Current Affairs Today 26th and 27th July 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 26th and 27th July 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 since the year 1999, to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil conflict.
  2. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel celebrated its 82nd raising day of the paramilitary force on 27th July 2020.
  3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed an agreement for extending a $400-million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka.
  4. Government of India (GoI) has amended certain Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS), including the standard relating to leases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
  5. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the ‘World Class State of Art Honey Testing Laboratory’ in Anand, Gujarat through Video Conference.
  6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched high throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27 July 2020 through video conferencing.
  7. The Indian Railways is constructing the world’s first electrified double-stack container tunnel, between the Aravalli hills, on the railway’s Western Dedicated Freight Corridor near Haryana’s Sohna
  8. Government has banned 47 more Chinese apps.
  9. The fifth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission will begin from 1st of next month to rescue Indians stranded abroad. It will continue till 31st August this year.
  10. Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu has announced the launch of a ‘Macadamisation Program’ for the improvement of roads across Jammu and Kashmir.
  11. The Himachal Pradesh government is according to high priority to enhance green cover and environmental protection.
  12. In Madhya Pradesh, state-wide online training is being provided by the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development regarding the role of Panchayats and community in prevention, control and management of Covid-19. This series of division-wise training will run till August 7.
  13. In Bihar, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up two temporary hospitals of five hundred bed to treat Corona patients.
  14. Government of India (GoI) has sent $1 million worth of anti-tuberculosis medicine to North Korea per a request from the World Health Organization (WHO).
  15. India and the United Kingdom virtually held the 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting on 24 July 2020. It was co-chaired by Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for International Trade, HE, Ms Elizabeth Truss.
  16. India has been ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade (2010-2020) as per the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
  17. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has entered into a partnership with IIT-Delhi
  18. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has signed up for the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) becoming the first Indian port to commit to set science-based emissions reduction targets across their entire value chain that are consistent with keeping global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
  19. The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has set up a “Stay in India and Study in India” committee to form guidelines and recommend measures to make sure that more students study in India and there is a smooth transition for students returning from abroad due to COVID-19 situation.
  20. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year for the 2019-20 Premier League season.
  21. Tata AIA Life Insurance has appointed Naveen Tahilyani as the new Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director.
  22. Bengal was named as the best performing state by the All India Football Federation under its performance assessment system based on various criteria like grassroot development, conduct of leagues and other competitions.
  23. Haryana will host the 4th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
  24. Sri Lankan woman medium-pace bowler, Sripali Weerakkody has announced to retire from international cricket with immediate effect.
  25. The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has developed a wearable hand band Known as the “Veli Band” that helps in maintaining social distancing by sending out an alarm in case of proximity with another person.
  26. Delhi government has launched the portal named as “Rozgar Bazar”, a sort of marketplace for job seekers and the people recruiters.
  27. Renowned Urdu writer and translator Nusrat Zaheer passed away in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh at the age of 69.
  28. Noted Urdu poet Mohammad Shamshuddin, popularly known as ‘Shams Jalnavi’, died Maharashtra due to old age problems. He was 95.
  29. Veteran Odia actor Bijay Mohanty has passed away following a prolonged illness. He was 70.
  30. Prominent child-rights activist and founder of Balala Hakula Sangam, a child rights organisation, Achyuta Rao succumbed to Covid-19 at a private hospital in the city in Hyderabad.
  31. Tanzania’s Former President, Benjamin Mkapa passed away.
  32. University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have shown successful clinical trials on the COVID-19 vaccine, COVISHIELD.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

Kargil Vijay Diwas observed on 26 July

  • Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 since the year 1999, to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil conflict.
  • The day is dedicated to our Kargil War’s Heroes and is named after the successful Operation Vijay.
  • It is celebrated to in view of Operation Vijay and Kargil War that ended on July 26, 1999.
  • After this, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistan.
  • ‘Operation Vijay’, was the code name given to India’s offensive against Pakistan to flush out the Pakistani infiltrators from the Indian territory in Kargil.

CRPF personnel celebrates its 82nd raising day of the paramilitary force on 27 July

  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel celebrated its 82nd raising day of the paramilitary force on 27th July 2020.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, and others greeted the CRPF personnel.
  • CRPF is at the forefront of keeping the nation safe.

