19th July 2019 Current Affairs
‘Internet Saathi’ programme of Google India & Tata Trusts to be extended to Punjab and Odisha
- On July 16, 2019, Internet Saathi initiative, a collaborative programme of Google India and Tata Trusts, will be expanded to villages in Punjab and Odisha.
- The initiative aims to facilitate digital literacy among women in rural India.
- “The programme now reaches 2.6 lakh villages across 18 states and we are adding two more – Punjab and Odisha.
Note:
About Punjab
Capital: Chandigarh
Chief minister: Amarinder Singh
Governor: V.P. Singh Badnore
Palau became the 76th country to sign the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement
- The Republic of Palau, an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean has signed International Solar Alliance Framework agreement to become a 76th country that joined the International Solar Alliance(ISA).
- It was signed by Palau President Tommy Remengesau during a special ceremony at Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations (UN).
- ISA Framework Agreement has been ratified by a total of 54 of the 76 countries till now.
Note:
About ISA
ISA: International Solar Alliance
Founded: 2015
Founded at: Paris, France
Head: H.E. Upendra Tripathy
Headquarters: Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, Haryana, India
French Tycoon Bernard Arnault Overtakes Bill Gates To Become 2nd Richest Person In The World: Bloomberg
- According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2019, French businessman & CEO of LVMH (a merger of renowned brands Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy), Bernard Arnault (70) has overtaken Bill Gates as the world’s 2nd richest person.
- Louis Vuitton owner LVMH, Arnault’s luxury-goods maker, advanced to a record in Paris and pushed his net worth to $107.6 billion and ahead of Gates by more than $200 million.
- Arnault, 70, joined Gates and Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person, in the most exclusive wealth club last month, when his fortune surpassed $100 billion for the first time.
Note:
About LVMH
CEO: Bernard Arnault
Headquarters: Paris, France
Founders: Henri Racamier, Alain Chevalier
India's current account balance deficit grew to $68bn in 2018-19: IMF
- India’s current account (CA) balance deficit grew to $68 billion in 2018-19 from $49 billion the previous year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said the deficit was justified by development needs.
- The External Sector Report of the IMF released on Wednesday by Chief Economist Gita Gopinath also found that India’s Net International Investment Position had slightly improved with the deficit coming down from $438 billion in 2017-18 to $431 billion in 2018-19.
Note:
About IMF
CEO: Christine Lagarde (5 Jul 2011–12 Sep 2019)
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Managing Director (MD): Christine Lagarde
Chief Economist: Gita Gopinath
ICC suspends Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect
- ICC has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect over violation of global body’s constitution which doesn’t allow any government intervention.
- Croatia, Morocco & Zambia Cricket Union have also been suspended for continuing to be non-compliant.
- Zimbabwe Cricket will not recieve ICC funding and the country’s teams will not be allowed to participate in ICC events until the suspension is lifted.
- “We do not take the decision to suspend a Member lightly, but we must keep our sport free from political interference.
Note:
About ICC
Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CEO: Manu Sawhney
Founded: 15 June 1909
Sarabjot Singh wins India's ninth gold in ISSF Junior World Cup
- India’s Sarabjot Singh shot a 239.6 to bag the men’s 10 metres air pistol gold.
- 14-year-old Esha Singh also won a silver in the women’s 10 m air pistol event.
- India remains on top of the medal standings with 9 gold, 9 silver & 4 bronze medals.
Note:
About ISSF
Headquarters: Munich, Germany
President: Vladimir Lisin
Sport: Shooting
Founded: 1907
Right-arm medium pacer, Dernbach retires on day of England’s 2019 World Cup win
- Right-arm medium pacer, Jade Dernbach(33) of England announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on the day England won 2019 World Cup held at Lord’s (also known as Lord’s Cricket Ground), London.
- It was Jade Dernbach, a right-arm medium pacer who hadn’t played much for England (24 ODIs and 34 T20Is) but decided to bask in the glory of the Englishmen conquering the cricketing world.
Note:
About England
Currency: Pound sterling
Capital: London
Sovereign state Legal jurisdiction: United Kingdom; England and Wales
MD of IMF Christine Lagarde resigns
- Managing Director (MD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde, aged 63, has resigned from her post.
- She will formally step down on September 12, 2019.
- She has been nominated by the European Council as President of the European Central Bank.
- Her resignation has been accepted by the IMF Executive Board with effect from September 12.
Note:
About IMF
CEO: Christine Lagarde
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Managing Director (MD): Christine Lagarde
Chief Economist: Gita Gopinath
Nelson Mandela International Day 2019 observed on July 18
- Nelson Mandela International Day was observed on July 18, 2019.
- It marks the 101st birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, who was born on July 18, 1918.
- Nelson Mandela International Day celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an impact.
Note:
About South Africa
Currency: South African rand
Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein
President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Johnny Clegg, South African musician and activist, dies aged 66
- A south African Musician, Johnny Clegg has died at the age of 66.
- He was Known as the ‘white Zulu’.
