Current Affairs - March 30, 2020 Current Affairs

An iconic ethnic Indian newspaper in the US that catered to the Indian diaspora for the last 50 years has announced that it will cease the print edition from Monday due to pre-existing troubles in the publishing industry worsened by the cancellation of advertisements amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) has acquired 67% stake held by the Central government in Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL) for an amount of Rs 2,383 crore.

PMO sets up high-level panels to suggest measures to restore normalcy post 21-day lockdown; these panels to work under guidance of P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM.

IIT Bombay develops mobile app named 'CORONTINE' for tracking COVID-19 quarantine patients.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) eases timelines within 330-day deadline for insolvency resolution process; lockdown period would not be counted for the purpose of timelines

Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio launched the Self Declaration COVID-19 Nagaland App at Kohima on 28 March. The app is aimed to trace the person who entered the state, as a measure to tackle the spread of Coronavirus. The app will be mandatory for any person who entered Nagaland after 6th March. The app is available for Android and iOS users.

America's civil rights leader Joseph Echols Lowery passed away at the age of 98 in Atlanta, Georgia, US (United States). He was the key ally of Martin Luther King in the US civil rights movement of the 1960s. He was born on October 6, 1921 in Huntsville, Alabama, US.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath transferred Rs.611 crore in the accounts of 27.15 lakh Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) labourers of the state. The move comes in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

National Book Trust to launch 'Corona Studies Series' books for all age-groups for the post-Corona readership needs

The Republic of North Macedonia has inducted officially as the 30th and newest member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This membership comes after North Macedonia's 2017 deal with Greece under which the former changed its name from Macedonia (a name same as Greek province). After the name change, Greece agreed to drop objections to its NATO and European Union (EU) membership. North Macedonia was granted a protocol on accession to NATO membership in February 2019.

In accordance with a report titled "Boom and Bust 2020: Tracking the Global Plant Pipeline" 47.4 GW coal fired power projects at different stages were cancelled in India in 2019 which reduced total under development coal capacity to 66 GW. The report was prepared jointly by Global Energy Monitor, Greenpeace International, the Sierra Club, and Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The report is the fifth annual survey of the coal plant pipeline.

Tech giant Apple has released a new dedicated app and website for users across the US. The app provides accurate and credible information to users about the COVID-19 pandemic. The new COVID-19 app and website provide the needed guidance and latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The app has been made available on the App Store.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of international Athletics's governing body -World Athletics's (formerly known as International Association of Athletics Federations-IAAF), has suspended Indian shot putter Navin Chikara (23) for 4- years for failing an out-of-competition dope test in 2018.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has launched a policy tracker to track the policies of the governments so as to share knowledge about COVID-19 which helps to tackle the crisis.

The Central Government approved the launch of insurance scheme for health workers, who are fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package. Under the scheme, GoI is to provide insurance, to a person who meets with an accident that covers Rs.50 lakhs for 90 days to a total of around 22.12 lakh public healthcare providers including community health workers who are under the contact and care of COVID-19 patients.

Rajasthan police launches RajCop citizen mobile app for people to take permission for venturing out during coronavirus lockdown

The United States of America (USA) will provide an additional USD 174 million financial assistance to 64 most at-risk countries which include USD 2.9 million to India as support for combating the coronavirus pandemic. In February 2020, the USA provided 100 million aid for the same purpose.

The High-Level Committee (HLC) under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved Rs 5,751.27 crores as additional Central assistance under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to 8 States affected by floods, landslides, cyclones 'Bulbul' & drought during 2019.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) declared an infusion of Rs 3.74 lakh crore into the banking system through three measures viz. targeted long-term repo operation (TLTRO), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and marginal standing facility (MSF). The decision has been taken to tackle financial system stress raised due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Jharkhand state government has launched PRAGYAAM, a Mobile application. The app was launched by the State Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The app aims to issue e-passes to everyone associated with the delivery of essential services during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.