15 February 2020 - Daily Current Affairs
1. Mega industrial exhibition 'Engiexpo 2020' in Vadodara
- In a bid to promote 'Made in India' products, the Federation of Small Scale Industries (FSSI) is organizing mega industrial exhibition 'Engiexpo 2020' in Vadodara, Gujarat.
- Over 10,000 industrial products will be showcased in more than 300 stalls at the sixth edition of the exhibition.
- The exhibition is showcasing various products, including weighing, welding and cutting tools, products related to construction work.
Sports
2. Gulmarg will host five-day National Winter Games from March 7
- World-famous Ski destination Gulmarg is all set to host a five-day national winter games event from 7th March under the banner of Khelo India.
- Khelo India is an initiative of the Government of India to strengthen the sports ecosystem by encouraging mass participation and promotion of excellence.
- There will be 30 events under five major activities- snowboarding, snow skiing, cross country.
International Affairs
3. EIU lowers global growth forecast for 2020 to 2.2%
- The Economist Intelligence Unit has revised downwards its global growth forecast for 2020 to 2.2%. (earlier, 2.3%)
- It has lowered the forecast due to the new risks that have emerged following the novel coronavirus outbreak in China.
- The Economist Intelligence Unit's baseline scenario is that the public health emergency in China will be brought under control by end-March.
National & International Appointments
4. Robin Singh appointed UAE's Director of Cricket
- Former India all-rounder Robin Singh (56-years) has been appointed director of cricket of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Singh, who had represented India in one Test and 136 ODIs between 1989 and 2001, has over the years made a name for himself in coaching.
- He was associated with the Indian Premier League's Mumbai Indians franchise, Caribbean Premier League's Barbados Tridents since 2013 and T10 franchises in the T10 league here.
Obituaries
5. Padma Shri awardee fashion designer Wendell Rodricks passes away
- Noted fashion designer and Padma Shri awardee Wendell Rodricks (59-years) passed away.
- He is credited with revolutionising Indian fashion and promoting it globally.
- He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2014 and also the recipient of Chevalier de I'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the order of arts and letters) in 2015.
Obituaries
6. Baseball legend Katsuya Nomura passes away
- Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame catcher and renowned manager Katsuya Nomura (84-years) passed away due to heart failure.
- Nomura was one of NPB’s greatest slugging catchers, amassing 657 home runs, 1,988 RBIs and 2,901 hits in 3,017 games over 26 seasons spent mostly with the Hawks.
- In 1965, he became the first NPB batter to win the Triple Crown in the postwar era.
Obituaries
7. Former Teri chief RK Pachauri passes away
- Former TERI chief R K Pachauri (79-years) passed away at the Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi.
- The IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice-President Al Gore,
- Earlier, Environmentalist Mr Pachauri (Founder Director of TERI) had undergone open-heart surgery at the same hospital after suffering a stroke in Mexico, July 2019.
State Affairs
8. Maharashtra govt announces five-day working week for its employees
- The Maharashtra government has announced a five-day working week for its officers and employees.
- The Maharashtra state cabinet also extended the current work hours by 45 minutes.
- The new routine would start from 29th February this year.
- Currently, Maharashtra government officials work on the first and third Saturdays of the month and get an off on the second and fourth Saturdays.
Books & Authors
9. Abhinav Kashyap releases a novel 'The Crossfire of Love'
- Filmmaker and screenwriter Abhinav Kashyap recently unveiled the novel 'The Crossfire of Love'.
- It is a racing psychological romantic thriller by US-based author Dhiren Tiwari.
- Within days of the release, the novel has topped the WH Smith Bestseller charts and has garnered high praise from both critics in print and television.
National & International Appointments
10. Debasish Panda appointed finance secretary
- Senior IAS officer Debasish Panda (1987-batch - Uttar Pradesh cadre) has been appointed as the new finance secretary.
- Currently, Mr Panda is a special secretary, department of financial services.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment as secretary, department of financial services, in place of Rajiv Kumar, who superannuates this month-end.
