Fish Oil

1. A genetically-modified plant that produces seeds packed with fish oils is set to be grown in open fields in the U.K. within months, scientists announced on Friday. The oils could provide feed for farmed fish, the researchers hope, but they could ultimately be used as a health supplement in human foods such as margarine.
2. Fish oils — specifically omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids — have been shown to cut the risk of cardiovascular disease and are a popular food supplement.
3. The particular fish oils that benefit the health of both fish and humans, called EPA and DHA, are not in fact produced by fish themselves but instead accumulated by eating marine microbes. Mr. Napier’s team therefore took up to seven genes from algae that produce the fish oils and transplanted them into oil seed plants called camelina.

Quantitative Easing

Definitions

1. Quantitative easing is an occasionally used monetary policy, which is adopted by the government to increase money supply in the economy.
2. QE is nothing but the open market operation.
3. An unconventional monetary policy in which a central bank purchases government securities or other securities from the market in order to lower interest rates and increase the money supply.
   

Effects

• Quantitative easing increases the money supply by flooding financial institutions with capital in an effort to promote increased lending and liquidity.
• This strategy loses effectiveness when interest rates approach zero, forcing banks to try other strategies in order to stimulate the economy.
• However, if the money supply increases too quickly, quantitative easing can lead to higher rates of inflation.

BitCoins

BitCoin

What is BitCoins ? 

Started in 2008 , bitcoin is a form of digital currency,money that exists in the form of computer code.It do not have any central issuing authority.These virtual currency can be stored in electronic wallets and can be traded on online exchange and converted into cash.It is open source and peer-to-peer network introduced by pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto.It uses a public-key cryptography for security hence also called cryptocurrency.

• Within four years of coming into existence, bitcoin has become the world’s most expensive currency and its per unit value soared past $ 1,200 level or about Rs. 63,000 recently, although the prices have now slipped below Rs. 50,000 level.

Latest : 

University of Cumbria became first to accept bitcoins in tution fees.

How it works ? 

Users send payments through broadcasting digitally signed agreements that transfer ownership of bitcoins.A decentralised network of computer (operator or Miners) verifies and timestamps all transaction through proof-of-work system.These operators are awarded with

India-Japan

India-Japan

Jan 2014 

Japan PM Shinzo Abe  visited India during 25-27 Jan 2014 and was chief guest during republic day parade.

• The two countries signed eight pacts, of which half were connected with Japanese aid, thus indicating that soft loans and outright grants will continue to remain an integral component of Tokyo’s strategy of reaching out to New Delhi. 
• Mr. Abe held out the promise of more aid, of which 70 per cent will go for implementing phase-III of the Delhi Metro project.
• On the defence side, the two countries decided to make joint naval exercises a permanent feature and India, despite the experience of 2007, invited Japan to join the Indo-U.S Malabar series. Seven years ago, the presence of Japan and Australia in the Malabar series fuelled protests at home and from China leading to the dropping of the duo from subsequent chapters.
• The Prime Ministers reviewed the progress made in selling hi-tech US-2 amphibious aircraft to India, with government sources saying final plans envisaged a transfer of a substantial number of such planes. This is the first time Japan is offering to sell a plane which has military uses as well.
• Within two months, we have received from Japan, first that rare, and symbolically greatest, gesture, the visit of Their Imperial Majesties, then the Defence Minister’s, and now, the Premier’s.
• Japan invited to develop India's NE particularly in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is disputed almost in its entirety by China
• Japan also lowered non-tariff barriers to import of shrimps that will help Indian

Recommendation for institutionalize Prasar Bharti

Prasar Bharti

Expert committee to review the institutional framework for Prasar Bharti headed by Sam Pitroda has submitted its report to I & B ministry.

Recommensation : 

1. Develop funding mechanism for financial accountability
2. Power to frame rules and regulations for its employees.
3. Complete transfer of management,ownership and human resource to Prasar Bharti
4. Set up a regulatory body for public accountability for content of broadcasting as a sub-committee of prasar bharti board.
5. It should create a world class broadcasting service.
6. Should encourage outsourcing of contents to external publishers
7. Set up as the third arm of public broadcaster as DD and AIR.
8. Pressed for digitization of present AM service to new radio transmission system
9. Greater involvement of private sector to expand broadcasting service.

