Latest Current Affairs February 2018

1. IIMs Ahmedabad, Trichy, Calcutta win CFA Institute Research Challenge India

CFA Society India announced IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Trichy, and IIM Calcutta as winners of the national final of its CFA Institute Research Challenge India 2017-18.

These future investment management professionals will represent India at the Asia Pacific Regional competition to be held on April 25 and 26 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Eight teams – IIM Indore, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Trichy, NMIMS, Mumbai, AIMS Institute, Bengaluru, IIM Calcutta, IIFT, Delhi, IIM Raipur – participated in the national final.

2. Anastasiades wins presidential election in Cyprus

Nicos Anastasiades has won a second five-year term as president of the Republic of Cyprus. Anastasiades, 71, is now expected to pick up the pieces of a suspended peace process on the ethnically split island, as well as oversee the economic recovery of a country still bouncing back from a crippling financial crisis.

3. Dubai airport retains top international spot in 2017

Dubai airport was the world’s busiest for international passengers in 2017 for the fourth year running, with 88.2 million travellers, the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency WAM said.

A major transit hub situated on transcontinental air routes, Dubai is one of several Gulf-based airports to have experienced prodigious growth in recent years.

4. Hardayal Prasad new MD & CEO of SBI Card

Hardayal Prasad has been appointed as Managing Director and CEO of SBI Card, the credit card issuer. Prasad takes over from Vijay Jasuja who retired on January 31.

His appointment is effective February 1, 2018. Prasad joined State Bank of India as a Probationary Officer in 1983, gaining experience in many areas of banking.

5. RIL-BP JV India Gas Solutions names Vinod Tahiliani as CEO

India Gas Solutions Pvt Ltd – the 50:50 joint venture of UK’s BP plc and Reliance Industries, named a new chief executive in Vinod Tahiliani as the firm looks to step up natural gas marketing in the country.

IGS was formed in 2011 when BP bought 30 per cent stake in RIL’s gas producing KG-D6 and 20 other blocks for USD 7.2 billion.

6. UP govt fined ₹10 lakh over e-waste on Ramganga river bank

The National Green Tribunal has imposed an environment compensation of Rs 10 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to take action on disposing e- waste from the banks of the Ramganga river in Moradabad.

A bench, headed by Acting NGT Chairperson Justice U D Salvi, took exception over the state government’s inaction in the matter and observed that nothing has been done till date.

The green panel also imposed an environment compensation on the Moradabad district magistrate.

7. Jharkhand to organise Global Agriculture Summit

Jharkhand state government would organise Global Agriculture Summit this year on the pattern of Momentum Jharkhand Investors Summit.

The Global Agriculture Summit would involve scientists, processing experts, innovators and agro-entrepreneur.

The three-day ‘Agrotech 2018 Farmers Fair’ at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Das said 72 food processing plants were set up during the last three years in Jharkhand, providing jobs to 2,350 youths.

8. Ola signs MoU with Assam govt to bring app-based river taxis in city

Taxi aggregator Ola has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Assam to pilot a one-of-its-kind app-based river taxi service in Guwahati.

Assam has a very unique transportation landscape where water transport plays an important role in cities such as Guwahati. Ola has played a key role in streamlining road transport over the last few years in the state.

9. Bumrah, Harmanpreet named in Forbes India 30 Under 30 list

Indian cricketers Jasprit Bumrah and Harmanpreet Kaur as well India women’s hockey team goalkeeper Savita Punia and shooter Heena Sidhu are among Forbes India 30 Under 30, a list that celebrates ‘twenty-somethings who are shaping the new India’.

Having made his ODI and T20I debuts during India’s tour of Australia 2016, Bumrah was awarded his Test debut last month during the Test series in South Africa.

10. Dubai launches world’s first floating drive-thru

Dubai has revealed the Aqua Pod concept, the world’s first sustainable floating drive-thru, serving a range of burgers.

Sea-goers will be able to satisfy their hunger while at sea and pull up to enjoy food and beverages as they would from a traditional food truck.

This unique floating drive-through concept comes from 27-year-young, award-winning architect Ahmed Youssef, founder of Aquatic Architects Design Studio (AADS) and creator of the Aqua Pod.

11. US researchers develop AI system to train robots for army

Researchers at the US Army Research Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin have developed new algorithms for robots to learn to perform tasks effectively by interacting with a human instructor.

The findings of the study were presented at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

12. Veteran Akali leader Ajit Singh Kohar passes away in Punjab

Veteran Shiromani Akali Dal leader and party’s sitting legislator from Shahkot in Jalandhar district, Ajit Singh Kohar, passed away following a cardiac arrest. He was 78.

The chief minister described Kohar as a leader committed to the development and prosperity of his constituency, besides ensuring the welfare of all sections of the society.