Kohli becomes second Indian to score 500 in a Test series in Australia

Virat Kohli on Thursday became the second Indian batsman to score 500 runs in a Test series in Australia during the fourth and final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Kohli, who came into the match with 499 runs from the three earlier matches of the series, reached the landmark by hitting a four of the bowling of off-spinner Nathan Lyon during the morning session in the 44th over of India’s first innings.

The 26-year-old Kohli, who was playing in his 33rd Test and seventh innings in this series, followed in the footsteps of batting legend Rahul Dravid who accumulated 619 runs from eight innings in the 2003-04 Australia tour.

Kohli has already hit three centuries in the series.

Quikr launches instant messaging for users

In a move to enable seamless transactions between its users, online classifieds company Quikr has launched a new product, Quikr Nxt. The new product, the company claims, is the world’s first instant messenger by a classifieds company, and allows users to chat using the website or mobile app. The messenger has been integrated into Quikr’s mobile app, mobile site and website.

While launching the product on Wednesday, Quikr CEO and founder Pranay Chulet said Quikr Nxt could revolutionise the domestic digital classifieds industry.

It allows buyers and sellers to immediately get in touch through chat, using Quikr’s mobile app, mobile site and even its desktop site. “The benefits of Quikr Nxt are that buyers/sellers do not need to share their contact number or e-mail address and the only point of reference is the Quikr ID. This prevents bombarding by multiple e-mails and phone calls and safeguards the user’s privacy,” Mr. Chulet said. “E-mails are not real-time and phone calls are invasive while chats are most convenient.”

The new feature has been undergoing trials in the last few months, and was being tested in about a dozen cities. Quikr has more than 30 million active users, and Nxt is the latest in a line of product innovations by Quikr, including Maximum Selling Price (MSP), the Missed Call service and the like.

Quikr operates in over 13 categories and 170 sub-categories including mobile phones, household goods, cars, real estate, jobs, services and education. Mr. Chulet said real estate was the largest category given the size of transactions.

Close to 80 per cent of traffic was from mobile phone users, and this could go to 90-95 per cent in a year, he said. “Quikr is a mass market platform, and we are five times the size we were a year ago. We are fully funded for now and do not require additional funds,”

Quikr raised over Rs.900 crore in 2014 from investors, including Tiger Global Management, Kinnevik, Matrix Partners, eBay Inc, Warburg Pincus among others.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 193 runs to win Test series 2-0

New Zealand completed a fine comeback to beat Sri Lanka by 193 runs and win the two-Test series 2-0.

Kane Williamson and BJ Watling's Test record sixth-wicket partnership on day four hauled the Kiwis back into the match, having trailed by 135 on first innings in Wellington.
Mark Craig took 4-53 as the hosts bowled out Sri Lanka for 196.
"The last little while we've played some outstanding cricket," said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
New Zealand have not lost a Test series since being beaten in England in May 2013.
Since then, the Black Caps have beaten West Indies home and away, overcome India and Sri Lanka at home, and drawn away series with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Resuming on 45-1 in pursuit of an improbable 390 for victory, Sri Lanka slipped to 110-5 by lunch, and New Zealand wrapped up victory with a session to spare.
McCullum added: "To be able to fight our way out of an incredibly precarious position and not just save the Test, but to go on and win it in the manner that we did is testament to the work these guys do off the field."
The sides start a seven-match one-day series on 11 January in Christchurch.

India to host 2015 World Bridge Championship

Chennai: The biggest event of card games comes to India as the country will host the next World Bridge Championship for Bermuda Bowl (men) and Venice Cup (women) in October 2015.
Bridge Federation of India (BFI) President N R Kirubakara Moorthy on Sunday informed that the World Bridge Federation (WBF) has alloted the 2015 World Championship to India and "BFI are now in the process of finalising the event".
Moorthy said that WBF President Gianrrigo Rona of Italy along with technical committee members and other WBF officials would be arriving in Chennai tonight to finalise the venue.
He said that two cities, Chennai and Panaji in Goa, have been shortlisted to host the world meet.
Rona and other officials, during their four-day stay in the country, will inspect here the various facilities including hotel accommodation and convention centres to hold the tournament then go to Goa before finalising the city to host the big event.
This would be the first time that India would be hosting the biggest event of the card games.
The WBF conducts the World Bridge Team Championships every two years.
This is the premier tournament in international bridge and sees the top teams from each geographic region competing against one another for the Bermuda Bowl trophy.
Additionally, there are separate trophies for the top women`s team as well as the top senior team (D`Orsi Trophy) globally.
About 550 players from 66 countries are expected to be seen in action in this world meet.
Moorthy, who has been working hard to bring these Championships to India said, "Two locations have been shortlisted - Chennai and Goa. Both of these have large convention spaces capable of hosting the tournament and a number of top hotels which can accommodate the over-thousand participants who will attend the tournament over a two-week period. This is the first time the tournament is being held in India and we want to put up a good show."
Hosting a tournament of this scale is expected to provide a big boost to the popularity of the game in India, and aid the BFI in its efforts to attract newer players, Moorthy said.

