October 1-10

� Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader, Rasheed Masood, was sentenced to four years in jail by a

Delhi court in a corruption case, becoming the first MP to lose his seat after a recent Supreme Court

judgement had removed the immunity for convicted lawmakers. 67-year-old Masood, who attains the

dubious distinction of being the first lawmaker to be disqualified after the July 10 Supreme Court

judgement, was immediately taken into custody by the court.

� In the continuing tug of war between Narendra Mod ii government and the Governor, the state assembly

passed the Gujarat Lokayukta Ayog Bill 2013 for a second time without incorporating any major changes

sought by Raj Bhavan, setting the stage for a fresh confrontation. Governor Kamla Beniwal had on

September 3 returned the bill, passed by the assembly on April 2, to the government for reconsideration,

dubbing the legislation as "complete mockery of the judicial process and detrimental to the interests of

public welfare".

� Pope Francis began landmark meetings to reform the Vatican, promising to do all he could to change the

mentality of an institution he said was too focused on its own interests.

� For the first time in 17 years, the federal government staggered into a partial shutdown after

congressional Republicans stubbornly demanded changes in the nation's health care law as the price for

essential federal funding and President Barack Obama and Democrats adamantly refused. As Congress

gridlocked, Obama said a "shutdown will have a very real economic impact on real people, right away,"

with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed and veterans' centers, national parks, most of

the space agency and other government operations shuttered.

� Ordinance on convicted lawmakers withdrawn, Bill to be repealed

� Energy-starved Bangladesh inaugurated the opening phase of work for its first ever nuclear power plant

using Russian technology.

� Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad was jailed for five years for his role in the `950-crore fodder scam

that surfaced 17-years-ago. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ranchi sentenced the

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief to rigorous imprisonment for five years and also slapped a fine of Rs 25

lakh on him. With this, Lalu became the second politician after Rasheed Masood to lose his Parliamentary

seat after a recent Supreme Court judgement removed immunity for convicted lawmakers. The 69-year-

old Lalu automatically lost his Lok Sabha seat and stands disqualified as an MP, barred from contesting

elections for the next 11 years following his sentencing.

� Clearing the hurdle for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Union Cabinet cleared the formation of a

separate state of Telangana. The Cabinet also decided that Hyderabad would remain the joint capital for a

period of 10 years. This is the formal first step taken by the government to create India’s 29th state after

the July 30 resolution of the Congress Working Committee asking the government to accept the 45-year-

old statehood demand.

� The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the 2,000-crore deal between Jet Airways

and UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways. The deal now only needs an approval from the Competition

Commission of India (CCI), which aviation experts say is a mere formality.

SNIPPETS

� French lawmakers approved a bill that will prevent Amazon from offering free deliveries of discounted

books. The bill, designed to support small bookstores struggling in the face of giant online retailers, was

backed unanimously in the lower house National Assembly.

� Billed as the “semi-final” ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, elections to the Assemblies of Mizoram,

Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will be held in a single phase between November 25 and December

4, while the state of Chhattisgarh will have a two-phase election on November 11 and 19 for its 90-

member Assembly.

� The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad launched the indigenously produced

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine JENVAC. The vaccine JENVAC is to fight against the mosquito-borne

viral infection which has been jointly developed by scientists of National Institute of Virology (Pune),

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech Ltd.

� An electorate of 3.1 million people in the Republic of Ireland, in a rare exercise, voted in a referendum on

whether or not to consign the Seanad, the Senate or Upper House of the Irish Parliament, to the dustbin

of history. The referendum was to determine two constitutional issues. The first was whether to retain or

abolish the Seanad (broadly akin to the U.K.’s House of Lords, or the Indian Rajya Sabha) in the

Oireachtas (Irish Parliament). The second was on whether or not to create a court of appeal between the

Supreme Court and High Court of Ireland.

� Afghanistan secured their passage to ICC World Cup Cricket 2015 by beating Kenya comprehensively for

the second time in succession in Sharjah, sealing their maiden World Cup qualification. They finished

second in the World Cricket League Championship and joined Ireland as the second Associate team in the

2015 World Cup, while the remaining two spots for Associates will be decided by a qualifying tournament

in New Zealand in 2014.

� Almost four months after flashfloods and heavy rains led to the halt of the annual "Char Dham Yatra" in

Uttarakhand, the religious trip to Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines reopened for people on October 5.

� SEBI ushered in major reforms to attract overseas investors. It has announced new Foreign Portfolio

Investor regulations for easier registration process and operating framework for investors from abroad.

