01 March 2020 - Daily Current Affairs
1. Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia's new Prime Minister
- Muhyiddin Yassin ( 72-years) took the oath of office as the country's new Prime Minister of Malaysia.
- Muhyiddin had served as deputy Prime Minister under former premier Najib Razak from 2009 to 2015
- The announcement came hours after Mahathir struck a new deal to work with his former ruling alliance led by rival Anwar Ibrahim.
- The prime minister of Malaysia is the head of government and the highest political office in Malaysia.
Important Dates
2. UNAIDS observes Zero Discrimination Day
- Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on 1 March by the United Nations Programme on HIV & AIDS (UNAIDS).
- Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion and peace.
- Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination.
- On the Day this year, UNAIDS is challenging the discrimination faced by women and girls in all their diversity.
National Affairs
3. Indian Railways launches its First “Restaurant on Wheels”
- Indian Railways launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at Asansol Railway station in West Bengal for the use of Railway passengers as well as the general public of Asansol.
- The Restaurant on Wheels in Asansol station circulating area was developed by refurbishing two overaged MEMU coaches.
- This unique effort will not only improve the facilities at Asansol station but also generate non-fare revenue earnings of approximately Rs 50 lakh in the next five years.
Defense
4. New explosive detection device, developed by DRDO & IISc Bangalore
- RaIDer-X, a new explosive detection device, was unveiled at the National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) in Pune.
- It has the capability to detect explosives from a stand-off distance.
- Bulk explosive in a concealed condition can also be detected by the device.
- RaIDer-X has been co-developed by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Summits & Conferences
5. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela-2020
- The Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela-2020 in New Delhi.
- During the ceremony, he called for the retention of talent in Agriculture.
- Shri Tomar said the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given priority to agriculture and set a target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
International Affairs
6. ADB to provide $4 million to member countries to contain coronavirus
- Asian Development Bank will provide a total of USD 4 mn to help developing countries in Asia and the Pacific to fight the outbreak COVID-19.
- The ADB had earlier in Feb announced USD 2 mn for fighting the disease.
- The ADB has approved a further USD 2 million to help developing countries in Asia and the Pacific contain the outbreak coronavirus.
- The funds will be available for all ADB developing member countries in updating and implementing their pandemic response plans.
Obituaries
7. Olympic medalist hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passes away
- Former Indian hockey player and Olympian Balbir Singh Kullar passed away.
- Kullar was part of the Indian side which bagged a bronze medal in the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
- He was born in the Sansarpur village of the Jalandhar district in 1942.
- He made his India debut in 1963 in Lyon, France.
- He gained a reputation as an inside forward in the Indian team and toured several countries like Belgium, England, Netherlands, New Zealand, and West Germany.
Sports
8. Rafael Nadal wins Mexican Open title 2020
- Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal won the Mexican Open 2020. This is his 85th ATP Tour title and his first title of the year.
- He defeated unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.
- In the women’s final, seventh-seeded Heather Watson captured her first WTA title in three years by grinding out a 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 win over Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez.
National Affairs
9. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launches 'Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan' in Kota
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated 'Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan' in his Loksabha Constituency Kota, Rajasthan.
- Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani was also present in the program.
- Mr Birla appealed to every section of the society to cooperate in the malnutrition-free India campaign.
- Keeping newborn and pregnant women healthy is the main objective of the 'Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan '.
Honours & Awards
10. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal was presented Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee award
- Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was presented the prestigious Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee award 2020 for Politics at the 6th India Ideas Conclave in Gujarat.
- The award, instituted by India Foundation carries a citation, a specially designed trophy and a cheque worth Rs. one lakh.
- The award was presented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Speaker of People’s Majlis of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed.
