Current Affairs Today 13th August 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 13th August 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. The International Left Handers Day is observed on August 13 every year to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left handers.
  2. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the platform for “Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest” via video conferencing.
  3. Reliance Foundation has stated that it has partnered US Agency for International Development (USAID) to launch the W-GDP Women Connect Challenge across India this year with an aim to bridge the gender digital divide in the country.
  4. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has announced a special scheme to revive lapsed policies named ‘Special Revival Campaign’.
  5. The micro-credit scheme of the government, PM Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANIDHI) to support the street vendors to meet their working capital requirements to tide over financial woes during the pandemic, has become quite popular in the country.
  6. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, in collaboration with Dell Technologies has launched Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0 (SEP 2.0) for young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).
  7. Aerospace startup venture Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired an upper-stage rocket engine, thus becoming the first private company in India to demonstrate the capability to build a homegrown rocket engine.
  8. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari addressed the ‘India@75 Summit: Mission 2022’ on 8 August in New Delhi, via video-conferencing.
  9. Mumbai has become the first city in India to have women symbols on traffic signals and signage, as a symbolic gesture towards gender equality in public spaces.
  10. The Swachh Bharat Mission Academy has been launched by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
  11. Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij said the government will soon launch a sero survey in the state to gauge the penetration of COVID-19 in the population and monitor its transmission trend.
  12. In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a massive online Integrated Multidisciplinary Professional Advancement Course for Teachers (IMPACT) training programme commenced in Srinagar under Samagra Shiksha.
  13. In Manipur, the Patriots’ Day is being observed today commemorating the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war during which many Manipuris sacrificed their lives to safeguard the independence of the State.
  14. Israel has shared the ‘state-of-the-art artificial intelligence-based technologies and high-end equipment’ with AIIMS, New Delhi, as part of the cooperative efforts between India and Israel to combat the deadly COVID 19 Pandemic in the world.
  15. Moderna Inc has announced that the US government has secured 100 million doses of a novel coronavirus vaccine, mRNA-1273, developed by this biotechnology company.
  16. Japan has signed its largest ever loan package worth dollar 3.1 billion for Bangladesh.
  17. Israel-headquartered irrigation equipment maker, Netafim has clinched an $85 million deal which will involve three new community irrigation projects in Karnataka.
  18. Saudi Arabia has ended its loan and oil supply to Pakistan, ending the decades-long friendship between the two countries.
  19. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, is the only Indian star to be listed among the top 10 world’s highest paid actors of 2020, released by Forbes magazine on 11 August 2020.
  20. India and Maldives signed a contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of the island nation.
  21. The Government has constituted a National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, to oversee all the aspects of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, including the identification of the effective vaccine, buying and financing of the purchase, as well as its distribution and administration.
  22. Union Home Minister’s Medals for Excellence in Investigation for 2020 have been awarded to 121 police personnel, including 21 women police officers.
  23. The Rotary Club of Madras East has conferred the MS Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2019 upon RS Paroda the Founder Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), New Delhi
  24. Journalists Nitin Sethi and Shiv Sahay Singh were declared winners of the Asian College of Journalism’s (ACJ) Award 2019 for Investigative Journalism and the K. P.
  25. Indian-origin Senator Kamala Devi Harris has been nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate in the US Presidential Elections coming up in 2020.
  26. Sameer Gehlaut, the co-founder and Chairman of Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd ( IBHFL) has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of the company, and taken up the role of Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director of IBHFL.
  27. Noted economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia has stepped down as Chairman of the economic think tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) on 8 August 2020, due to declining health.
  28. Soma Mondal has been selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) as the next chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
  29. India’s KN Ananthapadmanabhan has been included in ICC’s international panel of umpires following compatriot Nitin Menon’s promotion to the elite panel.
  30. FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers in Asia have been rescheduled to 2021.
  31. The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, will release a new book titled “Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World” on climate change with German environmental journalist, Franz Alt in November.
  32. Veteran sports journalist Gopal Krishna Menon has passed away. He was 93.
  33. Model-turned-fashion designer Simar Dugal has passed away after battling cancer. She was 52.
  34. A microwave device named ‘Atulya’ that can disinfect any premises in just 30 seconds, disintegrating COVID-19 virus was unveiled by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur.
  35. Zydus Cadila has launched Remdesivir under the brand name Remdac, used to treat patients suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19, in the Indian market.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

