6 armoured troop carriers enter east Ukraine town bearing Russian, separatist flags

Six armoured troop carriers entered the eastern Ukrainian town of Slaviansk on 16th April carrying the Russian national flag and the banner of pro-Russian separatists.
Several armed men, who wore different types of battle fatigues and appeared to be pro-Russia activists, sat atop each of the vehicles. The vehicles stopped outside the town's city hall which has for several days been occupied by separatists. 

The second vehicle carried the emblem of the Donetsk People's Republic which a group of separatists proclaimed last week and which the Kiev authorities see as a first step to seeking to break from Ukraine and join with Russia. 

The men on top of the troop carriers, some of whom were masked, were armed with Kalashnikov rifles, grenade launchers, knives and pistols. 

The convoy came in from the direction of Kramatorsk, 15 kilometres (six miles) to the south, where Ukrainian airborne troops on Tuesday secured control over a military airfield. 

The armed men waved to people as they drove into the town where separatists occupy several buildings including the police headquarters and the offices of the state security service. 
There was no sign of Ukrainian troops in the city despite an announcement by Kiev authorities on Tuesday that a military-backed "anti-terrorist" operation was being extended to Slaviansk after the military action in Kramatorsk. 

The origin of the troop carriers was not immediately clear. 

Continue Reading...

Nasa images suggest that Saturn is about to ‘give birth’ to a new moon

New images from Nasa's Cassini-Huygens space probe suggest that Saturn may be in the process of forming a new moon, which has already been affectionately named by scientists as "Peggy".

The tiny, icy satellite has not been spotted directly, but a bulge in Saturn's A Ring — the brightest and outermost ring — suggests that the new arrival could soon join Saturn's already impressive family of 62 moons.
Saturn's rings are comprised almost entirely of ice with a trace amount of rocky material and stretch from 7,000km to 80,000km above the surface of Saturn's equator with a thickness varying from 10 metres to 1 kilometre.

The rings are not solid, but are made up of countless individual fragments ranging in size from particles as small as a grain of sand to boulder-like lumps metres across. It's thought that the rings act as a galactic nursery for the planet's many moons, with material gradually clumping together in orbit until it gathers enough momentum to separate.
The largest of Saturn's moons is Titan with a diameter of more than 5,000km and a mass nearly double that of our Moon. If Peggy does eventually grow up enough to leave home it would be tiny in comparison, perhaps only 0.5 miles in diameter.

Although many of Saturn's satellites eventually take on orbits many thousands of miles away from the planet, others stay closer to home, sculpting the rings by either collecting stray matter to sharpen their edges or carving out thin gaps like someone a giant snowball rolled through a snowy field.

However, Peggy's diminutive size suggests that Saturn's satellite-bearing days may soon be over, with each successive moon appearing smaller than the last as the supply of potentially moon-forming material is depleted.

Continue Reading...

Calculating Square of Numbers Quickly

Step 1: Remember the Square from 1 to 10.

1--->1
2--->4
3--->9
4--->16
5--->25
6--->36
7--->49
8--->64
9--->81
10--->100

Now for next numbers follow this approach:

To calculate square 11 to 19
Consider we want to calculate square of 12.
1. Add unit digit to number in this case – 12+2 = 14.(AB)
2. Write square of unit digit in this case it is 4.(C)
3. Write digits ABC as answer, so the answer is 144.

Point to remember answer will always be of three digits.

Consider number 17 (in which 7 square is 49 i..e of two digits)
1. Add unit digit in this case to number in this case – 17 + 7 = 24(AB).
2. Write square of unit digit in this case it is 49.(C)
3. So while writing answer you should add 4 from 49 to 4 from 24.
4. So answer will be 289.

The whole above calculation is possible because base is 10.
Now consider 21 to 29
Now base is 20.

Consider number : 23
1. Add unit digit to number = 23+3 = 26
2. Now double this number = 52 (AB) (we are doubling this number because the base is 10 *2 ==20)
3. Now square the unit digit which is 9.(C)
4. So write answer as ABC – 529.

Consider one more number 27.(Asked in one of the comment)
1. Add unit digit 27+7 = 34
2. Now double this number : 68(AB)
3. Now square unit digit : 49.(C)
4. Now add 4 of 49 to 8 of 68. 729
5. So 729 will be the answer.

Easy Way to Calculate the square of 30 to 80:
square of 50 =2500
If you want to find the square of 49
Step1: The difference between number and 50 = 1
Step2: Reduce the difference from 25, you will get 24 here
Step3: Square the difference and write in front of Step 2.
Step1: 50-49=1
Step2: 25-1=24
Step3: Square (1) =1
Step4:2401 is the answer.

Example 2: Square (48)
Step1:50-48 = 2
Step2: 25-2=23
Step3: Square (2) = 4
Step4:2304 is the answer.

To consider a number more than 50
In Step 1 you need to subtract 50 from the number you want to square. In Step 2 you need to add.
Square ( 51)
Step1: 51-50=1
Step2: 25+1=26
Step3: Square (1) =1
Step4:2601 is the answer.

