- Cabinet approves Rs 3,000 crore scheme for fisheries sector
- Government today approved an integrated scheme with an outlay of Rs 3,000 crore for the development and management of fisheries sector as it seeks to bring ‘blue revolution’ in the country.
- The central scheme will benefit the entire fisheries sector covering about 14.50 million fishers. It will be implemented in all the states and the union territories.
- It would mainly focus on increasing production and productivity from aquaculture and fisheries resources, both inland and marine. It seeks to boost private investment as well.
- The scheme would cover development and management of inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries including deep sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)
- The scheme has suitable linkages and convergence with the ‘Sagarmala Project’ of Shipping Ministry, MGNAREGA, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and National Rural Livelihoods Mission ( NRLM) etc
- Philippines becomes first Asian country to approve dengue vaccine
- The Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world’s first-ever dengue vaccine.
- Dengvaxia, manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, secured its first regulatory approval in Mexico a fortnight ago and is currently being reviewed by around 20 countries in Asia and Latin America.
- RBI sets up helpline for guiding start-ups on forex matters
- The Reserve Bank today said it has created a dedicated helpline to assist start-ups undertaking cross-border transaction
- While seeking guidance, the enterprises should provide complete information to the RBI and mention the specific issues on which they need guidance from the RBI in relation to the Foreign Exchange Management regulations
- Cross-border transactions of resident are subject to the regulatory regime provided by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999,
- Zimbabwe to adopt Chinese yuan as legal currency after debt cancellation
- In an unprecedented move that signals China’s growing global influence, Zimbabwe has announced that it will adopt the Chinese currency as legal tender.
- The announcement came after China cancelled $40-million (U.S.) in Zimbabwean debt earlier this week.
- China is already Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, and Beijing is often praised by the Zimbabwean government, which has adopted a “Look East” policy after years of sanctions by Western governments.
- Zimbabwe abandoned its own currency in 2009 after a spectacular bout of hyperinflation, climaxing with the printing of banknotes in denominations of 100-trillion Zimbabwean dollars, which could barely cover the cost of bus tickets for a week.
- Steve Smith bags top honours at ICC Awards 2015
- Steve Smith became the fourth Australia player, and 11th overall, to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2015
- AB De Villiers named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year; Faf du Plessis bags ICC T20I Performance of the Year award
- Josh Hazlewood claims ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year award
- Brendon McCullum scoops ICC Spirit of Cricket Award; Kettleborough completes a hat-trick of ICC Umpire of the Year titles
- Jet Airways appoints Amit Agarwal as new chief financial officer
- Airways on Tuesday appointed Amit Agarwal as its chief financial officer (CFO).
- A chartered accountant with 24 years of experience, Agarwal, 47, will be responsible for all financial and fiscal management aspects of Jets business.
- Sania & Hingis are ITF World champions
- Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis was on Tuesday named as women’s doubles World champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in recognition of their stupendous success in season 2015.
- The ITF also announced American Serena Williams and Serbian Novak Djokovic as the 2015 ITF World champions
- Serena is named women’s World champion for the sixth time, while this is the fifth occasion that Djokovic has received the honour.
- Pawan Kumar Agarwal appointed CEO of FSSAI
- Senior IAS officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal was on Tuesday appointed as chief executive officer of food regulator food safety and standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- He has been appointed in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik
- Malik, believed to be the man behind the ban on global giant Nestle’s popular noodle brand Maggi, was shifted as additional secretary in Niti Aayog.
Read previous: « Daily GK Potion – 22nd December 2015
« Back to current affairs