DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: JULY 8&9, 2018

Daily Current Affairs (July 8&9, 2018) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness , Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

NATIONAL

1st Meeting of e-Commerce Task Force Held in New Delhi

The Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia chaired the first meeting of the task force on e-commerce in New Delhi.

The task force has been set up to recommend a framework for comprehensive national policy on e-commerce.

The discussion was held on wide-ranging issues such as cross-border data flows, taxation, trade facilitation, logistics, FDI and competition issues.

In the first meeting of the Think Tank held in April 2018, it was decided to set up a Task Force, on the framework for national policy on e-commerce, under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation.

Sambalpur becomes first to eliminate all unmanned level Crossings

In an aim of eliminating all unmanned Level Crossing Gates over Sambalpur Division, East Coast Railway launches highest ever 6 (six) Limited Height Subways (LHS) in Sambalpur Division and completed it in a single block of four and half hours. Sambalpur is located in the western part of Odisha.

Launching of 6 Limited Height Subways in Sambalpur Division is a first of its kind not only in East Coast Railway, but also in the entire Indian Railways.

Indian Satyarup Siddhanta scales world’s highest volcano crossings

The Indian Satyarup Siddhanta has become the second Indian mountaineer after Malli Mastan Babu to climb Mt Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world.

Ojos del Salado is a stratovolcano (a volcano built up of alternate layers of lava and ash)in the Andes Range on the Argentina-Chile border and the highest active volcano in the world at 6,893 metres (22,615 ft).

Satyarup is also set to be the first Indian to climb Mt Sidley, the highest volcano of Antarctica.

BSNL launches its first Internet telephony Service Wings

The BSNL announces to launch its first Internet telephony service Wings. It will be launched from August 2018.

Those subscribing to the new service, entailing one-time registration fee of Rs 1,099, will be able to make calls using any internet connection including broadband, WiFi, 3G or 4G data network of any operator, thus overcoming connectivity problems even in areas having patchy signals.

It only allows authorised licensed holders to provide full-fledged internet telephony and not over-the-top players like Google Duo, WhatsApp that allow only app-app calling.

AAI To Set up Civil Aviation Research Organization In Hyderabad

The State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) will set up a Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO) aimed at “finding indigenous solutions” to meet the challenges posed by the growing air traffic.

According to AAI, CARO will be set up at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. AAI has earmarked a whopping budget outlay of Rs 1,200 crore for a period of 12 years for R&D.

Indian warship INS Trikand reaches Sri Lanka in goodwill visit

India’s latest frontline warship INS Trikand has reached Sri Lanka in a goodwill visit.

The Sri Lanka Navy ceremonially welcomed the state-of-the-art warship in accordance with naval traditions.

INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all three dimensions – air, surface and sub-surface.

INTERNATIONAL

South Korean President Moon Jae-in 4-Day Visit To India

The South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in New Delhi on a four day visit to India. He is being accompanied by First Lady Kim Jung-sook on his maiden visit to the nation.

President Moon along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Gandhi Smriti. Both leaders will also visit a Samsung plant which is located in Noida. President Moon will also attend the India-Korea business forum.

A financing arrangement of 10 billion dollars has been set by the Korean side for infrastructure development in India. Major items of India’s exports to Korea are mineral fuels/oil distillates, cereals, iron and steel.  Korea’s main export items include automobile parts, telecommunication equipment, hot rolled iron products, petroleum refined products, and nuclear reactors.

South Korea

Capital: Seoul

Currency: Won

‘The English Patient’ Declared ‘Best Booker Prize Winner In 50 Years’

Michael Ondaatje’s ‘The English Patient’ was named the greatest-ever winner of the Man Booker Prize at an event celebrating five decades of the prestigious literary award.

Philip Michael Ondaatje is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet, fiction writer, essayist, novelist, editor and filmmaker.

‘The English Patient’ won the Booker in 1992 and was made into a 1996 movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche that won nine Academy Awards.

The Canadian writer’s tale of love and conflict during World War II was awarded the Golden Man Booker Prize for fiction after winning a public vote.

17th World Sanskrit Conference to begin in Canada

The Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar will inaugurate the 17th World Sanskrit Conference to be held at Vancouver, Canada.

The purpose of this conference is to promote, preserve and practice the Sanskrit language all over the world by the people.

The World Sanskrit Conference is being held in various countries across the globe once in every three years and so far it has been held thrice in India.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RIL Becomes India’s Largest Tax Payer In Private Sector

Reliance is India’s largest payer of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Excise and Customs Duty, and Income Tax in the private sector. The private sector is paying Rs.9844 crore in FY18.

At the Reliance Industries’ 41st Annual General Meeting, Mukesh Ambani highlighted that Jio’s subscribers grew from 124 million at the end of last year to 210 million at the end of FY18.

Reliance has become the first Indian company to record PBDIT (Profit Before Depreciation Interest and Taxes) of over $10 billion.

APPOINTMENTS

Brexit Secretary David Davis resigns

The Brexit Secretary David Davis, who has been leading UK negotiations to leave the EU, has resigned from government.The resignation comes days after British Prime Minister Theresa May secured the Cabinet’s support for her Brexit plan at a meeting at Chequers outside London.

He told that he was no longer the best person to deliver the PM’s Brexit plan – agreed by the cabinet.

Shortly after Mr Davis’ resignation, his deputy Steve Baker, and another Brexit Minister Suella Braverman also resigned.

SPORTS

Dipa Karmakar wins gold at the Gymnastics World Cup

India’s premier gymnast Dipa Karmakar clinched the gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin, Turkey.

She had topped the qualification also with a score of 13.400. This is Dipa’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup.

Sebastian Vettel wins British Grand Prix

The Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has won the British Grand Prix 2018.

The Second place was got by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and the third place is Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire in England.

Anju Khosla, Oldest Indian Woman To Complete Ironman Triathlon

Anju Khosla became the oldest Indian woman to complete an Ironman Triathlon – one of the toughest one-day sporting events.

It comprises 3.86 km swimming leg, 180.25 km bike leg followed by a marathon (42.2 km), to be completed without a break.

The New Delhi resident completed her first full Ironman Triathlon, in Carinthia, Austria, in 15 hours, 54 minutes and 54 seconds.

Tbilisi Grand Prix, Georgia: Bajrang Punia Wins Gold, Deepak Bronze

Bajrang Punia has emerged as the champion at the Tbilisi Grand Prix in the 65kg category after defeating Iranian wrestler Mehran Nasiri in the final in Georgia.

Meanwhile, in the 86kg category, Deepak Punia has got a bronze with a 5-3 win over Osman Gosen of Turkey.

Georgia

Capitals: Tbilisi, Kutaisi

Currency: Georgian lari

India’s Dalabehera bags bronze in Junior World Weightlifting

Indian lifter Jhilli Dalabehera bagged the bronze medal in the 2018 IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships at Tashkent.

Jhilli Dalabehera lifted 167 kg (75 kg + 92 kg) in 48 kg to finish third on the podium.

She is the second woman lifter after Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (in 2013) to win a medal in the Junior World Championships.

Uzbekistan  

Capital: Tashkent

Currency: Uzbekistani som

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