Britain formally ends 13 year War in Afghanistan

UK has formally withdrawn from Afghanistan, ending the 13 year war that it was a part of. The lowering of the Union Flag in Camp Bastion marked the end of Britain’s campaign, which is believed to be its longest involvement in a conflict in modern times.

13 year British campaign in Afghanistan

Initially, the goal of the British forces was to curb the trade in illegal opium/poppy. However, that mission proved unsuccessful and the forces changed focus. At one point of time, the British had 9,500 British military personnel active in Afghanistan. A total of 453 British lives were lost in Afghanistan with thousands more who were injured.

Status of forces

UK’s role in direct combat in Afghanistan has officially ended, however, it will still maintain a presence there. A few hundred British troops are expected to be deployed at the Qargha Officer Training Academy outside Kabul to train the Afghan national forces. UK will continue to play a major role in training and advising Afghan forces. UK’s Special Forces operations are also expected to continue in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future.

Camp Bastion

Camp Bastion formed the epicenter of UK’s operations in Afghanistan, even though it controlled another 136 small bases in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. The British had also built a 11,500 ft runway at Camp Bastion making it easy for the larger transport planes to fly in. The scale of operations there had increased to such an extent that Bastion became the third busiest British airport after Heathrow and Gatwick.

 Operation Herrick

Operation Herrick is the codename that was given to all British operations in Afghanistan since it committed forces in 2002. It comprises of UK’s role in the NATO led ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and USA’s Operation Enduring Freedom.

The global language of business : Barcodes, ISBN, ISSN, Coupon identification GS1 -

000 - 019 GS1 US
020 - 029 Restricted distribution (MO defined)
030 - 039 GS1 US
040 - 049 Restricted distribution (MO defined)
050 - 059 Coupons
060 - 139 GS1 US
200 - 299 Restricted distribution (MO defined)
300 - 379 GS1 France
380 GS1 Bulgaria
383 GS1 Slovenija
385 GS1 Croatia
387 GS1 BIH (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
389 GS1 Montenegro
400 - 440 GS1 Germany
450 - 459 & 490 - 499 GS1 Japan
460 - 469 GS1 Russia
470 GS1 Kyrgyzstan
471 GS1 Taiwan
474 GS1 Estonia
475 GS1 Latvia
476 GS1 Azerbaijan
477 GS1 Lithuania
478 GS1 Uzbekistan
479 GS1 Sri Lanka
480 GS1 Philippines
481 GS1 Belarus
482 GS1 Ukraine
484 GS1 Moldova
485 GS1 Armenia
486 GS1 Georgia
487 GS1 Kazakstan
488 GS1 Tajikistan
489 GS1 Hong Kong
500 - 509 GS1 UK
520 - 521 GS1 Association Greece
528 GS1 Lebanon
529 GS1 Cyprus
530 GS1 Albania
531 GS1 MAC (FYR Macedonia)
535 GS1 Malta
539 GS1 Ireland
540 - 549 GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg
560 GS1 Portugal
569 GS1 Iceland
570 - 579 GS1 Denmark
590 GS1 Poland
594 GS1 Romania
599 GS1 Hungary
600 - 601 GS1 South Africa
603 GS1 Ghana
604 GS1 Senegal
608 GS1 Bahrain
609 GS1 Mauritius
611 GS1 Morocco
613 GS1 Algeria
615 GS1 Nigeria
616 GS1 Kenya
618 GS1 Ivory Coast
619 GS1 Tunisia
620 GS1 Tanzania
621 GS1 Syria
622 GS1 Egypt
623 GS1 Brunei
624 GS1 Libya
625 GS1 Jordan
626 GS1 Iran
627 GS1 Kuwait
628 GS1 Saudi Arabia
629 GS1 Emirates
640 - 649 GS1 Finland
690 - 699 GS1 China
700 - 709 GS1 Norway
729 GS1 Israel
730 - 739 GS1 Sweden
740 GS1 Guatemala
741 GS1 El Salvador
742 GS1 Honduras
743 GS1 Nicaragua
744 GS1 Costa Rica
745 GS1 Panama
746 GS1 Republica Dominicana
750 GS1 Mexico
754 - 755 GS1 Canada
759 GS1 Venezuela
760 - 769 GS1 Schweiz, Suisse, Svizzera
770 - 771 GS1 Colombia
773 GS1 Uruguay
775 GS1 Peru
777 GS1 Bolivia
778 - 779 GS1 Argentina
780 GS1 Chile
784 GS1 Paraguay
786 GS1 Ecuador
789 - 790 GS1 Brasil  
800 - 839 GS1 Italy  
840 - 849 GS1 Spain  
850 GS1 Cuba
858 GS1 Slovakia
859 GS1 Czech
860 GS1 Serbia
865 GS1 Mongolia
867 GS1 North Korea
868 - 869 GS1 Turkey
870 - 879 GS1 Netherlands
880 GS1 South Korea
884 GS1 Cambodia
885 GS1 Thailand
888 GS1 Singapore
890 GS1 India
893 GS1 Vietnam
896 GS1 Pakistan
899 GS1 Indonesia
900 - 919 GS1 Austria
930 - 939 GS1 Australia
940 - 949 GS1 New Zealand
950 GS1 Global Office
951 GS1 Global Office (EPCglobal)
955 GS1 Malaysia
958 GS1 Macau
960-969 Global Office (GTIN-8s)
977 Serial publications (ISSN)
978 - 979 Bookland (ISBN)
980 Refund receipts
981 - 984 GS1 coupon identification for common currency areas
99 GS1 coupon identification

