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INTERNATIONAL
Bangladesh Court Disqualifies Jamaat-e-Islami Party
On 1 August a Bangladesh court has disqualified the countrys largest Islamic party
from taking part in the next general election.The High Court panel ruled that the
opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami partys regulations violate the constitutional
provision of secularism.
Robert Mugabe Re-elected As President Of Zimbabwe
On 3 August Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front), the
political party of the incumbent President Robert Mugabe has won the Presidential
election of Zimbabwe .Mugabe won 61 percent of the vote against the 34 percent
won by the Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe of Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) party.With this win, Mugabe has won his seventh term to
the office of the President of Zimbabwe .Robert Mugabe is one of the leaders of the
guerrilla movements against white-minority rule of Zimbabwe and was elected to
power in 1980.
China Built Port Terminal Opens In Sri Lanka
On 5 August Sri Lankas President, Mahinda Rajapakse declared open the new
International Container Terminal of the Colombo harbour.The $500 million Colombo
International Container Terminal (CICT) was built by China Merchants Holdings.The
new South Port is the only harbor in South Asia that can accommodate the Triple-E
Class vessels.85-pct of the investment is by CICT and the remaining 15-pct has
been funded by the by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Elected As New President of Mali
On 12 August Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was elected as
President of Mali.He won the Malis Presidential elections , after his opponent and
Ex-Finance Minister Soumala Cisse, conceded defeat. He was Prime Minister of
Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly of Mali from 2002 to
2007. He founded a political party, Rally for Mali (RPM), in 2001 and he has led the
party since then. In addition to serving in the National Assembly, Keita was a
member of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States.
Britain Parliament Votes Against Possible Military Action In Syria
On 29 August the Britain Parliament rejected a proposal for military action in Syria
.By a 285 to 272 margin British MPs rejected the governments motion to support in
principle military action against Syria.

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INDIA & WORLD
India Signs DTAC protocol with Morocco
On 8 August India signed a Protocol amending the India Morocco Double Taxation
Avoidance Convention (DTAC) in New Delhi .The Protocol was signed by Dr Sudha
Sharma, Chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes on behalf of Government of
India and H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India
on behalf of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.The Protocol is based on
international standards of transparency and exchange of information. It provides for
effective exchange of information including banking information between tax
authorities of the two countries.
5th India China Strategic Dialogue Held In Delhi
The 5th India-China Strategic Dialogue was held at New Delhi on 20 August .The
Indian side was led by Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and the Chinese side was
led by Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.The two sides discussed several issues
including enhancing understanding on the utilization of trans-border river waters,
expanding bilateral trade and investment while addressing problems of the large and
growing deficit faced by India, ways of maintaining peace and tranquility along the
Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas, methods of boosting
cultural cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges and expansion of
scientific and technological cooperation.
India Third Largest Internet Using Nation
On 21 August According to research firm com Score latest report titled India Digital
Future in Focus 2013 , India with 73.9 million Net users is the worlds third largest
Internet population, overtaking Japan (4th position) but behind China (First position)
and the US. (Second position) Riding on a 31 per cent year-on-year increase, Indias
online population grew to 73.9 million.With an extended online universe in excess of
145 million the market is at a tipping point for online businesses.India overtook
Japan by adding 17.6 million users in 2012.
Indians Third Largest Immigrant Group In US
On 23 August According to the Migration Policy Institute latest study report , Indians
have emerged as the third-largest immigrant group in the US behind Mexicans and
Chinese, with nearly 1.9 million of them living in the country.Indian population in the
US has grown to over 150 times its size since 1960, when the slightly more than
12,000 Indian immigrants represented less than 0.5 per cent of the total immigrant
population of 9.7 million immigrants.Till 2011, Indian-born immigrants accounted for
almost five per cent (1.86 million) of Americas 40.4 million immigrants.Almost one-
third of all Indian immigrants resided in just two states- California and New
Jersey.More than a quarter of them lived in three major metropolitan areas- New
York, Chicago and San Jose.Two per cent of all unauthorised immigrants in the
United States were also from India.
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India and Iraq Signed Energy Cooperation Agreement
On 23 August India and Iraq signed an agreement on energy cooperation to boost
the bilateral ties.The agreement was signed along with three other agreements after
comprehensive talks between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Iraq
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on strategic bilateral, regional and international issues.
Iraq is an important Gulf nation and has emerged as Indias second largest crude oil
supplier after Saudi Arabia.
India Announced Rs 5,000 crore For Bhutan
On 31 August India announced an aid of Rs 5,000 crore, including a special package
of Rs 500 crore, for Bhutan as part of commitment to its continued socio-economic
development, a move that assumes significance against the backdrop of unease in
the bilateral ties recently. India will contribute Rs 4500 crore towards Bhutans 11th
Plan, as well as Rs 500 crore towards an Economic Stimulus Package.The decision
was announced after talks in NewDelhi between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.

NATIONAL
India Lost 220 Languages In Last 50 Years
On 9 August A two-year survey by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre based
in Vadodara has revealed that India has lost around 20 per cent of its languages
over the last 50 years.Officials of the survey, called the Peoples Linguistic Survey of
India (PLSI) has held that the country had 1,100 languages in 1961 of which 220
have vanished. The survey has found 780 languages and might have missed
another 100, which makes it around 880.The 1961 census had recorded that India
had 1,652 languages in all but the number was narrowed down to 1,100 later for
variants of same languages were also included in the list. The 1971 census
registered only 108 languages for it was decided that only those languages with over
10,000 speakers will be included.
Rajya Sabha Passed The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill,
2012
On 13 August Rajya Sabha passed a bill to make registration of marriages
mandatory.The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was
passed by Rajya Sabha, seeks to provide compulsory registration of marriages
irrespective of religion. The registration of marriages will not apply to those who have
registered their marriage under any other law.At present, there is provision for
registration of only births and deaths.
Lok Sabha Passed National Food Security Bill, 2013
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On 26 August Lok Sabha passed the National Food Security Bill, 2013.The Bill
seeks to give legal rights to get subsidized grains every month to 67 percent of the
overall population (of which 75 percent is rural and 50 percent is urban population).A
beneficiary will be entitled to 5 kg of rice, wheat or coarse cereals at Rs. 3, Rs. 2 and
Re. 1 per kg a month, respectively.The beneficiaries will be identified by the States
based on parameters prescribed by the Union government.Once the Bill gets its nod
in the Rajya Sabha and Presidents accent, India will join the selected league of
countries that guarantee food grants to a majority of its population.
Rajya Sabha Passed The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010
On 26 August the Rajya Sabha passed The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010
was passed by voice vote .It seeks to amend the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the
Special Marriages Act, 1954 which provides for irretrievable breakdown on marriage
as a ground for divorce as well as grants women the right to a share in the property
of their husbands.Under the new bill, a provision has been made to restrict the grant
of decree of divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage if the court
is satisfied that adequate provision for the maintenance of children born out of the
marriage has not been made consistently with the financial capacities of the parents.
