Introduction
Current Affairs is a type of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or ongoing at the time of broadcast. The article Current Affairs 30 March 2020 includes News summary on current events of International, National, Education, Banking, Sports, Awards and Obituary importance of 30 March 2020.
INT
Coronavirus: Mercedes F1 to make breathing aid
Click Here
Key Highlights- A breathing aid that can help keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care has been created in under a week.
- University College London engineers worked with clinicians at UCLH and Mercedes Formula One to build the device, which delivers oxygen to the lungs without needing a ventilator.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices are already used in hospitals but are in short supply.
Coronavirus: Trump extends US guidelines beyond Easter
Click Here
Key Highlights- President Donald Trump has said federal coronavirus guidelines such as social distancing will be extended across the US until at least 30 April.
- He had previously suggested that they could be relaxed as early as Easter, which falls in mid-April.
- "The highest point of the death rate is likely to hit in two weeks," Mr. Trump said.
Twitter Removes Brazilian President's Posts Questioning Coronavirus Quarantine
Click Here
Key Highlights- Two tweets by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in which he questioned quarantine measures aimed at containing the novel coronavirus were removed, on the grounds that they violated the social network's rules.
- The far-right leader had posted several videos in which he flouted his government's social distancing guidelines by mixing with supporters on the streets of Brasilia and urging them to keep the economy going.
China Defends Against Incoming Second Wave Of Coronavirus
Click Here
Key Highlights- A growing number of imported coronavirus cases in China risked fanning a second wave of infections when domestic transmissions had "basically been stopped", a senior health official said, while eased travel curbs may also add to domestic risks.
- China, where the disease first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, had an accumulated total of 693 cases entering from overseas, which meant "the possibility of a new round of infections remains relatively big", Mi Feng, spokesman for the National Health Commission (NHC), said.
Peak US Death Rate Due To Coronavirus Likely To Hit In Two Weeks
Click Here
Key Highlights- US President Donald Trump said that the peak death rate in the United States from the coronavirus pandemic was likely to hit in two weeks.
- Trump, during a briefing at the White House, also said that he was extending the government's "social distancing" guidelines until April 30.
National
Maharashtra Coronavirus Cases Rises To 215 From 203
Click Here
Key Highlights- The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra climbed to 215 as 12 more people tested positive for coronavirus in the state, a health official said.
- Out of the 12 new patients, five are from Pune, three from Mumbai, two from Nagpur, and one each from Kolhapur and Nashik, the official said.
Indian-Americans Set Up Helpline, Help Community Members Hit By COVID 19 Crisis
Click Here
Key Highlights- Several eminent Indian-American groups in the US have raised funds and deployed volunteers to help community members, including first responders, health workers, students and labourers in America and India, which have been majorly affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 600,000 people globally.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has infected over 140,000 people and claimed 2,475 lives in the US. In India, the confirmed coronavirus cases crossed the 1,000-mark and the death toll reached 27.
12 New Cases In Maharashtra, Top Court To Hear Petition On Migrants Amid Lockdown Today
Click Here
Key Highlights- The number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra climbed to 215 as 12 more people tested positive for coronavirus in the state, a health official said.
- Out of the 12 new patients, five are from Pune, three from Mumbai, two from Nagpur, and one each from Kolhapur and Nashik, the official said. So far, eight COVID-19 patients have died in the state.
At Telangana Coronavirus Victim's Funeral, No Family, Just Health Workers
Click Here
Key Highlights- A 74-year-old man in Telangana was the first person in the state to die of coronavirus on Saturday. His samples, which were taken after his death three days ago, tested positive for the highly contagious virus that has infected over 1,000 people in the country and killed 27.
- The elderly man was buried with no family members and only in the presence of health workers. His bereaved family was confined to their homes.
JICA signs agreement worth Rs 15,295 crore with India
Click Here
Key Highlights- Japanese government funding agency (JICA) signs an agreement worth Rs 15,295 crore with India to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) for 3 rail infrastructure projects.
- Japanese ODA loans are long-term low-interest rate loans advanced to the developing countries.
Education
CLAT 2020 Application Deadline Extended, Exam Date Changed
Click Here
Key Highlights- The Consortium of National Law Universities has extended the last date to apply for Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2020.
- The application process for CLAT 2020 began on January 1 and would have concluded on March 31, 2020 but the deadline for application has been extended to April 25, 2020.
