Current Affairs Update - 13th & 14th August

Daily Current Affairs - 13th & 14th August

Wish You all a very Happy Independence Day. We Achievers Rule Team wishes you a very good luck for you in future. Wish You all the best. 

Do You Know?

Pakistan get U-19 cricket Asia Cup shifted from Bengaluru to Malaysia

• The Under-19 cricket Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru, has been moved to Malaysia following the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s objection to the tournament being held in India. The tournament will now be held in November in Malaysia.
• “The matter of shifting the tournament to Malaysia was amicably agreed by all participants in the development and executive committees, since no one wanted it marred by security considerations of any member,” PCB chairman Najam Sethi was quoted as saying by espncricinfo on Saturday.

Norway Has World's Fastest Mobile Internet

• According to the global leader in broadband testing Ookla, Norway has the fastest mobile Internet in the world. In only 13 months, Norway has jumped from 11th to first place on the list of world best providers of fast Internet connection, Xinhua reported. Ookla created the popular application Speedtest.net, where the users can measure the speed of their Internet connection at any time.
• According to their statistics, the average Internet connection speed of Norwegians' mobile phones has increased by 69 per cent during the last year and has speed of 52.6 megabits per second. The development has been specially noticed after Telenor, a major operator in Norway, increased the speed on individual subscriptions last September. Telenor is one of the three operators in Norway that have built their own mobile networks which other operators are hiring. 

Important Days

Yami Gautam spreads awareness on World Organ Donation Day which falls on August 13th every year.

• Yami Gautam who played the role of a visually impaired girl in Kaabil, was seen spreading awareness about the importance of Organ Donation on the account of World Organ Donation Day which falls on August 13th. 
• Yami in real life too has pledged to donate her eyes. She took that decision before the actress was signed for ‘Kaabil’, in which she delivered a power packed performance. 
• In fact, it was not just Yami, but her entire family pledged to donate their eyes back then, which Yami is extremely proud of. 

New Appointments: National

Noted Bollywood lyricist-screenwriter Prasoon Joshi appointed CBFC chairperson

• Noted Bollywood lyricist-screenwriter and ad guru Prasoon Joshi on Friday replaced Pahlaj Nihalani as CBFC chairperson.
• The government on Friday evening issued a notification announcing the appointment of Prasoon Joshi. The notification read: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (37 of 1952) read with rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, the Central Government is pleased to appoint Sh. Prasoon Joshi as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification in an honorary capacity from 11th August 2017 for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The Notification supersedes the earlier notification F No. M-11020/1/2014-DO (FC) dated 19th January 2015.”

New Appointments: International

Trump appointed Neil Chatterjee as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the White House said.

• The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump had appointed Neil Chatterjee as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
• Last week the Senate confirmed Chatterjee and Robert Powelson as members of the FERC, restoring a quorum to the agency. Chatterjee had previously been an energy policy advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican

National Affairs

BENGALURU TO GET INDIA’S FIRST DISASTER VILLAGE

• Trains falling into rivers and coaches catching fire will be common sights in the country’s first ‘Railways disaster management village’ expected to come up on the outskirts of Bengaluru by December next year. A senior official of the railways said “overaged rolling stock” will be used to replicate train accidents so that real-time rescue operations could be carried out to improve such efforts. “It will be just like the mock drills carried out by security personnel. It will be as real as it can get,” he said.
• The railways has earmarked the 3.32-sq km village of Hejjala, with a population of 3,483 people, to develop its Disaster Management Institute and Safety village at a cost of Rs 44.42 crore, according to a blueprint.

Maharashtra Government Launches ‘Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra’

• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra an initiative providing job opportunities to unemployed youth in Mumbai. There are various schemes like farmers weekly market, farmers mobile market and mother’s Tiffin, under this Yuva Rojgar Kendra.
• These products will be made available with the help of mobile vans all over Mumbai and the information about the location of the vans is made available through an app. This app was also launched by the Chief Minister.

Environment Minister launches Gaj Yatra to mark World Elephant Day 2017

• Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, launched Gaj Yatra here today, a nationwide campaign to protect elephants on the occasion of World Elephant Day. The campaign is planned to cover 12 elephant range states.
• Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Dr. Vardhan urged the people to prepare a strategy for a more even distribution of the elephant population in all the states of the country. The Minister emphasised that an attempt must be made to bring to an end the chapter of man-animal conflict. He added that a war must be waged against poachers and hunters who harm elephants and other wildlife. Calling for proactive, innovative and out-of-the-box ideas, Dr. Vardhan said that efforts for elephant conservation must bring about a qualitative improvement by the next World Elephant Day.

The three-day fusion food and art festival "Fete de Puducherry" Started in Puducherry.

• There is a magical allure associated with Puducherry. Be it the residents, people from nearby towns and cities, or even people from across the globe, the spell is cast upon everyone. And if you are planning a trip during the weekend, be ready for a gastronomic adventure. A Bite of France, an Indo-French food festival, is a chance to reminisce long lost delicacies from a bygone era. You can enjoy a range of food inspired by France and Vietnam and also listen to some Indo French fusion band music.
• Jacob Mathew and Sherin Linda Rheeman of Tablo Noir are the organisers of the event, which aims to bring out the authenticity of Puducherry.

India's first online course on Infusion Therapy launched

• Infusion Nurses Society (INS) -- a global authority in infusion therapy -- on Sunday launched India's first online course on Infusion Therapy for nurses, under which it aims to train over 3,000 nurses in the vital medical procedure.
• Announcing the initiative, which will boost nurses even in rural parts of India, INS said that utilising the reach and ease of the digital platform, the course will enable members to access the various infusion therapy modules and presentations through its website.
• Infusion therapy means the administration of a drug intravenously, but the term also may refer to situations where drugs are provided through other non-oral routes, such as intramuscular injections and epidural routes.

International Affairs

Pakistan Hoists 'Largest' National Flag To Mark 70th Independence Day

• Pakistan's national flag today flew at 400 feet, the highest in South Asia, at the Attari-Wagah border with India to mark the country's 70th Independence Day.
• The 120x80 feet flag is also the largest in the history of the country, Pakistani media reported.
• Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa hoisted the flag near the border after midnight last night, kicking off the Independence Day celebrations across the country.
• The flag is said to be the highest in South Asia and the eighth highest in the world.
• Gen Bajwa said: "Some 77 years ago, Pakistan resolution was passed in the same city (Lahore). Pakistan came into being on the night of 27th Ramadan - it was a blessed night.

The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) declares Somalia free of polio

• The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Sunday it had not recorded any case of polio disease in Somalia in the last three years, declaring the country polio free.
• The WHO said the country recorded the last case of polio in 2014 in the central part of the country but has since then remained free of the paralyzing disease.
• The UN health agency, however, warned Somalia remained vulnerable, calling for continued vaccination campaign, Xinhua reported.

Science & Technologies

An ultrasensitive DNA sensor that can detect S. pyogenes, a bacterium which causes a wide range of diseases in about 30 minutes has been developed

• The DNA chip is highly specific device for S. pyogenes. The conventional method of identification takes 18-24 hours and the basic culture test does not specifically help distinguish S. pyogenes.
• Early detection : From mild skin and throat infections to life-threatening toxic shock syndrome, S. pyogenes infections affect 700 million people every year. If not treated during early stages of the infection, S. pyogenes can even lead to rheumatic heart disease (heart valves damage).
• The sensor was developed by scientists from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi, and the results were published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
• The DNA chip based sensor consists of a carbon electrode embedded with gold nanoparticles. By means of a bioinformatics study, the researchers were able to design probes which are specific for S. pyogenes.

Defence & Railway

India, China to join a maiden maritime search and rescue exercise to be chaired by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in November.

• Despite growing tensions with China, official sources said the Indian Navy would join the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in a maiden maritime search and rescue exercise to be chaired by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in November this year.
• “Bangladesh, the current Chair, is scheduling a maiden International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) in November in the Bay of Bengal to be attended by ships and aircraft of the members and observers of the IONS,” an official source said.
• The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states, represented by their Navy chiefs, launched by India in February 2008. It presently has 23 members and nine observers.

Indian Coast Guard ship ‘Shaurya’ commissioned in Goa

• Indian Coast Guard ship “Shaurya”, the fifth in the series of six 105-metre offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), was on Saturday commissioned in Goa by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.
• The OPV, which draws 2,350 tonne and is propelled by 9100 kilowatt diesel engine, has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries.

India, Russia to Hold Major Tri-Service 'Indra' Combat Exercise in October

• In the midst of evolving security situation in the region, India and Russia will hold a mega war game in October involving their armies, navies and the air forces for the first time to further ramp up military ties.
• The exercise Indra, which will be held in Russia from October 19 to 29, will primarily focus on achieving coordination between forces of the two countries in a tri- services integrated theatre command scenario, military sources said.
• It will be for the first time India will participate in a tri-services exercise with a foreign country with such a large scale participation by the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, they said.

Schemes / Programme

Ministry of Culture organizes Sankalp Se Siddhi Programme in Coimbatore

• To take forward the initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for a New India movement from 2017 - 2022, a  Sankalp Se Siddhi  (Attainment through Resolve)  Programme was organized at  Sri Ramalinga Sowdambigai College of Science and Commerce, Onappalayam, Coimbatore on 12  August, 2017.  Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge), Dr. Mahesh Sharma graced the occasion.

Summit /Conference / Events / Host

India-Asean Youth Summit to begin from August 14 in Bhopal

• A five-day India-Asean Youth Summit to commemorate 25th anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations – India dialogue partnership will begin here on August 14. The event is being organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, India Foundation and the state government jointly on the commemorative year’s theme “Shared Values, Common Destiny”, Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters in Bhopal.

Awards & Honours

T J S George bags first Kesari Media Award

• Veteran journalist T J S George has been chosen for the first Kesari Media Award, instituted by the Kesari Memorial Journalist Trust here.     
• The award comprises a purse of Rs 50,000, citation and a statuette designed by renowned artist Bhatathiri.
• A jury, comprising filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Asianet editor M G Radhakrishnan, Media Academy chairman R S Babu and Kesari Memorial Journalist Trust chairman C Rahim as members, selected the award winner.     

Sports: Awards & Honours

Gabriel Chundan(Snake Boat Player)  lifts 65th Nehru Trophy

• Gabriel Chundan, the snake boat powered by oarsmen of Thuruthippuram Boat Club, today won the 65th edition of the prestigious Nehru Trophy held at the Punnamda Lake here. The oarsmen of Gabriel Chundan lifted the trophy after a thrilling photo finish this evening.
• The members of the Ernakulam-based boat club dipped their oars in unison, leading the majestic chundan (snake boat) to the finishing point, pushing fellow competitors behind.
• While Mahadevikkad Kattilthekkethil came second, Payippad and Karichal, last year?s winner, secured the third and fourth spots respectively as thousands of spectators gathered on the banks to cheer them, organisers said.