Today's Current Affairs 6th February 2024

INTERNATIONAL 

Israeli researchers discover underwater canyon near Cyprus

• The Geological Institute of Israel uncovers an underwater canyon near Cyprus, marking a groundbreaking discovery of unparalleled scale.
• Named Eratosthenes after the nearby underwater mountain, this canyon sheds new light on the geological history of the Mediterranean region. 

NATIONAL

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Rs 300 crore flyover in Uttar Pradesh

• Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, inaugurates a 300 crore rupee flyover in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district via video conferencing.
• The construction of ROB and flyover will bring more ease in traffic between Lakhimpur and Sitapur districts.

Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar launches Digital India FutureLABS at IIIT, New Delhi

• Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched the "Digital India FutureLABS” and delivered the keynote address at the ‘Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024,’ focused on ‘Catalyzing the Next-generation Electronics System Design through Digital India FutureLABS.’ 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sultan Ibrahim officially takes on the role as Malaysia's 17th King

• Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, a billionaire from the southern state of Johor, was appointed Malaysia's 17th king.
• He succeeded Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who would return to lead his home state of Pahang at the end of his five-year tenure as king.

About Malaysia:

Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Currency: Malaysian ringgit 

OBITUARIES NEWS

Sadhu Meher, veteran Odia actor and National Award winner, has passed away  

• Renowned actor and director Sadhu Meher, known for his contributions to both Hindi and Odia film industries, passes away in Mumbai at the age of 84.

About Sadhu Meher:

• Sadhu Meher hailing from Manamunda in Odisha's Boudh district.
• He initiated his career in 1969 with notable Hindi films such as "Bhuvan Shome", "Ankur", and "Mrigayaa", later transitioning his focus to Odia cinema.
• In the Hindi film industry, Sadhu Meher made his debut in Mrinal Sen's "Bhuvan Shome" (1969), portraying the character of a junior railway official.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

Safer Internet Day 2024: 6th February

• Safer Internet Day, observed annually on February 6th, encourages individuals, families, and communities worldwide to collaborate in creating a safer digital environment for everyone.
• The theme for Safer Internet Day 2024, “Inspiring Change, Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online,” reflects a proactive approach towards fostering a positive and secure online experience.

International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation: 6th February

• International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation is commemorated on February 6th, 2024, advocating for the abolition of this harmful practice.

 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

PT Usha is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by SJFI and DSJA

• Legendary sprinter and current President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha, receives the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement' award in recognition of her remarkable contributions.
• This accolade was presented to her by the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) and Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA), recognizing her extraordinary contributions to Indian athletics.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Pension Fund Regulatory Authority seeks bids for PFRDA-TRACE RFP in tech project

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) begins the tendering process, inviting bids for participation in the PFRDA-TRACE RFP under the Technology Architecture (TARCH) project.

About PFRDA:

Established: 2003

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

Chairman: Deepak Mohanty

PFRDA is the regulatory body for the overall supervision and regulation of pensions in India.

It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance in the Government of India.

Fitch: Achieving 4.5% GDP fiscal deficit target by FY26 challenging

• Fitch warns that achieving a fiscal deficit target of 4.5% of GDP in FY26 will be challenging due to the government's focus on capital expenditure to stimulate growth. Fitch forecasts a 6.5% growth in the Indian economy in FY25, driven by an 11% increase in government capital expenditure.