Sahitya Akademi Award: 2016

• Mumbai-based writer Jerry Pinto, Tamil author Vannadhasan, Hindi writer Nasira Sharma are among 24 others declared the winners of the Sahitya Akademi awards 2016.
• Sharma’s Hindi novel Paarijat, Pinto’s Em and the Big Hoom and Vannadhasan’s Oru Sru Isai won them the literary honour.
• Among the winners are eight book of poetry, seven books of short stories, five novels, two on criticism, one of essays and one play.
• The books were chosen on the basis of recommendations made by a jury of three in the languages concerned and approved by its executive board.

China launches TanSat satellite to monitor global carbon emissions

• China successfully launched TanSat, a global carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring satellite to understand the effects of climate change.
• It was launched on board of Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China’s Gobi Desert.
• It was the 243rd mission of the Long March series rockets. With this, China became third country after Japan and United States to have its own satellite to monitor greenhouse gases (GHGs).

Girija Vaidyanathan appointed Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu

• Girija Vaidyanathan, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Land Administration, has been appointed Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu in place of P. Rama Mohana Rao.
• Ms.Vaidyanathan will also hold full additional charge of Vigilance Commissioner and Commissioner for Administrative Reforms.

Priyanka 1st Indian to be made Pantene’s global ambassador

• Actress Priyanka Chopra has become the first Indian to be appointed as the global ambassador of the hair care brand ‘Pantene calling the brand a “favourite around the world.

RBI slaps fine on 5 foreign banks for violating FEMA rules

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed the penalty on five foreign banks, including Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, for violation of its instructions on reporting requirements of the FEMA on 21st December 2016.
• The three other banks are: Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and The Royal Bank of Scotland.
• They have been fined for violation of its instructions on reporting requirements of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA).