Daily Current Affairs- 22 August 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 22nd August 2024

INTERNATIONAL

US and South Korea begins military drills aimed at strengthening their defense against North Korea

• S. and South Korean troops kicked off a large-scale exercise - Ulchi Freedom Shield Exercise, aimed at strengthening their combined defense capabilities against nuclear-armed North Korea, which again accused the allies of practicing an invasion.
• The Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, which continue for 11 days, through Aug. 29, include both computer-simulated war games and more than 40 kinds of field exercises, including live-fire drills. 

NATIONAL

Udaan to Partner with Govt and SIDBI to Revamp Fair Price Shops into Jan Poshan Kendras

• Udaan, India’s e-B2B (business to business) platform, has announced a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to transform Fair Price Shops (FPSs) into ‘Jan Poshan Kendras (JPK)’. 

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Airtel Payments Bank introduces AI-powered facial recognition

• Airtel Payments Bank announced the launch of Face Match, a new security feature that makes use of AI to enhance account security. The feature uses advanced machine learning algorithms to assess potential threats and activate facial recognition verification when necessary. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Jay Shah to Be the Next ICC Chairman

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is all set to replace the incumbent Greg Barclay as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). His decision comes after being informed of Jay Shah’s intentions to replace him in November. Shah has the backing of cricket boards from England and Australia, and hence, has the numbers to be crowned as the chief of the ICC. 

Sanjiv Ranjan to be the next Indian Ocean Rim Association's Secy General

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the Ministry of External Affairs' proposal for Sanjiv Ranjan to assume the role of Secretary General at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Secretariat in Mauritius. Ranjan, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1993 batch, will take up this foreign assignment for a three-year term starting on 1 January 2025. 

Amardeep Singh Bhatia Appointed as DPIIT Secretary

• Amardeep Singh Bhatia, IAS, has officially taken charge as the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, succeeding Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS, who has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Defence. Previously, Bhatia served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Madras Day

• Madras Day celebrated on 22 August is a festival organised to commemorate the founding of the city of Madras in Tamil Nadu, India, 22 August 1639 being the widely agreed date for the purchase of the village of Madraspatnam or Chennapatnam by East India Company factors Andrew Cogan and Francis Day from Damarla Venkatadri Nayaka, the viceroy of the Vijayanagar Empire. 

SUMMITS & MOUs

KVIC & DoP Sign MoU For Physical Verification of PMEGP

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission KVIC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with the Department of Posts. Under this MoU, the employees of the Postal Department will physically verify new units being set up across the Country under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme PMEGP. 

Indian Navy Signs MoU with BEML Ltd

• In a major push towards indigenisation of critical Marine Engineering equipment of the Indian Navy. BEML Ltd ( Bharat Earth Movers Limited ), a ‘Schedule A’ company under the Ministry of Defence and one of India’s leading Defence and Heavy Engineering manufacturers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Navy. 

Vice President Dhankhar inaugurates 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the 19th CII India Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi on 21 August 2024. The three-day conclave will be held from 20 to 22 August 2024. Senior Ministers, policymakers, and business leaders from Africa and India will participate in the Conclave, The first edition of the CII India Africa Business Conclave was held in 2005. 

RANKING

Amul ranked as world's strongest food brand, dairy brand by UK's Brand Finance

• As per the report, Amul has risen from second rank in 2023 to become the world's strongest food brand in 2024, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 91.0 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating. 

RGIA Hyderabad wins best airport award for third consecutive year

• Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has once again clinched the prestigious title of Best Airport at the India Travel Awards, marking its third consecutive win, the airport management has consistently invested in modernization, technological advancements, and service-oriented initiatives to enhance the overall passenger experience.