Eminent Scientist S Christopher Appointed DRDO Chief

Eminent scientist Dr. S Christopher was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). He will have tenure of two years from the date of taking over the charge. Christopher is presently Distinguished Scientist and Programme Director (airborne early warning and control system) and Director, Centre for Air-Borne Systems in the DRDO.

Tripura government withdraws AFSPA after 18 years

The Tripura cabinet has withdrawn the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) with immediate effect from the state, where the controversial law was in effect for the last 18 years to curb insurgency. AFSPA was promulgated in the state on February 16, 1997, owing to the relentless violence and bloodshed during the period.

Manabi Bandopadhyay : India’s first transgender college principal

Manobi Bandopadhyay became the first person from the transgender community to head an educational institution in India. Professor Bandopadhyay will take over as Principal of Krishnanagar Women’s College in Nadia district of West Bengal on June 9, 2015.

US state of Nebraska abolished death penalty

Nebraska on became the first conservative state in more than 40 years to abolish the death penalty, with lawmakers defying their Republican governor, Pete Ricketts, a staunch supporter of capital punishment who had lobbied vigorously against banning it.

Since 2007, six states have abolished the death penalty – Maryland, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico and New Jersey. But no conservative state has banned capital punishment since North Dakota in 1973.

23-year-old US-educated Yaduveer crowned ‘Maharaja of Mysuru’

Yaduveer Raj Urs, was crowned as the new Maharaja of Mysuru, a titular and nominal head of the 600-year-old Wadiyar dynasty in southern India. He is 23-year-old and economics graduate from the University of Massachusetts, US. After his coronation, he was rechristened with full title name of Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.