Dear Readers, We cover some important news in Current Affairs Today Section, which are not covered in Daily Detailed News, More Current Affairs coverage will help you to Score Good Marks in Competitive Exam.
Click Here to Read Current Affairs January 29 Quiz 2016
INDIAN AFFAIRS
UP IPS Aparna Kumar scales Mount Vinson Massif: the highest peak in Antarctica
Aparna Kumar UP cadre IPS officer become the country’s first civil servant to scaled Mount Vinson Massif, the highest peak in the Antarctica.
- She is the first civil servant to mount the highest peak.
Expert panel to review Specific Relief Act, 1963 constituted
Legislative Department of Union Law Ministry has initiated an expert committee to review the Specific Relief Act, 1963.
- The committee comprised of chairman and 5 members will have to submit its report within a stipulated time of 3 monthse. till April 2016.
The committee will examine the scenario which includes public private partnerships, contract based infrastructure development and other public projects involving enforceability of the contracts and will also ensure ease of doing business.
- The act is a remedy which aims at the exact fulfillment of an obligation or specific performance of the contract rather than a general relief or damages or compensation.
Madhya Pradesh to impose ban on polythene from January 2017
After reviewing the activities of Urban Development and Environment and Housing Department in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced to impose ban on polythene in entire state from January 2017.
- The ban will be strictly imposed at tourist destinations and holy cities Ujjain, Amarkantak, Khajuraho, Pachmarhi, Maheshwar, Omkareshwar and Orchha from September 2016.
Apart from above state minister also directed to outline a scheme for developing a new green field city between Bhopal and Indore.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
31 countries signed MCAA to boost transparency in international tax matters
An agreement between 31 countries has signed named Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) to increase the transparency in functioning of multinational enterprises (MNEs) by giving permission to automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports by tax administrators.
BANKING & FINANCE
Japan’s Central Bank adopts Negative Interest Rate policy
Tokyo headquartered Bank of Japan has imposed a negative interest rate of -0.1% on accounts it holds for commercial banks. It will start to charge them for looking after their cash.
- The decision in this regard has been taken to increase spending and investment rather than pay a fee to keep it safe. It will help to counter Japan’s economic slump.
- The charge does not directly apply to ordinary customers’ accounts.
Keys Bank of Japan
- Establishment – 1882
- Governor – Haruhiko Kuroda
BUSINESS
Apollo Munich ties up with Axis Bank
Health insurance company Apollo Munich joined hands with Mumbai headquartered Axis Bank for offering bank customers a paperless customized insurance policies. This is the fourth bancassurance tie-up of Apollo Munich.
- Earlier, Apollo Hospitals Group firm Apollo Energy Company announced selling of its 3% stake in Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company to its German partner Munich Re for Rs. 163.5 crore.
Keys:
- Apollo Munich Health Insurance CEO – Antony Jacob
- Axis bank CEO – Shikha Sharma
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Allan Border Medal 2016 presented to David Warner
Batsman David Warner has been conferred with Allan Border medal for 2016, becoming the 11th player to receive Australian cricket’s greatest individual honour.
- The 29 years old from New South Wales also bestowed with Test Player of the Year honour.
William E Colby award bestowed upon “Midnight’s Furies” – A Book on India’s Partition
USD 5,000 William E Colby Award 2016 of US has been conferred upon book “Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India’s Partition” authored by Nisid Hajari.
- Midnight’s Furies, Hajari’s first book, covers the 1947 partition of India that created Pakistan as a separate state, the violence surrounding the partition and why those tensions persist to this day.
- The award and honorarium will be presented to Hajari at Norwich University during the 2016 William E. Colby Military Writer’s Symposium on April 6-7.
V Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award bestowed upon Wild life film maker Naresh Bedi
Wildlife film maker & Padma Shri awardee Naresh Bedi has been honoured with V Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award during the inauguration of 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films – MIFF 2016.
- The award was presented by Maharashta CM Devendra Fadnavis and MoS for Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore
- The award is instituted in memory of legendary film maker V Shantaram, who was head of the Films Division in the past. It is comprised of a trophy, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs.
Henri Tiphagne selected for Amnesty International Human Rights Award 2016
Indian activist and lawyer Henri Tiphagne has been selected for Amnesty International Germany’s human rights award 2016. The award will be present to him in April at the official ceremony at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin.
- Henri Tiphagne is Executive Director of People’s Watch, one of the most notable human rights organizations in India.
Abhinav Bindra honored by ISSF
Abhinav Singh Bindra the Indian shooter and the World Olympic champion have been honored by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) with the Diploma of Honors and President’s Button for his contribution as an athlete.
About Abhinav :
- Abhinav won Gold Medal in 2014 Commonwealth Games at Glasgow
- He won gold in the 10 m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Game.
- He is also the chairman of ISSF’s Athletes Committee.
