CA February 14
MEA & GATEWAY HOUSE CO-HOSTS 2ND GATEWAY OF INDIA GEOECONOMIC DIALOGUE IN MUMBAI:
Gateway House and the Ministry of External Affairs are co-hosting the 2017’s edition of ‘The Gateway of India Geoeconomic Dialogue’. This is India’s premier geo-economics conference with the focus on building synergies between business and foreign policy.
The theme of the conference is “Where Geopolitics meets Business”.
KARNATAKA AMENDS LAW TO ALLOW KAMBALA:
Paving the way for the conduct of kambala, traditional buffalo race, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Kambala is a traditional annual buffalo race in marshy fields held in the coastal districts of the state in which buffalo pairs are made to race one after another in paddy fields and is considered a thanks giving to the Gods for protecting the animals from diseases.
GUJARAT NARMADA VALLEY FERTILIZERS LIMITED COUNTRY’S 1ST CASHLESS TOWNSHIP:
The National Institution for Transforming India, NITI Ayog has declared GNFC Township as “Cashless Role Model Township”, which inspires other corporate to follow. Around 10,000 people will be benefited by the initiative.
INDIA’S FIRST FLOATING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INAUGURATED ON MANIPUR’S LOKTAK LAKE:
Loktak Lake is the one of the largest freshwater lake in the country, has now become home to first of its kind loktak floating elementary school. Situated about 50 km from Imphal, the school has been inaugurated at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok village in Manipur.
The Loktak Lake is referred as the “lifeline of Manipur” as it is highly productive and many lives depend on the lake for endurance. The newly-inaugurated school in the floating village is currently providing education to around 40 children from Class I-III by engaging two local teachers.
PRDA will pay the volunteers under the project called ‘Empowering vulnerable local communities for sustainable development’, which is funded by Action Aid India.
ASIA’S PREMIER AIR SHOW “AERO INDIA” BEGINS AT BENGALURU IN KARNATAKA:
Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. It is organised by Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence. It is the second largest air show in the world after the Paris Air Show.
CARS TO BECOME DEARER IN SOUTH DELHI:
Buying a car in south Delhi is set to become more expensive, with the local civic body proposing to hike the one-time parking charges as part of its 2017-18 budgets.
At present, the one-time parking charges are ₨.2,000 and ₨.4,000 for non-commercial cars that cost up to ₨.4 lakh and more than ₨.4 lakh, respectively. Mr. Arya has proposed increasing the rates and creating more categories based on the price of cars. Starting from ₨.5,000, the parking charges go up to ₨.1.2 lakh for diesel cars that cost more than Rs.40 lakh. Charges for buses, tempos and trucks have also been increased.
NATIONAL CAREER SERVICES (NCS) AND JEEVAN PRAMAN FACILITY FOR EPFO PENSIONERS LAUNCHED IN HYDERABAD POST OFFICE:
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge), Shri Bandaru Dattatreya addressing at the launch of the National Career Services (NCS) and Jeevan Pramaan facility to EPFO Pensioners through Post Offices, at Dak Sadan, Abids, in Hyderabad.
The Post Offices will serve as an Employment Registration Centres for Unemployed rural youth on behalf of the “National Career Service” Portal where youths can register themselves for employment in 1,55,000 post offices established across the country for over 3000 occupations offered under 52 sectors in NCS. The centre aims to provide employment to 5 crore people over next five years.
USA & CANADA AGREE TO FORM A TASK FORCE FOR WORKING WOMEN:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump were to participate in a round-table discussion about women in the work force. A White House official and a senior Canadian government official said the two countries plan to launch a new task force called the United States Canada Council for the Advancement of Women Business Leaders-Female Entrepreneurs.
Ivanka Trump, the President’s daughter who has been an advocate for policies benefiting working women, was involved in recruiting participants and setting the agenda for the round-table. They also expressed their willingness to work together and build “bridges” to improve bilateral trade, at the same time that they made clear their deep differences on immigration and accepting refugees.
CUPID SHOT DOWN BY ISLAMABAD HIGH COURT:
In a first of its kind verdict, the Islamabad High Court has banned Valentine’s Day events at public places and directed the media regulator to immediately stop advertisements in print and electronic media promoting the day. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said, “No event shall be held at official level and at any public place.”
The court accepted the petition and ordered the administration to take action to stop the celebration of Valentine’s Day in the country. It said the order should be implemented with “with immediate effect.” It nominated Ministry of Information, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and Chief Commissioner Islamabad to ensure that ban was carried out in letter and spirit.
BANGLADESH COURT BANS 34 PHARMACEUTICALS FROM PRODUCING DRUGS:
The High Court has ordered 20 pharmaceutical companies to stop production of all medicines and 14 others to stop production of antibiotics over the allegation of failure in producing standard quality medicines.
Delivering its verdict on a writ petition filed by the human rights organisation ‘Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh’, the HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan passed the order.
