Daily Current Affairs Updates–12th January 2017

Daily Current Affairs Updates–12th January 2017:

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

DAYS TO REMEMBER:

National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda Birthday) : January 12th

Theme : ‘Youth for Digital India’.

National youth day (Yuva Diwas or Swami Vivekananda Birthday) 2017 is celebrated all over India on 12^th of January, at Thursday.

National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas or Swami Vivekananda Birthday) is celebrated with the great joy and enthusiasm in India every year on 12^th of January. It is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, maker of the modern India.

It was first declared by the Government of India in the year 1984 to celebrate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as the National Youth Day. Since then (1985), it is started celebrating as the National Youth Day all over the country.

It is the aim of great importance of distributing the ideas and ideals of the Swami Vivekananda among the youths of India. It is the great way to wake up the eternal energy of the youths as well as their big efforts to make the country developed.

Indians set Guinness record for most layered bed of nails

Seven martial artists from Kerala, India established the Guinness World Record for the 'most layered bed of nails'. The record required the man at the bottom to lie on a bed of nails and a layer of nails was placed between each person that formed the human tower. Previously, the most layered bed of nails had four layers.

State: Kerala;

Capital: Thiruvananthapuram; 

Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan;

Governor: P.Sathasivam

2nd Kalvari class submarine INS Khanderi launched in Mumbai

INS Khanderi – the second of the Kalvari class submarines – was launched at the Mazagaon Dock Limited in Mumbai on Thursday. It has superior stealth capabilities and also precision guided weapons that can be launched while underwater or on surface. The submarine will now undergo rigorous tests and trials, both in the harbour and at sea, till December 2017.

Flag Officer Commanding in Chief  Western Naval Command--Vice Admiral Girish Luthra

Men's prison in Tihar gets first woman Superintendent

Anju Mangla has been appointed as the first woman Superintendent of a men's prison in Delhi's high-security Tihar jail. She will look after nearly 800 prisoners in the 18-21 years age group and have one-to-one interactions with them daily. In the past, the jail has had two women Director Generals of Police, but never a female superintendent for men's prison.

Gujarat to build train parts, attract Rs.67,000 crore in work

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today announced that the state has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Railways to manufacture parts of a bullet train. Rupani said the project will "attract work worth Rs.67,000 crore to Gujarat." He added, "Apart from this... a container depot in Rajkot will be constructed. This will cost about Rs.100 crore."

State: Gujarat ; 

Capital: Gandhinagar ;

Governor:Om Prakash Kohli

Youth Day, birth day of Swami Vivekananda being observed; PM to address function in Haryana

Today is National Youth Day, the birth day of Swami Vivekananda a grateful nation is celebrating Swamiji's hundred fifty fourth birth anniversary with much fanfare. Several functions are being organised across the country to mark the occasion. AIR correspondent reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address National Youth Day function at Rohtak through video conferencing.

The 21st National Youth Festival will continue in Rohtak till 16th January. The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘Youth for Digital India’.

State:Haryana ;

Capital: Chandigarh ;

Chief minister: Manohar Lal Khattar ;

Governor:Kaptan Singh Solanki

Saudi Arabia hikes India's annual Haj quota by 34500

In the biggest hike in nearly three decades, Saudi Arabia today increased India's annual Haj quota by 34,500, a move welcomed by the NDA government as a "matter of pleasure".

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten inked an agreement in this regard in Jeddah today, increasing the size of India's Haj quota from 1,36,020 to 1,70,520.

Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Country: Saudi Arabia ;

Capital: Riyadh;

Currency: Saudi riyal;

King : Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

File account return online or face penal action: MHA to NGOs

All NGOs receiving foreign funds will have to compulsorily file their account details online failing which they will face penal action. The Union Home Ministry said this in a recent directive. The move is aimed at checking misuse of foreign funding by voluntary organisations.

The Ministry has discontinued submission of hard copies of such returns by the NGOs and will only accept details filed online.

Minister of Home Affairs : Rajnath Singh;

Minister of State for Home Affairs : Hansraj Ahir;

Home Secretary: Rajiv Mehrishi

Air India starts seat reservation for women

Airline company Air India today announced the reservation of six seats in the third row on every domestic flight for women travelling alone, beginning January 18. "We feel, as national carriers, it is our responsibility to enhance comfort level to female passengers," an Air India official said.

