[CA] July 11, 2020 Headlines

 

July 11: World Population Day; theme: "Putting the brakes on COVID-19: how to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now"

ASIA’S LARGEST SOLAR POWER PROJECT

Asia’s largest Solar Power project: Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project in Madhya Pradesh was inaugurated by Prime Minister, Mr.  Narendra Modi, through video conferencing (on July 10, 2020). It reduces emission equivalent to 15 lakh tonne of carbon dioxide per year. The 750 MW ultra-solar power plant spread over 1,590 acres. It comprises three solar generating units of 250MW each located on 500 hectare land inside the 1500 hectare solar plant. It is a renewable energy project to supply energy to customers outside the state. The Rewa Solar Power project recieved the “World Bank Group President’s Award”.

USHA THORAT COMMITTEE

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reconstituted the committee advising it on matters related to regulation and development of the mutual fund industry by including five new members. The new 20 member committee, will be chaired by Usha Thorat, former deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

PAUL HARRIS FELLOW RECOGINITION

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International having its headquarters at Chicago, has honoured Chief Minister, Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami with Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Paul Harris Fellow recognition is accorded to honour people who render efficient services in providing drinking water, sanitation, prevention of diseases, environment, world peace etc., to its people.

INDIA BECOMES SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF FDI FOR UK

India invested in 120 projects and created 5,429 new jobs in the UK to become the second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) after the US in 2019. The Department for International Trade (DIT) inward investment statistics for 2019-2020 found India moving up from its previous third-largest spot, representing an overall 4 per cent FDI increase for the UK on 2018-2019 with 1,852 new inward investment projects in the 2019/2020 financial year. Top FDI source for UK are USA, India, Germany, France and China.

WHO FORMED PANEL FOR PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS

World Health Organization (WHO) has formulated an Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to evaluate the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Panel will be co-chaired by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Elizabeth Clark and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. While Helen Clark served as an administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on the other hand, Ellen Sirleaf is a recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. Both will choose other Panel members.

APSTAR – 6D

China had successfully launched the communication satellite ‘APSTAR-6D’. This is 18th rocket launched by China in 2020. The APSTAR-6D Satellite will be used for providing optimized high-quality voice and broadband data services for users and as well as aircraft and maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific region.

V. R. NEDUNCHEZHIYAN

Tamil Nadu government has decided to honour VR Nedunchezhiyan, one of the senior leaders of the Dravidian movement and a close associate of the late leader Periyar as well as former chief ministers CN Annadurai and MG Ramachandran, on the occasion of his centenary year which begins from July 11, 2020. Chief Minister, Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami, in a statement said that a life-size bronze statue of the multi-faceted leader will be installed at the Chepauk Government Guest House Complex in Chennai, and a government event will be held on July 11 every year to observe the leader’s birth anniversary. He also said that, steps will also be taken to nationalise Nedunchezhiyan’s autobiography titled Vaazhvil Naan Kandathum Kettathum (tho;tpy; ehd; fz;lJk; Nfl;lJk;).

CHENNAI – BENGALURU EXPRESSWAY

The Central government has resumed the land acquisition process for the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway, one of the 12 expressway projects which is being launched by the government. The work on the 262-km-long, six-lane, access-controlled Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway project, which begins at Hoskote in Karnataka and ends at Outer Ring Road near Chennai. The total cost of the project is Rs 20,000 crore.