Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Starred Articles

Saudi voters elect 20 women candidates for the first time
World > Saudi Elections > 13th December
Saudi voters elected 20 women for local government seats, according to results released to The Associated Press. This was for the first time in the country's history that women voted and ran in elections. The women who won hail from vastly different parts of the country, ranging from Saudi Arabia's largest city to a small village near Islam's holiest site.


India set to develop own stealth combat drones
India > Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles > 14th December
India is finally getting set to launch an ambitious project to develop its own stealth combat drones or UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles), which will be capable of firing missiles and precision-guided munitions at enemy targets and then returning to home bases to re-arm for further missions.


India to train Japan's counter-terror intelligence unit
India > Terror Intelligence Unit > 14th December
India will offer full support to augment capabilities of Japan's newly-created intelligence unit, including training one of its officers who will be posted in Delhi, as part of the robust counter-terror partnership forged between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.


World Bank approves $1.5 billion to support Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Politics and Government > Swachh Bharat Abhiyan > 16th December
The World Bank has approved a USD 1.5 billion loan for the ambitious clean India campaign to support the government in its efforts to ensure all citizens in rural areas have access to improved sanitation and end the practice of open defecation by 2019. The loan will be used for Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Support Operation Project.


Others

US House passed Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015
World > Visa Waiver Program > 10th December
US House of Representatives on 8 December 2015 passed the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015. It amends the United States' visa travel practices.The lawmakers voted 407 to 19 in support of the Bill that seeks to impose restrictions on people who have visited Iraq, Syria and countries listed as supporting terrorism to travel visa-free to the United States.


Pakistan tests nuclear-capable missile with range of 2,750 km
World > Nuclear-Capable Missile > 11th December
Pakistan conducted a test of the nuclear-capable Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 2,750 km, capable of striking targets deep inside India. The test, conducted from an undisclosed location, was described as successful by the military’s media arm. It was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system.


NASA plans to exit International Space Station
World > NASA > 11th December
NASA's long space ride with the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit will also touch the finish line in a decade from now. The US space agency will move up to the cislunar space -- the area of space surrounding the moon -- for an ambitious human exploration programme.


India, Japan sign agreement to amend DTAA
Economy > Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement > 12th December
India and Japan today signed an agreement to amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) which will help in reducing tax avoidance and act as a deterrent against tax evasion. The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.


Mauricio Macri Blanco sworn in as President of Argentina
World > President of Argentina > 12th December
Mauricio Macri Blanco was on 10 December 2015 sworn in as the President of Argentina. He succeeded Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner who was in the office for two terms between 2007 and 2015.
Mauricio Macri is the leader of the centre-right Cambiemos (Let's Change) coalition. He secured 51.5 percent of votes in the elections held in November 2015.


Vijay Kumar wins gold at National Shooting Championship
Sports > National Shooting Championship > 13th December
Olympic medallist Vijay Kumar shot his way to the men's 25-metre centre fire pistol gold medal on day 12 of the 59th National Shooting Championship .Vijay, who has not yet secured a quota for the upcoming Rio Olympics, is trying to get back to his best after being laid low by injury over the past couple of years.


Dilip Kumar presented with Padma Vibhushan by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Awards > Padma Vibhushan > 14th December
Dilip Kumar, known as the “tragedy king of Bollywood” was presented with Padma Vibhushan by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence in suburban Bandra for his contribution to Hindi cinema spanning over six decades.


A K Jain appointed new CBDT chief
Economy > Central Board of Direct Taxes > 15th December
Senior revenue service officer A K Jain was appointed Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex policy making body of Income Tax department. Jain is also holding additional charge of Member (Personnel and Vigilance) in the CBDT.


SC bans registration of diesel SUVs & cars with engines beyond 2000 cc in Delhi & NCR till March 31
Politics and Government > Delhi NCR > 16th December
The Supreme Court banned registration of diesel-run SUVs and cars having engine capacity beyond 2000 cc in Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31, next year as it unveiled a slew of measures to curb the alarming rise in pollution levels in the city.


Government to notify mandatory quoting of PAN for cash transactions over Rs 2 lakh
Politics and Government > PAN for Cash Transactions > 16th December
Government has issued a notification that you will have to flash your permanent account number (PAN) for any transaction of over Rs 2 lakh regardless of mode of payment. This notification has issued to give effect to the budget proposal, intended to check domestic black money, apart from modifying the rules for PAN requirement for other transactions as well.


GST will be rolled out in 2016
India > Goods and Services Tax (GST) > 16th December
According to the senior government official, the draft model law on Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be finalised in a month’s time and the Centre was fully geared to roll out the GST in 2016. It will take at least another month by which they will be able to finalise the draft law and once that is done, they will be putting it up in the public domain and the process of consultation and regional conferences for interaction with trade and industry.


Government to soon allow automakers to make ethanol-fuelled vehicles
Politics and Government > Ethanol-fuelled Vehicles > 16th December
According to the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the government next month will announce a policy to allow automakers to manufacture flexible-fuel vehicles in the country to curb the pollution.



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