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Current Affairs - 16 October 2020

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 1. World Food Day is observed on 16 October
  • World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.
  • The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
  • The theme for this year's World Food Day 2020 is "Grow, Nourish, Sustain Together".
Foot Notes:
About FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization):
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
Head: Qu Dongyu
Founded: 16 October 1945, Quebec City, Canada
 
2. After Sputnik V, Russia Approves 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine EpiVacCorona
  • After launching the very first vaccine for the treatment of coronavirus back in August, Russia has registered another covid-19 vaccine 'EpiVac Corona'.
  • Russia became the first country to give regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine in August when Sputnik V was officially registered ahead of large-scale clinical trials, drawing criticism from some quarters in the scientific community. The second Russian vaccine to get regulatory approval has been developed by the Vector State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology.
  • Putin said that a third Russian vaccine against Covid-19, developed by the Chumakov Centre, would also be registered in the near future.
Foot Notes:
About Russia:
Capital: Moscow
President: Vladimir Putin
Currency: Russian ruble
Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin
 
3. “Bank of Ghana” wins Central bank of the year award 2020
  • Bank of Ghana has won the Central bank of the year award 2020.
  • Apart from this, Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank of England) has won the Governor of the year at the Central bank of the year award 2020.
  • Central Banking Awards is held annually to recognize excellence in the central banking community. This was the 7th edition of the award and the ceremony was held virtually.
Foot Notes:
About Bank of Ghana:
Governor: Ernest KwaminaYedu Addison.
Headquarters: Accra, Ghana.
Founded: 1957
 
4. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh awards Raksha Mantri trophy for best command hospitals
  • Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh awarded the Raksha Mantri Trophy to the top Command Hospitals of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year 2019 on October 16, 2020. 
  • Air Force Command Hospital in Bengaluru was adjudged the Best Command Hospital for the year 2019, Command Hospital of the Eastern Command in Kolkata won the award for Second Best Command Hospital for the year 2019.
  • On the occasion, the Defence Minister complemented the two hospitals on their outstanding performances and acknowledged the commendable services being rendered by the Armed Forces Medical Services. The award ceremony saw in attendance of Defence Secretary along with other senior service and civilian dignitaries.
5. Hindustan Zinc, Gujarat Government Sign Pact world’s biggest zinc smelter project
  • Gujarat state government has announced to set up world’s biggest zinc smelter project in Dosawada in Tapi district of Gujarat. As per the official release, the state government signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vedanta group firm Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) on the evening of October 14, 2020.
  • HZL will be investing up to Rs. 10,000 crores for setting up 300-kilo tonnes per annum (ktpa) greenfield zinc smelter in the industrial state of South Gujarat.
  • The MoU was signed by M K Das, Gujarat’s additional Chief Secretary for industries and mines and Arun Mishra, HZL Chief Executive Officer. The founder and non-executive chairman of Vedanta Limited, Anil Aggarwal also attended the meeting virtually.
Foot Notes:
About Gujarat:
Capital: Gandhinagar
Governor: Acharya Devvrat
Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
 
6. Dr. Harsh Vardhan Launches Second Phase Of Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna
  • Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the second phase of "Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna" for the underprivileged Thalassemic patients, virtually from Nirman Bhawan.
  • Launched in 2017, this scheme is a Coal India CSR funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) program that aims to provide a one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease for patients who have a matched family donor.
  • This disorder is passed down through families. Patients with thalassaemia suffer from anemia due to low levels of hemoglobin.
7. Anti-pollution measures under GRAP to come into force in Delhi-NCR region
  • Anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force in the Delhi-NCR region. Delhi Government has banned use of electricity generators, except those needed for essential or emergency services, in the national capital. 
  • GRAP includes the measures which will be taken by different government agencies to prevent worsening of Air Quality of Delhi-NCR and prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels to go beyond the ‘moderate’ national Air Quality Index (AQI) category.
  • The plan requires action and coordination among 13 different agencies in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan (NCR areas).
Foot Notes:
About Delhi:
Lt. Governor: Anil Baijal
Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal
 
8. India to handover Kilo class attack submarine to Myanmar
  • India will soon be transferring one of its kilo-class submarines, INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy. This will be a significant move, as it will be the first submarine of the Myanmar Navy. 
  • The decision was taken in light of India's commitment to building capacities and self-reliance in the neighbouring countries, said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava. He also stated that the move is in accordance with India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). 
  • Srivastava further stated that maritime cooperation is a part of India's diverse and enhanced engagement with Myanmar.
Foot Notes:
About Myanmar:
Capital: Naypyitaw
President: Win Myint
Currency: Burmese kyat
 
9. Union Cabinet approves World Bank STARS project to strengthen education system
  • Union minister Prakash Javadekar announced the Cabinet approved the STARS project under the New Education Policy to support states in strengthening the school education system.
  • The Centrally sponsored project, estimated to cost Rs 5,718 crore, will be implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy and will cover Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha, he said. 
  • The World Bank will fund the project to the extent of Rs 3,700 crore, according to a statement released after a Union Cabinet meeting.
Foot Notes:
About Word Bank:
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
President: David Malpass
Founded: July 1944

10. India's first Oscar winner Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya passes away
  • India's first Oscar winner Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya died. Kolhapur-born Athaiya, who was active till just five years ago, began her career as a costume designer in Hindi cinema with Guru Dutt's 1956 superhit "C.I.D.". She went on to work in over 100 films.
  • She jointly won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design with John Mollo, for Richard Attenborough's “Gandhi”. The lavish biopic of Mahatma Gandhi swept the Oscars with eight awards.
  • In 2012, Athaiya returned her Oscar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for safe keeping.
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