Daily Current affairs - November 8th 2017 for all competitive exams
The government has launched ‘Grahak Sadak Koyla Vitaran App’ benefitting customers of Coal India Limited (CIL) lifting coal through road mode.
- The app is for the benefit of customers lifting coal through road mode. It is a step towards transparency in the system of loading programme and dispatch.
- It helps achieve transparency in dispatch operations, as a tool to monitor, whether the dispatches are made on the fair principle of ‘First in First Out’ and keeps track of all the activities from issuance of Sale Order to physical delivery of coal by road.
SC refused to stay on Kambala ordinance
The Supreme Court has refused to pass an interim stay on the Ordinance allowing kambala, the traditional buffalo slush track race. However, the apex court has agreed to examine the Constitutional validity of the Ordinance.
- The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a non-governmental organisation, had challenged the Ordinance.
- Kambla in its traditional form is non-competitive with buffalo pairs made to race one after another in paddy fields, which is considered a thanksgiving to the Gods for protecting the animals from diseases.
Bengaluru Beats San Francisco in Confidence to Go Digital
India's Silicon Valley - 'Bengaluru' - is the best host among 45 cities worldwide, according to a report from the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). Bengaluru expressed the highest confidence in their digital environment based on people and skills, financial environment, innovation and entrepreneurship and new technology development.
- San Francisco came in second followed by two other Indian cities, Mumbai and New Delhi while Tokyo, Yokohama and Berlin brought up the rear.
Jaipur , Varanasi and Chennai Included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network For Contribution in Music
Totally 64 cities from 44 countries have been designated as UNESCO Creative Cities by Director-General, Irina Bokova. Chennai is the third Indian city on the list of UNESCO Creative Cities list after Jaipur and Varanasi.
- After this, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network now counts a total of 180 cities in 72 countries. Few famous cities included in the list are- Auckland (New Zealand), Cairo (Egypt), Cape Town (South Africa), Istanbul (Turkey), Yamagata City (Japan).
Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity (OHEPEE) Project
A Financing Agreement for IBRD loan of US$ 119 million (equivalent) for the “Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence & Equity (OHEPEE) Project” was recently signed between India and the World Bank.
- The Objective of the project is to improve the quality of ‘students’ equitable access to selected institutions and enhance governance of the higher education system in Odisha.
Rajasthan Bill against conversion awaits nod
A Religious Freedom Bill passed by the Rajasthan Assembly in 2008, aimed at banning forcible religious conversions, is still awaiting the presidential assent. The State has requested the Centre to get the Bill cleared as early as possible.
- The Rajastan government filed an affidavit in the court in response to its notice issued last week on a habeas corpus writ petition seeking production of 22-year-old Aarifa, who has converted from her religion and married a Muslim youth. Ms. Aarifa was allowed to go with her husband.
Controversial Rajasthan bill sent to Assembly select committee
Facing flak from various quarters, the Rajasthan government has referred a controversial bill that seeks to protect public servants and judges from prosecution without its prior sanction to a select committee of the Assembly.
- The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill was recently tabled in the Assembly to replace an ordinance promulgated on September 7.
- The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, seeks to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the State from being investigated for on-duty action, without government sanction.
- It also bars the media from reporting on such accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe is given by the government.
Guinea Becomes New Member Of International Solar Alliance
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Mamady Toure, during the course of which the latter handed over his country’s instrument accession to the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, Sushma Swaraj and Toure exchanged views on a broad range of subjects covering bilateral friendship and cooperation.
Self-driving buses to ply in China
China has developed its first solely electric-powered self-driving buses that can travel up to 150 km on a single charge and plans to deploy them later this month.
- After successful testing at a factory in central China’s Hubei province, the first two buses have been sent to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where they will be tested on the road
‘NIRBHAY’ Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile
The successful test flight of ‘NIRBHAY’ missile was recently conducted by the DRDO. It was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
- It is India’s first indigenously designed and developed Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms.
