Current Affairs Today 5th June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 5th June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on 5 June every year to encourage awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
  2. World Day Against Speciesism is marked on June 5 every year, to stop discrimination based on species membership.
  3. IndusInd Bank has launched first-of-its-kind mobile app-based facility for opening current accounts in a paperless manner.
  4. The Reserve Bank of India created Payment Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs 500 crores.
  5. Axis Bank Ltd, Mastercard India & Worldline India partnered to launch a digital point-of-sale(POS) solution ‘Soft POS’, the 1st financial payments service in India to transform everyday smartphones into merchant POS terminals.
  6. The Country’s largest lender State Bank of India on June 5 reported a standalone profit of Rs 3,580.81 crore in January-March quarter, a growth of over four-fold YoY supported by lower provisions and stake sale.
  7. The Union cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken three historic decisions in the field of agriculture to benefit farmers and transform the agriculture sector.
  8. The Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the “Nagar Van” scheme. The scheme was launched to mark the Environment Day.
  9. PM Modi participated at the Global Vaccine Summit that was led by the United Kingdom. At the summit, the prime minster announced that India will pledge 15 million USD to GAVI Alliance.
  10. Microsoft announced the launch of a program for agritech startups in India that are committed to driving transformation in agriculture.
  11. The Kerala government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanhas has announced that its ambitious broadband project ‘Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON)’ project, envisaged to provide free internet access to the poor, would be rolled out by December 2020.
  12. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu has launched a salary tracker mobile app MeraVetan (Version-1) for government employees.
  13. On this World environment day, Kerala’s first ‘food forest’ is being prepared at tribal belts of Attapady in Palakkad district.
  14. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced Aatmanirbhar Gujarat package worth 14,000 crore rupees.
  15. United States President Donald Trump has postponed the G7 Summit 2020 until atleast September 2020.
  16. The Government of Bangladesh and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have launched an app to trace Corona infected people and people near them.
  17. Time Higher Education (THE) released its annual THE Asia University Rankings 2020 on 03 June 2020, which lists 489 institutions from 30 countries and regions.
  18. The National Statistical Office launched the Annual Report of Periodic Labour Force Survey.
  19. HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, and Google Cloud announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to bring HCL’s software offerings, starting with HCL Commerce, to Google Cloud.
  20. Abu Dhabi’s second-largest investor group, Mubadala will invest $1.2 billion ( Rs 9,093.6 crore) in Reliance’s Jio platforms for a 1.85% stake taking the total investments to Rs 87655.35 crore for a combined 19% stake in the digital unit.
  21. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was named the EY World Entrepreneur of the year 2020.
  22. Senior bureaucrat Rajeev Topno has been appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director (ED) of World Bank, in Washington DC.
  23. Brajendra Navnit has been appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva, Switzerland.
  24. The former Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar joined Rohit Sharma, Indian star Batsman, Hima Das Sprinter from Assam and Actor Ranveer Singh as the brand ambassador of Adidas.
  25. The Asian Football Confederation confirmed that India will host 2022 Women’s Asian Cup.
  26. The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a device dubbed as SUMERU-PACS, which will helps wearers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to feel comfortable without sweating.
  27. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has approved support for the research and study done by the National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures (NCVTC), ICAR-NRC from Hisar in Haryana.
  28. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has developed an anti-microbial multilayer face mask.
  29. The Dry Fasting Miracle: From Deprive to Thrive, a book on the benefits of dry fasting diet by the famous personal lifestyle coach and author, Luke Coutinho and co-authored by a member of UAE’s Ajman royal Family, Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi
  30. Former Pakistan first-class cricketer Riaz Sheikh has passed away because of suspected coronavirus.
  31. Veteran lyricist and member of Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS), Anwar Sagar has passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Environment Day observed on 05 June

  • World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on 5 June every year to encourage awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
  • The day was established by the United Nations in 1972 and first held in 1974.
  • The theme for 2020 is “Time for Nature”.
  • The host nation for 2020 WED is Colombia in partnership with Germany.

