Current Affairs 19th August 2016

National News:

• Telangana government will call an Assembly session this month to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill on Goods and Services Tax, state Finance Minister Etela Rajender said
• The Indian Council of Historical Research has set the ball rolling to document stories and legends relating to villages and towns across India into an encyclopedia in a bid to “connect” people better with the oral and folk traditions
• The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a Metro Rail project for Allahabad
• New steps to enhance transparency in Power Sector: Shri Piyush Goyal launches ‘TARANG’ ‘e-Trans’ & ‘DEEP’
• The annual Amarnath Yatra will conclude in Jammu and Kashmir
• India, Bangladesh to make joint documentary on 1971 war

International News:

• Russia rejectes US allegations on Iranian military base issue
• Australia agrees to close controversial Papua New Guinea refugee detention centre

Banking:

• Bank of India plans to tap retail investors for issuance of additional tier-I bonds (AT1) to strengthen capital adequacy ratio
• HDFC Bank, Axis top global charts

Business & Economy:

• Consortium of eight banks sanction 6750 Crore Loan for Mission Bhagiratha
• Huawei to start mobile manufacturing in India

Science & Technology:

• BARC develops portable kit for detection of Chromium contamination of water
• Airlander 10: World’s largest aircraft embarks on its maiden flight
• ‘India’s Internet Users To Grow Over 2-Fold To 730 Million By 2020’

Sports:

• Sri Lanka beat Australia in third Test; clinch series whitewash
• Argentina & Belgium reach Olympic Games hockey final
• Brazil Police has arrested the head of the European Olympic Committees, Patrick Hickey, in Rio over illegal Olympic ticket sales
• Sakshi Malik, has won the only medal India has been able to win at the 31st Olympiad