Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 9th April 2020 - wifistudy

Daily CurrentTitle
              Affairs Capsule
             Title2020
        9th April

Brazilian Prez Bolsonaro thanks PM Modi, people of India for helping Brazil tackle COVID-19 outbreak

Brazil President Bolsonaro in his address to the nation thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of
India for helping Brazil tackle the COVID-19 outbreak by providing raw materials for Hydroxychloroquine
production.

      Mr. Bolsonaro said that Brazil would receive the raw materials following his direct conversation with
       Prime Minister Modi.
      He expressed gratitude towards the Prime Minister and the people of India.

SAARC Development Fund allocates $5 million for Covid-19 projects

The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) has allocated USD 5 million (about Rs 38 crore) for COVID-19 projects
in eight member countries as the virus pandemic threatens economic activities across the globe.

      This COVID-19 project shall be funded by SDF under its social window thematic areas.
      The objective of the USD 5 million allocation is to provide fund support to the member states in their
       efforts and to protect the people of the SAARC member states by mitigating the financial losses and severe
       socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

   The SAARC Development Fund is mandated to build regional integration and economic cooperation
       through project funding in all the member countries through its economic, infrastructure and social
       windows.

‘Lifeline Udaan’ flights transported 39.3 tons medical supplies in one single day

Lifeline Udaan flights transported 39.3 tons of medical supplies across the country on April 7, 2020.

      'Lifeline Udaan' is the central government's arrangement for operating medical cargo lifelines for countries
       facing a coronavirus crisis.
      The total cargo transported by these flights is around 240 tons during COVID-19 lockdown.
      161 flights have been operated under Lifeline UDAN to date covering 1,41,080 Kms.
      Out of these, 99 flights were operated by Air India and Alliance Air while 54 were operated by IAF.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust manages to continue its operations smoothly

In Maharashtra, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Raigad district near Mumbai which is considered to be
the busiest container port in the country has managed to continue its operations smoothly even during the
nationwide lockdown.

   After the announcement of lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, JNPT faced several difficulties
       to continue the regular operation as there was shortage of contract employees, shortage of truck drivers,
       sealing of state and district borders and difficulty in the movement of the staff.
      But, the container port facilitated smooth operations bringing together all stakeholders including 33 CFS
       and more than 15 empty containers yard operators.
      It provided PPE’s to all personnel entering Port premises.

Center launches ‘iGOT’ learning platform to combat COVID-19

The Center has announced the launch of a learning platform to combat COVID-19 for all front-line workers to
equip them with the training and in coping with Pandemic.

      The target groups for the platform, ‘iGOT’ are Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hygiene Workers,
       Technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives, ANMs, Central & State Govt. Officers, Civil Defence
       Officials, various Police Organisations, National Cadet Corpz, NCC, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan,
       NYKS, National Service Scheme, NSS, Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts and Guides and other
       volunteers.
      Appropriate training will also prepare them for the subsequent stages of the pandemic.
      The platform delivers curated, role-specific content, to each learner at his place of work or home and to
       any device of his choice.
      iGOT platform is designed to population scale, and will provide training to around 1.50 crore workers and
       volunteers in the coming weeks.

Odisha first Indian state to extend COVID-19 lockdown till April 30

Odisha has become the first Indian state to extend the ongoing lockdown.

   In a video statement Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that his government has decided to extend the
       lockdown period in Odisha till April 30.
      According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's official figures on April 9, Odisha has 42
       confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
      This number includes one patient who succumbed to the infection and two individuals who recovered.
      The Odisha government will also take special measures for various sectors.
      Activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and MGNREGS will be facilitated during the lockdown
       period following social distancing norms.
      Meanwhile, educational institutions in the state will remain closed till June 17.

SIDBI offers emergency credit facility of up to Rs 1 crore to SMEs

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) said it will provide emergency working capital of up
to Rs 1 crore to small and medium enterprises against their confirmed government orders.

      The new loan product, SIDBI Assistance to Facilitate Emergency response against coronavirus (SAFE)
       plus will be offered collateral free and disbursed within 48 hours.
      The loans will be offered at an interest rate of 5 per cent.
      SIDBI further said it has enhanced the loan limit for MSMEs to Rs 2 crore under its SAFE initiative.
      The scheme was launched to provide financial assistance to MSMEs engaged in manufacturing of hand
       sanitizers, masks, gloves, head gear, bodysuits, shoe-covers, ventilators and goggles used in dealing with
       COVID-19.

Global trade will plunge by up to a third in 2020: WTO

The World Trade Organization (WTO) said that the Global trade could drop by a third this year due to the
coronavirus pandemic.

      COVID-19 has completely upended the global economy and with it international trade.
      The global trade body was projecting that "trade in 2020 will fall steeply in every region of the world, and
       basically across all sectors of the economy”.
      North America and Asia would be hardest-hit and could see their exports plunge by 40 and 36 percent
       respectively, while Europe and South America could see declines of more than 30 percent.
      In its main annual forecast, the 164-member WTO pointed out that trade had already been slowing in
       2019, before the emergence of the novel coronavirus.
      WTO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
      Membership: 164 member states
      Founded: 1 January 1995
      Director-General: Roberto Azevêdo

India's GDP projected at 4.8%: UN report

According to a UN report, India's GDP growth for the current fiscal is expected to slow down to 4.8 per cent.

      It warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to result in significant adverse economic impacts
       globally.
      The UN 'Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2020: Towards sustainable
       economies' said that COVID-19 is having far-reaching economic and social consequences for the region,
       with strong cross-border spillover effects through trade, tourism and financial linkages.

   India's GDP growth for the fiscal year 2019-2020 was estimated at 5 percent and is forecast to slow down
       to 4.8 per cent for the current fiscal 2020-21.
      Economic growth for the country could stand at 5.1 per cent for fiscal year 2021-22.
      The report noted that these are very preliminary forecasts based on the data and information available up
       to March 10.

Bharti AXA Life Insurance appoints Parag Raja as MD & CEO

Bharti AXA Life Insurance announced the appointment of Parag Raja as managing director and chief executive
officer of the company.

      The appointment will be subject to the requisite approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development
       Authority of India (IRDAI).
      Raja will succeed Vikas Seth, who led Bharti AXA Life Insurance for the past two-and-a-half years, after
       April 30, 2020.
      Prior to joining Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Raja was the Chief Distribution Officer at Aditya Birla Sun
       Life Insurance (ABSLI) and responsible for planning and executing the strategic direction for expanding
       the company’s footprint across India.

England's Ben Stokes named as leading cricketer in the world by Wisden

England all-rounder Ben Stokes ended Virat Kohli's 3-year reign to be named Wisden's leading cricketer in the
world.

      Stokes was later named both BBC Sports Personality of the Year and received an OBE in the New Year's
       Honours List before claiming ICC Men's Player of the Year honours.
      Andrew Flintoff was the last English player to win the award in 2005.
      Before Stokes, India captain Virat Kohli had won the award three straight times.

'Goldfinger' Bond girl Honor Blackman passes away

Honor Blackman, one of the most memorable co-stars of the early James Bond films, has died at the age of 94.

      The actress shot to fame in her late 30s after playing legendary Bond girl Pussy Galore in the 1964 movie
       "Goldfinger".
      Blackman also became well-known in Britain for playing the character Cathy Gale in the popular 1960s
       TV spy series 'The Avengers' alongside Patrick Macnee as the bowler-hatted John Steed.