Daily Current Affairs – 22nd and 23rd October 2015, Thursday and Friday

Posted on 26th October 201528th September 2018 by Shraddha Shraddha

1. Pakistan to become the fifth-largest nuclear power by 2025 (i) As per a report released by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an independent Chicago-based think tank, Pakistan will be the world’s fifth largest nuclear power by 2025. (ii) The country’s reserve of nuclear weapons will more than double over the next decade from its […]

1. Pakistan to become the fifth-largest nuclear power by 2025

(i) As per a report released by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an independent Chicago-based think

tank, Pakistan will be the world’s fifth largest nuclear power by 2025.

(ii) The country’s reserve of

nuclear weapons will more than double over the next decade from its current arsenal of 110 to 130

warheads. It estimates that Pakistan will have 220-250 warheads, just behind the US, Russia and

France, and almost on par with China’s stock of 250.

(iii) This report coincided with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the US.

2. UK signs nuclear deal with China

(i) In mid-October 2015, UK signed a landmark, multi-billion dollar nuclear deal with China

to fund nuclear power stations in Britain.

(ii) UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron announced

that the agreement has been signed between French energy company EDF and China

General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) to build a nuclear power plant at Hinkley

Point in Somerset, which is situated in south-west England.

(iii) The deal will help UK build its first nuclear plant since 1980’s.

3. Japan offers loan at 1% rate to build India’s first bullet train

(i) Japan has offered to finance India’s first bullet train-estimated to cost $15 billion-at an interest

rate of less than 1 percent. The move, experts feel, is to restrict China’s involvement in

infrastructure development in South Asia.

(ii) Tokyo was chosen to assess building of a 505-kilometre corridor linking Mumbai with

Ahmedabad. Though, the construction project will be put out to tender, Japan seems to be the

forerunner as it is offering both funding and technology.

(iii) In September 2015, China bagged the contract to evaluate the feasibility of a high-speed train

between Delhi and Mumbai, a 1,200-km route estimated to cost twice as much. However, no loan

has been offered.

4. Amravati is the new capital of Andhra Pradesh

(i) Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Andhra Pradesh’s

new capital Amravati, in the state’s Guntur district.

(ii) The ceremony that was held on the

occasion of Dussehra was attended by several central and state ministers, Chief Minister

of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao and other industrialists and celebrities.

(iii)

The capital is located about 40 km from the commercial hub of the state – Vijayawada.

5. Bank of Baroda first PSB to join Chillr payment platform

(i) Recently, Bank of Baroda became the first public sector bank to join the payment platform

Chillr, which facilitates peer-to-peer payment through a mobile application.

(ii) The Chillr app

is now available on Android platform for fund transfer, however, it will soon be made

available for IOS and Windows platform.

(iii) HDFC was the first private bank to join this

platform. As per the Chillr CEO Sony Joy, two other banks are expected to join the

platform by October 2015.

6. K Chockalingam wins the Paul H Appleby Award

(i) The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) conferred the prestigious

Paul H Appleby Award on noted criminologist K Chockalingam in recognition of his

contributions to public administration.

(ii) Chockalingam has served as a professor and

researcher in criminology at the University of Madras and is Vice President of the World

Society of Victimology.

(iii) He also holds the distinction of penning 75 research papers and has

authored four books.

7. Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Prevention Day observed

(i) On October 21, the Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Prevention Day is observed with the aim of drawing people’s attention to the consequences of iodine

deficiency and encourage adequate use of the mineral.

(ii) According to the World Health

Organisation’s (WHO) data, 54 countries are still iodine deficient.

8. Facebook launches TechPrep to help parents improve their comp skills

(i) Facebook launched a new initiative called TechPrep to help parents, guardians

and other individuals who have had less exposure to computer skills and careers in

technology.

(ii) The website will also encourage women, and minority groups like African-

Americans and Hispanics to know more about computer science and programming.

(iii) They

can also learn to help their wards pursue a career in technology-related fields.

9. Nehwal loses World No. 1 ranking to Carolina Marin