Key
- President of ISSF – Olegario Vazquez Rana
APPOINTMENTS
Twitter Inc has appointed Leslie Berland as CMO
Chirping Twitter has designated Leslie Berland as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Earlier she was working with American Express (AmEx) as executive vice-president of global advertising, marketing and digital partnerships.
- She also helped to create AmEx’s first social media strategies.
Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business issue has placed Leslie Berland at 6th position and also was included in Advertising Age’s Creativity 50 list.
Gurdeep Singh designated as CMD of NTPC
Managing director of Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSEC) Gurdeep Singh has been appointed as chairman and managing director (CMD) of central PSU National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for the period of 5 years.
- Singh (51) will be the first person to be appointed to the top job at a Maharatna company through a search committee route.
His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Justice Sanjay Mishra appointed as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh
The Supreme Court of India has accredited Justice Sanjay Mishra, a former judge of the Allahabad High Court, as the Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh.
- The apex court bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Prafulla C Pant recalled the earlier order of appointing Justice Virendra Singh for the post but objections was aroused due to serious complaints against Justice Singh during his tenure as Chairman of Consumer Redressal Forum in November 2012.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
Airtel and Axiata to merge Bangladesh operations
Bharti Airtel and Malaysia based Axiata Group is all set to merge their operations in Bangladesh with an estimated worth of $2 billion to form the second largest operator in that country.
- An agreement has been signed to merge their respective telecom subsidiaries Robi Axiata Ltd and Airtel Bangladesh Ltd in Bangladesh.
Axiata will hold 68.3% controlling stake and Bharti Airtel 25%, while the remaining 6.7% will be held by the existing shareholder NTT Docomo of Japan.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Akash missile successfully test fired at Chandipuri in Odisha
Akash the medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile was successfully test fired from complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipuri in Odisha.
About the Missile
- Akash was developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Missile Systems, Ordnance Factories Board and Bharat Electronics (BEL) for other Systems in India.
- This missile capable of neutralizing aerial threats
- The main property of missile is its capability to neutralize multiple aerial targets coming from different directions at the same time.
Stockholm to get World’s first 5G Network
Stockholm soon becomes the world’s first city to get the ultra high speed 5G mobile network.
- 5G Network can easily support self-driving, battery operated cars, and artificial intelligence enabled robots.
- 5G network will be roll out by Swedish-Finnish telecom operator TeliaSonera, and Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson jointly at Stockholm and Tallinn.
- 5G will help rural areas and remote, interior locations to get faster, easier and cheaper Internet.
Keys
- CEO of TeliaSonera– Johan Dennelind
- Stockholm– capital city of Sweden
SPORTS
BWF ranking elevated P V Sindhu to World No. 11
In the latest BWF ranking, Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold clincher P V Sindhu’s rank has upgraded by one move to World’s No. 11. On the other hand, shuttler Saina Nehwal remained consistent and sat down again at 2nd position with 78482 points.
- The duo of Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were placed at World No. 14.
- Female world ranking has been topped by Spanish Carolina Marin with 91192 points in her kitty.
Adam Lewis Panel set up to safeguard integrity in Tennis
Tennis’s governing bodies has constituted an Independent Review Panel for safeguard integrity in tennis that was headed by Adam Lewis.
- The announcement was made by the Chairman and the CEOs of governing bodies of International Tennis (IT).
- Tennis Governing Bodies includes-Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Grand Slam Board
- The panel was formed against the corruption allegations in the international tennis.
Pakistan Cricketer Imran Farhat retired from International Cricket
Pakistan’s opening batsman Imran Farhat announced his retirement from International cricket. He made his decision after getting a No-Objection Certificate to participate in the Masters Champions League (MCL).
About Imran
- Imran the Opening batsman of Pakistan test team.
- He is left-handed batsman and played 40Tests , 58 One Day Internationals seven T20 International matches for Pakistan.
- He had played 181 first class matches with score 12,669 runs.
OBITUARY
Former minister and freedom fighter Maheswar Baug died
Former minister and freedom fighter Maheswar Baug passed away due to brief illness at the district headquarter hospital in Odisha. He was 85.
- He was minister for works and health during chief ministership of Nilamani Routray in 1977.
- He was twice elected as the Member of Legislative Assembly from Basta constituency in Balasore district, Odisha in 1961 and 1977.
He was associated in many social organizations all along his life and was inspired by Ram Manohar Lohia.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
The Turbulent Years, Volume II of memoirs of President Pranab Mukherjee, released
Vice President Hamid Ansari released the second volume of memoirs of President Pranab Mukherjee titled The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
- In this book, he reminisced about crucial events of his political life including Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Babri Masjid demolition, operation Blue Star and his ouster from Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet.
The book sheds new light on every major political occurrence of the time from Rajiv Gandhi’s ascendance as Prime Minister to the emergence of P V Narsimha Rao as leader of the nation.
- The first volume of President’s memoir titled The Dramatic Decade – The Indira Gandhi Years was released on 11 December 2014.
