Latest Current Affairs for Civils, Groups..

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 year

Clean 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.