Daily Current Affairs- 13 August 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 13th August 2024

INTERNATIONAL

10th bilateral Mitra Shakti Military Exercise Commences in Sri Lanka

• The annual bilateral Mitra Shakti military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army commenced in the Sri Lankan Army Training School, Maduru Oya, on 12 August 2024. The week-long exercise, which runs from 12 to 25 August, is an annual Combined Training Exercise of the two countries' Forces. 

NATIONAL

Government of Odisha partners with WFP for India's first 24/7 Grain ATM

• Government of Odisha and WFP launched India’s first around the clock grain dispensing machine, the 'Grain ATM,' also known as 'Annapurti' (Hindi for fulfiller of food), in the state capital Bhubaneshwar. Odisha has become the first state in India to provide access to the public distribution system beneficiaries 24 hours a day. The machine was inaugurated by Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister of Food Supplies, Consumer Welfare, Science and Technology of the Odisha Government, and Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director for WFP in India. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Raj Kumar Chaudhary takes over as Chairman & Managing Director of NHPC

• Raj Kumar Chaudhary has assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director at NHPC Limited, India’s leading hydropower company and a Schedule ‘A’ enterprise of the Government of India, effective August 7, 2024. Previously, Shri Chaudhary served as Director (Technical) at NHPC. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from BIT Sindri and an Advanced Diploma in Management. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Organ Donation Day

• World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on August 13th, dedicated to promoting the importance of organ donation. The main goal of this day is to raise awareness and dispel myths surrounding organ donation.
• History - The history of World Organ Donation Day dates back to the early 2000s when it was first observed to promote the idea of organ donation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society for Organ Donation (ISOD). It was created to spread awareness about the importance of donating organs and to burst myths around it. 

SUMMITS & MOUs

AIIA signed MoU with Amity University to Promote Ayurveda Research and Education

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi and Amity University, Noida, to collaborate on education, research, and technology. The MoU was signed by AIIA Director, Prof. Tanuja Nesari, and Joint Registrar of Amity University, Asha Premnath. This MoU extends the ongoing five-year agreement with Amity University. 

SBI signs MoU with Jakson Engineers Limited to promote solar projects

• State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jakson Engineering Limited to set up solar projects to a wide range of consumers across commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors. This partnership comes under the Surya Shakti Solar finance initiative. It will combine SBI’s banking experience and Jakson’s solar technology expertise. This initiative will promote energy sustainability and lower power costs. 

RANKING

Vistara named 'Best Airline in India & South Asia' at the World Airline Awards 2024 Skytrax

• Vistara has been named 'Best Airline in India & South Asia’ award for the fourth consecutive year and ‘Best Airline Staff Service in India & South Asia’ award for the sixth time in a row at the 2024 World Airline Awards by Skytrax. Vistara was also recognised for ‘Best Cabin Crew in India & South Asia’ for the fourth time in a row and ‘Best Business Class Airline in India & South Asia’ for the third successive year. 

NIRF ranking 2024: IIT Madras secures top spot, IGNOU grabs rank 1 under the open universities

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has once again secured the top position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024,( Overall ) marking its sixth consecutive year as the nation’s leading higher educational institution, The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, was recognized as the best university in the country, In the management category, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta continue to dominate, securing spots among the top five institutions. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

SRK Receives Lifetime Award at Locarno Film Festival

• Shah Rukh Khan wins lifetime achievement award at Locarno Film Festival, Bollywood’s charismatic Shah Rukh Khan ‘King Khan’, graced the 77th Locarno Film Festival with his presence on August 10, receiving a career achievement award that further gilds his storied career, Shah Rukh delivered his acceptance speech to a rapt audience of 8,000 at Locarno’s famed Piazza Grande. 

BANKING & ECONOMY

Bharti Enterprises’ International Arm Buys 24.5% Stake worth $4 Billion in BT Group

• Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, is set to acquire a 24.5% stake in the British telecom giant BT Group plc for approximately $4 billion. The shares will be purchased through Bharti Televentures UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti Global.