1. British PM Cameron announces same-day visa service for Indian businessmen
i. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday announced that his country is going to introduce same-day visa service for Indian businessmen in a bid to accelerate the bilateral trade between the two sides.
ii. "In terms of business, I think we are on track to meet our committed to double our bilateral trade by 2015.
iii. Cameron also said that“We are looking to open British trade offices here to create a pan-India network of British business centres by 2017. We want to make very rapid progress on the EU (European Union)-India Free Trade Agreement and going to bring same-day visa service for the Indian businessmen,"
iv. Cameron further said there would be no limit on the number of Indian students willing to study in British Universities.
NOTE: Cameron, who is visiting India for the second time as British Prime Minister, arrived in Mumbai yesterday on a three-day visit with the objective to expand bilateral relations in various field including trade, defence, technology, education, sports and culture.
2. Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa Re-elected for a Third Term
i.Ecuador's President Rafael Correa was re-elected for a third term with more than 50 percent of the vote according to the election results declared in the third week of February 2013.
ii.As per the results, Rafael Correa got 56.7 percent while his closest competitor Guillermo could secure only 23.3 percent.
About Rafael Correa
i.Correa is a socialist leader who was first elected in 2007. He is credited with bringing political stability to a nation that experienced several protests and coups.
ii.He is known for his citizen revolution which made him popular among people of Ecuador. He is 49 years old.
3. Economy to grow at 5.5% in current fiscal,7% in 2013-14: Montek
i. Plan panel Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said the Indian economy would grow at a rate of between 5 and 5.5 per cent in current fiscal and could expand by 7 per cent in 2013-14.
ii. His comments came after the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) has projected five per cent economic growth this fiscal in its advance estimates released earlier this month.
iii.Economic growth in 2011-12 slipped to 6.2 per cent from 9.3 per cent a year ago mainly on account of global factors and subdued investor sentiments.
iv.Gross Domestic Production (GDP) of the country has grown by 5.5 per centin April-June quarter and further declined to 5.3 per cent in July-September quarter.
4. India and the UAE agreed to take their Trade Relations to another Level
i.India and the UAE agreed to improve their trade and investment relations during the first meeting of India-UAE High Level Task Force on Investment in Abu Dhabi on 18 February 2013.
ii.UAE decided to invest 2 billion dollarsin Infrastructure sector projects in India and the two countries decided to work for and support Strategic Oil Reserve in India.
iii.The meeting was co-chaired by the Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles, Anand Sharma and Sheikh Hamid Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court.
iv.As a part of the bilateral agreement, Five high level sub committees will be set up to promote investment in infrastructure and energy, trade and investment, manufacturing and technology, Information and communications technology and aviation sectors.
5. PSU bank staff to go on two-day strike from tomorrow
i. Normal banking operations may be hit as employees unions of public sector banks have decided to join the two-day strike call given by central trade unions beginning February 20 to press for wage hike in the backdrop of rising inflation.
ii. The nation-wide strike call has been given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) consisting of nine national level unions including AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF, NOBW and AIBOC in support of their demand.
iii."A section of the bank's employees may participate in the proposed strike on the said date, if the strike materializes. In view of the above, it is likely that the normal functioning of the bank branches and offices may get affected," Corporation Bank said in a statement.
NOTE: I, The Government, in a statement on Tuesday, said that it is disappointed to note that a section of the bank employees have decided to join the strike called by certain trade unions on 20th and 21st February.
ii. "So far as bank employees are concerned, there is really no reason at all to join the strike.
6. High speed rail link project between S'pore & Kuala Lumpur
i.Singapore and Malaysia announced today that they will build a high-speed rail link between the city-state and Kuala Lumpur. The target to complete the project is around 2020.
ii.A statement issued after a meeting between Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak said, this is a strategic development in bilateral relations that will dramatically improve the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.
7. WHO urges vigilance over new SARS-like virus
i. The Global health watchdog, World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to be vigilant over the spread of a potentially fatal SARS-like virus after a new case in Britain brought the global number to 12.
ii. In a statement, the United Nations health agency released on Saturday said "based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns”.
iii."Testing for the new coronavirus should be considered in patients with unexplained pneumonias, or in patients with unexplained severe, progressive or complicated respiratory illness not responding to treatment”, the statement added.
iv. A total of 12 cases have been reported to the WHO, with five of them fatal -- three in Saudi Arabia and two in Jordan.
NOTE: i. A SARS epidemic killed more than 800people when it swept out of China in 2003, sparking a major international health scare.
ii. Symptoms common to both viruses include severe respiratory illness, fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.
8. Horsemeat in food:world's largest foodmaker Nestle caught in scandal
i. The world's largest food maker, Nestle has become the latest company to be caught up in the scandal in Europe over the contamination of beef products with horsemeat.
ii.Nestle has removed readymade Pasta meals from shops in Italy and Spain after tests revealed traces of horse DNA.
iii.The Swiss-based firm has halted deliveries of products containing meat from a German supplier.
iv.A spokesman for the company said levels of horse DNA were very low but above one per cent. Last week the firm said its products did not contain horsemeat.
NOTE:Horsemeat has now been found in 12 European countries, including Nestle's home-base Switzerland
9. Irrfan Khan to Endorse Babool Salt Toothpaste
i.Dabur India on 18 February 2013 launched Dabur Babool + Salt Powder Toothpaste and roped in actor Irrfan Khan to endorse the brand, as a new face for the product, Babool Salt.
ii.Irrfan Khan had been roped in with the brand for being featured in its 360 degree media campaign.
10. Viswanathan Anand won Grenke Chess Classic Trophy
i.Viswanathan Anand, the World Champion in Chess from India won the Grenke Chess Classic trophy of 2013 after defeating Arkadij Naiditsch from Germany on 17 February 2013.
ii. To secure his win in the Grenke Chess Classic, Anand also defeated Fabiano Caruana from Italy. This was his first title of the year.
iii. The 43 years old Anand, managed to take a 49 move win against Arkadij with his black pieces to claim the title for his all-play-all tournament title in five years.
11. Rafael Nadal Win Brazil Open 2013
i. Rafael Nadal on 17 February 2013 won the finals of Brazil Open 2013 by defeating Argentinean David Nalbandian in straight sets by 6-2, 6-3 in Sao Paolo.
ii. He won the tournament for the second time; he won it for the first time in 2005.
iii. This was the second tournament for the former world number 1 Spanish tennis star after returning back from to the game after seven months.
Brazil Open
The tournament is a part of ATP World Tour 250 Series and is held annually in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is a one of the important tournaments held in Brazil and is played on the South American Clay Court circuit since 2004.
12. Mithali holds on top batting spot, world champion Aus top team
i.Indian women's cricket team captain Mithali Raj held on to her number one spot while world champions Australia became the number one ODI team in the latest ICC rankings issued on Monday.
ii. Women's World Cup player of the tournament, Suzie Bates, jumped five places to claim a career-best number two spot in the rankings released a day after Australia beat West Indies in the summit clash at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai.
iii.Losing finalists West Indies occupy the second spot in team rankings while India are placed at seventh.
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