Daily Current Affairs Updates–23rd February 2017

Daily Current Affairs Updates–23rd February 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.

Tobacco food products like gutkha, pan masala banned in Punjab :

The Punjab government on Wednesday said it has prohibited the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of food products containing tobacco or nicotine like gutkha and pan masala in the state for one year. The ban also applies on processed, flavoured, scented, and chewing tobacco, whether they are packaged or unpackaged or sold as one or separate products, an official said.

State: Punjab

Capital : Chandigarh

CM : Parkash Singh Badal
Governor : Kaptan Singh Solanki

Former Indian Navy Ship Viraat to be decommissioned on Mar 6 :

Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Viraat will be decommissioned from service on March 6. Viraat is also the oldest surviving aircraft carrier in the world, and holds a Guinness world record for the same. INS Viraat was first commissioned in the Indian Navy on May 12, 1987, and had previously served the United Kingdom Royal Navy for 27 years.

Approval given by Cabinet on setting up solar parks estimated  Rs. 8,100-cr :  

The Cabinet has approved an investment of Rs.8,100 crore for setting up at least 50 solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. The investment would double the solar power production target to 40,000 MW. Notably, the government has laid down a plan to achieve 100 GW solar power capacity by 2022.

E-learning centres opened at public libraries by J&K govt :

Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday launched an e-learning program by installing computers in the state's public libraries, thus assisting students to prepare for competitive exams like JEE and CET. The students can avail the facility by filling a form in the nearest libraries where resources like tabs, computers, and the expert-designed study materials are also available.

State: Jammu and Kashmir

Capital : Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)

CM : Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed

Governor : Narinder Nath Vohra

New fully completed Antyodaya Express launched by Railway Minister SureshPrabhu :

Equipped with cushioned seats and LED lights, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Wednesday launched the Antyodaya Express, a new fully unreserved train for the "common man". The first such train, also having water purifiers, mobile phone charging points and bio-toilets, will run between Mumbai and Tatanagar. The train's fare, however, will reportedly be 10-15% higher than regular fares.

Ministry : Ministry of Railways

Head : Suresh Prabhu

Constituency : Rajapur

Sovereign Gold Bonds 2016-17-Series IV to be issued by Govt :

Government has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds 2016-17-Series IV. In a statement, Finance Ministry said that applications for the bonds will be accepted from 27th of this month to the 3rd of March.

The bonds will be issued on 17th of next month. These will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited, designated post offices and recognised stock exchanges.

Rewards offered for recycling waste through machine installed by a startup :

Delhi-based startup 'We-Convert' has made a 'vending machine' that lets users recycle plastic bottles, aluminium cans and glass scraps in exchange for rewards like shopping vouchers. "The machine recognises scrap and segregates it into a dedicated cavity. After that, the machine generates a five-digit code that can be redeemed against vouchers," explained We-Convert Co-founder Ashutosh Srivastava.

INTERNATIONAL:

Ban on Women army officers wearing Islamic headscarf removed by Turkey :

Turkey's army is lifting a historic ban on female officers wearing the Islamic headscarf in the officially secular country, state-run Anadolu news agency said on Wednesday. This move applies to female officers working in general staff, command headquarters and branches. This comes amid critics' allegations accusing President of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of eroding Turkey's secular values.

Country : Turkey

Capital: Ankara

Currency: Turkish lira

President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

IMF reported as GDP of India's projected to slow to 6.6% on the effect of demonetisation:

India's growth is projected to slow to 6(point)6 per cent in 2016-17 fiscal due to the strains that have emerged in the economy as a result of temporary disruptions caused by demonetisation.

In its annual report, however, the International Monetary Fund said demonetisation would have only short term impact on the economy and it would bounce back to its expected growth of more than eight per cent in the next few years.

Organisation : International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Headquarters : Washington, D.C., United States

CEO : Christine Lagarde

Cressida becomes 1st woman to head Scotland Yard in 188 yrs :

Britain has appointed Cressida Dick as the next commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police, making her the first woman to head Scotland Yard in its 188-year history. The 56-year-old, who will control a £3 billion budget and head 43,000 officers, joined the force in 1983. Her appointment was controversial as she once headed an operation wherein an innocent Brazilian was killed.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY NEWS:

Telenor's India operations to be acquired by Bharti Airtel :

Sunil Bharti Mittal-led India's largest telecom operator, Bharti Airtel today announced it is buying Norwegian telecom company Telenor's India operations. In a transaction expected to close in a year, Telenor India's spectrum, licenses, operations, including its employees, will become a part of Airtel. The announcement comes amid a potential Vodafone-Idea merger and competition from Reliance Jio.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

7 new Earth-sized exoplanets discovered by Astronomers :

Astronomers have discovered for the first time seven new Earth-sized exoplanets that may be able to sustain life. Lead researcher Michael Gillon, with the University of Liege in Belgium said, these exoplanets are orbiting a star 39 light years away. He said, they could have some liquid water and maybe life. Astronomers have found other seven-planet systems before, but this is the first time to have so many Earth-sized worlds.

