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One in every Three Child are Poisoned by Lead: UNICEF Report
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a recent report which is first of its kind published
impact of lead on children’s health across the world. As per the recent report one in every three
children is being poisoned by lead.
• Problem
Children, when exposed to lead, gets highly affected. Severe problems like mental health and
behavioral problems, including an increase in crime and violence, can be seen in them.
• Cause
Mainly children from lower economic country and work in the factories where the recycle of
lead is done.

2. India Imposes Import Restrictions on Color TV Sets
• Ban on popular Chinese applications, the Indian Government has moved the import of Color TV
sets from free to restricted and the government is aimed to promote PM Modi’s vision of “Vocal
for Local” which will boost domestic manufacturing and balance the trade deficit the country is
currently facing against China.

3. Sembcorp commissions three wind power projects
• Sembcorp Energy India has announced the successful completion of its three wind power
projects with a total capacity of 800 megawatts (MW).
• The projects were auctioned by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). With this,
Sembcorp became the first independent power producer (IPP) to fully commission its projects
awarded in the first three
• wind auctions held by SECI.

4. Reliance Power, JERA ink loan agreement
• Reliance Power has signed a loan agreement, along with Japanese utility JERA, for $642 million
with a group of lenders for their 745-megawatt gas-based project in Bangladesh.
• In September 2019, Reliance Power inducted JERA as a partner for the 750 MW-gas based
combined cycle power project.
• Reliance Power holds a 51% stake while JERA will hold 49% stake in the joint venture company.

5. NASA Mars Perseverance Rover launch
• NASA launched its Mars Perseverance Rover on July 30, 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Florida.
• The main aim of the Mars Perseverance Rover is to seek signs of ancient life and collect rock and
soil samples for a possible return to Earth.
• The duration of the mission is expected to be at least one Mars year which is equivalent to 687
days on Earth.

India- Indonesia Defence Ministers Dialogue was held in New Delhi

-the leaders held discussions on strengthening the ties between the two maritime neighbours. The talks included export of Brahmos missile to Indonesia by India.

China announced the suspension of Hong Kong’s extradition treaties with Canada, Australia and Britain

-Canada , Britain and Australia are part of the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance. The other members are New Zealand which suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

PM Modi, Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth to jointly inaugurate new SC Building of Mauritius

-It is one of the 5 projects implemented under ‘Special Economic Package’ of USD 353 million (other projects are- Metro Express Project, ENT Hospital project, etc).

Ministry of Earth Sciences launches “Mausam”

-the mobile app “Mausam” is launched for India Meteorological Department

-users can access observed weather, forecasts, radar images and be proactively warned of impending weather events.

DRDO launches ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ contest

-the scheme aims to promote innovators and startup culture in the country.

World’s largest solar power plant in Abu Dhabi

-It will have a total capacity of 2 gigawatts.

-The AI Dhafla Solar PV plant’s financial closure is set for the third quarter of 2020, with power generation expected to begin in the first half of 2022.

India announces currency swap for Sri Lanka

• RBI has signed necessary documents for extending a 400 million dollar currency swap facility
with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

• This currency swap arrangement will remain available till November 2022.

• The agreement followed talks between the two sides over past weeks to find ways of enhancing
economic cooperation between the two neighbours.

China launches new mapping satellite

• China sent a new high-resolution mapping satellite into space on 25 July 2020 from aiyuan
Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.

• The Ziyuan ll1 03 satellite was launched by a Long March-4B carrier rocket. It was the 341st
flight mission by the Long March rocket series.

• Also on board were 2 satellites used for dark matter detection and commercial data acquisition.

Neighborhood First Policy: India hands over 10 Railway Locomotives to Bangladesh

India handed over 10 Railway Locomotives to bolster its Neighborhood First Policy. India had committed
to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina during her visit to India to provide broad gauge diesel locomotives to
the country.

Highlights
The handing over event was conducted virtually and was attended by Indian External Affairs Minister S
Jai Shankar, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and their Bangladeshi counter parts.

First Cross Border Train
It is to be noted that the first container train from India reached Bangladesh very recently. The train
carried FMCG (Fast Moving consumer Goods) products. The FMCG products are consumer goods such as
soap, detergents, shampoos, and other essential products used in day to day life.

The First container trainer carried around 50 containers. The container service is to operate regularly
from now on. The service links Majerhat near Kolkata with Benapole, Singia, Jessore, Noapara and
Bangabandhu Setu West in Bangladesh.

Already there are two passenger trains running between India and Bangladesh. They are Bandhan
Express connecting Kolkata and Khulna and Maitree Express connecting Kolkata and Dhaka.