Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 19 2019
1. India to host World Youth Chess Championship
For the first time ever, India is to host the World Youth Chess Championship 2019. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) won the bid to conduct the World Youth and Junior Chess championships 2019 in the country. The championship will be held from 1 October to 13 October 2019 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The championship aims to produce many young stars and aspire to take part in such world events.
2. Manipur Govt launches School Fagadaba scheme
Chief Minister (CM) of Manipur, N Biren Singh launched “School Fagadaba” (Make education better) scheme. The main aim of the scheme is to improve the infrastructure, quality education and overall improvement of government schools.The regular attendance of teachers, biometric devices would be installed in every Government school in the state.The teachers posted in these schools stay at the place of their posting for at least 3 years.
3. 28th BASIC Ministerial meeting on Climate Change held in Brazil
BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) held their 28th Ministerial meeting on Climate Change recently in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was held in the run-up to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Conference of Parties (COP-25) meet scheduled to be held in December 2019. In this meeting, India was represented by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
4. 1st Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology to be set up in Gujarat
India’s first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (CICET) will be set up in Gujarat to give boost to the chemical industry. It was announced by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Chemical and Fertilizers. He also announced that Central Government is also planning to set up Plastic Waste Management Centre in Ahmedabad to find out solutions to systematicsegregation and recycling of plastic waste.
5. Two new species of Freshwater Fish found
Scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered 2 new species of freshwater fish from north-eastern and northern parts of country. Both fish are hill stream fauna, measures less than 7 centimetres (cm) and are equipped with special morphological features to suit rapid water flow.
Both species of fish were discovered from remote areas of country. As Glyptothorax gopii was discovered from Mizoram’s Champai district near India-Myanmar border and Garra simbalbaraensis has been found from Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmour district.
6. International Conference on Teacher Education by NCTE held in New Delhi
A two-day International Conference titled ‘Journey of Teacher Education: Local to Global’ was inaugurated by Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) in New Delhi. The two-day event is organized by National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) as part of silver jubilee (25 years) celebration of its establishment in 1995.
7. Former Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra passes away aged 82
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra passed away in Delhi aged 82. Mishra, who was the Chief Minister of Bihar three times, was suffering from prolonged illness. He served as a minister in the Union Cabinet and was formerly a member of Indian National Congress, before leaving Congress to join the Nationalist Congress Party and later the Janata Dal (United).
8. World Humanitarian Day observed on august 19
World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as part of a Swedish-sponsored GA Resolution.
9. India and Bhutan resolve to expand bilateral cooperation
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and the Bhutanese leadership resolved to take the bilateral cooperation beyond hydroelectric power sector. The two countries signed various MoUs to diversify the friendship. The sectors include, space, education, science, technology and legal education.
10. Bawa to get Dronacharya award in hockey
The Dronacharya award (lifetime category) conferred on Merzban Patel by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sport, took Vile Parle-based Bawa, as he is popularly called in hockey circles, by surprise. “I have not chased awards and was not aware that work done by me to promote hockey at the local level is being noticed by national sports administrators.”
11. PM Modi To Embark On 3-Day Visit To UAE, Bahrain From August 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a three-day visit to United Arab Emirates and Bahrain beginning August 23 and hold extensive talks with top leaders of the two countries on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The prime minister will first travel to United Arab Emirates where he would receive the ”Order of Zayed”, the highest civil decoration of the country, the External Affairs Ministry said.
12. Birla veteran Muthukumaran appointed CFO of ReNew Power
Birla group veteran D Muthukumaran has been appointed as chief financial officer of ReNew Power, according to a statement by the Gurugram-based renewable energy company.
‘Muthu’ as he is popularly known in business circles had spent 17 years with Aditya Birla group and was the head of the group’s private equity business in his most recent assignment.
13. Daniil Medvedev, Madison Keys win surprise Cincinnati titles as Open looms
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and American Madison Keys recorded straight-set victories to win the men’s and women’s Cincinnati Masters titles in Ohio. Medvedev, who defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, beat Belgium’s David Goffin 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to win his first ATP Masters 1,000 title.
Victory means the 23-year-old will become world number five. Keys, 24, beat two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 7-6 (7-5) to win a second title of the season.
14. August 19 is World Photography Day
August 19 is World Photography Day, a day to pay homage to the history of photography, celebrate the present and leave a positive trail for the future. World Photography Day originates from the invention of the daguerreotype, a photographic processes developed by Louis Daguerre.
