Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 31 2020
1. DheeYantra launched Virtual assistance to curb fake messages on Coronavirus
DheeYantra, the pioneers in Indian languages NLP and conversational AI, has launched “Aham!”, a virtual assistant. The chatbot was developed to provide answers to the concerns on the COVID-19 crisis.
Aham!-
Aham! is released in 7 Indian languages namely Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil, in addition to English. Aham aims to combat the rise of fake news related to COVID-19 contagion across India and the world
2. Himachal Pradesh launched mobile app to monitor quarantined people
Himachal Pradesh State government has unveiled ‘Corona Mukt Himachal’, a mobile application on 31 March as a measure to protect the State’s people. The app will track and monitor the people who are quarantined for COVID-19.
3. China recommended bear bile to treat COVID-19 patients
The National Health Commission of China published a list of recommended treatments to treat COVID-19. Apart from western medicine and Chinese medicine, the list included Tan Re Qing, injections that contain bear bile powder.
Bear’s Bile:
Tan Re Qing is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder of the bear. The bile from various species of bears, including Asiatic black bears and brown bears, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine since the 8th century. Bear’s bile contains high levels of ursodeoxycholic acid, also known as ursodiol.
4. Jharkhand launched PRAGYAAM to provide essential services
Jharkhand state government has launched PRAGYAAM, a Mobile application, on 30 March. The app was launched by the State Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The app aims to issue e-passes to everyone associated with the delivery of essential services during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.
5. TRIFED launched Trifed VanDhan GIS-based website
A group of 500 officials from the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has unveiled Trifed VanDhan GIS-based website, the power of Webinars to keep in touch with each other and keep moving and working.
The move aims to support people working from home amid the lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people across 27 states are working from home. Working on their computers from home, they have raised the bar very high, achieving unbelievable results.
6. Indian Railways offer 3.2 lakh isolation beds
The Indian Railways until 31 March, 2020 has modified 20,000 coaches to accommodate 3.2 lakh people. It is still working with 5,000 more coaches to add 80,000 more beds.
The Indian Railway coaches have been converted into isolation wards to fulfil the isolated quarantine requirements to treat COVID-19 patients. One single coach is expected to support 16 beds of isolation. The coaches will also have nurses cabins. Only non-AC coaches are being converted into quarantine coaches.
7. “Stranded in India” Portal launched to help Foreign Tourists
The Ministry of Tourism had launched “Stranded in India”, a portal aimed to support foreign tourists.The portal aims to disseminate information to the foreign tourists stuck far away from their homeland amidst COVID-19 threats and Lock Down.
The tourists can use the portal to learn information about steps or measures being made by the Indian Government and the foreign government to take them home safely.
8. US-Iran: Four Nuclear Restrictions renewed by US
The US renewed four nuclear restrictions imposed on Iran. The restrictions were imposed to prevent Iran from building its nuclear programme.The nuclear restrictions on Iran imposed by the US has been renewed for another 60 days. The decision makes it harder for Iran to work on its Nuclear programme amidst the threat of COVID-19.
9. United Nations: India and China likely to stay away from Global Recessions
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) made a new analysis under the title “The COVID-19 Shock to Developing Countries”. The analysis says that leading exporting countries are to face drop in investments between 2 trillion USD and 3 trillion USD in the next two years.
10. 1971 war icon Chandan Singh is dead
Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Chandan Singh (retired), 95, who played a pivotal role in transport operations during the 1962 war between India and China, and who was instrumental in helicopter operations during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh passed away on Sunday. He was decorated with a Maha Vir Chakra and a Vir Chakra.
11. Bharti Infratel re-appointed D.S Rawat as MD & CEO
The Board of Directors of the Company, has appointed him the MD&CEO for a period of up to six months i.e. w.e.f. April 1, 2020 up till September 30, 2020 or up till the ensuing Arumal General Meeting of the Company, whichever is earlier.
12. ICICI Lombard And BharatPe Partner To Launch Coronavirus cover for shopkeepers
BharatPe, India’s largest merchant payment & lending network has partnered with ICICI Lombard to roll out ‘COVID-19 Protection Insurance Cover’ for shopkeepers. Amid the contagious pandemic, this policy on a diagnosis of COVID-19 (+ve) will pay 100% of the sum insured, irrespective of hospitalisation expenses.
