The Daily Brief – 15th July 2018

The Daily Briefs are a comprehensive update of current affairs for the day. If you’d like to receive updates for current affairs every day, you’ll need to subscribe by entering your email address at the right side of this page. The previous Briefs can be accessed at the archives here.

1. Union Government has invited United States President Donald Trump to be the chief guest at 2019 Republic Day celebrations. If President Trump accepts the invitation, he will be second serving US President after Barack Obama to be invited as chief guest of Republic Day Parade. It will indicate importance of the Indo-U.S. relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited US President Trump and his family to India when he visited Washington in June 2017.
2. The Supreme Court on July 14, 2018 took note of lack of facilities in jails of the country and sought assistance of the Attorney General in issuing directions to deal with the situation. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, on its own, initiated the judicial proceedings after taking note of report on deficiencies at the Faridabad jail in Haryana that has been submitted by the District and Sessions judge of Faridabad and the judge has mentioned various causes for delayed trials and long incarceration of under trial prisoners in jail.
3. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued order allowing photography within premises of protected monuments and sites. However photography will remain prohibited near Ajanta Caves, Leh Palace (both housing paintings that can be damaged by camera flash) and mausoleum of Taj Mahal. ASI administers and manages 3,686 ancient monuments and archaeological sites, and remains of national importance
4. United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has established first-of-its-kind panel on digital cooperation aimed at addressing concerns of cybersecurity threats and rise in hate speech. The high-level panel on digital cooperation will be co-chaired by US philanthropist Melinda Gates and China-based Alibaba founder Jack Ma. The panel will have 20 members in total. Senior Indian diplomat Amandeep Singh Gill along with former diplomat Jovan Kurbalija will be executive directors of panel’s secretariat. It will focus on cyber-bullying, abuse rise, fake news, cyber crime and security aspects.
5. Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has announced that Century’s (2001 AD to 2100 AD) longest total lunar eclipse of 1 hour 43 minutes will occur on July 27-28, 2018. The entire eclipse will be visible from all parts of India. It will also be visible in region covering Asia, Australia, and Russia – except northern part, Europe, Africa, east of South America and Antarctica. The partial eclipse of Moon will begin on July 27, 2018. Later, Moon will be gradually covered by Earth’s shadow and totality phase will begin on July 28 and the total eclipse will last up to 2h 43m. Then the Moon will start to gradually come out of Earth’s shadow and partial eclipse will end on July 28, 2018.
6. The World Youth Skills Day was observed across the world on July 15, 2018. The day is commemorated to raise awareness on the importance of investing in youth skills development. To celebrate the World Youth Skills Day 2018, a discussion focusing on how innovation and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming labour markets, as well as what skills youth need to operate in future economies and to become drivers of a sustainable future, will take place on July 16 at the UN Headquarters in New York.  At least 475 million new jobs need to be created over the next decade to absorb the 73 million youth currently unemployed and the 40 million new annual entrants to the labour market.
7. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has drafted fee regulations to put in place uniform fee framework to check frequent and arbitrary increases in school fees by unaided private schools. NCPCR is country’s apex child rights body. It will recommend these draft regulations to Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). Draft Regulations proposes 10% yearly cap on the fee hike permissible by private, unaided schools. It suggests setting up district fee regulatory authority in states to monitor school fee increases.
8. Indian sprinter Hima Das scripted history on July 12, 2018 by becoming the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold medal in the women’s 400m final race at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships, held in Tampere, Finland. The 18-year-old finished the race in 51.46s. Das had earlier clocked an Indian U-20 record of 51.32 seconds to finish sixth in the Commonwealth Games 400m final in Gold Coast in April 2018.
9. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted Resolution 2428 (2018) to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, almost five years after ruinous civil war was started in infant country. The resolution was drafted by United States. The resolution calls upon all UN member states to prevent supply, sale or transfer to South Sudan — from or through their territories till 31 May 2019.
10. Angelique Kerber beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title. The German 11th seed, 30, beat the 23-time Grand Slam champion 6-3 6-3 to add this title to her 2016 Australian Open and US Open crowns. Kerber has won 12 singles titles across all surfaces on the WTA Tour, including three Major titles at the 2016 Australian Open, the 2016 US Open, and the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. She has also won an Olympic silver medal while representing Germany at the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

Check out the CLATGyan Test Series 2019 : 30 Simulated Online Tests + Personal Mentor | Run entirely by the students of NALSAR University of Law.

Today’s Quiz