Current Affairs 26th October 2017

Current Affairs 26th October 2017 - Important Points

• Russia vetoed United Nations resolution on - 24th October 2017
• Photographs of living persons on roadside sign-boards and banners banned by -  Madras High Court 
• Qatar to introduce minimum wage for workers on - 25th October 2017
• Stage-I forest clearance for Kaleswaram project construction issued by -  Environment Ministry
•  DoT simplifies linking of Aadhaar with Mobile Number on - 25th October 2017
•  Indian origin activist Gina Miller named UK’s most influential black person of the year on - 25th October 2017
•  UP, Haryana, Rajasthan to ban use of pet coke  by - Supreme Court
•  India imposes anti-dumping duty on stainless steel from  - US, EU and China
• Global Passport Power Rank 2017 released on - 25th October 2017
• Vigilance awareness week to be observed by -  Central Vigilance Commission

Current Affairs 26th October 2017 - Details

Russia vetoes United Nations resolution to extend examination of chemical attacks in Syria.

Russia on 24th October 2017 utilised their veto power on the United Nations Security Council to restrict a UN resolution that would extend the work of international inspectors to establish who was behind the chemical attacks in Syria.
The chemical attack, which took place on 4th April 2017 on a town in Syria- Khan Sheikhoun, had lead to many civilians casualities. The attack was an example of the deadliest use of chemical weapons in the Syrian war since the Ghouta chemical attack in year 2013. Russia vetoed the US-backed resolution blaming for the United States of calling the vote to disrespect Russia.
The veto decision was disapproval by the United States, Britain and other nations, which took it as an attempt to protect those responsible for answering to the most debatable human rights abuses in Syria’s war history.
The UN resolution to extend the investigation received 11 positive votes, 2 negative votes from Russia and Bolivia and two non-voting. The veto will now prevent the examiner from examinating the chemical invasion unless a new accordance is struck to expand them before mid-November.
Russia had been pushing to delay the vote on the extension of the examination but could not get much aid and used its veto power alternative to block the adoption. It was the 9 term when Russia has utilised its veto power to hamper a UN action on Syria. Moscow is a main ally of the Bashar al-Assad-led Syrian government.
The UN examinating body, Joint Inspection Mechanism, would be publishing a report attributing blame for the April 4th chemical attack on 26th October 2017.

Chemical Attacks in Syria

• It was a Deadly chemical attacks during the Syrian Civil War along with the Ghouta attack in Damascus in August 2013 and the Khan al-Assal attack in Aleppo in the March 2013.
  Chlorine bombs were fired on the towns of Talmenes in April 2014 and Sarmin in March 2015 respectively.
• Another type of chemical, sulfur mustard was described to be used in Marea in August 2015.
  In December 2016, minimum 53 people were killed in a nerve gas attack in Islamic State held villages near Uqairabat.
• In April 2017, Syria’s Khan Shaykhun town was announced to have been banged by an airstrike, followed by a huge civilian chemical poisoning.

Photographs of living persons on roadside sign-boards and banners banned by -  Madras High Court 

The Madras High Court on 24th October 2017 banned the use of photographs of living persons on banners and sign-boards across the Tamil Nadu state.
The court stated that if any permission is given by the concerned authority to erect banners or sign-boards, then only authority concerned shall be ensured the use of pictures of that persons, who are alive and shall not be represent by way of those sign-boards.
Important Highlights

• Justice S Vaidyanathan passed the orders against the hearing of a PIL documented by B Thirulochana Kumari, resident of Rani Anna Nagar, who had appealed the court to direct the Chennai Corporation and the commissioner of city police to detach political party banners that were hanged in front of her property.
• Kumari in her petition said that a lady Mathi had put up a party's flag in front of her premises in April and due to her objection, she was allegedly frightened by party workers. She then approached the Chennai Corporation and the local police, who decline to file her complaint. However, the flag post was removed later, still a signboard and party flag were placed at the same place.
• As the hearing progressed, the concerned parties however, agreed to remove the banners and flags from Kumari’s property and ensure that in future such an act will not be allowed in private accommodations.
• Following the hearing, the court issued various directions to the Chief Secretary to ensure that the various provisions of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 were complied with.

