Daily Current affairs - April 9th, 2018 for all competitive exams
India and Equatorial Guinea sign four
agreements in the field of agriculture, mining, health,
telecommunications and IT after delegation-level talks between Indian
President Ram Nath Kovind and Equatorial Guinea
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at Malabo, Equatorial
Guinea.
- The
two countries agreed to work together at UN, where Equatorial Guinea has
just begun a two-year term on the Security Council.
President Ram Nath Kovind visited for Equatorial Guinea on
a three-nation tour of African countries including Swaziland and Zambia.
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PM Ujwala Yojana launched in Delhi
Pradhan Mantri
Ujjwala Yojana has been launched in Delhi.
- The
Cabinet, in February 2018, had approved the increase in the target for the
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to eight crore from the earlier five crore.
This has to be achieved by 2020.
Pradhan
Mantri Ujjwala Yojana aims to provide LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
connections to poor households. Under the scheme, an adult woman member of a
below poverty line family identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census
(SECC) is given a deposit-free LPG connection with financial assistance of Rs
1,600 per connection by the Centre. Eligible households will be identified in
consultation with state governments and Union territories. The scheme is
being implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
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Government imposed anti dumping duty on imports of Phosphorus pentoxide
The government
has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of Phosphorus pentoxide from China to
protect the domestic manufacturers from cheap shipments.
- Phosphorus
Pentoxide is used as a powerful desiccant and dehydrating agent and is a
useful building block and reagent in the chemical industry.
Phosphorus
pentoxide is not flammable. It reacts vigorously with water and
water-containing substances like wood or cotton, liberates much heat and may
even cause fire. It is corrosive to metal.
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Maharashtra accepts report suggesting autonomy
to water resources authority
The State government has accepted a report on an integrated
state water plan (ISWP) for Godavari basin, which proposes extending autonomy
to the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA), on the lines
of the Comptroller and Auditor General, for a better supervision of irrigation
projects without interference from political bosses.
- The
irrigation department has been under scrutiny over allegations of a
multi-thousand crore scam for the last many years.
- In
another move, the report recommends scrapping of irrigation development
corporations (IDCs) such as Krishnva Valley Development Corporation,
Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation, Konkan Irrigation Development
Corporation, Tapi Irrigation Development Corporation, and Godavari
Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation.
- The
report suggests conversion of the IDCs into river basin agencies, which
emphasise integrated river basin, sub-basin-wise development and
management, and deal with surface and groundwater, and use of water for
irrigation and non-irrigation purposes, unlike the IDCs, which carry a
project-wise approach.
- The
move, if executed, could trigger a political controversy as the IDCs are
accused of running under political orders.
The report was accepted in November 2017. This is the first
of the five reports, with others being the ISWPs for Tapi sub-basin, Krishna
sub-basin, for Narmada basin, and water plans for west flowing rivers.
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Assam's spring festival begins in Manas
National Park
The two-day Assam Spring Festival began at the Manas National
Park where visitors will get to experience the state's local food, music,
handloom and handicrafts.
- The
aim of the event is to promote the local food and culture of the fringe
villagers. It is an attempt to create a model of alternative livelihood
through food, handloom and Cultural Park.
Assam Spring
Festival is being held at the Manas National Park where visitors will get to
experience the state’s local food, music, handloom and handicrafts. The aim
of the event is to promote the local food and culture of the fringe
villagers. It is an attempt to create a model of alternative livelihood
through food, handloom and culture.
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Manas
National Park is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a
Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam,
India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal
Manas National Park in Bhutan. The Manas river flows thorough the west of the
park and is the main river within it. It is a major tributary of Brahmaputra
river and splits into two separate rivers, the Beki and Bholkaduba as it
reaches the plains.
The Manas
river also serves as an international border dividing India and Bhutan.
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Kerala Govt to launch ‘community radio’ to update farmers
In May-June 2018, Kerala State Government will start a
‘community radio’ to update farmers about the latest developments in the
sector.
- This
will be the first such community radio in India, under Government
initiative to get connected with the farming community.
- The
farm radio will start broadcast from Kuttanad in Alappuzha district of
Kerala and will serve farmers in a 20 square kilometer radius in the
region. Kuttanand was once popularly known as the ‘rice bowl of Kerala.
Uttarakhand’s second mega food park at Udham Singh Nagar
Uttarakhand’s second mega
food park has been set up at Udham Singh Nagar. The park- M/s Himalayan Mega
Food Park Private Ltd has been set up at a cost of Rs 99.96 crore and will
benefit around 25,000 farmers in this as well as neighbouring districts.
- The
first Mega Food Park in the state located at Haridwar has already become
operational.