World Day against Speciesism observed on 05 June

  • World Day Against Speciesism is marked on June 5 every year, to stop discrimination based on species membership.
  • The term “speciesism” refers to the assignment of different rights, values, or special consideration to individuals solely on the basis of their species.
  • World Day Against Speciesism is supported by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), and other animal rights groups to promote this idea among the general public.

For example

  • Considering humans superior to other animals, granting only humans rights.
  • Considering certain animals to be superior to other animals because of a similarity, familiarity, or usefulness to humans.
  • Deliberately harming or refusing aid to animals

BANKING & FINANCE 

IndusInd Bank Launches India’s First Mobile-based current account opening facility

  • IndusInd Bank has launched first-of-its-kind mobile app-based facility for opening current accounts in a paperless manner.
  • IndusInd is the first bank in India to introduce this assisted mobile application based facility which will enable the Bank to open current accounts for self-employed individuals and businesses digitally, in just a few hours.
  • The IndusInd app uses multiple ‘Application Programme Interface’ (APIs) and enables secured validation of KYC documents from authorised government platforms such as the Goods and Service Tax (GST), Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), Import Export Code (IEC) and Aadhaar.

Extra Shots:

IndusInd Bank

  • CEO: Sumant Kathpalia
  • Headquarters: Pune
  • Tagline: We make you feel Richer
  • Owner: Hinduja Group
  • Founder: S. P. Hinduja
  • Subsidiaries: Indusind Bank Ltd, Asset Management Arm, IndusInd Financial Inclusion, Indusind Bank Limited

RBI creates Payment Infrastructure Development Fund

  • The Reserve Bank of India created Payment Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs 500 crores.

Highlights:

  • The apex bank has made an initial contribution of Rs 250 crores towards the funds.
  • The rest of the fund is to come through the card issuing banks.
  • The fund has been created to increase point of sale infrastructure and other digital payment infrastructure in the country.
  • The funds are being allocated in line with the measures proposed in the vision document on payment and settlement systems in India 2019-21.
  • The funds are to be governed through an advisory council. However, the funds will be administered and managed by RBI.

Extra Shots:

RBI:

  • Governor: Shaktikanta Das
  • Deputy Governor: NS Vishwanathan, BP Kanungo, MK Jain and Michael Debabrata Patra
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founder: British Raj
  • Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata

Axis Bank MasterCard and Worldline launches ‘Soft POS’, first financial payments service

  • Axis Bank Ltd, Mastercard India & Worldline India partnered to launch a digital point-of-sale(POS) solution ‘Soft POS’, the 1st financial payments service in India to transform everyday smartphones into merchant POS terminals.

Highlights:

  • It helps offline merchants and Kirana stores accept payments using their smartphones.
  • Through this app merchants who traditionally accept cash payments will now have a simpler and more secure way to manage transactions.
  • The app allows banks to have complete visibility of a merchant’s transactions, which makes it easier for small merchants to get business loans.
  • The solution enables merchants to accept payments through various digital form factors which include Bharat QR, sending payment links to customers and accepting Near Field Communication(NFC) based technology payments to boost contactless payments in the country.
  • Soft POS provides a cost-effective card acceptance solution for all micro-merchants and SMEs in India by eliminating the need to invest in a POS device.
  • Merchants can accept contactless payments directly by their own Android smartphones, this functionality is called “Tap on Phone” which means a cardholder can tap his/her contactless card on the merchant Smartphone with NFC functionality and so encourages social distancing.

Extra Shots:

Axis Bank:

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer: Amitabh Chaudhry

 MasterCard:

  • Headquarters: New York, United States
  • President and Chief Executive Officer: Ajay Banga
  • Chairman and Co-founde: Richard Haythornthwaite

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

SBI Q4 profit jumps 4-fold to Rs 3,581 crore

  • The Country’s largest lender State Bank of India on June 5 reported a standalone profit of Rs 3,580.81 crore in January-March quarter, a growth of over four-fold YoY supported by lower provisions and stake sale.
  • Net profit included Rs 2,731.34 crore on sale of certain portion of investment in subsidiary SBI Cards and Payment Services during the quarter.

