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Daily G.K. - Top Stories

31 Oct 2020

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Bid to Prevent Pakistan from Taking IPU Post

  • India will be manoeuvring to ensure that Pakistan does not win the elections to the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) that will take place in a virtual session during the meeting of its Governing Council from November 1 to 4.
  • The candidates for the election of the new IPU president, through remote electronic secret ballot, include Muhammad Sanjrani (Pakistan), Akmal Saidov (Uzbekistan), Salma Ataullahjan (Canada) and Duarte Pacheco (Portugal).
  • But for the Uzbek nominee, the others are formidable public figures in their own right.
  • Sanjrani is the Chairman of the Pakistan Senate and has headed the international affairs committee.
  • Ataullahjan is a candidate reluctantly put up by the liberal Ottawa government as she belongs to the Conservative camp but has had long innings in public life.
  • Pacheo is well versed with the politics in the IPU, Geneva, and has in the past headed the "12 plus geopolitical group" of the IPU.
  • The term of the new President of IPU will be from 2020-23.

Trump and Biden in Final Quest for Votes

  • President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will barnstorm across battleground states in the American Midwest where the coronavirus pandemic has exploded again, as they head into the final weekend before Election Day.
  • Trump will hold rallies in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, while Biden planned stops in Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as Iowa on his busiest day of campaigning yet.
  • Michigan and Wisconsin were two of the three historically Democratic industrial states, along with Pennsylvania, that narrowly voted for the Republican Trump in 2016, delivering him an upset victory.
  • Minnesota, which has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972, is one of the few Democratic states that Trump is trying to flip this year. Biden has held a steady lead in opinion polls in Minnesota.

President Magufuli in Landslide Win Amid Fraud Claims

  • Tanzania's President John Magufuli has won re-election with a landslide victory in a poll that the opposition has described as fraudulent.
  • Mr. Magufuli's main rival, Tundu Lissu, said that his party's agents were prevented from entering polling stations during the election.
  • The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has dismissed the claims of fraud.
  • In its final results, the NEC said that the President took 84% of the vote, while Mr. Lissu received 13%.
View Month Wise

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Doing Business in India Report, 2020

  • The "Doing Business in India Report, 2020" was released by the UK India Business Council. According to the report, the business environment in India is improving and there is a greater opportunity for UK India collaboration.
  • The businesses in the UK find 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission' as an opportunity to do more business in India. The report has been published for the sixth time since 2015. This year the report has been prepared based on an in-depth survey of 106 UK firms that are operating in India. These firms belonged to services, manufacturing and higher education sector.
  • As per the report, 66% of the surveyed organisations believed that the ease of doing business in India is increasing. According to the report, this change is mainly due to the progressive reforms and improvements in the business environment of India. The changes are predominantly found in availability of support, skilled labour, service providers and supply chain.
  • India's score of doing business has improved from 2.74 in 2019 22.9 to in 2020. The most frequent obstacles in doing business with India is its legal and regulatory boundaries. The other irritants according to the report in doing business in India are GST issues, foreign exchange regulations, high import tariffs and lack of alignment with international standards.

McDonald's HQ Building Sells for over $412 Million

  • The McDonald's Headquarters building in Chicago has been sold for more than $412 million, the largest office property sale in the city since 2018.
  • Seller Sterling Bay and investment partner J.P. Morgan Asset Management bought the site from Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios.
  • McDonald's, one of the world's largest fast-food giant, moved its headquarters into the building in June 2018.

Axis Bank Rejigs Max Life Deal

  • Axis Bank said that the RBI has not allowed it to directly acquire 17% stake in Max Life Insurance and the lender will now purchase shares in the life insurer along with its subsidiaries.
  • Axis Bank and its entities have revised the agreement with Max Financial, the promoter of Max Life, to acquire 19.002% stake in the insurance firm.
  • In August this year (2020), Axis Bank had entered into a definitive agreement with Max Financial Services Ltd (Max Financial) for the direct acquisition of 17.002 per cent of equity share capital of Max Life Insurance Company Ltd (Max Life) by the lender.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO to Launch Earth Observation Satellite EOS-1

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation is to launch Earth observation satellite, RISAT-2BR2 and nine other customer satellites by November 7, 2020.
  • The earth observation satellite has been code named EOS-01. It aims to support applications in forestry, agriculture and disaster management. The launch of this earth observation satellite will be the 51st mission of ISRO.
  • The earth observation satellite is to be launched on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles. The customer satellite is being launched along with the EOS-01 under the commercial agreement signed by ISRO with Newspace India Limited.
View Month Wise

SPORTS

Haroon Lorgat in Nine-member Interim Board to Run CSA

  • South Africa's Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced a nine-member interim board that will run the Cricket South Africa (CSA) for the next three months after the entire board stepped down earlier this week.
  • Former CSA chief Haroon Lorgat and former South African batsman Omphile Ramela have been included in the interim board, which will be chaired by Judge Zak Yaqoob.
  • Besides them, the committee named by the South African government also include Andre Odendaal, Stavros Nikalo, Judith February, Andile Dawn Mbatha, Xolani Vonya and Nkeko Caroline Mampuru.
View Month Wise

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Public Affairs Index 2020

  • The Public Affairs Index 2020 was released by Public Affairs Centre, a non-profit organisation. According to the index, Kerala was the best governed the state. The report was released by the committee headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation chairman Kasturirangan.
  • The states were ranked in the context of sustainable development. The governance of the states was analysed based on three pillars namely growth, equity and sustainability.
  • Kerala was awarded with the top most ranking and Uttar Pradesh with the bottom most ranking.
  • In large state category, Kerala topped the listing with an index of 1.388 followed by Tamil Nadu with 0.91, Andhra Pradesh with 0.5 31 and Karnataka with 0.468. The bottom most ranking was occupied by Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar in the same category
  • In the small state category Goa topped the list followed by Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh. The bottom most states in this category were Manipur, Delhi and Uttarakhand.
  • In the category of Union Territories Chandigarh was the top performing region followed by Puducherry and Lakshadweep. Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir were the least performing Union Territories.

India and Mexico Eighth Joint Commission Meeting

  • India and Mexico held the eighth Joint Commission Meeting. The countries appreciated the recent progress in the bilateral trade between them.
  • The bilateral cooperation includes areas such as trade, agriculture, investment, health and education. The meeting was presided by the foreign ministers of the countries. They agreed to add new momentum to the relations between the countries in the areas of science and technology, health, trade and commerce, energy, space.
  • The countries during the meet agreed to use their forthcoming term in United Nations Security Council to strengthen multilateralism.
  • Mexico enjoys "Privileged Partnership" with India since 2007. The countries in 2015, agreed to work on "Strategic Partnership". The countries have signed since then signed bilateral agreements on Extradition, Investment Promotion and Protection, Space Cooperation and Administrative assistance in customs matters.

Nation's First Elevated Rail Track

  • Having missed several deadlines in the past one year, the Railways have now fixed December 5 as a new deadline to complete the entire work of the nation's first elevated railway track in Rohtak City.
  • As per reports, electrification work was underway and it was likely to be completed by November 20. Thereafter, the final trial of electric train on this 4.8 km long track would be conducted while the track would be ready for operation by December 5.
  • The foundation stone of the Rs. 350-crore ambitious project was laid by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in March 2018 and a deadline of 18 months was fixed to complete it.
  • The project missed the first deadline in November 2019 due to encroachment on the one side of the track. The work could not also be completed before the second deadline on April 30 and third on June 30. The deadline was extended twice thereafter.
View Month Wise

DEFENCE

India Test-fires Air-launched Version of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

  • The Indian Air Force successfully test-fired an air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter aircraft in the Bay of Bengal. The missile hit a sinking ship with deadly accuracy and the test-firing produced desired results.
  • The aircraft, belonging to Thanjavur-based Tigersharks squadron, took off from a frontline airbase in Punjab and it was refuelled mid-air before the missile was released.
  • In May 2019, the Indian Air Force for the first time had successfully test-fired the aerial version of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

First Phase of Malabar Exercise from November 3-6

  • In the midst of its bitter border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, India will hold the first phase of the Malabar Naval Exercise with navies of the US, Japan and Australia from November 3 to 6 in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam coast.
  • The second phase of the mega exercise is scheduled to be held from November 17-20 in the Arabian Sea.
  • China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the annual war game is an effort to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The first phase of the drill would witness complex and advanced naval exercises, including surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations, besides cross-deck flying, seamanship evolutions and weapon firing exercises.
  • The exercise will be conducted as a "non-contact and at sea only" drill in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent member of the exercise in 2015.
View Month Wise

DAYS AND EVENTS

National Unity Day

  • National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31 every year since 2014.
  • He played a crucial role in the unification of India as we see it today. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is also known as the Iron Man of India. He relentlessly fought against the British for the freedom of India. People celebrate the day by remembering Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his contribution to the unification of India.
  • This year (2020) it is the 145th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, who strived hard to bring 562 princely states into the fold of the Union of India.
  • Sardar fought against the British Empire and became the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India.
View Month Wise

