7 November 2014 Current Affairs
Scientists Develop Drug To Replace Antibiotics
Scientists have created the first antibiotic-free drug named ‘ Staphefekt’ to treat bacterial infections in a major development in combatting drug-resistance. A small patient trial showed that the new treatment was effective at eradicating the MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) superbug which is resistant to most antibiotics. The drug is already available as a cream for skin infections and researchers hope to create a pill or an injectable version of it in the next five years.
Indian-origin Politician Named as Labour MP of the Year
Indian-origin British politician Nigel Keith Vaz named as the Labour MP of the year 2014 for his valuable work for underrepresented, deprived and minority sections of the country. Keith Vaz is a British Labour Party politician and has been Member of Parliament for Leicester East since 1987. He is the longest-serving Asian MP and has been the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee since July 2007.
Union Rail Minister Flagged Off The Automatic Freight Train
India’s first automatic freight train ‘AutoLinxSM’ was on 7 November flagged-off by Union Rail Minister D.V. Sadanada Gowda at Melpakkam near Chennai. This train carried around 280 finished cars and left for Delhi where it would reach in a week’s time. It will arrive at the multi-modal logistics park of Container Corporation of India (CCI) at Khatuwas near Delhi. This train is developed by Delhi-based APL Logistics Vascor Automotive, a joint venture between APL Logistics and Vascor. APL Logistics VASCOR Automotive is the first third-party logistics provider to offer rail-based services under the Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) license administered by Indian Railways. With the AFTO licence, logistics service providers can help to facilitate bulk movement of automotive traffic by rail from the production hubs to consumer centres, as well as ports for export.
Havells India Chairman Qimat Rai Gupta Died
Electrical equipment maker Havells India group chairman Qimat Rai Gupta died on 7 November. He was 77. Gupta recently also made it to the Forbes’ billionaire list for the first time and was ranked India’s 48th richest man with a net worth of $ 2 billion as of September 2014. Qimat Rai Gupta started Havells India Limited in 1971 and transformed it to a multinational company with operations across 51 countries. Gupta’s big moment came in 2007 when Havells acquired Europe headquartered Sylvania Lighting thus registering Havells amongst top 4 lighting companies in the world.