Current Affairs Today 23rd June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 23rd June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. The World Humanist Day is celebrated every year around the world on the June solstice, which usually falls on June 21.
  2. United Nations Public Service Day is observed on 23 June.
  3. International Olympic Day is observed on 23 June.
  4. International Widows’ Day is observed on 23 June.
  5. Yes Bank has partnered with fintech startup “Affordplan” to launch ‘Swasth Card’, a co-branded healthcare card, under Swasth program.
  6. United Commercial Bank(UCO Bank) partnered with four insurers namely, State Bank of India(SBI) Life Insurance Company, the Oriental Insurance Company and Religare Health Insurance Company, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company to offer various insurance products for its customers.
  7. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Monday launched paperless customs export processing, a move aimed at trade facilitation.
  8. NITI Aayog in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF) is to launch the “Decarbonising Transport in India” project on 24 June.
  9. Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh has reviewed the COVID status and healthcare facility in Aspirational districts with special focus on North East.
  10. Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal launched the Food Processing Edition of the Exclusive Investment Forum. Invest India has designed this forum of unique sectoral series to conduct detailed conversations between global industry leaders and key decision makers from the highest levels of the Central and State Governments.
  11. The Government of India on its way to create an AtmaNirbhar Bharat had allocated Rs 2000 crore for 50,000 Made-in-India ventilators.
  12. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Budgam District Magistrate inaugurated two-day Sensitization-cum-Awareness Workshop yesterday for service providers affiliated with different types of business activities, particularly shopkeepers all across the district.
  13. Following a global economic crisis since the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic back in March 2020, the United States Government has decided to suspend ‘Green Cards and Non-Migrant Work Visas’ till the 31st December 2020 in an effort to protect jobs for the citizens of the United States.
  14. The Minister of State (MoS) for Shipping (Independent charge) and Chemicals & Fertilisers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated India’s one the largest first Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020.
  15. India is participating at the Cannes Film Festival 2020.
  16. Despite low returns, the Treasury Securities (are of four types- Bills, Notes, Bonds, Inflation-Protected Securities) backed by the United States Treasury Department is one of the safest assets for any Central Bank around the world.
  17. Vijay Khanduja has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
  18. Panchanathan is the second Indian-American ever to be nominated to the prestigious science position.
  19. World Athletics on June 22 announced that Laurent Boquillet has been appointed as the Head of Global Development.
  20. India’s reigning national tennis champion Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has been elected by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to the ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panels.
  21. Wrestling legend and WWE whiz “The Undertaker” has announced his retirement from World Wrestling Entertainment.
  22. Nagaland State Sports Academy at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima has been selected to be established as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence, KISCE.
  23. The ISRO has initiated a 10,000 crore project- Gaganyaan to send humans to space by 2022, in accordance to which, ISRO has received a patent for its Liquid Cooling and Heating Garment (LCHG) for astronauts to use in space for protection from hot and cold environments.
  24. Best-selling author and the Director of Nehru Centre, London(since 2019) Amish Tripathi released his fiction book,”Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India”. The book is published by Westland Publications Pvt Ltd.
  25. Former Indian kabaddi players M Ilaiah Yadav passed away in city while undergoing treatment for lung infection.
  26. Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi has died as a result of complications after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. He was 56.
  27. Kirk R. Smith, a pioneering researcher in the deadly risks of indoor air pollution in the developing world and an early voice raising concern about the health consequences of climate change, died at the age of 73 at his Berkeley home, following a stroke and subsequent cardiac arrest.
  28. Major General (Retd) Lachhman Singh Lehl passed away.
  29. In its June 13th, 2020 guidelines for Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry as a part of investigational therapy added ‘Remdesivir’ only for restricted emergency use.
  30. Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved has launched its medicine for COVID-19 named Coronil.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Humanist Day observed on 21 June

  • The World Humanist Day is celebrated every year around the world on the June solstice, which usually falls on June 21.
  • The day aims to spread awareness of Humanism as a philosophical life stance and means to effect change in the world.
  • The day has been organised by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), since 1980.
  • IHEU is the global federation for Humanist, atheist, rationalist, ethical culture, secularist and other freethought groups.

