Latest Current Affairs – October 19 & 20 2018
1. UP Governor approves renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has approved the renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj with immediate effect. CM Yogi Adityanath recently defended the decision to change the name, saying that people who are ignorant of facts are questioning the renaming. The name ‘Prayagraj’ derives from a place in the city called Prayag, where three rivers flowing across the state meet.
2. 4 Himalayan peaks named after late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Four peaks of the Himalayan range near Gangotri glacier have been named after three-time PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who passed away in August. A team of mountaineers recently scaled the peaks and hoisted the Tricolour on them. Earlier, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj had said the idea to name them after Vajpayee came in view of his love for mountains.
3. India ranked 9th most valuable nation brand at $2,159 billion
India has lost one spot to rank as the 9th most valuable nation brand in the world, according to UK-based consultancy Brand Finance’s Nation Brands 2018 report. However, India’s brand value increased by 5% to $2,159 billion. The US topped the list with a brand value of $25,899 billion, an increase of 23% from the previous year.
4. Ronaldo first to score 400 goals in top 5 European leagues
Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score 400 goals across the top-five European football leagues after he got on the scoresheet in his side’s match against Genoa. Daniel Bessa scored in the 67th minute to salvage a draw for Genoa. Ronaldo has now scored five goals and three assists in his last six matches for Juventus.
5. Himachal govt considers renaming Shimla to ‘Shyamala’
Days after Uttar Pradesh government renamed Allahabad to Prayagraj, Himachal Pradesh government is considering renaming its capital Shimla to ‘Shyamala’. “Before the British arrived, Shimla was known as Shyamala. My government will seek public opinion on the demand for its renaming,” CM Jai Ram Thakur said. In 2016, the then CM Virbhadra Singh had rejected renaming the city.
6. Mumbai defeat Gambhir-led Delhi to clinch 3rd Vijay Hazare title
Shreyas Iyer-led Mumbai defeated Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi by four wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final to win the tournament for the third time. Mumbai had last won Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2006-07 season, after defeating Rajasthan in the final. Tamil Nadu’s Abhinav Mukund top-scored in the tournament with 560 runs in nine matches.
7. Europe, Japan launch 7-year mission to Mercury
The European and Japanese space agencies launched a seven-year mission, BepiColombo, to Mercury from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. It is only the third ever mission to visit Mercury after NASA’s Mariner 10 probe (launched in 1973) and its MESSENGER mission (2004). BepiColombo will fly-by Earth once, Venus twice and Mercury six times before entering Mercury’s orbit.
8. India jumps 5 spots to 58 on Global Competitiveness Index
India has moved up 5 places to rank 58 out of 140 economies in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index 2018. India registered the largest gain of any country in the G20. India leads the South Asia region in all other areas of competitiveness except for health, education and skills, the WEF said.
9. India to host 4th edition of Global Partners’ Forum in December
India will host the fourth edition of Global Partners’ Forum on 12th and 13th December 2018 in New Delhi. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) will unite over 100 countries’ representatives to discuss issues, strategies and solutions to women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health. It will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and PMNCH.
10. Indian-origin woman wins top US honour for combatting sex slavery
Minal Patel Davis won the US’ Presidential Medal for her work against sex slavery and labour exploitation at a White House ceremony attended by President Donald Trump. Davis is Special Adviser on Human Trafficking to Houston Mayor. A past speaker at the UN World Humanitarian Summit, Davis recently travelled to India and Canada to discuss municipal leadership in human trafficking.
11. 10-yr-old Indian wins top wildlife photo award in junior category
Arshdeep Singh, a 10-year-old boy from Punjab, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in 10 Years and Under category given by UK’s Natural History Museum. He won the award for the picture titled ‘Pipe Owls’, which showed two spotted owlets sitting inside an old waste-pipe in Punjab’s Kapurthala. Arshdeep has been taking photographs since he was six.
12. Turkey to host four nation summit on Syria crisis
Turkey is to host a summit between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Russia in Istanbul in October. The aim of the summit is to discuss the conflict in Syria and efforts for a lasting solution to the war in the Arab country. It is said that the summit has been scheduled to take place on October 27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have confirmed their participation in the summit.
13. Kati Bihu festival celebrated across Assam
Assam celebrated its 3rd Bihu festival known as the ‘Kati Bihu’ festival across the state. The name of the other 2 Bihu festivals is: Rongali and Bohagi Bihu. The festival derives its name from the Assamese month of Kati.
14. Eighth European Congress on SMEs held in Katowice, Poland
The motto of the Congress was: “Science- Business-Self Government TOGETHER FOR ECONOMY”. This would engage in the challenges and possibilities of development of SMEs as Small and Medium-size Entrepreneurship is the most important sector of the Polish Economy.
15. India, Japan, the U.S. plans for a trilateral joint air exercise
India, Japan and the U.S. plans for a trilateral joint air exercise. It is a set to elevate the bilateral set to elevate the bilateral ‘Cope India’ air exercise to a trilateral format. The three countries have already conducted naval war games under the expanded Malabar naval exercise.
The trilateral air exercise between India, Japan and the U.S. was proposed by the U.S. The next edition is scheduled to be held in December. The Final Planning Conference will finalise the modalities of the exercise is scheduled for the third week of October in Kalaikunda, West Bengal.
16. Kerala the first smoke-free State to have 100% LPG
The revenue department has imposed the duty based on the recommendations of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
A joint application was filed by domestic steel industries like JSW Steel Ltd, Sunflag Iron & Steel Co, Usha Martin, Gerdau Steel India, Vardhman Special Steels and Jayaswal Neco Industries before DGTR to initiate an investigation on this issue.
The DGTR performed investigations and made recommendations on anti-dumping duties on some steel products.
17. India imposes anti-dumping duty on certain steel products from China
The revenue department has imposed the duty based on the recommendations of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
A joint application was filed by domestic steel industries like JSW Steel Ltd, Sunflag Iron & Steel Co, Usha Martin, Gerdau Steel India, Vardhman Special Steels and Jayaswal Neco Industries before DGTR to initiate an investigation on this issue.
The DGTR performed investigations and made recommendations on anti-dumping duties on some steel products. The goods have been exported to India from China below normal value and the domestic industry has been affected.
18. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2018 Bagged By Marsel Van Oosten
The powerful image of a pair of golden snub-nosed monkeys seated in contemplation amid iridescent foliage has been awarded one of the most prestigious prizes in photography, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018.
