CURRENT AFFAIRS AUGUST 1ST BY EXAMPREPARATIONDAILY BLOG

1. Foreign Ministers from South East Asia attend 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Foreign Ministers from South East Asia are attending the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

• The annual meeting opened with a call from the host Thailand for deeper integration to expand trade and bolster prosperity in the region amid rising global challenges.
• The meeting takes place in the shadow of rising security tension on the Korean Peninsula, China's aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea and the US-China trade war.

2. Cabinet approves ISRO Technical Liaison Unit at Moscow

Cabinet has given nod to the setting up of ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow in Russia.

• The unit will collaborate with Space agencies and industries in Russia and neighbouring countries for mutually synergetic outcomes.
• ITLU will also support the ongoing bilateral programmes of cooperation in space technology and act on behalf of ISRO.
• The Cabinet also approved MoU between ISRO and the Bolivian Space Agency on Cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

3. Yogesh Bhattarai becomes Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in Nepal

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has inducted Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai as a new Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

• Mr. Bhattarai is a ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker from Taplejung.
• President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed minister in Kathmandu.
• The post of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister was lying vacant after Rabindra Adhikari died in a helicopter crash in February this year.

4. Culture Minister announces to include Nepali, Santhali in fellowships for Artistes

Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has announced to include Nepali and Santhali languages in fellowships for Artistes.

• They are the remaining 02 languages from the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the Sub-Field of Literature for the award of Senior or Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Artistes.
• The Ministry of Culture administers a scheme component namely Award of Senior or Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Artistes in the Fields of Culture.

5. Birth anniversary of Premchand celebrated

The birth anniversary of a great novelist and celebrated storyteller Munshi Premchand is observed every year on 31 July.

• He was born on 31st July 1880 in Lamhi Village near Varanasi.
• Premchand's stories confront the truth of this society underlining the importance of truth, justice and loyalty.
• His stories 'Kafan', 'Namak Ka Daroga', 'Panch Parmeshwar', 'Poos Ki Raat', 'Budhi Kaki', 'Idgah' and novels 'Godan', 'Seva Sadan', 'Rangbhoomi' are timeless and ever relevant.

6. Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar to be new Finance Secretary

Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar will be the new Finance Secretary.

• The approval was given by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
• Mr Kumar, a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Jharkhand cadre, is presently serving as Secretary in the Department of Financial Services.

7. India cricketer Venugopal Rao announces retirement from all forms

India cricketer and Andhra Pradesh skipper Venugopal Rao announced retirement from all forms of the game.

• Y.Venugopala Rao, former captain of Andhra Ranji team and India international has represented India in 16 ODIs, and 65 IPL matches.
• He played his last ODI against West Indies at Basseterre on May 23, 2006.
• Rao played 121 first-class matches scoring 7,081 runs with 17 hundred and 30 fifties to his credit.
• From 2008-2014 he played for Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

8. Team India announced for WorldSkills International Competition 2019

Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India announced the 48-member contingent which will represent India at the biggest showcase of skills excellence in the world, called WorldSkills International Competition 2019.

• Also referred as the ‘Olympics for Skills’, the event is scheduled in Kazan, Russia from 22nd to 27th August 2019.
• More than 1,500 competitors from 60 countries will compete in 55 skill competitions at this mega event.
• India will participate in 44 skills including mobile robotics, prototype modelling, hairdressing, baking, confectionary & patisserie, welding, bricklaying, car painting, floristry among others.

9. Sai Praneeth enters top 20 in World Badminton Rankings

Indian shuttler B.Sai Praneeth has jumped four places to enter in the top 20 players in the latest World Badminton Rankings.

• Praneeth is now World No.19 in Men's Singles badminton ranking.
• Among other Indian Men's singles shuttlers, Kidambi Srikanth has maintained his tenth position while Sameer Verma retains his 13th position.
• In Women's Singles, P.V.Sindhu has retained her 5th position and Saina Nehwal 8th position.
• Japan's Kento Momota tops the rankings in Men's Singles while another Japanese Yamaguchi leads the rankings in Women's singles.

10. BCCI suspends Prithvi Shaw for doping violation

Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw has been suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) till November 15, 2019, for a doping violation.

• According to a BCCI release, Shaw had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups.
• His sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline.
• Terbutaline, a specified substance, is prohibited both In & Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances.

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