Current Affairs Daily Updates: 6th February 2017

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Current Affairs Daily Updates: 6th February 2017

APPOINTMENTS
Gopinathan re-appointed to UN joint inspection unit
  • Top Indian diplomat, Achamkulangare Gopinathan has been re-appointed by the UN General Assembly to the Joint Inspection Unit for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2018.
  • Along with him, Sukai Prom-Jackson of Gambia, Jean Wesley Cazeau of Haiti and Nikolay Lozinskiy of Russia have also been appointed members of the Joint Inspection Unit.
  • Earlier, Gopinathan was for the first time appointed to the UN body from January 2013 to December 2017.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Indian-Origin British Sculptor Anish Kapoor Wins $ 1 Million Israeli Prize
  • Renowned Indian-origin British sculptor Anish Kapoor was honored with the prestigious $1 million 2017 Genesis Prizeon February 6, 2017 by Israel for his utmost contribution for Jewish community.
  • However, the money received by the innovative artist would be contributed by him to help the Syrian refugees and expand Jewish engagement in the global effort to reduce the refugee crisis.
  • The 62-year-old Anish was chosen by the prize committee headed by Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky.
Virat Kohli features in latest cover star of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
  • Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who led his side to victory against England in all three formats of the game recently, has featured in the latest cover star of the bible of cricket - Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
  • Kohli becomes only the third Asian origin player after Tendulkar and England all-rounder Moeen Ali to be featured on the cover of the magazine.
BANKING AFFAIRS
Corp Bank pact with Religare
  • Corporation Bank has signed an agreement with Religare Health Insurance Co Ltd to market its products and services through the distribution network of the bank across India. A press release said that Corporation Bank holds around 5 per cent stake in Religare Health Insurance.
  • The Executive Directors of the bank Sunil Mehta and Gopal Murli Bhagat, and Managing Director & CEO of Religare Health Anuj Gulati were present at an event to sign the agreement in Mangaluru
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Uber launches taxi hiring service UberHIRE in 9 cities:
  • US-based cab aggregator Uber has now launched ‘UberHIRE’ in 9 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Pune that will allow users to hire a cab for up to 12 hours.
  • It will be available at a minimum fare of Rs 449 for up to 2 hours and up to 30 kilometres.
  • After a successful pilot run in Kochi, UberHIRE launched in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Vizag and Nagpur.
RBI should cut rates by 75 bps: ASSOCHAM
  • Industry body ASSOCHAM has said that Reserve Bank of India should cut interest rate by 0(point) 5 – 0 (point)75 per cent in view of dismal credit growth as well as subdued demand.
  • As the RBI Monetary Policy Committee meets on February 7-8 for next bi-monthly credit policy, ASSOCHAM has impressed upon the central bank and the Finance Ministry to ensure adequate transmission of cuts in the interest rates.
DEATHS
Renowned Urdu author Bano Qudsia passes away
  • Renowned Urdu novelist and short story writer Bano Qudsia passed away on 4 February 2017 in Lahore, Pakistan. She was 88.
  • Qudsia was the widow of admirable Urdu novelist Ashfaq Ahmed.
  • She is best known for her novel Raja Gidh (The King Buzzard), which is considered a modern Urdu classic.
  • She was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in 2003.
IMPORTANT DAYS OBSERVED
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2017 observed
  • The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation was observed across the world on 6 February 2017.
  • The theme for the 2017 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is “Building a solid and interactive bridge between Africa and the world to accelerate ending FGM by 2030.”
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Qatar airways launches World’s longest flight
  • The Qatar Airways has launched the World’s longest scheduled commercial service to ply between Doha to Auckland.
  • The inaugural service of Flight QR920 took off on February 5, 2017 from Doha and will take 16 hours and 20 minutes to travel 14,535 kilometers to reach Auckland in New Zealand.
  • However, during the return flight, the Boeing 777 flight would take 17 hours and 30 minutes due to high-altitude winds.
  • This makes Qatar Airways to launch the World’s fastest and longest passenger service in terms of flying time.
