Daily Current Affairs Updates–28th October 2016

Daily Current Affairs Updates–28th 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.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Ayurveda Day : 28^th October

i. The Ministry of AYUSH will observe National Ayurveda Day today on the occasion of Dhanvantari Divas or Dhanteras and the theme this year will be 'Ayurveda for Prevention and Control of Diabetes.'

National Chocolate Day: 28^th October

i. National Chocolate Day is observed annually on October 28. While there are many specific chocolate related holidays throughout the year, National Chocolate Day celebrates all things chocolate. As America’s favorite flavor, chocolate is well deserving of its own day of honor and celebration.

National Pharmacy Buyer Day: 28^th October

i. National Pharmacy Buyer Day is observed annually on Friday of the last full week in October.

ii. Pharmacy buyers are the men and women who keep the shelves stocked with the necessary medications, supplies and small durable medical equipment pharmacies dispense on a daily basis. They shop wholesale markets and are in charge of managing inventory as well as costs for hospital pharmacies and large clinics.

All educational certificates to be digitized

i. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the setting up of a National Academic Depository, which will be a bank of all digitised education records from school onward. The Cabinet decided that the depository would be established in three months and cover almost all education institutions by 2017-18. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said it would address the problem of fake certificates.

DND flyway to remain toll-free; SC refuses to stay HC order

i. The Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway remains toll-free after the Supreme Court today rejected a petition that sought to challenge the Allahabad High Court's order declaring the 9.2 km stretch free for commuters. The Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited had challenged the HC's order asking it to stop collecting toll from commuters plying on the DND flyway connecting Delhi and neighbouring Noida.

Cabinet approves pact on transfer of convicts with Estonia

i. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing and ratification of an agreement between India and Estonia on the transfer of sentenced persons. The agreement shall facilitate the Indian nationals imprisoned in Estonia or vice-versa to be shifted to their respective countries for the remainder of their sentence. This repatriation shall also facilitate their social rehabilitation.

India to welcome Pak at Heart of Asia conference

i. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Thursday said that India will welcome Pakistan at the Heart of Asia conference to be held in Amritsar on December 4. ii. However, Pakistan has not given any official confirmation to the ministry so far, he added. This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following repeated ceasefire violations along the border

Delhi govt to install machines to check air pollution

i. The Delhi government on Thursday set in motion the process for the installation of devices and machines for regulation of commercial vehicles to check air pollution.
ii. The machines would be installed at all 13 entry points in the national capital. The move aims to curb air pollution in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines of levying Environmental Compensation Charge.

Aviation scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) takes off

i. The Centre unveiled a regional connectivity scheme, known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), with flights priced at Rs.2,500 for one hour of flying time to and from regional airports.

ii. Under the scheme, airlines will be offered a slew of sops at smaller airports such as waiver of landing and parking charges.

INTERNATIONAL

World's largest marine park created in Antarctica

i. The European Union and 24 countries today reached an agreement to create the world's largest marine park in Antarctica, after five years of negotiations. The deal will protect over 1.5 million square kilometres of the Ross Sea, with 1.1 million square kilometres being designated a 'general protection zone' that outlaws fishing. The protections are set to expire in 35 years.

Women in India work 50 days a year more than men: World Economic Fourm’s

i. Women in India on average work 50 more days a year as compared to their male counterparts, according to World Economic Forum’s report. Further, women across the world work 39 more days a year than men, the report added. The report estimated that it could take 170 years for the earnings gap between men and women to close.

Yemen's Houthi rebels fire missile at Mecca

i. Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday fired a ballistic missile toward the holy city of Mecca, home to the most sacred site in Islam, Saudi Arabia said. The missile was intercepted and destroyed 65 km from the city, Saudi officials added. The Iran-backed Houthis have confirmed the missile launch but said it targeted the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

15 Pakistan Rangers killed in retaliatory firing: BSF

i. Approximately 15 Pakistan Rangers have been gunned down in retaliatory cross-border firing by BSF along the International Border, Additional Director General Arun Kumar said on Friday. Pakistani forces are pushing militants into India as BSF recently foiled two infiltration bids into India, he said. This comes amid repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan which left one civilian dead in Jammu.

