when is International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances observed?

when is International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances observed?

Options

1) August 30

2)August 29

3)August 28

4)August 27

answer

 1) August 30


Other details

The International Day of the Disappeared, on August 30 of each year, is a day created to draw attention to the fate of individuals imprisoned at places and under poor conditions unknown to their relatives and/or legal representatives.

 It is estimated that secret imprisonment is practiced in about 30 countries

 The International Day of the Disappeared is an opportunity to highlight these institutions' work, increase public awareness, and to call for donations and volunteers. 

which govt presented bill to shrink country's parliament by 25 %?

 which govt presented bill to shrink country's parliament by 25 %?

options

1) France

2)Germany

3)Spain

4)italy

answer

1) France


Other details

In France, President Emmanuel Macron's government moves a bill to shrink the country's parliament by 25 per cent as part of an overhaul of country's institutions.

The government introduced a draft law today that would reduce the number of seats in the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, from 577 to 433.

The Senate would go from 348 to 261 members.

The bill also allows for 20 per cent of seats to be based on party lists instead of individual candidates.

which country approved plan to suspend parliament?

which country approved plan to suspend parliament?

Options

1) Britain

2)France

3)Germany

4)Spain

answer


1) Britain


Other details

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to suspend parliament.

 the Parliament be prorogued on a day between 9th and 12th of September.

The suspension of Parliament has shortened the span of time for Members of Parliament to block a no-deal Brexit before the current deadline.

ICC Test Rankings

ICC Test Rankings

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli maintained his slender six-point lead over Australia's Steve Smith in the latest ICC Cricket Test rankings released in Dubai .

Top-ranked Kohli has 910 points while Smith, with 904, is placed second.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is placed third and India's Cheteshwar Pujara and fourth.

Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane,  jumped 10 places to be 11th in the list.

Speedster Jasprit Bumrah made his maiden entry into the top-10.

The fastest Indian pacer to 50 wickets, is now seventh in the bowlers' list after a leap of nine places

The biggest gainer, however, was all-rounder England's Ben Stokes

He is now 13th among batsmen and second among all-rounders.

which country's Cabinet meeting was held through video conferencing for first time?

which country's Cabinet meeting  was held through video conferencing for first time?

Options

1) Bhutan

2)Sri Lanka

3)Bangladesh

4)Nepal

answer

4)Nepal


Other details

In Nepal, for the first time, a cabinet meeting was held through video conferencing.

Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli took part in the meeting from Singapore through video conferencing

The 2019 BWF World Championships

The 2019 BWF World Championships is a badminton tournament which is held from 19 to 25 August at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland

Basel was chosen to be the host of the 2019 edition of the championships over 2020 Summer Olympics host city, Tokyo.

The bid was approved by the Badminton World Federation during a council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Men's singles

Gold Medal
Japan Kento Momota

Silver Medal    
Denmark Anders Antonsen   

Bronze Medal
India B. Sai Praneeth
Thailand Kantaphon Wangcharoen

Women's singles

Gold Medal
India P. V. Sindhu   

silver
Japan Nozomi Okuhara   

bronze Thailand Ratchanok Intanon
China Chen Yufei

Men's doubles

Gold Medal
Indonesia Mohammad Ahsan,Indonesia Hendra Setiawan   

Silver Medal 
Japan Takuro Hoki Japan Yugo Kobayashi   

Bronze Medal
Indonesia Fajar Alfian,Indonesia Muhammad Rian Ardianto
China Li Junhui,China Liu Yuchen

Women's doubles

Gold Medal
Japan Mayu Matsumoto, Japan Wakana Nagahara   

Silver Medal
Japan Yuki Fukushima,Japan Sayaka Hirota   

Bronze Medal
Indonesia Greysia Polii,Indonesia Apriyani Rahayu
China Du Yue,China Li Yinhui

Mixed doubles

Gold Medal
China Zheng Siwei,China Huang Yaqiong   

Silver Medal
Thailand Dechapol Puavaranukroh,Thailand Sapsiree Taerattanachai   

Bronze Medal
Japan Yuta Watanabe,Japan Arisa Higashino
China Wang Yilü,China Huang Dongping

where will 45th G7 summit be organised?

where will 45th G7 summit be organised?

options

1) France

2)Germany

3)Spain

4)Italy

answer

1) France


Other details

The 45th G7 summit is being held from August 24–26, 2019, in Biarritz, France.

The Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, France, was chosen as the host of the G7 summit

Attendees of the 45th summit of the G7 includes the leaders of the seven G7 member states as well as representatives of the European Union

G7 countries
Canada,France,Germany,Italy,Japan,United Kingdom, 
United States,European Union

Guest Invitees (Countries)
Australia,Chile,Egypt,India,Spain,Rwanda, 

Which country voted to dissolve parliament, paving way for parliamentary election?

Which country voted to dissolve parliament, paving way for parliamentary election?

Options

1) Kosovo

2)  Serbia

3) Russia

4) France


answer

1) Kosovo

Other details



Kosovo lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament , paving the way for a parliamentary election after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned last month.

A total of 89 deputies voted to dissolve the 120-seat parliament.

An election will take place within 45 days.

Kosovo,  declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

It has been recognized by more than 110 states but not by five EU member states, Serbia and Russia.

executive board of which organization has recommends scrapping age limit ?

executive board of which organization has recommends scrapping age limit ?

Options

1) IMF

2)WTO

3)ILO

4)World Bank

answer

1) IMF


Other details

The International Monetary Fund's board today recommended a rule change that would scrap the age limit for its leader.

This move considers as clearing the path to the top job for Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva.

The IMF steering committee representing the 189 member countries will have to vote on the recommendation

Georgieva, the European Union's candidate to serve as IMF managing director, turned 66 which makes her too old for the job by just a few days, under the rules in place since 1951 stipulating that candidates be 65 or younger.

If appointed, Georgieva would become the IMF's second female managing director after Christine Lagarde

High-level meeting held between India and Coast Guards of which country?

High-level meeting held between India and Coast Guards of which country?

Options

1) Sri Lanka

2) Bangladesh

3) Maldives

4) Myanmar

answer

1) Sri Lanka


Other details

The Indian Coast Guard held a High-Level Meeting (HLM) with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi .

The meeting took place under the provisions of the MoU signed between the two sides for the establishment of a collaborative relationship to combat transnational illegal activities at sea and develop regional co-operation

both sides agreed to strengthen co-operation in addressing a spectrum of maritime issues concerning safety and security.

Tomahawk cruise missile was tested by which country?

Tomahawk cruise missile was tested by which country?
Options

1) US

2) china

3) Russia

4) UK

answer

1) US

Other details

US Defence Department has announced the test of a medium-range ground-launched cruise missile from the US Navy controlled San Nicolas Island off the coast of Los Angeles, California.

The Pentagon said in a statement that the test missile exited its ground mobile launcher and accurately hit its target after more than 500 kilometres of flight.

when is World Humanitarian Day celebrated?

when is World Humanitarian Day celebrated?

Options

1)  17 August

2) 16  August

3) 18  August 

4)19 August

answer

4)19 August


Other details

World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes

It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as part of a Swedish-sponsored GA Resolution A/63/L.49 on the Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Assistance of the United Nations,

where was 28th BASIC Ministerial Meeting 2019 on Climate Change held?

where was 28th BASIC Ministerial Meeting 2019 on Climate Change held?


Options

1)  Brazil

2) India

3) china

4) South Africa,

answer

1)  Brazil


Other details


28th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change  was held in Sao Paulo in  Brazil from 14th to 16th of this month. 


BASIC countries- Brazil, South Africa, India and China and putting views together is an important aspect of United Nations negotiations

The Ministerial meeting was held in the run-up to the UNFCC Conference of Parties (COP-25) meet to be held later in the year from 2nd to 13th December.

Radisys Corp was acquired by which company?

Radisys Corp was acquired by which company?

Options

1)  Reliance Industries

2)Ongc

3)bhel

4)Sail

answer

1)  Reliance Industries


Other details



    Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) has entered into definitive agreement to acquire Nasdaq-listed Radisys Corp for $1.72 per share in cash.

    The deal size works out to be ₹510 crore based on current outstanding equity share impact.