Lok Sabha Passed Land Acquisition Bill
The Lok Sabha passed the landmark land acquisition and rehabilitation bill on 29
August 2013 that aims to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken,
brings transparency to the process and details measures for rehabilitation of those
displaced.The bill, which will now be called, The Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2012,
replaced a nearly 120-year-old law enacted during British rule in 1894.
Companies Bill 2013 Receives Presidents Assent

The new Companies Bill has received Presidents assent, that will make it into a law
replacing the nearly six-decade old regulations that govern corporates in the
country.The Companies Bill 2013 received assent from the President Pranab
Mukherjee on 29 August 2013.The Companies Bill 2012 was passed in Rajya Sabha
on 8 August 2013 . Earlier, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 18 December
2012. With the Presidents assent, the Companies Bill 2012 became the Companies
Act, 2013 (New Act).The new Bill, providing for sweeping changes in the way
companies operate and are regulated in the country, received Parliamentary
approval earlier this month. It would replace the Companies Act 1956.

STATES
Karnataka Becomes First State To Establish Calamities Relief Fund
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On 5 August Karnataka Government has become the first state in the country to
establish State Natural Calamities Relief fund of Rs. 125 crore.The Relief Fund will
provide for a natural calamities relief fund which would provide for building capital
assets and relief in respect of man-made disasters that are not covered under the
state disaster response fund guidelines of the Government of India.
First Public Sector Breast Milk Bank Inaugurated In Kolkata
On 7 August A modern and sophisticated breast milk bank was inaugurated at the
state-run Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital (SSKM) by West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee . This novel scheme was launched to cater to the basic
needs of a child who is just born, but does not get the milk from the mother or when
the mother dies after giving birth to the child.The breast milk bank would help
specially to non-lactating mothers. The stored milk can be used to feed babies
whose mothers fall ill during the six-month lactating period after pregnancy.
Indias First Cyber Forensic Laboratory (CFL) Established In Tripura
The first Cyber Forensic Laboratory (CFL) of India was established in Tripura on 11
August .The lab was established at the Tripura High Court and the purpose of the lab
is to facilitate information related to court cases. The CFL was inaugurated by
Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur.
Agar-Malwa Becomes The 51st District Of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh government gave nod to creation of the new district of Agar-Malwa,
taking the number of districts in the state to 51.The district will come into existence
on 16 August.The new district will be created by bifurcating Shajapur district; it will
comprise the tehsils of Agar, Badoud, Susner and Nalkheda. Headquarters would be
at Agar town.Spread over 2,785 square km, Agar-Malwa will have population of 4.80
lakh.
Sonia Sonia Gandhi Launches Food Security Scheme In Delhi
On 20 August Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the Centre-Sponsored
Food security scheme on the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis 69th
birth Anniversary.Delhi was the first state to implement the scheme.Under the
scheme, a total of 73.5 lakh people will get foodgrain at highly subsidised rates.The
food security programme would provide subsidised grains for 67 per cent of the
population and would see government spending an estimated Rs. 1,25,000 crore to
supply 62 million tonnes of grains. Under the scheme, beneficiaries would get wheat
at Rs. 2 a kg, rice at Rs. 3 a kg and coarse grain at Rs. 1 a kg.Congress party ruled
northern states Haryana and Uttarakhand have also launched this scheme.
Maharashtra Cabinet Approved Anti-Black Magic and Superstition Ordinance
On 21 August the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Anti-Black Magic and
Superstition Ordinance after the death of anti-superstition activist Narendra
Dabholkar.The decision was taken by the state cabinet in wake up of the protests
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that followed after the murder of Dabhokar in Pune on 20 August 2013.Dabholkar
was at the forefront of a campaign to persuade the Maharashtra government to pass
an anti-superstition and black magic bill.
Rajasthan Government Laid Foundation Stone For Worlds Largest Solar Park
On 21 August State Government of Rajasthan laid the foundation stone for worlds
biggest solar park at Bhadla of Jodhpur District of Rajasthan.The solar park with
generation capacity of 3000 MW would be commissioned in phased manner. In its
first phase the solar park will generate 1000 MW.Solar Park would be established in
10 thousand hectare land and Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide 3000
crore rupees loan for development of transmission lines of this solar park.

CONFERENCES
BRICS Business Council Meeting Held In Johannesburg
The first BRICS Business Council Meeting was held on 19 20 August 2013 in
Johannesburg , South Africa.The objective of the meet is aiming to increase the
trade and investment ties between participating economies.The two-day meeting
was attended by the Chairpersons of the respective chapters of the BRICS Business
Council that attended the meeting are: Jose Rubens de la Rosa (Brazil), Sergey
Katyrin (Russian Federation), Onkar Kanwar (India) and MA Zehua (China).The
meeting was chaired by Patrice Motsepe, Chairman of the South African and BRICS
Business Council.In a joint statement following the first BRICS Business Council
meeting ,the council made several recommendations includes urging governments
to facilitate convenience in expediting multiple entry business visas for longer
periods, as well as considering a proposal to create a BRICS business travel card ;
Enhancing connectivity; and Creating a BRICS business portal, which will be
facilitated by the BRICS Business Council Secretariat, among others.The council has
agreed to work together in areas such as infrastructure, mining and mineral
beneficiation, value-added manufacturing development, skills development and
sustainable development.BRICS an acronym for the Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa group of countries.The BRICS Business Council was established during
the 2013 BRICS Summit in Durban in March, with South African businessman
Patrice Motsepe named chairman of the body.
Second ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Held In Brunei
The 2nd ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus has concluded in Brunei on 29
August .Defense ministers from ASEAN signed a declaration of commitment to
enhance peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.They committed to adhere to
the principles of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and respect for international
laws in the handling of disputes. The defense ministers also agreed to promote
better understanding and confidence-building measures among defense
establishments.ASEAN Defence ministers meeting firstly convened in Vietnams
capital Hanoi on October 12, 2010, the regional event has involved 18 member
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states, including ministers from the 10 ASEAN nations.ASEAN Defence Ministers
Meeting Plus was established in 2010.This forum is convened every two years.The
third ADMM-Plus is scheduled to be held in Malaysia in 2015.

AWARDS & HONOURS
Malayalam Poetess Sugathakumari Awarded With Saraswati Samman 2013
On 2 August Renowned Malayalam poetess and social activist Sugathakumari has
been conferred with the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2012 for Manalezhuthu (the
Writings on the Sand), a collection of poems in Malayalam.Manalezhuthu was
published in the year 2006.Saraswati Samman Award was instituted by KK Birla
Foundation in 1991.This award is given every year to the literary work in any Indian
language which is the part of Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
US Presidential Medal To Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey
On 8 August Barack Obama, the US President would confer the Presidential Medal
of Freedom on former US President, Bill Clinton and talk show queen, Oprah
Winfrey. It is the highest civilian honour of America.