CEO: Ashwani Lohani;

Headquarters: New Delhi

Allahabad: Magh Mela begins

The month-long Magh Mela festival began today at Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. During the entire month of Magh, kalpwasis or pilgrims stay on the bank Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in tents and take early morning bath and take part in other religious duties.

Despite chilling cold, large number of people are continuously reaching Sangam to take holy dip on the occasion of Paush Purnima. According to Magh Mela administration, more than 12 lakh people took holy dip at Sangam and other ghats of Ganga till noon. Bathing is taking place in all seventeen Ghats.

Tripura: Indian Oil Corporation declares all LPG distributorships in Agartala as cashless

In Tripura, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) today declared all its LPG distributorships in Agartala as cashless, first of its kind in the Northeastern region. With this initiative, all the LPG outlets of IOCL in the city are now equipped to receive payments in cashless mode either by point-of-sale terminals or E-wallets or both, said company's chief area Manager J.K.Brahma in Agartala today.

Director of State Food & Civil Supplies, Shri Debasis Basu inaugurated IOC's cashless drive at a LPG distributor outlet and declared all LPG distributors of the city '100 % CASHLESS'.

State: Tripura;

Capital: Agartala;

Chief Minister: Manik Sarkar;

Governor: Tathagata Roy

3-DAY International conference on Disability Communication held in Mumbai

The International Conference on ‘Dis/Ability Communication: Perspectives and Challenges in the 21st Century (ICDC-2017)’, was held at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Uttan from 9-11 January, 2017. The very first conference brought in various ideas, aspects and discussions over the Disability in Communications across the world. The main objective of ICDC-2017 was to establish a forum for dialogue on the study of interaction, learning and identity formation.

The aim of the conference is to build a foundation for the master’s degree in Dis/Ability communication and the main area of interest is accessibility for those who want to deal with dis/ability communication and explore in this field.

Chhattisgarh: State level programme organised on birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

In Chhattisgarh, a state level programme is being held in Raipur on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The theme of the programme is 'Arise'. Chief Minister Raman Singh and well known film actor Anupam Kher today inaugurated the programme. Young people in large numbers are participating in the programme.

State: Chhattisgarh ;

Capital: Raipur;

Governor:Balram Das Tandon

Govt to spend $10B to make India 3rd largest aviation market

A sum of $10 billion (over Rs.68,000 crore) would be spent in next five years to develop India's airport infrastructure to make it the world's third largest aviation market, Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey said. Around 400 unused airstrips would be brought back to life, he said. Civil aviation is now just as popular and necessary as Railways, he added.

Civil Aviation Minister: Ashok Gajapathi Raju;

Constituency :Vizianagaram.

INTERNATIONAL:

Russia may ban cigarette sale to those born after 2015

Russia's Health Ministry has unveiled a proposal to ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2015, according to reports. If the proposal becomes a law, it would make Russia world's first country to completely phase out tobacco. The proposal, if approved, will take effect in 2033 when the affected Russian citizens (now babies) turn 18 years old.

Country: Russia;

Capital: Moscow;

Currency: Russian ruble;

President: Vladimir Putin

Mexico sets record for largest carpet of flowers

Mexico set the Guinness World Record for the largest carpet of flowers, measuring 14,200 square metres, last month. The display, in the gardens of Jardines de México, included about 1,26,000 flowers. The exhibit was created with the objective of promoting a flower variety known as Poinsettias, and to promote its commercialisation across the world.

Country: Mexico;

Capital: Mexico City;

Currency: Mexican peso;

President: Enrique Peña Nieto

Norway becomes first country to cease FM radio broadcasting

Norway has become the first country to cease FM radio broadcasting. The northern county of Nordland has stopped broadcasting using analogue frequencies yesterday as the Government plans to roll out digital-only radio over the course of the year.

According to the national broadcaster, NRK, nationwide radio channels began switching to digital audio broadcasting that offers a wider range of broadcasting options and greater sound quality.