960 has been assigned to GS1 UK for GTIN-8 allocations

GK FACTS : Interesting facts about Atlantic ocean

This post contains some interesting facts about Atlantic ocen

• It is the second largest ocean

• The name Atlantic ocean is from atlas of Greek mythology

• Atlanic ocean covers 20 percent of the earth's surface

• It has an area of 106400000 square kilometers

• Atlantic ocean is the second youngest of the five oceans

• Atlantic ocean is the first ocean to be crossed by a ship and airplane

• Largest island in the world Greenland is in Atlantic ocean 
• "Atlantic", "North Atlantic", "South Atlantic", "Atlantic Basin" and "Atlantic coast" redirect here. For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation), North Atlantic (disambiguation), South Atlantic (disambiguation), Atlantic Basin (disambiguation), and Atlantic Coast (disambiguation).
  
  
  
  
  The Atlantic Ocean is the world's second largest ocean, following the Pacific Ocean. With a total area of about 106,400,000 square kilometres (41,100,000 sq mi),^[1] it covers approximately 20 percent of theEarth's surface and about 29 percent of its water surface area. The first part of its name refers to Atlas of Greek mythology, making the Atlantic the "Sea of Atlas".
  The oldest known mention of "Atlantic" is in The Histories of Herodotus around 450 BC (Hdt. 1.202.4): Atlantis thalassa (Greek: Ἀτλαντὶς θάλασσα; English: Sea of Atlas). The term Ethiopic Ocean, derived fromEthiopia, was applied to the southern Atlantic as late as the mid-19th century.^[2] Before Europeans discovered other oceans, their term "ocean" was synonymous with the waters beyond the Strait of Gibraltar that are now known as the Atlantic. The early Greeks believed this ocean to be a gigantic river encircling the world.
  The Atlantic Ocean occupies an elongated, S-shaped basin extending longitudinally between Eurasia and Africa to the east, and the Americas to the west. As one component of the interconnected global ocean, it is connected in the north to the Arctic Ocean, to the Pacific Ocean in the southwest, the Indian Ocean in the southeast, and the Southern Ocean in the south (other definitions describe the Atlantic as extending southward to Antarctica). The equator subdivides it into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean.

