25 January 2018 Current Affairs

1. India to host 16th International Energy Forum meet in New Delhi.

The 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting will be held in New Delhi, India from 10-12 April 2018.The International Energy Forum (IEF) provides the world’s largest neutral platform for open and inclusive energy dialogue among and between the 72 IEF member governments and a multitude of IOC-NOC industry stakeholders.  At the forefront of this effort is the trilateral programme of work established between the IEF and the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas: Dharmendra Pradhan (Bihar Rajya Sabha)

International Energy Forum

Established:1991

Secretariat: Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Members: 72

2.IOB joins hands with NHB for implementation of rural housing subsidy scheme

Indian Overseas Bank announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Housing Bank for implementation of the Rural Housing Interest Subsidy Scheme (RHISS) of the central rural development ministry.The MoU was signed in the presence of MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank, R Subramaniakumar and MD & CEO of National Housing Bank, Sriram Kalyanaraman, along with senior executives of IOB and National Housing Bank.The interest subsidy under the scheme is at 3 percent per annum for a loan amount of Rs 2 lakh with repayment period up to 20 years.

Indian Overseas Bank(IOB)

Established: 10 February 1937

MD&CEO: R Subramaniakumar

Headquarter: Chennai,,Tamil Nadu

Tagline: Good People to grow with

National Housing Bank(NHB)

Established: 9July 1988

MD&CEO: Sriram Kalyanaraman

Headquarter: New Delhi

3.'Sachin: A Billion Dreams' wins two awards at Tehran International FICTS Fest

Sachin – A Billion Dreams has won two awards at the recently concluded 11th Tehran International FICTS(Federation Internaionale Cinema Television Sportifs) Festival 2018. Sachin – A Billion Dreams won the awards competing against dozens of sports films that were screened over the 4 days of the festival. The Honorary Diploma and Festival Trophy for the Best Director of a Long Documentary went to James Erskine and the Special Award for the Best Film in the Long documentary section went to Ravi Bhagchandka.

Iran

Capital:Tehrain

Currency:Rial

President:Hassan Rouhani

4. Himachal Pradesh govt launches nutrition scheme for HIV-positive kids

The Himachal Pradesh government launched a state-level nutrition scheme for HIV-positive children up to 18 years of age. The scheme was launched by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during a campaign awareness organised  by the State AIDS Control Society on the occasion of National Youth Day(12January).

Kangra recorded the highest number of HIV-positive cases of the 12 districts in the state.

Himanchal PradeshCapital:ShimalCM: Jairam Thakur(Seraj Vidhan Sabha)Governor: Acharya Dev VratNational Park: Pin Valley National Park,Great Himalayan National Park

5.PM Modi meets Queen Maxima of Netherlands to deepen relationship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Queen Maxima of Netherlands on the side lines of the World Economic Forum in Davos,Switzerland. PM Modi is also scheduled to host dinner for global industry bosses from 18 countries in Davos. He is the first Prime Minister since 1997 to attend the annual meeting WEF, which is described as international organisation for public-private cooperation.

Netherland

Capital: Amsterdam

Currency: Euro

Prime Minister: Mark Rutte

World Economic Forum Annual Meet 2018: Davos, Switzerland

6. 7th Edition of International Asia Steel Conference 2018 held in Bhubaneswar,Odisha

The Indian Institute of Metals and Tata Steel Ltd are honoured to hold this International Conference for the second time (first time in 2003) since its inception in 2000. Last time, the Asia Steel conference was held in Yokohama Japan in 2015.

Union Minister of Steel: Chaudhary Birender Singh(Haryana Rajya Sabha)

Odisha

Capital:Bhubaneshwar

CM: Naveen Patnaik

Governor: S C Jamir

National Park: Bhitarkanika National Park, Kanger Ghati National Park, Simlipal National Park, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary

Important River: Mahanadi

7. Malta′s Valletta becomes Europe′s Capital of Culture

Valletta has been officially inaugurated as the European Capital of Culture. Over 140 projects and 400 events have been planned in 2018 around three main themes: Island Stories, Future Baroque and Voyages. It is located in a fortress and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Malta

Capital: Valletta

Currency: Euro

Prime Minsiter: Joseph Muscat

8. Government of India and World Bank Sign $120 million Agreement to Improve Access to Water Supply in Uttarakhand

The Government of India, the Government of Uttarakhand and the World Bank Board today signed a $120 million loan agreement which will help increase access to improved water supply services in peri-urban areas in the state of Uttarakhand.

The Uttarakhand Water Supply Program for Peri-Urban Areas will help the state increase water supply coverage as well as ensure sustainable water supply service delivery in peri-urban areas.

World Bank

Established:1945

President: Jim Yong Kim

CEO: Kristalina Georgieva

Headquarter:Washington DC

Uttarakhand

Capital: Dehradun

CM: Trivendra Singh Rawat

Governor: Krishan Kant Paul

National Park: Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park, Nanda Devi National Park

9. RIL(Reliance Industries Limited) becomes India's first firm to cross ₹6-lakh crore market cap

Reliance Industries (RIL) become the first Indian company to cross the ₹6-lakh crore mark in market capitalisation as its shares touched a 52-week high of ₹974.5 following the announcement of robust Q3 profits.

HDFC Bank is first lender to cross ₹5-lakh crore mark

Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)

Head Quarter: Mumbai

Chairman: Mukesh Ambani

10. Srikumar Menon appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Angola

Angola

Capital:Luanda

Currency: Kwanza

President: Joao Laurenco

11. Meghalaya’s noted entrepreneur, philanthropist Honsen Lyngdoh passed away

Meghalaya’s noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Honsen Lyngdoh, who was involved in the production of award-winning “Gandhi” movie, passed away today after a prolonged illness. He was 81.

Mr Lyngdoh had constructed several roads in remote areas of Meghalaya, to connect with State PWD roads and National Highways, at his own cost

Meghalaya
Capital: Shillong
CM: Mukul Sangama
Governor: Ganga Prasad 
National Park: Nokrek National Park, Balpakram National Park

12.AYUSH Minister lays foundation stone for Homeopathy Research Institute in Jaipur 

This will be the third CRI(Central Research Institute) under the aegis of Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), an autonomous body of Ministry of AYUSH for undertaking scientific research in Homoeopathy, with 23 institutes across the country. 
The institute is also contributing to the Swasthya Rakshan Program at five adopted villages i.e. Chharsa, Kumbhawas, Sakatpura, Khoraladkhani, Hanutpura. Under National Health Mission, 19 villages under Amber block are being catered to for the program “Healthy Teething in Children through Homoeopathy”

Union Minister of State(Independent Charge) for AYUSH: Shripad Yesso Naik(North Goa)

AYUSH stands for Ayurveda,Yoga,Unani,Siddha, Hameopathy.