Latest Current Affairs – April 30 2018
1. Sajid Javid appointed new UK Home Secretary
UK Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Sajid Javid as the new Home Secretary. Javid earlier served as Communities and Local Government Secretary. This comes after Amber Rudd resigned from the post for misleading a government committee about deportation quotas for Caribbean migrants who arrived in the UK after World War II.
2. UPSC rank 2 holder appointed Sonipat Beti Bachao ambassador
Anu Kumari, the second rank holder in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017, has been appointed as the new brand ambassador of the government’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign in Haryana’s Sonipat district. Kumari, who is the mother of a four-year-old, cracked the paper in her second attempt after failing to qualify due to one mark in her previous attempt.
3. Kavinder Gupta takes oath as new J&K Deputy Chief Minister
Kavinder Gupta took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after BJP’s Nirmal Singh resigned ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle. Singh will replace Gupta as the Assembly Speaker. “I’ll try my best to meet expectations of people and work for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh,” the new Deputy CM said.
4. PM Modi inaugurates Buddha Jayanti celebrations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Buddha Jayanti 2018’ celebrations at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. PM Modi gave away the Sankh to 14 monks from India, Sri Lanka, and Japan, who came to attend the celebrations. PM Modi highlighted that India has never been an aggressor and that religious thoughts born in India have always been considerate of others. Indian religions are inclusive and tolerant.
5. Lionel Messi hat-trick gives Barcelona La Liga title
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona clinched a 25th Spanish La Liga title with a 4-2 victory at Deportivo La Coruna. With this win, the Spanish club also bid a memorable farewell to Andres Iniesta. Barcelona’s domestic dominance has been as relentless as it has been remarkable but this ageing squad is creaking and in need of renovation.
6. Rampant Nadal cruises to 11th Barcelona title
Rafael Nadal won his 11th Barcelona title when he breezed past Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1 in the final. It was world number one Nadal’s 55th career clay-court title while he also extended his winning streak on the surface to 46 consecutive sets. The 31-year-old Spaniard won his 11th Monte Carlo Masters without dropping a set.
7. International Jazz Day – April 30
International Jazz Day is an International Day declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2011 to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. International Jazz Day is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.
8. LCA Tejas successful test fires Derby air-to-air beyond visual range missile
In a major milestone, indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas has successfully fired an air-to-air beyond visual (BVR) range missile, demonstrating its overall capability as an effective combat jet, and inched closer to receiving final operational clearance. The Indian Air Force had ordered 40 Tejas Mark-1 version and a request for proposal was issued to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in December for procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of around Rs. 50,000 crore.
9. Special 301 Report released: USTR again places India on Priority Watch List
The Office of United States (US) Trade Representative (USTR) placed India on ‘Priority Watch List’ in its annual Special 301 Report on the state of intellectual property protection.
In 2018 Special 301 Report, the USTR has placed 12 countries on its Priority Watch List. Other countries on list are Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Russia, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Special 301 Report identifies US trading partners that do not adequately or effectively protect and enforce IP rights or deny market access to its innovators.
10. PHDCCI, Indian Yoga Association sign MoU to promote cultural tourism in Krishna Circuit
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Indian Yoga Association (IYA) have signed MoU to facilitate interaction and cooperation between two organisations to promote wellness, spiritual and cultural tourism in Krishna Circuit. Government is trying to promote Krishna circuit as major tourist attraction under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. It is named after Lord Krishna and is centered on him.
11. Maharashtra Government signs MoU with British Council to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation
The Maharashtra government has signed an MoU with the British Council to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation. The areas of potential collaboration include developing further initiatives to improve English teaching and enhance employability skills in schools and training institutes. It is also aimed at building capacity in higher education and research and further co-operation on inspiring hundreds of thousands of people in the state through arts and culture.
