Daily GK Updates - 10th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Uttarakhand flags off first Heli Services under UDAN: Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme “Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)” of Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has operationalized the first ever helicopter services in the state of Uttarakhand. The helicopter service has been operationalized by MoCA from Dehradun’s Sahastradhara helipad to Gauchar, and Chinyalisaur. The launch of heli routes in the Uttrakhand region aims to enhance the aerial connectivity of the hilly areas in the country.

Under the UDAN 2 bidding process, Heritage Aviation has been given the responsibility of operating the Sahastradhara-Gauchar-Chinyalisaur route. The Uttrakhand Government is also providing incentives to make the scheme more attractive. The inauguration of the helicopter services is expected to boost tourism sector in the Uttrakhand region. Present operationalised heli routes under the UDAN scheme are between Chandigarh to Shimla, Shimla to Dharamshala & Shimla to Kullu.

Note: Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.

2. Hunar Haat inaugurated in Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Governor of Madhya Pradesh Lalji Tandon has inaugurated Hunar Haat in Indore. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was also present on this occasion. Hunar Haat is being organized till 16th February 2020. Governor stated that India is a country of diversity with every region having different art, culture, language, costumes.

The Hunar Haat has proved to be Mega Mission of economic empowerment of needy master artisans & craftsmen. Hunar Haat is an exhibition of handicrafts and traditional products made by artisans from the Minority communities. The Hunar Haat is organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

3. Uttar Pradesh Govt to launch internship scheme for school college students: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has announced an internship scheme for the tenth, 12th and graduate students of the state to brighten employment prospects. Addressing a job fair organized by the Department of Labour and Employment Exchange in Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath stated that the state government will bring the internship scheme this year itself. Under the scheme, these students will be linked to various technical institutes and industries. During the internship of a period of six months or a year, each participating youth will be given 2500 rupees as honorarium every month. Out of this, rupees 1500 will be given by the Central Government and 1000 rupees by the State Government.

Note: Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anandiben Patel

4. NCL establishes R&D centre ‘SARAS’ for sustainable coal mining: The Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) has established a research and development centre, named ‘Science and Applied Research Alliance and Support (SARAS)’. This research and development centre focuses on the sustainable model for development in coal mining. The R&D centre will be the centre of excellence, infrastructure up-gradation and IT initiatives for the subsidiary of the Coal India Ltd.

Note: Chairman and Managing Director of the NCL: PK Sinha.

5. National Deworming Day: 10 February: The National Deworming Day is being observed on 10 February across the country. Children and adolescents in the age group of 1 to 19 years are being administered a single dose of a safe medicine Albendazole in all states and Union Territories on the occasion. The objective of the day is to deworm children and adolescents to reduce the prevalence of parasitic worms in the intestine. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiated the observation of the National Deworming Day. The first National Deworming Day in India was observed on 10 February 2015.

6. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign starts across country today: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Campaign (18-day) gets underway across the country, organised by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mooted the idea of a cultural connection between different regions. The objectives of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat include celebrating the Unity in Diversity of our nation and promoting the spirit of national integration through engagement between all states and UT.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ADB approves the funding of $2 million to combat Novel Coronavirus: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the funding of USD 2 million to combat the spread of novel coronavirus (nCoV). The funds will support the efforts to stop the outspread of novel coronavirus (nCoV) by supplementing ongoing regional technical assistance and strengthening response capacity in China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The funds will also help in boosting the supply of diagnostic and laboratory equipment for rapid testing to help in fight against the outbreak. The assistance will fund the development of recommendations for improved outbreak investigation and surveillance, including in rural areas, and the strengthening of health systems’ resilience and capacity for epidemic response.

Note: Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Manila, Philippines; President: Masatsugu Asakawa.