Indian American Professor Received Top US Environmental Award
On 16 August An Indian American professor of biological and agricultural
engineering has been recognised by a top US environmental and water resources
institute for his pioneering work in hydrology. Vijay P Singh, professor and Caroline ;
William N Lehrer distinguished chair in the department of biological and agricultural
engineering at Texas A&M University, was named a recipient of the 2013 Lifetime
Achievement Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and
Water Resources Institute (ASCE-EWRI).Singh is an internationally recognised and
pre-eminent engineer specialising in water resources engineering and hydrology. His
work has developed the application of kinematic wave theory to the point where it is
widely used throughout the world in hydrologic models used for water resource
modelling, flood planning and hydrologic design.
Harshwanti Bisht Selected For Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal
2013
On 12 August Professor of economics, and conservationist, and mountaineer Dr.
Harshwanti Bisht has been selected to receive the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain
Legacy Medal 2013.The award is presented for remarkable service in the
conservation of culture and nature in mountainous regions.In 2003 the Sir Edmund
Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal was initiated by unanimous resolution of the Namche
Conference: Parks, People and Mountain Tourism.
Malala Yousafzai Wins International Childrens Peace Prize
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On 27 August Pakistani school pupil and education activist Malala Yousafzai won the
International Childrens Peace Prize 2013. The peace prize carries a cash value of
100000 euros (133000 US dollars) which is invested in projects relating to the
winners cause. The International Childrens Peace Prize is an initiative of the
Amsterdem-based Dutch KidsRights Foundation. It was launched in the year 2005
by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, when he chaired the Summit of Nobel
Peace Laureates in Rome. Since then, the prize has been awarded every year by a
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The prize is presented annually to an exceptional child,
whose courageous or otherwise remarkable actions have made a difference in
countering problems, which affect children around the world.
Mandela Is The First Recipient Of Mahathir Award For Global Peace
On 27 August Former South African President Nelson Mandela was awarded the
first Lifetime Campaigner for Peace and Freedom of the Mahathir Award for Global
Peace .Current South African President Jacob Zuma received the award on behalf of
Mandela, who is in a critical condition in a hospital in Pretoria.The Mahathir Award
for Global Peace is a peace award instituted by the Mahathir Global Peace
Foundation. The foundation was formed to contribute to worldwide peace
efforts.Mahathir bin Mohamad is a Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime
Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him
Malaysias longest serving Prime Minister.

SPORTS & GAMES
India Won Bronze Medal at Junior Women Hockey World Cup
On 4 August Indian Junior Women Hockey team won its first ever Bronze medal in
ERGO Hockey Junior World Cup at Monchengladbac, Germany .India defeated
England by 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out.Indian forward Rani was declared the Best
Player of the ERGO Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013.The Netherland team
won the final against Argentina and clinched the trophy for a record third time.
Parimarjan Negi Won Politiken Cup
On 4 August Indian Grandmaster Parimarjan won the Denmarks Politiken Cup at
Copenhagen, Denmark by gaining 9 out of the total possible 10 points. He defeated
the seventh seed, Italian Sabino Brunello in just 31 moves of Ruy Lopez.
Jadeja First Indian After Kumble To Top ODI Bowlers List
On 4 August Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian bowler to top
the bowlers chart in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings after former captain Anil
Kumble claimed the pole position way back in 1996.Overall, Jadeja is the fourth India
bowler after Kapil Dev (March 1989), Maninder Singh (December 1987-November
1988) and Kumble to claim the number-one spot in ODIs.
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Franklin Wins Record 6 Golds at World Swimming Championships
On 5 August American swimmer Missy Franklin became the first woman to win six
gold medals at a world-championships.She claimed her record sixth gold medal of
the world championships , swimming the leadoff leg for the Americans in the 400-
meter medley relay in Barcelona, Spain.Missy Franklin won four golds and a bronze
at the 2012 London Games, joins American men Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz as
well as German woman Kristin Otto with six golds in either a world or Olympic
competition.Franklin became the winningest female swimmer ever at a world meet,
eclipsing the record that was shared by Tracy Caulkins, who won five times in 1978,
and Libby Trickett, who did it in 2007.
PV Sindhu Won Bronze Medal at World Badminton Championships
On 10 August Indian shuttler P V Sindhu lost to the Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in
the semi-final match at the World Badminton Championships at Guangzhou, China.P
V Sindhu now became the only second Indian singles player to win a medal after
Prakash Padukone .Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had won the doubles
bronze in London in 2011.
World Badminton Championship 2013 Winners
Womens Singles :- Thailands Ratchanok Intanon won the womens singles title
,after defeated Li Xuerui (China) in the final at the World Badminton Championships
at Guangzhou.This is the first time any shuttler from Thailand has won a gold at the
Worlds in any category.
Mens Singles :- Chinas Lin Dan reinforced his claim to being the greatest
badminton player in history after he defeated arch rival Malaysian Lee Chong Wei in
the World Championship final to become the first man to win five world singles titles.
Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament 2013 Winners
Womens Singles :- On 11 August Serena Williams (U.S) won the Rogers Cup
Tennis Tournament Womens singles title ,after defeated Romanias Sorana Cirstea
in the final at Montreal (Canada).Serena Williams won the Rogers Cup womens title
for the third time.
Mens Singles :- Rafael Nadal (Spain) won his third Rogers Cup Mens Singles title
, after defeated Canadas Milos Raonic in the final.
Marion Bartoli Retires From Tennis
On 14 August Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli of France announces her
retirement from professional tennis.She announced the retirement after losing in the
second round of the Cincinnati Masters to Romanias Simona Halep. She is ranked
seventh in the world.Besides Wimbledon 2013, Bartoli won seven other WTA Tour
titles, the first one was in Auckland in 2006. Recently she won two tournaments both
in 2011 at Eastbourne and Osaka, Japan, prior to Wimbledon.
2013 World Championships in Athletics Winners
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The 14th World Championships in Athletics are held in Moscow, Russia from 1018
August 2013. Russia (17 medals )topped the medal table with seven gold, four silver,
and six bronze medals.The US (25 medals) came in second place at the event,
receiving six gold, 13 silver, and six bronze medals. Jamaica (19 medals )placed
third, with its athletes earning six gold, two silver, and one bronze.
