August 1st Currentaffairs National 1. Lucknow-New Delhi double-decker train soon • A double-decker train will run between the state capital and New Delhi from September this year after trial runs are held in August. • The railways safety commissioner has given his green signal for the running of the train. The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) has also already given a safety and speed certificate for the train. 2. Submit proposal to fast-track criminal justice system: SC to Centre • The Supreme Court of India on 1 August 2014 directed the Union Government to come up with a proposal to fast-track the Criminal justice delivery system in the country. • The government needs to submit its proposal within a month and in consultation with states. The observation came by a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice RM Lodha that comprised Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton F Nariman. International 1. Indo-Russia pact planned for new BrahMos missile version • Supersonic cruise missile manufacturer BrahMos Aerospace on August 1 said it is hopeful that a pact to develop a sleeker and faster mini version of the missile will be signed during Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to India in December this year. • The new BrahMos CEO said he was expecting that the missile would be inducted into the services by 2017 and there would be a huge market for the new missile in India, Russia and friendly foreign countries. • The Su-30MKI is undergoing modification so as to carry the strike weapon in its belly in partnership with the HAL. The Indo-Russian joint venture firm was set up in 1998. 2. Cameron announces ₤ 300 mn for genome research • A four-year project with an investment of £ 300 million in genome research that promises to transform the way cancer and other rare genetic diseases will be diagnosed and treated was announced by the Prime Minister David Cameron. • The Genomes Project aims to sequence the genomes of 100,000 NHS patients who suffer from cancer and less known genetic disorders by 2017. • The project is the result of a partnership between Genomics England and the California-based firm Illumina, which will deliver the equipment and infrastructure under a £ 162 million investment plan. Banking 1. Do Not give Details of Your Bank Account or Credit/Debit Cards on Email/Phone: RBI Warns Public Again on Phishing Mails/Calls • Of late, some new methods of frauds have come to the notice of the Reserve Bank of India. An e-mail is sent in the name of a senior official of the Reserve Bank of India which gives an impression of it having been sent from the Reserve Bank and at times even displays the official rbi.org.in extension. • The e-mail states that the Reserve Bank has received a large sum of foreign currency from the World Bank or a well-known international institution or a multi-national company for transfer of such funds to the bank account of the e-mail recipient. The reason for such transfer cited in such e-mails is also quite convincing, such as, ‘compensation for internet and cyber-crimes and for reduction of poverty in Asian regions’. Economy 1. WTO’s propsal of Trade Facilitation Act last date passing ended on July 31 without acceptance. Geniva meet: • WTO ministers meet held in Geniva had agreed the global reform of customs procedures known as trade facilitation last December, but it needed to be put into the WTO rule book by July 31. • The World Trade Organization failed on Thursday to reach a deal to standardise customs rules, which would have been the first global trade reform in two decades but was blocked by the Indian government. • This deal is estimated to add $1 trillion to wrould trade and 21 million jobs to the world economy, so they were shocked when India unveiled its veto. • But TFA of Geniva confrence is considered as opposite to stockpile food at subsidised prices to all coutries. Which effects alot on developing and less developing nations in the world. • Indias demands reversed its previous position. India blocked the trade facilitation deal because it wanted the WTO to move to a permanent solution more quickly than the four-year timeline. But diplomats say that India was offered a two-year timeframe before Bali but it insisted on four. • India did not object to the deal it vetoed. Its objections were unconnected to trade facilitation. It blocked the trade facilitation deal to try to get what it wanted on something else (food security). Bali meeting: • Prior to geniva meet Bali meeting was held in December which is considered as friendly to developing and less developing nations in stockpile food at subsidised prices • We were able to arrive at a balanced outcome which secures our supreme national interest, Sharma said at the time. • India had already got what it wanted on food security. At Bali, it forced a big concession from the United States and European Union, which initially strongly opposed its demands, but agreed that India could stockpile food at subsidised prices, reversing the trend of trying to reduce and remove trade-distorting food subsidies globally. • The arrangement was temporary, but the WTO agreed to work towards a permanent solution within four years, by the end of 2017. Persons in news Deputy National security Advisor Nehchal Sandhu resigned and his resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Sandhu, who was former Director Intelligence Bureau, resigned owing to personal reasons. A brief statement issued by the PMO said Sandhu has resigned as Deputy National Security Advisor and Secretary of National Security Council Secretariat with effect from 31 July 2014 for personal reasons. Places in News 1. An Ebola outbreak in West Africa • An Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 700 