CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 19, 2011

India, Sri Lanka to jointly find a Solution to the problems related to fishing

communities

India and Sri Lanka to work out a “practical arrangement” to help fishing

communities of both sides to live peacefully

During the last couple of years, several instances reported where fishermen from

both sides have crossed into each others’ territory and have been detained for

doing so

Sri Lanka assured that the well well-being of the detained Indian fishermen was of

paramount concern for it and under no conditions, use of force is reasonable

India, US concur to improve Science & Technology coordination

India-US agreed on improving Science & Technology coordination b/w the two

countries

Cross-cutting areas relating to energy, agriculture, affordable healthcare, nutrition

and monsoon forecasting

Need to work towards making agriculture resilient

Need for further research on forecasting various hazards like cyclones and in this

connection, usage of instrumental spectra aircraft

Sharing of data on issues relating to monsoon and flood and strengthening the

exchange of data

Facilitating exchange of scientists from both the countries by addressing

bottlenecks relating to Visa for S&T professionals

India urged for a Liberal visa regime to ensure seamless issuance of visas for

Indian scientists willing to work in the US

There was general consensus on substantially increasing financial outlay by both

sides

The Indo-US Science and Technology Endowment Fund which is currently

$30 million could have its corpus increased and the current allocation of $ 50

million for both the sides for next 5 years could be enhanced to $ 100 million

Four Indians in ICC’s “All Time Greatest Test team” for Test Cricket

Four Indians found place in the ICC’s ‘All Time Greatest Test team’ for Test Cricket

The players are –

1. Sachin Tendulkar

2. Virender Sehwag

3. Sunil Gavaskar

4. Kapil Dev

‘All Time Greatest Test team’ chosen via an online poll across the world

Fans voted on the International Cricket Council’s official website, to pick the

leading 11 as part of the celebrations to commemorate the 2,000th Test match,

which will be played between England and India at Lord’s from July 21, 2011

The dream team is:

Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar Brian Lara,

Kapil Dev, Adam Gilchrist, wicket keeper, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Curtly

Ambrose, Glenn McGrath

Kerala CM urges Centre to avert from import of natural rubber

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has urged the Centre to avert from the

import of natural rubber

The Centre’s decision led to opposition walk out in the Kerala State Assembly

Replying to an adjournment motion, the Chief Minister assured the house that the

concern of rubber farmers will be conveyed to the Centre

As per Suresh Kurup, MLA who sought consent for the adjournment motion import

is preventable since there is not much difference in domestic and international

price of rubber

Youth Unemployment still rising around the World: ILO

As per ILO (International Labour Organization) Youth Unemployment continues to

rise around the globe

The jobless rate among 15 to 24 years old is a record high of 13%, about 81

million people

Vilasrao Deshmukh: New Science and Tech Minister

Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh took charge as the new Science and Technology

Minister. Mr Deshmukh is currently Minister of Science and Technology,

Minister of Earth Sciences and President of the Mumbai Cricket Association

Bangladesh to confer country’s highest honour on Indira Gandhi

Bangladesh to confer the country’s highest honour ‘Bangladesh Swadhinata

Sammanona’ on Former Indian Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi

Reason for conferring: For Ms Gandhi’s outstanding contribution to

Bangladesh’s war of liberation in 1971

Tripartite agreement to resolve Darjeeling impasse signed

The Tripartite agreement to resolve the Darjeeling impasse signed

The historic agreement was signed among the Centre, West Bengal government

and Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha in presence of the Union Home Minister Mr. P.

Chidambaram and State Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee and President of the

Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha Mr. Bimal Gurung at Pintail village at Sukhna in

Darjeeling district

As per Mr. Chidambaram, the signing of the agreement puts an end to the conflict

in the region and will mark the beginning of better future for the hilly people

As per Ms Mamata Banerjee there was no scope of division of Bengal in future. She

criticized the opposition for politicizing the issue over the name of the new

autonomous body

The Gorkhaland territorial administration will be formed through election within six

months

This autonomous authority for the Darjeeling hills will replace the

existing Darjeeling-Gurkha Hill Council

Centre to provide a `

600 Crore economic package to the proposed Gurkha Land Territorial

Administration in Darjeeling for development work under each jurisdiction

The fund to be released by the Centre over 3 years, starting from 2011