Olympics 2016 opens with a glittering ceremony in Rio De Janeiro
Summer Olympic Games (31th) opened in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro with the vibrant opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium,Brazil. Acting Brazil President Michel Temer has declared the Games open as fireworks lit up the night sky signalling the launch of thebiggest sporting spectacle. With the theme of world peace and environment, the programme retraced the history of Brazil. Almost 1,500 artists performed in a colorful musical show which gave a glimpse of Brazil.India, which has fielded its biggest ever contingent, was led by flag-bearer and Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra.
China launches first mobile telecom satellite
Today, China has successfully launched the first satellite for mobile telecommunication.
The Tiantong-01 satellite was launched at southwestern China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center with the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It was designed by China Academy of Space Technology and its ground service will be operated by China Telecom. It will establish a mobile network with ground facilities, providing services for China, the Middle East, Africa and other areas.
Government fixes an inflation target of 4 percent for five years
The government has set an inflation target of 4% for the next five years. Monetary Policy Committee to be set-up soon it will have to adhere to the target till March 31, 2021. Last year ,the government and RBI had reached an agreement on a monetary policy framework that had set the inflation target at4% plus or minus 2%. Earlier, The government has notified rules for setting up theMonetary Policy Committee giving affect to amendments in the RBI Act.
Mumbai to have 1200 Wi-Fi hotspots by May 2017
Maharashtra government will provide as many as 1,200 wi-fi hotspots in the megapolis as a part of transforming Mumbaiinto a Smart City. 500 wi-fi hotspots will be operational in the first phase byNovember 2016. This was another important step after the CCTV project towards making Mumbai a Smart City. Maharashtra had signed an MoU with HP for creating IT infrastructure in three Smart Cities and was going to invest 1,800 crore rupees for this.
EZCC organizes 64-day-long theatre festival in Kolkata
Autonomous organization under Government of India’s Ministry of Culture The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) has organized a 64-day-long theatre festival in Kolkata. Kolkata Theatre Festival 2016 will showcase as many as 245 theatres of several groups at Bharatiyam Cultural Multiplex in Kolkata’s satellite town Salt Lake. The theatre festival will continue till the 2nd of October. This is the biggest theatre festival, not even in Kolkata in the World.
IOA announces cash awards for medal-winning Indian athletes
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced a cash award of 50 lakh rupees for the gold medal winning athlete, 30 lakh rupees for silver and 20 lakh rupees for bronze in the Rio Olympics 2016.
The coaches will be awarded an equivalent of 50% of the amount that the athletes receive.
Indian Railways has also announced a cash award of one crore rupees for its athlete who wins a gold medal, silver medallist will get 75 lakh rupees and bronze medal winner 50 lakh rupees at the Rio Olympics.
Athletes who manage a top-8 finish, the reward will be 30 lakh rupees and for mere participation 5 lakh rupees.
Union govt. launches nation-wide breastfeeding programme
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has launched a nation-widebreast feeding programme Mothers’ Absolute Affection (MAA). The goal of the programme is to enhance optimal breastfeeding practices.
The programme is a very cost-effective and significant health intervention along with de worming programme.
Mothers’ Absolute Affection is an intensified programme for creating an enabling environment to ensure that mothers,husband and families receive adequate information and support for promotion of breastfeeding.The Ministry has allocated 30 crore rupees for the Programme and 4.3 lakh rupees for each district for implementing the various activities under MAA programme.
FM Arun Jaitley inaugurated India’s International Footwear Fair
Three-day long India’s International Footwear Fair (IIFF) has been launched by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi. This year the organisers expect the business of around Rs. 2,000 crores to be generated. Around 263 companies from India and abroad are participating in the event. Last year the quantum of business generated from the fair wasRs 1,200 crore.
International Footwear Fair was launched in 2015 and this will be the second edition of the event.