International Lefthanders Day observed on 13 August

  • The International Left Handers Day is observed on August 13 every year to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left handers.
  • And also, to raise awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed in a predominantly right-handed world.
  • The day was first observed in 1976 and was officially declared in 1997.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

‘Transparent Taxation – Honouring the Honest’ by the Prime Minister

  • The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the platform for “Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest” via video conferencing.
  • The platform, named as ‘Transparent Taxation – Honouring the Honest’ by the Prime Minister will carry forward the journey of the direct tax reforms in the country.
  • This platform has big reforms such as faceless assessment, faceless appeal, and taxpayers charter. Faceless assessment & taxpayers charter come in force from today, whereas faceless appeal service will be available from September 25.
  • The initiatives reflect our vision towards ‘minimum government, maximum governance’.
  • The virtual launch is being attended by various industrialists including, Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra and Uday Kotak.
  • PM’s vision is to empower the taxpayer, to provide a transparent system & to honour honest taxpayers.
  • To realise this vision, CBDT has given a framework & put in place this system.

Reliance Foundation to launch W-GDP WomenConnect Challenge

  • Reliance Foundation has stated that it has partnered US Agency for International Development (USAID) to launch the W-GDP Women Connect Challenge across India this year with an aim to bridge the gender digital divide in the country.
  • The Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) challenge supports private sector-led approaches that close the gender digital divide, expand business opportunities and empower women.
  • W-GDP was established by the US Government in February 2019 as the first whole-of-government approach to women’s economic empowerment.
  • It seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 by focusing on three pillars – Women Prospering in the Workforce, Women Succeeding as Entrepreneurs and Women Enabled in the Economy.
  • This program reached 12 million women across the globe in the very first year of its inception.

Extra Shots:

Reliance Foundation

  • Founded: 2010
  • Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Type: Private foundation
  • Headquarters location: Mumbai
  • Owners: Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani
  • Founder: Nita Ambani, Mukesh Ambani

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • Agency executives: John Barsa, Acting Administrator; Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator;
  • Founder: John F. Kennedy
  • Founded: 3 November 1961
  • Subsidiaries: Office of Transition Initiatives, Food for Peace, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Agency for International Development

LIC starts ‘Special Revival Campaign’ to revive lapsed policies

  • Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has announced a special scheme to revive lapsed policies named ‘Special Revival Campaign’.
  • This campaign is open from 10 August to 9 October during which customers can revive their individual lapsed policies.
  • Those policies that have lapsed during the premium- paying term and not completed policy term as on the date of revival, are eligible to be revived during the campaign.
  • The campaign is launched to benefit those policyholders who were not able to pay the premium due to unavoidable circumstances and their policy lapsed.
  • It always makes better sense to revive an old policy to restore cover.
  • The policies of specific eligible plans can be revived within five years from the date of the first unpaid premium subject to certain terms and conditions.

Extra Shots:

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

  • Chairperson: M R Kumar
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founder: Government of India
  • Founded: 1 September 1956

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Loans sanctioned under PM SVANIDHI scheme crosses 1 lakh

  • The micro-credit scheme of the government, PM Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANIDHI) to support the street vendors to meet their working capital requirements to tide over financial woes during the pandemic, has become quite popular in the country.
  • Within 41 days of the implementation of the scheme, the number of loan sanctions and the number of applications received under the PM SVANIDHI Scheme crossed the mark of 1 lakh and 5 lakhs respectively, from July 02, 2020.

PM-SVANIDHI

  • This scheme was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the ambit of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and it aims at facilitating collateral-free working capital loans up to Rs 10000 of 1-year tenure, to about 50 lakh vendors in the urban areas. If the loans are being paid regularly, there will be interest subsidy of 7% per annum and also cash-back up to Rs 1200 per annum on undertaking prescribed digital transactions and eligibility for enhanced next tranche of loan have also been provided.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

AIM & NIITI Ayog with Dell Technologies launched Student Entrepreneurship 2.0 Programme

  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, in collaboration with Dell Technologies has launched Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0 (SEP 2.0) for young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).
  • The programme was launched following the success of SEP 1.0.

Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0:

  • SEP 2.0 will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers.
  • The students will receive mentor support, end-user feedback, prototyping and testing support, intellectual property registration and patenting of ideas, processes, and products, manufacturing support, and the launch support of the product in the market.
  • The main objective of the programme aims to create over a million neoteric innovators and potential job creators of the country.
  • The Student Entrepreneurship Programme will encourage young aspiring school students, and create a value-adding recognition platform for innovative talent across the country.

Extra Shots:

NITI Aayog

  • Website: niti.gov.in
  • Formed: 1 January 2015
  • Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India
  • Jurisdiction: Government of India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Chairperson: Narendra Modi

Dell Technologies

  • CEO: Michael S. Dell
  • Founder: Michael S. Dell

India’s first upper-stage rocket engine test-fired by Skyroot Aerospace

  • Aerospace startup venture Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired an upper-stage rocket engine, thus becoming the first private company in India to demonstrate the capability to build a homegrown rocket engine.
  • The engine is 3-D printed and named as Raman, after the Nobel Laureate CV Raman.
  • It has fewer moving parts and weighs less than half of conventional rocket engines with similar capacity.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Addresses ‘India@75 Summit: Mission 2022’ for upliftment of MSME

  • The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari addressed the ‘India@75 Summit: Mission 2022’ on 8 August in New Delhi, via video-conferencing.
  • The event was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to look towards improving presence of MSME industry in the 115 identified aspirational districts of the country.

Mumbai becomes first Indian city to get female symbol on traffic signage

  • Mumbai has become the first city in India to have women symbols on traffic signals and signage, as a symbolic gesture towards gender equality in public spaces.
  • The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has installed female traffic signals, that display female icons sporting triangular frock, a shift from the default representation of men.
  • The symbols have been changed in 240 signals on 120 posts situated in 12 different road crossings near Mumbai’s Dadar area.

Extra Shots:

BMC

  • Founded: 1888, Mumbai
  • Municipal Commissioner: Iqbal singh Chahal IAS
  • Last election: 2017
  • Next election: 2022
  • Seats: 227
  • Subsidiary: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport

Jal Shakti Minister launches Swachh Bharat Mission Academy

  • The Swachh Bharat Mission Academy has been launched by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
  • The SBM academy was launched during the current week-long behaviour change campaign ‘GandagiMukt Bharat’.
  • The launch of SBM academy is a crucial part of the phase 2 of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
  • It will ensure behaviour change and promote the capacity building of the key stakeholders such as Swachhagrahis, PRIs members, community-based organizations, NGOs, SHGs etc.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Haryana to launch Sero Survey to determine Covid-19 exposure

  • Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij said the government will soon launch a sero survey in the state to gauge the penetration of COVID-19 in the population and monitor its transmission trend.
  • In collaboration with PGIMER, Chandigarh, the survey will be conducted in all 22 districts till August 20.
  • A serosurvey involves testing the blood serum of a group of individuals for the presence of antibodies against the infection to know who has been infected in the past and has now recovered.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

  • Capital: Chandigarh
  • Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
  • Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
  • National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park

IMPACT training programme commences in Srinagar under Samagra Shiksha

  • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a massive online Integrated Multidisciplinary Professional Advancement Course for Teachers (IMPACT) training programme commenced in Srinagar under Samagra Shiksha.
  • Based on need assessment, the short course entitled-IMPACT has been designed with comprehensive features to be conducted in three phases like Face to Face mode for five days, Field Work for twenty-one days and Reflection and Assessment for three days.
  • The course module is developed by faculty members of NCERT, New Delhi and 16 experts from the Union Territory of J&K.

Extra Shots:

Jammu & Kashmir:

  • Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
  • Lt Governor- Manoj Sinha
  • National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc

Manipur observes Patriots’ Day, commemorates heroes of Anglo-Manipuri war

  • In Manipur, the Patriots’ Day is being observed today commemorating the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war during which many Manipuris sacrificed their lives to safeguard the independence of the State.
  • The day is observed every year on the 13th August to pay homage to the great martyres.
  • It was on this day in 1891, brave Manipuris including the then Prince of Manipur Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General were hanged before the general public in the present Imphal area.

