Current Affairs Daily Updates 14th January 2017

  /  
Mentor for Bank Exams

Current Affairs Daily Updates 14th January 2017

APPOINTMENTS
Ecuador takes chair of UN group of 134 developing countries:
  • Ecuador has taken over from Thailand as chair of the Group of 77 which promotes the interests of the 134 developing countries it represents at the United Nations.
  • The group will continue promoting "social and economic equality".
  • The G-77 is his preferred forum to implement his vision including seeing the new goals become reality and reforming UN operations.
Ashish Shelar appointed as MCA president
  • Ashish Shelar has been appointed as Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Ashish Shelarpresident.He is the succeedor of  Sharad Pawar.
  • Shelar is currently working as the Vice President of Mumbai Cricket Association from 17 June 2015.
  • He is the president of Mumbai unit of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Fred Ramsdell, Alexander Rudensky from US and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japanese Scientists Awarded 2017 Crafoord Prize
  • The 2017 Crafoord Prize has been conferred upon two American and one Japenese scientists for their fundamental discoveries in immune regulation.
  • The awardees of the scientific prize include Japan’s Shimon Sakaguchi of Osaka University, Fred Ramsdell from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy in San Francisco, and Alexander Rudensky of the New-York-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of America.
  • They will share the six million Swedish krona, or $660,000, award.
Darpan Basak & Ankit Kumar won the Young Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) award 2016
  • Darpan Basak(14) and Ankit Kumar(13)won the Young Travel Photographer of the year (TPOTY) in the Places and Experiences category.
  • It is an annual award which was founded by photographers Chris and Karen Coe in 2003.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
CBDT inks Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement
  • The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into a Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement (BAPA) on the with Indian subsidiary of a Japanese trading company.
  • Earlier, CBDT also had modified an existing Bilateral APA with another Indian subsidiary of a Japanese company to include rollback provisions.
  • Thus, total three BAPAs have been signed by CBDT with Indian subsidiaries of Japanese companies all including rollbacks. With this total number of BAPAs entered into by CBDT is now eight.
CISF announces Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia for bereaved families in Bihar:
  • The Central Industrial Security Force has announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia payment to the family of each of the four personnel gunned down by its jawan Balbir Singh in Aurangabad district of Bihar after a tiff.
  • The CISF came into existence in 1969 with a modest beginning, having three battalions, to provide integrated security cover to the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) which, in those years, occupied the commanding heights of the economy.
Spicejet signs $22-bn deal to buy 205 Boeing aircraft
  • India based Budget carrier SpiceJet and US based aircraft manufacturer Boeing has signed a deal worth $22 billion (Rs 150,000 crore) for the purchase of up to 205 aircraft on SpicejetJanuary 13, 2017.
  • This is one of the largest orders ever made in the airline history. The agreement also provided a big boost for Boeing in India.
  • The deal includes 100 new 737 Max 8 jets, builds upon an existing order for 55 aircraft.
NTPC to take over Rajasthan’s Chhabra power plant
  • The Rajasthan government announced that it has agreed to transfer its 1,000 megawatt (MW) Chhabra thermal power plant to NTPC Ltd, a central government power utility, in an asset-for-equity deal.
  • AES India, Adani Power, Tata Power-ICICI were in race for acquiring the Rajasthan power project.
  • The deal was given effect through a tripartite agreement among NTPC, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUN), the state government’s power generation utility, and power trading firm Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (RUVNL) in the presence of chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Jaipur.
DEATHS
Freedom fighter Mohan Singh Josan passed away.
  • Freedom fighter Mohan Singh Josan passed away. He was 92. He had taken part in Quit India Movement.
  • Senior Congress leader and former Tourism Minister of Maharashtra Chandrakant Chhajed (67) passed away.
Renowned Political And Social Activist Mangal Negi Dies At 86
  • Noted political and social activist and president of All India Tribes and Minorities Front Mangal Singh Negi passed away in Chandigarh on January 10, 2017 at the age of 86.
  • He was born in tribal Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh and later settled in Shimla.
Exorcist writer William Peter Blatty passes:
  • The US author and filmmaker William Peter Blatty (89-year) has passed away at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
  • He was best known for writing the Exorcist, published as a novel in 1971.
Former Chief Minister of Punjab Surjit Singh Barnala Dies at 91
  • Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Surjit Singh Barnala passed away on January 14, 2017 at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh. He was 91.
  • Barnala served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1985 to 1987.
  • He had also served as the governor of Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Former Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Chhajed passes away
  • Senior Congress leader and former Tourism Minister of Maharashtra Chandrakant Chhajed passed away in Pune today due to prolonged illness. He was 67.
  • Chhajed had joined the Congress at young age and worked on various posts of the party. He had served as mayor of Pune city in 1987.
  • He was elected as the Member of Legislative Assembly in 1999. He had served Tourism Minister in Sushilkumar Shinde government in the state.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
US lifts 20-year economic embargo on Sudan:
  • The United States has announced the end of a 20-year economic embargo on Sudan.
  • The USA has lifted a trade and financial sanctions in an effort to foster ties with the Sudanese government.
  • Now, Sudan will be able to receive imported goods and services from the US.
A Chinese base jumper achieves world-first:
  • A Chinese base jumper Adam (29-year) has successfully completed the world's first jump from the world's highest bridge in southwest China's Yunnan province.
  • He completed the jump from the newly-opened Beipanjiang Bridge (565-meters high).
  • The whole jump took 81 seconds with Adam opening his parachute ten seconds into the jump, when he was 200 meters above the ground.
Australia, Japan boost defence ties amid China’s growing military might
  • Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signed an upgraded defence agreement to boost cooperation between their militaries on January 14, 2017.
