Current Affairs 4 February 2018

International Current Affairs 1. World Cancer Day: 4 February World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to ra...

International Current Affairs

1. World Cancer Day: 4 February

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

• World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.
• The primary goal of the World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer by 2020.
• The theme for the World Cancer Day 2016-2018 is 'We can. I can.'

National Current Affairs

2. International Conference on 'Demetrios Galanos and His Legacy’

The International Conference on 'Demetrios Galanos and His Legacy’ was inaugurated at IGNCA in New Delhi.

• Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is organizing the 8-days International Conference.
• The 8-day long convention is being held in Delhi and Varanasi, in addition to organizing the exhibition and folk music of Greece.

3. Venkaiah Naidu to Inaugurate First International Kala Mela

The Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the First International Kala Mela in New Delhi on February 4.

• The Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma will also grace the occasion.
• Lalit Kala Akademi, the premier institution for the promotion of Art and Culture is organizing it at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi (IGNCA).

4. Environment Ministry launches ‘Green Good Deeds’ campaign

Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has appealed to the teaching community to join the “Green Good Deeds” campaign, launched by his Ministry to sensitise the people about climate change and global warming.

• The Minister reminded the teachers of their “Green Social Responsibility similar to corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Business

5. Nepal gets a high Rs. 650 crore outlay

India’s annual financial allocation to Nepal for 2018-19 has nearly doubled under the Union Budget presented on February 1.

• The External Affairs Ministry has been allocated a total Rs. 15,011 crore, which indicates a marginal increase of Rs. 1,321 crore over the previous year’s grant.
• For India’s development and diplomatic engagement under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the Budget has allocated Rs. 5545 crore.
• Bhutan is traditionally the largest recipient of Ministry’s allocation.

6. CRISIL, SIDBI Launch India’s First MSE Sentiment Index

The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley launched CriSidEx , India’s first sentiment index for micro and small enterprises ( MSEs) developed jointly by CRISIL & SIDBI.

• CriSidEx is a composite index based on a diffusion index of 8 parameters and measures MSE business sentiment on a scale of 0 (extremely negative ) to 200 ( extremely positive) .
• The parametric feedback was captured through a survey of 1100 MSEs in November –December.
• CriSidEx will have 2 indices , one for the ‘survey quarter’ and another for the ‘next quarter’ once a trend emerges after few rounds of the survey , providing independent time series data.
• The crucial benefit of CriSidEx is that its readings will flag potential headwinds and changes in production cycles and thus help improve market efficiencies. 
• And by capturing the sentiment of exporters and importers , it will also offer actionable indicators on foreign trade.

Awards

7. Shyam Benegal Named For V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal has been selected for the prestigious 'V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award' at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF-2018).

• The award, carrying a trophy, a citation, shawl and cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, will be conferred on Benegal by Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao at the MIFF 2018.
• During his career, he has made 28 feature films including classics like Ankur, Nishant, Mandi, Bhumika, Manthan and Junoon and 41 documentaries.

Sports

8. Under-19 World Cup: India lifts their fourth World Cup

India thump Australia by 8 wickets to be crowned Under-19 World Cup Champions.

• Chasing 217, India wrapped up the win inside 39 overs.
• Manjot Kalra scored a sensational unbeaten century and was named Man of the Match.
• Shubman Gill was declared man of the series.
• The final match was played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand.