NORTH-EASTERN STATES

New moth species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Researchers have discovered a new species of moth from the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.

The new species, scientifically named Elcysma Ziroensis, be commonly called Apatani Glory, named after a local tribe called Apatani.

This species has only been seen during autumn, notably in the month of September, indicating that it is a univoltine species, meaning it has one brood of young in a year.

INTERNATIONAL

Romania to have first female prime minister, Viorica Dancila

Viorica Dancila has been named as Romania’s first female PM following the sudden resignation of Mihai Tudose.

Ms Dancila, a member of the European Parliament, is regarded as an ally of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea.

Ms Dancila, 54, is Romania’s third prime minister in seven months.

· Google awarded 72 lakh for finding bugs in Pixel phone

Google awarded nearly 72 lakh to researcher Guang Gong for finding bugs in its Pixel devices.
The exploit chain consisted of two bugs which together could inject arbitrary code into system server by accessing a malicious URL in Chrome.
Around 67 lakh of the reward was given from Google’s Android Security Rewards program, the highest in the program’s history.

NATIONAL

· India Ratings Projects Economic Growth at 7.1 Next Fiscal

India Ratings and Research have projected the country’s economic growth to improve to 1 percentin 2018-19 from 6.5 percent in 2017-18, buoyed by robust consumer demand and low commodity prices.
In its outlook for 2018-19, according to the agency, there will be a gradual pickup in growth momentum owing to structural reforms like GST and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code in place.
The projection is a tad lower than 7.4 percent growth estimated by Asian Development Bank and International Monetary Fund for next fiscal.

Government to set up $350 million fund to finance solar projects

Government will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022.

India will need at least $125 billion to fund a plan to increase the share of renewable power supply in the country’s grid by 2022.

The country, which receives twice as much sunshine as European nations, wants to make solar central to its renewable expansion.

Installed renewable power capacity is currently about 60 GW

· HDFC Bank Becomes 1st Indian Bank to Cross Rs5 trillion Market Capitalisation

India’s most-valued lender HDFC Bank Limitedcrossed Rs5 trillion capitalization action for the first time, making it only the third Indian company to achieve this milestone.
In intraday trade, the stock touched a fresh record high of Rs1,53.75 on the BSE, up 3.31% from its previous close.
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are the other two companies which crossed market capitalisation of Rs5 trillion.

· NPPA fixes retail price of 30 drug formulations

Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)fixed retail price for 30 drug formulations, including those used for the treatment of Diabetics, bacterial infections, and high blood pressure.
NPPA is an independent body under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It was set up in 1997.
Its mandate is to fix/review.
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the country’s population.

· Maharashtra becomes first state to unveil Public Cloud Policy

Maharashtra became the first state in the country to unveil Public Cloud Policy that virtually mandates state government departments to shift their data storage.
The State Government had formed a four-member committee to draft policy framework on cloud usage.
The policy will result in additional private sector investments worth the US $2 billion for cloud industry as the government is one of biggest creators.

· Virat Kohli named as Captain of ICCs Test and ODI Teams of the Year

Virat Kohli was named the captain of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test and One-Day International (ODI) teams of the year that included four other Indians as well.
Kohli scored 2,023 runs at 77.80, including eight centuries and three half-centuries in 18 matches during the qualification period.
He surprisingly pipped Australian skipper Steve Smith for the ICC’s Test team captaincy.
The Test team also comprises Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin.

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

IOC to invest Rs 3,400 crore in Assam to augment operations

Indian Oil Corporation will invest Rs3,400 crore in Assam over the next five years to expand its operations by setting up new units as well as upgrading the existing ones.
The company will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Assam Government to this effect at the two-day ‘Advantage Assam – Global Investors Summit 2018’, beginning in Guwahati.
They are signing an MoU with the state government that will empower us to invest Rs 3,400 crore in Assam over the next five years.
This will be for various projects across the state,” Indian Oil Corporation, Executive Director (IndianOil-AOD), Dipankar Ray.

INTERNATIONAL

Maldives declares state of emergency

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has declared a 15-day state of Emergency, his aide Azima Shukoor announced on state television.

The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects as Yameen refuses to comply with a Supreme Court order to release political prisoners.

The latest crisis was triggered when the Maldivian Supreme Court ordered the release of some opposition leaders, including former president Mohammed Nasheed, after overturning their “terrorism” convictions.

Dubai named the world’s busiest International Airport

Dubai International Airport says it has held on to its No 1 ranking as the world’s busiest airport for ‘international travel’, after seeing some 88.2 million passengers in 2017.

Dubai International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014.

It has maintained the title ever since, with some 90 airlines flying into skyscraper-studded Dubai.

The airport is home to the long-haul carrier Emirates.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia remains the world’s busiest airport overall.

· Japan Launches Smallest Rocket Ever To Carry Tiny Satellite into Orbit

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)launched the world’s smallest rocket with the ability to put a tiny satellite into orbit.
The rocket lifted off from the Uchinoura Space Center.
It carried a microsatellite TRICOM-1R, a three-unit CubeSat weighing about 3 kilograms.
This satellite launch was a re-flight of the TRICOM-1 mission, which was lost in SS-520’s failure in 2017.
The launch was aimed at testing the ability of JAXA to launch low-cost rockets that can put microsatellites into space at affordable rates.

NATIONAL

· India contributes $1 million to UN Development Partnership Fund

India contributed additional $1 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund, earmarked for South-South cooperation.
The contribution aims to intensify its partnerships with other developing countries in the south.
India has pledged a multi-year contribution of $100 million to the fund establishment in June 2017.
The fund was set up on 9 June 2017 on occasion of the World Oceans Day as a partnership between India and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

· International company Singtel to invest 2649 crores in Bharati Telecom

Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) spend up to 2643 crores on shares in India’s Bharti Telecom, lifting its stake slightly in the holding company for Bharti Airtel to just under half.
India’s telecommunications sector has been hit hard by a price war since the entry of carrier Reliance Jio, the telecoms arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, more than a year ago.
The purchase worth as much as 26.5 billion rupees could increase Singtel’s stake in Bharti Telecom by up to 1.7 percentage points to 48.9 percent and its holding in Bharti Airtel, the country’s biggest mobile carrier, by up to 0.9 percentage points to 39.5 percent.
The deal will be done via a preferential share allotment.

Maharashtra govt approves new wildlife sanctuary at Ghodazari

The Maharashtra government has approved Ghodazari in Chandrapur district as a new wildlife sanctuary in the state.

The decision was taken at the 13th meeting of the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The sanctuary, in the North East of Tadoba, will include 159 sq km of Brahmapuri forest.

· India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Agni-I Missile

India successfully test-fired the indigenously developed short-range nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile.
The missile was fired from the Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.
The test was conducted by the Strategic Force Command of the Indian Army.
The range of Missile is 700 km.
It was 18th version of Agni-I.

· Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go on 4-day visit to Palestine, UAE, Oman on February 9

Prime Minister Narendra Modiwill have a packed schedule during his four days visit to Palestine, UAE, and Oman from ninth of this month.
This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to UAE and first to Oman.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in many community events.
In Dubai, Prime Minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit being at which India has been extended ‘Guest of Honour’ status. Joint Secretary (Gulf).

IWAI Signs Project Agreement With World Bank For Jal Marg Vikas Project.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)signed a project agreement with the World Bank for Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga.
The World Bank entered into a USD 375 million loan agreement with the Department of Economic Affairs, Union Ministry of Finance for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).
Jal Marg Vikas Project, which is expected to be completed by March 2023, is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.