Current Affairs Update – 19 Sept, 2014

• ·        
  The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014
  was released on 17 September 2014. The census looked at the global billionaire
  population from July 2013 to June 2014.
• ·        
  The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014
  is the only comprehensive global study on the composition and dynamics of the
  top-tier of the global ultra-high net worth (UHNW) population.
• ·        
  The United
  States maintained its position as the world’s top billionaire country with a population of 571
  billionaires in 2014.
• ·        
  As per the census, India retained its sixth position in terms of 100 number of
  billionaires possessing wealth of 175 billion US dollars in net worth.
  Moreover, India has more number of billionaires than Switzerland, Hong Kong and
  France.

• ·        
  Ancient Nalanda University, which once
  attracted students from across the world, was formally inaugurated on Friday in
  its modern ‘avatar’ by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Rajgir.
• ·        
  Hailing the occasion, Ms. Swaraj said as in
  the past the university would serve as ‘bridge and foundation’ in linking the
  country with the world through knowledge.
• ·        
  “It is wrong to say that today we are
  rejuvenating the 427 AD Nalanda University because tradition never dies …
  Nalanda is not just a university but a tradition.
• ·        
  “Nalanda University is a link between the
  past, present and future,” she said at the function held at the International
  Conventional Centre.
• ·        
  Nalanda University was deeply etched in
  history and like in ancient times would serve as a magnet to attract students
  from across the globe, Ms. Swaraj said, adding during her recent visit to
  Bangladesh she found people there were interested in it.

• ·        
  With the objective of addressing sanitation
  related health concerns, the Urban Development Ministry and the Bill &
  Milinda Gates Foundation have agreed on a partnership to promote user friendly
  toilets to ensure universal sanitation in the country.
• ·        
  During a meeting with Urban Development
  Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi, Mr. Gates enquired about the government’s
  sanitation initiatives.
• ·        
  Mr. Naidu apprised Gates about the
  government’s initiatives to ensure housing for all by 2022 and that ‘Swachchh
  Bharat Mission’ would be launched on October 2 this year, under which every
  household is to be enabled with toilet facility by 2019.
• ·        
  Mr. Naidu said that under the new housing
  initiative, every affordable house to be constructed in urban areas would be
  provided with toilet facilities. He said at present about 12 million urban
  households do not have toilet facilities.
• ·        
  Mr. Naidu said the government would like to
  benefit from the initiatives and experience of the Gates Foundation, since
  about three crore new houses are to be constructed in urban areas alone to
  address housing shortage, particularly for the economically weaker sections and
  low income groups.
• ·        
  He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
  accorded top priority to ensuring universal sanitation in the country.

• ·        
  Indian Air Force on 18 September 2014 gifted
  a vintage Dakota aircraft from its museum to Bangladesh Air Force. The Dakota
  aircraft was given on a formal request from Bangladesh Air Force to review and
  revive the historic ties between the two countries.
• ·        
  The aircraft was handed over to Air Marshal
  Muhammad Enamul Bari, Chief of Bangladesh Air Force by Air Marshal SS Soman,
  Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command of Indian Air
  Force in a ceremony at Air Force Station Palam, New Delhi.
• ·        
  The Dakota aircraft played a crucial role in
  liberation of Bangladesh and formation of Bangladesh Air Force. The aircraft
  was used for air dropping Army troops in Bangladesh’s Tangail during the 1971
  war. It was also used for transporting troops in Srinagar during the 1947-48
  war with Pakistan for protecting Kashmir Valley
• from raiders from across the border.

• ·        
  World renowned Carnatic musician and a
  legendary Mandolin player U Srinivas passed away early in the morning today at
  Appolo Hospital in Chennai. The Padma Shri awardee, who is just 45 years old
  was admitted in the hospital due to illness. The death of the child prodigy who
  picked up his father
• ·        
  Satyanarayana’s mandolin at the age of six
  comes as a shock to the music industry. The singers from the industry took to
  twitter to convey their condolence.
• ·        
  He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998 and the
  Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2010.

• ·        
  US President Barack Obama on 18 September
  2014 nominated Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma as the next US Ambassador to
  India. The US Embassy in New Delhi is currently headed by a Charge d’affaires
  Kathleen Stephens.
• ·        
  If confirmed by the US Senate, Richard Rahul
  Verma will be the first Indian-American to serve the top US diplomatic position
  in India.

• ·        
  When 3.6 million Scots voted on Thursday on
  whether to leave or stay within the United Kingdom, they were answering one
  simple question: Should Scotland be an independent country?
• ·        
  But for a time some politicians on both sides
  of the debate wanted to include a third choice on the ballot: maximum
  devolution of powers to Scotland within Britain, or so-called devo-max. Even
  Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister and leader of the Scottish National
  Party (SNP), backed including such an alternative, arguing that he was
  “not for limiting the choices of the Scottish people.”

• ·        
  A statement said planes had attacked an IS
  depot in north-east Iraq, and there would be more raids in the coming days.
• ·        
  The US has carried out more than 170 air
  strikes against the jihadist group in Iraq since mid-August.
• ·        
  IS remains in control of dozens of cities and
  towns in Iraq and Syria, where it has declared a caliphate.

• ·        
  Li Na, a two-time Grand Slam champion from
  China who took tennis in Asia to a new level, has retired due to recurring knee
  injuries.
• ·        
  The 32-year-old Li posted the news on her
  microblog on Friday, ending a week of intensifying speculation that she would
  announce her retirement ahead of the new WTA event at Wuhan, her home town.
• ·        
  Li won the 2011 French Open, becoming the
  first player from China to win a Grand Slam singles title, and clinched the
  Australian Open title in January in her third trip to the final at Melbourne
  Park.
• ·        
  She only entered seven tournaments after
  that, and hasn’t played since a third-round defeat at Wimbledon. She withdrew
  from three tournaments in August, including the U.S. Open, citing a right knee
  injury.

• ·        
  The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) executive
  board on Friday approved Indonesia as hosts for the 2018 Asian Games which
  faces a growing battle to find venues because of the cost.
• ·        
  The continent’s sports leaders had to find a
  quick replacement after Vietnam said in April that it could no longer afford to
  stage the next Asian Games.
• ·        
  The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) executive
  board on Friday approved Indonesia as hosts for the 2018 Asian Games. AFP
• ·        
  “Today it has been approved by the EB
  (executive board) that in 2018 will be the next Asian Games in Jakarta in
  Indonesia,” said council president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

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