DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: OCTOBER 23, 2018

Daily Current Affairs ( Oct 23, 2018) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness , Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

NATIONAL

4 Himalayan Peaks Named after Late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Four Himalayan peaks near Gangotri glacier have been named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The peaks are located at6,557m, 6,566m, 6,160m and 6,100m on the right flank of Gangotri glacier.

Located near Sudarshan and Saifi peaks in Raktvan valley, the peaks have been named Atal-1, 2, 3 and 4. The expedition was jointly conducted by NIM and the tourism department.

President inaugurates Vishwa Shanti Ahimsa Sammelan

President Ram Nath Kovind arriveo inaugurated the three-day ‘Vishwa Shanti Ahimsa Sammelan’ at Mangi Tungi in Satana taluka. It was organised by the Bhagwan Rishabhdev Murti Nirmaan Samiti.

The president will present the first international ‘Bhagwan Rishabhdev Award’ to Teerthanker Mahaveer University, based in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

India, Myanmar sign MoU on operationalisation of Sittwe Port

India and Myanmar signed an important MoU for the appointment of a private Port Operator for the Operation and Maintenance of Sittwe Port, Paletwa Inland Water Terminal and associated facilities included in the Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project in implementation of India’s Act East Policy.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the Government of India by Vijay Gokhale, Foreign Secretary and by U Win Khant, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications on behalf of the Government of Myanmar.

The Sittwe port in Myanmar will connect India’s landlocked north-east region to the Bay of Bengal through Mizoram. It will also provide an alternate route to Kolkata.

India has an overall commitment of $ 1.75 billion for developmental programmes in Myanmar.

NABARD and Ayurvet Research Foundation ink MoU

The Haryana regional office of Nabard has signed an MoU with Delhi-based Ayurvet Research Foundation (ARF) for facilitating various collaborative initiatives, especially in the resource-poor districts of Haryana, for the integrated agricultural and rural development of the state.

The MoU will facilitate in finding practical solutions to the problems and challenges coming in the way of integrated development of some districts.

The MoU will prove to be a facilitator for planning and implementation of programmes like natural resource management, village development, exploring and creating alternative employment generation opportunities, upscaling micro-finance activities and supporting farmer producer organisations by synergising the efforts of Nabard and ARF.

SBI launches its first “Wealth Hub” in Mangaluru

The nation’s largest bank, State Bank of India has launched its wealth business services by opening “SBI Wealth Hub” at the Lalbagh branch. The wealth hub was inaugurated by SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar.

SBI is the first PSU bank in the country tointroduce comprehensive wealth business services for itsclients. The bank has re-branded its wealth business as “SBI Wealth” offering best-in-class personalised banking and investment services to its elite High Net worth Individual (HNI) clients.

SBI Wealth has presence in 20 major centres with a network of 90 Wealth Hubs in the country.

27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference Starts In Gujarat

The 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference is being organized by the IAEA in cooperation with the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and the Institute for Plasma Research, at the Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar (Ahmedabad) Gujarat, India.

The 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018) aims to provide a forum for the discussion of key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a source of energy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) fosters the exchange of scientific and technical results in nuclear fusion research and development through its series of Fusion Energy Conferences.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

IFC Launches $1 Billion Masala Bond Programme

The World Bank’s lending arm, has launched its $1 billion masala bond programme in the US and Europe.

According to the IFC, the first tranche of $100 million under the programme opened on the London Stock Exchange.

It was sold to a range of investors, including asset managers, banks and a pension fund, in the US and Europe.

Masala bonds are rupee-denominated borrowings issued overseas. IFC uses them to raise rupee funds overseas and brings the proceeds to India for investments.

INTERNATIONAL

Paytm Launches ‘PayPay’ Mobile Wallet In Japan

Paytm has launched a QR-based smartphone payment settlement service in Japan in collaboration with SoftBank and Yahoo Japan Corporation.

It allows users to store money from a bank account in their “PayPay” wallet and make payments with it.

Paytm is also offering a ‘cashback’ to users of PayPay in Japan, a concept which the SoftBank and Alibaba-backed company has been pushing aggressively in India to win new customers and see more transactions.

Joint Military Exercise ‘Druzhba-III’ Starts Between Pakistan And Russia

The  Pakistan and Russia armies will be holding joint military drills ‘Druzhba-III’ in the mountains of northwestern Pakistan which will continue till November 4.

This will be the third joint military drill between Pakistan and Russia under the bilateral training cooperation agreement. Russia and Pakistan have been holding the ‘Friendship’ drills since 2016. Pakistan has shown eagerness to build defence level ties with Russia.

Russia has over the past three years provided four Mi-35M combat and cargo helicopters to Pakistan.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

US-based Dalit Writer Sujatha Gidla Wins Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize

The US-based Dalit writer Sujatha Gidla’s debut book wins Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize.

The panel of judges, Sampurna Chattarji, Raghu Karnad and Githa Hariharan, chose “Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India”.

The Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize is funded by the Shakti Bhatt Foundation. It was set up in 2008 in memory of young writer Shakti. It carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.

Last year, Sri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam won the prize for his debut novel “The Story of a Brief Marriage”, set in the backdrop of the civil war.

Athletics body wins Ficci award

The Athletics Federation of India has been chosen winner of the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) India Sports Awards 2018 for the category of Best National Sports Federation (NSF). The eminent Jury was chaired by Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal.

The India Sports Awards ceremony will take place at Federation House, New Delhi.

SPORTS

Praveen Kumar retires from all forms of cricket

Praveen Kumar has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. He thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) for helping him through his journey as an international cricketer.

Praveen last played for India in March 2012 in a T20I against South Africa.

Kimi Raikkonen wins US Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen got his first victory of F1 race US Grand Prix in Texas.

It was the longest gap between wins in F1 history, beating the previous mark of Italian Riccardo Patrese.
Lewis Hamilton came second and he was followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.