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES

'Meri Saheli' Initiative by Indian Railways

  • The Railway Protection Force launched "Meri Saheli" initiative. The initiative will focus on the safety of women passengers. It was launched as a pilot project in South Eastern Railway in September 2020. It was then extended to all zones.
  • The initiative will provide safety and security to women passengers travelling by train. Under the initiative, a team of young RPF women personnel will converse with women passengers at the originating station. They will mainly focus on those women who are travelling alone. During the interaction, the women passengers will be informed about the precautions they have to follow during the journey. Also, they will be informed about the number 182. They can call the number in case of problems.
View Month Wise

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION

OBC Reservation to be Introduced in Sainik Schools

  • Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said that 27 per cent seats in Sainik schools will be reserved for other backward classes (OBCs) from the academic session of 2021-22. The Sainik Schools Society, which works under the Ministry of Defence, manages 33 such residential schools in the country.
  • As per a circular, 67 per cent of the seats in a Sainik school are reserved for candidates from the state or the Union Territory in which the school is located and the remaining 33 per cent is reserved for those who come from outside that state or UT. These two lists will be termed List A and List B.
  • According to the circular, within each list 15 per cent seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, 7.5 per cent seats are for Scheduled Tribes and 27 per cent seats are for non-creamy layer OBCs. It stated this reservation policy will come into effect from the academic session of 2021-22.

Jamia Millia Islamia Completes 100 Years

  • Jamia Millia celebrated the Centenary Foundation Day, at the Dr. M.A. Ansari Auditorium forecourt. Principal of the Jamia Middle School Mohd. Mursaleen welcomed the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar, the Chief Guest Hamid Ahmed, CEO Hamdard Laboratries & Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard University and other dignitaries inside the Ansari Auditorium as Foundation Day Inaugural Function is traditionally organised by Jamia Middle School. Jamia Tarana (Anthem) was sung by senior students of the school. Considering the Covid-19 situation a very limited gathering with strict social distancing was allowed inside the Ansari Auditorium.
  • A short film on Jamia containing sound bytes of its famous alumni and important personalities were showcased.
  • Right from its inception, the university has embraced the idea of co-education and healthy mixing and growth of both genders together.
  • The inaugural function concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Prof. Zubair Meenai, Chief Coordinator, Centenary Celebrations.

IIT Roorkee Developes World's First Specific Bacterial Biosensor

  • A five-member team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have developed the world's first specific reliable bacterial biosensor to detect the presence of common environmental pollutant- Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate /Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SDS).
  • SDS is extensively used in soaps, toothpaste, creams, shampoos, laundry detergents in households, agricultural operations, laboratories, and industries. Its subsequent disposal in waterways causes harmful effects on aquatic organisms, environmental microcosms, and associated living organisms besides deteriorating the quality of drinking water. This objective of the study was to develop a novel biosensor for the detection of a detergent Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate /Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SDS) in environmental samples.
  • Until now, there were no specific biosensors developed to date for the detection of SDS with high precision. The IIT Roorkee team has developed a whole-cell biosensor using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain as a framework (chassis).
  • The system involves a highly specific regulator along with a fluorescent protein that is produced only when SDS is present in the sample.
  • The system can even detect 0.1 ppm of SDS in aquatic samples.
View Month Wise

ART AND CULTURE

Halloween Window Art Lifts Community Spirits

  • A woman from County Durham has painted a mural of Halloween film characters on her window in the hope of lifting the community's spirits.
  • Amy Kirby, from Leadgate, Consett, spent about 60 hours over three weeks painting horror characters on her sitting room window.
  • The 24-year-old said Halloween was her favourite time of year, and with children unable to trick or treat due to Covid-19, she thought it was a "great idea" to give them a "good scare" by decorating her house.
View Month Wise

TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates New Tourism Attractions

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated four new tourist attractions, Arogya Van, Ekta Mall, Children's Nutrition Park and Sardar Patel Zoological Park/ Jungle Safari, near the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Narmada district.
  • The Prime Minister, who was scheduled to launch 17 new projects, including a seaplane service, first inaugurated an Arogya Van (`health forest'), spread over 17 acres with a wide range of medicinal plants.
  • The PM next inaugurated a Children's Nutrition Park, dubbed as the world's first such technology-driven theme park developed over 35,000 square meters. Its primary objective is to make children understand the importance of nutritious food.
  • Then he inaugurated Jungle Safari, a state-of-the-art Zoological Park spread across 375 acres and seven levels, housing over 1,100 indigenous and exotic birds and animals of more than 100 species, including tigers, lions, giraffes, zebras and leopards.
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