NEWS 14-11-2024. News For 18th-Oct (Monday) *MONTHLY NEWS: OCT 2024* *National news* 1. Justice Sanjiv Khanna took over as India's 51st Chief Justice, on 11 Nov, 2024. He will serve for a little over six months and leave office on May 13, 2025. 2. The Galathea Bay port in Great Nicobar Island was designated as India’s 13th major port. This follows the establishment of Kamarajar Port as the 12th major port a quarter century earlier. The new port is set to transform maritime trade in the region. 3. The Indian govt has approved a $1.2 billion plan to double edible oil production in seven years, aiming to reduce reliance on expensive imports. 4. The Deep Sea Mining Group of NIOT, successfully conducted polymetallic nodule trials , which are rich in essential metals using Varaha-3 in Andaman Sea. 5. Israel's Tower Semiconductor & Adani Group have invested $ 10 billion to build a semiconductor chip factory in Maharashtra. 6. India has sent a formal notice to Pakistan seeking a review of the Indus Water Treaty, which was signed between the two nations on 19 Sep 1960. 7. ISRO has recently acquired two 400kg satellites for an important mission called SPADEX, or Space Docking Experiment. This mission aims to demonstrate the ability of two satellites to dock in space, marking a key step for future space missions. 8. India has developed its first CO2 - methanol pilot plant in Pune, focusing on Carbon Capture & Utilisation (CCU) technologies to combat climate change . *International* 1. Vietnam elected Luong Cuong as its new president, the fourth president in 18 months. 2. The President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, visited India from 27 Oct to 29th Oct. 3. India has provided the Maldives with $400 million in support & a currency swap worth Rs 3,000 crore. 4. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has planned to boost its defence by buying over 1,000 additional Stinger missiles from USA. 5. India and US will Build First-Ever Joint Semiconductor Fab for National Security, that will produce chips for military hardware and next generation telecommunication. 6. PM Modi visited US from 21st to 23rd September. He took part in the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on 21st Sep. India has agreed to host the next Quad Summit in 2025. 7. India and China have signed a border deal after four years of negotiations. This agreement focuses on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The deal aims to enhance patrolling rights in the Depsang Plains and Demchok areas. 8. PM Narendra Modi travelled to Kazan, Russia, for the 16th BRICS Summit. The BRICS nations now include Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates following its expansion last year. 9. Egypt has been officially certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). 10. The World Bank has revised its growth forecast for the Indian economy, increasing it to 7% for the fiscal year 2024-25. 11. US has Designated UAE as its Major Defense Partner, Opening Doors for Trilateral Military Cooperation with India. 12. UAE has signed a pact with India to handle its nuclear power plants in gulf nations. 13. USA has decided to send the *Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD)* missile system to Israel, to strengthen Israel's defence. 14. India has pulled back its High Commissioner & other diplomats from Canada, in response to Trudeau govt's stance of India supporting violence & separatism in Canada. 15. Bangladesh is undergoing chaotic condition with more than 1000 factories shut down, almost no elactricity & mounting unemployment. *Defence* 1. The Indian Navy has launched *‘Abhay’, its seventh Anti - Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC).* 2. The 31st edition of the *Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)* took place from 23 to 29 Oct '24 at Visakhapatnam. 3. DRDO has developed an algorithm-based camouflage technology that reportedly makes military assets appear as decoys. 4. BEL & Israel Aerospace Industries have collaborated to support *MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile) systems* for India's defence forces. 5. Lockheed Martin & Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have announced collaboration for establishing a Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the IAF’s fleet of 12 C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft. 6. Cabinet Committee on Security has approved procurement of *240 aero-engines for IAF’s Su-30 MKI aircraft from HAL worth Rs.26,000 crore.* 7. Air Marshal SP Dharkar has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (VCAS). 8. India-USA have conducted the 20th edition of joint military exercise, YUDH ABHYAS-2024, at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. 9. India recently commissioned its *second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) called INS Arighaat.* 10. Tata is going to build 150 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) combat vehicles for the Moroccan defense forces in line with the Make in India initiative. 11. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has taken over as the new Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). 12. India & the US signed Rs 32,000 crore deals to buy 31 Predator drones and setting up a maintenance facility. *Sports* 1. New Zealand’s women’s cricket team secured their first T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa in the finals. 2. India finished the Paris Paralympics 2024 campaign with a total of 29 medals - 7 golds, 9 silvers & 13 bronze. 3. Preeti Pal became the first Indian female para athlete to win two medals in track and field. 4. Avani Lekhara created history as she clinched a historic gold medal at the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 in the Paris Paralympics. 5. India has secured first position in the medal tally of the 4th ISSF Junior World Championship 2024. 6. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement after 23 years, holding a world record of 22 Grand Slam titles. 7. Mumbai won the Irani Cup after 27 years by defeating the Rest of India team. 8. Indian team won a gold medal in the Men's Rapid Fire Pistol event at the ISSF Junior World Championship. 9. Virat Kohli completed 27000 international runs & became the fastest cricketer to reach this milestone. < < Back