Current Affairs 22nd August, 2017

INTERNATIONAL

1. Festival of India being Organized in Cote D’ivoire, Liberia and Guinea

A Festival of India is being organized in Cote d’Ivoire and concurrently accredited countries of Liberia and Guinea from 15 August, 2017 – 28 January, 2018.

• The Festival will showcase diverse Indian culture, i.e. classical and folk dances.
• The events will be held in four cities of Cote d’Ivoire, namely, Abidjan, Yamassoukro and Grand Bassam and Daloa and capital cities of Monrovia of Liberia and Conakry of Guinea.

2. Shri Piyush Goyal addresses the 8th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress

Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, Renewable Energy and Mines, Shri Piyush Goyal, addressed a distinguished gathering of delegates attending the 3-day 8th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress in New Delhi. The Minister also gave away Energy and Environment Foundation Global Excellence awards 2017 during the inaugural session of the conference.

• The annual conference is visualized and planned in the backdrop of India's vision on achieving "Energy Independence and Power for all by 2022".
• It focusses on new Green Technologies to ensure clean, reliable and affordable Renewable Energy supplies.
• It provides an opportunity and open forum to exchange information, share experiences and best practices by bringing together experts, investors and other multi stake holders of i.e. Public and Private Sector, Advisory Groups, Governments, NGOs, Non-Profit organizations Environmentalists and Academia.

NATIONAL

3. “Sankalp Se Sidhi” program being organized across the country to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement

“Sankalp Se Sidhi” program is being organized across the country to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement. On this occasion, the Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Ministry has planned to organize the Sankalp Se Sidhi program at 578 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), 29 ICAR institutes/SAUs and 53 ATMAs during 19-30 August 2017.

• The programs comprise of Kisan Film having message of Hon’ble PM to double farmers’ income by year 2022, followed by pledge for Sankalp Se Sidhi, lecture by agriculture experts and address of the chief guest.

4. OPS sworn in as TN deputy CM

At a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao administered the oath of office and secrecy to Panneerselvam.

• The former chief minister is back in his home turf finance, a portfolio he had held since 2011 when the J Jayalalithaa government was sworn-in.

Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister:  K Palaniswami

Governor: Ch Vidyasagar Rao

Capital: Chennai

5. National Workshop on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), a professional body under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is organizing a three-day workshop on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) from 22nd – 24th August, 2017, in New Delhi.

• Enforcement agencies like police, Customs, as also the prosecution wing, have a major role to play in effective enforcement of IPRs in the country. Creating awareness about IPRs amongst officials of these agencies, while strengthening the enforcement regime, will also assist them in handling cases relating to IPRs in their day to day activities.
• This workshop will help enforcement agencies across the country understand and appreciate the importance of their role in IPR enforcement. It will also act as a platform for the officials to share their experiences, exchange best practices and better inter-agency coordination with respect to enforcement of IPRs.
• Additionally, a workshop was conducted at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad, for IPS officers from all States and the neighboring countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.

6. HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar launches ‘Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat’

‘Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat’ Programme, an initiative of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to prepare a physical Health and Fitness Profile Card for more than 12 lakhs of Kendriya Vidyalaya students was launched in Kochi.

• Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat programme will provide a comprehensive and inclusive report card for children covering all age groups and children of different abilities.
• Making students, teachers and parents aware about the importance of good health and fitness and encouraging 60 minutes of play each day is an objective of the programme.
• Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat programme also intends to imbibe values of Olympics and Paralympics amongst students.

7. Commissioning of Second Ship of Landing Craft Utility MK-IV

Dr. Jagdish Mukhi, Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, commissioned IN LCU L52 into the Indian Navy at Port Blair. IN LCU L52 is the second Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk-IV class to be inducted into the Indian Navy.

• The ship has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata.
• The commissioning of L-52 is yet another manifestation of the potential of the country’s indigenous design and ship building capability.
• LCU MK-IV ship is an amphibious ship with the primary role to transport and deploy Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore.
• These ships would be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Command and can be deployed for multirole activities like beaching operations, search and rescue, disaster relief operations, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands.

BUSINESS 

8. ONGC board approves HPCL takeover of 51.11% stake

The board of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp, ONGC, has given 'in-principle' approval to acquire government's 51.11 per cent stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd.

• The ONGC board at its meeting in New Delhi on Monday constituted a committee of directors to examine various aspects of the acquisition and to provide its recommendations to the board of directors.

APPOINTMENTS 

9. Dharmendra Kumar appointed as DG, Railway Protection Force

Dharmendra Kumar, IPS (AGMU:84) appointed as the Director General, Railway Protection Force, Railway Board. Presently he is working in CISF as Additional DG.

• The appointment of Dharmendra Kumar will be effective from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 

10. US based Indian doctor discovers new way to prevent sepsis in new born babies

Dr Pinaki Panigrahi, a US-based doctor has discovered an inexpensive prevention technique against sepsis. He along with members of his team has found that feeding babies with probiotic bacteria dramatically reduces the risk of sepsis in newborns.

• This is a breakthrough study and going to be an inexpensive treatment that could possibly save hundreds of thousands of newborns from a top killer- Sepsis.
• Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection.

DEATH 

11. Comedy legend Jerry Lewis dead at 91

Legendary comic artiste Jerry Lewis, who was known for his brash slapstick humour, has died at the age of 91.

• He was one of Hollywood's most entertaining comedians, whose career spanned for more than six decades. He starred in films such as “The Delicate Delinquent”, “Rock-a-Bye Baby” and Martin Scorsese's “The King of Comedy”.