Extra Shots:

SBI:

  • Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 1 July 1955

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Government Approves Historic Amendment to Essential Commodities Act to give boost to Rural India

  • The Union cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken three historic decisions in the field of agriculture to benefit farmers and transform the agriculture sector.

Amendment to the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) 1955

  • Cabinet has approved amending the over six-decade old Essential Commodities Act (ECA).
  • Under the historic amendment, commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes will be removed from list of essential commodities.
  • Farmers can now export, store and sell these commodities anywhere as they wish and to the highest paying party.

‘The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020’

  • The Ordinance will create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce.
  • It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations.
  • It will pave the way for creating One India, One Agriculture Market.

‘The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020’

  • The ordinance will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators,wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc.
  • It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor.
  • Farmer will get access to modern technology and better inputs.
  • Reduce cost of marketing and improve income of farmers.

Nagar Van Scheme launched by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar

  • The Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the “Nagar Van” scheme. The scheme was launched to mark the Environment Day.
  • The scheme emphasises on urban forestry.
  • Under the scheme, around 200 urban forests are to be developed all over the country in next five years.
  • Also, a film was played that narrated about the initiatives of Punaikars along with the Department of Forests. The film also iterated the fact that 16.8 hectares of barren hill has now been converted into green forests.
  • Today the forest is rich in biodiversity. It has 23 plant species, 15 butterfly species, 29 bird species, 10 reptiles. The forest now helps in maintaining ecological balance.
  • This Warje Urban forest will act as a role model for the rest of the country

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is an Indian government ministry. The ministry portfolio is currently held by Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

  • Founded: 1985
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Annual budget: 2,675.42 crores INR (US$390 million, 2018-19 est.)
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Officeholders: Babul Supriyo (Minister of State), Prakash Javadekar (Minister)
  • Awards: National Film Award for Best Promotional Film

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

GAVI Alliance: India pledges 15 million USD

  • PM Modi participated at the Global Vaccine Summit that was led by the United Kingdom. At the summit, the prime minster announced that India will pledge 15 million USD to GAVI Alliance.
  • The world leaders have come together to find a vaccine to the COVID-19 with GAVI as an integrating platform.
  • The Global Vaccine Summit organized by UK discussed on collecting funds for GAVI.
  • Over 50 countries participated in the programme.

India at GAVI

  • India has now become a big supporter of the alliance. This saved GAVI 400 million USD in the past five years. Earlier India was only a beneficiary. Since 2014, India had become a donor. Till date India has donated 12 million USD to the Alliance.

PM Modi at the Summit

  • PM Modi highlighted the following at the summit
  • India shared its medicines to more than 120 countries.
  • India understands the importance of immunization. India has so far added six vaccines to its National Immunization Programme.
  • India has digitized the vaccine supply chain
  • The cold supply chain of the vaccines in India is being monitored by electronic intelligence network

Microsoft announces program to accelerate growth of agritech startups in India

  • Microsoft announced the launch of a program for agritech startups in India that are committed to driving transformation in agriculture.

Highlights:

  • The Microsoft for Agritech Startups program is designed to help startups build industry-specific solutions, scale, and grow with access to deep technology, business, and marketing resources.
  • Agritech startups in India are transforming agriculture by developing innovative digital solutions to maximize productivity, improve market linkages, increase supply chain efficiency, and provide greater access to inputs for agri-businesses.
  • This program offers the best-in-class tech and business enablement resources to help agritech startups innovate and scale fast.
  • Startups can also get access to Azure FarmBeats, which can help them focus on core value-adds instead of the undifferentiated heavy lifting of data engineering.

