Latest Current Affairs – October 21 2018
1. National award in Netaji’s name announced for rescue workers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a national award in the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for police personnel who do “exemplary” work in rescue and relief operations during disasters. PM Modi’s announcement came on the 75th anniversary of the Azad Hind government constituted by Bose. The award will be announced on January 23, on Bose’s birthday.
2. Scientists to explore deepest parts of all 5 oceans for 1st time
Scientists are planning a mission to explore the deepest parts of the five oceans for the first time. The project, ‘Five Deeps Expedition’, will use a two-person craft designed to withstand intense pressures around 9 km below the surface. To be aired in 2019, the expedition will traverse around 74,000 km in 11 months and descend 72 km under water.
3. PM Modi inaugurates police memorial, museum in Delhi
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated to the nation a newly-refurbished national police memorial and a newly-built police museum in Delhi. A 30-foot-tall and 238-tonne heavy black granite sculpture honouring the slain troopers and a wall of valour bearing the names of over 34,800 martyred personnel were also unveiled during the event.
4. China successfully tests world’s largest unmanned transport drone
China has successfully tested the world’s largest unmanned transport drone which can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes. A large commercial drone Feihong-98 (FH-98) developed and modified by the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology made a successful test flight at Baotou test site in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region .
The FH-98 has a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tonnes, a maximum capacity of 1.5 tonnes and 15 cubic metres, a flight height of 4,500 metres, a cruising speed of 180 kilometers per hour, and a maximum range of 1,200 kms.
5. China to launch its own ‘moon’ in the sky to save energy, light up streets
China is planning to put a ‘moon’ of its own in the night sky, and the motive reach beyond just a nod to the poetic beauty of the real celestial body. This artificial moon will replace conventional street lamps and help save a pretty penny in electricity expenses.
According to a report by China Daily, Chengdu city in southwestern Sichuan province of China is developing illumination satellites, which will shine along with the real moon but will be eight times brighter. These satellites will have a reflective coating which can reflect sunlight towards the Earth similar to the moon. Placed only 500km above the Earth, the light reflected from the man-made moons will be more luminous than the actual moon.
6. India to host global meet on maternal, child health in December: UNICEF
India would be the global host for a meet of stakeholders from nearly 100 countries on issues related to maternal and child health, the UNICEF has said. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health forum will emphasise the importance of people-centred accountability bringing forward the voices and lived realities of women, children and adolescents through innovative programming and creative projects. The forum will be hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) this December.
7. Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa to form new Government in Bhutan
Bhutan’s voters gave an overwhelming victory to a new party headed by a surgeon in only the third democratic election held by the Himalayan kingdom. The result means the country of 8,00,000 people, wedged between giant neighbours China and India, will have chosen a different party to rule at each election since the absolute monarchy was ended in 2008.
The centre-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), which was only formed in 2013, won 30 of the national assembly’s 47 seats. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) got remaining 17 seats. The Election Commission of Bhutan has formally announced the results of the parliamentary elections.
According to the commission, 71.46% polling was recorded in the third general election.
8. Piyush Goyal To Receive Carnot Prize For Rural Electrification Effort
Union Minister Piyush Goyal will receive the prestigious Carnot Prize from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania in recognition of his work for rural electrification while he held the power and renewable energy portfolios.
9. Air India gets equity infusion of Rs 1,000 crore from NSSF : Union Government
Air India raised Rs 3,000 crore so far which includes Rs 1,000 crore to the airline from the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) on behalf of the government. Another Rs 500 crore will be raised by the airline through a loan from the unused sovereign guarantee. It is a part of the Rs 4,200 crore debt of AI to oil companies.
10. IRDA panel headed by S. Mathur to study feasibility of paying claims in installments
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) formed a panel to examine claims in installments. This panel is headed by Suresh Mathur, ED (Health), IRDAI. This will look into the feasibility of the proposal of general and health insurance companies for payment of claims in installments as against lump sum payments.
11. 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.
12. Sajjan Jindal elected as Treasurer of World Steel Association
JSW Steel CMD Sajjan Jindal was elected as the Treasurer of the World Steel Association (worldsteel). The association has also appointed Tata Steel MD TV Narendran and ArcelorMittal Chief LN Mittal as its members. The appointments were made during the worldsteel General Assembly in Toyko, Japan during which the Board of Directors elected new officers for 2018-19 at the. The new officers were elected for a one-year period.
The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is a non-profit organisation with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium and its second office in Beijing, China
