Current Affairs Daily Digest – June 21 2020
1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend Russian Victory Day Parade
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to make a three-day visit to Russia on May 22, 2020 to attend the Russian Victory Day Parade. This year’s victory parade will mark the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender to Soviet Union during the Second World War.
2. Nepal’s President approves controversial bill to revise national map including three Indian territories
Nepal’s President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on June 18, 2020 approved the Constitution Amendment Bill that seeks to update the nation’s political map by including areas claimed by India. The bill was passed earlier in the day by Nepal’s upper house of the Parliament, National Assembly with unanimous support. All 57 members of the house voted in favour of the bill.
3. International Yoga Day observed on June 21
This day is celebrated every year on June 21. International Yoga Day was announced to be established in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, the day has been celebrated since 2015. The date June 21 was suggested by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his UN address.
PM Modi picked this date, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere. This day also shares a special significance in many parts of the world.
Theme – Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home
4. India Ideas Summit 2020 on 21st & 22nd July
The 45th annual meeting of the United States India Business Council (USIBC) will be marked with the 2020 India Ideas Summit. This year’s summit will be held virtually on 21st and 22nd July.
Every year the Summit is being organized by the USIBC. The summit is conducted to showcase the importance of the positive outcome of the India-United States economic partnership and the overall bilateral relationship between the two nations.
5. Atal Innovation Mission partners with Coal India Ltd to boost its Innovation & Entrepreneurship initiatives
Coal India Limited (CIL) has agreed to partner with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog to support proactively the flagship mission’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country. A Statement of Intent (SoI) of a strategic partnership between AIM and Coal India Limited was signed and exchanged in a virtual e-summit for the same on Friday June 19.
6. World Bank approves dollar 1.05 billion to Bangladesh for jobs and economic recovery
The World Bank has approved dollar 1.05 billion for three projects in Bangladesh to create quality jobs and accelerate economic recovery in the wake of the Corona pandemic. The Press release issued by the World Bank on Friday quoted the Country Director for Bhutan and Bangladesh Mercy Tembon that these projects will help the economy in bouncing back by creating more and better jobs and promoting direct private investment in specialized economic zones.
7. Glenmark launches Covid-19 drug at Rs 103 per tablet
Drug firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Saturday said it has launched antiviral drug Favipiravir, under the brand name FabiFlu, for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 at a price of about Rs 103 per tablet.
The drug will be available as a 200 mg tablet at a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 3,500 for a strip of 34 tablets, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said.
8. International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice – 21 June
The northern hemisphere, including India to witness the longest day of hte year on June 21. A solstice — derived from the Latin sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”), because the seasonal movement of the Sun’s daily path (as seen from Earth) appears to “stand still” at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction.
9. Exim Bank extends USD 20.1 mn credit line to Nicaragua govt
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) said it has extended a line of credit (LOC) of USD 20.10 million to the government of Nicaragua for reconstruction of Aldo Chavarria Hospital.
Projects covered under the LOCs include supply of equipment for building two substations, construction of transmission lines, building new substation, expansion of the existing substations and reconstruction of a hospital.
10. Axis Bank’s Pralay Mondal to join CSB
The board of CSB Bank has approved the appointment of Pralay Mondal as the president – retail, SME, operations and IT, the private sector lender said in a statement. “Mr. Mondal is expected to join the bank in September 2020,” CSB (the erstwhile Catholic Syrian Bank) said.
11. Playback singer A.L. Raghavan no more
Noted playback singer A.L. Raghavan died. He was 87 and is survived by his actress wife M.N. Rajam, a son and a daughter. “He was good at producing peculiar sounds and western music notes. His talent can be explained by his contribution to the song Unnai Arinthal Nee Unnai Arinthal rendered by T.M. Soundararajan,” said Mr.Vamanan.