Extra Shots:

Microsoft:

  • CEO: Satya Nadella
  • Founded: 4 April 1975, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
  • Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
  • Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Kerala Set to become First Indian State to Provide Free Broadband For The Poor

  • The Kerala government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanhas has announced that its ambitious broadband project ‘Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON)’ project, envisaged to provide free internet access to the poor, would be rolled out by December 2020.
  • K-FON project aims to provide free high-speed Internet to all the citizens below poverty live in Kerala and those who cannot afford, will be provided high speed Internet at a subsidized rate.
  • The Rs 1,500 crore K-FON project is being implemented by Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited and Kerala State Electricity Board.
  • Kerala is the first state to declare the internet as a fundamental right of the citizen, by providing free high speed broadband to the poor people.

Extra Shots:

Kerala:

  • Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
  • Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
  • Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
  • Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
  • National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc

J&K Lt Governor launches salary tracker mobile app “MeraVetan”

  • Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu has launched a salary tracker mobile app MeraVetan (Version-1) for government employees.
  • The newly launched application is aimed to provide Salary Related information to Employees.
  • With the launch of MeraVetan App (V-1), the employees especially posted in remote & rural areas who don’t have access to the DDO will easily access their salary and other details anytime.
  • This application developed by the National Informatics Centre(NIC) – J&K State Centre on the Android Platform to provide end to end computerization of JK Payment System(JKPaySys) application.

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

Kerala implements ‘Food forest’ project in tribal belts of Attapady

  • On this World environment day, Kerala’s first ‘food forest’ is being prepared at tribal belts of Attapady in Palakkad district.
  • As part of the Tribal Comprehensive Development Programme in Kerala the “food forest” project is being implemented in cooperation with the Mahila Kissan Saktheekaran Pariyojana of the Central Government.
  • The project aims to provide food security to 192 tribal villages in Attapadi.
  • The cultivation of various food crops that are part of the food forest, has been initiated by the Kudumbasree units, the largest women  self help group in the State.

Extra Shots:

Kerala:

  • Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
  • Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
  • Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
  • Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
  • National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc

CM Vijay Rupani announces Gujarat Aatmanirbhar package worth Rs 14,000 Cr

  • Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced Aatmanirbhar Gujarat package worth 14,000 crore rupees.
  • The package is based on the recommendations of the first interim report submitted by the committee on economic revival of the state led by former Union Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhiya.
  • The package includes tax rebates, loan subsidies for various sections of the society including business, individuals and industries that hit due to COVID-19. the new package gave relief worth Rs 2,300 crore by partially waving off property tax, electricity bill and motor vehicle tax for individuals, commercial establishments and industrial entities.
  • The government announced a loan interest subsidy of 4 percent for loans up to Rs 2.5 lakh for business and shop owners.
  • The government has also announced to give Rs 466 crore as subsidies to migrant and tribal construction workers to build their own homes.
  • Rs1,190 crore has also been allocated for agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing sectors, and Rs 525 crore for creating self-employment under Gujarat Aatmanirbhar Sahay Yojana-2.
  • The government also decided to allocate Rs 100 crore to the health department and another Rs 100 crore to four municipal corporations – Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot – from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to fight the novel coronavirus.

Extra Shots:

Gujarat:

  • Capital: Gandhinagar
  • Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
  • Governor: Acharya Devvrat
  • State formed on: 1 May 1960
  • Literacy Rate: 79.31%
  • National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Trump postpones G7 summit until September 2020, wants to expand it to G10 or G11, including India

  • United States President Donald Trump has postponed the G7 Summit 2020 until atleast September 2020.
  • Originally, the 46th edition of the G7 Summit was scheduled to be held in June 2020 in United States.
  • Trump has also suggested to expand the Group of Seven (G7), to G10 or G11, to include India, Russia, South Korea and Australia to the grouping of the world’s top economies.
  • He called the existing G7 grouping as ‘outdated’, and that it does not properly represents what’s going on in the world.
  • G7 is the group of top seven developed economies. These include the US, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada.