- The consortium has revised the dates after the concerns arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ICMAI Begins Webinars For Cost Accountant Students
Click Here
Key Highlights- The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) has started delivering webinars for students to help them keep up with studies at a time when all the classroom interactions have been cancelled.
- The webinars started today. Each webinar will be two and a half hour duration. The Institute has released the schedule for webinars till April 2.
Banking
SoftBank-Backed OneWeb Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan, Cuts Jobs
Click Here
Key Highlights- OneWeb, the satellite operator backed by Japan's SoftBank Group, said it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to pursue a sale of its business and has cut its workforce amid the coronavirus outbreak.
- OneWeb is in negotiations for debtor-in-possession financing, which if acquired and approved by the court will support its ongoing business, the company said in a statement that did not mention how many jobs were being cut.
India to grow fastest among G20 economies despite
Click Here
Key Highlights- Despite the coronavirus cases growing daily, India will rise as the fastest growing economy among the G20 contries, says a report by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), who in the light of coronavirus pandemic slashed India's GDP growth forecast from 6 percent to 2.1 percent.
- 2.1 percent GDP forecast may be a huge downgrade but given the projected recession in other regions like the US, Europe, and Latin America, India will be the fastest-growing nation and will be only among three countries in G20 along with China and Indonesia. With the worst negative growth of 7 percent, Italy will get a huge hit.
Banks' earnings could fall up to 35%: Kotak Mahindra, HDFC Bank
Click Here
Key Highlights- India's banking sector is staring at a bumpy road ahead as COVID-19 will have a serious impact on banks' loan growth, asset quality and earnings, said brokerages and experts.
- Experts and brokerages are of the view that the banking sector should be in the focus of policymakers as the sector is suffering the most and will have a contagion effect on all sectors of the economy.
RBI measures, expect more rate cuts and growth in H2FY21
Click Here
Key Highlights- Top brokerages, including CLSA, HSBC and Morgan Stanley, have welcomed the raft of measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India to protect the economy and the financial system, saying the central bank may go for more rate cuts.
- RBI governor Shaktikanta Das on March 27 announced a huge 75 basis points rate cut on March 27, bringing it to 4.40 percent from 5.15 percent.
Sports
Indian athletics season put off by at least six months
Click Here
Key Highlights- The start of the domestic track and field competition could be pushed back by at least seven months because of the Covid-19 crisis, Indian athletics’ high performance director, Volker Herrmann, has said.
- Athletics Federation of India cancelled the grand prix series as well as the Federation Cup in April. With the Tokyo Olympics postponed to next year, the federation is redrawing its calendar.
Football may never be the same again
Click Here
Key Highlights- “I want to see the trophy go through the Shankly gates!” US-based British comedian John Oliver screamed and gesticulated in the latest episode of his late-night talk show, shot in New York without a studio audience and broadcast earlier this month.
- Oliver was describing, on a lighter note, his frustrations as a Liverpool fan. Liverpool supporters have been waiting since 1990 to see the club win the league again – only for the much-awaited coronation to be halted by the fast-accelerating coronavirus pandemic.
India events not part of CWG 2022 events list
Click Here
Key Highlights- The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) released an elaborate programme for the 2022 Birmingham Games without any mention of the shooting and archery competitions to be held in Chandigarh with the medals to reflect in the final table, raising questions about the legitimacy of the agreement worked out by Indian sports officials.
- The medal events program and athlete allocation system for the Games released by GCF does not mention the events India had initially insisted must be part of the Birmingham competition and threatened a boycott if left out.
- In a statement on February 28, GCF had said the shooting would be hosted by the Indian federation. Archery was added later.
Resign
Guterres has accepted Mr Rajkumar's resignation and thanked him for his service in managing the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.
Click Here
Key Highlights- A senior official from India has resigned from his position of Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.
- Sudhir Rajkumar had been appointed to the role by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in October 2017. No reason was given for the resignation in the statement.
- He resigned from his role as the Representative of the Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, effective at the close of business on March 31, a statement issued by Guterres'' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Other Articles
Banking Awareness Quiz
Current Affairs 29 March 2020
Current Affairs One Liners March 2020
Current Affairs EBooks | Quizzes | Special Articles
General Awareness EBooks | Mock Tests | One Liners