Extra Shots:

Manipur

  • Statehood Day: 21 January, 1972
  • Capital: Imphal
  • Governor: Najma Heptulla
  • Chief Minister: N. Biren Singh

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Israel provides AI-based technology and equipment to AIIMS

  • Israel has shared the ‘state-of-the-art artificial intelligence-based technologies and high-end equipment’ with AIIMS, New Delhi, as part of the cooperative efforts between India and Israel to combat the deadly COVID 19 Pandemic in the world.
  • The Ambassador of Israel to India has handed over the equipment and high-end technology to the AIIMS Director.
  • This will help in bringing more effectiveness and efficiency in the overall functioning of the COVID 19 related monitoring in the hospitals and healthcare centres.
  • This also includes innovative products designed to provide clinicians constant contact-free access to the vitals of the patients such as the heart rate and the respiratory rate. etc.
  • The technologies also include a 12-hour disinfection product called CPD that stays active to protect the surface against new attacks of contamination.

Extra Shots:

Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ Israeli Shekel

  • President: Reuven Rivlin

US partners with Moderna for 100 million doses of Covid19 vaccine

  • Moderna Inc has announced that the US government has secured 100 million doses of a novel coronavirus vaccine, mRNA-1273, developed by this biotechnology company.
  • This is part of the US Government’s goal of security early access to the safe and effective COVID 19 vaccines for the American people.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services has declared that the US Government has awarded Moderna $1.5 billion for 100 million doses of its experimental COVID 19 vaccine current undergoing the Phase III clinical trial.
  • Moderna will manufacture the vaccine doses whereas the clinical trials are underway since it will reduce the overall time required to launch the same.

Bangladesh to get largest ever dollar 3.1 billion loan package from Japan

  • Japan has signed its largest ever loan package worth dollar 3.1 billion for Bangladesh.
  • Announcing this in Dhaka. the loan under its Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be given for seven projects of Bangladesh under concessional terms.
  • The loan will cover the construction of Jamuna railway bridge in parallel to the existing Bangabandhu Bridge, expansion of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Projects and Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway improvement project among the seven projects.

Extra Shots:

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka

  • Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
  • Official Language: Bengali

Israel-based irrigation firm, Netafim secures USD 85 million deal to execute three new projects in Karnataka

  • Israel-headquartered irrigation equipment maker, Netafim has clinched an $85 million deal which will involve three new community irrigation projects in Karnataka.
  • These three projects will cover 66 villages and 35,000 farmers on 50,000 hectares area (123,500 acres) in the state of Karnataka (Nandwadgi and Singatalur regions).
  • Projects will be deployed over a period of two years and will include technical and agronomic support for a further five years.
  • A wide range of crops are planned for the area including onion, chili pepper, corn, peanuts, beans, sunflowers and various others.
  • These projects are an extension of the successful Ramthal community irrigation project in the state of Karnataka which was completed in 2017, and additional four projects in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which were secured by Netafim in 2018 and which are now under implementation.

Extra Shots:

Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ Israeli Shekel

  • President: Reuven Rivlin

Saudi Arabia ends loan, oil supply to Pakistan

  • Saudi Arabia has ended its loan and oil supply to Pakistan, ending the decades-long friendship between the two countries.
  • This was reported by a leading media organisation.
  • Pakistan has also been asked to pay back USD 1 billion to Saudi Arabia, which was given as a part of a $6.2 billion package announced by Saudi Arabia in November 2018.
  • The deals were signed during the visit of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Muhammed Bin Salman to Pakistan in February 2019.

Extra Shots:

Saudi Arabia (Capital/Currency): Riyad/ Saudi riyal

  • Crown Prince: Muhammed Bin Salman

Pakistan (Capital/Currency): Islamabad/Pakistani Rupee

  • Prime Minister: Imran Khan
  • President: Arif Alvi

RANKS AND INDICES

Akshay Kumar only Bollywood star to feature in Forbes’ highest-paid actors of 2020, Dwayne Johnson tops

  • Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, is the only Indian star to be listed among the top 10 world’s highest paid actors of 2020, released by Forbes magazine on 11 August 2020.
  • With total earnings of $48.5 million, Akshay is placed at sixth place in the list. Most of his income came from product endorsements.
  • The list takes in account the earnings between June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020.
  • The list has been topped by Wrestler-turned-movie star Dwayne Johnson, for a second straight year, with the total earning of $87.5 million.
  • Johnson is also known by his ring name The Rock.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India, Maldives ink contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of island nation

  • India and Maldives signed a contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll of the island nation.
  • These eco-tourism zones are part of grant projects being implemented under the High-Impact Community Development project (HICDP) scheme which involves a total grant assistance of 5.5 million US dollars to the Maldives.
  • Currently, there are 9 such high-impact projects being implemented in the Maldives.

