Daily GK Updates - 7th April, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. “Lifeline UDAN” initiative launched by Ministry of Civil Aviation: “Lifeline UDAN” is an initiative which has been launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to help India fight against COVID-19. Under this initiative, 132 cargo flights have been operated so far across the country to transport medical cargo including remote and hilly areas. Medical supplies of more than 184 tons have been delivered till date during lockdown period with the support of Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private airlines.

Note: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation: Hardeep Singh Puri.

2. Britannia Industries partners with Dunzo to deliver essential items: An online delivery platform, Dunzo has tied up with packaged foods company Britannia Industries to deliver range of products to its customers. Britannia Essentials store have been launched by Britannia Industries that will be available to Dunzo app users. The batch of essential products produced by Britannia Industries will be available at Britannia’s distribution centers and will be sourced by Dunzo from distribution centers to ensure proper handling of goods as well as the availability of these products to the people.

Note: Chairman of Britannia Industries: Nusli N Wadia; Managing Director of Britannia Industries: Varun Berry.

3. NHAI achieves highest ever Construction of National Highways: NHAI has accomplished highest ever construction of 3,979 km of national highways in the financial Year 2019-20. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has envisaged an ambitious highway development programme ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’ which includes development of about 65,000 km national highways. National Highways Authority of India is an autonomous agency of the Government of India, set up in 1988.

4. CSIR-CFTRI to provide testing equipment for COVID-19 detection: Mysuru-based CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) has joined hands with the district administration by providing equipment needed for testing of samples. CSIR-CFTRI is providing two PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) machines, 1 RNA extraction unit and two skilled people along with necessary chemicals to the district administration for coping with the large number of samples to be tested in the district.

5. JNCASR develops versatile coating to stop spread of viruses: An antimicrobial coating has been developed by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore. It has shown excellent results in tackling the spread of deadly influenza virus, the root cause of severe respiratory infections, by inactivating large loads of influenza virus. The proven efficiency of the coating in 100% destruction of influenza virus (an enveloped virus) shows that the coating may be effective in destroying COVID 19.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NASA unveils plan for “Artemis” base camp on the moon by 2024: NASA has unveiled its plans to setup the first human base camp “Artemis” on Moon’s south pole by year 2024. The space agency is working on the Artemis program that aims to land humans on the moon by 2024. It has also submitted a 13-page report to the National Space Council. As per the report, the base camp will demonstrate the US’s continued leadership in space as well as help them prepare to undertake humanity’s first mission to Mars.

Note: The administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Jim Bridenstine; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.

2. International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda: 7 April: International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda is being observed globally on 7 April every year. The day was announced by the United General Assembly in 2003. Through the day, UNESCO aims to educate the world population regarding genocides and the consequences of the crime.

Note: UNESCO formation: 4 November 1946; UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Director-General: Audrey Azoulay.

3. World Health Day: 7 April: The World Health Day is a global health awareness day which is being celebrated on 7th of April every year. On this day, governmental as well as non-governmental health organizations organize events that aim to promote healthier habits of living. The theme of World Health Day 2020 is “Support Nurses And Midwives”. The WHO has named the year 2020 as the ‘International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife’.

Note: The World Health Day also marks the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7 April 1948.

President of the World Health Organisation: Tedros Adhanom Trending; Headquarters of WHO: Geneva, Switzerland; WHO founded: 7 April 1948.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. IWF Bans Thailand, Malaysia From Weightlifting Event At Tokyo Olympics: The Independent Member Federation Sanctions Panel (IMFSP) of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has imposed disciplinary sanctions on Thailand and Malaysia. And so both the countries has been banned from participating in weightlifting events at the Tokyo Olympics. Apart from this, IMFSP has also suspended the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) for three years, while the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) has been given a one-year ban. This ban will be effective from 1 April 2020. Due to the doping violations, the membership status of Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) has been suspended for 3 years till 1 April 2023 while Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) is suspended for a period 12 months till 1 April 2021.

Note: The Tokyo Olympics 2020 will commence from July 23 to August 8 in 2021 while the Paralympics Games will be held from August 24 to September 5, 2021.

