Current Affairs Daily Digest – July 16 2020
1. India launches World’s Most Affordable COVID-19 kit “COROSURE”
The Union Minister of Human Resource and Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishnak launched world’s most affordable COVID-19 kit. The kit was developed by IIT Delhi. The test called “COROSURE” has been billed as the world’s most affordable RT-PCR based COVID-19 diagnostic kit. The base price of the kit is Rs 399.
2. India’s first trans-shipment hub in Cochin port, Kerala
The Minister of State for Shipping Shri Manasukh Mandaviya reviewed the development activities of Vallarpadam terminal at Cochin. The terminal accommodates India’s first trans-shipment hub. A Trans-Shipment Hub handles containers and stores them temporarily. Later it transfers them to other ships for onward destination.
3. ADB appoints Ashok Lavasa as new Vice President
Ashok Lavasa was appointed as the vice president of Asian Development Bank. Ashok Lavasa, a 1980 batch retired IAS officer. He was serving as the Election Commissioner and is next in line to become Chief Election Commissioner. He has now been appointed as Vice President of ADB for Public-Private Partnerships and Private Sector Operations.
4. Suriname elects Indian-origin ‘Chan’ Santokhi as President
Indian-origin, Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi has been elected the president of South American country “Suriname”. A former Justice Minister, Santokhi of the Progressive Reform Party (PRP) was elected unopposed. He will succeed Desi Bouterse, a former military strongman, whose National Party of Suriname (NPS) lost the election in May as he sent the country to an economic precipice.
Suriname is a former Dutch colony where people of Indian descent make up the largest ethnic group comprising 27.4 per cent of the population of 587,000.
5. Google to buy 7.73% stake in Jio Platforms
IT giant, Google to buy 7.73% stake in Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)’s Jio Platforms for Rs 33,737 crores. For this purpose, they have signed a binding partnership and an investment agreement. This investment will strengthen the existing efforts of Google and Jio Platforms to expand the benefits of digitization across India.
According to exchange filing, Google is investing at an equity valuation of Rs 4.36 lakh crore. With this, the total investment from financial and strategic investors into Jio Platforms stands at Rs 1,52,056 crore.
6. N Chandrasekaran & Jim Taiclet to receives Global Leadership Award 2020
Tata group chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran and Chief Executive Officer and President of Lockheed Martin, Jim Taiclet to receive the US-India Business Council(USIBC) Global Leadership Award 2020.
N Chandrasekaran joined the Board of Tata Sons in October 2016 and was appointed as Chairman in January 2017. He currently serves as a Part-Time Non-Official Director on the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Central board.
7. Hyderabad Airport gets India’s 1st contactless car parking
The GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) has introduced India’s first-ever fully contactless airport car parking to provide a safe airport amid COVID-19. GHIAL has also scaled up its NETC (National Electronic Toll Collection) FASTag Car Parking in collaboration with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).
8. SportsAdda signs former Australian pacer and legend Brett Lee as brand ambassador
SportsAdda – Indian news and information website for cricket, football, and kabaddi, has signed former Australian fast bowler and cricket legend Brett Lee, as its brand ambassador.
As ambassador, Lee will be conducting a host of fun activities including contests, quizzes, Q&As, bowling masterclasses, and giveaways that will feature exclusively on the SportsAdda app, website, and social handles.
9. Maharashtra’s first woman SEC Neela Satyanarayanan dies of Covid-19, Governor Koshyari extends condolences
Former Maharashtra Election Commissioner and acclaimed Marathi author, Neela Satyanarayan, died of Covid-19.
Satyanarayana was the first woman commissioner of the Election Commission. She was detected positive with COVID-19 a few days back and was undergoing treatment at Seven Hills Hospital at Marol in Andheri (East), where she breathed her last.
