Current Affairs – May 9, 2018
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Current Affairs – May 9, 2018 S.No Topic Page Number 1 World News 2 - 3 2 National News 4 - 5 3 State News 6 4 Banking & Economy 7 – 8 5 Sports News 9 6 Awards & Honours 10 7 Appointments & Resignation 11 8 Science & Techonology 12 1 World News Trump announces US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump announced withdrawal of US from Iran Nuclear Deal. After years of tension over Iran’s alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, in 2015, Iran agreed a long-term deal with the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany. As per the deal, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities if the economic sanctions imposed on it were lifted. On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from this deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, saying that it was a poorly negotiated deal by his predecessor Barack Obama-led administration and the agreement had not prevented Iran from its quest for nuclear weapons. However, Trump has also stated that he is ready, willing and able to renegotiate a nuclear deal that would definitively end Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. Beijing to hold World Robot Conference 2018 On 8th May 2018, authorities said that, the 2018 World Robot Conference will be held in Beijing from 15th to 19th August 2018. More than 12,000 teams and 50,000 participants from over 10 countries and regions will participate in the conference. A robot competition will be conducted during the conference. Participants will compete in five categories in this competition. This conference will enhance passion and innovation in the robot industry and help to improve research and development. 2019 Climate Summit to be held in New York: UN On 8th May 2018, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that a climate summit will be held in September 2019 in New York to review the Paris Agreement commitments. Antonio Guterres made this announcement at the opening ceremony of the 37th session of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. 2 In March 2018, he appointed former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as his Special Envoy for Climate Action. He announced that Michael Bloomberg will support the UN in its climate strategy and to organise the 2019 summit. Nepal grants power generation licence to Indian company Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has granted licence to Satluj Jala Vodyut Nigam Power Development Company, a subsidiary of Indian government-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd, to generate power from the Arun-3 Hydropower Project that is located in Nepal. The licence was granted in accordance with the decision taken at the 30th meeting of IBN’s board of directors chaired by Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on 28th April 2018. The company has paid Nepali Rupees 5 million as licence fee to the board. Indian government has approved investment of Rs 57.24 billion proposed by SJVN in Arun-3 Hydropower Project. Arun-3 Hydropower Project is an export-oriented project. It will sell the electricity to India. US and Philippines began military exercises US and Philippine forces have begun their largest annual military exercises named Balikatan. The Balikatan exercises involved combat drills in mock urban settings to train special forces in battling terrorists. Saudi women to start driving from June 24 Saudi women will be allowed to start driving in the kingdom from June 24, the General Department of Traffic Director General Mohammed Bassami. 3 National News India launches biggest city gas distribution auction On May 8, 2018, India launched auction for 9th city gas distribution (CGD) licensing round offering permits for selling compressed and piped natural gas (CNG and PNG). This auction is being considered as the biggest so far as it will offer permits for CGD in 86 geographical areas. Awards from the 9th CGD licensing round would extend gas coverage to 174 districts in 22 states and Union Territories, covering 29 per cent of India’s area and 24 per cent of the population President clears Delhi govt’s amendment in minimum wages act President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to Delhi government’s proposed Bill to amend the Minimum Wages Act. As per the amended act, employers violating labour rules in Delhi will now face fine ranging from Rs 20000-50000 and jail term between one to three years. In March 2017, Delhi’s Lt. Governor Anil Baijal had approved Delhi Government’s decision to hike the minimum wages of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers by 37 per cent. Minimum wages for an unskilled worker in Delhi is Rs 13350 per month, for semi-skilled, it is Rs 14698 and for skilled persons is Rs 16182. The amendment prescribes that the court before which the prosecution complaint is made, will dispose it off within a month from the date of filing. Commission approves modern animal-free testing for drugs In the 2018 edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia, that provides guidelines on tests for drugs manufactured and marketed in India, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has approved modern, animal-free tests for drug manufacturers. As per the new guidelines that will come into effect from July 1, 2018, pyrogen test (carried out to check impurity or substance that can cause adverse side-effects) will be replaced by a bacterial endotoxin test or a monocyte activation test which can be carried out in test tubes. Under pyrogen test, the drug is injected into a rabbit and the animal is closely observed for feverish symptoms. 4 As per the new guidelines, for the abnormal toxicity test, that is carried out to check potential hazardous biological contamination in vaccine formulations, vaccine manufacturers can apply for waiver by getting a compliance certificate from the National Control Laboratory. Under abnormal toxicity test, mice or guinea pigs are injected with the vaccine and then, scientists observe if there is death of any animal. One Stop Centres’ for women in 100 more districts On May 8th,2018; To help violence affected women, the centre has approved setting up of 100 additional One Stop Centres (OSC) in 9 states and these states areHaryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The sole purpose of these OSCs is to facilitate integrated services to those women’s by providing them services like police assistance, medical aid, psycho-social counselling and all these can now be available under one roof. The Ministry of Women & Child Development has already set up 182 Centres till date under this scheme for women affected by violence since April, 2015 and over 1.3 lakhs such women affected by violence have been assisted at these centres till date in 33 States/UT Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where the first OSC was built has received the President’s award on March 8, which is celebrated as International Women’s Day. 15th Finance Commission constituted advisory council The 15th Finance Commission has constituted an advisory council to advise and assist the commission. The six-member council will be headed by the President of Forum for Strategic Initiatives, Arvind Virmani. The role and functions of the council will be to advise the commission on any issue or subject related to the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Commission. The council will also assist the commission in the preparation of any paper or research study which will enhance the Commission’s understanding on the issues containing in its ToR. The advisory council will help in broadening the commission’s ambit and understanding to seek best national and international practices on matters pertaining to fiscal devolution and improving the quality and reach and enforcement of its recommendations. 5 State News 1 lakh incentive to SC, ST students in Bihar The Bihar Cabinet on Tuesday announced a Rs1 lakh encouragement incentive for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students who clear the UPSC preliminary test. The Cabinet also decided to provide Rs1,000 to each SC/ST student as hostel incentive and free supply of 15 kg foodgrain to the hostels. “The Cabinet approved the decision to give Rs1 lakh and Rs 50,000 as encouragement incentive to those SC/ST students who clear the UPSC and the BPSC tests,” Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said. The Cabinet also approved 16 decisions of different departments on Tuesday. 6 Banking & Economy India fastest growing economy at 7.4 per cent in 2018: IMF As per International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Asia and Pacific Regional Economic Outlook report released on May 8, 2018, India will be the fastest growing major economy in 2018, clocking a growth rate of 7.4 per cent. As per IMF, Indian economy is recovering from after effects of demonetisation in November 2016 and roll out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017. IMF reiterated that medium-term prospects for Indian economy remains positive and growth rate is expected to rise to 7.8 per cent in 2019. Consumer Price Indexinflation is projected to be five per cent in 2018 and 2019. On account of increased inflation pressure, IMF is of the view that monetary policy should maintain a tightening bias. TRAI releases draft of telecom interconnection regulations On 8th May 2018, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the draft amendment of telecommunication interconnection regulations. As per the draft, TRAI has set time-frame for provisioning of ports for initial interconnection and augmentation to be increased to a maximum 42 working days. The draft said a service provider may request the other service provider for additional ports at a Point of Interconection (POI), if the projected utilisation of the capacity of such POI at the end of 60 days from the date of placing the request, would be more than 85 %.