News Roundup - 11 October 2014

1. Nobel Peace Prize – Jointly to Malala (Pakistan) & Kailash Satyarthi (India).
2. Infosys announces 100% average bonus to its 1.65 lakh emloyees.
3. Cyclone Hudhud intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm and may pummel vizag coast.
4. Norway's King Harald V backs India's investment in polar research. President Pranab Mukerjee is visiting Oslo on Oct 13 & 14 - the first ever visit by Indian Head of State.
5. IAS officer Abhishek Singh, husband of Durga Shakti Nagpal whose suspension as SDM had triggered a controversy, was on Saturday suspended by the UP chief minister for allegedly treating a dalit teacher in an "inhuman" manner in Mathura district.
6. The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Friday to consider, and dispose of, a representation on the Law Commission recommendation to make the court a national court of appeal to decide only constitutional issues.
7. The Gujarat High Court scrapped the ‘snoopgate’ panel set up by the State government to probe the alleged spying on a woman architect by the State machinery, in response to a joint petition filed by the woman and her father. Their plea was that the inquiry violated their right to privacy.
8. A US state appellate court has heard arguments here about whether a chimpanzee can be considered a “legal person,” and — with human aid — sue for his freedom.
9. Renowned Bharatnatyam danseuse Leela Samson has resigned as chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi.
10. On his maiden trip to India, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss digital expansion in the country.
11. At least 100 Indian websites have been defaced by Pakistani hackers over the last two days. The hacked websites include those of Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (www.cmchrc.ac.in) and singer Daler Mehndi (www.dalermehndi.com). The hacked websites not only carried anti-India messages and pictures under Pakistan Zindabadheadline, but also derogatory statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The present round of cyber war between India and Pakistan began after Indian hackers defaced the website of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) following its leader Bilawal Bhutto’s remarks on Kashmir. Pakistani hackers, who retaliated by targeting the website of the Press Club of India, have continued their offensive on other Indian websites.
12. ‘Spider-Man’ creator Stan Lee is looking forward to make his first Bollywood movie based on Indian superhero ‘Chakra the Invincible’. Lee and entertainment company Graphic India are looking at making a grown-up version of Chakra tackling his arch-enemy, Boss Yama, against the spectacular backdrop of Mumbai.
13. Factory output growth slowed to 0.4% in August 2014 (0.5% in July-14). 
14. The Election Commission said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio broadcast on October 3 had not violated the Model Code of Conduct.
15. A time capsule that had been hidden in the head of a lion statue atop a historical landmark in Boston for more than a century yielded one surprise Thursday — a hardcover book. The time capsule was sealed inside the lion’s head since 1901 and then forgotten until recently. The plan is to put a new time capsule in the lion’s head, this one made of titanium. The society is currently soliciting suggestions of what to put in it, but said one item will be a medal from the 2013 Boston Marathon, during which three people and 260 were injured in a bombing.
16. India’s new health policy which calls for recognition of mental disorders and a more accessible and holistic treatment of mental illnesses also pushes for decriminalisation of attempted suicide.
17. Activists in Saudi Arabia said this week they are revving up a right to drive campaign using social media in the world’s only country that bans women from getting behind the wheel.
18. China and Russia have begun implementing their $400 billion mega-gas deal — a strategic project that would allow Moscow to lower its dependence on the European market, and open prospects of tapping the growing energy demand in the Asia-Pacific, with Beijing as the star consumer.
19. Jihadists captured the headquarters of Kurdish fighters defending the battleground Syrian town of Kobane.
20. Microsoft’s CEO suggested on Thursday that women in technology should not ask for raises but have faith in the “system”, bringing a torrent of criticism and causing the executive to backtrack after the statement.
21. Bombay High Court ruled in favor of Vodafone against Income Tax over transfer pricing case.

Credits : The Hindu, Google, Times of India, Indian Express.