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General Awareness

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Daily G.K. - Top Stories

07 Oct 2020

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Trump Admn Imposes New Curbs on H-1B Visas

  • The Trump administration has announced new restrictions on H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme which is aimed at protecting American workers, restoring integrity and to better guarantee that H-1B petitions are approved only for qualified beneficiaries and petitioners, a move which is likely to affect thousands of Indian IT professionals.
  • The interim final rule announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, less than four weeks ahead of the US presidential election, will narrow the definition of "speciality occupation" as Congress intended by closing the overbroad definition that allowed companies to game the system.
  • It will also require companies to make "real" offers to "real employees," by closing loopholes and preventing the displacement of the American workers. And finally, the new rules would enhance the department's ability to enforce compliance through worksite inspections and monitor compliance before, during and after an H1-B petition is approved.
  • The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
  • The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
  • Such a decision by the Trump administration is likely to have an adverse impact on thousands of Indian IT professionals.

Big Progress' in Brexit Talks Leaves EU Seeing Trade Deal Closer

  • As per reports, Britain and the EU are close to agreement on reciprocal social security rights for their citizens after Brexit.
  • The European Union diplomats said that Brussels was now gearing up to negotiate until as late as mid-November - rather than cutting talks off at the start of next month - to avoid a damaging "no-deal" scenario when Britain's standstill transition with the bloc ends on December 31.
  • There was no breakthrough at last week's negotiating round on the three most contentious issues - fishing rights, fair competition guarantees and ways to settle disputes in the future - but the prospects of an overall accord looked much brighter.
  • At stake in the talks is an estimated trillion euros worth of bilateral trade. Investors and businesses are increasingly anxious about a split with no agreement to ensure the continuation of trade without tariffs or quotas.
  • Britain had made welcome proposals on nine out of 10 areas related to protecting reciprocal social security rights for people moving between EU member states and the United Kingdom.
  • These proposals, which included benefits for accidents at work and death grants, were a basis to "very easily agree" a joint text on social security coordination.
  • These protections could be critical for as many as 5 million people, whether it be a Briton in retirement in southern France or a German employed in London.
  • However, there was no agreement on a tenth area relating to family benefits. London wants EU citizens to pay a surcharge over five years for healthcare access for family members, while the EU says it should reciprocate the open access it offers.
View Month Wise

ENVIRONMENT

Amazon at the Risk of Changing from Forest to Savanna

  • A team of Europe based scientists have recently found that the tropical forests especially the Amazon forest are slowly changing into Savannah like environment.
  • According to the study around 40% of Amazon forest are at the risk of changing into Savannah like environment. This is mainly because of increased Greenhouse gas emissions and reduced rainfall.
  • The shrinking forest tend to lose their ability to absorb man-made emissions and thereby adding up to global warming.
  • Many of the rainforest in the world are also growing into Savana like grasslands. The study has found that apart from Amazon forest, the forests in Congo Basin are also at the risk of changing into Savannah. The rainforests are highly sensitive to global climate change and also lose their ability to adapt very quickly. Once lost, it will take decades for the rain forests to return to their original state according to the report.
  • Savannah
  • These forests are characterized by wet summers and dry winters. They have high annual range of temperature. They hold sparsely populated trees with tall grasses. Forest fires are frequent in Savanna.
  • Savannah type of climate is most common in Sudan and hence it is also called Sudan climate.
  • Amazon forests
  • The Amazon is the biggest rainforest in the world. The forest is estimated to hold 15,000 tree species and 390 billion individual trees. Two thirds of the Amazon rainforest is found in Brazil.
View Month Wise

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Torrent Gas to Invest Rs. 8,000 cr. in Distribution

  • Torrent Gas Ltd. will invest Rs. 8,000 crore over the next five years in expanding its city gas operations with a target to set up 500 CNG dispensing pumps by March 2023.
  • Torrent Gas, the city gas distribution (CGD) arm of Gujarat-based $3-billion Torrent Group, holds a city gas licence for selling compressed natural gas (CNG) to vehicles and piped cooking gas (PNG) to industries and households kitchens in 32 districts across seven states.
  • Within 18 months of its operations, Torrent Gas has set up 100 CNG pumps.