Square of number between 76 to 100:

Let the number be MN and square of MN be XXYY.

Step I : YY = MN - Difference between the MN and 100.
Step II: XX = (Difference between the MN and 100)^2

Example:
(a) 96^2 = ?
Difference between 96 and 100 = 04
Step I: YY = 96 - 04 = 92
Step II: XX = (04)^2 = 16
So, 96^2 = 9216
(b) 82 ^ 2 = ?
Difference between 82 and 100 = 18
Step I: YY = 82 - 18 = 64
Step II: XX = (18)^2 =324
So, 82^2 = 6 (4 + 3)24 = 6724

Continue Reading...

Calculate faster - Math strategies

• Reciprocal of 2 (i.e 1/2) is 50%, that of 4 will be half of 50% i.e 25%. Similarly, reciprocal of 8 will be half of 25% = 12.5% and that of 16 will be 6.25%

•  Reciprocal of 3 is 33.33%. Thus reciprocal of 6 will be half of 33.33% i.e 16.66% and that of 12 will be 8.33%

• Reciprocal of 9 is 11.11% and reciprocal of 11 is 9.0909%. Reciprocal of 9 is composed of 11's and reciprocal of 11 is composed of 09's.
• If any calculation has 9 in the denominator, the decimal part will be only 1111 or 2222 or 3333 or 4444...

         ex. 95/9 will be 10.5555

•  Reciprocal of 20 is 5% [ you can remember this as 1/5 = 20% so, 1/20 = 5%]

• Reciprocal of 21 is 4.76% and of 19 is 5.26%. Thus we can easily remember reciprocals of 19, 20, 21 as 5.25%, 5 ,4.75% i.e 0.25% more and less than 5%

• Similarly, reciprocal of 25 is 4 % [ Remember this as 1/4 = 25%, so 1/25 = 4%]

• Reciprocal of 24 is 4.16% and of 26 is 3.84%. Thus, we can easily remember reciprocals of 24, 25, 26 as 4.15%, 4, 3.85% i.e 0.15% more and less than 4%.

• Reciprocal of 29 is 3.45% (i.e 345 in order) and reciprocal of 23 is 4.35% ( same digits but order is different. If 1/29 = 3.45% than definitely 1/23 will be more than 3.45%. Reverse the digits and the answer comes to 4.35%)

• Reciprocal of 18 is half of 11.1111% i.e 5.5555% i.e it consists of only 5's.

•  Reciprocal of 22 is half of 09.0909%. i.e 4.5454% i.e consists of 45's.

•  One can remember 1/8 = 12.5% and tables of 8, and one can easily remember fractions such as 2/8, 3/8, 5/8, 7/8 which are used very regularly. 

• 1/8 is 12.5%, 2/8 is 25% (12.5*2), 3/8 is 37.5% (12.5*3), 5/8 is 62.5% ( 12.5*5), 7/8 = 87.5%

Continue Reading...

2 dead after ferry sinks off South Korean coast

Dozens of military boats and helicopters scrambled on Wednesday to rescue more than 470 people, including 325 high school students on a school trip, after a ferry sank off South Korea’s southern coast, killing at least two and injuring 14, officials said.

The ferry with 476 people was sailing to the southern island of Jeju when it sent a distress call on Wednesday morning after it began leaning to one side, according to Ministry of Security and Public Administration. The government said about 95 per cent of the ship was submerged.

Two Coastguard officers said that a 27-year-old woman named Park Ji-yeong and another unidentified person had died. One of the officers said 180 passengers had been rescued so far, but gave no further details, including what caused the ship to sink or the conditions of the other passengers.

A student, Lim Hyung-min, told broadcaster YTN from a gym on a nearby island that he jumped into the ocean wearing a life jacket with other students and then swam to a nearby rescue boat.

Local media ran photos showing the partially submerged ship tilting dramatically as helicopters flew overhead and rescue vessels and a small boat covered with an orange tarp over it floated nearby.

The students are from a high school in Ansan city near Seoul and they were on their way to the Jeju island for a four-day trip, according to a relief team set up by Gyeonggi Province, which governs the city. The ship left Incheon port, just west of Seoul, on Tuesday evening, according to Busan Regional Maritime Affairs & Port Administration.

At the high school, students were sent home and parents gathered for news about the ferry.

A total of 16 helicopters, 34 rescue vessels and Navy divers were sent to the area, Lee Gyeong-Og, a vice minister for South Korea’s Public Administration and Security Ministry, told a televised news conference. He said President Park Geun-hye ordered a thorough rescue operation to prevent deaths. He said 14 had been injured so far, including one described as serious, and taken to hospitals.

Continue Reading...

