current affairs 28 October 2022

UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee meet to be held in India.

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee will be hosted in Mumbai and Delhi on 28th and 29th of October.
• 2022 Theme: Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes
• The special meeting in India will also be attended by UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly.
• Focus of meet: Internet (including social media), new payment technologies and fundraising methods, and unmanned aerial systems (including drones).

Indian Navy join hands with Drone Federation to promote drone technology.

• The Technology Development and Acceleration Cell of the Naval Innovation Indigenisation Organisation under the Indian Navy has signed an MoU with Drone Federation of India.
• Reason: For promoting indigenous development, manufacturing and testing of a drone, counter-drone, and associated technologies for the Navy.
• This collaboration will increase the Navy-industry-academia synergy, and source technology development challenges towards component indigenisation.

Elizabeth Jones as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at US Embassy New Delhi.

• The US administration has named a senior US diplomat, Elizabeth Jones (74) as the next Charge d’Affaires ad interim in New Delhi.
• She is the sixth interim US envoy in the last 21 months (since January 2021).
• She had worked on NATO’s role in Europe vis-a-vis Russia as the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia.
• Currently, Patricia A Lacina is the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, who assumed charge on September 9, 2021.

Delhi LG announces SAMRIDDHI scheme for property disputes and tax dues.

• Delhi LG, Vinai Kumar Saxena has announced a one-time property tax amnesty scheme named Strengthening & Augmentation of Municipal Revenue for Infrastructure Development in Delhi (SAMRIDDHI) 2022-23 scheme.
• With this scheme, the NCR people will be able to pay only the principal amount of the current and pending tax of past five years for residential properties.
• The people can also get a waiver on all pending dues, including penalty and interest through this scheme.

Assam launched Trees Beyond Forests initiative.

• The Assam government has launched the trees outside forests in India (TOFI) programme in collaboration with US Agency for International Development (USAID).
• Aim: To bring farmers, companies, and private institutions together to expand the tree coverage outside of traditional forests in the State.
• The new programme will enhance carbon sequestration, support local communities, and strengthen the climate resilience of agriculture.