Current Affairs Daily Digest – October 29 2019
1. Rajnath Singh to represent India at SCO heads of state meeting
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of state meeting, which is to be held in Uzbekistan on 2 November. Mr. Singh is to embark on a three-day visit to Uzbekistan from 1-3 November.
He will also hold a meeting with Uzbekistan’s defence minister. Both Ministers will discuss military cooperation. It is expected that they will conclude discussions on two pacts on military education and cooperation and military medicine.
2. Exercise Shakti to be held from 31 October to 13 November
Exercise Shakti-2019, a bilateral exercise between the Indian Army and French Army, is to be held at the Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan from 31 October to 13 November.
Aim:
The Exercise Shakti aimed at counter-terrorism operations in the backdrop of semi-desert terrain under the United Nations mandate.
3. World Bank to fund USD 6 bn annual lending support to India
World Bank, the multi-lateral funding agency, has announced that it is to continue providing a $6 billion annual lending target for India to support infrastructure development and alleviate poverty. The announcement was made by President of World Bank David Malpass during his visit in the backdrop of the recently released World Bank report on Ease of Doing Business 2020.
As of now, around 97 projects are being currently executed in India with loan assistance from the World Bank. For the 97 projects, it has provided $24 billion. It is expected that the program will continue and reflect on the projects and reforms that were going on in India.
4. What is Cosmic Yeti?
Scientists have accidentally discovered ‘the footprints a monstrous galaxy’ being called as ‘Cosmic Yeti’ in early universe that has never been seen before. The discovery provides new insights into the first growing steps of some of biggest galaxies in universe. The astronomical findings were published in Astrophysical Journal.
5. Members of EU meet PM Modi; visit Kashmir
A 28-member delegation from European Union met PM Modi on October 28, 2019. The delegation will visit Kashmir on October 29, 1019. The delegation is to check on the reality of the situation in Kashmir. This is the first trip to the region by a foreign delegation after India revoked Article 370 and integrated Kashmir with the rest of the country. India rejected US ‘s plea to visit the region earlier in October.
6. India, Saudi Arabia to sign Strategic Partnership Council pact
India and Saudi Arabia are set to sign an agreement for creating a bilateral strategic partnership council during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Riyadh. The council will include multiple sections involving the External Affairs Ministry and NITI Aayog and counterpart organisations from Saudi Arabia.
7. Justice Bobde Appointed As Next CJI, To Take Oath On November 18
President Ram Nath Kovind appointed Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).Justice Bobde would become the 47th CJI and will take oath on November 18.
His career as Justice began on March 29, 2000 when he was appointed as Additional Judge in the Bombay High Court and was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on April 12, 2013.
8. RBI imposes Rs 35 lakh penalty on TMB
The Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty of Rs 35 lakh on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for violating norms on frauds classification and notification. The RBI said in a release that it imposed the fine via an order dated October 24, 2019.
It stated that the bank has been penalised for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by RBI on frauds classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs directions 2016.
9. Adani Group ties up with US-based Digital Realty for foray into data centre domain
The Adani Group announced a partnership with Digital Realty, a San Francisco-based player in data centre, co-location and interconnection solutions. The move will accelerate Adani Group’s foray into the data centre domain.
According to the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between flagship company Adani Enterprises Ltd and Digital Realty, the two entities will jointly evaluate development and operation of data centres and data centre parks, besides cultivating undersea cable provider communities of interest across India.
10. Tiger Woods wins Zozo Championship
Tiger Woods won the Zozo Championship by three strokes, matching Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories. It was not exactly smooth sailing for Woods, but in the end his closing three-under-par 67 was enough to hold off a challenge from Hideki Matsuyama at Narashino Country Club in the first PGA Tour event played in Japan.
