19/02/2010 : India's first-ever 2-MW solar power plant at Awan, near Amritsar, Punjab. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah inaugurated it. set up by US company Azure Power in the independent power producers (IPP) mode.
19/02/2010 : World's fastest train - China - average speed of 350 kph - 1,068 km between Wuhan in central China and Guangzhou in the south in two hours 45 minutes
19/02/2010 : Kaushik Basu: He has been appointed Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in place of Arvind Virmani, who has joined the International Monetary Fund as an Executive Director.
19/02/2010 : Ben Bernanke: US Federal Reserve Bank Chairman, he has been named as the "Person of the Year, 2009" by the Time magazine, for helping guide USA through financial turmoil.
19/02/2010 : Kaiane Aldorino: Miss Gibraltar, she has won the 2009 Miss World crown in a ceremony held at Johannesburg, South Africa. Miss Mexico Perla Beltran finished second, while Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar was third.
19/02/2010 : Year 2009 was designated by UN as the International Year of Astronomy, to commemorate 400 years of Galileo's theory about the solar system.
19/02/2010 : Government of India has introduced for the first time "visa on arrival" scheme for tourists from five countries - Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan.
19/02/2010 : Among developing countries, India ranked fourth in terms of FDI inflows in 2008 as per figures published in UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2009.
19/02/2010 : Rosa Power plant - After synchronising with the State grid, it became northern India's first thermal power plant in the private sector to do so. The total capacity of the project, costing Rs 6,000 crore, is going to be 1,200 MW. The first unit of 300 MW would get fully operational by April 2010. The second stage of 600 MW is likely to get operational by March 2012. What makes the project significant for UP is that 900 MW would be supplied to the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The rest 300 MW would be used as "merchant capacity", company can sell it to others. Spreading over an area of around 1,500 acres, the construction of the project started in June 2007. The plant would take water from Garrah river which flows nearby. Around 75 cubic metres of water taken in would then be heated into steam to turn turbines of over 250 tonnes at a pace of 3,000 rotations per minute in order to generate the requisite power.
19/02/2010 : India's first-ever 2-MW solar power plant at Awan, near Amritsar, Punjab. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah inaugurated it. set up by US company Azure Power in the independent power producers (IPP) mode.
19/02/2010 : World's fastest train - China - average speed of 350 kph - 1,068 km between Wuhan in central China and Guangzhou in the south in two hours 45 minutes
19/02/2010 : Kaushik Basu: He has been appointed Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in place of Arvind Virmani, who has joined the International Monetary Fund as an Executive Director.
19/02/2010 : Ben Bernanke: US Federal Reserve Bank Chairman, he has been named as the "Person of the Year, 2009" by the Time magazine, for helping guide USA through financial turmoil.
19/02/2010 : Kaiane Aldorino: Miss Gibraltar, she has won the 2009 Miss World crown in a ceremony held at Johannesburg, South Africa. Miss Mexico Perla Beltran finished second, while Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar was third.
19/02/2010 : Year 2009 was designated by UN as the International Year of Astronomy, to commemorate 400 years of Galileo's theory about the solar system.
19/02/2010 : Government of India has introduced for the first time "visa on arrival" scheme for tourists from five countries - Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan.
19/02/2010 : Among developing countries, India ranked fourth in terms of FDI inflows in 2008 as per figures published in UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2009.
19/02/2010 : Rosa Power plant - After synchronising with the State grid, it became northern India's first thermal power plant in the private sector to do so. The total capacity of the project, costing Rs 6,000 crore, is going to be 1,200 MW. The first unit of 300 MW would get fully operational by April 2010. The second stage of 600 MW is likely to get operational by March 2012. What makes the project significant for UP is that 900 MW would be supplied to the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL). The rest 300 MW would be used as "merchant capacity", company can sell it to others. Spreading over an area of around 1,500 acres, the construction of the project started in June 2007. The plant would take water from Garrah river which flows nearby. Around 75 cubic metres of water taken in would then be heated into steam to turn turbines of over 250 tonnes at a pace of 3,000 rotations per minute in order to generate the requisite power.
19/02/2010 : INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov) : The first four Russian-made MiG-29K fighters to be deployed on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Admiral Gorshkov, when it is inducted into the Indian Navy have been received in a knocked-down condition and will now be assembled in this country. The jets arrived in the country on December 4, celebrated as Navy Day.