Extra Shots:

IHEU:

Humanists International is an international non-governmental organisation championing secularism, human rights and equality, motivated by humanist values.

  • Founded: 1952
  • President: Andrew Copson
  • Founded at: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
  • Subsidiaries: Humanists UK, National Secular Society, Council for Secular Humanism, Young Humanists International
  • Founders: Julian Huxley, H. J. Blackham, Jaap van Praag

United Nations Public Service Day is observed on 23 June

  • United Nations Public Service Day is observed on 23 June.
  • The day marks the important role and the dedication of public servants during the crisis.
  • The day is to highlight the importance of public service and the valiant people who dedicate their lives to the nation.

Events:

  • The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) & the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea are organizing an outreach and resource platform from 15-30 June.
  • The aim of the event is to honour and thank the work of public servants globally and focus on the critical role frontline public servants have been playing in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

History:

  • On 20 December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution 57/277 and designated 23 June as Public Service Day. The day was designated to celebrate the virtue & value of public service to the community. The day also highlights the contribution of public service in the development process. The day focuses to recognize the work of public servants and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector.
  • The United Nations established the UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA) programme in 2003. It was reviewed in 2016 to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNPSA was initiated with an aim to reward & promote innovation and excellence in public services by recognizing the creative achievements and contributions of public institutions.

Extra Shots:

UN:

  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
  • Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish;
  • Secretary general: António Guterres

International Olympic Day is observed on 23 June

  • International Olympic Day is observed on 23 June.
  • The day is celebrated by people across the world.
  • On 23 June 2020, the Olympic Movement is to celebrate Olympic Day by creating the world’s largest 24 hours digital-first Olympic.
  • The 2020 edition is the first to be celebrated virtually.
  • The day is celebrated to ensure that people can all still #StayActive in the safest way possible despite restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olympic Day History:

  • The beginning of Olympic dates back to 1947. Doctor Josef Gruss, a Czech IOC member, presented the idea of the observation of the World Olympic Day at the 41st Session of the International Olympic Committee in Stockholm in 1947.
  • He proposed a day be set aside to celebrate everything that the Olympics stands for.
  • It got approved at the 42nd IOC Session in St Moritz in January 1948.
  • The National Olympic Committees were given the charge to organize International Olympic Day.
  • The date, 23 June, was chosen to celebrate the special moment in the history of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which was established at the Sorbonne, Paris, on 23 June 1894, where Pierre de Coubertin rallied the revival of the Olympic Games.

Extra Shots:

IOC:

  • Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
  • President: Thomas Bach
  • Honorary President: Jacques Rogge
  • Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France
  • Director General: Christophe De Kepper
  • Founders: Pierre de Coubertin, Demetrios Vikelas

International Widows Day is observed on 23 June

  • International Widows’ Day is observed on 23 June.
  • A million of widows across the globe live in poverty, and without any substantial support.
  • Widows, and people dependent on them, face extreme poverty, a lot of injustice, among other societal.
  • The day aims to address the issue that widows and their children face in several countries.

Aim & Objective:

It aims to provide them with information on access to:

  • a fair share of the inheritance, productive resources and land
  • social protection & pension that is not based on marital status alone
  • equal pay & decent work
  • education & training opportunities

Objective:

  • The day was initiated to empower widows to support themselves and their families also mean addressing social stigmas that create exclusion, and discriminatory or harmful practices.
  • The day urges all the governments to take necessary action to uphold their commitments to ensure the rights of widows as enshrined in international law, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

History:

  • The United Nations passed the resolution A/RES/65/189 and observe International Widows’ Day since 2011. The aim is to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they need. The day provides an opportunity to take action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows.

BANKING & FINANCE

Yes Bank partners with Affordplan to launch “Swasth Card”

  • Yes Bank has partnered with fintech startup “Affordplan” to launch ‘Swasth Card’, a co-branded healthcare card, under Swasth program.
  • YES BANK’s wallet has also been integrated on Affordplan Swasth to enable wallet QR scan for making payments to merchant partners empanelled on the Affordplan Swasth app. Equipped with a chip-enabled card, digital wallet, goal-based savings, loans, and insurance, Swasth program extends access to a family seeking curative as well as preventive care.

