ENGLISH NEWS - 03-09-2016

DAILY G.A UPDATE : 03-09-2016

1. India Post to launch commemorative stamp on Mother Teresa

The Department of Posts will release a commemorative stamp in the city to mark Mother Teresa's canonisation in the Vatican on September 4.

2. Noted Assamese poet Nalini Dhar Bhattacharyya dies at 95

Noted Assamese poet, literary critic and author and winner of the Sahitya Akademi award Nalini dhar Bhattacharyya passed away. He was 95.

3. Guinness World Records declare Majuli as the largest river island

The Guinness World Records declared Assam's Majuli as the largest river island in the world.

The island is located in the Brahmaputra River.

As per the Guinness World Records, the island lost around one-third of its area in the last 30-40 years due to frequent flooding of the river.

About Majuli

• Majuli had a total area of 1250 square kilometres at the beginning of the 20th century. However, it had lost significantly to erosion.

• It had an area of only 352 square kilometres in 2014.

• The island is formed by River Brahmaputra in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north.

• The island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat.

• It was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries, mainly the Lohit.

• It is the abode of the Assamese neo-Vaisnavite culture. 

4. Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov dies

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov died. He was 78.

5. India, Vietnam sign 12 agreements

India and Vietnam signed 12 agreements in a wide range of areas covering defence, IT, space, double taxation and sharing white shipping information, signalling a strong upward push in their strategic ties.

The agreements were signed by officials of the two sides in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.