Current Affairs 18 February 2020

1. India, Norway to strengthen bilateral cooperation to contain marine pollution

• Both countries decided to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the field of environment and climate change.
• particularly in the field of marine pollution.
• Norway Capital : Oslo.
• Currency : Kroner.

2. Moody’s cuts 2020 GDP growth forecast to 5.4% from 6.6%

• The government has pegged GDP growth at 5 percent in FY19.

3. Cabinet Approves amendment of DTAA with Sri Lanka

• DTAA full form : Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
• Under the amendment, an anti-abuse provision is to be included.

4. PM Modi launches 50 development projects worth over Rs 1250 Cr in Varanasi

• On his day-long visit to the Parliamentary Constituency Varanasi.
• dedicated Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Memorial Centre to the nation
• also flagged off the Kashi Mahakaal Express.
• Express links Varanasi, Ujjain and Omkareshwar.

5. Ministry of Steel to organize a workshop to foster steel usage in Railways

• Ministry of Steel along with CII is to organize a workshop
• 17 February 2020 in New Delhi to focus on fostering steel usage in the Railways & Defence sectors.
• Union Minister of Steel : Dharmendra Pradhan.

6. “Apiary on Wheels” launched: A Unique Concept to achieve National Honey Mission

• Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises launched “Apiary on Wheels’.
• a unique concept framed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
• aim of “Apiary on Wheels” is to make migration easy.
• It is a platform to carry 20 Bee Boxes.
• Apiary on wheels is an approach to make beekeeping simpler.

7. India to partially open up Poultry and Diary Markets to imports from US

• Ahead of President Trump’s visit by the end of February 2020.
• Indian government has announced that it is to partially open the poultry and Diary market to imports from US.
• India is the second largest trade partner of the United States.

8. Fingopay to launch biometric finger vein payment technology

• Fingopay is a Biometric VeinID platform .
• Fingopay uses Hitachi Vein ID technology.

9. BioAsia Summit 2020 to be held in Hyderabad

• Telangana is hosting Bio-Asia Summit 2020 in Hyderabad 2020 February 17-19.
• main objective of the summit is to explore the capabilities of Life Science Companies and their investments.
• Theme : Today for Tomorrow.
• Country Partner : Switzerland.

10. Election Commission & IIT Madras join hands to develop new technology for voting

• EC has collaborated with IIT Madras to work on a new technology
• which will allow electors to vote from far away cities without going to the designated polling station of their constituencies.
• Block chain enabled customised e-ballot paper will be generated.