IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 7th, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 7th, 2017

1. India ranks 23rd among 165 nations in cybersecurity index

i. India is ranked a high 23rd out of 165 nations in a global index that measures the commitment of nations across the world to cybersecurity. The second Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) was released by the UN telecommunications agency International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

ii. The top 5 most committed countries to cybersecurity are-

1. Singapore,

2. The United States,

3. Malaysia,

4. Oman,

5. Estonia.

2. India Rises to 96th in FIFA World ranking, Best in Two Decades

i. India has moved four places up to the 96th position in the FIFA World Ranking released recently. This is the country’s second-best ranking and its previous best was the 94th position in February 1996.

ii. India has moved 77 positions up from the 173rd rank on March 2015. 

3. European Parliament approves first ever EU-Cuba pact

i. The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a first-ever cooperation deal between the EU and Cuba. MEPs in the eastern French city of Strasbourg approved the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement which was signed in December 2016.

ii. With the deal, Cuba joins other Latin American countries with similar agreements with the EU, whose relations with the island had previously been conducted in the so-called Common Position that linked ties to improvements in human rights.

4. India declares itself free from H5N1 and H5N8 bird flu

i. India has declared itself free from highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 and H5N8) after surveillance in the states showed no evidence of its presence. It has been notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

ii. India had reported outbreaks of influenza at various epicenters in different states across the country between October 2016 and February 2017.

5. Odisha govt signs EOI with IAAF & AFI to establish High-Performance Academy

i. The Odisha government signed an Expression of Intent (EOI) with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to establish a High-Performance Academy in Bhubaneswar.

ii. The EOI was signed by Sports Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev and AFI president Adille Sumariwala and IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
iii. An academy for athletes will be built in the Kalinga Stadium.

6. Indus OS partners with YES Bank to launch OS-integrated UPI platform

i. Indus OS has partnered with YES Bank to launch OS-integrated UPI (Unified Payment Interface) payment platform in India.

ii. Users with Indus OS will be able to use this UPI payment platform on SMS, dialer interface, and on third party apps like WhatsApp. This means P2P transactions, as well as utility payments, can be made via SMS or messaging. The platform is expected to launch in this quarter.

7. EPFO ties up with 5 banks to collect PF dues

i. Retirement fund body EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) has inked pacts with five banks for collections of provident dues and to make retirement payments.

ii. The tie-ups with Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank will help EPFO save around Rs 125 crore a year and expedite its investments as well as payment of benefits to its members.

8. Siemens opens its first digital factory in India

i. Siemens opened its first digital factory in India, also the third globally after one each in Germany and China, as the industrial conglomerate pitches smart facilities to small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

ii. The digital factory is one of the nine divisions at Siemens. It aims to provide a comprehensive portfolio of hardware and software products which enable comprehensive integration of data from development, production, and suppliers.
9. Pakistan successfully test fires short-range ballistic missile, Nasr                                    

i. Pakistan has successfully test-fired short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile 'Nasr'. NASR is a high-precision weapons system with the ability for quick deployment and a range of 70 kilometers.

ii. Pakistan Army has conducted a series of training launches and tests during the current week for validation of new technical parameters of 'NASR' with an enhanced range of 60-70 kilometers and flight maneuverability. 

10. Manpreet Kaur, Govindan Laxmanan win gold in Asian Athletics Championships

i. India’s Manpreet Kaur claimed the gold medal in the women’s shot put on the opening day of the Asian Athletics Championships 2017 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

ii. Govindan Laxmanan emerged triumphant in the men’s 5,000 meters and has also won Gold Medal.

11. Kewal Handa appointed as Non-executive Chairman of Union Bank                             
i. Kewal Handa was appointed as non-executive chairman of Union Bank of India.
ii. Handa will hold the post for a period of three years.