The jets were purchased by the Navy as part of a $1.5 billion deal signed with Russia in January 2004 for the Admiral Gorshkov. Of this $740 million was meant for the aircraft and the balance for the refitting of the carrier. Russians have now upped the price to between $2.2 billion and $2.9 billion.
The Navy will eventually be getting 12 MiG-29K single-seater aircraft and four MiG-29KUB twin-seat trainer aircraft, some in flyaway condition.
The Navy has named its MiG-29K squadron the Black Panthers. As the 45,000-tonne Kiev class aircraft carrier is scheduled to be delivered by 2012, the jets will undertake shore-based sorties from Goa.
19/02/2010 : Kailash Vajpeyi has been honoured with the Sahitya Akademi award for his work, Hawa mein hastakshar (Signature in the wind).
19/02/2010 : Copenhagen Major Highlights
(1). The final draft after the Copenhagen summit has agreed to cuts in emissions and hold increase in global temp below 2 C.
(2). A proposal attached to the accord calls for a legally binding treaty by the end-2010.
(3). Developed countries to provide adequate financial resources and technology to support developing countries. A goal of mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries has been set.
(4). Details of mitigation plans are included in separate annexure, one for developed countries and one for voluntary pledges from developing countries. These are not binding, and describe the current status of pledges-ranging from 'under consideration' for the United States to 'adopted by legislation' for the European Union.
(5). Emerging economies have been asked to monitor their efforts and report the results to the United Nations every two years, with some international checks to meet transparency concerns of West but 'ensure that national sovereignty is respected'.
(6). The accord agrees to provide positive incentives to fund afforestation with financial resources from developed world
(7). Carbon Markets are mentioned in the accord, but not in detail. The deal promises to pursue various approaches, including opportunities to use markets to enhance the cost-effectiveness and promote mitigation actions.
19/02/2010 : Dandi March : 390 km march from Sabarmati to Dandi between March 12 and April 6, 1930
(1). Non-violent protest against British salt Tax in colonial India with salt march to Dandi(2). First act of organised opposition after Purna Swaraj, declaration of complete independence by INC.
(3). It's important because it attracted world wide media attention and coverage towards it and thus to India Independence Movement.
(4). Styagraha against salt tax continued for almost a year ,ending with Gandhi's release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at Second round of round table conferenc(5). About 80,000 were jailed during this campaign and a significant effect on world?s and British attitude towards Indian Independence, and caused large numbers of Indian to join the campaign actively.
(6). At midnight on Dec 31.1929, the INC raised the tricolour flag of India on the banks of river Ravi in Lahore.The INC , led by Gandhi and Nehru , publicly issued the Declaration of Independence, or Purna Swaraj, on January 1930.
(7). The Congress Working Committee gave Gandhi the responsibility for organizing the first act of Civil Disobedience, with Congress itself ready to take charge after Gandhi's expected arrest.
(8). Gandhi's plan was to begin civil disobedience with a satyagraha aimed at the British salt tax.
(9). The 1882 Salt Act gave the British monopoly on the collection and manufacture of salt, limiting its handling to gov. salt depots and levying a salt tax. Violation of the Salt Act was a criminal offense. Even though salt was freely available for the Indians living on the coasts(by evaporating sea water), Indians were forced to purchase it from the colonial gov..
(10). Gandhi's choice of the salt tax was met with incredulity by the working committee of the congress, though Gandhi had his reasons for choosing the salt tax. The salt tax was a deeply symbolic choice, since salt was used by nearly everyone in India. It represented 8.2% of the British Raj tax revenue, and most significantly hurt the poorest Indians the most. Gandhi felt the this protest would dramatize Purna Swaraj in a way that was meaningful to the lowliest Indians. He also reasoned that it would build unity among Hindus and Muslims by fighting a wrong that touched them equally.
(11). Dandi march was well planned and it was declared as early as 5 Feb in the newspaper.
(12). The entire route and all the dates and scheduled was well planned. Even the speeches that Gandhi gave was prepared before keeping in mind the place where it was given, considering local peoples.
(13). Gandhi prepared world media about the march by issuing statements regularly after the evening prayers and through direct contacts with press.
(14). Gandhi had intelligently used dramatic languages in addressing press, for ex: "We are entering upon a life and death struggle, a holy war; we are performing an all-embracing sacrifice in which we wish to offer ourselves as oblation." "I want world sympathy in this battle of Right against Might."
