Starred
Articles
Terror
attacks Pathankot air force base, India-Pakistan thaw
India
> Pathankot
Terror Attack > 03rd January
A
week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced trip to
Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif’s home in Lahore to signal the
willingness at the top to revive ties between the two countries,
heavily-armed terrorists, suspected to be members of the
Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad, attacked the Pathankot airbase.
Security
forces, including commandos of the National Security Guard and Army
and Indian Air Force personnel, engaged the terrorists, and
gunbattles through the day left at least four terrorists and three
security personnel dead. Sources confirmed that six terrorists were
killed till now.
Diplomatic
crisis deepens in West Asia
World
> Saudi
Embassy > 04th January
Saudi
Arabia's execution of leading Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr sparked a
violent protest at the Saudi Embassy in Iran's capital, Tehran. Saudi
Arabia then quickly severed ties with its longtime regional rival.
The
cleric was an outspoken critic of the Saudi government, calling for
more rights for the country's marginalized Shiite community. Sudan
and Kuwait have also severed ties with Iran and given Iranian
diplomats two weeks to leave the country.
North
Korea leader touts 'thrilling sound' of hydrogen bomb in test order
World
> Hydrogen
Bomb Test > 06th January
The
North Korea had conducted its first "successful"
miniaturised hydrogen bomb test — a shock announcement that drew
condemnation from its neighbours including its major ally China. The
test was initially detected by international seismology centres as a
5.1-magnitude tremor next to the North's main Punggye-ri nuclear test
site in the northeast of the country.
Others
From
January 1, UK to stop financial aid to India
Politics
and Government >
UK-India > 31st December
From
January 1, 2016, India will no longer receive financial aid from the
UK, a decision which was taken by the British government in 2012
after a domestic outcry about India's growing economic status. The
transition has taken three years during which the existing financial
grant projects were completed and the unutilized funds moved into
what are called "technical assistance" projects.
India
offers no duty cuts on steel to China, Australia and New Zealand
Economy
> Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement > 31st December
India
has not offered any duty cut on steel to China, Australia and New
Zealand as part of the ongoing negotiations for the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. To protect steel
and other manufacturing sectors, the country has not come out with
any duty reduction for these three countries.
Source:
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-12-31/news/69426825_1_rcep-fta-asean-countries
PSBs
to strengthen exam for clerical posts
Banking
and Insurance >
Public Sector
Banks > 03rd January
Finance
Ministry has asked Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to strengthen written
examination for recruitment of clerical and sub-staff posts as there
will be no interviews for such appointments. The decision to change
the recruitment process follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
directive that there was no need for holding interviews for lower
level posts.
Government
plans to make PAN as Business Identification Number for companies and
firms
Corporate
> Business
Identification Number > 04th January
In
a step towards a single-window clearance mechanism at the central
level, the government plans to make the permanent account number
(PAN) as the Business Identification Number (BIN) for companies and
firms. The move is aimed at doing away with the need for separate
registration with authorities ranging from the registrar of companies
to the direct and indirect tax wings, the labour department and for
export and import.
Pakistan
arrests 42 IS supporters
World
> Islamic
State Group > 04th January
At
least 42 militants allegedly linked to Islamic State group have been
arrested in Pakistan's Punjab province as part of a campaign to "wipe
the threat of IS" from the country. The arrests were made during
a series of raids by counter-terrorism officials to nab the alleged
supporters and activists of the dreaded terrorist group in Pakistan.
Sushil
Agarwal becomes Aditya Birla group CFO
Corporate
> Aditya
Birla Group > 05th January
Aditya
Birla Group has brought changes in its senior management team with
Grasim Industries CFO and whole-time director Sushil Agarwal being
elevated to the additional role of group CFO. Sushil Agarwal will
hold the additional responsibility of group CFO
Obama
to introduce gun control measures bypassing Congress
World
> Gun
Control Measures > 05th January
US
President Barack Obama is set to introduce a series of gun control
executive measures, including expanding background checks, bypassing
the Congress in a bid to control mass shooting menace that has
claimed over 100,000 lives in the last decade.
Indian
peacekeepers awarded medals for courage in Liberia
Politics
and Government >
UN Mission in
Liberia > 06th January
Indian
peacekeepers in Liberia, including a women contingent, were honoured
with medals for their courage and service in maintenance of peace and
security in the West African country. The 125-strong Indian Formed
Police Unit along with 12 Indian personnel of the UN Police serving
in the UN Mission in Liberia ( UNMIL) were awarded medals during a
parade ceremony held recently in Congo Town in Montserrado County.
Pranav
Dhanawade's 1009 leaves world cricket fraternity gushing
Sports
> Cricket > 06th January
Pranav
Dhanawade, a 15-year-old, scored 1,009* at an alarming clip, hitting
129 fours and 59 sixes in his 327-ball innings that lasted 396
minutes. Pranav shared two 500-run partnerships - 546 for the opening
wicket and 530 for the second wicket.