Services PMI Shows Slump Easing

  • According to a business survey, the pace of contraction in services sector activity eased considerably in September after the government lifted some COVID-19 restrictions, but demand continued to shrink, prompting firms to cut more jobs.
  • Signs of stabilisation in services are likely to provide more comfort to policymakers after a sister survey last week showed India's manufacturing expanded at its fastest pace in over eight years, suggesting business conditions were gradually returning to normal in Asia's third-largest economy.
  • The Nikkei/IHS Markit Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) bounced to 49.8 in September from August's 41.8, a touch below the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction on a monthly basis.
  • The services sector accounts for about 55% of India's economy and almost a third of its jobs.

KIOCL Achieves Highest Export Turnover in 2019-20

  • KIOCL Ltd., a public sector undertaking under the Union Ministry of Steel, exported 1.99 million tonnes of pellets worth Rs. 1,574.13 crore, highest since the closure of its Kudremukh captive mine (2005) during 2019-20.
  • Total exports stood at 84%, up by 31% year-on-year basis, penetrating into Brazil, Middle East, China, European markets etc, thereby improving overall performance of the company all through complete utilisation of sea route.
  • According to company Chairman and MD M.V. Subba Rao, during the year, the pellet production was 2.375 million tonnes, up by 6% YoY, pellet dispatch was 2.356 million tonnes, up by 7% YoY, revenue from operations was Rs. 2,056.53 crore, up by 2% YoY and profit after tax was Rs. 43.48 crore.
  • The company has spent Rs. 3.31 crore in 2019-20 towards various corporate social responsibility initiatives in education, sports, drinking water etc.
View Month Wise

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Russia's Reusable Rocket Plan a Step in Right Direction: Elon Musk

  • SpaceX Founder Elon Musk supported Russia's plan to spend about $880 million on creating its first reusable carrier rocket with a methane propellant.
  • Russian space agency Roscosmos and the Progress Rocket and Space Centre signed a contract to develop the 'Amur' reusable space rocket.
  • The Russian reusable methane-fuelled rocket will get a reusable first stage and its launches will be carried out from the Vostochny spaceport in the Russian Far East.
  • The cost of the work on creating the reusable rocket will not exceed 70 billion rubles (around $880 million) while the price of a launch service is stipulated at the level of $22 million.
  • The reusable rocket is set to blast off for the first time together with a payload in 2026. The launch vehicle will be able to orbit up to 12.5 tonnes of payload.
  • Roscosmos also plans to develop a larger rocket with an increased lifting capacity.
View Month Wise

SPORTS

Saina and Kashyap Pull Out of Denmark Open

  • Indian badminton couple Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap pulled out of the Denmark Open Super 750 tournament, which will restart the international calendar at Odense from October 13. The BWF World Tour was shut down in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Sania will start the season from January only with the Asian tour.

Nadal Storms into French Open Semi-finals

  • Claycourt master Rafael Nadal passed his first real test of this year's French Open with a 7-6(4) 6-4 6-1 victory against Italian rising star Jannik Sinner.
  • The Spaniard, also looking to match Roger Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam men's singles titles, was stretched by the 19-year-old Sinner.
  • The 34-year-old Nadal's 97 previous victories at Roland Garros made the difference in key moments with the Spaniard rallying from a break down in the first two sets.
  • Sinner, the first French Open debutant to reach the last eight since Nadal in 2005, confirmed his immense potential but lacked just a bit of composure when it mattered.

