Daily GK Updates - 8th June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. WCD Ministry sets up task force under Jaya Jaitly to examine maternal mortality rate, women’s health among others: The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has constituted a task force to examine matters related to the age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering Maternal Mortality Rate and improvement of nutritional levels. It will also check correlation of marriage age and motherhood with health, medical wellbeing and nutritional status of mother and child, during pregnancy & birth. It will suggest measure for women’s higher education. The 10 member task force will be headed by Jaya Jaitly and is tasked to submit the report by 31st July 2020. The task force will be provided secretarial assistance by the Niti Aayog.

Note: Union Minister for Women and Child Development: Smriti Zubin Irani.

2. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches “COVID BEEP” App For Coronavirus Patients: The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched COVID BEEP, India’s first indigenous, cost effective, wireless physiological parameters monitoring system for the COVID-19 affected patients. COVID BEEP stands for Continuous Oxygenation & Vital Information Detection Biomed ECIL ESIC Pod. It has been developed by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College Hyderabad in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and Department Of Atomic Energy. The COVID BEEP has incorporated NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure) monitoring, ECG (electrocardiogram) monitoring and the respiratory rate. COVID BEEP will greatly reduce the transmission risk as well as help save resources like personal protective equipment (PPEs).

3. ISRO & ARIES signs MoU for cooperation in SSA & Astrophysics: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has signed an agreement with Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) for cooperation in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Astrophysics. The main objective of the MoU is to shield the Indian Space assets from the space debris’s conjunction threats and R&D of Astrophysics, solar sciences and space environment are the base for future space exploration projects and the key to progress in the Indian Space sector. It will help in tracking, analysis, and space weather studies. The MoU will pave way for future establishment of optical telescope observational facilities.

Note: ISRO Director: K. Sivan, Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

The ARIES was established on 20th April 1954; ARIES located: Nainital, Uttarakhand.

4. ARCI develops Magnetocaloric material for cancer treatment: The scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) has developed Magnetocaloric material, a rare-earth-based material that can be effectively used for cancer treatment. In this material, the application and removal of a magnetic field causes the materials to become warmer or cooler and hence, it provides controlled heating. It will also reduce the treatment time of cancer tumours.

5. UVC-based disinfection cabinet developed by ARCI & Mekins: A UVC-based Cabinet has been co-developed by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and the MEKINS Industries. The device will disinfect non-critical hospital items, laboratory wear, and PPEs in order to prevent surface contamination of COVID 19. It will also have the capability to disinfect items that have been exhibited to customers in commercial establishments and several domestic items.

6. CSIR NCL develop indigenous nasopharyngeal swabs: CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune has developed an indigenous NP swab for collecting samples from the throat cavity of COVID-19. It is a medical device with stringent specifications of quality, polymer grade, dimensions and sterilization. It has cylindrical plastic stick with a brush-like tip of synthetic bristles/flocks that will help in easy and accurate testing. NCL has transferred the research to Mumbai-based chemical company for mass production.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. G20 group pledges over $21 billion to fight Covid-19 pandemic: Member countries of the Group of 20 (G20) has pledged more than $21 billion to fight COVID-19 pandemic. The group has coordinated the global efforts by pledging more than $21 billion to improve the global health and hence supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. G20 leaders also appealed to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to facilitate their support to countries in need using all instruments to the fullest extent.

Note: The members of the G20 group are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union (EU).

2. Monika Kapil Mohta appointed as Indian Ambassador to Switzerland: Monika Kapil Mohta (IFS officer 1985 batch) has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to Switzerland. She is currently serving as the Ambassador of India to Sweden. She will replace Sibi George, the new Ambassador of India to Kuwait. She had worked as an Ambassador to Poland and Lithuania and as a director to Nehru Centre (Culture) at the high commission of U.K.

Switzerland’s Adm capital: Bern; Currency: Swiss franc; President: Simonetta Sommaruga

3. Rahul Shrivastava appointed India’s next Ambassador to Romania: Rahul Shrivastava has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Romania. He is presently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He is an IFS officer of 1999 batch. He will replace Thanglura Darlong as the next Ambassador of India to Romania.

Note: Capital of Romania: Bucharest; President of Romania: Klaus Iohannis; Prime Minister of Romania: Ludovic Orban; Currency: Romanian leu

4. Salon owner’s daughter in Tamil Nadu, M Nethra, appointed UNADAP Goodwill Ambassador to Poor: M. Nethra, a 13-year-old girl and daughter of salon owner in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai has been appointed as a ”Goodwill Ambassador to the Poor” for United Nations Association for Development And Peace (UNADAP). Nethra convinced her father C. Mohan to spend his savings of Rs 5 lakh on the hapless migrant labourers and donate essential items to the poor who are hit hard by the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. The money had been saved for Nethra’s education and to pursue her goal of entering the civil service. Nethra will now be given the opportunity to speak at the United Nations (UN) conferences in New York and in Geneva addressing Civil Society forums and conferences, encouraging them to reach out to the poorest of the poor. Apart from this, Nethra has also been awarded the agency’s ‘DIXON Scholarship’ worth Rs 1 lakh.

