NATIONAL NEWS
Women achievers meet at UN forum in Bengaluru
Over a dozen women achievers from different walks of life participated in a day-long festival at a UN forum in Bengaluru. Created and curated by veteran journalist Barkha Dutta for ‘We The Women’ forum, the fest themed on #openingdoors and #breakingbarriers was marked by dialogues on issues such as the fight for women against the religious orthodoxy whether in ending Triple Talaq or demanding the right to enter Sabarimala.
- The event brought together a diverse group of exemplary women from all walks of life on a platform for social media site Facebook and UN Women forum.
Karnataka Unveils 'Unnati Scheme' to Help Entrepreneurs From SC/ST Communities
The Karnataka Department of Social Welfare has launched Unnati, a scheme to foster entrepreneurs working on rural and social impact technologies. As part of the scheme, the department will invest up to Rs 20 crore to create end-to-end support infrastructure for start-ups and entrepreneurs from a marginalised background.
- Unnati will identify companies that are working on products and solutions for problems that are plaguing both the Government and society at large.
Haryana to set up anti-terror force
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said an anti-terrorist force 'Kavach' — will be set up to further strengthen the security arrangements in the state.
- Kavach, which is being constituted to deal with terrorist activities, would have 150 police personnel who would be provided 14 weeks training by the National Security Guard (NSG) at Manesar.
- The headquarters of Kavach would be at Gurugram.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Interpol chief resigns amid detention in China
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) received the resignation of its Chinese president Meng Hongwei.
- The Senior Vice-President of Interpol's Executive Committee, Kim Jong Yang of South Korea, will be instated as the acting president.
- Extra info.:
Interpol HQ: Lyon, France
Earth will reach 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold by 2030: Report
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report said the planet will reach the crucial threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2030, precipitating the risk of extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people.
- The report said that governments around the world must take “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” to avoid disastrous levels of global warming.
- Global net emissions of carbon dioxide would need to fall by 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach “net zero” around 2050 in order to keep the warming around 1.5 degrees Celsius.
BANKING & FINANCE
Growth in India firming up, projected to accelerate further, says World Bank
Growth in India is firming up and projected to accelerate to 7.3 per cent in the 2018-19 fiscal and 7.5 per cent in the next two years, the World Bank said.
- Prompted by the adoption of the 'Goods and Services Tax' (GST) and the recapitalisation of banks, growth in India is firming up and it is projected to accelerate further.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Electronic Trading Platforms Directions, 2018 Released By RBI
The Reserve Bank issued guidelines for operating Electronic Trading Platforms (ETPs) to transact in eligible instruments. Trading on electronic platforms is being encouraged across the world as it enhances pricing transparency, processing efficiency and risk control.
- As per the norms issued by the central bank ETPs will mean any electronic system, other than a recognised stock exchange, on which transactions in eligible instruments.
- An entity seeking authorisation as an ETP operator under the directions will maintain a minimum net-worth of Rs 5 crore.
RBI survey: Indians are not buying tall stories about the economy and jobs
The Reserve Bank of India's September round of the Consumer Confidence Survey — reflecting households’ perceptions and expectations on the general economic situation, the employment scenario, the overall price situation and their own income and spending showed the consumers are pessimistic about the current situation.
- Consumer Confidence Index slipped to 94.8 points, down from 98.3 in the previous June 2018 round of the survey. However, there is a marginal uptick in the future expectations index on the back of optimistic sentiment on future income and the evolving price situation.
Private investments in infra plunge to 25% in FY18: Report
The share of private investments in the infrastructure sector has fallen to a decadal low of around 25 per cent in FY18 steeply down from a high of 37 per cent in FY08, says a report.
- "A material ramp-up in government spending in the past few years has meant the share of private investments in infrastructure has fallen to a decadal low of around 25 per cent in FY18," according to an Crisil InfraIndex.
NHB lifts refinance cap to Rs 30000 crore for housing finance firms
The National Housing Bank (NHB) increased its refinance limit to Rs 30,000 crore to make more funds available to eligible housing finance companies.
- It had initially set a limit of Rs 24,000 crore this year (July 2018-June 2019) for refinancing eligible institutions.
- Extra info.:
The NHB is the principal agency to promote housing finance institutions in the country and to provide financial support to eligible institutions.
NHB HQ: New Delhi
Founded: 9 July 1988
SPORTS
Sandeep Chaudhary bags India's first gold at Para Asian Games
Javelin thrower Sandeep Chaudhary ended India's wait for a gold medal at the 2018 Para Asian Games in Indonesia.
- Chaudhary bagged the top prize in the men's F42-44/61-64 event with a world record throw of 60.01 metre at the continental extravaganza.
Para shooters bag India's first medal at World Sports Trap C'ship
While Indian contingent was fighting it out in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, the Indian troika of para shooters comprising Harshit Tiwari, Rajveer Singh Sekhon and Balendu Singh scripted history as they clinched India's first medal, a silver, in 2018 World Shooting Para Sports Trap Championships being held in Lonato, Italy.
India, England, Sri Lanka to play blind cricket tri-series in Goa
Goa is gearing up to witness the blind cricket triangular series between India, England and Srilanka, slated to commence on 8 October at the Goa Cricket Association Alto Porvorim.
- The triangular series is organized by the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).
APPOINTMENTS
Brett Kavanaugh Sworn In As US Supreme Court Justice
Brett Kavanaugh has been sworn in as the 114th US Supreme Court justice after the Senate narrowly voted to confirm him.
- Kavanaugh replaces Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired earlier this year.
AWARDS
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Goes To William D. Nordhaus and Paul M. Romer
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm has given the 50th Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences to William D. Nordhaus and Paul M. Romer, both from the US, for "integrating climate change and technological innovations into long-run macroeconomic analysis."
- The Nobel Economics Prize was not part of the original line-up of awards as envisaged by Alfred Nobel and is therefore officially known as the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. It has been issued by Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, since 1969.
- The Economics Prize wraps up this year's Nobel awards season, notable for the absence of the literature prize for the first time in 70 years.
Eminent cancer surgeon Sultan Pradhan conferred Dhanvantari Award
Eminent surgical oncologist of Mumbai Sultan A. Pradhan was conferred the prestigious Dhanvantari Award at a function held in Mumbai.
- Pradhan pledged to take forward the movement of affordable cancer treatment to the deprived sections of society and eliminate the "Sea of Sorrow" arising out of the lack of access to sophisticated health care.
ESIC Wins ‘ISSA GOOD Practice Award, Asia & The Pacific 2018’
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has won the ‘ISSA Good Practice Award’ for Administrative Solution for Coverage Extension at the ''Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific'' held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently.
- Director General of ESIC Raj Kumar represented the Corporation and received the Certificate of Merit on behalf of ESIC.
- The award recognises the measures taken by ESIC for extension of coverage-SPREE (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees), reduced rate of contribution rates for 24 months in newly implemented areas and raising the wage limit for coverage under the ESI Act.
- Extra info.:
ESIC HQ: New Delhi
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