organ transplant pioneer Murray dead

 

Dr. Joseph Murray, who won the Nobel Prize for the first successful organ transplant, died on Monday at the age of 93, according to the Boston Globe . Born on April 1, 1919 in Milford, Massachusetts, Dr. Murray traced his interest in the emerging science of transplants to the three years he spent at an army hospital in Pennsylvania during World War II. There surgeons would often treat severely burned soldiers with temporary skin grafts from cadavers.

The prospect of transplanting organs from one living patient to another was controversial from the beginning, with critics viewing it as a violation of nature. But the public started coming aroundafter Dr. Murray’s historic operation in 1954.

In the 1960s Dr. Murray helped to develop the drug Imuran, which suppressed the immune system to allow patients to accept transplants from unrelated donors. He won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1990, sharing itwith E. Donnall Thomas, who pioneered bone marrow transplants.

China launches first Lankan satellite

 

Sri Lanka’s first satellite was launched into space from western China on Tuesday by a state-run Chinese firm.

SupremeSAT, a private company which has an agreement with the Chinese government-run Great Wall Industry Corporation , carried out the launch at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in western Sichuan province, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Xinhua said the Sri Lankan government had “distanced itself from the launch insisting that there is no state involvement”.

Twenty first ASEAN Summit concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The 21st ASEAN Summit Phnom Penh was held on 18 November 2012 at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia- Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen was the Chairperson for the 21st ASEAN Summit Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The head of states of the ASEAN members and the Secretary-General of ASEAN participated in the 21st ASEAN Summit and discussed about things like progress of the Implementation of ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for an ASEAN community.

Issues Discussed 

1.    Follow-up to the 20th ASEAN Summit
2.    The Progress Report on the Implementation of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity
3.    Signed Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
4.    Exchange of View on Regional and International Issues

A Leaders’ Statement on the establishment of an ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center(ARMAC) was also issued during the summit. 

Document Signed and Adopted

1.    Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration 
2.    ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)
3.    Concept Paper on the Establishment of an ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) 
4.    ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Establishment of an ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC)

H.E. Mr. Le Luong Minh- the candidate from the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam was appointed as the upcoming Secretary General for ASEAN for the next five year term by the ASEAN Head of States. The nomination was done on the basis of alphabetical rotation plan for next five year that would start from January 2013 and end in December 2018. 

ASEAN

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was created on 8 August 1967 at Bangkok, Thailand after ASEAN Declaration (also called Bangkok Declaration) was signed between the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand. With time 5 more South Asian countries joined the group namely Brunei Darussalam joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999. Today, ASEAN is a 10-member group by now.  The group was formed with a basic idea of promoting social progress, economic growth and cultural development between the member nations and talk on the differences in a peaceful manner.

The Seventh East Asia Summit concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The seventh East Asia Summit (EAS) was held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 19 November 2012. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen chaired the meeting. The Leaders of East Asia Summit adopted a joint declaration for the 7th East Asia Summit following the regional responses to control Malaria and address the resistance to anti-malarial medicines.

The Phnom Penh Declaration of the East Asia Summit Development Initiative was also taken on this occasion. Discussions and exchange of views on different regional and international issues was also done between the leaders of the member-nations.

Apart from the 10 members of the ASEAN representatives from eight different countries namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and United States of America also participated in the summit.

Issues Discussed

The leaders of the East India Summit discussed on a variety of issues to seek mutual cooperation for growth and to decide the future direction of the member nations.

Priority Areas

1. Environment and energy
2. Education
3. Finance
4. Global health issues and pandemic diseases
5. Natural disaster mitigation
6. ASEAN connectivity

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and the largest city of the country. It is located on the bank of River Mekong. Phnom Penh is the centre for all types of economic and industrial activities in the nation.

Other summits that concluded at Peace Palace

1. 4th ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Meeting Peace Palace, 19 November 2012
2. 15th ASEAN-ROK Summit Peace Palace, 19 November 2012
3. ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 19 November 2012
4. 15TH ASEAN-JAPAN SUMMIT Phnom Penh, 19 November 2012
5. 15TH ASEAN-China Summit Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 19 November 2012
6. 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 20 November 2012

Who are EAS Members?

All 10 ASEAN members	Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam	10
6 Regional partners	China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.	6
2 Superpowers	US, Russia (from 2011 onwards)	2
Total Members of East Asia Summit=		18

• Both East Asia Summit EAS (7^th) and ASEAN-India (10^th) summit were held @ Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Nov-2012).