(15). Gandhi assured that strict discipline is followed during the march, so instead of hiring from Congress, he hired for march from his own disciples from Ashram.
(16). The 23 day march would pass through 4 districts and 48 villages.
(17). Gandhi sent scouts to each village to plan his talks at each resting place, based on the needs of the local residents.
(18). Events at each villages/halts are planned and publicized in Indian and Foreign press.
(19). On march 2nd Gandhi wrote to Lord Irwin offering to stop the march on the condition of meeting 11 demands.
18/02/2010 : National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities - headed by Justice Ranganath Misra - recommended 15 per cent reservation in non-minority educational institutions and Central and State government jobs for all religious and linguistic minorities. Out of the 15 per cent earmarked seats in education institutions, Muslims should be given 10 per cent reservation (commensurate with their 73 per cent share in the total minority population in India) and the remaining 5 per cent to other minorities, states the report.
18/02/2010 : India and Japan signed 2 agreements on Rs 3,60,000-crore Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project - integrated investment regions and industrial areas across six States - ecological and environment friendly cities to be built - India : Japan :: 50 : 50
18/02/2010 : Gujarat Assembly passes mandatory voting Bill - Voting mandatory - if voter fails to vote for some reason other than allowed reasons, he is declared "defaulter voter" - punishment rules are to defined
18/02/2010 : Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Fellowship Scheme for minority students. 756 fellowships (30 per cent to be reserved for women) - to minority students wishing to pursue higher studies - to grant integrated five-year fellowships in form of financial assistance to students from minority communities as notified by the Central government to pursue MPhil and PhD.
18/02/2010 : RadhaKrishnan new ISRO chief after Madhavan Nair retired.
18/02/2010 : Satuate Mile ( 1.8) > Nautical mile (1.6) : Used to measure sea distance
18/02/2010 : India's mainland : 8 degree 4' N to 37 degree 6' N latitutde and 68 degree 7'E to 97 degree 25'E longitude
18/02/2010 : India's Southern bourder 6 degree 45' in Bay of Bengal
18/02/2010 : North to South India is 3214 KM
18/02/2010 : East to West India is 2933 KM
18/02/2010 : Meridian of each country is a multiple of 7 degree 30' .That of India's is 82 degree 30' (11th multiple). Some countries have multiple time zones as USA have 7 time zones.
18/02/2010 : India's Size 3.28 milion square KM , 2.4% of world total land surface.
18/02/2010 : CoastLine is 6100KM in mainland and 7517 KM including islands.
18/02/2010 : India is seperated by SriLanka by Gulf of Mannar and Pak Strait.
18/02/2010 : Naxalism - What, why , solution :
(1). Battle with moists is being fought since 1967 when first moists rebellion erupted. It intensified over the last five years following the formation of CPI(M), in 2004, through the merger of two prominent naxalite groups, the People's War Group(PWG) and the Moists community centre(MCC).
(2). Jharkhand, Orissa and Chattisgarh are strong holds of Naxal groups.
(3). The Gadchiroli region in Maharashtra, naxals are recapturing its lost space.
(4). Kobad Gandhi and Amitabh Bhagchi are senior members of CPI(Moists), who were arrested recently.
(5). Francis Induwar, police inspector who is beheaded in Jharkhand.
(6). 18 Police members are killed in Mah , Gadcholi region.
(7). Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, member of CPI(Moists). Party incharge leader in W.B.
(8). Moists activites have spread to 231 of 626 districts in country.
(9). Action against moists will be carried out 1 or 2 areas at a time out of 11 areas identified as worst affected, thus ensuring intense mobilisation in the selected area.
(10). All the forces will be under the unified command of a central task force trained at Counter Terrosism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, Chattisgarh.
(11). The forces deployed in an area will be followed by a backup team which will concentrate on socio-economic developments.
(12). Institute of Conflict Management, Delhi
(13). Operation Green Hunt is likely to begin in Nov when Center sends in more troops.
(14). COBRA: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, will ensure coordination among states. In respective states, CM will be the supreme commando and DGP will oversee the operational aspect.
(15). GreyHounds an ellite commando force against naxals in A.P. raised in 1989.
(16). Area surrounding Lalgarh in W.B. is called JangalMahal.
(17). Root of Moist movement can be traced to the 1967 uprising in NaxalBari in Darjeeling.
(18). Nandigram(See Map). (Purba Midnapore District.)
(19). People's committee against Police Atrocities, public face of Moists in Lalgarh. Chatradhar Mahato head.
