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IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST 19^th, 2018

                           IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST  19^th, 2018

1.  (19th August 2018) is World Photography Day.

a.  This day aims to inspire photographers across the planet to share single photo with world.

2. Today is World Humanitarian Day (WHD).

a.  This day is observed every year on 19 August to recognize work of humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.

3. Chinese President Xi Jinping is going to visit North Korea next month at the invitation of leader Kim Jong-un to attend the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of the nation's founding.

a.  Note : It will be Xi's first visit to North Korea since he assumed office. 

4. United States (US) State Department has announced creation of Iran Action Group (IAG) to execute President Donald Trump administration’s Iran strategy and pressure country to change its behaviors. 

a.  Note : The creation of IAG comes in wake of US withdrawal (unilaterally) from the Nuclear Deal signed between Iran and P5+1 countries (P5: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States and +1: Germany,) and European Union in Vienna (Austria) in July 2015.

5. The Union Ministry of Agriculture has written to United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) proposing declaration of year 2019 as “International Year of Millets”. 

a.  It has requested inclusion of this proposal in agenda of 26th Committee on Agriculture (COAG) meeting, scheduled to be held in October 2018 in Rome (Italy). 

b.  Important Note : India is celebrating 2018 as National Year of Millets to promote cultivation of millets.

  6. Aadhaar-issuing body UIDAI (Unique Identity Authority of India) has announced phased roll-out of face recognition for carrying out Aadhaar authentication from September 15, 2018 as additional security layer. 

a.  It also has announced new feature ‘live face photo,’ which is live feed of person facial features whose 12-digit unique number Aadhaar is submitted.

7. The International Conference on Recent Advances in Food Processing Technology (iCRAFPT) is being held at Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IFPT), Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. 

a.  Theme of iCRAFPT 2018 : “Doubling farmers’ income through food processing”.

  8. The Home Ministry has issued a directive stating that no ATM will be refilled with cash after 9 pm in cities, 6 pm in rural areas and 4 pm in Naxal-affected areas from 8th February 2019. 

a.  The Ministry has also issued a directive stating every cash van will carry not more than ₹5 crore per trip, to reduce attacks on cash vans.

9. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has devalued the Bolivar (Venezuelan currency) by 95% ahead of the roll-out of a new bolivar tomorrow. 

a.  The new currency will be called the 'Sovereign bolivar' and will be based on the country’s Petro cryptocurrency, now valued around $60 or 3,600 sovereign bolivars. 

10.              American retail chain Walmart today announced it has completed the $16 billion deal to buy a 77% stake in e-commerce startup Flipkart. 

11.              According to National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development’s (NABARD) All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2016-17, Agriculture (farming) generates only 23% of rural income i.e. not even quarter of rural household incomes in India. 

12.              The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry has banned import of Petroleum coke (petcoke) for use as fuel. 

a.  It has allowed its import of only for use as feedstock in some select industries such as cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide and gasification industries. 

b.  Important Points to Note :

i)    India is the world’s biggest consumer of petcoke. 

ii)  It gets over half its annual petcoke imports of around 27 million tonnes from United States. Local producers include Indian Oil Corp, Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corp.  

  13.             The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has appointed two firms Egon Zehnder International Pvt. Ltd and Hay Consultants Pvt. Ltd to assist in developing strategies for top bank management.

a.  Egon Zehnder was appointed as knowledge partner to design, implement and institutionalise a flagship leadership development strategy for state-run banks in India. 

b.  Hay Consultants was appointed to assess leadership competencies and potential capabilities of people appearing for post of whole time directors in state-run banks. 

  14.             The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has proposed to set up 5-member committee to suggest changes to JEE (Advanced) in the wake of an inadequate number of candidates qualifying entrance test this year. 

a.  This committee will develop robust and scientifically designed entrance exam system to test potential of candidates as well as to reduce their dependence on coaching institutes.

b.  Head of This Committee : Bhaskar Ramamurthy (Director of IIT-Madras)

15.              The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has constituted a 3-member committee to look into the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2018. 

a.  Head of this Committee : B Sesikeran (Former director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN))

  16.             India's first Commonwealth Games gold-winner in the javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, led the 572-athlete-strong Indian contingent at the Asian Games' opening ceremony. 

a.  The contingent will represent India across 36 sports in the event, which is scheduled to finish on September 2. 

17.              Shooters Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar opened India's medal tally at the 2018 Asian Games by winning Bronze in the final of the 10m Air Rifle mixed team event.