1) Subramanian Swamy awarded `Tamil Ratna` in US.
- BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has been honoured with `Tamil Ratna` award by a body of Tamil diaspora in New York for fighting corruption and working for more transparency in the functioning of the government.
- Previous Tamil Ratna awardees include Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and movie director Bharathi Raja.
2) Vidya Balan Brand Ambassador of Samajwadi Pension Yojana.
- Bollywood actress Vidya Balan appointed as brand ambassador of the ambitious Samajwadi Pension Yojana by Uttar Pradesh government.
- The actor who had earlier been associated with the "ghar-ghar shauchalaya" campaign of the Union government.
- The main Objective of the scheme to encourage savings among people living below the poverty line and provide them financial assistance.
3) Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa removed as Arunachal Pradesh governor.
- President Pranab Mukhejee has sacked Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.
- Rajkhowa had refused to quit depite a nudge by the Centre to put in his papers.
- Meghalaya goverrnor V Shanmuganathan will be interim Arunachal governor.
###4) Headscarf emoji was designed by Saudi girl.
- The 15-year-old has drafted a proposal for a new headscarf-wearing emoji to The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation that standardises text on computers and which develops these popular characters.
- Emojis, smartphone icons used to express thoughts and feelings, have been diversifying, and include Christmas hats, turbans and different skin tone options.
- They do not, however, include the hijab or the keffiyeh, items of clothing worn by millions of Muslims on a daily basis.
5) BHVS Narayana Murthy appointed Director of Research Centre Imarat.
- BHVS Narayana Murthy, an expert in Avionics was appointed as Director of Research Centre Imarat (RCI).
- The RCI is a premiere Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory located in Hyderabad.
###6) Virat Kohli appointed as Brand Ambassador of Punjab National Bank.
- Indian test skipper Virat Kohli was appointed as Brand Ambassador of state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB).
- Kohli has been an Account Holder of the bank since the age of 16 years.
- Since its inception in 1895, PNB has been people`s bank serving millions of customers throughout India. Over the years, the Bank has established itself as a major player in Indian banking space.
- Atul Kumar Goel takes charges as ED in UBI.
- Atul Kumar Goel, General Manager, Allahabad Bank, has taken charge as Executive Director in Union Bank of India.
- The Central Government appointed Goel .The appointment is for a period of three years.
7) V.K. Sharma gets additional charge as LIC chairman.
- V.K. Sharma, managing director, LIC of India has taken additional charge as chairman, LIC of India in place of S.K. Roy, who has been relieved of his duties.
- S.K. Roy joined Life Insurance Corporation of India in 1981. On May 31, 2013, he assumed charge as Managing Director of LIC. Prior to his elevation, he was head of the International Operations division.
8) Lt Gen Surinder takes over as Western Command GOC-in-C.
- Lt Gen Surinder Singh took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command.
- He is the successor of Lt Gen K.J. Singh who retired in July.
- Prior to this, he was on attachment to the Deputy Chief of Army Staff’s Branch at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi after having completed his tenure as the GOC, 33 Corps at Siliguri in August.
9) Indian-origin Ravi Reddy appointed as Head of International Society for Blood Transfusion.
- An Indian-origin South African Ravi Reddy was appointed as the Head of International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT), headquartered in Amsterdam.
- With this, Reddy became the first person from the African continent to head ISBT, a global organization of medicine professionals working for the safety of blood transfusion worldwide.
- The ISBT, now with 100 member countries, was established in 1935 as a platform for exchanging knowledge and advancing the blood-transfusion practice.