Current Affairs - 18 September 2020

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Current Affairs - 18 September 2020

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1. World Bamboo Day: 18 September
  • World Bamboo Day is observed every year on 18 September to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products. People and businesses from around the world use this day to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products
  • WBD was officially declared by the World Bamboo Organization on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.World Bamboo Day was founded by Kamesh Salam as former president of the World Bamboo Organisation in 2009.The theme for the 11th edition of WBD 2020 is ‘BAMBOO NOW.’
Foot Notes:
About WBO (World Bamboo Organization):
Headquarters: Antwerp, Belgium
Executive Director: Susanne Lucas
 
2. Indian teenager Udit Singhal named in UN’s list of 2020 Class of Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals
  • Udit Singhal, an 18-year old Indian boy has been named by the United Nations in the list of 2020 Class of Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals. It is a highest-profile recognition opportunity for the youngsters who are leading efforts on the world’s most pressing issues.
  • He has been named to the 2020 Class of 17 Young Leaders for SDGs. Udit Singhal is the founder of Glass2Sand, a zero-waste ecosystem that has been addressing the growing problem of glass waste in Delhi.
  • The 2020 Class of 17 Young Leaders included the representatives from Bangladesh, Australia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Columbia, China, Egypt, Ireland, India, Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, Peru, Pakistan, Uganda, Turkey, and United States.
Foot Notes:
About UN:
Headquarters: New York, United States
Founded: 24 October 1945, California, United States
Secretary General: António Guterres

3. Paytm, Paytm First Games pulled out of Google Play Store on Android
  • Google has removed Paytm app from the Play Store for allegedly violating its policies on gambling.The app is no longer available for download for Android users.
  • Paytm confirmed the same through a tweet on September 18, 2020 that Paytm Android app is temporarily unavailable on Google's Play Store for new downloads or updates. "It will be back very soon," said PayTM in the tweet and added that all the money is completely safe, and users can continue to enjoy their Paytm app as normal.
  • While PayTM has been taken down from Google Play Store, other apps like Paytm mall, Paytm Money, Paytm for Business and a few more are still available for download. This decision, however, does not impact Apple App store, where Paytm continues to be available.
Foot Notes:
About Paytm:
Founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Founded: August 2010, Noida
CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma 
Headquarters:  Noida, Uttar Pradesh
 
4. Delhi airport now has India’s first exclusive terminal for private jets
  • India's first exclusive private jet terminal was inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on September 17, 2020. The exclusive terminal will handle flight operations of private jets.
  • The exclusive terminal has 57 parking bays and so can handle up to 150 private jet flights per day. Before the pandemic, the Delhi airport was handling the operations of around 40 "general aviation" flights per day and it is currently handling about 20 such flights. The flight operations of private jets are classified under the "general aviation" category.
  • The new and exclusive private jet terminal will enable smooth movement of business jets and chartered aircraft. The inauguration of the terminal fulfills a long-pending demand of the Indian billionaires, who have been since long seeking friendlier skies with a network of airports just for private jets.
Foot Notes:
Union Civil Aviation Minister: Hardeep Singh Puri

5. Pakistan to make Gilgit-Baltistan a full-fledged province
  • Pakistan has decided to elevate the status of Gilgit Baltistan to a full-fledged province. This was reported by Pakistani media on September 17, 2020. 
  • Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to visit the region soon and make the formal announcement to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan to the status of a full-fledged province with all constitutional rights.
  • Following the elevation in status, Gilgit-Baltistan would be given adequate representation on all constitutional bodies, including the National Assembly and the Senate.
Foot Notes:
About Pakistan:
Prime Minister: Imran Khan
Capital: Islamabad
Currency: Pakistani rupee
 
6. Mexico Issues 'World's First' Sovereign Bond Linked to U.N. Sustainability Goals
  • Mexico issued what it described as the world's first sovereign bond linked to the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, raising 750 million euros (S$1.2 billion).The government did not specify how it would spend the money raised.
  • The bond's preliminary investment prospectus cautioned that there was no guarantee that Mexico would make disbursements for projects that meet the UN characteristics.
  • The bond is part of an emerging trend of debt issuance aimed at raising funds that attempt to tackle social, environmental and other issues.
Foot Notes:
About Mexico:
Capital: Mexico City
President: Andrés Manuel López Obrador
 
About UN:
Headquarters: New York, United States
Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, 
Secretary general: António Guterres
 
7. Mizoram, Punjab, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Top India Happiness Report 2020 List; Maharashtra & Delhi at Bottom
  • The first all India Happiness Report covering all States and Union Territories measuring happiness across the country, what contributes to people's happiness, the impact of COVID-19 on happiness, and insights from thought leaders. The study is based on a nationwide survey covering 16,950 people between March and July 2020 by Professor Rajesh K Pillania.
  • In the happiness rankings of states and union territories, Mizoram, Punjab, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the top three. Among the big states, Punjab, Gujarat, and Telangana are among the top three states whereas, among smaller states, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are the top three states in happiness rankings.
  • Among Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep are the top three union territories in happiness rankings. Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana have shown the worst possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness.
8. Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigns in protest of Farmers' Produce Trade & Commerce Bill 2020
  • Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Badal has resigned in protest of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
  • Ms Harsimrat Badal belongs to Shiromani Akali Dal.  President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union Council of Ministers.
  • Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in addition to his existing portfolios.
9. Chef Vikas Khanna honoured with Asia Game Changer award for feeding millions in India amid Covid crisis
  • Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna will be honoured with the prestigious 2020 Asia Game Changer Award for feeding millions across India amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He fed people through a massive food distribution drive that he coordinated from thousands of miles away in his Manhattan home.
  • The Asia Game Changer Awards, launched by the Asia Society -- a US-based non-profit organisation -- in 2014, identify and honour true leaders who make a positive contribution to the future of Asia.
  • Khanna is the only Indian among the six honourees named by the leading organisation.  Preeminent cellist Yo-Yo Ma, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, Korean boy band BTS, producer of Oscar-winning film 'Parasite' Miky Lee and business leaders and philanthropists Joe and Clara Tsai are the honourees of the Asia Game Changer Awards.
Foot Notes:
About Asia Game Changer Award:
Previous Recipient from India: Chhaya Sharma
 
10. Former RBI governor Amitabha Ghosh passes away at 90
  • Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Governor for 21 days, Amitabha Ghosh, passed away at the age of 90.Ghosh had the shortest stint as RBI governor, from January 15, 1985 to February 4, 1985, which was a stop-gap arrangement while Ghosh was serving as a deputy governor and waiting to hand over charge to the 17th RBI Governor R N Malhotra.
  • After handing over the charge, Ghosh returned to his position as deputy governor. Ghosh was the deputy governor between January 21, 1982 to January 20, 1987, and again got an extension till January 20, 1992.Prior to joining the RBI, Ghosh was the chairman of Allahabad Bank.
Foot Notes:
About RBI:
Bank rate: 4.00%
Interest on reserves: 3.35% 
Headquarters: Mumbai
Governor: Shaktikanta Das
 
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