Daily Current Affairs- 11 August 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 11th August 2024

NATIONAL

Punjab Help Centre Launched at IGI Airport to Assist NRIs

• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, unveiled a pioneering initiative for the Punjabi diaspora with the inauguration of the ‘Punjab Help Centre’ at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. This makes Punjab the first state in India to establish such a dedicated NRI Facilitation Centre, showcasing a robust commitment to supporting its overseas community. 

PM Modi Launched 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties in New Delhi on Sunday (August 11 2024). During the event, the Prime Minister also interacted with farmers and scientists. The Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement, informed that the 109 varieties released include 61 crops, comprising 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. 

Kai Group to invest Rs 17 cr to expand manufacturing facility in Rajasthan

• Kai Group, a Japan-based personal care product and kitchen equipment maker, said it will invest 300 million yen (around Rs 17.17 crore) to expand production capacity of its manufacturing facility at Neemrana in Rajasthan.
• This latest investment is to increase the production capacity of women's razors by over 5 million units per year, according to a statement issued by the group's local subsidiary Kai India. 

SPORTS

India’s total medal tally at Olympics

• A contingent of 117 Indian athletes has been competing for medals and sporting glory at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, which concludes this Sunday ( August 11 ). India secured a total of six medals at the marquee event, including one silver and five bronze.

 OBITUARY

Ex-External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh Passes Away

• Veteran Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh took his last breath on Saturday night following a prolonged illness, He was 93 years old, Born in 1931 in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, K Natwar Singh was a diplomat before he joined politics. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Bangladesh Chief Justice to resign following protest

• Bangladesh, Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan has decided to resign from his post. He will submit his resignation letter to the President after completing some formalities, His decision came following a students’ protest on Saturday morning where he and judges of the Appellate Division was given an ultimatum to resign by 01 pm.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

World Steelpan Day

• August 11 is declared as World Steelpan Day as by the United Nations, Recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the steelpan, Trinidad and Tobago's National Instrument.
• The steelpan (also known as a pan, steel drum, and sometimes, collectively with other musicians, as a steelband or steel orchestra) is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. It is played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber; the size and type of rubber tip varies according to the class of pan being played. 

SUMMITS & MoUs

4th India-Zambia Foreign Office Consultations held in Lusaka

• India and Zambia held 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Lusaka, and held discussions about various sectors of cooperation, including defence and health.
• The FOC took place on Thursday, where the Indian side was led by Puneet R. Kundal, Additional Secretary (East and Southern Africa), and the Zambian side was spearheaded by Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. 

MEA, NSIL signed an MoU to assist launch of Nepalese Munal satellite

• The Ministry of External Affairs and ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed an MoU to grant assistance for the launching of the Nepal-built Munal satellite, Munal is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal under the aegis of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

President Murmu receives the Highest Civilian Award of Timor Leste

• President Droupadi Murmu was honoured with the highest civilian award of Timor Leste - Grand Collar of Order of Timor Leste, by Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta. President Murmu is on a three-nation tour of - Fiji, New Zealand and Timor Leste from 5 to 10 August 2024.