31 October 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

31 October 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

PM Modi Flags Off 'Run For Unity' On Sardar Patel's birth anniversary

• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) is being celebrated to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary (142nd), who has played a huge role in unifying the country.
• The Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.
• In 2014, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was introduced by the Government of India and inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India in 1947.

Note:

• Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad village of modern day Gujarat to Zaverbhai and Ladbai.
• He was a lawyer & a political activist and played a leading role during the Indian Independence Movement.
• After independence, he was crucial in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union.

World Cities Day being celebrated today

• The World is observing Cities Day on 31^st Oct with the commitment to work together for a planned and sustainable urban life in the wake of rapid growth of population and problems.
• This year, the United Nations (UN) has selected the theme ‘Innovative Governance, Open Cities’ to highlight the important role of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion.

Note: The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life.

PM Modi inaugurated Bidar-Kalaburagi new railway line in Karnataka

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bidar - Kalaburagi New Railway track (110-KM) to the Nation by unveiling a plaque at Bidar Railway Station, in Karnataka.
• Bidar-Kalaburgi railway track is in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region that, reduce the distance between Bengaluru and New Delhi by 380km (travel time by six to eight hours).
• PM Modi also flagged off the DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) Service between Bidar and Kalaburagi.

India to host UN wildlife summit CMS COP13 in 2020

• India will host the next United Nations (UN) global wildlife conference in 2020.
• According to the official announcement, India to be the host of the next CMS Conference of the Parties CMSCOP13.
• CMS COP is a triennial summit that brings together States through which migratory animals pass through held once in three years.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale launches Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana in Mumbai

• The Union Minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale has launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana in Mumbai.
• The Objective of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, making quality medicines available at affordable price to all, particularly to the poor and underprivileged through exclusive outlets.
• Jan Aushadhi Medical store is set up with an aim to reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare.
• This will be a revolutionary step in healthcare and they will also urge doctors to prescribe for generic medicines.

India tops list of new TB cases in 2016

• According to the Global TB Report 2017 released by WHO, India has topped the list of seven countries, accounting for 64% of the over 10 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide last year.
• India was followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa.
• Last year, an estimated 1.7 million people died from TB.
• India along with China & Russia accounted for almost half of around 5 lakh multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases registered in 2016.

Note:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).
• Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs a cough, spit, speak, or sneeze.

Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums from 2018

• According to the Chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia ‘Turki Al-Asheikh’, Saudi women will be able to attend sports events in stadiums starting from 2018.
• Now, the authority will start the repair works at three main stadiums in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah to accommodate families starting in 2018. Restaurants, cafes and monitor screens will be set up inside the stadiums.
• The move is aimed at empowering and engaging women in the society as an integral part of the development process.
• In September 2017, the General Sports Authority allowed women to enter King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh for the first time to celebrate Saudi Arabia's National Day.

India & Tunisia agreed to jointly combat terrorism

• India and Tunisia have agreed to jointly combat terrorism while ramping up co-operation in the field of security.
• A review of bilateral ties was undertaken at the 12th India-Tunisia Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi.
• A roadmap for India-Tunisia partnership has been also initiated by Mrs. Swaraj and Mr. Jhinaoui to give a new impetus to bilateral relations.
• Six agreements in the fields of judicial co-operation, co-operation in youth issues, information and communications technology, trade and business, were signed.

India sends the first shipment to Afghanistan via Iran’s Chabahar port

• India has flagged off a shipment of wheat from Kandla port (Gujarat) for Afghanistan through Chabahar port (Iran).
• It was flagged off by Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani through video conferencing.
• It paves way for operationalization of Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable connectivity for landlocked Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.
• Chabahar port is strategically located in Sistan-Balochistan province on energy-rich Iran’s southern coast in Gulf of Oman near its border with Pakistan and can be easily accessed from India’s western coast.

Uhuru Kenyatta wins controversial Kenyan poll rerun

• Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared the winner of a controversial re-run of the Presidential election.
• According to country's Election Commission, Uhuru Kenyatta has won 98% of the votes with a turnout at just under 39% - less than half that was recorded in August's vote.
• Earlier, Mr. Kenyatta was also declared the winner in August which was annulled because of irregularities.
• Now, The Opposition has seven days to mount a legal challenge.

India and World Bank signed USD 200 Million loan agreement for Assam

• The World Bank and Government of India have signed a USD 200 million loan agreement for the Assam Agribusiness and Rural transformation project.
• The Project will support the state to facilitate agri-business investments, increase agricultural productivity and market access.
• Over five lacks farming households will directly benefit from the Project in over 16 Districts of Assam.

Indian Junior team win the bronze medal of Johor Cup Hockey

• Indian Junior Men’s Hockey team beat hosts Malaysia 4-0 in the Bronze medal match of the 7th Sultan of Johor Cup 2017 at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, in Malaysia
• Goals from Vishal Antil (15’, 25’), Vivek Prasad (11’) and Shilanand Lakra (21’) were enough for India to finish their tournament with the Bronze medal.
• Indian junior men's hockey team thrashed hosts Malaysia 4-0 to claim the bronze medal at the 7^th Sultan of Johor Cup (7th) at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, in Malaysia.