Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal is set to launch mental health support initiative named ‘Manodarpan’.
The scheme aims to provide psychosocial support to students for their mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is to be implemented under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, as a part of increasing productivity in education sector.

Notes:
As per the research study of the scientists, released in ‘Nature Climate Change’ scientific journal, Polar bears are pushed to extinction due to climate change.
The study estimates that the carnivorous animal could nearly disappear within the span of a human lifetime. In 12 out of the 13 subpopulations analysed, Polar bears are estimated to be destroyed within 80 years.

Notes:
The National Centre for Disease Control and the Delhi government conducted Sero-prevalence study across 11 districts of Delhi.
As per the results of the study, 23.48 per cent of the samples had past infections. It means that almost one in four persons living in Delhi has antibodies against the coronavirus. It also indicated that around 3.85 million people living in Delhi had exposure to the virus.

Notes:
India has sent its first trial containership ‘MV Shejyoti’ from Kolkata to Agartala through Chattogram port of Bangladesh.
The ship contains iron bars and pulses to be transhipped to North-Eastern states of India. The ship also contains containers imported by the traders of Bangladesh. It has recently arrived in the Chattogram port.

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:
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi in collaboration with Union Health Ministry and NITI Aayog launched a national programme called ‘National Clinical Grand Rounds’.
Recently, the AIIMS held the first interactive session of National Clinical Grand Rounds led by AIIMS Director, Dr. Randeep Guleria. The session aimed to facilitate discussion on issues related to COVID-19 and was attended by Doctors from hospitals located across the country and abroad.

Notes:
E-Commerce Giant Flipkart has announced that it will acquire parent Walmart’s wholesale business, ‘Best Price’.
The loss-ridden cash-and-carry business of Walmart in India is the last part of Walmart to be acquired by Flipkart marking a complete consolidation. This acquisition is expected to help Flipkart to expand its business-to-business vertical.

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:
Australia has recently filed a formal declaration statement to the United Nations to reject the claims of China in the South China Sea.
Australia has claimed that there were no legal issues to the disputed claims of China in the sea, including those related to construction of artificial islands on shoals and reefs. Earlier, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared China’s claims of territory and resources in the South China Sea as illegal.

Notes:
State Bank of India (SBI) has provided a liquidity support of USD 16.20 million for local businesses in Maldives.
SBI has also deferred loan repayment for over 200 retail accounts. On the occasion of Independence Day of the Maldives on July 26, SBI’s Covid relief measures have been announced. India had earlier made an assistance of USD 400 million to Maldives through extended currency swap arrangement.