Extra Shots:

USA (Capital/Currency): Washington, D.C./ United States Dollar

  • President: Donald Trump
  • Official languages: English

Bangladesh launches Corona tracing app

  • The Government of Bangladesh and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have launched an app to trace Corona infected people and people near them.
  • The smartphone-based app ‘Corona Tracer BD’ utilizes Bluetooth signal to trace a Corona infected person nearby the State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmad Palak urged the smart phone users to download the app to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
  • During the virtual launch of the app, the Minister said that the app will help in preventing the spread of Coronavirus and facilitate authorities in taking preventive measures.
  • The app will also help the government in determining areas with high risk of Coronavirus.

Extra Shots:

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka

  • Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
  • Official Language: Bengali

RANKS AND INDICES

8 Indian Institutes Make It To Top 100 in THE Asia University Ranking 2020; IISc top Indian Institute

  • Time Higher Education (THE) released its annual THE Asia University Rankings 2020 on 03 June 2020, which lists 489 institutions from 30 countries and regions.
  • 56 Indian institutes participated in the 2020 ranking, out of which 8 have made it to the top 100.
  • Among the Indian institutes, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is the best institute. Globally it has been placed at 36th rank.
  • 6 IITs have also made place in top 100.

List of eight Indian institutes in the list with their ranking

  • Rank 36 – IISc Bangalore
  • Rank 47 – IIT-Ropar
  • Rank 55 – IIT-Indore
  • Rank 59 – IIT-Kharagpur
  • Rank 67 – IIT-Delhi
  • Rank 69 – IIT-Bombay
  • Rank 83 – IIT-Roorkee
  • Rank 92 – Institute of Chemical Technology

The universities are ranked by performance in five areas:

  • Teaching (learning environment)
  • Research (volume, income and reputation)
  • Citations (research influence)
  • International outlook (staff, students and research)
  • Industry income (knowledge transfer)

Top 5 Global Universities in the list

  1. Tsinghua University, China
  2. Peking University, China
  3. National University of Singapore, Singapore
  4. University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  5. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Annual Report of Periodic Labour Force Supply

  • The National Statistical Office launched the Annual Report of Periodic Labour Force Survey.

Key Findings:

  • According to the survey, the worker population ratio increased to 35.3% as compared to 34.7% in 2017-18.
  • The unemployment rate fell to 5.8% in the period July 2018 to June 2019 as compared to 6.1% in the same period 2017-18.
  • The Labour Force participation rate increased to 37.5% as compared to 36.9% in 2017-18.
  • The survey has also found that the worker population went up to 35.3% as compared to 34.7% in the year 2017-18.
  • In Urban India, the unemployment rate fell to 7.7% in 2018-19 from 7.8% earlier.
  • Also, the female participation rate improved in both rural and urban India from 17.5% to 18.6%.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

HCL and Google Cloud Expand Partnership to Digitally Transform Commerce

  • HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, and Google Cloud announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to bring HCL’s software offerings, starting with HCL Commerce, to Google Cloud.

Highlights:

  • Google Cloud will be the preferred cloud platform for HCL Commerce, providing global, secure and elastic infrastructure to power businesses’ eCommerce strategies.
  • Under this partnership, HCL also intends to leverage Anthos to enable multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud deployments of HCL Commerce.
  • Bringing HCL Commerce to Google Cloud will enable businesses to maintain their investments in HCL’s trusted Commerce platform while also taking advantage of the global reach, security, and elasticity of Google Cloud.
  • In addition, businesses across industries will be able to develop positive, data-driven customer experiences online by leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities in artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics.
  • The collaboration between Google Cloud and HCL Commerce is helping customers rapidly execute their digital transformation strategy that is rooted in the new normal.

Extra Shots:

HCL:

  • CEO: C Vijayakumar
  • Founded: 11 August 1976
  • Headquarters: Noida
  • Founders: Shiv Nadar, Arjun Malhotra
  • Parent organization: HCL Enterprise

Google Cloud Platform, offered by Google, is a suite of cloud computing services that runs on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search, Gmail and YouTube.

