30th October 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

According to the United Nations' recent report, the Asia Pacific region is the world's most disaster prone part.
- As per the organisation, the part needs regional cooperation to address cross boundary disasters since natural disasters have killed half a million people in Asia and the Pacific over the past decade.
- Important Points to Note
- In the last 10 years, the region has been struck by 1,625 disasters
- Disasters in Asia Pacific region accounted for 40 percent of the global total
- The report says that the region needs to spend more on adapting to climate change. The region also needs to prepare for more extreme weather and disaster risks
- Other disasters affecting the region include floods, tropical storms and droughts. The report calls them as 'silent killers'
- Over 1.4 billion people were affected by these incidents
- 90 percent of the world's seismic activity originates in the 'ring of fire' which is situated in the basin of the Pacific Ocean

Nepal signed its first ever fuel agreement with China for Beijing to supply petroleum to ease a crippling shortage after protests blocked imports from sole supplier India.

National Affairs

In Punjab, 2 lakh 6 thousand plants were planted today in a record time of 33 minutes in lesser green area of Mansa district of the state.
- This has set a new world record of such large plantation in a short period.
- Earlier record was of plantation of 1 lakh 450 trees in 45 minutes in Australia.
The nation will celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas tomorrow.

Science & Technology

China's first lunar rover, Yutu, has been operating on the moon for almost two years, setting a record for the longest stay by a rover.
- Yutu was deployed and landed on the moon via China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe in 2013, staying longer than the Soviet Union's 1970 moon rover Lunokhod 1, which spent 11 months on the
  moon.

New Appointments

Tanzania's ruling party candidate John Magufuli won presidential elections.

Business & Economy

The defence ministry today cleared new military modernisation proposals worth over Rs 12,000 crore, ranging from the acquisition of two additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multiple-launch rocket systems to the upgrade of 26 Ilyushin transport aircraft by Russia.
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, cleared the pending proposal to procure four multi-purpose vessels for the Navy, each costing Rs 700 crore.
- The Council also cleared the proposal of procuring two Deep Submerge Rescue Vessel, each costing Rs 750 crore.
Aiming to improve air connectivity among smaller cities, the government today announced draft aviation policy aimed at popularising air travel among the people.

Awards & Honors

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has been selected for European Union’s prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights for year 2015.

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis defeats Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic in round robin league of WTA Finals in Singapore.
The 2015 Indian Premier League (IPL) contributed Rs 11.5 billion ($182 million) to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- The BCCI appointed KPMG Sports Advisory Group to undertake a survey on the economic impact generated by the IPL on the economy of India, which brought forward the figures.