SSC Sub-inspectors in DP, CAPFs & Assistant sub-inspectors in CISF Final Result

The Staff Selection Commission has declared the final result of sub-inspectors in Delhi Police, CAPFs and assistant sub-inspectors in CISF which was conducted by SSC on 23rd June (Paper I) and paper II on 6th October, 2013. Since there is no cut off fixed for paper II by commission, all the candidates qualified for PET and found fit in medical examination called for interview.
 As per Notice of the examination, candidates were required to indicate their
preference for various posts as under :-
A- Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police
B- Sub-Inspector in Border Security Force (BSF)
C- Sub-Inspector in Central Industrial Security Force(CISF)
D- Assistant Sub-Inspector in Central Industrial Security Force(CISF)
E- Sub-Inspector in Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF)
F- Sub-Inspector in Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
G- Sub-Inspector in Sahsstra Seema Bal(SSB)

All the candidates who appeared in interview can check their result at below link:

Male Candidates:   Click here
Female candidates: Click here
Cut off:                  Click here

Continue Reading...

Justice RM Lodha to be next Chief Justice of India

Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha has been appointed as the next Chief Justice of India and he will assume his charge on April 27.Justice Lodha (64) is the senior-most judge of the apex court after CJI P Sathasivam. He will have a brief tenure of five months as the Chief Justice as he is scheduled to retire on September 27, this year.

Justice Lodha's name was recommended as the next CJI by Justice Sathasivam.

As per the Memorandum of Procedure which governs the appointment of members of the higher judiciary, appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office.

It stipulates that the Law Minister would, at the appropriate time, seek the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of the next CJI.

Under this process, after receipt of the recommendation of the CJI, the Law Minister puts it up to the Prime Minister who advises the President in the matter of appointment.

Born in Jodhpur, Justice Lodha enrolled with Bar Council of Rajasthan in February 1973.

He practiced Law in the Rajasthan High Court and dealt with all branches of law - constitutional, civil, company, criminal, taxation and labour.

He was elevated as a Permanent Judge of the Rajasthan High Court in January 1994. He was transferred to the Bombay High Court where he assumed office in February 1994.

Justice Lodha was transferred back to the Rajasthan High Court in February 2007. He had been the Administrative Judge of the Rajasthan High Court and was chairman of State Judicial Academy.

He was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on May 13, 2008 and elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on December 17, 2008.

Continue Reading...

Gulzar to get Dadasaheb Phalke award

Renowned lyricist, poet, author and filmmaker Gulzar will be honoured with the 2013 Dadsaheb Phalke award, the country' highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India.

The 79-year-old was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2004 and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002. He has won a number of National Film Awards and 20 Filmfare Awards.

The ace lyricist whose songs have entertained many generations of Indians has also won international renown. At the 81st Academy Awards, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Jai Ho" (shared with AR Rahman), for the film Slumdog Millionaire. In January 2010, the same song won him a Grammy Award in the category of Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh, started his career in films with his song 'Mora gora rang layee le' for Bimal Roy's classic Bandini in 1963, and began his tryst with the Hindi film world, where he penned songs, wrote dialogues and scripts. He later moved to direction, tackling a range of themes.

However, Gulzar's most successful songs as a lyricist were to come out later, of his association with Rahul Dev Burman who he described later as an anchor in his life.

The range of his versatility is manifest in his award-winning associations with the music directors of many generations: Salil Chowdhury (Anand, Mere Apne), Madan Mohan (Mausam) and more recently with Vishal Bhardwaj (Maachis, Omkara, Kaminey), AR Rahman (Dil Se, Guru, Slumdog Millionaire, Raavan) and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (Bunty aur Babli).

Making his directorial debut Mere Apne in 1971, Gulzar went on to make classics like Parichay, Koshish and Aandhi.

Continue Reading...

Sun Pharma buys Ranbaxy from Japan's Daiichi

In a landmark transaction for the Indian pharmaceutical industry, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (SPL) on Monday announced that it will acquire 100 per cent of Ranbaxy Laboratories in a $ 4 billion all-share transaction.

The transaction has a total equity value of $ 3.2 billion and a net debt of $ 800 million on Ranbaxy’s books will also be part of the transaction.

The combined entity will create the fifth-largest specialty generics company in the world and the largest pharmaceutical company in India with leadership in 13 specialty segments.

The combine will have operations in 65 countries, 47 manufacturing facilities across five continents and a swathe of specialty and generics products including 629 ANDAs (Abbreviated new drug applications). It will also become the largest Indian pharma company in USA with over $ 2 billion sales and a pipeline of 184 ANDAs.

Both companies said that they had entered definitive agreements under which Ranbaxy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Sun Pharma for every share of Ranbaxy. The exchange ratio represents a value of Rs 457 per share of Ranbaxy which is at an 18 per cent premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average share price and a premium of 24.3 per cent to Ranbaxy’s 60-day volume-weighted average share price as on April 4, 2014. The transaction is expected to close by December 2014 and will be EPS-accretive a year after.

The transaction has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and Daiichi Sankyo which holds 63.4 per cent in Ranbaxy.

