Current Affairs Daily Updates: 28th February 2017

APPOINTMENTS

Gopal Baglay Appointed External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson

India’s Senior Diplomat Gopal Baglay was appointed as External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson on 27th February, 2017.
He was succeeding Vikas Swarup, who was made India’s new High Commissioner to Canada.
A 1992-batch officer of Indian Foreign Service, Baglay was handling the sensitive PAI (Pakistan – Afghanistan – Iran) division in the ministry till now.

Kabir Bedi appointed honourary brand ambassador of Sightsavers

India’s most famous international actor Kabir Bedi was appointed as the honourary brand ambassador of Sightsavers India to prevent avoidable blindness by RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Kohli named captain of the year at ESPNcricinfo Awards

Indian international cricketer Virat Kohli has named as the ‘Captain of the Year‘ at the 10th annual ESPNcricinfo Awards.
Kohli led India to nine wins out of 12 Tests in the year 2016.
Stuart Broad bagged the Test Bowling performance of the year for his brilliant spell of 6/17 in the final Test against South Africa.

BANKING AFFAIRS

Lakshmi Vilas Bank ties with Centrum for its wealthy clients

South-based Lakshmi Vilas has roped in Centrum group, a leading financial services company, which will now mange the bank’s wealthy clients.
Centrum Wealth Management currently has assets under advise (AUA) in excess of Rs 10,000 crore.
It offers a bouquet of professional Wealth Management Services which include investment advisory across asset classes, portfolio management services and family office services including estate and tax planning.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Apollo Munich and Dena Bank Enters Into Bancassurance Tie-Up

Standalone health insurer Apollo Munich Health Insurance expanding its footprint across the country with bancassurance tie-up with state-owned Dena Bank.
Under the tie-up the bank will distribute customized Apollo Munich Health insurance and personal accident policies to the bank's 20 million customers nationwide.

SIDBI expert panel sanctions Rs 1,112 cr to funds for startups

An expert committee Venture Capital Investment Committee (VCIC) set up by SIDBI has sanctioned Rs 300 crore to fund managers who would invest in startups, taking the total sanctions so far this fiscal (2017) to over Rs 1,100 crore.
During the fiscal year 2014-15 and 2015-16 sanctions were made to 11 funds (Rs 314 crores) and 16 funds (Rs 607 crores) respectively while the number during the current financial year (2017) has already crossed Rs 1,112 crores to 30 funds.

CSO pegs advance GDP growth estimate for current fiscal at 7%

Central Statistical Organisation, CSO has pegged advance GDP growth estimate for current fiscal at 7(point)1 per cent, the same as projected earlier.
Briefing media in New Delhi on 2nd Advance Estimates of National Income, 2016-17 and quarterly estimates of GDP, Chief Statistician Dr T.C.A. Anant said, India’s December quarter GDP stands at 7 percent in the demonetisation period from October to December last year.
The growth of Real Gross Value Added, GVA at basic prices in 2016-17 is estimated at 6.7 per cent against 7.8 per cent in 2015-16.
The per capita net national income at current price during 2016-17 is estimated to be 1.03 lakh rupees showing a rise of 10.2 per cent compared to 94,178 rupees during 2015-16.

DEATHS

‘Game of Thrones’ actor Neil Fingleton passes away at 36

Neil Fingleton, a 7-foot 7-inch actor who played the giant, Mag the Mighty, in “Game of Thrones” has died at 36.
The Tall Persons Club says Mr. Fingleton, who was Britain’s tallest man, died due to heart failure.
Mr. Fingleton was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the U.K.’s tallest man.

IMPORTANT DAYS OBSERVED

National Science Day 28th February

The Science day is celebrated to honour the Nobel laureate- Sir C.V. Raman for his invention of the Raman Effect on 28th February 1928.
For this he got Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1930. Various activities are organized on the day, like debates, quiz competitions, exhibitions and so on.
Whole Nation takes honour of thanking all the scientists for their remarkable contributions and dedication on this occasion.
The theme of the year 2017 is “Science and Technology for specially abled persons”.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) Begins in Barcelon

The 2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) began in Mobile World Capital Barcelona on February 27, 2017 and will conclude March 2, 2017.
Some of the leading industry participating in the event includes Blackberry, Motorola, Google, Nokia, Sony, Samsung, Huawei, LG, ZTE and HTC among others.
And also participate prominent executives representing mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors and content owners across the world.

Iran and Russia Agrees Road map to Jointly Produce Nuclear Fuel

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI) stated that Russia and Iran have reached an agreement to jointly produce nuclear fuel.
A preliminary agreement with Russia on the joint production of nuclear fuel was reached during the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the major world powers in 2015.

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India & Ukraine to strengthen bilateral cooperation through Cinema

Minister for Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu and Member of the Parliament of Ukraine and Chairman of the National Council of Television Ukraine Mr. Iurii Artemenko have agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries through the medium of Cinema in New Delhi.
The cooperation would be helpful to showcase films through the medium of Film Festivals and utilizing the Film Facilitation Office platform established by India.

Goa Ranks first in having lesser infant mortality rate

While infant mortality rate in the country has been registered at 42 deaths of kids per 1000 births the Union Territory of Puducherry has established a record of having lesser rate of infant mortality.
Director of Health and Family Welfare Services K V Raman told that Union Territory was having 11 deaths of children per 1000 babies born.
Puducherry ranked third in the achievement next to Goa and Kerala.

SPORTS AFFAIRS

Shooting World Cup India bag 1Gold, 1 Silver Medals

India on 27th February bagged two medals, a gold and silver, at the Shooting World Cup in New Delhi.
In the 10m mixed team air pistol event, duo of Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu clinched the Gold for India, making it the first Gold in this event for the country.
Jity teamed up with Heena to finish ahead of Japan’s Yukari Konishi and Tomoyuki Matsuda 5-3. Slovenia’s Naphaswan Yangpaiboon and Kevin Venta were placed third.

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