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Current Affairs Today – 22nd August 2019
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
21st August: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
- United Nations observes 21 August every year as International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
- This year, the 2nd commemoration of the day will focus on the resilience of victims and their families.
- To observe the International Day, the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism launched a photographic exhibition on August 21 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Extra Shots:
United Nations: It is an International Organization. Its Objective of UN is to not only maintain International Peace and Security but also to develop Friendly relations among nations.
- Founded – 24th October, 1945
- Headquarter- New York,United States
- Secretary General- Antonio Guterres (9th SG OF UN)
- He is from PORTUGAL
- Portugal (Capital/Currency) – Lisbon/ Euro
- United States (Capital/Currency) – Washington, D.C/ US Dollar
22nd August: International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
- United Nations observes 22 August every year as “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”.
- The day is observed to strongly condemn continuing violence and acts of terrorism targeting individuals, including persons belonging to religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
Extra Shots:
United Nations: It is an International Organization. Its Objective of UN is to not only maintain International Peace and Security but also to develop Friendly relations among nations.
- Founded – 24th October, 1945
- Headquarter- New York,United States
- Secretary General- Antonio Guterres (9th SG OF UN)
- He is from PORTUGAL
- Portugal (Capital/Currency) – Lisbon/ Euro
- United States (Capital/Currency) – Washington, D.C/ US Dollar
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Amazon opens its largest campus in the world in Hyderabad
- Amazon India on Wednesday inaugurated the largest company-owned campus, worldwide, in Hyderabad, the only one outside the US.
- The e-commerce firm will house more than 15,000 employees out of the over 62,000 members of the India team.
- This is one of the largest centres of a multinational company in the country.
Extra Shots:
Amazon: Amazon.com, Inc., is an American multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It is considered one of the Big Four technology companies along with Google, Apple, and Facebook.
- Founded: 5 July 1994
- Founder: Jeff Bezos
- CEO: Jeff Bezos
- Amazon India Head: Amit Agarwal
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
PM Modi embarks on three-nation tour to France, UAE and Bahrain; says focus is on bilateral relations
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave on a three-nation visit to France, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain today.
- In the first leg of his visit, Mr Modi will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and hold bilateral talks on trade, security, energy security, counter terrorism and maritime cooperation in Indo-Pacific.
- He will meet also meet French Prime Minister Eduard Charles Philippe.
- Mr Modi will address an event of the Indian Community at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and inaugurate a memorial for Indian victims of two tragic air crashes of Air India flights in 1950 and 1966.
Railways directed all its units to enforce ban on single use plastic from October 2
- Ministry of Railways has directed all its units to enforce ban on single use plastic material, with less than 50 micron thickness from October 2nd this year.
- The Railways has emphasised on making necessary arrangements to minimize generation of plastic waste and its eco- friendly disposal.
- A pledge will also be administered on 2nd October to cut use of plastics.
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Indian Railways: Indian Railways is India’s national railway system operated by the Ministry of Railways. It manages the fourth largest railway network in the world by size, with a route length of 67,368-kilometre and total track length of 121,407-kilometre as of March 2017.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Customer service: 139
Centre asks Cooperative Milk Federations & Private Dairies to halve use of plastic by October 2
- The Centre has asked all the Cooperative Milk Federations and Private Dairies to at least halve the use of plastic by Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October.
- AMUL and Mother Dairy were requested to formulate an action plan to recycle milk pouches.
- The Secretary also requested Major Dairy Federations like Gujarat Milk Federation (Amul), Karnataka Milk Federation (Nandini) and Maharashtra Milk Federation (Mahanand) to encourage reuse of plastic milk pouches, in a campaign mode, with 3R strategy – Reduce, Rebate and Reuse.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Karnataka tops the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index
- The State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index-SARAL was launched during the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State Power Utilities.
- Karnataka has topped the index which evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development.
- Telangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have came in at second, third and fourth rank respectively.
- SARAL has been developed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in collaboration with Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY).
- SARAL captures five key aspects:
- Robustness of policy framework
- Implementation environment
- Investment climate
- Consumer experience
- Business ecosystem
Extra Shots:
Karnataka: Capital City (Bangalore) CM (B S Yediyurappa) Governor (Vajubhai Vala)
Super 50 programme launched in Maharashtra
- Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Department in association with the Pace Educational Trust launched an academic programme for young tribal students aspiring to be doctors and engineers named ‘Super 50’.
- The Super 50 programme will mentor 50 most meritorious tribal students from the State and prepare them for engineering and medical exams.
- The programme was launched at the Vagad Pace School by Dr. Ashok Uike, Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Minister.
Extra Shots:
Maharashtra: Capital City (Mumbai) CM (Devendra Fadnavis) Governor (CH Vidyasagar Rao)
5th UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra becomes operational in Hisar, Haryana
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) fifth stand-alone Aadhaar Seva Kendra has become operational on dry run basis at Hisar in Haryana.
