17th July 2019 Current Affairs
Foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak International Varsity laid in Pakistan
- The foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak International University has been laid in Nankana Sahib, the birth place of founder of Sikhism Baba Guru Nanak Dev, in Pakistan’s Punjab province, more than a decade after its construction proposal first surfaced.
- The foundation stone of the university was laid by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Friday and would be completed with an amount of over Rs. 258 crores spread over 10 acres.
- The government however has not yet declared about the tentative period the varsity would be built.
Note:
About Pakistan
Currency: Pakistani rupee
Capital: Islamabad
Prime minister: Imran Khan
European Commission elects first female president
- German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has been elected as the European Commission’s first female president.
- She will replace Jean-Claude Juncker.
- Her nomination was approved by 383 votes, 9 votes more than required to secure an absolute majority.
World Bank Arbitration Court imposed $5.8 billion penalty on Pakistan
- World Bank Arbitration Court imposed a penalty of $5.8 billion on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a mining lease to Tethyan Copper Company for the Reko Diq project in 2011.
- Pakistan’s Supreme Court had terminated the deal in 2013.
- The mining company said that it had invested over $220 million on Reko Diq.
Note:
About Pakistan
Currency: Pakistani rupee
Capital: Islamabad
Prime minister: Imran Khan
The UK’s new £50 pound note features codebreaker Alan Turing
- According to the Bank of England, Alan Turing, a crack code-breaker and visionary mathematician who set the foundations for artificial intelligence (AI) will feature on Britain’s new £50 banknote.
- The new note is expected to enter circulation by the end of 2021.
- Computer pioneer Turing is famed for his work during the war at Bletchley Park where he cracked German codes in what was to be vital for allied success in the war.
Note:
About Britain
Prime minister: Theresa May Trending
Capital: London
Currency: Pound sterling
India to host ISSF World Cup from March 15 to 26, 2020 in New Delhi
- On July 15, 2019, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) approved India’s application to host the ISSF World Cup stages.
- ISSF World Cup in rifle/pistol/shotgun events to be held at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, New Delhi from March 15 to 26, 2020.
Note:
About India
President: Ram Nath Kovind
Capital: New Delhi
Prime minister: Narendra Modi
Kiren Rijiju Confers Arjuna Award to Rohan Bopanna, Smriti Mandhana
- Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju conferred Arjuna Awards to tennis player Rohan Bopanna and women cricketer Smriti Mandhana.
- Bopanna who won the tennis gold medal in men’s double category in Asian Games 2018.
- The duo did not receive the Arjuna Awards during the Award ceremony held last year on September 25 in Rashtrapati Bhawan, as they were out of the country taking part in international tournaments.
Note:
About Arjuna Award
Cash prize of ₹500,000
Started – 1961
Last awarded: 2017
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Satya Pal Singh & Jayant Sinha elected as members of Public Accounts Committee
- Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and former union ministers Satya Pal Singh and Jayant Sinha have been elected as members of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from Lok Sabha with nine of 15 members belonging to the BJP.
- The PAC has 15 members from both Lok Sabha and seven from Rajya Sabha. It will be formally constituted after the Rajya Sabha sends names of its members.
- The committee is conventionally headed by a member from the opposition.
Note:
About Public Accounts Committee
Appointer: Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Chairperson party: Indian National Congress
Tenure: 1 Year
Justice AK Sikri appointed as the Judge of SICC
- The President of the Republic of Singapore Halimah Yacob appointed Justice AK Sikri, the former judge of the Supreme Court, as an international judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) with effect from August 1, 2019.
- His term will expire on January 4, 2021. At present, SICC has 16 international judges.
- The SICC is a division of the Singapore high court and part of the Supreme Court of that country, designed to deal with transnational commercial disputes.
Note:
About Singapore
Capital: Singapore
Population: 56.1 lakhs (2017)
Currency: Singapore dollar
President Kovind appoints Anusuiya Uikey as Chhattisgarh Governor
- President has appointed Anusuiya Uikey & Biswa Bhusan Harichandan as Governor of Chhattisgarh & Andhra Pradesh respectively.
- Kalraj Mishra was appointed as Himachal Pradesh Governor, replacing Acharya Devvrat, who has appointed as Gujarat Governor.
