Daily Current Affairs News 22 April 2020

World earth day

Earth Day globally celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Its started in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries.
The idea for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge but also the vast opportunities of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.

National Current Affairs Headlines

Ministry of Home Affairs issues SOPs for seafarers

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a set of Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) as well as graded relaxations for seafarers. According to the SOPs, the Indian seafarers on the vessel are required to undergo the COVID-19 test prior to their return at their home.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

Union Minister for Home Affairs: Amit Shah.

To address citizens queries “COVID India Seva” started by Health Ministry

Union Health Minister of India, Dr Harsh Vardhan starts an interactive platform ‘COVID India Seva’ to solve or provide resolution of citizens queries on coronavirus. The idea behind this initiative is to enable transparent e-governance delivery in real-time and answering citizen questions.

International Current Affairs Headlines

Iran’s Guards launch its first military satellite

According to the report, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards force has launched the country’s first military satellite which is already placed in orbit successfully.
The powerful force stated a “Messenger” satellite carrier was used to launch the Noor (light) satellite, without going into further detail on the technology used.
The launch took place at a time of high tension with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes and months after Iranian top military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad on Jan. 3.
According to their official website, Noor is now orbiting 425km above the Earth’s surface.

Lebanon legalizes cannabis farming for medicinal use

The Lebanese parliament has passed the legislation to legalize the cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes. Legalizing the cultivation of Cannabis is expected to produce high value-added medicinal products. It is also a potentially lucrative export for the Lebanese economy which is in dire need of foreign currency as it is grappled with a financial crisis.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

Prime Minister of Lebanon: Hassan Diab.
Capital of Lebanon: Beirut; Currency: Lebanese pound.

States Current Affairs Headlines

“Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan” apprved by Gujrat Govt

Gujrat Govt has provided the approval of the third edition of his government’s ‘Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan’ amid Coronavirus lockdown. The scheme will see the deepening of lakes, check dams and rivers by removing silt. This will be done till June 10, 2020, with people’s participation also as under MNREGA. The scheme was started in 2018 after a weak monsoon.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

Chief Minister of Gujarat: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev Vrat.
Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India.
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada river near Navagam, Gujarat.

Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district starts “Tiranga” Rapid Screening

The Administration of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala has launched a vehicle named as ‘Tiranga’ (Total India Remote Analysis Nirogya Abhiyaan) for rapid screening of COVID-19 symptoms. The vehicle is provided with thermal scanning, an infrared thermometer placed on the bonnet which can identify the symptoms from long distance.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan.
Governor of Kerala: Arif Mohammad Khan.
Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram.

SIMFED launches mobile ration van in Gangtok

Sikkim State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (SIMFED) launched a mobile ration van in Gangtok, for doorstep delivery of essential commodities and food. Sikkim agriculture minister Lok Nath Sharma launched the van.

Business and Economy Headlines

Facebook buys 9.9% stake in Reliance Jio for Rs 43,574 crore.

Facebook has bought a 9% stake in Reliance Jio for $5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore), the telecom unit of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) in a deal that gives the social media giant a firm foothold in a fast-growing massive market and helps the Indian oil-to-telecom conglomerate to significantly cut debt.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

CEO: Mark Zuckerberg
Headquarters: California, United States

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mukesh Ambani (Chairman)

Appointments Headlines

N Kamakodi reappointed as MD & CEO of City Union Bank

N Kamakodi will be reappointed as the MD & CEO of City Union Bank Ltd. City Union Bank has received approval for this reappointment from the Reserve Bank of India. His reappointment is for a further period of three years. The reappointments will be effective from 1 May 2020. He has been associated with the City Union Bank since 2003. He was raised as MD and CEO in 2011.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

City Union Bank Founded: 31 October 1904.
City Union Bank Headquarters: Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
City Union Bank Chairman: R. Mohan.

David Li becomes new CEO of Huawei India

David Li has been selected as the Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Telecommunications India.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams:

Headquarters of Huawei: Shenzhen, China
CEO of Huawei: Ren Zhengfei.

Miscellaneous

Pune Municipal Corporation develops “Saiyam” mobile App

The Pune Municipal Corporation has come up with a mobile application called “Saiyam”. This application developed to track the home-quarantine citizens and to ensure they stay in the home.

MoRTH launches dashboard with list of Dhabas & Truck Repair Shops

A dashboard containing a list of Dhabas and Truck Repair Shops has been launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on its website. The dashboard consists of the list as well as details of Dhabas and Truck repair shops available across the country during the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.