Daily Current Affairs Headlines 24th and 25th Sep 2020

Latest Current Affairs Daily Update

Important Days

World Maritime Day 2020

World Maritime Day 2020 is observed globally on 24th September in the form of an online event. The exact date of celebrating World Maritime Day is left to the individual governments but is usually celebrated during the last week in September.

The theme of World Maritime Day 2020 is “Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet,” which provides an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are undertaking to achieve the targets.

The theme will provide opportunities for leaders from various sectors, including shipping, to both reflect on the work done and the urgent steps they further plan towards a sustainable future.

Useful Notes for all competitive exams: 

  • International Maritime Organization Headquarters location: London, United Kingdom.
  • International Maritime Organization Founded: 17 March 1948.
  • International Maritime Organization Secretary- General: Kitack Lim.

National Headlines

Department of Biotechnology launches Programme for Clinical Trial Research

The Department of Biotechnology has launched the programme for “Strengthening Clinical Trial Research Capacity in Neighbouring Countries”.

The programme will help neighbouring countries, and LMICs (Low and Middle-Income Countries) to build capacities for Covid-19 vaccine trials.

Through this training program and knowledge sharing efforts, Government of India is fulfilling its commitment of building various technical capacities in its neighbouring countries.

The Department of Biotechnology has initiated the first phase of the training program in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

The objective of these training would be to support researchers and investigator teams for enhancing and strengthening their clinical trial capabilities for conducting clinical trials in compliance with ICH-GCP (International Conference on Harmonisation- Good clinical practice).


International Headlines

Former rebel leader Ishmael Toroama elected Bougainville president

Former rebel military commander, Ishmael Toroama has been elected as president of Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea.

This was the first general election since Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to separate from Papua New Guinea in November 2019. Bougainville is a mineral-rich and lush group of islands in the South Pacific.

Useful notes for all competitive exams: 

  • Bougainville Capital: Buka Island.
  • Bougainville Currency: PNG kina.

Economy News

UNCTAD projects India’s GDP at -5.9% in 2020

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has predicted that the GDP of India will contract by 5.9% in the year 2020.

For the year 2021, UNCTAD projects the Indian economy to grow by 3.9%. The projection was made in its Trade and Development Report 2020.

The baseline scenario is a sharp recession in 2020 as the stringent lockdown measures, to prevent the spread of the virus have halted, many productive activities across the country.

Useful notes for all competitive exams: 

  • UNCTAD Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland.
  • UNCTAD Head: Mukhisa Kituyi.
  • UNCTAD Founded: 30 December 1964.

Appointments

RBI appoints AK Dixit as new administrator of PMC Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed AK Dixit (ex-general manager at Union Bank of India), as the new administrator of the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank.

He has replaced JB Bhoria who has stepped down from his role as the administrator of the bank due to health reasons. In September 2019, the RBI had superseded the board of PMC bank due to fraud and financial irregularities in the PMC bank.

Useful notes for all competitive exams: 

  • PMC Bank Founded: 1984.
  • PMC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Ranks & Reports

PM Modi in Time Magazine’s ‘100 most influential people of 2020’ list

Time Magazine has released the TIME 100 Most Influential People List 2020. Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi is the only politician on the list.

He has been named in this for the fourth time since coming in power in 2014. The List has named people in five categories: Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Titans, Icons.

The following Indians have also been named in this list:

  • Professor Ravindra Gupta (Pioneer), is a Professor of Clinical Microbiology and has worked for the cure of HIV.
  • Ayushmann Khurrana (Artists).
  • Bilkis (Icons), the ‘Dadi from Shaheen Bagh’.

Science & Technology

India’s Khushi Chindaliya appointed as UNEP regional ambassador

A 17-year-old girl, Khushi Chindaliya has been appointed as Regional Ambassador for India by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)- Tunza Eco-Generation.

In her new role, Khusi will raise awareness about climate change and the importance of environmental conservation and the need to safeguard environmental treasures. She will work with the TEG on various environmental awareness programmes till February 2021.

Useful notes for all competitive exams: 

  • UNEP Headquarters location: Nairobi, Kenya.
  • UNEP Head: Inger Andersen.
  • UNEP Founded: 5 June 1972.

Defence News

DRDO successfully test fires ABHYAS from Odisha

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a successful flight test of ABHYAS, a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha.

ABHYAS can be used as a target for evaluation of various missile systems. ABHYAS has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the DRDO.

The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung boosters. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has an Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with a Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.

The vehicle has been programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check out of the vehicle is done using laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).

Useful notes for all competitive exams: 

  • DRDO Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy.
  • DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi.

Obituary

Former Australian Cricketer Dean Jones passes away

Former Australian cricketer and renowned commentator, Dean Jones passed away. He made his debut for Australia in a Test match in the West Indies in 1984.

He played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for Australia between 1984 and 1994 before venturing into the commentary. He scored almost 9500 international runs.

Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi passes away

Union Minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi has passed away after he contracted coronavirus disease.

He is the first member of the Union Cabinet to die due to coronavirus. Suresh Angadi was a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka’s Belagavi constituency. He was elected in 2004, 2014 and 2019.