The new class of investors - FPIs - will encompass all Foreign Institutional Investors, their sub-accounts

and Qualified Foreign Investors. They will be divided in three categories as per their risk profile. The Know

Your Client - KYC requirements and other registration procedures will be much simpler for FPIs compared

to current practices. The SEBI has also decided to grant them a permanent registration. SEBI also

approved setting up 'Designated Depository Participants which will register FPIs on behalf of the market

regulator subject to compliance with KYC norms.

� India has initiated the process for making it a more tourist friendly destination, which includes extending

on arrival visa for 40 more countries, simplifying online visa and attracting senior citizen foreign visitors.

� Orissa has launched automated its General Provident Fund (GPF) service along with the Push-SMS system

for its government employees, thus becoming first state in the county to provide the beneficiaries latest

updates on their accounts without any hassles.

� Arundhati Bhattacharya was appointed as chairperson of State Bank of India (SBI), becoming the first

woman to head India’s largest bank since its inception.

� CV Wigneswaran was sworn in as the first elected Tamil Chief Minister of Northern Province — the

stronghold of the vanquished rebel LTTE — weeks after his party secured a landslide victory in the historic

polls held after nearly three decades.

� The Supreme Court has commuted the death penalty given to jailed former Youth Congress leader Sushil

Sharma in the 'tandoor' murder case to life imprisonment. The trial court and the Delhi High Court had

upheld the death penalty for Sharma in the murder of his wife Naina Sahni. Sushil Sharma had challenged

his conviction and death sentence in the 1995 murder case.

� Government of India approved National Identification Authority of India Bill with some amendments which

will provide statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).Besides giving

statutory status to the UIDAI, the Bill seeks to provide legal backing to Aadhaar, which is used by

ministries, departments and states to disburse subsidies.

� US Federal Reserve vice chair Janet Yellen has been picked by President Barack Obama to take over as

head of America’s central bank at what is widely considered to be a crucial period for the country’s

economy and banking industry. The 67-year-old New Yorker will become the first woman to lead the

national bank and also the first Democrat to head the Fed, since 1979, when President Jimmy Carter

nominated Paul Volcker.

� Pakistan Supreme Court granted bail to embattled former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the Nawab

Akbar Bugti murder case.

� Unveiling a roadmap to boost economic ties, India pledged to sign an agreement with the 10-member

ASEAN bloc on services and investment by this year end and to reach an accord on FTA by next year. The

11th ASEAN-India Summit, attended by Heads of Government of the member states and Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh, welcomed India's 'Look East' policy and the decision to set up a separate mission for

the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a full time resident Ambassador for the region.

� The British government has introduced legislation to block immigrants living in the country illegally from

opening bank accounts, require landlords to check tenants' immigration status and make it harder for

migrants to appeal deportation. The bill has been slammed by lawyers and rights campaigners.

� Myanmar took a long-coveted role as chairman of ASEAN, the regional grouping of Southeast Asia. But in

a country where three-quarters of the population lack access to electricity and basic telephone services

are patchy, the job holds as many problems as promise for a semi-civilian government that emerged from

49 years of oppressive military rule two years ago to surprise the world with sweeping reforms.

October 11- October 20

� Cyclone Phailin strikes Odisha coast at 200 kmph.

� Election Commission of India has directed to make available NOTA Button (None of the Above) in

electronic voting machines and ballot papers. NOTA Button will be for voters not wishing to vote for any of

the candidates. By pressing this button, they will be able to use option of not choosing any of the

candidates in fray with secrecy.

� Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed withdrew from the 2013 presidential election.

� Britain says it will make it easier for China’s citizens to obtain visas, as it seeks a bigger share of the

multi-billion-dollar Chinese traveller market against stiff European competition.

� The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lodged fresh FIR in the Coalgate scam. The premiere agency

has named Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, NALCO and HINDALCO in its new FIR.

� In a major boost for India and other countries seeking details on suspected black money stashed in Swiss

banks, Switzerland agreed to automatic exchange of information and mutual administrative assistance in

tax matters with overseas authorities. The development, which pulls down the famed secrecy wall

surrounding Swiss banks, would lead to Switzerland providing all forms of mutual assistance - exchange

on request, spontaneous information sharing, tax examinations abroad, and assistance in tax collection.

� 93 killed as quake hits Rangoon.

� An inspired India pulled off an incredible nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second cricket one-

dayer, achieving the second highest ever run chase in ODI history.

