Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 June 2020

1. Russia supported India for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

• Recently Russia has supported India for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this during a tripartite video conferencing meeting of the defense ministers of Russia-India-China (RIC).
• There are five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members in the UNSC.
• Recently, India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years that will begin from 1 January 2021.
• India's two-year term will begin from 1 January 2021.
• UN Security Council (UNSC):
  • It is one of the six major organs of the United Nations.
  • Its main function is to ensure international peace and security.
  • It was established on 24 October 1945.
  • The headquarters of the United Nations Security Council is located in New York, United States.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. The Government of India will reduce the staff strength in Pakistan's High Commission by 50%.

• Recently Government of India has decided to reduce the number of employees in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50%.
• At the same time, the Indian High Commission is also going to reduce the number of employees in its High Commission in Islamabad by 50 % in the next seven days.
• The Government of India has taken this decision due to the following reasons:
  • The behavior of Pakistani officials working in the High Commission is not in accordance with the Vienna Treaty.
  • Pakistan’s support to cross-border violence and terrorism.
  • Abduction of two officials of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan.
• Vienna Treaty:
  • The Vienna Treaty or the Vienna Convention is an international treaty on diplomatic relations.
  • It defines the standard for diplomatic relations between two independent countries.
  • The Treaty of Vienna was signed in 1961, and came into effect from 24 April 1964.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. India will contribute USD 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

• India has decided to contribute USD 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East in coming two years.
• This decision was communicated by the Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan while addressing the virtual ministerial pledging conference.
• Also, India offers 250 annual scholarships to Palestinian youth and officials, in addition to regular customized training programs.
• In addition, India is also sending a medical shipment to Palestine next week.
• United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA):
  • It is an agency of the United Nations.
  • It aims to support the work of relief and human development of Palestinian refugees in the Near East.
  • The United Nations Relief and Work Agency, under the definition of refugee, covers Palestinians who were left homeless during the 1948 Palestine War.
  • It was founded in December 1949.
  • Its headquarters are located in Amman, Jordan.
  • The current commissioner-general of the institution is Philippe Lazzarini.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Russia-India-China trilateral foreign minister level meeting concluded through video conferencing.

• Recently the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral Foreign Ministerial level meeting was concluded through video conferencing.
• In the meeting, the External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar, emphasized the following things for the creation of a sustainable world order -
  • Respect for international law.
  • Recognizing the legitimate interests of partners.
  • Supporting multilateralism.
  • Promoting common good, etc.
• This was the seventeenth trilateral foreign ministerial meeting of Russia-India-China.
• On 27 February 2019, the 16^th RIC Foreign Ministerial Meeting was held in Wuzhen, China, which was attended by the former External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. The UNHRC passed a resolution to ensure the safe return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

• Recently the UNHRC has passed a resolution to ensure the safe return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
• 37 voted in favor of the resolution in the 47-membered United Nations Human Rights Council.
• In this resolution, the United Nations Human Rights Council has pledged for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
• The Rohingyas are Muslim minorities in Myanmar's Rakhine province.
• UNHRC emphasized on the need to address the root cause of human rights violations and abuses against such ethnic minorities.
• The resolution also praised Bangladesh for its humanitarian efforts to include Rohingyas refugees who fled from Myanmar due to violence and human rights violations.
• United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC):
  • It is a body of the United Nations.
  • It aims to promote and protect human rights worldwide.
  • It has 47 members elected for a three-year term.
  • It was founded on 15 March 2006.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. The Golden Globe Award ceremony postponed until February next year.

• Recently the film and television's annual Golden Globe Award ceremony has been postponed until February next year.
• Now, they will be distributed on 28 February 2021 and not on the first Sunday of January like every year.
• This decision has been taken due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
• Golden Globe Award:
  • These awards are given every year for outstanding work in the field of film and television.
  • The awards were presented for the first time on 20 January 1944.
  • These are provided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad launched Endowment Fund.

• Recently Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, has launched IIM Ahmedabad Endowment Fund.
• It started with an initial commitment of Rs 100 crore from 10 founding alumni.
• The endowment aims to raise Rs 1000 crore over a period of five years.
• The financial health of the institution will be ensured through this fund. The fund will play an important role in meeting the long-term goals of the institution and maintaining its autonomy.
• IIM Ahmedabad is the first management school in India to set such a benchmark and inspire other institutions.
• IIM Ahmedabad was established in 1961.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore developed nanozymes.

• Recently Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has developed nanozymes.
• These nanozymes can destroy the cell membrane of bacteria by directly targeting its phosphatipids.
• Nanozymes are nanomaterials that can cause disease-causing bacteria to decompose a range of cell membranes.
• This study was recently published in the Journal of Applied Biometrics.
• This nanozymes has been found capable of destroying bacteria of typhoid, gastroenteritis, dysentery, cholera and pneumonia etc.
• It is believed that these nanozymes can replace antibiotics that have become ineffective as many bacteria have developed resistance to them by producing their own enzymes.

9. Ministry of AYUSH asked for details of new drug being used by Patanjali Ayurved Limited as being useful for Covid-19.

• Recently, the Ministry of AYUSH has sought details of new medicine being described as useful for Covid-19 by Patanjali Ayurved Limited.
• It is known that recently Patanjali Ayurved Limited has made two medicines named Coronil and Swasari, which are said by Patanjali to be useful in the treatment of Covid-19.
• Taking cognizance of this, the Ministry of AYUSH has asked Patanjali Ayurved Limited to provide the name of the medicine and the details related to the substances used in making it, as soon as possible.
• Also, the Ministry of AYUSH has also asked the company for proof of research and testing of this drug.
• In addition, Clinical Trial Registry India has been asked to provide details of registration and results of the study.
• The Ministry has also requested the Uttarakhand government's license-issuing agency to provide copies of the license related to this drug and details of its approval.
• Further, the concerned Ayurvedic drug manufacturing company has been informed that such advertisements of medicines including Ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Offensive Advertisement) Act, 1954.

(Source: The Hindu)

10. US President Donald Trump has banned H-1B visas.

• Recently US President Donald Trump has banned H-1B visas till the end of this year.
• This decision will be effective from June 24.
• This is a major setback for tech workers in India hoping to work in the US.
• Along with this, H-4 visa, L visa, H-2B and J visa have also been banned till the end of the year.
• Trump has taken this decision to protect American jobs during the pandemic, but has been criticized by the tech industry as well as politicians.

11. China asserted its authority over Japan's administered Senkaku Islands.

• Recently, China has asserted its authority over the Senkaku Islands of Japan after a violent confrontation with India over the issues of Galwan Valley.
• The island is a group of islands including Otsuri, Minamikojima and Kitakojima known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
• The Senakaku Island chain has been administered by Japan since 1972, but its legal status is still disputed.
• Recently, Japan passed a bill to rename the administrative region covering the disputed uninhabited island chain from Tonoshiro to Tonoshiro Senkaku. The islands are 1,931 km southwest of Tokyo.
• Calling the islands an "underlying area", China has warned Tokyo against any change in the status quo.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

12. Two consecutive explosions in Mount Merapi, Indonesia.

• Recently two eruptions occurred in Mount Merapi, Indonesia's most active volcano.
• The eruptions caused gray ash to spread over some villages near Yogyakarta, Indonesia's cultural capital.
• The last eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 killed more than 300 people.
• Indonesia is located on the Ring of Fire, a vast area around the Pacific Ocean where numerous tectonic plates meet.
• It consists of over 17,000 islands and islands, and about 130 active volcanoes are located here.

(Source: Indian Express)