Current Affairs 14th September 2018

Current Affairs 14th September 2018 - Important Points

• China plans bullet train from Kolkata to its Kunming City on - 12th September 2018
• Tamil Nadu bans sale of e-cigarettes from - 12th September 2018
• Trump signed new executive order imposing sanctions on foreign meddlers in US elections on - 12th September 2018
• National Scholarship Portal Mobile App launched by - Union Government
• India’s first 205T Electric Drive Rear Dump Truck launched by - BEML 
• MoU between EXIM Bank and BRICS banks for blockchain research approved by -  Cabinet 
• 4 New National Institutes Of Design approved by - Cabinet

Current Affairs 14th September 2018 - Details

China plans bullet train from Kolkata to its Kunming City on - 12th September 2018

Chinese Consul-General in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu on  12th September  2018 proclaimed that China is seeking to plan bullet trains from Kolkata to Kunming City of China.  However, the Chinese diplomat did not disclose the details of the route. The train is probable to traverse via Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The project was mentioned at the Greater Mekong Subregion meet in Kunming in 2015.

Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor

• The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor project, is predictable to run via Mandalay in Myanmar, Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh, terminating in Kolkata.
• China has promised USD 40 billion for this silk route, having a trade latent of USD 132 billion. 
• The chief focus of the economic corridor is to simplify trade and connectivity between the undersized southwestern parts of China and the North Eastern region of India.
• The 2800 kms rail route could be a dangerous component for the Bangladesh-China-India Myanmar corridor that looks forward cross border trade and movement of people. 
• From Kolkata, the stretch will move towards Benapole, which is a border town in Bangladesh.
• After passing via Dhaka and Sylhet, it will enter again into the Indian Territory near Silchar in Assam. 
• From Assam, the stretch will be linked with Imphal and then pass via the India-built Tamu-Kalewa friendship road in Myanmar previously passing via a small stretch in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Chinese passage extends from Ruili before reaching Kunming via Longling and Dali.

Tamil Nadu bans sale of e-cigarettes from - 12th September 2018

The Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu on September 12th, 2018 published a government order restricting with immediate effect for manufacturing, sale, distribution, trade, marketing, import and possession of the Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, which popularly is known as e- cigarettes.
Orders

• The order explains that Although ads of electronic cigarettes entitles they do not cause any damage, tobacco is the only officially available consumer product which kills people when it is utilised entirely as intended.
• E-cigarettes comprises harmful chemicals that can cause lung illnesses and serious complication to pregnant females. 
• The usage of e-cigarettes results into adverse health effects due to 2nd-hand exposure to metals like nickel and chromium. 
• E-cigarettes are also harmful to children and non-smokers. The product is also seen as a danger as it may tempt youngsters into smoking.
• The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has been instructed to strictly implement the order.

Trump signed new executive order imposing sanctions on foreign meddlers in US elections on - 12th September 2018

United States President Donald Trump inked a fresh executive order on September 12th, 2018 imposing permissions on any nation, individual found trying to interfere in the United States elections. Talking on the occasion, Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton informed that the initiative is supposed to be a very broad effort to avoid foreign manipulation of the political procedure.  He added that the order defines a process whereby the Departments of State and Treasury will decide on suitable approvals to recommend and to execute on the nations or other actors that have engaged in this interference.
Important Highlights

• The order asks for approvals against any article that authorises, directs or sponsors meddling operations in the American elections. 
• The approvals not only cover the interference with the election but also the supply of propaganda and deception.
• It will work to stalk deception campaigns or any effort to manipulate the result of ballots.
• It educates the United States intelligence community to monitor and report on efforts to interrupt election infrastructure and propaganda.
• It also enforces restrictions on those suspected of carrying out the interfering.

National Scholarship Portal Mobile App launched by - Union Government

Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi flung the nation's 1st  National Scholarship Portal Mobile App on 13th September  2018.
More about National Scholarship Portal Mobile App

• The National Scholarship Portal Mobile App will make sure a smooth, reachable and hassle-free scholarship system for students from poor and weak sections. 
• All the scholarships are being distributed directly into bank accounts of the needy students under Direct Benefit
• Transfer mode via the National Scholarship Portal.
• The application make sure that there is no chance for duplication and leakage. 
• It will demonstrate valuable for students and will help in solidification of a transparent mechanism for the scholarships.

