1. India – France to seal the deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets
(i) The Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France has been given the ‘go ahead’ after
issues pertaining to pricing were resolved. Negotiations on supply of 36 jets will continue
between the countries, post which French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will visit
India in September for a formal agreement.
(ii) As per reports, Indian and France may sign an inter-governmental agreement for 36 fighter jets, thereby concluding the contact. Unofficial calculations show that 36 jets could cost the exchequer
8-9 billion dollars.
2. Lebanese citizens launch ‘You Stink’ campaign against the government
(i) On 30th August 2015, thousands of Lebanese citizens participated in a mass rally in capital city Beirut against a government accused of corruption and failure in providing basic services to its people.
(ii) The campaign ‘You Stink’ saw a record participation of people and was organised without the aid sectarian parties that dominate politics.
(iii) It was a crisis that
erupted owing to the Lebanese government’s inability give a solution to the garbage
problem, after the main landfill that used to take garbage from Beirut, shut down on July 17
after exceeding its capacity.
3. A system of mentoring new recruits must in PSBs – A K Takkar
(i) In a recent interaction, Dena Bank Executive Director R.K. Takkar suggested that a system of mentoring of new recruits which will provide them a good grasp of various functions at the bank is something public sector banks need to give a serious thought as the requirement for more hands grows.
(ii) He warned unless this issue was addressed the public sector banks will face challenges arising out of the knowledge gap arising from inadequate exposure of the new recruits.
4. For ISRO Mk-III is the next breakthrough
(i) As per recent news, ISRO has started working for the mock trial of GSLV Mark 3- so far the biggest rocket made in India.
(ii) The MK-III has the capacity to launch 4-tonne satellites into geosynchronous orbit and its test flight will be conducted by mid-2016, before the first developmental flight scheduled for December 2016.
(iii) ISRO hopes to have a triad of launch vehicles with GSLV Mk-III, which will enable it to capture a major share of the commercial satellite launches market.
5. Indian Women’s Hockey Team qualifies for 2016 Rio Olympics
(i) On 30th August 2015, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced that India has qualified for the2016 Rio Olympic games after England defeated Spain in the semifinals of the Euro Hockey Championships in London.
(ii) The Indian women’s team, with this announcement, has become the 10th side to qualify for next year’s Olympic games. The last time Indian women’s team played at Olympics was in 1980.
(iii) Nine other teams that have qualified are: Korea as Asian Games champion, Argentina as Pan Am Games champion and Great Britain, China, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and the USA through the Hockey World League Semifinals.
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