Winners Of The 2013 World Championships in Athletics :-
* Jamaicas Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce both won three gold medals in
the mens and womens 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 m relay respectively to become
the most successful athletes at the event.Usain Bolt moved to the top of the all-time
World Championships medal table by winning three gold medals.It was Bolts second
three gold performance at the World Championships.With this victory Usain Bolt has
joined the club of highest (8) gold medal winners list along with American womens
200m specialist Allyson Felix, and retired US track stars Carl Lewis and Michael
Johnson including relays.
* Christina Obergfoll of Germany won the womens javelin title with a throw of 69.05
metres .
* French athlete Teddy Tamgho claimed gold in the mens triple jump event ,, with a
jump measuring 18.04m.
* In the Mens 1, 500 metres race Kenyan Asbel Kiprop ( 3min:36.2 sec) won the
gold and Eunice Jepkoech Sum of Kenya won gold in Womens 800 metres race
(1min :57.38 sec)
* Womens 10,000 meters Race :- Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
*Mens 10,000 meters Race :- Double Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain
created history once again in Moscow as he became the first British man to win a
10,000m world title.The Somalia-born Mo Farah went down in the history books as
just the second man to win the 5000 and 10,000m races at the Olympics and the
world championships.
* Mens 20 kilometres Walk :- Aleksandr Ivanov (Russia)
* Womens Marathon :- Kenyas Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat becomes the first
women in history to defend her world championship marathon title.
* Shot put :- New Zealands Valerie Adams has become the first woman to win four
individual world athletics titles in the same event.
* Mens 110 metres Hurdles :- David Oliver (USA)
* Mens 400metres Hurdles :- Jehu Gordon (Trinidad)
* Womens 400 metres Hurdles :- Zuzana Hejnova (Czech Republic )
* Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won gold..Yelena Isinbayeva is a two-time
Olympic gold medalist (2004 and 2008), a three-time World Champion (2005, 2007
and 2013), the current world record holder in the event, who is widely considered the
greatest female pole-vaulter of all time.
Cincinnati Tennis Tournament 2013 Winners
Womens Singles :- On 18 August Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won the Cincinnati
Tennis Tournament womens singles title.Azarenka defeated Serena Williams of the
U.S in the final at Cincinnati (U.S )
Mens Singles :- In the Mens category Rafael Nadal (Spain) has won the Cincinnati
Tennis Tournament title for the first time.He defeated John Isner (U.S) in the
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final.Nadals five Masters titles this season are a career best. Hes tied with Novak
Djokovic for most Masters titles in a season since 1990. Hes won seven of the nine
Masters events during his career.
Sania Mirza Jie Zheng pair Won New Haven Open Title
On 24 August Indias Sania Mirza won the womens doubles title at the New Haven
Open Tennis tournament along with her partner Jie Zheng of China.Sania and Jie
defeated the pair of Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain) and Katarina Srebotnik
(Slovenia) in the final at Yale.This is Sania Mirzas 17th WTA doubles title and the
third Title in 2013.
Australias Aaron Finch Hits T20 World Record
Australian batsman Aaron Finch hit a new record in Twenty20 Internationals in
Southampton (England), when he scored 156 runs off 63 balls against England at
Southampton on 29 August.Finch mashed 14 sixes and 11 fours in his innings and
surpassed the previous international record of 123, scored by New Zealands
Brendon McCullum.In the process he also became the first Australian to score a T20
international century.

ECONOMY
Union Cabinet Approved the Setting up of Bharatiya Mahila Bank
On 8 August the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for setting up of Bharatiya
Mahila Bank (BMB) with an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore.The proposed bank will
be headquartered in New Delhi.The Mahila Bank will start with 6 branches one
each in north, south, east, west, central and north eastern part of the country.The
proposed bank is likely to begin operations by November this year.
India Signed Agreement With World Bank For Low Income Housing Finance
Project
On 14 August the government of India and the World Bank signed a $100 million
credit agreement aimed at helping low-income households in Indian cities access
loans to purchase, build or upgrade their dwellings.The Low Income Housing
Finance Project would be implemented by the National Housing Bank (NHB).The
credit agreement for the Low Income Housing Finance Project was signed between
the Government of India, National Housing Bank (NHB) and World Bank in New
Delhi.
Muslims Have Lowest Living Standard In India
According to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) study titled
Employment and Unemployment Situation Among Major Religious Groups in India
among various religious groups,Muslims have the lowest living standard in the
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country
* According to the survey data , Muslims average per capita expenditure of just Rs
32.66 in a day.At the other end of the spectrum, Sikh community enjoys a much
better lifestyle as the average per capita spending among them is Rs 55.30 per day,
while the same for Hindus is Rs 37.50. For Christians it is Rs 51.43.
* At all-India level, the average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) of a Sikh
household was Rs 1,659 while that for a Muslim household was Rs 980 in 2009-
10.The average MPCE for Hindus and Christians were Rs 1,125 and Rs 1,543,
respectively.The survey said that average monthly per capita consumption at all-
India level was Rs 901 in villages and Rs1,773 in cities. Overall, the average MPCE
was Rs 1,128.
* Muslims were at the bottom in rural areas, with an average MPCE of Rs 833,
followed by Hindus at Rs 888, Christians at Rs1,296 and Sikhs 1,498.
* In urban areas, Muslims average MPCE was also the lowest at Rs 1,272 followed
by Hindus at Rs 1,797, Christians Rs 2,053 and Sikhs at Rs 2,180.
Per Capita Income Up 6.7% in 2004-12
On 25 August According to official sources data ,the per capita income in the country
increased 6.7 per cent per annum during 2004-05 to 2011-12, while the percentage
of poor declined by 2.2 per cent over the period.For 2011-12, the Planning
Commission has estimated percentage of people living below the poverty line at 21.9
per cent.The poverty line in 2011-12 in terms of monthly per capita consumption
expenditure was estimated at Rs 816 in rural areas and Rs 1,000 in urban
areas.State-wise, Uttar Pradesh had highest number of people living below poverty
line during 2011-12 at 598.19 people below poverty line out of every lakh.It was
followed by Bihar at 358.15 people (per lakh), Madhya Pradesh 234.04 people,
Maharashtra 197.92 people and West Bengal at 184.98 people living below the
poverty line.
27 crore People Live Below Poverty Line In India
Indias population was estimated at 123 crore as of March 1, 2012, while as many as
27 crore people lived below the poverty line in 2011-12, Minister of State for
Planning Rajeev Shukla explained in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on 29 August.As
per the Population Census of 2011 conduced by the Office of Registrar General of
India, the population in the country was estimated at 121 crore as of March 1,
2011.The poverty ratio in the country has decreased to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12
from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05.The rate of decline between 2004-05 and 2011-12 is
three times faster than experienced between 1993-94 and 2004-05.As per the
Millennium Development Goals Report 2013, the poverty rate in India fell from 49 per
cent in 1994 to 42 per cent in 2005 and 33 per cent in 2010.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Australias Most Powerful Super Computer Unveiled
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On 1 August Australias most powerful supercomputer Raijin was unveiled in
Canberra.Raijin, named after the Japanese God of thunder and rain, has costed
USD 45.2 million to build and will cost USD 10.85 million a year to run.The super
computer, unveiled at Australian National University (ANU),and it is the 27th most
powerful computer in the world.
