Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 July 2020

1. ICMR will launch indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by 15 August.

• The Indian Council of Medical Research recently announced that the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine will be launched by 15 August, after the completion of all clinical trials.
• ICMR has developed the COVID-19 vaccine named Covaxin in partnership with Bharat Biotech Limited.
• It is the first indigenous vaccine to be developed in India.
• Recently, the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO), the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceutical and medical devices, has given permission to conduct human clinical trials for this vaccine.
• The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, Haryana, will conduct clinical trials of Covaxin.
• After successful clinical trials on animals, the Government of India has granted permission to 13 medical institutes of the country including the Institute of Rohtak to test this vaccine on humans.
• This test will be done in two phases.
• Clinical trials will be conducted on 375 individuals in the first phase and 750 in the second phase.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. Import of power supply equipments from China is not allowed without the permission of the government.

• Recently Union Power Minister RK Singh said that without the permission of the government, India will not allow import of power equipment from China.
• He said this in a virtual conference of the power ministers of the states.
• These imports can be used as Trojan Horse, which can lead to the crisis of power grid closure in the country.
• Therefore, government's permission will be required for import of all electrical appliances and components from China or any other country.
• Also, all such things will be thoroughly inspected in certified laboratories set up by the Ministry of Power to ensure that there is no malware, Trojan or cyber threat in them.
• In addition, the government also stressed the need to encourage Indian manufacturers of conductors, transformer, tower element and power meter components.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a toolkit for the Survekshan 2021.

• Recently, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launched a toolkit for Swachh Survekshan 2021.
• This is the sixth edition of the Annual Cleanliness Survey of India.
• The Swachh Survekshan 2021 indicator is based on the parameters of wastewater treatment and reuse.
• This year a new category of awards has been announced — titled Prerak Dauur Samman.
• There are a total of five additional sub-categories in Prerak Dauur Samman-
  • Divya (Platinum)
  • Anupam (Gold)
  • Ujjwal (silver)
  • Udit (Bronze)
  • Aarohi (Aspiring)
• The top three cities are being recognized in each sub-category.
• Along with this, the Integrated Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban MIS Portal was also launched.
• The portal is an attempt to bring multiple digital initiatives on one platform.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Decision to open all the monuments protected by the Center located outside the Containment Zone.

• Recently, the Central Government has decided to open all the Centrally protected monuments, following a complete security protocol.
• All these monuments will be opened for visitors from Monday ie 6 July 2020.
• A total of 3,691 centrally protected monuments fall under the Archaeological Survey of India. Out of which, 820 monuments have places of worship, which were opened from 8 June 2020.
• Visitors must follow social distance and use of face cover or mask is mandatory.
• No group photography is allowed within the campus.
• Thermal scanning provisions and hand hygiene are mandatory upon entry.
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
  • It is a government agency attached to the Ministry of Culture.
  • It is responsible for archaeological research and conservation of cultural monuments in the country.
  • It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. More than 126 miners were killed in Jade mine collapse in Kachin province of Myanmar.

• More than 126 miners were killed and many are missing in the recent Jade mine collapse in northern Kachin province in Myanmar.
• This accident occurred in Hpakant (remote area in Kachin state) due to the landslide in the region after torrential rains.
• Hpakant is the biggest Jade mining center in the world.
• Jade is a bright green gemstone, which is used to make jewelry.
• Myanmar:
  • It was formerly known as Burma and is a Southeast Asian nation.
  • Its capital is Naypyidaw and the currency is Burmese Kyat.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. IMD issued orange warning for Mumbai.

• The Indian Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Mumbai. It has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai and the adjoining districts.
• The three units of National Disaster Response Team for the BMC region has been prepared to help in emergency.
• The coordinating officers of ICG, Indian Navy, Health Department, Police, etc. have been asked to be vigilant.
• Indian Meteorological Department uses four color codes to issue warning:
  • Green: No warning is issued.
  • Yellow: Issued when there is severely bad weather
  • Orange/Amber: Issued when there is extremely bad weather
  • Red: Issued when there is extremely bad weather condition which is likely to cause threat to life and property
• Indian Meteorological Department:
  • It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • It was established in 1875 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
  • It is responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.

7. Loans worth over Rs. 1.10 lakh crore sanctioned under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme.

• Under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, public and private banks have sanctioned loans worth over Rs 1.10 lakh crore.
• SBI, HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank are among the top lenders under the scheme.
• Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme:
  • The scheme was launched recently to provide relief to the MSME sector.
  • Eligible MSMEs and Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) borrowers are covered under the scheme.
  • Under this scheme, National Credit Guarantee Trust Company (NCGTC) provides 100% guarantee coverage.
  • It is applicable till 31^st October or till sanctioning of Rs. 3 lakh crore.

8. The construction work for Pattabiram Tidel park is under way.

• The construction work for Tidel Park at Pattabiram is under way and the first client will login by 2022.
• Currently, 90% of IT parks are in Southern parts of Chennai and this will be the first integrated project in the northern part of city.
• Once this park opens, people will be able to opt to work there. It will also help in easing traffic distribution and congestion.

9. Iran threatens to retaliate against any country that carried out cyber attack on its nuclear sites.

• An under-construction building near Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was damaged recently. The fire may have been caused due to cyber sabotage.
• In response to this incident, the head of the civil defence of Iran, said that Iran would retaliate against the country that carried out cyber attack on its nuclear sites.
• Natanz nuclear enrichment site is one of the several nuclear sites of Iran monitored by IAEA.
• Natanz is located in the desert in the central province of Isfahan.
• Western intelligence agencies and IAEA believed that Natanz is the centerpiece of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme that was a coordinated nuclear arms programme which had halted in 2003.

