Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 29 2019
1. The twelfth India Security Summit was held in New Delhi
The 12th India Security Summit was held in New Delhi on 29 August. The theme of the summit is the Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy. The summit focused on several problems including the protection of important national infrastructure, rising cyber threats like incidents, challenges, and responsibilities.
2. Forbes ranks singer Taylor Swift as the highest paid woman in music for the year 2019
Taylor Swift won Forbes magazine’s highest-paid woman in the music category for the year 2019 with earnings of $185 million (₹1,300 crore). Taylor is followed by pop singer Beyonce with earnings $81 million (₹579 crore) and singer Rihanna with $62 million at second and third place respectively.
The ranking is based on pre-tax income from June 2018 to June 2019. Taylor Swift ranked 1st in 2019’s overall ‘highest-paid celebrities list. It is released by the American magazine Forbes in July.
3. SIDBI partners with Incuspaze for coworking space for MSMEs
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) partnered with Incuspaze Solutions Private Limited (Incuspaze) to open a coworking space, designed for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) and startups. This coworking space called @Workspaze is located in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
4. IMD hands over Kochi Cyclone Detection Radar (CDR) building to Indian Navy
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has handed over its Kochi Cyclone Detection Radar (CDR) building to Indian Navy. In this regard, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian Navy (IN) and IMD. The MoU will enable Indian Navy to utilise CDR building within naval premises at Kochi for meteorological purposes.
5. India launches world’s first facial biometric data-based ID for seafarers
Union Ministry of Shipping has launched Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID) to ne issued for Indian seafarers. With this, India became world’s first country to launch facial biometric data-based identity document (ID) for seafarers.
6. Cabinet approves Sugar export policy for evacuation of surplus stocks
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for sugar export policy for evacuation of surplus stocks during sugar season 2019-20. The policy provides lump sum export subsidy of Rs. 10,448 per Metric Tonne (MT) to sugar mills for season 2019-20.
7. Telugu Language day observed on August 29
Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy (1863-1940) was a Telugu writer and one of the earliest modern Telugu linguists and social visionaries during the British rule. He championed the cause of using a language comprehensible to the common man (‘Vyavaharika Bhasha’) as opposed to the scholastic language.
8. National Sports Day observed on august 29
National Sports Day is a public holiday celebrated in various countries to honour the national sports teams and sports traditions of those countries. The National Sports Day in India is celebrated on 29 August, on the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
This day marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, the hockey player who won gold medals in Olympics for India in the years 1928, 1932 and 1936. He scored over 400 goals in his career, from 1926 to 1948.
9. Rajnath Singh inaugurated 26th Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela in Leh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 26th Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela in Leh on 29 August. The Mela was organized by Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR).
The Ministry of Defence has asked DIHAR to work on the challenges in High Altitude Region (HAR- failure) in the coming 3 years. It is expected that DIHAR should turn the failure into JEET (Victory).
10. Ajantha Mendis retires from all forms of cricket
The right-armer, who made his debut in 2008, had a blistering start to his international career, befuddling batsmen with his disguised variations. He took 26 wickets in his maiden Test series, against India, a record for a three-match debut rubber, and remains the fastest bowler to 50 ODI wickets, taking just 19 games to reach the landmark.
11. Pavan Kapoor appointed as India’s Ambassador to UAE
Senior diplomat Pavan Kapoor has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Kapoor, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, will replace Navdeep Suri.
12. V K Vismaya wins gold in women’s 400 m at Josef Seckr Memorial (MJS) athletics in Czech Republic
Indian sprinter V K Vismaya produced a personal best timing of 52.12s to clinch the gold medal in the women 400m run at the International Athletic Meeting — Josef Seckr Memorial (MJS) in Brno, Czech Republic.
13. India’s Elavenil Valarivan Wins 10m Air Rifle Gold at ISSF World Cup in Rio, Joins Elite List
Elavenil Valarivan became only the third Indian shooter after Apurvi Chandela and Anjali Bhagwat to win the gold medal at the senior ISSF World Cup in the 10m Air Rifle category. The 20-year-old shot gold with 251.7 points, while Seonaid Mcintosh from Great Britain took the silver with 250.6 points.