The directions of the court include:

• To ensure that the pictures of the persons, who are sponsoring these banners, shall also not be represented.
• To send a circular in this regard to all officials of the wards of town panchayat union, municipality and corporation.
• The ban would imply no more banners carrying publicity of political parties or persons with images of living personalities in public places.
• This applies to casual flex boards placed by individuals as well.

Qatar to introduce minimum wage for workers on - 25th October 2017

Qatar on 25th October 2017 announced that they would be fixing a minimum wage for their workers. The nation has been under global inspection over its rumored ill-treatment of migrant workers.
The gulf country has also aggreed to sign a bilateral accords with 36 Nations from which it draws most of its two-million-strong migrant workforce, in order to provide them with lawful protection to the workers.
This information was shared by the administrative development Minister, labour and social affairs - Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimid, during a conference with foreign ambasasdors. According to the secretary, the minimum wage initiative would focus to meet the essential needs of the workers, to enable them to live at an suitable humanitarian level.
However, no more details were given on the amount of minimum wage that would be introduced or at what level.
The statements came on the occasion of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference that could check the start of a formal inspection by the UN agency into Qatar's treatment of migrant workers.The ILO’s meeting is planned to start on 26th October in Geneva and it would be end till 9th November 2017
Key Highlights

• As per many unions and Human Rights batches, workers and labourers have been attract to work in the oil-enriched country for considerably less money that what was assured to them earlier.
• There has also been widespread opposition on the workers not getting their paid dues within time.
• In February 2015, Qatar launched the Wage Protection program, a major reform that was mapped to ensure workers receive their wages

Stage-I forest clearance for Kaleswaram project construction issued by -  Environment Ministry

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has presented its in-principle stage-I forest clearance notice for building stage-one Kaleswaram project. The Ubion ministry has been agreed to the divergence of about 3,200 hectares of forest area for the project based on the guidance of the Forest Advisory Committee.
Important Highlights-

• The ministry has allowed divergence of the forest area spread over 8 forest divisions — Mahadevpur, Karimnagar-Sircilla, Siddipet, Yadadri, Medak, Nizamabad, Banswada and Nirmal— for gear up the project work.
• The Kaleshwaram Lift irrigation assignment has been designed to irrigate 7,38,851 hectares of land in the upland areas of the former combined districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad,Medak,Nalgonda and Rangareddy.
• The project, near Kaleswaram, across the River Godavari in Karimnagar district was given by the Telangana government at an approxixmate cost of over Rs 80,500 Crores.
• It is Claimed to be the expensive irrigation task to be taken up by any of the State till date, the project focuses to help divert 180 tmc of water from River Godavari to irrigate land as we as providing drinking water to more than 65 villages.
• The suggested project includes construction of canals, lift systems, tunnels, surge pool, delivery tanks and reserve containers in several districts of the State.
  Afforestation Efforts-
• The Union Ministry while giving its consent instructed the state government to take up compensatory afforestation methods over non-forest land equal to the forest land being diverted for the project, within three years from the date of receipt of the stage-II forest approvals.
• Once the Forest Department formulates estimates for the compensatory afforestation, the State will make cost payment involved in its execution, paving the way for the final stage-II acceptance.
  As per the officials, the stage-II clearance is expected within 2 months.

 DoT simplifies linking of Aadhaar with Mobile Number on - 25th October 2017

The Department of Telecom (DoT) on 25th October 2017 simplified the task of linking Aadhaar number with the mobile number. The department initiated 3 new methods for connecting the registered mobile number with their Aadhaar Number. These simplified methods include OTP (One Time Password) based, Application based and the IVRS provision.
Important Highlights-

• The new methods including OTP (One Time Password), App based and the IVRS provision, will help customers to link their mobile number with their Aadhaar without visiting the operator stores.
• According to the new directions, the telecom operators will allocate an online process for people to request such service and as per the availability, a visit will be planned leading to the completion oflinking the Aadhaar – Mobile Number process.
• Considering senior citizens, phycically disabiled persons or chronic illness, DoT also reffered for the re-verification at the subscribers’ doorstep.
• You can verify /re-verify your mobile numbers from anywhere from the country, whatever, service area their mobile connection belongs to.
• The DoT also make it clear that the agents of telecom service providers will not have any access to the subscribers’ e-KYC data and will only be provided with the name and address of the users.