- Biswa Bhusan Harichandan has been named as Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
Note:
About Chhattisgarh
Governor: Anandiben Patel
Chief minister: Bhupesh Baghel
Boxing legend ‘Sweet Pea’ Pernell Whitaker passed away in Virginia, US
- On July 14, 2019, Pernell Whitaker, former Olympic boxing gold medallist, and four-weight world champion, passed away after he was hit by a vehicle in Virginia, United States.
- He was 55 years old.
- The American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001 was nicknamed as ‘Sweet Pea’.
Note:
About Virginia
Capital: Richmond
Governor: Ralph Northam (Democratic Party)
Hussein Mohammed Ershad, former Bangladesh military dictator passed away in Dhaka
- Hussein Mohammed Ershad, the former military dictator of Bangladesh who ruled from 1982 to 1990 and was serving as opposition leader in Parliament, died July 14 at a hospital in Dhaka, the capital.
- He was 89.
- Ershad assumed power as the military chief in 1982 and declared himself president the next year.
Note:
About Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Bangladeshi taka
Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina
1971 war hero Lt Gen JS Gharaya passed away at the age of 93
- Lt Gen JS Gharaya (retd), who was awarded the Mahavir Chakra in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and Kirti Chaka in the 1947 Hyderabad operations, passed away in Chandigarh.
- He was 93.
- He was ailing for some time and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
- His mortal remains were consigned to the flames today.
Note:
About Telangana
Founded: 2 June 2014
Capital: Hyderabad
Official song: Jaya Jaya He Telangana
Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
Try out the quiz ?
1. The foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak International University has been laid in which place of Pakistan?
The foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak International University has been laid in Nankana Sahib, the birth place of founder of Sikhism Baba Guru Nanak Dev, in Pakistan's Punjab province, more than a decade after its construction proposal first surfaced.
2. Recently World Bank Arbitration Court has imposed a penalty of $5.8 billion on which country?
World Bank Arbitration Court imposed a penalty of $5.8 billion on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a mining lease to Tethyan Copper Company for the Reko Diq project in 2011.
3. According to the Bank of England new Banknote £50 pound is expected to enter in circulation at the end of which year?
According to the Bank of England, Alan Turing, a crack code-breaker and visionary mathematician who set the foundations for artificial intelligence (AI) will feature on Britain’s new £50 banknote. The new note is expected to enter circulation by the end of 2021.
4. The PAC has comprised of how many members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively?
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and former union ministers Satya Pal Singh and Jayant Sinha have been elected as members of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from Lok Sabha with nine of 15 members belonging to the BJP. The PAC has 15 members from both Lok Sabha and seven from Rajya Sabha. It will be formally constituted after the Rajya Sabha sends names of its members.
5. Who has been appointed as an international judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC)?
The President of the Republic of Singapore Halimah Yacob appointed Justice AK Sikri, the former judge of the Supreme Court, as an international judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) with effect from August 1, 2019.
6. Who has been elected as the first female president of European Commission?
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has been elected as the European Commission's first female president.
7. Which country will host ISSF World Cup 2020?
On July 15, 2019, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) approved India’s application to host the ISSF World Cup stages.
8. Who is the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister of India?
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju conferred Arjuna Awards to tennis player Rohan Bopanna and women cricketer Smriti Mandhana.
9. Who is the new Governor of Chhattisgarh?
President has appointed Anusuiya Uikey & Biswa Bhusan Harichandan as Governor of Chhattisgarh & Andhra Pradesh respectively.
10. Pernell Whitaker has passed away. He was a famous.....
On July 14, 2019, Pernell Whitaker, former Olympic boxing gold medallist, and four-weight world champion, passed away after he was hit by a vehicle in Virginia, United States.
11. Former military dictator Hussein Mohammed Ershad has passed away. He was from which country?
Hussein Mohammed Ershad, the former military dictator of Bangladesh who ruled from 1982 to 1990 and was serving as opposition leader in Parliament, died July 14 at a hospital in Dhaka, the capital.
12. Indo-Pak war hero Lt Gen JS Gharaya has passed away. He was take part of which Indo-Pak war?
Lt Gen JS Gharaya (retd), who was awarded the Mahavir Chakra in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and Kirti Chaka in the 1947 Hyderabad operations, passed away in Chandigarh.
