Current Affairs Daily Digest – February 27 2020
1. Mansukh Mandaviya launched OPV-6 VAJRA in Chennai
The 6th Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV-6) ‘VAJRA’ was launched on 27 February at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Union Minister of State for Shipping(I/C) and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the launching ceremony.
2. Xiaomi to use ISRO’s NavIC technology
Xiaomi has collaborated with ISRO to bring the space agency’s Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System “NavIC technology” to its smartphones. The announcement was made by Xiaomi Global VP and MD Manu Jain. Xiaomi is the only smartphone brand to have worked with ISRO to bring tech that has been developed in the country to the fore, so far.
3. The US became Indias top trading partner
The data provided by the Ministry of Commerce stated that in 2018-2019 the US had surpassed China to become India’s top trading partner. It shows greater economic ties between the two countries. The trend is expected to continue in the coming years as India and the US are engaged in further deepening the economic ties.
4. RBI directed banks to link all new floating rate loan
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed banks to link all the new floating-rate loan to medium enterprises with external benchmark. It will be effective from 1 April 2020. The floating rate loans of the micro and small enterprises are already linked with external benchmarks.
5. Exercise Indradhanush commenced at Airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
The fifth edition of Exercise Indradhanush was jointly commenced at Air Force Station Hindan, Airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on 24 February 2020. The exercise is held between the Indian Air Force (IAF), India and Royal Air Force (RAF), the UK. The exercise will formally conclude on 29 February 2020.
6. INCOIS launched 3 technological support and alert systems
The Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) launched three new technological support and alert systems on 25 February. The technology aims to significantly reduce damage and losses to fishermen, offshore oil exploration industries and coastal population during extreme weather and oceanic events.
7. Jawed Ashraf appointed as Indias next Ambassador to France
Diplomat Jawed Ashraf has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to France on 26 February. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He will take up the assignment shortly. The appointment comes in view of rising strategic ties between India and France.
8. Ms. Jiya felicitated for creating world record in open water swimming
Ms. Jiya was awarded a Certificate and Trophy for her record-breaking achievement by creating a world record. She was felicitated by Mr. Abhay Dadhe, Associate Vice President of Swimming Federation of India at an award ceremony held at K R Kama hall, Mumbai on 23 February.
Jiya Rai achievement:
Ms. Jiya Rai is an eleven-year-old daughter of Madan Rai, Master Chief at Arms II, posted in INS Shikra. She is studying VI standard in Navy Children School (NCS), Mumbai. She created a world record on 15 February 2020 by becoming the fastest special girl to swim 14 Km in open water. She swam from Elephanta Island to Gateway of India, a distance of 14 Km in 3 hours 27 minutes and 30 seconds (03:27:30). The solo swimming event was conducted under the supervision of the Swimming Association of Maharashtra, an authorized body of the Swimming Federation of India.
9. 30 Years Egypt Ruler Mohammed Hosni Mubarak passes away
Egypt ruler Mohammed Hosni Mubarak died at the age of 91. He was severely ill in the last months of his life. He served as the President of Egypt between 1981 and 2011. Initially he served as an air force officer. It is to be noted that he undertook training in Soviet Union in 1961 at the Kant Air Base near Bishek.
10. India beat NZ by 4 runs, become 1st team to reach 2020 Women’s T20 WC semis
India defeated New Zealand by four runs on Thursday to register their third straight victory in the 2020 Women’s World Cup. With this, they also became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. India’s 16-year-old opener Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for scoring 46 runs off 34 deliveries, including three sixes and four fours.
11. Sharapova says goodbye to Tennis
Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, one of the world’s most recognisable sportswomen, today announced her retirement from tennis. In an article for Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines, Sharapova said, “Tennis – I’m saying goodbye,”. Sharapova said that her body had become a distraction after a struggle with shoulder injuries. The Russian won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004 aged 17 and completed the career slam, all four major titles, by winning the French Open in 2012.
12. Realme names Salman Khan as brand ambassador
Bollywood actor Salman Khan will endorse the Chinese smartphone maker Realme, the companysaid on Wednesday.
This is the first time Salman Khan has collaborated with a smartphone brand in India. Other popular brands such asOppo, Vivo and Xiaomi had roped in various celebrities to advertise theirproducts.For example, Oppo signed actors Ranbeer Kapoor, Katrina Kaif andsinger-rapper Badshah to endorse its Reno series.
13. Government of India announces Maiden Summit on Artificial Intelligence
The Government of India (GoI) announced the mega event, RAISE 2020- ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020,’ to be held from April 11-12 in New Delhi. RAISE 2020 is India’s first Artificial Intelligence summit to be organized by the Government in partnership with Industry & Academia. The summit will be a global meeting of minds to exchange ideas and charter a course to use AI for social empowerment, inclusion and transformation in key areas like Healthcare, Agriculture, Education and Smart Mobility amongst other sectors.
14. CBSE releases an app to locate the Exam Centre
The Central Board of Secondary Education has released an app giving information about the examination center for the convenience of the students.
The examinations of CBSE have already started, but the papers of the main subjects are starting from today. With the help of this app, students will easily search their examination center.
15. RBI directs banks to link all the new floating rate loans to medium enterprises with external benchmark
The Reserve Bank has directed banks to link all the new floating rate loan to medium enterprises with external benchmark.
In a circular, RBI said that the direction will be effective from 1st April 2020. With respect to micro and small enterprises, floating rate loans are already linked with external benchmarks.
16. Cabinet approves Exemption from applicability of DPE Guidelines to India Ports Global Limited (IPGL)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the exemption of the India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) from the DPE Guidelines, except reservation and vigilance policies.
IPGL was incorporated under Companies Act 2013, as a Special Purpose Vehicle jointly promoted by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Deendayal Port Trust (DPT), [earlier Kandla Port Trust (KPT)], under Administrative control of Ministry of Shipping, for development and management of Shahid Behesthi Port of Chabahar in Iran.
17. EPS, Stalin laud KV Jeyasri for Sahitya Akademi award
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, DMK president MK Stalin, CPM State secretary K Balakrishnan and PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss have extended their congratulations to translator KV Jeyasri, who bagged the Sahitya Akademi award for translating Malayalam novel ‘Nilam poothu malarnna naal’ into Tamil.
18. Kazuhisa Hashimoto, Creator Of Famous ‘Konami Code’ Gaming Cheat, Dies
Kazuhisa Hashimoto, the man who invented the “Konami code” cheat that became pervasive in video gaming and pop culture, has died.
To use the code, players would press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and the Start button on the controller to make games easier. It was named after the popular Japanese gaming and entertainment company Konami, where Hashimoto worked.
19. Sweden MP delegation visits the ECI
A ten-member delegation of MPs, members of the Committee on the Constitution in Riksdag, the Parliament of Sweden, visited the Election Commission in New Delhi. The delegation met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra yesterday.