2. IIMB ranks 3 in the list of Top Business Schools of 2020: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has ranked 3rd in MOOCLab’s Business School Rankings 2020 for its provision, design and delivery of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). IIM Bangalore succeeds HEC Paris (France) and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (USA). The 2020 edition of the rankings has surveyed 16 business schools across the world offering courses on the three leading MOOC platforms: Coursera, edX and FutureLearn. This is the first-ever Business School rankings based on the provision of MOOCs.

3. 5th Dhaka Art Summit inaugurated in Bangladesh: The 5th edition of Dhaka Art Summit (biennial art extravaganza of Bangladesh) was inaugurated by State Minister for Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh K M Khalid. More than 500 artists, sculptors, architects and art professionals from various countries are participating in the Summit. The Summit will also featuring live events, panel discussions and puppet shows among other things.

Note: Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.

4. World Pulses Day: 10 February: World Pulses Day proclaimed on February 10 of each year since 2019. World Pulses Day is a designated United Nations global event to recognize the importance of pulses (chickpeas, dry beans, lentils, dry peas and lupins among others) as a global food.

World Pulses Day is a recognition of the decisive role that pulses can play in achieving the comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative goals and targets of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action that seeks to strengthen universal peace.

5. Astronomers discover Ultramassive Galaxy XMM-2599 from early universe: The International team of astronomers led by scientists at the University of California, United States (US) have discovered an Ultramassive monster galaxy dubbed as XMM-2599. This galaxy existed around 12 billion years ago just 1.8 billion years after the formation of the universe. The galaxy XMM-2599 was formed more than 1,000 solar masses a year in stars during the peak of the stars’ activity and was discovered by the astronomers during XMM-2599 inactive phase.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Red wins Khelo India Ice Hockey tournament: The Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre (LSRC) Red won the first Men’s section Khelo India Ice Hockey tournament 2020, by defeating Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team 3-2 in a nail-biting thriller final match. 13 teams participated in the Khelo India Ice Hockey Championship. Khelo India is an initiative taken by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to aware people about the importance of sports and fitness.

Note: Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: Kiren Rijiju.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Oscars Award 2020 winners: The 2020 Oscars Awards has announced. It’s time to honour the movies of last year (2019) and the people directors, actors, writers, editors, and many more, who created them. The 92nd chapter of Hollywood’s most prestigious annual awards shows, overseen by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences held at Dolby Theatre in Los Angles, United States.

Winners are:

Best Picture- Parasite, Kwak Sin Ae and Bong Joon Ho, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role- Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Actress in a Leading Role- Renee Zellweger, Judy

Best sound mixing- 1917

Best sound editing- Ford v Ferrari

Best supporting actress- Laura Dern for Marriage Story

Best supporting actor- Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Documentary short feature- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If you’re a Girl)

Documentary feature- American Factory

Best costume design- Jacqueline Durran, Little Women

Best production design- Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Live-action short film- The Neighbors’ Window

Best adapted screenplay- Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit

Best original screenplay- Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

Animated short film- Hair Love

Animated feature film- Toy Story 4

Best Music (Original Score) - Joker, Hildur Guonadottir

Best Short Film (Animated) - Hair Love

Best Directing Film- Parasite, Bong Joon Ho

Best Cinematography- 1917, Roger Deakins

Best Writing (Original Screenplay) - Parasite

Best Music (Original Song) - “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman

Visual Effects- 1917

Makeup and Hairstyling- Bombshell

OBITUARIES

1. American Author Roger Kahn passes away: American Author Roger Kahn passed away. He wrote at least 20 books in his lifetime. In 1989 he collaborated with Pete Rose for the Biography of legendary Boxer Jack Dempsey before Jack gets banned from the game. His best-selling book in 1972 “The Boys of Summer”.

2. Renowned thinker, writer P Parameswaran passes away in Kerala: Renowned thinker, writer and the founder-director of Bharatiya Vichara kendram P Parameswaran passed away at Ottapalam in Kerala. He was 91. Kendram P Parameswaran was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2018 and Padma Shri in 2004.