Polish Teenager Swiatek Powers into French Open Semis

  • Polish teenager Iga Swiatek recovered from a nervy start to outclass Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan 6-3 6-1 and move into the French Open semi-finals.
  • The 19-year-old, who thrashed Romania's top seed Simona Halep to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final, looked tight as she trailed 3-1 after a long wait to get on court but then took charge with some aggressive hitting.
  • She is the first Polish woman to reach the French Open semi-finals since Jadwiga Jedrzejowska was runner-up in 1939.
View Month Wise

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Palaniswami ADMK's CM Candidate for Tamil Nadu Assembly Poll

  • Incumbent Chief Minister K Palaniswami will be the Chief Ministerial candidate of the AIADMK for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
  • Party co-coordinator Palaniswami announced constitution of a 11-member steering committee which includes Ministers Dindigul C Sreenivasan, P. Thangamani, and S. P. Velumani.
  • The decision has been taken unanimously in consultations led by party presidium chairman E. Madusudanan.
  • Apart from him, Palaniswami, party deputy coordinators K. P. Munusamy, R. Vaithilingam and members of the Steering Committee have unanimously resolved to nominate Palaniswami as the AIADMK's Chief Ministerial candidate.

NDA Seals Bihar Poll Pact

  • The NDA declared its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Bihar elections.
  • Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that of the 243 Assembly constituencies, the JD-U would contest 122 and the BJP 121.
  • While the JD-U would give seven seats from its quota to Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM(S), the BJP would allot some (expectedly nine) to Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party, which had walked out of the RJD-led "Mahagathbandhan" a couple of days back.

PM Narendra Modi Enters 20th Year in Public Office

  • In yet another political milestone for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the prime minister on 7th October entered his 20th year in a public office without a break.
  • PM Modi was appointed as Chief Minister of Gujarat by the BJP when the saffron party was battling infighting among its own leaders. It would not be wrong to say that PM Modi used his 3 terms as Gujarat CM to strengthen the party and helped the BJP end the Congress' domination at the Centre.
  • Modi took charge as Gujarat chief minister on October 7, 2001 soon after the devastating earthquake which had rocked Bhuj. However, he took several steps to help in the development of the state at a rapid pace. Under Modi's leadership, Gujarat became self-sufficient on several fronts and 'Gujarat Model' became popular across the country. The massive development work done by PM Modi as the Gujarat CM played an important role in increasing his popularity across the country and the BJP used this very well during Lok Sabha election in 2014.
View Month Wise

DEFENCE

Govt. Okays Induction of Nuke-capable Shaurya Missile Amid Ladakh Standoff

  • The Narendra Modi government has approved induction and deployment of 700-km range surface-to-surface supersonic Shaurya strategic missile even as forward movement has been recorded in development of 5,000 km range K-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile. Shaurya is the land version of the submarine-launched BA-05 missile and has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The land version was discreetly tested for the final time before induction as part of user trials in Odisha's Balasore on October 3.
  • According to top missile experts, Shaurya is a delivery system stored in a composite canister for rapid deployment and minimum interaction with the elements for a long period. The strategic missile flies at a supersonic speed of Mach 7, or 2.4 km per second, at a height of 50 km (within atmosphere) and hits the designated target at Mach 4.
  • The missile will be soon deployed at locations identified by the Indian Strategic Forces Command under guidance from National Security Council. The missile has a warhead weighing around 160 kg.
  • While the Modi government's decision to go for a land version is significant as the missile can be launched by a single vehicle, the DRDO is also making rapid strides in the development of a 5,000 km version of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). With a range equivalent to Agni-5 land-based ballistic missile, the K-5 will be deployed on Arihant class of nuclear submarines.