BANKING NEWS

Step Up Vigil To Check Fake Currency Circulation: RBI To Banks

i. The RBI said the failure of banks in detection and impounding of counterfeit notes and in preventing such currencies from being recirculated will be violative of the directions and "will, therefore, attract penal action".

ii. Banks were also advised that with a view to facilitating the detection of counterfeit notes, all bank branches and identified back offices should be equipped with ultraviolet lamps and other appropriate banknote sorting and detection machines.

BUSINESS NEWS

Google parent Alphabet's profit climbs 27% in Sept quarter

i. Google's parent company Alphabet on Thursday announced that its net income had risen 27% to $5.06 billion in the third-quarter compared to the year-ago period. Alphabet's revenue jumped 20% to $22.45 billion, marking the search giant's seventh straight quarter of double-digit revenue growth. The company credited strong advertising on mobile devices and video site YouTube for the positive results

Bangladesh’s economy grew at record 7.11% in 2015-16

i. Bangladesh’s economy grew at a record 7.11% in the last financial year amid stronger industrial performance.
ii. This has helped the country break out of the 6% ‘growth trap’, which it could not cross in the last one decade, the government said. Bangladesh, as per the purchasing power parity, now stands at 33rd position among the world economies.

Apple launches its thinnest MacBook Pro at Rs.1.29 lakh

i. Technology giant Apple on Thursday launched the new and thinnest generation of MacBook Pro laptops which will start from Rs.1.29 lakh in India. The entry-level 13-inch laptop is 14.9-mm in thickness. Another ₹1.55 lakh version of the laptop features a Touch Bar that utilizes gestures and taps to access various apps, select emojis while typing, and includes TouchID for security.

APPOINTMENTS

World Bank has appointed Clifton Cortez as its first advisor

i. The World Bank has appointed Clifton Cortez as its first advisor tasked with promoting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) issues in the bank's development work. The newly created senior position is part of the bank's commitment to researching and curbing discrimination against LGBTI persons across the 136 countries where it operates.

Sunil Bharti Mittal appointed as Chairman of GSMA

i. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was on 27 October 2016 appointed as Chairman of GSMA. As GSMA Chairman, Mittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation.

ii. Mittal will succeed Jon Fredrik Baksaas, who will step down from the GSMA board at the end of 2016.

iii. On the other hand, the company re-elected Mari-Noëlle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group as Deputy Chairman. It also elected the new members of the 26-member Board of the company.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Twitter announces shutdown of video app Vine

i. Microblogging platform Twitter on Thursday announced that it will be shutting down Vine, a video-sharing service it had acquired in October 2012. The platform lets users share six-second-long looping video clips. While the app will be taken down in a few months, users will be able to access the already posted content on Vine's website.

SPORTS NEWS

India wins its 1st international roller skating racing medal

i. India has won its first-ever medal in an international roller skating racing event at the ongoing Asian Championships in China. The trio of Dhanush Babu, Vikram Ingale and Nikhilesh Tabhane won the bronze in the 3,000-metre team relay event. India has previously won medals in the artistic form of roller skating, including two bronze medals at the 2010 Asian Games.

Cook becomes 1st player to score 10,000 Test runs as opener

i. England Test captain Alastair Cook has become the first player to score 10,000 Test runs as opener. Cook achieved the feat during the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday, taking his opening tally to 10,002 runs in 229 innings. Before Cook, Sunil Gavaskar held the record for most Test runs as opener, with 9,607 runs in 203 innings.

Prince Mikasa, Brother of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Dies at 100

i. Prince Mikasa, an Imperial Army veteran who turned pacifist and the independent-minded younger brother of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, who reigned during World War II, died in Tokyo on Thursday. He was 100.

ii. The Imperial Household Agency announced his death. Japanese news reports said he had been hospitalized since May, initially because of pneumonia.