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IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCTOBER 13^th  , 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCTOBER 13^th 2019 

1.      (13th October) is International Day for Disaster Reduction.

a.       This day celebrates the way that people and communities around the world reduce their exposure to disasters and raise awareness about the risks that they face.

b.       Theme of International Day for Disaster Reduction 2019 :  “Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services”.

2.      The Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrived in New Delhi today on a 5-day visit.

a.       During this visit, they will hold meetings with the top Indian leadership to boost bilateral economic and political cooperation.

b.       This trip would be his 1st state visit to India, following his ascension to the throne in 2013.

c.       The King and Queen will visit New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kerala during their visit. 

d.       The visit is expected to boost economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

3.      Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping's invitation to attend a 3rd Informal Summit in China. 

4.      PM will inaugurate the Kartarpur corridor to Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan on 8th November 2019.

a.       He will inaugurate the integrated check post on the Indian side.

b.       The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims.

5.      Dubai prepares to host the 2019 First Global DXB Challenge, a large gathering for creative young minds in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence.

a.       To be held for the 1st time in the region from 24th to 27th of this month at the Festival Arena in Dubai, the event will bring together more than 1,500 youth from over 191 countries to collaborate, create and compete for a better future. 

b.       The 1st Global Challenge seeks to encourage and empower youth with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, develop their skills and equip them with the tools necessary to contribute to shaping the future.

c.       The Challenge aims to address the world’s most critical environmental issues such as wastage of water and energy, sustainability and pollution through a global robotics competition.

6.      State-run Bank of Baroda and French financial services group BNP Paribas have agreed to merge their mutual fund businesses. 

o    Bank of Baroda will have a stake of 50.1% in the combined asset management company. 

7.      The World Bank today announced that the India's growth rate is projected to fall to 6%

a.       In 2018-19, the growth rate of the country stood at 6.9%. 

b.       However, the World Bank in its latest edition of the South Asia Economic Focus said the country was expected to gradually recover to 6.9% in 2021 and 7.2% in 2022.

8.      The UK's Royal Mint has claimed to have unveiled the world's 1st solid gold payment card made of 18-karat gold. 

a.       The Royal Mint developed the card, worth £18,750 (nearly ₹17 lakh), in association with Mastercard and Accomplish Financial. 

b.       Buyers of the card will get access to a premium account that offers zero foreign exchange and transaction fees.

9.      Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to meet Chief Executive Officers of the Public Sector Banks in New Delhi tomorrow. 

a.       The meeting is expected to discuss various issues including progress on credit off-take as part of the government's efforts to prop up the economy.

b.       It will review the fund flow to stressed Non-Banking Financial Companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sectors. 

10. India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed 190 million dollar loan agreement for improving road connectivity in Rajasthan.

a.       The agreement was signed yesterday to upgrade 754 kilometres of state highways which will benefit about 26 million people in 14 districts of Rajasthan.

11. Indian nun Mariam Thresia was declared a Saint by Pope Francis at a ceremony in the Vatican City today. 

a.       Mariam Thresia, who died in 1926, had founded the 'Congregation of the Holy Family' in Thrissur in May 1914. 

b.       Note : She is the 3rd nun and fourth clergy member from the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Church to be canonised into the league of saints.

12. Oscar-nominated actor Robert Forster (78) passed away due to brain cancer in Los Angeles. 

a.       Forster was nominated for an Oscar in 1998 for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category for his role in film 'Jackie Brown'. 

13. India's Manju Rani settled for the Silver medal in World Women's Boxing Championships at Ulan-Ude in Russia. 

a.       Rani lost to the second-seeded Russian Ekaterina Paltceva in the 48-kilogram category in the final match of the tournament. 

14. Spain captain Sergio Ramos became the nation's most-capped player ever after going ahead of former Spain captain Iker Casillas by making his 168th appearance for his country. 

a.       The 33-year-old defender has also become the most-capped European outfield player in the history of the game, surpassing Latvia's Vitalijs Astafjevs. 

15. Valtteri Bottas won the Japanese Grand Prix 2019.

16. India's 14-year-old Grand Master from Chennai R Praggnanandhaa claimed the Gold medal in the World Youth Chess Championship's Under-18 Open category. 

a.       India's Under-14 Girls Divya Deshmukh and Rakshitta Ravi brought home silver and bronze medals respectively.

17. Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen clinched his maiden BWF World Tour title by winning the Dutch Open men's singles at Almere in the Netherlands.