After opening the day at Rs 505, in afternoon trade, Ranbaxy shares slid 4.84 per cent to Rs 437.3 while Sun Pharma shares rose 1.21 per cent at Rs 578.8.

Continue Reading...

ssc cgl 2013 re-exam not cancelled

विशयः-संयुक्त स्नातक स्तरीय (Tier-I) परीक्षा 2013 - पुनर्परीक्षा के सम्बन्ध में।

आयोग द्वारा निर्णय लिया गया है कि संयुक्त स्नातक स्तरीय (Tier-I) परीक्षा 2013 के जिन अभ्यर्थियों की परीक्षा इलाहाबाद, पटना एवं लखनऊ परीक्षा केन्द्रों पर दिनांक 21.04.2013 एवं 19.052013 को सम्पन्न हुई थी। उनकी पुनर्परीक्षा दिनांक 27.04.2014(रविवार) को इलाहाबाद, पटना एवं वाराणसी में होगी। (लखनऊ परीक्षा केन्द्रों के अभ्यर्थियों की परीक्षा वाराणसी में होगी)

पुनर्परीक्षा केवल उन्हीं अभ्यर्थियों की होगी जो Tier-I परीक्षा में उपस्थित थे।

परीक्षा हेतु प्रवेश-पत्र शीघ्र ही भेजे जायेंगे। link

Continue Reading...

BJP releases manifesto, promises to improve economy, end policy paralysis

The BJP on 7th April released its manifesto focusing on improving the country's economy and infrastructure, ending policy paralysis and curbing corruption. On Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said barring FDI in multi-brand retail, the party was not opposed to the FDI as it will create employment. 
Highlights of BJP manifesto 

1: BJP promises to put in place strict measures and special Courts to stop hoarding and black marketing

2: On Ram Mandir, BJP reiterates its stand to explore all possibilities within framework of Constitution to facilitate construction

3: BJP manifesto promises to start process of bringing back black money to India, says it will be priority

4: Barring the multi-brand retail sector, FDI will be allowed in sectors wherever needed for job and asset

5: Agri Rail network will be established designed to cater to the specific needs of perishable Agricultural products

6: The manifesto promises launch of Diamond Quadrilateral project - of high speed train network

7: Oil and gas explorations would be expedited in the country, will help reduce import bill

8: BJP government will reform tax system to attract investors. Tax Terrorism will be ended and people's woes reduced

9: Madrasas to be modernized by inducting maths and science teachers

full manifesto

Continue Reading...

SSC postpones CGLE 2013 Re-exam due to LS polls

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has postponed this year's Combined Graduate Level Examination-2014, which was scheduled to be held on April 27 and May 4, citing Lok Sabha elections.The new date for the examination will be intimated in due course of time, the SSC said.

In view of the general elections announced by the government during the month of April and May, 2014, all the applicants are hereby informed that the Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2014 stands postponed, it said in a notice.

"CGLE 2014 is tentatively scheduled to be held towards the second half of the current year. The new date will be intimated in due course," the Commission said.

The counting for Lok Sabha elections, which begins from Monday, is scheduled to be held on May 16.

The recruitment body will also conduct re-examination of Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE)-2013 at seven centres -- Lucknow, Patna, Allahabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Shimla and Dehradun -- after the elections. There had been reports of use of unfair means by candidates at these centres.

SSC had conducted CGLE-2013 in two phases -- Tier I on April 21 and May 19, 2013 and Tier II on September 29, 2013.

Candidates who appeared in Tier-I and Tier-II of CGLE-2013 from other than those seven centres will not have to appear for re-examination, the SSC stated.

However, a candidate who has appeared in either Tier-I or Tier-II from the seven centres will have to take re-examination for only the papers written there.

The Combined Graduate Level Examination is conducted to select candidates for majority of Group 'B' and 'C' posts including assistants in central ministries, income tax and central excise inspectors, assistant enforcement officers, sub-inspectors in CBI and inspectors in Central Bureau of Narcotics, among others.

Click here for link

Continue Reading...

SBI PO Recruitment 2014

Application are invited from eligible Indian citizen for recruitment to the post of probationary officer in State Bank of India. All candidates may apply online on or before 25th April, 2014. More details are given below :

Vacancies :
SC : 235, ST : 439, OBC : 405, GEN : 758, TOTAL : 1837  VH : 29, OH : 31 PWD : 60

Educational Qualification as on 1st August 2014: Bachelor Degree from any University
Age Limit as on 1st August : 21-30 years as on 1st August, 2014. Age relaxation is applicable as per government rule.

Application Fee: Rs. 100/- for SC, ST & PWD and Rs. 500/- for General and Others.