� New Zealander Eleanor Catton won the Man Booker Prize this year for The Luminaries. At the age of 28

she's the youngest writer to win what is widely regarded as the most significant literary prize in the

English language. The Luminaries, her second novel is an historical fable about the gold rush of 1866 in

the South Island of New Zealand, particularly around a settlement called Hokitika.

� The United States was spared the ignominy of a disastrous debt default when Congress passed a bill

extending the nation's borrowing authority, ending a two-week government shutdown.

� The Union cabinet cleared a crucial project in Kashmir which will connect the strategically important areas

of Kargil and Leh to the rest of India through a 14 km long all weather tunnel passing through Zojila, one

of the highest mountain passes in India. Currently these two regions remain cut off from the capital

Srinagar and rest of the country for about six months during the winter season on account of heavy

snowfall and inclement weather.

� President Pranab Mukherjee has okayed Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, passed by the state Assembly in

November 2011 when BJP leader B C Khanduri was CM. The then Team Anna Hazare had said the Bill was

identical to Jan Lokpal Bill.

� Syria’s deputy prime minister floated Nov. 23-24 as possible dates for talks on a political solution to the

Syrian conflict.

� Saudi Arabia officially turned down its seat at the U.N. Security Council. The Saudis rejection of the seat

now makes way for Jordan to take the place. Saudi Arabia won the seat last month, but refused it in

protest of the council’s efforts on the Syrian conflict.

� Germany temporarily closed it’s embassy in capital Kabul and suspended it’s operations due to serious

security threats.

� Ten regional parties in the Northeast joined hands to form the Northeast Regional Political Front, that will

focus on bringing issues from the region into the national agenda.

� Maldivian opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed demanded fresh elections under a caretaker president, a

day after police forced the postponement of a vote he was expected to win. Nasheed, a former president

who was toppled 20 months ago, told reporters in the capital Male that outgoing President Mohamed

Waheed should step down immediately and allow the speaker of parliament to conduct a fresh presidential

vote.

October 21 onwards

� Convicted Congress leader Rashid Masood became the first MP to lose his seat after the Supreme Court

struck down a provision that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of

pendency of appeal in higher courts. 66-year-old Masood was held guilty in a case of corruption and other

offences in September. His conviction was the first after the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the

electoral law that provided immunity to MPs and MLAs from immediate disqualification.

� New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will receive the first “Jewish Nobel Prize,” to be awarded by the

Genesis Philanthropy Group. The group will award its one million dollar Genesis Prize to Bloomberg at a

ceremony in May 2014.The prize is awarded annually in recognition of “exceptional human beings who,

through their outstanding achievement, come to represent a fundamental value of the Jewish people – a

commitment to the betterment of mankind.”

� In the second such case since the Supreme Court ruling in July, jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad and

JD(U)leader Jagdish Sharma have been disqualified as Lok Sabha members following their conviction in

the fodder scam.

� Reliance Industries' telecom arm Reliance Jio Infocomm has won a unified telecom licence that will enable

it to offer voice telephony and high speed data services across the country. The Department of

Telecommunications approved grant of unified license to Reliance Jio, the only telecom operator to

own fourth generation spectrum or radio waves. The unified licence will enable the firm to offer both voice

and high-speed data services to subscribers across all the 22 telecom circles in the country.

� The European Union agreed to restart membership talks with Turkey in November this year, ending a

three-year freeze.

� In a move to avoid border flare-ups, India and China on decided to establish a hotline between their

military headquarters. The Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) inked between the two

countries stated the troops at the Line of Actual Control would celebrate each others' national and military

days. The pact is the outcome of a series of talks that followed diplomatic tensions between the two

countries after the Chinese troops pitched their tents at Depsang valley in Ladakh.

� France, India sign 18 pacts.

� Legendary playback singer Manna Dey died after prolonged illness. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner

singer had given several hits songs during his several decades long career.

� The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) gave its approval to Singapore Airlines to partner the

Tata group for setting up a full-service airline in India. Tatas and Singapore Airlines have assured the

government that control of their proposed airline would always remain in Indian hands. Tata Sons would

have the majority stake of 51 per cent in the joint venture with Singapore Airlines owning the remaining

49 per cent. Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines are likely to make an initial investment of $ 100 million to

launch the airline that is planned to take off next year after the requisite clearances.

� Vice President Hamid Ansari had a meeting with Cuban revolutionary hero Fidel Castro, reflecting the

warmth in the relationship between India and Cuba, two of the founding members of the Non Aligned

Movement (NAM). Despite the two countries working closely in the NAM, it is the first ever bilateral visit

by any Indian VVIP to the Communist country.

