Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Quick Gyan (QG) Section of D2G. QG is just a glimpse of what happened today all over the world.
Only For Serious Candidates : We strongly recommend you to read the Current Affairs in detail. For your convenience, we have provided quick links under the updates. Make use of it.
Always Keep Yourself Updated!!!
1. Britain launches airstrikes on IS in Syria
Britain’s RAF Tornado jets have carried out their first air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria. Four Tornados from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus took part in the operation soon after MPs voted to approve bombing. The strikes targeted the Omar oil fields in eastern Syria, which is under IS control, and were “successful”. On December 2nd, MPs voted by 397 votes to 223 for UK military action against IS – also known as Daesh – in Syria after a 10-hour Commons debate.
Syrian officials insist Britain and its allies must follow Russia’s example and co-ordinate their campaign with Syrian government forces. If they don’t, they warn, they simply won’t succeed. The deadlock over President Assad’s future role will continue to block the formation of a unified command against a common enemy. It will also stand in the way of Britain’s pledge that it will now also focus on finding a negotiated way out of this war.
Quick Link – Britain on ISIS
2. India in talks with Mauritius on tax treaty issues
India is engaged in “positive talks” with Mauritius on revision of bilateral tax treaty. The government is in the process of revising the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius. Tax treaty amendments, hanging in balance for many years, are aimed at addressing India’s concerns over the island nation being allegedly used to route illicit funds into the country. With regard to FATCA, the tax authorities have received some information from the US and is being processed. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) came into effect from September 30.
Quick Link – India and Mauritius
3. Air India launches first direct flight to Silicon Valley
Air India’s maiden non-stop flight from New Delhi to San Francisco was given a rousing welcome as it became the first Indian carrier to directly connect the US’ West Coast, reducing the arduous travel time by nearly six hours. The airport traffic control tower in San Francisco was lit in the Indian tri-colour to welcome the 230 passengers aboard the Air India flight AI 173.
The new service has come as a boon to the Indian diaspora on the US West coast, jubilant passegers said and applauded when the aircraft touched the base.
4. 16 Indian institutes among top 200 universities, IISc at 16th position
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore has climbed nine places to 16th spot in a list of the top 200 universities from 35 emerging nations, including the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries.
IISc and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay are the two scientific research and higher education institutions from India that are among the top 30 in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) BRICS and Emerging Economies Ranking 2016. THE is a London-based university ranking agency.
Overall, 16 Indian universities have found place in the top 200 list. India takes 16 places in this year’s ranking with the IISc making its debut in the top 20 (16th) and IIT Bombay, the top 30 (29th).
5. IAF to evacuate stranded passengers from Chennai airport
The Indian Air Force has pressed into service three aircraft to evacuate hundreds of passengers stranded at the Chennai airport where operations were suspended due to heavy rains and water logging on the runway. IAF said that the Force has received clearance from the authorities to ferry civilian passengers from Chennai to Delhi. Two C-17 from ‘INS Rajali’ airbase in Arakkonam, about 60 km west of Chennai, and one C-130 J aircraft at Tambaram airbase, have been stationed for reconnaissance missions.
6. Latest Cabinet Approvals
a) Union Cabinet approved rehabilitation package for Bangladesh enclaves
b) Union Cabinet gives nod to establish 6 new IITs
c) Union Cabinet approves pacts with Germany for solar energy
d) Government gives nod to introduction of Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2015
e) Government gives nod to MoU between India and Israel in the field of water resources
f) Union Cabinet approves DTAC agreement with Japan
Quick Link – Cabinet Approvals
7. International Day of Persons with Disabilities
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been celebrated with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for thedignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. It was originally called “International Day of Disabled Persons”. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.
Theme for 2015: Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities
Quick Link – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
8. US to send special forces to Iraq to fight ISIS: Carter
US defense secretary Ashton Carter has said that the US will send special forces to Iraq and Syria to intensify fight against dreaded militant group Islamic State. In full coordination with the government of Iraq, US is deploying a specialised expedition targeting force to assist Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces and put even more pressure on ISIS. These special operators will, over time, be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture ISIS leaders. The chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, general Joseph Dunford, also testified before the Congressional Armed Services Committee. Carter said the US forces will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations in Syria.
