30th April 2020 Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs of 30th April 2020

International Current Affairs

Today (30th April) is International Jazz Day‬.
- This day is being observed to break down barriers and create opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance.
- The Day is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.
The United States Navy has announced that it will host RIMPAC- 2020 the world's largest maritime exercises in Hawaii again this year, but the drills will only be held at sea because of the Corona virus.
- The Navy has held the Rim of the Pacific exercises in Hawaii every two years since the early 1970s.
- Hawaii Governor David Ige earlier this month asked the military to postpone the drills until the COVID-19 situation in the islands subsides.

National Current Affairs

Home Ministry has said that New guidelines to fight COVID-19 will come into effect from 4th of May, which shall give considerable relaxations to many districts.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities in view of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
- The academic session 2020-21 may commence from the 1st of August for old students and from the 1st of September for fresh students.
- Intermediate semester students will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester.
- In states where COVID-19 situation has normalised, there will be exams in July.
- For Terminal Semester Students, exams will be held in July.
- A COVID-19 cell will be constituted in every university which will be empowered to solve the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations.
Tripura Chif Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has stated that the lockdown will continue in some form or the other in the state until a vaccine against Covid-19 is invented.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that state government offices, including the secretariat, will resume work with 30% staff from today.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

The Task Force headed by the Economic Affairs Secretary has submitted it's Final Report on the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for 2019-25 to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today.
- This report contains recommendations on general and sectoral reforms relating to Infrastructure for implementation by Centre and States.
- The projected total infrastructure investment stands above one hundred and 11 lakh crore rupees during the period the period 2019-25.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today praised India for lifting export bans on critical medical supplies including pharmaceuticals used to treat COVID-19 patients.
- He said it was an example of working together with partner countries to tackle the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Awards & Honors

Indian doctor Thangjam Dhabali Singh has been conferred the 'Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays' by Japan for promoting friendship between Japan and India.
- Dr Singh recognizes the importance of preserving the memories of the Battle of Imphal that took place between Japan and the British forces during World War II, the Japanese Embassy in India said.
Chennai's famous Kovilpatti kadalai mittai has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- Kovilpatti kadalai mittai is manufactured in Kovilpatti and adjacent towns and villages in Thoothukudi district.
- Kovilpatti kadalai mittai is a candy made of peanuts held together with glistening syrup, and topped with wisps of grated coconut dyed pink, green and yellow.
- It is made using all natural ingredients such as the traditional and special ‘vellam’ (jaggery) and groundnuts and water from the river Thamirabarani is used in the production, which enhances the taste naturally.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced that for the 93rd Oscar Awards to be held in 2021, films streamed online will be eligible for entry.
- The current rules state that films are eligible if they have at least a one-week run in a Los Angeles commercial theatre.

Deaths

Actor Rishi Kapoor (67) passed away today after a two-year battle with leukaemia.
- Born in the first family of Hindi cinema, Rishi Kapoor was the son of Raj Kapoor, and grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor.
- He started his career early, as a child actor in his father’s film Mera Naam Joker (1970), for which he also won a Filmfare Award.
- His first role as an adult came in the iconic Bobby (1973) opposite Dimple Kapadia.
- He also received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1974 for the film.
- He was part of hit films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Laila Majnu, Rafoo Chakkar , Sargam, Karz, Bol Radha Bol and others.
- In the later stage of his career, he was seen in films such as Kapoor and Sons, D-Day, Mulk and 102 Not Out.

New Appointments

T S Tirumurti, who is currently serving as Secretary, Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as India's Permanent Representative to the UN.
- He is going to replace Syed Akbaruddin who is set to retire this month.