Highlights of Swasth Card:

  • Access to goal-based savings projection chart for medical treatment based on treatment inputs.
  • Access to healthcare services and treatments at a discounted price.
  • No documentation required to apply for the card, full KYC to be done within 24 months.
  • Flexible recharges from Rs 100 up to a maximum balance of Rs 1 lakh.
  • Cashback benefits offered to enable savings on expenses related to OPD consultation, diagnostics, medicines and In-Patient Department (IPD) treatments.
  • Access to loan facilities for IPD treatments, in case a customer faces liquidity issue. The loan for the treatment is disbursed directly to the hospital.
  • Basic cover against accidental hospitalization, disability, or death.
  • The program has an inbuilt rewards platform which provides wellness-related products and services in the form of rewards and incentives to customers.
  • Contactless, eliminates cash transactions for the safety of customers at hospitals and pharmacy stores.

Extra Shots:

Yes Bank

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar.
  • Tagline: Experience our Expertise.

UCO Bank tie up with four insurers to offer various insurance products

  • United Commercial Bank(UCO Bank) partnered with four insurers namely, State Bank of India(SBI) Life Insurance Company, the Oriental Insurance Company and Religare Health Insurance Company, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company to offer various insurance products for its customers.
  • This tie up will help to re-establish the bank’s commitment to its customers for their financial well being.
  • With this tie up the bank will offer a broad range of insurance products.
  • UCO Bank signs a ‘bancassurance’ pact with SBI Life Insurance to provide insurance solutions to the customers of UCO bank at its 3,086 branches spread across the country.

Extra Shots:

UCO bank:

  • Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
  • MD & CEO: Atul Kumar Goel

SBI Life Insurance Company:

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • MD & CEO: Mahesh Kumar Sharma

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

CBIC launches paperless customs export processing

  • The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Monday launched paperless customs export processing, a move aimed at trade facilitation.
  • Chairman CBIC Sh. M Ajit Kumar and Members of the Board launched Paperless Customs Export processing under Turant Customs today through video conferencing
  • It is an initiative to promote Ease of Doing Business and enhanced use of technology.
  • Under this initiative, a secure QR core enabled PDF LEO (Let Export Order) copy and Export Gatepass copy will be sent electronically to the exporters immediately.
  • As part of efforts to take India amongst top 50 countries in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, the CBIC had last year announced reform measure — Turant Customs — for speedy clearance of goods at air and sea ports.

Extra Shots:

CBIC:

  • Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar
  • Elected officer responsible: Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister of India
  • Founded: 1 January 1964
  • Governing body: Government of India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Subsidiary: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

NITI Aayog, ITF to launch Decarbonising Transport

  • NITI Aayog in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF) is to launch the “Decarbonising Transport in India” project on 24 June. The project intends to develop a pathway towards a low-carbon transport system for India.
  • The project will be launched by ITF Secretary-General Young Tae Kim and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

Decarbonising Transport in India:

  • The project will inform the transport and climate stakeholders in India about planned project activities.
  • The project will provide an opportunity to provide inputs regarding India’s transport challenges and how it can be related to CO2 reduction ambitions. The discussion will help to focus the project further on India’s specific needs and circumstances.
  • Decarbonising Transport in India project will design a tailor-made transport emissions assessment framework for India.
  • It will provide the government with a detailed understanding of current & future transport activity and the related CO2 emissions as a basis for their decision-making.
  • The project is carried out in the wider context of the International Transport Forum’s “Decarbonising Transport” initiative.
  • This project is a part of the Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies (DTEE) family of projects, which supports transport decarbonisation across different world regions.
  • The launch ceremony will be available on YouTube Livestream at https://youtu.be/l2G5x5RdBUM

Extra Shots:

NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog:

  • Headquarters: New Delhi.
  • Chairperson: Narendra Modi.
  • Chief Executive Officer(CEO):Amitabh Kant.
  • Vice Chairperson: Rajiv Kumar

ITF:

  • The International Transport Forum is an inter-governmental organisation within the OECD system. It is the only global body with a mandate for all modes of transport. It acts as a think tank for transport policy issues and organises the annual global summit of transport ministers.
  • Headquarters location: Paris, France

Centre sanctions Rs 190 cr for augmentation of healthcare facilities in North Eastern States

  • Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh has reviewed the COVID status and healthcare facility in Aspirational districts with special focus on North East.
  • He also disclosed that in the wake of COVID pandemic, Ministry of DoNER has decided to sanction 190 crore rupees for augmentation of healthcare facility in the eight North Eastern States, particularly for developing infrastructure for management of infectious diseases.
  • Union Minister said, accordingly, proposals have been received from the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland, while the proposal from the eighth State of Tripura is awaited.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is a Government of India ministry, established in September 2001, which functions as the nodal Department of the Central Government to deal with matters related to the socio-economic development of the eight States of Northeast India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim

  • Officeholder: Jitendra Singh (MOS independent charge)
  • Founded: September 2001
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Headquarters: Vigyan Bhavan Annexe, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi
  • Annual budget: 3,000 crores INR (2018-19 est., US$420 million)

Harsimrat Kaur Badal launches Food Processing Edition of Exclusive Investment Forum

  • Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal launched the Food Processing Edition of the Exclusive Investment Forum. Invest India has designed this forum of unique sectoral series to conduct detailed conversations between global industry leaders and key decision makers from the highest levels of the Central and State Governments.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to food processing in India.

  • Departments: National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Annual budget: 1,400 crores INR (2018-19 est., US$200 million)
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Founded: 1947
  • Officeholders: Niranjan Jyoti (Minister of State), Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Minister)

Rs 2000 Crore from PM CARES Fund allocated for 50,000 Made-in-India Ventilators

  • The Government of India on its way to create an AtmaNirbhar Bharat had allocated Rs 2000 crore for 50,000 Made-in-India ventilators.
  • The entire sum of Rs 2000 crore was allocated from PM CARES Fund Trust.
  • These ventilators will be supplied to various government-run COVID hospitals based on priority across the country.
  • To date, a total of 1340 ventilators have already been delivered out of 2923 that have been manufactured.
  • A total of 14,000 ventilators will be delivered by 30th June to various government-run COVID hospitals across the country.
  • Out of the total 50,000 ventilators, 30,000 will be manufactured by the state-owned company- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

NOTE: From PM CARES Fund, a sum of Rs 1000 crore was also released for the welfare (arranging food, accommodation, medical treatment, etc) of migrant labour in the country.  Maharashtra with Rs 181 crore was the highest recipient for this sum followed by Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu with Rs 103 and Rs 83 crore respectively.

PM CARES Fund

  • Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARE) Funds is a dedicated national fund that was created on 28th March 2020
  • The fund was created for raising funds for providing help to the affected during any sort of distress situation or emergency (such as COVID-19 pandemic) in the country.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

J&K, Budgam DM inaugurates two-day Sensitization-cum-Awareness Workshop

  • In Jammu and Kashmir, the Budgam District Magistrate inaugurated two-day Sensitization-cum-Awareness Workshop yesterday for service providers affiliated with different types of business activities, particularly shopkeepers all across the district.
  • The aim of organizing such workshops is to impart training to stakeholders by various speakers consisting of trained medicos and other experienced persons currently dealing with such emergencies amid COVID-19 pandemic.
  • They will also prepare them to follow all guidelines, instructions as prescribed by the Administration to keep themselves and customers safe and secure from any effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The orientation workshop is being organized by District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), District Administration, Budgam in close coordination with District Health Authorities and other concerned and will run for two consecutive days.

Extra Shots:

Jammu & Kashmir:

  • Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
  • Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
  • 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

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

U.S. Temporarily Suspends ‘Green Cards & Non-Migrant Work Visas’ till 31st December 2020

  • Following a global economic crisis since the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic back in March 2020, the United States Government has decided to suspend ‘Green Cards and Non-Migrant Work Visas’ till the 31st December 2020 in an effort to protect jobs for the citizens of the United States.
  • The executive order was signed by the United States President Donald Trump on 22nd June 2020.
  • The suspension of Green Card and Non-migrant work visas will create around 5,25,000 jobs in the United States. Due to COVID-19, as per reports, a record 47 million could lose their jobs in the United States.

