Daily Current affairs - November 9th 2017 for all competitive exams
The recently held second meeting of Island Development Agency (IDA) was chaired by the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh.
- The Island Development Agency reviewed the concept development plans and detailed master plans for holistic development of 09 islands – four in A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis and five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli
- The IDA was set up on June 1 this year following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s review meeting for the development of islands. The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
International Energy Agency (IEA) held in Paris
The 2017 IEA Ministerial Meeting was recently held in Paris. The focus of the meeting was on global energy challenges and how they can be overcome.
- Participants included representatives from the 29 IEA member countries; accession countries Chile and Mexico; association countries China, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore and Thailand; and partner countries Brazil and South Africa. CEOs from 30 top global energy companies also attended the meeting.
- Founded in 1974, the IEA was initially designed to help countries co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil, such as the crisis of 1973/4. While this remains a key aspect of its work, the IEA has evolved and expanded significantly.
Kerala launched “She Pad” scheme for school girls:
Kerala government has launched “SHE PAD” a scheme to distribute free sanitary napkins to female students from classes VI to XII in government as well as aided private schools.“She Pad” scheme aims to raise awareness about the need for menstrual hygiene and break the taboo around the subject.
- This is the first time that a State Government is providing sanitary napkins to school students.
Telangana leads state-wise ease of doing business ranking
Telangana is currently atop the yearly state-wise ranking on assessment of implementation of the ‘Business Reforms Action Plan’ (BRAP) in 2017. The final ranking is likely to be released in January, 2018.
- Telangana (with an implementation score of 61.83%) is followed by Haryana (54.03%), Odisha (45.70%), Chhattisgarh (45.43%), and West Bengal (44.35%) — completing the top five. However, the ranking is dynamic and till they are frozen, these positions could change due to intense com
Odd-even scheme to be enforced for five days in New Delhi from Nov 13:
The odd-even car rationing scheme will be enforced in New Delhi for a five-day period from 13th to 17th of November from 8 AM to 8 PM.The scheme was decided to be implemented as air pollution levels spiked in the national capital region.
- Under the policy, odd-numbered cars are allowed to run on odd dates while even-numbered cars can only run on even dates.
- In 2016, the scheme was enforced twice, from 1st to 15th January and 15th to 30th April.
India sends fuel shipment to Sri Lanka
Following Sri Lanka’s request for emergency shipment of fuel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured President Maithripala Sirisena of “all possible assistance.”
- The two leaders spoke over telephone and a 21,000 kilolitre-shipment left Paradip Refinery in Odisha on Wednesday, according to a press statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
- Lanka IOC, the Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary in Sri Lanka, has made 3,500 kilolitres from its stock available to the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), with which it controls retail distribution of fuel in Sri Lanka.
- On Friday, a sudden fuel shortage gripped the country after CPC rejected a recent 35,000 metric tonne-shipment procured by LIOC, on grounds of contamination. Reports of the shortage sparked panic-buying across the island, intensifying the problem over the last few days. Motorists formed long queues outside gas stations, waiting several hours for fuel.
Kolkata-Khulna “Bandhan Express” flagged off:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina& West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged off a passenger train between India and Bangladesh which runs between Kolkata andKhulna.
- The fully air-conditioned weekly ‘Bandhan Express’ will run every Thursday between Kolkata and Khulna.
- The three also inaugurated two bridges over the rivers Meghna and Titas in Bangladesh.Immigration and customs facilities were also inaugurated at Kolkata station.
Government notifies Tax Avoidance protocol between India and New Zealand:
The Government of India has notified the third protocol between India and New Zealand for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
- The protocol aims to update the existing framework of exchange of tax-related information to latest international standard which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance between the two countries and will also enable mutual assistance in collection of taxes.
- The protocol entered into force in India on September 7, 2017.
Bank of China begins its operations in Pakistan:
Bank of China has formally launched its operations in Pakistan with the first branch inaugurated at Karachi, Pakistan.
- The bank would be instrumental in strengthening the “brotherly relations’ between the two countries in the financial sector.
Aadhaar-insurance link a must
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) said linking Aadhaar with insurance policies was mandatory.
- Citing the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017, IRDAI said the Centre had, on June 1, notified the same making Aaadhar and PAN/Form 60 mandatory for availing financial services, including insurance.
India slips to 7th position in Global Business Optimism Ranking:
India has slipped to 7th position in ‘business optimism’ index in September-November quarter from earlier 2nd slot in the previous three months released as part of Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) showing clear signs of lag in the economy.
- The index was topped by Indonesia, followed by Finland (2nd) and Netherlands (3rd).
- Regulations and red tape and lack of ICT infrastructure are biggest growth constraints mentioned in optimism rankings.
British Royals arrive in India
Britain’s Prince Charles arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and invite him for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held next year in the U.K.
- Accompanied by his wife Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, the Prince landed here in the afternoon. The visit is a part of their 10-day tour of four nations — Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and India.
New Jersey city gets first Sikh Mayor
Ravinder Bhalla became the first Sikh Mayor of New Jersey’s Hoboken city after a stiff competition that turned ugly when he was labelled a terrorist in flyers.
- Mr. Bhalla, the first Sikh to hold elected office in New Jersey, has been on the city council for more than seven years. He was endorsed by current Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who had announced that he won’t run for re-election.
First International AYUSH Conference and Exhibition at Dubai:
Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik and Indian Ambassador to UAE NavdeepSuriattended the inaugural ceremony of first International AYUSH Conference and Exhibition at Dubai.
- The first international AYUSH conference and exhibition is to be held from November 9 -11, 2017 at Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE.
- The Theme of the Conference is “Life Style diseases – prevention & management through Ayush”
Tulsi Gabbard named chairperson of World Hindu Congress 2018:
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the U.S. Congress, has been named as the chairperson of the Second World Hindu Congress to be held in Chicago, USA from September 7 to 9 next year.
- World Hindu Congress (WHC) is a global platform for Hindusheld once in every four years, to connect, share ideas, inspire one another and impact the common good.
- World Hindu Congress is organized by the World Hindu Foundation.
Mumbai to play its 500th Ranji Trophy Match:
Mumbai would become the first team to play 500 Ranji Trophy matches. It’s 500thmatch will be against Baroda at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
- The Mumbai Team has won a staggering 41 of the 83 Ranji Trophy titles.
Indian Boxer Mary Kom wins Gold at Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Vietnam
M.C. Mary Kom (48kg) notched up her fifth gold medal at the Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Vietnam. She has defeated North Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi. This is Mary Kom’s first international gold medal since the 2014 Asian Games.
- Mary Kom’s last medal came in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, where she became the first Indian woman boxer to win gold in the Women’s Flyweight (51 kg) category.
