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Current Affairs 12 August 2020
Daily Current Affairs 12 August 2020: We have collected the latest current affairs for 12 August 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the daily current affairs on our mobile app.
National News
Third series of book titled ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’ comprising collection of speeches by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released
- The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar unveiled an e-version of the book titled ‘Connecting, Communicating, Changing’.
- Apart from this, the print coffee table version of the book was also released by Union Minister of Defense Shri Rajnath Singh.
- The book chronicles Shri M Venkaiah Naidu’s three years in office as the Vice President of India.
- Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has completed three years in office on 11 August 2020.
- The over 250 pages book is the third series of the book and has been published by Publications Division. It provides a glimpse of his efforts and outcomes as the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Centre Launches “Surakhsya”- National Portal on Human-Elephants Conflict
- Union Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar and Minister of State in the Environment Ministry, Babul Supriyo jointly launched a beta version of a portal on Human-Elephants Conflict called “Surakhsya” on the eve of World Elephant Day (12 August) in New Delhi.
- Surakhsya is a National Portal on human elephant conflict to help in collection of real time information as well as managing the conflicts on a real time basis to help in policy formulation and for preparation of Action Plans for mitigation of conflicts.
- The portal will help policy-makers to leverage HEC data to frame the data collection protocols, data transmission pipelines and data visualization tools.
- The beta version of the portal is currently being launched for data testing before the pan India roll out for adoption by the states.
- Shri Javadekar also released a booklet on “Best practices of Human-Elephant Conflict Management in India” during the event.
International News
Russia announces world’s first Covid-19 vaccine named “Sputnik V”
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a coronavirus vaccine named “Sputnik V” and is named after the Soviet satellite.
- This is the world’s first such vaccine against COVID-19. Phase 3 trials would start on August 12, 2020, industrial production was expected from September. 20 countries had pre-ordered more than a billion doses.
Appointments
Former NABARD Chief Harsh Bhanwala appointed as executive chairman of Capital India Finance
- Financial services platform Capital India Finance Ltd has appointed former head of NABARD, Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, as Executive Chairman of the company.
- Prior to this, Bhanwala was chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for over six years.
- Bhanwala was appointed as the chairman NABARD in December 2013 and demitted the office on May 26, 2020.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected for 6th consecutive term
- Incumbent President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko has been re-elected as the head of the country for the sixth straight term.
- Lukashenko won landslide victory in the elections on 9 August 2020, with about 80% of all votes in his favour.
- The 65-year-old is serving as the President of Belarus since the establishment of the office on 20 July 1994.
Ex- Defence Minister Walter Roger Martos Ruiz takes over as new Prime Minister of Peru
- Walter Roger Martos Ruiz, a retired Army General, has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Peru.
- He replaces Pedro Cateriano.
- A former major-general of the Peruvian Army, Martos had served as Minister of Defense from October 2019 to August 2020.
Mohamed Ould Bilal appointed as new Prime Minister of Mauritiana
- The Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has appointed veteran public administrator Mohamed Ould Bilal as the new Prime Minister of Mauritania. He will serve as the 16th PM of the country.
- Bilal replaces Ismail Ould Cheikh Sidiya, who resigned with his entire government due to an investigation into alleged high-level corruption.
- Prior to this, Bilal served as a political adviser and headed several state agencies.
Lebanon PM Hassan Diab Announces Resignation Over Deadly Beirut Blasts
- The Prime Minister of Lebanon, Hassan Diab and his entire government has resigned, in the wake of major blast in Beirut that has triggered public outrage, and anger at the Lebanese government for their failure to prevent the disaster.
- President Michel Aoun has ordered Diab government to stay on caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.
- The 61-year-old Diab, served as the PM from 21 January 2020 to 10 August 2020.
Sports
Max Verstappen wins 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) has won the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, held on 9 August 2020 in United Kingdom. This is the first win of the season for Verstappen.
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) came second while Valtteri Bottas came third.
- The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (officially Emirates Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020) was fifth race of 2020 Formula One World Championship, held at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, United Kingdom.
- The race was held to commemorate 70-year of the Formula One World Championship.
- The first championship Grand Prix was held at the same circuit in 1950
Important Days
World Lion Day: 10 August
- World Lion Day is observed globally on August 10 every year to raise awareness about lions and educate people about issues concerning their protection and conservation.
- In 2020, the World Lion Day is being observed virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
World Elephant Day: 12 August
- World Elephant Day is observed every year on August 12 worldwide for the preservation and protection of the global elephants.
- The main objective of World Elephant Day is to create awareness on elephant conservation, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.
- The day is being officially celebrated since 2012.
International Youth Day: 12 August
- The International Youth Day (IYD) is observed on August 12 annually to draw attention of governments and others towards youth issues worldwide.
- The day was designated by the United Nations in 1999.
- The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000.
- 2020 Theme: Youth Engagement for Global Action
Obituary
Urdu Poet Rahat Indori passes away
- Noted Urdu poet Rahat Indori passed away at the age of 70 due to a heart attack. He was being treated for COVID-19. His poem “Bulati hai magar jane ka nahi” went viral on social media earlier this year.
- He had a 50-year long career in poetry and was known for the lyrics of songs like “M Bole to” from Munnabhai MBBS (2003), and “Neend Churai Mei” from Ishq (1997).
Former India defender and Mohun Bagan captain Laishram Manitombi Singh passes away at 39
- Former Indian footballer and Mohun Bagan captain, Laishram Manitombi Singh has passed away, after suffering from a prolonged illness.. He was 39.
- He captained Mohun Bagan for consecutive two seasons (2003-2004) wherein he scored three goals, and also led the club to win the Airlines Gold Cup in 2004.
- Manitombi was a key member of the India Under-23 side that lifted the LG Cup in 2003 by defeating Vietnam 3-2 in Ho Chi Minh City.
- He also represented India in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.
Noted Tamil film lyricist P K Muthusami passes away
- Noted yesteryear Tamil film lyricist P K Muthusami has passed away.
- He was to complete his 100th birthday in 2020.