Current Affairs Daily Digest – July 18 & 19 2020
1. Arjuna awardee para-athlete Ramesh Tikaram passes away
Arjuna awardee, para-athlete and para-badminton player, Ramesh Tikaram passed away due to COVID-19. He won many medals in shotput and Javelin throw including an international meet in Nottingham in 1995.
He was awarded the Arjuna Award for his excellence in para-athletics and badminton in 2002. He became the founder secretary of the Badminton Sports Association of India for the Challenged, now known as the Para-Badminton Association of India in 2000.
2. Real Madrid clinch record 34th La Liga title
Spanish professional football club, Real Madrid has been crowned La Liga Champions for the 34th time after defeating Villarreal 2–1 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, with one match remaining. Karim Benzema was the leading scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.
3. India ranks 3rd in Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020
India is the third top-most country in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020. The annual Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI) report was released by the US-based property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, to rank the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in Europe, Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. Each of the countries has been assessed in four key areas: Bouncebackability, Conditions, Costs and Risks.
4. Ossouka Raponda appointed as 1st woman PM of Gabon
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda has been appointed as the first woman prime minister of Gabon. She is the 12th PM of the country and succeeds Julien Nkoghe Bekale.
Prior to holding this position, Ossouka Raponda served as Defence Minister since February 2019. Her appointment is the fourth cabinet reshuffle by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba since January 2019.
5. Nelson Mandela International Day celebrated on 18 July
The United Nations observes 18 July every year as Nelson Mandela International Day. The day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world. Nelson Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.
6. Priyanka Chopra Jonas appointed as ambassador for TIFF 2020
Bollywood actor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been chosen as the ambassador of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2020. Priyanka has joined the list of 50 celebrated filmmakers and actors who are invited as the ambassadors of the TIFF. Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has also been chosen for TIFF 2020.
7. Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone approved
Union Environment Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar informed that the Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone has been approved.
The announcement was made by the minister during a review meeting of “Chaardhaam Road Project” in the state of Uttarakhand. The plan was prepared by the Government of Uttarakhand and was appraised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
8. Cochin Shipyard signed agreement to build autonomous electric ferries for Norway
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has signed a contract with ASKO Maritime AS, Norway, a subsidiary of NorgesGruppen, to build autonomous electric ferries. The agreement paves way for the construction and supply of the two autonomous electric ferries along with an option to build two more identical vessels
9. Arunachal Pradesh plans 100% tap connections by 2023
Arunachal Pradesh Government has decided to provide 100% tap water connections to all the households in the state by 2023 under Jal Jeevan Mission, the flagship programme of Government, which aims to provide safe drinking water to all.
In hilly areas, it is a huge burden on the women of the household to go and fetch water from a distance, which takes a heavy toll on their body. To reduce their drudgery, this mission has come as a boon and aims to provide potable water to every rural household in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis.
10. 2020 Miles Franklin Prize awarded to Wiradjuri author Tara June Winch
Wiradjuri author Tara June Winch has won the Miles Franklin Literary Award — Australia’s most prestigious writing prize, and one of its richest at $60,000 — for her novel The Yield.
Tara is the fourth Indigenous Australian author to win the prize, following last year’s winner Melissa Lucashenko (for Too Much Lip), Kim Scott (who shared the prize in 2000 for Benang and won again in 2011 with That Deadman Dance) and Alexis Wright (for Carpentaria, 2007).
11. SAP appoints Kulmeet Bawa as president and MD of Indian subcontinent
German technology major SAP on Friday appointed Kulmeet Bawa as president and managing director for SAP Indian Subcontinent, effective 20 July. Bawa replaces Deb Deep Sengupta.
Based in Gurugram, Bawa will report to Scott Russell, president of SAP Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ).