Extra Shots:

CRPF:

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Motto: “सेवा और निष्ठा”
  • Minister responsible: Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs
  • Governing body: MHA
  • Subsidiaries: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, Rapid Action Force

BANKING & FINANCE 

RBI signs $400 mn currency swap with Sri Lanka

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed an agreement for extending a $400-million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka.
  • This currency swap is used to boost the foreign reserves and ensure the financial stability of the country, which is badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The currency swap arrangement will remain available till November 2022.
  • Lanka was set to enter into an agreement with the RBI for a currency swap worth $400 million under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) framework.

Extra Shots:

Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee

  • President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
  • Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Government amended certain Indian Accounting Standards

  • Government of India (GoI) has amended certain Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS), including the standard relating to leases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended Ind-AS 103, 116, and some other standards.

Highlights:

  • Ind-AS 103 pertains to business combinations, Ind-AS 116 relates to principles for the recognition, presentation, and disclosure of leases.
  • The amendment to Ind-AS 116 is expected to provide significant relief to such lessees for accounting for rent concessions from lessors specifically arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The amendment in Ind-AS 103 is aimed to help entities to determine whether a transaction needs to be accounted for as a business combination or as an asset acquisition.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Lab inaugurated by Narendra Singh Tomar

  • Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the ‘World Class State of Art Honey Testing Laboratory’ in Anand, Gujarat through Video Conference.
  • The laboratory was established by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) with support of the National Bee Board (NBB).
  • The move is in line with PM Narendra Modi’s vision to bring sweet revolution in India.

Highlights:

  • The establishment of Laboratory will encourage large number of famers for production and marketing of Honey and earn more profit in agriculture.
  • Centre aims to increase the income of farmers and the Bee-keeping enterprise has to play a major role in supplementing the income of farmers.
  • GoI also aims to increase bee colonies, honey bee production, processing, marketing and export, which will significantly contribute in GDP and boosting the rural economy.

Extra Shots:

NDDB:

  • Chairman: Dilip Rath
  • Headquarters: Anand, Gujrat, India

NBB

  • Chairman : Shri Sanjay Agarwal

PM launches High throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27 July

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched high throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27 July 2020 through video conferencing.
  • The facility is aimed to ramp up testing capacity in the country.
  • These facilities will help in strengthening early detection and treatment, assisting in controlling the spread of the pandemic.

Highlights:

  • The facilities will be able to test over 10,000 samples in a day.
  • These labs will reduce turn-around-time and exposure of lab personnel to infectious clinical materials.
  • The labs have been designed are enabled to test diseases other than COVID-19 as well, and is expected to test for Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia, Neisseria, Dengue, etc. post the pandemic.

The new three high-throughput testing facilities which were set up strategically are located at:

  • ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida
  • ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai
  • ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata

Extra Shots:

ICMR:

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Secretary & Director General: Dr. Balram Bhargava
  • Leader: Balram Bhargava
  • Founder: Government of India
  • Founded: 1911

Indian Railways Constructing World’s first electrified double-stack container tunnel near Haryana

  • The Indian Railways is constructing the world’s first electrified double-stack container tunnel, between the Aravalli hills, on the railway’s Western Dedicated Freight Corridor near Haryana’s Sohna
  • Once operational, a double-stack container goods train will be able to run at a speed of more than 100 km from within this one-km-tunnel.
  • The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is the implementing agency of the project.
  • The D-shaped tunnel is one of the biggest Railway tunnels in India in terms of cross-sectional area, measuring 150 square metres.
  • One end of the tunnel is near Rewari while the other end of the tunnel is at Dadri.
  • The tunnel connects the Mewat and Gurugram district of Haryana.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

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

47 Chinese clone Apps banned in the country

  • Government has banned 47 more Chinese apps.
  • Earlier, it had banned 59 China-based apps on the grounds of national security and data privacy.
  • These 47 apps are clones of the previously banned Chinese apps.

