Daily Current Affairs Updates–18th October 2016

Daily Current Affairs Updates–18th October 2016:

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

PM inaugurates 3 hydropower projects in HP

i. Prime Minster Narendra Modi today inaugurated three hydropower projects of 1,752 MW capacity in Himachal Pradesh. With this he dedicated to the nation 520 Megawatt generation capacity third phase of Parbati hydro power project, 412 Megawatt Rampur project and 800 Megawatt Kol Dam power project.

ii. All the three power projects — Koldam HEP (4×200 MW) of NTPC, Parbati HEP Stage-III (4×130 MW) of NHPC and Rampur HEP (6×68.67 MW) of SJVN — are equipped with generating equipment supplied and commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

More of hydroprojects means reduction of greenhouse gas emission, which helps in achieving a low carbon path.

Himachal Pradesh

Capital: Shimla

Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat

Chief Justice: Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir

Chief Minister: Virbhadra Singh

PM Modi launches hub for SC/ST entrepreneurs

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the national SC/ST hub and zero effect on environment scheme for MSME sector in Ludhiana, Punjab. This hub has been set up under Prime Minister's Employment Generation scheme to provide support to entrepreneurs from the SC/ST community.

ii. Mr. Modi will also present national MSME awards to 225 industrialists. He will also distribute 150 spinning wheels to the women of weaker sections to make them able to earn their livelihood. The Prime Minister will also visit an industrial exhibition in the city.

Capital: Chandigarh

Governor: V P Singh Badnore

Chief Minister: Parkash Singh Badal

Minority Affairs Ministry to hold Hunar Haat at India International Trade Fair

i. Ministry of Minority Affairs will hold Hunar Haat at India International Trade Fair in Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, which will commence from 14th of next month.

ii. Talking to reporters, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, the exhibition will be an amazing gathering of artisans from every corner of the country. He said, it will be for the first time that these talented artisans and craftsmen from far-flung areas of the country are being provided an opportunity to showcase their skills at national-international level under one roof.

Minority Affairs Ministry

Headquarters: New Delhi

Minister of state independent charge: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

PM to inaugurate first National Tribal Carnival in Delhi on Oct 25

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate first National Tribal Carnival in Delhi on 25th of this month. This was announced by Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in New Delhi today while addressing a press conference. He said, the main purpose of this carnival is to promote a sense of inclusiveness amongst the tribals. Mr Oram said, the carnival will showcase and promote various facets of tribal culture on a large scale.

ii. The Minister said, the idea of organising the Carnival is to preserve and promote various facets of the tribal life relating to culture, tradition, customs and their skills. Mr Oram said, about 1600 tribal artists and around 15000 tribal delegates from across the country are expected to take part in the carnival.

Odisha govt to roll out biometrics authentication for NFSA beneficiaries

i. Odisha government will roll out biometrics authentication for receiving food grains for beneficiaries of National Food Security Act (NFSA) from January next year in the state.

ii. State Food Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Sanjay Kumar Dasburma has said, the step would maintain transparency and check corruption in distribution of food grains. He also said, NFSA cards of beneficiaries will be linked to their Aadhaar Cards, confirming that all preparatory measures in this regard are complete.

Capital: Bhubaneswar

Governor: S.C. Jamir

Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik (BJD)

Jharkhand to introduce pension for sportspersons

i. Jharkhand's Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma has issued a directive to prepare a sportsperson pension scheme for the players who have brought laurels to the state or the country, but are still working as daily wagers.

ii. The secretary also issued a directive for preparing a list of sportspersons who participated in Olympics/Asian/National Games so that they could be recruited as coaches.

Capital: Ranchi

Governor: Draupadi Murmu

Chief Minister: Raghubar Das (BJP)

INS Arihant commissioned into Indian Navy: Reports

i. As per reports, India's first indigenously-made nuclear submarine 'INS Arihant' has been commissioned into Indian Navy's service. Reportedly, the nuclear submarine was commissioned in August this year by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, but it has not been formally declared. Notably, INS Arihant is a 6,000-tonne submarine that is capable of launching nuclear weapons from underwater.

