Top Best Current Affairs 20 May 2020

The Autonomous institutes under the Department of Science & Technology(DST) namely The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials(ARCI) and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and technology(SCTIMST) have jointly developed new generation Iron-Manganese(Fe-Mn) based alloys for biodegradable metal implants for use in humans. The newly developed alloys are suitable for biodegradable stent and orthopedic implant applications. Invivo and in-vitro studies are being planned by the team at Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences.

India participated in the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) on 18 May. India was represented by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare through video conference. WHA addressed Global Vaccine Plan, polio eradication, and neglected tropical diseases other than COVID-19.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) reported that the export from India is expected to fall by 20%, around $50-$60 billion, in the current fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also suggested a decline in imports.

Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine has become the first vaccine to show a positive response against COVID-19. The 'mRNA-1273' vaccine has shown positive results by generating an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The mentioned vaccine has been developed by the US-based biotechnology firm Moderna Inc in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) alerted Cyclone "AMPHAN" which has developed into a super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal on 19 May. The intensification of the storm from category I cyclone to category V in less than 18 hours.

Ana Sofia Reboleira, a biologist from the University of Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark, has discovered a new species of a parasitic fungus 'Troglomyces Twitteri' by using a image of North American millipede (Cambala annulata) circulating on social media platform Twitter.

Preventing the spread of Covid-19 through currency notes, Gujarat govt has mandated digital payment for all home delivery services in the worst-hit city of Ahmedabad and also issued protocol to be followed by the delivery persons.

Kotak Mahindra Bank becomes 1st bank in India to allow video Know your customer (KYC) facility for customers opening savings accounts on Kotak 811 - the banks digital banking platform. The initiative is presently being launched on a pilot basis for savings accounts, Kotak Mahindra. With Video KYC, verification of documents, signature are completed via a video call with a representative from the bank without any physical interface.