    This acquisition further accelerates Jio’s global innovation and technology leadership in the areas of 5G, IOT and open source architecture adoption.

who was Sue Grafton ?

who was Sue Grafton ?

Options

1) author

2)actor

3)singer

4)dancer



answer



1) author


Other details

Sue Taylor Grafton was an American author of detective novels.

She is best known as the author of the "alphabet series" featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California.

who was Steve Ditko?

who was Steve Ditko?

Options

1)  comics writer

2)actor

3)singer

4)none of the above

answer

1)  comics writer


Other details

Stephen J. Ditko was an American comics artist and writer best known as the artist and co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics superheroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange

Women's cricket will be part of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Women's cricket will be part of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

In a piece of big news for cricketing fans around the world, the Commonwealth Games Federation announced that women's T20 Cricket has been confirmed for inclusion at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Eight teams will compete across eight match days, as cricket returns to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since 1998 when South Africa won the gold medal in a men's 50-over format competition in Kuala Lumpur.

Edgbaston, the venue of England's semi-final victory over Australia in the men's 50-over World Cup, will play host to all the matches.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place in England from 27th July to 7th August.

World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world's elephants.

 it was officially founded, supported and launched   on August 12, 2012.

 Since that time, Elephant Day, is now supported by over 65 wildlife organizations and many individuals in countries across the globe

The goal of International Elephant Day is to create awareness of the urgent plight of African and Asian elephants, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better care and management of captive and wild elephants.

The current population estimates are about 400,000 for African elephants and 40,000 for Asian elephants

Papua New Guinea has most number of languages

 Papua New Guinea  has most number of languages

There are nearly 850 languages spoken in  Papua New Guinea , making it the most linguistically diverse place on earth

India stands fourth with 453.

2019 is the United Nations' International Year of Indigenous Languages.

 In 2016, the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues pointed out that "40% of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world were in danger of disappearing".

Several languages are now "endangered" and in the case of languages like Tiniguan (Colombian origin), there is just a single native speaker left.

Ethnologue, a directory of languages, lists 7,111 living languages worldwide

 Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi and Arabic are the most widely spoken languages worldwide

These five languages account for what is spoken by over 40% of people worldwide.

World Biofuel Day

World Biofuel Day

World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August

It is observed to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.

The theme of this year's Biofuel Day is Production of Bio-diesel from Used Cooking Oil.

The event was aimed at reducing dependency on biofuel and adopting alternative sources of energy and effective management of used cooking oil.

this will help reduce diversion of Used Cooking Oil, stop its reuse beyond permissible limits besides reducing the carbon emissions.

Hashim Amla retires from international cricket

Hashim  Amla retires from international cricket

South African batsman Hashim Amla has retired from all international cricket with immediate effect.

Amla played 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20Is between in his 15-year-long cricketing career.

His more than nine thousand runs in Test cricket are the second-most by a South African cricketer, after the veteran Jacques Kallis.

He also collected the country’s third-most runs in ODI cricket after former skipper AB de Villiers and Kallis.

He went on to make 18,000 runs including 55 centuries and 88 fifty-plus scores across all formats of the game.

He is the only South African to have scored a triple century in the Test format.

Amla currently holds the record for being the fastest ever to 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI runs.

He also became the fastest cricketer to reach 10 ODI centuries.

Test    
Matches 124
Runs scored 9,282

ODI    
Matches 181
Runs scored 8,113

T20I    
Matches 44
Runs scored     1,277

first class
Matches 237                 
Runs scored     17,765              

South African spinner Colin Ackermann became the first player in T20 cricket history to claim a 7-wicket haul

South African spinner Colin Ackermann became the first player in T20 cricket history to claim a 7-wicket haul


south African spinner Colin Ackermann claimed a new Twenty20 world record on Wednesday when he took seven wickets for just 18 runs in an English county match.

The 28-year-old, playing for Leicestershire, took the wickets of Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Will Rhodes, Liam Banks, Alex Thomson, Henry Brookes and Jeetan Patel in his side's 55-run over Warwickshire at Grace Road.

Malaysian bowler Arul Suppiah held the previous world record when he claimed 6-5 for Somerset against Glamorgan in 2011.

