Daily GK Updates - 26th April, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India extends a ban on import of Chinese milk products: The Union government has extended the ban on import of milk and its products, including chocolates, from China.  Food regulator FSSAI had recommended extending the ban until all labs at ports are modernised to test the chemical. The ban was first imposed in September 2008 and extended subsequently from time to time. The ban was imposed on apprehensions of the presence of melamine in some milk consignments from China. Melamine is a toxic chemical used for making plastics and fertilisers.

2. Maruti will stop making diesel cars from April 2020: According to the country’s largest car maker Maruti, it will phase out diesel cars from its line-up from April 2020. The reason of stopping is higher manufacturing cost on account of stricter BS6 emission norms that would make diesel vehicles significantly expensive for customers, pricing them out of the market. For Maruti, the share of diesel variants is 23% in total sales that stood at 17.5 lakh units last fiscal. In the just-ended 2018-19 fiscal. Currently, Maruti offers diesel on as many as eight models, with two of them ‘the Brezza’ and ‘S-Cross SUVs’ ‘carrying it exclusively (there’s no petrol variant currently).

3. HUDCO celebrates its 49th Foundation Day: Dr. M. Ravi Kanth (CMD, HUDCO) has inaugurated the 49th Foundation Day celebrations of HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation) at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The HUDCO Design Awards for innovative design solutions for disaster resistant housing, conservation of heritage, green buildings and landscape planning & design were also presented on the occasion.

4. Former Army Chief Dalbir Suhag appointed Indian envoy to Seychelles: Former Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag has been appointed as India's next high commissioner to the island nation ‘Seychelles’. Seychelles is a country which is of strategic importance to India in the Indian Ocean region. General (retired) Suhag was the Army chief from 31st July 2014, to 31st December 2016. He was also part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987. India is developing Assumption Island in Seychelles as a naval base to expand its footprint in the strategically-key region where China has been trying to enhance its military presence.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness underway in Nepal: Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota has inaugurated the 5th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu. The theme of the two-day summit is “Media Solutions for Sustainable Future: Saving Lives, Building Resilient Communities”. Over 200 participants including political leaders, representatives of UN agencies and NGOs, climate change and disaster management experts, scientists and media persons are attending the event.

2. World Intellectual Property Day being observed: The 'World Intellectual Property Day' is observed annually on 26th April to learn about the role that intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright) play in encouraging innovation and creativity. The Day is organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This year's theme of the day is ‘Reach for Gold: IP and Sports’. What is WIPO?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a self-funding agency of the United Nations (UN) with 191 members states. Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property (IP) system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

3. World Immunization Week 2019 Observed in April: The last week of April every year is observed as World Immunization Week (WIW) in order to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. The WIW 2019 observed from 24-3oth April, carrying the theme “Protected Together: Vaccines Work”. It was observed for the very first time in 2012.

OTHER UPDATES:

HONOURS & AWARDS

 1. Benny Antony conferred with the National IP Award 2019: Benny Antony (co-founder of Kochi-based Arjuna Natural Ltd) has been honoured with the National Intellectual Property Award for 2019 in the category of Top Individual for Patents and Commercialization. Along with the National IP Award, the Intellectual Property Office India and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have jointly conferred the ‘WIPO Medal for Inventors’ also to Antony. Antony is the inventor of the world’s leading patented turmeric extract formulation “BCM-95”. Antony has over 80 international patents to his credit.

BANKING & FINANCIAL

1. RBI gives HDFC’s proposal for holding a 9.9% stake in Bandhan Bank: The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has granted approval to HDFC Ltdfor holding up to 9.9% stake in Bandhan Bank following the Gruh Finance deal. Gruh Finance is the housing finance arm of HDFC Ltd and was taken over in January by Bandhan Bank in a share-swap deal. The scheme is yet to get approvals from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the shareholders of Gruh Finance and Bandhan Bank. The Gruh Finance deal will decrease the stake of Bandhan FinancialHoldings Ltd in Bandhan Bank from 82% to 61%.

SPORTS

 1. Shooting: India bag two gold at ISSF World Cup: India opened its medal account with gold each in 10 metres Air Rifle Mixed Team and 10 metres Air Pistol Mixed team events on the third day of ISSF World Cup in Beijing. Young shooters 'Manu Bhaker' and 'Saurabh Chaudhary' took the top spot in the 10 metres Air Pistol Mixed Team event. Anjum Moudgil and Divyansh Singh Panwar opened the country's gold account in the 10 metres Air Rifle Mixed Team event.

2. Asian Wrestling Championships: Divya, Manju win bronze medals: India's Divya Kakran and Manju Kumari bagged bronze medals for the country in the women's competition of the Asian Wrestling Championships in Xi'an, China. Asian Games bronze-medallist Kakran defeated Battsetseg Soronzonbold of Mongolia via fall in the playoffs of the 68-kilogram category. Earlier, Manju (In 59 kg) also secured a bronze medal in the day by beating Vietnam's Thi Huong Dao 11-2