Current Affairs February 09, 2014

Current Affairs

February 09, 2014

National Affairs

1. Nepali Congress leader Sushil Koirala is set to become the next prime minister of Nepal with the support of the CPN-UML, ending months of political gridlock following last year’s elections. The Parliament of Nepal will elect Koirala as prime minister tomorrow. The CPN—UML standing committee has decided to back Koirala for the top post after the party reached a six-point deal with the Nepali Congress (NC).

2. Significant letter by Gandhiji to be auctioned in Britain
A letter written by Mahatma Gandhi, described as “an incredibly important document in world history”, is to be auctioned in Britain on February 14.The letter is estimated at 10,000-15,000 pounds ($15,697-$23,543).The three-page typewritten correspondence was sent to the British rulers by the father of the Indian nation while he was under house arrest in 1943 in Pune.

3. Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru hanged
On 09 Frebruary 2013, the 2001 Parliament attack case convict Mohammed Afzal Guru was hanged and buried inside the Tihar jail complex.

4. Ratan Tata Elected To “National Academy of Engineering “
On 9 February Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of the Tata Group, has been elected as a member of the prestigious ‘ National Academy of Engineering ‘ of the US along with 10 new foreign members.This is the highest professional distinction accorded to an engineer in the US.Ratan Tata has been selected for his outstanding contributions to industrial development in India and the world.

5. Tour operator Thomas Cook (India) Ltd will merge its operations with resort owner Sterling Holiday Resorts India Ltd in a deal valued at Rs 870 crore, announced this week. The merger will give Thomas Cook access to Sterling Resorts’ 19 properties in 16 holiday destinations across India and it will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014.

6. According to a report of the drinking water and sanitation ministry, Sikkim become India's first state with 100 percent sanitation coverage.

International Affairs

7. Bhutan Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley visited India
The Bhutan Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley along with Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister in-charge of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Economic Affairs and Foreign Secretary Yeshey Dorji visited India from Feb 7-9.

8. Strong 6.9 earthquake strikes Colombia
According to the U.S. Geological Survey report, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Colombia on 09 February 2013. The quake’s epicenter was 7 miles southwest of Pasto and was 92 miles deep. It was felt as far as 123 miles away in Quito, Ecuador.

9. South Sudan Bishop Taban won UN Peace Award
On 9 February A South Sudan’s Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban has won a coveted 2013 UN peace prize ( Sergio Viera de Mello Prize ) in recognition of his efforts to build trust among warring communities in the conflict-torn region.Vieira de Mello, the UN’s former human rights chief, was killed in a bombing in Iraq in 2003. The annual prize in his honour is awarded to a person, community or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to reconciliation of communities or groups in conflict, and whose example can be duplicated elsewhere.

10. Indian American Subra Suresh Named President of Carnegie Mellon
On 9 February US President Obama’s top science official and Indian American Padma Shri awardee Dr Subra Suresh has been appointed as the new president of Carnegie Mellon University. He will succeed Dr. Jared L. Cohon, who led the university to unprecedented growth during his 16-year tenure. Dr Suresh will assume office on July 1 after Dr Cohon would step down on June 30, this year.

Sports

11. ICC approved controversial structural reform to give most power to India, England and Australia boards this week. The new structure ensures that the BCCI, which generates 80% of the game’s revenues, will get a larger share of the ICC pie along with England and Australia as the two other main beneficiaries. In the new set-up, India, Australia and England will have permanent seats on a five-member executive committee, which will report to the ICC board. Also BCCI president N Srinivasan is set to become the first ICC chairman from July for a period of two years.

12. Kumar Sangakkara became only the second player to hit a triple century and a century in the same match while playing against Bangladesh on 7^th February. Sangakkara scored 319 runs in the first innings and 105 in the second to join former England captain Graham Gooch. Gooch scored 333 and 123 against India at Lord’s in 1990. Sangakkara was 33 runs short of breaking Gooch’s record for most runs in a single test.

13. Indian Olympic Association conducted its polls this week and N Ramachandran was elected as the president. This will clear India’s return to the Olympic fold. Ramachandran, chief of World Squash Federation, was elected unopposed in the election.

Kho-Kho Federation of India President Rajeev Mehta and All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief Anil Khanna were also elected unopposed as Secretary General and Treasurer respectively in the polls. Corruption-tainted Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot were excluded from the IOA following this election.

14. Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri, who is ranked 174 in the singles list beat Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the final match of the ATP Challenger Tennis event at Chennai today. In the semifinal, he defeated top seed Somdev by 6-2, 6-4. With this win, he emerged winner in the contest between India’s top two tennis players he and India number one Somdev Devvarman.

15. Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra became the first individual to win three gold medals in Inter Shoot Tri series being held at Hague, Netherlands.

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