� Indicating a poor state of affairs on gender parity front, India was ranked at a low 101st position on a

global Gender Gap Index despite an improvement by four places since last year. The index, compiled by

Geneva-based World Economic orum (WEF), has ranked 136 countries on how well resources and

opportunities are divided between men and women in four broad areas of economy, politics, education

and health. While India has been ranked very high at 9th place globally for political empowerment, it has

got second-lowest position (135th) for health and survival. Its rankings for economic participation and

opportunity are also low at 124th and for educational attainment at 120th.

� Pune Warriors, owned by Sahara Adventure Sports, was terminated from the Indian Premier League by

the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for “continued refusal” to give a bank guarantee of Rs.

170.2 crore to play in the 2014 season. With the decision taken at the Working Committee meeting, the

number of teams in the IPL has come down to eight from nine.

� The lower house of Russian parliament approved a new legislation that toughens punishment for terrorism

and requires terrorists’ relatives to pay for the damages caused in attacks.

� In the first such attack in Patna, five people were killed and over 70 injured when serial blasts targeted

Narendra Modi's rally in the state capital's Gandhi Maidan.

� Sebastian Vettel won his fourth consecutive drivers' world title after a comfortable win at the Indian Grand

Prix.

� P.S. Raghavan, currently Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been appointed as the

next Ambassador of India to Russian Federation. He will succeed Ajai Malhotra who has retired.

� In a move to checkmate rising inflation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiked interest rates by 0.25

percentage points for the second time in a little over a month. Consequently, the policy repo rate, or the

rate at which banks borrow from the RBI, will go up to 7.75 per cent from 7.50 per cent earlier.

Simultaneously, the central bank reduced the Marginal Standing Facility rate, which is the rate at which

banks borrow funds overnight from the RBI, from 9 to 8.75 per cent. This, along with the central bank’s

decision to increase the short-term 7 and 14-day borrowing limits for banks, is likely to ease liquidity

pressure, and also bring down the cost of funds for banks.

� With a networth of $21 billion, Mukesh Ambani has retained his title as India's wealthiest for sixth year in

a row, while the country's 100 richest persons saw their collective wealth soar by a modest 3 per cent in a

year. NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal ($16 billion) also continues to hold the second position, while Sun

Pharma's Dilip Shanghvi has jumped to third place with about 50 per cent surge in his wealth to $13.9

billion, pushing IT czar Azim Premji to fourth place ($13.8 billion).

Abraham Nemeth

Abraham Nemeth, the blind designer of the internationally recognized Nemeth Braille Math Code that simplified

symbols for easier use in advanced math and science, died at 94.

Arundhati Bhattacharya

Arundhati Bhattacharya is the new chairperson of State Bank of India. Bhattacharya becomes the first woman

chief of India's largest bank. Previously, she was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the bank.

Bhattacharya, who joined SBI as a probationary officer in 1977, will be at the helm until March 2016. She is the

first managing director at SBI which is India's largest bank. Arundhati succeeded Diwakar Gupta.

B. Ashok

B. Ashok, Executive Director (Retail Sales) at Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has been approved by the Public

Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) to head the company from June 2014 when the present head, R.S. Butola, will

demit office.

Erna Solberg

A new government has taken office in Norway. The right-wing coalition of incoming Prime Minister Erna Solberg's

Conservatives and the Progress Party ousted a center-left government in last month's election.

G.P. Deshpande

Noted Marathi playwright and political thinker Govind P Deshpande died at 74. Deshpande won acclaim for his

plays including Udhvasta Dharmashala andSatyashodhak, the latter centred on the mission of pioneering social

reformer Mahatma Phule. Known for his insightful analysis of political processes, Deshpande was also considered

an authority on China. He also taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi for many years.

General Vo Nguyen Giap

Legendary vietnamese Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, who helped communist forces push French and later U.S. troops to

withdraw after decades of war in the southeast Asian country, died at 102.

Hans Riegel

Hans Riegel, who made German candy maker Haribo and its signature gummi bears a chewy hit for children — and

adults — across the globe, died at 90. The corporate jingle "Haribo makes children happy - and adults as well" is

among the best known in German TV advertising. The English-language version is "Kids and grown-ups love it so -

the happy world of Haribo". Today Haribo produces sweets in 15 European nations and exports them to over 110

countries. The company employs over 6000 people and its annual sales are estimated at over two billion euros

($2.86 billion), although the family business does not make its financial results public.

