Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
‘Global Economic Prospects report’ is the flagship report of World Bank. As per the latest report released, India’s economy is estimated to contract by 3.2% in the current fiscal year 2020-21. The report also expects the Indian economy would grow at 3.1% in the next fiscal year.
In the earlier report released in April, the GDP growth rate for this fiscal year was predicted at 1.5%-2.8% growth. The growth of next year was also earlier predicted at 6.1%. The report also highlighted that global economy will contract by 5.2% in 2020.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has recently approved Cow-Slaughter Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 by amending Cow slaughter act, 1955.
The amendments seek to protect cows and prevent crimes related to cow slaughter. The ordinance has also inserted an imprisonment provision of up to 7 years for physical damage to cow and fine up to Rs 3 lakh for cases related to cow slaughter.

Notes:
Major technology company IBM has dropped facial recognition software amid racial profiling concerns.
The Chief Executive Officer Arvind Krishna has notified the US Congress that IBM is not offering its the general-purpose facial recognition or analysis software any more. It also firmly opposes the technology that is used for mass surveillance, racial profiling and violations of basic human rights.

Notes:
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the most massive project of Ethiopia at a cost of USD 4.6 billion.
The dam is located on the Blue Nile and its construction began in the year 2011. Recently the Nile basin countries Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan resumed negotiations. Egypt fears that the project will constrict its water supply while Ethiopia desires to become a major power exporter. Sudan has urged the two countries for negotiations.

Notes:
Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings has estimated that India’s economy would bounce back with a steep growth rate of 9.5 per cent in the next fiscal year.
Earlier, Fitch ratings had forecasted that the GDP growth of India would contract at 5 percent in the ongoing fiscal year starting April 2020. It has also highlighted that 9.5 % growth is possible only if the country avoids further deterioration in financial sector health.

Notes:
The Coral Triangle Day is held every June 9 across the world. Coral Triangle is the ocean spread across 6 countries in the Asia-Pacific region: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste, also called the “CT6” countries.
The day is celebrated by all countries which are benefitted by the rich marine resources of the Coral Triangle. It is also one of the 3 great ecological complexes in our planet, along with the Congo Basin and the Amazon Rainforest.

Notes:
Vasant Raiji, India’s oldest first-class cricketer, passed away at his residence in Mumbai, at his 100th year.
Vasant Raiji was a chartered accountant by profession. He was a right-handed batsman and played nine first-class matches for Mumbai and Baroda in the 1940s. He started playing in the Mumbai team under the leadership of Vijay Merchant. He was also a veteran cricket historian.

Notes:
The World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14, every year across the world. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products.
On this day, general public and other institutions thank blood donors. The theme of ‘World Blood Donor day 2020’ is – Safe blood saves lives. In the year 2005, the World Health Assembly designated this date to thank blood donors and encourage more people to donate blood. It also calls governments to provide resources for blood collection.

Notes:
Railway Protection Force, Pune has launched a robot named ‘Captain Arjun’, to screen passengers while they board trains.
ARJUN stands for Always be Responsible and Just Use to be Nice. It is equipped with a motion sensor, PTZ camera (Pan, Tilt, Zoom Camera) and a Dome Camera. Captain Arjun also does thermal screening and also has a sensor-based sanitizer and mask dispenser. It also has a floor sanitization facility. The robot uses artificial intelligence to track suspicious activity and antisocial activity.

Notes:
Leading private bank ICICI Bank has launched an overdraft (OD) facility named ‘Insta FlexiCash’, for its salaried account customers who are facing a cash crunch.
The specified customers can initiate this facility by applying online using the bank’s Internet banking platform and can avail short-term instant credit within 48 hours. The product has been launched to help the bank’s Salary Account customers from missing their Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) or cheque bounces due to insufficient funds.