The Daily Brief – 7th February, 2017

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• The Railway Ministry is set to develop the first ever railway line in Andaman and Nicobar Island that currently has no rail network. The Ministry of Railway is set to approve the project that will construct 240-km broad gauge railway line connecting Port Blair with Diglipur, the largest town on Andaman Island. It will connect the two islands with bridges and stations along the coast.
• In an effort to strengthen the bilateral relations between India and UAE, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Pavak made a goodwill visit at the Mina Al Rashid (Dubai Port) from February 4 to 7, 2017. As a part of the visit, a joint exercise is scheduled to take place between Indian coast guard and UAE coast guard to enhance co-operation and exchange of operational expertise.
• Renowned Indian-origin British sculptor Anish Kapoorwas honoured with the prestigious $1 million 2017 Genesis Prize by Israel for his utmost contribution for Jewish community.
• The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilationis a United Nations (UN) campaign held on February 6 to stop genital mutilation to girls and women. The theme for 2017 is “Building a solid and interactive bridge between Africa and the world to accelerate ending FGM by 2030.”
• Haryana Health Minister Mr. Anil Vij has said that government has decided to conduct Thalassemia test of all pregnant women and blood relations of victims of this disease.  He said that in India around 3.5 percent of the total population is victim of Thalassemia and in Haryana so far 812 patients of this genetic disease have been registered. Thalassaemia is an inherited (genetic) blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to make healthy haemoglobin, the iron-rich protein found in red blood cells. Haemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen to all parts of the body, and carbon dioxide to the lungs to be exhaled.
• India will host the Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism from tomorrow in New Delhi.  The meeting highlights India’s commitment to global nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It is a part of country’s overall engagement with the international community on nuclear security issues.

• Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi‘s house in the national capital was burgled and his Nobel citation allegedly stolen. The child rights activist won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. He shared the prize with Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai.
• In Afghanistan, at least 20 people were killed and 45 others injured in a bomb blast outside the Supreme Court in the centre of capital, Kabul, today.
• Arunachal Pradesh State government has introduced ‘Arunachal Civil Service Awards’ for excellence in public administration. It is an effort to encourage good governance and to recognize the extra-ordinary services rendered by the government employees in the state.