CURRENT AFFAIRS-7TH AUGUST,2017-IIT Delhi team develops a new antibacterial drug-delivery system:

NATIONAL

Centre launches scheme to provide legal aid easily in Bihar:

The Centre in association with the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) launched ‘Tele-Law’ scheme in Bihar with an aim to provide an opportunity for the common man to access legal aid easily.

Under the scheme, villagers can have access to legal consultation with the help of para legal volunteers at Common Service Centre (CSC) which will be equipped with computers and Internet facility.

The Tele-Law scheme was launched in the presence of Supreme Court Justice Dipak Misra, who is also executive chairman of NALSA, Union Law and Justice and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Bihar

• Capital: Patna
• Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
• Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi (additional charges)

Global IT delivery centre coming up in Jaipur:

A global information technology (IT) delivery centre is coming up in jaipur to provide the ease of doing business to the engineering, architectural and professional companies in their international operations. It has been specially designed to cater to the changing dynamics of the business world.

The centre, being set up with an investment of Rs.100 crore, is expected to give employment to about 1,100 engineers, architects and IT and other professionals, when fully operational. It is claimed to be a world-class facility with the latest workstations and servers, network and security system, power-backup and all allied services.

Rajasthan:

• Capital: Jaipur
• Chief Minister: Vasundhara Raje
• Governor: Kalyan Singh

Inauguration of National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute – Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (NABI-CIAB) Campus by Dr. Harsh Vardhan:

          Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest & Climate Change inaugurated the new Administrative and Research Buildings of two national institutes under the administrative control of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India namely National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) and Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB) in Punjab.

He urged both the institutes to address the problems of hunger & malnutrition and to bring nutritional revolution in the country through biotechnology research and innovation for Food and Nutrition Security.

Punjab

• Capital: Chandigarh
• Governor: P. Singh Badnore
• Chief Minister: Captain Amarinder Singh 

Uber ties-up with Delhi Police to enhance women safety:

Uber is collaborating with Delhi Police to allow quick access to “Himmat”, a women safety mobile app, through the rider app.

This is Delhi Police’s first partnership with a technology company to intensify its focus on the safety of women in the city. With this partnership, Himmat will now be accessible to lakhs of women riders in one go.

Assam Farmers get relief from the Govt:

          The Assam government is all set to distribute 13 lakh Soil Health Cards among farmers. State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said, 1 lakh 41,000 cards have been distributed from April last year to June this year.

Under the scheme, the government plans to issue soil cards to farmers which will carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilisers required for the individual farms to help farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. And Rs.7.54 crore has been released as subsidy to farmers under crop insurance.

It has been given to successfully implement Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojna in Assam, for community nursing to help flood hit farmers. Amount of 600 crore rupees have been sanctioned by the Centre for Prime Minister Awas Yojna Urban scheme in Assam.     

Assam

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
• Governor: Banwarilal Purohit

IIT Delhi team develops a new antibacterial drug-delivery system:

• A new antibiotic drug-delivery system that improves the efficacy of drugs thereby reducing the dosage used for treating bacterial infections has been tested in a lab by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. A peptide, which has not been approved for clinical use, bound to gold nanoparticles was able to kill E. coli and Salmonella typhi more efficiently at lower dosages.

INTERNATIONAL:

Israel imposes new travel restrictions on Palestinians:

Israel has imposed new travel restrictions on Palestinians, preventing them from leaving blockaded Gaza with laptops. Israel and Egypt have enforced severe Gaza travel restrictions since the 2007 takeover of the territory by the Islamic militant Hamas.

Israel

• Currency: Israeli new shekel
• Capital: Jerusalem

Navy band joins historic Edinburgh Military Tattoo:

A 66-member Indian Navy band has joined the historic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the UK for this year’s musical event where they will mark the 70th year of India’s Independence.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos — performance of music by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands and artistic performance teams on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

Scotland

• Currency: Pound sterling
• Capital: Edinburgh

Sri Lankan navy commissions India-built Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel:

An Indian-built Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) has been commissioned by the Sri Lankan navy at a ceremony in Colombo harbour.

          Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena launched the country’s newest acquisition “SLNS Sayurala” earlier this week at the ceremony at the Eastern Container Terminal of the Port of Colombo. Flag Officer Commander in Chief Southern Naval Command-Indian Navy, Vice Admiral A.R. Karve, attended the event.

Constructed by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in India, it is the first-ever brand new AOPV purchased from a foreign ship builder, custom-made for the specific requirements of the Sri Lankan Navy. In addition to SLNS Sayurala, Sri Lanka intends to acquire three more OPVs in accordance with SLN maritime strategy 2025.

Srilanka

• Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
• Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
• Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe

BANKING & BUSINESS

Kotak Bank’s new forex service:

Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched Kotak Remit — an Aadhaar-based integrated outward forex remittance solution for both customers and non-customers.

The 24×7 forex remittance service offers a completely paperless process that enables users to register online using Aadhaar and PAN numbers, and initiate remittances instantly. 

MobiKwik partners Bajaj Finance for larger financial services pie:

Taking a big step towards positioning itself as a top consumer finance brand in the digital space, mobile wallet major MobiKwik has entered into a strategic partnership with Bajaj Finance Ltd to transform itself into financial services App from a payment App.

Under this strategic partnership, Bajaj Finance has picked up 10.83 per cent equity stake in MobiKwik for about Rs. 225 crore and offer its lending (purchase finance, credit card, mortgage loans and personal loans) and insurance products to be sold through MobiKwik App.

MobiKwik

• Headquarters: Gurgaon, India
• CEO: Bipin Preet Singh
• Co-Founder: Upasana Taku

SPORTS

Hockey tournament: ONGC wins Murugappa Gold Cup:

ONGC and Bengaluru Hockey Association had reached the final of the 91st MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament after creating upsets in the semifinals. Finally ONGC wins Murugappa Gold Cup at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.

Neymar becomes most expensive footballer:

It has been confirmed that the 25-year-old player Neymar has been bought for a staggering €222 million officially activating his release clause from Barcelona and smashing the record for Most expensive football player (soccer player), in both single transfer & combined transfer fees title.

Marathon magician Ekaterina Makarova downs Julia Goerges to win Citi Open:

Russian Ekaterina Makarova turned on the marathon magic again to defeat Julia Goerges and win the Citi Open in Washington DC. Seventh seed Makarova came from a set behind for the third successive time to claim her first WTA title in more than three years.

USA:

• President of the United States: Donald Trump
• Currency: United States Dollar
• Capital: Washington, D.C.

 South Korean Kim In-kyung wins women’s British Open golf:

South Korea’s Kim In-kyung held off the challenge of England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff to claim the women’s British Open at Kings Barns, Scotland for her first major title.

 South Korea

• Currency: South Korean won
• Capital: Seoul
• President: MOON Jae-in

Alexander Zverev beats Kevin Anderson, wins Citi Open for fourth title of the year:

German Alexander Zverev used his dominant serve to claim a fourth ATP title of the year with a commanding win over South African veteran Kevin Anderson at the Citi Open in Washington.

HISTORIC EVENTS OF THE DAY

National Handloom Day: August 7^th 2017:

National Handloom Day is being observed to give an impetus to the sector and encourage use of handmade loom in the country. The main event will be held in Guwahati to celebrate the third National Handloom Day.

          Union Minister of state for Textile Ajay Tamta, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior ministers of the state had taken part in the event.

About Handloom Day:

It was on this day that the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905. The movement involved revival of domestic products and production processes. Central Government has declared 7th of August as National Handloom Day to be celebrated every year. The first National Handloom Day was celebrated on 7th August, 2015.