Indias DRDO Launches Explosive Detection Kit In US
On 2 August the India-developed US-manufactured Explosive Detection Kit (EDK)
was launched at the US Chamber of Commerce building in Washington.In a first of
its kind of reverse technology sharing between India and the US, an innovative
Explosive Detection Kit developed by Indian scientists would be manufactured in
America and sold globally for quick detection and identification of combinations of
explosives.This was probably for the first time that technology developed by Defence
Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) was being manufactured and
marketed in the US.
Japan Sends Worlds First Talking Robot Into Space
On 4 August Japan has successfully launched the worlds first talking humanoid
robot called Kirobo in to space. The robot was sent by H2B rocket from the
island of Tanegashima. The rocket carried food, water and other supplies. Kirobo will
serve as a companion for Japanese astronauts.Kirobo was put through a series of
zero-gravity and other safety tests prior to sending him into space. Kirobo is 34
centimetres tall and can speak Japanese. It will provide emotional support for people
in space. Kirobo will talk to JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata when he arrives at the
space station in November. The name of Kirobo is a merging of Kibo and robot.
Kirobo was designed by scientists and engineers at the University of Tokyo. It is
equipped with voice-recognition and face-recognition technology, as well as a
camera, emotion recognition software and natural language processing.
Japan Unveils Largest Warship
On 6 August Japan has unveiled its biggest warship since the Second World War as
part of a plan to bolster its defense of territorial claims in disputed waters.The ship,
named the Izumo, is classified as a helicopter destroyer, though its flattop design
makes it look like an aircraft carrier.The ship is nearly 250 metres (820ft feet) long
and is designed to carry up to 14 helicopters.Japanese Defense Ministry announced
the ship is not intended to be used as an aircraft carrier and will not be used to
launch fighter jets.It will also be used to bolster the nations ability to transport
personnel and supplies in response to large-scale natural disasters.
Pinaka Rockets Successfully Test Fired
On 7 August India successfully test fired two rounds of indigenously developed
Pinaka rockets from a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) from a defence base in
Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, off the Odisha coast.The tests were routine trials
conducted for training purpose. The tests were conducted by personnel from
Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune unit at Proof
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and Experimental Establishment (PXE) firing point-2. Pinaka is an area weapon
system with a range of 40 km.Pinaka system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44
seconds. Ten rounds of Pinaka rockets were tested from the same base on 30 and
31 January and 28 February this year.
INS Arihant Nuclear Reactor Activated
On 10 August India has activated the reactor on board the INS Arihant nuclear
submarine, the first to be designed and built in India.With this success, India became
a member of the exclusive club of countries that have built their own nuclear
powered submarines along with Russia, US, UK, China and France.After the nuclear
reactor is activated, INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at Navys key submarine
base in Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and would be launched for sea trials
soon since the nuclear reactor has gone critical.Nuclear triad has the ability to fire
nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.Arihant means destroyer of enemies in
Sanskrit is an Indian submarine, which is 111 meter long, 11 broad and 15 meter
tall.The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV)
project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam ,at a cost of around Rs 15,000
crore .INS Arihant, was introduced to the public on 26 July 2009 at a symbolic launch
ceremony by Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs wife Gursharan Kaur.India operates
the INS Chakra, which is an Akula II class submarine leased from Russia for ten
years and has plans of building two more nuclear submarines indigenously.
ICGS Rajveer Commissioned
On 10 August Seventh in the series of eight inshore patrol vessels (IPV), ICGS
Rajveer was commissioned at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) by defence
secretary R K Mathur in the presence of vice-admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, director
general of Indian Coast Guard.The IPV is equipped with the most advanced and
sophisticated navigational and communication sensors and equipment. The ship is
propelled to a maximum speed of 31.5 knots and has an endurance of 1,500 nautical
miles. The special feature include an integrated Bridge System, Integrated
machinery control system and an indigenously built 30mm gun mount with fire
control system.
India Launched First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant
India launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 12 August
.Defence Minister A K Antonys wife Elizabeth launched the 37,500 tonne carrier
INS Vikrant at Kochi shipyard.This will mark Indias entry into a select club of
countries capable of designing and building a carrier of this size. Other countries
capable of designing and building an equivalent size ship are the US, the UK, Russia
and France.Fighter aircraftMig-29K, Light Combat Aircraft and Kamov-31
helicopterswill deployed on board the carrier which will also carry an array of other
weapons systems.INS Vikrant has a length of 260 metres and it is 60 metres wide.It
is behind schedule by three years.The carrier is expected to be delivered to the Navy
by the end of 2018.
India Successfully Test Fired Nuclear Capable Prithvi-II Missile
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On 12 August India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear
capable Prithvi-II missile from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch
complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at (Odisha) Chandipur.Prithvi-II missile
was launched by the personnel of the Strategic Force Command (SFC) from ITRs
Launch Complex-III as part of routine user training. The missile scientists of the
Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) monitored the launch
operations.The missile, with a range of 350 km, developed by the Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO) .The missile, 9 metres in height with a
launch weight of 4.6 tonnes, is capable of carrying a warhead of more than 500
kg.The last users trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base
on on December 20, 2012.
Voyager Becomes First Man-Made Object To Leave The Solar System
According to the new research shows ,NASAs long-lived Voyager probe crossed
into interstellar space last year, becomes the first man-made object to leave the solar
system.Voyager 1 space craft was launched in 1977 along with a sister probe,
Voyager 2, to observe the outer planets. Voyager 1 is now approximately 120 times
farther away from the sun than Earth. Voyager 2 is heading out of the solar system in
a different direction.The probes are powered by the slow decay of radioactive
plutonium. Voyager 1 will begin running out of energy for its science instruments in
2020. By 2025, it will be completely out of power.
Indias Super Hercules Lands At Highest Airfield On LAC
The Super Hercules C 130 J transport plane landed at the worlds highest and
recently-activated Daulat Beg Oldie airstrip in Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir
for the first time on 20 August .The Daulat Beg Oldie airstrip located at 16614 feet
(5065 metres) in the Aksai Chin area..In April, the area saw a 21-day stand-off
between Indian and Chinese troops who came and pitched tents in the vicinity of the
airfield and returned only after several rounds of flag meetings between both
sides.The achievement will enable the armed forces to use the heavy-lift aircraft to
induct troops, supplies, improve communication network and also serve as a morale
booster for maintenance of troops positioned there.C-130J is capable of lifting upto
20 tonnes of load.