Suspended Work Visas

  • H-1B
  • H-4 for some H-1B spouses
  • H-2B for low skill workers
  • L-1 for Intra-Company Transfers
  • J Visas for Educational and Cultural Workers Reform in H-1B

Impact on India

  • Every year H-1B Visas are issued to 85,000 only, out of these, as per the records the largest beneficiaries of the visa programme was the Indians.
  • A more than 70 percent of the total 85,000 beneficiaries are from India.

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

Minister Mandaviya inaugurated First 2020 Virtual Healthcare and Hygiene EXPO

  • The Minister of State (MoS) for Shipping (Independent charge) and Chemicals & Fertilisers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated India’s one the largest first Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020.

Highlights:

  • The Expo has been organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
  • Virtual Healthcare and Hygiene EXPO 2020 is the first-ever largest virtual exhibition in India.
  • The event will be virtually made live daily from 22-26 June 2020.
  • This is a step that marks that the business will happen virtually as Digital India is now making a way forward.
  • The Expo will help in ramping up domestic production in Pharmaceutical Sector and Health & Hygiene Sector.

Extra Shots:

FICCI:

  • Formed: 1927
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, India
  • President: Sangita Reddy

Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated 2020 Virtual India Pavilion at Cannes Film Market

  • India is participating at the Cannes Film Festival 2020.
  • The film festival began with the e-inauguration of the Virtual India Pavilion by Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.
  • The Festival will be held from 22-26 June 2020.

Highlights:

  • The virtual edition of the Cannes Film Market is aimed at exemplifying togetherness and resilience amid the COVID-19 crisis.
  • India has sent two films, MaiGhat: Crime No 103/200 (Marathi) and Hellaro (Gujarati), to Cannes from India.
  • The two movies are the National Film Award-winning movies in the Market.
  • The film festival is held in its virtual mode.
  • The festival will host B2B meetings and have a series of round table sessions each day on various aspects of the media and entertainment industry with panelists participating from the world over as also B2G and G2G meetings.

Extra Shots:

The Cannes Festival, until 2003 called the International Film Festival and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world.

  • Location: Cannes, France
  • Founded: 20 September 1946; 73 years ago (as International Film Festival)
  • Awards: Palme d’Or, Grand Prix

RANKS AND INDICES

India becomes 12th Largest Holder of US Government Securities at April 2020 end

  • Despite low returns, the Treasury Securities (are of four types- Bills, Notes, Bonds, Inflation-Protected Securities) backed by the United States Treasury Department is one of the safest assets for any Central Bank around the world.
  • With USD 157.4 billion at the end of April 2020, India has become the 12th largest holder of United States Government Securities.
  • India’s holding touched an all-time record high of USD 177.5 billion at the end of February 2020 but was reduced to USD 156.5 billion at the end of February 2020 but was reduced to USD 156.5 billion at the end of March 2020.
  • This significant drop was due to the financial impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
  • As economic uncertainties increased following lockdowns in most countries across the world, securities were sold by India in the month of March.

Top 5 Countries as per US Government Security holdings (at the end of April 2020)

  • Japan- USD 1.266 Trillion
  • China- USD 1.073 Trillion
  • United Kingdom- USD 368.5 Billion
  • Ireland- USD 300.2 Billion
  • Luxembourg- USD 265.5 Billion

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Vijay Khanduja appointed India’s next Ambassador to Zimbabwe

  • Vijay Khanduja has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
  • He is presently serving as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).
  • Vijay Khanduja will replace R. Masakui as the next Ambassador of India to Romania.

Extra Shots:

 Zimbabwe (Capital/Currency): Harare/United States Dollar.

  • President of Zimbabwe: Emmerson Mnangagwa

U.S. Senate appoints Sethuraman Panchanathan as head of NSF

  • Panchanathan is the second Indian-American ever to be nominated to the prestigious science position.
  • The U.S. Senate has confirmed eminent Indian-American scientist Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation, a top American body supporting fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering.
  • Panchanathan, 58, from the Arizona State University, would head the NSF, the top American science funding body that has an annual budget of USD 7.4 billion.

Extra Shots:

NSF: The National Science Foundation is an independent agency of the United States government, that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health.