IAF Set to Place Orders for 21 MiG-29 Jets from Russia

  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to place an order with Russia for 21 twin-engine MiG-29 jets by December. Of the 1980s vintage, the jets are no longer in production but 21 airframes built then remain in Russia. Top sources in the security and defence establishment said that the jets purchased by India will be upgraded to the latest version before they arrive here.
  • The purchase comes as the IAF faces a depleting force strength due to its fleet of legacy aircraft and budgetary constraints.
  • The IAF will first place orders for the MiG-29, and then go in for another 12 Su-30 MKI, which are being manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from Russia. The IAF is also expected to soon place a long-pending order for the indigenous 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A.
  • India and Russia have been in talks for the purchase of more MiG-29 jets since last year.
View Month Wise

PERSONS IN NEWS

M. A. Ganapathy to Head Bureau of Civil Aviation Security

  • Senior IPS officer M. A. Ganapathy has been appointed as the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). He is a 1986 batch IPS officer of Uttarakhand cadre.
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ganapathy, IPS, to the post of Director General, BCAS, for a tenure up to his superannuation on February 29, 2024. The post of BCAS chief fell vacant after Rakesh Asthana was appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force in August.
View Month Wise

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Nobel Prize in Physics, 2020

  • The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded one half of the 2020 Nobel Prize in physics to Roger Penrose "for the discovery that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity", the other half jointly to Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez "for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy."
  • A black hole is formed when stars collapse and can be defined as a space in the universe with an escape velocity so strong that even light cannot escape it.
  • Penrose has been awarded the prize for the discovery "that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity," while Genzel and Ghez have been awarded the prize for the discovery of a "supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy."
  • Penrose's work has shown that black holes are a direct consequence of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. Einstein himself did not believe that black holes exist and presented his theory in November 1915, providing a new way to look at and understand gravity that shapes the universe "at the largest scale". Gravity also shapes space and influences the passage of time. It is this gravity, which is so great inside a black hole that is able to bend space and slow down time.
  • Penrose used Einstein's general theory of relativity in order to prove that the process of formation of black holes is a stable one. He proved that black holes exist and described them in detail back in 1965, ten years after Einstein died.
  • Genzel and Ghez, on the other hand, have discovered that an invisible and an extremely heavy object governs the stars' orbit at the centre of the Milky Way. This extremely heavy object has the mass equivalent to 4 million solar masses and is packed into an area about the size of our solar system.
View Month Wise

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES

Gujarat Launches 'Digital Seva Setu Programme' for Rural Ereas

  • The Gujarat Government launched "Digital Seva Setu Programme" for rural areas. The programme was launched under the Bharat Net Project of the Centre.
  • The programme connects village panchayats and will provide twenty types of pro-people services. This includes providing ration cards at door steps. It is a digital form of the "Seva Setu" Programme.
  • The programme will help people to receive public welfare services at Panchayat level. Under the programme, the gram panchayats are to be connected to the state data centre at Gandhinagar. This will help in integration of data. The citizens should pay Rs. 20 to avail the benefits of the programme. The programme will help to transform 18,000 villages of Gujarat into modern and global villages.
  • During the first phase of the programme, 2,000 village panchayats are to be covered. The rest of the villages are to be covered in 2021. Thereby, the programme will encompass all the villages of the state making "Digital Seva Setu" an integrated and dedicated platform in time ahead.
View Month Wise

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION

Harsh Vardhan Launches 'Ayush Standard Treatment Protocol'

  • Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched the Ayush Standard Treatment Protocol.
  • The Union Health Minister launched the protocols at an event held via video conferencing and hailed the up-gradation of protocols by the AYUSH Ministry, which has been done in sync with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
  • The modern systems of medicine have their own strengths, they have made available operations and medicines which have made people's lives better. But Ayurveda is an ancient science of our country, and probably the oldest knowledge base. Many say it's an offshoot of the Atharva Veda.