Indias First Defence Satellite GSAT-7 Launched Successfully
Indias first exclusive defence satellite GSAT-7 was successfully launched by
European space consortium Arianespaces Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou spaceport in
French Guiana on 30 August.This launch will push ahead Indias maritime
security.GSAT7 has been built at an expense of 185 crore rupees and will act as
the countrys maiden dedicated spacecraft for defence applications.The frequency
bands of GSAT-7 will help space-based marine communications. It has coverage
over India landmass as well as surrounding seas.Earlier, satellite communication in
ships was through Inmarsat, a major provider of global mobile satellite
communications services.The state-of-the-art satellite carrying payloads operating in
UHF, S, C and Ku bands, had a lift-off mass of 2625 kg and is based on ISROs
2500 kg satellite bus with some new technological elements, including the
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antennae.According to ISRO, GSAT-7 is an advanced communication satellite to
provide wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to high bit rate data
communication.Payload of the GSAT7 is designed to provide communication
capabilities to users in distant oceanic regions. Its solar arrays generate 2900 W of
electrical power.
US Scientists Created the Most Precise Clock of the World
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientist from U.S , revealed in
the month of August 2013 that they created the most precise clock of the world. The
ticking rate of this clock varies less than two parts in one quintillion, or ten times
better than any clock in the world. The clock is made up of the element ytterbium.
This element can be used for technological advancements beyond the timekeeping.
The clock can be used for various purposes such as checking temperature,
navigation systems as well as magnetic fields.The co-author of the study which
revealed the clock, Andrew Ludlow explained that the stability of this ytterbium lattice
clock paves way for other practical applications of high-performance timekeeping.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Rajeev Rishi is new CMD of Central Bank of India
On 1 August Rajeev Rishi took over as the Chairman and Managing Director of
Central Bank of India .His appointment is for a period of five years.Prior to the new
appointment, Mr. Rishi served as the Executive Director of Indian Bank, since
October 2010. Before joining Indian Bank, he was the General Manager of Oriental
Bank of Commerce.Rajeev Rishi, who belongs to Chandigarh, holds a BA and an
LLB and an expert in Banking.
Arundhati Bhattacharya Appointed Managing Director Of SBI
On 2 August Arundhati Bhattacharya was appointed the managing director and chief
financial officer of the State Bank of India(SBI).She is the first managing director at
SBI, which is Indias largest bank.Arundhati succeeded Diwakar Gupta.
Hassan Rouhani Sworn In As Irans New President
On 4 August Hassan Rohani was sworn in as the new President of Iran in the
ceremony held at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran.Rouhani is the seventh (different)
President of Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Raghuram Rajan Appointed as the New Governor of RBI
On 6 August Chief economic adviser Raghuram Govind Rajan has been appointed
as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Rajan will have a term of three
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years.He will be the 23rd Governor of RBI.He is 50 years of age and so far, he is the
youngest person to become the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.He was
appointed as the youngest-ever Economic Counselor and Director of Research
(chief economist) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from October 2003 to
December 2006.Rajan was appointed as Chief Economic Advisor to the Ministry of
Finance, Government of India on 10 August 2012.
Dilip Trivedi is new CRPF chief
On 17 August Senior IPS officer Dilip Trivedi has been appointed as the new chief of
the countrys largest paramilitary force CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force).
Trivedi, a 1978-batch officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre has served in various positions
in the state police and has also served in the Centre as ADG of the Indo-Tibetan
Border Police.He succeeded Pranay Sahay who retired on 31 July 2013.
Michel Djotodia Sworn In As Central African Republic President
On 18 August Former rebel leader Michel Djotodia was formally sworn in as the
Central African Republics President.Djotodia has been in charge of the country
during the chaos that followed the rebels seizure of control in March 2013, when
they swept into power from their northern bases, overpowering South African forces
protecting former leader Francois Bozize.Djotodia was a leader of the Seleka rebel
coalition in the December 2012 rebellion; following a peace agreement, he was
appointed to the government as First Deputy Prime Minister for National Defense in
February 2013.
Robert Mugabe Sworn In As Zimbabwe President
On 21 August Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for a new five-year term as
President of Zimbabwe.Mugabe of Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-
Patriotic Front) party won the Presidential election (Parliamentary Election) by
winning 61 percent votes in his favour on 3 August .
Parthasarathi Shome Appointed As Chairman Of TARC
On 26 August the Union Government of India set up a commission under the
chairmanship of Parthasarathy Shome to review tax laws and suggest ways for a
stable and non-adversarial tax administration.The seven-member Tax Administration
Reform Commission (TARC) will have a 18-month tenure to suggest various
measures including an appropriate organisational structure for tax governance.
Justice N V Ramana Appointed as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court
On 30 August Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, Judge of the High Court of
Andhra Pradesh,was appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of
Delhi.Justice Ramana replaced Chief Justice D. Murugesan, who retired in
June.Justice Ramana was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh
High Court on 27 June 2000.Ramana had enrolled as an advocate in February 1983
and has practiced in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, central and state administrative
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tribunals and the Supreme Court.He holds specialisation in constitutional, criminal,
service and inter-state river laws.He has specialized in Constitutional, criminal,
service and Inter-State River laws. He has functioned as Panel Counsel for various
Government organizations.
B)RESIGNS

Egypt Vice President ElBaradei Resigned
Egyptian vice-president, Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, announced his
resignation in a letter to the interim president on14 August .The resignation comes
after scores were killed in a crackdown by security forces on loyalists of ousted
Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
C)DEATHS
Veteran Music Director Dakshinamoorthy Died
Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy, the veteran veteran carnatic musician and music
director died on 2 August in Mylapore, Chennai.The veteran was known as Swamy
in the music industry and gave music to songs of more than 125 films in Tamil,
Malayalam and Hindi.He has to his credit about 859 songs that were composed by
him over seven decades of his service to the world of Music. He debuted as a Music
composer in the a Malayalam movie Nalla Thanka (Nalla Thankal in Tamil) in
1950.He was the proud recipient of Kerala State Film Award for best music director
in 1971.In 1998, he received the Kerala State Film Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Former Air Commodore Jasjit Singh Died
On 4 August Noted strategic analyst Air Commodore (retired) Jasjit Singh died in
NewDelhi. He was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the second highest civilian
award, in the year 2006 by the former president APJ Abdul Kalam.
Former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav Died
On 11 August Former Union minister and senior Congress leader from Bihar,
Devendra Prasad Yadav, died in NewDelhi.Yadav was a three-time Member of
Parliament from Munger parliamentary seat of Bihar and had served as Minister of
State for Education between 1971-77 in Indira Gandhis cabinet.
