Current Affairs Daily Digest – October 27 2019
1. India and Ecuador ink Protocol to start trade negotiations
India and South American nation Ecuador inked the Protocol for Completion of the Joint Feasibility Study (JFS) between the two countries, in line with the government’s efforts to expand its trade presence in the region.
The Protocol inked in New Delhi by Shyamal Misra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Héctor Cueva, ambassador of Ecuador in India.
2. Dharmendra Pradhan addresses GFSEC Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the Ministerial Meeting of Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity in Tokyo. India is committed to spending about USD 1.4 trillion on infrastructure development in the next five years. India’s demand for steel shall be a driver of its capacity expansion.
3. Basic ministerial meet on climate change
The 29th ministerial meet of BASIC countries was held at Beijing between October 25-26, 2019. The BASIC countries include Brazil, South Africa, India and China.
BASIC countries
The BASIC countries are the block of Brazil, India, China and South Africa formed based on an agreement in 2009. They committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen Climate Summit. The countries announced plans and targets accordingly. The grouping also agreed to provide technical aid to G77 countries.
4. First-ever Ladakh Literature Festival
Ladakh administration is organizing the first-ever Ladakh Literature festival. The three day Literature Festival is being organized from 29 to 31 October 2019. At venues like historic Leh palace and Central Asian Museum the Ladakh Literature Festival will now be held annually.
5. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage takes place every 27 October
This commemorative day was chosen by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2005 to raise awareness of the significance and preservation risks of recorded sound and audiovisual documents (films, sound and video recordings, radio and television programmes).
Theme 2019 – Engage the past through sound and Images
6. Arvind Singh appointed chairman of AAI
Senior IAS officer Arvind Singh has been appointed as the chairman of Airports Authority of India and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu will head the National Highways Authority of India as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre.
Singh is at present working in his cadre-state Maharashtra. He has been appointed as the chief of AAI in the rank and pay of additional secretary, an order issued by the personnel ministry said.
7. Sophie Wilmes chosen as first woman prime minister of Belgium
Belgian Budget Minister Sophie Wilmes has been chosen as the country’s new caretaker prime minister — a first for a woman, the current premier Charles Michel said. The 44-year-old still has to be sworn in by King Philippe, who is expected to announce the nomination formally on Sunday at the earliest.
8. Khattar takes oath as Haryana CM, Dushyant Chautala as deputy CM
Manohar Lal Khattar took oath as Haryana chief minister for the second term and will lead the BJP-JJP coalition government in the state. Haryana governor Satyadeo Narain Arya administered the oath at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan here on the occasion of Diwali.
9. ICICI Bank sells entire stake in GST Network to 13 state governments
Private sector ICICI Bank said it has exited the GST Network, the company facilitating collection of the indirect tax, by selling its entire 10 per cent stake to as many as 13 state governments.
The stake sale is for aggregate cash consideration of ₹1 crore, ICICI Bank said in a regulatory filing.
10. Indian Overseas Bank unveils health insurance policy with Universal Sompo
Public sector Indian Overseas Bank unveiled an healthcare insurance policy through online platform in association with Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Ltd. The policy offered on real time basis to customers at the branches of Indian Overseas Bank through integration of technology of the two institutions.
11. Kotak Mahindra Bank launches first overseas branch at Dubai
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has launched its first overseas branch at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the lender said. This is in addition to the banking unit at the International Financial Centre at GIFT City in Gujarat.
With this branch licence, Kotak can now accept offshore deposits from professional clients based outside the UAE; provide, arrange and advise on offshore credit and offer investment advisory services.