17/02/2010 : Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav
17/02/2010 : India offered a $250-million - to Nepal. It also extended a massive 80,000 tonnes of essentials, mainly food grains, to Nepal.
17/02/2010 : Earlier - $1 billion package to Bangladesh
17/02/2010 : Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj, veteran film actor Shreeram Lagoo and danseuse Yamini Krishnamurti are among six eminent personalities to be awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna).The other three artists are Carnatic musician Lalgudi Jayaraman, theatre personality Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi and vocalist Kishori Amonkar.
17/02/2010 : Tata Sons and Italian defence major AgustaWestland signed an agreement for formation of a joint venture company, which will establish a final assembly line for AW-119 helicopters for the Indian Army and the global market.
17/02/2010 : Vitamin C - used for treating Scurvy disease
17/02/2010 : GK Vasan - Union Minister of Shipping
17/02/2010 : Irfan Alam (28), director of SammaaN Foundation - a Patna-based NGO was invited by US President Barack Obama for the "Presidential Summit on entrepreneurship" to be held in Washington DC
17/02/2010 : Suma Shirur - women 10m air rifle.
17/02/2010 : Surendra Singh Rathod - 50m rifle
17/02/2010 : East Asia summit - held in Hua Hin, Thailand
17/02/2010 : Dandi March : 390km march from Sabarmati to Dandi between March 12 and April 6, 1930
(1). Non-violent protest against British salt Tax in colonial India with salt march to Dandi
(2). First act of organised opposition after Purna Swaraj, declaration of complete independence by INC.
(3). It's impotant because it attracted world wide media attention and coverage towards it and thus to India Independence Movement.
(4). Styagraha against salt tax continued for almost a year ,ending with Gandhi's release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at Second round of round table conference.
17/02/2010 : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) felicitated national captain Bhaichung Bhutia on 20th October, 2009 for achieving the rare honour of playing 100 matches for the country. He received Rs.5 lakh, a plaque and a gold coin from AIFF president Praful Patel.
17/02/2010 : Bengali player Subrata Paul received the "Footballer of the Year" award. Paul, who played a stellar role in India's Nehru Cup victory as the goal-keeper, was also awarded Rs.5 lakh and a plaque.
17/02/2010 : India (FIFA 146) defeated Syria (96) in Nehru Cup final.
17/02/2010 : Indian football Coach Bob Houghton
16/02/2010 : Eminent Hindi poet Acharya Janaki Ballabh Shastri, who had on Republic Day refused to accept the Padma Shri, has turned down the award once again. He is upset because officials asked for his Bio-Data.
16/02/2010 : Poulomi Ghatak , Shamini Kumaresan ,Madhurika Patkar - Table Tennis - Divya No 1 in TT
16/02/2010 : Imjin River - River running through the border of North Korea and South Korea
16/02/2010 : 'Prithvi-II' surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 350 km. The nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile had already been inducted by the armed forces and was handled by the army units attached to the strategic force command's special group. The sources said the twin-engined Prithvi-II is nine metres in length and is one metre wide. It has features to deceive enemy missiles and is equipped with 'added inertial' navigation systems. They have been designed to operate with both liquid and solid fuels, and were capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads.
16/02/2010 : The 35th National Games is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in Kerala in 2010. The National Games is usually being conducted once in two years.
16/02/2010 : Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson won the Nobel Economics Prize
16/02/2010 : China (July 2009): Ethnic riots took place in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital. In Xinjiang's worst ethnic violence in decades, Uighurs attacked majority Han Chinese in Urumqi. The immediate cause - attacks on Uighur workers at a factory in southern China in June 2009 that left two Uighurs dead.
Uighurs are ethnic Muslims who live in Xinjinag province. They are one of China?s 56 defined minority groups, whereas the Hans form the majority in the country. They identify themselves with the Muslims-especially the Kazakhs- of Central Asia, than with the Chinese. They cherish the idea of a ?pan-Islamic Central Asia? or a ?Turkistan Federation?. On the other hand, China considers the Uighur ethnic activists as separatists and agents of Al-Qaeda. Xinjiang has economic and strategic importance. Xinjiang is connected with Pakistan through the Karakoram Highway. It has been recently revealed that many Uighurs have sneaked into Pakistan and Afghanistan through this route and fought alongside the Afghan Mujahideens and later, Taliban. China has paid much attention for the development of the province and invested huge amounts for its industrialization. It has become one of the industrial hubs of People?s Republic of China (PRC) in fuel industry, metallurgy, chemicals, petrochemicals & power sector. The progress of the Province has resulted in an influx of Han people from the other parts of China who settled there. The increasing number of Hans resulted tensions between the Hans and the Uighurs.
