Daily GK Updates - 28th August, 2019

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt Launched mobile app “Janaushadhi Sugam”: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers launched a mobile application “Janaushadhi Sugam”. This app will enable people to search for Janaushadhi generic medicines and the stores at the tip of their fingers. “Janaushadhi Sugam” mobile application would have user-friendly options like- to locate nearby Janaushadhikendra, direction guidance for the location of the Janaushadhikendra through Google Map, search Janaushadhi generic medicines, analyse product comparison of Generic vs Branded medicine in form of MRP & overall Savings, etc. The mobile application is available on both Android & iOS platforms.

Note: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers: D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

2. Lt. Governor launches 'QR Code Scheme' on Himmat Plus app: Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal launched a 'QR Code Scheme' on the Himmat Plus app in Delhi. This mobile app launched by the Delhi Police to ensure the safety of women. This added feature is to ensure that only genuine and verified drivers ferry passenger to their destinations from airports and railway and metro stations. The aim of the scheme is to enhance the safety and security of women and other commuters travelling in the yellow or black taxis or auto-rickshaws from railway stations, airport and metro stations.

Note: Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal.

3. Tamil Nadu Govt launches education TV channel for school students: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has launched its exclusive education TV channel named ‘Kalvi Tholaikkatchi’. The channel will telecast various programmes, including rhymes songs, video lessons and coaching classes. It is an initiative of the School Education Department aimed at benefiting students of classes I to XII. ‘Kalvi Tholaikkatchi’ will telecast programmes from 6 am to 9.30 pm every day. Soon, cable connections will be installed at primary and middle schools as well for its full coverage.

Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Governor: Banwarilal Purohit.

4. IIP sets up a plant to turn plastic waste into diesel: Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Union Minister for Science and Technology) and Trivendra Singh Rawat (Chief Minister of Uttarakhand) have jointly inaugurated a waste-plastic to diesel plant in Dehradun. The plant has been set up in Indian Institute of Petroleum whose scientists will process waste plastics into fuel. It has the capacity to produce 800-litre diesel from one tonne of plastic. It has been set up at a time various country are working towards a plastic-free world.

5. Over 2 lakh bio-toilets installed in 60,906 train coaches of Indian Railways: According to Railway ministry, over 2 lakh bio-toilets have been installed in 60,906 train coaches of Indian Railways. The 'Bio-Toilet project' of Indian Railways is an innovative and indigenous development of technology. The Bio-toilet project is aligned with Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The technology for Bio-toilets have been innovated, designed and is 'Made in India'. It has been developed jointly by Indian Railways' Engineers & DRDO's scientists.

Note: The bio-toilet system utilizes anaerobic bacteria which consume the waste material and convert it into water and gas.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. G7 to finance fire-fighting aircraft for Amazon: G7 has agreed to spend 22 million US Dollars to tackle the huge forest fires engulfing the world's biggest Amazon rain forest. This was stated by Presidents of France and Chile at the G7 summitin the French town of Biarritz. The G7 group comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, has also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September. The initiative was announced after G7 leaders held talks on the environment, which focused on the fires destroying chunks of the Amazon rain forests. Nearly 80,000 forest fires have been detected in Brazil since the beginning of the year a little over half in the Amazon region.

2. Lionel Aingimea elected President of Nauru: Nauru's Parliament chose Lionel Aingimea as president, three days after elections in the tiny Pacific island nation. Aingimea won the presidency 12-6 over rival David Adeang, the Nauru government information office reports. Aingimea, a lawyer trained in Australia, previously worked with the Regional Rights Resource Team, a nongovernmental organization. However, Aingimea subsequently worked in the Waqa administration, first as a senior public servant — then as an assistant minister for justice and border control.

Nauru Capital: Yaren; Nauru Currency: Australian Dollar.

3. Johnson & Johnson asked to pay $572 mn for Opioid addiction crisis: Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $572 million for Opioid addiction crisis in the US. Oklahoma court has accused J&J of its role in fostering the state’s opioid addiction crisis. The money will be used to provide care for addicts, families and communities ravaged by the crisis.

