Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 17 2019
1. Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal becomes IAF’s first woman flight engineer
In an historic moment, Indian Air Force inducted Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal as the first woman flight engineer . Until last year, the Flight Engineer branch was exclusively the men’s domain. the Chandigarh-origin lieutenant, successfully completed the six-month course at the 112 helicopter unit, Air Force Station, Yelahanka.
A Flight Engineer is the member of an aircraft’s flight crew who monitors and operates its complex aircraft systems requiring a specialised skill set, according to the release.
She was commissioned on January 5, 2015, in the engineering branch of the IAF and had served as the chief of firing team and battery commander in a frontline surface to Air Missile squadron, before she was selected for the Flight Engineers Course.
2.Bradley Cooper Wins Award for Directing His Dog
Actor-director Bradley Cooper has won the ‘Oscat award from animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for directing his dog in A Star Is Born.
PETA’s Film and Television Division awarded Cooper the ‘Oscat’ award “for his enlightened decision to cast his own canine companion in A Star Is Born rather than using one supplied by a notorious animal exhibitor”.
Cooper cast Charlie as his dog in the self-directed musical drama, which also stars Lady Gaga, because they already had the bond he wanted to portray on the big screen. Cooper and Gaga are nominated for Oscars as well for their roles in A Star Is Born, which has been nominated for the Best Picture. Cooper is not nominated in the directing category. The 91st Academy Awards will be held on February 24.
3.Bestselling British author Andrea Levy passes away
Bestselling British author Andrea Levy has died from cancer at the age of 62. Levy, known as a chronicler of the Windrush generation, the wave of Caribbean migrants that came to Britain after World War II, was born in London in 1956.
Her books include “Small Island” and “The Long Song.” “Small Island,” her fourth novel, which told the story of Jamaican migrants in Britain, made Levy a famous name. The novel won the Whitbread prize, the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Commonwealth Writers’ prize . It was also adapted into a BBC drama and will be performed on stage at the National Theatre from April.
4. India hikes customs duty on goods from Pakistan to 200% after Pulwama terror attack
The Union government has hiked the basic customs duty on all goods imported from the neighbouring country to 200 percent with immediate effect. This comes after India revoked the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ (MFN) status to Pakistan on February 15 following the Pulwama terror strike, that killed 50 CRPF jawans.
India has withdrawn MFN status to Pakistan after the Pulwama incident. Upon withdrawal, basic customs duty on all goods exported from Pakistan to India has been raised to 200% with immediate effect.
India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, but the neighbouring country had not reciprocated. Under the MFN pact, a WTO member country is obliged to treat the other trading nation in a non-discriminatory manner, especially with regard to customs duty and other levies.
5. Himachal Assembly passes Bill to make Sanskrit the 2nd official language
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill to make Sanskrit the second official language of the state.
The Himachal Pradesh Official Language Bill, 2019 (Amendment) was introduced by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur in the ongoing budget session. The bill was passed without any discussion.
6.Argentina President Mauricio Macri arrives in India on 3-day visit
Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri arrived on a three-day India visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as economy, nuclear technology and space. President Macri was received at the airport by Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.
“Bienvenido Seor Presidente! President of #Argentina @mauriciomacri arrived in Delhi on a 3-days State Visit, accompanied by First Lady & a high level delegation. India and Argentina are celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
During his visit, President Macri will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind. He will travel to Mumbai on February 19. He is also likely to visit Agra during his trip.
Macri’s visit to India follows Modi travelling to Argentina in late 2018 for the G20 summit, during which the leaders had a “very productive” bilateral meeting. The trade between the two sides stands at around USD 3 billion.
7. Virat Kohli maintains top spot in ICC Test batsmen chart, Cheteshwar Pujara holds on to third spot
India captain Virat Kohli remained on top while teammate Chesteshwar Pujara managed to hold on to his third position in the latest ICC Test rankings, where Sri Lankan Kusal Perera made a quantum leap of 58 places. Kohli is leading the chart with 992 rating points ahead of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson (897 points) and Pujara (881). Besides Kohli and Pujara, no other Indian feature in the top 10 list.
The left-handed Perera has reached a career-best 40th position after 15 Tests, scoring 51 and an unbeaten 153 that guided his team to an improbable win, partnering in the highest ever unbroken 10th wicket stand in a winning cause in first-class cricket.
In the bowlers’ list, Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has overtaken Kagiso Rabada to grab the top spot. Cummins is the first from his country since Glenn McGrath’s pole position in the list, back in February, 2006.Cummins is leading the bowlers table ahead of England’s James Anderson and Rabada of South Africa.
Among the bowlers list, India’s Ravindra Jadeja is placed at the fifth spot with 794 points. Jadeja also features in the all-rounders’ list at the third position ahead of West Indies’ Jason Holder and Shakib-Al Hasan.
8. All govt offices will become paperless by 2021: Arunachal CM
All the state government offices in Arunachal Pradesh will become paperless by 2021, announced chief minister Pema Khandu recently.
While launching WiFi hotspots for Tawang and Dirang districts at Tawang , Khandu said the government has taken steps to fully use the information technology (IT) in governance and by 2021 all government offices will become paperless e-office. the advantage of having paperless e-office is to stop manipulation, ensure transparency and provide easy access of services to the people.
9. PM Modi to visit Jharkhand, lay foundation stone for hospitals, water schemes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay foundation stone for hospitals in Hazaribagh, Dumka and Palamau and inaugurate a host of development schemes during his visit to the state. The prime minister will lay the foundation stone for four 500-bedded hospitals in Hazaribagh, Dumka, Palamau and Jamshedpur.