Renowned Naturalist and Ornithologist Zafar Futehally Died
On 11 August Zafar Rashid Futehally an Indian naturalist, ornithologist and
conservationist has died on 11 August at Kihim in Maharashtra.Zafar Futehally led
the early years of the conservation movement in India and served as a link between
conservationists and corporate.He was conferred with several national and
international honours, including the Padma Shri in 1970.He also edited and
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published an anthology of writings by Indian birdwatchers, India through its birds,
which was published in 2007.
Former Nepal Prime Minister Man Singh Shrestha Died
Former Nepalese Prime Minister Marich Man Singh Shrestha has died in Kathmandu
on 15 August.He had served as Nepals Prime Minister for about four years till April
1990, when the political parties launched an agitation to restore democratic rights.
Kapil Devs Former Coach Desh Prem Azad Died
On 16 August Desh Prem Azad, the former coach of cricketer Kapil Dev and
Dronacharya awardee died in Mohali.He trained cricketers such as Kapil Dev,
Ashok Malhotra, Chetan Sharma and Yograj Singh in the late 1970s.Desh Prem
Azad represented Haryana, the Maharaja of Patialas XI and Southern Punjab, while
playing 19 first-class matches. In these matches, he scored 658 runs while grabbed
8 wickets in all.
Crime Novelist Elmore Leonard Died
Elmore Leonard, one of Americas best known crime novelists,has died on 20 August
.Twenty-six of his books and short stories have been adapted for the screen,
including Hombre, Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, (based on 1992s Rum Punch)
and Justified, a TV shows based on 1993s Pronto, 1995s Riding the Rap and
the 2001 short story Fire in the Hole. His most recent novel, Raylan, was
released in 2012.
Eminent Classical Singer Raghunath Panigrahi Died
On 25 August Eminent Indian classical singer and music director Pandit Raghunath
Panigrahi died in Bhubaneswar.Pandit Panigrahis effort to popularise poet
Jayadevas Gita Govinda.Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi was born at Gunupur in
Odishas Rayaga (earlier Koraput) district.Pandit Raghunath was the first Odia singer
to be honoured by the French government for his Gita Govinda composition way
back in the 70s.He was also conferred with the Padmashri award in the year 2010.
Nobel Literature Laureate Seamus Heaney Died
On 30 August Irish writer and poet Seamus Heaney, who won the 1995 Nobel Prize
in Literature, died in Dublin.Seamus Heaney was born on 13 April 1939 in Northern
Ireland.Northern Ireland-born Heaney published his first major collection of poems,
Death of a Naturalist, in 1966 and went on to become one of the English
languages leading poets.Heaney worked as the professor of poetry at Oxford
University between 1989 and 1994.
D)VISITORS
Afghanistan Vice-President Mohammad Karim Khalili Visited India
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The vice president of Afghanistan, Mohammad Karim Karim Khalili visited India from
20 22 August.During the visit Khalili met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New
delhi .In the meet both nations discussed security issues and trade among other
bilateral issues.Khalili also meets Indias president Pranab Mukherjee, vice-
president Mohammad Hamid Ansari, and external affairs minister Salman Khurshid
and discussed on both countries bilateral issues.
Iraqs Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Visited India
Nouri Al-Maliki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq visited India from 22 -25
August.During his four day visit , Maliki met with the Prime Minister of India,
Manmohan Singh and President of Indian Union, Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President
of India, Hamid Ansari in New Delhi.Both the nations exchanged views on bilateral,
regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest and reached a broad consensus.
The discussions enabled better understanding and appreciation of each others
concerns and perspectives and helped in forging closer understanding at the highest
political level and also several MoUs were signed between the two nations. This was
the first visit of Maliki to India
E)MISCELLANEOUS
Amazon Founder & CEO Jeff Bezos Buys Washington Post
Amazon Founder & CEO Jeff Bezos has purchased the Washington Post
Newspaper of US. Seattle-based Amazon owner Jeffrey P Bezos has agreed to buy
the newspaper assets of The Washington Post Company for USD 250 million.Bezos,
whose entrepreneurship has made him one of the worlds richest men, will pay $250
million in cash for The Post and affiliated publications to The Washington Post Co.,
which owns the newspaper and other businesses.The Washington Post (WP) is an
American daily newspaper. It is the most widely circulated newspaper published in
Washington, D.C., and oldest extant in the area, founded in 1877.
11-year-old UK girl has higher IQ than Einstein
On 5 August An 11-year-old schoolgirl in the U.K. has achieved the highest possible
score of 162 on a Mensa IQ test, making her brainier than scientists Stephen
Hawking and Albert Einstein. Cerys Cooksammy-Parnell, a grade six schoolgirl took
up the test with the aim of beating her fathers score of 142. She also scored the
highest mark possible in the test, scoring 162 on the Cattell B scale.
Sharapova Tops Forbes List of Best Paid Female Athletes
On 6 August Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has topped the Forbes list of
highest-earning female athletes for the ninth-straight year, raking in $29 million over
the last 12 months.American Serena Williams is second on the list with earnings of
20.5 million US dollars, Chinese star Li Na in third with $18.2 million and Victoria
Azarenka of Belarus in fourth with $15.7 million.
Indian American Students Wins National Geographic World Championship
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On 9 August A team of three young Indian American students defeated teams from
17 other regions to win top honours at the 11th National Geographic World
Championship in Russias St Petersburg.The team was made up of captain Gopi
Ramanathan from Sartell, Minnesota; Asha Jain from Minocqua, Wisconsin; and
Neelam Kaur Sandhu from Bedford, New Hampshire.In the biennial competition,
teams of students answered questions on physical, cultural and economic
geography.Ramanathan, already has won his state geography bee twice. He had
finished seventh in the 2012 National Bee in Washington, DC. The competition was
sponsored by Google, and presented by the US National Geographic Society in
partnership with the Russian Geographical Society.
Canadian Street Named After Mahatma Gandhi
On 15 August A street in Canadas Winnipeg city has been named after Mahatma
Gandhi on the occasion of Indias 67th Independence Day. The street leading to the
Canadian Museum for Human Rights will now be known as Honorary Mahatma
Gandhi Way. At a ceremony , the Mayor of Winnipeg Sam Katz explained that the
street was named so after an individual who is synonymous with the struggle for
human rights.