4. Taylor Swift tops Forbes’ list of world’s highest-paid women in music: Forbes has released the list of top 10 highest-paid women in music. Singer Taylor Swift has topped the list with an earning of $185 million. Other in the list are: (2) Beyoncé – Earnings: $81 million ; (3) Rihanna – Earnings: $62 million ; (4) Katy Perry – Earnings: $57.5 million ; (5) P!nk- Earnings: $57 million.

5. Nepal, India launch Kathmandu-Siliguri bus service: A bus service between Nepal's capital Kathmandu and India's Siliguri in West Bengal has started. Nepal's Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Raghubir Mahaseth and Indian Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri flagged off the bus from Kathmandu. The 44-seater air-conditioned deluxe bus will complete 650 Kilometre-journey between Kathmandu and Siliguri in 18 hours. The bus will leave Kathmandu daily at 3 P.M. and reach Siliguri via Kakarvitta-Panitanki border next day at around 9 A.M. The bus fare is 2,000 Nepali Rupees and tickets would be available on-line.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. West Indies fast bowler Cecil Wright retires at 85: West Indies pacer Cecil Wright has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the ripe old age of 85. Wright made his first-class debut for Jamaica against a Barbados side which had legends Wes Hall and Sir Garfield Sobers. The 85-year-old claims to have played over two million games taking over 7,000 wickets in professional cricket. Wright’s longest purple patch span five seasons as he ended up taking as many as 538 wickets in five seasons.

2. Indian team won four medals in Worldskills Kazan competition in Russia: Indian team created history by winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the world's biggest international vocational skill competition, 45th WorldSkills Kazan 2019, Russia. S Aswatha Narayana won the gold medal in water technology, Pranav Nutalapati won a silver medal in web technologies, Sanjoy Pramanik and Shweta Ratanpura won one bronze medal each in Jewellery and graphic design technology.

Note: President of Russia: Vladimir Putin; Capital of Russia: Moscow; Currency: Russian ruble.

PM of Russia: Dmitry Medvedev.

3. Sumit Nagal becomes first Indian to win a set against Roger Federer: Indian tennis player, Sumit Nagal faced Roger Federer during the ongoing US Open. Though Sumit lost the match 6-4, 1-6,2-6,4-6 against Federer, he became the first Indian player to win a set against Federer. He also became only the fourth player to take the opening set against Federer at the US Open. Nagal had qualified for the US Open main draw. Nagal had become the youngest Indian in 25 years to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam as he had defeated Brazil’s Jaao Menezes 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. He had earlier won the Wimbledon Boys' doubles title in 2015.

4. Kiren Rijiju meets world champion PV Sindhu, rewards her with 10 lakh rupees: Minister Kiren Rijiju presented 10 lakh rupees cheque to Badminton star P.V. Sindhu for her historic triumph at the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland. Sindhu had defeated Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in a lop-sided World Championships final on Sunday. The Minister also extended his congratulations to Sai Praneeth besides rewarding him with a cheque of four lakh rupees for winning a bronze medal at the Championships. 

5. App launched to help Paralympians in Tokyo: A mobile app was launched to help para-athletes to look up accessible places in Tokyo during their visit to the city for the 2020 Paralympics Games. The application ”IndTokyo" which was launched by Arhan Bagati, Awareness and Impact Ambassador of Paralympic Committee of India, at the 'Countdown to Tokyo 2020'.

Note: President of Paralympic Committee of India: Gursharan Singh.

BANKING & FINANCE

1. Canara Bank introduced OTP facility for ATM withdrawal: Public sector Bank, Canara Bank has launched India’s first OTP facility for ATM withdrawals. This additional factor of authentication protects from unauthorized ATM cash withdrawals for cardholders. Now Canara Bank ATMs get safer and more secured with OTP facility on cash withdrawals above ₹10,000 in a day.

