Daily GK Updates - 23rd Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ADB and India inks USD 177 million loan for Maharashtra: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a loan agreement worth USD 177 million, to upgrade 450 km of state highways and major district roads in Maharashtra. The project aims to improve connectivity between rural areas and urban centres in the state to enable rural communities to have better access to markets, employment opportunities and services, which in turn will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state’s major urban centres to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities.

About the Project: Under the project, 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km, will be upgraded to 2-lane standard across seven districts of Maharashtra. The Government of Maharashtra will contribute $78.99 million equivalent toward the $255.99 million total costs of the project.

Note: Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa; Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines; Asian Development Bank Founded: 19 December 1966.

 

2. RPF launches ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative on AP Express: Railway Protection Force (RPF), Visakhapatnam has started implementing ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative in AP Express (Visakhapatnam to New Delhi), in order to provide proactive security to women passengers.

About ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative: The main motto of ‘Meri Saheli’ is to provide safety and security to women passengers travelling in trains throughout their journey. A team of women Sub Inspectors and women constables of RPF will enter all coaches including ladies coaches and identify women passengers, who are travelling alone before the departure of the train. These passengers will be briefed about all precautions to be taken during the journey and inform about help no. 182 apart from giving contact numbers of RPF to contact in case of any issue.

 

3. Covid-19: Vardhan launches portal for info on clinical trial of repurposed drugs: Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic in India and government's attempts to contain the spread, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan launched an online portal ‘CuRED’ that provides information about CSIR ushered repurposed drugs and their current stage of trials. CuRED stands for ‘CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs’. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been exploring multiple combination clinical trials of antivirals with host-directed therapies for a potential treatment of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. The site can be accessed at https://www.iiim.res.in/cured or http://db.iiim.res.in/ct/index.php. Apart from information about CSIR repurposed drugs, the website -- CuRED -- also provides details about clinical trials of diagnostics and devices in which the scientific body is involved.

Along with that, the health minister had earlier launched COVID Vaccine and Clinical Registry portal for information and updates on the various Covid-19 vaccine being produced in the country. The two online portals hosted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) site, will be a repository for all information related to vaccine development in India. You can access the website from here.

 

4. Haryana tops Anemia Mukt Bharat Index in country: Haryana State has the best Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Index among 29 states in the country. The Anemia Mukt Bharat, an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF, has been launched to reduce the prevalence of Anemia all over India. This information came to light during the 8th Governing Body Meeting of the State Health Society of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Chandigarh. Additional Chief Secretary of Health Department Rajeev Arora said, in a recently released scorecard of the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Index by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Haryana was ranked at the top slot with an AMB Index of 46.7. He said, there are 34 National Programmes being run under NHM. Further, he also apprised that it was for the first time in year 2019-20 that the state had achieved 93 per cent of immunization.

 

5. Govt Launches ARHC Portal under PM Awas Yojana: Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) Portal (arhc.mohua.gov.in) under PM Awas Yojana via a webinar. On the occasion, a National Report on ANGIKAAR – a campaign for change management for PMAY (U) beneficiaries through a 3 C strategy- Community Engagement, Convergence and Communication was also launched by Shri Hardeep S. Puri.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Singapore becomes 1st country to use facial recognition to pay taxes: Singapore became the World’s First Country to attach Facial verification in the National Identification Database. The function is called “SingPass Face Verification”. This technology is being rolled out to the city-state’s SingPass digital identity scheme, offering access to no less than 400 online services, including tax declarations and public housing applications. According to the Singapore authorities, the technology helps ensure that the right person is genuinely present in front of their screen, rather than a photograph, a video, a replayed recording or a deepfake.

Benefits of Facial recognition: Facial recognition is increasingly being used to access other online services, such as banking. The function is designed to work via home computers, tablets and cell phones, as well as at public kiosks. In the future, facial recognition could find other applications in Singapore, such as making sure students sit their own examinations or for verification purposes in secure areas of the city-state’s ports.

Note: Prime Minister of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong; Singapore Capital: Singapore City; Singapore Currency: Singapore Dollar.

 

2. Nokia selected by NASA to build 4G LTE Mobile Network on the Moon: Nokia has been selected by NASA to build the first cellular network on the moon. NASA aims to return humans to the moon by 2024 and dig in for a long-term presence there under its Artemis programme. The first wireless broadband communications system in space would be built on the lunar surface in late 2022. About cellular network on the moon:

(1) The network will configure itself and establish a 4G/LTE communications system on the moon, Nokia said, though the aim would be to eventually switch to 5G. It will partner with a Texas-based private spacecraft design company, Intuitive Machines, to deliver the equipment to the moon on their lunar lander.

(2) The network will give astronauts voice and video communications capabilities, and allow telemetry and biometric data exchange, as well as the deployment and remote control of lunar rovers and other robotic devices.

