22nd August 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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National Affairs

• The Government is set to announce by September 1 the names of urban centres that would figure in the list of 100 smart cities, a flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi administration.
• Union minister of urban development and housing : M Venkaiah Naidu

Business & Economy

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed banks to extend repayment period of farm loan upto 5 years in case 50% crop is damaged due to natural calamities like drought and
  
  flood. 
• If crop damage is 33 percent, then loan repayment period can be extended up to 2 years, including one year of moratorium.
• RBI has advised banks that they should not insist on additional collateral security for such restructured loans.
• The Govt hikes minimum export price of onion to $700 per Metric tons from $425 US dollar to check price rise.
• Note : Wholesale onion price shoots up to Rs57 perkg at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia's biggest onion market (this is the highest so far this year).
• The ‘nendran’ banana variety, ‘Chengalikodan’, has been accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) status.
• The banana, the special variety grown in suburbs of Thrissur and Thalappilly taluks of Kerala, is known for its unique size, shape, colour and taste.
• Note : GI status is an indication that identifies goods as produced from a particular area, which has special quality or reputation attributable to its geographical origin.

Science & Technology

• Iran unveiled Fateh-313, a short-range solid fuel Surface-to-Surface ballistic missile.
• This was unveiled at a ceremony marking Defence Industry Day and attended by President Hassan Rouhani.
• Google India has announced that the next YouTube Space Mumbai, a collaboration and production facility for YouTube video creators,  at Whistling Woods International (WWI), making it the first to host a space in Southeast Asia.
• Slated to open in late 2015, the space will allow video creators and students at WWI to learn about video production, collaborate with other creators, and break down resource barriers that inhibit innovation and creativity.  

Sports

• The 15th World Athletics Championships began in Beijing today.
• This event will be the largest sporting event to take place at the Beijing National Stadium ("Bird's Nest") since the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Eritrean teenager Ghirmay Ghebreslassie claimed the first gold of the tournament in the men's marathon.
• Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis enter semifinals of Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament.

Read more Daily Current Affairs updates from here

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