5th phase of ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ to begin from 1st August

  • The fifth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission will begin from 1st of next month to rescue Indians stranded abroad. It will continue till 31st August this year.
  • Over eight lakh 14 thousand people have returned since 6th May this year through various means under the Vande Bharat Mission.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

J&K LG announces launch of ‘Macadamisation Program’

  • Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu has announced the launch of a ‘Macadamisation Program’ for the improvement of roads across Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Murmu has approved a program for 100 percent Macadamisation of all roads in the Union Territory including 11,000 km of fair-weather roads.

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

HP govt: high priority to enhance green cover and environmental protection

  • The Himachal Pradesh government is according to high priority to enhance green cover and environmental protection.
  • In order to increase the forest cover and provide livelihood to the people, ‘Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecosystems Management and Livelihood Improvement Project’ has been started in the state, which is yielding positive results.
  • Many schemes are being implemented by the Forest Department, which has resulted in an increase in the green cover of the state.
  • Funded by the Japan International Cooperation agency JIACA, Rs 800 crore is being spent by the forest department on the project.
  • The main aim of the 10-year project is forest growth, biodiversity conservation, strengthening institutional capacity and improving the economy of rural people.
  • The project is being implemented in 16 forest circles of 18 forest divisions of 6 districts i.e Kinnaur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti.

Extra Shots:

Himachal Pradesh:

  • State formed on: 25 January 1971
  • Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
  • Chief Minister: Jai Ram Thakur
  • Official language: Hindi
  • Literacy Rate: 83.78%

MP govt to provide online COVID-19 prevention training to all 22 thousand 812 Gram Panchayats

  • In Madhya Pradesh, state-wide online training is being provided by the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development regarding the role of Panchayats and community in prevention, control and management of Covid-19. This series of division-wise training will run till August 7.
  • In this training, 22 thousand 812 Gram Panchayats of all districts in the state will be included.
  • The training consists of a total of eight technical sessions in which the role of Panchayat in control and prevention measures of COVID-19, technical aspects of management of quarantine center, role of women’s groups and community-based organizations in relief operations, social security schemes run by the state and central governments are mainly included.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

  • Statehood Day: November 1, 1956
  • Capital: Bhopal
  • Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chauhan
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel
  • National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

DRDO to set up two temporary hospitals of 500 bed to treat Corona patients in Bihar

  • In Bihar, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up two temporary hospitals of five hundred bed to treat Corona patients.
  • DRDO has taken this decision in view of increasing positive cases in the state.
  • These hospitals will be set up at Patna and Muzaffarpur with latest medical equipments.
  • There will be 150 ventilators in each hospital.

Extra Shots:

DRDO:

  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Motto: बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्; “Strength’s Origin is in Science” (Sanskrit)
  • Founded: 1958
  • Chairman: G. Satheesh Reddy

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

India extended medical assistance worth about USD 1 million to North Korea

  • Government of India (GoI) has sent $1 million worth of anti-tuberculosis medicine to North Korea per a request from the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • India has extended medical assistance worth about $1 million to North Korea in response to a request received from WHO.
  • The information was announced by the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

Highlights:

  • The consignment of medicines was handed over to DPRK authorities by Indian Ambassador to DPRK Atul Malhari Gotsurve in the presence of a WHO representative.
  • The move by India comes due to the shortage of medical supply situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
  • India has also decided to grant humanitarian assistance of $1 million in the form of anti-tuberculosis medicines.
  • The medical assistance will be done under the aegis of an ongoing WHO anti-tuberculosis programme in DPRK.

Extra Shots:

WHO:

  • Heads: Tedros Adhanom, Soumya Swaminathan, Jane Ellison
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founded: 7 April 1948
  • Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

India-UK affirm shared commitment to FTA at 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting

  • India and the United Kingdom virtually held the 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting on 24 July 2020. It was co-chaired by Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for International Trade, HE, Ms Elizabeth Truss.

Highlights:

  • The Co-chairs of Business led Joint Working Groups on Life Science and Health, ICT and Food and Drink set up during the last JETCO made their recommendations to the Ministers.
  • Both the countries shared commitment to revive and revitalize the long-standing trade and economic linkages between India and the UK.
  • The countries also resolved to cooperate in health Sector especially in view of the present Pandemic of COVID-19.