(3) The network will be designed to withstand the extreme conditions of the launch and lunar landing and to operate in space. It will have to be sent to the moon in an extremely compact form to meet the stringent size, weight and power constraints of space payloads.

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

Chairman of Nokia Corporation: Sari Baldauf; Nokia Headquarters: Espoo, Finland.

 

3. India ranked 2nd in OECD International Migration Outlook report: India has acquired the second rank in terms of the number of migrants going to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and acquiring the citizenship of those countries. China retained its top spot with 4.3 lakh migrants, which was 1 per cent lower than the 2019 report.

About OECD International Migration Outlook report: This is the 44th edition of the annual report. The data was released by the OECD in its 2020 edition of the annual International Migration Outlook report, which analyses the recent developments in migration movements and policies in its countries. From India, 3.3 lakh migrants moved, and this is 10 per cent more than the last edition. Romania emerged as the third-largest exporter of human capital to these countries. Paris-based OECD is an association of 37 developed countries which often attract immigrants for work opportunities, education and asylum.

 

4. China, Pakistan and Russia win seats on UN human rights council: China, Russia and Cuba won seats on the U.N.’s premiere human rights body despite opposition from activist groups over their abysmal human rights records, but another target, Saudi Arabia, lost. Russia and Cuba were running unopposed, but China and Saudi Arabia were in a five-way race in the only contested race for seats on the Human Rights Council. In secret-ballot voting in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on that race, Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi Arabia just 90 votes. In 2016, the Saudis won a seat with 152 votes.

Under the Human Rights Council’s rules, seats are allocated to regions to ensure geographical representation. Except for the Asia-Pacific contest, the election of 15 members to the 47-member Human Rights Council was all but decided in advance because all the other regional groups had uncontested slates. Four countries won four Africa seats: Ivory Coast, Malawi, Gabon and Senegal. Russia and Ukraine won the two East European seats. In the Latin American and Caribbean group, Mexico, Cuba and Bolivia won the three open seats. And Britain and France won the two seats for the Western European and others group.

 

5. World Snow Leopard Day: 23rd October: World Snow Leopard Day is observed globally on 23rd October. The main purpose of this day is to show the importance of snow leopard conservation and raise awareness about this incredible animal. The day also emphasizes the importance of taking measures to stop poaching, as well as consolidating efforts in terms of an environmental organization in the countries of the snow leopard range.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Russia’s Andrey Rublev wins St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament: Andrey Rublev joined Novak Djokovic as the only men to win four tour singles titles in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he beat Borna Coric 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the final of the St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament. The 22-year-old Rublev added the title in Russia to trophies in Doha, Adelaide and Hamburg.

 

2. Nine States, Union Territories selected for upgradation to KISCE: Nine States and Union Territories have been selected for upgradation to Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE). The States and UTs include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. The Sports Ministry said, the centres have been selected based on their past performances, quality of infrastructure, management and sports culture in the State. Earlier this year, the Ministry had identified a total of 14 centres to be upgraded to Khelo India State Centre of Excellence. The overall number now stands at 24 KISCEs from 23 States and UTs. The assistance to these centres will be provided in the form of bridging the gaps in sports equipment, high performance managers, coaches, sports scientists and technical support.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. World Bank approves $12 billion to finance virus vaccines: The World Bank has approved $12 billion in financing to help developing countries buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines, tests, and treatments, aiming to support the vaccination of up to one billion people. The $12 billion envelop is part of a wider World Bank Group package of up to $160 billion to help developing countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BSE signs MoU with Telangana Govt and GlobalLinker to help MSMEs in raising equity funds: The Telangana government along with GlobalLinker, has signed an MoU with the Bombay Stock Exchange to help MSMEs raise equity funds. The latest partnership aims to address a vital challenge of access to finance and increasing credibility of the MSME. As per the MoU, the stock exchange will provide intellectual & manpower support to create awareness about the importance and benefits of listing.

 

2. SEBI Constitutes “Market Data Advisory Committee”: SEBI has constituted a Market Data Advisory Committee (MDAC), a Standing Committee – to recommend appropriate policy for access to securities market data, identify segment wise data perimeters, data needs and gaps, recommend data privacy and data access regulations applicable to market data. The committee is headed by Madhabi Puri Buch, Whole Time Member, SEBI and has CEOs of stock exchanges and depositories, representatives of various stakeholders and senior officials of SEBI as members.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Indian Air Force’s First Woman Commissioned Officer passes away: Wing Commander (Retd) Dr Vijayalakshmi Ramanan, the first woman commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force, has died at the age of 96. Ramanan, a recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on August 22, 1955 and was seconded to the Air Force with effect from the same day. She was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in August 1972, and honoured with the Vishist Seva Medal five years later. She had retired in February, 1979.