Irom names her party ‘People's Resurgence Justice Alliance’

i. Human rights activist Irom Sharmila on Tuesday announced the name of her party as ‘People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance’. The Iron Lady of Manipur, after ending her 16-year-long fast against AFSPA in Manipur, had declared that she would be contesting the state election. Irom had ended her hunger strike, the longest such fast in the world, on August 9.

Delhi govt school teachers to soon get tablets

i. In an attempt to reduce "non-teaching" work burden of teachers, the AAP government has decided to provide 'tablets' to teachers in Delhi government schools, reports said. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has reportedly directed officials to buy around 50,000 tablets for teachers and principals of the 1024 government schools. The scheme will cost the public exchequer around 50 crore, reports said.

INTERNATIONAL

BRICS to set up credit rating agency

i. The five-nation group of emerging economies BRICS has agreed to set up an independent BRICS Rating Agency in its efforts to challenge western hegemony in the world of finance.

It was announced during the 8th BRICS summit held in Goa, India.

ii. The BRICS Rating Agency will be based on market-oriented principles to strengthen the global governance architecture.

VP Hamid Ansari reaches Algiers on final leg of two nation visit

i. After concluding his 3-day Hungary tour, Vice President Hamid Ansari has reached Algiers in the second and final leg of two nation visit. After his arrival at the capital city of Algeria last evening, Mr Ansari laid wreath at the Cemetery of El-Alia, known as Square of Martyrs.

ii, Algeria's Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal will call on the Vice President tomorrow where wide ranging issues including cooperation in Oil, Gas, Phosphate and collaboration in Space field will be discussed. After the delegation level talks between both the sides, some agreements are likely to be signed. The issue of cross border terrorism that India is facing, will also figure prominently in the discussions with top leaders of Algeria.

Capital: Algiers

Currency: Dinar (DZD)

President: Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Prime Minister: Abdelmalek Sellal

India, US Meeting To Discuss Trade, Investments

i. India and the US will review the progress achieved on the issues related to agriculture, trade and promotion of investment in manufacturing in a two-day meeting starting from tomorrow.

ii. Commerce and Industry Ministry in a release said, a high-level delegation led by US Trade Representative Michael Froman is attending the 10th Indo-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting. The TPF meeting has focussed on increasing bilateral interaction and momentum on resolving trade concerns.

iii. The visa related issues would also figure in the meeting. The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at 109 billion US dollar in 2015-16. It also said that the bilateral cooperation under TPF has resulted in resolving several market access issues and cooperation in services, manufacturing and Intellectual property rights.

United States of America

Capital: Washington, D.C.

Currency: United States dollar ($)

President: Barack Obama

Vice President: Joe Biden

BANKING NEWS

World Bank to provide $1 bln to Bangladesh to fight child malnutrition

i. The World Bank has pledged to provide One billion US Dollar aid to Bangladesh over the next three years to fight child malnutrition. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim who is on a 2-day visit since yesterday made the announcement during a joint press conference along with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in Dhaka.

ii. Mr. Jim said despite success in reducing maternal and child mortality, and improving child nutrition status, the number of stunted children in Bangladesh is among the highest in the world. He said competing in today's digital economy requires a workforce with well-developed intelligence, which is why the World Bank wants to increase its investment to end stunting in Bangladesh as soon as possible.

iii. A World Bank Statement released today said the announced investment will support programmes to ensure sufficient child nutrition and include a conditional cash transfer scheme targeted at six lakh poor families in 43 sub-districts. The Bank's new announced assistance is almost a 100 percent increase in investment compared to previous 3-year period.

World Bank

Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

President: Jim Yong Kim

Motto : Working for a World Free of Poverty

Bangladesh

Capital: Dhaka

Currency: Bangladeshi taka

Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina

President: Abdul Hamid

BUSINESS NEWS

FPIs withdraws Rs 6,000-crore from debt mkts in 2-weeks

i. Foreign funds have pulled out nearly Rs. 6,000 crore from the Indian debt markets in the first two weeks of this month. However, Foreign Portfolio Investors have pumped in just 180 crore rupees in the stock markets during the period under review, according to the data available with depositories.