Note: Canara Bank Chairman: Shri. T.N. Manoharan, Headquarters: Bangalore; MD & CEO: R A Sankara Narayanan.

2. Indian Bank opens MSME Centralised Processing Centre: Indian Bank has opened MSME CPC (centralised processing centre) in Chennai. The centralised processing centre will give a boost to the bank's MSME portfolio and will lead to speedy disposal of micro, small and medium enterprises’ loans. The bank has also deployed skilled manpower in the CPC to improve credit quality and shorten transaction processing time.

Note: MD and CEO of Indian Bank: Padmaja Chunduru.

3. Paytm appoints Amit Nayyar as president of FSB: Digital payments company Paytm has appointed ex-Goldman executive Amit Nayyar as president in the financial services business of the company. Nayyar will be responsible for all the financial services business like lending, insurance, wealth management, stockbroking at the company. He will report directly to Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Note: Paytm Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma; Parent Organization: One97 Communications.

4. HDFC Bank, MasterCard launch Millennia cards aimed at ‘Young India’: HDFC Bank, MasterCard have launched Millennia Cards. This is India’s first range of cards catering exclusively to the lifestyles and aspirations of the millennials. The cards are in four variants including both debit and credit card. Millennials were those born between 1982 and 2000 and represents the demographic of the first generation of people reaching adulthood in the early 21st century.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Indian documentary 'I'm Jeeja' wins award at We Care Film Festival: Indian documentary film "I'm Jeeja" has won the award at the 14th edition of the 'We Care Film Festival on Disability Issues'. "I'm Jeeja" has won the award in the 'Under 30 minute' category. The documentary directed by Swati Chakraborty attempts to explore the lives and battles of people living with the disability. Another Indian film "Post Dark" received a jury mention in 'Under 5 minutes' category.

2. Eric Cantona to be honoured with UEFA President's Award: Former Manchester United forward player Eric Cantona will be honoured with the 2019 UEFA President’s Award. The award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities of the player. He will receive the award in Monaco during the Champion’s League group stage draw. Cantona won four Premier League titles in five years with United in the 1990s and scored 64 goals for the Old Trafford club in 143 appearances.

Note: The UEFA President's Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities. The accolade is usually awarded annually to a football personality who is deemed to have advanced the game's development and success.

3. ONGC's CMD honoured with Distinguished Fellowship of IOD, 2019: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Shashi Shanker was honoured with the Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors (IOD) 2019. He was honoured during the 29th Institute of Directors (IOD) Annual Day Ceremony. The prestigious Fellowship honour was conferred to Shanker in appreciation of his distinguished contribution to business and society. The theme of this year's IOD Annual Day Ceremony was 'Future Boards: Leading Strategy to Embrace Sustainability'.

Note: Headquarters of ONGC: New Delhi. Established: 14 August 1956

DEFENCE

1. Astra Rafael Communication System inaugurated in Hyderabad: An Indo-Israel joint venture's "Astra Rafael Communication System" was inaugurated in Hyderabad. The system will design, develop and manufacture tactical communication systems for Indian armed forces. The Joint Venture between Astra Microwave and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has become India’s first private sector firm to manufacture cutting-edge software-defined radios in multiple variants.

2. IAF’s Shalija Dhami becomes a first female flight commander: Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Shalija Dhami has become the first female officer in the country to become Flight Commander of a flying unit. Dhami took over as Flight Commander of a Chetak helicopter unit at Hindon airbase. Flight Commander is the second in command of the unit after the commanding officer.

Note: Chief of the Indian Air Force: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.

OBITUARIES

1. Naval war hero Commander Noel Kelman passes away: Goa Naval war hero and Kirti Chakra awardee, Commander Noel Kelman (92-years) passed away in Porvorim, Goa. Kelman was a founder member of the Goa branch of the All India Anglo Indian Association. He was involved in an operation to flush out the Portuguese from the Anjadip Island. Commander Kelman was honoured with the Kirti Chakra for his bravery during the Indian Navy's conquest of Anjadip Island of the coast of Goa in 1961.