Important Current Affairs 12th October 2018 English

(International News)

World Bank’s Human Capital Index released
 
The World Bank released today a Human Capital Index (HCI) as part of the World Development Report 2019. 
Broader theme of the World Development Report (WDR) this year is “The Changing Nature of Work”. 
As part of this report, the World Bank has launched a Human Capital Project (HCP). The HCP programme is claimed to be a program of advocacy, measurement, and analytical work to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital. The HCI has been constructed for 157 countries.

Global Hunger Index 2018
 
As per the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI), published, the level of hunger and under nutrition worldwide fell to 20.9, down from 29.2 in the year 2000. 

As per the index, India was ranked 103rd out of 119 qualifying countries. The Global Hunger Index 2018 report was prepared jointly by global NGOs namely, Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welthungerhilfe (Germany).

Malaysian government decides to abolish capital punishment
 
In Malaysia, the cabinet decided to abolish the death penalty. Communications and multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said, the government decided to scrap capital punishment following strong domestic opposition to the practice. 
Capital punishment in Malaysia is currently mandatory for murder, kidnapping, possession of firearms and drug trafficking, among other crimes.

India lost $79.5 billion due to climate-related disasters in last 20 years: UN
 
India lost $79.5 billion to climate-related disasters in the last two decades, according to a United Nations (UN) report.
At least 91% of all major disasters recorded from 1988 to 2017 were climate-related, according to the Economic Losses, Poverty and Disasters 1998-2017 report, released by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva.
The largest numbers of people (2 billion) were affected by floods, which accounted for 43.4% of these disasters, followed by droughts, which affected a further 1.5 billion people. 
India is among five countries after the US, China and Japan and Puerto Rico, which have witnessed the greatest economic losses due to climate-related disasters.

(National News)

Central University of Jammu signs MoU with ISRO to set up Space Applications Center

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an MoU with the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) in Jammu today for setting up of the Satish Dhawan Center for Space Science in the University.

Another MoU was signed between CUJ and the Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIR-CSIO). 

Objective:-
To create awareness about space research and to motivate young minds to take up research related to space, astronomy, geology, atmospheric sciences and related fields, a two day workshop was also inaugurated at the CUJ campus.

(Defence News)

(IND-INDO CORPAT), to be held from 11 – 27 Oct 2018

Indian Naval Ship Kulish, a Kora class missile corvette, commanded by Commander Deepak Bali and an Indian Dornier (naval maritime time patrol aircraft) from Andaman and Nicobar command entered Belawan harbour, Indonesia for the opening ceremony of the 32nd edition of India – Indonesia coordinated patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT), to be held from 11 – 27 Oct 2018. 
The delegation is led by Commodore Ashutosh Ridhorkar, Naval Component Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Command.

(International Agreement News)

India-Azerbaijan sign protocol on trade and economic, science and technology cooperation
 
The 5th meeting of India-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Science and Technology Cooperation (IA-IGC) was held on 11-12 October, 2018 in New Delhi.
Important Points:
To emphasised to further strengthen and expand their cooperation in trade and investment, transportation, energy and hydro-carbons, SMEs, agriculture, food safety and environmental protection, tourism, culture, health and pharmaceuticals, space technology, education and scientific research, chemicals and petrochemicals and mining.
Trade turnover between India and Azerbaijan in January-August 2018 was USD 657.9 million.
Both sides agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Science and Technology co-operation in Baku.

(Economic News)

Vision of a USD 5 Trillion Indian Economy

The Working Group tasked to develop a roadmap towards achieving a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2025 has prepared its report and it is being circulated to the stakeholders for further suggestions.
The Working Group was constituted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with participation from government and industry.
Important:
India is one of the fastest growing major economies and is currently ranked as the world’s sixth largest economy.