Current Affairs : October 12, 2011

PSLV C-18 launched

• PSLV-C18 blasted off effectively at 11 am morning from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. The 20^th PSLV has been put into orbit. It will be stabilized into an orbit of 867 km altitude. The core-alone version of the 4-stage PSLV, devoid of the strap-on booster motors will put the 4 satellites in orbit.
  
• The 4 Payloads of PSLV C-18:-
  

1. Megha-Tropiques
   
2. SRMSAT
   
3. Jugnu
   
4. VesselSat-1
   

• TheMegha-Tropiques satellite for climate research launched along with three micro-satellites: the SRMSAT built by the SRM University, Chennai, the remote sensing satellite Jugnu from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur and the VesselSat-1 of Luxembourg to locate ships on high seas.
  

Hurricane “Jova” hovers over Mexico

• In Mexico, Hurricane Jova was hovering over the country’s seven Pacific coastal states and intimidating to make landfall in Colima. Red alert has also been issued in many states.
  

Israel, Hamas agree on prisoner swap deal

• Israel and Hamas have arrived at a prisoner swap deal that will secure the discharge of abducted Israel soldier Gilad Shalit. The deal conveys the true balance b/w all considerations. A number of Palestinian prisoners will be freed in substitution for the release of Israeli soldier.
  

China, Vietnam concur to solve South China Sea row

• China and Vietnam settled to arrive at a serene resolution to their difference of opinion over maritime territory in the South China Sea. Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Ho Xuan Son pledged in a 6 point document to resolve their conflicts over the potentially oil-rich waters via discussions.
  
•  China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner but they have an established disagreement over sovereignty of the Paracel and Spratly island groups, which straddle vital commercial shipping lanes in what Vietnam calls the East Sea. 
  

Project meant at welfare of women & children initiated by ICWC

• The Indian Community Welfare Committee, ICWC, which runs under the patronage of the Consulate General of India in Dubai, set up a fresh project intended at welfare of women and children.
  
• The project started with a cash donation of 60 Lakh rupees from a Dubai-based Indian businessman and philanthropist Siddarth Balachandran. The particular fund has been established subsequent to cautiously studying the present state of affairs in the community in wake of the financial tantrum and its backwash.
  

ONGC Videsh Signs Pact With PetroVietnam:

• The accord between India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s foreign arm, ONGC-VL, and Vietnam’s oil and gas group, PetroVietnam, included new investments and the exploration and supply of oil and gas to the two countries.
  
• India and Vietnam on inked an agreement to promote oil and gas exploration in South China Sea besides other pacts including an extradition treaty, brushing aside the Chinese objection.
  
• India and Vietnam also decided to increase the trade target to USD 7 billion by 2015 apart from agreeing to work towards early finalisation of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Services and Investment.
  

No polio cases for over 200 days: NSP

• National Polio Surveillance revealed in its report that: No polio case has been reported in the country for over 200 days. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has said that Pakistan is still staggering under a polio outburst due to fast transmission of the polio virus. Subsequent the report, India has escalated the inspection at the Indo-Pak border and over 115 children aged below 5 years have been vaccinated to avert the import of virus. 
  

Report to Chidambaram by J&K interlocutor

• The 3-member panel of interlocutors appointed by the Centre on Jammu and Kashmir have presented a permanent solution to the problem after wide-ranging probable consultations across the state.
  
• The 3 members in the Team were:-
  

1. Central Information Commissioner M.M.Ansari
   
2. Noted journalist Dileep Padgaonkar (Led the 3 Member Team)
   

• Academic Prof. Radha Kumar The panel has suggested solutions for economic growth and addressing the socio-cultural concerns of the 3 areas of the state. The Team met 600 delegations in 22 districts of the state in addition to conducting 3 round table conferences with women activists and scholars to seek their outlook on the issue. The panel is believed to have recommended decentralization of powers to Panchayti Raj institutions in the state.
  

India inks MoU with Afghanistan in order to provide technical cooperation to Afghanistan

• India entered into a MoU with Afghanistan to offer technical cooperation in the areas of skill development, industrial relations, health insurance and social security. India will improve capacity building programmes for labour administration.
  
• India will help Afghanistan in developing a Labour Institute to provide technical expertise in designing research studies in these areas. VV Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) to organise training programmes for Afghan officials.

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Month: Current Affairs - October, 2011