03 August 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

03 August 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

03 August 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Journalist Ravish Kumar among 2019 Ramon Magsaysay award winners

  • India's TV journalists Ravish Kumar (44-years) has won the ‘Magsaysay award 2019’ for his news show ‘Prime Time’ which "deals with real-life, under-reported problems of ordinary people".
  • Ravish Kumar (NDTV India's senior executive editor) is among the five recipients of the 2019 Magsaysay award, which recognises the "greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia".
  • The four other winners of the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award are Ko Swe Win (Myanmar), Angkhana Neelapaijit (Thailand), Raymundo Pujante Cayabyab (Philippines)and Kim Jong-Ki (South Korea).
  • The Magsaysay award is given every year to individuals or organisations in Asia who manifest the same selfless service and transformative influence that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.
  • Other Indian winners from the journalistic background who received the award in the past include Amitabha Chowdhury (1961), Boobli George Verghese (1975), Gour Kishore Ghosh (1981), Arun Shourie (1982) and Palagummi Sainath (2007).
Note:
  • The Ramon Magsaysay Award named after Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh President of the Philippines.
  • The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation gives the prize to Asian individuals achieving excellence in their respective fields.
  • Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first Indian to win this award in 1958.
  • The award is internationally recognized as Asia's Nobel Prize counterpart and is the highest award given to Asian individuals and organizations.
National Affairs

2. IIT Hyderabad develops low-cost, eco-friendly solar cells using 'kumkum dye'

  • Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost, environment-friendly solar cells by employing an off-the-shelf dye used to make kumkum or vermilion in India.
  • The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and platinum-free counter electrodes.
  • The most familiar solar cells today are made up of silicon and can be seen in the various overhead panels and other places.
  • This technology is limited by huge fabrication costs as silicon processing is very expensive.
Source: DD News

3. Cabinet approves ISRO Technical Liaison Unit at Moscow

  • The Union Cabinet has given nod to the setting up of ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow in Russia.
  • The unit will collaborate with Space agencies and industries in Russia and neighbouring countries for mutually synergetic outcomes.
  • ITLU will also support the ongoing bilateral programmes of cooperation in space technology and act on behalf of ISRO.
  • The Cabinet also approved MoU between ISRO and the Bolivian Space Agency on Cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
Source: PIB
International Affairs

4. Russia to host 45th WorldSkills International Competition in 2019

  • The WorldSkills International Competition 2019 (Olympics for Skills) will be held in Kazan, Russia (22 to 27th August 2019).
  • The competition will bring together Competitors, Experts, and industry, education, and government leaders from around the world.
  • The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India has announced 48-member Indian contingent to represent the country at the biggest showcase of skills excellence in the world.
  • The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of MSDE has been leading India’s delegation at this biennial event since 2011.
  • The programme will be participated by more than 1,500 competitors from 60 countries in 55 skill competitions.

5. 4th South Asian Speaker’s Summit to be held in the Maldives

  • The 4th South Asian Speaker’s Summit will be held in Male, Maldives (from 1st to 2nd September 2019).
  • The theme of the event is “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals”.
  • A parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India.
Note:
  • The fourth South Asian Speaker’s Summit will be jointly organised by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Maldivian Parliament.

6. Deep Ocean Mission to commence from 31st October 2019

  • The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) to be led by the Union Earth Sciences Ministry will commence from 31st October 2019.
  • The mission has received a go-ahead from the government.
  • Expenditure plans will be drawn and circulated to various institutions affiliated to the Ministry for executing programmes.
  • The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences had unveiled a blueprint of the programme in July 2018.
  • A major thrust of the mission will be looking for metals and minerals.
Source: The Hindu