Germany's Manager magazine listed the Riegel family at number 36 on the country's list of wealthiest people and

families, with an estimated fortune of 2.75 billion euros.

PEOPLE IN NEWS

Ilham Aliyev

Ilham Aliyev has been sworn in for his third term as Azerbaijan's president. Aliyev's third term extends what is

already a decades-long rule by his family. He won some 85 percent of the vote, far ahead of his main challenger

Jamil Hasanli with around 5.5 percent. Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

(OSCE) said the poll fell well short of international standards and Aliyev's opponents demanded the result be

annulled. The 51-year-old Aliyev -- who took power in 2003 in a disputed election after the death of his father

Heydar, a former KGB officer and Communist-era boss -- has been buoyed by billions in petrodollars over the past

decade.

Janet Yellen

In a history-making selection, President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen to be chairman of the Federal

Reserve, a critical post as the nation continues its fitful economic recovery. She would be the first woman to lead

the powerful central bank. Yellen, who currently holds the No. 2 spot at the Fed, would replace Ben Bernanke,

whose eight-year tenure at the helm of the Fed ends Jan. 31, 2014.

K. Raghavan

Veteran music director K Raghavan died at 99. A nationally recognized composer credited for the renaissance of

Malayalam film music, Raghavan Master is credited with nearly 400 songs in 63 films. He had won J C Daniel

award and also the state award for music director.

Mohan Dharia

Former Union minister and deputy chairman of Planning Commission Mohan Dharia passed away at 89. A lawyer

by profession, two-time member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Dharia had been a prominent figure in the state

and national politics.He served as a minister of state under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971 but left the

Congress after the imposition of the Emergency in 1975. He joined the Bharatiya Lok Dal and later became

commerce minister under Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1977. He founded the Vanrai, an umbrella organization

comprising thousands of non-government organizations, through which over 25 million saplings were distributed

free to the people as part of an afforestation drive. Among many other awards, Dharia was conferred with the

Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour for his social work in 2005.

M.C Misra

Dr Mahesh Chandra Misra is the new director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Oscar Hijuelos

Oscar Hijuelos, a Cuban-American novelist who wrote about the lives of immigrants adapting to a new culture and

became the first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his 1989 book, “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of

Love,” died at 62.

Prabodh Chandra Dey Alias Manna Dey

Playback singer Manna Dey, whose legendary voice entertained many generations, died at 94. In a career that

spanned 70 years, he sang more than 3,500 songs in 16 languages, including Kannada. He debuted in the

film Tamanna in 1942. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1971, the Padma

Bhushan in 2005 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2007. Dey sang in all the major regional Indian languages,

though primarily in Hindi and Bengali.

Ravindra Kumar

The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) elected The Statesman's Ravindra Kumar as president at its 74th annual

general meeting. Kumar succeeds K N Tilak Kumar of Deccan Herald & Prajavani.

Satya Narayan Goenka

Renowned spiritual leader and Vipassana guru Satya Narayan Goenka died at 89. Goenka, who was conferred the

Padma Bhushan for social work last year, started teaching meditation to the public in India in 1969. In 1976, he

set up the Vipassana International Academy — also known as Dhamma Giri — in Igatpuri, in Nashik district.

Besides India, Vipassana centres have come up in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France,

the United Kingdom, Japan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand under his guidance.

Sarojini Varadappan

Social worker Sarojini Varadappan passed away at 92. Varadappan was the daughter of former Tamil Nadu Chief

Minister M Bhaktavatsalam of the Congress party. She served effectively as the head of the Women's India

Association (WIA) and the Music Academy. She received the Padma Shri in 1973 and the Padma Bhushan in 2009.

Syed Ibne Abbas

Syed Ibne Abbas has been appointed as Pakistan's new High Commissioner to India. Mr Abbas would be replacing

current high commissioner to India, Salman Bashir.

S.R Bansal

S.R. Bansal took charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Corporation Bank in Mangalore on October 5.

Tom Clancy

Tom Clancy, a celebrated author of crime fiction and military thrillers, died at 66. He was the author of the popular

Jack Ryan series, among many others. His novels have repeatedly hit #1 on The New York Times bestseller list,

and four of his books were adapted for film, including his first, "The Hunt for Red October."

Zubaida Khanum

Renowned Pakistani singer Zubaida Khanum died of heart attack in Lahore.

AWARDS FOR MALALA :

• Anna Politkovskaya Award: In early October, Malala won an award instituted in the name of Russian

journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya.

• Pride of Britain Award: The Pakistani teenage activist, Malala Yousafzai, who survived Taliban bullets, was

presented with this award by David Beckham on October 6 in London.

