Current affair of 11th August 2019

1. Researchers introduce Selfie video to measure Blood Pressure

Researchers in Canada and China developed a technology called transdermal optical imaging (TOI). The technology works by taking into account the fact the facial skin is translucent.

Key highlights:

1. "This study shows that facial video can contain some information about systolic blood pressure," said researcher Ramakrishna Mukkamala, Professor at the Michigan State University.
2. Ambient light penetrates the skin's outer layer allowing digital optical sensors in smartphones to visualise and extract blood flow patterns, which transdermal optical imaging models can use to predict blood pressure.
3. "High blood pressure is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease -- a leading cause of death and disability. To manage and prevent it, regular monitoring of one's blood pressure is essential," said study lead author Kang Lee, Professor at the University of Toronto in Canada.

2. Manipur tops the Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the country

Manipur has topped the rankings in Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the country. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan released a report on Breastfeeding in New Delhi.

Key highlights:

1. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar are at the bottom positions of the report card. National capital Delhi is also among the worst-performing States. 
2. The Breastfeeding report card has been developed by devising a composite score based on three indicators namely early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and complimentary feeding at 6-8 months of child's age.
3. The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) seeks to enhance nutrition, health and development of infants and young children through programmes designed to increase national and state commitments, education of public and health care workers about breastfeeding. The 45% children died due to undernutrition effects
4. The Breastfeeding Improves the child’s IQ level. The benefit of Breastfeeding not only saves child but also saves the mother from breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

3. Leather Mission launched on World Tribal Day by KVIC

The Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) launched Leather Mission on World Tribal Day. The mission empowers the commission to give leather kits to the leather artisans across the nation. KVIC distributed 50 leather kits to the leather artisans across the nation.

Key highlights:

1. It will not only increase their incomes manifold but will also inspire the traditional leather artisans who had migrated to other jobs from their traditional skill to adopt this vocation again,.”
2. 350 Bee-Boxes were distributed at the function. Honey Mission has proved as a game-changer in the lives of tribals, farmers, SC/STs and unemployed youths. 
3. So far, KVIC has distributed over 1.15 lakh Bee-Boxes across the nation among the marginalised community, which has provided jobs to over 11,500 people. It has not only increased the income of the bee-keeping farmers, but has also increased the yield of the crops by up to 30 percent due to cross-pollination of the honey-bees.

4. Third International EV Conclave held in Manesar

The third International Electric Vehicle Conclave was held at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Haryana. The aim of the Conclave was to create a knowledge sharing platform in the automotive sector. It also ensured the flow of information at all levels in the automotive sector. Organised by: The conclave was organized by ICAT in association with India Energy Storage Alliance.

Key highlights:

1. The EV Conclave organized by ICAT in association with India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has grown and transformed itself into a global event since its inception in 2017. Owing tothe growth of electric mobility and in order to meet the demands of the automotive sector, the EV Conclave is organized with a focus on new trends and challenges in the field of electric mobility.
2. The event will provide a unique platform to interact, discuss & network with Auto OEMs, battery manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers, power train, BMS, EV software providers & government officials. The participants will witness the ICAT’s battery validation and EV lab during the event.

5. MSDE organized the fourth edition of NEA

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organized the fourth edition of the National Entrepreneurship Awards at New Delhi, India. The Ministry has also instituted in a bid to recognize and encourage outstanding Indian Entrepreneurs and catalyse a cultural shift in youth for entrepreneurship for nominations.

Key highlights:

1. The fourth National Entrepreneurship Awards (NEA) 2019 aims to honour outstanding young first generation entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders for their exceptional contribution in entrepreneurship development.
2. The Government will also reward the most innovative, inspiring and accomplished micro entrepreneurs to scale up their business. 
3. The awards recognizes the businesses and businessmen to improve their marketability, and address discontinuity towards better business systems and enhanced products & services with the help of a prize money. The awards ceremony will be held in November 2019.

6. President approved the NMC Bill

President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to the National Medical Commission Bill 2019. The Bill will replace the Medical Council of India (MCI), which was functional as per the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956.

Key highlights:

1. The National Medical Commission (NMC) will form the apex regulatory body for medical education in India. The commission will ensure the quality of the medical colleges and every institute will now be rated.
2. One of the provisions of the bill included the appointment of the Board of Governors to perform the functions.

7. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls for restraint over J K issue

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on India and Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" and refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir as the 1972 Simla Agreement to sort out differences between the two countries.

