28th August 2014 - Daily Current Affairs

• Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad formed a new government today, two months after his reelection. the new line-up includes 11 new ministers, but leaves Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and Defence Minister General Fahd al-Freij in heir posts.
• Turkey's unrivaled leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in as the country's first publicly elected president, heralding a new political order in a critical Western ally after a months-long campaign to consolidate power.
• India and the US share a rich and robust relationship and President Barack Obama looks forward to building on that when he meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, the White House said today.
• Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to make her maiden visit to China to attend Russia, India, China, Trilateral FM meeting at Beijing.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched "Jan Dhan Yojana", a mega financial inclusion plan under which bank account and RuPay debit cards with inbuilt insurance cover of Rs. 1 Lakh will be provided to crores of persons with no access to formal banking facilities.
• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) has proposed rolling out a loan assistance scheme that will for the first time help transgenders and economically weaker sections to secure home loans in urban areas.
• Ahead of his visit to Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tweeted in Japanese to strike a chord with the Japanese people whose "scale of innovation" he admired.
• in a series of tweets in Japanese, Modi talked about his forthcoming visit and said he looks forward to visiting Japan and recalled his warm memories of visiting the country as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
• A Delhi Court on Thursday summoned Lt. Ge. (retd) Tejinder Singh for allegedly offering bribe to ex-Army Chief Gen (retd) VK. Singh in Tatra trick deal case.
• Govt. notifies Securities Laws Amendment Act to give more powers to SEBI in crackdown against defaulters and ponzi operators.

• The government on Thursday increased the wage ceiling for coverage under the Employee's Provident Fund Scheme from Rs. 6,500to Rs. 15,000 per month. This scheme will be implemented for 1st September, 2014.

• Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been roped in as an ambassador for Inter pol's "Turn Back Crime" campaign to promote awareness on how everyone can play a role in preventing crime.
• He is first Indian to be made an ambassador for the global campaign.
• Manipur Governor V.K. Duggal Resigned today, becoming the ninth governor to do so since the NDA government assumed office in May.
• Renowned singer Kavita Krishnamurthy and her violin maestro husband L. Subramaninam have been honored by the New Jersey Assembly for their contribution to world music.

• William Greaves, the Emmy-Award winning producer and co-host of the groundbreaking television show "Black Journal" and a prolific filmmaker whose subjects ranged from Muhammad Ali to the Harlem Renaissance to the black middle class, has died today. He is 87.