Government let off Pakistan in Goa, alleges Congress

• The Congress said that the Modi government had failed to convince its BRICS partners to condemn Pakistan as the source of terror operations in India in the joint declaration signed in Goa.
• “The Goa declaration of BRICS is perhaps the most sterling example of the government’s absolute and abject failure.
• While there is a mention of everything from the IS to Syria, to Afghanistan, to the Israel and Palestinian question, where is the reference to Pakistan in the entire Goa declaration?

Minorities panel challenges NHRC report on Kairana

• The NHRC, in its report on allegation of “exodus of Hindus” from Kairana, alleged that the displaced riot victims were responsible for an increase in crime and deterioration of law and order which had resulted in some of the Hindu families leaving the area.
• There was nothing on the ground which could confirm the NHRC report about internal displacement and migration of riot victims to Kairana changing the demographics of the town.
• The NHRC report claimed that over 30,000 riot victims had migrated to Kairana town and changed its demography.
• The NHRC report suggested that the riot victims, who left their houses and migrated to Kairana and are struggling to settle down in a situation largely bereft of dignity, were responsible for an increase in crime in the town. That is factually not true.”

Nobel panel gives up knocking on Dylan’s door

• The Swedish Academy says it has given up trying to reach Bob Dylan, days after it awarded him the Nobel Prize for Literature.
• Every December 10, Nobel prize winners are invited to Stockholm to receive their awards from King Carl XVI Gustaf and to give a speech during a banquet.
• Mr. Dylan (75), whose lyrics have influenced generations of fans, is the first songwriter to win the literature prize.

China opposes PM linking Pakistan with terrorism: Hua Chunying

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Pakistan a “mothership of terrorism”, China today strongly defended its all-weather ally, saying it is against linking any country or religion with terror and asked the world community to acknowledge Pakistan’s “great sacrifices.”
• Mr. Modi’s characterisation of Pakistan at the BRICS Summit in Goa, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying said China was opposed to linking any country to terrorism.
• We oppose terrorism in all forms and we believe that international concerted efforts are needed to ensure stability and security of all countries.

Tata, General Electric (GE) to  train 10,000 youth in healthcare

• Tata Trusts and GE Healthcare have entered into an agreement to train 10,000 youth in various technical areas of the healthcare sector in three years.
• As per the agreement, GE Healthcare will expand its network of training institutes from 10 to 25 across the country, while Tata Trusts will provide an interest-free loan of Rs.86,000 per candidate to cover the course fee for an entire year.
• The Tata Trusts have been committed to training and creating prosperity for the people.
• Tata Trusts annually spends about Rs.750 crore on various philanthropic initiatives, out of which 25 per cent goes to healthcare.

GST must absorb green cess on diesel cars

• Mercedes-Benz India managing director and CEO Roland Folger is hopeful of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure subsuming the green cess levied on registration of diesel cars above 2000 cc in the National Capital Region.
• Noting that he expected the new structure to address levies linked to environment protection and CO2 standards, Mr.Folger said once that happens the one per cent cess (environment protection charge) can go.
• Financially support from government is also needed for car makers introducing new technology, he said, adding Mercedes Benz is committed to launch vehicles conforming to the Bharat Stage-VI fuel emission norms in 2018. With BS-VI, the emission spectrum of petrol and diesel would be the same.

Ashok Leyland unveiled country’s first electric bus

• Hinduja Group’s flagship company Ashok Leyland unveiled its ‘Circuit’ series — comprising the first 100 per cent electric bus made in India.
• A zero-emission, non-polluting vehicle created specifically for Indian road and passenger conditions, the bus has a seating capacity ranging from 35 to 65.
• Overall, we have committed an investment of Rs.500 crore for expansion, of which the investments for the bus is about Rs.22 crore.

NPL Scientists produce electricity from water without using power or chemicals

• In a major breakthrough, scientists at Delhi’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a novel way of producing electricity from water at room temperature without using any power or chemicals.
• A team led by Dr. R.K. Kotnala used nanoporous magnesium ferrite to split water into hydronium (H₃O) and hydroxide (OH) ions and used silver and zinc as electrodes to make a cell that produces electricity.
• The hydroelectric cell that uses magnesium ferrite of 1 sq. inch size produces 8 mA current and 0.98 volt.
• When we connect four cells [of 2-inch diameter] in series the voltage increases to 3.70 volts and we can operate a small plastic fan or a LED light of 1 watt.
• The hydronium ions get trapped inside the nanopores of magnesium ferrite and generate an electric field.