It is time to stand up and act against terror: Modi

• He pressed the member-nations of BRICS and BIMSTEC groupings to send a clear message to those who “nurture the philosophy of terror to mend their ways or be isolated in the civilised world”.
• His comments came as he pushed for greater collaboration among BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa besides India — and members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on issues such as terrorism, economy, trade and connectivity.

India rekindles bond with Hungary

• Capping the highest level visit in decades by a ranking Indian leader to Hungary.
• Mr. Ansari dwelt on a meeting of minds on the need for the elimination of the “scourge of terrorism” to counter which concerted international action was needed.
• Mr. Orban seemed to stop short of getting into the issue, while speaking on the need for “peaceful development” and mentioning threats that need to be countered in the course of such development.
• He recalled the extremely helpful role played by the Indian charge d’ affaires M.A. Rahman during the “revolution” of 1956.
• Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru himself had at that point interceded with the Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev to save the life of Arpad Goncz who later went on to become the Prime Minister of Hungary.

‘Personal laws have to be constitutionally compliant’

• Amid the ongoing debate over ‘triple talaq’, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government was of the clear view that personal laws should be constitutionally compliant and in conformity with norms of gender equality and the right to live with dignity.
• “Triple Talaq and the Government’s Affidavit”, he said that governments in the past had shied away from taking a categorical stand that personal laws must comply with the fundamental rights. But the present government had taken a clear position on the issue.

China launches manned space mission

• China moved a step closer to establish its permanent space station by 2022 as it launched a spacecraft carrying two astronauts, in its longest-ever manned space mission.
• Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, 50, and Chen Dong, 37, were blasted off into space by Shenzhou-11 (heavenly vessel) spacecraft at 7:30 am local time (5 am IST) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre near the Gobi Desert in northern China.
• The Shenzhou-11 was put into orbit by a Long March-2F carrier rocket.
• Lei Fanpei, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), recently said China plans to launch the experimental core module of its space station around 2018 with a Long March-5 heavy load carrier rocket, and the 20 ton combination space station will be sent into orbit around 2022.

NDB to target an incremental revenue of $2.5 billion in coming year

• The New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS countries last year, is targeting an incremental revenue of $ 2.5 billion in the coming year.
• He also said that the Shanghai-headquartered bank had approved loans for development of the renewable energy sector.
• “Looking forward we are targeting incremental revenue of $ 2.5 billion for the next year and we believe that this will be largely in the area of green and sustainable infrastructure.

Dhaka seeks balance of strategic ties

• Developments like government-to- government deals worth $24.45 billion and private investment worth $13.6 billion, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s milestone visit to Dhaka, upgraded the Bangladesh-China relationship to a ‘strategic partnership.
• It has also prompted a debate here on a possible tilt in balance vis-a- vis Dhaka’s relations with New Delhi, which is at a all time high under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

BRICS agrees to set up credit rating agency

• The five-nation group BRICS agreed to set up an independent rating agency based on market-oriented principles.
• Batting for a rating agency backed by BRICS, New Development Bank president K.V. Kamath had expressed concerns over methodologies of the three global agencies (S&P, Fitch, Moody’s) saying that these constrain growth in emerging nations.

Kohli sizzles in another chase after Pandya’s sterling debut

• Virat Kohli engineered yet another victory, this time with a fluent, unbeaten 81-ball 85, as India wrapped up a six-wicket win against New Zealand in the first One Day International on 16-10- 2016.
• Chasing 191, India won in 33.1 overs in its 900th ODI, the winning runs deservedly coming from Kohli in style, a huge straight six off Ish Sodhi.
• Hardik Pandya earned an ODI cap, Tim Southee got his maiden half-century in the 50-over format and Tom Latham became the first New Zealand cricketer to carry his bat in one-dayers.

IIT Bombay researchers a step closer to treating Parkinson’s disease

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT B) have taken the first successful step at regenerating neurons in a Parkinson mouse model by using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in an amyloid hydrogel
• The hydrogel enabled the delivery and engraftment of mesenchymal stem cells in two regions of the mice brain - substantia nigra and striatum - where the cells were injected.
• There are three major challenges when stem cells are transplanted or injected into the brain - the cells should survive, should not migrate to different places where they are not required, and should become functional neurons and integrate with the existing neural circuit.