This apart, he will lay the foundation stone for Hazaribagh urban line water supply scheme and rural drinking water supply — four schemes for Hazaribagh and two for Ramgarh. He will inaugurate one rural water supply scheme for Ramgarh and three for Hazaribagh besides a sewage treatment plant and ‘Madhusudan Ghat’ under Namami Gange – National Mission for Clean Ganga programme.
The prime minister will lay the foundation stone for 2,718 piped water supply schemes for primitive tribal community and a tribal studies centre at the Hazaribagh-based Acharya Vinoba Bhave University.
10. PM launches projects worth Rs 33,000 cr in Bihar, lays stone of Patna Metro
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 33,000 crore in Bihar, including the Patna Metro Rail Project. He inaugurated the Patna City Gas Distribution project. The prime minister laid the foundation stone of the Barauni Refinery Expansion Project and the ATF Hydrotreating Unit (INDJET) at Barauni Refinery.
He also laid the foundation stone of the Patna Metro Rail Project through a remote at a function in Baruani. The first phase of River Front Development at Patna was inaugurated and the foundation stone for the Karmalichak Sewerage Network, spanning 96.54 km was also laid by Modi.
11.Trump Declares National Emergency Amid US-Mexico Border Wall Crisis
President Donald Trump declared the southern border of the United States to be a national emergency, catapulting the country into uncertain legal and political battles as he seeks to fulfill a campaign promise that eluded him for two years.
He made the designation in an attempt to redirect taxpayer money from other accounts and use it to erect more than 230 miles of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. But Trump anticipates a flurry of legal challenges that will eventually be decided by the Supreme Court. Democrats are trying to paint the action as evidence of a rogue president who has finally gone too far and vowed to stop him.
Trump’s announcement capped a frenetic two-month period that included the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at 35 days, the reemergence of Democrats as a political force, and a Republican Party caught between taking signals from Trump and bucking his unconventional impulses. It also begins a new phase of his presidency that will test the separation of powers, as he sidesteps Congress despite Republicans urging restraint.
12.UN appoints Chandramouli Ramanathan as ASG in Management Strategy dept
The UN has appointed an Indian official in one of the top most positions in its Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the United Nations that Chandramouli Ramanathan has been appointed as Controller, Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Budget and Finance in the management strategy, policy and compliance department.
Ramanathan brings to the position nearly 40 years of executive international experience in diverse organisational settings in finance and budget, management and information technology.
13.President Kovind launches Digital Kisan Platform in 4th Agri Leadership Summit
President Ram Nath Kovind launched Digital Kisan Platform in the Fourth Agri Leadership Summit, organised by the Haryana government at Gannaur in Sonipat district .
The President visited the Agri exhibition in the International Horticulture Market and later honoured nine farmers with Krishi Rattan Pursakar and also conferred Kisan Rattan Pursakaar on Vice Chancellor K P Singh for Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar. The President will address the participants of the Summit.
14.Vidarbha beat Rest of India to retain Irani Cup
In cricket, Ranji champions Vidarbha beat Rest of India in Nagpur to retain the Irani Cup. Vidarbha has now become the third team after Mumbai and Karnataka to clinch two Irani Cup titles in a row.
Set to chase a target of 280, Vidarbha were well on course at 269 for five, needing only 11 runs for an outright victory. However, the two teams decided to shake hands and settle for a draw. And in a touching gesture, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal announced that the entire prize money will be donated to the families of the CRPF personnel martyred in Pulwama terror attack. He said this was a small gesture from their team.
15.Vice President to deliver Foundation Day Lecture of NCST on Feb 19
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will deliver the Foundation Day Lecture of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, NCST . The theme of the lecture is “Constitution and Tribes”.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was set up on 19th February, 2004 through Constitution (89th Amendment) Act and this year the Commission will be celebrating fifteen years of establishment. The Commission in its 109th meeting held on 31st December last year decided to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.
On this occasion, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has also decided to institute a national award named as “NCST Leadership Award” which will be conferred for significant and exemplary services towards Scheduled Tribes in the country. The awards will be given in 3 categories Educational Institutions/ Universities, Public Sector Undertakings/Banks and Public Service rendered by an Individual, NGO or Civil Society.
16.Former DMK MP Subbian passes away
Former DMK MP K.R. Subbian died in Coimbatore following age-related illness, party sources said. He was 82. He was Rajya Sabha MP from 2000-2002 and was resolution committee secretary of the party.
17.DEPWD organises regional conference on Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation scheme (DDRS) at Kolkata on 18th February, 2019
For the overall empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangajan), a “Regional Conference on Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS”) is being organizedby the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India at Kolkata, West Bengalon 18thFebruary, 2019 .It will cover 13 States of Eastern & North Eastern region namelyWest Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim & Tripura. The stakeholders i.e. the NGOs receiving grant under DDRS, State Government Officers & District level officers will be participating.
Under the scheme, every year more than 600 NGOs are provided with financial assistance for running their projects for the rehabilitation of persons with disability such as Special school, pre-school and early intervention, Halfway Homes and Community Based Rehabilitation etc.
The objectives of the Conference are to disseminate the provisions of the revised scheme and to sensitize various stake holders about it. This conference also provides a unique opportunity for interactions amongst all stakeholders.
18. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) organizes two day Workshop on “Committee of Creditors: An Institution of Public Faith”
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), jointly with the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), organised a two-day workshop on “Committee of Creditors: An Institution of Public Faith” on 15th and 16th February, 2019 in Mumbai.
The Workshop was unique and the First of its kind for the benefit of Financial Creditors who comprise Committee of Creditors (CoC) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. 28 Senior Officers (General Managers and Executive Directors) of the major Scheduled Commercial Banks participated in the Workshop.
