04 July 2017 - Current Affairs

PM Modi embarks on his two-nation tour to Israel and Germany


  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a two-nation tour to ‘Israel’ and ‘Germany’.
  • In first leg (three- day tour), PM Modi will go to Israel where he will hold talks with his Israeli counterpart ‘Benjamin Netanyahu’ on all matters of mutual interest.
  • The Prime Minister will also visit the Indian cemetery in Haifa where he will pay homage to Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the First World War.
  • This year both the countries is commemorating 25 years of diplomatic relations.
  • In his second leg, Mr. Modi will participate in the G 20 summit at Hamburg in Germany starting on 7th of July.
  • The G 20 group representing the world’s 20 most powerful nations will discuss issues like free trade, Climate change, sustainable development and migration which will shape the world significantly in coming times.


WHO declares end to Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo


  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
  • Though the agency marks an end to the outbreak in the country, enhanced surveillance will continue, as well as strengthening of preparedness and readiness for Ebola outbreaks.
  • Earlier, in May this year, WHO was notified by the Ministry of Public Health of the virus among a cluster of undiagnosed illnesses and deaths with hemorrhagic signs in Likati Health Zone
  • It was the country’s eighth outbreak of EVD since the discovery of the virus in the country in 1976.
  • Ebola virus is one of five known viruses within the genus Ebolavirus.


India successfully test-fires short-range surface-to-air missile


  • India successfully test-fired its all-weather tracked-chassis ‘Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile’ (QR-SAM) from a mobile launcher at launch complex III of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
  • The QR-SAM weapon system is a quick reaction, network-centric missile system capable of search-on-the-move.
  • QR-SAM system can also engage multiple targets within a range of around 30 km with two vehicle configuration for area air defence.
  • The missile Jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Ltd and intended to defend Army formations operating in plains and semi-desert areas.
  • It is a truck-mounted missile with a 360-degree rotatable, electro-mechanically operated, turret-based launch unit.


Reliance Jio launches world’s longest submarine cable system


  • Reliance Jio has announced to launch of the Asia-Africa-Europe (AAE-1) submarine cable system stretch from Marseille in France to Hong Kong, covering 25000 km.
  •  AAE-1 is claimed to be the world’s longest 100Gbps technology-based submarine system.
  • It will have 21 cable landings across Asia and Europe.
  • The project is a combination of leading telecom service providers from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.


Sushma Swaraj inaugurated 9th edition of Delhi Dialogue today


  • Today, the Union External Affairs Minister ‘Sushma Swaraj’ has inaugurated the two-day Delhi Dialogue (9th edition) in New Delhi.
  • The theme of the dialogue is "ASEAN-India Relations: Charting the Course for the Next 25 Years".
  • It is a premier event to discuss politico-security, an economic and socio-cultural engagement between ASEAN and India.
  • The ASEAN comprises ten countries--Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Brunei Darussalam.
  • This Dialogue has been held annually since 2009.


Chennai Metropolitan Area to be expanded to 8,878 square KMs


  • According to the Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Minister ‘K Radhakrishnan’, Chennai Metropolitan Area will be expanded to 8,878 square KMs by including areas from neighboring districts.
  • Now, the whole of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts besides Arakkonam taluk in Vellore would be included in Chennai Metropolitan Area.
  • The expansion will ensure equitable growth and integrated urbanization adding that the measure would also help decongestion in Chennai city.


Nagaland declared as ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA for six months


  • Entire Nagaland has been declared as ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA for next 6 more months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
  • Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA), are Acts of the Parliament of India that grant special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in what each act terms "disturbed areas".
  • According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976 once declared ‘disturbed’, the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of 3 months.


Finance ministry removes additional excise duty on tobacco, cigarettes


  • The Finance Ministry has removed additional excise duty on tobacco, cigarettes and pan masala from 1st July following the GST implementation.
  • The GST Constitutional (Amendment) Act permits the Centre to levy excise duty on six items including tobacco and tobacco products.
  • The revenue department also repealed its earlier central excise notification, which deals with excise duty rate on unmanufactured tobacco and chewing tobacco. The other items are petroleum crude, diesel, petrol, natural gas, and ATF.


‘Petya' ransomware attack


  • Many organizations in Europe and the US have been crippled by a ransomware attack known as “Petya”.
  • It’s the second major global ransomware attack in the past two months after WannaCry.
  • Like WannaCry, “Petya” spreads rapidly through networks that use Microsoft Windows.
  • Note:
  • Ransomware is a type of malware that blocks access to a computer or its data and demands money to release it.


Centre & Asian Development Bank sign 220 million-dollar loan


  • The union govt. and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a 220 million-dollar loan for improving connectivity as well as transport efficiency and safety on State Highways of Rajasthan.
  • The loan is the first tranche of the 500 million-dollar Rajasthan State Highways Investment Program, approved by ADB Board in May this year.
  • The first tranche loan will improve about one thousand kilometers of State Highways and major district roads in Rajasthan.


US to honor Indian Americans Shantanu Narayen, Vivek Murthy with Great Immigrants Award


  • Indian-Americans, Shantanu Narayen (Adobe Chief) and Vivek Murthy (former US Surgeon General) will be honored with the Great Immigrants Award for their role in helping advance the country's society, culture and economy.
  • Narayen(54-year): Native of Hyderabad has an undergraduate degree in electronics engineering, a master’s degree in computer science, and an MBA from UC Berkeley.
  • Murthy (39-year): Born in the UK and a Harvard and Yale alumnus, was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, becoming the first-ever Indian-American to occupy the post and also the youngest ever surgeon general of the country.


Novak Djokovic clinches Eastbourne International Men’s Singles title


  • Tennis star Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Gael Monfils (France) to clinch the Eastbourne International Men’s Singles title.
  • He defeated Monfils 6-3, 6-4.
  • Czech tennis player Karolina Pliskova defeated Danish Caroline Wozniacki to win the Eastbourne International Women’s Singles title.
  • Pliskova defeated Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4.

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