World This Week:Indian-born crop scientist wins World Food Prize
A Mexico based crop scientist, Dr Sanjaya Rajaram, born in a small village in Uttar Pradesh has once again made India proud. The 71-year old scientist has been honoured with the 2014 World Food Prize for his outstanding
contribution to global wheat production for developing 480 varieties of wheat adaptable to various climates and difficult growing conditions.
The World Food Prize was established in 1986 by Dr. Norman Borlaug to focus the world's attention on hunger and on those whose work has significantly helped efforts to end it. It recognises individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Borlaug earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work as a plant breeder and for taking new agricultural practices to developing nations around the world.
In announcing the name of the 2014 Laureate, Ambassador Kenneth M Quinn, President of the World Food Prize, noted how highly appropriate it is to honour Dr Rajaram during the Borlaug Centennial Year.
Dr Rajaram succeeded Dr Borlaug as head of the wheat breeding programme at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) in Mexico, and then carried forward and expanded upon his work, breaking new grounds with his own invaluable achievements,” Quinn stated.
Punjabi touch in Australian women's wrestling team
This time the Australian women's wrestling team at this year's Commonwealth Games will have a Punjabi touch. Punjab-born Rupinder Kaur has made the cut in the three-strong squad for the July 23 to August 3 event in Glasgow and will compete in the 53kg division.
Although being a part in all national games in Australia including Australian cup and having won Gold Medals, this is the first time she is participating in an international game for Australia because of not having a permanent Australian residency.
Rupinder was born in Patiala and was into Judo and played national level competition at school. “I migrated to Australia from Punjab seven years ago and has to her credit many gold medals that she has at several national-level competitions in Australia,” kaur said.
Modi trounces White House on Twitter
One of the most talked about politicians on the social media, after beating Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Shashi Tharoor on Twitter last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has become the fourth most “followed” world leader on Twitter, and has overtaken the White House in terms of number of followers on the microblogging site, an annual global study of world leaders today revealed.
According to Twiplomacy, a study conducted by global public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller, US President is the most followed leader on Twitter followed by Pope Francis, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Modi and the White House.
“Since his election in late May 2014, India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the fourth-most followed world leader on Twitter, with 4,981,777 followers. He surpassed the United States White House account (4,980,207) today and is using Twitter as a power tool to broadcast his messages,” the updated study said.
