DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS : FEBRUARY 3, 2018

 NATIONAL

PM Modi to inaugurate Global Investors’ Summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Investors’ Summit ‘Advantage Assam’ in Guwahati.
• The summit is being organised by Assam government in association with the industry body FICCI.
• It will showcase the state’s manufacturing opportunities and geostrategic advantages to foreign and domestic investors.
• The objective of the Summit is to position Assam as India’s Expressway to ASEAN countries.

Odisha wins Geospatial world excellence award

• Odisha has bagged Geospatial World Excellence Award-2018 for successful IT application.
• It is given for tracking of mineral production, dispatch and value accrued on real time basis through its i3MS website based software.
• The Award was given by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences and Technology, YS Chowdray in the Geospatial World Forum Meeting held at Hyderabad.

National Tribal Festival begins at Kalagram

• A 10-day National Tribal Festival, Aadi Mohatsav, kicked off at Kalagram in Manimajra, Chandigarh.It is to celebrate tribal culture, cuisine and commerce.
• The festival was inaugurated by Haryana Governor, Kaptan Singh Solanki.
• The event was a collaboration between the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala.

INTERNATIONAL

IWAI signs agreement with World Bank for Jal Marg Vikas Project

• Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed an agreement with the World Bank for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).
• It aims to enhance navigation on National Waterway-1 from Varanasi to Haldia.
• The JMVP is expected to be completed by March 2023.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Indian Overseas Bank receives Rs173.06 crore capital infusions from government

• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has received Rs173.06 crore capital infusions from the government in the current fiscal.
• It is the preferential allotment of equity shares of the bank as government’s investment during the 2017-18 fiscal.

Cochin Shipyard Limited Signs MoU with Russian Firm USC

• Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Russia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
• It aims to boost transportation & trade along India’s Inland waterways under Sagarmala & Make-in-India programmes.
• It is to collaborate and engage in design, development and execution of high-end, state-of-art vessels for inland and coastal waterways.

The MOU was signed by

1.Madhu S Nair, MD, Cochin Shipyard Limited

2.Alexey Rakhmanov, president, United Shipbuilding Corporation

APPOINTMENTS

Alphabet names board veteran John Hennessy as chairman

• Alphabet appointed board veteran John Hennessy as chairman. He is a former Stanford University president and a computer scientist with expertise in chip design.
• Google parent Alphabet Inc replaced long-time Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Shyam Benegal to honour with V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award

• The V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award of the Mumbai International Film Festival is for Documentary, Shorts & Animation Films.
• MIFF 2018 will be conferred upon veteran film maker Shyam Benegal.
• It includes a cash prize of Rs 1 million (Rs 10 lakhs) and it will be presented by the Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C Vidyasagar Rao.

SPORTS

Saurav Ghosal becomes the highest-ranked Indian squash player

• India’s leading squash player, Saurav Ghosal jumped five places to No 14 to become the highest ranked Indian in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings released.
• Ghosal beat Joshna Chinappa who slipped three places to No 17 while Dipika Pallikal Karthik remained on 20.
• Gregory Gaultier from France is currently at No. 1 Position in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings.