Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs Updates – 19th August 2017

Important Daily Current Affairs Updates – 19th August 2017:

Dear Readers, Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

 

IMPORTANT DAY

World Humanitarian Day: 19th August

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. The campaign was launched on WHD with the theme- #NotATarget. The Day is organized by the United Nations.

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UN – United Nation

Headquarters – New York, United States

Secretary general – António Guterres

STATE

India’s first World Peace University inaugurated in MIT, Pune

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has inaugurated Dr.Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University (MITWPU). MIT World Peace University is an entirely new concept and a model for moulding global citizens. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Swami Vivekananda Mandap at the MIT World Peace University’s Kothrud Campus.

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State – Maharashtra

Capital – Mumbai

CM – Devendra Fadnavis

Governor – Vidyasagar Rao

INTERNATIONAL

US and Japan have agreed to advance defence cooperation with countries like India, South Korea and Australia

The US and Japan have agreed to advance their multilateral security and defence cooperation with countries like India, South Korea and Australia, amidst China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia Pacific region. During the meeting the ministers underscored the importance of cooperating to promote a rules-based international order, taking note of the United States continued commitment to maintain a strong presence in the region and Japans initiatives demonstrated by its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”.

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Country – United states of America, Capital – Washington D.C, Currency – US Dollar

Country – Japan, Capital – Tokyo, Currency – Japanese Yen

Country – South Korea, Capital – , Currency – South Korean Won

Country – Australia, Capital – Canberra, Currency – Australian Dollar

China Launches First Cyber Court in e-commerce Hub

China launched its first cyber court specializing in handling Internet-related cases in the e-commerce hub of Hangzhou. The Hangzhou Internet Court in Hangzhou will handle cases such as online trade disputes and copyright lawsuits. Hangzhou is home to many Internet companies, including e-commerce giant Alibaba.

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Country – China

Capital – Beijing

Currency – Renminbi, Yuan

President – Xi Jinping

Alibaba – E-commerce company

HQ of Alibaba – Hangzhou China

President/Founder of Alibaba – Jack Ma

Saudi Arabia to open Salwa border point to Qatari pilgrims for Haj

Saudi Arabia is going to open up its border and airports for those attending the annual Haj pilgrimage. Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced that the Salwa border point would be open for Qataris performing the Haj, which this year runs from late August to early September.

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Country – Saudi Arabia

Capital – Riyadh

Currency – Saudi Riyal

Qatar has launched a new direct route to Pakistan

Qatar has launched a new direct route between the country’s Hamad Port and Pakistan’s port of Karachi. It will boost trade between the two countries. It will also offer “fast and secure” corridor for importers and exporters, with transit time of six days from Qatar to Karachi and eight days back.

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Country – Qatar

Capital – Doha

Currency – Riyal

Hamad Port – Qatar

Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai to study at Oxford

Pakistani Nobel Prize winner MalalaYousafzai will study at Oxford University. The 20-year-old will study philosophy, politics and economics. In April, she became the youngest-ever UN Messenger of Peace. Notable Oxford alumni include Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Myanmar’s pro-democracy campaigner Aung San SuuKyi as well as former British Prime Minister David Cameron and his one-time Labour opponent Ed Miliband.

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Oxford University – England

Chancellor – Chris Patten

BANKING & ECONOMY

Axis Bank to waive 12 EMIs on home loans under Shubh Aarambh scheme

Under the new scheme Shubh Aarambh Home Loans Axis Bank will waive 12 equated monthly installments (EMIs) on regular repayments of loans of up to Rs 30 lakh. The lender has introduced ShubhAarambh Home Loans, in which 12 EMIs are waived 4 EMIs each after the fourth, eighth and 12th year from the date of the first disbursement.

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Axis Bank HQ – Mumbai

MD & CEO – Shikha Sharma

Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

AGREEMENT

Union Bank of India signs agreement with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and Cholamandalam MS General Insurance

Union Bank of India entered into a corporate agency agreement with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and Cholamandalam MS General Insurance for distribution of their insurance products. The public sector bank already has a corporate agency agreement with The New India Assurance.