Country: Norway;

Capital: Oslo;

Currency: Norwegian krone;

Prime Minister: Erna Solberg

BANKING NEWS:

Sensex to hit 30,500 by year-end due to govt reforms: HSBC

Financial services major HSBC has set a benchmark BSE Sensex target at 30,500 for December, 2017 saying that structural reforms like demonetisation and GST will push growth in the long run. "[I]f we move towards transparency and know where the money is coming from and also have GST, we would have much less incentive to...not contribute to development," HSBC said.

Bank : HSBC;

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom;

CEO: António Pedro dos Santos Simões;

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY NEWS:

Volkswagen to recall 3L cars in India over emission scandal

German automaker Volkswagen will recall nearly 3.43 lakh diesel cars across 13 models in India as a part of a global recall to replace a software that helped vehicles fake pollution emission tests. The models to be recalled include Polo, Vento, Jetta, Audi A4 and A6 among others. Volkswagen has paid over $19 billion in fines for cheating emission tests.

MobiKwik accuses Paytm of inflating number of transactions

Digital wallet MobiKwik's Co-founder Upasana Taku has accused rival Paytm of inflating volume and number of transactions. "Paytm is definitely ahead of us but I don’t think they have crossed 100 million users," said Taku. She added that RBI's data of 88 million mobile wallet transactions in December 2016 is in sharp contrast to numbers claimed by Paytm.

MobiKwik  CEO: Bipin Preet Singh;  

Headquarters: Gurgaon

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

Alphabet shuts down project of solar-powered internet drone

Google parent Alphabet has confirmed that the company has dropped the 'Titan' plan to provide the internet through solar-powered drones. The company has instead decided to go ahead with Project Loon, where it will provide the internet through high-altitude balloons in remote locations. Staffers working on Titan have been absorbed by Project Loon, and drone delivery plan Project Wing.

Alphabet  CEO:Larry Page;

Headquarters: California, United States

Dutch trains become 100% powered by wind energy

All Dutch trains have become 100% powered by wind energy since January 1, according to the national railway company. A windmill running for an hour can power a train for about 200 kilometres, stated officials. The initiative, in collaboration with electricity company Eneco, aims to reduce the energy used per passenger by further 35% by 2020, as compared to 2005.

APPOINTMENTS:

BMW India appoints ex-Harley-Davidson India MD as President

BMW has appointed former Harley-Davidson India MD Vikram Pawah as the President of its India operations. Pawah has previously worked with Honda Cars in India and Australia as the Assistant Vice President and Operating Head of Sales. Current acting President Frank Schloeder will assume the position of Head of Business Steering - Luxury Class in Germany.

BMW India President: Philipp von Sahr;

Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana

Sreejesh becomes member of FIH Athletes' Committee

The FIH (International Hockey Federation) Executive Board has confirmed the nomination of Indian men's hockey team captain PR Sreejesh to the FIH Athletes’ Committee. The committee, which comprises a total of eight current and former hockey players, acts as a liaison between the federation and the athletes to make sure the athletes have a voice in the federation's decision-making process.

FIH  President‎: ‎Narinder Batra;

Headquarters‎: ‎Lausanne‎, Switzerland

Daniel Ortega sworn in as Nicaragua's President for 3rd term

In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega has been sworn in for a third consecutive term as President, with his wife Rosario Murillo as the new Vice President, giving a married couple the reins of power for the first time in the Central American country's history.

Ortega, a 71-year old former rebel fighter, took the oath in Managua with the Presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia and Taiwan in attendance.

Country: Nicaragua;

Capital: Managua;

Currency: Nicaraguan córdoba;

President: Daniel Ortega

SPORTS NEWS:

Ronaldo nominated for 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of Year

The nominees for the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year were announced by last year's winner Novak Djokovic on Wednesday. FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo made it to the six-man shortlist which also includes Olympic champion Usain Bolt, world number one tennis player Andy Murray, athlete Mo Farah, and basketball players Stephen Curry and LeBron James.

FIFA President: Gianni Infantino;

Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland

Playboy executive Victor Lownes passes away aged 88

Former Playboy executive Victor Lownes, who helped establish the magazine, passed away on Wednesday aged 88. Lownes, a close confidant of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, ran the Playboy casinos and clubs in the UK. The highest-paid executive in Britain during his tenure as head of Playboy Europe, he was married to former Playmate of the Year Marilyn Cole.

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