Alphabet Inc overtakes Apple as world’s most valuable company

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google has overtaken Apple as s most valuable company in the world. Alphabet has made a profit of $4.9 billion in the fourth quarter and was valued at 548 billion dollars followed by Apple which was valued 534 billion dollars.

  • The core Google businesses was largest contributor to had revenues of Alphabet which has reported revenues worth 74.5 billion dollars in 2015 and had made a profit of 23.4 billion dollars.
  • Earlier in 2012, Apple had over-passed Exxon Mobil (China) to become the most valuable company in the world and in 2015 Apple became the first company to reach a market value of $700 billion.

PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana crosses 10 lakh mark

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) completes 10 lakh enrollments under Skill India, 70% have completed their skill training since its launch.

  • The scheme has been implemented across all 29 states and 6 union territories of the country, and covered 596 districts and 531 constituencies by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
  •  These courses help in making them more employable with hands on experience on skills that will make them more employable and also more efficient in their work.

Zika virus: WHO declares global public health emergency

The World Health Organization declared the mosquito-borne Zika virus an international public health emergency due to its link to thousands of birth defects in Brazil, as the UN agency sought to build a global response to the threat. The Pan American Health Organization says Zika has spread in 24 nations and territories in the Americas.

About Zika virus:

  • Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
  • It is close cousin of other vector-borne diseases like Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes .
  • The virus was first identified in 1947 in Uganda and its name has been derived from Zika Forest.
  • Transmission: Zika virus is not contagious but it is mainly transmitted by daytime-active Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after it bites someone infected with the virus and transmit it by biting another human.
  • Most common symptoms: Headache, muscle and joint pain, mild fever, rash, pinkeye and inflammation of the underside of the eyelid.
  • Linkages: It causes neurological disorders and foetal deformation known as Microcephaly in which infants are born with abnormally smaller heads that can cause brain damage.
  • Treatment and Prevention: There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites and clearing stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.

World Wetlands Day: February 2

World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2016 is “Wetlands for our future: sustainable livelihoods“.

  • It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
  • It highlights the value of wetlands in securing local livelihoods through activities as rice farming, tourism, fishing and water provision.
  • World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997. Since then government agencies, non-government organisations (NGO) and community groups have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Archana Ramasundram to become the first woman chief of a paramilitary force

Senior IPS officer Archana Ramasundram was appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). With this, she became first woman police officer to lead a central police force that guards the country’s international borders.

  • She will be in office till the date of her superannuation 30 September 2016.
  • Prior to this appointment, she was the Director of New Delhi based National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). She is 1980-batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu Cadre.

12th South Asian Games begins in Guwahati

The 12th edition of South Asian Games (SAG) has begun in Guwahati, Assam after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium.

  • The 11-day event is being jointly hosted by Guwahati and Meghalaya capital, Shillong.
  • Over 2,500 athletes from 8 SAARC nations viz. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives are participating in it.
  • Total of 228 events in 23 sports disciplines will be played during the games, which India is hosting for the third time.
  • Slogan of games: ‘Play for Peace, Progress and Prosperity’.
  • Official mascot: Tikhor, a one-horned rhino that represents endangered fauna of Assam found in Kaziranga National Park.

Current Affair One – Liner

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the IOCL’s oil refinery at Paradip and also inaugurated the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Jatani, Bhubaneswar.
  • Saroj Kumar Jha has been appointed Senior Director for the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group in the World Bank.
  • Major General Jai Shanker Menon of India has been appointed as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
  • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 completes ten years of implementation.
  • Every year World Cancer Day (WCD) is being  observed on 4 February across the world to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. The theme (tagline) for year 2016 WCD is “We can. I can”.