Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 July 2020

1. The fourth edition of the Virtual Ministerial on Climate Action concluded.

• Recently the fourth edition of the Virtual Ministerial on Climate Action has concluded.
• India was chaired by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in this conference.
• He said developed countries should implement financial and technical commitments under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
• The environment minister said, the promise of one trillion dollars is not yet fulfilled by 2020, it will be attempted to raise in the remaining 5 months of 2020 and will be distributed to further strengthen the climate works in developing countries.
• India has made many efforts towards cleaner fuels.
• India has also implemented Bharat Stage-6 emission norms by April 1 this year, which was to be adopted by 2024.
• The Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC):
  • It is an international environmental treaty.
  • It was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.
  • It came into force on 21 March 1994 after confirmation from several countries.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. Guidelines for ‘Evaluation of Nano-based Agri-input and food products in India’.

• Recently Union Science and Technology Minister and Agriculture Minister have issued ‘Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano-based Agri-input and food products in India' through video link.
• These guidelines will help policy makers and regulators to create provisions for future nano-based products for the agricultural inputs. It will also encourage Indian innovators and industries to create new nano-based products in the sector.
• This is the most important step in determining the quality, safety and efficiency of these products.
• This step will be helpful in doubling farmers' income by 2022 and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. World Bank will provide $ 400 million for Ganga revival.

• Recently, the government said that the World Bank will provide $ 400 million for the revival of Ganga.
• The World Bank will have a loan of $ 38 million to $ 40 million and a proposed guarantee of $ 100 million.
• The agreement has been signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Under Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Kaiser Khan, acting director of the Indian Bank of the World Bank.
• The Second National Ganga River Basin Project will help reduce pollution in the river and strengthen the management of the river basin area.
• About 500 million people live in the Ganges River Basin area.
• The Ganges River originates from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. It flows through the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
• World Bank:
  • It is one of the world's largest finance provider aimed at ending extreme poverty and promoting shared development.
  • It was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Washington, DC, USA.
  • Currently, it has 189 members.
  • Current President of the World Bank: David Malpass

4. Group on Infrastructure meeting was held in New Delhi.

• Recently a Group on Infrastructure meeting was held in New Delhi.
• It was chaired by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
• Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways General VK Singh also attended the meeting.
• In this meeting many issues regarding pending infrastructure projects were considered.
• Also, outstanding forest clearances for 187 highway projects were discussed.
• Additionally, there is a need to remove the level crossings on the national highways, as they act as major accident sites.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. Foundation stone was laid for the administrative building of Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.

• Recently, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar laid the foundation stone of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra's administrative building at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh through video conference.
• There are 86 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Uttar Pradesh.
• Approval has been given to construct 20 new centers in the state, out of which 17 have started functioning. The remaining three will be built soon in Prayagraj, Rae Bareli and Azamgarh.
• Apart from these, there is a proposal to create a Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Moradabad.
• The Agriculture Minister informed that there are a total of 720 Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country, through which about 15 lakh farmers and youth are trained every year.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK):
  • These are agricultural extension centers in India.
  • These centers act as a link between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and farmers.
  • The first Krishi Vigyan Kendra was established in Pondicherry in 1974.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. Meeting on health sector between 15^th Finance Commission and World Bank and its high level group.

• Recently, the 15^th Finance Commission held a detailed meeting with representatives of the World Bank on Health Sector, NITI Aayog and member of the High Level Group of the Commission.
• The meeting decided to develop and roll out a real-time monitoring and reporting system for human and animal health monitoring to deal with future outbreak of zoonotic diseases.
• The Finance Commission for the first time will dedicate an entire chapter on health financing.
• Finance Commission:
  • It is a constitutional body.
  • It sets the formula for distributing tax income between the Center and the states.
  • Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India constitutes the Finance Commission.
  • The 15^th Finance Commission was formed in November 2017 under the chairmanship of NK Singh.
  • Its recommendations will be applicable for the period from April 2020 to March 2025.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. The United States is considering a ban on other Chinese social media apps, including TikTok.

• The United States is considering a ban on other Chinese social media apps, including TikTok.
• US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented on the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, China's action in Hong Kong and the growing US-China tension over a nearly two-year trade war.
• Recently US lawmakers have raised national security concerns over handling of Tiktok user data.
• The app is not available in China and has decided to distance itself from its Chinese roots in the wake of recent bans.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Talks between Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale.

• Recently, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and David Hale, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, held talks online.
• They reviewed various issues including political, economic, commercial, regional and international cooperation under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
• The two sides also discussed ways to further strengthen public ties and business relations, including the granting of visas to students and professionals.
• At the same time, he reiterated his commitment to ensure the prosperity, peace, wholeness and independence of the Indo-Pacific region.
• India and the US also agreed to pursue bilateral issues and stay in touch through a two-to-two ministerial meeting.
• This year India will organize 2+2 ministerial meeting of India and US.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. The United States informed the United Nations about the decision to sever ties with the World Health Organization.

• The US has accused the WHO of favoring China over the COVID-19 outbreak.
• COVID-19 originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, resulting in more than half a million deaths globally, including more than one lakh thirty thousand in the US.
• In April, US stopped funding the WHO.
• A month later, President Donald Trump announced that the US was ending a relationship with the World Health Organization.
• World Health Organization (WHO):
  • It is a specialized UN agency responsible for international public health.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It was founded on 7 April 1948.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. United Kingdom imposed sanctions against Myanmar's army chief General Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy.

• Recently the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions against Myanmar's Commander in Chief of Army, General Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy Soe Win.
• The United Kingdom has taken this decision because of its alleged involvement in human rights violations against Rohingya and other ethnic communities.
• These sanctions have seized all the assets of the two top generals of the army.
• It also prevents them from obtaining a visa for a country.
• Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was Britain's first autonomous human rights sanctions regime, which allows the government to ban people involved in human rights abuses worldwide.
• However, the UK continues its support to the Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government.
• Myanmar-
  • It was formerly known as Burma; it is a Southeast Asian nation.
  • Its capital is the capital Naypyidaw and the currency Burmese Kyat.

11. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced visa restrictions for a certain group of Chinese officials.

• Recently US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced visa restrictions for a certain group of Chinese officials. They have made this announcement under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act.
• China has continued to obstruct travel by the US diplomats and other officials, journalists and tourists to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan regions, while Chinese officials and other citizens enjoy greater access to the United States.
• Therefore, visa restrictions have been imposed on officials of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, who were involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access to Tibetan areas.
• Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act:
  • The bill was passed in the US Parliament in 2018.
  • The bill denies Chinese government officials access to the United States if they are responsible for creating or implementing restrictions on American government officials, journalists, independent observers and tourists seeking access to Tibet.

(Source: News on AIR)

12. Mylab Discovery Solutions Launches Compact ‘XL’ Machine.

• Recently, Mylab Discovery Solutions has launched a compact ‘XL’ machine.
• Mylab is Pune-based molecular diagnostics company.
• It is the first machine in India to automate manual processes of molecular diagnostic tests such as RT-PCR testing for COVID-19.
• The Compact XL is a compact bench-top machine through which all laboratory processes from sample handling to preparing RT-PCR ready tubes will be automated.
• It is a cartridge-based machine and can test multiple samples at the same time.
• The machine can take input of various sample types such as plasma, tissue, sputum and swab.
• It can be used for a wide range of RNA, DNA-based tests, including COVID-19 RT-PCR tests.
• Patents have already been applied for this 100% indigenous machines.
• This would eliminate traditional barriers to the adoption of molecular diagnostics in laboratories.

(Source: News on AIR)