1. 28th July as World Hepatitis Day
Every year on 28 July , the World Health Organization is observed as “World Hepatitis Day”.
- The day is recommended to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, inflammation of the liver that causes many health problems including liver cancer.
- Theme 2020 is “Hepatitis-free future”, with an emphasis on preventing hepatitis B in mothers and newborns.
- The date of 28 July was chosen because its Nobel-prize winning scientist, Dr. Baruch Blumberg’s birthday, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
- There are five main strains of hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E.
- Together, hepatitis is the most common cause of B and C deaths, killing 1.3 million people each year.
2. July 27 as CRPF Raising Day
On the 82nd Raising Day of the force, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted all CRPF personnel.
- It came into existence as the Crown Representative’s Police on 27 July 1939. It functions under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India.
- The CRPF’s primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgency.
3. According to UN World Wildlife Crime Report, India among biggest suppliers of Tiger body parts in the world
India and Thailand are the two main countries which are the suppliers of the illegal tiger products in the world according to the recently released United Nations World Wildlife Crime Report.
- India and Thailand are the main source countries which were traced in the shipments seized in international trade of tiger parts.
- The report also said that the shipments traced to both the countries accounted for 82 percent of the total whole tiger equivalents seized in the world in the same period.
- The medicines made of the bones of the tiger are used to heal bone, joint and ligament injuries. The most valuable body part of the tigers is their bones which are the most sought after parts of their body.
4. India trying setup its own Cotton Warehouse in Vietnam to boost Exports
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is to setup to boost exports of the fibre crop.
- A MoU is being worked out to export 1.5-2 million bales (of 170 kilograms each) of cotton to Bangladesh while the state-run CCI will also set up its own warehouse in Vietnam to boost cotton exports.
- Along with its agent Maharashtra State Cooperative Marketing Federation, CCI was able to sell 900,000 bales of cotton this season.
- The CCI has so far procured 12.1 million bales of cotton.
5. Tunisia elects interior minister Mechichi as the new prime minister
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has appointed the Interior Minister, Hichem Mechichi, as the new Prime Minister for the North African country.
- Mechichi will replace Elyes Fakhfakh, who resigned last week over allegations of conflict of interest.
- Mechichi was a counsellor to President Saied, handling legal matters and also previously chief of staff at the Ministry of Transport and also served in the Ministry of Social Affairs.
6. Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi takes Charge as commandant INA
Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, AVSM, NM has taken charge as the Commandant, Indian Naval Academy (INA).
- He handed over charge as the Commandant, Indian Naval Academy (INA) after a successful tenure of over 13 months.
- On 12 November 2019, under the Flag Officer’s leadership, INA was bestowed with the President’s Colour for rendering 50 years of yeoman service in shaping Naval leaders for Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Friendly Foreign Countries.
- He has worked as the Commandant, Naval Academy, and Commanding Officer, INS Mandovi, Goa during 2007-2009.
7. LG announced launch of macadamisation program in J&K
Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu has announced the launch of a Macadamisation Program for roads across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- This step is to taken to improve road conditions and give major relief to the public
- The announcement comes in the backdrop of grievances relating to poor condition of roads and the problems connected thereto, presented before the Lieutenant Governor during his tour as a part of his outreach programme.
- The Lieutenant Governor approved a program for 100 per cent macadamisation of all roads in J&K, including 11,000 kms of fair-weather roads.
- The Lieutenant Governor announced a release of Rs 200 crores to the Public Works Department (PWD) as the first tranche so that the macadamisation work on priority roads can commence.
8. Reliance Industries overtakes Exxon to become world’s No. 2 energy company
Reliance Industries Ltd, controlled by Asia’s richest man, toppled Exxon Mobil Corp to become the world’s largest energy company after Saudi Aramco.
- Exxon Mobil erased about $1 billion, while Reliance, which manages the biggest refinery complex, gained 4.3% in Mumbai adding $8 billion to take its market value to $189 billion.
- Aramco with a market capitalization of $1.76 trillion is the world’s biggest energy company.