DAILY GK: 20 JULY 2021

 DAILY GK: 20 JULY 2021

1. INDIA’S FIRST POD TAXI

•      India’s 1st Pod taxi service to be launched in Uttar Pradesh (UP) between the upcoming ‘Noida International Airport’(NIA) (Jewar airport) and the proposed ‘Film city’ in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

•      ‘Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority’ (YEIDA) has reported about the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) about the Project.

•      Zurich Airport International AG, the Swiss company, signed a shareholder agreement with Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) for the development of the NIA in Jewar, UP.

 

2. UTTARAKHAND CELEBRATES SHRAVANHARELAFESTIVAL

•      Shravan Harela festival 202, an important folk festival celebrated across the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand on 16th July which marks the beginning of the monsoon.

•      The word Harela means “Green Leaves”.

•      The Harela festival also commemorates the wedding of Hindu Gods Shiva and Parvathi.

 

3. CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2021

•      The 74th Cannes Film Festival 2021 was held from July 6-17, 2021 at Palais des Festivals et des Congrès Convention Center in Cannes, France.

•      ‘Night of Knowing Nothing’ directed by India’s Payal Kapadia won the Oeild’or (Golden Eye) award for best documentary at the Film Festival.

•      Former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the virtual ‘India Pavilion’ during the 74th Cannes Film Festival.

 

4. RUSSIA TEST FIRES ZIRCON HYPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE

•      Russia successfully test-fired the Zircon (also known as Tsirkon) Hypersonic Cruise Missile from Russian Navy’s Admiral Gorshkov warship in White Sea.

•      The missile successfully hit a target situated more than 350 Kms (217 miles) away.

•      Zircon meaning ‘Invincible’ is a winged, anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile.

•      During the testing, the missile reached speeds of up to Mach 7.

 

5. ICC WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

•      Mongolia, Tajikistan and Switzerland were inducted as Members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) during ICC’s 78th Annual General Meeting.

•      With this, the total number of ICC members stands at 106 (12 Full Members, 94 Associate Members).

•      Mongolia is set to host the International Youth Green Games in September 2021 in which Cricket has been selected as one of the participating sports.

 

6. BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2021

•      Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (Britain) won the British Grand Prix 2021 held at Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, United Kingdom (UK).

•      This is Hamilton’s 8 victory at the British GP (his victory coming in 2008) & overall 99th GP victory.

 

7. NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY 2021

•      The United Nations (UN)’s Nelson Mandela International Day is annually observed across the globe on 18th July to recognise the contributions of Nelson Mandela towards justice, peace and dialogue and his role in Africa’s struggle for liberation and unity.”.

•      The 2021 Mandela Day marks the 103rd birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.

•      The theme of the 2021 Nelson Mandela International Day is “One Hand Can Feed Another”.

 

8. ‘BACCHOKA SAHARA, PHONE HUMARA’ INITIATIVE

•      Bollywood actor Yami Gautam Dhar partnered with the launch of Himachal Pradesh (HP) government state’s initiative, ‘Digital Saathi-Baccho Ka Sahara, Phone Humara’, India’s 1st state-led phone donation campaign for online learning.

•      BacchoKa Sahara, Phone Humara is an initiative launched under ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’ of HP, to donate smartphones to needy children who cannot afford smartphones for education.