Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has extended the suspension of the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) by another six months.
The reason for the current extension is due to non-conformation to international standards. The WADA had initially suspended NDTL in August 2019 for six months. After being suspended, the lab cannot carry out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples.

Notes:
Grand Renaissance Dam is a Hydroelectric power plant being constructed in Ethiopia since 2011. The dam formerly known as the Millennium Dam, is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the Blue Nile river of Ethiopia.
The construction has been in conflict as Sudan and Egypt fear that the hydroelectric dam could lead to water shortage in their countries. But Ethiopia insists that the it needs the USD 4 billion dam to generate electricity for its people. Recently, the three countries have accepted to resume talks on the dam.

Notes:
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has recently laid the foundation stone for a Water Supply Project in the state of Manipur.
It is an externally funded project with an outlay of Rs 3054.58 crores with a loan funded by the New Development Bank. The Centre had provided funds under Jal Jeevan Mission for freshwater household tap connections (FHTCs). The project aims to provide FHTCs to remaining households across 16 districts of Manipur.

Notes:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved acquisition of Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.
Along with the equity shareholding, the management control of the total share capital of Krishnapatnam Port company will be acquired, as per the statement of CCI. Krishnapatnam Port Company is the developer and operator of the deep-water port at Krishnapatnam.

Notes:
The Union Government has issued a certificate of Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Saffron grown in the Union Territory of Jammu &Kashmir.
The GI tag would ensure better remunerative price to the farmers growing Saffron in Kashmir Valley. This would also increase export of the unique Kashmir saffron and curb the fake products being sold. The UT is also inaugurating a Spice Park next month.

Notes:
Technology giant Microsoft has partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to set virtual fans in the game stands.
Microsoft will use its newly launched Teams app and 17-foot-tall LED screens to put around 300 virtual fans in the stands of each game. Fans can login the Teams app and use the “Together mode”, which simulates a group of people sitting in a room.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India has released the ‘Report of the Committee for Analysis of QR (Quick Response) Code’.
The Committee was constituted by RBI in December 2019 under the Chairmanship of Prof. D.B. Phatak, to review the present system of QR Codes in India in digital payments. The report asked the Government to provide incentive schemes to popularise QR code transactions among consumers. It also recommended phasing out proprietary and closed loop QR codes.

Notes:
India and Pakistan fought the Kargil War between May and July in the year 1999. India launched ‘Operation Vijay’ and cleared the posts in the Kargil sector that was occupied by the Pakistani soldiers on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC).
To commemorate its victory over Pakistan, India has been observing ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ on July 26 every year, on the day the war ended. It resulted in 527 deaths in the Indian side. On the Vijay Diwas, India pays tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the war.

Notes:
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched a strategy to encourage the citizens to be physically fit.
A new evidence showed that obese people who are being infected by coronavirus are more likely to die or develop severe illness. Under the drive, Doctors prescribe cycling or running to patients. There will be ban on junk food advertisements and calorie warnings will be provided on food items.

Notes:
The 2023 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup is to be organised in India. ICC has recently launched a 50-over World Cup Super League.
This Qualification league will determine the seven teams in the World Cup. As India is the host, it will automatically qualify to the game. The league will start with a series between England and Ireland, scheduled on July 30.