RANKS AND INDICES

India Ranks 3rd among top 10 countries gaining forest area in the world

  • India has been ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade (2010-2020) as per the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
  • FRA is a comprehensive assessment brought out by FAO after every five years since 1990 to assess the state of forests, their conditions and management for all member countries.
  • Top 10 countries which recorded the maximum average annual net gains in forest area during 2010-2020 are China, Australia, India, Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania
  • India accounts for two percent of total global forest area.

Extra Shots:

FAO:

  • Headquarters: Rome, Italy
  • Head: Qu Dongyu
  • Founded: 16 October 1945, Quebec City, Canada
  • Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
  • Formation: 16 October 1945; 74 years ago
  • Area: Europe

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

TRIFED partnered with IIT-Delhi for Unnat Bharat Abhiyan

  • Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has entered into a partnership with IIT-Delhi (on behalf of the UBA, as the National Coordinating Institute) and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA, a Swadeshi Science Movement) at IIT, Delhi for the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a flagship national programme of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) , Government of India (GoI).
  • The MoU will Introduce Tribals to Newer Processing Technologies, Product Innovation, Mentorship and Transformational Digital Systems.
  • Over 2600 Institutions will partner with TRIFED for Skilling Tribals for Livelihoods
  • The partnership can help promote enhancing livelihoods through the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras established under the Van Dhan Yojana.
  • Under the Mou, the tribal forest dwellers who are engaged in Minor Forest Produces will get an exposure to newer processing technologies, product innovation, mentorship, transformational digital systems and handholding.
  • The MoU will pave ways for the best of brains in the country to attend to the problems of sustainable tribal livelihoods.

Adani Ports signs up for Science-Based Targets initiative

  • Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has signed up for the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) becoming the first Indian port to commit to set science-based emissions reduction targets across their entire value chain that are consistent with keeping global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
  • The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
  • It encourages the best practices in science-based target setting and independently evaluates the companies’ targets.
  • APSEZ has joined the group of 43 Indian companies who have signed a commitment letter to SBTi.

RECENT COMMITTEES IN NEWS

HRD Ministry forms committee on retaining students in India, to be headed by UGC chairman D. P. Singh

  • The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has set up a “Stay in India and Study in India” committee to form guidelines and recommend measures to make sure that more students study in India and there is a smooth transition for students returning from abroad due to COVID-19 situation.
  • The committee will be headed by chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof. D. P. Singh.
  • This initiative is a part of Governments plan to retain aspiring students, who wants to study abroad, by providing appropriate opportunities for education in premier Indian institutions and addressing concerns of students returning from abroad, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Jordan Henderson wins 2020 FWA Footballer of the Year award

  • Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year for the 2019-20 Premier League season.
  • The Reds midfielder played a central role as the Anfield club stormed their way to the Premier League title, their first English top-flight crown in 30 years.
  • Henderson has played in 30 of Liverpool’s league matches so far this season and scored four goals.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Naveen Tahilyani Appointed as MD & CEO of Tata AIA Life Insurance

  • Tata AIA Life Insurance has appointed Naveen Tahilyani as the new Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director.
  • Tahilyani will take over from current Chief Executive Officer, Rishi Srivastava, who is moving to Group Agency Distribution, AIA Group, Hong Kong as Chief Executive Officer.
  • This is the second time that Naveen Tahilyani is being appointed as MD & CEO. Prior to this, he was the CEO and Managing Director of Tata AIA from the year 2015 to 2018.

Extra Shots:

Tata AIA Life Insurance

  • MD & CEO: Naveen Tahilyani
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 2000

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Bengal – Top Performer Under AIFF Performance Assessment of States

  • Bengal was named as the best performing state by the All India Football Federation under its performance assessment system based on various criteria like grassroot development, conduct of leagues and other competitions.
  • Maharashtra and Kerala were declared second and third respectively under the point-based assessment system that indicates the performance of the states on the various operational verticals.

Haryana to host 2021 Khelo India Youth Games

  • Haryana will host the 4th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
  • The announcement was made by the state’s chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju via video conference.
  • The Games will be held in Panchkula.