7. US announces fresh 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports

  • President Donald Trump has announced that the US will impose an additional 10% tariff on 300 billion US Dollars in Chinese imports.
  • The US President accused China of not being serious in arriving at the trade deal and failing to keep its promise to buy more American agricultural products.
  • The new tariff, in addition to the 25% on goods worth 250 billion US dollars that was previously in place, would come into effect from 1st of next month.
  • Since the commencement of trade war last year China and the US have so far hit each other with punitive tariffs covering more than USD 360 billion in two-way trade.
Source: AIR News

8. The Netherlands bans face-covering clothing

  • The Netherlands banned face-covering clothing, such as a burqa or niqab, in public buildings and on transport as a contentious law on the garment came into force.
  • Between 100 and 400 women are estimated to wear a burqa or niqab in the European country of 17 million people.
  • The legislation - which was passed in June last year after more than a decade of political debate on the subject - also applies to other face coverings such as full-face helmets, balaclavas or ski mask.
  • Kumar settled for the bronze.
Source: AIR News
Banking & Finance

9. GST revenue collection stands at Rs 1,02,083 crore in July

  • The total gross revenue collected under Goods and Services Tax (GST in the month of July 2019 was 1,02,083 crore rupees.
  • It consisted of Central GST component of 17,912 crore rupees and State GST 25,008 crore rupees along with the Integrated GST revenue which was 50,612 crore rupees and Cess collection was 8,551 crore rupees.
  • During the period from April to July 2019, the domestic component has grown by 9.2 per cent while the GST on imports has come down by 0.2% and the total collection has grown by 6.83%.
  • An amount of 17,789 crore rupees has been released to the states as GST compensation for the months of April and May last.
Note:
  • The goods and services tax (GST) is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption.
  • The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services. In effect, GST provides revenue for the government.
Sports

10. India cricketer Venugopal Rao announces retirement from all forms

  • India cricketer and Andhra Pradesh Ranji team skipper Venugopal Rao (37-years) has announced retirement from all forms of the game.
  • Venugopala Rao has represented India in 16 ODIs, and 65 IPL matches.
  • Rao played 121 first-class matches scoring 7,081 runs with 17 hundred and 30 fifties to his credit.
  • From 2008-2014 he played for Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

11. Ellyse Perry becomes the first cricketer to reach 1000 runs, 100 wickets in T20Is

  • Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry (28-years) has become the first cricketer of either gender to reach the rare milestone of scoring 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets in the T20 format.
  • Perry is the youngest person to represent Australia in cricket and the first Australian to have appeared in both cricket and football World Cups.
  • Currently, Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi (1416 runs and 98 wickets) stands closest to achieving the feat.
  • Bangladesh's Shakib al Hasan, with 1471 runs and 88 wickets, stands next in line to join Perry.
Note:
  • Ellyse Alexandra Perry is an Australian sportswoman who made her debut for both the Australian cricket and the Australian women's national football team at the age of 16.

12. ICC names two new umpires in the elite panel for 2019-20

  • The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Michael Gough (England) and Joel Wilson (West Indies) in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for the 2019-20 season.
  • The selection panel consisting of ICC General Manager - Cricket, Geoff Allardice (Chairman), former player and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, and match referees Ranjan Madugalle and David Boon.
  • Gough having officiated in nine Tests, 59 ODIs and 14 T20Is and Wilson having stood in 13 Tests, 63 ODIs and 26 T20Is.
  • The other members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires are Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker.
  • The Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees remains unchanged with David Boon, Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath the seven officials on that list.
Source: Zee News

13. Aishwary wins gold at Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi memorial shooting

  • Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (18-years) clinched a yellow metal in Men's Rifle 3 Positions (3P) at 12th Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Masters competition in New Delhi.
  • He posted a comfortable victory with a score of 459.9 and a class 10.7 in the end.
  • Tinjit Dhanota (Punjab) and Esha Singh (Telengana) won the Men's and Women's 10 metres Air Pistol gold medals.
  • India’s most accomplished 3P shooter Sanjeev Rajput had to be satisfied with silver, finishing with a score of 455.5, a clear 4.4 behind Aishwary.
Source: AIR News 

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