Today's Current Affairs - 24th October 2022

INTERNATIONAL

Rishi Sunak declares candidature for UK PM, leads with backing of over 131 MPs

• Rishi Sunak, the son-in-law of Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, formally entered the race to succeed Liz Truss as leader of the Conservative party and the next prime minister of the United Kingdom on the day of Diwali. About 131 to 153 MPs have reportedly supported Sunak so far, compared to Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson, who served as Truss’ predecessors, who received 56 to 76 and 22 to 28 MPs, respectively.
• Only candidates who have received nominations from 100 or more MPs will advance to the first round.
• Rishi Sunak will automatically become the prime minister of the UK on Diwali if he is the only person to cross the finish line.
• Ben Wallace, the defence minister, offered that the three candidates establish a tripartite government to prevent political squabbling at a time when risks to UK national security were so high.

Pakistan is out of FATF 'grey list' on terror funding

• Pakistan has been removed from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force(FATF), the Paris-based global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing. Pakistan was placed in the grey list in 2018 for failing to keep a check on money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Besides Pakistan, Nicaragua was removed from the FATF’s ‘grey list’ while Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Mozambique were added to the list. Myanmar was added to the FATF’s ‘black list’.
• In a statement, the FATF said Pakistan made significant progress in checking money laundering and combating financing of terrorism. “They have (Pakistan) been removed from the grey list, however, there’s still work to be done on their part,” FATF president T Raja Kumar said.
• In a statement, FATF welcomed Pakistan’s significant progress in improving its anti-money laundering and combating financial terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.
• This development comes more than four years after the FATF put Pakistan on its grey list for the country’s failure to check the risk of money laundering, leading to corruption and terror financing.

NATIONAL

Punjab govt. announces restoration of old pension scheme

• The Punjab Government decided to restore the old pension scheme for its employees. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the government has decided to implement the old pension scheme as a Diwali gift for its employees. The decision was taken as an in-principle decision to the effect of the cabinet meeting. The decision aims to benefit lakhs of employees.
• Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the employees will be given the option to join the old pension scheme.
• The government was considering restoring the scheme for government employees for a month.
• Restoration of the old pension scheme was discontinued in 2004 and it has been one of the major demands of state government employees.

Uttar Pradesh: Ayodhya all set to celebrate Diwali with spectacular arrangements, PM Narendra Modi to be the chief guest

• Lord Rama, an avatar of the almighty Vishnu, is a popular Hindu deity. Lord Rama was born at Ayodhya, according to the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. Ayodhya Ram Mandir Diwali 2022 is very special as it is going to be celebrated as Ayodhya Deepotsav. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took part in the Ayodhya Deepotsav.
• The Babri Masjid, a mosque built by the Mughals in the sixteenth century, is thought to be located near the Ram Janmabhoomi, the reputed birthplace of Rama. In the 1850s, a fierce disagreement developed.
• The remains of a Hindu temple were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) between 1978 and 2003.

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

India successfully test fires medium-range ballistic missile

• The Agni Prime New Generation Ballistic Missile was successfully tested by India on October 21 off the coast of Odisha. Around 9.45 this morning, a test launch of the ballistic missile took place. The missile successfully completed the test, covering its full range, and all of its test goals were achieved.
• This was the missile Agni Prime’s third straight successful flight test.This test has demonstrated the system’s accuracy and dependability.
• Agni Prime underwent its first test on June 28, 2021, and it underwent its second test on December 18, 2021.
• The Agni Prime, also known as “Agni-P,” is a two-stage canisterized missile from the Agni class that is nuclear-capable and has a maximum range of 2,000 kilometres.

 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Shri Jaxay Shah nominated as the new Chairman of Quality Council of India

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Jaxay Shah, founder chairman of Savvy Group and former chairman of CREDAI as the chairman of the Quality Council of India (QCI) for three years, effective 21 October, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. He will succeed former McKinsey India chief Adil Zainulbhai, who served as the chairman of QCI through three terms for eight years from 2014 to 2022.
• Jaxay Shah has been appointed based on his vast industry experience which shall contribute to further propelling the wheels of Quality, a legacy established by the former Chairpersons of QCI. In addition, he also holds the position of the chairman of the Assocham Western Region Development Council and serves as the Advisor at the PharmEasy Accelerator Program, which offers 1 lakh+ medicine and health products.

IMPORTANT DAYS

United Nations Day 2022: 24^th October

• United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. In 1945, 50 governments gathered to draft the UN Charter. They have struggled and accomplished great feats to uphold peace, protect human rights, and play a key role in bringing international justice.
• The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. At present, there are 193 Member States. The UN is guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter which was signed in 1945. The United Nations Day commemorates the signing of that charter. According to their official website, the United Nations is “One place where the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions.”
• The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. The name “United Nations” was coined by the United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and first used in the Declaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942, during Second World War.

World Development Information Day 2022: 24^th October

• Every year the United Nations marks October 24 as World Development Information Day. This day is observed to create awareness towards the problems surrounding development in different nations and how to overcome them. The United Nations (UN) believes that such information and communications technologies also have the potential to provide solutions to various development challenges and can also foster various crucial goals, especially in developing countries.
• With many countries being burdened with insufficient resources, infrastructure, education, capacity, investment, and connectivity, World Development Information Day aims to address these issues. Spreading awareness and mobilizing public opinion to draw people’s support is one to start addressing and resolving these global problems.