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INDIA, KENYA SIGN AGREEMENTS IN AREA OF AGRICULTURE

India and Kenya today signed agreements in the area of agriculture which were inked after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Moid and Kenyian President Uhuru Kenyatta in New Delhi.

In his press statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, expansion of bilateral trade, greater flow of capital between two economies and stronger developmental partnership is a priority.

He said India is collabrating with kenya to raise agricultural productivity there. He said the Loan of Credit Agreement of 100 million dollars signed today for farm mechanisation will open a new dimension of engagement between the two countries.

Mr Kenyatta was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Mr. Kenyatta. He also laid a wreath at Rajghat.

MANOHAR PARRIKAR INAUGURATES INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE &EXHIBITION ON RE-ENFORCED PLASTICS

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today that collaborative efforts of Industries, academia and government are needed to drive innovations and development in composites sector for success of ‘Make In India’. He was speaking during inauguration of the three-day International Conference and Exhibition on Re-enforced Plastics (ICERP) at Bombay Exhibition center today.

While highlighting importance of composites in Defence and Aerospace sector, the minister assured complete support to FRP institute and for such collaborations. Mr Parrikar said that, reinforced plastic play an important role in light weight and corrosion resistant application in various sectors.

He further informed that the indigenous aircraft programs such as ‘Dhruv’ and Tejas use composites as a dominant material of construction for aircraft.

ICERP organized by FRP Institute once in two years, is the 8th in the series being organized by FRP Institute since 2002. The three-day ICERP 2017 event will comprise of exhibition, conference programmes emphassing on mechanism, process and automation; business meetings concentrating on technological tie-ups with global leaders, ICERP-JEC innovation awards presented jointly by FRP Institutes and JEC France, display of composite and innovative products and demonstrations of composites process. It is the second largest event in Asia.

The emphasis of the ICERP 2017 will be upgradation of composites technology in India to reach global level in terms of product quality, finishing and also to address the challenges that have to be met to achieve global standards.

INDIA IS ON THRESHOLD OF BECOMING WORLD’S MOST DIGITIZED ECONOMY: PM MODI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 8th Edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar today. Addressing the gathering, he said that India’s strength lies in 3 D’s; Democracy, Demography and Demand.

Emphasizing on youth led development, he said that disciplined, dedicated and talented youth of India offers a globally uncomparable work talent and said that it is his top priority to create and enable environment for business in order to create employment opportunities for the youth.

He also said that it is the vision of his government to bring a paradigm shift in the ways of polity and economy. He further said that his government has worked relentlessly to ensure that India is one of the most digitized economies in the world.

He said that India is now the sixth largest manufacturing country in the world with the growth rate of 9 percent in the manufacturing sector. Mr. Modi

said that India is committed to protect the environment and uphold its responsibility towards nature. He urged the participant countries to join hands to protect the environment.

The Prime Minister said that ‘The Make in India’ has emerged as the biggest brand of India and made India as an investment destination. The joint efforts of centre as well as state governments of liberalizing FDI regime have made India one of the most open economies of the world.

Mr. Modi then said at the government level it is necessary to ensure that the growth process is inclusive and includes both rural and urban community and also reiterated the efforts of his government to ensure that the last benefit of all the growth should reach to the villages.

On this occasion the Indian Business leaders praised the efforts of Prime Minister Modi towards Digital India Mission and also extended their cooperation towards making India cashless society.

PRIME MINISTER OF PORTUGAL ANTONIO COSTA ARRIVES IN GOA ON 2 DAY STATE VISIT

The Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa has arrived in Goa on a two day state visit yesterday. He is accompanied by Portuguese delegation comprising of 21 members. Costa who traces his roots to Goa, will attend various programmes in his two day stay in Goa.

In one of the programmes, he would be presented the English translation of the book originally authored by his father Orlando Costa. Costa will also attend programmes at the New centre of Portuguese language in Panaji as well as Salgaocar college of law. Prime Minister of Portugal will also visit his ancestral house in Margao tomorrow.

