Current Affairs February 15, 2018 World News China to host 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit at Qingdao in June China will host 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit at Qingdao, eastern Shandong Province in June 2018. China had taken over rotating chair of SCO after17th SCO summit concluded in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan in June 2017. SCO is a Eurasian economic, political and security organisation headquartered in Beijing, China. It was founded in 2001. India's defence budget breaks into world's top 5: UK report India's defence budget broke into the world's top five, beating the UK for the first time, a new report by a London-based global think-tank has said, signalling a key shift in the military balance between the two countries. India overtook the UK as the fifth-largest defence spender in the world in 2017 at USD 52.5 billion, up from USD 51.1 billion in 2016, according to the 'Military Balance 2018' report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The UK's defence budget fell from USD 52.5 billion in 2016 to USD 50.7 billion in 2017. China's real defence spending increased by nearly 25 per cent in 2016-17, whereas India's rose by just 2.4 per cent.
National News Government Extends Anti-Narcotics Scheme for 3 More Years The government has extended the anti-narcotics scheme for 3 more years to combat illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substance. The purpose of the scheme is to assist states and Union Territories, which are contributing in controlling the inter-state and cross-border drug trafficking. President inaugurates Agricon 2018 and Agriexpo 2018 The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the international conference Agricon 2018 and Agriexpo 2018 at Chandrasekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology (CSAUT), Kanpur on February 14, 2018. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that in a country as vast as India, problems of farmers in different regions are different. We will have to find solutions according to their needs. Water is a common concern. In this regard, the Government has promoted the concept of per drop, more crops and this message should reach every farmer in the country. President of India hosts LPG Panchayat at Rashtrapati Bhavan The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, hosted an LPG Panchayat on February 13, 2018 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The LPG Panchayat was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with an aim to provide a platform for LPG consumers to interact with each other, promote mutual learning and share experiences. Each LPG Panchayat has about 100 LPG customers coming together, near their living areas, to discuss safe and sustainable usage of LPG, its benefits and the link between clean fuel for cooking and women s empowerment. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas intends to conduct 1 lakh such Panchayats across India before March 31, 2019. Rado brand ambassador Hrithik opens new store at Delhi Airport On 15/02/2018, Bollywood megastar Hrithik Roshan opened Rado s stylish new store at Delhi IGI Airport. This is the first time Rado has opened a monobrand store in an airport. Hrithik Roshan is brand ambassador of Hrithik opens new store at Delhi Airport.
State News Karnataka s Hampi to be developed as iconic tourism site, announces Centre The Hampi monuments which are part of Karnataka s cultural heritage, will be one of the 10 tourist destinations across India to be developed as Iconic Tourism Site by the central government. In the Union Budget 2018, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that the government proposes to develop ten prominent tourist sites as Iconic Tourism destinations through holistic infrastructure and skill development. Meghalaya Governor inaugurates India, Bangladesh Friendship Gate Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad has inaugurated the Friendship Gate constructed with an aim to have a Wagah-like beating retreat ceremony for the Indian and Bangladesh border guards. The Friendship Gate has been constructed near Integrated Check post, 90 km south of capital Shillong on border with Bangladesh. PM Modi Launched Three Key Projects in Arunachal Pradesh Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched several projects in Arunachal Pradesh. He inaugurated the Dorjee Khandu state convention centre at a function in Itanagar. The Centre has an auditorium, conference halls and an exhibition hall. Prime Minister's focus was also on the information revolution and now, the newly erected Secretariat building in the state capital is a big step in that direction. The building will have digital technology at its core and will have 2,500 officers and other employees. Puducherry to ban plastic of less than 51 microns The Puducherry government has decided to ban manufacture and use of plastic packaging materials of less than 51 microns as these were found to be injurious to health and a source of menace during monsoon in the Union Territory. Ban would come into force in the next six months.
Banking & Economy Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) Bags Rs 560 Crore Order from National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has bagged an order worth Rs 560 crore from National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for setting up a system for emission control. BHEL has secured the order for "supply and installation of the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system from NTPC for 2x490 MW National Capital Power Station at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. Equitas Bank launches digital savings account Equitas Small Finance Bank has introduced selfesavings, an interactive digital savings account. This account can be opened with the web-based interactive video form by using Aadhaar number, PAN and other basic details. The new selfesavings account has no minimum balance requirement. It pays an interest rate of 6 per cent per annum for balance below 10 lakh and 6.5 per cent for 10 lakh and above. India Signs Second Loan Agreement with New Development Bank for USD 100 Million The Loan Agreement for financing of Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring Project for the Desert Areas was signed between Government of India and the New Development Bank (NDB). This is the first tranche loan of USD 100 million approved by the NDB. The objective of this Project is to rehabilitate the 678 km long Indira Gandhi Canal system built during 1958-63 to prevent seepage, conserve water, and enhance water use efficiency as mandated by both national and state level policies on water use. PNB detects Rs 11,300 crore fraudulent transactions at Mumbai branch State-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) said it had detected some fraudulent and unauthorised transactions worth about $1.77 billion (about Rs 11, 300 crore) at one of its branches in Mumbai. The bank said the transactions were for the benefit of a few select account holders with their apparent connivance.
PNB, the country s second-biggest state-run lender and fourth-biggest overall by assets, did not name the people involved. Sports Dipa Karmakar ruled out of 2018 Commonwealth Games Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who finished fourth at Rio Olympics, has opted out of this year s Commonwealth Games to avoid any further risk to an injury she suffered last year. The 24-year-old said her next target is the Asian Games, which will take place in August. Dipa had undergone an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in April last year. Tamil Nadu Wins Senior Women s National Football Championship Tamil Nadu has won the Senior Women s National Football Championship for the first time. Tamil Nadu, which was playing its first-ever final, defeated Manipur, 2-1 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha. Skipper Indumathi and Indrani found the net for Tamil Nadu, while Ratanbala scored Manipur s only goal. Appointments & Resignations Ashok Das appointed next Ambassador of India to Brazil Shri Ashok Das (IFS: 1987) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Federative Republic of Brazil. He is expected to take up his assignment shortly. He is presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. Jacob Zuma resigns as South Africa s president South Africa's embattled President Jacob Zuma has resigned. He announced the decision in a televised address to the nation after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party threatened to eject him from office via a parliamentary vote of no confidence today. The 75-year-old, who was the country's President for the last 9 years, has been under increasing pressure to give way to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC's new leader.
Mr Zuma's resignation followed weeks of intense public pressure to step down amid long-standing corruption allegations. KP Sharma Oli becomes Nepal s new prime minister After Nepal s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba resigned from his post, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has become new Prime Minister of Nepal for the second time. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari appointed 65-year-old Oli as the country s 41st prime minister. Obituaries Longest-serving Dutch PM, Ruud Lubbers, dies aged 78 The Netherlands longest-serving Prime Minister, Ruud Lubbers, who pulled his country out of recession while struggling to reform the Dutch welfare state, died on Wednesday aged 78. The Christian Democrat who led his country through the 1980s into the 90s and went on to serve as the United Nation s High Commissioner for Refugees, died at his home in the presence of his wife and children, the government said. He had been sick for some time and had stopped making public appearances. Lubbers, who became premier at the age of 43, led three successive governments from 1982 to 1994 as the Netherlands headed toward greater European integration and the single currency.