Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 30 2019
1. Uttarakhand to set up Special Tiger Force for Corbett Tiger Reserve
Uttarakhand Government has decided to for Special Tiger Force for Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR). This decision was taken by State Cabinet meeting. The force will have 85 posts and will help serve as the much needed second layer of protection for the big cat.
2. International Day Against Nuclear Tests observed on August 29
The International Day Against Nuclear Tests is observed across every year across the world on 29 August with aim to raise awareness about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions.
Aim:
- To promote peace and security world-wide and calls for urgent need to prevent nuclear catastrophes to avert devastating effects on humankind, environment and the planet.
- To highlight urgent need for cessation of nuclear weapons as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
3. International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed on 30 August
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed on 30 August every year. The Day was established by the international organization General Assembly resolution.
Aim:
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances aims to lift awareness on enforced or involuntary disappearances that occur with arrest, detention, abduction or deprivation of the State with support by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate.
4. India First Sky Cycling Park At a Height of 9000 Feet In Manali to Open Soon
Cyclists are often spotted on roads and mountains enjoying the ride, while they pedal away to glory. They will be spotted cycling through the skies of Himachal Pradesh.
The main aim is to boost tourism and give and an all-new experience to visitors. Forest Department and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports joined hands and developed sky cycling park in Gulaba area near Manali.
5. Prestigious award to Sattriya danseuse
Noted Sattriya danseuse and scholar Dr Anwesa Mahanta chosen for the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman for her contributions to the Sattriya tradition.
Sayanacharya Ghanakanta Bora, a Sangeet Natak Akademi and Padma Shri awardee, Anwesha extensively in India also overseas, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, France, England, Northern Ireland, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The academic presentations in various institutions of higher learning and research.
6. Government unveils mega bank mergers
The government unveiled a mega plan to merge 10 public sector banks into four as part of plans to create fewer and stronger global-sized lenders as it looks to boost economic growth from a five-year low.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who had last week announced tax sops and measures for sectors such as auto, announced four new set of mergers — Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will combine to form the nation’s second-largest lender; Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank will merge; Union Bank of India will amalgamate with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank; and Indian Bank will merge with Allahabad Bank.
7. Mumbai ranked 45th, Delhi 52nd on world’s safe cities list; Tokyo safest: Study
Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th safest city on the Safe Cities Index (SCI), while Delhi stood at the 52nd position, a report by Economist Intelligence Unit said on Thursday.
Cities in the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region made up six of the top-10 safest cities with Tokyo taking the top spot.
8. Centre gives over Rs 47,000 cr to 27 states for green activities
The environment ministry released over Rs 47,000 crores to 27 states for compensatory afforestation and other green activities, including prevention of forest fire, biodiversity management and soil conservation.
Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh got the maximum share of the fund.
9. ISSF World Cup: Abhishek Verma wins gold, bronze for Saurabh Chaudhary in 10m Air Pistol in Rio
Abhishek Verma won the gold medal and Saurabh Chaudhary the bronze, in a dominant display by Indian shooters in the men’s 10m air pistol event of the World Cup. Verma shot 244.2 in the eight-man finals, while Chaudhary’s 221.9 was good enough to get him the bronze.
10. National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Conferred The Prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award
Deendayan Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), a flagship mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award for its Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA)in a function held at the Constitution Club of India.
11. Dindigul lock, Kandangi saree get GI tag
The products — the Dindigul lock and the Kandangi saree — were given the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai .
While the application for the lock was made by the Dindigul Lock, Hardware and Steel Furniture Workers Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, the Amarar Rajeev Gandhi Handloom Weavers Co-operative Production and Sales Society Limited filed the application for the Kandangi saree.
12. Wipro expands its partnership with Google Cloud
Wipro said it has expanded its strategic partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate cloud adoption and digital transformation for global enterprises.
The Bengaluru-headquartered software services exporter said it has a dedicated practice focused on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
13. Samsung India ties up with Mastercard, RBL Bank for mobile payments
Mastercard, RBL Bank and Samsung India have announced the launch of Samsung Pay for RBL Bank’s credit card holders. The partnership will allow RBL Bank Mastercard credit card holders to make contactless mobile payments using their Samsung Pay-enabled phones. These payments can be made via any PoS (Point of Sale) machine where a card can be dipped, swiped or tapped, both in India and abroad. A physical card does not need to be present.
