Daily Current Affairs Capsule 25th July 2019 - wifistudy

Daily Current Affairs Capsule
       25th July 2019

1. Facebook slapped with 5 billion US Dollar fine for users' privacy violation

US regulators formalized a record 5 billion US Dollar fine on Facebook for violation of users' privacy in the
Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving 87 million users.

   •   The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the penalty was the largest ever imposed on any company for
       violating consumers' privacy and one of the largest penalties ever assessed by the US government for any
       violation.
   •   The FTC initiated the investigation after a scandal involving former British consulting firm Cambridge
       Analytica, which was accused of illegally accessing data of more than 87 million Facebook users without
       their prior knowledge.

2. India jumps 5 places to 52nd rank in global innovation index 2019

India improved its rank in the Global Innovation Index to 52nd, in 2019, making a significant jump of 5 places in
a year.

   •   It was at 57th position in 2018.

•   The Index ranks innovative performances of 129 economies around the world on 80 indicators including
       political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication.
   •   Switzerland retained its number-one spot on the index.
   •   The GII 2019 was released by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
   •   This is for the first time that the GII was launched in an emerging economy.
   •   The theme this year is Creating Healthy Lives - The Future of Medical Innovation, which aims to explore
       the role of medical innovation as it shapes the future of healthcare.

3. Cabinet approves the merger of National Institute of Miners' Health with ICMR-NIOH

Union Cabinet has approved the merger of National Institute of Miners' Health with ICMR - National Institute of
Occupational Health.

   •   This will beneficial for both institutes and it is another example of maximum governance and minimum
       government.
   •   This will help both the institutes in terms of enhanced expertise in the field of occupational health besides
       efficient management of public money.
   •   The Cabinet also approved the sale of 481.79 acres of land held by Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore
       Limited, FACT to the Government of Kerala and utilization of the sale proceeds by FACT.

4. Rajya Sabha passes POCSO Amendment Bill with the provision of the death penalty

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Rajya Sabha.

   •   The bill seeks to enhance punishment, including a provision for the death penalty, for committing sexual
       crimes against children.

•   Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the government has sanctioned 1023 fast track
       courts for speedy dispensation of pending cases under POCSO and sexual assault.
   •   18 states have given their consent to set up the fast track courts which will be established within a span of
       two years.
   •   In order to curb child pornography, the Bill provides that those who use a child for pornographic purposes
       should be punished with imprisonment up to five years and a fine.

5. ADB sanctions about Rs 2000 Cr for power projects in Tripura

Asian Development Bank has sanctioned 1,925 crore rupees project for up-gradation of power generation and
distribution in Tripura

   •   The amount was recently sanctioned to the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited after the state
       government had sought the ADB's assistance.
   •   The project has been sanctioned for upgrading capacity of 63 MW Rokhia Project to 120 MW at an
       estimated cost of over 699 crores and modernising Gumti Hydro Electric Project at an estimated cost of
       nearly 1225 crore rupees.
   •   Rokhia project is located at West Tripura district whereas the Gumti project is in Gomati district.

6. Priti Patel appointed Britain's 1st Indian-origin Home Secretary

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Indian origin Priti Patel as the country Home Secretary.

   •   She became the first Indian-origin home secretary.
   •   Ms Patel, an ardent Brexiteer was among the most vocal critics of Theresa May's Brexit strategy.
   •   The 47-year-old leader was first elected as a Conservative MP in 2010 and gained prominence in the then
       David Cameron led Tory government as his Indian Diaspora Champion.

7. IAS Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed as OSD in MHA

IAS officer Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs
with immediate effect.

   •   IAS officer Subhash Chandra Garg, who was Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs in Finance
       Ministry will now be the Power Secretary.
   •   Senior IAS officer Atanu Chakraborty has been appointed as Secretary in Department of Economic
       Affairs.
   •   The appointments have been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
   •   IAS officer Anshu Prakash will now be the Secretary in Department of Telecommunications in the
       Ministry of Communications.

8. Goa govt seeks new dates for holding National Games

The Goa government is not in a position to host the National Games in November this year and has requested the
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to allot fresh dates in May 2020.

   •   Notably, the IOA had recently fined the Goa government for frequently missing the deadlines to host the
       games in the last four years.
   •   The National Games were earlier scheduled to be held in March- April 2019 but were postponed to
       November on account of Lok Sabha elections, bypolls.

9. Boxer Maxim Dadashev dies from head injuries sustained in a fight

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev has died at the age of 28 following injuries suffered in his IBF light-welterweight
fight against Subriel Matias.

•   Dadashev was reportedly unable to walk to the dressing room after his bout was stopped by trainer Buddy
       McGirt at the end of the 11th round.
   •   He was hospitalised with bleeding on the brain and underwent emergency surgery but failed to recover.
   •   Dadashev had won all of his previous 13 fights.

10. PM Modi releases a book on former PM Chandra Shekhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the book on former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar at Parliament
Library Building in New Delhi.

   •   The book titled 'Chandra Shekhar- The Last Icon of Ideological Politics’ is written by Deputy Chairman
       in the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Ravi Dutt Bajpai.
   •   Mr Modi said, Chandra Shekhar was a man of culture and principles but he didn't receive the due respect
       that he deserved.

Points to Remember

   •   Chandra Shekhar was 8th Prime Minister of India from 10 November 1990 to 21 June 1991.