Daily Current Affairs, 11th April 2018

1)  PM Modi Inaugurates 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 16th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi. It is the largest gathering of Ministers from energy consuming, producing and transit countries.

•Ministers, Industry leaders and heads of key international organizations will debate the future of global energy. Hosted by India and co-hosted by China and Korea, the meeting aims to focus on how global shifts, transition policies and new technologies influence market stability and future investment in the energy sector.

2)  10th DefExpo India Begins In Tamil Nadu

•The tenth edition of a biennial exhibition of weapons and military hardware - DefExpo India- 2018 has begun at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu. The four-day long defence expo was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

•Indigenously developed military helicopters, aircraft, missiles and rockets, capabilities to manufacture submarines, frigates and corvettes would be showcased at the event. Over 700 exhibitors from over 50 countries are participating in the Defence Expo.

3)  J&K Bank Launches Special Financing Scheme For Industrial Units

•Jammu and Kashmir Bank has launched a special financing scheme named 'Add-on Working Capital GST' to help the state industry cope with the delay in reimbursement of GST under special tax relief.

•The scheme was launched by J&K Finance Minister Syed Altaf Bukhari.

4)  President 3-Nation Visit: Signs 4 Agreements With Zambia

•President Ram Nath Kovind has asked Indian Diaspora in Zambia to become the partner in India’s growth and asked them to take advantage of Overseas Citizen of India, OCI programme. 

•Four MOUs were signed between the two countries which include, the establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Zambia, taxation, visa exemption on diplomatic passports and judicial cooperation. The President also addressed India-Zambia business forum. This is the first time in three decades that a President of India is undertaking a state visit to Zambia.

5)  India Signs MoU With World EXPO 2020 Dubai

•India and World Expo 2020 signed participants contract for India’s pavilion in the prestigious World Expo 2020 held once in 5 years. 

•The contract provides for the setting up of India pavilion at Expo 2020 on an extra large plot (about one acre) in the ‘Opportunity’ segment.

6)  Ban Ki-Moon Elected BFA Chairman

•Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been elected chairman of 'Boao Forum for Asia' (BFA). He has replaced former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

•Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organisation committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong was appointed BFA secretary-general.

7)  CWG 2018: Shooter Shreyasi Singh Wins 12th Gold

•Indian shooter Shreyasi Singh won the women's double trap gold in a shoot-off after scoring 96 points to take India's gold medal tally at the 21st Commonwealth Games 2018 to 12.

•This was her second CWG medal after having claimed a silver at the 2014 Glasgow Games. Another Indian shooter Varsha Varman finished fourth in the event, scoring 86 points.

8)  CWG 2018: Om Mitharval Wins Bronze In Shooting

•Indian shooter Om Prakash Mitharval settled for the bronze medal in the men's 50m pistol event at the 21st Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia. In the same event, Jitu Rai finished a disappointing 8th.

•Young Mitharwal, who has also a bronze in the 10m air pistol event two days ago, shot 201.1 to finish third in the eight-man finals at Belmont Shooting Centre. Host nation Australia's Daniel Repacholi bagged the gold medal in the event with a Games record 227.2 while Shakil Ahmed of Bangladesh won the silver.