1) Indian-origin playwright Ismail Mahomed conferred Knighthood by French Government.
- Ismail Mahomed, an Indian-origin art lover and playwright in South Africa, was conferred Knighthood by the French government for his lifelong devotion to the promotion of arts.
- Mahomed was bestowed with The Chevalier de l`Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature) by French Ambassador Elisabet Barbier in Johannesburg.
About Ismail Mahomed :
- Currently the Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Mahomed has received numerous other awards in his 30-year career.
- He has also been honoured with Merit Honour Award from the US State Department`s Africa Bureau for consistent high cultural programming.
- In 1999, he received the Premier`s Award for developing and promoting the arts and culture sector as an economic enterprise in the South African province of Mpumalanga.
2) Ismail Mahomed conferred knighthood by French government.
- Ismail Mahomed, an Indian-origin art lover and playwright in South Africa has been conferred knighthood by the French government for his lifelong devotion to the promotion of arts.
- He was bestowed with ‘The Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres’ (Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature) by French Ambassador Elisabet Barbier in Johannesburg.
Ismail Mahomed :
- Mahomed is the Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Mahomed has received numerous other awards in his 30-year career.
- He has also been honoured with Merit Honour Award from the US State Department’s Africa Bureau for consistent high cultural programming.
3) Afghan cyclists nominated for Nobel Peace Prize.
- Afghanistan’s National Women’s Cycling Team has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by members of the Italian parliament.
- The team has used the bicycle as a vehicle for social justice, enduring violence and social stigma.
- In 2013, it became the first Afghan women’s team to compete on the international stage, at the Asian Cycling Championships in Delhi.
- Afghanistan had a women’s team as early as 1986, but that program was scuttled during Soviet and subsequent Taliban control of the country.
4) Goverdhan Mehta conferred Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany’s prestigious award.
- Renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences Goverdhan Mehta was conferred with Federal Republic of Germany’s prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit.
- Achim Fabig, the German Consul General in Chennai, presented the award to Hyderabad-based professor Mehta.
About Goverdhan Mehta :
- At present, Mehta is the National Research Professor and Lilly-Jubilant Chair Professor at the University of Hyderabad, which is among the top 10 Universities in the country.
- He has served as the Director of the IISc, Bengaluru from 1998 to 2005.
- He has also served as the President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
5) Vijay Mallya quits as Chairman of United Spirits.
- Flamboyant ((of a person or their behaviour) tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness.) businessman Vijay Mallya has quit as Chairman of United Spirits after its new majority owner Diageo agreed to pay Rs 515 crore and absolve him of all liabilities over alleged financial lapses at the company founded by his family.
- Mallya, who along with his group firms is fighting ‘wilful defaulter’ tags given by various lenders in relation to loans taken by long-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
- Mallya himself has agreed to resign from boards of all USL group firms, including as Chairman and non-executive director of United Spirits Ltd (USL).
- He would become ‘founder emeritus’ of USL and Chief Mentor of RCB. Diageo said it will pay USD 40 million of this amount immediately with the balance being payable in equal instalments over five years.
6) Sachin joined UNICEF’s `Team Swachh` initiative.
- Rajya Sabha MP and Cricket Legend Sachin Tendulkar has joined ICC and UNICEF’s effort to build a social movement for sanitation and toilet use, thereby leading to an open defecation-free India.
- The UNICEF and International Cricket Council (ICC) have come together by launching Cricket for Good with the aim of leveraging the vast reach and power of the sport.
- ICC and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s ‘Team Swachh’, a nationwide initiative in support of the Government of India’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ Mission, will be launched with the upcoming World Twenty20 and will tap into the power of cricket to spread the movement for sanitation in the country irrespective of class, gender, age, region and religion.