Current Affairs Daily Digest – October 24 2019
1. White bellbird is the worlds loudest bird
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts in the U.S. have found that the White Bellbirds are the loudest bird in the world. They also found that the mating songs by the white male bellbird cause sound of thrice the decibels (dB) than the Screaming Piha during the mating period. The screaming Piha held the record by making the loudest call of around 125 dB.
White bellbird:
The white bellbird or Procnia albus is a bird species in the family Cotingidae. The bird is found in Guianas forest, Venezeula, Pará of Brazil. The male bird is white in colour, and the female is olive with yellowish streaks in colour.
2. GeM partnered with Federal Bank for payment related services
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Bank for payment-related services. The MOU was signed by S. Suresh Kumar, Addl. CEO, GeM and R. Vardharajan, Country Head – Government Business, Federal Bank.
3. Braj Raj Sharma appointed as SSC Chairman
The Central government has appointed Braj Raj Sharma as the Chairman of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). He will replace Pankaj Kumar, who has been appointed as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Braj Raj Sharma position, as the Secretary Department of Border Management, will be replaced by Nagendra Nath Sinha, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) chairman.
4. Praveen Kumar wins Gold in Wushu World Championship
Praveen Kumar has scripted the history by becoming the first Indian man to win a gold medal at Wushu World Championships. He defeated Russel Diaz of Philippines with 2-1 in the 48kg category event. The Indian saw off his Filipino opponent in men’s Sanda event of 15th World Wushu Championships held in Shanghai, China.
What is Wushu?
It is a Chinese martial art which combines full-contact kickboxing, including close-range punches and kicks, with wrestling, throws, takedowns, kick catch and sweeps.
5. October 25: India to celebrate Ayurveda Day
On 25th October, 2019, Government of India is to organize 4th Ayurveda day. The day is being celebrated by Ministry of AYUSH as Dhanvantari Jayanti falls on the day. Dhanvantari is a Hindu god who cures diseases.
6. M. Venkaiah Naidu to lead Indian delegation at 18th NAM Summit
Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu will lead the Indian delegation at 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The summit will be held at Baku, Azerbaijan on 25 to 26 October 2019 and will be preceded by Senior Officials Meeting and Ministerial Meeting.
7. India US to sign deal on Science and Technology
The Union Cabinet on October 24, 2019 approved the proposal for Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation between India and USA.
India-US
Both India and US have good cooperation in terms of science. The space organizations of the countries ISRO and NASA have several information exchanging programs. Similarly, the defence sector of the countries are also cooperative in terms of technology transfer and in safeguarding the Indo-Pacific region.
8. October 24: UN Day
The UN Day marks the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. However, the day is being commemorated since 1948. In 1971, UN recommended that the day be observed as public holiday by member nations.
Next year, October 24, 2020 UN completes its journey of successful 75 years. In order mark the anniversary, UN has launched “UN75: 2020 and Beyond-Shaping our future together”. The celebrations are being begun this year. Throughout the year, UN will hold meetings with nations and will invite them to participate in its collective action to realize peace, development and human rights for all.
Theme 2019 – Our Planet. Our Future.
9. Indian Railways installs most advanced Electronic Interlocking System
Indian Railways has installed the most advanced Electronic Interlocking System on the Grand Chord route, one of the busiest section of railways. This most advanced and safer Electronic Interlocking System was installed at Tundla Junction in Uttar Pradesh by railways as part of upgradation process.
10. India jumps to 63rd position in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2020 report
India has moved 14 places to be 63rd among 190 nations in the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking released on the back of multiple economic reforms by the Narendra Modi government. However, it failed to achieve government’s target of being at 50th place.
The country was 77th among 190 countries in the previous ranking last year, an improvement by 23 places. The report assess improvement in ease of doing business environment in Delhi and Mumbai.
11. Political outsider Saied sworn in as Tunisia’s president
Saied’s win delivered a heavy blow to a governing elite accused of failing to improve living standards or end corruption since the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy after years of authoritarian rule.
Even with a large mandate, the new president has less direct control of policy than the prime minister and both will quickly face a series of tough challenges including high unemployment rates and fighting corruption.
12. India, Pakistan sign agreement to operationalise Kartarpur corridor
India and Pakistan signed a landmark agreement to operationalise the historic Kartarpur corridor to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy Darbar Sahib in this country.
The corridor will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab with Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, just about four km from the international border, located at Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province.
13. Sukhbir Sandhu appointed as NHAI Chairman
In a major reshuffle, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as the Chairman of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Sandhu is 1988 batch IAS officer from the Uttarakhand Cadre was the additional secretary at the department of education and will replace NN Sinha, who was appointed as the secretary, department for border management on Tuesday.
14. Prakash Javadekar launches first national protocol to enumerate snow leopard population in India
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the first national protocol to enumerate the snow leopard population in the country on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day. The Day is celebrated on October 23 every year to protect and conserve the snow leopards and preserve the beautiful wildlife of the Himalayas.
15. Govt accords ‘Maharatna’ status to Hindustan Petroleum, Power Grid Corp
The government accorded ‘Maharatna’ status to state-owned Hindustan Petroleum and Power Grid Corporation, thus giving them greater operational and financial autonomy.
Two separate orders to this effect were issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises.
16. World Polio Day observed on October 24
World Polio Day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.
Use of this inactivated poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus, developed by Albert Sabin, led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. As of 2013, GPEI had reduced polio worldwide by 99%.
17. Rohit Sharma becomes third Indian to reach top 10 in all three formats
Rohit Sharma has become the third India batsman to reach the top 10 in all three formats after a memorable series against South Africa in which he donned the new role of Test opener.
Rohit emulated captain Virat Kohli and retired opener Gautam Gambhir as his knock of 212 in the third Test in Ranchi helped him advance 12 places to 10th position in the ICC Test Player Rankings.
