Current Affairs December 2010 - 3

Award

Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Indian human-rights activist to receive an award in the city of Weimar, Germany for aid to untouchables, prize money worth 2,500 euros($3,300) was awarded on International Human Rights Day

Rajveer Singh and Hukum Chand, two forest guards in Rathambore risked their own lives to save the life of their senior from a tiger an their brave act has made them award winners in the NDTV-Aircel's "Save our Tigers" Campaign

Infosys has been recognised as a winner of the Global, Asian and Indian Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) Awards for 2010, by Teleos in association with KNOW Network


Automobile

Yamaha launches superbike FZ1

Ducati to launch Diavel model in India by April 2011

Mahindra Reva Eletric vehicles launches its Revai priced at around Rs.3.10 lakh

Nissan launches diesel-powered Micra


Business

India to set up 19 training institutes in Africa including foreign trade institute in Uganda and a diamond centre in Botswana

Civil Aviation Security Council to be set up to deliberate and recommend measures to step up aviation security

Banks told to cap cash deposit charges at Rs.5

Airtel launches its IMEWE (India-Middle East-Western Europe) ultra high capacity submarine cable system to deliver better connectivity requirements of Middle East and European countries to Asia transiting through India

Wipro signs 5-year IT outsourcing deal with Vasan Eye Care

Reckitt to acquire Paras Pharma for Rs.3,260 crore

Ashok Leyland bags Rs.125 crore order from VRL

Munjals to buy Honda stake in JV for $1 billion

Wipro Technologies opens development centre in Budapest, Hungary

PNB bought 63.64% stake in Kazakhstan's JSC Dana Bank

Punjab plans to setup a permanent convention centre in Amritsar on the lines of Delhi's Pragati Maidan

Juniper networks, California based network solution vendor to hire 750 people for its India Excellence Center (IEC)

France to introduced so-called 'Google tax' on online advertisements on January 1st 2011
Google Tax: The tax on companies based in France would be amount to one% of the net amount spent on online advertising

Kingston appoints DIGICARE to manage the after-sales support and service programs for all consumers in India

Kerala government's 'e-District' project, which would make various government services available online to be launched at Kannur and Palakkad

Jordan has sealed $10 million agreement with Google allowing it to use the world's largest Internet search engine advertising

Harley-Davidson bikes from India plant at Bawal, Haryana in 2011 to be priced Rs.6.5 lakh

TCS signs deal with Deutsche Bank worth $100 million

Amkette launches ATOM - Laptop Mouse under the "Colors-on-the-go" range

Emerson launches Liebert CRV cooling unit in India

Ashok Leyland to open assembly plant in UAE's Ras al Khaimah investment Authority (RAKIA)

FIAT to invest $1.7 billion to build a second car factory in Brazil

ING Life launches ULIP

Lanco Infratech buys Australia's coal mine Griffin

Siemens sells IT unit to France's Atos Origin for 850 million pounds ($1.14 billion)

Nocartis seals $41 billion Alcon deal

Nokia, IBM collaborate to deliver (e-mail)mobile solution

YouTube in talks to buy Next New Networks, Web Video production company

Siemens to sell its Solutions in Services (SIS) to Atos Origin

ArcelorMittal to buy Canadian iron ore company Baffinland for $433 Million

DIAL partners with IBM India to create smarter air terminal

Bajaj allianz launches instant tax-calculator for mobile phone users

India inks USD 123 million loan with ADB

KFC opens 100th store in Bangalore

Bangalore to get piped gas supply to domestic consumers starting 2012

TCS bags Rs.85 crore 3 year deal for implementing smart card-based Financial Inclusion Solution (FIS) for Indian Bank


Education

On the occasion of Emperor Akihito's birthday on December 14th 2010, Mayayuki Tsuchikawa, consul and head of the consulate has revealed tht Japanese scholarships are to be offered in 3 courses - undergraduate, diploma and professional training via. Tokyo University, office to be setup in Bangalore in 2011


Event

Canonical, which provides engineering, online and professional services to Ubuntu partners and customers has announced Ubuntu Developer Day on January 27th 2011


People

Unilever's John Cooper, head of corporate occupational health, set to retire in December 2010, the organisation has chosen Thirumala Rajgopal to head and operate from India staring 1st January 2011. It is the first time for a FMCG industry to have global functional head posted in India

Deepak Kapoor has been appointed as chairman of PricewaterCoopers India

Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has been named Dubai World chairman

Nitin Seth has been appointed as the executive director of Ashok Leyland's LCV's division

US diplomat Richard Holbrooke,69, the US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan passes away

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been named Time magazine's 'Person of the Year' for 2010


Rank

India ranks 4th in Asia and 10th in world in plant diversity


Science

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spotted an ice volcano on Saturn's moon Titan


Sports

Saina Nehwal wins Hong Kong Super Series

Caroline Wozniacki became the first Danish player to win the International Tennis Federation's World Champion award. Rafael Nadal won the men's award for the 2nd time after winning 3 of the 4 Grand slams

Rahul Dravid becomes 3rd highest run-getter in the history of Test cricket with 11,943 runs


Technology

Lenovo to launch LePad tablet PC

Intel Atom processor E600 series has been launched in India

Panasonic unveils world's largest (152-inch) 3D full high definition plasma TV in India, priced at around Rs.3.5 crore

Sony unveils NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras in India