Current Affairs: January 13th, 2018

January 13th, 2018

1.World’s largest solar thermal plant to be built in South Australia.

• The South Australian government has given approval for the construction of the 150-megawatt solar thermal power plant, described by its developer as the largest of its type in the world.
• The plant will work by using a series of mirrors to concentrate sunlight on a receiver at the top of a 220-meter tower.
• Static Part: Australia:-Capital-Canberra|Currency- Australian dollar|Prime minister-Malcolm Turnbull.

2.The 4th ASEAN-INDIA Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was held at New Delhi, representatives from 10 ASEAN countries attended the event. 

• The meeting was co-chaired by Agriculture & Farmer’s welfare ministry Radha Mohan Singh and Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Grisada Boonrach.
• The aim of the meeting was to facilitate promotion of joint research for the development of technologies for increasing production and productivity of crops, livestock and fisheries, and natural resources management, among others in the region.
• Static Part:- ASEAN is an organization that aims to promote intergovernmental cooperation and economic integration among its members. It consists of 10-member countries- Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

3.Saudi Arabia allows women to enter a football stadium for the first time.

• Saudi allowed women to spectate at a football match, part of an easing of strict rules on gender separation by the ultra-conservative Muslim country.
• Static Part: Saudi Arabia:-Capital-Riyadh|Currency-Saudi riyal.

4. L. Sarita Devi and S. Sarjubala Devi, claimed gold in 60 kg and 48 kg category’s National boxing championships.

• Both Sarjubala Devi and Laishram Sarita Devi are Indian boxers from Manipur.
• S. Sarjubala Devi was given the best boxer trophy.
• Static Part: Manipur:-CM-N. Biren singh|Governor-Najma A Heptulla|Keibul Lamjao National Park is at Manipur.

5.American and Japanese military forces have launched joint exercise named “Iron Fist”.

• The 13th annual Iron Fist exercises kicked off in the U.S. western state of California. More than 500 U.S. Marines and sailors are partnering with about 350 members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force to train in fire support operations and amphibious assaults.
• Exercise Iron Fist comes as tensions with North Korea have put Japan, South Korea, and the United States on alert. North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in November that some experts believe is capable of hitting anywhere in the continental United States.
•  Static Part:-1.USA: Capital-Washington, D.C.|President- Donald Trump.
  2.Capital: Japan: Capital-Tokyo|Currency- Japanese yen|Prime minister- Shinzo Abe.

6.National Family Health Survey has revealed that Bihar is India’s poorest state, while Delhi is the richest.

• The national survey classifies all households into five wealth quintiles, according to which Bihar has more than half of its households in the bottom quintile, while Delhi has over 60% households in the top quintile.
• Static Part: Bihar:-CM-Nitish Kumar|Governor-Satya Pal Malik.

7.India, UK sign pact for faster return of illegal immigrants and sharing of criminal records.

• Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju confirmed that the MOU was signed by him and UK Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes in Britain during his visit along with an Indian delegation for a week.
• Static Part: UK:- Capital- London|Currency- Pound Sterling|Prime Minister-Theresa May.

8.IDFC Bank, Capital First announce merger.

• IDFC bank and Non-banking financial company Capital first have received approval from their respective boards for a merger.
• V Vaidyanathan, the current chairman of Capital First, will become the MD and CEO of the merged entity, succeeding IDFC bank CEO Rajiv Lall.
• Static Part: IDFC Bank Headquarters-Mumbai.

9.Retail inflation rises to 5.21% breaches RBI’s medium-term target of 4%.

• Retail inflation crossed the RBI’s comfort level and rose to 5.21 percent in December on rising in prices of food items, egg, and vegetables, dashing hopes of interest rate cut in the near future.
• The retail inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 4.88 percent.
• As per the data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), inflation for the food basket increased to 4.96 percent in December from 4.42 percent in the preceding month.