Current Affairs 18th February 2019

Current Affairs 18th February 2019 - Important Points

• Inland Waterways Authority of India launches new gateway LADIS on - 15th February 2019
• President Trump Declares National Emergency in - USA
• India Inks Security Protection Pact inked between India and - Sweden
• Chandramouli Ramanathan as Controller &ASG  appointed by - United Nations 
• Norms on Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure  released by - Government
• The 1st Female Flight Engineer of IAF   - Hina Jaiswal

Current Affairs 18th February 2019 - Details

Inland Waterways Authority of India launches new gateway LADIS on - 15th February 2019

The Inland Waterways Authority of India- IWAI on February 15th, 2019 released a new gateway known as “LADIS” –Least Available Depth Information System in New Delhi to make sure minimum usage of national waterways. The gateway will ensure that the real-time data on Least Available Depths is distributed for ship & barge & cargo owners so that they can undertake transportation on the national waterways in an extra planned way.
Important Highlights

• The Least Available Depths Information System is held at on Inland Waterways Authority of India’s website & has been construct in house by the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
• The details of the Least Available Depths will be fetched into the gateway by respective surveyors &  regional in-charge allotted with Inland Waterways Authority of India survey vessels, which constantly move on national waterways.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India has planned the gateway to ease the day-to-day operations of inland vessels plying on National Waterways & to evade any hindrance in service & operation.
• It will improve credibility & efficiency of data sharing to attain seamless operations on National Waterways, besides pre-empting issues that may occur during movement of vessels.
• The vessel operators & cargo owners will make their sailing plans strictly according to applicable waterways related data including Hydrographic survey reports, River Notices available on Inland Waterways Authority of India’s website.

President Trump Declares National Emergency in - USA

The United States president Donald Trump on 15th February 2019 had announced a national emergency to fund the United States-Mexico border without congressional consent. This step has been defined by the Democrats as unconstitutional & they have vowed to challenge it. 
National Emergency in the USA
The US can be subjected to above 30 national emergencies & can be announced for various reasons. The National Emergencies Act (NEA) 1976 solemnizes the emergencies powers of the President to trigger special powers during a crisis but executes certain practical formalities when invoking such powers.
Reason behind National Emergency

• President Trump had assured to built a wall along the United States-Mexico border to stopover illegal migration if voted to power.
• This needs fencing of 322 kilometres which costs about $ 5.7 billion.
• The proposal was vetoed by the United States Congress & the nation went into a 35 days partial government shutdown.
• However, Congress approved a compromise bill providing President Trump with a mere $1.4 billion for a fence along 90 kms of the border.
• The announcement of the National emergency by President Trump would allow him to divert money from elsewhere from the federal budget, including funds for the U.S. military for the motive of the construction of the wall along the border. 

Consequence of the National Emergency
President Trump is supposed to face many legal & political challenges. 2 lawsuits have already been filed
against the National emergency. United States Congress can also dismiss a professed emergency by
passing a joint resolution which is a difficult job.

India Inks Security Protection Pact inked between India and - Sweden

India & Sweden inked a security protection pact that will facilitate the both nations to share classified data with each other. The pact was inked during the visit of the Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Sweden.
More about the Pact

• Sweden has similar pacts with more than 30 nations worldwide, as well as with the European Union & NATO. 
• The pact will regulate how sensitive data is to be handled, processed & safeguarded.
• The pact will provide a framework for greater assistance on the high end & cutting-edge technology & production.
• Indian has proposed dialogue to facilitate a greater understanding of the effective model of association between government, industry & academia in developing technologically advance ecosystem. 
• India also thanked Swedish PM Lofven for his care to India’s bid for the permanent seat in the UN
  Security Council & the multilateral export control command–Missile Technology Control Regime.

Chandramouli Ramanathan as Controller &ASG  appointed by - United Nations 

The United Nations has designated Indian official Chandramouli Ramanathan to one of the uppermost
posts in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy & Compliance. Chandramouli Ramanathan will occupy as the Controller, Assistant Secretary-General for Program Planning, Budget & Finance in the management strategy, policy & compliance branch from Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas of Uruguay.
More about Chandramouli Ramanathan

• Ramanathan has worked as the Assistant Auditor General, India from 1993-1995, & Director of
  Accounts for the Auditor General of India from 1989-1993.
• He has also grabbed the position of Deputy Controller, Director of Accounts Division, & Chief of Service, Information Technology Services Division.
• Since September 2018 he was working as the Acting Controller along with the position of Assistant
  Secretary-General for Enterprise Resource Planning which he grabbed since 2016. 
• He has closely 40 years of executive international experience in diverse organizational settings in finance & budget, management & IT.

Norms on Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure  released by - Government

The government has released norms to upgrade the charging infrastructure in the nation to boost the
electric vehicles. The Union Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry has made modifications to the Model
Building Byelaws 2016 & Urban Regional Development Plans Formulation & Implementation Norms 2014, making provisions for establishing Electric Vehicles charging infrastructure.
Important Features of the Norms

• A public charging station should be on both edges of the highways/roads on every 25 kilometres.
• For long range & heavy-duty electric motor vehicles, there should be minimum 1 station on each side of the highway after every 100 kms.
• The norms also support for charging points in residential areas.
• These norms will act as a guiding document to the state governments & UTs to integrate the norms & standards of electric vehicles in their respective laws.

The 1st Female Flight Engineer of IAF   - Hina Jaiswal

Flight Lt Hina Jaiswal broke the glass ceiling & became the 1st female flight engineer of Indian Air Force
which was till now an exclusive man’s club. The flight engineer branch was initiated to women officers in
2018.
Flight Lt Hina Jaiswal Commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s engineering branch in January 2015. She had shaped history by becoming the 1st female aspirant to pursue the elite course. Flight Lt Hina Jaiswal will work at Indian Air Force’s operational helicopter units & work in demanding & traumatic conditions from the icy heights of the Siachen glacier to the oceans of the Andamans.
Flight Engineer
A flight engineer is a member of an aircraft’s flight crew & needs special skills for continually monitoring & operating its complex systems.
Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal
Flight Lt Hina Jaiswal hails from Chandigarh & has accomplished her Bachelors of Engineering degree from University Institute of Engineering & Technology- UIET Panjab University Chandigarh.