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National – Across the India:
1. Three years after the national vaccine advisory body recommended the introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine (MR) in the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), the vaccine is all set to be introduced from the next month in five states and Union territories.
In addition, from March, Pneumococcal conjugate (pneumococcal pneumonia) vaccine will also become a part of the UIP basket in three other states.
Both the new vaccines will be launched by Health Minister J P Nadda in separate programmes.
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2. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised Indian standard on gold hallmarking, which is effective from January 1 this year.
The hallmark gold jewellery will now be available in three grades of 14 carats, 18 carats and 22 carats.
The caratage will also be marked on jewellery in addition to fineness for convenience of consumers, that is for 22 carat jewellery 22K will be marked in addition to 916 (22K916), for 18 carat jewellery 18K will be marked in addition to 750 (18K750) and for 14 carat jewellery, 14K will be marked in addition to 585 (14K585), it added.
3. The Supreme Court has described side effects of Endosulfan, a highly toxic agrochemical (pesticide) as devastating.
It has directed Kerala government to release entire Rs.500 crore compensation to over 5,000 victims in three months who have suffered from various deformities and health complications due to use of Endosulfan in the state. It also asked the state to consider setting up a center to provide lifelong medical treatment to all the victims
Endosulfan is a most toxic pesticide having hazardous effects on human genetic and endocrine systems.
4. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released draft notification of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules), 2016.
The objective of the Rules is to make dog breeders and their marketers accountable and to prevent infliction of any cruelty on dogs in this process.
5. Khanderi, the second scorpene class submarine that has superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with the torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on surface, was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) here.
Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre presided over the function to initiate the launch of Khanderi (Yard 11876).
Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th Khanderi is also the name of Tiger Shark.
International – Across the Globe:
1. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the Katas raj Hindu temple in Chakwal district of Punjab to inaugurate its renovation.
The work includes installation of water filtration plant in the Amrat Jal area.
Al -Biruni, Persian Scholar and polymath had computed the earth’s circumference from here.
2. According to scientists, a new plate boundary may be forming on the floor of the Indian Ocean in Wharton Basin as a result of the 2012 earthquake that shook the Andaman-Sumatra region.
The discovery was based on the study of seismic data recorded before, during and after the 2012 quakes and sea floor depth analysis by venturing into the ocean aboard a research vessel.
They discovered that the plate had broken along a 1,000 kms fracture zone due to 2012 earthquakes, resulting in a new plate boundary and likely to be the site of future fault-slip earthquakes.
Economics & Banking GK:
1. The World Bank has lowered its growth forecast for India to 7 percent from 7.6 percent in 2016-17, citing a slowdown in consumption and manufacturing due to demonetization and an ongoing decline in private investment and credit constraints due to bank balance sheets.
The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects January 2017 report added that the Indian economy is subsequently set to recover its growth momentum, with growth rising to 7.6 percent in FY18 and further strengthening to 7.8 percent in FY20.
Awards & Recognition:
1. Outgoing US President Barack Obama has selected four Indian-American scientists among 102 researchers for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
They are Pankaj Lal from Montclair State University, Kaushik Chowdhury from Northeastern University, Manish Arora from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Aradhna Tripati from University of California, Los Angeles.
PECASE is the highest honor given by the US government to science and engineering professionals. The awards were established in 1996 by President Bill Clinton.
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Appointments:
1. Daniel Ortega has been sworn in for a third consecutive term as Nicaragua’s president, with his wife Rosario Murillo as the new vice president.
Ortega, a 71 -year old former rebel fighter, took the oath in Managua with the presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia and Taiwan in attendance.
Ortega was firstly elected in 2007.
Nicaragua
Capital- Managua
Currency- Cordoba
2. Ausaf Sayeed has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Seychelles.
Ausaf is currently working as the Consul general, Consulate General of India, Chicago.
Seychelles
Capital-Victoria
Currency-Rupee
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):
1. India and Kenya signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. India also announced $100 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Kenya for agricultural mechanization.
The agreement was signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyian President Uhuru Kenyatta in New Delhi.
Both countries will focus on quick operationalisation of the defence cooperation along with hydrography, anti-piracy, communication networks, capacity building and defence medical cooperation.
Books and Authors:
1. Akhada is the authorized biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler and a coach who has made India proud.
The book, Akhada by Saurabh Duggal, traces Mahavir Phogat’s journey with his daughters and nieces hailing from a small village in Haryana to winning the medals for the country.
His daughters, Babita and Geeta, has won medals at Olympics, World Wrestling Championship and Commonwealth Games.
2. Cyber Pathshala, a book on cyber schooling for the demonetization era, authored by Tarun Vijay was released by Union Human Resource Development Minister, Prakash Javedekar at the World Book Fair o January 10.
According to Tarun Vijay, this book was to familiarize people of all ages with the new vocabulary of the new normal, demonetization, which has changed our language, style and idioms.
Science & Technology:
1. Researchers from Midwestern University have identified the function of the human appendix, often viewed as a vestigial organ with little-known use.
They discovered that the human appendix has evolved at least 30 times and even possibly up to a maximum of 41 times throughout the mammalian evolution.
According researchers, once the appendix appears in human body, it never disappears, suggesting that the organ likely serves an adaptive purpose.
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