CURRENT AFFAIRS 18 October, 2024
- CRICKET AT THE LA28 OLYMPICS: THE RETURN OF THE SPORT IN T20 FORMAT –
- Cricket, one of the most popular sports globally, is set to make a comeback at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28), pending approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
- This inclusion marks the sport’s second appearance at the Olympic Games, following its debut in Paris 1900. However, unlike its traditional two-innings format, cricket at LA28 will be played in the Twenty20 (T20) format, which is a shorter and faster-paced version of the game.
- Let’s dive deep into the rules, format, and significance of T20 cricket and its reintroduction at the Olympics.
- INDIAN RAILWAYS REDUCES ADVANCE RESERVATION PERIOD FROM 120 TO 60 DAYS –
- In a significant policy shift, the Indian Railways has announced a reduction in the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for long-distance train bookings from 120 days to 60 days, effective November 1, 2024.
- This decision aims to enhance passenger convenience by reducing the blocking of funds for ticket bookings made months in advance, especially during peak travel seasons like festivals.
- Effective Date: The new ARP will take effect on November 1, 2024. Bookings made before October 31 under the existing 120-day ARP will remain valid.
- Cancellations: Passengers will still be able to cancel bookings made beyond the new 60-day ARP without any issues.
The Ministry of Railways cited several reasons for this adjustment, including:
- Reduction in Administrative Load: A significant cancellation rate (around 21%) and no-show rates (4-5%) have prompted this revision, as many passengers fail to cancel tickets or show up, leading to fraud and wastage of resources.
- Encouraging Genuine Bookings: By shortening the ARP, the Railways aims to reduce fraudulent activities and encourage more genuine bookings from passengers, as data shows that 85% of train tickets are booked less than two months in advance.
- EX-RAW OFFICIAL VIKAS YADAV WANTED BY FBI IN PLOT TO MURDER KHALISTANI TERRORIST GURPATWANT SINGH PANNUN –
- The US Justice Department has charged former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav with orchestrating a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist residing in New York.
- Yadav, along with co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta, hired an individual to execute the killing for $100,000 in 2023, but the assassin turned out to be an FBI informant.
- The plan was linked to tensions following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani terrorist, in Canada.
- The plot was postponed to avoid disrupting Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US. The Indian government has confirmed Yadav is no longer employed by them, while Gupta was extradited to the US and pleaded not guilty.
- ISRAEL KILLS HAMAS CHIEF YAHYA SINWAR –
- On the evening of October 17, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made a significant announcement: Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, was killed during a targeted ground operation in Rafah, located in southern Gaza.
- Sinwar, one of the most feared and influential leaders of Hamas, was among three high-ranking Hamas militants killed during this mission. His identity was confirmed using DNA testing, which relied on samples obtained from his previous imprisonment in Israel.
- INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE ASSEMBLY KICKS OFF IN NEW DELHI –
- The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly will be held in New Delhi from November 3-6, 2024, with representatives from 120 countries attending.
- Led by Shri Pralhad Joshi, India’s Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, the assembly focused on strengthening international cooperation on solar energy to tackle energy access problems and climate change.