31 Oct-14 : Current Affairs

• Govt announces austerity measures.
  • Govt. ordered a mandatory 10 per cent cut in the Centers non-Plan expenditure for 2014-15.
  • Subsidies will face the brunt of cuts.
  • Objective is to rationalize expenditure and optimize available resources.
  • Bann on 1st class air travel by govt. officials, curbs on meeting in five star hotel.
  Constitution/Indian polity

  
  
 
• US fed tapering tapering to affect Indias capital flows.
  • The RBI has cautioned that the U.S. Feds taper will trigger some pullback of dollar-denoted capital from India to back home.
  • As a result the new govt. may have to find domestic sources for funding infrastructure.
  • The U.S. Fed voted on Wednesday to end its bond-buying stimulus or Quantitative Easing (QE) but left unchanged its pledge to keep American interest rates at near-zero levels for a considerable time.
  World News

  
  
 
• A low cost generic respiratory drug launched by Cipla.
  • The new drug in named as Indacaterol and sold under the Onbrez brand.
  • Cipla  has asked DIPP to revoke five patents of Novartis relating to the product citing need for public health access and stated the patent holder Novartis does not manufacture the drug in India.
  • Novartis product is over 400 per cent more expensive than Ciplas product.
  • Supreme Court had rejected last year the multinational company’s plea for getting its blood cancer drug Glivec patented in India and to restrain Indian companies from manufacturing generic drugs.
  World News

  
  
 
• Pankaj advani becomes first ever player to bag billiards triple double .
  • Pankaj Advani outplayed England’s Robert Hall 1928-893 in the final of the IBSF World Billiards championship (timed format).
  • He had won Arthur walker trophy(points format) few days back.
  National

  
  
 
• Scientists grow miniature human stomachs from stem cells.
  • It will help in studying gastric diseases such as ulcers and stomach cancer and in the future creating tissue to repair patients stomachs.
  • The mini-stomachs are grown in petri dishes from stem cells. Fully formed, they are the size of a pea and shaped like a rugby ball. They are hollow with an interior lining that is folded into glands and pits like a real stomach.
  Science and Technology

  
  
 

GK + Computer IMP bits

• Ram Naik governor of which state - Uttar Pradesh
• C in CRR - Cash reserve ratio 
• CM of Tamilnadu - O. Panneerselvam
• Egypt Currency - Egyptian pound
• SBI multi currency card for currency name
• Who is HL dattu – Chief Justice of India
• IFSC full form- Indian Financial System Code
• Bank give load to another bank on which rate- MSF (Marginal Standing Facility)
• What is credit card- a small plastic card issued by a bank, building society, etc., allowing the holder to purchase goods or services on credit
• Who is Messi - Football Player
• One question related to Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna
• SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA and FMC to be merged into a Unified Financial Agency (UFA)

• Original name of Canara Bank?
• "Unbreakable" is the biography of Mary Kom
• Presidnet of Belgium?
• One question about Bermuda region
• Axis Bank tagline - Badhti ka naam Zindagi
• SBI tie with BNP Paribas. 
• Payment bank related question
• ctrl + Z in word ? Undo
• Windows Explorer is a Browser
• UN declare Ebola as Universal Calamity.
• Wrestling gold in 65 kg category - Yogeshwar Dutt

30th Oct-14 : Current Affairs

Current Affairs 30th October 2014 - Important Points

• Steve Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar inducted into Don Bradman Hall of Fame

• Union Culture Minister, Shri Shripad Naik inaugurated festival of India in Japan

• World's Children prize bagged by Malala Yousafzai

• Zambian President Michael Sata passed away at 77

• Global Gender Gap Report 2014 released by World Economic Forum

Current Affairs 30th October 2014 - Details

Steve Waugh and Sachin Tendulkar inducted into Don Bradman Hall of Fame

Among the Important Sports Current Affairs, On 29th October 2014 Noted Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar and former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh were inducted into Bradman Hall of Fame. Both were inducted as the 2014 Bradman Honourees at a gala dinner held at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground.

Union Culture Minister, Shri Shripad Naik inaugurated festival of India in Japan

On 27th October 2014, The Festival of India in Japan was inaugurated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Shripad Naik and Tourism Minister of Japan Mr. Akihiro Ohta in Tokyo.

