Latest Current Affairs – November 30 2018
1. Abhinav Bindra 1st Indian to receive Blue Cross from ISSF
India’s Olympic gold medal-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to be honoured with the Blue Cross on Friday by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) for his contribution to the sport of shooting. The Blue Cross is the highest laurel for shooters given by the ISSF. The retired shooter posted a photo of the Blue Cross on Twitter.
2. Alphabet working to end mosquito-borne diseases worldwide
Researchers of Google-parent Alphabet’s life sciences’ unit Verily in an interview revealed a trial aimed at eliminating mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. Scientists said they released a large number of male mosquitoes of a certain breed infected with a bacteria that affects their ability to reproduce. The mosquito’s population was claimed to be down by 95% in a trial city.
3. US, Mexico and Canada sign new trade deal to replace NAFTA
US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau signed the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USMCA will govern over a trillion dollars worth of trade between the three countries. The deal requires ratification by all three countries’ legislatures before taking effect.
4. Australia 1st to recognise ‘orphanage trafficking’ as slavery
Australia has become the first country in the world to recognise ‘orphanage trafficking’ as a form of modern slavery. Children from smaller countries are recruited in orphanages in the West for the purpose of profit through foreign aid. As per estimates, 80% of children living in the world’s orphanages have at least one living parent.
5. Centre proposes ban on use of animals in circuses, performances
The Centre has proposed a prohibition on the use of all animals for performances, exhibition at any circus or mobile entertainment facilities and has invited comments from various stakeholders on the issue within 30 days. Earlier, the environment ministry had banned training and use of lions, tigers, panthers, monkeys, bears and bulls for entertainment purposes.
6. Global temperatures to rise by 3-5°C by 2100: United Nations
The UN World Meteorological Organization on Thursday said that global temperatures are on track to rise by 3-5°C by 2100, exceeding the global target of limiting the increase to 2°C or less. “Greenhouse gas concentrations are once again at record levels,” Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said. He added that economic and technological means to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C already exist.
7. NGT imposed Rs.5 crore on the DJB
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs.5 crore on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). It directed the DJB to complete work on the sewerage network in Inderpuri by May 2019. A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the DJB to deposit a “performance guarantee” to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within one month. The tribunal directed DJB that steps be taken at the earliest for disposal of municipal solid waste and cleaning of drains. The steps should be taken on a weekly basis for ensuring the cleaning of garbage and drain, and de-silting may be done at least once a month.
8. India, UK naval exercise Konkan 18 held in Goa
The Royal Navy of UK will be represented by HMS Dragon, a Type 45 Class Destroyer equipped with an integral Wildcat helicopter. The Indian Navy will field INS Kolkata, the first ship of latest Kolkata class destroyers, equipped with integral Seaking and an IN submarine during the sea phase between December 2 to 6. In addition, Indian Navy’s maritime patrol aircraft Dornier will also participate in the exercise.
9. Slovenia becomes only NATO country with female Army Chief
Slovenia became the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Country with the female Army Chief after the appointment of Major General Alenka Ermenc to the post of Head of its Army. The 55 years Old former Army Commander, Alenka Ermenc started her military career in 1991 when Slovenia won independence from former Yugoslavia.
10. Bengaluru’s proposed 102km elevated corridor to cost 26,000 cr
Bengaluru’s Elevated Corridor Project, covering a distance of 102 kilometres with six corridors, is estimated to cost between ₹25,000 and ₹26,000 crore. The proposed elevated corridors along with the Peripheral Ring Road are proposed as the answers to decongest the city’s roads. The project, expected to be completed by 2025-2026, awaits Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s nod.
11. Second India-UAE strategic conclave held in Abu Dhabi
The two day Second edition of India-UAE Strategic Conclave organized by Economic Times, India was held in the Capital of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi. Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Navdeep Suri inaugurated the conclave where Key Business leaders and senior government officials lay down the blueprint to improve Economic cooperation between the two countries and explore the opportunities to enhance trade.
12. Reggae music gets into heritage list of UNESCO
Reggae music, with artists like Bob Marley, won international fame and secured a spot on the United Nations’ list of global cultural treasures. UNESCO, the world body’s cultural and scientific agency, added the genre that originated in Jamaica to its collection of intangible cultural heritage deemed worthy of protection and promotion.
Reggae music emerged in the late 1960s out of Jamaica’s ska and rocksteady styles, also drawing influence from American jazz and blues. It quickly became popular in the U.S. as well as in Britain, where many Jamaican immigrants had moved in the post-World War years.
13. IIT Kharagpur, University of Auckland ink pact for research tie-up
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and University of Auckland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster academic exchange and research collaboration, faculty exchange and visiting/adjunct appointments and Student Mobility. It is the first strategic partnership of University of Auckland with a Higher Educational Institute of India.
14. Global Nutrition Report 2018 – One-third of world’s stunted children live in India
Nearly one-third of the world’s 150.8 million stunted children live in India, the 2018 Global Nutrition Report revealed. With 46.6 million children who are stunted, India tops the list of countries followed by Nigeria (13.9 million) and Pakistan (10.7 million).
Over 46 million Indian children aged under five years are stunted due to malnutrition and 25.5 million more are ‘wasted’, meaning they don’t weigh enough for their height. India is suffering from two forms of malnutrition– anaemia and stunting.
15. Eight States achieve 100% household electrification under Saubhagya scheme
8 States which achieved 100% household electrification under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – Saubhagya scheme are Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal. With this, total 15 States in India have 100 per cent household electrification.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Rs 16320-Crore ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’- Saubhagya on September 25, 2017 to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The scheme aims to achieve the goal of universal household electrification in the country by March 31, 2019.
16. ISRO launched HysIS into orbit
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS), being dubbed ‘Sharp Eye’, into space along with 30 other foreign satellites on board the workhorse PSLV rocket on 29th November.
HysIS with a mission life of five years was placed in an orbit 636 km above the earth. It will travel over the poles and always face the son. While 23 satellites were from the US, the rest were from Australia, Canada, Columbia, Finland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Spain. These satellites were commercially contracted for launch through Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO.
