4 February Updates

1. World Cancer Day is observed today (4th February) across the world in order to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day was founded

by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The primary goal of the World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer by 2020. Tagline for 2014 is “Debunk the myths”.

A new global cancer compiled by UN Agency the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was released on the World Cancer Day 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. As per the report, Cancer as a single entity is the biggest cause of mortality worldwide – it has estimated about 8.2 million deaths from cancer in 2012. Over four years, the global cancer incidence has increased by 11 percent to an estimated 14.1 million cases in 2012 – equal to the population of India’s largest city (Mumbai).

2. Microsoft has named Satya Nadella as its new CEO. He is now an executive in charge of the company’s small, but growing business of delivering software and services over the Internet. The software giant announced today that Nadella will replace Steve Ballmer, who said in August that he would leave the company within 12 months. With this he will become only the third leader in the software giant’s 38-year history, after founder Bill Gates and Ballmer. Company founder Bill Gates is also leaving the chairman role for a new role as technology adviser. Board member John Thompson will serve as Microsoft’s new chairman.

3. Janet Yellen has been sworn in as Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the US Central Bank and the most powerful Central bank in the world. She succeeded Ben Bernanke. This is a crucial time for Federal Reserve when it has just started with its tapering by cutting stimulus of USD 10 billion every month.

4. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were conferred with Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour today by the President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall attended by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Union ministers, Sachin’s wife Anjali, daughter Sara and a host of dignitaries. Sachin is the first sportsman to be awarded with the honour and CNR Rao is the third scientist to get the award. Tendulkar and Rao, both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan — the country’s second highest civilian honour, will join a list of 41 eminent personalities who have been conferred with the award.

5. Delhi Cabinet cleared the draft of the Jan Lokpal bill today as promised by AAP party and the draft bill was cleared at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The bill provides for covering all public servants, from chief minister to Group D employees, and seeks life term as maximum punishment for those found guilty of corruption. The bill also provides for a legal right of protection to “honest” officials, whistleblowers and witnesses besides having provisions for time-bound investigation and trial of corruption cases.

6. Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur has been appointed as the Chairman of the 7th Pay Commission. Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary, Vivek Rae will be the full time Member. Dr Rathin Roy, Director, National Institute of Public Finances and Policy will be its part-time Member of the commission. Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Expenditure, Meena Agarwal will be the Secretary of the Pay panel. The Commission has been mandated to submit its report in two years’ time and its recommendations would be implemented from 1st January 2016.