  • Launched: April 7, 2008; 12 years ago
  • Written in: Java, C++, Python, Go, Ruby

ACQUISITION & MERGER

Abu Dhabi based Mubadala to invest USD 1.2 billion in Jio for 1.85 per cent stake

  • Abu Dhabi’s second-largest investor group, Mubadala will invest $1.2 billion ( Rs 9,093.6 crore) in Reliance’s Jio platforms for a 1.85% stake taking the total investments to Rs 87655.35 crore for a combined 19% stake in the digital unit.
  • The latest deal is the sixth since April which values Jio platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore.

Another five deals are:

  1. Tech giant, Facebook which bought a 9.99% stake in Jio for $5.7 billion ( Rs 43, 574 crores) was the first investor in Jio platforms
  2. Silver Lake Partners ( Rs 5,655.75 crore) investment for 1.15 per cent stake,
  3. Vista Equity Partners’ Rs 11,367 crore investments for a 2.32 per cent stake,
  4. General Atlantic Rs 6,598.38 crore for  34 per cent stake,
  5. KKR investment worth Rs 11,367 crore for a 2.32 per cent stake.

Extra Shots:

JIO:

  • Parent organization: Reliance Industries Limited
  • Members: 388 million; (31 December 2019)
  • Founder: Mukesh Ambani
  • Founded: 2007
  • Subsidiaries: LYF, Reliance Jio Infocomm Pte. Ltd

Mubadala Development Company

  • CEO: Khaldoon Al Mubarak
  • Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Founded: October 2002
  • Parent organization: Mubadala Investment Company

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL  AWARDS

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: EY World Entrepreneur of the year

  • Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was named the EY World Entrepreneur of the year 2020.
  • She was selected among 46 other entrepreneurs from 41 countries.
  • Kiran is the second woman to win the award after Olivia Lum of Hyflux, Singapore.
  • She is also the third Indian to win the award after Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra in 2014 and Narayana Murthy of Infosys in 2005.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

  • Kiran founded Biocon in 1978. It is a bio-enzymes company. The company began its journey with just two employees and an investment of 500 USD. Today, the company has grown with more than 11,000 people and also has become one of the strongest innovation driven biotech companies in Asia.

APPOINTMENT IN NEWS

Rajeev Topno appointed as Senior Advisor to ED of World Bank

  • Senior bureaucrat Rajeev Topno has been appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director (ED) of World Bank, in Washington DC.
  • He was presently serving as the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. He is a 1996 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.
  • He has been appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director (ED) of World Bank for a period of three years.

Extra Shots:

World Bank:

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • President: David Malpass
  • Parent organization: World Bank Group
  • Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
  • Purpose: Economic development

Brajendra Navnit- appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organisation

  • Brajendra Navnit has been appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva, Switzerland.
  • He has been appointed for a period of three years.
  • He served in the PMO as Joint Secretary from July 2014 to September 2019.
  • He is a 1999 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer.

Extra Shots:

WTO:

  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Membership: 164 member states
  • Head: Pascal Lamy
  • Founded: 1 January 1995
  • Purpose: Reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade
  • Budget: 197.2 million Swiss francs (approx. 209 million US$) in 2018.

Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar joins Rohit, Hima as brand ambassador of Adidas

  • The former Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar joined Rohit Sharma, Indian star Batsman, Hima Das Sprinter from Assam and Actor Ranveer Singh as the brand ambassador of Adidas.
  • Chhillar becomes Adidas’s forerunner in their mission to inspire women to embrace fitness and to create a beneficial social impact through sports.
  • She supports the #HOMETEAMHERO challenge of Adidas to stay physically and mentally fit in the lockdown due to COVID-19 and use sports as a platform to inspire and encourage the women and children to take up sports.
  • Adidas encourage the people around the world to participate in the #HOMETEAMHERO to support WHO’s Covid-19 Response fund.

Extra Shots:

Adidas:

  • Founder: Adolf Dassler
  • Founded: 18 August 1949, Herzogenaurach, Germany
  • Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany
  • CEO: Kasper Rorsted

SPORT CURRENT AFFAIRS

India to host AFC Women’s Cup

  • The Asian Football Confederation confirmed that India will host 2022 Women’s Asian Cup.
  • This is the first time India is hosting the cup since 1979.
  • The Asian Football Confederation handed over the hosting rights to the All India Football Federation.
  • The tournament is to be held in 2022 and around 12 teams are to participate in the tournament.
  • The Indian team has twice finished as runners in 1980 and 1983 and won bronze in 1981.

