Starred
Articles
US,
Cuba sign first environmental accord since thaw
World
> US-Cuba
The
United States and Cuba signed an agreement to join forces and protect
the vast array of fish and corals they share as countries separated
by just 90 miles (140 kilometers), the first environmental accord
since announcing plans to renew diplomatic relations.
Source:
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-19/news/68412739_1_cuba-sea-turtles-accord
Mali
siege: Three killed as gunmen take 170 hostages, including 20
Indians, at Radisson hotel
World
> Mali
Attack
Gunmen
went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's
capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing
hostage-taking. At least three people have been killed in the siege.
The victims comprised two Malian citizens and a French national.
Twenty Indians among 170 hostages at Radisson hotel, according to
Ministry of External Affairs. MEA is in touch with Indian Embassy in
Mali over hostage crisis at hotel. The hostages are reported to be
safe.
Pfizer
to reportedly sign a deal to buy Allergan for $150 billion; to be
drug industry's biggest deal
Corporate
> Pfizer,
Allergan Deal
US
drug giant Pfizer is reportedly moving closer to sign a deal to buy
Botox maker Allergan for $150 billion, or about Rs 9,88,000 crore, in
what would be the biggest transaction in drug industry so far. The
deal, if concluded, will eclipse Pfizer's $90-billion buyout of
Warner Lambert in 2000.
Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan Survey reveals not even half the toilets built being
used
India
> Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan
An
all-India survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office
(NSSO) has revealed that not even half the toilets built under the
cleanliness mission are being used. While just 46% of 95 lakh toilets
built in rural India are being used, the figure is barely 50% even in
urban areas, as per the survey.
Others
WHO
launched World Antibiotic Awareness Week with the theme Antibiotics:
handle with care
Science
and Technology >
World Antibiotic
Awareness Week
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) on 16 November 2015 launched the
World Antibiotic Awareness Week with the theme Antibiotics: handle
with care. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and
encourage best practices among the public, policymakers, health and
agriculture professionals to avoid the further emergence and spread
of antibiotic resistance.
India
> Chief
Justice of India
Justice
Thakur, who will be the 43rd Chief Justice of India, is expected to
take several crucial decisions on new judicial appointments in high
courts. The appointment will be with effect from December 3. He is
dealing with several important cases, such as the Vyapam and the
Saradha scams.
Bonanza
for central government employees as 7th Pay Panel recommends 23.55%
hike
Economy
> The
Seventh Central Pay Commission
The
Seventh Central Pay Commission has recommended a 23.55% increase in
the pay and pensions of nearly 47 lakh government employees and 52
lakh retirees that could result in a demand-led economic boost but
significantly challenge India's ongoing fiscal consolidation plan.
The award will be applicable from January 1, 2016.
US,
Cuba sign first environmental accord since thaw
World
> US-Cuba
The
United States and Cuba signed an agreement to join forces and protect
the vast array of fish and corals they share as countries separated
by just 90 miles (140 kilometers), the first environmental accord
since announcing plans to renew diplomatic relations.
Source:
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-19/news/68412739_1_cuba-sea-turtles-accord
Maharashtra
to be the first state to enact law against social boycott
India
> Law
Against Social Boycott
Maharashtra
will be the first state in the country to enact a law against social
boycott of individuals or families by caste panchayats. A draft of
the said act called as the ‘Maharashtra Prohibition of Social
Boycott Act, 2015’ which was published on the state government’s
website has termed any action of social boycott as crime.
Barack
Obama names Indian-origin Swati Dandekar as Asian Development Bank
director
World
> Asian
Development Bank Director
Indian-American
politician Swati Dandekar has been nominated as Executive Director to
Asian Development Bank with ambassadorial rank by US President Barack
Obama. The first-ever Indian-American to be elected to Iowa House of
Representatives in 2003, Dandekar, 64, would replace Robert M Orr,
who has held the position since 2010.
Government
keen to get three anti-graft bills passed in winter session
India
> Anti-graft
bill
Union
minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh has said the NDA
government is keen to get three anti-corruption bills—amendments in
the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, Prevention of Corruption Act and
Lokpal—passed in the winter session of Parliament starting November
26.
India,
China to set up framework on terrorism, cyber crime
India
> Cyber
Crime
India
and China have for the first time agreed to set up a minister-level
mechanism to tackle and exchange information on terrorism,
trans-border crime, drug-trafficking and cyber crime.
Uttar
Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav receives Guinness certificate for November
7 plantation feat
Politics
and Government >
Akhilesh Yadav
receives Guinness certificate
The
Guinness Book of World Records had issued a certificate to the chief
minister in Saifai for planting the maximum number of saplings in a
day. The feat was achieved on November 7. Chief minister Akhilesh
Yadav had led the drive on November 7 to plant 10 lakh saplings at 10
locations in a day.
Turkey
shoots down Russian plane for ‘violating’ airspace
World
> Turkey
Turkish
fighter jets on patrol near the Syrian border shot down a Russian
warplane that Turkey said had violated its airspace, a long-feared
escalation that could further strain relations between Russia and the
West.
Tunisia
declares state of emergency after bus blast
World
> Tunisia
Tunisia's
President Beji Caid Essebsi declared a nationwide state of emergency
and a curfew in the capital after a bomb attack on a presidential
guard bus killed at least 12 people.
