Latest Current Affairs – October 06 & 07 2018
1. First SpaceX mission with astronauts set for June 2019: NASA
NASA has announced that the first crewed test flight by a SpaceX rocket to the ISS is expected to take place in June 2019. It will be the first manned US launch to the ISS since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. SpaceX will use its Falcon 9 rocket for launch with a Crew Dragon capsule attached on top.
2. Former Canara Bank chief Rakesh Sharma named IDBI Bank CEO
The government appointed Rakesh Sharma as Managing Director and CEO of IDBI Bank for a period of six months or until further orders. Sharma is the former CEO of Canara Bank and was among the few bankers hired in 2015 from the private sector. He will replace B Sriram, who was the CEO of IDBI Bank until September.
3. World champions India win Under-19 Asia Cup for the sixth time
India, who had won the Under-19 World Cup in February this year, defeated Sri Lanka to win the Under-19 Asia Cup for a record-extending sixth time. This is the fourth time that India defeated Sri Lanka in the final to win the tournament. In the final, India were captained by Prab Simran Singh, who scored an unbeaten 37-ball 65.
4. ‘Nagaland’s Gandhi’ Natwar Thakkar passes away aged 86
Eminent Gandhian social worker Natwar Thakkar, popularly known as ‘Nagaland’s Gandhi’, passed away at the age of 86 following a brief illness. A Padma Shri awardee, Thakkar hailed from Maharashtra and had migrated to Nagaland in 1955 at the age of 23. He founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at the Chuchuyimlang village in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland.
5. Trump, Kim Jong-un to meet for 2nd US-North Korea summit
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will meet for a second summit between the two countries “as soon as possible”, South Korea has said. The announcement came after US State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong-un met in Pyongyang on Sunday. Trump met Kim in Singapore in June for the first-ever summit between the two countries.
6. Brett Kavanaugh sworn in as US SC judge
US President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women, was sworn in amid protests. The US Senate had backed his nomination by 50 votes to 48, the closest nomination vote since 1881. The 53-year-old, who has been appointed for life, has denied the sexual misconduct allegations.
7. Election Commission announces poll dates for five states
The Election Commission of India announced Assembly poll dates for five states– Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana. Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh will go on polls on November 28, while voting will take place in Telangana and Rajasthan on December 7. Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases, on November 12 and 20 respectively.
8. India and Russia signed S 400 missile deal after summit
India and Russia after the annual summit concluded the contract for five S-400 ‘Triumf’ missile systems. The deal is one of the biggest defence deals in recent times. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the summit. The announcement of the deal was made in a joint statement issued by both sides. The sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 long-range surface to air missile to India.
It is expected that the deliveries of S-400 will begin in 24 months, at the end of 2020. The agreement for the estimated $5.43 billion (Rs.40,300 crores) S-400 system was not referred to by either leader. India would pay about 15% in advance, likely through the rupee-rouble mechanism both countries use for trade in their own currencies.
9. IRDAI gave final approval to Reliance Health Insurance to start operations
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approved Reliance Health Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Capital, to begin operations. It will commence operations by December 2018.
10. Coast Guards Of India, Vietnam Hold Joint Exercise Sahyog HOP TAC-2018
A Vietnam Coast Guard ship, on its maiden visit to Chennai, undertook joint exercises with the Indian Coast Guard ‘Sahyog HOP TAC-2018’, off the city coast aimed at strengthening the working level relationship between them.
Coast Guard ships Shaurya, Arnvesh and interceptor boat C-431 along with a Dornier aircraft and Chetak helicopter participated in the joint exercise.
11. India Chem 2018 Conference begins in Mumbai
India Chem 2018, the 10th Biennial International Exhibition & Conference began in Mumbai. The largest event of Chemicals and Petrochemical Industry in India is a two-day event.
12. GI Tag For Alphonso Mango from Konkan
Alphonso Mango from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and other adjoining areas in Maharashtra, finally gets a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. A Geographical Indication or a GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs.
13. Thirty Six National Games To Be Held Next Year in Goa
The 36th National Games in Goa will be held from March 30 to April 14 next year. Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) Executive Director V M Prabhudesai made the announcement in Panaji after a meeting with visiting officials of the Indian Olympic Association.
Shooting and cycling events will be held in New Delhi as Goa does not have facilities for these two sports.
14. India and ADB Signs $110 Million loan to improve Rural Connectivity in MP
The government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $110 million loan to finance the upgrade of 2,800 kilometres all-weather rural roads in the State of Madhya Pradesh under the Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Program (PMGSY).
Tranche 2 loan is part of the $500 million Second Rural Connectivity investment Program for India approved by the ADB Board in December 2017.
15. Winners of 2018 Nobel Peace Prize: Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad
Dr Mukwege, a 63-year-old gynaecologist has been associated with the treatment of various sexual assault victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2008, he also won the UN Human Rights Prize.
16. Sanjay Verma appointed Indias Ambassador to Spain
Sanjay Verma is a 1990 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. He is currently the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to Spain.
17. Government’s Naga talks interlocutor R N Ravi appointed Deputy National Security Advisor
He will also continue to be the central government’s interlocutor for Nagaland. He is a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer (retired) of the Kerala cadre. In August 2018, he was given an extension as the government’s representative for the talks with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
18. India, Kazakhstan agree to step up military cooperation, especially in defence production
Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman was on a three-day visit to Astana, Kazakhstan at the invitation of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Nurlan Yermekbayev.
India and Kazakhstan Defence Cooperation include military-technical cooperation, military education and training, joint military exercises, bilateral exchange of visits and cadet youth exchange programs. Both countries are Strategic Partners since 2009.
19. Zydus Cadila gets approval from USFDA for breast cancer drug
Zydus Cadila, the major drug firm, has received the final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Exemestane tablets. The drug will be used for the treatment of breast cancer. The drug is made in the strength of 25 mg. The company will manufacture the drug at its group’s formulations SEZ facility in Ahmedabad.
20. Ukraine launched solar power plant in Chernobyl
Ukraine launched a park of photovoltaic panels at the former Chernobyl power plant. It is to use solar power to give the scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster a new lease on life. The $1.2-million, a one-megawatt plant is located just a hundred metres from a giant metal dome sealing the remains of the nuclear power plant that suffered a catastrophic meltdown in 1986. The facility can power about 2,000 households.