PRAVASI HARYANVIS SHOULD ADOPT SPORTSPERSONS FROM HARYANA: PIYUSH GOYAL

Hailing the sportspersons of Haryana for their outstanding contribution, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal today urged ‘Pravasi Haryanvis’to adopt them in their early age so as to groom them.

The celebrations of the first Pravasi Haryana Divas began at Kingdom of Dreams in Gurugram which saw invitation to several ‘Pravasi Haryanvis’in a bid to reconnect themselves with their roots and contribute in the development of the state.

Haryana Governor Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, cricketer Kapil Dev, poet Surendra Sharma were among the prominent personalities present on the occasion.

PRAVASI HARYANVIS SHOULD ADOPT SPORTSPERSONS FROM HARYANA: PIYUSH GOYAL

Hailing the sportspersons of Haryana for their outstanding contribution, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal today urged ‘Pravasi Haryanvis’to adopt them in their early age so as to groom them.

The celebrations of the first Pravasi Haryana Divas began at Kingdom of Dreams in Gurugram which saw invitation to several ‘Pravasi Haryanvis’in a bid to reconnect themselves with their roots and contribute in the development of the state.

Haryana Governor Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, cricketer Kapil Dev, poet Surendra Sharma were among the prominent personalities present on the occasion.

INDIA HAS RESPONSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE OF GREAT SCIENTIFIC POWER CENTRES OF WORLD: DAVID GROSS

Nobel laureate David Gross today said India has responsibility and an opportunity to be one of the great scientific power centres of the world. Gross said this at Nobel Dialogues in Gandhinagar in response to a question on the country’s position in scientific field.

He said Indians should have the aspirations and ambitions as set by their Prime Minister yesterday during the inauguration of Nobel exhibition.

Prime Minister Modi had yesterday outlined India’s ambitious development programme in science and technology during the inauguration of the Exhibition at science city.

Gross said given India’s size and ambition and potential, it should not be a minor collaborator in major scientific projects around the world, but it should lead.

Gross, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics, was participating in the Nobel Dialogue 2017 along with eight other Nobel laureates. The event was held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar as part of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

KHANDERI, THE SECOND SCORPENE CLASS SUBMARINE LAUNCHED

Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine was launched this morning at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. It has superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on surface. Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre presided over the function to initiate the launch of Khanderi. Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba was present on the occasion. Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. Khanderi is also the name for Tiger Shark.

The state-of-the-art features of this Scorpene class submarine include superior stealth and ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapon. The attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The stealth features will give it invulnerability, unmatched by many submarines. The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics. All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval task force.

It can undertake multifarious types of missions typically undertaken by any modern submarine such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance. According to a defence official, Khanderi is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in collaboration with M/s DCNS of France, as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy. The first one, Kalvari, is completing sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.

YOUTH DAY, BIRTH DAY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA BEING OBSERVED; PM TO ADDRESS FUNCTION IN HARYANA

Today is National Youth Day, the birth day of Swami Vivekananda a grateful nation is celebrating Swamiji’s hundred fifty fourth birth anniversary with much fanfare. Several functions are being organised across the country to mark the occasion. AIR correspondent reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address National Youth Day function at Rohtak through video conferencing.

Vivekananda wanted from the youth, muscles of iron and nerves of steel. He said the youth of the country are exceptionally responsive and they just need to be encouraged in their quest for justice for common benefit.

Today’s India is at its youngest best and has the power to meet any challenge with the collective effort of all people, especially young remembering Swamiji’s immortal words Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.

Swami Vivekananda’s speech at the first Parliament of the World’s Religions, held in Chicago is considered as one of his most significant contributions to the world. It was a breakdown of the ancient philosophy of Hindusim, aided with logic and impeccable scientific insight which will inspire youths across boundaries.

Swami Vivekananda was and is not only the medium; he is himself the message as well for the youth of India. The 21st National Youth Festival will continue in Rohtak till 16th January. The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘Youth for Digital India’.

SAUDI ARABIA HIKES INDIA’S ANNUAL HAJ QUOTA BY 34500

In the biggest hike in nearly three decades, Saudi Arabia today increased India’s annual Haj quota by 34,500, a move welcomed by the NDA government as a “matter of pleasure”.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi Arabia’s Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten inked an agreement in this regard in Jeddah today, increasing the size of India’s Haj quota from 1,36,020 to 1,70,520.

According to a statement issued by Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) Naqvi, it is the biggest increase in quota for Haj pilgrims after 1988. The latest increase in quota will be effective from the current year.

The Saudi authorities had five years ago slashed quotas for foreign pilgrims coming from each country by 20 per cent in view of safety of the devotees as they undertook expansion of Grand Mosque there.

Accordingly, India’s quota was brought down to 1,36,020 from 1,70,000 in 2012. Last year, a total of 1,35,903 devotees from India performed Haj. Expressing pleasure at signing of the agreement, Mr Naqvi tweeted that Saudi Arabia has increased over raise in Indian quota.

MOU OF RS 67,000 CR SIGNED FOR BULLET TRAIN

Gujarat government and the Ministry of Railways today signed a MoU worth 67,000 crore rupees for the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed Bullet train project in the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani informed the media today. He said, the manufacturing work will soon be initiated in parts of the state which will be covered under bullet Train project.

He said Government of Gujarat signed one more MoU with Ministry of Railways to set up a container depot at Rajkot. CM Rupani said that Railways will invest 100 crore rupees to establish a container depot at Rajkot since huge export happens from Saurashtra and Morbi region.

MINIMUM WAGES ACT, TO BE AMENDED TO MAKE MINIMUM WAGES STATUTORY: LABOUR MINISTER

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya has said that the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 will be amended to make minimum wages statutory and binding. Talking to media persons in Chennai on the sidelines of the Southern Regional Conference of State Labour Ministers and senior officials, he said minimum wages for unskilled, semiskilled and skilled labourers currently remain only advisory in nature.

The Payment of Bonus Amendment Act 2015 has been passed by the Parliament, providing for better coverage of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance Corporation(ESIC) facilities, though its implementation is delayed as employers went to the courts.He said he hopes for an early resolution to it.

The minister said, nationwide, select ESI hospitals will be upgraded into 100-bedded and 30-bedded hospitals in the next two years to give tertiary care to subscribing workers. He informed that establishments have been mandated to credit wages directly into the bank accounts of employees or disburse by cheques so that compliance of payments of wages and their EPF and ESI subscriptions could be made leak-proof.

When asked if demonetization has affected jobs in the organized and unorganized sectors, Mr Dattatreya clarified that withdrawal of old high value currencies have been made just two months back and an elaborate study will be too early at this stage.

At present there are 43 central laws related to employees welfare, some dating back to the year 1925. Mr Dattatreya said all 43 laws will be simplified into four different codes on wages, industrial relations, social security and safe working conditions.

He informed that the Centre is contemplating on amending Plantations Labour Act, 1951 to enable local bodies and State and Central governments to undertake development works inside private plantations to ensure the welfare of workers.

GOVT ON COURSE TO ACHIEVE FY17 DISINVESTMENT TARGET

The Government has garnered 23,500 crore rupees by divesting its stakes in the Public Sector Undertakings so far in the current fiscal and is hopeful of achieving the disinvestment target of 56,500 crore during the current financial year.

Manish Singh, Joint Secretary in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Ministry of Finance told this to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Mr Singh said, buyback of shares undertaken for the first time by central public sector enterprises has earned 15,000 crore rupees so far in the current fiscal.

He said that his department was set to go for strategic sell-off for certain state-owned companies for which the Government has already given in principle approval and work was underway for completing their disinvestment within the stipulated time.

CHINA LAUNCHES FIRST COMMERCIAL SPACE MISSION

China successfully sent three satellites into space in its first commercial mission using an updated version of the low-cost Kuaizhou-1A rocket, amidst the Communist giant’s determined bid to expand its ambitious space programme.

The rocket, carrying the satellite JL-1 and two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1, blasted off from northwestern China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province at around 12:11 pm Beijing Time, according to a statement from the center.

