Daily GK Updates - 20th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Prime Minister’s address to the nation on combating COVID-19: As the whole world is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressed his countrymen and made an appeal to all Indians to stay indoors as much as possible to stop the outspread of COVID-19 in India. He stated a mantra ‘Hum Swasth, toh Jag Swasth’ that is the world will be healthy, if we stay healthy. He appealed to the people of India to adopt ‘Social Distancing’ which can play a critical role in these times of the global corona pandemic. He also stated a term during his address to the nation i.e. “People’s curfew” which means a curfew imposed for the people, by the people, on the people themselves.

2. PM Modi appeals for ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22nd March: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for “Janta Curfew” on 22nd March within the wake of COVID 19 outbreak. It’ll be self-imposed and self-regulated and will be effective from 7 AM in the morning till 9 PM in the evening. PM Modi urged countrymen to thank people like doctors, medical personnel and cleaning staff for his or her service on Sunday at 5 PM.

3. Four convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape hanged at Delhi’s Tihar Jail: Four convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case namely Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar and Mukesh Kumar were hanged to death at Tihar jail in Delhi. Delhi High Court and Supreme Court dismissed a last-minute plea by the convicts, paving the way for the execution. Director-General of Tihar jail Sandeep Goel has confirmed that the four convicts were hanged together at 5.30 a.m. A doctor has examined and declared all four dead.

4. Government Approves Setting Up of National Technical Textile Mission: The government has approved the proposal for creation of National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years from 2020-21 to 2023-24. The total outlay of the mission has been estimated at Rs.1480 crores. The mission focuses on the development in usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions as well as programmes of the country. The Mission will also work towards the promotion of innovation amongst young engineering /technology/ science standards and graduates along with creation of innovation and incubation centres and promotion of start-up and Ventures.

Note: Union Minister of Textiles: Smriti Zubin Irani.

5. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Submits Resignation: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has submitted his resignation to state governor Lalji Tandon on 20 March 2020. His decision came after the Supreme Court ordered the Congress government led by Kamal Nath to prove majority in Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The SC order followed the resignations of 22 MLAs on 19 March 2020, after which Congress fell short of majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. These MLAs resigned in support of former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress to join the BJP earlier this month.

6. Centre launches ‘MyGov Corona Helpdesk’ on WhatsApp: In a bid to reduce panic among the citizens pertaining to COVID-19, the Central Government launched an official chatbot on popular instant messaging application WhatsApp. This WhatsApp Chatbot is named MyGov Corona Helpdesk and is available to all WhatsApp users. The person in need is only required to save the number – 9013151515 in their contact list and send a message to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Bank Group Increases COVID-19 Response Fund to $14 Billion from $12 Billion: The World Bank Group has announced an additional funding of $2 billion to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing its commitment to $14 billion. Earlier, on 3rd March 2020, the World Bank had announced a financing package worth up to $12 billion, aimed at supporting countries in their response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The $2 billion in additional funds will come from International Finance Corporation (IFC), from its earlier contribution of $6 billion. The $14 billion funding announced will be made available from three branches of the World Bank Group:

$2.7 billion – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

$3.3 billion – International Development Association (IDA)

$8 billion- The International Finance Corporation (IFC)

2. India ranks second in probes on foreign bribery, enforcement drags globally: India has been ranked at the second place in terms of the number of investigations concerning alleged bribery of domestic officials by foreign firms as per the 10th Annual Global Enforcement Report of TRACE International. Brazil has topped the report. China is on third.

3. WhatsApp Launches Coronavirus Info Hub; Announces USD 1 Million Grant to IFCN For Checking Fake News On COVID-19 Pandemic: The Facebook-owned popular messaging app WhatsApp has launched two initiatives in order to contribute to the cause of containing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Firstly, WhatsApp has launched a ‘Coronavirus Information Hub’ in partnership with International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The information hub can be accessed at whatsapp.com/coronavirus which would provide guidelines on how to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secondly, WhatsApp has announced to donate $1 million to International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to support fact-checking about COVID-19 on WhatsApp to avoid the spread of misinformation about the disease among the users.

Note: Headquarters of WHO: Geneva, Switzerland; Director general of WHO: Tedros Adhanom.

Administrator of United Nations Development Programme: Achim Steiner.

Executive Director of UNICEF: Henrietta H. Fore.

