Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
Kala Narayanasamy, a 59-year-old Indian-origin nurse in Singapore has been conferred with the President’s Award for Nurses.
She has been awarded for serving on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for using infection control practices learnt during SARS outbreak in 2003. The 10,000 SGD -award is given to 5 nurses for their services.

Notes:
India Ideas summit is a two-day virtual summit organised by the US-India Business Council. It aims to connect officials from the two nations, to discuss post-coronavirus recovery plans.
In his keynote address, the Prime Minister of India welcomed the US investors to India and added that India has attracted over USD 20 billion foreign investment even during the Covid-19 lockdown. He also highlighted the rise in India’s rank to 63 in Ease of Doing Business ranking of World Bank.

Notes:
Bollywood actor Sonu Sood has launched a free online platform called ‘Pravasi Rojgar’ to help migrants find job opportunities.
Launching the app in Maharashtra, the actor said it will provide adequate information and links for the people to find suitable jobs. Connected with over 500 companies of various sectors, the app also aims to provide specific job training programmes.

Notes:
Social media Giant WhatsApp announced that it is set to partner with banks to expand banking services in India.
India is the biggest market of WhatsApp with over 400 million users. The messaging platform has already collaborated with banks including ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank for automated business messaging. This partnership would help expand banking services for low-income people and in rural areas.

Notes:
The Ministry of Defence has recently issued formal sanction order for granting Permanent Commission (PC) to Women Officers in the Indian Army.
As per the order, permanent commission has been granted to Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of the Indian Army including Army Air Defence (AAD), Army Service Corps (ASC) among others.

Notes:
Following a leak at a Lavera petrochemical refinery in southern France, an orange-brown chemical sheet spread over 15 acres in the Mediterranean Sea.
This area includes the nationally recognized marine life area. The plant is said to have spilled 200 gallons or more of iron chloride into the sea. The chemical could harm eyes and mucous membranes and could even cause death.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has unveiled three Special Surveillance Quadcopters and an Anti-degradation Quick Response Vehicle, for surveillance in forest areas.
These vehicles will be deployed to strengthen surveillance and reduce man-animal conflict by the Forest Department. The surveillance drone will be used to identify poaching in the national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other reserve forests.

Notes:
India and the European Union are set to renew the Agreement on Scientific cooperation for the next five years, 2020-2025.
This was announced at the virtual 15th India-EU Summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the EU. The mentioned Agreement was initially signed in 2001 and has been renewed two times in 2007 and 2015.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently signed an order that bans all imports of wildlife either dead or alive including eggs and larvae.
The order also includes tougher penalties for crimes involving the trade in wildlife. Amidst the coronavirus spread, this ban has been imposed in Vietnam, which is a popular destination for endangered wildlife products used in medicine or cuisine.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently launched an innovation contest named Dare to Dream 2.0.
It was announced by the Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh, on the fifth death anniversary of the former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The contest encourages individuals and start-ups to use advanced technologies for innovation in Aerospace and Defence sectors in the country.