Charlie Hebdo: Gun attack on French magazine kills 12

Four of the magazine's well-known cartoonists, including its editor, were among those killed, as well as two police officers.
A major police operation is under way to find three gunmen who fled by car.
President Francois Hollande said there was no doubt it had been a terrorist attack "of exceptional barbarity".
It is believed to be the deadliest attack in France since 1961, when right-wingers who wanted to keep Algeria French bombed a train, killing 28 people.
The masked attackers opened fire with assault rifles in the office and exchanged shots with police in the street outside before escaping by car. They later abandoned the car in Rue de Meaux, northern Paris, where they hijacked a second car.
Witnesses said they heard the gunmen shouting "We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad" and "God is Great" in Arabic ("Allahu Akbar").
The number of attackers was initially reported to be two, but French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve later said security services were hunting three "criminals". He said that Paris had been placed on the highest alert.

Whole plant therapy may help beat malaria

Washington: A new study has revealed that whole plant therapy shows promise to beat malaria parasites' drug resistance.
University of Massachusetts Amherst microbiologist Stephen Rich and his research team said that the new treatment is based on a use of the whole plant (WP) Artemesia annua, from which the current pharmaceutical drug artemisinin (AN) is extracted.
The researchers found that the whole plant treatment withstands the evolution of resistance and remains effective for up to three times longer than the pure drug and also found the whole plant therapy effective in killing rodent parasites that have previously evolved resistance to pure AN.
Rich said that this is especially important given the recent reports of resistance to artemisinin in malaria -endemic regions of the world and drug longevity is crucial since new drugs are costly to develop, not only in dollars but in the cost of lives lost.
The authors point out that consuming the whole plant may be more effective than the single purified drug because the whole plant "may constitute a naturally occurring combination therapy that augments artemisinin delivery and synergizes the drug's activity."
The study was published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

NASA's Kepler Space Telescope finds 1,000th alien planet

NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered its 1,000th alien planet, further cementing the prolific exoplanet-hunting mission's status as a space-science legend.
Kepler reached the milestone today (Jan. 6) with the announcement of eight newly confirmed exoplanets, bringing the mission's current alien world tally to 1,004. Kepler has found more than half of all known exoplanets to date, and the numbers will keep rolling in: The telescope has also spotted 3,200 additional planet candidates, and about 90 percent of them should end up being confirmed, mission scientists say.
Furthermore, a number of these future finds are likely to be small, rocky worlds with temperate, relatively hospitable surface conditions — in other worlds, planets a lot like Earth. (In fact, at least two of the newly confirmed eight Kepler planets — which were announced in Seattle today during the annual winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society — appear to meet that description, mission team members said.)

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"Kepler was designed to find these Earth analogues, and we always knew that the most interesting results would come at the end," Kepler mission scientist Natalie Batalha, of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, told Space.com last month.

"So we're just kind of ramping up toward those most interesting results," she added. "There's still a lot of good science to come out of Kepler."

Punjab bans sale of loose cigarettes and tobacco

Punjab has become first state in India, to completely ban the sale of loose cigarettes (even as single sticks) and loose tobacco.
State government had banned the sale of loose cigarettes and tobacco under Section 7 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA Act, 2003).
Section 7 of COTPA bans sale of these products if they are traded, supplied or distributed without specified warning including pictorial warning on it.
State government notification in this regard clearly mentions that loose cigarettes and tobacco products do not carry a pictorial or a written warning so they are banned.
Earlier state government had banned sale of  nicotine in the form of e-cigarette.
About COTPA Act, 2003
It was enacted by Parliament in 2003. It prohibits advertisement and regulates tobacco business in India.
This Act has put restriction on tobacco products which includes cigarettes, gutka, panmasala (containing tobacco), cigar, cheroot, Beedi, Snuff, chewing tobacco, hookah, tooth powder containing tobacco.