 Indian origin activist Gina Miller named UK’s most influential black person of the year on - 25th October 2017

Indian born campaigner Gina Miller was named United Kingdom’s most dominant black person of the year on 25th October 2017. Gina won a legal challenge seeking Parliamentary grant for innitiating Brexit. The Supreme Court ruling came in her support in January 2017.
52 year old Miller, ranked first in the 2018 'Powerlist' of 100 people of African and African Caribbean legacy published in London by Powerful Media. She is an investment fund manager and philanthropist and took a legal action against British Prime Minister Theresa May demanding that individual members of the Cabinet have no legal authority to initiate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Article 50 explains that any state member may leave “in accordance with its own constitutional demands”.

Miller has been attacked many times on social media for standing against Britain's exit from the European Union. She has been provided with 24 hour security for safety grounds.
More about Gina Miller-

• 52 year old Gina was originated in Guyana and brought up in Britain; she has been quite vocal struggler in 'Best for Britain' drive.
• She laid down Miller Philanthropy with her husband Alan, who was named ‘Mr Hedge Fund’ by the British press that has generated more than 30 million Pounds.
• The duet also initiated the True and Fair program to root out duplicity in the financial services industry.
• They have donated to the Margaret Thatcher infirmary at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

 UP, Haryana, Rajasthan to ban use of pet coke  by - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on 24th October 2017 instructed the governments of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Haryana and Rajasthan to restrict the use of petroleum coke and furnace oil in the industries with an target to fight air pollution.
The decision was made by a bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Madan B Lokur. The bench also simplified that it will restrict the use of pet coke and furnace oil in these 3 states from 1st November 2017 and if these governments did not bann their use in the industries by then.
Apart from ruling this, the court also fined Environment Ministry with Rs 2 lakh for not finalising pollution emission grades for industries that use pet coke and furnace oil in the National Capital Region.
The bench also instructed the Ministry to inform the standards for Nitrogen Oxide and Sulphur Oxides for the industries and these industries must comply with the standards by 31st December 2017.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by one environmentalist MC Mehta in year 1985, who had raised the problem of air pollution in the Delhi NCR.
Important Highlights

• This order came as the reply to the guidance of the Environment Protection Prevention and Control Authority that found much higher sulphur levels in pet coke and furnace oil, that ranging from over 20000 PPM in furnace oil to 74000 PPM in pet coke.
• Taking into the account of furnace oil and pet-coke as the dirtiest remains of the refinery process, EPCA guided that distribution, sale and use of furnace oil and pet coke should be strictly restricted in NCR to curb air pollution.
• However, the furnace oil and pet-coke were earlier banned in Delhi in 1996 for releasing deadly sulphur and nitrogen oxides fumes into the air that pollutes the air.

 India imposes anti-dumping duty on stainless steel from  - US, EU and China

India has introduced anti-dumping duty on various stainless steel products from the European Union and other countries including China and Korea, to protect the domestic industry from cheaper imports.
This duty was imposed by the Revenue department following the guidances shared by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties.
Key Highlights-

• The imposed duty will falles in-between 4.58% and 57.39% of the landed value of cold-rolled simple products of stainless steel.
• The anti-dumping duty will remin until 10th December 2020.
• The regulations however, exempts certain grades of stainless steel from the duty charges.
• The duty will be imposed on the imports of stainless steel products from China, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, the United States and the European Union.
• Previously in October, the government had imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of certain steel wire rods from China for a fixed period of 5 years.
• The resolution was taken to guard the interest of domestic customers from cheap in-bound shipments.
• India alraedy had imposed anti-dumping duty on various cold-rolled simple steel products from 4 countries including South Korea and China.