India is Becoming a Huge Market for Foreign Universities

  • Indian higher education presently is in a tryst with the invention, discoveries, and transformation all at once. As per the latest Census, 600 million youth under the age of 25 will be added to India's population by 2030. This will be making our nation one of the youngest in Asia. The preparation for turning this potential into an asset and boosting the economy is already happening. However, the advent of the pandemic has given it a historic turn, with a surge in online adoption, demand for skill-based courses for working professionals, a collaboration of foreign experts and teachers with Indian universities.
  • Plans of international students coming to India for securing the coveted degrees have been put on hold due to Covid and a similar situation prevails for Indian students keen on studying abroad. Giving the Indian institutions and universities an upper hand to tap on this disguised opportunity.
  • India has immense respect around the globe for its higher studies and reputed universities, like IIT's& IIM's Sundar Pichai - CEO of Google Inc, Satya Nadella - CEO of Microsoft, Ajaypal Singh Banga President & CEO of MasterCard, Rajeev Suri - CEO of Nokia, are some of the names that are products of the Indian education system and leading the world's most powerful organizations. To revitalize this respect, upskilling of teachers in English language and their ability to function with tech-enabled studying tools needs to be honed.
  • The NEP aims to attract top 100 QS World Ranking universities to establish their offshore campuses in India.

Free Course on Anti-racism and Allyship

  • Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) announced a free online course on anti-racism and allyship. The seven-day course is for students, young professionals, and educational fraternity across the nations "who care about racial equity and justice", the institute said in an official statement.
  • It covers racism in the US context, as well as themes designed to address the issue from a global perspective. The institute claims that the course aims to help learners move from understanding to reflection to taking new actions. The online course is self-paced, with the learner required to spend 45 minutes a day for either a week or up to several weeks. It will also provide learners with access to additional resources and tools for continuing the learning journey after the completion of the course.
  • Stanford offers several socially-impactful courses. It had earlier offered, 'An Evidence-Based Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Migraines in Adults in the Primary Care and General Neurology Setting (CME)', Giving 2.0, health across the gender spectrum, international women's health and human rights among others.
View Month Wise

ART AND CULTURE

François Ghebaly Gallery Adds Three Artists to Roster

  • The Los Angeles–based gallery François Ghebaly now represents Cindy Ji Hye Kim, Jacqueline Kiyomi Gork and Meriem Bennani. Kim, who will have a solo exhibition with the gallery in May 2021, creates drawings, paintings, installations, sculptures, and animations featuring contorted bodies and surreal, disquieting scenes. Gork will have a solo show with François Ghebaly in fall 2021, and her practice spans sound, installation, performance, and sculpture. Bennani, whose video installations and sculptures about digital culture appeared in the 2019 Whitney Biennial, will get her first solo presentation on the West Coast with her solo exhibition at the gallery in early 2021.
View Month Wise

TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS

Committee on Tourism Welcomes the Uplifting of Restrictions on International Travel in South Africa

  • The Portfolio Committee on Tourism welcomed the uplifting of travel restrictions imposed on international travel due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Mr. Supra Mahumapelo said that we are heartened that international flights have resumed after more than six months since lockdown restrictions have been imposed worldwide. South Africa welcomed travellers from the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Germany, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe on the first day of its opening.
  • The impact of the pandemic has been felt across all sectors, with tourism being the hardest hit. According to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the tourism sector contributes to 1.5 million jobs and 8.5% to the gross domestic product of South Africa.

Hawaii Tourism Authority Seeks Input From Hawaiian Locals

  • The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has put out a public call for input and ideas from island communities about how the state and counties can effectively restart tourism. It is inviting locals to make their voices heard on the topics of destination management, community prioritisation and Hawaii's wider cultural and environmental needs.
  • In line with its 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, one of HTA's newest initiatives is to establish Destination Management Action Plans (DMAP)—one specifically for each county—through its Community-Based Tourism Program.
  • The goal is to create four individual action plans for Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu for resetting, redefining and rebuilding tourism's direction over the next three years through a collaborative process. Each county will need to determine its long-term desires surrounding tourism and strike a mindful balance between the industry's economic advantages and its impact on local services, cultural and natural resources and the quality of life of its residents.
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