Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 July 2020

1. World Hepatitis Day: 28 July.

• World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on 28 July to raise awareness about viral hepatitis.
• The day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of the Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• He also developed tests and vaccines for the virus.
• The theme of this day this year is: “Hepatitis-free future.”
• The theme of this day in the year 2019 was – “Investments to end Hepatitis.”
• Hepatitis:
  • Hepatitis is liver inflammation, which causes many health problems, including liver cancer.
  • There are five main types of hepatitis viruses - A, B, C, D and E.
  • Hepatitis B and C together, cause 1.4 million deaths each year.
  • Even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis is killing thousands of people every day.
  • The WHO aims to end viral hepatitis as a public threat by 2030.

2. World Nature Conservation Day: 28 July.

• World Nature Conservation Day is observed every year on 28 July.
• This day is celebrated to create awareness about natural resources.
• At the same time, it also encourages people to protect the rapidly depleting natural resources due to exploitation of the Earth.
• "Protection is not just a question of morality, but a question of our own existence" - Dalai Lama.

3. India presented 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives to Bangladesh.

• Recently India has presented 10 broad gauge diesel rail locomotives to Bangladesh.
• Keeping in mind the requirement of Bangladesh Railway Department, India has made necessary changes in these engines.
• These will increase the number of passengers in Bangladesh and will also increase the freight.
• With this, a promise of help from India to Bangladesh has been fulfilled.
• This was promised during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in October 2019.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. India has opposed Pakistan's attempt to convert the gurdwara into a mosque in Lahore.

• India has opposed the attempt to replace the gurdwara in Lahore, Pakistan, as the site of the mosque Shaheed Ganj.
• This Gurudwara Shaheedi Asthan is the site of the martyrdom of Bhai Taru Singh Ji in Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan.
• The Gurudwara is a historical place where Bhai Taru ji made the supreme sacrifice in 1745.
• The Gurudwara is a place of reverence and is considered sacred by the Sikh community.
• Bhai Taru Singh:
  • A prominent Sikh martyr who is known to have sacrificed his life to protect Sikh values.
  • He was born on 6 October 1720 in the city of Amritsar.
  • He died on 1 July 1745 in Lahore, Pakistan.

5. BIS-Care, mobile app of the Bureau of Indian Standards, was launched.

• Recently Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan launched BIS-Care, a mobile app of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
• He also started three portals on standardization, conformity assessment and training of e-BIS.
• The mobile application BIS-Care can be operated on any Android phone.
• Consumers can check the authenticity of ISI-marked and hallmarked products through this application.
• Customers can also lodge complaints using this medium.
• The government has taken these steps to protect the interests of consumers in the country.
• Bureau of Indian Standards:
  • It is a national standards body functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
  • It was established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986.
  • It was declared as the National Standards Body of India by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. New Zealand suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

• Recently New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters reported that he had suspended his extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
• New Zealand has also made several other changes following China's decision to pass a national security law for Hong Kong.
• Beijing enacted a new law earlier this month on the former British colony, Hong Kong.
• The law was opposed by many other Western countries, including Hong Kong.
• Despite this, China has established a financial center on a more official track in Hong Kong.
• Australia, Canada and the UK All had suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong.
• US President Donald Trump has ended preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong National Security Law:
• China's controversial new law in Hong Kong gives Beijing the following rights-
  • Unprecedented judicial authority in the financial sector.
  • Chinese jurisdiction over severe crimes.
  • Investigation of the status of foreign NGOs and news organizations.
  • Secret Trial without Jury.
  • Establishment of a National Security Agency.

(Source: The Hindu)

7. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy launched free face mask distribution scheme in the state.

• Recently Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy has launched a free face mask distribution scheme in the state.
• This decision has been taken in view of the increasing prevalence of Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu.
• Under this scheme, 2 reusable face masks will be distributed to 6.74 crore persons associated with 2.08 crore ration cards in the state.
• In the first phase, the government plans to distribute more than 4.44 crore face masks to over 69 lakh families, municipalities and nagar panchayats in corporations (excluding Greater Chennai Corporation).
• Tamil Nadu:
  • It is famous for South Indian Dravidian style Hindu temples.
  • On the island of Pamban, the Ramanathaswamy temple is a pilgrimage site.
  • Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami
  • Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
  • Capital: Chennai

(Source: The Hindu)

8. First fleet of fighter aircraft Rafale departs from France to India.

• Recently, the first fleet of fighter aircraft Rafael has left for India from France.
• Five aircraft will arrive in India on 29 July 2020.
• These aircraft will be officially inducted into the 17^th Battalion of the Air Force at Ambala, Haryana immediately.
• These aircraft are made by the French company Dassault.
• The delivery of ten aircraft is being completed as per the stipulated period. Five aircraft will remain in France for training.
• India is purchasing 36 Rafale aircraft from France under a 2016 deal of Rs 59,000 crore.
• Under the agreement between the governments of India and France, all these 36 aircraft are to be delivered by the end of 2021.
• The first Rafale aircraft was delivered to India in October 2019.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Ministry of Earth Sciences launched Mausam Mobile App of the Indian Meteorological Department.

• Recently the Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched the Mausam Mobile App of the Indian Meteorological Department.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched this app during its Foundation Day celebrations on 27 July.
• The design of this app has been made keeping in mind that meteorological information and forecasts can be detected in a very simple way.
• With this, users can get information on weather forecasts, images taken from radar and anomalous weather related obstacles.
• This mobile app is available on both Play Store and App Store.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. Four schemes for setting up of the bulk drugs and medical device parks in the country launched.

• Recently Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Sadanand Gowda released four schemes of the Department of Pharmaceuticals to develop the bulk drug and medical device parks in the country.
• These schemes are in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ATMA NIRBHAR ABHIYAN.
• Two of them are for bulk drug manufacturing and two for medical device parks.
• This will help in the direction of manufacturing API medicine and making important medical equipment in the country.
• India is called the pharmacy of the world and this has been proven during the Corona pandemic. But it is a matter of concern that India has to depend on imports for raw materials useful in the manufacture of medicines.

(Source: News on AIR)

11. Nag river has become highly polluted due to industrialization and urbanization.

• Recently, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court stated that the Nag River has become highly polluted due to industrialization and urbanization.
• Therefore, the court has directed the civil authorities to submit their comprehensive plan regarding the preparation and approval to revive the river.
• Nag River:
  • The city of Nagpur is named after this river.
  • The Nag River originates from the Ambajhari Lake in western Nagpur and finally joins the Kanhan River.
  • Pili River is its major tributary.

12. Hurricane Hanna affected Texas.

• Recently, Texas has been hit by landslides caused by strong winds and rain due hurricane Hanna.
• Meanwhile, Hurricane Douglas in the Pacific Ocean avoided the collision with the Hawaiian Islands and moved away from the island.
• Hurricane:
  • It is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
  • These originate on the warm sea surface near the equator.
  • Thunderstorms typically occur between 5 and 15 degrees latitude north and south of the equator.
  • The tropical cyclone is called Willy Willy in Australia, Cyclone in India, Typhoon in China and Japan.