VINTAGE

 IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 16^th, 2018

 IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 16^th, 2018

1.  India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional head) of the Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for two years from July 2018 to June 2020.

a.   The WCO has divided its Membership into six regions, each of the which is represented by a regionally elected Vice-Chairperson to the WCO Council.

b.   By becoming the Vice Chair, India will be able to take up the leadership role at the WCO. 

2.  The member states of the United Nations have finalized text of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, marking the first time they came together to negotiate an agreement covering all dimensions of international migration.

a.   The compact is the first intergovernmental agreement to cover wide-ranging dimensions of international migration in holistic and comprehensive manner, agreed upon by all the UN member states (excluding the United States).

  3.  The Odisha government has constituted a ‘Heritage Cabinet’ to preserve the Odia language and the state’s culture. 

a.   The cabinet comprises eight members and will be headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

4.  In a first of its kind initiative, the Madhya Pradesh state govt is going to appoint Girls as a District Brand Ambassador who have recorded significant achievements in any field under the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme.

5.  Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has asked state governments to make their respective mother tongues a mandatory subject in schools.

a.   Adding that language reflects culture, values, morals and traditional knowledge, he said that one should never neglect their mother tongue. 

  6.  Renowned Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam has been selected for Sangita Kalanidhi Award 2018 for her contribution to Carnatic music.

a.   Sangita Kala Acharya Award 2018 will be conferred on Mridhangist Thanjavur R. Ramadoss and vocalist K. Oman Kutty.

7.  Ishwar Sharma, an 8-year-old Indian-origin schoolboy who is the under-11 UK national yoga champion has been honored with the 'British Indian of the Year Award' in the young achiever category for his accomplishments in the field.

  8.  Fertiliser major Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has launched e-commerce platform IFFCO iMandi (an mobile application and web portal) to address all needs of the farming community associated with it. 

a.   The e-commerce platform is one stop shop for agri inputs and produce, FMCG, electronics, loans, insurance etc.

b.   Through this e-commerce platform, IFFCO is targeting to reach GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) of $5 billion in the next two years by catering needs of 5.5 crore farmers already associated with it.

  9.  Professor NN Wig (87), a living legend of Indian Psychiatry, passed away.

a.   He was the first psychiatrist to focus on the understanding of course of mental disorders in India and established hte depratment of Psychiatry at the PGI in 1963.

   10.              The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted ground test of its high thrust version of Vikas Engine that would improve the payload capability of the space agency's launch vehicles.

a.   The test for a duration of 195 seconds was conducted by scientists at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

  11.              CEO and MD of Tata Steel, T V Narendran has been appointed as the Chairman and Non-Executive Additional Director of Bhushan Steel.

12. The Reliance Foundation has proposed the name of eminent scientist Raghunath A Mashelkar as the Chancellor of yet-to-be established Jio Institute.

a.   Dipak C Jain, former director of Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration in Bangkok, will serve as the Vice-Chancellor of the Institute.

13. Former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been appointed the interim Coach of the National Women's Ccricket Team until the BCCI finds a suitable replacement for Tushar Arothe.

a.   Note : Arothe was forced to resign in the wake of differences with senior players who were not happy with his coaching methods.

14. Ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who recently bagged the gold medal in the women’s vault event at the Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin in Turkey, is likely to become brand ambassador of Tripura.

  15.              France has won the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals by defeating first-time finalists Croatia.

a.   France became the first team since Brazil in 1970 to score four goals in a World Cup final. 

b.   Prize Money :

c.   The winners (France) will get a prize money of $38 million (₹260 crore). 

d.   The runners-up (Croatia) will receive $28 million (₹192 crore).

e.   Belgium, who finished third, will get $24 million (₹164 crore). The minimum prize money for teams eliminated at the group stage will amount to $8 million (₹55 crore) each.

f.    Award Winners :

g.   Golden Ball Award Winner : Luka Modric (Croatia).

h.   Golden Boot Award Winner : Harry Kane (England captain) for scoring six goals across six games.

i.     Golden Glove Award Winner : Thibaut Courtois (Belgium).

j.    FIFA Young Player Award : 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe (France).

k.   FIFA Fair Play Award : Spain for superb disciplinary record.

16. Ex-world number one Novak Djokovic clinched his fourth Wimbledon title and overall 13th Grand Slam by defeating Kevin Anderson in Men's Singles category. 

a.   Former world number one Angelique Kerber won the Women's Singles title by defeating seven-time champion Serena Williams.