DAILY GK: 16 DEC 2020

 DAILY GK: 16 DEC 2020

‘VISION 2035: PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE IN INDIA’

•      NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog publicized a white paper titled “Vision 2035: Public Health Surveillance in India” which was released by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar; Member (Health) Dr Vinod K Paul; CEO Amitabh Kant.

•      The white paper was co-developed by NITI Aayog and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Both organizations inked a Letter of Agreement (LoA) for the same in 2020.

 

2.  JOINT USE OF CHABAHAR PORT IN IRAN

•      The First Trilateral Working Group (TWG) meeting was held virtually between India, Iran & Uzbekistan to discuss the joint use of Chabahar port in Iran to increase regional connectivity within the 3 countries.

•      Chabahar Port is located in the Southeastern part of Iran on the Gulf of Oman and is being developed by India.

 

3. CLIMATE AMBITION SUMMIT 2020

•      Virtual Climate Ambition Summit 2020 was held to provide a platform for government and non-governmental leaders to demonstrate their commitment to the Paris Agreement and the multilateral process.

•      It was co-hosted by the United Kingdom (UK), the United Nations (UN) and France, in partnership with Chile and Italy.

•      This summit also regarded as a “sprint to Glasgow” as the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is scheduled to take place from 1–12 November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.

 

4. 2020 CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH AWARD

•      United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) virtually announced 6 Individuals as recipients of the 2020 Champions of the Earth Award, which is UN’s highest environmental honour.

•      The award is given across 5 categories – Policy Leadership, Inspiration & Action, Science & Innovation, Entrepreneurial vision & LifeTime Achievement Award.

Awards:

Recipient	Category	Contribution
Frank Bainimarama,Prime Minister of Fiji	Policy Leadership	for global climate action work, and commitment to  climate-responsive national development
Dr Fabian Leendertz,(Germany)	Science & Innovation	Discovery in Zoonotics & work in One Health
Mindy Lubber (United States of India)	Entrepreneurial Vision	for commitment to convert capital markets green by mobilizing top investors and companies
Nemonte Nenquimo (Ecuador)	Inspiration & Action	Leadership and unifying work with indigenous communities to halt drilling in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest
Yacouba Sawadogo (Burkina Faso)	Inspiration & Action	For teaching traditional nature-based solution to farmers for regeneration of soil to turn barren land into arable land in Africa
Professor Robert D. Bullard (United States of America)	Earth Lifetime Achievement Award	For commitment and service to environmental justice

 

5. RE-APPOINTMENT OF UDAY KOTAK

•      Reserve Bank of India(RBI) approved the reappointment of Uday Kotak as Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Kotak Mahindra Bank(KMB) for a period of 3 years effective from 1st January 2021.

•      He is currently serving as the president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2020-21.

Also Kotak Mahindra Bank becomes the 1st bank in India to introduce a video-Know your customer (KYC) facility for its customers opening savings accounts (SA).

 

6. RUSSIA TEST LAUNCHES ‘ANGARA A5’

•      Russia Successfully test launched ‘Angara A5’ – Heavy Lift Space Rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northwest Russia.

•      This is the 2nd successful test flight of the vehicle after 1st successful test flight in 2014.

•      Angara is a new series of space launchers being built by Russia after the collapse of Soviet Union.

•      Angara A5 will replace Proton M Rocket to carry Russia’s heaviest payloads into orbit.

 

7. AL HABTOOR TENNIS CHALLENGE

•      Indian tennis player Ankita Raina and Georgia’s Ekaterine Gorgodze clinched the ITF (International Tennis Federation) Doubles title at the  23rd Al Habtoor Challenge 2020 held in Dubai by defeating Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov (Spain) and Kaja Juvan (Slovakia).

•      This is Ankita Raina’s 3rd Doubles Title of the 2020 season.

•      The al Habtoor Challenge is a hard court event.

•      Ankita Ravinderkrishan Raina hails from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

•      She is the current Indian No.1 in both women’s singles (WTA Ranking – 180) and Doubles (WTA Ranking – 117).