Daily GK update - 5th Nov 2014

1.    World's first inhalable Ebola vaccine passed animal tests

i. The world's first inhalable Ebola vaccine in development has proved highly successful in animal studies.

ii. Scientists from the University of Texas have confirmed that a potentially breathable, respiratory vaccine in development has been shown to provide long-term protection for non-human primates against the deadly Ebola virus.
iii. Results from a recent pre-clinical study represent the only proof to date that a single dose of a non-injectable vaccine platform for Ebola is long lasting, which could have significant global implications in controlling future outbreaks.
iv. A breathable vaccine could surmount the logistical obstacles of storing, transporting and administering injectable vaccines in parts of Africa most afflicted by the virus.
v. Professor Maria Croyle along with Dr Gary Kobinger at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg will make the announcement on Nov 5.

2.    Anita Kapur is CBDT new chairperson

i. Senior IRS officer Anita Kapur has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex authority of the Income-Tax Department.

ii. Kapur, a 1978-batch officer of the Income-Tax cadre, was till now serving as Member (Legislation and Computerisation and Income-Tax) in CBDT.

iii. She took over the top charge after her appointment was announced by the government as incumbent CBDT Chairman K V Chowdary retired on October 31, a senior official said.

iv. Chowdary was later appointed as an Advisor to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money headed by retired Supreme Court Judge M B Shah.

v. Kapur will be in office till November next year.

3.    UBI decides to continue with five free ATM transactions

i. The United Bank of India (UBI) on Wednesday decided to continue with five free ATM transactions per month (including non financial ones) at other bank ATMs for all savings account holders in both metros and non-metros.

ii. According to a release issued by the bank, it has also decided to continue with free transactions at its own ATM network without levying any cap.

iii. According to Sanjay Arya, Executive Director, UBI, by putting a further cap on ATM transactions may lead to increased footfall at branches thereby resulting in higher operating costs.

Note: As per the new guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks in six metros – New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore – are free to charge other bank customers beyond 3 ATM transactions per month. Banks have also been allowed to restrict free transactions to 5 for customers at its own ATM network.

4.    HDFC became first listed Indian company to have 75% shareholding by FIIs

i. The mortgage financier HDFC became the first listed Indian company among the 30 SENSEX firms to have more than 75 percent shareholding by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).

ii. It happened after the FIIs raised their stake in the company to a record-high of nearly 78 percent during the July-September 2014 quarter.

iii. Cumulative FII holdings in the company rose from 73.09 percent in July-September 2013 to 77.85 percent in the July-September 2014. In the April-June 2014 quarter, FIIs' holding in HDFC stood at 77.36 percent.

iv. Moreover, shareholding of FIIs in HDFC has been steadily rising since September 2013. The rise in the shareholding of the FIIs in the company is the result of smart returns given by the company.

v. The rise of overseas shareholding in the mortgage lender coincides with overall bullishness shown by foreign entities in the Indian stock market.

5.    Govt reconstitutes PM's Council on Climate Change

i. Eminent environmental scientist R.K. Pachauri and economist Nitin Desai have been included in the newly re-constituted 18-member panel of Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change.

ii. The panel, chaired by the Prime Minister also comprises eight ministers including of External Affairs and Finance.

iii. The panel will work to evolve a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at national level.

iv. The committee will provide oversight for formulation of action plans in the area of assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, besides periodically monitoring key policy decisions.

v. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change will assist PMO in facilitating the work of this Committee.

6.    Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bags ICC People's choice award-2014

i. Bhuvaneswar Kumar has been declared as the winner of ICC People's choice award for the year 2014.

ii. He was among one of the four nominees short listed in this category for the prestigious award based on public voting. 
iii. This was announced at a press conference in Dubai by the ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson and former India Captain Anil Kumble a shortwhile ago.

iv. Bhuvaneswar Kumar becomes the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and M S Dhoni to win this award. 
v. Three Indians figure in the ICC ODI team of the year 2014. These includes Virat Kohli, Mohd. Shami and skipper of the ODI team, M S Dhoni. No Indian players figures in the ICC Test team of the year 2014.

7.    Kohli nominated for ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year Award

i. Virat Kohli is the lone Indian male cricketer to be shortlisted for the LG ICC Awards 2014 after he was nominated for the ODI Cricketer of the Year category.

ii. Kohli had earlier won this award in the year 2012. 
iii. Kohli will be fighting for the honour against three South Africans -- Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn. De Villiers had won this award in 2010. 
iv. Indian women's team skipper Mithali Raj has earned nomination in two categories -- Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year and Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year. 
v. Overall seven cricketers have been nominated for two categories each. Apart from Mithali Raj, Mitchell Johnson, de Villiers, Charlotte Edwards, Angelo Mathews, Kumar Sangakkara and Stafanie Taylor's have been shotlisted.