*CURRENT AFFAIRS (18th October 2014)

1. Nigeria inks ceasefire
agreement with Islamic extremist
Boko Haram; likely to get back all
the abducted schoolgirls as part
of the deal.
- The rebel group, fighting
government forces since 2009,
gained worldwide infamy when
they abducted over 200
schoolgirls some six months ago.
- Boko Haram means "Western
education is forbidden" in Hausa.
2. Tamil writer KTM Iqbal is
honoured with the 2014 Cultural
Medallion - the highest cultural
award of Singapore.
- He, a Singaporean citizen of
Tamil descent, share the prize
with two others namely Chong
Fah Cheong (sculptor) and Alvin
Tan.
3. Centre, for the first time ever, is
going to import potatoes to curb
rising prices.
- Pakistan and European countries
are likely to be the importers.
4. West Indies abort tour of India
just after 4 ODIs owing to a pay
dispute between the players and
the board.
- They were originally scheduled
to play five ODIs, a T20 and three
Tests series with India.
- India lift the ODI series 2-1 after
winning the last (4th) encounter
by 59 runs.
- Third ODI, to be played at
Visakhapatnam, was washed out
due to cyclone Hudhud.