INTERNATIONAL
Venezuela, Libya lose UN vote for third time : Venezuela and Libya have been suspended
from voting in the UN General Assembly for
the third time in three years because of millions
of dollars in unpaid dues to the world body.
According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
14 countries including Venezuela and Libya
were in arrears. Venezuela must pay a minimum
of USD 25,200,296 to restore its voting
rights and Libya must pay at least USD
6,594,842. Venezuela is mired in an economic
and political crisis and Libya has two rival
governments, each backed by an array of
militias
NATIONAL
Bihar bans sale of loose cigarettes
The Bihar government has banned the sale of
loose cigarettes in the state. Bihar is the 12th
state in the country to enforce such a ban.
District Magistrates and Superintendents of
Police of concerned districts have been
instructed to act as per the Tobacco Control
Act under which anyone selling loose
cigarettes would be liable for fine. According
to a survey, eighty percent people use loose
cigarettes. The Survey says, 54 percent adults
in Bihar use tobacco products and 9 percent of
them are smokers. Around 12 lakh tobaccorelated
deaths occur in the country every yearClean air for Delhi campaign launched to combat pollution The Delhi government the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) jointly launched Clean Air Campaign on 11th February, which will continue for 2 weeks till February 23. The 70 teams have been constituted to fight against pollution. The Campaign will also include interactions with Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), civil society citizens, academic and R&D institutions.
Maharashtra records highest growth in mangrove cover in India Maharashtra has reported the highest growth in mangrove cover, of 82 square kilometres, in the last two years in the country. 'The State of Forest Report 2017' published by the Forest Survey of India in Mumbai said the state's mangrove cover increased from 222 sq km to 304 sq km, registering an increase of 37% over the previous assessment in 2015. According to the report, the mangrove cover in the country increased by 181 sq km during this period. Of this, 45 per cent was contributed by Maharashtra. This is the highest recorded in the country. Andhra Pradesh comes a distant second with an increase of 37 sq km
BILATERAL
Narendra Modi visited Middle East
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited four
middle east countries and entered into various
agreements. He visited these countries from
9th February to 12th February.Palestine: India and Palestine on 10th February signed six Memoranda of Understanding in different areas including health and education. The MoUs were signed after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Ramallah. The MoUs include setting up of an IndiaPalestine Super-specialty hospital at Beit Sahour in Bethelhem Governorate, construction of India-Palestine Centre for Empowering women and setting up of a new National Printing Press at Ramallah. In a special recognition of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contribution to relations between India and Palestine, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas conferred the "Grand Collar of the State of Palestine" on him after the conclusion of the bilateral meeting.
UAE: India and the UAE signed five MoUs, including in the areas of energy and railways, following delegation-level talks headed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. A MoU was signed between Indian Consortium comprising ONGC Videsh, Bharat PetroResources, Indian Oil and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was signed for the acquisition of 10 per cent participating interest in the offshore Lower Zakum Concession. The concession will be for 40 years (2018-2057). While 60 per cent of the participating interest will be retained by ADNOC, the remaining 30 per cent will be awarded to other international oil companies
Oman: India and Oman have signed eight Memoranda of Understanding in different areas during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the Gulf nation. The fields in which the agreements were inked include defence, health and tourism, legal and judicial co-operation in civil and commercial matters was also signed
ECONOMY
Kerala tops in NITI Aayog's health index In the list of Healthy State progressive reportreleased by NITI Aayog on 9th
February, Kerala, Punjab and Tamil
Nadu have ranked top among the
larger states in terms of overall
performance. The health index
has been evolved through
comprehensive study and inputs
from World Bank and Ministry of
Health. Among smaller states
Mizoram ranked first followed by
Manipur and Goa in terms of annual
incremental performance. Among Union
territories Lakshadweep showed best overall
performance as well as highest annual
incremental performance. The study of
incremental performance of states will ensure
the government for better health outcomes.
The report said about one third of the states has
registered a decline in their performance in
2016 as compared to 2015. 2.45 lakh people got assistance under DAYNULM till Dec 2017 According to the Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, over 2.45 lakh beneficiaries have been assisted till December 2017 under Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaNational Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAYNULM) for setting up individual and group micro enterprises. Since 2014-15, the States have so far utilised funds worth around 2150 crore rupees. In the first phase, 790 cities were covered under the mission, while in the second phase from 2016, the coverage was expanded to include 4041 cities. More than 3.48 lakh Self Help Group (SHGs) were disbursed loans under SHG-Bank linkage programme so far under the mission.
GDP base year changed to 2017-18 The government will change the base year to 2017-18 for the calculation of gross domestic product (GDP) and index of industrial production (IIP) numbers, and to 2018 for retail inflation, Union minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda said on 15th February
SPORTS
Rohan More becomes first Asian to swim
across Ocean Seven Pune-based Indian long-distance swimmer, Rohan More, has become the first Asian and
the youngest to swim across the Cook Strait
between North and South Islands of New
Zealand. He covered the distance in eight
hours and 37 minutes. Rohan also became the
ninth person in the world to swim across Cook
Strait.India clinch series after defeating South Africa in 5th ODI India clinched the series after defeating South Africa by 73 runs in the 5th One-Day International at Port Elizabeth. It is the series victory for India in South Africa after two decades. After over 25 years of touring South Africa, an Indian cricket team has managed to beat South Africa in an ODI series.
Tamil Nadu wins Football Championship Tamil Nadu has won the Senior Women's National Football Championship for the first time. Tamil Nadu, which was playing its firstever final, defeated Manipur, at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on 14th February. Indumathi has also adjudged the player of the final as well as the tournament for her superlative performances
PERSONS IN NEWS
Indra Nooyi: PepsiCo Chairman and CEO
Indra Nooyi has been appointed to the
International Cricket Council (ICC) Board as
the governing body's first independent female
director. Nooyi will join the Board in June this
year to align with the term of the ICC
Independent Chairman. The introduction of an
Independent Director, who must be female,
was approved by the ICC Full Council in June
last year as part of wide ranging constitutional
change aimed at improving the governance of
the sport.Nicos Anastasiades: Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades won a second five-year term as voters gave a thumbs-up to his record in containing an economic meltdown in 2013 and conducting abortive peace talks with the Turkish Cypriots.
K.P.Sharma Oli: The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has become new Prime Minister of Nepal. This is the second time Mr. Oli has become the prime minister. He had served as prime minister from October 2015 to August 2016.
