Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 30th October 2024

1. Brazil became the second BRICS country to not join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

• Brazil has decided to not join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China. 
• Brazil is the second BRICS country after India which decided to not join the Belt and Road Initiative. 
• Brazil will collaborate with Chinese investors in alternative ways. 
• The main objective is to use some framework of BRI and to create synergy between Brazilian infrastructure projects and the investment funds associated with the initiative. 
• This decision has been taken by the Brazilian government as it could make relations with the US more difficult. 
• India was the first country to oppose China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 
• The Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2013 by China as a global infrastructure development strategy. 

2. Rajya Vishisht Yojana has been implemented by the Haryana government to curb stubble burning. 

• The Haryana government has implemented the Rajya Vishisht Yojana to curb the incidents of stubble burning. 
• Under this scheme, farmers will get financial assistance for managing crop residue. Zero-burning targets will also be set up by panchayats. 
• Red zone panchayats will receive an incentive of 1 lakh rupees, while yellow zone panchayats will receive 50 thousand rupees for achieving the zero burning target. 
• As of October 28, 83,070 farmers have registered for the management of 7,11,000 acres of paddy area. 
• Farmers will get an incentive of 1,000 rupees per acre for managing paddy crop residue. 
• So far in Haryana, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has recorded a total of 713 incidents of stubble burning. 

3. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received the Highest Civilian Award of Fiji. 

• Fiji has become the sixth country to confer the highest civilian award to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. 
• He has received the award for his tireless contribution to the upliftment of the human spirit and connecting diverse communities in peace and harmony. 
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received the title of ‘Honourary Officer of the Order of Fiji’ by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere. 
• ‘The Art of Living Foundation’ was set up by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981. 
• Its main aim is to spread happiness and harmony through its multifarious service initiatives in areas of mental health, education, environment, and women and youth empowerment. 

4. Lebanese group Hezbollah has announced Naim Qassem its new chief. 

• Naim Qassem is one of its founding members. He has served as Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah since 1991. 
• He will replace Hassan Nasrallah, who died over a month ago in an Israeli bombing. 
• Hashem Safieddine, the apparent successor of Hassan Nasrallah had been eliminated in in Beirut. Israel confirmed this on 22 October. 
• In October 1997, Hezbollah was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by U.S. State Department. 
• Over 60 other countries and organisations have also designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group. 
• These organisations include the EU, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. 
• Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group. 

5. Rodri has won the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or. 

• Rodri is Manchester City’s midfielder. The Spanish international helped in securing Manchester City’s fourth consecutive English Premier League title. 
• Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri or Rodrigo, was named “Player of the Tournament” and finished the season with 14 assists and 10 goals across all competitions. 
• Rodri has become the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 victory with Manchester United. 
• Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona Femeni won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the 2nd consecutive year. 
• Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti got the Johan Cruyff Trophy as men’s coach of the year.
• Emma Hayes was honored as women’s coach of the year. Real Madrid was named men’s club of the year. 
• Barcelona’s young star Yamine Lamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best male player under 21. 
• Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez won the Lev Yashin Trophy for the second time. 
• The Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) is an annual football award. It is presented by French magazine France Football. 
• It is presented to honour the player performing the best over the previous season. 

6. PM Modi launched infrastructure and development projects of more than Rs 280 crore at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. 

• PM Modi will address the Officer Trainees of the 99th Common Foundation Course in Aarambh 6.0. 
• The theme for this year’s programme is “Roadmap for Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.” 
• PM will take part in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations on 31st October. 
• PM Modi will also pay the floral tribute at the Statue of Unity. 
• PM Modi will administer the Ekta Diwas pledge. He will witness the Ekta Diwas Parade. 

7. 4th Spain-India Forum has been inaugurated by Spain President Pedro Sánchez in Mumbai. 

• The theme of the forum was “Spain-India Partnership amid Geopolitical and Technological Challenges: New Horizons, New Possibilities.” 
• Observer Research Foundation and the Spain India Council Foundation jointly organised it. 
• Spain President said that India and Spain seek more business, greater investment, increased cooperation, and enhanced exchanges. 
• He highlighted the mutual understanding between India and Spain. 
• He also highlighted the strength of economic and trade relations between India and Spain. 

8. Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2024 has been launched to attract investment in the state. 

• The Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2024 has been launched to promote private investment. 
• Under this scheme, financial incentives will be increased in different sectors of the state. 
• Finacial incentives will be provided to support the establishment and operation of industries. 
• This scheme has been launched ahead of the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024. 
• RIPS 2024 has added a series of new sectors to the sunrise sectors' list, including aero and space, defence, drones, semiconductors, agri-tech, and waste recycling. 
• These new sectors will get an additional 10% incentive over the asset creation incentive secured by the business unit. 
• The first three units in the sunrise sectors have been classified as mega or ultra-mega projects. 
• Under this scheme, mega or ultra-mega projects can avail 25% additional subsidy above the capital subsidy, turnover-linked incentive, or investment subsidy. 

9. PM Modi launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. 

• Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card has been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• It expanded the Ayushman Bharat scheme benefits of health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for every citizen aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income or economic status. 
• This card ensures that elderly people no longer need to live with the anxiety of high healthcare expenses. 
• The inclusion of senior citizens will strengthen the government’s commitment to universal health coverage. 
• The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family. 
• The new scheme will cover nearly 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families. 
• The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card has been designed to address the healthcare needs of this growing demographic. 

10. Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shashwat Sharma will take charge as the MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel. 

• Incumbent Gopal Vittal has been named vice-chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. from January 1, 2026. 
• Sharma will be CEO designate of the company for the next 14 months. 
• As the CEO designate, Shashwat will lead the entire end-to-end consumer business. 
• Gopal Vittal will be responsible for mentoring and grooming Shashwat to take over. 
• Bharti Airtel Limited is an Indian multinational telecommunications company based in New Delhi. It is the second-largest telecom operator of the country. 

11. India's 1 st 'Writer's village' has been inaugurated in Dehradun. 

• It has been jointly inaugurated by former President Ram Nath Kovind, Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 
• The ‘Writer’s village’ is located in Thano village, about 24 km from Dehradun. 
• The ‘Writer’s village’ is the brainchild of former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, a distinguished writer himself. 
• On this occasion, during International Literature, Culture and Art Festival 'Sparsh Himalaya Mahotsav-2024', the first work of Writer's village, 'Ram in the Himalayas' was also released. 
• All the arrangements have been made in the Writer's Village like Lekhan Kutir, Nakshatra and Navgrah Vatika, auditorium, yoga-meditation centre, discussion centre, and restaurant and so on. 
• In this village, writers will get the peaceful and creative environment necessary to create their works.