The KZ-1A rocket was developed from the Kuaizhou-1 rocket with improvements in adaptability. It is a low-cost solid- fuelled carrier rocket with high reliability and short preparation period and was designed to launch low-orbit satellites weighing under 300 kg, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The JL-1 is a multifunctional remote-sensing satellite providing high-definition video images which is expected to be used for land resource and forestry surveying, environmental protection, transport and disaster prevention and relief purposes, it said.

The XY-S1 and Caton-1 are experimental satellites to test technologies of low-orbit narrow-band communication and VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) respectively.

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH STUDENTS’ CHANCE TO WORK ON PRESTIGIOUS US PROJECT BRIGHTENS

Students of physics from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, may get to train at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), in the fifth year of their integrated programme.
The world’s third advanced LIGO detector will be set up in India and it will be an important project in the field of fundamental sciences in the country. Since a large number of skilled manpower would be required by 2020 to run the operations, the LIGO team from the US has been touring India and holding talks with several scientific institutions to discuss the opportunities that lie ahead for Indian scientists and post-doctoral fellows. It is yet to be decided where this observatory will be set up.
The LIGO-India observatory will be set up as a joint scientific collaboration between LIGO laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the US, and three lead Indian institutions, namely, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore. This will be a nationally coordinated project and a number of other Indian institutions would also be participating.

10,000 BANK ACCOUNTS OPENED AT DIGI-DHAN MELA

More than 15, 000 people thronged the “Digi-Dhan Mela” organised by the UT Administration with an aim to encourage adoption of digital payments at the Parade Ground in Sector 17 in Chandigarh today.

Approximately 10, 000 new accounts were opened by the banks at the venue. More than 70 stalls were put by various banks where information regarding digital modes of payments were provided. Common service centres (CSCs), private digital payment service providers and traders body Confederation of All-India Traders (CAIT) also put up the stalls. Kirron Kher, MP inaugurated the mela.

UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ministry of Science and Technology (India) and Ministry of Earth Sciences, gave away prizes to the winners of Lucky Draw conducted for those who made payments through digital modes. A Cashless Dangal was also organised in the evening in which the winner wrestlers were given prize money by using digital modes of payment. Cashless food courts were also installed and cultural events were organised.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES INDIA’S FIRST STUDENT STARTUP AND INNOVATION POLICY

The Gujarat Government in the first week of January 2017 introduced India’s first Student Startup and Innovation Policy. The announcement was made by the State Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani.

In addition, a State Innovation Fund with a corpus of Rs. 200 crore will be provided to the students during the next five years. For this, Rs. 100 crore will be allocated by the State Government while the remaining amount will be met through the internal sources.

The initiative aims at making qualitative improvement in the conventional education system.

It also seeks to create an encouraging environment to infuse creative thinking and problem-solving attitude among students.

As a part of the initiative, the students will be provided with pre-incubation support that aims at helping students to convert ideas of students from Proof of Concept up to Minimum Viable Prototype and to create a support system for Patent filing.

CHINA BEGINS BUILDING HIGHEST ALTITUDE TELESCOPES IN TIBET

China has started construction of the world’s highest altitude gravitational wave telescopes in a Tibet prefecture close to Line of Actual Control with India to detect faintest echoes resonating from Universe, which may reveal more about the Big Bang theory.
The project will cost USD 18.8 million and the construction of the first telescope, code-named Ngari No 1, 30 km south of Shiquanhe Town in Ngari Prefecture has begun, official media here reported.

PENTAGON SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MICRO-DRONE SWARM

The Pentagon may soon be unleashing a 21st-century version of locusts on its adversaries after officials said it had successfully tested a swarm of 103 micro-drones.

The important step in the development of new autonomous weapon systems was made possible by improvements in artificial intelligence, holding open the possibility that groups of small robots could act together under human direction.

Military strategists have high hopes for such drone swarms that would be cheap to produce and able to overwhelm opponents’ defenses with their great numbers.

RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS TO TAKE PART II INDIA’S 8TH VIBRANT GUJARAT FORUM

The eighth biennial Vibrant Gujarat forum is taking place in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar on January 10-13 and is due to kick off in several hours. This year’s event focuses on sustainable economic and social development. It is the largest regional forum in India, in which business leaders, government representatives and experts from India and all over the world take part. The forum aims to attract investments to the state’s economy and develop regional industry.

India currently operates some 400 helicopters made in Russia and intends to further boost this number, according to the company.

India uses a broad range of Mil Mi-17 and Mi-8 transport helicopter variants. These are used in search and rescue operations, passenger transport and are involved in the protection of forests and fisheries.

INDIAN ARMY EYES REPLACEMENT OF CHEETAH, CHETAK FLEET WITH DHRUV CHOPPERS

The army’s aviation wing would replace 41 Cheetahs and Chetaks with new helicopters from the “ALH reserve stock” and the proposal would be sent for Cabinet committee on security approval soon, Hindustan Times quoted an unnamed defense ministry source as saying last Sunday.

The army and air force grounded their fleets of 280 light-utility helicopters last December, concerned if the machines were fit to fly, after three aviators were killed in a crash in West Bengal.

The Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, lifeline of troops in high-altitude areas, including the Siachen glacier, are being cleared for flying in batches by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after carrying out a comprehensive safety check.

The Kamov-226T light utility choppers, to be built with Russia, are to replace these helicopters. However, the $1-billion program is yet to kick off and the military may have to wait several years for the new machines. Russia will supply 60 helicopters in flyaway condition while the remaining 140 will be manufactured in India.

UAE’S CROWN PRINCE TO GET A ROYAL WELCOME

Officials will meet for the first India-UAE Strategic Dialogue here on January 20 for preliminary talks on defense, security and investment, sources say. The talks come 18 months after the two nations announced a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi and a week ahead of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Delhi for Republic Day.

Officials say the talks will be led by Union Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar and will include National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar “if they are needed”. In particular, a $75-billion infrastructure fund set up by the UAE for India and India’s hopes for closer counter-terror cooperation will be discussed.

PENTAGON SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MICRO-DRONE SWARM

The Pentagon may soon be unleashing a 21st-century version of locusts on its adversaries after officials said it had successfully tested a swarm of 103 micro-drones.

The important step in the development of new autonomous weapon systems was made possible by improvements in artificial intelligence, holding open the possibility that groups of small robots could act together under human direction.

Military strategists have high hopes for such drone swarms that would be cheap to produce and able to overwhelm opponents’ defenses with their great numbers.

The test of the world’s largest micro-drone swarm in California in October included 103 Perdix micro-drones measuring around six inches (16 centimeters) launched from three F/A—18 Super Hornet fighter jets, the Pentagon said in a statement.

INDIA, VIETNAM IN TALKS OVER SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SYSTEM

The Indian government has entered talks with the government of Vietnam over the potential sale of India’s indigenously developed Akash mobile surface-to-air missile system. The talks represent another manifestation of growing defense ties between India and Vietnam.

The Akash was developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization and is a medium-range supersonic surface-to-air system, capable of striking aircraft within a range of 30 kilometers. The Akash delivers a 60 kilogram high-explosive warhead and can travel at speeds of up to March 2.5.

“Talks are in progress to arrive at a common plan. It’s relatively easier on the Akash front since the missile system is 96 percent indigenous,” a source told the Times of India.

The two countries have seen their convergence accelerated in recent years given their mutual concerns over a rising China. India has provided training to the Vietnamese navy’s submariners on operating the country’s six Russian Kilo-class submarines. Vietnam is also receiving Indian assistance in the modernization of its Petya-class frigates (specifically for anti-submarine warfare).

AIRBUS TO SET UP AEROSPACE DEFENSE CLUSTER AT DHOLERA

A phenomenal 24,000 MoUs were signed on the second day of the 8th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, which includes an agreement with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to set up an aerospace and defence cluster at Dholera that will initially manufacture helicopters.

