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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.
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AWARDS AND HONORS
Indian diplomat Amitav Banerji honoured by Cyprus
Amitav Banerji, an Indian diplomat in the UK has been conferred with one of the highest awards of Cyprus for his work in a number of senior roles within the Commonwealth Secretariat for over two decades. Banerji, 63, was presented with his Commander of the Order of Merit at a ceremony at the Cyprus High Commission.
- Born in 1953, Banerji graduated from Georgetown University and went on to do his Masters from the Delhi School of Economics.
- He joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1975 and served in different capacities for 15 years, including postings to Pakistan, Spain and Malaysia.
- From August 1990 to May 2015, he served in a series of roles at the Commonwealth Secretariat including Head of the Secretary General’s Office and towards the last six years as Political Director.
Quick Link – Cyprus
Chinese professor Ge Fuping honoured with George Grierson prize
A Chinese professor is among over 30 international and Indian scholars honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee for their effort in promoting Hindi language.
- The President presented the ‘Hindi Sevi Samman awards‘ for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan in presence of Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and other dignitaries.
- Those honoured included Ge Fuping, who was given George Grierson prize for his remarkable works done for the propagation of Hindi in foreign.
- Ge has made commendable efforts for the promotion of Hindi language abroad.
- Besides him, Alka Dunputh (from Mauritius) and Shichiro Soma (from Japan) were also given the George Grierson award by the President.
Quick Link – George Grierson prize
APPOINTMENTS
BCCI appoints Rahul Johri as its first CEO
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Rahul Johri as its first-ever chief executive officer (CEO). Mr. Johri, after spending two decades in the media industry, will join the board on June 1.
- Mr. Johri quit Discovery Networks after spending 15 years with the broadcasting major. He was Discovery Networks Asia Pacific’s executive vice-president and general manager for south Asia.
- Mr. Johri will report to the BCCI secretary. It remains to be seen if he will be given freedom to work independently in a set-up that’s traditionally controlled by honorary office-bearers.
- A CEO appointment was among the key recommendations of the three-member Justice RM Lodha Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to suggest administrative reforms in Indian cricket.
Quick Link – Rahul Johri as first CEO
Indian-American Geeta Pasi nominated as US envoy to Chad
US President Barack Obama has nominated Indian-American Geeta Pasi, a career foreign service officer, as the country’s next envoy to Chad.
- Ms Pasi, who served as US Ambassador to Djibouti from 2011 to 2014, is a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counsellor.
- She is at present the Director of the Office of Career Development and Assignments in the Bureau of Human Resources at the Department of State.
- Ms Pasi was also the Director of the Office of East African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs from 2009 to 2011, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Dhaka, from 2006 to 2009, and Deputy Principal Officer at the US Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany from 2003 to 2006.
Quick Link – Geeta Pasi as US envoy
INDIAN AFFAIRS
India ranked 133rd in 2016 World Press Freedom Index
India ranks 133rd out of 180 countries listed in the World Press Freedom Index 2016, released by NGO Reporters Without Borders. India jumped three places compared with last year’s ranking. Published annually, the rankings are based on freedom allowed to journalists in countries around the world.
The index has been topped by Finland followed by the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and New Zealand at second, third, fourth and fifth position respectively. Pakistan was ranked 147th and China 176th.
At the bottom of the index lies Eritrea at 180th rank. It is preceded by North Korea, Turkmenistan, Syria and China at 179th, 178th, 177th and 176th position respectively.
Quick Link – India in 133rd
Cabinet Approvals – April 20 2016
Cabinet approves signing the Paris Agreement on Climate change
Cabinet approved signing the Paris Agreement on climate change while 130 countries including India is to sign the agreement on 22nd April.
A record number of more than 130 countries are expected to sign the “historic” Paris agreement in New York. The Paris Agreement on climate change is a milestone in global climate cooperation. It is meant to enhance the implementation of the Convention (UNFCCC) and recognizes the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.
The Paris Agreement on climate change is a milestone in global climate cooperation. It acknowledges the development imperatives of developing countries and recognizes the developing countries’ right to development and their efforts to harmonize development with environment.
