IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST 21st, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF AUGUST 21st, 2017

1. Navika Sagar Parikrama: Indian Navy’s All women Team to Circumnavigate Globe

i. Under project Navika Sagar Parikrama, a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini. This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.

ii. The project is considered essential towards promoting Ocean Sailing activities in the Navy while depicting Government of India’s thrust for ‘Nari Shakti’.

2. India, US Establish TWO-BY-TWO Ministerial Dialogue

i. India and US have established new two-by-two (2 by 2) ministerial dialogue to enhance strategic coordination between them and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

ii. The new dialogue format will replace the earlier India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. It will be similar to the India-Japan 2+2 dialogue format between foreign and defence secretaries of the two countries.

3. US and South Korea 10-day Annual Military Exercise Begins

i. The US and South Korea began a 10-day-long annual military exercise. The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drill is a computer-simulated defensive exercise designed to enhance readiness and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula.

ii. The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills will be the first joint military exercise between the allies since North Korea successfully flight-tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July and threatened to bracket Guam with intermediate range ballistic missile fire in August.

4. Nepalese PM Deuba to Begin Four-Day Visit to India

i. In his first foreign visit after assuming office, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive on a four-day trip.

ii. Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and will also call on the President and the Vice-President.

5. First Regional Centre of NDB Opens in S Africa

i. The first regional centre of the New Development Bank, set up by India and other BRICS nations, was officially opened by South African President Jacob Zuma and the bank's Indian head K V Kamath.

ii. NDB has anauthorized capital of the bank is USD 100 billion. In 2018 it is expected to present about 15 to 20 projects involving a total lending of about USD 4 billion for the boards consideration.

6. Smriti Irani Inaugurates Handicraft Manufacturing Unit in Jharkhand

i. Smriti Irani has inaugurated Jharkhand’s first textiles manufacturing and export unit ‘Orient Craft Ltd’.

ii. Irani will also lay foundation stones of numerous companies under special make in Jharkhand drive, called “Momentum Jharkhand" in Jamshedpur. The ongoing ceremony, named as ”Second Groundbreaking Ceremony” foundation stones for 70 companies.

7. Union Ministry of Defence Approves Delegation of Powers to Border Roads Organisation

i. The Ministry of Defence has decided to delegate administrative and financial powers to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to avoid delays on account of references between the Chief Engineer, HQ DGBR and the Ministry.

ii. The Ministry of Defence has approved that for both departmental and contractual mode of execution. A chief engineer of the BRO can accord administrative approval up to Rs. 50 crore, ADGBR up to Rs. 75 crore and DGBR up to Rs. 100 crore. Defence Ministry has approved policy guidelines based on which the BRO may engage big construction companies for taking up road projects on a turnkey basis.

8. Rajasthan Govt Signed JV Agreement for Refinery Project with HPCL

i. Rajasthan government and state-owned oil firm HPCL inked an agreement to form a joint venture company for Barmer petroleum refinery and petrochemical complex. In a new firm, HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), state government will have 26% and HPCL will have 74 per cent of partnership.

ii. As per the proposed plan, the refinery project would be established in 4,813 acres of land area. A 270 MW power would be generated from the waste petcoke generated from the refinery.

9. Nestle India Ties up With Amazon

i. Nestle India has tied up with Amazon India for the launch of its new Nutrilicious range of Maggi Noodles. The new range will be available first on Amazon.in, and the company, subsequently, aims to roll it out across retail outlets in India.

ii. New Maggi Nutritious Noodles are in line with Nestle’s “Simply Good” initiative to provide healthier & tastier choices to consumers.

10. UK Scientists Create World's Smallest Surgical Robot

i. British scientists have developed the worlds smallest surgical robot which could transform daily operations for tens of thousands of patients. A team of 100 scientists and engineers have used low-cost technology originally developed for mobile phones and space industry.

ii. The robot, called Versius, mimics the human arm and can be used to carry out a wide range of laparoscopic procedures. The robot is set to be launched next year.

11. NASA Launches Satellite to Help Astronauts Talk to Earth

i. NASA launched the latest in a series of satellites aimed at ensuring astronauts at the International Space Station can communicate with Earth. The $408 million Boeing-made Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M) soared into space atop an Atlas V rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

ii. The satellite will support critical space communication into the mid-2020s. TDRS-M is the last of 13 such satellites that have been launched since 1983.

12. 12-year-old Indian-Origin Crowned Child Genius in UK

i. A 12-year-old Indian-origin boy named Rahul Doshi has been crowned as the UK’s ‘Child Genius’ in a popular television quiz competition, days after he became an overnight sensation after answering all questions correctly.

ii. Rahul Doshi won the Channel 4 show ‘Child Genius’ by beating his nine-year-old opponent – Ronan – 10-4. The school boy is from north London.

13. Power Grid Inks $500 Million Loan Pact with ADB

i. State-run power transmission utility Power Grid Corp announced that it will get a loan of USD 500 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its various projects.

ii. The proceeds of the loan are proposed to be utilised for funding of Green Energy Corridor (Part D); 800KV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) bipole link between Western Region (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and Southern Region (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu) and 320 KV HDVC link between Pugalur and North Trichur (Kerala).

14. At 27%, SBI Tops Share of Wilful Default to PSBs

i. The country’s largest lender, SBI, accounts for over 27 per cent of the total amount owed to public sector banks by wilful defaulters. As many as 1,762 wilful defaulters owed SBI Rs25,104 crore.

ii. Punjab National Bank (PNB) is next on the list with 1,120 wilful defaulters having outstanding non-performing assets (NPAs) of Rs12,278 crore.

15. Serena Williams- The Highest-Paid Female Athlete of 2017

i. American Tennis Player Serena Williams has topped the Forbes’ list of highest paid female athletes of 2017 with $27 million in earnings between June 2016 and June 2017.

ii. Her earnings, which include prize money and endorsements, is twice that of any other female athlete.

16. Comedy Legend Jerry Lewis Dies

i. Veteran American entertainer Jerry Lewis died aged 91. One of the most popular comic actors of the 1950s and ’60s, Lewis perfected the role of the quirky clown in slapstick comedies like “The Nutty Professor” but also won acclaim as a writer, actor, and philanthropist.

ii. He was honoured with accolades at home and abroad, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.