Current Affairs 16 Feb 2018

1. After the worst anti-government protests in a quarter-century, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced that he has submitted a resignation letter.

• Ethiopia has been rocked by months of protests demanding wider freedoms that have left hundreds dead and tens of thousands
• In one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, the protests have disrupted life and business.

2. In Delhi on February 15, 2018, India’s first radio festival was held.

• In collaboration with UNESCO, the festival was organised by the International of Women in Radio and Television.
• The radio festival was held to mark World Radio Day 2018, which was on February 13.

3. On February 21 and 22, in Mumbai, the TiE Global Summit (TGS) will be held.

• In association with leading government agencies, the summit is being held and over 20 TiE chapters across India, USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai,with the aim of setting the tone for the next wave of business and innovation.

4. The 2018 edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS 2018) at Vigyan Bhawan in the capital on 16thFebruary, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

• WSDS is the flagship forum of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and seeks to bring together on a common platform, global leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors.
• ‘Partnerships for a Resilient Planet’ was the theme of the Summit this year.
• WSDS 2018 seeks to create action frameworks to resolve some of the most urgent challenges facing developing economies in the backdrop of climate change.

5. For financing of Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring Project for the Desert Areas The Loan Agreement was signed between Government of India and the New Development Bank (NDB) on 13th February 2018 at New Delhi.

• Approved by the NDB, this is the first tranche loan of USD 100 million under the Multi Tranche Financing Facility of USD 345 million for this project.
• To rehabilitate the 678 km long Indira Gandhi Canal system built during 1958-63 to prevent seepage, conserve water, and enhance water use efficiency as mandated by both national and state level policies on water use is the objective of this Project.

6. For the calculation of GDP and IIP numbers, the government will change the base year to 2017-18, while for retail inflation the year will be revised to 2018, Union minister D V Sadananda Gowda

• The new base year for GDP and IIP as 2017-18 while for CPI it will be 2018, proposed by the statistics ministry.
• Rs 4,859 crore in the Union Budget 2018-19, has been allocated by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) .

7. K P Sharma Oli has become Nepal’s Prime Minister for the second time.

• 65-year-old Oli as the country’s 41st prime minister appointed by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
• Who is known for his pro-China stance, oli, had served as the country’s prime minister from October 11, 2015 to August 3, 2016.
• Earlier, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had addressed the nation and submitted his resignation to the president.

8. As South Africa’s new president by ruling party legislators after the resignation of Jacob Zuma, Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected.

• The only candidate nominated for election in the parliament was Ramaphosa after two opposition parties said they would not participate.
• Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng presided over the parliamentary election.

9. The next Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), will be Archaeologist and historian Arvind P. Jamkhedkar.

• He will replace Prof. Sudershan Rao, whose term as ICHR chief was mired in controversy.
• After Rao’s retirement, the post fell vacant. Prof. Jamkhedkar is at present Chancellor of Deccan College, Pune.

10. In the 23rd edition of the Senior Women’s National Football Championship in Cuttack, Tamil Nadu beat Manipur 2-1 to lift their maiden title.

• Tamil Nadu created history by becoming champions in their first-ever final with Indumathi scoring the opener in the 3rd minute while Indrani made it 2-0 in the 40th minute.

11. The Rockefeller University’s Scientists in New York have reported discovery of a new class of antibiotics called

• It has been produced by microorganisms living in soil and dirt and is capable of killing off several antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
• Malacidins only target gram-positive bacteria with a very thick cell wall. It is ineffective against gram-negative bacteria which cause cholera, pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases, and plague.

12. Raghbir Singh Khandpur will be awarded by The Department of Science and Technologyfor his contribution to science and his efforts to make the Science City in Punjab’s Kapurthala into an international-level facility.

• He has been selected for a national award for his contribution in the field of science, technology and communication. It will be given to him in New Delhion National Science Day (February 28).
• Khandpur is former Director General (DG) of the Centre for Electronics Design and Technology and Pushpa GujralScience City in Kapurthala. He has served as scientist for 24 years at CSIO, Chandigarh as head of Medical Instruments Division and also as head of the Electronics Division.
• He has authored 10 booksof international repute and is a holder of seven patents for innovative designs. He has published over 60 research and review papers.
• He is also the founderdirector of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) in

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