 'Anti-Dumping Duty'

• An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tax that a domestic government implicated on foreign imports that it believes are valued below the actual market value.
• The action is taken to safeguard fair trade and facilitate a level-playing field to the domestic industry.
• However, the measure does not meant to limit imports from a particular country or cause a non-reasonable increase in the cost value of the products.

Global Passport Power Rank 2017 released on - 25th October 2017

The Global Passport Power Ranking 2017 was delivered on 25th October 2017 by global financial advisory company Arton Capital.
According to the Global Passport Index, Singapore achieved the most powerful position with a score of 159 in visa free category, topped in the list. Germany was ranked 2nd, followed by Sweden and South Korea in 3rd place. India achieved 75th place, 3 places above than its earlier ranking of 78.

Highlights of the Passport Index-

• Following Paraguay’s withdrawal of visa requirements for Singaporeans, Singapore scored the first rank at the Global Passport Index. This was the very first time when an Asian country achieved the most powerful passport in the world.
• Apart from Singapore, the other countries with Top 5 positions were Germany stood second with visa score 158; Sweden and South Korea achieved visa score 157 and together were placed 3rd; Denmark, Japan, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, UK scored 156 visa points and were placed at number 4th and Switzerland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Portugal scored 155 visa points and were positioned at rank 5th.
• South Korea, Japan and Malaysia were 3 Asian countries that were incorporated in Top 20.
  Earlier the Top 10 ranks were occupied by European nations.
• US faced a dip in most powerful passport list ever since Donald Trump joined as President.
• Previously, Turkey and Central African Republic revoked their visa free status to US passport owners.
• With a visa score of 51, Indian passport was positioned 75th. It ranked below countries like Saudi Arabia with a visa score of 69, Zimbabwe with a visa score of 62, Uganda with a visa score of 61, Rwanda with a visa score of 54,however, Togo which is one of the smallest nations across the world scored 53rd position.
• India graded above Bhutan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Nepal that ranked 90, Bangladesh which ranked 92 and Pakistan at 94 rank.
• Afghanistan was placed at 95, having a visa score of 22.
  More about Global Passport Power Rank 2017-
• Passport Index is headed by global financial advisory company Arton Capital.
  It takes into tha account of the passports of 193 United Nations associated countries and six territories for ranking.
• The index ranks national passports on the basis of across-border access, visa-free score as per the number of nations a passport holder can visit visa-free or with visa on arrival facilities.
• UN Development Programme Human Development Index is one of the methods to decide the nation with most powerful passport.

Vigilance awareness week to be observed by -  Central Vigilance Commission

The Central Vigilance Commission would be perceiving vigilance awareness week from 30th October to 4th November 2017 with a theme of “My Vision Corruption Free India.”
The week’s inaugural ceremony's Chief Guest would be Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, as per Central Vigilance Commissioner, K V Choudhary.
Key Highlights-

• The Vigilance Commission has maped an online pledge system on which any citizen can take commitment against corruption.
• However, any citizen comes across any kind of corruption then, that person can report it without revealing their identity.
• The main events of the week constitute seminars, cross-talks and other outreach events, which have been planned including private sector, professional associations and trade unions for their wider participation of all sections of society.
• Awareness regarding Gram Sabhas will also be planned for dissemination of vigilance awareness in gram panachayats to sensitize residents about the bad impacts of corruption.
  More about Central Vigilance Commission-
• CVC is an independent Indian governmental body that was initiated by the Government of India in 1964 on the directions of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
• The basic idea behind the development of the body is to tackle corruption in government bodies.
• Its major responsibilities constitute recording all vigilance activity under the Union government, advising different central government officials in organising, accomplishing, reviewing and improving their vigilance task.
• The Commission consist of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and maximum 2 Vigilance Commissioners as members.
• The 1st Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India was Nittoor Srinivasa Rau. The current commissioner is K V Choudhary.