- Till now, five Aadhaar Seva Kendras are operational and two more will be operative by next week.
- Out of these five Kendras, two are in Delhi, while one is at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh and remaining one at Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
Extra Shots:
Haryana: Capital City (Chandigarh) CM (Manohar Lal Khatta) Governor (Satyadev Narayan Arya)
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
National Conference of Tourism Ministers was held in New Delhi
- Union Ministry of Tourism organized a one-day National Conference of Tourism Ministers in New Delhi.
- The meet was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture Shri Prahlad Singh Patel.
- The conference was attended by State Tourism Ministers of 19 States.
- The meeting focused on various issues related to the development and promotion of Tourism in New Delhi.
- The Tourism Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel launched the Hindi version of the New Incredible India portal at the conference.
- Patel also launched the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification (IITFC). IITFC is a digital initiative online programme where one can learn about tourism at their own time, space, path, and pace.
- The Ministry has also decided to open 10 historical monuments till 9 PM for common visitors across the country. This move aims to promote night tourism across the country.
India holds 9th Session of India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee in New Delhi
- Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways Shri PiyushGoyal led the Indian delegation.
- The delegation which is led by Peter Munya, Minister of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Government of the Republic of Kenya.
- The main aim is to co operate in the power sector, renewable energy, petroleum and natural gas, civil aviation and agricultural research.
- Home Minister Amit Shah chairs West Zone Council meet in Goa
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah today chaired the 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council in Goa.
- It is a forum for the Centre and States to exchange ideas on issues like health, security and social welfare.
Extra Shots:
Kenya (Capital/Currency): Nairobi/ Kenyan shilling
- President: Uhuru Kenyatta
Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurates two-day National Conference on Varmam Science in Chennai
- Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik has said that all Indian traditional medical systems are being promoted by the Centre to ensure a holistic health care.
- He inaugurated the two-day National Conference on Varmam Science, a part of the Siddha system of medicine in Chennai.
- The National Health Policy unveiled by the Centre in March 2017 gives importance to all the Indian systems of medicine.
Extra Shots:
Tamil Nadu: Capital City (Chennai) CM (Edappadi K.Palanisamy) Governor (Banwarilal Purohit)
APPOINTMENT
Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed as new Home Secretary
- The government appointed Ajay Kumar Bhalla as new Home Secretary.
- He succeeds Rajiv Gauba who will move out as Cabinet Secretary.
- Earlier, he served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Power.
- He belongs to 1984 batch of Assam Meghalaya cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and is currently serving as Officer on Special Duty in Home Ministry.
Rajiv Gauba appointed new Cabinet Secretary
- Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba will be the new Cabinet Secretary.
- He will replace P.K. Sinha.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Gauba as the Cabinet Secretary with a tenure of two years from 30th of this month.
Ajay Kumar appointed as Defence Secretary
- The government has appointed Ajay Kumar as Defence Secretary.
- He will succeed Sanjay Mitra, upon completion of his term.
- Ajay Kumar, is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre and is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Defence Production.
- Brij Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as Secretary to the Lokpal and Subash Chandra as Secretary of Department of Defence Production.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Paytm retains title sponsorship of Indian cricket for 5 years
- Paytm retained the sponsorship rights for BCCI’s International and domestic matches with a winning bid of Rs 3.80 crore per match.
- This sponsorship is for a period of 5 years (2019-2023).
Extra Shots:
Paytm: Paytm is an Indian e-commerce payment system and digital wallet company, based out of NOIDA SEZ, India.
- Founded: 2010
- Headquarters: Noida
- Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
- CEO: Renu Satti
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Culture Minister to launch book ‘ The Diary of Manu Gandhi’
- Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launched the book – the Diary of Manu Gandhi at a function in New Delhi.
- The book has been brought out by National Archives of India, on the occasion of 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in collaboration with Oxford University Press. The first volume covers the period 1943-1944.
AWARDS
JNU Professor Meeta Narain conferred the Pushkin Medal 2019
- JNU Professor Meeta Narain conferred the ‘Pushkin Medal – 2019’. It is the highest honour given to an Indian scholar by the Russian government.
- Pushkin Medal is given to a scholar of Russian language and literature. It is given for outstanding contribution to Russian studies.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Cerebras Systems reveals “world’s largest computer chip”
- Artificial intelligence(AI) company Cerebras Systems has unveiled the world’s largest single silicon-based processor named Cerebras Wafer Scale Engine(WSE).
- Artificial intelligence(AI) company Cerebras Systems has unveiled the world’s largest single silicon-based processor named Cerebras Wafer Scale Engine(WSE).
Extra Shots:
Cerebras Systems
- Established: 2016.
- Headquarters: California, USA.
- CEO & Co-Founder: Andrew Feldman
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