Current Affairs 6th April 2018

Current Affairs 6th April 2018 - Important Points

• Russia’s call to join spy poisoning probe rejected by -OPCW
• Cabinet approves MoU on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector between India and - UAE
• 9th India, Japan, US trilateral meeting held in - New Delhi
• Second largest manufacturer of crude steel - India
• Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu wins India's second Gold Medal on - 6th April 2018
• Government institutes committee to regulate online news on - 4th April 2018
• Panel set up to examine tax evasion risks posed by super rich by - The Central Board of Direct Taxes
• Wi-Fi grid to bring down cost of internet by 90% by - TRAI

Current Affairs 6th April 2018 - Details

Russia’s call to join spy poisoning probe rejected by -OPCW

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has rejected Russia's call for a joint investigation with Britain in the case of  nerve-agent poisonings of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the United Kingdom.

Russia stated that the number of countries that abstained from the vote suggested that many have doubts about Britain's allegations that Moscow was behind the attack.  Russia has denied any involvement in the ex-spy poisoning and the nation now is planning to take its case to the UN Security Council.

Important Highlights

• Russia's proposal for a joint investigation in the case received only six votes during the special session of the executive council of OPCW, while 17 abstained.
• The council has representatives from 41 countries.
• The British government on March 4th had invited experts from OPCW to help in identifying the substance that was proved toxic to the two people.
• While speaking on the development, Russia's OPCW envoy Alexander Shulgin mentioned that the 17 abstentions from the vote meant that more than half of the executive
• council members refused to support the US and UK position on the matter.
• Russia has now requested for an open meeting of the UN Security Council in the case.
  Did you know?

More than 21 nations led by the United States have expelled more than 200 Russian diplomats to show solidarity with Britain over the poison attack. Russia also responded by expelling more than 150 foreign diplomats.

9th India, Japan, US trilateral meeting held in - New Delhi

The 9th India-Japan- USA tri-lateral conference was organised in New Delhi and was represented by
senior ambassadors by 3 nations. It organised discussions on regional and global matters of common
interest and focussed on connectivity, anti-terrorism and other local and global matters of common
interest.
Key Points

• The tri-lateral nations decided to stay-in to cooperate to promote increased connectivity in Indo-Pacific.
• They also settled to remain involved and toughen collaboration in support for free, wealthy, peaceful and comprehensive Indo-Pacific region via corporation with nations in region.
• They also discovered practical steps to enhance coordination in areas of connectivity and infrastructure progress, tackle-terrorism, tackle-proliferation, nautical security and Philanthropical Assistance and Disaster Relief.
• The tri-lateral meeting aimed on reputation of keeping the maritime ways open, over India’s issue about preserving freedom of navigation in South China Ocean and Western-Pacific Sea.
  Did you know?
• The India-Japan- USA trilateral was initiated in December 2011, during the time of Hillary Clinton as an United States Secretary of State.
• For 1st many rounds, the tri-lateral was organised at assistant secretary level. It was upgraded to ministerial level in 2015.
• The opening ministerial tri-lateral was organised in September 2015 in New York on side lines of UNs General Assembly Session.
• It was also led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

Second largest manufacturer of crude steel - India

As per to Steel Users Federation of India, India has surpassed Japan to become world’s 2nd largest crude steel manufacturer in February 2018. China is the largest manufacturer of crude steel in the world, responsible for over 50 per cent of the manufacturing. Previously in 2015, India had surpassed United States to become 3rd largest crude steel manufacturer.
Key Points

• India’s crude steel manufacturing mounted at 93.11 MT for time period of April 2017-Feb 2018 and was up 4.4 per cent in comparison with April 2016-Feb 2017 time period.
• This assisted to surpass Japan and become 2nd largest crude steel manufacturer in the world.
• The development in steel manufacturing was attributed to policies undertaken by government after host of stages introduced to control imports, increase domestic demand with creativities including
• Make in India and GST implementation to inspire the local market.