• Sakharov Human Rights Award: Malala Yousafzai was on October 10 honoured with European Parliament's

top award in recognition of her courageous fight for girls' education.

Asian Filmmaker Of the year Award:

Acclaimed Cambodian director Rithy Panh, whose family died in the Khmer Rouge genocide, received the Asian

Filmmaker of the Year award at the Busan International Film Festival for his efforts to save his country’s cinematic

heritage. The 49-year-old Panh has dedicated his life to seeking out and finding ways to save his country’s film

history, left mostly destroyed under the brutal 1975-1979 reign of the Khmer Rouge that claimed around two

million lives.

Bimal Roy Memorial Award:

Filmmaker Shivendra Singh Dungarpur has been selected for this year's Bimal Roy Memorial Emerging Talent

Award for his widely appreciated documentary Celluloid Man. Celluloid Man, a documentary made by Mr.

Dungarpur in 2012, explores the life and work of P. K. Nair, legendary film archivist and founder of the National

Film Archive of India. The film won two awards - best historical/biographical reconstruction and best editing for

Irene Dhar Malik - at the 60National Film Awards. The 150-minute documentary, screened at about 47 film

festivals worldwide, has received universal critical acclaim. The film features interviews of several prominent

actors, filmmakers and artistes who have been inspired by Mr. Nair. The Bimal Roy Memorial Society has been

conferring this award since 1997. The organization honours emerging talents from the Indian film industry

including performing artists, technicians, directors, musicians etc.

Bangla Award:

Former Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and ex-Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda were posthumously

conferred with the 'Bangladesh Liberation War Honour' in recognition of their outstanding support to the country's

struggle for independence from Pakistan. They were among 44 Indians honoured by President Abdul Hamid and

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for their contributions in 1971. Actress Waheeda Rehman, physician Shyama Prasad

Mandal, professor Aniruddha Ray, Panna Lal Dasgupta and Maulana Syed Ahmed Madani were also among the

recipients of the award.

CIA Whistleblower Award:

Former CIA analyst Edward Snowden was given an American whistleblowers’ award for exposing massive U.S.

surveillance dragnet. The Sam Adams Award “for Integrity in Intelligence” was presented to Mr. Snowden by four

former U.S. intelligence officials at a secret meeting in Moscow. The award in the shape of a candlestick is named

after Samuel A. Adams, a C.I.A. whistleblower during the Vietnam War and is given annually. In 2010 it was

conferred on the WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Deutsche Bank prize for Financial Economics 2013:

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has received the fifth Deutsche Bank prize for Financial Economics 2013, in

recognition of his ground-breaking research work which has influenced financial and macro-economic policies

around the world.

French Award for Anjali Gopalan:

France’s highest civilian award, the “Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur” was given to Anjali Gopalan for her work on

transgenders and HIV positive patients. Anjali Gopalan is the executive director of the Naz Foundation and a well

known human rights activist at the forefront of the fight for equality for LGBT folks and in advancing the cause of

HIV in India.

HP LIFE Entrepreneurship Award:

Bano Fatima, a young entrepreneur who helps the weavers known as 'Julahas' in Uttar Pradesh, has received the

HP LIFE Entrepreneurship Award at New York's Global Citizen Festival. This prize was awarded as her incredible

entrepreneurship story received the maximum online votes from the HP LIFE/Global Poverty Project community

than the stories of four other highly inspiring HP LIFE entrepreneurs. Musician Jake Clemons presented the HP LIFE

Entrepreneurship Award (including $ 5,000 and a trip to New York City) to Bano Fatima of Weaver's Hut.

Indira Award:

Eminent agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, known as the ‘Father of Green Revolution’, was conferred the

Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. The Award for the year 2012 consisting of a citation and Rs 5 lakh

was presented to the 88-year-old scientist by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on October 31, the death anniversary

of Indira Gandhi.

Indian Film Awarded In Germany:

At a recent award ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, Indian film Fire in the Blood, directed by Dylan Mohan

Gray won the first-ever Prize for Political Film at the Filmfest Hamburg. Twelve films from around the world were in

the running for the prestigious award.

JEWISH NOBEL:

Israel on Monday recognized New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the first ever recipient of the $1 million

Genesis Prize, an award popularly dubbed the "Jewish Nobel Prize”. The Genesis Prize Foundation said Bloomberg

was honored as the first winner for his long record of public service and philanthropy.

