NATIONAL NEWS
UNICEF, NASSCOM sign MoU to strengthen child rights
UNICEF and NASSCOM Foundation signed an agreement to strengthen child rights through meaningful business interventions. With this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two organisations will work collaboratively on two key areas including national sensitisation on 'child online protection' and 'encouraging innovations for child rights' in the country.
- Together, UNICEF and NASSCOM Foundation hope to help parents, teachers and children by letting them know of these risks and guiding them to a safer, more secure Internet learning experience.
- Extra info.:
NASSCOM Headquarters: Noida
UNICEF Headquarters: New York, United States
Govt panel set to probe e-commerce firms’ big discounts
A 10-member panel set up by the corporate affairs ministry will examine the trends in digital economy, including steep discounts in online retailing, and whether the e-tailers are subject to any restrictions in their access to dealerships from manufacturers.
- Conventional retailers who compete with e-tailers are strongly opposed to discounts offered by online sellers arguing that it is aimed at displacing brick-and-mortar dealers and will eventually affect consumer interest.
- Practices in the digital economy, backlog of competition cases to be resolved and the fee structure followed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) will be reviewed by the panel.
- The competition law review panel chaired by corporate affairs secretary Injeti Srinivas will also examine if the fee prescribed for the petitioners to approach the anti-trust regulator is high.
Government Reconstitutes Top Court-Powered Pollution Control Panel
The Centre has reconstituted Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority or the EPCA, which is tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region. The tenure of the last EPCA expired on October 3.
- Former secretary Bhure Lal continues to be the chairman, while the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) DG Sunita Narain is one of the members.
- The EPCA was constituted with the objective of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing and controlling the environmental pollution in the National Capital Region. The EPCA is also mandated to enforce Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the city as per the pollution levels.
Cabinet approves merger of skilling institutes
The Union Cabinet approved the merger of two regulatory institutions into the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) in order to improve skilling standards and the market relevance of skill development programmes.
- The National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) will be merged into the NCVET, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
- The NCVET’s main objective will be to improve standards of skilling in the country.
- The new council will lend credibility to vocational education and training, encouraging greater private investment and employer participation in the skills space.
Govt shuts down loss-making NJMC, BJEL
The Union Cabinet approved the closure of the loss incurring Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), National Jute Manufactures Corporation Limited (NJMC) and its subsidiary Birds Jute and Exports Limited (BJEL).
- The decision of the closure will benefit the Government exchequer in reducing recurring expenditure incurred in operating both the sick CPSEs in running their activities. The available land would be put up for public use for overall development of the society.
Japanese Passport Named World's Most Powerful, India 81st
Japan's passport has been named the most powerful in the world, overtaking Singapore, according to the Henley Passport Index. Having gained visa-free access to Myanmar earlier this month, Japanese citizens now have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 190 destinations around the world.
- The Indian passport has secured the 81st rank with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 60 destinations.
Delhi, Moscow sign twin-city agreement
Delhi government signed a twin city agreement with the Moscow administration for cooperation in the fields of education, healthcare, sports, tourism, transport and environment for a period of three years.
- The agreement was signed by deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Moscow government minister Sergey Cheremin at a ceremony held at the Delhi secretariat.
- The two governments would maintain regular contacts and undertake exchanges of delegations and ideas in areas of mutual interest.
Cyclone 'Titli' intensifies into severe cyclonic storm in Odisha, Andhra
Cyclone Titli has intensified into a "very severe cyclonic storm" and will make a landfall in areas bordering Odisha and Andhra Pradesh along the eastern coast.
- After the landfall, the cyclonic storm is likely to maintain the intensity while moving northeastwards across Odisha.
Sushma Swaraj launches 'India for Humanity' initiative
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched India for Humanity initiative in New Delhi as part of 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi being held over the next one year.
- With its focus on Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of compassion, caring and service to humanity, ‘India for Humanity’ features a year-long series of artificial limb fitment camps in a number of countries spanning the globe.
- The External Affairs Ministry is collaborating for this with charitable organization Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, BMVSS.
- The camps will be initially held in 12 countries identified through the Missions with financial support of Indian government.
- Extra info.:
BMVSS was founded in 1975 and better known by its trademark limb Jaipur Foot, BMVSS is among the world’s largest organisations for the fitment of artificial limbs and till date has served over 1.73 million amputees.
J P Nadda inaugurates ‘2nd World Conference on Access to Medical Products: Achieving the SDGs 2030’
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda inaugurated ‘2nd World Conference on Access to Medical Products: Achieving the SDGs 2030’ in New Delhi.