Fiona Kolbinger becomes first woman to win cycling's Transcontinental Race

Fiona Kolbinger becomes first woman to win cycling's Transcontinental Race

German  Fiona Kolbinger,   has won the Transcontinental Race, becoming the first woman to do so after cycling nearly 4,000km from Bulgaria to France unassisted in just 10 days, two hours and 48 minutes.

 It was Kolbinger’s maiden ultra-endurance race.

To complete the race this year, riders had to pass through at least seven countries, depending on the selected route with Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Italy, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland among the possibilities.

Britain's Ben Davies took second place, reaching the finish more than 10 hours behind Kolbinger, in 10 days, 13 hours and 10 minutes.⁠

Kolbinger, was one of 265 riders taking part, of which 40 were women

Transcontinental race was launched in 2013, beginning in London and finishing in Istanbul, with Belgium's Kristof Allegaert winning the opening two events before Josh Ibett became the first British rider to win the endurance race in 2015.

Bangladesh signed uranium supply deal with Russia

Bangladesh signed uranium supply deal with Russia

Bangladesh signed a deal with Russia for the supply of uranium for its 2,400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

Under the deal, Russia will supply the nuclear fuel needed for the plant during its entire life cycle.

The deal was signed in Dhaka between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Russian Nuclear Fuel Supply Company (TVEL).

Work on the two units of the plants, each producing 1200 MW of electricity is scheduled to be completed in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

The two countries have also signed 'spent fuel sent back’ agreement in 2017 for management of the nuclear waste of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

Hinako Shibuno won Women’s British Open

Hinako Shibuno won Women’s British Open

Japan's Hinako Shibuno won  the Women's British Open at Woburn.

Hinako Shibuno of Japan won the Women’s British Open by one shot over Lizette Salas on 4 August 2019.

The Women's British Open is a major championship in women's professional golf.

It is recognised by both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour as a major.

The reigning champion is Hinako Shibuno, who won by one stroke at Woburn Golf and Country Club in 2019.

Location: United Kingdom

Established: 1976

Nigeria became fourth African nation to join global coalition to protect pollinators

Nigeria became fourth African nation to join global coalition to protect pollinators

Nigeria became the fourth African country to join the Global Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators on July 25, 2019, a news report in the Nigerian media noted.

While Morroco became a member of this group in May this year, Ethiopia was the first African nation to be part of this global coalition in 2017. 

Burundi was the second African country to join this global group.

Other non-African nations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Ireland and Mexico had joined the global group last year, Down To Earth reported earlier.

The coalition now has 28 signatories including 17 European countries, five from Latin America and the Caribbean and four from Africa.

The organisation was formed three years ago, to follow up on the findings of IPBES Assessment on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production, which found that many of the world’s pollinator species are on the decline

India, US agree to pursue collaboration between their defence industry & start-ups

India, US agree to pursue collaboration between their defence industry & start-ups

Indian and US officials have agreed to pursue a policy environment conducive to collaboration between the defence industry and start-ups in both countries.

An understanding in this regard was reached during the 15th meeting of the India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) in Washington .

The meeting took stock of the progress made in various fields of defence cooperation in recent years, including in defence trade, technology, procurement, industry, research and development.

US withdraws from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia

US withdraws from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia

The US has formally withdrawn from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia.

The INF was signed by then US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.

It banned missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km.

US set the August 2  deadline for the US to withdraw if Russia didn't come into compliance.

Russia obligations to the treaty shortly afterwards.

Chinese factory activity has declined

Chinese factory activity has declined

 Chinese factory activity contracted in July. South Korea’s exports also fell,

    China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for July came in at 49.7

Non-manufacturing PMI for the month of July was 53.7 compared to 54.2 in June.

the PMI is a survey of businesses about the operating environment.

China’s second-quarter growth slowed to 6.2% the weakest rate in at least 27 years

US Federal Reserve cut benchmark lending rate

US Federal Reserve cut benchmark lending rate

US Federal Reserve last night cut the benchmark lending rate for the first time in more than a decade, moving to stimulate the economy.

The target for the federal funds rate is now 2.0.

It was 2.25 per cent earlier.

The central bank vowed to "act as appropriate to sustain the expansion."

However, two officials on the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee opposed the move to provide more stimulus to the economy and dissented in the vote.