CURRENT AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS : 16 AUGUST 2020
COVID-19
(1.) India moves closer to 1 million mark with 8,68,679 COVID tests in last 24 hours :- India is continuously stepping up it’s COVID testing capacity. In the last 24 hours, the country moved closer to testing one million samples in a day. With a record testing of 8,68,679 samples in a day, the nation achieved another milestone today. The Union Health Ministry informed that the remarkable feat has been achieved by rigorously following the ‘Test, Track and Treat’ strategy. It said that the strong resolve and determination of the Union government along with governments in States and Union Territories to follow aggressive testing as the first important step in the early detection and isolation of COVID-19 cases has resulted in rapidly increasing the number of tests done per day. The week-wise average daily tests conducted has witnessed a sharp increase from around 2.3 lakh in the first week of July 2020 to more than 7 lakh in the current week. The cumulative testing done so far in the country now stands at 2,85,63,095 tests.
NATIONAL NEWS
(1.) More than five crore sanitary napkins distributed to underprivileged women, says PM Modi :- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that more than five crore sanitary napkins have been distributed to underprivileged women at the minimum price of one rupees each. These napkins have been distributed from six thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort, Mr Modi said that his government is very much concerned about the health and hygiene of women in the country, specially the underprivileged women. He said, the government is taking care of the health and hygiene of poor daughters and sisters and has made them available health related products at an affordable price.
(2.) Addressing the Nation, Prime Minister announces health IDs for all under National Digital Health Mission :- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of National Digital Health Mission from today. He said the National Digital Health Mission will bring a new revolution in India’s health sector and all Indians will get health IDs. He said every test, every disease, medicines prescribed by doctors, reports and related information will be contained in this one health ID. Mr Modi informed that three Corona vaccines are in various stages of trial in India and large-scale production will begin once scientists give their nod. He said the government’s roadmap to bring a Corona vaccine to all Indians in the shortest possible time is ready.
(3.) PM assures to connect every village of country through optical fibre cable in next one thousand days :- In the coming one thousand days, every village in the country will be connected with Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address on the occasion of 74th Independence Day today.
Mr. Modi mentioned that before 2014, only five dozen Panchayats in the country were connected with optical fiber cable. In the last five years, nearly one lakh 50 thousand Gram Panchayats in the country have been connected with optical fiber cable. He further added that participation of rural India and villages in Digital India is very important for balanced development of India. To enable this, he said, optical fibre networks will be expanded in the country. This will reach all the six lakh villages within the next one thousand days. Prime Minister also announced that in the next one thousand days, Lakshadweep will be connected with submarine optical fiber cable.
STATE NEWS
(1.) Odisha emerges as no. 1 investment destination in the country :- Odisha has emerged as the number one investment destination in the country. Addressing the people of the State after hoisting the national flag at the exhibition ground in Bhubaneswar today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that during the last 6 months the State has received an investment proposal worth Rs 12,000 crore. Remembering the sacrifice made by the country’s freedom fighters, security personnel and COVID Warriors, the Chief Minister said that the government has taken all measures to effectively fight the pandemic while sustaining economic activities.
(2.) Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launches ‘Yellow Chain’ e-commerce platform on Independence day :- Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland is also celebrating the 74th Independence Day today. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio unfurled the national flag and took the salute from the parade. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the Yellow Chain, a single window e-commerce platform developed to promote local business and entrepreneurship in the State. On the occasion, Governor of Nagaland R N Ravi also greeted the people of the country.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
(1.) Bangladesh observes ‘National Mourning Day’ to mark assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman :- Bangladesh is observing the National Mourning Day marking the 45th anniversary of the brutal assasination of its founder President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15th August 1975. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital. In his message on this occasion President Abdul Hamid said that the day marked a ‘scandalous chapter’ in the history of Bangladesh.
SPORTS
(1.) MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina announce retirement from International Cricket :- Former Indian Cricket Team Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his retirement from International Cricket today. In a social media post, he thanked everyone for their immense support and love throughout his career. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 ICC World Twenty-Twenty, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. A right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper, Dhoni is one of the highest run scorers in One Day Internationals (ODIs) with a formidable score of more than 10 thousand runs. Suresh Raina, another Indian Cricketer has also announced his retirement from International Cricket today. In a social media post, he said, it was always a pleasure to play along with M S Dhoni and following Dhoni’s retirement, he also chose to retire from International Cricket.
Thanks for Reading “Current and Corporate Affairs : 16 July 2020”
Compiled By : CS Surbhi Saxena
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