DAILY GK UPDATE: 22ND DECEMBER

1.Prime Minister approves new measures for the security of women:

 Details:Government today approved new measures for security of women in the national capital. Briefing media in New Delhi after meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that:Government to take immediate steps for amendment of criminal law for more effective punishment in rarest of rare case of sexual assault.

2. US President nominates Senator John Kerry, as the next Secretary of State replacing Hillary Clinton.

Details: 69-year-old Kerry, known for his relationship-building skills and currently the chairman of the powerful. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a close confidant of Obama on foreign policy issues.

3. India Successfully Test Fired Air to Air Interceptor Astra Missile

 Details:: India on 21 December 2012 test launched its indigenously developed beyond visual range(BVR)air-to-air interceptor missile Astra at the interim test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha. The missile was fired from the launch pad number two of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 

 Missile Specification:

  • Astra has the capability to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at a supersonic speed and can be fitted into any fighter aircraft. 

  • 3.8 metre long, it is considered as one of the best of its kind in the world as it weighs about 160 kg and can carry explosive loaded conventional warheads up to 15 kg.

• It is designed to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds (1.2 to 1.4 Mach) in head-on and tail-chase modes.

• The missile uses solid propellant and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 15 kg.

• It can be launched from different altitudes and cover 110 km when fired from an altitude of 15 km, reach 44 km when launched from an altitude of eight km, and 21 km when launched from the sea-level.

4. Blackberry Smartphone maker Research-In-Motion (RIM) signed: Ranbir Kapoor as its Brand Ambassador

 Details:The signing of Ranbir Kapoor is a move to attract young entrepreneurs and professionals, as the celebrity endorsement is an accepted norm in India in terms of youth and consumer association with brand.  It is also the first time Blackberry had signed a celebrity in India as its brand ambassador.

5. Karishma Kapoor Appointed Brand Ambassador of McCain Food:

 Details: McCain Foods India Pvt Ltd, the makers of frozen French fries and potato specialty products, appointed Karisma Kapoor as its first brand ambassador in India. Karisma Kapoor is going to endorse  the entire range of McCain’s Indian and International product portfolio.38 Years old Karishma Kapoor  asserted that McCain is a great solution for women, whether working or homemakers.

 About McCain Food:

 McCain Food is the world's largest producer of French Fries and Potato Specialties  It is Located in Florenceville, New Brunswick in the country of Canada. McCain Foods India is a 100% subsidiary of McCain Foods Canada. From year 1998 on wards McCain is engaged in agriculture R&D and in development of frozen food market in India and subcontinent countries. McCain products are used by  leading fast food chains, hotels, restaurants, catering companies and are popular for in-home consumption.

6. US based Food Producer Cargill India acquired Wipro's Sunflower Vanaspati brand

 Detaisls: US-based food producer and marketer Cargill India on announced the acquisition of  the Sunflower Vanaspati brand from Wipro. Cargill and Wipro did not disclose the deal value of the brand but as per the trade analysts the deal was pegged at 30-40 crore Rupees.

7. Accreditation for all higher educational institutes to be made mandatory soon.

Details:  Accreditation for all higher educational institutes will soon be mandatory. University Grants Commission, UGC, and All India Council for Technical Education, AICTE, are set to issue regulation guidelines by early next year in this regard. The Ministry of Human Resources Development said the regulations could be notified by as early as January.

8. Telecom Commission approved 1500 crore Rupees subsidy for BSNL:

 Details: The approval came in line with the TRAI recommendation which had suggested that 2700 crore rupees should be given to BSNL as operations in rural areas don’t generate enough revenues. TRAI had suggested that subsidy be given in two installments-1500 crore for 2011-12 and for 2012-13 1250 cr. rupees.The subsidy is going to be paid out of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund. BSNL had demanded 2580 crore rupees per from the government to support its rural operations.

9.India's ace shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and P.V.Sindhu storm into the finals of men's and women's singles of International Grand Prix Badminton Championship.
Details: India's star shuttlers P Kashyap and P V Sindhu have entered in the finals of Men's and Women's Singles of Sayed Modi Indian Grand Prix Gold Tournament at Lucknow today.

10.Philippines typhoon (Bopha) death toll 'likely to hit 1,500':

 Details:The death toll from a typhoon (Bopha) that devastated the Philippines earlier this month will  likely hit 1,500, making it the second deadliest since the country began keeping records, the civil defence chief Benito Ramos said today. If the toll reaches 1,500 it would make it the second deadliest storm to hit the Philippines since 1947, when the Philippines began keeping records a year after independence.

11. Obama appoints Indian-American Smita Singh to key post: President's Global Development Council

 Details: The Obama administration has appointed yet another Indian-American to a key administrative  post, naming Smita Singh as member of the president's Global Development Council. Along with Singh, Obama also announced names of eight other members of the Council including its Chair Mohamed El-Erian. The Global Development Council was established in February through an executive order of the  President.

12. Pak T20 cricket squad arrives India:

 Details: The Pakistan Twenty20 squad led by Mohammed Hafeez touched touched down New Delhi today this evening before taking a flight to Bangalore. The team will be playing the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals on December 25.The team was received by the senior officials of the Pakistan High Commission and BCCI officials. The players got a warm welcome and were presented with lovely bouquets.

13. India to meet Oman on Sunday in Asian Champions Trophy hockey:

 Details: Defending Champions India will take on Oman in the third match of the Asian Champions trophy Hockey in Qatar Capital Doha tomorrow. The team is riding high on its success in previous two games having defeated Japan 3-1 and China 4-0. India will play arch rivals Pakistan and then Malaysia in the remaining matches of the tournament. 

14. Eoin Morgan's stunning blow gives England dramatic T20 win over India:

Details:India had set the victory target of 178 runs for England but England Eoin Morgan played a  match-winning innings of 49 not out and Morgan made sure, giving England victory by six wickets, which sounds an emphatic win.Man of the Match -  Eoin Morgan. England won by 6 wkts.

15. IOC & Air India in Obaidullah hockey semi-finals:

 Details: Indian Oil Corporation and Air India entered the semi-finals of the 66th International Obaidullah Gold Cup Hockey tournament at Bhopal with easy wins.While IOC trounced hosts Bhopal Red 6-2, Air India defeated Malaysia XI 3-2  at the Aish Bagh stadium at Bhopal yesterday