Emoluments 
Pay : The starting Basic Pay is Rs. 16,900/- ( with 4 increments ) in the scale of Rs.14,500 - 600/7-18700-700/ 2-20100-800/7-25,700 applicable to junior management grade scale I. The official will also be eligible for D.A, H.R.A & C.C.A as per rules. The compensation per annum at Mumbai is around Rs. 8,40,000/- . The break up of monthly compensation is as per under:
Cash Component                                        Rs. 34,320/-
Bank's contribution to PF                            Rs.1,690/-
Housing                                                     Rs.29,500/-
Perquisites                                                  Rs.4,130/-

Selection Procedure: Online Objective Test for 200 marks and Descriptive Test for 50 marks
(i) Objective Test: The Objective Test with 2 hour duration consists of 4 section with 50 marks each (Total 200 marks) as follows:
(a) Test of English Language (Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension etc.)
(b) Test General Awareness, Marketing & Computers
(c) Test Data Analysis & Interpretation
(d) Test of Reasoning (High Level)
The candidates are required to qualify in each of the tests by securing passing marks, to be decided by the Bank.
(ii) Descriptive Test: The Descriptive Test with 1hour duration (50marks) will be of "Test of English Language (comprehension, short precis, letter writting & essay)"
The candidates are required to qualify in the Descriptive Test by securing passing marks, to be decided by the Bank.
(b) Phase-II Group Discussion (20 marks) &Interview (30 marks)
Final Selection:  The candidates will have to qualify both in Phase-I and Phase- II separately.

Important Dates: 
Online registration: 7th April to 25th April, 2014
Online Fee submission: 7th April to 25th April, 2014
Offline Fee submission: 10th April to 28th April,2014
Date for Exam. : June (Tentative)
For more details Like Age limit, Educational eligibility, Pay scale, Selection procedure,How to Apply
& many other information click at below advertisement details:
Advertisement details
Apply Online

Continue Reading...

FIFA banned Barcelona from signing players

FIFA has banned Barcelona from signing any players for the next two transfer windows because of rule violations.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee found the Spanish champion breached the rules “relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.”

World football’s governing body also fined Barcelona 450,000 Swiss francs ($509,000) and gave the club 90 days “to regularize the situation of all minor players concerned.”

Continue Reading...

EC allowed RBI to grant new bank licences

Ending weeks of uncertainty, the Election Commission on Tuesday allowed the Reserve Bank to issue licences for setting up new banks.

The approval came after the RBI missed the March-end deadline for issuing the first bank licence in almost a decade.

The RBI on March 12 approached the Election Commission (EC) seeking its approval for granting bank lincences as the model code of conduct had come in place after the general elections announcement on March 5.

The RBI had received 27 applications initially. Later, Tata Sons and Value Industries withdrew, leaving 25 contenders in the race.

Public sector India Post and IFCI and private sector Anil Ambani group and Aditya Birla group were among the 25 players in the fray. Bajaj Finance, Muthoot Finance, Religare Enterprises and Shriram Capital have also applied.

Earlier in the day, the RBI Governor while unveiling bi-monthly monetary policy said that once the central bank gets the Election Commission approval it would expedite the process and grant licences.

In the past 20 years, the RBI has licensed 12 banks in the private sector in two phases. Ten banks were licensed on the basis of guidelines issued in January 1993.

Kotak Mahindra Bank and Yes Bank were the last two entities to get banking licences from the RBI in 2003-04.

Continue Reading...

SC issues notice to Centre on reservation for jats

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to Centre on petitions challenging March 3 decision of UPA government to include jats in OBC list for reservation benefits. 

The apex court asked the Centre to bring all relevant records to show there was proper consideration of National Commission for Backward Classes report to reject its recommendation against inclusion of jats as OBC. 

The NCBC had objected to inclusion of jats among OBCs saying they are a forward community mostly of zamindars. 

The court said it will consider the petitioners' plea for stay on inclusion of jats in OBC after examining from records the Centre's application of mind on the issue. 

The petitioners have alleged that a desperate UPA government took this decision only to create vote bank. 

The court has asked the government to present all relevant records in court on April 9. 

Continue Reading...

SC rejects Centre's plea against relief for Rajiv killers

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed Centre's petition seeking review of judgment commuting death penalty to life imprisonment of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan. 
The Centre had contended in its petition that the three-judge bench did not consider the merits of the case and also ventured into the domain of government by commuting the death sentence in the case. 

It had further contended the February 18 judgment was passed without jurisdiction by the three-judge bench instead of by a larger bench of five judges as the case involved substantial interpretation of law and provisions of the constitution. 
The apex court order comes as a relief to the three convicts, whose death sentence had been commuted to life in prison. 

Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan had petitioned the apex court against their death sentence, arguing that there had been an exceptional delay in a decision on their mercy pleas. 

Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbedur on May 21, 1991. 

Continue Reading...

