Current Affairs Daily Updates: 27th February 2017

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Current Affairs Daily Updates: 27th February 2017

APPOINTMENTS
Saina Nehwal chosen as representative of IOC Athletes' Commission in BWF
  • Star shuttler Saina Nehwal, who was appointed a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission (AC) last year, would be representing the panel in the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
  • She would join the BWF Athletes’ Commission as a representative of the IOC AC, the IOC said in a communication to Nehwal. Nehwal has received an official communication in this regard.
  • The Chair of BWF AC has informed others on the panel about Saina’s joining the BWF AC as a representative of the IOC AC.
  • In a rare honour for an Indian sportsperson, Saina was appointed as a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission soon after the Rio Olympics last year.
Normani Kordei named American cancer society global ambassador
  • Fifth Harmony star Normani Kordei has been named a global ambassador for the American Cancer Society.
  • The singer has partnered with charity bosses to raise awareness about breast cancer screenings and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines.
  • The 20-year-old singer said the organisation's work is something she can really relate to.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Oscar Awards 2017 Conferred ; La La Land won maximum awards
  • The 89th Academy Awards, popularly called Oscar Awards, were conferred on 26 February 2017 (27 February 2017 as per Indian time). The award ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
  • Comedian Jimmy Kimmel hosted the awards ceremony.
  • The Oscar Awards for the year 2017 were presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 24 categories.
  • Read the complete list of Awardees here.
Kiren Rijiju to felicitate Rio Olympics sportspersons of N-E States
  • Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju will felicitate Rio Olympics sportspersons of North-Eastern States at a function in New Delhi tomorrow.
  • The sportspersons to be felicitated include Dipa Karmakar, P. Sushila Chanu, H. Lal Ruatfeli, L. Bombayla Devi and K. Chinglensan Singh. They will be presented with cash award of two lakh rupees each.
BANKING AFFAIRS
Government to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds 2016-17-Series IV
  • The government will accept applications to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds 2016-17-Series IV.
  • Applications for the bond will be accepted from today to March 03, 2017.
  • The Bonds will be issued on 17th March,2017.
  • The bond will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited, designated post offices and recognized stock exchanges.
  • The cash payments for the Bond will be acceptable up to Rs. 20,000 and tenure will be eight years with an exit option from the fifth year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
  • Minimum investment in the bonds shall be one gram with a maximum limit of subscription of five hundred grams per person per fiscal year.
UBI ties up with IRCTC to launch railway booking facility
  • The United Bank of India (UBI) has launched a railway ticket booking facility by having a direct tie-up IRCTC.
  • UBI customers can now book railway tickets seamlessly through IRCTC website using the bank’s debit card.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
FDI inflow increases by 18% to $46 billion in 2016: DIPP
  • According to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), India attracted $46 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2016. It shows that, India’s FDI grew by 18% in 2016 as compared to $39.32 billion FDI inflows in 2015.
  • The main sectors which attracted the highest FDI inflows included services, telecom, trading, computer hardware and software and automobile. Bulk of the FDI came in from Singapore followed by Mauritius, Netherlands and Japan.
  • Foreign investments are considered crucial for India as it needs around 1 trillion dollars for overhauling its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth.
NCAER lowers GDP growth forecast to 6.9 pc for FY17
  • After RBI and IMF, economic think tank National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has lowered the country's growth forecast to 6.9 per cent for the current fiscal on account of demonetisation.
  • A few days before demonetisation was announced, NCAER had projected a growth rate of 7.6 per cent for 2016-17.
  • Earlier this week, International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered GDP growth forecast to 6.6 per cent.
DEATHS
Former Union Minister P. Shiv Shankar passes away
  • Former Union Minister P Shiva Shankar passed away in Hyderabad this morning after prolonged illness.
  • He also served as Governor of Sikkim and Kerala. He was 88. Several leaders across the party lines, including Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, expressed shock and grief over the death of the former union minister.