16/02/2010 : Bharti Groups (Airtel ) bid for acquiring Kuwait based Zain Telecom's assets in all of Africa (except those in Sudan and Morocco) for 49,700 crore was reportedly accepted by Zain's board.
16/02/2010 : With only 100 million hectares of agricultural land, China produces 400 million tonnes of grain while India averages only 108 million tonnes of food from 146 million hectares of agricultural land.
16/02/2010 : India produces over 600 million tonnes of food products annually - is the second largest rice and wheat producer - and the largest producer of pulses and milk. Only about 2% of India?s fruit and vegetable output is processed. Processed food 70% in Brazil and 60-70% in developed countries. About 30% of farm produce is wasted every year for want of storage, transportation, cold chain and other infrastructure facilities.
16/02/2010 : BT Brinjal :
GM Science : (1).Genetically modified seeds are produced by altering the genetic structure of naturally available varieties.
(2).Technology is useful in incorporating desirable traits, such as drought and salinity resistance.
(3).Bt refers to a particular type of genetic modification.
(4).Soil Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is introduced in plant cell, goading the plant to produce toxins poisonous to certain insects.
(5).Studies have to be conducted to ensure these toxins are not harmful to humans, environment and others.
Key Issues:
(1).Data and tests carried out by the developer itself.
(2).Government says it has not received any report of harmful effects of Bt Brinjal
(3).The government has put commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal on hold for a while following wide spread opposition.
(4).Bt Brinjal is the genetically modified variant, the first such ever GM vegetable.
(5).Bt Brinjal is expected to provide enchanced economic benefits to farmers, as use of pesticides will drop.
Govt's GM Policy
(1).Government has followed case-by-case approval of GM crops.
(2).Commercial cultivation is approved after safety, efficacy and agronomic performance of transgenic seeds is evaluated.
(3).Commercialisation of GM plants approved only when there is a clear economic and technical justification.
(4).The government has allowed trials of rice, okra, brinjal, potato, groundnut, tomato, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard and sorghum.
(5).India has so far allowed only Bt cotton for commercial cultivation in India.
(6).Many countries still do not allow GM foods.
(7).Others such as EU require such food to carry appropriate label.
(8).Argentina, US and Canada have adopted GM crops in a big way
15/02/2010 : OVL team wins 40% in Venezuela oil block : A consortium led by Indian state-owned oil companies has won a global bid to pick up 40% stake in an important oil block in Venezuela, providing a boost to India's attempts to secure oil assets overseas. ONGC Videsh (OVL), the foreign arm of ONGC, will pick up 11% stake in the Venezuelan field Carabobo-1, while other two Indian partners - Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Oil India (OIL) will have 3.5% stake each.
15/02/2010 : Satpayev Oil Block - Kazakhstan - OVL 25% stake - $400 million deal - July 2009
15/02/2010 : Imperial Energy - UK Listed company - Acquired by OVL in December 2008 - $2.1 billion deal
15/02/2010 : European Union - 16 nation block - to bail out Greece (capital Athens ), which is its member and have Euro as currency
15/02/2010 : International Cricket Council - ICC - Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat
15/02/2010 : Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar and West Bengal - the four states through which Ganga flows - members of Ganga River Basin Authority
15/02/2010 : Ganga dolphin - national aquarian animal - to save the rare freshwater species from becoming extinct.
15/02/2010 : Barack Hussein Obama (born 4th August, 1961) is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office, as well as the first born in Hawaii. Obama is the third sitting U.S. President to be awarded the Nobel prize, following Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (1977-81) won in 2002.
15/02/2010 : The 77th Air Force Day was celebrated on 8th October 2009. It was on this day in 1932 that the Indian Air Force was formed by the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon.
15/02/2010 : 'Phalcon' Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) - India procured from Israel in 2009.
15/02/2010 : The proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) would start functioning from 2011 in Rishikesh, near Dehradun in Uttarakhand.
15/02/2010 : Union Health Minister: Gulam Nabi Azad
15/02/2010 : Swine Flu was first reported in Maxico.
