IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 18th, 2018

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 18th, 2018

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 18th, 2018

1. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau arrived in India for his 7-day state visit.

a. His visit is aimed at meeting government and business leaders and strengthening the "close friendship" between the two nations.

2. For the first time, Pakistan is going to send transgenders to Saudi Arabia to serve as volunteers during 2018 Haj pilgrimage.

a. The move was aimed at promoting the social inclusion of transgender youth and help them attain confidence.

3. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia.

a. During this visit, he will co-chair the12th India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) which is being held during 18th and 19th February 2018 at Riyadh.

4. Polling has concluded in Tripura to elect a new Assembly. 

a. A total of 292 candidates, including 20 women, are in the fray.

b. The counting of votes will be taken up on the 3rd of next month along with Nagaland and Meghalaya, which will go to polls on the 27th of this month.

5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the ‘Magnetic Maharashtra’ Convergence Summit 2018 at the MMRDA grounds at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.

a. This is Maharashtra’s first Global Investors Summit and is being regarded as one of the biggest such events, especially on the lines of the ‘Make In India’ initiative launched by the Prime Minister in 2016 in Mumbai.

b. Note : It is being run with the tagline #MadeForBusiness.

6. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today inaugurated the 8th Theatre Olympics at Red Fort in Delhi. 

a. The 51-day international theatre festival having 450 shows will be held in over 17 cities including Chandigarh, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. 

b. Theme of 8th Theatre Olympics : 'Flag of Friendship' 

7. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today launched the maiden flight of Bhubaneswar-based airline Air Odisha, connecting Ahmedabad and Mundra. 

a. The airline has been established under the Centre's UDAN scheme, aimed at promoting regional connectivity in India. 

8. Google-spinoff Waymo has become the first company to receive approval to launch adriverless commercial ride-hailing service in the US. 

9. Women in Saudi Arabia can now open their own businesses without the consent of a husband or male relative, as the kingdom pushes to expand a fast-growing private sector.

a. The policy change, announced by the Saudi government today, also marks a major step away from the strict guardianship system that has ruled the country for decades.

10. Japan's government today reappointed Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda for another term.

11. Bollywood Actress Shilpa Shetty has released her second book titled 'The Diary of a Domestic Diva'

a. This book aims to share quick and hassle-free methods of cooking healthy, nutritious and delicious meals.

b. Note : The actress has became an author with her award-winning bestseller 'The Great Indian Diet' in 2014, which became one of the highest selling books in the health segment.

12. Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Pakistan Cricket Board.

13. A total of 225 Indian athletes will participate in 15 sports of this year'sCommonwealth Games, which will be held in Australia from April 4 to April 15. 

a. Note : The Indian basketball teams would be participating at the Commonwealth Games after a gap of eight years.

14. India’s Yuki Bhambri has finished as runner-up in the Men’s Singles in the Chennai Open ATP Challenger Tennis Championships.

a. In the finals, he was beaten by top-seeded Australian Jordan Thompson in three sets.