- Nirbhay is an all-weather low-cost long-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy. The missile has a range of more than 1000 km.
New ant species discovered in the Western Ghats
Researchers have discovered a new species of ant in the Western Ghats, recognised as one of the world’s ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.
- The new species is named Tyrannomyrmex alii (or T. alii). The ant is named after eminent myrmecologist Musthak Ali, who is regarded as the country’s ‘ant man’.
- The new species was found in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It belongs to Tyrannomyrmex, a rare tropical genus of ants.
Twitter Officially Expands its Character Count from 140 to 280
Twitter has officially increased the number of characters in tweets from 140 to 280 for the majority of users. The new limit will not apply to tweets written in Japanese, Chinese and Korean which can convey more information in a single character.
- It was called microblogging site because of its lesser character limit.
- Twitter CEO- Jack Dorsey, Headquarters- California, USA.
Digital payment platform Paytm introduced payments using BHIM UPI on its platform
Digital payment platform Paytm introduced payments using BHIM UPI on its platform, using which users can create their own Paytm BHIM UPI ID on the app, which will be issued by Paytm Payments Bank.
- With Paytm BHIM UPI, users can now make seamless and instant money transfers directly between two bank accounts, with no waiting time to add beneficiary.
- They will also not have to share their bank account details and IFSC code with anyone to receive money.
PayPal launches domestic operations in India:
Digital payments company PayPal has launched its domestic operations in India.
- The inception of domestic operations by PayPal coincides with exact date of one year of demonetization in India.
Apollo Munich Health Insurance Wins ‘General Insurance Company of the Year’
Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company, a joint venture between integrated healthcare provider, Apollo Hospitals Group, and the Munich Re Group was conferred with the 21st Asia Insurance Industry Awards in the "General Insurance Company of the Year" category.
- It is the first standalone health insurer in Asia-Pacific region to win General Insurance Company of the Year at AIIA.
Indian short film ‘The School Bag’ has won the ‘Best Short Film Award’ at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM)
Indian short film ‘The School Bag’ has won the ‘Best Short Film Award’ at theSouth Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM).
- It tells a story based in Pakistan. The movie is directed by Dheeraj Jindal. Actress Rasika Dugal plays the mother in the short film.
Last prince of Awadh passes away
Ali Raza, the ‘last prince of Awadh’, who lived in abject penury was found dead on September 2 in Delhi’s ‘Malcha Mahal,’ a Tughlak-era hunting lodge deep inside a patch of forest overrun by moss and disrepair.
- He was the last surviving member of a family that traced its lineage to the royals of Awadh.
Historic second hat-trick for Starc
Strike bowler Mitchell Starc became the first man to take two hat-tricks in the same First Class game in Australia
- The left-arm paceman became only the eighth player in First Class history — and the first in 39 years — to achieve the feat as he spearheaded New South Wales to victory over Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
- Australian leg-spinner Jimmy Matthews remains the only player to take two hat-tricks in a Test, against South Africa in Manchester in 1912.
India Unveil Logo, Mascot and Song for AIBA Youth Women’s World Boxing Championship
Assam's famed one-horned rhino was unveiled as the official mascot of the 2017 AIBA Youth Women's World Boxing Championship in Guwahati, Assam.
- The official mascot, named Guppy, is a female version of Assam's one-horned rhino.
- The logo infuses two key elements-- the strength of an Indian woman in the form of a female boxer and the culture of Assam through the 'gamosa', a hand-woven piece of cloth in the state.
- The World Championship's official anthem is 'Make Some Noise'. It is composed by Shaan and rendered by renowned singer Sunidhi Chauhan.
India clinched the T20 series against New Zealand:
India beat New Zealand by six runs in 3rd and final T20 held at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram with reduced 8 over match. India has clinched the series 2-1.
- The venue Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram hosted its first ever international match.
- Man of the Series: JaspritBumrah (IND)
