Top 20 Current Affairs of 18 July 2020 NATIONAL AFFAIRS First online NISHTHA programme launched for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh by MHRD Union HRD (Human Resource Development) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Minister of State (MoS) for HRD Sanjay Dhotre have jointly launched the first online National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) programme for 1,200 key resources persons (KRPs) of Andhra Pradesh (AP), virtually from New Delhi. It is to be noted that, originally NISHTHA was launched in face-to-face mode in August 2019, but COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has affected the conduct of this programme, therefore, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has customised NISHTHA for an online mode through the DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals. Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya virtually flagged off 1st container ship from Kolkata Port to Agartala via Chattogram port (Bangladesh) On July 16, 2020, Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off the first trial container ship from Kolkata (West Bengal) to Agartala (Tripura) through Chattogram Port of Bangladesh in a virtual ceremony. This will not only provide an alternative and shorter route for India to connect it’s North East Region (NER) through Bangladesh but will also further boost India-Bangladesh maritime relations. This has been done under the Agreement on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for movement of India’s transit cargo through Bangladesh, the standard operating procedure (SOP) for which was signed and exchanged between both nations during the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visit to India in October 2019. NTPC signs MoU with NIIF to Explore Business Opportunities in Renewable Energy in India On 16th July 2020, The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) signs the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund(NIIF), acting through National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited(NIIFL) to seek investment opportunities in areas like renewable energy, power distribution and other areas of mutual interest in India. Sangeeta Kaushik, GM (BD- Domestic), NTPC and Rajiv Dhar, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer(COO) of NIIFL signed the MoU through a video conference. CBSE collaborates with IBM to integrate AI in High School Curriculum of 2020-2021 On 16th July 2020, The Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE), announced integration of Artificial Intelligence(AI) in the high school curriculum for the 2020-2021 academic year. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation). Harsimrat Kaur Badal virtually addressed the Digital Indo- Italian Business Mission on Food Processing’ On July 15, 2020, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal addressed the opening session of two day long Digital Indo- Italian Business Mission on Food Processing held virtually. This webinar consisted of digital conferences; trade fair, and B2B (business to business) meetings where 23 Italian companies virtually exhibited their products and services for end users and other industry players in India. The focus areas of the mission were Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, Packaging & Bottling. During the meet India and Italy were stated as natural partners with regards to the Food Processing Industry. ICWA-RIAC conference: India & Russia explores Active Joint Projects in Asia and Africa On 15th July 2020, India and Russia explores the active joint projects in Asia and Africa in the webinar on “India-Russia Relations in the Context of Post-Pandemic Global order” chaired TCA Raghavan, Director General of ICWA and organised by Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). The potential of digital technologies to activate economic relations and the reforms on the current negative trends. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS India’s CERT and Israel’s INCD inked MoU to expand cooperation in cyber security Due to a rapid increase in digitization during the last 5 months of global lockdown, India and Israel have signed an agreement to further expand their collaboration in dealing with cyber threats. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a unit of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD). It was signed by the Director-General (DG) of INCD, Yigal Unna, and India’s Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla. India Ranked 3rd in 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index; China Tops: Cushman & Wakefield In accordance with the “Cushman & Wakefield’s 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI)” India ranks third in the list of most-suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in terms of cost competitiveness and operating conditions. The index has been topped by China and followed by the United States (US) at 2nd rank. As per property consultant Cushman & Wakefield India is an upcoming manufacturing hub globally from an operating conditions and cost-competitiveness perspective. Global Skills Index 2020 Report: India Surges