- He was a vocal critic of the apartheid government which ruled until 1994.
- His best-known hit Asimbonanga, released in 1987, was dedicated to Nelson Mandela.
Note:
About South Africa
Currency: South African rand
Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein
President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Former South Africa footballer Marc Batchelor shot dead outside his home in Olivedale, Johannesburg, South Africa
- On July 15, 2019, Former South African soccer player Marc Batchelor was shot dead in car, outside his home in Olivedale, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- He was 49 years old.
- “He was attacked by two men who were driving a motorbike,” a police spokesman told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
- “He was about to drive into his premises.
Note:
About South Africa
Currency: South African rand
Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein
President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Madhya Pradesh got its First International Flight with Air India’s Service from Indore-Dubai
- On July 15, 2019, Madhya Pradesh got its First International Flight with the launch of a flight service to Dubai from the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport, Indore with a national carrier Air India (Flight AI903) with 150 passengers.
- This was the first international commercial flight from Madhya Pradesh.
- The flight was flagged off by Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani along with local Parliamentarian Shankar Lalwani in the presence of former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, among others.
Note:
About Madhya Pradesh
Capital: Bhopal
Chief minister: Kamal Nath
Districts: 52
Governor: Anandiben Patel
12 beaches in India selected to compete for Blue Flag certification
- On July 15, 2019, The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has selected 12 beaches in India to compete for the ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
- These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar (Goa), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Eden (Puducherry), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Note:
About MoEFCC
MoEFCC: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Founded: 1985
Headquarters: New Delhi
Author Rachna Bisht Rawat’s new book titled “Kargil: Untold stories from the War” released
- On the 20th anniversary of the Kargil War, a new book will revisit the freezing battle grounds of the 1999 conflict through untold stories of its bravest soldiers.
- Titled, “Kargil: Untold stories from the War”, the book published by Penguin Random House, is authored by Rachna Bisht Rawat.
- The book that is based on Rawat’s interviews with war survivors and martyrs’ families, will take the readers to the treacherous Himalayan mountains where some of the Indian Army’s bloodiest battles were fought.
8th meeting of India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism held in New Delhi
- On July 16, 2019, 8th meeting of India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi.
- It was co-chaired by Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs and Ambassador Farhod Azriev of Uzbekistan.
- The Joint Working Group reviewed threats posed by terrorist groups worldwide and in their respective regions including cross border terrorism.
Note:
About Uzbekistan
Capital: Tashkent
Currency: Uzbekistani soʻm
Inter-ethnic language: Russian
Try out the quiz ?
1. Google India & Tata Trusts to be extended to Punjab and Odisha for which programme?
Internet Saathi initiative, a collaborative programme of Google India and Tata Trusts, will be expanded to villages in Punjab and Odisha.
2. What is the name of 76th country that has joined in the International Solar Alliance(ISA)?
The Republic of Palau, an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean has signed International Solar Alliance Framework agreement to become a 76th country that joined the International Solar Alliance(ISA).
3. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2019, who has become 2nd richest person in the world?
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2019, French businessman & CEO of LVMH (a merger of renowned brands Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy), Bernard Arnault (70) has overtaken Bill Gates as the world’s 2nd richest person.
4. Who has released the report India's current account balance deficit grew to $68bn in 2018-19?
India's current account (CA) balance deficit grew to $68 billion in 2018-19 from $49 billion the previous year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said the deficit was justified by development needs.
5. Recently ICC has suspended which of the following team with immediate effect?
ICC has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect over violation of global body's constitution which doesn't allow any government intervention.
6. Who has won a silver medal in the women's 10 m air pistol event in ISSF Junior World Cup?
14-year-old Esha Singh also won a silver in the women's 10 m air pistol event.
7. Famous musician Johnny Clegg has died. He was from which country?
A south African Musician, Johnny Clegg has died at the age of 66.
8. Who many beaches in India have got Blue Flag certification by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change?
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has selected 12 beaches in India to compete for the ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
9. India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in which city?
8th meeting of India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi.
10. Crickter Jade Dernbach has retired from all forms of international cricket. He is from which country?
Right-arm medium pacer, Jade Dernbach(33) of England announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on the day England won 2019 World Cup held at Lord’s (also known as Lord’s Cricket Ground), London.
11. Who has regined as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund?
Managing Director (MD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde, aged 63, has resigned from her post.
12. Which day Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated every year?
Nelson Mandela International Day was observed on July 18, 2019.
13. South Africa player Marc Batchelor has died. He was associated with which of the following sport?
Former South Africa footballer Marc Batchelor shot dead outside his home in Olivedale, Johannesburg, South Africa.
14. In which city Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport is situated?
Madhya Pradesh got its First International Flight with the launch of a flight service to Dubai from the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport, Indore with a national carrier Air India (Flight AI903) with 150 passengers.
15. Who is author of the book “Kargil: Untold stories from the War”?
Author Rachna Bisht Rawat’s new book titled “Kargil: Untold stories from the War” released.
