Current affairs of 19 September 2020

Current affairs of 19 September 2020

• RS passed Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill 2020 to protect healthcare workers

  Rajya Sabha, the Upper House, passed the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill, 2020 on 19 September 2020. The Bill aims to punish the individuals who attack health workers or doctors who are fighting the covid-19 outbreak or during any situation similar to the current pandemic.

• Colonel Dr Girija Mungali appointed in Asian Football Confederation task-force

  Retd. Colonel Dr. Girija Shanker Mungali has been appointed a member of the Asian Football Confederation's task force. Teh task force consists of 7 members. The force aims to regulate football clubs in Asia and Australia.

• DRDO set up 8 technology centres for research on Military Applications

  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has set up eight advanced technology centres to carry out research on futuristic military applications. The centres will provide support to academia to undertake research on new technologies in niche areas for military use.

• September 19: International Coastal Clean-Up Day

  Every year, the International Coastal Clean-Up Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of the month of September. This year, the day is celebrated on September 19 under the theme

• Eight Indian Beaches recommended for Blue Flag International Eco-Label

  The Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that 8 Indian beaches have been recommended for the Blue Flag International Eco label. The announcement was made on the eve of International coastal clean-up day.

• India to conduct VAIBHAV Summit

  The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to inaugurate VAIBHAV Summit on October 2, 2020. VAIBHAV is Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik Summit.

• Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Second Amendment) passed in Rajya Sabha

  The Rajya Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code (second Amendment) Bill 2020. According to the new amendment, fresh insolvency proceedings will not be started for the next six months considering Covid-19 pandemic.

• Veteran Tamil Director Babu Sivan passes away

  Tamil director Babu Sivan passed away. He began his career by assisting director Dharani, who helmed films like Ghilli and Kurvi with Vijay. Later, he made his directorial debut with Vettaikaaran in 2009. It was one of the highest grossing Tamil films of that year.

• Canara Bank introduces i-Lead 2.0 to boost customer services

  Public sector lender Canara Bank has launched lead management system (LMS) - i-Lead 2.0 (Inspiring Leads System version 2.0). The system has been launched to provide its services to customers irrespective of where they reside.

• Gujarat government launches Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana

  The Gujarat government has launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana (MMUY). The scheme will provide interest-free loans to women's groups in the state. Under the MMUY, 50,000 joint liability and earning group (JLEG) will be formed in urban areas. Similarly, 50,000 such groups will also be formed in rural areas.

• Margaret Atwood awarded 2020 Dayton Literary Peace Prize

  Margaret Atwood has won the 2020 Dayton Literary Peace Prize's lifetime achievement award. The award celebrates literature's power to foster peace, social justice and global understanding. The Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award is named for the late U.S. diplomat who brokered the 1995 Bosnian peace accords reached in the Ohio city.

• A new book titled "Azadi" authored by Arundhati Roy

  Arundhati Roy's new book titled "Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction" is published by Penguin Books Limited. The nonfiction book is a collection of essays that shows the meaning of Freedom in the world of increasing authoritarianism.