IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 18, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF OCT 18, 2016

• On Oct 17, 2016 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed.
• This day has been observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution  designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.
• Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the development of the post-2015 development agenda.
• Theme of the year 2016 : “Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms”
• The 8th BRICS summit was held in Goa during 15th & 16th October 2016. 
• BRICS comprises five emerging economies —Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• The summit concluded withadaptation of Goa Declaration. 
• The two day summit was attended by,
• Indian Prime Minister - Narendra Modi, 
• Chinese President - Xi Jinping, 
• Russian President - Vladimir Putin, 
• Brazilian President - Michel Temer 
• South African President - Jacob Zuma. 
• Theme of the Summit : “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”. 
• The five-nation group has agreed to set up an independent BRICS Rating Agency in its efforts to challenge western hegemony in the world of finance.  
• UK Prime Minister Theresa May will make her first bilateral visit to Indiawith a delegation of small and medium-size business representatives in November. 
• The trip will reportedly focus on India-UK Strategic Partnership as well as trade ties as Britain prepares for its exit from the European Union. 
• Important Note : This will be May's first bilateral trip outside Europe since taking office.
• State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi is India to attend theBRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa.
• During her three day stay in New Delhi, she will call on the President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow at Rashtrapati Bhavan and also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• India and Brazil signed 4 agreements in areas of investment cooperation and facilitation, cattle genomics, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
• India and Hungary sign two agreements including co-operation in Water resources and co-operation between Indian Council of World Affairs and its Hungarian counterpart.
• The Congo River, which spans ten countries in Africa, is considered the world's deepest river by the Guinness World Records, with a maximum depth of at least 220 metres (722 feet). 
• Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was On Oct 17, 2016 formally appointed as JD(U) President at the party’s National Council meeting in Nalanda district.
• China On Oct 17, 2016 launched the two-man Shenzhou 11 space mission, which is its longest-ever manned space mission. 
• The two astronauts will spend about a month in China's recently-launched experimental space lab, Tiangong 2. 
• Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland On Oct 17, 2016 launched 'Circuit', the first zero-emission electric bus made entirely in India. 
• Created specifically for Indian roads and passenger conditions, the bus costs between ₹1.50 to ₹3.50 crore and can travel up to 120 kilometres on a single charge. 
• The bus has a seating capacity of 65 passengers.
• The last king of Rwanda, Kigeli V (80), who ruled the east African nation for less than a year before being forced into exile, finally settling in the United States, has died.
• Born Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa, King Kigeli came to power in 1959 and was forced to leave the country the following year after clashing with the Belgian colonial power. 
• In 1961, the monarchy was abolished.
• Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal received an honorary doctorate in literaturefrom SRM University in Chennai On Oct 17, 2016. 
• Note : Nehwal is the third sportsperson to be conferred a doctorate by the university.
• The city of Novi Sad in Serbia has been nominated as one of the three European Capitals of Culture 2021. 
• The initiative, which began in 1985, seeks to "connect people in Europe and to raise awareness on common history and values". 
• To emphasise the richness and diversity of European cultures, around 50 cities have held the title till now.
• Britain's Andy Murray won the Shanghai Masters, his fifth title of 2016, defeating Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(7-1), 6-1 On Oct 17, 2016. 
• Indian shuttler Sourabh Verma wins men's singles title at the Chinese Taipei Open badminton.