Dhoni Beats Rafael Nadal Usain Bolt In Forbes List Of Highest Paid
Athletes
On 20 August Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been ranked
16th in the latest Forbes list of highest-paid athletes with an earning of $31.5 million
(around Rs.180 crore).In the list, he was placed above Rafael Nadal and Usain
Bolt.As per the latest Forbes list of highest-paid athletes in the world, dhoni earned
$31.5 million between June 2012 and June 2013.List of places don above F1
Fernando Alonso, who is on the 19th, Lewis Hamilton on the 26th, Novak Djokovic
on the 28th, Rafael Nadal is in 30th place, and Usain Bolt in the 40th grade.Doni has
risen 15 places in this years list. It took 31 th rank in the last year. Sachin Tendulkar
is the only Indian athlete, who is one of the rank of 31 and a total annual revenue of
$ 22 million (Rs 125 crore).List is topped by golfer Tiger Woods, who made $ 78.1
million last year, followed by Roger Federer, who earned $ 71.5 million, basketball
player Kobe Bryant with earnings of $ 61.9 million.The calculation is based on
earnings estimates, which includes salaries, bonuses and cash prizes from both the
club and the national team, as well as approval of revenue.
Madonna Tops Forbes 2013 Highest-Paid Celebrities List
On 27 August According to Forbes 2013 list of highest-paid celebrities Madonna
was the worlds highest-earning celebrity in 2012-13.Madonna made $US125 million
between June 2012 and June 2013.Veteran film director Steven Spielberg took
second place in the list, while musical talent show mogul Simon Cowell tied for third
with Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James and disc jockey Howard Stern.
Most Wanted Indian Mujahideen Terrorist Yasin Bhatka Arrested
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Indian Mujahideen co-founder and one of Indias most wanted terrorists, Yasin
Bhatkal was arrested on 30 August.Yasin has been on the run since 2008. The IM
leader is wanted in a string of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune,
Delhi and Hyderabad.Yasin, who co-founded IM in 2008 along with brother Riaz, is
also wanted in the German Bakery bomb blast in Pune on February 13, 2010.

PLACES IN NEWS
Strong Earthquake HitsChina
On 14 August China hit by strong earthquake with magnitude of 6.1.The earthquake
occured in jolted parts of Tibet.Due to this earthquake at least 87 people were
injured and over 45,000 homes damaged .The epicenter of the earthquake was
identified nearer to the Ringo town.
Submarine INS Sindhurakshak Sinks After Major Blast In Mumbai
On 14 August in a huge setback to the Indian Navy, a conventional submarine INS
Sindhurakshak exploded after a fire on board and sank in the naval dockyard in
Mumbai , in which 18 personnel, including three officers are feared killed.A smaller
intensity explosion was followed by two massive blasts, causing a major fire in the
Russian-made submarine.In 2010, a fire broke out on board Sindhurakshak leaving
a sailor dead and two others injured. INS Sindhurakshak was a Russian-made Kilo-
class 877EKM(Sindhughosh-class) diesel-electric submarine of the Indian
Navy.Commissioned on 24 December 1997, it was the ninth of the ten Kilo-class
submarines in the Indian Navy.On 4 June 2010, the Indian Defence Ministry and
Zvezdochka shipyard signed a contract worth US$80 million to upgrade and
overhaul the submarine. After the overhaul, it returned to India from Russia in 2013.
1300 People Killed In Chemical Attack On Syria
On 21 August nearly 1300 people, including children were killed in in Damascus, the
capital of Syria..This was one of the deadliest chemical attacks in the civil war of
Syria. Toxic gas was fired from the rockets.

ABBREVIATIONS
DRDO Defence Research and Development Organisation
SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
AGOC Asian Games Organisation Committee
CDRI - Central Drug Research Institute
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FEMA Foreign Exchange Management Act
FIPB - Foreign Investment Promotion Board
IFTU International Federation of Trade Unions
IRDA Insurance Regulatory Development Authority
NABARD - National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development
SEBI - Security Exchange Board of India
UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees
WMO World Meteorological Organisation

BOOKS IN NEWS
The Moon Baller Book Released
On 5 August Former India No.1 and tennis ace Nirupama Vaidyanathans
autobiographical account The Moon Baller was released at a function held at the
Madras Cricket Club.The book, which goes back in time to chronicle the times when
professional tennis for Indian women was quite unheard of, was launched by tennis
legend Vijay Amritraj.
My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by Abdul Kalam Released
In the month of August My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by former
President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was launched by the Rupa Publication.In
his new book Kalam shares the inspiration and the lessons he learned from personal
stories of his life. The book describes the lesser known events from his life.
Dhyan Chand The Wizard of Hockey Book Released
The first-of-its-kind graphic biography on former Indian Hockey player Dhyan Chand
titled Dhyan Chand-The Wizard of Hockey was launched at Dhyanchand Stadium
in New Delhi on 29 August .The biography was launched on the National Sports Day
to commemorate the 108th birth anniversary of the legend.The book has been
written by Luis Fernandes, who researched extensively on the subject.The book is
being printed by comic-series publication Amar Chitra Katha.The book focussed on
Dhyan Chands achievements and goal-scoring feats at 1928, 1932 and 1936
Olympics that got him the title The Wizard.

COMMITTEES
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Virginius Xaxa Committee To Asses Status Of Scheduled Tribes
On 17 August On the pattern of Sachar Committee for Muslims, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh has set up a committee to assess the status of scheduled tribes
with an aim of ensuring their uplift, particularly in socio-economic, health and
education fields.Prof. Virginius Xaxa was appointed as the chairman of the seven-
member committee.The committee will finalise and present its report within nine
months from the date of this notification.The Prime Ministers decision of setting up a
committee came after the government found that the STs, who form 7.5 percent of
the countrys population, are not getting enough dues despite the special status in
the constitution.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced
Disappearances on August 30 each year.The UN General Assembly declared this
day by its resolution 65/209, on 21 December 2010. The UN General Assembly, by
this same resolution also welcomed the adoption of the International Convention for
the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The involuntary or
enforced disappearances are a result of abduction, detention or arrest or other
factors or reasons. Also, there are growing numbers of reports which include ill-
treatment, harassment as well as intimidation of the witnesses of these
disappearances or of the persons or the relatives who have disappeared.
National Sports Day Is Observed On 29 August
National Sports Day in India is observed on 29 August of every year to
commemorate the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand.National
sports day celebrated every year on 29 August to bring awareness about sports in
public.This year, events like walkathon and football tournaments were held across
the country for the first time as part of the National Sports Day celebrations. On the
occasion of National Sports Day, a scheme known as Come and Play has been
launched for general public to make optimal use of Sports Authority of India stadia.
Major Dhyan Chand is an iconic Indian hockey player who is remembered as a
magician of Indian hockey. He was the prime member of Indian hockey team which
brought three Olympic gold medals in field of Hockey in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932
(Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin).He was honored with Padma Bhushan by the
Government of India in 1956 for his outstanding contribution to Indian Hockey.Major
Dhyan Chands birthday, 29 August is celebrated as National Sports Day in India.
Major sports awards like Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya awards are
presented on this occasion to the sportsperson who has shown tremendous
commitment towards the game and made the Country proud.


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