Current Affairs 19th February 2019

Current Affairs 19th February 2019 - Important Points

• Jammu &Kashmir Government removes security cover of separatist leaders in - Kashmir
• E-visa regime, makes it more tourist friendly liberalised by - India
• India, Argentina Sign 10 Memorandum of Understandings & Agreements on - 18th February 2019
• New ‘Fateh’ Submarine unveiled by - Iran
• Elise Mertens Wins Qatar Open 2019 on - 16th February 2019
• Chris Gayle Announces Retirement from - ODIs
• InfyTQ App Launched for - Engineering Students

Current Affairs 19th February 2019 - Details

Jammu &Kashmir Government removes security cover of separatist leaders in - Kashmir

The J&K administration on February 17th, 2019 released orders to remove security cover of 6 separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. 
The security has been removed for Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi &Shabir Shah, as well as Mirwaiz. The decision comes days following the shocking Pulwama terrorist attack, in which 44 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed. 
Important Highlights

• As per to the order, all security & vehicles issued to the separatist leaders will stand removed with immediate effect. 
• Under it, no security forces/cover will be issued, under any pretext, to these leaders/any other separatists. 
• The order explains that if the separatists have any other services issued by Government, they will be removed immediately.
• Further, the state police will review if there are any other separatists who have security/facilities that will be removed closely.

E-visa regime, makes it more tourist friendly liberalised by - India

The Union Tourism Ministry freshly did some modifications in India's e-visa regime, liberalising it further & making it extra tourist friendly. The e-tourist Visa, was introduced in September 2014 with 46 nation has now been made applicable for 166 nations.
The Ministry of Tourism had been working very thoroughly with the Ministry of Home Affairs for simplification of the visa Regime in the nation over a period of time.
Important Modifications

• The duration of stay in India of e-tourist &e-business visas has been done maximum up to 1 year with multiple entry subject to the stay conditions.
• The current restriction of permitting foreigner for a maximum of 3 times has also been detached.
  Further, e-visa will be valid for entry through 2 more designated airports including Bhubaneswar &
• Port Blair, increasing the total number of such airports to 28.
• There would be no separate category of destination wedding visa. Those joining a destination wedding in India can do so under normal e-tourist visa/tourist visa.
• Further, overseas nationals who fall sick during their stay in India, can now benefit medical treatment without converting their visa into medical visa with taking care of sudden medical emergencies.
• Besides, visa-on-arrival facility has been stretched to the nationals of the Republic of Korea.

India, Argentina Sign 10 Memorandum of Understandings & Agreements on - 18th February 2019

India & Argentina inked 10 Memorandum of Understandings & Agreements during the continuing 3-day
visit of the Argentine President Mauricio Macri. President Mauricio Macri of Argentina apprehended
bilateral talks with the Indian PM Narendra Modi on 18th February 2019. The visit of Argentine
President Mauricio Macri also marks 70 years of the institution of diplomatic ties between New Delhi & Buenos Aires.
Memorandum of Understandings & Agreements Inked
6 Memorandum of Understandings were inked between the two sides are:
1. Memorandum of Understanding on defence teamwork was inked between the defence ministries of the both nations.
2. Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism was inked for teamwork in the field of Tourism.
3. Memorandum of Understanding on Broadcasting content was inked on Teamwork & Partnership
between Prasar Bharti, India & the Federal System of Media & Public Contents, Argentina.
4. Memorandum of Understanding in pharmaceuticals was inked between the Central Drugs Standard
Control Organisation, GoI, & National Administration of Drugs, Food & Medical Technology, Argentina.
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Antarctic Co-operation was inked between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Worship of Argentina & the Ministry of Earth Sciences of India.
6. Memorandum of Understandings was inked between Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership,
India, & CNEA, the Secretariat of Energy, Argentina.
2 work-plans have been agreed upon in the Agriculture field–
1. Work Plan on Teamwork between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare of India & the Ministry of Production & Labour of Argentina.
2. Work Plan for the year 2019-21 between Indian Council of Agriculture Research & the State Secretary of Agro-industry of the Ministry of Production &Labour of Argentina
A separate Agreement was inked for the establishment of India-Argentina Centre of Excellence for
Information & Technology.

