1.Russia first nation to finish human trials for Covid vaccine
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Russia has become the first nation to complete clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine on humans, and the results have proven the medication’s effectiveness.At Sechenov University, the Director of Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology has informed that the research has been completed and it proved that the vaccine is safe.There was, however, no further information on when this vaccine would enter the commercial production stage.Russia had allowed clinical trials of two forms of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology on June 18.The First Group of Volunteers will be released on 15th July 2020 while the Second Group of Volunteers will be released next Monday (20th July 2020).
2.Two new Israeli assault rifles Arad and Carmel now set to be manufactured in India
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In a boost to the fledgling domestic small arms industry, two latest Israeli assault rifles – the Arad and the Carmel – are set to be manufactured in India.The assault weapons are to be produced under the ‘Make in India’ initiative in Madhya Pradesh, where a plant had been set up in 2017 by Israel Weapons System (IWI) in a joint venture called PLR Systems.This will be a major boost to the domestic small arms industry and as well as the Make in India initiative.Both IWI Carmel Assault Rifle and Arad Assault Rifle was a caliber 5.56 X 45 mm, Carmel Assault Rifle has a Rate of Fire (RPM) in between 700-1000 rounds per min.
3.MP govt to run ‘Roko -Toko’ campaign for those who do not wear masks
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Madhya Pradesh will now run a Roko -Toko means stop and campaign for those who do not wear masks.Now selected voluntary organizations will provide masks to the people who do not wear masks in public places and will charge an amount of Rs 20 per mask from the concerned.The selected organizations will be provided 100 masks created under ‘Jeevan Shakti Yojana’ on credit.On sale of the mask, the organizations will pay the concerned urban body at the rate of Rs 11 per mask.
4.Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches CAPFs nationwide tree plantation drive
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Central Armed Police Forces-CAPFs nationwide tree plantation drive.Under this drive, saplings were planted by the jawans of Central Armed Police Forces in Chhattisgarh.The personnel of BSF, CRPF, ITBP and CISF – deployed in Chhattisgarh for Anti-Naxal operations, planted saplings in their respective campuses as well as in their places of deployment.All the CAPFs will undertake a drive in their respective organisations to achieve the collective target of planting more than 1.35 crore saplings by this month.
5.US remains India’s top trading partner in 2019-20
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The US remained India’s top trading partner for the second consecutive fiscal in 2019-20, which shows increasing economic ties between the two countries.According to the data of the commerce ministry, in 2019-20, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD 88.75 billion as against USD 87.96 billion in 2018-19.In 2018-19, the US first surpassed China to become India’s top trading partner.The bilateral trade between India and China has dipped to USD 81.87 billion in 2019-20 from USD 87.08 billion in 2018-19.The data also showed that China was India’s top trading partner since 2013-14 till 2017-18. Before China, UAE was the country’s largest trading nation.
6.FICCI survey predicts 4.5% contraction in India’s FY21 GDP
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Industry body FICCI said its Economic Outlook Survey has projected the country’s annual median GDP growth for 2020-21 at (-) 4.5 per cent.With the rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic manifesting into an economic and healthcare crisis globally, the latest forecast marks a sharp downward revision from the growth estimate of 5.5 per cent reported in the January 2020 survey.The pandemic outbreak has severely impacted the economic activities as the country had to go through a lockdown to check the spread of the virus.In May, the Reserve Bank had said the GDP growth during 2020-21 is likely to remain in the negative territory.
7.NTPC wins CII-ITC Sustainability Awards 2019
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National Thermal Power Corporation, NTPC Limited, a Central PSU under Ministry of Power has won the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019, under Outstanding Accomplishment in Corporate Excellence Category.The company has also received Commendation for Significant Achievement in the category of CSR.CII-ITC Sustainability Awards recognize and reward excellence in sustainability practices.It is considered to be the most credible platform for sustainability recognition in the country.NTPCs flagship CSR program Girl Empowerment Mission, a four weeks residential program has been institutionalized in the vicinity of its power stations for the benefit of school going girls to support in their overall development.
8.Arunachal Pradesh filmmaker Kezang D Thongdok bags Dada Saheb Phalke Award
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Kezang D Thongdok, an independent filmmaker has bagged the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2020.Thongdok’s short documentary ‘Chi Lupo’ artfully sketches the custom of honey hunting practised in the Shertukpen community wherein ‘Chi’ means honey and ‘Lupo’ means huntersHoney is an integral part of this community and is used for preparing various delicacies and valued for medicinal properties.To keep this tradition of indigenous practice of honey hunting alive, Kezang D Thongdok documented the age old tradition of honey hunting.
9.Hamilton wins inaugural Styrian GP for Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton has won the first-ever 2020 Styrian Grand Prix for Mercedes-AMG F1 at the second race being held this season at the Red Bull Ring, Austria.Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) finished second while Max Verstappen ( Red Bull- Belgium) was third.It was the second race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship and the first running of the Styrian Grand Prix.
10.Renowned ceramic artist Jyotsna Bhatt passes away
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Renowned ceramic artist Jyotsna Bhatt passes away after she suffered a stroke.She was an Indian ceramist and potter.She studied and later taught at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda for forty years.Apart from ceramics, she also experimented with stoneware and terracotta.In her ceramics, she preferred matte and satin matte glazes as well as teal blue to moss green and other earth tones.She frequently used alkaline earths, amorphous moulds and various minerals.
11.Renowned Gujarati Cartoonist Avad Bin Hassan Jami passes away
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One of the most senior and popular cartoonists of Gujarat, Avad Bin Hassan Jami, has passed away. He was 77.He was popularly known as “Jami”.His cartoons were published in Gujarati magazine “Abhiyan” for over two decades.He had also worked in Gujarati newspaper Phhulchhab as a cartoonist.He was a drawing teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jamnagar and became a full-time cartoonist after retirement.
12.Veteran Gujarati writer and journalist Nagindas Sanghvi dies at 100
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Veteran Gujarati journalist, columnist, writer and political analyst Nagindas Sanghvi passed away in Surat.He received Padma Shri, Indian’s 4th highest civilian honour in 2019.He had written many books on Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat and other subjects.
