Daily GK Updates - 14th July, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Meghalaya becomes 1st state to ensure water conservation: Meghalaya became the first state in India to ensure the conservation of water and have own water policy following a nod given by the State Cabinet. The draft policy was approved by the State Cabinet in a meeting chaired by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. It is historic for Meghalaya as the state has become the first state in the country to have a State Water Policy.

2. IFFI’s Golden Jubilee Edition to be celebrated in Goa: The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of India will be held from 20th Nov till 28th November 2019 in Panaji, Goa. President of Oscar Academy John Bailey and other eminent cinematographers and producers have been invited for the event. Russia will be IFFI partner in this edition.

3. Delhi Police reunited 333 children with their families this year under ‘Operation Milap’: Under Operation Milap this year, The Delhi Police’s crime branch has reunited 333 children with their families after they separated from their parents. Under this project, the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Delhi Police develops information, rescues the trafficked or kidnapped person and arrests the kidnapper. The ‘Operation Milap’ is carried out by the crime branch’s ‘Anti Human Trafficking Unit’ (AHTU).

4. Devika Sethi pens books titled ‘War over Words: Censorship in India, 1930-1960’: The book named “War over Words: Censorship in India, 1930-1960” has been authored by Devika Sethi. This book recovers narrates and interrogates the history of censorship of publications in India over three crucial decades – encompassing the Gandhian anti-colonial movement, the Second World War, Partition, and the early years of Independent India. Devika Sethi teaches modern Indian history at IIT-Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The book has been published by Cambridge University Press.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Russia launches space telescope Spektr-RG: Russia launched a space telescope from the cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It was a joint project with Germany. The Russian space agency, showed a Proton-M rocket carrying the Spektr-RG taking off from the launch pad. The Spektr-RG, is a space observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as the “Russian Hubble”, Spektr-R was launched in 2011 to observe black holes, neutron stars and magnetic fields. Its successor will take up similar duties.

2. Nagarkirtan: wins Best Feature Film award at SAARC film festival: Director Kaushik Ganguly’s Bengali outing Nagarkirtan, has won big at prestigious 2019’s SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) film festival, bagging 4 awards in total, including Best Feature Film.

3. India lifted 271 mn people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016: UN: India lifted 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016, recording the fastest reductions in the multidimensional poverty index values during the period. This is according to a report by the United Nations which stated there have been strong improvements in areas such as assets, cooking fuel, sanitation, and nutrition. The 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index from the UN Development Programme, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative was released recently.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. England scripts history, claims maiden ICC World Cup title 2019: England lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy 2019 at the Lord’s cricket stadium in London. England defeated New Zealand with more number of boundaries in the Super Over thriller in the grand finale of ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy 2019. Player of the tournament: Kane Williamson (New Zealand); Player of the Match Award: Ben Stokes (England); Highest run scorer of the tournament: Rohit Sharma (India); Highest wicket taker of the tournament: Mitchell Starc (Australia).

Note: The ICC Cricket World Cup is the international championship of One Day International (ODI) cricket (50-over cricket) organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) every 4 years. The 12th edition of the world’s biggest cricketing event, the ICC Men’s cricket World Cup 2019, was played in England and Wales.

2. Sreeshankar wins gold at Tatyana Kolpakova International Athletics: M. Sreeshankar has won the long jump gold at the Tatyana Kolpakova International athletics. The tournament was held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).

3. World Tour Platinum Australian Open: Indian Duo win bronze: The Indian pair of G. Sathiyan and Anthony Amalraj won bronze in Men’s Doubles at World Tour Platinum Australian Open Table Tennis 2019 held in Geelong near Melbourne in Australia.

4. Lewis Hamilton wins sixth British Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton made a thrilling victory in the Silverstone circuit to win his sixth British Grand Prix, his seventh victory in ten races in 2019 and the 80th win of his career.

5. Djokovic beats Federer to win fifth Wimbledon title: Serbian Novak Djokovic won his fifth Wimbledon title after defeating Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer. This is Djokovic’s 16th Grand Slam and 5th Wimbledon title. He is now level with Bjorn Borg as a five-time Wimbledon winner.

6. Simona Halep beats Serena Williams to win first Wimbledon title: Simona Halep won her first Wimbledon title and crushed Serena Williams’ latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam success with a devastating 56-minute display of athleticism. The Romanian won 6-2 6-2 in front of an incredulous Centre Court, running after everything the American threw at her.

7. Boxer Vijender Singh wins 11th consecutive pro bout: Boxer Vijender Singh remained an unstoppable force, clinching a Technical Knockout over Mike Snider on his debut in the US professional circuit at Newark in the US. The 33-year-old from Haryana prevailed in four rounds for his 11th consecutive victory in the circuit.

8. Vinesh Phogat wins gold at Yasar Dogu International: India wrestler Vinesh Phogat has won her second consecutive gold in 53kg, at Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul. Phogat beat her Russian opponent Ekaterina Poleshchuk in the final match to bag the gold medal.