Current and corporate affairs as on 29 august 2020
COVID-19 NEWS
Beximco Pharma to cooperate with Serum Institute of India for supply of COVID 19 Vaccine in Bangladesh: The Bangladeshi generic medicine producer Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BPL) has announced its intention to cooperate with the Serum Institute of India (SII) for the exclusive supply of its vaccine in Bangladesh. Heads of both the companies hailed it as a ‘landmark agreement’ to help mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the terms of the planned arrangement, Beximco will make a financial contribution to advancethe development of the vaccine which will be adjusted based on the vaccineprice, said a press release issued by the BPL. The press release said SII will prioritise Bangladesh to be one of the first countries to receive an agreed quantity of doses once the vaccine receives all necessary regulatory approvals. Beximco will be the exclusive supplier of the vaccine in Bangladesh produced by the SII. It will facilitate the needs of the Government of Bangladesh by offering the opportunity for it to reserve the desired quantities for priority supply at prices to be agreed between the Government and SII. Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd (SII) is the world’s
largest vaccine producer. It has already partnered with Oxford/AstraZeneca along with Gates Foundation and Gavi, to produce more than a billion doses of the vaccine for global supply.
NATIONAL NEWS
IT minister launches ‘Chunauti’ a programme to further boost startups, software product: Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad today launched “Chunauti”- Next Generation Startup Challenge Contest to further boost startups and software products with special focus on Tier-II towns of the country. The government has earmarked a budget of over 95 crore rupees over a period of three years for this programme. It aims at identifying around three hundred startups working in identified areas and provide them seed fund of upto 25 lakh rupees and other facilities. Under this challenge the Ministry of Electronics and IT will invite startups in the areas of work including Edu Tech, Agri Tech and Fin Tech solutions for masses, Supply Chain and Logistic management, Infrastructure, Medical Healthcare as well as jobs and skilling.
Durga Shanker Mishra launches PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi online dashboard: Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra today launched the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi online dashboard through video conferencing. The online dashboard is dynamic, interactive and will provide a one stop solution to all stakeholders looking for information
and tracking monitoring of progress of PM SVANidhi up to city level. PM
SVANidhi was launched by the Ministry on 1st June this year, for providing
loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely
affected due to Covid-19 lockdown. The scheme targets to benefit over 50
lakh Street Vendors who had been vending on or before 24th March this
year, in urban areas including those from surrounding peri-urban or rural
areas
PMJDY completes six years today; PM says it’s a game changer initiative: Central government’s flagship financial inclusion programme Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has completed six years today. The scheme was launched on 28th of August in 2014 with an aim to provide universal access to banking facilities to the people in the country. While launching the programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described the occasion as a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a vicious cycle. Over 40 crore 35 lakh bank accounts have been opened under the scheme since its inception and One lakh 31 thousand crore rupees have been deposited in these accounts. About eight crore PMJDY account holders are receiving Direct Benefit Transfer from the Government under various schemes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana initiative has been a game-changer and serving as the foundation for many poverty alleviation initiatives, benefitting crores of people.
Defence Minister to officially induct Rafale aircraft into IAF on Sep 10: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will officially induct the first five Rafale fighter aircraft into service at the Ambala air base on 10th of September.
French Defence Minister Florence Parly has also been invited for the event
in Ambala. The first five aircraft had arrived from France in India on 29th of July. The Indian Air Force had then stated that the planes will be inducted
into the IAF after a formal ceremony. In the first tranche, India got five fighters from France including three single-seated and two twin-seated trainer aircraft.
STATE NEWS
Arunachal Pradesh assembly passes resolution to bring state under Sixth Schedule: The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has passed a resolution to bring the state under the ambit of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution besides amending Article 371(H) by ing provisions to safeguard tribes of the state. The resolution which was moved by Legislative Affairs Minister Bamang Felix yesterday on behalf of the State Government was passed by voice vote following a marathon discussion in the house. Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said, it is a historic resolution moved by the State Government. Stating that it is a long-time exercise, the Chief Minister appealed to everyone for their cooperation as and when required.
Lok Sabha member H. Vasantha Kumar passes away at 70: Lok Sabha member H.Vasantha Kumar passed away today in Chennai. He was 70. He was representing the Kanyakumari constituency where he won on the Congress ticket in the last General Election. Vasanthakumar was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on the 10th of this month after he tested positive for Covid-19. He was in the ICU and has been on ventilator support. He succumbed to the disease this evening without responding to the treatment. Late Vasantha Kumar has been a prominent entrepreneur running a chain of retail outlets of consumer durables. Previously he has been a Congress legislator in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The late legislator is also the paternal uncle of Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan. Several leaders cutting across party lines have expressed their deep condolences over the demise of H.Vasantha Kumar.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Dr. Harsh Vardhan invites stakeholders in country and abroad to participate in formulating STIP 2020: Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today invited stakeholders and the public at large in the country and abroad to participate in formulating an evidence-driven, inclusive Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020). He said that it would bring about technology indigenization to become self-reliant, mainstream traditional knowledge systems with conventional R&D, strengthen industry-academia, government interconnectedness and promote equity
India, Singapore sign Implementing Arrangement on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief: India and Singapore today signed Implementing Arrangement on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief. The two countries held a Defence Policy Dialogue via video conferencing today. It was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Permanent Secretary (Defence), Singapore Mr Chan Heng Kee. Both sides held discussions on a number of issues of bilateral defence engagements between India and Singapore. Both sides committed to further enhance the security partnership between the two countries.
Shinzo Abe resigns on health grounds; PM Modi wishes him speedy recovery: Mr Abe today resigned from the post of Prime Minister of Japan. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, in recent years, with the wise leadership and personal commitment of Mr Abe, the India-Japan partnership became deeper and stronger than ever before. The Prime Minister wished and prayed for the speedy recovery of Shinzo Abe.
US: Six killed as Hurricane Laura strikes Louisiana, bulk of damage reported: In United States, Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana as one of the most powerful storms in country’s history, leaving widespread destruction across the state. At least six people were killed in Louisiana. The bulk of the damage was reported in Louisiana. The storm barreled over Lake Charles, Louisiana, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. The storm, now a tropical depression, tore apart homes and businesses and knocked out power to nearly one million customers in Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, Arkansas is under a state of emergency and is being lashed by damaging winds and flooding.
Compiled By : CS Surbhi Saxena
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