DAILY CURRENT
AFFAIRS: 29 OCT 2017
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN
1. INDIA, US TO IMPLEMENT HOSTAC TO STRENGTHEN MARITIME SECURITY
i. To strengthen maritime security, India and the United States
have agreed to implement the program for Helicopter Operations from Ships Other
Than Aircraft Carriers.
ii. A decision in this regard was taken by Defense Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman and her US Counterpart Jim Mattis during their meeting in the
Philippines on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus. They
"agreed on the importance of a rules-based international order" in
which all nations are able to prosper, and the "need to work
together" against the common threat of terrorism.
2. MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LAUNCHES “#ASKTHESPOKESPERSON” FOR
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF FOREIGN
POLICY
i. The
Ministry of External Affairs launched the “#AsktheSpokesperson” initiative on
Twitter, to create better awareness and understanding of foreign policy issues
to general public.
ii. The
inaugural session of #AsktheSpokesperson initiative was held on the External
Affairs Ministry’s official Twitter handle @MEAIndia. The Spokesperson
responded to selected questions, live through periscope. #AsktheSpokesperson
initiative will be a regular feature to engage and educate the public about
foreign policy matters in simplified terms. It will be held every 2months.
iii. The
Ministry invites questions from public on India’s foreign policy and selected questions
would be responded by the Official Spokesperson. It also launched its LinkedIn
profile.
3.
JACINDA ARDERN OFFICIALLY SWORN IN AS PRIME MINISTER OF NEW
ZEALAND
i. Jacinda
Ardern was officially sworn in as the PM of New Zealand. At the age of 37, Ardern
is the youngest New Zealand PM in 150 years.
ii. She is
also the country's third woman leader. This was the first time New Zealand
adopted proportional voting since 1996.
4. INDIA, FRANCE AGREE TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION
i. Ms.
Florence Parly, the French Minister for the Armed Forces, was on an official
visit to India. During Ms Parly’s meeting with Indian Defense Minister Ms.
Nirmala Sitharaman, India and France agreed to strengthen bilateral defence
cooperation.
ii. Ongoing
initiatives to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between India
and France were reviewed by both the ministers. Regional and international
developments of mutual interest were also discussed during this meeting.
iii.
Besides, a range of measures to expand military to military ties, including
enhancing the scope of joint exercises, specifically VARUNA (Joint Naval
Exercise between India and France – scheduled to be held in early 2018) were
agreed upon.
iv.
Developments in defence equipment and industry cooperation were also
comprehensively reviewed by both the ministers. It is to be noted that France
is India’s major supplier of defence equipments.
5. INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE HELD IN IMPHAL
i.
International Peace Conference was held in Imphal, Manipur with an objective to
promote peace and harmony in the North Eastern region of India.
ii. The
conference was attended by religious leaders from various countries, including
Buddhist monks from South-East Asia and Myanmar.
iii.
Discussions were held on issues related to maintaining world peace, various
aspects of crime and violence and finding solutions concerning human
development.
iv. 14th
Dalai Lama too addressed the International Peace Conference. He visited Manipur
on an invitation extended by Y Khemchand, the Speaker of Manipur State
Assembly.
6.
RIL, FIRST INDIAN COMPANY
TO CROSS RS 6 TRILLION MARKET CAPITAL
i. Reliance
Industries Ltd became the first Indian company to cross Rs 6 trillion market
capitalization after its shares surged over 75% so far this year and hit a
fresh lifetime high.
ii.
Currently, its market cap is at Rs 6.02 trillion. The recent rally in the stock
was due to tariff hike by its telecom arm Reliance Jio which, analysts expect,
will improve the company’s profitability.
7. JEFF BEZOS REPLACES GATES AS WORLD'S RICHEST PERSON WITH
$90.6-BN FORTUNE
i. According
to Forbes magazine, Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates as the richest person in
the world. The fortune of Amazon's founder reached some $90.6 billion, compared
with the $90.1 billion that the online edition of the magazine attributes to
Gates.
ii. This is
not the first time that Bezos has outpaced Gates - it previously happened in
July 2017 when Amazon shares hit a historic high, though Gates took back the
lead hours later.
8. INDIA OVERTAKES US TO BECOME SECOND LARGEST SMARTPHONE MARKET
i. India
overtakes the US to become the world’s second-largest smartphone market,
trailing only China, according to a new report by analyst firm Canalys.
ii. In the
second quarter of 2017, India’s smartphone market recovered quickly with
shipments growing 23% year-on-year in the third quarter to reach just over 40
million units. Low smartphone penetration and the explosion of long-term
evolution, or 4G are the main drivers behind this.
9. SAP LAUNCHES ASIA PACIFIC JAPAN REGION'S FIRST LEONARDO CENTRE
IN BENGALURU
i. Tech
major SAP announced the launch of Asia Pacific Japan region's first SAP Leonardo
Center in Bengaluru. The 4th SAP Leonardo Center globally, the facility is a
go-to place for SAP's ecosystem for digital inspiration and co-innovation.
ii. Other
SAP Leonardo Centers locations include New York-US, Paris-France, and Sao
Leopoldo-Brazil. It combines a high concentration of customers and partners
with one of SAP's largest market units.
10. ANDHRA PRADESH CM RECEIVES GOLDEN PEACOCK AWARD IN LONDON
i. Andhra
Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu has received the Golden Peacock Award under the
category 'Global Leadership in Public Service and Economic Transformation' at a
convention in London at 17th London Global Convention.
ii. Mr.
Naidu received the award for his excellence in public service. In the 1st
quarter of 2017-18, Andhra Pradesh has registered a growth rate of 11.72%
double the country's average.
11. AMANPREET WINS BRONZE AT ISSF WORLD CUP FINAL
i. India's Amanpreet
Singh clinched a bronze medal in his maiden appearance in an ISSF World Cup
Final, in New Delhi. Jitu Rai fizzled out to finish 7th on the fourth day of
competition.
ii. World
Cup silver medallist Amanpreet shot 202.2 to win the bronze in the final of
men's 50m pistol. Rai could manage only 123.2 to finish last in the seven-man
final. This was India's first individual medal in the ongoing edition of the
prestigious tournament.
OBJECTIVE
QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS
Q1. FOR WHAT PURPOSE THE
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LAUNCHES “ASKTHESPOKESPERSON” INITIATIVE ON
TWITTER?
a) For better understanding
of foreign policy
b) For better understanding
of government policies
c) For better understanding
of import & export qualities
d) For better understanding
of employment oppurtunities
Q2. INDIA SIGNS MOU WITH WHICH COUNTRY TO STRENGTHEN THE
BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION?
a) Srilanka
b) France
c) Malaysia
d) Norway
Q3. WHERE DID INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE PEACE
AND HARMONY IN THE NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA HELD AT?
a) Indore
b) Darjeeling
c) Imphal
d) Agartala
Q4. ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY CAPGEMINI AND LINKEDIN,
WHICH COUNTRY EMERGES AS BIGGEST SOURCE FOR DIGITAL TALENT?
a) Japan
b) China
c) Myanmar
d) India
Q5. WHO REPLACED BILL GATES AS WORLD’S RICHEST PERSON WITH $90.6
BILLION FORTUNE?
a) Cristiano Ronaldo
b) Jeff Bezos
c) Mark Zuckerburg
d) Ussain Bolt
ANSWERS:
1 - A 2 - B 3
- C 4 - D 5 - B