  • They recalled the services rendered by Shiva Shankar as a Backward Caste community leader, Union Minister, Judge and Governor. The Telangana Government has announced official funeral to the departed leader.
IMPORTANT DAYS OBSERVED
Chandra Shekhar Azad's 86th Martyrdom Day observed: 27th February
  • Chandra Shekhar Azad's 86th Martyrdom Day observed on 27th February.
  • He was born on 23 July 1906, in Bhavra, Alirajpur. He died on 27 February 1931 at Allahabad. He lived for mere 24 years, but made a world of difference to India’s freedom struggle.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India, Germany ratify 2011 Pact on Social Security Investment
  • India and Germany have ratified a comprehensive Social Security Agreement (SSA) to improve investment flows between the two countries.
  • The agreement was signed in October 2011 and its instruments of ratification were exchanged in February 2017. It will come into force from May 1, 2017.
  • The SSA establishes the rights and obligations of nationals of both countries and provides for equal treatment and unrestricted payment of pensions even in case of residence in the other contracting state.
  • It also integrate the provisions of the 2008 social insurance pact and is expected to reduce the operational costs of companies on both countries active in either of the countries.
  • India and Germany had earlier signed an Agreement on Social Insurance in October 2008. It exempted detached workers of the two countries from making social security contributions in either countries as long as they were making such contributions in their respective countries.
Venezuela & Libya Suspended from voting in UNGA over Dues Debts
  • Venezuela and Libya have been suspended from voting in the UN General Assembly in for the second time in two years due to huge sum of unpaid dues by the nations to the UN Body.
  • The UN General Assembly has barred six countries from casting votes in the 2016-2017 session because they are over two years in indebtedness.
  • Dues vary according to factors including national income. As of January, the most recent figures available,
  • As per the data, Venezuela would have to make a minimum USD 24 million payment to get under the two-year threshold for getting its voting rights restored. On the other hand Libya has to make a minimum payment of USD 6.5 million.
  • Other nations suspended include Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Vanuatu and Cabo Verde, formerly called Cape Verde. The dues for these countries range from $265,000 to less than $12,000.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PM Modi unveils 112 ft bust of 'Adiyogi'
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 February 2017 unveiled the 112-foot bust of ‘Adiyogi’ or Lord Shiva at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. The statue is located in the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains in the Western Ghats.
  • The bust was unveiled on the occasion of the Maha Shivaratri, a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva.
  • The bust of the Adiyogi was built in eight months by an NGO Isha Foundation. The foundation said the iconic 112-ft face of the first yogi was consecrated in celebration of the 112 methods that Lord Shiva offered towards self-transformation.
RAHAT medical project launched in Rajasthan
  • Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje inaugurated a medical project Rajasthan Heart Attack Treatment programme (RAHAT) to provide people timely treatment during heart attacks in remote and rural areas.
  • She also flagged off RAHAT ambulance fitted with equipment and trained paramedical staff required for treatment of heart disease.
  • With this, Rajasthan became the second state in the country after Tamil Nadu to launch health programme against Heart Diseases.
  • RAHAT project was launched by Eternal Heart Care Centre Hospital, a private hospital based in capital city Jaipur. It will provide emergency ambulance service and telemedicine service to the patients facing heart attack through the hospitals.
Mumbai richest Indian city with wealth of $820 billion
  • According to the latest New World Wealth report, India's financial capital here is home to 46,000 millionaires and 28 billionaires, and is followed in terms of wealth by Delhi in second place and Bengaluru in third place.
  • Delhi is home to 23,000 millionaires and 18 billionaires with total wealth of $450 billion, while Bengaluru has 7,700 millionaires and 8 billionaires and an aggregate wealth of $320 billion.
  • Home to 9,000 millionaires and 6 billionaires, Hyderabad is next with a total wealth of $310 billion.Pune, with a total wealth of $180 billion, has 4,500 millionaires and 5 billionaires.
