Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 July 2020

1. World UFO Day: 2 July.

• World UFO Day is observed every year on 2 July to raise awareness regarding unknown flying objects. While some people celebrate it on 24 June.
• On June 24, aviator Kenneth Arnold reported for the first time a widely visible unknown flying object in the United States. While on 2 July 1947, Roswell allegedly saw a UFO.
• UFO (Unidentified Flying Objects):
  • The term is widely used for supernatural spacecraft.
  • An unknown flying object is any aerial event that cannot be immediately identified or explained.
  • Most UFOs are identified on investigation as traditional objects or phenomena.

(Source: Indian Express)

2. Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United Nations.

• Recently senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey has been appointed as the next Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the Geneva office of the United Nations.
• He is a 1990 batch Indian Foreign Service officer.
• Mr. Pandey is currently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
• United Nations:
  • It is an intergovernmental organization.
  • It aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations and achieve international cooperation.
  • It is headquartered in New York, United States.
  • It was established on 24 October 1945.
  • Its official languages ​​are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
  • Antonio Guterres is the current Secretary General.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. The Ministry of Home Affairs declared nine people associated with the Khalistan movement as terrorists.

• Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has declared nine people associated with the Khalistan movement as terrorists.
• The Home Ministry has declared them as terrorists under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
• These include Wadhawa Singh Babbar, the prominent leader of Babbar Khalsa International, Lakhbir Singh, the leader of Pakistan-based terrorist organization International Sikh Youth Federation and Ranjit Singh of Khalistan Zindabad Force, etc.
• Last year, the Central Government designated four individuals viz. Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim as terrorists.
• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA):
  • This Act was brought in 1967.
  • UAPA provides special procedures for dealing with terrorist activities.
  • The Central Government amended the Act in August 2019, making provision to declare a particular person a terrorist.
  • Earlier, only organizations could be declared terrorist organizations under this act.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) launched 'Accelerate Vigyan' scheme.

• Recently the Science and Engineering Research Board has launched a new scheme called 'Accelerate Vigyan'.
• It is an inter-ministerial scheme.
• The primary objectives of this scheme are as follows:
  • To encourage high quality based scientific research.
  • To prepare Scientific manpower.
  • Research career and developing a knowledge-based economy.
  • Capacity building programs and workshops across the country, providing a single platform for research internships.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. Chartered Accountants Day: 1 July.

• Chartered Accountants Day is observed every year on 1 July.
• On this day in 1949, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) was formed by an Act of Parliament.
• The theme of Chartered Accountant Day 2020 is- “Transforming the Future, Enabled Excellence, Augmenting Trust.”
• This year the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India also organized Virtual National CA Summit 2020 from 29 June to 1 July 2020.
• Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAI):
  • It is the national accounting body of India.
  • It is the second largest professional accounting and finance body in the world in terms of members.

6. The US Federal Communications Commission named two Chinese companies as national security threats.

• Recently, the US Federal Communications Commission has named two Chinese companies as national security threats.
• These two companies are- Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation.
• The FCC has investigated these Chinese companies in relation to increased tensions between Beijing and Washington over trade and Covid-19 and security issues.
• FCC President Ajit Pai said that these two companies have close ties with the Chinese Communist Party and China's military system.
• The agency is considering banning these Chinese communications companies from entering the US market.
• Federal Communications Commission
  • It is an independent agency of the United States.
  • It controls communications in the United States by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
  • It was established on 19 June 1934.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. Signing of agreement for formation of 50:50 joint venture company for LPG business between India and Bangladesh.

• Recently India and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to form a joint venture company.
• Under this, a 50:50 joint venture company will be set up for LPG business in Bangladesh.
• This new joint venture company is another step towards the Government of India's neighbourhood first policy.
• The joint venture company will help reduce the cost of setting up LPG and make it more affordable for consumers in Bangladesh.
• The company also plans to diversify LPG exports from Bangladesh to India's north eastern states.
• Therefore, it will prove beneficial for both the countries.
• Bangladesh:
  • It is a South Asian country located in the east of India.
  • Capital: Dhaka
  • Currency: Bangladeshi Taka

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Uttar Pradesh Government launched a special campaign in Meerut Division.

• The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a special campaign for door-to-door medical screening in all districts of Meerut Division.
• This includes districts in which a large number of corona positive patients are appearing.
• Such a campaign will soon be started in other parts of the state as well.
• In addition, the state government is also planning to set up a large testing laboratory in Ghaziabad district for augmentation of testing of Covid-19.
• The Meerut division consists of six districts - Meerut, Baghpat, Bulandshahar, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Hapur.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Government of Kerala has announced the Dream Kerala Project.

• Recently the Government of Kerala has announced the Dream Kerala Project.
• The objective of this project is to rehabilitate Keralite returning from abroad and for the overall development of the state.
• Various departments under the state government will coordinate this project.
• Ideas and suggestions will be invited from the public under the Dream Kerala Project.
• The Steering Committee headed by the Chief Minister is tasked with taking the final decision on the ideas chosen.
• Kerala:
  • The state is located on the tropical Malabar Coast of India.
  • Its inland Western Ghats are known for tea, coffee and spice cultivation.
  • Capital- Thiruvananthapuram
  • Chief Minister- Pinarayi Vijayan
  • Governor- Arif Mohammad Khan

10. The G4 flu virus can cause a new pandemic.

• A new research has found that the G4 flu virus may cause a new Pandemic.
• Scientists in China have identified a strain of recently emerged influenza virus.
• It is infecting Chinese pigs and has the potential to trigger a pandemic.
• The virus has been named G-4.
• It has the same genes as the swine flu virus that caused the 2009 flu epidemic.
• It is known that China has the largest population of pigs. In such a situation it is a matter of concern.
• Scientists have found evidence infections in the people working in slaughterhouses and recent swine industry in China.
• But it is not clear yet whether this new virus can transmit from one human to another.

(Source: Indian Express)

11. The Central Government declared entire Nagaland a disturbed area for the next 6 months.

• Recently, the Central Government has declared the entire Nagaland a disturbed area for a period of next six months.
• The Nagaland will remain under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 for the next 6 months, that is, till 31 December 2020.
• Nagaland has been under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for almost six decades.
• Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958:
  • This is a Parliamentary Act which was introduced in 1958.
  • The Act gives the Armed Forces special powers of search and arrest and many other for maintenance of public order.

(Source: The Hindu)