12th February 2014 - Current Affairs Updates

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International Affairs

• Google joined Internet rights activists in a virtual protest aimed at getting US law makers to rein in online snooping.
• Russia is hosting Eygpt's powerful defense Minister Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy, signalling again Moscow's sharening focus on depending it's engagement with West Asia, North Africa and the Levant.
• A strong and shallow 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck China's far western region of Xinjiang, but in a sparsely populated area, the US Geological Survey reported.
• U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to South Korea to seek closer coordination of bilateral efforts to deal with North Korea.

Business & Economy

• Union Railway Minister Malikarjun presented Interim Railway Budget 2014-15; No change in passenger fares and freights; 17 new premium, 38 Express and 18 passenger trains proposed; Several initiatives to strengthen passenger safety.
• Cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) agreed to offer a subsidy of R3,333 per tonne for raw sugar exports, after deferring a decision thrice amid differences between the ministries of agriculture and food.
• Industrial production contracts by 0.6 per cent; Manufacturing sector output declines by 1.6 per cent; Retail inflation falls to 24 month low of 8.79 per cent.

 

National Affairs

• Arunachal Pradesh got the “Krishi Karman Commendation Award 2012-13" for total food grain production.
• Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to present the state budget on March 6.This is the second budget parrikar will present after BJP came into power in March 2012 with 21 MLA's in house of 40.
• US India Business Council (USIBC) has urged New Delhi and America to take steps to strengthen bilateral trade relationship to realise their "true business potential".

Science & Technology

• Scientists have developed a mind-controlled system that allows the user to fly a model helicopter with just their thoughts.It is a system that allows the brain to communicate directly with an external device.
• India's first Mars orbiter Spacecraft which was launched by ISRO's PSLV-C25 on the 5th of November last year will complete 100 days in space today.
• Researchers have found a way to breed disease-resistant wheat.when disease-sensitivity genes are taken away from the wheat germplasm, pathogens find it difficult to latch on the wheat and cause damage.

Sports

• Yuvraj Singh bought for whopping 14 crore and Dinesh Kartik for 12.5 crore rupees in IPL 2014 auction.
• Karnataka lift Irani Trophy for the fifth time defeating Rest of India at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
• India captain Sunil Chhetri will be presented the 2013 AIFF Player of the Year Award in the Indian Football Awards function.

Mounika Rao

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