New ‘Fateh’ Submarine unveiled by - Iran

The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has revealed a “state-of-the-art” domestically manufactured
submarine capable of firing cruise missiles. The release has gained importance due to the skewed ties
with the United States of America.
More about Fateh Submarine

• The launch was organised in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
• Fateh, which means “Conqueror” in Persian language is Iran’s 1st submarine in the semi-heavy category.
• It fills a breach between the light Ghadir-class &the heavy Kilo-class submarines that Iran owns.
• The submarine weighs about 600 tonnes & is loaded with torpedoes & naval mines in addition to cruise missiles.
• The submarine can work above 200 metres below sea level for up to 35 days.
• It has subsurface-to-surface missiles with a range of around 2000 kilometres making it capable in reaching Israel & U.S. military bases in the region.
• The release is one of the most significant projects Iran’s military have undertaken in the last 40
  years generally due to its vertical launching system.

Elise Mertens Wins Qatar Open 2019 on - 16th February 2019

Belgium’s Elise Mertens has secured the biggest title of her career by beating top seed Simona Halep of Romania by 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to secure the Qatar Open. The final match was played on 16th February 2019 in Doha. 
Elise Mertens

• Presently ranked 21 in the world rankings, Elise Mertens has secured 5 singles & 6 doubles WTA titles and 24 ITF titles to date. This is her biggest tour title.
• She overcame a lengthy medical time-out for a back problem in the 1st set; lost 18 points in a row at 1 stage in the 2nd set, but then came back strong to finally secure the title.
• This was a big upset in the world of Tennis as Simona Halep is ranked number 3.  
  About the Qatar Open 2019
• The Qatar Open is a professional tennis tournament played on outside hard courts & is part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour.
•  It is organised yearly at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, since 1993. 
• In the 2019 edition, the Men’s Singles was secured by R. Bautista Agut of Spain by defeating T. Berdych of Czechoslovakia.

Chris Gayle Announces Retirement from - ODIs

West Indies explosive batsman Chris Gayle has declared his retirement from the One-Day International format afterward the 2019 World Cup. The 2019 Cricket World Cup will be the 12th edition & is planned to be organised in England &  Wales from 30 th  May-14 th  July 2019. The last World Cup was organised in 2015 in Australia & New Zealand. Australian team is the defending Champion of the trophy.
More about Chris Gayle

• Chris Gayle has played 284 One-Day Internationals in his 19 years long career. He has scored 9727 runs at an average of 37.12.
• He has scored 49 50s & 23 100s at a strike rate of 85.52.
• The star batsman is the 2nd-leading One-Day International run scorer just behind the legendary Brian Lara.
• He grabs the record for most centuries of 23 by a West Indian in the One-Day International format.
• He is the only West Indian player to score a double ton & the 1st to score at a World Cup.
• Chris Gayle has been involved in the team for the forthcoming One-Day International Series against
  England. Last time he introduced in the national team was in July 2018 against Bangladesh.

InfyTQ App Launched for - Engineering Students

Information & Technology giant, Infosys has released the app ‘InfyTQ’ app to offer learning & 
engagement experiences for engineering students.
The online free platform InfyTQ is open to all engineering students in their 3rd & 4th year. InfyTQ
inspires holistic development by informing technical and professional services & benefit them become industry ready.
Benefits for the Students

• InfyTQ is available on both mobile as well as desktop is loaded with a overabundance of content, courses &news to launch talent readiness at an industry level through online assessments & certification.
• InfyTQ will help students by enabling a process of continuous learning via a continuous transfer of digital skills & proficiency from the Infosys innovation ecosystem.
• InfyTQ will assist students receive a thorough understanding of the fundamental building blocks which consists extensive hands-on learning to support the intelligent application of concepts in the real world.
• The courses will also benefit students in navigating the art of effective contextual response, inter-personal relationships, communication & email, decorum among others.
• InfyTQ will also support students to stay associated with the organization, keep updated with the latest happenings & familiarize themselves with Infosys culture & value system.
• The InfyTQ is a step forward in structuring the employability skills of the Indian Engineering students.