Current Affairs Daily Digest – September 22 & 23 2018
1. Dhoni overtakes Dravid to become India’s 2nd most capped cricketer
MS Dhoni has become India’s second-most capped cricketer, achieving the feat against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Dhoni, who is currently playing in his 505th international match for India, overtook Rahul Dravid, who represented India in 504 matches. Dhoni is now only behind Sachin Tendulkar, who played a record 664 matches for India.
2. BSNL signs deal with SoftBank, NTT to roll out 5G in India
State-run telecom firm BSNL has signed a deal with Japan’s SoftBank and NTT Communications to launch 5G internet service and Internet of Things technology in India, BSNL Chairman Anupam Shrivastava said. “Under the agreement, we will look at solution specially for the smart cities,” he added. He also said that the service may launch by 2020 in the country.
3. PM Modi launches world’s largest govt healthcare scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) in Jharkhand’s Ranchi. The cashless scheme, which offers an annual cover of ₹5 lakh to economically weaker sections of society is the world’s largest public health insurance scheme. It will benefit over 50 crore people across the country.
4. Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi passes away at 64
Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, known for films like ‘Rudaali’, ‘Chingaari’, ‘Ek Pal’ and ‘Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence’, passed away at the age of 64. She had been detected with kidney cancer last year and was undergoing treatment for the same. Lajmi’s film ‘Rudaali’ had won actress Dimple Kapadia her only National Award.
5. China, Vatican reach landmark deal on appointment of bishops
The Vatican reached a landmark deal with China on Saturday on the appointment of bishops in the country. Pope Francis recognised seven state-appointed Chinese bishops as part of the deal. Catholics in China are split between the Catholic Patriotic Association, where bishops are appointed by the government, and an underground Church that swears loyalty to the Vatican.
6. 1 in 20 deaths worldwide caused due to alcohol: WHO
Alcohol is responsible for over three million deaths annually, which is more than 5% of all deaths worldwide, a report by the World Health Organisation has revealed. The report goes on to state that 13.5% of deaths among people in their 20s are linked to booze, with alcohol responsible for 7.2% of premature deaths overall.
7. India’s per capita alcohol consumption doubled in 11 yrs: WHO
India’s per capita alcohol consumption more than doubled between 2005 (2.4 litres) and 2016 (5.7 litres), according to a report by the World Health Organisation. Of the total consumption, 4.2 litres are consumed by men and 1.5 litres by women. The report further stated that global per capita consumption also rose from 5.5 litres to 6.4 litres during the period.
8. Assamese film ‘Village Rockstars’ India’s official entry for Oscars
Assamese film ‘Village Rockstars’ has been announced as India’s official entry for 2019 Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film category. “Village Rockstars is the closest film made by international standards”, one of the 12 jury members said. Directed by Rima Das, the film is about a 10-year-old girl from a village in Assam who wants to be a guitarist.
9. NASA mission to ‘touch’ the Sun sends back first images
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has beamed back its first-light data showing the Milky Way and the galactic centre. Launched on August 12, the seven-year mission will probe why temperatures in Sun’s corona (outer atmosphere) reach a million degrees while the underlying surface only reaches about 5,500ºC. The spacecraft will make its first close approach to the Sun in November.
10. Sindhu, Srikanth both knocked out in China Open quarterfinals
Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu, India’s top-ranked male and female shuttlers respectively, were knocked out of the BWF China Open tournament in the quarterfinal stage on Friday. Srikanth was beaten by Japan’s Kento Momota in straight games, while Sindhu lost to China’s Chen Yufei with a scoreline that read 11-21, 21-11, 15-21.