people in West Africa is moving faster than the efforts to control the disease. • Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organisation, said the meeting in Conakry “must be a turning point” in the battle against Ebola, which is now sickening people in three African capitals for the first time in history. • WHO headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. • WHO Head: Margaret Chan. State 1. The Energy Department has succeeded in bringing down the power deficit from a high of 22 million units to almost zero, at present. • Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that the government has already initiated several measures to ensure no power cuts across the State. The measures come in the light of the government’s decision to implement the ambitious ‘Power for All’ scheme envisaged by the Centre from October 2 this year. • Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi are the three States selected for implementation of the pilot project of the PFA to ensure uninterrupted power supply to domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. 2. The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to start ‘NTR Canteens’ in the State on the lines of ‘Ámma Canteens’ in Tamil Nadu. • The State Cabinet approved a proposal to this effect on August 1. A Cabinet sub-committee comprising Ministers of Civil Supplies, Health and Municipal Administration will work out the modalities of the scheme. Sports 1. Babita Kumari wins gold medal after beating Canadas Brittanee Laverdure 9-2 in Womens Freestyle 55kg final at the Commonwealth Games. • The young Indian defeated the veteran from Canada, B. Laverdure in the lopsided Women’s Free Style 55 kg gold medal match. Dominating the two periods of game, Babita Kumari llooked invincible as she took the first period lead with a 3-0. Not ready to give up golden opportunity match, she extended the lead to go 6-0 up. Canadian tried her best to get control of the match but finished with 7-1 loss against champion Babita Kumari. • It was the fourth gold medal for India in wrestling. 2. Four Indian boxers -- L. Sarita Devi, L. Devendro Singh, Mandeep Jangra and Vijender Singh -- made it into their respective gold medal bouts after Pinki Jangra lost her semi-final to settle for the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. • Former World Champion Sarita proved too good for Mozambiques Maria Machongua to win all four rounds of two minutes each in the womens 57-60 kg semi-final at the SECC Hall. • Saritas state-mate Devendro also delivered a brilliant performance to beat Welsh Ashley Williams 3:0 in the mens 49 kg last four bout. • Pinki brought home Indias first medal from the discipline at the 2014 Games when she lost her womens 48-51 kg semi-final to take home the bronze. • Haryanas Jangra then came out on top against Northern Irelands Steven Donnelley in the mens 69 kg semi-final. After sharing the first two rounds, Jangra attacked Donnelley to come out the winner and will take on Englands Scott Fitzgerald in the final. Awards 1. 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Announced • The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced that this year (2014) five individuals and one organization from Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines will receive Asia’s premier prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award. • The 2014 Awardees are: - a) Saur Marlina Manurung -Indonesia b) Randy Halasan -The Philippines c) Hu Shuli -China d) Omara Khan Masoudi -Afghanistan e) The Citizen Foundation -Pakistan f) Wang Canfa -China 2. Muzaffar Ali selected for Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award • Muzaffar Ali, a noted filmmaker of India was selected for Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award. • His name was selected for his outstanding contribution towards the promotion of Communal harmony, peace and goodwill. • This will be the 22nd edition of the Sadbhawna award and will be presented at Jawahar Bhawan on 20 August 2014 at a special ceremony. 3. Bachendri Pal conferred Bharat Gaurav by East Bengal Club • Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman mountaineer to scale Mount Everest was conferred with Bharat Gaurav, the highest honour of merit of East Bengal Club. The 60-year-old, Pal was honoured at a function held at the Khudiram Indoor hall at East Bengals to celebrate the 95th foundation day celebrations. • Lifetime Achievement award - former players Amal Dutta and Parimal Dey for their contribution to football. • Player of the Year award - current defender Arnab Mondal. • She was given a cheque of 2 lakh rupees. Books - Writers 1. Out of Line by Nayantara Sahgal • Her book, “Out of Line: A literary and political biography of Nayantara Sahgal” (Harper Collins) initially appeals for attention, then cajoles you, nudges you to go on, before finally turning out to be a work that is a fine amalgam of the personal and the political. • A few years ago, she penned a book on her “mamun”, Jawaharlal Nehru. The book, “Civilizing a Savage World”, caught the attention of many when Nayantara turned up at the first edition of The Hindu lit fest in Chennai Deaths 1. Guitar legend Dick Wagner died at 71 • Dick Wagner, the famous rock guitarist of Alice Cooper died,due to respiratory failure at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Centre in Arizona. • He was 71. • He suffered from the respiratory failure, two weeks after undergoing a cardiac procedure. He was also a songwriter and an author. • He is well known as guitarist, for playing on seminal recordings by Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Aerosmith and Kiss
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:02:29 +0000
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