5. World Oceans Day: 8th June: World Oceans Day is marked annually on the 8 June to celebrate the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources. The theme of UN World Oceans Day 2020 is “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.” World Oceans Day was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

6. World Brain Tumor Day: 8th June: World Tumor Day is observed on June 8 every year to spread awareness about this deadly disease, ensure its early diagnosis, as well as as pay tribute to brain tumor patients and their families. The day was first initiated by the German Brain Tumor Association (GBTA) in 2000.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Fit India to launch special films promoting indigenous sports of India: Fit India along with Dept of School Education and Literacy is launching series of special films promoting 10 indigenous Indian sports. The 10 episodes series will be launched under the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat initiative for school-going children. It is aimed at spreading awareness of indigenous game, culture and heritage of native states. It will include Kho-kho, Gatka, Kalaripayttu, Mallakhamb, Thang-Ta, Sqay, Kabaddi, Roll Ball, Tug of War and Shooting Ball.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. NABARD Extends Rs 270 crore to Assam Gramin Vikash Bank: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has extended a Special Liquidity Facility (SLF) of Rs 270 crore to Assam Gramin Vikash Bank for supporting the agricultural activities of the farmers in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This line of credit would enable the farmers in enhancing their crop production and hence this amount would prove to be a boon to the agriculture credit of the state at this difficult hour. This amount has been disbursed by NABARD from the Rs 25,000 crore fund announced by the institution for providing liquidity support to Cooperative Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) during 2020-21 with a view to ensuring continued flow of credit to farmers to carry out their agricultural operations smoothly even during COVID-19 pandemic period.

Note: Chairman of National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development: G R Chintala.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Kushal Pal Singh retires as DLF’s Chairman: Kushal Pal Singh retired as the Chairman of property firm Delhi Land & Finance Limited (DLF). Rajiv Singh, who was serving as the vice chairman of DLF has been appointed as the new chairman of DLF. Kushal Pal Singh will serve as non-executive role of Chairman Emeritus. He joined DLF in 1961 and took over charges as the chairman of DLF in 1995. DLF expanded beyond Gurugram, building apartments, shopping malls, and hotels under his leadership.

2. Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala to buy 1.85% stake in Reliance Jio platforms for Rs 9093.6 cr: Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company will buy 1.85 per cent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 9,093.6 crore. With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 87,655.35 crore from leading global technology and growth investors, including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR and Mubadala.

3. Silver Lake to buy additional $600 million stake in India’s Reliance Jio Platforms: The investment by Silver Lake was announced later in the day, and came exactly a month after it had bought a 1.15% stake early May for Rs 5,655.75 crore. The latest round takes the investment by Silver Lake and its coinvestors to Rs 10,202.55 crore for a 2.08% stake.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. The Hindu group bags INMA Global Media Awards 2020: International News Media Association (INMA) has awarded The Hindu Group at the Global Media Awards 2020. There were 16 categories with Group 1(regional/local brands) and Group 2 (global/national brands). The Hindu secured first place for ‘Cadbury Sweet Kondattam’ for Client Mondelez India for ‘Best Idea to Acquire or Retain Advertising Clients’ in Group 2. It also secured 2nd place for ‘Stay home Stay vigilant’ campaign for ‘Best Initiative in Response to COVID-19’.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Footballer Hamza Koya passes away: Former National Football Champion Hamza Koya (61 years) passes away due to COVID-19 at a hospital in Malappuram, Kerala. He started his football his career with Western Railway and went on to play Mumbai clubs like Union Bank, RCF, Tata Sports and Orkay Mills. He had represented Maharashtra in the 1980 Santosh Trophy and had been called up for the National Team camps on 2 occasions. Native: Parappanangadi, Kerala.

2. Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passes away:  Kannada actor Chirranjeevi Sarja passed away in Bengaluru following a heart attack. He was 39. Chirranjeevi Sarja is the brother of actor Dhruva Sarja and nephew of actor Arjun Sarja. Chirranjeevi was launched by Arjun who bankrolled the former’s debut movie Vayuputra, the remake of Tamil film Sandakozhi, in 2009. And in a career spanning about ten years, he acted in more than 20 movies. He has featured in films such as Samhaara, Aadyaa, Khaki, Sinnga, Amma I Love You, Prema Baraha, Dandam Dashagunam and Varadhanayaka among others.