Daily GK Updates - 19th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  PM Modi inaugurates National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has inaugurated the country’s first National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai.The museum has been built by NBCC (India) Limited, at a cost of Rs. 140.61 crore.The objective of the Museum is to take its visitors through an absorbing journey of over a century of Indian cinema in a storytelling mode with the help of visuals, graphics, artefacts, interactive exhibits and multimedia expositions.

2.  The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 14th Raising Day : The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is celebrating its 14th Raising Day.NDRF was raised on 19th January 2006, as a specialized force capable of responding to any type of disaster in the country and abroad.It is strategically deployed across the nation as per the vulnerability profile.NDRF has proved its mettle and the people and political leadership of the country have immense faith in it.

3. ISRO to launch two unmanned space missions in 2020 and 2021 : According to ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will send two unmanned mission to space in December 2019 and in July 2021.Country's first manned space flight - Gaganyaan - will send three humans into space for seven days by December 2021.ISRO's unmanned test missions for Gaganyaan in 2021 will carry humanoids not animals.

4. Manu Sawhney appointed ICC's chief executive officer :The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed media professional Manu Sawhney as its new chief executive officer (CEO).He is replacing incumbent David Richardson, who will step down at the end of this summer's ODI World Cup in England.Sawhney will work alongside outgoing CEO Richardson to ensure a smooth transition of leadership before assuming control in July.Sawhney is the former CEO of Singapore Sports Hub and Managing Director of ESPN Star Sports.

5. Pocharam Srinivas Reddy elected as Speaker of Telangana Assembly : Former Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (69-years) has been unanimously elected as the Speaker of Telangana.Srinivas Reddy is a veteran Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader.Pro-tem speaker Mumtaz Ahmed Khan formally declared Mr Reddy elected as the Speaker of the Assembly.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Dr Rattan Lal honoured with 2019 Japan Prize : According to Japan Prize Foundation, India born professor Dr. Rattan Lal will be the recipient of the 2019 Japan Prize for his contributions in the field of ‘Biological Production, Ecology’.

Dr Rattan Lal is the University Professor of Soil Science at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.ADr Yoshio Okamoto will be the recipient of the 2019 Japan Prize on of “Materials and Production” field.Each laureate will receive a certificate of recognition, commemorative gold medal and cash award of 50 million Japanese yen (USD 450,000) in a ceremony on 8^th April 2019 in Tokyo.

2. Macedonia renamed as ‘The Republic of Northern Macedonia’ : The Parliament of Macedonia has passed the resolution to amend the constitution of the country to rename as the ‘Republic of Northern Macedonia’.The name change will help resolve a decades-long dispute with neighbouring Greece opening the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union.

3. Justice Asif Khosa takes oath as new Chief Justice of Pakistan : Justice Asif Saeed Khosa took oath as the 26th Chief Justice of Pakistan.President Arif Alvi administered the oath to the new Chief Justicewho took office after the retirement of Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.Justice Khosa studied at the University of the Punjab and Cambridge University.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Vinesh Phogat to be nominated in Laureus World Comeback of Year Award : Ace Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat (24-year) has become the first Indian athlete to receive a nomination in the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.She has been nominated alongside US TourChampionship winner Tiger Woods.Vinesh (from Haryana) made a sensational comeback after battling a long injury lay-off to win a gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Jakarta Asian Games.

2. Team India becomes the first team to win Bilateral Series in all formats : Indian cricket team became the first visiting team to win bilateral series across the three formats against Australia Down Under.India defeated Australia in the third ODI to clinch the three-match series 2-1.Now, India became the first visiting side to win a bilateral series (two or more matches) in all three formats in Australia.India registered their first Test series win in Australia earlier this month, while they won a T20I series on Australian soil in 2018