NATIONAL NEWS
WEF launches Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution in India
The World Economic Forum announced its new Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India, which would aim to bring together the government and business leaders to pilot emerging technology policies.
- The centre, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a function in New Delhi, would be based in Maharashtra and it has selected drones, artificial intelligence and blockchain as the first three project areas.
Govt launches 'Swastha Bharat Yatra' campaign to create awareness about safe food
The government launched a national campaign 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' on the World Food Day under which a pan-India cycle rally is being organised to sensitise people about eating safe food and be healthy.
- The 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' was launched simultaneously at Leh (in Jammu & Kashmir), Panaji (Goa), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Puducherry, Ranchi ( Jharkhand) and Agarthala (Tripura).
Bharosa women's centre for victims of violence inaugurated
Hyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar inaugurated the Bharosa Centre at the Kondapur Area Hospital in Telangana. The Bharosa Centre would help women in distress along with dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act too. It is a one-stop centre to resolve problems faced by women and children.
Mukhtar Naqvi unfurls India's highest tricolour in Mumbai
A big Indian tricolour measuring 20x30 feet and 350 feet above the ground was unfurled at the majestic Haj House in Mumbai by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
- The flag atop a 20-metre high mast on top of the iconic building near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai is billed as the highest tricolour installed on the terrace of any building of such height in the country.
- Naqvi also inaugurated a special 'viewers gallery' atop the Haj House that offers a panoramic view of south Mumbai with several renowned monuments like CSMT, the BMC Buildings, the Gateway of India, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco district which secured a UNESCO world heritage tag last July.
Union Minister MJ Akbar Resigns
MJ Akbar, who faces multiple charges of sexual harassment, resigned as Union minister of state for external affairs.
- Akbar is facing allegations of sexual harassment and had filed a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, who was the first to report against him.
India ranked 58th most competitive economy in WEF index
India has been ranked as the 58th most competitive economy on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index for 2018, which was topped by the US.
- India's rank rose by five places from 2017, the largest gain among G20 economies.
- On the list of 140 economies, the US is followed by Singapore and Germany at the second and the third positions respectively.
Vice President to attend 12th Asia-Europe Meeting in Belgium
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will be on a three-day visit to Belgium later this week to attend the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit, the first multilateral dialogue that he will attend after taking office.
- Naidu will lead an Indian delegation to the summit, scheduled to be held on October 18-19 in Brussels.
India is world’s most depressed country with most numbers of anxiety, bipolar disorder cases
According to a World Health Organization report, India is the world’s most depressed country, closely followed by China and the US. According to the 2015-16 National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), every sixth person in India needs mental health help of some sort.
- The Aadhaar custodian UIDAI had denied any breach of data but it had also filed police complaint against the journalist Rachna Khaira and people to whom she reached out as part of her investigation.
- The United Kingdom remains the most breached country in the region.
Data Breach in India Second Highest After US in H1, 2018: Gemalto
Data breach incidences in India were the second highest globally according to a report by digital security firm Gemalto.
- India accounts for 37 per cent of the global breaches in terms of records compromised or stolen or revealed.
- Data breach of over 2 billion users on social media platform Facebook was ranked as top incidence globally.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Canada Becomes 2nd Country To Legalize Recreational Cannabis
Canada has become the second country after Uruguay to legalise possession and use of recreational cannabis. Canadian provinces and municipalities have been preparing for months for the end of cannabis prohibition. They are responsible for setting out where cannabis can be bought and consumed. This has created a patchwork of more or less restrictive legislation across the country.
Sri Lanka sets up ‘Break Into India Strategy Committee’ to formulate a strategy to help Sri Lankan businesses invest more the Indian market
Sri Lanka has set up a committee to formulate a strategy to help Sri Lankan businesses invest more into the Indian market. The ‘Break Into India Strategy Committee’ appointed by the Ministry of Development strategies and International trade.
- Both countries recently held 11th round of talks on Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) meant to expand free trade agreement beyond goods, to cover services, investment, etc.
SPORTS
Panwar wins India's 1st Athletics medal at Youth Olympics 2018
Suraj Panwar won India's first medal in athletics at the Youth Olympic Games 2018 after claiming the silver medal in the men's 5000m race walk event.
- The 17-year-old's silver was India's third overall medal in athletics in the history of the Youth Olympic Games.
APPOINTMENTS
Nokia appoints Alia Bhatt as brand ambassador
HMD Global, which designs and sells phones under the Nokia brand has appointed Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt as the 'face of Nokia phones' in India.
- As part of the partnership, a print campaign with Bhatt has been initiated already to mark the festive season.
AWARDS
Anna Burns wins 50th Man Booker Prize with Milkman
Author Anna Burns has won the Man Booker Prize for her novel ‘Milkman’, becoming the first author from Northern Ireland to win the most prestigious English-language literary award.
- ‘Milkman’ is published by Faber & Faber, making it the fourth consecutive year the prize has been won by an independent publisher.
Suheil Tandon wins International Olympic committee award
Social Entrepreneur Suheil F. Tandon has won the International Olympic Committee's Sport and Active Society Commission's Grant Award for his contribution to sports for development.
- The award ceremony was held during the Olympism in Action forum at Buenos Aires.
HM Pernal gets Vishwa Konkani book award
'Beeg Ani Beegath', a collection of short stories in Konkani authored by well-known Konkani writer, journalist and critic H M Pernal has bagged the prestigious Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Best Konkani Book Award for the year 2018.
- Konkani poet Sharathchandra Shenoy from Kochi, Kerala has won Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Best Konkani Poetry Award for his book 'Idam Na Mama'. Vishwanath M Shet from Uttara Kannada has bagged Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Lifetime Achievement Award.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Stephen Hawking's final book "Brief Answers to the Big Questions" launched
Stephen Hawking’s final work, which tackles issues from the existence of God to the potential for time travel, was launched by his children, who helped complete the book after the British astrophysics giant’s death.
- Hawking was forever being asked the same things and started work on "Brief Answers to the Big Questions" last year.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17 each year since 1993. It promotes people’s awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide, particularly in developing countries.
- It marks the launch of Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018-2027), under the theme 'Accelerating global actions for a world without poverty'.
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