International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated in honour of Nelson Mandela & is marked on July 18, which is his birthday. United Nations General Assembly officially declared the day in November 2009. It is a day to highlight the work he did for 67 years.
Fondly referred to as Madiba, he is Noble prize winner.
India & Israel have signed an agreement to further expand collaboration in dealing with cyber threats amid rapid digitisation due to the COVID-19 pandemic that exposed the vulnerabilities of the virtual world. India’s Ambassador to Israel- Sanjeev Singla.
Israel capital- Jerusalem, Currency- Israeli shekel.
India and Bhutan have opened a new trade route between Jaigaon in West Bengal and Pasakha in Bhutan to facilitate connectivity between two countries in COVID-19 times. Ruchira Kamboj is the Ambassador of India to Bhutan.
Bhutan Capital- Thimphu, Currency- Ngultrum.
In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, NABARD has launched development projects worth rupees 44 lakhs in order to strengthen the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat through rural entrepreneurship. It includes the formation and development of Self-Help Groups.
NABARD has also tied up with CARI, Port Blair.
Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal addressed the opening session of Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission on Food Processing which was held virtually. Under the 2-day event, conferences, trade fair & B2B meetings are being held.
Italy Capital-Rome, Currency- Lira.
Tunisian PM Elyes Fakhfakh presented his resignation to President Kais Saied. Collapse of the Government within 5 months of its formation is to delay economic reforms. Tunisia was hailing towards successful transition of democracy since 2011 revolution.
Tunisia Capital- Tunis, Currency- Dinar.
A joint working group meeting of the Sustainable Growth Pillar was co-chaired by NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog & US Agency for International Development. Meeting on SG Pillar will boost the India-US Strategic Energy Partnership.
India Energy Modelling Forum (IEMF) was also launched.
In a meeting with the 15th Finance Commission, the Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan highlighted that the government aims at gradually increasing the public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the nation's GDP by the year 2025.
Outlay for primary health expenditure will also be increased.
UNICEF India announced partnership with SAP India to provide career counselling to young people in India to improve their employability skills in a COVID & post COVID era. UNICEF will collaborate with YuWaah (Generation Unlimited) under this initiative.
Goal: Impact one million young people by the end of 2022.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has announced that the recipients of the 2020 International Press Freedom Awards include Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh, Mohammad Mosaed from Iran, Dapo Olorunyomi from Nigeria and Svetlana Prokopyeva from Russia.
Amal Clooney-Receiived Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award.
South American country Suriname brought an end to dictatorial rule by electing a new President Chan Santokhi. Santokhi is an Indian-origin former police chief, who won a landslide victory in the election that took place in May this year.
Suriname Capital- Paramaribo, Currency- Surinamese dollar.
DRDO has developed P7 Heavy Drop System which is capable of para dropping military stores up to 7-ton weight class from IL 76 aircraft. This system is manufactured by L&T who makes the platform system, parachutes manufactured by Ordnance Factory.
This system has been made under the Make in India programme.
Telangana Police launched a month-long virtual awareness campaign 'CybHER' in the wake of cybercrime against the women and children in the state. SHE teams are constituted to handle eve-teasing cases and ‘Bharosa’ is the centre for assisting women.
State CM- Chandrasekhar Rao, Governor- Tamilisai Soundararajan.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji district would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary. Poba Reserve Forest, declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522 hectares, is home to large number of flora and fauna.
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam: Chakrashila, Kaziranga, Bornadi
SAP SE announced the appointment of Kulmeet Bawa as President and Managing Director for SAP Indian Subcontinent. He will guide businesses in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to adopt a digital-first mindset & will report directly to SAP APJ President.
President of SAP Asia Pacific Japan- Scott Russell.