  • Agency executive: Kelvin Droegemeier, Acting Director
  • Headquarters: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
  • Annual budget: $8.28 billion for 2020
  • Founder: Vannevar Bush
  • Founded: 10 May 1950
  • Motto: Where Discoveries Begin

World Athletics appoints Laurent Boquillet as new Head of Global Development

  • World Athletics on June 22 announced that Laurent Boquillet has been appointed as the Head of Global Development.
  • World Athletics mentioned that the global search to fill out the new position was conducted in January 2020.

Laurent Boquillet:

  • Laurent Boquillet spent his entire career in athletics, in a diverse range of roles and most recently as the CEO of the European Athletics Championships Paris 2020. Laurent started out in a sport as a professional triathlete between 1984-1990. It also included being crowned European Champion in 1986. He had worked in the marketing and commercial side of athletics managing elite athletes.

Extra Shots:

World Athletics

  • Headquarters: Monaco
  • Founded: 17 July 1912, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Membership: 214 member federations
  • Leader: Sebastian Coe
  • Nominations: Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of Emojis
  • Type of business: Sports governing body

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

National Champion Niki Poonacha elected to ITF Men’s Player Panel

  • India’s reigning national tennis champion Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has been elected by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to the ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panels.
  • He will represent the Asia-Oceania zone in men’s player panel.
  • Poonacha is one of the two members from Asia-Oceania zone, to be selected for the panel. The other member is Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei.
  • The ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panel will provide a forum for players to provide their input on various matters related to how the ITF Tour is run.

Extra Shots:

ITF:

  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
  • Membership: 211 national associations
  • President: David Haggerty
  • Type of business: Federation of national associations
  • Founded: 1 March 1913
  • Formation: 1 March 1913; 107 years ago

WWE legend The Undertaker announces retirement

  • Wrestling legend and WWE whiz “The Undertaker” has announced his retirement from World Wrestling Entertainment.
  • The Undertaker’s last match was against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. His real name is Mark Calaway.
  • He conceived on March 24, 1965, in Texas, US. The Undertaker started his expert vocation in 1987.
  • He made his WWE debut in 1990’s Survivor Series occasion and went on to become one of the most iconic stars of the WWE as his ‘The Deadman”.
  • He enlisted consecutive 21 triumphs in WrestleMania.

Extra Shots:

WWE:

  • CEO: Vince McMahon
  • Headquarters: Stamford, Connecticut, United States
  • Founded: 21 February 1980, South Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Massachusetts, United States
  • Founders: Vince McMahon, Vincent J. McMahon, Linda McMahon

Nagaland Sports Academy, Kohima selected to be established as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence

  • Nagaland State Sports Academy at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima has been selected to be established as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence, KISCE.
  • In the first phase of setting up KISCE, Sports Ministry has identified state-owned sports facilities in eight states of India.
  • They are Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha.
  • In a press release, Adviser for Youth Resources and Sports, Zale Neikha expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, Union Sports Minister and State Chief Minister for recognizing the effort and giving the opportunity to the state to upgrade its sporting facilities into a National-level Centre of Excellence.

Extra Shots:

Khelo India Youth Games, formerly Khelo India School Games, means Play India Youth Games, held annually in January or February, are the national level multidisciplinary grassroot games in India held for two categories, namely under-17 years school students and under-21 college students.

  • First event: 2018
  • Last event: 2020
  • Purpose: Grassroot talent hunt
  • Abbreviation: KIYG
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Occur every: Annual

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

ISRO Receives Patent for Liquid Cooling and Heating Garment for Astronauts

  • The ISRO has initiated a 10,000 crore project- Gaganyaan to send humans to space by 2022, in accordance to which, ISRO has received a patent for its Liquid Cooling and Heating Garment (LCHG) for astronauts to use in space for protection from hot and cold environments.

Highlights of LCHG:

  • It is designed for long term use without any impact on the wearer in terms of skin irritation or infection and is low in cost of manufacture according to specifications filed by the organisation with the Patent office in 2016.
  • Its outer layer is made of polymeric fabric net and an inner layer of polymeric fabric tricoting, which contacts the skin. It will protect our astronauts from hot and cold environments with comfort temperatures.
  • These are also used in military applications, firefighting and also for personal cooling and heating purposes in extreme temperature and humidity conditions that exist in the workplace.
  • The coolant flow rate is 100ml/minute and the heat transfer fluid rate is 50-1000 ml per minute.

