1. Central Government launched Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan
a) Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has launched a nationwide campaign, ‘Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan’ with the aim of creating mass awareness and capacity-building for safe and hygienic food.
b) The campaign focusses on preventing food borne diseases by implementing safety measures.
c) It is planned by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and its partners including Consumer Organisation VOICE and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI).
2. UNESCO declares Conakry as World Book Capital for 2017
a) The United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) has named Conakry, the capital of Guinea in West Africa as the World Book Capital for 2017.
b) This was decided by an international community of experts based on the quality and diversity of Conakry’s
initiatives for community development. The city’s well-structured budget and development goals that focussed on youth and literacy, resulted in its selection.
c) Every year, UNESCO identifies a city in the world for its quality of programmes to promote books and the habit of reading. The following institutions participated in the nomination process:
i) The International Publishers Association
ii) The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
iii) International Booksellers’ Federation
d) The year for selecting World Book Capital begins on World Book and Copyright Day , which is celebrated on 23rd April.
3. Archie Comics cartoonist Tom Moore passes away
a) Well known cartoonist Tom Moore passed away on July 20. He got immense popularity from 1953 to 1980 for creating the image of the fictional character -Archie Andrews.
b) Tom Moore was also an illustrator for comic strips like Snuffy Smith, Underdog and Mighty Mouse.
c) Archie Comics was originally created by John L. Goldwater in 1941.
4. India celebrates National Broadcasting Day
a) National Broadcasting day was celebrated nationwide on July 23rd. On the same day in 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company began organised radio broadcasting from its Bombay station.
b) On this occasion, All India Radio (AIR) organised a symposium in New Delhi on the subject, ‘Creation of New India and Broadcasting Medium’
c) AIR is one of the largest broadcasting organisations in the world in terms of the number of languages broadcast, the gamut of socio-economic and cultural diversity it caters to.
5. Glenmark Pharma’s inexpensive Type 2 diabetes drug launched
a) Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has launched a new drug called Teneligliptin for Type-2 diabetes.
b) The drug belongs to the gliptin class of drugs, which is currently a preferred method of treatment against Type-2 diabetes world over.
c) When the metformin drug is used as the first line of therapy, the Teneligliptin will fall in the second line of therapy as it is a selective DPP-4 inhibitor.
d) The company has launched the drug under two brand names Ziten and Zita Plus.
e) Currently, among the total 62 million diabetic patients in India, about 1.9 million are estimated to be using DPP-4 inhibitors.
6. BEE inked an agreement with RECPDCL for Partial Risk Guarantee Fund for Energy Efficiency
a) Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and REC Power Distribution Company Ltd. (RECPDCL) have signed an agreement on behalf of consortium between RECPDCL, REC Ltd. and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL).
b) The agreement aims to operationalise the Partial Guarantee Fund for Energy Efficiency (PRGFEE) to provide support to energy efficiency projects. This will prevent credit risk barriers faced in financing EESL.
c) PRGFEE is a financing mechanism under the Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development (FEEED). It is an initiative under National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency.
7. Sebastian Ortiz’s book ‘Ghosts of Calcutta’ released
a) Under the pseudonym, Sebastian Ortiz, the French Consul-General Fabrice Etienne has written a book titled ‘Ghosts of Calcutta’.
b) Originally written in French, the book was translated to English and published by Kolkata-based firm Sampark and launched by the French Ambassador in Delhi.
c) The book documents the writer’s visits to old cemeteries, decaying government buildings of the city in search of ghosts of the British era.
8. Indian American Amitoj Chhabra wins powerlifting championship 2015
a) 20-year-old Indian American Amitoj Chhabra has bagged the US Junior Powerlifting Championship 2015 title.
b) Chhabra squatted 485 pounds, bench pressed 325 pounds and deadlifted 573 pounds at the competition that was held at Las Vegas. He competed in 198-pound-weight class.
c) The championship was organised by United States Powerlifting Association.
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