Current Affairs – November 20, 2020 [Today’s News Headlines]

November 20, 2020

Here are Today’s News Headlines for November 20, 2020

India

India – Luxembourg Virtual Summit held

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit with his Luxembourg counterpart. During the summit, the prime minister welcomed Luxembourg to join International Solar Alliance.

Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge launched across 243 cities

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge across 243 cities. The challenge aims at preventing ‘hazardous cleaning’ of sewers and septic tanks.

3^rd Naturopathy Day observed on Nov 18

The third Naturopathy day was observe on November 18, 2020 on the theme “Nurturing Vitality Through Naturopathy”.

Operation ‘Calypso’: DRI busts cocaine transnational smuggling

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an international drug smuggling racket seizing half a kg of cocaine in Mumbai under Operation Calyso.

Defence Ministry launches Portal for defence land management system

The Defence Ministry launched a portal for defence land management system (LMS) The portal will bring greater efficiency, transparency and speed in dealing with land management matters.

Collections of selected speeches of President Kovind launched

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled two books ‘The Republican Ethic Volume III’ and ‘Loktantra Ke Swar’. They are collections of selected speeches of President Ram Nath Kovind.

Economy & Corporate

Moody’s lowered contraction rate for India’s GDP

Moody’s Investors Service on November 19, 2020, lowered the contraction rate for India’s gross domestic product to 10.6% for 2020-21. Earlier it had estimated the contraction rate as 11.5%.

Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020

Government of Karnataka organised the Bengaluru Tech Summit along with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Karnataka government’s Vision Group .Th tech summit is being held on Biotechnology, Information Technology, Startup, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications. The summit is being held from November 19 to 21.

NDB offers 500 million USD loan to Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Project

The Government of India and the New Development Bank signed a loan agreement of 500 million USD for ‘Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Project’. The project will provide fast, reliable, safe and comfortable public transport system in the National Capital Region (NCR).

RBI proposes merger of Lakshmi Vilas Bank with DBS Bank India Ltd

The Reserve Bank of India has proposed merging financially troubled Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) with DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL). As a part of the proposal, Rs 2,500 crore will be injected into the merged entity.

‘Project Kirana’: Mastercard, USAID partner to launch the project for women entrepreneurs

The Mastercard and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have jointly launched Project Kirana in India. The project will work to increase revenue streams and adopt digital payments in kirana shops owned or operated by women.

World

India ranks 77 in Global Bribery Risk rankings by TRACE

India ranked 77^th position in the global list that measured business bribery risks of 2020. North Korea, Turkmenistan, South Sudan, Venezuela and Eritrea were at highest risks and Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand present the lowest.

World Toilet Day observed on Nov 19

World Toilet Day was observed on November 19, 2020. The purpose is to tackle the global sanitation crisis. The day aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. Theme: “Sustainable sanitation and climate change”.