DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS : JANUARY 24, 2018

NATIONAL

India-ASEAN Business & Investment Conference Held in New Delhi

India-ASEAN business and investment conference held in New Delhi ahead of the landmark commemorative summit.

In the conference, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu stresses enhanced connectivity via land to strengthen trade ties.

Silver jubilee of India-ASEAN partnership is being celebrated in New Delhi on the 25th January with an unprecedented summit meet.


Tata Steel to organise 7th Asia Steel Summit:

 The 7th Asia Steel International Conference will be held in Bhubaneswar from February 6 to 9.

Tata Steel, in association with the Indian Institute of Metals, announced it. The last Asia Steel conference was held in 2015 at Yokohama, Japan.

This major conference is held every three years and provides a platform for exchange of knowledge on various aspects of the global steel industry.

Odisha

  • Capital: Bhubaneswar
  • Chief Minister: Naveen patnaik
  • Governor: C. Jamir

India to Host 16th International Energy Forum Meet:

 The 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial meeting will be held in New Delhi in April 2018.

According to the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, the meeting will be hosted by Government of India in New Delhi and co-hosted by the Government of China and South Korea.


The Management Information System (MIS) portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme launched by WCD Ministry:

Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shri Rakesh Srivastava launched the Management Information System (MIS) portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme in New Delhi. The Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC), has developed a Management Information System (MIS) portal for submitting applications/estimates by NGOs for carrying out Anganwadi Services (ICDS) Training through AWTCs/MLTCs. The first phase of the portal will enable NGOs to submit proposal to the respective States/UTs.


India’s 1st ever International Dam Safety Conference kicked off:

India’s first ever International Dam Safety Conference kicked off in Tiruvanantapuram inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Two-day conference aims to discuss several issues plaguing dam safety. Challenges in dam safety management across the globe, an overview of the centrally-funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project and World Bank initiatives are some of the issues that will be discussed at the conference. Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal will preside over the function.

Kerala

  • Capital: Tiruvanantapuram
  • Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
  • Governor: Sathasivam

Pink City lays the foundation stone for Homeopathy Research Institute:

The Minister of State (IC), for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik laid the foundation stone for Central Research Institute (CRI) in Jaipur. This will be the third CRI under the aegis of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), an autonomous body of Ministry of AYUSH for undertaking scientific research in Homoeopathy, with 23 institutes across the country.

Rajasthan

  • Capital:Jaipur
  • Chief Minister:Vasundhara Raje
  • Governor:Kalyan Singh

INTERNATIONAL

India inks $120 million loan agreement with World Bank to fund improved water supply in Uttarakhand:

Multilateral lending agency World Bank and India inked $ 120 million loan agreement which will help increase access to improved water supply services in peri-urban areas in Uttarakhand.

The agreement was signed between Government of India, Government of Uttarakhand and World Bank Board.

Uttarakhand

  • Capital: Dehradun
  • Chief Minister:Trivendra Singh Rawat
  • Governor: Krishna Kant Paul

Andhra Pradesh-Zurich Sign Sister State Agreement:

The Andhra Pradesh Government and the Canton of Zurich signed a letter of intent, to promote mutual prosperity and development.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Naidu by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Government Counselor Minister Carmen Walker Spah for sister state relation

The agreement will further strengthen economic and scientific relations between the two governments in the areas such as Information and Communication Technology, Environmental Technology, Life Sciences and Urban and Regional Development.

Andhra Pradesh

  • Capital: Amaravati
  • Chief Minister: Chandrababu Naidu
  • Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan

Switzerland

  • Capital: Bern
  • Currency: Franc

BANKING & BUSINESS

India, 5th Most Attractive Market for Investments: PwC Survey             

India has emerged as the fifth most attractive market for investments and the optimism over global economic growth is at a record level, a survey of CEOs by global consultancy PwC.

The US remains the top spot for global investment.

Around 46 per cent of global CEOs consider the US as one of the three most important countries for growth, followed by China (33 per cent) and Germany (20 per cent) at second and third places, respectively. At the fourth spot is the UK (15 per cent).

India (9 per cent) bumps Japan (8 per cent) as the fifth most attractive market in 2018.


NIIF Makes its First Investment Partnered with DP World:

NIIF has partnered with DP World to create an investment platform for ports, terminals, transportation and logistics businesses in India.

The venture will invest in opportunities in the ports sector as well as river ports and transportation, freight corridors, port-led special economic zones, inland container terminals and logistics infrastructure, including cold storages.


APPOINTMENT & RESIGNS

Somanath takes charge as VSSC director:

 ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) director S Somnath has taken charge as the new director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), which is ISRO’s lead centre for launch vehicles.


 US Senate confirms Powell as next Chairman of Federal Reserve:
The US Senate confirmed former investment banker Jerome Powell as head of the Federal Reserve.

Mr Powell, a current Fed governor, was confirmed by a vote of 85-12, paving the way for him to replace current Chair Janet Yellen when she steps down next month.


SPORTS

West Indies to Host 2018 Women’s World T20:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced, the 2018 edition of the Women’s World T20 will be hosted by West Indies in November 2018. Hosts Windies will defend the title they won over Australia in Kolkata in 2016.


Rakhi Halder creates new national record in Women Senior National Weightlifting Championships:
Rakhi Halder created a new national record and en route to a gold medal in the 63kg women’s category in the 33rd Women Senior National Weightlifting Championships, in Mangaluru, Kerala.

Rakhi lifted 128kgs for a total of 230kgs to create a new national record, bettering Karnam Malleswari’s feat (127kg) created in Athens in 1999.

The silver in this category went to S Thasana Chanu of Karnataka (202kg) while the bronze was clinched by AIPSCB’s Amandeep Kaur (191kg).


OBITUARIES

Hugh Masekela, ‘Father of South African Jazz’ Passes Away:

 Father of South African jazz’, who had career spanning more than five decades, dies aged 78.

South Africans have paid tribute to Hugh Masekela, the legendary jazz musician and activist, who died at the age of 78.


 HISTORIC EVENT OF THE DAY

National Girl Child Day: January 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the nation is proud of the accomplishments of girls in various fields. In a tweet on the occasion of National Girl Child Day, Mr Modi said, India salutes the skills, strengths and fortitude of the girl child.


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