Daily GK Updates - 11th June, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NDMA conducts training programme for CBRN emergencies: NDMA is conducting a basic training programme at the Deendayal Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat, aimed at increasing the awareness and enhancing the preparedness of Seaport Emergency Handlers (SEHs) to respond to CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) threats which emanate at seaports due to arrival, storage and transportation of a large amount of chemical, petrochemical and other CBRN agents.

Note: NDMA: National Disaster Management Authority is the apex body, mandated to lay down the policies on disaster management. Based on the Disaster Management Act enacted on 23rd December 2005 by GoI, headed by the Prime Minister. Headquarter: New Delhi

2. Sharad Kumar named interim CVC Vigilance Commissioner: Sharad Kumar has been named as acting Central Vigilance Commissioner as current (CVC)   K V Chowdary completed his tenure at the anti-graft body.

Note: Central Vigilance Commission, headquartered in New Delhi. Set up by the GoI in February 1964. CVC is an apex vigilance institution.

3. I V Subba Rao to continue as secretary to vice president: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the continuation of I V Subba Rao as a secretary to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.

4. Dr Virendra Kumar to be pro tem speaker of 17th Lok Sabha: Seven-time MP Virendra Kumar (65 years) is set to be the pro tem speaker (temporary Speaker) of the 17th Lok Sabha. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Virendra Kumar is likely to be administered the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th June 2019. Virendra Kumar was elected to the 11th (1996), 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Lok Sabha continuously. The election for the speaker will be held on 19th June 2019. President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall at 11 am on 20th June 2019.

Note: The Pro-tem Speaker is a temporary speaker appointed for a limited period to conduct the works in Lok Sabha or in state legislatures. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha (House of the People), the lower house of the Parliament of India.

5. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust Inks MoU with Central Warehousing Corporation: The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) have signed an MoU for facilitating Direct Port Entry (DPE) of e-sealed factory stuffed export container to the port under ‘Ease of Doing Business’. With this MoU, Central Warehousing Corporation would make use of the 18,357 sqm area earmarked in the Truck Parking Terminal located opposite to Fisheries College, Tuticorin for operating and managing the DPE facility for 30 years on Annual Lease Rental basis.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India Invited To G-7 Outreach Session: India has received an invitation from France to attend the outreach Session at the G-7 Summit to be held in France in August 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation from French President to attend the outreach session of the G7 Summit in Biarritz as a special invitee.

Note: The 45th summit of the G7 group of countries is going to take place from August 24 to August 26 in Biarritz in France.

2. ICAT Releases India’s 1st BS – VI Certificate in Two Wheeler Segment: International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) released India’s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for Bharat Stage – VI (BS – VI) norms that are the latest emission norms as notified by the Government of India for the two-wheeler segment. The certificate was released and handed over by Director ICAT, Dinesh Tyagi to top officials of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

Note: BS (Bharat Stage) – VI norms: Bharat Stage norms are the automotive emission norms to be implemented with effect from 1st April 2020, to curb the growing menace of air pollution through the vehicle’s emission. ICAT: International Centre for Automotive Technology is the premier testing and certification agency authorized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for providing testing and certification services to the vehicle and component manufacturers in India and abroad.

3. AFD a French development agency to finance upto 7,00,000 EURO to IRSDC: Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) entered a Tripartite Agreement with French Railways (SNCF) & AFD, a French Agency which will finance up to 7,00,000 EURO, through French National Railways (SNCF)-Hubs and Connexions as a Technical Partner to IRSDC to support the Railway Station Development Program in India, so there will be no financial liability on IRSDC or Indian Railways.

Note: Railway Minister: Piyush Goyal. President of France: Emmanuel Macron, Capital: Paris, Currency: Euro, CFP Franc

4. Canada to Ban Single Use Plastics From 2021: Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that single-use plastics will be banned in the country from 2021. He declared it a global challenge to phase out the plastic bags, straws and cutlery clogging the world’s oceans. Less than 10% of the plastics used in Canada are currently recycled. Each year a million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals worldwide suffer injury or death by becoming entangled in plastic or ingesting it through the food chain.

Note: Canada Capital: Ottawa, Currency: Canadian dollar.

5. UAE Cabinet adopts "National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031": The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Cabinet adopted the ‘National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031’ during its meeting at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. One of the most important initiatives is the development of the first 'National Wellbeing Observatory' to support the policymaking process. The strategy is based on a national framework of three main levels - individuals, society and the country. It includes 14 components and nine strategic objectives, which include enhancing people's wellbeing by promoting healthy and active lifestyles, promoting good mental health and adopting positive thinking.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Novak Djokovic Tops ATP Rankings: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has topped in the recently released ATP Rankings. Rafael Nadal who has recently won the 12th Roland Garros title is at 2nd position. Austrian Dominic Thiem, whom Nadal beat in final, keeps his fourth place behind Switzerland’s Roger Federer. Russian Karen Khachanov jumped two spots into a personal best of the ninth rank.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. FDI in services sector up 37% in 2018-19: According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the services sector grew 36.5% to USD 9.15 billion in 2018-19 (USD 6.7 billion in 2017-18). The union government has taken several measures like fixing timeliness for approvals and streamlining procedures to improve ease of doing business in the country and attract foreign investments. The sector accounts for about 18% of the total FDI India received between April 2000 and March 2019. The overall FDI inflows declined for the first time in the last six years in 2018-19.

Note: A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an investment in the form of the controlling ownership in a business in one country by an entity based in another country.

Types of FDI: (i) Horizontal FDI arises when a firm duplicates it's home country-basedactivities at the same value chain stage in a host country through FDI. (ii) Platform FDI Foreign direct investment from a source country into a destination country for the purpose of exporting to a third country. (iii) Vertical FDI takes place when a firm through FDI moves upstream or downstream in different value chains.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Amazon dethrones Google as top global brand: 100 Top BrandZ report: According to global market research agency Kantar in its 2019’s ‘100 Top BrandZ Report’, US retail giant Amazon has moved past hi-tech titans Apple and Google to become the world’s most valuable brand. The brand value of Amazon surged by 52 percent to $315 billion, hence jumping from third to first place to replace Google.

Note: CEO of Amazon: Jeff Bezos

2. Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) acquires Jaypore: Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL), which retails brands such as Louis Philippe, Peter England and Van Heusen, has acquired ethnic apparel and lifestyle retailer ‘Jaypore E-Commerce Pvt. Ltd‘ which sells ethnic fashion merchandise under its own brand ‘Jaypore’ for Rs 110 crore.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Equator Prize 2019 winners announced for local innovative climate solutions: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and partners announced the winners of the 10th Equator Prize, recognizing 22 local and indigenous communities from across the world. The winning organizations, which showcase innovative, nature-based solutions for tackling climate change, environment, and poverty challenges. Equator Prize winners will each receive US$10,000 and the opportunity for two community representatives to join a week-long summit in New York during the 74th United Nations General Assembly. The women groups of the Deccan Development Society, Telangana also have bagged the prize.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Puducherry CM R V Janakiraman passed away: Former Puducherry chief minister and DMK leader R V Janakiraman(78-years) passed away in a private hospital in Puducherry. Mr. Janakiraman had served as Puducherry chief minister between 1996 and 2000. He had been elected from Nellithope constituency for five consecutive terms (1985, 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2001).