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Current Affairs – November 09/2015
1.Aus, China ink deal to share info on Antarctica condition
Australia and China 9 November inked a deal to share information about sea ice conditions around Antarctica. This deal is for better navigation and shipping in the Earths southernmost continent. The agreement was signed between Chinas National Marine Environment Forecasting Centre and Australias Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Hobart city.
2.Maggi noodles back in stores, Nestle India ties up with Snapdeal
Nestle India has relaunched its popular Maggi noodles in India, five months after they were banned due to alleged presence of excessive lead content. Besides, the Swiss food major has partnered with online marketplace Snapdeal for the rollout. The company is presently manufacturing Maggi noodles at three locations – Nanjangud (Karnataka), Moga (Punjab) and Bicholim (Goa).
3.Ballistic Missile Agni-IV test-fired as part of user trial
India has successfully tested the nuclear-capable Agni-IV ballistic missile, which has a strike range of 4,000-km, from the A P J Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island) off Odisha coast. The user trial by the tri-Service Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which saw the two-stage missile being fired from a mobile launcher at 9.45am, met all mission parameters.
4.Former BCCI chief N Srinivasan sacked as ICC chairman
N Srinivasan has been dethroned as the ICC Chairman after the BCCI decided to recall him and nominate its recently-elected President Shashank Manohar as the chief of the world body. The decision to remove Srinivasan was taken at the BCCI’s 86th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, virtually signalling the end of his hold on Indian cricket. The tenure of Srinivasan, who took over in June last year, was to end next year in the same month and the remainder of the term would be completed by Manohar as it is India’s turn to hold the top position. In case, Manohar cannot attend the ICC meetings, Sharad Pawar will be India’s representative.
5.AK-47 maker in talks for joint venture in India to manufacture weapons
Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern, makers of AK-47 assault rifles, is in advanced discussions with Indian companies to manufacture certain weapons in India and is open to sharing technology with local partners. Known as one of the best assault rifles of the 20th century, AK-47s are now being reportedly used more by non- state agents than national defence personnel. For many years now, Russia has officially stopped supplying these fine automatic rifles to the country.
6.SAADMEx 2015 to be conducted from 23rd -26th November, 2015 in Delhi
India will host the South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise (SAADMEx), 2015 here from November 23-26. Member-countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will participate in the joint exercise, which will be inaugurated by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
7.Myanmar awaits results of landmark election
Myanmar’s opposition NLD party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, is on track to win more than 70% of seats in the country’s historic election – a tally that could sweep it to power and end decades of military dominance. The National League for Democracy’s hopes of a decisive victory increased as Myanmar’s election commission began to release results from across the country.
8.‘India in Shanghai’ Cultural Week inaugurated at Shanghai
A cultural week is being held in Shanghai, China. India has been designated as the guest country, with an ‘Indian Culture Week’ being incorporated as a part of the SIAF annual festival which runs from 16th October – 16th November, 2015.
It has happened for the first time in 17 year history of China. India Culture Week would be jointly inaugurated by Ambassador H.E Ashok K. Kantha along with Ms. Zhong Yanqun, Vice Chair of The Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress on November 5 2015 at the Shanghai Grand Theater.
9.RBI issued Uniform Guidelines on Internet Banking for Cooperative Banks
Reserve Bank of India has revised and issued a uniform guidelines on Internet Banking.
The revised guidelines applicable to all the cooperative banks are as follows:
- All licensed StCBs, DCCBs and UCBs which have implemented Core Banking Solution (CBS) and migrate to Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) and complying with the guidelines prescribed in Annex-I to this circular may offer Internet Banking (View only) facility to their customers, without prior approval of RBI.
10.WHO officially declares Sierra Leone Ebola-free
Sierra Leone has been declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organisation. The disease in the nation took almost 4000 lives. The WHO’s country director, Anders Nordström, confirmed that 42 days had passed without any new cases, thereby satisfying criteria that the virus was no longer being transmitted.
Sierra Leone’s president, Ernest Bai Koroma, has ended the state of emergency declared during the outbreak, but the country will now enter a 90-day period of heightened surveillance to make sure the virus does not return.
