The Daily Brief – 8th August 2019

Bangladesh and Russia signed a deal for lifetime supply of uranium for Bangladesh’s 2,400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), which will come into operation by 2022. Through this agreement, both the countries will work to determine prices of nuclear fuel, considering the volatile global market. In 2017, these two countries have also signed spent fuel sent back agreement for management of nuclear waste of (RNPP).

Saudi Arabia, followed by Qatar, UAE and Bahrain has de-recognized Pakistani PG medical degree programmes such as MS/MD degrees and sacked all doctors with Pakistani MS/MD degrees. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, the Pakistani medical programs lacked properly structured training, which is mandatory to hire medics in high positions.

‘Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology and Research’ has been announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to recognize and reward journalists who have actively contributed towards the field of space science, applications, and research. The articles published from 2019 to 2020 will be considered for the award.

A new higher education model titled “Resource Assistance for Colleges with Excellence” (RACE) has been launched by the Rajasthan government for the distribution of faculties and movable assets among government colleges at the district level, so as to rationalise availability of resources. Even though sanctioned posts of teachers in government colleges are 6,500, at present the posts fall short by about 2,000 teachers.

August Kranti Din is celebrated in India on 8^th August, every year. On this day, tribute is paid to the revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle against British rule. The day commemorates the foundation of Quit India Movement in 1942. This year, it is the 77^th anniversary of August Kranti Din.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, Indian Air Force pilot, who shot down Pakistan’s F-16 combat jet during an aerial dogfight on 27^th February, is going to be awarded the Vir Chakra for his gallantry. Mirage-2000 fighter jet pilots, who dropped bombs on the terror facility of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, will also get the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry. Vir Chakra is the third-highest wartime gallantry award of India after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.

The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea has the highest number of ‘living’ indigenous languages in the world with a total of 840, while India stands at the fourth position with 453. In 2016, the UN’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues showed that 40% of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world were in danger of disappearing. Ethnologue, a directory of languages, lists 7,111 living languages worldwide. The year 2019 is the United Nations’ International Year of Indigenous Languages.