  • The total wealth held in India as of December 2016 amounts to $6.2 trillion, while the country is home to 264,000 millionaires and 95 billionaires
NITI Aayog to organize high-level workshop for advancing Innovation in Passenger Mobility & Transportation
  • Two-day high-level workshop on advancing passenger mobility and transportation has been organized by the NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
  • The workshop in association with an international non-profit organization Rocky Mountain Institute to explore technologies and business models to help India leapfrog traditional approaches to passenger mobility and transportation.
  • The workshop will be followed by the release of a report detailing specific and actionable outcomes and opportunities.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / DEFENCE AFFAIRS
Japan Creates Guinness Record by Launching World’s First Robot Table Tennis Tutor
  • Japan has unveiled the world’s first robot table tennis tutor FORPHEUS (Future Omron Robotics Technology for Exploring Possibility of Harmonised aUtomation with Sinic Theoretics) which has the ability to play the game better than humans.
  • It has been listed in the Guinness World Record for being the First robot table tennis tutor for its unique technological intelligence and educational capabilities.
  • The robot has been developed by the team led by Taku Oya from Omron Corporation. The FORPHEUS aims to create a harmonious environment between humans and robots through teaching the game of table tennis to human players.
Indian Navy concludes Theatre Level Exercise Tropex 2017
  • The Indian Navy’s Annual Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX 17) concluded. The Exercise, which commenced on 24 January 2017, was conducted on the Western Seaboard.
  • More than 45 ships from the Western and Eastern Naval Commands of the Indian Navy, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, 5 submarines including the nuclear powered Chakra, 50 Naval aircraft, 11 ships from the Coast Guard, troops from the Army and 20 aircraft from the Air Force including Su 30s, Jaguars and AWACS, participated in the exercise.
  • The aim of the exercise was to test the various facets of war-fighting and joint combat capabilities of the armed forces to respond to given threat situations.
SPORTS AFFAIRS
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeats Lucas Pouille to win 2017 Open 13
  • Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on 26 February 2017 defeated Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4 to win the 2017 Open 13.
  • The final, played in Marseille, France, was Tsonga's ninth victory in a row. He executed seven aces against Pouille and managed to maintain his serve without a break.
Kalinga Lancers Clinch Maiden Hockey India League Title
  • Kalinga Lancers came out with a stupendous performance to defeat Dabang Mumbai 4-1 and clinch their maiden Hockey India League (HIL) title in Chandigarh.
  • The Lancers, who finished runners-up last season, went one better to clinch the 2017 crown.
  • Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Wizards register a 5-4 win over Delhi Waveriders to claim the bronze medal.
ISSF World Cup: Pooja Ghatkar clinches bronze in 10m air rifle event
  • Pooja Ghatkar secured India’s first medal at the ongoing ISSF World Cup with a score of 228.8 in the final round.
  • Ghatkar clinched bronze with a score of 228.8 in the final round. China’s Mengyao Shi secured gold with a score of 252.1 - setting a new world record in the event. The silver went to China’s Lijie Dong for a score of 248.9.
  • This was Ghatkar’s first World Cup medal. Earlier, she has won gold in the Asian Air Gun Championship in 2014.
  • The shooter narrowly missed an Olympic berth last year even after winning the bronze at the Asia Olympic Qualifying Competition as Ayonika Paul won silver.
Gopi, Athare win men's and women's races in Delhi Marathon
  • Rio Olympian Thanackal Gopi has won the men's title in the second edition of the IDBI Federal Life Insurance New Delhi Marathon andMonika Athare claimed the honours in the women's section.
  • In Men's full marathon Gopi clocked 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 37 seconds to win the race in his first appearance in the event.
  • In women's full marathon, Monika Athare from completed the race in 2 hours, 39 minutes and 08 seconds, to bag her maiden title at this distance.
  • Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and legendary distance runner Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia flagged off all the categories of the New Delhi Marathon.