Quick Link – USA on ISIS
9. Aurobindo gets USFDA nod for multi disease treatment injection
Drug firm Aurobindo Pharma has received final approval of the US health regulator to manufacture and market its Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate injection. The drug is used to treat various conditions such as severe allergic reactions, arthritis and blood diseases. The approved product has an estimated market size of USD 31 million for the twelve months ending September 2015. The company’s injection is generic, equivalent to Luitpold Pharmaceuticals Inc’s Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate injection in the strength of 4 mg/mL, it added.
Quick Link – Aurobindo
11. Veteran industrialist MAM Ramaswamy passes away
Veteran industrialist, former parliamentarian and the last King of Chettinad, MAM Ramaswamy died on Wednesday evening at Chennai’s Fortis Malar Hospital. He was ailing for a while and on treatment at the hospital from November 7. He was 84.
Known as MAMR in political, business and sports circles, all of which he was an important part of, he was born into a respected family in the Nattukottai Chettiar community, also known as ‘The Rajah Family’. His grandfather Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar and his father Rajah Sir MA Muthiah Chettiar along with his uncles MRM Ramanathan Chettiar and MA Chidambaram Chettiar assiduously built the Chettinad Group into a business empire in Tamil Nadu.
12. Justice Tirath Singh Thakur sworn in as 43rd Chief Justice of India
Justice Tirath Singh Thakur has sworn in as 43rd Chief Justice of India by President Pranab Mukherjee at an elegant function in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The senior-most judge of the apex court, 63-year old Justice Thakur took over from incumbent Justice H L Dattu who retired on Wednesday (December 02′ 2015). As a Supreme Court judge, he headed the bench which had delivered the verdict to reform cricket controlling body BCCI in the wake of allegations of betting and spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League.
Quick Link – Justice Tirath Singh Thakur
13. WHO launches flavoured TB drugs made for kids to combat “superbugs”
Children will be more likely to survive tuberculosis (TB), the world’s most deadly infectious disease, once new strawberry- and raspberry-flavoured medicines are available early in 2016. From early 2016, soluble child-sized doses of the three major drugs used to treat TB will be available, helping to save lives.
As poor people cannot afford medicines, it does not make business sense for pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs to treat diseases like TB, he said. The new child-friendly drugs are largely funded by UNITAID, which also funds HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment in developing nations and is hosted by the WHO.
14. Wipro Buys German IT Firm Cellent AG for EUR 73.5 Million
Software major Wipro has announced acquisition of leading German IT consulting and software services firm Cellent AG for EUR 73.5 million (roughly Rs. 518 crores). Post-acquisition, the 14-year-old Fellbach-based Cellent’s 800 consultants will become part of Wipro. Cellent has been offering IT solutions and services to its customers in the Dach region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland since 2001.
The outsourcing major hopes to complete the acquisition process by March 31, 2016 after getting regulatory approvals.
15. Lok Sabha passes bill to enhance compensation for air travellers
Lok Sabha has passed a bill aimed at enhancing the compensation that airlines must pay to passengers in case of death, injury, lost baggage or even inordinate flight delays. The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2015, was moved by Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The bill was passed by a voice vote, intends to increase the compensation for death in an air accident to over Rs 1 crore from almost Rs 89 lakh now.
The Bill will enable the government to revise the liability limits of air carriers in line with the Montreal Convention, which was acceded to by India in May 2009. Once enacted, the measure would result in the Indian carriers paying compensation equivalent to rates paid by their global counterparts. It intends to raise the liability limit for damage in case of death or bodily injury for each person from 1,00,000 SDR (special drawing rights) to 1,13,100 SDR.
Quick Link – Compensation for Air Travellers
16. Highest Dowry Deaths in UP and Bihar in 2012, 2013 & 2014
As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Uttar Pradesh reported 2244 dowry deaths(Sec 304 B of IPC) in 2012, 2335 dowry deaths in 2013 & 2469 dowry deaths in 2014 which is the highest in the country for that year. Bihar is placed second in dowry death cases consecutively in the last three years with number of 1275 dowry deaths reported in 2012 & 1182 in 2013, 1373 in 2014. The states of West Bengal, Rajasthan, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh reported among the highest cases of Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives (Sec 498-A IPC) during the last three years.
Quick Link – Dowry Deaths
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