1) Nelson Mandela International Day celebrated on 18 July
•The United Nations observes 18 July every year as Nelson Mandela International Day. The day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world. Nelson Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.
2) Uttarakhand govt to generate electricity from waste
•The Uttarakhand government has decided to convert waste generated in the state to electricity under an initiative titled ‘Waste to Energy’. According to Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), this waste can generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity and curb pollution. The scheme also aims to solve the problem of unavailability of landfills to dispose of the solid waste across the hill state with has 10 out if 13 districts as hill areas.
•At present 900 tonnes of waste is generated in the hill state every day, according to state government data. Out of the total waste generated, half is organic in nature while 17 per cent falls in a recyclable category followed by 21 per cent biomedical waste and 11 per cent of inert nature which is building material waste. Petroleum coke is also known as petcoke is a final solid by-product that derives from the oil refining process and is very rich in carbon.
3) Ossouka Raponda appointed as 1st woman PM of Gabon
•Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda has been appointed as the first woman prime minister of Gabon. She is the 12th PM of the country and succeeds Julien Nkoghe Bekale.
•Prior to holding this position, Ossouka Raponda served as Defence Minister since February 2019. Her appointment is the fourth cabinet reshuffle by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba since January 2019.
4) India ranks 3rd in Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020
•India is the third top-most country in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020. The annual Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI) report was released by the US-based property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, to rank the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in Europe, Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. Each of the countries has been assessed in four key areas: Bouncebackability, Conditions, Costs and Risks.
•China and the United States retain the top two positions respectively in MRI 2020, while India has moved one place higher from the previous edition of the report, to rank third in MRI 2020. The MRI 2020 report also includes analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on the global manufacturing sector and the ability of the countries to restart their manufacturing sectors once confinement measures are relaxed and business starts to return to normal.
5) Priyanka Chopra Jonas appointed as ambassador for TIFF 2020
•Bollywood actor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been chosen as the ambassador of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2020. Priyanka has joined the list of 50 celebrated filmmakers and actors who are invited as the ambassadors of the TIFF. Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has also been chosen for TIFF 2020.
•The esteemed film festival will be opting for digital screenings and virtual red carpets in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The festival is scheduled to kick off from September 10 to September 19, 2020.
6) Real Madrid clinch record 34th La Liga title
•Spanish professional football club, Real Madrid has been crowned La Liga Champions for the 34th time after defeating Villarreal 2–1 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, with one match remaining. Karim Benzema was the leading scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.
•Real Madrid, who are standing at the top spot with 26 wins from 37 matches, will lock horns with Leganes in their last game of the 2019-2020 La Liga season on July 20. Last time the team won the title in 2017.