“Till now 24,383 MoUs have been inked and we are still calculating the worth of these MoUs,” said PK Taneja, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines Department said on Wednesday evening.

As far as the sheer number of MoUs is concerned, those signed on Wednesday is more than the 21,000-odd MoUs (worth Rs 25 lakh crore) that were signed in the 7th edition of the summit. “France-based Airbus has signed an MoU to set up an aerospace and defence park at Dholera,” Taneja added.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel later elaborated that this park will initially manufacture helicopters. Airbus currently manufactures a wide range of civil and military helicopters.

INS KHANDERI, INDIA’S SECOND SCORPENE CLASS SUBMARINE LAUNCHED AT MAZAGON DOCK

India’s second Scorpene class submarine was launched at the Mazagon docks on Thursday, adding to the country’s naval might with a vessel that combines superior stealth technology with an ability to launch crippling attacks with torpedoes and missiles.

The indigenously-built submarine, named Khanderi, will now undergo extensive trials at sea and harbour till December to test all it equipments before it is commissioned into the Indian Navy.

INDIAN AMERICAN RESEARCHERS AMONG RECIPIENTS OF 2017 EARLY-CAREER SCIENTISTS AWARDS

President Barack Obama Jan. 9 named 102 scientists and researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early-Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.The PECASE is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.

Pankaj Lal, an Indian American professor at Montclair State University, was among the Department of Agriculture recipients.

Manish Arora, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, was a recipient from the Department of Health and Human Services. Joining Arora are Kashmira Date of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pakistani American Nasia Safdar earned an award in the Department of Veterans Affairs area. Safdar is at the Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.

Chowdhury, who received his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, directs the Next Generation Networks and Systems Lab. He is the winner of the “NSF CAREER” award in 2015 and the Office of Naval Research Director of Research Early Career Award in 2016.

MICHAEL KEATON TO RECEIVE GOVERNORS AWARD FROM SOC

Actor Michael Keaton will be honoured by the Society of Camera Operators with their Governors Award.

The 65-year-old actor will accept the honor at SOCs awards show on February 11 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, reported Variety.

SOC, an honorary society, advances the art, craft, and creative contributions of camera operators.

The event will also reveal winners from among its Camera Operator of the Year nominees.

Keaton will next be seen in the Roy Kroc biopic “The Founder”. In the film, Keaton portrays the entrepreneur who built the McDonalds fast food empire. PTI SHD SHD

LITTLE ROCK BOYS WIN THE GRAND AWARD

Chaitanya and Geeve, both students of Class XII of the Brahmavar-based Little Rock Indian School, have won the Grand Award from IRIS (Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science) jointly sponsored by Intel South India,

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum, and The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

In a press release here on Tuesday, Mathew C. Ninan, principal of Little Rock Indian School, said that from among three lakh participants who had submitted projects online, 100 were short-listed.

Geeve and Chaitanya were among them and the next level was in Pune where they presented their project named SAMIS which is a Smart Phone Aided Multispectral Imaging System. Their project is one of the 20 selected for the Grand Award. These award winners form Team India to go to the international level.

They are entitled to attend the Intel Science and Engineering Fair to be held in Los Angeles, California, in May 2017. Incidentally, Geeve had earlier won the Rural IT National Quiz title in 2015, the release said.

HAMPA NAGARAJAIAH BAGS PRESTIGIOUS PAMPA AWARD

Kannada poet Hampa Nagarajaiah, popularly known by his pen name Hampana, was chosen for the prestigious Pampa Award instituted by the Karnataka government, for 2016.

The Kannada and culture department announced the names of persons selected for awards instituted in various cultural fields for 2016, on Wednesday.

Kannada and culture minister B Umashree said these awards will be given away during the Kadambotsava festival to be held in February .”All awards carry a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh,”.

Hampana, 86, is an eminent Kannada scholar on Jainism.

A former professor and dean of Arts faculty in Bengaluru University , he also officiated as director of Jain Research Centre, director of the Institute of Jain Studies, and director of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Karnataka government, before retiring in 1996.