Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 10 February 2016

:: NATIONAL::

Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan

• Inaugurating a two- day conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Pranab Mukherjee said those holding constitutional posts should maintain the sanctity of the Constitution.

• President said: “It is primarily due to our steadfast adherence to the principles enshrined in our Constitution. It is an enduring document that reflects our aspirations and the avenues to achieve them, in an inclusive manner.

• It is incumbent on us all who hold constitutional positions to maintain the sanctity of this sacred text.”

• Referring to 2015 as a difficult year, the President said: “We faced challenges from the global economic slow- down, climatic changes, and internal and external security.

• States having international borders were affected by terrorist attacks that had clear external linkages. Volatile external security environment makes it incumbent on us to upgrade our defence

United States shares details and specifications of LeT operative Headley

• The United States has provided the National Investigation Agency (NIA) with the details and specifications of a mobile phone handset belonging to Lashkar-e- Taiba operative David Coleman Headley, which was used by him tovideograph key targets, a few months before the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

• The same phone was used to film key targets when Headley again visited India in March 2009, barely three months after the attacks.

• Thedetails would help the NIA build its case against Headley and others in the Mumbai attacks case.

• Even after a Mumbai court accepted Headley’s plea to become an approver in the case being investigated by the Mumbai Police, he remains an accused in the NIA’s case.

• With this phone, Headley had filmed the residential areas around the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Taj Hotel, the Naval Air Station, the Police Headquarters, the State Assembly, Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Chabad House and Mumbai Stock Exchange, Leopold restaurant and Trident Hotel.

• Headley has also said he used to get calls from Major Iqbal on this number, and the calls were masked to have generated from New York.

Gates Foundation would be closely scrutinised (Register and Login to read Full News..)

TRAI chairman suggests government should also use alternatives to optic fibre cable (Register and Login to read Full News..)

:: INTERNATIONAL::

United Nations High commissioner urged Sri-Lanka to accelerate process of reforms

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ZeidRa’ad Al Hussein urged the Sri Lankan military to accelerate the return of land to rightful owners and reduce its size in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

• Mr. Hussein told a press conference at the end of his four-day visit that “while some land has been returned in the Jafna and Trincomalee areas, there are still large tracts which can and should be swiftly given back”.

• According to the Sri Lankan government, about 3,000 acres have been returned since January 2015 and 2,329 families resettled.

• The size of the military in the two Provinces could be reduced to a level “that is less intrusive and intimidating”, he added.

• The government was looking at “various options” within the limits of its preference.

• He acknowledged that the Sri Lankan government had “sovereign right” to take deci- sions on such issues.

• At the same time, he also emphasised that international participation could guarantee an “impartial and independent” judicial mechanism.

• On the present atmosphere of freedom and openness, Mr. Hussein felt “the element of fear has considerably diminished, at least in Colombo and the South. In the North and the East, it has mutated but, sadly, still exists”.

Obama unveiled a new cyber-security “national action plan” (Register and Login to read Full News..)

:: BUSINESS and ECONOMY ::

Government easing rules to grant construction permits around airports

• The government is easing rules for granting construction permits around airports and monuments by developing colour-coded maps in a bid to give fillip to urban growth.

• Developers have to get permits from Airport Authority of India (AII) in New Delhi to build projects around the country’s airports.

• AII has come out with colour- coded zonal map. The airspaces used by jetliners for landings and take offs are highlighted in the map. No construction will be allowed in such spaces.

• Construction would be allowed in those areas that fall out of “colour coded” zones.

• Developers don’t have to come all the way to Delhi to get building height clearances among others.

• The government will soon empower urban local bodies to follow the colour-coded zonal maps and authorise real estate development accordingly.

• Jaipur International Airport is the first one to develop a colour-coded map.

• All the other civilian airports across India, including 28 defence airports that are being used for civilian purposes, will have their maps ready by December 2016.

• The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with ISRO is developing colour-coded maps for 281 monuments that fall in construction zones.

• Ministry of Culture has launched a mobile app that enables online approvals for construction around monuments in just 72 hours.

New standards for handsets may make Indian fonts compulsory

• Indian fonts may be mandatory for mobile phones sold in the country according to new standards for handsets being finalised by the government.

• The Bureau of Indian Standards is expected to notify the standards that will require handsets to be able to render Indian font messages as well as allow users to type in Hindi, Tamil and other Indian languages, by end of April 2016.

• The Bureau is working with the Department of Electronics and Information Technology in the IT ministry and the Indian Cellular Association, which represents mobile handset and component manufacturing industry, to work out these standards.

• The government had initiated a move to promote Indian fonts on digital interfaces in 2011.

To decongest traffic government will increase NH length to 2 lakh km (Register and Login to read Full News..)

:: SPORTS ::

India enters under-19 World Cup final

• India entered the ICC Under-19 World Cup final for a fifth time with a 97-run win over Sri Lanka in the semifinals.

• India did well to reach 267 for nine after a shaky start before dismissing Sri Lanka for 170 in 42.4 overs.

• India now awaits either West Indies or Bangladesh in the fi- nal to be played on February 14.

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Sources: Various News Papers & PIB

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