China - Jan 2014

1. China has overtaken India to become the largest contributor of Foreign Direct Investment to Nepal over the first six months of the current fiscal year, underlining the rising Chinese economic presence — and strategic influence — in the country.This marked a three-fold rise from the same period in the previous 2011-12 fiscal year, where Chinese investment reached $55 million.
2. In early December, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a bilateral treaty and issued a joint statement that said “China pledges unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the nuclear-free Ukraine and China further pledges to provide Ukraine nuclear security guarantee when Ukraine encounters an invasion involving nuclear weapons or Ukraine is under threat of a nuclear invasion.”In recent years, Ukraine has provided China with the Zubr-class amphibious hovercraft, the Soviet Varyag aircraft carrier (refurbished into China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier), and hundreds of Russian-made aircraft engines. The partnership guarantees that Ukraine will continue to provide China with military technology and technical expertise as Beijing continues military modernization efforts.
3. China has embarked on a program to build its own aircraft carrier

National Inland waterway

National Waterway

National Waterway 1: 

It will starts from Allahabad to Haldia with a distance of 1620 km. The NW 1 runs through the Ganges, Bhagirathi and Hooghly river system. It will be the longest National Waterway in India.

National Waterway 2: 

a stretch on Brahmaputra River from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam state.

National Waterway 3: 

runs from Kollam to Kottapuram. The 205 km long West Coast Canal is India’s first waterway with all time navigation facility.

National Waterway 4: 

connects Kakinada to Pondicherry through Canals, Tank and River Godavari along with Krishna River.

National Waterway 5: 

connects Orissa to West Bengal using the stretch on Brahmani River, East Coast Canal, Matai River and Mahanadi River Delta.

National Waterway 6: 

It is the proposed waterway in Assam state and will connect Lakhipur to Bhanga in river Barak.

Credit Risk Guarantee Fund

• The Government has approved the establishment of a Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust (CRGFT) for low income housing, with an initial corpus of Rs.1000 Crore. The Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust has been registered on 1st May, 2012 and the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Scheme has been launched on 31st October, 2012.
• Under the Scheme, the Trust will provide guarantee to lending agencies for housing loans extended by them to persons belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections / Low Income Groups upto Rs. 5 Lakh, without any third party guarantee or collateral security. 
• The lending institutions eligible to avail benefit of the Guarantee cover under the Scheme are Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks, Non Banking Financial Companies-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), Apex Co-operative Housing Finance Societies registered under the State Co-operative Societies Act and Housing Finance Institutions registered with National Housing Bank (NHB).

Violence : South Sudan

• Initially Vice President rebels were successfully take over some of the oil-rich areas of the country which then intensify the violence in capital Juba and other provinces.
• This full fledged was has now turned out to be ethnic conflict.
• President Salva Kiir : from Dinka Tribe ,largest tribal group.
• Vice Prez : Riek Machar : from Nuer Tribe.
• Soldiers are also divided based on ethnic lines.

G-20

• The Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (also known as the G-20, G20, and Group of Twenty) is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 major economies: 19 countries plus the European Union, which is represented by the President of the European Council and by the European Central Bank.


• Annual Meeting : The G-20 heads of government or heads of state have also periodically conferred at summits since their initial meeting in 2008


• History : The G-20 was proposed by former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin^[4] as a forum for cooperation and consultation on matters pertaining to the international financial system. The group was formally inaugurated in September 1999, and held its first meeting in December 1999.


• Chaired By : Russia currently holds the chair of the G-20, and will host the eighth G-20 summit in September 2013 at Saint Petersburg. Earlier in June 2012 it was hosted by Mexico at Los Cabos.

Facts Dec 2013

International

1. South Korean President Park Geun Hye and Capital Seoul
2. Chile is the world’s top copper exporter, and its fast-growing economy, low unemployment and stable democracy are the envy of Latin America. 
3. Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov : President of Turkmenistan.Capital : Ashgabat
4. Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.