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. India, Japan sign protocol to amend double taxation avoidance pact
Ahead of Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe’s visit, India and Japan have inked a pact for amending the double taxation avoidance agreement and for preventing fiscal evasion that was originally signed in 1989. The protocol provides for internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters, including bank information and information without domestic tax interest. It also allows for sharing of information from Japan on an Indian resident with other law enforcement agencies.
Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia and Ambassador of Japan Kenji Hiramatsu signed the protocol on behalf of the two countries.
Quick Link – Double Taxation Avoidance Pact
2. Pakistan successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Shaheen-III ballistic missile
Pakistan has conducted a successful test of the Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile. The missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a maximum range of 2,750 kilometres. The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system. Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil lauded the efforts of the scientists and engineers on achieving the significant milestone.
Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil, said the country had achieved a “significant milestone” in complementing the deterrence capability. President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated the military scientists and engineers on the successful missile test.
Quick Link – Shaheen III
3. Mexico Government approves world’s 1st Dengue fever vaccine named Dengvaxia
The world’s first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, won regulatory approval in Mexico, raising hopes that it could prevent more than 100 deaths there a year and eventually perhaps millions around the world. Globally, dengue is the fastest-growing mosquito-borne disease, with as many as 400 million people infected every year, according to the World Health Organization.
The Dengvaxia vaccine is being manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi. The company has requested regulatory approval in 20 countries across Asia and Latin America, but Mexico was the first to give it the green light.
Dengvaxia is a live virus vaccine consisting of an attenuated yellow fever virus genetically engineered to produce proteins from the dengue virus and stimulate the body’s immune system to make antibodies to those proteins. The vaccine works against all four subtypes of the dengue virus, but better for some subtypes than others.
Quick Link – Dengvaxia
4. India and South Korea ink MoU on taxation treaty
India and South Korea have inked a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on suspension of collection of taxes during pendency of mutual agreement procedure. This MoU will relieve the burden of double taxation for taxpayers in both the countries during the pendency of Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) proceedings. Besides, both countries also have agreed that transfer pricing dispute cases will be taken up for MAP under the revised Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Korea.
5. Israel successfully tests Arrow ballistic missile interceptor
Israel has successfully tested its Arrow 3 ballistic missile shield, partly funded by the US and intended to deter long-range weapons held by the likes of Iran and Hezbollah. The Arrow system is a joint project between IAI and the US aviation giant Boeing. Each Arrow 3 missile costs about $2.2 million. The latest system hit targets in space, meant to simulate a nuclear or chemical weapon that Iran, Syria or Hezbollah could launch. The missile flies into the atmosphere, where it splits up into ‘kamikaze’ satellites that lock onto and eliminate targets.
Arrow 3 is the top-tier system in Israel’s missile shield arsenal. The country’s lowest-tier defense is the short-range Iron Dome interceptor. Next year Israel will present David’s Sling – a system intended to intercept mid-range targets. Although this summer’s nuclear deal with Iran has somewhat calmed nerves in the region, Israel – which fought a bloody war against Hamas in Gaza in 2014 – is continuing a policy of viewing its regional neighbors with suspicion.
Quick Link – Arrow 3 Ballistic Missile
6. Union Government declares Tamil Nadu flood as Calamity of Severe Nature
The Union Government has “declared” the Tamil Nadu floods as a “Calamity of Severe Nature”. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said: “The Centre has made the declaration as requested by her.” Jayalalithaa has directed her party MPs to allot Rs. 1 crore each for such works in the flood affected districts. The Chief Secretary has been asked to send the details of the reconstruction and rehabilitation works needed to be done in flood-affected districts of the state.
AIADMK has 37 members in the Lok Sabha while its strength in the Upper House is 14. The Chief Minister recalled that the northeast monsoon, which brings the bulk of Tamil Nadu’s annual rainfall, had set in late by October-end. However, heavy rains filled up reservoirs and lakes, following which excess water was discharged into rivers even as Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallore and Cuddalore were badly hit.
Quick Link – Chennai Floods
7. India and Pakistan announces 10-point Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue
Seven years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India and Pakistan have agreed to resume structured dialogue between them. The dialogue that was earlier known as Composite Dialogue and later on known as Resumed Dialogue will now be known as the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. In their joint statement, Ms. Swaraj and Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz “condemned terrorism and resolved to cooperate to eliminate it”. The joint statement also notes that Pakistan had given assurances on an “early completion of the Mumbai trial”.
