19 July 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

19 July 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

1. 10th edition of Delhi Dialogue gets underway in New Delhi

• The 10th edition of the Delhi Dialogue is underway in New Delhi and the theme of this year is 'Strengthening India-ASEAN Maritime Co-operation'.
• The theme has been chosen aptly this time in view of focus that government wants to put on ASEAN India maritime cooperation.
• The Delhi Dialogue is a premier annual track 1.5 event to discuss politico-security, the economic and socio-cultural engagement between India and ASEAN.
• Chief Ministers from the North-Eastern states are also participating in the two-day event.

2. First All Women Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank inaugurated

• The first lady Usha Vohra has inaugurated the first 'All-Women Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank' at a function organized at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).
• The 13 women staffers of the newly inaugurated branch were presented badges of distinction.
• Ms. Vohra has also launched special services and products designed exclusively for women clients of the bank.

Note:

• The Jammu and Kashmir Bank was founded on 1st October 1938 under letters patent issued by the Maharaja Hari Singh (Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir).
• It is a Private-owned bank with state share with its headquarters in Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir.

3. Centre sanctions Rs 300 crore for effective solid waste management in Delhi

• According to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, the Union Govt. has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs. 300 crores to the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD)for effective solid waste management and dust control.
• Various projects worth 236 crores were issued and the North and East MCDs were asked to prepare other proposals worth 64 crores.
• The execution of proposals was on fast-track so that there was effective implementation of solid waste management.

Note:

• The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is a municipal corporation (an autonomous body) that governs 8 of the 11 Districts of Delhi (India).
• North Delhi Municipal Corporation
• South Delhi Municipal Corporation
• East Delhi Municipal Corporation.
• The entire MCD area is divided into 12 zones spread across three smaller municipal corporations.

4. The union Government forms a panel to tackle industrial pollution near Taj Mahal

• The union government has formed a committee headed by C K Mishra (Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to look into the issue of industrial pollution around the iconic Taj Mahal.
• A high-level inter-ministerial meeting was held in Delhi to deliberate on the issues and action to be taken to conserve the iconic Mughal monument.

Note:

• The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra.

5. Udaipur ranked 3rd among world's best cities

• As part of the 2018 World's Best Awards survey, readers of Travel and Leisure magazine, Udaipur City is on the 3rd place among the 15 of the world's best cities.
• The top-ranked two cities are both in Mexico: San Miguel de Allende (1) and Oaxaca (2).
• As part of the World's Best Awards survey, readers of Travel and Leisure magazine were asked to rank their favorite urban destinations based on sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

Note:

• The heritage-city ‘Udaipur’ built by the Maharanas of Mewar in the 16th century.
• Udaipur occupies a stunning location on the banks of Lake Pichola in south Rajasthan.

International Affairs

6. Turkey lifts the state of emergency after two years

• The Turkish government has ended the nationwide state of emergency that was imposed two years ago after a failed coup attempt.
• In 20th July 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared an emergency in Turkey.
• The state of emergency saw the detention of some 80,000 people and about double that number sacked from jobs in public institutions.

Note:

• Turkey is bordered by eight countries with Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran to the east and Iraq and Syria to the south.
• Ankara is the capital of Turkey while Istanbul is the country's largest city.

7. India & USA hold senior officers meeting on Homeland Security Dialogue

• Senior Officers Meeting on Homeland Security Dialogue between India and the USA was held in New Delhi.
• The meeting focused on issues relating to security cooperation, customs, and immigration, aviation security, capacity building etc.
• Both sides agreed to work out the modalities to address these issues.

Obituaries

8. Shiroor Mutt seer passes away

• Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of ‘Shiroor Mutt’ (55-years) passed away at the Kasturba Hospital at Manipal.
• Recently, The Shiroor seer has been in the news over the issue of idols of presiding deities of his Mutt.
• He was initiated into ‘sanyasa ashrama’ at the age of eight years.
• He was also known for decorating the idol of Lord Krishna at the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple in different styles in a beautiful manner.

9. Noted activist Rajmata Satvashila Devi Bhosle passes away

• The noted activist from Konkan region Rajmata Satvashila Devi Bhosle (83-years) of Sawantwadi Sansthan passed away at Sawantwadi due to prolonged illness.
• She was the wife of the last King of the Sawantwadi Kingdom ‘late Shivramraje Bhosle’ who was coronated before the merger of the princely state into Union of India.

Sports

10. Viresh Kunda wins bronze at Asian Junior Wrestling Champions

• Viresh Kunda (20-years from UP) bags the Bronze medal in Greco Roman category of the Asian Junior Championships in New Delhi.
• He defeated Jeongyul Kwon (South Korea) 14-5 in the 97 kg Bronze medal play-off to win his first international medal.
• On the opening day of the Championships, India had clinched 4 medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze).

Note:

• India is hosting the 2018 Junior Asian Wrestling Championship (JAWC) from 19 to 22 July in New Delhi.
• The UWW (United World Wrestling) is the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling and is headquartered in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.

11. Neeraj Chopra wins javelin Gold at Sotteville Athletics Meet

• India's javelin star ‘Neeraj Chopra’ struck Gold in the Meeting International de Sotteville-les-Rouen in France.
• Neeraj Chopra threw 85.17 meters to bag the top prize & Moldova’s Andrian Mardare took the silver medal after he covered a distance of 81.48m.
• The bronze medal went to Edis Matusevicius of Lithuania whose best (79.31 m).

Note:

• Neeraj Chopra is from the Khandra Village, Panipat, Haryana, India.
• In May 2018, Neeraj broke the national record at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 87.43 meters.