Ministry
of Food Processing Industries is implementing Mega Food Park
Scheme in the country. The Scheme of Mega Food Park
aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market
by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure
maximizing value addition, minimizing wastages, increasing farmers’ income
and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural
sector. These food parks give a major boost to the food processing
sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply
chain with particular focus on perishables.
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Tripura CM Launches State Component of PMKVY
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb launched
the state component of Pradhanmantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) in
Agartala.
- He
assured that the target to give training to more than 1 lakh 16,000
youths by 2020.
- Tripura
is the first state in the North East to implement the state component
of PMKVY through Directorate of Skill Development (DSD).
Ganga Hariteema Yojana launched in 27 districts of Uttar Pradesh
Ganga Hariteema Yojana (Ganga Greenery scheme) was launched
in 27 districts of Uttar Pradesh, located on the bank of river Ganga.
- The
scheme was launched by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at
Allahabad on the bank of Sangam, the confluence of rivers of Ganga, Yamuna
and mythical Saraswathi.
- It
envisages carrying out plantation drives in one-kilometer areas from the
banks of river. The objective is to enhance green cover in the catchment
areas of the river Ganga and to control the land erosion.
India and Nepal agree to strengthen bilateral
relations in Key areas
India and Nepal have agreed to further strengthen
bilateral relations in key areas of border security, connectivity, trade
and agriculture.
- The
two countries agreed to develop inland waterways for overall economic
development of the region.
- Aiming
to expand cross-border rail linkages, the two sides have also decided to
construct a new electrified rail line, with India’s financial
support. The rail line will connect the border city of Raxaul in
India to Kathmandu in Nepal.
Sugar tax comes into effect in the UK
The sugar tax
has come into force in the UK placing a levy on soft drink manufacturers. The
money from the tax will go to the Department for Education.
- The
move aims to help tackle childhood obesity. Sugar-sweetened soft drinks
are now the single biggest source of dietary sugar for children and
teenagers.
- A
similar scheme has been tried in a handful of Scandinavian countries as
well as France and Hungary. Mexico and Norway have shown positive
outcomes.
US Sikhs celebrate Turban day at Times Square
Thousands of turbans were on the heads of people
from different races, religions and nationalities in the city’s Times Square.
- Turban
Day events were being held as civil rights organisation a spike in hate
crimes against members of the faith.
- A
Turban Day celebration has been planned at the California state
legislature building in Sacramento on April 12.
China objects to India’s ‘transgression’
In a fresh incident of friction, the Chinese military last
month strongly protested against the Indian Army’s “transgression” into the
strategically sensitive Asaphila area along the disputed border in Arunachal
Pradesh, but India rejected the complaint
- The
sources said the Chinese raised the issue at a ‘Border Personnel Meeting’
(BPM) on March 15 here but the Indian Army dismissed it, saying that the
area in the upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India
and it has regularly been carrying out patrols there.
- The
sources told PTI that the Chinese called India’s patrolling in the area a
“transgression” and the Indian Army objected to the terminology.
Under the BPM mechanism, the two sides can register their
protest over any incident of transgression as there are varying perceptions
about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries.
The delegation of China’s People’s Liberation Army
specifically mentioned extensive patrolling in Asaphila by Indian troops,
saying such “violations” may escalate tensions.
However India said its troops were aware of the alignment
of the LAC and the Army would continue to carry out patrols up to the LAC,
the de facto border.
The sources said the Chinese military specifically
mentioned large-scale Indian patrolling in Asaphila near Fishtail 1 on
December 21, 22 and 23 last.
Indian and Chinese troops hold BPMs to resolve issues
triggering tensions along the border.
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China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to be extended
to Afghanistan
The controversial China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor the flagship project of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI) is being extended to Afghanistan.
- China
had unveiled in December its plans to extend the $50 billion CPEC to
Afghanistan, which has sparked concerns in India.
- Chinese
foreign minister Wang Yi, during his meeting with his Pakistan and Afghan
counterparts, had offered to extend CPEC to Afghanistan.
- The
Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) was formed by China in 2001 on the lines of the
World Economic Forum in Davos and holds its meeting every year.
Japan activated its first marine unit since World War Two
Japan activated its Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade
(ARDB), its first marine unit since World War Two.
- The
activation ceremony was held at a military base near Sasebo on the
southwest island of Kyushu, wherein about 1500 ARDB members conducted a
20-minute mock public exercise recapturing a remote island from invaders.
- The
unit is the latest component of Japan’s growing marine force that includes
helicopter carriers, amphibious ships, Osprey tilt-rotor troop carriers
and amphibious assault vehicles.
Japan
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Capital
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Tokyo
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Currency
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Yen
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Prime Minister
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Shinzo Abe
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In context of this news, it is important to note
that in Japan’s Constitution that was formed after World War Two,
it renounced the right to wage war.
The marine unit has been activated to counter invaders who
attempt to occupy Japanese islands along the edge of the East China
Sea. Japan fears that those islands are vulnerable to attack
by China.