Cabinet approves MoU on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector between India and - UAE

The Union Cabinet has passed MoU inked among India and UAE on Technical Collaboration in Railways Sector. The Memorandum of Understanding was inked in February 2018 with Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime of United Arab Emirates.
Key Points

• The Memorandum of Understanding will deliver platform to Indian Railways to interrelate and share modern developments and information in railways.
• It will simplify interchange of data, professional meetings, technical appointments and mutually agreed collaboration projects execution among both nations.
• The Memorandum of Understanding will enable technical collaboration in following areas Regulation, security and practical investigation of accidents.
  -Station re-development.
  -Engines, coaches and railway wagon.
  -Any other area mutually identified by both nations in future.
  Did you know
• Ministry of Railways has inked various Memorandum of Understandings for technical collaboration in Railways sector with numerous overseas Governments.
• The identified areas of assistance under these Memorandum of Understandings consists of high-speed corridors, expansion of world class stations, speed-raising of Present lines, heavyweight tow operations and upgrading of rail infrastructure.
• The assistance is attained via data exchange for developments in areas of railways-technology and operations, mechanical visits, training and seminars in areas of common interest.

Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu wins India's second Gold Medal on - 6th April 2018

Weightlifter athlete Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu won 2 nd Gold Medal for India by victory in the 53-kilogram Women weightlifting category at the 21st Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre in Gold Coast, Australia on April 6th, 2018.
Sanjita beaten Dika Toua of Papua New Guinea with a total weight of 192 kg lifted in combination of 84-kilogram snatch and 108 kilograms clean and Jerk. She broke the Commonwealth Games record in snatch with a weight lift of 84 kilogram. 2014 Glasgow gold medallist Dika Toua secures the Silver Medal with a total weight lift of 182 kg and the Bronze to Canada’s Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet who finished by lifting 181 kilograms total.
This was the 2nd Commonwealth Gold Medal of Sanjita as well. She secured the 1st Gold in the 48 kilograms event in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. 
This is India's 3rd medal of Commonwealth Games 2018 with Mirabai Chanu winning Gold and P.Gururaja demanding the silver in weight-lifting on Day first of the games.
More about Commonwealth Games 2018

• The 21st Commonwealth games started on April 4 th , 2018 at Gold coast in Australia. Present year, the Games will mark the fifth time that Australia has organised these games. 
• Indian players delegate was characterized at the inaugural ceremony by a contingent of more than 200 athletes who were headed by flag-bearer, the Olympics Silver medallist, P.V.Sindhu.

Government institutes committee to regulate online news on - 4th April 2018

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting introduced a committee to control online portals consisting news sites and entertainment websites, on April 4th , 2018.
The ten members committee will have secretaries of the Home departments, Legal Affairs, Electronics and Information & Technology, and Industrial Policy and Promotion, CEO MyGov and a demonstrative each from the Press Council of India and NBA.
Key Highlights

• The news broadcasted on TV channels are controlled in terms of the programme and advertisement codes under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
• The print-media is controlled by the self-directed body, Press Council of India.
• The fresh committee would be controlling online media by concentrating on the following 3 things:
  - Taking online information broadcasting under guidelines.
  - Suggesting a policy for overseas direct investment in the online media.
  - Observing at international best practices on such current regulatory mechanism.

Panel set up to examine tax evasion risks posed by super rich by - The Central Board of Direct Taxes

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has formed an internal-working group to inspect the taxation aspects of high net worth individuals. The group has been formed to make sure that individuals who positions a substantial tax danger pay their dues.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes informed in a letter that in current times, there has been a movement of high net worth individuals migrating from their home-nation to other jurisdictions, which stances a greater tax risk, as they may show themselves as non-residents for taxation drives even though they may have strong individual and economic relations with India.
Key Highlights 

• The working group of tax administrators will include 5 members including a joint secretary-rank officer and 4 revenue officers.
• It will suggest measures on tax dangers rising out of such persons and how to treat with them.
• It will also accept inputs from field-officials previously finalising its statement.
• The 1st meeting of the working group will be organised on April 6th .

Wi-Fi grid to bring down cost of internet by 90% by - TRAI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has projected concept of start architecture related public Wi-Fi grid to decrease the internet prices by 90 per cent. It is much desired as broadband proliferation across nation is significant pillar of Digital India and Wi-Fi serves as inexpensive option given low-cost of apparatus and free spectrum.
Key Points

• The Wi-Fi grid projected by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India entails different providers coming together to address features like services, access, expense and authentication.
• Its references are sponsored by findings of pilot project directed by regulator. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s pilot and trials were focused at representative proof of concept of such architecture.
• It has advised that any entity including organisation, proprietorship or non-entities should effortlessly be capable to form a public Wi-Fi access point.
  Significance
• The newest references of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India follow BharatNet project being pursued by Central government that aims to provide Wi-Fi services to village-panchayats across the nation. Government has finished its 1st phase and supposes the project to be completed by 2019.