The outflow comes following a net inflow of 9,789 crore rupees in the month of September. So far this year, Foreign Portfolio Investors have pulled out a net sum of 3,504 crore rupees from the debt markets, while they have pumped in Rs. 51,473 crore in equities, resulting in a net inflow of 47,968 crore rupees.

AGREEMENTS & MoUs

Kigali Agreement to phase out HFCs reached

i. Envoys of more than 170 countries in Kigali, Rwanda on 15 October 2016 agreed to phase down use and production of potent greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2045. The agreement amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that depletes the Ozone Layer.

ii. The Kigali Amendment is a timetable to phase-out production and consumption of the potent greenhouse gases of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2045. It was reached at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP28). It is a move to prevent a potential 0.5 C rise in global temperature by 2050.

Republic of Rwanda

Capital: Kigali

Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)

President: Paul Kagame

Prime Minister: Anastase Murekezi

Nokia, Bharti Airtel Venture on 4G

i. Bharti Airtel and Nokia announced the deployment of 4G technology across nine circles in India. Airtel will leverage Nokia’s leading radio access technology and services expertise to expand 4G capacity and coverage and further increase the quality of service for subscribers.

ii. Airtel will be able to provide improved coverage and faster mobile internet access, while laying the foundation for the delivery of enhanced video services and other on-demand applications. The new agreement with Nokia will see Bharti Airtel expand the deployment of 4G technology in three new circles in addition to six circles it already serves, enabling launch of new services.

Samsung Signs MoU With UP Govt

i. Mobile phones company Samsung has signed MoU with UP state government for setting up a manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh. Under the agreement, Samsung would be investing Rs 1,970 crore in the state.

ii. A manufacturing plant would be set up in Noida and the company would also be making smartphones for the ambitious free Samajwadi Smartphone Scheme, announced by the Chief Minister. The scheme would be rolled out next year after the state assembly polls, if the Samajwadi Party (SP) returns to power.

iii. Under the scheme, free smartphones will be given to bona fide residents of Uttar Pradesh — individuals over 18 years and having a minimum educational qualification of matriculation (having passed Class 10).

APPOINTMENTS

Amandeep Appointed Ambassador to UN Conference

i. Amandeep Singh Gill was appointed as the Ambassador of India to the UN Conference on Disarmament, Geneva. Gill’s diplomatic career includes assignments in Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Iran, and the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

ii. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Before joining the Indian Foreign Service, Amandeep Gill worked as a telecommunications engineer.

Saina Nehwal appointed member of IOC's Athletes' Commission

i. In a honour for an Indian sportsperson, shuttler Saina Nehwal has been appointed as a member of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission. Saina has received a letter to the effect from the IOC President Thomas Bach last night.

ii. The Athletes' Commission is chaired by Angela Ruggiero and it comprises nine vice presidents and 10 other members. Saina's appointment to the prestigious panel has come just when she is set to resume practice after recovering from a knee injury.

International Olympic Committee

Motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Latin: Faster, higher, Stronger!)

Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

Membership: 105 active members, 32 honorary members, 1 honour member

Honorary President: Jacques Rogge

President: Thomas Bach

Sanjay Singh appointed Member Secretary, Law Commission

I. Former legislative secretary Sanjay Singh has been appointed as Member Secretary, Law Commission of India. President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed Singh to the post for a period upto August 31, 2018, an official order said.

ii. Singh, a retired officer of Indian Legal Service, was in August 2014, appointed as legislative secretary. The tenure of Twenty-first Law Commission, which was constituted on September 1, 2015 is till August 31, 2018.

Navdeep Suri to be India's new envoy to UAE

i. Senior diplomat Navdeep Singh Suri was today appointed Ambassador to United Arab Emirates, a strategically important nation country which is major supplier of oil to India and is home to around 2.6 million-strong Indians.

ii. Suri, a 1983 batch Indian Foreign Service official, is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the External Affairs Ministry said.He is currently serving as Indian High Commissioner in Canberra.

Suri had served in India's diplomatic missions in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London and as India's Consul General in Johannesburg.

BCCI president Anurag Thakur part of powerful ICC sub-committee

i. BCCI president Anurag Thakur has taken charge as the member of the ICC’s powerful Finance and Commercial Affairs committee. Anurag Singh Thakur is a member of Lok Sabha from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.

