Omicron may have a higher risk of reinfection

The World Health Organization said early data indicates that Omicron, the latest variant of the SARS-CoV-2 first found in South Africa, may easily infect people who have either been infected earlier or vaccinated. But the disease will be milder than what the Delta variant led to, WHO said.

The new variant was found in the last week of November and since then it has now spread to around 57 countries. No death has been linked to this variant and patients are recovering without hospitalisation, without requiring oxygen support.

Committee submits report on civil services exams

A committee formed to look into the possibilities of bringing changes in pattern of civil services examination among others submitted its report to the government on 31-07-2014

The three-member committee under the chairmanship of former Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Arvind Varma was formed in March this year to look into demands of students for changes in the pattern of civil services examination.

The report will be examined by the government before taking a final view, official sources said, adding a decision whether to postpone the August 24 civil services preliminary examination will be taken after perusing it. The students have been demanding that the pattern of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) be changed to give level-playing field to those coming from rural areas.

There are two compulsory papers of 200 marks each in the preliminary examination. These papers are also known as CSAT I and CSAT II.

The CSAT-II paper carries questions on comprehension, interpersonal skills including communication skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision-making and problem- solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy, and English language comprehension skills (of Class X level).

Students have been objecting to the level of aptitude and English language questions being asked in the examination claiming they are much above the standard prescribed for the examination.

The civil services examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in three stages--preliminary, main, and interview--to choose candidates for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.

Source : ddinews.gov.in
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Ukraine's PM resigns

Ukraine's prime minister has resigned after his governing coalition collapsed, plunging the former Soviet state into political limbo as it struggles to quell a deadly rebellion in the east.

The shock announcement made yesterday added to an already chaotic situation in the rebel-controlled east, where international experts are carrying out a complex investigation into last week's downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that left 298 dead.

Malasiyan Flight shot down

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17  en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, is shot down in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

Ashraf Ghani won Afghanistan's presidential election

Former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani won Afghanistan's presidential election, according to preliminary results released on Monday, with 56.4 percent of the run-off vote to Abdullah Abdullah's 43.5 percent.

Army declares coup in Thailand imposes nationwide curfew

Thailand’s army chief announced a military takeover of the government on 22nd, saying the coup was necessary to restore stability and order after six months of political deadlock and turmoil. 

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a statement broadcast on national television that the commission which imposed martial law on 20th  would now take control of the country’s administration.

South Korean PM resigns over ferry sinking

South Korea’s Prime Minister Chung Hong-won resigned on 27-04-2014 over the government’s handling of a ferry sinking that has left more than 300 people dead or missing. 

Presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said President Park Geun-hye would accept the resignation, but did not say when Mr. Chung would leave office.

Holocaust “the most heinous crime” of modern history : Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas  called the Holocaust “the most heinous crime” of modern history and expressed his sympathy for the victims, a rare acknowledgment by an Arab leader of Jewish suffering during the Nazi genocide.

Pope Francis declares John XXIII, John Paul II saints

Pope Francis declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday before hundreds of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, an unprecedented ceremony made even more historic by the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

Thai government lifts emergency

On 22nd January, the Shinawatra-led caretaker government imposed a state of emergency for 60 days to quell protests. The emergency was due to expire on 22nd March.

The emergency had expanded the power of security forces to issue orders and search, arrest and detain people.

Violence had erupted in Bangkok and other parts of the country ahead and during the 2nd February snap polls, boycotted by main opposition Democrat Party demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck.

Twenty-three people have been killed and over 700 injured in the political conflict since November.

Surapong Tovichakchaikul, chief advisor to the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) which has been set up to handle anti-government protests, had yesterday said the body will ask for the state of emergency to be lifted.

Japan to impose sanctions against Russia over Crimea

President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognising Crimea as an independent state following a weekend referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a move that has fanned the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.

"It's deplorable that Russia recognised the independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a move that violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Japan will suspend negotiations on easing visa requirements, and will not begin talks on a new investment accord, an outer space accord and an accord aimed at preventing risky military activities," it added, without elaborating.

The United States and Europe announced sanctions on Monday, with the White House saying the measures, the toughest against Russia since the Cold War, would target economic power brokers in Moscow if the Kremlin does not change course.

There was no sign of Putin backing down, however, and Crimea's pro-Moscow authorities made plans to swiftly honour Sunday's 96 percent referendum vote to return to the Russian fold.

"Japan urges Russia to understand the position held by the G7 (Group of Seven)" world powers, including Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Suga, the top government spokesman, added that Japan "is, of course, thinking" about further action against Russia.

He did not supply details. However, Suga disputed suggestions that Tokyo's apparent lukewarm sanctions, compared with its western partners' travel bans and asset freezes against Russian and Ukraine officials, are linked to efforts aimed at solving a decades-old territorial disputes with Moscow.

"That's not the case," he said. "Japan never overlooks an attempt to change the status quo through force."

Information Courtesy : www.ddnews.gov.in
 

President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia

President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia on 18-Mar-2014, describing the move as correcting past injustice and responding to what he called Western encroachment upon Russia's vital interests.


In a  40-minute speech televised live from the Kremlin, Putin said "in people's hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia."

He referred to Ukraine as a state born out of an illegal secession from the Soviet Union.

crimea declares independence from Ukraine

crimea's regional assembly on Monday declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia, saying all Ukrainian state property on the peninsula would be nationalised.

"The republic of Crimea appeals to the United Nations and to all countries of the world to recognise it as an independent state," read a document approved by the assembly.

"The Republic of Crimea... applies to the Russian Federation to accept the Republic of Crimea as a member of the Russian Federation," it said.

Ibrahim Mahlab is the Prime Minister of Egypt

Ibrahim Mahlab, a former official in the deposed Hosni Mubarak government, was on 25-02-2013 named as Egypt's new prime minister, a day after the military-backed cabinet resigned unexpectedly.

Mahlab said he was "officially tasked with forming a new government" by interim president Adly Mansour, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

Egypt government resigns

Prime Minister of Egypt Hazem el-Beblawi said his government has resigned, paving the way for army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy for president 

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Beblawi, who was tasked by interim President Adly Mansour with running the government's affairs until the election, did not give a clear reason for the decision.

For Sisi to run for president he would first need to leave his post as defense minister.

He told news agencies that the cabinet had resigned en masse as Sisi did not want to appear to be acting alone.

The top military commander has unveiled a political roadmap meant to lead to elections after toppling Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July following mass protests against his rule.

UN Security Council unanimously adopts Syria aid resolution

UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to boost humanitarian access in Syria that threatens to take 'further steps' in the case of non-compliance, demands cross-border aid access and condemns rights abuses by the Syrian government and opposition armed groups.

The 15-nation UNSC met to vote on the resolution, co-authored by Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg amid uncertainty that Russia and China could veto the draft

Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala elected as the Prime Minister of Nepal

Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala was 10-Feb-2014 elected Prime Minister of Nepal with the support of the CPN-UML, ending months of political instability following last year's elections.

Koirala, the sole contestant in the premier race, was elected with 405 votes in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

First legal abortion in Ireland

Under the new bill, Ireland performed its first life saving abortion. 

Syrian rebels claim deadly 'toxic gas' attack

Syrian anti-government activists accused the  Government  of  carrying out a toxic gas attack that killed at least 100 people, including many children .

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) admits its role in 1953 Iranian coup d'état

The CIA formally admitted that it was involved in both the planning and the execution of the coup, including the bribing of Iranian politicians, security and army high-ranking officials, as well as pro-coup propaganda.