Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
Major e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has recently signed an MoU with Karnataka MSME and Mines department to promote the states arts, crafts and handloom sectors, under the Flipkart Samarth programme
Under the partnership, local artisans and craftsmen of Karnataka are given a digital platform to exhibit their products in the e-commerce platform. They are given a broad market base by this partnership.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates has recently announced its plans to send its first Mars mission and it has become the first Arab country to do so.
Until now, only the United States, India, USSR and the European Space Agency have successfully sent their Mars orbiter missions. China is in the process of launching its first Mars rover. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is heading the Mars project of the UAE.

Notes:
The President of Hockey India Mohammed Mushtaque Ahmad has recently resigned from his post, citing personal commitments.
There had been controversies after the election of Ahmad as the President of HI in the year 2018. The Executive board of Hockey India has named Manipur’s Gyanendro Nigombam as the officiating president, in his place. Prior to this, Nigombam was the Senior Vice-President in the federation.

Notes:
‘India Cycles4Change Challenge’ is a new initiative of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under its Smart Cities Mission.
The Ministry has recently opened the registration for the Challenge, which was originally launched on June 25, 2020. All cities under the Smart Cities Mission, capital cities of States/UTs and all cities with above 5 lakh population can apply through the newly launched portal and provide quick solutions for promoting cycling.

Notes:
Russia has become the first nation to complete clinical trials of a Covid-19 vaccine on humans, in a major step towards the vaccine.
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University has successfully completed the clinical trails of the vaccine, produced by the Gamalei Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russia. As per the WHO, there are as many as 21 vaccines under key trials across the world.

Notes:
Global leader in payments technology Visa has partnered with Federal Bank to deploy Visa Secure to the bank’s cardholders.
Visa Secure is an authentication program that uses the latest standards of the EMV protocol. This upgraded technology will provide security to curb online frauds and quick check-out experience to the card-holders.

Notes:
The comet C/2020 F3 comet also called as NEOWISE was discovered on March 27, this year. It was seen in news recently, as the comet would be visible in the sky.
In India, the NEOWISE comet will be visible in the northwest sky which is 20 degrees from the horizon. It is expected to be visible after sunset for around 20 minutes for 20 days from July 14, 2020 and it will fade away in the month of August.

Notes:
Jack Charlton, who was a part of the 1966 World cup winning English Football team, has recently passed away, at the age of 85.
He played for the Leeds United football club for nearly 21 years before managing the Republic of Ireland. He was also a Manager of British football club Newcastle United F.C.

Notes:
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, headquartered at New York.
The High-Level Segment of UN ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) is to be held on July 17 in New York in the theme of “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to address the valedictory session.

Notes:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched development projects worth Rs 44 lakhs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The projects include the formation and development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The SHG members are provided training and skill development to promote rural entrepreneurship in Mushroom Cultivation and Bamboo Handicrafts making etc. An annual Micro-Entrepreneurship Development Programme will also be organised by NABARD in the UT.