- Information Sharing Platform Gateway for South-East Asia Regulatory Network (SEARN) developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing was also released. It also highlighted the importance of traditional medical system in achieving the health goals.
- The main objective of the 2nd World Conference 2018 is to take forward the recommendations from the 1st World Conference 2017 and build on the work done for access to medical products in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with General Programme of Work (GPW 13) of WHO.
BPCL to set up country's first biofuel plant at Bargarh district in Odisha
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) will complete commissioning of its second generation (2G) ethanol bio-refinery at Baulsingha village in Bargarh district by 2020. The proposed plant will see an investment of Rs 1000 crore, the foundation stone of which will be laid on October 10.
- This is the first bio fuel plant in the country where ethanol will be produced from rice straw.
- Extra info.:
As per the National Biofuel Policy-2018, India has set the target of 20% ethanol blending to petrol by 2030.
Indian Air Force launches health app
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a mobile health app to provide health information to the users, including first-aid and other health and nutritional topics, Ministry of Defence said.
- The 'Med' was launched on the occasion of IAF's 86th anniversary and was conceived by the the doctors of IAF and developed in-house by Directorate of Information Technology (DIT) "with Zero financial outlay".
- 'Med' will provide correct, Scientific and authentic health information to airwarriors and all citizens of India.
The app is available on www.apps.mgov.gov.in and comprises host of features like information on basic First Aid, health topics and nutritional facts.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Ukraine Launches Air Exercises Clear Sky 2018 With NATO Countries
Ukraine has opened a series of large-scale air-force exercises with the United States and seven other NATO countries. The 12-day-long Clear Sky 2018 war games are being held in western Ukraine.
- Some 700 troops are taking part, half of them from NATO member countries -- the United States, Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, and Romania.
- Extra info.:
Ukraine Capital: Kiev
Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia
NATO HQ: Brussels, Belgium
Members: 29
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
IBM India partners Niti Aayog to skill students in new-age tech
Tech major IBM India and NITI Aayog announced an internship programme for the top performing under-18 students selected by the ATAL Innovation Mission, a flagship programme of the government to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Over 40 high school students will go through a two-week paid internship at the IBM campus in Bengaluru.
- The students will be trained in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, Cloud computing, Blockchain and critical workplace skills.
- Extra info.:
IBM HQ: New York, United States
SPORTS
Para Asian Games: Harvinder Singh extends India's gold tally to 7
Archer Harvinder Singh extended India's gold tally to seven as he finished first in the Men’s Individual Recurve Open – W2/ST event at the Para Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- In the finals, Harvinder outclassed China’s Zhao Lixue 6-0 to stand first at the podium.
Presently, India has seven gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze medals.
Former Chelsea and England defender John Terry retires from football
Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry has decided to call time on his playing career after 23 years in the game.
- Terry was first made captain at Chelsea by Jose Mourinho in 2004. From then until his departure from the club in 2017, he won five Premier League titles, had five FA Cup triumphs and claimed the League Cup three times.
Abdur Rehman bids adieu to International cricket
Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman has announced his retirement from international cricket. Declaring the same, the 38-year-old said that it is a “tough call” but it is no longer possible for him to continue playing the game.
- He played a total of 22 Tests for Pakistan scalping 99 wickets with an economy rate of 2.53 while in ODIs, he took 30 wickets with an economy rate of 4.22 in 31 matches that he appeared in.
APPOINTMENTS
Tushar Mehta appointed as the new Solicitor General of India
Senior Advocate Tushar Mehta has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of India. He is currently serving as the Additional Solicitor General. The Solicitor General of India is the second-highest rank for a law officer of the government.
- The post of the second highest ranking law officer of the government had fallen vacant after senior advocate Ranjit Kumar's resignation in December last year.
OBITUARIES
Singer Nitin Bali passes away
Singer Nitin Bali passed away after succumbing to his injuries in a road accident. He was 47. He was known for lending his voice to revamped versions of songs like “Neele Neele Ambar Par,” “Chukar Mere Man Ko,” “Ek Ajanbee Haseena Se” and “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas.”
- Nitin had made his debut in the music industry with the album Na Jaane in 1998.
Film trade expert Santosh Singh Jain passes away
Indian film trade expert Santosh Singh Jain passed away in Mumbai at the age of 97. He was also addressed as ‘The Iron Man’.
- He was a former Central Circuit Cine Association (CCCA) President, and former President of the Film Federation of India.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Mental Health Day 2018
World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It is celebrated every year on 10 October. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
- The theme of this year is "Young people and mental health in a changing world".
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