Climate change may lead India to war: UN report

Asia is facing the brunt of climate change and will see severe stress on water resources and food-grain production in the future, increasing the risk of armed conflict among India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, the latest report of a UN panel has warned.
Key messages from IPCC report 

* Coming years will see more extreme weather events (floods, cyclones, cloud bursts, unseasonal excessive rains and drought etc) in most parts of the globe 

* Maldives, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be among the most affected countries in Asia 

* Severe stress on fresh water resources in South Asia and China (Himalayan river basins) may become a reason for armed conflict in the region by middle of the 21st century 

* Climate change may be a determining factor in national security policies 

* Coastal flooding will not only kill people and cause destruction, it will also affect tourism in India (like in Goa and Kerala) 

* Decline in foodgrain production (wheat in India/Pakistan and wheat and maize in China) 

* Big coastal cites like Mumbai and Kolkata will be affected by sea-level rise in 21st century 

* Some fish and other marine animals will face extinction by 2050, affecting fishing community 

* In many regions, changing precipitation or melting snow and ice are altering hydrological systems, affecting water resources in terms of quantity and quality 

* Glaciers (including Himalayan) continue to shrink almost worldwide due to climate change, affecting run-off and water resources downstream 

* Climate change will impact human health mainly by exacerbating health problems that already exist.

Continue Reading...

SC commutes Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's death sentence to life imprisonment

The Supreme Court on Monday commuted 1993 Delhi blast convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's death sentence to life imprisonment. 

Bhullar was convicted for his involvement in 1993 Delhi bomb blast case and his wife Navneet Kaur had sought commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment on grounds of delay in deciding his mercy petition and also on grounds he is suffering from mental illness. 

On March 27, the central government had told the apex court that there was delay in the deciding death row convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's mercy petition and the court could decide on his wife's plea for commutation of death sentence into life imprisonment. 

A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice RM Lodha, Justice HL Dattu and Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya was told that the court, by its January 21 verdict, had already decided that inordinate and unexplained delay in deciding the mercy petition by the President is a ground for commuting death sentence into life imprisonment. 

Appreciating the position articulated by the Centre, the SC said that it was a fair stand and reserved its order which was pronounced today. 

Continue Reading...

Upper Division Grade Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2013 Held on 30.11.2013

Upper Division Grade Limited Departmental Competitive  Examination, 2013 Held on 30.11.2013

Click here

Continue Reading...

Terror attack in J&K; 1 killed, 3 injured

Three terrorists in Army fatigues opened fire at a vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on 28th March, killing one person and injuring three others.
The injured have been shifted to Government Medical College Hospital,  adding a high alert has been sounded by the security agencies. 

Security has been stepped up at Army camps and important places in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts. 

This is the second major terror attack in Kathua district. On September 26, 2013, three heavily-armed terrorists had attacked a police station and an Army camp in the border districts of Kathua and Samba, killing ten people, including four policemen and a Army officer. 

Continue Reading...

Sunil Gavaskar will be interim BCCI President

The Supreme Court on 28th March allowed Chennai Superkings and Rajasthan Royals to play in IPL Season 7. The apex court also asked BCCI chief N Srinivasan not to discharge functions till the final orders of the court.

Former India cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has been asked to act as chief of the board for all matters relating to the IPL. The BCCI vice-president will function in place of Srinivasan for all other matters of the Board.

Some Judgment of Honorable Supreme Court:

• Gavaskar to be compensated for the job of interim president by BCCI. Sunil Gavaskar to replace N Srinivasan, to discharge function as BCCI president only for IPL 7. For non-IPL BCCI affairs, Shivlal Yadav will take charge. SC asks Gavaskar to get out of contractual obligations with BCCI for commentary.
• IPL matches of season 7 to go on as per schedule. The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Chennai Superkings and Rajasthan Royals to play in IPL Season 7, ending speculation that they will not be allowed to play this time.
• Except players and commentators, no other employee of India Cements or its subsidiary or associate companies will participate in any duties.
• SC asks Gavaskar whether IPL COO Sundar Raman need to be replaced.
• SC refuses to pass any order for allowing N Srinivasan to participate in activities of ICC.

Continue Reading...

WHO: Air pollution killed 7 million people in 2012

Air pollution killed an estimated 7 million people around the world in 2012, making it the biggest environmental health risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) said
The situation was worst in developing and emerging countries in Southern Asia, South-East Asia and East Asia, where a total of 3.3 million deaths were linked to indoor air pollution and 2.6 million to outdoor pollution

Use of wood, coal or dung for cooking is the biggest indoor polluter.

In Europe’s industrialised countries, 279,000 deaths could be traced to air pollution.

The WHO said bad air quality outside was a result of unsustainable policies in the transport, energy and waste sectors, as well as in industry.

Cleaning up the air would reduce risks, especially for vulnerable children and the elderly, the UN health body said.

Continue Reading...

Sochi G8 summit cancelled over Ukraine crisis

The US and top economic powers have cancelled an upcoming G8 summit to build pressure on Russia against its military action in Ukraine.

After the talks on the Ukraine crisis in The Hague, it was announced on Monday that the G8 summit scheduled in Sochi in June would be replaced by a G7 meeting in Brussels, without Russian involvement.

The decision was taken by leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the US, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission following their meeting in The Hague on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

Continue Reading...