ahead the Peers in Business and Technology Skills The report of Global Skills Index 2020, an in depth view at the state of the skills across the world prepared by “Coursera”, World’s largest online learning platform shows that India Surges ahead of the peers in the business and technology skill sets because of the growing young population. BANKING & FINANCE NABARD Sanctioned Rs 795 crore to West Bengal for Reconstructing Infrastructure Damaged by Cyclone Amphan National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 795 crore to West Bengal to reconstruct infrastructure which was damaged by Cyclone Amphan(May). The state government appealed for Rs 1,028 crore from NABARD to repair the damage under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). NABARD has already provided Rs 145 crore under RIDF to the state as special liquidity support to enhance rural infrastructure considering the COVID-19 pandemic. ECONOMY & BUSINESS ICRA projects India’s GDP to contract by 9.5% in FY21 from earlier 5% ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency) projects India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) to contract by 9.5%( 9.5%) in FY2021 from 5% earlier forecasted as ongoing lockdowns in some states have affected the recovery seen in May and June. India’s economy to contract by 25% in the 1st quarter of FY21, in the 2nd quarter to contract by 12.4%, in the 3rd quarter to contract by 2.3% and in the 4th quarter to contract by 1.3%. AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS Oscar Winner Kate Winslet will Receive 2020 TIFF Tribute Actor Award on 45th Edition of TIFF On 16th July 2020, The Toronto International Film Festival(TIFF), announced that Kate Winslet will be receiving the 2020 TIFF Tribute Actor Award at the virtual event of the 45th edition of TIFF. Kate will receive the honour in the virtual gala on 15th September 2020, following her film, Francis Lee’s Ammonite in which she played a fossil hunter Mary Anning. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS Gabon Appointed its First Woman Prime Minister: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon appointed Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda(56), as the First Women Prime Minister of Gabon succeeding Julien Nkoghe Bekale, On 16 July 2020. She is the sixth PrimeMinister under Bongo’s Presidency since 2009. About Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda: • Roponda is an economist in public finance from Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance. • Raponda has served as Budget Minister since 2012. • She was elected as First Woman Mayor of Libreville (Capital of Gabon), from Bongo’s Gabonese Democratic Party in 2014. • She has served as the defence minister of Gabon since 2019. RBI Approves reappointment of Shyam Srinivasan as the MD & CEO of Federal Bank On 16th July 2020, The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) approved the reappointment of Shyam Srinivasan as the managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Federal bank Limited with effect from September 23, 2020. • Under Regulation 30 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), RBI approved the reappointment of Shyam after the completion of the current term which ends on 22nd September 2020, along with the remuneration proposed by the Federal Bank. ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS L&T Tech Services to Acquire 100% Stake in Orchestra Tech for about Rs 187 Crore L&T Technology Services (LTTS), the engineering services arm of Larsen and Toubro Group, informed that it will acquire a 100 % stake in Texas-based Orchestra Technology(Tech). The acquisition is an all cash deal of USD 25 million, or about Rs 187 crores. The amount will be paid in two tranches of USD 11 million (Rs 82.6 crore) and USD 14 million (Rs 105 crore). The deal is expected to close by December 2020. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY IIT-M Incubated Start-up, Modulus Housing Developed a Portable Hospital Unit, ‘MediCAB’ to Treat COVID-19 Patients Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M)-incubated start-up, Modulus Housing has developed a portable hospital unit, ‘MediCAB’, a decentralized approach to detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients. It can be installed anywhere within 2 hours by four people. • The startup has collaborated with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology(SCTIMST). This collaboration helps the startup to get inputs on certification and customizations necessary for the project. • Recently, MediCAB has been launched in the Wayanad district of Kerala to treat COVID-19 patients. OBITUARY Arjuna Awardee and Ace Para-Badminton Player Ramesh Tikaram Passed Away at 51 Arjuna awardee, para athlete and para-badminton player, Ramesh Tikaram passed away at 51 due to coronavirus in a Bengaluru hospital. He organized the World Cup for Para badminton in Bengaluru in 2002. Maharashtra’s First Woman SEC Neela Satyanarayanan Dies Neela Satyanarayanan (72), first woman Election Commissioner of Maharashtra and a praised Marathi author died of COVID-19 on July 15, 2020.
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