Current Affairs Daily Digest – November 06 2019
1. ADB to provide USD 451 mn for the CKIC corridor
The Asian Development Bank is to provide a $451 million loan to strengthen the power connectivity between southern and northern parts of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in Tamil Nadu.
CKIC Project:
The total estimated cost of the project is $653.5 million, of which the government will provide $202.5 million. The project has been estimated to be the completed date of the project is the end of 2024.
2. Indian Railways introduced Uttam Rake
Indian Railways celebrated the occasion of 69th Foundation Day of Western Railway on 5 November 2019. During the occasion, Indian Railways introduced Uttam Rake in its inaugural run as Ladies Special local train from Churchgate to Virar.
Uttam rake facilitates advanced features and improved interiors to provide more comfort for Mumbaikars. Uttam rake will run on its normal services from 6 November 2019 with ten services a day.
3. Sun Pharma pacts with AstraZeneca to develop oncology products for China
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd entered into a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca UK Ltd. The partnership aims to introduce new infusion oncology products in China. It aims to introduce specialty and generics products in the China market and the licensing agreement.
4. Centre to establish sports training for the differently abled people
The Union Minister Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot announced that the government is to establish sports training centres at five locations in the country. The centres will be exclusively used for the differently-abled people.
5. 11,000 scientists in 153 countries declare climate emergency
In a paper published in the journal BioScience, 11,258 signatories (69 from India) declared Global Climate Emergency. They presented climate change trends and methods to mitigate the threat. The report was titled “World Scientists”
It is based on the scientific analysis of more than 40 years of publicly available data. It illustrates several key climate change indicators since the scientists from 50 nations met at the First World Climate Conference in Geneva in 1979.
6. First BIMSTEC Ports Conclave at Visakhapatnam
Between November 7 and November 8, 2019, the Ministry of shipping is hosting the first ever BIMSTEC Ports’ Conclave. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is an international organization that involves South East Asian and South Asian countries. India’s growing interests in the region makes the conclave crucial and significant. Also, the conclave will be a path way for India’s maritime security measures and its interests in the Indo-Pacific region’
7. India withdraws from RCEP
On November 4, 2019, India decided against joining Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal as India did not receive any credible assurance on market access and non-tariff barriers. This paved way for the other 15-members to go ahead and sign the deal keeping the door open for India to join at later date.
8. Kolkata students create Guinness World Records for largest astrophysics assemble
The Guinness World Records for the largest astrophysics lesson (45 minutes) and assembly of spectroscopes was successfully achieved by Kolkata students at Science City, Kolkata. The record was attempted on the first day of 5th India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 in which over 1,598 students participated. The session was dedicated to Meghnad Saha and Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.
The session was organized by Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, who were conferred a memento at the end of the programme, on behalf of the Guinness Book of World Records.
9. Eaton opens its first aerospace manufacturing facility in Bengaluru
Power management company Eaton opened its first manufacturing facility in India in Bengaluru following demand from its main customers Boeing and Airbus to make fluid conveyance products locally and cater to the growing aircraft fleet in the country. Eaton has invested $ 10 million in the facility and plans to have a workforce of around 100 people in the first phase.
10. Italy becomes first country to make climate change lessons compulsory for all children
Italy is to become the first country to make climate change lessons compulsory for schoolchildren.
Lorenzo Fioramonti, the education minister, has announced all state schools will dedicate almost one hour per week to climate change issues from the start of the next academic year.
11. International Conference on Soil and Water Resources Management for Climate is being held in New Delhi
The International Conference on Soil and Water Resources Management for Climate Smart Agriculture and Global Food and Livelihood Security began in New Delhi on 5th November 2019. The international conference will be held on 5-9 November 2019. It was inaugurated by Dr.Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary of Department of Agricultural Research and Education & Director General (DARE) & Director General (ICAR).
12. MSTC ties up with Allahabad Bank to develop e-auction platform
MSTC Ltd has signed an agreement with Allahabad Bank for the development of a dedicated e-Auction platform directly linked with the Indian Banking Association’s portal (https://ibapi.net) for sale of non-performing assets (NPAs) through the SARFAESI (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest) Act.
13. Arun Alagappan elevated as Chola Investment MD
Arun Alagappan, the executive director of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co. Ltd. (CIFCL), has been elevated and appointed as the MD, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The board of CIFCL approved the appointment for a period of five years with effect from November 15, 2019. Mr. Alagappan started his career with GE Capital Services India and after a two-year stint there, joined the Murugappa Group in 1999.
14. International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed on November 06
The UN General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
Though humanity has always counted its war casualties in terms of dead and wounded soldiers and civilians, destroyed cities and livelihoods, the environment has often remained the unpublicized victim of war. Water wells have been polluted, crops torched, forests cut down, soils poisoned, and animals killed to gain military advantage.