Extra Shots:

Maldives (Capital/Currency): Male/ Maldivian rufiyaa

  • President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

RECENT COMMITTEES IN NEWS

Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 headed by Dr V K Paul

  • The Government has constituted a National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, to oversee all the aspects of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, including the identification of the effective vaccine, buying and financing of the purchase, as well as its distribution and administration.
  • The expert committee has been formed under the Chairmanship of by Dr V K Paul, Member Niti Aayog.
  • The Secretary (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) Rajesh Bhushan is the co-Chair of the committee.
  • The committee met for the first time on 12 August 2020.

Highlights of the Meeting

  • Conceptualization and implementation mechanisms for creation of a digital infrastructure for inventory management and delivery mechanism of the vaccine including tracking of vaccination process with particular focus on last mile delivery.
  • Broad parameters guiding the selection of COVID-19 vaccine candidates for the country
  • Financial resources required for procurement of COVID-19 vaccine
  • Available options for delivery platforms, cold chain and associated infrastructure for roll out of COVID-19 vaccination
  • Strategy and follow-up action on all possible scenarios to ensure equitable and transparent delivery of vaccine

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Union Home Minister’s Medals for Excellence in Investigation awarded

  • Union Home Minister’s Medals for Excellence in Investigation for 2020 have been awarded to 121 police personnel, including 21 women police officers.
  • Among these awardees, 15 are from the Central Bureau of Investigation, 10 each are from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra Police, 8 are from Uttar Pradesh Police and seven each are from Kerala and West Bengal Police.
  • The remaining are from the other states and UTs in the country.

The Union Home Minister has instituted five Police medals in order to recognize the contribution of the police personnel:

  • Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Model
  • Police Antarik Suraksha Seva Padak
  • Asadharan Assuchana Kushalata Padak
  • Utkrisht and Ati Utkrisht Seva Medals
  • Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation

MS Swaminathan award for environment protection conferred upon RS Paroda

  • The Rotary Club of Madras East has conferred the MS Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2019 upon RS Paroda the Founder Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), New Delhi
  • The award was presented for his outstanding contribution in the area of agricultural research, education and extension, especially in the field of conservation and management of agrobiodiversity.

ACJ Journalism Awards 2019 announced

  • Journalists Nitin Sethi and Shiv Sahay Singh were declared winners of the Asian College of Journalism’s (ACJ) Award 2019 for Investigative Journalism and the K. P. Narayana Kumar Memorial Award for Social Impact Journalism, respectively.
  • The awards were presented in a virtual ceremony by Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO), at the inauguration of the Class of 2021.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Indian-origin Kamala Harris nominated as US Vice President

  • Indian-origin Senator Kamala Devi Harris has been nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate in the US Presidential Elections coming up in 2020.
  • She is the first-ever black woman to be nominated for this post.
  • She has been nominated by the Democratic Presidential candidate, Joe Biden.
  • Kamala Devi Harris started as the Presidential candidate for the US Presidential elections scheduled in November 2020 but by the end of 2019, she suspended that campaign and became an ally of the present Prez candidate, Joe Biden.

Sameer Gehlaut Steps down as Chairman of Indiabulls Housing Finance

  • Sameer Gehlaut, the co-founder and Chairman of Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd ( IBHFL) has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of the company, and taken up the role of Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director of IBHFL.
  • Gehlaut has stepped down to take charge as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indiabulls Ventures Ltd, a subsidiary company of IBHFL.
  • Meanwhile, Subhash Sheoratan Mundra, the former deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India, has taken over as the Non-Executive Chairman of IBHFL.

Extra Shots:

Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd

  • Headquarters: Gurugram

Isher Judge Ahluwalia steps down as ICRIER chairperson

  • Noted economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia has stepped down as Chairman of the economic think tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) on 8 August 2020, due to declining health.
  • She was elected chairperson on August 8, 2005, and had held the position for 15 years
  • Isher will continue as Chairperson Emeritus, a position specially created for her.
  • Pramod Bhasin, has been appointed as the new Chairman of ICRIER, Prior to this, he was Vice Chair of the Board of Governors at ICRIER.