What are EAS priority areas?

1. Energy
2. Economy
3. Education
4. Disaster Management
5. Pandemics+Health (Malaria this year)
6. Connectivity

What is Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)?

• An Asia-wide free trade agreement .
• This agreement will bind the 10 nations of the ASEAN, + 6 regional partners into a massive framework for economic integration.

10 ASEAN nations	6 regional partners
Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam	Australia China India South Korea Japan New Zealand

Why is RCEP important?

• RCEP would be the largest regional trading arrangement in the world so far.
• It’ll combined market population of more than 3 billion people and a combined GDP of about 20 trillion dollars.
• A successful RCEP would significantly boost global trade and investment for India as well.

What is Nalanda University Project?

• Nalanda was a renowned Buddhist centre of learning, in Ancient India. It taught students in medicine, mathematics, astronomy and politics.
• The Modern Day Nalanda Univ. project = brain child of Dr.Kalam. and was endorsed by East Asia Summit members.
• 2010: Indian parliament passed an Act to rebuild the university.
• Aim: to attract thousands of the finest teachers and students from around the globe, just as the university did centuries ago.
• 2012: Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen was appointed first Chancellor of this univ.
• first two schools on ecology and environment and historical studies will start in 2014.

What is EAS declaration on Malaria?

• Malaria is a wholly preventable and treatable disease. Yet it kills thousands of people in the Asia-Pacific every year.
• East Asian leaders have agreed to form an alliance with Pacific nations to

1. fight against malaria and
2. Deal with the drug-resistant strains of Malaria.

Concerns/Issues

This is the first Issue @EAS

#1 Maritime Disputes Discussion

• China insisted that Diaoyu /Senkaku island conflict (click me), along with its other maritime disputes in the region, should not be discussed at the East Asia summit
• but rather deal with these issues on a bilateral basis (two countries talking to each other).
• The Asian countries involved in these disputes have expressed an unwillingness to engage in heated debate over disputes during the EAS summit, Because of China’s powerful geopolitical position + their dependence on trade with China.

#2: US-Pacific Free Trade (TPP)

• During the EAS summit, Obama discussed a the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) – a type of Free Trade Agreement between USA  vs Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc.
• This is a US invasion on China’s economic turf.
• If signed, the agreement could pose a great challenge to Chinese products.

#3: New Cold War Theater

• China is expanding its military clout (through Strings of Pearl + 5^th Generation stealth aircraft, as we saw in earlier article. click ME)
• On the other hand, to balance Chinese domination, America is strengthening its traditional military alliances in the region and building new partnerships.
• That’s why, Obama is also making trips to Myanmar and Thailand (in pretext of visiting EAS).
• USA  is also planning to deploy 60 per cent of its armed forces in the Pacific theater.
• In the coming year, For ASEAN, it will be difficult to keep political unity due to China’s rising power.
• The small Asian nations are looking towards the US to balance a rising China. So a new cold war theater is emerging.
• The fact that they invited the US itself was a recognition that if you are in a cage with an 800-pound gorilla, you should at least invite another one into it to provide a balance. (C Raja Mohan)

#4: India, the New NAM

• During the Cold War, India was a leading figure in the Non-Aligned Movement of countries that tried to avoid joining the U.S. or the Soviet Union.
• IF China unwilling to make reasonable solutions to settling the border dispute, then you can visualize a scenario where India may be non-aligned, but it does more things with the U.S.
• We want to expand our influence in Asia through so-called “Look East Policy.” But that opportunity is not without risk.
• ASEAN countries want to evolve a Code of Conduct for use of resources of South China Sea in the light of Chinese claims.
• In EAS and ASEAN summit, India will have to address the many questions on where India stands in the rapidly deteriorating regional security environment. And that cannot be done without annoying China. Although, we’ve already annoyed China.

1. We’ve gone nose-to-nose with China over an oil-drilling pact with Vietnam in the disputed South China Sea
2. We’ve deployed three Brahmos cruise-missile regiments on border with China following a number of Chinese provocations.
3. Soon, we will recruit 100,000 new soldiers for posting along the same frontier.

• Today We are one of the biggest economies and largest militaries in the region.
• So, we have the responsibility and opportunity to mitigate great power tensions (US-China) and defuse regional conflicts in Asia.
• After all, India’s independent foreign policy was always about shaping a sustainable order in Asia and beyond.