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Union Bank of India HQ – Mumbai

MD & CEO – Shri Rajkiran Rai G

Tagline – Good People to Bank with

APPOINTMENT

General Motors India appointed Sanjiv Gupta as the new President and MD of the company

General Motors India announced the appointment of Sanjiv Gupta as the new President and Managing Director of the company. Sanjiv Gupta will replace Kaher Kazem. Kazem has been appointed as the President and CEO of GM Korea.

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General Motors HQ – Detroit, Michigan, United States

New President & MD of GM India – Sanjiv Gupta

Preceded by – Kaher Kazem

New President and CEO of GM Korea – Kaher Kazam

Russian President appointed career diplomat Nikolay Kudashev as Russia’s new ambassador to India

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed career diplomat Nikolay Kudashev as Russia’s new ambassador to India. The appointment of Kudashev comes nearly seven months after the death of Russia’s previous ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin.

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Country – Russia

Capital – Moscow

Currency – Russian Ruble

New Russia’s Ambassador to India – Nikolay Kudashev

Preceded by – Alexander Kadakin

Sri Lanka Appoints First Tamil Navy Chief After Four Decades

Rear Admiral Travis Sinniah was appointed as the chief of Sri Lanka’s naval forces, making him the first from the minority Tamil community to head the Navy since the brutal civil war erupted in the country 45 years ago. He was appointed as the Navy chief by President Maithripala Sirisena. Sinniah succeeds Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne who has retired.

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Country – Sri Lanka

Capital – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative capital), Colombo (commercial capital)

Currency – Sri Lankan Rupee

President – Maithripala Sirisena

Prime Minister – Ranil wickremesinghe

New Navy Chief – Travis Sinniah

Preceded by – Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne

Travis Sinniah is the second Tamil to head the Lankan Navy after Rajan Kadirgamar, who was the commander in the late 1960s.

Mamta Suri took charge as Executive Director of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)

Dr. Mamta Suri took charge as Executive Director of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) in New Delhi. Before joining IBBI, Dr. Suri was serving as Chief General Manager, Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI). She has also received Honorary membership for High Scholastic Achievement from USA.

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IBBI – Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

Chairman of IBBI – Dr. M. S. Sahoo

World’s Most expensive player Neymar became the Goodwill Ambassador for Handicap International

World’s Most expensive player Neymar became the Goodwill Ambassador for Handicap International, pledging to work for millions who are “less visible” but deserve equality. The charity was founded in 1982 to assist 6,000 Cambodian refugees who had lost limbs and later co-founded the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in 1992 which won the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Neymar – Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, commonly known as Neymar or Neymar Jr., is a Brazilian professional footballer

Country – Brazil

Capital – Brasília

Currency – Brazilian real

DEFENCE

Army to Get 6 Apache AH64E Attack Helicopters in Deal worth Rs 4,168 Crore

India’s Defence acquisition council (DAC) gave the green light to a proposal to buy six Apache AH64E attack helicopters for the army from the United States. The approval was given at a meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. The six Apache AH64E attack helicopters along with weapons systems from American giant Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore will be Indian Army’s first fleet of attack choppers.

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Union Defence Minister – Arun Jaitley

Constituency – Gujarat, Rajya Sabha

Boeing HQ – Chicago, Illinois, United States

Central Government has approved a nearly Rs 32,000 crore plan for boosting Coast Guard capabilities

Central Government has approved a nearly Rs 32,000 crore “definitive five-year action programme” for the Indian Coast Guard to enhance its capability in maintaining vigil on coastal waters. The action plan to give a boost to the Coast Guard in terms of infrastructure and equipment like offshore patrol vessels, interceptor boats, helicopters, aircraft and critical operational infrastructure were cleared at a meeting chaired by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.

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Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra

OBITUARY

Veteran photographer S Paul passed away

S Paul, a veteran Photographer has passed away in Patparganj. He was 88. He joined The Indian Express in the 1960s and retired from the newspaper in 1989.

 

This post was last modified on August 19, 2017 7:40 pm