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.
