Daily GK Updates - 7th September, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ISRO loses contact with Moon lander "Vikram":  Indian Space Research Organisation has announced that it lost contact with the Moon lander "Vikram" which was scheduled to land on the moon between 1.30 a.m. and 2.30 a.m. (IST). Further the roll out of the rover "Pragyan" was scheduled between 5.30 a.m and 6.30 a.m. Lander "Vikram" started its descent at about 1.38 a.m. from an altitude of 30 km at a velocity of 1,680 metres per second, but lost its communication with the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter when it was at an altitude of 2.1 Km from Moon's surface. According to ISRO, the performance of the lander was as per the plan till it was 2.1 km from the moon surface. Although, the 2,379 kg Chandrayaan-2 orbiter continues to fly around the moon. Its mission life is of one year.

Note: ISRO launched the Chandrayaan-2 (on July 22, 2019) into the space from India's heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III). The Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft comprised three segments: the Orbiter, lander 'Vikram' and rover 'Pragyan'.

2. UNESCO ties up with Rajasthan to promote state's intangible cultural heritage: UNESCO and Rajasthan government joined hands to promote music, art and craft forms, and other intangible cultural heritage of the state to spur socio-economic growth of several artist communities. It is a partnership agreement to promote community-based responsible tourism based on the rich intangible cultural heritage of Rajasthan. The project will be implemented in Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts.

Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra; Capital: Jaipur.

3. Country's first 'Fun Zone' for children at Visakhapatnam railway station: In a first of its kind in the Indian Railways, a paid gaming zone has been provided at Visakhapatnam railway station (platform number-1) in Andhra Pradesh. The gaming zone (400sft area) is for bonafide passengers/rail users who can utilize this facility with a payment of Rs 50 per game during their visit to the railway station. The fun zone consists of modern gaming facilities such as virtual-real games (car racing, gun fighting etc), hit the mouse, Doraemon, Doreamanfriend, musical play, basketball and air hockey. It is an innovative initiative by the Waltair division of East Coast Railway (ECoR) under non-fare revenue for entertaining waiting passengers/kids.

4. Vice president releases a book titled ‘Glorious Diaspora - Pride of India': A Coffee Table Book titled ‘Glorious Diaspora- Pride of India’ on Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardees was released by Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. The book contains the brief profiles of recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA) from 2003 to 2019. It has been brought out by Indian Diaspora Club. It includes an inspiring profile of Distinguished Overseas Indians who have made their indelible mark in various fields.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue begins in New Delhi: The 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) has begun in New Delhi. The three-day dialogue will comprise of round table meetings of joint working groups on infrastructure, energy, high-tech, resource conservation, pharmaceuticals and policy coordination. The Indian side will be led by Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar and the Chinese side by Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC). The SED was set up between the erstwhile Planning Commission and National Development and Reform Commission of China during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to India in December 2010. It has served as an effective mechanism for enhancing bilateral practical cooperation.

2. 4th Indian Ocean Conference 2019 held in Male: 4th Indian Ocean Conference 2019 was recently held in Male, Maldives. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was one of the speakers at the Indian Ocean Conference 2019 event. The theme for 4th Indian Ocean Conference 2019 was: ‘Securing the Indian Ocean Region: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges’. This edition of the conference will provide yet another opportunity for stakeholders of the Indian Ocean Region to deliberate on building an institutional framework for managing the threats to regional peace and human security.

Note: Capital of Maldives: Males; Currency of the Maldives: Maldivian Rufiyaa.

3. Piyush Goyal to Attend 7th RCEP Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok: The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal is scheduled to visit Bangkok, Thailand from September 8-10, 2019 to attend the following meetings: 7th RCEP Ministerial Meeting; 16th ASEAN India Economic Ministers (AEM); 7th East Asia Economic Ministers Summit. The Economic Ministers and senior leaders of the 10 ASEAN member countries and 8 East Asia Summit (EAS) countries will attend the meetings.

4. Dharmendra Pradhan Visits UAE to Attend 8th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER): The Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan is leading the Indian delegation to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar from 7-12 September 2019. He will also co-host the 8th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER) at Abu Dhabi on 10 September along with UAE. The 9th edition of Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable will take place in India in 2021.

5. B Bala Bhaskar appointed as next Indian Ambassador to Norway: Senior diplomat B Bala Bhaskar was appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to Norway. He will replace Krishan Kumar, who has been heading the Indian mission in Norway since July 2018. Formerly he served as a Joint Secretary of the WANA division of the MEA that deals with all the matters relating to India's trade with WANA region comprising 19 countries.

Note: Prime Minister of Norway: Erna Solberg; Capital: Oslo; Currency: Norwegian krone.

6. Indo-Lanka Joint Naval Exercise SLINEX 2019: The week-long annual Joint Indo-Lanka maritime fleet exercise - SLINEX 2019 has been started. Sri Lankan Navy has sent two ships to India to participate in the exercise with the Indian Navy. The offshore patrol vessels, SLNS Sindurala and Suranimala left Trincomalee on are scheduled to arrive at the port of Visakhapatnam. The week-long exercise will be attended by 323 Sri Lankan navy personnel including the commanding flag officer of the naval fleet.

7. India Pavilion inaugurated at 44th Toronto International Film Festival: The High Commissioner of India to Canada Vikas Swarup has inaugurated the India Pavilion at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival 2019. The inauguration of India Pavilion at TIFF will provide a platform to showcase Indian Cinema in the overseas market and facilitate new business opportunities. Indian movies have created a new benchmark in film making globally. TIFF also provides the ideal platform for the global outreach of the 50th International Film Festival of India 2019.

OTHER UPDATES:

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. “Oscars of science” awarded to Event Horizon Telescope Team: The Event Horizon Telescope Team consisting of 347 scientists who produced the world’s first image of a black hole were felicitated with breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. The prize is known as the “Oscars of science”, with prize money $3 million. The team had published the image of black hole circled by a flame-orange halo of white-hot plasma on the Messier 87 (M87) galaxy on April 10, 2019.

OBITUARIES

1. Pakistan’s master leg-spinner Abdul Qadir passes away: Pakistan’s master leg-spinner Abdul Qadir passed Away. Qadir, who played in 67 Tests and 104 ODIs had a total 368 wickets in his international career. He was worked as chief selector in 2009 and it was the squad that was selected by him that went on to win the ICC World T20 in England.