Current Affairs 19 January 2018

1. International Solar Alliance Forum at World Future Energy Summit In one of its first outreach programmes post-ratification, the ...

1. International Solar Alliance Forum at World Future Energy Summit

In one of its first outreach programmes post-ratification, the ISA hosted a two Day Event ‘International Solar Alliance Forum’ during 17-18th January, 2018 at the Future World Energy Summit (WFES) 2018.

• WFES is a signature event of a global initiative, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, hosted by Masdar scheduled during 15-18th January, 2018 at Abu Dhabi (UAE).
• During the ISA event an ISA Pavilion was also set up for dissemination of information about ISA and its activities and programmes.

Points to Remember

• On receipt of 15 ratifications, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement entered into force on the 6th December, 2017 thereby making ISA a de jure treaty based international intergovernmental organisation.
• So far 19 countries have ratified and 48 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement.

2. Successful Fifth Flight Test of Agni-5 Ballistic Missile

Long Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was successfully flight tested for its full range from Dr Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

• This was the fifth test of the Missile and the third consecutive one from a canister on a road mobile launcher.
• All the five missions have been successful.
• The flight performance of the missile was tracked and monitored by radars, range stations and tracking systems all through the mission.

3. Government to set up $350 million fund to finance solar projects

Government will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, Power Minister R.K. Singh said, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022.

• India will need at least $125 billion to fund a plan to increase the share of renewable power supply in the country's grid by 2022.
• The country, which receives twice as much sunshine as European nations, wants to make solar central to its renewable expansion.
• Installed renewable power capacity is currently about 60 GW

4. Andhra CM launches e-Pragati platform

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has launched the e-Pragati CORE platform, which will be a common portal for all citizen services online.

• As envisioned by the Chief Minister, a single source of truth and one portal to monitor everything, from insights to action, will be enabled by this platform.

5. FY'19 growth at 7.1%: India Ratings

India's economic growth is set to bounce back to 7.1 per cent next fiscal, from the estimated 6.5 per cent in 2017-18,, rating agency India Ratings said.

• In its outlook for 2018-19, the agency projected average retail inflation at 4.6 per cent.
• The World Bank too has projected a 7.3 per cent growth for India in 2018.

6. Yes Bank ties up with Amplus Energy Solutions

 

Amplus Energy Solutions announced entering into a pact with private sector lender Yes Bank for strategic tie-up to co-finance projects in the solar energy space in India.

• The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at International Solar Alliance pavilion at the World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi.
• Under the partnership, the total projects capacity is likely to be up to 1,000 mw and these projects would be developed by Amplus by 2023.

7. HDFC first Indian bank to cross Rs5 trillion market cap

India’s most-valued lender HDFC Bank Ltd crossed Rs5 trillion market capitalisation for the first time, making it only the third Indian company to achieve this milestone.

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are the other two companies which crossed market capitalisation of Rs5 trillion.
• The bank also reports bad loan ratio below 1%, the lowest among Indian lenders.

8. Microsoft tops Thomson Reuters top 100 global tech leaders list

Thomson Reuters Corp has published its debut “Top 100 Global Technology Leaders” list with Microsoft Corp in the no. 1 spot.

• Microsoft was followed by chipmaker Intel Corp and network gear maker Cisco Systems Inc.
• According to the list, 45 percent of these 100 tech companies are headquartered in the United States.
• Five Indian Companies have also made to the list.

9. Romania to have first female prime minister, Viorica Dancila

Viorica Dancila has been named as Romania's first female PM following the sudden resignation of Mihai Tudose.

• Ms Dancila, a member of the European Parliament, is regarded as an ally of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea.
• Ms Dancila, 54, is Romania's third prime minister in seven months.

10. ICSI confers Honorary Fellow Membership to Shri P.P. Chaudhary

Shri P.P. Chaudhary, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Law and Justice & Corporate Affairs, was conferred the Honorary Fellowship of Institute of Company secretaries of India (ICSI) at the headquarters of the institute at New Delhi.

• ICSI president CS (Dr) Shyam Agrawal presented the certificate conferring Honorary membership to Shri Chaudhary and administered an oath to him.
• Shri Chaudhary has conducted around 11,000 cases, mostly Constitutional Litigations for the last 38 years.

11. ICC Awards 2018: Full List of the Winners

• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year - Virat Kohli (India)
• ICC Test Cricketer of the Year - Steve Smith (Australia)
• ICC M ODI Cricketer of the Year - Virat Kohli (India)
• ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year - Hasan Ali (Pakistan)
• ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year - Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
• ICC  T20I Performance of the Year - Yuzvendra Chahal (6-25 v England for India)
• David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year – Marais Erasmus
• ICC Spirit of Cricket - Anya Shrubsole (England)
• ICC Fans Moment of the Year - Pakistan stun India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017
• The Test and ODI teams of the year were also introduced, with Virat Kohli being named the captain of both the sides.

12. NBA Hall of Famer Jo Jo White dies at 71

Celtics legend Jo Jo White, a two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, passed away at the age of 71.

• White, a seven-time All-Star, averaged 17.2 points in 12 NBA seasons.
• He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
• White won a gold medal with the USA Olympic basketball team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

13. ‘Namaste Shalom’ magazine launched during Benjamin Netanyahu’s Mumbai visit

The Jewish community has markd Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Mumbai visit with the launch of ‘Namaste Shalom’, a regular monthly magazine on bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

• The magazine was launched at the Magen David Synagogue at Byculla in south Mumbai.
• President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon have welcomed the magazine.