Amitabh Bachchan appointed as Brand Ambassador of Andhra Pradesh health sector

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is appointed as the brand ambassador for health sector in Andhra Pradesh.
His name was announced by the Andhra Pradesh state Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas.
As a brand ambassador actor Amitabh Bachchan will participate in various health-related campaigns to be taken up by the state government without taking any remuneration for the services.
Implication: It will help bifurcated state to boost and improve its health sector as it worst hit due to bifurcation. At present, state does not have proper health sector facilities due major corporate hospitals and medical and health institutions are located in then capital of undivided state Hyderabad (now capital of Telangana).
Some facts
It should be also noted that, actor Amitabh Bachchan is also brand ambassador  of Gujarat Tourism since 1 February 2010.
While in 2002, he was brand ambassador for the Polio Eradication Campaign.

ICICI Bank launches India’s first contactless credit and debit cards

India’s largest private sector bank Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank has launched country’s first ‘contactless’ debit and credit cards.
These cards will provide its customers to make electronic payments by waving the cards near the merchant terminal instead of dipping or swiping.
Facts about ICICI Bank’s contactless cards

• These cards are based on the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and powered by MasterCard contactless and Visa payWave technologies.
• It provide customers with the improved convenience of speed as these cards require significantly less time than traditional cards to complete a transaction.
• It also enhances security features for the customer.

Presently, bank has introduced these cards in cities like Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Mumbai. ICICI Bank also has provided with over 1200 Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines that are capable of accepting contactless payments in these cities.

Dinesh Oraon elected as Speaker of Jharkhand Assembly

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Dinesh Oraon was unanimously elected as the Speaker of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly.
It was announced by the Protem Speaker Stephen Marandi. His name for the post was proposed by the Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
He is the 10th Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly since the state was granted statehood status after bifurcating from Bihar on 15 November 2000.
About Dinesh Oraon
He is a member of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly from Sisai constituency of Gumla district. He has represented this constituency twice, first time in 2000 and for second time in 2014.  He has studied M A. and was lecturer in Ranchi University.

Pakistan enacts new law to create constitutional military courts to try terrorists

Pakistan government has enacted new law, to create constitutional military courts to try and punish terrorists.
This new law came into effect after it was signed by Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain.
Earlier, Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and 21st Constitution Amendment Bill, 2015 was passed by Pakistan’s National Assembly and the Senate.
Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2015 aims to set up Constitutionally protected military courts to try and punish terrorists.
While, 21^st Constitution Amendment Bill, 2015 provides constitutional cover for the establishment of military courts in Pakistan.
Background
For past few years, Pakistan is struggling to come up with an adequate response to deal with the increasing menace of militancy.
Pakistan’s ruling government was under pressure after Peshawar School attack that had killed around 150 people including 132 children. So there was need of strict law to deal with the militants.
Summary 
The law will give a tough message to militants who often are wriggled out of ordinary courts.  Thus it will help to curb and eliminate militancy in Pakistan. Presently, Pakistan has already lifted moratorium on death penalty and hanged seven convicted militants.

Indian diplomat Atul Khare named as UN Under Secretary-General for Field Support

Indian diplomat Atul Khare is named as UN Under Secretary-General for Field Support, Department of Field Support (DFS). It was announced by Secretary-General of United Nations Ban Ki-moon.
He will succeed Bangladesh’s Ameerah Haq. This appointment makes him as one of the highest ranking Indian officials in UN.

UN Department of Field Support (DFS)

This department provides dedicated support to peacekeeping field missions and political field missions around the world.
It also provides support in the areas of finance, logistics, Information, communication and technology (ICT), human resources and general administration to help missions promote peace and security.
His appointment to this position will bring strategic management and innovative reform expertise in both headquarters and field perspective of UN’s DFS.

About Atul Khare

He belongs to 1984 cadre of Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Diplomat career: As Indian diplomat, he has served in Indian Missions in Paris, Dakar, Port Louis and London as well as the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York.
He is Former Director of The Nehru Centre and Minister (Culture), High Commission of India in London (2005-2006).
United Nations career: Previously, he was Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) at the level of Under Secretary-General (2006-2009).
Earlier he also has worked as Chief of Staff and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General with the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).
He also has served as Assistant Secretary-General leading the Change Management Team (2011-2012) and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Deputy Head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York (2010-2011).