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Japan, Cambodia sign $90 million
aid agreement
Japan signed a grant and loan agreement with
Cambodia on Sunday totalling over $90 million.
Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono and
Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn signed the $4.6 million grant
and $86 million loans.
- Hun
Sen praised Japan for its financial assistance on Sunday but lashed out at
critics.
UAE and Malaysia Conclude Joint Military
Exercise 'Desert Tiger 5'
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia concluded
joint military exercise “Desert Tiger 5” aimed at sharing expertise
and enhancing joint military actions in Dubai, UAE.
- The
military exercise was aimed at raising the level of performance and combat
efficiency and working together between both countries based on the
strategy to improve the overall ability and combat readiness of ground
forces.
IHHC sets up first ICU simulation lab to train nursing staff
IHHC (India Home Health Care) has become the first home
health care company to create a dedicated ICU simulation lab to train nursing
staff, at its Bengaluru facility.
- This
advanced simulation lab will offer hands-on training modules and aide
nursing staff to improve the quality of medical and healthcare services
offered to homes.
The ICU simulation lab recreates real-life scenarios
through patient simulators, digitalised video, computer charting, electronic
supply, static mannequins, etc.
Through this, IHHC will introduce critical care at home
services. IHHC customers can now enjoy enhanced care service in the comfort
of their homes.
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Newly discovered antibiotic class, Odilorhabdins
Researchers
have discovered a new class of antibiotics- Odilorhabdins.
- Called
odilorhabdins, or ODLs, the antibiotics are produced by symbiotic bacteria
found in soil-dwelling nematode worms that colonise insects for food.
- The
bacteria help to kill the insect, and secrete the antibiotic to keep
competing bacteria away.
ODLs act on
the ribosome — the molecular machine that makes proteins cells needed to
function — of bacterial cells. When bound to the ribosome, the antibiotic
disrupts its ability to interpret and translate genetic code.
When ODLs
are introduced to the bacterial cells, they impact the reading ability of the
ribosome and cause the ribosome to make mistakes when it creates new
proteins,” said Mankin. “This miscoding corrupts the cell with flawed
proteins and causes the bacterial cell to die.
According to
the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistant is one of the biggest
threats to global health today and a significant contributor to longer
hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.
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Walmiki and Malhar, two new languages discovered
Researchers
have discovered two new languages- Walmiki and Malhar.
- The
languages are categorised `endangered’ as the number of
people speaking is small. These languages are spoken in Andhra Pradesh and
Odisha. Only a few people living in the forest and hilly areas speak these
languages.
- Walmiki
is spoken in Koraput of Odisha and on the bordering districts of Andhra
Pradesh. Walmiki is an isolate language i.e. it
does not belong to a family of languages. The name of the language is also
interesting and indicative because the speech community claims descent
from the great Indian saint-poet Valmiki.
- Malhar
is spoken in a remote and isolated hamlet which is almost 165 km from
Bhubaneswar. The community consists of about 75
speakers including children. It
belongs to the North Dravidian subgroup of the Dravidian family of
languages and has close affinities with the other North Dravidian
languages like Malto and Kurux spoken in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The Union
Government has been making efforts to document the endangered tribal and
minor languages. There are several languages unknown to the world and waiting
to be discovered and documented. India is also considered a linguists
Paradise and termed a sociolinguistic giant.
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Parker Solar Probe has begun for its launch
Parker Solar
Probe, which is humanity’s first mission to the Sun, has begun final
preparations for its launch in July. After launch, it will orbit directly
through the solar atmosphere – the corona – closer to the surface than any
human-made object has ever gone.
- NASA’s
historic Parker Solar Probe mission will revolutionize our understanding
of the sun, where changing conditions can propagate out into the solar
system, affecting Earth and other worlds. Parker Solar Probe will travel
through the sun’s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft
before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions — and ultimately
providing humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.
India's Foreign Exchange Reserves Hit a
Life-Time High
India’s foreign exchange reserves hit a life-time
high of 424.361 billion US dollar after rising by 1.828 billion dollar in
the week to March 30, according to the Reserve Bank of India data.
- Gold
reserves remained unchanged at 21.614 billion US dollar.
Indian Overseas Bank launches IoT-based customer service app
As part of its ‘Customer First’ initiative, Indian Overseas
Bank (IOB) has launched three ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT)-based customer service
initiatives on a pilot basis at one of its branch in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Indian
Overseas Bank launches IoT-based customer service appIoT-based initiatives
launched by Indian Overseas Bank:
- First
initiative is a sound pressure level meter placed at the branch service
counter with a configured average decibel level. Whenever the sound at
this counter crosses the average threshold, the system sends an alert to
the branch manager as well as the designated official at the regional
office, on a real-time basis.
