DAILY GK 28 JULY 2019

DAILY GK 28 JULY 2019

1. India, Saudi Arabia held discussions on bilateral hydrocarbon cooperation

✔Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel held a meeting with Mr Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Saudi Aramco in New Delhi.

✔They discussed on improving India-Saudi Arabia hydrocarbon cooperation in order to strengthen the existing overall strategic partnership between the two countries.

✔Minister Al-Falih stressed on the need for capitalizing on the growing momentum in bilateral hydrocarbon cooperation.

✔Mr Pradhan discussed the current developments in the global oil and gas markets, raised India’s concerns on the recent increase in Asian Premium and the decision of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus members on extending production cuts, leading to oil price volatility and highlighted the adverse impact of these developments on the Indian economy.

2. Western Railways first printing press heritage gallery opened at Mahalaxmi, Mumbai

✔Western Railways opened its first printing press heritage gallery named Western Railway Mahalaxmi General Stores Depot at Mahalaxmi in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was inaugurated by V P Pathak, Member of the Railway Board.

✔It became the first press in Indian Railways to portray a heritage gallery of the printing and allied machines used in the Western Railway Printing Press since 1948.

3. 23 self-styled and unrecognized universities announced by the University Grants Commission

✔The University Grants Commission which coordinates, determines and maintains standards of higher education, has released a list of 23 universities which are declared “self-styled” and “unrecognized“. These universities contradict the UGC Act 1956.

✔Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of unrecognized universities – 8

✔It is followed by Delhi having 7 fake Universities.

✔Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Puducherry have 1 fake university each while West Bengal and Odisha have two fake universities each

4. INS Tarkash reached Saint Petersburg, Russia to take part in the Russian Navy Day parade

✔INS Tarkash which was constructed for the Indian Navy by Russia reached Saint Petersburg, Russia to take part in the Russian Navy Day parade celebrated on 28 July.

✔The Indian delegation is led by Vice Admiral Ajith Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and INS Tarkash.

✔More than 40 ships, 40 planes and helicopters, and a total of 4000 service men will take part in the Navy day celebration.

5. Jordan opens its first underwater military museum

✔Jordan, an Arab country in Western Asia, opened its first Underwater Military Museum Dive Site, off its Red Sea coast, Aqaba.

✔The objective of the museum is to offer a new type of museum experience combining sports, environment and exhibits for divers, snorkelers and visitors on glass-bottomed boats.

✔It has several tanks, an ambulance, a military crane, a troop carrier, an anti-aircraft battery, guns, Jordanian Armed Forces AH-1 Cobra Helicopter, 19 decommissioned pieces of military hardware, submerged at depths up to 28 metres.

6. Indian government’s NHA and NATHEALTH signs MoU under Ayushman Bharat scheme

✔The National Health Authority and the Healthcare Federation of India signed MoU to improve efficiency of Service Delivery under Ayushman Bharat scheme which is also called as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

✔Under the vision of “Health for All”, this collaboration will provide and enable interface for testing healthcare innovation ecosystem, adopting, funding, and providing mentorship in creating channels for scaling these innovations.

7. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury appointed as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee

✔Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appointed Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress floor leader in Lok Sabha as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

✔It comprises of total 22 members which include 15 members from Lok Sabha and 7 members from Rajya Sabha.

8. Apple to acquire Intel’s smartphone modem business for a transaction value of $1 billion

✔Apple and Intel signed an agreement where Apple will acquire the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion.

✔2,200 Intel employees will join Apple, along with intellectual property, equipment and leases.

9. Iran test-launched a medium-range missile Shahab-3

✔Iran test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile inside its borders- Shahab-3.

✔It is derived from a North Korean missile called the Nodong-A and can fly 1,150 to 2,000 kilometers, or up to 1,242 miles, depending on the variant.

10. Overview of ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2019 held in Suhl, Germany

✔International Shooting Sport Federation Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2019 was held at the Shooting Center, Suhl, Germany.

✔India won 4 Gold in team event & 6 in Individual event, 4 Silver in team event & 5 in Individual event and 3 Bronze in team event & 2 in Individual event.

✔India tops the medal tally followed by China, Germany, USA and Russia.

11. Hungarian teenager Kristof Milak broke the men’s 200 meters butterfly world record

✔A 19year-old swimmer Kristof Milak of Hungary broke men’s 200 metres butterfly world record to win the gold medal at the 18th FINA World swimming championships 2019 held in Gwangju, South Korea.

✔Milak was followed by Japan’s Daiya Seto and South African Chad le Clos.

✔At the 2018 European Aquatics Championships, he won the gold medal in the men’s 200-metre butterfly event.

12. Byju’s Replaces Oppo as new sponsor of Indian team till 2022

✔An e-learning platform, Byju’s will be the official Team India sponsor for a period of three years.

✔Byju’s will now be seen on the Indian team jersey from September 15 when India starts its South Africa tour.

13. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, released book titled ‘New-Age Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0’

✔The Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu released book titled ‘New-Age Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0’ in New Delhi.

✔It is authored by Rajya Sabha Member, Dr Narendra Jadhav.

✔The launch was co-hosted by The Dialogue, a Delhi based think-tank which works on the intersection of technology, society and public-policy.