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s Prize for Display at Rashtrapati Bhavan museum

Kailash Satyarthi’s Nobel Prize has been put up for display at Rashtrapati Bhavan museum.
It was put for display, after Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi dedicated his prize to the nation. He presented his medal to President Pranab Mukherjee in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Now, visitors to Rashtrapati Bhavan will now be able to get a glimpse of the Nobel Peace Prize received by him.
The medal made up of 18 carats gold and weighing 196 grams will be kept at Rashtrapati Bhavan museum for display.
Rashtrapati Bhavan museum: It was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee in July 2014. This museum provides public an inside view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan along with its art, architecture and lives of past presidents.
About Kailash Satyarthi
He is the eighth Nobel laureate to have been born in India. He is an adherent of Gandhian philosophy. He has upheld Mahatma Gandhi’s practice of engaging and conducting peaceful protests against the exploitation of children for financial gain. He is the founder of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement). Through his NGO, he campaigns for protection of child rights and to abolish illegal human trafficking.

otak Mahindra-ING Vysya merger gets shareholders nod

Private sector Kotak Mahindra Bank has received its shareholders nod for merger of Bengalaru-headquartered  ING Vysya Bank with itself.
It was approved by the 99.30 per cent in number representing 99.93 per cent in value of the shareholders present.
This approval is considered as important step for merging of two banks to form new entity. Now this merger is subject to the final approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI) and such other approvals.
Background
In November 2014, Kotak Mahindra Bank had announced that it is acquiring ING Vysya Bank in an all-stock deal.
This merger will make Kotak the fourth-largest private bank in India in terms of total business. The biggest three private banks are ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank.
The management of these banks are expecting that the new merged entity will be operational by April 1, 2015.
The acquisition will help Kotak Mahindra Bank to widen its reach in South Indian market and also help in acquiring SME customers as ING Vysya Bank was having stronghold in SME customers.
After merger the combined banking entity will have a widespread network of 1,214 branches across pan India.

President signs ordinance to pave way for e-rickshaws on Delhi roads

President Pranab Mukherjee has signed an ordinance to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as per Article 123 of Constitution. This ordinance will pave the way for plying of e-rickshaws on roads of Delhi.
Earlier, in December 2014 Union Cabinet had approved promulgation of the ordinance as a bill in this regard was not able to pass in the recently concluded winter session of Parliament due to logjam in Upper House (Rajya Sabha).
Background
Previously in July 2014, Delhi High Court had banned E-rickshaws or battery-operated three-wheeler vehicles on safety concerns.
Union government had brought Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2014 to amend to parent Act in order to legalize E-rickshaws. It was passed by the Lok Sabha.
Article 123 of Constitution: It gives legislative power to President. He can issue ordinances when Parliament is in recess i.e. not in session if there is urgent need to have a law on some urgent public matter.  The ordinance has similar effect to an act of parliament.
However, every ordinance must be laid and approved by both houses of the parliament within 6 weeks from the reassembling.  If not placed and approved by both houses of the parliament after reassembling it becomes invalid.

19th National Youth Festival begins in Guwahati, Assam

The 19th National Youth Festival has begun in Guwahati, Assam. This festival coincides with the 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
Theme of this edition of youth festival is Youth for Clean, Green and Progressive India. It aims to spread to spread national integration and harmony.
Events: It is 5 day event, which will provide platform to the young talents to perform their level best in music and cultural events.
During this festival, different competitions, exhibitions, cultural programs, and seminars will be held.
In this festival sports persons including Virender Sehwag, Sushil Kumar and Mary Kom along with several young MPs are participating to motivate the young minds towards nation building.  This youth festival is also likely to give a boost to the tourism industry of the state.
It will showcase various shades of youth talent through Yuva Kriti, Food Festival, Young Artist Camp, Youth Convention, Suvichar and Adventure activities.
Besides these there will be other competitive and non-competitive events between youths of different states.
Opening ceremony: It was attended by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Home state Kiren Rijiju at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati.
About National Youth Festival
It is an annual gathering of youth during National Youth Week i.e. from 12 to 16 January. It is celebrated to mark birth anniversary of youth icon Swami Vivekananda.
It is organized by Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with one of the State Governments.