Quick Link – India and Pakistan
8. Myanmar inaugurated Yangon Stock Exchange
Myanmar has inaugurated a new stock exchange named Yangon Stock Exchange with plans for six companies to start trading in March. Minister of Finance Win Shein said the Yangon Stock Exchange will initially be open only to Myanmar companies and investors, but planned law changes will eventually allow foreigners to invest in Myanmar shares.
The exchange was set up by local companies in a joint venture with Daiwa Institute of Research Japan and Japan Exchange Group, which operates the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Officials hope a stock market will help companies raise capital and fuel economic development in one of Asia’s poorest countries.
Quick Link – Yangon Stock Exchange
9. HPCL CMD Vasudeva named CEO of the Year at Platts awards
Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) Chairman and MD Nishi Vasudeva has been chosen CEO of the Year. Reliance Industries has bagged the CSR Award at the 17th annual Platts Global Energy Awards, often called the Oscars of energy. Spain’s Repsol stole the show as a triple winner — Energy Company of the Year. The Rising Star Individual” award has been given to Maria Victoria Zingoni, Repsol’s executive managing director of downstream.
Quick Link – Nishi Vasudeva
10. Govt to set up Medical Intelligence Tourism Board
The Government of India will set up Medical Intelligence Tourism Board to facilitate inbound tourism and to generate new ideas for attracting more tourists including medical tourists. Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture, said that the first meeting of the Board would take place soon. Sharma mentioned that the Government is taking certain critical measures for attracting tourists into the country. Tourists from over 150 countries could avail of e-visa on arrival, which would speed up the flow of tourists into the country.
Quick Link – Medical Tourism
11. Dubai, Japan firms sign MoU to explore biz in India
An Indian-owned business house in Dubai has signed an MoU with a Japanese company to form a joint venture for exploring business opportunities in the logistics sector within the Indian subcontinent apart from Middle East and Japan. Transworld Group and Yokohama-based Suzue Corporation have signed a MoU for the formation of a joint venture company which will capitalise in providing services like international freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing services, land transport services and other related logistic services.
Quick Link – Transworld and Suzue
12. US updates jet-engine technology transfer policy with India
The United States has updated its policy on gas-turbine engine technology transfer to India, a move that should lead to expanded cooperation in production and design of jet-engine components. US defense secretary Ash Carter informed defence minister Manohar Parrikar of the decision during the latter’s visit to Washington this week and said it was made possible by the strengthening relationship between two countries.
Quick Link – Transfer of Technology
13. SABLA Scheme to benefit nearly 100 lakh adolescent girls per annum
Government is implementing Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA), in 205 districts of various states and Union Territories. The Centrally-sponsored scheme ‘SABLA’ aims at empowering adolescent girls (AGs) in the age group of 11-18 years through nutrition, healthcare and life skills education. The Cabinet approval followed the recommendation of a Group of Ministers (GoM) aiming at enhancing their nutritional and economic status.
Under the scheme, adolescent girls will be provided Take Home Ration. In addition, the Women and Child Development Ministry will explore feasibility for implementing Conditional Cash Transfer scheme as an alternative of adolescent girls in 100 more districts. Around 92 lakh to 1.15 crore adolescent girls of 11 to 18 years per annum are expected to be covered under the scheme during the Eleventh Plan. The girls will be provided supplementary nutrition containing 600 calories, 18-20 grams of protein and micro-nutrients, per day for 300 days in a year.
Quick Link – SABLA
14. Lifetime Achievement Award for Naseeruddin Shah at Dubai fest
Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). French actress Catherine Deneuve also received the award. The stars shared the podium with the likes of Egyptian actor Ezzat Al Alayli, award-winning French-Tunisian actor Sami Bouajila.
The 12th edition of the festival opened with the screening of Lenny Abrahamson’s suspenseful and heartrending drama ‘Room’ based on Emma Donoghue’s 2010 best-selling novel of the same name. Actor Michael B. Jordan, Deepa Mehta and Anu Menon, Jacob Tremblay, the young star of ‘Room’ walked the red carpet. ‘Room’ starring Brie Larson, tells the extraordinary tale of a young mother and her five year-old son living out their lives in the confines of a tiny windowless room.
Quick Link – Naseeruddin Shah
Thank You 🙂 🙂 🙂