Covering 20 cities, the 2014 Festival of India in Japan represents one of the largest events India has conducted in Japan. Mr. Naik said that the Festival of India in Japan is being conducted in two phases - the October phase-I comprises of a series of dance productions being presented in Japan, till date, the Kalakshetra Foundation, the Manipur Dance Academy and the Kuttiyattam Kendra have presented performances in Japan. The February 2015, phase-II will comprise of the Buddhist Art exhibition which will be presented in the Tokyo National Museum. 

World's Children prize bagged by Malala Yousafzai

Among the important recognition current affairs, On 29th October 2014, Malala Yousafzai bagged World's Children Prize for 2014. 

She was awarded with cash prize of 50000 US dollar. 

Zambian President Michael Sata passed away at 77

On 28th October 2014, President of Zambia Michael Sata passed away. He was 77 years old. He was fourth President of Zambia, before him three Presidents were Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda. Michael Sata became President of Zambia in 2011 for five years, but after his death Vice President Guy Scott has been appointed as acting president until an election is held for new President.

Global Gender Gap Report 2014 released by World Economic Forum

 On 28th October 2014, World Economic Forum (WEF) released Global Gender Gap Report 2014 which provides Gender Gap scores for 142 countries. 

India was given 114th rank with a score of 0.646. India was ranked 101 out of 136 countries in the report released in 2013.

Top 10 ranked countries with most gender-equal societies in the world are Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Ireland, Philippines and Belgium (10).

Current Affairs

Anirban Lahiri wins Venetian Macau Open

27 year old Anirban Lahiri won the Venetian MacauOpen, making it his second title of 2014 and fifth career win on the Asian Tour. He edged out 2013 winner Australian Scott Hend and Thai Prom Meesawat by one stroke.

Lahiri began the game with a ranking of 90, and has now moved up to 72. Lahiri’s goal in 2014 has been to land in the top 50 in the World Rankings.

Other Indians participating landed the following ranks – Shiv Kapur was 8th with 274, while Jyoti Randhawa was tied 15th with 278, Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 26th with 285 and S.S.P. Chowrasia was tied 32nd with 286.

The only player who has won the Macau tournament twice is China’s Zhang Lian-wei. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar has also previously won the Macau Open.

About Venetian Macau Open

The Macau Open is one of the tournaments on the Asian Tour. It is organised by Macau Sport Development Board of Macau Government Golf Association of Macau.

The tournament was inaugurated in 1998, and is holding its sixteenth edition this year. This year, the total prize money pool has been increased to US $900,000.

The competition a four-day, stroke play competition format involving 144 players. The event is held at the MAcau Golf and Country Club at Estrada de Hac Sa Coloane.  Since the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel became the title sponsor in 2012, the tournament is being called the Venetia Macau Open.

Serena Williams wins WTA Finals Singles Trophy

USA’s Serena Williams defeated Romania’s Simona Halep to clinch the BNP Paribas WTA FinalsSingapore Singles title. Williams’ won the US $2.05 mn prize money, along with the Billie Jean King Trophy. This match also saw the return of Williams after she had to drop out of the Beijing Open due to a knee injury.

This win marked Williams’ third consecutive title at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore. This is the first time that such a feat has been accomplished by a played since Monica Seles in 1990-92.  Williams also won the Billie Jean King Trophy in 2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013.

Williams’ is already set to finish the year with a No. 1 ranking.

Sania Mirza and Cara Black win Doubles trophy of the WTA Finals

Zimbabwean national Cara Black and Indian Sania Mirza won the BNP Paribas WTA Finals SingaporeDoubles title. They defeated the defending champions Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei.

With the doubles title, Black and Mirza won the Martina Navratilova Trophy and US $5,00,000. Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei were awarded a cash prize of US $ 2,50,000.

Notably, the Black and Mirza pair are set to split up after this match. Mirza will team up with Hsieh Su-wei for the next season.