Daily Current Affairs Updates: 07 January 2014

1) India successfully test-fired Prithvi-II missile: India today successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile, which has a strike range of 350 km and is capable of carrying warheads of up to 1000 kg, from a test range in Odisha. The launch was part of a user trial by the Army. Prithvi is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines. The last user trial of Prithvi-II missile was successfully carried out from the same base on December 3, 2013.

2)  Nation celebrates Gurpurab: Sikhs from across the world celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh today. Guru Gobind Singh,the 10th guru of Sikhs was born on this day in 1666 at Patna in Bihar.

3) Govt launches nation’s first comprehensive adolescent health programme: The Government today launched nation’s first comprehensive adolescent health programme, which will include a sharp focus on adolescents' sexual health. The programme envisions that all adolescents in India are able to realize their full potential by making informed and responsible decisions related to their health and well-being.

4) Janet Yellen appointed as new chairman of the Federal Reserve: Janet Yellen has been confirmed as the new chairman of the Federal Reserve, however her appointment was backed by the least Senate support on records indicating that the central bank is facing internal differences.

5) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas begins: Engaging with the youth and discussions on healthcare will be key focus areas of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014 which kicked off in New Delhi on Tuesday.  Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari highlighted the aim of creation of Ministry of Overseas Indians. This year's theme is "Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations" and the Youth PBD is expected to open new horizons of a strong network of young overseas Indians to contribute to India's engagement with youth in all sectors.

6)  75th Senior National Table Tennis C’ship begins: The 75th Senior National Table Tennis Championship has begun in Patna this morning. The event will be formally inaugurated in the afternoon. Six day long championship held at Patiputra sports complex in Patna where 34 Men and 30 women teams including top men’s players Sharad Kamal and Soumojit Ghosh are participating in the tournament.

7) New Honda City launched; price starts at Rs 7.53 lakh: Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) has launched the all-new 4th generation Honda City for the Indian market in petrol and diesel versions.The ex-showroom petrol base variant starts at Rs 7.53 lakh and goes up to Rs 11.4 lakh for high-end variant. And the much-awaited diesel base variant-ex showroom is available at Rs 8.77 lakh and the high-end diesel variant will be available at Rs 11.30 lakh-ex-showroom. First introduced in India in January 1998, Honda City has a customer base of over 4.3 lakh across the country.

8) Mahesh Mangaonkar won Open du Gard squash title

9) RBI has allowed the Indian companies to issue non-convertible or redeemable preference shares or debentures to non-resident shareholders as bonus.

10) Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launched an all women branch in Pune.