Inuit and Arctic activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier of Canada has won the 2015 Right Livelihood Award.
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Dec 18, 2015
UNSC unanimously adopt resolution to cut-off supply of funds to IS group
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted resolution cut off supply of revenue flows to Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Decision in this regard was taken at the first-ever meeting of finance ministers of 15 member states to support a diplomatic push to end the war in Syria.
Points to note
- The resolution has been drafted by United States and Russia, calls on governments to ensure that they have adopted laws to make the financing of IS a serious criminal offence.
- It also calls for enhanced actions against from closing financial system loopholes to stopping the abuse of charitable causes.
- It stressed that already existing resolution mandating member states to ensure that financial assets are not transferred to terrorists by persons within their territory.
- Called for increased international cooperation in sharing information and closer collaboration with the private sector to identify suspect transactions.
The UNSC also called on Member States to promote enhanced vigilance by persons within their jurisdiction to detect any diversion of explosives, raw materials and components that can be used to manufacture improvised explosive devices or unconventional weapons.
Nov 2, 2015
India becomes world’s 7th most valued nation brand: Report
India was placed at 7th position in world’s most valuable nation brands report among the 100 assessed nations.
It was revealed in recently released annual report compiled by Brand Finance.
Highlights
- India as a world’s seventh most valued nation brand is having its brand value to 2.1 billion dollars. It has moved by one position compared to year 2014
- It has brand value of 2.1 billion dollars with an increase of 32 per cent. It is highest surge among all the top-20 countries on the list.
- United States had topped this edition of list with a brand valuation of 19.7 billion dollars.
- Top 7 countries: United States, China, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, France and India.
- Among BRICS nations: India is the second most valued brand country among BRICS emerging economies after China and followed by Brazil, Russia and South Africa.
World’s most valuable nation brands report of Brand Finance measures the strength and value of the nation brands of 100 leading countries. Its method is based on the royalty relief mechanism employed to value the world’s largest companies.
The valuation is based on 5 year forecasts of sales of all brands in each nation and follows a complex process in which Gross domestic product (GDP) is used as a proxy for total revenues.
Oct 26, 2015
Renowned Hollywood actress Maureen O’Hara passes away
Renowned Irish-American actress and singer Maureen O’Hara passed away in Boise, US. She was 95.
She was one of the last living stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood of the 1940s and 1950s. She was known for playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines roles.
About Maureen O’Hara
- O’Hara was born in 1920 in Dublin in then United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (present Ireland).
- Acting career: She started her career in 1939 after she was brought to Hollywood by legendary actor Charles Laughton.
- Her first film was The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Since then she had she had starred in more than 60 films.
- She also had acted in How Green Was My Valley (1941) which had won five Oscars including best picture and best director for John Ford.
- She was famously known as the queen of Technicolor in the film industry due to her red hair and green eyes.
- Airline Business: After retiring from acting career in 1970s, she successfully ran an airline business with her aviator husband Charles Blair. After her husband’s death she became first woman in US history to head a scheduled commercial airline.
- Autobiography: Tis Herself (published in 2004).
- Awards: Though she was never nominated for a competitive Academy Award, but in 2014 she was presented with an Honorary Academy (an honorary Oscar).
- She is only the second actress to receive an Academy Award for acting without having been nominated previously after Myrna Loy.
Lewis Hamilton wins 2015 US Grand Prix of F1 to clinch third world title
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain has won 2015 United States Grand Prix title of Formula One for the fourth time. Earlier he had won it in 2007, 2012 and 2014.
This was his overall 10th victory of the season. Earlier he had won Australia, China, Bahrain, Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Japanese and Russian 2015 Grand Prix titles.
With this victory, he also won 2015 World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) for third time with total 327 points. Earlier he won it in 2008 and 2014 season of F1.
He also equalled the record of Jackie Stewart as the only British drivers to win 3 WDC titles and the first to win two championships in succession.
Lewis Hamilton has won highest number of titles as compared to any other British driver in the history of F1. He is currently 5th on the all-time list of F1 with 42 wins.
Rankings after 2015 US Grand Prix
- 1st position: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) of Mercedes.
- 2nd position: Nico Roseberg (Germany) of Mercedes.
- 3rd position: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) of Ferrari.
- 4th position: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) of Toro Rosso.
- 5th position: Sergio Perez (Mexico) of Force India.
About World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) of F1
- The WDC is awarded to the most successful F1 racing car driver over a particular season.
- It is determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results and awarded by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
- Michael Schumacher from Germany holds the record for winning most WDC titles i.e. for seven times.
Oct 2, 2015
Sheila Watt-Cloutier wins 2015 Right Livelihood Award
Inuit and Arctic activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier of Canada has won the 2015 Right Livelihood Award.
She was honoured for her lifelong work dedicated to protect the Inuit of the Arctic and defend their right to maintain their livelihoods and culture which threatened by climate change.
Sheila Watt will share the prize with
- Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera: Ugandan activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, `who fights for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual (LGBTI) communities.
- Italian doctor Gino Strada: Founder of the medical charity Emergency which helps to rehabilitate war victims.
About Right Livelihood Award
- The award was established in 1980 by Swedish-German philatelist Jakob von Uexkull.
- It honours efforts of people in the fields of the environment and international development.
- The award is promoted as an Alternative Nobel Prize and carries prize money of 3-million-kronor.
Sep 30, 2015
Taliban captures northern Afghan city of Kunduz
Taliban militants have captured the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz in a massive assault involving hundreds of fighters.
This massive attack comes a day before the first anniversary of President Ashraf Ghani’s unity government. It is also one of the massive attack undertaken by Taliban militants after formal end of US-NATO coalition mission in Afghanistan in December 2014.
Setback: Kunduz is also the first provincial capital to be seized by the Taliban militants after they had lost their power after the US-led invasion in 2001. The fall of Kunduz marks a major setback for Afghan government forces who are struggling to combat the
Sep 24, 2015
US Baseball legend Yogi Berra passes away
Baseball legend Yogi Berra from United States has passed away. He was born on May 12, 1925 in Missouri, US.
His humorous quotes had made him one of America’s most beloved sports icons. He also had inspired the famous cartoon character of Yogi Bear.
Yogi Berra Baseball career:
He had played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1946 to 63 and last match in 1965. He had spent almost his entire 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees.
Achievements:
He is one of only five players to win the American League Most Valuable Player
Award for three times. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history. In 1972, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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