The court also ordered the government to form a 5-member committee to submit its report quarterly and monitor whether the directives were implemented. Government had already cancelled the licenses of 11 pharmaceuticals among the 34.
SRI LANKA ARRESTS 550 ‘MILITARY DESERTERS’ AS PART OF CLEAN-UP:
Sri Lanka arrested nearly 550 soldiers in a single day as it reins in the mass desertion that’s plagued the armed forces since the end of the civil war. The military has been pursuing nearly 43,000 deserters who refused to voluntarily turn themselves in under a government amnesty designed to clean up the ranks.
More than 9,000 officers and soldiers took advantage of the amnesty, turning themselves in to avoid punishment. Officials say peace time desertions were due in part to a reduction in risk-related allowances paid to soldiers, and the growth of better paying jobs in the private sector.
SYRIAN GOVT. USED CHLORINE GAS IN ALEPPO BATTLE:
Syrian government forces carried out at least 8 chemical attacks during the final weeks of the battle for Aleppo, killing nine people, among them four children, Human Rights Watch (HRW). Around 200 people were injured by the toxic gases used on opposition-controlled areas of the northern city, according to HRW.
The use of chlorine gas as a weapon is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013 under pressure from Russia. Human Rights Watch urged the Security Council to impose sanctions on senior leaders in the chain of command, but such a move would likely to be vetoed by Russia, Syria in the war.
A joint investigation by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) found that several units of the Syrian army had used toxic weapons against three villages in northern Syria in 2014 and 2015.
RBI TELLS BANKS TO TREAT BANNED NOTES AS ‘SOILED’:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked banks to treat the withdrawn currencies in their currency chests deposited since November 9, as ‘soiled’. The regulator said the old ₨.500 and ₨.1,000 notes will not be reckoned for calculating chest balance limit or cash holding limit.
“Specified bank notes deposited in the currency chests, since November 10, 2016, will be considered as part of the chest balance in the soiled note category but will not be reckoned for calculating Chest Balance Limit / Cash Holding Limit.
BRITANNIA’S ‘TOUGH’ THIRD QUARTER PROFIT RISES 5%:
Food company Britannia Industries Ltd. Closed the 3rd quarter with a 6% rise in its consolidated revenue growth at ₨.2,338 crore and a 5% increase in its net profit at ₨.220 crore. The company’s managing director Varun Berry explained demonetisation had “impacted” the positive momentum triggered by a good monsoon and seventh pay panel benefits. Sales dropped by more than 10% in November 2016.
Britannia CEO: Varun Berry
Headquarters: Bengaluru
HINDUSTAN MOTORS Q3 LOSS NARROWS TO ₨.3.8 CR.:
C.K. Birla controlled Hindustan Motors Ltd narrowed its third-quarter loss to ₨.3.8 crore from ₨.12.3 crore a year ago, saying that its operating results have been affected by the adverse market conditions. The company which shot into news last week over its announcement on sale of the Ambassador brand to Peugeot SA, said that the sale will be effective upon fulfilment of certain terms and conditions. Hindustan Motors reported ₨.90 lakh income from exceptional items.
Hindustan Motors CEO: Asim kumar Basu
Headquarters : Kolkata
RETAIL INFLATION SLOWS TO 3.17% IN JANUARY:
Retail inflation eased in January to 3.17% on the back of a sharp slowdown in food price inflation. Growth in the consumer price index (CPI) slowed from the 3.4% seen in December 2016, extending the streak of easing retail inflation to six months.
The food and beverages category registered an inflation rate of 1.3% in January, down from the 2% witnessed in December 2016. Food price gains have also been easing for six consecutive months. The official data released on Monday showed core consumer price index (CPI), however, rose to 5.1% in January, against 4.9% in the previous month, aided by a rise in price pressure in transport and communication services following an increase in oil prices.
5.3 LAKH TAXPAYERS EXPLAIN CASH DEPOSITS:
More than 5.27 lakh out of a total 18 lakh taxpayers, who had been sent digital queries by the I-T department over large cash deposits made in scrapped high-value currency notes, have filed explanations about the deposits on an online portal within a fortnight of its launch.
The explanation submitted by the taxpayer is being analysed in the context of nature of business and business profile in the earlier returns by the Finance Ministry.
JOE ROOT HAS BEEN NAMED AS ENGLAND’S NEW TEST CAPTAIN:
Joe Root was a England name batsman Test captain, succeeding Alastair Cook. The Yorkshire batsman, At 26 Root becomes the second youngest Test captain in world cricket, behind West Indies’s Jason Holder, and takes charge of an England team beaten 4-0 in India before Christmas and languishing at fifth in the world rankings.
It is a huge honour to be given the Test captaincy, who will be the 80th man to lead the country in the longest form of the game. “I feel privileged, humbled and very excited.“Root steps up from vice-captain”, with Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes, 25, filling the role as his deputy.
HAMAS HARDLINER YEHIYA SINWAR ELECTED AS GAZA LEADER:
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has elected a hardline commander of its armed wing as the movement’s overall leader in the Gaza Strip. Yehiya Sinwar replaces Ismail Haniyeh, a former prime minister in the territory’s Hamas-run government. Mr Sinwar was jailed in Israel for murder but freed under a deal when Hamas released an Israeli in 2011.
Hamas rejects Israel’s right to exist and Mr Sinwar is known to oppose any compromise with the Jewish state. Some Hamas leaders have suggested a long truce with Israel if it completely withdraws to pre-1967 ceasefire lines and lifts its blockade of Gaza.
NASA SELECTS 3 LANDING SITES FOR MARS 2020 MISSION:
NASA scientists have shortlisted three potential landing sites for the upcoming Mars rover mission that is set to launch in 2020. The three recommended locations include Northeast Syrtis (a very ancient portion of Mars surface), Jezero crater (once home to an ancient Martian lake) and Columbia Hills (potentially home to an ancient hot spring).
Mars 2020 is targeted to launch in July 2020 aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the US. The rover will conduct geological assessments of its landing site on Mars, determine the habitability of the environment, search for signs of ancient Martian life, and assess natural resources and hazards for future human explorers.
It will also prepare a collection of samples for possible return to Earth by a future mission. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will build and manage operations of the Mars 2020 rover for the NASA Science Mission Directorate at the agencies headquarters in Washington.
LUMINOL, A COMPOUND USED IN CRIME SCENE MAY COMBAT MALARIA:
The compound luminol used at crime scenes can kill the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum present in red blood cells, says study. A compound that detectives spray at crime scenes to find trace amounts of blood may be used one day to kill the malaria parasite, says a new study.
The compound called luminol glows blue when it encounters the haemoglobin in red blood cells. The researchers found that the compound can be used to trigger an amino acid present in haemoglobin to kill the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in red blood cells.
“The light that luminol emits is enhanced by the antimalarial drug artemisinin,” said senior author Daniel Goldberg, professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, US. The new therapy may have an advantage over current malaria treatments, which have become less effective as the parasite mutates.
BURHAN OZBILICI WON THE 2017 WORLD PRESS PHOTO COMPETITION:
AP photographer Burhan Ozbilici wins 2017 World Press Photo competition for image of Russian ambassador’s assassin. In the photo, Mevlut Mert Altintas shouted after shooting Andrei Karlov at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey, on December 19, last year, which he captured in the moments before and after Altintas, an off-duty policeman, drew a handgun and shot Karlov at the photo exhibition.
La La Land fails to win Baftas landslide in night of diversity:
La La Land to finally break the Bafta record set by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which won nine prizes in 1971. It did not come close, although those involved can hold their heads high with awards for best film, best director for Damien Chazelle, best actress for Emma Stone, best cinematography and original music.
Damien Chazelle’s film takes five key awards in evening of surprises which sees major wins for Lion and Manchester by the Sea but Moonlight shut out entirely.
AL JARREAU, GRAMMY-WINNING JAZZ SINGER, DEAD AT 76:
Al Jarreau, a seven-time Grammy-winning jazz singer, Nicknamed “the Acrobat of Scat” whose work spanned five decades. He was 76. Jarreau’s site confirmed the singer’s death but did not reveal the cause. Earlier in the week, Jarreau’s Facebook alerted fans that the singer was hospitalized in Los Angeles due to exhaustion and that all future tour dates were cancelled.
GERMAINE DE RANDAMIE CROWNED 1ST WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMP AT UFC 208:
Netherland native Germaine de Randamie defeated Holly Holm (7-3) to claim the UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion at the UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York. The 32-year-old de Randamie became the first women to clinch the victory in the first fight of the newly introduced 145lb division.
NADA SUSPECT FOUR ATHLETES FOR VIOLATING ANTI-DOPING RULES:
The National Anti Doping Agency’s disciplinary panel has handed 4 years suspensions to four athletes for violating anti-doping rules.
Gaurav Yadav (javelin thrower), Jagseer Singh (para athlete), Tejvir Singh (handball player) and Subrata Nandi (swimmer) were handed the punishments following three hearings held over the last month.
RACER JEHAN DARUVALA MAKES HISTORY BY WINNING NZ GRAND PRIX:
Young Indian racer Jehan Daruvala tasted his first major success of 2017 when he won the Toyota Racing Series’s in New Zealand Grand Prix.
Earlier of the Toyota Racing Series, Jehan bagged pole position for Race 1 and the New Zealand GP as well. The extremely close qualifying sessions saw 4 racers within two tenths of a second in each session.
WORLD RADIO DAY – FEB 13:
World Radio Day is an observance day held annually on 13th February. World Radio Day is about celebrating radio, why we love it and why we need it today more than ever. A day to remember the unique power of radio to touch lives and bring people together across every corner of the globe.
It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference after originally proposed by the Kingdom of Spain. Theme of 2017 is “Radio is You“, which puts the spotlight on audiences, ensuring their views and diversity are represented on the airwaves.