Benefits for Students

• Students will get all the data regarding various scholarships on this mobile application.
• They will be able to put on for scholarships sitting at their residence.
• Students can upload essential documents on this mobile app.
• Students can crisscross the status of their submission, scholarship disbursement and many more.
• Students from far-flung, hilly areas and North east will be the most profited.

India’s first 205T Electric Drive Rear Dump Truck launched by - BEML 

India’s 1st 205T Electric Drive Rear Dump Truck Model BH205-E, designed and established by Bharat
Earth Movers Limited was flagged off freshly. The dump truck has been developed for utilising in the
project of Northern Coalfields Limited, Singrauli, MP. It will also assist to address the increasing request
for higher capacity equipment in mining industry.
More about BH205E

• BH205E is an electric drive rear dump truck for broad mining operations. It has been designed and
  developed in India by Mysuru plant of Bharat Earth Movers Limited to strengthen ‘Make in India’
  initiative and tackle increasing request for higher capacity equipment in the mining industry.
• It is powered by Tier-II emission compliant Modular Common Rail Electronic Engine with 2300 Horse Power capacity. It has AC drive system to deliver exceptional haul road performance with low maintenance.
• The dump truck has ergonomically designed dash board and tilt-able telescopic steering wheel. Its other significant features consist of good visibility in addition to safety with provisions foremergency steering, breaking and proximity warning.
  More about Bharat Earth Movers Limited
• Bharat Earth Movers Limited is public sector undertaking under Ministry of Defence.
• It builds a variety of heavy equipment, which are utilised for earth moving, transport and mining. It was merged in May 1964.
• It is HQ in Bengaluru. Bharat Earth Movers Limited is Asia’s 2nd-largest manufacturer of earth moving equipment, and it controls 70 per cent of India’s market in that sector.

MoU between EXIM Bank and BRICS banks for blockchain research approved by -  Cabinet 

Union Cabinet has agreed Memorandum of Understanding inked between Export-Import Bank of India
and member banks under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism on Collaborative Research on
Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in framework of development of digital economy.
Crucial Facts

• Blockchain technology grasps potential for solutions to numerous challenges being tackled in financial sector space of BRICS nations.
• The Memorandum of Understanding was inked between Exim Bank, Banco Nacional de DesenvolvimentoEconomico e Social, of Brazil, China Development Bank, State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, of Russia and Development Bank of Southern Africa.
• It aims to improve understanding in this field, via joint research efforts to recognize areas within respective business operations where it may have potential for submissions focused at improving operational efficiencies.
  Did you know?
• The Xiamen Declaration inked in September 2017 at 9th BRICS summit in Xiamen, China by BRICS
  leaders had lime-lighted significance of digital economy and ways BRICS nations can influence its
  potential for nurturing global economic development and profit everyone.
• As per to the Memorandum of Understanding on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in the Context of Development of Digital Economy was recommended to be inked by all member banks.

4 New National Institutes Of Design approved by - Cabinet

Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has sanctioned proposal for starter of Bill in Parliament for amendment of National Institutes of Design (NID) Act, 2014 for launching 4 new National Institutes of Designs across the nation.
Four new NIDs are
1. National Institute of Design, Amaravati/Vijayawada, AP.
2. National Institute of Design, Bhopal, MP.
3. National Institute of Design, Jorhat, Assam.
4. National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra, Haryana.
Important Features of Bill

• The modification will bring these 4 new National Institutes of Designs within ambit NID Act, 2014 and to announce them as Institutions of National Importance at par with NID, Ahmedabad.
• The projected Bill also brings makes some small modifications to this Act including to embrace consequential modifications considered compulsory to re-name National Institutes of Design Vijayawada as National Institutes of Design Amaravati and nomenclature of Principal Designer equal to Professor.
  Importance
• Formation of new National Institutes of Designs as Institutions of National Importance in different
  geographical locations of nations will benefit in producing highly skilled designers and workers in design sector which in turn, will assist in creating job openings, both direct and indirect.
• It will also issue supportable design intrusions for crafts, handloom, rural technology, small, medium as well as large scale enterprises.