15/02/2010 : Swine Flu: Swine influenza (also known as swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, that is endemic to pig (swine). Strains of endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV). These are classified as Influenzavirus A (common) or Influenzavirus C (rare). These affects humans also. Interestingly, Influenzavirus B has not been reported in swine population, but it affects humans. Swine influenza is known to be caused by influenza A subtypes H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2 and H2N3.
Health experts say pigs can carry human influenza viruses, which can combine (i.e. exchange homologous genome sub-units by genetic reassortment) with H5N1, passing genes and mutating into a form which can pass easily among humans. In August 2004, researchers in China found H5N1 in pigs. The H5N1 virus is known to cause the avian flu (bird flu).
In humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting. Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history.
People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. SIV can mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human. The strain responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak is believed to have undergone this mutation.
The symptoms and transmission of the swine flu from human to human is much like that of seasonal flu. Common symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing, while runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. It is believed to be spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.
The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days, to the CDC for analysis.
For the 2009 outbreak, it is recommended it be treated under medical advice only with oseltamivir and zanamivir to avoid drug resistance. The vaccine for the human seasonal H1N1 flu does not protect against the swine H1N1 flu, even if the virus strains are the same specific variety, as they are antigenically very different.
Recommendations to prevent infection by the virus consist of the standard personal precautions against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately. If they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately. When attending to a patient, it is imperative to wash and/or sanitize hands, not only prior to touching them but afterwards as well.
14/02/2010 : Australian-American researcher Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol Greider and Jack Szostak of the United States won the Nobel Medicine Prize 2009 for identifying a key molecular switch in cellular ageing. The trio were honoured for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the role of an enzyme called telomerase in maintaining or stripping away this vital shield.
14/02/2010 : Three scientists who created the technology behind digital photography and helped link the world through fiber-optic networks shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in physics
Charles K. Kao was cited for his breakthrough involving the transmission of light in fiber optics while Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith were honored for inventing an imaging semiconductor circuit known as the CCD sensor.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said all three have American citizenship. Kao, who was born in Shanghai (China) also holds British citizenship while Boyle is also Canadian.
The award's 10 million kronor ($1.4 million) purse will be split between the three with Kao taking half and Boyle and Smith each getting a fourth. The three also receive a diploma. Kao was awarded the prize for his 1966 discovery that showed how to transmit light over long distances via fiber-optic cables, which became the backbone of modern communication networks that carry phone calls and high-speed Internet data around the world.
14/02/2010 : Romanian-born German writer Herta Mueller won the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature on 8th October. The 56-year-old author, emigrated to Germany from the then-communist Romania in 1987. Her 1982 collection of short stories titled "Niederungen," ("Lowlands" in English) was censored by the Communist Government of Romania.
14/02/2010 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh - on Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2009 - renamed NREGA to Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGREGA).
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) aims at 100-day guaranteed unskilled manual work to every rural adult with an aim to alleviate poverty in such areas. The scheme is mainly aimed at mitigate the hardships of seasonal un-employment, which is a common phenomenon among the agricultural workers across the country.
During the financial year 2008-09, a total of 1,46,855 people were provided jobs under NREGA across the country.
In the current fiscal (2009-10), Rajasthan provided jobs to the highest number of people. When it comes to providing employment to the disabled people, West Bengal tops the list, followed by Chattisgarh.
14/02/2010 : Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. China PM Wan Jiabao.
14/02/2010 : Taepodong - II - North Korean Missile - Range 6700 KM - can reach Alaska, USA
14/02/2010 : India has announced its decision to draw international attention on the issue of tiger conservation by launching 2010 as the "Year of the Tigers". The Minister for Environment and Forests has announced that the campaign will be launched on 14th February 2010 from Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. The Year of Tiger will end in November 2010 with another function in Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan). The campaign will be assisted by the prestigious Smithsonian Institute and other agencies including the World Bank. The Russians are hosting the World Tiger Summit in Vladivostok in September 2010.
14/02/2010 : Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, Nagarhole in Karnataka and Kaziranga Assam.
14/02/2010 : The Kerry Lugar Bill lays down a programme for USD 7.5 billion non-military aid to Pakistan over the next five years, tripling the US aid to the country.
14/02/2010 : Argentine President Cristina Fernando de Kirchner. India have a Civil Nuclear Agreement with Argentina
11/02/2010 : West Bengal government accepted the Ranganath Mishra Commission report granting 10 pc reservation in government jobs for Muslims under the OBC category.