Man Booker Prize:

New Zealand author Eleanor Catton won the 2013 Man Booker prize for English fiction for her novel "The

Luminaries", to become the youngest winner in the award's 45-year history.

Miss World Pageant-2013:

The 23-year-old Miss Philippines Megan Young was crowned Miss World 2013, beating 130 contestants from across

the globe in the 63rd Miss World pageant held in a glittering finale on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. This is

the first time a Miss Philippines has been awarded the title. Though Miss India World Navneet Kaur Dhillon did not

make it to the top 10, she bagged the title of Miss Multimedia.

Nobel Prize-2013

Following are the awardees of this year's Nobel Prizes, the $1.2 million awards handed out since 1901 by

committees in Stockholm and Oslo.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry:

The chemistry prize was given to three U.S.-based scientists for developing computer models that predict complex

chemical reactions that can be used for tasks like creating new drugs. Their approach combined classical physics

and quantum physics. The winners are Martin Karplus of the University of Strasbourg, France, and Harvard

University; Michael Levitt of the Stanford University School of Medicine, and Arieh Warshel of the University of

Southern California in Los Angeles.

Nobel Prize in Literature:

The literature prize was given to Canada's Alice Munro, hailed by the award-giving Swedish Academy as a "master

of the contemporary short story." The 82-year-old author is often called "Canada's Chekhov" for her astute,

unflinching and compassionate depiction of seemingly unremarkable lives. She is the author of a series of story

collections chronicling the lives of girls and women before and after the 1960s social revolution, including "The

Moons of Jupiter," 'The Progress of Love" and "Runaway."

Nobel Prize in Medicine:

The medicine prize, the first of the 2013 awards, honored breakthroughs in understanding how key substances are

moved around within a cell. That process happens through vesicles, tiny bubbles that deliver their cargo within a

cell to the right place at the right time. Disturbances in the delivery system can lead to neurological diseases,

diabetes or immunological disorders. The prize was shared by Americans James E. Rothman of Yale and Randy W.

Schekman of the University of California, Berkeley; and German-American Dr. Thomas C. Sudhof of the Stanford

University School of Medicine.

Nobel Prize in Physics:

The physics prize was awarded for a theory about how subatomic particles get their mass. The theory made

headlines last year when it was confirmed at the CERN laboratory in Geneva by the discovery of the elusive Higgs

particle. The prize was shared by two men who proposed the theory independently of each other in 1964: Peter

Higgs of Britain and Francois Englert of Belgium.

Nobel Peace Prize:

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons wins the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

Prize in Economic Sciences:

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2013 was awarded jointly to Eugene

F. Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and Robert J. Shiller "for their empirical analysis of asset prices".

� Apple: Apple has unseated Coca-Cola as the world’s No. 1 brand according to a study of the Top 100

brands by Interbrand Corp. Apple’s brand value jumped 28 percent to $98.3 billion as Google’s rose in

second place at $93.3 billion. The Coca-Cola name slipped from the top spot after 13 years to third place

at $79.2 billion. The annual study determines a brand’s value by examining its financial performance, role

in influencing consumer buying, and ability to secure earnings. The Top 10 is rounded out in descending

order by IBM, Microsoft, GE, McDonald’s, Samsung, Intel and Toyota. The 100 have a combined value of

$1.5 trillion; an 8.4 percent increase from last year.

� Air Costa: Air costa, which on October 14 became the latest regional carrier in the Indian skies, has spelt

out ambitious plans despite the prevailing downbeat mood in the aviation industry. The airline, promoted

by the Vijaywada-based realty group Lingamaneni Estates Private Limited (LEPL), operated its inaugural

flight.

� Amazon: Online retail giant Amazon has acquired Ten-Marks, a mathematical education company

founded by entrepreneur Rohit Agarwal, in a deal that adds to the clutch of Indian-led technology firms

that have been bought out by their bigger American counterparts in recent times.

� Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL): S. Varadarajan took over charge as Chairman and

Managing Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) from the outgoing CMD R K Singh on

his retirement..

� Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has

started giving approvals to private jet operators to fly abroad. The regulator had banned international

flights by non-scheduled operators after discrepancies were pointed out in an audit by the International

Civil Aviation Organisation.

� EEPC India: Engineering export association EEPC India elevated Anupam Shah to the post of

Chairman.Shah, who was Senior Vice-Chairman of EEPC India, will succeed Aman Chadha.

� Freight Tariff: Inflation is expected to soar further with freight tariff on all commodities, including

foodgrains, cement, chemical manure, iron ore and coal, set to rise by 15 per cent from October

1.Railways have decided to levy 15 per cent busy season charge on all commodities from October 1.