Capital of Thailand: Bangkok; Currency: Thai baht; Prime Minister: Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Capital of Malaysia: ‎Kuala Lumpur; Currency: Malaysian Ringgit; Prime Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. PNB Housing Finance signs agreement with JICA to raise $75 million: Punjab National Bank Housing Finance has signed a pact with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to raise 75 million dollars (about ₹568 crore) to finance mortgage loans in the affordable housing segment. The Citibank will be co-financing 25 million dollars in order to finance the mortgage loans in the affordable housing segment. The tie-up also states first debt funding ever done by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the housing finance sector in India. This will be JICA's first debt funding in the housing finance sector in India.

Note: Managing Director of PNB Housing Finance: Sanjaya Gupta.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Supreme Court Extends Tenure of Justice Shiva Kirti Singh as TDSAT Chairman by 3 Months: The Supreme Court of India has extended the tenure of current Chairperson of Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, by three more months. This decision has been taken by a bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justices Sanjay K. Kaul & Deepak Gupta on 7 April 2020. The 3 years term of Justice Shiva Kirti Singh (former Supreme Court judge) as TDSAT Chairperson was coming to an end on April 20, 2020. He had assumed the office on April 21, 2017. The Supreme Court bench has also directed the union government to expedite the process of appointment for TDSAT members.

Note: TDSAT was established to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals to protect the interests of service providers and consumers and to promote growth of the telecom sector.

2. Infosys COO, U.B. Pravin Rao Appointed Chairman of Nasscom for FY’21: The IT services industry body Nasscom (National Association of Software and Services Companies) has appointed UB Pravin Rao, as the new Chairman of the company for the current financial year 2020-21. UB Pravin Rao is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Infosys. He will succeed Keshav Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS Global Services. Besides this, Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture India, Rekha M Menon, has been appointed as the Vice-Chairperson for the industry body for this fiscal. The newly appointed leadership, along with President Debjani Ghosh, will help the industry body achieve its 2025 vision for the industry.

Note: NASSCOM Headquarters: New Delhi; NASSCOM Founded: 1 March 1988.

OBITUARIES

1. American actor Forrest Compton passes away: Veteran American actor Forrest Compton, who was popular for playing the role of district attorney Mike Karr in the long-running soap opera “The Edge of Night”, passed away due to COVID-19 complications. He has served in France with the 103rd Infantry Division during the World War II and then started learning acting at the Yale Drama School alongside cinema legend Paul Newman. His other popular works includes “One Lie to Live”, “As the World Turns” and “All My Children”.

2. Malayalam music composer Arjunan Master passes away: Veteran Malayalam music composer MK Arjunan, popularly known as Arjunan Master, passed away. He was 84. He scored music for more than 300 plays and 200 movies in his long and highly successful career. He was awarded the Kerala State Film Award in 2017 for his work in director Jayaraj’s Bhayanakam.

3. Former Libya Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril Passes Away: Former Libya Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril who was the former head of the Libyan rebel government that ousted the long term ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, passed away due to COVID-19. He was 68. Jibril served as the interim Prime Minister of Libya for seven and a half months during the Libyan Civil War, from 5 March to 23 October 2011. Before joining the revolution in 2011, Jibril served the Gaddafi government as an economic advisor in its final years and later led the rebel National Transitional Council, the interim government that toppled and killed Muammar Gaddafi.

Note: Capital of Libya: Tripoli; Currency: Libyan dinar; Prime Minister of Libya: Fayez al-Sarraj.

4. Former New Zealand cricketer Jock Edwards passes away: The former New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Jock Edwards (64 years) passed away. The right-hand batsman, Edwards played eight Test matches and six One Day Internationals (ODIs) for the Kiwi team. His last Test as well as ODI match was against India in the year 1981 each. He was also a member of the Nelson side that held on to the Hawke Cup for 14 matches between February 1979 and February 1983. In his international career, Jock scored 377 runs in Tests and 138 runs in ODIs which he played against Australia, England and India.