Current Affairs 3rd August 2016

Current Affairs 3rd August 2016 - Important Points

• West Bengal Cabinet cleared proposal to rename the state as – Bengal
• Which country to carry out first human gene editing trial for lung cancer – China
• Who is appointed as a Head of IOC Athletes’ Commission - Angela Ruggiero
• 7th meeting of SAARC Immigration Authorities held in – Islamabad
• Scientists developed mechanism to recycle what into usable fuel - CO2

Current Affairs 3rd August 2016 - Details

West Bengal Cabinet cleared proposal to rename the state as – Bengal

Among Important National Current Affairs, on 2nd August 2016, West Bengal Cabinet cleared a proposal to rename the state West Bengal as Bengal in English and Bango or Bangla in Bengali. However, the word Bengal has the state’s culture and heritage associated with it and so it has been decided to change it.

According to the West Bengal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee, ‘a special session of the Assembly will be convened on 26 August to pass a resolution to this effect. Later, it will be sent to the Union Government for approval by the Parliament as changing of the name will require its approval.

Do You Know – 

• This decision was taken in line to the names of other states like Odisha, and cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai. 

• Whereas, the other reason for changing the name of the state is that whenever there is any meeting of all states, name of West Bengal comes at the bottom of the list alphabetically.

Which country to carry out first human gene editing trial for lung cancer – China

Among Important International Current Affairs, in the month of August 2016 a group of Chinese scientists will be seen performing the world’s first genetic editing trial on humans. This trial will be done with an aim to find a cure for lung cancer.

On 6th July 2016, a team which led by Dr. Lu You at Sichuan University’s West China Hospital in Chengdu has received an approval to carry out the trial from the hospital’s review board.

Please Note: The world’s first genetic editing trial on humans will be based on CRISPR–Cas9 technique.

Who is appointed as a Head of IOC Athletes’ Commission - Angela Ruggiero

Among Important Sports Current Affairs, on 1st August 2016 American ice hockey Olympic champion Angela Ruggiero was elected as the new chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Athletes’ Commission.

IOC President named Thomas Bach officially has appointed Ruggiero during the joint meeting between the IOC athletes’ commission and the IOC executive board.

Angela Ruggiero will be replacing Claudia Boke.

Know About Angela Ruggiero – 

• A former ice hockey player Angela Ruggiero, has played more games for Team USA than any other man or woman.

• Angela Ruggiero is now become the Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

• Angela Ruggiero has also competed in 10 Women's World Championships winning four Gold medals and six silver medals.

7th meeting of SAARC Immigration Authorities held in – Islamabad

Among Important International Current Affairs, the seventh meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Immigration Authorities was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Usman A. Bajwa who is a Pakistan’s Director General Immigration and Passports was unanimously elected as Chairman had chaired the meeting. 

Do You Know – 

• In 1992, it reviewed different areas to maximize the potential of visa exemption scheme launched among the member countries.

• It also deliberated on development of security software for SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES) and immigration matters.

Scientists developed mechanism to recycle what into usable fuel - CO2

American researchers got the success and have developed a mechanism to convert greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO) that can be recycled into a usable fuel.

However, this mechanism is based on the photosynthesis process that trees uses to convert CO2 into sugars.

It was developed by none other than US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois at Chicago.