Daily GK Updates - 26th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurates National Centre for Avian Ecotoxicology: Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated the National Centre for Avian Ecotoxicology at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural Sciences (SACON) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The centre would study the movement of environmental contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and drugs through the food chain, and their harmful effects on birds.

Note: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami; Governor: Banwarilal Purohit; Capital: Chennai.

2. Textiles minister Smriti Irani launches sustainable fashion project "SU.RE": The Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani has inaugurated Project SU.RE (Sustainable Resolution). This is a joint project of CMAI (Clothing Manufacturers Association of India) & IMG Reliance (International Management Group), during Lakme Fashion Winter/Festive 2019 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Project SU.RE, which involves 16 leading retail fashion brands, reflects the thought of Mahatma Gandhi and is a step towards responsible and smart business. The aim of this initiative is to move towards sustainable fashion that contributes to a clean environment.

3. Rajasthan ranks 1st in free medicine scheme implementation: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s flagship free medicine scheme secured the top position in the country in the ranking issued by the National Health Mission (NHM). NHM mission director Manoj Jhalani has issued a letter to health department informing that Rajasthan has been ranked first amongst 16 states of the country in implementation of free medicine scheme. The NHM assessed the performance of the states on the basis of effective implementation of Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS), stock of essential drugs, value of drugs about to expire along with other such parameters, which are 10 in total. In the state, the scheme was launched on October 2, 2011.

4. SRK launches heritage postal stamp of Bandra station: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan launched heritage postal stamp of Bandra station in Mumbai, Maharashtra on the completion of 150 years of the railway station. He urged the people present at the launching event to use the postal stamps instead of online texting.

5. IIT-Delhi establishes DESMI Centre of Excellence: Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has partnered with Denmark-based firm to start DESMI Centre of Excellence on Waste-to-Wealth at IIT-Delhi. The centre will provide support for implementing the framework of pilot projects, which address waste collection and management with possible energy generation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 45th G7 Summit begins in Biarritz, France: The Group of 7 or G7 Summit has begun in Biarritz, France. It is an informal meeting between France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada as well as the European Union. These world powers, which represent 50% of the global economy, also share the values of freedom and democracy, as well as a collective ambition to deal with the world’s major issues. The theme of this year summit is ‘Fighting Inequality’. Although India is not a member of the G7 group, Mr Narendra Modiwill attend the G7 Summit as a special guest as he has been personally invited by French President Emmanuel Macron. Mr Modi will address sessions on the environment, climate, oceansand digital transformation at the G7 Summit.

Gallery of participating leaders:

Member Countries	Represented by/ Title
Canada	Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister)
France	Emmanuel Macron (President)
Germany	Angela Merkel (Chancellor)
Italy	Giuseppe Conte (Prime Minister)
Japan	Shinzo Abe (Prime Minister)
United Kingdom	Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)
United States	Donald Trump (President)
European Union	Donald Tusk (Council President)

Note: The Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, France, was chosen as the host of the G7 summit.

The heads of state of Australia – Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Chile – President Sebastian Pinera, Egypt – President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Spain – Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Rwanda – President Paul Kagame have been invited to the Outreach Session of the summit.

2. India and France partners to build the world’s first space-based ship automatic identification system: India and France have partnered to create the world’s first space-based automatic identification system (AIS) to track merchant ships on a real-time basis. K Sivan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation and Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of France’s Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales have signed an agreement to start development and production of a constellation of satellites for the ship tracking project, which will potentially revolutionize shipping.

3. 2019 Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence (CHOD) Conference to be held in Bangkok: The 2019 Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence (CHOD) Conference would be held in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme of the event is “Collaboration in a free and Open Indo–Pacific.” The conference will provide perspectives on common challenges faced by attending nations and elicit open discussions on the same. India will be represented by Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee who is on 3 days visit to Bangkok from August 26-28, 2019. The Chiefs of Defence of more than 33 countries are scheduled to attend the conference.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Alex Rins wins British Grand Prix:  Spain motorcycle racer, Alex Rins of the Team SUZUKI ECSTAR has won the MotoGP British Grand Prix 2019. He defeated Marc Marquez by 0.013 seconds. While Maverick Vinales of Spain finished with the third position. The race was held at the Silverstone racetrack, in Silverstone, England.

2. Komalika Bari becomes recurve cadet at the World Archery Youth Championships: India's Komalika Bari (17-years) has become recurve cadet world champion at the World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid, Spain. She defeated higher-ranked Sonoda Waka of Japan 7-3 in the final and earn India's second gold on the final day of the Championships. Now Komalika is India's second recurve cadet world champion (under-18) after Deepika Kumari who won the title in 2009. India also won a gold in the compound junior mixed pair event and a bronze in the compound junior men's team event. India concluded their campaign with two gold and one bronze medal in their last event.

3. India win the first Test against West Indies by a margin of 318 runs: India beat West Indies by a massive 318-run margin in the first cricket Test at North Sound in Antigua. With this win, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series. Chasing a stiff target of 419 runs, West Indies were all out for just 100 (in 26.5 overs) in their second innings on the fourth day. Earlier, India declared their second innings at 343 for seven, setting the West Indies a 419-run target to win the Test.

BANKING & FINANCE

1. CVC sets up 4-member Advisory Board for Banking Frauds: The Central Vigilance Commission has constituted a 4-member Advisory Board for Banking Frauds. The ABBF will be headed by former Vigilance Commissioner T.M. Bhasin. The panel will function as the 1st level of examination of all large fraud cases. Lenders will refer all large fraud cases above Rs 50 crore to the board and on receipt of its recommendation or advice, the bank concerned would take further action in such matters. The other members of the panel are Madhusudan Prasad, former Urban Development Secretary; D.K. Pathak, former Director General of the Border Security Force; and Suresh N Patel, former MD and CEO of Andhra Bank. The panel was previously called the Advisory Board on Bank, Commercial and Financial Frauds.

Note: Central Vigilance Commissioner: Sharad Kumar.