CURRENT AFFAIRS
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OBSERVED DAY
1. International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FGM is internationally recognized as a human rights violation. UNFPA, jointly with UNICEF, leads the largest global programme to accelerate the abandonment of FGM. In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated 6 February as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. This day is observed to enhance awareness of the issue and to encourage concrete actions against the practice.
2017 Theme: “Building a solid and interactive bridge between Africa and the world to accelerate ending FGM by 2030.”
APPOINTMENTS
2. Rajiv Singh takes over as acting CEO of Prasar Bharati
Member (Finance) in Prasar Bharati Rajiv Singh took over as the acting CEO of the countrys public service broadcaster. Singh has taken over as per a resolution of the Prasar Bharati Boards Resolution taken on January 14 in a meeting in Hyderabad. The Prasar Bharati Board had passed a similar resolution in favour of Panda when Jawhar Sircar put in his papers. Prasar Bharati looks after the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio.
3. Arun Kumar succeeds Richard Rekhy as KPMG India chairman
Leading professional services firm KPMG India has selected former US government official Arun M Kumar as its new Chairman and CEO. Prior to this, Kumar had served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service in the administration of former US President Barack Obama.
KPMG India has around 11,000 staff and in recent times the company has seen attrition of various partners.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
4. Link all mobile numbers to Aadhaar within a year: SC to Govt
The Supreme Court has directed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government to register details of identity of every mobile user within a year. The apex court said that there are over 100 crore mobile subscribers while making it mandatory for all mobile subscribers, including those having pre-paid SIM cards, to have their phone number linked to Aadhaar without fail within one year.
5. TN Governor accepts Panneerselvam’s resignation as CM
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has accepted the resignation of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, clearing the decks for VK Sasikla to take over the top post. Panneerselvam had resigned on Sunday citing “personal reasons”. His resignation came after AIADMK chief Sasikala was elected the Legislature Party Leader.
Panneerselvam was appointed Chief Minister on the night of December 5 within hours of the death of his predecessor J Jayalalithaa.
6. Central Delhi’s Dalhousie Road renamed as Dara Shikoh Road
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has renamed Dalhousie Road as Dara Shikoh Road. Dara Shikoh was the elder brother of Mughal emperor Aurganzeb. The road, named after Lord Dalhousie who served as governor general of India from 1848-56, is located less than 2 km from Rashtrapati Bhawan. The proposal to rename Dalhousie Road was put forward to the NDMC by BJP MP from New Delhi Meenakshi Lekhi.
7. Railways plans first train on Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Railway Ministry is set to approve the project, which will connect the Union Territory’s capital city in the south with the largest town on the north Andaman island currently linked by a 350-km bus service that takes over 14 hours and a ship that takes around 24 hours. There is no air connectivity.
A 240-KM broad-gauge railway line connecting two major islands, with bridges and stations along the coast, will be part of an ambitious rail link connecting Port Blair with Diglipur on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — a first in the country that will bring the archipelago on the rail map.
8. Indian Navy launches underwater harbour defence and surveillance system
An Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief, Western Naval Command. The system will enhance the security of valuable assets against asymmetric threats.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
9. Japan’s plan to clear space debris using ‘fishing net’ fails
An experimental Japanese mission to clear space junk from the Earth’s orbit has ended in failure. More than 100m pieces of rubbish are thought to be whizzing around the planet, including cast-off equipment from old satellites and bits of rocket, which experts say could pose risks for future space exploration.
The 700-metre tether – made from thin wires of stainless steel and aluminium – was due to be extended from a cargo ship launched in December carrying supplies to astronauts at the International Space Station.
10. India to launch record 104 satellites on Feb 15
India will create history by launching a record 104 satellites, including 101 foreign ones, on February 15 from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. Of the total earth-observation satellites, three are Indian, 88 are from the US and the remaining are from Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.
SPORTS
11. Sports minister lays foundation for first Centre for para athletes
Union minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Vijay Goel laid the foundation stone for constructing country’s first Centre of Excellence for Differently-abled sportspersons in Gandhinagar. The centre will have 64-metre-long air-conditioned indoor hall that will house a swimming pool and other training facilities of para athletes.
12. New England Patriots crowned Super Bowl champions
The New England Patriots were crowned the Super Bowl champions after defeating Atlanta Falcons at the 51st edition of the American football championship on Sunday. The Patriots registered a comeback from 3-28 to 34-28 to claim their fifth Super Bowl title. Notably, no team had ever won the Super Bowl after trailing by more than 10 points.
13. India wins team gold at Asian Junior Squash Championships
Top seed India defeated Malaysia 2-0 to win the gold medal in the boy’s team event at the Asian Junior Squash championship. Fresh from his Asian individual and British Junior Open successes, India’s no.1 player Velavan Senthilkumar first defeated second seed Malaysia’s Ong Sai Hun in quick time.
14. India to host World Billiards C’ship for next 4 years
The Billiards and Snoooker Federation of India (BSFI) announced that India will host the World Billiards Championship for the next four years. The premier event was held in Bengaluru last year when champion cueist Pankaj Advani had triumphed in the 150-UP format beating Peter Gilchrist of Singapore.
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