� Foreign Exchange Reserves: According to the RBI, India's foreign exchange reserves shot up for a third

week in a row in October 2013 adding a healthy $1.9 billion to touch $281.12 billion on account of growth

in a key component.

� GAIL India: State-owned gas utility GAIL India announced that it had sold nearly a fourth of its 4.6 per

cent stake in city gas distribution company China Gas Holdings for Rs. 385 crore.

� HSBC: London-based HSBC, on October 17, said it would exit its retail broking business in India, the

latest global bank to scale back operations in the country.

� International Finance Corporation (IFC): The International Finance Corporation (IFC): a member of

the World Bank Group, has launched a $1-billion offshore bond programme, touted as the largest of its

kind in the offshore rupee market, to strengthen India’s capital markets and attract greater foreign

investment. Under the programme, IFC will issue rupee-linked bonds and use the proceeds to finance

private sector investment in the country.

Business & Economy

� Khadi Mark: With an aim to provide a unique identity to brand ‘Khadi’ in domestic as well as international

markets, President Pranab Mukherjee has launched ‘Khadi Mark’, which would indicate the quality and

genuineness of a product. The initiative will help to fully realise the growth potential of the khadi sector.

The sector is presently pegged at Rs. 1,000 crore in terms of revenues, of which about Rs. 125 crore

comes from exports. Additionally, it employs around 10.45 lakh khadi artisans, with nearly seventy per

cent being women.

� Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX): The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd

(MCX) said its managing director and chief executive officer, Shreekant Javalgekar, had submitted his

resignation from the company, in which Jignesh Shah-promoted Financial Technologies (India)(FTIL) holds

a 26 per cent stake. Multi Commodity Exchange did not specify a reason for the resignation in a

statement. Financial Technologies also owns National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL). The NSEL has been

under investigation by police since last month after India's commodities regulator ordered it to suspend

trading over suspected violations of rules on contract duration. Earlier, Jignesh Shah and Joseph Massey

had also resigned from the board of MCX Stock Exchange. Shah was the vice chairman & shareholder

director of MCX-SX, Massey was the MD & CEO of MCX-SX and also the shareholder director of MCX-SX

Clearing Corporation.

� Minimum Support Price: The government has raised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat by Rs

50 to Rs 1,400 per quintal to encourage farmers to cover more area under the crop in the ongoing rabi

season.

MSP is the rate at which government buys the grain from farmers.

� ONGC Videsh: ONGC Videsh, through its affiliates signed definitive agreements to acquire 12%

Participating Interest (PI) in Block BC-10, Campos Basin, Deep Offshore Brazil as part of the sale of 35%

share made by Petrobras. ONGC Videsh had earlier acquired 15 % PI in the block in 2006. The other

partners in the block were Shell, Operator with 50% PI and Petrobras with 35% PI.

� Penguin Random House: Penguin Random House announced the completion of its purchase of Ananda

Publishers Private Limited’s minority stake in Penguin Books India. Penguin India was formed in 1985,

with UK-based publishing house Penguin Publishing Company, holding a 40 per cent stake. Penguin

Random House has now acquired the remaining stake and takes 100 per cent ownership of Penguin India.

� Reliance Jio Infocomm: Reliance Industries' telecom arm Reliance Jio Infocomm has won a unified

telecom licence that will enable it to offer voice telephony and high speed data services across the

country. Reliance Jio is the only telecom operator to own nationwide fourth generation spectrum of radio

waves.

� Singapore Airlines (SIA): The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has given its nod to

Singapore Airlines (SIA) to set up a full service airline in India in partnership with the Tata Group that

would entail an initial foreign investment of $49 million.

� Shriram General Insurance: Shriram General Insurance has become the first private insurer to make a

foreign acquisition with the purchase of a large chunk of share in Philippine non-life company Monarch

Insurance. This is the first overseas insurance transaction after the insurance regulator in May 2013

allowed domestic companies to do business in other countries. The Shriram Group earlier held a stake in

the Philippine company through Bharath Investments a Singapore-based holding company, which has

investments from Ceylinco group - a Sri Lankan conglomerate.

� State Bank of India: The State Bank of India (SBI) on October 27 said that it made an investment in

Equifax Credit Information Services (ECIS), an India-based credit bureau and an arm of the US-based

Equifax Inc.

� Wal-Mart: The world's largest retailer Wal-Mart and Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Enterprises on October

9 announced they are ending their partnership in the retail sector in India. Both will independently run

their retail businesses in the country.