17th BIMSTEC senior officials’ meeting to be held tomorrow
  • The 17th session of BIMSTEC senior officials’ meeting will be held at Kathmandu tomorrow.
  • The delegates of member countries will review the progress made byBay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and recommend future course of action to strengthen regional cooperation among the group.
  • The date of 4th BIMSTEC Summit, to be held in Nepal this year, is also likely to be announced.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Assam Government launches Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana:
  • Assam Government has launched Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY)  to bring about paradigm shift towards holistic development of villages in the state. 
  • The scheme is a mega mission aimed at bringing in revolutionary changes by doubling the farm income in the State. 
  • As per Situation Assessment Survey (period from 2002-03 to 2012-13), the farm income in Assam was recorded only 0.88% as against national average of 5.2%.
  • The scheme has financial outlay of Rs. 30,000 crore and will be implemented in all the villages in Assam in the next five years culminating in 2021-22.
Nagaland cabinet to submit memorandum to PM to exempt it from Part IX A of Constitution
  • Nagaland cabinet has decided to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister to issue an ordinance to exempt the state from the provision of Part IX A of the Constitution which deals with the municipalities.
  • According to a communiqué issued by the media cell of Chief Minister's Office, the decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the state Cabinet, was attended by special invitees comprising legislators from all tribes.
I&B Minister releases annual book 'India-2017' & 'Bharat-2017'
  • Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu today released the annual year book 'India-2017' and 'Bharat-2017' at a function in New Delhi today.
  • The book published by the Publications Division gives comprehensive information about the country and various States and Union Territories including functioning of the government and the economy.
  • The book also gives a glimpse of flagship programmes of the government, important events of the year and the story of Indian States and Union Territories with their vital statistics.
  • Mr Naidu also launched the Online Digital Library which has a repository of over 750 books, with a wide range of titles that available for free browsing to visitors at DPD, Book Gallery.
HRD ministry to set up NTA to conduct exams for higher, secondary education
  • The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRB) will soon set up a department – National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct examinations for higher and secondary education.
  • NTA will be the single authority that will conduct entrance tests for all higher institutions like JEE, NEET, NET and other prestigious exams.
  • Establishment of NTA will free CBSE, AICTE and other agencies from conducting various exams and enable them to focus on their core areas and work on improving the quality of education. Its main purpose is to bring reforms in the education system.
Telangana launches India's first social innovation hub in Nizamabad
  • The Telangana government has launched India's first social innovation centre The ‘Kakatiya Hub For Social Innovation’ in Nizamabad, Telangana.
  • Telangana IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan made this announcement at the one-day Development Dialogue, an international social entrepreneurship ecosystem conference hosted by Kakatiya Sandbox.
  • Jayesh Ranjan said the ‘Kakatiya Hub For Social Innovation’ funded by the Telangana government and implemented through Kakatiya Sandbox will function like a rural incubator to encourage entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
Centre forms six-member committee to Look into Haj Subsidy issue
  • A six-member committee has been formed by the government to look into the matter of how to improve the Haj Poilcy of India and also deal with the issue of reducing and abolishing the subsidy to the pilgrims.
  • Former Consulate General of India (CGI), Jeddah, Afzal Amanullah will be the head of the committee. Besides, Ministry Joint Secretary J Alam will serve as member secretary.
  • Other in the committee includes, Bombay High Court judge (retd) SS Parkar, ex-Haj Committee of India chairman Qaiser Shamim, former Air India CMD Michael Mascarenhas , Muslim scholar-chartered accountant Kamal Faruqui.
Ministry of AYUSH constitutes a 16-member committee to prepare a Yoga Protocol for Diabetes Control
  • The Ministry of AYUSH has constituted a 16-member committee under the chairmanship of Dr. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, S-Vyasa University, to prepare a Yoga Protocol for Diabetes Control.
  • The Ayush Minister Shri ShripadYesso Naik said that regular yoga practice can help reduce the level of sugar in the blood, along with lowering blood pressure, keeping a weight check, reducing the symptoms and slowing the rate of progression of diabetes, as well as lessening the severity of further complications.
Health Ministry launches Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign:
  • The Health Ministry has launched Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign in the country at a function in Bengaluru.
