19th September 2014 - Daily Current Affairs updates

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National Affairs

• The Centre launched a programme, ‘India Newborn Action Plan (INAP)' to reduce infant mortality and bring down the number of deaths to a single digit by 2030 from the current 29 deaths per 1,000 live births.
• Inaugurated by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today inaugurated the revived Nalanda University, renowned as a centre for learning till it was burnt down 800 years ago by an invading Turkish army.
• The university will be built in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda University stood till the 12th century.

International Affairs

• Scotland has voted to stay in the United Kingdom after voters decisively rejected independence.

• The decision prevented a rupture of a 307—year union with England, bringing a huge sigh of relief to the British political establishment.
• By 55% to 45%, a majority of voters rejected the possibility of Scotland breaking away and becoming an independent nation.
• UK Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed Scotland's decision in a televised statement outside 10 Downing Street, saying it was a clear result.
• The World population may grow higher than previously estimated, reaching 11 billion people by the century’s end, according to a UN-led analysis published recently.

Summits

• 6th SAARC Home Ministers’ meet began in Nepal.
• Inaugurated by Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
• Home Ministers from all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation member states – Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka – are attending the meet except Pakistan, which is being represented by its ambassador to Nepal. 
• This meet is is expected to discuss counter-terrorism, maritime security, narcotic drugs, cyber crimes and other issues.
• The Indian delegation is led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
• Rajnath Singh proposed setting up a SAARC centre for good governance where officers from all member countries can come together to exchange their experiences.

MOUs

• Nepal has endorsed the Power Trade Agreement with India and signed a deal with the GMR authorizing the Indian company to build the largest hydropower project worth USD 1.15 billion in the energy-starved nation
• With the objective of addressing sanitation related health concerns, the Urban Development Ministry and the Bill & Milinda Gates Foundation have agreed on a partnership to promote user friendly toilets to ensure universal sanitation in the country. 

New Appointments

• US President Barack Obama nominated former state department official Richard Rahul Verma, an Indian-American, as the next US ambassador to India.

Deaths

• Renowned Mandolin exponent Uppalapu Srinivas (28th February 1969 – 19th September 2014) , popularly known as Mandolin Srinivas Passed away.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2010.

Sports

• The 17th edition of Asian Games has kicked off at Incheon with a grand opening ceremony.
• The Games were declared open by South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.
• World's second-biggest multi-sports spectacle after the Olympic Games
• Pop sensation Psy was the star attraction in the opening ceremony.
• Indian hockey captain Sardar Singh led the country's contingent.
• Around 13,000 athletes from 45 nations will be competing in the quadrennial event (516 from India). 
• Li Na, a two-time Grand Slam champion from China who took tennis in Asia to a new level, has retired due to recurring knee injuries.

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