SC asked Srinivasan to step down from BCCI President for fair probe in IPL fixing

Supreme Court has asked to BCCI President N. Srinivasan for step down from post if fair probe has to carried into IPL Spot fixing and betting scandal.
After going through the contents of a report filed in a sealed cover by apex court-appointed probe panel into the scandal, a bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik said there are "very very serious" allegations made in the report and unless the BCCI president steps down, no fair probe can be conducted. 
During the hearing, BCCI pleaded before the court not to disclose the contents and names of players mentioned in the report. 

Continue Reading...

Noted author and journalist Khushwant Singh dies at 99

Noted author and journalist Khushwant Singh breathed his last in the national capital on Thursday. Singh was suffering from some breathing problem before he passed away. The writer of several books and recipient of Padma Vibhushan, Singh was not keeping well of late.

His last book The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous was also released by his son Rahul Singh. Other works of the writer include Train to Pakistan, The History of Sikhs, Black Jasmine, Tradition of Punjab and many others.

Singh will be cremated in Lodhi Auditorium, Delhi at 4 pm on Thursday. 

Continue Reading...

India, China hold third round of strategic economic dialogue

India and China held their third round of the strategic economic dialogue in Beijing on 18th March focusing on collaboration in a number of areas, including railways and information technology. 

The Indian side at the talks is headed by deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia while Xu Shaoshi, chairman of the National Reforms Development Commission (NDRC) led the Chinese delegation. 

Ahead of the talks, five working groups covering different areas finalised the details for the high-level economic and trade dialogue between the two countries. 

Besides attending the SED, Ahluwalia would call on Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on 19th March. 

The working groups covered areas like infrastructure, mainly the railways and operationalise the agreement for service centres to be set up in India for Chinese power equipment, environment and resources protection, water management and policy coordination, collaboration on planning and urbanisation, cooperation in high technology including the IT sector. 

Continue Reading...

Russian President Vladimir Putin signs decree recognizing Crimea as sovereign state

The United States and European Union imposed personal sanctions on 17th March on Russian and Crimean officials involved in the seizure of Crimea from Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the region as a sovereign state.
The moves heightened the most serious East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War, following a disputed referendum in the Black Sea peninsula on Sunday in which Crimea's leaders declared a Soviet-style, 97-per cent vote to secede from Ukraine.
Putin will on 18th March address a special joint session of Russia's State Duma, or parliament, which could take a decision on annexation of the majority ethnic-Russian region.

Continue Reading...

Crimea votes to join Russia

The final results of the referendum in Crimea show that 97 per cent of voters have supported leaving Ukraine to join Russia, the head of the referendum election commission said on Monday.

Mikhail Malyshev told a televised news conference that the final tally from Sunday’s vote was 96.8 percent in favour of splitting from Ukraine. He also said that the commission has not registered a single complaint about the vote.

The referendum was widely condemned by Western leaders who were planning to discuss economic sanctions to punish Russia on Monday.

Ukraine’s new government in Kiev called the referendum a “circus” directed at gunpoint by Moscow.

The Crimean peninsula has been seized for two weeks now by troops under apparent Russian command.

Russia raised the stakes on Saturday when its forces, backed by helicopter gunships and armoured vehicles, took control of the Ukrainian village of Strilkove and a key natural gas distribution plant nearby — the first Russian military move into Ukraine beyond the Crimean peninsula of 2 million people.

The Russian forces later withdrew from the village but kept control of the gas plant. On Sunday, Ukrainian soldiers were digging trenches and erecting barricades between the village and the gas plant.

The Crimean parliament planned to meet on Monday to formally ask Moscow to be annexed, and Crimean lawmakers were to fly to Moscow later in the day for talks, Crimea’s Prime Minister said on Twitter.

Continue Reading...

SSC Junior Engineer 2013 Final Result Declared

Staff Selection Commission has declared  Junior Engineers(Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Quantity Surveying and Contract) Examination, 2013 result which was conducted on 09.06.2013 on all India basis. A total of 2,822 candidates were called for interview on the basis of performance on Paper-II.  On the basis of Written Examination and Interview, 1,220 candidates (844 Civil, 376 Electrical/Mechanical) are recommended for appointment to the post of Junior Engineer(Civil / Electrical and Mechanical) subject to thorough verification of their eligibility conditions in all respects and correctness of the information furnished by them in their applications. All appeared candidates in interview can check their result

Click here for Result (Civil)
Click here for Result (Electrical & Mechanical)
Click here for Result (Write-up)

Continue Reading...

SSC CHSLE 2013 Result Declared

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has declared result of Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination-2013 which was conducted on 20th, 27th October and 10th November at various centers across India. Qualified candidates in Written Examination will be be called for Typing Test which will start from 1st April. All appeared Candidates can check their result on official website which of link is given below:

Click here for Result DEO 
Click here for Result LDC
Click here for Write-up

Continue Reading...

Genghis Khan's Secret Weapon Was Rain

In the rings of ancient and gnarled trees, a team of scientists has found evidence of a period of consistent warmth and wetness in Mongolia between the years 1211 and 1225 -- the exact time that Genghis Khan first rose to power. 

