Daily GK Updates - 4th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM chaired the 30th PRAGATI interaction: Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed the 30th PRAGATI platform interaction in New Delhi. PRAGATI is the Information and communications technology (ICT) - based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. In the second term of the NDA govrenment, this is the first PRAGATI interaction. In the session, PM reviewed the progress in the resolution of grievances under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Modi urged the officers in charge to achieve the government's objective of providing Housing for All by 2022. He also suggested improvements under the Ayushmann Bharat Scheme. 

2. Indian Army employs E cars to its Delhi officials: The Indian Army has launched an ecological initiative by employing electric cars (E-cars) for the use of Government officials in Delhi. E-cars initiative was launched by the Army in partnership with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EECL) under the Ministry of Power.  The move comes as a solution to the worsening state of air in the capital city. Air pollution has been a major challenge in Delhi, with it crossing the danger mark often.

3. ICMR introduces 2 new TB vaccines: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched a trial for two new TB vaccines. This is India’s first large-scale trial. This is a large preventive TB vaccine trial. The initiative involves more than 12,000 healthy household contacts of newly diagnosed TB patients from across six states of India are set to be enrolled. Two thousand participants from each of the six states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Karnataka will enroll over the next seven to eight months. Also, seven main centres will have six sub-sites, where these trials will be conducted. The two new TB vaccines that are introduced by ICMR are: Immuvac manufactured by Cadila Pharmaceuticals and VPM 1002 manufactured by Institute of India, Pune. The medicines are to be tested with three testing phases. Based on the results the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will decide and set the price of the vaccines.

4. Mohapatra takes charge as DG of India Meteorological Department: Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, 54, took charge as the Director General (DG) of India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi. He was appointed as DG by the Ministry of Personnel. He will replace K.J. Ramesh, who headed the weather department for over three years. IMD is to request the government to bring new technology for the weather forecasting and provide accurate information of weather.

Note: India Meteorological Department Formed on: 1875; Headquarters: New Delhi; Functions under: Ministry of Earth Sciences; Minister responsible: Dr. Harsh Vardhan

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US officially withdraw from INF treaty: The US has officially withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) treaty with Russia. The withdrawal has ended a Cold war-era missile treaty with Russia. This could start an arms race between the US and Russia, the world’s top two nuclear powers. During the Obama administration in 2014, Russia was accused of violating the agreement by testing a cruise missile in direct violation of the accord. In turn, Russia also said that the US has violated the agreement too. The US has denied the accusation.

Note: Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF): INF treaty is a Nuclear disarmament type of agreement. It was signed on December 1987 in Washington D.C. The agreement was signed by the U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet General Secretary with an unlimited duration. The agreement prohibits both the countries from fielding ground-launched cruise missiles that could fly between 310 and 3,400 miles. The treaty has been extremely successful in the destruction of a total of 2,692 missiles.

2. Nigeria becomes the fourth African nation to join a global coalition to protect pollinators: Nigeria became the fourth African country to join the Global Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators. Ethiopia was the first African nation to be part of this global coalition in 2017. Burundi was the second African country to join this global group. Other non-African nations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Ireland and Mexico had joined the global group last year.

Note: Pollinator: A pollinator is an animal that causes plants to make fruit or seeds. They do this by moving pollen from one part of the flower of a plant to another part. They are biotic (Bees, hummingbirds, flies etc.) as well as an abiotic like water, air etc.

Global coalition to protect pollinators: The coalition now has 28 signatories including 17 European countries, five from Latin America and the Caribbean and four from Africa. They follow up on the findings of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Assessment on Pollinators. The protecting pollinators will be important for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) too.

3. Canada to create a protected marine area in Arctic region: Canada government plans to create a protected marine area in the country's Arctic region. The move is after a severe climate change that took effect three times faster than global average weather. Multiple species in the coast of Baffin Island, in Canada's northeastern Arctic archipelago are threatened by the Glacial melting and maritime traffic. The move aims to protect marine area in arctic regions and protect the populations of belugas, narwhals, walruses, seals, polar bears and thousands of other species who depend on year-round sea ice to survive. These species are now migrating, or in some cases, disappearing, In order to save various species the areas are to be planned in well protecting manner. The establishment of protected marine area would help the Canadian government to achieve its goal to protect 10% of marine and coastal regions by 2020. 

4. North Korea confirms another test of rocket launcher system: North Korea tested another multiple rocket launcher system. The country could potentially enhance the country's ability to strike targets in South Korea and US military bases. The report by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency after South Korea's military detected North Korea firing projectiles twice into the sea off its eastern coast in its third round of weapons tests in just over a week.
Note: North Korea Capital: Pyongyang, Currency: North Korean won

5. MacKenzie Bezosis now the world’s third richest woman: Bloomberg report said that MacKenzie Bezos is now the world’s third-richest woman. MacKenzie is now the ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.  Also, Forbes billionaire list said that after the divorce, she has become the second-largest individual shareholder of Amazon and the third wealthiest woman in the world. Jeff Bezos transferred around 19.7 million Amazon shares to MacKenzie Bezos during the divorce. This has brought Jeff Bezos' ownership stake in the company from 16% down to 12%. Jeff Bezos still remains the richest person on the planet. According to Forbes Real-Time Rankings, Jeff Bezos is worth $117.8 billion. Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, found wealthier than the second-richest person.

6. Friendship day: 4 August: Friendship Day is observed on the first Sunday of August every year across the world. In 2019, Friendship Day falls on August 4. Friendship Day is a day to celebrate the special relationship between friends and cherish the lovely memories.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI fines Oriental Bank Rs 1.5 cr for delay in reporting KFA fraud: Oriental Bank of Commerce said that RBI has imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 crore on it for delay in reporting fraud in the Kingfisher Airlines account. This is to inform that the RBl in exercise of powers conferred under various sections of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has imposed an aggregate penalty of Rs 1.5 crore on the bank for failure to classify and report the account of Kingfisher Airlines Limited as fraud, the state-owned lender said in a regulatory filing.

Note: Oriental Bank of Commerce Headquarters: Gurugram; CEO: Mukesh Kumar Jain

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Mindtree appoints Cognizants Debashis Chatterjee as new CEO: Mindtree appointed S.N. Subrahmanyan as its non-executive vice-chairman. Subrahmanyan currently serves as L&T group’s managing director and CEO. Chatterjee Cognizant’s global leader for digital systems and technology practice will be the first person outside Mindtree’s seven-member founding team to be appointed as the chief executive officer. He is the third person to take up the top job since the company launched 20 years ago. He is appointed till 1 August 2024.

2. Edelweiss Tokio Life partners with Mobikwik to offer miniature insurance: Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance partnered with payments platform Mobikwik to sell 'miniature' insurance plans. Sumit Rai, MD & CEO said, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance will cover Rs 1 lakh, 3 lakh and 5 lakh with a premium of Rs 148, 443 and 738 per annum. The life insurer offers pre-approved sum assured basis customer information already with MobiKwik.

Note: Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Founded: 2009, Headquarters location: Mumbai, Parent organization: Edelweiss Capital