November
25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
The United Nations
General Assembly resolution of 17 December 1999 has designated November 25 as
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The basis
of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are
subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence; furthermore,
one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of
the issue is often hidden.
India
signs strategic partnership with Singapore
PM Modi signs
strategic partnership with Singapore, signed 10 pacts, elevated their ties to
the ‘strategic partnership’ level and signed bilateral agreements for enhanced defense
cooperation and in areas like cyber security, shipping and civil aviation. The
ten pacts signed by the two sides included a joint declaration by the two Prime
Ministers on a strategic partnership.
Number
of foreign students coming to India dips 73%
Data from the Union
ministry of home affairs shows that the number of students from seven of the
top eight countries — the US, Germany, France, South Korea, Australia, China
and Singapore — fell 73%, from 13,961 in 2013 to 3,737 in 2014. There was a marginal
increase in 2013 from 2012, when the number of foreign students was 12,424.
Experts say no one reason can be given for the sudden dip. Students from 160
countries came to India in these three years. The decline is seen not just in
the number of students from countries ranked better than India but in even
those from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and African nations.
US
scientists breed GM mosquitoes using a gene editing method called Crispr to
resist malaria infection
US scientists said in
a report that they have breed a genetically modified (GM) mosquito that can
resist malaria infection. If the lab technique works in the field, it could
offer a new way of stopping the biting insects from spreading malaria to
humans. The scientists put a new “resistance” gene into the mosquito’s own DNA,
using a gene editing method called Crispr. And when the GM mosquitoes mated –
their offspring inherited the same resistance. In theory, if these mosquitoes
bite people, they should not be able to pass on the parasite that causes
malaria. About 3.2bn people – almost half of the world’s population – are at
risk of malaria. Bed nets, insecticides and repellents can help stop the
insects biting and drugs can be given to anyone who catches the infection, but
the disease still kills around 580,000 people a year.
Anju
Bobby George has been appointed as the chairperson of the Target Olympic Podium
Scheme (TOPS)
Anju Bobby George will
assume the charge in the first week of December 2015. The appointment was
approved by the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. She was the first
Indian athlete who won the bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships
held in Paris in 2003. The post of the chairperson was lying vacant after the
resignation of Anurag Thakur, the BJP parliamentarian and Secretary, Board for
Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).
Union
government reduced the deadline for completion of PMGSY to 2019
Union Government has
reduced the deadline for completion of its flagship Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY) for rural connectivity through all- weather roads from 2022 to
2019. The annual allocation of the Central release for PMGSY works during year
2015-16 also has been increased by 5000 crore rupees. With this, the total
Central allocation to states under PMGSY would now be 15100 crore rupees. By
providing enhanced financial, Government is seeking to accelerate the
implementation of rural connectivity. Government also has accepted the
recommendation of the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalization of
Centrally Sponsored on modified sharing pattern.
Read More: Current Affairs November 24, 2015
