09 September 2017 Current Affairs
India retains top position, Australia slips in latest ICC Test rankings
India continued to be at the top in the latest ICC Test rankings but Australia slipped one rung to fifth in the latest list after drawing the series against Bangladesh. India with a score of 125 points is on the top of the table, Australia just decimals behind New Zealand with a score of 97 holds for fifth position. South Africa is at second place with 110 points, England is third with 105 points.
Pakistan PM opens China backed 5th nuclear power plant
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated the country’s fifth nuclear power plant (C-4 plant) located at Chashma in Mianwali district of the Punjab province. This 340 MW Chasma – IV (C – 4) nuclear power plant is developed in collaboration between the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi in 1991 cannot be revoked
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for “her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights” while standing up against military rulers. An online petition signed by more than 386,000 people on Change.org is calling for her prize’s removal over the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims. The Norwegian Nobel Institute announced that prize awarded to Myanmar’s Aung Sang Suu Kyi cannot be revoked.
New species of edible fish found in Pampa river in Kerala
A group of researchers discovered a new species of edible freshwater fish while exploring the waters of the Pampa river in Pathanamthitta in Kerala. As per the researchers, the newly found fish could possibly be farmed on a commercial scale. The two researchers, Mathews Plamoottil, Assistant Professor, government colege, Chavara, Kollam, and Primoz Zupancic from the Dinaric Research Institute, Solvenia, Europe, have reported the discovery in the latest issue of an open access research journal Bioscience Discovery.
Sjoerd Marijne Named New Coach of Indian Men’s Hockey Team
Women’s national hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne was named chief coach of the men’s side. He has replaced Roelant Oltmans. Besides, World Cup-winning junior team coach Harendra Singh was appointed High-Performance Specialist coach of the senior women’s team. The decisions were announced by newly-appointed Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Fiscal deficit touches 92.4% of budget estimates at July-end
India’s fiscal deficit at July- end touched 92.4 % of the budget mainly because of front loading of expenditure by various government departments. In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit- difference between expenditure and revenue – was Rs 5.04 lakh crore during April- July 2017-18, according to the data of Controller General of Accounts (CGA). During the same period of last financial year, 2016-17, it was 73.7 % of the target. For 2017-18, the government aims to bring down the fiscal deficit to 3.2 % of the GDP. Last fiscal, it had met the deficit target of 3.5 % of the GDP.
India imposes countervailing duty on some Chinese steel products for 5 years
The Union Finance Ministry has imposed 18.95% countervailing duty (CVD) on certain Chinese flat steel products for period of five years to protect domestic players from cheap subsidised imports. The decision to impose CVD was taken by finance ministry based on the recommendation of Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD).This is first case of imposition of CVD on any steel product in India.
Scientists make cheap and clean fuel from air
Scientists from Cardiff University, UK have discovered a new way to produce methanol from methane using oxygen from the air. Methanol is an important chemical often used as fuel in vehicles. The discovery has major implications for cleaner, greener industrial processes worldwide. The new technique uses freely available air, inexpensive chemicals and an energy efficient methanol production process.
UIDAI Chief A.B. Pandey appointed Interim GSTN Chairman
The Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) chief executive officer (CEO) A.B. Pandey was appointed the interim chairman of the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN). This firm provides information technology (IT) backbone and portal for registration and tax returns under the GST regime. Pandey was given additional charge days after GSTN’s first chairman Navin Kumar completed his term on 29 August.
Telangana Home Minister inaugurates water ATMs
Safe Water Network, an international NGO has partnered with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to launch water ATMs, providing affordable, 24×7 safe water access in Hyderabad. The first of the ATMs was inaugurated by Telangana State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy at Nalgonda X Roads. A total of 200 ATMs will be set up to reach a targetted 150,000 people. In the first phase 50 water ATMs will be operationalised by next year. The initiative is supported by USAID under the Urban WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Alliance Partnership and funded by Honeywell India.