Awards

Miss Universe 2009

Eighteen-year-old Stefania Fernandez(Venezuela ) was crowned Miss Universe 2009 by incumbent crown holder and compatriot Dayana Mendoza at Los Angles

· The first runner-up title is shared by Miss Australia Rachael Finch and Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez.

· The title of second runner-up went to Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha,

Venezuela made history at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant by winning the crown for the second year running.

· Ms. Fernandez became the sixth Miss Universe from a South American country, known for its obsession with beauty.

· Venezuela has won five Miss Universe titles, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns — more than any other country.

Miss India, Ekta Chowdhury, exited the contest without making it to the top 15.

Stockholm Water Prize

This year’s recipient of “Stockholm Water Prize, is India’s Bindeshwar Pathak, on his achievement in promoting low-cost sanitation. He received this prize at “Closing Plenary of World Water Week” in Stockholm, Sweden,

Government initiatives

· The Centre plans to ensure safe drinking water to all habitations by 2012.

· It has also set a target of covering rural India under the ‘Total Sanitation Campaign’ by 2010.

· The National Water Policy allocated first priority to drinking water in planning and operation of water resources systems.

· The Minister complimented Noting that the per capita availability of water was about 1,700 cubic metres,

MSRF

The chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, M.S. Swaminathan, was awarded a honoris causa by the University of Talca at a recent function in Chile.

· In his remarks, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Hernan Paillan hailed Dr. Swaminathan’s contribution to the breeding research programmes of three key products worldwide — wheat, rice and potato.

· The university also awarded the presidential medal to Dr. Swaminathan