PESB selects Soma Mondal as next chairman of SAIL

  • Soma Mondal has been selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) as the next chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
  • She will be taking charge when the present Chairman Anil Chaudhary.

Extra Shots:

SAIL

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • CEO: Anil Kumar Chaudhary
  • Founded: 19 January 1954
  • Owner: Government of India (74.9%)

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan included in ICC’s panel

  • India’s KN Ananthapadmanabhan has been included in ICC’s international panel of umpires following compatriot Nitin Menon’s promotion to the elite panel.
  • The former Kerala spinner joins fellow Indians C Shamshuddin, Anil Chaudhary and Virender Sharma in the international panel and is now eligible to officiate in the ODI and T20 internationals apart from umpiring in the junior World Cup.
  • Ananthapadmanabhan,50, has officiated in all major domestic events including the IPL.
  • He also was the official in the Ranji Trophy final between Bengal.

Extra Shots:

ICC

  • CEO: Manu Sawhney
  • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Chairman: Imran Khwaja (interim)
  • Founded: 15 June 1909
  • Membership: 104 members

FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Asia rescheduled to 2021

  • FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers in Asia have been rescheduled to 2021.
  • FIFA and the Asian Confederation (AFC) jointly decided to reschedule the upcoming qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The qualification matches were originally scheduled to take place during the international match windows in October and November 2020.
  • The decision has been taken to protect the health and safety of all participants.
  • The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar in 2022.

Extra Shots:

FIFA

  • President: Gianni Infantino
  • Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
  • Founded at: Paris, France
  • Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
  • Senior Vice-President: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC)

Asian Confederation (AFC)

  • Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • President: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
  • General Secretary: Windsor John
  • Membership: 47 member associations
  • Subsidiary: ASEAN Football Federation

BOOKS & AUTHORS

A book titled “Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World” by Dalai Lama

  • The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, will release a new book titled “Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World” on climate change with German environmental journalist, Franz Alt in November.
  • It follows his 2019 publication dedicated to children, “The Seed of Compassion: Lessons from the Life and Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama“, his autobiography and a book on philosophy.
  • In 2018, “Ecology, Ethics, and Interdependence: The Dalai Lama in Conversation with Leading Thinkers on Climate Change” was published.

OBITUARY

Noted Sports Journalist GK Menon Passes away at 93

  • Veteran sports journalist Gopal Krishna Menon has passed away. He was 93.
  • He had worked with the Indian Express and The Times of India.
  • Menon, who was called George by his friends, played cricket at the club level and also was an active member of the Shivaji Park Gymkhana in Dadar, central Mumbai.

Famous Model and Fashion Designer Simar Dugal passes away at 52

  • Model-turned-fashion designer Simar Dugal has passed away after battling cancer. She was 52.
  • Simar was dubbed as “India’s first supermodel”.
  • She was known as one of few Indian models who broke the stereotypes and walked the ramp after getting married.
  • After her modelling career, she became a famous name in the Indian fashion world and ran an ethnic wear label.

MISCELLANEOUS

Microwave device ‘Atulya’ to disintegrate novel Coronavirus unveiled by Nitin Gadkari

  • A microwave device named ‘Atulya’ that can disinfect any premises in just 30 seconds, disintegrating COVID-19 virus was unveiled by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur.
  • The device is 100 per cent Made in India and has been manufactured under the aegis of the MSME.
  • ‘Atulya’ microwave like device can be used to disinfect any premises up to five metres area, besides surface areas, home and office furniture, beds, new boxes and even the contents of the boxes.
  • This equipment can be hand handled as its weight is mere three kilograms.

Zydus Cadila launches COVID-19 drug Remdesivir in India under brand name Remdac

  • Zydus Cadila has launched Remdesivir under the brand name Remdac, used to treat patients suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19, in the Indian market.
  • Priced at Rs 2,800 per 100 mg vial, Remdac is the most economical Remdesivir brand in India, Zydus Cadila said in a regulatory filing.
  • Zydus Cadila’s vaccine candidate ZyCov-D is now in phase II of the clinical trials.

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Zydus Cadila

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