Daily Current Affairs 2nd August 2017

1. World breastfeeding week – August 1-7, 2017

World breastfeeding week 2017 is being celebrated from 1st to 7th August 2017 with the theme “Sustaining Breastfeeding Together”.

•    It was first celebrated in 1992 by World Alliance for Breastfeeding World Breastfeeding Week Action (WABA) and is now observed in over 120 countries by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and their partners including individuals, organizations, and governments.

•    The World Breastfeeding Week’s 25th year in 2017
 

2. China opens its first overseas Military base in Djibouti

China has formally opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti with a flag raising ceremony and military parade.

•    The event was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of China's military, the People's Liberation Army, on August 1.

•    Djibouti's position on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean .

•    Djibouti is a tiny barren nation sandwiched between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. It is at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on the route to the Suez Canal.

3. Constitution 123rd Amendment Bill 2017 for NCBC

On July 31, 2017, Constitution 123rd Amendment Bill, 2017 for setting up of a National Commission for Backward Classes was passed by Rajya Sabha after dropping an important clause.

•    Rajya Sabha passed the bill by dropping Clause 3 which pertains to the insertion of a new article 338B about the constitution and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes.

•    One amendment sought increase in the number of members of the proposed commission from three to five with reservation for a member from a minority community and another for women.

4. Airtel Payment Bank ties up with HPCL for ATM services

Airtel Payments Bank has partnership with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), to give further boost to digital payments in the country.

•    All 14,000 HPCL fuel stations will act as banking points for Airtel Payments Bank.

•    All Airtel Payments Bank customers would be able to access a range of convenient banking services at these 14,000 fuel stations like opening new accounts, make cash deposits and withdrawals facility, and transfer money.

•    Airtel Payments Bank customers will also be able to make secure and convenient digital payments for fuel purchases across 14,000 HPCL fuel stations by using their mobile phones.

5. Mukesh Ambani becomes Asia’s 2nd richest person

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has overtaken Hong Kong business magnate Li Ka-shing to become Asia's second-richest man.

•    Ambani's wealth has seen a rise of $12.1 billion with the oil-to telecom conglomerate's shares seeing a surge with investors.

6. Sameer Garde named Cisco president for India, SAARC  region

Networking giant Cisco has appointed Sameer Garde as President for its India and SAARC  operations.

•    A former Philips Healthcare executive, Garde joined the company on August 1. He replaced Dinesh Malkani.

7. Lt Gen Abhay Krishna new chief of Eastern Command

Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna has been appointed as head of the Army's crucial Eastern Command which guards a major part of Sino-India border including the Sikkim sector where armies of India and China have been locked in a face-off.

•    Lt. Gen. Krishna, who was heading the Army's South Western Command succeeds Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi .

8. Jadeja maintains top position ICC Test Rankings

According to the latest ICC Test Rankings Ravindra Jadeja maintained his top position in the bowlers’ list while Indian skipper Virat Kohli remained stayed at fifth place in the batting charts.

•    The batting list is being topped by Australia captain Steve Smith followed by England’s Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.

•    In the bowlers’ chart, Ravichandran Ashwin replaced Sri Lanka captain Rangana  Herath to claim the second spot back. Herath is third in the rankings.

•    In the all-rounders’ list Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is still maintained at the top, Jadeja and Ashwin also maintained second and third ranks respectively.

9. Summer Olympics Host : Paris , Los Angels

Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics after reaching a deal with Olympic organisers.
•    The Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics bid committee in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
•    IOC president- Thomas Bach

10. Eminent Dhrupad singer Ustad Dagar passes away

Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar, maestro and custodian of the venerable Dhrupad tradition of Hindustani classical music and a member of the eminent Dagar family, passed away.
•    Dhrupad - a Sanskrit portmanteau of Dhruva (immovable) and Pad (verse) has its roots since ancient times, mentioned as early as the 3rd Century B.C. in the Natyashastra.