The Daily Brief – 12th January, 2017

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• A MoU was signed between CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and US CERT (The Unites States Computer Emergency Readiness Team), for close co-operation and exchange of information pertaining to cyber security. CERT-In is a government-mandated information technology (IT) security organization. The purpose of CERT-In is to respond to computer security incidents, report on vulnerabilities and promote effective IT security practices throughout the country.
• DEFCOM – 2017 was recently inaugurated in Delhi. It is an annual seminar organised jointly by the Corps of Signals of Indian Army and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The theme for this year is ‘Infrastructure and Skilled Human Resource for Digital Army’.
• Scientists have discovered a new species of gibbon living in south-west China’s rainforests. It has been named the Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon by its discoverers, who are Star Wars fans. The name is also a nod to the fact to the Chinese characters of its scientific name, Hoolock tianxing, which means “heaven’s movement”.
• The world’s first ‘Gender Literature Festival’ will be held in Patna in the second week of April. The Gender Resource Centre of Bihar’s Women Development Corporation will be organising the festival. The objective of this initiative is to create a platform, to exchange ideas, and to share and learn experiences of renowned people in the field of gender based or focussed literature. The festival will also act as a platform to increase visibility for gender equity and advocacy in the State of Bihar.
• India INX, India’s first international exchange, was recently inaugurated by PM at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat International Financial Tech City (GIFT) located in Gandhinagar. It will act as a gateway to raise capital for the country’s infrastructure and development needs. In parallel, it would provide cross-border opportunities of investment with a comparatively low cost of transaction in the world’s most technologically advanced platform.
• INS Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is the second of the six submarines being built at MDL in collaboration with France’s DCNS as part of Project 75 of Indian Navy. It has been named Khanderi, after the Island fort of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji which played had vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in late 17th century.
• The Supreme Court 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 centre to provide lifelong medical treatment to all the victims. Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides having hazardous effects on human genetic and endocrine systems.

  

• 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. This is for the first time Government has framed rules on the breeding, sale and purchase of dogs in the country.
• The Indian Men’s Hockey team captain and former Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Hockey India League player, Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh became a member of the International Hockey Federation (IHF) Athletes’ Committee.

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