18th July 2020 Current Affairs - Today Current Affairs
We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 18 July 2020, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2020 events from
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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
First online NISHTHA programme launched for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh by MHRD
i.Union HRD (Human Resource Development) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Minister of State (MoS) for HRD Sanjay Dhotre have jointly launched the first online National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) programme for 1,200 key resources persons (KRPs) of Andhra Pradesh (AP), virtually from New Delhi.
ii.It is to be noted that, originally NISHTHA was launched in face-to-face mode in August 2019, but COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has affected the conduct of this programme, therefore, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has customised NISHTHA for an online mode through the DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals.
About Andhra Pradesh:
Chief Minister (CM)– Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy
Capital– Amaravati
Governor– Biswabhusan Harichandan
ii.It is to be noted that, originally NISHTHA was launched in face-to-face mode in August 2019, but COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has affected the conduct of this programme, therefore, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has customised NISHTHA for an online mode through the DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals.
About Andhra Pradesh:
Chief Minister (CM)– Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy
Capital– Amaravati
Governor– Biswabhusan Harichandan
Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya virtually flagged off 1st container ship from Kolkata Port to Agartala via Chattogram port (Bangladesh)
i.On July 16, 2020, Union
Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off the
first trial container ship from Kolkata (West Bengal) to Agartala
(Tripura) through Chattogram Port of Bangladesh in a virtual ceremony.
ii.This will not only provide an alternative and shorter route for India to connect it’s North East Region (NER) through Bangladesh but will also further boost India-Bangladesh maritime relations.
iii.This has been done under the Agreement on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for movement of India’s transit cargo through Bangladesh, the standard operating procedure (SOP) for which was signed and exchanged between both nations during the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visit to India in October 2019.
About Bangladesh:
Capital– Dhaka
Currency– Bangladeshi taka
President– Mohammad Abdul Hamid
ii.This will not only provide an alternative and shorter route for India to connect it’s North East Region (NER) through Bangladesh but will also further boost India-Bangladesh maritime relations.
iii.This has been done under the Agreement on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for movement of India’s transit cargo through Bangladesh, the standard operating procedure (SOP) for which was signed and exchanged between both nations during the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visit to India in October 2019.
About Bangladesh:
Capital– Dhaka
Currency– Bangladeshi taka
President– Mohammad Abdul Hamid
NTPC signs MoU with NIIF to Explore Business Opportunities in Renewable Energy in India
i.On 16th July 2020, The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) signs the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund(NIIF), acting through National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited(NIIFL) to seek investment opportunities in areas like renewable energy, power distribution and other areas of mutual interest in India.
ii.Sangeeta Kaushik, GM (BD-Domestic), NTPC and Rajiv Dhar, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer(COO) of NIIFL signed the MoU through a video conference.
About NTPC:
Largest power generation company in India.
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Gurdeep Singh
Headquarters– New Delhi
About NIIFL:
Managing Director and CEO– Sujoy Bose
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii.Sangeeta Kaushik, GM (BD-Domestic), NTPC and Rajiv Dhar, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer(COO) of NIIFL signed the MoU through a video conference.
About NTPC:
Largest power generation company in India.
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Gurdeep Singh
Headquarters– New Delhi
About NIIFL:
Managing Director and CEO– Sujoy Bose
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra.
CBSE collaborates with IBM to integrate AI in High School Curriculum of 2020-2021
i.On 16th July 2020, The Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE), announced integration of Artificial Intelligence(AI) in the high school curriculum for the 2020-2021 academic year.
ii.The curriculum was developed in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation).
About Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE):
Chairman– Manoj Ahuja
Head Office– Delhi
About IBM (International Business Machines Corporation):
Executive Chairman– Virginia M. Rometty
Chief Executive Officer– Arvind Krishna
Headquarters– Armonk, New York, United States of America
ii.The curriculum was developed in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation).
About Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE):
Chairman– Manoj Ahuja
Head Office– Delhi
About IBM (International Business Machines Corporation):
Executive Chairman– Virginia M. Rometty
Chief Executive Officer– Arvind Krishna
Headquarters– Armonk, New York, United States of America
Harsimrat Kaur Badal virtually addressed the Digital Indo- Italian Business Mission on Food Processing’
i.On July 15, 2020, Union
Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal addressed
the opening session of two day long Digital Indo- Italian Business
Mission on Food Processing held virtually. This webinar consisted of
digital conferences; trade fair, and B2B (business to business) meetings
where 23 Italian companies virtually exhibited their products and services for end users and other industry players in India.
ii.The focus areas of the mission were Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, Packaging & Bottling.
iii.During the meet India and Italy were stated as natural partners with regards to the Food Processing Industry.
About Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI):
Harsimrat Kaur Badal Constituency– Bathinda, Punjab
Minister of State (MoS)– Rameswar Teli
ii.The focus areas of the mission were Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, Packaging & Bottling.
iii.During the meet India and Italy were stated as natural partners with regards to the Food Processing Industry.
About Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI):
Harsimrat Kaur Badal Constituency– Bathinda, Punjab
Minister of State (MoS)– Rameswar Teli
ICWA-RIAC conference: India & Russia explores Active Joint Projects in Asia and Africa
i.On 15th July 2020, India and Russia explores the active joint projects in Asia and Africa in the webinar on “India-Russia Relations in the Context of Post-Pandemic Global order” chaired TCA Raghavan, Director General of ICWA and organised by Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
ii.The potential of digital technologies to activate economic relations and the reforms on the current negative trends.
About Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
President– Venkaiah Naidu (Vice President of India)
Director General– Dr. T C A Raghavan
About Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC):
President– Igor Ivanov
Director General– Andrey Kortunov
ii.The potential of digital technologies to activate economic relations and the reforms on the current negative trends.
About Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
President– Venkaiah Naidu (Vice President of India)
Director General– Dr. T C A Raghavan
About Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC):
President– Igor Ivanov
Director General– Andrey Kortunov
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India’s CERT and Israel’s INCD inked MoU to expand cooperation in cyber security
i.Due to a rapid increase in
digitization during the last 5 months of global lockdown, India and
Israel have signed an agreement to further expand their collaboration in
dealing with cyber threats.
ii.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a unit of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD).
iii.It was signed by the Director-General (DG) of INCD, Yigal Unna, and India’s Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla.
About Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In):
Headquarter– New Delhi
Director-General (DG)– Dr. Sanjay Bahl
About Israel:
Capital– Jerusalem
Currency– Israeli Shekel
President– Reuven “Ruvi” Rivlin
ii.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a unit of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD).
iii.It was signed by the Director-General (DG) of INCD, Yigal Unna, and India’s Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla.
About Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In):
Headquarter– New Delhi
Director-General (DG)– Dr. Sanjay Bahl
About Israel:
Capital– Jerusalem
Currency– Israeli Shekel
President– Reuven “Ruvi” Rivlin
India Ranked 3rd in 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index; China Tops: Cushman & Wakefield
i.In accordance with the “Cushman & Wakefield’s 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI)”
India ranks third in the list of most-suitable locations for global
manufacturing among 48 countries in terms of cost competitiveness and
operating conditions.
ii.The index has been topped by China and followed by the United States (US) at 2nd rank.
iii.As per property consultant Cushman & Wakefield India is an upcoming manufacturing hub globally from an operating conditions and cost-competitiveness perspective.
About Cushman & Wakefield:
President– John Forrester
Headquarter– Chicago, Illinois, United States (US)
ii.The index has been topped by China and followed by the United States (US) at 2nd rank.
iii.As per property consultant Cushman & Wakefield India is an upcoming manufacturing hub globally from an operating conditions and cost-competitiveness perspective.
About Cushman & Wakefield:
President– John Forrester
Headquarter– Chicago, Illinois, United States (US)
Global Skills Index 2020 Report: India Surges ahead the Peers in Business and Technology Skills
The report of Global Skills Index 2020,
an in depth view at the state of the skills across the world prepared
by “Coursera”, World’s largest online learning platform shows that India
Surges ahead of the peers in the business and technology skill sets
because of the growing young population.
About Coursera:
Founders– Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng
CEO– Jeff Maggioncalda
Headquarters– Mountain View, California, United States of America
About Coursera:
Founders– Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng
CEO– Jeff Maggioncalda
Headquarters– Mountain View, California, United States of America
BANKING & FINANCE
NABARD Sanctioned Rs 795 crore to West Bengal for Reconstructing Infrastructure Damaged by Cyclone Amphan
i.National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 795 crore to West Bengal to reconstruct infrastructure which was damaged by Cyclone Amphan(May).
ii.The state government appealed for Rs 1,028 crore from NABARD to repair the damage under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
iii.NABARD has already provided Rs 145 crore under RIDF to the state as special liquidity support to enhance rural infrastructure considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
About NABARD:
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman– G R Chintala
About West Bengal:
Capital– Kolkata
Chief Minister– Mamata Banerjee
Governor– Jagdeep Dhankhar
Other Related News:
i.World Bank grants Rs. 1,950 cr loans to West Bengal to tackle COVID- 19.
ii.NABARD grants Rs 1,050 crore special liquidity facility (SLF) to West Bengal during FY 21 for the benefit of farmers & poor people.