Quick Link – Cabinet Approvals
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
JK Tyres acquired Cavendish Industries for 2200 crore rupees
Leading Indian tyre manufacturer JK Tyre and Industries has announced the completion of acquisition of Cavendish Industries at an enterprise value of Rs.2,200 crore. The acquisition brings three Birla tyre business undertakings housed in Cavendish Industries located in Laksar, near Haridwar in Uttarakhand, into the JK Tyre fold and raises its plants count to 12 – nine in India and three in Mexico. The acquisition funded by a mix of internal accruals and debt will make Cavendish a subsidiary of JK Tyre.
With Cavendish in its kitty, JK Tyre will benefit with additional truck and bus radials capacity, while also getting access to two and three wheeler tyre market. Present in over 100 countries, JK Tyre also has interests in cement, paper, oil seals, auto components, defence electronic systems and others.
Quick Link – JK Tyres with Cavendish Industries
SPORTS
ICC and Emirates Airline renewed deal for additional seven years
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Emirates have renewed a deal for an additional seven years which sees the Dubai-based airline become a global partner for all events from 2016-2023.
- The partnership dates back to 2002, when Emirates came on board as a sponsor of the ICC.
- Emirates then became the ICC’s official partner for the 2007-2015 events cycle and the official sponsor of the ICC’s elite panel of umpires and match referees.
- This new deal is an extension and expansion of that partnership as Emirates will continue its sponsorship of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Match Referees; with the Fly Emirates logo being displayed prominently on the umpires’ clothing when they are officiating at all international cricket matches.
Quick Link – ICC and Emirates
India’s Durga Thakur Promoted as International Hockey Umpire
India’s Durga Thakur has been promoted to international outdoor umpire by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) following her good performance at the recently-held Hawkes Bay Cup in Hastings, New Zealand.
- Thakur started her career as an umpire from the third Hockey India Sub-Junior Men & Women National Championship (Finals) in Bhopal in 2013.
- A graduate of NSNIS in 2011, her first international assignment came in 2015 at the double six-Nation Cup in Breda, Netherlands.
- A physical education teacher at Modern School, New Delhi, Thakur has represented her state Himachal Pradesh in the National Championships in three sporting disciplines — handball, basketball and hockey.
- Currently there are 14 Indians in the elite league of international umpires (10 men, 5 women).
Quick Link – Durga Thakur as International Hockey Umpire
OBITUARY
Comedian Victoria Wood dies aged 62
Comedian, singer and writer Victoria Wood has died after “a short but brave” battle with cancer aged 62. The comedian found fame in the 1980s and was best known for her BBC sketch Acorn Antiques and comedy Dinnerladies. She won five Baftas including two for her one-off ITV drama Housewife 49.
- Wood got her first break on the TV talent show New Faces in 1974, while still a student at Birmingham University.
- She established herself as a comedy star with her hit show Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and went on to create the popular BBC comedies Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies, featuring her long-time collaborator Julie Walters.
- The pair became friends in the 1970s and first worked together in 1981 on the comedy sketch show Wood and Walters.
- Wood appeared on BBC One’s That’s Life! in 1976, which brought her into millions of homes on a frequent basis.
Quick Link – Victoria Wood Passes away
Doris Roberts, Star of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ Dies at 90
Doris Roberts, who played the nosy and overbearing mother to Ray Romano’s character on the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond,” has died at the age of 90. Roberts played Marie Barone, who was a constant thorn in the side of her daughter-in-law, played by Patricia Heaton. The role earned her four Emmy awards, a Screen Actors Guild award and three Emmy nominations.
- Roberts was nominated for 11 Emmys, including seven for playing Marie Barone on “Raymond,” winning four for her work on that series; she picked up her first Emmy in 1983 for a guest appearance on “St. Elsewhere,” making for a total of five wins overall.
- In a 2007 episode of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” Roberts played the ill, mistreated matriarch of an aristocratic New York family. In recent years the actress also guested on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Middle” (reuniting with “Raymond’s” Patricia Heaton), “Hot in Cleveland,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Melissa & Joey.”
Quick Link – Doris Roberts passes away
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Source: Jobsnews