1. Earth 2.0: What we know about
Kepler 452b, the most Earth-like planet ever discovered
i. Nasa
scientists have announced the discovery of Kepler 452b, also known as 'Earth
2.0', an earth-like planet in our galaxy.
ii.
Over the course of years of data-gathering by the Kepler space telescope and
even more analysis and work here on Earth, scientists confirmed the existence
of the distant exoplanet, which is the most earth-like planet ever discovered.
iii. A year on the newly-discovered planet - the time it
takes to orbit its star, Kepler 452 - lasts for 385 days, only 20 days longer
than a year here on Earth.
iv.
Kepler 452b has been the perfect distance from its star for many billions of
years. According to Jon Jenkins, the Kepler data analysis lead at NASA's Ames
Research Centre, this means it's possible that it hosts life on its surface, or
at least could have at some point in its history.
2. Maharashtra cabinet approved
scheme for development of villages around Tiger reserves
i.
Maharashtra Cabinet on 23 July 2015 approved Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Jan Van
Vikas Scheme. The scheme proposed by Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in the
state’s annual budget 2015-16 aims at creation of comprehensive development of
villages in the buffer zones of tiger reserves and around them.
ii. Its
objectives are to reduce the man-animal conflict and achieve sustainable
development of these villages. The scheme also aims at reducing the dependence
of villagers on the forest.
iii.
The scheme will seek to boost the supplementary businesses to farming
activities and create alternative employment possibilities in these areas. The
scheme will be launched on project basis from 2015-16 to 2019-2020.
3. Reliance Group, Augur Overseas
Operation signed MoU to manufacture Aerostats and Airships
i. Anil
Ambani-led Reliance Group through its entity Reliance Unmanned Systems on 23
July 2015 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Augur Overseas
Operation of Singapore to manufacture Aerostats and Airships in India.
ii. As
per the MoU, both the parties will collaborate on new technologies for the
civil and military market as part of the Make in India initiative of Union
Government. The two companies have agreed to form a joint venture (JV) firm
with Reliance having 51 percent stake as per Government’s policy.
iii.
The joint venture will be involved in development, production, sales,
modification and life support for different sizes of Aerostats and Airships.
This JV will address the requirements of domestic market and also addressable
regional/global markets.
iv. The
Aerostat radars are deployed extensively in the surveillance, reconnaissance
and communication roles by the army. These are also useful in detecting
low-flying fighter aircraft.
4. CSC, HCL form joint venture to
provide technology services, solutions to banks
i. IT
companies CSC and HCL Technologies have signed an agreement to form a banking
software and services company to provide technology services and solutions to
the banking industry.
ii. The
joint venture will invest in platform modernisation and product functionality
enhancement and will capitalise on the proven capabilities of both companies in
addressing the multi-billion-dollar, global core banking software market.
iii.
CSC, which serves over 100 premier banking and financial services clients in 15
countries, will provide its core banking, cards, payments and default
management industry talent, software and product development expertise.
iv. HCL
will provide capital investment, its experience in product engineering and
application implementation services, as well as banking sales and client
engagement expertise.
5. T K Chand appointed as CMD of
National Aluminium Company
i. T K
Chand has been appointed as the new chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of
National Aluminium Company(Nalco). Chand who has been Director (Commercial) of
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), will take up his new position on Monday,
July 27, 2015.
ii. The
Public Enterprises Selection Board recommended his name for appointment as CMD
of the Nalco in November last year after short-listing 11 candidates. The
Department of Personnel issued the appointment order earlier this week.
iii.
His appointment fills in a key leadership role at the country's largest
state-owned aluminium company, almost three months after the previous incumbent
Ansuman Das superannuated on April 30, 2015.
6. Suresh Narayanan appointed new
Nestle India MD after Maggi scare
i.
Swiss food group Nestle has replaced the head of its Indian operations as the
company battles its worst ever public relations crisis in the country,
following a food scare that forced it to withdraw its popular instant noodles.
ii.
Nestle has been at the centre of India’s worst food scare in a decade, after a
regulator in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in May found excess lead in a
sample of its hugely popular Maggi noodles.
iii.
Criticised for its slow response to consumer worries over safety, the company
withdrew the noodles from the shelves of Indian stores last month. It has since
challenged the findings of India’s food safety authority in court. (Reporting
by Nivedita Bhattacharjee; Editing by Clara Ferreira Marques and Susan Fenton)
7. Shubham Jaglan won IJGA World
Stars of Junior Golf event 2015
i.
10-year old Shubham Jaglan on 22 July 2015 won the IJGA World Stars of Junior
Golf event in Las Vegas. Jaglan is the son of a milkman from rural Haryana,
India.
ii. He
shot a three round score of 106 winning by a five-stroke margin, ahead of two
Americans Justin Dang and Sihan Sandhu and Thailand's Pongsapak Laopakdee for
the Boys 9-10 years category title.
iii. He
also scripted a scintillating one-stroke win at the Junior World Golf
Championships that was held at Welk Resort Fountain Course in California.