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ISRO:

  • Headquarters: Bengaluru
  • Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
  • Founded: 15 August 1969
  • Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
  • Subsidiary: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Amish Tripathi Released the Book ”Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India”

  • Best-selling author and the Director of Nehru Centre, London(since 2019) Amish Tripathi released his fiction book,”Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India”. The book is published by Westland Publications Pvt Ltd.
  • The book is about the Indian King Suheldev who struggles to defend his homeland, makes tremendous personal sacrifices, shows glorious leadership & unites everyone in the country irrespective of their religion, caste, region, or status in society.
  • Idea behind the book– To bring national awareness about the ignored pages of Indian history.

OBITUARY

Former international kabaddi player Ilaiah passes away

  • Former Indian kabaddi players M Ilaiah Yadav passed away in city while undergoing treatment for lung infection.
  • He was 65.
  • Ilaiah, who also captained the State team, retired from GHMC service

Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi passes away

  • Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi has died as a result of complications after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. He was 56.
  • Radhi scored what remains Iraq’s only World Cup finals goal in 1986 against Belgium.
  • Radhi, a striker, led Iraq to victory in the Gulf Cups of 1984 and 1988, when he was voted Asian footballer of the year.
  • He fled Iraq in 2006 after its Olympic Committee head was kidnapped during the height of the sectarian violence that followed the US-led invasion of 2003.

Kirk R. Smith, Nobel Prize recipient and environmental health giant passes away

  • Kirk R. Smith, a pioneering researcher in the deadly risks of indoor air pollution in the developing world and an early voice raising concern about the health consequences of climate change, died at the age of 73 at his Berkeley home, following a stroke and subsequent cardiac arrest.
  • Smith was a professor of global environmental health at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health and director of the Collaborative Clean Air Policy Centre in New Delhi.
  • He was an environmental titan who championed the poor and disenfranchised, especially rural women and children in the developing world.

Major General (Retd) Lachhman Singh Lehl passes away

  • Major General (Retd) Lachhman Singh Lehl passed away.
  • He was one of India’s finest military brains and one of its last surviving officers to have taken part in both the 1948 and 1971 wars.
  • He was commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in 1943.
  • Lachhman Singh Lehl took part within the 1948 war in Jhangar area of Jammu and Kashmir as a captain and commanded a division within the 1971 war.
  • He received the Vir Chakra, the third highest gallantry award in India for his role as a forward observer within the 50 Para Brigade.

MISCELLANEOUS

Cipla’s ‘Cipremi’ gets approval for Treatment of COVID-19 Patients in India

  • In its June 13th, 2020 guidelines for Clinical Management Protocol for COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry as a part of investigational therapy added ‘Remdesivir’ only for restricted emergency use.
  • A week after, on 21st June 2020, Hetero and Cipla Pharmaceuticals were granted approval by the Drug Controller General of India for the production and marketing of the antiviral drug under its respective generic names.
  • The United States-based biopharmaceutical company, Gilead Sciences is the developer of the drug. In May 2020 Cipla was granted the voluntary non-exclusive by Gilead Science for manufacturing and marketing of the drug in India under generic drug in India under generic drug name ‘CIPREMI’.
  • Japan was the first country to approve Remdesivir drug as a treatment for COVID-19.
  • At present Remdesivir is only available in the injectable method.
  • On 22nd June 2020, Gilead Sciences had announced had it will soon start Phase I trial for the inhaled version of Remdesivir.

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Cipla:

  • Founder: Khwaja Abdul Hamied
  • Founded: 1935
  • CEO: Umang Vohra
  • Headquarters: Mumbai

Patanjali launches Ayurvedic medicine for Coronavirus

  • Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved has launched its medicine for COVID-19 named Coronil.
  • During the launch of the medicine at Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Baba Ramdev said that Patanjali has prepared the first Ayurvedic-clinically controlled, research, evidence and trial based medicine for COVID19.
  • He said, their clinical trial found that 69 per cent  of the infected persons  tested recovered from COVID-19 within three days, while 100 per cent  of them  recovered within a week.

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Patanjali Ayurved

This post was last modified on July 21, 2020 9:37 pm

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