The Daily Brief – 3rd February 2017

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• The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 3, 2017 by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The Bill provides for holding, transfer and receiving of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, which were demonetized after November 8, 2016, as a criminal offence and punishable with a minimum fine of Rs 10,000. The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill will end the liability of RBI and the government on the demonetized currency notes.

  

• The 19th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsavor International Drama Festival kicked off on February 1, 2017 in New Delhi. It is the Asia’s biggest International theatre festival conducted by the National School of Drama. The festival aims to develop theatre across the country.
• A Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has been set up by India and Norway to speed up the research and development for epidemics. The body was created after the World Health Organization published a document titled ‘An R&D blueprint for action to prevent epidemics- funding and coordination models for preparedness and response’ and asked all the member nations to develop research and development plan to deal with epidemics.
• The Centre of Integrative Oncology (CIO) was inaugurated by Dr. Saumya Swaminathan, Secretary, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare & Director General, Indian Council for Medical Research and Shri Ajit M. Sharan, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH at the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) at Noida. The aim of the CIO is to build collaborations in the areas of cancer prevention, research and care in an integrated approach involving both modern and traditional medicine. Oncology is a branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
• The Union Ministry of Railwayshas signed a MoU with an Italian Firm Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane Group (FS Group) for technical cooperation in rail sector on February 2, 2017 with focus on safety operations.
• One of the India’s international border, 3,323-km-long India-Pakistan border that runs through four states, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat will have smart fencing soon said by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju.
• Right to Information (RTI) Act has come into effect in Sri Lanka from February 3, 2017. RTI was one of the major announcements made by the present Sri Lankan government ahead of the 2015 election. The public authorities under which the RTI request falls are liable to respond to these requests within the specified timelines, subject to a maximum of 28 days.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 2, 2017 permitted the NRIs to have access to the exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) market. This will enable the NRIs to hedge the currency risk due to making investment in India. Access to ETCD market will provide them an additional hedging option though subjected to certain conditions.
• The Union Health Minister, JP Nadda, notified the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 on February 2, 2017 to ease the norms related to manufacturing medical devices in India and promote domestic industry.
• In the latest Global 500 rankings of most valuable and powerful brands across the globe, Sundar Pichai’s Google has surpassed Apple to achieve the top position. This is for the first time since 2011 that Google has been placed at the top spot. The third place has been occupied by Amazon.
• A premium digital marketing agency LIQVD ASIA collaborated with iKarmik.com, and has launched India’s First Ever Online Exhibition gateway– ExFirst.com. The aim is to provide designers and retailers an opportunity to reach out to consumers across the country
• Former Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson (64) has taken the oath of office as US Secretary of State by Vice President Mike Pence in the presence of President Donald Trump in the White House’s Oval Office.
• Indian cueist Pankaj Advani clinched his 29th Indian National Snooker Championship title on February 2, 2017 at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana, Pune.
• As per the latest ICC Ranking of the Men’s batting, Virat Kohli is still on the top spot with 799 points. He is followed by Aaron Finch of Australia at second position with 771 points and Glenn Maxwell of Australia is third.
• Eminent stage craft director, theatre personality, actor, director, artist, painter and writer Asim Basupassed away in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Basu is well known for his beautiful and graphic stage craft direction and he has received the state Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1998.