Extra Shots:

AFC: The Asian Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations within FIFA and is the governing body of association football in Asia and Australia.

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

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO develops device SUMERU-PACS to keep PPE wearers comfortable, without sweating

  • The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a device dubbed as SUMERU-PACS, which will helps wearers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to feel comfortable without sweating.

Highlights:

  • On the basis of the feedback received from doctors and medical staff, the PPE wearers feel uncomfortable after wearing PPE for more than 30 to 45 minutes and start sweating which makes the situation worse.
  • SUMERU-PACS is a personal air circulation system which can be used inside the PPE cover as a small backpack of approximately 500 grams weight.
  • It works well at an ambient temperature of 39 degrees Celsius and keeps wearer comfortable and cool without sweating, as the system draws the outside air with the help of a filter and the moist air goes out from the front face opening thereby, cooling neck and head area.
  • The device is suitable for doctors and other medical staff who wear PPE cover all six hours in the hospitals.

Extra Shots:

DRDO:

  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Founded: 1958
  • Employees: 30,000 (5000 scientists)
  • Minister responsible: Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
  • Subsidiaries: Defence Scientific Information & Documentation centre, Gas Turbine Research Establishment

NCVTC to develop host-directed antivirals for COVID-19 disease

  • The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has approved support for the research and study done by the National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures (NCVTC), ICAR-NRC from Hisar in Haryana.
  • The researchers will screen the library of 94 small molecule chemical inhibitors for antivirals against coronaviruses.

Highlights:

  • The small molecule chemical inhibitors are known to inhibit cellular kinases, phosphatases, and epigenetic regulators like histone methyltransferase, histone deacetylase, and DNA methyltransferase.
  • The researchers are exploring alternative strategies to target such cellular proteins, protein-protein (virus-host) interaction, or epigenetic regulators called host-directed antiviral therapy.
  • The host-directed antivirals will have fewer tendencies in inducing drug resistance because it is not possible for the virus to easily change missing cellular functions by mutations.
  • Also, host-directed antiviral agents will exert broad-spectrum antiviral effects because the requirement of host factors by viruses is usually conserved across the members of a particular virus family or sometimes even across the members of different virus families.
  • The antiviral weapon will target cellular proteins, protein-protein (virus-host) interaction, or epigenetic regulators for COVID-19.

IIT-Banaras Hindu University develops anti-microbial mask

  • The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has developed an anti-microbial multilayer face mask.
  • The face mask has been developed to annihilate pathogenic micro-organisms stuck to the outer surface of the mask and limit further spread of secondary infections.
  • The mask has been developed by doctor Marshal and his team at the School of Biomedical Engineering in the IIT-BHU.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Luke Coutinho’s new book “The Dry Fasting Miracle: From Deprive to Thrive” on benefits of ‘dry fasting diet’

  • The Dry Fasting Miracle: From Deprive to Thrive, a book on the benefits of dry fasting diet by the famous personal lifestyle coach and author, Luke Coutinho and co-authored by a member of UAE’s Ajman royal Family, Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi
  • The published under the Ebury Press a division of Penguin Random House and the ebook version is available on Kindle.

Extra Shots:

Penguin Random House India:

  • CEO: Gaurav Shrinagesh
  • Established: 1985
  • Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana

OBITUARY

Pakistan’s former first-class cricketer Riaz Sheikh passes away of suspected COVID-19 at 51

  • Former Pakistan first-class cricketer Riaz Sheikh has passed away because of suspected coronavirus. He was 51.
  • Riaz is the second professional player in the country to have died after contracting conronavirus.
  • Sheikh was a leg-spinner who took 116 wickets in 43 first-class matches he played.

Renowned Lyricist Anwar Sagar Passes Away at 70

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