Key highlights:

1. The Secretary-General's remarks came after India on Monday revoked Article 370 to withdraw special status to J&K
2. Pakistan had termed the Indian action as 'unilateral and illegal', and said it would take the matter to the UN Security Council
3. The Secretary-General also recalls the 1972 agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, also known as the Simla Agreement, which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means" in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Dujarric said.

8. World Archery suspended Archery Association of India

World Archery (WA) has suspended the Archery Association of India (AAI). Earlier, the WA executive board had given a July 31 deadline to both AAI factions to resolve their disputes, including parallel elections. The decision by WA to suspend AAI is because the matter is now in court.

Key highlights:

1. The participation of Indian archers in international events under the National flag is jeopardised after AAI's suspension. After the suspensionm, the last event in which Indian athletes can participate is the world youth championships in Madrid from August 19 to 25, 2019. WA is yet to decide whether individual athletes can participate in the Indoor Archery World Series.
2. The Indian Government and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) are planning to establish a transitory committee to handle urgent matters.
3. The executive board will preserve the chances of Indian athletes participating in the Asian championships and Asian para championships.

9. Rohingya refugees get identity cards in Bangladesh

Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh issued identity documents by the UNHCR. The bio-metric, fraud-proof cards are being issued jointly by Bangladeshi authorities and UNHCR to all verified refugees over the age of 12.

Key highlights:

1. These cards will help in establishing and safeguarding the right of Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Myanmar.
2. The current registration exercise began in June 2018 and it is scheduled to be completed during the last quarter of the current year.
3. UNHCR’s Bio-metric Identity Management System (BIMS) captures bio-metric data, including fingerprints and iris scans which secure each refugee’s unique identity as well as other important information such as family links.UNHCR, Bangladesh more than 9 lakh Rohingya refugees out of which close to 7 lakh 50 thousand refugees arrived after August 2017 fleeing Rakhine province of Myanmar amid violence and military crackdown. Bangladesh claims to have 11 lakh Rohingya refugees in the country.

10. Train ticket booking through IRCTC to get costlier

E-tickets bought through IRCTC will get more costly as the Indian Railways has decided to restore service fee charges. Almost three years they were withdrawn to promote digital payments a pet project of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

Key highlights:

1. The Railway Board gave its approval to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to restore the mechanism of charging service charge from passengers booking online tickets. 
2. The IRCTC, railways ticketing and tourism arm, had made a "detailed case" for the restoration of service charge on booking of e-ticket and the matter has been examined by the "competent authority".
3. The Finance Ministry contended that the scheme of waiving of service charges was a temporary one and that the railway ministry could begin charging e-tickets.
4. The IRCTC saw a 26 per cent drop in Internet ticketing revenue in financial year 2016-17.IRCTC used to levy a service charge of ₹20 on every non-AC e ticket and ₹40 for every AC ticket.IRCTC will now have to decide whether it will keep the earlier charges or increase it.

11. Cricket Australia unveils new transgender inclusive policy

Cricket Australia announced a new transgender-inclusive policy. This policy will enable transgender players to play the game of cricket at the highest levels.

Key highlights:

1. The decision aligns in accordance with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) gender recognition policy and gender diversity guidelines.
2. The policy sets out a limit for transgender and gender-diverse players who want to play for state and national women’s teams. Australian men's national cricket team represents Australia in international cricket.
3. It is oldest teams in Test cricket history playing in the first-ever Test match in 1877.

12. Virasat e Khalsa Museum in Punjab sets record

Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum in Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib town is to find a place in the Asia Book of Records. It is the most visited museum in the Indian sub-continent in a single day. The museum witnessed a record footfall of 20,569 visitors on a single day on March 20.

Key highlights:

1. The Asia Book of Records has confirmed the record of ‘maximum footfall in a museum in a day’ in the name of Virasat-e-Khalsa, which will feature in the next edition of the Asia Book of Records, a senior official said on Wednesday.
2. “The museum had witnessed a record footfall of 20,569 visitors on a single day on March 20, becoming the most visited museum in the Indian sub-continent on a single day,” Vikas Pratap, Secretary, Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (Punjab), told The Hindu.

13. BAFTA LA to honour Steve Coogan with Charlie Chaplin Award

Actor Steve Coogan won with the Charlie Chaplin Award by the British Academy’s Los Angeles branch. He will receive the honor during the 2019 Britannia Awards.

Key highlights:

1. The Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy recognizes the talents whose popularity and cultural impact exemplifies the uniquely transcendent quality of excellent comedy.
2. Britannia Awards are presented by BAFTA Los Angeles. It is a branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), as a bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities.
3. The Britannia Awards ceremony is presented at a black-tie gala dinner and Beverly Hilton Hotel.