Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 13 2020
1. A book titled “Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World” by Dalai Lama
The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, will release a new book titled “Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World” on climate change with German environmental journalist, Franz Alt in November.
The Dalai Lama in the book calls on political decision-makers to fight against deadlock and ignorance on the issue of climate change and to stand up for a different, more climate-friendly world and for the younger generation to assert their right to regain its future.
2. PESB selects Soma Mondal as next chairman of SAIL
Soma Mondal has been selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) as the next chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). She will be taking charge when the present Chairman Anil Chaudhary.
3. LIC starts ‘Special Revival Campaign’ to revive lapsed policies
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has announced a special scheme to revive lapsed policies named ‘Special Revival Campaign’. This campaign is open from 10 August to 9 October during which customers can revive their individual lapsed policies.
4. Reliance Foundation launches “W-GDP Women Connect Challenge”
Reliance Foundation has launched the “W-GDP Women Connect Challenge” across India in association with US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP). The “W-GDP Women Connect Challenge” has been launched to bridge the gender divide as well as the digital divide in India.
5. Pramod Bhasin becomes new Chairman of ICRIER
Pramod Bhasin has been appointed as a new Chairman of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). He is currently the vice-chair of the board of governors at ICRIER. He will replace Isher Judge Ahluwalia, who has stepped down due to health reasons. Isher had been in this position for 15 years. She will continue as chairperson emeritus, a position specially created to honour her exceptional contributions to the Council.
6. Forbes magazine released “The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2020” list
Forbes magazine has released “The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2020” list. Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar is the only Indian star to be listed among the top 10 world’s highest-paid actors of 2020. With total earnings of $48.5 million.
Akshay is placed at sixth place in the list. Most of his income came from product endorsements. The list takes into account the earnings between June 1, 2019, and June 1, 2020. The list has been topped by Wrestler-turned-movie star Dwayne Johnson, for a second straight year, with the total earning of $87.5 million. Johnson is also known by his ring name The Rock.
7. Saudi Arabia ends loan, oil supply to Pakistan
Saudi Arabia has ended its loan and oil supply to Pakistan, ending the decades-long friendship between the two countries. This was reported by a leading media organisation.
Pakistan has also been asked to pay back USD 1 billion to Saudi Arabia, which was given as a part of a $6.2 billion package announced by Saudi Arabia in November 2018.
8. Skyroot India’s first private company to test upper-stage rocket engine
Aerospace startup Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test fired an upper-stage rocket engine, becoming the first Indian private company to demonstrate the capability to build a homegrown rocket engine.
The 3-D printed rocket engine – Raman, named after Nobel laureate CV Raman – has fewer moving parts and weighs less than half of conventional rocket engines with a similar capacity.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo wins Juventus’ MVP of the Year award for record 37 goals in single season
Cristiano Ronaldo (August 10, 2020) was named as Juventus’ ‘Most Valuable Player of the Year’ for the championship that lasted for almost 11 months. The Portuguese who ended the 2019-20 season with 37 goals, broke the record for scoring most goals in a single season across competitions.
10. Congress leader and spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi dies after heart attack
Congress leader and spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi passed away after a heart attack, the party said. He was 52. Tyagi suffered the attack soon after participating in a TV debate from his residence in Sector 16 of Vasundhara in Ghaziabad and fell unconscious, sources said.