Coincidence? They think not.

This unusual stretch of mild temperatures and unprecedented rain in an area traditionally known for its cold and arid climate would have increased the productivity of grasslands in the Mongolian steppe, the researchers say. The abundant grass would in turn increase the number of grazing animals that could live off it.

Members of Khan's army reportedly had five horses apiece, which allowed them to swiftly conquer an enormous area that stretched from eastern Asia to eastern Europe, as well as parts of northern India and the Mideast. They also traveled with a herd of livestock that provided them with food. 

"I think of it as nature set the table, and Genghis Khan came to eat," said Amy Hessl, a tree-ring scientist at West Virginia University, in a video describing the research. "He didn't have to come eat, and he didn't have to eat the way he did, but the table was set and it was a matter of whether or not the culture and the people capitalized on that."

Her colleague Neil Pederson of Columbia University's Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory put it this way: "Grass was the power of the day."

The story of the unusual wet period in Mongolian history was written in scores of ancient Siberian pine trees that Pederson and Hessl first sampled on a whim during a research trip in 2010. The trees were growing on a nearly soil-less lava field in central Mongolia, dotted with horse skeletons. The researchers said that because the trees are severely water stressed, they are especially sensitive to changes in the weather. 

On that first trip, the two scientists took core samples from about a dozen trees. When they got them back to the lab, they discovered that some of those samples dated back more than 1,000 years. They also found evidence of a climate narrative that they couldn't ignore. For a small stretch of time, some of the rings were visibly thicker.

"I was just excited that we had wood from the time of Chinggis Khan," said Pederson, using an Asian name for the ruler. "And it was really the trees saying 'look how wide our rings are right here.'"

Pederson and Hessl returned to the site two years later to sample more trees. Those samples confirmed the initial findings: The expansion of the Mongolian empire coincided with what the trees recorded as a warmer and wetter climate than usual.

In interviews, both Pederson and Hessl said there was still more work to be done to definitively link the trees' narrative with human events. They are working with experts from disciplines including ecology, biology, and history to find more evidence of how the fortuitous change in climate may have contributed to the making of the largest empire in history. 

"There are still a lot of unknowns out there," said Pederson. "The climate information in the trees is just one little piece of the puzzle."

Continue Reading...

Civil Services (Main) Examination 2013, Written Result

On the basis of the results of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2013 held by the Union Public Service Commission in December, 2013, the candidates with the under mentioned Roll Numbers have qualified for Personality Test for selection to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and other Central Services (Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’).
  Personality Test of these candidates is likely to commence from 7th April, 2014. Personality Tests will be held in the Office of the Union Public Service Commission at Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069. The date and time of Personality Test is being intimated to the qualified candidates individually. The date and time of Personality Test of candidates being called for Personality Test will be displayed on the Commission’s Website.

Click here for Result

Continue Reading...

Chandi Prasad Bhatt won Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2013 has been awarded to eminent Gandhian and environmentalist, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt on 28th February. The jury for the prize met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 18th February 2014 and decided upon his name. 
The Government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi. This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods. The award carries Rs. 10 million in cash, convertible in any currency in the world, a plaque and a citation. It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, creed or sex.The other members of the jury were Justice P Sathasivam, leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj, Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh, and ex-governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi. 

Chandi Prasad Bhatt, born in 1934 , is a noted Gandhian environmentalist and social activist. He was one of the pioneers of the Chipko movement for which he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982. He is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2005. One of India's first modern environmentalists, today he is known for his work on subaltern social ecology. 

Gandhi Peace Prize Recipient List :

Year	Recipient	Birth / death	Country	Description
1995	Julius Nyerere	1922–1999	Tanzania	First President of Tanzania
1996	A. T. Ariyaratne	b. 1931	Sri Lanka	Founder of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement
1997	Gerhard Fischer	1921–2006	Germany	German diplomat, recognised for his work against leprosy and polio
1998	Ramakrishna Mission	est. 1897	India	Founded by Swami Vivekananda for promoting social welfare, tolerance, and non-violence among disadvantaged groups
1999	Baba Amte	1914–2008	India	Social worker, known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering from leprosy
2000	Nelson Mandela	b. 1918-2013	South Africa	Former President of South Africa
2000	Grameen Bank	est. 1983	Bangladesh	Founded by Muhammad Yunus
2001	John Hume	b. 1937	Northern Ireland	Northern Irish Politician
2002	Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan	est. 1938	India	Educational trust that emphasises Indian culture
2003	Václav Havel	1936–2011	Czech Republic	Last President of Czechoslovakia and first President of the Czech Republic
2004	Coretta Scott King	1927–2006	United States	Activist and civil rights leader. Wife of Martin Luther King.
2005	Desmond Tutu	b. 1931	South Africa	South African cleric and activist
2013	Chandi Prasad Bhatt	b. 1934	India	Environmentalist, social activist and pioneer of the Chipko movement

Continue Reading...