Current Affairs 14th October 2016

Current Affairs 14th October 2016 - Important Points

• Which two countries ink agreement to set up 25 Agro Irradiation Centres - India, Russia
• World Sight Day 2016 observed with theme - Stronger Together
• India to eliminate use of HFC-23 by – 2030
• Who has been appointed as UN Secretary-General - Portugal’s Antonio Guterres
• Who has been appointed as Director General of Foreign Trade - Ajay Kumar Bhalla
• Which country ranked 97th in 2016 Global Hunger Index – India

Current Affairs 14th October 2016 - Details

Which two countries ink agreement to set up 25 Agro Irradiation Centres - India, Russia

Among Important National Current Affairs, The two countries India and Russia have signed an agreement for cooperation in the development of a network of 25 integrated infrastructure Agro irradiation centres. 

Here, the agreement was signed between Indian Agricultural Association, Hindustan Agro Co-Op Ltd (HACL) and United Innovation Corporation (UIC), a subsidiary of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia. As part of the agreement, India-Russia joint venture (JV) will be formed in which HACL will have the majority 51% stakeholding. 

However, UIC will be a technology partner and will help set up the irradiation centres. In first phase 7 centers will be set up in Maharashtra in Sindhurg, Satara, Solapur, JNPT, Jalana, Napur and Pune.

World Sight Day 2016 observed with theme Stronger Together

Among Important International Current Affairs, on 13th October 2016 the World Sight Day (WSD) was observed across the world. However, the theme for the WSD 2016 is Stronger Together.

Here, the Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.

Also the day was originally initiated by the SightFirstCampaign of Lions Club International Foundation in 2000.

Please Note: WSD is co-ordinated by International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in cooperation with the World Health Organization under the VISION 2020 Global Initiative.

India to eliminate use of HFC-23 by – 2030

Among Important National Current Affairs, by the year 2030 India has decided to eliminate use of HFC-23, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that harms the ozone layer. After this, India, is taking the lead on tackling climate change. 

However, it was declared during the 28th Meeting of the Parties toof parties to the Montreal Protocol at Kigali in Rwanda. 

Also, in this meeting, final negotiations are taking place to substantially reduce the use of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) by 2030.

Who has been appointed as UN Secretary-General - Portugal’s Antonio Guterres

Among Important International Current Affairs, on 13th October 2016 Portugal’s former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres was appointed as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations by the General Assembly.

However, the 193 member states of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by acclamation, appointing Guterres as the ninth U.N. Secretary-General.

Here, Guterres will handle the responsibility of Ban Ki-moon. Guterres will also assume his new role on 1 January 2017 for a five-year term that can be renewed by member states for an additional five years.

Who has been appointed as Director General of Foreign Trade - Ajay Kumar Bhalla

Among Important National Current Affairs, on 13th October 2016 Senior IAS officer Ajay Kumar Bhalla was appointed as the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). 

He will handle all the responsibilities of Anup Wadhawan, who was appointed as Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry.

Do You Know – 

• Ajay Kumar Bhalla is a 1984 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is presently an Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry.

Which country ranked 97th in 2016 Global Hunger Index – India

Good news, India has been ranked low 97th among the 118 countries surveyed in 2016 Global Hunger Index (GHI). 

This year in 2016 GHI, India has scored low 28.5 on a 0-100 point scale of the index. It describes India’s hunger situation as “serious. 

However, the index was released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).