#Daily #Current #Affairs

Himachal Pradesh government sets up satellite tracking system to                  check forest fire

Himachal Pradesh forest department has set up the satellite tracking system to check and find the forest fire incidents during summer season. The main aim of this tracking system is to protect the precious forest in the state from forest fires. The system is designed in such a way that, occurrence of any fire in the vicinity of forests, will immediately send SMS alerts to forest officials. Forest department also has constituted 700 participatory committees for people participation. Along with it, more than 90 water tanks have been constructed and 100 watch towers had been erected so that the people could easily detect fire incidents. Apart from this tracking system, state forest department also has launched awareness campaign throughout the state for protection of forests from fire and involving local people in detecting fire incidents.

India gets its first transgender college principal

In a first in India, Manabi Bandopadhyay has been appointed the first transgender principal at a college in West Bengal. Manabi will assume the role of  Krishnagar Women’s College principal in West Bengal on June 9. She is currently an associate professor in Bengali at Vivekananda Satobarshiki Mahavidyalaya."This decision was taken by the College Service Commission. I don't interfere in their decisions. They are aware of our open mind. I am happy with this decision," state education minister Partha Chatterjee said.

ANZ Bank to open 2 India branches by early 2016

ANZ Bank will open two more branches in India by early next year.The two branches would be opened at Gurgaon and Bangalore, ANZ Executive Director (International banking) Subhash DeGamia said. The bank opened its first branch in India at Mumbai four years ago. In June 2014, Australia New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) said it received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India to open new branches in Gurgaon and in outer Bengalore. Its Mumbai branch offers Indian Rupee and foreign currency services, working capital and term financing, transaction banking, global markets, deposits and advisory services. In addition, ANZ's Bangalore-based operations and technology shared services hub employs more than 6,000 staff supporting ANZ's businesses around the world.

NASSCOM launches Cyber Security Task Force

National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) and Data Security Council of India have launched NASSCOM Cyber Security Task Force. Rajendra Pawar, Chairman, NIIT will chair this task force. The task force over a 12 week period will identify the key priorities and build the detailed action plan for the sector. It aims to improve the cyber security industry market share of the country from 1% of the IT-BPM industry to 10% by 2025 and plans to have a trained base of 1 million certified cyber security professionals. It also expects to build over 100 security product companies in India. B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, chairman of Nasscom said that the task force “will study the Indian cyber security ecosystem to identify issues and challenges and develop an action plan to address the priority issues." It has proposed four working groups which focus on industry development, policy enablement, technology development and skill development respectively.

Tripura government decides to withdraw AFSPA from state

Tripura government has decided to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 from the remaining areas of the state. Decision in this regard was taken during the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in Agartala after Police in its latest half-yearly review had found no need to extend the act any further. Now state government will move to the Union Home Ministry for formal withdrawal of the central Act from state which was in effect for the last 18 years to curb insurgency.

UN adopts resolution on protection of journalists in conflict zones

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution on the protection of journalists in conflict zones. The resolution has urged member nations, governments and armed groups to take appropriate steps in order to ensure accountability for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals in situations of armed conflict. It also condemns attacks on journalists and affirms the work of a free, independent and impartial media as it constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society. The resolution also called for the immediate and unconditional release of reporters who are held as hostages in conflict zones. UNSC resolution comes after the number of deaths and kidnappings cases of media professionals continues to increase. In 2014, 66 journalists were killed and since January 2015, 25 more have died. In the last decade, 700 media workers were killed in the conflict zones.