Current Affairs Update 23 August 2018
Current Affairs is an important part for many exams. Be prepared for this section with ByScoop which brings all the important Current Affairs in one place. 23 August 2018.
Arun Jaitley Resume Charge as Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister
- Union Minister Arun Jaitley has resumed duty as the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister on August 23, after a gap of three months during which he underwent kidney transplant.
- Railways and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal had then been given the additional charge of the Finance and Corporate Affairs portfolio.
PM Modi Visits Gujarat, Coins Slogan “Saaf Niyat, Sahi Vikas”
- Prime Minister dedicated 1.15 lakh residential units to women folk calling it as rakhi gift for women of Gujarat across 26 districts. The project has been built at a cost of Rs 1,727 crores under the Pradhanmantri Awas Yojna (rural), in Jujwa village of Valsad district in South Gujarat.
- The minister also saw the collective ‘e-gruhpravesh’ (online house warming) of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (gramin).
- PM even coined a new slogan, ‘Saaf Niyat, Sahi Vikas’ to highlight the commitment and achievements of his government. Modi government is committed to have house for every Indian over the next four years (2022).
- Among other things, PM laid the foundation stone of a water supply project meant for the tribal population in Dharampur and Kaprada talukas, inaugurated a newly-built hospital of the Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society and two fisheries colleges, a milk processing plant, and a girls hostel – all totaling a financial commitment of over Rs 2750 crores.
- He also delivered a convocation address of the Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar and chaired the meeting of the Somnath temple.
President Inaugurates International Buddhist Conclave 2018
- President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 6th edition of International Buddhist Conclave 2018 (IBC-2018) in New Delhi on August 23.
- The theme of 6th International Buddhist Conclave: “Buddha Path – The Living Heritage”. Japan is the Partner Country for IBC-2018.
- The 4 days long Conclave has been organized by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the State Governments of Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from 23 – 26 August, 2018 at New Delhi and Ajanta (Maharashtra), followed by site visits to Rajgir, Nalanda and Bodhgaya (Bihar) and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh).
- The aim of the Conclave is to showcase and project the Buddhist Heritage in India and boost tourism to the Buddhist sites in the country and cultivate friendly ties with countries and communities interested in Buddhism.
- The first International Buddhist Conclave took place in 2004 in New Delhi and Bodhgaya.
Japan to be country partner for Make in Odisha Conclave-2018
- With the aim to develop Odisha into a manufacturing hub of South Asia, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has organised mega investment drive “Make in Odisha Conclave-2018” scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 11-15.
- While Japan will be Country Partner in the Make in Odisha conclave, SBI is Banking Partner for the event.
Kempegowda International Airports Becomes 2nd Fastest Growing Airport In The World
- According to the report by Routesonline, global airlines events organiser, the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru has been ranked as the second fastest growing airport in the world among top 20 major airports during the first half of 2018.
- Haneda International Airport (Tokyo International Airport) in Japan is the world’s fastest growing airport that recorded passenger transit of 4,32,88,588 from January to June 2018 (increase of 43,44,307 passengers compared to period before.)
- The KIA airport recorded 1,58,50,352 passenger transit from the month of January to June 2018 with growth rate of 41,80,852 passengers over the period last year.. The airport is owned and operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
- New Delhi’s airport is placed sixth (with a growth of 32,76,183) while Hyderabad is placed 17th in terms of actual growth of passengers (20,97,0870 passengers)
Indian economy to grow by 7.5% in FY19: Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service has in its Global Macro Outlook for 2018-19 predicted that the Indian economy is expected to grow by around 7.5 percent in 2018 and 2019 as it is largely resilient to external pressures like those from higher oil prices.
Akshay, Salman Among Forbes Top 10 World’s Highest-Paid Actors
- Bollywood veteran Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan have made it to the top 10 of the annual Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Male Actors of 2018.
- The Gold actor Akshay Kumar ranks at number seven with earnings of 40.5 million dollars, while Salman, by earning 38.5 million dollars, has scored the ninth position.
- The list is topped by Hollywood star George Clooney who has earned an estimated 239 million dollars between June 2017 and June 2018, marking the highest earnings of his 35-year long career in film and television.
- Forbes’ list of the world’s best-paid male actors 2018
- George Clooney – USD 239m
- Dwayne Johnson – USD 124m
- Robert Downey Jr – USD 81m
- Chris Hemsworth – USD 64.5m
- Jackie Chan -USD 45.5m
- Will Smith – USD 42m
- Akshay Kumar -USD 40.5m
- Adam Sandler – USD 39.5m
- Salman Khan – USD 38.5m
- Chris Evans – USD 34m
David Beckham To Receive 2018 UEFA President’s Award
- The former England football captain David Beckham has been selected to receive the 2018 UEFA President’s Award in recognition of his remarkable career and humanitarian efforts.
- The 43 years ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder will receive the award in Monaco later this year.
- Last year’s UEFA President’s Award was given to former Italy star Francesco Totti. Other recent winners include Franz Beckenbauer and the late Johan Cruyff.
- The President’s Award introduced in 1998 but not awarded annually, recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities.
Veteran Journalist Kuldip Nayar Passes Away
- Veteran journalist, author, human rights activist and former Rajya Sabha member Kuldip Nayar passed away after a brief illness. He was 95.
- Nayar began his journalism career at Anjam – an Urdu newspaper and went on to head various Indian newspapers including The Indian Express, The Statesman and contributed in over 80 newspapers in 14 languages including Deccan Herald, The Daily Star, The Sunday Guardian.
- He has authored 15 books including “Beyond the Lines”, “India after Nehru” and “Emergency Retold”.
Odia Actor Debu Bose Passes Away
- Veteran Odia actor Debu Bose died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad. He died at the age of 75.
- The actor has over 120 movies to his credit spanning over four decades.