  • Beside with this they also reaffirmed their support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement the 12-nation trade pact.
  • The pact will allow their militaries to provide each other with logistical support during exercises. It will enhance their coordination on activity in the disputed South China Sea and the nuclear threat posed by North Korea
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Union Government discussing with States to bring Water into Concurrent list
  • The Union Government is discussing the issue of bringing w–ater into concurrent list of VII schedule of Constitution with States. 
  • It was announced by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti after inaugurating the Jal Manthan-III in New Delhi.
  • The Ashok Chawla Committee also had recommended inter alia the shifting of water to the Concurrent List to provide uniform national framework to manage water in a better and efficient way
India, US ink MoU for collaboration in third world countries:
  • India and the United States has signed MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to collaborate in the fields of developmental activities and aid in third world countries. 
  • The MoU has been signed between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Union Ministry of External Affairs’ Development Partnership Administration (DPA). 
  • As per the MoU both countries will collaborate on exchange of information and experience in sectors or issues pertaining to project development or implementation in partner countries.
Ken-Betwa River Linking Project Receives Green Signal from Panel
  • The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project received clearance from the green panel and Tribal Affairs Ministry on January 13, 2017.
  • The ambitious Rs. 9,393 crore project aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa basin through concrete canals to irrigate India’s worst drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
  • The project will benefit Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in terms of meeting irrigation, drinking water and electricity needs of people across 6 districts in the two states.
Week-long Anand Utsav begins in MP:
  • Today, a week-long happiness Festival “Anand Utsav” has begun across the Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
  • Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to set up Happiness Department.
  • The state government is also setting up “Anandam Kendra” at district headquarters of the state.
  • Sports events like 'kho-kho', 'wrestling', kabaddi and cultural functions will be organized at village panchayat level to bring happiness and joy to the people during the festival.
Car carrier service starts between Gujarat and Mangaluru:
  • In line with Government of India's policy of implementing the vision for coastal shipping, tourism and regional development, New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has introduced Car carrier service between Gujarat and Mangaluru.
  • The pure car and truck carrier MV Dresden sailed out to Cochin after discharging Tata Cars and loaded trucks at the port 
4th International Kite Festival begins in New Delhi:
  • The three-day International Kite Festival (4th) has begun inDwarka, New Delhi.
  • Professional kite flying experts from across India like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jaipur, Chennai, Kerala, Punjab, Delhi and the globe are taking part in the festival.
  • A special kite making demonstration has been also organized where professional kite flyers will showcase their expertise and demonstrate the art of kite making.
India ink MoU with Sri Lanka to construct 3,000 rain water harvesting systems:
  • India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka to construct 3000 rain water harvesting systems in Rin Jaffna District at a cost of 300 million Rupees (Sri Lankan).
  • The rain water project envisages construction of 3000 rainwater harvesting systems for 3000 households in selected divisions of Jaffna District.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Kerala Launched its first Solar Powered Boat Aditya:
  • The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated thefirst solar-powered boat of the state water transport department"Aditya" at a function held in Vaikom boat Jetty in Kerala.
  • The 75-seater boat is fitted with 78 rooftop solar panels. It is 20 metre long and 7 metre wide. The boat will do service between Vaikom and Thavanakkadavu.
  • The boat was manufactured at ship technology department of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
SPORTS AFFAIRS
China faces a one-year ban from international weightlifting competitions
  • China faces a one-year ban from international weightlifting competitions after three of its weightlifters failed doping retests and were stripped of their Olympic 2008 gold medals.
  • The International Weightlifting Federation had announced in 2016 that countries with three or more athletes failing doping retests will be disqualified from all international competitions for a year.
3 Chinese women’s weightlifting gold medallists stripped of 2008 Olympics titles
  • International Olympic Committee (IOC) has disqualified three Chinese women’s weightlifting gold medallists at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for doping.
  • Three weightlifters Cao Lei (75kg category gold medallist), Chen Xiexia (48kg gold medallist) and Liu Chunhong (69kg gold medallist) were stripped of their 2008 titles.
  • The Chinese trio, all aged between 31 and 34 tested positive for the banned GHRP-2, a human growth hormone following a reanalysis of their drug tests. With this China faces one year ban from international weightlifting competitions.
  • In all, eight athletes were disqualified from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics as part of the ongoing series of retests from 2008 and 2012.
Gujarat wins maiden Ranji title:
  • Gujarat has won maiden "Ranji title 2016-17" by defeatingMumbai (defending champions) by five wickets at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
  • With this win, Gujarat has become the only the fourth team to be crowned domestic champions in all three formats.
  • It was the second time that Gujarat had made the final of the prestigious domestic tournament and first in 66 years.
  • Skipper Parthiv Patel (143) led from the front and score a century under pressure and batting almost through the day.
PV Sindhu finally prevails over Saina Nehwal:
  • Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu produced a disciplined performance to outwit Saina Nehwal in straight games in a much-anticipated encounter as Chennai Smashers entered the finals of the Premier Badminton League season 2 with a 4-1 win over Awadhe Warriors in New Delhi.
  • China Open champion Sindhu has never defeated Saina in a tournament.
  • Finally exorcised the ghosts of her losses with an 11-7, 11-8 victory over her senior colleague in a crucial women's singles clash which was Chennai's trump match.