IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 8th, 2018
IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 8th, 2018
International Current Affairs
1. Bermuda has become the world's first
country to abolish same-sex marriages, almost a year after it had allowed
the same in May 2017.
2. A Bangladesh court today
sentenced Opposition leader and two-time ex-PM Khaleda Zia to five years in jail for corruption.
3. The European Commission (EC) has announced that Serbia andMontenegro could join the European Union (EU) in 2025 as part of the
EU enlargement plan for the Western Balkans.
National Current Affairs
4.
The Union Cabinet has approved implementation of Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme for doctoral students pursuing research in areas related to
technology.
a. Aim of PMRF : To realize importance of innovation and technology for
progress and development of the nation.
5. Goa Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar is going to launch 20 bike ambulances to deal with
casualties in the state's tourism belt.
a. The ambulances will
be equipped with basic life-saving equipment and two oxygen cylinders to serve
as rapid service at places where four-wheeler ambulances cannot reach.
MOUs & Agreements
6.
The Union Cabinet approved signing of Memoranda of Understanding
(MoU) forSecondment Programme between India and Australia.
a. The MoU will be
signed between Department of Economic Affairs (DEA)-Indian Economic Service
Cadre and The Treasury, Government of Australia for period of three months.
7. Search Engine giant Google and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has signed an agreement to integrate a course on ‘Digital
Citizenship and Safety’ in information and communication technology (ICT)
curriculum.
a. The course aims to
bring awareness amongst the young generation of India to make Internet a Safe
space.
Banking, Business & Economic Affairs
8.
Business magazine Forbes has released its first-ever Crypto Rich List, comprising 20 wealthiest people in
the cryptocurrency space.
a. The list was topped
by Ripple Co-founder Chris Larsen, who is estimated
to have a crypto net worth of $7.5-8 billion.
b. He is followed by
Ethereum Co-founder Joseph Lubin ($1-5 billion) and Founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance Changpeng Zhao ($1.1-2 billion).
Recent Committees in News
9.
The 9 member committee constituted by Karnataka government has submitted it's
report recommending separate state flag.
a. The committee has
recommended new tricolour having yellow (at top), white (in middle) and red (at bottom) colorus, with state’s emblem Gandaberunda (a two-headed
mythological bird) in centre.
b. The white colour in
new flag symbolizes peace and captures Karnataka’s image the best, while other
two colours are synonymous with Kannada identity.
Books & Authors
10.
Bollywood Actress Anjana Sukhani wrote a book titled "Hisaab Kitaab".
a. It’s a hand book
for housewives on how-to keep a note on household budgeting.
Science & Technology
11.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) today announced that it successfully completed the first flight
of Hawk-i fighter jet with indigenous
Real Time Operating System (RTOS) developed by it.
12. India successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile.
a. The
surface-to-surface missile, which has a strike range of 350 km, is capable of
carrying 500-1,000 kg of warheads.
New Appointments
13.
An officer of Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) of 1981
batch, A.K. Prasad has been appointed as the new Financial
Commissioner (Railways).
Sports Current Affairs
14.
Indian women's cricket team pacer Jhulan Goswami has become the first woman in the
world to take 200 wickets in ODI cricket.
15. Mumbai Indians have appointed IPL history's leading wicket-taker and their
former player Lasith Malinga as the bowling mentor ahead of the 2018 season.
16. Virat Kohli became the first Indian
batsman to score 100 runs by running in an ODI innings, achieving the
feat during his 160*(159) against South Africa.