- Second
initiative is to provided a tablet containing a web responsive application
to customers visiting the branch. Visiting customers can submit their
feedback through this application which also has ‘Happy’ and ‘Unhappy’
emoticons. The feedback will be monitored by a team of dedicated customer
service representatives.
8th Regional 3R Forum is being held in Indore
The Eighth
Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific is being held in Indore. The event
will see participation of around 40 mayors of cities around the world and
mayors of more than 100 cities across India.
- The
8th Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific is co-organized by the
Ministry of Housing and Affairs, Government of India, the Ministry of the
Environment of the Government of Japan (MOEJ), and the United Nations
Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).
- The
Indore Municipal Corporation, Government of
Madhya Pradesh, and Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) have been designated as
the City Partner, Organizing State Partner
and Industry Partner
- Theme: “Achieving Clean Water, Clean Land and
Clean Air through 3R and Resource Efficiency – A
21st Century Vision for Asia-Pacific Communities”.
Establishment: In 2009, the Regional 3R Forum in Asia
was established at Japan’s proposal as a platform for broad cooperation on
promotion of the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – in Asia. After the fourth
forum, the name was changed to Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific.
Members: Members include central governments, international
agencies, aid agencies, private sector entities, research bodies, NGOs and
other relevant parties.
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Ha Noi 3R Declaration: The Fourth Regional 3R
Forum – held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in March 2013 – adopted the Ha Noi 3R
Declaration ‐ Sustainable 3R Goals for Asia and the Pacific for
2013‐2023. It is a legally non-binding and voluntary document which aims to
provide a basic framework for Asia-Pacific countries to develop measures and
programs to promote 3Rs including a set of 3R indicators for monitoring
specific progress.
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Goafest 2018: Pratap Bose’s Social Street bags Creative Agency
of the Year
Goafest
2018 was held at Grand Hyatt Hotel, in Bambolim, Goa.
- This
is the 13thedition of Goafest.
Goafest is organised by
the Advertising Club along
with the Advertising Agencies Association of India.
- Social
Street won the Creative Agency of the Year award, with three gold, seven
silver and seven bronze metals and a score of 94.
- Social
Street was started by Pratap Bose three years ago. Early Man Film won the
Grand Prix in Creative Abby Awards.
Anushka Sharma to Get Dadasaheb Phalke
Excellence Award
Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma will be awarded
the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award for her successful movies as a
producer.
- The
award will be given by an organisation called Dadasaheb Phalke Foundation,
a Mumbai-based organisation, which is different from the Government of
India instituted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, awarded during National Awards
ceremony held annually in New Delhi.
Chhattisgarh awarded ‘State of the Year’
Chhattisgarh won the ‘State of the Year’ Award under the
‘business leader’ category at the India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) in New
Delhi.
- The
India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) was organised by CNBC-TV18 channel.
Union Information Technology and Electronics Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
presented the award to Chhattisgarh Minister Prem Prakash Pandey.
- Chhattisgarh
was awarded for remarkable increase in business and services activities in
various sectors.
Noted Assamese film-maker Munin Barua passes away
Assamese film-maker Munin Barua died after fighting cancer,
at his home, in Guwahati, Assam.
- Munin
Barua was 72 years old. He was popularly known as Bhaimon da.
- He
had received National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Assamese in
2005. He had also received the state award for best director for the year
2001-02 and the Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 from Prag Cine Awards.
- He
had also scripted several plays for mobile theatre. He had also directed a
few TV serials.
Deutsche Bank Names Christian Sewing New CEO
Deutsche Bank AG named Christian Sewing as the Chief
Executive officer of the Bank. He has replaced John Cryan.
Sewing will take over with immediate effect.
- Garth
Ritchie was promoted to sole head of the securities unit and will become a
deputy CEO, along with chief administrative officer Karl von Rohr.
KL Rahul slams fastest-ever IPL fifty
Kings XI Punjab opener KL Rahul blasted a fastest-ever
half-century in the history of IPL.
- Rahul
achieved the feat in just 14 balls bettering the previous record made
by Yusuf Pathan in 2014.
- Rahul
clobbered six fours and four sixes during his stay at the crease before
being dismissed for 51 by Chris Morris.
Sebastian Vettel Wins Bahrain Grand Prix
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel won his second
Grand Prix in as many races, at the Bahrain Grand
Prix, while Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas finished second by just 0.699
seconds.
- Meanwhile,
reigning world champion Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton finished third.
India Win Badminton Team Gold for 1st Time in
CWG History
India clinched their first-ever badminton mixed team event
gold in Commonwealth Games history after defeating defending champions
Malaysia 3-1 in the final at Gold Coast.
- India's
previous best performance in mixed team event at CWG was a silver-medal
finish in the 2010 edition. Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth
represented India in singles' matches of the five-member team event.
