APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma appointed as new Punjab Lokpal.

• Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma has been appointed as new Punjab Lokpal. The State government, however, failed to amend the Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996, hence leaving the Chief Minister and the Cabinet ministers out of its ambit. The post was lying vacant since 23 April 2018, after Justice Satish Kumar Mittal (retd) had resigned. The lokpal will hold the office for a tenure of six years. Justice Sharma had served as Punjab and Haryana high court judge.

ECI appoints 2 Special Observers for Telangana and Sikkim elections.

• Election commission of India (ECI) has appointed 2 Special Observers for Telangana and Sikkim elections. ECI appointed Mr. B. R. Balakrishnan (ex IRS 1983) and a serving Indian Revenue Service officer, Mr. Suresh Kumar (IRS 1988) as Special Expenditure Observers for the Bye-Elections. The appointments are in the exercise of the powers conferred on ECI under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of The Representation of the People Act 1951.

Roles of special observer:

The Special Observers will supervise and monitor all the works that are carried by the electoral machinery.

The observers will also ensure that necessary and effective enforcement action are taken based on intelligence inputs and complaints received. The common people can submit their complaints through C-VIGIL, Voter Helpline 1950 against all persons/entities who try to induce voters by distributing cash, liquor & freebies etc. in order to vitiate the poll process.

DAYS:

World Space Week is observed from 4 to 10 October.

•  World Space Week is observed from 4 October to 10 October 2019. It is the largest space event on Earth.

Theme:

The 2019 theme for the week is The Moon: Gateway to the Stars. The week showcases some of the creative, innovative and popular events that brought people together to celebrate space.

History:

The World Space Week was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 6 December 1999. It passed the resolution and declared that the week will be observed each year from 4-10 October. The week celebrates science and technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition.

These days commemorate the following two events:

♦ On 4 October 1957, Sputnik 1, the first human-made Earth satellite was launched. The way for space exploration was thus started.

♦ On 10 October 1967, the signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies was held.

SPORTS:

Niklas Kaul became the youngest world decathlon champion.

• Niklas Kaul set a record by becoming the youngest world decathlon champion in history at the World Athletics Championships 2019 held at Doha, Qatar. Kaul progressed steadily through the field after each of the 10 events.

He started off in 20th place after the 100m, ending the first day in 11th place and then breaking into the top three following a monster 79.05m throw in the javelin. A secured a high 4:15.70 run in the 1500m and sealed the record. Kaul won with a score of 8691. This is his third personal best of the season.

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