Sri Lankan Bowler Sripali Weerakkody retires from international cricket

  • Sri Lankan woman medium-pace bowler, Sripali Weerakkody has announced to retire from international cricket with immediate effect.
  • The 34-year-old Sripali Weerakkody, represented Sri Lanka in 89 Women’s One Day Internationals and 58 Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
  • Weerakkody was also a member of the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal winning Sri Lankan team.

Extra Shots:

Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee

  • President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
  • Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

IIM-Kozhikode develops ‘Veli Band’ for ensuring social distancing

  • The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has developed a wearable hand band Known as the “Veli Band” that helps in maintaining social distancing by sending out an alarm in case of proximity with another person.
  • The device has been developed by Qual5 India Pvt.Ltd, a startup co-founded by a woman entrepreneur, mentored and funded by IIMKs business incubator and entrepreneurship development centre.
  • The band comes with a rechargeable battery and uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for detection.
  • Veli Band helps implement social distancing and location/contact tracing which can help organisations comply with social distancing norms during the current pandemic situation.
  • The band momentarily vibrates, sounds buzzer, and flashes LED simultaneously to notify wearers that another band is within 3 feet (1 metre), reminding them of the need to maintain social distance.

WEB PORTALS & APP IN NEWS

Delhi government launches portal “Rozgar Bazar”

  • Delhi government has launched the portal named as “Rozgar Bazar”, a sort of marketplace for job seekers and the people recruiters.
  • The portal will be proved to be a boon for the employers as well as the job seekers.
  • The recruiters can visit the website and update their requirements, similarly job seekers are also required to visit the portal and update their qualification, experience and requirement.
  • The “Rozgar Bazar” portal is an effort of the Delhi Government to revive the lockdown-hit economy of Delhi.
  • There are many people who want jobs and there are traders, businessmen, professionals, contractors who are not getting the right person for their work.
  • This portal will fill the gap by bringing them together on one platform.

OBITUARY

Urdu journalist, satirist Nusrat Zaheer passes away

  • Renowned Urdu writer and translator Nusrat Zaheer passed away in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh at the age of 69.
  • He spent most of his life in active literary journalism and had his own unique identity in the Urdu world. He wrote columns for Roznama Sahara for a long time.
  • Until recently, he used to write a regular weekly column titled, ‘Nami Danam’ (‘I don’t know’) for the Urdu daily Inquilab

Veteran Urdu poet Shams Jalnavi passes away

  • Noted Urdu poet Mohammad Shamshuddin, popularly known as ‘Shams Jalnavi’, died Maharashtra due to old age problems. He was 95.
  • Jalnavi penned hundreds of” ghazals”,” shers” and”nazms” (a genre of Urdu poetry) in his lifetime.
  • He used to attend” mushairas” (poetic congregations) across the country

Veteran Odia actor Bijay Mohanty passes away at 70

  • Veteran Odia actor Bijay Mohanty has passed away following a prolonged illness. He was 70.
  • Mohanty had started his career in Odia cinema in 1977.
  • He was also honoured with National Award for his contribution to art and literature.

Prominent child rights activist Achyuta Rao passes away

  • Prominent child-rights activist and founder of Balala Hakula Sangam, a child rights organisation, Achyuta Rao succumbed to Covid-19 at a private hospital in the city in Hyderabad.
  • He was 58.
  • Achyuta Rao, who founded the Balala Hakkula Sangham in 1985 along with his wife Anuradha, was considered the voice of children, dispossessed of their rights and was one to never give up fighting for their rights.
  • He was also a past member of the State Committee for Protection of Child Rights

Tanzania’s Former President Benjamin Mkapa passes away

  • Tanzania’s Former President, Benjamin Mkapa passed away.
  • He served as the third president of the country, from 1995 to 2005, before handing over power to the fourth president Jakaya Kikwete.
  • He held several cabinet posts, such as foreign minister and information minister and also served as ambassador to the United States before he was elected president.

Extra Shots:

Tanzania (Capital/Currency): Dodoma/Tanzanian Shilling

  • Prime Minister: Kassim Majaliwa

MISCELLANEOUS

India to take up clinical trials of OXFORD Vaccine COVISHIELD

  • University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have shown successful clinical trials on the COVID-19 vaccine, COVISHIELD.
  • World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the first use of the vaccine is expected in early 2021.

Highlights:

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