4. International Day of Happiness: 20 March: Every year the International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20 to promote happiness as a fundamental human right for all human beings across the world. The 2020 International Day of Happiness campaign theme is ‘Happiness For All, Together’”. The day was founded by United Nations adviser ‘Jayme Illien’ on June 28, 2012. The first International Day of Happiness was officially held on 20 March 2013.

5. World Sparrow Day: 20 March: World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20, 2020 to raise awareness about the House Sparrow and other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations. The day initiated by the Nature Forever Society (NFS) of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010.

6. UN French Language Day: 20 March: The UN French Language Day is observed annually on 20 March. The day was established by UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010, to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. March 20 was chosen as the date for the French language since it coincides with the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie, representing countries and regions where French is a customary language.

7. Newly discovered treehopper species named after Lady Gaga as Kaikaia gaga: A newly discovered treehopper species, discovered in Nicaragua, has been named after American pop star Lady Gaga. The new treehopper species has been named as “Kaikaia gaga”. Brendan Morris, a PhD candidate in entomology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has named the species keeping in mind Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes that can be compared to the unique features of new species.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Two Indians named in International Panel of ICC Development Umpires: Two Indian women umpires, Janani Narayanan (Tamil Nadu) and Vrinda Rathi (Mumbai) have been named in the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires. With this, the total number of women match officials across different International Cricket Council (ICC) panels has gone up to 12. Narayanan (34) and Rathi (31), has been umpiring in Indian domestic tournaments since 2018. The induction of more women officials in the panel will help improve women’s cricket and take it in the forward direction.

Other women match officials across different ICC Panels include: GS Lakshmi, Shandre Fritz (International Panel Match Referees); Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Shivani Mishra, Claire Polosak, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Mary Waldron, Jacquline Williams (all International Panel of ICC Development Umpires).

Note: Chairman of ICC: Shashank Manohar; Chief Executive: Manu Sahney; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Moody predicts India’s GDP growth at 5.3% for 2020, 5.8% in 2021: Moody’s Investors Service has predicted India’s GDP growth rate for Calendar Year 2020 at 5.3% and for Calendar Year 2021 at 5.8%. Moody has downgraded the GDP estimates for 2020 on account of the Coronavirus outbreak.

2. Noel Quinn Appointed as the permanent chief executive of HSBC: HSBC Holdings Plc has appointed Noel Quinn as the permanent CEO of the bank. Quinn had been serving as interim CEO since August 2019, after the unexpected resignation of John Flint from the post. Mr Quinn had been working with the bank for over 30 years, after joining the lender in 1987.

3. DBS Bank India Partners with Bharti AXA to roll out COVID-19 insurance cover: The DBS Bank India has tied-up with Bharti AXA to roll out a complimentary insurance plan covering all medical conditions, including Covid-19, to support its customers amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The plan would cover all medical conditions, including Covid-19 and up to 10 days of hospitalisation, with a cover of Rs 5,000 per day for a 30-day period. Additionally, to ensure further safety of its customers, the bank will add an anti-microbial coating across all its ATMs and biometric devices.

Note: MD & CEO of Bharti Axa: Sanjeev Srinivasan.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. SIDBI to start train Swavalamban Express for budding entrepreneurs on June 05: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will start Swavalamban Express this year for budding entrepreneurs on June 05, 2020. The Swavalamban Express will start from June 5 and will travel to 11 covering 7,000 km in a span of 15 days. It will cover cities starting from Lucknow and thereafter to Jammu, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and finally to Varanasi. The Swavalamban Express train is a part of our umbrella mission Swavalamban which aims to induce entrepreneurship culture amongst the youth.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Ministry signs contract with Israeli firm for LMG: The Ministry of Defence has signed the capital acquisition contract of worth Rs 880 crore with Israel Weapons Industries for the procurement of Light Machine Gun (LMGs). The Light Machine Guns were the long-standing requirement of Indian Armed Forces. Negev 7.62 X 51 mm LMG which is a combat weapon, is being used globally and expected to enhance the lethality as well as the range of a soldier vis-a-vis the presently used weapon.

Note: 28th Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Mukund Naravane.

OBITUARIES

1. Former world champion boxer Roger Mayweather passes away: ormer world boxing champion Roger Mayweather passed away. He won titles in the category of 130 and 140 pounds in his 18-year career that began in 1981. He won his first 17 career fights and captured the world title in World Boxing Association junior lightweight and earned the World Boxing Council junior welterweight title in 1987.