Current Affairs - January 20, 2018 Current Affairs

Facebook-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp rolled out a feature that connects small businesses with customers. Currently, only Android users can access the feature and they can avail of it through the latest update of the app. The new feature will be available first in Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, UK and the US before being launched globally in the coming weeks.

Divers of Great Maya Aquifer Project have discovered world's largest known underwater, flooded cave in Mexico. This cave system is located near the beach resort of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is made of two massive underwater caverns (Sac Actun and Dos Ojos, measuring 163 miles and 52 miles, respectively) that are connected. With discovery of this connection, the combined length of Sac Actun-Dos Ojos system stands at nearly 215 miles. This is much larger than Ox Bel Ha cave system (also in Mexico), which stretches 168 miles long and was considered as world's largest underwater cave system.

Banking finance company AU Small Finance Bank signed a MoU with LIC to offer Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY). Under the MoU, LIC will give a life cover of Rs2 lakh in case of death to the customer at a nominal premium of Rs330 per annum. The company has re-entered the housing finance segment. The company will also offer loans under government's affordable housing and subsidy schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The product will be targeted for both salaried and self- employed (professional and non-professional) customers.

The Maharashtra government has approved a Rs 4,000-crore project aimed at promoting climate-resilient agriculture. The project has been named as the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojana. It will be implemented in 5,142 villages across 15 districts. In the the total cost of the project is Rs 4,000 crore, 70 percent of which will be borne by the World Bank while the state will contribute 30 percent over six years.

India will offer Yoga training sessions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, in a move aimed at promoting Indian traditions abroad. More than 70 heads of states are expected to attend the summit next week. PM Narendra Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to attend the summit in 21 years. Two yoga teachers from India will hold daily classes next week at the summit, which has attracted 70 heads of state and government, including U.S. President Donald Trump as well as celebrities, chief executives and top bankers. Modi will be the first Indian prime minister to attend the WEF in 21 years, since when the economy has more than doubled to $2.3 trillion and become the world's seventh largest.

Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) and Blockchain Education Network (BEN) have planned to jointly set up Kerala Blockchain Academy at Technopark campus, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This Blockchain academy is said to be the first of its kind in India. Michael Gord, founder and CEO of MLG Blockchain Consulting, launched the website for the Blockchain academy.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched Girl Child Week programme to celebrate the girl child and spread awareness on gender equality. The Girl Child Week is held from 18 January to 24 January 2018. 24 January is celebrated as National Girl Child Day. The Girl Child Week is organised by NGO Alliance Defending Freedom India and PC&PNDT Cell of Directorate of Family Welfare of Delhi government. The Girl Child Week campaign is conducted to spread awareness on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act, 1994. This act prohibits sex determination during pregnancy.

Indian Naval Ship Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's largest ship, and its sole aircraft carrier were formally affiliated to the Indian Army's highly-decorated and battle-hardened Bihar Regiment and the Indian Air Force's No 6 Squadron. It is tasked with maritime strike operations with its Jaguar fighter aircraft. A glittering ceremony was held onboard INS Vikramaditya at the Karwar Naval Base, Karnataka.

Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel will be the new Governor of Madhya Pradesh. The appointment was made by the President of India. She replaces O P Kohli, who was given the additional charge as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh in September, 2016, when the tenure of incumbent Ram Naresh Yadav ended.

India climbed up 3 places to secure 102nd spot in the first FIFA rankings of 2018. India has secured a total of 333 points. Indian team remained unbeaten in 2017 and had won seven of nine matches conducted by FIFA. The top 14 positions remained unchanged. Germany secured 1st spot. It is followed by Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium.

India joined the Australia Group export control regime and has become the 43rd Member of that Group. It is an informal forum which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons. The inclusion will raise India's stature in the field of non-proliferation and help in acquiring critical technologies. India managed entry into Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the list of nine new Smart Cities, which have emerged winners in Round 4. These nine cities are, Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Erode in Tamil Nadu, Diu in Daman and Diu, Bihar Sharif in Bihar, Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Kavaratti in Lakshadweep.

Kenneth Chenault, Former CEO of American Express, joined Facebook's board, becoming the first African American Board Member of Facebook. Kenneth Chenault has vast experience in fields like customer service, direct commerce, etc. He retired from his CEO position in American Express in October 2017. He was also American Express' first black CEO. Facebook had been looking for an African American board member to fix its lack of diversity.

President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled a book on heartfulness techniques and principles titled 'The Heartfulness Way'. Kamlesh D. Patel is the author of this book. It is the fourth Global Guide of Heartfulness. Joshua Pollock is the second author of this book. It was launched by Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu.