Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 14 October 2019

::NATIONAL::

Air Quality continues to be poor in Delhi NCR

Delhiites woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Monday with the air quality index (AQI) deteriorating further in the national capital region (NCR).
As stubble burning continues in Punjab and Haryana, New Delhi's air quality was recorded "poor" for the fifth consecutive day on Monday with AQI crossing the 235-mark at several places, including Jahagirpuri.
The AQI showed increased levels of pollution in parts Delhi-NCR - major pollutants PM 2.5 stood at 223 and PM 10 at 217, both in the poor category, at Lodhi Road.
Delhiites breathed toxic air for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday as the overall AQI reached 270 (poor category).
On Sunday, Delhi's AnandVihar experienced 'very poor' air with the AQI at crossing the 325 mark.The AQI in Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Noida and Loni also hit the 'very poor category' mark for the first time on Sunday and is likely to deteriorate further as per experts.
PM 2.5 and PM 10 remained the primary pollutants adding to the trouble. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are micro-pollutants, which enter the respiratory system and result in breathing discomfort on prolonged exposure.
No respite is underway as per the Indian Meteorological Department. "The wind speeds are likely to blow at 10 to 15 kmph and a change in the pattern is underway but it is marginal and won't disperse the haze prevailing over Delhi NCR," said Dr Naresh Kumar, a scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department.

Section 144 imposed in Ayodhya ahead of verdict

Section 144 has been imposed in Ayodhya till December 10 ahead of the anticipation of verdict on the disputed land, District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said.
He also said that the decision to impose Section 144 was also taken while considering the upcoming festivals.
"Decision to impose Section-144 was also taken in consideration of upcoming festivals," Anuj Kumar Jhasaid.It comes as Ayodhaya seers and VHP leaders sought permission to light diyas’ at the Ram Temple.
However, petitioner Haji Mehmood said if they get permission to celebrate Diwali on the disputed land, he will also seek permission for offering namaz there.
Earlier in October, BJP MLA from Pali, Rajasthan GyanchandParakh declared that the Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya before November 17 -- the day Supreme Court will announce its verdict in the matter.

::ECONOMY::

Commerce ministry stresses on strengthening cooperative sector

Commerce and Industry Minister PiyushGoyal has asked the leaders of the co-operative sector to think how they can give more strength and power to the sector by self-regulatory mechanism.
He said, it is the responsibility of all - not to bring a bad name for the co-operative sector. Mr.Goyal was addressing the closing ceremony of India International Cooperatives Trade Fair in New Delhi today.
The Minister said, there is a need to think about the small cooperatives as a large section of tribal and rural people are in the business of encouraging cooperatives and they have not yet got the opportunity to take out their art and products. He said, Indian big industries should also be added to such cooperative trade fair.
The first ever India International Cooperatives Trade Fair was aimed at promoting cooperative trade within India and abroad leading to enhanced rural and farm prosperity.
Representatives from over 150 cooperative societies and 36 countries including Australia, Japan, China, Brazil, US, UK, Germany and Iran participated in the fair.

India seeks to cover 50% of Chinese goods under RCEP

India's insistence on providing a safety valve to cover at least 50% of Chinese imports under Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP), the proposed 16-nation trading bloc, has held up conclusion of talks for the mega trade agreement that has been in the works for over six years now.
During the ministerial meeting over the weekend, commerce and industry minister PiyushGoyal also demanded that India's concerns on e-commerce, investment, taxation, micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs) and policies framed by local bodies should also need to be reworked before it could sign the deal, triggering complaints by negotiators from other countries, which have been pushing for early conclusion of talks, sources told.
While Asean and others are ready to sign the deal, India is accused of holding it up. Just when things looked settled, Goyal and his team raised concerns resulting in a situation where the talks ended without a joint statement by the ministers.
Negotiators from other countries, especially Singapore and Thailand, blamed New Delhi for holding up the deal. A report in Japan Today alleged that Indian negotiators "almost banged the table" at the "very tough and serious" meeting in Bangkok.
Although the commerce department refused to comment on the issue, sources said negotiators have been given time till October 22 to try and address India's concerns, leaving just a small window of a fortnight before leaders from the 16 countries meet to take stock of the talks that were to be end by the year.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India Sierra Leone expand cooperation, agrees to push for UNSC reforms

India and Sierra Leone signed 6 agreements today to expand the bilateral relations in various fields and also agreed to push for UNSC reforms so that one-third of mankind residing in Africa and India occupy their rightful place in decision making bodies of the UN.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Vice President who arrived in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, on the second and last leg of his tour to African nations. This is the first ever visit of an Indian Vice President to Sierra Leone.
India announced the decision to establish a High Commission in Sierra Leone, even as both the countries have agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture, food processing, Information Technology, infrastructure development and capacity building.
Earlier, the Vice President held a tête-à-têteand delegation level talks with Mr. Julius Maada Bio. Both the leaders exchanged views on multilateral issues and decided to build on the existing cooperation at UNSC and other multilateral fora.
Soon after Vice President’s arrival in Freetown from Comoros, Ms.NabeelaFareedaTunia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation called on Shri Naidu and held discussions on bilateral issues and international cooperation. The Vice President appreciated the Sierra Leone Government for ensuring the safety and security of Indian Community of around 1400.

President imposes curfew in Ecuador, army takes over streets

Ecuador's army took to the streets after President Lenin Moreno ordered the first 24-hour curfew in decades in response to a day of attacks on government buildings and media offices.
Soldiers last night took control of the park and streets leading to the National Assembly and the national comptroller's office, which had been broken into by protesters who lit fires inside the building.
President Moreno said, the military would enforce the round the clock curfew in Quito and around critical infrastructure like power stations and hospitals in response to the day's violence.
It was the first such action imposed since a series of coups in the 1960s and '70s.The President also announced some possible concessions in an economic package that was opposed by many Ecuadorians. But he didn't retract his decision to remove fuel subsidies, a step that triggered the nationwide protests and clashes.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

NASA space weather satellite to study Earth’s Ionosphere

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has launched a satellite called ICON or Ionospheric Connection Explorer to explore the mysterious, dynamic region where air meets space.
The ICON satellite rocketed into orbit following a two-year delay and was dropped from a plane flying over the Atlantic off the Florida coast. About ICON (Ionospheric Connection Explorer) It will study the link between space weather and Earth weather.
Five seconds after the satellite’s release, the attached Pegasus rocket ignited and sent Icon on its way. Icon, a refrigerator-size satellite should have soared in 2017, but problems with air-launched Pegasus rocket interfered. Despite the long delay, as per the NASA this $252 million mission did not exceed its price cap.
The satellite has been built by Northrop Grumman, an American global aerospace and defense technology company.

::SPORTS::

Former Indian skipper Ganguly to be the new BCCI president

Former Indian skipper SouravGanguly is all set to become the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI. He said, his election will be a great opportunity for him to do something good.
GangulypippedBrijesh Patel in a see-saw battle and is expected to be the only presidential nominee. In an interaction with a news agency, he admitted that being selected unopposed is a big responsibility and that the image of the BCCI had been hampered in the recent past.
Ganguly, who is currently the president of Cricket Association of Bengal, will have to demit office in July, due to a compulsory cooling-off period. The ex-cricketer said, his first priority in the short tenure would be to look after "first-class cricketers". He also plans to meet all stakeholders in Indian cricket.