Robert De Niro to be honoured with Chaplin Award by Film Society of Lincoln Center

i. The Film Society of Lincoln Center in the second week of October 2016 announced Robert De Niro as the recipient of the 44th Chaplin Award. De Niro will be presented with the award at an award gala on 8 May 2017.

ii. Robert Anthony De Niro is an Italian-American actor and producer. He has starred in over 100 films. He was cast as the young Vito Corleone in the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

iii. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jake La Motta in the 1980 film Raging Bull. He received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2003 and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2010.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

New sensor can detect vitamin B12 deficiency within minutes

i. Scientists have developed a new optical sensor that may quickly detect vitamin B12 deficiency, a condition linked to an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

ii. The newly developed sensor takes less than a minute and requires minimum preparation, whereas current testing methods are time-consuming and costly.

iii. Georgios Tsiminis, research fellow at the University of Adelaide in Australia said that the sensor is an early first step towards a point-of-care solution for measuring and tracking B12 in healthy ageing adults.

iv. The sensor uses an optical measuring technique called Raman spectroscopy which produces a unique optical fingerprint of a target molecule, in this case vitamin B12.

Resupply Mission to Space Station Launched

i. Aerospace company Orbital ATK launched its sixth resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by Antares rocket. The two-stage booster, powered by new engines from Russia and carrying a Cygnus cargo ship, blasted off from USA Virginia’s Wallops Flight Facility.

Under NASA’s commercial resupply services contract, Cygnus carried about 2,400 kg of supplies and science experiments for the ISS. Cygnus was also carrying a new station research facility that will enable a new range of research experiments by allowing precise control of motion aboard the ISS.

ii. One of the experiments is Saffire II, which studies how flames grow in space. Also onboard were lighting systems studying the effect of lighting on sleep and daily rhythms, a tablet app collecting health-related data and a new way to measure neutrons as a part of the radiation exposure experienced by crews during spaceflight.

Ashok Leyland launches first India-made electric bus

i. Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland today launched - Circuit - the first “Made in India” electric bus.

ii. The bus with a minimum seating capacity of 35 to a maximum of 65 can run up to 120 kilometres on a single recharge under standard test conditions.

SPORTS NEWS

NCC National Games begins today:

i. Director General (Officiating) of National Cadet Corps (NCC) Maj Gen JS Sandhu has inaugurated the Opening Ceremony of the NCC National Games 2016 in New Delhi.

The aim of the games is to provide the talented sportspersons amongst the cadets a feel of a major sporting event and prepare them with requisite match temperament and further their sporting careers.

ii. Ten days games will feature more than two thousand NCC Cadets from all parts of the country. Shera has been adopted as the mascot for the Games.

India bag four medals at Tifsa World Games

i. Indian grapplers clinched four medals, including a gold, at the just-concluded sixth edition of the Tifsa World Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dalmiya bagged the yellow metal in 60kg category after

outplaying Muhammad Sahan of Azerbaijan 4-1 in the summit clash.

Among other Indian wrestlers, experienced Luv Singh claimed a silver, while Naveen Kumar and Josil settled for a bronze medal each.

Brazil hosted the Junior South American Cricket Championship

i. Brazil hosted the Junior South American Cricket Championship's 2016 edition, which saw participant teams from Chile, Argentina, and Peru. The J-SAC tournament, as known in the Latin American nations, witnessed both under-13 and under-17 cricket teams compete to be crowned the cricket champions of the South American continent.

Bravo first West Indian to score a ton in Day-Night Tests

i. West Indian batsman Darren Bravo became the side's first-ever player to score a ton in a Day-Night Test match, after reaching the landmark figure on the fifth day of the first Test against Pakistan on Monday. Bravo is only the second player to have scored a ton in a Day-Night Test, following Azhar Ali's triple century in the same Test.

Shahid Afridi to release his autobiography in 2017

i. Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has the announced plans to reveal his autobiography next year, titled 'Shahid Afridi: An Autobiography'. Afridi said, "In the book, I've opened up about my rivalries and my alliances, particularly those with India, as well as my infatuation with the military and my take on politics." The book is co-authored by Pakistani journalist Wajahat S Khan.