Current News 18 October 2013

Current News 18 October 2013-GK Update Today

Greg du Toit was Named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

Photographer Greg du Toit was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 by the panel of international judges. 

The winners of 2013 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition were announced on 17 October 2013 at the awards ceremony held at Natural History Museum in London.

 He was given the award for his image Essence of elephants-an energetic and lively portrait of African elephants in the Northern Tuli Games Reserve in Botswana.

Greg du Toit is from South Africa. He won the award beating almost 43000 contestants from across 96 countries. Chair of the judging panel was wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg.

Fourteen-year-old photographer from India Udayan Rao Pawar won the award as Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 for his image Mother’s little headful.

 This image depicts the gharial crocodiles on the banks of the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, India. This area is increasingly under threat from illegal sand mining and fishing.

Yes Bank, Care Ratings tie up for SME segment services

Private sector lender Yes Bank and credit rating company Care Ratings have entered into an agreement to offer services and products in the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment.

The collaboration will also work towards creating awareness on the importance of external ratings for SMEs, and funding avenues through knowledge dissemination workshops.

Customisation of product/ service offerings and enhanced outreach will be the key to facilitate adequate access to credit for the SMEs. With ratings covering an increasingly large segment of the MSMEs, the benefits of rating in terms of easier access to bank finance are getting acknowledged.”

Noted Marathi Playwright G.P. Deshpande Passed away

Noted Marathi playwright and political thinker Govind P Deshpande died on 16 October 2013 due to age-related ailments. He was 75.

G P Deshpande won acclaim for his plays including Udhvasta Dharmashala and Satyashodhak. (His famous Satyashodhak centred on the mission of pioneering social reformer Mahatma Phule).

His most well known plays are Udhwastha Dharamshala , Raastey , Andhar Yatra and Satyashodhak . 

Ajit Agarkar announced Retirement from all forms of Cricket

Former India bowler Ajit Agarkar on 16 October 2013 announced Retirement from all forms of Cricket.

He played 110 first-class games in all, taking 299 wickets at 30.69, as well as 270 List A games and 62 T20s in a career that began in 1996-97.

Agarkar started his career as a capable batsman by scoring a triple hundred in junior cricket before shifting his focus to pace bowling. 

He scored a fifty off 21 balls in an ODI against Zimbabwe in Rajkot in 2000, which remains the fastest one-day fifty by an Indian.

Agarkar had led Mumbai, for whom he played his entire Ranji Trophy cricket, to the domestic first-class title in the 2012-13 season.

Google Android KitKat to launch on October 28

Google's Android operating is all set for release on October 28.

By Nestle's KitKat Twitter account has posted two tweets that suggest that OS could launch on October 28.

Android 4.4 may also introduce SMS function to Google Hangouts app. Android 4.4 is also reportedly much lighter and faster than Android 4.3 and previous versions.

Android 4.4 KitKat will come with pre-loaded apps like Google Drive and Google Keep.

The leaked images also show some new photo editing prompts like Tilt-Shift, Center Focus, Negative and Posterize. The new camera interface adds Instagram-style filters that will allow users to preview final version of images.

Banks to cut in charges on debit card fee at fuel pumps-RBI

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a cut in charges on debit card transactions, banks continue to impose a fee of 2.5% for payments at petrol pumps, thereby making an undue gain at the cost of the consumer. Earlier this month, large banks thwarted an attempt by the RBI-promoted National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) from capping charges on debit cards that are part of NPCI's Rupay network

On debit card transactions at 0.75% for transaction values up to Rs 2,000 and 1% for larger transactions. But in debit card transactions at petrol pumps, banks continue to impose a 2.5% surcharge, which are mostly passed on to the consumer.

Liverpool launched Football Academy in India

Top English Premier League side Liverpool on 16 October 2013 launched a residential football academy in Pune in partnership with city-based DSK Shivajians FC.

The academy was named as LFC International Football Academy DSK. It will have a world class residential complex, full size pitches, practice areas, classrooms, residential, medical facilities, lecture theatre and canteen.

The academy will support young footballers up to the age of 18. 

It will provide the players with the opportunity to develop their game in a professional academy environment.

Coaches from Liverpool FC will work on the project in India and will provide technical expertise to the players and coaches involved in the Academy. 

This is the first time an English football club has partnered with an Indian team to help them bring through local talent.