10. In the United States, two renowned Indian-American nominated for the ‘2020 Great Immigrants’ honor.

• Recently in the United States, two famous Indian-American have been nominated for 2020 Great Immigrants honor.
• Writer and oncologist Siddharth Mukherjee and Harvard University professor of economics Raj Chetty have been selected by the Carnegie Corporation of New York for this honor.
• This honor is being given for their contribution in efforts to reduce the COVID-19 health crisis.
• They are among the 38 naturalised citizens who are being honored by the prestigious American Foundation ahead of the American Independence Day Commemoration this year.
• Dr. Mukherjee is a noted biologist, oncologist and author of many acclaimed books.
• He has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.”
• In 2014, Dr. Mukherjee was awarded the Padma Shri.
• Professor Raj Chetty is one of the youngest professors at Harvard University.
• The Great Immigrants Award is an award given to people of origin from 35 countries for contributions to human rights and computer science to arts, business, education, health care, journalism, music, politics, religion, research, and American life.

(Source: News on AIR)

11. The UN Security Council sought to put an end to the major conflicts going on in various countries.

• Recently, the UN Security Council has demanded immediate cessation of major conflicts going on in countries like Syria, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Congo, so that COVID-19 can be dealt with.
• The ongoing World Health Organization related dispute between the United States and China has been resolved.
• After that the proposal was unanimously passed.
• On 23 March, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a global ceasefire and combat the pandemic.
• This proposal has been brought by France and Tunisia.
• But these measures do not apply to military operations against Islamic State and al-Qaeda extremist groups and their allies.
• United Nations 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)

12. The coaches who train Indian athletes will now have a tenure of four years.

• For training Indian athletes, the tenure of foreign and native coaches will now be 4 years.
• This decision has been taken to align their tenure with the Olympic cycle.
• This will ensure correct coaching for the country's athletes and improve India's chances in all major international tournaments, including the Olympics, as the frequent change of coaches hinders the athletes' performance.
• It will also help India's long-term roadmap for Olympic preparations for 2024 and 2028.
• This year, the contract for all foreign coaches has been extended to September 30, 2021, as the Tokyo Olympics 2020 had postponed until next year.
• The Summer Olympics 2020 were postponed due to COVID-19, now they will be held on 23 July 2021 in Tokyo.
• The first Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.

(Source: News on AIR)

13. Investigation into 2011 ODI World Cup cricket final match fixing suspended.

• Recently in Sri Lanka, the investigation into the allegations of match fixing of the 2011 ODI World Cup cricket final has been suspended.
• The reason for this is insufficient evidence and public outrage.
• Three Sri Lankan players Kumar Sangakkara, Arvinda de Silva and Upul Tharanga were questioned by the SIU in this regard.
• The statements of the three cricket players are found to be correct. According to them, the changes made in the team during the tournament were correct.
• Former Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage alleged that the 2011 final was fixed between Sri Lanka and India.
• The 2011 Cricket World Cup final was played on 2 April 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India, between India and Sri Lanka.
• India won the 2011 World Cup final. This was India's second one-day cricket World Cup won after 1983.

14. Launch of the Fit India Talks session under the Fit India program by the Government of India.

• The Fit India Dialogue session is being started under the flagship program of the government, Fit India.
• The series of this interactive session aims to inspire school children.
• The Fit India Talks session is being organized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in collaboration with Sports Authority of India.
• This is a series where champion athletes will talk to students and share their inspirational life stories with them.
• The session was premiered on 3 July 2020 in the presence of Badminton star PV Sindhu and Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri along with HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.
• It will have a total of six seasons which will run till 14 July 2020.
• Badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa, Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal, table tennis star Manika Batra, shooter Apurvi Chandela and inspirational paralympian Deepa Malik will join these sessions.

15. The Department of Siddha and Indigenous Medicine of Tamil Nadu forbids people from using fake Kabasura powder.

• Recently the Tamil Nadu Department of Siddha and Indigenous Medicine has prohibited people from inadvertently using fake Kabasura powder.
• These people were using Kabasura powder to increase their resistance against COVID-19.
• Recently it was observed that those who took Kabasura powder with water continuously for five to seven days had a significant increase in immunity level.
• But at present the fake Kabasura powder in the market has raised the government's concern.
• Real Kabasura powder is an ideal blend of 15 herbs, including nilavambu, which has the high immunity boosting potential.
• The State Siddha Department is also organizing awareness camps on the need and importance of promoting immunity in collaboration with the Union Ministry of AYUSH.

16. The Meghalaya government has decided to launch random rapid trials from Byrnihat to Khanapara in Ri-Bhoi district bordering Assam.

• Recently the Meghalaya government has decided to start random rhymes for people living from Byrnihat to Khanapara in Ri-Bhoi district bordering Assam.
• The state government has taken this decision to curb the growing cases of COVID-19 in the state.
• The total number of active cases in the state has gone up to 18.
• Meghalaya:
  • Meghalaya is a hilly state in northeast India.
  • It is bounded by the Indian state of Assam to the north and north-east and Bangladesh to the south and south-west.
  • Capital: Shillong
  • Governor: Tathagata Roy
  • Chief Minister: Conrad Sangma