Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 21 & 22 2020
1. Harit Path: Mobile Application to monitor plantation along National Highway launched by NHAI
The National Highway Authority of India launched the mobile application called “Harit Path”. The application has started creating user IDs for experts. So far 7,800 plants have been geo-tagged using the application.
The application developed will monitor growth, location, species details and will maintain targets, achievements made by individual plantation projects. The application has been launched on Big Data Analytics platform -Data Lake.
2. India and Israel New Cultural Agreement
India and Israel signed a new cultural agreement to strengthen people-to-people exchanges. This agreement was signed by India’s Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla and Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. The new cultural agreement will be a three year programme on cultural cooperation from 2020-23.
3. Uttar Pradesh partners Israel to resolve Bundelkhand Water Crisis
Uttar Pradesh government has signed a ‘plan of cooperation’ with Israel government to resolve water crisis in Bundelkhand region. The partnership between the two governments seeks to address water crisis in drought hit regions of Bundelkhand. It will support regional farmers with latest farming technologies such as drip irrigation, meant for water deficient regions like Bundelkhand.
4. Indian Coast Guard launches Interceptor Boat ‘ICGS C-454’
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has launched an Interceptor Boat ‘ICGS C-454’ in Surat, Gujarat. The Interceptor Boat ‘ICGS C-454’ has been built by Larsen and Toubro and it has a maximum speed of 45 nautical miles or 83 kilometers per hour.
5. HSBC India launches “Green Deposit Programme”
A “Green Deposit Programme” has been launched by the HSBC India. The “green deposit programme” has been launched exclusively for corporate clients. Under this programme, the bank will use the deposits to finance green initiatives and environment friendly projects. With this, the deposit scheme launched by the HSBC India will provide its corporate clients stable and pre-agreed returns along with the same protection as a normal bank deposit does.
6. Ronnie O’Sullivan wins World Snooker Championship 2020
Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Kyren Wilson with a score of 18-8 to win the World Snooker Championship 2020. He has claimed his sixth World Championship title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
7. Rajiv Kumar appointed as new Election Commissioner
The Government of India has appointed Rajiv Kumar as the new Election Commissioner of India. He will be appointed as the election commissioner “with effect from the date he assumes the office. He will succeed Ashok Lavasa who has submitted his resignation to the Indian President.
8. National Sports Awards 2020 announced
National Sports Awards are conferred every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. The Government of India has announced the list of winners of the National Sports Awards 2020, as per the recommendation of the Selection Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) Mukundakam Sharma (former Judge of Supreme Court of India).
Honourable President of India will confer the awards to the awardees at a specially organized function through virtual mode from Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29th August, 2020.
9. Former Indian cricketer Gopalaswamy Kasturirangan passes away
Former Cricketer, Administrator and Pitch Curator, Gopalaswamy Iyenger Kasturirangan passed away. He was born on 12th October 1930 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He began his career in the 1948-49 season representing Mysore in the Ranji Trophy and retired from first-class cricket after the 1962-63 season.
10. INOX Group becomes sponsor of Indian team for Tokyo Olympics
The governing body for the Olympic Movement in India, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and INOX Group has signed a sponsorship agreement to support Team India for Tokyo Olympics, which was rescheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021. The partnership agreement will further support team India’s promotions through the Group’s entertainment company, Inox Leisure Limited.
11. Francisco Asue reappointed as PM of Equatorial Guinea
Francisco Pascual Eyegue Obama Asue was reappointed as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for 3rd consecutive term. On 14th August 2020, The Asue government tendered the resignation to President Teodoro Obiang, following the criticism of the president. The government was dissolved to resolve the economic situation. Francisco Asue was first appointed as the Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea on 23rd June 2016.
12. World Senior Citizen Day: 21 August
The World Senior Citizen Day is observed globally on 21st August every year. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about issues affecting older people, such as deterioration with age and the abuse of the elderly and support, honour and show appreciation to seniors and to recognize their achievements. The World Senior Citizen’s Day also recognises and acknowledges the contributions of older people to society.
13. Keith Rowley becomes PM of Trinidad and Tobago for 2nd consecutive term
Keith Rowley sworn in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for a 2nd consecutive 5-year term. He is from the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM).
As per the preliminary result, PNM won 22 of the 41 electoral seats, while the opposition United National Congress (UNC) led by former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar won 19 seats.
14. Google launches ‘Kormo’ app in India to help people find jobs
Google has launched its employment application named ‘Kormo Jobs’ in India. It would help millions of Indians to get entry-level jobs. Kormo Jobs will help to provide entry-level jobs to thousands of people, to help those who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus and young professionals who are looking for jobs.
15. International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
United Nations observes 21st August every year as International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. The day is observed to pay tribute to the individuals across the globe who have been attacked, injured, traumatized or lost their lives because of terrorist attacks.
16. Wing Commander Gajanand Yadava wins Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2019
Wing Commander Gajanand Yadava has won the ‘Tenzing Norgey National Adventure Award 2019′ in air adventure category. The Indian Air Force congratulated Yadava for the special award through a post on Twitter.
Gajanand Yadava is a Parachute Jump Instructor. He is also a member of IAF’s Skydiving Team `Akash Ganga`. He has undertaken more than 2900 jumps till date, stated the Indian Air Force in its post.
