1. Turkey and EU seal migrant deal, announce a new beginning
(i) Turkey promised to cut the flow of migrants in Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks of joining European Union (EU).
(ii) A deal to that effect was struck between Turkish PM and the European Union (EU), one of the key feature of the deal was €3 billion ($3.2 billion) in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians now in Turkey.
(iii) As per the deal, many Turks can benefit from visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen zone within a year if turkey manages conditions on tightening its borders in the east to Asian migrants.
2. Russia considering retaliatory economic measures against Turkey
(i) Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Turkey’s leaders of forcing mutual relations “into a dead end.”
(ii) Further, Russia is preparing a series of retaliatory economic measures against Turkey as it brought down one of its warplanes on the Turkey-Syria border.
(iii) Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said, “Under Russian law, the broad punitive steps could include halting joint economic projects, restricting financial and trade transactions and changing custom duties. Measures could also target the tourism and transport sectors, labour markets and “humanitarian contacts.”
3. Swiss whistleblower Herve Falciani sentenced to five years in prison by a Switzerland court
(i) Recently, whistleblower Herve Falciani, who leaked wrongdoings at the HSBC Swiss private bank, was sentenced to five years in prison by a Switzerland court for industrial espionage and violation of banking secrecy.
(ii) Falciani, a former employee of HSBC, leaked documents which revealed that the bank’s Swiss private banking arm aided over one lakh clients to evade taxes worth more than $200 billion.
4. Japan commits to provide Development Loan Assistance (ODA) worth Rs.5,536 crore for Chennai and Ahmedabad metro rail projects
(i) Recently Japan committed to provide India Development Loan Assistance (ODA) worth Rs.5,536 crore for Chennai and Ahmedabad metro rail projects.
(ii) Of the whole, around Rs.1,080 crore is for the Chennai Metro Rail Project (IV phase) and Rs.4,456 crore is for Ahmedabad Metro Project.
(iii) S Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Yutaka Kikuta, from the Embassy of Japan to India recently exchanged notes for the same.
(iv)It has been observed that the economic cooperation between India and Japan has strengthened and developed into a strategic partnership.
5. Patricia Scotland appointed as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Nations
(i) At the Commonwealth biennial summit held in Malta in November 2015, Patricia Scotland, 60, became the first British citizen and the first woman to hold the position in the Commonwealth’s 66-year history.
(ii) She will assume charge from 2016 and will receive a salary of nearly £160,000.
(iii) Previously, she was the first black woman to be made a Queen’s Council in 1991.
6. Aalmi Tablighi Ijtima, one of the world’ largest congregation of Muslims began in Madhya Pradesh
(i) On November 26, 2015, Aalmi Tabligi Ijtima (World Islamic Congregation), which is considered to be one of the largest gathering of Muslims, concluded at Intkheri, on the outskirts of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) The event saw participation of scores of preachers from India and abroad. Renowned Islamic scholars delivered religious discourses at the congregation.
7. Priya Paramar’s Novel included in the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2015
(i) Recently, Indian-American Priya Parmar’s historical novel Vanessa and Her Sister was included in the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2015.
(ii) The book was described by Times as a “multilayered, subtly shaded novel”, which throws light on the noted modernist English writer Virginia Woolf’s elder sister, Vanessa. Parmar has previously authored the novel “Exit the Actress.”
(iii) Parmar’s book spans nearly eight years in the early adult lives of the sisters, from 1905 to 1912.
8. West Indies bowler Sunil Narine suspended from international cricket for illegal bowling action
(i) West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine was suspended from international cricket after his bowling actions were found to be illegal by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
(ii) As per ICC’s press release, “Narine’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations within domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction.”
(iii) However ICC clarified that Narine can play in the domestic matches provided he gets consent of the national board.
9. P V Sindhu bags gold at the Macau Open Grand Prix
(i) In a recent match at the Macau Open, P V Sindhu two-time champion bagged her third title and completed a hat-trick after winning the gold at the women’s singles title and USD 120,000 prize.
(ii) She won against the sixth seed, Japan’s Minatsu Mitani in a 21-9, 21-23, 21-14 win which lasted for an hour and six minutes.
10. Rosberg wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
(i) Nico Rosberg won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix defeating his Mercedes teammate and world champion Lewis Hamilton.
(ii) This was Rosberg’d sixth victory of the year and the 14th of his career. Finn K Raikkonen finished third in the race.
(iii) This was Rosberg’s first success at the Yas Marina circuit.
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