  • The campaign against these two diseases will start from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep, covering nearly 6 crore children.
  • The Minister urged parents, caregivers, community leaders, teachers, angan waadi workers and other frontline health workers to become the active part of this campaign.
  • The Measles and Rubella (MR) campaign targets around 41 crore children across the country, the largest ever in any campaign.
  • All children aged between 9 months and less than 15 years will be given a single shot of MR- vaccination.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AFFAIRS
Indian Navy launches underwater harbour defence and surveillance system
  • Indian Navy has launched an Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System (IUHDSS) in Mumbai, Maharashtra to enhance the security of valuable naval assets against asymmetric threats.
  • It was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief, Western Naval Command. It is second IUHDSS to be installed in India, after first was installed at Kochi, Kerala in August 2015.
  • IUHDSS is designed and developed by Israeli Aerospace Industries ELTA for surface and sub-surface surveillance of the harbour.
  • It is a state of the art system with integrated radars, advance sensors, electro optic cameras and sound navigation and ranging systems (SONARs).
Gmail will no longer support Chrome Browser version 53
  • Google has announced it is ending Gmail support on versions 53 and below of Chrome browser, which will affect Windows XP and Vista users.
  • The latest Chrome update available for these systems is version 49.
  • Users who don't upgrade to a newer version of Chrome by 2017 end will be redirected to the basic HTML version vulnerable to security risks.
SPORTS AFFAIRS
India wins Davis Cup (4-1) over New Zealand:
  • A lanky Ramkumar Ramanathan was fluent in his win over Finn Tearney while Yuki Bhambri struggled past Jose Statham as India completed an emphatic 4-1 victory over New Zealand in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie, in Pune.
  • Ramkumar sealed the tie for the hosts by thumping Tearney 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 in the fourth rubber before Yuki won the dead fifth rubber against Statham 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
  • India now play second round tie at home in April against Uzbekistan.
Vijay Goel lays foundation stone of CoE for Para Sports in Gujarat
  • Sports Minister Vijay Goel laid the foundation stone of the India’s first Center of Excellence for Para Sports to help para athletes in showcasing their skills and talent further both at the national and international level in Gujarat on February 5, 2017.
  • The Center will have a fully air conditioned indoor hall, fully air conditioned elite hostel of 100 beds, 20 VIP accommodation for foreign guest which will also be air conditioned and open land for warm-up.
  • Goel also inaugurated the SAI Training Center (Para) at SAI NSWC Gandhinagar on February 4, 2017.
  • This Center will provide facilities for training in athletics,swimming and powerlifting  the age group of 14-20 years.
India to host FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in July 2017 in Bengaluru
  • Basketball Federation of India on February 5, 2017 announced that India will host FIBA Women’s Asia Cup basketball tournament in July 2017 in Bengaluru.
  • India also set to host the FIBA U-16 Women’s Asian Championship from October 22 to 28 in Hyderabad.
  • This will be the first time since 2009 that India will host a major FIBA (International Basketball Federation) event.
India to host World Billiards Championship for next 4 years:
  • According to the Billiards and Snoooker Federation of India (BSFI), India will host the World Billiards Championship for the next four years.
  • BSFI secretary S Balasubramaniam said, "This will be the only World Championship recognised by all".
  • The World Billiards Limited will only have ranking events.
Table Tennis Nationals: Sharath Kamal, Madhurika Patkar Win Singles Titles
  • Madhurika Patkar won the women's singles crown for the first time, while veteran A. Sharath Kamal bagged his seventh national crown in the 78th 11Even Sports Table Tennis Senior National Championships
  • Sharath beat an equally weary Soumyajit Ghosh 4-2 and Madhurika downed six-time national champion Poulomi Ghatak 4-0 at the Manesar Sports Club.
  • Sharath made a good beginning but Ghosh came back to take the next. The pattern continued until the fourth, but in the fifth, Sharath accelerated and increased the lead with considerable pace.
  • In the women semi-finals, Poulomi disposed of sixth seed Pooja Sahasrabuddhe 4-0, while Madhurika stopped defending champion Manika Batra 4-2.