ii.The state government appealed for Rs 1,028 crore from NABARD to repair the damage under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
iii.NABARD has already provided Rs 145 crore under RIDF to the state as special liquidity support to enhance rural infrastructure considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
About NABARD:
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman– G R Chintala
About West Bengal:
Capital– Kolkata
Chief Minister– Mamata Banerjee
Governor– Jagdeep Dhankhar
Other Related News:
i.World Bank grants Rs. 1,950 cr loans to West Bengal to tackle COVID- 19.
ii.NABARD grants Rs 1,050 crore special liquidity facility (SLF) to West Bengal during FY 21 for the benefit of farmers & poor people.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
ICRA projects India’s GDP to contract by 9.5% in FY21 from earlier 5%
i.ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency) projects India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) to contract by 9.5%(-9.5%) in FY2021 from 5% earlier forecasted as ongoing lockdowns in some states have affected the recovery seen in May and June.
ii.India’s economy to contract by 25% in the 1st quarter of FY21, in the 2nd quarter to contract by 12.4%, in the 3rd quarter to contract by 2.3% and in the 4th quarter to contract by 1.3%.
About ICRA:
Registered Office– New Delhi, India
Chairman– Dhruba Narayan Ghosh
ii.India’s economy to contract by 25% in the 1st quarter of FY21, in the 2nd quarter to contract by 12.4%, in the 3rd quarter to contract by 2.3% and in the 4th quarter to contract by 1.3%.
About ICRA:
Registered Office– New Delhi, India
Chairman– Dhruba Narayan Ghosh
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Oscar Winner Kate Winslet will Receive 2020 TIFF Tribute Actor Award on 45th Edition of TIFF
On 16th July 2020, The Toronto International Film Festival(TIFF), announced
that Kate Winslet will be receiving the 2020 TIFF Tribute Actor Award
at the virtual event of the 45th edition of TIFF.
Kate will receive the honour in the
virtual gala on 15th September 2020, following her film, Francis Lee’s
Ammonite in which she played a fossil hunter Mary Anning.
About Kate Winslet:
i.Kate Winslet debuted in the film Heavenly Creatures directed by Peter Jackson.
ii.She was known for her role as Rose DeWitt in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997).
iii.She won the Oscar for the best actress for the film The Reader.
iv.She received multiple Golden Globes for her movies like Revolutionary Road, Mildred Pierce and Steve jobs.
45th edition of TIFF:
i.The festival will commence on 10th September 2020 run till 19th September 2020.
ii.For the first time in TIFF
history, TIFF will launch a digital platform for the 45th edition this
year to connect the audience amid the global pandemic situation.
iii.The festival plans to screen around 50 films in the first 5 days in theaters thorough social distanced screening.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
L&T Tech Services to Acquire 100% Stake in Orchestra Tech for about Rs 187 Crore
i.L&T Technology Services(LTTS), the engineering services arm of Larsen and Toubro Group, informed that it will acquire a 100 % stake in Texas-based Orchestra Technology(Tech).
ii.The acquisition is an all cash deal of USD 25 million, or about Rs 187 crores.
iii.The amount will be paid in two tranches of USD 11 million (Rs 82.6 crore) and USD 14 million (Rs 105 crore). The deal is expected to close by December 2020.
About Orchestra Tech:
Founder and CEO– Anuj Jain
About LTTS:
Headquarters– Vadodara, Gujarat
CEO & Managing Director– Keshab Panda
ii.The acquisition is an all cash deal of USD 25 million, or about Rs 187 crores.
iii.The amount will be paid in two tranches of USD 11 million (Rs 82.6 crore) and USD 14 million (Rs 105 crore). The deal is expected to close by December 2020.
About Orchestra Tech:
Founder and CEO– Anuj Jain
About LTTS:
Headquarters– Vadodara, Gujarat
CEO & Managing Director– Keshab Panda
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IIT-M Incubated Start-up, Modulus Housing Developed a Portable Hospital Unit, ‘MediCAB’ to Treat COVID-19 Patients
Indian Institute of Technology Madras(IIT-M)-incubated start-up, Modulus Housing has developed a portable hospital unit, ‘MediCAB’, a decentralized approach to detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients. It can be installed anywhere within 2 hours by four people.
- The startup has collaborated with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology(SCTIMST). This collaboration helps the startup to get inputs on certification and customizations necessary for the project.
- Recently, MediCAB has been launched in the Wayanad district of Kerala to treat COVID-19 patients.
About Modulus Housing:
It was founded by two IIT alumni in 2018. It was supported by IIT Madras Incubation Cell
Headquarters– Chennai, TamilNadu
Chief Executive Officer– Shreeram Ravichandran
About IIT-M:
Director– Bhaskar Ramamurthi
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