• The World Bank and the Government of India have recently signed the 750 million dollar agreement for the MSME Emergency Response Programme to support the increased flow of finance into the hands of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
• The World Bank’s MSME Emergency Response Programme will address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of some 1.5 million viable MSMEs to help them withstand the impact of the current shock and protect millions of jobs.

• National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization has recently published the 4th updated version of COVID-19 Dashboard on its official Portal.

National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO)

• It is a subordinate office under Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
• This organization was assigned with responsibility in the field of thematic cartography and geographical research at national level.
• It is the sole authority for depicting National framework data in the form of thematic maps and atlases to cater the actual picture of the development and planning initiatives of the country among the users. 

• According to the latest World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the fourth highest seizure of opium in 2018 was reported from India, after Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• In terms of heroin seizure (1.3 tonnes), India was at the 12th position in the world.
• Heroin is manufactured from the morphine extracted from the seed pod of opium poppy plants.
• Outside Asia, the largest total quantity of heroin and morphine was seized in Europe (22% of the global total in 2018).

• Zardozi is a form of embroidery that came to India from Persia.
• Done with metal wire and metal pieces or sequins on velvet, satin and heavy silk bases, Zardozi is one of the most famous and elaborate techniques in metal embroidery.
• The original embroidery of Zardozi was done with pure silver wires coated with real gold, and was known as Kalabatun.
• Though silver and gold wires have now been replaced with synthetic threads, the art remains the same.

Toda Embroidery

• The Toda Embroidery, also locally known as Pukhoor, is an art work among the Toda pastoral people of Nilgiris, in Tamil Nadu, made exclusively by their women.
• The embroidery, which has a fine finish, appears like a woven cloth but is made with use of red and black threads with a white cotton cloth background.
• Both sides of the embroidered fabric are usable and the Toda people are proud of this heritage.
• Both men and women adorn themselves with the embroidered cloaks and shawls.
• This handicraft product is listed as a geographically tagged product and is protected under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act (GI Act) 1999 of the Government of India.

• An accident happened recently at a warehouse under construction at the Natanz Nuclear Complex in Central Iran.
• Natanz is one of Iran’s main uranium enrichment plants.

• Indian armed forces may soon be using Winter Diesel for operations in high altitude areas such as Ladakh.
• State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has sought approval from the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) of the armed forces to approve winter diesel.
• Winter Diesel contains additives to maintain lower viscosity can be used in temperatures as low as -30°C.
• It has lower sulphur content, which would lead to lower deposits in engines and better performance.
• It does not lose its fluidity function even in extreme winter conditions, unlike the normal grade of Diesel which becomes difficult to utilize in such extreme winter conditions.
• It meets the Bureau of Indian Standards specification, BS-VI grade.

• Recently, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), allowed pharmaceutical companies to increase the price of essential blood thinner Heparin by as much as 50%.
• Heparin is among the essential medicines that are needed for combating the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
• NPPA is an independent regulator for the pricing of drugs, to ensure the availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices. 
• It is as an attached office to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• It regularly publishes lists of medicines and their maximum ceiling prices under the Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO).
• It monitors the availability of drugs, identifies shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.

• Recently, ISRO's Mangalyaan Captures Image Of Phobos, biggest Moon of Mars.
• The Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onboard Mars Orbiter Mission has captured the image of Phobos.
• The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan is the India’s first mission to the Red Planet and first entry into interplanetary spaceflight. 
• The mission is to explore and observe Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere.
• Further, a specific search for methane in the Martian atmosphere.
• This will provide information about the possibility or the past existence of life on the planet.

• Germany is first major economy to phase out coal and nuclear.
• The plan envisions the phase-out of coal and nuclear energy between now and 2038.
• The plan is part of Germany's 'energy transition', an effort to wean Europe's biggest economy off planet-warming fossil fuels and generate all of the country's considerable energy needs from renewable sources.

• Recently, the Ice in Italy's Alps have turned pink.
• According to reports, the appearance of pink glacial ice is caused due to Algae that accelerate the effect of climate change
• Normally ice reflects more than 80% of the sun's radiation.
• However, with the arrival of the algae, it absorbs the heat and starts to melt faster.
• Everything that darkens the snow causes it to melt because it accelerates the absorption of radiation.
• More algae appear as the ice melts more rapidly, giving them vital water and air.