Latest Current Affairs – October 24 2018
1. India signs ₹5,600-crore deal to get Israeli missile systems
India has signed a $777-million deal (₹5,683 crore) with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to obtain Barak 8 long-range surface-to-air defence missiles and missile defence systems for seven Indian Navy ships. IAI said state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited will be their Indian manufacturing partner. The two countries signed a $2-billion deal last year, which was Israel’s largest ever defence deal.
2. After Reliance Industries, Wipro appoints ex-SBI chief as director
IT services giant Wipro has appointed former SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya as an independent director for a period of five years. The development comes just days after Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries appointed her as an independent director. Bhattacharya, who retired from India’s largest lender in October 2017, recently joined private equity firm ChrysCapital as an adviser.
3. China successfully tests ‘world’s largest’ cargo drone
A Chinese company has tested the ‘world’s largest’ cargo drone Feihong-98 (FH-98) which is said to carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes (1,500kg). The FH-98 has a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tonnes (5,250 kg) and maximum range of 1,200 km. Further, it is capable of reaching a flying altitude of 4.5 km and a cruising speed of 180 kmph.
4. Paytm Payments Bank appoints Satish Kumar Gupta as MD, CEO
One97 Communications’ subsidiary Paytm Payments Bank on Wednesday announced the appointment of Satish Kumar Gupta as the Managing Director (MD) and CEO of the bank. Gupta’s appointment comes months after Renu Satti stepped down as the CEO of the Bank to head the company’s retail segment. Previously, Gupta worked at National Payments Corporation of India and State Bank of India.
5. European Parliament votes to ban single-use plastics
Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of a proposal to ban single-use plastics in a bid to curb marine pollution. The proposal called for a complete ban on plastic cutlery, cotton buds, drink stirrers and a reduction in the use of food and drink containers like plastic cups. The ban is likely to take effect by 2021.
6. PM Modi launches ‘Main Nahin Hum’ app for IT professionals
PM Narendra Modi launched a ‘Main Nahin Hum’ portal and app, which will enable IT professionals and organisations to bring together their efforts towards social causes and service to society on one platform. The portal, based on the theme ‘Self4Society’, is expected to generate wider participation of interested people motivated to work for the benefit of society.
7. China to scrap setting population target
China will not set a population target in the future and give people more freedom with respect to childbirth, health officials said. The announcement comes as China attempts to ease restrictions on family planning to combat ageing population. Bloomberg reported earlier this year that China may end the limits it sets on the number of children a family can have.
8. SC bans sale of Bharat Stage IV vehicles from April 2020
The Supreme Court has banned the sale and registration of Bharat Stage IV vehicles from April 1, 2020. The apex court added that only vehicles compliant with the Bharat Stage VI emission standards can be sold from then. The Bharat Stage emission standards are instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles.
9. Microplastics found in human poop for the first time: Study
Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna and the Environment Agency Austria have discovered microplastics in human poop for the first time, according to a study. The study found all eight participants had microplastics in their stool samples, and identified nine separate types of plastic. On average, the researchers said they found 20 microplastic particles per 10 grams of stool.
10. Kohli becomes fastest to 10,000 runs in history of ODI cricket
India captain Virat Kohli has become the fastest batsman to score 10,000 runs in the history of ODI cricket, achieving the feat in his 205th innings, against Windies on Wednesday. The 29-year-old overtook Sachin Tendulkar, who had reached 10,000 ODI runs in his 259th innings, against Australia in 2001. Kohli was also the fastest to 8,000 and 9,000 ODI runs.
11. India, Iran, Afghanistan hold 1st meet on Chabahar port
India, Iran and Afghanistan held their first trilateral meeting in which they discussed the development of Chabahar port project. “All sides shared the view that full operationalisation of…initiative will promote connectivity…economic development of Afghanistan,” MEA said. The port is considered crucial for trade among the three nations after Pakistan denied transit access to India.
12. Cabinet approves NIF monitoring framework for Sustainable Development Goals
The Union Cabinet has approved the constitution of a high-level steering committee for reviewing and refining the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with associated targets.
The SDGs target include measures to mainstream SDGs into ongoing national policies, programmes and strategic action plans to address the developmental challenges. SDGs integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. They intend eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world with the basic motto of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.
13. Indian Navy won the 14th PMC Bank all India Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament
Indian Navy (Mumbai) won the 14th PMC Bank all-India Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament at the Mahindra Stadium at Mumbai, Maharashtra. Indian Navy (Mumbai) beat Central Secretariat (New Delhi) and secured 2-1. The winner was awarded Rs.2 lakh and the runner-up, Rs.1 lakh. Indian Navy (Mumbai) 2 (Suman Kindo, Jugraj Singh) bt Central Secretariat 1 (Jayesh Jadhav).
14. SC announced ban on toxic and loud firecrackers
Supreme Court judgment declared a ban on toxic and loud crackers during Deepavali. The ban has been declared to avoid the air pollution caused due to the burning of firecrackers which in turn deterioration of air quality.
The Bench acknowledges that there is a necessity to tackle the other contributory factors for air pollution. Unregulated construction activity which generates a lot of dust and crop burning in the neighbouring States are the two other major reasons. Vehicular pollution is also another cause.
15. M.S.Swaminathan receiving the first World Agriculture Prize
M.S.Swaminathan, an Agricultural scientist, will be receiving the first World Agriculture Prize instituted by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) in New Delhi. The award carries a cash component of $1,00,000. The prize will be presented by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu at Vigyan Bhawan at a special session, named Swaminathan Global Dialogue on Climate Change and Food Security organised by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture.
Prof.Swaminathan has been hailed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as ‘The Father of Economic Ecology’. He is Recognised worldwide for his basic and applied research in genetics, cytogenetics, radiation and chemical mutagenesis, food and biodiversity conservation. He is been awarded for his commitment towards the ever-green revolution movement in agriculture.
16. Haryana girl Nishtha Dudeja won Miss Deaf Asia 2018 crown
She is the first Indian to have won any title at the Miss Deaf World Pageant. She is the brand ambassador for Sivantos India Pvt Ltd. (Formerly Siemens hearing Instruments Pvt Ltd.), the world’s leading brand of hearing aids.
17. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu confers Lal Bahadur Shastri award on Fali Nariman
Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu hailed late PM Lal Bahadur Shastri for his “integrity and moral uprightness” and said the education system needed to highlight contribution of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Vice President honoured senior advocate Fali Sam Nariman with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration and said Nariman was one of the best eminent jurists in India.
Nariman is a distinguished Indian Constitutional jurist and senior advocate to the Supreme Court of India. Over the years, he has been the recipient of several honours and awards, both at national and international levels.
18. Invest India Won UN Investment Promotion Award
The award was presented by Armenian President Armen Sarkissian to Deepak Bagla, the CEO of Invest India, in Geneva, Switzerland. The Investment Promotion Awards, organized by UNCTAD, honors Investment Promotion Agencies and their governments for their achievements. The Awards have been given annually since 2002 as part of UNCTAD’s investment promotion and facilitation programme.
