Daily GK Updates - 22nd June, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Minister of State (I/c) for Civil Aviation inaugurates Central ATFM Complex: Minister of State (I/c) for Civil Aviation inaugurated the Air Traffic Flow Management Central Command Centre in New Delhi. The C-ATFM system integrates flight data from various subsystems like ATC Automation System, flight updates and flight update messages. The system processes the demand and capacity information and provides decision making tools to the ATFM Flow Manager to ensure regulated flow of traffic at each airport in India.

Note: Minister of State (I/c) for Civil Aviation: Hardeep Singh Puri.

2. Telangana CM inaugurates Kaleshwaram project: The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project which is one of the world's largest multi stage and multi purpose lift irrigation scheme, was inaugurated by Telangana Chief Minister in Jayashankar-Bhupalapally district of Telangana. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) worth Rs 80,000 crore, touted as the world's largest multi-stage multi-purpose scheme. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project envisages irrigation over 37 lakh acres of new and existing ayacut in 21 districts of the State.

Note: Chief Minister of Telangana: K. Chandrashekar Rao, Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan.

3. Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan sworn-in as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court: Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan was sworn-in as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court in Hyderabad. Governor ESL Narasimhan administered the oath of office to Justice Chauhan at Raj Bhavan. Justice Chauhan is the second Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court after the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh High Court last year.

4. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 35th GST council meeting in Delhi: The 35th Goods and Service Tax (GST) council meeting was held in New Delhi. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting for the first time after assuming the office.

5. A water clinic for elephants opens on the banks of the Yamuna: India has opened its first specialised hydrotherapy treatment for elephants suffering from arthritis, joint pain and foot ailments in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The new hydrotherapy jumbo pool is 11-foot-deep and has 21 high-pressure jet sprays that create water pressure that massage the elephants’ feet and body and help in increasing blood circulation. The clinic runs in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the NGO Wildlife SOS.

Note: In November 2018, India has opened its first hospital exclusively for elephants in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The hospital, which is in Mathura, was formally inaugurated by Agra Divisional Commissioner Anil Kumar. The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the NGO Wildlife SOS together helped to build and organise the hospital.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Japan will host the G20 summit for the first time in 2019: Japan is going to host this year G20 Summit in the city of Osaka. It will be the first-ever G20 summit to be hosted in Japan. The G20 Osaka Summit will be held from June 28 to 29, 2019 in Japan. The summit under the Japanese presidency is centred around the theme "Human centred future society". Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the G20 summit in Osaka. Apart from participating at the summit, PM will also have bilateral meetings. Saudi Arabia will host the annual G20 leaders' summit on November 21-22, 2020, in its capital, Riyadh. In 2018, the G20 summit was held in Buenos Aries, Argentina.

Note: About G20: The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. The G20 Summit is formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”. In November 2008, the inaugural G20 Summit was held in Washington, D.C. The members of G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America. Collectively, the G20 economies account for nearly 90% of the gross world product, 80% of world trade, two-thirds of the world population, and approximately half of the world land area.

2. NASA's First Astrobee Robot Bumble Starts Flying in Space: NASA's First Astrobee Robot Bumble Starts Flying in Space. NASA has revealed it's first cube-shaped 'Astrobee' robot, called Bumble, flew under its own power in space for the first time on June 14. Astrobee is a free-flying robot system designed to help astronauts reduce time spent on routine duties. The system comprises two more robots 'Honey' and 'Queen', software and a docking station used for recharging. Astrobee robots can move in any direction and turn on any axis in space.

Note: NASA Headquarter: Washington, D.C., United States, Founded: 29 July 1958, Administrator of NASA: Jim Bridenstine.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Pankaj Advani clinches men's Asian Snooker Championship: Pankaj Advani has clinched the 35th men's Asian Snooker Championship in Doha to complete a career grand slam in cue sports.

He defeated Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon 6-3 in the final to become the only one to win the Asian and World championships in all formats. He conquered the ACBS Asian Snooker events - 6-red (short format) and 15-red (long format) - along with the IBSF World Championships in both formats too.

2. IOC lifts sanctions imposed on India to host international sporting events: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted the sanctions imposed on India to host international sporting events. The sanctions were imposed on India when Pakistani shooters were not issued visas for the World Cup held in Delhi in February 2019.

DEFENCE

1. ‘Operation Bandar' was IAF's code name for Balakot airstrike: According to the senior defence sources, in order to maintain secrecy and ensure that the plans don't leak out, the Balakot operations were given the codename “Operation Bandar”. On February 26, 12 Mirages having taken off from multiple air bases crossed over into the Pakistani air space and carried out missile attacks on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot town of Khyber Pakhtunwa province. The attacks carried out by the Indian Air Force, pilots had dropped five Spice 2000 bombs.

2. Indian Navy launches Operation Sankalp in the Gulf of Oman: Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to reassure Indian flagged vessels transiting through the area following the recent maritime incidents in the region. INS Chennai and INS Sunayna have been deployed in the region to undertake maritime security operations. In addition, aerial surveillance in the area is also being done by IN aircraft. The operation has been launched in the wake of escalating tension in the Gulf of Oman, where two oil tankers were attacked last week. The incident has since heightened tensions between Tehran and Note: Washington.

Note: Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is the present Chief of the Naval Staff.