Current Affairs Daily Digest – January 22 2019
1. At 6.6%, China’s Economy grew at slowest pace in almost 3 decades in 2018
China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in almost three decades in 2018, losing more steam in the last quarter as it battles to quell massive debt and a US trade war, official data showed. The 6.6 percent growth comes in above the official target of around 6.5 percent and matches a forecast by analysts polled by AFP, but is down from the 6.8 percent chalked up in 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
And in a sign of the struggle Beijing faces, growth in the last three months of the year clocked in at 6.4 percent, matching a low seen during the global financial crisis 10 years ago, with economists widely expecting the slowdown to deepen.
2. India among the most trusted nations globally: Report
India is among the most trusted nations globally when it comes to government, business, NGOs and media but the country’s brands are among the least-trusted, according to a report.
The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer report released, ahead of the the World Economic Forum (WEF) meet, noted that the Global Trust Index witnessed a marginal increase of 3 points to 52. China topped the Trust Index among both the informed public and the general population segments, with scores of 79 and 88 respectively. India was at the second place in the informed public category and third place in the general population category.
3. Rao chosen for Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials
Eminent scientist and recipient of Bharat Ratna C N R Rao has been chosen for the first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research, given by the Centre for Advanced Materials of the UAE. The prize committee unanimously decided to award this to Professor Rao of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, JNCASR said in a statement. the award involves a plaque, a medal and a cash prize of USD 100000. Professor Rao is the National Research Professor, Linus Pauling Research Professor and Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.
4. Ranjani Murali wins ‘Womans Voice Award’ at AKLF 2019
US-based Indian poet Ranjani Murali received the ‘Woman’s Voice Award’ at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) . Murali received the award, the last day of the literary festival. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh apart from a citation. The objective of the award – ‘Prabha Khaitan Womans Voice Award’ – is to recognise and encourage creative writing by women in India, to create a forum for their work and to support the publication of their writing, AKLF Director Anjum Katyal said.
5. ICC Awards: Virat Kohli creates history, named ICC Test, ODI Player and Cricketer of the year 2018
Virat Kohli scripted history by becoming the first player in history to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, as well as the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of the Year awards.
The 30-year-old has also been named captain of ICC’s Test and ODI teams of 2018 for a fabulous run in international cricket. Kohli scored 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08 in 13 Tests with five hundreds during the calendar year while in 14 ODIs he amassed 1202 runs at an astonishing average of 133.55 with six centuries. He also scored 211 runs in 10 T20Is.
6. Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurates bridge over River Ravi in J&K
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a 1210-meter span-bridge over the river Ravi in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. The bridge over Ravi at Keerian – Gandial will benefit over 2,20,000 people living on the two sides – Kathua in Jammu, and Pathankot in Punjab. It will reduce the distance between the two cities from 45 kms to 8.6 kms, which will save on both time and fuel cost. The Keerian – Gandial bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 158.84 crore to improve inter-state connectivity.
7. Indian Navy begins massive coastal defence exercise to check 26/11-style attacks
To review the country’s maritime preparedness against another 26/11-style attack, the Indian Navy along with the Coast Guard commenced the largest coastal defence exercise off the Indian Coast. Codenamed “Sea Vigil 2019”, the two-day exercise will cover the entire 7,516.6 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of the country.
Teams of different agencies have been deployed in all coastal districts to undertake security audit of vulnerable locations such as fish-landing centres, intermediate ports, lighthouses, coastal police stations, control rooms and operations centres. Nearly 150 ships, 40 aircraft and a number of other strategic assets of the Navy and Coast Guard have been deployed.
8. Former India hockey player Raghbir Bhola passes away
Former India hockey player Raghbir Singh Bhola, a two-time Olympic medallist, has passed away aged 92, A part of the Indian men’s hockey teams that won Olympic gold in Melbourne in 1956 and silver in Rome in 1960, he has made outstanding contribution to hockey, as player, umpire and team manager. In 2000, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award for his achievements in hockey
10. Health, trade on table as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits India
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to India as the state guest of honour at the Republic Day celebrations is expected to give fresh impetus to bilateral relations in areas as diverse as human resource development and defence.
During his two-day visit, Ramaphosa will have a meeting and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and global issues, the external affairs ministry said. Ramaphosa, along with Modi, will address the India-South Africa Business Forum on January 25 to boost trade ties. He will deliver the Gandhi-Mandela Freedom Lecture organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs as a part of celebrations of the 15th anniversary of the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Dialogue Forum.
11. All women RPF squad ‘Joymati Bahini’ launched in Guwahati
A dedicated RPF Women Squad named as ‘JOYMATI BAHINI’, comprising women sub-inspector and constables of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) was officially launched by B.B. Mishra, Inspector General cum Principal Chief Security Commissioner of N.F. Railway at Kamkhaya Railway Station. It was named after the courageous princess, Joymati to have a constant motivating factor to be courageous, and dedicated at all times in the service to society.
The main aim of the JOYMATI BAHINI is to strengthen women security around Guwahati region within railway premises and trains.
12. President confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019
President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019 to students at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The different categories of award this time is innovation (six awards), scholaristic (three awards), social service (three awards), art and culture (five awards), sports (six awards) an bravery (three awards).
The award carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, book vouchers worth Rs 10,000, a certificate and a citation.
The award for individual consists of a cash prize of Rs one lakh, medal, citation and a certificate to each awardee, while the award for institution consists Rs five lakh prize, medal, citation and a certificate. A total of 783 applications were received for the Baal Shakti Puruskar this year.