All of them orbit at the right distance to possibly have liquid water somewhere on their surfaces. The planets closely circle a dwarf star named Trappist-1, which at 39 light years away makes the system a prime candidate to search for signs of life. Only marginally larger than Jupiter, the star shines with a feeble light about 2,000 times fainter than Earth's sun.

AGREEMENTS:

Trade facilitation agreement of WTO made into effect :

The WTO's trade facilitation agreement, which seeks to ease customs norms, came into effect from yesterday with its two-thirds members ratifying the pact. The TFA, which has been ratified by India, will give a boost to the global trade, which has been impacted due to slowdown in the world economy. According to experts, the agreement comes at a time when India's efforts to improve exports are gaining momentum.

As the pact has come into force, the member countries who have ratified would now be required to ease customs barriers. Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Biswajit Dhar said, It would help countries like India which are trying to push exports.
Organisation : World Trade Organization (WTO)

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

APPOINTMENTS:

Somalia president appoints  Hassan Ali Khaire as its new Prime Minister :

Somalia's newly elected President today appointed the country director of British firm Soma Oil and Gas as the new Prime Minister. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as "Farmajo", named Hassan Ali Khaire as Prime Minister. The President has requested Somali citizens to work with the Prime Minister.

Mohamed took office peacefully this month after legislators selected him from 21 possible candidates. A dual U.S.-Somali citizen with a reputation as a technocrat, he has promised to tackle hunger, corruption and violence in Somalia, which has been mired in civil war for a quarter of a century.

Country : Somalia

Capital : Mogadishu

Currency : Somali shilling

President : Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed

Jason Wheeler CFO of Tesla quits today :

Tesla's Chief Financial Officer Jason Wheeler has quit the company months before the electric vehicle maker is set to launch its new car 'Model 3'. Tesla's former CFO, Deepak Ahuja, will return to the company next month to replace Wheeler. Set to launch in July, Model 3 will be the cheapest car launched by Tesla to date.

Company : Tesla

CEO :Elon Musk

Headquarters : California, United States

Ramkumar Narayanan Product Development head of eBay quits :

eBay India's General Manager of Product Development Centre Ramkumar Narayanan has reportedly resigned from the e-commerce company after four years at the position. Before joining eBay, Ramkumar Narayanan was the Vice President of Global Product Management at Yahoo, and has also worked with Microsoft. eBay India reported an increase of about 50% in losses for FY16 to ₹262 crore.

Company : eBay

CEO :Devin Wenig

SPORTS NEWS:

Roll Ball World Cup 2017 won by Indian men's, women's teams :

The Indian women's and men's teams have both been crowned Roll Ball World champions. The Indian women's team won the world cup for the second time after beating Iran 6-4 in the final of the fourth edition of the tournament. Indian men defeated Iran 8-7 in the final, to claim their third World Cup triumph.

Rs.5 lakh reward announced for players of Blind World Cup winning team :

India's Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Vijay Goel announced on Wednesday on Twitter that ₹5 lakh each will be given to the members of India's T20 World Cup for the Blind winning team as a cash reward. Goel was there in person to present the World Cup trophy to the Indian blind cricket team on February 20.

ISSF World Cup tournament starts today in Delhi :

International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup tournament begins at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi today. It will end on the 4th of next month.

The competitions will be held from from 24th of this month to 3rd of next month. Men and women from across the world are arriving in the Indian capital today to take part in diiferent disciplines of Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun today.

Trophy : International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup tournament (ISSF)

1st Gramin Khel Mahotsav to be held next month in Delhi: Vijay Goel

Sports Minister Vijay Goel today announced that 1st Gramin Khel Mahotsav will be held from 25th to 31st of next month in New Delhi. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today, Mr Goel said the games will be held in five sports disciplines Athletics, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Volley Ball and Wrestling. He said a need has been felt to deepen the sports culture among the rural youth.

Mr Goel said this festival will help participation of rural youth in large numbers in popular sports and encourage them to achieve excellence and adopt healthy life style.

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