Current Affairs Daily Digest – July 14 2020
1. Centre approves Rs. 107 crores for the firefighting facilities at Haldia dock in Kolkata
The central government on July 14 announced that it has approved Rs. 107 crores for the modern and advanced firefighting facilities at the Haldia dock complex of Kolkata Port.
The new modern facilities will ensure safe cargo operations, especially petrochemical goods. Kolkata port is counted as one of the top 12 major ports in the country.
2. Iran drops India from Chahbahar Rail Project, reports funding delay
India has been dropped out from the construction of a railway line from Chahbahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan, as the Iranian government has decided to proceed with the construction on its own.
The agreement was signed by Iran and India four years ago to build a railway line. As per the Iranian government, the decision has been taken because of the delay in funding and the start of the project from the Indian government.
3. Polish President Andrzej Duda wins 2nd term with narrow margin
Polish President Andrzej Duda narrowly beat his opponent Rafal Trzaskowski in the Presidential Elections held on July 12, 2020. The votes were counted on July 13.
The Polish Presidential Elections 2020 was the closest-ever Presidential election since the end of communist rule in the nation in 1989. Andrzej Duda won 51.2 percent of the votes, while Trzaskowski won 48.97 percent. The total voter turnout was 68.18 percent.
4. Vikram Doraiswami appointed India’s next Ambassador to Bangladesh
Indian Foreign Service officer, Vikram Doraiswami has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Bangladesh. He is currently serving as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations and summits at the headquarters of the external affairs ministry in Delhi. He will succeed Riva Ganguly Das in Dhaka.
The government has also appointed Vidhu P Nair as the next ambassador of India to Turkmenistan and Hemant Harishchandra Kotalwar as India’s next envoy to the Czech Republic.
5. Gurbux Singh, Palash Nandi to be honoured with Mohun Bagan Ratna
According to ATK-Mohun Bagan club, Hockey legend Gurbux Singh and former first-class cricketer Palash Nandi will receive this year’s Mohun Bagan Ratna.
The club has decided not to hold the customary ‘Mohun Bagan Day’ function on July 29 this year owing to the pandemic. July 29 was the date of Bagan’s IFA Shield triumph in 1911 when they defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1.
6. Hemang Amin appointed as interim CEO of BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Hemang Amin as its interim chief executive officer (CEO). He will replace Rahul Johri who recently resigned as the chief executive officer (CEO) of BCCI and his resignation was accepted by the BCCI office-bearers.
7. Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton won Styrian Grand Prix 2020
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Britain) has won the Styrian Grand Prix 2020 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) finished second while Max Verstappen ( Red Bull- Belgium) was third. It was the second race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship and the first running of the Styrian Grand Prix.
8. ISRO Chief K Sivan named for Von Karman Award 2020
Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) Chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan has named for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). The Von Karman Award is known as the highest distinction of the IAA. Dr K. Sivan is going to receive an award in March 2021 at Paris France.
Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao was the first Indian to receive the von Karman award. The award was presented to him in 2005 and Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan received the Von Karman award in 2007.
9. Chhattisgarh awarded “Elites Excellence Awards 2020”
Chief Minister Darpan website and mobile app prepared for monitoring Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship schemes, has been awarded “Elites Excellence Awards-2020” at the national level.
Chhattisgarh has been awarded this honour by the country’s prestigious IT institution Elites Technomedia, New Delhi under the ‘Digital India initiative’.
10. Hockey Stalwart Ashok Kumar To Receive Mohun Bagan Lifetime Achievement Award
Ashok Kumar, a key member of India’s 1975 World Cup-winning hockey team, will be conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award by city football club Mohun Bagan on the occasion of its foundation day in a virtual ceremony in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
11. Ved Parkash Dudeja, vice chairman, RLDA awarded ‘Infra Business Leader of the Year’
Ved Parkash Dudeja, vice chairman, Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) was recently awarded the coveted ‘Infra Business Leader of the Year’ award for 2020 by the Rail Infra and Mobility Business Digital Awards (RIMBDA).
RLDA is a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways, responsible for development of vacant railway land for commercial use for the purpose of generating revenue by non-tariff measures and creating assets for Indian Railways.
12. Visa partners with Federal Bank for rolling out Visa Secure for e-commerce
Visa, a global leader in payments technology has tied-up with Federal Bank to launch “Visa Secure” to the bank’s cardholders. “Visa Secure” is a modernized technology that provides a quicker and frictionless checkout experience to the consumers.
Adoption of new improved technology will enable the bank to focus on customer-centric digital solutions that make online shopping experiences seamless.