11/02/2010 : Agni-V with a range of 5,000-km to be tested within a year
11/02/2010 : IPS officer Vikram Srivastava - Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) . Vikram Srivastava is the younger brother of Border Security Force (BSF) DG Raman Srivastava
11/02/2010 : "King of Pop" Michael Jackson was honoured with the Lifetime Grammy award posthumously, which was received by his children
11/02/2010 : Mahita Mohan - Cycling
11/02/2010 : Trupti Murgunde - Badminton
11/02/2010 : HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh - outstanding achievement award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
11/02/2010 : Assocham - Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
11/02/2010 : National Ganga River Basin Authority - under the chairmanship of PM Manmohan Singh.
11/02/2010 : Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said - India will soon come out with a climate change assessment report by its own panel - the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA).
11/02/2010 : Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu - the first Indian woman to ski to the South Pole last year
11/02/2010 : Rehan Poncha - swimming
11/02/2010 : Gaganjeet Bhullar - Golf
10/02/2010 : Bt Brinjal - genetically modified - was planned to be introduced for commercial cultivation - 13 state government and some scientist opposed - now decision on hold.
10/02/2010 : Lalgarh and Jangalmahal in West Bengal - Naxal areas
10/02/2010 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar
10/02/2010 : Ram Singh - marathon
10/02/2010 : Madhurika Patkar - Table Tennis - 4 golds in 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka, Bangladesh
10/02/2010 : Iran set into motion the process of further refining its stocks of lightly enriched uranium at its atomic facility in Natanz. Iran needs 20 per cent enriched uranium for its research reactor in Tehran to produce medical isotopes for treating cancer patients.
10/02/2010 : Salt Tax in British India: Taxation of salt has occurred in India since the earliest times. However, this tax was greatly increased when the British East India Company began to establish its rule over provinces in India. Salt has been produced all along the Rann of Kutch in the west coast of India for the past 5,000 years. The Rann of Kutch is an extensive marshland which is cut off from the rest of the Indian subcontinent during monsoons when the seas inundate the low-lying areas. However, when the sea water evaporates during summer, it leaves behind a crust of salt which accumulate as salt pans. This salt is collected by laborers called malangis. In the eastern coast, salt could be obtained extensively along the coast of Orissa. The salt produced by the salt pans called khalaris in Oriya is of the finest quality in all India. There has always been a demand for Orissa salt in Bengal. When the British took over the administration of Bengal, they too felt its need and traded for salt. Gradually they monopolized Orissa salt all over Bengal. To check smuggling and illegal transportation, they sent armies into Orissa resulting in the conquest of Orissa in 1803.
Salt is a commodity which had been taxed in India ever since the time of the Mauryas. Taxes on salt have been prevalent even during the time of Chandragupta Maurya. The Arthashastra which describes the different duties of the people says that a special officer called lavananadhyaksa was appointed to collect salt tax. Taxes were also imposed on imported salt. However, they accounted for 25 percent of the total value of the salt.
10/02/2010 : Great Hedge of India: The Great Hedge of India or Inland Customs Line was a customs barrier across India from the 1840s to the 1880s built by the British rulers to facilitate collecting the heavy salt tax. It was also used to control the profitable opium trade, which the East India Company had acquired from the Mughal Empire by conquest.The barrier consisted of fences, stone walls, and above all a nearly impenetrable barrier of trees, thorny bushes, and hedges, with periodic guard stations.
10/02/2010 : OIL India director (operations) and former deputy director general in the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH), SK Srivastava, is likely to replace the controversial chief custodian of country's oil and gas assets, VK Sibal. The government established DGH in 1993 to act as an upstream advisor and technical regulator. Its prime function is to manage country's hydrocarbon resources.
10/02/2010 : Reserve Bank governor Duvvuri Subbarao.
10/02/2010 : China replaced US as India's largest trade partner in 2009. Their bilateral trade touched $36 billion in the last financial year.
10/02/2010 : Ecuadore president Rafael Correa
10/02/2010 : The Man Booker Prize for 2009 has gone to British novelist Hilary Mantel for her gripping 16th century tale titled 'Wolf Hall'.
10/02/2010 : George Papandreou: PM of Greece . President Karolos Papoulias. Greece is the home to ancient civilisation where the Olympic games originated. It is situated in eastern Europe on the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. The capital is Athens and the currency is Euro. It is a memebr of the European Union.
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