Current Affairs - February 1, 2020 Current Affairs

January 30 is to be marked as World Neglected Diseases day. This is the first time World NTD Day is marked. Aim of the Day is to create awareness in addressing tropical diseases. Pathogens cause the Neglected Tropical Diseases. They are common in low-income country America.

A one lakh capacity meditation center claimed to be the world's largest such facility was inaugurated at the global headquarters of the Heartfulness Institute and the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The center can accommodate one lakh meditation practitioner who was unveiled in the presence of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and other dignitaries to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of Ram Chandra Mission and Heartfulness Institute.

Eminent social worker Tushar Kanjilal recently died in Kolkata at 85. He had won Padma Shri in 1996 and Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2008.

Martyrs' Day, a tribute on the 72nd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Union Minister for MSME, Shri Nitin Gadkari launched the limited edition of Khadi wristwatches. The event took place in New Delhi. Wrist Watches Designed by Titan, a non-horological material like Khadi has been used on the dial and strap of the watches.

On January 31, 2020, Google announced 1 million USD grant to promote news literacy among Indians. Also, the organization has launched a new application 'Tangi'.

Indo-Bangladesh defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise organized at Umroi in Meghalaya from February 3 to 16.

Google has released a new hashtag #AndroidHelp to identify and resolve issues that Android smartphone users may be facing. Announcing the hashtag on Twitter through the official @Android handle, the company wrote that users can get assistance by tweeting their issue using the #AndroidHelp hashtag.

Indian women captain Rani Rampal becomes the first-ever hockey player to win the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year award. The World Games announced the winner after 20 days of polling in January this year by sports fans worldwide.

Haryana govt. is to organise 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela from February 1 to 16. Himachal Pradesh is the 'theme state'.

Irish composer Eimear Noone becomes the first-ever female conductor during an Oscars guest-segment. Galway-born Eimear Noone will be the first female ever to take charge of the orchestra at the Academy Awards. Billie Eilish announced as a performer for the 2020 Academy Awards ceremony.

World Health Organisation (WHO) declares the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as the outbreak continues to spread outside Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the virus.

Google News Initiative (GNI) announced a $1 million grant for Internews, a news literacy organization. The funding support is part of Google's broader, $10-million commitment to media literacy. The grant will work towards building a strong network of senior reporters and journalists who will counteract fake news in India.

Indian Coast Guard commissioning a high-speed interceptor boat in Mangalore on January 29. The water-jet-propelled vessel deployed for patrolling and rescue operations. The 500 nautical miles at 20 knots and is capable of doing speeds of up to 45 knots. The boat fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment which designed for high-speed interception close-coast patrol low-intensity maritime operations search-and-rescuee, and marine surveillance.

Union Minister of State Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh launches the DoPT's online certificate course on Relevance of Gandhi in the Contemporary World at a function. The online program on Mahatma Gandhi is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the iGOT programme to pay tribute to Father of the Nation.

Badminton champion and former world number one Saina Nehwal on January 29 joined the BJP. Her elder sister, ChandranshuNehwal, also joined the party along with her.

World Leprosy Day is observed on 30 January every year to focus on the target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children. As, we know that disabilities do not occur overnight but happen after a prolonged period of undiagnosed disease.

30 January is celebrated as Martyr's Day or Shaeed Diwas every year in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and sacrifice of three revolutionaries of India. As, on 30 January, 1948, the 'Father of Nation' was assassinated. And on 23rd March 3 heroes namely Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar of the nation were hanged to death by British.

Former Bihar Minister and RJD MLA Abdul Gafoor died at a hospital in New Delhi. He was 60 and is survived by wife, three sons and three daughters. Gafoor, who represented Mahishi assembly constituency in Bihar Assembly, was suffering from liver ailment for past quite some time and was admitted to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS).

Assam has emerged as the top state in terms of best practices followed in budget formulation, followed by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, says a survey by Transparency International.

Togo has appointed power giant NTPC as its project management consultant (PMC) for about 300 MW of solar power projects in the West African nation